List of The File of Young Kindaichi episodes

There is rumored to be seven mysterious murders in the Fudo High School, although only six have been solved. High school student Hajime Kindaichi is invited by the Mystery Research Team leader, Ruiko Sakuragi to help her solve the seventh riddle. There is a threatening note from the "After-School Magician" that if the old school building is demolished, the school principal will be murdered. That night, the Mystery Club, along with the security officer, Ryozo Tachibana see a figure in a mask and then a body hung above a candle pentagram in the locked forbidden biology room, but when they reach the room, it is empty. However, the next morning, Sakuragi is found hanged in the biology room in the same way as the unsolved seventh mystery. It is later revealed that she solved the last of the Seven Mysteries after she saw a corpse of a student from 10 years ago hidden within the walls. Hajime swears to solve the mystery.

• First case: Ruiko Sakuragi was found hanged in the forbidden biology room at the old building of Fudo High School after she found out the seventh mystery when she discovered a corpse of a girl from 10 years ago hidden within the walls.

Main cast: Hajime Kindaichi, Miyuki Nanase, and Inspector Isamu Kenmochi.

Case file cast: 3rd year students Ruiko Sakuragi (age 18), Makoto Makabe (age 18), Takahiro Onoue (age 18) and Tomoyo Takajima (age 18), 1st year student Ryuta Saki (age 16), physics teacher Yuichiro Matoba (age 60) and security officer Ryozo Tachibana (age 50).

Inspector Isamu Kenmochi is assigned to investigate Sakuragi's death and Hajime explains what they saw. Yuichiro Matoba, the physics teacher suspects the culprit is a former teacher referred to as "M" who was rumored to conduct strange rituals. Student writer Makoto Makabe proposes a plausible theory of how the murder was carried out, but Hajime believes there is a different scenario. Kenmochi tells Hajime how 10 years earlier, the Mystery Club member, Chihiro Aoyama, was killed in a similar way. Meanwhile, student Takahiro Onoue has Sakuragi's data disc which contains a message about who the culprit may be, but as he decodes it, he is beaten to death with a wrapped up hammer by the "Magician" and his body is dragged to the printing room to coincide with one of the seven mysteries. When Hajime and his friend Miyuki Nanase read the Mystery Club's minutes, they find a copy of Sakuragi's notes inside, also stating that there were originally only six mysteries. Miyuki is attacked when she tries to look behind a poster on the wall in the old building of Fudo High School. Hajime then finds Miyuki badly injured beside the fountain in accordance with the third mystery.

• Second case: Takahiro Onoue was found dead in the printing room at the old building of Fudo High School after he solves the code from Ruiko Sakuragi's data disc which contains a message about who the culprit is.
• Third case: Hajime Kindaichi's childhood friend, Miyuki Nanase was being attacked and brought to the bloody fountain when she was trying to take off Makoto Makabe's poster from the wall.

Kenmochi tells Hajime that the old school building was formerly the property of Takahata Pharmaceuticals and that six of their experimental subjects died there. Later, Miyuki wakes up in the hospital after being attacked by the killer and encourages Hajime to continue his investigation despite the risks. He then finds the body of Chihiro Aoyama hidden in a wall cavity. Hajime calls everybody to the old school building and explains how the killer used a mirror to create the mystery of Sakuragi's murder. He then accuses physics teacher Yuichiro Matoba of the murders and being the "After-School Magician". He was left behind by the Takahata company to keep the six bodies hidden for 30 years and was responsible for the accidental death of Chihiro Aoyama 10 years earlier after she found out about the deaths of the experimental subjects. Suddenly, security officer Ryozo Tachibana rushes forward and stabs and kills Matoba with scissors in revenge for the death of Chihiro whom he reveals was his daughter.

