Chapter 012: It’S All My Words!

Akashi, still nestled in Ran's protective embrace, spoke up smoothly, his voice steady. 

"Sister Ran, don't you think it feels a little hot in this apartment?" 

He glanced around, adding, "The temperature's so high even though the air conditioner is working perfectly." 

"And look, there's water damage near the deceased... and some strange depressions on the floor." 

Conan's eyes widened in disbelief, his face betraying shock. 

'He said everything I was about to say!' 

Yoko furrowed her brow as she considered Akashi's observations. 

"That's odd. I distinctly remember turning off the air conditioner before leaving!" 

She gestured to the floor and continued, "And I cleaned thoroughly before heading out. The floor was spotless—how could these marks appear?" 

Hearing this, Kogoro crouched down to inspect the floor. Indeed, the marks were there, just as Akashi described. 

The coincidence of these signs appearing alongside the corpse puzzled everyone. Yet, for Kogoro, connecting the dots proved to be a mental hurdle too high. 

Akashi, unfazed, offered another suggestion: 

"Why not check under the sofa? The kid with the glasses keeps glancing there, as if something's hidden." 

Initially, the adults dismissed the idea of entertaining a child's suggestion. But Akashi's calm tone seemed to carry an almost magnetic charm, particularly toward the opposite sex. 

Intrigued, Yoko moved to investigate. Seeing his idol so engaged, Kogoro followed suit. 

Moments later, the two uncovered an earring beneath the sofa. Holding it up, Kogoro turned to Eiichi Yamagishi. 

"Do you recognize this?" 

After examining it closely, Yamagishi nodded. 

"This looks like Yuko Ikezawa's earring!" 

A murmur swept through the room. 

"Could Yuko have been here recently?" Yamagishi mused aloud. "Wait, I remember! She was at the lounge where I lost my key three days ago!" 

---

Inspector Megure's stern voice cut through the speculation. 

"Who is Yuko Ikezawa?" 

Yamagishi responded promptly: 

"She's an artist from our agency, a few years older than Yoko. They've competed in several areas—professionally, of course." 

He elaborated further: 

"Last time, Yuko vied for the lead role in a morning drama series. She lost to Yoko, and, well... there was some tension." 

Kogoro's eyes lit up as he exclaimed, 

"Then I've figured it out! The murderer must be Yuko Ikezawa!" 

His tone turned dramatic. 

"Jealous over losing the role, she held a grudge against Miss Yoko. To exact revenge, she murdered someone and framed her rival! Such cruelty!" 

He turned to Inspector Megure, urging, 

"Quickly, Inspector Megure, send someone to arrest her!" 

Inspector Megure's expression darkened at Kogoro's unfounded theatrics. 'Half a year away, and this guy hasn't improved a bit,' he thought grimly. 

Nevertheless, Yuko Ikezawa sounded like a potential suspect. 

"Takagi," Inspector Megure ordered, "find Yuko Ikezawa and bring her in for questioning." 

With a salute, Takagi Wataru exited the scene. 

---

Meanwhile, Yoko approached Akashi, her face filled with gratitude. 

"Akashi, it's thanks to you that we discovered all these clues." 

Standing off to the side, Conan's frustration boiled over. 'Wait, what?' 

'I noticed these things first! Why is he getting all the credit?!' 

Ran, equally impressed, tilted her head curiously. 

"Akashi, you've been in my arms this whole time. How did you even notice these things?" 

Akashi shrugged, a small smile on his face. 

"My eyesight's always been sharp since I was little. I can spot even the smallest details from afar." 

Ran's eyes sparkled. 

"Wow, Akashi, you're amazing!" 

Overcome with affection, she leaned in close, playfully rubbing her cheek against his like a contented cat. 

Akashi squirmed, laughter spilling from his lips. 

"Stop it! Haha, it's so itchy!" 

Conan, observing this, looked utterly defeated, his frustration reaching its peak. 'Why does happiness belong to him and not me?!' 

'Just you wait!' Conan vowed internally. 'Once I solve this case, I'll show everyone how capable I am!' 

---

Not long after, the distinct clatter of high heels echoed through the apartment, announcing the arrival of a striking figure. 

A woman draped in a leopard-print coat strode in with a commanding presence, her tone sharp and condescending. 

"How strange," she sneered, "there's a dead body in Yoko's house, and yet you're calling me here? What does this have to do with me? What am I supposed to cooperate on?" 

This was none other than Yuko Ikezawa. Her expression carried a faint, mocking satisfaction as if enjoying the situation. 

Beside her, Takagi Wataru straightened up, offering an explanation. 

"Ms. Ikezawa, your earring was found at Yoko's residence." 

Yuko's gaze landed on the solitary earring displayed on the table. Rather than flinching, she laughed lightly. 

"Oh, that 'is' my earring. I'd noticed it missing for a few days now. I thought someone must have stolen it." 

Her lips curved into a smirk as she turned to Yoko. 

"Yoko, if you wanted it, all you had to do was ask." 

"Stealing, though? That's hardly becoming of a girl idol." 

Yoko's cheeks flushed with anger as she protested, 

"I didn't steal it! You must have come to my house secretly and dropped it here!" 

Yuko's expression hardened as she snapped back, 

"Careful with your accusations. Just because you say I was here doesn't make it true. Why not claim I've been to heaven while you're at it?" 

She waved dismissively. 

"Believe what you want, but don't drag me into this. Keep the earring if it makes you happy—I won't argue with you." 

Yoko's frustration mounted, her face burning with indignation. The two women locked eyes, their heated glares crackling like lightning in a storm. 

--- 

Inspector Megure and Kogoro exchanged uneasy glances. 

Neither woman seemed trustworthy, and Yuko Ikezawa, with her years in the entertainment industry, was particularly adept at avoiding the truth. Still, the police couldn't allow them to argue endlessly. 

Stepping forward, Inspector Megure attempted to mediate. 

"Let's not get worked up. I only ask for your cooperation with the investigation. If everything checks out, the police will clear your name." 

Yuko shot him a disdainful glance, scoffing. 

"Tch, police. What good are you?" 

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the apartment's bathroom. 

When she returned, she sauntered over to a chair, crossed her legs, and reached for a Statue of Liberty figure on the table. 

Pressing a hidden switch, she ignited a flame and casually lit a cigarette, puffing away without a care. 

Her demeanor was anything but ladylike—less a polished artist and more like a brazen gangster. 

"Alright, what exactly do you need from me?" she asked nonchalantly, exhaling a cloud of smoke. 

The room fell silent, and Conan's eyes sharpened. He was on the verge of speaking up when Akashi, still cradled in Ran's arms, beat him to it. 

"Wow, that's impressive," Akashi said with mock admiration. 

"This big sister claims she's never been here before, yet she went straight to the bathroom hidden in the back without hesitation." 

He pointed to the Statue of Liberty figurine. 

"And this? I always thought it was just a decoration. But big sister knew it was a lighter, and she used it perfectly on her first try. Amazing!" 

The words hung in the air for a moment before realization dawned on everyone. 

Every one of Yuko's actions betrayed familiarity with the apartment—familiarity impossible for someone who'd never been there before. 

Her lie unraveled in an instant. 

Yuko's face froze, her confident facade crumbling. She hadn't expected her nonchalant behavior to give her away so easily. 

Conan, meanwhile, stared at Akashi in disbelief. 

'He figured it out just like I did!' 

'This kid's sharp. Too sharp. Was I even this good at his age?'