Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 256, The Tragedy of Comedians

As Hiroyuki Miyano said, today's incident is related to the Yokohama case.

In the Yokohama case, the Japanese Public Security Bureau found the Kudo-kai's ledgers, which not only implicated Kanagawa police and numerous business and political figures, but also a number of people in the entertainment industry.

Hiroyuki Miyano is one of them.

Miyahara Toru's partner knew long ago that Miyano Hiroyuki was "taking on side jobs" outside, because normally comedians' various jobs require Yoshimoto to take a cut. Although the Umbrella Duo were already top-tier comedians, and Yoshimoto had revised the revenue sharing rules to reduce their share, who would complain about not having enough money?
Miyahara Tetsu had been advising his partner for years not to do such a thing. He said that with their current jobs, they could earn 30 to 40 million yen a year, which would put them in the upper echelons of the middle class. But Miyahara wouldn't listen.

This wouldn't have been a problem initially, but things took a turn for the worse during the investigation of the Yokohama case.

Japanese police investigations revealed that Miyano had repeatedly performed private jobs for the Kudo-kai for high fees and helped the Kudo-kai launder money through commercial performances. The police investigation gradually led to Miyahara, and they sent someone to ask him if he was aware of his partner's actions. Was he actively helping with money laundering or passively?
This is why Miyahara appeared at the TV station. He learned that his partner was coming to the TV station to record a program today, so he took the initiative to come and meet with his partner privately.

Miyahara wanted to persuade Miyano to turn himself in, firstly to confess his actions to the public security police, and secondly to confess to Yoshimoto Kogyo about taking on side jobs to earn extra money.

If you surrender yourself, it's a minor offense. As long as you cooperate with the investigation, you can theoretically be imprisoned for no more than three years. In fact, the police have ways to prevent you from going to jail.

However, Miyano could not accept either of these conditions.

Because either way, it would mean the end of his acting career. If he were to be investigated by the police for involvement in organized crime, he would be blacklisted by all television stations. Secondly, if he were to surrender to Yoshimoto, Yoshimoto Kogyo would inevitably impose a fine and place him on long-term blacklist.

Miyano rudely rejected all of his partner's requests and asked Miyahara to help him keep it a secret.

The two sides argued and both felt angry as a result.

At this moment, the long-buried conflict between the two sides finally erupted.

As mentioned earlier, comedians, especially those who debuted at Yoshimoto Kogyo Theater, are often forced to form groups. After all, manzai requires two people to perform, and in such situations, many people temporarily find someone to team up with. As they form the group, they debut, and once they're busy, they've unknowingly been bound together for many years and can no longer separate.

One is a handsome guy and the other is an ugly guy; one is responsible for making sarcastic remarks and the other for playing dumb; one is responsible for improvising and the other for writing jokes. Therefore, despite their incompatible personalities, they can be considered to have gotten what they needed, and there were no intense conflicts before.

At this moment, the accumulated conflicts between the two finally erupted.

Miyano said, "If you still consider me your partner, you should help me!"

Miyahara Tetsu angrily said, "I didn't say anything when you were making extra money on the side before, but now it involves gangs and money laundering. The police have come to me. How am I supposed to help you? You keep calling me your partner, but you didn't share any of your extra money with me when you were making money on the side!"

Now that you're in trouble, you're starting to call me your partner?

You can't only treat me like a partner when I'm in trouble!
I came to you because I thought you were my partner. If you're not willing, then I have nothing to say. Don't blame me for telling the police and Yoshimoto Kogyo what I know: your taking on side jobs and your helping the Kudo Association launder money!

You don't want to be a comedian anymore, but I still want to continue!
And just like that, this 20-year partnership completely broke down.

In the heat of the moment, Miyahara's asthma flared up. He frantically searched for his emergency inhaler, but his partner, also in a fit of rage, snatched it away, ultimately causing Miyahara to die from oxygen deprivation.

That's how it all happened.

【Why did things turn out this way?】 Miyahara Tetsu's ghost is crying: 【I know I'm ugly, I know I'm not talented, but I really tried my best. I truly considered Miyahara my partner. We started from the theater together. Back then, we were both very poor, living in a semi-basement in the West District, eating together, showering together, and coming up with jokes together. I even dreamed of performing manzai on stage.】

[Back then, after a performance, we'd drink draft beer that cost 200 yuan a glass and eat chicken gizzards that cost 70 yuan a skewer. We made it through those days together, so why is it that now that we're earning 30 to 40 million yuan a year, we can't go back to those days?]

I really cherish Xiao Gong, and I'm so glad he chose me. I know he dislikes me because I'm ugly and don't know how to handle people, so... sob sob~

After saying this, like Hiroyuki Miyano, Toru Miyahara's spirit also burst into tears. He didn't understand why things had turned out this way when he was clearly thinking of his partner.

"You did the right thing. It's not your fault." Uesugi Muneyuki said to Miyahara Tetsu: "It's easy to share hardship, but difficult to share wealth. That's human nature. You've done everything you could. You tried so hard to get Miyano back on track... but at this point, no one is willing to give up everything they have now."

Everyone has a sense of luck.

Miyahara knew Miyano was taking on side jobs but remained silent, hoping to get away with it. Miyano knew the police were investigating him but asked Miyahara to help him cover it up, also hoping to get away with it.

