The Sleeping Great Detective Conan

The Sleeping Great Detective Conan

"Everyone saw the footage just now. The rubber ring around Masked Superman's foot may have been blown up by himself," Guchuan said in Conan's voice.

"Then doesn't that make it suicide?" Tajima said.

"You're wrong. Even so, this is still a murder case."

Tajima glared at Conan. So you were just messing with me earlier?

"As long as Hosono wasn't the one playing Masked Superman today, it's possible. I believe the murderer struck when Mr. Hosono was alone, then dressed him in the Masked Superman costume and threw him into the river," Guchuan continued.

"Then the murderer put on Masked Superman's costume himself and pulled a switcheroo."

Guchuan continued describing the murderer's method, reciting it entirely from his previous memories.

"Am I right, Mr. Otake Wataru?"

"How could that be? I was backstage preparing the explosions the whole time! If it was me, then who set off the explosions during the performance?" Otake Wataru said in panic.

"Let young Tomohiro answer that question."

A child wearing a Masked Superman mask walked in.

"Actually, I knew from the beginning that the person performing wasn't the usual Masked Superman. His movements were clumsy, and his Masked Side Kick was terrible. Also, Masked Superman always did his signature pose whenever there was an explosion before, but today's explosion came a little earlier than usual. And Masked Superman's signature pose was different too."

Tomohiro looked at the police officer with bright, focused eyes.

"Masked Superman's usual signature pose isn't holding his left hand out. He points his index finger upward toward the sky. It may be different from how it is on TV, but the Masked Superman here has always performed it that way."

"That's because when Masked Superman performed in our village, the show was canceled because of rain. But that pose was a promise that he would come back again."

Though Otake Wataru was somewhat flustered, he still refused to give up.

"What you're saying is completely without evidence."

"The evidence should be on your feet, shouldn't it? There are still burn marks on them."

Otake Wataru collapsed helplessly onto the sofa.

Ran took Tomohiro's hand, not wanting the child to feel sad.

"Tomohiro, let's go get some Ice Cream."

After she led Tomohiro away, Otake Wataru began recounting Hosono's "crimes." Trying to suppress him and keep him from playing Masked Superman—he deserved to die for that!

With the case over, Ran dragged the sleeping Kogoro Mouri and Conan home by herself.

Guchuan carried Little Ai home as well. He had just placed her on her bed when she groggily woke up.

"Why are you in my room?" Little Ai wrinkled her nose, her gaze full of wariness.

"You fell asleep at the amusement park, so I carried you back." Guchuan gave a sunny smile, making it clear that he wasn't some pervert.

"How did I fall asleep? Don't tell me you drugged me?" Little Ai looked at Guchuan suspiciously.

She wasn't really a child. How could she suddenly lose consciousness and fall asleep?

Suddenly, Little Ai clutched her blanket and retreated into the corner of the bed. She lifted it to check her clothes, and only relaxed after seeing no signs that they had been touched.

Little Ai's guarded attitude hurt Guchuan deeply.

"We've been together this long, and you still don't know what kind of person I am?" Guchuan demanded unhappily.

"It's precisely because I know what kind of person you are that I have to be so cautious around you." Little Ai tossed the blanket aside, put on her shoes, and got out of bed.

"How did I pass out?" Little Ai asked.

"Because of this little toy."

Guchuan handed Little Ai the little toy he had confiscated from Conan.

"This thing is pretty well made. It even has a Hypnotic Needle inside. It's perfect for a child to use for self-defense," Guchuan said.

Little Ai rolled her eyes at Guchuan.

"Is it really appropriate to give something that dangerous to a child?"

This should belong to that great detective. For it to be so easily caught by Guchuan... it seemed she had thought too highly of that detective after all.

"I think it's perfectly appropriate," Guchuan said indifferently.

Little Ai stared at the watch in her hand, lost in thought.

"Don't you think that child named Conan is strange?" Little Ai suddenly asked.

"Is he? I don't think so."

"My head hurts!"

Conan rubbed the back of his neck.

Guchuan had clearly shot him with a Hypnotic Needle, so why did his neck hurt so much?

"Conan, you're finally awake."

Hearing Conan's voice, Ran poured him a glass of water.

"Thanks, Ran." Conan picked up the glass of water from Ran's hands and started drinking.

"Conan, you were amazing yesterday," Ran said with a smile.

"Really? Haha."

Conan's laughter abruptly stopped.

Yesterday? What did I do yesterday?

"Ran, what happened yesterday?" Conan asked.

"Did you forget everything after one night's sleep? You really are like Dad," Ran said as she looked at Conan.

"Hehe."

Conan scratched his head and laughed foolishly. How was he anything like that muddleheaded uncle?

"You copied Dad's deduction method yesterday and really stole the show." Ran handed Conan a newspaper.

"Huh?" Conan was completely baffled.

He took the paper and read its contents.

Skipping past the usual reports about "another display of incompetence by the Japanese Police," an article titled "Sleeping Elementary School Detective" caught Conan's eye.

"You identified the murderer yesterday and completely stunned those police officers." Ran fondly patted Conan on the head.

Conan fell silent.

The newspaper said that an elementary school student had imitated Sleeping Kogoro's deduction method and found the murderer, portraying him as yet another savior of the Japanese Police.

The police, saved by an elementary schooler, had once again become a laughingstock, while Sleeping Kogoro, who slept at crime scenes, was mocked several times as well.

"I'm... famous now?" Conan said in disbelief.

This had to be Guchuan's doing. He had put Uncle Mori to sleep to solve cases precisely so he would not draw attention to himself. Now Guchuan had ruined everything. He could only hope the organization that had turned him into a child would not notice him.

And was this Guchuan's warning to him?

He knew the secret of Sleeping Kogoro, so was he using this method to caution him?

Conan's face was full of regret.

If he hadn't tried to put Guchuan to sleep, Guchuan wouldn't have warned him this way!

He had no idea how Guchuan saw him—a young genius far beyond ordinary people?

Or a monster who had reverted to childhood?

"Conan, are you feeling unwell? You look a little pale," Ran asked with concern.

"No, Ran. Have you seen my watch and Bow Tie?" Conan changed the subject.

"I didn't notice."