Chapter 36: Koshimizu Nanatsuki

It was nearly noon when Kiichi left Dr. Tsuruta’s clinic. He ducked into a small diner for a quick meal.

"Excuse me," Kiichi said, chatting with the server while she brought his food. "I’m a writer traveling around to document local shops that have been in business for over twenty years. Do you know of any places like that in this town?"

"Oh, certainly," the server replied with a nod. "I grew up in this town, so if you're looking for long-standing shops..."

She listed several, including a dessert shop that had been operating for over two decades.

"Thank you very much."

"Enjoy your meal," the server said with a smile before heading off.

After finishing lunch and taking a short rest, Kiichi made his way to the dessert shop. He pushed aside the curtain and stepped inside to find an elderly couple behind the counter.

"Hello," Kiichi said, identifying himself. "I was hoping to ask you a few questions. Is now a good time?"

"Oh... certainly. Is there something you need to ask, Officer?" The old couple seemed a bit nervous.

"I heard that over twenty years ago, a young lady named Mana from the villa would sometimes come here to buy ice cream. Is that true?"

"Twenty years ago..." The old woman strained to recall.

"Oh, I remember now," the old man chimed in first. "That quiet little girl who used to tag along with Mr. Soichiro or Masao, right?"

"Is that the same little girl who went missing along with Masao?" the old woman added.

Kiichi nodded. "Yes. What do you mean by 'quiet'?"

The old man explained, "Whenever she came to buy ice cream, Mana never spoke for herself. She would just stand obediently by the adults' side."

"That’s right," the old woman added. "Thinking back on it, it was quite strange. Usually, children get so excited when they get their favorite treats—they’re always chattering away, telling the adults exactly which flavor they want. But not Mana. Every single time, she just stood there silently, following the adults' lead. She wouldn't even look happy when she got the ice cream; she would just eat it quietly."

"She didn't express any preferences during the purchase? And she wasn't happy when she got it?"

"Not at all. I actually wondered if the child even knew how to talk. But that was clearly just a joke, as I once saw her from a distance having a conversation with Mr. Soichiro in a secluded spot after they left the shop," the old man replied.

"I assume you’ve heard that Mana lived exclusively at the villa and didn't attend school or play with the other children in town?"

"Yes," the old man hesitated. "We aren't sure what Mr. Soichiro was thinking, but from the way he brought Mana to buy ice cream, he was clearly a man who truly loved his granddaughter."

The old man, perhaps sensing that Kiichi was suspicious of something, offered an explanation.

"My apologies, but I must confirm this: whether it was Mr. Soichiro or Mr. Masao bringing her here, Mana never seemed excited or happy, and she never spoke?"

"That is correct," the old woman nodded. "I suppose it was just the strict etiquette expected of a young lady from a wealthy family..."

"Thank you." Kiichi bought himself a cup of ice cream. The handmade treat was indeed quite good.

After finishing, he strolled slowly back toward the inn. He had asked many people, but it felt as though everyone lived in a different world; the same event was retold in entirely different versions by different people.

What really happened in that villa before old Mr. Soichiro passed away? Although he had told Tsuruta he suspected Shino’s death was linked to the events of twenty years ago, was that really the case? Even now, the reason for Shino’s suicide remained a mystery. Or, perhaps, was Satsuki not the killer, yet Shino had been murdered all the same?

Twenty years ago, four years ago, now... Too much had been lost to time.

Lost in thought, he arrived back at the inn before he realized it.

"Oh, Officer, you’re back," Eiichi Harada called out as soon as he saw Kiichi.

"Yes. Is there something you need, Manager?" Kiichi asked, curious. Harada looked like he had something to share.

"A detective is looking for you."

"A detective?" Kiichi was puzzled. *Don't tell me Conan tracked me down? I ran all the way to Shikoku—are you still not letting me go? Was this case even in the original story?*

Harada led Kiichi to a room on the second floor and knocked. A moment later, the door opened. A young woman with short, tea-colored hair and headphones around her neck stood there.

She caught sight of Kiichi standing behind Harada, immediately took off her headphones, and scrutinized him.

Kiichi didn't waste time; he produced his identification. "I heard you were looking for me?"

"You’re an inspector from the Metropolitan Police Department?" the woman asked, looking doubtful.

"I am. But I am indeed here to investigate the case at the villa." Kiichi understood her skepticism.

"It doesn't matter," the woman replied, relaxing. "As long as the truth is found. My name is Koshimizu Natsuki. I’m a detective in training."

"I see..." Kiichi nodded, waiting for her to provide something of value.

"Satsuki, who committed suicide... she was a dear friend of mine." Koshimizu’s lips tightened; the mere mention of the name seemed to cause her pain. She nodded at the manager and gestured for Kiichi to step inside for a private conversation.

Once inside and the door closed, Koshimizu spoke. "After Ms. Shino died, Satsuki asked me to investigate, saying, 'It might have been an outsider; please, look into it.' But I couldn't find anything at the time, and I had to conclude it was a suicide."

Kiichi remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"But what I didn't expect was that a month after my investigation, a traveling detective passed through here. They claimed to have found evidence that the window had been tampered with, and to show off their deduction skills, they insisted to the police that Shino’s death was a murder." Koshimizu’s expression filled with hatred. "But when I investigated, I had explicitly confirmed that the window had definitely not been tampered with!

"I suspect a thief broke into the villa after the lady's death and messed with the window to commit a burglary. But that self-important detective insisted it was murder. All they had to do was check the corrosion on the screws to know that the window couldn't possibly have been tampered with for half a year... I suppose that person realized their mistake, which is why they hid their identity in the reports."

Kiichi sighed. Was it solely the detective's fault? Of course it was, but the greater responsibility clearly lay with the Shikoku police. A detective can offer a theory, but verifying evidence is the job of the police. For a lapse in judgment to drive someone to their death—that is something that truly requires an apology.

"I stayed at this inn back then, and I’m on good terms with Mr. Harada. When he told me an officer was reinvestigating the old case, I rushed over here without a moment's delay."