Chapter Sixty: Returning to Dust (Second Installment)

In the temporary interrogation room, the suspect felt agonizing pain after telling his own story.

Facing the account given by Sosuke Uesugi, the honest man's heart could finally no longer bear the immense torment and suffering. Confronted with the sequence of events reconstructed by Sosuke Uesugi—though Fukushima Sosaburo had no idea how Uesugi had managed a pixel-level recreation—the tidal wave of pain, remorse, and frustration ultimately breached his psychological defenses. After a round of roaring, he frantically rubbed his face with his calloused hands, tears squeezing out from between his fingers, until his hands were stained with blood.

An honest man's fury is genuine, and an honest man's tears are equally genuine.

He had always regarded Mariko Hironaka as the sun in his life! He had once sincerely wished her a happy wedding, he had once heartily hoped for her continuous promotion, and he had once hoped that one day he might be converted to a regular employee, becoming her knight to silently guard her path to advancement.

Now, it was over. It was all over.

"Sob, sob, sob..." After confessing his crimes, the honest man burst into uncontrollable weeping.

Sosuke Uesugi was also feeling conflicted.

Uesugi knew the ins and outs of this matter better than anyone else—because Mariko Hironaka had narrated it to him personally.

This upcoming bride, though loose in her personal life, genuinely harbored good intentions. She truly felt a sense of pity for this diligent and hardworking dispatched employee who greeted everyone at Fuji TV with a loud "Good morning" every morning!

Ever since the kind female anchor learned from President Kameyama that conversion to a regular employee was no longer possible, she had felt such pangs of conscience that she could no longer face Fukushima's morning greetings. Out of guilt for knowing the inside story, she had even tried to persuade him not to work so hard. As her wedding date drew near, considering her marriage and honeymoon leave, she ultimately decided to tell Fukushima the truth just as she was about to leave work, purely to alleviate the guilt in her own heart.

This ultimately led to the tragedy.

If not for her superfluous kindness, if not for her pure goodwill, none of this would have happened!

Why couldn't she just leave work and go prepare for her wedding?!

Why, why did she have to do extra?!

This thought involuntarily arose in Uesugi's mind, his facial features twisting into a knot.

This was an utter tragedy, something he had faintly guessed beforehand. In Mariko Hironaka's narration, she had used many polite and social pleasantries, and because it was difficult to mention that President Kameyama had told her, her persuasion always carried a strange, transparently evasive flavor, nor did she say whose idea it actually was.

As someone of noble birth who had received a complete higher education, Sosuke Uesugi naturally understood Mariko Hironaka's phrasing.

But Fukushima could not! He was merely an honest man who had dropped out after junior high to work odd jobs, wandering around Tokyo for over a dozen years knowing only how to bury himself in labor, equipped with only a few hundred basic vocabulary words, and barely able to write a few kanji!

To think it really was just because of a misunderstanding!

To think the reason for murder was truly this simple?!

Intertwining goodwill, mutual human recognition, and friendship had ultimately culminated in an unadulterated tragedy.

[So that's how it was.] After listening to the whole story, the dead spirit of Mariko Hironaka saw her previously distorted and blackened face gradually calm down. Her face remained full of hatred and vexation, yet she made no further moves. [So, you killed someone over something like this.]

The dark aura emanating from her gradually subsided. Toward this man, she still harbored hatred, but she finally understood why she had died.

[He still believes you were mocking him to this day.] Uesugi closed his eyes, his tone indescribably conflicted.

[Sigh, I'm to blame too. When he heard the station wouldn't renew his contract, he kept questioning me about who made the decision, asking if President Kameyama hadn't personally promised him a chance at conversion.] Mariko Hironaka said with a pale expression, [But I couldn't just say the president told me directly, how could I say that?]

[I know, that's professional ethics.] Uesugi glanced at the weeping honest man. [But your attitude made him misunderstand. He thought it was you, especially since you were getting married.]

[The simultaneous destruction of his career and his romance caused him to lose his mind.]

[What a fool, an absolute fool!] Mariko Hironaka stared resentfully at the weeping man, unsure whether the fool she referred to was Fukushima Sosaburo or herself.

[Do you have any evidence to prove your goodwill?]

[I do...]

"Junior Uesugi, are you alright?" Mariko Hironaka's intense resentment seemed to affect the surrounding environment; both Inspector Megure and Inspector Kashiwagi sensed a hint of chill in the room. Seeing Uesugi looking dazed and muttering to himself, Inspector Megure took the initiative to pat his shoulder. "Wonderful! The suspect is willing to confess. Magnificent, Uesugi! You saved me, you helped all of us."

"Except me," Inspector Jin Kashiwagi muttered, finding Uesugi Sosuke more obnoxious the more he looked at him.

