Detective Conan: Death Note

[Iwasawa Kanta]

Cause of death: Explosion

[At 15:57 on December 17, a chemical truck carrying organic solvents entered the Metropolitan Expressway via the Takaido Expressway Exit.]

[At 16:31, less than one kilometer from the Little Buddha Tunnel, I saw a billboard falling onto the road ahead. Panicked, I swerved the steering wheel, causing the truck to roll over.]

[The tank was ruptured during the crash, and the resulting heat ignited the solvent, causing a massive explosion.]

Died in the explosion.

[Ishino Takashi]

Cause of death: Accidental

[At 16:00 on December 17, a small truck equipped with a stainless steel saw blade was driving to the factory via the Metropolitan Expressway.]

[At 16:31, less than one kilometer from the Little Buddha Tunnel, the driver attempted to overtake the chemical truck, changing lanes to the right. The chemical truck swerved in a panic, causing a collision. The small truck was crushed and dragged as it skidded.]

Died from the collision and subsequent explosion.

[Nakamura Ren]

Cause of death: Accidental

[At 16:04 on December 17, he tripped and fell inside the hijacked bus. Upon getting up, he told his companions,

"It's okay, I just tripped."

"Be careful too—you scared me."]

[Later, angered by a passenger's small actions, he attempted to shoot but was persuaded not to. He left the gun untouched.]

[At 16:31, as the bus braked sharply to avoid a skidding chemical truck, he fell forward and accidentally pulled the trigger. The bullet shattered the front windshield.]

[At 16:32:17, the explosion sent debris flying—one of the saw blades cut through his throat.]

Died from a flying blade.

[Ezaki Nobita]

Cause of death: Accidental

[… …]

[… …]

[At 16:32:17, following the explosion, a saw blade tore through the shattered windshield and pierced his abdomen and heart.]

Died instantly.

The two drivers who died were disposable figures Hayashi Yoshiki had long marked for their relevant transportation backgrounds.

Nakamura Ren and Ezaki Nobita had risked their lives to rescue their leader, Kunio Yashima—only to be sent to their deaths by him. Their female companion had been captured by the police. In a few days, she would "find a chance to commit suicide due to unbearable suffering in prison," exactly as written in the Death Note.

Still... the fire was truly terrible...

Gazing at the carnage he had orchestrated, Hayashi Yoshiki sighed—not out of guilt, but out of pragmatism.

In the distance, far from the burning chemical truck, voices from police officers reporting to their superiors could be heard:

"Report! Roadblocks have been set up on the expressway!"

"The fire is under control. Multiple fire trucks are en route!"

"Reporting to Officer Megure! The bomb on the bus has been handed over to the explosives unit!"

"Excellent. Have the identities of the deceased robbers been confirmed?"

"Confirmed, sir!"

Once the bus had come to a stop on the expressway, passengers had evacuated and waited outside the emergency lane.

Workaholic Megure Juzo soon arrived at the scene with his team to maintain order. Due to the explosion and fire, the entire highway section was sealed off.

Hayashi Yoshiki stood at a distance with a group of children, awaiting police instructions.

"Brother Hayashi."

Megure Juzo jogged over while coordinating the scene. He kept his tone vague in front of the children but his eyes were serious.

"This time too...?"

"Mm."

Hayashi Yoshiki nodded solemnly.

Megure's face darkened immediately.

Though not part of the official task force, Megure was the one who had led most death case investigations in Beika. He had submitted all the relevant reports—and knew full well that the task force was tracking a serial killer who disguised murders as accidents.

"What's wrong, Officer Megure? You look really scary," asked Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya.

"...Nothing. I was just thinking how insane the robbers were this time. Even after getting what they wanted, they planted a bomb. So many could've died."

Megure forced a smile.

"Thankfully, everyone ended up safe."

The children burst into cheers at that.

Only Conan remained quiet, his eyes narrowing in thought as he recalled the look Megure had given Hayashi Yoshiki just moments before.

But Hayashi Yoshiki was pleased.

Ever since Thomas Schindler's death, there hadn't been a single "accidental murder." The task force had thinned out. Now that the deaths had resumed, he wondered how they would react.

He was safer than ever.

Another "accidental" murder had occurred right in front of him, and he remained above suspicion.

In fact, it only reinforced the idea that he was just another victim. With multiple passenger testimonies and no opportunity to act, Hayashi Yoshiki had no link to the incident other than survival.

"…"

He glanced toward the man standing nearby, facing away.

Akai Shuichi had removed his mask and was currently reporting to his superiors.

He briefly summarized the hijacking and explosion before ending the call. When he turned back, his eyes fell on the chemical truck—its flames now shrinking under the firefighters' control.

This doesn't feel like an accident... and yet, it couldn't have been anything else...

Akai frowned deeply.

Then he sensed something—a gaze from behind.

Turning, he met the eyes of a young man.

Hayashi Yoshiki looked calm.

Akai didn't think too much of it. Was I acting suspiciously...? he wondered, then looked away.

"Yoshiki..."

Haibara Ai tugged at the hem of Hayashi Yoshiki's coat.

Her face, still pale, had regained a hint of color. She looked up at him, determined.

"You've gotten clingy, Ai," Hayashi Yoshiki smiled, ruffling her hair.

"That's right. Ai has become a little strange."

"Were you scared by the robbers?"

"Compared to that... are we not going skiing anymore?"