Well hello! Here is a new chapter from the Azure Redi fanfiction. I will start planning the next chapter. See you in the next chapter.
"Here we have a broadcast from the Tenkaichi Festival", It was said on television.
"This is a famous event called the Tenkaichi Festival, where the flames are that of Mt. Mitsumoru's character" Tenkaichi", Said the tall and skinny woman. She had short, brown hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. She was 25 years old. was wearing a purple jacket with a purple blouse had a purple skirt on his hips, and purple heels on his held a microphone in his right had purple pearl earrings in his ears. "It's almost time for the Tenkaichi characters to start showing".
The man in the dim room threw things on the floor in search of something, ignoring at all the television on the table to his right, which was currently talking about the Tenkaichi festival.
"Hey, can't you be a little quieter?" The adjoining room was asked.
The door to the next room was a little open, and there were ceiling lights on.
"Pashus. I thought you went to the festival, but you came back to get your wallet", The dark-haired man said, brushing his teeth. "I can't even relax in the bath. You've forgotten our promise tonight, haven't you?"
The man stopped examining the goods, and straightened up. He had a scarf on his face, and sunglasses on his head like a hat. She was tall, and skinny, and her skin was tanned. He was wearing a dark jacket, and at his feet groomed trousers, and white socks. He was wearing dark gloves:
"Our promise?"
"Hey, hey! You told me you keep your promise to me, so I...Huh? What's going on? Why do you look like that?" The man who had just brushed his teeth asked as he walked out of the room, and after seeing the mess. She was wearing a light purple blouse, dark pants on her legs, white socks. He had a brown belt on his hips. He had a white towel on his shoulders. He had black hair, pale skin, blue eyes with glasses in front of him. He was over 20 years old. "And this room ... what are you doing?"
"Sorry, but tonight's promise has been revoked", The man wearing the sunglasses said.
"What?" The dark-haired man asked.
The masked man picked up the pistol from his pocket, and pointed it at another man who looked horrified.
"But isn't that right?" The dark-skinned man asked. "The person to be celebrated dies".
"Finally, the festival has begun", News Anchor said. "Look at the character 'Ten' who has just burned in Mt. Mitsumor".
The TV screen featured a festival area with a large mountain in the background with a Ichi kanji mark glowing in red.
A masked man shot another man in the head. Bam!
Another man fell to the floor. There was now a wound in his head, and his toothbrush fell to the floor.
The masked man then took the banknotes from his wallet.
"Don't hate me for this, Imatake", The masked man says. He threw his wallet on the floor. He then left the apartment, closing the door behind him. He carried a brown bag in his right hand.
"We just heard something that sounded like the sound of a firearm", One man told the man in disguise.
The masked man looked back a little, and then set off to run forward.
"Hey! Hey you!" The man who had just spoken shouted.
The masked man ran out of the hotel's automatic exterior doors, and past some people who looked after him.
After running for a while, the masked man stopped on the bridge, and threw his gun into the river. Loisk! Then he threw his coat into the river. Loisk! He then took a yellow disposable camera from the pocket of his pants. The man took his sunglasses from his eyes, and smiled as he threw his sunglasses into the river. Loisk!
XXXXXXXXXXX
"It is! It is!" Ran shouted. "The last character" Ichi".
"Ooh", Kogorō said.
They, and Shizuka, were wearing blue-gray yucats.
"Irene-chan, did you know? At this festival, they will light up the characters in the Ten-Ka-Ichi order to the mountains of trees and hope for the best harvest in the world this year", Ran said.
"Yes", Shizuka said.
"It's bass like the ceremonial bonfire of Kyoto Daimonji", Shizuka thought.
"It's not a bad idea to stay at an inn, and come to a festival", Kogorō said.
"Really! Don't you agree, Irene-chan?" Ran asked.
"Yeah", Shizuka said. "I should buy a new film for my camera".
"Let's buy a new film for your camera here", Ran suggested.
Surprisingly, a man wearing a groom's coat ran to the scene. There was a dark blouse under his jacket. He had groomed trousers on his feet, and brown shoes. He was tall, and skinny. He had brown skin, and black hair, and black eyes. He stopped exhausted, holding a yellow disposable camera in his left hand.
"I'm sorry, but in which booth are camera films sold?" Shizuka asked the man.
"I'm sorry, but I only came here, so I don't know", The man said.
"It doesn't matter", Shizuka said. "He must have run really hard once he sweats so hard".
"Great. Sorry. Can you take a picture of me?" The man asked Ran.
"Certainly. No problem", Ran said.
The man held out his camera. There was a light tan stripe on his left wrist.
"Sorry, but where is your watch?" Shizuka asked. "Have you lost it?"
"Oh...That must have happened. How did you guess that?" The man asked.
