After chatting for a while, Fukuyama Chiaki waited for Chi Feichi's examination report. After analyzing it, he said nothing more than the condition had improved and so on. He cheerfully saw the group off and carefully reminded Chi Feichi to remember to take his medicine.
He didn't mention Conan again, as if he had forgotten.
But as soon as he turned around, he dialed Conan's father's number.
In the United States, where it was nighttime, Kudo Yusaku saw an unfamiliar number on his phone and picked it up in confusion. "Hello, may I ask who is speaking?"
"Hello, are you... Conan's father?" Fukuyama Chiaki recalled how Professor Agasa addressed Conan earlier and used it directly. "I am a doctor at Tokyo Aoyama Fourth Hospital."
Kudo Yusaku was stunned for a moment. "Aoyama Fourth Hospital, I remember it's..."
"You don't need to be nervous. I just want to understand this child's situation," Fukuyama Chiaki reassured. "I met him just now. He is a very smart child. Generally, smart children have many worries. With parents not by their side, it's easy for some emotional problems to arise. Our hospital recently has a psychological survey and counseling for elementary school students to ensure the healthy growth of children. If you have time, I hope you can bring him for a simple test. Hmm... just some simple little games and parent-child interaction games."
Kudo Yukiko leaned over halfway to listen and became interested. She smiled and said, "Parent-child interaction games? Speaking of which, we really haven't played those games with him for a long time. We can try it!"
Kudo Yusaku felt something was wrong and signaled Kudo Yukiko to stop talking. "Hello, I'm afraid we don't have much time recently..."
Fukuyama Chiaki's heart went cold. He silently equated Conan with Chi Feichi, and incidentally equated the parents of both families.
"However, if Conan is in any trouble, we will return to the country," Kudo Yusaku suspected a scam call and stalled for time while checking the phone number of Aoyama Fourth Hospital on his computer. Seeing it matched, his heart sank. "Doctor, is there something wrong with that child? You don't need to hide these things from us. If there is really something, we can cooperate."
Fukuyama Chiaki felt somewhat relieved. "In front of the child, it wasn't convenient for me to directly ask him to undergo an examination, fearing it would trigger his rebellious psychology. So I can't assert his condition. I just feel that doing a checkup is always better, right?"
Kudo Yusaku considered it and felt a small test wouldn't hurt. "How about this, we'll take the earliest flight back and contact you then, is that okay?"
"Of course, I'm really sorry," Fukuyama Chiaki apologized. "Troubling you to make a trip despite your busy schedule."
"No, for the child's issues, it's never too much trouble." Kudo Yusaku said seriously.
Fukuyama Chiaki was even more gratified. This one is probably still salvageable.
After hanging up, Kudo Yusaku booked a flight for the same day and flew to Japan with Kudo Yukiko.
Meanwhile, Conan was riding in Chi Feichi's car, following Professor Agasa's Beetle ahead, going to a suburban villa for an adventure.
"The Professor asked me to buy toys that day just to take those kids on a treasure hunt? He's really bored enough." Conan complained. It was because he didn't want to discuss treasures with a bunch of brats that he and Haibara Ai chose to hitch a ride with Chi Feichi.
With Chi Feichi, they could at least talk about less childish topics...
"Professor Agasa contacted me, and I also sent some things as part of the treasure." Chi Feichi said.
Haibara Ai sat in the back seat. "Souvenirs brought back from Izu last time?"
"Mn," Chi Feichi responded. "And some Kamen Yaiba merchandise."
"That suits them quite well," Conan asked Chi Feichi. "But speaking of which, that doctor won't really call my parents, will he?"
"Dr. Fukuyama is a very responsible doctor." Chi Feichi didn't say it explicitly.
Conan understood immediately. The answer was he would contact his parents. But on second thought, if his parents heard from someone else that he didn't act like a child and might have a split personality, they should understand what was going on.
Not only would they not take it seriously, but they would also help him explain and cover it up, right?
