"Dr. Araide Yoshiaki has been responsible for regulating the boss's health in his early years, and he was a high school classmate of Dr. Fukuyama," Darcy explained as he led the way into the Araide Clinic. "Although they didn't go to the same university, they have always kept in touch. Dr. Fukuyama is also very reassured to let Dr. Araide's family take care of you..."
Chi Feichi withdrew his gaze and followed.
His cheap dad's arrangements were even getting upgraded.
The first time at the Mamiya house, although something happened, the person had died four years prior at least.
The second time at the Morizono house, if not for his intervention, one person would have died on the spot and another arrested.
This time, if things followed the plot, it wouldn't be long before Araide Yoshiaki would die, and his current wife would be arrested.
After that, his son Araide Tomoaki would be targeted by Vermouth and replaced by her in disguise.
If not for the FBI faking a car accident to help, Araide Tomoaki would probably have been eliminated by Vermouth as well.
Murder cases, Vermouth, FBI... the Araide household was absolutely about to become a vortex.
He originally wanted to ask if he could change the location, but having just said it didn't matter, changing his tune suddenly wouldn't be good.
Ultimately, he was just staying temporarily, merely skimming the edge of the vortex.
If he left now, and Chi Shinnosuke couldn't find a place to settle him immediately, he would probably have to go back to Aoyama Fourth Hospital, being watched every day and wondering daily if Fukuyama Chiaki suspected his condition was severe again...
Mn, compared to facing Fukuyama Chiaki, this little trouble was nothing.
Darcy walked all the way into the clinic and pushed open the consultation room door. "Dr. Yoshiaki."
An older handsome man wearing rectangular glasses with a gentle and refined appearance looked up, smiled, and stood up. "You're here. Seems a bit earlier than agreed."
"The Boss has to catch a 10 o'clock flight, so he asked me to drop Young Master Feichi off early," Darcy stepped forward and shook hands with Araide Yoshiaki. "Sorry to trouble you for the coming period."
"Mr. Shinnosuke has already told me the situation, and I borrowed the medical records from Fukuyama to take a look," Araide Yoshiaki smiled gently. "Please rest assured, I will take care of him."
"Then I entrust Young Master Feichi to Dr. Yoshiaki. I still have to go to the airport with the Boss." Darcy didn't stand on ceremony; he left after the greeting.
"Look at me, forgetting to ask you to sit first," Araide Yoshiaki didn't see Darcy off, turning instead to the water dispenser. "There's only plain hot water here, is that okay?"
"It's fine." Chi Feichi didn't know what to say for a moment.
Araide Yoshiaki poured a cup of hot water and placed it on the table, his tone gentle. "I'll try to communicate with you as an equal. I'll call you Feichi, and you can call me Uncle. By the way, I also have a son, he..."
"Father."
A young man also wearing glasses entered. Like Araide Yoshiaki, he was refined and elegant, with a gentle expression. Seeing Chi Feichi, he smiled. "Mr. Chi has arrived already? Did I come back late?"
"Mr. Shinnosuke had to catch a flight, so the driver dropped him off early. Didn't I tell you not to be so formal?" Araide Yoshiaki said to Araide Tomoaki, then introduced him to Chi Feichi with a smile. "He is my son, Araide Tomoaki, five years older than you. Like you, he is also a student at Toto University, but he is in the medical department, graduating this year. You young people might have more to talk about. You can chat with him more."
Chi Feichi looked at Araide Tomoaki. "Hello."
Araide Tomoaki looked at Chi Feichi's calm and unwavering expression, sweating a little internally. He felt a bit pressured being stared at, but smiled. "Although I'm not a veterinary medicine major, medical majors aren't easy. I heard you applied for early graduation. If you need any help, you can tell me directly."
Chi Feichi nodded. "Thank you."
"Let's go, I'll take you to see your room first." Seeing Chi Feichi stand up, Araide Tomoaki turned to lead the way.
