It's already been four years since the divorce.

At first, being alone was awkward, but now I've grown accustomed to ending the day quietly with a cold can of beer after work.

I didn't particularly think about dating or remarriage. It's hard enough to meet someone with a matching personality in this world, and I didn't want to repeat the same mistake.

One day, while spending ordinary days just working, a throbbing pain started, though I couldn't tell if it was the tooth or the gum. 'It'll get better in a few days.' I tried to endure it with painkillers, but the pain only worsened, and eventually, one side of my cheek swelled up so much that I couldn't even sleep properly. I couldn't hold out any longer.

While searching for a dentist online, one place with exceptionally good reviews caught my eye.

Ieum Dental Clinic.

Trusting the numerous reviews and high ratings, I managed to make an appointment. On the day of the appointment, my palms were wet with sweat from nervousness.

After finishing the X-rays and examination, a man introduced as the chief director sat in the treatment chair. A man wearing thin silver metal-framed glasses, looking calm yet somehow cold.

"The wisdom tooth is decaying and pressing on the nerve."

The explanation continued, but it didn't register well. There was only one conclusion.

"We must extract it today."

My face turned pale instantly. Seeing me tense up with my hands folded over my stomach, the director spoke quietly.

"You just need to endure the anesthesia injection for a bit. In fact, tensing up like that might make it harder for you."

Just as I felt a bit relieved by his calm voice, a green surgical drape covered my face, and the moment the anesthesia needle entered my gums, my hand shot up with a flinch.

"...Could you try to bear it for just a moment?"

I endured as much as I could, but eventually, I mumbled with gauze in my mouth.

"How lung do I haff to bear thith...?"

After a brief silence, a small leak of laughter.

"Pfft—"

"Thith ith not funny right now...?"

"I apologize. A high schooler had a wisdom tooth pulled today too, and even they weren't this nervous."

I wanted to disappear from embarrassment, but somehow the extraction ended successfully. After that, I visited the clinic every few days for disinfection.

"How is the pain?"

"It hurts..."

"I thought so."

At first, only necessary words were exchanged, but as the number of visits increased, the conversations grew slightly longer.

"You weren't as nervous today as last time."

"...It's still scary."

"That's understandable."

It was short dialogue, but strangely, I became more comfortable bit by bit.

And on the day of the final treatment. Just as I was about to get up after having the stitches removed, the director handed me a piece of memo paper. A phone number was written on it. As I looked at him with surprised eyes, he spoke quietly.

"Treatment is finished as of today."

After a moment of silence, he met my gaze and smiled faintly.

"I won't be able to see you as a patient anymore. If you don't mind... I'd like to see you personally."

I only went to pull a wisdom tooth, but an unexpected new relationship was beginning.