Well hello! Here is a new chapter of Azure Redi-fanfiction. I decided to publish this part in honor of Christmas. I start planning the next chapter. See you in the next chapter, and Merry Christmas everyone.
Shizuka, Ran, and Sonoko were standing in front of a store in downtown Tokyo in the evening, and there was a Christmas advertisement in the window of that store. There was snow on the ground, and there were other people walking on the street.
"Even though it's Christmas, why am I with you now?" Sonoko asked her friends.
"I should ask that", Shizuka thought.
"Oh yeah, where is Shizuka-chan?" Sonoko asked.
"Shizuka calls once a month and that's it", Ran said.
"Why isn't that girl looking for a suitable man?!" Sonoko asked. "Christmas only comes once a year! That detective girl is just trying to look cool".
"You're right. Maybe Shizuka just doesn't always know how to express her feelings properly", Ran said.
"Maybe. By the way, I talked to Shizuka-san on the phone yesterday, and she said she got a message from her mother that if Shizuka-san doesn't find a suitable man for herself, her parents will choose a groom for her with Omiai", Irene said, remembering with her mother yesterday, at home the conversation he had on the phone.
"Omiai?!" Sonoko, and Ran asked.
"Of course. Shizuka-san had reportedly told her mother that her parents don't have to choose a groom for her in Omiai", Shizuka blushed thinking of Kaito.
"Huh?! How is that not necessary?! Wait a minute! Has Shizuka-chan found someone yet?" Sonoko asked.
"I got that impression from what he said", Shizuka said. "Shizuka-san didn't tell that boy's name, though".
"Really? But Oota-san was handsome. What do you think of Oota-san, Irene-chan?" Sonoko asked.
"Oota-san? I'm not interested in playboys like that", Shizuka said.
"Too bad he was a playboy!" Sonoko said.
"Anyway Sonoko, is there a guy you like?" Ran asked.
"Of course he is. His name is Kimura Tatsuya", Sonoko said.
"Tatsuya?" Ran asked.
"You mean Kimura Tatsuya, the singer of the band Lex?" Shizuka asked. "I just bought the Lex band's new CD".
"Yes! Ran, you know, that very popular rock band, Lex! The man I'm talking about is that band's Ki-mu-ra Ta-tsu-ya!" Sonoko said.
"Have you met Kimura-san in person?" Shizuka asked.
"Not yet, but I'll meet him soon because I used my dad's connections to get into Lex's post-concert party", Sonoko said. "This means I can meet Tatsuya in person! Ran, Irene-chan, do you want to come with me?"
"Can we meet Tatsuya?!" Ran asked.
"I agree", Shizuka said. "It's not every day you meet the singer of a famous band".
"True", Sonoko said.
"Hey, hey, when is it?" Ran asked.
"It's next Sunday. Then come home and sleep", Sonoko said.
"I want to go! I want to go!" Ran said.
The sun was going down.
(Next Sunday Karaoke Box)
"Feel Your Heart during the changing of seasons, my longing for you,
Just My Love that feeling because it'll bring me unseen power
It's as if all of my doubts, doubts and worries feel really small, at any time
The day I saw your back a short short distance away Revealed by the light filtering through the trees
I'm searching for an unseen tomorrow, fumbling in my haste, even though I'm hurting myself
The future is an exitless maze, the answers to Riddles are themselves puzzling
Even if a Miracle doesn't happen, Dreams become Courage
Feel Your Heart during the changing of seasons, my longing for you,
Just My Love that feeling because it'll bring me unseen power
It's as if all of my doubts, doubts and worries, feel really small, at any time
Although visible things, someday, might get far, far away
Have you found what you're looking for?
That hand that lives in your heart, like a thread between just the two of us
Hold it tightly, tightly, eternally, indefinitely
Feel Your Heart during the passage of time, my longing for you,
Just My Love Wherever because it'll become unseen power
Even in crushingly hard days, I'm being slowly healed, at any time
Feel Your Heart during all the various emotions, in the future from on
Just My Love I'll be by your side
Feel Your Heart during the changing of seasons, my longing for you,
Just My Love that feeling because it'll bring me unseen power
It's as if all of my doubts, doubts and worries, feel really small, at any time
Feel Your Heart during the passage of time, my longing for you,
Just My Love Wherever because it'll become unseen power
Even in crushingly hard days, I'm being slowly healed, at any time
Feel Your Heart during the changing of seasons...
Just My Love that feeling...
