Volume 32
| ‹ Volume 31 | List of Chapters • List of Cases | Volume 33 › |
| Volume 32 | |||
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| Release date: | April 18, 2001 | ||
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| Chapters: | 318-328 | ||
| ISBN: | ISBN 4-09-126162-0 | ||
| Publisher: | Shogakukan | ||
| English release date: | November 17, 2009 | ||
| English ISBN: | ISBN 1-4215-2200-4 | ||
| English Publisher: | Viz Media | ||
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Volume 32 was released on April 18, 2001 in Japan.
Contents
Cast
Gadgets
Chapters
Tiger Scroll Case
File 318 - The Ruler's Treasure
Kazuha is relieved to learn the shopkeeper had held onto her missing wallet. However, the warm feelings melt away upon learning of the death that had occurred just outside.
Inspector Otaki arrives on the scene and discusses the events leading to the victim's death with Kogoro. The latter explains the victim is Yuji Kato, who played Toyotomi Hideyoshi that day amongst the tour group. He additionally deduces the death is a suicide, given no sane individual would climb onto the Osaka Castle roof in the rain while wearing a flammable fabric.
Meanwhile, Heiji has Conan climb onto the Osaka Castle roof in the rain. Still, he employs a rope as a harness. Conan finds a lighter and a quadrant-shaped mark left on the roof beam.
Heiji returns to ground-level and shares their findings, disagreeing with Kogoro's suicide-related assessment. He mentions the strange position of the lighter, stating it was found further up the roof instead of towards the ledge. Additionally, a person who immolated themselves would not bother to close the lid of their lighter. These two circumstances paint a picture that suggests murder. Several forensics officers then arrive and display Kato's possessions. Otaki's is intrigued by the peculiar charred scroll and unravels its contents, finding the lone "龍" kanji written in the top right corner. The tour members group all react in shock. Otaki also finds an earthenware shard and takes a closer look. Kazuha appears over the Inspector's shoulder and recounts her father's conversation with Heizo Hattori about the case from thirteen years ago and the associated "incredible treasure left by mortals." Although Heiji is dismissive at first, Conan notices the shard's interior sparkle with gold, giving credence to the idea of a sleeping treasure. The two boys shift their attention to what Kato meant by grabbing the umbrella, believing he was implying something about the rain. After some time, they simultaneously associate the rain with the scroll and swipe the artifact from Otaki's hands. They hold the open scroll to the raining sky and see writing appear on the page.
Observing their discovery from afar, the various members of the tour group begin exhibiting suspicious behavior. Fukushima manically fantasizes about the treasure; Wakisaka pulls out and examines a piece of earthenware of his own; Kasuya calls someone over the phone, directing them to remain on standby; and Katagiri ominously smirks.
File 319 - Across Time...
Heiji shares his findings about the supposed hidden treasure and the mysterious scroll Kato had carried. Otaki and Kogoro stare perplexed at the double-gourd shaped outline illustrated on the page. Ran and Kazuha suggest the shape represents a calabash, citing the calabash as being Hideyoshi's horse insignia. Additionally, the girls point to the earthenware shards and wonder if they belonged to a calabash-shaped container which held gold. Kogoro comments on the treasure's small-scale, but Heiji retorts that according to legend, Hideyoshi would tie an additional gold-filled calabash to his major insignia after each victory—creating the Sennari Byoutan. If such a mythical artifact were to exist, it would be worth a colossal fortune. Kogoro still expresses his doubts about the validity of the legend, but Fukushima and Wakisaka show their opportunism, citing claims of Hideyoshi hoarding vast amounts of wealth in Osaka Castle even after his death. Heiji adds that since the burnt scroll is labeled with the kanji for "dragon (ryu (龍))," there must be a counterpart scroll labeled with the kanji for "tiger (tora (虎))." Ginshiro then arrives and corroborates Heiji's deduction, much to the surprise of the investigating group. Kazuha explains she called her father so they can leave the case to the police, stating her desire to leave the case behind them and enjoy the rest of their trip. Heiji roars at her for interfering with his work, but quickly softens his demeanor after feeling Ginshiro's intense gaze. Seemingly annoyed, Kazuha walks off with Ran to get food. Nevertheless, she fondly looks back at Heiji hard at work and gives a warm smile. The tour group members also state their desire to momentarily depart from the scene; Otaki hesitantly agrees. Ginshiro, having heard one of their voices, is reminded of a horrific scene he had witnessed in the past. He gives Otaki a silent instruction and proceeds to call Heizo.
