Chapter 16: The End of the Incident
Silence...
While Matsuo Takashi's mind went blank and he didn't know how to refute, the photographers and reporters beside him suddenly became energetic.
The live broadcast camera instantly focused on Hayashi Yoshiki's incredibly delicate face.
"Mr. Hayashi Yoshiki! Is the truth really as you say?!"
"You only walked around the crime scene, right? You deduced the killer's method so quickly?"
"Do you have any evidence to confirm your deduction, please!"
"Also, why did you place the suspicion on Mr. Matsuo?"
"Do you take responsibility for your deduction, please?"
The reporters swarmed like sharks smelling blood, throwing out questions one after another.
Hayashi Yoshiki couldn't help but take half a step back, and Eri Kisaki immediately reached out a hand to block in front of him.
However, the reporters' enthusiasm did not diminish, and they urged Hayashi Yoshiki to answer again.
The latter paused for a moment before speaking:
"I think there should be evidence."
"First, let me explain why I believe the suspect is Mr. Matsuo. To accurately hit a target on the 4th floor from the 7th floor, the perpetrator needs considerable shooting skills."
"It just so happens that Ms. Nagai mentioned on the show that Mr. Matsuo is a shooting enthusiast, and his marksmanship is even comparable to professional shooters."
"Furthermore, it's strange that Mr. Suwa, as the show's director, wasn't backstage during the program but in the mixing room. Mr. Matsuo also just said that he and Mr. Suwa had agreed to discuss matters there beforehand."
"I think that's why Mr. Matsuo specifically confirmed Mr. Suwa's location in the middle of the show."
"And his departure during the VCR segment as well."
"All these signs are enough to make one suspect Mr. Matsuo."
"However, all of the above are ultimately just speculation."
"So, next I'll talk about the evidence—it needs to be stated that if this deduction holds true, then this method of committing the crime seems full of loopholes to me."
"A four-minute crime time requires at least two minutes to complete this method."
"Then, dealing with the obvious gunpowder residue in less than two minutes is clearly unrealistic... Perhaps a plastic film was used beforehand to block the smoke, or he simply changed clothes. In any case, this amount of time is definitely not enough to dispose of this evidence."
"Also, although I don't know why Mr. Suwa was called to stick his head out the window, the medium for transmitting the information should have been a mobile phone. We can check who made the last call to him."
"Oh, right, the staircase on the seventh floor is piled with material boxes. Perhaps the evidence is hidden there."
Listening to this in a daze, Matsuo Takashi almost collapsed.
Inspector Megure glanced at him, then immediately turned away: "Quickly go to the staircase on the seventh floor and search!"
Soon, a Police officer took the order and left.
But as soon as he left, Matsuo Takashi could no longer hold on. His legs gave way, and his face turned pale: "No need, I confess."
The surrounding reporters fell silent.
But the moment Matsuo Takashi confessed, a pop up screen sprang up in Yoshiki's vision... and the world slowed down..
[Aquiring Specialization: Detective...
Detective LV1(0/1000): Psionic Bonus 0.1]
Yoshiki's vision changed and he reappeared in that dark place filled with fog.... A warm current swept throght his glowing white body..
He felt strong, Muscle lines started appearing on his arms..
"Damn!"
Along with that, the fog started to get thick, but he was still able to 'see' everything clearly here.. His sight increased from 1-metre radius to 2-metre radius.
There were 2 SEEDS on the floor.. One Sky-blue and one Faint Red...
The Sky-blue one was Detective SEED and The Faint-red one was Assassin SEED.
He touched both of them and they turned into gentle energy stream and merged with him.
Then, A Monocle appeared on his Left eye and a Kunai appeared on his belt.
He touched The Kunai and with a swift motion unsheathed it.
'Clang'
"Hmm... Very sharp" Yoshiki commented.. Then, sheathed it back.
"Is this my Sea Of Conciousness?"
"But where is the Sea?"
He looked around, There was only knee depth fog here.
"Don't tell me this fog needs to be condensed into liquid."
