Chapter 63
The Stage for Princes and Princesses
At Beika City General Hospital, Dr. Agasa's car was even faster than the ambulance. When they arrived at the hospital, they saw Kogoro Mouri and Ran Mouri anxiously waiting at the hospital entrance.
After learning from Ai Haibara that Conan Edogawa had been shot, Kogoro Mouri, who had initially thought Conan had accidentally fallen somewhere, became serious. Ran Mouri even followed Conan, who was being carried off the ambulance stretcher, all the way to the operating room.
Later, when Ran Mouri told the nurse that there was a shortage of blood bags for the surgery, her words, "Use my blood, this child and I have the same blood type," caused Ai Haibara and Professor Agasa to change their expressions.
This statement is tantamount to Ran Mouri announcing to everyone that she already knows the fact that Conan Edogawa is Shinichi Kudo.
However, Jonah, who was still worried about Conan Edogawa's gunshot wound, did not notice this until Conan Edogawa entered the operating room and he realized that Ai Haibara and Professor Agasa's expressions were a bit off.
"So, Ran-neechan really does know Conan's true identity?"
While going downstairs to buy water under the pretext, Jonah learned of this from Ai Haibara and nodded without much surprise.
"Yes, but until they both confess to each other, we should pretend we don't know."
Ai Haibara pinched her brow, looking somewhat troubled. Although she didn't want to get involved in the relationship between Conan Edogawa and Ran Mouri, the more people knew Conan's true identity, the more trouble it would cause.
Thinking about the antidote she was working hard to develop, which was only in the experimental stage, Ai Haibara knew that she might need to take the risk and try it.
As a researcher, it's hard for Ai Haibara to accept giving a drug that hasn't yet yielded sufficient experimental data to people directly. She wouldn't have done it if Conan Edogawa hadn't forced her into this situation.
That's right, it's all the fault of that clueless, performance-obsessed detective who lacks self-control.
When Ai Haibara and Jonah returned to the operating room with the water, and heard the doctor say that the rescue was very successful and Conan Edogawa was out of danger, Ai Haibara couldn't help but blink and whisper to Jonah beside her when no one was paying attention.
"Jonah, I need your help with something later."
"Okay, what is it?"
"I'm going to give this incorrigible detective a little intimidation."
"Um?"
......
Conan Edogawa's injuries are recovering well. He rested in the hospital for several days, and Jonah and Ran Mouri would come to see him every day after school.
On the night before he was to be discharged from the hospital, Jonah, after returning home with Ran Mouri, made an excuse that he was going to Dr. Agasa's house to study with Ai Haibara and left the detective agency that night.
Upon arriving at Professor Agasa's house, they met Ai Haibara, who was waiting for them. After greeting Professor Agasa, the two took a taxi to Beika General Hospital, where Conan Edogawa was located.
With Jonah's help, Ai Haibara evaded the nurses on night rounds and successfully sneaked into Conan Edogawa's hospital room. She pointed a toy gun she had prepared in advance at Conan's head and, under Jonah's watchful eye from the shadows, put on a spectacular scare performance.
When the flower shot out of the gun, and Conan Edogawa's terrified expression instantly turned into a bizarre comical scene, even Jonah couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Damn it! Jonah, you're here too! I knew that wicked woman wouldn't do something so pointless alone!"
"Oh dear, you wicked woman, how could you use such a vile adjective to the only person who can help you right now?"
Haibara Ai rolled her eyes at the enraged Conan Edogawa, then casually placed the flowers in a vase on the bedside table before pulling a plastic medicine box from her pocket.
Ai Haibara took a capsule out of the medicine box and waved it at Conan Edogawa.
"Great detective, do you know what this is?"
"What? Cold medicine?"
"This is an antidote I developed by combining the APTX-4869 that Jonah brought back with elements from Lao Bai Gan. Of course, it is still in the experimental stage."
"The antidote! You mean the antidote!"
Conan Edogawa's eyes widened instantly as he stared intently at the antidote in Ai Haibara's hand, reaching out to grab it.
"Let me finish." Ai Haibara dodged Conan Edogawa's hand and calmly looked at him, quickly explaining the effects of the antidote.
"My plan is that I will impersonate Conan Edogawa, while you take the drug and turn back into Shinichi Kudo."
"Based on my deduction, this drug can at least turn you back into Shinichi Kudo for one day. If you use it well, it should be able to help you fool Ran Mouri without any problem."
"But you need to know that this antidote is only for you to use to get out of the predicament of your identity being questioned. You'd better only show yourself in front of Ran Mouri. In the organization's eyes, Shinichi Kudo is already a confirmed dead person. If word gets out that you've suddenly reappeared, the organization will definitely reinvestigate you!"
Ai Haibara stared intently at Conan Edogawa, her tone extremely serious.
"Of course, all of this will have to wait until the antidote I develop actually works. So, Kudo, do you want to give it a try? You might just die if things go wrong."
"Do I have any other choice? This is such a rare opportunity, of course I have to give it a try!"
......
On the last day of the Teitan High School carnival, which was also the most anticipated stage play performance, Jonah watched as Ran Mouri, dressed as a princess, took the stage. Jonah stood backstage and watched Shinichi Kudo suddenly appear, startling Sonoko Suzuki, without any particular change in expression.
On the contrary, Shinichi Kudo, who had successfully turned back into a high school student, happily winked at Jonah, but Jonah ignored him.
Jonah just thought that Ran Mouri would be very happy if she found out later that Shinichi Kudo was the one playing the prince.
Jonah's gaze swept from backstage across the audience below and saw Ai Haibara, disguised as Conan Edogawa and wearing a mask, sitting bored in a chair. Jonah blinked and prepared to return to the audience from backstage as well.
Jonah also felt that this kind of stage play was not as good as the animated film, but since he was already here, Jonah was prepared to watch it, otherwise it would be a waste of the torment he and Kogoro Mouri had suffered at home these past few days while accompanying Ran Mouri in her performance.
"Oh, little Jonah, hello there! Are you lost?"
The sudden greeting made Jonah stop in his tracks. He looked up at Shinichiro, who was smiling at him, shook his head slightly, and prepared to leave.
"You came with Mori-kun, aren't you going to stay and watch Mori-kun's performance?"
"...How did you know my name?"