Kogoro, standing off to the side, looked completely lost. He furrowed his brows and finally blurted out,
"Why are you all reacting so dramatically?"
Hattori turned to him with an exasperated look.
"Can't you figure it out?"
He gestured towards the scene and explained,
"One key is in Mrs. Tsujimura's hand. The other was found on the deceased."
"And Mrs. Tsujimura has been with us this entire time."
"This is a locked-room murder case!"
Seeing Kogoro's blank expression, Hattori's suspicions only deepened.
So it really wasn't this old guy who solved the cases and made it into the newspapers…
It was Kudo Shinichi, before he disappeared!
As soon as the words locked-room murder were spoken, the atmosphere in the room grew noticeably more tense. Everyone's expressions became serious.
Realizing that the investigation had reached a standstill, Ran hesitated for a moment before softly whispering,
"Akashi, do you see anything?"
Beside her, Kazuha let out a small chuckle.
"Ran, why are you asking a little kid? He's still a child!"
Ran shook her head.
"Don't underestimate Akashi. He's incredibly smart!"
"We've already solved two cases together!"
"I honestly think… he might be even better than Shinichi!"
Conan, who had been silently listening while sniffing around for clues, suddenly felt his chest tighten.
His heart cracked a little at Ran's casual remark.
Even better than me?!
His competitive spirit immediately ignited.
I don't care what it takes—I'm solving this case first!
But just as he was about to refocus, his head throbbed painfully, and a sharp ringing sound echoed in his ears.
Clues swirled chaotically in his mind. He could almost piece them together…
But something wasn't clicking.
At that moment, the old butler stepped forward and grabbed Conan's shoulder.
"Young man, are you alright?" he asked, his voice full of concern.
Ran also noticed something was off. Her brows furrowed as she quickly said,
"Conan caught a cold earlier! Is there a room where he can rest?"
The butler hesitated, looking slightly embarrassed.
"All the guest rooms… haven't been tidied yet."
Hearing this, Takayoshi Tsujimura spoke up,
"Then let him rest in my room. It's at the end of the first-floor corridor."
His fiancée, Yukina Katsuragi, immediately offered,
"I'll take him there."
With that, the women led Conan and Akashi out of the study.
Conan looked extremely reluctant, but Yukina firmly pulled him along.
Even in his weakened state, he refused to accept defeat.
Damn it! Heiji, that Kansai detective, thinks he can outshine me?
If I let him solve the case first, it would be an insult to the reputation of Kanto's high school detective!
But his fever worsened. His body felt unbearably hot, and his heartbeat pounded in his chest.
It was becoming impossible to endure.
Once they reached the room, Yukina gently laid Conan down and pulled out a thermometer.
A few moments later, her expression darkened.
"His fever is really high…"
Ran wasted no time. She immediately took out her phone and called the family doctor.
This child under their care couldn't afford to have anything happen to him.
After finishing the call, Ran rushed out of the room to wait for the doctor's arrival.
With her gone, Akashi was once again left unattended.
Kazuha's emerald-green eyes subtly drifted toward him, unable to resist sneaking glances.
But Akashi?
He paid absolutely no attention to Kazuha.
Instead, his gaze turned toward Yukina Katsuragi, who was busy tucking Conan into bed.
With an innocent tone, he suddenly asked,
"Sister Yukina, I heard you're getting married?"
"Can you tell me how you and your fiancé met?"
Yukina blinked in surprise.
"Huh? Child, how do you know my name?"
No one had introduced themselves yet.
Yukina only knew they were guests, but she hadn't given them her name.
Before Akashi could answer, Kazuha scooped him up in her arms and quickly interjected,
"Mrs. Tsujimura mentioned it earlier!"
Another perfect opportunity!
Kazuha smirked slightly as she held onto Akashi.
She could already feel his warmth pressing against her, and a pleasant softness surrounded him.
But to Akashi, Kazuha's presence was irrelevant.
He completely ignored her movements—his mind was still focused on Yukina Katsuragi.
His deep, piercing gaze locked onto her as if seeing through her very soul.
The charm of this little succubus shota was undeniable—
Yukina immediately let down her guard and spoke openly.
"My father was actually the one who introduced me to Takayoshi."
"I first met him at the school trustees' banquet. With my father's help, I was later introduced to Takayoshi."
Kazuha furrowed her brows and asked hesitantly,
"Your father… do you mean Isao Tsujimura? The one who died today?"
Yukina nodded.
"Yes."
"My father in law was a kind man. He treated me well and always spoke so gently."
"I just never expected…" Her voice faltered, and her expression darkened.
"That he would die so suddenly today."
Her eyes clouded with sorrow.
Akashi, watching from the side, understood everything.
