Original subtitles

I'll take them.

Based on the novel by Higashino Keigo

It's been two years already.

Yeah.

Two Years Earlier

You can eat sponge cakes?

I'd rather die eating good stuff...

than live taking bitter pills.

How's the First Investigation Division?

I'm nervous everyday.

If you've got time to waste here, then study for the promotional exam.

There you go again.

Anyway, don't worry about me.

I'm busier than you think.

My opponent is not bad.

I wish I knew how to play Shogi.

It was good. Finish the rest.

Okay, I will.

Mr. Kaga, time to take your temperature.

Sir, don't eat something like that in front of a patient.

It's not mine!

Brother, don't tease him too much.

Have you decided your next move?

Of course.

You're the opponent?

Knight's move.

Well, well, well. I didn't see that coming.

Thank you for playing Shogi with my uncle.

I enjoy it, too.

Did my cousin...

I mean, my uncle's son...

Did he come to visit?

No, he didn't.

People lie.

Our sales have declined significantly.

Take a look at this graph.

To hide their weakness.

Can I have a white radish?

Sure.

-There you go. -Thank you.

To protect what's important in their life.

To escape from their hardships.

Every person lives with a secret.

Yuna, This is the Spa-Pri figurine. If you wanna see it, come to the park at 3:30.

Deleting message?

Yes

A lie is a shadow of the truth.

If you don't look into their eyes,

you cannot see the truth hidden inside them.

This story could happen to any family.

I'm back!

Yuna, come help Mom cook dinner!

But it couldn't happen to their own family.

That's what everybody believes.

It happened...

just after the evening rain had stopped.

So that's your move.

Not running away, huh?

Translated by Chuks Edited by hubby_b and yenchan69

Friday

Still working?

That's for the meeting next Friday? You can do it later.

I felt like getting it done.

Oh, wanna go for a drink?

Sorry, my relatives are in town.

Too bad.

Go home early sometimes. It's not like you get paid overtime.

'Night.

Have a good night.

You, too.

Home

Hello?

Oh, h-honey?

What's up?

Um... I need you to come home quickly.

No, I can't leave yet.

I really need you here. It's serious.

What do you mean? What happened?

We're in serious trouble.

I still don't get it. Be more specific.

All right, I'm coming home.

Wait...

I don't want Harumi to come over tonight.

-Why can't my little sister come? -Just... take care of it.

Hello? What's wrong?

Um, Yaeko called me and said Mom went to bed already,

so we should just let her sleep.

Sure, okay.

Then I'll come again tomorrow night.

Okay.

Thanks anyway. Bye.

I'm not sure when it started...

but the closer the train gets to the house, the more depressed I become.

Three years ago...

I moved back to my mother's house with my wife and son.

She had tripped down the stairs and injured her leg.

Oh, watch your foot there.

My wife was against it,

but I kind of forced her to move.

I thought I was doing my duty as the eldest son.

Hon, tell your mom not to wash the frying pan.

The oil was starting to soak in.

Okay, I will.

Naomi, go get Granny.

She said she'll eat alone from now on.

To go with the flow,

I started to distance myself from my mother.

Stop it!

That's enough! That's enough!

It's not enough!

He was taken to the police!

Naomi! Naomi! Are you all right?

Naomi! Naomi!

Mom?

What's wrong?

I'm terribly sorry for making you wait.

What are you doing this late?

Dinner will be ready very soon.

Dinner? Are you half-asleep?

Sir, please have a seat and wait.

You're calling me sir? Mom?

For seven years she took care of Dad as he suffered from dementia.

They were hard days.

I'm sure she never imagined she'd end up just like him.

I'm absolutely against it.

But we're the ones who have to take care of her.

Still, I can't have her live in a senior home.

Then will you take her in?

You can't, right? You live with your husband's parents.

Besides, how are we supposed to take care of her like that...

Then I will come everyday!

So please let her stay in this house.

She thinks she lives with Dad in this house.

I'll give you a kuzumochi*, old man.

A kind of rice cake

Here's your change. Thank you very much.

Kuzumochi, please.

Sure. It'll be 300 yen.

Excuse me, have you seen a 7-year-old girl?

-A girl? -Yes.

Um, around this height,

with short hair and wearing a hooded pink vest.

I haven't seen her.

Okay.

Sorry about that.

I wonder if she got lost.

Maehara

Yaeko.

Follow me.

What's that smell?

Don't!

Look in the yard.

Yard?

What's that?

What the hell is that?

A girl I've never seen before.

What's she doing there?

Is she alive?!

Why don't you go check?

Why is there a garbage bag over her?

I did it. To hide her.

-Did you...?! -Of course not.

-Then why is she in our yard?! -Don't yell!

I found her when I came home.

What happened?

First of all, who is she?

I said I've never seen her before!

What are you doing?

The smell of urine won't come off.

Urine?

Probably hers.

I hear you wet your pants when you're strangled.

Strangled?

-Have you called the police? -No.

-Let's call the police. -Don't!

-But she died here, right? -That's why you can't call them!