At a restaurant, Ran deduces that Kazuha's true intentions were not for her father to takeover the investigation but rather for him to assist Heiji with information about the previous, related cases. Kazuha blushes and confesses she is attracted to the joyous smile Heiji gives after solveing a case. Ran says she feels the same way about Shinichi and the two girls bond over their romantic similarities.
Back at the castle, Conan discovers a battery near the structure's base, believing it proves Kato's death was a murder.
The girls return from the restaurant, having realized they had forgotten to take Conan with them. On their way to the crime scene, they notice a fire rapidly spreading across the arm of nearby person—a fire they had lit with their own lighter. The girls watch in shock as the individual climbs over a railing and falls into a river. Their screams alert the authorities, who manage to pull a deceased Katagiri from the water. They note her primary cause of death was not due to drowning or burning but rather blunt force trauma to her head. Meanwhile, Heiji harshly questions Kazuha about the events she witnessed, fiercely doubting the possibility of a suicide. Heiji rushes over to the victim's corpse and frantically searches for clues. Suddenly, a firm hand grabs the boy's hood and strikes him with a powerful punch. Heiji tumbles to the ground and sees his father, Heizo, standing before him.
File 320 - Naniwa Kanjinchou
Heizo callously admonishes his son, stating his investigative actions only result in the destruction of important evidence. Otaki attempts to step in, believing Heizo's actions are too severe, but is stopped by Ginshiro, who reminds him of the task he was assigned. Now understanding of the Superintendent Supervisor's intentions, Otaki condones the act. Heizo then quickly disbands the investigation after hearing Otaki's premature assessment categorizing the two incidents as suicides. Meanwhile, a silhouette calmly watches from amongst the crowd.
Otaki and Kogoro attempt to console a seemingly devitalized Heiji. Kazuha wonders if Heizo had removed Heiji from the case to protect him from a nefarious gang, who committed several murders and robberies in the wake of the discovery of the first burnt corpse. If such a gang (who is still at-large) is also behind the most recent string of murders, the case could prove perilous down the stretch. Heiji, on the other hand, smiles—never having been more motivated to continue his investigation.
Despite Heiji's enthusiasm, Otaki reminds him that Katagiri's death is almost certainly a suicide. However, Heiji disagrees, pointing to several parts of her trench coat which bear peculiar marks. Kogoro identifies the marks as blood, allowing Heiji to specify they are the result of the culprit picking Katagiri's unconscious body up from the ground after bludgeoning her with a hard object. He explains Kazuha and Ran had seen Katagiri's unconscious body catch fire shortly before falling into the river—making her death appear like a suicide. The girls disagree, stating they saw her physically squirm while burning. In response, Heiji simply assumes their perceptions were hampered by the darkness. The group is then approached by the three surviving tour group members: Kasuya, Fukushima, and Wakisaka, who are still oblivious to Katagiri's death.
After being given a briefing on the situation, the three men are asked about their most recent actions. Kasuya and Wakisaka both claim to have dined—at different restaurants—while Fukushima says he returned to the hotel to change clothes. Kogoro suggests the culprit leveraged the power dynamics of the role-playing to instruct both Kato and Katagiri to immolate themselves, but the theory is immediately dismantled by the suspects, who assert that their given roles were in no position to give Hideyoshi and Nene orders. A forensics officer then shows Otaki two curios found on Katagiri's person: an earthenware shard and a photograph depicting Kato, Katagiri, and three other individuals holding the dragon scroll. Fukushima recognizes one of the three unnamed individuals as Hirano, the man who proposed the Hideyoshi tour. The suspects explain he was unable to attend the tour due to a sudden commitment.
The three suspects leave the scene once again, while Conan and Heiji discuss their current deductions. Their conversation touches on a strange zipper-shaped blood mark left on Katagiri's right side. After some thought, the two simultaneously come to the same conclusion about the culprit's method but remain unsure of the culprit's identity. A sudden gust of wind blows through the group and carries Ran's umbrella out of her hands and into the air. The two boys watch the parasol float through the air and realize they both made a massive mistake in their previous deductions. The two boys rush off as Kazuha proudly remarks on seeing Heiji's confident smile.
