Disclaimer: This story is fiction and is of my own production.

All the characters in the story are fiction.

This is my first attempt to write a suspense story so please enjoy!

"What? Ran neichan, you are going to Osaka?" Conan looked bemusedly at Ran.

"Yes. I will be going to the Osaka University to study next month." Ran replied as she continued to pack her clothes.

"But…why?"

"Because I am given a chance to. You will understand that when you grow up, Conan-kun."

I am 18 and yet I don't understand. Women are women. Getting to know a woman's heart is tougher than solving the most mysterious case in the world. Conan thought.

"When I am away, you've to help me look after my father. Don't let him drink or smoke too much. Ok, Conan-kun?"

"Un. Ran neichan, what about Shinichi?"

"He will be fine. He did not think about me when he left as well." Ran murmured to herself.

Conan stared at Ran without saying anything. He knew he had no right to stop her from leaving.

The next day, Conan met Haibara on the way to school. It was a refreshing spring morning.

Conan blurted out, "Haibara, I feel like telling Ran about my real identity."

"Are you nuts?" Haibara reprimanded.

"I know you will disagree but I cannot keep it from her anymore."

"Why? Don't tell me she'd already found out?"

"No, she doesn't know. But it is just that Ran is leaving for Osaka University soon and maybe I will not get to see her for a long, long time. So, I feel that it is better for me to tell her now."

"You just do not want her to leave, right?"

There was a silence.

Haibara continued, "If you choose to tell her, I will have no objection. Even if she believes in your story, but she will still be upset that you had been keeping this from her for a long time."

"Maybe you're right," Conan said with a sigh, "she should not know this."

Haibara glanced at Conan and smiled secretly to herself. Lucky was the only word in my mind.

It was a week after Ran told Conan that she was leaving. Ran's father was invited to a tennis final match by the organizer.

"I can't stand tennis! What's so nice about two men hitting the balls around with those mosquitos' bats?" Kogoro remarked.

You won't say that if this is the female final. Conan thought.

"I bet all these 5000 people in the stands are invited. Right, Ran?" Kogoro asked.

Ran was not bothered by her father's remarks. She was completely into the game. "Wow, Suzuki-san is so cool. Look at the way he hit the ball, father."

"Which one is Suzuki?" Kogoro asked as he hastily flipped the booklet.

"He is the one on your left hand side, Mouri-san." Someone spoke from behind.

"Who are you?" Kogoro questioned as he turned around. He was a young man, around his mid-20s.

"I am Seiji Ishi. Suzuki is my younger brother."

"Really?" Ran exclaimed. "No wonder you look so charming as well."

"Stop praising me." He said as he turned his blushed face away.

"Seiji oni-chan, are you a tennis player as well?" Conan asked.

"Yes, I am. But I am certainly not as good as Suzuki."

"That's why you always try to harm him, right?" A man asked. He was around his forties and had a pair of small eyes.

"Uncle, why must you keep on saying about that case? That was just an accident."

"You BETTER not deny it or else I will…" He paused for a while as if he suddenly noticed the three of them listening to their conversation. Abruptly, he stared awkwardly into Kogoro's eyes.

"Oh, he is my uncle, Kimura Ishi. We've been talking for such a long while and yet I still do not know how to address you. May I know your name?" Seiji requested earnestly as his eyes continued to focus on Ran.

"I am Mouri Ran."

"Oh, Ran, can I address you as Ran? Do you wish to have dinner with me tonight?"

Kimura looked stunned when he heard that. "Mouri, so he is the famous Mouri Kogoro?" he muttered to himself.

Conan observed Kimura's actions. This man looked familiar. He tried to recall.

"Father, is it ok?" Ran asked.

"Of course not!" Kogoro and Conan answered unanimously.

"You can join as well if you want." Seiji replied reluctantly.

During the dinner, Seiji and the tennis player, Suzuki, played the host in an expensive restaurant as they talked about their own victories, defeats and dreams. It was nothing that Kogoro and Conan understood but they chose to wait for the dinner to end.

2 hours later, Kogoro interrupted the conversation. "Sorry, my wife is waiting at home and I have to come back now. Oh, Ran as well."

Your wife is waiting at home? Conan thought.

"Well, I guess I will have to stop now." Seiji said. "But will you mind if you wait for Suzuki to come back from the toilet before leaving?"

