Nukume Dori
by Leareth
Annex VI: Support Staff
The woman with the Chihuahua was tall, rake-thin, and apparently hard of hearing. "But how can he not be in?" she demanded for the second time. "I've had this appointment set up for weeks, he has to be here!"
Fifty-six year old grandmother Tsuda Michiko kept up her smile and tried to explain. "I'm sorry, Murakami-san, but as I said Sakurazuka-sensei is not in this morning and therefore will be unable to perform the check-up."
"But I called up last month! I asked specifically for Sakurazuka-sensei and was told that ten thirty Wednesday the twenty-sixth of December was fine! You can't tell me he's not here!"
The woman's voice was rising with every word to the point that she was starting to sound like a cat set on fire. Somehow Michiko resisted wincing. "I'm sorry but he really isn't here, however please understand that it's because he's been called out for an emergency." Which wasn't true. For all Michiko knew Sakurazuka-sensei could have gone to Tokyo Disney for the day and forgotten to tell her he wasn't coming in, but as the receptionist it was her duty to cover for the boss whenever necessary. "It can't be helped and I'm very sorry—"
"Sorry?" screeched Mrs. Murakami. "Sorry doesn't help! Sorry isn't going to change the fact that I've come here all the way from Roppongi for my dog's ten thirty appointment only to be told that the vet isn't available! It's unacceptable!"
Now Michiko winced, face burn and all; she hated conflict the way people hated doing taxes, and while nearly forty years in secretarial and receptionist roles meant she could handle things when need be it didn't mean she had to like it. Instead, she bowed deeply and said, "I acknowledge that what has happened is unacceptable, and I'm really very sorry. Thankfully your appointment is for a check-up rather than a treatment or operation, so perhaps Sakurazuka-sensei's assistant could see your pet?"
"The assistant? You mean that high school student?"
Quickly Michiko glanced through the clinic's glass door at Yukari outside. The young woman was helping an elderly couple get their Dalmatian and its plaster cast into a car so thankfully couldn't hear them, but while Michiko had worked long enough with Yukari to know her capabilities she had to admit that Mrs. Murakami's reaction was understandable. Yukari looked young for a twenty-one year old, and the impression wasn't helped by the way she had her long hair pulled up in a schoolgirl's ponytail and decorated with cute Totoro hairpins. "I assure you, Murakami-san, although Amemiya-san seems young she is currently studying for her university entrance exams, and she is very competent having worked in animal clinics throughout school aiming to become a vet. She's been learning a lot from Sakurazuka-sensei and is certainly capable of performing standard check-ups." Still Mrs. Murakami looked unimpressed, and Michiko began to falter. "Or, if that isn't acceptable, I can reschedule you to see Sakurazuka-sensei at any time at your convenience—"
"Reschedule me, then," said Mrs. Murakami snippily. "Same time first day after New Year's, and if that doesn't work then I'm taking my business somewhere else."
"I promise there will be no problem," Michiko reassured hastily, bowing once more. It got no acknowledgement from Mrs. Murakami other than 'hmpf' as she clutched her tiny dog to her chest turned around nose in the air. She swept out in a storm of fake fur and big hair just as Yukari was coming back in not even looking at the girl as Yukari bowed and held the door open. A cab happened to pass on the road outside which Mrs. Murakami hailed and got in, however Michiko didn't dare slump out of her forced straightness until she was sure that Mrs. Murakami was inside, and even then it was only when the cab drove away that she let herself sigh.
"Cranky customer?" Michiko looked up to find Yukari approaching the counter with a sympathetic smile. "Well, I suppose we can't really blame her. I mean, if I came in for an appointment with a doctor only to be told he was out I'd yell too."
"This one was more piecing than yelling," said Michiko tiredly, trying to calm down from the encounter. "And understandable doesn't make it any better. It's not my fault Sakurazuka-sensei isn't anywhere to be found."
Yukari made a face as she folded her arms and leaned on the counter. "So he still hasn't called?"
Michiko shook her head. "I'm getting concerned – usually if Sakurazuka-sensei is taking time off he lets us know beforehand."
"Usually. Given that Sakurazuka-sensei goes out for long lunches and takes breaks whenever he wants I can't say I'm too worried."
"Even though Sakurazuka-sensei is relaxed about work hours he only takes breaks when it isn't busy and he doesn't have any appointments," Michiko insisted. "And he always lets us know beforehand. This isn't like him."
