LOVED ONE (ラブドワン)

This is the fifth case this year of a girl being found strangled to death.

According to investigators,

they view these repeated cases as linked

and are investigating accordingly.

What? You're going to be a dad?

Yes.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Thank you.

I had no idea. You should have told us!

Sorry.

Dr. Takamori, I bet you'll be a great father.

I wonder.

We have to celebrate.

No, you don't have to.

A pre-celebration drink. A big one!

- You just want to drink. - No, I don't!

Dr. Masumi is on vacation, right?

Now is our chance.

Hello, this is Medical Examiner Japan.

How does the mindset of becoming a father feel?

I'm not sure.

It hasn't really sunk in yet.

When is the due date?

For now, it's next weekend.

Really?

Hey, excuse me.

We got a request for an examination of a living person.

A child suspected of being abused was in an accident.

Clinical forensic medicine, right?

Yes.

It's rare, isn't it?

Until now, we've only done examinations on bodies.

With domestic violence, abuse,

or other special cases, we sometimes get asked to do an examination.

What should we do?

Unfortunately,

I can't come back yet.

Could you all handle it by yourself?

What? Without you?

Clinical forensic medicine is Dr. Takamori's specialty.

I'll let him handle it.

I understand.

All right, then. Thank you.

That's unusual.

Dr. Masumi never dumps a job on someone else.

That's true.

I wonder where he's going.

Sorry we're late.

Huh? That doctor isn't here today?

He couldn't quite make it today.

Well, that helps.

Explain it to them.

Yes, ma'am.

The victim is ten-year-old Kanata Togawa.

A neighbor found him collapsed here, and he was rushed to the hospital.

He still hasn't regained consciousness and is receiving treatment.

We don't know yet if it was an accident or a crime.

What kind of findings suggest abuse?

Bruises all over his body. On his back, his arms, everywhere.

But there were no reports to the child consultation center.

Also, I don't think it's relevant,

but just to let you know…

You're okay.

The monster…

The monster is coming.

The black monster…

He said that and then lost consciousness.

Monster?

We found a knife!

Maybe he was attacked with this by the person who was abusing him,

and then fell from here?

First, we need to find out if there really was abuse.

Yes, ma'am.

Just imagining it

is painful.

Come in.

Excuse me.

I'm Kiryu from MEJ.

I'm Takamori.

We received a request for an examination because there's a suspicion of abuse.

He hit his head quite hard, so please be careful.

Yes, sir.

Kanata…

I'm sorry.

Please.

Okay.

Are you all right?

It's nothing.

Are you Kanata's mother?

I was at my part-time job when I got the call.

You must have been shocked.

Yes.

I'm sorry, but it seems there are marks on Kanata's body

that were unrelated to the accident.

Do you have any idea what they might be?

Ms. Togawa?

I don't know.

I'm sorry.

Was Kanata at home alone today?

I think so.

Sorry for asking,

but you were divorced five years ago, right?

Are you living alone with Kanata now?

For the most part, yes.

For the most part?

The person I'm dating also comes over sometimes.

Where is that person now?

I can't get in touch with him right now.

I think he'll be back soon, though.

Could you tell me more about him?

Yes.

Kanata fell down the stairs for some reason.

He hit his head on the landing midway down the stairs,

resulting in a cerebral contusion and an acute subdural hematoma.

There are also…

Several other bruises likely caused by hitting the stairs.

Those are the injuries from the fall.

So the rest are from abuse.

That's awful.

Are these all abuse marks?

I think so.

The bruise marks can be covered up

and are a characteristic of child abuse.

There are many scar patches and keloids on his back, too.

Those are old wounds.

These wounds on his arm look fairly new, though.

Coexisting old and new wounds is also a characteristic of abuse.

Doctor.

This might be irrelevant,

but when Kanata was being transported,

he said, "The black monster is coming."

He seemed afraid.

The black monster?

Maybe the person who abused him looked that terrifying to him.

But isn't it strange?

If he was beaten by someone who was abusing him,

he would likely say "I was beaten by the monster."

Instead he said, "The monster is coming."

- True. - No.

He hit his head and was confused.

Well, sure, but…

Anyway,

let's first investigate what Kanata's daily life was like.

- Okay. - Okay.

Come in.

Excuse me.

Long time no see.

Professor Kujo.

Has it been 15 years already?

A lot of time has passed, hasn't it?

I heard…

I heard you're now working

at a death investigation facility established by the Ministry.

Yes.

Professor, how is your health?

The cancer has spread all over.

They say I have three months left.

I've lived long enough.

I'll let myself…

Relax here for a little while longer.

You mean Ms. Togawa from 401, right?

I've heard screaming and things before.

What kind of screaming?

In the middle of the night, suddenly, like "wahh!"

I couldn't tell what they were saying, though.

It didn't use to be like that, though.

The mom started dating a scary-looking guy.

That's when it started.

I saw Kanata crying a lot in the park once.

How did Kanata look to you?

He was terrified.

He was screaming.

I felt so bad for him.

I heard from the detective.

I was shocked.

To think that Kanata would have an accident like that.

Mr. Kamijo, since the divorce, have you seen Kanata?

I haven't seen him for years.

We divorced

because of my affair.

I didn't feel like I could face him.

Sir…

There's also a suspicion that Kanata was being abused.

Do you know anything about that?

I've heard rumors.

I was worried.

Rumors?

Saya started dating a bad guy.

If I had taken Kanata in,

this would never…

I should go see him.

I could buy him some kintsuba.

Even though he's a kid, he loves Japanese sweets.

I'm sure that would make him happy.

But maybe his tastes have changed by now.

I bet he has grown up.

Ryoji Kida, 34 years old. A construction worker.

He's Saya Togawa's boyfriend.

We haven't been able to contact Kida since the incident,