Chapter 148
Shiratori Ninzaburo was organizing materials at the investigation headquarters when his phone suddenly vibrated.
He looked and saw it was an unknown number, answering in confusion: "Hello?"
"Officer... I'm a nurse under Dr. Omuro... I heard you're investigating Miss Fukasawa and her brother?"
Shiratori Ninzaburo had been somewhat drowsy, but hearing this, he immediately perked up: "Yes, do you have any intelligence you're willing to provide?"
That attending physician was stubborn as a mule, and they felt they really couldn't get anything important from him. Miss Fukasawa, being a mental patient confined in a hospital, probably didn't know anything either, so they hadn't wasted much time at the hospital during the day, just briefly inquired about the situation before leaving.
Now suddenly someone other than those they'd questioned was contacting them—generally speaking, this definitely meant big news! So they couldn't speak on hospital grounds and could only secretly call in private!
The nurse hesitated before saying: "Miss Fukasawa escaped again today."
Shiratori Ninzaburo thought this was to report to police, asking them to help find her.
They could just call the police hotline directly—why call him specifically... wait.
Shiratori Ninzaburo suddenly realized something, his grip on the phone tightening as he urgently asked: "I remember she's escaped before, right?"
"Yes."
"Has she only escaped once?"
"No, this is what I felt I should tell you..." the nurse said hesitantly. "Actually, she seems to sneak out frequently. I can't confirm how many times, but since she basically always comes back on her own, the hospital..."
Shiratori Ninzaburo was shocked: "She's mentally ill! Can't you be more responsible?!"
"We're not a psychiatric hospital. Having her stay here is more to prevent her from harming herself and provide timely treatment. We can't forcibly confine her." The nurse defended herself. "Besides, the doctors and administration have discussed this several times, and everyone feels there's no need to call police..."
Because once police were called, it meant someone needed to take responsibility, followed by nothing but trouble.
So for such matters, as long as no consequences resulted, everyone preferred to maintain appearances and pretend ignorance.
Shiratori Ninzaburo could generally understand this logic but was still angry: "You people really are..."
Since he still needed to extract information from the nurse, Shiratori Ninzaburo swallowed his reproach and forced himself to calm down.
"May I ask when she generally leaves the hospital?"
"Around the second weekend of each month... And at the end of last month, after receiving news of her brother's death, her condition obviously worsened. She even had another incident of hurting someone—held a utility knife to my throat, saying... if she killed someone, her brother would definitely come help her destroy the evidence!"
Shiratori Ninzaburo shot to his feet.
The second weekend of each month! Exactly when "Strawberry Night" was held!
The killer in the videos was thoroughly covered, wearing a helmet, so cruelly torturing living people to death that they'd all subconsciously assumed it must be a man, but if it was actually Fukasawa Yukari...!!!
Obviously, someone around Miss Fukasawa was helping her escape the hospital, letting her kill people then bringing her back, probably also doing basic cleanup so Miss Fukasawa wouldn't be discovered covered in blood.
But even with cleanup, if the nurses caring for her closely were perceptive enough, they'd still notice traces, just normally wouldn't think in other directions—they'd assume Miss Fukasawa was harming herself again and the blood was her own.
But after several police officers went to the hospital today asking about Miss Fukasawa, probably not everyone questioned would keep it completely secret. If word got out, people who'd only had some doubts might instantly connect the dots.
This nurse was probably just such a case—unlike the uncooperative attending physician, she was the type who was very proactive and would definitely tell police of any suspected clues.
Considering she'd had a utility knife held to her throat and nearly lost her life, she certainly wouldn't consider the hospital's position anymore. This level of cooperation was very understandable.
"I understand. Thank you for your help. I'll investigate immediately and definitely bring the real culprit to justice!"
Shiratori Ninzaburo hung up and immediately went to find his superior Inspector Megure: "Inspector! I have a lead! That Fukasawa sister might be the killer in 'Strawberry Night'!"
Inspector Megure was startled: "Really? Is there evidence?"
Shiratori Ninzaburo quickly explained the situation to Inspector Megure.
After listening carefully, Inspector Megure asked: "Where is Miss Fukasawa now?"
Shiratori Ninzaburo: "..."
Right, where was she? Today wasn't the second weekend of this month, and with the "Strawberry Night" incident causing such a commotion, the perpetrator shouldn't be brazen enough to commit crimes against the wind, right?
What was the purpose of specifically having Miss Fukasawa go out tonight?
This question could be answered by Usuha Izuki, who was in the abandoned building.
Kitami Hitoshi's acting was actually decent, but in Usuha Izuki's eyes it was full of holes. Even with shadows obscuring his expression, Usuha Izuki could tell Kitami Hitoshi's attention was behind him.
