Chapter Thirty: Moonshadow Island

Tanaka Tomofumi’s older brother had once been an exceptionally talented writer, but in recent years he had fallen into a life of debauchery, living like a parasite, mooching off Tomofumi’s family.

If it were simply a matter of helping to care for his brother, Tomofumi could have tolerated it.

But that scoundrel of a brother was never satisfied; he secretly discovered the incriminating documents Tomofumi had hidden at home—evidence of his manipulation of stock trades through a securities company—and used this as blackmail to extort more benefits from him.

Driven to the brink, Tomofumi could no longer bear it, and while his brother was in the bathroom, he struck him in the head with a golf club, killing him instantly.

Before Tomofumi could even deal with the body, Suzuki Haruaki and the others suddenly burst into the yard.

With no other choice, Tomofumi risked cleaning up his brother’s corpse and prepared to perform a one-man show before the police, pretending that his brother was still alive.

Unfortunately, before the farce could begin, Suzuki Haruaki quickly saw through Tomofumi’s deception.

The police soon discovered the body upstairs in the bedroom, clad in a yukata and posed on the sofa as if alive.

“Thank you very much, kids. If anything happens next time, remember to call the police immediately, okay?” Officer Megure smiled, ruffling Suzuki Haruaki and the others on the head before he and Officer Takagi left in a police car.

After the officers left, Ayumi eagerly approached Suzuki Haruaki, exclaiming, “Haruaki, you were really cool just now!”

Mitsuhiko nodded in agreement, “Yeah, you were like a real detective. That was so impressive.”

“Ugh, you stole all the spotlight this time. We found the body together, you know. Don’t hog all the credit next time,” Genta grumbled, a bit annoyed despite admiring Haruaki’s coolness.

O(∩_∩)O Haha~

Suzuki Haruaki laughed and waved his hand, “I know, I know. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“That kid has a remarkably sharp eye; he’s got what it takes to be a detective,” Conan thought to himself.

To be honest, although Conan had his suspicions about Tomofumi, he hadn’t caught the flaw so quickly. It was surprising that Suzuki Haruaki had solved the murder case first.

Still, Conan didn’t feel discouraged—after all, one case doesn’t prove much.

It was just that Haruaki was luckier in spotting the culprit’s slip-up first!

---

The next day was the weekend. Ayumi excitedly suggested, “Why don’t we go to the aquarium tomorrow? I heard there’s a dolphin show!”

“I’m not going. Uncle Mouri has a business trip tomorrow, so Ran and I will be going with him,” Conan shook his head.

“A business trip?!”

Suzuki Haruaki perked up instantly upon hearing this.

In the world of Detective Conan, whenever Conan went on a business trip with Kogoro Mouri, it always meant a case would come up—and that meant Haruaki could log in for a new adventure. He couldn’t miss it.

“Tamaoka-san, I haven’t stayed at Ran’s place for days. Can I sleep over at Ran’s tonight, please?” Haruaki clutched Tamaoka Kurozaki’s leg, using his innocent childlike voice to plead.

Faced with such a display of charm, Tamaoka had no strength to resist, replying helplessly, “Young master, you really like clinging to Ran, don’t you? I’ll have to trouble Ran again then.”

“I knew you were the best, Tamaoka-san!”

Satisfied, Haruaki finally released Tamaoka’s leg and turned to smile at Conan, “Conan, let’s go home together today.”

“...”

Conan rolled his eyes silently, then waddled off toward the Mouri Detective Agency with his short legs.

Watching them leave, Genta couldn’t help but comment, “That Haruaki guy sure loves to act spoiled in front of Tamaoka-san, just like a little kid.”

“Haruaki is a kid after all,” Ayumi smiled faintly, recalling his adorable plea.

Mitsuhiko sighed regretfully, “Since Haruaki and Conan are both busy, I guess we’ll have to go to the aquarium by ourselves tomorrow.”

---

The following morning, vast stretches of ocean lay before them.

Leaning against the railing of the passenger ship, Kogoro Mouri smoked a cigarette and grumbled, “Honestly, we could be out drinking instead—why does this famous detective have to go to some tiny island?”

A few days ago, a man named Keiji Asou had sent Mouri a commission letter, requesting him to visit a small island called Tsukikage Island.

At first, Mouri didn’t want to accept the case, but Asou had offered 500,000 yen upfront and then disappeared, leaving Mouri no choice but to make the trip.

“I think it’s fine—a bit of a vacation, even,” Ran Mouri said, lowering her head to ask Haruaki and Conan, “Don’t you think so?”

“Yeah!”

Haruaki and Conan nodded in agreement.

(ˉ▽￣～) Tch~~

Mouri curled his lip, “You two are happy because you’re on a trip, but I’m working!”

Beep beep beep...

More than half an hour later, with the sound of a ship’s horn, the passenger ship slowly docked at the pier on Tsukikage Island.

To find the client Keiji Asou, Mouri and the others immediately headed to the island’s municipal office after disembarking.

To everyone’s surprise, the staff there told them that Keiji Asou had died more than ten years ago.

Asou was born on Tsukikage Island and had been a famous pianist in his lifetime.

Twelve years ago, on a full moon night, Asou returned to the island after many years and held a piano recital at the local community center.

But after the concert, it was said that Asou seemed possessed by an evil spirit—he locked his wife and child inside their home and set it on fire.

He reportedly murdered his wife and daughter with a knife and played Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata on the piano amidst the flames.

“A letter from a dead man? What a cruel prank,” Mouri said with displeasure as he pulled the commission letter from his pocket after leaving the municipal office.