Edogawa Nishiguchi Ayakashi Clinic - Chapter 30
“I don’t know, it’s hard to say. Apparently, the ayakashi genetic information is written in the genetic body that doesn’t translate to the human genes.”
“Yes, that’s what I was going to say.”
“Then you should’ve said so in the beginning.”
“But you said you wanted a detailed explanation.”
Is that so, I’m sorry.
Doctor, don’t face that way when you’re drinking.
“So that’s why ordinary painkillers won’t work if we have back pain or if we get bronchitis, it won’t be cured if we go to normal hospitals. It’s really tough.”
“So everyone goes out of their way to see Dr. Tengo?”
“We’re still fine though.”
“Umm… By ‘we’, do you mean the sankichi oni specifically?”
“No, no. I meant adults.”
“Adults?”
“It’s hard for us during childhood. We immediately assume our ayakashi form when we least expect it.”
“Oh, right. That would be really bad.”
“It is! If we’re seen, then it’d make a huge commotion. That’s why we have to drink medicine everyday. Like, right after we’re born. Hey, Mr. Tengo—”
“Hnn?”
“Hey Mr. Tengo, are you okay?”
“Doctor, you get easily drunk?”
It’s only your second beer though.
Aah, don’t take it wrong. You don’t need to force yourself to order another one.
“I wonder why he went out to drink like this. Come on, eat this, eat this!”
“Aa, um…”
Doctor, that’s the hashioki. [1]
He’s wasted, he’s totally wasted.
His drooping, teary eyes are cute though.
“For that purpose, Haruji makes herbal medicine to address the ayakashi’s genetic issue.”
“I see. But Dr. Tengo can only prescribe approved drugs, right?”
“If you don’t take it with Haruji’s medicine, then it doesn’t work.”
“Eh? Then won’t it be ok to just drink the herbal medicine?”
“No. It seems the herbal medicine interacts with and complements the normal medicines, so it won’t work if you drink just one.”
“Then you need to drink both normal and herbal medicine?”
Dr. Tengo straightened up with a start.
Just a little more and he looks like he might tip over though.
“Nno. Takeru opn’d hoshpital sho he shports—”
“What did you say?”
“Nn?”
You’re seriously drunk, Dr. Tengo.
You should lean back on the chair.
“I think he’s trying to say that Mr. Takeru supports the clinic so it won’t go under.”
“Come to think of it, the clinic doesn’t look like it makes a profit at all.”
“Hahahaha! You’re quite honest.”
“I mean, patients don’t come in much after all. And we’re only open 3 times a week.”
“That’s where you’re wrong—”
After eating some edamame, chilled tofu, and shrimp karaage in succession, Mr. Miyoshi drank his beer in one sitting.
“Mr. Tengo accompanies Haruji during their days off and they go around visiting most of the places in Kanto until Nagoya to see the ayakashi who can’t come into the clinic.”
“Eh? That far!?”
“Yes. It might be far, but there’s no other place that can accommodate them.”
They go to Nagoya too?
So that’s what it was.
That old man with the long nose who was suffering from hay fever did say something like that.
“Can you give me a minute, Mr. Miyoshi?”
“You’re really serious about studying, huh.”
I pulled out the Ayakashi handbook from my bag.
Hmm, if their nose is elongated, then… could it be that he’s a tengu-type ayakashi?
Eh? Do tengu even exist?
They are represented by the eight great tengu… What the heck is the divine eight of the tengu world!? Nnn, Sagami Ooyama Houkibou?
Kanagawa Prefecture, Sagami Ooyama?
Aah, it’s that old man’s address!
So it was about putting up a hospital to attract guests!
“It’s especially tough for kids since they’re unable to hide their true forms when they get sick.”
“But that’s impossible to do individually, isn’t it?”
“Even if you say it’s impossible, they still do it. Take the Amanojaku for example—”
Maybe I’ve changed my perspective a bit.
What on earth are you doing, doctor?
You threw me a welcome party, helped me move out, and even went out for drinks today even if you immediately got drunk after 2 beers.
“M’fine, dun’ worry.”
“Ah, he woke up.”
“Gimme ‘nother beer.”
“Doctor, you shouldn’t drink anymore.”
Bleary-eyed, Dr. Tengo kept staring at me for a while.
It’s making me uncomfortable.
“Impashbl.”
“…What?”
“Cn’t read yet.”
“Come again?”
“If ‘m drunk, I can’t read… Nanakira’sh mind.”
“Doctor… was it bothering you that much? I don’t really…”
Mr. Miyoshi stopped for a bit and speared some iwashi dango from the bowl. [1]
“Now, now. Dr. Tengo used to be happy about it, you see.”
“And?”
“But there was a time when he thought he was better off not being able to read people’s minds.”
I forgot.
Even though Dr. Tengo is an impressive quarter ayakashi now, he must’ve also had a rough childhood just like everybody else.
I wonder what it’s like to be able to read minds?
People’s inner thoughts don’t always contain good things after all.
Even if they don’t say what’s on their minds, people will still lie or betray others without a second thought.
To top it all off, he’s even a doctor.
I wonder what people with terminal illnesses think.
Since he can read their minds, I wonder how he feels about it.
“… Dr. Tengo.”
“Nanakira.”
“Y-yes?”
“If itsh Nanakira, I…”
“What is it?”
It felt as if time stopped as he kept his gaze on me.
“…I’ll let you step on me.”
“Mr. Miyoshi! Dr. Tengo’s already wasted, so please help me bring him home, ok?”
That day, I drank with Mr. Miyoshi till late while Dr. Tengo leaned on me and heard many stories about him.
Translator’s Notes
[1] Hashioki
Also known as a chopstick rest, this is similar to a knife rest or a spoon rest which is used to keep chopstick tips off the table and to prevent used chopsticks from contaminating or rolling off tables. Chopstick rests are found more commonly in restaurants than in homes. They come in various shapes and are made from clay, wood, plastic, metal, glass, porcelain or precious stones such as jade. If the chopsticks come in paper sleeves, some people fold the sleeves into chopstick rests. Source
