Toda Kyouji could see through Akikawa Kyousuke's inner thoughts at a glance.
And Akikawa Kyousuke had nothing to fear at this moment.
---
"Kyousuke Akikawa," he began, addressing him coldly.
"You must think that since the police haven't caught you yet, there's nothing I can do to you."
"You feel like you've handled each case so well that there won't be any evidence left behind, don't you?"
Toda Kyouji observed closely.
He noticed the slight twitch at the corner of Akikawa Kyousuke's eyes in response to his words.
This small reaction confirmed something important—it showed that he had struck another nerve.
---
Akikawa Kyousuke's confidence was gradually crumbling under the pressure of the truth.
"You might still be clinging to the belief that the Metropolitan Police can't touch you," Toda continued.
"But I'm sorry to disappoint you."
"I'm not like those weaklings who only follow the rules."
Toda Kyouji smiled at Akikawa Kyousuke.
---
Akikawa Kyousuke hadn't expected to end up here today.
How could he have anticipated that Toda Kyouji would have a backup plan?
---
When Toda asked Kyousuke yesterday about attending the film festival, it wasn't just to confirm his schedule for the day.
His other purpose was to ensure Kyousuke wouldn't be returning home.
---
In the past, when Toda wanted to catch a suspect for a crime without enough evidence, he used a simple yet effective method to gain access to their home.
When the suspect was away and unable to return, he would use the excuse of an "emergency search" to request cooperation from the apartment management company.
With their help, he would acquire the suspect's key and enter their residence to "find" evidence.
---
According to certain legal provisions, in emergencies, the police are permitted to conduct limited searches without obtaining a warrant.
Citizens are also required to cooperate.
Most people, upon seeing a criminal investigator from the First Investigative Section reveal their badge, would willingly comply.
Once the criminal was caught and their crime confirmed, this shoot-first, report-later method wouldn't result in any liability.
---
Of course, in most cases, Toda ensured no flaws would lead to complications.
After all, a private residence wasn't like a hotel, with dense camera coverage monitoring every move.
---
This time was no different.
Once it was confirmed that Akikawa Kyousuke wouldn't return home, Toda retrieved Kyousuke's current address from the government's household registration system.
Then he sent Nakajima Takuto to obtain the apartment key from the management company.
This gave them smooth access to Akikawa Kyousuke's home.
---
Even though Akikawa Kyousuke rented a fairly luxurious apartment in Shibuya, Toda's initial investigation revealed that the building only had one camera positioned at the automatic lock of the entrance and exit.
It was easy to avoid detection.
---
Toda Kyouji glanced at Akikawa Kyousuke, mentally calculating the time.
By now, Nakajima Takuto should have already entered Kyousuke's apartment.
---
If Takuto could find sufficient evidence to prove Akikawa Kyousuke was the murderer, he would call immediately.
If not, he'd simply "create" the evidence.
---
Was this illegal or unethical?
Toda Kyouji didn't care.
After all, he was punishing criminals to ensure the safety of Japan's citizens.
Therefore, his actions were justified.
---
Having spent so many years in the Organized Crime Countermeasures Bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department, Toda knew one thing well:
If your moral standards were too high, you couldn't compete with criminals.
After all, you'd never know how low they could sink.
---
'But it seems that step might be unnecessary this time,' Toda thought.
Though Akikawa Kyousuke himself lacked any physical fighting ability, his cunning made him more complicated to deal with than Nishihara Koichi, Ohga Takao, and others.
---
'But with the level you've shown so far, I don't even need a backup plan.'
'After all, Akikawa Kyousuke, you're just a slightly smarter criminal.'
---
Toda Kyouji knew it was time to proceed with the next familiar step.
The time had come to deliver the final blow and completely destroy the opponent's already fragile psyche.
---
"Kyousuke Akikawa," he said, his voice steady.
"You must think that by describing a motorcyclist, common enough on national highways, the police won't be able to investigate them one by one, right?"
"Heh. But I'm sorry to disappoint you again."
"The Metropolitan Police Department has compared footage from the entrances and exits of the national highway. They've investigated every suspect matching your description."
"Just yesterday, the Traffic Department confirmed that the last suspect has been interviewed, and it's clear they had no opportunity to commit the crime.
They also had a solid alibi for the time of the incident."
"In other words, that person is not the killer."
"So, the truth is simple—the real culprit can only be you, Akikawa Kyousuke!"
---
Toda Kyouji suddenly pointed at Akikawa Kyousuke and spoke in a deep voice.
He saw it clearly this time—Kyousuke's face showed the most obvious flicker of doubt he'd displayed all day.
---
"No! You're lying," Kyousuke said, his voice rising.
"There's no way you've checked everything! You must be lying to me!"
"If the evidence is so conclusive, why haven't you come to arrest me instead of just telling me this?"
---
"Oh? This time, instead of denying your crime, you're denying the Metropolitan Police's ability to investigate suspects one by one?"
Toda Kyouji smirked.
He saw Kyousuke's entire body sway slightly after another of his flaws was exposed. Then, Kyousuke leaned back against the seat behind him in the theater.
---
'It seems you can't even stay still anymore.'
'Your methods may be sophisticated, but your heart is too fragile, too weak.'
'A little pressure is enough to expose your weaknesses.'
---
Looking at Kyousuke's pale and trembling face, Toda couldn't help but smile.
He couldn't hide the pleasure on his face.
---
"Do you know why I haven't arrested you yet, even with all this evidence?"
"It's because I enjoy this moment the most—"
"I love seeing criminals like you, so proud of your own brilliance, break down when you realize you're falling into despair."
"I want to see you completely defeated, reduced to nothing more than a stray dog."
---
"You're a police officer. How can you say such things?" Kyousuke asked, his voice filled with shock.
He stared at Toda Kyouji as if he couldn't believe such words were coming from a cop.
---
"Don't worry. I wouldn't say this to ordinary citizens."
"You, Akikawa Kyousuke, are a criminal."
"To me, criminals aren't human. That's why they don't have human rights."
---
The moment Toda Kyouji finished speaking, a soft buzzing sound broke the silence.
Both men turned their attention to the source—a notification lighting up Akikawa Kyousuke's phone screen.
---
"Officer Toda," Kyousuke said, his tone calm yet unsettling.
"You said criminals aren't human and don't have human rights, right?"
"That's correct," Toda replied, crossing his arms with a smirk.
---
"In that case," Kyousuke continued, "if someone has committed a crime, I don't have to treat them as human either, do I?"
Kyousuke's words wiped the smirk off Toda's face.
The next thing he saw sent a chill down his spine.
---
The dagger, which had been in an evidence bag earlier, was now in Akikawa Kyousuke's hand.
(End of Chapter)