"Inspector Sango Yokomizo, not only did you judge the time of the crime incorrectly, but you also got the location wrong."
Yuu Hoshimiya ignored the shifts in Kyoko Shibata's expression and led the group toward the hallway.
"The real location of the murder was right here in the hallway outside the kitchen, just past the entrance foyer. The time of death wasn't this morning; it was after three in the morning last night."
"The process of the crime went like this: last night, after Shiro Shibata returned from playing mahjong, he was enjoying a late-night snack in the kitchen when his wife called him out."
"After they finished talking in the hallway, the moment Shiro turned around, his wife took out the murder weapon and struck him in the back of the head, killing him instantly. The bloodstains in the cracks of the floorboards here are part of the evidence."
Inspector Yokomizo and the forensics team finally noticed the stains and let out gasps of surprise: "There really is blood here!"
Yuu Hoshimiya continued to explain: "After that, Mrs. Shibata followed her original plan and left at five in the morning to play golf with her friends. She returned home at four in the afternoon, just a few minutes before we arrived."
"We entered the apartment at 4:10 PM. All you had to do was come home at 4:05 PM, bring in the morning newspaper, and place it on the dining table to create the illusion that he had been eating breakfast."
"Combined with the pre-set timer to record the 'Swordmaster Legend' drama, you successfully misled everyone into thinking Shiro Shibata died around eight in the morning."
"However, when Mrs. Shibata returned at four, she discovered that things weren't as she had expected. The attack in the early morning hadn't killed Shiro instantly. With his last breath, he crawled toward the living room to try and call for help, eventually collapsing there."
"Just then, the phone rang, and Mr. Yoshikawa left a message saying he was coming up to get Shiro for another round of mahjong."
"Rather than reporting it yourself, you figured it would be better to let someone else find the body so you could arrive 'late' and minimize suspicion. So you left the apartment and waited at the emergency stairs until the four of us entered the room before making your appearance."
Kyoko Shibata was now drenched in sweat; anyone could see the guilt written all over her face.
She forced herself to speak: "Mr. Hoshimiya, this is all just your speculation! you have no proof at all!"
A sharp light flickered behind her glasses.
"You're just trying to save this woman, so you're choosing to frame me, right? You can't explain the photo in my husband's hand—the dying message he left behind!"
Yuu sneered, "Stubborn to the end. Mrs. Shibata, do you really think your 'quick thinking' turned out for the best? How childish. The more you do, the more traces you leave. Do you really think you're clever?"
"Mr. Shibata knew he had no chance to call for help, so he was bound to leave a dying message. To identify you, the simplest method was his wedding ring."
"His left hand was covered in blood. He took the ring off his left ring finger and gripped it tightly in his right hand as a clue to accuse you, but you found it when you came back."
"Naturally, you pried his right hand open and took the ring, but the body was already stiff. You couldn't put the ring back on his left ring finger."
"Because of that, the missing ring on his left hand and the posture of his right hand gripping empty air would have been extremely suspicious."
"So, you took the photo that was tucked inside the copy of 'Gate of the Thunder God' from the book pile, placed it in Shiro's right hand, and then wrapped a bandage around his left ring finger to hide the mark. You were perfectly willing to frame an innocent person."
"Are you satisfied with that explanation?"
"As for the evidence, it's that blood-stained wedding ring. You didn't have time to dispose of it properly, so I imagine it's still on your person right now!"
Yuu paused and added one last point: "Besides, even without the physical evidence, you were always the primary suspect. Statistics prove that when one spouse is murdered, the probability of the other being the killer is incredibly high."
Especially in this "Conan-science" world...
Yuu added the final line silently in his mind.
The forensic officer crouching by the body removed the bandage from the victim's finger and shouted with excitement.
"Inspector Yokomizo! Mr. Hoshimiya! The left hand is exactly as Mr. Hoshimiya described, and we found a circular bloodstain in the palm of the right hand!"
Inspector Yokomizo's thick eyebrows shot up as he turned to face Mrs. Shibata.
"Mrs. Shibata, forgive me, but we need to take you for a body search!"
After hearing Yuu's complete deduction, Kyoko Shibata was left speechless. Her clenched fist opened, and a blood-stained ring clattered onto the floor. Tears instantly burst from her eyes.
