The dim inn felt suffocating, the pattering rain outside like a demon's whisper, grating on everyone's nerves.
"So, the killer is…"
Hayashi Shuichi's deduction drew all eyes to Ootomo Hiroki.
"Hayashi-kun, you're a good storyteller," Ootomo Hiroki said, his face dark with a scornful smirk. "But you can't accuse me based on imagination. The paint on Togo Ryu is the real evidence."
"You're right, the paint is evidence—but it points to you!"
Hayashi Shuichi watched Ootomo Hiroki's expression shift. "On the cliff, you were the first to find Togo Ryu in the pond. You smeared the paint on the rocks before calling us over."
"Then, despite the ten-meter drop, you jumped into the pond, telling us to take the long way down."
"Your fearless leap seemed brave, but it had another purpose."
Hayashi Shuichi paused, locking eyes with Ootomo Hiroki.
"You had to reach Togo Ryu first to smear the prepared paint on his head before we arrived."
"The paint likely came from Akita-san's jacket, splattered at the gas station."
"But my car's trunk was locked," Akita Keito said, frowning in confusion. "He didn't have the key. How'd he open it?"
"When we returned from searching for 'Ono Yukiko,' Ootomo-san said he went to bathe upstairs but came down quickly. That's when he stole your car keys," Hayashi Shuichi explained slowly.
"Then, claiming to get clean clothes from his car, he went outside, opened your trunk, and scraped off paint to fake evidence."
"Utter nonsense!" Ootomo Hiroki's face flushed, his hands flailing in frustration. "You've said all this, but where's the proof? Without evidence, this is slander!"
"Don't rush, Ootomo-san," Hayashi Shuichi said calmly. "Akita-san, isn't there a large cactus in your trunk?"
"Yes," Akita Keito nodded. "I bought it on the way here to keep at home."
"In feng shui, a cactus wards off evil and protects against deceit," Hayashi Shuichi mused. "Akita-san, you should thank that cactus—it left evidence."
At this, Ootomo Hiroki's body jolted as if shocked, his left hand curling tightly, panic flickering in his eyes.
"Did he get pricked by the cactus while scraping the paint?" Hime Eri guessed, frowning.
"Yes, and badly," Hayashi Shuichi said with a chuckle. "I found several cactus spines on the ground behind Akita-san's car."
"He pulled out the larger spines, but the smaller ones were harder to remove. Afraid to linger, he hurried back to the inn."
"After that, Ootomo-san kept scratching his left palm—likely where the cactus pricked him."
"That's… not…" Ootomo Hiroki stammered, searching for excuses.
But he didn't notice Mrs. Togo, bound hand and foot, slithering like a snake to his side. She lunged, biting his ankle.
"Ah!" Ootomo Hiroki screamed, kicking wildly.
Hayashi Shuichi and the others rushed to pull them apart.
"You killed Ryu! I'll avenge him!" Mrs. Togo's face was ferocious, hair disheveled, blood staining her mouth, looking like a demon.
"So what if I killed him?" Ootomo Hiroki clutched his bleeding ankle, pain giving way to hatred.
"I loved Mio so much, treated her so well, but what? She was a man!"
"Haha, I was deceived by a man—my feelings, my money!"
"Thinking of our intimate moments makes me sick. I want to vomit!"
Akita Keito and Moriyama Kenta nodded empathetically, and even Hayashi Shuichi felt some pity. Finding out your girlfriend was a man—who could stand that?
…
Since Hayashi Shuichi called, the First Division took the case seriously. Officers Matsumoto and Megure arrived together.
The police searched and found Akita Keito's stolen heirloom necklace in the innkeeper's room.
They also discovered several diaries in Togo Ryu's room, some yellowed with age.
The diaries detailed how Togo Ryu, abused by his mother due to his father's actions, was taught that men were heartless scum.
Growing up in this environment, Togo Ryu became increasingly extreme, hating men and often dressing as a woman.
As the inn's business declined, their lives grew harder.
Petite and delicate, Togo Ryu, with his mother's encouragement, dressed as a woman to attract customers.
When his male identity was exposed a few times, he was beaten by guests, fueling his hatred for men.
Eventually, his female persona shifted from attracting customers to scamming men's money.
Mrs. Togo not only allowed this but encouraged victims to be brought to the inn, making it easier for Togo Ryu to vanish as a woman and for her to relish the victims' pain when their "lover" disappeared.
The diaries recorded over a dozen men deceived by Togo Ryu.
Reading them, the group's expressions varied—some shocked, some regretful…
"So Mrs. Togo was the legendary kappa," Fujimine Yukiko sighed. "She didn't just ruin herself—she destroyed her son too."
Hime Eri snorted, glancing at Hayashi Shuichi and Fujimine Yukiko with slight resentment. "It all stems from the husband who betrayed Mrs. Togo and the mistress who wrecked her family!"
Fujimine Yukiko shrank guiltily, then glared back. "I'm not the mistress! Why look at me like that? If it's not you, is it me?"
Hime Eri and Fujimine Yukiko locked eyes in a standoff.
Reiko bit her lip, glaring at them. I'm Onii-chan's fiancée! Mom and Dad have long wanted to arrange our marriage!
"Anyway, breaking the law is wrong," Hayashi Shuichi coughed, breaking the tense atmosphere. "Alright, let's head back."
(Chapter End)
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