Was it Naomi?

Did you ask him?

What did he say?

He said, "Shut up."

Naomi.

Who's that girl?

Why is there a girl lying in the yard?

Tell me!

Naomi, explain it to your father.

What happened?

-I don't know. -You don't know?!

Explain it to me!

I didn't mean to.

Let's go to the police. Get up.

You don't need to go to the police!

-Yaeko! -Leave him alone!

I will... talk to him.

I'll ask him.

Get out for now!

You'll have to take responsibility.

'Cause I'm underage.

She's wearing a hooded pink vest.

I'll be home soon.

Yeah.

Five minutes or so.

Yeah.

All right, I'm almost home.

That girl...

He said she followed him home.

Did you believe him?

Why did he strangle her?

He asked her to play with him, but she wouldn't say yes.

He said he didn't mean to kill her.

What the hell was he thinking?

What are you gonna do?

I'm calling the police.

Think about his future!

He killed a little girl!

Yes.

So he'll be labeled a murderer for the rest of his life!

He's underage. His name won't be in the media.

-If he turns himself in, he might get rehabilitated... -That's not gonna happen!

Even if his name isn't released, people will know!

He's finished!

He'll be released sooner if he turns himself in!

Don't give me that!

Who'll accept a man who killed a child?

Could you associate with such a man?

I couldn't.

-Give up. -No!

Yaeko!

If you call the police, I'll kill myself.

-Cut the act! -It's not an act!

I'm serious.

All right.

Put the scissors down.

I won't call.

I promise.

The father of the girl was looking for her at the station.

I'm sure he's filed a report.

It's just a matter of time now.

...ump it.

Go dump it.

Dump it?

Go dump it for him.

Do you know what you're saying?

It's not just about Naomi.

Now you're the father of a murderer.

Once he gets caught, his life is finished.

We're his parents. Our lives will be finished, too.

We will all be finished.

If you don't, we'll lose everything.

Fine, I'll do it!

How are you gonna do it?!

How? I'm just dumping it!

We don't own a car! We can't go far away!

It doesn't matter where!

I don't care where as long as it's not at our house!

Go away.

Here's your kuzumochi. Go back to your room and eat it.

♪ If we hold hands and...

I can't believe this.

I wish I could just die.

How about the park?

The Icho Park has a public bathroom, right?

If we hide it there,

it might look like some pervert did it.

When? When are you gonna do it?

I'll have Naomi pretend he knows nothing when the police come.

Do you really think he's capable of that?

Because you spoil him rotten.

It's my fault?

Better than turning your back on the problem like you do!

When did I do that?

What did you do when he was bullied?

What did I do?

You told him he should fight back and forced him to go to school.

-'Cause it was good for him. -No, you just turned your back.

It didn't solve anything!

I didn't tell you this...

but he's still being bullied at school.

Why didn't you tell me?

He asked me not to.

I thought it was best, too.

'Cause if I had, you'd just scold him.

For you, your family is nothing but baggage, isn't it?!

What a nice day.

I wonder if we can go on a picnic tomorrow.

What are you doing up this late?

Come on, you'll miss the picnic if you don't go to bed.

How did it go?

I don't think anybody noticed me.

Good.

What's that?

Naomi is hungry.

Saturday

First Day Of Investigation

You should rest a little.

I can't sleep.

By the way...

why was she wearing only one shoe?

I could only put on one shoe.

Harder than I thought.

I see.

Excuse us. Excuse us.

The body has been identified.

Kasugai Yuna, a second grader.

Her trail?

After school, at around 3:30, she went out alone and went missing. Her parents filed a report at 8.

Western Nerima Police initiated the investigation.

Western Nerima Police...

Your cousin works there, right?

You know him?

I've worked with him before.

He's a capable detective.

Just a moment.

The police.

That was quick.

I'm sorry to disturb you on the weekend.

I'm Kaga of the Western Nerima Police.

Did something happen?

A girl's body was found at Icho Park this morning.

Really.

This is the girl.

Have you seen her before?

No.

I'd appreciate if you could check with your family as well.

Sure.

What does he want?

He said he's gathering information and wants you to see this picture.

Tell him I've never seen her.

-Look at the picture. -Why?

Face what we've done!

No!

Pardon me for disturbing you so early.

I'm Kaga of the Western Nerima Police.

Aren't they nice?

I'm going to go on a picnic.

Want a snack?

Mom!

I'm sorry. She suffers from dementia.

Let's go inside.

Oh, she forgot this.

Thank you.

-Here. -Okay.

About the gloves...

She said she was going on a picnic with them.

They're mine. I use them for gardening.

For gardening.

My wife hasn't seen her either.

Have you seen this girl?

You're wasting your time with her.

Let's go in.

♪ If we hold hands and...

I have one more question.

Sure.

Between last night and early this morning, did any of you go out?

No.

Okay.

Bye.

One last question.

What kind of lawn is this?

What kind?

I don't know. My late father installed it.

Why did you ask?

Never mind.

If you remember anything, please give me a call.

