Gift—Embryologist Connecting Lives— Episode 18 (Final Episode) 〖Letter: October 20, 2025〗 #CreativeAward2025
Summer has ended, and the autumn that followed is passing by in a rush. The wind grows colder with each passing day. This morning, Mine noticed that the leaves on the trees were taking on shades of red and yellow.
Even though it is autumn, the temperature inside the culture room is always kept at twenty-seven degrees. Today, Mine is once again peering into the microscope, continuing her struggle in the micro-world. From the adjacent egg retrieval room, the rhythmic sound of a heartbeat monitor can be heard. A patient hoping for embryo implantation is waiting on the other side of the wall.
Together with Mei, she stares intently at the embryo.
“As expected, the zona pellucida is thick and hard. At this rate, the embryo won't be able to break through its shell. Shall we perform assisted hatching?”
Mei makes the decision calmly, as always. Mei's cool voice flips the switch on Mine's concentration.
“Mobukuro-san, this is your third time doing assisted hatching, right?”
“Yes.”
Mei nods with her eyes.
“I will only speak up when necessary. So today, try doing it by yourself first.”
“Understood.”
Mine operates the microscope equipped with a laser beam irradiation function. She quickly and surely determines the position to apply the laser. She applies the laser beam at regular intervals to the transparent shell surrounding the embryo, shaving it away. She must not accidentally damage the embryo itself with the laser. After making a hole all the way around the shell, Mine takes a breath.
“Good. That was careful and fast. Well done.”
Nodding at Mei's voice, Mine draws the embryo into an ultra-fine tube.
“#328992 Kae Ueno-san.”
“#328992 Kae Ueno-san, confirmed.”
She and Mei say it in unison and nod at each other.
“Embryo is ready!”
She opens the pass box. She entrusts the embryo to the nurse on the egg retrieval room side. Kawase's voice can be heard from the egg retrieval room.
“Received!”
As she sighs in relief, Mei nods beside her.
“Mobukuro-san. You are now ready for any egg (child) that comes your way.”
＊
She takes off her cap and mask. Before her afternoon duties, she decides to stop by the staff room. With a café au lait in one hand, she opens the door. Resident Yoshida and nurse Sugimori, who is slurping down spicy ramen, are there. Seeing Mine, Yoshida's large, puppy-like eyes sparkle as he laughs heartily.
“Motai-san! Listen, listen. Naoko Akazawa, the patient I’m in charge of, successfully graduated from the Repro Center today! She’s twelve weeks pregnant now.”
Yoshida puffed out her chest with a proud “Hmph.”
“Yoshida-sensei. You were the one who did the intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo culture, and the embryo freezing and thawing, right, Motai-san? Isn’t it all thanks to you, Motai-san!”
Sugimori poked Yoshida on the shoulder.
“I’m sorry, I was just so happy, I couldn’t help it. Motai-san, thank you so much for your help back then.”
“No... I’m just really glad it worked out.”
A new life had taken root in Akazawa, who had once grabbed Mio by the collar and wept. The person who started that life was none other than Mio herself. I’m glad. I’m truly, truly glad. Feeling something welling up inside her, Mio looked up at the sky.
“Huh? Motai-san, are you crying? It’s still too early for that, you know.”
Yoshida smiled mischievously and pulled a pink envelope from her tote bag.
“This is for you, Motai-san, from Naoko Akazawa.”
Mio took the envelope Yoshida held out. When she broke the seal, a faint scent of roses drifted out. She unfolded the letter. It was written carefully in cute, round handwriting.
Dear Mio Motai-sensei,
I am deeply sorry for my rude behavior when we first met. I have been reflecting on it deeply. As I mentioned before the egg retrieval, I decided to give the treatment one last try, and my husband and I have moved forward together.
When I heard that my egg, which you performed ICSI on, and my husband’s sperm had successfully fertilized, I was actually terrified that I would have another miscarriage.
However, I believed and waited. As a result, I safely overcame the hurdles, was able to continue the pregnancy, and graduated from the Repro Center today.
Motai-sensei. You, who nurtured our fertilized egg until it was ready to return to my womb, are another member of this child’s family. Thank you so much.
I will do my best with the baby until the birth. Once this child is born safely, please let me come and greet you. Until that day, please take care of yourself and wait for me.
Mio wiped away the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing with the back of her hand. Her address was written on the back of the envelope.
“I’m going to write a reply to Naoko Akazawa.”
Seeing Mio laughing while crying, Yoshida and Sugimori also smiled and nodded.
The work of an embryologist continues without pause. Life circulates through this world incessantly. Mio’s job is to keep connecting the lives that wish to be born into this world to the people who desire those lives.
The staff room door opened, and a young male doctor called out to Mio.
“Motai-san, are you there? I have something I want to consult with you about regarding a culture.”
“Yes! I’m coming!”
Mio left her café au lait on the desk and ran out.
Today, too, fertilized eggs, sparkling like glasswork, are waiting for Mio. Precious gifts from mothers and fathers who are like the shining sun.
Hey, did you know?
You are a precious, precious life, the only one of your kind in this world, born from a series of overlapping miracles.
<End>