Just as Yuu Hoshimiya was focused on reviewing the materials, Yukiko's elf-like small face appeared at the door.
She was holding a plate of freshly cooked food in her hands. "Yuu-kun, are you free right now?"
Yukiko had fallen asleep shortly after arriving home yesterday.
After sleeping until she woke up naturally, she felt completely refreshed and radiant.
After washing up and having nothing else to do, she cooked some food and specially brought it downstairs for Yuu to eat.
However, after knocking on his door, she learned from Narumi Asai that Yuu was in Eri Kisaki's office next door.
So she ran over, bowl in hand.
As Yukiko walked, her legs still trembled slightly from time to time. Yuu quickly got up, took the plate, and pulled out a chair for her to sit.
Yuu picked up the file and sped up his reading. "Give me two minutes; I'll be done reading this right away."
Resting her small head on her hands, Yukiko looked at Yuu's profile, a beautiful smile on her face.
A serious man is truly handsome, and if that serious man is also the man she loves, it makes it completely impossible to look away.
Before Yukiko had looked her fill, Yuu had already put down the file.
He looked at the steaming food on the table, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
He didn't expect Yukiko's cooking skills to be this good.
It was a bowl of tonkotsu ramen sprinkled with green scallions, looking incredibly appetizing and full of Yukiko's affection.
One look and Yuu knew Yukiko hadn't eaten either. With a tacit understanding, he pulled his chair next to hers, and the two shared the bowl of noodles together.
Although it was very sweet and full of love, sweetness couldn't fill their stomachs.
Combining breakfast and lunch, and considering Yuu's naturally large appetite, after finishing the ramen, the two went next door and ate the lunch Narumi Asai had prepared.
During this time, Eri and Ran, who had been in the primary blast zone of last night's artillery fire, still hadn't woken up.
After lunch, Yuu put his arm around Yukiko. "Do you want to go back and rest, or come with me to investigate the case?"
Yukiko opened her mouth wide in a yawn. "I'm so sleepy. Eating a full meal makes me want to take a nap."
"Then I'll go by myself!" Yuu made to get up, but Yukiko grabbed his arm.
"I'm just kidding! Sleeping right after eating will make me fat like a little pig. Wait for me to change my clothes first."
Yukiko got off Yuu's lap and happily went upstairs to change.
She wore a pink and white cocktail dress paired with light purple high heels, looking breathtakingly beautiful.
Only then did she contentedly hug Yuu's arm and head out.
"I said we're going to investigate a case. Why are you dressed like you're walking a runway?"
"I can't help it. This lady is naturally beautiful; I look good in anything."
However, Yukiko still minded the impact of her appearance and wore a pink hat as a disguise.
The two soon drove toward the Hirano Building, where the crime occurred.
The Lexus quickly arrived. He had already informed the building manager that he was coming.
Arriving at the Hirano Building, a middle-aged man named Takuya Akiyama was waiting early.
He was a bald man and the person who discovered the crime scene.
Upon seeing Yuu, he immediately came forward, a warm smile on his face. "Consultant Hoshimiya, it's such an honor. Knowing you were coming to investigate, I've been waiting here early."
The three took the elevator to the second floor.
On the way, Yuu asked, "Mr. Akiyama, I remember you were the one who discovered the crime. Could you tell me about the situation at the scene at that time?"
The bald manager recalled, "I remember it was 9:00 PM. I was in the management office watching a game when suddenly someone knocked on the window. It was Mr. Masahiko Arima, President Otsu's son-in-law."
"Mr. Arima said he had just gone up to the second floor and knocked on the agency's door, but no one answered. He also said Mr. Otsu had returned to the office, and he was here to deliver Mr. Otsu's reading glasses, so he asked me to get the key and open the door with him."
"Later, we entered the company, but because we didn't have the key to the inner office, we could only look through the glass window on the door. That's when I saw people fighting inside."
"Mr. Arima immediately forced the door open, but when we got inside, the assailant was gone. Only President Otsu was left lying in a pool of blood."
"I followed Mr. Arima's advice and went to call an ambulance and the police, but unfortunately, the president still died."
