Chapter 284
With a case occurring, the stage play definitely couldn't continue. Someone called the police, and Inspector Megure, an old acquaintance, quickly arrived at the scene.
Inspector Megure was still inquiring about the circumstances when the incident occurred, when he saw a young man in a baseball cap moving around the scene very familiarly, talking to him and analyzing the cause of the victim's death.
That eloquent, completely at ease attitude as if the scene were his own backyard made everyone wonder.
Mouri Kogorou even asked directly: "How do you know so much detail? Were you right next to the victim?"
"No, I was sitting eight rows forward from there. That glasses-wearing little brother can vouch for me."
Haibara Ai looked with half-closed eyes at the enthusiastically performing baseball cap boy, reluctantly admitting: "Yes, it seems so..."
Mouri Kogorou was still puzzled: "Speaking of which, you look familiar. Have we met before?"
The baseball cap boy had been waiting for this moment for a long time. He eagerly said: "How could you forget me after such a short time? It's me, I'm Kudo Shinichi!"
As he spoke, he removed his baseball cap.
Haibara Ai looked at him speechlessly.
Although she didn't know what makeup artist he'd found, applying some face cream to make his complexion paler, modifying his face shape to look more like Kudo Shinichi, and styling his hair to match, but—
This was clearly Hattori Heiji no matter how you looked at it!!!
Hattori Heiji didn't think he was easy to expose and thought he was acting well.
He wasn't doing this to prank anyone, but for his friend Kudo Shinichi!
A few days ago, hearing that Edogawa Conan was hospitalized, he quickly flew over to visit Edogawa Conan, only to hear Edogawa Conan say he might be exposed in front of Mouri Ran.
To make Mouri Ran believe that Edogawa Conan and Kudo Shinichi were two different people, the best method was to let Mouri Ran see Edogawa Conan and Kudo Shinichi appear in front of her simultaneously.
When Kudo was in trouble, he naturally had to help!
So Hattori Heiji went back to think it over and came up with this idea of impersonating Kudo Shinichi.
Actually, his initial plan was just to let Mouri Ran see him and Edogawa Conan sitting together while she was on stage—at that distance, he felt his disguise was quite convincing.
Who knew a case would occur and he couldn't ignore it, and Kudo Shinichi couldn't ignore it either, so he had to jump out to solve the case... Sigh, man proposes but heaven disposes. He hoped everyone could overlook his slight inconsistencies and believe he was Kudo Shinichi!
Unfortunately, after Hattori Heiji said in his Osaka accent that he was Kudo Shinichi, the scene fell awkwardly silent for a few seconds, then he was exposed.
"Heiji! What are you doing? Putting on powder and changing your hairstyle..." His childhood friend Toyama Kazuha stood up in confusion.
Hattori Heiji still wanted to resist desperately, but was quickly suppressed, wiped off the powder on his face, and revealed his true appearance.
Vermouth secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
My god! There were too many unexpected incidents today! Why did this guy also come to add to the chaos?
If he'd found someone skilled in disguise like herself, that would be one thing, but with such amateur skills, how dare he impersonate Kudo Shinichi!
And he publicly claimed to be Kudo Shinichi!
Fortunately he was exposed! Otherwise, with so many adults here, what if someone went out and posted that they saw Kudo Shinichi at a crime scene!
Although Usuha Izuki didn't come, everyone here could potentially cause the same destructive power as Usuha Izuki!
After Hattori Heiji's identity was exposed, he secretly regretted it for a moment, then continued immersing himself in solving the case, not causing any more trouble.
But Vermouth's heart was still hanging.
Because she saw that Kudo Shinichi, still wearing the Black Knight costume, was observing everywhere at the crime scene...
Vermouth silently prayed in her heart: Shinichi, you must remember your current situation and don't jump out in front of so many people...!
Haibara Ai felt the same way.
She couldn't guarantee that the organization member she sensed had left. If the other party stayed behind and Kudo Shinichi couldn't hold back... everything would be over!
So when Hattori Heiji, who still hadn't noticed anything wrong and still treated her as Edogawa Conan, came to discuss the case with her, Haibara Ai simply ordered Hattori Heiji around: "Help me pass along a message."
She didn't want to stand out now, only wanted to keep a low profile. The conspicuously costumed Kudo Shinichi was too eye-catching, so she'd better ask someone to relay the message.
Thinking about how cautious she was while Kudo Shinichi seemed to be missing a screw, Haibara Ai felt her fear being suppressed by anger, and many complaints arose in her heart.
Hattori Heiji hadn't noticed anything wrong yet, just wondered why Kudo Shinichi wasn't following him to reason through the case this time: "What message?"
Haibara Ai: "Tell that Black Knight that I have something to discuss with him."
Hattori Heiji thought the Black Knight might be connected to the case somehow, so he agreed without much hesitation and quickly ran over to call the Black Knight to this corner.
Kudo Shinichi was a bit puzzled: "What's wrong?"
Haibara Ai gestured for him to lower his head with her eyes.
Kudo Shinichi crouched down, just about to say something when a bolt from the blue struck him.
Haibara Ai: "The organization might have someone present. Think carefully before doing anything!"
Kudo Shinichi: "...?!?!?!"
He immediately became nervous: "Where? Who? How do you know?"
Haibara Ai briefly explained: "Just now, he even chatted with Hattori for a few moments. I don't know what the organization person is doing here, but if anyone might be the organization's target, it could be you and me."