Kaga Kyoichiro

Excuse me.

No leads to the predator have been found yet.

Estimated time of death?

Between 4 and 8 p.m. Killed by strangulation with bare hands.

Looks like the predator dumped the body here after the murder.

What do you think?

I say the predators grabbed her using a car...

then dumped the body here to make it look like they're from this town.

They probably drove from very far.

Don't step on it!

Even after the forensics are done,

detectives should preserve the scene.

To learn what we can from it.

Kaga, it's been a while.

Nice to see you again.

Nice to see you again, Shuhei.

Same here.

Matsumiya, go visit the victim's family with Kaga.

-Thanks for your help. -Same here.

Kyoichiro.

Yeah?

You may be my cousin, but I won't be cutting you any slack.

I'm not expecting you to.

You'll follow my direction.

Of course.

I appreciate your guidance.

Let's go.

Let's have Naomi turn himself in.

Why all of a sudden?

The detective asked me about our lawn.

Lawn?

The body was covered with grass.

I tried my best to remove them,

but I guess I missed some.

How could you do that?

Sorry.

It's not that he realized it's our lawn, right?

It's just a matter of time.

Still, it doesn't prove Naomi did it.

-She could have come into the yard on her own-- -They'd ask why we didn't notice.

Who'd watch their yard all day?

You really think they'd believe us? They're police!

Yaeko.

-Let's-- -Then...

I'll turn myself in.

I'll tell them I did it. That'll save Naomi.

Don't be silly. You don't have a motive.

Doesn't matter.

I'll be the scapegoat.

Be more realistic!

You and I have alibis.

What's wrong with you!

Why don't you try to come up with a solution?!

He only has us.

I'll do anything to protect him!

But we gotta come up with a perfect plan!

Then give me the plan!

Be quiet if you can't.

There is a way.

Do you have something in mind?

-Honey! -The murderer will turn himself in.

Honey! I told you--

Listen to what I have to say!

There's a way...

Only one way...

to save him.

Reporting from an apartment in Nerima.

Kasugai Yuna, a second grader from Second Izumidai Elementary School, was found dead.

According to the police, she went missing after she came back from school.

Her parents filed a report around 8.

Her body was found in a bathroom at Icho Park.

Mr. Kaga?

Natsuko.

The police are here.

I'm sorry.

Don't worry.

We can come back for her interview.

Excuse me, what is this?

It's an anime Yuna liked.

She loved collecting the figurines.

She'd ask for them.

Why...

Why did such a small girl have to be...

Grass was found on her clothes and socks.

Looks like the victim was laid on lawn after the murder and her shoes were put on there.

Lawn was Korean lawn grass.

Most popular grass in Japan.

Most popular, huh?

Did we find out anything about the lawns?

Yes.

I'm Kaga of Western Nerima Police.

Out of the houses near the park, there are 48 with lawns...

and 36 of them had Korean lawn grass.

That many?

More if we widen the search area.

All right, thanks.

-Any witness information on the car? -Yes.

A suspicious white car was seen at the scene last night.

White car?

A resident saw a white car parked on the road around 4 a.m.

The model has not been identified yet. That's it.

Your temperature is fluctuating between 37 and 38.

Let's call it my normal temperature.

I didn't expect that move.

Provoking an opponent to see the reaction.

I love it.

I bet you were an annoying detective when you were in the field.

Annoying detective.

The highest compliment.

Bye.

Tokiko.

I have a favor to ask.

If the predator used a car, they're not from here.

But we were assigned to look for witnesses around here.

Got the short end of the stick.

There's no such thing in investigations.

I know.

It's not my first murder case.

I'm used to wasting my time.

You are, huh?

Yes.

This is the next house.

I'm Matsumiya from the First Investigation Division.

-Is it about the murder in the park? -Yes.

Thank you for your hard work.

Have you seen any suspicious cars in the past 12 hours?

A suspicious car? Not really.

You don't own a car, do you?

We met in the morning.

No, I don't. I don't have a license.

I see.

Excuse me, but will you let me take some grass?

Kyoichiro?

Why grass?

The body was laid on lawn.

So we've been taking samples from all the houses with lawn.

-Is that so? -Yes.

Whose room is that?

It's ours.

Let's go to the next one. Excuse us.

Mom!

Stop it, please!

Mom!

Please!

What a shame.

-Looks like my mother is having a fit. -Having a fit?

The mother with dementia?

She loses her temper easily.

Let us know if you need a consultation service for old people who wander.

We'll be fine.

She can't wander off with her bad legs.

We'll do our best to take care of her.

Must be tough.

Excuse us.

May I take a sample of the lawn now?

Sure.

What was their reaction?

I don't think they noticed it was an act.

Good.

But...

he took a sample of the lawn.

I'm pretty sure we weren't ordered to take lawn samples.

Why only from this house?

You didn't take samples from the other houses.

That old lady...

She's violent?

It must be hard to take care of a senior with dementia at home.

It's becoming more common.

You gotta do it 'cause the government won't do anything about it.

Good to be you.

