"In this world,
the brain is the only unexplored region remaining."
You were scared.
Admit it if you consider yourself a neurosurgeon.
It's stupid. Don't put on airs.
Leave me alone! You abandoned me.
I didn't!
I didn't abandon you.
Tamotsu, six years old.
He's your son.
Dr Kuroiwa,
please do the surgery for my mother.
Do I love him?
You're in love.
There is something called "born talent."
"Stroke"
Some are talented academically,
some are talented at flirting...
and some are talented surgeons.
You aren't talented.
No, you aren't.
But "talent" is not substantial,
just like a person's heart.
But sometimes people are restricted by it.
Talent?
Yeah, she suddenly asked if she has the talent to be a neurosurgeon.
Talented or not, she has just joined us.
Oh, good morning.
What?
"Kijima occurred due to brain damage. Kijima..."
Something is wrong, indeed.
I'll ask her.
Dr Miyama.
- Wait. - The nursing record...
- Let's go. - I'll go with you.
He does seem to have lost his confidence.
He even doesn't want to do surgeries.
How is his mum?
Oh, she's recovering well.
However, she is strict towards Dr Nishigoori.
I see.
- Later. - The record...
"Later," she says.
Yes.
I was really upset.
I can't trust anyone again.
What is your opinion on this, Mr Kageura?
Mr Kageura, please comment.
Mr Kageura?
Mr Kageura, please comment.
Mr Kageura?
Wow, the case is outrageous.
It breaks my heart when I think about the victims.
To prevent it from happening again...
"Green room A, Mr Yuki Kageura"
You can barely hear?
There's something wrong with my ear.
This is bad. You should go to the hospital at once.
You've got a recital.
You're right.
"Genius Pianist Yuki Kageura's Last Evening"
"Tokyo Uemori-Kita interactive Centre"
"500 Yen Piano Lesson"
Good! You played very well.
It's the end of our lesson today.
Thank you, miss.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Thank you.
Miss Negishi, do you have a minute?
The end of this month?
I am sorry.
They won't allow you to hold private lessons here anymore.
"Genius Pianist Yuki Kageura's Last Evening"
I think you understand.
To me, it's more important than my own life.
Mr Yuki Kageura, 34 years old.
As you know, he was the youngest champion of the Chopin Competition.
He isn't just a pianist, he even has good looks,
and you see him on tabloid talk shows every day!
I have his CD too. His "Nocturne" is the best.
Yes, it is!
Extremely talented and handsome.
Just like me in the past. Right?
Oh?
He came because he has difficulty hearing.
As you can see, it's a giant acoustic neuroma.
Of course as a pianist, he wants to keep his acoustic nerve.
He wants us to guarantee his facial nerves will be kept intact.
However, the tumor is too big.
Saving his life is our first priority.
This case is very difficult.
The acoustic nerve is fragile. There is no guarantee.
We can only persuade him.
When is the surgery scheduled?
The date we have an operating room available will be 12th.
I have to do a surgery on that day.
So, Dr Miyama?
No.
I'll ask Dr Nishigoori to do it.
Dr Nishigoori did 18 surgeries for acoustic neuroma last year.
Dr Miyama, please be his assistant.
- But... - Please.
Next.
What?
Pardon?
I don't know what she says even here.
Okay.
When trying to take the futon from her balcony,
she fell from the second floor.
34-year-old Miss Marie Negishi was brought here by ambulance.
Luckily, she fell on a tree.
Right ankle slightly sprained, and her right rib fractured.
We did a head CT scan but found no obvious abnormality.
In case we've missed anything,
we plan to do another head CT scan after some time.
Is that all?
Thanks everyone.
Okay.
Hang on.
Why did you ask Nishigoori to do the surgery?
No reason. Got a problem?
He's lost his confidence--
He lost confidence to do surgery, so he must do surgery to regain it!
Just kidding.
"Top Knife"
"Medical Consultation Room"
Stimulator.
Stimulation at one milliampere.
Okay.
Bipolar forceps.
Micro Cooper.
I have sharp ears. I heard you.
You're practicing a surgery, right?
You really do that?
"Bipolar forceps."
You're devoted, doctor.
I'm desperate to survive.
- Even doctors are? - Yeah.
I'm so busy that I have no time to kill myself.
Tumor forceps.
Okay. Bipolar forceps.
I fell in love.
With Mr Kijima.
You aren't immune at all. How can you choose Kijima?
I can't do my neurosurgery revision.
I hate myself for being like this.
Dr Miyama,
you were dumped by a man, got divorced,
and gave in to despair.
So you kept doing surgeries, again and again and again,
and became Top Knife, right?
But I don't want that!
I have absolutely no idea who told you that.
I couldn't care less.
