But before any decisions could be made, the ex-therapist called the shopkeeper over and requested to hold the hairless kitten with the goofy ears—a sphynx. The little creature was sound asleep, blissfully unaware that he was about to be yanked into a metaphysical drama.
Toshi couldn't remember if it had been a girl, maybe a tiny patient—or Erich himself—who once said they dreamed of owning a sphynx. Patient files had blurred into one great chaotic hymn long ago.
He pulled out his credit card and while the clerk went to process the purchase, Toshi scratched the kitten behind its bat-like ear, already lost in a private cosmic connection.
Cue Louisa, irritated as ever:
Please tell me that's for you. Because if it's for my brother, maybe you should've, I don't know,
asked him first? And also, why are you paying for it?
The rain of interrogation began, and Toshi, unable to bear the downpour, retreated deeper into the safety of the kitten's silence. The animal was clearly trying to tell him something—share a secret. Toshi just couldn't quite make out the frequency. He groaned softly, making both Louisa and the clerk flinch.
But she noticed something unexpected—Erich was staring at the kitten, and in his eyes she saw something new: peace. He said:
I'll name her Sanura. It means - Kitten- in ancient It does. – Louisa, daughter of Egyptologist parents, – That's a good name. But are you
sure you want this? He nodded.
It's not a I'll pay Dr. Taniguchi back when he's… you know, functional again. And yes—I like this sphynx. She reminds me of myself.
He reached out to take Sanura, but the doctor clutched the blanket tight, whispering silently to the kitten like they were plotting something. Erich shrugged and bought a carrier.
They left the shop together, the clerk blinking behind them, trying to make sense of the most chaotic transaction of his career.
Toshi kept walking in a vague direction only he seemed to comprehend. Erich caught up to him and said:
Would you like to ride with us? Come with You can keep talking to Sanura. No one will bother you.
The doctor silently turned and followed, still murmuring to the cat. Louisa, trailing behind, tried again to inject logic into the madness:
Why do you need him around? Let's just drop him off and keep the Seriously, why drag him along?
Her words bounced right off her brother's stoic forcefield.
-Helped before. Will help again.-
Let's say he does help. Then what? You're taking him home with you?!
I'm scared to sleep at home in my current state. But with him around, it won't feel so terrifying. He can tell me what's real and what's just noise.
Louisa winced like she'd just bitten into a lemon with a nerve exposed. She pointed at Toshi, who was locked in deep, soulful eye contact with the kitten.
You seriously think he's the guy who can do that? The dude's surfing his own acid waves in HD!
Those are his He can deal with them. What matters to me is his professional skill. And he's got it. Along with a healthy dose of... Madness! – Louisa And they fell into silence.
Regardless, the trio had now become a quintet. The sleek, wide-eyed creature was now the center of Toshi's universe. He was completely absorbed in whatever unspoken ritual he and Sanura were conducting. At least they didn't have to carry him—blessings come in odd forms.
The machine that used to be a man still had just enough motor function to slide into Louisa's rental. Before she could even turn around, he was curled up and softly snoring, kitten burrito cradled in his arms. Erich carefully retrieved the cat and began gently scratching her behind the ear.
What a nut – Louisa sighed, buckling her seatbelt and starting the drive back to the coast. – Seriously, bro, tell me: was any of this even worth it?
Now I've got Sanura.