TAGUSARI bros. (田鎖ブラザーズ)

Someone related to him might know something.

Is that key the only clue left?

Tsuda didn't kill your parents.

What?

- Hey, I'm scared! - What?

- Where are we going? - Just stay quiet and come with me.

- How much farther? - I don't like this!

Don't open your eyes. Don't.

Okay, now. Open your eyes.

Amazing!

Wow! So pretty!

Right?

It's like a sky of stars!

From time to time,

I would like to eat something light,

not Chinese food all the time!

Dad?

Are you looking at them again?

It's not half-bad coming from you, Makoto.

Shut up.

I told you not to take it out.

I never imagined he would have something like this.

But we aren't even sure it was his yet.

Who else would hide it in a place like this?

Maybe someone else asked him to keep it.

Maybe.

Whether he was just keeping it,

intended to kill with it,

or had already used it…

Stop it.

Not just used, it's possible he killed with it!

I said stop it!

What do you want to do?

If we investigate further,

we might find out things we don't want to know.

A group of three robbers wearing clown masks.

- Scary, huh? - They went inside?

- Yes. - I see.

Is something the matter?

Eisuke Ichijo…

I killed them.

Around when did the murder take place?

Why did you do that to Mr. Ichijo?

Look, if you stay silent, we won't know anything, and nothing will progress.

Let's talk again,

once you've calmed down.

He won't speak at all.

His name is Kenshin Narita, 19 years old.

We confirmed his address from the ID in his wallet.

But we don't know his guardian's phone number.

We have no choice but to go to the address.

It's probably just a prank anyway.

A death certificate had been filed.

Eisuke Ichijo, 64 years old.

He passed away a month ago, but it was listed as a cerebral hemorrhage.

Cerebral hemorrhage?

Then it's a natural death, right?

The doctor said it was a natural death!

Dr. Kagura.

Do you have a moment?

Sure.

We were just having a chat.

We were talking excitedly about gene analysis using nanopore technology.

How do you get excited over something like that?

This is perfect timing.

Seems Mr. Ichijo was struck by a terrible headache at work,

went to his usual hospital, and lost consciousness.

Then, he died from a cerebral hemorrhage.

It seems Mr. Ichijo was being treated for high blood pressure.

It certainly wouldn't be strange to rule it a natural death.

Did you hear that?

But, according to the most recent records,

his blood pressure was actually stabilizing.

Since no autopsy was performed,

things like toxins can sometimes be overlooked.

I wouldn't say the possibility of foul play is zero.

Did Kenshin say anything to you beforehand?

No, nothing.

Do you know anyone by the name of Eisuke Ichijo?

I don't.

I would like to ask your husband a few questions as well.

My husband is unwell, and he has been hospitalized for a while.

Enomoto?

TETSU ENOMOTO - TOXICOLOGY

That boy…

His dream was to attend Professor Enomoto's lectures.

At which university?

Jinnan National University.

But this year…

He failed the entrance exam.

I've put him through a lot.

I couldn't afford to send him to a cram school.

After that, what did he do?

He found a job, but he quit immediately.

Since then,

he has spent most of his time in his room.

KENSHIN

Kenshin…

Won't be arrested, right?

Narita is pretty smart, isn't he?

Smart enough to take the Jinnan National University exam.

Jinnan?

Seems he admired Professor Enomoto, who researches toxins.

- That's why he applied. - Is that so?

Could it be…

He used poison to commit the murder?

But we haven't found any relation between him and the victim yet.

- I went to Mr. Ichijo's workplace. - Well done.

Mr. Ichijo served as the Chairman of the Board

at Jinnan National University.

The university started using AI in exam grading this year.

It even made the headlines.

He failed the exam there…

But you wouldn't commit murder just for failing, would you?

Enomoto is the leading expert in toxicology.

He would want to attend his lectures if he wants to pursue that field.

However, he couldn't afford to retake the exam.

His father's kidneys failed ten years ago,

and he has been in and out of the hospital since.

The mother must have it rough.

She cleans a hotel in the morning,

then works at a restaurant in the same hotel afterward.

Even then, it's barely enough to take care of the father and son.

That's why he only applied to that one university.

Even "safety" schools require an enrollment fee.

If you don't pay, your enrollment is voided.

You have to pay even if you're not sure you'll go there?

Education is on the side of the wealthy.

But… there are exceptions, right?

Minoru.

You did great.

Come on, don't talk about me.

- Makoto. - Yes?

- Can you take care of the stuff out front? - What?

Thanks.

Honestly…

I was really surprised by Minoru back then.

We're back to that?

I mean, you suddenly said you weren't going to take the exams.

I had no choice. We had to make ends meet,

and we didn't have the money to pay back student loans.

I don't know where he heard it, but Mogi said,

"If you became an honors student, your tuition would be waived!"

You sure make it sound easy.

You're drinking?

Being an honors student means being in the top five out of 3,000 applicants.

- Here. - Thanks.

He was always telling me he wanted to go to medical school,

so I just didn't want him to give up.

- Mogi, table for two. - Welcome.

CHINESE RESTAURANT MOCCHAN

If I had said I wanted to be a forensic scientist,

what would Mom and Dad have done?

They would probably have said, "We don't have that kind of money."

He would have been bragging to the whole town.

What?

He would find a way to get the money, no matter what.

Hey, Minoru.

That thing of Dad's.

Should we just throw it into the sea?

Um, about this…

Hey… Excuse me!

- Coming. - Is anyone...

- You never learn, do you? - No, but…

I have this.

Where did you steal it?

Oh, I just happened to find it.

This isn't yours, right, Asakura?

No, it isn't.

I just picked it up a moment ago.

I actually want to sell this.

Sorry.

So you have no leads at all.

No.

We have one more.

KIRIYADO INN

This is Tsuda's room?

Oh, I'm not sure about the name…

ROOM 2

Whoa, this is terrible.

Tell me the details.

What?

That author's room.

You were in here, weren't you?

23RD LITERARY NONFICTION AWARDS

- Just dropping in. - Haruko.

It seems this key belonged to the inn where Tsuda was staying.

The room Tsuda used was completely trashed.

What?

Maybe he was in debt?

A while ago, some people who looked like debt collectors showed up.

Hey, where is it?

Hold it right there!

Hey, Tsuda, you bastard!

The injuries Tsuda had were likely from the assault back then.

Right.

After that, it seems they took the luggage that was in the room.

And…

Tsuda's personal belongings, stolen before all of that.

Inside were daily necessities and…