Volume 35

Chronology
‹ Volume 34	List of Chapters • List of Cases	Volume 36 ›

Volume 35
Information
Release date:	December 18, 2001
Chapters:	351-361
ISBN:	ISBN 4-09-126165-5
Publisher:	Shogakukan
English release date:	July 13, 2010
English ISBN:	ISBN 1-4215-2886-X
English Publisher:	Viz Media
Featured Detective & Keyhole
Drury Lane Sharon Vineyard
Aoyama's death & Conan side images

Volume 35 was released on December 18, 2001 in Japan.

Cast

Characters

Shinichi Kudo (flashback)

Conan Edogawa

Ran Mouri

Kogoro Mouri

Ayumi Yoshida

Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya

Genta Kojima

Ai Haibara

Hiroshi Agasa

Sonoko Suzuki

Yukiko Kudo (flashback)

Heiji Hattori

Kazuha Toyama

Misao Yamamura

Shuichi Akai (flashback)

Sharon Vineyard (flashback)

Ki'ichiro Numabuchi

Jugo Yokomizo (cameo)

Yusaku Kudo (background)

Gin
(background)

Vodka
(background)

Chris Vineyard
(background)

Akemi Miyano (background)

Hikaru Yasumoto (background)

Mitsu Araide (background)

Yoshifusa Yabuuchi (background)

Norifumi Saku (background)

Masao Jinbo (background)

Mrs. Tsuburaya (voice)

Gadgets

Gadgets

Voice-Changing Bowtie

Stun-Gun Wristwatch

Detective Boys Badge

Criminal Tracking Glasses

Wristwatch Flashlight

Chapters

Golden Apple Case

File 351 - Golden Apple 2

Sharon laments about her troubled life, mentioning her daughter, Chris

Sharon Vineyard speaks of her past filled with misfortunes, mentioning her daughter, Chris Vineyard. She reveals that Chris and her had fallen out, and have not seen each other in over ten years as Chris had begun "hanging out with a bad crowd." Sharon escorts Yukiko, Shinichi, and Ran to the dressing room to meet the cast: Lilas Sanchez, Rose Hewitt, Akane Neilson, and Iberis Hamilton. After brief introductions, Iberis mentions a mysterious gift sent to the actresses, a golden apple with the words "For the Fairest" written on it. Then, Heath Flockhart, the star actor, enters the room recommending to show their guests backstage.
While exploring the narrow gaps that make up the backstage, Ran notices the play's costumes hung up on the ceiling. Suddenly, a tether snaps causing a large armor piece to fall onto the group. Most manage to escape, but Rose's dress is caught on a sign. Seeing this, Ran rushes over and tackles her out of the way as the armor crashes onto the floor. Rose suspects that she is being targeted, stating that the prop mirror—the cast's lucky charm—must have given her the luck to survive. Sharon, however, points to Ran as Rose's savior. After Rose expresses her gratitude to her, Ran notices she's scraped her arm. Sharon hands her a handkerchief before leaving the set, speaking of an important errand and a terrible storm.

Sharon hands Ran a handkerchief

Yukiko and Ran enjoy the performance while Shinichi calls it cliche. He explains that the play is based on an ancient Greek myth where a festival is held on Mount Olympus where most Gods are invited. Eris, the Goddess of discord, however, is not invited. Angered, she throws a Golden Apple with the words "For the Fairest" into the crowd. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite see the apple's challenge and set out to determine who the fruit is referencing—letting a Trojan Prince decide. In the end, it is Aphrodite who is chosen by the prince. Shinichi explains that Lilas plays Hera, Akane plays Athena, and Rose plays Aphrodite with Iberis playing Eris. Yukiko then states that the show deviates from the Greek myth and that there is a twist at the end. Heath, who was playing the Trojan Prince, reveals himself as the Christian Archangel, Michael. Before Michael can reveal the answer to Eris' question, Shinichi notices a red beam of light coming from the audience and onto the smokescreen shrouding of the stage. Michael is then lifted into the air by the stage cables, but to everyone's horror, he is shown dead.

File 352 - Golden Apple 3

The Dead Archangel

Pandemonium ensues as Michael (played by Heath) is shot. Shinichi rushes up to the spectator box from which he saw the red beam of light, finding nothing but a single bullet cartridge.