Abandoning your father and living a life without balls and chains.

You can say that.

It's carefree to live alone and die alone.

So he should die alone?

The truth might be hidden down deep.

You can't tell what they're thinking unless you see them face to face.

Then don't you think you need to face your father as well?

Let's split up. I'll take the next block.

The police will find out the grass on the body...

came from our yard.

One of the detectives...

was staring at Naomi's room.

Did he notice something?

I don't know.

I lied to him that it was our room.

Will this really work?

-You saying that now?! -But... but, hon...

You said that you were willing to do anything to save him!

-Should we stop here and go to the police? -Wait!

I want it to work, too!

-If you don't like the plan-- -No!

I just wanted to make sure we didn't make any mistakes.

I'm sorry.

What was he looking at?

Akio.

Are you sure you saw a stray cat break it?

Yeah... it wasn't me.

Look into my eyes and say it!

I'm sorry.

Thank you for telling me the truth.

Thank you.

Was there more?

How's your mother?

Oh, she calmed down.

What do you do when you need to take her out?

You don't own a car, right?

I ask my little sister.

I see. The whole family is taking care of her.

I'm sure she appreciates it.

Doubt it.

By the way...

who uses the bicycle?

-My wife uses it for shopping. -I see.

Did she use it after it rained yesterday?

There's dried mud on the wheels.

Right, she went to a grocery store last night.

Did she take a shortcut?

A shortcut?

In a residential town like this, you wouldn't get mud on your wheels.

Never mind.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Naomi, will you help me take the posters down?

I'll protect you.

So help me!

Mr. Kaga.

Who may you be?

I'm Aoyama. I'm an alumnus of the tea club at the university.

We met at a reunion party. Do you remember me?

Oh.

I heard you were an excellent detective.

Aoyama Ami

Maicho Newspaper

I'm still a rookie.

I heard you were looking for a white car.

Found any leads?

What's the model?

I'm only following orders.

I heard there was a pervert around here.

Three young women were attacked.

You said you were still a rookie.

Yes.

But I've covered murder cases before.

-I'm used to this kind of interview. -Good for you.

I never get used to murder cases.

The white grains on the body were identified as styrofoam packaging!

The body was carried in a box for electronics.

-Let's identify the box! -Yes, sir!

Kyoichiro, let's go.

Why did the predator dump the body in the park?

There's nobody in the park at night, so the body wouldn't be discovered until morning.

But they could have gone to the mountains. Why didn't they?

To make us assume they live around this area.

What's the merit in that?

Confusing us to keep us off their trail.

That's the merit.

But not finding the body at all has more merit, don't you think?

Some pervert did it. How logical can he be?

Why do you think it's a pervert?

Only a pervert would do something like that.

I see.

Coming at it with preconceptions, huh?

What's your opinion then? Tell me.

Is that an order?

Yes.

They had no other choice.

What?

They wanted to dump it somewhere far away, but they couldn't.

They don't own a car?

Then how could they carry a box with a child inside?

Come with me.

Is this all of it?

Yes.

Shouldn't we toss all of them?

Nah, not this one.

Call Naomi.

Why?

He needs practice.

The police will ask him questions, too.

I don't think he's recovered yet.

Fine, I'll get him.

Can we pretend he wasn't home?

What?

Let's say he wasn't home when the incident happened--

Did he suggest that?

-Did he ask you to say that? -But I think it's a good--

-Who does he think caused this?! -You're too loud!

Having us take care of everything... What does he think parents are for?!

What does he think we are for?

I guess it's not my place to say that.

You're early today.

I was in the neighborhood for work.

Sorry, but we're fine.

Today, too?

She seems to be doing fine, besides I'm home for the weekend.

Okay.

Then... here's her sandwich.

Thanks.

Make sure to keep an eye on her. She does strange things out of the blue.

Hide your wife's cosmetics.

Why?

She found a lipstick in my bag and played with it the other day.

Just like Dad used to do.

Right.

-Give me a call if you need me. -Okay. Bye.

I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

Dad!

What are you doing?!

You can have the lipstick. I'll leave you alone.

-What happened? -He got mad when I tried to clean him up.

Can we put him in a senior home?

I'll pay for it.

Brother, you don't understand.

Of course we tried that!

But none of them would accept him.

Why?

He's too energetic.

He'd wake up at midnight and become violent. None of them wanted a patient like that.

I see.

Mental hospitals will admit him only for the short term...

since they say he can be taken care of at home.

It's true that she manages to take care of him.

But she'll collapse eventually.

If you think so, help her more!

-Instead of worrying about how Yaeko will react. -That's enough!

He worked hard for us for so long.

I want to take care of him in this house.

Honey!

-Honey! -Yes!

I'm coming!

Now try it.

It weighs the same as the girl.

A bicycle won't work.

Just do it.

So it's possible.

But you still can't determine...

Don't step on it!

Is that why you were looking at their bicycle?

But he couldn't do it without his family finding out.

What if the whole family is involved with the murder?

I want to investigate the Maehara family. I need your approval.

There's no evidence.