"So you say, but you have to admit that he's not exactly intense about his job," Yukari pointed out. "He takes breaks whenever he wants and closes shop early if there aren't any customers, and he's even given us the whole upcoming weekend off as well as the usual three day New Year's holiday so we get an extra long break. You really have to wonder sometimes how he keeps this place going, or well, I do at least. You probably know, you're the one that does the accounts."
"Only expenses and takings, I don't do business accounts. But the cash flow seems healthy enough to keep the practice going including our wages, though how Sakurazuka-sensei earns enough income for himself to live on is beyond me."
Yukari shrugged. "Eh, he's obviously managing and I'm getting a regular pay-check which is the important thing. And I'm not that upset about Sakurazuka-sensei's slackness because it means I get more study time. But seriously, though, you sure he's not home sick or something?"
"If he was sick he would have called up to tell me to cancel his appointments, and I've already tried calling his apartment to check. No one's picked up. I think he's not even at home."
"Really? Huh. Interesting. Where else could he be?"
"I don't know. I'm worried; this isn't like him at all – do you think we should call the police?"
"The police?" Yukari laughed, not unkindly but enough to make Michiko flush. "That's a bit extreme, even in TV dramas characters wait until the missing person has been gone for a whole day! No, Michiko-san, if you want to call anyone about Sakurazuka-sensei it's obvious who we should ring!"
"Who?"
"Sumeragi-kun and Hokuto-chan, of course! They're the ones that know Sakurazuka-sensei best, if anyone would have any idea where he's gone it would be them." Suddenly Yukari grinned widely. "Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if he's with them right now, or, more precisely, with Sumeragi-kun."
"Eh? Why do you say that?"
"I mean that maybe the reason why Sakurazuka-sensei isn't home and hasn't come in for work is because he went to see Sumeragi-kun last night and decided to stay with him – or in him."
"Yukari-san!" exclaimed Michiko, scandalised both at what Yukari had said and the ease with which she said it.
"What! I'll bet you a combi lunch set I'm right because it's the only thing that could logically explain Sakurazuka-sensei's not being here. Think about it, every time Sakurazuka-sensei takes a break from work it's so he can go off with Sumeragi-kun, and it's only natural that it eventually develop to skipping work entirely to spend time together. I mean, who wouldn't choose cuddling in bed with their lover over work?"
The image that brought gave Michiko an uncomfortable flush; like Yukari she was well aware of their employer's relationship with the charming Sumeragi boy, however unlike Yukari who thought Sakurazuka-Sensei-And-Sumeragi-Kun were well, cute, Michiko for her part tried to think about it as little as possible. "Even if he did visit Sumeragi-kun last night it doesn't mean he stayed over," she said primly, hoping to keep any discussion on the topic as short as possible; she had learnt the hard way when she was young that mixing work with the personal was never a good idea, particularly when it involved one's employer, and while the situation here was different in that Michiko had been nineteen when she had fallen pregnant to the much older and already married doctor she had first worked for she still maintained a policy of keeping work and personal lives cleanly separate, gossip included. "Sumeragi-kun is still too young for that sort of thing, and I'm sure Sakurazuka-sensei would respect that."
"Pfft. I remember when I was sixteen and trust me, young or not boys are raging hormones at that age," said Yukari dismissively. She had an air of certainty that implied familiarity with the subject. "And if that's the case with Sumeragi-kun then it's probably worse for poor Sakurazuka-sensei who must be frustrated waiting for him. Besides, you didn't see them yesterday morning – remember how Sumeragi-kun came over a bit after eleven? When Sakurazuka-sensei had finished operating on the grey tabby cat? Aa~anyway Sumeragi-kun and Sakurazuka-sensei were in the surgery together, and I'm not sure what was going on but what I do know is that when I went inside to tell Sakurazuka-sensei the eleven-thirty appointment had arrived I must have interrupted something interesting because the way I saw it Sumeragi-kun was leaning backwards against the table all red and flushed and embarrassed and Sakurazuka-sensei was standing opposite against the wall as if they had just leapt apart grinning and looking totally mischievous. Sakurazuka-sensei did say that Sumeragi-kun was just leaving but I think that was to give Sumeragi-kun an excuse because he was so obviously embarrassed that I had walked in on them that he ran out but anyway what I'm saying is that Sakurazuka-sensei probably went to see Sumeragi-kun last night so they could pick up where they left off in which case he would have stayed up really late and that's why he's not here this morning!"
