My New Boss at the Yokai Pharmacy Is a Fox Who Cannot Lie novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Sleep Beside Another Person

"How long?" Haruna asked.

"I don't know exactly," Kuzunoha said. "A few months. The fever climbs about a degree a year, and I have little room left."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You didn't ask me that."

"I asked you if you were happy."

"You did. And I couldn't answer, which is also an answer." Kuzunoha smiled, a small crooked smile with a lot of tiredness in it. "I'm sorry, Haruna. I wanted you to have a few nights before you knew."

Natsuki had her hand pressed over her mouth.

Tsukumo, on the counter, was crying silently into the sleeve of her yellow raincoat, and no one pointed it out.

"There must be something," Natsuki said. "A treatment. A different kind of medicine."

"I've tried every drawer in this room," Kuzunoha said. "Nothing touches it. Not until a minute ago, when your sister held my face."

Haruna stood very still.

Then she took off her white coat, folded it, and set it on the counter.

"Natsuki," she said. "Go home."

"Haru-"

"Go home and sleep. I'll call you at noon. I promise I'm all right."

"You're not all right."

"I'm better than I was," Haruna said. "Go."

Natsuki looked at her for a long time.

Then she crossed the room, pulled Haruna into a rough, tight hug and said into her hair, "If you need me, call me. If she needs a nurse, call me. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

She let go and turned to Kuzunoha.

"You hurt her," Natsuki said, "and I'll find a way to hit a fox."

"That's fair," said Kuzunoha.

At first light the door opened for its one minute, and Natsuki went out into the alley with her scarf wrapped to her nose.

Haruna stayed inside.

The door shut, and the wall of the alley rose behind it.

For the first time since she had started, Haruna was shut into the Night Dispensary with the lanterns dimmed, and the whole day lay in front of her.

Kuzunoha was standing in the middle of the shop, her hands hanging at her sides.

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