Chapter 7

It was April 1st. Just past 10 AM, Yusuke, now inhabiting this world’s version of himself, left the hospital for the first time. It was only a three-minute walk to the hospital’s annex, but to avoid being recognized as male, he wore a hooded white parka to conceal his face, surrounded by Kanako and Toko, his protection officers, along with his assigned nurses. Thanks to the early hour, they reached the annex’s back entrance without attracting attention. Today, a health check-up for men was scheduled there.

Based on the pamphlet he’d received, it resembled standard school or workplace check-ups: height, weight, chest circumference, vision, hearing, blood pressure, blood tests, chest X-rays, urine tests, and ECG. The only difference was the mandatory semen test required from age 15.

About five years ago, a colleague in his original world, struggling to conceive with his wife, confided about undergoing a semen test as part of infertility treatment. Reluctant but persuaded by his wife due to their mid-30s age, he went through with it, only to be diagnosed with azoospermia. “No ability to make kids,” he’d muttered self-deprecatingly over drinks. They ultimately chose to live childless.