Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

Beika General Hospital has a very strict attitude towards this group of mental patients, especially regarding "treatment".

There are set times for eating, drinking, and playing every day, three meals a day with balanced nutrition, and even requirements for exercise. Of course, these are all auxiliary treatments, and the most important thing is still medication.

Therefore, nurses must supervise patients taking their medication whenever it is time to do so.

Although Sano was able to use some tricks to avoid it, if the drugs were carelessly discarded and seen, it would be easy for them to trace the source and come back to him.

If that were the case, Sano would probably have to have his mouth pinched and medicine forced down his throat from now on.

However, the hospital also gave patients as much freedom as possible.

At least there's no surveillance camera watching 24/7, otherwise it would be a real problem.

"Master, I recently heard some gossip. Are you interested in hearing about it?"

Sano, who was pondering how to leave, glanced absentmindedly at Ito Taka: "Hmm?"

"I heard that since some time ago, a guy wearing a white coat and a rabbit mask has been frequently seen out at night, righting wrongs and taking down a lot of criminals. Ironically, although these guys have been stabbed many times, none of them are seriously injured."

Ito Taka sat cross-legged next to Sano, his thoughts already clear in his words.

"She looks quite like the female doctor from last night."

The timing is right, the ability isn't particularly strong but not bad either, especially the characteristics match, and the motivation goes without saying.

...This is probably the way Asai Narumi chose to atone for her sins.

Of course, these deeper things are perhaps only known to Sano, besides Asai Narumi himself.

What are you trying to say?

Seeing that Sano showed no surprise, Ito Taka smiled and said, "It's nothing, it's just that it's quite strange that a female doctor is actually a champion of justice behind the scenes and has even earned the nickname 'White Reaper'."

Upon hearing this, Sano finally showed a hint of surprise... and speechlessness.

What the hell is this?

White Death? ??

Who came up with this nickname?

It's one thing to be a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur), but to make it so perfectly rhyming is another matter. Could it be that some delinquent teenager came up with it, deliberately to clash with his primary identity?

But that's all talk.

Asai Narumi is now a white-clad angel who saves lives by day and a white-clad grim reaper who punishes evil by night.

That does seem to fit quite well.

Chapter 214, page 213: Yes, you are Ran Sano! (Together)

...No, "angel in white" seems to refer to nurses, so what should doctors be? Besides, the word "angel" always seems to be associated with women.

Can men use it too?

"He is a man."

After a few seconds of random thoughts, Sano suddenly spoke up, giving Ito Taka a surprise, which also made the other party start to become loud and boisterous.

"...What the heck? Who's the guy???"

"That White Reaper??"

"No, then why would a grown man dress up like a woman? Is he intersex?"

"And Master, are you close to that guy? How do you even know about such private matters..."

Having successfully piqued Ito Taka's curiosity, Sano ignored him and turned his attention to the breaking news report that had suddenly been broadcast on television.

[At 2 PM today, Detective Nara Sawa was shot and killed in a phone booth next to Beika Park. No clues related to the killer were found at the scene.]

Ok?

Sano, who was just bored, suddenly became focused after seeing the headline of this report.

...Sano sensed the presence of the case again.

It's like how Ito Taka just mentioned the White Reaper to Sano, which inevitably happened to be Asai Narumi. Behind every coincidence and chance occurrence lies an inevitable connection.

It's the same old trick, based on experience.

...although some coincidences later proved to be just that—coincidences.

After all, empiricism can be deadly, but Sano has always adhered to the idea that it's better to kill a thousand innocent people than to let one guilty person go free, so even if there's only a probability, he'll still pay attention.

"Oh dear, I have a feeling something's going to go wrong in Tokyo."

Ito Taka, who was like chewing gum, was always sticking to Sano's side. Looking at the report, he smiled and said, "But this is also a good opportunity for you to get away, Master."

"……What's the meaning."

Sano raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Heh, Master, do you know that your psychologist… is now a psychiatrist, but he’s really not very professional.”

Ito Taka gave an irrelevant answer: "As far as I know, he was originally a surgeon on the operating table, but due to an accident, he was no longer able to perform surgeries, so he came to this hospital and became a cardiologist."

"How much professional expertise can you expect from a doctor like that?"

Sano nodded thoughtfully: "You mean, we're heading down the path of misdiagnosis?"

