Tokyo: Let the wicked women pay the price!

The following morning, at the entrance of the Southeast University Affiliated Hospital.

Fujino seemed to be waiting for Saki, but in reality, while looking at the text messages on his phone, his mind was already elsewhere.

Since Saki's computer crashed yesterday, she has almost lost her ability to speak and only replies with "um." So, we can only go home.

He only discovered the somewhat terrifying text message when he got home.

[Waka Hanako: Fujino-san, do you take Saturdays off?]

[Waka Hanako: Hanako, can I ask you out sometime?]

I'm truly impressed.

Wasn't the original plan to help Inspector Ukyo solve the stalker problem?

How did the stalker become my personal stalker?

Am I now a demon-suppressing tower?

This matter really can't continue to remain unclear.

As he hesitated about whether to schedule a consultation with Hanako tomorrow or the day after, he felt someone tap him on the shoulder.

"Hey! Good morning, Fujino-san."

"Saki?" Fujino looked at the smiling Saki, but a sense of doubt arose in his heart.

Why is it still that winter school uniform... a half-length skirt, a slightly yellowed shirt... and the socks that have disappeared.

"Tsk." Saki rolled her eyes. "That look is disgusting."

Fujino blushed slightly: "Let's go, I'll take you to register."

The job he helped Saki get from the professor was a caregiver job, specifically a nursing job in a major Eastern country.

Although Tokyo at that time followed a complete medical care system, under normal circumstances, family members were not allowed to accompany patients, and nurses took care of their daily lives throughout the process.

But clearly, they can't handle it all.

Therefore, with the help of "laymen" like caregivers who are not part of nursing, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has also introduced corresponding professional skills certificates.

Since this was a newly established system, hospitals couldn't possibly find all certified caregivers. Therefore, they adopted a tiered system to broadly recruit both certified senior caregivers and uncertified temporary workers.

Certified caregivers are the highest level, while trainees without certification earn relatively lower wages.

Moreover, without connections, even these kinds of temporary work opportunities are hard to find.

That's how society works in a society based on personal connections.

When Professor Kasai heard that it was his beloved student Fujino who asked for it, he made a few phone calls and settled the matter: "Go register, Fujino-kun. It's a small matter. Just don't do anything out of line."

"She knows that Miss Okubo, which is why she came to me for help." Fujino was a little embarrassed. This was the first time in his life that he had used connections, and he wasn't very good at it yet.

"Hehe, go ahead." Professor Kasai waved his hand with a smile, telling him not to worry about it.

It's just a nursing job with a monthly salary of 6 yen, but Fujino, a clearly outstanding newcomer, is willing to sacrifice his pride for a price far exceeding that.

He has a professor friend at Naniwa University who had a falling out with a student and ended up losing more than 300 million yen.

......

"Hey, Fujino-kun, why do you seem to have a lot of influence in the hospital?"

Saki watched as the nurses and clerks, who usually looked down on ordinary people, bowed and scraped as they helped Fujino register, and poked his shoulder with a pout.

Fujino handed Saki her employee badge: "It's all settled. Let's go see Lemon."

Despite listening to Saki's chattering all the way, Fujino didn't feel particularly annoyed.

In his two lifetimes, he had never seen such a vibrant girl.

That would be great if he wasn't a scumbag.

In a daze, the two were already standing at the door of Lemon's ward.

They all silently watched the scene inside through the window, as if by unspoken agreement.

Lemon lay half-reclined on the bed, flipping through the newspaper, seemingly humming a little tune.

Her surgical incision was at the back of her head, and the doctor advised against her lying down for extended periods.

"How's the lemon curd?"

Fujino's gentle voice made Lemon lift her head out of the newspaper.

The girl narrowed her eyes into a smile, preparing to get up: "Ah! It's Fujino-san? I've been taking my medicine diligently lately."

"Oh, Fujino-san, I've been taking my medicine diligently lately~" Saki pouted and peeked half her head out from behind Fujino. "Some people only have eyes for Fujino-kun and can't see their friends."

"Pfft—" Lemon chuckled and pointed to the stool. "Saki-chan, thank you for taking the time to come see me. You must be working really hard lately, right?"

The two girls quickly started chatting and laughing. Although Lemon only had a faint smile on her lips most of the time, she looked much more energetic overall.

Fujino nodded.

This is the best possible outcome.

Just as he predicted, Lemon's condition would improve once Nadeshiko stopped applying pressure.

Depression can be considered cured as long as there are no symptoms.

squeak-

It was Nadeshiko who pushed open the door.

"Ah! How lively! Fujino-san, Saki-chan, thank you for visiting Lemon."

She was wearing a decent long dress, although the style was old and even faded from washing, it was still quite presentable.

