All language subtitles for AARO e01-engcp

KABUKICHO FIRST AVENUE

MPD 205 to Shinjuku 1A.

Chief Inspector Aranami
will be arriving at the scene shortly.

Emergency vehicle. Make way.

Emergency vehicle. Please make way.

- Excuse me.
- Who's that?

What's going on?

Excuse me, please.

Make way, thank you.

Let us in too!

- Scary.
- What happened in there?

According to the ID in her bag,
she's Mitsuru Suruga, 25 years old.

She ran a girls bar.

According to the coroner,
the crime took place

between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m.,
based on the coagulation of the blood.

The body is missing again.

- It's Rui!
- Rui Channel again?

So the first one on the scene
was Rui Matsumiya again?

The victim was one of his patrons again.

Hello, Mr. Matsumiya.

We meet a lot lately.

Why were you here?

Mitsuru contacted me.
Said she was being followed.

That it was Hiruko. So I rushed over.

Let's hear your story at the station.

Leave me alone already.

I told you this is Hiruko's doing.

I know.

I can see Hiruko.

- It killed Mitsuru and the others...
- Then tell me!

How old is Hiruko? Their gender?

What do they look like?

Chief Inspector!

Are you alright?

Hiruko!

Stay back! Stay away!

Stay away!

Please stop, Mr. Matsumiya!

- Stay the hell away!
- Calm down.

There's no one inside.

Hiruko was just there.
You have to believe me!

Hiruko exists, I'm telling you!

Hiruko exists!

THE RUI CHANNEL GUY'S GOING CRAZY LOL

THE RUI CHANNEL GUY'S GOING CRAZY LOL

Yummy.

In Kabukicho, Shinjuku,
around 2:00 a.m. on the 1st,

another person was reported
to have been "spirited away."

Only their bodies go missing,

hence it's called
the "Spirited Away Case."

The police are on the lookout
for the suspect, "Hiruko."

A statement claiming responsibility
for the crimes was published by Hiruko,

and the public has voiced
their fear and concern.

Eight victims have been confirmed
in the Spirited Away Case.

As an expert, do you believe
this mysterious god "Hiruko" exists?

Of course not.
I'd be a joke if I claimed so.

Hiruko is thought to be a male
in his twenties

with a narcissistic personality…

HIRUKO'S CRAZY
IS HIRUKO AN INVISIBLE MAN?

LORD HIRUKO IS ACTUALLY GODLIKE!

LORD HIRUKO IS JUSTICE

GOD OF THE MODERN ERA!

NEW GENESIS

CABINET OFFICE BUILDING

According to analysts,

over five percent of citizens say
they fear Hiruko on a daily basis.

It's over 30 percent if you look
at just the teenage population.

It's getting out of control.

Have a seat.

It feels rude to eat a gift all by myself.

Thank you, but I'm fine.

It's been designated as
a Level Three Anomaly.

We request an investigation by the
All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.

REQUEST FOR URGENT MOBILIZATION

This is the first official request
that's been made

since you became Deputy Commissioner, yes?

To be frank,

the fact that an organization
like AARO exists

is still hard to believe.

I apologize. I believe it.

I believe it now.

So please,

I'd like to request your assistance.

I'm glad to have you say that.

We'll give it our utmost, so please
see to it that our budget is increased.

Ms. Koyume Amano, right?

- Yes.
- You're going to AARO, right?

AARO?

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.

- What?
- I was told to deliver you there.

Please follow me.

Okay.

Are you from the All-domain Anomaly
Resolution Office?

I'm just a delivery guy.

And this is a normal service you provide?

Only when AARO asks me to.

Personally, I'll deliver anything.

- Over here.
- Okay.

Over there.

Okay.

Here?

Surprised?

It's just, I was told they reported
directly to the Cabinet Secretariat,

so I expected something more grand.

Hello, it's Serita.

I'm here to deliver Ms. Koyume Amano.

If you'll excuse me.

Go straight here, then down the stairs.

Understood.

Feel free to ask me if you need help.

Thanks for the help.

ALL-DOMAIN ANOMALY RESOLUTION OFFICE

Please enter.

Excuse me.

