Summer...
Every time summer comes around, I think back to a certain event.
Crimes are always exposed.
The culprits never get away with it.
A special incident brought that home to me.
The Case File of Young Kindaichi Returns
The Campground "Ghost" Case
The Campground "Ghost" Case!
Cafe Owl
Peaceful...
Welcome!
Hi!
It's cool in here!
Yo, Miyuki-chan and Kindaichi-kun.
Another hot day, huh, Manager?
Is that...
...new owl merchandise?
Wow, for a stuffed animal, this sure looks real!
It moved!
No way! It's alive?!
Surprised? It's Honusuke, a forest owl.
Huh...
You know the name of my place is Cafe Owl, right?
Cafe Owl
Owl-themed cafes are popular these days, so people get mine mixed up with the others.
So I figured I'd get a real one to stand out.
Well, it's super cute!
It kind of brings the place together.
Just looking at it relaxes me.
Yep.
Right, Hajime-chan?
Y-Yeah...
Oh, right. Now that I've got Honusuke, I made some goods based on him.
What kind?
Cell phone straps, card cases...
Let's see! Wow, they're so cute!
New Mail
I know, right?
Not yet?
W-What's with him?
How long's he gonna stare at me?
Wait a second. I have a feeling I've seen him before...
Don't tell me... from then...
Three years ago
Valley Campground
Nanase Miyuki
Kindaichi Hajime
Well, we'll see you guys out there.
Kindaichi, pay now and we'll square up later.
Y-You better pay me back!
That's 12 bottles of soda, right? It comes to 1,720 yen.
Okay, out of this...
Thank you.
Crap. Now all I've got left is 2,000 yen and change...
Hey, wait up! Don't leave me behind!
Hey, how far we gotta walk? This pop is damn heavy...
Okazaki Koshiro Hajime's classmate
Jeez, you're lazy.
Just a little more. Hang in there, Kindaichi!
Murakami Sota Hajime's classmate
Get away!
Why do we gotta go camping on a mountain that's full of bugs?!
It's your own fault, Hajime-chan!
You ditched the summer vacation group research meeting,
so we decided to spend a night observing a meteor shower.
Exactly! We're the ones who got the short end of the stick! Right, Akane?
Takano Juri Hajime's classmate
Juri's right. We're totally unlucky to get stuck with an infamous slacker like you!
Akimine Akane Hajime's classmate
But despite the way he seems, if push comes to shove, he's really dependable.
Miyuki, don't cover for this lowlife just because you've known each other forever!
That's right. No need to put a stain on your brains and beauty.
Man, you're really taking a beating, Kindaichi.
At this rate, I think you're hopeless.
What do you mean "hopeless", Okazaki?
Of course I mean...
M-Middle school is too early for that!
Dummy, that's normal these days!
Well, even if I can't get that far, I do kinda want a girlfriend...
Hey, Okazaki, who do you have your eye on? We better not go after the same girl...
It's not like she's my first choice, but I guess Takano is a safe bet.
I see. Then if we're going by safe choices, I'll pick Akimine.
Good answer. You don't wanna get shot down.
That's right.
At least Miyuki's safe for now.
But these turds, not even considering me!
Watch this!
Campground 100 meters ahead
Hey, boys! One more push!
We have to rent the tents at the office. Meet you there!
O-Okay!
Wow! This is awesome!
Thank goodness!
What a great place! And the river's beautiful.
Let's play in the water after we set up the tents. It's too early for dinner, anyway.
Yay! I'm glad I brought my swimsuit along!
Oh, just some crows. Don't scare us!
It's cold!
Don't splash!
Cut it out!
Swim up to your neck!
Why am I the only one fishing?
Because you're the only one who forgot a swimsuit, right?
I didn't think I'd need a swimsuit in the mountains!
Anyway, you catch anything?
I'm using a dried squid snack 'cause I forgot bait, so don't expect anything.
But still...
...don't the girls look kinda like adults in their swimsuits?
Take that!
It's cold!
Especially Nanase...
That's breaking the rules, isn't it?
Knock it off! You guys are pervs!
That's rich, coming from Kin-dirty-ichi!
That's right!
Go to hell! Who's Kin-dirty-ichi?!
What was that?!
Hey, don't get violent! You'll scare the fish away!
I don't care!
That was fun!
Well, let's take a shower before we start dinner.
Yeah!
Wait a second! The showers are right out in the open!
You're right!
Ewww! Boys, go somewhere else!
Go where?
