Onee-chan no Midori-kun 24

READ ONEE-CHAN NO MIDORI-KUN 23 HERE

We're at Sui's college, Mitsuba University. Her schoolmates are all busy setting up and getting ready for their cultural festival.

Sui watches the hustle and bustle and thinks to herself that it's getting lively. She narrates that ever since they had the "To Help Midori Cheer Up" Halloween party, a week has passed. Her college is gearing up for the cultural festival.

Sui's friend Yuzu thanks Sui for accompanying her to shopping.

Sui answers that she is the one who's thankful for Yuzu asking her along, so that she gets to immerse in the cultural festival's atmosphere. Yuzu remarks that unlike in high school, one has to be part of a club to have anything to do with the cultural festival.

Then, Yuzu remembers something and excitedly asks Sui if she'd be willing to help with the marketing of Yuzu's stall on the festival day. (Her club is about researching strawberry candy...?) They will have to wear Japanese-style maid outfits and walk around.

Sui immediately thinks of the Halloween party where she was made to wear the cat costume. She then tells Yuzu that she's had enough of cosplaying, so she'd like to just visit Yuzu's stall normally instead. However, Yuzu says that the outfit will suit Sui. Sui counters that it would suit Yuzu more, but their conversation is interrupted by Sui's phone chiming.

There's a text from the boss of ONiSE bakery. They've sent Sui the schedule for November and ask if she's fine with it. Sui answers that it's fine and also thanks them for giving her time off this Saturday and Sunday (because it will be the cultural festival).

Sui thinks to herself that she's looking forward to the cultural festival. She recalls a conversation she had with Midori during the Halloween party.

Midori: Oh, right, it's almost the time for the school festival, isn't it? The scale of the festival in college is bigger than that in high school, so I think you'll enjoy it. I didn't join any clubs, so I didn't help set up any stalls, but it was still exciting to just walk and look around.

Sui: Eh- I thought that you were the type to not go for such events, you being busy with part-time work and all.

Midori: Tsk tsk- I'm the type of person who values that kind of experience, you know. 

Sui thinks to herself that that might have been the first time Midori talked to her about his university days. Ever since running into Midori again recently, various things have happened. It seems the same as 3 years ago, but somehow things are different as well. It feels somewhat peculiar.

Pouting to herself, Sui thinks that Midori's penchant for teasing people is still the same, which is annoying.

While Sui is lost in her thoughts, Yuzu looks meaningfully at Sui.

Sui: Eh? What?

Yuzu: Hm- Somehow, you look like you're having fun, Sanapi~ No, more like you're happy-?

Sui: ? Well, that's because you're here, Yuzu.

Yuzu: Eh- Sanapi... ❤

Later at home, Sui checks her messages. Ayame informs her that his friend, Kaede, will be joining him to attend Sui's college's cultural festival. Sui thinks to herself that her other friend, Kanon, has said that she will come, too. Sui is looking forward to it.

Just then, Sui notices Mochi rubbing its eyes.

Sui is charmed and asks Mochi what antics it's trying to pull. She swiftly takes pictures of Mochi rubbing its eyes, remarking that Mochi looks cute like a kitten.

However, Mochi continues to rub its eyes. After a short while, Sui suspects that something is wrong and tries to examine Mochi's eyes. She realizes that Mochi's eyes are reddish. Mochi is also blinking a lot. Sui gets worried, so she decides to bring Mochi to the vet to get it checked. However, when she grabs her phone to inform her mother, she notices that it's Thursday today. Thursday is Mochi's regular vet's rest day.

Sui considers bringing Mochi to the vet first thing tomorrow morning, but thinks to herself that it'll be bad if Mochi's condition worsens.

Midori's face suddenly pops into her mind and she realizes that he is a possible alternative option. We can see Sui thinking about it for a moment before making her decision. She narrates that she has no choice.

Meanwhile, at the vet, Midori sneezes lightly. From the signboard, it says that Midori is in charge of Examination Room 1.

Midori's Senior: That's a pretty cute sneeze you got there. (Are you okay?)

Midori: Someone must have developed good feelings about me ❤

Senior: *stares* 

Senior: Sneezing one time means that someone is talking behind your back. (Two times means they're laughing about you, and three times means someone has fallen for you.)

Midori: Doctor, it seems that you're surprisingly superstitious - being so detailed about such things.

Senior: Regardless, you certainly have a look that would appeal to females. ('Ikemen', they call it.)

Midori: Eh?

Senior: Sometimes, I see the pet owners looking at you with hearts in their eyes. I've also heard one or two pieces of gossip about you being frivolous. (This senior enjoys gossip and talking about love.)

Midori: No way! There's no such thing! In the past year or so, I've been completely occupied with work. There has totally been no moment where I've been frivolous or even had my heart skip a bea...

Midori pauses when Sui's smiling face suddenly pops into his mind. 

Midori catches himself, thinking, 'Hm?', but doesn't have the chance to ponder over it, because a fellow staff opens the door to inform Midori's senior (Nozawa-sensei) to proceed to Examination Room 2 for a check up.

Nozawa: I'll go now. 

Nozawa (to Midori): Then, I'll leave this place to you. If anything happens, call for me.

Midori: Got it.

