Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 476, The Strange Death of Three Idols at a Party

As a graduate of the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University, Yui Nango possesses a unique air of leisure and nonchalance. His father is the Managing Director of the Board of Directors of Mitsubishi UFJ Bank Group, with an annual salary of 2.5 million yen, and his mother is a top female lawyer at the renowned Japanese law firm Mori-Hamada Matsumoto, with an annual salary of approximately 1 million yen.

Unlike Okada and Kai, Nango Yui has no conflicts with his father and they have a good relationship. His relationship with his mother is just so-so, but that's because his mother is too focused on her career and they don't spend much time together, rather than because there are any sharp conflicts.

As an aside, the "legal queen" persona of Eri Kisaki in Detective Conan was purely a later addition. Early on, Kogoro Mouri lost 800 million yen gambling on horses, and Ran asked Eri for help. Eri replied that 300 million was manageable, but 800 million was out of the question—which top lawyer in Japan doesn't earn at least 3000 million yen a year? What kind of legal queen is this?
In the early stages, Eri Kisaki's character was just a junior lawyer specializing in divorce cases (but it was mentioned that she was indeed very good at it), and Kogoro Mouri was just a good-for-nothing uncle who indulged in all sorts of vices. The later additions to her character design were mainly the result of the novella turning into a long novel, and the long novel turning into an ultra-ultra ...

After graduating from Kyoto University, Nango Yui tried his hand at the financial industry and the bar exam, but finally decided to take the national civil service exam to work for the Metropolitan Police Department. His family originally hoped that he would work in prestigious departments such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, or the Ministry of Justice, since they were not short of money and the salary would be just pocket money. However, with the rise of Uesugi Muneyuki, Managing Director Nango changed his mind and decided to do everything possible to get his son into the Special Missions Division.

The academic atmosphere at Kyoto University is fundamentally different from that at the University of Tokyo. To give a simple example, the graduation ceremony at the University of Tokyo is practically a mass clone, with every male student in a suit and every female student in a suit, pencil skirt, and patent leather high heels.

Kyoto University's graduation ceremony is a cosplay extravaganza. From One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Pikachu, Mario, and Link to Alabama rednecks, British gentlemen, Ainu Indians, Shinsengumi envoys to Tang Dynasty China, white-turbaned Soviet political commissars, and Indians, you can do whatever you want, as long as you don't expose your private parts or cosplay something extremely controversial. The president of Kyoto University will then award you your graduation certificate with a smug look on his face.

Kyoto University's famous Yoshida Dormitory has even become a kind of autonomous zone for students, where they frequently confront and fight with university administrators, demonstrating just how open the academic atmosphere is there.

At Kyoto University, you could even say you believe in communism!

Therefore, Yui Nanago, a graduate of Kyoto University, has a special relaxed temperament and a more free and open art style. Because he has a family to support him and has lived a very comfortable life since childhood, he also likes to joke around.

Kai, who was taking him there, chatted with him for a bit. Since they were all in the same circle, they knew each other to some extent. The two men's conversation quickly shifted from serious to casual, and they started talking about ANN's flight attendants.

"Hey, Kai-san! Let's arrange a get-together with CA!" Nango Yui said earnestly to Kai Toru.

Kai: "………………"

When the two men arrived at the interrogation room, they finally met the legendary forensic pathologist, Chief Inspector of the First Investigation Division, Uesugi Muneyuki, and the judo beauty policewoman, Ikeda Erena, who were waiting outside the interrogation room.

Erena wore her usual well-fitting suit, trousers, and leather shoes uniform. However, even though she was dressed very formally, her tall and curvaceous figure could not be concealed. Instead, she looked quite sexy. But unlike before, the police officers from the Metropolitan Police Department were able to interact with her normally after they learned that she was Uesugi's person. Erena also gradually stopped feeling that everything was sexual harassment because she had Uesugi.

“Hello, Chief Uesugi, I am…” Nango Yui said, bowing.

