Megumi was fooling everyone. She had told her coworkers that current events had dissuaded her from opioid prescriptions. They probably thought she was kind, for limiting painkiller use and preventing addiction. Really, it was far from the truth.

She was part of the crisis, after all.

For years, she had tried to push the experience out of her thoughts, but it came rushing back when she glanced at the news on her laptop. The first thing that came up was a picture of Kanryuu's face. She flinched, and almost dropped her toast in her mug.

The headlines stated that it was the first day of his trial, for the unethical study he had performed.

Finally, the courts are doing something. She bitterly thought as she finished her breakfast. It's long overdue.

She should have been relieved, and she was. She was. The jitters on her way to the hospital? Entirely due to coffee.

That afternoon, after seeing most of her patients, Megumi strolled into the workspace. Makimachi and Kamiya were the only ones there. They seemed to get along well; they were practically the same age.

"Oh, so you and Dr. Shinomori are from Kyoto?"

"Yup, we even lived in the same neighborhood! He's always been Aoshi-sama to me."

"You're close, huh? Is he in surgery now, like Dr. Himura?"

"Not today. He's testifying in court, for Dr. Takeda's trial. Something about drugs?"

Kamiya's ponytail swayed as she shook her head. "Painkillers, I think. I'm not sure though, since this was more than a few years ago. Er, Dr. Takani? Can you fill us in?"

Oh, she certainly could. "I'd love to share my wisdom, but you know, there's a thing called the Internet."

Makimachi was clicking her mouse rapidly, and she pouted. "All the articles are just talking about how he escaped in America, and how we had to settle the extradition process with their government. Gosh, that state was really pushy about wanting to try him there…"

"He's a prime exhibit in what not to do as a doctor." Her tone was careless, despite how lightheaded she felt. "He conducted a study that was supposed to examine the efficacy of a new opioid medication. Instead, he was collecting information about the speed and extent of addiction. There was no regard for the patients whatsoever."

Kamiya had been listening intently, but Makimachi had resumed hunting for articles.

"Ah, I found a good one!" To Megumi's dread, she began to read aloud. "'Dr. Takeda purposely overprescribed Arantelam, which was a product of the company-"

"I'm going to the bathroom." She excused herself, quickly standing. But the lightheadedness got the better of her, and her knees buckled.

"Are you alright?" Kamiya rushed over to help, at the same time Makimachi finished her sentence.

"Takani Pharmaceuticals."

Megumi batted away Kamiya's hands. She and Makimachi were both looking at her, clear shock on their faces. Tense silence filled the air.

"Is it a coincidence?" Makimachi ventured at last.

"No, it's not. It was my family's company, but we were going bankrupt. Dr. Takeda was the only one who was willing to try Arantelam in the clinic. My brothers were overseas, my father was dying of cancer, and my mother was taking care of him. I was handling the company. I was young and stupid, and pushed my luck."

If she had known, she would have slammed the door into Kanryuu's glasses. But she hadn't, and she had welcomed a devil.

Kamiya bit her lip. "You must have been a medical student at the time. Did he trick you, into thinking his study was harmless?"

"I found out, early on. But I had already assisted him in prescribing, and he said I was complicit. If I didn't want to ruin my future as a doctor, I wouldn't say a word." She mimicked his voice and scoffed. "I didn't waste my time though. Just as I didn't notice how he deceived me, he didn't realize I left a trail of evidence leading back to him. Of course, that was the end of Takani Pharmaceuticals, but I stopped him from causing more deaths. I was ruled free of guilt, and I managed to find my way here."

"Aoshi-sama probably knew who you were." Makimachi quietly said.

"The other three already did, ever since I was hired. It was quite the story, although there were less staff then. You two should have been unaware, and maybe it was better if it stayed that way." She stopped, when Kamiya suddenly stepped forward.

"We don't work together and we're not friends, but what you did doesn't matter." Kamiya squared her shoulders. "That's in the past. You're working to help patients now."

Her words were similar to Ken-san's, when she was first hired. But the pediatric surgeon had his own regrets, and this resident, Director Kamiya's daughter, couldn't relate. "That's a nice sentiment, but if you were my colleague, would you trust me with your patients?"

"I would." She retorted. "Because I'd be trusting Dr. Takani, not the student from eight years ago."

Megumi blinked, startled.

"I'd trust both of you." Makimachi spoke up. "So long as you believe me when I provide lab results. Seriously, some of these people don't have any faith in the Aoi Lab."

The tension dissolved, and Kamiya laughed. "Sometimes, the results can be hard to believe."

Megumi slowly relaxed. "I actually did catch an error; there was one result sent to the wrong division."

The youngest girl's jaw dropped. "What?! Well, it wasn't me."

"Mm-hmm."

"Hey, fox, making friends?" Sagara's voice made her turn towards the door, to his grinning expression.

"We were talking." She evaded and reached for her purse. She counted out change from her wallet. "In fact, our throats are dry. Here, rooster-head, you can go and buy us drinks."

"Get them yourself."

"There are enough coins for whatever you want. My treat."

"Really? In that case, I'll be back." He dashed off.

"He's so easy to convince." She tsked, but Kamiya and Makimachi were giggling. It was contagious, and soon, she allowed herself to smile.

Perhaps, she had found a place, where she didn't need to deceive everyone.