In the dining hall of the Waya Inn.
Due to a minor incident, the group decided against venturing out for dinner in the night, opting instead to make do with a meal at the inn's restaurant.
"Hey!"
"So, you're saying you ran off because you met a local girl?"
Sonoko couldn't help but let out an exaggerated gasp.
Catching the eyes of everyone—especially Mr. Dowake—she lowered her voice a notch.
Just moments ago, when Tsune mentioned something like this, she and Ran hadn't believed it.
But now that Conan himself admitted it, it had to be true!
"Here Ran and I were, searching the entire inn for you, and you were sneaking off for a date!" Sonoko shot Conan a sidelong glance.
How does a first-grader on a trip manage to find a girlfriend, of all things?
"This kid's quite the charmer. I told you there was no need to worry about him," Tsune said, cradling his bowl and digging into the exclusive seafood dish he'd reserved in advance.
"Ha." Conan gave a wry chuckle.
Just earlier, Tsune had been beaten to a pulp, looking half-dead from exhaustion. Yet the moment food was mentioned, he sprang to life.
Classic Tsune…
Ran poured Conan a cup of hot water and touched his forehead gently. "Make sure to take your medicine after dinner," she instructed.
Though he didn't have a fever, he was sneezing occasionally—a slight cold.
"Got it!" Conan nodded, his mood lifting a bit.
Dowake Masahiko seemed preoccupied, barely saying a word.
The Waya Inn might be a bit old, but the food was surprisingly good. Sonoko nodded approvingly as she ate, but her attention soon shifted to Tsune's plate.
"Tsune, why's your food different from ours?"
Those two fish—they're clearly not the same as what's on our plates, right?
And that soup—it looks like it's got way more ingredients.
"It's the special seafood dish he reserved in advance," Kyogoku Makoto explained, setting a complimentary fruit platter on the table.
"Delicious!" Tsune praised, hugging his bowl.
Kyogoku nodded and turned to attend to other guests.
"Mr. Dowake, you're awfully quiet. Not much of a talker?" Tsune piped up between bites, launching into conversation.
Conan stared, dumbfounded.
Seriously, Tsune? This isn't like you.
Normally, if you suspected someone, you'd roll up your sleeves and throw punches. Since when did you switch to verbal jabs?
"No, I was just lost in thought," Dowake Masahiko said with a faint smile, brushing it off.
This guy's weird. Why does he keep talking nonsense to me?
Earlier today, it was his instigating that made me rush in recklessly and take a punch.
What's he up to now?
"Oh, right! Tomorrow morning, how about we visit that cursed restaurant together?" Dowake suggested again.
"If it's during the day, there's nothing to be scared of!" Sonoko agreed instantly.
"Just don't bring a camera!" Ran cautioned, worried about capturing something eerie.
Conan glanced at the leisurely Tsune, then frowned at Dowake.
Why does this guy keep pushing to visit that restaurant?
Is it just because of those photos with supposed ghosts?
Photos…
A camera?!
The detective's mind raced, recalling the person who'd snuck into Sonoko and Ran's room, rummaging for something.
"Sonoko-neechan, are the negatives from that camera still around?" Conan asked, sensing a lead.
"Negatives?"
"I got all the photos developed this afternoon. I was going to show them during dinner," Sonoko said, pulling a stack of pictures from her pocket.
"Can I take a look?" Dowake asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Conan's lips curled into a smirk.
Gotcha. This guy's real reason for getting close to Sonoko is definitely tied to those photos!
"Another three—no, five bowls of rice!" Tsune called out cheerfully to Kyogoku.
Conan: …
Rice bucket!
"Sonoko, hold on." Ran's cheeks flushed as she stopped Sonoko from handing over the photos.
That picture of her at the beach, caught off-guard…
"Don't worry, I already took your photo out and kept it safe," Sonoko whispered, then passed the stack to Dowake.
Conan craned his neck, watching Dowake flip through the photos.
Sonoko's thirty-odd pictures were all of other couples being affectionate.
Nothing strange about them.
Of course, the mindset of whoever took these photos was definitely… peculiar.
Dowake browsed the stack, his composure forced.
The photo he needed to show her detective friend wasn't in there.
…
Midnight.
Tsune glanced at the sleeping Conan, slipped out of the room, and headed to the inn's first-floor reception counter.
"I'm thinking of taking that guy out tonight," Tsune said.
Kyogoku: ???
"Taking him out, as in…?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. He's killed plenty of people. Just break his limbs and toss him into the sea."
Tsune wasn't denying anyone a chance to play hero.
But, like he'd warned Kyogoku about a possible thief earlier, you wouldn't want a friend who often treats you to meals to face a knife, would you?
"Don't listen to his nonsense."
A small figure in pajamas descended the stairs, addressing the inn's young owner.
"I don't know who you are, but you're definitely a reliable ally, right?"
The detective flashed a confident grin.
Kyogoku nodded, stunned.
He recalled that figure sprinting through the rain.
He'd chased after a culprit earlier, hadn't he?
Who are you?
As if reading the doubt in Kyogoku's eyes, Conan stood by the staircase, triggering some mechanism that made his glasses glint.
"Edogawa Conan, detective."
"Kyogoku Makoto."
Tsune watched the two introduce themselves and offered a suggestion. "I still say we break that guy's limbs tonight."
"You can go back to bed and eat your way through town tomorrow," Conan shot back, glancing at the handyman.
Tsune frowned at the two whispering conspirators.
The fickle hearts of men!
Unbelievable!
Who'd have thought Kudo, with his bold brows and big eyes, would start whispering secrets with someone else?
Fine, fine, fine!
Tomorrow, I'm hitting the priciest restaurant in town!
(End of Chapter)
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