After taking in the magnificent sight of the audience-packed area below the stage, Suzuki Sonoko belatedly remembered something.
"Why isn't Dr. Araide here yet?" Suzuki Sonoko set down her cola, picked up her phone, and checked it. "We were still missing a few props earlier. He said he'd buy them on the way and bring them over... He should be here soon, right? He's the male lead in this stage play."
Conan, mixed in among the backstage crew: "..."
Damn it, why did that guy who practically had "suspicious" written all over him get to be the male lead? He wasn't even a student in our class. Was it just because he could act well and was handsome?... There had to be some shady dealings involved!
The director, immersed in the script, had no idea about a certain Fake Elementary School Student's resentment. Suzuki Sonoko opened her address book and called Dr. Araide.
But no one answered, even after it stopped ringing.
Suzuki Sonoko sighed as she looked at the noisy crowd below the stage. "There are so many people, it's loud. He probably didn't hear it."
Mouri Ran checked the time. "Could the props be too heavy, so Dr. Araide can't free up a hand to answer? I'll go see if he's in the parking lot—there are a lot of people who came today, so the roads nearby must be jammed. Maybe he's stuck in traffic. If he's not in the parking lot, I'll go to a nearby intersection and help him carry the props over."
Jiang Xia swept his gaze across the venue, looking thoughtful. He turned and followed Mouri Ran. "I'll come with you."
Conan froze, then hurried after them.
But he had only taken one step when a black hand suddenly grabbed him by the back