It's a bit embarrassing to say, but because it's a part-time job, Aki Tomoya would never go to UDI on a non-working day.
If it were like a full-time employee and he couldn't take normal vacations, working at UDI, this hourly wage wasn't enough.
Moreover, having been at UDI for a week, he had already seen quite a few bodies, especially the awkwardness he felt when first facing a female body.
However, what left a deep impression on him that day was not his own awkwardness, but Nakatado Kei's remark: "Once cut open, people are just a mass of meat."
This kind of talk gave Aki Tomoya goosebumps.
Leaving UDI with the envious gazes of the Chutang Gang clinical laboratory technicians seeing him off, he was about to enjoy his wonderful holiday.
Aki Tomoya knew that in the days without him, Sakamoto Makoto would face Nakatado Kei alone. And having spent a week together, he also knew how formidable Nakatado Kei, this expert with over three thousand body dissection experiences, was.
The devil in the dissection room.
He wasn't easy to get along with, but his clean, decisive, and swift style, coupled with his exquisite practical skills, couldn't help but earn admiration.
But now there was no need to think so much; for the time being, he didn't have to think about things at UDI. It was a holiday now!
However, during the holiday, there were also many people who constantly held books.
"Kato-san, are you inseparable from books now?"
Resting his chin on his hand, Aki Tomoya looked at Kato Megumi, who was sitting opposite him and had started to grow her hair long, with emotion.
Kato Megumi, a first-year student at Fujikawa Faculty of Law, was now radiating a different kind of intellectual brilliance than before.
That serious look while holding a book was truly deeply moving.
"Is the current Kato-san no longer the ordinary high school girl Kato Megumi of the past, but about to become the legal eagle Kato Megumi?"
Aki Tomoya's joke made Kato Megumi look up and sigh helplessly.
"In the first year of the Faculty of Law, there's so much to memorize. I wish I hadn't chosen the Faculty of Law in the first place."
This kind of complaint made Aki Tomoya extremely awkward.
Why did Kato Megumi choose the Faculty of Law back then?
It seemed she was influenced by him, raising her first-choice University directly to the Fujikawa Faculty of Law.
Although her family is praising her now, there's really so much to memorize. Kato Megumi wants to graduate smoothly.
"Kato-san isn't having an easy time either... Speaking of which, everyone else is really slow to arrive!"
He didn't specifically ask only Kato Megumi out today; it was the first weekend of summer vacation, so he simply called all his friends out.
"Maybe we just arrived too early."
Having arrived half an hour early, one couldn't expect everyone else to arrive before the agreed-upon time.
Before others arrived, Aki Tomoya could only chat with Kato Megumi first.
They talked about their recent affairs. When Kato Megumi learned that he was almost involved in a medical lawsuit, she couldn't help but sigh, "Is it early for Aki-kun to encounter medical disputes now?"
Although she could tell that the other person was just using exaggerated language to describe what he encountered at UDI Research Institute, Kato Megumi could still understand some of the helplessness involved, such as the limitations of medicine and the handling of the relationship between hospitals and patients.
Regarding this aspect, when she had nothing to do recently, she had seen some reports when reading newspapers.
"The lawsuit Aki-kun mentioned, it seems our lecturer took the case, but he himself said he could only do his best."
How should she put it? That lecturer was completely doing a good deed. It was obvious that he was undertaking something with little chance of winning, and his resolve was truly awe-inspiring.
"There are still people in this world who do thankless tasks. How should I put it? Is it conviction?"
"Well, if the starting point is from the perspective of wanting to raise awareness, then yes, but it's difficult. You'd need a Komikado."
In his opinion, if it were Komikado, provided there was a benefit that could drive that person, the possibility of taking down the hospital would be quite high.
However, you'd need Komikado, and he'd have to be willing to take the case.
Likely looking at the money, that guy would choose to defend the hospital.
"Hmm..."
The name sounded a bit familiar, as if she had heard some Senior mention it. Kato Megumi tilted her head, starting to recall.
However, before Kato Megumi could recall that rumor, a greeting from the side interrupted her train of thought.
"Aki Tomoya, long time no see!"
Kamigō Yoshihiko grabbed Aki Tomoya, seemingly wanting to push him over. This enthusiasm was hard for the latter to handle.
