the brains behind the operation part 2

After Koichi's dad is revealed to be the "serial killer", Josuke believes that something isn't right about the situation so he and the others race against the clock to find the true serial killer behind the havoc.

At night in the Hirose residence

Waking up, Mrs. Hirose is laid out on the sofa slowly regaining consciousness.

Koichi stands over her trying to wake her up, "Mom? Mom? are you okay?"

Mrs. Hirose sits up holding a hot water bottle up to her head, "oh, Ko. I had the most horrible dream that your father revealed himself to be the serial killer."

"oh, it wasn't a dream. It actually did happen. Look." Okuyasu points to the window. Outside, Officer Blanco escorts Kenito to one of the squad cars.

Mrs. Hirose faints again as Ayana catches her in her arms. "Ko, why don't you and your friends go check on dad, I'll take care of mom."

Ayana helps her mother up as they walk into the other room. Outside of the Hirose residence, Kenito sits in the back of the squad car as many neighbors crowd around recording and taking pictures.

(cameras shutter)

Koichi walks up to the car window and looks at his dad as tears welled in his eyes. Suddenly, the squad car pulls away and runs over Koichi's foot.

(crushes) "Ahhh!" Koichi holds his foot, "I don't know what's more painful? my foot getting crushed or my dad revealing himself to be the serial killer."

Josuke glares, "Something about this situation doesn't seem right."

"what do you mean, Josuke?" Okuyasu asked

"I mean it doesn't make any sense. I've read one of Dr. Kobato's journals and I couldn't really understand why Koichi's dad would recreate the work of a mad scientist. We need to talk to him." said Josuke

The next day at the station, The trio are sitting inside the waiting room. Blanco comes out of the office walking up to the trio as they stood up reluctantly.

"Mr. Blanco, there you are! We need to talk to my dad. it's really important. We think he was set up." said Koichi

Blanco crossed his arms, "Yeah about that, I need to show you boys something." He pulls out a cart with the TV set sitting on top.

He turns it on as the video plays, a pre-recorded footage of Blanco questioning Kenito in the interrogation room.

"So why did you do it, Hirose? Huh?"

"Okay, I'll tell you. I did it because I wanted to put the brain of a popular student into the head of my son, Koichi."

Koichi gasps "WHAT?! But that makes even less sense. If he's now saying he's guilty, then why did he pretend to have amnesia? And try to frame Hazamada for Eric and Junko's bodies."

Blanco crossed his arms, "Look boys, we're struggling too, but Hirose insists he did it. Meaning this afternoon, he'll have to face trial for it."

Koichi begs, "please Mr. Blanco, we just need at least five minutes with him to figure out what's really going on."

Blanco sighs in exasperation and leans in towards the boys, "Alright, look. you guys didn't hear from me, but the only way that you're getting near Hirose's cell is if one of you boys get arrested yourself."

"What?!" Koichi gasped

"Cool! let's go on a loot hunt then!" Okuyasu cheered

Blanco crossed his arms, "Uh, yeah. Unfortunately, It doesn't work like that. And Koichi here isn't allowed to question his dad due to our policy. It has to be a non-family member to question him."

"I'll do it." Josuke added in

"But Josuke, are you sure about this though? this could be dangerous." Okuyasu asked

"Yeah, I am sure." Josuke agreed and looked at Blanco, "Come on. I'm ready."

"Wow, for a seventeen year old high school kid like you, Josuke. You've got a lot of guts, I'll give you that." Blanco walks over to Josuke and places the cuffs on him.

"Josuke." Koichi's eyes welled with tears

Josuke smiles, "It's okay, Koichi. I got this. We're gonna get your dad outta there."

He and Blanco both left the room as Koichi and Okuyasu watched them walking away. Later, Blanco escorts Josuke to a cell removing the cuffs off him and opening the cell gate.

"Alright, be quick. we don't have that much time left."

"Right." (door closes)

"Mr. Hirose?"

"Josuke? Where's Koichi?"