The three opened the main door of the company and walked into the office area. After the murder, this real estate agency had ceased operations.
However, the three couldn't open the door to the inner office where Toshiyuki Otsu had died.
The bald manager explained, "After the murder, Mr. Arima has kept the key. I've already notified him, and he should be arriving soon."
Just as he finished speaking, a man in a green suit ran in.
He wore gold-rimmed glasses, had narrow eyes, wore a bracelet on his wrist, and a ring on his ring finger—it was Masahiko Arima.
"Sorry I'm late. Consultant Hoshimiya, I've looked forward to meeting you. I often see you in the newspapers."
After exchanging pleasantries, Masahiko Arima asked strangely, "But isn't the trial for this case coming up soon? Why are you here at this time?"
"I was commissioned by the defense attorney to investigate and see if I can find any new evidence to get the defendant a lighter sentence."
Hearing this, Masahiko Arima seemed to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
He took out the key, opened the door, and the four entered the inner office.
"After my father-in-law died, the company stopped operating. After the police finished their investigation that day, no one has entered this office. Consultant Hoshimiya, please feel free to look around."
Sealed for a month, the air in the office was very stuffy, and a layer of dust covered the desks.
On the left were a desk and a boss chair, with a safe next to the desk. On the right was a reception area consisting of a sofa and a coffee table.
The left and right sides were separated by a folding screen, forming a small partition.
And the entrance door was located between the office area and the reception area.
Yuu immediately asked, "Mr. Akiyama, when you came in, where was the president lying?"
The bald manager walked over and pointed to the empty space between the desk and the safe on the left. "The president was lying right here. There was no one else in the office."
Yuu rubbed his chin and closed the door.
"But that's strange. Looking through the window on the door, the desk and safe area on the right should be blocked by the screen. How could you possibly see someone being hit in this spot from outside?"
Yukiko immediately ran outside, closed the door, and exclaimed in surprise.
"It's true! You shouldn't be able to see the spot where he was hit from outside. Mr. Akiyama, how do you explain this?"
The bald manager quickly said, "I didn't actually see the fighting with my own eyes. However, because the office lights were off and the neon lights from outside were shining in, I saw the shadow of a person on the wall holding an ashtray and making a smashing motion."
"That's why I subconsciously thought someone was fighting inside. Plus, Mr. Arima and I heard the sound of the president falling to the floor, so I couldn't be wrong."
Yukiko immediately got angry. "How could you not be wrong! Seeing someone being hit with your own eyes and seeing the shadow of someone being hit are two completely different things. You're committing perjury!"
Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on the bald manager's forehead.
"Is that so? Then what should I do? Wait, aren't you Miss Yukiko? What are you doing here? I love your maiden roles!"
"Wait, no, you're not Miss Yukiko. You look too young."
Being recognized, Yukiko shot Yuu a smug look, then pretended to be young. "What do you mean maiden role? I say, old man, your eyesight is terrible! I just graduated from high school!"
Yukiko already maintained herself well, and now, under the effects of miraculous magic and dual cultivation, she looked even younger.
Coupled with exquisite light makeup, passing as a high school girl was absolutely no problem.
The "young" Yukiko, relying on her excellent acting skills, completely fooled this bald manager.
So much so that Akiyama kept apologizing nearby, "I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else."
Meanwhile, Yuu began inspecting the scene. He lowered his head and carefully surveyed the crime scene. All the physical evidence on the floor had been taken away by the police, leaving the area empty.
Yuu closed his eyes, reconstructing the crime scene in his mind, placing the evidence and the victim back in their original positions.
A pair of gloves on the desk, window-opening tools by the window, the wiped-clean ashtray next to the victim, scattered reading glasses, and a small screw near the safe.
All items returned to their original places.
On the edge of the window, there was also a clock with a little man striking a bell, but its batteries were dead, and the clock had stopped.
Finally, he compared this with the plot from his memory for a final check.
It must have been a flashlight added behind this bell-striking little man, casting the striking shadow on the wall, fooling Manager Akiyama into thinking a murder was happening at 9:00 PM.
But Yuu felt something was off; a vague sense of unease lingered in his mind.
