#queue queue queue

“shokoooooo,” you groaned before sitting on the examination table, putting on your sweetest puppy dog eyes, feet swinging off the frame, thudding lightly against the metal to get her attention.

she hadn’t even bothered to turn around, flipping through a chart with a soft shhk — papers of what you presumed to be patient history, cigarette tucked between her fingers as her hair fell down past her back, white coat hanging loose on her frame.

“you’re early today.” she hummed, making your stomach flip. shoko held back a small smile you couldn’t quite see from where you stood. “what is it this time?”

“my cursed energy, is … off.” you said, blinking at her backside expectantly.

she didn’t say anything, only closing her papers with a soft “mm.” — the sound she often made when she was humoring you.

she turned around, making her way over to you from across the room, and of course . . . your brain short circuited on sight, like an idiot.

“hand,” she spoke slowly.

your hand flew up in front of her. quick. too quick. embarrassingly so.

her fingers wrapped around your wrist, cool and steady, thumb pressing lightly at your pulse point. your breath caught in your throat as if you forgot how to breathe, your eyes were glued to her as she genuinely seemed to be examining you, taking in her scent: the faint smell of cigarettes and black coffee. taking in the dark circles under eyes that just made her all the more enticing.

while you were busy staring at her, she tilted your chin up with two fingers without warning, guiding your gaze to hers, brushing just behind your ear as she checked you over with an infuriating calmness that made your heart skip a beat and had blood rushing to your face.

“your heartbeat’s fast,” she murmured, a faint amusement slipping into her tone.

you scoffed, “well… that’s only because of my illness.”

she let out a small huff of laughter. “right . . . so, your cursed energy is fine,” she said after a moment. “you in general . . are fine.”

. . .

“i don’t feel very fine.” you pouted, hands fiddling in your lap.

“mhm.”

“i could be dying.”

“dont think you are.”

finally taking her hands off you and turning back to her desk, rolling her shoulders, clearly about to dismiss you. instead, you shifted your weight awkwardly and groaned.

“you are surprisingly heartless for a doctor.”

“heartless wouldve been charging you for this visit.” she hummed before turning her attention to you, perching against the edge of the metal table, palms planted behind her for support. “and, every other.” she added.

when your eyes found hers, there it was again — that look. the one where she could see right through you, making your stomach flutter. her brown eyes lingered, steady and disarming.

“honestly, i’d end up in generational debt if it means i get to keep seeing you every day.”

silence. 　　　　her unamused stare lingered on you, steady and unreadable.

and that’s when it hit. heat rushed to your face all at once.

“well—! not that you’re worth anything—” you blurted, too fast, too late.

one brow lifted.

“ah— no! not like that. you’re just… worth more than money could buy.”　　　

“hypothetically.” you add.

she lets out a low laugh under her breath, taking in your flustered form. “you’re not very careful with your words, are you?”

your face only burned hotter; you pushed off the examination table with a small huff. “i’m leaving. i’ll go find someone else to take care of my injuries—”

“okay, okay.” her voice softened just a fraction, still casual, the edge of amusement not quite gone. she caught your wrist before you could fully turn away, her grip light but certain, her other arm still resting against the table. “i’m sorry,” she said, voice low and faintly teasing. “that was mean.”

“was it?” you huffed back, giving a performative tug at your wrist, more stubborn than sincere.

shoko only rolled her eyes, a small tugging of the corner of her lips. “you’re really going to leave over a little teasing? i thought you were more resilient than that.”

“i was. but you’ve ruined me.” you muttered, eyes lowered, heart thudding far too loudly in your chest despite yourself.

her thumb shifts once against your pulse as she gently draws your wrist back, not enough to force you — just enough to stop you from fully turning away. “stay. i’ll take care of you.”

your lashes only bat up at her. “huh?” and for one hopeful, embarrassing second, your heart skipped.

was this it?

had the shoko ieiri finally cave to your pathetic, romance starved whims?

“you’re sick, right?” she asked. “that’s what you said. if your cursed energy really is acting up, that could be dangerous.” her words came out undoubtedly solemn, everything about her normal . . . except for the suspicious amusement in her eyes.

“i’ll have to keep you under observation for a while.”

you did a double take before letting out a breath you hadn't realized you'd been holding, low and amused. “wait, you’re… you’re serious?”

“should i not be?”

“well, yes, but—”

“so, are you saying you want me to stop giving you check ups altogether?”

“i hate you.”

and that’s when shoko’s smile finally broke through. small, yet irrevocably charming. enough to send a wave of dizzying warmth through you.

“thought so.”

she never said it outright — but you were clearly her favorite patient.