"Yoko! Yoko!"
[Hey, hey~]
Hearing Kogoro Mouri shouting, a shadow of annoyance crossed Conan's face. Who was the one mocking Ran just a moment ago?
Elegant music sounded, and the previously frantic atmosphere suddenly calmed down. Everyone focused on Okino Yoko's every move.
Okino Yoko's sweet, charming face shone under the spotlights. Her pale pink lips parted, and the first note rang out…
Heiji closed his eyes, listening silently.
Yoko's voice was beautiful.
"Miss Yoko's voice is beautiful."
For the three teenagers, it felt like a fairy tale unfolding right in front of them: princesses, knights, princes—everything seemed possible.
Enraptured, everyone immersed themselves in Okino Yoko's moving voice.
Below the stage, Tomoko Ikezawa stared at Okino Yoko, with envy shining in her eyes.
"Hmph!"
She turned and headed backstage.
The concert continued, and everyone was immersed in the music and jubilation.
Without realizing it, the intermission arrived.
"Next, let's welcome tonight's guest, Miss Tomoko Ikezawa!"
Okino Yoko panted slightly. After singing and dancing for almost half an hour, she was really tired. At that moment, the role of the guest came into play.
Minutes passed, and Tomoko Ikezawa still didn't appear.
Okino Yoko was a little stunned. By now, Tomoko Ikezawa should be waiting in the wings.
"It seems that Miss Tomoko Ikezawa is a little shy, surely everyone's enthusiasm has scared her. Now, let's give her one more warm round of applause to welcome Miss Tomoko Ikezawa."
At that moment, the concert erupted in thunderous applause.
But…
Still, no one came out.
Okino Yoko was tired and needed to rest, otherwise she wouldn't have the strength to last the second half of the concert.
Tomoko Ikezawa was taking so long to come out that some fans were already starting to show their discontent.
"Who does Tomoko Ikezawa think she is, acting like such a diva?"
"Exactly! How dare she make our Miss Yoko wait? Does she think she's a diva?"
"Miss Yoko, go rest, we'll wait for the second half."
"That's right, we'll take this time to rest too!"
The audience was full of voices, some criticizing Tomoko Ikezawa, others advising Okino Yoko to rest…
"Damn it, that woman is acting like such a diva in front of Yoko. How hateful."
Kogoro Mouri muttered to himself with annoyance.
It shouldn't be like this. This is a big event—don't celebrities jump at publicity like this? Why hasn't she appeared?
Conan stroked his chin, pensive. He had a feeling that something strange was happening.
"Heiji, that Tomoko Ikezawa really puts on a lot of airs." Kazuha was also a little annoyed.
"Hmph, I knew that woman would do something like this. If I had known, I wouldn't have invited her," Sonoko said indignantly.
[Hehe, worthy of the heiress of the Suzuki Group, not even fazed by a big star.]
Conan sighed.
"Could something unexpected have come up for her?" Ran supposed.
"Ran is right. At an event like this, in front of tens of thousands of people, no star would just disappear. Either something happened, or she's lost her mind," Heiji said indifferently.
"Well, in that case, I'll—"
"Wait, I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Tomoko Ikezawa ran up to the stage from below, looking somewhat flustered, but was met with general booing.
"Then, I leave the stage to you."
Okino Yoko went down from the stage and returned backstage to rest and change her clothes.
Looking at Tomoko Ikezawa, Heiji frowned. Why are her heels wet?
In large venues like this, especially in staff-only restrooms, there are rarely puddles—let alone standing water.
Boooo!!!
Suddenly, the audience erupted in boos, followed by an out-of-tune song that reached their ears.
Heiji frowned even more, what a horrible voice.
"What kind of singing is this? Bring Miss Yoko up already, get lost!"
"My God! How did someone like this become a big star? By using the 'casting couch'?"
"How horrible, how horrible it sounds!"
The audience was in an uproar. If they could, they would even throw things at her. She sang terribly.
However, none of this seemed to affect Tomoko Ikezawa, who continued to sing, completely out of tune.
"How horrible it sounds."
Kazuha suddenly buried her head in Heiji's chest.
Heiji, resigned, could only cover her ears. At that moment, he regretted a little being seated in the front row, it was torture.
Suddenly, a staff member hurried over and whispered something to Sonoko.
"What?" Sonoko's face changed. "Keep this quiet. Don't let it get out!"
Seeing the back of the official as he walked away, Ran couldn't help but look at Sonoko with curiosity: "Sonoko, what's wrong?"
Sonoko took a deep breath and leaned toward Heiji's ear. "Heiji, Akiyoshi Fujie is dead—in Yoko's dressing room."
Heiji frowned and gestured for Kazuha to get up: "Let's go see."
"Brother Heiji, what happened?" Conan sniffed something unusual.
"Uncle Mouri, let's go to the backstage together."
Not here.
When Heiji's group arrived at the backstage, a wave of heat greeted them. Okino Yoko was clearly scared, sitting in a chair with a pale face.
Heiji gestured for Kazuha to give him the gloves.
"Uncle Mouri, ask the others to cordon this off until the police arrive."
"What? Brat Hattori, are you giving me orders?" Kogoro Mouri got annoyed.
"Dad, this is not the time for that." Ran glared at Kogoro Mouri, angry.
"I know, I'm going right now."
Kogoro Mouri went to take care of it, resigned.
When Heiji arrived at Okino Yoko's changing room, Conan was already standing there, observing.
Akiyoshi Fujie's body hung from a thick rope looped over a steel beam. Inside the dressing room was an overturned chair and a large bloodstain on his shirt.
Heiji touched Akiyoshi Fujie's chest and frowned. It was damp—water.
The floor was slick.
"Heiji, the strangulation marks on his neck are strange. It looks like he was hanged," Conan said, pointing at the body.
Heiji looked at Conan, with a suspicious expression: "Brat, your observation skills are not weak either."
[Damn, that Hattori suspects!]
Conan screamed inwardly, and his mind began to spin at full speed: "It's just that… I heard brother Shinichi talk about something similar. Hehe…"
"Oh, really? I told you not to learn so much from that Kudo's deductions, they are too superficial," Heiji said, feigning seriousness.
[Hehe, damn Hattori.]
Conan could only laugh nervously.