"It's all his fault! I told him to stop gambling, but he couldn't stop! He owed tens of millions, but he refused to change! He kept saying he could win it back! I had no choice, uuuu..."
Her sobbing echoed through the hallway.
"He said he was going to sell my golf clubs, and then he was going to sell the famous sword my grandfather gave us as a wedding gift! I've already lost so much! I didn't want to lose the last memento my grandfather left me, so I killed him!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Kyoko Shibata knelt on the floor, weeping, while Takezo Yoshikawa looked on with a face full of guilt.
Ran Mouri found the scene unbearable and instinctively hugged Yuu's arm.
Inspector Yokomizo spoke with a heavy voice, "Mrs. Shibata, please come with us to the station."
A dazed look appeared on Kyoko's face. She wiped her tears and said, "Wait a moment. Let me go to the bedroom to change my clothes, and then I'll go with you."
With that, she staggered into the bedroom.
Just then, the front door opened, and an officer ran in looking excited. "Inspector! I found the murder weapon! It was dumped in a corner of the emergency stairs. It's a sword scabbard, and it's covered in blood!"
"Excellent work!"
Hearing this, Shizuka Hattori's brow furrowed, and she immediately rushed toward Kyoko's bedroom.
Yuu Hoshimiya knew that Shizuka, the former genius kendo beauty, was about to show off her skills. He followed her with great interest.
The others, curious by their sudden movement, followed along as well.
The wooden door was pulled open to reveal Kyoko Shibata holding a katana against her own neck, crying as she prepared to commit suicide.
Seeing the door open, Kyoko's pupils contracted. She immediately took a defensive stance, pointing the sword at the crowd and screaming, "Don't come any closer! I have nothing left to lose! I can't escape my crime anyway, so just let me apologize to Shiro in the afterlife!"
Yuu thought she was being quite mental. If she had already made the decision to kill him, why would she commit suicide to apologize to a gambling addict?
Furthermore, if she truly wanted to kill herself, she could have just slit her throat already; there was no need for all this drama.
If Kyoko moved fast enough right now, no one could stop her unless Yuu used magic.
The only logical explanation was that Kyoko didn't actually want to die.
Shiro Shibata, the gambler, deserved to die, and Kyoko, the husband-killer, didn't deserve much sympathy either. Yuu couldn't be bothered to move.
Inspector Yokomizo and the others tried to move forward to stop her, but seeing the cold glint of the blade and fearing they would provoke her, they could only try to talk her down.
At that moment, the silent Shizuka Hattori pulled a fan from her sleeve. Holding the short fan in her right hand, she began to pace forward step-by-step, just like in a kendo match.
Shiro Shibata had won a kendo championship in middle school, so his skills were clearly not weak.
It was through kendo that he had managed to marry Kyoko.
Kyoko's maiden name was Kyoko Mamiya, and she was the last descendant of the Mamiya Itto-ryu style. Her kendo skills actually surpassed those of Shiro.
Shizuka Hattori had also been a famous kendo prodigy in her youth; her skills were just as formidable.
In fact, her kendo talent and skill had played a crucial role in her being able to marry into the Hattori family—a dynasty of police officers.
In Japan, almost every police officer knows a bit of kendo.
If your skill level is high enough, it can even lead to praise and promotions.
Although Kyoko Shibata was distraught, she was armed with a long blade, while Shizuka only had a short fan.
The saying goes: an inch longer is an inch stronger, an inch shorter is an inch more dangerous!
It was unclear who would win in a fight; Shizuka's actions were actually quite risky.
However, the bedroom was a small space. If an accident happened, Yuu could intervene in time anyway.
Kyoko was indeed unstable. As people tried to stop her suicide, she went berserk and charged forward with the sword, seemingly wanting to take someone down with her.
A cold light flashed in her eyes as she raised the blade, executing a Mamiya Itto-ryu strike toward Shizuka.
Shizuka remained perfectly calm, her mind as steady as still water!
She snapped her fan open. The brilliant red maple leaf pattern on the fan dazzled Kyoko's vision.
As the blade struck the center of the fan, Shizuka brought her hands together, attempting to catch the blade between them.
But the famous sword was incredibly sharp. The bamboo fan couldn't withstand the strike and was sliced clean in two.
Based on the sword's trajectory, the downward stroke was bound to disembowel her.
