The Murder Case Reappears

Just as Mizuo had said, before long the night sky had completely cleared. Bright moonlight spilled down, turning the river's surface silver and blending with the distant neon lights. It truly was beautiful.

However, no one in the third-floor private room—Mori and the others included—had any interest in admiring the night. They had all drunk quite a bit and were feeling tired, so they gathered around to watch Kogoro play a drunken party game.

Shiraishi appeared to be watching the commotion, but he was actually quietly talking to Conan and Heiji about the assassin from earlier.

Just then, Ryūen returned from the restroom. Saijo, who had been sitting on the other side, stood up and muttered, "I need to use the restroom too."

Seeing him sway slightly, the geisha Chikarin, who had been playing a game with Mori, instinctively rose to accompany him, but Saijo refused.

"It's fine. I'm not drunk yet. I can manage on my own. Just keep Mr. Mori company." With that, Saijo left by himself.

Not long after Saijo left, Conan, who had run out of case-related matters to discuss, looked at the moon and began telling Heiji about something that had happened between him and Ran.

Shiraishi had no interest in watching Mori play games with the geisha, so though he had not meant to, he overheard the story as well.

Back when Conan had still been Kudo Shinichi, he had once arranged to meet Ran. However, a case had delayed him, and by the time he remembered, two hours had already passed—

Although he thought Ran surely would not have waited for him and had gone home, he still decided to check their meeting place. To his surprise, Ran was still waiting there—

He had expected a furious scolding, but instead, Ran had merely