Tokyo!
Saturday at eight in the evening, the square in front of the Tokyo Dome was already a sea of people, and from time to time, screams could be heard.
"Concert tickets for the new idol Okino Yoko—clearance at rock-bottom prices!"
With the scalpers shouting, a group of people swarmed to buy them without even asking the price, which showed Okino Yoko's influence.
"Wow, so many people."
Kazuha appeared in the square, pulling Heiji along, her face full of surprise.
Heiji looked around with boredom: Idol worship is a trend in any world.
"Where is Sonoko?"
Kazuha looked left and right, searching for Sonoko.
"Didn't you say that Sonoko and Ran would come together?"
Didn't she say two nights ago that Ran would also come?
"Since Uncle Mouri suddenly got a commission, he said he couldn't come."
Kazuha looked resigned. Kogoro Mouri's unreliability was well known, so it was obvious Ran had no choice but to accompany him.
Heiji shrugged.
"Heiji, Kazuha, over here…!"
Sonoko waved at them enthusiastically from not far away. She was wearing a short skirt and high stockings that covered most of her legs, looking incredibly attractive.
"Sonoko, what do I do? I couldn't buy tickets. If you have extra, could you sell them to me?"
Kazuha looked at Sonoko apologetically.
Sonoko gave Kazuha a disapproving look and hooked her arm.
"Kazuha, what are you saying? Do we really need to be that formal with each other?"
"But these tickets are very hard to get. Heiji didn't help me buy them, and they sold out the moment they went on sale."
Kazuha shot a glance at Heiji.
Heiji was resigned—who would have thought tickets that went on sale at one in the morning would sell out in a minute? Was Okino Yoko really that famous?
"Come on, let's go in."
Sonoko pulled Kazuha along. Her pretty eyes drifted to Heiji, shining with affection.
"Wait, Sonoko, we're going the wrong way. This isn't the entrance."
Kazuha tugged at Sonoko's hand.
"No, it's fine."
Sonoko looked at Kazuha, confused.
"It really doesn't look like the entrance."
Kazuha looked around with difficulty. There was a door ahead, but it wasn't the main entrance of the stadium.
"Silly, this is the back door—also known as the VIP entrance."
Heiji pinched Kazuha's nose.
"VIP entrance? Sonoko, don't tell me this concert is also sponsored by the Suzuki Group."
Kazuha wasn't stupid; she understood instantly.
"Yes. Okino Yoko's company is affiliated with our Suzuki Group."
Sonoko said it indifferently.
"Sonoko, you're amazing."
Kazuha looked at her with admiration.
"Eh, isn't that Ran? Ran, didn't you say you weren't coming?"
Ran suddenly appeared at the VIP entrance. Next to her were Kogoro Mouri and Conan.
"Sonoko, Kazuha, I finally found you!"
Ran ran over happily.
"It turns out my father's client is Miss Okino Yoko."
[Hehe, this guy, Hattori, again.]
Conan made a "hehe" face.
"A commission? What happened?"
Kazuha asked curiously.
"Ahem. As a great detective, I can't tell outsiders the details of a client's commission. That's professional ethics."
Kogoro Mouri spoke smugly from the side.
[Hehe, is there any case that I haven't solved?]
Conan looked at the conceited Kogoro Mouri, speechless.
Ran smiled helplessly.
"Heiji, do you want to know?"
Sonoko looked at Heiji.
"Yeah, tell me."
Heiji was bored anyway. If he could solve a case, it would be more interesting than listening to the concert.
"Uncle, why don't you show that paper to Heiji?"
"Impossible. It's confidential client information."
"Please. Every staff member knows about this—what secret is there?"
Sonoko said with resignation.
"What? Does that mean that, as a great detective, I'm the last to know?"
"You could say so."
Kogoro Mouri instantly lowered his head, dejected.
"Heiji, it's this threatening letter."
"Threatening letter?"
Heiji took the paper Sonoko handed him.
"Okino Yoko, cancel the concert immediately, or you will regret it. I will expose your past scandals."
It only had that sentence, and it was printed.
"A threatening letter? Isn't it a joke?"
Kazuha asked, furrowing her pretty eyebrows.
"It's not a joke. Last night, the newly set up stage was found this morning with a pool of pig's blood on it. This should be a warning."
Kogoro Mouri said seriously.
Sonoko nodded, confirming it.
"When did she receive it?"
Heiji asked.
"One week before the concert."
"Does anyone else know what this paper says?"