The two boys run through the streets of town, desperately searching for the three suspects, one of whom they believe may be intending to claim another life. Conan notices Kasuya mundanely meandering the sidewalk across the street and attempts to call the police. Heiji, however, stops him. Not wanting the police's presence to scare their target, he lunges over the guard rail and begins tailing Kasuya. Conan expresses his concern while a large group of menacing men quietly observe the boys from down the street.
File 321 - The Tiger Scroll of Sadness
Heiji and Conan observe Kasuya pull open the doors to an abandoned factory and step inside. Despite Conan's qualms about the situation, Heiji pushes onward and into the factory. His attention is soon consumed by his target to the point where he fails to notice Conan's abduction at the hands of a tailing silhouette.
The next day, Heiji is flabbergasted to learn his father was using him as bait for a sting operation. Conan says that after Heizo "abducted" him in the factory, he rationalized his actions by saying the culprits were well accustomed to the "scent of the police," and thus Heiji was the perfect tool for luring out the catch. Conan also reveals that Heizo knew the murderer's identity immediately after hearing about Kato's dying message, further sparking Heiji's anger.
Meanwhile, at the Hattori residence, Shizuka scolds her husband for putting their son in danger.
People
Major Events
- Romantic development between Kazuha and Heiji.
- Kazuha says she is attracted to Heiji's smile after solving a case.
- Romantic development between Ran and Shinichi.
Wounded Idol Case
Characters introduced
| Osamu Kenzaki | |
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File 322 - A Long-Awaited Gathering
Kogoro neglects his duties as a detective and instead fanatically sings along to Yoko Okino's television performance, much to Ran's irritation. She sifts through her father's outstanding mail and discovers a letter from Yoko herself, immediately catching Kogoro's attention. Ran reads the letter's contents which describe an engagement party at a friend's apartment. She turns to Kogoro to confirm his attendance only to find him in a catatonic state, believing the letter refers to Yoko's engagement.
On the day of the party, Kogoro, Ran, and Conan meet Yoko in the apartment parking lot. The group is joined by Osamu Kenzaki, the famous actor who plays the beloved Detective Samonji character. He reveals himself as the groom of the soon-to-be bride and expresses his amazement in Kogoro's presence. Yoko says she kept Kogoro's attendance a secret from her friend, wishing for him to be a surprise.
The group ascends the floors and arrives at the apartment. However, despite repeatedly ringing the doorbell, they get no response. Kogoro finds the door open and slowly peaks into the room, only to find the tenant, Kaoru Kusano, standing at the doorway wielding a tennis racket. She accuses him of stalking before smashing the racket over his head.
The group laughs about the misapprehension, and Kaoru confesses she has lately been dealing with stalker-related harassment. She then holds Kenzaki's arm and reports the two actors are engaged, eliciting applause from the attendees. Two additional actress, Yuki Takeno and Terumi Hoshino, join the party, officially marking the reunion of the "Earth Ladies," much to Kogoro's pleasure. Kaoru's manager, Atsushi Makuma, then enters from the living room and notifies everyone about the imminent Detective Samonji broadcast. Despite being the party's primary event, Kaoru expresses her disinterest, stating she will take a bath. Makuma demurs to her decision, causing the actress to snap at her manager, belittling him. As Kaoru storms off, Yuki and Yoko remark on their plan's success. With the bride momentarily out of the picture, the three actresses change into their former Earth Lady outfits and pass around a paper board for each attendee to sign. Terumi writes her condolences and leaves a cigarette stain, while Yuki wishes her congratulations and leaves a kiss mark. The women hand the board to Makuma, who tearfully writes his message before solemnly heading to the bathroom to call Kaoru.
However, Makuma soon returns to the living room, reporting that Kaoru did not respond to his calls. Concerned, the group sends Kenzaki to check on his fiancé. Conan follows the actor and notices a small trail of blood leading to the apartment entrance. Sensing danger, he quickly yells for Kenzaki to open the bathroom door. The two react in shock as they see Kaoru's limp body through the steamy haze, her throat slit and blood trickling to the floor.