"Ok. Sure." Ran answered.

Half an hour later, Suzuki still had not returned yet. "I think I better go to the toilet as well." Seiji said.

"Seiji oni-chan, I want to go with you." Conan said in his usual detective voice.

As they entered the toilet, they saw blood flowing out of one of the cubical. Conan dashed into it and saw Suzuki lying there in a pool of blood.

"Ahhhh!" Seiji exclaimed.

"Call the police and Uncle Kogoro! Now!" Conan instructed.

Half an hour later, Officer Megumi and Takagi arrived. They discovered a blood note (or the death note) that the victim supposedly wrote before his death. It was written as followed: Ran, good bye! You don't have to come back if you don't want. I will be there for you.

This was neither a death message nor a threaten note. Why was Ran involved in the case?

Megumi started the case like usual by asking Seiji, "Why are you here with Mouri Kogoro?"

"I was watching a tennis match behind their seats and I wanted to invite Ran for a dinner so that she could meet Suzuki. However, Mouri-san and this boy wanted to come and so I allowed them as well." Seiji explained clearly.

"Seiji oni-chan, why did your uncle, Kimura Ishi-san, say you harmed Suzuki?" Conan asked.

"You harmed Suzuki?" Megumi questioned eagerly.

"No, no. It was not like this. Suzuki and I once played double together. He was referring to the incident that I swung my bat and accidentally hit Suzuki's left arm. It was quite a big impact and he could not play for one whole year." Seiji clarified.

"He was a left-handed?" Takagi asked.

"Yes. He was a left-handed but after that incident, his left arm did not recover and he had to switch to right hand." Seiji answered.

"So if he still played with his left hand, he might be a better player now?" Ran asked.

"Yes, I suppose so." Seiji replied.

"I know who the murderer was, Officer Megumi." Mouri said confidently.

"Who?" Officer Megumi asked.

"He is…Seiji Ishi! You were jealous of Suzuki because his left hand was very powerful and you tried to harm him by injuring his arm. However, you did not know that Suzuki was able to play with both arms. When he switched to his right arm, he was still better than you. So, you felt humiliated and angry. Hence, you killed him. Right?"

"No, no such thing!" Seiji denied.

"Uncle Mouri, I think you are wrong." Conan said. "If Seiji oni-chan is the murderer, how did he know that Ran is leaving? Even if he is, the timing of the murder will not be right because we went to the toilet together after Suzuki-san went there for half an hour. The pool of blood should be noticed before that, right?"

"CO-INCIDENCE!" Mouri reprimanded.

No. It is not a coincidence. Seiji Ishi should be the murderer. Now, the problem is not with the evidence. The problem is that he expressed his motive to murder Suzuki so clearly that everyone would be able to catch it. Why must he do that? Is it because he is too confident that he will not be caught? Or is it because he knew that even if he was caught, he would get away with it? Conan thought.

"Ran neichan, did you tell Seiji oni-chan about your studies in Osaka?" Conan asked.

"No. Are you suspecting Seiji just like father?"

"No, I just want to know. That's all."

"Oh. Conan-kun, did you notice the man we met today was familiar?"

"You are talking about Kimura Ishi?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember where did we see him?"

"No. Sorry."

Conan walked away from Ran as he continued to ponder. Seiji Ishi, Kimura Ishi, Suzuki Ishi, tennis, Ran, school, dying message… Ah! The school festival 2 years ago! That time, the tennis club invited professional tennis players and Kimura Ishi was one of them. But then, why is it that…

Megumi asked, "Have you ever met Suzuki Ishi before this, Ran?"

"No." She replied.

"Officer Takagi, I want you to check something for me. It was Uncle Mouri who told me to do so." Conan said.

"Ok, what is it?"

"Listen carefully….."

Half an hour later, Takagi walked towards Conan. "Conan, you're right about it."

"Thank you, Officer Takagi!" Conan exclaimed.

So I am right. Conan thought.

Conan then dashed towards Seiji. "Seiji oni-chan, I have something to tell you."

He then led Seiji into a dark alley. It was 11pm in the night.

Seiji said, "Conan, what do you want to say?"

"Take off your fake façade now. You are the murderer of Suzuki Ishi!"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't lie anymore. Seiji Ishi. Or should I address you as Kimura Ishi!"