Sometime later, Radish Redwood arrives and examines Heath's body, learning that he was shot at a forty-degree angle. Yukiko recounts the events leading to Heath's assassination, while Shinichi pulls on Redwood's face to test if he is still a disguise worn by Sharon Vineyard. Redwood discovers strange burn marks under Heath's neck, as well as smudged blood on Heath's hands despite there being no traces of him touching his bloodstained costume. With Yusaku unavailable, Ran entertains the idea of Shinichi solving the case, citing his earlier contributions aboard the plane to Los Angeles. Hearing Ran's praise, Yukiko is surprised by her son's apparent proficiency at deduction. Shinichi concludes that the murderer is one of the four actresses on stage alongside Heath. The gun cartridge Shinichi had found in the spectator box was not warm, meaning it was not fired and instead placed to misdirect the investigation. Shinichi also says that the falling armor was likely not an accident as he found a cut on the floor as well as a segment of nylon string—the same type of nylon string found on the armor. Redwood and Yukiko then press Shinichi on how someone less than six feet tall could shoot Heath from such a high angle, but Shinichi confesses that he has not yet figured that out.

Shinichi investigates the scratched mirror behind Ran.

Later, the four actresses are seen fidgeting with various items while arguing about their various flings with Heath. However, Yukiko reveals to Redwood and Ran that Iberis was Heath's wife, but had decided to keep it a secret from her colleagues.
Shinichi goes to investigate the mirror at which the murder took place. He asks Ran to hold a pamphlet above her head to better grasp Heath's height. Comparing the simulated height to the mirror's height, Shinichi notices that the all-important mirror has been truncated, leaving a visible mark on the glass. Shinichi goes around to the back of the mirror and sees a feather from Heath's costume stuck on a grate that seemingly covers nothing. He lifts the grate to see two streaks of blood running across the floor.

File 353 - Golden Apple 4

Shinichi wishes to examine the costumes that are hung above the stage, much to the dismay of the theater workers. Yukiko then arrives, charming the men into giving up information. While Redwood and his associate discuss the possibility of an outside perpetrator, the lights suddenly shut off on stage. Yukiko, under the name "The Night Baroness," appears in the spotlight, reciting the deduction Shinichi had explained to her. Meanwhile, Shinichi simultaneously explains the deduction to Ran.

  Show spoilers »

Rose shot Heath beneath the mirror and through the metal grate.

The Method:
Shinichi states that Heath could not completely hide behind the mirror as it is too short, and Heath's wings did not let him crouch. Hence, the production must have utilized a trap door to lower his stature. Yukiko commands the crew to rotate the stage contraption behind the mirror until the grate that once led to nothing covers a hole to the stage's trap cellar. The police investigate and find a bullet cartridge and several feathers from Heath's costume. Accordingly, Yukiko points to Rose Hewitt as the culprit. Her position lying beside the base of the mirror lets her aim beneath the mirror, through the grate, and at Heath's chest. The other actresses protest that Rose could not have known that the production would use the trapdoor. However, Yukiko explains that because Rose would be placed so close to the grate in question, the staff would have to have notified her about its use. The reason for the truncated mirror must have been because Rose had purposely damaged the top corner of the mirror. Not wanting to demoralize the cast, the staff had quietly removed the damaged portion of the mirror and connected the remaining two pieces, losing some of its height in the process. Rose had also stuck the used gun into Heath's costume after shooting him, letting the gun rise into the air before eventually falling back down to the stage to mimic the weapon being thrown onto the stage. Thus, a burn mark appears on Heath's chest. However, while positioning the gun on Heath's body, the victim grabbed Rose's forearm with his bloodstained hand, leaving his bloody handprint on her gloves.
Shinichi states that he saw how Rose had trouble opening a can with gloves back in the dressing room, a sign that she had a reason not to remove them. The inspector turns Rose's gloves inside out, revealing the aforementioned bloodstains.
The Motive:
When asked about her motive, Rose states that she felt betrayed by Heath. He said he would quit his theater role as Michael and instead pursue a career as a film actor, a decision he made despite knowing how much Rose loved his portrayal of the Archangel. Rose proceeds to callously thank Ran for previously saving her life from the falling armor, consequently letting her perpetrate her crime.

A mysterious long-haired Japanese man stands before Ran.

Yukiko leaves for the police station for questioning, leaving Shinichi and Ran to go to the hotel by themselves. Before she leaves, she warns them of the serial killer: a long-haired Japanese man.
On the cab ride to their hotel, Shinichi notices Ran in a dazed state, asking her if Rose's words had gotten to her. She denies it. Ran leaves the cab window open, claiming that she can see the Wikipedia: New York views better that way. Shinichi protests that the rain will soak the cab's interior, but Ran says she will use the handkerchief Sharon gave her to wipe the seat. Suddenly, a gust of wind blows the cloth out of her hand and into the streets. Ran immediately asks the driver to stop so she can retrieve it.
Out on the street, Shinichi notices the handkerchief stuck on the railing of a service staircase of a dilapidated building, and sets off to retrieve it. As he leaves, Ran remembers both Sharon's words, doubting the existence of a God, and Rose's words, thanking her for enabling her murder. Ran suspects Sharon knew Rose would kill Heath, therefore, she pitied Ran for letting such a heinous thing happen. Wallowing in her rush of emotions, she notices someone approaching. Standing before her is a long-haired Japanese man.

