Hello Vet! How are you?

Lee Joon was once again dizzy from the voice echoing in his head.

Earlier, it could have been dismissed as a hallucination heard in a tense moment, but now it was too clear.

『Doctor, can you hear me?’』

“It seems that way…”

Startled, Lee Joon forgot that Sora was nearby and became immersed in a conversation with Mong-i.

『Amazing! It’s the first time! Usually, no matter how much I talk, humans can’t understand me!』

“Is that so…?”

Just as Lee Joon’s mind was about to become dizzy again due to the undeniable reality.

“Uh, doctor, our Mong-i….”

The young guardian hesitated to come in and cautiously asked from outside the examination room.

“Oh… she’s okay now.”

Finally coming to his senses, Lee Joon picked up Mong-i and handed him back to the girl.

As she received Mong-i, the girl seemed reassured and began shedding her tearful relief.

And then.

『”Nuna, I’m okay now. Were you very worried? I’m sorry.”』

Mong-i barked and licked the girl’s face to comfort his crying owner.

Thanks to Mong-i, the girl calmed down a bit, held Mong-i in her arms, and bowed her head.

“Uhm… Doctor… Thank you for saving Mong-i.”

“I’m glad you brought her in so quickly. She was really in danger.”

Lee Joon thought back to the earlier situation, feeling a chill.

It was fortunate that he could hear Mong-i’s voice.

If he hadn’t, and had taken a bit longer, Mong-i’s life would have been at risk.

“But just in case, take her to a larger hospital with examination equipment. Okay?”

“Yes… Director. Thank you so much for saving our Mong-i.”

The young guardian, still tearful and snotty, bowed deeply and left.

Lee Joon and Sora watched them until they disappeared from view.

“Director, we didn’t receive any payment for that.”

Sora spoke, her gaze fixed outside the window.

“That’s true. Well, there’s nothing we can do. Let’s consider it a service since they were our first customers.”

“Oh. At this rate, I might not get paid for a few months.”

“… I’ll try to prevent that.”

“I’m kidding. Is money what’s important? Saving Mong-i is what matters.”

“I agree.”

“But, director.”

“Yes?”

“Earlier, it seemed like you were talking with Mong-i….”

“Did it seem that way…?”

Sora looked back at Lee Joon, smiling with a mysterious gleam in her eyes.

“Yes. It was amazing. You were trying to calm Mong-i by talking to her, right?”

“…?”

“It really seemed like a conversation.”

“….”

“Besides, Mong-i who should have been scared, wasn’t afraid at all. It was truly remarkable, director.”

“… Thank you.”

“It might be good to try this with other animals later. Or how about taking on that concept, a vet who communicates with animals!”

“… That’s a good idea.”

Sora began to spin a tale, not imagining that Lee Joon could actually communicate with animals.

Lee Joon chuckled to himself as he watched her.

If he revealed that he had indeed spoken with Mong-i, he could already envision how Sora would react.

‘Still, suddenly being able to talk to animals….’

Lee Joon suddenly recalled his dream of Kongdori last night.

***

That night, as if it were a lie, Kongdori reappeared in Lee Joon’s dream.

『Hyung!』

Kongdori wagged his short tail energetically as he ran toward Lee Joon.

“Kongdori.”

Kongdori’s eyes sparkled as he looked up at Lee Joon.

『Hyung, you were amazing today!』

“Hm?”

『You saved Mong-i! As expected of my hyung.』

“Did I?”

『Of course, I knew you’d save Mong-i.』

Kongdori sprang up and bounced around, doing his happy dance.

Seeing this, Lee Joon’s expression relaxed.

“Mong-i let me know, so I could treat her in time. But, being able to understand Mong-i’s words… that was your gift, right?”

『Hehehe, right. I’m glad I can talk with you thanks to it!』

“Me too.”

Lee Joon continued, as he gently petted Kongdori’s soft forehead.

“If only you could have talked back then.”

Lee Joon’s voice lowered slightly as he spoke.

『No, hyung. You understood my feelings so well. It’s true.』

“But I didn’t know you were sick.”

『Well, even I didn’t know!』

Lee Joon sat on the bed and placed Kongdori beside him, staring into his face.

“You were in pain.”

『I only panted a little when I drank or moved, it was fine. Really.』

“Still, if I had realized it sooner, you could’ve lived much longer.”

By the time it was discovered that Kongdori was sick, his heart disease had already progressed significantly.

『No, the reason I lived so long was thanks to you, hyung. Really, thank you.』

Lee Joon felt grateful and remorseful towards Kongdori, who reassured him.

He had wished for him to live even a bit longer.

『You know, hyung, living with you made me so happy, and I really loved it.』

“Me too.”

『I always wanted to tell you this. Hehe, now I have.』

Perhaps Kongdori granted him this ability to have conversations with him.

That’s what Lee Joon thought.

“Kongdori, thank you for living with me.”

It was something Lee Joon had always wanted to say to Kongdori.

“And I’ll use this gift you gave me to help many friends.”

『Yes, hyung!』

Lee Joon hugged Kongdori tightly. Kongdori rubbed his head against Lee Joon’s chest and spoke.

『Hyung, my proud Hyung, you’ll help my friends, right?』

“Of course, I will.”