Usuha Izuki had long sensed someone standing behind him, but since he felt no danger and was confident he'd have the upper hand even in close combat, he hadn't paid much attention to their approach.
He'd even guessed Kitami Hitoshi's plan and found it somewhat boring.
Against ordinary people, this trick might be somewhat useful, but against him, it was truly like child's play.
But unexpectedly, the person slowly approaching from behind showed no intention of making a move, actually walking directly into the flashlight's illuminated area.
Usuha Izuki was puzzled: "?"
Kitami Hitoshi completely lost it: "F! What are you doing?!"
F—Miss Fukasawa, wearing work clothes and holding a knife, stood there woodenly, looking at Kitami Hitoshi, then tilting her head to look at Usuha Izuki.
Why would Fukasawa help Kitami Hitoshi destroy evidence? Of course, because the killer was Fukasawa's mentally ill sister.
When Usuha Izuki saw Miss Fukasawa, he realized she was the killer. People who'd killed were really obvious to him, but compared to Miss Fukasawa, he wanted the mastermind Kitami Hitoshi to pay the price.
If only Miss Fukasawa was caught, as a mental patient, even if she implicated Kitami Hitoshi, under Police Superintendent Kitami's manipulation, it might be invalidated. So Usuha Izuki pretended ignorance, left the hospital, and planned to continue targeting Kitami Hitoshi.
But this Kitami Hitoshi guy was truly inhuman—unable to find a proper assassin, he had a mentally ill girl continue helping him with such things, planning to silence her afterward...
Usuha Izuki spoke mockingly: "Kitami, is this your trump card?"
Kitami Hitoshi ignored Usuha Izuki, still trying to persuade Fukasawa Yukari: "Didn't anyone tell you what to do next before you came? Kill him! Do it! If you don't kill him, we're both finished!"
He didn't think there was anything wrong with ordering Fukasawa Yukari around.
Fukasawa Yukari, possibly due to being mentally ill, was stronger than many men. And today she wasn't wearing the performance costume and helmet used to disguise her identity and build, revealing a pitiful face. Even if Fukasawa Yukari really attacked Samukawa Shinryu, as long as he still wanted to be a police officer, his counterattack probably wouldn't be too heavy, mainly focusing on subduing her.
Seeing Fukasawa Yukari not moving, Kitami Hitoshi said to Samukawa Shinryu: "I heard from Shiratori that you also went to the hospital today and saw Yukari? Isn't she pitiful? I think she's pitiful too. If you insist on making this case big, what will happen to this child? Her parents and brother are all dead—only I can continue paying her hospital fees!"
Though claiming Fukasawa Yukari was pitiful, Kitami Hitoshi didn't actually consider her weak.
Because when he first met Fukasawa Yukari, one of his friends had killed Fukasawa Yukari's friend, and Fukasawa Yukari came for revenge, cleanly killing his friend with one knife right in front of him—his first time disposing of a body was because of this. At that time, brother Fukasawa had rushed over to help his sister and him dispose of it together.
Fortunately, that dead friend was truly just a casual acquaintance from a different circle, so no one came looking when he disappeared.
But it was precisely because he was shocked by the image of Fukasawa Yukari slitting that throat, feeling like he'd escaped death, that Kitami Hitoshi evolved into a true pervert, wanting to experience more. So he negotiated with Fukasawa Yukari—he'd provide the stage, Fukasawa Yukari would handle the killing.
Fukasawa Yukari didn't care. She just wanted to see blood, to confirm she was still human, still alive, so she killed repeatedly while her brother repeatedly helped her clean up...
But now, she'd found another path.
Today at the hospital, she'd seen this dark-haired, red-eyed youth for the first time. Just one glance filled her with incomparable terror, as if she'd die the next second.
And when he looked away, for the first time she felt what Kitami Hitoshi had once described—the feeling of "being glad to be alive after narrowly escaping death."
No need to hurt herself anymore, no need to see blood anymore. This person—just being watched by this person... she could feel she was still alive.
When brought to the building, Fukasawa Yukari was still somewhat dazed, only knowing she was supposed to kill someone, not expecting to see that youth she'd met only once.
How could she possibly attack him? He was her source for perceiving her own life. If she killed him... huh? Killed...
Fukasawa Yukari's ears vaguely heard someone speaking.
"Kill... dead... if she... F... killed..."
Right, F was calling her—she was here to kill someone.
Fukasawa Yukari's brain hadn't thought much for a long time, as this helped her escape reality. Now hearing these keywords, she only subconsciously felt she should indeed kill someone.