As of today, I've been transferred
from the Metropolitan Police Department's

PR Department to
the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.

I'm Koyume Amano.

You were informed, right?

That I was coming.

I am the Deputy Chief of the
All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office,

Miyabi Okitama.

This will be your desk.

Use it freely.

The Chief will be returning soon.

Excuse me.

- So, what does the All-domain...
- You can call it AARO.

It's quite a mouthful to say.

What exactly does AARO do?

You haven't heard?

I have, technically, but...

AARO is the world's
oldest investigation agency,

it's existed since the Yamato period.

It was established
to investigate otherworldly entities

such as mononoke and yokai.

It's said that exorcists of old
used to be part of AARO.

It has existed in secret
since the Meiji government.

Currently, it serves
under the Cabinet Secretariat.

We aid in investigations
involving supernatural phenomena.

Any questions?

Oh, not really.

I was just surprised
an organization like that exists.

The world is filled with unknowns.

And those pictures are?

They're all victims
in the Spirited Away Case.

The one from the news?

It started six months ago.

They found clothes and possessions,
but the body was missing from the scene.

Based on the blood present at the scene,
it was suspected to be some sort of crime.

But the body was never found.

Later, a statement claiming
responsibility was posted online.

"This is the work of a god.
They have been spirited away."

Gods exist in this world.
I am a pillar of the gods.

"I am called Hiruko."

A pillar?

That's how gods are counted.
A pillar, two pillars, and so on.

Huh.

That's a bit awkward to say.

Hiruko is a god that appears

in the ancient records
and chronicles of Japan.

In the beginning, the very land of Japan
and the gods that protect it were birthed

by a pair of married deities,
Izanami and Izanagi.

Their first child was Hiruko.

But it was abandoned by its parents
and drifted out to sea on a reed boat.

It doesn't appear
in any of the later stories.

Hiruko is a tragic god
shrouded in mystery.

Gods are often personified
as characters in games.

Maybe someone
let their imagination run wild.

The police and the media
thought so at first.

However, similar cases of missing bodies
kept happening in succession,

and Hiruko
claimed responsibility each time.

People started to proclaim
that it was the work of an actual god.

In addition, the majority of the victims
were part of the rich and elite class.

With disillusioned youth at the forefront,
people started worshiping Hiruko.

They believe that Hiruko
will change the world.

That Hiruko will bring about
a New Genesis.

Genesis?

To gather, create, harden, and complete.

It's a word found in the
Record of Ancient Matters.

It means to arrange the world
in the order it rightfully should be in.

NEW GENESIS

In other words,
it's a revolution by a god.

The Cabinet Secretariat was concerned
about this and requested AARO,

which protects the nation's peace
by dealing with abnormalities,

to investigate this matter.

Are you up to speed now?

This is the chief, Mr. Ukino.

Pleasure to meet you.

Also, when did you…

I am Tamiyo Ukino.

Please accompany Mr. Okitama
to Division One at the MPD.

Division One?

The team in charge of the Hiruko case
will be sharing information with us.

You will be participating
in the joint investigation.

I'll take my leave.

Please take care.

Wait a minute.

I have no experience with investigations.

To begin with, why was a PR person like me
assigned to such a prestigious place?

Well, of course,
it's because we sensed potential in you.

Potential?

For what?

The inborn potential
to be a member of AARO.

You've completely lost me, I'm afraid.

- Let's go.
- Huh?

I'm sorry about this.

An amateur like me asking Division One
to cooperate on an investigation is just…

You were in MEC, the police band?

She was popular enough
to have had devoted fans.

KOYUME AMANO

I liked to dance.

Including you,

Commissioner Hanazono has
instructed us to give our full support to

the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.

And to provide you with these.

What?

The order came
from the Commissioner General.

The Commissioner General?

Does this All-domain Anomaly
Resolution Office have that much pull?

But I'm amazed AARO really does exist.

You knew of it?

Yes. It's a hot topic
among occult fanatics.

A secret agency specializing
in supernatural events.

I didn't think
I could witness them firsthand.

What are you happy about?

My apologies.

"Specializing in supernatural events."
Yeah, right.

And?

Why did someone
from MEC get assigned there?

I just suddenly received a notice.

