Chapter 24
Suzuki Sonoko is Attacked
No matter how much Conan Edogawa couldn't believe it, this man named Masahiko Michiwaki still managed to invite Sonoko Suzuki to dinner.
Sonoko Suzuki, who usually talks about wanting to date a handsome guy, actually backed down at this moment despite her lustful desires.
Not wanting to miss this rare opportunity, yet too afraid to leave alone with Michiwaki Masahiko, he could only look pleadingly at Mouri Ran.
There was no other way; as Sonoko Suzuki's best friend, Ran Mouri had to step in and help. So she brought Conan Edogawa and Jonah along as "third wheels" and joined the conversation.
Jonah, who had no interest in dating, simply ate his fried noodles at the seaside restaurant. Little did he know that, in just a few moments, the conversation would shift from simply getting to know each other's identities and hobbies to the murders that had occurred in the vicinity.
After swallowing the fried noodles in his mouth, Jonah looked somewhat confused. He couldn't understand why he would encounter such a murder while just out having fun. Wasn't the probability a bit too high?
Just then, a few people came to the restaurant and shouted that they had found a body next to the railway not far away. The deceased had the same characteristics as the previous deceased, a girl with brown hair.
Now, Sonoko Suzuki, who was already a little scared, became even more frightened. After arriving at the scene and seeing the deceased with her own eyes, she was so nervous that she almost cried.
"It's okay, Sonoko, don't worry, we're all here for you."
Seeing Sonoko Suzuki's frightened expression, Masahiko Michiwaki's eyes flickered. He smiled and walked to Sonoko's side, reaching out to hug her shoulder as a form of comfort. However, Sonoko unexpectedly hugged Jonah, who was standing next to her, into her arms.
"Jonah, did you hear me? You have to protect me!"
"Yes, don't worry, Sonoko-neechan."
Jonah nodded seriously and agreed without hesitation. Even if Sonoko Suzuki hadn't said anything, Jonah was already prepared to pay more attention to her after hearing about the characteristics of the corpse.
"Haha, the kid is really brave, but it's best to leave the task of protecting people to adults."
Startled for a moment, Masahiko Michiwaki quickly moved closer, intending to try and win over Sonoko Suzuki. However, he found that after he said those words, the three of them looked at him with strange expressions.
Jonah scrutinized Michiwaki Masahiko more carefully, and after confirming that the man showed no signs of training, he quietly shifted his gaze.
Having learned from his previous experience of testing Ota Seigo in the villa and being taught a lesson by Mouri Ran, Jonah knew that he couldn't just tell an adult "you are weak".
The atmosphere suddenly became strange. Masahiko Michiwaki also felt something was off, but he couldn't figure out why. He made a promise to Sonoko Suzuki to have dinner together that evening, and then turned around and left, saying he had to go back to the hotel first.
Because she was looking forward to the dinner invitation, Sonoko Suzuki was in a slightly better mood. The group returned to their hotel, intending to rest for a while before setting off again, but unexpectedly, it suddenly started to rain.
As the group of people who hadn't brought umbrellas stood at the hotel entrance, wondering how they would get there, they saw the dark-skinned owner's son, whom they had seen at the seaside restaurant earlier that day, silently take out two umbrellas and place them at the door.
"I always felt that boy looked vaguely familiar."
Ran Mouri made a joke at Sonoko Suzuki's place. When Sonoko realized she hadn't taken her wallet and returned to her room, Ran Mouri voiced her doubts to Conan Edogawa beside her.
"He looks familiar? Sister Xiaolan, do you remember where you've seen him before?"
Ran Mouri's words startled Conan Edogawa for a moment, and he quickly followed up with more questions.
"That's why I'm so troubled—because I can't remember. By the way, where's Jonah?"
"It seems like she just went in with Sonoko-neechan, probably to the restroom."
Contrary to Conan Edogawa's expectations, Jonah did not go to the restroom. Instead, he quietly followed Makoto Kyogoku, who had just brought him an umbrella. Unfortunately, the hotel environment was not very suitable for tracking, and Jonah's actions were quickly discovered by the perceptive Makoto Kyogoku.
"Is there anything I can help you with, little one?"
Recognizing Jonah, Makoto Kyogoku, who thought Jonah was lost, knelt down in a very gentle manner.
"It's okay, I'm looking for the restroom."
"As for the restroom, just walk to the end of that way."
Jonah, having made up a random excuse, watched Kyogoku Makoto leave with a hint of wariness in his eyes after his failed attempt to track him down.
Previously, when checking into the hotel and at the seaside restaurant, Jonah had a vague feeling that Kyogoku Makoto was paying special attention to Suzuki Sonoko. After observing him closely several times, Jonah was certain that Kyogoku Makoto was a very skilled person.
Thinking of the dead body they had discovered earlier, Jonah couldn't help but feel a bit wary of Makoto Kyogoku.
"Hasn't Sonoko-neechan come back yet?"
Having failed to track her down, Jonah returned to the hotel entrance and, seeing only Ran Mouri and Conan Edogawa present, subconsciously asked...
"Yeah, going to get the wallet would be too slow... Jonah?"
Ran answered instinctively, only to find that Jonah had turned and rushed into the hotel the next second.
Jonah realized he had been careless. Since he had agreed to protect Sonoko Suzuki, how could he have thought he would be safe just because they were in a hotel?
Jonah quickly ran up to the second floor and pushed open the door to their room. He saw a figure fleeing in the darkness and Suzuki Sonoko coughing and clutching her throat on the floor.
A flash of annoyance crossed Jonah's eyes. He first ran to Sonoko Suzuki's side to check on her. After confirming that Sonoko was not injured, he rushed towards the second-floor window. As a result of this slight delay, the prisoner escaped under the cover of the rainy night.
"Sonoko, are you alright?"
Ran Mouri, who arrived in the room a step later than Jonah, saw the disheveled Sonoko Suzuki and quickly ran over to help her up.
"Ugh, Xiaolan, I'm so scared! I was really attacked!"
Feeling wronged, Sonoko Suzuki hugged Ran Mouri tightly and began to describe what she had just experienced.
"I'm sorry, Sonoko-neechan, I didn't protect you well."
Feeling guilty, Jonah walked up to Sonoko Suzuki with his head down and said in a dejected voice.
"What? Jonah, you've been really good. Nobody expected there to be someone in the room. And if you hadn't arrived so quickly, I wouldn't have been able to hold on."
Wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Sonoko Suzuki smiled and comforted Jonah.
"What's wrong? What happened here? Why aren't the lights on?"