I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Clearly, Aki Tomoya didn't want to say anything more about this matter.

It's best to avoid talking about things like long-distance relationships or breakups due to work.

Although Aki Tomoya told Kudo Sayaka before coming to the hospital that they weren't without a chance to meet, who can say for sure?

Fortunately, Aki Tomoya believes in the saying that distance makes the heart grow fonder, and their distance, strictly speaking, is not too far.

His apartment in Bunkyo Ward was only a few subway stops away.

But as I said before, being a resident physician means you can't go home.

“Aki-kun doesn’t seem worried at all. He should call his girlfriend more often when he has free time.”

Dr. Nakagawa continued on this topic, seemingly enjoying teasing a junior colleague younger than himself.

To this, Aki Tomoya rolled his eyes slightly.

Seeing his eye roll, Dr. Nakagawa smiled again.

"We haven't had any new members in our cardiac surgery department for a long time, so the seniors will take good care of you!"

Dr. Nakagawa gave Aki Tomoya a meaningful smile.

Every year, there are applications to come here for medical training, but they all end up going to other departments.

This year is even better; they brought in three directly, and all of them were assigned to their cardiac surgery department, saving them the trouble of initial rotations.

Sasaki Ichiru also made it very clear that this was the arrangement of the head of the Monobe department, and no one could have any objections.

"To be honest, seeing Dr. Sasaki like that this morning, I almost thought we were still in the university hospital. I really miss those days..."

Dr. Nakagawa pursed his lips as he spoke.

He was quite curious about the three new trainees who had joined the cardiac surgery department. Their backgrounds should go beyond just mentioning Dongda University and Sunda University.

Just because they are graduates of top universities doesn't justify making them do things that are against the rules.

Is it simply because this place is practically becoming Tokyo University's private domain?

More than half of the people here are graduates of the University of Tokyo, but this is not a reason for them to skip the early rotation process.

At this point, Nakagawa couldn't help but sigh, "Having connections is really helpful."

With just one sentence from someone, they were spared two years of rotation time and began receiving specialized clinical training during their residency.

This is the difference; people are indeed different.

"Others have five years, you have two. Although it's convenient, you'll have to work harder. There's a lot for you to learn."

Dr. Nakagawa gave Aki Tomoya a look that said, "May you have good luck."

While listening to what the other person was saying, Aki Tomoya continued to flip through the medical records in his hand.

Meanwhile, another voice rang out in the operating room.

"Nakagawa, don't scare my junior."

"Dr. Yoshida, so you're still here. Isn't it your shift today?"

"Oh dear, the head of the department will be back soon. If I don't finish what he left me with, I'll be in big trouble. Consider this my free time to spend with you guys for the night."

Yoshida Aoba, a graduate of the University of Tokyo, used to work in the university hospital, working on basic research under the Department of Monogatari. It seems he is still doing the same thing here.

The senior student with some experience and skills is probably Sasaki Ichigo's right-hand man in Mononobe.

"I am truly flattered. You are such a busy person, Dr. Yoshida."

Yoshida ignored Nakagawa and instead looked at Aki Tomoya with a smile, saying, "Aki-kun, if you're free, how about you do me a favor?"

"...Is it to help you find research materials for your thesis?"

"Hey, young man, you're pretty quick on the uptake!"

Chapter 427 It's best if nothing happens

Do surgeons need to write papers?

This is obvious. Of course you need to write it, and not just need to, you absolutely must know how to do it.

Whether you pursue research or clinical practice, if you want to advance, you need to be able to write papers, and specifically, papers that can be published.

It is said that Yoshida, who used to be in charge of basic research at a university hospital, is now busy with similar things.

He was responsible for writing the director's thesis, just like Associate Professor Okajima whom Aki Tomoya knew at school.

The professor doesn't have to write it himself; instead, others write it for him, and the professor is responsible for reviewing it.

Yoshida may have some talent in academic papers and basic research, just like Okajima, but it's unclear what his practical skills are like.

However, judging from the current situation, Sasaki Ichiro, who used to be in charge of clinical work at a university hospital, seems to be the most skilled among Mononobe's subordinates.