• Related cases: 30 years ago in 1967, six researchers at the Takahata Pharmaceuticals laboratory which was later donated to the old building of Fudo High School, died from malpractice and their bodies were buried underground and sealed under the concrete. One of the co-workers, Yuichiro Matoba guarded the bodies so they won't get discovered by anyone. Also, 10 years ago in 1987, a female student who was a member of the Mystery Research Club named Chihiro Aoyama, found the six bodies of the researches hidden in the old school building. When she tries to contact the police, she died from an accidental fall from the stairs. Matoba hid her in the walls and spread the rumor of the seventh mystery.
• Another Death After Conclusion: The physics teacher, Yuichiro Matoba was stabbed to death with scissors by the security-in-charge Ryozo Tachibana in revenge for the death of Chihiro Aoyama 10 years ago who he reveals was his daughter and that he's her father, Ryozo Aoyama after the truth of the case is revealed by Hajime Kindaichi.

Hajime and Miyuki go on a tour of the Hiren Lake Resort in place of his friend Shigeru Kikkawa where the participants stand to win a membership pass. A news flash announces that Jason, an axe murderer has escaped from a nearby prison. The next morning, they discover that one of the group has been killed with an axe and the only bridge to the resort has been burned down. Company president Saburou Kayama decides to leave with a suitcase full of money, but he is also killed and the suitcase returned. Then, Miyuki is injured by a booby trap in the woods.

Hajime and Miyuki take part in a mystery night held in an old castle which contains a wax museum. A mysterious Mr. Redrum has invited ten people involved in criminal investigation to participate with a chance to win ownership of the castle. Inside, they invitees find wax dolls of themselves. That night, Megumi Toma the Toma Detective Agency President and her wax doll, are found stabbed in the back, with the only clue the two cue balls she was holding.

Detective Kenmochi asks Hajime for help catching a phantom art thief, a so-called Kaitou Gentleman who leaves calling cards announcing his next target. He takes Hajime and Miyuki to the mansion of the master artist Gamou Gouzou. There, Hajime meets Sakura Izumi, a former school friend who has been declared Gouzou's heir based on a stolen painting of his daughter which was sent to an art competition by the Kaitou Gentleman. The painting is stolen and Sakura is assaulted and her hair cut and Hajime believes that it was done by one of the group staying in the mansion. Meanwhile, Gouzou's lover, Dr. Satomi Kaitsu plans to poison Sakura but she is strangled to death and the portrait of her is stolen.

Hajime and Miyuki participate in a treasure hunt on the Isle of Sadness (Hiho) in Kyushu organised by Daisuke Mimasaka. The others who are also participating are treasure hunters Asato Kakimoto, Ryuzo Yasojima, Kohei Himura, Hisayoshi Yaogi, Chris Einstein, the former butler Eisaku Iwata, Kyoko Kaya and Mimasaka's daughter Midori Mimasaka. Upon arrival at the island, they discover the decomposed body of Mimasaka, stuffed into a grandfather clock. The only clues are a Yamawara statue, a set of eight dolls, an old song whose lyrics are supposed to provide clues to the location of the treasure. In Tottori folklore, the Yamawara defends the treasure on the island and kills those who get close, hence the name of the island. The treasure hunters insist on continuing with the hunt and they discover that there is one extra guest who must be the killer. The next morning, Hajime notices a doll missing, and Asato Kakimoto is found dead in his lodge with blood splattered all over the floor, walls and ceiling, but everyone has an alibi.

• First case: The owner of the Isle of Sadness (Hiho) Daisuke Mimasaka was found dead, stuffed into a grandfather clock shortly after everyone's arrival.
• Second case: Asato Kakimoto was found dead in his lodge with blood splattered all over the floor, walls and ceiling.

Main cast: Hajime Kindaichi and Miyuki Nanase.

Case file cast: Daisuke Mimasaka and his daughter Midori Mimasaka (age 17), treasure hunters Asato Kakimoto (age 43), Professor Kyosuke Saeki and his young son Koichiro Saeki (age 15), Ryuzo Yasojima (age 52), Kohei Himura, Hisayoshi Yaogi (age 42), Chris Einstein (age 13), police officer Kyoko Kaya and former butler Eisaku Iwata (age 65).

Chris Einstein invites Hajime into investigate the black torii gateway where Hajime is injured after walking near a geyser. While being treated for his wounds, Hajime discovers that Mimasaka's daughter Midori was not favored by her father and she resented him. He also sees a photograph taken ten years earlier of the owners of the island which includes most of the treasure hunters including Professor Saeki and his young son Koichiro. After Saeki appeared to die accidentally, everyone left the island to Mimasaka and departed. That night, Ryuzo Yasojima is killed when his lodge burns down. All guests have alibis except Kohei Himura, but he is shot a short while later. While at the onsen, Hajime finds a clue when he discovers that the red ochre on the island turns black on contact with water.

