Chapter 0005: Ikezawa Yuko
Snap, snap…
Hearing the sound of the shutter, Ikezawa Yuko was startled. "What are you photographing?"
Kogoro Mouri was fiddling with a compact Sony camera. He glanced at the photo, which was incredibly clear.
"Evidence of you committing murder," Kogoro Mouri said with a faint smile.
A flash of panic crossed Yuko-san's face. "What are you saying? Murder? How could I possibly kill someone?"
"You did kill someone, though you might not even realize it yourself. There's blood on your bracelet," Kogoro said as he gently removed the bracelet from her wrist. He displayed a dried bloodstain before casually pocketing it.
"What are you doing? Give it back!" Yuko-san, now resembling a raging banshee, lunged toward him. Kogoro easily fended her off and pointed to the camera, which was recording everything.
Realizing this, Yuko-san's body lost all strength, and she collapsed onto the floor.
"The man you killed wasn't a good person at all. Do you know what I found in his pocket? Handcuffs, a sedative, and this Sony camera."
Kogoro displayed the items one by one. He had secretly collected them while investigating the corpse, before Inspector Megure arrived.
"If my deduction is correct, this man had been stalking Yoko-san for a while. His plan was likely to ambush her when she was alone, drug her, and assault her. Then he would photograph her and blackmail her into submission, turning her into his personal ATM. But instead of Yoko-san, he encountered you, Yuko-san, as you came to steal her song. Since neither of you turned on the lights, he didn't realize he had the wrong person. He tried to threaten you with a knife."
"But he didn't know that not only are you a talented actress and singer, but also skilled in karate. During your struggle, you accidentally stabbed him to death."
"After the murder, you attempted to clean up the scene and create a false narrative. You poured hot water nearby, toppled a chair, and set the air conditioner to a high temperature to stage a suicide. However, your methods were not flawless. There were many clues left behind. You didn't clean the fingerprints from the scene, you left behind an earring, and although you changed out of your bloodstained clothes, you forgot to replace this bloodied bracelet."
Tears rolled down Yuko-san's cheeks. "Enough! Stop it, you devil! Were you watching me the whole time? How do you know all this? I didn't want to kill him! He tried to assault me; I fought back in self-defense. I'm innocent!"
"I'm innocent!" she repeated, her face lighting up with hope. "Yes, I'm not guilty at all."
Kogoro adjusted his jacket. "You're right, you're innocent. But what do you think your fans will say if they find out their idol killed someone? Regardless of whether it was self-defense, your career would be over."
Yuko-san froze, her eyes locked onto Kogoro's. If her fans discovered she had killed someone, accidental or not, her career in entertainment would be ruined. No one would want to work with a murderer.
She pleaded, "Kogoro-san, please don't tell anyone. I'll do anything you want!"
Seeing the proud beauty now so submissive, Kogoro's eyes gleamed with a heated intensity. "That man's death was his own fault. I can clear you of this, but you'll have to pay the price."
Kogoro reached out toward Yuko-san.
"Not here, please," she murmured, lightly pushing against his chest. Her resistance was feeble, almost nonexistent.
"Don't worry, no one will hear us."
Kogoro's hand moved to Yuko-san's thigh. Years of dance training had made her legs firm yet supple to the touch. He kissed her passionately as his other hand slid up her waist, finding something soft.
(This portion omits extensive details.)
(Ultimate Harem Fan: "Hey everyone! If you'd like me to include an erotic scene of my own in this story, feel free to let me know in the comments. For those on Scribble Hub, there's also a poll available—but no worries if you're not on the platform, you can simply leave a comment here. That said, I might still skip the erotic part unless a Patreon subscriber specifically requests it. Rest assured If you subscribed, there will be plenty of chances for steamy scenes in upcoming chapters! If you ask for it, I'll make sure to write it all.)
Meanwhile, inside the apartment, due to the effects of a low-grade illusionary device, neither Inspector Megure, Yoko-san, nor the forensic officers heard anything. They remained focused on their tasks.
About 40 minutes later, Kogoro emerged from the restroom, looking refreshed. This time, he had rushed to save on using another illusion card, but it seemed Yuko-san had paid a hefty price. She had lost the virtue she had painstakingly preserved in hopes of marrying into wealth.
Yuko-san, now disheveled, felt her dreams of a glamorous future crumble. Ignoring her despair, she quickly dressed and began cleaning up any traces of what had transpired.
In Japan, a land of contradictions, the general public often has open attitudes about such matters, but the upper echelons remain conservative and prize chastity. As an aspiring star aiming to marry into a prominent family, Yuko-san had taken great care to protect herself. Yet now, in the restroom of her rival's apartment, she had been violated by a man she barely knew.
Though devastated, Yuko-san knew she had to maintain her composure. She adjusted her clothes and stepped out as if nothing had happened.
Kogoro exited the restroom unnoticed, as if he had never been there. With five minutes remaining, he pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the fingerprints from the murder weapon—a knife he had examined earlier.
Satisfied, Kogoro smirked. "Now it's time to present the truth I want the world to see."