"Aki-kun, this isn't a university hospital. You don't need to write papers for professors or find research materials. Dr. Yoshida just wants you to work for free. Don't fall for it!"

Dr. Nakagawa offered this reminder.

This isn't a university hospital; he has every reason to refuse the request.

Finding materials for a professor's paper is something anyone can do, and ultimately it was Yoshida's job anyway.

"Dr. Nakagawa, are you trying to sow discord between me and my junior? I'm his senior, after all. How could I let him help me for nothing!"

Yoshida retorted excitedly, as if to say that he was not that kind of person.

Aki Tomoya is, after all, his junior, not to mention they're now in the same department. They're not only senior and junior from the same university, but also work together.

Their relationship appears to be so close.

Although it's only Aki Tomoya's first day on the job, it's nonsense to say they have a really good relationship.

"Instead of helping Dr. Yoshida, why don't you practice surgical knots? Let's set a small goal first: tie 10,000 surgical knots. I'll find you some rope; I remember the department needs some."

Nakagawa clearly wanted to sabotage Yoshida.

Yoshida's utterly defeated expression made Aki Tomo want to laugh but dare not.

He wasn't sure if the relationship between the two was good or bad, but judging from the current atmosphere, it wasn't bad.

Night shifts are inherently boring, so these kinds of jokes add a bit of fun to the otherwise dull night.

"Forget it, I didn't expect Aki-kun to help me anyway. I was just kidding. Nakagawa, I'll remember that. On May 3rd, you tried to sow discord between me and my juniors."

Yoshida muttered to himself, then winked at Aki Tomoya.

He didn't say anything more about asking Aki Tomoya to continue helping him. It didn't matter; it was his own business anyway. He just needed to get it sorted out before the director returned.

"Here, finish typing these. If you need more, just ask me. Oh, and I'll check."

Nakagawa walked over and placed the rope on his table, indicating that he could play with it slowly.

In response, Aki Tomoya raised an eyebrow. Anyway, he had nothing else to do and had already looked at some of the medical records. He couldn't possibly spend the whole night looking at those things repeatedly.

Surgical techniques are taught in school and during clinical internships.

Aki Tomoya also knows the three knot-tying methods commonly used in surgery, and some people have mentioned them.

It is said that surgeons have a pair of skillful hands, not only skillful but also steady. People with shaky hands cannot become surgeons.

Can you imagine a person with Parkinson's disease performing surgery?

I doubt the patient will die of fright during surgery, but the other doctors will.

Picking up the rope, I skillfully tied knots. Now, besides practicing to become more proficient, I do this mostly to kill time.

"Dr. Nakagawa, do we really need to get 10,000 doses?"

"Take your time. You definitely won't use it all in one night. It's so boring, I can't just let you sleep."

So perfunctory...

Aki Tomoya was also certain that Nakagawa was only making him keep tying knots because he couldn't find anything else to do.

Of course, Nakagawa didn't really want him to tie a thousand surgical knots, but it was necessary. There wasn't much to do right now, so as his supervising doctor, he naturally had to give him something to do to keep him from falling asleep.

To be honest, it is quite boring, but practicing a little at this time can help kill some time.

"Aki-kun, do you have a good relationship with your professors at university?"

With nothing to do, Yoshida wrote something and asked Aki Tomoya a question.

Aki Tomoya paused for a moment, then removed the surgical knot that had been secured, and continued his work, replying to Yoshida, who was in charge of basic research, "It's alright..."

"That's it."

Yoshida's gaze never left his computer screen, his eyes reflecting the screen's glow, a thoughtful look in them.

Generally speaking, they shouldn't be entering the cardiac surgery department at this time; they should at least finish their residency rotations before having that opportunity.

It's impossible to say there were no other people involved.

Yoshida is now quite curious about which professor Aki Tomoya is so close to at school that he can enjoy such great privileges.

However, Yoshida did not intend to ask at this time. As Sasaki Ichirin said, this was the decision of the head of the Monobe department, and no one was allowed to make a fuss about it.

Curious as he was, he didn't dare ask about the background of Aki Tomoya and the others joining the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Kanto General Hospital.

It was well past midnight, and everyone on duty in the department was doing their own thing.