“I’m back.”

– – –

Nagasaki agreed to meet Shuuji with no objections. When Shuuji called the cell phone number on the back of the business card Koutarou had gotten from Nagasaki, and requested a meeting to discuss the details of this part time job, Nagasaki said the following afternoon would be fine.

“He really is a doctor then, huh,” Shuuji said, like he hadn’t expected it. They’d come to the best general hospital in town.

Just past the front entrance, there was a list of the day’s attending physicians, and the two confirmed that Nagasaki’s name was on it.

“You doubted even that?”

Koutarou stared at Shuuji’s profile, surprised. And it seemed Shuuji still wasn’t entirely convinced, because his eyes were glued to the duty roster.

“I didn’t think doctors had enough free time to wander around town,” Shuuji said, trying to make an excuse. After all, Nagasaki had shown up in a supermarket to look for Koutarou in the middle of the day. Apparently, it was after his morning rounds had been completed, but it must have still been during working hours, and it seemed that Shuuji felt uncomfortable about it.

“Besides, is that something a physician who’s this busy with medical exams does?”

The duty roster Shuuji was looking at had Nagasaki’s name all over it from Monday to Friday. Today was Wednesday, and naturally, Nagasaki had appointments. Which was probably why they’d been scheduled for two o’ clock in the afternoon.

But it had been ten or fifteen minutes since Koutarou and Shuuji arrived on the ground floor of the hospital, and it was now well past their two o’ clock appointment time.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m late,” Nagasaki apologized, still wearing his white coat. Koutarou and Shuuji were given to understand that his morning appointments had run long. As further evidence, a great crowd of patients waited at the checkout counter to pay their bills.

“No. Thank you for taking the time to meet us when you’re so busy.” Shuuji politely bowed his head.

“Let’s not just stand around chatting, I want to talk in more detail, follow me.” Maybe he really was busy, or maybe he was just impatient by nature, but Nagasaki barely exchanged hellos before he turned his back on Koutarou and Shuuji and walked off. That kind of pushy attitude intimidated Shuuji, and Koutarou, standing next to him, knew it. But, Shuuji didn’t say anything. No doubt he figured they should listen to what Nagasaki had to say first. He followed after Nagasaki without a word, and Koutarou stayed beside him.

Nagasaki guided them to a small room on the second floor. In the center of the room long tables had been placed in a hollow square, and it gave the strong impression of being a small conference room.

“I’ve arranged to use this place for the papers.” Nagasaki started with an explanation of the room. That must have been why he’d brought Koutarou and Shuuji here. He wasn’t just looking for a leisurely chat.

“That’s what I wanted to talk about…” Shuuji interrupted, before Nagasaki could go into any details. He was the type to be a bit reserved in public, and he wouldn’t normally speak up so assertively with people he’d just met. But that’s how worried he was about Koutarou. He didn’t seem to be able to keep his mouth shut.

“Oh, right,” Nagasaki said, as if he’d just remembered, and stared at Shuuji quite openly. “You’re the roommate who called me up and wanted to talk, right? So what should we talk about?”

Koutarou cut in before Shuuji could answer. “He’s not just my roommate. This is my lover, Shuuji Shiraishi.”

Koutarou introduced Shuuji in grand tones. Koutarou had been right beside him during yesterday’s phone call, but Shuuji had introduced himself as Koutarou’s roommate, and Koutarou had been wanting to correct it ever since.

“Oi, Koutarou…” Shuuji got flustered and tried to cover Koutarou’s mouth.

Shuuji had always tried to keep the relationship between the two of them a secret. But as far as Koutarou was concerned, there was nothing to be ashamed of, no matter who they were facing, so he’d never thought it necessary to hide it, and had never really understood why Shuuji always tried to.

“Ah-ha. Yeah, if you’re his lover, it stands to reason you wouldn’t trust a job from some shady rando, huh.”

Nagasaki accepted Koutarou’s revelation quite easily, and didn’t seem to question anything. Shuuji was so surprised he couldn’t form any words. Nagasaki’s attitude seemed quite beyond Shuuji’s expectations.

“You’ve verified my identity, right?”

“That’s, uh, yes,” Shuuji answered. He recovered from his surprise, and stared at Nagasaki, so as not to overlook any suspicious points, no matter how small.

“Okay then, next up is the details of the actual work.”

– – –

Koutarou went to the hospital three days a week, excluding Mondays and Thursdays, and since operations had commenced on Tuesday, Friday was his third day. Like Nagasaki had said, in addition to the papers, which he’d printed out, he prepared everything, including writing implements, dictionaries, and a computer, and all Koutarou had to pack was a lunch and a thermos full of tea.

“Welcome home,” Shuuji greeted him when he got back to the apartment. This exchange was on its third day too. Koutarou had told Shuuji he wanted him to concentrate on his work and not pay him any attention, since Shuuji was so busy, but Shuuji not only came out to greet him, he also saw him off in the morning and even made his lunch for him. Although Shuuji had opposed the whole job at first, he seemed happy that Koutarou was working now. And Koutarou was happy to have started this part time gig, if only to make Shuuji happy.

“I’m back. Everything was delicious today, again.”

Koutarou had eaten all of it, and now offered the lightened lunchbox to Shuuji.

“Of course. My cooking skills haven’t lost to you quite yet, you know,” Shuuji boasted, and a smile stretched across his face. Koutarou had started to feel like he left the house just so he could be greeted by that smile upon his return.

“I have also already started preparing this evening’s dinner.”

“Again? I said I was going to do it.”