Part 27: June 6: IV. The Emperor

Kanji is finally back in action.

-New Days-


Snrk! Ha, where'd the manners come from?
Well, um...I didn't know you guys were my senpai.
Uhh...Thanks a bunch.
Though I don't really remember what happened...
There are some things we'd like you to tell us about.
First off, who was that boy you met with?
I-I really don't know much about him. I mean, I've only met him twice...
Yeah, but you walked home from school with him. What did you guys talk about?
Uh, well...He just asked stuff like...If anything different happened lately...
I dunno where my head was at...When I came to my senses, I blurted out that I wanted to see him again.
To a guy.
He WAS awfully pretty for a dude. I mean, if you like dudes.
I, uh...I don't really get it myself. Girls are so loud and obnoxious, so, y'know...I really don't like dealing with 'em. Guys are a lot more laid-back.
S-So, uh, I started thinking...What if I'm the type who never gets interested in girls...?
And I couldn't accept that, so I kept spinning around and around in my head...
Well, I can understand the part about feeling more relaxed around dudes.
How're you feeling?
I'm fine now. I mean, it was all in my head, when y'get down to it. I was the one shutting out that stuff.
So, uhh...Our family's run a textile shop for generations...Oh yeah, you already knew that. My parents are kinda weird...They say stuff like, "Dyes are one with the universe," and "Cloth is alive"...That's the kinda house I grew up in. So I've been interested in sewing and stuff since I was a kid. But the second I say stuff like that, people look at me funny...Girls make fun of me, the people in the neighborhood treat me like I'm some zoo animal, so I was sick of everything. And when I got to my senses...I was running wild. Shit, what's with me today? I'm going on and on about myself...Forget all that. Man, I must look really lame right now.
You're really pretty cool.
Nah, I doubt it...
Haha...I've never talked about any of this stuff before. Guess I never had anyone to tell it to. I guess I wasn't really afraid of girls. I was just scared of people in general. But all that's behind me.
Wow, I'm surprised. You're a good kid...
D-Don't call me a good kid...
Hahaha, no need to get embarrassed. You're a big guy, you can take it.

-Deduction-

Hey, is there anything you remember after you ran into us the second time?
You know, after you chased us away and said you were gonna take us down.
Huh? Uhh...I went home. I was gonna sleep it off in my room...Wait, I think someone came...
To your house!? Who was it!?
Uh, well, it was just a feeling I had. I dunno if anyone actually came...Other than that...I remember some weird, dark entrance thing...When I woke up, I was laid out on the floor of that sauna place.
A dark entrance...Could it have been a TV?
Huh...? Now that you mention it, maybe so...
Uh, why do you ask?
Oh, no reason...I was just wondering.
Did the police ask you anything?
Well, my mom had called the cops to look for me, so they questioned me for a while. I told them exactly what I just told you and they looked at me like I was crazy. So, like...Are you guys playing detective or somethin'?
Mmm, well, something like that.
Anything I can do to help?
If there's some bastard out there who put me through this, I ain't gonna rest until I make 'em pay.
Seriously? Awesome! You'd make a great addition to our team! Whaddaya say, Leader?
Of course he can.
Thank you, Sir! I'll put my life on the line for you guys!
I'll do my best!

> Kanji Tatsumi joined your group! He'll definitely be a strong asset in solving the case.


Well, if we're gonna welcome aboard a new member...
Should we take him to our special headquarters?
We're still calling it that...?
Wh-What's that!?
C'mon, let's go!

-Junes Theme-


Huh? Shurr, I waf lifnin'.
Close your mouth!
So, uh...Wait, so someone's killing people with a TV...? What, is he beating them to death?
No, they weren't being beaten with a TV! Were you listening at all...?
Don't worry, he'll understand once he sees the place with his own eyes.

-Deduction-

But the way it happened was just the same as with Yukiko. The killer kidnapped him first, then threw him into the TV.
Yeah...It's scary.
TV-loving student: That show's been pretty crazy lately, huh?
Student's friend: Yeah. I keep wondering who'll show up next.
TV-loving student: I knew before it came on that he'd be the next one to appear. What's the dude's name? That first-year who used to be in a biker gang...
Who the hell d'you think was next?


And he wasn't in a biker gang--he's the one who beat the shit out of those leathered-up pansies. So who're you dipshits!?


Feh...Boring.


