Natsuki Sakai

Natsuki takes considerable pride in her work and has ambitions extending beyond her current position. She studied makeup in Los Angeles specifically to pursue a professional future in Hollywood, learning English during her training.

Around the theatre company, she is observant and knows more about Juri Maki's relationships than most outsiders. When Ayumi Yoshida and the other children begin handling cosmetics in Juri's dressing room, Natsuki immediately stops them.

Natsuki's professional pride eventually becomes bound up with deep resentment. After learning that Juri deliberately interfered with an opportunity for her to work in Hollywood, she comes to believe that the actress values her only as a convenient personal servant rather than respecting her as a makeup artist.

Natsuki is a professionally trained hairstylist and makeup artist. Her education in Los Angeles gives her substantial cosmetic knowledge, and she understands how different products can be applied and handled without attracting attention.

She is fluent enough in English to have pursued professional opportunities in the United States. She also knows Juri Maki's personal habits intimately after working with her for an extended period.

Natsuki uses that combination of cosmetic expertise and personal knowledge to create an unusually indirect poisoning method. She mixes cyanide into foundation applied to Juri's nose, knowing that pressure changes during the flight will cause the inexperienced diver to pinch her nose to equalize her ears and transfer the poison to her fingers.

Natsuki first appears backstage preparing Juri Maki for Josephine. She later accompanies Juri, Tooru Ban, Bunjiro Narusawa, Tenko Tajima, Masayo Yaguchi and the apparent Isao Shinjo on the flight to Hakodate.

When Juri suddenly collapses aboard the aircraft, the people closest to her become suspects. Natsuki explains that nearly everyone in the company has a reason to resent Juri, revealing private tensions that broaden the investigation.

Natsuki is ultimately exposed by Conan as Juri's killer. She poisoned the foundation applied to Juri before boarding and relied on Juri touching her nose while equalizing pressure, then licking chocolate from her fingers, to ingest a lethal dose.

Her motive comes from Juri sabotaging a major opportunity offered after Natsuki's work impressed representatives connected to a Hollywood actress. Natsuki had continued applying for Hollywood work after returning from Los Angeles, but Juri prevented her departure because she wanted to retain her services. Natsuki interprets this as an attack on her dignity and future as a professional makeup artist.

Juri Maki employs Natsuki as her hairstylist and makeup artist. Natsuki spends enough time with Juri Maki to know her habits and personal relationships in detail. [Their working relationship deteriorates after Juri Maki blocks Natsuki's opportunity to work in Hollywood, leading Natsuki to murder her.](#spoiler)

Masayo Yaguchi is Juri Maki's manager and another member of the actress's close professional circle.

Tooru Ban, Bunjiro Narusawa, Tenko Tajima and Isao Shinjo are members of Juri Maki's theatrical circle whose strained relationships with the actress Natsuki knows well.

Conan Edogawa investigates the poisoning. [Conan Edogawa reconstructs Natsuki's use of poisoned foundation and identifies the remaining cosmetic container she sent away from the airport as evidence against her.](#spoiler)