Tokyo, 1994, starting with medical training

Chapter 35 Thanks

As I walked out of the hospital after my shift ended, the sunlight was a bit too bright.

Back downstairs at the apartment building.

Climb up to the third floor.

When he reached the door of room 302 and was about to take out his keys to open the door, he stopped.

A delicate paper bag was hanging on the doorknob.

The paper bag was printed with the logo of a famous dessert shop in Maebashi City, and the opening was tied with a pretty bow with a blue ribbon.

Kazusuke Kiryu took the paper bag.

Inside was a box of cookies that looked expensive, and two cans of energy drinks.

Underneath the cookie box was a neatly folded sticky note.

[Dr. Kiryu:]

If you don't mind, please accept these snacks.

[P.S. Although I'm just a regular employee at the city hall, please feel free to contact me anytime if you have any questions about administrative procedures.]

[Neighbor: Saionji Yanna]

Just a few words.

Her handwriting was delicate and beautiful, a stark contrast to her inner desire to smash the world.

Kazusuke Kiryu put the note in his pocket, opened the door, and went inside.

In this bureaucratic society, having an acquaintance at the city hall can certainly save you a lot of trouble from queuing and filling out forms.

……

The next few days became dull and tedious.

Representative Okawara's son survived the most dangerous 48 hours in the ICU and is now out of danger, bringing a sigh of relief to both the First and Second Surgical Departments.

The congressman's secretary brought some desserts and left a business card for the people who participated in the surgery, saying that they would thank them separately after the congressman's son was discharged from the hospital.

Kazusuke Kiryu casually stuffed the business card into his wallet.

For important figures like these, it's just a matter of being polite; it doesn't mean that giving them a business card will result in them repaying a small favor tenfold.

Even if there is a way to repay someone, it would be to thank the surgeon, professor, or dean.

It doesn't have much to do with him.

Kazusuke Kiryu continues to shuttle between the ward and the treatment room every day.

Changing dressings, removing stitches, writing medical records, running errands for senior doctors to buy coffee, and acting as a human support for retractors on the operating table.

This is the ecological niche of medical trainees.

Although his amazing performance caused a subtle change in his status in the medical department, Takikawa Takuhei and others who were also medical students treated him much more politely and even occasionally took the initiative to help him with some chores.

But this doesn't change the fact that he is essentially cheap labor.

Busy times always fly by.

It's already Friday, December 23rd.

This day is the birthday of the current Emperor Akihito, and it is also a legally recognized national holiday, so the hospital is basically closed except for the emergency room and inpatient department.

But for Kiryu Kazusuke, this day was no different from any other.

Even more drunk people are coming to the emergency room under the pretext of a holiday.

10:00 AM, First Surgical Department.

"Sorry to bother you."

As Kiryu Kazusuke was organizing his discharge medical records, a timid voice came from the doorway.

Head up.

Mrs. Suzuki carried two beautifully wrapped gift boxes: "Um... we're here to thank Dr. Imagawa and Dr. Kiryu."

Her husband's post-operative recovery is going very well, and he was able to be discharged today and go home to recuperate.

So, I'd like to express my gratitude first.

Assistant Professor Mizutani, who was reading a newspaper at his desk, merely looked up, nodded slightly, and then ignored him.

It's not worth wasting time on the families of ordinary patients.

Just then, Imagawa Ori walked in from outside.

She had just finished surgery and was still holding a bottle of mineral water in her hand.

"Dr. Imagawa!"

Upon seeing the person in question, Mrs. Suzuki immediately went to greet him and bowed deeply.

"Thank you so much for your help during this time!"

"My husband's hand was saved entirely thanks to your superb medical skills!"

"This is a small token of our appreciation; it's a local specialty snack from my hometown. Please accept it."

As she spoke, she handed over one of the slightly larger gift boxes.

"Mr. Suzuki, you're too kind. It's what we should do."