I thought it would just be office work,
but then they told me to help investigate.

I'm still very lost.

Aren't you just a go-between
with the police?

That's probably it.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Thank you.

I understand the state
of the investigation.

You believe Rui Matsumiya
is the key to this case?

What do the supernatural specialists
at AARO think about the case?

Before that, could you
please explain to Ms. Amano

why you suspect Rui Matsumiya?

Why her?

- Exactly. I'm not relevant...
- She's a member of AARO.

She's part of this case.

Hiruko has committed
eight of these Spirited Away incidents.

For the last three, Rui Matsumiya
has been the first one on the scene.

He was the first on the scene
three times consecutively?

Two weeks ago, on the roof
of a building in Kabukicho,

two liters of blood
and some hair were discovered.

From the clothes down to the eye contacts,

everything on her person was there,
but the body itself was missing.

The corpse hasn't been found yet,
but no doubt she died from blood loss.

Based on DNA tests
and the items at the scene,

the victim was identified
as Juri Aihara, 26 years old.

She ran an e-commerce cosmetics store.

Rui Matsumiya,
the first person on the scene,

was in a relationship with her.

Matsumiya said some
strange things at the time.

She was spirited away, right?

I can see Hiruko.

His claim of being able to see Hiruko
spread like wildfire on social media.

Only four days later, in an alleyway
in Shin-Okubo, near the last crime scene,

another person vanished.

The one who disappeared was
Kirara Ikoma, a 32-year-old nurse.

Rui Matsumiya was first
on the scene again.

He was also in a relationship
with Kirara Ikoma.

And this time, another person
was spirited away.

Mitsuru Suruga, 25 years old.

She ran a girls bar.

Matsumiya was first
on the scene yet again.

Then doesn't that mean he's the culprit?

Sorry for butting in.

Matsumiya had a perfect alibi.

He was working in a shared office
during the time of the crime.

He's on camera.

RUI CHANNEL

Not to mention,

he frequently discusses
Hiruko on his channel,

and calls for people to be cautious.

When Hiruko is around you,
first you feel its presence.

When it comes close,
space appears to distort around it.

Run at once when that happens.

Hiruko is real. It exists.

He has eight million subscribers
and counting.

With three million viewers on livestreams,
he's doing pretty well for himself.

Who exactly is this Matsumiya guy?

You're taking charge now?

Oh, no, I just thought I should know
if I'm getting involved.

I'm tired of speaking.

He's a self-proclaimed idol.

An idol?

He was part of a so-called
underground men's idol group,

which was active in small theaters.

After the group disbanded, he went solo.

He made money from fan meetings

and by going on dates
with individual female fans.

All of the female victims

were among Matsumiya's
most passionate fans.

Just like women who go crazy for hosts.

They wanted to help him
succeed as an idol,

and gave him money beyond their means.

So they could've had financial problems
that resulted in homicide.

Him being on camera is an alibi,
but maybe he had an accomplice?

Sorry for my amateur speculation.

Not at all.

The police's interpretation matches
your amateur speculation.

Then what do you think,
great detective from AARO?

That this might not be Hiruko,
but the work of Shadowman.

Shadowman?

Also known as Shadow People.

It's a humanoid UMA.

- UMA?
- It's an acronym.

That's what it stands for.

It's common knowledge at AARO,
so please remember it.

Right.

- UMA.
- There's also those other ones.

Like Tsuchinoko's and Nessie.

Are they the same?

Exactly, Shadowman is a UMA
just like those.

Including a picture taken in 2006
in Pahrump, Nevada,

there's eyewitness accounts
across the world.

There's no such thing.

I'm told you have some interesting
camera footage, do you not?

Camera footage?

This was at a parking lot two weeks ago,
near where Juri Aihara was found.

Wait, what was that?

For Kirara Ikoma,

as well as Mitsuru Suruga, similar footage
was found near the crime scenes.

All of them are close to
the estimated time of the crimes.

Is this the Shadowman
that you mentioned, Mr. Okitama?

Perhaps.

Perhaps?

Black Hair-Cutters look much the same.

Black Hair-Cutters?

They appeared occasionally
and terrified people in the Edo period.