"Your left hand from the tan stripe. A friend of mine once lost his watch, and noticed it only after seeing the tan stripe on his hand. That imprint had been born on the very hand where he sometimes held his watch", Shizuka said. "He found his watch later".
"Hopefully I'll find my own watch too at some point", The man said.
"Can you take a picture of me with this camera with the 'Ichi' sign behind me?" The man asked Ran, and then pointed right.
The man walked a little to the right, and then stopped.
"Ready? I'll take a picture", Ran said.
"Just about that", The man said.
Ran took a picture.
"Thank you. I'm working on an archive based on the theme 'Local Festivals'", The man said. "And this picture is one of them".
"Oh yeah! So you're a writer", Ran said. "You're really tanned, so I thought you were into sports or something".
"Or so? This is just the sun I got during my work. I spend most of my time working abroad. Really. Right. Look at this", The man took a blue book from the inside pocket of his jacket and gave it to Ran.
"Really? Is that ok?" Ran asked, looking at the book.
"Sasai Norikazu", Kogorō read the name on the front cover of the book.
"I wrote under the author name Imai Tomokazu", The man said.
"Really? I recognize the name Imai Tomokazu!" Ran said and everyone looked at him curiously. "I read a lot of his works when I was younger. Your works were popular".
"Hm...but it's weird", Kogorō said thoughtfully. "That name is reminiscent of Imatake Satoru from the time he made his debut".
"Didn't he win the Naomoto Prize recently?" Shizuka asked.
"Yes. I'm an old friend with Imatake. We used to write together", The man said.
"Wow! I've also read Imatake Satoru's writings", Ran said.
"We came here today too. I thought we were drinking to celebrate him after he won the Naomoto Award. Huh huh. So hot", the man said, wiping the sweat from his cheek. Then he improved his jacket a little.
"Remove the jacket so you don't have hot anymore", Shizuka thought.
"This area is good too. Can you take a few more pictures of me?" The man asked Ran.
"Ah! Certainly!" Ran said.
Ran took a picture of a man pointing to the stall with his right hand, then a picture of a man leaning against a tree with his left hand, then a picture of a man holding a mask in his left hand but surprisingly another man was walking behind the man being photographed.
That man had dark hair, black eyes, blond skin. She was wearing a brown suit. There was a black tie around the man's neck with a white shirt underneath. The man was tall, and athletic.
Ran was a little surprised.
"You're Sasai Norikazu, right?" The man asked the author.
"Yes", Sasai said.
The man pushed his right hand into the inside pocket of his jacket, and took out a police badge from there:
"I'm Yokomizo Sango from Saitama Prefecture Police. I have something to ask about your friend Imatake Satoru".
"Did something happen to him?" Sasai asked.
"He was murdered", Yokomizo said.
"What?!" Sasai asked, and the others were a little nervous.
"He was killed in a hotel where you were both staying overnight", Yokomizo said.
"I understand. Detective Yokomizo suspects Sasaita Imatake's murderer if they both stayed in the same room, for Sasai and Satoru must have keys to that room in addition to the hotel staff. But why would Sasai kill his friend?" Shizuka thought.
(Later at the hotel)
"The gun was a pistol. The time of the murder was sometimes around 8:02 or 8:03. The criminal is the man who ran out of here at the time of this incident. Are you sure?" Yokomizo asked an eyewitness.
"Yes. The broadcast of the festival began at that time", The eyewitness said.
"The victim was certainly shot in the head", Kogorō said, looking at the victim.
"Hey hey! Who are you?" Yokomizo asked Kogorō.
"Ah me? I'm a detective", Kogorō said.
"Could you be? Are you that famous detective Mōri Kogorō?!" Yokomizo asked.
"Y-yes. I'm Kogorō", Kogorō said, a little surprised that he was now a well-known detective.
"I'm his assistant, Miyamizu Irene", Shizuka introduced himself.
Sasai looked surprised.
"I always read in the newspapers many of the cases you have solved", Yokomizo said.
"Thank you", Kogorō said.
"While I'm really the one who solved all these cases", Shizuka thought:
"I'm sorry, gentlemen, but what is that foam in the victim's mouth game?"
"I already checked it when we first visited here. It's toothpaste", Yokomizo said.
"Thank you", Shizuka said.
"Please", Yokomizo said. "What do you think, Mōri-san?"
"Maybe the perpetrator attacked the victim when the victim brushed his teeth, or after. It's also pretty messy here, so maybe the perpetrator was looking for something here. Maybe the perpetrator surprised the perpetrator in the act itself, so the perpetrator shot the victim", Kogorō said.
"There are no burglary marks on the door of this room, so the killer must be someone who has the key to this room. And I think I already know the name of the killer", Shizuka thought, glancing at the door of the room, and Sasai quickly.