We might end up wasting our time.

The more you waste your time, the closer you get to the core of the case.

My uncle taught me that.

I don't want it.

-What are you gonna do with this? -Right.

Will it really work?

We checked the plan numerous times.

Pull yourself together.

I know.

Here, have some.

She's so senile.

The police can't get anything from her.

The daughter visits her every night.

Every night?

Her car is parked there by the time I come home.

She lives around here?

I think she owns a small shop called Omori along the bus route.

Was she here yesterday?

Come to think of it, she wasn't here yesterday.

I see. Thank you for your cooperation.

How about Tanaka family over there?

Was there anything strange with them lately?

We're investigating Maehara family, right?

Why did you ask about another family?

We don't know yet that they are involved.

We might be investigating innocent people.

We have to be careful not to create any rumors.

I see.

Can't you have such consideration for your father as well?

This is it.

Welcome!

Are you Omori Harumi?

May we have some of your time?

Let's go back in. You'll be scolded by the doctor.

It's all right. Just a little while more.

It'll be my last winter.

You said the same thing when you were admitted last year.

I wonder what'll be the next hand.

Shogi.

I'm still thinking.

I don't have much time left.

Is there anybody you want to see?

No.

I guess every family has something only the family members understand.

Hang on to me.

Ready, up.

Just a little while, okay?

We're gathering information regarding the murder.

We heard your car has been witnessed often in the area.

Oh, yes.

My brother's house is in the area. His name is Maehara.

Mr. Maehara?

I think we talked to him.

Do you frequent his house?

Yes.

To take care of my mother. Almost every day.

Did you go last night as well?

No.

My brother told me not to.

It must be hard to go every day.

No.

I'm her only daughter.

There are some things only I can understand.

I heard dementia patients can be violent.

She's fine. She's never violent.

Never?

Thank you for your cooperation.

What now?

The victim might have been in the neighborhood.

And?

What time did your family come home last night?

Why?

We've been asking all the residents around here. It's just a formality.

-Wait here. -Excuse me.

Show this to them as well.

-They already saw it. -Well...

You have a son who is a 9th grader, right?

-I don't think he knows anything. -Just in case.

He wants Naomi to see this.

-Do they suspect him? -Possibly.

We'll go forward with the plan.

He's never seen her.

Okay.

So what time did you come home?

Let's see, I left the office around 6:30 and got home around 7:30.

And your wife?

She came home from her part-time job past 6.

-Where does she work? -The grocery store in the neighborhood.

How about your son?

He came home after 8.

That's kinda late for a 9th grader.

He's in a rebellious period.

Where was he?

He said at the arcade near the station.

Let me ask about Spa-Pri.

Spa... Pri?

It's an anime called "Super Princess." The girl was into it.

I-I've never heard of it before.

That's strange.

I saw the poster on the ceiling of the room over there.

It's your room, right?

You can see it if you squat.

Mm?

So we've been taking samples from all the houses with lawn.

-Is that so? -Yes.

Did you take it down?

I... redecorated today.

So it was your poster, Spa-Pri.

Is exposing secret hobbies a part of your job?

Pardon me.

I'm in the middle of dinner. If you'll excuse me.

Harumi just called.

The police visited her to ask about Mom.

Did they?

-I'll go verify the story. -Okay.

Don't follow me around.

Why have you been to that house so many times?

What are you going to write about the unsolved case?

Of course, the truth. Whatever it may be.

What are you looking for?

Something easy to miss if you only look at the surface.

I can't forgive whoever did something awful like this.

You told me you were used to murder cases.

What about it?

How have you been dealing with the cases you covered?

What do you mean?

Have you ever thought about what happened to the people you wrote about?

Of course.

If that's true, you can't say you're used to murder cases.

We detectives and reporters should never get used to the tears of a victim's family.

You can either kill or save people with your pen.

We'll practice when I get home.

-Okay. -I'm going.

I verified Maehara Yaeko's alibi.

How about the son?

Not yet.

-I'll check the security camera tomorrow. -Okay.

'Night.

'Night.

Why don't you come with me?

To your father's hospital.

Isn't he sleeping already?

-I was just gonna go see his face. -I see.

He's to the point where he can't stand the pain without morphine.

Your bond with your father is that weak?!

He could die...

anytime now.

The way you live determines the way you you die.

He didn't put any effort into creating a warm family.

He'd be selfish to want one now that he's dying.

He...

He gave us one.

He gave me and my mom a warm family.

Because my dad eloped with my mom...

after his death, none of our relatives would help Mom.

Even so...

Uncle came to our aid.

If you're abandoning him...

I'll be by his side when he dies.

Go ahead.

That's your decision.

I have no say in it.

Good evening.

Good evening.

May I go see him?

He already went to bed.

That's okay.

I'm working with my cousin right now.

Oh, really?

I'm sure you're wondering why he won't come.

It's his father, you know.

Yes.

When he was in middle school...

his mother left the house.

Don't look for me. I'm sorry, Kyoichiro.

He blames it on his father, who prioritized his work over his family.

