All too soon the reality of the profession hit the second year students. "So, today was patient selection day?" Nishigaki asked Kotoko as he watched her carefully follow printed and illustrated instructions for fried vegetables.
"It was a madhouse," she confided. "I just sat back and let my group fight over our allotted patients and said I would take whoever was left over."
"Let me guess," he laughed, "Motoki and Marina went after eligible young men."
"Maybe not quite eligible," she hedged. "Marina won one that is in his mid-twenties while Motoki has to console herself with a high schooler. She's certain he will be handsome, though."
Nishigaki shook his head. "She watches way too many dramas. How did the others fare?"
"Tomoko snagged one who is due for surgery and is already planning her arguments to be in the operating room with him. Keita got someone who is about to begin physical therapy after an accident."
"Ha! Now Super Nurse will gain a little understanding of all the hard work that goes into 'medical miracles'," he muttered.
"You're always picking on Keita," she complained as she removed the vegetables and placed them over the rice. "He is just very...ardent about how he views his profession."
"As long as he keeps his ardent focus on his patient," he said as he took the fish off the grill. "So, who did you end up with, then?"
"Some older woman," Kotoko answered as she refilled his glass of water. "She has neuralgia in the—was it left or right?—shoulder."
"Neuralgia?" He paused, bobbling the platter of food. "Would the patient's name be Yoshida, by any chance?"
"That's right!" She clapped happily. "Of course, working in the hospital, you probably know all of the patients. Will my friends be happy with the ones they chose?"
"I'll let you judge that for yourself," he managed, having a good idea of who had been paired with whom. "But after our dinner settles a bit, I'd like to give you a head's-up on your particular charge."
"In love with you?" Kotoko's peal of laughter caused sleeping Momo's ears to twitch. "You certainly attract all generations, don't you?"
"Now don't exaggerate," he pleaded. "She's constantly in some degree of pain, and if it amuses her to rattle the regular doctors periodically by insisting that I do her examinations, I can't deprive her of that."
"No," she giggled, "but it makes me realize that this assignment should include hazard pay." At his confused expression, she explained, "If she ever found out about us, my life would be miserable."
"Well, I hate to break it to you, but it might be anyway."
"Oh?"
"Like I said, she's in continual pain. She's always ringing her bell for any little matter, and her manner with the nurses attending her has been described as harsh, abrasive, or vicious, depending upon whichever nurse survives to tell the tale."
"Eek!" Kotoko's mouth screwed up. "Maybe I should have joined the free-for-all and tried to get one of the other patients. Well, what's done is done. At least I'm used to being yelled at, thanks to Sudo and now Keita."
Again Nishigaki looked as if he'd bitten into a sour fruit at the mention of that name. "Why do you have to use his first name?"
"I swear, I'm beginning to suspect that you have a complex about him. You need to get over it. He's going to make an excellent nurse."
"Maybe so, but I'll still prefer you."
Kotoko felt that his logic was faulty, but since he chose that opportunity to pull her close, she never got around to arguing with him on the matter.
"My lands, Koto-chan, there goes your call button again!" Kotoko's friends watched her speed back down the hallway. They had gathered to take a break and share first impressions of their two-week assignments. So far only Keita and Tomoko were pleased. Motoki ceased following Kotoko's retreat and turned back to the table. "So, Marina, your twenty-something man turned out to be a bust, huh?"
The other girl shuddered. "He's not a salaryman as I hoped, but an older student, and an otaku to boot!"
"Now, Marina, you shouldn't judge someone based upon the interests that make him happy," Tomoko reminded her gently.
She snorted. "Easy for you to say, Nurse Frankenstein. You at least have someone who can fulfill your bloodthirsty dream. But it gets worse!" She turned around to make sure Kotoko was still out of sight and leaned forward confidentially. "The guy knows Kotoko!"
"How does that make it worse?" Keita was skeptical.
"He's a member of the college anime club that used her as a model for some movie they showed at one of our fall festivals a few years back. You've heard her complain about it before."