Sure, they have no idea it's related to the murders, but still...How can they talk about their schoolmate like that?
They're like onlookers at a car crash. As long as it's not happening to them, they're dying to see...
Damn, this sucks...We don't even know who's gonna be targeted anymore.
This case disproved our assumption that all the victims are female...
What was the other thing we thought they had in common?
People involved in the initial case, about Ms. Yamano, are the targets...How about that?
I don't think it holds up.
Hmm. Think we're wrong about this one too?
I dunno...That announcer was involved with their mothers, not them. We haven't come up with a reason yet why the killer would target their children.
You guys sayin' you don't have any clues? Well listen up, 'cause I got somethin' big.


Okay, when I made my comeback at school today, there was an annoying brat hanging around. Turns out he was snooping around about Senpai's and my disappearance, so I took this from him. I dunno what the hell this all is, though.
Uh, and you took it anyway?

> You took the paper from Kanji. There are several lists...Which one will you read out loud?

(Enka album chart)

> It's the enka album chart for May. Misuzu Hiiragi's new album is #1...

I hear her album sales have gone up since the incident.
If she knows about it and she's using it to sell her songs, that's pretty sketchy.
She has an alibi, though. I don't think this involves her...Let's move on.
(Female announcer ranking)

> It's a ranking of female announcer popularity for various local stations in March. Mayumi Yamano is around the lower middle of the list...

Does this mean she wasn't that well-known until the incident?
It's just this guy's personal rankings, nothing important. What does the next one say?
(List of TV programs)

> Mayumi Yamano 4/11, Saki Konishi 4/13...

What're these dates? April 11th...?
Oh, they found the first body on the day school started, so that would have been...the 12th.
The 11th is the day before that...
Dear sweet God, I never noticed before now! IT ALL FITS
I know I can't forget the day Saki-senpai's body was found...That was the 15th. So, what are these dates? And what does "List of TV programs" mean? What's "Saki Konishi, April 13th"...?
The day she was on TV.
I see...Yeah, there's no doubt about it.
Oh yeah...I saw that, too. They were interviewing her 'cause she found the first body.
Then this part..."Mayumi Yamano, April 11th." Is that the day she appeared on TV, too...?
Oh, she was on! I remember now! That was when the affair hit the news!
Hey, wait a sec...Yukiko, didn't you get interviewed too? When did that interview air!?
I-I think it was when I was absent from school...Um...
It was the day after I met you at the embankment. I had my kimono on...Do you remember?
I remember.
I went shopping that day, so...April 15th!
And right after that, I was kidnapped.
Kanji! What about that television special you were on!?
Oh yeah, that thing...Damn show made my mom go apeshit on me and...
The date! Just tell us the date!
Uhhh, I don't remember the exact date...But it wasn't too long before I met you guys.
It's true, then...Everyone was on TV before they disappeared.
So, you think the killer's targeting people he sees on TV...?
I was so caught up with the news reports about the incidents that I didn't notice at all...
It can't be a coincidence.
Now that I think about it...When the killer failed with Yukiko, they moved to Kanji instead of trying again...Maybe this "being on TV" thing is some stupid rule that the killer's following.
That's right...The killer could've targeted the same victim again...
I think there's a definite connection here between the kidnappings and the TV broadcasts.
The victims weren't just involved with the first case. They were also shown on the mass media.
That must be it...
But if so...What's the motive? Why kill someone just because they were on TV? Argh...Dammit, now that I think about it, we haven't gotten anywhere!
Why can't I be smarter...!?
Dude, why beat yourself up? I think you guys are awesome. I mean, you guys noticed what was happening to me and even risked your lives to stop it. That's more than enough.
You rescued me, too. We may not have solved the mystery, but we've saved two people already.
That's true, but...
What's more, everyone's deduction that Kanji-kun might be next was right on the nose.
I know! We were so close.
Huh? You knew before it happened? Damn, I wish you guys'd come a little earlier, then...
Well, if we know this much, I think we can outsmart the killer next time. Then it's a countdown to their arrest.
Don't forget, it's always possible that Kanji-kun was the last target.
Or so we hope...We've thwarted them twice already. Here's hoping the killer's learned their lesson by now.
Anyways, let's keep checking the Midnight Channel like usual when it rains.
That reminds me...The school campout's next week. I hope it doesn't rain.
It's for both the first-year and second-year students, so we'll see you there, Kanji-kun.


