I woke up to the soft hum of machinery and a slight chill. As I gradually came to my senses, I soon realized I wasn’t wearing any clothes. That jolted me fully conscious. I wasn’t the type who preferred to be naked.
“You’re awake,” said a calm, pleasant voice. “I’ll open the case for you.”
Case? Where am I? Oh…right. I gradually began to understand the situation. Before long, I heard air depressurizing; a sense of release accompanied that sound as warm air rushed into the case—which was a medical pod.
“Did you not get enough sleep last night? You dozed off in the pod,” Dr. Shouko told me. “Hmm…you do seem a bit exhausted, or perhaps just stressed. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, but it’s probably a good idea to take it easy today.” She smiled at me, a tablet in her hands.
As I donned my usual mercenary clothes, I took another look around the Black Lotus’s medical room. In the past, it had been a rather dreary place containing only a few medicine shelves and medical pods, but now there was a desk with holo-displays and a comfortable-looking ergonomic chair. The room also contained some machine of unknown purpose, as well as decorative plants, a fragrance diffuser, and Dr. Shouko’s personal belongings. She’d clearly made this room her own.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to examine a lady’s room like that,” she told me.
“Even if you’ve basically turned this into your own room, it’s technically still part of the Black Lotus’s crew facilities. I gave you the storeroom next door to use as a personal space, didn’t I?”
“But I spend most of my time in here and only use that room to sleep in. We might save space by just moving a bed in here.”
“Stop trying to turn this room into your own personal space. We’ll end up renovating things anyway once we reach a colony with a large-enough dock.”
“Yeah, but…for some reason, I can’t relax unless I’m in a room like this one, with medical devices or research facilities.”
“You’ve got a severe case of workaholism,” I responded wryly, sitting down across from the laughing Dr. Shouko. The simple stool I’d perched on was meant for guests and patients. Sitting across from Dr. Shouko like this reminds me of visiting a hospital on Earth.
“So your results,” Dr. Shouko began. “There are no particular problems. Like I said earlier, your stress levels seem a little high, but it’s not anything out of the ordinary. Your body’s healthy to the point that your organs deserve good-boy stickers. Even today, there aren’t really any drugs that can beat proper exercise and meals.”
“That’s good to hear. What about the rest of the crew?”
“You may be this ship’s captain, but that’s a personal matter. I can’t divulge their personal health information. However, as their primary doctor—or rather, as the ship’s doctor—I can tell you that they’re all healthy and have no problems requiring immediate treatment.”
“Also good to hear. But if there ever is a problem, make sure to consult with either me or Mei. Well, I guess telling Mei is a surefire way to solve any problem, but I’d like to know too. I start to sulk when I’m left in the dark.”
“Pfft! Aye aye, sir. Is that what you want me to say?”
“Yes! Perfect answer.” I gave her a thumbs-up.
“By the way…”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Dr. Shouko crossed her arms and fidgeted. “You’re the last person getting a check-up today.”
“I…see?”
Mei didn’t need such an inspection, and Mimi and Elma had already been assessed. Tina and Wiska’s check-ups were done as well, and I’d come in after Kugi finished hers. That indeed made me Dr. Shouko’s last patient today.
“Would you like to…take a break for a bit to relax?” Dr. Shouko asked, her face reddening.
Is…is this what I think it is? “I’d love to, but is—no, I’d be insensitive to ask directly.”
I was a little taken aback by the sudden proposition, but Dr. Shouko was an adult. In approaching me, she’d taken the initiative, and it would be unmanly of me not to respond properly. A person had to play the hand they were dealt or something…right?