• Third case: Ryuzo Yasojima was found dead after his lodge was burned down.
• Fourth case: Kohei Himura was found dead after being shot to death when he saw something horrifying.

Hajime realizes that the red torii referred to in the song would now appear black because of the action of water. However, Hisayoshi Yaogi has also solved the mystery and finds the location of the treasure, but when Hajime leads the others there, they find him dead. Hajime deduces that Midori Mimasaka is the killer, but she is in fact Koichiro Saeki, Professor Saeki's son. They enter the cavern containing the treasure of gold and jewels guarded by a huge Yamawara statue. Eisaku Iwata, the former butler, then prepares to shoot the remaining members of the group, but Kyoko Kaya shoots him in the shoulder and reveals that she is a police officer who is chasing Iwata for suspected murder and insurance fraud. Iwata makes a grab for the gold which topples the statue, killing him and causing the cavern to collapse, burying the treasure. Hajime saves Koichiro who reveals that he met Midori and they planned revenge against Mimasaka for the death of his father, but he fell in love with Midori, only for her to commit suicide over her father's actions. Later, Koichiro Saeki and Iwata are arrested for their crimes.

• Fifth case: Hisayoshi Yaogi was found dead at the cavern that leads to the treasure of gold and jewels guarded by a huge Yamawara statue.

Michael Henry, the French executive member of the Toutou Philharmonic Orchestra, is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in the villa of Shuichiro Mido, composer of "The Devil's Suite" based on his three poems. The only clue is a key clasped in his hand. Hajime helps in the search to find the famed composer's lost work along with Inspector Akechi. Also present are the other orchestra committee members; conductor Takehiko Natsuoka, opera singer Yurie Kazekura and violinist Arisa Kure. Suddenly, Mido's manager Yuka Yamane finds Kazekura dead in the collector's room, her head covered by a helmet as described in Mido's poems. Meanwhile, they find a written copy of the poems comprising "The Devil's Suite" and Akechi gives it to Hajime to solve the mystery of the two deaths.

Main cast: Hajime Kindaichi, Miyuki Nanase, and Super intendent Kengo Akechi.

Hajime and Miyuki travel with Detective Isamu Kenmochi to Kuchinashi village in Okuhida (Hida region) of Gifu Prefecture after kenmochi received a letter from Shino, a childhood friend who married into the Tatsumi family as the second wife. She has been receiving death threats from the "Cursed Warrior" since her husband, Kuranosuke Tatsumi's death, when his will named Seimaru, Shino's son as his heir. They suspect Ryunosuske, Tatsumi's son from his first wife, Ayako. The will is to take effect after the current Warrior Festival. Suddenly, someone dressed as Kaneharu, a samurai warrior attacks the house. Later, a man claiming to be Saburou Akanuma visits with his face covered and offers to reveal the identity of the Cursed Warrior at midnight. However, he is found dead in a locked room without a head. Shino says that Akanuma claimed to be Seimaru's twin whom she believed was stillborn. That night, while walking, Miyuki falls and is threatened by a sword-wielding warrior.

Miyuki asks Hajime to help out with drama club camp at an island Opera Hotel where a small group of students plan to re-enact the Phantom of the Opera. Eight students have already left the club after Fuyuko Tsukishima, the girl who was selected for the lead role, killed herself in front of the other members. She jumped from the roof after her face was disfigured by acid. During dinner on the first night of the camp, the new lead actress, Orie Hidaka is murdered by a falling chandelier. They suspect a mystery guest named Kagetsu who arrived earlier covered in bandages. When Hajime and the others visit his room, they find it empty and a message "Burned in the flames of Hell" scrawled on the wall in blood.

Main cast: Hajime Kindaichi and Miyuki Nanase.

