21st Century Necromancer

Since you already promised the Inari God to look into this matter and carry out the previous plan, Chen Yu naturally needed to push forward with his plan—to further progress the relationship between Minami and Inomata Naoki.

Although Minami had previously mentioned letting things take their natural course and acted as if she didn't care, the Red String of Fate, constantly monitored by the Matchmaking God, revealed otherwise. Her feelings for Inomata Naoki had remained steady, contrary to what she claimed.

Therefore, for Chen Yu to advance this plan, he only needed to give Inomata Naoki a small push.

And achieving that wasn't difficult at all for Chen Yu, who was a good friend of Inomata Naoki.

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"Brother Yu, what made you suddenly remember to call me?" Inomata Naoki clamped his phone between his neck and shoulder as he tossed feed into the troughs. The cows inside the pen immediately began devouring it voraciously upon seeing the food.

Watching the cows eat with such enthusiasm, a faint smile surfaced on Inomata Naoki's face. These were the black-haired Wagyu cattle he had just started raising this year. Previously, they had gotten sick due to a minor accident, but they were finally on the mend. Seeing them eating so heartily now genuinely made him happy.

Even while tending to the cows, Inomata Naoki didn't forget he was on a call with Chen Yu.

"Can't I call you without a reason? Can't I check up on a brother from time to time?" came Chen Yu's voice from the phone wedged against his neck, prompting Inomata Naoki to halt his work. "That said, I do have something to talk to you about today. Come to Tokyo and help me out! I'm developing a new drug, and I need you."

"Brother Yu, you know I've long given all that up. I've forgotten everything I learned at school. These days, I only know how to raise cattle and horses," Inomata Naoki hesitated noticeably before reluctantly refusing Chen Yu.

Having been his old classmate for many years, Chen Yu instantly recognized that Inomata Naoki's response wasn't heartfelt. Over the phone, Chen Yu said, "Do you think you can fool me with that, or are you trying to fool yourself? A proud University of Tokyo medical doctorate telling me he can only hide away in the countryside raising cattle? Are you mocking Tokyo University, or are you mocking yourself?"

As Chen Yu's words reached him, a flash of guilt passed across Inomata Naoki's face, but he still insisted, "Brother Yu, what's the point of bringing this up now? Just let me live peacefully in my hometown, raising cattle and horses. I can't help you, and you don't need my help, do you?"

"I need your help right now." Chen Yu's voice was firm and resolute, leaving no room for argument. "Listen, I don't care what excuses you have. I'm developing a new drug right now, one that can cure all cancers if successful. If you feel guilty for what happened back then, then come help me—help me finish this drug! Otherwise, you'll owe me forever—you owe me your life!"

Chen Yu's words silenced Inomata Naoki, freezing him in place, even halting his actions of feeding the cattle.

Indeed, he had always felt remorse for what had happened back then—when he had secretly used an experimental drug on himself to save his own life.

Although the outcome had saved his life, the incident had nearly caused Chen Yu to take the blame.

If Professor Kube hadn't stepped in to suppress the situation for Chen Yu, they both likely would've been expelled from school.

Because of this, after graduation, Chen Yu's attitude toward Inomata Naoki was understandably distant. While Chen Yu continued to help him manage his health, their friendship was never the same again.

However, when Inomata Naoki's condition worsened, it became a turning point in their strained relationship.

That brush with the brink of death seemed to dissolve the tension between them, restoring everything to how it used to be.

But for Inomata Naoki, he would have preferred it if Chen Yu still held a grudge against him. That would've been easier to bear than having Chen Yu now treat him like a close brother again.

Because Inomata Naoki knew full well that he didn't just owe Chen Yu one life—he owed him two.

And beyond that, he owed Chen Yu an explanation—an account for what happened back then.

Claiming that he returned home to farm because of cancer was merely an excuse. The real reason was that Inomata Naoki didn't know how to face Chen Yu.

"Don't blame me for pressuring you. You said back then you had no place to go because of your terminal illness, so you returned home to farm. I could understand that, but your illness is cured now." Perhaps sensing Inomata Naoki's prolonged silence, Chen Yu softened his tone and urged, "Come back. Help me finish this new drug. Consider it as atoning for what you did back then."

"Brother Yu…" Chen Yu's words stirred turmoil within Inomata Naoki, leaving him even more conflicted. He knew full well that Chen Yu wasn't asking to settle old scores—this was his way of helping Inomata Naoki reclaim the life he should have been living.

As a former University of Tokyo doctorate, how could Inomata Naoki not comprehend the profound significance of a drug that Chen Yu claimed could cure all cancers? And how monumental such a breakthrough would be for those working on its development?

"Stop wasting words. I bought your ticket—tomorrow's flight. I'll be at the airport to pick you up," Chen Yu declared, cutting him off and hanging up before Inomata Naoki had the chance to respond.

Holding the phone in his hand, Inomata Naoki was at a loss for what to do about the situation.

If he went, his heart couldn't reconcile with the debts he owed Chen Yu. He already owed so much—his very life wasn't enough to repay it all. Going would only deepen his indebtedness.

If he didn't, how else could he repay the immense debt of gratitude he had toward Chen Yu?

As Inomata Naoki hesitated, his phone rang again. Looking at the display, he saw it was Tokairin Yuko calling.

"Yuko? Why are you calling me at this hour? Is something the matter?" Naturally, Inomata Naoki wouldn't ignore a call from his girlfriend. Answering the phone, he asked Tokairin Yuko about the reason for her call, knowing she was usually busy at this time.

"Doctor Chen just called me. I already know about his invitation for you to go to Tokyo. He asked me to persuade you," Tokairin Yuko said directly, skipping any pleasantries. "Naoki, I know you feel guilty about what happened back then with Doctor Chen, but running away won't solve anything. If you keep hiding in Kumamoto, how can you ever resolve this? Do you plan to keep running for the rest of your life?"

"Yuko, I…" Inomata Naoki faltered, unsure of how to explain things to Tokairin Yuko. The weight of what he owed Chen Yu was overwhelming.

But one particular statement from Tokairin Yuko pierced his heart and shook his resolve: "Besides, for the sake of our future together, shouldn't you go to Tokyo?"