He quickly shouted, "Let go of me, it's hot!"
The voice of distaste made Kamigō Yoshihiko pretend to look hurt and step back two steps.
But not long after, the two began to tease each other.
Their first meeting after University was especially missed, reminding them of their silly daily lives in their first year of high school, and the scenes of working hard together in their second and third years.
Especially after hearing that this guy had found someone he liked at University, Aki Tomoya looked at him with new eyes. So this guy also had a day when he returned to reality!
The next person to arrive was Kudo Sayaka, whom everyone also knew. After all, they had studied together in the library many times on weekends.
Invited to come here, she didn't feel awkward either.
"Fortunately, I have today off, otherwise I would have missed it. My schedule is packed, so be grateful, Aki!"
For Kudo Sayaka, summer vacation was also a time to steal some leisure from her busy schedule. Being able to go out with friends was a very happy thing.
Whether it was with her best friends from high school or people she had worked hard with in high school, being together always felt like they were comforting each other.
"Wow, Aki Tomoya, you guys came way too early!"
Eriri wasn't dressed particularly glamorously, but it seemed she had made an effort before leaving home.
Looking at the cute Eriri, who resembled a porcelain doll, Kudo Sayaka's eyes lit up, and she curiously asked Kato Megumi, "Who is she?"
"Aki-kun's childhood friend, mixed-race, a young lady from a prominent family. She was in the same class as us in the third year of high school and is now at Tokyo University of the Arts."
Listening to Kato Megumi's introduction, Kudo Sayaka looked amazed.
A setting like Eriri's is really rare; you can only see it in TV dramas!
She didn't expect him to have such a childhood friend...
A young lady from a prestigious family, and a darling of a prestigious school. She couldn't be any more impressive.
While Kudo Sayaka was sighing with emotion, she also looked at the Senior next to Eriri.
"Good afternoon, Senior."
...Good afternoon.
Why was Kasumigaoka Utaha here? It stemmed from Eriri's sympathy. Seeing that she had few friends and hadn't been contacted during the summer vacation, as a collaborator, Eriri couldn't help but worry and kindly took care of her.
When Aki Tomoya was told about this, he didn't refuse, merely sighing, "In this day and age, does Kasumigaoka Utaha need Eriri to take care of her?"
How miserable...
In fact, during the summer vacation, Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't find any friends to spend time with at all. The female friends who were polite to her during University days didn't think of her during the summer vacation, instead posting photos on Instagram of themselves going out with friends.
If Eriri hadn't kindly offered to take care of her, Kasumigaoka Utaha would probably have spent the summer vacation silently typing on her keyboard alone in a dimly lit room.
Machida Sonoko would probably be very happy to see this outcome, and might even accompany her and watch her type.
But what she wanted was normal social interaction!
Her seemingly perfect life had quite a few flaws, didn't it?
"What a humiliation, I'll get my revenge on Eriri one day!"
Standing beside Eriri, Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't know whether she felt more touched or more resentful.
Both being otaku, Eriri lived a better life than her.
However, due to her arrival, Kamigō Yoshihiko and Kato Megumi were still a bit surprised.
The Senior from Toyosaki Academy seemed to have a good relationship with Eriri. Considering the rumors from their previous school, it didn't seem like they were baseless.
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't know what her two juniors were thinking, but she still tried her best to maintain her previous image.
At this moment, Eriri leaned close to Aki Tomoya's ear and whispered, "This guy seems to have a bit of social anxiety disorder now..."
Aki Tomoya was startled, then looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha in surprise.
The latter frowned, not understanding why the other person was suddenly looking at her like that, and even less knowing that Eriri had fabricated a non-existent social anxiety disorder for her.
If she knew what Eriri had said, she would definitely retort immediately, saying she didn't have social anxiety disorder, but just couldn't find people she got along well with.
Being an otaku and a light novel author, it was a bit difficult to find friends she could talk to and who were as capable as Eriri, and she also had to consider personality compatibility issues.
"I believe you when you say she can't find friends to confide in, but social anxiety disorder is a bit..."
"Close enough, close enough!"
That's quite a bit off, isn't it?
Aki Tomoya twitched the corner of his mouth.
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