Feigning indifference to a convincing degree (convincing even to himself) was a subject Irie Naoki aced since pre-school. He was well known as "sole bearer of the perfect poker face". He's also held the title of "most impenetrable emotional wall" for at least 19 years (starting from the age of three). However, these associations got severed the day Aihara Kotoko started her internship at Tonan University Hospital's General Surgery department (in which he was also currently fulfilling his internship hours).
He wasn't sure if he was to blame for unknowingly wearing his heart on his sleeve, or if his mentor, Nishigaki, was just annoyingly sharp about such details.
"Finally, my un-cute mentee shows an ounce of normalcy. Aihara-san huh? You do have good taste, undoubtedly, like me. You have learned well, pupil."
His mentor suggestively comments, as the two exit the ward marking the end of their morning round, after catching Irie's betraying eyes linger upon the almost-nurse in passing for a split-second too long (for Naoki anyway, since he never gave anyone a second glance in the time Nishgaiki has observed the fourth year pre-med student).
"If you plan to make her your next dish, I suggest you back off."
Naoki warns the infamous philandering doctor, with as much menace he can muster (pulling an un-amused face).
"Oh, the aloof genius intern gets jealous? My day just became even more interesting. You are still no match for me. Watch and learn."
The lanky bespectacled surgeon was about to approach the unsuspecting nursing student, but Irie stopped him with a steely statement.
"She has a boyfriend."
"Sorry, I didn't realize you two were already-
"He is a chef, so his sense of taste is impeccable. One that definitely trumps yours." And mine…regrettably.
Naoki must have had an extremely pitiful look on his face for the senior doctor hurriedly made an offer he would have (past him anyway) shot down in a heartbeat.
"I'm having a get together tonight at Club 24 with a couple of my old medical school friends, if you want to come. My get-togethers are not simply a couple of dudes sitting around, swigging beer, and complaining about life. If you haven't already heard, most people end up with a solid date by the end of the night, or at least score a rebound. With your spectacular qualifications, you'd be able to forget all about Aihara and her chef boyfriend in no time!"
If Nishigaki's suggestion was not ridiculous enough, the fact that Naoki actually contemplated for a nano-second made the experience all the worse. Heartbreak really screws with my ability to remain rational. He thinks before retorting to his usual disinterested character.
"I know of more beneficial ways to remedy my current state of mind that do not involve getting wasted and wasting time with strangers whom I have not one ounce of interest in. But thank you for your offer. If you will excuse me, I need to stop by radiology for Haneda'san x-ray."
"Suit yourself. He really is no fun. Why did I end up with such an un-cute underling?"
Nishigaki said to no one in particular as the irritated intern stalked away.
With the craze of running other doctor's errands and updating patient files for the remainder of that morning, Naoki need not give his suppressed and unaddressed feelings for the taken nurse second thoughts. That is until their lunch break. With his filled tray in hand, he automatically heads towards her table to the delight of her nursing friends, well aware of the interested gazes from senior nurses at the table a couple feet away.
Should I just walk past and sit at the table behind Kotoko? He wondered, catching the end of the senior nurse's warning towards the new interns on "respecting their seniority and don't bother dreaming of associating with the desirable Irie-sensei" as he neared her seat. His question was answered by his own two feet, which seemed to have a mind of their own, upon seeing her whip out what seems to be a homemade bento (one that does not resemble his mother's handiwork, which only mean one thing, it's an aisai bento of Kansai origins).*
"I heard you had a rough morning, Kotoko. You barely got here for a few hours and already worked up a name for yourself, although in ways complete different than my rise to fame around here. I should applaud you for it."
She gave him a pleading look as if she were asking him "why on earth would you talk to me in this situation?" before glancing nervously towards the senior nurses, whom by now are shooting laser beams of jealousy at the poor girl.
"Toyo baa-chan is not at all what I imagined as my first patient. She's been in your care before. Any pointers?"
"She's a very nice old lady, I'm not sure what pointers you need. Just be yourself."
"Right, as if that would stop her bullying." She mutters, then in a raised voice (he assumes she used to save herself from the senior nurse's brewing fury) she brings attention to her lunchbox.
"Kin-chan really outdid himself! How can I not do my best after having a meal like this?!"
While Naoki contemplated whether or not to further help her cause (at the expense of the well being of his own heart), Tomoko beat him to the punch.
"Wow, Kotoko-chan. You are so lucky, your boyfriend can cook on a professional level."
He secretly glances over to his fan-girls, and sure enough they seem to have settled down a tad at Tomoko's statement.
By the end of the meal, Naoki left the table with a mistakenly hell-bringing (for Kotoko) remark.
"Kotoko, keep tomorrow evening free. Your final exams are coming up soon right? I owe you a tutoring session."
In his defense, it was purely out of habit. For they fell back into their usual banter over the meal. Frankly the presence of the envious nurse trio in the back of the canteen (more accurately speaking, everyone else besides Kotoko) slipped his mind completely. It only occurred to him as he was heading back to the doctor's office that he utterly pinned a target back on the currently interrogated girl, rendering said girl and Tomoko's previous obvious cover-up efforts useless.
