Detective Conan: Death Note

The shooting that occurred at the Mōri Detective Agency was soon buried beneath the usual, calm flow of everyday life.

It didn't even make it onto the news or in the papers.

Only those directly involved that day were left with a lasting impression—and unforgettable memories.

"This tea is quite good."

"Of course it is. I had to pull a lot of strings with some friends just to get it."

"Was it expensive?"

"It's not about the price—it's about how hard it is to obtain."

In front of the couch at the Kindaichi Detective Agency, with Natsuki Koshimizu out on a case, only Amuro Tōru and Hayashi Yoshiki sat drinking tea.

Amuro had brought a new batch of tea leaves that morning.

How should he put it…

The incident at the Mōri Agency still weighed heavily on him. Even though, strictly speaking, he wasn't at fault…

It was because of his own faulty deduction that Hayashi Yoshiki had been forced to take action—resulting in the deaths of two people.

And that guilt had sat on Amuro's chest for days.

Especially after they'd finished giving statements at the police station.

When Amuro saw Yoshiki's face—clearly emotionally shaken, yet feigning calm so convincingly—it struck something deep in him.

There's no way Hayashi Yoshiki wasn't affected.

He was, after all, the kind of person who would willingly face a bomb alone just to prevent a police officer from getting hurt.

Just like that girl said—he wears that expression not for himself, but to reassure everyone else.

Amuro Tōru had looked into Hayashi Yoshiki's past.

He wasn't from the police academy.

Even if he was Public Security, even if he was a junior in the profession… Amuro couldn't view him through the lens of a civil servant.

When people feel guilty, they try to make up for it—emotionally or materially.

Even though Amuro knew it might be excessive, even unnecessary—

Hayashi Yoshiki had never once blamed him.

So it was fine.

Let the Organization pick up the tab anyway.

During his undercover days, Amuro's greatest skill was—after all—funneling funds from the Organization.

Just then, the TV broadcasted news of the Suzuki Tower's completion.

The newest towering symbol of the Suzuki Financial Group in Tokyo dominates the skyline.

For the past few days, coverage of this project had flooded the media.

"First the world's biggest airship, and now Japan's tallest tower?"

Amuro sounded impressed.

Say what you will, the Suzuki Group had a surprisingly positive public image.

Aside from the occasional drama involving Suzuki Jirōkichi and Kaitō Kid, there was little negative press.

"Let's just hope this time it doesn't stir up another huge incident..."

"Why say that?"

"Haven't you noticed, Amuro-san? Whether it's the Suzuki Museum in Osaka, or the Suzuki Airship… every major project they unveil seems to attract… something strange."

"…So that's why the Suzuki Group maintains such good relations with the Boss?"

Amuro chuckled.

"That just sounds like a coincidence. There's no such thing as fate that twisted, is there?"

"I hope not."

Staring at the towering Suzuki building on the screen, Hayashi Yoshiki said no more.

[February 17th]

[The weather's nice today. I'm getting used to investigation life here in Japan.]

[I never had the habit of journaling, but something A told me today really shook me. I think I'll start keeping notes from now on.]

The first page of the notebook.

Jodie Starling finished reading it, face expressionless.

Io Hodgson.

An FBI agent who, during the operation involving "Shuichi Akai," had helped her and Michael escape the Organization's pursuit—only to lose his life in the process.

The FBI headquarters moved quickly with the formalities.

Other agents stationed in Japan began organizing and collecting the belongings of the fallen.

Technically, this wasn't Jodie's responsibility.

But prompted by Hayashi Yoshiki's offhand remark, she had taken an interest in the agents' personal effects.

Using the excuse—"They died protecting us. Let me handle their belongings"—she got James Black's approval.

That's how she found Io Hodgson's journal.

But… who was "A"?

And what was so shocking that it prompted him to start writing?

Curious, Jodie flipped ahead.

[May 21st]

[Still can't get used to the taste of miso soup here. It's just weird.]

[But the sushi's not bad.]

[April 26th]

[The trail on the Organization is going cold. They're too good at hiding. But peaceful days like this are still nice.]

[August 11th]

[May 30th]

…

Io Hodgson hadn't written daily. The entries jumped around and were mostly mundane observations.

Until—

[November 3rd]

[A seems to have vanished.]

[November 21st]

[Even others from the Organization say they can't reach him. He's always been a loner, but disappearing this long with no word? A is the first.]

Upon reading this, Jodie immediately understood who "A" was.

Shuichi Akai.

It was right around November 3rd that Akai had suddenly gone completely dark.

Now, Jodie grew even more curious—

What had Akai told Hodgson that was so shocking it drove him to start writing?

She read on.

[December 24th]

[The Organization found Rena Mizunashi's hiding spot. Still no contact with A.]

[But… he'll show up. Quietly. Right when it matters most. He's always been that kind of guy.]

[December 25th]

[The operation to protect Mizunashi Rena failed.]

[Why didn't he show up?]

After this entry, there was a long silence in the journal.

[February 8th]

[A's disappearance is way too suspicious. Could he really be gone? Was he right?

Could there really be a deeply embedded traitor in our team?]

Boom.

The words exploded in Jodie's mind like a bomb.

A traitor, deeply hidden...

Akai thought this, too?

But… why?

Her hands trembled as she held the notebook.

He told Hodgson… but hid it from me.

Instinctively, she wanted to deny the authenticity of the journal.

But everything—the handwriting, the origin, the voice in the words—was unmistakably real.

The dead often hold more weight than the living.

All her memories, her trust in Akai, merged with the explosive truth now laid bare—and her thoughts descended into chaos.

She thought of a thousand things at once.

Was it because I was too close to James? That he didn't think I'd believe it?

He never outright said James was the traitor…

But if not James… who?

Because of childhood experiences, Jodie had always had deep trust in James Black.

Maybe Akai kept it from her to protect her…

And that made it all the more devastating.

Her thoughts clouded, her chest tight, Jodie Starling kept flipping through the remaining pages.

But after that entry, nothing else mentioned the traitor.

Only routine notes, simple records of activities…

Until the day he died.

After that, the journal came to an end.

For a long time after,

Jodie stood alone in the empty room.

Frozen.

Unable to move.

For what felt like an eternity.