Edogawa Nishiguchi Ayakashi Clinic - Chapter 10
Just as I was still trying to process what just happened, the glass doors of the clinic slid open again. Out of all the days, why are patients especially coming in one after another today!?
“H-hello… Have you brought your consultation card?”
The beautiful, black-haired lady who was wearing a skirt suddenly made eye contact with me.
“Ahahahahhahahahahaha!”
My body stiffened when she suddenly burst out laughing.
Miss, this is a clinic.
Of course, it’s not that strange when patients like her visit.
“If… If this is your first time visiting this month, please hand over your insurance card too.”
“You’re funny, you’re so so funny, ahahahahahhahahaha!”
But even if she was laughing like this, her eyes weren’t.
This was far scarier than getting suddenly yelled at.
Most importantly, it seems like her mouth is quite big.
But it might just be my imagination. After all, people have different quirks.
Yes, I’m definitely just imagining things!
“Are you alright?”
When I turned around, Dr. Tengo was standing behind me with a very calm expression.
Oh no, I feel like I’m about to cry.
“I-I’m fine!”
“Ms. Toriyama, your consultation and insurance cards, please.”
“Ahahahaha! I know, doctor!”
As she laughed with her mouth wide open, the beautiful Ms. Toriyama reached into her bag and took out the two cards.
Her laughter never stopped even when she handed them to Dr. Tengo. It was quite terrifying.
“Nanakida, please run these through the machine.”
“Ah, y-yes!”
“Well then Ms. Toriyama, please go inside.”
“Your new hire is so hilarious! Ahahahahahaha!”
Wanting to run away from Ms. Toriyama, I sat down and single-mindedly stared into the monitor. Meanwhile, Dr. Tengo looked unfazed as he called out to her and entered the examination room as usual.
Well, it’s to be expected as this is a medical facility.
But.
Between Mr. Shiramine whose nose grew when he sneezed and Ms. Toriyama who laughed out of nowhere, I couldn’t help but wonder how strange this clinic was.
“If that’s the case, this clinic shouldn’t be called Akashiya Clinic, but—”
I caught sight of the clinic’s name posted on the glass door.
“No—”
Am I seeing things again? No, I have to check this for myself.
After making sure that the patient was still undergoing her checkup, I left the reception desk and headed to the entrance to read the clinic name.
But no matter how much I read it with my eyes and read it out loud, it still didn’t change.
“Ayakashi Clinic…?”
No way.
Does the word Ayakashi mean anything in medicine? I mean, when you say ayakashi, doesn’t it refer to ghosts and monsters!? [1]
And then, I remembered.
The application form I received from Dr. Tengo contained a strange question.
Are you a half, or are you a quarter?
I didn’t know what it meant, so I left it blank.
And then the business name on the form.
I clearly remembered writing Akashiya Clinic on it.
Not Ayakashi, but Akashiya.
“I mean, I even wrote it on my planner before I went home and looked at it while filling up the form…”
I took out the planner which I kept in my pocket at all times and opened it to the page where I wrote the establishment’s name.
Akashiya Clinic
But the sign on the glass door never changed no matter how much I looked at it.
“I… I’m not imagining it.”
My heart stopped beating for a moment as I realized that the sign written on the door was indeed Ayakashi Clinic.
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“I– I’m so sorry for leaving my seat during business hours! You see, I… I was just confirming the clinic’s name so I wouldn’t get it wrong when answering the phone!”
“You didn’t get it wrong.”
“No, as a working adult, I should have more self-awareness. I’m sorry, I’ll go back im—”
My wrist was gripped back just as I was about to go back to my seat.
“Read it.”
Dr. Tengo pulled out my application form and traced his beautiful, slender fingers along the line that indicated the clinic’s name.
Name of Hospital or Clinic: Ayakashi Clinic
That was clearly my handwriting.
“No way, but…”
“Are you free on Sunday?”
Without context, I was asked a question out of nowhere.
“I’m sorry, Sunday?”
“Yes, for the welcoming party.”
“Eh, for… me?”
A smile graced Dr. Tengo’s delicate features.
Translator’s Notes:
[1] Ayakashi – is the collective name for yōkai that appear above the surface of a body of water. Source
That said, based on their descriptions, Mr. Shiramine is probably a Tengu while Ms. Toriyama is either a Kerakera Onna or a Warai Onna
