The Case of the Midsummer Beach Hut Drowning Pt. 3

**The Case of the Midsummer Beach Hut Drowning Pt. 3** is the 30th chapter of the *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga.

## Summary

The local police cordon off the entire beach while the investigation is ongoing. The beach hut owner complains that having the beach closed is going to hurt his business, could they investigate somewhere else? Toto says that it is not an investigation. Ron adds that it is an intervention, they need to talk about the yakisoba, but the owner accuses them of having added the burnt parts themselves. If they are going to hurt his business, they can get out. Ron quips that he is joking, but that the owner is quick with the excuses. He says there will be a lecture to help ensure nobody drowns again, but the owner says it is a waste of time.

In front of Summer House, Ron and Toto collect Mofu, the police, the owner, and the victim's friends. Toto informs that the case was a homicide, not an accident, and the killer is among them. When the police inquire into the alibi, Toto says there is a time-delay method the killer could have used to indirectly kill the victim out in the ocean, a bold trick. He then names the beach shop owner.

Toto says there is something unusual about the shop, but before he can elaborate, Ron interrupts him and says that the unusual aspect of the shop is that they do not have brown sugar shaved ice. Toto tells him not to bring his personal feelings into this before he continues, though he does bring up the shaved ice: The shop sold out of shave ice although there were not many people at the beach. This means he was using the ice for a different purpose.

The ice was used to make a raft of death. When the owner saw the victim passed out drunk, he had the idea of floating him out on an ice raft. The owner put the dry suit on him so the body would not immediately show any signs of chilblains or marks from the ropes tying the victim to the raft. Eventually the ice melted and the victim fell into the ocean. When he became conscious, the victim clung onto the remaining chunk of ice until it all melted, which is how the victim got the chilblains on his hands.

The owner objects, saying the ice used for shaved ice is only a few handfuls, separating his hands around a foot away. But Toto continues: if you use salt, it can be used to combine the blocks together into a large panel. When you put salt on ice, the surface melts and becomes dense salt water. Due to freezing point depression, the temperature drops below 0°C (32°F). If you then apply pressure to multiple blocks of ice, the sides will freeze together. It is more possible to do with the smooth surfaces of professional grade ice.

When the owner says they do not have proof, Toto says that if they inspect the sand in front of the shop, where he made the raft, they would find an unusually high concentration of salt. The owner keeps deflecting, saying the salt flowed out while he was making food. Toto keeps attacking, saying will the owner mind if they check the delivery slip for ice and the sales receipts for shaved ice? Because he is sure there will be a discrepancy.

The owner deflects again, saying he forgot to shut the freezer, and the ice melted, but his employee says he did shut the freezer properly before leaving. This forces the owner to deflect saying he tried making a new shaved ice dish after that. Ron catches him at that: In addition to doing all that, he had time to go drinking and to lure the victim out of the inn?

The owner says he did not even know where the victim was staying. Toto continues: If he did not know, then how were they able to find his fingerprints on the surfboards lined up outside the victim's inn? In order to make it look like the victim died from surfing, he went to the inn to look for the surfboard. But since he could not tell which one was the victim's, he ended up leaving without taking it. He forgot to wipe his fingerprints.

Toto makes his final point: The beach shop has three complaints of food poisoning. Which is why when the victim got stomach pain after eating the food, the owner killed him, because the owner was afraid he would call the health bureau.

The owner finally concedes as he sweats, saying he does not mind confessing to the murder, if they will lighten his sentence. Toto says how dare he, but Mofu is ahead, and slaps the owner, explicitly saying do not make light of someone else's life. Toto turns to Ron, who is still quietly standing beside him.

Fifteen minutes earlier, the three had come together. Toto learns that the shopkeeper is the killer, and Ron says he will probably pressure the suspect to death once he admits. Thus, he asks for permission to take the medications. Mofu warns him that they do not know for sure how well it will work, and there is the danger of side effects. Ron says he understands and will take responsibility for what happens. He gulps down the tablet and capsule combination.

In the present, Ron seems to be fine, looking straight ahead. He only says to the suspect that he hopes that he will take Mofu's slap as a chance to learn about the preciousness of life. Both Toto and Mofu are happy: a normal response, meaning the medicine is working.

Toto congratulates Ron, saying he did it. Ron says, yes, they solved it without incident, and that they did great too, calling Toto and Mofu Max and Molly. Toto and Mofu go agape; right afterward, Ron topples unconscious onto the sand.

The next day, at Ron's apartment, Toto visits Ron, just waking up on his futons, as Toto is relieved. Ron asks what happened, he feels like he did not try to pressure the culprit this time, but did he just imagine that? Toto says no, he did not, he really did not pressure the culprit. Ron brightens: The medicine worked! Toto remarks that Ron had nightmares for a full day, and he kept talking about Max and Molly. Ron says they were kids who lived nearby when he was growing up. He had a dream of a birthday party. He also feels that there was someone else, but he could not remember. Toto says that Mofu informed him that she thinking that one of the side effects caused him to lose consciousness and experience past memories.

Ron is sad though that basically he was totally useless for a full day. Toto agrees. If they want to create a better medication, they need to know more details about what was done to Ron. Ron adds that the M. Family holds that secret. He is right back where he started, he says, thinking he is the worst detective.

Toto says that he begged Mofu, and she gave her permission for him to take the medicine even when she was not around. He encourages Ron: Ron is not where he started, and is making progress. That is way better than trying to kill a culprit. He knows the day will come when Ron can be a proper detective again. He encourages him that they keep moving forward together. Ron smiles. Of course they will. Solving mysteries is his duty after all, he says. Toto agrees.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ron Kamonohashi
* Beach hut owner
* Mofu Usaki
* Totomaru Isshiki
* Two unnamed surfers