The Pursuit of the Fish E-mail

Chronology
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Episode 438 (Int. Episode {{{int-episode}}})
Information
Title:	The Pursuit of the Fish E-mail
Japanese title:	お魚メールの追跡 (Osakana Mēru no Tsuiseki)
Original airdate:	May 15, 2006
Season:	15
Manga source:	Volume 51: Files 2-3 (523-524)
Case
Cast:	Conan Edogawa Kogoro Mouri Azusa Enomoto Ran Mouri Eri Kisaki
Case solved by:	Conan Edogawa Kogoro Mouri
Next Conan's Hint:	Novel
Staff
Director:	Masato Sato
Organizer:	Yuu Hatanaka
Storyboard:	Yuu Hatanaka
Episode director:	Takashi Sudo
Animation director:	Ayako Tauchi
Music
Opening song:	100 Mono Tobira
Closing song:	Mō Kimi Dake o Hanashitari Shinai

Cast

Characters
Conan Edogawa Kogoro Mouri Azusa Enomoto Ran Mouri Eri Kisaki

Case

Situation

The waitress of Poirot Cafe, Azusa Enomoto, reported she received strange messages from a boy, suggesting he might be kidnapped or trapped in a location without food and water. The only way to find him is by reading his text messages. The boy only knows how to send, but does not know how to receive. Conan must combine the clues he's given to find out his location.

People

Mitsuru Osabe
	5 years old

Mr. Osabe
	Mitsuru's father

Mrs. Osabe
	Mitsuru's mother

Resolution

  Show spoilers »

The Meaning of the Texts

• The boy's first text mentioned a lot of people wearing hats and fish being caught in a net, implying that he is near a fishing spot.
• Since the boy's following texts mentioned a restaurant sign, people wearing hats, and people peering down at him, he must be in a position which requires him to

look up. Also, because no one has yet to show concern for a boy left alone without his father for a long period of time, he must be inside a car.

• The fifth text about there actually being three fish in the sky, not just one refers to Koinobori (carp streamers). Since one streamer became three, that implies that wind has picked up, and thus Mitsuru's location is Komaezaki.
• The fourth text referring to fish being in a net is because a large net surrounding a practice golf course had overlapped with the carp streamers, thus seeming like a giant net in the sky with fish in it.

Conclusion

Conan and the others find Mitsuru passed out in the car. He comes to just before Ran kicks the door open, and agrees after persuasion to come out of the car. Kogoro overhears two men speaking about a fight that occurred earlier, with one ending up with an injury to the head. Shortly afterward, Mitsuru's father comes running. As it turns out, he had attempted to break up a fight, got knocked out and ended up in the hospital. Mitsuru's mother also arrives--as it turns out, she was hospitalized and had just been discharged. Mitsuru's father had come to Komaezaki together with Mitsuru to pick her up. Mitsuru was left without any knowledge of the true reason in order to keep it as a surprise and to prevent him from worrying about his mother.

At the end, Ran hints to Kogoro about how she wishes that she too wants to become (a family) of three again.

See also

• Season 15