It's a yokai.

They're said to have shadowy figures,

and covertly approach humans
to cut off their hair.

Some interpret these
to have been a Shadowman.

In a woodblock print by Yoshifuji Utagawa
titled Hair-cutting Mysterious Tale,

the Black Hair-Cutter that appears in
Edo's Bancho looks a lot like a Shadowman.

First UMAs, and now yokai?

Unfortunately, this is neither
Hiruko nor a Shadowman.

After that camera footage
was broadcast on the news,

a whole bunch of videos
with similar footage were posted online,

claiming Hiruko was appearing nationwide.

After examining these videos,

it became clear that most of these
used camouflage spray.

What's camouflage spray?

It's used for the protection of privacy.

If it's sprayed on someone
wearing a cloak,

they appear as a blur on camera.

Then these are…

They're fake.

But it's not clear if they're all fake.

Some might contain
the real Hiruko or a Shadowman.

Mr. Okitama,

we can't seem to get on the same page.

Looks like this AARO is a group
of occult-obsessed oddballs.

I wasn't particularly
planning to get along.

- What's with you?
- All we need is information on the case.

Ms. Amano, let us go.

Go where?

Please excuse me.

(HIRUKO) THINGS TO BE WARY OF

Apartment 503.

I'm Amano from the MPD.

Is Mr. Rui Matsumiya home?

We've talked to the police enough already.

- Well, we're not quite police…
- Just leave us alone.

Wait!

Mr. Kentaro Ochiai,

president of the agency Rui Matsumiya
is affiliated with, correct?

That said, you were
in the restaurant business

and managed idols on the side.

Rui Matsumiya was old and in decline,
so you wanted to end his contract,

but he went viral and became
a top earner, so you changed your tune.

- Now you stick to him round the clock.
- Excuse me, Mr. Okitama?

- What's your problem? You picking a fight?
- Not at all.

I absolutely adore people like you.

You got a once-in-a-lifetime chance
and you bet everything on it,

fighting with every ounce
of your strength.

You're a role model for the idle folk
who grumble online without even trying.

Such grit in this day and age.

- Yeah, thanks.
- Please allow us to help you.

I'm not the police.
I specialize in supernatural events.

If it's me,

I could help with Mr. Matsumiya's
Hiruko problem…

and free him.

Mr. Ochiai, let's invite them in.

Please come in.

Excuse me.

It's a bit cramped.

Please take a seat.

Here you go.

Thank you.

I'm sorry but you are…

I'm Hiyori, Matsumiya's wife.

So he has a wife.

I believe you were
an underground idol too?

Yes.

- How do you know?
- I read the report.

You must've had your own ambitions.
Why did you choose to retire?

When I saw Matsumiya performing on stage,

it made me want to support him more than
I wanted others to support me as an idol.

You're still a fan after marriage?

Rather than a fan,
I support him behind the scenes now.

Hiyori handles Matsumiya's
wardrobe and makeup.

Do his other fans know about this?

Oh, of course not.

They think I'm just a staff member.

Please keep this a secret.

I might get killed if word gets out.

Mr. Matsumiya mingled with fans
at in-person events, I understand?

- Yes.
- He went on dates with hardcore fans.

He even formed intimate relationships
with some of them.

You must have known.

- Mr. Okitama, please.
- I did.

But it's an idol's job
to be loved by people.

- I have my own convictions.
- Convictions?

I'm confident in being
the greatest supporter of his goals.

He puts me first too,
so I feel no jealousy.

It's fine if other people
don't understand.

They're them,

and I'm me.

Oh, that's not it.

I was just taken aback
by the depth of your resolve.

Thank you.

And your beloved Mr. Matsumiya is?

Rui, I'm opening the door.

You have guests.

Excuse us.

THE GODS OF JAPAN
SCARY JAPANESE MYTHS

HIRUKO

SHADOWMAN: MYSTERIES OF THE SHADOW PEOPLE

- We're from...
- You've researched quite a bit.

Even on Shadowman.

I'm investigating
Hiruko's true nature too.

You believe Hiruko and Shadowman
are one and the same too?

You believe it?

That I can see them.

Of course.

Why the sunglasses indoors?

I can see Hiruko
more clearly with them on.

Also, these were designed by Hiyori.

So they're like a lucky charm to me.

When did you start seeing Hiruko?

A month ago, I think.

After I talked about it on my channel,

I began to feel its presence more often.

When I turned around,
I'd see a distorted shadow.

And then Juri said
she started to feel someone following her.

And then they were all attacked.

Why do you suppose
Hiruko keeps going after your patrons?

I think…

it's because Hiruko is infatuated with me.

It was jealous of my hardcore fans
and killed them.

That's my best guess.

That's a fascinating notion.

It's from Chief Inspector Aranami.

Okitama speaking. Yes.

Miscommunication is less likely
if I talk to you directly.

Understood. Thank you for the update.

That was kind of a rude way to put that.

Everyone, please prepare for a trip.

The bodies of the Spirited Away victims
have been found.

The ones that were found are
Juri Aihara and Kirara Ikoma.

Ms. Amano!

Ms. Amano, are you all right?

And you are?

I'm Serita. The delivery guy.

You felt sick
after seeing the corpses, right?

Have this.

To refresh yourself.

Thank you.

And the thing I ordered?

Here you go.

All the way out here?

For an order, I'll go anywhere.

Here.

And for you, Ms. Amano,
I'd go through fire and water.

- If you ever need...
- Yes, enough of that.

I'm rooting for you.

Best of luck.

What's up with him?

Who knows? Maybe he's your soulmate.

Huh?

And what's this?

I asked Mr. Ukino to get CIRO,

the Cabinet Intelligence
and Research Office,

to investigate something.

AARO can do stuff like that?

This report is a background check
on the manager, Ochiai.

Blood loss is the likely cause of death.

Their carotid arteries were severed.

Estimated date of death is two weeks ago.

It's likely they were killed
the same day their blood was found.

None of the other bodies have been found.

There's a chance they were washed away
due to recent heavy rains,

so we are continuing to search downstream.

It's now clear that the bodies
didn't just vanish.

But it's not as clear
why the bodies were moved

after letting them
bleed out at the crime scene.

It's still a very bizarre crime.

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office here.
May we make our report?

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office here.
May we make our report?

They're from an agency
under the Cabinet Secretariat.

They'll be assisting
with the investigation of this case.

- Go ahead.
- Thank you.

Ms. Amano, if you would.

Report AARO's findings.

- Why me?
- You can do it.

Not all of a sudden.

Haven't you already come up
with an answer of your own?

Have faith in yourself.

We did a complete check on Rui Channel,
which belongs to Rui Matsumiya.

His views and subscriber count
used to be in the hundreds.

But he went viral after a certain point.

It's when he started claiming
that he could see Hiruko.

Are you aware of a god named Hiruko?

That god exists in this world

here and now.

Since then, he frequently
talked about Hiruko,

and his subscriber count skyrocketed.

EIGHT MILLION SUBSCRIBERS

We believe Matsumiya
pretended to be Hiruko

and created more victims by his own hand,

all to increase his popularity.

Matsumiya has an alibi.

He had an accomplice.

That would be the person who stands
to gain the most from his rise to stardom.

We believe the president of his agency,
Kentaro Ochiai, is involved in the case.

That's some wild imagination.

The Cabinet Intelligence
and Research Office ran a check on him.

It appears he was rushing to acquire
a counterfeit passport.

He's also borrowed a large motorboat
from a friend in the restaurant business.

They can use CIRO?

We believe they planned
to earn as much as they could

and then flee the country.

In order to prevent further victims,

we propose keeping
the two of them under surveillance.

How was that?

That was a dull, pedestrian deduction.
Disappointing.

Excuse me, everyone.

Please consider what you just heard as
the ramblings of an amateur investigator,

instead of AARO's findings.

Then what do you make of it, Mr. Okitama?

Do you think the mysterious god Hiruko
or the UMA Shadowman really exist?

Entities that can control
people from the shadows, exist.

I don't believe in the occult.

And what even is
a "specialist in supernatural events"?

What year are we in? It's idiotic.

There's going to be an emergency
livestream on Matsumiya's channel.

It was announced on his social media.

- Commissioner.
- Play it.

