01x08 - Episode 8

[bunniefuu]

MARRIAGE MIXER

You're Ami Shirakawa?

Hinako Shinoda.

Is it okay if I tell Niko-chan your name?

Yes.

You'll probably be wearing name tags,

so let's have her approach you.

Okay.

That's pretty vague.

Will this work out?

I'll let her know.

You're Makiko Tanioka?

Yes.

Thank you for coming today.

Ms. Tanioka? Ms. Makiko Tanioka?

You left your bag.

I'm so sorry!

The third victim is Makiko Tanioka,

age 28.

Could I ask you a question?

Sure.

When did you get today's ticket?

In April.

That's a while ago.

Every member does.

It's so popular it fills up right away.

I suppose so.

Thank you.

KUWABARA

GOOD LUCK

Right, I'm supposed to meet with

this anonymous Niko-chan.

What was their relationship

to the late Ms. Tanioka?

A close friend, apparently.

Ms. Tanioka entrusted something

to Niko-chan before she died.

My job is to meet them in person

to find out what.

Sounds like you got stuck

with another tough assignment.

It's like the epitome

of a Sengoku Weekly job.

Well, I've been lying low

so nobody finds out I'm a reporter.

What if the k*ller is watching

you right now, though?

Then I'd get k*lled next.

I'll do my best.

Bye.

Okay!

Niko-chan.

Niko-chan.

They're taking so long.

Niko-chan.

Where are you?

What do you look like?

What do I do? I can't just

wait here for them the whole time.

I'll have them make an announcement!

Wait, hold on.

That would draw attention.

"Niko-chan, please come

to the reception counter."

What if a lot of people gather?

I don't know what they look like.

That won't work.

I can check everyone's name tags

and find someone who might

be called Niko-chan.

Wait, nicknames aren't that simple.

Maybe the nickname comes from their smile.

Do I need to make everyone smile then?

I can't do that.

I could pretend to call out to someone

and just shout out "Niko-chan!"

No, it would suck if nobody answered.

Everyone would look at me at once

and kick me out for acting crazy.

What do I do?

Niko-chan!

The Incident Team is trying

to track down Kubozuka,

but we're not having any luck.

Just sent it.

Thanks.

What's this?

What photos are these?

It's an industry party.

From stylists like me, to photographers,

designers, and aspiring models

so I thought they could be useful.

These are great.

Thanks.

Also,

you have any connections

with Komiyama's family?

No.

Her parents have passed away,

and her older sister died a few years ago,

leaving a son behind.

And she was single.

I see.

I thought it'd be helpful to meet them.

Okay. Thanks.

Wait, isn't today Hinako's thing?

It is, isn't it?

She hasn't checked in with me yet.

I wonder how it's going.

Hey, you got a second?

Sure.

I overheard you talking, you're a reporter

for the Sengoku Weekly, right?

Are you staking out a celebrity

or something?

I'm not doing that.

Sorry, but I hate the Sengoku Weekly.

You guys ended my favorite idol's career.

How about that?

- That's not

- What?

You're a tabloid reporter.

I don't know what your deal is,

but I'm looking for a husband.

You need to leave.

I'm telling reception

there's a tabloid reporter here.

Please wait!

This is payback for ending my idol.

I'm not the type of reporter

after some gossip.

I just work for Sengokusha's free PR zine.

So that's the type of lie that you tell?

I have proof!

Sengokusha puts out more

than just a tabloid.

We publish interviews like this too.

I'm just here as a woman

who works at a publisher.

Not for an assignment!

I'm glad you understand.

Ms. Shinoda?

Yes!

So your name is Hinako Shinoda.

Who's Makiko Tanioka then?

That reminds me, it did seem like

you didn't buy your own ticket.

I got it from a friend.

Yeah?

Makiko Tanioka is the same name

as a victim of those suspicious deaths.

Don't tell me.

That's the deal then?

You used a m*rder victim's ticket

to investigate a crime?

You suck!

You think tabloids

can do whatever they want?

You're on the wrong path as a human

for using a dead woman's name tag.

Could you not tell people I'm a reporter?

I bet you're numb to it already.

You're a piece of trash with no empathy.

Stop looking at your watch.

I mean, Tanioka's case

hinges on Ms. Shinoda right now.

Excuse me.

I got some new info.

The place where Harue Komiyama

and Kubozuka met

was a cave bar in Akasaka.

A cave bar?

The concept is that it's cool in summer

and warm in winter.

Where'd you get this info?

I got a tentative ID match

from the bartender.

Got it.

- Keep going in this direction.

- Okay.

Hello.

Hello, Hinako?

What is it?

Are you at the office?

I'm at Palazzo Ducale AZABU for work.

Wait, I was there last week

for a hula dance lesson.

You came all the way from Chiba? Sorry!

A famous instructor came

to teach a lesson, so I joined.

It's hard to keep up

if you're not regularly exercising.

