The Trail Where Lilacs Bloom

In Hokkaido, fifth-year veterinary student Satori and friends Ayaka and Zansetsu work toward their dreams. At a clinic, Satori spots a tumor on Nozaki's dog, Kinako. Realizing Kinako can't be saved, Nozaki chooses euthanasia. Although Satori struggles to accept his decision, she senses Nozaki's deep anguish. She supports him and joins them for Kinako's final walk. (C) NHK / TELEPACK

Kentaro Inukai from the Livestock Hygiene Service Center comes to give a lecture, where Satori, Ayaka, and Zansetsu learn about foot-and-mouth disease in cattle and pigs. In their sixth year, Satori and friends take the national veterinary exam and forge their own career paths. Now a new large-animal vet, Satori discovers a severe abnormality in a cow at Orihara Farm. (C) NHK / TELEPACK

Zansetsu cares for red-crowned cranes, while Ayaka works for a pharmaceutical company and struggles to get farm owner Goda's attention. Meanwhile, foot-and-mouth disease strikes Orihara Farm. Under Inukai's direction, Satori and Nomi are tasked with culling every cow at the farm. Speechless before the distraught Orihara family, Satori enters the harrowing culling operation. (C) NHK / TELEPACK

After culling Orihara Farm's entire herd with Inukai and Nomi following a foot-and-mouth outbreak, Satori is devastated by the harsh reality. Ayaka and Mako rush to her side, while Zansetsu joins remotely. The three comfort Satori. Orihara turns to alcohol after the culling, while his granddaughter Nanami can no longer sleep. Satori does all she can to share their pain. (C) NHK / TELEPACK