The Chiropractor, the Monk, and the Scarecrow: Episode 14

"I've found what I want to do, so please let me resign."
I asked the head nurse for some time and told her of my intention to quit.

There are several reasons for my decision, but a major one is that by continuing the breathing techniques I learned from Michiyo Abiru, also known as the "Lumber Roll Witch," at the FBG workshop, I was freed from the anxiety of "hidden slouching" and wanted to master chiropractic care.

At first, I had considered the option of continuing as a nurse while attending the Tsunnote study sessions if I could adjust my schedule. But eventually, I began to feel that I wouldn't be satisfied with myself if I did that.

I have fond memories of writing reports late into the night with Misono Tsujita, whom I met at nursing school, and struggling through difficult clinical training together. Thanks to that, I passed the national exam and was hired at a hospital near my hometown. My life as a nurse at Izumigaoka General Hospital is now entering its sixth year.

While I have an attachment to the hospital, I worried about how to explain my reason for resigning.

"Um, there's something I'd like to talk to you about. Do you have a moment?"
I called out to the head nurse after the conference at the staff station.
I could tell that the other nurses around us were focusing their ears, even if they weren't looking at us overtly.
My voice carried well, so the head nurse must have sensed the change in the atmosphere as well.
"Sure, let's go to the consultation room."

The consultation room is a small meeting room. It is mainly used by doctors when talking to patients and their families. She must have decided it was better to be away from everyone's eyes.

When we sat down facing each other across the table, the head nurse prompted me.
"Go ahead. Please, tell me anything."
I only talk to the head nurse when giving work reports, so I felt nervous about consulting her for personal reasons.
Should I start with seasonal greetings or a topic of interest... I had thought about various things until just now, but once I was faced with it, nothing felt right. We are both busy, so I decided to get straight to the point.

"I've decided to resign. I've found what I want to do, so please let me quit."
"Mayama-san, you're trusted by your juniors as a leader, and I was thinking of asking you to be an assistant head nurse eventually. We'd be in trouble without you. Can't you stay?"
"I'm grateful you'd say that, but..."
"If there's anything bothering you, please don't hide it. If night shifts are hard, I'll consider what I can. Is it power harassment? It's not me, is it? Maybe it's pay harassment?"
The calm head nurse started to get flustered as she spoke.
I know firsthand how short-staffed the nurses are, so I understand her desire to keep me. But I couldn't let that stop me.
"Honestly, the night shifts are hard, and there is power harassment, sexual harassment, and pay harassment. But I've gotten used to that. As I said earlier, there is something I really want to do."
Hearing my true feelings, the head nurse dropped her shoulders as if she had given up.
"Which hospital are you going to?"
"No, I won't be a nurse anymore. I'm going to be a chiropractor."
I couldn't bring myself to say that I had found a new sense of purpose as a chiropractor.

A few days later, I formally submitted my resignation and spent some time using up my remaining paid leave.

＊

When I went to report to the director, Nonaka-san, that I had quit nursing, he welcomed me with an expression that was half-surprised and half-happy.

The chiropractic salon Tsunnote is still not exactly "drawing lines of customers," but it has gradually become known to the local people. Sometimes, people even come from other prefectures after hearing rumors.

It has been nearly two years since I was officially hired as a treatment staff member. The participants in the study sessions have changed, and the faces are quite different now.

Yasuji Iwamoto, who had already opened his own practice in the next town, has achieved the advanced level and is holding his own study sessions.
Futoshi Konno has gradually drifted away, and I haven't seen him for a while. The director says he hasn't heard from him either.
Reiko Sasaki, the nurse, has also stopped coming. She says the hospital has become busy and she can't find the time. If I hadn't quit and tried to continue, that might have happened to me too.

Currently, the only official treatment staff are myself and Suzuko Miyata. I wish there were more people interested from the study sessions.
After all, the more people there are, the faster we can finish posting flyers in the area during times when there are no appointments. It's quite hard for just Miyata-san and me.

I have continued the breathing techniques I learned from Abiru-sensei, and my posture has improved significantly. I haven't been able to consult Nonaka-sensei about my "hidden slouching," but it doesn't bother me anymore, so it seems there's no need.