Yukari, Michiko knew, had a tendency to speed-talk when excited, and this time was no exception. By the end of her rapid-fire reasoning she was going at the verbal equivalent of a bullet train and it was all Michiko could do just to hang on and listen to the end, at which point Yukari was wearing a triumphant smile that told Michiko there was going to be no convincing the girl otherwise of her theory. Instead, she decided now was the perfect time to sort through the pile of receipts on her desk; although not her place to approve or disapprove Michiko couldn't say her employer's personal life was something she was comfortable with and she didn't want to gossip about it any further. It wasn't just the fact that Sakurazuka-sensei was a twenty-five year old man and Sumeragi-kun an adolescent boy nine years younger, though that was awkward enough, but Sumeragi-kun was so sweet and lovely, and Sakurazuka-sensei was … what? An intelligent, amiable man, yes, a man any parent would love to meet, yes, but also a man that was a little, well, inconsistent. Michiko knew successful men, her thirty-six year old son was an engineer and she had worked all her life for various doctors, so she knew that for Sakurazuka-sensei to not only become a fully qualified veterinarian by the age of twenty-five but open his own private practice instead of interning at an established clinic he would have needed a great deal of drive and ambition, neither of which she had really seen while working for him. Yukari's comment about Sakurazuka-sensei's lack of intensity about work was right on the money: he wasn't intense, he made no effort to expand his client base, he didn't mind that his appointment book was rarely full, and he was perfectly happy to close shop early whenever he felt like it while still paying Yukari and Michiko full wages every month. The whole thing didn't make sense and only added to Michiko's discomfort over Sakurazuka-sensei and Sumeragi-kun's relationship. Fond as she was of Sakurazuka-sensei, who was certainly the most easy-going employer she'd had, a boy as young and nice as Sumeragi-kun shouldn't be involved in anything more complicated than a high school crush and Michiko didn't want to see him hurt. Not that she was going to say anything, of course. She'd be a fool to jeopardise her position at Sakurazuka-sensei's clinic and besides, it wasn't as if Sumeragi-kun was discouraging Sakurazuka-sensei's attention. Better to keep her head down and stay out of it. It was none of her business anyway.
Yukari was still leaning on the counter watching Michiko keep her hands busy, apparently hoping for some reaction. When it became obvious none would be forthcoming she stretched her arms over her head and yawned loudly. "Well, if our boss is going to be playing hooky with his boyfriend then I'm going to do some study so I can take the New Year's break without feeling guilty," she announced. "How's the rest of our day looking?"
"Um …" Michiko went to scan the book. "Full; there's a kitten coming in for an examination and shots at eleven who should be turning up soon, and a sick dog coming in for a treatment at eleven thirty. After that we've got six bookings, first arriving at twelve thirty and the last at four. All check-ups and consultations, barring any emergency walk-ins of course."
"Please don't let there be any emergency walk-ins," Yukari groaned fervently. "Minor wounds I can handle, but without Sakurazuka-sensei anything complicated will have to be sent somewhere else, and that's going to include the kitten and—" She broke off as the cat bells tied to the door handle jingled signalling an arrival. "Fuck," she muttered under her breath, earning a Look from Michiko that went unseen as she around with a very different expression. "Good morning, welcome to the Sakurazuka Veterinary clinic, how may oh my god Sakurazuka-sensei!"
Immediately Michiko stood ram-rod straight and whipped her head around to look. Sure enough, there, unhurried and unconcerned, was Sakurazuka-sensei, smiling and holding the door open for a shorter man who carried an animal's travel cage in one hand and a five year old girl with the other. "Good morning Michiko-san, Yukari-san," said Sakurazuka-sensei pleasantly. "Sorry about my lateness this morning but at least I've gotten here just in time for Yamada-san's appointment. How's that, are we all inside out of the cold now?"
"Ah yes, thank you, thank you," said Mr. Yamada gratefully as his daughter piped up, "thank you senseii~i." The travel cage mewed.
"You're perfectly welcome, Juri-chan. Now, if you and your father will just take a seat there, and Yamada-san, once the paperwork is taken care of we'll get started with Kuroii-san. Yukari-san, can you bring over the new patient forms, please?"
