Chapter 22
Hearing Mike’s voice, Nurse Joy turned just as she stepped out of the treatment room.
She saw him hurrying toward her with a bag of food in one hand.
"Glameow woke up," she explained. "But she’s extremely nervous. She won’t let me touch her, and she even tried to pull out her IV."
Nurse Joy glanced through the small window in the door.
"I don’t think she wants any humans near her."
Inside the room, Chansey stood at a safe distance and tried to calm Glameow with soft, gentle cries.
Glameow’s back was arched, her fur standing on end as she watched Chansey with sharp, frightened eyes.
Only after Chansey continued speaking quietly did Glameow slowly lower herself back onto the bed.
"Was she hurt by a human before?" Nurse Joy asked.
Mike shook his head.
"I don’t know for sure, but judging by the way she acts... probably."
"Emotional wounds are often the hardest ones to treat."
Nurse Joy sighed, her expression troubled.
"Right now, Chansey seems to be the only one she’ll allow anywhere near her. She won’t accept any other human or Pokémon."
She looked toward the untouched food tray inside.
"Her condition is still very poor, and she’s badly underfed. I tried to give her something to eat earlier, but she knocked the whole tray onto the floor."
"You’ve already done a lot, Nurse Joy." Mike lifted the bag in his hand. "Let me try talking to her. I brought food for her too."
Nurse Joy hesitated.
Glameow was weak, but a frightened Pokémon could still be dangerous if cornered.
After thinking for a moment, she finally nodded.
"All right, but be careful. I’ll have Chansey stay inside with you."
"Okay."
Nurse Joy opened the door, and Mike walked in carrying the food.
Gengar followed behind him with Weedle sitting on his head.
"Meow!"
[Stay away!]
The moment Glameow saw Mike enter, every strand of fur on her body stood up again.
Her blue eyes locked onto him, and a deep warning growl rumbled continuously in her throat.
"Chansey?"
[What are you doing?]
Chansey looked at Mike with confusion.
Mike did not approach Glameow.
Instead, he took one of the meals from the bag and held it out to Chansey.
"You’ve been taking care of her this whole time. This is for you, Chansey. I hope you like it."
Chansey stared at the meal in his hands.
It was food from a Pokémon restaurant—the kind she had seen many times but rarely bought for herself.
Her eyes widened.
"Chansey?"
[Is that really for me?]
"Of course. Eat it while it’s still warm."
Mike placed the meal in Chansey’s hands.
Chansey’s face brightened at once. She spun happily in a circle, then stopped and gave Mike a wide, cheerful smile.
"Chansey!"
[I’ll stay here and keep everyone safe!]
She found a spot near the wall and sat down to eat.
The moment Chansey opened the container, the rich smell of warm food filled the entire room.
Glameow’s stomach growled loudly.
Mike tried to hold it in, but he failed.
A small laugh slipped out from his mouth.
"Meow!"
[What are you laughing at?!]
Glameow glared at him, and a sharp claw slid from one of her front paws.
Unfortunately, only one claw came out, and with her weak little body trembling on the bed, it was not very threatening.
Mike pretended not to notice.
He took Glameow’s meal from the bag and walked toward the bed.
"Meow!!!"
[Don’t come closer!]
Glameow’s fur exploded outward.
She tried to leap away from him, but her injured leg could not support the landing.
She fell heavily into the corner of the bed, and a pained growl escaped her clenched teeth.
"Hey, don’t jump like that!" Mike said, his voice tightening with worry. "Your leg still hasn’t healed."
Glameow said nothing.
She only stared at him, her whole body shaking from pain, fear, and anger.
"You really hate me, don’t you?" Mike asked quietly.
Glameow’s cold glare answered for her.
Mike watched her tremble for a moment before speaking again.
"Eat the food, take your medicine, let them put the IV back in, and stay in bed."
He placed the meal on the table beside her.
"Do that, and I’ll leave."
His expression remained calm.
"Otherwise, I’m staying right here."
"Meow!"
[Get out!]
Glameow quickly looked around the room.
Nurse Joy was standing outside the door.
The only open escape route was the window—and no one appeared to be guarding it.
