Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 252, Another Murder Case in Fujidai

Even now, after seeing the body, everyone at the scene still believes it's part of the show's script.

To record this highly anticipated "God's Hand SP," Fuji TV mobilized almost its highest standards, not only inviting Mai Shirakawa and Muneyuki Uesugi, but also five top comedians. They maxed out almost the entire budget, gathered the best scriptwriters and screenwriters from across the station, and even had the production director present to oversee the event.

And didn't Fuji TV already have a female news anchor die last year? How come someone died again this year? And it just so happens that Uesugi Shirama was also present?
It can't be such a coincidence, can it?
Putting everything else aside, even the banana-man's Setara Himura looked confused, wondering what Fuji TV was up to. Tsuchida, on the other hand, still looked half asleep and watched the situation unfold. Only Haraichi's Sawabe frowned, thinking that even if it was a script, making such a joke was a bit much.

Japanese comedians have it tough, especially those with lower status. It's common to see them dressed as ugly or lewd men; some even play off-the-beaten-path reality shows by being almost completely naked except for flesh-colored tape covering their genitals; others get injured by various pranks involving electric currents, flames, and mud; and still others stick their heads into piles of spiders, centipedes, and frogs.

In short, the more a comedian fears something, the more people love to watch it; the bigger the comedian's reaction, the more the audience likes it.

Even so, isn't making someone pretend to be a corpse a bit too much?

The screams of the two idols rang out, and Yamaguchi Maho turned pale with fright and trembled uncontrollably. The girl was so frightened that she backed away, her calf hit the low table and her ankle twisted, and she was cut on the palm by the sequins of her stage outfit, and blood splattered on the table.

Sakura Miyawaki's reaction was even more dramatic. The girl screamed and backed away, her eyes rolling back as she tripped over a power outlet on the ground. Fortunately, Sakura was physically fit and had dance training, so she only stumbled and fell. In extreme terror, the girl crawled on the ground for about ten meters with both hands and feet moving at the same time. Amidst the series of frights, Sakura's body swayed, and she squeezed her legs tightly together, almost losing control of her bladder. She then instinctively burst into tears.

No matter how cunning or calculating she was, she was still just a sixteen-year-old girl. How could she have actually seen a corpse?

The reactions of the two idols and Uesugi Muneyuki's serious expression finally made everyone realize that something serious had happened!
Top comedians, the umbrella duo Tetsu Miyahara, are dead!

"What are you standing there for? Call the police!" Seeing that the production crew still hadn't reacted, Uesugi Muneyuki had to repeat himself, then said to the director, "This isn't a drill. I'll repeat myself, this isn't a script, he's really dead! Stop filming and notify the Metropolitan Police Department immediately!"

"Oh~ oh..." Director Yayoi finally realized what was happening and quickly signaled to the staff to call the police. But when he tried to get the production team to stop filming, Chief Abiru rudely interrupted him.

"Don't listen to him, don't stop, record it, record it hard!" At this moment, the director of the production department had a twisted excitement on his face. He looked at Uesugi Muneyuki preparing to perform an autopsy, and then at the chaotic scene, Yamaguchi accidentally injuring himself, Sakura crawling on the ground with her hands and feet in unison, and the panicked appearance of several comedians. He simply couldn't control his joy of the harvest, and his whole body was full of power!

This is exactly what I wanted!
This is the kind of program effect our station wants, this is the kind of live broadcast our station wants, this is the ultimate goal of our station inviting Uesugi and Shirakawa!
Miyahara-san! On behalf of the entire Fuji TV team, I thank you for your contributions!

Director Abiru immediately took out his phone and notified President Kameyama.

At the scene, Uesugi Muneyuki and Mai-senpai exchanged a glance, and Uesugi Muneyuki immediately took her toolbox from Erina and began to examine the body.

To be honest, this method of finding the body through fieldwork was a bit too contrived, but Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai couldn't come up with a better method on the spot. After all, they were both laymen in the world of variety shows; one was an actor and the other a forensic doctor, neither of them were comedians. If they were too deliberate, it would be easy for professional comedians to notice something was wrong. And if others realized that they knew in advance that someone had died and that the body was there, then it would really be hard to explain.

Moreover, being stiff also has its advantages.

In the face of such a sudden turn of events, it finally felt real!

........................

Meanwhile, in the Fujidai Odaiba building, in the president's office.

President Kameyama was complaining to his secretary: "Have you read Director Hie's report?"

Fuji TV belongs to Fuji Media Holdings, which in turn belongs to Fuji Sankei Group. Director Hie is a director advisor to Fuji Sankei Group, responsible for the media sector. He is also President Kameyama's main competitor, as Kameyama was once a strong contender to succeed him as president of Fuji TV. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming success of last year's live broadcast, Kameyama is stuck in the president's position.

"I've seen it, President." The secretary bowed her head.

"When I watched the beginning and middle, I thought he was my friend!" President Kameyama was clearly very unhappy: "How could he say that about me? Exploiting the dead? Smearing Fuji TV's image? And calling me a performance ATM? No personal likes or dislikes, no emotional fluctuations, online payments, fair and honest?"

“Yes, Director Hie’s report is not entirely accurate.” The secretary said, head bowed.

"??? Not entirely accurate?" President Kameyama looked up abruptly.

“I mean, President, that’s not quite accurate.” The secretary quickly added, “I meant the last part. You said it yourself, the beginning and the middle are still objective.”

