Jikou Keisatsu Hajimemashita (Time Limit Investigator / 時効警察はじめました)

In the 21st century, there was a legendary man at Sobu Police Station.

His hobby was to investigate and solve cases past the statute of limitations.

The name of this man was Kiriyama Shuichiro.

But 12 years ago, he was transferred from the Limitation Task Force of Sobu Police Station

to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in America.

Years passed and I'm afraid the legendary man

is only a distant memory somewhere in a corner of people's head,

but now Kiriyama Shuichiro came back to the Limitation Task Force.

Long time no see.

Who's this punk?

Hey, wait! Stop that please. I'm Kiriyama!

Kiriyama-kun?

- You returned from America? - Of course. It's been 12 years.

You look totally changed.

Suspicious... just like Serpico!

- No, you can't say that. - Well, it's a bit hard.

Good morning!

Kiriyama-kun?

That's not true! Kiriyama-kun? You're back?

What's with her?

Geez! Why didn't you say anything!

You come back after such a long time without saying a word.

You should know the best how that feels!

- What could she mean with this? - Well, what could she mean?

Well, that's how it is, isn't it?

Mikazuki-kun... Oh, it's not Mikazuki anymore, right?

As for that, you can call her Mikazuki now.

Once, she wasn't Mikazuki anymore,

but she became Mikazuki again.

- She's divorced! - Hey, don't talk so loud!

While you weren't here, she somehow got carried away.

That is all?

Huh? Sanae-san, you're expecting a child?

For this reason, don't disturb the child in the womb

by looking as if you were surprised that I'm still alive.

Sanae-san will become a mama!?

It's not Sanae anymore. Now it's Saneyoshi.

My husband's name is Saneyoshi.

It's kind of puzzling, huh?

This here is puzzling too, isn't it?

That brings back memories. It's a case past the statute of limitations, right?

While you were in America, the legislation on the statute of limitations has changed.

For serious crimes such as murder the statute of limitations was abolished.

I see. But...

Well, it's not abolished for all cases.

The Limitation Task Force will process them with particular zeal.

We're not working with particular zeal.

The unprocessed files are piling up. It doesn't become less at all.

This is a case that has been neglected for more than 9 years.

That's sloppy, isn't it?

- The Urashima gas station fire incident. - A mere fire?

No, a high school student came to death.

It could have been an accident, suicide, or murder.

Nobody can say for certain. It's time-barred since April 26, 2010.

Only 1 day before the statute of limitations was abolished for murder.

This alone is romantic, isn't it?

Kiriyama-san, could it be you feel a strange curiosity again?

No, not really.

In the end, once I press this "Time-barred" stamp on it,

it's no case anymore.

Doesn't this

resemble a closet filled with folded and wrapped up futons?

No, it doesn't remind me of that.

It resembles the nightly view from under a lighthouse or the democracy during the Taisho era. (1912-26)

That's what it reminds me too!

Boiled meals and grilled meals, a lot has happened in these 12 years.

Wham!

In a nutshell,

9 years after the statute of limitations was abolished for serious crimes,

Kiriyama Shuichiro returned from the USA.

Jikou Keisatsu has begun.

The times when you could quietly hide a time-barred crime are over.

Over! Over! Over! Over! Over! Over!

Welcome to the show.

Seems such things don't change.

What do you mean?

Your habit to eat your rice plain white.

Isn't it unpleasant if a food contains several different flavors?

I don't like that. It's unpleasant.

You're right. Perhaps it's the same with life.

Listen, Kiriyama-kun, it may be unpleasant to mention it,

but you didn't answer my question at that time.

What do you think about me?

An earthquake!

Of course, I haven't forgotten.

- So you do remember. - I'll give you my answer soon.

Really?

First, I want to know the answer to this.

24 years ago, in the night of April 26,

in the lonely port town of Urashima in Sobu a gasoline station burned down.

The fire spilled over to the gasoline stock

and this caused a big explosion.

- Is there anyone from the police? - What happened?

In the ruins of the fire a corpse was discovered

which was terribly burned by the intense flames and so the identification wasn't easy.

