With that cryptic remark, he retreated into the chief's office to rest.
Taking his advice, Mikoto began researching similar overseas cases. Meanwhile, Rokuro returned from an outside investigation with new information
The biscuits had been purchased by Takanojima himself while on a business trip abroad.
Furthermore, the rumors of an affair were baseless; Shikishima had merely caught a cold from Takanojima, which had fueled the gossip.
When exactly did he catch the cold? Where had he traveled?
Following this lead, Mikoto deepened her investigation and finally uncovered a breakthrough!
It was neither an accident nor a case of poisoningthe cause of death was something else entirely!"
At this crucial moment, Akifumi suddenly put down his pen, stood up, stretched his limbs, andbefore the audience's bewildered eyesflopped onto the sofa!
The once-quiet chat, captivated by the story's intensity, instantly exploded with frustration.
"Are you kidding me?! Not again?!"
"This has to be intentional! How can you stop right at the climax?!"
"Get up and keep writing! I swear, don't make me beg you!!"
"ARGHHH! What was the cause of death?! Just tell us already!!"
"Please, don't make us wait two more hours for this!!"
Thankfully, this time, Akifumi only took a brief five-minute break before returning to the whiteboard under the expectant gazes of millions.
He picked up his pen and wrote:
"MERS-CoValso known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome."
Takanojima had traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he contracted the virus.
Upon returning home, he began displaying symptoms.
Subsequent tests confirmed the diagnosis.
Because they had identified the cause early, proper countermeasures were taken, preventing a larger outbreak.
The entire audience gasped in shock.
This revelation tied the entire story together seamlessly
Forensic science exists to serve the future.
At that moment, no one questioned Takanojima's cause of death anymore.
They were simply left in awe by the sheer brilliance of the story's execution.
[238] Concealing the Truth is No Different from an Unknown Poison!
"I can't believe it turned out like this!!"
"I knew it! With sensei's writing skills, the plot was never going to follow those clich tropes!"
"From an individual perspective to a broader scalethis really opens up the narrative!"
"To come up with such a plot under this kind of pressure, Warrior of Love and Hope-sensei talent is absolutely insane!"
"If it were me, I'd probably need years to think of something like this! The gap between people is sometimes greater than that between a human and a dog!"
"..."
Everyone was expressing their opinions, believing that the first episode's plot had reached its conclusion.
However, Akifumi's pen did not stop.
Noticing this, the fans were momentarily stunned, and thenshock filled their eyes.
"Wait, the first chapter isn't over yet?"
"Damn, could there be another twist?!"
"I've thought about it seriously, but I can't figure out where the plot could possibly turn!"
"Regardless, I already feel bad for the other contestants!!"
As the number of live comments started to decrease, the audience was fully immersed in the parallel world woven by Akifumi's words.
With media coverage spreading rapidly, panic ensued across Tokyo.
The city conducted multiple disinfections every day.
When the press conference concluded, a critical question arose:
When the infected official returned from Saudi Arabia, why didn't he go through airport quarantine?
That's the key point.
He was already showing early symptoms of a cold, wasn't he?
Maybe he thought it was just a mild fever and nothing serious?
As a result, Mr. Takanojima, the man who unknowingly brought the virus back, became the scapegoat for public outrage.
The first to lash out were the grieving family members of Ms. Shikishima, who had died because of him.
Next came the flood of internet criticism from anxious citizens:
He knew he had symptoms. That makes him guilty!
A walking biological weapon.
We should dox him!
He should just die! Oh wait, he's already dead. (LOL)
Amidst the chaos, Takanojima's parents found themselves bombarded by relentless media attention.
Already drowning in grief, one could only imagine the immense pain they felt under this scrutiny.
On a rainy night, at Takanojima's funeral, his parents met Mikoto.
Despite their overwhelming sorrow, they bowed deeply in apology.
They explained that their son, even when sick, insisted on returning home. Perhaps it was because of the upbringing instilled by his fatheran education that emphasized never skipping school for something as minor as a cold.
So, he must have thought that missing work for the same reason was unacceptable.