"Since there are no burglary marks on that door, the murderer is probably someone who has the key to this room", Kogorō said.
"I don't know what factor to look for here. Well then! Look around you as much as you want. I'd like to look for some clues", Yokomizo said.
"Um!" Kogorō coughed, and then he saw a brown wallet on the floor to the right of the victim. Kogorō picked up the wallet, and opened it to find that there was no money in the wallet. There was only a credit card in the wallet, which Kogorō took from the wallet to take a closer look at the credit card:
"I understand. The perpetrator probably took the money in the victim's wallet with him when he left here after committing murder".
"Huh? Toothbrush? The victim was shot as he brushed his teeth just as Kogorō thought?" Shizuka thought after seeing a white toothbrush on the floor.
"Have you found out anything, Mōri-san?" Yokomizo asked.
"It's possible this was a robbery", Kogorō put the tobacco in his mouth.
"Robbery?" Yokomizo asked.
Kogorō took a lighter from his yucatan pocket, with which he lit a tobacco.
"Only banknotes were taken from the wallet, and in addition to that, the murderer was looking for something around this room", Kogorō looked at the suitcase on the other bed, which was also clearly pengoous. "This is just a simple murder for money".
"It looks like this at first glance, but I feel like there's something else involved with this crime", Shizuka thought.
"Hmm", Yokomizo muttered.
"Because the victim was on the floor in front of the door, the victim must have opened the door carelessly, and then the murderer shot the victim, resulting in the victim falling to the floor. the murderer was rummaging here for the goods, so the victim came here to see what was going on and it was the victim's fate", Kogorō said.
"But Mōri-san, you can't think of it in the first way you just mentioned", Yokomizo said.
"He?" Kogorō was a little surprised.
"The robbery was just a scam for us. The real criminal is his roommate!" Yokomizo said, looking at Sasai.
Sasai looked nervous:
"Hey! Don't fool around like that. The murder was around 8:00, right? In that case, I have an alibi. I was at the time of the murder of the Tenkaichi festival. That was when I met Mōri-san and others. Isn't that so?"
Yokomizo looked surprised, and then looked at Kogorō.
"Right...But I think we met in the second half of the festival", Kogorō said. "You ran to the festival venue when we met you there".
"You remember quite right", Shizuka said. "One thing I just don't understand".
"What?" Kogorō asked.
"If Sasai-san is a murderer, then where is the murder weapon he uses?" Shizuka asked.
"Maybe he hid, or threw it into the river before he arrived at the festival venue. How long was the murderer?" Kogorō asked eyewitnesses.
"The same length as Sasai-san. The author was admittedly disguised, so we didn't see his face properly. However, we saw enough that his skin was tanned", The eyewitness said.
"Maybe Sasai-san threw even a fake suit into the river before he arrived at the festival venue", Kogorō said.
"I understand. That could very well have happened, but how can Sasai-san be so sure of his alibi?" Shizuka thought.
"I was there from the beginning. If you don't believe me...then develop this film", Sasai handed his camera to Yokomizo. "My alibi should be there".
"Is that the same camera Ran used to take pictures of Sasai from before, or is it just a similar camera?" Shizuka thought.
"Okay. Develop this right away", Yokomizo took the camera, and handed it over to him.
"Yes sir!" One police officer said.
"Just as Detective Yokomizo said, this is not a robbery. There is no doubt that the criminal is this acquaintance. But why does he look so confident?" Shizuka thought, looking at the smiling Sasai. "What kind of alibi is in that camera?"
"There are a total of 7 images", Yokomizo said, looking at the newly developed images of Sasai, like others. "But what part of this is the alibi?"
"I took this picture", Ran showed one picture to Yokomizo. "Look, the mountain is in it. Oh yes. We met Sasai-san when the "Ichi"-character just burned".
"But the Ichi character is lit up over 8:40 and the act happened around 8:02 or 8:03. If you've run, I think you can get from that hotter to the festival in about 40 minutes", Yokomizo said.
"Detective Yokomizo, How long will the lighting of the first character's 'Ten' character last from 8 a.m.?" Kogorō asked.
"Until 8:25", Yokomizo said.
"Look at this picture", Kogorō showed one picture to Yokomizo. "No matter how late it was, this picture shows he was at the festival before 8:25. The time of the murder was around 8:00".
Yokomizo took that picture. In that picture, Sasai was standing in front of the mountain while the Ichi sign was burning, and he held his left hand slightly up, but that hand did not have the tan stripe that Shizuka had previously noticed in Sasai's left hand.