Saburo Ogitani, the 43 year old head surgeon of Kiyomasa Hospital is killed and his head is crushed by a falling statue while holding a bell with a red ribbon. While Kenmochi is investigating the murder, Hajime is admitted to the hospital after overeating at a gyoza dumpling challenge and Kenmochi drags him off to help in the investigation. Hajime encounters the long term patient Junya Kine who says it is called "Death God Hospital". Later, Hajime and Myuki encounter the old woman Taki Mizushima who regularly visits the hospital and has a similar bell on her cane. Kine tell Hajime that her bell is the reminder of a doctor Akihito Kiyomasa who tried to save her son Kazuo 3 years ago by ringing a similar bell to help him regain consciousness. Kazuo actually died from the side effects of an experimental drug used at the hospital introduced by Head Doctor Tomoaki Kiyomasa. However, Akihito shouldered the guilt and committed suicide by jumping from a cliff, holding the bell, but his face was unrecognizable.

During the night, Head Nurse Kazuko Takazawa is grabbed by a cloaked figure and later, Hajime and Miyuki encounter the same figure ringing a bell. Suddenly Head Nurse Kazuko Takazawa is thrown from a window and dies holding a bell. Hajime runs in and sees Tomoaki who denies involvement, but he subsequently finds clues to the killer’s identity. Hajime calls everyone together, and explains that the murderer killed Ogitani and Takazawa with the intention of forcing Tomoaki to admit his malpractice and he accuses the youngest daughter, Eiko Kiyomasa of the murders. She admits that she blamed Ogitani, Takazawa and Tomoaki for Akihito's death and wanted them dead. They are interrupted by the news that Taki Mizushima is being brought to the hospital after she was hit by a car. The family operate to save her, and Eiko resists the temptation to kill Tomoaki. Afterwards, when Eiko is arrested, her fiancé Yuichi Yukimuro gives her a bell and promises to wait for her. During this double-length special episode, Inspector Akechi foils a plan by the Gentleman Thief to steal a masterpiece painting on the cruise ship Queen Angelica while sailing the Atlantic Ocean.

The popular author Goryu Tachibana throws a party at his villa in Karuizawa where he declares that the person who successfully decodes a phrase will have the rights to publish his next book, a non-fiction book which will expose the name of somebody present. Akira Kamoshita of Otoba Publishing House engages Hajime to attend, however during the party Tachibana harasses Miyuki and when Hajime intervenes, he accidentally removes Tachibana's hairpiece and the writer immediately excludes Otoba Publishing from competing. Later, Hajime goes to apologize, but he is found with the body of Tachibana who had been bludgeoned to death with a blunt object by someone who also knocked Hajime unconscious. Nagano Prefectural Police Inspector Shigeru Nagashima concludes that all the evidence points to Hajime who is then arrested for Tachibana's murder against Inspector Kenmochi's advice. However, Hajime escapes police custody and attempts to find the killer.

Main cast: Hajime Kindaichi, Miyuki Nanase, Inspector Isamu Kenmochi, Super intendent Kengo Akechi, Yosuke Itsuki and Ryuji Saki.

Inspector Kenmochi takes Hajime and Myuki on the Cobalt Marine, not a cruise ship, but a cargo freighter with accommodation to Okinawa. Meanwhile, Captain Kozo Takamori has received a letter from a Ghost Captain stating that the cruise of death has begun. Takamori asserts that it was sent by one of the disgruntled crew and accuses the Navigator Mikihiko Wakaouji. When Hajime is ill the next morning he discovers that Second Mate Joji Mizuzaki and female crew member Yoko Katori are romantically involved. Also, Captain Takamori appears to have disappeared although when they enter his locked room it appears that he was just eating breakfast. A passenger and reporter for a ship magazine Yoshikazu Akai suggests it is just like on the Mary Celeste. The crew then discover the communications equipment has been destroyed. Hajime calculates the time that the person responsible for the captain's disappearance left his room and checks everyone's alibis but the results are inconclusive.

Hajime and Miyuke join the Fudoh Ski Club's special training although Hajime is poor at skiing. That night, Hajime finds Shiramine beaten and buried in the snow, however the injuries are not serious. CCTV footage shows the culprit hitting Shiramine with what appears to be a set of skis in a cover, but Hajime deduces that it was frozen towels as the skis are locked up at night. Based on the CCTV footage and Suzumori's actions, Hajime accuses Emi Suzumori of attacking Shiramine. She breaks down and admits she did it because she believes that Shiramine deliberately sabotaged Shibusawa's skis which caused him to have a debilitating accident. However, Shibusawa regains consciousness from a coma and tells Suzumori that Shiramine is not to blame because he adjusted his skis himself. The Fudoh Ski Club goes on to win the competition, but without the help of Hajime who still cannot ski.

