Original (Novel): HELLO!! DOCTOR (ISBN: 4871821390)
Author: 朝月美姫 Asatsuki Miki
Cover Illustrator: 沖麻実也 Oki Mamiya
Reprinted Complete Edition:
HELLO!! DOCTOR - Side A (ISBN: 4829651091)
HELLO!! DOCTOR - Side B (ISBN: 4829651105)
Released: 3/23/1996 Victor Entertainment
Catalogue Number: VICL-8178
Price: 2854 yen (with tax), 2718 yen (w/out tax)
Cast:
小杉十郎太 Kosugi Juurouta (藤森 直 Fujimori Nao) x 岩永哲哉 Iwanaga Tetsuya (水島祐也 Mizushima Yuuya)
置鮎龍太郎 Okiayu Ryoutarou (須藤圭介 Sudou Keisuke) x 子安武人 Koyasu Takehito (加賀美 卓 Kagami Taku)
田中秀幸 Tanaka Hideyuki (槙村龍二 Makimura Ryuuji)
Michael G (ミック Mick)
Summary + Review:
This drama is a sequel of the novel Hello!! Doctor. Note that because it's a sequel, listeners are expected to have read the novel already and know the general storyline. The beginning of the drama DOES provide a short review of the main character Nao and Yuuya's relationship though, and even though I listened to the drama without reading the book, I still enjoyed it immensely, and was able to catch-up with the story quite easily. So, without further adue, here's a quick overview of the characters and the initial plot setting:
Mizushima Yuuya (Iwanaga Tetsuya) and Fujimori Nao (Kosugi Juurouta) met in the hospital. Nao is the doctor for Yuuya when he hurt his arm, and sexually harrassed + convinced Yuuya to being his lover. Yuuya is initially reluctant, but eventually yielded to Nao under the promise that Nao will be responsible for Yuuya and his feelings. Kagami Taku (Koyasu Takehito) is a long-haired beauty and a very talented piano player, he was also Nao's first love. Even though the two broke up, Nao still can't forget about Taku. Taku's heart though already belongs to Sudou Keisuke (Okiayu Ryoutarou). Although Keisuke and Taku have feelings for each other, they cannot stay together under their current situation, and Taku left for New York in order to develop his career. This drama continues the story of these two pairs of lovers when they gather together again at Harlem celebrating Keisuke's upcoming wedding.
Love is portrayed very delicately, yet very powerfully in this drama. The relationship between Yuuya and Nao started out as one of those typical "doctor harasses patient and forcse him to have sex" yaoi relationship, but gradually rise into something much more intense. Yuuya's resistance becomes a threat that he'll never forgive Nao if Nao have sex with anyone else, to becoming soft calls of "Sensei ga suki, sensei ja nai da yada" [I like you, doctor, it can't be anyone else]. If Yuuya's love for Nao is like burning fire, then Nao's admiration for Taku is like the warm leftover ashes. Nao loves Yuuya dearly, but to him, Taku is someone that nobody can replace. Taku is special. Yuuya also understands that Nao's feeling for Taku is something other than love, and that Taku also wishes the best for Nao and Yuuya's relationship, but he can't help but being jealous at Taku.
The dialogue in this drama is very cleverly constructed. Every sentence can leave one pondering about the character's real feelings. I think it's very interesting that Yuuya's reaction to Nao harrassing him is that he should "take full responsibility," almost wishing that if Nao have sex with him, he also has to respond to Yuuya's love. Also, Yuuya's jealousy for Taku doesn't result in fighting with Nao, but angsty cries of "sensei ga suki, sensei ga suki! sensei ga...sensei, ore ja dame? Konna ni suki demo...dame?" [Doctor, I love you! I love you! Doctor...it can't be me? Even if I love you so?]. Nao's reaction is even more ingenious: "Okoru de...inai..." [I'm not angry at you]. From this sentence, Nao expresses to Yuuya that "no, you can't replace Taku, but I love you the most at the moment", therefore he says "I'm not mad at you for being jealous." I personally really like this type of subtle dialogue, and I think it leaves a lot of room for thinking what love really is.
