Akikawa Kyousuke was carried into the ambulance by the emergency team, under the shocked and astonished gazes of many tourists.
The ambulance doors closed, and then the vehicle began to move slowly.
Inside the ambulance, the paramedics checked Akikawa's airway after stopping the bleeding.
After confirming that Akikawa's airways were clear, they connected him to an oxygen machine to prevent insufficient oxygen supply caused by blood loss.
Once they monitored Akikawa's vital signs and confirmed his life was not in danger, the paramedics breathed a sigh of relief.
However, due to significant blood loss, Akikawa Kyousuke's face had turned pale.
For this reason, a pulse oximeter was also connected to monitor his blood oxygen saturation.
---
Typically, a pulse oximeter is placed on the patient's finger.
To ensure the probe and the measurement area are clean and dry, the patient's fingers must be wiped with alcohol to remove any grease, dirt, or blood.
Due to the urgency, the paramedics didn't have much time to clean all the blood from Akikawa's hands.
Instead, they used tweezers to hold cotton soaked in medical alcohol, focusing on cleaning the fingers of Akikawa Kyousuke's right hand, where they intended to attach the pulse oximeter.
As for other parts of his body, they were hastily cleaned without much care before connecting the pulse oximeter.
---
After completing this, the paramedics began preparing an intravenous injection to replenish Akikawa Kyousuke's bodily fluids and blood volume.
Japanese ambulances are typically staffed with a driver, a paramedic, and an emergency lifeguard.
With such limited personnel, there was essentially no time to waste.
Akikawa Kyousuke gripped his left hand tightly and flexed the fingers of his right hand, the ones not attached to the pulse oximeter.
He closed his eyes and began recalling everything that had transpired.
---
Yesterday.
Akikawa Kyousuke had asked through Kyouji Toda whether he would attend the film festival today.
He determined that Toda Kyouji was confirming whether he would return home, likely planning to take action against him.
Of course, Akikawa Kyousuke wasn't 100% certain, but he doubted Toda Kyouji's inquiry about his schedule was meaningless.
Thus, Akikawa Kyousuke replied that he would continue attending the film festival today, setting the stage for Toda Kyouji to meet him.
---
This morning.
At breakfast, Akikawa Kyousuke overheard Suzuki Sonoko and the others discussing their plans.
They intended to watch Sakura Rain by Director Tanaka first, then head to Soma Miho's screening room to view The Sound of Silence, a film specially prepared for them by the festival organizers.
Two days ago, during the filming day of the festival, Ohga Takao had first shot and killed Sogabe Ryo.
He then proceeded to Soma Miho's exhibition room to shoot Soma Miho, finally heading to Hotta Yoshitoki's private hall to await Akikawa Kyousuke.
---
As for why Ohga Takao killed Sogabe Ryo first and then Soma Miho, the reason was simple.
Soma Miho's personal exhibition room was relatively close to Hotta Yoshitoki's exhibition hall.
Only two exhibition rooms were out of service at the festival today: Sogabe Ryo's and Soma Miho's.
---
After parting ways with his agent, Miss Itakura Misaki, Akikawa Kyousuke headed straight for Hotta Yoshitoki's exhibition room.
Following his interaction with Hotta Yoshitoki, Kyousuke appeared to wander aimlessly.
Yet, the scope of his activities remained strategically close to Hotta Yoshitoki's exhibition room.
The purpose was clear—to ensure that Toda Kyouji, who might appear before him, would lead him to Soma Miho's screening room, where Sera Masumi and the others would arrive by noon.
---
Perhaps Toda Kyouji thought:
Whether he had unexpectedly confronted Akikawa Kyousuke today or guided him to Soma Miho's exhibition room, it was entirely Kyousuke's own free will.
In truth, however, these were all orchestrated by Akikawa Kyousuke.
---
Akikawa Kyousuke understood that for intelligent individuals, the last thing they would likely question was their own judgment.
The film Sakura Rain, which Mouri Ran and the others had planned to watch, was screened from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Ran and the others had mentioned buying rice balls in advance and bringing them to the screening area for lunch.
This meant they wouldn't spend much time eating.
---
It took about 25 minutes to walk from Director Tanaka's screening room to Soma Miho's.
Although Akikawa Kyousuke didn't know the exact time of their arrival, knowing an approximate timeframe was sufficient.
What mattered was delaying as much as possible, aligning the timing with Sera Masumi and the others' arrival at Soma Miho's screening room.
---
During this period, Akikawa Kyousuke also ensured Toda Kyouji believed he had the upper hand, luring him into attacking the police.
Based on Toda's judgment and the confessions of Nishihara Koichi and Ohga Takao, it was clear to Toda that Kyousuke wasn't unintelligent.
Thus, merely pretending to be naïve wouldn't fool Toda Kyouji.
---
Akikawa Kyousuke's script was carefully crafted.
First, he played the part of an innocent child as much as possible.
Once Toda began exposing him gradually, Kyousuke revealed glimpses of his true capabilities.
After gaining the upper hand in their confrontation, Kyousuke deliberately displayed weaknesses, enticing Toda to execute a desperate counterattack.
---
The success of this plan hinged on whether Toda truly believed in Kyousuke's performance.
Fortunately, Akikawa Kyousuke possessed knowledge of psychology and microexpressions, enabling him to judge Toda's internal thoughts through his reactions.
---
When Toda Kyouji thought he had pushed Kyousuke to reveal his true self in a desperate situation, he would undoubtedly implement his final move—just as he had with other prisoners at the Metropolitan Police Department.
He would deliberately leave objects nearby that could be used as weapons, exposing himself to vulnerability to provoke an attack.
---
This was the final act of Akikawa Kyousuke's plan—creating the illusion that Toda Kyouji was attempting suicide.
Toda Kyouji's overconfidence in his methods for coercing prisoners to attack law enforcement played a critical role.
Believing Kyousuke was cornered, Toda would lower his guard, allowing the blame to shift seamlessly.
---
Toda Kyouji was different from Nishihara Koichi or Ohga Takao.
He had fewer reservations about revealing the truth, something Kyousuke had known from the start.
Thus, to deceive the detectives and successfully frame Toda, it was essential to sever all connections to the "murder weapon."
---
The key to this lay in the candles and lighters Kyousuke had received from Ohga Takao two days ago.
(End of Chapter)