"This is a very common practice. Just like many wealthy people who make mistakes in the heat of the moment, in order to avoid punishment, they will spend money to find a psychiatrist to label them as mentally ill. In this respect, the doctor's subjective role is too great."

Ito Taka explained in detail: "So if you want to get rid of the label of mental illness, you can spend money to find a more professional doctor and diagnose yourself as normal."

"It's a pity that this method only works at the beginning; it won't work with my current master."

Just as Sano felt as if the clouds had parted and the sky had cleared, as if a new world had been opened, he immediately frowned upon hearing this: "Why?"

"Because just the day before yesterday, Master, you just... broke out of prison and injured someone. Although it was an act of bravery, it will objectively cause a lot of trouble."

Sano turned his gaze to the television: "So, what does this have to do with this matter?"

"Extraordinary measures are needed in extraordinary times. Master, it is already very difficult for you to get rid of the label of mental illness, but there are still many ways to get discharged from the hospital."

Ito Taka held up one finger: "The first rule is to stay here quietly for a year or two, and then find a professional doctor and pay for a recovery certificate."

"two."

Seeing that Sano gave up on option one without hesitation, Ito Taka smiled and said, "Option two is to get yourself a more special identity, just like when you were temporarily discharged from the hospital with official guarantees, Master. Get an official identity that allows you to stay away from home for a long time."

“I’ve already asked around for you, Master. With your current reputation, you’re not quite qualified to get this status. But if we can make this a big deal out of it, and then you handle it, maybe it will work.”

Sano raised an eyebrow again: "I already asked. Who did you ask?"

"Just... an ordinary friend."

Ito Taka chuckled and said, "In short, good luck, Master."

Watching Ito Taka wave goodbye and leave, Sano narrowed his eyes and then called Inspector Megure to inquire about the matter.

The final answer was—it's feasible.

However, the case currently being broadcast on television is not suitable.

According to Inspector Megure, this case involves rather... deep things, so even Sano can't get involved casually.

...Is it a big case?

After being rejected by Inspector Megure for this reason, Sano became even more interested.

...To put it bluntly, what Sano needs to do now is the same as what he needs to do in the organization as Black Rye: to boost his performance and get promoted...cough cough, a raise is secondary, the main thing is to get a new identity.

Therefore, the bigger and more complicated the case, the more achievements Sano will gain after solving it, the greater the probability of obtaining a legal identity, and the greater the possibility of leaving this place.

Furthermore, Sano also felt that this case was likely to trigger a mission, or even a significant one.

Sano didn't argue with Inspector Megure much; after being rejected, he simply hung up the phone and stuffed it into his pocket.

Why not seize the opportunity?

Some things can't be grasped just because you want to.

As long as the situation continues to worsen, Sano is not worried that Inspector Megure will prevent him from intervening, or even that he will come looking for him later.

Just wait patiently.

……

The next day, Sano's hospitalization was completely over.

And beyond that, new news arrives with each new day.

First, yesterday evening—most likely before Sano called Inspector Megure—another detective was tragically shot and killed.

The incident wasn't reported until the evening, but this is most likely why Inspector Megure refused to let Sano participate in the case.

The current public opinion is quite lively because of this.

Various conspiracy theories have started to emerge.

Especially another thing that happened last night.

It seems that at a hotel where a police officer's sister's wedding was being held, another police officer was shot, and an innocent bystander was also implicated.

However, the victim did not die on the spot, but was seriously injured... and was sent to the hospital along with the innocent bystander.

...It seems to be Beika General Hospital?

Sano turned his gaze to Ito Taka, who was walking towards him: "How is it?"

"We found out that the policewoman who was shot was a woman named Sato Miwako. It seems she was shot three times, with the closest one coming very close to her heart. She was only saved in the middle of the night, but she is still in critical condition."

Miwako Sato?

It turns out it's someone I know.

Sano nodded, thinking that this was about enough and it was time to call Inspector Megure. However, what Ito Taka said next surprised him even more.

"That other innocent bystander, it seems, is your friend, Master. The one who comes to bring you things every day, I think her name is Ran Mouri, right?"

Sano frowned slightly and put down his phone: "She got shot too?"

"No, not at all. I was just too shocked and lost my memory. I'm currently hospitalized."

Ito Taka asked with interest, "What, are you worried about her, Master?"