KUUGA (Detective Conan x Male reader)

Chapter 19 The Mystery of Net Part 04

Kuuga and his friends returned with the requested items, presenting them to Conan.

Genta: Hey, we got what you asked for!

Ayumi: Here's the big seashell.

Mitsuhiko: And the starfish.

Genta: Here's the bucket.

Kuuga: And I managed to find a washtub from a nearby house.

Ayumi: But Conan, what do you need them for?

Conan explained to them that he had a plan for an experiment. Meanwhile, Kuuga noticed Haibara standing nearby.

Kuuga: Oh, you're here. Sorry, I didn't have time to get some food for you.

Haibara: I already told you I don't need any.

Kuuga: Oh.

The detective boys began their experiment under Agasa's guidance, while Agasa explained the concept to Inspector Sango.

Agasa: It's all about the waves. Look at that empty can at the water's edge. It mimics the way a body could wash up on the shore. The murderer may have used a simple trick to make it appear that way.

Noboru: A trick?

Agasa: Yes, let me explain. This washtub filled with sand represents the beach, and the starfish symbolizes Mr. Aramaki. The water in the washtub represents the sea. First, the culprit dug a hole in the sand and then got Mr. Aramaki drunk, wrapping him in a net. They then dragged him into the hole.

Sonoko: But that wouldn't work. If Mr. Aramaki was drunk and wrapped in a net, he would wake up when the tide rises.

Ran: That's what Detective Yokomizo mentioned earlier.

Agasa: Ah, but what about this shell? If we place it on top of the starfish when the tide rises and put some weight on it...

Agasa placed the shell on top of the starfish in the washtub.

Sango: So, with the shell on top, the starfish cannot move when the net is covering it. But there's no heavy object present?

Agasa: Exactly. If an ordinary weight is applied, such as pouring water onto the shell, it will float.

Agasa poured water into the washtub and observed as the shell floated.

Sango: The shell floats. Wait, if this shell can be used as... it means the boat!

Agasa: Correct! The culprit got Mr. Aramaki drunk, wrapped him in the net, and buried him in the sand beneath the boat. By the time he woke up and realized the tide was rising, it was too late. As the tide rose, it carried the boat away with Mr. Aramaki's body. The culprit was in the restaurant the whole time, just as you had planned, Noboru Shimojo. Everyone was shocked to hear the truth, including Kuuga, as they confronted Noboru.

Sango: But what about the bottle and other items found in the boat?

Agasa: Those were deliberately left by the culprit to make us believe that someone else had accompanied them in the boat, diverting suspicion away from the actual boat being involved. The culprit poured seawater into the boat to prevent the victim from moving.

Kuuga noticed that Agasa's lip movements didn't match the voice of the deduction, but he chose to ignore it and continued listening.

Noboru: I understand that, but why me? Why would I be the culprit?

Agasa: It's because you knew the order of the calls that were made, particularly Yuta Yoshizawa's call. You made your call at 7:47 pm, after Yoshizawa had already made his call.