"Minagawa Katsuhiko took his last breath just moments ago."
"Cause of death is likely drug poisoning."
"Watanabe Yoshimi-san, he collapsed shortly after eating your chocolate, correct?"
Minagawa Katsuhiko was dead.
That piercing scream earlier came from Watanabe Yoshimi, who'd watched him clutch his throat in terror and collapse.
The police arrived swiftly.
After investigating and removing Minagawa's body, Inspector Megure began questioning.
Everyone was gathered in the living room.
"…Yes, I did give him chocolate."
Watanabe Yoshimi sat on the sofa, sobbing uncontrollably.
When Minagawa finished his coffee and went to the yard to smoke, she'd followed, offering her handmade chocolate to cheer him up. He'd eaten a few bites, then suddenly—
Inspector Megure rubbed his chin, eyeing her suspiciously.
Given the scene and her account, it was hard not to suspect her… but her heartbroken tears gave him pause.
Edogawa Conan stood aside, deep in thought.
He suspected Yoshimi but wasn't sold. Others seemed just as likely.
Alright, Masaki, this time we're on equal footing—
"Officer, could you test the coffee and cake?"
Conan's competitive fire flared, ready to outshine Hayato, when Hayato's voice cut through.
Inspector Megure turned from Yoshimi.
"Got something, Masaki-kun?"
"Not sure if it counts, but the coffee tastes… off, somehow."
"Off?"
"We didn't notice anything."
"Pfft, just playing mysterious to stand out."
The others who'd drunk the coffee exchanged looks. Wakamatsu Toshihide scoffed.
Hayato ignored him.
His gaze lifted from his notebook, skimming past Minagawa's visibly tense mother to her young son, Akihiro, with a smile. "Akihiro-kun, still got that toothache?"
"…Yeah."
The boy clutched his cheek, nodding glumly.
Hayato turned to the woman. "You're pretty strict, aren't you? Seems like you've banned him from sweets entirely while his cavity's acting up."
"…Yes, or it'll get worse."
"But when Akihiro sneaked a sip of coffee earlier, you fed him several bites of cake right away."
"…" Her face tightened.
"And you were awfully keen on everyone's cake feedback—especially pushing me to try it, even after I said I don't like sweets and might eat later."
"…"
"I mean, it's rare for someone to refuse me, so your insistence stood out."
"I just… put a lot of effort into the cake…"
"It's great, really. Perfect sweetness." Hayato nodded, then added, "But I wondered if you were making sure everyone but Katsuhiko-san ate it."
"…"
Her composure cracked, hands clutching her sleeves, flustered.
Inspector Megure caught on.
"So, poison in the coffee, and the cake might have an antidote?"
"Just a theory. Maybe I'm overthinking it."
"No way! If there's a chance, we'll test it."
Megure waved decisively.
The woman couldn't stop them—or find an excuse to—her face paling as police collected the items.
Her guilty look hit Conan like a brick. Hayato was probably right.
But…
What the heck?!
Who solves cases like this?!
I didn't even get to do anything!
Seeing Hayato casually jotting in his notebook, clearly confident in his theory, Conan's teeth gritted.
He racked his brain for other possibilities.
But when the police returned with results confirming poison in the coffee, the woman collapsed, unable to hold up.
As Megure approached with handcuffs, she broke down, confessing her motive—inheritance.
Minagawa Katsuhiko wasn't her biological son.
His parents died in a car crash seven years ago, and she, his aunt, took him in. Now, with her husband's business failing, she'd eyed the inheritance left by Katsuhiko's parents.
The process wrapped up.
As Ran and Sonoko, shaken, said they wanted to leave, Hayato smiled, excusing himself to the bathroom.
Wakamatsu Toshihide was in the hallway.
"About your comment, Wakamatsu-san."
"Huh?"
Wakamatsu turned, scowling at Hayato. "What about it?!"
"Nothing much. Just, since you're bold enough to call others 'coward,' I'm guessing you're a real brave guy—one who'd never flinch in a pinch. I'm very much looking forward to your performance."
Hayato's smile was serene.
But that face…
Its unreal beauty carried a smile that felt like a mask.
The hell?
Wakamatsu, baffled by the cryptic words, spat in annoyance.
Hayato kept smiling.
His dark eyes held no emotion. Turning away, he pulled out his phone, deleting the latest text.
***
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