"He's technically not allowed to question you based on the policy's reasons but I'm here to help you get out of here."

Kenito zones out for a minute, "Josuke, I did it because I wanted to put the brain of a popular student into the head of my son, Koichi."

"We understand that, Mr. Hirose. But we need to get you out of here."

"No, Josuke, listen to me. I did it because I wanted to put the brain of a popular student into the head of my son, Koichi."

"Yeah. I get it." Josuke pauses and turns around, "Wait a minute. you keep saying the exact same thing."

"Exactly! When I try to say what actually happened, that's what comes out. I don't think I had amnesia, I think I was hypnotized."

"Hypnotized? Wait, but the cure is always snapping."

The door creaks open as Blanco stands in the doorway. "Sorry, Jo. time to go, Hirose. trial starts in an hour."

Outside, Blanco shuts Kenito inside of the back seat of the squad car and drives away.

"Dammit! I gotta let Koichi know that his dad was hypnotized." Josuke runs out of the cell and heads out of the station. He eventually collided with Kyoko who's walking down the sidewalk.

"Josuke?"

"Kyoko?"

"Josuke, I need to talk to you."

"Not now, Kyoko. I have to warn Koichi that his dad didn't have amnesia, he was hypnotized."

"But, Josuke. I have something that might help us find the killer." Kyoko takes out a pocket watch from her purse and shows it to Josuke.

"A pocket watch? where did you get this?"

"Hazamada said he found it on the floor inside the secret lab the night he was taken. He said it might be the serial killer's."

"I believe that's the watch that the killer used to hypnotize Koichi's dad."

(Kyoko gasps)

"Now, did you use the black light to check the watch for fingerprints?"

"no need to. there's an inscription." the watch clicks open and reading 'Harold Greeting'

Josuke takes a closer look at the watch and reads the inscription. "Harold Greeting? (gasps) "Of course! General Greeting hired Dr. Marco Kobato to run his brain-swapping program. And he was a master of hypnosis. But, wait, he's dead." He rubs his chin while thinking.

"what could this mean, Josuke?"

"It could only mean one thing, Either someone who has a close connection with General Greeting and has used this pocket watch to hypnotize Koichi's dad or they could be a Stand User. Now, I'm gonna see if this watch jogs any memories for Koichi."

Josuke puts the watch inside his pocket and walks out. Kyoko follows him, "I'll come with."

Outside, Josuke and Kyoko walked out of the station. Suddenly, a pair of eyes lurks behind a dumpster watching the couple walking down the sidewalk.

Approaching the end of the street corner, a hand reaches out grabbing Kyoko by her waist and covering her mouth. Josuke pauses and looks around the street with Kyoko nowhere in sight.

"Kyoko?" He calls out and waits for an answer but nothing. He pulls out his phone and calls her, it goes straight to voicemail.

"Shit!" Josuke calls Okuyasu on his phone.

At the Higashikata's residence, Okuyasu sits in the living room watching tv and eating a bowl of tapioca pudding. (cell phone vibrating) (beep) "What's up, Bro?"

"Okuyasu, where are you?!"

"at your house."

"Well, you're not gonna--my house? How did you get in?"

"your mom said I could chill here until you come back." Okuyasu takes another bite out of tapioca pudding.

"Wait, you're there by yourself? where's Koichi?"

"I don't know. He was with me when you and Blanco left, then as soon as we left, he just suddenly vanished."

"Dammit! the same thing happened to Kyoko when we left the station. I can't find her anywhere. Look, before you say anything else, Koichi's dad didn't kill those students. He was hypnotized by whoever took him and the brains."

"What? really?"

"Yeah. Kyoko showed me a pocket watch that Hazamada found in the serial killer's secret lab. It might have something to do with some sort of hypnosis or the killer himself might be a Stand user."

"Wait. really?! Is that possible, Josuke?!"

"there's a 100% chance that it might be. I'll be there within 20 minutes."

"Got it! oh, and Josuke, do you think you could make a quick stop at the store to pick up some more tapioca pudding?"