Since Kitami Hitoshi had a gun, he wasn't particularly panicked and was still confident that when fighting broke out, F would help him.
Mental patients couldn't be held to too high standards, so while chatting with Samukawa Shinryu, he called to Fukasawa Yukari, having her remember what she came to do.
Finally, Kitami Hitoshi found an opportunity and used his flashlight to try blinding Samukawa Shinryu's eyes.
Samukawa Shinryu raised his hand to block the light, instinctively stepping back. Kitami Hitoshi decisively fired while quickly moving to the seemingly still-dazed Fukasawa Yukari's side, calling: "F! Stop daydreaming! Kill—"
He suddenly felt something cold on his neck, then couldn't speak anymore.
Kitami Hitoshi stared in shock at the blood suddenly spraying before him, taking a second to understand what happened.
...F had attacked him?
Why? Why not go kill Samukawa Shinryu? Hadn't they always cooperated pleasantly?!
Kitami Hitoshi clutched his neck, staggering to his knees, not lasting a few seconds before collapsing entirely.
Samukawa Shinryu walked to his side, pulled Fukasawa Yukari away, then knelt on one knee beside him, helping press the continuously bleeding wound.
"Your plan was full of holes." Samukawa Shinryu said softly, as if afraid to disturb the quiet night. "Truly disappointing—no fun at all... Though I should have known when you went looking for someone you'd only met once to introduce an assassin that you really had no trump cards."
Kitami Hitoshi's vision was already blurring. Possibly due to adrenaline secreted before death causing a final surge, his hearing became much more acute—he seemed to hear even dust hitting the ground clearly.
That damn detective—hadn't he promised not to tell Samukawa Shinryu any more intelligence about him...
Kitami Hitoshi thought in his fading consciousness, suddenly noticing something wrong.
Wait, this tone... completely unlike Samukawa Shinryu...
Kitami Hitoshi forced his eyes wide, trying to see the person beside him clearly, but could see nothing. He could only use his last strength to voice a barely audible question.
"...You... detective..."
"Since you're about to die, consider this free intelligence."
That person said: "Thanks for wanting to support my business, but this isn't about money. I promised not to tell others, but I already knew myself—I can't help that!"
Kitami Hitoshi: "...!!!"
Actually... the same person... he'd asked that person how to kill that very person... Ha, hahaha... he was such a joke... how could he be so stupid... why didn't he realize despite meeting both of them... what acting ability...
This guy wasn't any information broker or detective, couldn't even be an ordinary yakuza member. To enter the police force in that guise without anyone noticing... this guy was a top-tier con artist!!!
This person's sophisticated entertainment, initiative, and acting ability were completely beyond his reach, yet he'd thought he could compete—pure delusion...
Damn it, he'd wanted to boast about his plan to Samukawa Shinryu before the latter's death, making him die with regrets, but now it was completely reversed.
Making him suddenly realize before death that he was even more of a clown than imagined... so frustrating...
Kitami Hitoshi stared wide-eyed and stopped breathing.
System: [You annoyed him to death.]
Usuha Izuki: [His major artery was cut—dying is normal. What does it have to do with me? I just felt letting such a person die too comfortably would make me uncomfortable.]
System: [...Just to add insult to injury before his death, you even told him this...]
[Though Kitami Hitoshi treated me this way, I actually trust him greatly and believe he absolutely won't tell anyone.]
[Of course not! He's dead!!!]
The system was speechless. If you said Usuha Izuki was careful, he'd kept things hidden so long yet directly told someone, but if you said he was bold, he only told someone about to die, and the purpose was to make them die faster from anger...
Though feeling Kitami Hitoshi wouldn't leave evidence against him, Usuha Izuki had still searched Kitami Hitoshi thoroughly while pretending to provide first aid, confirming no recording devices.
Now that he was thoroughly dead, Usuha Izuki took out his phone and began calling: "Inspector Megure, I've wrapped things up here. There was a small accident... Hm? Miss Fukasawa? She's right here with me."
Fukasawa Yukari was now staring blankly from a corner, seemingly unconcerned that police would soon come arrest her.
Inspector Megure asked worriedly: "How are you two?"
They'd just discussed and all felt Fukasawa Yukari might be going to kill Samukawa Shinryu. Given Samukawa Shinryu's style of toying with criminals...
Usuha Izuki: "We're both fine, but Kitami is dead."
Several gasps came from the other end simultaneously.
Inspector Megure had been told by Samukawa Shinryu that the mastermind was Kitami Hitoshi, and tonight was to set a trap for evidence, so he'd cooperated. Hearing this report, he couldn't help thinking in horror:
—Had Samukawa Shinryu finally failed to control his strength and killed the criminal?!