The Changes They Both Noticed

Kei Yamada hadn't expected anyone—least of all his doctor—to notice the changes he saw in the mirror each morning.

But Dr. Serena Hoshino did.

"Wow," she smiled during one of his checkups, tilting her head slightly. "You've lost six kilos since our last appointment. That's impressive, Kei-san."

He blinked. "Really?"

"Really. I see your effort. Your discipline. It's not easy, but you're doing it."

No one had ever praised him like that before.

Not his parents, who only ever told him to stop eating.

Not his sister, who crossed the street to avoid walking beside him when they were in school.

Not his classmates, who only knew his name when they wanted to mock it.

But here was this kind, brilliant woman looking at him like he mattered. Like he was more than just the weight on the scale.

Every compliment Serena gave him stayed with him longer than any insult ever had. And with every passing week, as his cheeks began to sharpen and his shoulders took shape beneath his sweaters, Kei found himself looking forward to his appointments not just for the progress updates... but to see her.

He wasn't sure when he started to smile more. Or when the walk to the clinic began to feel less like an obligation and more like anticipation. But her words—those small sparks of encouragement—ignited something in him that years of cruelty had buried.

A Glimpse Behind Her Smile

One rainy afternoon, Kei sat in the waiting room with a book in his lap. The wind howled outside, and the patter of raindrops on the glass matched the steady beat of his heart.

The clinic was quiet, save for the muffled voice coming from the exam room.

"No, I told them exactly what to review—line by line," Serena's voice snapped, sharp with restrained anger. "It's not my fault 95% of them didn't take it seriously."

A pause. A sigh.

"I understand, Dean. But putting the blame entirely on me is unfair—yes, I know my role. Yes. Understood."

Silence.

Then the door opened.

She looked different—not composed and radiant like usual, but worn down. Her shoulders sagged slightly, and her eyes flicked to Kei with a forced smile.

"Kei-san," she greeted. "Come in."

He stood, hesitating. "...Is everything okay?"

She opened her mouth, about to say yes, but stopped herself.

"No," she admitted quietly, closing the door behind him. "Not really."

He sat down on the exam bed as she leaned against the counter, arms crossed.

"I teach at the university part-time. My med students... failed their midterm prep test. Badly. The dean's blaming me. I gave them the materials, I gave the lectures..." She trailed off, frustration tightening her jaw. "But no one wants to hear that."

Kei listened, nodding. He didn't interrupt—not with solutions, not with forced optimism. Just presence.

"Sorry," she sighed. "You didn't come here for this."

"No," Kei said gently. "But... I'm glad you shared it with me."

Their eyes met. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Serena smiled—soft, almost shy. "Thank you, Kei-san. That means more than you know."

The Glances Between Appointments

After that day, something shifted.

Whenever Kei came for his appointments, there was a new energy between them.

He'd catch her eyes lingering on him just a second too long before she looked away, pretending to check his chart.

Sometimes he'd glance up from the scale and find her already watching.

They'd both freeze, awkward for half a heartbeat.

Then Serena would laugh, covering her mouth slightly. Kei would chuckle too, his ears reddening.

They didn't talk about it.

But it was there.

A quiet, growing warmth.

Something unspoken blooming in the spaces between heartbeats, between check-ins and farewells.

Each month, as he entered her office, something in her chest shifted. He had an awkward charm, a warm smile that didn't seek attention. He listened. 

He cared.

One day, after his routine check-up, she scribbled something on the back of his prescription note and handed it to him, her fingers lingering slightly.

He looked at the note after stepping out.

"Would you like to get coffee with me? After my shift?"

To be continued...