Imagawa Ori stopped and glanced at the gift box. It was a very traditional Japanese confectionery gift box with the words "御礼" (respectfully presented) printed on the wrapping paper.

She didn't refuse and reached out to take it.

Mrs. Suzuki then handed another, slightly smaller gift box to Kazusuke Kiryu.

Kiryu Kazusuke accepted it and thanked him.

After seeing the mother and daughter off.

Only a few doctors on duty remained in the clinic.

Imagawa Ori walked to her desk and laid the gift box in her hand flat.

Her movements were quick and skillful.

I ran my fingers along the bottom of the box, then tore open the wrapping paper and opened the lid.

Inside, two rows of exquisitely crafted wagashi (Japanese sweets) were neatly arranged.

Inside were neatly arranged wagashi (Japanese sweets).

But Imagawa Ori didn't touch the sweets; instead, she simply picked up the entire plastic tray containing the sweets.

Use this to check the bottom of the box.

Empty.

There was only one sheet of corrugated cardboard at the bottom.

There was no envelope, no ten thousand yen bill, and no Fukuzawa Yukichi, her favorite person.

"Tsk."

Imagawa Ori pouted.

For a specialist like her, it's common to receive hundreds of thousands of yuan in "thank-you gifts" for performing a complex surgery.

I originally thought that even if it wasn't several hundred thousand, it would at least be thirty to fifty thousand as a token amount.

They really are poor.

She put the tray back into the box, closed the lid, and pushed it directly towards Kiryu Kazusuke.

"Go and divide it up."

After saying that, Imagawa Ori sat back down in her chair and began writing the medical records.

Kiryu Kazusuke held the two gift boxes but didn't say anything; it wasn't like he'd only known Dr. Imagawa for a day.

"Tanaka-senpai, here are some sweets from Suzuki-san."

Kazusuke Kiryu placed the box on the communal table and called out to Kenji Tanaka, who was still working overtime in misery.

"Oh! Great! I'm just about to get hungry!"

Kenji Tanaka peeked out from behind the computer screen and cheered.

After the economic bubble burst, this box of pastries costing several thousand yen was already a very substantial thank-you gift for an ordinary family.

……

Night falls.

The lights came on in the hospital corridor.

Tonight, Kiryu Kazusuke doesn't need to go to the emergency room, but he still has to be on duty in the department to handle any emergencies in the ward.

Before we knew it, it was late at night.

Or rather, it was already the early morning of December 24th.

Kazusuke Kiryu glanced at his watch.

0 points.

He stood up and took out a small cake he had bought at a convenience store near the hospital from his bag.

It's a very cheap kind, with a sponge cake base, a layer of not-so-pure vegetable cream on top, and a canned cherry as a garnish.

This thing costs about 300 yen including tax.

It's not that he can't afford something more expensive, but rather that it's unnecessary.

Even if he spends thousands of yen, it's highly likely that Imagawa Ori won't appreciate it; he's just going through the motions.

After all, the timeline fork didn't necessarily mean that Imagawa Ori had to accept it.

He walked out of the clinic, through the corridor, and arrived at the door of the duty room for the specialist doctor.

Imagawa Ori is also on duty tonight.

She is a specialist doctor. Although she doesn't need to stay in the ward all night like Kazusuke Kiryu, she still needs to be on standby in the hospital's private lounge.

dong dong——

Kazusuke Kiryu raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Several seconds passed before any movement came from inside the door.

After opening the door.

Imagawa Ori was wearing a dark gray turtleneck sweater and loose sweatpants, and she was holding a thick German original book in her hand.

However, Kiryu Kazusuke only sensed the low pressure.

After Imagawa Ori recognized who it was,

"If it weren't for an emergency like a patient dying or a hospital fire, I would twist your head off and use it as a ball."

"Alright, you can speak now."

"What is it?"

Kiryu Kazusuke smiled and held up the cake in his hand.

Happy birthday, Dr. Imagawa.