Woodpecker Detective's Office (啄木鳥探偵處)

Kikunyuusha Milk Newspapers

Milk Newspapers Kikunyuusha

Now, then...

Kindaichi-kun ended up getting arrested, didn't he?

At this point, putting our heads together isn't going to accomplish anything.

I suppose today, I'll just go home and sleep.

We can't have that.

Kindaichi is our friend.

"Just leaving him there" is not an option.

Even so, we still don't know who really killed that woman, Otaki...

Um... Would it be all right if I...

Oh... You offering an opinion yourself is pretty rare, Hagiwara.

From what I understand,

the culprit isn't Ishikawa-san and it isn't Kindaichi-san, either.

It's...

the proprietress of Hananoya's

cat, Kuro!

Woodpecker Detective's Office

Poem 3 Casual Remarks

What do you mean, the cat's the culprit?

First, if you'll allow me to review.

According to Ishikawa-san's logic,

Otaki's offensive remarks caused Kindaichi-san to fly into a rage,

and kill her.

On the other hand, the late—

my apologies, the recently imprisoned Kindaichi-san's logic says that

when Ishikawa-san was caught peeping and she sneered at him,

he killed her.

Which means,

we need to figure out how to expose Kyousuke-san's lie.

It's true... Kindaichi-san's logic does seem somewhat forced.

However... it's also true that he isn't the type of person who would lie if he had a choice.

Can't argue that.

At the very least, he's more honest than Ishikawa-kun is—

If Kindaichi-san is lying, then...

could it be because telling the truth would be too embarrassing?

Hananoya

It's all right.

I'll find a way to get you out of here.

It's because you're like that...

Thinking you can do the impossible...

Otaki-san...

That's going too far, don't you think?

It's just...

All that's left for me is to stay here, as I am, sleeping with men I don't love...

I've heard enough!

I will find a way for us to be together!

But the tremendous sum necessary to pay for the release of a prostitute...

It would be impossible for a mere teacher like Kyousuke-san to prepare that.

Having fallen in love with Kindaichi-san,

she couldn't stand the thought of other men making love to her.

She decided she would join the Buddhist ministry.

Which means that Otaki-san's death

is a tragedy born of the fact that the two of them made love.

Just the kind of logic I'd expect from someone as naive as you, Hagiwara-san.

What do you mean?

Kyousuke-san could never even conceive of the idea of buying her freedom.

Why? Because...

He's a die-hard virgin. That's why.

Well... I don't think his status as a virgin means he wouldn't think of—

No.

Regardless of how I feel for him as a friend,

it's difficult for me to imagine Kindaichi-kun being adept when it comes to women.

If you say so, Yoshii-kun, then... it might be true, but...

On top of all this, I don't get why Kindaichi and Ishikawa

are pushing the blame on each other.

True. The two of them get along almost too well, after all...

But if you think about it this way, it makes sense.

The two of you are both the murderers and not the murderers.

In other words, accomplices, right?

What's that supposed to mean?

Wasn't the truth something like this?

That's enough!

J-Just calm down...

It's horrible of you... treating me this way...

It's unforgivable!

I-It isn't...

I didn't mean anything by it.

And it's because you're like that...

You're planning to ravish me, aren't you?

Otaki-san. That's going too far, don't you think?

This place is a brothel, after all.

Just because it's a brothel doesn't mean you can force yourself on me!

I've heard enough!

How does 40 yen sound for now?

What?

With all due respect, if I lodged a complaint with the police,

that would put you in a tough spot, wouldn't it?

You have your position as a teacher to consider, after all.

You wouldn't...

I've heard everything!

Ishikawa-kun!

Taking advantage of the fact that Kyousuke-san is an inexperienced virgin to blackmail him...

I'll take this to the madam—

no, I'll tell the police!

Please, forgive me.

I don't want to die yet.

What?

I have consumption.

Now that I think about it... You have been coughing...

I desperately needed money for medicine.

Please...

No.

We cannot allow ourselves to be swayed by these lies.

Now, come along quickly.

In short,

to conceal the fact that you're working together,

you're only pretending to fight, as a ruse!

You're right...

I did think it was strange for Ishikawa-kun to give testimony

that put Kindaichi-kun in a bad light.

There's no reason to entrap him.

And...

for Kindaichi-san, who would gladly give his life 3 or 4 times for Ishikawa-san,

to do something that would hurt Ishikawa-san is also strange.

This is ridiculous.

When I wrote in one of my novels

that Kyousuke-san put hair restorer on his upper lip, he...

How could you?!

You promised me you'd never say anything about that!

C-Can't breathe...

Can I have a moment?

Professor Natsume!

We were sitting in the back, you see, and couldn't help overhearing.

And... it seems he has something he'd like to say.

Come on.

Pleased to meet you.

My name is Akutagawa Ryuunosuke.

Oh! You're the one who wrote And I Am a Dog, right?

So, what are your thoughts on this?

Let's say that Professor Kindaichi left the room long before the murder.

And let's say that Ishikawa-sensei saw Professor Kindaichi at the time of the murder,

and that the proprietress rightly said there were no other guests...

I believe that everything the three of them said could be entirely truthful.

What... would that mean?

In other words, that there is no singular truth,

that truth is, after all, unknowable.

So... What are you trying to say?

That everything is "in a grove."

So, in the end, you're saying that you don't know what happened?

No.

The truth of a life can only be found in a grove.

That is what I have realized.

We're getting nowhere!

If I might interrupt, as well...

And who are you?

I'm honored to make your acquaintance.

My name is Hirai Tarou.

Woodpecker Detective's Office

I heard everything you've said...

Oh! But, I wasn't eavesdropping.

It was more, I happened to overhear.

What is this? One after another...

The thing is, an acquaintance of mine is lodging

in the room next to Professor Kindaichi's.

I'm imposing, at the moment, by staying there without paying.

You seem young. What about school?

I thought I'd try writing a novel, so I'm taking a little break.

So? What is it you want to say?

To tell the truth, I've been following both of you since yesterday evening.

Everything started during the events of two nights ago.

Oh, that's right. Did you finish your novel?

Yes, thanks to you.

I should be receiving payment for the manuscript soon,

so I think I'll be able to repay all the money you lent me.

Oh, you don't need to worry about that.

I'm just happy I can be of some help to you.

Were you able to write that ending you were stuck on?

Well, whether it was a fitting...

I really do have a good friend in you.

What are you talking about? After all this time...

Once it's published, I hope you'll let me be the first to read it.

Of course.

I want you to read it before anyone...

I see.

Well, I can't wait.

Oh, that's right. I used that story.