Case Closed: Zero's Tea Time

Rei Furuya, better known under his alias Toru Amuro, lives with three competing identities: a private detective, a public security officer, and an operative linked to a shadowy organization. The series follows his attempts to keep those lives separate while he works cases that touch on crime, espionage, and daily routine. Episodes mix short, self-contained mysteries with longer threads that test his loyalties, and they often use humor and character moments to break up tense situations. The tone shifts between light scenes and procedural stakes, showing how he maneuvers through interrogation, surveillance, and casual interactions without giving away which hat he’s wearing.

Released in 2022, the show credits Gosho Aoyama as its original creator, with Takahiro Arai and Yoshiko Nakamura contributing to the adaptation. The cast features Toru Furuya as Rei Furuya / Toru Amuro, alongside Megumi Han, Mikiko Enomoto, Asako Dodo, and Nobuo Tobita in supporting voice roles.

The series didn’t collect mainstream industry awards on release, and there were no major nominations tied to its initial run. That said, it found a steady audience among fans of the wider franchise, and its niche appeal kept it visible in anime discussions and specialty outlets rather than award seasons.

Among viewers it boosted interest in a popular supporting character, giving him more screen time and background than the original franchise normally allows. Fans appreciated the focus on his daily rhythms and the way small, personal moments are threaded into crime stories. The spin-off status also led to increased fan art, episode guides, and social chatter about which identity is primary.

Critical reception has been mixed to positive, reflected in a user vote average of 6.6/10 from a small sample. Reviewers tended to praise the character-driven approach and the blend of mystery, comedy, and crime beats, while some pointed out uneven pacing and a formulaic feel in parts. Overall, it’s often recommended to viewers who like character studies inside a procedural framework rather than those seeking high-stakes thrills every episode.