It was eleven o'clock in the suburbs; the night was fading, and the moonlight, embraced by the lush trees, fell down like a sheer veil, covering everyone.
I decided to stay further away from the mean-spirited person and moved some distance from her.
Specks of silver light wound through her hair and gathered on the ground, while she lay there with composure, looking incredibly relaxed and comfortable.
I endured it. Once I mastered Japanese, the first thing I would learn was how to argue in Japanese.
Just as we were ignoring each other, there was a rustling sound in the bushes next to us. A delicate woman with a waxy complexion crawled out—it was Li Shijia, who had worn herself out playing. She had exhausted too much energy, and with a miserable face and hanging arms, she said, "I'm done, I'm exhausted! We have to get up early for class tomorrow, rub my biceps for me!"
"You can get tired just from playing in the water?" I was torn between laughing and crying. I used a bit of skill to massage the acupoints on her arm and said, "There's a simulated surgery tomorrow. Standing for it will probably take over four hours; you need to train your stamina more."
Li Shijia sat down on the lawn with a thud. "No way, standing for two hours is my limit..." After the last simulated surgery, Li Shijia really hadn't looked well; her legs had been trembling, and she had come out of the laboratory shaking with every step.
I smiled. "If you're tired, go rest early. I'll go call Momozawa and the others back; it's too late, and it's not safe by the water."
"No need. They already came back with me. They should be in the tent changing their clothes now. The mud by the creek was quite soft, and I got a bit dirty too."
Before she finished speaking, Momozawa and Kyoko crawled out of the tent. They had changed into gyaru outfits, with the 'bottoms missing' look, revealing two sexy, long legs. Inohara had also changed into a brown camisole, revealing her fair, rounded shoulders, with a cutout design on the chest. She had removed her makeup and taken off the sunglasses she'd been wearing, revealing herself to be a beautiful, cold beauty.
They were young girls, with soft faces that matched their age. But it was really quite bold; I hadn't worn such an outfit even after living for over twenty years, and I always felt embarrassed by it.
Seeing that I was still in my original outfit—a light white low-cut T-shirt and light blue denim shorts—Momozawa couldn't help but ask, "Big Sister Nozawa, didn't you go catch fireflies?"
"Yeah, I didn't go." Thinking of something, I gave a soft scoff. "Although I didn't go catch them, I still saw them. Someone specially caught them for me to see."
"Who? To catch them specially for you, Big Sister?" Momozawa laughed too.
"Exactly, who could it be?"
Kusanagi remained expressionless and turned to go into the tent to change her clothes. Tsk, she dares to do it but doesn't dare to admit it.
After waiting a while, figuring she had changed into her pajamas, I hunched over by the side of her tent. "Miss Kusanagi, give me the clothes you changed out of; I need to take them home to wash tomorrow." I felt like a nanny—a nanny who was constantly teased by the child she was looking after but couldn't get angry.
A slender arm reached out from the slit in Kusanagi's tent, holding the clothes she had changed out of. "Take them."
With that, she tossed them, and the clothes hit me right in the face. I was still foolishly holding out my hands, intending to catch them, when my vision suddenly went black, and I couldn't see anything.
Now I was truly a pathetic nanny. Was she a sore loser? If she had the guts, she should have thrown her underwear out too!
"Fireflies are super pretty. It would be great if we could release so many fireflies at a live show; that scene would definitely be very stunning." Kyoko's eyes were sparkling.
"That's impossible," Inohara ruthlessly popped the fantasy bubble. "Fireflies would just fly everywhere; it would be better to switch to glowing balloons."
Live? It seemed to mean a concert. I remembered the song Kusanagi was humming on the balcony, the black guitars I saw them carrying on the street last time, and the headphones Kyoko always had hanging around her neck. Could it be that they were the type who formed a band?
"It's getting late, everyone feel free to arrange which tent you sleep in! Little Nozawa, let's sleep in this one on the outside and leave the ones inside for the younger ones." Li Shijia called out, assigning the tents. Two people per tent; Li Shijia and I shared one, Momozawa and Kusanagi, and Kyoko and Inohara, exactly three tents.
"Goodnight everyone! Get some rest early, we're heading home first thing tomorrow morning!"
"Goodnight!"
Thinking of the possibility of a "high school girl band," my heart grew excited and active. Back home, high school students were crushed by the college entrance exams and homework, unable to straighten their backs, never getting to unleash their creativity at the most creative age. But in Japan, it was different. Energetic, light-music-playing girls were real and right in front of me; how could I not be excited?
I moved next to Momozawa and asked quietly, "Momotao, does 'live' mean a concert? Did you form a band?"
"Yeah! Our band has been together for two years. I'm the keyboardist, Kyoko is the guitarist and bassist, and Inohara is the drummer. Our band's name is Readymade!"