It wasn't the first time an event had changed. When this feeling arose, it almost certainly meant the trajectory of fate had shifted.
This was also the main reason why, despite having the relevant memories, he still came to investigate in person.
He turned to the window and drew the curtains.
There was a circular hole in the window glass. This was the piece of glass Takashi Inoue had removed with his tool, then reached in, unlocked the window, and climbed inside.
If everything Takashi Inoue said was true, he broke into the second-floor office at 8:30 PM. Just as he was about to open the safe, he was spotted by the president who came in, and the two scuffled.
But Manager Akiyama and Mr. Arima only saw the shadow of the murder at 9:00 PM. The time between 8:30 and 9:00 was the key to this case.
Yuu sat back in the office chair. A casual glance caught something underneath the desk, and he bent down.
Masahiko Arima's body instantly tensed up. Yuu's hands moved swiftly, pocketing two items, then feigned boredom. "Tsk, I thought it was something important. It's just cobwebs!"
Masahiko Arima relaxed immediately.
Yuu turned to ask Manager Akiyama, "Mr. Akiyama, did you look at the window when you came in? What did the window look like then?"
The bald manager said, "I remember the window was closed!"
"Oh, that's a bit strange. If he fled in a panic because he heard the door being rammed, not even taking his gloves and tools, why would he remember to close the window?"
"Furthermore, the killer shouldn't have had time to wipe the ashtray. Fleeing in a panic, how could the killer possibly have the leisure to wipe the ashtray clean? This point is also unreasonable!"
"If the president saw a thief next to the safe as soon as he came in, he naturally would have rushed forward to scuffle with the thief. How would he have had time to close the door and lock this office door? Was he trying to trap the thief inside? That makes even less sense!"
With every sentence Yuu spoke, the cold sweat on Masahiko Arima's back thickened, until finally, his body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Then, Yuu changed his tone.
"Sigh, it's been a month after all, and the evidence has been completely swept clean by the prosecutors and the police. It's difficult now. It looks like overturning this case will be very hard!"
Yuu deliberately acted very distressed in front of Masahiko Arima, but unexpectedly, he fooled Yukiko instead.
Yukiko grabbed Yuu's arm. "You can do it, Yuu-kun! I believe you'll definitely find the truth."
Yukiko, on the other hand, believed in Yuu no matter when or where.
Yuu chuckled, patted Yukiko's shoulder, and turned to the other two. "Mr. Akiyama, Mr. Arima, thank you for your help today. That's all for the investigation. We'll take our leave now."
Masahiko Arima immediately said, "Consultant Hoshimiya, how about having lunch at my restaurant? The pasta at my place is quite good!"
Yuu politely declined his invitation, bid them farewell, and left the building.
The two didn't get in the car, instead walking along the street in the 3rd block.
Yukiko quietly held Yuu's arm, her soft breasts pressing against him.
"Yuu-kun, where are we going next?"
Yuu smiled. "Just follow me."
"I'm curious!" Yukiko pouted her small mouth.
Following the address provided in the files, the two walked past the Italian restaurant run by Masahiko Arima.
It was mealtime, but the restaurant was deserted; there was absolutely no business.
Yuu glanced at it and left.
The two continued walking for less than two hundred meters before a clothing boutique came into view.
The sign read "Noriko Women's Wear." The shop didn't have much business either. Two women sat at the front desk chatting; both were people Yuu had seen in the files.
One wore a black suit, looking aloof and glamorous, her gaze sharp—it was none other than the Madonna of the prosecutorial world, Reiko Kujo.
The other woman had a pretty face and wore a red women's suit—it was Takashi Inoue's daughter, Noriko Endo.
But in terms of looks, Miss Noriko couldn't compare to Reiko Kujo beside her.
Yuu and Yukiko entered the boutique. Miss Noriko stood up and said, "I'm sorry, customers, the shop is currently closed."
Yuu said, "Miss Noriko, we're here looking for you."
Yukiko chimed in, "We were commissioned by Attorney Kisaki to come and ask you a few questions."
Hearing the two speak, Reiko Kujo also turned around, her sharp gaze fixing on Yuu.