『Hehe, I’ll be here playing with friends. So, hyung, go help many friends over there. Take your time!』

“Yes, Kongdori. I’ll work hard to treat them.”

This time, Lee Joon didn’t cry out desperately for Kongdori.

Because he knew Kongdori would be watching over him.

As Kongdori faded into the distance, Lee Joon waved, a smile on his face.

Awakening from the dream, Lee Joon found himself smiling, just as he had in the dream.

***

The following morning, Lee Joon’s steps to work were incredibly light.

“Oh? The door’s already open.”

Lee Joon thought he had come in early, yet the clinic’s door was already open.

As he peeked inside, he saw Sora busy organizing the display cabinet with the door wide open.

It was the second day since the clinic had opened—what was there really to organize?

However, Sora was meticulously dusting, as if she wouldn’t allow even a speck of dust.

‘She really is diligent.’

Seeing this, Lee Joon turned around and went next door.

There he bought two cups of coffee and came back inside.

“Good morning.”

“Director, you came in early today as well.”

“Sora, aren’t you coming in too early? Here.”

“Oh my, director!”

“You like lattes, right? We still have time before our first appointment, so let’s have this and start.”

“Latte! Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

The two shared their coffee while chatting.

Mostly, their talk was about the animal clinic, but being the second day, there wasn’t much to discuss.

After their brief meeting with coffee time, they went their separate ways to prepare for patients.

Lee Joon went into the examination room, powered on the computer, and checked the equipment, while Sora sat at the reception desk.

Not long after.

Ding!

The bell chimed as Sora stood up to greet newcomers.

“Welcome. Oh my, it’s Mong-i.”

Hearing the name “Mong-i!”

Lee Joon, from the examination room, stood and came out.

He knew that Mong-i was fine thanks to the quick action taken, but still, he was both curious and concerned.

However, seeing Mong-i happily barking and jumping around dispelled his worries.

Lee Joon turned his gaze to the entrance, where the girl and someone who seemed to be her mother stood.

“Hello, I’m sorry for the late greeting. I heard our child caused some trouble yesterday….”

“No, not at all. Trouble, you say? I was just doing my job.”

Lee Joon graciously received the guardian’s greeting and then knelt to meet Mong-i’s eyes.

He suddenly recalled Sora’s words.

‘the concept of a vet who communicates with animals.’

Of course, for Lee Joon, it was more than just a concept.

But if he pushed that idea as a new concept, it wouldn’t seem strange at all to have a conversation with an animal in front of its guardian.

“Mong-i, were you okay yesterday? Did you eat well?”

Lee Joon spoke softly, smiling gently as he addressed Mong-i.

『”Yes, I’m okay! I ate a lot! Thank you, doctor!”』

“Good. I’m glad to hear that. Be careful from now on.”

『”I won’t eat grapes from now on.”』

“Good girl.”

Mong-i wagged his tail vigorously, as if greeting an old friend.

Meanwhile, the guardian watching was quite surprised.

“Oh my, the way Mong-i is barking, it’s almost like she’s answering.”

“Does it look that way?”

“Yes, it’s fascinating. Besides, Mong-i usually hates the vet, but… it’s different here. Is it because of you, doctor?”

The guardian’s smile widened.

“Oh, and she wouldn’t stop talking about how grateful she is to you, how you’re such a wonderful person.”

“Uh, mom!”

The girl next to her mother tugged at her arm slightly, signaling her to stop out of embarrassment.

“Thank you for the compliment. How’s Mong-i doing? Did she eat well yesterday and today?”

“Yes, doctor, thank you so much. We came here to say thank you and… Hey, Hyerim. Give him that.”

The guardian turned to the girl.

“….”

The girl hesitantly extended something forward.

Her head was slightly bowed, her earlobes pinkish with embarrassment.

“Oh, that’s okay. I’ll just accept your sentiment.”

“Our daughter stayed up late drawing this for you last night. If you don’t accept it, she might cry.”

“Mom….”

“If that’s the case, I’ll gladly accept it.”

Lee Joon said as he took the offered shopping bag.

“Did you say your name is Hyerim? Thank you.”

“Director, open it.”

Sora urged him, her face filled with emotion.

“Can I see it?”

“… Yes.”

Hyerim answered softly, almost in a whisper, as she hid behind her mother.

Not that she could really hide, but standing behind her mom made her feel calmer, peeking out from behind her.

“We were in such a rush we couldn’t find a nice frame. Just consider it a token of sincerity.”

Lee Joon and Sora’s mouths dropped open as they viewed the picture.

Inside the frame, Lee Joon and Mong-i were smiling radiantly.

Lee Joon was holding a stethoscope to Mong-i in the examination room, while Mong-i was smiling broadly, as if expressing how happy she was.

The expression of happiness during the check-up was perfectly captured.

The warm colors, done with either crayons or pastels, gave the drawing a comforting feel. Just looking at it lifted their spirits.

“This is… stunning.”

Sora spoke, her words almost a stammer.

Lee Joon felt the same.

“Is it okay for us to accept something so precious?”

“… Please do. And, doctor, thank you once again.”

The girl spoke, shyly casting a glance up at Lee Joon, her eyes filled with gratitude.

“I’m thankful, too. I’ll treasure this.”

With genuine sincerity, Lee Joon smiled warmly at the girl.

—