Red Finger (Akai yubi / 赤い指)

I'll take them.

Based on the novel by Higashino Keigo

It's been two years already.

Yeah.

Two Years Earlier

You can eat sponge cakes?

I'd rather die eating good stuff...

than live taking bitter pills.

How's the First Investigation Division?

I'm nervous everyday.

If you've got time to waste here, then study for the promotional exam.

There you go again.

Anyway, don't worry about me.

I'm busier than you think.

My opponent is not bad.

I wish I knew how to play Shogi.

It was good. Finish the rest.

Okay, I will.

Mr. Kaga, time to take your temperature.

Sir, don't eat something like that in front of a patient.

It's not mine!

Brother, don't tease him too much.

Have you decided your next move?

Of course.

You're the opponent?

Knight's move.

Well, well, well. I didn't see that coming.

Thank you for playing Shogi with my uncle.

I enjoy it, too.

Did my cousin...

I mean, my uncle's son...

Did he come to visit?

No, he didn't.

People lie.

Our sales have declined significantly.

Take a look at this graph.

To hide their weakness.

Can I have a white radish?

Sure.

-There you go. -Thank you.

To protect what's important in their life.

To escape from their hardships.

Every person lives with a secret.

Yuna, This is the Spa-Pri figurine. If you wanna see it, come to the park at 3:30.

Deleting message?

Yes

A lie is a shadow of the truth.

If you don't look into their eyes,

you cannot see the truth hidden inside them.

This story could happen to any family.

I'm back!

Yuna, come help Mom cook dinner!

But it couldn't happen to their own family.

That's what everybody believes.

It happened...

just after the evening rain had stopped.

So that's your move.

Not running away, huh?

Translated by Chuks Edited by hubby_b and yenchan69

Friday

Still working?

That's for the meeting next Friday? You can do it later.

I felt like getting it done.

Oh, wanna go for a drink?

Sorry, my relatives are in town.

Too bad.

Go home early sometimes. It's not like you get paid overtime.

'Night.

Have a good night.

You, too.

Home

Hello?

Oh, h-honey?

What's up?

Um... I need you to come home quickly.

No, I can't leave yet.

I really need you here. It's serious.

What do you mean? What happened?

We're in serious trouble.

I still don't get it. Be more specific.

All right, I'm coming home.

Wait...

I don't want Harumi to come over tonight.

-Why can't my little sister come? -Just... take care of it.

Hello? What's wrong?

Um, Yaeko called me and said Mom went to bed already,

so we should just let her sleep.

Sure, okay.

Then I'll come again tomorrow night.

Okay.

Thanks anyway. Bye.

I'm not sure when it started...

but the closer the train gets to the house, the more depressed I become.

Three years ago...

I moved back to my mother's house with my wife and son.

She had tripped down the stairs and injured her leg.

Oh, watch your foot there.

My wife was against it,

but I kind of forced her to move.

I thought I was doing my duty as the eldest son.

Hon, tell your mom not to wash the frying pan.

The oil was starting to soak in.

Okay, I will.

Naomi, go get Granny.

She said she'll eat alone from now on.

To go with the flow,

I started to distance myself from my mother.

Stop it!

That's enough! That's enough!

It's not enough!

He was taken to the police!

Naomi! Naomi! Are you all right?

Naomi! Naomi!

Mom?

What's wrong?

I'm terribly sorry for making you wait.

What are you doing this late?

Dinner will be ready very soon.

Dinner? Are you half-asleep?

Sir, please have a seat and wait.

You're calling me sir? Mom?

For seven years she took care of Dad as he suffered from dementia.

They were hard days.

I'm sure she never imagined she'd end up just like him.

I'm absolutely against it.

But we're the ones who have to take care of her.

Still, I can't have her live in a senior home.

Then will you take her in?

You can't, right? You live with your husband's parents.

Besides, how are we supposed to take care of her like that...

Then I will come everyday!

So please let her stay in this house.

She thinks she lives with Dad in this house.

I'll give you a kuzumochi*, old man.

A kind of rice cake

Here's your change. Thank you very much.

Kuzumochi, please.

Sure. It'll be 300 yen.

Excuse me, have you seen a 7-year-old girl?

-A girl? -Yes.

Um, around this height,

with short hair and wearing a hooded pink vest.

I haven't seen her.

Okay.

Sorry about that.

I wonder if she got lost.

Maehara

Yaeko.

Follow me.

What's that smell?

Don't!

Look in the yard.

Yard?

What's that?

What the hell is that?

A girl I've never seen before.

What's she doing there?

Is she alive?!

Why don't you go check?

Why is there a garbage bag over her?

I did it. To hide her.

-Did you...?! -Of course not.

-Then why is she in our yard?! -Don't yell!

I found her when I came home.

What happened?

First of all, who is she?

I said I've never seen her before!

What are you doing?

The smell of urine won't come off.

Urine?

Probably hers.

I hear you wet your pants when you're strangled.

Strangled?

-Have you called the police? -No.

-Let's call the police. -Don't!

-But she died here, right? -That's why you can't call them!

Was it Naomi?

Did you ask him?

What did he say?

He said, "Shut up."

Naomi.

Who's that girl?

Why is there a girl lying in the yard?

Tell me!

Naomi, explain it to your father.

What happened?

-I don't know. -You don't know?!

Explain it to me!

I didn't mean to.

Let's go to the police. Get up.

You don't need to go to the police!

-Yaeko! -Leave him alone!

I will... talk to him.

I'll ask him.

Get out for now!

You'll have to take responsibility.

'Cause I'm underage.

She's wearing a hooded pink vest.

I'll be home soon.

Yeah.