But anyway, just calm down.
Sorry.
So... What? You confessed?
I slept with him.
What?
A small shadow can be seen here,
so we'll do a more thorough check-up later.
You can go home today.
Well...
What's the matter? You can go.
I'm sorry for teasing you yesterday.
It's fine.
You guessed right.
Somehow, whatever I do, nothing goes well.
I hung the futon on the balcony, then it dropped when I beat it.
At that moment, I thought, I didn't care anymore.
You are making so much effort, I'm sorry that I teased you.
Piano teacher.
Is work not going well for you?
I'm out of work now.
I graduated from the same music college as Yuki Kageura.
"Genius Pianist Yuki Kageura"
He is gifted, but I have achieved nothing at all.
I only call myself a piano teacher.
I wonder what makes us so different.
I guess it's talent, after all.
You've given up, haven't you?
You were the same until you graduated college.
You were talented.
But you gave up, that's why there's a difference, right?
You're as old as I am.
When I see someone giving up at my age,
it makes me feel awful.
Doctor.
Call the next patient.
Okay.
That's the end of Fresh Fortune Telling.
- Mr Kageura... - Yes?
Is there anything you'd like to tell us?
Yes, I will hold a recital on the 24th next month,
at infinity Hall.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
We really look forward to it.
"Fresh information" will see you tomorrow!
I wish I was the one who has the disease.
But is a week off work really enough?
You can rest for longer.
I'm fine. I'll be back soon.
"Kengo Kuroiwa, Tamotsu Tanabe"
Received.
I will.
DNA test?
I asked a legit place where even the police uses their service.
I have to settle this quickly and send him somewhere.
You're as cold-blooded as usual.
The domestic helper said she didn't want to stay at my place,
so I had no choice but to spend my whole night with that kid.
I can't bear it.
That aside,
do you think Mr Kageura's acoustic nerve can be kept?
Well, it's difficult no matter who does it.
There's no guarantee we can keep anything intact.
- A total resection is good enough. - Indeed.
Anyway, can he do it when he's in a state like that?
Dr Nishigoori!
I've just done my check-up, and I'm going to go home.
Is that so?
Actually, I now work part-time at a cafe,
and I've got some coupons.
Come if you like. It's quite close by.
"Coupon for one free drink"
I'm quite positive about life now.
Are you? Glad to hear that.
Doctor, I've started writing songs.
You write songs?
I wrote songs quite often until five, six years ago.
I just remembered my dream.
Oh, yeah?
I will try to make some effort.
Not just some, but I'll make a desperate effort.
Everyone is scared when they try something new.
I am scared too.
But don't run away from it.
Don't give up on yourself so easily.
When I finish writing the song, I'll send it to you.
Okay.
Even Dr Nishigoori can talk like that?
Yeah.
I think, after a week,
we can transfer you to the rehabilitation block.
How does Takuma perform?
What do you mean?
I heard he's slated to do a big surgery.
Can he become Top Knife?
Well...
To you, the Top Knife of cardiac surgery,
he must seem like he's not good enough,
but he is working very hard.
Dr Nishigoori is amazing. He's so young, but--
That doesn't matter.
You must know this as well.
Does my son have the talent to become the best?
Well, it depends on how much effort he makes.
That means it's impossible.
That's why he runs away from me too.
No.
He will not run away. I'm sure of it.
Thank you.
Done.
I didn't know you were here, Dr Nishigoori.
The song is nice.
Whose is it?
Excuse me.
It's the patient's?
Yeah.
You just slept next to her?
Yeah. Probably.
I thought she was still here, then I passed out.
In other words, when she said she slept with you, you only slept?
Idiot!
Did you come here just to ask that?
The sly old fox said I should solve my subordinate's problem.
Anyway, don't make any move on my subordinate.
If you aren't serious.
If I'm not serious...
There you go.
Your cafe Au lait.
- The song is beautiful! - It's lovely!
It's moving.
- It makes my heart skip a beat. - Yeah!
What is it?
Oh, Dr Miyama, the song was written by the outpatient, Miss Negishi!
This song?
Dr Nishigoori, the song is amazing!
Come with me.
He talked to me like a friend again.
There's a tumor.
And it's bleeding inside.
Yeah, I didn't see it last time because it wasn't bleeding.
Eligible for surgery, but its position makes it difficult.
Yes. When I tried to write the song, I did it surprisingly smoothly.
I played it to my friend, he said it was awesome!
Then he said he'd introduce me to a record label he knows!
Why? What's the matter?
In your head...
there's a two-centimeter big tumor.
You need to have surgery.
There's a risk of complications.
- I'd like to talk to you. - What?
I've heard enough about Kijima.
No, it's about the patient Miss Marie Negishi.
