The Next Day
Things had taken a turn for the worse for Ohga Takao.
He had been transferred from Minato Ward Hospital to the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Department in Chiyoda Ward.
In the interrogation room of the Third Criminal Investigation Division under the First Investigation Section, Takao Ohga met the detective sent to question him: Toda Kyouji.
"Let's have a little chat."
"Allow me to introduce myself briefly. My name is Toda Kyouji. I'm the second-in-command of the Criminal Investigation Department."
Kyouji Toda greeted Takao Ohga with his customary opening remarks.
"Let me take a quick look at your resume. Hmm, you're quite impressive—a top student from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Medicine. Outstanding."
"After graduating, you worked as a neurologist at the University of Tokyo Hospital for four years before transitioning to plastic surgery."
"Later, due to a medical accident, you voluntarily left the affiliated hospital and opened your own plastic surgery clinic catering specifically to individuals in Japan's entertainment industry."
"A truly successful individual!"
Kyouji Toda read Takao Ohga's personal background aloud, commenting with feigned admiration.
"By the way, if I may ask, could you help me get rid of this scar over my eye?"
As Toda Kyouji spoke, he looked up at Takao Ohga, pointing to the scar above his right eye with curiosity.
"Tsk."
Takao Ohga clicked his tongue in disdain.
It was clear the detective sitting across from him was deliberately provoking him.
As for whether he could remove the scar? Of course he could.
With his skills, he could repair even a completely disfigured face, let alone Toda Kyouji's scar.
These thoughts ran through Takao Ohga's mind as he observed the detective smiling at him.
"I'm just joking. I wouldn't dare ask you for treatment."
"Who knows? You might paralyze my entire face."
"What do you mean by that?"
Takao Ohga caught the sarcasm in Toda Kyouji's words.
"Did that guy Hotta accuse me of disfiguring him intentionally?"
"It wasn't Mr. Hotta, but rather a screenwriter named Oda."
"Oda Ema?! I knew that woman was just a crazed fan of Hotta. Even after all these years, she still believes I intentionally disfigured him."
"Then, does that mean Miss Oda's judgment is correct?"
Kyouji Toda rested his elbows on the table, intertwining his fingers, and looked at Takao Ohga with amusement.
"Regardless of the facts, do you think anyone would answer 'yes' in this situation?"
Takao Ohga retorted with indifference.
"Actually..."
Kyouji Toda nodded, seemingly agreeing with Takao Ohga's reasoning.
"I don't particularly care about what happened back then, nor am I interested in investigating it further."
"To be honest, I'd prefer if that incident was just an accident. Do you know why?"
"Isn't it because the statute of limitations hasn't expired yet?"
"If that wasn't an accident, it might lead to an investigation into what really happened back then."
Takao Ohga dismissed Toda Kyouji's question.
In his eyes, all the officers of the Metropolitan Police Department were fools.
"No, no, no, Mr. Ohga, you've got it wrong this time."
Kyouji Toda waved his hands in mock disagreement before clasping them again and leaning slightly forward.
"Because Miss Oda is the murderer who caused the death of Kosaka Tsunekazu."
"What did you say?!"
Takao Ohga's face immediately registered shock.
Up until now, he had assumed it was just an accident.
"Miss Oda believed that you had intentionally disfigured Mr. Hotta. So, she took the opportunity to swap out the non-alcoholic beer at the banquet with real alcohol."
"As a result, Kosaka Tsunekazu consumed alcohol, which triggered respiratory depression and led to his death."
Kyouji Toda smiled as he watched the shock spread across Takao Ohga's face.
"That's why I'm hoping that incident with Hotta was just an accident."
"She killed Kosaka Tsunekazu, and you killed Ryo Sogabe and Miho Souma because of Kosaka Tsunekazu."
"In the end, you two pieces of scum ended up imprisoned, but the cause of it all was a misunderstanding. Isn't that hilarious?"
As Kyouji Toda spoke, he burst into laughter, clapping his hands loudly.
The sharp sound of his applause echoed in the confined interrogation room.
Ohga Takao was nearly trembling with rage at Toda Kyouji's mocking demeanor.
"How did someone like you become a detective? You're no better than a thug loitering on Custom Street!"
Before Takao Ohga could finish his sentence, a deafening boom filled the room.
The words in Takao Ohga's mouth were completely drowned out.
It turned out that Kyouji Toda had slammed his fist onto the metal table in front of Takao Ohga.
The smile on Toda Kyouji's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sinister expression.
He leaned close to Takao Ohga and said in a low, menacing voice:
"I suggest you think carefully before you speak. Don't compare me to scum like you."
Takao Ohga was momentarily stunned by Toda Kyouji's sudden outburst. When he regained his composure, he smirked disdainfully at him.
"Didn't I just say you're no better than a thug? What are you going to do? Hit me? Hmmm—"
Before Takao Ohga could finish his taunt, he felt a sharp, hammer-like pain in his stomach.
The agony was so intense it nearly made him black out. His organs felt like they had been turned inside out, flooding his brain with excruciating pain.
He drooled uncontrollably as a thick notebook fell from his abdomen with a plop.
Toda Kyouji picked up the notebook, dusted off the shoe prints with a smile, and turned back to Takao Ohga.
Before Ohga could recover from the blow, Toda grabbed his hair and slammed his head against the metal table.
The sound of the collision rang out loudly, and Takao Ohga's vision blurred.
"Mr. Ohga, it seems you've misunderstood something."
"You don't seriously think you still have human rights after committing a crime, do you?"
"I'm going to ask you some questions now, and you'd better tell me the truth."
"Otherwise, with just a few words from me, you could be sentenced to death."
"Drug trafficking, firearm-related murders, attempted framing, and a poor confession attitude—you're a 'top student' from the University of Tokyo. Surely you understand the consequences of your crimes in court, right?"
Toda Kyouji deliberately emphasized "top student" as he spoke.
"Isn't this just torture for a confession?!"
Takao Ohga shouted angrily.
"Torture for a confession? Are you joking?"
Toda Kyouji laughed.
"The evidence of your drug trafficking and double murders is already solid. Why would I need to torture you for a confession?"
"I'm not interested in how Ryo Sogabe and Miho Souma died."
"But the Metropolitan Police Department heard from another detective that there might be a hidden secret in this case. That's why I was sent to get the details from you."
"What happened back then that made you break down in Hotta Yoshitoki's private lounge?"
---
(Note: In Japan, morphine is classified as a controlled substance, not a drug. Takao Ohga violated the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act by trafficking morphine. However, due to the quantity involved, he was charged with drug trafficking.)
(End of the Chapter)