Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 474, Frozen Fear (Third Update!)
It was already around midnight when Uesugi Muneyuki's original plan to spend the night with Mai-senpai fell through. However, he was not treated as an outsider by the police officers from the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division, and they quickly joined in the conversation.

Although there was no body and no real harm was done, it seemed that Uesugi Muneyuki was of little use, but Inspector Shiratori still shared his findings with Uesugi Muneyuki.

Despite being masked, Maho Yamaguchi still managed to identify the two attackers.

They are notorious extreme sasaeng fans at the theater, Takei Masanori and Kakimoto Hiroshi. Both of them are around 30 years old and are known for their extreme sasaenging and violent tendencies. Their presence alone can frighten idols.

"Sasaeng fans" refers to fans who are not satisfied with interacting with their idols through screens, stages, or even handshake events and fan clubs, but like to invade the private lives of idols (including all artists). Among them, the milder ones may try to harass the idol near her apartment, wait for her in the underground parking lot, or follow her on her days off to see what she buys, does, or take private photos.

The extremists... these people will try to sneak into the idol's house, search and take away the things they like, hide under the idol's bed and sleep with the idol, shake hands with the idol with their hands still sticky from the previous relationship, and the more extreme ones will try to harm and rape the idol (because that way they can have the idol all to themselves).

Obsessive fans are an old problem in the fan community. The problem is that it is difficult to define exactly what constitutes a harmful obsessive fan. Celebrities already have less privacy than ordinary people. If the other party only follows from a distance, frequently shows affection at close range, and "accidentally" bumps into them, and does nothing else, the celebrity is unlikely to file a lawsuit for such a thing. Moreover, it would hurt the feelings of ordinary fans and the public's goodwill. Everyone should be able to understand this.

However, it's often impossible to determine whether a fan is a moderate or an extreme sasaeng fan until they actually get the chance to get up close and personal with their idol.

According to Maho Yamaguchi, these two extreme sasaeng fans have repeatedly caused trouble, but the management has always tolerated them and removed them from the blacklist time and time again. The reason is simple... they are too much of a glutton! And those who don't have any off-site activities or terrestrial broadcasts, and those who are just there to watch TV and watch movies, desperately need this kind of core fan to glutton them up!
Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a moment and said, "Then, regarding what Ms. Yamaguchi mentioned about the possible insider leaks..."

Inspector Shiratori's expression turned serious. He pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

“Let’s put that aside for now.” He lowered his voice and said to Uesugi, “Ms. Yamaguchi’s accusations are currently based on speculation and there is no substantial evidence. The other party is a large idol group, involving its management and other members. Without solid evidence, if we rashly go to investigate, it could trigger a huge public relations backlash, or even be counter-attacked and hinder our business. This needs to be handled more carefully.”

Uesugi Muneyuki nodded upon hearing this, his gaze shifting slightly.

Although Shiratori is in the same professional group as Kashiwagi, their working styles are very different. However, there's no need to criticize him for this; everyone has their own style. Shiratori's style is to be steady and methodical, not to rush things, but to follow the established procedures. As a professional, he will be promoted when he reaches his appointed time and doesn't want to take any risks.

Inspector Shiratori approached Maho Yamaguchi, his tone as gentle as possible but tinged with official resignation: "Ms. Yamaguchi, we understand the issue you mentioned regarding the potential internal leak of information, and that will be one direction of our investigation. However, our primary task at present is to apprehend the two suspects who committed the violence. As for the operating company and other members… the situation is rather sensitive, and we need more substantial evidence before we can question them. Please understand."

He looked at the girl in front of him, who had just experienced trauma and longed for all justice to be served, and added, "You should get some rest tonight and receive some psychological counseling. Tomorrow, after we catch those two people, we'll discuss this further, okay?"

Although these words were reasonable and well-founded, they undoubtedly poured cold water on Yamaguchi Maho's grief and indignation.

“Yamaguchi, it’s not safe here anymore. You should go with them to the Metropolitan Police Department and make do there for now.” Uesugi Muneyuki frowned and said, “There are temporary women’s dormitories at the Metropolitan Police Department.”

"Sakura-chan, come with me." Sakura's apartment is actually nearby, just across the street, Mai-senpai thought for a moment.

"Great!" Sakura didn't seem to care at all about her teammate being attacked; she was even quite excited.

Can I sleep with Mai-sama? Yay!
Uesugi Muneyuki and Shiratori Sho exchanged a glance and sighed inwardly.

Although they are members of the same girl group, the top members and the bottom members are treated completely differently. Before, Yamaguchi Maho barely managed to have any interaction with Miyawaki Sakura by getting a role as a sign girl in prime time, but now... there is a sadly thick barrier between them.

