Laughter echoed again across the studio. Though some female fans in the audience looked a little disappointed, Ayako, who had just looked dejected, quickly perked up with a smile.
"Well, actually, I wanted to ask, Eitan-sensei—do you have any skincare secrets? You honestly look more refined than most women!"
"Hmm... I don't pay much attention, but aside from sunscreen, I'd say—bathing."
"Sun protection and bathing?"
"Yes. Exposure to strong UV rays accelerates aging. And bathing... Ms. Nagai, haven't you ever felt like your skin improved after soaking in a hot spring?"
"Ah, that's actually true!"
"So keeping your skin hydrated is important too."
Eitan spoke with a calm smile.
In the front row, Eri watched him on stage and couldn't help smiling, feeling a rare sense of relief. His composure and eloquence made her proud.
The host, not wanting to be left out, jumped in with a cheerful tone.
"Speaking of which, I think many in the audience are curious—what's the daily routine like for a mystery novelist? Could you share with us, Eitan-sensei?"
"Well, the first step is always the story." Eitan turned slightly toward him. "Once the idea is solid, I begin writing—and then rewriting. It's not particularly dramatic."
"I see, I see… But your stories have such clever tricks. How do you come up with them?"
"I'm very interested in detective work," Eitan answered. "I often seek out related material. The more I read and think, the more ideas come to mind. When it comes to constructing the case, I usually prefer working in reverse."
"Reverse deduction?"
"Yes—like imagining the victim's state or the method used. If I come up with a good scene, I start from there and work backwards—figuring out the motive, process, and setup. It's like shooting the arrow first and then drawing the target."
"Fascinating. What would you say is the hardest part of writing?"
"…Honestly? Naming characters."
As if slightly embarrassed, Eitan gave a faint smile and pulled out a black notebook from his pocket.
"I'm not very good at naming, so I always carry this. Whenever I meet someone interesting, I ask them to write their name. I use it as a reference when creating characters."
"Ohh, it really does have a lot of names…" Ayako leaned in with interest.
"Eitan-sensei is truly dedicated." Matsuo brightened. "Would I be honored enough to leave my name in it too?"
"Haha, if my name ends up as a character in your next novel, that would be something."
"Of course," Eitan nodded, passing him the notebook and pen.
Matsuo happily wrote his name on camera, and Ayako joined in immediately after.
Both hosts were professional and sharp. The agreement between Futaba Publishing and the network was to promote Eitan's new novel, and they kept the conversation centered around his work seamlessly.
---
"Constantly imagining murder scenes, huh... Heh. That explains a lot."
Inside a dimly lit bar.
Gin and Vodka were slouched at the counter, watching the broadcast of All Japan Detective Agency Unit on the small TV.
Gin let out a low chuckle as Eitan spoke fluently on screen.
Vodka grinned. "This kid's really popular. If those fans knew he's killed someone—hah, I wonder what they'd say."
"Don't be stupid, Vodka." Gin's voice was cold. "He hasn't killed anyone."
"…Right."
The truth was, no matter how one looked at it, Eitan's actions were just accidents. Not a single drop of blood had landed on him.
But that only made Gin more interested.
He couldn't pin anything on the kid—but that made him even more valuable.
A rare talent...
A thin smirk tugged at the corner of Gin's mouth. He would definitely find a chance to test him again—but lately, Eitan had been too high-profile. For now, Gin decided to wait.
"By the way, Boss, about those documents—"
"Don't worry. We'll go through with it. The exchange is happening later, at Toro Tropical Land."
"Got it. I already gave him the heads-up. He knows what we're asking for."
This time, they were blackmailing a company that had been secretly smuggling firearms. The Organization had the evidence, including incriminating photos. Gin and Vodka were tasked with the extortion—100 million yen. The goal wasn't just the money; they wanted to drive the company out and repurpose the land for a new lab.
"The woman in this commercial's not bad."
Vodka glanced up as a drink commercial played.
Gin didn't respond.
---
Back at Nichimai TV Station, the three on-stage guests received a cue from the director:
"Commercial break."
Ayako let out a small sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Matsuo doubled over slightly, clutching his stomach.
"Oof... that hurts…"
"Mr. Matsuo? Are you alright?"
"Sorry," he said with a forced smile. "My stomach's been off since this morning."
He turned to a staffer standing off-stage.
"Can you check where Suwa is right now?"
"Sure."
A few moments later, the staffer returned.
"Suwa-san's in the fourth-floor mixing room. He's monitoring the live feed."
Hearing this, Matsuo's lips curled upward ever so slightly.
Everything was going according to plan.
I'll kill him later.
