Professor Nishimura smiled and nodded.
"Yes."
"The equipment in the medical department is already five years old."
"Not only is the image resolution insufficient, sometimes it is very difficult to diagnose minute lesions, resulting in misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses."
"Introducing new equipment is also for the sake of better serving the people of Gunma Prefecture and improving the medical standards of our university hospital."
"After all, Representative Ōkawara has always been very concerned with medical and health affairs."
At this time, in order to stimulate the economy, the Japanese government had introduced a large number of public investment plans, including the construction of medical infrastructure.
But who this money went to, and how much they received—that was a matter of considerable maneuvering.
Gunma University was one of the New Eight Medical Universities, nationally positioned at best in the third tier.
Ahead of it were not only the top seven former Imperial Universities (the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Osaka University...), but also the former six medical universities (Chiba University, Okayama University...).
For large projects like this one, without political forces pushing from behind, Gunma University simply wouldn't rank at all with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
"Three hundred million..."
Secretary Kobayashi sighed. He flicked the ash from his cigarette, and embers flickered bright and dim in the darkness.
"As you know, the current economic situation isn't optimistic."
"The representative wants to help, but he also has to consider the balance of other constituencies."
"This money is very difficult to get approved."
"Unless..."
At this point, he paused, turned his head with a smile, and looked at Professor Nishimura.
"Unless Gunma University Hospital truly possesses irreplaceable value."
"But if the outside world learned that a resident who had graduated only half a year ago was saving lives in the ER, while esteemed professors and senior doctors could only stand by helplessly, or weren't even there yet..."
"What do you think the taxpayers would say?"
"Wouldn't the opposition take this and run with it, questioning whether our budget allocation is reasonable?"
Secretary Kobayashi brought up this matter once again.
To be honest, he didn't care at all who had saved the representative's son's life.
Inside Gunma University Hospital, without this Kiryu Kazusuke, another Kiryu Kazusuke would step up.
He didn't care about a resident's future either.
Every year the medical school produced excellent graduates, and it wasn't as if there weren't young people from the University of Tokyo who were even more outstanding than Kiryu Kazusuke.
But this was leverage.
A bargaining chip to use against Nishimura Sumika.
"Kobayashi-san, you exaggerate."
"Medical practice is an integrated whole—decision-making, execution, postoperative management; every part is indispensable."
"Although young Kiryu made an accurate judgment, without my daily instruction and the department's training, he couldn't have reached that point."
"On this point, I believe Representative Ōkawara understands as well."
Professor Nishimura was no fool; she naturally understood that the other party was merely using this as an opening.
Secretary Kobayashi chuckled softly, tossed the cigarette butt to the ground, and ground it out with the tip of a gleaming leather shoe.
"The representative of course understands."
"That's why the representative hopes this budget will be spent where it counts most."
"For example, the laboratory expansion project."
"I see your proposal hasn't yet designated a construction company, has it?"
"We have a recommendation here: Daito Construction. This company is very experienced in medical facility construction."
"It also has an excellent reputation within the prefecture. You might consider it."
Sure enough, once the words were spoken, the hidden dagger was revealed.
This was the true purpose of Secretary Kobayashi's visit.
Designating the construction company meant that at least ten to fifteen percent in kickbacks would flow back into Representative Ōkawara's pocket in the form of political donations.
Professor Nishimura's heart sank.
If Daito Construction were truly designated, the flow of construction funds would no longer be under her control.
When that time came, the benefits she could skim from it would be greatly reduced.
Thus Professor Nishimura put on a troubled expression and said, "Well... the bidding process for construction projects must follow open procedures..."
But Secretary Kobayashi directly cut off her excuse: "As long as you add just a few technical parameter requirements in the bidding documents, I believe Daito Construction will certainly stand out."
Public works projects were politicians' ATMs.
And the university hospital's expansion project was naturally a choice slice of cream on this immense cake that could not be ignored.
Professor Nishimura fell silent.
If she agreed, though she wouldn't be able to skim from the construction funds, the introduction of MRI equipment was still on the table. That was a contract worth tens of millions, and the manufacturer's kickbacks would be considerable.
The bamboo deer scarer in the garden suddenly let out a crisp *thunk*.
It pulled her thoughts back to reality.
"I understand." In the end, Professor Nishimura nodded slowly. "Daito Construction is indeed a fine choice. I'll have the General Affairs Section make the arrangements."
"As expected, Professor Nishimura is a sensible person." Secretary Kobayashi smiled, turned sideways, and gestured. "Then let us return. We shouldn't keep everyone waiting."
The two walked back along the wooden corridor one after another.
The banquet's atmosphere was at its height.
Inside the room, the twanging of the shamisen still warbled on. Geisha in kimonos covered their mouths and giggled as they poured sake for several doctors whose faces were flushed red.
Associate Professor Mizutani was holding a microphone, singing with great gusto a Saburō Kitajima enka song.
He was singing horrendously off-key.
However, the surrounding doctors still obligingly kept the beat for him.
"Bravo!"
"Professor Mizutani sings wonderfully!"
"This is the soul of Shōwa manhood!"
Specialist trainee Minamimura Shoji was shouting his approval at the top of his lungs.
As a qualified junior doctor, at a moment like this one needed no aesthetic sense, only the ability to play to the crowd.
Several other lecturers and specialists also clapped along. Though the smiles on their faces were somewhat perfunctory, they put on an excellent show.
The sliding doors were gently pulled open by a server.
Secretary Kobayashi and Professor Nishimura entered one after another, both wearing appropriate smiles.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting."
Secretary Kobayashi laughed and raised his hand to signal that everyone need not stand on ceremony.
Mizutani Mitsuma was very quick on the uptake; he immediately set down the microphone and yielded the central seat of honor.
He observed the professor's expression.
Her smile was natural, with no shadow between her brows.
It seemed the discussion had gone smoothly.
Mizutani Mitsuma breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. As long as the professor was happy, the First Surgery Department's days next year would be easier, and so would his own.
The banquet continued late into the night.
Stepping out through the gates of the traditional restaurant "Matsunoya," the outside air was bone-chillingly cold.
It was already past nine in the evening.
On the streets of Maebashi City, taxis were exceptionally hard to hail.
During this season when year-end parties were clustered together, demand for cars was very high. However, one no longer saw the spectacle of people waving 10,000-yen bills by the roadside to stop taxis.
Secretary Kobayashi and Professor Nishimura had their own cars and drivers, so they departed amid the crowd surrounding them.
"Are you really not going?"
"Kiryu-kun, just now senior Minamimura said he's treating, you know. We're going to that famous karaoke place."
"I heard the hostesses there are all very pretty."
"Really not going?"
Tanaka Kenji's face was completely flushed. He had already pulled off his tie and stuffed it into his pocket, and with a thick tongue he was still trying to invite Kiryu Kazusuke to the after-party.
"No."
Kiryu Kazusuke tightened the collar of his overcoat and refused bluntly.
"That's too bad."
Tanaka Kenji muttered, and seeing that he couldn't persuade him, no longer persisted.
He turned and squeezed into a car, packed in with several equally excited specialist trainees, and sped off with a roar.
Probably off to a snack bar with hostesses, or perhaps a more direct adult establishment.