Tonight, in Every Bar in Town

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

A week was over and my stitches were removed.

About one inch to the side of my navel was the raised scar.

When Akagawa came to check up on me, I said,

"Instead of sewing me up like that, maybe you should have just kept the pipe stuck in my for good."

"And what if I did?"

"You could see it every day. Isn't it nice to think people could see the inside of my belly any time they wanted? When someone sees my liver, my want for self-control gets stronger."

"Sure, I can do it anytime. You wouldn't say such a thing if there was someone here suffering because they had an artificial anus installed in them. But sure, I'll put a pipe in you anytime you want. Then we'll run sludge worms through it day and night."

"You really have some imagination, doctor."

"I'm not good at bullshit logic like someone I know."

"Are you still angry about me talking back to you before?"

"As if I'd get angry. Having an imagination just proves you're healthy as well. Maybe I should pray that both of us don't get any healthier. I TOLD YOU TO STOP READING BOOKS!"

Akagawa pivoted his head and shouted at young Ayase.

Ayase jumped and took the book he was reading and put it on his sheets. The last two or three days his health was failing, so he was given an IV now and then. On a very cold day he had gone to the roof for a long time, and his condition became worse from then.

Akagawa walked next to Ayase's bed, took his pulse, and used his stethoscope.

"You've been leaving food uneaten recently."

"Whenever I have an IV, I don't feel hungry."

"A person that doesn't eat shouldn't read books. You're not Marie Curie, after all."

"Yes, sir."

"What are you reading?"

"Kenji Miyazawa."

"You shouldn't be reading that hardcore stuff."

I could see the boy's eyes smile at Akagawa's joke.

"Your fever doesn't go down. How's your peeing?"

"Not much."

"Tell me if you don't go again by this evening. I'll withdraw the urine."

'Withdrawing urine' means using a balloon catheter. A tube is stuck into the urethra and the balloon is inflated inside the bladder with saline, after which the tube is fixed. I had seen it countless times when a relative of mine was hospitalized. It was understandable for a kid like Ayase to not want it.

"What, are you unhappy with how I withdraw it?"

"No, not at all."

"Maybe I should get a cute nurse to do it then?"

"Stop it, doctor."

"It's a rule that a doctor has to do the procedure, but if you can't urinate and it hurts, call the nurse. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, got that?"

"Yes, sir."

Seeing the unhealthy Ayase there, with the fact that I was recovering day by day made me want to give half of my own health to him.

My dandruff reemerged and I was surprised by getting erections again, but it really bothered me when I started feeling like I wanted to exercise again.

For several days I had trouble getting to sleep again. For example, I thought that I had trouble getting sleep because I couldn't hear the 'Crying old man' anymore, but that wasn't it. In order to sleep well, the body needs a certain amount of tiredness, and all this rolling around in bed leaves you with a lot of pent-up energy. In other words, lying around in bed gives you too much energy to sleep.