Today.
After Akikawa Kyousuke witnessed the death of Ryo Sogabe, all the confusion in his mind was finally clarified.
First, Ryo Sogabe was shot twice, even though one shot was enough to kill him.
After learning that Ryo Sogabe was also abusing morphine, it was easy to deduce that the killer wanted to use the bullet wounds to conceal the syringe marks on his arm.
"If my assumption is correct, Miho Soma, who died on the other side, should also have two bullet wounds."
Kyousuke Akikawa thought to himself.
As for why the killer chose to use a gun instead of replicating the method used to kill Tsunekazu Kosaka yesterday—it's because the person who killed Ryo Sogabe and Miho Soma is a completely different individual from the one responsible for Kosaka Tsunekazu's death.
The reason the killer decided to shoot Ryo Sogabe and Miho Soma was the same as shooting Sogabe Ryo in the arm:
To hide the fact that they were taking morphine.
If the cause of death is unclear, the Metropolitan Police Department would conduct a blood analysis during the forensic autopsy.
In other words, as long as the cause of death is apparent, the Metropolitan Police would not perform a blood test, and the fact that Ryo Sogabe and Miho Soma were using morphine would remain undiscovered.
Thus, to completely hide the truth about the illegal sale of morphine, Ryo Sogabe and Miho Soma had to die.
"As expected of a top student from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Medicine. You figured this out after a detective's interview yesterday and planned everything today."
"Shooting your 'guests' to cover up the fact that they were injecting morphine."
Akikawa Kyousuke looked at Takao Ohga, who was slowly waking up beside him, showing visible fear toward him, and said with a smile,
"Mr. Ohga, you truly are amazing."
"I remember that the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tokyo has the highest admission standards in Japan. It's said that those accepted there are among the brightest in the nation."
"You must have always been a star among your peers, from elementary school to junior high school."
"I can see that your confidence isn't innate but the kind of absolute confidence that only comes from countless successful experiences."
"You must always believe you're smarter than everyone else."
"You feel you can easily control others' thoughts and lives with your intellect."
Earlier, Akikawa Kyousuke had intentionally extended the time he compressed Takao Ohga's carotid artery.
As a result, Takao Ohga only regained consciousness several minutes later, suffering from headaches, nausea, and blurred vision.
Akikawa Kyousuke was certain that Takao Ohga currently had no strength to resist.
"What the hell do you want?!"
Takao Ohga glared at Akikawa Kyousuke, who towered over him with piercing blue eyes and an innocent smile.
Listening to this artist—whom he had only seen a few times and could barely name—expose his motives, life experiences, and inner thoughts left Ohga stunned.
The disconnect between Akikawa Kyousuke's outward appearance and his current behavior was extreme.
Exaggeratedly speaking, it felt as though the soul of a demon had been placed inside the body of a harmless rabbit.
The mismatch between Kyousuke Akikawa's looks and his words or actions at that moment left Takao Ohga questioning his own ability to judge people.
He had no idea how Akikawa Kyousuke had discovered his plan, nor did he understand how this artist knew so much about firearms and professional strangulation techniques.
He couldn't predict what this seemingly innocent man intended to do next.
Takao Ohga watched as Akikawa Kyousuke approached him, holding a syringe filled with morphine.
The unknown turned into an overwhelming fear that consumed Takao Ohga entirely, causing his body to tremble uncontrollably as he lay on the ground.
"It's nothing serious. I'm just a bit curious—what did I do to provoke you into targeting me?"
Akikawa Kyousuke's polite question made Takao Ohga's entire body tense. He had no idea how to respond.
Silence filled the room.
Suddenly, Takao Ohga felt Akikawa Kyousuke lift his foot and step on his arm.
Moments later, pain radiated from his elbow as the needle pierced his skin.
"The cubital vein? How does he even know this?!"
The precision with which Kyousuke Akikawa located his vein was more terrifying to Takao Ohga than anything else.
Before he could recover from his shock, he saw Akikawa Kyousuke take another ampoule from the box.
Using his fingertips, Kyousuke snapped off the ampoule's neck and drew the liquid into a syringe.
"There are two drugs in the box—medical morphine and naloxone hydrochloride."
"To my knowledge, medical morphine is an opioid with sedative effects."
"Naloxone hydrochloride, on the other hand, is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdoses."
"Mr. Ohga, you seem uncomfortable from a morphine overdose. Let me help you block its effects."
"If you want to introduce me to Director Hotta, this will be my gift in return."
As Kyousuke Akikawa spoke, he inserted the syringe filled with naloxone into Takao Ohga's deltoid muscle and slowly pressed the plunger.
Ohga Takao's complexion turned pale, and his entire body began to tremble violently.
"Ah, I forgot! Although naloxone can quickly block the effects of morphine, it seems to cause severe withdrawal symptoms."
Akikawa Kyousuke feigned sudden realization, his face expressing surprise and apology.
Indeed, naloxone is an opioid antagonist.
While it reverses opioid overdoses, it can also trigger withdrawal symptoms that are excruciating for most people—intense pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and general discomfort.
Ignoring Takao Ohga writhing on the ground, Akikawa Kyousuke opened the door and stepped out of Hotta Yoshitoki's private lounge.
"See you later, Mr. Ohga."
Before leaving, Akikawa Kyousuke smiled at the trembling Ohga Takao, then closed the door behind him and walked away.
As Takao Ohga watched Akikawa Kyousuke leave, he endured his physical discomfort and crawled toward the door.
Even now, Akikawa Kyousuke's terrifying, devilish smile echoed in his mind—a fear stronger than any physical pain.
Takao Ohga reached the door, forced himself to stand, and shut it firmly.
Finally, he isolated himself from that demon.
He never wanted to see Akikawa Kyousuke's face again.
But just as Takao Ohga turned to hide the box of drugs on the table, his body, weakened by withdrawal symptoms, reached its limit.
Overcome by anxiety and fear, Takao Ohga collapsed to the ground with a resounding "thud."
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"I hope all readers continue reading. Thank you ~"
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(End of Chapter)