She quickly recognized Yuu's identity, a hint of confusion flashing through her slightly emerald eyes.
She scrutinized this famous police consultant for a moment, then a faint smile played on her lips.
I didn't expect you to call for reinforcements too.
Yuu spoke first: "Chief Prosecutor Kujo is also here. How about we step outside for a bit and come back after the prosecution finishes asking questions!"
Reiko Kujo stood up from her chair, walking toward Yuu in her black leather shoes. An imposing aura accompanied her steps, pressing toward Yuu, full of presence.
"Consultant Hoshimiya, I've heard so much about you. I didn't expect Attorney Kisaki to invite you here!"
"But we prosecutors have nothing to hide from others. Naturally, Consultant Hoshimiya doesn't need to step outside."
A smile also appeared on Yuu's face. "Chief Prosecutor Kujo is indeed just like the rumors say; your style is different from ordinary people. It seems Aunt Eri has met her match this time."
Seeing this, Noriko Endo said, "Then please wait on the side for a moment, Consultant Hoshimiya."
She and Reiko Kujo sat back down, while Yuu led Yukiko to nearby chairs. The two sat down and waited quietly for the conversation to end.
Yuu looked at Reiko Kujo's profile. She wore no makeup, yet her features were very delicate.
Her slightly emerald eyes would definitely look evil on someone else, but they suited Reiko Kujo's face perfectly, holding a hint of judgment and a unique charm.
She sat very straight in her chair, her clothing quite conservative.
However, hearing her voice, Yuu felt it was very familiar, as if he had heard it before, but for a moment, he couldn't recall where. This was a rare occurrence.
Yuu tried hard to remember, spacing out for a moment.
Beside him, Yukiko pinched the soft flesh at his waist with two fingers, a half-smile on her face. "Staring so intently, is she really that pretty? Do you want me to get her contact info for you so you can bring her home too?"
Yuu patted the hat on Yukiko's head. "Stop messing around. I'm thinking about something."
"I'm being serious. Since you already have so many women anyway, one more won't matter."
Yukiko raised an eyebrow, her elf-like small face full of temptation.
She said that, but what woman would proactively help her man get another woman? Tacit approval was already incredibly rare.
Yuu indeed had some thoughts about Reiko Kujo.
Whether it was her looks, aura, or figure, Reiko Kujo was quite to his taste.
But admitting it was definitely a no-go. Even if he really had thoughts, he had to deny them right now.
Surrounded by women every day, Yuu had become increasingly adaptable.
Honesty is good, but sometimes being a bit tactful and coaxing with harmless little lies is the best approach.
Because most of the time, women don't want to hear the truth; they just want to hear what they want to hear.
Yuu looked at the dangerous glint in Yukiko's eyes, then gently kissed her fair cheek, his eyes full of tenderness. "Don't say such things. Having you is enough for me. Even if I want a change of pace, you just have to use a disguise!"
Sure enough, even knowing Yuu was lying through his teeth, Yukiko still revealed a satisfied smile, her beautiful eyes darting around charmingly.
Twenty minutes later, Reiko Kujo stood up, nodded to Yuu, and left directly. Her actions were clean and decisive.
During this time, her questions were mostly indirect inquiries, trying to find new clues, and she constantly instructed Noriko on what to say in court.
Only then did Yuu walk over to the front desk and sit down.
Opposite him, Noriko Endo looked like a modern urban beauty, wearing a red suit that accentuated her tight waist.
She wore earrings, a necklace, rings, and a bracelet, with just the right amount of light makeup—she certainly knew how to dress up.
However, her hands were tightly clasped together, seemingly a bit nervous.
Yuu spoke comfortingly, "Miss Noriko, relax. It's just a few simple questions. Attorney Kisaki isn't feeling well, so she asked me to step in."
He pondered for a moment, then asked, "Um, I'd like to ask, Miss Noriko, when did you reunite with your father, Takashi Inoue?"
"From what I understand, Mr. Inoue divorced your mother twenty years ago, and you left with your mother at that time."
Noriko Endo replied, "I saw my dad at my mom's funeral two years ago. After that, my dad often came to the shop to see me."