File 323 - The Secret of the Idols
Conan checks Kaoru's vitals and determines she can survive if she is immediately transferred to a hospital's care. Kenzaki hesitates for a moment before grabbing a towel to help pull her out of the water. The rest of the attendees arrive, having been alerted by Kenzaki's voice. Makuma, in particular, is deeply upset by the situation and jumps into the bathtub to save his client.
Later that night, the police, led by Inspector Megure and Takagi, arrive at the apartment. Their knock on the door is answered by the Earth Ladies, still dressed in their outfits. Megure assumes he approached the wrong apartment unit and apologizes, but stands corrected after Kogoro calls out to him.
With no word from the hospital, Yoko begins to worry about her friend's condition, prompting Terumi and Yuki to contact Makuma who accompanied Kaoru. Meanwhile, Megure processes the accounts given by each attendee and begins to suspect the culprit is amongst the celebrities present. Conan reminds him of the items discovered outside the apartment entrance: a rain poncho, a pair of gloves, a bottle of eye medicine, and a handkerchief. Kenzaki floats the possibility of an external threat, pointing to a stalker who had been harassing Kaoru by ringing her doorbell and leaving disturbing notes. Conan, however, says if the stalker is to blame, then they must be a cautious individual. He explains that one would naturally step on the blood trail left by their dripping rain poncho, leaving smear marks on the ground. Yet, in this case, no such marks appear. Building on Conan's information, Takagi and Terumi deduce the culprit attempted to misdirect the investigation, and is indeed one of the party attendees. Terumi also suggests the police search for the weapon, as its discovery would prove instrumental in uncovering the truth. Takagi commends her knowledge on detective work. She replies it is because of her interest in mystery stories—an interest she grew due to a certain influence.
As the search for the weapon commences, Conan approaches Yoko and inquires about her friends' previous roles. She explains that Yuki formerly played a reoccurring character on the Detective Samonji show, but had to step down from her role after her father fell ill. Both Kaoru and Terumi auditioned to fill the role, with the role eventually going to Kaoru after Makuma's impressive campaigning. She adds that despite Kaoru's ostensibly callous demeanor towards Makuma, she cares for him, even stating she believes him to be a capable actor who simply lacked the willpower to see his dreams through.
Takagi reports that all of the suspects were empty handed, and that the weapon continues to elude them. The possibility of an outside stalker grows after an officer discovers a listening device hidden inside one of Kaoru's stuffed animals. Believing the stalker may have taken a token with them, Conan examines Kaoru's bedroom. He finds a photograph depicting Kaoru and Makuma happily together in the snow. Terumi interrupts the boy's confusion and scolds him for invading her friend's privacy. She leaves the signed paper board on the drawer before leaving the room. Conan inspects the board closely and comes to a realization, having successfully unraveled the mystery.
File 324 - The Idols' Misunderstanding
The apartment landline begins to ring, and Yoko tensely takes the phone to her ear. Tears roll down her cheeks as her friends assume the worst. However, Yoko turns around and reveals her tears to be of joy, stating Kaoru's surgery was a success. Collective relief suffuses the air and everyone rejoices, all except for one.
A busy film set bustles with activity as the director praises Terumi for her suave performance as a master shogi player. Before the production begin another take, she discretely pulls out a photograph of her idol, Shinichi, as a means of readying herself.
Meanwhile, Conan, Ran, and Kogoro watch Terumi's performance on the television. Ran comments that her character speaks like a detective rather than a shogi player; Kogoro agrees. Conan considers the unlikely, but dismisses the idea.
People
Major Events
- Introduces Osamu Kenzaki, a famous actor who plays the titular character in Detective Samonji.
Kidnapped Tourist Case
Characters introduced
| James Black | |
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File 325 - Something the Lion Dropped
Professor Agasa and the Detective Boys enjoy a spectacular circus performance called "The Animal Show with Paul & Annie."
