Tower of Sand (砂の塔～知りすぎた隣人)

Wow, it's huge. 50 stories high.

I moved here just last month.

Really? We only just moved in yesterday.

It's the Hamelin case.

In the fairy tail "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" by the Brothers Grimm,

a man playing a pipe lures the children from the town

and they vanish without a trace.

In the serial child abduction case going by the name of "The Hamelin case,"

so far, three children have gone missing, haven't they?

The worrying thing is the motive behind the crime.

According to information from the investigation team

the criminal has a twisted sense of justice

and is punishing neglectful mothers...

That's it! I'm kind of relieved.

You haven't changed after all.

You can make it up to me another time.

Did you find the necklace by yourself?

Erm... yes.

What's for dinner today?

Croquettes.

You're a liar.

Ah again?! Sora-chan!

Maybe you're going back to being a baby.

I'm not a baby.

Don't be so grouchy first thing.

I'm not being grouchy.

Is this handkerchief okay? No, this one's yours.

This is yours Kazuki. Thank you.

This new environment is tiring you and Sora out isn't it.

Why don't you take a break while Sora's at gym class.

What was it you said? About the coach?

He used to be your neighbour or something...

Ubukata Kohei-kun.

You asked him to keep quiet

about your life back then?

I'm your mother!

You only act like a mother when it's convenient for you.

Coming.

Good morning.

Actually, we've an urgent notification to make about smoking.

"A cigarette butt's been found in the grounds?"

It's a major breach of protocol.

Smoking is forbidden in all the communal areas of the Tower.

I'm informing everyone so they can thoroughly familiarize themselves with the rules again.

Excuse me.

Good job.

They're taking it this seriously.

It's like the secret police isn't it.

Drat, I forgot my packed lunch.

Sure. Thank you.

Take care. See you later.

Good morning.

Where are you going? It's a shortcut.

The bloodstain found at the scene has been confirmed

to belong to the missing child Kimura Kento.

Investigation team 1. Yes. Yamaguchi Mitsuteru-chan...

Holding down and inflicting violence on a small child! The perverted bastard!

Hmmm... maybe so.

What? Hmmm.

The three children all went missing,

in the town center, or shopping district.

In both places you'd be spotted easily.

If they really are a brutal, perverted bastard,

would they be able to grab a child forcibly and get away.

There'd be a lot of noise, and it would stand out.

But we've not had a single report like that.

That's true. In that case,

then taking Hoshi as an example,

he could have had an accident, and someone close to hand

could've used that to manipulate him.

They'd have to be exceptionally skillful to do so.

What a surprise! So we both live here!

Hashiguchi-san.

I'm sorry for suddenly inviting you like this.

I've received some delicious tea from my relatives.

Thank you very much.

Sora-chan, is that a Rabbit?

Sora-chan, don't get it dirty.

It's fine.

Come here.

She's shy isn't she.

What is it?

You are welcome to come visit me, and

bring Sora-chan with you.

Are you sure?

The truth is, because of the kidnappings...

I'm frightened to let her play outside.

The Hamelin case?

What on earth is the criminal thinking.

Punishing the mothers by

taking the children.

I can't understand it.

I understand a little... what they're feeling.

Pardon?!

After all. Having been blessed with a child

for a mother to then abandon her responsibilities in bringing up the child.

Who can forgive that?

If I happened across such a mother

I think I might want to kill them.

I'm joking. Did I shock you?!

Goodness me, don't scare me like that!

I'm sorry.

I'll make sure to be careful, so I don't get killed by you.

That's right, you be careful now.

Women sometimes lie.

Chuu, chuu.

You are not a bad mother.

You hide your true self

in order to become a lie.

Shinjuku station.

However, have you realized?

If the time comes when the lie is found out...

Shibuya station. The trains here, got you.

The person who's hurt is not yourself,

but rather perhaps

your nearest...

and dearest...

You're aware the Catering Department's results are bad this quarter.

And so the bosses are pressuring me to make cuts.

I'm having to transfer one person to our Osaka branch.

Osaka? Who on earth is it?

What me?! But I just moved...

To the Celebrity Tower.

It's not really for celebrities. Celebrity Takano-kun.

How are your results this quarter. Huh?

Am I the only one who thinks they're lacking?

I'll try to make it up, somehow... 2 million yen by the end of the month.

A deposit of 100,000 yen, would also be acceptable.

Who knows, maybe you'll get a new contract.

In that case. I'll do something about your transfer.

If I can't do it?

Osaka's a nice place you know.

See here. My Jun-chan found a butt

in the grounds on the east side.

Children don't know anything about them,

what they got burned, what can you do?

They don't understand adult standards.

It was you wasn't it. Who sent everyone the picture.

What!

The criminal tossed it from the balcony on the east side.

It's clearly one of the new people who've not obeyed the rules.

Or else, one of the lower level residents.

But, only one butt was found wasn't it.

See here. The problem is not how many butts are thrown.

The problem is the fact that one of the clear rules has been broken.

Ye... yes.

By the way, your apartment's on the east side isn't it.

Of course I don't believe the culprit is from your family.

My husband has given up so...

A Baby Shower? What's that? Don't you know?

It's relatively common in America.

But we're in Japan.

A baby shower is a party to celebrate the expectant mother.

Naomi-san on the 34th floor, is just entering the second trimester.

I thought we could hold one for her.

That sounds fun! There's a handmade diaper-cake to isn't there.

A cake would great. It'll make the kids happy too.

A diaper-cake is a nappy.

You decorate a nappy with flowers and ribbons and make it look like a cake.

You give it to the baby when it's born.

Don't tell me, you've not heard of that either!

No, I'm sorry.

Being ignorant of things is only cute while you're in your twenties.

Well, it's fine. And so everyone.

I'd like someone to help with the organization.

I'd like to, but I'm busy with next weeks Halloween preparations.

What about you Aki-san?

I can't. After all, I don't know anything about it.

That's fine. I will give you exceptionally detailed instructions.

No, but... I think this is a chance

to improve you relationship with everyone.

Wait, wait...

Is it such a difficult job to organize a baby shower?

It's not that it's difficult. It's just you get practically no time to yourself.

That bad? You'll be completely worn down.

It's impossible. Definitely impossible.

It's true that after your father died

I left you and ran off with a man.

But I had no choice. I had to run from the debt collectors.

Welcome back.

I'm having to transfer one person to our Osaka branch.

2,000,000 yen by the end month.

A deposit of 100,000, would also be acceptable.

Who knows maybe you'll get a new contract.

In that case. I'll do something about your transfer.

It's no smoking here.

Ah, I'm sorry.

No, no... In truth I'm dying to have one too.

But my wife's a real pain about it.

You too? I've pretended that I've quit.

It's pretty pathetic really.

Even though I look this way, outside they call me Mr Managing Director.

You run a company? Ah, you might have heard of it.

It's an event planning company.

"Asou Partners"

Ah! It's really famous!

Shhh. Sorry.

Wow that's amazing.

Hey, there's no need to be that surprised.

I never imagined such a successful MD would live here in the Tower.