The forms in question were already being grabbed by Michiko and she hastily clipped them to a board for Yukari who had produced a pen. The young woman carried them over to the customer with a smile affixed to her face that no doubt hid the same questions that were swirling through Michiko's mind. Sakurazuka-sensei looked perfectly at ease as if he was coming back from a leisurely coffee instead of arriving at work over two hours late, a perception that was only reinforced by the fact that under his dark green sweater he wasn't wearing a tie with his shirt. "Here you go, Yamada-san, and here's something for you, Juri-chan," said Yukari cheerfully, handing the little girl a strawberry candy Michiko knew came from Yukari's private stash in the kitchenette. Meanwhile, Sakurazuka-sensei was coming over to the reception counter. Yukari quickly followed him once Yamada was busy with the forms. "Where have you been!" she whispered excitedly.
Sakurazuka-sensei had a rueful smile. "I apologise," he said, also whispering. "I had to stay up late last night and unfortunately overslept as a result. I hope I didn't cause too much trouble?"
"Not really, Yoneyama-san and his wife picked up their Dalmatian this morning Michiko-san rescheduled some appointments what do you mean you overslept?"
"Just that exactly." Sakurazuka-sensei reached over the counter for the white coat he kept hanging on the side of the filing shelf. As he did so Michiko noticed there was a dead leaf caught in his sleeve. "There was some personal business I had to take care of last night, it ran late, I went to sleep even later, hence the oversleeping," he explained.
"Still, that's not like you at all! Unless," here Yukari's whispers grew mischievous, "it was Sumeragi-kun you were sleeping with?"
"Yukari-san!" gasped Michiko, shocked at the girl's forwardness – although Yukari was only some four years younger than Sakurazuka-sensei and they got along well one just did not talk to one's employer like that. Certainly Michiko had never dared to act like that with any of her young bosses when she was Yukari's age.
Sakurazuka-sensei laughed as he pulled on his coat. "Haha! Good question, Yukari-san but since a gentleman never tells and we have a kitten waiting to be attended to I won't be going into details." Suddenly his smile sharpened. "I will, however, say that Subaru-kun made my night very memorable."
Before anyone could say anything Sakurazuka-sensei had turned back to his customer, leaving Michiko to bear the brunt of Yukari's reaction which looked as if she was doing her best impression of a goldfish only without the basic decency of covering her mouth. For her part Michiko felt her ears burning and they grew even hotter when Yukari gave a little squeal of delight and clapped her hands unable to contain her delight. "I told you so!" she mouthed at Michiko. "I knew it, I just knew it had something to do with Sumeragi-kun I am good!"
Michiko could only force a smile at this and to her credit she maintained the expression as Yukari, still grinning and probably already thinking up ways to interrogate Sakurazuka-sensei further, half-skipped off to prepare the surgery. As soon as she had Michiko hastily bowed her head trying to find paperwork any work that would cover her flustered state – it's none of my business, none of my business – and give her an excuse not to look at Sakurazuka-sensei as he passed. Thankfully Sakurazuka-sensei had all his attention on his customers and so didn't bother looking at Michiko, and by the time all of them had gone into the surgery Michiko had recovered and she could pretend that this was just another normal day at work.
She didn't have to pretend long. The sick dog that was booked in after the kitten turned up early with its coddling owner who apparently expected Sakurazuka-sensei to attend to her immediately and had to be talked into patience by Michiko. No sooner was that dealt with came a small surge of customers obviously using their lunch break to run errands and stock up on pet supplies from bird feed to fish tank purifiers before the New Year's holiday, all of which kept Michiko occupied to the point that instead of having her lunch in the kitchenette where she could read her magazine she had to eat at her desk, which actually wasn't that bad since it was something of a novelty to be truly busy for once. The stream of customers continued into the afternoon when the sick dog left looking a little less sick and the rest of the appointments began to arrive, until Michiko began to feel like she was back at her old doctor's clinic during 'flu season.
As for her boss the parade of appointments confined him mostly to the surgery meaning Michiko only really saw him when he popped out to ask for something, and even then half the time he would send Yukari out to ask for him. Whether or not Yukari was kept busy enough to be prevented from asking Sakurazuka-sensei about last night Michiko wasn't sure; it was certainly feasible given the all the tasks Michiko and Sakurazuka-sensei had her do, but Yukari was remarkably energetic so Michiko wouldn't have put it past her to needle Sakurazuka-sensei throughout the day with unsubtle jokes and references. With that possible exception the three of them were sufficiently occupied that there was barely any time to chat until late in the afternoon when the last patient had left, and even then there was an emergency walk in off the street in the form of a young woman carrying a green cardboard box with an injured pigeon. What the pigeon's hurt was Michiko didn't find out but it certainly wasn't its wings because the moment the young woman opened the box to show Yukari the pigeon flew out in a panic scattering drops of blood around the reception area and causing no end of mess as it evaded all attempts at recapture. Between the laughs and screams it was no wonder Sakurazuka-sensei came out to see what was going on whereupon he was immediately drafted into pigeon chasing. He had no problems catching the bird, quite the contrary: he shooed all three of the women behind the reception desk, patiently waited until the pigeon had settled on the magazine pile on the corner table, then with cat-like dexterity and swiftness scooped it back into the cardboard box and closed the lid to the sound of applause. The young woman had been particularly impressed by this, so much so that she left her contact details at the desk with a very unsubtle hint for Sakurazuka-sensei to call her about the pigeon, preferably tomorrow. Michiko didn't have the heart to say that she was wasting her attentions on Sakurazuka-sensei, and for that matter neither did Yukari – at least until the young woman had left.
