Tokyo: Let the wicked women pay the price!

"Mr. Fujino is really amazing."

"He cured the illness that even Takanashi-senpai couldn't diagnose in a single moment."

"Come on, the patient is perfectly fine. In fact, the dosage should be reduced."

"Fujino-senpai should be able to become a specialist doctor soon, right?"

After helping Nagano with his discharge procedures and returning to his office, Fujino listened to the discussions among his colleagues and felt a slight sense of satisfaction.

But he knew that this was just a small reward for adhering to the doctor's code of conduct.

These colleagues are only affirming my medical skills and ethics; I must not let them get carried away.

However, he was also well aware that this was definitely an important step for him to establish himself in the department.

Feeling the cold gaze behind him, Fujino could imagine Takanashi-senpai's gritted teeth even without turning around.

buzz-

His phone vibrated.

[Waka Hanako: Kazuhiko-san, may I bring you some food? I made rice balls.]

He hesitated for a moment, then replied, "No need."

These past two days, he's been receiving harassing text messages from Waka Hanako from time to time, which has made him reflect on his actions.

What was it about him that made Hanako unable to forget him after only seeing him once?

Just then, he met Inspector Ukyo, who had helped him escape Hanako's clutches.

Fujino thought they were coming to see him and was about to get up to greet them.

But then Ukyo-kun and another man in a white coat headed straight for Professor Kasai's office.

Ok?

You're just being presumptuous.

I thought it was another side job, an opportunity to earn extra money.

But soon, Tsuchimikado came and called Fujino away, saying that the professor was looking for him.

"Professor Kasai, you wanted to see me?" Fujino bowed to another doctor who looked familiar after entering the room, and then stood to one side.

"Matsushita-kun, this is our rising star in psychiatry—Dr. Kazuhiko Fujino. He's a promising junior colleague, and I look forward to working with him."

Professor Kasai nodded to the doctor: "Fujino, this is Assistant Professor Matsushita from the Department of Neurosurgery."

Upon hearing this, Fujino quickly bowed to Matsushita and said, "Hello, Matsushita-senpai."

Matsushita patted Fujino on the shoulder in a very kind manner: "Well done, young man. It's not easy to hear such praise from Kasai-senpai."

"You've got a knack for this, kid."

Fujino, not daring to take credit, said, "You flatter me."

"Fujino-kun, the patient Matsushita-kun has taken in this time requires a consultation." Professor Kasai's expression turned serious. "I'm sending you. Make the most of this opportunity."

Fujino stood at attention instantly: "Understood!"

This wasn't exactly a great job, but it was a sign that I had earned Professor Kasai's favor.

A consultation usually involves an assistant professor, or at the very least a specialist.

Professor Kasai has truly given himself a valuable opportunity to hone his skills this time.

Unfortunately... most of the patients we consult on are quite complicated cases.

This is both an opportunity and a test.

"Professor Kasai! Thank you for your guidance!"

Kasai waved his hand and said with a smile, "Just call me Kasai-senpai, Professor is too formal."

"That won't do," Fujino said with a smile. "When you're working, you have to address people by their job titles."

"Professor, don't worry, I will do my best to assist the senior neurosurgeons! I won't let you down."

"You slippery fellow." Kasai took a sip of tea. "Matsushita-kun, you guys should hurry up and go, don't delay things."

"Let's go, Fujino-kun, I'll tell you about the situation on the way."

......

Before even reaching the neurosurgery department, Fujino frowned.

"Okubo Lemon, female, 18 years old."

"Matsushita-senpai, do you mean that this child attempted suicide by cutting his wrists but was saved by Ukyo-kun?"

He glanced at his old partner, Ukyo, and nodded slightly: "This kid cut himself sixteen times. When I arrived, the entire bathtub was filled with blood."

Fujino understood that this had been filed with the Metropolitan Police Department, and Ukyo had to follow along until there were official results.

"Then, the child passed the emergency surgery, but during the examination, a pituitary tumor was discovered in his brain?"

"Surgery is needed now, but considering the patient's potential history of mental illness, therefore..."

Seeing Matsushita nod, Fujino unconsciously rubbed his chin.

This patient definitely needs a consultation; they're difficult to deal with.

Pituitary tumors require craniotomy.

The patient himself is very likely to have depression and a serious tendency toward suicide.

This situation is usually not a big problem.

There are two things I'm worried about: 1. The depression has already caused organic lesions and altered the brain structure; 2. The depression has not caused organic lesions, but she becomes a vegetable after surgery due to a weak will to live.

Each of these scenarios is a nightmare that hospitals and doctors dare not even consider when they are looking for fault.

Without hesitation, he told Matsushita his guess.

Matsushita nodded approvingly: "Fujino-kun, what you said is exactly what we were worried about. I'm only now that you've thought of it yourself."

"Did you do an infrared test, Mr. Matsushita?"

Fujino is referring to NIRS, a brain scan that uses infrared light to diagnose whether there are organic lesions in the brain.

"The prescription was just issued this morning, they should be working on it now. The CT scan has also been done, and there shouldn't be any obvious organic brain lesions." Dr. Matsushita's eyes were intense. "Fujino-kun, to be honest, how confident are you in alleviating her depressive symptoms?"

"If we haven't met, then there's absolutely no chance, senior."

Fujino's answer was not to Dr. Matsushita's surprise, and they could only look at each other in silence.

Soon, through the glass of the hospital room, Fujino saw Lemon Okubo... and her mother, Nadeshiko Okubo.

It's clear that both mother and daughter are beauties, but they've become somewhat haggard from the torment of illness.

The mother, Nadeshiko, was wearing a corduroy shirt with frayed collar and cuffs. She had tired dark circles under her eyes, and her voice was full of worry as she discussed her condition with the neurosurgeon.

