Hello Vet! How are you?

Warm and Cozy.

Feeling warmth seep through his whole body, shadow found himself in a good mood.

‘It’s warm.’

The warmth was just right, neither too hot nor too cold, and it lifted Shadow’s spirits and a smile crept onto his face.

‘This moving rock is curiously soft too.’

Shadow had often melted his chilled body by lying on the moving rock that people rode on during the cold winters.

But this kind of soft rock was a first for him.

The rock would gradually cool down, but until then, he resolved to enjoy the warmth.

With that thought, he entrusted his body to the warm rock and tried to fall asleep again.

“……ni?”

Soon, a sound came from somewhere.

It seemed to be people passing by.

“Hard work……da.”

This time, the voices of people sounded a bit louder.

It was strange though.

Normally, he would have been annoyed at being disturbed in his sleep, but he wasn’t.

He didn’t want to give up on this warm and soft rock either.

Shadow buried himself a little more into the rock, continuing to sleep.

“Though you want to sleep more, wake up.”

Again a sound was heard.

Yet, his mood wasn’t bad.

If anything, he felt better.

Despite the noisy sound nearby, he felt good, perhaps because it was a dream.

The dream was nice probably due to the warm and soft bed.

Feeling good, shadow answered with a faint smile.

『…… I’m going to sleep!』

And he slipped back into a drowsy state.

Then it happened.

He felt something warm and heavy on his back.

It was the touch of a human.

Usually, even if he was asleep, he would immediately bare his claws and hiss.

But now, instead of such thoughts, he felt comforted.

“Blackie, I know you’re sleepy, but you have to wake up now. Wake up and take a deep breath.”

『I’m not Blackie! I’m Shadow!』

Shadow suddenly yelled.

“Yes, well done. Just take a deep breath and exhale. That way your lungs won’t shrink.”

『What on earth are you talking about?』

“You don’t need to know. Just breathe deeply.”

Keeping him from sleeping even when he was sleepy—what a bad person.

Wait? A person?

Come to think of it, this voice belonged to the person who had removed the thorn stuck in his body.

That person had definitely told Shadow to sleep and he replied that he wasn’t sleepy.

‘But I slept, huh. How come he understood what I said?’

Having lived in seclusion; Shadow had never heard of a vet who understood their words.

Hence, he was extremely confused.

『Ho-How can a human understand my……?』

Shadow’s voice was getting louder.

“You mean, how can I understand you?”

Nods, nods.

Shadow nodded while lying down.

But then, thud thud.

Something hit his neck.

“Don’t move. If you touch your surgery eye, you’ll be in big trouble.”

『Surgery? What do you mean? No, but can you understand me?』

“Of course. Looks like you haven’t heard my rumors.”

『Rumors?』

“Yes. All the nearby cats and dogs know me. But that’s not important right now.”

『This is the biggest event of my life, yet it’s not important?』

“Well, that’s something you can figure out over time. What’s important is you don’t touch your eye.”

『…… Of course.』

If he touched it, it would hurt more.

Suddenly thinking about his eye made him feel melancholy. Although the pain had stopped for now, it would likely hurt again.

While writhing in pain, he might just roll off this rock.

‘Getting down before that happens would be safer. Wait! How did I get on this rock?’

Unable to jump for a long time, shadow was flustered but soon accepted it.

『Did you put me up on this rock?』

“Rock? What rock?”

『This warm and soft rock.』

“Ah, the heating mat? I put it there so you wouldn’t get cold as you woke from anesthesia. Is it too hot?”

『No, it’s perfect.』

People called the warm moving rock a heating mat.

Shadow learned a new word.

“If it gets hot, let me know.”

Hot? Shouldn’t it be getting colder? he thought, while the voice continued.

“Blackie. You mustn’t touch your eyes until I remove this, okay?”

『Of course I won’t touch it. It hurts so much if I do.』

“Good. Very good.”

Though he’d been anxious thinking about the pain his eye would suffer, when told it was good, shadow snapped.

『What’s so good about it? It hurts enough to pop my eyeball.』

“Hmm, has the painkiller effect worn off already? Does it hurt a lot now?”

『Not right now.』

“Right? That’s good. Anyway, don’t touch your eye. Now, how long has it been hurting? What were the initial symptoms?”

Daring to pry into his sore spot, shadow’s expression hardened.