After the show, Genta notices a foreigner being aggressively interviewed by the press. Agasa identifies him as Randy Hawk, the circus' owner from Oklahoma. Despite the man's insistence about a case of mistaken identity, the reporters continue to pressure him with questions, causing the to man to snap in anger. Noticing his British accent, Conan realizes he is not Randy Hawk and quickly comes up with a rescue plan. He approaches the crowd and calls the man "Thomas," claiming he is Agasa's close friend. With the Detective Boys' assistance, they manage to take advantage of the confusion and successfully drag the man to safety.
The foreign man thanks the children for their help and mentions that he came to Japan because he adores Hawk's show, having purchased a limited edition white lion keychain. Ayumi happily exclaims that her and Haibara bought the same keychain, eliciting a smile from the man. Still, the man regrets the press-related fiasco, having missed an important meeting with an associate with long hair. The man then introduces himself as James Black, and takes an interest in the children's Detective Badges, which depicts the famous Sherlock Holmes. He explains he was born in London and declares the Detective Boys equivalent to the Baker Street Irregulars. He offers to take the group to a favorite restaurant of his, which excites the children. Seen as Agasa's Beetle lacks the capacity for seven passengers, James goes to retrieve his car. While leaving, he remarks about being unacclimated to the left-sided steering wheel, which Conan says is evidence that he currently does not live in the United Kingdom. James confirms, stating he lives in Chicago, "the windy city where Capone stormed..." As the man walks away, Haibara discreetly mentions to Conan about sensing something strange about James.
At the parking lot, a silhouette observes James pay his parking fee and open his car door. Before he can enter, he is interrupted by two police officers, who inform him that the rented car he is driving was recently stolen. The officers take him across the street to a police car for questioning. James cooperates but asks if he can inform the Detective Boys about his situation. However, in a sudden turn of events, the officers draw their guns and force him into their vehicle. The false officers explain their plan to extort money from James, whom they have mistaken for Randy Hawk. The car drives off, leaving James' white lion keychain left on the road.
The Detective Boys grow increasingly worried as they approach forty minutes of waiting. Leaving Agasa at the street, the children rush off to investigate the parking lot. Mitsuhiko immediately identifies James' car after seeing a white lion plushie presented behind the car's windshield. The Detective Boys are then approached by several child witnesses who inform them about James' escort. Conan rushes across the street and finds James's keychain with bloodstains covering the characters "P," "&," and "A" of "Paul & Annie." He quickly deduces that it must be a message that James had left behind.
File 326 - P & A
The kidnappers gloat about their plan, believing they will receive millions in ransom money from Hawk's family. James reiterates that his captives are under a misapprehension, but his words fall on deaf ears. Coerced into silence, he calmly sits, seemingly unworried about his predicament and looking forward to a different "thrill."
Meanwhile, Genta and Mitsuhiko desperately attempt to persuade two police officers into launching a coordinated search for James. Conan and Haibara worry about his fate, as they take notice of a live radio broadcast featuring Randy Hawk's circus performance.
The kidnappers also notice the broadcast and are sent spiraling into panic and confusion. One kidnapper suggests killing James immediately, but another reprimands him for being hot-headed, suggesting they follow their original plan of executing him in the mountains of Gunma and burying his body.
Back at the sidewalk, the police officers fail to grasp the severity of the situation and take their leave. Seeing they cannot depend on the police, the Detective Boys try to decipher James' code, but are unsuccessful. Conan switches to a different plan and directs his friends to split up, spread the word, and question pedestrians—using their badges to communicate findings. Ayumi notices her badge is missing and realizes that James forgot to return the gadget to her. Conan employs his glasses and manages to pinpoint the badges exact location. He determines that James is on a car heading towards Saitama along the Teimuzu river, and calls Takagi, asking for him to set a inspection checkpoint on the prefectural border. Despite the sergeant's qualms, Sato recalls that Yumi is currently administering an accident response in the area, and agrees to pass the information onto her. She also agrees to involve herself and Takagi after hearing the culprits may be armed.
With the authorities now properly in action, Conan instructs Agasa to ready the Beetle. Haibara, on the hand, remains hesitant about the situation. Based on the sophistication of the message left behind, she deduces that James must have cut his finger and marked the letters during his escort—meaning he may have willingly accompanied the hostiles to the car. Haibara suddenly senses immense danger and spins around, just as Shuichi Akai drives by while intently observing the Detective Boys. She anxiously asks Conan if he saw the driver's face, but the boy answers in the negative.