On one hand, handsome men tend to belittle one another. Inspector Kashiwagi, a celebrity detective, was accustomed to stealing the spotlight, so having Uesugi upstage him left a bitter taste in his mouth. On the other hand, Uesugi's methods—finding the corpse, unearthing evidence, and conducting face-to-face interrogations—were entirely unorthodox. In fact, the Metropolitan Police Department still had no clue how Uesugi had managed to blindly locate the body.

None of that mattered anymore, however—at least not to the MPD.

Seeing the suspect confess on the spot, cheers had already erupted outside.

"Inspector Megure, thank you for your hard work all day." Following Mariko Hironaka's instructions, Uesugi lowered his voice. "There's just one more thing I need to trouble you with."

"Still more? Well, hasn't the suspect already confessed?" Inspector Megure was both hungry and exhausted. With his nerves finally decompressing after a state of high tension, he felt drowsy and weary.

"One final piece is missing," Uesugi nodded. "Something needed to make this fellow fully realize his mistake."

"Mistake?"

Stepping out of the temporary interrogation room, Uesugi saw two female officers waiting for him.

Rena Ikeda gazed at him with eyes burning like the summer sun, brimming with anticipation and infatuation. She could hardly wait to hear Uesugi explain the entire case firsthand.

Minami Watanabe looked at him with a gaze as clear as a mountain spring, full of admiration and appreciation. She thought to herself that this fellow had saved the headquarters yet again.

A live broadcast inside a sealed building, searching for a missing person, capturing a suspect, and securing a confession—if any single critical component had been mishandled, it would have been enough for Eiji Watanabe, the Superintendent General, to bow in apology or even be forced to resign.

When two hours of searching yielded nothing, Minami Watanabe had briefly feared the situation was ruined, only for Uesugi Sosuke to emerge.

So, how had he performed?

Objectively speaking, describing him as a god descending to earth was no exaggeration. His performance across various fronts far exceeded Minami Watanabe's highest expectations; it was almost... too good.

The moment the thought crossed her mind that this guy was someone she had discovered and promoted, a sweet smile bloomed across Minami Watanabe's delicate face.

Before she could speak, Rena Ikeda cut in, "Uesugi, I have a question."

"Go ahead," Uesugi nodded, noticing that Inspector Megure was carrying out the task he had requested.

"Why did Fukushima Sosaburo hide the blood-stained work uniform, and why did he hide one of Ms. Mariko Hironaka's high heels?" Rena Ikeda had been wrestling with this point. "Wouldn't putting the shoe back on Ms. Hironaka's foot make it less likely to be discovered?"

"Because..." Uesugi thought to himself that while he couldn't explain other matters, he certainly understood this one. "Because Fukushima Sosaburo secretly admired and loved Ms. Hironaka. Normally, such affection is suppressed, painful, and self-restrained."

"Fukushima knew full well that he had virtually no chance of developing anything with Mariko Hironaka. He was quite content with merely nodding acquaintances and the occasional exchange of words as an unexpected delight."

"That doesn't mean Fukushima lacked desires or sexual fantasies regarding Ms. Hironaka," Uesugi explained with a slightly peculiar expression. "Hiding one of her high heels was the materialization of his sexual fantasies about her—an expression of subconscious urges through unconscious behavior."

"???" Rena Ikeda's expression turned very strange, the tall beauty casting a bizarre look at Uesugi.

A sudden association struck her: Uesugi had praised the skirt-suit, stockings, and heels of her police uniform more than once. He had handed her pantyhose unprompted at Uniqlo last time, and today he had handed her a pair of black pantyhose again.

Could this guy be the same kind of weirdo?

The thought sent an indescribable, odd sensation rippling through Ikeda's mind. The tactile sensation of her silk-wrapped legs suddenly felt vivid. Fortunately, she didn't despise Uesugi, otherwise she would have stripped off her stockings right then and there!

Even so, Ikeda shot Uesugi a resentful glare, thinking to herself that today her waist had been embraced by this fellow, her chest brushed against, and she'd let him see her in stockings... Theoretically, she had taken a massive loss, but getting to experience such an exciting night and witness another live forensic deduction barely made the admission price worth it!

"Heh." Unlike Ikeda's reaction, Minami Watanabe covered her mouth with a giggle upon hearing Uesugi's description. Adopting the formal etiquette of a disciple addressing a master, she bowed deeply to Uesugi in gratitude. "Thank you for the guidance, Professor Uesugi. This finally starts to resemble orthodox deduction—though I didn't realize you also minored in psychology?"

"Not orthodox, and I'm no psychology professor. I just took a few classes in university. As for being a professor..." Uesugi spread his hands. "Do I look like one?"

"Not really... But if Mr. Uesugi were to wear a professor's white lab coat, you'd definitely look exceptionally handsome." Minami Watanabe's eyes curved into crescents as she playfully drew out her tone. "When I give you a gift later, you aren't allowed to refuse!"