Feel Your Heart!" Shizuka, Ran, and Sonoko sang in the singing room in the Karaoke Box building while the Lex band sat on the sofas in that room.
Tap tap! The band members clapped for the girls as the girls placed their microphones on the microphone stand in front of them, then sat back down on the couch.
The girls had had a lot of fun.
In front of the sofas in the singing room was a table with various dishes, and the room was decorated in a Christmas style.
"You girls are so good!" Mieko said.
Shibazaki Mieko was 20 years old. Mieko had blue eyes and fair skin. Mieko was a young woman, she was of medium height, and she had red hair and big bangs. She was wearing the band's signature jacket, blue t-shirt, blue skirt, black tights, and blue high heels.
"He is right!" Tstsuya said smoking a cigarette, then put his gray lighter in his jacket pocket. Then he put the cigarette in the ashtray that was on the table. "It was much better than a certain band".
Tatsuya had fair skin and blue eyes. She was of medium height and had blonde, spiky hair. He is wearing a band jacket, a purple T-shirt, gray pants, and black shoes.
The others look at Tatsuya in distress as Tatsuya drinks from a mug full of alcohol.
"Hey Tatsuya, you're drinking too much!" Manager Terahara Mari said. "I already told you that you have to appear on a talk show after this dinner!"
Mari was 23 years old. His skin was fair, and his eyes were blue. Mari was of medium height with wavy, short, brown hair. She was wearing a red blouse, the blue of the band, and a red jacket, a white skirt, and red high heels.
"Shut up! Ugly freaks should mind their own business!" Tatsuya yelled.
"Ugly freak"?" The girls asked in surprise.
"Is Tatsuya drunk already or what is his problem?" Shizuka thought, then looked at the manager:
"She's really beautiful! She's sure to have plenty of admirers!"
"Hey, Tatsuya. You don't have to talk to him like that, okay?" Katsumi asked. "Mari is just doing her job as your manager".
Yamada Katsumi was 21 years old. Katsumi was a large young man with long, curly, black hair. He had a blue and red jacket, a white T-shirt, gray jeans, and black sneakers. He had a red scarf on his head, and sunglasses.
"So now you're doing your job as a drummer, huh?!" Tatsuya asked, putting the ball back on the table.
Katsumi got a little nervous.
"Mieko, you too", Tatsuya said, pouring more alcohol into his flask. "Today's performance reminded me how infuriated I am with your lousy guitar playing!"
"Sorry to keep you waiting", Sumii said bringing more food into the room.
Sumii Gō was 28 years old. Sumii had fair skin, and blue eyes. Go was a middle-aged, normal-height man with short, straight, and black hair, and he also had a mustache similar to the one inside Ran, that is, divided into two parts, and the mustache was also black. He put on his manager's uniform, which consisted of: a white shirt, a gray vest, gray jeans, and black shoes.
"Oh! We've been waiting for you for quite some time, Sumii-san", Tstsuya said. "I told our manager to make a reservation here".
"Sorry for being late. I'm always grateful you've come here", Sumii said.
"It must be a little upsetting to you that as our old band leader, you're working like this now", Tatsuya said looking around the singing room.
"The old band? Has Tatsuya ever played in another band, and was Sumii-san in that band too?" Shizuka thought.
"Shut your mouth! Eat before the food gets cold", Sumii said to Tatsuya.
Then The Red Nosed Reindeer song started playing over the speakers in the room.
"Hey, this song", Ran said.
"It's Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer", Sonoko said after recognizing the song.
"I chose this song again", Tatsuya said. "Manager-san, I just suggested it to you. It's the perfect song for you since you still believed in Santa Claus all the way back to middle school. Isn't that right, oh beautiful, stubborn manager-san?"
Mari looked irritated.
"Tatsuya is clearly mocking his manager!" Shizuka thought.
Mari stood up and walked towards the microphone stand:
"Okay, so you want me to sing it, right?"
"Hmph!" Tatsuya smiled.
"See you Tatsuya", Sumii left the room.
As Sumii closed the door to the singing room, she heard Mari singing The Red Nosed Reindeer, and Sumii's expression turned irritated.
"You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen.
But do you recall?
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names;
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.
Then one Foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say,
Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Then all the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history.
(musical interlude)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names;
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.
Then one Foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say,
Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Then all the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history", Mari sang, but looked angry at the same time.
"She sings well", Ran said looking at the manager.