Fujino was observing not Nadeshiko, but Lemon's reaction.

Lemon's smile faded slightly, but she still smiled and asked, "Mom, what are we having for dinner today?"

"Lemon sauce, today's meal is grilled pork cutlet rice." Nadeshiko proudly pulled the bento box out of her bag, "It's your favorite."

"Okay~"

Seeing this, Fujino nodded.

At least on the surface, there doesn't seem to be any major problem.

Lemon's condition has remained stable since yesterday, which means that Nadeshiko has at least put on a good act.

He lowered his voice: "Saki-chan, bring Nadeshiko to my clinic later."

After receiving a nod of agreement from Saki, he stood up, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then left the ward to the group in a cozy atmosphere.

Patients will feel somewhat uncomfortable with a doctor present.

......

Fujino waited in the cold clinic until almost the end of the workday before finally meeting Nadeshiko.

Because she was worried about Lemon, Saki was left in the ward to be looked after.

This also relieved Fujino.

Nadeshiko's behavior was normal, like that of a considerate mother.

So there's a big problem.

"Fujino-san, what brings you here?"

From the moment she entered, Nadeshiko kept her head down, not daring to look Fujino in the eye.

Fujino, however, stared intently at Nadeshiko's brow.

"Do you remember when I told you I'd ask you to come see a doctor?"

"Hmm." Nadeshiko nodded slightly, her eyes still fixed on the corner of the table. "But I don't think I have a mental illness."

"You're just a little anxious." Fujino tapped the table. "Let me tell you, what Himegami Ayame said is true, but it's very one-sided."

"Those words were carefully chosen by her, the most disgusting perspective."

"Take the lemon issue she mentioned to you, for example. Do you think it's showing any signs of improvement? Let me tell you directly, your past actions will not correct the lemon issue."

Nadeshiko's eyes were filled with confusion: "Anxiety? Why did Ms. Ayame lie to me? What do you mean by 'can't correct a lemon'?"

She tilted her head slightly and looked directly at Fujino: "I don't understand what you're saying."

"Then let me put it more bluntly." Fujino opened his phone, found Waka Hanako's text message, and handed it to Nadeshiko.

"Hanako-san, you're now my personal stalker."

"Exclusive? Stalker?"

"You can see how pervasive she is in my life; she's practically everywhere."

"That's true!"

"The reason was simply that Himegami Ayame told her, 'Mental illness doesn't require you to take responsibility for minor offenses.'"

"How is that possible!"

Shock and fear were evident in Nadeshiko's eyes.

Instigating someone to commit a crime is not on the same level as helping a mother discipline her child!

"She...Himemiya Ayame is a bad person...the things she taught..." Nadeshiko covered her face, her voice shrill, "What have I been doing to Lemon all this time?!"

Fujino crossed his arms and held them to his mouth: "Unfortunately, I don't know what she's thinking either."

"But then again, what she said, only the part she said, is correct."

"That's right?" Nadeshiko's eyes showed confusion.

"Yes." Fujino's eyes blazed with fury at the thought of that vicious woman. "Whether it's Hanako's theory of being irresponsible for her mental illness or Lemon's theory of hereditary bloodline, both have some merit."

Looking at Nadeshiko, who seemed completely at a loss, Fujino felt a pang of regret.

"But, openly making these two strange decisions—'because there's no responsibility, we can commit crimes at will' and 'there's a possibility of hereditary abuse, so we must discipline them strictly'—" Fujino unconsciously rubbed his left thumb, "is something that Hanako and you figured out on your own."

"Even though she's incredibly wicked, do you really bear no responsibility whatsoever?"

"Fujino-san..."

Nadeshiko reached out her hand, as if trying to grasp at a straw.

But when she thought about what she had done over the years, she felt cold all over and trembled uncontrollably, like chicken claws.

Fujino's expression softened, and a smile returned: "But I know the root of the problem doesn't lie with you."

"Just like Hanako has a mental illness, and you lack the ability to distinguish between true and false information," he sighed. "I'm afraid that's one of the reasons she came to you."

Nadeshiko fell silent.

Yes.

Even if she is 99% wrong, don't I also have that 1% to blame?

Fujino wrote Nadeshiko a prescription, then stood up and looked out the window: "There's no need to think too much about it, after all—"

"Fujino-san, what should I do?" Nadeshiko's words interrupted Fujino's attempt to comfort him.

He turned around and looked at the woman in surprise.

This happened much earlier than he had imagined, when it took him longer to break through her defenses.

Yes.

He saw the determination and lingering fear in the woman's eyes.

A woman who works three jobs and is diligent and resolute doesn't need any further explanation or comforting.

"Taking medicine and treating illness."

He handed over the prescription, put his hands in his pockets, and looked out the window.

"Then slowly learn how to love her."