It really was true! I quickly opened my phone to search, and sure enough, many pictures of live support popped up. They had released two albums and already had tens of thousands of fans. Under every song, there were 999+ comments, though they had only held one live concert, so the information wasn't very complete, but that couldn't stop the fans' fanatical love and pursuit online.
They really weren't just messing around singing songs; they were a legit, talented band!
On stage, they were full of youthful charm and hormones, enjoying the fun of playing. Their bodies moved to the fast rhythm, and the smiles on their faces were very moving.
In the middle of the stage, the wild girl roared, her handsome, straight nose bridge facing the microphone, her soft, cold profile soaked in sweat. She held her head high, revealing a slender, white shoulder and neck line. This scene had been captured perfectly.
Singers who have debuted after professional training always lack that unbridled flavor. A girl like Kusanagi, with her perverse personality, really didn't play by the rules, and her personal style was particularly prominent.
I couldn't help but sigh; apart from her terrible personality, this person's charm was off the charts.
"Kusanagi is the lead singer of our band; she has so many fans on Instagram! Big Sister Nozawa, let's exchange phone numbers or Line! Next time, we'll invite you to come listen to us sing." Momotao winked, her cute, round eyes shooting sparks.
"Okay!" My eyes sparkled, and I agreed immediately.
Full of anticipation, I crawled into the tent. Li Shijia couldn't fight the sleepiness anymore and was soon snoring away.
I snuggled into my sleeping bag, the light from the phone screen reflecting on my face as I scrolled through Readymade's songs bit by bit. To avoid waking the sleeping Shijia, I played the songs at the lowest volume. Kusanagi's cold, husky voice then came through the phone.
This feeling was very strange. To be able to hear songs sung by someone I knew in real life coming from my phone—it was as if Japan, which had been so far away, was truly where I was living now.
I had underestimated Kusanagi. These songs belonged to the category of stunning audiences; it was no exaggeration to describe them as exceptionally good. The songs with unique elements, combined with her inimitable, arrogant voice, made these songs firmly grip the listener's ears, leaving them unconsciously addicted.
Unlike what I heard on the balcony that time, the voice in the phone was more delicate and rich; they must have used professional recording equipment. The rhythm of the songs was very strong, and that wild, unbridled feeling still existed, without the slightest weakening. This person... she wasn't quite as annoying when she was singing.
I held the phone receiver close to my ear. The thin, crisp chirping of cicadas intertwined outside the tent, and the prickly grass pressed down under the rough sleeping bag. As the melodies of the songs jumped one after another, I fell asleep without knowing it.
In the early morning, everything was silent. A glimmer of light appeared on the horizon at the edge of the woods, cautiously soaking into the light blue sky, and a new day moved in from afar.
Early in the morning, we rushed back to downtown Tokyo, took Kusanagi and the others back to school, returned the car without stopping, and then hurried back to the surgical operating room.
Yamashita Matsuda was wearing a white coat today, his hair neatly combed, and a small blue square badge pinned to his chest, on which his personal information and academic title were written.
In medical universities in Japan, neat attire was also a valued part of the professional image representing future doctors. Li Shijia and I had come back from the suburbs early in the morning; she had managed to tidy up a bit and put on light makeup, while I was completely a greenhorn, looking like a student in jeans and sneakers.
Theory classes were not easy, with increased in-class tests and spot checks. My nerves, which had finally relaxed, tightened again, and I quickly adjusted my state to immerse myself in study. The instructor repeatedly emphasized that professional basic subjects for lower-grade students were essential; they were the very solid foundation, and one had to treat them with strict requirements.
"Looks like we'll be busy from now on." Li Shijia frowned. "Yamashita will probably come over in a while to assign new groups. I hope we're still in the same group and get assigned to the same laboratory."
"It's in the hands of fate." I smiled bitterly.
Japanese universities focused on medical disciplines and local medical internships. Some, due to a shortage of research-oriented doctors, started assigning students to laboratories from the lower grades, so the situation at each university was different.
After we passed the theoretical exams, we would rotate through various departments at the university's affiliated hospital, participate in clinical teams, perform some actual diagnostic and treatment work, accumulate practical experience, and finally take the national physician qualification test upon graduation. However, this medical license was only valid within Japan; if one wanted to become a doctor in China, one also needed to obtain an international physician qualification certificate.
However, unexpectedly, after the theory class ended, Yamashita Matsuda kept me and two other boys behind. On his desk were several documents, with a folder spread open, and a very conspicuous title written on it: 'Tokyo XX University Clinical Medicine Master's International Student Clinical Pre-selection'.
Yamashita signaled for us to sit down, and he poured a cup of tea, facing us. "I called you here because there is an important matter to announce."