"Why is Tatsuya so rude to his own band?! Huh?! Why does Tatsuya look so sad now?!" Shizuka thought after noticing that thing when Mari put the microphone back in place.
Then Tatsuya saw Shizuka looking at Tatsuya:
"Do you want to sing again?"
"I'm considering it as I can't decide on a suitable song", Shizuka said.
"Alright, and I can choose the song for you", Tatsuya said.
"Thank you", Shizuka said. "Apparently Tatsuya can be kind".
"Mieko, it's your turn to sing", Tstsuya said as Mari sat back down on the couch.
Mieko walked towards the microphone stand, took the microphone, and then began to sing Sayonara while crying:
"When I count the stars in the sky, what I realized was that kind people receive the love of the stars".
"Why is Mieko-san crying?" Shizuka asked.
"Because her song is Sayonara. That's how I say goodbye", Tatsuya ate a sandwich. "For Mieko, and for this whole band".
"Wait, Are you going to leave Lex?" Sonoko asked.
"Yeah. When this tour is over, I'll stop singing in this band", Tatsuya said. "Everyone in the band already knows that. So this means goodbye to drums, bad guitar playing, and that annoying manager!"
"T-That can't be true", Ran said.
"How will the other members of Lex be if you leave Lex?" Shizuka asked.
"They'll be allowed to fend for themselves. I think they'll be fine without me too", Tatsuya said.
Mieko sat back on the couch after putting the microphone back in its place.
Then the Bloody Venus song started playing over the speakers.
"Hey, that's my song!" Tatsuya smiled, and walked towards the microphone stand. "Who asked for this song?"
"Tatsuya, it's time to go to the studio! We're going to make it on the show", Mari said.
"Shut up! I sing when I want!" Tatsuya yelled. He took off his jacket, then put it on his shoulders.
"I guess there's nothing I can do", Mari said. He took off his coat, and put it on the couch, taking out his notebook from his coat pocket, and then left the room. "I'll call the studio and tell them we're running late".
"Here I am singing a song called 'Bloody Venus!'" Tatsuya threw his coat on the floor and began to sing:
"It's a cool guy, you are
Keep me by my side Oh Bloody Venus
I don't want to lose my love to you
Feel Me Oh Bloody Venus
Chu Chu Chu Bloody Venus
Chu Chu Chu Bloody Venus
Chu Chu Chu Bloody Venus
Chu Chu Chu Bloody Venus
It's like breaking my heart. Love is wandering
Oh Bloody Venus
The screams that run in the Darkness of Midnight
That is my soul Oh Bloody Venus
Want You Need You
Hold You Love You
Believe me, my Goddess
Take away my love for me
Love Song Singing to You Truthful Love Song
For you Oh Bloody Venus
Can't you hear it? Can't you hear it?
Oh No Crazy Love Oh Bloody Venus
The screams that run in the Darkness of Midnight
That is my soul Oh Bloody Venus
Want You Need You
Hold You Love You". ("Kimura Tatsuya sang his hit song, 'Bloody Venus'. No one believed that this would be the last time we'd hear him sing", Shizuka thought. "No one but the murderer knows that. No one else.")
Tap tap! The others clapped for Tatsuya when the song ended.
"It was awesome!" Sonoko said.
"What it was like?" Tatsuya asked sitting back on the couch after putting the microphone back in place.
"It was so brilliant!" The girls said.
"Hey, Katsumi!" Tatsuya said looking at Katsumi. "Give me one of those onigiri".
"Okay", Katsumi took one of the onigiri from the plate and threw it to Tatsuya:
"Here. Booth".
"Thank you", Tatsuya grabbed the onigiri, and ate it.
"Are you really going to leave Lex?" Sonoko asked.
"Don't worry. I'll have my solo debut right after", Tatsuya said.
"Solo debut?" Sonoko asked.
"So you're going to have a solo career", Shizuka said.
"Of course. I've even written my new song already", Tatsuya said.
"You already have", Sonoko began.
"new song?" Ran asked, continuing Sonoko's question.
"What's the name of that song?" Sonoko asked.
"Song name?" Tatsuya asked. "The name of the song will be..."
The girls looked at Tatsuya curiously.
Suddenly, Tatsuya stood up, then held his neck with a pained look:
"Aah!"
"What's wrong?!" Sonoko asked.
"Tatsuya!" Mieko exclaimed worriedly.
"Aah!" Tatsuya fell to the floor of the singing room.
"Tatsuya! Yiiiiiiik!" Mieko screamed in shock.