"Ugh! Okuyasu. we don't have time for this! we have to save Koichi's dad and look for Kyoko and Koichi!"

"Roger!"

At the Higashikata's residence

Josuke and Okuyasu are looking at the evidence board recapping everything that just happened within the past two weeks.

"okay, so Eric and Junko's bodies were used to frame Hazamada. But, Rukia's was found by someone else." (sighs in exasperation) "Dammit. I wish Jotaro was here to help us."

Okuyasu looks through the school's yearbook at teachers and students' pictures, "Yeah, this case would be easier if he was here. nobody else would help us. Nobody cares anyway. The real killer will just keep living their life and..."

"Huh?" A photo shows Hazamada's former friend, Sakai wearing a banana brooch pin on his uniform jacket.

(gasps) "uh, Josuke. look at this." Okuyasu shows Josuke the picture of Sakai and gasps. Josuke looks at the same brooch pin and compares it to the photo. It was a match.

Using a magnifying glass, Josuke spots a pocket watch in a photo of Sakai, "A pocket watch!"

Okuyasu shrugs,"so, does this mean that Hazamada's ex friend, Sakai is the real serial killer, Josuke?"

"Only one way to find out." On the desktop computer, Josuke searches up 'Harold Greeting and Budogaoka High School'.

he clicks on one of the articles "Oh my god! Harold Greeting used hypnosis on students at Budogaoka High back in the 1970s. That's it!"

Okuyasu scratches his head in confusion, "yeah but how does Sakai have a connection with General Greeting though?"

"that's a good question. I'm willing to know as well. Come on, we have to hurry and fast. And If I'm right, Kyoko and Koichi are in trouble."

At night, Josuke's car pulls up in the back of Rohan's house. The boys exit out of the car.

"so, if Harold Greeting used hypnosis on those kids back in the 1970s, do you think that the serial killer also used it on Koichi as well to cause his hallucinations?" said Okuyasu

"I'm not entirely sure, but there's a possibility that it did happen." Josuke lifts himself up over the fence. He falls over.

"Josuke! Are you okay? 'Cause if not, I'm coming over!" shouted Okuyasu

He stands up wiping dust off his jacket, "Shh. I'm fine. just go get Blanco."

"On it!" Okuyasu runs off. In the backyard of Rohan's house, Josuke hides behind a bush.

He pulls out one of Dr. Kobato's journals, "Okay, how do I sneak into this lab again?" He examines a diagram of the well.

In the well, He climbs down a long lengthy rope. (bats screeching) A flock of bats swarmed past him. "Ah! What the hell?!" he swats them away and continues down the well.

Inside the crystal mines, Josuke grabs his phone and turns on his flashlight while walking through the mines. He pulls out the journal, "To find the lab entrance, walk 22 steps and look for the stone that is shaped like a heart." He looks to his left and sees a heart shaped stone nearby.

"there it is!" Josuke approaches the rock and presses down. A stone wall rises revealing a door.

Inside the lab, an unconscious Kyoko is sitting on the floor tied up as Koichi lays unconscious strapped to a table. Josuke peaks inside the lab. the killer advances on Koichi.

(creaking) (heavily breathing)

Turning towards the open door, the killer brandishes the knife and bursts through the door, he finds no one then proceeds through the mines.

Inside, Josuke pops up next to the tables. "Koichi, wake up."

Koichi slowly regains consciousness, (gasps) "Jo-" Josuke covers Koichi's mouth, "Shh."

"sorry, but thank goodness you're here. get us out of here." whispered Koichi

Josuke unties the table straps off of Koichi, " I will. I just have to figure out how. where's Kyoko?"

"she's over there." Koichi signals over to the corner. Josuke rushes over to Kyoko and unties her. The killer shadows over them.

(gasps) "JOSUKE!" screamed Koichi.

the killer grabs Josuke and pins him then raises the knife. Josuke kicks the killer in the face slamming him into the back creating spider web cracks where he landed.

