Tokyo, 1994, starting with medical training

Chapter 2 Good Luck

The steam from the coffee rose gently under the warm lights of the booth.

"Kiryu-kun?"

Nagata Ayaka finally noticed that although Kiryu Kazusuke was looking ahead, his gaze was not focused on her.

She then stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Kiryu Kazusuke's eyes.

"Quiet down, let me think about it."

Kiryu Kazusuke snapped impatiently.

Ayaka Nagata immediately withdrew her hand, but her eyes flickered with emotion as she looked at him.

She believed that this was just Kiryu Kazusuke bluffing to express his resentment.

The problem is not big.

As long as Kiryu-kun is still that silly boy who would brave the heavy rain to run all over Maebashi City to buy crepes just because I said I wanted them, only to get soaked to the bone himself.

From her reaction, Kiryu Kazusuke also realized that the World Line Convergence Project's light curtain was visible only to him.

So, the question is, which world line should we choose?

First, exclude branch one and two.

Having lived two lives as a human and two lives as a doctor, Kiryu Kazusuke could never choose these two timelines.

Yes, he has a flexible moral bottom line, but that does not include medical ethics.

Making innocent patients suffer because of one's own mistakes, and then covering up the truth—Nagata Ayaka could do that, but he couldn't.

[Bifurcation 3: Your conscience is at play. Uphold medical ethics and report the truth (Reward: 100,000 yen increase in bank deposit)]

This is normally how he would do it.

This reward is a godsend for him, given his current dire financial situation.

[Fork in the Road 4: You are vindictive and will not only report her, but also fool her before that (Reward: Kirschner wire fixation - Perfect)]

Kazusuke Kiryu was a trainee doctor at the First Surgical Department, which was equivalent to orthopedics.

This skill is a good match for my major.

He had mastered Kirschner wire fixation in his previous life, but only at a basic level.

In the long run, the value of this skill is definitely not comparable to 10 yen.

But the problem is that we have to look at it in the long run.

When he made his decision...

Nagata Ayaka suddenly moved from the booth opposite him and sat down next to him.

"Kiryu-kun, I know I've put you in a difficult position."

"I know you're still angry with me because of Professor Mizutani..."

"But I really have no other choice. If you're willing to help me this once, I'm willing to do anything."

At this point, Ayaka Nagata licked her red lips, then looked at Kazusuke Kiryu with eyes full of spring water.

"Really, anything is fine."

"If you're willing to testify for me... I can come to your apartment tonight."

After she finished speaking, two unnatural blushes appeared on her cheeks.

She believed she had shown enough sincerity, and since Kiryu Kazusuke had always harbored feelings for her, he had no reason to refuse her offer.

Thinking is such a trivial matter; let your lower body handle it.

And this time.

Kazusuke Kiryu finally made a move, picking up his coffee cup and taking a sip.

He then looked down at Nagata Ayaka, who was almost pressed against him, smiled faintly, and said, "Okay."

This answer instantly relaxed Ayaka Nagata's tense body.

Great.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

As expected, Kiryu-kun is still the same as before.

Although the process was a bit more complicated than expected, the result was good. As long as we get through this crisis, everything will be back on track.

As for tonight...

Just consider it as being bitten by a dog.

As long as I can keep my job and my current life, this is nothing at all.

Ayaka Nagata smiled sincerely: "Thank you so much, Kiryu-kun. I knew you were the best."

However, Kiryu Kazusuke suddenly shook his head.

This caused Ayaka Nagata's expression to freeze.

Kiryu Kazusuke looked down at her and shook his head, saying, "Nagata-senpai, one night isn't enough."

A wave of displeasure immediately washed over Nagata Ayaka.

One night isn't enough?

The Kiryu-kun of the past would never haggle.

But she quickly suppressed her emotions and forced a smile: "Then, Kiryu-kun, how many nights do you want?"

At worst, just consider it as being bitten a few more times by a dog.

Kiryu Kazusuke looked at her with a smile: "I want you to be my long-term lover."

Ayaka Nagata was momentarily stunned.

Did you hear me wrong?

lover?

He made himself his long-term lover?

Is this still the same shy, even somewhat timid and self-conscious medical trainee, Kiryu Kazusuke?

She should be the one firmly in control of this relationship.

She can bestow a little tenderness, but she can also take it back at any time; Kiryu Kazusuke, on the other hand, must always wait in the same place.

Instead of making demands on her as we are doing now.

But she did not have an attack.

Reason prevailed over emotion, and the brain quickly weighed the pros and cons.

If he refuses, his career in the hospital may come to an end, all his efforts of more than ten years will be in vain, and he will be forced to return to the rural hometown he had risked his life to escape.

Professor Mizutani would never offend the hospital for his own sake in such a matter.

She was just one of his three or four lovers.

If you agree...

It doesn't seem to work?

Kazusuke Kiryu is still a medical student, with a busy and irregular work schedule. As long as he manages his time well, it is almost impossible for Assistant Professor Mizutani to discover their relationship.

"Okay, I promise."

Ayaka Nagata took a deep breath and made her final compromise.

Just when she thought a huge weight had been lifted from her heart—

Kiryu Kazusuke stood up.

He took a 1,000 yen bill from his wallet and placed it on the table, then picked up his coffee cup and pressed it underneath.

"I'm sorry, Nagata-senpai, I was just teasing you. Please don't take it to heart."

With that, Kiryu Kazusuke stood up from the inside of the booth.

"What...?"

Unaware of what was going on, Nagata Ayaka instinctively shrank back.

Was I just teasing her?

Does that mean you no longer want her as a mistress?

That's great.

This problem can be solved without getting bitten by a dog.

At this moment, Kiryu Kazusuke had already left the booth.

He leaned down, whispered in Nagata Ayaka's ear, and said softly, "Nagata-senpai, what I meant by 'teasing you' is..."

"Regarding yesterday's medical incident, I will report everything I saw to the hospital truthfully."

"Good luck."

As soon as he finished speaking, he straightened up and walked towards the door.

After he opened the glass door, his figure disappeared into the night.

With the words "Good luck" still echoing in her ears, Ayaka Nagata finally realized what had happened.

A surge of immense humiliation and anger at being fooled rushed to my head.

"Kiryu Kazusuke, you bastard!"

Ayaka Nagata screamed, and in a fit of rage, she grabbed the coffee cup on the table and smashed it hard towards the door.

boom--

The coffee cup shattered, and brown liquid splattered everywhere, leaving a mess.

The customers at several tables in the restaurant all turned around.

"What are you looking at!"

Nagata Ayaka gritted her teeth and cursed angrily.

Then, she grabbed her coat and handbag, put on her high heels, and stormed out.

They hadn't even taken two steps.

A restaurant server who heard the commotion rushed over and blocked her way: "Sir, you need to compensate for this cup before you leave."

(End of this chapter)