Shizuka's beautiful eyes contracted. Am I going to die?
Seeing this, Yuu Hoshimiya clicked his tongue.
It was only natural that a fan couldn't stop a sword, but he really hadn't expected this almost identical plot to change and produce an accident here.
He really just wanted to watch the show and see Shizuka's skills; he hadn't planned on using this to farm affection points...
"Miss Ikenami! Watch out!"
On the other side, the crowd erupted in shouts of alarm.
Though his mind was full of complaints, Yuu didn't hesitate when he saw Shizuka in danger and acted decisively.
Just as her life began to flash before her eyes, a large hand appeared at Shizuka's waist. It pressed against her stomach and pulled her back at the absolute last second.
She instantly fell into a solid, powerful embrace.
Yuu acted with lightning speed. Looking at the downward-swinging blade, he unleashed a whip-kick that slammed into the side of the sword.
Under the force of his staggering power, the sword was instantly knocked out of Kyoko's hand, flying to the right and embedding itself deep into the wall.
Yuu immediately shouted, "You've already killed your husband! Do you want to kill someone else too?!"
"No... no... I only wanted to kill myself..." Kyoko Shibata finally realized what she had done and lowered her head, apologizing to the two of them incessantly.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Shizuka Hattori, still resting in Yuu's arms, looked completely dazed.
Yuu looked down and took Shizuka's small hand in his. "Are you hurt? Does anything pain you?"
He wasn't about to waste an opportunity to gain favor that had been served to him on a silver platter. Yuu whispered his concern while enjoying the soft, voluptuous feel of her body against his.
Hearing his caring words and sensing the burning heat of the hand on her abdomen while her back was pressed against his sturdy chest, two bright blushes instantly appeared on Shizuka's face.
The beauty in the kimono looked at Yuu with a strange, complex gaze and whispered, "Mmm... I'm fine!"
Yuu then released Shizuka's hand.
Inspector Yokomizo quickly ordered his officers to restrain Kyoko Shibata and drag her out, finally bringing the matter to an end.
Around 5:00 PM, at the entrance of the police station, Yuu and his group were saying goodbye to Inspector Yokomizo after finishing their statements.
The Inspector gripped Yuu's hand with intense enthusiasm.
"Mr. Hoshimiya! Please, take me as your disciple! I really want to learn your methods for solving cases!"
Looking at the "coral-horse" face pressed so close to his, Yuu felt speechless and hurriedly withdrew his hand.
"Inspector Yokomizo, you've already been promoted to Inspector. I have nothing left to teach you. Solving cases is just like solving puzzles; if you're careful, you'll always find the clues. Don't bring up the disciple thing again. I don't take students."
Yokomizo didn't give up and spoke again: "Then, Mr. Hoshimiya, don't head back tonight! Let me entertain you for the evening!"
The thick eyebrows on his long face twitched suggestively, looking incredibly frivolous.
"I happen to know some very good spots in Shizuoka's Kabukicho district!"
For Japanese men, visiting red-light districts to drink and "bond" was considered perfectly normal.
Since they did this every day, it was no wonder that the infidelity rate among Japanese wives, especially housewives, was sky-high.
After all, it was a mutual arrangement.
The moment he finished speaking, Yokomizo felt a bone-chilling aura rising behind him. He turned to see Ran Mouri looking at him with red, glowing eyes.
Ran could accept Yuu building a "Crystal Palace," but going to a place like that was out of the question.
Besides, if he really wanted to experience an emperor-like lifestyle of indulgence, a party at the Suzuki Estate was far superior to any cabaret club.
There, Yuu was the only man, and everyone from the host to the waitresses and chefs was a top-tier beauty.
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
Inspector Yokomizo, now with three massive bumps on his head, was stumbling around the sidewalk, hugging a utility pole for support.
"I was joking! I was just joking!"
Yuu, meanwhile, was being dragged directly toward the Lexus by Ran.
"Brother Yuu, don't associate with inspectors like that anymore. And you absolutely cannot take him as a disciple. Do you understand?"
"Of course!"
The two got into the car. Shizuka Hattori, sitting in the passenger seat, saw the exchange and a light smile touched her face.
The car soon started and headed back toward Tokyo.
