Tower of Sand (砂の塔～知りすぎた隣人)

Sometimes women lie.

For the sake of a modest appearance.

To protect their beloved children.

Did you return the key? I did.

And at times, for the sake of a secret love.

Wounds born from lies can be

can be mended with another lie.

Women fall into

a dark world of sin.

It's full with pitfalls.

Anyone, at any time,

someone right next to you, could open their mouth

and drop you in a bottomless pit.

Who found it? Yes good work.

We got a notification from the mother yesterday evening at around 8pm.

After that a search was carried out over a 1km radius

from the park where the child disappeared. I'll leave it to you.

Kimura Kento.

It belongs to one of the missing children doesn't it.

This makes it three...

Mummy! The water is spraying Don't get wet!

Don't be silly, that was close, you'll get wet.

It's massive.

It is big.

It's a 50 floor building.

We've been expecting you, Takano-sama.

Please come in, I'll show you around.

We finally got here.

From today this will be our home.

It's like a hotel.

Dad I'll take that. That helps.

The elevator on the left takes you to floor 2 through to 24.

and floors from 25 to the very top of the building

are on the right side.

Kasuki, it's not that way, we're on the right side.

Really? We are on the upper floors?

Well floor 25 so only just, we're on the lowest one.

Sora-chan, come on.

Let's go Sora. Let's go.

You can freely use the party space

if you reserve it.

Your children can study here in the library,

Your husband can use the reading room.

Isn't it nice. Hey Sora-chan.

This is the day time café.

In the evening, the residents can use it as a private lounge bar.

Through out the building, security cameras, like this, have been installed.

They are in your rooms too, by putting in a pass-code

and using your smart phone, you can watch over

your children and their care-givers.

The security is flawless.

You don't have to worry Mr Owner.

Mum, Kasuki, Sora.

Come here for a minute and have a look, it's amazing.

Wow.

Sora come here. Can you see? Here you go.

It's so high, It's dangerous if you fall.

It's unbelievable that we are living in such a place.

We're lucky just happened to come across this place.

As well as getting it cheap at 15 million.

Thank you so much.

It was thanks to your saving. Not at all.

It's so high. Look it's so pretty.

You're right. What's that?

It'll help to make the children happy.

There has been an outbreak of missing children cases.

The missing are

these three young children.

It seems the police think

that it's likely someone has abducted them.

A criminal investigation is being opened and the police are canvassing widely for information.

Next is 'Gudetama'

It's frightening that 3 children have been abducted.

Isn't that just the other side of the river. Sora you need to be careful too.

Are you listening?

You mustn't go off with strangers.

Sora come and eat. It will be fine, the security here is flawless.

Isn't that why we choose this place.

That's right but... Rats, look at the time,

hurry up with my lunch. Yes, yes.

You get the bus for nursery school over here.

Yes!

Good morning.

Say good morning. Get in properly.

Good morning.

What's the matter mummy?

Nothing at all.

Okay let's go and greet everyone.

Good morning everyone. Are you all for Shizuku nursery school?

Shizuku nursery is over there. This is for Eisai Nursery.

I see, excuse me.

You are the people that moved in yesterday right?

Yes that's right. How did you know?

Of course we know that much, right Shun-chan.

Right.

You were making such a lot of noise in the lobby

You stood out like a sore thumb, taking photos

we thought you must be foreigners.

I'm sorry, we were excited and didn't think.

The lobby is the face of Sky Grand Tower, so take care.

I'm sorry.

Also, you were boasting about being on the upper floors, how is that?

I wasn't especially boasting...

My husband is scared of heights so we purposely live on the second floor.

We are on the upper floors, so we are on the 25 and above lift.

Ah, I'm sorry but that wasn't particularly our intention.

Oh no...I forgot something.

As I'm only on the 2nd floor I'll be right back, it's convenient you see.

You have to take care what you say to people on the lower floors.

We're all on the right side so you don't need to worry about what floor we're on.

The right side?

I am Aso Hiroko.

Hiroko-san lives on the top floor.

I'm Hashiguchi Rino, I live on the 45th.

By the way, your home?

What floor are you on?

Excuse me... what does "the right side" mean?

It's about this.

The upper floors are on the right, and the lower floors are on the left.

The hierarchy is determined by which way you turn at this corner.

Hi...Hierarchy?

The higher up you go, the more the apartments cost. Therefore, the floor you live on

determines your value.

In short, the floor you live on becomes your business card.

It would be best to try and get along If you're disliked by the other mothers,

your child won't be able to make friends.

Excuse me.

An investigation headquarters has been established...

The third missing person is Kimura Kento, 5 years old.

What's the relation between the third child and the other two?

The other 2 missing children are Yamaguchi Hikari-chan, 6 years old and

Satsuki Tashiro-chan, 3 years old.

The crime scenes are scattered in various locations in the metropolitan area.

There seems to be no other connection other than the age of the children, that is all.

Investigation group 3.

Current situation report!

Yes. This time also, people were spread over all over

the area of the crime scene. The child's clothes, and a yellow carnation where left behind.

Due to the similarities in the cases, we believe it's the same criminal.

From today, we're opening up a criminal investigation.

As yet, there's been no ransom or other demand from the criminal.

Information about this case has been made open to the public.

It's being referred to as the Hamelin case and is becoming a popular topic.

What's Hamelin?

The Hamelin case!

The Brother's Grimm fairy tale the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

It's the story of a pied piper who leads a group of children out of town,

and they're never seen again. Have you not heard of it?

I see, a fairy tale.

Well it is theatrical.

The criminal is playing around.

But I wonder why it was yellow?

What?

The carnation. Usually they're red.

You're right. They're seasonal aren't they?

Hello.

Excuse me, could you lend me a hand?

I dropped one.

You've got plenty of flowers there.

Thank you, I hold flower arranging classes in my home.

Flower arranging? Wow.

I moved here just last month. Nice to meet you.

Really? Me too!

Me too? We only just moved in yesterday

We're a family of four.

Is that right. Do you originally come from around here?

No, not at all. The estate agent just happened to

found us an apartment here that was good value.

Before we looked at the place, we wondered if a tower apartment

would be okay.

But it's safe and clean.

How should I say it... this is...

The perfect place to raise children?

That's right.

Do you have a husband and children too?

No but since everyone says that,

I think it must be nice to have a family.

Yes, that really is true.

I'm Takano Aki.

I'm Sasaki Yumiko. Nice to meet you.

A Halloween event?

They want the children to take part in the shopping district's parade.

We generally have a BBQ afterwards.

Last year, Shun-chan and Hiroko-san went in matching costumes.

Ah, it really is a big event.

Tomorrow, whilst having lunch,

we're making preparations. Would you like to come?

Is that okay? Hello there.

Hello!

Mr Biceps, your upper arms are glistening with sweat again today!

Mr Biceps?

His biceps are a feast for the eyes so that's what we've called him.

He's a popular young man.

Being a feast for the eyes, isn't enough though, is it.

No, goodness!

Sora-chan, what floor are you?

Erm... 25...

Myo is on the 45th floor What about Yuto-kun?

I'm on the 2nd floor.

The 2nd floor? 2nd floor?