In the following weeks, he caught wind (more like a storm that was the talk of the town these days) of two predicaments he unintentionally put Kotoko in. Partly unintentional, if he was being honest, since the first was a selfless situation of his making, with everyone's best interests in mind.
Predicament one being: Kotoko's main patient Yoshida Toyo-san was still being a menace (only to Kotoko).
Naoki knew it would not be an easy task for the otherwise spirited fledgling-nurse to take this person on as her very first patient. More so since he has seen countless interns defeated, into literal resignation, by Toyo baa-chan's antics in the short time he worked at the hospital. But he recommended Kotoko for the job to Head Nurse Hosoi nonetheless when she was assigning pairs for Aihara's class batch of interns; because he also knew, if anyone can cure Yoshida-san (her figurative heart that is), it's Kotoko.
Naoki knows better than anyone, that girl sure has a way with difficult people. (Yes, he is speaking from personal experience)
Now if only Kotoko would see this power in herself. Her problem with the patient wouldn't be a problem at all, but rather a precious learning experience. He mused (silently cheering her on) at the sight of her slumped over the desk at the nurse station, groaning, as the nurse call indicator under Yoshida's ward blinked and sounded for what seemed to be the 48th time that morning.
The second predicament: The senior nurses skimping on their instruction for Kotoko, out of spite.
This was a situation completely out of his hand. Although her dilemma may have sparked from his casual (and thoughtless) remark on lunch that initial day- the fact that Aihara Kotoko has a boyfriend, who is NOT him, still remains. He can only pin the blame on their lack of professionalism, and maybe the (arguable) fact that he is out of this world desirable to most of the female (and some male) staff. Sure, he did not make a point to steer clear of Kotoko when the others were near, nor make an active effort to clarify their relationship (or lack of thereof) to interested parties.
Why should he? He has no obligation to explain his role in her life (that he is only her best friend) to anyone. Besides, even if he did, it did not necessarily mean that her seniors won't make things hard for Kotoko anymore.
He reasons, seeing his hardworking housemate left completely to her own devices (when she should have been working with the senior nurse) in the empty ward with the unkempt beds on the way to his patient next door.
How could he make it up to her? Especially without bringing up the fact that the two of them live together, which would really make her situation hopeless. Not to mention, if he were to be the one to bring up a clarification to the three senior nurses, he would be implying that he is on the market and that would bring about a whole mess of troubles. Googling eyes and squealing chatter from the nurse station is quite enough, as it is already.
He considered alerting the head nurse of this unfair situation, so he headed to her office. But before he could speak a word. The wise staff member gave him a knowing look and put him in his place with a simple question.
"If Aihara-san cannot overcome these challenges herself, wouldn't that defeat the purpose of being an intern?"
He was not used to having the ability to help someone (especially this girl he cares about), actually wanting to use it, but NOT being able to, due to external circumstances.
He felt helpless. A lesson he really needs to come to grips with if he when he becomes a doctor, he realized.
Trouble really does follow Aihara Kotoko. He confirms after overhearing her talk with her friends on the phone in her own room another week later. (Not that eavesdropping was his intention, he's in the room next door and she just talks loud). Hearing her dejected voice when she hung up, didn't put him in a very good mood either, and it showed the next day.
"Geez, Irie. What's gotten into you? Let me guess… Aihara? I never pegged you for a hopeless romantic, but it seems I am wrong."
"I am not a hopeless romantic, Nishigaki-sensei. It has nothing to do with Aihara-san. Not in the way you are implying anyway. Do you ever feel helpless, especially in this profession?"
"Oh, you are actually asking for my expertise? How rare! Hm, yes, all the time especially when there are patients we cannot save. But that doesn't mean we cannot do anything about it. In fact this "helpless" feeling is what helps me be a better doctor for the next patient. You are a brilliant student, with a big ego, so I think you's be quite hard on yourself in the event you come across patient's you can't help, even with your stellar abilities. Remember that being helpless does not equate to being hopeless, and you will be alright."
Naoki doesn't agree with his mentor often, but this was one of the rare times he did.
Feeling helpless, doesn't mean he has to act helpless also.
So Naoki made up his mind to do the one thing he can for Kotoko: Impart his genius knowledge.
And finally give her the gift he (secretly) held on to all these years - since that day he made up his mind to be a pediatric surgeon, crediting his decision to the girl in mind.
After making sure the small blue tin was secure in his pant pocket, he made his way up to the rooftop (upon seeing her head for the staircase in his peripheral vision) with two cans of warm coffee.
"Oh, my usual spot has been taken."
He called out to her.
Her hands quickly moved towards her face, then back to her side, before she whipped around, surprise evident in her features. He noticed the slight moisture in her eyes.
My sense of timing is perfect this time around. He smiles to himself for stumbling upon the opportune moment.
Maybe she will finally realize who is best suited to be her best boyfriend rather than her best guy friend. A selfish wish followed, before he focused on what really mattered then. Getting Aihara Kotoko back on her feet.
**Footnotes**
Aisai bento (愛妻弁当)- "bento made by loving wife" Bento (or meal box). Normally a wife or young girl in love, would prepare this lunch box for their significant other. (In this case, Kin-chan made a bento for Kotoko with love, so Naoki, classified it as such)
Kin-chan is from Osaka, which is in the Kansai region. (the bento comes from him, hence Kansai origins)