Yuu drove fast on the return trip. By around 6:30 PM, the Lexus arrived back at the tower apartment.
Ran got out to prepare dinner, while Yuu kept the engine running to drop Shizuka off.
As the car headed toward the Shinkansen station, only Yuu and Shizuka remained inside.
To hide her identity, Shizuka naturally hadn't asked Yuu to drive her all the way back to Osaka.
Though even if she had, Yuu would have found an excuse to refuse.
As the car sped along, Shizuka stared at Yuu with eyes full of curiosity.
"Mr. Hoshimiya," she began, "thank you for saving me back at the Shibata house. I owe you a great debt of gratitude!"
Yuu didn't even turn his head. "Offering thanks without even revealing your real identity? That's not very sincere, is it?"
Shizuka continued to play dumb. "Mr. Hoshimiya, what are you talking about? I don't understand you at all."
A smirk played on Yuu's lips. His side profile left Shizuka's heart fluttering.
Then, her heart rate suddenly skyrocketed as Yuu operated the steering wheel and brakes simultaneously. The rear wheels of the Lexus, which had been in the innermost of the four lanes, accelerated and carved a parabolic arc.
The car executed a flawless drift, sliding through the gaps between countless cars across all four lanes before coming to a stop on the shoulder of an off-ramp.
The drifting technique was so magnificent it left bystanders staring in awe.
Beside the ramp stood a maple tree. A light breeze blew, and several bright red leaves drifted down. Yuu caught one between two fingers of his left hand; the leaf was a vibrant, fiery red.
In the passenger seat, Shizuka was panting heavily. Her impressive chest heaved beneath her kimono; she had clearly been frightened by the sudden drift.
Yuu turned to look at her, his eyes deep and commanding. "Miss Ikenami... do you still refuse to tell the truth?"
Yuu's left hand reached out to gently stroke Shizuka's pale, exquisite face.
"They say the more beautiful a woman is, the better she is at lying. Since you are so beautiful, you must be a champion among liars!"
Shizuka's eyes contracted, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
"Since we met today, I haven't heard a single word of truth come out of your mouth. Your talent for nonsense is truly impressive."
"You claimed to have a congenital bronchial condition, yet your hobby is knitting sweaters—you clearly aren't afraid of the lint irritating your throat."
"You recognized the sea bream at a glance and even knew its nickname, yet you claim to be a bad cook."
"You're incredibly confident in your 'mediocre' kendo skills, yet you say you dislike exercise."
Hearing Yuu call her kendo "mediocre," a flash of indignation appeared in Shizuka's eyes, but she didn't explode.
"And when the lunch was served, you called for 'Reiko.' Clearly, you didn't want plain water and intended to pair iced coffee with your pasta... though I don't quite understand that combination, I do understand the term."
Yuu teased her and continued, "I haven't been to Osaka many times, but I happen to know that 'Reiko' is the local slang for iced coffee."
"When you realized your mistake, you made up a story about a character from a novel. Well then, 'Miss Reiko from Osaka,' it's a pleasure to meet you!"
"That bandage on your left ring finger? You're just trying to hide your wedding ring and the fact that you're a married woman!"
"Then there were all those lies during tea time. You said you loved violets and hated maples, but you chose a fan with a maple leaf pattern. You said you liked a new luxury perfume, yet you had a traditional scent sachet tied at your waist. There were so many lies I can't even remember them all."
"Finally, that call from three days ago was from you to Shiro Shibata. You already had his contact info, yet you went through the trouble of hiring me to find him."
At this, a predatory smile appeared on Yuu's face, and he made no effort to hide his aggression.
His handsome face leaned in close to Shizuka's, his hot breath hitting her cheek.
"Miss Ikenami... do you think I have nothing better to do? Were you just trying to mess with me for fun?"
In this moment, Yuu conveniently ignored that the person Shizuka had originally intended to mess with was Kogoro Mouri. He had simply happened to take the fall for his "father-in-law."
He was happy to take the blame, but it was time to collect the payment.
Faced with a man who felt so dangerous, Shizuka's heart was in a total mess. She tried to open her mouth to explain.
"I..."
"I assume you've heard the story of Pinocchio, haven't you? People who lie too much have to be punished!"
"Unfortunately for you, you've told far too many lies today!" Yuu gave a brilliant, wicked smile.