"You know, Michiko-san, maybe we should put a disclaimer on the door," said Yukari. She wore a pair of surgical gloves and was scouring the reception area with disinfectant and a paper towel cleaning up the blood left by the pigeon. "'Warning to all lady customers: yes the veterinarian makes a Most Eligible Bachelor list, no he's not available so don't even bother fantasising about him because it'll just end in tears,' what do you think?"
Michiko was picking up the scattered magazines and brochures; the pigeon had bled onto some, those would have to be thrown out. "Sakurazuka-sensei can manage quite well without something like that," she said wearily, grimacing as her thick ankles complained about having to bend. "In any case getting more customers because of Sakurazuka-sensei isn't a bad thing."
"On the other hand that woman could be like one of those scaa~ary characters in a TV drama and turn up tomorrow with another pigeon that she deliberately caught and hurt just so she would have an excuse to come back. There are obsessive psychopaths like that in the world, right, Sakurazuka-sensei?"
Michiko glanced up to see Sakurazuka-sensei walking back into the reception area, the box of pigeon presumably deposited in the surgery to be taken care of. "I'm sure there are obsessive stalker types out there in society however luckily for me I can't say I've ever encountered one. Yukari-san might have; she's pretty enough to attract anyone's attention. Are we finished with appointments for today, Michiko-san?" Michiko answered in the affirmative, and Sakurazuka-sensei smiled; he didn't look tired at all. "Good, so that means once the clean-up is done we can all go home."
"Not me," groaned Yukari. "I'm meeting a friend at the library for study at five thirty, and what's more there's no food in my apartment so dinner will once again be at Yoshinoya. Do you have any idea how depressing it is when you go to your local Yoshinoya so often the waiters there know your name?"
"Why is that so depressing?" asked Sakurazuka-sensei, coming over to help Michiko tidy up.
"Because it's a Yoshinoya! If it were some trendy café or local ramen store that knew me by name that'd be fine, but not a fast food chain! Besides, Yoshinoya waiters aren't even cute."
"Now the truth comes out," Sakurazuka-sensei laughed. "At least you have New Year's feasts to look forward to? Aren't you going back to your parent's place in Hokkaido?"
"Uh huh, I've booked my flights for Friday – you do know that I'm leaving early on Friday, right, Sakurazuka-sensei oh good – and already ordered my older brother to meet me at the airport to drive me home and I can't wait to eat my mother's homemade soba again, she really makes the best noodles—"
"Obviously you'll have to bring some back as omiyage for us to try," interjected Sakurazuka-sensei smoothly, much to Michiko's relief. "What about you, Michiko-san, what are you doing for New Year's?"
Michiko tried to wave off the inquiry. "Oh, ah, I'm staying in Tokyo and will be cooking for my son and his family, nothing special."
"That sounds special enough! What are you going to cook, something delicious no doubt with lots of sweets for your grandson? The bentos you bring in for work always smell impressive."
The smile Sakurazuka-sensei had on was impossible to meet eye to eye. "Those are just left-overs," Michiko said shyly. "As for what I'll cook it'll depend on what I can find at the store, and I'll have to get the mochi then as well."
"What are your New Year's plans, Sakurazuka-sensei, anything exciting?" asked Yukari.
"Me? Very quiet, I'm afraid – I don't have any family to spend New Year's with, and I'm not going anywhere, so my New Year's will probably simply be watching the TV specials and catching up on sleep."
The two women stared at him in shock. "You're kidding!" Yukari exclaimed, just as Michiko demanded, "What do you mean no family?"
Sakurazuka-sensei laughed. "Unfortunately, Yukari-san, no I'm not kidding and as for no family I mean exactly that: my parents both died when I was young, I don't have any siblings and if I have any extended family I grew up not knowing them." He smiled at the looks on their faces. "It's all right, I'm quite used to it and manage perfectly fine by myself."