However, Conan absolutely wouldn't expect that Fukuyama Chiaki was a rigorous and reserved doctor who wouldn't make rash judgments. He just called his parents back to take him for a checkup... that's all...
"Brother Feichi (Feichi-ni), do you like watching movies?" Haibara Ai asked, looking down at her phone.
Eh?
Conan immediately turned to look at Haibara Ai in the back seat.
It was the first time he heard Haibara Ai call Chi Feichi 'Brother' to his face. Previously in private, when mentioning Chi Feichi to the other children, she would say 'Brother Chi' (Chi-niichan), but when addressing Chi Feichi directly, Haibara Ai always spoke without an honorific.
Haibara Ai kept her head down, staring expressionlessly at her phone screen, as if there was something attractive on it, but she was panicking inside.
Last time in Izu, before going to sleep at night, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko were chatting. As they talked, they mentioned it would be nice to call Chi Feichi 'Brother Feichi' together in the future, and Suzuki Sonoko even dragged her into it.
Actually, she had wanted to call him that for a long time, even earlier than Suzuki Sonoko. But the more she wanted to use the address, the harder it was to say.
She had always spoken directly about matters. Now suddenly calling him 'Brother Feichi'... Would it be weird? Would it seem like a little girl acting spoiled? Would it appear a bit childish? Why is a certain great detective staring at her? Is it indeed very weird? ...
Chi Feichi was also somewhat surprised, but didn't turn back to look. He understood Haibara Ai's awkward personality somewhat. At this time, just passing over it naturally was enough. "It's okay. I watch some movies and operas."
Haibara Ai breathed a sigh of relief. "What do you think of those movies?"
Conan withdrew his gaze. He understood Haibara Ai's intention; she wanted to test Chi Feichi's condition to see if it was as Fukuyama Chiaki said. "Yeah, does Brother Chi have any special movie recommendations? Especially touching ones, or movies that make you very happy after watching."
Chi Feichi thought for a moment. "For this, you might as well ask Boss Muramatsu. He should have compiled some."
Conan pondered on the side. He wasn't satisfied with this evasive answer. But probing Chi Feichi was indeed difficult. They had to be more subtle to avoid Chi Feichi seeing through their intentions...
"Did Dr. Fukuyama tell you something? About me watching movies?" Chi Feichi explained, "I understand. He probably thinks I'm emotionally detached, maybe even involving antisocial personality disorder. But do you think I'm that kind of person? I just think those movies are too cliché. His taste in movies isn't very good."
"Uh, is that so..." Conan sweated.
They weren't just seen through; they were seen through clearly. Even Dr. Fukuyama's thoughts were judged correctly without error.
Actually, he didn't think Chi Feichi was that kind of person either. With normal moral concepts, it was unlikely he would do crazy and dangerous things, right?
And the hospital couldn't be sure either; it was just a conjecture.
He felt conjecture without supporting evidence couldn't be called a judgment.
From his own personal experience, Chi Feichi didn't seem like someone with antisocial personality disorder.
However, Chi Feichi was a high-IQ patient; disguising was a piece of cake. He could probably guess that during Chi Feichi's hospitalization, Dr. Fukuyama was analyzing and exploring Chi Feichi's psychological state, while Chi Feichi was analyzing Dr. Fukuyama's personality and behavioral patterns.
The former was a psychiatrist exploring the illness, while the latter's behavior was akin to understanding and controlling.
He also understood why Dr. Fukuyama couldn't handle Chi Feichi. Probably Dr. Fukuyama's routines, and what he was thinking at any time, had been quietly figured out by Chi Feichi.
Perhaps what Fukuyama Chiaki saw was only what Chi Feichi deliberately showed him, so he couldn't judge Chi Feichi's condition.
So, what exactly is this guy Chi Feichi's illness like?
Is Dr. Fukuyama overthinking it?
Or did Chi Feichi perceive their thoughts and deliberately cover up and mislead?
After a trip to the hospital, Chi Feichi's situation felt even more confusing...
My head hurts!