There is no tan stripe in Sasai's hand in that picture, so there was no way to take that picture today! When was it taken then? Could Sasai try to use that picture as an alibi?! That's why she now probably has the same clothes as in that picture! He must have been planning this act for some time! I should examine the other images more closely to better understand the course of events!" Shizuka thought after seeing a small detail of the image that Yokomizo's was currently investigating.
"No matter how fast he ran, it is impossible to get from the hotel to the festival in 25 minutes. Congratulations. Your alibis is perfect", Kogorō told Sasai.
"Of course", Sasai said.
"But do you think the image could have been edited?" Yokomizo asked. "Maybe multiplying the negatives at once. Someone who knows the cameras could..."
"Hey now. I gave the camera straight, and I asked you to develop it. Besides, it was a disposable camera. How could I do that?" Sasai asked.
"The trick wouldn't be weird if he'd been here sometime before, and then used a similar camera. Wait a minute! A similar camera. I understand how he did the trick. He may have been here sometime before, and then asked someone he knew to take pictures of him with that particular camera at the time. Maybe he now asked Ran to take similar pictures of him on that very camera. I understand. He sometimes asked someone to take a picture of him on that camera, and now he asked Ran to take a picture of him while stirring the picture he had taken of himself in the past into the pictures taken of him today. He might well have given that camera to the cops. That explains why there wasn't that tan stripe in one of his pictures. I need even more convincing proof that he has been here sometime before. Do I have to put them all to sleep now so I can do an autopsy on Sasai to examine the camera he's using today?" Shizuka wondered.
"I asked you to develop a camera film, right?" Yokomizo asked one of the police officers.
"Yes. There didn't seem to be any alternatives to the camera", Police said.
"Do you see?" Sasai asked.
"It's nothing, Detective Yokomizo. By the way, how did you know he was at festivals?" Kogorō asked.
"Oh. I asked the person in front of the hotel and I heard he left at about 7.30. He asked for the time so many times that that eyewitness remembered him", Yokomizo said.
"This is because I wanted to arrive on time to light up that 'Ten' character. I forgot my watch today, as you can see", Sasai showed the tanning strip of his left hand.
"Forgot? He said he had lost it before when I asked his hand about the tan stripe. Could it be that Sasai was leaving here earlier after saying it to the victim, but Sasai later returned here, perhaps dressed in a false setting, and then rummaged through the goods here looking for something? Then Imatake might have arrived and Sasai committed the crime, maybe he left here without taking what he had been looking for before, then he left the hotel, got rid of the murder weapon and his fake suit by throwing them in the river, then he came to the running festival venue. That running, and if he had that fake outfit on those clothes would explain why he used to be so hot", Shizuka thought:
"Sorry, Sasai-san, but are you perhaps colds recently?"
"No. I haven't had a cold lately. Why did you ask?" Sasai asked.
"Because you've dressed pretty warmly. That's why you complained about the heat at the festival spot. Because of your warm dress, I thought you had a cold lately, so I thought you dressed warmly to make sure you wouldn't catch a cold again", Shizuka said.
"Oh it. I put on these clothes because I saw them first. Admittedly, it seems to be a bad choice because I later got a hot feeling", Sasai said.
"What you do really bothers me", Yokomizo told Sasai. "Looks like you're making an alibi for yourself".
"Hey. Enough already. Why don't you make a serious effort on this matter and find out who really killed my best friend, instead of wasting time talking to me?" Sasai said.
Yokomizo looked angry.
"No doubt. That guy is a murderer, but he must have planned this crime carefully when he was once able to arrange an alibi for himself", Shizuka thought, looking at Sasai.
"Imatake-senei!" Someone suddenly shouted while running into the hut. "Sensei! Where is sensei?"
"Imatake's body has already been moved", Yokomizo said. "And you are?"
The screamer was a dark-haired man. He had black eyes, and tanned skin. He looked 30 years old. He was tall, and a little round. He was wearing a red blouse with a gray jacket on. He had gray pants on his feet, and black shoes:
"I'm Yamada Gekkan from Bungei Jidai. I got a call from the police and came here, but Imatake-sensei is".
"Bungei Jidai is Imataken..." Kogorō said.
"Yes. He wrote Kenyu Densetsua", Sasai said.
"Are you Sasai-sensei?" The man who entered the room asked after seeing Sasai.
"Yes. I remember Imatake saying his story was due to be published soon, but he hasn't written it yet", Sasai said.
"Properly!" Man say. "The deadline for Imatake-sensei's story is tomorrow! This is terrible! Even if I asked someone now, it wouldn't be done in time, and I can't find anyone who could write like him".
"I guess it can't be helped. Here", Sasai said, taking out a bundle of paper from his bag, which he gave the man.
"Ah. This is it?" The man asked.