The killer stands up and brandishes the knife at the teens. (bats screeching) Suddenly, a swarm of bats fly into the lab attacking the killer.

Crazy Diamond comes out sending a barrage of punches to the killer's mask as a radio hits him on the head knocking him unconscious.

"You did it, Josuke!" Koichi cheered

Kyoko finally regained consciousness, "Josuke?"

Josuke runs over to Kyoko and finishes untying her, "Thank god you're okay, Kyoko. oh, Koichi about your dad. it turns out that it wasn't amnesia. He was hypnotized by this freak over to keep him from remembering what actually happened the night he was taken."

Koichi gasps, "What?! really? so that's why my dad kept zoning out while trying to get him to tell us what happened when he was taken."

"yeah. Basically." said Josuke

"what about the killer?" Koichi asked

Josuke adds a smirk to his face, "don't worry, Koichi. we have plans for him."

minutes later, the killer sits bound in a chair as the three teenagers surround him.

"Josuke, how did you know we were down here?" Kyoko asked

"After connecting General Greeting to Budogaoka high school, it was obvious. And before you say anything else, no it's not the ghost of Dr. Marco Kobato or General Harold Greeting."

"who is it then?" Koichi asked

"this all began when the serial killer tried to frame Hazamada for the murders of Eric and Junko by putting them in his locker and nearby the neighborhood recycling bins. But then, Yuya raged out in court and went to prison for those murders instead. But the third body, Rukia's, was found by someone else. Why? Because the serial killer needed a body fast to exonerate Yuya out."

"But how does the serial killer have a connection with General Greeting though? And also, why did the killer take Hazamada at Fog Fest?" Koichi asked

"Because the serial killer is..." Josuke removes the killer's mask revealing Hazamada's former friend, Sakai.

(Kyoko and Koichi gasps)

"Hazamada's ex best friend, Sakai. the grandson of General Harold Greeting. once I learned of General Greetings' past, it all made sense. First off, only a real monster would get real revenge on Hazamada for a reason. And he wanted to replace Hazamada's brain with one of the popular kids at Budogaoka."

"Exactly, the whole point. I couldn't let that bastard Hazamada's incompetence ruin my life anymore. the way how my grandfather ruined Project SCOBA." said Sakai

Josuke raised an eyebrow, "Wait? I thought it failed because Dr. Kobato went insane trying to swap people's brains."

"That's the surface level story. What actually happened was the night that Hazamada and I got into an argument over which idol is better. He instantly disagreed with my opinion and proceeded to stab my eye out with a mechanical pencil. Then, when I was admitted to the hospital, the doctor told me that they couldn't do surgery so I was given a glass eye as a replacement. I was raged that night and had to figure out a way to get my revenge. Then, I remembered that my mom told me about my grandfather, General Greeting, being in the army back in the 70s. I searched up his name and discovered a ton of information about him working with a scientist named Dr. Marco Kobato. the truth is Dr. Kobato succeeded in his brain-swapping procedure. But then my grandfather tried to take all the credit for his work. When Dr. Kobato found out, he undid the experiment and bricked up his lab and hid his journals, so his work couldn't be recreated. But hoping to make him talk, my grandfather had him institutionalized. But Dr. Kobato didn't crack, and without the journals, couldn't reproduce his results. Project SCOBA was shut down. then, I learned that my grandfather used hypnosis during that time while trying to run the program."

"And after learning that information, you attempt to plot out a plan to seek full revenge on Hazamada and decide to frame him for the murders by sneaking into Rohan's house at night, finding Dr. Kobato's lab and journals." Josuke added

"Exactly, but Koichi's dad had already found them." said Sakai

Josuke crossed his arms, "So, when Koichi's dad showed up here two years ago, you hypnotized him and made him rebuild the lab, while you found the perfect brain for Hazamada. Case closed."

"okay, but why pick the brain of a popular student?" Kyoko asked

"Because, Hazamada tends to be jealous of popular students because they're ambitious and status conscious which he seems to be lacking. But now I see the perfect brain for Hazamada is the one I tried hardest to keep away." Sakai smiles miraculously and eyes Josuke

"Rohan." A hypnotized Rohan walks in holding a gun.

