Tokyo, 1994, starting with medical training

Is Chapter 3 considered a reward?

The night outside Gunma University Hospital was exceptionally quiet.

Since the hospital dormitories were full, Kiryu Kazusuke had to find a remote but cheap apartment to stay in.

The cold night wind made him more awake.

With a thought, the light red Worldline Convergence Project light screen reappeared before his eyes.

[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)]

Apart from that, the other branches have disappeared.

To obtain the reward, one must wait until reporting Nagata Ayaka to the medical department to bring the world lines together; it's not as simple as just making a choice.

Kirschner wire fixation is one of the most basic procedures in orthopedics (plastic surgery).

It is mainly used to treat some relatively simple fractures, such as phalanges and wrist bones, or as a temporary fixation in complex surgeries.

This operation is not technically difficult, but it greatly tests a doctor's spatial imagination and hand accuracy. It is a basic skill that resident doctors must master.

However, being able to do something and doing it well are two completely different concepts.

In routine medical training, the needle insertion angle may need to be adjusted repeatedly, which may cause unnecessary damage to the surrounding soft tissues and nerves, and may also lead to infection or unstable fixation after the procedure.

Perfection, on the other hand, requires the surgeon to achieve the most stable anatomical repositioning in one go with the fewest attempts and the most precise angles, using minimal trauma.

In his previous life, Kiryu Kazusuke's skill level was slightly better than that of a medical student, but still limited.

……

Kiryu Kazusuke adjusted the collar of his coat and quickened his pace.

He noticed a figure about ten meters ahead. The person was wearing a thick brown woolen coat on the upper body, but a pleated skirt and white stockings on the lower body, with a pair of small leather shoes on their feet.

In this kind of weather, this outfit is absolutely youthful and invincible.

At first, Kazusuke Kiryu didn't care.

But as they walked, things started to get a little strange.

The girl in front turned and went into a side street.

And that was precisely the path he was meant to take.

This is a bit embarrassing.

At this time.

Mina Saionji, who was walking ahead, seemed to have noticed the footsteps behind her, and her walking posture became somewhat stiff.

She glanced back discreetly out of the corner of her eye.

Could it be that we've encountered one of those legendary psychopaths?

Should we run?

No, the victims on TV all ran at first, but were eventually caught because they were too exhausted.

Should we go back and confront him?

No, that won't work either. He must be carrying a knife; that's how it was portrayed in the news.

She straightened her back and walked with a steady gait, trying to create the illusion that "I'm not afraid of you at all, I'm a black belt in karate."

Kiryu Kazusuke didn't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings.

So he stopped and decided to wait until the other person was a little further away before continuing.

However, when Saionji Mina saw Kiryu Kazusuke stop in his tracks, her breath caught in her throat.

Yes, this is the prelude to the pervert launching an attack!

Her body reacted before her brain could, and without caring about running out of energy, she took off running towards home.

But she hadn't run more than a few steps—

"what!"

An accident occurred suddenly.

Because she was running too fast, Saionji Mina seemed to trip over something. After a short scream, she stumbled and fell to the ground.

The plastic bag in her hand flew out, and its contents rolled all over the ground.

There was yogurt, rice balls, and a box of Pocky chocolate bars.

At that moment, a pale red light screen once again unfolded before Kiryu Kazusuke's eyes.

[Saionji Mina: Ouch... It's all that guy's fault! Why did he keep following me?! My knee is bleeding! How am I going to wear my school uniform skirt tomorrow?! Die, die, die!]

[Can converge world lines]

[Fork in the road 1: Ignoring the awkwardness of strangers is an adult's way of dealing with the world. (Reward: A high-quality deep sleep)]

[Branch Two: You cannot stand idly by and watch someone get hurt, so you step forward to help. (Reward: 1 yen in cash)]

[Branch 3: You pick up the chocolate bar she dropped and eat it, then laugh and say, "What an accident!" (Reward: You get mentally called "Terrible," "Scumbag," etc.)]

what?

She's actually a wicked woman?

Also... is the reward for branching three for real?

However, Kiryu Kazusuke doesn't have that kind of interest.

At this moment, he didn't care about any misunderstandings and ran forward in three steps.

Are you alright?

He crouched down, intending to help the other person up.

Saionji Mina raised her head, her small face filled with panic and wariness.

Her hair was a little messy, with a few strands sticking to her forehead, and there was dirt on her nose. She was wearing a dark blue sailor uniform.

"No...don't come any closer!"

As she spoke, Saionji Mina shuffled backward, trying to get as far away from him as possible.

"I'm not a bad person."

Kazusuke Kiryu raised his hands to indicate that he meant no harm.

"I'm a doctor, and I live nearby. I saw you fell, so I came to check on you."

He pointed to the hospital work ID clipped to his breast pocket.

