21st Century Necromancer

The spread of the MARS virus infection naturally caused a huge uproar. Apart from Chen Yu, who was forewarned due to his relationship with Kube Rokuro, as a national research institution, UDI also notified the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which issued a warning across the entire Tokyo area.

"It says online that there are 82 people confirmed to have had direct contact with 30-something male A and 20-something female B, and the number of indirect contacts can no longer be counted...

It’s truly frightening!" In the office, Nakagawa Susumu was browsing online discussions about the incident and couldn’t help but exclaim, "Thank goodness UDI discovered it in time, otherwise if the virus spreads, turning into a large-scale epidemic like the SARS crisis in China, that would be terrible."

Listening to Nakagawa Susumu’s sigh, the Glasses Doctor, who seemed like part of a comedy duo with him, naturally followed up, "The key is when that 30-something male A came back from abroad, he didn’t go to the airport’s quarantine station, right? If he had been checked then, with Japan’s current medical technology, he probably could have been cured.

I heard that Toyo Medical University Hospital has already confirmed eight infected patients, and it’s said that there are 48 people suspected of being infected and isolated, it’s a disaster! But luckily UDI identified the epidemic in time, otherwise, if it turned into something like the Chinese SARS epidemic, that would be truly terrifying."

"Is Toyo Medical University Hospital accepting infected patients?" Hearing the Glasses Doctor say this, Chen Yu also looked up from his busyness and couldn’t help but echo, "They’re so quick to be prepared to treat the patients, Toyo Medical University Hospital’s response is really fast!"

"Isn’t it! I originally thought Toyo Medical University Hospital was just an ordinary university hospital, but I didn’t expect they would be quite capable in treating MARS!" Nakagawa Susumu also sighed, but as he sighed, he glanced around the office, seemingly looking for someone, "Where’s Doctor Higashiyama? Didn’t he say he had been to Toyo Medical University Hospital before? Is he not here today?

He hasn’t been diagnosed, has he?"

"Relax, if Higashiyama had been diagnosed, all of us would have been quarantined by the hospital," said the Glasses Doctor, remaining calm on the issue of Doctor Higashiyama possibly being infected. "The fact that you’re here and not in a special isolation ward means you’re fine. But where did Higashiyama go? Isn’t he coming in today?"

At this point, the Glasses Doctor also curiously looked at Doctor Higashiyama’s seat, asking others, "Has anyone seen Higashiyama? Did he take the day off?"

"I have no idea! Haven’t seen him since this morning. Have you seen Higashiyama?"

"Maybe he’s on rounds? Isn’t Higashiyama’s patient that famous online beauty chef? Recently, he’s been going to her ward frequently, he probably went to see her."

"The famous beauty chef? I heard she might have esophageal cancer, right? That’s really sad! Speaking of which, last time she came, she brought her cooking, and the taste was off, the tumor must have affected her taste, right? Higashiyama kept saying it was delicious then, seems like he’s got a chance with her."

"Having a chance hinges on whether he can first cure her, and that beauty chef is apparently in stage three of esophageal cancer, isn’t she? The surgery is very difficult, Higashiyama doesn’t have the skills to cure her."

Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, seeing this group of people just now discussing the contagion of the MARS virus, and now chatting about the gossip between Doctor Higashiyama and the beauty chef.

Although he was somewhat concerned about the beauty chef and Inomata Naoki, both suffering from esophageal cancer, he couldn’t help but shake his head helplessly at the quick jump in their conversation topics.

"By the way, Doctor Chen, you’re Chinese, right? Did you experience the SARS epidemic back then?" While Chen Yu was reflecting, the Glasses Doctor suddenly leaned over and asked him about the SARS incident from years ago.

"Back when I was in junior high, other than the daily disinfection at school, I don’t have much of a vivid memory," Chen Yu said. Events from a decade ago had become quite fuzzy, although he vaguely remembered a classmate being diagnosed with SARS. It seemed the school was not heavily affected, and that classmate quickly recovered and returned to school.

Upon hearing Chen Yu say that, Glasses Doctor thought about how the SARS epidemic happened nearly fifteen years ago. It made sense that Chen Yu’s memories were hazy, so he shook his head and abandoned the idea of asking more. Instead, he inquired about something else, "I was intending to learn how China controlled the epidemic at that time, but since Doctor Chen, you don’t remember, let’s forget it.

Do you know which institutions in Japan research coronaviruses and the MARS virus? I plan to request some materials from them to review."

"...What was your name again? I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten," Chen Yu was about to answer Glasses Doctor’s question but suddenly forgot his name again, so he had to ask once more. Yet he still explained to him, "There aren’t many institutions in Japan researching coronaviruses, and even fewer research the MARS virus.

As far as I know, there are only one or two institutions in Tokyo that study this, but I can’t remember which ones specifically."

"I am Mamoru Hara!" Glasses Doctor emphasized his name once more, but Chen Yu always felt there was something off with his name. Though he was sure he had remembered it, his impression blurred in an instant, as if his name was inherently forgettable.

Even though he didn’t remember Glasses Doctor’s name, Chen Yu did remember his question and turned on his computer’s search engine, intending to help Glasses Doctor look up the information: "Let me search for you online... MARS virus research... Ah! Here it is, Toyo Medical University Hospital MARS Virus Research Group? So Toyo Medical University Hospital is studying the MARS virus?

No wonder they were able to treat the patients so quickly."

"Eh? It’s Toyo Medical University Hospital?" Glasses Doctor was also quite surprised. He peered over Chen Yu’s computer at the search results displayed, "Indeed, because of this MARS virus spread, it has become a hot search topic! There are so many comments..."

Chen Yu and Glasses Doctor browsed the online discussions about the MARS virus incident together. The majority of people were condemning the man in his thirties identified only as ’A’, with words so harsh one might think he had committed unforgivable sins.

As the two browsed, time passed, and soon it was time for lunch. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"It’s lunchtime. Doctor Chen, let’s go eat together!" Glasses Doctor glanced at the wall clock and invited Chen Yu.

"Mr. Chen Yu, I made a bento. Would you like to try it? It’s your favorite tamagoyaki and sweet and sour pork ribs." However, before Chen Yu could respond, Jounouchi Hiromi had already arrived at his desk with a bento box, opened it in front of him, "I’ve already warmed it up for you, give it a try!"

"Doctor Jounouchi! Doctor Chen!" Glasses Doctor looked incredulously at Jounouchi Hiromi and Chen Yu, his expression that of someone who felt betrayed: "So you two were in this kind of relationship?"

"Haven’t I introduced her?" Chen Yu asked in surprise, motioning Jounouchi Hiromi to sit on his lap, "Jounouchi Hiromi, my girlfriend. We’re dating now... No, we’re passionately in love."