"Sorry, Akihiko-san…"
The words cracked like thunder over the courtyard, freezing students mid-step. Morning sunlight caught the windows of Teitan High, illuminating a hush so complete you could almost hear the hum of distant traffic.
Akihiko Tou—accused of homicide? It sounded impossible. Whispers rippled through the gathered crowd as they exchanged bewildered glances.
Ran Mouri and Sonoko Suzuki, who had just been chatting with him moments before, stared in disbelief.
"Ran-chan, did he just say Akihiko's a murder suspect?" Sonoko's voice wavered as she clutched her schoolbag straps.
Ran's heart pounded so sharply she pressed her palm against her chest. "I heard it."
At the center, Shinichi Kudo stood shoulders squared, his detective's stare unwavering as it met Akihiko's calm gaze.
Teitan High had watched Shinichi solve baffling crimes that once baffled even the national police—now, he claimed to have uncovered a school murder.
Beside Shinichi, uniformed officers exchanged uneasy glances. The air was thick with tension.
Akihiko remained motionless, expression cool. His neatly ironed blazer creased at the elbow as he lifted a hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind his ear. It was the only sign of emotion on his face.
Finally, he spoke, voice steady. "Excuse me—what crime am I accused of? Does Detective Kudo's word alone authorize an arrest?"
A ripple of murmurs passed through the officers—none dared answer.
Shinichi's eyes flicked to the lead officer. "Under the old school bridge by the river, we found a body."
A collective gasp rose. The bridge, with its ivy-covered arches and quiet lakeside view, had been their secret study spot.
Ran's hand flew to her mouth. Sonoko's knees buckled slightly before she steadied herself against a bench.
"Victim: Mahime Kawakami, third-year Class C," Shinichi continued, voice grave.
Recognition dawned. Kawakami-san was the radiant figure in their pictures: soft smile, flowing hair—cinema's leading lady reincarnated as a classmate.
Silence fell again, heavy with shock. Akihiko's gaze remained unflinching.
"And… your involvement?" he prompted.
Another officer, crimson-faced, barked, "You mock us with calm words? You, the school's golden boy—don't think you're above the law!"
Their shouts rose, a chorus of indignation.
Amid the chaos, Officer Megure advanced, cap tipped forward, measured steps echoing on the plaza tiles.
His tone was softer yet carried authority. "We seek the truth, not conflict. Answer honestly."
He faced Akihiko. "Did you know Mahime Kawakami?"
Akihiko nodded slowly. "Yes. She confessed to her feelings two days ago—I refused her."
Megure's gaze sharpened. "Last night she planned to meet someone at the bridge; her friends waited until morning before finding her body in the lake."
Akihiko inhaled, as if savoring a familiar autumn breeze. "I was there last night."
A murmur crackled like static. Officers exchanged looks of triumph—guilt, they believed, dripped from his calm confession.
Megure held up a hand. "Why were you there?"
Akihiko's brown eyes glinted with quiet pride. "I often study by moonlight to clear my mind—last night, I reviewed my thesis notes."
Around them, the onlookers recoiled at his nonchalance. Even Ran and Sonoko's eyes narrowed, uncertainty clouding their features.
She turned to Ran, voice hushed. "He didn't even mention Kawakami… just thesis research?"
Ran bit her lip, torn.
Akihiko continued without hesitation: "I saw no one. I didn't meet her."
Another officer stepped forward, voice thick with contempt. "Still denying? Killer!"
Akihiko's lips curved in a faint, enigmatic smile. "If I'm the murderer, present your proof."
His poised challenge hung in the crisp morning air—a gauntlet thrown at Shinichi Kudo's feet.
Shinichi's sharp gaze studied Akihiko like a puzzle piece. Tension coiled tighter, as if the world held its breath.
Officer Megure's customary calm faltered ever so slightly. Was this a crime of intellect, or had they ensnared an innocent?
Behind them, the old school bridge arched over tranquil water, oblivious witness to the drama beneath the moon's fading glow.
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