Alice no Toge (Alice's Thorn / アリスの棘)

I've already thrown everything away.

To take revenge on every single person who drove my father to his death.

Forgive me. I'll do anything...

No~!

I can't have my reputation fall because of groundless false accusation!

My father was torn apart from his daughter because of you.

It's Hyuga. He's behind it all!

The operating room is a white... black box.

I decided to help you.

I think that would be my atonement to Osanai Sensei.

- Do as you please. - But recently at this hospital,

problems that ignore the patients' well-being have been recurring.

At your Gastroenterological Surgery Department.

Mizuno Sensei.

You know something, don't you?

Yes.

Both Date Sensei and Chihara Sensei, while claiming

outwardly that it's for the advancement of medicine,

were, in reality, only thinking about

getting recognition for themselves.

But it's the patients who end up being victims of

their personal ambition...

Just as I thought.

You've got quite a backbone.

That being said, I have a favor to ask of you.

Hereafter,

will you let me know if you notice any strange movement in your medical staff's office?

What I'm aiming for

is a hospital where patients can feel completely at ease.

In order to do that, I need an honest doctor like you.

You'll lend me a hand, won't you?

Certainly.

Hyuga Sensei's on TV again.

- It's only natural that... - He sure is a popular guy.

we return our thanks to the elderly.

Is that your selling point at this next gubernatorial election?

- No, no, that's, well... -Look , look.

Updates on Hyuga Sensei's SNS site

are all about his wife.

He's a capable lawyer, devoted husband, and champion of the weak.

No wonder he's the favorite to win the election.

It's Hyuga. He's behind it all!

As a doctor, Osanai Sensei committed the unforgivable crime

of stealing and selling drugs.

However, Seirin University Hospital

did its utmost best to save his life

when he fell ill.

That's because this hospital believes that

all life is equally precious.

He's a capable lawyer, devoted husband, and champion of the weak.

We were told he could go home right after the surgery.

I can't believe he died.

Wasn't there some kind of mistake on the hospital's part?

I understand how distraught you must be from losing your husband.

However, anastomotic leak

is not an uncommon complication after surgery.

I'm sure the doctor explained to you before the surgery, but

we have Ono-san's signature here as well.

Even if you were to sue the hospital,

your chance of winning in court is said to be 20 percent,

and you will incur additional expenses.

Furthermore, should it extend over a long period of time, it will wear on you both mentally and physically, and

your loss would be immeasurable.

This is a token of the hospital's good faith.

Ono-san,

remember, I'm on your side.

One down, huh?

Excuse me.

I'm Nishikado with Maicho Shimbun.

Oh...what is it?

If you're not in a hurry,

I'd like to have a talk with you.

It's not unusual for patients' family like Ono-san and patients themselves

to come here making unreasonable demands and complaints.

They're the so-called monster patients, or "monpe."

To deal with these monpe,

doctors must be conscious of protecting themselves.

One of the most important things to remember is

to have the strength not to admit to any fault.

Monpe are humans after all. They're bound to yield eventually.

Don't be afraid of them.

The important thing is not the truth.

The key is not to lose.

8 days until the declaration of candidacy, huh?

Yes. The 23rd will be my last day here.

We're planning to have a small farewell party that day from 5:00.

Ah, I heard. I appreciate you going to the trouble.

Hi.

- Why are you here? - To have a talk with you.

I hope you didn't say anything unnecessary at the restaurant.

I'm not that clueless.

It's a secret, right? What you're trying to do.

So?

Your next target must be Hyuga.

That's what I thought.

I can't allow a bastard like him

to run in the election.

So what're you gonna do?

Hyuga's

always on his guard, whether it's at work or personal life.

He isn't someone you can take on by yourself.

- Excuse me? - Do you have a plan?

- I do. - Like what?

There's one former colleague of Hyuga I could possibly use.

Don't do it.

You don't even know what kind of a person this is, right?

It's too dangerous to get strangers involved.

Come on, don't be so grouchy. You're doing this for your father, right?

What's the point of charging ahead alone if you fail? It's not like you're a kid.

15 years ago,

who was it that wrote a bogus article

without even properly verifying the facts and

brought disgrace to my father's life?

My father

was robbed of his life by a medical error...

and robbed of his honor by your article.

You have no say in this matter.

Yeah, you're right.

I apologize.

Do as you please. Besides,...

I don't have any time to waste playing games with kids.

Gracias! Thank you. Please come again. Thank you.

The other day, Nishikado-san said,

"This pie tastes like shoe sole."

The nerve, huh? I want to know if he's ever eaten shoe sole.

Anyway, he has a sharp tongue, but he's not a bad guy.

- I think he'll be a good friend for you... - Sorry.

I'm going home for today.

Oh, good night...

Asumi-san looked kinda down, didn't she?

A daughter's so hard to handle~!

Gubernatorial Election Candidacy Declaration Day

He isn't someone you can take on by yourself.

Don't do it. You don't even know what kind of a person this is, right?

It's too dangerous to get strangers involved.

Do as you please.

Besides, I don't have any time to waste playing games with kids.

There's something I think you should know.

- What is it? - The thing is, I saw Nishikado-san from Maicho Shimbun

talking on the sly with the wife of that patient Ono.

Ah, you mean that Nishikado?

I don't know what he's scheming, but he's certainly an eyesore.

Lesions must be detected and removed at an early stage.

That's the fundamental rule of medical treatment.

I see.

What's going on, at such a late hour?

I need to have a private word with you.

What's the point of charging ahead alone if you fail? It's not like you're a kid.

Nishikado Yusuke

Isn't this...

It's information I obtained when that congressman was hospitalized in the past.

In short, it means this guy had accepted

a huge sum of 50 million yen from that hospital in question, right?

Why are you giving me such a big story?

Hyuga Sensei

has decided to run in the gubernatorial election.

We can count on you to cooperate, right? Nishikado-kun.

Your call is being forward to voice mail.

Please leave a message after the beep.

This is Mizuno.

I'll call again.

Anyone who lets a scoop go to waste,

can't call himself a reporter.

Wow, there's a huge article on Hyuga Sensei in the paper.

Wow~.

Asumi Sensei, look.

"Lawyer Hyuga's proactive work to help the elderly

will surely have a big impact in

shaping this country anew,"

it says. It's praising him to the skies.

Reporter Nishikado Yusuke

Nishikado Yusuke

Nishikado

Nishikado Yusuke

Truth in

darkness?

Osa...

I don't know who sent it.

However, considering that the two doctors who were involved in this case both fell from grace,

it feels rather unnatural...

Hello.

All right.

There's trouble at the outpatient clinic.

- Can you go take care of it? - Certainly.

An expectant mother is complaining that she felt ill after taking medication prescribed by Mizuno Sensei yesterday.

There shouldn't any problem with the medication itself.

She's probably just a monpe looking to make a few yen.

I'll take care of it immediately.

Show me some good faith. Otherwise, I'm going to sue you for sure.

Excuse me.

Are you listening to me?

I'm the consulting lawyer for this hospital. My name is Hyuga...

Hyuga Sensei...

Her name is Satonaka Eri-san.

Sensei, do you know her?

Oh, she used to work part-time at my office.

Leave this matter to me. I'll get this settled once and for all.

All right. Thank you for taking care of this.

What's going on? With that condition of yours?

I went to the hospital, but