01x07 - Episode 7

[bunniefuu]

It's not a coincidence!

How did I not notice until now?

MYSTERIOUS DEATHS

KOTA KUBOZUKA

Mr. Aoshiro is connected

to the serial mysterious deaths.

SPECIAL RECEPTION ROOM

Okay, here we go.

Thank you.

Thank you.

My clothes were okay.

Sorry for the commotion.

I took a few pics up front.

Okay.

Please don't be so nervous.

Once again, thank you for coming in today.

It's my pleasure.

First, I wanted to get your thoughts on

common labor issues from the perspective

of a young businessman.

Let's see.

Regarding labor issues,

we have to address older and younger…

RECORDING

QUESTION SHEE

It's no use, none of this

is entering my brain.

What do I do?

He's not the culprit

of any incidents, is he?

I thought I was talking to an empty shell

when the interview started.

I'm terribly sorry.

But then you got over it

and finally relaxed.

You really grabbed my interest.

Thank you.

- Okay, I can see myself out from here.

- Sure.

Let me know when it will be published.

I will.

Have a good day.

Thank you.

It would be even more amazing if you

could exchange personal numbers with him.

What do I do?

If he really is involved in these deaths,

giving him my contact is dangerous.

But if he is involved, I know it's best

if I can create a personal connection.

What do I do?

Wait, excuse me!

If you would like to meet up again

sometime, this is my private information.

I could tell you about what goes on behind

the scenes at a tabloid.

I would be interested in that.

You'd tell me?

Yes, off the record.

Sounds interesting.

Later then.

Thank you for your time.

You can head down.

Could you confirm one thing for me?

What's that?

I'm sure you know about Kota Kubozuka,

the fugitive for the serial

mysterious deaths.

Is it just a coincidence that Kubozuka

and Aoshiro are from Niigata?

Did Murai tell you something?

Even if you happen to notice or

realize something in the middle of it,

try to keep your poker face.

But they're not the same age,

so they're not connected, right?

They both went to the same elementary

and middle schools.

Do they know each other?

Kubozuka frequently got in trouble

since he was young,

and was sentenced with probation

while in high school.

You knew that, right?

Yes.

He came to Tokyo after that, and met up

with Aoshiro a number of times.

I can't believe they're connected.

One is a suspect in suspicious deaths,

the other a young fashion tycoon.

Do you know something else?

You weren't put on this job last minute

because they were worried about me, right?

It was my chance to see

Seiya Aoshiro up close.

Up until today

I only got him from afar.

What?

How long were you watching him?

You should hear the rest from Murai.

Does Mr. Aoshiro know where Kubozuka is?

I have no idea.

SEIYA AOSHIRO:

THIS IS AOSHIRO

It's from Mr. Aoshiro.

What should I do?

What?

Things are getting interesting!

Let's not waste any food.

Mr. Murai.

Welcome back.

I wanted to ask you something.

Is it true that Aoshiro and Kubozuka

are old acquaintances

from the same hometown?

Suzaki must have told you.

Yes.

NATURAL GREEN TEA

Are you scared?

To be honest,

yes.

Will I have to interview him again?

That's up to you.

Someone else can do it if you're scared.

Nobody's forcing you.

I got a reply from Mr. Aoshiro.

- I managed to get his personal contact.

- Oh?

This is wonderful.

This is plenty already!

All you'd need to do is contact him,

and we'll do the rest.

You really did a great job.

Thank you.

But…

He gave me his personal number

because he trusted me, right?

If someone else showed up,

it would be like I betrayed him.

If he's really connected to Kubozuka,

I feel like I'd meet the real him

when I ask him that.

I want to hear it from him directly,

without any pretense or reservations.

So…

Would you allow me to do this?

Please!

Okay.

We might ask you to in due time.

I'm reassured knowing you're willing

to tackle this yourself.

Thank you.

Mr. Murai.

You had a call from that stylist, Iijima.

I told her you'll call her back.

Did she say anything?

She said to bring a young woman.

What's that about?

No idea.

- But it can't be you, apparently.

- Huh?

Why not?

Well, thanks.

Something's set in motion.

I feel like I'm getting dragged

into something again.

Or maybe I'm already involved in it.

Actually, it almost feels like

I dragged myself into it.

Excuse me, you called for me?

I should give you a proper explanation.

- Can you take notes?

- Yes.

The first incident.

The deceased is Harue Komiyama, age 39,

a beauty consultant.

Her cause of death was strangulation

from the straps of her bag.

They're exploring both routes of it

being an accident or m*rder.

The day before her death,

a witness had seen her with Kubozuka.

The second victim is Yuko Kizaki,

age 32, office worker.

Her cause of death was strangulation

by a thin rope.

It's declared a m*rder.

There was a crack in the case,

and the fingerprints at the scene

are identified as Kubozuka's.

What?

The building cameras also caught a figure.

And chances are high it's Kubozuka.

This case, too?

The third victim is Makiko Tanioka,

age 28, a jewelry shop worker.