"Even if you say so Sakurazuka-sensei, that's just sad, really sad!" Yukari's brown eyes were doing their best impression of a hurt puppy. She at least could speak; Michiko for her part was still stunned into silence. "I thought if nothing else you would have spent it with Sumeragi-kun and his sister!"
"Subaru-kun and Hokuto-chan have gone back to Kyōto for New Year's," explained Sakurazuka-sensei. "They'll be staying and celebrating with their family and I can hardly impose on them."
"Yeah, but since you and Sumeragi-kun are attached it won't really be imposing, right? Even if Sumeragi-kun's family doesn't know about your relationship you could just stay over as a friend – surely they wouldn't mind if Sumeragi-kun explained to them that his closest friend didn't have anyone to spend New Year's with!"
Briefly Michiko winced, embarrassed for Yukari's sake even if Yukari herself wasn't at the way the young woman was barging into Sakurazuka-sensei's personal life, but it was only out of reflex. The rest of her was still absorbing the discovery that not only was her very likeable employer going to spend the New Year's holiday completely alone he was, in fact, an orphan with no family to speak of let alone visit. Suddenly Michiko felt an immense wave of pity for him. Sakurazuka-sensei simply laughed again. "Only you could make it sound so easy, Yukari-san, but things aren't that straightforward. Subaru-kun's family is a very old one who will have all sorts of New Year's ceremonies and traditions to observe, and I don't think it would be appropriate for me to intrude on those."
"But still you can't spend New Year's by yourself, it's just wrong! Michiko-san agrees with me, right?" Michiko found herself nodding vigorously. "See!"
"I do see, and I'll allow that you have a very good point," Sakurazuka-sensei replied. "By the way, Yukari-san, what time did you say you were to meet your friend at the library?"
"Five thirty, what's the time now?"
"Almost five."
"Are you kid— oh shit!" Yukari stared at the clock on the wall with wide eyes. "And I'm still here – Sakurazuka-sensei, I think everything's been wiped up would you mind if I run off? It takes me at least twenty minutes to get to the library and I've still got to go home and get changed and—"
"Go, go, Michiko-san and I can close up," said Sakurazuka-sensei reassuringly. Yukari thanked him profusely and dashed off to put away the cleaning equipment. For a minute Michiko heard her rattling in the kichenette at the back which doubled as a staff room, then the girl was dashing back out no longer dressed in scrubs but an old pair of jeans and worn purple jumper. Her long ponytail whipped about her face as she flew out the door calling out, "bye, see you tomorrow!" not even looking back to see Michiko and Sakurazuka-sensei wave goodbye. A rattle of cat bells as the door swung shut, and then she was gone into the darkened street. Michiko breathed a sigh of relief.
"Tired?" Michiko turned to find Sakurazuka-sensei watching her with a sympathetic smile. "It has been a long day, and I know I didn't help by not turning up this morning. Was everything all right then as Yukari-san said?"
"Eh? Oh, ah, yes, there wasn't anything that we couldn't handle, I rearranged Murakami-san to come in next week and Yukari-san took care of all the usual feeding and cleaning tasks – loud as she is she's very responsible when it comes to getting work done."
"She is, however if I'm not at work for some reason it's better if she defers to you. After this morning it's probably fair to say that you're the most responsible one here. What I'd do without you I don't know."
Michiko flushed. "Th-thank you," she said, hoping the words hid her embarrassment; Sakurazuka-sensei was always generous with his praise yet no matter how often Michiko heard such things she couldn't get used to it. This had less to do with Sakurazuka-sensei's easy delivery than Michiko's previous experience with bosses who had generally viewed her either as eye-candy (when she was younger) or an office robot (when she grew older and put on weight) and never made her feel valued. It made her appreciate Sakurazuka-sensei all the more: he was a good man to work with, never bringing any bad moods to the clinic or neglecting to let Michiko and Yukari know how much he appreciated their efforts, and even if Michiko couldn't quite bring herself to approve of his reasons for turning up late that morning she couldn't hold anything against him. Yes, she'd be far more comfortable if Sumeragi-kun was a girl or at the very least a few years older, but if that was the way things were then well, all Michiko could say was that Sumeragi-kun was very lucky. Besides, Sakurazuka-sensei deserved someone nice, particularly since, as he'd said, he had no family.
Michiko found that last bit incredibly sad.
