"Having friends is how you get through tough times," Pinoko said seriously. "It's how Pinoko got through my house getting blown up."

That road trip would have sucked even more than it did to begin with if the Doctor hadn't been with her.

"War is definitely a time when you need hugs. So there." Even in medbays. Especially in Pinoko's medbays.

She smiled up at him at the thank you. "You're welcome! If you get hurt again, I'll just have to fix you again!"

A thank you from someone who had never thanked anyone before was just as valuable to Pinoko as the paper fan the Doctor got from that little kid. It was worth just about a million yen. It was the perfect payment.

"You should probably get going," she said gently. "Pinoko will probably have other patients soon."