I exchanged glances with the two boys; neither of us could guess what exactly could make Yamashita want to have a private talk.
"Student Nozawa, Student Hanasaki, Student Hoshino, you three are the candidates I selected from the lower grades whom I believe are most suitable to enter practical surgery early. You should know that after the 3rd-5th year, there are spots to go to The Jikei University School of Medicine for internships, right? I don't think I need to say much about the great significance of being able to go there for an internship."
The Jikei University School of Medicine?! It took me a long while to calm down, and I even worried I had misheard. The Jikei University School of Medicine that Yamashita mentioned was a top-tier prestigious school ranked 601-800 in the 2020 Times World University Rankings, even placing above Keio University. It was a dreamy institution in every sense. The university's medical department was one of the 'Three Greats' of prestigious medical schools in Japan with the longest history among private universities; the difficulty of admission was imaginable.
My spine straightened with tension, and the other two boys were also very excited, unable to help but start a heated discussion.
"Alright, don't put too much pressure on yourselves. I've already said that these spots are limited and need to be earned. Before competing for the spots, you need to first achieve certain results in the clinical work at this institution and pass strict clinical examinations. Only the very outstanding can obtain this internship spot. As for your specific arrangements, the clinic will notify you by email. This entire year counts as an assessment. As your supervising mentor, if you have any questions, you can come to me at any time. I look forward to your outstanding performance."
Yamashita changed the subject, his gaze turning to me. "Nozawa, you are the only girl I chose. You should know that medical academics are all skewed towards men, especially for capabilities that require intense competition. Sexism in Japanese academia is also very serious, but I believe that your professional qualities and level of expertise are far above some of your male peers. Therefore, I have very high expectations for you, and I hope you will not let me down."
"Thank you, I will definitely try my best!" I was very excited and didn't know what to say, so I could only bow deeply to Yamashita.
How could I not know that by taking the risk of choosing me, he would face numerous questions? Women already face millions of obstacles in the field of research and academics. If I made any mistakes, it would only cement the idea that "women are not suitable for medical research." Yet, even so, he chose me and told me he believed in me, taking on the risk of potential damage to his reputation as a mentor himself.
I was just an obscure and not-so-wealthy child; this olive branch of fate-changing opportunity thrown my way was enough for me to remember for a lifetime.
"Alright, that's all for now. You may go; remember to check your emails." Yamashita Matsuda took a sip of tea, the fragrance of the tea overflowing, and my thoughts drifted further and further away with the tea's scent.
This good news had fallen from the sky, making me feel a bit giddy. After coming out of the office, every step felt like walking on marshmallows, swaying heavily. I was originally very excited to tell Li Shijia, but when I thought about how Yamashita hadn't chosen her, even though Li Shijia was very outstanding, I was worried that this move would put pressure on her.
I had no choice but to silently delete the text message I intended to send her, one character at a time. I thought that when we had a day off, I'd find a chance to tell her. Actually, it was nothing; the spots still needed to be earned, and nothing was certain.
My phone received a message, popping up on Line.
[Why aren't you home yet?]
I only had two people added on my Line, Kusanagi and Momozawa. With such a nasty tone, I didn't even have to think about which person it was.
Oh no, having been kept by Yamashita for a while, it was already nearly 8 o'clock. I forgot to tell her in advance. Her stomach wasn't like a normal person's; if she didn't eat dinner soon, there would be problems. So I hurriedly replied: [Sorry, something came up today and delayed me. If you haven't had dinner yet, there are some dishes in the fridge; you can heat them up in the microwave first.]
The other party replied very quickly, with only a short sentence: [I want to eat tempura.]
...We had everything at home, except tempura.
Tempura required peeling shrimp, dipping them in a prepared batter, and deep-frying them. The batter had to be mixed with a type of flour low in gluten, which would take at least several tens of minutes. Even if I could fly back out of thin air to make it, it would take at least half an hour, and by the time she ate it, it would be nearly nine o'clock.
Kusanagi seemed to have correctly guessed that I would refuse, and before I could even reply, she sent another message: [If it's not ready before nine o'clock, you're dead.]
My temple twitched. In my mind, a girl appeared with a fierce look in her eyes, holding a bloodstained mace, smiling: No tempura?
I really shouldn't have signed that three-chapter agreement contract. It was too late to regret it now.
I took out the money in my pocket, a pile of thousand-yen bills; just looking at it was pleasing to the eye. After a few seconds, I stuffed it back in, heartbroken. I endured it; a great woman can bend and stretch! I didn't even have time to reply to the text, so I hurried to the fresh food store without stopping, bought the freshest shrimp in a flash, didn't dare to linger for a second, and ran wildly toward the apartment.