Uesugi Muneyuki held up one finger, indicating that they should not speak yet and should listen to the interrogation.

In two separate interrogation rooms, two extreme fans who attacked Maho Yamaguchi last night, Masanori Takei and Hiroshi Kakimoto, were being held.

Because they were entangled with Mariko Hironaka, these two guys naturally couldn't escape, and they were arrested by the police who were searching for them in the early hours of the morning.

The interrogation was conducted by Inspector Shimano of the Fourth Division of the First Investigation Division and Assistant Inspector Itami of the Fifth Division.

Takeshi Masahiro's psychological defenses are relatively weak.

Under Inspector Shimano's calm yet compelling questioning, especially after Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai testified that they had violently dragged Yamaguchi Maho, a vague but conclusive act, he quickly broke down.

"We'll tell you! We'll tell you!" Takei was covered in sweat, his voice trembling with tears. "It was...it was Nakai Rika! She was the one who told us Maho's address and roughly when she would be home that night!"

Inspector Shimano's eyes sharpened: "Why did she tell you? How did she tell you?"

"It was...it was on Line...she told me...that Maho-chan recently 'needs a real-world lesson,' that she 'forgot who she is'...and she even gave us a one-time text message with her address on it..."

"Why do this?"

"Because...because of jealousy! Rika-chan said that Maho is just a slut who got lucky and stole a position that didn't belong to her, and she acts all high and mighty...We...we just wanted to scare her a little, we didn't mean to really..."

On the other side, Kakimoto Hiroshi was even more stubborn.

But after learning that Takei had confessed and that the police had clues about their connections with certain forces, they finally gave up resisting. His confession was more detailed and darker.

“It’s Sugawara Riko and Nakai Rika.” Kakimoto spat, seemingly disdainful of them as well. “They came to us specifically, saying that if we give Yamaguchi Maho a ‘lesson she’ll never forget,’ they can give us ‘special benefits’ in the future.”

Inspector Itami asked coldly, "What kind of lesson?"

"...That's right, humiliate her, preferably take some photos or something..." Kakimoto's eyes flickered. "The address was given by Sugawara, and she even reminded us which time there were the fewest people downstairs at the apartment building."

When asked why they listened so much to those members and why they harbored such malice towards Yamaguchi Maho, both testimonies mentioned the changes in Yamaguchi Maho after she received resources. Takei's testimony stated: "...She only appeared on television twice, and then wrote things like 'saw a higher view' and 'met a senior who could guide her in life' on her mobile blog... She also seemed different when we shook hands; she was somewhat indifferent to us longtime fans, as if we weren't good enough for her!"

Kakimoto's testimony was even more direct: "She implied on her mobile blog that she had a 'good relationship' with the production team and that there might be 'greater development' in the future. She also said in a moderate voice backstage while talking to other members, 'As expected, hard work will be seen,' and 'Unlike some people who only do dirty tricks'... Isn't that blatant provocation? Rika and the others were furious, and of course we had to stand up for our favorite member!"

Standing outside the interrogation room, Uesugi Muneyuki pondered, rubbing his chin, while Erena was already furious. The tall, beautiful woman said angrily, "Isn't this a classic case of victim-blaming? Yamaguchi may have been a bit flamboyant in her words and actions, but that's no excuse for them to attack an idol!"

"Luckily you were there, Zongxue, otherwise who knows what would have happened! No, I don't accept this excuse, these two guys must be severely punished!" Erina said indignantly.

Uesugi Muneyuki, however, remained frowning. It was only then that he realized that Yamaguchi Maho had likely gotten the role of the sign girl in "God's Hand" because of her past connection with him through Princess Connect. No wonder she would inexplicably appear on such a prime-time program.

He didn't know whether this helped or harmed Yamaguchi Maho. Idols have a really low status in the entertainment industry. In fact, Weekly Bunshun searches for gossip about idols sleeping with big shots all day long, but it can't find anything at all—idols who are really big shots don't even have the qualifications to sleep with them!

