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検査を受けるようエインを説得する

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Ein, I know it's a little embarrassing, but the doctor needs to thoroughly understand your problem to give you the most appropriate treatment plan, so an examination is necessary.
A fox's tail isn't meant to be touched so casually by others.
Huh? Who keeps asking me if I want to touch his tail and telling me that it feels very nice to touch his tail?
You're different from the others!
*coughs*...
Probably because he noticed that we've gone off-topic, the doctor breaks his silence and interrupts our conversation with a cough. He stands slowly and puts on medical gloves, then he gives me a command in an irrefutable tone.
Follow me inside and pin him down on the hospital bed so I can examine him carefully.
...O-Okay.
Five minutes later
Although Ein is an excellent hunter, he is no match for the two of us. Before long, due to our combined efforts, Ein is lying on a bed inside the consultation room obediently for the examination.
Can you really breathe with your face buried completely in the pillow?
To think a hunter like me would be pinned down like prey. Everyone in my tribe would make fun of me if they knew about this.
Don't forget that a consultation room is a doctor's hunting grounds. You taught me that an excellent hunter never misses, so there's nothing to be ashamed of if you're defeated in someone else's territory.
But my tail has been touched. I'm going to need to clean myself three times tonight! Three times!
He battles to raise his slender fingers in front of me and draws the number three. As if to emphasize his message, he deliberately waves his hand to the left and the right a few times, which makes his body sway slightly.
In the next second, the doctor says something in his emotionless tone.
Tsk, don't let go. Hold him tight.
...Yes!
Doctor, how is Ein doing? Have you figured out what's causing the shedding?
After seeing that the doctor has let go of Ein's tail, I ignore the blushing fox next to me and quickly approach the doctor to ask about his situation.
Yes, and the reason is quite clear too. The fur at the site of the most serious shedding should have been shaved off by a razor.
...Huh?!
Look over here. The edges of the remaining fur here are very neat, so it's obvious that the fur didn't fall out naturally. If you look carefully, you can even see red paint hidden under the long fur beside it.
I surmise that the fur at this so-called afflicted area should have been shaved off by its owner after it was stained with red paint that couldn't be washed off.
But I clearly remember that Ein's tail was perfectly fine when I met him that day. The small patch of fur only came out when I touched his tail.
I don't know about that. Maybe you can ask him yourself.
We both look at Ein, who is sitting in front of the table after the examination. His hands are covering his face, and he is trying to avoid making eye contact with me.
Ein, what's going on here?!
I guess I can't deny it any longer... Well, I've actually wanted to tell you this from the very beginning, but I kept getting interrupted every time I tried to explain.
When I was at my part-time job a few days ago, I accidentally knocked over a bucket of paint next to me. Paint is really hard to clean, and the affected area was small, so I shaved the fur that was covered in paint in desperation.
So the fur that fell out after I touched your tail was...
Ahem, after shaving the fur at the tip of my tail, I realized that my bare tail looked a little... unsightly. After thinking about it, I borrowed some glue from an old lady who lived next to me and glued the fur back onto my tail. Nobody would notice it unless they looked carefully, but then you suddenly touched it...
Oh, so now it's my fault?
No, no, no, of course everything is my fault. I felt too embarrassed to tell you that I had shaved my fur and then glued it back onto my tail, so I didn't know what to say to you.
I finally worked up the courage to tell you everything honestly, but then you said you would keep me company until I recovered. I... I thought we would be able to spend more time together because of this, so I selfishly...
So that's the truth behind your fur loss.
I'm sorry for making you worry about me for so long.
Ein's voice becomes quieter and quieter until it disappears completely. He is a strong fox, but he looks at me timidly and expectantly with eyes that make him seem as innocent as a little white rabbit.
Sigh, life is like a play, and we've met because of fate. I won't get mad at anyone, because who will take my place if I get sick...
PLAYER, what are you reciting?
The "don't be angry" chant. I need to calm myself down or else there will be news about a blood-stained consultation room in the evening news.
...
Most likely because he knows he is in the wrong, Ein, who is just about to step forward, quickly retracts his steps and sits on the chair again where he makes a look that says "punish me however you want."
Even though I know he is just pretending, I find it difficult to ignore the look he is giving me. I take a deep breath and gradually calm down. In the end, I can't help smiling at Ein who keeps observing my expression carefully from the corner of his eye.
This is good news. At least we know that you're healthy and have no fur shedding problems.
I'm sorry to interrupt you, but this fur shedding consultation isn't over yet.
Huh? Didn't you already find out what had really happened?
To be precise, that's just what you think is the truth. The fact is, upon examining you, I noticed that you do shed hair frequently. For example...
The doctor motions for Ein to turn around, then reaches out and strokes his tail from one end to the other. As his arm moves, strands of fox fur, both long and short, fly into the air, covering the nearby table and chairs in a layer of orange-red fur.
Not wanting to believe what he just saw, Ein reaches out and gently rubs his tail. However, no matter how many times he does this, he finds fur on his hand, which means that he does have a fur shedding problem.
This is impossible! I really do have a fur shedding problem?
Haha, you don't need to worry about it. Your situation isn't serious, and you'll get better if you take your medication on time.
No way! This is impossible! I'm actually losing fur... I know, this is a dream!
This blow is so heavy that Ein seems to have trouble coming to terms with reality. When I see his fingers reaching for his arm to try to wake himself up with pain, I quickly stop him.
Just face the reality, Ein. You are shedding fur.
But this is really unscientific. I'm obviously very healthy, right?
Haha, sometimes fatigue can also cause fur loss. Perhaps you've been stressing about how to tell your friend the truth these past few days, which has caused the onset of this disease. Here's some medicine. Remember to make the patient take this every day after lunch.
No problem. This time I'll make sure I check up on him closely!
No!!!
One week later
Ichihime, did you see where Ein went?
Master, you're early today, nyaa. I, Wanjirou, and that bad rabbit have accepted Mr. Ein's snacks and promised to not tell you that he is hiding in the storeroom on the east side because he wants to wait for you to leave before coming out to play mahjong, nyaa.
Thanks, Ichihime, go and play with Wanjirou and the others. I won't bother you anymore.
I smile as I hand the snacks in my hand to Ichihime, and we exchange a knowing look at the same time. After that, I walk slowly towards where Ein is hiding with a bowl of medicine in my hands.
Ein's fur shedding incident has turned from a mistake into a fact, and he has started to cheer up and face reality after being dispirited for a period of time. However, I don't know whether it is divine punishment, but Ein's medicine is very bitter. Its bitter stench infiltrates every corner of Mahjong Soul Shrine whenever it is boiled.
Sigh, as they say, good medicine is bitter. Why doesn't Ein understand this? I even come here specially every day to make sure he drinks every last drop of his medicine. This is all for his own good.
Pfft... Even I have trouble convincing myself with this excuse, hahahaha. It's his fault for deceiving me for so long before. Making sure he drinks this bitter medicine is just payback for his deception.
With this thought in mind, I stand still in front of the storeroom entrance, pull the door bolt gently, and call out to him in my gentlest voice.
Come on, Ein. It's time to drink your medicine...