Page 18 of We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat

As soon as classes were over, Reona dashed off campus. She had already switched her shift at work. Her plan was to head directly to Shousuke’s house and travel to the clinic together with Shousuke and the cat. Her heart was racing. She had the feeling that something extraordinary was about to happen.

But when she saw her phone, she looked up to the heavens in exasperation. There was a message from her brother. You have got to be kidding, she thought. He was coming by the house that night.

Not that she wasn’t glad, but when her brother came home, their mother insisted on having a family dinner. Only their father could be excused from attending if he was busy with work.

Why today of all days? In the first place, I don’t need to be there. As long as my brother’s there, it’s all that matters. As soon as her brother arrived, she’d eat her dinner in a hurry, then leave.

When she got home that night, Tomoya was already there. He sat in the living room, typing away on a laptop. It was unusual for him to drop by before finishing work.

“Hey, you’re here early. It’s only five o’clock.”

“I was picking up donations of supplies nearby. Since I had to suddenly cancel plans the other day, I thought I’d show my face, even for a little bit, today.”

“Oh, that’s unusually thoughtful of you.”

“What do you mean unusually?”

Tomoya wore a gentle smile. His jacket was covered in dust, and his hair was overgrown. When she had last seen him six months ago, he had looked more trim. He must have been swamped. She couldn’t complain about his last-minute cancellation the other day or his unexpected visit today. In any case, whenever she criticized her brother, their mother would annoyingly defend him. But today, there was no one in the kitchen.

“Where’s Mom?”

“Well, actually, she ran off to the market. I told her I can’t stay long, but she insisted I eat before I leave. She went to buy sushi.”

Tomoya smiled thinly.

You can get fresh sushi anywhere these days! Reona was fed up with their mother, who would do anything to keep her brother from leaving. When it came to her brother, their mother was constantly spinning her wheels alone.

A chime sounded, and Hajime peeked her head out from the tatami room in the back. Her tiny ears were perked up, and her light brown eyes were wide.

“Hey, Hajime. How’s it going?”

Tomoya called out.

Hajime froze in her tracks. She stared at Tomoya with the sharp glare of an alley cat before retreating to the back room.

Tomoya chuckled.

“Still frosty as ever.”

Hajime had never liked men—she’d never taken to Tomoya or their father. Their father had long given up on winning Hajime’s affection and now largely ignored her. Tomoya always stooped down low to speak to the cat, but Hajime continued to give him the cold shoulder.

Reona would have felt heartbroken if the cat she’d brought didn’t warm up to her. Yet her brother never showed any signs of being upset, and when he lived at home, he’d never once forgotten to feed her. Cats were simply not animals swayed by a sense of obligation or emotion, and no matter how much you did for them, they only showed affection to the people they chose. Even though Tomoya was the most familiar with cats, Hajime always treated him coldly.

But surely, Tomoya’s love reached his own cat, the one he had in his apartment.

“How’s little Nikké?”

“He’s always asleep. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him awake.”

“Really? Hajime has been sleeping a lot, too. I guess she’s getting old.”

“Is she eating?”

“Yes, but slowly. We give her soft food for senior cats.”

“Wet food can spoil pretty fast, so it’s a good idea to serve it in smaller portions and throw out anything she doesn’t finish. I know school keeps you super busy, but try to keep an eye on her food.”

“Got it.”

Her brother was always mild natured, and time seemed to move slowly around him. Just talking to him made her feel calm.

Tomoya’s phone beeped. After glancing at the message, he gave a soft sigh.

“It’s Mom. She says it’s really busy at the supermarket, and she’s going to be back late.”

“Of course it’s busy—it’s the evening.”

“Right.”

Tomoya shifted uneasily. It seemed he wanted to leave.

“If you have to be somewhere, you should tell Mom.”

“I don’t need to be anywhere. It’s just— No, I can’t. It wouldn’t make sense to leave after coming all this way. I’ll leave after dinner,”

he said, sounding like he had just made an important decision. Time moved slowly around Tomoya, but sometimes he was the slow one.

