The Hot Chocolate Trap

Chronology
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Episode 658 (Int. Episode {{{int-episode}}})
Information
Title:	The Hot Chocolate Trap
Japanese title:	ショコラの熱い罠 (Shokora no Atsui Wana)
Original airdate:	June 2, 2012
Season:	21
Manga source:	TV Original
Case
Cast:	Conan Edogawa Ran Mouri Sonoko Suzuki Makoto Kyogoku Inspector Yuminaga
Case solved by:	Sonoko Suzuki (via Conan)
Next Conan's Hint:	Airbag
Staff
Director:	Koujin Ochi
Screenplay:	Yasutoshi Murakawa
Storyboard:	Seiki Taichuu
Episode director:	Minoru Tozawa
Animation director:	Chiemi Hironaka
Music
Opening song:	Miss Mystery
Closing song:	Overwrite

Cast

Characters
Conan Edogawa Ran Mouri Sonoko Suzuki Makoto Kyogoku (background) Inspector Yuminaga

Gadgets

Gadgets
Voice-Changing Bowtie Stun-Gun Wristwatch Button Speaker Telescopic Lenses

Case

Situation

Conan, Ran, and Sonoko are invited to the opening ceremony of a chocolate shop that is supported by the Suzuki Group. They meet a woman named Mayuko Sakura, the shop producer. Next they meet a man named Yukihiko Tsujimoto, the chocolatier and he's Mayuko's fiancé. During Tsujimoto's show, the fire breaks out in the shop, killing Tsujimoto. Was this a terrible accident or a planned murder?

Accident?
	Location: "Le trésor de fruits" shop Victim: Yukihiko Tsujimoto Cause of death: Burning Suspects: Mayuko Sakura When he poured water onto the chocolate sculpture, instead of producing steam, the entire sculpture burst into flames, knocking Tsujimoto into the shop's back wall. The fire spread onto his clothing and he was unable to escape.

People

Mayuko Sakura
	25 years old Shop producer

Yukihiko Tsujimoto
	Victim (burned) 41 years old Chocolatier Mayuko's fiancé

Resolution

  Show spoilers »

The accident is actually murder. The culprit is Mayuko Sakura. It is revealed that Tsujimoto was a highly selfish, devious individual who just used Sakura to gain fame and prestige as a chocolate maker. He had no intention of marrying her, as the public presumed, but instead intended to drop her once the shop was opened.

The fire was caused by a practically applied principle which makes air batteries create electricity: a chemical reaction between aluminum foil placed at the bottom of the swan piece's silver bowl, with a layer of steel wool above it, and salt water in the teapot. The fire was triggered when the self-samely created electricity flowed through the steel wool, igniting it and, consequently, the fruit liquor. The original intention was to have fresh water meet and dissolve a piece of dry ice to create a mist effect.

In addition, Sakura had prepared some additional means of making the fire spread rapidly: pistachio shells placed underneath the liquor bottles on the shelf to make them topple over more easily, and a paper bowl with spirytus, a highly concentrated vodka brand. The latter was hidden beneath the table on which the demonstration of the chocolate swan was to take place, and the volatile fumes from the alcohol were kept in check by the tablecloth until it was lifted by Sakura, releasing the vapors and thereby making the fire go wild.

The crucial evidence which revealed Sakura as the culprit is a picture Sonoko took of Tsujimoto just before the serving of the dish. On the photo he is seen drinking water from the teapot used in the serving, indicating that it was originally filled with fresh water, not with salt water. And since Sakura then brought the pot to the table, only she could have filled it with salt water to facilitate the murder.

See also

• Season 21