88: Chapter 88: Sodium Hydroxide Poisoning

Just as Sayuri pulled out the straw, intending to remove the pink ribbon, Ran, who was filming, suddenly exclaimed,

"Oh no! The camcorder battery is about to die!"

"I think there's an electronics store nearby. Wait here, I'll be right back!"

Saying this, Ran placed the camcorder on a stool facing Sayuri and dashed out.

"Seriously!"

Sonoko grumbled, putting her own lemon tea can down next to Sayuri's and chasing after Ran.

'Honestly, can't they even check the battery level before leaving the house?'

Conan thought disdainfully, watching the two girls run off.

"You know, you really do look a lot like Kudo Shinichi."

While Conan was internally grumbling, Sayuri suddenly knelt down, removed Conan's non-prescription glasses, and remarked thoughtfully.

She then playfully pinched Conan's cheek. After teasing him, Sayuri began to explain,

"It's because... that Kudo Shinichi looks so much like my first love."

Then, Matsumoto Sayuri started recounting a story from her past.

A long time ago, she had a childhood friend. Though their time together was brief, the boy had captured her heart.

Whenever she was bullied, he would always step in to save her, even sneaking lemon tea from his family's shop for her.

That was why, even now, she still drank this 'childish junk' lemon tea.

Because, Sayuri felt, whenever she drank it, she felt an surge of courage within her.

Then, she picked up one of the two lemon tea cans from the table – the one Sonoko had haphazardly placed there earlier.

The man in the white suit was named Toshihiko – Takasugi Toshihiko.

Upon entering the preparation room, Takasugi Toshihiko immediately spotted the lemon tea in Sayuri's hand. He snatched it away, turned, and complained,

"Why are you still drinking this cheap stuff?"

Hearing Takasugi Toshihiko's complaint, Matsumoto Sayuri's expression fell, her eyes seeming to see something unpleasant.

"Cheap or not, shouldn't that depend on the heart?"

Fujino suddenly interjected meaningfully.

"Some lemon teas, you put them in a fancy cup and suddenly they're considered high-class. But essentially, the taste isn't much different from the canned version. I wonder what makes them feel so superior."

"What do you mean by that?"

Takasugi Toshihiko turned, frowning at Fujino.

Being the heir to the Takasugi family, but actually adopted from an ordinary family, the comment stung.

"Nothing. I was just talking about lemon tea,"

Fujino replied nonchalantly, taking a sip of his oolong tea.

"Ah! Aren't you the heir to the Takasugi Conglomerate!"

Just then, Sonoko and Ran returned. Ran was carrying a shopping bag containing snacks she'd bought for Conan and the camcorder battery.

"Sonoko, you know him?"

Ran asked, surprised.

"Of course, I know him. We meet often at parties."

Sonoko then whispered to Ran,

"He's indecisive and unreliable. Everyone in our circle says the Takasugi family will be ruined in his hands..."

Before Sonoko could finish, a smooching sound came from nearby.

Turning, they saw the couple kissing.

"With Sensei here, it should be fine..."

"Yeah..."

Watching the kiss, Conan, Sonoko, and Ran all blushed slightly.

Fujino, however, reacted differently. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the kissing couple in silence.

"The wedding ceremony is about to begin."

Just then, the emcee ran over from outside to inform them. As the group prepared to leave, they heard Matsumoto Sayuri say to Takasugi Toshihiko,

"It's fine if you go ahead," then remained in the dressing room.

A moment later.

"I still have something I need to talk to Ms. Sayuri about."

Just outside the door, Fujino called out to the others and hurried back.

Pushing the door open again, he saw Matsumoto Sayuri drink the lemon tea, then collapse to the floor with a soft thud.

"Are you okay?"

Fujino rushed forward, supporting Matsumoto Sayuri.

"Fujino..."

Watching the blood drip from his fingertips, staining his sleeve,

Fujino's expression grew heavy.

Frowning, he pulled a large bottle of vinegar from his pocket dimension and began pouring it into Matsumoto Sayuri's mouth.

The discarded aluminum can on the floor was partially corroded, but the plastic straw was untouched. Combined with the trace of blood she coughed up...

Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye or caustic soda – a highly alkaline chemical.

Food-grade lye in small doses isn't usually severely harmful.

Industrial-grade lye, however, can be lethal even in small amounts.

After pouring in the entire bottle of vinegar, Fujino decided it wasn't enough. He then took out a carton of pure milk from his pocket dimension, pried her mouth open, and continued pouring.

If his basic medical knowledge was correct, strong alkaline substances burn the esophagus and stomach upon ingestion.

Since Sayuri used a straw, the alkali bypassed her mouth ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and went directly down her esophagus into her stomach, causing the sudden vomiting of blood and shock.

In such cases, large amounts of acidic substances needed to be administered immediately to neutralize the alkali, followed by protein-rich liquids like milk to coat and protect the esophagus and stomach lining, significantly mitigating the poison's effects before absorption.

[Detecting Host performing emergency rescue. System amplifying first aid effect by 50%.]

[Detected Host successfully rescued near-death patient. System rewarding +100 Doctor Proficiency points.]

[Doctor Profession Rank ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Up! Current Rank: Intermediate! Available Class Skill Points: 1]

"Upgrade White Angel!"

[Upgrade Complete!]

[First Aid Effect Increased by 100%. Effect stacked.]

As the system notifications sounded, Fujino checked Matsumoto Sayuri's breathing and pulse.

Seeing they were much more stable than before, Fujino let out a sigh of relief.

"Suicides... such a hassle."

He slumped onto the carpet behind him.

This way, Matsumoto Sayuri hopefully wouldn't suffer too much.

With the enhanced rescue effects, maybe even her voice could be saved from permanent damage.

Before coming here, Fujino had prepared thoroughly based on his past life memories.

Today, even if it had been cyanide poisoning instead of lye, Fujino was confident he could pull her back from Death's door.

As everyone knows, no one takes someone away when Bruce Fujino is prepared.

Even the Grim Reaper would get smacked twice and forced to leave his scythe behind before slinking back to the underworld.