"So?" Motoki clicked her tongue when she saw that her nail polish had a miniscule chip. "She doesn't complain when she gets her check from the company that bought the rights to her character."
"Well, not that I would turn down money, but when Kotoko peeked into the room to see how I was doing in one of her few free seconds of time this morning, his eyes lit up and he started talking about receiving divine inspiration for a new anime plot set in a hospital. And I think he's filming me with his cell phone!" she hissed.
"Now that," Keita pointed out, "would be something to complain about."
"At least your patient is of legal age," Motoki fired at Marina. "Mine is a pimply teenager who doesn't want me to do anything for him. It's as if he's afraid he'll catch 'the gay' from me."
"Catch what from you, Moto-chan?" Kotoko returned, out of breath.
"Never mind!" She waved away the annoyance. "I'll win him over eventually. What did that old witch want this time?"
"Oh, she needed the channel changed on the television."
Even the mild-mannered Tomoko showed astonishment. "Really?"
"That's what the remote control is for," spat out Marina. "I'd give her what-for if she tried that with me!"
"It was a little bit out of her reach," Kotoko explained, "and her shoulder does pain her. I've given her three massages already." She flexed her sore fingers.
Motoki shook her head. "Girl, she is playing you hard. I think even Keita here would say that she's a bit over the line."
He nodded slowly. "She will never get better unless she tests her limits, and you are not making her do that."
"But it's my first day," Kotoko said, "and I want her to like me. I've heard that the other nurses pay her the least amount of attention that they can get away with."
"Probably for good reason," put in Marina.
"Yikes! There it goes again!" And off Kotoko went.
Motoki sighed. "I wonder if she's going to survive two weeks."
"Ai! Careful how you use that brush," Yoshida Toyo snapped at the nurse-in-training. "All of my nerve endings are sensitive."
"Yes, Yoshida-sama," Kotoko replied as she slowed her already gentle strokes. "Did you want me to arrange it in a particular way?"
"Hmph!" The elderly woman slanted a glance at her. "I like those looped braids that you're wearing. Put them on me!"
Kotoko gulped. "Yes, Yoshida-sama. Do you have some bands that I can use for the ends?"
She waved a hand. "I can't be bothered with that! Take yours out and let me borrow them."
"Uh, I don't think I'm allowed to do that…"
"Aren't you here to make me comfortable?" She screeched, "Oh! I have a sudden twinge. It's bad!" She opened one eye to see how her act was being received. "I guess I'll have to report you to the head nurse for being rude and unfeeling to a poor ailing woman in the twilight years of her life. Ah! I'm falling into a depression," she moaned, sagging her bent body even more.
"If you think it will make you feel better, I'll be happy to let you have my ribbons," Kotoko patted her in concern.
"Of course it will!" Her head snapped up. "Now, do it quickly! The doctors will be making their rounds soon."
"...Doctors?" Kotoko asked as she began dismantling the hairstyle that she had so carefully prepared in an attempt to make her look more professional on her first day.
When the physician and his group of interns entered the room, Mrs. Yoshida was propped up in her hospital bed, clad in a fresh robe and her thin gray hair sporting braided loops. Nishigaki's eyes widened as he recognized the style and, casting a look at the attending nurse, saw that her hair was now in one thick untidy braid down her back, tied off by...was that a latex glove?
"Doctor! Doctor!" She waved and fluttered her eyelashes. "I'm ready for my exam!"
"Very good, Yoshida-san," Dr. Kurosaki said as he approached.
"Not you! How many times must I say it?" she hissed. "I want Dr. Nishigaki!"
"After I examine you initially. You know we've been over this before." As he placed the stethoscope on her chest, he continued, "Dr. Nishigaki is one of several in this group. Why do you not let any of the other interns attend you?"
The wily old woman picked up the end of the stethoscope and shouted into it, causing the doctor to jump, "Because he's the sexiest of the bunch, you dolt!"