File 354 - Golden Apple 5

Ran is petrified by the long-haired man, thinking that he must be the infamous serial killer. The taxi driver thinks the same, urging Ran to hop back in. Ran hesitates, as Shinichi has not yet returned. The long-haired man approaches, causing the taxi driver to panic and speed off. Ran turns around to face the man; fear is written all over her face. To her surprise, the man lacks hostile intentions, instead asking if she has seen a suspicious, sparsely bearded Japanese man with long silver hair.

Ran saves the serial killer's life.

A car stops right beside the two and a blond man emerges and asks the long-haired man whether he has found the serial killer. The long-haired man reveals that the serial killer recently got into a shootout with him and is likely in the area. He then turns to Ran and warns her of the danger, ordering her to leave for the main street. Still, Ran remains adamant about finding Shinichi. Seeing the girl's steadfastness, the man repeats his warnings and joins his colleague, murmuring that since all entrances to the alley have been secured, it is fine to leave Ran alone.
Ran then heads into the abandoned building in an attempt to notify Shinichi about the danger. She climbs up the staircase on the building exterior, and notices drops of blood on the stairs. Thinking they may have been left by Shinichi, she frantically follows the trail upstairs. On the way, she experiences an overwhelming sensation of guilt, thinking she is ultimately responsible for both Heath’s death and the perilous situation she finds herself in. She is also getting increasingly feeble due to the relapsing fever, but manages to persevere.

After climbing a few flights, Ran hears the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. She is overjoyed, thinking that it must be Shinichi. She rushes forwards and calls out his name, but to her horror, it is instead the serial killer who appears before her. Shinichi appears on the floor above and shouts at Ran to flee. However, she remains petrified yet again. The serial killer grins, saying that if Ran is to resent someone, it should not be him, but rather the God who prepared this cruel ending for her.

Shinichi carries Ran down the stairs.

The killer attaches a silencer to his pistol, preparing to murder his next victim. Suddenly, the rusty railings he is leaning against start to crack, causing the serial killer to fall from the building. Before death can claim him, Ran grabs onto his jacket, saving his life. She is soon followed by Shinichi. With their combined help, the killer manages to gain a grip and acrobatically catapult himself back onto the stairs. He demands to know why Ran and Shinichi would save him despite his attempt on their lives. Shinichi stares right into the serial killer’s eyes and responds that he does not know why one would choose to kill another, but when it comes to saving another, there need not be a logical reason. Both the serial killer and Ran are moved by his answer, and the latter is put at ease, having now realized that she was justified in saving Rose's life. A smile emerges on her face as she finally surrenders to the worsening fever and falls unconscious.

Shinichi tries to wake Ran up, to no avail. He carries her in his arms and begins descending the stairs, ignoring the serial killer behind them. The killer draws his pistol, but is advised by Shinichi to refrain—reasoning that the killer’s recent injury implies the people searching for him are near, and since he lost his silencer, a gunshot will attract them. Shinichi goes on to say that since the circumstances do not allow him to apprehend him, he will let him go this time; however, if they were to ever meet again, he would send him to the deepest pits of prison. The serial killer is astonished by Shinichi’s analysis and boldness; he remains speechless, allowing Shinichi and an unconscious Ran to leave without harm.

Ran infers that the long-haired man was an FBI agent.

The next morning, Yukiko, Shinichi, and a now healthy Ran visit Central Park. Shinichi and Ran play with a squirrel while Yukiko converses with Sharon on the phone. The topics of conversation include whether Sharon knew that Rose would commit murder, the serial killer’s apparent suicide after his encounter with Shinichi and Ran, and Ran’s wellbeing. Sharon concludes the call by asking Yukiko to tell Ran that “just like you said, perhaps an angel is looking out for me after all”.
Ran’s recollections end here. In the present, Ran awakens from her sleep, and finds herself on a hospital bed. Kogoro and Conan lean in to greet her, attributing Ran's sudden fever to exhaustion from overworking. Kogoro tells Ran that she should thank Inspector Jugo Yokomizo, as he drove her at full speed to the hospital. He then asks her about the strange words she was murmuring in her sleep such as: "saving people" and "logical mind." Both Ran and Conan are embarrassed by this question, and Ran fires back fiercely that it is her secret, and that Kogoro should not even utter those words with his “hoarse voice.” This retort makes Kogoro slightly awkward, so he and Conan decide to leave her alone.
After they leave, Ran begins reflecting on her recollections. She realizes that it was when Shinichi uttered those words to the serial killer that she started to have feelings for him. She also ponders the identity the long-haired Japanese man who told her to leave, remembering that his associate wore a jacket with the words "FBI" on it.

