The UDI Research Institute accepts general requests from both official and private sources to conduct autopsies and examinations on bodies. There are two forensic pathologists, divided into two teams: Nakatado Kei's Chutang Gang and Misumi Mikoto's San Cheng Class.
Both Operating Skills are equipped with a clinical laboratory technician responsible for the examinations.
As for the recorder, they have always served as their own. After all, with that kind of hourly wage, unless they are truly interested, students from regular medical universities wouldn't consider it, and it's difficult to attract them.
And because he was interested in autopsies, Aki Tomoya planned to work part-time here. Before officially starting his part-time job here during the summer vacation, he first got acquainted with the seniors he would be working with.
"Aki-kun, that's really great!"
Joining the Chutang Gang as an autopsy recorder seemed to have caused some ripples in the forensic office.
Sakamoto Makoto was very excited. When he grabbed Aki Tomoya's hands, the latter could clearly feel the other person trembling.
After deciding to join the Chutang Gang outside the autopsy room, Aki Tomoya returned here. After all, he had nothing else to do afterwards, and it wouldn't hurt to learn more about the situation here.
To what extent can this person withstand pressure?
When his hands were grabbed by the Chutang Gang's clinical laboratory technician, he wondered inwardly.
Remembering the expression of Director Kamikura Yasuo when he asked if he could join the Chutang Gang as a recorder, it now surfaced in his mind.
He seemed to understand why Sakamoto Makoto had pleaded, or rather, asked for help from him like that before.
"Please calm down a bit, Dr. Sakamoto."
Although he had already experienced this person's suffering, hearing this, Aki Tomoya felt somewhat uneasy as well.
That Dr. Nakadō Kei, who was resting on the autopsy table, doesn't seem to be an easy person.
"Aki-kun, did you really want to join the Chutang Gang yourself? It's still not too late to change your mind now; Dr. Sakamoto just hopes you can share the burden!"
"Dr. Toukairin, what are you saying to our team's recorder?! Aki-kun, please don't pay attention to her nonsense; she's always like this."
"Heh, you really dare to say that!"
They started bickering inadvertently. The forensic doctor's office wasn't as dull as he had imagined.
However, Aki Tomoya had no intention of backing out.
"Both of you, please calm down a bit."
Being soothed by a student they had just met, Sakamoto Makoto and Dr. Toukairin still restrained themselves.
We can't let the newcomer see us making a fool of ourselves!
The tacit understanding between the two at this moment made Misumi Mikoto, who was next to Dr. Toukairin, smile.
"Speaking of which, is Aki-kun really from University of Tokyo, Faculty of Science III?"
Dr. Toukairin ignored Sakamoto Makoto and turned to look at Aki Tomoya curiously.
"Although I barely managed to get in at the fifth-to-last position, even Todai students from ordinary families still work part-time outside."
"Ah, I wish I could barely get in too! But, Aki-kun, this is a '7K' job: bitter, dirty, dangerous, smelly, low pay, disgusting, uh, and what was the other one?"
She came from the Faculty of Pharmacy and previously worked at an Inspection Hospital, so she was very clear about the full picture of a forensic doctor's job, commonly known as '7K'. In Japan, there are fewer than two hundred forensic doctors, and the country's autopsy rate is very low.
Japan's annual death toll is about one million people, with roughly over a hundred thousand non-natural deaths among them. The autopsy rate is appallingly low, only about 0.3 percent. Compared to America's rate of around five percent, rounding up, that's a twenty-fold difference.
In terms of budget, taking universities as an example, the budget for forensic medicine in public schools has also been drastically reduced in recent years.
For a national institution like UDI, Director Kamikura Yasuo had to constantly run around and argue for the budget.
In such an environment, with a '7K' job and this kind of hourly wage, it was truly surprising that Aki Tomoya, a University of Tokyo, Faculty of Science III student, was willing to stay and work part-time.
"I'm interested in autopsies, so having the opportunity to observe is good. Or rather, at least here, it's related to my major. After all, it seems I can balance both my studies and part-time work now."
Aki Tomoya had thought it through clearly before deciding to tough it out and choose this place.
The connection to his major, the word 'national' sounded good, and his interest in autopsies.
Being a tutor could earn a good amount of money, but Aki Tomoya wasn't from a family that was truly struggling and needed to prioritize salary.
"Oh, oh, if I had that kind of determination back then, maybe I could have gotten into Tokyo University, right? Mikoto!"
While marveling that students from University of Tokyo, Faculty of Science III were indeed not ordinary people, Dr. Toukairin turned her head to look at Misumi Mikoto beside her.
Misumi Mikoto was now observing Aki Tomoya, carefully looking at this student from Tokyo University.
"Aki-kun, why not take this opportunity to develop in the direction of forensic medicine?"
"Thank you, but personally, I am currently more interested in Cardiovascular Surgery."
Aki Tomoya replied politely.
This special part-time job was, in the end, just a part-time job. He had roughly thought about his future direction; after graduation, he would most likely stay at a University Hospital to look for opportunities.
"Failed, Mikoto! Speaking of people from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Medicine, they must be in the white tower!"
"Zaizen Goro!"