Since then, they've been distant.

He didn't know where his mother was until she was dead.

Message sent

He went to Sendai to get her remains by himself.

Still...

no matter what happened in the past...

you'd think he'd want to see his father one last time.

Eat as much as you want.

Thank you.

You should eat, too.

Nah, I'm fine.

Take it.

But it was a gift with your Commissioner of Police Award!

It's old, but it still works.

Are you sure I can have it?

-I never expected you'd join the police, too. -It was my dream.

To be a detective like you.

I wasn't a good one, though.

But I heard you solved a lot of tough cases.

Doesn't matter how many tough cases you solve.

What's important is how many people you save.

That makes a... good detective?

That's makes a detective.

Are you all right?

Why are you here?

I came to check on you.

You should rest while you can...

or you'll run out of breath.

I'll be fine.

No.

Go.

I'm fine by myself.

♪If we hold hands and...

♪go on the path in a field,

♪we all turn into cute birds.

♪If we all sing together, our shoes will sing too.

Don't tell Yaeko I got you kuzumochi.

Sorry for the trouble. I can't go buy it with my bad legs.

You can have some kuzumochi too, Mister.

You're back.

What are you doing?

Murder investigation.

Have you found any leads?

What?

May I?

The loops of my shoe laces are small.

On the other hand, yours are big.

And?

Every person has their own way of tying shoelaces.

These are the victim's shoes.

You see how the shoelaces are tied differently?

I wonder why.

No idea.

How would I know?

Lawn was found on her socks.

Two different people put her shoes on out on the grass.

We're looking for two or more people in this case.

I see.

I'm going inside.

I'm sorry for disturbing you so late.

Naomi.

Where were you and what were you doing after school last Friday?

Naomi, speak.

I went to an arcade and went home around 8.

Good.

Which arcade was that?

Answer!

If you give detectives room to suspect you, you'll be finished.

Sit down!

Please, don't yell at him.

You're not in this alone.

We're with you.

Naomi.

We have to do this!

This is a crucial moment for us!

Which arcade was it?

Star Fire.

Western Nerima Police

Sunday

Sunday

Second Day

of Investigation

Kyoichiro!

The grass found on the body matched the sample from the Maeharas.

The Maeharas?

I need to ask you something, sir.

Did she play with those figurines with her friends?

I'm afraid I don't know.

Okay.

(Second Izumidai Elementary School Kasugai Yuna)

Does she wear this to school everyday?

Yes.

I'd tell her to wear it whenever she went out.

Is this Yuna's email address?

No, it's mine.

Where's your computer?

Would Yuna use it by herself?

She didn't know how.

We'd search the Internet together,

but I didn't teach her how.

Were there any strange emails?

No.

Could we borrow your computer for a while?

If that'll help the investigation.

Then I'll have somebody pick it up later.

Yuna's pictures are in the computer!

We'll be very careful.

Please.

Please.

Kaga Kyoichiro

She might have met the predator through the Internet.

But the mother said she didn't know how to do it by herself.

Don't take her word for it.

Kids are more capable than parents think.

This is Matsumiya.

Go to the Matsuharas right away.

They just called.

They want to talk about the case.

How ironic.

Bonding over such a purpose.

Please come in.

Have you found out anything from our lawn?

Why do you want to know?

The grass matched, didn't it?

What if it did?

Good thing I asked you here.

You'd find out eventually.

-Mr. Maehara, what do you mean-- -Detectives.

I'm terribly sorry.

I'm the one who dumped the body.

Does that mean you killed her?

No.

It wasn't me.

Actually...

it was...

my mother.

Your mother?

Yes, she did it.

You're sure it was your mother?

Yes.

To tell you the truth...

I've seen the girl playing with Mother's dolls.

She told me she had asked Mother to let her play with them.

Will you tell me what happened on the day of the murder?

Yes.

Mom, I'm back.

When I got back from work,

I saw a girl lying on the floor.

Mom, what happened to her?

I punished her for breaking my doll.

Punished?

Remember I told you she becomes violent when she gets mad?

I'm guessing the girl couldn't get away from my mother...

who went senile and didn't know where to stop.

Whose idea was it to dump the body?

My wife and I.

We thought we had to hide it or we'd be finished.

But...

we were wrong.

We're truly sorry.

Do you still have the doll the girl broke?

Yes, in her room.

She saw it on TV and asked me for it.

I pretended I didn't know Spa-Pri to hide this.

♪If we hold hands and...

Pardon her for singing in a situation like this.

♪go on the path in the field...

Excuse me.

Sir...

I don't think you can get anything from her.

-What happened to her fingers? -What?

She must have been playing with lipstick.

Lipstick?

My little sister told me...

she'd steal the lipstick from her bag.

My father also suffered from dementia and painted his fingers with lipstick.

She must be copying him.

May I?

Um...

what's the problem?

Sorry, may I see the yard?

The yard?

You can stay here.

I never imagined she was the predator.

I'll make a report.

Hold on.

Those two are lying.

I'm going to confirm it.