‘Is this person…… a spy sent by the boss of the Evergreen Park? Even after retirement, still being sought out. He must be more tenacious than he looks, that guy.’

With it getting more complicated in his head; Shadow let out a sinister cry.

『Why are you asking about that?』

“Your right eye will recover, but the left eye is uncertain. If it’s been hurting for a long time, recovery is difficult.”

Though he didn’t understand the words, such matters had nothing to do with Shadow.

Shadow was solely contemplating how to escape if those Evergreens invaded—where to, and how.

With his sight gone, and this area being unfamiliar, it’d be dreadfully hard to escape.

But he had to try everything he could.

Standing still to be cornered wasn’t in his nature.

Shadow tightly clenched his cute little white forepaws.

“Even with just one eye, there shouldn’t be any big issue for living. Though jumping over fences or up trees would be hard.”

『What? Did you say I’d see? You said I’d see?』

Shadow asked again, trying to confirm if he heard correctly.

“Since the surgery went well, you’ll see after about a week, as long as you don’t mess with your eye.”

『See? You’re saying I’ll be able to see again?』

Overjoyed, shadow sprang up, shouting in delight.

“Hey, no. You shouldn’t get too excited, or your eye pressure will rise. Your eyes will really burst.”

But Shadow didn’t hear any of it.

He danced, lifting his forepaws, shaking his hips with joy.

It was a dance of happiness.

“Look at you, so happy? Of course, it’s good. But still, not now. If your eye bursts from excitement, there’s no cure. You’ll have to live without seeing ahead of you forever.”

Startled by the words about not seeing ahead, shadow quietly lowered his forepaws and lay still.

“Yes, it’s not good for your eyes to shake around for now, so stay like that.”

『If I stay like this, will I be able to see?』

“Yes. It’s uncomfortable, but hold out for just a week.”

『What if I’m in pain? When it hurts too much, I may roll around on the floor or press against my eye without realizing. Would that mean I won’t be able to see?』

“You’re on painkillers, so you won’t be in pain. And when it heals, it won’t hurt. Don’t worry.”

『Not hurt? Really?』

“Yes.”

Saying he would be able to see again, and not be in pain too.

Shadow was indeed delighted, much more than earlier.

But recalling the warning not to get excited, shadow rejoiced quietly.

Nyaaaoho!

“Yes, shouting to that extent is fine.”

Though a human hand petted him, shadow did not unsheathe his claws.

Reflecting on it, the woman who carried him, and this man.

Towards these two he never bared his claws.

Shadow, who originally disliked human touch, hated it even more after losing his sight.

But strangely, he didn’t mind these two.

‘How odd.’

Shadow decided not to delve too deeply into this issue.

Within just a few days, he’d be able to see the world again.

Such matters seemed trivial.

Moreover, the touch petting him felt nice.

『Not there, scratch to the side.』

“Here?”

『No, a bit lower. Yes, there. Scratch a little harder.』

“My, such a demanding little one.”

Scratch scratch scratch.

Initially a gentle touch, the strokes gradually intensified.

Shadow, who was entrusting his body bit by bit, felt his body relax.

His whole body grew drowsy, until he eventually fell asleep.

Even while asleep, shadow occasionally sensed the pleasant touch.

But rather than finding it dangerous, it felt comforting and good, so for the first time in his life, shadow fell into a deep, restful sleep.

Shadow had a simple wish.

To wake up and have a delicious meal right before him.

That way he wouldn’t have to suffer hunger and could immediately enjoy a tasty meal.

Sniff sniff sniff.

‘It smells savory.’

Was his wish coming true?

As Shadow stirred and sat up, a voice came from beside him.

“Time to eat.”

A familiar voice.

『Food?』

“Yes. Just stay still now.”

Click. A loud noise came from his neck.

『Wh-What’s this?』

“It’s the sound of taking off the neck collar. It’s easier to eat without this on. Just don’t touch your eye.”

『Understood.』

Why reiterate the obvious?

As long as he didn’t touch his eye, he’d eventually regain his sight, so of course, he’d need to comply.

“Here, eat.”

Shadow took a bite of the food brought in front of him and was astonished.

It was a delicious taste he was trying for the first time.

『De-Delicious.』

“There are ones who dislike it, but it’s fortunate.”

『…… I can’t understand anyone disliking such delicious food.』

Shadow buried his head and quickly devoured the bowl in no time.

Nom nom nom.

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

Wanting more, shadow eagerly licked his empty plate clean.

