Chapter 178

After getting tired of skiing, Usakawa Saiki went to the rest area restaurant to catch his breath.

Because he had arranged to meet Kenji Hagiwara at a restaurant, he cautiously switched back to his disguise as Shinryu Hanakawa to avoid giving himself away.

Arriving early wasn't because I was hungry, but just to buy a drink and sit down before ordering food when Kenji Hagiwara arrived... It definitely wasn't because I was too lazy to move.

Usaku Saiki and Hagiwara Kenji discussed for a long time before finally deciding to eat at the normal time. After all, the leaders of the two schools probably also wanted students to eat at different times. Since both schools wanted to avoid peak hours, it didn't really matter what time they chose.

Based on the conversation that Usaku Saiki overheard, the Teitan Junior High School students should be having lunch right now.

However, everyone's attention in the restaurant was focused on the crew members that Kenji Hagiwara had mentioned, who were filming in the snowy mountains.

The most eye-catching person was the handsome actor, who was surrounded by a group of people as he signed autographs and answered questions.

Usoppei drank his juice and ate melon with great interest.

Fans were mainly asking about the content of the movie the actor was currently filming, which was said to be related to the legend of the Snow Woman. They also mentioned that the movie's plot was based on a true story, a case that occurred here four years ago.

The actor said, "...He rode the ski lift alone, and when he came down, he was already shot in the head and dead. The gun was still in his hand, and gunpowder residue was detected on his cuff, as if it were suicide. But mysteriously, the bag he was carrying was stuffed full of snow..."

The people around gasped in surprise.

"It's just like the legend of the Snow Woman that's circulating here!" someone exclaimed. "I thought it was a gift from the Snow Woman, but when I went to check after the person died, I found it was all snow."

“Right?” the actor sighed. “It really doesn’t seem like a crime committed by a human. Only a snow woman could do it. If it really is a crime, then this is impossible.”

"Huh? A snow woman committing murder? A crime that no human could possibly do? How could such a thing happen? It must have been a human crime!"

A young man suddenly interjected: "Besides, only things done by humans are called crimes, right?"

The actor was already the focus of the restaurant, and when this person suddenly appeared, many people couldn't help but look over there.

The speaker was a middle school student who made the declaration as if nothing had happened, seemingly disdainful of those who tried to attribute the case to the legend of the Snow Woman.

The girl sitting next to him seemed a little afraid of the Snow Woman legend, her face turning pale as she tugged at the middle school student: "Shinichi, stop talking..."

Shinichi Kudo had already finished eating and didn't care at all about being watched. Fortunately, Ran Mouri had a small appetite and had also finished eating, so she left, thus avoiding the awkward atmosphere.

This wasn't the first time the production crew had encountered an unexpected incident. They chatted with the fans briefly, and the atmosphere eased up.

Usakabe Saiki was enjoying the gossip, and after some time, Hagiwara Kenji entered the restaurant. Based on the description in the email Usakabe Saiki sent him, he searched around and finally found Usakabe Saiki: "Okay, this is it, right? What do you want to eat? I'll go buy it. You can continue to hold the seat."

He needs to find the person first, otherwise it will be even more inconvenient to look for them while he's carrying a tray.

Usui Saiki casually ordered a curry rice, while Hagiwara Kenji went to queue up to buy his own food.

There weren't many students left in the Teitan Junior High school cafeteria. Usui Saiki heard a loudspeaker outside announcing, "Students of Kaihou Academy Junior High, lunch is ready!"

As the students poured in, Kenji Hagiwara returned carrying a tray, feeling quite relieved.

"We arrived at the perfect time; there would have been so many people if we had come any earlier or later."

Bo Yezaki said, "If you had come a little earlier, you could have seen the excitement."

"What's all the commotion about?"

"Do you know about the murder that happened here four years ago?"

Mentioning this, Kenji Hagiwara's expression turned a little serious: "I know, it's said that her bag was full of snow... Although it looks like suicide, there are suspicious points, but there's no evidence..."

Usakabe gestured to the male actor who was still signing autographs for fans: "The deceased was from that film crew. They were going to make a movie based on that case, and that actor played the detective who solved the case."

"Huh?" Kenji Hagiwara said, somewhat surprised. "How are we supposed to film this? Do you already know the technique?"

He had barely raised this question when the production team started causing another problem.

A middle-aged man, smoking a cigarette, casually joined the crew's discussion: "If that wasn't suicide, then it was homicide. It must have been one of you who did it, right?"

A stuntman named Kosuke Mimasa from the film crew frowned: "...Why is it you again? Didn't you resign and stop being a policeman?"

"I'm a detective now."

"Stop harping on this! It's clearly suicide!"

“I’ve known that guy since I was a kid. He couldn’t have committed suicide, and there are still some suspicious points in the case…”

Kenji Hagiwara had originally intended to go over and ask the director how he planned to explain the crime in the film, but seeing the mess over there, he stopped and sat back down.

Then Kenji Hagiwara whispered to Saiki Usui, "What do you think of this case?"

“Based on the information we’ve heard, it certainly shouldn’t be suicide.” Usoya Saiki glanced at the crew members over there. “However, compared to the case from four years ago, I think it’s better to focus on the present.”

Kenji Hagiwara: "...Huh?"