Now that she knew her mother would be home late, Reona decided not to wait any longer. They’d probably fight about this later, but she didn’t care.

“I’m going out with Shousuke now. Mom’s fine as long as you’re here. Do you mind if I go?”

“A date with Shousuke? You guys have always been close. Sure, go ahead.”

“Thanks. But it’s not a date.”

Reona laughed.

“You have to keep this a secret, but we’re going to a mental health clinic—Kokoro Clinic for the Soul or something. Shousuke’s a bit worn-out from the college exam stress. Have you heard about this place somewhere around Fuyacho Street? It’s a bizarre clinic that prescribes cats.”

“Prescribes cats?”

asked Tomoya, tilting his head slightly.

“Yup. I couldn’t tell Shousuke this, but I think it’s kind of questionable that they loan out cats. What do you think?”

“Are you talking about Dr. Kokoro’s practice?”

Tomoya gave a faint smile.

“It’s not a mental health clinic, but it certainly has cats. Tell Shousuke he’s welcome to drop by the rescue center anytime if he wants to play with cats. We have cats we’re trying to socialize and chubby cats that could use some exercise.”

“Hmm. Okay.”

Reona felt like they weren’t entirely on the same page, but still, it seemed like even her brother knew about that odd clinic in Nakagyō Ward. Apparently, this Dr. Kokoro was rather well-known.

When she arrived at Shousuke’s place, she found him home from cram school and waiting for her. Shasha was already inside her pet carrier. Reona offered to carry the carrier, and together, they made their way to the clinic.

“Thanks for being there yesterday when I spoke to my parents about my college plans,”

said Shousuke.

“No problem. And your parents didn’t seem that surprised.”

“Well, I’ve failed the entrance exams twice already. The school I’m considering now is in a different prefecture, and if I get in, I’ll need to live in a dorm. They’re a bit exasperated by how much it’ll all cost.”

“But your parents care about you so much. In my family, everyone is always fussing over my brother, while I’m pretty much on my own. I chose my college myself, and no one pays any mind when I come home late from work. Your mom is so much more caring—she’s always worried about me getting home safely.”

“Old-fashioned parents are like that. It’s got nothing to do with you. Even I can see that Tomoya’s a bit out of touch with the real world, so I get why they worry. I bet he’s popular with the ladies. He’s the kind of guy who triggers maternal instincts.”

“As a sister, that’s something I’d rather not think about. Ugh, it gives me the creeps!”

Reona’s brother was single, and she had no idea if he was even seeing anyone. Given his preoccupation with animals, she had a feeling he was oblivious to romance. He would probably care more about the cats than his girlfriend.

“Watch your feet,”

said Shousuke.

“There’s a ledge there.”

“Huh?”

When she looked down, she saw her feet caught on the low step of an entrance. Without her knowing, they had arrived at a long and narrow building. A dimly lit hallway stretched out before them. Reona stared blankly.

“This is the place?”

“Yup.”

“When did we get here?”

“What are you talking about? You’re weird. Let’s go.”

She followed Shousuke and discovered that there was indeed a clinic on the fifth floor. Inside, it was neat and sparsely furnished, with a nurse sitting at the reception window.

“Mr. Kunieda, you’re here to return the cat, right? The doctor is waiting for you. Please head in.”

The nurse seemed like a forceful personality. She did not look at Reona. Typically, only the patient was permitted in the examination room, but she had come all that way and wanted to meet the strange doctor who prescribed cats.

“Excuse me,”

Reona addressed the nurse.

“I’m a friend of the patient. May I go in with him?”

The nurse looked up.

“Are you a patient?”

“No, I’m not. I’m just here with my friend.”

“You’re a patient, I see,”

the nurse said, ignoring Reona’s protest.

“In that case, go right ahead. The doctor is waiting for you.”

What a charmless woman. Shousuke entered the examination room, and Reona trailed behind, carrying the cat carrier. The room contained just two plain chairs and a desk with a computer. It was so compact that their presence made the space feel cramped.

“It’s tight in here, isn’t it? Is this normal for an examination room? We’re practically nose to nose.”

