Gary snapped his gloves on in his office, picking his stethoscope and looping it around his neck. He grabbed his clipboard and sighed. " Okay, here we go."

He walked to the room, took a deep breath, and walked in.

He looked at the patient and gave the nervous kid a reassuring smile. " Don't worry Ashy Boy you'll be fine."



Ash's eye twitched. " Hello."

Gary rolled his eyes. " Ash you know who I am."

Ash nodded. " Yeah so?"

Gary groaned and lightly tapped the boy's head. " So if you remember use my name! And stop acting like you're a stranger."

" I am a stranger. I am a stranger."

Gary let out a deep sigh. " Okay look Ash. You know who I am. We've been friends and rivals since we were young. So stop freezing up in front of the one guy who's seen you since you were little."

" Mhm." Ash bit his lip.

Gary sighed deeply but pulled a flashlight out of his coat's pocket. " 'Kay, Ash. I'm gonna check your eyes first, " Kay?"

Ash nodded.

Gary snapped his gloves tighter, a clear sign of his patience already being tested. "Alright, Ashy-boy," he said, flashing a quick grin, "time to get this over with. I promise it won’t hurt. Much."

Ash flinched. "M-Much?!" His voice cracked slightly as he clutched the sides of the examination chair like it was a life raft.

Gary rolled his eyes, pulling a small flashlight from his coat pocket. "Relax. It’s just a light. Now, open your eyes for me." He reached out to gently hold Ash’s face steady.

Ash blinked rapidly. "What light?"

Gary sighed, keeping his voice calm. "The one I’m holding, Ash. Come on, just follow it with your eyes."

Ash froze, staring ahead like a Stantler caught in headlights.

Gary groaned. "Okay, great. We’ve officially lost brain function. Ash, it’s me. Gary. You know, the guy who used to beat you at everything before you got... well, slightly better?"

Ash twitched but didn’t respond.

"Fantastic," Gary muttered, shining the light near Ash's eyes anyway. He moved it left, then right, but Ash’s gaze remained fixed on some invisible point on the wall. Gary gave up and snapped the light off. "Alright, eyes are... not great, but let’s call it a win."

Next, Gary pulled out an otoscope and tilted Ash’s head to the side. "Okay, I’m checking your ears now. This doesn’t require any thinking, just sit still."

Ash flinched again. "W-why do you need to check my ears? They’re fine!"

"Because that’s my job," Gary replied dryly, peering into Ash’s ear. "Wow, nothing but empty space in here. Shocking."

"Hey!" Ash finally protested, his nerves breaking into indignation.

Gary smirked. "There’s the Ash I know. Relax, your ears look fine. Let’s move on."

He grabbed a tongue depressor and leaned forward. "Open up. Say ‘ahhh.’"

Ash pressed his lips shut, shaking his head like a toddler refusing vegetables.

"Ash," Gary said warningly.

"Nope!"

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to call Nurse Joy to hold you down? Because I will."

Ash groaned in defeat, reluctantly opening his mouth. "Ahhh—"

Gary quickly checked his throat. "Perfect. No issues there. See? That wasn’t so hard."

Ash mumbled something incoherent and folded his arms.

Next, Gary pulled out his stethoscope, adjusting it over his ears. "Okay, buddy. Shirt up. Gonna check your heart and lungs."

Ash hesitated, his cheeks turning pink. "Do I have to?"

Gary sighed, exasperated. "Yes, you have to. Come on, we’ve done this before."

Grumbling, Ash lifted his shirt halfway. Gary placed the stethoscope against his chest, the cold metal making Ash shiver.

"Deep breath in," Gary instructed. Ash obeyed shakily. "And out. Good. Again."

Gary listened intently, nodding. "Heart sounds fine. Now, lungs." He moved the stethoscope to Ash’s back. "Big breath in. Hold it. And out."

Ash followed the instructions, though his breathing was still a bit uneven.

"Alright, lungs are clear," Gary confirmed, pulling back. "You’re not dying. Yet."

Ash shot him a glare. "Thanks for the reassurance."

Gary chuckled, grabbing a small rubber hammer. "Okay, time to check your reflexes. Don’t freak out."

Ash blinked. "What do you mean, ‘don’t freak out?’ What are you gonna—"

Before he could finish, Gary tapped his knee lightly with the hammer, causing Ash’s leg to jerk involuntarily.

"Hey!" Ash yelped, glaring at his friend.

"Reflexes are good," Gary said with a smirk. He repeated the process on the other knee. "You’re still functional, even if your brain’s on vacation."

"Very funny," Ash muttered, rubbing his knee.

Finally, Gary handed him a small cup of water. "Last test, Ashy-boy. Drink this."

Ash took the cup suspiciously. "Why?"

"Because I need to check your swallowing. Just do it."

Ash rolled his eyes and downed the water in one gulp. Gary watched closely, nodding in approval. "Alright, no issues there."

He straightened up, snapping his clipboard shut. "Congratulations, you survived. Barely."

Ash slumped in the chair, exhausted. "Do you always have to be so dramatic?"

Gary smirked. "You’re one to talk, Mr. ‘I’m a stranger.’ Now get out of my office before I make you stay for more tests."

Ash groaned but couldn’t hide a small smile as he hopped off the chair. "Thanks, Gary."

"Anytime, Ashy-boy," Gary replied, ruffling his hair. "Just try not to freeze up next time, okay?"

Ash grumbled something under his breath but left with a bit more bounce in his step.