Lemon, her face pale, leaned against the pillows, her eyes blank as she stared at the ceiling. She reacted slowly to the doctor's question; she opened her mouth, but before she could utter a sound, her mother had already taken over the conversation.

But soon, Fujino realized that his timing was not right.

He witnessed a farce firsthand.

Nadeshiko was engaged in a heated debate with a specialist in neurosurgery, and the two were locked in a fierce argument.

"Doctor, how long will it take for Lemon Jam to be discharged from the hospital?"

"Miss Nadeshiko—"

"I knew it! This is the time when she's cramming for her exams! How could this happen?!"

"Actually, Miss Lemon's condition isn't serious; you just need to be gentle—"

"What will happen to this child's future if they don't get into the University of Tokyo!" she glared. "Why not arrange the surgery as soon as possible?"

"Is your hospital just trying to make us stay longer so you can make more money?"

"Emmmm..."

The neurosurgeon was somewhat speechless.

Depression, including potential surgical risks, requires a consultation before it can be discussed with the patient. In this case, he cannot make a diagnosis in place of a psychiatrist.

This is the unique nature of mental illness; the right to diagnose mental illness rests solely with psychiatrists.

Neither psychologists nor psychotherapists are qualified to make diagnoses, let alone doctors from other departments.

"Why aren't you saying anything, Doctor? Are you speechless?"

Faced with Nadeshiko's persistent questioning, Assistant Professor Matsushita patted the specialist on the shoulder, his face warm and gentle, and said to Nadeshiko, "Miss Nadeshiko, Mr. Nagata cannot answer your question. Please calm down first."

"Is that Assistant Professor Matsushita?"

Upon seeing the person in charge, Nadeshiko's back, which had been arched like a cat's, relaxed a little.

"Why...why didn't you schedule surgery for Lemon?"

"Lemon's case is special and requires a consultation with colleagues in the psychology department."

In fact, to avoid causing resistance from patients, it is generally not mentioned during consultations that Fujino's department is a psychiatric department.

They either call it "Psychology Department" or "Psychosomatic Medicine Department," or they don't mention the department at all, or even consultations.

Because of the stigma associated with mental illness, few people are willing to admit that they have a mental illness.

Fujino, oblivious to Assistant Professor Matsushita's attempt to comfort the woman, lowered his voice towards Nagata: "Nagata-senpai, what are the NIRS results? What about the patient's other physical condition?"

"Everything is normal, no organic lesions." Nagata seemed a little absent-minded. "All her indicators are healthy, so surgery should be scheduled now."

Fujino nodded in acknowledgment, indicating that he had received the message.

After comforting Nadeshiko, Matsushita leaned close to Fujino's shoulder and whispered, "How is it? Are you confident?"

Fujino didn't reply immediately. Lemon was in a very bad mental state. In such a noisy environment, she didn't even blink, and her pupils were empty.

However, her body's involuntary spasms and convulsions revealed her vulnerability.

He had to resort to some supernatural means.

Micro-expression analysis

She turned her head, her lifeless eyes sweeping over you...

no progress.

However, Fujino noticed.

Nadeshiko gripped the railing tightly, her body half-embracing Lemon... She began to recount Lemon's many virtues and when she had started to disobey...

Lemon's body twitched almost imperceptibly.

Thinking of numerous cases, he estimated that the pale girl's depression was inextricably linked to her own mother.

In his past life, he had heard a joke from a colleague at the hospital.

They are not very willing to treat patients with depression who are under the age of 17.

It's no use looking into it; the child is probably the one in the family with the mildest illness.

Now... he can't laugh anymore.

If I'm not mistaken, this mother is likely a controlling personality type... which is probably a bit paranoid, making her the most difficult type to deal with.

Paranoid people have their own logic and cannot be persuaded by others. Changing their behavior is extremely difficult.

Looking at Okubo Lemon's pale face, a face devoid of vitality and the will to live.

He subconsciously pursed his lips.

But no matter how difficult it is, we have to try.

At least... at least if she were to die, it would be after her post-operative recovery, due to suicide caused by depression.

He died from a loss of will to live, his soul trapped in the body of a vegetable.

It's too cruel for a 17-year-old.

He approached Dr. Matsushita: "Matsushita-senpai, I have a general understanding of the situation. I need to conduct a psychoanalytic diagnosis on the mother and daughter."

"There's no time, and the situation doesn't allow them to fill out the analysis questionnaire."

"Please, fellow neurosurgeons, step aside."

After seeing off his colleagues from the Department of Neuroscience, Fujino stared at Nadeshiko for a long time. Seeing that she was completely oblivious, he finally spoke up: "Miss Nadeshiko, perhaps you could please step aside for a moment?"

Nadeshiko hesitated for a long time, but looking into Fujino's determined eyes, she finally nodded.

But she refused to leave the ward and went straight to the toilet.

Fujino sat on the edge of the bed, preparing to try the simplest method first—implanting the subconscious "will to survive".

"Miss Lemon~" Fujino's soft call didn't even attract Lemon's attention.

"Miss Lemon, I'm Dr. Fujino from the Psychiatry Department. I'm here to help you."

She was still staring at the ceiling, but a single, crystal-clear tear quietly rolled down her cheek.

Silence remained.

This is an extremely bad situation; she resists communication, refuses to talk, and sheds tears silently; but there is also a glimmer of hope, at least she can still shed tears.

Fujino felt deeply troubled, but still held a glimmer of hope. The fact that she could cry meant she still had emotions, and perhaps there was still hope for her.

He soon stopped laughing.

The system displays the success rate of implanting the "Survival Instinct" ability.

It's actually 0.