After discussing it, the group decided that since this was not a major incident and it was already late at night, the Metropolitan Police Department dispatched several patrol teams to investigate. They then returned to the Metropolitan Police Department to retrieve the files of the two individuals.

Uesugi Muneyuki also went back to Sakata Bridge to rest, preparing to follow up on the case the next day.

For some reason, he always had a vague feeling that things weren't so simple.

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

The next morning at 8:00 AM, YKC Theater Headquarters, Operations Office.

To avoid negative repercussions, the Metropolitan Police Department only notified YKC48 to assist in the investigation. Therefore, the operations manager received the documents from the Metropolitan Police Department immediately. After hearing about the attack on Maho Yamaguchi, the operations manager felt uneasy. The missing documents, Yamaguchi's attack, and the Metropolitan Police Department's involvement created a sense of impending doom.

YKC could only notify the Metropolitan Police Department and wait for Imazaki to come to work.

However, by 10 a.m., Imazaki still hadn't appeared.

"Imazaki hasn't arrived yet? I can't get through on the phone either?" he asked his assistant beside him, his tone clearly impatient. He needed to check on the morning radio program that Imazaki Hiroshi was in charge of, and the two idols—Nai Rika and Sugawara Riko—had also missed their morning vocal practice without explanation, and their phones were also going to voicemail.

This collective loss of contact is extremely unusual.

The idol industry is known for its strict discipline, especially large agencies like YKC48; unexcused absences are unthinkable. The supervisor tried contacting their roommates and potential friends, but to no avail. A vague sense of unease began to creep in.

By this time, the Metropolitan Police Department was getting impatient. Inspector Shiratori Sho thought to himself, "Are you kidding me? It's 10 o'clock and he still hasn't come to work?"
YKC48 had no choice but to provide the Metropolitan Police Department with the address of Imazaki's manager.

So around 11 a.m., Inspector Shiratori from the First Investigation Division arrived at Imazaki's manager's apartment with several detectives.

Following the address provided by AKS, they arrived at the apartment building where Hiroshi Imazaki lived. They rang the doorbell for a long time, but no one answered. They asked the building manager, who said he hadn't seen Mr. Imazaki since yesterday evening.

"Mr. Imazaki? He's usually very quiet and rarely brings people back... let alone girls," the administrator muttered.

A professional instinct kicked in Inspector Shiratori's mind. After obtaining permission from the building manager, they decided to use the spare key. The click of the lock clicking open was exceptionally clear in the quiet corridor.

As soon as the door was pushed open a crack, a mixture of cheap perfume, alcohol, and an indescribable, cloyingly rotten smell wafted out, causing the detectives to frown instantly.

"Hello! Is anyone there? Police!" they shouted as they cautiously stepped into the house.

The apartment was dimly lit and lit by tightly drawn curtains, a complete mess. Empty bottles, snack bags, and scattered clothes were strewn everywhere. The living room seemed normal; the eerie silence came from the closed bedroom door.

Inspector Shiratori sensed something was wrong. He signaled to his partner to be on guard, and then slowly pushed open the bedroom door while gripping his pistol in one hand.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The scene in the bedroom struck the experienced First Investigative Division officers like a thunderbolt, leaving them frozen in place, their pupils contracting sharply.

On the disheveled double bed, three pale, naked corpses were entangled in an extremely unnatural, contorted position. They were none other than the missing Hiroshi Imazaki, Rika Nakai, and Riko Sugawara.

Their skin had a deathly gray and waxy yellow hue, their lips were slightly purple, and their expressions were frozen in an eerie blankness that was neither pain nor pleasure. Young female limbs intertwined with male bodies; youthful bodies that should have been full of vitality were now nothing but a chilling stillness and stiffness. Scattered pills and empty wine glasses lay askew on the bedside table, silently telling a story that appeared absurd and decadent on the surface.

The cloying, deathly odor in the air grew even stronger.

The younger patrol chief in the second department felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He abruptly covered his mouth and rushed out of the room. Meanwhile, Inspector Shiratori, pale-faced, struggled to suppress his discomfort, his hand holding the walkie-talkie trembling slightly. He had never seen such a bizarre and impactful scene.

"...Headquarters! Headquarters! This is...this is Shiratori Sho of the Second Division! Repeat, this is Shiratori Sho of the Second Division!" His voice was distorted with shock, almost shouting into the walkie-talkie: "This is apartment XX, X-chome, X-block, Setagaya Ward! Three bodies have been found! The situation is abnormal! Immediately request the forensic department, medical examiners, and large-scale support! The scene...the scene needs to be completely sealed off!"

"A major murder has occurred!!!"

(End of this chapter)