Ein, is it possible that you haven't actually shed any fur?
Wh-Why would you suddenly say that?
Aha, judging from your current expression... I take it that I'm right?
Umm, let's talk about this outside.
The breeze is cooler in early autumn than in summer. Although Ein and I are standing in a hidden place, it is still well-ventilated, and the cool breeze carries a few yellowing leaves through the gap between us, setting the stage for the upcoming interrogation scene.
I'll give you one chance. Tell me what you're hiding from me. Confess honestly, and all shall be forgotten, or else a lot of punishment will be coming your way.
Ahem, actually... PLAYER, you guessed right. I didn't shed any fur.
It wasn't a guess but a reasonable inference because it's completely illogical for you to be so reluctant to try a treatment like a hair growth serum. I thought about it again carefully and realized that the fur around the bald part of your tail had clear and neat edges, so it looked more like the fur had been cut off instead of falling off.
You remember it so clearly after just a few glances. You're as observant as the scouts in my tribe.
A few compliments aren't going to make me forget that a certain fox lied to me.
Well, everything started when I went inside a bookstore that was being renovated for my part-time job a few days ago. When I was carrying books, I accidentally knocked over a bucket of paint next to me with my tail.
It's really difficult to clean red paint, and I shaved off the fur at the tip of my tail in a moment of recklessness.
If that's what happened, I should have noticed that your tail looked different soon after we met on that day.
Ahem, well... my tail looked a little ugly without any fur, so I borrowed some glue from the old lady who lived next to me and glued my shaved fur to my tail to hide the bald patch. The glue probably wasn't very good quality, so when you touched it lightly...
Ein, it's hard to imagine that you would use a method that seems so obviously unreliable.
Haha, now that I think about it, this really is something I really want to forget forever. Fortunately, you're the only one who knows about it, PLAYER.
Possibly because he is tipped off by something in my expression, Ein stops smiling and leans over cautiously to apologize to me instead.
I thought about telling you the truth, but I was interrupted when I started. You also said you would keep me company until I recovered, so...
...
Don't be angry. I'll play a lot of mahjong with you at the shrine today to make up for all the wasted time. You can also touch my tail whenever you want from now on. How about that?
He waggles his fluffy tail to the left and right in front of me and seems extremely confident that I will accept his offer and forgive him. To my frustration, I realize after thinking about it that I really can't turn him down.
You've got it wrong. It's more like I'm playing mahjong with you. You're the one who is willing to spend all your time in a mahjong dojo. Also, I've always been allowed to touch your tail whenever I want, so this doesn't count as an apology at all!
As I speak, I reach out and rub the tail in front of me from one end to the other end to resolve the resentment in my heart.
Huh? Wait a minute... What's this familiar yet unfamiliar feeling...?
Like last time, I open my palm in disbelief and look at the many clumps of messy orange-red animal fur on it.
Ein, I think you really are shedding fur.
What? That's not possible!
His calm demeanor disappears, and his face turns pale in an instant. He reaches out to rub his tail, sending orange-red fur flying everywhere, covering everything around him in a layer of orange-red fur.
Whoa! It looks like it's quite serious too.
No way! This isn't possible! PLAYER, what should I do now?!
Well... I'm not sure about that. You also said that every fox has their own difficulties.
Ignoring Ein's plea for help, I turn and leave to go to a mahjong dojo. Behind me, Ein is still lost in shock after realizing he has a fur shedding problem, but he should go to a hospital to ask for help once he comes to terms with his situation.
But I won't go with him this time. After all, those who lie to others should be punished for their actions.
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