"This is Kal'tsit's office."
Amiya brought Jay to the destination and quietly reminded him with a worried look.
"Um… Doctor, Kal'tsit may be scary when she's angry, but she usually cools down quickly. Just go along with her, and she'll calm down in no time..."
"Haha, thanks for the concern, Amiya."
Jay smiled and gently patted the small girl's head.
She was trying to look out for him, that much was clear. What she didn't know was that Jay already had his own plan for handling Kal'tsit.
Knock knock knock!
Amiya knocked on the door on his behalf.
"Doctor Kal'tsit, I've brought the Doctor!"
"Bring him in!"
A voice snapped from inside the room, laced with the distinct frustration of a fuming old lynx.
Jay chuckled inwardly. Yep, she was definitely still mad.
Amiya nodded at him, then opened the door and entered first.
"Doctor Kal'tsit, the Doctor just finished his check-up. Please… go easy on him."
"Hmph! Just because he lost his memory doesn't mean I'm letting him off that easily!"
The moment Jay stepped inside, Kal'tsit stormed past Amiya straight toward him.
Even Amiya's attempt to plead for leniency had little effect. She stood there helplessly, lamenting what was about to happen. It was clear there wasn't much she could do for him now.
So she folded her hands together behind Kal'tsit's back and silently prayed.
I'm sorry, Doctor. This is as far as I can help you...
Jay, on the other hand, smiled at Amiya with gratitude, then turned to face Kal'tsit, who was now standing right in front of him.
Kal'tsit had her hands on her hips and her face full of righteous fury as she looked up at him and began to scold.
"Doctor! I've read the entire combat report. Do you have any idea what kind of nonsense you pulled out there? You're the Doctor of Rhodes Island, and yet you stood there and confessed to the leader of a violent infected faction? Are you really that into that Talulah woman? Do you understand the consequences of your actions? Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I do have something to say."
Jay stared intently at Kal'tsit's face. He already knew she was quite old, but her refined features were practically flawless up close.
"If I'm being honest… Kal'tsit, you're really beautiful."
"Wha… You… You you you! What are you even saying?! Stop acting crazy! I'm asking the questions here!"
Kal'tsit completely lost her composure at the sudden compliment.
Seizing the opportunity while she froze from embarrassment, Jay grabbed her hands and leaned in.
"Wha… Wait! What are you doing getting so close!? S-stop! If you keep this up, I'll mmph! Mmm mmph!"
Before she could finish, Jay kissed her without warning.
It was sudden, overwhelming, and gave Kal'tsit no chance to react. As soon as their lips met, all she could do was let out muffled protests.
"Wh-what?! Doctor?!"
Amiya, standing off to the side, turned bright red. She hadn't expected the Doctor, who was supposed to be getting scolded, to go this far. Her brain momentarily shut down as she stood frozen in place.
Just then...
"Doctor, I forgot to check your blood sample earlier. Would you mind coming back wi huh? Huh huh huh huh huh?!"
Warfarin pushed open the office door at that exact moment and caught a full view of the kiss.
"He... he really did it!"
She clenched her fists in awe and cheered.
"That's our Doctor! What no one else dared do to that old woman, he pulled it off without breaking a sweat! I'm honestly impressed. Moved, even!"
Click!
While celebrating, Warfarin whipped out her camera and snapped a photo of the moment.
"Hehehe... Perfect! There's no way I'm not saving such a historic moment. I'll treasure this one for a long time... hehehe..."
But before she could revel in her triumph much longer, a cold, predatory stare locked onto her from behind. Like a beast discovering prey.
"War far in. Were you... taking photos of me?"
"Eh? Wait, what? Why am I the one being targeted?!"
Warfarin didn't get it at all. Jay was the one who kissed Kal'tsit. She had just happened to be passing by and took a little innocent picture. Why was she suddenly the one drawing all the aggro?
Honestly, she was just a cheerful and sunny girl who got caught up in the chaos!
But staying any longer would definitely not end well.
With that thought, Warfarin turned tail and ran, camera in hand.
"Warfarin! Stop right there!"
A piercing screech followed.
A sharp creature wreathed in eerie energy appeared beside Kal'tsit, then lunged after the fleeing Warfarin.
"Ahhh! Kal'tsit, are you seriously summoning M3 on me?! No no no! Don't come any closer!"
The hallway outside erupted with the sounds of M3's roars and Warfarin's shrieks.
"Whoa..."
Back in the office, Amiya still hadn't recovered from the shock.
She was young and didn't fully understand the adult stuff going on, but thanks to her passive emotional absorption ability, she picked up something strange.
Even though Kal'tsit had verbally resisted the Doctor's advance, deep inside... she wasn't mad at all. In fact, she seemed a little... happy.
So it really was true. The relationship between Kal'tsit and the Doctor was far from ordinary.
Like earlier, when Amiya had suggested they rescue the Doctor, Kal'tsit had insisted on refusing, but ultimately still agreed to the mission.
The Doctor and Kal'tsit... both of them were incredibly important to Amiya.
And now, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen between them next.
Amiya looked down, trembling slightly with excitement.
A moment later, she raised her head, her eyes shimmering with anticipation.
"Amiya... Waku! Waku!"