"Call an ambulance!" Katsumi yelled. "Quick, and call an ambulance!"
"Okay!" Ran shouted, taking the phone from her pocket, and called an ambulance.
"This smell is cyanide!" Shizuka thought as she noticed the scent of almond coming from Tatsuya thanks to her heightened senses, even though Shizuka was still sitting on the couch. "Tatsuya has been poisoned. Someone planned this before my very eyes! Who the hell was it? Was the poison in the food? It couldn't be, because we all ate the same food as Tatsuya, but we didn't touch the alcohol, so the poison can't be in the drinks either. Sonoko, Ran , and I didn't commit this crime, so it had to be either Sumii, Mieko, Katsumi, or Mari".
(Later.)
"The first suspect was the owner of the Karaoke Box, Sumii because he brought the food", Shizuka thought after listening to the policemen talking as they investigated the crime scene. "The owner used to be in the same band as Kimura Tatsuya. But Tatsuya left Sumii, and the other members of that band, and became a famous singer. It was believed that this made Sumii, who became jealous, kill Tatsuya. But Sumii was cleared of suspicion when the police realized that everyone ate the same food. And according to the investigation, the poison was found on Tatsuya's clothes, and on the microphone. Based on that, it was concluded that the poison got into Tatsuya's hand before he started eating".
"In other words, the murderer put the poison in the microphone, and indirectly got it into the victim's hand. The only person who could have done that is the person who was singing right before the victim. So it's you, Shibasaki Mieko-san!" Megure said looking with the others at Mieko. "Apparently you cried when you sang Sayonara, didn't you? Did something happen between the two of you?"
"Tatsuya didn't fend me off", Mieko shouted. "Tatsuya said 'no' but that's all!"
"Mieko", Mari said.
"When I told him about my feelings for him, Tatsuya told me this:
"Sorry, Mieko. There is someone else I like. He went somewhere, but I'll wait until he comes back. I'm waiting, I'm still waiting for him". He said that's why he couldn't date me", Mieko cried.
"So this was to get back at him for rejecting your confession of love?" Megure asked.
"No! I didn't kill him!" Mieko shouted.
"So Tatsuya-san had a crush on someone", Shizuka thought.
"Keibu-san, the song that Mieko sang was chosen by Tatsuya so that she didn't know that Mieko was going to sing, or that Tatsuya would sing after Mieko", Mari said. "There's no way Mieko put poison in the microphone!"
"That's true", Megure said.
"Hey, who chose 'Bloody Venus' that Tatsuya sang?" Shizuka asked but all the suspects shook their heads.
"Hey, I've heard that Tatsuya-san used to throw off his jacket as a sign that he was going to sing Bloody Venus", Shizuka said.
"Yes. Tatsuya always did that when the Bloody Venus song started", Ran said.
"Did the murderer use that information? Then the poison might have been in Tatsuya-san's jacket, but on the other hand, the manager, and all the members of the Lex band have similar jackets with the Lex company logo. So, maybe the killer would have switched Tatsuya's jacket to his own jacket when no one noticed that? Then Sumii-san's name can at least be removed from the list of suspects, because I don't think he has the jacket of the Lex band", Shizuka thought after realizing the matter.
"Hey Keibu-san, where was the cyanide found on Tatsuya-san's clothes?" Shizuka asked.
"I believe it was on his left sleeve", Megure said.
"What about the left sleeve of Tatsuya-san's coat?" Shizuka asked.
"No. No poison was found in it", Megure said.
"So it happened!" Shizuka thought."I figured out how the murderer poisoned Kimura Tatsuya! And the only one who could have really poisoned Tatsuya-san is one of the three who had the same coat as Tatsuya-san!"
"Keibu-san, from examining Tatsuya-san's belongings, could we find out who hated Tatsuya-san enough to poison him?" Shizuka asked.
"I've already sent some police officers to search Tatsuya-san's belongings. They'll bring Tatsuya-san's belongings here soon", Megure said.
Shizuka nodded, and before long before Mieko:
"Hey, Mieko-san. That manager had a fight with Tatsuya-san, but did they always fight?"
Shizuka looked at the manager who was currently talking to a police officer.
"Yes. They argued all the time", Mieko said. "And Tatsuya always started a fight. But the manager is not as bad a person as Tatsuya always said. The manager is smart, hardworking, and beautiful. No one else said anything bad about him".
"Excuse me, but did Tatsuya-san have another reason to start a solo career?" Shizuka asked.