People

Radish Redwood
	Captain from New York Police Department

Lilas Sanchez
	32 years old Stage actress

Akane Nielsen
	27 years old Stage actress

Rose Hewitt
	28 years old Stage actress

Iberis Hamilton
	30 years old Stage actress

Heath Flockheart
	Victim (gunshot) 33 years old Stage actor

Slasher
	Serial killer

Major Events

• Major romantic development between Shinichi and Ran.
  • Ran dreams about the time she first grew feelings for Shinichi in New York.
• Shinichi and Ran encountered and saved a serial killer from falling from a railing to their death.
• Ran had encountered Shuichi Akai a year ago in New York while the latter searched for a serial killer.
  • Akai is revealed to be an FBI Agent
• Yukiko reveals that her and Sharon Vineyard learned their techniques of disguise from Toichi Kuroba.

Haunted Apartment Case

File 355 - Mystery of the Haunted House 1

Doctor Araide reassures that Ran is healthy.

Conan (speaking as Shinichi) expresses his worries about Ran's recent fever on the phone. Ran states how she had regained memories of the events in New York, questioning Shinichi about the whereabouts of Sharon Vineyard's handkerchief. Shinichi makes up an excuse, concealing the fact that he lost it. He also talks about the suspicious suicide of the New York serial killer. He explains that it doesn't make sense for a man about to commit suicide to clean his hideout, believing that the serial killer had tried to cover his tracks before fleeing, only to have been murdered before the police arrived. Noticing someone at the door, Ran goes to open it, oblivious to the fact that it is her caller, Conan. Ran is startled to see him, saying that she thought Conan was a ghost.
Later, at Doctor Araide's clinic, Kogoro laughs at Ran's fear of ghosts while Araide confirms that she has fully recovered. The three, along with Conan, walk through the winding halls of Araide's house. At the same time, Araide explains that his grandmother and Hikaru have already traveled to the Aomori prefecture, and that he stays to direct his patients to different clinics. The group runs into a particularly stubborn patient, Houichi Otonashi, who refuses to go to the clinic Araide recommended. Otonashi claims that his apartment is haunted, daring Conan to come and investigate.

A bright yellow apparition appears down the hall.

Kogoro, Ran, and Conan follow Otonashi to his weathered apartment building. Before the apartment is a park where the scorched remains of a young woman were once discovered, while beside the apartment is a construction site put on indefinite hiatus as the client had hanged himself.
Inside, they meet Kikuji Bancho, a tenant who works at a miniature shop and is into making dolls. They also meet Iwahisa Yotsuya, a tenant who's into tokusatsu films and anime. And finally, they meet Tsuyuhiko Botan, a graduate university student who remains the only tenant to have not sighted the supernatural. Otonashi explains how the strange occurrences began when he spotted a fireball swirling outside the window. Since then, countless supernatural events have driven out half the apartment's tenants.
The three guests fall asleep in Otonashi's room. Ran wakes up to see the television inexplicably play footage of a frightening woman with burn scars repeating the words: "Get out." Her screams awaken the others; after determining that there is nothing wrong with the TV, Kogoro leaves to seek out the bathroom. As Kogoro attempts to flush the filthy toilet, the water is replaced with blood. The commotion wakes up the other tenants. Botan inspects the toilet tank but sees no irregularities. The group is given no time to think as a bright yellow apparition appears in the window down the hall.

File 356 - Mystery of the Haunted House 2

Bancho walks forward to slide the window open, proving that there's no one on the other side. He says it must've been the restless spirit of the woman who was burned to death in the park next door. Skeptical, Kogoro believes that the prankster must've scurried onto the roof. However, he soon realizes that the window is on a completely flat wall, leaving no room for anyone to stand. Additionally, Ran says that the apparition had an amorphous profile, meaning it wasn't a reflection of anything corporeal. Otonashi reveals that the burned woman's name was Rui Tabuchi, and she was murdered by two men, both of whom are not yet apprehended. The identity of one of the killers is known, but the other remains a total mystery. Ran is frightened by a moth clinging to Kogoro's shirt; Yotsuya states that the moths are attracted to light and tend to gather in swarms.
Conan goes to investigate the bathroom. Kogoro remarks that the foul stench has disappeared, and Conan smells alcohol from the toilet tank. While searching the TV and the outdoor AC unit, Conan asks Otonashi on what part of the construction site he saw the fireball, to which Otonashi replies the center. Otonashi also points to Bancho and Yotsuya as they witnessed the fireball from their rooms.
Yotsuya's room is filled with VHS tapes and mangas. He says he saw the fireball when visiting his senior's former room, which is directly above his own. Conan notices that Yotsuya owns an 8mm film camera. Bancho's room is littered with intricate and dynamic dolls that seemingly change form when shined on with blacklight. Bancho claims that he saw the fireball from a window not pointing at the construction site. While the trio visits Botan's room, another moth clings to Kogoro's shirt, prompting Conan to re-examine the apparition's window. Conan believes that the culprit set up these elaborate illusions to hide evidence linked to the burning of Rui Tabuchi.