He stroked his chin.
"Can I only come here when gaining Psionic Points? Hmm..." He looked around at the sparse mental energy fog then found the reason.
An Ordinary Person cannot access their Sea Of Conciousness because they have very tiny mental energy.. Well.. Yoshiki also has very tiny Mental energy.
'Status'
[Name: Hayashi Yoshiki
Physique: 0.9 (ordinary person=1)
Psionic Power: 1.2
Specialization: Writer LV1 (732/1000): Psionic bonus 0.1
Specialization: Assassin LV1 (0/1000): Physique bonus 0.1
Specialization: Detective LV1 (0/1000): Psionic bonus 0.1]
Looking at this, he shifted his sight to the outside world.
That person was still confessing his crime.
"It's all because of that Mr. Suwa guy, who collaborated with Futaba Publishing to invite you, Mr. Hayashi Yoshiki, and I only regarded you as a mere mystery novelist... What a miscalculation. I originally thought this method would be absolutely fine."
"No matter what method is used to kill, traces will inevitably be left behind, Mr. Matsuo."
"..."
Matsuo Takashi lowered his head and said nothing.
After all, it had come to this; nothing he said would be of any use.
Inspector Megure quickly waved his hand, instructing his subordinates to take him away, then looked at Hayashi Yoshiki, a smile appearing on his plump, kind face.
"Oh, you truly live up to your reputation as a mystery novelist! To be able to solve the case so quickly!"
"I just happened to think of it. It's good if it helped the Police."
"In any case, thank you for your help, haha, Kaju. But later, we'll need to trouble you to come back with us to give a statement—"
"Inspector Megure, let's leave the statement for tomorrow. We're planning to celebrate at a restaurant."
Eri Kisaki interrupted Inspector Megure at this point.
The latter, hearing this, was quite accommodating.
"Alright, then let's set a time for tomorrow. After all, it's us, the Police, who are troubling you."
Inspector Megure was in a rather good mood.
When he first heard about the shooting, his heart sank, and Kudo wasn't there this time...
Who knew things would take such a turn? The time it took to solve this case was almost breaking his record for the fastest wrap-up.
Taking his team into the Police car, Inspector Megure was feeling pleased as he prepared to return to the Police station, when a phone call came in that completely shattered his good mood:
"What did you say?! There's a murder at Toro Tropical Land?!"
"Alright, I'll head over there right away!"
So the Police car's siren wailed once more, rushing towards Toro Tropical Land.
Meanwhile, Hayashi Yoshiki and Eri Kisaki had just escaped the Nichimai TV Station reporters and arrived at the Nichimai TV Station parking lot, getting into Eri Kisaki's Mini Cooper.
"Are you alright, Yoshiki-kun?"
"Why are you suddenly asking that, Auntie Eri?"
"...I'm worried you've experienced too much today."
Eri Kisaki looked at Hayashi Yoshiki's calm expression, opened her mouth, and then suddenly changed direction.
Then she smiled very gently:
"It's good that you're fine. Let's go. What do you want to eat?"
"How about yakitori?"
"It seems like dinner was too light. Let's go then."
Eri Kisaki drove the car, slowly pulling out of the parking lot.
Because of the show's recording, the two had arrived at Nichimai TV Station relatively early, and they had deliberately eaten a light dinner, just some healthy salads and such.
The night street view was very beautiful.
This city, adorned by sparkling neon lights everywhere, would be very comfortable for a leisurely drive.
"..."
During the drive, Eri Kisaki occasionally turned her face to look at Hayashi Yoshiki. Seeing that he was just quietly looking at the scenery outside the window with no emotions showing, she always felt a little concerned.
This child's parents died from gunshot wounds, and the wounds were in their temples...
It was for this reason that Eri Kisaki was a little worried that seeing Suwa Michihiko's body today would bring back painful memories.
"Yoshiki-kun."
"Hmm?"
"Let's ask Ran to come out with us in a couple of days. I always feel that you two cousins should formally get to know each other."
"Okay."
"Then it's settled."
...
To be continued