“You’d want more, but hold on for now. I’ll give you more in a bit.”

Though he was lucky enough to get tasty food this time, he didn’t think he’d get more again.

Tilting his head, shadow asked.

『You’ll give more?』

“Yes. Eating too much at once isn’t good, so I’ll give it in portions.”

Just then.

Ding dong.

A cheerful sound was heard as someone entered.

『It’s that person!』

Shadow turned his head towards the source of the sound.

“Director! I’m here.”

“Manager Jang, you’re here early.”

“Not really early. You haven’t even been home, director. I’m really sorry.”

“Haha, don’t be sorry. I just slept here watching over him. But I must admit, the coffee smells good. It’s for me, isn’t it?”

“Yes, hehe. And the bread just came out fresh and warm this morning.”

“Oh, freshly baked bread. Just the thought makes my mouth water. Manager Jang, you haven’t had breakfast yet, right? Let’s eat together.”

“No, director, you eat first. I’ll eat slowly.”

“Then I’ll have this and drop by home. Blackie, listen to Manager Jang. And don’t touch your eyes!”

『I’m not touching! And my name is Shadow!』

For numerous times afterward, shadow repeated the same words. But eventually.

『Hmph, call me as you please, whether it’s Blackie, kkamdaengie, or Kkamnyang!』

“Oh, Kkamnyang. That’s nice. Blackie, from now on, you’re Kkamnyang.”

***

“Alright, Kkamnyang, let’s go home.”

『Home?』

“Yes, our home. But there’s a cat named Gray one at our place? You should get along well with him.”

At the mention of a ‘Gray one’, shadow’s face lit up.

‘It must be the one who cared for me.’

Definitely needed to get along with such a one.

『Understood.』

“I’ve already let Gray one know about you and your condition, so he won’t bother you. Especially your eyes, I told him never to touch them so you needn’t worry about that.”

Of course, shadow wasn’t worried.

A good fellow wouldn’t attack him without reason.

“Alright, let’s go.”

For the first time, shadow was placed in a carrier and headed to this place called ‘home’.

The feeling of not being left alone and going somewhere together was very pleasant.

‘For some reason, being with this person feels secure even though I can’t see.’

Shadow leisurely took in the smells and sounds as they traversed the distance.

After some time, there was a clunk sound.

“We’re home now.”

The fresh scent of wood seeped into the air.

Amid the smells, a familiar yet distant scent was mixed in.

Shadow instinctively understood.

‘Danger!’

He leapt up inside the carrier, entering a guard stance.

Consequently, the carrier thumped and jostled.

“You’re going to hurt your eye like that. Lie down quietly. I’ll get you out once we’re inside.”

Beep boop beep beepity beep.

In tandem with the sound, came a meow!

A cat’s sound.

『Welcome nooooyng!』

At the familiar cat voice, a certain someone came to Shadow’s mind.

‘It’s similar to that boss of Evergreen.’

That kind Gray one sounded similar to him.

That wasn’t all.

Even the scent was similar.

With his fur bristling, shadow muttered to himself.

‘Calm down. That guy isn’t him.’

No matter how nice, if he stood his fur and took a fighting stance, the other cat would dislike it.

And clearly, the weaker one now was Shadow himself.

With his sight unseen, he must protect the eye from further damage.

Shadow curbed his instincts, and as ordered by this person, obediently lay back down.

“Gray one! Are you hungry? Hyung will quickly feed you.”

『I’m fine, meow. Is he the sick one? Meow』

“Yes, I told you in the morning, didn’t I? Don’t ever bother Kkamnyang. Got it?”

『Got it. Meow. Since his eyes don’t see well, I’ll take good care of him meow.』

“Yes, yes. You’ll take Kkamnyang around. Show him around the house well.”

『Got it! Meow!』

Although Shadow listened to Lee Joon and Gray one’s conversation, he barely managed to subdue his rising fur and the urge to attack.

‘This Gray one is different from Silver Rain.’

No way Silver Rain would be so kind.

Once he was assured that Gray one and Silver Rain were entirely different cats, his tension eased.

Then, click.

The carrier’s door opened.

“Now, introduce yourselves. This is Gray one. And this is…….”

『Oh, aren’t you Shadow!』
『Yoouuu! Si… Silver Raaain?』

Kyaohoohooo!

Nyaaaohohoho!

In the alleyway, sharp cries of cats rang out.

—