"It's a story I wrote earlier", Sasai said. "Imatake had asked me to show it to him, so I brought it with me. I don't think it's just like what Imatake wrote, but..." Sasai said.
"Ah...no...Since you used to write together with Imatake-sensei, I'm sure the editorial department is happy with this story", The man said.
"Are you sure it's ok? It's just a prologue to the novel", Sasai said.
"The one you can write to Bungei Jidai from the beginning, that would be great", The man said.
"Hmm I don't know. I have a job now too", Sasai said.
"Oh thank you... somehow", The man said.
"Sure. I understand. Do it because of the dead Imatake", Sasai said.
The other man looked pleased.
"I'll talk to that other man a little, so maybe I might find out something", Shizuka thought, looking at the man who had just received the writing.
"Thank you very much! Then I go now", The man who received the scripture bowed, and left the room.
"Does anyone have a thirst? I can go get us something to drink from the vending machine in the lobby of this hotel", Shizuka said.
"At least I'm thirsty because my clothes make me feel hot", Sasai said.
"It fits", Kogorō said.
"All right. I'll be right back", Shizuka left the room. Arriving at the lobby, he saw the man he was looking for:
"Sorry, but Mōri-san just asked me to ask you something".
"What?" The man asked.
"Imatake, and Sasai have known each other for a long time, haven't they? Mōri-san got such an idea from your recent speeches. He even got the impression from your recent speeches that Imatake and Sasai have sometimes worked together. I got such an idea from your recent speeches myself", Shizuka said.
"Yes. They worked together before. Imatake-sensei was at the forefront of the literary world, and Sasai-sensei imitated Imatake-sensei. About a year before this story, Sasai-sensei received information from the editors of Literatur Heute that his manuscript would be published there. But then Imatake-sensei script was spontaneously favored, "the man said.
"So the Sasai-san script wasn't published then?" Shizuka asked.
"Exactly. The Sasai-sensei manuscript was not published at the time. Some suspected Sasai-sensei that it was bitter for Imatake-sensei, but maybe they were wrong", The man said.
"Has Sasai-san ever been here before, and attended a Tenkachi festival like this?" Shizuka asked.
"Yes. I saw him once on TV. It must have been sometime last year around this time. He was wearing the same clothes then as he is now, and he was standing in front of the mountain then when the Ichi sign was" on fire. "If I remember correctly, I saw one photos with a black-and-yellow disposable camera", The man said.
"Thank you", Shizuka said.
"Please", The man left the building.
"So it was. Just like I thought. Sasai-san murdered Imatake, and arranged for himself an alibi with his old photos. That's why he must have asked Ran earlier to take photos of Sasai-san. He used one picture of him taken last year as an clothes he wore today were also only part of his plot, he became hot because of running and because he kept his disguise on his current clothes before he discarded his disguise and the murder weapon, as evidenced by one of the photos Ran took earlier. And I think I know exactly what the picture is about", Shizuka thought, thinking earlier that he had seen a picture of Sasai with no tanning strip in Sasai's hand.
Shizuka walked in front of the vending machine, and put coins in it, then took a drink from the vending machine. He chose fruit juices. He then set out to walk back into the room, carrying the cans he had just taken in his hands.
"I came back already. Here. Feel free to choose", Shizuka put the cans on the table.
"Thank you", Some said, taking a drink.
"Hey, cop. You heard that previous man's words, didn't you?" Sasai asked. "It seems I have to go home and start my work. Imatake was also killed by a thief driven by a lust for money".
Sasai opened the can of pear juice, and began to drink.
"Detective Yokomizo, may I visit this room's restroom?" Shizuka asked.
"Sure", Yokomizo said.
"Thank you", Shizuka went to the bathroom, and picked up a ball of unique gas from his yucatan pocket, which he threw on the floor of the room while everyone put the empty cans on the table. Then Shizuka closed the toilet door.
Shah! The sleeping ball exploded, and everyone fell asleep, falling to the floor of the room, and to the hallway outside the room. After the sleep gas evaporated, Shizuka took a small speaker designed by Hakan from his pocket, opened the toilet door, and went into the room, placing the speaker on the neck of Kogorō's yukata. He then put Kogorō to sit in a nearby chair.
Next, Shizuka took the photographs viewed during the investigations, and looked at them. Eventually, one picture caught his attention. It was that same photo in which Sasai was standing in front of Yokomizo in that photo, holding a mask in her left hand, and that photo had a tan stripe, as in the other photos. In the second picture, he was standing in front of the mountain, holding his left hand slightly higher in the victory sign position, and there was no tan stripe on his wrist in that hand.
"Just like I thought. He put one to take this non-tan stripe photo about a year ago with that same disposable camera and asked Ran to use that particular camera today to take more photos of himself in addition to the one about a year ago to arrange an alibi to protect picture, among them, so she is now wearing the same clothes as about a year ago", Shizuka thought, baking the pictures on the floor.