File 357 - Mystery of the Haunted House 3

Sonoko frightens Ran.

Kogoro and Ran are preparing to leave, but Conan feigns wanting to use the bathroom, pleading for Kogoro to accompany him.

  Show spoilers »

Conan appears at Bancho's door pointing to the pungent smell of the bathroom. Bancho goes to flush the toilet and is shocked to see the water turn red. Next, Conan points to the cursed TV playing the same footage that Ran had seen. Dumbfounded, Bancho stumbles backwards only to witness the same bright yellow apparition appear on the window. Bancho's screams alerts everyone to his location. Conan reveals a sleeping Kogoro, ready to shed light upon Bancho's tricks.
The Red Toilet Water:
Kogoro explains that Ammonium added to Phenolphthalein will react by turning pink/red. By storing Ammonium in the tank and Phenolphthalein in the bowl, flushing will force the two compounds to mix. In an already dimly lit setting, the possible pinkish coloring of the reaction can be seen as blood-red. Conan states that he found a bottle of Ammonium water in Bancho's room, along with a bottle of chloroform and some "scary videotapes."
The Cursed TV Footage:
Kogoro goes on to describe how the TV trick works. Since the whole apartment shares the same TV antenna, you can broadcast footage to the targeted TV by connecting a cable to the antenna. By utilizing a multi-remote, Bancho was able to control the channel of Otonashi's TV, thus allowing for the footage to be played. Bancho must've stood on the wall separating the apartment from the construction site to use the remote on the TV. He also poured chloroform into the outdoor AC unit, knocking out everyone in Otonashi's room and giving the illusion of waking up to a haunted TV.
The Bright Yellow Apparition:

Finally, the apparition was created by attracting swarms of male moths to the window. By lacing the window screen's mesh with a female moth's pheromone, male moths flocked to the screen. The eyes and mouth are created using black paper. Bancho gave the effect of a disintegrating profile by turning on a blacklight in his room (moths are more attracted to blacklight than pheromones). Lastly, Bancho had walked over to the window, flinging it open to dispel any remaining moths.

Ran is unimpressed by Bancho's attempt to scare her.

Kogoro states that Bancho likely wanted to scare away the guests, motivating Otonashi to finally leave the apartment. Kogoro also reveals that Bancho was the second unknown culprit of Rui Tabuchi's murder. And his partner has been hiding in the unfinished construction site next door. The fireball that the tenants witnessed was the light from his partner's cigarette. To cover up the suspicious light coming from next door, Bancho had orchestrated supernatural occurrences to make people believe that the apartment was haunted. The reason Bancho lives in this apartment is so he can give food and supplies to his partner living next door.
Defeated, Bancho makes a run for it. He attempts to frighten Ran by pulling the skull on his T-shirt over his face, but to no avail. Ran proceeds to easily dispatch him.
It's later revealed that Bancho and his partner murdered Rui Tabuchi due to her filing for bankruptcy despite being loaned a large sum of money by the two men.

Sometime later, Ran, Conan, and Sonoko walk through the streets of Beika. Ran explains how she has gotten over her fear of ghosts, prompting Sonoko to play a prank on her. Ran is easily frightened and runs off screaming. Sonoko stands amused by Ran's fear of the supernatural, calling it her "charm point."

People

Houichi Otonashi
	68 years old

Kikuji Bancho
	34 years old

Iwahisa Yotsuya
	22 years old

Tsuyuhiko Botan
	27 years old

Major Events

• Conan reveals that the New York serial killer had committed a suspicious "suicide," implying he was instead murdered.
• Doctor Araide states he currently lives apart from his grandmother who has moved to Aomori.

Disappearing Mitsuhiko Case

Characters introduced

Asami Tsuburaya
	Mitsuhiko's older sister

File 358 - Disappearing Mitsuhiko 1

The Detective Boys ask Mitsuhiko's older sister about the whereabouts of her brother.