Kotoko must have found that Yoshida's hospital window had a fantastic view since she spun around so quickly. Nishigaki's pained expression from his colleagues' laughter quickly gave way to a flirtatious smile. "Now, Yoshida-san," he teased, "you shouldn't treat my sempai so rudely. A little honey on your tongue will garner the same results."
She cackled, "But being mean about it gets those results more quickly. So," she tossed her head coquettishly, "what do you think of my new 'do'?"
Her hand in his as he checked her pulse, he gave her the once-over. "Charming and flattering, Yoshida-san. Just like you. Why, I might suspect that spring had already arrived with the youthful air you bring to the room."
She preened and continued to clutch his hand after his task was done. "Why, thank you, doctor! It's nice to hear such kind words once in awhile. You know, I'm practically ignored in this place except for you." Her head turned at a choked sound from Kotoko. "What's wrong with you, girl? Are you coughing? You'd better have it seen to quickly, for you know my delicate constitution can't handle it! But use one of the other doctors, not my Nishy-wishy."
Her lips pressed tightly together in a straight line, Kotoko bowed in response.
Since the patient had so forcefully requested such, one of the interns, obeying a head gesture from Nishigaki, made sure to insist that Kotoko leave with the doctors, "to get that cough looked at".
In the hallway, the senior doctor heaved a sigh as he banged the side of his head forcefully and tugged on one ear. He then turned to look at her with a slight grin. "So you're the latest victim to be thrown under the bus known as Yoshida?"
Kotoko nodded solemnly but almost immediately clapped both hands over her mouth to stifle her giggles. "Those whoppers she was telling in there—!"
"Don't worry, young—" he peered at her name badge, "—Aihara. We're all aware of how she is. Don't let her bully you too much."
"Oh no, sensei!" Kotoko bowed. "She keeps me busy, but she doesn't realize how much I'm making her move when she thinks she's making me do everything for her!" She winked at him. "I'm stronger than I look, and I can be really sneaky too!"
He laughed. "You might be just what the old bat needs, Aihara. Well, carry on then!" He led his ducklings to the next room, not noticing that one of them squeezed Kotoko's arm as he passed.
The door hadn't even closed behind them before they heard Yoshida's voice, "Nurse! Nurse! Dad blast it, where has that useless girl disappeared to now?"
"You little idiot," Nishigaki scolded her fondly as he massaged her shoulders, "saying that you were handling her." He had discovered her asleep at her desk, her half-written care management document beneath her head.
Kotoko winced. "I forgot how long it had been since I went through one of Sudo's torturous conditioning sessions. I'm out of shape."
"You're out of your depth," he countered. "Rin had someone similar for his baptism by fire, but luckily he was a silver-tongued devil and managed to charm her into doing what was necessary to improve her health."
She grinned up at him. "You'd be able to do the same, if you were a nurse. She absolutely adores you!"
"Luckily I'm a doctor and only see her for a few minutes a day. I think she would tax even my skills."
"No, I'm confident in you."
He bent down and kissed her quickly. "Don't try to hand me off so easily." As she protested that was not her intention, he reached over and picked up her paper. "Let's see what you have planned for her… Hair accessories? Make-up tips? Sweetheart, the lady's in a hospital, not a beauty parlor."
"But," she pressed his nose with an impish expression, "she will have to exercise her shoulder to arrange her hair and pretty up her face for the arrival of her favorite doctor!" She took the sheet away from him. "I'll add in some medical stuff—maybe I'll ask Keita—to make it look better. But at least Nurse Hosoi will laugh. She was hesitant about me getting Yoshida after the other students tattled about some of my earlier problems."
"You may just be what the lady needs, but," he gave her a wide grin and spread his arms, "why bother your classmate with this? You have a doctor right here."
"So I do!" she answered merrily.
He was not sure that he hadn't been manipulated into helping her complete her assignment, but if it kept her at a distance from that Kamogari, he wasn't going to complain.