"Hey, brat Hattori, why do you only ask these pointless questions?"
Kogoro Mouri asked, annoyed.
Conan also looked at Heiji doubtfully.
"Uncle Mouri, I'm sure Heiji has a reason for asking."
Sonoko shot Kogoro Mouri a glance, then looked at Heiji with enthusiasm.
"Well, although everyone knows Okino Yoko received a threatening letter, they don't know the specific content."
Heiji nodded and returned the letter.
"For now, don't tell anyone what it says."
"Understood."
Sonoko nodded and carefully put it away. This kind of matter was none of her business, but if she wanted to take charge, no one would dare refuse.
"Let's go in."
Led by Sonoko, Heiji's group entered the stadium without any trouble.
"Damn it, I don't believe I'm going to lose to a high school student."
Behind them, Kogoro Mouri glared at Heiji's back, muttering.
[Hehe, uncle, you should first improve your own deduction skills.]
But Kogoro Mouri's words also reminded Conan: This time I can't lose to that guy, Hattori.
They arrived too early. There was still half an hour before the concert started, and the audience hadn't fully entered yet.
"Sonoko, take us to see the backstage."
Kazuha looked at Sonoko expectantly.
"Of course. That was my plan."
The backstage of a concert wasn't exactly mysterious. A charming-looking woman sat quietly in front of a dressing table. She had long, brown, curly hair and wore a dance costume—sexy, but not revealing.
"Miss Yoko, it's Miss Yoko!"
Kogoro Mouri's eyes lit up and he ran toward her, excited.
"Dad~~~!!!"
Ran glared at Kogoro Mouri, speechless.
"Sister Yoko, these two are my good friends, and they're also fans of yours."
Sonoko introduced.
"Oh, really? Then Yoko is very honored."
Okino Yoko's voice was very sweet.
"And most importantly, today I want to introduce you to a great detective. With him here, I'm sure nothing will happen to you."
"Ahem, ahem."
Kogoro Mouri straightened his suit and stood tall.
Sonoko happily walked up to Heiji, took his arm, and led him in front of Okino Yoko.
"Sister Yoko, his name is Heiji Hattori. He's a very competent great detective."
Kogoro Mouri was dumbfounded.
[Hehe, it seems uncle got his hopes up.]
"Heiji Hattori, are you the famous high school detective who manipulated the Night Baron and Kaitou Kid at will?"
Okino Yoko looked at Heiji with enthusiasm.
The corner of Heiji's mouth twitched: How does this story get more and more exaggerated as it spreads?
"Hello, nice to meet you."
Okino Yoko withdrew her excited look and, in an instant, became a refined lady.
"Hello, my name is Okino Yoko, and I am a mystery fan."
Heiji was a little stunned, then smiled and shook her hand.
[Ah, Miss Yoko has shaken hands with the brat Hattori.]
Kogoro Mouri seemed to hear his heart breaking.
"How incredible, Miss Yoko shook hands with Heiji on her own initiative."
Ran said in astonishment.
"Little sister Ran, is that so strange?"
Conan asked curiously.
"Of course it's strange. Although Miss Okino Yoko is an actress and singer, she has never had any scandals. Even during filming, she never has physical contact with male actors. Precisely for that reason, her popularity is so high."
Ran said admiringly.
"As an actress, is that okay?"
An actress, no matter how reluctant she is to get close to male actors, in some scenes has no control over what she does—those moments are unavoidable.
"It's because of Sonoko. It is said that Miss Yoko and Sonoko get along very well. With the Suzuki Group backing her, who would dare to force Miss Yoko to do things she doesn't like? Besides, Miss Yoko has a very good reputation, and not many people hate her."
Ran explained.
[I see, that Sonoko is really impressive.]
"Miss Yoko, do you also like to watch Heiji's mysteries?"
Kazuha discreetly hugged Heiji's arm.
Okino Yoko looked at Kazuha, and a mischievous glint crossed her pretty eyes.
"Of course I do. I collect all the newspapers where Mr. Heiji appears solving mysteries. Mr. Heiji is really incredible—he is simply the Holmes of our era!"
Seeing Okino Yoko's admiring expression, Kazuha hugged Heiji's arm even tighter, pouting a little.
"Of course Heiji is incredible."
"Miss Kazuha is also very impressive. She is Mr. Heiji's assistant, and in the future, she could become the female version of Watson."
"Oh, really? Thank you, Miss Yoko."
Kazuha instantly set aside her jealousy.