Then Shizuka returned to the bathroom, and locked the door, sitting on the floor, leaning on the door:
"Now the show begins".
Shizuka adjusted the sound converter to Kogorō's voice, and listened to what was happening in the room.
(Room)
"Huh! Yes, he started sleeping", Ran said after waking up, and getting up to stand like others.
"No wonder, given how late it is now", Sasai said.
"Detective Yokomizo, should we let Sasai-san go home?" One police officer asked.
"No. No doubt because he is a criminal, just like Detective Yokomizo said", Kogorō's voice drew everyone's attention. Actually, Shizuka spoke in Kogorō's voice using Shizuka's voice converter, and Kogorō's yukata-attached speaker:
"But Sasai-san cheated on us, and used a fake alibi to cheat him. Why? Why was he able to take a picture similar to one of those pictures on the floor?"
"Is that perhaps Nemuri no Kogorō?" Yokomizo asked, looking at Kogorō.
"Yes. I think I know how Sasai-san arranged an alibi for himself. He's probably been planning this case for a long time. Of course so, besides, he didn't do anything for the camera and also got my daughter Ran to take a picture of Sasai-san. is a useless alibi. There has to be a way to get through Sasai-san's alibi. Ran, do you remember what Irene said when we first met Sasai-san?" Shizuka's question caught everyone's attention.
"Yes. Irene-chan asked if Sasai-san had lost her watch when Irene-chan saw Sasai-san's left-hand tan strip after Sasai-san first gave her camera to me to take a picture of Sasai-san", Ran said.
"That's right. It was part of Sasai-san's plan, because he recently told us he forgot his watch", because of Shizuka's words, everyone looked at Sasai.
"Did I really say that?" Sasai asked.
"Yes you said", Yokomizo said.
"I guess I forgot it just now, because the memory is sometimes really whimsical", Sasai said.
"Yes. Sometimes the memory is whimsical. But sometimes it works flawlessly. Like now, for example. I remembered Irene's question to you after seeing the pictures we developed here. I came to think of another thing. Right! You complained about the heat before we were at the festival venue. Why didn't you take your jacket off? Or maybe you couldn't take it off. Why..? Would it be that you didn't want me or others to see something you covered with your jacket? "You asked Ran earlier to describe you with the Ichi sign behind you, didn't you?" Shizuka asked.
"That's how it was. Why did you talk about it?" Sasai asked.
"I understand it now. I know how you tricked us in the past. You're still a criminal. And this is a planned murder! I fully understand it. The trick lurked behind the image you used in your alibi. Detective Yokomizo, do it now something", Shizuka said.
"What, Mōri-san?" Yokomizo asked.
"You suspected Sasai-san from the beginning, didn't you?" Shizuka's question surprised everyone. "I got that kind of idea of how you talked to Sasai-san in the past".
"Yes, because he was told he had left this room earlier for the festival venue", Yokomizo said.
"I agree with myself", Shizuka said.
"Why didn't you say anything about your doubts before?" Yokomizo asked.
"Because I wanted to test you a little bit before I shared my own conclusion with you", Shizuka said.
"Test me?" Yokomizo asked.
"Yes. I wanted to hear your conclusions before confirming a couple of my doubts", Shizuka said.
"What kind of doubts?" Yokomizo asked.
"I'll tell you the point. How couldn't you see the photos I just mentioned through the surrounding trick?" Shizuka asked.
"So it has to mean!" Yokomizo said.
"Yes. One of those pictures can't be taken during festivals today, even though all of them were taken with the same camera. One of those pictures was sometimes taken much earlier, and in the same place with the same camera", Shizuka said.
"So that picture hasn't been edited, but it was taken with the same camera at festivals that took place right here sometime before. That is, Sasai-san has been here before", Yokomizo said.
"Yes. I realized it when I saw that picture. That's why I gave Irene an inconspicuous signal to ask a man who had just come here after hearing that she knew both Sasai-san and the victim. you just slept in. Then Irene remembered that she had forgotten something in the bathroom of this room, so she went to look for it. Before that, Irene said her conversation with the man she had just been here was like this:
"Sorry, but Mōri-san just asked me to ask you something".
"What?" The man asked.
"Imatake, and Sasai have known each other for a long time, haven't they? Mōri-san got such an idea from your recent speeches. He even got the impression from your recent speeches that Imatake and Sasai have sometimes worked together. I got such an idea from your recent speeches myself", Irene said.
"Yes. They worked together before. Imatake-sensei was at the forefront of the literary world, and Sasai-sensei imitated Imatake-sensei. About a year before this story, Sasai-sensei received information from the editors of Literatur Heute that his manuscript would be published there. But then the Imatake-sensei script was spontaneously favored", The man said.