"Many people with such grudges have gathered together because of something that happened a few years ago. It's possible that some of them already know the truth and are going to create a new case to seek revenge."

Hagihara Kenji: "…………"

He thought about it and realized it made sense!

They investigate a number of murder cases handled by the department, many of which stem from old grudges. Judging from his experience, the setup of this film crew today is indeed a bit dangerous!

Kenji Hagiwara was getting restless and wanted to ask these people about the specifics, but the policeman who had resigned to become a detective, as a friend of the deceased, was more qualified to confront the film crew than he was. Even so, the film crew still didn't give him a friendly look, and Kenji Hagiwara felt that he probably wouldn't get any information if he went over now.

Under the detective's questioning, the crew members started repeating the same old lines: "It's definitely suicide, or it's a snow woman, or is it the perfect crime?"

Just then, someone suddenly shouted, "Idiot! Only things done by humans can be called crimes! And there's no such thing as an impossible crime!"

These words sounded very familiar. Usoppei Saiki had just heard Shinichi Kudo say something similar. When he looked up, he realized that the person making the statement was, as expected, Heiji Hattori.

What a tacit understanding! It seems these detectives really can't stand hearing anything about the "perfect crime," like stepping on a landmine—the mere mention of it will set them off.

What was supposed to be a serious topic suddenly became a laughing matter for everyone on set when Heiji Hattori brought it up.

"Someone else just said something similar to you... and they're about the same age, also a middle school student..."

Hattori Heiji was taken aback: "Huh? About the same age as me?"

He thought it was that famous detective Conan, after all, any detective would not tolerate things like impossible crimes or the Snow Woman committing murder, and would definitely refute them.

It turned out to be a junior high school student around the same age as him...

Heiji Hattori was at a loss. He hadn't met many detectives, let alone junior high school students. If there really were junior high school detectives, he would definitely have heard of them.

It's probably just something someone said because they couldn't stand it.

Kenji Hagiwara stopped eating, leaving a bowl of ramen hanging in the air for ages without touching it. He kept turning his head to look at the film crew, as if he was about to rush over and ask what was going on if he found an opportunity.

Usakabe ate his curry rice by himself in silence, then tapped the table: "If you don't eat this soon, you won't be able to eat any more noodles."

"Huh? Oh..." Kenji Hagiwara was distracted, his mind still on the Yuki-onna murder case. After taking a bite of noodles, he couldn't help but say, "I'm planning to go find that senior to ask about the details later. Do you want to come with me?"

Bo Yezhai said speechlessly, "Didn't you say you were very tired and wanted to take a vacation?"

Kenji Hagiwara smiled sheepishly: "I'm a little worried."

Police officers like Kenji Hagiwara are truly responsible. Not only do they want to find out the truth about unsolved cases and try to solve them, but now they are also starting to worry about whether there will be a revenge killing and want to observe carefully just in case.

However, Usakabe Saiki had already anticipated this outcome, so he calmly said, "Then you go over there, I'll go check out other places."

"Thank you for your help." Kenji Hagiwara didn't ask what he wanted to see, showing complete trust. "Call me if you need anything."

Bo Yezaki finished his curry rice in a few bites, then took the tray and left first.

As Heiji Hattori passed by, he saw the familiar ski suit and subconsciously looked up at it.

They were already indoors. Usuo Saiki had lowered his hood, but not his cotton cap. From Hattori Heiji's angle, one could see his dark blue hair beneath the cotton cap.

Not silver-haired.

Hattori Heiji sighed regretfully.

He had thought it was that guy, but it turned out to be just a ski suit of the same style... However, this person gave him a slightly strange feeling, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

Hattori Heiji stared at the other person's back as they collected their plate and walked straight towards the door...

Sigh, it seems like he's getting neurotic because of that mysterious guy.

Kazuha Toyama turned to him and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Hattori Heiji snapped out of his reverie. "I want to investigate the cable car that had the accident."

While Hattori Heiji was still thinking, Kudo Shinichi and Mouri Ran had already boarded the cable car.

Shinichi Kudo was explaining the legend of the Yuki-onna to Ran Mouri when his phone suddenly rang.

"Ah, just a moment." Shinichi Kudo took out his phone and saw that it was an unfamiliar number.

Who would it be in this situation?

Shinichi Kudo answered the call with a puzzled look: "Hello?"

"Shinichi? Where are you now?"

Shinichi Kudo felt that the voice sounded familiar.

"You are... Ah! Brother Bo Ye!"

That guy I had a good chat with before, but he left without even leaving his contact information!

His mother probably gave him the phone number. Shinichi Kudo wasn't too surprised, but he was curious why the other person would suddenly want to contact him now, given how long it had been since the last time: "I'm at the ski resort right now... Is there something you need, Usui-san?"

"Are you investigating the Yuki-onna case? What have you found out so far?"

Shinichi Kudo: "...??? I haven't found anything yet... but how did you know I was investigating this..."

Surely this can't be deduced from just one sentence? There are so many ski resorts in Japan... Could it be that Usui-san is here too?

--------------------

Bo Ye: Tell me what you found out, so I can pass it on to the second-year graduate students, making it seem like I'm doing some work.

Shinichi:…………

.

Honestly, this group of acquaintances, reunited after many years, including the deceased's friends, girlfriend, and boss... it's practically a Conan-esque "trouble is brewing" combination.