Araide Clinic was a private clinic, slightly larger than an average clinic. Behind it was the family residence, Japanese style, occupying a considerable area.
The Araide father and son showed similar personalities, approachable and gentle.
There was also an old lady at home, Araide Tomoaki's grandmother, Araide Mitsu.
Plus the helper, Miss Hikaru Yasumoto, and Araide Tomoaki's stepmother, Araide Yoko.
Seemingly knowing Chi Feichi would come, the whole family was present. They greeted Chi Feichi, and their attitudes were very polite and friendly.
Araide Tomoaki led the way to a guest room adjacent to the courtyard. "This room is for you. It's bright, and opening the window lets you see the plants in the courtyard. Very suitable for relaxing. What do you think?"
"Anything is fine with me," Chi Feichi indicated he wasn't picky. "Can I keep a pet?"
Feichi poked his head out from the collar, looking at Araide Tomoaki.
"I heard from my father last night that you keep a snake. Didn't expect it to be true," Araide Tomoaki was surprised, then laughed. "Keeping it here is fine, as long as it doesn't run into the clinic and bite the patients. Also, my grandmother is old, so try not to let it bite her either."
Feichi was depressed. Met another one not afraid of snakes. "Master, he means it doesn't matter if it bites him? His personality is too good, isn't it?"
Araide Tomoaki smiled. "But frankly speaking, I haven't had much contact with snakes. Among the animal specimens I encountered in school, frogs, rabbits, and white mice were more common. I really don't know how to interact with it..."
Feichi: "..."
Don't. As long as he doesn't mention animal specimens or whatever, we can get along!
"It usually doesn't bite people." Chi Feichi cleared Feichi's name.
"That's good," Araide Tomoaki nodded. "By the way, are you going out later?"
"Going to the pet hospital this afternoon." Chi Feichi said.
Araide Tomoaki hesitated but asked, "If possible, can I go take a look with you? I help my father with consultations at home, but I don't know much about larger hospitals. I'm going to work at a hospital in Aomori next month and want to get in touch in advance. Although a pet hospital might be different from a hospital serving people, the environment of larger hospitals should be similar..."
"Sure." Chi Feichi agreed.
Araide Tomoaki smiled. "Although we both say we are in the medical field, we use animals for experiments in an attempt to help more humans suffering from illness, while you veterinary medicine doctors are there to help animals. Do you feel uncomfortable about it? Or rather, um... do you think what we do is cruel?"
Chi Feichi spoke truthfully. "No."
"That's good," Araide Tomoaki breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again. "Actually, after my first anatomy class, not only did I feel nauseous seeing meat, but even vegetarian dishes were hard to swallow. I almost went to Uncle Fukuyama for psychological counseling. Hearing you were a veterinary medicine student, I was a little worried you might feel uncomfortable."
Chi Feichi's expression remained indifferent: "No."
Is this guy a bit of a chatterbox?
Araide Tomoaki choked and scratched his head. "O-Okay... You don't seem to have brought changes of clothes and toiletries. Do you want to go to the department store later?"
"I'll go back and get them tonight." Chi Feichi said.
Araide Tomoaki felt somewhat helpless inside. With this continuous question-and-answer mode of communication, he didn't know what else to say. "Then sit for a while, or you can walk in the courtyard. I'll go to the kitchen to see if lunch is ready..."
After Araide Tomoaki left the room, Feichi slipped out to inspect the territory, then lay on the window to look at the scenery outside. "Master, the environment here is really nice!"
Chi Feichi also turned to look at the scenery outside the window. "As long as you like it."
The environment here was indeed good. Although behind a clinic, there was no smell of disinfectant, and the air was fresh and natural.
He didn't dislike the Araide father and son either. Getting along with good-tempered and kind people was always easier. Especially Araide Tomoaki, definitely another good old man.
However, he felt that both the Araide father and son treated him somewhat like a patient.
Even if their professions didn't match...