There wasn't much intelligence from that.
Kudo Shinichi decisively went to find Hattori Heiji: "Hattori, who was that person who chatted with you at your seat earlier? Can you still recognize him?"
When Hattori Heiji heard Kudo Shinichi speak, he finally recognized him: "You! You...!"
Amazing! Isn't this Kudo Shinichi?!
He actually hadn't met Kudo Shinichi himself much, so he couldn't recognize him by his chin, but he'd at least conversed with him before. Although the voice wasn't very familiar either, this tone left a deep impression! After all, when Edogawa Conan dropped his act and spoke to him with Kudo Shinichi's attitude, it was exactly this tone!
But if this person before him was Kudo Shinichi, then who was that Edogawa Conan over there?!
Hattori Heiji was completely dumbfounded.
Kudo Shinichi waited a few seconds, seeing that Hattori Heiji still hadn't snapped out of it, helplessly waved his hand in front of Hattori Heiji: "Hattori? Hattori? Wake up! I'm in a hurry!"
Because Mouri Ran had been watching Edogawa Conan—now Haibara Ai—she quickly noticed Hattori Heiji's strange reaction.
She frowned in confusion, feeling that the Black Knight's posture didn't seem like Dr. Niide. Thinking about the Black Knight's strange reaction on stage earlier and Sonoko's inexplicably excited behavior...
Mouri Ran thought about it and walked to that corner, asking: "Um, Hattori-kun, and Dr. Niide... what happened?"
Hattori Heiji snapped back to reality but didn't dare say anything because he didn't know what Kudo Shinichi's situation was. Kudo Shinichi sighed and spoke up to smooth things over.
"Nothing, we were discussing the case."
Hattori Heiji, who hadn't really met the real Kudo Shinichi, could recognize him, so how could childhood friend Mouri Ran, who grew up with him, not recognize Kudo Shinichi's voice?
Her eyes immediately widened, and she instinctively called out: "Shinichi..."
But she quickly remembered her suspicions—no, what she was almost certain of. Mouri Ran hurriedly looked down and found Edogawa Conan was there too!
Huh? Huh?! But isn't Conan supposed to be Shinichi? They even have the same blood type, and sometimes their speech patterns and the way they solve cases...
Mouri Ran was confused.
Kudo Shinichi stepped back a few paces, retreating behind the curtain, then removed the Black Knight's hood, revealing his face.
Sigh, he had almost run out to reveal himself and solve the case earlier, but then Haibara Ai suddenly gave him this bombshell news. Now his mind was scared clear, and he didn't dare expose himself in front of everyone.
This was a good opportunity to quickly meet Ran and dispel her suspicions, then keep a low profile afterward.
After seeing Kudo Shinichi's face, Mouri Ran finally confirmed this was real, and couldn't help but freeze for a few more seconds.
Then she quickly convinced herself.
—Right, that's how it should be. A perfectly normal high school student suddenly turning into an elementary school student is still a bit too advanced for this era.
It's all because Conan is too smart and looks so much like Shinichi that she started overthinking... It's good she didn't actually say anything to Conan, otherwise it would be so embarrassing!
Kudo Shinichi said rapidly: "I'm still secretly investigating a case and it's not convenient to show myself. I'm also very busy, and this time I barely managed to find time to come back and see you..."
As he was speaking, Hattori Heiji, who had tactfully given them space and gone to check on police progress, returned.
"Kudo! Did you find evidence? The police want to close it as suicide! I've roughly deduced it, but I lack evidence..."
Kudo Shinichi's attention immediately shifted: "Ah, for evidence, it's in the murderer's hooded jacket. The ice should have melted by now. You can test for oxidation-reduction reaction with a ten-yen coin."
"Oh! Then I'll handle this case?" Hattori Heiji asked.
"...I'm counting on you." Kudo Shinichi said with some regret, "It's not suitable for me to come forward right now."
Hattori Heiji made an OK gesture and immediately went back to solve the case.
Only then did Kudo Shinichi remember he'd ignored Mouri Ran again!
"Uh, sorry, Ran, I just..."
Mouri Ran was a bit speechless but couldn't help smiling: "Forget it, you haven't changed at all."
When Hattori Heiji returned after solving the case, he saw Kudo Shinichi still chatting with Mouri Ran, just inexplicably stammering and making the poor girl confused.
Hattori Heiji thought about it and simply stepped forward: "Sorry, can I borrow Kudo for five minutes?"
He couldn't stand watching this anymore. He'd ask Kudo what he really wanted to do and help him out!
Mouri Ran naturally wouldn't refuse, and seeing Hattori Heiji, Kudo Shinichi's rationality returned.
"Kudo, you..."
"Who exactly was that person who chatted with you at your seat earlier?" Kudo Shinichi interrupted Hattori Heiji.
Hattori Heiji paused, remembering he still hadn't answered this question, though he found it somewhat baffling.
"...It was Samukawa-san. Did you see him from the stage? Don't you recognize him anymore?"
Kudo Shinichi: "...?!?!?!"
Hattori Heiji was about to ask why Kudo Shinichi was reacting so strongly when he saw Kudo Shinichi suddenly clutch his heart area and collapse with a very pale face.
Now it was Hattori Heiji's turn to be shocked: "Kudo?!"
—Although Samukawa-san is scary, it's not enough to frighten someone like this! Aren't you all acquaintances?! You must be a fake Kudo!