Mihana Central Hospital, VIP ward.
Shinichi Kudo (temporary version) has been lying here for two days.
As a renowned detective who is rarely admitted to the hospital in recent years due to the highly traditional Japanese method of "attempted seppuku," he can be said to have enjoyed VIP treatment among VIPs.
Every day, groups of doctors and nurses from different departments come to "visit and check in," ostensibly for "multi-department joint consultations," but their eyes are actually gleaming with the same gossipy light: "Look! It's this kid! He's having a fit of madness and attempting seppuku! And with an antique knife no less!"
Conan is very confused right now, extremely confused, so confused he's practically growing weeds.
His reasoning was flawless, and the logical chain was perfectly closed!
The bizarre tigers, frogs, and vultures; the strangely effective potions; the aerial battles that defied Newton's laws... what scientific explanation could there be other than an absurd dream?
Why does pain feel so real?
It's so real that his stomach is still aching slightly!
And why am I still in the hospital when I wake up? Aren't dreams usually just a sudden "ah" and I wake up in my own bed?
His materialist worldview suffered an unprecedented and devastating blow, shattering it beyond repair.
In the past two days, very few people have come to visit him, and the scene is particularly desolate, fully demonstrating what it means to "the tea grows cold when the person leaves," even though he has not left yet.
While his mother, Yukiko Kudo, was filming, she mercilessly mocked him over the phone: "As long as you're not dead, that's fine. Seppuku? Hahaha, Shinichi, you're really creative. Remember to film a vlog; I want to post it online for my fans to enjoy our classic Japanese tradition!"
...Is this her biological mother?
Dr. Agasa did call, but he sounded excited, saying he was working with the Suzuki Group to promote his new invention and was so busy he couldn't spare the time to come, telling him to take good care of his "injuries."
...Fake family relationships.
The only person who risked being "infected with bad luck" to visit him was his best friend, Hattori Heiji.
"Kudo! Are you alright?"
Hattori Heiji, carrying a bag of fruit, looked at Kudo Shinichi on the hospital bed, pale and lifeless, and wanted to laugh but felt it was too much of a shame. His expression twisted, "I have to say, you're really pushing yourself too hard! Investigating a case to the point of committing seppuku? Your dedication is almost on par with mine!"
"Stop talking nonsense!" Shinichi Kudo glared at him irritably. "You think I wanted to? That was... that was a mistake in reasoning!"
He resolutely refused to admit that he was stupid.
After a brief exchange, the two poured out their recent misfortunes.
Finally, the two brothers from Kanto and Kansai, the hidden dragon and the phoenix chick of the detective world, reached a high degree of consensus:
—Anything that's unclear, illogical, incredibly unlucky, or beyond comprehension, just blame it on Yuzuru Hanyu, and you're sure to be right!
It must be that evil guy who used some despicable and shameless means to distort reality and pollute the air.
"No, I have to be discharged!"
Shinichi Kudo sat up abruptly, the movement aggravating his wound and causing him to grimace in pain. "If I stay any longer, I'll be placed under close observation at the mental hospital! And... I feel like that lousy medication is almost worn off!"
If someone were to perform a dramatic transformation in front of doctors and nurses, turning Shinichi Kudo into Conan Edogawa, the resulting amusement would be truly outrageous.
They can be sent directly to the Center for Research on Abnormal Humans or the Exhibition Hall of Extraordinary People and Events by Jirokichi Suzuki.
"I'll help you!"
Hattori Heiji immediately stepped in to help.
...
The two of them sneaked out of the ward area, avoiding the nurses' station's gaze, and arrived safely at the spacious and shady underground parking lot.
Hmm, it seems like no one is paying the bill?
In the parking lot, Hattori Heiji patted his cool green motorcycle: "How about that? I rode this here, pretty cool, right?"
Shinichi Kudo nodded, and for some reason, he took the driver's seat: "I'll drive, you give directions."
He needed to do something to distract himself and suppress the familiar, unsettling, and shrinking restlessness within him.
Heiji Hattori didn't think much of it and straddled him, saying, "Be careful driving. You're still injured; don't end up in the hospital again."
The motorcycle engine roared as it drove out of the hospital.
Riding on the highway, a gentle breeze caressing his face, Shinichi Kudo grips the handlebars, feeling his inner strength slowly draining away. His mood grows increasingly gloomy, and he begins to pour out his troubles to his best friend behind him:
"Hattori, do you think I'm a failure? Ran was snatched away by that guy Hanyu Nan, my house is practically his second home, I was in the hospital and my mom didn't even come to see me, she even mocked me... Now I'm almost out of health..."
As he spoke, he became increasingly agitated, and his grip on the accelerator unconsciously tightened.
Heiji Hattori initially chimed in with his complaints, expressing his shared indignation: "That's right, that guy is awful! He's practically the enemy of all detectives! My mom talks about him more affectionately than me now. Anyone who didn't know better would think he's the real Hattori family's son!"
But soon, he realized something was wrong.
The wind grew stronger and stronger, howling and filling our ears. The scenery on both sides rushed past, becoming blurry blocks of color. The speedometer needle climbed wildly, almost exceeding its limit.
"Hey! Kudo! Slow down! You're speeding!"
Heiji Hattori patted Shinichi Kudo on the shoulder.
Shinichi Kudo seemed not to hear, lost in his own world of sorrow, and instead sped up, the motorcycle shooting off like a green lightning bolt: "Hattori, tell me... what's the point of living?"
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