The drama begins with Yuuya flying to New York City to attend Keisuke's wedding. At the night of arrival, Nao, Yuuya, Ryuuji (their friend I assume), and Keisuke visits Taku who lives in Harlem. Ryuuji and Nao cheerfully chat about Keisuke's fiancee and makes fun of Keisuke, saying that he always cheats on his fiancee by going out with other women. Taku then thoughtfully adds that Keisuke isn't only attracted to women...Keisuke seems troubled, but Taku is already preparing for his performance. With his soft voice, Taku gently says that his next piece is "a gift for the one sitting there--'Kanawanu Koi wo Yumemite' ['Wishing for the Unrealistic Love']..."
Hello!! Doctor's music is very well integrated into the drama's plot, and becomes more than just background music. Since the story takes place in Taku's recital, the music surrounding the characters become part of the environment. The long pieces of music that stands as separate tracks in the drama become the performances between the refreshments and the conversation. Like Kinkanshoku, Hello!! Doctor also has a central theme. The theme is first played by a string quartet during Yuuya's recollection of the past, and rises quite dramatically during Taku's appearance. I also noticed that the piano in the music makes its initial entrance during Taku's introduction, which is very clever since Taku is the pianist. After dying down with the end of the recollection, the main theme doesn't appear until much later in the drama. But by the time it enters the drama again, it signifies something much more important that just the background.
Getting back to the story, after Taku's performance, the friends gather at the table again. Yuuya praises Taku for his performance and notes that he looks more beautiful than usual. Taku replies that it's because he currently has someone he loves. Appearing half-drunk, Taku carelessly flirts with Nao. Taku's actions enraged Keisuke, and he angrily storms out when Taku jokingly says that he wants to sleep with Nao. Seeing that Keisuke left, Taku chases after him and also leaves the studio.
After Taku leaves, Yuuya finally explodes on Nao, being jealous that Nao fell for Taku's seduction. Angrily, Yuuya drags Ryuuji off to another bar to have a drink. In the bar, Yuuya contemplates that Taku isn't very frank about his feelings for Keisuke, and instead of confessing, he always teases Keisuke. Yuuya thinks that Taku should at least grab the chance to confess before Keisuke really gets married. Ryuuji explains that the reason Taku doesn't confess to Keisuke is because if he does that, Keisuke would probably run away from the wedding. Keisuke is afraid, because he is always waiting for Taku to call him back. That is also the reason why Keisuke always cheats on his fiancee; he never keeps with one lover because he is always thinking about Taku, waiting for Taku to make up with him. Yuuya is surprised; if Keisuke doesn't love Mayumi (his fiancee), then why should they marry at all? It would be unfair for Mayumi. Ryuuji says Mayumi knows that Keisuke's heart is always thinking about Taku, but she loves Keisuke so much that she is willing to forgive him and marry him. So strong and determined is her love that Keisuke always tries to escape from her...Ryuuji concludes that those three are constantly searching for a light in their dark paths, and they all rely on an one-sided love in order to survive...but could three people really share one love?
Taku calls Keisuke and invites him to come to the studio. He is going to play the piano for Keisuke for his wedding gift. Long time after Taku hangs up the phone, Keisuke sadly says, "Ikeruwake nai darou....Taku..." [I can't go....Taku...]...
Somewhere back at the recital, among the crowd and the applause, the performer Mick announced that his next tune is for those in love...
In the studio, Taku alone plays on the piano. The door opens.
Taku: You're late.
Keisuke: I said I wouldn't come--
Taku: But you still came.
Keisuke: Ah, I came to make an end to--
Taku: End to?
Keisuke: Yours and my relationship.
Taku acts like he doesn't understand, and Keisuke frustratingly tells Taku to stop trying to make him change his mind. In order to forget about Taku, he has already been through enough. He wants to end this relationship. A pause. Taku invites Keisuke to play a piece together. Keisuke refuses, saying that if he play the piano now, he would "fall back to hell." Taku ignores Keisuke, and starting to softly play the main theme. He says that he will never be able to leave the piano for his life--he recalls Keisuke's voice everytime he plays, and he always feels the voice reverbrating inside of him while he plays...
