Chapter 144
[In the years that followed, you and Mako continued to visit Yoshida Town and Sora no Ike every year. In the earlier years, you drove her to the lakeside. In recent years, it’s been Mako driving you.]
[The little girl has grown up. She graduated from Misaki University’s School of Medicine. She’s a bright child who earned her place at Misaki University entirely through her own efforts. You had hoped she would follow in your footsteps, but after a brief exploration, she chose not to take your path.]
[Instead, she shifted her focus to biology, originally her minor, and eventually became a PhD in the field.]
[After completing her studies, she joined a biology research institute. She became busier, often coming home late at night. When you urged her to find a partner, she told you she had dedicated her entire heart and soul to her career.]
[When you turned 66, Mako had already gained some recognition in the field of biology. She switched to another research institute, becoming even busier. Still, she always found time to accompany you and care for you.]
[You didn’t pay much attention to her career, remaining focused on your surgeries. Over the years, you refined the procedure further, resolving minor issues. However, these were only minor tweaks, yielding limited improvements.]
[You eventually confirmed that the procedure had reached its peak. It was no longer possible to make significant advancements; even minor improvements were scarce.]
[As an elderly man, you began to tire. In the operating room, you only handled the most critical parts of surgeries, leaving the rest to the younger doctors you had trained. You no longer had the stamina to complete an entire surgery.]
[At the age of 70, you retired from the operating room. Over the years, you had trained five disciples. They had mastered your procedure, and you hoped they would bring new advancements to it.]