AN: And I'm back with more Hataraku! fiction in tow and guess what? This will be a four-part/one-shot Hataraku modern!au, baby! All but pre-written, of course!
Anyways, here's a little guide for HwM' universe:
Akagawa Ai (AE3803), Shirogane Yuuichi (U1146), Nakamura Shiori (Macrophage), Yoshida Keiko (AA55100), Hasegawa Yuuto (Helper T Cell), Akagawa Yui (Main Platelet), Hiba Ryuuichi (Killer T-Cell), Fujimori Sosuke (Dendritic Cell), Koizume Takeru (B-Cell), Shirogane Hisoka (Eosinophil), Fujioka Fumio (Natural Killer Cell), Mikazuki Hiro (Memory B-Cell), Rairi (Mast Cell)
There'll be more character introduction as the story goes on so look out for those!
SUMMARY
Lois McMaster Bujold once said- a stunning first impression is not the same thing as love as first sight. Or is it?
The first time they met was what Ai considered the most embarrassing moment in her life. She wished that she'll never see him again 'till Fates decided to play their Hand. Add the complexity of having matchmaking friends and relatives, Ai found herself at the center of her own turbulent emotions.
"Here's a bit of an advice: you don't meet people by accident, Ai-san."
To BlackLadybug255 and visky who took their precious time for reading Cosmos :D
DISCLAIMER: Hataraku Saibou belongs to the one and only, Akane Shimizu-sensei!
"Ai-chan?" A petite red-haired woman turned around when she heard her name. Hazel eyes widened, lips blooming into an easy smile when she recognized the older woman waving back at her. Yoshida Keiko strode towards the intern, wearing a cap and distinct white and red uniform. She was three years older than the red-haired intern but seeing her don the classic Kanegawa Hospital's uniform screamed accomplishment, one that Ai was aiming since she was younger.
"Sen- Oomf!" The older woman sweatdropped when the woman's laptop nearly slipped from her grasp when she bowed in greeting. Ai laughed nervously while Keiko sighed, massaging her temple. She has known the red-haired female since she entered medical school and Akagawa Ai was a well-known klutz among her batch. To her horror, the young intern has no sense of direction. Nevertheless, Keiko and her classmates found her shortcomings endearing especially when one can see her hard work paid off.
She was admirable.
"Keiko-senpai?" The said woman shook her head as she flicked the intern's forehead. Some things never changed, don't they? The woman pouted, only to squawk when the nurse began pinching her cheek. "You're still as clumsy as I remember you, Ai-chan."
"Aww, Senpai! Stop squeezing my cheeks, you!" Ai exclaimed, her paperwork spilling from her arms.
"Sorry, sorry, I couldn't help myself." Keiko chuckled as the nurse gathered her things and set them on her laptop. "By the way, you looked like your in a hurry. Going somewhere?"
Ai smiled. Keiko tilted her head in question until she choked in realization.
"Wait, Ai-chan! Don't tell me you-!" The nurse jumped to her feet when the red-haired intern shrieked, hazel eyes focused on her watch. Ai mumbled a hurried apology (I'm late, the intern kept mumbling to herself) and jogged towards the exit while waving her free arm. Keiko merely stared at the now-empty space before her, hand outstretched and unsaid words on her lips. She could hear her dearest friend screaming across the hospital grounds; she'd bet that the woman tripped on her feet. Again.
The mere thought itself made Keiko laughed, wrapping her arms around her midsection. The nurse had a vague idea if it were to happen though.
"Oh! Did something fun happened, Kei-chan?"
Keiko turned her head just as Koizume Takeru threw an arm around the woman. Not too far from them, Hiro stood against the wall and reading a medical book? Keiko shook her head, suppressing another chuckle from escaping. The bibliophile was always been fascinated in criminology and pathology since they were young. It surprised no one when Hiro joined the police ranks as a *forensic pathologist.
"Nothing in particular."
The man hummed, his gray eyes studying the hallways as if it piqued his interest. Realization dawning at her, Keiko blinked at the man and his sudden appearance. Last she heard, Takeru as their denizen *immunologist has been at the laboratory with their resident *rheumatologist. Meeting him along the hallway- the nurse tilted her head at his direction in silent inquiry. Takeru grimaced when he noticed, his lips forming a straight line.
"You should be with Rairi- Oh no." Keiko scowled at the immunologist, massaging her temple for the umpteenth time of the day. Of-fucking-course, she thought. The immunologist scratched his head in embarrassment as Hiro spoke, attesting the nurse's speculation.
"IgE antibodies and histamines. And no, I have no idea how did they end up fighting about it." The man said, eyeing the nurse when he caught her gaze.
Silence.
"You know, you should probably go and ask her for a date already, idiot."
Goading the immunologist never felt so satisfying when the apparent happy-go-lucky Koizume Takeru of Kanegawa Private Hospital turned red at her proposition. Even his ears looked flushed as the immunologist reasoned out with the nurse, almost stuttering. Keiko smirked when she caught the pathologist's knowing look, Hiro trying to hide the apparent yet rare smile with his book.
It looked like they'll be wasted for the night and if Keiko got the pathologist's message alright, she'll need to call a good 'ol friend of theirs as soon as she got off duty. No way in hell they'll be passed up one good opportunity for a matchmaking chance.
'That reminds me, where is she running off to? That Ai-chan.' She thought while dragging Takeru towards the lab.
