Chapter 4: Enemies

Chapter 4: Enemies is the fourth chapter of Breathe Deeply.

Characters

 * Sei Inaba
 * Yuko Kazama (memory)
 * Oishi
 * Sato
 * Chief

Synopsis
A television company who have ratings in mind discuss Sei's research. A mechanical blood simulator can depict a beating heart through a computer to test artificial blood vessels and leave no need for animal testing.

The reduction of animal testing is a major goal for Sei. He tells interviewers that when he was a graduate student he participated in artificial heart research for the first time. Although there was a large budget and the heart was made as best as they could, the goat they used it on still did four days later. There had been better results twenty years ago.

He remembers specifically that they became doctors to save lives, but felt his engineering team members could not understand that. The blood transfusions that they were doing were not helping the goats get better. All they could do in that situation was to use the time to find the cause of the anemia that was affecting the goat, otherwise they would be killing them with their blind love.

From that, Sei found that the artificial hearts had been pumping too much blood.

He remembers Yuko with thoughts of not wanting to lose anything.

As he cleans the room, Oishi is hassled by Sato who attempts to demean his academic prowess.

Fifteen years ago Sei gave a report on stem cell research. On a hill overlooking the city, he and Yuko notice a butterfly with a broken wing. Yuko observes that they can decide to save him from the ants, or stomp on both of them. No other animal gets to choose things like that, only humans and she also realises that humans only follow the laws of nature when they are in love. With the butterfly flying away, Yuko moves in to kiss Sei.

Staring out the window, Sei contemplates that humans never know how things will turn out in the end, but tend to be fools and always hope for the best. He feels as if he is in love again.

The theme for the next research is discussed in a meeting with Oishi present. It concerns Y chromosome containing cells for use in cardiac treatments but Oishi is overcome with indignation realizing and then pointing out that this is his research plan that he told the chief about. No one believes him, and the thief tells Oishi he is terrible, stating he knows it was not his idea and whether he is prepared to call her a thief. Oishi is then coldly informed that the trash is full and he should throw it out.

As he takes the bag outside, Oishi notices people preparing for Sei's presentation. In the commotion he is accidentally knocked over with the litter scattered. Oishi takes to picking up each piece by piece.