"I agree. Ms. Watanabe, if you wore the Senior Superintendent uniform of the First Investigative Division's commander, you'd certainly look stunning," Uesugi countered immediately. "When the promotion banquet is held, be sure to invite me."

The two exchanged a smile, an unspoken tacit understanding flowing between them.

By now, it was past midnight. The live broadcast on Fuji TV was still ongoing, though viewership had dropped to 20%. The police had prepared to wrap things up, escorting the suspect—or rather, the now-confirmed perpetrator, Fukushima Sosaburo—back to headquarters for final processing.

The victim's family, Mr. and Mrs. Hironaka, kept vigil beside their daughter's body, shedding silent tears.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a weathered suit, guided by Inspector Megure, arrived at the scene. The moment he spotted Fukushima Sosaburo, he stomped his feet in anger, weeping and fuming all at once. "Fukushima! Why did you do this?! W-weren't you always an exemplary employee?"

"............" Fukushima Sosaburo turned his head away, uttering not a single word.

"If you lose a job, you can find another! Isn't it normal for a dispatched worker's contract to expire and not be renewed?" Tears rolled down the middle-aged man's cheeks. Fumbling in his pockets for a long moment, he produced a letter. "Do you know? Do you have any idea how much Ms. Hironaka cared about you?! She went out of her way to write a recommendation letter to our company for you, and even prepared a commemorative plaque!"

"What?" Fukushima Sosaburo abruptly jerked his head up, the middle-aged man's mouth falling open.

"If you don't believe me, read it yourself!" The middle-aged man handed over a sheet of paper.

Surrounded by police officers, Fukushima Sosaburo with trembling hands reached out and took the paper.

The contents of the recommendation letter were concise: it praised Fukushima Sosaburo to the temp agency for his diligence and good attitude, expressing hope that upon leaving his current post, he might be recommended as a cleaner at the Ota Real Estate Corporation in Taito Ward.

The signature read Mariko Hironaka. Ota Real Estate Corporation happened to be the company where her fiancé served as senior managing director.

Fukushima Sosaburo's eyes narrowed slightly at first as if verifying the handwriting; then his pupils dilated, and his hands began to shake.

It was real. He recognized it—how could he possibly not recognize Mariko Hironaka's handwriting?

It was real! She was sincere! She was still caring for him?!

Then why... why did she...

The honest man's hands began to quake. He drew in a harsh breath, exhaled, inhaled again, and exhaled—as if suffocating. Then his entire body convulsed, his pupils trembling violently.

"You recognize this handwriting, don't you?" Uesugi slowly approached Fukushima, speaking in a chilling tone. "That's right. It was written by Ms. Mariko Hironaka."

"Even with her wedding fast approaching, even with your temp contract about to expire, Mariko still cared about you. She specially wrote this recommendation letter for you, and your response was to murder her!"

Uesugi pointed straight at Fukushima's face. "You killed her. You killed someone who cared about you and cherished you from start to finish. Are you even human, Mr. Fukushima?"

"Mariko did? Mariko did? She wasn't mocking me? She was..." Fukushima Sosaburo stared at the recommendation letter over and over again. Under the grip of terror and disbelief, he lost his soul, repeating the same phrase like a broken record. "I... her? Ms. Hironaka actually..."

The man collapsed heavily onto the floor, his face twisting into a manic contortion. "How could this be? How could this be? Impossible! No, this is wrong, this is all wrong, ahhhhhhhh!!!"

"What on earth have I been doing? What have I been doing all this time, ahhhhhhhhh!!"

Fukushima Sosaburo completely collapsed under hundreds of pairs of eyes, beneath camera lenses, and under the disdainful gazes of countless police officers, colleagues, and Fuji TV staff.

[Are you satisfied now, Ms. Hironaka?] Uesugi whispered to Mariko Hironaka beside him, seizing the opportunity.

[I want him to spend the rest of his life in remorse. I want him to suffer complete social death. I want him to know what kind of end awaits someone who tramples upon my genuine sincerity.] Though Mariko Hironaka's words were fierce, her gaze was profoundly sorrowful. She looked at her parents, then cast a glance at her distant fiancé, Ren Shimokawa. [That guy is still here.]

Midnight had already passed. Today was supposed to be her wedding day, the day she would join hands with that man to embark on a new life.

Yet now, all of that was impossible. She was dead, while he remained alive.

[If you are satisfied, then I will release you. Go to the other world and attain Buddhahood, Ms. Hironaka,] Uesugi said softly.

However, Mariko Hironaka's response caught him entirely off guard.

[No. I don't want to be released.] Mariko Hironaka raised her head, her attachment to the mortal realm showing no signs of fading.

[I want to stay.]

Publishing two chapters a day consumes energy so quickly.

Will I be wrung dry?