Ai weaved through the crowd, throwing apologies here and there the second the train doors opened. The intern dashed to the staircase, sliding down the banister in a hurry. The guard stationed by the platform blew his whistle, eyebrows shooting up to his hairline when he saw the red-haired. Waving a hand at the fuming patrol, Ai ran towards the exit unto the teeming streets.
Bad idea, the woman screamed internally while looking at her watch. Her arrangement with her newfound acquaintance slipped from her memory when her professor from one of her majors moved their deadline tomorrow. Ai finished her write-up inside the solace of the library hours later, only to realize that she was indeed late for their agreement.
That and it was freaking Friday.
The red-haired intern recently met a Ph.D. graduate from Germany, Nakamura Shiori. According to the woman, she specialized in Pediatrics and spent nearly *five years abroad for her internship alone. Deciding that she'll continue her residency at Kanegawa, Shiori built a small cafe, which she managed along with her cousins while working part-time at a nursery only five blocks away from the bistro.
Her perseverance and ingenuity, aside from her winsome personality, made the young intern idolized the woman.
Hazels eyes sparkled, lips stretching into a grin when Ai saw the familiar signboard outside the building. Hugs with Mugs, written in elegant cursive, greeted the heaving woman. Fridays have always been the busiest- more so when the pediatrician's business stood tall and proud at the heart of the city. Doing a once-over, she caught her sister's gaze on her and waved.
Eight-year-old Akagawa Yui had her agree on the child's desire to help out at the cafe during her school hours. The red-haired intern had been reluctant at first but Shiori promised her that she'll keep an eye on the younger Akagawa.
Aside from the usual customers, the shop looked crowded as twice as normal especially when there's a familiar cluster wearing black and blue uniforms huddled in one corner. Ai knew them, those officers who visited the shop on a daily basis. What interest her were those wearing pristine white fatigues, a group of four men joining the boisterous group.
Ai nearly shrieked when chairs screeched altogether at the same time she came in. Head Chief Hiba Ryuuichi led the group on their feet when his radio crackled unto life and static poured out from the device. She heard the words 'case', 'emergency at downtown' and 'hostage' before they ran towards the exit- towards her. The red-haired intern pressed herself against the doors, biting her lips when feeling her feet being stomped on. She never complained though until a burly policeman bumped her shoulder on his way out and made her lose her balance.
Ai shrieked as she fell. Someone tried to grab her forearm, only to be dragged down when Ai hit its chin with her head. The red-haired intern heard Shiori's soft gasp and was that a few whistles? Ai blushed hard then when she remembered that yes, she was wearing a freaking red lace underneath her skirt.
Pushing herself off the stranger made her noticed several things. One, Ai could feel lean yet muscular torso underneath the white coat she saw earlier. Two, her head was being supported by the stranger's large hand as if protecting her from any head injury. Lastly, his eye- a beautiful obsidian- was staring back at her in concern. She gulped inaudibly.
So, so close.
Someone coughed awkwardly and both stared sideways, finding the whole cafe at their mercy.
"I hate to break the moment but Shiro-san, we have an emergency. That and Ryuu-san already left." Someone from the man's fellow group said, same dark eyes twinkling in amusement as she scrambled off the man. Ai whispered apologies one after another, her face burning bright while shoving her things into her bag.
Today was not just her day.
"Here." Ai grabbed her pile of reports and laptop from the man, muttering her gratitude in return. Before she could even stand, the man pulled her forearm and plastered a band-aid on her scraped elbow. His voice came out deep, sending shivers down on her spine when he spoke. "You should disinfect that wound later, Miss."
"T-Thank you."
The man smiled, his lone eye almost glowing when her eyes met his and patted her cheek. The red-haired groaned, burying her face to her knees once the group left. Ai wished the ground would open up for her and swallow her whole. It was downright embarrassing, almost stealing his(probably) first kiss during the incident. She felt Shiori's hand on her shoulder, her voice as placating as ever.
"You'll be fine."
I'm not fine at all, Shiori-san.
Dictionary:
1. forensic pathologist- a pathology that focuses on determining the cause of death by examining a corpse. A post-mortem is performed by a medical examiner, usually during the investigation of criminal law cases and civil law cases in some jurisdictions.
2. immunologist- (commonly referred to as an allergist) is a physician specially trained to diagnose, treat and manage allergies, asthma and immunologic disorders including primary immunodeficiency disorders. These conditions range from the very common to the very rare, spanning all ages and encompassing various organ systems.
3. rheumatologist- an internist or pediatrician who received further training in the diagnosis (detection) and treatment of musculoskeletal disease and systemic autoimmune conditions commonly referred to as rheumatic diseases. These diseases can affect the joints, muscles, and bones causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity. (This includes histamine intolerance).
4. Pediatrics (years of internship)- Most aspiring physicians and surgeons must complete an undergraduate degree, followed by 4 years of medical school and a 3-7 year internship and/or residency. The length of residency depends on specialization, which in the field of Pediatrics, could reach 7 years.
CLARIFICATIONS from Lab girl (thank you for the clarifications! to be honest, the dictionary above came from different sources):
- An allergist would simply be a doctor specialized in diagnosing and treating allergies; Allergology itself can be considered a field within Immunology, but you don't have to be an immunologist to be an allergist. A dermatologist ("Skin-doctor") can be an allergist as well for example.
- A rheumatologist is simply a doctor specialized in diagnosing and treating rheumatic diseases (of which there are over 400), most of which are caused by autoimmune diseases.
- Pediatrics is the branch of medicine concerned with treating children; pediatricians are child doctors.
You can now find Hugs with Mugs under account name n_kukuri in Ao3 as well!See you on the next chapter, people! :wink: