Original subtitles

On the night of Christmas Eve,

my father was murdered by someone.

The person arrested as the primary suspect

was Tomoya Endo.

Tomoya was the son of Rikiro Endo, a man who received the death penalty

for murdering a family 22 years ago in Higashikayama.

However…

Mr. Yamashita left an envelope with me.

TO KOMUGI

The letter my father left to me spoke of false accusations.

I'm proud to call you my daughter.

This letter was written by my father.

I trusted my father's letter

and sought to uncover the truth alongside a lawyer named Matsukaze.

But then…

My aunt and I are not related by blood?

You're not your father's real daughter.

Is the father I put my trust in not my actual father?

If so, then…

who even am I?

It can't be.

And you know what my mind went to?

The only survivor of the Higashikayama incident,

less than a year old at the time,

Uta Hayashikawa.

Do you think it's just a coincidence

that you are the same age as her?

Please don't move things along based purely on speculation.

-Sorry? -Is this DNA test report credible?

-Credible? -What about Komugi's DNA?

How did you get it?

Your father--

GREEN TEA

"I'm obliged to keep it confidential."

Here.

Okay then, I'll send you the documents tomorrow.

RELATIONSHIP CHART

Why did Mr. Yamashita leave that letter with Someda?

Yes, why would he give it to a ramen stall owner?

Akisada, go and tail Someda.

What?

I'm still not sold on this letter being from Mr. Yamashita.

Understood.

Also,

check if Someda is clean.

Clean? You want to check for a criminal record?

Go home for today.

-No, I'm sorry-- -Make me a promise.

Just get some rest. Don't go and meet someone.

We'll decide what to do tomorrow.

Can you promise that?

I'll try my best.

Try your best?

You're definitely going to go somewhere, aren't you?

Now listen up.

Head straight home.

Got it?

Your answer? Yes?

Yes.

I'm worried about Komugi.

Well, yes.

Also, are those glasses new?

-Where did you get them? -From an old guy in Asakusa.

Oh, an old guy, huh?

But still, man, that Kamii guy had a DNA test done?

That's so not cool.

I'll hand them over as a reward.

The documents.

HAND HIM THE DOCUMENTS

And? Will you get the documents in question?

He said he would send them today, but who knows how far we can trust him?

I wonder what these documents are.

So where's that old guy's shop?

Hey, where?

Near the station?

I am…

me, right?

Dad…

Komugi.

Dad?

Maybe what I thought was a peacock

wasn't actually one at all.

Komugi?

Komugi.

What's wrong?

Ms. Kyoko.

Thank you for waiting.

That's cute.

Please enjoy.

I know, right?

I saw this place on TV a while back,

and I really wanted to visit at least once.

But I felt reluctant to come here all alone as an old lady.

It's so cute.

It's tough to decide where to start eating these, right?

What?

It's so good!

You don't want to eat?

Ms. Kyoko.

What's wrong?

You've really started to look like your mother.

Do I really resemble…

my father and mother?

What?

When we were looking at those pictures before,

you said I was starting to look like my mother.

Yes.

You look just like Shizuka when you laugh.

I'm sorry.

It's just, this part of you is also just like her.

She was a big worrywart too.

Your face right now is identical to hers.

Also,

you take after your father with your conviction and levelheadedness.

Thank you.

Now, you eat some too.

It's really good.

Okay.

Okay, I have it. Thanks.

WEEKLY JIDAI

Yes? Kamii speaking.

Right now?

Okay. Thank you for your cooperation.

SEND

EMAIL - TAKASHI KAMII

GLAD YOU ENJOYED MY PRESENT HERE'S THE DOCUMENT

It's here.

-From Kamii? -Yes.

INTERVIEW

KIMURA

Let me know if you need another item from our catalog.

Right, maybe I'll get a newer toilet as well.

I'll have it prepared.

Oh, Komugi.

It must have been cold outside.

You're renovating?

I certainly am!

Say, what color do you think I should go with?

Aunt Natsumi, you must already have an idea

of why I came here, don't you?

What's with the scary face?

Well, let's see.

The thing that comes to mind is the DNA test I cooperated with.

I heard from the reporter.

So you really aren't Haruo's child.

Do you really think that's true?

Yes.

I am…

my father's daughter!

I can understand why you'd want to say that.

But let me ask you.

Do you think you know everything about Haruo?

Even if it's a parent, a child, or a sibling,

it's impossible to know everything about someone.

You understand that, right? You're smart, after all.

Unfortunately, it just all made sense.

What?

Your mother had a uterine disease that made childbirth a difficult prospect.

See? You didn't know that, did you?

Then suddenly, I heard that she had gotten pregnant.

She didn't show herself once during that period,

and then you were born.

I don't know where you came from,

but I imagine Shizuka just couldn't give up.

Poor thing.

Since you don't have any Yamashita blood in you,

I'll be looking after Haruo's money.

You get it, don't you?

You're smart, after all.

How delicious.

Drink your tea before it gets cold.

Good.

I'm sorry.

I deeply regret what I've done to you, Tomoya.

What exactly are you apologizing for?

That voice…

I'm the one who killed Haruo Yamashita.

Tomoya Endo?

I'm asking you what the hell you're apologizing for!

With who?

I've wronged both Rikiro and Mr. Hayashikawa as well.

And what will you do about it?

Who is he talking to?

Haruo Yamashita?

HARUO YAMASHITA

Komugi.

What are you doing out here?

Came to meet your aunt, perhaps?

What did she say?

It has nothing to do with you.

What kind of person was Haruo Yamashita in your eyes?

He must have been a good father to you.

Might not have been as good of a person to others though.

What do you even know about my father?

Let me ask you. What do youeven know about your father?

I…

trust my father.

When he's not even your real father?

Well?

Don't you want to know the truth?

Do a good job guiding me to the forest, won't you?

My little Komugi.

REGRETS WHAT HE DID

I've wronged both Rikiro and Mr. Hayashikawa as well.

And what will you do about it?

I'll borrow Mr. Kamii's help, and I'll disclose everything.

Really?

Disclose everything? But what exactly?

I have no idea.

Also, was it Kamii that got Tomoya Endo and Haruo to meet?

I have no idea about that either.

STATEMENT OF RESULTS COMBINED RELATIONSHIP INDEX: LESS THAN 0.1

Teru?

I'm a bit hungry, so I'm going out to eat.

Where?

Here you go.

Thank you for the call.

A token of my appreciation.

-But you already gave me some last time. -Please, feel free.

Although, if I ever need something again in the future,

I'd appreciate your cooperation.

Of course.

I'm very grateful.

Excuse me.

Welcome, Attorney. Is it just you?

-Yes. -Have a seat.

Can I have some shoyu ramen?

Sure thing.

RAMEN

-Here you go. -Thank you.

It really is so good!

It was great. Thanks for the meal.

Glad to hear it.

Could I ask you a few questions?

About Komugi?

No. It's about the letter from Mr. Yamashita, actually.

If there's anything you know.

I've already told the police about it several times,

but after Komugi left early that night,

Mr. Yamashita started writing that letter.

It was Christmas Eve, so I thought maybe it would go with a present.

Mr. Someda, could you hold on to this for me?

Sure thing.

Could you hand it over to Komugi next time she comes here?

Not a problem, sir.

What's the deal? Too embarrassed to do it yourself?

Well, kind of, yes.

Recently, I can't help but think that although I've made many sacrifices,

maybe I've just been pretending to be a good father.

What's gotten into you?

You raised her into such a fine young lady.

Your late wife would be showering you with compliments.

Thanks.

That makes me feel a bit better.

I'd seen him in low spirits a few times before,

so I thought maybe he was just tired that time too.

Did you know that Mr. Yamashita was involved

in the Higashikayama case investigation?

Well, yes, I did.

Not from him directly.

Was there anything different about him before or after that incident?

Come to think of it, it was sometime after that incident

that his wife got her diagnosis.

It was cancer, I think.

Komugi was still very young back then.

He said he didn't think he could keep working as a detective,

so he moved to a police box.

Admirable, really.

He asked for it himself?

Pretty sure.

You knew him a long time, I take it?

Yes.

I knew him since before I started a ramen stall,

so about 30 years, I think.

Can I ask how you two met?

Well, stuff happened, let's just say.

More importantly, Attorney,

if you're going to be around Komugi, look after her, won't you?

I will.

Thank you for your time.

-Attorney, wait a minute! -Yes?

I just remembered something.

When Komugi lost her mom…

Who do you think that guy talking to Someda is?

I'm not sure.

But I feel like I've seen him before.

Thank you.

Attorney,

forgive me.

I went to that ramen stall again.

How was it?

He did tell me a bunch of things,

but nothing that's related to the DNA test report.

Roger that.

Anyway, I'm thinking I'll take that recording with me

and have another meeting with Tomoya Endo.

Will you tell Komugi about that recording?

I'm thinking not yet.

Yes, that's probably the cool option.

It's not about whether it's cool or not.

I'll call you later.

Komugi?

Why might you be here?

What about going home?

Well? Answer.

You promised, right?

-Yes. -What's with the spinning?

So you broke your promise and went to meet your aunt.

I'm sorry.

Then you ran into Kamii. Well, he was probably lying in wait.

And then…

I… trust my father.

When he's not even your real father?

He really said that?

Who do you think…

I really am?

What do you mean?

Do you think I'm…

really me?

I just…

I don't know what's what anymore.

HA

HAYASHIKAWA

UTA

SON OF DEATH ROW INMATE TAKES REVENGE

HIGASHIKAYAMA INCIDENT THE SOLE SURVIVOR, UTA HAYASHIKAWA

The incident happened in July of 2002.

At the time,

Uta Hayashikawa was six months old.

That means she was born in January 2002.

I was born on February 6th, 2003.

It's not me.

I'm not…

Uta Hayashikawa.

I'm not…

Chief Akazawa.

I spotted a man talking to the ramen stall owner, Someda.

I looked into it and he's the lawyer that came to meet Tomoya Endo.

Also, this is the report on Someda.

Around 30 years ago,

Someda was arrested for selling baseball shirts with forged signatures.

Forged signatures?

A search also turned up drugs in his possession.

-Drugs? -Really?

He served two years in prison as a result.

Akisada,

give me your take on this.

Yes, sir.

I think Haruo Yamashita's letter

was written by Someda at Tomoya Endo's behest.

Is that so?

PROSECUTOR ANAN

PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR

-Yes? -It's Akazawa. I'm coming in.

I was just going through the documents on Tomoya Endo that your side sent over.

-So you'll prosecute-- -Take action to rearrest Tomoya Endo.

On a murder charge.

Otherwise, I can't prosecute him.

There's insufficient objective evidence that links the suspect to the crime.

You haven't made him crack.

Do you see that it's pointless?

Make him crack?

You still want us to get a confession out of him?

Yes.

Did he get a lawyer already?

-No. -That's perfect.

Make him crack before he gets a lawyer.

I'm sure you're already aware, Prosecutor Anan,

but an arrest has always led to prosecution

in cases handled by our department.

If you try to get out of prosecuting him,

then from now on, no one will ever follow your lead.

Please don't make me laugh.

You think the blame would fall on me for breaking an old tradition?

I think not.

Not providing strong evidence that could withstand a trial

is incompetence on your part.

Don't act like it isn't.

Do you not want justice for the victim?

I'm told Mr. Haruo Yamashita used to be one of you, was he not?

The suspect is just a youngster unrelated to any criminal groups.

Can the MPD not even get someone like that to talk?

All right.

We'll focus on making the suspect talk.

Make that your sole priority.

One more thing.

We found a letter that Mr. Yamashita wrote

to his daughter right before he was killed.

This is a copy of it.

THAT PERSON HAS BEEN FALSELY ACCUSED

What do you make of this?

I don't think it was Mr. Yamashita who wrote this.

I see.

If you'll excuse me.

Welcome back, sir.

That really narrows our options.

What did you think, Akisada?

What the hell does she think our job is?

She just climbed the ranks through connections.

She'll be back at the MOJ soon enough.

We just have to wait it out.

I guess so.

I don't know why the prosecutor higher-ups

care about the first female department supervisor or whatever.

All I know is,

she won't last long at this job.

Not as a woman.

I'm sure.

Make Tomoya Endo crack, huh?

Whatever the case,

the person who holds the key to it all is Someda.

Here you go.

Hello, it's Anan.

It's about the Higashikayama matter.

The letter from Haruo Yamashita came up.

His daughter gave it to the investigators.

DELICIOUSNESS GUARANTEED

I see.

I'm out right now.

I'll call back later.

Busy as always, aren't you?

I certainly am.

Yes?

Hey, would it be okay if I come in a bit late today?

It's fine, but you can take the day off if you feel unwell.

No, that's not it.

It's just an errand.

An errand?

Um…

I'll definitely be there by noon.

Okay, sure.

Just don't act on your own again.

Okay.

ADDRESS - FAMILY REGISTER

-Customer number A004. -Next person, please.

Please head to counter number 307.

Coming.

I'm coming.

I'm Nishijin from the police station.

-You're Mr. Susumu Someda, right? -Yes.

Could we have a word with you at the station again?

Sure.

Could you wait while I go turn off the heat on my stove?

Okay.

Hello?

The police just came here.

Let's go.

Afternoons are a drag

Afternoons are a drag, a real…

Afternoons are a drag

A real drag

-Asakusa? -Old guy's shop.

-Made in Germany. -Damn it! I shouldn't have told you.

What are you up to?

Can't you tell? I'm making curry.

-With fish cakes? -With fish cakes.

Why curry though?

That's like asking a mountaineer why they climb mountains.

Wait. No, it's not.

How did you know just from "old guy in Asakusa"?

You underestimate my power.

That's so not cool.

Afternoons are a drag

So hard

Potatoes are so hard

-Hey. -Yes?

What do you think about it?

About Komugi and Uta Hayashikawa potentially being the same person?

It's just that reporter's conjecture.

At least, I think so. But…

But?

He seems weirdly confident about it.

I can't help but think he's still hiding something.

You think so?

-So why curry? -Drop it. What are you? A prosecutor?

You really like that one, don't you? Is that your new catchphrase?

-"What are you? A prosecutor?" -Stop.

Sorry for being late.

-Welcome! -You're very late. Where were you?

A copy of your family register?

You haven't checked it?

Well, I was… too scared to do it alone.

Of course you are!

I would feel the same if I were you.

I wouldn't be able to stay cool.

I just don't want this to hang over me forever.

Sure.

Go ahead then.

Komugi?

FATHER: HARUO YAMASHITA MOTHER: SHIZUKA YAMASHITA

RELATION: ELDEST DAUGHTER

Thank goodness.

If I was Uta Hayashikawa, it would say "adopted" here, right?

Yes.

If that's the case,

that DNA test report has to be fake, right?

What's with that Kamii person?

Making up a bunch of nonsense.

What's wrong with my aunt? All this for my dad's inheritance?

They're all a bunch of liars!

Can't trust a thing, can you?

I'm definitely the one and only daughter

of Haruo Yamashita and Shizuka Yamashita.

Did you add the "definitely" there…

because you're still not fully sure inside?

Teru!

I won't blame you for wanting to trust your parents.

But if you start questioning things like the DNA test, there will be no end to it.

The fact that your aunt agreed to the test

means she probably had an inkling, didn't she?

Here.

Someda, the ramen stall owner.

He has a criminal record.

I got curious and looked into him.

I'd wager a guess this is how he got to know your father.

You didn't know, did you?

No.

At the very least,

you can be sure there are things your father never told you.

Do you think you know everything about Haruo?

What do you even know about your father?

From now on, you might learn even more things that are hard to swallow.

"The letter Dad left behind might not be real!"

Honestly, if you act out every time you start to have doubts like that,

I don't have the patience to keep babysitting you!

-But-- -Let's calm down now.

Why don't we have lunch?

Here we go.

Thanks for the meal.

Now, dig in.

Fish cake?

Oh, you noticed?

It's rare to put it in, right?

Wait, is this…

I was told to make some for you.

I just remembered something.

When Komugi lost her mom,

the shock from it made her unable to taste whatever she ate.

Mr. Yamashita was worried, so he made some fish cake curry for her.

He said it cheered her right back up.

Attorney,

I think Komugi might be going through the same thing now.

If so, could you feed her the same curry Mr. Yamashita made?

He asked you?

No guarantees about the taste.

Thank you for the meal.

How is it?

Ever since Dad passed away,

I couldn't taste anything, no matter what I ate.

Even Mr. Someda's ramen.

It was the same when Mom died.

But why fish cake?

I liked both curry and fish cakes.

So maybe it would have some taste.

That's what Dad thought.

Komugi.

Well?

How is it?

It tastes good!

Really? It does? Good.

Dad looked…

super relieved when I said that.

No matter what anyone says,

to me,

the person who made fish cake curry for me back then…

is my dad.

-Stupid Matsukaze. -Wait, why?

It's a compliment. A cool one.

Just accept it.

No, I can't. You're stupid!

It tastes great!

Mr. Matsukaze, remember this.

Be a witness to my words.

I won't waver anymore.

I am… me.

I am Haruo Yamashita's daughter!

I trust my father, as well as the letter he wrote.

I trust all of it!

Hearing that from you is very reassuring.

When I accepted this job,

I said I would go and see the peacock with you.

Don't forget that.

As long as you will it,

I will be right beside you.

Let's trust both your father…

and his letter.

Yes.

You said you saw Mr. Yamashita

write the letter in front of you the same day as the incident.

Is that true?

Tell the damn truth!

Did you forge Mr. Yamashita's letter?

Who asked you to do it?

Was it this lawyer you talked to just recently?

Or was it Tomoya Endo?

Hey. It's time for your questioning.

Get walking already!

Detective.

The one who forged Mr. Yamashita's letter…

is me.

Let's hear the details.

Yes.

It's been taken care of.

The ramen stall owner won't be a problem.

You didn't see the most important thing.

Mister!

Stop being so condescending, you damn lawyer!

I'll disclose everything.

Is there someone pulling the strings?

Subtitle translation by: Saim Ul Hassan