Understood.

- Come to the front and watch.
- Okay.

I'm Ochiai, the president of the agency
Rui Matsumiya belongs to.

It's Ochiai's office.

As per the news broadcast, two people
close to Matsumiya were found dead.

Matsumiya does not wish
for there to be more victims.

I'll repeat what you should watch out for.

If you feel its presence, run immediately.

If you see a distorted shadow,
it's nearby.

Wearing sunglasses like these
seems to make it easier to see Hiruko.

I choose to believe his words.

I am…

married to Matsumiya.

I've watched over him by his side,
both as his wife and as his fan.

He's not the type of person to lie.

Hiruko exists.

Ms. Hiyori's in danger.

Wait a second!

Mr. Okitama, please wait!

We'll end the livestream here.

We cannot disclose any more details
about Matsumiya at this time.

SAKURA BUILDING

Thank you for the help.

Hey!

Hey.

It's okay now.

Let's go together.

Police!

Drop the weapon.

Are you all right?

Don't move!

He'll be my hostage
until we're out of here.

There's two things you need
as part of AARO.

First, knowledge from every domain.
And second,

the art of self-defense.

Caught red-handed. Cuff him.

Oh, right. Handcuffs.

How about you show your face too?

Ms. Mitsuru Suruga.

You're…

one of the victims?

What's the meaning of this?

It's the devotion of a fan.

Rui Matsumiya,
the unsuccessful underground idol.

They wished to help him rise to stardom.

Juri Aihara, Kirara Ikoma,
and Mitsuru Suruga.

The three hardcore fans came up
with a plan to show their devotion.

They saw how his channel went viral
due to his Hiruko videos.

They offered to be new victims of Hiruko,

and for Matsumiya to use it
and spread his name even further.

I expect the second victim, Kirara Ikoma,
came up with the original plan.

She was a nurse, after all.

A nurse?

It was the blood.

The three of you extracted
your own blood over time

and preserved it by refrigerating it.

Once you had enough,
you spilled it all out.

You vanished,
leaving only your belongings behind.

You used camouflage spray
when passing by cameras.

Thus, the three of you
abandoned your lives

and imitated Hiruko's MO
in the Spirited Away Case.

That's just…

I'm sure you find it unthinkable.

But it's different for them.

They offered their lives to their idol.

It was a noble act.

Noble?

- What part of that is noble...
- Shut up, you ugly bitch.

As if someone like you could understand.

Except Ms. Suruga turned traitor.

After your partners
spilled their own blood,

you rendezvoused at the riverbank.

Matsumiya had held barbecue lunch sessions
with his fans at that place.

It must've been sacred ground
to you three.

Perhaps that's why
you agreed to meet there.

Mitsuru!

And it was the same place

where you murdered Ms. Kirara Ikoma
and Ms. Juri Aihara, one after another.

All so you could have
Mr. Matsumiya to yourself.

Meanwhile, after being unable to contact
both Ms. Ikoma and Ms. Aihara,

Mr. Matsumiya must have panicked.

And upon seeing their corpses,

he realized that it was homicide
at the hands of Ms. Mitsuru Suruga.

Did you really kill them?

Of course you'd be mine and mine alone.

I did so much more for you
than anyone else!

No.

You lose to the other two.

Your nails.

Ms. Aihara and Ms. Ikoma gave everything.

But you didn't give up
your treasured nails.

You always wore gaudy false nails,
yet none were found at your crime scene.

Only the bodies disappear
for Hiruko victims.

Even the eye contacts remain.

It's strange for the nails
to not be there.

It is proof that your devotion
wasn't strong enough.

- You're wrong.
- You also tried to kill his wife.

You flew into a rage
as soon as you found out.

You're selfish and conceited.

You're a disgrace as a fan.

Rui was going to abandon her
and come with me!

Are you sure about that?

He came here to protect his wife,
Ms. Hiyori, from you.

Which means the person most precious
to Mr. Matsumiya is Ms. Hiyori.

That concludes AARO's findings
for this case.

Ms. Amano, if you would please
contact the police.

Mitsuru Suruga, you're under arrest
for attempted murder.

I see you're already familiar
with the art of self-defense.