Their teasing made Aki Tomoya chuckle a little.
Having worked so hard to get into University of Tokyo, Faculty of Science III, he naturally had to work hard. While he didn't necessarily have to leave his name in the white tower, he should at least be valuable enough to be poached by a wealthy large Private Hospital.
University Hospitals have the advantages and strict hierarchy of University Hospitals, while Private Hospitals have the freedom and generous treatment of Private Hospitals.
It wasn't that Aki Tomoya looked down on forensic medicine, but rather that he already had a goal in mind.
"Although I'm a recorder for the Chutang Gang, if there's anything you need help with in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Wait, Aki-kun, you'll regret saying something like that!"
Just as Aki Tomoya's words fell, Sakamoto Makoto hurriedly reminded him.
And when he noticed the twinkling gazes of the two women from the San Cheng Class, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Did I say the wrong thing?
When he turned his head to look at Sakamoto Makoto again, the other party could only give him a look that said 'you're in for it' at this moment.
At this moment, Aki Tomoya thought about it. It's a 1000 yen per hour part-time job; it's fine to just be busy with the Chutang Gang's matters. Why would he need to help others?
It seems polite remarks aren't something you can just casually say, especially here, the legendary 7K.
He smiled helplessly inwardly, but Aki Tomoya didn't intend to take back what he had said before. If the people from the San Cheng Class really needed his help, as long as it didn't affect the Chutang Gang's side, he would still be quite willing.
"Aki-kun, let me give you a little heads-up. Nakatou is not easy to get along with. You'll have to fend for yourself!"
The sympathy in her eyes made Aki Tomoya smile helplessly. It seemed the Chutang Gang wasn't so easy to be in after all, especially since there was a senior beside him who served as a cautionary tale.
"But then again, why did you decide to join the Chutang Gang all of a sudden, Aki-kun?"
Thinking of this, Misumi Mikoto couldn't help but ask.
When Aki Tomoya returned, he heard the Director say that he had already decided which team to join.
Before, he went with the Director to visit the autopsy room, so he must have met Nakatado Kei there.
He wasn't scared by that Dr. Nakadō; instead, he immediately decided to join the Chutang Gang. Not only was the person involved a bit surprised by this point, but the people in the office, including Sakamoto Makoto from the Chutang Gang, are also quite curious about what basis Aki Tomoya made his decision on now that they think about it.
When asked about this, Aki Tomoya thought for a moment, then replied, meeting Misumi Mikoto's curious gaze, "Dr. Nakadō was lying on the autopsy table at the time, which startled me."
"Just because of that?"
This explanation made Misumi Mikoto even more confused.
Sakamoto Makoto and Dr. Toukairin were also a bit baffled.
Resting on the autopsy table is indeed a bit unsettling for ordinary people, and according to Aki Tomoya, he himself was startled.
But in that case, shouldn't Aki Tomoya have chosen to join the San Cheng Class instead?
"But a certain doctor thought I was an idiot."
"Eh!!!!"
As Aki Tomoya teased and looked at Dr. Toukairin next to Misumi Mikoto, the latter cried out dramatically.
And Misumi Mikoto also covered her mouth and burst out laughing.
"Just kidding, just kidding!"
Aki Tomoya laughed along.
Although he had heard Dr. Toukairin's words at the door when he first arrived, Aki Tomoya didn't pay much attention to it.
However, because of this, the atmosphere suddenly changed, and others didn't press him further on why he chose the Chutang Gang.
And in Aki Tomoya's heart, he breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, he couldn't say that because he saw Nakatado Kei lying on the autopsy table and was startled, he became a little curious about that doctor.
The autopsy table could also be said to be a place where dead people lie. Perhaps because he had died once, while Aki Tomoya felt puzzled by Nakatado Kei's actions, he also somewhat wanted to ask him what it felt like to lie on it.
Therefore, he would never voice this thought; such a statement was quite unsettling.
"Hey, you're Aki, right?"
Just at this moment, Nakatado Kei appeared at the doorway and called out, looking at Aki Tomoya inside the office.
Because of his sudden appearance, the atmosphere instantly froze.
Aki Tomoya looked over and met the gaze of that Dr. Nakadō.
"Yes, is there something you need?"
"...When I'm working, don't get in the way."
After coldly dropping a sentence, Nakatado Kei turned and disappeared from everyone's sight.
Phew!
Sakamoto Makoto breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed his chest.
His exaggerated reaction made Aki Tomoya's eyelids twitch wildly.
Just how scared of Nakatado Kei is this person!
"You scared me to death! That Nakatou suddenly popped up. Just now, during those two seconds when he and Aki-kun made eye contact, why did the atmosphere feel so tense?!"
Dr. Toukairin's reaction was also a bit exaggerated.
Just now, when Aki Tomoya and Nakatado Kei were looking at each other, she had been staring the whole time, not even daring to blink.
"Is it that exaggerated?"
Misumi Mikoto looked helplessly at Dr. Toukairin.
The latter nodded, still seeming a bit shaken at the moment.
"Well, anyway, let's first welcome Aki-kun to UDI."
Misumi Mikoto shrugged and turned to smile at Aki Tomoya.
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