"Gar—"
[Hello there~]
Glameow’s head snapped toward the window.
Gengar was already sitting on the windowsill.
He had placed Weedle on his head like a wide straw hat.
A piece of grass hung from the corner of his mouth, one leg was bent casually against the wall, and he tapped his thin bamboo staff against the window frame.
He smiled at Glameow as though they were old friends.
Glameow’s eyes filled with hatred, and two low growls escaped her throat.
Mike followed her gaze.
"You want to leave through the window?"
Glameow did not answer.
"You’ve got quite an attitude."
Still nothing.
"You won’t talk?"
Glameow turned her head away.
"You won’t eat?"
Her ears twitched.
"You won’t take your medicine?"
Her tail snapped angrily.
"You won’t accept the IV?"
Her body became even more tense.
"You won’t rest either?"
Mike slowly smiled.
It was the same shameless smile Gengar often wore right before causing trouble.
"I heard you hate humans."
Glameow turned and stared at him.
Mike raised one hand and slowly wiggled his fingers.
"Would you like to find out what it feels like to be petted by one?"
His smile widened.
"I’d be happy to show you."
"Meow!!!"
[DON’T TOUCH ME!]
Glameow tried to jump toward the window.
Before she could escape, a strand of silk wrapped around her waist and pulled her straight back onto the bed.
Mike looked at Gengar.
"She still wants to fight. Gengar, use Hypnosis."
Then he lowered his voice.
"Keep it gentle."
"Gar!"
[Leave it to me!]
Purple light filled Gengar’s crimson eyes.
Glameow looked up and met his gaze.
Her anger vanished beneath a wave of sudden exhaustion. Her body went limp, and she collapsed onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep almost at once.
Chansey paused halfway through a bite and looked curiously between Mike and Gengar.
She clearly did not understand why they had put the patient to sleep again.
Mike only raised an eyebrow at her and said nothing.
...
A little while later, Glameow’s eyes slowly opened.
The bright lights made her squint.
As her vision cleared, the first thing she saw was Gengar’s grinning face hovering directly in front of her.
"Gar—"
[Did you sleep well?]
Glameow’s eyes widened.
Before she could react, the purple light flashed again.
Her head dropped back onto the pillow.
She fell asleep once more.
While she was unconscious, Mike crouched beside the bed and picked up several loose strands of fur from the blanket.
Glameow was so weak from hunger and illness that she had already started shedding.
A few minutes later, her eyes opened again.
"Meow..."
The moment she noticed Gengar’s purple body nearby, she immediately squeezed her eyes shut.
Mike almost laughed.
"Glameow, look at what I have."
She refused to open her eyes.
She even turned her head away!
Mike crossed his arms.
"You think closing your eyes means I can’t do anything?"
He looked toward Gengar.
"Gengar, use Yawn."
Gengar turned toward him in confusion.
Mike winked.
Understanding at once, Gengar’s mouth stretched into a huge grin.
He opened his mouth and slowly let out the loudest, most exaggerated yawn he could manage.
"Gaaaaar..."
Glameow’s eyes shot open.
"Meow!"
[You wouldn’t dare!]
She glared at Mike with so much hatred that, if looks could kill, he would have been dead several times over.
Mike smiled brightly.
"I lied. Gengar doesn’t know Yawn."
Glameow’s face twisted with rage.
Then her eyes accidentally met Gengar’s.
She immediately squeezed them shut again.
Mike raised his hand before she could turn away completely.
"Then whose fur is this?"
Glameow had already seen it.
Several gray hairs rested across Mike’s palm.
Glameow: !!!
She quickly twisted around and inspected her own body.
There really were a few thin patches in her coat.
Mike’s voice came from behind her, soft and eerie.
"Don’t bother looking."
He held the strands of fur closer.
"I pulled them out while you were asleep."
Glameow turned back toward him.
Her eyes were filled with shock, anger, and something far more fragile beneath them.
She looked as if she could not understand why Mike would treat her this way.
For one brief moment, Mike’s expression shifted.
Her broken stare struck harder than he expected.
But he quickly forced himself to continue.
"You can close your eyes and wait for me to leave."
He slowly lowered his hand.