Getting a moment to himself, Midori dismisses his earlier thoughts about Sui, thinking, '...No, no, what was with that, earlier?'

The staff hands Midori a clipboard to brief him about the next patient. The staff then calls for the next patient, going, "Sanae, Mochi-chan, please proceed-"

Midori's eyes widen when he recognizes the names and has a mildly exasperated look when he sees Sui coming through the door, thinking to himself, 'This timing...'

Sui: Good day.

Midori: Eh, what happened, Sui-chan?

Sui: The vet that I go to regularly is closed today, so. Somehow, Mochi keeps rubbing its eyes, and when I checked, Mochi's eyes were reddish.

Midori: Oh dear-

Midori: Do you know when the rubbing started?

Sui: It didn't happen yesterday or this morning, so I believe it was since just now. (I don't know during the period I was at college, though...)

Midori: I see. Well then, let's take a look.

Sui: If you'll please.

Midori (to Mochi): Alright, Mochi, let me take a look at your eyes- ...Mmm- Ah- We're going to measure Mochi's tears production.

Sui: ? Okay.

Midori: Mochi, endure it for 1 minute, okay?

Sui: ! (she panics a little on the side as she feels like it must be painful for Mochi.)

Midori says to Mochi gently, "Sorry, Mochi. It'll be fine, we're almost done."

After checking the measurements, Midori diagnoses that Mochi has dry eyes. However, it's just a mild case of dry eyes, and there were no injuries to Mochi's eyes, so Sui can be at ease. Sui hugs Mochi, expressing her relief. Midori adds that it's fine thanks to Sui bringing Mochi over for a check up swiftly.

Midori instructs Sui to apply eye drops daily for Mochi for a week. He also asks for Sui to bring Mochi back after a week for a follow-up examination.

Midori: If anything happens, don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Sui looks at Midori and thinks to herself, '...What's this? At that time, Mochi was injured, so I didn't have the capacity to think about anything else. Today is the first time I'm properly noticing Midori-kun working as a vet. Somehow...'

There's a voice from outside - it's the clinic staff, instructing another client to proceed to Examination Room 1 to wait. Sui is about to leave Examination Room 1, but there comes the response from the client, "You must be kidding me."

"Examination Room 1? There's no way I would allow our beloved cutie be checked by that young and inexperienced vet. I don't trust him. Can I change to Nozawa-sensei?"

"Ah, okay, um... If it's Nozawa-sensei, you'll have to wait for a bit..."

"That's fine, I'll wait. (It should have been like this since the start!) With that kind of flashy-looking vet, you can never know if they are really thinking for the animals."

Sui is triggered. She recalls all of the times Midori displayed his compassion for animals.

"The last thing I can do for him is to send him off with a smile."

"Continually being faced with the responsibility of managing life and death, so it makes me nervous and anxious pretty often."

"It'll be fine, we're almost done."

She's about to open the door to confront the client, but Midori stops her.

Sui is trembling with anger.

Midori: Okay, calm down, Sui-chan.

Sui: What? Why are you stopping me--...

Sui turns around to face Midori and sees Midori gently smiling at her, saying that he's fine.

Midori (grinning): It's true. I'm young, inexperienced and untrustworthy. That's why, my aim is to become a dignified, veteran veterinarian.

Sui doesn't say anything in response.

Sui thinks to herself, '...He's doing it again. Saying that he's fine, when there's no way he didn't get hurt.'

It's evening. Midori is done with work for the day and takes his leave. When he exits the clinic, Sui calls out to him.

Sui: Ah.

Midori: Eh? Sui-chan.

Sui: Good work today.

Midori: What's up?

Sui: I went back and bought some ONiSE cake here. So, let's hang out for a while.

They go to a playground.

Midori (tasting the cake): Mmm! Yum ❤ It's nice to have cake while outdoors once in a while. (Though it's kind of cold.)

Sui: Moreover, it's the boss' new creation. (Though it's kind of cold.)

Midori: Thank you, Sui-chan. You're doing this to cheer me up because of what happened at the clinic earlier, aren't you? (You're so kind.)

Sui: Nope. You're mistaken. I'm just feeling nauseated with anger, so I wanted you to stress-eat with me.

Midori: 😐

Sui: Anyway! Hearing that person saying whatever they wanted was bad enough, but what makes me even more mad is how you just accepted whatever was said about you, Midori-kun.

Midori: Eh-- Well, I didn't have anything to say back to her. (She's the pet owner, after all.)

Sui: Even so!

Sui: Today, I got to see the side of Midori-kun as a veterinarian, and I thought that you were dependable and cool. You may be young, inexperienced and flashy-looking, but you're cool regardless, Midori-kun.

Sui narrates: I know about it. How Midori-kun feels when he deals with animals as a vet. I also know how much he thinks about animals.

Sui emphasizes it to Midori's face: You're cool!

Midori turns away from Sui to hide his face.

Sui: ? Midori-kun?

Midori: ...Ah- No. I get it.

Midori: Telling me straight to my face like that - thank you, Sui-chan. I never expected Sui-chan to praise me this much. (I'm getting shy.).

Sui (getting embarrassed): !! No, you're mistaken!! I wasn't trying to praise you or anything, I was just saying what I felt...

Midori thinks, '...Ah, dang it. I'm blushing...'