Chapter 214 Things That Cannot Be Overlooked As A Doctor
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Haruto had received Sentarou’s permission to give him a massage.
Since they were already at the massage parlor, he borrowed the treatment table and began preparing.
”Just to make sure,” Haruto said, adjusting the towel on Sentarou’s back, “if your back feels better, you’ll consider working at my shop, right?”
”Yeah,” Sentarou replied with a small nod, “if you’ve got the skills to fix this pain, I’ll be glad to work with you.”
”Alright then,” Haruto said, pressing his hands against Sentarou’s lower back, “let’s get started.”
It wasn’t a massage technique—it was his ability. But Haruto couldn’t say that out loud.
If he actually cured the pain, it might just lead to bigger trouble later. Still, he placed his hands gently and began the massage.
(A herniated disc… If only he had gone to the hospital sooner.)
A herniated disc happens when the soft part between the spine bones pushes out and presses against the nerves.
This causes pain and numbness.
The spine bones—called vertebrae—stack to form the backbone.
Sentarou’s pain back then might’ve had a different cause.
But maybe the way he changed his posture to avoid the pain slowly led to this disc problem over time.
No one could say for sure anymore.
Because of that one bad experience, Sentarou never went back to the hospital.
If he had trusted them and gotten proper treatment…
He wouldn’t have needed to shut down his shop.
”How’s it feel?” Haruto asked, keeping steady pressure on a tight spot. “The pain and numbness should’ve eased a bit by now.”
”I… I can’t believe it,” Sentarou muttered, blinking up at the ceiling. “It really does feel lighter. Just a little dull pain now… and barely any numbness.”
”I’m glad you experienced Ichijou-san’s massage!” Sentarou’s daughter said with a soft smile.
”But this is the limit of what I can do with massage alone,” Haruto added, slowly pulling his hands away.
”Wait, I thought it was going to be healed?”
”It will be healed,” Haruto said firmly, his eyes serious. “But from here on, you’ll need surgery at the hospital.”
He had planned to heal it completely using his power.
But after sensing how far it had progressed, Haruto realized he had to fix the source of the problem first.
If not, it would only come back again.
”I know Sentarou-san has lost faith in hospitals after what happened before,” Haruto said gently, “but at this stage, surgery is the only way to truly fix it.”
* * *
Medical Mistrust,
When people lose trust in medical care or doctors, they stop going to hospitals.
This leads to delays… and sometimes, it’s already too late to treat the illness.
Even Haruto, with his abilities, knew that avoiding hospitals could lead to tragedy.
Sentarou’s worsening condition was proof of that.
As a doctor, Haruto couldn’t turn away from such a problem.
”But, Ichijou-san…” Sentarou’s daughter said, voice low, “…in that case, you can’t keep the promise you made to Father, can you?”
”I’ll keep it,” Haruto replied without hesitation. “I’ll perform the surgery myself.”
”Eh…? Oh, right!” she suddenly sat up a little. “I saw on TV—you’re a licensed doctor too!”
”Yes!” Haruto said with a confident nod. “That’s why I’ll be the one to fix your back!”
”…Father?”
Sentarou stayed silent, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
”Sentarou-san,” Haruto said, voice soft but firm, “I promise I’ll take away all the pain and numbness. So please—will you trust me and go through with the surgery?”
”…Doctors don’t usually say things like that, you know,” Sentarou said with a small chuckle.
”But I’m a massage therapist first,” Haruto replied with a grin.
”It’s not perfect,” Sentarou said slowly, “but the pain and numbness really did ease up… If a doctor like you says I can be cured, maybe… maybe I should try trusting again.”
”Father!” the girl beside him called out, voice trembling.
”Ichijou-sensei,” Sentarou’s daughter said quietly, bowing her head, “please… I leave it to you.”
”Yes!” Haruto said, clenching his fists with determination. “Leave everything to me!”
Notes:
• Sentarou – Male. An elderly man with white hair. He is a retired shiatsu therapist who has suffered from chronic back pain since his youth. He is stubborn and skeptical of new treatments, preferring to rely on his own judgment. He has a distant but caring relationship with his daughter, Chiaki.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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