The Nail That Sticks Out

Chapter Eighteen: Empty

Kai Fukuda

Every fucking year, I have my calendar marked with a red circle on this exact day to remind myself to mentally prepare for what's probably the worst stench one could possibly ever endure.

I make it to the door of the lab in one breath before I give into an inhale and immediately regret it.

"Ah! Here we are," Dr. Davis exclaims, looking delighted as ever. "My sheep brains!"

I gladly pass the tray over to him and make my way to the furthest corner of the room.

"In case you haven't figured it out yet, we'll be dissecting these beauties today," the old man beams. "Go ahead, take a good whiff. Smell that?"

I hear some students gag. I don't blame them.

"Today, you'll be working in your table groups to identify parts of the brain. You will all be given fine needles that are color-coded, and I'd like you to use them to label the various parts accordingly."

Dr. Davis goes on to explain detailed instructions for slicing the brains while I distribute said brains and the needles to each table.

"Does anyone have any clue as to why we would the brains of sheep for this exercise?"

A scrawny guy on the left raises his hand. "Our department does not have the budget for a human brain."

That earns a booming laugh from Dr. Davis. "You're not wrong, son. Although we still are getting our money's worth by using these brains as opposed to human ones. Why is that?"

A fair hand goes up. She looks bright and lively despite the putrid stench that fills the room. "Would it be because human brains are similar in structure to a sheep's brain, with the exception of size? I believe most mammalians have similar brain components, no?"

"Precisely! That, and also because they are readily available for anatomical studies. But there are some key differences between a sheep's brain and a human's. I would like for you all to investigate these differences on your own in today's class. One example, as Miss Olivia offered, is size," he grins. "Excellent work, Olivia. It's good to have you back.

She smiles back and I catch her glancing my way. I smirk at her.

Show off.

Dr. Davis claps his hands. "Right! You know the drill. Gloves, goggles and lab coats on, Kai and I will be coming around to help you with your incisions. Get to work!"

I hear the sound of rubber gloves snapping and the class immediately dives into their dissection. I head over to Olivia who's already grabbing the scalpel while her group members gingerly move away from the brain.

"Need any help?"

Her group members look up to me in surprise but Olivia stares straight down at the brain.

"No, thanks," she mumbles. Her scalpel slices into the cerebrum.

"Actually," a petite girl to her left pipes. "We'd love your help, Fukuda-san."

I nod at her to go on and she shifts.

"Um...how do you...how," she stumbles, clearly finding a question to ask. "What do we do after slicing the brain into halves?"

I sigh. "You should be able to see—"

"You label the parts of the midbrain," Olivia cuts in, still looking down. "Here you can already see them," she says, bringing the brain closer to the girl.