After thinking for a moment, Uesugi Muneyuki spoke into the microphone: "Shimano-san, Itami-san, I'm almost certain that this isn't the first time these two have done something this extreme. Ask them how they escaped before? Why hasn't YKC48's management done anything?"

"Understood."*2
Indeed, the most astonishing confession was their confidence in their ability to repeatedly escape accountability.

After finishing his confession, Kakimoto Hiroshi even added to Inspector Itami with a hint of smugness, "Officer, we've told you everything, and we didn't do anything to her. We accept the punishment; a few days in jail or a fine is fine. Similar things have happened before, and they all ended up being swept under the rug, didn't they?"

Inspector Itami's gaze sharpened: "In the past? Similar incidents? What do you mean?"

Kakimoto realized he'd let something slip, but hesitated for a moment before hinting, "...Anyway...the management will handle it. They don't want things to escalate and damage the group's image. We've given them plenty of 'tribute' (money) over the years, so they know how to deal with things. This time...it should be the same, right?"

These words deeply shocked the Special Missions Unit members who were listening in the control room outside the interrogation room.

This is no longer a simple case of fan crime or infighting among members, but a major scandal that may involve the operating company's systematic cover-up and indulgence, and may even involve shady financial dealings with extreme fans!

"Zongxue! The chain of evidence is very clear now. The direct perpetrator, motive, and instigator are all identified. Can we apply for the arrest of Nakai Rika and Sugawara Riko now?" Ikeda Erena said excitedly.

Uesugi Muneyuki sighed and shook his head: "No."

"Why?!"

“The fans’ testimonies are one-sided,” Uesugi Muneyuki calmly analyzed, though he was also angry: “Nai and Sugawara could have easily denied it, saying that the fans were framing them to exonerate themselves. We don’t have any audio or written evidence of them directly providing the address. There are no third-party witnesses for the conversations at the handshake event and backstage.”

"What about the operational cover-up?"

“That’s even more vague! ‘Similar incidents’? ‘Paying tribute’? These can only be directions for the investigation, but as evidence, they have no weight. If we try to take action now, we’ll only alert them and be easily blocked by their legal team.” Uesugi Muneyuki narrowed his eyes, thinking about how to find a breakthrough: “We need more evidence…”

"Perhaps we need to ask Yamaguchi and the other members again?" Kai Toru became interested: "Wow, the internal workings of female idol groups are really complicated!"

“Yes, and the funniest thing is that I have a past with Yamaguchi. We used to know each other, so I might have to avoid suspicion in this matter.” Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head repeatedly with a half-smile. He looked at Nango Yui and said, “Nango-san, I’m sorry to have made you laugh.”

“No, I have long admired Uesugi-san…” Nango Yui quickly shook his head. He looked Uesugi Muneyuki up and down and thought that he was indeed as good as ever, noble yet sharp, with a cold demeanor and meticulous thinking and cautious yet bold judgment.

This is why I came to the Special Mission Department!
Just as he was about to introduce himself, a policeman rushed in from outside.

"Urgent news! Urgent news!"

"Second Department's Shiratori-san reports that a major homicide has occurred in Setagaya Ward. The deceased are YKC48's manager, Imazaki-san, and... YKC48's Sugawara Riko and Nakai Rika. Moreover, all three were found naked in a bed. The suspected cause of death is... excessive drinking, drug use, and Viagra during vigorous sexual activity!"

The police informed Uesugi Muneyuki and others about the "mysterious death of three idols at a silver party".

Soyuki Uesugi: "?"

After hearing the news, the chief medical examiner of the First Investigation Division subconsciously glanced at Takei Masanori and Kakimoto Hiroshi, who were still being interrogated, and couldn't hide the shock in his eyes.

They just said they couldn't find a breakthrough or evidence.

Here it is!

(End of this chapter)