Yo, mind if I order another grilled steak? I'm gonna finish this one up while the next one's on the grill. We're...going Dutch on the meal, right?
Well, let's get going. I think our new teammate needs to meet Mr. Bear.
Huh? What's up?
Fine, whatever...I'll go for something cheap, like ramen. Wait, or should I get a takoyaki set...? Man, I can't decide.
None of it.
Whaaat!?


Didn't think it was a bear, though. Hey, why IS it a bear?
Dunno.
Me neither. I've been wondering too.
I-It's kinda cute...M-Mind if I pet you?
No touching allowed, Mister.
Wha--!? Hey, don't give me any lip, bear! Tch...
Uhh...By the way, I been wondering. You were kidnapped too, right, Yukiko-senpai?
Huh...? Yeah, it wasn't long before you.
So like, that means you came out to everyone too?
Th-That's...Um...
What was it like for Senpai--


Urgh!
Oh, sorry...I didn't mean to hit you so hard...
M-My jaw...
I'll be more gentle next time...
More...gentle...?
What a pair of dimwits...
Oh yeah! Here's a present from me, Kanji! It's to celebrate you joining the team!
Ah, so these are the glasses you guys told me about.
Hurry and put them on.
Huh? S-Sure...But hang on, aren't these different from everyone else's?



-Like A Dream Come True-

I-It looks perfect on you...Heehee...
Snrk...Ahahahaha!
Haha, damn, dude. It looks great on you!
I had a normal pair ready for you. But Yuki-chan insisted on this one. She wouldn't budge!


Wh-Why are you taking it out on me!?
Gimme that!

> Kanji grabbed the other pair of glasses that Teddie was holding...

......
Heehee! Ahahahahaha...!
You took my spare pair...Kanji, you must really like those!
Ahaha! Oh, my sides!


This is the real one. It wasn't easy getting it to you.
Why the hell did you bother making a spare if it's more useless crap...!? Dammit! I'll get you guys for this someday!
Ahahahaha!

-Sky Full of Stars-


Drunk boss: Gahaha! What are you, afraid of ghosts? What is it this time, the ghost in the white kimono who stands around the shrine at night, asking for fish? That's just a story they tell to keep kids off the street!
Drunk subordinate: I don't know, boss, I think your face is whiter than any ghost right now!


I've heard rumors that its business has suddenly picked up in the past couple of months. I wonder what happened...It's open quite late on rainy days, too. Oh, did you know that the owner is very charming, even though he looks surly? He rarely comes to my pub, though...How many years has it been since he last walked through my door...? It's such a charming place, with an adorable lady just waiting for him...It's quite rude of him not to come!...Oh, don't get me wrong. Nothing's ever gone on between us, so don't worry.



> It looks like the dog you saw on the riverbank. It must be the runaway dog referred to on the ema the fox showed you. It seems the dog is wary of you. What should you do?

(Talk to it gently)
Missing dog: *whimper*

> It seems the dog became less wary of you. The dog ran away...You're doubtful it'll return here any time soon. You should look for it another day...


Lady in white: But, as I was praying, a cat took the fish I had...Do you have any Amber Seema you could spare? Th-Thank you very much...This is an expression of my thanks...Please, take this...

> Obtained Yazu Stone.

Lady in white: Oh, by the way...There was a strange net on the rooftop...Do you know about it? I see. Well, please take this...

> Obtained Butterfly Net.

-Signs of Love-




Dad...You're making that scary face. Are you thinking about work?
Oh...No, sorry. I should leave that stuff behind when I'm gardening.
As small as this garden is, it does take a lot of effort to keep it going. Are you regretting letting Nanako talk you into this yet?
I'm glad I did this.
I see. Guess this is one thing you don't get to do in the city...
I'm having fun! I love having you and big bro help out!

Here's Kanji.





Kanji is, as you might expect, a beast. Even with a ten-level handicap, he has just as much HP as the team's second-toughest fighter, Chie, and his Regenerate ability helps stretch it even further. Kanji won't ever match Chie's broad array of physical skills, but eventually he'll edge her out in terms of raw damage on a single target. His lightning skills also scale much better than Chie's ice skills. His Magic and SP are frankly pitiful, but he'll still Down anything that's weak to electricity, and that's good enough for me.