Is there any other treatment besides surgery?
I don't have time to have surgery now.
It's my once-in-a-lifetime chance.
I'd rather die than miss it.
- Hey... - You must understand too!
Maybe I've finally found my talent!
Can I stay at the hospital for months and waste it?
Please.
Please!
There is one way.
We can treat it by radiation therapy and see how it goes.
That!
I'll do that!
"Touto General Hospital"
Somehow, songs pop into my head, one after the other.
Maybe the break has done me some good instead.
Yes, perhaps.
And my friend really will introduce me to a record label.
They asked me to come over after I sent a demo.
Isn't that amazing?
Yeah.
Wait a minute.
Why will you use radiation therapy?
Miss Negishi's case is obviously eligible for surgery.
No.
It's just an idea. You should consider radiation too.
No, surgery is the first choice.
I can choose not to if I think about her lifestyle.
You can't. I'll change her doctor if you won't do it.
There's something more precious to her than her own life!
She's making desperate efforts now.
Dr Miyama, it's Room 706's Mr Kageura.
He can't sleep because he's worried, he's pretty worked up.
He is too.
Yes. Should I give him medication?
You're watching "Fresh information." A new pundit has joined us.
I think some people will be surprised.
Mr Kageura is on holiday starting today,
so saxophonist, Mr Yosuke Ariake joins us as our new pundit!
"Saxophone Player Yosuke Ariake"
Hello, everyone.
I'm Yosuke Ariake.
I'm a bit nervous,
but I'll do my best to cheer you up...
He is very concerned about keeping his acoustic nerve.
To a pianist, it's his lifeline.
We can only explain repeatedly in detail.
And what about Miss Marie Negishi's case?
I'll also be present at her next visit.
Thanks.
Good evening.
Found anything?
As I thought, without a doubt, I'm afraid.
I see.
I can't hear.
Stimulator.
Stimulate at one milliampere.
Bipolar forceps.
Micro Cooper.
To me, it's more important than my life.
The acoustic nerve is fragile. There's no guarantee.
It isn't something you can do by making effort.
Surgery is a series of uncertain elements.
Everyone can do it as written in a textbook.
But if you look further, when something unexpected happens,
you have to handle it in an instant.
This is what it takes to become a Top Knife.
Mr Kageura.
Did you get some sleep last night?
Did the medication work?
Mr Kageura?
Doctor.
Actually...
I don't care about my acoustic nerve at all.
What do you mean?
My hearing doesn't matter.
Even if I can't hear.
- Wait, but it's-- - I am...
more afraid of having facial paralysis.
So I reckoned,
if I said the more difficult one, the acoustic nerve,
then it couldn't go wrong.
What do you mean?
My talent for playing the piano had exhausted a long time ago.
Most of the people in the world are amateurs.
They all come for my looks.
My real job is a television personality.
That's why...
I can't let my facial nerves be damaged.
I can't survive.
I can't, because I'm a television personality.
I'll finally meet the people at the record label.
What will they say?
"I'm going to face the biggest challenge in my life, too."
We'll now do an acoustic neuroma resection.
- Scalpel. - Here.
"Operating time"
It'll probably take nearly 10 hours.
Please be patient.
I'm more anxious than him.
- Change to a 4 mm drill bit. - Yes.
- Please move the foot switch away. - Yes.
Excuse me.
Cerebellum is swollen, be careful during the dural incision.
Yes.
- Scalpel. - Here.
- Here's the tumor. - It's huge!
I'll uncap his cerebellum.
- Bipolar forceps. - Here.
The tumor is so big,
but he cut around the facial nerve so precisely.
ABR.
Calm down.
Thanks for waiting.
I'm lshida.
Thank you.
I'm Deguchi.
Thank you.
The fifth wave is identified clearly.
Drilling of the internal auditory canal.
- Sonopet. - Here.
We'll tell you our conclusion.
The last part.
- Tumor forceps. - Here.
Amazing.
He kept the acoustic nerve perfectly intact, too!
Wonderful.
Please let us discuss the next step.
Thank you!
Done.
Thank you, doctor.
Thank you...
it was brilliant.
Just by chance.
Now,
I finally realised...
if I had missed his acoustic nerve by just one millimeter...
if his facial nerve was just a bit thinner,
I couldn't have accomplished this.
It just happened to go well.
I...
I am...
Mediocre.
I am too.
But...
people have to survive even so.
We must.
That alone is certain.
Oh, please come with me!
Mr Kageura's manager collapsed!
Please.
Can you hear me?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
She drank no water and sat there worrying for over 10 hours.
I can't believe this!
She only has one blood vessel to the brain instead of four.
I've seen it in a case overseas.
This single vessel's been supplying blood to her brain so far?