Perhaps because my autonomic nervous system has become less prone to disruption thanks to the breathing techniques, I feel like I've become mentally stable.
By practicing breathing techniques in addition to anger management, I have become able to control the "blue light" that is the source of my troubles to some extent.

When I performed a treatment on Daizo Tanaka, he persistently told me to "rub harder," so I used my "power" with the intention of teaching him a lesson. It was a mistake that I ended up improving the flow of ki in his cervical spine area as well. Since Nonaka-san has warned me that "cervical spine correction is a no-go," even though it wasn't a correction technique, a lingering sense of unease remains.

One day.
"There's a spring training session for western Japan, but I can't make it. Could I ask you to go this time, Mayama-sensei?"
Nonaka-san showed me the proposal with a casual tone.
I couldn't flatly refuse a request from the director. When I looked through it with that thought, I reflexively grimaced.
[Train your mind and body at the Kyoto Mibu Sakigake Institute]
That phrasing, which didn't sound like a training venue, jumped out at me.

"It's in Kyoto? And the venue looks like a temple. If possible, could you ask Miyata-sensei..."
I muttered, trying to refuse, but it seemed it didn't reach his ears.
"It wouldn't be good if Miyata-sensei heard that. Look, she's getting on in years, so I can't push her too hard. You're the perfect fit, Mayama-sensei, full of youth, and above all, I want you to grow."
"But there's the matter of Tanaka-san, and I'd rather not stand out too much..."
"Are you still worried about that? It has nothing to do with you, Mayama-sensei. The detective hasn't said anything since then, has he?"
"That's true, but..."
"Alright! Go train at the temple to shake off your hesitation!"
"Training? You mean the workshop, right? Is this Mibu Sakigake Institute really okay?"
"The headquarters chose it, so there's no mistake. Oh, that's right, Michiyo Abiru-sensei will be there too."
"Wait, Abiru-sensei? Understood, I'll go."
I'll be able to see Abiru-sensei again. That alone was enough to push me forward.

＊

There were about 20 people on the microbus I boarded after meeting at Kyoto Station, who seemed to be participants. That's few for a session covering western Japan. It's too late to regret it now, but it really must be a project that makes people hesitate.

After visiting Mibu-dera Temple, which is associated with the Shinsengumi, the minibus somehow kept moving further and further away.

A man who seemed to be from the operations department, acting as the facilitator, raised his voice.
"Mibuzuka, where the Shinsengumi soldiers rest, was truly moving. Now that we are focused, we will finally head to the training venue, Mibu Sakigake-in. It is halfway up a mountain, so it might be a bit bumpy due to the winding roads."
It seems it is not located near Mibu-dera Temple after all.

The bus ride took about 30 minutes, and I was fine, but some people got carsick.
What appeared in the forest was a majestic temple. Is the building in the front the main hall, and the slightly larger temple towering in the back the lodging for monks?

As I was getting off the bus that had parked in the lot, another one pulled in.
"What about that minibus?"
"Oh, the Osaka group is on a different route."
When I asked, the facilitator explained.
That means, by simple calculation, there are about 40 participants in total.

"First, the head priest will speak to you in the main hall. Please be sure not to chat."
It is a temple, so it is only natural that it would be strict. I thought about that as I took off my shoes and climbed the black, polished stairs, and then I understood.

"Solemn."
The altar enshrining the principal image did not look flashy or gaudy, but rather emitted a deep, profound light.
Overwhelmed by a silent power, I understood why we could not carelessly chat.
About 40 participants and staff sat in the main hall in seiza, and almost no one made a sound.
It seems everyone can become humble in this space.

When I looked, there stood a monk in black robes. To appear in the silence without a trace is like a ninja.
Underneath his black vestments, he wore a white juban, which I could see peeking out from the collar and hem.
Whether you call it a shaven head or a buzz cut, his hair was shaved, but not quite smooth and shiny. It looked like it had been trimmed short with clippers.
The way he stood naturally and slenderly suggested daily discipline. Despite his sharp features, he had no air of intimidation and seemed somehow gentle.

"Welcome. My name is Zefu. I am the head priest of this temple."

When Priest Zefu greeted us, the air in the main hall vibrated as if in resonance.

Continued in Episode 15⇒

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