There was a quiet lull then, or at least a lull as close to quiet as an animal clinic could get. Michiko had found the background mix of squawks and woofs and meows distracting when she had first started over a year ago ('receptionist wanted for new veterinary clinic in Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku, must be experienced and handle additional administration and accounting duties, small family friendly business, excellent conditions and remuneration') but had quickly learned to ignore it; the noise was far more pleasant than the hum of medical equipment. Having finished putting everything back in order Michiko scanned the area for anything else to do. There was nothing. Only Sakurazuka-sensei behind the reception counter taking off his coat. It was a ritual that Michiko saw almost every evening yet for some reason this time she found herself watching thoughtfully, the way her employer draped the coat over the hook on the side of the tall filing shelf, and was struck at how young he looked without it, younger even than her son who despite having a wife and child still asked Michiko to make his favourite chicken curry for dinner. It occurred to Michiko then that if Sakurazuka-sensei was an orphan there was no one waiting for him to come home and that every night he would be cooking a small dinner just for himself, unless of course he happened to be seeing the Sumeragi twins that night. Young as they were as far as Michiko knew those two were the only significant personal relationship Sakurazuka-sensei seemed to have and yet even they had gone, travelling west to Kyōto leaving Sakurazuka-sensei by himself in the unforgiving capital—
"Is everything all right, Michiko-san?"
The question made Michiko jump – how could she get so lost in thought like that? – and she reddened as she realised she had been caught staring. "Um, yes!" Her eyes darted about looking for something safe to focus on, she had been tidying up, hadn't she. "Ah, everything's been cleaned here, I'll take the dirtied magazines out to the trash as I go, do you need me to lock up or anything?"
"It's fine, I locked the back door earlier and I can lock the front entrance myself." Sakurazuka-sensei was smiling in a way that made Michiko think he was still silently amused at her, which only increased her mortification. "You should be going soon if you want to catch your usual train to Mitaka."
"Ah, yes! I-I'll just get my things, then." Flustered, Michiko found herself hurrying past the reception towards the kitchenette, head bowed as she past Sakurazuka-sensei on the way. The light in the kitchenette was already on, left that way by Yukari who had a habit of forgetting these things sometimes, which enabled Michiko to quickly grab her bag and coat from the shelf and wrap herself up like a sushi roll. No gloves, though, those she had lost a few days ago in Shinjuku station and she kept forgetting to buy a new pair much to her irritation. This time, Michiko told herself as she waddled back out into the reception, this time she would make herself drop in somewhere and buy new gloves even if it was just a cheap pair to tide her over until when she had time to go shopping properly; she really needed some since nowadays she felt the cold so easily, but at least she could console herself with the fact that she would be returning to a warm home and family, which was more than what could be said for Sakurazuka-sensei who would be going back to a cold dark apartment—
Michiko stopped before picking up the magazines as a thought struck her. Turned to look back towards Sakurazuka-sensei who was watching her leave. "Ah, Sakurazuka-sensei?"
"Yes, Michiko-san?"
She hesitated for a moment, not quite believing what she was about to suggest, but if Sakurazuka-sensei really had no one else … "Ah, pardon me for saying so, but I don't think it's a good idea for you to spend New Year's all alone at home," she said quickly. "The clinic will be closed from Saturday until Wednesday next week, so why don't you at least take a holiday and maybe go to Kyōto anyway? It's not far to travel, there'll be lots to see and do and you could meet up with Sumeragi-kun when he's free? Even if he is there for family I'm sure he'd be very happy to see you, and a change of scene would be very good for—"
She broke off. Sakurazuka-sensei was steadily looking at her however at this angle the fluorescent lights reflected off his glasses making it impossible to see his eyes. It was a disquieting effect, one not at all countered by the slowly widening smile beneath. "That is actually a good idea, Michiko-san," said Sakurazuka-sensei, voice low and pleasant. Too pleasant. "A very good idea."
Michiko realised her neck muscles had tensed up. Before she could say anything however, Sakurazuka-sensei lowered his head as if in a silent laugh, and when he looked up again he had tilted his glasses out of the light. "No, really, I mean it," he said in a normal voice, and just like that Michiko felt herself relax, even a glow of pride at how well her suggestion was received. "It's a fantastic idea, so much so I'm definitely going to take it up. What's the schedule looking like for Friday?"
"Um …" Quickly Michiko searched her memory. "Just a couple of check-ups in the morning – Yukari-san will be leaving at one and I was hoping to leave early as well to go food shopping before the holiday period so I didn't make any appointments after that."