The Detective Boys and Professor Agasa participate in the community's radio calisthenics session. Haibara points out how Mitsuhiko is not present and hasn't been for the past few days. Believing he is sick, the Detective Boys visit Mitsuhiko's house, where his older sister, Asami Tsuburaya, greets them. Asami says that Mitsuhiko was packing for a trip last night, packing Sasa Dangos for food; coupled with the fact that he took his wallet with him, Conan theorizes that Mitsuhiko traveled somewhere far away. The group also notices that Mitsuhiko has only been absent from the radio calisthenics on Sundays. Genta wonders if he's going on a date with someone, to which Asami recalls Mitsuhiko got excited after a girl working at the florist called him "cool."
The Detective Boys then go to the florist girl and inquire about their friend. She states that she remembers Mitsuhiko talking to people about "Uesugi, Takeda, Toyotomi, and Tokugawa," exciting Ayumi and Genta. The girl also recalled that an inconspicuous Mitsuhiko had boarded the local bus in the morning and that he smelled like lemon.
The Detective Boys then ask the bus driver if he remembers picking up Mitsuhiko. The bus driver confirms that he did board, noting that he suspiciously didn't gaze out of the window like most kids do and instead fixed his eyes straight forward. The bus driver also says that Mitsuhiko got off at Beika Station.

Inspector Yamamura reveals that serial killer, Numabuchi Ki'ichiro, is loose in the forest.

The Detective Boys ask the station attendants if they saw Mitsuhiko. The attendant says he remembers a capped boy with a lemon scent hustling to exchange his adult ticket with a child ticket. Since he paid ¥1900 for his train ticket, he must've traveled to a station in either the Chiba or Gunma prefecture.
The Detective Boys arrive at a rural station in Gunma right as the sun begins to set. Conan sees the signal from Mitsuhiko's Detective Badge, confirming that he is near. They track the signal to a forest, where they notice a large group of people crowded amongst the shrubs. The Detective Boys go to ask if they saw their friend but find that the crowd is the Gunma Prefectural Police led by Inspector Yamamura.
Yamamura tells the boys to leave immediately, whispering that the serial killer, Ki'ichiro Numabuchi, had just escaped from their custody and ran into the woods. Hearing Numabuchi's name, Conan has a painful flashback to when he was stabbed. Knowing Mitsuhiko is also somewhere in the woods, Conan desperately rings his detective badge to alert him of the danger.

File 359 - Disappearing Mitsuhiko 2

Inspector Yamamura is shocked to learn that a child is lost in the forest. But after hearing that the Detective Boys used their gimmicky gadgets to figure out Mitsuhiko's location, he becomes skeptical. Conan steps forward to show him his glasses but notices it is out of battery. The other men arrive to scold Yamamura for losing Numabuchi before ordering him to send the children back to a safe place.

Ayumi spots a hiding Numabuchi.

The Detective Boys, escorted by Inspector Yamamura, look for Mitsuhiko as they leave the forest. As nightfall descends on the woods, Ayumi and Genta show off their Wristwatch Flashlights, leading Yamamura to believe that the boys were not lying about their gadgets and that a boy is, in fact, lost in the forest. Yamamura scurries to inform his colleagues but realizes he left his phone in his car. Devastated by his failure to hold onto Numabuchi and inform his superiors about the missing child, Yamamura falls to his knees. He reflects on how he finally realized his dream of becoming a police inspector after watching countless detective dramas as a child, only to fail titanically. Seeing the distraught detective, Conan reminds him of the recent spectacular deeds the Inspector has done (all of which were actually the work of Conan and Yusaku). Inspired, Yamamura rises, accepting Agasa's offer to help find Mitsuhiko. He also says that from now on, he wishes to go by: "Yama-san."
An exhausted Mitsuhiko stands by a small river. He notices that his detective badge is buzzing; he's comforted by his friends actively looking for him but chooses not to answer, believing that his mission would be in vain.

Mitsuhiko encounters Numabuchi.

Meanwhile, inspector Yamamura reveals that during questioning, Numabuchi claimed he had killed an additional person (which would boost his kill count to four). He apparently buried the remains in the forest behind his hometown. Yamamura also talks about how Numabuchi didn't seem like he wanted to escape as he spoke of often visiting the woods in his childhood.
With no physical clues as to where he is, the group decides to consider what Mitsuhiko was doing with his sasa dangos, lemon scent, and knowledge of Japanese warlords. Conan says that the smell of lemon is likely from the sunscreen he brought with him, as it had the dual functionality of being bug repellent. Ayumi suddenly notices Numabuchi hiding in the trees directly above them. Discovered, the serial killer jumps down and disappears back into the forest. Haibara is left in shock after sensing a horrifying aura coming from Numabuchi. Inspector Yamamura likens Numabuchi's tree climbing skills to Ushiwakamaru's flying ability. Ushiwakamaru triggers Conan's epiphany as he realizes what Mitsuhiko's motivations are, along with his current location. He sets off to bring his friend home.
Mitsuhiko is at his limit, unable to walk much further. He determines that he can no longer continue his plan and must call his friends. Hearing Conan's voice in the distance, a joyous Mitsuhiko steps forward but runs into Numabuchi. The latter grins, stating that the two of them are the same.