Her cause of death was traumatic shock

from injuries she sustained

in a car accident.

But as they found sedatives

in her bloodwork,

it's being explored as a possible m*rder

as well.

When they checked her phone logs,

they found an exchange with Kubozuka.

They were supposed to meet that day.

Footprints from near the accident

matched with the footprints

from the second case.

In other words, the only thing

tying the victims together

is their contact with Kubozuka.

That's everything we know about

the serial accidental deaths.

Um, I've been thinking about something.

About Aoshiro?

Yes.

Kubozuka and Mr. Aoshiro were

in contact in Tokyo, right?

Is he connected to the crimes?

This hasn't been made public,

but we have information that Aoshiro

knew the second victim.

Yuko Kizaki.

From what we heard,

Aoshiro was quite shocked.

He refuses to believe Kubozuka

is involved.

Apparently, Aoshiro told Kubozuka

he wants him to turn himself in

and prove his innocence.

So Mr. Aoshiro isn't involved

with the case.

Yuko Kizaki's body was discovered

the day after her death.

Aoshiro was actually in Singapore

for business

over the entire week at the time

of her death.

So he has an alibi.

It appears he does.

I'm a little relieved.

Do you know her?

EMIKO IIJIMA

No, I don't.

She's a stylist I know called Iijima.

The reason we know all these details

is because Iijima picks up

all sorts of rumors.

What got you looking into these cases

in the first place?

When the first case was reported

on the news,

I got a call from Iijima.

Komiyama's my best friend!

She wouldn't k*ll herself there!

But still,

Sengoku Weekly needs some sort of proof

it could've been m*rder to take action.

Komiyama was attending modeling seminars.

Someone there might know something.

What's this picture?

A group photo of the attendees.

They're all aspiring models.

Komiyama's on the far right.

Actually, right before she died, she told

me she was going on a date with a guy.

But she didn't tell me who.

Iijima helped facilitate interviews

with those girls,

questioning each of them on our behalf.

Save for one of them, Madoka Hashimoto,

who she could never reach.

So you sent me to find her workplace.

You did great,

but we still don't know where she is.

You didn't know Kubozuka was involved in

Ms. Komiyama's death at the time, right?

The unnatural death and the missing

school girl felt fishy, so I ran it down.

I had no idea it would be connected

to other murders.

After a second and third case

and the announcement of a wanted fugitive,

my job switched to tracking down Kubozuka.

And she was the catalyst.

Right, and this Ms. Iijima

found a friend of the third victim,

Makiko Tanioka.

- What?

- I want to get more details,

but she's demanding a young woman.

She'll explain why after we meet.

So you brought me in?

Okay.

Let's go.

Huh? Right now?

- Yup.

- What?

You said you wouldn't talk unless

I brought a young woman.

So I did what you asked.

Don't say it like that.

STYLIS

EMIKO IIJIMA

So what about Tanioka's friend?

She coming here?

Tanioka's best friend.

NIKO-CHAN

Niko-chan?

My best friend told me about her,

but neither she or I have met her.

No picture, no real name,

won't answer the phone,

meaning she's extra careful.

Have you exchanged messages?

Yes.

Ms. Tanioka asked Niko-chan

to hold onto something for her

shortly before her death.

But she won't tell me what.

If she knows something about the case,

I told her she should tell the cops.

But she said she hates cops,

so she refused.

So the police don't know either.

And when I asked to meet her in person,

she asked for my address.

That's when I got a party invite.

Party invite?

A mixer held by a marriage agency.

Niko-chan's going to be there

this coming Sunday.

She told me to meet her there.

Whose invite is this?

Ms. Tanioka said she didn't need to go

to the mixer because she found a good man

and gave it to Niko-chan.

Which she sent to me.

So that means…

We have to attend this mixer

to meet Niko-chan.

Only a woman in her 20s can enter

the party with this ticket.

Which is why I asked for a young woman.

I see.

I've never been to a marriage mixer.

Could be a good experience then.

We need to confirm things first.

Right.

What should I wear--

No, not that.

Even if we got in with this ticket,

how do we meet Niko-chan?

That's what we need to confirm.

Oh, like that?

Nice.

By the way, you should avoid black.

I appreciate the advice.

You own a different bag, right?

Let me see you without your glasses.

Okay.

Leave them on.

- What?

- It's better with them on.

I've never dressed like this before.

Is this okay?

What if I end up with a boyfriend?

Wait, no.

I'm undercover today.

I have to blend in without standing out.

Your posture is important.

First, straighten up your back.

Take small, dainty steps.

And smile naturally.

Then you're set!

Nothing to worry about!

You're Makiko Tanioka?

Yes.

Thank you for coming today.

Ms. Tanioka? Ms. Makiko Tanioka?

You left your bag.

I'm so sorry!

TO BE CONTINUED

An undercover investigation?!

What are you doing? Stop it!

What was their relationship

to the late Ms. Tanioka?

You suck! You think tabloids

can do whatever they want?

My job is to see the truth about the world

with my own eyes and tell the readers!