"I don't know exactly, but Tatsuya started talking about starting a solo career out of the blue", Mieko said. "Katsumi didn't like that".
"Alright. What do you think of Sumii-san?" Shizuka asked.
"He's a kind person. According to Tatsuya, he played in Tatsuya's previous band before Sumii-san started this Karaoke Box house, and before Tatsuya started Lex. Tatsuya, and Sumii-san remained friends even after they stopped playing in their previous band. Tatsuya has reportedly known the manager for a long time", Mieko said.
"Thank you", Shizuka walked over to Megure's side as Megure stood in front of Sumii's desk.
"Megure Keibu!" A policeman put a cardboard box with many papers on Sumi's desk. Some papers had sheet music.
"Huh, what is it?" Megure asked.
"These things were in Kimura Tatsuya-san's office cabinet", Police said.
"Hmm, there don't seem to be any leads here", Megure took some papers out of the cardboard box, and accidentally dropped one of the band photos on Sumii's desk.
"Photo? Looks like a band photo", Shizuka said looking at the photo.
There were 3 men and one woman in the picture. The man with the blond hair was clearly Tatsuya.
The man playing the drums looked like Sumi.
The woman had long, brown hair, fair skin, blue eyes, a slightly big nose, and freckles on her face. He was tall, and thin. He was wearing a purple top, jeans, black shoes, and like Tatsuya, he was playing the guitar. He had gray shoes on his feet and was about the age of Tatsuya's Manager.
Sumii played the drums, and the third man played the electric organ.
"Heh heh! How nostalgic!" Sumii said looking at the band photo and picked it up. "It's a picture of the band when I was still a member, and before Tatsuya became a pro. But there's only Tatsuya left in the music world, and the other person in this picture who's here now".
"Wasn't Tatsuya-san the only one who left this band?" Shizuka asked.
"It wasn't. See? I'm talking about that woman over there", Sumii whispered Shizuka looking at Tatsuya's manager, and the other members of Lex. "Tatsuya said he couldn't leave the band without that person".
"But Tatsuya's manager isn't in this picture", Shizuka said looking at the same people Sumii was looking at.
"Yes, she is in this picture. Mari looked like the woman in this picture who plays the guitar in this picture. However, those times have changed a lot", Sumii pointed to the woman in the photo.
"Could it be that Mari-san really is the woman in that picture? Why does she look so different now? Wait a minute! Has Mari-san ever had cosmetic surgery?" Shizuka thought.
"However, I think this is too much of a change", Sumii said.
"There are some words behind the picture!" Shizuka thought as she saw the words written behind the photo.
"Can I look at that picture again?" Shizuka asked, and Sumii gave the picture to Shizuka. Shizuka turned the picture the other way, and saw the song written behind it:
"I Want to Communicate to Your True Self".
"So it happened!" Shizuka thought. "But if this is true, what a sad case this is!"
"Sumii-san, was Tatsuya-san the type who isn't very good at expressing his feelings?" Shizuka asked.
"Yes it was", Sumii said.
"Do you know who this song is about?" Shizuka asked putting the photo back on the table.
"Yes I know. That song is about Tatsuya's manager, Terahara Mari. You see, after Tatsuya made a lot of money after starting his band Lex, Mari had cosmetic surgery to make her nose smaller and remove the freckles on her face. That's why Mari looks like so different from that photo", Sumii said.
"Thank you. I will speak to Kudō Shizuka, and tell her about this incident. Could you arrange the singing room to the same condition as it was before Tatsuya's death? Do you have an overhead projector, and a video camera with a tripod? If so, could you please bring the overhead projector, and the video camera, and that footstool for the singing room as well, because I think Shizuka-san wants to show you something later?" Shizuka asked. "Could you take that photo to the singing room too?"
"Okay", Sumii said.
(Later)
Shizuka was in the toilet of the Tokyo Police Station, and created a copy of herself, and then turned into Azure Red, and returned to the Karaoke Box, and stood on the roof of that building, and a tablet computer attached to the mesh fence of the roof appeared in front of her, through which it was possible to talk to the people in the singing room. Then 2 cassette recorders appeared in his hand. Next, he took his phone out of his pocket, and called Megure.
"Did anything work out, Keibu-san?" Shizuka's clone asked as she came from the police station restroom to Megure's office where her friends were with the suspects and other police officers.
"Not for now", Megure said.
Cheers cheers! Megure's phone rang and she picked up the receiver:
"Evening. Megure here".