Based on these facts, for the last three
Spirited Away incidents,

it has been determined that it was
a joint scheme by Rui Mitsumiya

and one of his fans, Mitsuru Suruga.

In addition, Matsumiya's manager,
Kentaro Ochiai, has been apprehended

for his role in making preparations
to flee the country. It's still...

According to analysts,

the percentage of citizens
afraid of Hiruko on a daily basis

is now down to 1.1 percent.

Thank you. You've been a great help.

I'm glad to be of assistance.
However, this was the work of a copycat.

Hiruko remains shrouded in mystery.

We'll keep investigating.

Mr. Ukino.

Do you believe Hiruko is an actual god?

Obviously they don't exist.

Gods, that is.

You're right.

What even was AARO, after all?

After all that UMA and yokai nonsense,

they just solved it normally
and took the credit.

For the Hiruko case,

we're to continue cooperating with AARO.

Wait, for real?

Why are you so happy?

I'm not, I swear.

FOURTH CASE: HIROKA OOTSUKI (51)

We looked into the contact history of
the plan's originator, Ms. Kirara Ikoma.

It seems like she was
on good terms with you.

Of course, she thought
you were just a staff member.

A certain fact came to light
after going through your correspondence.

You were the one who proposed the plan
to Ms. Ikoma, weren't you, Ms. Hiyori?

Something just didn't sit right with me.

When we came to your residence,
everything was in place and organized.

The pristine kitchen,
the countless seasonings.

It's clear you did everything
in your power

to support your husband as his wife.

You were more devoted to
Rui Matsumiya than anyone.

Yet he was in intimate relationships
with several other fans.

It just didn't seem right that you could
smile and support your husband like that.

It's not something a human can pull off.

You were filled
with hatred and frustration.

You hatched a plot,

cleverly manipulating
the mentality of fans to result in murder,

dooming your husband and his fans.

Such magnificent revenge.

If I did do all that,

what about it?

I just mentioned an idea.

It was my husband
and those idiot fans who carried it out.

- I'm not responsible for any wrongdoing.
- Indeed.

Those sunglasses of yours
that lets one see Hiruko

sold like hotcakes online, I'm told.

Those are your original products.

Even if you made a massive profit,
it wouldn't land you in jail.

Mr. Matsumiya said
this during his questioning.

"I wanted…

to make my wife happy."

For the wife who gave her all
to support him,

he wanted to repay her
by making it big, it seems.

People who can devote their lives
to someone else are happy.

I wonder if you'll miss it.

ITEMIZED STATEMENT

SPECIAL SUNGLASSES, QUANTITY: 3,000
TOTAL SUM: ¥33,000,000

Do you think revealing herself as his wife
on the livestream was a gamble?

She must've known
she would be attacked if she did that.

But maybe her husband would come save her.

She tested her husband's love for her,
knowing she might die.

He did come,

but he's the type of guy to neglect
his wife and play around with female fans.

Who knows what he's thinking deep down?

There's another thing that bothers me.

Matsumiya continues to testify
that he truly did see something unknown.

Hiruko!

It was a convenient lie at the start,
but then he started actually seeing it.

When a lie is repeated often enough,
it starts to blur with the truth.

A common psychological phenomenon.

I actually experienced something similar.

When I stepped away at the riverbank,

I thought I saw space
distort for a moment.

Are you the same Ms. Amano

that declared the occult
and supernatural events idiotic?

The very same Ms. Koyume Amano?

Do you believe in the god Hiruko now?

That's not exactly what I meant.

I just thought that maybe something
beyond our understanding

really was involved in this case.

It's okay to not understand everything.

Humans nowadays try to understand it all.

They gather information favorable to them
and interpret it to match their worldview,

desperate to find answers.

It makes the world an insufferable place.

Have the flexibility to take in
what is unknown to you as it is.

That's the trick to doing well in AARO.

After the Spirited Away Case
now it's a mass fainting?

Do you think Hiruko's involved?

That shrine had an important purpose.

- It's Fox Possession.
- Kon.

If you're hiding something, confess.

So you're the one who reported it.

This is the truth behind the curse.

Subtitle translation by: Saim Ul Hassan