Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: What to Do!
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What to do!
Once this leg heals, I have to head back to Evergreen Park.
How much my comrades have been begging me to return there even a day sooner!
That's what I should have shouted.
[……Well, nya.]
Gray trailed off.
[Anyway, it seems like you can take your time thinking it over. That Yellow guy? He’s handling the leader duties in your place quite splendidly.]
[That's true, nya.]
Gray acknowledged Yellow's abilities too.
[Well, the guys under you wouldn't cut it without that level of skill.]
At Shadow's words, the corners of Gray's mouth curled up.
Those words were praise for both himself and Yellow, weren't they?
[What, I didn't want to say this, but I can't deny you're an outstanding leader. You've raised your successor very well.]
Shadow kept showering him with praise.
‘Why is this guy acting like this, nya!’
Gray was flustered by the one who used to growl at him like he wanted to devour him whenever their eyes met, suddenly coming out like this.
‘It must be because he's hurting and his heart's softened, nya.’
Still, it felt good.
That guy was coughing and wheezing now because he was in pain, but among the nearby territory leaders, excluding himself, he was the best.
To be recognized by a guy like that.
[Thanks, nya.]
[Ahem, I just stated the facts.]
As Shadow turned his head away and grumbled curtly, Gray lifted the corners of his mouth into a grin.
[You're a fine leader too, nya.]
At Gray's words, Shadow flinched in surprise.
To think he'd hear something like that from a strong guy.
[Hmph. Stating the obvious!]
[That's right, nya. It's obvious, nya. The Bluebird territory cats follow you so well and like you a lot, nya.]
[Well…… that was back then.]
[No, nya. Didn't you see…… no, hear how happy Milo was to see you? That heartbroken wail, nya.]
Hearing Gray stammer midway, Shadow let out a smirk.
‘Needlessly kind guy. It's true I can't see ahead, though.’
But at Gray's words, Shadow thought of Milo.
Milo had been genuinely thrilled to see him again.
[Milo said he's sorry to you, thinking your sudden departure was his fault, nya. And the Bluebird cats think the same as Milo, nya.]
Gray paused for a moment, then slowly approached Shadow. Then, plop, he placed his small, round front paw on Shadow's back.
It was as light as a feather, but the warmth was incredibly comforting to Shadow.
[Everyone misses you, nya. So it's not just the old days, nya.]
Gray's calm voice touched Shadow's heart.
[Thanks for saying that. Once my eyes heal, I'll go see the kids.]
[Good thinking, nya.]
Meanwhile, Gray, who had suddenly started thinking about having a successor because of Shadow's appearance, began to consider the matter seriously.
Whether he regained his former swift self or not wasn't the issue.
‘It seems like it's time for me to raise a successor too, nya.’
While Gray pondered a successor and Shadow mulled over ‘retirement,’ time flowed steadily onward.
During that time, Evergreen Park cats visited Gray every day, and Bluebird Park cats came to see Shadow.
For the first few days, visits to Shadow were limited to two cats at a time, along with Gray.
But then, though only two entered the hospital, more than ten were milling around outside.
They wanted to sense their leader's presence even from outside.
So they had no choice but to increase it to five, and for fairness, matched Gray's side to five as well.
Because of that, after clinic hours ended, Meongmeong Animal Hospital bustled with cats.
But thanks to everyone following Lee Jun's guidelines well, it stayed quiet.
The guidelines were as follows.
[Meongmeong Animal Hospital Visiting Guidelines]
1. Daily visiting nya count at Meongmeong Animal Hospital: 5 from Evergreen, 5 from Bluebird.
2. Be quiet within 10m radius of Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
3. No fighting within 10m radius of Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
4. No fighting over food.
5. Fighting means getting chased out anyway.
6. Visits after clinic hours end in the evening.
And there was one powerful guideline added.
7. If something urgent happens, come find Lee Jun anytime.
The cats cheered at that last guideline.
They too could get hurt like their leaders at any time, but now they had a solid backer.
Even cats wary and afraid of humans weren't so much at Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
Because their sponsor, Woof Teacher, was there.
And there was the kind little Woof Teacher who always gave tasty food.
Anyway, Meongmeong Animal Hospital was a great place.
Ten cats were meowing away in front of their respective leaders.
The Evergreen cats gathered in front of the full-wall cat tower by the window, while the Bluebird team was in the hospitalization room.