Hajime, Myuki and Detective Kenmochi board a sleeper train for the Sequestrum Plain Motel in Hokkaido after the police receive a threatening letter from the self-named "Puppet Master from Hell". On board the train, they are entertained by members of the Fantasy Magic Team. They receive a phone warning from the Puppet Master that a bomb will explode on the train in 20 minutes. The train stops and everyone alights, however the leader of the magic team and Yumi's husband, Fumio Yamagami is missing. Akechi arrives because he is a fan of the magician team, and the bomb goes off, but it only distributes rose petals. Another phone message directs them to the body of Yamagami. They flee his cabin as set of small explosions go off, but then find his body has been removed. Everyone checks into the motel, but a little while later Yamagami's body is discovered and he is strung up like a marionette in the room of a mysterious masked guest, Mario Totsune.

Miyuki convinces Hajime to join her on a trip to a village in Hokkaido to help with the filming of a TV show. They stay at the villa of the reclusive artist Isen Himuro and then drive in a mini-van to the annex across the river to set up a video camera system. The annex is now a 20 minute drive away after the bridge collapsed. When they return, Hajime is surprised to find Kenmochi and Akechi in the village after their vehicle broke down. While watching the remote camera images in the annex, a Snow Demon appears and kills actress Rie Kano with an axe. The figure then turns and destroys the surveillance camera. Some villagers tell the story of the Snow Demon, how the poor area was known for human trafficking. Apparently during a snow storm, a woman in bondage escaped with her baby, but no-one would shelter her, fearing revenge from the traffickers, not even her former family. The baby died and the woman disappeared after leaving a curse on the village, creating the Snow demon. Suddenly, the assistant Marina Ayatsuji discovers the body of the main suspect, cameraman Michio Akashi stuffed inside a snowman, clutching some straw. Akeshi determines that he was killed before Kano, and thus could not be the killer.

Hajime is invited by the pop idol Reika Hayami to her father's Tarot Villa in the snowy mountains to where she has retreated and refuses to see anyone. Coincidentally, a skier called Kenji Tsuji seeks shelter after returning late and finding the cable car switched off. In the villa is a framed panel of tarot cards and Reika's father explains that the former owner had an interest in tarot cards, so he framed them as a feature. Reporter Annryo Hojo mentions that one card is upside down. Reporter Goro Itami tells about a case he reported on 15 years ago when 2 children were kidnapped and their father killed, and another how police shot a bystander instead of a robber. Later Itami tries to extort money from Yuichiro Hayami and demands to spend night with Reiko. Hayami angrily refuses and hits Itami with and ash tray, killing him and then he hastily buries the body. The next morning, all the tarot cards have been removed, and the Wheel of Fortune card appears pinned to Itami's door. Hajime believes it indicates Windmill Hill, so everyone travels there in the cable car and they find Itami's body tied to the windmill. When they return, the telephone lines are down, and the cable car controls have been smashed. Hajime investigates, while Hayami begins to panic about who had dug up Itami's body, tied it to the windmill and left the tarot card.

Touno Eiji is supposed to be dead, killed in a fiery wreck following the serial killings at Nagano's Lake (Episode 4), however Yousuke Itsuki sees an article which shows him still alive and working with Shimon Madarame who claims to have resurrected extinct butterflies and plans to display them at Kanazawa. When they arrive at Kanazawathey meet Hajime's uncle Heiske and his daughter Fumi Kindaichi. Fumi travels with them to the Madarame residence, known as Butterfly Manor. Madarame introduces his three daughters named after butterflies: Tateha, Ageha and Ruri. During the party, Ruri sees a live Black Butterfly pinned to a wall - a premonition of death. The highlight of the evening is the release of luminous butterflies, meanwhile, Hajime thinks he sees Touno, but he introduces himself as Miyama. The next day, a purple butterfly is pinned to a tree and it has the same design as Ruri's kimono. Hajime searches for Ruri and finds her dead in the garden in an area known as the butterfly's grave. Officer Inokawa arrives to investigate the murder.