With a voice full of grief, the elderly father questioned, "Was it our education that was wrong...?"
Silence fell over the audience.
At that moment, everyone seemed to understand the old man's pain.
The agony of losing a child in old age. The torment of being condemned by the world.
The doubt creeping into their heartswas their son's death ultimately their fault?
Even if, in some perspectives, it was a consequence of his own actions...
For two elderly parents who had already suffered so muchwas this burden really theirs to bear?
Before anyone could reach a conclusion, Akifumi's next passage shook them to their core!
Ms. Baba stepped forward from the crowd and gently took the grieving parents aside. Then, looking at Mikoto, who was still bowing in apology, she hesitated before speaking:
"Takanojima is innocent. I have proof."
As Baba revealed the truth, the audience learned that three days after returning to Japan, Takanojima had undergone a health check.
The results? Completely normal.
Mikoto, however, countered, "A standard check-up wouldn't necessarily detect this. It could have been overlooked."
But Baba remained firm, "As a responsible adult, if he had really experienced symptoms, he would have reported it at the airport."
"I believe it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when he caught the virus. I'm sorry."
With that, the conversation came to an end.
As a forensic scientist, Mikoto only trusted the results of her own examinationsbecause the dead never lie.
For Baba, the woman closest to Takanojima, one might suspect that she was merely trying to clear his name.
But for the first time, this usually composed woman shed tears of sorrow.
Though Mikoto felt deep sympathy for Baba, she did not regret her actions.
If the truth had remained hidden, more people could have sufferedjust like Ms. Shikishima.
That was why tracing Takanojima's movements became an essential part of the investigation.
At Tokyo Medical University Hospital, the number of patients who had visited on the same day as "Male A"including outpatients and new admissionsexceeded 48. Among them, eight had already tested positive.
Kamikura Yasuo met with the hospital director, discussing the situation briefly.
He requested that a report be submitted to the Ministry of Health to ensure future funding.
After this incident, the Unnatural Death Investigation Unit would likely receive more and more cases.
Nakado casually chatted with Kibayashi, mentioning a golden goldfish in passing.
As the sun set, in the quiet twilight, Baba stared blankly at the ring on her left hand's ring finger.
Meanwhile, Mikoto, having completed her investigation, returned the medical report to Baba.
Baba then began recounting the story of her relationship with Takanojima.
As she reminisced about their past, regret filled her voice, she had been too focused on work.
She wished she had spent more time with him while she still had the chance.
If only she had moved in with him. If only they had registered their marriage sooner.
If only they had lived together properly as a couple. Maybe then, he wouldn't have died alone like that.
Her sorrowful words left Mikoto silent, unsure of how to console her.
What hurt Baba even more were the cruel remarks online, the vicious accusations turning such a diligent and kind man into a monster.
Even though uncovering the truth would prevent further victims, to Baba, none of that mattered.
The world's tragedies didn't concern her.
No outsider could ever replace her Takanojima, not the authorities, not the public, not even her own parents.
Mikoto remained silent. Then, she reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of bread, offering it to Baba.
Because food, in its own way, has a special kind of magic.
Even in the darkest moments, a simple meal can bring warmth, however fleeting it may be.
Even in a moment like this, she could still find food delicious. With a sorrowful yet slightly bitter complaint, Miss Baba sighed, feeling frustrated at herself.
As she gazed at the sunset, she turned her eyes toward the ring on her finger.
Seeing this, Mikoto complimented its beauty.
Miss Baba then recounted the ring's story, it was a gift from Mr. Takanojiima, given to her the day after he returned to Japan.
"I never imagined... that would be our last night together."
With emotions too complex to put into words, she murmured this sentence.
Mikoto froze for a moment before asking a rather blunt question"That night, did you two... engage in intimate relations?"
Two lovers who had been apart for so long, finally reunited... The answer was obvious.
[239] The Cost of Truth
The next day.
Inside the research institute, Mikoto gathered the team for a meeting. She wrote down the entire timeline of the incident on the whiteboard, carefully detailing every key event.
