Tokyo, 1994, starting with medical training

Chapter 43 Disappointing

Kiryu Kazusuke also turned his gaze away and continued grilling the meat.

Since the other party didn't want to say hello, he wouldn't make a fool of himself.

After all, in a dinner party full of women, suddenly striking up a conversation with a strange man would only attract endless gossip and questioning from colleagues.

If he has to step up every time he sees something like this, he'll probably work himself to death.

But the noise from the next table was indeed affecting his appetite.

"Come on, let's order drinks first!"

"I want oolong tea."

"Me too."

"No way! It's Christmas today, of course we have to drink!"

"Five draft beers, please!"

Section Chief Yoshino Keiko, seated at the head of the table, waved her hand and beckoned a waiter over.

"Um...Department Head, I'm not a very good drinker..."

Saionji Mina whispered something and raised her hand like a primary school student.

"Oh dear, Mina-chan, everyone's drinking, don't spoil the fun."

"Yeah, it's okay to drink a little."

"This is to celebrate that we finally sorted out that troublesome citizen complaint this week."

"Young people these days are so spoiled."

"Look at you, you're so slow at work, you can't even handle a photocopier, and now you're making excuses about having a drink."

"How can you survive in society like this?"

Several colleagues around him also chimed in with their own words of advice.

They confuse work-related trivialities with private gatherings, using this to belittle their superiors in order to curry favor, and are relieved that they are not the ones being targeted.

Saionji Mina shrank back, not daring to voice any further objections.

She knew that resistance was futile.

If she doesn't drink, she'll become the center of attention for the next two hours, labeled as "disappointing," "disrespectful," and "pretentious."

Then, when you return to the office the following week, you'll find your files scattered around, or no one inviting you to lunch during your break.

The beer has arrived.

"Cheers!"

The glasses clinked together.

Saionji Mina held the huge beer mug and took a small sip.

bitter.

It tastes awful.

She hates the taste of alcohol.

This beer doesn't taste as good as sweet orange juice, so why does everyone like it so much?

"Speaking of which, Mina-chan, why are you spending Christmas alone this year?"

Section Chief Yoshino put down his cup and began the routine gossip session.

Discussing who has a boyfriend, who hasn't gotten married yet, and who got dumped is an indispensable part of every gathering.

Some people seek a sense of superiority through comparison, or find psychological balance by belittling others.

"Yes……"

Saionji Mina lowered her head, looking at the meat on the grill.

"Still haven't found a boyfriend?"

"You're not getting any younger, you're 24, right?"

"It'll be a Christmas cake in another year!"

The surrounding colleagues let out knowing laughs.

Christmas cake.

This was a popular phrase during Japan's bubble economy period.

It means that women over 25 are like Christmas cakes past December 25th—no one wants them anymore, and they have to be sold at a discount.

Saionji Mina lowered her head, unsure of what to say.

Her eyes were a little red.

As Kiryu Kazusuke flipped the grilled meat, he watched the light screen pop up in front of him.

[Saionji Mina: Go to hell! You bunch of old women are the ones who are moldy mochi! I want to put this scorching hot oven on the section chief's face and listen to the pork and human skin burning together...]

[Can converge world lines]

[Fork in the road 1: The barbecue is so delicious! You just want to enjoy your leisure time, finish eating, and go home. (Reward: This barbecue is free)]

[Branch 2: She's quite cute-looking. You pretend to be her suitor and help her out of a difficult situation. (Reward: She makes buckwheat noodles by hand)]

[Branch 3: This kind of disgusting workplace bullying is really repulsive. If you're going to hold a grudge, you should also spoil their fun (Reward: Improved physical fitness - slightly)]

Three options are presented to you.

Kiryu Kazusuke picked up a piece of grilled pork belly, dipped it in sauce, and put it in his mouth.

chew.

Swallow.

Although he ordered quite a few fancy dishes, the total cost was less than 10,000 yen.

For him now, this amount of money is not something he absolutely needs to save.

Therefore, the appeal of this branch is really limited.

As for the choice of branch two?

As a GalGame expert, Kiryu Kazusuke knows with his eyes closed that if he wants to win over a female character, he should just blindly choose this standard answer.

As long as you stand up, loudly rebuke those vile women, and then take away the wronged Saionji Mina, you can quickly gain favor with her.

The plot then unfolds as the two begin to pretend to be a couple in order to cover up their lie, and eventually their fake relationship becomes real.

It's just a pity.

Kiryu Kazusuke remembered the exploding oven and the pizza that had turned to charcoal.

So, what kind of buckwheat noodles did she make?

As a doctor, he knew all too well the pain of food poisoning and cherished his own life even more.

Therefore, the final answer is—fork three.

The body is the capital of revolution.

Especially in the First Surgery Department, where people were treated like livestock.

Moreover, the noise from these women was really too loud, seriously disrupting his enjoyment of the pork belly.

Since that's the case, let's have the best of both worlds.

A decision has been made.

Kiryu Kazusuke picked up the beer glass in front of him and drank the last bit of beer in one gulp.

His eyes became somewhat unfocused, and his once straight back hunched slightly. He also unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and slightly bent his neatly tied tie.

A typical image of a corporate slave who drinks heavily due to excessive work pressure.

He leaned on the edge of the table and stood up unsteadily.

Her steps were unsteady, as if she were walking on cotton, and she staggered towards the restroom.

And we were going to pass by the table next door on the way.

The department head was clearly drunk by this point; his cheeks were flushed and his voice was getting louder and louder.

"Mina-chan, no offense, but I'm not trying to be mean."

"Your personality is too dull; men don't like that. You need to learn to be charming and to dress up."

"Sigh, Department Head, I'm only doing this for your own good."

She picked up a sizzling piece of pork belly, placed it on her plate, and prepared to enjoy it.

Right now.

Kiryu Kazusuke stumbled over.

As he passed behind the department head, his right foot seemed to trip over something.

"what……"

He let out a short gasp.

Suddenly losing his balance, he fell to the side and forward.

But he didn't fall directly to the ground.

His hands instinctively wanted to grab something to maintain his balance.

Unfortunately...

Or perhaps it's just too much of a coincidence.

He reached for the edge of the table next to him, and the back of his hand accidentally brushed against the corner of the table.

There sat a large glass of draft beer that the department head had just poured, the golden liquid still bubbling.

boom--

The huge glass beer mug was knocked over, and the golden liquid, like a burst dam, slammed into the section chief's chest under the force of gravity and inertia.

wow-

A large glass of ice-cold beer exploded on the middle-aged woman like a waterfall.

"ah--!!!"

A piercing scream completely drowned out the noise in the barbecue restaurant.

Section Chief Yoshino jumped up suddenly.

The cold beer poured down her neck, from the collar to the front, and then to that expensive-looking wool skirt...

Completely soaked!

The female colleagues around were stunned, their mouths agape, completely forgetting how to react.

Kiryu Kazusuke managed to steady himself.

He gripped the back of the chair, staring blankly at the tangled mess before him.

"oops……"

"I'm...I'm so sorry..."