As Jang So-ra prepared cat bowls and food, the cats rushed over without anyone going first, lining up neatly in front of her.
Evergreen and Bluebird cats were mixed, but not a single one showed any displeasure.
Lee Jun had said he'd chase out anyone who fought, but there was something even stronger.
[Heehee, looks tasty.]
[Smells so good.]
[They said they'd give plenty.]
The anticipation of a delicious, bountiful dinner. That made the cats magnanimous.
Some cats had eaten at Meongmeong Animal Hospital before, some hadn't, but the cats knew.
The Woof Teachers would give plenty of tasty food to fill their bellies.
Jang So-ra marveled as she distributed the food.
“Director, why are they all so well-behaved? Even with five newcomers, not one is making a fuss to eat first.”
“When there's plenty of food, what's there to fight over?”
“That's how it is?”
“Of course. With enough food and ample resting space, they don't fight.”
[That's right, nya.]
[Exactly.]
As Gray and Shadow agreed, Lee Jun smiled and continued.
“And I told them I'd chase out anyone who fights. If they get chased out, they can't see their beloved leader or eat this tasty dinner. Even if they want to fight, they have to hold back.”
“When you put it like that, Director, it really seems like it. It sounds just like you told them that.”
[That's right.]
[He did say that.]
[Yes.]
The cats chimed in agreement all at once.
As twelve cats meowed in chorus, Jang So-ra laughed in amusement.
“Aww, so cute. Kids, when you all say it like that, it really seems like you understand the Director.”
Jang So-ra happily served dinner to the cats.
“Why aren't Gray and Shadow eating?”
Jang So-ra asked the two standing blankly without joining the line.
[I'm fine, nya.]
[Me too.]
Lee Jun smirked at the two's exchange.
Gray had done the same back in the park, yielding food to his subordinates while saying that.
And Shadow was the same.
“They're close, so they think alike.”
[I'm not close to this guy, nya.]
[Not close.]
Gray and Shadow strongly insisted they weren't close while leaning against each other.
“You guys are playing cute. Anyway, there's tons of food, so don't worry and eat.”
[Thanks, nya.]
[Thanks.]
Only then did Gray and Shadow join dinner.
Gray quietly watched as his big brother removed Shadow's e-collar so he could eat comfortably.
‘It’d be great to live with a kind big brother like that forever, nya.’
Up until now, he'd only thought of returning to Evergreen Park once healed, but Shadow's arrival made Gray think of many things.
***
Scratch scratch scratch scratch.
Shadow frantically clawed at the scratcher in the hospitalization room, letting out a wail.
[Aaah, aaahhh…….]
[What's wrong, nya? Does it hurt, nya?]
[……Hah, haaah, it itches. It itches, I said. Aaaah!]
He seemed in pain, but it was itching?
A smile spread across Gray's face.
Good thing Shadow couldn't see it; if he could, a big fight would have broken out.
Gray patted Shadow's back, who was scratching so hard his claws might bleed, and said.
[Endure it, nya.]
[……Aaaah, would you say that so casually if your eyes didn't itch?]
Already hypersensitive from the itch, Shadow scowled and snapped irritably.
[That's a sign it's healing, nya.]
[Healing when it's itching me to death. My eyes are gonna rot like this.]
[I had the same thing once, nya. But after that, my leg healed, nya.]
Gray recalled recently when his leg had itched so much he almost scratched it.
It itched so bad he rolled all over the floor, and Lee Jun had said it was healing, just endure a bit more.
‘Couldn't believe it, nya.’
Just like this guy now, he hadn't believed Lee Jun back then.
It itched so much he thought of biting off his leg, but it healed completely out of nowhere.
You only know after going through it.
The only thing Gray could say to Shadow was this.
[Believe Big Brother, nya!]
Already dying from the itch, and now this nagging from the side—Shadow let out a huge yowl.
[Meeeooowwww……!]
Hearing Shadow's wail, Jang So-ra rushed into the hospitalization room and called Lee Jun.
“Director, Shadow seems to be in a lot of pain. What do we do?”
“That guy's just itchy. No need to worry.”
Lee Jun answered nonchalantly and scooped up Shadow.
[I, I'm itchy, I said. Itching me to death, and no need to worry. Humans really can't be trusted.]
Hugging Lee Jun, Shadow yelled loudly.
He was venting all the stress built up from the itching on Lee Jun.