At the traffic accident, Yumi inspects each car, looking for the foreigner Sato had described to her. A hand emerges from one of the car windows and one of the fake police officers calls for Yumi. He points to a hooded James and says his team must carry out an after-action report with the apprehended suspect before the sun sets. Yumi, not wanting to hamper her fellow police officer, allows the car to pass inspection.
The Detective Boys arrive at the checkpoint and are shocked to hear Yumi report that she saw not one foreigner. Stumped, the group redirects their attention back to James' message, each member floating their own ridiculous suggestion about what the "A" and "P" could represent. Ayumi's ludicrous suggestion, "Pelican" and "Ashika (sea lion)," however, catches Conan's attention and helps him crack the code.
Meanwhile, more than eight kilometers from Conan's position, James sees a black Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Akai in the rear view mirror. He gives a confident smirk.
File 327 - A Stupid Plan
Conan tells Yumi that the kidnappers are driving a police car, shocking the officer. Sato and Takagi also arrive at the scene just in time for Conan to present his deduction.
In the fake police car, one of the men voices his concerns about Yumi inspection, and questions whether their kidnapping is being actively investigated or not. The men ready their guns, prepared to shoot their way through any additional police interference.
Yumi recalls the one police car she let through the checkpoint and realizes James was the hooded man the officers were transporting. Sato speeds off in pursuit. Believing the kidnappers will turn violent if contacted again, she desperately thinks of a way to contain the culprits while mitigating collateral damage. She suddenly hears Conan's voice from a Detective Badge left on her car seat. The boy presents a possible solution.
The kidnappers begin to feel a worsening trepidation as they are stopped by yet another traffic light. Akai's chevrolet pulls into the lane beside the police car. The fake officer notices a horrifying presence next to him and sees Akai giving him a menacing stare. The light turns green the black vehicle drives off, followed swiftly by Agasa's yellow beetle. Genta pokes his head out of the window and calls for the police car's help, exclaiming that he has been kidnapped. Takagi calls out to the police car and enlists the fake officers' help in apprehending the beetle. The officers oblige, intending to feign cooperation before splitting off during the commotion. The police car attempts to turn into an off-road on their right but are blocked by Yumi, who yells at them to speed ahead. They attempt to take an exit to their left, but are blocked by another police car. Soon, they realize they are surrounded by Sato, Takagi, Yumi, and the Saitama Prefectural Police. James smiles, internally reflecting on the Conan's tactical masterclass, calling him "Cool Guy."
With the kidnappers arrested, Yumi discusses plans for a future group date with the officers from Saitama. However, after observing their interests lie solely on Sato's attendance, she rolls her eyes in annoyance. Sato asks about James' whereabouts, as he has seemingly disappeared from the scene. Haibara comments on his suspiciousness, but Conan remains confident in his good character. He does, however, have misgivings about his name "James Black," commenting that he shares his first name with Holmes' nemesis, James Moriarty. On the other hand, Conan internally considers Akai's suspicious presence, having recognized him as a fellow bus passenger during the hijacking.[1]
Meanwhile, James, who has joined Akai in his truck, discusses his kidnapping. James says he deduced the police officers were fake after they spoke to him in Japanese, indicating they were aware of his identity prior to approaching him. He then comments on Akai's hair, saying it used to be long. Akai responds that he had it cut to end his misfortune, mentioning that his "lover" has since broken up with him. James asks if their relationship is mendable. Akai confidently answers affirmatively, wishing for his lover to cry tears of regret, tears of blood.
People
Major Events
- Introduces James Black, a man who was born in London but now resides in Chicago.
- Haibara finds him suspicious.
- He refers to Conan as "Cool Guy."
- He is revealed to be Akai's associate and partner.
- Akai observes the Detective Boys from his car.
- Akai strengthens his resolve to pursue his target, insinuating the use of violence.
Sato's Omiai Case
Characters introduced
| Isokichi Kamoi | |
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File 328 - Sato's Omiai
Sato lounges about her room, watching television and eating food, much to her mother's exasperation. Wishing for her daughter to find a husband soon, she presents her with a stack of files listing various omiai (a Japanese matchmaking event) options. Sato expresses her indifference, forcing her mother to feign sadness, even invoking Masayoshi's name. Her theatrics impels Sato into choosing a random file from the stack and handing it to her mother. She inspects the folder and greatly approves of the choice, piquing Sato's curiosity.