Anywhere but here!
Then maybe I'll gather some wood.
I don't think we have enough kindling for a campfire anyway.
Then how about I wash clothes in the river?
Okazaki and Kindaichi, I'll wash yours, too.
Forget it. The detergent will flow downriver.
And in the first place, you'd still be able to see us from the river!
Fine, then I'll go to the washing place.
In that case, I guess I'll buy a few odds and ends at the convenience store.
Grandpa Okazaki is gonna gather wood. Grandma Sota is gonna wash clothes...
It's like an old story.
Then what about Kin-dumb-ichi?
He's like a doggy that digs a hole!
Anyway, let's shower while we have the chance.
Yeah! You're the type that especially gets spied on, Miyuki, so better hurry up!
The type that gets spied on...
Campground 100 meters ahead
This feels so good!
Juri! What time is it?
Wait a second.
Um... 6:04...
It's okay. They won't be back yet.
Miyuki, I think your breasts have gotten bigger again.
That's not true!
Let's see...
Hey, cut it out!
Definitely D cup.
I'm envious!
Both of you, stop it!
Did you just hear something?
Are you sure?
I didn't hear anything...
I think we should be getting out. Kin-dumb-ichi will probably get back any minute.
Yeah. Let's go.
Huh?
What's wrong?
My watch is gone... and so are my panties!
Maybe the wind blew them away?!
Couldn't be! Maybe my panties, but the wind wouldn't blow away my watch!
Then don't tell me...
A panty thief?! No!!
I gathered a nice bunch of wood, plenty enough to cook our dinner.
It's tough doing laundry in the river. But I better put 'em out to dry before dark.
Heavy... Two bottles of soft drinks times six people is a real load...
Glare...
W-What's wrong?
All three of you look ticked off...
Be honest! Who's the culprit?!
Culprit?
Don't play dumb!
Which one of you clowns stole Miyuki's panties?!
Nanase's panties?!
T-Then, you mean to say, you're going commando?!
Idiot! Of course I brought another pair!
W-Why do we have to be on our knees?
Now, if you're not honest, we'll search through your stuff!
But I'm innocent!
I don't know anything about it! Look at my eyes! Do I look like I'm lying?!
If we're doing it that, then look at my eyes!
Check out these eyes!
It's you, isn't it?
Why?! Why me?!
Hajime-chan!
You looked suspicious even before anything happened!
This is a false accusation! Look, I was at the convenience store buying drinks!
I bet you planned on this and bought them in advance!
Come on, whip 'em out! Here? Or here?
What's this? A receipt?
Oh, that's right. The receipt has the time on it.
Let's see... That's true, it does.
Campground Branch Receipt
It's probably a fake! I bet he wrote it with a pen!
Receipt
It looks normal. I mean, the color is the same...
I don't even have a pen. See?
18:05. That's when we were in the shower, right?
Even if you walk fast, it takes 15 minutes to get here from the convenience store.
If he was in the store then, he couldn't have gotten back in time for Miyuki's panties.
Right? I've got an airtight alibi.
That aside, Sota is the suspicious one!
Why me?!
I was doing laundry at the washing place!
Look! I washed all this! How long do you think it took me?!
You probably just dunked 'em in water. And the washing place is nearby, too.
Up yours! Here, smell it! You can still smell the detergent on it!
There aren't any stains either. You think water alone would make it this clean?!
I say Okazaki is suspicious!
You could've gathered those nearby and you probably did earlier so you could do this!
Yeah, as if! I had to go deep in the forest to find decent kindling wood!
And look, my hands are all covered with scratches!
That's proof I was doing my best to gather this stuff!
All three of their stories make sense...
No, we can't trust 'em! Let's search their bags!
Fine! Knock yourselves out!
Help yourself!
I don't care if you check mine either!
True, they're not here...
Then you wanna do a strip search?
Forget it!
That's strange. Even if they were blown by the wind,
it's not just your panties, but your watch too, right, Miyuki?
Yeah...
I really liked it, too, with its inlaid sparkling rhinestones...
Don't worry, Miyuki!
I'll solve the mystery of your missing panties and watch.
I swear it in the name of my grandfather!
Hajime-chan!
The Case File of Young Kindaichi Returns
What the hell is he doing?
He said he's gathering evidence before it gets dark.
Evidence? Like he's playing detective?
I know how it looks, but Kindaichi is the grandson of a great detective.
Great detective? You mean the famous...?
Yeah.
Seriously?! Kin-dumb-ichi...