But when he looked at her, he couldn't help but shake his head.
This woman is so naive… truly foolish!
Meanwhile, Conan, lying on the bed, found Akashi's reaction utterly ridiculous.
What is this kid even thinking?
It has nothing to do with today's case at all!
Ha! Sure enough!
All those past cases he supposedly "solved"? It must have been pure dumb luck—a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.
This kid wasn't as smart as he thought.
But before Conan could dwell on it further, a sharp pain shot through his chest.
"Ugh…" He pressed a small hand against his heart, wincing.
Just then, a patrolling officer entered the room.
"Miss Katsuragi," he said formally. "We need you to return for questioning."
Yukina sighed, then left with the officer.
Kazuha, however, remained behind, her gaze drifting toward Akashi.
He sat there, deep in thought, head lowered.
She found him utterly adorable.
And she wants to talk to him so much!
Unable to hold back, she blurted out,
"Akashi, have you figured something out?"
Akashi smirked.
"Well, a little bit."
He turned his piercing eyes toward where Yukina had been standing and stated,
"Miss Yukina… you've been deceived."
Kazuha blinked.
"Deceived? What do you mean?"
Even Conan, despite his fever, perked up and raised his eyes toward them.
Akashi tilted his head and asked,
"Didn't you notice? Miss Yukina and Mrs. Tsujimura look eerily similar."
"In terms of body shape, height, hairstyle, face shape—every single contour."
"It's almost as if they were cast from the same mold."
"The only difference? One is older, the other is young."
Kazuha and Conan exchanged glances.
As they thought back, realization struck them like a bolt of lightning.
They really did look alike!
At first glance, anyone would mistake them for mother and daughter!
Akashi continued, his voice calm yet unsettling.
"The wife in this household? She was personally chosen by Isao Tsujimura—for his son."
"But why would he specifically choose a woman who looked exactly like his own wife?"
A sinister glint flashed in his eyes.
"Now that's interesting."
Kazuha's expression twisted in confusion.
She was so pure-hearted that she couldn't grasp the hidden meaning behind his words.
Seeing her blank expression, Akashi sighed and, with an exasperated look, lightly knocked her on the head.
"Idiot," he said bluntly.
"Isao Tsujimura wasn't choosing a wife for his son—"
"He was choosing a replacement wife for himself."
"!!"
Kazuha's jaw dropped.
Akashi continued mercilessly,
"It's just like how some men will always prefer 18-year-old girls, no matter how old they get."
"And remember how they met?"
"At a university regents' banquet."
"Have you never seen the news?" He scoffed.
"That event? It's nothing more than a place for powerful men to handpick young, inexperienced female students."
"It's a hunting ground."
"And this poor, clueless Miss Yukina?"
"She actually believes Isao Tsujimura was a 'good man.' She has no idea what kind of fate she was walking into."
"That man didn't choose her for his son—"
"He chose her for himself."
Kazuha froze, her emerald eyes shrinking in shock.
"W-Wait… No way!"
"That's—that's insane!"
"This is total madness!"
Then, as if snapping out of a daze, she whipped her head toward Akashi.
"Akashi… how do you even know all this?!"
Akashi rolled his eyes.
"Because I'm smart."
"And I think."
He smirked smugly and flicked her forehead.
"Got it, stupid Kazuha-nee?"
Then, as if on a whim, he reached out and pinched her cheek.
Her soft skin turned slightly pink under his fingers.
Kazuha, however, didn't even care about his rude behavior.
Instead, she pressed forward eagerly.
"Then—do you know who the murderer is?"
The question immediately caught Conan's attention.
His ears pricked up, and he focused.
Akashi chuckled darkly.
"Of course, I do."
"But I'm not telling you."
Kazuha gasped.
"Eh?! Why?!"
Akashi's smirk turned mocking.
"Because I have zero interest in helping bring justice to a scumbag."
"That dead diplomat?" He sneered.
"He was absolute trash."
"If you really think I'd waste my time trying to solve his murder—"
"You're out of your mind."
For Kazuha and Conan, his words were infuriating—but at the same time, they couldn't deny their curiosity.
They were desperate to know the answer.
Kazuha squirmed restlessly, like ants were crawling all over her body.
Unable to resist, she pleaded in the softest, most delicate voice,
"Akashi~ please tell me?"
"Just the name! I promise I won't tell anyone!"
Her tone was practically coquettish—sweet and melting like sugar.
Just then, the door burst open.
Hattori stormed in—his face as black as coal.
As he stepped inside, he heard Kazuha's overly sweet voice.
He froze.
Then, his expression darkened even further.
He had never heard Kazuha speak in such a soft, sugary tone before!
What the hell was going on?!
And when he saw the scene inside—
His face turned even blacker.