Time passes slowly.
Afterwards, Hayashi Yoshiki's focus was apparently on writing novels.
Until one day, he received a message that Conan and his group were out camping, exploring a stalactite cave, and encountered a desperado—and Conan was shot.
Hayashi Yoshiki went to visit the patient on the following Wednesday afternoon, carrying flowers and fruits. However, before he even entered the ward, he heard a quarrel coming from inside.
"Why are you buying lilies here?"
"It's just buying flowers, why bother with all that?"
"But why would you give lilies to a sick person? Don't you know that giving white lilies to a sick person is a bad omen?!"
"Why didn't you just tell me clearly from the beginning, idiot!"
When he walked to the door, Hayashi Yoshiki saw Hattori Heiji and KazuhaToyama arguing with their heads close to each other.
Both of them were still wearing their school uniforms.
"You two have such a good relationship."
Hayashi Yoshiki interrupted them with a smile.
KazuhaToyama seemed startled. After coming to her senses, she quickly bowed slightly:
"He...hello."
"Brother, you're here too?"Hattori Heiji smiled, then frowned:
"What do you mean by 'good relationship'? I just bought some flowers and got criticized. It's so troublesome."
"But it's obviously you, Heiji, who did something wrong!"
"I didn't know anything about this!"
Osaka Black Chicken is very convincing.
Hayashi Yoshiki put the fruit basket in his hand on the cabinet next to the bed, looked at the empty bed and asked:
"Where is Conan?"
"I don't know. When we first came here, there was no one on the bed."
"Maybe he was taken out to bask in the sun."
Just then, Conan, sitting in a wheelchair, was pushed into the ward by Ran, with Suzuki Sonoko following behind.
"Brother Yoshiki? And Hattori and Kazuha... why is everyone here?"
"Brother Yoshiki!"
"Haha, I heard that this kid was seriously injured, so I rushed here right after school."
Hattori Heiji smiled and handed the bunch of white lilies in his hand to Conan.
Don't mention it yet...
Dressed in a black school uniform and delivering white flowers—he looked like he was attending a funeral.
Hayashi Yoshiki smiled.
He then looked at Ran again:
"What's the situation now?"
"Well, Conan is recovering quite well. The doctor said he'll be discharged in two or three days."
"That's good. Luckily nothing happened."
Hayashi Yoshiki said this, then as if remembering something:
"By the way, isn't three days from now the day Ran and the others will be performing in a play?"
"Ah, Brother Yoshiki, you remembered?"
Ran's reaction was joyful and surprised.
Because Hayashi Yoshiki suffers from time orientation disorder, if no one reminds him, it's easy for him to forget what day it is... but this time, he remembered clearly.
"Because it's Ran and Sonoko's performance, I'm of course looking forward to it."
Hayashi Yoshiki smiled.
The truth is, after this plot began, the date changes became normal... which is how Hayashi Yoshiki knows something important is happening.
"Hehehe~~"
Hearing what Hayashi Yoshiki said, Sonoko suddenly smiled strangely.
Standing behind Ran, she nudged her with her elbow, then suddenly reached out and pinched her shoulder, her tone like a greasy uncle:
"Are you ready to give me your first kiss, Ran?"
"What are you talking about!!"
Ran blushed instantly.
Hayashi Yoshiki smiled.
"But I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't been back to Teitan High School for a long time."
"Brother, you were also a student at Teitan High School?" asked Hattori Heiji.
"Yes, Yoshiki was the top student in the school that year!"
Sonoko was excited:
"And he was the leader of the bad boys."
"Is it true?"
Hattori Heiji looked over. Quiet and kind—Hayashi Yoshiki didn't look like someone who could fight.
At this time, another group came to visit Conan.
Professor Agasa arrived with the Junior Detective League, and the ward became noisy.
Hayashi Yoshiki noticed that Haibara Ai looked worried.
He walked over and gently ruffled her head.
In return, Haibara Ai tugged his sleeve—she had something to say.
So the two of them left the ward together.
"It seems Ran has discovered Kudo's identity."
"Yeah?"
"When he was shot and rushed to the hospital, he was bleeding heavily. The blood bank didn't have his type, but Ran asked to use her blood without hesitation..."
Hearing this, Hayashi Yoshiki fell silent.
The girl lowered her head.
"You said Vermouth has discovered me, right?"
"Yes."
Her face darkened.
She'd heard of Vermouth—the Thousand-Faced Witch, as dangerous as Gin.
Although Cointreau said he was here, and she didn't need to worry...
"Mmm, mmm—"
With a sullen face, she was suddenly cupped on the cheeks by Hayashi Yoshiki, who squished her cute face.
"What are you doing?"
"You didn't look cute at all just now, so I helped you."
Hayashi Yoshiki smiled and tapped her forehead.
The girl covered her forehead, glaring at him.
This Cointreau guy...!
What an idiot who takes everything on himself!
"Well, this expression is cute too."
Hayashi Yoshiki smiled again.
"Okay, I told you to rest assured. I'll take care of it."
She fell silent again.
He's not even trying to discuss it with me.
Haibara Ai felt discouraged—but also knew she probably couldn't help much now.
Maybe it was better not to hold Cointreau back.
She had a temporary antidote for APTX4869.
If Vermouth hadn't discovered her, she might have used it to let Conan become Kudo Shinichi again and hide things from Ran.
But now, that was impossible.
If Kudo Shinichi, supposedly dead, reappeared, Vermouth might catch on—
And Cointreau could be in danger.
That was the one outcome Haibara Ai could not accept.