RoOT/Route of OddTaxi (RoOT / ルート)

When did you receive these messages?

Just yesterday.

She's claiming to be his 18-year-old biological child.

This is a threat.

She wants to meet in person to confirm their relationship, or she'll ruin the performance.

Scary.

We've experienced weird messages and unhinged fans before,

but this isn't a good time for that.

You need the police or a lawyer. We can't do anything for you.

We've received a ton of nonsensical messages.

The police think it's some kind of prank and won't do anything about it.

There's nothing they can do if it's just threats to ruin the show.

Since Yuki's death, I've been receiving more messages slandering me.

The entertainment industry sounds rough.

But thankfully, we've been getting more supportive and encouraging messages as well.

People have always sent me their thoughts on my shows or new rakugo scripts.

But this is no joke.

I guess the silver lining is that I don't know the first thing about computers.

The most I do is occasionally check my own videos.

What? You mean you don't write your own posts on social media?

This guy writes all of them.

What?

Since we spend so much time together, I can guess what he'd say.

If I really got into it, it'd get out of hand.

Actually, sometimes you get flamed pretty—

Enough about that.

Any idea who it might be?

Don't tell my wife.

I don't want to put anymore emotional strain on her.

You know who it is?

A secret lovechild.

It's not a secret anymore, though.

And I only have one child outside my marriage.

A man who grew up a long time ago.

Hello.

Why is this happening?

It's not my fault, right?

Hello?

What? Odokawa-san's...

My place has been empty.

Once you're out of the hospital, you need to stop by for drinks.

Excuse us.

What? Rena-chan?

Sorry, who are you?

The rabbit from Imai-san's cabaret club.

I think you called me a Polish.

Oh, right.

Do you remember who you drove on October 4th?

That girl from Mystery Kiss. The black cat.

Is this her?

I don't know. It doesn't match up with people's faces.

Do you not remember Wadagaki Sakura's face?

Rena-chan, that's enough. I don't want to cause him anymore trouble.

But if Odokawa-san is the only witness—

It's okay. I'll protect Odokawa-sama.

I owe him for getting my billion yen back.

You can count on me. Okay?

This is what I've investigated...

I summarized everything I know about Yuki.

Huh.

Look at this right here.

See? It went out.

You're trying to say someone entered the office before them, right?

Yes.

You can certainly see a silhouette, but...

I saw the news.

They say something might've happened before Nikaido arrived.

You mean someone else might've killed her.

This backs up the time Nikaido gave, huh?

Isn't Nikaido Rui saying the same thing?

She's got nerves of steel. She's never changed her story.

She hasn't committed murder. Am I wrong?

Abandoning a body is still a crime.

Someone else killed Yuki.

There's the messages Donraku-san received and Odokawa-san's testimony.

They should be on the dash cam data you collected, too.

Wadagaki Sakura said on TV that she's looking for her father.

Hang on, do you really think this is something you can figure out?

That driver has visual agnosia, doesn't he?

That casts doubt on his eyewitness testimony.

But we've brought you evidence.

Okay.

We're getting nowhere. Let's go, Rena-san.

We've already got plenty of evidence, so take this with you.

Thank you.

I told you, you don't have to come with me.

If someone were trying to kill me, I'd already be dead.

Then I'll hire a bodyguard for you for as long as I can afford it.

I won't be able to work with a bodyguard.

I appreciate everything you've done, but leave me alone.

Will she really come?

It's worth a shot.

I'll be waiting at this plaza on January 10th. -Donraku

Are you sick?

Don't you have a bad feeling about this?

Remember that analysis we asked Sekido-san to run the other day?

What?

On Wadagaki's cat food.

Oh, right. The one full of fertilizer?

Yeah, that.

I licked a little while I was on a stakeout.

What are you doing?

Actually, I ate it.

Dad!

She's here.

What?

Wadagaki.

Dad.

You're not him.

Wadagaki-san.

Rena-chan? What are you doing here?

I came to stop you.

Stop me? From doing what?

It's not too late to turn back.

Where's my dad? Where's Donraku-san?

I just wanted to meet him once.

He doesn't remember you.

I see. I've heard he has kids all over the place.

But Donraku's only daughter was Yuki.

Has he forgotten about me?

He didn't forget about you.

Listen, Wadagaki-san. I don't have parents, either.

But I've managed somehow. You could still—

You're not even an idol. You're nothing.

I have to do whatever it takes to make my dream come true.

It already came true.

Not yet. I need to make sure.

So you're okay with killing people?

That's what my mom said, though.

That I'd make a good idol.

What?

Stay out of my way.

Watch out!

Hey! Sato! Sato!

Wait!

Hurry up, hurry up!

Wait! Wait!

Hello, Mom?

I thought I'd get to see Dad, but it didn't work out.

Dad?

Isn't my dad Donraku-san? The rakugo storyteller.

I finally got in touch with him.

There you go again.

More importantly, I saw you on TV again today.

You should go back to wearing the purple outfit.

I understand you don't want to talk about it, but...

I don't want to hear about Donraku.

I knew it.

Have you forgotten?

I've been saying that for your sake, so why are you digging up the past now?

What?

Your dad left us because he admired Donraku.

Seeing Donraku reminded you of your father. It's hard for me, too.

You understand that, don't you? He left me to take care of you by myself.

Hey Mom, that can't be right!

Enough! No more of this talk.

Why do you think I let you go to Tokyo?

It certainly wasn't to look for your father!

I entrusted all my dreams to you.

I'm disappointed.

Yeah, I transferred to a bigger agency.

Yeah. Things are going so well, it's almost scary.

At first, I hounded the manager after I failed an audition.

Thinking about it now makes me laugh.

I was frustrated, though.

If they hadn't become famous after that, I think I would've been content.

But when I heard they'd be making their major debut, I couldn't sit still anymore.

Yeah, everything's going well.

All I headed out to do was find the taxi I rode in then, but I think I found it.

It was a total coincidence. I must be lucky after all.