Keisuke slams down on the keys: "STOP THAT!!"
Taku: "Aishiteru...hoshii!" [I love you...I want you!]
Another pause. The piano starts again. Keisuke sighs.
Keisuke: This isn't like the end, then. You liar.
Taku: You can call it a "beginning." The start of the new "hell." Will you be with me?
Keisuke's resistance wavers. He sits down against Taku. "Are you going to detain my heart again with that kiss of yours?" he weakly asks. Taku softly says that this time, he will have to give all of himself in order to keep Keisuke's heart. He wants Keisuke to think of him always, to keep him in his heart eternally, so that even when he is with other women, he would still remember Taku, and live on thirsting for Taku!
Keisuke embraces Taku..."Taku, I want to be with you, just like right now."
Taku: How many years would it be until we see each other again? Until then, keep on playing the piano--I don't want to duet with someone worse than I am!
Keisuke: Taku...(deep sighs) I'll play the piano...always! I won't stop even if you tell me to!
Taku: Iumono ga? Omae no piano...ore no ichiban suki no piano da! Shinumade...kieteitai...[Really? Your piano...is my favorite piano! I want to listen to it until my last breath...]
The duet of the main theme begins, and brings the mood to a passionate climax. Ken is already wiping large amounts of tears off her face, so give me a second...This is the second drama that has made me cry after Ai no Kusabi. The love between Keisuke and Taku lacks its wildly emotional moments, yet it's calmness is beautifully tragic. The piano is especially good for expressing melancholic moments, and with its transparent tone quality, it illustrates Taku and Keisuke's bond very sensitively. Actually, (Ken can't resist from criticizing), the piano players for the duet hit SO MANY wrong notes T__T;;;;;;; especially on the downward octaves...-_- Being a piano player myself I'm rather picky about those things (even though the piece IS really hard on the techniques), but I am willing 100% to forgive the playing since Taku and Keisuke's love is so beautiful...ahh.....(resisting not to explode on the piano players...)
The duet quickly ends after the climax, and Ken's favorite moment of the drama come in...(the H scene! No wait...)
Keisuke: Taku, suki da...isshou jikoku de ii? [Taku, I like you...want to stay in hell with me?]
Taku: (deep breathes) Keisuke....
It's an awfully tender moment, with only the sound of clothing and Okiayu's gentle yet painful confession. Again I marvel at the vocabulary the author uses..."let's stay together in hell" is a rather harsh word to use on their relationship, but it portrays the pain of loving but not able to stay together very vividly. Okiayu-sama and Koyasu-sama's performance again brings me to tears, as previously Koyasu passionately says "your piano...is my favorite piano" and "I want to listen to it until I die." Those two sentences just releases SO MUCH emotion, and with Koyasu's acting, it becomes whispers by Keisuke's ear as the two stayed together to play the piano. When Koyasu calls "Keisuke..." his voice sound SO SOFT, SO NICE *_* and it really gives you a feeling to not want this moment to ever end. It is just such a wonderful moment. The voices die down to only the sound of clothing ruffling against each other, and the main theme silently covers the dying sound. (Okay I admit this scene is SAFE, VERY SAFE what else do you except from Koyasu-sama being uke? XDDDDDD) The piano solo for the theme reverbrates around what seems like an infinitely empty space, until the echos rise and fades. Like in heaven, Ken thinks, but the moment of bliss only last for that short split minute.
It's breaking dawn, and Yuuya finally returns to the hotel room, where Nao anxiously waits for him. Pretending not to forgive Nao too easily, Yuuya ignore Nao and admires the scene of New York while Nao embraces him from behind. The two eventually makes up when Nao says to Yuuya: "Aishiteru Yuuya, omae dake da" [I love you Yuuya, only you]. Yuuya laughs: "More, say more, sensei. I want more...more..." The strings comes in again, this time turning the tune from minor to major key. Although the music changes the mood completely to one of happiness for Yuuya and Nao, why is it still so sad? Why does my heart still ache for Taku and Keisuke? Their relationship that didn't meet a good end....