"What kind of strange question is this?" said Kazama Tatsuya.
"Just answer, would you or wouldn’t you?" Kamei Yuusaku pressed on.
"Depends on the situation," Kazama Tatsuya replied noncommittally.
"If your wife had an argument with someone, lost her temper, and wanted to kill, would you help in that situation?" Kamei Yuusaku proposed a scenario.
"She’s not that kind of person," Kazama Tatsuya said.
"Talking to you is so dull," Kamei Yuusaku shook his head, "Isn’t it all crimes of passion these days? There’s no such thing as deep-seated grudges..."
"Spit out whatever you’re holding in," Kazama Tatsuya couldn’t stand it any longer.
"Over the years, I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon: in relationships, once a conflict arises, the man thinks about right and wrong, while the woman thinks about positions."
Saying this, Kamei Yuusaku placed two small stones on a rock, pointing to one he said, "This is the husband. He thinks if he hasn’t done wrong, then he’s right... I categorize his behavior as the ’not-involved principle’: as long as it’s a wrong thing, the husband will refuse to help the wife."
Then he pointed to the other stone and said, "This is the wife. She entrusts her future to her husband, thinking they share the same position... I categorize her behavior as the ’accomplice principle’: regardless of right or wrong, the wife only cares about the husband’s position."
After speaking, he turned his head and looked at Kazama Tatsuya:
"Have you noticed? Even people who share the same bed have insurmountable barriers between them. Logically, Yuuta would never indulge Riko’s tantrums, yet that night he still followed her to the rooftop... It indeed exceeded my expectations. So I’m thinking, the longer people are together, there might develop a dependency."
Kazama Tatsuya said, "That’s genuine affection between husband and wife."
Kamei Yuusaku snorted and did not comment.
"For all you’ve said, you still haven’t clarified the motive for murder," Kazama Tatsuya persistently said, seemingly very concerned about it.
Kamei Yuusaku was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing how to respond: "I’m conducting an experiment."
"An experiment?" Kazama Tatsuya furrowed his brow.
"Long ago, I devised a Perfect Murder Method but never had the chance to put it into practice," Kamei Yuusaku flicked a finger, sending the husband’s stone tumbling into the water.
Fushimi Roku grew interested, he took off the towel from his head and sat up straight, "Go on, explain."
For everyone, there is a desire to express. The pain of carrying secrets is no less than chronic constipation. Seeing Fushimi Roku’s interest, Kamei Yuusaku decided to say more.
"You should know, emotions between people are exceptionally subtle. The ’aura,’ this invisible and intangible thing, actually exists objectively."
Kamei Yuusaku stirred the spring water beside him, ripples spreading outward, "Some people, even if plain-looking, are the center of attention, while others, no matter how hard they try to stand out, remain invisible. Certainly, personality plays a part, but I personally believe that the first impression in human interaction depends on ’emotional scent.’"
"Everyone’s emotions have a scent."
Kamei Yuusaku looked up, slicking back his wet hair, his pupils like ancient wells, deep and unfathomable amidst the water’s ripples.
"The timid, like cattle and sheep, fear at the first sign of life; the arrogant, like lions and tigers, take delight in the hunt. When a group gathers, they eventually sort themselves into ranks. They don’t even need to talk or make eye contact; mere existence makes the strong cause discomfort to the weak."
"This is the ’Emotion Forest.’"
"A Gold Medal Salesman can always find gullible housewives; successful hosts don’t need looks to make women spend on them... Is it luck? Or are others too foolish? No, not at all, it’s just that predators are adept at spotting their prey in crowds."
"This society is like a massive forest, composed of diverse worldviews forming the forest’s ecosystem. If I’m not mistaken, with time, this society’s views will become increasingly diverse; the days of the united block generation are long gone."
"In the future, lions and tigers might raise rabbits; fox parents might rear chicks. The way a child forms their worldview is no longer solely dependent on their parents."
"Everyone’s worldview is like an animal. When worldviews clash, no one can change another; it only makes the strong stronger, the weak weaker. The family is the smallest social unit—how agonizing would it be if you’re a sheep living with wolf parents? How desperate would it be if you’re a mosquito working for a spider weaving webs?"
"What I speak of in the Perfect Murder Method is akin to hunting in the woods. Find the right prey, disguise as a kindred spirit, gain its trust, and you can slaughter it at will."
"For example, my gas stove has a faulty switch, loose and unable to close properly. You must turn the gas cylinder below to prevent a leak. Riko often says the stove should be replaced, and though Yuuta always nominally agrees, he never takes it seriously. To this day, that malfunctioning gas stove sits in my kitchen."
"If just once, even just once, Riko turns on the stove to make a hangover soup for Yuuta after he’s drunk, turns off the stove but not the gas cylinder, and then takes the dog out for a walk, she could achieve a ’Perfect Murder.’"
"Do you see? The closest people are the best murder targets. They expose their vulnerabilities without any guard. Every moment is an ideal murder opportunity; every piece of furniture is an invisible weapon."
"It’s not just me who understands this principle. Many hunters lurk in the shadows, even better at ’legal killing’ than I am... Such as the widow who consecutively kills wealthy husbands, children who insure their elderly parents for large sums, teachers using kids to slander others..."
"Someone told me a truth: human nature is animal nature—no matter how great a Saint, they are but a leader among beasts."
Kamei Yuusaku finished speaking and let out a deep breath.
By halfway through, Fushimi Roku had lost interest. He leaned back against the rock, his forehead covered by the wet towel, enjoying the comfort of the hot spring.
Kazama Tatsuya, however, had listened carefully, not missing a single word, saying, "It’s because they love you that you have the chance to hurt them... How can you ensure everyone loves you? Without your parents, who else can you hurt?"
"Want to make a bet?" Kamei Yuusaku suggested.
"Bet on what?" Kazama Tatsuya asked.
"Let’s bet that the next person to die will still love me," Kamei Yuusaku said.
"Who else do you want to kill?" Kazama Tatsuya raised his voice.
Kamei Yuusaku said with a bitter smile, "How could I bear to? To make others fall for you, you must first fall for them."