Then, she marked a special emphasis on one specific pointthe night the two of them spent together!
"That night, they kissed over twenty times," Mikoto stated. "According to how this virus spreads, if Miss Baba were exposed, she should have shown symptoms by now!"
That meant one thingshe had never come into contact with the virus at all!
In other words Takano wasn't infected in the Middle East. He had contracted the virus after returning to Japan!
And there was only one place where he could have been exposedTokyo Medical University Hospital!
It wasn't that Takano had spread the virus to others. He was infected at the hospital!
At that moment, Kamikura Yasuo recalled something crucialTokyo Medical University had an ongoing research project related to this!
The realization sent shockwaves through the audience.
"Genius Absolute genius!!"
"This is incredible! The way the story constantly misleads the audience and then corrects itselfit's just like a top-tier crime drama!"
"That final twist was absolutely brilliant!"
"Most importantly, it doesn't feel forced! Every detail was foreshadowed perfectly!"
"Just this first episode alone is enough to crush every other contestant in the competition!!"
"Damn it! Who allowed a genius like Warrior of Love and Hope to participate?! There's no way anyone else stands a chance! (lol)"
"I can't believe this entire episode was written in such a short time!"
"The story is so detailed that it could be filmed right now!"
"Wait does this mean all of sensei's stories are created this way?! (lol)"
Even though everyone knew another twist was coming, they were still eager to see how it would unfold.
So when they saw Akifumi pick up his pen again, all discussions ceased. Everyone focused their full attention on the next development.
Although Mikoto's theory made perfect sense, there was still one problem, they had no solid evidence.
And without proof, Tokyo Medical University could simply dismiss the claims as baseless accusations.
At that moment, someone who had been silent the entire time Nakado calmly placed a document on the table.
"This is your evidence."
The usually reserved man had suddenly stepped into the spotlight like a protagonist making a grand entrance.
A funeral home worker had reported that there had been an unusual surge in deaths at Tokyo Medical University Hospital.
Upon investigating, they found that the number of inpatient deaths had doubled!
This sudden spike began at the start of the previous month.
Takanoshima had visited the hospital exactly one month ago.
Even more suspiciously, eighteen of the deceased had died from acute pneumonia, kidney failure, and respiratory distress all symptoms that could be linked to the virus.
Nakado paused before continuing. "Oh, and by the way what's up with that outfit?"
This unexpected remark completely threw the team off, shifting their attention away from the case.
Mikoto, usually seen in her signature white lab coat, was now wearing an elegant pastel-yellow dress, paired with high heels.
"Shut up about my outfit!" she snapped. "Let's focus! Even if these numbers are real, they aren't enough to serve as solid proof."
Hospitals control how causes of death are reported. If they wanted to cover something up, no one would be able to stop them.
"Unless we get our hands on internal records, this data alone isn't enough."
"The evidence isn't in the numbers," Nakado interrupted. "It's in the nineteenth victim."
A five-year-old boy, hospitalized for diabetes, had suddenly developed vomiting and diarrhea. After that, he was completely isolated from everyone.
The hospital claimed his condition had worsened, but instead of being transferred to the ICU, he was placed in a negative pressure isolation room.
For three weeks, the child hovered between life and death until he finally passed away two days ago.
And his body had yet to be cremated!
But in just thirty minutes, it would be sent into the incinerator.
For a moment, the room fell into a heavy silence. Then, Rokurou grabbed his helmet and gloves.
The message was clear.
Still in her dress and heels, Mikoto sprinted full speed, jumped onto Rokurou's motorcycle, and raced toward the crematorium.
[TL Note Poor Rokurou lol]
By the time they arrived, the body had just been placed into the furnace!
Ignoring all protests, Mikoto slammed the emergency stop button.
The coffin was partially burned, but the body inside remained intact, it's slightly scorched, but still usable for examination.
Mikoto quickly instructed Rokurou to contact the research institute while she turned to the deceased child's family, bowing deeply in apology.
She then carefully explained the situation, asking for permission to perform an autopsy.
