Detective Conan File 1130: Mystery of the Demon Puppeteer

The Bright Yellow First Act is the 1130th chapter of the manga Detective Conan. The title alludes to the beginning of a mystery, symbolizing the start of the investigation into the death of Narasawa Miku. It was written by Gosho Aoyama, drawn by him and his assistants, and first released in Shōnen Sunday on August 21, 2024, and will presumably be reprinted as part of Volume 106. Viz Manga released it in English on the same day under the name The Ochre Opening.

What Happened In The Ochre Opening

The chapter picks up at the crime scene of Narasawa Miku’s death, the actress who portrayed Kazuha in the play. A phone with the ominous message ‘The devil controls the puppet’ is found next to her lifeless body, intensifying the mystery.

Upon discovering the chilling inscription, Miku’s co-stars are thrown into a state of shock. Yoka, who plays Momiji, collapses and is caught by Tenma (Heiji’s actor), while Ayari (Mori Rieko’s actor) observes the scene with a cryptic expression from a distance.

Potential Suspects

Regarding Miku’s death, there are five potential suspects: Yoka (who plays Momiji), Tenma (who plays Heiji and is romantically involved with Miku), Ayari (who plays Mori Rieko and has a complicated relationship with Miku and Yoka), Nobuya (who plays Iori’s housekeeper and has feelings for Miku), and Toshikata (who plays Kogoro and is a mysterious character).

Otaki and the police join Conan and the others at the house where the troupe is staying. All 5 suspects were interrogated, revealing many problems with the victim. At first, Tenma seems to have vague feelings for the victim, a potential red herring that adds a suspenseful element to the investigation.

The victim and Yoka had an implicit hatred for each other before, a clue that points to a possible motive. It seems that because they both like Tenma, they don’t like each other, and they fight each other over Tenma. This situation is ironic, given that Momiji and Kazuha, the characters they play, are in the same situation, which adds an amusing twist to the story.

Following that, we come to Ayari. She had a talent for sparking conflicts between the victim, Tenma, and Yoka, as well as causing tension among others. Ayari also entertained the inspector with numerous stories about the troupe, and even explained why she had chosen to wear her hair in a ponytail that day, a departure from her usual bun. However, Ayari also dropped a bombshell-another co-star, Nobuya, had been pursuing the victim. When Nobuya was questioned, he claimed the victim had rejected him outright.

Finally, Toshikata’s interrogation took an unexpected turn. He chose to be questioned in a toilet stall, for reasons unknown. After the interrogation, the suspects were allowed to go their separate ways temporarily.

Another Broken Puppet

With a sense of urgency, Otaki instructed Yoka to gather everyone within 30 minutes. Yoka, accompanied by Heiji and Conan, hurried to Tenma’s room, only to find him asleep. They conversed with the irritated Tenma, who was still under the sheet. As they exited the room and shut the door, they immediately heard a strange noise coming from the balcony. Yoka, Heiji, and Conan swiftly returned to the room, where Tenma had also been roused from his slumber.

Going out on the balcony, the group found Ayari dead on the street after falling from a great height. The shock was palpable in the air as they all stood there, staring at the lifeless body. Ayari was lying dead against the pavement like a broken puppet, just like how Miku was found.

What to Expect from the Next Chapter

With Ayari also dead, the suspects are now down to the remaining four. The most probable culprits seem to be Tenma or Toshikata. Tenma, with his annoyance at being interrogated while he was ‘sleeping’, and Ayari dying immediately after he was left alone, presents a suspicious situation.

Meanwhile, Toshikata’s refusal to be interrogated in person, which could mean he wasn’t present at all and probably was on a speaker phone, adds another layer of complexity to the plot.

Patience is key as we await the next chapter, which will undoubtedly bring us closer to the truth.