We'll find out during questioning anyway.

Our job is not just to expose the truth.

How and when we expose it is more important.

This family is still hiding the truth.

And it shouldn't be exposed forcefully under interrogation.

It has to be exposed by them at their house.

Are you telling me the predator isn't the old lady?

We haven't talked to every family member yet.

The truth is in their eyes.

Look for it.

What are they doing in the yard?

I don't know.

Is your son upstairs?

We haven't talked to him yet.

Will you call him?

He doesn't know anything.

It's the rules to talk to everybody who is involved.

But he's not involved.

He's a family member. He's involved.

Thank you very much.

-I'll come back again. -Please do.

Um, did you still need something?

Please tell me...

what you're hiding.

Have you heard of the murder?

How did you feel about it?

I was surprised.

But she's senile, so you never knew what she'd do.

Was she violent?

I hardly saw her, so I don't know.

By the way, I heard you came home at 8 on that day.

What were you doing after school?

I was at an arcade.

Which arcade?

Star Fire.

If you were there for a while,

you should be on their security camera, right?

You went to several arcades, right?

Is she right, Naomi?

Yes.

Were you with a friend?

I was alone.

Do you go to the arcade alone a lot?

Yes.

You must love games.

Do you use a computer?

I do.

Oh, you have one.

Then...

do you like Spa-Pri?

Do you like it? Do you have figurines?

-It was my mother's. -I know.

But her room is on 1st floor, right?

Why was there a poster in the room upstairs?

Whose room really is that?

Naomi!

Hey!

He's still a kid. He's still shocked. Don't accuse him!

I'm not accusing him.

Don't worry about him. My mother did it.

And I dumped the body. He knows nothing!

Harumi.

Please let her talk to her mother one last time.

-Wait for Kaga's instructions. -Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

Will she be arrested?

Of course.

She committed a murder.

But she's not mentally competent to be held responsible.

She'll be evaluated.

But we don't know what her assessment will be.

Please see that she isn't treated harshly.

She's old and suffers from dementia.

She'll be treated like any other criminal.

-Even at the detention center. -Detention center?

Life in the detention center is very harsh.

The toilet is exposed.

It's hot in summer and cold in winter.

Endless lonely days.

Well, we don't know if a patient suffering from dementia would recognize those hardships.

Mr. Maehara.

Are you sure you're okay with this?

What do you mean?

Just checking.

Your mother can't explain her behavior.

And you explained her behavior for her, right?

Yes.

As a result...

she became a murderer and has gotten arrested.

Are you okay with that?

But...

that's...

what she did.

How do you feel now?

I mean, about your mother.

Since that day...

I can't think of her as my mother.

I'm sure she feels the same.

I see.

She's ready.

Matsumiya.

Cuff the suspect.

Cuff her?

-Hold on! She's just an old lady! -She's not just an old lady.

She's a suspect.

Cuff her.

Hold on.

If we cuff her, she might not be able to use her cane.

She needs a cane to walk outside, right?

Yes.

I'll go get it.

Oh.

Her red fingers...

Yes.

She used your sister's lipstick, right?

Yes.

The last time she came to this house was a day before the murder, right?

Yes.

That's strange.

Why?

If she painted her fingers a day before the murder,

you'd see a trace of red fingers on the neck of the body.

That's right.

Just like this.

I didn't see such traces on the body.

In that case...

did you...

wipe the lipstick when you dumped the body?

Yes, we did.

We wiped it, right?

Yeah.

Hold on.

Then why are her fingers still not wiped?

That's because...

She gets mad.

If I try to clean her fingers, she gets mad.

Just like my father did.

I see.

Now it all makes sense.

Give it to her.

Oh?

One of them isn't a charm.

(Maehara Masae)

(Let's make a name tag)

Hey, Akio is engraving his mom's name!

Give it back!

Masae. Masae. Masae.

Stop it! Stop!

You silly boy.

Don't fight anymore.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

I'll keep it forever.

Mom!

You still have this!

Mr. Maehara.

You said...

you committed the crime of illegally disposing of a body to hide the murder by your mother.

Is that right?

Yes.

You lied to protect your mother.

That's... right.

Are you sure that's right?

Yes, that's true.

Then...

why don't you tell her like this?

"I did it for you."

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

You said she's too senile to understand.

But she might feel your feelings.

Look into her eyes...

and say it!

I'm sorry!

It was a lie.

-Honey! -I can't!

I can't keep doing it. Let me stop it! I can't do it!

She's not the murderer!

I can't believe...

such...

her senile behavior ruined everything!

Honey!

The plan wasn't realistic.

How could I calculate my senile mother's behavior--

You still don't get it?

Mr. Maehara.

You're not able to see the truth at all.

This is the lipstick she used to paint her fingers.

I'm sorry.

I lied earlier.

This lipstick doesn't belong to your sister.

This is your mother's.

The real reason your sister brought the sandwich yesterday was...

to pick up this lipstick.

She got a phone call and the caller said...

"I want you to keep the lipstick for a while."

"You'll see the reason soon."