You had your panties here, huh?
Yeah.
This is...
So that's what it is...
What is it, Hajime-chan?
Miyuki, I know who the culprit is.
Then...
Yeah.
I've solved all of the mysteries!
Do you really know who the culprit is?
Who is it?
The culprit is...
...a crow!
A crow?
This is the evidence.
It was on the ground near where the panties were swiped.
Don't be dumb! Like a crow would steal panties because it has a dirty mind?
It's not like the crow was trying to steal the panties.
It wanted Miyuki's watch.
My watch?
Crows have a habit of collecting shiny things.
The sun was still out around six, when you three were taking a shower.
The sun would've been shining down right between the trees,
pinpointing the spot where you left your clothes.
It's not unusual for a crow to be attracted to Miyuki's sparkling watch.
It happened to be on top of her panties, and the crow just grabbed them together.
But I think I stuck my panties in between my other clothes...
You must be remembering it wrong. Otherwise, the crow wouldn't have taken your panties.
I see...
Then...
Yeah.
Is it okay? The crows aren't going to start attacking?
It'll be fine...
Their eyes are sensitive to light.
So I do this and suddenly hit them with the light...
Hey, here it is! Miyuki's watch!
Thank you!
Good for you, Miyuki!
Yeah!
You're surprisingly competent, Kin-dumb-ichi.
Aw, shucks...
This proves us innocent too, huh?
Yeah.
But if her panties weren't up there, then...
Maybe the crow dropped them in the river and they got washed away...
That's okay. As long as nobody stole them, I'm good.
That's too bad. I wanted to keep them as my fee for solving the case.
Don't push your luck!
Okay.
We better get the fire going.
Yeah. Let's do it.
You think the food's ready?
Maybe a little more...
Delicious!
More!
You can still eat?
You eat too much!
Let's put the fire out and start stargazing.
Yeah. I'm gonna hit the can.
We'll start without you.
Go ahead.
I got away with the perfect crime!
Who would've guessed that I could frame the whole thing on a crow?
Going to the convenience store to buy drinks is an outright lie.
Campground 100 meters ahead
The truth is I bought drinks from the nearby vending machines
and put them in the convenience store bag I kept from the way up.
Convenience Store Campground Branch Receipt
And this receipt too, when they chased us away...
He's like a doggy that digs a hole!
There goes my chance to peep on them!
The receipt from before...
Wait a second...
This'll work!
I bought the drinks, but before heading back...
...I used a fishhook that I'd warmed up over a low flame...
...touching it to the 13:00 printed on the thermal paper receipt...
Alright! Perfect! That definitely reads as 18:00!
Now I can spy and snatch as much as I want...
Can't see...
But they'll know right away I was the thief because of my personality!
Oh! An owl...
An owl?
That's when I came up with the idea of using crow habits as a scapegoat.
Of course, I realized they would check our bags.
But no one would ever think to look where I hid it.
They can't see the forest for the trees!
So it was you after all.
You Kin-dirty-ichi!
H-How?! How did you see through my perfect crime?!
A woman's intuition!
I-I don't believe it! At least figure it out through deductions...
Repent, enemy of women!
Pervert!
Mercy!
You better never do anything like this again!
Got it?!
T-This shouldn't have happened...
Nah, it can't be.
What are the chances this is the same one from then?
But then why is it staring at me like that?
It can't be remembering what happened then...
But the lesson I learned from that incident is crimes are always exposed.
Is this a crime?
W-Who can this be?
Oh, no! Old man Kenmochi needs me right away!
It sounds like an emergency situation! I'll see you later!
It's Reika-chan, isn't it?
Right?
From: Reina-chan To: Kindaichi Yoo-hoo! My shoot is over! Well, see you later.
H-H-H-H...
It looks like you want to ask, "How did you know?"
Woman's intuition!
Woman's intuition! Again?!
You can't escape. Like a rat cornered by an owl...
You are the same owl, aren't you?
Some people say owls are lucky, but it's a damned lie!
The Case File of Young Kindaichi Returns
At a diving pool, a swimmer makes a mistake and ends up in a coma?!
Was her accident really caused by an evil spirit that haunts the swimming school?
Don't cry, Miyuki! It's not your fault!
The Case File of Young Kindaichi Returns! The middle school version, part two!
Evil Spirit of the Diving Pool
Evil Spirit of the Diving Pool!
I swear I'll absolve Miyuki of her feelings of guilt!
In the name of my grandfather!