"But I promise you, I’m not going anywhere."
Mike pulled over a chair and sat beside the bed.
"I can stay here all day."
"Meow!"
[What do you want from me?!]
Glameow’s voice trembled as the words finally burst out.
Mike gently blew across his palm, sending the loose hairs drifting to the floor.
Then he stood and approached the bed.
Glameow immediately backed away until her body touched the wall.
Mike stopped before her and spoke quietly.
"It’s simple."
He pointed toward the meal.
"Eat."
Then toward the medicine.
"Take that."
Then toward the IV beside the bed.
"Let Chansey put the needle back in."
Finally, he pointed toward the pillow.
"And lie down without causing trouble."
He held her gaze.
"Do all of that, and I’ll leave."
Mike paused.
"Otherwise, I’ll keep putting you to sleep."
He raised one hand and slowly pinched his fingers together.
"And while you’re sleeping, I’ll pull out your fur..."
His fingers moved again.
"One hair..."
Another pinch.
"At a time."
Mike leaned closer.
"Miss Glameow, you wouldn’t want everyone to see you walking around completely bald, would you?"
Glameow: !!!
"Meow!!!"
[YOU BASTARD!]
Her whole body trembled.
[Why do humans keep doing this to me?! What did I ever do to deserve it?!]
Her anger finally broke free.
She screamed at Mike, pouring out all the pain, hatred, and unfairness she had carried for so long.
Mike stood there without changing his expression.
He simply let her scream.
Glameow had gone too long without food, and the outburst quickly drained what little strength she had left.
Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the bed, breathing hard.
Mike picked up the meal, scooped a small amount onto a spoon, and held it near her mouth.
Glameow turned her face away as Mike looked toward Chansey.
"Could you help me?"
"Chansey."
[Of course.]
Chansey walked over and accepted the food.
She sat beside the bed and gently offered the spoon to Glameow.
Glameow kept her mouth tightly closed.
Mike sighed.
"Gengar, let her sleep again."
Gengar floated into Glameow’s view.
Glameow turned her head and immediately swallowed the food on the spoon.
Chansey smiled.
She fed Glameow another spoonful.
Then another.
Mike and Gengar looked at each other and winked.
Weedle was still sitting on Gengar’s head. After seeing them, he tried to wink too.
Unfortunately, Weedle did not have eyelids.
Weedle: ?!!
(.・ˇ_ˇ・.:)
Why was he the only one who could not join in?
Because Glameow’s body was extremely weak, Chansey only fed her a small amount at first.
She let Glameow rest for a while before continuing.
Once Glameow had eaten enough, Chansey gave her the medicine and carefully put the IV needle back in place.
The medicine soon made Glameow sleepy.
Her eyes were already beginning to close when Mike spoke again.
"If you don’t want me coming here all the time, you’d better behave like this from now on."
Glameow’s eyes opened slightly.
"Otherwise, I’ll come back every day and bother you."
"Meow..."
[I’ll stop the moment you leave.]
"Don’t bother dreaming about it," Mike said immediately. "I’ll talk to Nurse Joy every day."
Glameow’s ears flattened.
"If you refuse to cooperate tomorrow, I’ll pull all the fur from your tail."
Her curled tail twitched.
"If you misbehave the day after that, I’ll start on your stomach."
Glameow pulled her belly closer to the bed.
"Then your neck."
Her head lowered.
"Then your face."
Glameow stared at him in horror.
Mike smiled.
"I’m honestly curious what you’ll look like without any fur."
"Meow!!!"
[FINE! I UNDERSTAND! NOW GET OUT!!!]
Mike shrugged.
"Good enough for me."
He turned and left the room with Gengar and Weedle.
Nurse Joy stood outside with an amused smile on her face.
"Only you would think of something like that."
Mike gave a tired laugh.
"I didn’t have much choice. If I wasn’t harsh with her, she never would’ve eaten or accepted treatment."
His expression became more serious.
"I’ll leave the rest to you. As you can probably tell, she hates me now."
He glanced toward the door.
"If she listens to you and behaves, I won’t come inside again."
"Don’t worry," Nurse Joy said. "I understand what you were trying to do. I’ll take care of her."
"Thank you."