"Long time, Megure Keibu. Here I am, Kudō Shizuka", Shizuka began. "Irene-chan told me about the death of Kimura Tatsuya, which you are currently investigating. After thinking about the situation, I found out who murdered Tatsuya-san".
"Huh?! Did you realize who the murderer is?!" Megure asked. "What do you mean?"
"Now go back to the crime scene with the suspects and my friends, and tell me name of the murderer for you", Shizuka said.
"Got it", Megure hung up the phone, putting the receiver back in place. "The interrogation can wait for now! We're taking everyone back to the crime scene!"
(Later)
Shizuka's clone was with the girls, and Megure in the police car as they headed back to the crime scene with the suspects, and the police.
The sun had already set, and there were stars, and clouds, and the moon in the sky.
"Did something happen?" Ran asked.
"He's back!" Megure said.
"Him"?" Ran asked.
"A detective you know well, Ran-kun", Megure said. "It's Kudō Shizuka".
"Huh?!" Ran, and Sonoko were surprised.
"I called Shizuka-san earlier and told her what really happened to Tatsuya-san, because Sumii-san told me something interesting, after hearing that Shizuka-san told me that she figured out who murdered Tatsuya-san", Shizuka the copy said.
"Really? Did Shizuka tell you the name of the murderer?" Ran asked.
"No, but Tatsuya-san had angered the murderer before", Shizuka said.
(Later)
"What did Shizuka tell Irene-chan?!" Ran thought as she opened the door to Karaoke Box's singing room:
"Shizuka, what did you tell Irene-chan?!"
Shizuka turned on another tape recorder and it started playing the Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer song from the speakers in the singing room.
"Welcome everyone", Shizuka said. "I am honored that you all took the trouble to gather here".
"Where are you, Shizuka?!" Ran asked.
"That's not important now, what's important now is finding out what exactly happened to Tatsuya-san in the room you're in now", Shizuka said.
"Kudō Shizuka must be spying on us with this camera", Sonoko said looking at the video camera in the room.
"Sonoko, let me talk to her", Ran said looking at the camera. "Where are you, Shizuka?!"
"Now just focus on listening", Shizuka said.
"Shizuka!" Ran shouted.
"But what is this song that has been playing since we got here?" Megure asked.
"It's 'Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer', Megure Keibu. It's the song that's heard around town at Christmas time, and it's also the song that evokes the feelings of anger in Tatsuya-san's murder. In other words, the murderer is the person that Tatsuya- san requested this song. That's right. The person who killed Tatsuya-san is you, his manager, Terahara Mari-san!" Shizuka said.
"The manager killed Tatsuya?!" Katsumi asked.
"I don't believe it!" Mieko said.
"Heh heh! Stop kidding!" Mari said. "When Tatsuya collapsed, I was talking on the phone outside this room".
"You could have poisoned Tatsuya-san without even being in the room, as long as you got him to sing this song", Shizuka turned off the tape recorder, and turned on the other tape recorder, now playing the Bloody Venus song.
"This is Tatsuya's hit 'Bloody Venus'", Mieko said after recognizing the song.
"Mari-san, why don't you sing it for us?"Shizuka asked. "There's also a microphone there, which is part of the reason you returned to the crime scene. Of course, there's no poison in the microphone in that room".
"Fine. I'll sing it if it makes you happy", Mari walked behind the microphone stand.
"Please wait", Shizuka turned off the music:
"Why don't you take off your coat? Tatsuya-san always took off his coat when he sang this song to let others know that he was going to sing this song, right? It's true, isn't it?"
"Yeah", Katsumi said.
"Alright, so try singing this song again, acting like Tatsuya-san when he sang that song", Shizuka restarted the tape recorder. "Please. Also, don't forget to make gestures for this song the same way Tatsya-san did while singing".
Mari threw off the coat on her shoulders, and the coat fell to the floor of the singing room as Mari began to sing Bloody Venus:
"It's a cool guy, you are
Keep me by my side Oh Bloody Venus
I don't want to lose my love to you
Feel Me Oh Bloody Venus
Chu Chu Chu Bloody Venus
Chu Chu Chu Bloody Venus
Chu Chu Chu Bloody Venus
Chu Chu Chu Bloody Venus
It's like breaking my heart. Love is wandering
Oh Bloody Venus
The screams that run in the Darkness of Midnight
That is my soul Oh Bloody Venus
Want You Need You
Hold You Love You
Believe me, my Goddess
Take away my love for me
Love Song Singing to You Truthful Love Song
For you Oh Bloody Venus
Can't you hear it? Can't you hear it?