Because of a uniform button in the carbonized right hand

and the height and physique

it was presumed that the victim was a former part-timer, high school student Sawamura Koji.

No one had seen him after the fire

and when he had not returned home 1 month later,

it was judged that the corpse was Sawamura Koji.

Whether it was an accident, suicide, or murder

was investigated from all points of view,

but a final conclusion was never reached.

In 2010, this case became barred by the statute of limitations.

At first glance, it's not a case that's rewarding to investigate, but I guess I'll give it a try.

Really? You'll resume your hobby?

I have nothing to do at home.

What about sorting your luggage, for example?

I have none.

None?

I have a toothbrush, though.

What? Kiriyama-kun, could it be you're still single?

That's right. You concluded it from what I just said, right?

Shall I go out with you?

Well, if I say I'll go out with you, it doesn't mean we're boyfriend and girlfriend.

I wouldn't want it to appear like that.

I'll only go with you to investigate that time-barred case, of course.

Geez, what did you think I was saying!

- That hurts! - Gyo, gyo, gyo! (gyo = fish)

Right, they serve fish. Hurry up!

So Kiriyama is single.

This may be a one-in-a-thousand chance for a divorced woman like me.

Or a trap leading to ruin.

It brings back memories, this marriage registration form.

Write your name on the marriage registration form.

You lost with rock-paper-scissors, didn't you?

12 years ago...

What's that? It's even stamped!

A family crest?

If I press my stamp on it and send it to the registration office, I'll be married?!

No, it's not like this.

No, no, no, no, that would be wrong.

Uah! Cinnamon?!

How did it become a cinnamon stick?

- Mikazuki-kun, what are you talking about? - No, I was just speaking to myself.

Good morning.

Oh! You shaved off your beard?

Somehow he looks like a boring guy now, right?

- He is boring! - Stop it please.

Good morning!

Oh, Ayakumo-kun! Do you come as oil peddler again?

Looks like you're running criss-cross.

It's terrible since the morning.

"Oi, Ayakumo, tackle that problem!", they keep saying.

- What the Hell is going on! - I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Huh?

This girl is a newcomer in the Criminal Department, Ayakumo-kun.

Pleased to meet you. I'm Ayakumo from the Criminal Department.

And this is our returner from America, Kiriyama-kun.

Kiriyama?

The legendary man, Kiriyama Shuichiro?!

- You drop the honorific? - It's really you, right? Great!

The legendary man, Kiriyama Shuichiro!

Kiriyama?

Long time no see.

That I know!

Kiriyama, shouldn't you have said a word to the Forensic Department too?

Kiriyama, I regret

that I told you that story.

Sorry. It's a misunderstanding. It wasn't you.

Don't mention it!

What's that supposed to mean, huh?

What do you want!

Oi, Ayakumo!

Looks like you're telling a boring story here again.

Kumamoto-san, Ayakumo is boring, right?

- "Boring", you say? - Her stories, I mean.

They're not interesting at all, Ayakumo.

Even if you're a promising newcomer in the Criminal Department,

train your humor muscles, Ayakumo.

- What humor muscles? - Well, apart from that,

the legendary man Kiriyama Shuichiro-san is back from America.

Oops! What's legendary about Kiriyama?

He's not King Arthur. Right, Matarai-sensei?

Stop it already.

In any case, Kiriyama is not the legendary man.

The legendary man is me, Jumonji Hayate.

What's wrong?

What a shock! I thought my heart would stop.

What's that! Doesn't this man look like Kiriyama?

Well, it is Kiriyama-kun.

Come on, Hachisuka-san! Kiriyama is...

It is Kiriyama.

Kiriyama... Kiriyama... Kiriyama!

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

I see. Well made, isn't it?

No, it's really him! Right, Kiriyama-kun?

Hachisuka-san, long time no see.

Kiriyama, welcome back.

This is good.

I really don't understand!

- Come on, Ayakumo! - Yes!

It's time for the morning conference. We will discuss that difficult case now.

Before the discussion we'll have dinner. Why is that, Ayakumo?

I don't understand. And it's morning.

Because they say,

"The mystery will be solved after dinner".

Excuse me!