Following a day of shooting a film, Reika Hayami and her manager Yasuyuki Yasuoga are kidnapped by someone calling himself the Puppet Clown. The kidnapper demands a huge ransom from the film director Youko Kafuraki and the ransom note also specifies that Hajime Kindaichi must deliver the money. Director Youko Kafuraki refuses to pay the ransom, so Veteran actress Reiko Mitamura offers to pay herself. Inspector Isamu Kenmochi appears in disguise, having been called by Kafuraki. Hajime is told to take the money to a phone booth at Nakahara Station, but when he gets there he receives another phone call with a cryptic message to find the next location.

Fashion model Masumi Takamori, is blackmailed by an old acquaintance, Hiroshi, who threatens to expose her drug-taking past. She accidentally kills him with a vase, but as Masumi buys a suitcase to dispose of the body, she encounters Hajime, a former classmate. She gives him and Miyuki tickets to a fashion show in Nagaya. That night she disposes of Hiroshi's body. Hajime and Miyuki arrive at Nagaya and stay at the exclusive French hotel to be used for a wedding fashion show of the competing brands for sponsorship by Mitsumoto Property; Kimasawa and Rokujou. Rokujou tries to poach Naoko, but fails. Takamori receives a phone call from someone calling themselves Burial Francs who witnessed her kill Hiroshi and dispose of the body. The person blackmails her into adding a powder to someon's drink. Later, Kimasawa receives a wedding dress with a 5 Franc coin signifying burial. At the evening dinner, Takamori adds the poisonous powder to Naoko's glass, but Rokujou drinks it instead and falls down dead. Inspector Kenmochi arrives to investigate.

Hajime's friend Ryuta Saki has a crush on Sayaka Kamitsu and they go on a double date with Hajime and Myuki. Back at the school, a guard and a teacher find a broken plaster sculpture and the teacher Nakatsukawa unconscious from a blow by another plaster statue in the Art Lab. When the teenagers arrive home, Inspector Kenmochi accuses Sayaka of the attack because she has the only other key to the room. When they all inspect the scene, Ryuta finds a piece of contact lens. By a process of elimination he identifies student Shiomi Hatsune as the attacker. She admits that she visited Nakatsukawa in the lab to declare he love for him, but he said he already had someone else and she accidentally broke the plaster statue over his head. Later, Nakatsukawa recovers and forgives Shiomi for her impetuousness.

Hajime and Miyuki are invited by their senior Satsuki Munakata to her home in the remote Majin Village and they take his cousin Fumi. On the way Hajimetells Fumi about the first time they visited Satsuki to help dig for historical artefacts. Munakata says there are only three families there; Boukyoku, Hoko and her own, Nanakakami. The fourth residence was burned down ten years earlier. in her house they have a effigy of the Magamitori God which the family worships as the guardian of the village. The objective of the dig is to find four "devil's artefacts" somewhere in the village which are said to bestow fame and fortune. Dig coordinator Kunamori explains how Bunzaemon originally had the artefacts and became famous. The artefacts were then gathered by Kichieman Munakata, Satsuki's grandfather who became very wealthy, however tragedy has befallen his descendants and he buried the artefacts somewhere in the village. Toribeno, Kunamori's assistant, displays four replicas made by Kichieman; a necklace, blade, mirror and bell. Later, they all go to the Magamitori cave where the dig will take place and after sliding aside the "mirror rock" they dig for a while but find nothing important. After dinner, Miyuki sees a Magamitori figure at the cave and when they investigate, they find Yamato’s body inside the sealed cave.

Hajime, Miyuki and four school friends take a low-cost trip to a vacant island named Graveyard Island. Soon after arrival they find a cave filled with human skulls and bones, then they meet a group of college students in camouflage playing a survival game. That night, Chie Hirashima tells the story of the curse of a Ghost Soldier. During the war, many Japanese soldiers lost their lives on the island. It was sealed off as Graveyard Island, but since then fisherman have reported seeing ghost soldiers there. Meanwhile at one combat group's camp, Yonemura goes missing and the others are targeted by an old war tank. During the night, Hajime is woken by the sound of an explosion. In the morning the combat game players report that they cannot contact the Yonemura team. They eventually find the Yonemura team camp site which has been destroyed by an explosion, apparently from an old tank shell. They attempt to notify the authorities, but find their transmitter does not work and the rope holding their boat has been cut and the boat is gone. During the night, while Tatsuyuki is on guard duty talking to Hajime, Tetsunori is killed.