"That's more like it! Who exactly created so many classic Monday night dramas? Who was it that championed the 'closed-building live broadcast' strategy, turning the tide and saving our station? And even defeating the Kohaku Uta Gassen to win last year's ratings champion?" President Kameyama was finally satisfied: "For our station, ratings are everything! 72% of Fuji TV's revenue depends on advertising, and 60% of that advertising comes from Dentsu and Hakuhodo. With Dentsu and Hakuhodo supporting me, what can Hidee do? He..."

Just then, the phone rang.

President Kameyama gestured to his secretary to pick him up.

"Hello, this is the president's office." The secretary answered the phone: "Yes, the president knows you're recording a program... Hmm? Oh? Really? Are you serious? Someone passed away?"

Upon hearing that someone had passed away, President Kameyama abruptly looked up: "What's wrong? Bad news?"

“Emmm, yes…and no.” The secretary covered the receiver of the landline with her hand, looking conflicted, and said to Kameyama, “Director Abiru said that an accident occurred during the location shooting of the program. Miyahara Toru of the Umbrella Duo was found dead in the dressing room, and Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai are on site performing an autopsy.”

"???" Kameyama Chihiro was stunned for a second after hearing the news, then his eyes widened, his lips curled up uncontrollably, his eyebrows rose high, and his mouth trembled so violently that he couldn't close it.

After taking a few deep breaths, President Kameyama snatched the phone from his secretary: "Abiru, is it true? It really wasn't part of the script or... something you arranged?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Kameyama Chihiro could no longer contain himself. He let out a few loud, pig-like squeals, then tightly pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and after a few seconds of gathering his emotions, put on a sorrowful face: "Abiru, what a tragedy." "Yes, President, it really is a tragedy." Abiru's voice was full of sorrow.

"Miyahara Toru was a great entertainer." Kameyama said sadly.

"Yes, it's really great."

"We at Fuji TV will always be grateful for everything he has done for us." President Kameyama took a tissue from his secretary and rubbed his eyes.

"Forever and ever~"

Is the show still being filmed?

"Never overlook any detail."

"Pfft~" The president could hardly contain his joy. He said softly, "Very good, very good. Abiru, I trust you to handle things."

“I’m coming right now. Also, check with Uesugi-kun to make sure that Miyahara Toru is really dead,” President Kameyama continued. “I think there are 15 million people in the entire Kanto region who want to watch this episode.”

“I think there are probably 20 million people who want to see it. Everyone wants to pay tribute to the last performance of a great comedian.”

"Hehehehehehaha~~" President Kameyama and Director Abiru finally couldn't help but laugh.

Thank you, Asama-sama!

………………

7th floor of Odaiba Building, lounge.

When President Kameyama and a group of Fuji TV executives arrived at the scene, all irrelevant people had already been cleared out. Only Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena, who were performing an autopsy, remained at the scene. At the door, Sakura, who was crying in fear, was being comforted in Mai's arms. Meanwhile, the injured Yamaguchi Maho, after receiving simple bandaging, sat alone to the side, using a bag to relieve her symptoms of hyperventilation.

In short, excessive emotional excitement and stress can lead to hyperventilation and symptoms of "oxygen poisoning," in which case it is necessary to inhale some carbon dioxide to neutralize it.

The comedians around them retrieved their phones from the staff and started making calls to explain the situation, while the Fuji TV employees nearby turned pale.

You came once last year, why are you coming again this year?
Moreover, after that incident last year, the Odaiba building had been haunted by the ghost of Mariko Hironaka even before Mai Shirakawa performed the exorcism, which became an urban legend and was seen by multiple people.

Now they're going to be a male and a female?

Good heavens, could it be that Hongzhong is lonely and needs a companion?
Good heavens, Hongzhong, we know you're desperate because you haven't gotten married yet, but don't go for someone this ugly!

"Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha~"

But everyone, regardless of who they were, crowded at the doorway, peering out.

An on-site autopsy! And it's the legendary rookie forensic pathologist, Uesugi Muneyuki, conducting the on-site autopsy!

It would be an injustice not to witness this now that we have the opportunity!

After a brief examination, Uesugi Muneyuki stated definitively, "The cause of death was an asthma attack that led to suffocation."

"The face is cyanotic, especially the lips, earlobes, nail beds and other extremities. This is due to severe hypoxia, which leads to an increase in reduced hemoglobin in the blood, and the skin and mucous membranes turn bluish-purple."

"The neck muscles are stiff or slightly congested due to vigorous breathing, and the body is in an open-mouthed state, attempting to strengthen breathing."

"The drastic changes in intrathoracic pressure caused by hypoxia may trigger tiny bleeding points in the conjunctiva or facial skin."

"Pale-faced and covered in cold sweat."

"There are no signs of neck compression, no signs of mechanical asphyxiation such as external strangulation or ligature marks, and no foreign objects obstructing the mouth or throat."

Uesugi Muneyuki concluded, "Therefore, the cause of death was suffocation due to a sudden asthma attack."

The crowd gasped in surprise, and the program director asked, "Although I don't know much about medicine, based on what you've said, forensic examiner Uesugi, it seems that Miyahara-san died suddenly from an illness?"

“Very similar.” Uesugi Muneyuki grinned.

"But it wasn't an accident...it was murder!"

(End of this chapter)