"Oh, no! Rohan's been hypnotized!" Koichi yelled

"I had no choice. He figured out what I was up to." said Sakai

Rohan approaches Josuke and strikes him with the gun.

(metal creaking)

Now in an overhead light swings wildly back and forth as Josuke wakes up on the examination table regaining consciousness strapped in restraints.

(straining noises) He struggles trying to break free but no use.

"Think this through. if you put my brain in Hazamada's head, I'll go to the police and tell them everything."

Sakai approaches Josuke and holds the large machete up to his chin, "Oh no you won't, Josuke because not only you're brilliant, you also have the looks and the popularity and anyone would do anything to have what you have."

Josuke glares at him, "you're bat shit crazy."

"you won't be saying that for long as soon as I'm done." Sakai laughs manically as Kyoko and Koichi are tied up and calling out through their gags watching everything.

(muffled screaming and cries)

"SHUT UP! I can't concentrate with all this damn noise!" Sakai snaps on a pair of rubber gloves and grabs the large machete. "Now, let's get this over with."

He raised the machete up to Josuke's head. Kyoko and Koichi both muffled and struggled in the corner in fear.

A shadow casts over Josuke's eyes and smirks, "you know what, you're right. I'm so in."

"Hm?"

"I mean I do have the looks, the brains...no pun intended and somewhat a bit of popularity but there's also one thing that I have that you don't."

Sakai raised an eyebrow, "Really? and what's that?"

A purple glow forms around Josuke, "A stand." Josuke breaks free from his restraints but Rohan tackles him. Josuke punches him in the face knocking him unconscious.

(muffled screaming) Josuke rushes over to the corner and unties Kyoko and Koichi.

"Josuke, Sakai's getting away!" yelled Koichi

(glass shatters) Grabbing a lantern from the wall, Sakai throws it on the ground as fire spreads.

"oh no, he's not! Come on!" Josuke picks up Kyoko and slings her over his shoulder and carries Koichi in his other arm while running out of the room.

In the mines, the three teens run towards the bucket well, "Quick, find the button makes the bucket go up."

"It doesn't work like that. we have to climb up." said Kyoko

Josuke rubs his chin, "Dammit!"

(Kyoko and Koichi gasps) Josuke glares, "You!"

Sakai appears before the trio holding the pistol, "Yeah, I don't think it's possible that you could get away from me that easy. So, this ends now as I'm about to transfer your brains to these cave walls."

Suddenly, Okuyasu comes to the rescue by sliding down the well rope (mimics Tarzan yell) "Have no fear, Okuyasu the great is here--AHHH!"

the rope snaps in half causing Okuyasu to fall and belly flops into the muddy ground. Josuke and Koichi both slapped their faces in disappointment.

"I don't have time for this idiotic buffoonery." Sakai fires at Josuke who deflects the shot with a metal plate from the ground. the bullet ricochets and hits a stalactite from the wall of the cave.

Sakai scoffs, "Pfft, looks like you missed."

Josuke added a smirk "I never miss." (crumbling) the stalactites fall and land on Sakai. (screaming) (squelches) a wave of blood covers the teens.

(Okuyasu retches) "Oh, my goodness. He's dead. It's over. It's finally over. We did it! we've solved the case!" Koichi cheered

At Morioh town hall, Josuke and friends received their awards in solving the case behind the serial killer and Koichi's dad Kenito Hirose. The mayor gives the teens each a large golden key.

Later that same evening at the Higashikata's residence, Josuke dismantled his evidence board and puts it in a manilla folder.

at Budogaoka station

Josuke places the folder onto the desk, "well, Blanco, here's everything we used to catch the serial killer, and bring home Kenito Hirose."

"Excellent, and if you ever feel like becoming a real detective, we could use you. You've got a sharp brain."

Josuke smiles and gives him a thumbs up, "Thanks." he walks out of station heading to his car and drives away