A few days later at the omiai, Sato states her frustrations, commenting that her match is ten minutes late. As the woman stands to leave, an old, skinny man quietly opens the door and introduces himself as Isokichi Kamoi. Sato is horrified, believing he is her match. Her mother assures her that he is merely a butler. Kamoi confirms, adding that he will sit in the place of his client's parents. His client, Sato's match, then enters the room, revealing himself to be Ninzaburo Shiratori. Sato reacts in shock, dumbfounded by the outcome's likelihood.
Meanwhile, Yumi informs Ran, Sonoko, and Conan about Sato's omiai. The two girls express their concern, but the officer assures them that Sato has formulated a plan to escape her quandary. She explains that she will send a text message to Takagi about Sato's omiai sometime later in the day, compelling him to rush to her rescue by pretending to respond to a nearby crime. Sato will then abandon her supposedly important event and assist Takagi in his operation—an action which should convince her match that she is an undesirable woman—one who does not take formalities like omiais seriously. Sonoko expresses interest in the match's identity and considers heading to the event venue to survey the scene. Ran comments on the considerable distance to the venue, but fortunately for them, they then cross paths with Araide and his car.
Somewhere else in the city, Takagi and Chiba are exiting their vehicle when the former receives a phone call from Yumi asking if he has seen her text message. In that moment, a scream punctuates the area, and a man wearing a trench coat and biker helmet sprints through the streets while holding a bag full of stolen items from the local convenience store. Takagi and Chiba give chase, leaving Yumi's message left unread. The two sergeants shuffle through the crowd and pursue the thief into an alleyway. Upon clearing the narrow pass, they find an old man on the ground, having been shoved by the thief. He informs Takagi that the thief has entered the nearby park bathroom. Chiba finds the culprit's clothing and helmet jettisoned in the park bushes, while Takagi demands for the bathroom's occupants to leave the structure. Three individuals surface: Hiroshi Zama, Eiko Koshimizu, and Yasuo Kamieda. The sergeants ask for the old man to confirm the thief's identity, but he says his vision was impaired after he was struck, only remembering a "taller woman who wore blue under her coat." They turn to the suspects and note that none of the three perfectly match the given description.
At the venue, Sonoko, Ran, Araide, and Conan learn from the register worker that Shiratori is Sato's match, leaving the girls astonished. When asked about their relationship to the guests, Conan lies about bringing the pair a present, and asks if they can occupy the room next door. Concurrently, Sato and Shiratori enjoy an awkward, yet lavish meal prepared by Shiratori's cooks, who specifically cooked seafood after learning about Sato's distaste for French cuisine.[2]
Back at the convenience store, Takagi takes note of two additional witness reports. A school girl recalls the culprit being around 180cm tall, wearing green clothes under their coat; a cafe owner recalls the culprit being around 170cm tall, wearing black clothing under their coat. With all three witness accounts conflicting with one another, Takagi is left helpless.
At the omiai venue, Kamoi and Sato's mother leave the two to spend time alone. Sato desperately clings to her phone, wondering when Yumi's rescue dispatch will arrive. Shiratori, however, immediately sees through his match's scheme and offers to play a game. If Takagi arrives to claim Sato, he will cede his ground; if Takagi fails to arrive, Sato must agree to become his wife. Sato asks how he knew Takagi would be sent to retrieve her. The Inspector laughs, stating he was merely joking. However, Sato, having considered the proposition, confidently agrees to play.
People
Cover in other countries
References
- ^ Bus Hijacking Case (Manga: Volume 29: 287-289)
- ^ Treadmill Murder Case (Manga: Volume 21: 208-210)
See also
| Volumes of the Manga | ||
|---|---|---|
| Volume 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59 • 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 65 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 • 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 74 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 78 • 79 • 80 • 81 • 82 • 83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 89 • 90 • 91 • 92 • 93 • 94 • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 • 99 • 100 • 101 • 102 • 103 • 104 • 105 • 106 • 107 • 108 • 109 |
