Episode 643: A Critical Moment from the Karuta Cards (Part 2)
Scenario: Before Masao is escorted out of the room, he shouts "take out the towel" and declares the towel to have a pattern of a horsehair crab from Lake Suwa. Haibara examines Masao's cards which consist of Ru (る), Ko (こ), Ni (に), and Te (て) in that order. Haibara realizes Masao is telling them to take the words towel (タオル, ta o ru), horsehair crab (ケガニ, ke ga ni), and Lake Suwa (諏訪湖, Su wa ko), and to treat the middle characters as a Japanese particle. In doing so, Ru becomes Ta, Ko becomes Su, Ni becomes Ke, and Te remains unchanged. Reading the changed words from Masao's card order reveals the message Ta Su Ke Te (助けて, lit. "Help Me"). The criminals reveal they have been eavesdropping their conversation through a cellphone and decide to kill the kids as a result. Haibara deduces they are after the tax evasion evidence of a company whom was sent to a television producer from the previous resident of the Urafune household. Since the producer was murdered before the post office sent the package, it would return to the household after a number of days. The criminals are called by a postal worker and allow him into the apartment. The postal worker is revealed to be Takagi and is accompanied by Conan who apprehends the criminals; Conan reveals he realized Masao was telling the truth during the video call since Masao had a widow's peak, a dominant trait, while his imposter parents did not.
By the time Masao picks his card, Genta just so happens to want the same one, nevertheless Masao is completely reluctant to give his card away. While the Detective Boys find that strange, Haibara takes notes on his behavior of their new companion. And as the game continues, the "Mother" reads the cards aloud reluctantly. With the cards gathered and in place Masao says, "Mommy, restroom!" She replies, "It cant be helped. I'll go with you." Leaving his final clue, Masao says, "Bring my towel! I can't go without it! You know, the towel (ta o ru) with a horsehair crab (Ke ga ni) from Lake Suwa (su wa ko)!"