"If I may be so bold, how long did your relationship with President Otsu last?"
Noriko Endo was quite frank.
"You mean him keeping me as a mistress? It must have been five years. Actually, President Otsu helped me a lot when I was in high school."
The "help" here naturally referred to Japan's unique Enjo Kosai (compensated dating).
"Later, his company did better and better, and he made more money, so he just had me become his mistress. He helped open this shop too. But now that he's dead, the lease is up next month, and then I'll have to close the shop and leave."
Noriko Endo sighed deeply. Hearing her say this, Yukiko looked at her with sympathy.
A faint smile touched the corner of Yuu's mouth. "Miss Noriko, do you think your father would commit murder?"
Noriko Endo shook her head.
"Although my dad likes to commit burglaries, he's just a petty thief at best. How could he have the guts to kill someone? He definitely didn't kill President Otsu."
"Since you don't think your father would kill anyone, why did you agree to be a witness for Chief Prosecutor Kujo? You know your testimony will doom your father."
Yuu questioned sharply, "Originally, under Attorney Kisaki's efforts, it was possible for his charge to be reduced from robbery-murder to manslaughter. But by testifying in the first trial, you provided the exact motive for your father to kill."
"Imagine, your daughter being ruined by a man in his fifties for five years. Wouldn't Mr. Inoue, as a father, feel any hatred toward President Otsu?"
"With a motive for murder, plus his own admission that he smashed an ashtray over President Otsu's head, no one will believe this is manslaughter."
"The penalty for robbery-murder is life imprisonment, or even the death penalty!"
Although the death penalty in Japan existed merely in name and was later completely abolished, it didn't stop Yuu from using it to scare her.
Faced with Yuu's relentless, stormy questioning, fine sweat broke out on Noriko Endo's forehead, and panic grew in her eyes.
"I-I didn't know it would be like this. I didn't know this would doom my dad! Chief Prosecutor Kujo came to me and asked me to testify, saying it would help my dad and uncover the truth. That's why I agreed to testify."
"How could it be this serious... Consultant Hoshimiya, what if I don't appear in court for the second trial and ask the judge not to accept my testimony? Would that work?"
"Consultant Hoshimiya, you must save my dad!"
Noriko Endo was so anxious she was on the verge of tears. She grabbed Yuu's large hands, looking pleadingly at him.
Yuu shook his head. "It's too late. The testimony you gave in the first trial can't be retracted once spoken. Even if you don't appear in court, the judge will still use your testimony as the motive for murder."
"For tomorrow's second trial, we can only do our best and leave the rest to fate!"
Hearing Yuu say this, a lost look appeared in Noriko Endo's eyes, tears forming at their corners. She murmured, "How could this happen?"
Just then, a man's voice came from outside the shop.
"Miss Endo, your delivery is here. Please come out and sign for it."
Noriko Endo froze for a moment, then stood up, wiped her tears, and said, "Consultant Hoshimiya, please excuse me for a moment."
With that, she walked out the door.
Yukiko looked full of emotion. "Life is so unpredictable. She finally reunites with her father, testifies once, and accidentally dooms him. Miss Noriko must feel terrible."
"Hey, Yuu-kun, why are you secretly rummaging through someone else's drawers? That's an invasion of privacy."
Yuu glanced at Yukiko, thinking to himself that she had learned all this from her "good son."
Including the bluffing routine from earlier.
Although this method was illegal and immoral, he had to admit it was truly effective.
"I'm solving a case, investigating! I just want to see how Miss Noriko's business is doing. Ah, found it."
Making a quick excuse, Yuu took out a ledger and began flipping through its transactions.
Before long, a smile appeared on his face.
He put the ledger back in its original place before Noriko Endo returned, relocked the opened drawer, stood up, and bid her farewell.
"Miss Noriko, I've learned about as much as I need to."
"Since things have come to this, you shouldn't be too sad. Just appear in court as usual tomorrow. We'll take our leave now."
Hearing this, Noriko Endo nodded, seeing Yuu and Yukiko out. She stood at the doorway, gazing at Yuu's retreating figure for a long time.