“I agree. It’s my first time at a psychiatric clinic, but I have to say this place is full of odd quirks,”

said Shousuke as he settled into a chair.

Reona remained standing with the cat carrier in her arms, her back pressed against the wall. She surveyed her surroundings. So, this was Dr. Kokoro’s office. Not only was it small, there was no medical equipment. It was merely a space for conversation.

“Huh.”

“What’s up? You seem unhappy.”

“Not really. I was just wondering why you didn’t talk to me before seeing a doctor. I had no idea you were feeling so desperate.”

“Well, I figured you’d just get angry at me and tell me to stop moping around.”

Shousuke made it seem as though she had been insensitive. Just as she was about to reply, a man in a white lab coat walked into the room.

“Hello, Mr. Kunieda. Ah, you look well. It seems the cat was rather effective. How splendid.”

The doctor smiled as he lowered himself into his chair and turned his gaze toward Reona.

“Oh, dear, we can’t ignore this one, can we?”

“To—”

Tomoya!

She barely caught herself, her cheeks twitching with shock.

It was more than just a resemblance. The man before her was the spitting image of her brother. It was no wonder Shousuke confused them. Everything—his physique, facial features, skin texture and color, and even his voice—was exactly the same.

But it wasn’t him. His mannerisms weren’t like her brother’s at all. Tomoya would never giggle foolishly like this doctor, nor would he speak in such an oddly old-fashioned way. The contrast felt even more pronounced since she had just seen him at home. He was undeniably a different person. Yet, it was unsettling how closely they resembled each other.

The doctor gave Reona a concerned look.

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Your cheeks are jumping up and down.”

“They’re twitching,”

she snapped. She found it irritating that someone who looked so much like Tomoya was teasing her.

“Is that so?”

The doctor chuckled.

“Now, how did it go for you, Mr. Kunieda? Did anyone tell you that it’s okay if you give up?”

“No.”

Shousuke shook his head.

“I said it to myself.”

“I see. That’s good to hear. If you want something said, it’s fastest to say it yourself. It’s more accurate, too. But when you find yourself at a loss for words, that’s when you get a cat to lend you a paw. A cat punch will knock some sense into you. Well, take care.”

The doctor turned to Reona.

“Well, then. It’s your first time at our clinic, isn’t it? What’s your name and age?”

“Um,”

said Reona.

“Reona Kajiwara. I’m twenty years old.”

“What brings you in today?”

“There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m just here accompanying this cat.”

Reona pushed the cat carrier toward the doctor, but he nudged it back toward her.

“If you want something said, it’s fastest to say it yourself. It’s more accurate, too.”

Was he repeating himself now? Reona felt irritated by the doctor’s insinuation that she was harboring issues.

“I don’t have anything I want said.”

The doctor stood up and brought his face alarmingly close to hers.

“Hmm. It seems you’ve been taking a cat for a while, but you’re a bit too dependent on it. Of course, cats are excellent for household harmony, but it’s not good to be too reliant on them. You need to be a bit more independent.”

Is he referring to Hajime? How does he know about her?

Reona was beyond creeped out, even fearful. This doctor looked too much like Tomoya to be a coincidence. It felt as if her usually serious brother was playing a prank on her, and it sent a chill down her spine.

She tightened her grip on the pet carrier. I’m going to return her, then leave.

But before she could react, the doctor leaned in even closer, smiling calmly.

“What brings you in today?”

He’s way too close. He was like a cat pressing its damp nose against her. He was so near that her eyes couldn’t focus. The tip of the doctor’s nose and his eyes swam in a blur.

Nothing. Nothing’s wrong. But in a daze, she blurted, “I think I hate my mom.”

She was shocked by the words that had slipped out.

What did I just say?

Her own teen-rebellion-like outburst made Reona break out in a cold sweat. Declaring you hated your mom was something a grade-schooler would do. She uncomfortably avoided the doctor’s eyes as he offered a comforting smile.

“Is that true?”

Reona shook her head in denial.

“No, it’s not. Ignore what I just said. Pretend you didn’t hear anything.”