"Next!"
"One less."
"Miss Collete?"
"Oh, yes, that's me. I brought my parrot..."
"They didn't call us."
"There goes another one."
"Not me either."
"Another one less."
Tenma was scared.
From his previous life, even to the present, he retained his greatest fear. Needles. He was attentive to who they called, and he was grateful to be able to understand at least the humans of this world, so he could know if they were calling him or not.
He learned what he could to be as attentive as possible. If they called him, they would ask for "Shinma". If they called the store owner, they would ask for "Rotenmeyer".
He already had a name it seemed. But that didn't matter to him.
He was attentive if the vet closed before they called him. He was unwell, yes, but nothing a good rest couldn't fix, right?
That's what Tenma thought, while being calmed by the old lady's caresses. She kept the puppy still, as Tenma had tried to escape.
The store owner carried a bag and several handkerchiefs with her, to keep an eye on the puppy's vomits. She showed great attention and affection for him.
"Everything will be fine. You know, your father was just like you when he was younger. Even in adulthood, he never stopped fearing the vet even once," the old lady laughed a little, looking at the puppy trying to flee. "Your father was the guardian of our family. And you, the most beautiful of all, turned out identical in appearance and with all his fears."
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Tenma felt the caresses increase on his head. And he understood. Now he began to understand some of the old lady's attachment.
More patients were being called, but Tenma began to prefer listening to the old lady.
"It seems I'm not the only one who saw the potential guardian in you. Your siblings will be just as strong, but you have already been chosen."
The old lady continued to stroke his head, pausing for a moment.
Tenma lay on her lap, sighing after hearing everything.
He put his head in the old lady's hand to receive more of her caresses, but she ignored him.
He looked up to get her attention, opening his eyes to see her cough. Her cough was increasing, to the point where she seemed to struggle to breathe.
The old lady clenched her fist, and thumped her chest a couple of times. Until she caught her breath. She coughed a little more, less intensely, and rubbed her eyes almost after choking.
"It's best... to find them a home as soon as possible. Don't you think?"
Tenma watched the owner cough a little more, silently. Although he felt his eyes getting a little watery.
"Miss Colette?"
"It's me, here," wiping her hand on her coat, she carried Tenma in her arms to the vet.
Tenma broke out in a cold sweat. They had forgotten where they were.
"Wait until we call you, please have a seat."
Now, in the hands of the man in the white coat, his hope for life was given. Tenma started barking in fear.
But the old lady raised her hand, gesturing for him to calm down, waving goodbye at the end.
Tenma understood the old lady's concern about how important he was to her.
He swallowed hard, and stayed still as he was placed on a metal desk. He closed his eyes and looked away.
("You know, your father was just like you when he was younger. Even in adulthood, he never stopped fearing the vet even once.")
("It seems I'm not the only one who saw the potential guardian in you.")
He could be strong. His fear was normal.
If he could think that this was a test, to start his new life from scratch, he would take it. He would be strong, to endure the ordeal.
"And... it's done," the vet commented, removing the empty syringe.
Tenma watched the vet leave and discard the empty instrument.
He stayed still, frozen, soulless.
.....
Is...
Was that really it?!