File 360 - Disappearing Mitsuhiko 3

Haibara believes she's being desensitized to danger.

While Conan frantically searches for his friend using the detective badge, Numabuchi ominously stands before a terrified Mitsuhiko. Conan considers if Numabuchi has already abducted Mitsuhiko, but then he runs into the remaining Gunma police force. He informs the officers of Mitsuhiko as the rest of the Detective Boys arrive. The senior officer reprimands Yamamura for losing Numabuchi again before extending the operation to a potential hostage crisis. Conan states that Mitsuhiko has to be near the small river, but Haibara finds Mitsuhiko's hat, saying that Mitsuhiko was likely in a situation that didn't let him retrieve it. Conan finds sweat on the rim of the cap, believing that it hasn't been long since Mitsuhiko dropped the hat. Additionally, Conan believes Mitsuhiko didn't answer his detective badge because his hands weren't free.
Expecting the worst, Ayumi and Genta debate how to distinguish Numabuchi from the police in the darkness. Haibara proceeds to detail Numabuchi's description with unexpected precision.
She then reveals to Conan and Agasa that Numabuchi was associated with the Black Organization. The organization originally hired him as one of their assassins, but his mental instability made him unfit. The organization transferred him to Haibara's department, set to become a human test subject for the nascent APTX4869. Numabuchi would escape before his experimentation, aimlessly running from the Organization and committing several murders.

Numabuchi was set to be a test subject for the APTX4869.

Conan asks why Haibara couldn't sense the Black Organization's aura on him. Haibara responds that her quiet life with the Detective Boys is slowly desensitizing her to the dangers and that her days may be numbered. Conan reassures her, and the two continue their search for Mitsuhiko.
Ayumi and Genta hear Mitsuhiko's badge, believing their friend must be near. They pull back the bush to see Numabuchi holding Mitsuhiko. The Gunma police are alerted to the scene as Numabuchi compliantly releases Mitsuhiko while telling everyone to shut their lights off.

  Show spoilers »

The Detective Boys ask why Mitsuhiko didn't respond to them and why he's cupping his hands. Genta forces his hands open out of curiosity, and out flies a firefly.

Numabuchi looks upon his friends one last time.

• Conan explains that Mitsuhiko was getting scolded by the older men because he asked where he could find fireflies—an endangered species.
• Mitsuhiko had mentioned ancient Japanese warlords that were rivals, especially Genji and Heike: the names of the two most common species of fireflies in Japan.
• Mitsuhiko brought Sasa Dango so he could add habitat to a temporary insectarium for the bugs with the leaves.
• Mitsuhiko couldn't answer his badge because answering would mean uncupping his hands, thus letting the firefly escape.
• Mitsuhiko likely traveled here by himself so he could grant Ayumi and Haibara's wish of one day seeing the fireflies.
  

Professor Agasa asks why Numabuchi asked to come to this forest. Conan replies that he likely came for the same reason as Mitsuhiko; he wanted to see the fireflies one last time before his execution—the fireflies he cherished during his childhood.

A few days later, at school, Ayumi converses with Haibara about sightings of a Tsuchinoko—a mythical Japanese creature. Ayumi then expresses interest in seeing one herself. Hearing this, Genta and Mitsuhiko consider searching for one themselves in an attempt to impress the girls.

People

Fujiwara
	9 years old Teitan Elementary 3rd year student "Fujiwara" florists' daughter

Man
	Senior detective from Gunma Prefecture Police

Man
	Metropolitan bus driver

Man
	Beika Station attendant

Major Events

• Conan reencounters Ki'ichiro Numabuchi who has escaped captivity and is at large in a forest in Gunma.
• Numabuchi is arrested after turning himself in to the Gunma police.
• Haibara informs Conan about Numabuchi's connection to the Black Organization.
  • He was initially recruited as an assassin but was deemed unfit due to his mental instability.
  • He was subsequently transferred to Haibara's department to be a test subject for the development of APTX4869.
    • He escaped before his experimentation.

Onikame Island Case

File 361 - Death Island

The four protagonists at the beach.