"Meaning that if I decided to get a shinkansen to Kyōto in the afternoon it wouldn't be any problem," said Sakurazuka-sensei thoughtfully. He chuckled. "Well then, Michiko-san, consider yourself on holiday after Friday lunch and free to go shopping. You'll get paid for a full day's work of course, it's the least I can do for all your efforts for me this year."
"Thank you." Michiko bowed a little in gratitude, relieved that no offence had been taken at her presumption, before picking up the pile of ruined magazines and tucking them under her arm. "Then I'll be going and see you tomorrow."
Sakurazuka-sensei inclined his head in a bow. "Thank you for your work today, and good night."
Good night indeed, given how dark it looked outside now. Smiling like a high-schooler Michiko opened the door of the clinic and stepped out into the street, glancing back once through the glass to see Sakurazuka-sensei wave her goodbye. She returned it briefly, still smiling, before walking around to the side of the building where the bins were. Cold as it was outside she couldn't help but feel pleased with herself; it wasn't so bad, perhaps, to get more involved with her colleagues as people rather than just co-workers, and while she would probably have to put up with Yukari's squeals of excitement for the rest of the week the knowledge that Sakurazuka-sensei would be enjoying a proper holiday with someone he cared about because of her would make it worth it. Mostly. It could be a good investment to buy a pair of ear plugs before tomorrow.
The set of bins sat beneath a cobweb-laced exterior light, full and ready for tomorrow's pick-up. Michiko shivered as she tried to decide which one was most appropriate before making an executive decision that although the magazines were soiled with drops of pigeon's blood they were probably all right to go into the burnable trash … with clumsy fingers she lifted the cold bin lid (gloves, she reminded herself, thick wool ones) and shoved the magazines inside, mind already beginning to plan out what she was going to cook for dinner. Her last task of the night done she let the lid slam shut and turned to leave, only to pause as something in the neighbouring general trash bin caught her eye.
Frowning, Michiko shuffled across for a better look. The lid of the general trash bin wasn't closing right, propped up by an object on top of the week's rubbish pile. It was difficult to see clearly past the shadows and ugly orange light, but squinting a little Michiko could tell the object was angular and green. A green box, the one young woman had used to bring in the injured pigeon. Michiko remembered that box being plain and square. The box in front of her now was on its side and half-crushed beneath the bin lid's weight. One of its corners was stained a wet dark red.
Instinctive revulsion made Michiko breath in sharply, which she immediately regretted as she caught a whiff of the bin's contents. She told herself she was being silly – this was an animal clinic, animals died here all the time, and it was only a street pigeon for goodness sake. So Sakurazuka-sensei hadn't been able to save it, there was nothing remarkable about that, and even the young woman who had brought in the pigeon had said that if it needed to be put down so be it, at least it would die peacefully instead of being run over by a car. Yet despite telling herself this Michiko couldn't help but think back to what she had seen earlier: Sakurazuka-sensei, green box in hand, silently stalking the exhausted pigeon amber eyes fixed on his prey. He had had a small smile on his face that was rather unsettling now that Michiko thought about it, because although it was the same smile she saw every day at work it had lacked all of its usual warmth, like a dish of food gone cold. Just like the smile Sakurazuka-sensei had worn when she had suggested he go to Kyōto after Sumeragi-kun.
Twinge of doubt and quiet unease. Michiko shivered as she stepped away from the bins as fast as possible without running. Work was over, she told herself as she headed for the main street, she had a long walk to get to the station, dinner to cook tonight, and her own life and family to take care of. Sakurazuka-sensei's business was none of hers and it would better to think no more of it. She repeated this to herself as she walked away head down and hands in pockets, steadfastly refusing to look back at the clinic in case there was something watching, and if her pace was a little faster than usual she told herself it was only the cold. In the shadows behind her, a stray cat had found a feast.
Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen
NOTES:
- Yukari's hairpins: Totoro refers to the 1988 anime film Tonari no Totoro/My Neighbour Totoro from Studio Ghibli created and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
- The girl bringing in the wounded pigeon is me :) I actually did pick up a wounded pigeon from the street once when coming home from work one night, and I had to ask a nearby ice-cream store for something to carry it in. They gave me a green box, I put the pigeon inside, and dropped it off at the local vet. Never found out what happened to it, though …
- Yoshinoya is one of the leading fast food chains in Japan and serves predominantly beef and rice bowls for a few hundred yen each.