Heiji nodded inwardly. Worthy of a great idol—just a few words and she's already gotten close to Kazuha.
"Let me go, I want to see Miss Yoko, let me go, I want to see Miss Yoko!"
At that moment, at the backstage entrance, a slightly obese man tried to break in.
"What happened?"
Okino Yoko's manager, Eiichi Yamagishi, came out. His face changed when he saw the newcomer, and he gestured to the guards.
"Don't let outsiders in."
"Let me go! Yoko, I'm Akiyoshi Fujie. I have something to tell you. If you don't see me, you'll regret it!"
The shouting reached backstage. Okino Yoko froze for a moment, her expression turning strange.
"Miss Yoko, do you know that man named Akiyoshi Fujie?"
Kogoro Mouri asked curiously.
"I don't know him. How would Miss Yoko know a person like that?"
Eiichi Yamagishi chuckled.
Okino Yoko lowered her head slightly.
[No—judging from Miss Yoko's expression, she knows him. But why pretend she doesn't?]
Conan looked at Okino Yoko, suspicious.
Heiji glanced at Okino Yoko and Eiichi Yamagishi, then looked around backstage.
Since the Tokyo Dome was a multipurpose sports venue, it didn't have a formal backstage—just a large locker room area.
The locker room was quite spacious, with fifteen or sixteen small changing rooms. Next to them were racks full of clothes, and dancers came and went as they changed.
"Wow, Miss Yoko, is this changing room for your exclusive use?"
Ran noticed a door labeled with Okino Yoko's name.
"Yes, that is Yoko's exclusive changing room. Inside are all the clothes Sister Yoko uses."
Sonoko introduced.
"Wow, there are so many people here today. A big star is a big star—even her fan club."
A sharp, biting female voice rang out.
"Miss Tomoko Ikezawa, thank you very much for coming as a guest to my concert."
Okino Yoko nodded to the woman.
"Sonoko, who is this person? How rude."
Kazuha asked in a low voice.
"This woman is Sister Yoko's rival, Tomoko Ikezawa. Always acting like she knows everything—she's very unpleasant."
Sonoko clearly felt no sympathy for her.
"Ah, she is Tomoko Ikezawa? She's also a big star."
Ran said with admiration.
[Hehe, too bad her personality is so bad.]
Conan thought with a "hehe."
"Yoko, it's not my business, but as your senpai, I know the subject of threatening letters very well. Don't trust…"
Tomoko Ikezawa lectured Okino Yoko seriously.
"But I can't disappoint my fans. Besides, with Mr. Heiji and Mr. Kogoro Mouri here, I'll be fine."
Okino Yoko said firmly.
"Miss Yoko, don't worry. With yours truly—the famous detective Kogoro Mouri—here, we will undoubtedly find the person who wrote that threatening letter. You have nothing to worry about."
Kogoro Mouri beat his chest, proud.
Okino Yoko smiled politely and nodded.
"Then, I'll leave it to Mr. Heiji and Mr. Mouri."
[Damn it, why does Miss Yoko put me after the brat Hattori?]
Kogoro Mouri was very annoyed.
"Heiji Hattori and Kogoro Mouri?"
Tomoko Ikezawa's face changed. Her expression turned nervous.
Boom, boom!!!
Suddenly, deafening music thundered out, instantly igniting the entire venue.
"Okino Yoko~~~!!!"
"Bring out Okino Yoko!"
"I love you, Miss Yoko!"
"The one and only idol, Okino Yoko!"
Even backstage, the passionate screams were clearly audible.
"Miss Yoko is amazing!"
Kazuha's and Ran's eyes sparkled. Every teenage girl dreams of being an idol; the only question is whether she pursues it sensibly or not.
[Hehe, since when has Ran gotten into idol worship?]
"Miss Yoko, it's time to go out."
Eiichi Yamagishi came to notify her.
Okino Yoko nodded.
"Then, let's go out too."
Sonoko led Heiji and the others into the stadium without any obstacles.
"Wow, it's so lively!"
The passionate screams behind them, the deafening music from the stage—this instantly fired up the three girls, who joined the audience's shouts.
Conan and Kogoro Mouri were speechless.
Heiji was also speechless, but since they were there, there was no other option.
The lights flickered, and Okino Yoko—dressed in a long orange dress—appeared from backstage. Under the colorful lights, she walked to the center of the stage, becoming the focus of every gaze.
Boom~~~!!!!
The atmosphere instantly exploded…