"So the Sasai-san script wasn't published then?" Irene asked.
"Exactly. The Sasai-sensei manuscript was not published at the time. Some suspected Sasai-sensei that it was bitter for Imatake-sensei, but maybe they were wrong", the Man said.
"Has Sasai-san ever been here before, and attended a Tenkachi festival like this?" Irene asked.
"Yes. I saw him once on TV. It must have been sometime last year around this time. He was wearing the same clothes then as he is now, and he was standing in front of the mountain then when the Ichi sign was" on fire. "If I remember correctly, I saw one photos with a black-and-yellow disposable camera", The man said.
"Thank you", Irene said.
"Please", The man left the building", Shizuka said.
"So you've been here before", Yokomizo told Sasai.
"Yes. I've been here before about a year ago. I just didn't remember it, because like I said, the memory is sometimes whimsical. And yes. I was a little annoyed that the article I just mentioned wasn't published in the magazine you just mentioned", Sasai said.
"It could very well be your motive for murdering Imatake Satoru", Yokomizo said.
"I think about myself, Detective Yokomizo, because the person who shot Imatake Satator in this room is the man standing next to you, Sasai Norikazu!" Shizuka said.
"Wait a minute! You yourself said it was a robbery!" Sasai said nervously.
"Heh heh heh! It was just a trick to fool you so I could observe your reactions. The fact that you smiled quite a lot during the investigation of this case was one of the reasons I suspected you. Sometimes the suspect has to drive around the corner first and make him feel as a non-suspect before he is found guilty. Now I decided to act the way I just mentioned", Shizuka said.
"Really cunning. You tricked him at first so he wouldn't feel like a suspect", Yokomizo said.
"Yeah, because those trapped are dangerous. That's why it's worth acting sometimes. My previous behavior was just a scam I made on Sasai-san to try to escape. As soon as I saw the victim, I knew the perpetrator had to be someone the victim knew", Shizuka said.
"Did you conclude so from a non-broken door, or from a statement made by eyewitnesses? Do you have any evidence to support your theory?" Sasai asked.
"The first proof is the toothpaste that was at the victim's mouth game. A toothbrush had fallen to the floor near him. It was because the victim was brushing his teeth when he was shot", Shizuka said.
"So what?" Sasai asked. "Everyone brushes their teeth".
"True. But there aren't that many people who respond to strangers holding toothpaste in their mouths. And another thing. The condition of this room", Shizuka said.
"Huh?" Sasai asked.
"Was Imatake messy?" Shizuka asked.
"Not to my knowledge. Why did you ask that?" Sasai asked.
"Maybe you did a trick like that. You said to Imatake in the past that you were going to festivals, but you were really waiting for a suitable moment to start brushing your teeth. Then you went back to this room and put your something would have been sought here unless you were really looking for something here. When Imatake came here to brush his teeth, you shot him. Then you took the money from his wallet and threw the wallet on the floor. Then you left this room and the hotel eyewitnesses saw you in your lie Detective Yokomizo, you are right the fact that, after leaving the hotel, Sasai-san probably threw a murder weapon, and a lie into a river, and only then ran to the festival venue. Getting her hot feeling was because she had worn her fake dress over her current clothes, and arrived at the festival venue after first getting rid of the murder weapon, and the fake dress I just mentioned. The criminal escaped immediately after the gun was fired. Do you think it is possible to mix a room badly in such a short time? Probably the criminal did it on purpose before killing the victim to make this situation look like a robbery", Shizuka said.
"Heh heh. I understand. The state of the murder scene is full of random evidence. But I still have an alibi", Sasai said. "How are you going to explain the images that prove my innocence?"
"I told you that one of those pictures wasn't taken today when Ran used the camera he got from you. You asked Ran to take pictures of you with that particular camera, because that camera already had one picture of you. That picture I just mentioned was taken of you about a year ago right here. You asked Ran to take pictures of you with the camera I just mentioned earlier, and the picture I just mentioned was developed with these pictures when the police developed these pictures, to make the situation look like you were at a party at the time of the murder. you wanted Ran to photograph you today in exactly the same places where you were photographed here at last year's festivals to create a fake alibi for yourself, or did you either forget my expression about these photos in the past? These ankles the pictures were probably taken earlier last year when you came to the festivals held here. And with the camera you saved from your previous visit here, you asked Ran's, whom you met by chance, to continue taking pictures of you with the same camera. It's a pretty easy trick, but you wore the same clothes to make that picture look like it was taken today, like I already said. Yeah. The reason you didn't take your jacket off is because you didn't want to change the way you looked before. Am I wrong?" Shizuka asked.