Oh No Crazy Love Oh Bloody Venus
The screams that run in the Darkness of Midnight
That is my soul Oh Bloody Venus
Want You Need You
Hold You Love You".
"He's awesome!" Ran said.
"Of course", Sumii said. "Mari also sang in my old band".
"Was there a manager in your old band?!" Ran asked.
"Indeed. Sumii-san mentioned it to me before we went to the police station", Shizuka's clone said.
"Well, are you satisfied?" Mari asked after she finished singing.
Shizuka turned off the tape recorder:
"Yes. Well, why don't you eat the food here?"
"Is it this the food?" Megure removed the cloth on the table, and under it was the exact same meal that Tatsuya had eaten before Tatsuya was murdered.
"Irene-chan told me that Tatsuya-san ate exactly that kind of food before he was murdered", Shizuka said. "Choose whatever you like. Only if you can eat it".
"I refuse", Mari said, walking to the front of the table. "Think about it. When Tatsuya collapsed, I touched his jacket when I entered this room! He had poison in his hand then, and on his clothes, so it could have gotten to me too!"
"Keibu, examine the jacket that Mari-san recently threw on the floor before she sang Bloody Venus", Shizuka said.
"Jacket?" Megure asked looking at the coat in question.
"The jacket is the same one I wore before! I put it on after I noticed Tatsuya collapsed on the floor of this room!" Mari shouted as Megure examined Mari's coat. "If there is poison in it, then it cannot be used as evidence".
"I daresay", Shizuka said.
"Huh?!" Mari was surprised.
"Lighter!" Megure shouted as he found the lighter in Mari's coat pocket, which Megure now held in the handkerchief in his right hand.
"Just yes", Shizuka said.
"Ah!" Mari was startled.
"It's probably Tatsuya-san's lighter, because from what I've heard, Tatsuya-san's manager doesn't smoke. Like I said, it's Tatsuya-san's lighter that disappeared from the crime scene earlier. In other words, that jacket isn't Mari-san's jacket. In order to get get rid of the evidence Mari-san changed her own jacket to Tatsuya-san's! The manager did it when no one noticed", Shizuka said.
The others were surprised.
"The manager applied poison to the inside of the left sleeve of Tatsuya-san's jacket beforehand. Tatsuya-san put it on his elbow so it would get on the shirt underneath when Tatsuya-san put his jacket on. The manager then had to make Tatsuya-san sing 'Bloody Venus'. When Tatsuya-san was making gestures for the song, he threw off his jacket, and his right hand then touched his left elbow, thus poison got into his hand, and if he ate anything afterwards, he would be poisoned to death. That's what happened when Tatsuya-san ate the onigiri he got from Katsumi-san. Then when the manager came to the crime scene, the manager put Tatsuya-san's coat over his, and put his own coat over Tatsuya-san to hide the poison", Shizuka said.
"But why did the manager kill Tatsuya?" Mieko asked.
"Manager's motive is that photo on the table. That photo was taken when Tatsuya-san played in his old band with the owner of this Karaoke Box, Sumii-san. Manager also played in that band. Keibu, put that photo on the overhead projector, and turn on the overhead projector", Shizuka said.
Megure did as Shizuka advised, then looked like the others at the picture of Tatsuya's previous Band that appeared on the wall of the room:
"What's this supposed to mean? Sumii-san, and Tatsuya-san are the only familiar people in this picture".
"Actually, the manager is also in that picture, and he's standing just to the right of Tatsuya-san. The manager is the woman in that picture, playing the guitar", Shizuka said. "When you were examining Tatsuya-san's stuff before, that picture fell out of the stuff and Irene-chan saw it. Sumii-san then told Irene-chan that Mari-san is the woman in that photo playing the guitar".
"Really?!" Megure asked looking at the woman in the picture in surprise.
"Of course. That photo shows the Manager's motive for murdering Tatsuya-san. Sumii-san told Irene-chan another thing about that photo. You see, after Tatsuya-san made a lot of money after starting his band Lex, Mari-san had cosmetic surgery, where her nose was made smaller, and where the freckles on her face were removed. That's why Mari-san looks so different now than in that photo", Shizuka said.
"Is that so?" Megure asked looking at the manager curiously.
"Yes. I did have cosmetic surgery, but I did it for Tatsuya", Mari finally confessed.
Everyone looked at Maria in surprise.