Tired after working at an amusement park, Hajime Kindaichi is on a train home when he is accused of murdering the loan broker Ekuma Tadao on the train and arrested. Hajime claims he is innocent and Akechi promises that he will seize the real killer. Now in jail, Hajime's fate depends on the detective skills of Inspector Akechi. Akechi commences his investigation by analyzing the crime scene, questioning the witnesses and probing Tadao's background. However, Kindaichi appears to be the only person who could have committed the murder. Slowly Akechi pieces together the evidence, and accuses the conductor, Kiyoshi Yagi of being the murderer. Yagi confesses, saying that he lost 20 years of savings to Tadao and killed him when he saw him on the train. Meanwhile, Hajime while in jail, also deduced that Yagi was the murderer.

Because Hajime has spent all his money, he and Miyuki decide to take a part-time job during the summer vacation at the Otemon summer training camp for medical students. Later, while Hajime is in Otemon Hospital waiting for a gastric medical examination he sees a boy named Kuniaki Ebisawa in a coma. Hajime and Miyuki travel to the camp on Shiranui Island, also called "Ghost Fire Island", where the soul of dead student is said to return every year at this time. They check into the Eikou Hostel where they and meet the other staff including Kouhei Ohno who examined Hajime at Otemon Hospital. They learn the layout of the building which was a former sanatorium and are assigned to clean the disused Crape Myrtle (百日紅, Sarusuberi) Room. They also meet the students, and the friendly student Yozo Kawasaki accidentally mentions Ebisawa. Kouhei Ohno tells tem about the "test of courage" which involves peering through the keyhole into the Sarusuberi Room in which the ghost of a student who committed suicide appears every year at midnight on August 15. Through the keyhole, Hajime sees Keiichi Morimura being hung in the locked room. However when they enter the room, it is empty.

Koshiro Kirisawa, the famous ikebana artist and head of Mugetsu School of Flower Arrangement, is stabbed and killed in the hotel where Inspector Kenmochi is staying. Kenmochi believes he witnesses the murder in an external stairwell by a woman around 2am, and one of the hotel staff also reports seeing her. Kirisawa's two step-daughters Beniko and Midoriko are prime suspects because if Kirisawa’s fiancée Akemi Todo has his child, it would inherit his valuable estate. Kenmochi asks Hajime to help him with the case, and after examining the crime scene, Hajime deduces the identity of the culprit over dinner. He takes everyone to the crime scene where he explains what happened and accuses the older sister Beniko of killing her father. She admits killing him because he married their mother shortly after their father's death. However, Todo tells them that Kirisawa was their real father who had an affair with their mother when she was married, and he dearly loved his daughters. Both Beniko and Midoriko are devastated by the revelation.

Kenmochi presents Hajime with another case. A computer teacher named Nanako Segawa is found dead in a park. Yuri Mishima, a student from the computer school is arrested for the murder, but Hajime thinks that this is an exchange murder, and there is a mastermind behind the killing. There are three suspects who also use Yuri's computer, and none have adequate alibis. After examining the computer room and the evidence, Hajime believes he knows the culprit. Suddenly, the student Rumi Nakajima threatens to throw herself off the rooftop rather than be accused of Segawa's murder, however Kenmochi intervenes and stops her. Hajime then explains the mastermind is someone who knows that Mishima is a frustrated rival to Nakajima for the handsome Yoshiki Maruyama's affection, and Hajime accuses Kenichi Hamaoka, a teacher in the computer class. Hamaoka admits that he discovered that Segawa was embezzling money from her family's company and initially helped her, but he became afraid of the consequences and planned to have her killed, using Mishima as his tool.

Hajime finds that Miyuki has someone else to accompany with, so he trails her all the time. However, Miyuki is involved in a car accident soon.