Tokyo: Let the wicked women pay the price!

Fujino seemed lost in thought when he heard the question.

Yes.

He had thought about this question as well.

The conclusion he reached... also gave him some inspiration.

"Kobe-senpai, I believe," he took a deep breath, "that the root of mental illness lies in daily life."

This is similar to Professor Kasai's answer.

Professor Kobe's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

"Tell me more about it."

Fujino gathered his thoughts and hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Let's take this Ms. Kitano as an example. Her panic attacks are most likely due to work and life stress. She didn't elaborate... but she said she's a single mother, so her life must be very difficult."

Seeing that Assistant Professor Kobe nodded slightly, he continued, "We often say that a lesion is the source of a certain type of disease."

"Isn't the source of Ms. Kitano's panic attacks precisely the stress, trauma, interpersonal relationships, and survival needs in her life?"

OK!

OK!

Assistant Professor Kobe was quickly jotting down what Fujino had just said in his small notebook.

That's great! Next time Professor Kasai asks, I'll use this example.

Fujino was puzzled by the assistant professor's behavior. What was going on?

The famous assistant professor at Dongda Hospital is taking notes in a little notebook? What are you writing down?

I just said it offhand.

Assistant Professor Kobe realized he had been slightly out of line, coughed a few times, and put away his notebook.

"Fujino-kun, and what do you think of this Kitano-san...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Fujino realized where his problem lay.

Yes, he knew the lesions were in his daily life, but he was either concerned about privacy or slightly underestimated the severity of the illness.

He didn't delve into Kitano Megumi's life to help her find the root of the problem.

This was a mistake; we must be careful in the future.

He stood up and bowed: "Thank you, Assistant Professor Kobe, I understand!"

Professor Kobe was taken aback when he saw Kitano's actions, and scratched his head somewhat awkwardly: "Ah...ah! Oh right. As expected of the young man Professor Kasai values, his comprehension is strong, ahahaha."

As he turned to pour the hot water, he muttered under his breath, "What? What do you understand now?"

Both of them got what they wanted, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then parted ways.

On his way home, Fujino kept thinking about Kitano Megumi.

Although she was carrying medication, the pressure she was under was probably multifaceted.

The effects of medication are not always immediate.

He had a premonition that the next time he met Kitano Megumi, he would definitely help her completely resolve these issues.

......

Kitano Megumi walked out of the hospital, but dared not take the tram.

She hesitated for a moment, then decided to take a taxi home.

It's a way of celebrating.

She sat in the back seat of the taxi, her eyes slightly moist.

Tram, conference room, dark study at home... these places haunted her like a nightmare.

This made it hard for her to breathe.

But at least now, she has something to rely on.

She squeezed the medicine in her bag, a glimmer of hope igniting within her.

I pushed open the door to my home.

The ex-husband's mother, the child's grandmother, is chasing after her son to feed him.

"Hui, you're back so early today?"

Grandma didn't have any complaints about her son's divorce from Kitano Megumi.

Of course, if you were to say there is, there probably is, to some extent.

The main reason is that Kitano Megumi has been neglecting her beloved second grandson, Kitano Jiro, because of her work.

"Thank you, I'll take it." Kitano Megumi took the bowl of rice from her former grandmother and sat down at the table. "Jiro! Come and eat."

Upon hearing this, Kitano Jiro immediately stopped playing around, sat obediently at the table, and began to eat with his spoon.

"Megumi, I'll be going now. I'll come see Jiro again next time."

"Let me see you off."

Kitano Megumi sighed. Although her former mother-in-law was quite gentle, it was still difficult to achieve complete harmony.

Their conversations and interactions all revolve around Jiro.

Without this fragile connection, he and they would have no interaction whatsoever, not even a simple greeting.

"Mom," Jiro gently tugged at Kitano Megumi's arm, noticing her somewhat lost in thought. "Mom, our school is having a talent show next week, and I have a performance to give! Do you want to come watch me perform?"

Kitano Megumi did not reply immediately.

She...she was afraid of messing things up.

I have to take the tram to get to my son's elementary school, and the performance venue is the perfect place for my illness to flare up.

It was crowded, noisy, and crowded.

She clutched her handbag, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

I'm so busy with work, and my son finally invited me to "see a show," but I can't even grant his request?

But soon, the Iron Lady made a decision.

She gently stroked Jiro's head and said softly, "Jiro, Mommy is very busy with work, but I will definitely try my best to make time to attend. Mommy promises you, okay?"

Jiro grinned and laughed heartily, "Great! Mom! I'll definitely perform well!"

Seeing this, Kitano Megumi could no longer suppress the bitterness in her heart and hugged her son tightly.

Where Jiro couldn't see, her eyes were a little red.

"Hmm... Jiro... he's such a good boy, Mommy."

She clenched her fists.

Dr. Fujino described his illness as... a source of fear.

As long as you can calm yourself down, face your fears, and undergo desensitization training, you should be able to escape the quagmire of "panic attacks" and return to a normal life.

Even if an attack does occur, I have my own medication and have learned the breathing techniques taught by Fujino.

I can do it.

For myself, and for Jiro.

Looking at Jiro, who was fast asleep, Kitano Megumi drew a table.

Although this was a Level 10 tram, the one that made her most uneasy.

But does she not have time to start with the simplest steps and have to face the most difficult boss directly?

Kitano Megumi took out her phone, and the pale screen light illuminated half of her face in the dim room.

How can you solve simple problems if you don't confront the most difficult ones head-on?

Upon seeing this message on the forum, she made up her mind.

For myself, and for Jiro.

Let's start everything by taking the tram to work tomorrow morning!

However, Kitano soon discovered that she couldn't even get started.

In the early morning, she watched the trams rushing into the station.

Kitano Megumi's eyes widened, her lips parted slightly, and she made a hoarse sound, as if her throat was being choked.

I can't breathe.

Heartbeat.

My hands and feet are cold.

However, at that moment she remembered Fujino's words.

"Also, remember to take your medication when it flares up. Remember my smiling face right now, and breathe slowly."

She did follow the doctor's advice very well.

The image of Dr. Fujino giving a thumbs-up and grinning foolishly quickly came to mind.

Inhale—exhale—exhale—

As expected, Mr. Fujino is indeed a reliable person.

Not only is she gentle, but her medical skills are also amazing.

Kitano Megumi's breathing gradually calmed down, and her heart rate gradually returned to normal.

But she could clearly feel her fear.

That feeling of being terrified just by seeing a giant steel dragon.

Standing on the platform, she managed to suppress the churning feeling in her stomach.

What if we enter the carriage?

Kitano Megumi's strength is that she listens to advice.

She took out a pill and swallowed it.

While sitting on a bench waiting for the medicine to take effect, Kitano Megumi watched the tram rush by.

One class after another.

The feeling of fear is also decreasing.

She didn't truly begin her commute until she could casually step into the carriage.

When she arrived at work, she still had the joy of successfully overcoming the tram on her face, until she glanced at her watch.

It took her 88 minutes to travel a journey that should have taken 30 minutes.

The smile froze.

Did she really win?

Spending more than twice as long commuting every day?

Have you finished your medicine?

Can I go to Jiro's school to see him perform next week?

A hint of confusion appeared in Kitano Megumi's eyes.

Does this mean things are getting better?