"I loved Tatsuya when we played in the same band. When he decided to form Lex, he told me one thing. I was happy to hear Tatsuya's words, because I felt that it was his way of responding to my feelings. However, I was afraid that I would lose Tatsuya to other women. That's why I went for cosmetic surgery. Tatsuya liked me however, we make fun of it after that", Mari said. "I've loved Tatsuya ever since we played together in the same band. That's why when he left to become a professional singer, Tatsuya told me this:
"Mari, come with me. Even if you're my manager, that's fine". I was so happy when he told me that. I thought he might love me too. Like I said, I was afraid of losing Tatsuya to other women. That's why I had cosmetic surgery. I wanted to to be the right woman for him. As soon as I got back from cosmetic surgery, her attitude suddenly changed. He always called me ugly, and made fun of me. He had me singing 'Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer' even then!"
"So that's what Tatsuya meant by choosing that song for you?" Katsumi asked.
"Tatsuya made fun of me when I was his manager. I love him so much! That's why I couldn't forgive him!" Mari said.
"You're wrong, Mari-san. I believe that Tatsuya-san loved you", Shizuka said.
"Don't mock me!" Mari shouted.
"Mari, Kudō is right", Sumii said. "Keibu-san, may I have that photo?"
Megure gave the photo to Sumie, who gave the photo to Mari.
"This is a love song to show that Tatsuya loved you for a long time", Sumii said to Mari.
"This is a lie!" Mari said after reading the song behind the picture.
"It's not a lie", Sumii said:
"These are the lyrics to the next song that Tatsuya was going to release. Tatsuya always said this about you:
"Why does Mari care so much about appearance? Why is it so important to Mari what other people think? Why did she change her face because of me?"
"Did Tatsuya really always say that about me?" Mari cried.
"Tatsuya couldn't tell you his feelings directly. Tatsuya was the type who isn't very good at expressing his feelings, but even though your Cosmetic surgery made Tatsuya furious, so he loved you deeply. If he was mad at you for anything , it was because you are so what matters is what others think. Tatsuya didn't like your decision to get Cosmetic surgery because he thought you were already beautiful the way you were before you got Cosmetic surgery. Mari, Tatsuya was psychologically and emotionally broken, when he found out that you had Cosmetic surgery to look beautiful in Tatsuya's eyes, even though you looked good already before Cosmetic surgery, so Tatsuya never forgave you for your decision to get Cosmetic surgery and for that he would never have asked you to change. Tatsuya decided to punish you and himself by verbally abusing you as he secretly wrote that love song for you. Tatsuya loved you for regardless your decision to undergo Cosmetic surgery season, and he punished himself for not being able to tell you about his feelings. When Tatsuya secretly wrote that love song for you without the others knowing, it would have been his first solo song".
"T-That can't be true", Mari said.
"I see. So the manager was the woman Tatsuya rejected me for", Mieko thought.
"Tatsuya was rude to you guys because the label forced him to pursue a solo career so he didn't want you to miss him after he left Lexi", Sumii said to Katsumi and Mieko.
"Tatsuya, Tatsuya! Tatsuya!" Mari fell to the floor crying, and dropped the photo on the floor as well.
"Mari-san, I'm a little jealous of you, because Tatsuya-san saw you as beautiful as you were even before you even had cosmetic surgery. In fact, I'm a little jealous even of fairy tale princesses. They usually just have to wait for their their princes will find them, no matter how long they have to wait for their princes. It didn't happen to me at one point, which is why I realized that I have to find my own prince", Shizuka said.
"Why are you talking like that, or have you already found the man of your dreams?" Sonoko asked.
"Well a boy has 'piqued' my interest, but I haven't told him my feelings yet", Shizuka said.
Shizuka looked at the moon:
"The misunderstanding that came from a young man who couldn't admit his feelings and a girl who hid her true self ended in sadness. As she cried, and as her tears fell, the picture in the middle of the floor laughed sadly".
Shizuka's copy disappeared and she walked down the fire escape and into the Karaoke Box looking at Mari sadly.
(Later)
Shizuka sat with Ran and Sonoko in Sonoko's room until Sonoko and Ran looked away and Shizuka's necklace glowed and gift bags appeared on Sonoko's bed with the girls' and Shizuka's pseudonyms on them.
"What are those?" Shizuka asked.
The girl opened the presents to see the gloves.
"I guess they're Christmas gifts for us from Shizuka-san", Shizuka said.
Sonoko and Ran were surprised.