At a beach in Okinawa, Heiji and an unenthusiastic Conan attempt to deduce what kind of swimsuits girls are wearing. Kazuha and Ran catch the two, and the former mocks Heiji for playing such a lascivious activity with an elementary schooler. Heiji suspects she's upset as he made her wait in front of the BIGMAN at Umeda station for too long. Kazuha vehemently denies it—clearly signaling that she is upset. Kazuha reveals that she followed Heiji to Okinawa not because Heiji was trying to make it up to her but because Ran was tagging along with Kogoro, who, along with Heiji, is set to star in an "East vs. West" match deciding who is the greater detective. Heiji is irritated by Kogoro's cocky attitude he expresses to the cameras, fully aware of the latter's fraudulent nature. Heiji overhears the director, Masao Taketomi, asking everyone to prepare as they plan on previewing the setting for tomorrow's shoot: an uninhabited island where a corpse and a mysterious message were discovered. Taketomi asks Heiji if he wants to tag along. After brief consideration, Heiji grabs Conan and accepts the offer.

Kazuha wonders what Heiji will call her.

The boat approaches the island, Funaurajima, more commonly known as Onigamejima (English: Demon Turtle Island), shaped like a turtle. Heiji says that the tourist business dried up after several crimes such as kidnappings and robberies were committed against mayor Kaneshiro's household. The mayor called the TV station to set the detective showdown on Funaurajima so they could revive its image and popularity.
Heiji spots two men, Noburou Ikema and Yoshitsugu Kume, flirting with Kazuha and Ran. Annoyed, he pulls Kazuha away, almost claiming that "she's his," but instead labels her as a "random childhood friend." Yoshie Taira and Mikihiko Daito introduce themselves along with the boat's captain, Takashi Shimoji, who remains silent. Ikema and Kume scare the girls with tales of soul-sucking demons, while Heiji deduces that Taira's swimsuit will be white but soon sees her in the ocean wearing a black wetsuit.

Yoshie Taira is found strangled on the beach along with another message.

Heiji and Conan read the relevant mysterious message that's been etched into a beam of a dilapidated structure: "The princess sleeps in the Ko and not the Otsu (姫眠るは甲なりて乙にあらず)." Taketomi explains that people discovered an emaciated corpse leaning on the message's beam a year ago. It's theorized that he was a passenger on a boat that capsized due to massive hurricanes from the previous year. Kazuha wonders why someone would construct a house on an uninhabited island, to which Taira answers that mayor Kaneshiro built it to be a vacation getaway, but hurricanes eventually tore it apart. Heiji is pleased to see that, just like his deduction, Taira wore a white bikini under her wetsuit. Daito says that the island has changed since the last time he saw it, adding that until two years ago, he fished for mackerel near the island's waters. Ikema and Kume say that this island was a perfect place for diving, but they were the only two who'd still come around after the crimes. Taketomi sends the crew to scout for interesting locations on the island while he discusses matters with Heiji.
Later that day, most of the crew returned to the boat. Conan and Heiji ponder the message's meaning. Because Ko (甲), Otsu (乙), and Hei (丙) was an ancient ranking system of one, two, and three, the detectives vaguely theorize that it's trying to say that "the princess is sleeping at one, not two." Ran and Kazuha worries about Taira as it has been an hour since everyone else returned. They wonder if she's still diving which alerts Conan and Heiji. The two boys sprint off and split up; Conan and Ran go around one side of the island while Heiji and Kazuha go around the other. The two converge at the opposite end only to see a deceased Taira with strangulation marks around her neck and another message written in the sand.

People

Masao Taketomi
	43 years old TV director

Yoshitsugu Kume
	25 years old Crew

Noburo Ikema
	24 years old Crew

Yoshie Taira
	Victim (strangled) 26 years old Crew

Mikihiko Daito
	47 years old Crew

Takashi Shimoji
	Victim (bludgeoned) 38 years old Crew

Hyogo Kaneshiro
	63 years old Mayor

Miyako Kaneshiro
	Kaneshiro's daughter Kidnapped 5 years ago

Yoshiko Matsumoto
	Deceased Kaneshiro's housekeeper

Cover in other countries

• 

  China
• 

  China (2020 reissue)
• 

  Finland
• 

  France
• 

  Germany
• 

  Hong Kong
• 

  Indonesia
• 

  Indonesia (reprint)
• 

  Indonesia (Premium, combined volumes 35-36)
• 

  Italy
• 

  Italy (La Gazzetta dello Sport)
• 

  Italy (New Edition)
• 

  Korea
• 

  Malaysia (Chinese)
• 

  Malaysia (Malay)
• 

  Rep. of China (Taiwan)
• 

  Singapore (Chinese)
• 

  Singapore (English)
• 

  Spain (Spanish, Volumen 2)
• 

  Spain (Spanish, New Edition, combined volumes 35-36)
• 

  Sweden
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  Thailand
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  United States
• 

  Vietnam
• 

  Vietnam (New Edition)

See also

• Manga
• Volume 31-40
• Detective Conan