Saionji Mina looked at him with a mixture of belief and doubt.

Although the streetlights weren't very bright, you could still clearly see that Kiryu Kazusuke was wearing a hospital-style jacket, and he also had that intoxicating smell of disinfectant on him.

Seeing that the other person didn't seem like a bad person, she stopped hiding.

Saionji Mina tried to stand up by bracing herself against the ground, but a sharp pain in her knee made her sit back down.

I looked down.

The white stockings were not only covered in mud, but also had several holes.

The largest hole was at the right knee, where the skin inside was torn and bleeding profusely.

"Don't move, let me take a look." Kiryu Kazusuke pointed to her leg. "If you don't treat it, it's easy for it to get infected."

Saionji Mina hesitated slightly, but seeing that Kiryu Kazusuke didn't seem like a bad person, she lowered her guard a bit.

She stiffened her neck and said in a firm tone, "Then... then I'll make it clear first, I... I have no money."

Kiryu Kazusuke was amused by her nonsensical remark.

"Don't worry, I won't charge you."

"Come on, straighten your legs."

"Let me pull your socks down a little so I can clean your wound."

He supported her slender calves with one hand and held the top of her socks with the other.

With a soft rustling sound, the warm cotton socks were slowly pulled down to the ankles. Without the fabric to cover them, the wounds with blood seeping out could be seen.

This needs to be addressed.

He looked around, then quickly walked to a nearby vending machine and bought a bottle of purified water.

"It might hurt a little, just bear with it."

Kiryu Kazusuke unscrewed the cap, raised the bottle, and used gravity to create a certain impact force in the water flow, washing away the mud and sand on the surface of the wound.

"hiss--"

The icy water rushed onto her broken, bloody flesh, and Saionji Mina couldn't help but gasp.

"Just bear with it, it'll be over soon."

Kiryu Kazusuke's movements were gentle and quick; he treated the wound in no time and even used a tissue to dry the water around it.

"Alright." He stood up, held out his hand, "Can you stand up?"

Saionji Mina looked at his outstretched hand, hesitated for a moment, and then placed her own hand on it.

With a little effort, Kiryu Kazusuke pulled her up from the ground.

Then, I helped her pick up the things scattered on the ground one by one, put them back in the plastic bag, and handed them to her.

"Thank you so much."

Saionji Mina bowed while holding the bag.

"It was just a small favor."

Kazusuke Kiryu waved his hand.

Saionji Mina bowed again before limping forward.

Kiryu Kazusuke followed.

But after taking only two steps, he noticed that the girl in front of him had stopped again.

"Why...why are you still following me?!"

Saionji Mina turned around stiffly, her voice trembling slightly, and her legs seemed to be shaking as well, perhaps because of the fall.

Could it be that I guessed wrong?

He's not a kind doctor at all, but a more patient pervert?

First, gain their trust using gentle methods, and then...

"Because I live here too."

Kiryu Kazusuke pointed to the three-story apartment building in front of him, finding it somewhat amusing.

Saionji Mina looked at him with surprise and suspicion.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she said nothing. She simply turned around quickly and disappeared into the apartment building.

Kiryu Kazusuke followed him inside.

The apartment building has no elevator, only narrow concrete stairs.

He lives on the third floor.

As he turned the last stairwell corner, he found the girl standing breathlessly in the third-floor hallway.

This is a bit embarrassing.

Even Kiryu Kazusuke felt that the coincidence was a bit too much.

The two stared at each other for a while.

"You live on the third floor too?" Kiryu Kazusuke coughed, breaking the silence.

"You...you too?" Saionji Mina took a step back.

Kiryu Kazusuke nodded, then pointed to room 302 at the end of the corridor.

Saionji Mina looked in the direction he was pointing, and then looked at the key in her hand.

The room number hanging on her key was 301.

"It seems we are neighbors."

Kazusuke Kiryu also noticed the key and doorplate in her hand.

So he quickly walked past Saionji Mina, went to the door of room 302, and took out the key.

Click—

The door opened.

Kiryu Kazusuke glanced back; the girl was still standing there, seemingly very shy.

"Aren't you going in?"

"Ah... Oh!"

The girl seemed to wake from a dream, and hurriedly ran to the door of 301, trembling as she inserted the key into the lock.

I turned the key several times, but the door wouldn't open.

"Did you insert the key backwards?"

Kazusuke Kiryu couldn't help but offer a reminder.

"I...I know!"

Saionji Mina retorted defiantly, but obediently pulled out the key, turned it around, and opened the door smoothly.

Before slipping into the house, she glanced back at Kiryu Kazusuke one last time.

"My name is Saionji Mina, and I just moved here yesterday."

"Thank you for today."

After saying that, without waiting for Kiryu Kazusuke's response, he slammed the door shut.

(End of this chapter)