My legs were jelly.

The instructor said "That's not

hula dancing, that's dizzy dancing!"

The whole class was cracking up.

Hello?

You listening?

Yeah, I am.

So, what did you want?

Your dad and I are coming to Tokyo

and wanted to grab dinner.

Okay, let me know

when you pick a date.

What are you doing there anyway?

You're not on another stakeout, are you?

It's not a stakeout.

I'm investigating undercover.

What? An undercover investigation?!

Get it together, Hinako!

You're working for a publisher!

Only Tom Cruise and Jack Bauer

are allowed to go undercover.

You're a young woman.

Another weird analogy?

But I get it.

I'll be fine.

Thanks for the call.

Anyway, I gotta get back to work.

Just call me back later.

I will.

Bye.

LET'S TALK

COME TO THE CHAPEL

It's from Niko-chan!

You wrote this note?

I'm sorry for the theatrics.

I just assume Niko-chan was a--

I just have some visual impairments

that makes me sensitive to light.

Would it be okay

if I kept my sunglasses on?

Yes, of course.

Am I right to assume your ticket

was originally Ms. Tanioka's?

That's what I was told.

Have you been entrusted with something

other than the ticket?

I thought that was you.

If you have an envelope, could I see it?

An envelope?

It's just a regular envelope.

Sorry.

One second.

Hello?

You're Hinako Shinoda?

Yes, that's me.

Who is it?

I don't know.

But I think it's a man.

Is someone there?

Could I see the envelope?

One second.

Hello?

Where are you right now?

The yard? The main hall?

Um, so who am I speaking to?

Does Niko-chan ring a bell?

Huh?

- What?!

- Give me the envelope, now!

What are you doing?

Are you okay?

Stop it!

Tell me where you are now!

Is this it?

Second floor, the chapel!

I'll be taking this.

We're heading downstairs.

You said you were visually impaired!

He's gone.

Where are you?

Oh. I think I found you.

Are you Ms. Shinoda?

Are you Niko-chan?

Tanioka and I have been friends

since we were teenagers.

She had a rough upbringing.

She would constantly say

how she would marry someone rich.

She's the one who found this party

and got tickets for us.

I came to fill the doctor quota.

DENTIS

NIKO-CHAN

I was looking forward to today

because I like pretty women.

But then that happened to Tanioka.

You received her ticket

right before she died, right?

She told me she didn't need it anymore.

She didn't need it?

She said she found the perfect mark.

That she won't need to suck up to

rich old men anymore

because she could collect hush money.

I think she found out someone's secret.

And then blackmailed them, but

I should've tried to stop her.

But she entrusted you

with something then, didn't she?

In case something happened to her?

I just met a guy in sunglasses.

That man came to take it!

Ow.

What's wrong?

Are you hurt?

I'm okay.

But I'm glad you didn't run into

the sunglasses man.

You would've been in danger

if he'd seen your face.

Are you really a tabloid reporter?

Your first instinct was my safety.

Shouldn't it be to see

what Tanioka gave me?

I can't believe it.

I should have some compresses

at the clinic.

Let's go get you patched up.

FIRST-AID KI

So?

I got it on.

Thank you.

Make sure to visit a clinic

if the pain doesn't go away.

Okay.

Be careful getting back home.

Could you tell me about it?

What did Ms. Tanioka entrust you with?

You really want to know?

I do!

What is it that you see with your eyes?

A scoop, right? You want to know

for your article.

The friends and family of the victims

are praying for the truth.

The k*ller hasn't been caught yet.

What can a gossip magazine do?

While I don't trust the cops,

tabloids are amateurs

without any authority.

What exactly can you do

with the information?

You think tabloids

can do whatever they want?

You're a piece of trash with no empathy.

Buzzing around human misery.

Only ever exposing their bad side.

That's how you make a living.

You're the worst.

Yes, I work for a publisher.

It's not my job to pretend to be

with the police and arrest criminals.

My job is to see the truth about the world

with my own eyes and tell the readers!

What truth about the world?

Celebrities having affairs?

An underground idol's true nature?

Nobody cares about that kind of truth.

Swarming around people's misery,

what truth?

You're right.

I couldn't say anything the last time

this was pointed out.

But there's one thing I know now.

The Sengoku Weekly

will go after anyone equally!

Even if the target is

a powerful politician, a popular athlete,

or one of our sponsors!

At the very least,

we don't just pick easy targets,

we put out anything and everything!

No matter what the circumstances are!

That's why I think the Sengoku Weekly

might be able to do something

to help bring to light

the truth behind Ms. Tanioka's death!

I'm sorry.

Okay.

I'll show you what she gave me.

Huh?

TO BE CONTINUED

Either way, we have to go hard and fast.

There's a real person behind the words.

Everyone who got in his way

met a tragic fate.

There's a good chance

that's what got her k*lled.

You mean all three are connected

to the case?