"You treated him like a partner, but he didn't treat you like one." Mariko Hironaka added, "That's human nature. Kameyama-sensei is the same. Many people treat him like a lover, but to Kameyama-sensei, he's just a cup."

Suddenly, Mariko Hironaka seemed to remember something and giggled: "Speaking of which, Uesugi, your beautiful policewoman and judo expert, Reina Ikeda, absolutely considers you the light of her life, the fire of her soul. But how do you see her? You don't just see her as a cup, do you?"

"Tsk!" Uesugi Muneyuki snorted coldly, signaling the female ghost to shut up. But he was also a little guilty, thinking that at first it was pretty much true, but as they spent more time together, became closer, and their feelings deepened, Erena-sensei still held a place in his heart: "How could that be? She's my darling, tall, gorgeous, beautiful-legged master." "Yeah, someone like you, a perverted foot fetishist, leg fetishist, stocking fetishist, rubbing against your Erena-sensei's stockings like a dog all day, I've been watching for a year and you're still not tired of it." Hironaka Mariko laughed and scolded: "Looks like you can't bear to part with her."

Speaking of cups... Uesugi Muneyuki glanced at Yamaguchi Maho, who was cautiously observing the scene from the crowd.

The girl witnessed firsthand the evidence-based battle between Hiroyuki Miyano and Muneyuki Uesugi, her face filled with shock and fascination. When Muneyuki Uesugi cast a glance at her, Yamaguchi couldn't wait to meet his gaze. However, Muneyuki Uesugi quickly looked away, gazing at Mai-senpai and the little cherry blossom in her arms.

Mai Shirakawa and Muneyuki Uesugi made eye contact naturally, and the two exchanged information instantly. Then, the national goddess smiled at the idol in her arms and said, "Is this your first time seeing my junior solve a case on the spot? Sakura, how does it feel?"

"This really is...the first time I've ever seen anything like this... Waaaaah, it's so scary, so scary! Mai-sama, why aren't you surprised?" Uesugi Muneyuki's imposing figure certainly caught Miyawaki Sakura's eye, but the girl was still somewhat shaken: "This is the first time I've encountered something like this...it's so scary~"

"Don't be afraid, with Junior Brother here, any evil will eventually be brought to justice!" Shirakawa Mai joked with a smile.

Sakura pouted; she suddenly felt that Mai looked scary too.

How can you remain so calm?

Mai-sama, isn't this your first time... uh, your second time encountering something like this?

Meanwhile, Fuji TV has already recorded all the content.

As things have progressed to this point, even the usually cold-blooded President Kameyama shook his head repeatedly, thinking that Miyahara was a fool for only thinking of making a righteous decision so late.

It should have been cut off a long time ago; it should have been cut off decisively the moment the police came knocking on the door!

But it doesn’t matter anymore!

The important thing is that it was all recorded: Uesugi Muneyuki's reasoning show, the entire forensic process, and Miyano Hiroyuki's confession.
Wow, Uesugi-kun, you've given me a really big surprise!
President Kameyama's face was filled with sorrow, so sorrowful that he almost laughed.

The only thing to consider now is that, because it involves a corpse and murder, this episode must obtain the consent of Yoshimoto Kogyo, the deceased's family, the Ministry of Justice, and the Metropolitan Police Department before it can be broadcast.

This will definitely involve some exchange of benefits and persuasion.

Yoshimoto Kogyo is not difficult to deal with. In fact, Yoshimoto Kogyo is probably the one with the biggest headache right now - their own artist committed murder on Fuji TV. Yoshimoto Kogyo is already being generous by not giving Fuji TV a dogeza (a traditional Japanese prayer ceremony), let alone trying to negotiate.
Watch me, Kameyama, smash your President Osaki's dog head with one punch!
So the problem lies with the Ministry of Justice and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Hehehehe~ It's time to witness the real technology!

President Kameyama thought so.

Not far away, the banana-man Setura and Himura looked at each other, their faces both saying "thank you for sparing my life," and remained silent.

However, these two did not debut with Yoshimoto Kogyo; they were artists under Horipro. Himura debuted earlier than Setaku. The two worked for several years without becoming famous, and only after repeated contact did they form a duo, and their relationship is much better.

"I'm going to tell Sashihara about what happened here." Tsuchida was already typing a text message.

Sawabe from Haraichi was a little scared. Twice, in the M-1 Grand Prix, he made a crucial mistake and missed the grand prize. What's worse, in both cases, his partner was actually responsible for writing the jokes.

Go back and apologize with a deep bow!
Sawabe felt his back was covered in sweat.

Just as everyone was pondering what to do next, a dense sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor.

We've arrived at the Metropolitan Police Department!
Inspector Shiratori Sho of the Second Division of the First Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the scene with several police officers. When he entered, he saw Miyano Hiroyuki kneeling on the ground with his hands cuffed, Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena standing next to him, and a group of people around him with undisguised shock on their faces.

Seeing this, Inspector Shiratori already knew what was going on: "What did you leave us, forensic officer?"

“Evidence…and merit.” Uesugi Muneyuki smiled. “The person is already handcuffed.”

As his smile was captured on camera, the recording of this seemingly miraculous variety show officially came to an end.

No one expected that inviting Uesugi Muneyuki would have such a good effect; even President Kameyama was surprised.

That's a bit too explosive.

(End of this chapter)