But there's an aneurysm in this single vessel.
If there's another rupture
and we clamp the blood vessel temporarily to stop the bleeding,
it can cause brain death.
Does my son have the talent to become the best?
He will not run away. I'm sure.
Don't run away from it.
Don't give up on yourself easily.
I'll do the surgery.
Let me do it.
- I'll do it. - Wait.
You aren't talented.
No, you aren't.
Severe bleeding.
It ruptured again.
- Use a wide suction tube! 10L! - Here.
Darn! Darn!
The blood blocked the surgical field.
We can't proceed if only suction is done.
We need to clamp the blood vessel where the aneurysm is growing!
Nishigoori?
Nishigoori!
I heard that it's hell here. She only has one blood vessel?
Hey, Nishigoori, I'll do it.
And the aneurysm ruptured again.
The bleeding is so severe that suction can't do it.
Agreed, but she might develop brain ischaemia.
We'll clamp it for now.
- 15 mm straight temporary clip. - Here.
Can you do it? We only have one minute.
Tell me the time and give her edaravone.
Yes.
"Edaravone"
She's still bleeding, and we haven't found the aneurysm.
Clipping in one minute? It usually takes 30 minutes.
Okay, clamped.
Let's do it!
- Number 1 dissector. - Here.
10 seconds!
The aneurysm is somewhere deeper?
- Get a 10 mm bayonet clip ready. - Yes.
30 seconds!
I can see the neck of the aneurysm.
Hey, the clip. The clip!
- The clip! - Time's almost up.
Hurry up! Hurry!
50 seconds.
Heart rate dropping!
She'll be brain-dead!
Clamped it! I'll take it off. Forceps.
Here.
- One minute! - Okay.
We made it.
She's okay now.
Now close it. Be careful.
Yes, Doctor...
Thanks.
"Touto General Hospital"
Dr Nishigoori!
She couldn't move on her way home from the company.
Dr Imadegawa hurried to treat her.
It's symptomatic epilepsy caused by her brain tumor. She's stable now.
She can't wait anymore. Surgery is necessary.
She texted and said she might get a contract.
You should stop her.
What do you mean?
Doctor.
You look gloomy. What's the matter?
Have the surgery.
Or your life will be in danger.
No.
Absolutely not.
I'd rather die than miss this opportunity.
I finally seized it.
It's the chance to use my talent!
Why do you say that?
You should understand better than anyone.
No.
No?
What is wrong?
Savant?
Some can do calculations of five-digit numbers instantly
and some can memorize all playing cards instantly.
It's that savant.
Most cases are born with it,
but very rarely,
a head injury or brain tumor can cause savant syndrome.
And?
Dr Nishigoori gave me coupons for the cafe Miss Negishi works at,
so I went there.
The owner loves indie music, so it's played in the cafe.
Then, I heard a song that I had heard somewhere before.
In other words, after she heard the song, she replicated it,
wrongly assuming that she wrote the song.
Probably unconsciously.
So her "talent"...
If we remove the tumor,
the savant syndrome will probably be gone too.
You haven't got the gift to write songs.
Then...
How do I...
How do I live my life from now on?
I have no idea.
I...
I don't know either.
I can do it!
I can write songs!
I...
I'm a mediocre doctor.
Unlike you.
I finally realized.
I knew it.
A long time ago.
Sometimes, people are at the mercy of their talent.
However...
when they realise that they have no talent,
maybe something will start from there.
Good luck with your rehab.
Come and visit from time to time.
Thank you.
"DNA Test Report"
"Conclusion: A is B's biological father."
"Plausibility of paternity: 99.9999%"
I want to ask something, Dr Imadegawa.
What is it?
When I was a medical intern,
you said something during my visit to the NS Department...
Have you ever been in love?
No.
Then you should come to the NS Department.
The brain is the heart.
You should learn about your heart first. Right?
Okay.
For some reason, I couldn't forget what you said.
The wink perplexed me too.
That's good.
That's good, Dr Kozukue. Cheers.
Oh, Kijima.
What's up, lady? Miss me?
Hey! Stop using your talent on our doctors.
Dr Miyama.
I'll start dating!
What? I don't get it at all.
- What brought that on? - I'll have this!
Oh, come on!
"Touto General Hospital Neurosurgery Department Staff"
One more!
"Top Knife"
- Heard the rumor about layoffs? - Layoffs?
Dr Miyama performed surgery on my neck.
Dr Miyama fired him?
You're after me, aren't you?
I'll make you unable to hold a scalpel again.
I'll go.
This is the only place I can work.
You want to chop it off?
Will you chop my leg off for me?
An emotional wound...
can't be cured by a surgeon.
Here we go.
A heart shape!
Thank you.