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"Yes!"
"I feel like someone is following me."
"Every time I come home, I notice that my furniture has been moved. And I keep receiving strange,
inexplicable photos."
"Silent phone calls every day... it's terrifying."
"..."
As she spoke, terror spread across Yoko Okino's pure and delicate face.
"If possible..."
"I'd like you to help us investigate."
The manager, who had been silently standing by, suddenly spoke up.
Hmm...
Just now, Akira had effortlessly deduced that Yoko Okino was being watched. This alone made the
manager realize how exceptional this detective assistant was.
"No problem. I'll take this case."
Hearing this, Ran Mouri let out a long sigh of relief.
Her biggest worry had finally been addressed.
Now all she had to do was explain everything to her dad when he sobered up tomorrow.
"One more thing..."
"Because of Yoko's public status, we hope you can conduct this investigation discreetly."
Why did Yoko Okino and her manager come to a relatively unknown detective like Kogoro Mouri?
This was why.
They didn't want to attract the attention of the paparazzi by going to a famous detective agency,
which would undoubtedly cause a media frenzy.
As a top idol, Yoko's life was already under heavy scrutiny. If word got out that she was being
stalked, it would send shockwaves through the entire entertainment industry.
"Got it."
"That's part of our job as detectives."
"Shall we head to Yoko's place to investigate now?"
The moment Akira said this, Ran's eyes widened in shock.
Wait, what?!
Wasn't he just supposed to act as a temporary assistant for half an hour to cover for her dad?
Before she could react, Yoko had already nodded in agreement.
She had come to a detective for help, after all, and Akira's deduction earlier had convinced her that
he was the real deal.
Beika Town.
Yoko Okino lived on the 25th floor of a luxurious high-rise in the city center.
"Hey—"
"What are you up to?"
"Why are we going to Yoko's apartment?"
"You're not just looking for an excuse to see an idol's room, are you?"
Ran finally grabbed a moment to question Akira while they were alone in the elevator.
"Of course not. We're here to investigate."
"Don't forget—we're detectives."
Ran rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.
Her original plan was for this so-called assistant to just get the case details from Yoko and leave the
rest to her dad tomorrow.
She hadn't expected him to actually take the job seriously.
"Then, Mr. 'Brilliant Detective,' do you even have a lead?" she asked with a smirk.
She was convinced Akira just wanted to take a peek at Yoko Okino's room.
Not that she wasn't curious herself.
"Not yet."
"But..."
"I can tell you this—we're about to walk into a crime scene."
Ran immediately put a finger to her lips. "Shhh—"
This wasn't something to joke about.
If Yoko overheard, it would only make things worse.
"We're here."
"Come in, please."
The moment the door opened, Yoko Okino's face went pale.
Then—
A bloodcurdling scream echoed down the hallway of the 25th floor.
"Miss Yoko! What happened?!"
Her manager instinctively rushed in front of her to protect her.
Then—
When he turned to look inside the room, his face turned ghostly white. His legs gave out, and he
collapsed onto the floor, scrambling backward in sheer terror.
"Th-There's a dead body!"
"What... what the hell is going on?!"
Despite being a man, the manager was clearly more shaken than the two women beside him.
"How... how did this happen?"
Ran clung to Akira's arm, her whole body tensed up in fear.
At the same time—
A thought hit her like lightning.
"Hey—"
"How did you know there'd be a murder here?!"
It was just too bizarre.
Akira had never been here before, yet he somehow knew what was waiting inside.
This was way beyond normal detective work.
Could it be…?
Was Akira really a genius?
If only her dad had even half his skills, maybe he wouldn't spend every day without a single client.
"Call the police."
Akira's calm words snapped the others back to reality.
Still in shock, Yoko couldn't even remember where she had left her phone.
In the end, it was Ran, who had experienced a murder case before, that pulled herself together and
called the police.
"Hello—"
"Inspector Megure?"
"There's been a murder at Beika Town, Sakura Tower, 25th floor…"
"....."