“It's healing, so it's fine.”
Hearing the same words Gray had said.
[As expected, Evergreen Leader and you are in cahoots.]
“Haha, the way you're talking, you're not itching that much yet?”
[What?]
“Manager Jang, set up the surgery room please. Need to loosen the stitches on this guy's eyes.”
“Yes.”
Shortly after, laid on a warm, fluffy heating pad, Shadow grew languid.
The maddening itch from moments ago was gone.
‘Phew, now I can live.’
As Shadow sighed in relief, Lee Jun said.
“Sleep deeply, and when you wake, it'll be bright in front of your eyes.”
[Really?]
“Yeah.”
As Lee Jun said, Shadow fell into a brief sleep.
When he woke, the pitch-black darkness before his eyes was gone.
Blink blink.
Shadow blinked a few times.
Closed eyes were still dark as before, but open eyes were bright.
‘The leader said it'd brighten after sleeping, and it was true!’
Confirming the faint brightness ahead, Shadow's heart swelled.
“Director, how is it? Okay?”
“The condition's much better than expected.”
“So he can see?”
“That depends on future treatment. With good eye drops, he should recover.”
“Phew, looks like the eye drop wars begin now.”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“I hope Shadow stays still, but can he? He's never had eye drops before.”
“He'll do fine. Right, Shadow?”
[What're you talking about?]
Feeling so good, Shadow snorted and asked.
“Putting in eye drops. And not rubbing your eyes either.”
[Of course. I won't rub my eyes ever. But what's this about eye drops?]
“Might as well do it now that it's come up.”
Lee Jun picked up one of the prepared eye drops and said to Shadow.
“You've had water get in your eyes before, right?”
[Rainwater got in once.]
“Good, just like that—water dripping right into your eyes. You can handle it, right?”
[Hmph, obviously.]
“Yeah, good. This'll reduce the itching too.”
[Oho, really? Even if you didn't offer, I'd beg for it after nearly dying from itch.]
After almost dying from itch, what was a few raindrops in the eyes?
Shadow declared boldly.
But Shadow realized within half a day that he'd answered arrogantly.
[Again? Putting it in again?]
“Yeah, one more left.”
[What's that?]
“Eye ointment. This is the last one.”
Three times water dripped into his eyes, once something sticky smeared on his eyeball.
After four ordeals total, hearing it was the last, Shadow sighed in relief.
[Fine.]
But that was just the prelude.
[Putting it in again?]
“Second eye drop. How's it? A bit brighter ahead?”
[Yeah. Now things are starting to look blurry.]
“Very good.”
As it gradually brightened, Shadow's hope ignited brighter.
‘Keep this up, and I'll see.’
But repeated eye drop sessions gradually dimmed that hope.
[……Again?]
“Yeah. It'll be tough, but endure a few days.”
Eye drops every turn around, and whenever he forgot, more.
When does this big brother even sleep?
[Feels like eye drops all day, nya!]
Gray said worriedly from the side.
[When does Big Brother sleep, nya! I'm worried, nya!]
[Me too, worried.]
Shadow was worried too.
He'd heard humans sleep less than cats, but not sleeping like this must be hard on them too.
Yet here he was, skipping sleep to care for him so devotedly.
Shadow was deeply grateful to Lee Jun.
“Director, should I take Shadow home today?”
“Why? Does Mei want to see Shadow?”
At Lee Jun mentioning Jang So-ra's cat, she made a dumbfounded face and replied.
“Pfft, how would I know that? I'm not the Director.”
“Then why take him?”
“Eye drops every two hours. And four kinds too.”
“It's fine. Since I'm already doing the work, better I handle it. No need for Manager Jang to tire herself.”
“Still, I feel so sorry.”
“Then treat me to coffee.”
“Ah. Right away. And at least when at the hospital, let me do it.”
“You will?”
Listening to Lee Jun and Jang So-ra's conversation, Shadow's mouth corners lifted.
‘Everyone's so grateful.’
Gray said the same from the side.
[Big Brother's too grateful, nya. Skipping sleep to care for you, nya.]
[Yeah, well.]
Gray still couldn't bring himself to say thanks directly to Lee Jun pouring such care into him.
But as Shadow's eyes gradually brightened, Shadow's gratitude toward Lee Jun sprouted and grew steadily.
Now able to see quite well, Shadow watched Lee Jun's every move with eyes full of gratitude.