"Heh heh. You have a good imagination, Detective Mōri. But do you have any evidence that this picture was taken before?" Sasai asked.
"You're making fun of us now. Of course, I have proof that supports my recent theory. That proof is just one of those pictures", Shizuka said. "You just didn't notice it yourself".
"What?!" Sasai asked.
"Hi Detective Yokomizo, take this picture of Sasai-san standing in front of a mountain with the Ichi sign behind her, or I guess you should say both of these similar pictures of the situation I just mentioned", Shizuka said. "The rest of this case is up to you, Detective Yokomizo, because you suspected Sasai-san before you arrived at the festival venue. This moment is your star moment, Detective Yokomizo".
"My star moment? OK. Wrist? What is this?" Yokomizo said looking at those pictures. Then he saw the differences in the pictures taken of Sasai. In the second picture, Sasai had a tan stripe on his left hand, and in the second picture, Sasai had no tan stripe on his left hand. Then Yokomizo looked at Sasaita.
Sasai looked nervous.
Yokomizo grabbed Sasai's left hand, and lifted it higher.
"What are you doing?" Sasai asked. Then Sasaikin saw the tan stripe on his left hand.
"How do you explain this?" Yokomizo asked. Then Yokomizo showed another picture to Sasai. In that picture There was no tan stripe in Sasai's hand. "The picture you used as an alibi has a tanned wrist! But your wrist is still white. You took this picture of yourself here about a year ago! Am I wrong, Sasai-san?!"
"I lost, detective. I was careless. Which one I wouldn't have gotten this tan stripe on my hand this year. Then my current picture would have been completely identical to the picture I took of myself here last year. A year ago I had decided to kill Imatake to be a world leader in literature", Sasai said.
"Is your motive not for your essay not published in the magazine I mentioned a year ago?" Shizuka asked.
"Yes. To put it mildly, that was my motive. One year ago my work was supposed to be published in Bungei Jida, but the editorial department changed my writing to Imatake's work, which was brought into production at the last minute. It was because Imatake's name was better known. where I put my whole life as a writer, and which was my last change, but Imatake took it away as if he were trying to make fun of me!" Sasai said.
"So that's why you killed him", Yokomizo said.
"It's true. I killed him because I was jealous of him. Because of my experience, I thought I would never make a breakthrough to become a famous writer, so I started planning Imatake's murder. Believe it or not, I felt like I was finally getting out of his shadow. seemed to notice me", Sasai said.
"But you were friends. Why did you let jealousy affect yourself so much?" Ran asked.
"Ran, Ran, haven't you ever heard the story of Snow White? In that story, a very old woman once offered Snow White to apple. But that old woman was indeed Snow White's evil stepmother in disguise, and the apple that that stepmother offered Snow White at the time was poisoned. That stepmother did that because she was afraid because of her jealousy that Snow White would become more beautiful than her stepmother. That's why that stepmother had at first dressed in Snow White's rags, and forced Snow White to go to work. The queen had even asked her magic mirror daily:
"Tell tell the reflector who is the most beautiful in the country". The queen asked her question in her magic mirror, for the queen herself wanted to be the most beautiful of her entire kingdom. That envy eventually paid off to the evil queen herself", Shizuka said.
"A fitting metaphor for this situation", Sasai said.
"People aren't always what they look like, as the story I just mentioned showed", Shizuka said.
(Toilet)
Shizuka turned off his sound converter, and opened the toilet door, and walked out of the toilet while the police put the handcuffs in Sasai's hands.
"Ojou-san, the work for which Imatake won the Naomoto Prize, was a story that Imatake and I designed together when we wrote together. Well, probably no one believes me now. I think now I know what it feels like to be cornered", Sasai said To Ran while the police took Sasai away.
"Unbelievable how much evil envy can be caused", Shizuka took the speaker out of Kogorō's yukata without anyone noticing, and then walked next to Ran.
"True, Irene", Yokomizo said.
(The next morning)
Shizuka, Kogorō, and Ran sat on a train at Saitama train station ready to return to Tokyo.
The weather was sunny.
"It was excellent reasoning, Detective Mōri. It was because of you that we were able to resolve Elise's case, and arrest Sasai", Yokomizo said. "You drove Sasai to a great corner by cheating on him first, while testing me on how much I should pay attention to the little details".
Yokomizo, and other police officers spoke to Kogorō through the train window.
"Uhh...criminal Sasai..the case?" Kogorō asked.
"Heck. Don't joke", Ran said to his father.
"The criminal was Sasai", Kogorō said.
"So, it's the Sasai case! Have fun! Hah hah!" Kogorō, and the police laughed.
"Laugh, you fools!" Someone shouted.
"Well at least the case was resolved", Shizuka thought.