Matsuo silently clenched his fists.
All Japan Detective Agency Unit had been his brainchild—created alongside director Suwa. It had taken years of effort and emotional investment to bring it to life and achieve the success it had now. But Suwa had grown increasingly dissatisfied.
Despite Matsuo's reliable ability to pull in ratings, Suwa believed his potential had already peaked. He wanted to replace him with a young, popular idol, spice up the show with more provocative content, and double the viewership overnight.
Matsuo, however, couldn't accept it.
As the host, he couldn't go directly against the director, especially when Suwa had already informed him this would be his last episode—using Eitan's appearance to drum up final buzz before overhauling the entire format.
(Just wait, Suwa…)
His resentment festered, and the murderous intent quietly grew within him.
---
Back on stage, the cameras resumed rolling after the commercial break.
Matsuo straightened up, smoothing his expression in an instant.
"Welcome back to All Japan Detective Agency Unit. I'm your host, Matsuo Takashi."
"Let's return to our earlier topic."
He turned to Eitan with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"As a mystery novelist, Eitan-sensei, what would you say is the easiest type of case to solve?"
"Under similar circumstances," Eitan answered smoothly, "shooting cases tend to be the most straightforward."
"Shooting?"
"Yes. Unlike elaborate traps or obscure murder methods, shootings leave the clearest, most direct evidence. The traces are hard to hide, and bullet trajectories are easy for investigators to analyze. That alone can cut down investigation time significantly."
"I see…"
Matsuo felt an odd flicker in his chest. That answer... hit uncomfortably close to home.
Still, he forced a smile. No way he'd see through anything. This was just a novelist, not a real detective.
To shift the focus, Ayako jumped in with a laugh.
"Speaking of shooting, Mr. Matsuo—you're quite the marksman, aren't you? I heard your skills are almost on par with professionals!"
Matsuo's eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn't expected her to bring that up now.
Quickly waving his hands, he said, "No, no, I wouldn't go that far. I did train overseas for a bit, but calling me a pro is definitely exaggerating."
"Eh~? That's not what you usually say off-camera."
"I mean… I'm just this close," he said, standing and pinching his fingers to demonstrate a tiny gap with a proud expression.
The audience laughed.
---
The program shifted into its next segment.
"And now," Matsuo announced, "it's time for the fan-favorite quiz: You're the Culprit!"
"We'll now show a 4-minute VCR short. After watching, guess who the real culprit is—A, B, C, or D."
As the lights dimmed and the screen changed, the crew took a brief break.
Ayako brought Eitan over to watch the VCR at the backstage monitor.
The short film played—a dramatic murder scene with planted clues. At the end, the audience was presented with four suspect options.
"They really put effort into this one," Ayako said. "It's shot so well."
Eitan nodded thoughtfully. "What about Matsuo?"
"Huh? Matsuo?"
Ayako glanced around.
Right then, Matsuo jogged back in, a sheen of sweat on his forehead, one hand on his stomach.
"I'm here. Sorry—my stomach's been off since morning. But I'm alright now. The video's almost done, right? Let's get back on stage."
---
"Thank you for your hard work today, Eitan-sensei."
"It was truly an honor to have you."
The broadcast had wrapped.
As the studio audience filed out, backstage, Matsuo extended a hand with a warm smile. Eitan shook it.
Ayako also bowed politely. "Thank you again."
"Not at all," Eitan said gently. "I was the one being looked after today. It's my first time on TV—I didn't realize how much effort it takes to host a program."
"You didn't seem nervous at all," Ayako said, impressed. "Some first-timers completely freeze when the cameras go live."
"I guess I'm good at hiding it."
"Haha, Eitan-sensei, would you sign something for me?"
"Of course."
They chatted in a relaxed atmosphere.
Just then, Eri arrived backstage, along with editor Asamiya. As Eitan's family and manager respectively, both were used to these situations—but something seemed off.
"Where's the director?" Asamiya asked, frowning slightly.
Normally, a director would come to greet the guest afterward, especially someone the production had worked hard to invite. But Suwa hadn't shown up.
And now that she noticed, several staff members were rushing around, clearly unsettled.
Asamiya muttered, "Is he really making a show of being above it all now? That's pretty unprofessional…"
Right then, a crew member rushed in. "Mr. Matsuo—Director Suwa is missing."
"…What?"
"No answer from the fourth-floor mixing room, and he's not picking up his phone either."
"That's… strange. Would someone mind checking the room?"
"On it."
The staffer ran off.
Matsuo turned to the others with a helpless, bitter smile. "Honestly… I don't know what Suwa's thinking. Eitan-sensei is still waiting."
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