A phone call?

Actually...

she has a...

cell phone.

I bought it for her.

Don't tell me...

Mom.

You're not senile?

You knew that?

Of course! I'm her daughter!

Why was she pretending to be senile?

-Mom! -Why can't you tell?

She wanted to be in this house where she lived with Dad.

She was genuinely happy when you decided to move in.

But since your family moved in here,

Mom told me there's been no bond in this family.

You disappointed her and gave her no choice but to keep herself in her world.

You cornered her like that and now...

you... used her as a scapegoat!

She's so senile.

The police can't get anything from her.

The girl broke her favorite doll, so she killed her.

We have to go with this.

Mr. Maehara.

She wanted you to realize what you were doing was wrong.

She did?

She's been appealing for it quietly but desperately.

The gloves you used to dispose the body smelled bad.

By showing it to a detective in front of you,

she was asking you to give up.

But...

not only did you not notice her appeal,

you tried to cover it up with another error.

So she had to paint her fingers red.

To trap us?

No.

Where in the world is there a mother who traps her own child?

She was making an appeal.

"I could paint my fingers only a day before the murder.

So...

I couldn't have committed the murder."

She wanted you to come to your senses.

She tried to believe in her son till the end.

Harumi told you yesterday that your mother plays with lipstick.

That was at your mother's request.

I wanted you to realize her intent.

Do you have anything memorable that involves your mother and brother?

So I decided to have you see the cane.

When...

did you realize she wasn't senile?

When I looked in her eyes.

Excuse me.

Those eyes weren't senile.

She looked into my eyes and was telling me something.

Mr. Maehara.

Have you looked into your mother's eyes?

Mom.

Mom.

I'm really...

sorry.

Forgive me.

The one who killed the girl was...

my son.

My son, Naomi, did it.

Kyoichiro, he's upstairs.

Don't go, please.

Naomi! Naomi!

Yaeko!

I'll go get my son.

Naomi.

Come with me.

-Naomi! -No!

-No! -Naomi!

Naomi!

Collecting merchandise of the anime, Super Princess, was the victim's hobby.

The day before the murder, the victim saw the anime key holder on the bag of the suspect...

and initiated a conversation with him.

On the day of the murder, the suspect sent a picture of a figurine in an email...

and asked her to come see it. They met up at the park near his house.

The same picture and email in the suspect's computer was found in the victim's father's computer.

Thank you.

Regarding the motive, the suspect said the victim wanted to go home after seeing the figurine...

Mr. Kaga!

Thank you.

Take it. It's cheap.

I heard...

you made him turn himself in.

They realized their mistake, that's all.

I want to be a reporter like you some day.

I'm not a reporter, though.

Brother, can you hear me?

Brother.

It's Katsuko.

Brother!

Brother!

Brother!

Kyoichiro.

Has he passed away?

Yes.

I see.

6:30 a.m.

Why didn't you come?

Because of a silly reason.

When I went to see him last time...

he told me to leave.

Why do you think she was pretending to be senile?

What?

Mr. Maehara's mother.

That's because, just like the daughter said,

she didn't want to deal with her family anymore.

That's probably the main reason.

But not the only reason, I think.

-Her late husband was also senile, right? -Yes.

That's what I heard.

She took care of him.

Why did she act like her husband?

To understand?

To see how her husband felt?

Could be.

Old folks have...

or, maybe it's because they're old folks,

they have emotional scars that can't be healed.

The way to heal each scar depends on the person,

so people around them can't understand.

But what's important is...

even if you can't understand,

you have to respect it.

That's what I think.

Have you heard anything about when my mother died?

She was found in an apartment in Sendai.

There was nobody at her side.

She died alone.

Dad always regretted that.

Really?

He told me...

trying to imagine how much she probably wanted to see her only son before she died...

was heart-wrenching.

He also told me...

not to come see him until he died.

He probably decided...

to die alone like Mom.

Kyoichiro.

Thank you for taking care of him.

He died peacefully like he was falling asleep.

Okay.

I should go see his face.

He looks satisfied.

The nurse was playing Shogi with him.

No.

Actually...

I was only moving the pieces the way I was instructed by email.

Email?

When he moved his pieces,

I would report it by email.

Why don't you come with me?

To your father's hospital.

It's 67 gold. Takamasa went to bed.

Kanamori Tokiko

You were playing with him.

Although he didn't know.

I think...

he knew whom he was really playing with.

The game was almost over.

He was...

holding this in his hand.

It was his turn.

He probably wanted to put it here.

Nice hand.

You won.

Nice job.

Two Years Later

Kasugai Yuna

I went to see Maehara Naomi several times.

You did?

Little by little, he started talking.

About what he was like when he was small.

I'll keep interviewing him and write about him someday.

About the loneliness he suffered.

Although I'm not sure I can save him with my pen.

Let's go.

Kaga Kyoichiro said...

a detective's job is not only solving crime.

Not just apprehending a criminal,

but saving every person who is involved with the case.

That's what makes a real detective, like Kaga Kyoichiro.