[Hokkaido Police Academy Scandal: Inside the Case of the Lewd Instructor Murder]
The local newspaper "Morning Reading News" featured this report as its headline, printing it overnight to get it out before the murderer confessed. As time passed, public opinion began to ferment and multiply.
Just looking at the headline was sensational enough that commuters passing newsstands would grab a copy. For 100 yen, it’s a scandal worth following.
Little did they know, upon opening the paper, they would find this story fresher than a Yubari melon. With its convoluted plot, poignant characters, and rich elements, it was astonishing. It included revenge, manipulation, female officers, female trainees, as well as the killer’s confession and reflection, making it an engaging drama of the year satisfying both popular and critical tastes.
Early in the morning, just after the Chief of the Criminal Department finished using the bathroom, he was ambushed by reporters at the door.
These guys acted as if they were crazy; as soon as they caught wind of the hottest news, they would dare to rush even into the police station!
The industry was abuzz: a rookie named Yazaki Momo single-handedly resurrected a near-bankrupt newspaper with this report!
In just two hours, seventy thousand copies were sold out—truly a born media person could write such a report!
For a local newspaper, the timeliness of news is its lifeline; speed determines everything!
The Chief of the Criminal Department caught several leading reporters to clarify that the report was pure rumor and that the case was still under investigation... Before he could finish his words, he was slapped in the face.
The murderer had indeed surrendered to the police.
The Chief was so angry his face turned green, he could already imagine the public saying: ’Incompetent police group’, ’The reporter’s investigation speed is faster than the police’s’, ’Hurry up and publicly apologize’...
So he had his subordinates buy a copy of the newspaper, intending to severely criticize this fabricated tale based on rumors.
But when he opened it, the report content was more detailed than the police investigation... Could there be a mole from the newspaper in the bureau? Or is an officer earning some extra money? Is being a reporter really that profitable?
"Connect me to the Criminal Office on the second floor."
The Chief dialed the landline, grim-faced, asking Kazama Tatsuya about the case progress. The latter claimed they had already identified the suspect, asserting the surrendering murderer was definitely a scapegoat.
The Chief’s expression lightened up a bit, and he continued to ask if there was any crucial evidence.
Kazama Tatsuya said no.
The Chief’s previously green face turned red again, but he, being a seasoned officer, had to remain calm even if the sky fell. He made himself a cup of tea to calm down before continuing to question Kazama Tatsuya on what basis the suspect was identified.
Kazama Tatsuya explained his conjecture in detail.
"Faking fingerprints with a needle? Are you trying to make a fool of me with that nonsense? Alright, where’s the needle?" the Chief asked.
"Haven’t found it yet," Kazama Tatsuya replied.
The needle he showed to Fushimi Roku during the interrogation was actually randomly bought from a grocery store.
The Chief’s blood pressure rose, a buzzing sound in his ears, he pinched his temples and commanded:
"If there’s no evidence, release him."
They must quell the situation as much as possible! Otherwise, he might see another report about the police coerced confession of an innocent trainee right after his morning bowel movement tomorrow.
Kazama Tatsuya fell silent, only replying softly with a ’yes’ when urged by the Chief to respond.
The Japanese police want to exercise the right of detention, mainly based on "detention in flagrante delicto," "emergency detention," and "detention with evidence," with a total limit not exceeding 72 hours... In truth, Fushimi Roku did not meet any of these criteria. Kazama Tatsuya’s unauthorized detention is actually illegal.
"Boss, what do we do?" Watanabe Shun asked from the side, "Should we let him go?"
Kazama Tatsuya ended the call, grasping the newspaper, speedily scanning through.
"Sakurai Chizuru’s hit-and-run thirteen years ago, running over the victim repeatedly..."
"The victim’s family pursued relentlessly, fateful encounter at the police academy..."
"The once perpetrator became a police academy instructor, unable to break old habits, indulging in abusing trainees..."
"Nagono Kawai persuading Sakurai Chizuru to confess, only to be silenced by the instructor..."
"Ishizuka Yoshio sympathizing with Nagono Kawai, armed revenge..."
"The incompetent police deemed the sole survivor as the suspect, detained illegally..."
"Ishizuka Yoshio couldn’t bear to see the innocent implicated, resolutely chose to confess..."
So the reason for the murderer’s surrender was because they thought the police had the wrong person?
What does ’unable to bear the oppression of the innocent by the police’ mean? And what does ’the fate of this kind-hearted person inevitably evokes sighs and reflections’ signify?
Kazama Tatsuya slammed the newspaper onto the table heavily.
He took off his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to enter the interrogation room when Watanabe Shun scrambled to stop him: "Boss! Calm down! You can’t hit him!"
"Get out of the way!" Kazama Tatsuya’s forehead veins popped: "Do you also doubt my judgment?"
Watanabe Shun replied urgently: "It’s not about judgment, we don’t have evidence! The handwriting identification report sent earlier by the forensic team shows that the wall writing and Ishizuka Yoshio’s handwriting are essentially the same..."
"If fingerprints can be forged, what’s mimicking handwriting?" Kazama Tatsuya said.
"Calm down, boss! If you hit someone, the case can’t continue!" Watanabe Shun pleaded earnestly.
Among all the officers present, only he dared to persuade Kazama Tatsuya to stay calm. The others, afraid of causing trouble, preferred to mind their own business, pretending to be busy while secretly enjoying the spectacle.
Kazama Tatsuya stood still, suddenly realizing that Fushimi Roku was deliberately provoking him.
The game began the moment they met. With Fushimi Roku’s mental fortitude, he could easily have feigned panic to muddle through.
Fushimi Roku presented an ’arrest me if you dare’ attitude, even threatening to sue Kazama Tatsuya, all to get into the interrogation room—only by getting into the interrogation room would Ishizuka Yoshio surrender, making the report’s content become undeniable fact for the public.
Kazama Tatsuya didn’t know how he managed to do it.
The landline rang again, the Chief urging him to release the person, saying a large crowd of reporters was filming outside the police station’s gate.
Kazama Tatsuya parted the blinds and glanced downstairs, seeing only six or seven people. But that meant six or seven mainstream newspapers were working on special reports.
He sighed heavily, a sense of helplessness welling up again.
"Let him go." Kazama Tatsuya waved his hand.
Watanabe Shun was overjoyed, pulling Fushimi Roku up and removing his handcuffs. There was no need to return any personal items since Fushimi Roku came in wearing patient clothes and had nothing with him.
Fushimi Roku flexed his wrists and swiftly signed his name.
Moments later, under the protection of officers, he walked out of the police station gates. Reporters swarmed up, vying for interviews. Kazama Tatsuya turned on the TV, flipping through channels, and indeed, there was a reporter broadcasting live.
"... A shooting occurred at Hokkaido Police Academy last night, a trainee was arrested as a suspect and released this morning due to lack of evidence. Now, we connect to our reporter for an interview... What do you have to say?"
Kazama Tatsuya stared at the TV screen, Fushimi Roku’s handsome face showing a hint of fatigue but only a gentle smile appeared as he spoke into the camera:
"Justice resides in the hearts of the people."