Once, when I was in grade school,
I trapped a kitten in a drum barrel.
Behold!
I couldn't bring the cat home with me,
but my friend and I brought it food and milk.
We meant to keep it as our pet on the vacant lot in a drum can...
The last thing I remember
is covering the top with a plywood board to trap the cat inside.
I can't remember what happened next.
For the longest time, I had believed that I ended up killing that kitten.
But several years later, when I ran into that same friend,
I asked him if he remembered about the cat.
He simply said,
"I felt bad, so I Iet it out that night."
I was slightly annoyed with the fact
that I had carried the guilt all those years.
But at the same time,
I was relieved from the bottom of my heart.
That's not what happened.
After dinner, you, Dad, and I went to let the cat out.
- Did we really? - Yes.
You started crying all of a sudden, saying the cat will die.
We all went to the vacant lot that night.
I remember I begged Dad to let us keep the cat.
Why'd he say he let it out then?
Maybe he lied to make you feel better.
Hey!
You'll smell like garlic tomorrow if you keep adding more.
It's not my wedding, is it?
What is your problem?
Unbelievable...
- You're the worst! - Stop that.
We came all the way to Tokyo.
Why do we have to eat barbeque as a family?
I want to go to Starbucks.
There's one in Hachioji too.
That one doesn't count. I want to go to the one in Shibuya.
- Whose wedding is tomorrow, again? - Every Starbucks is the same.
- My cousin. - It's not! They have regional flavors.
- Should've had him write the speech. - You'd drink a Shibuya drink in Shibuya?
- That's true. - That's just as lame.
- No, I couldn't. - There's no regional frappe from Shibuya!
- Say, you're a familiar face on TV now. - Nothing grows there.
I guess.
Hey, will you get to meet BTS?
- No. - What about YouTubers?
You mean like Hikakin?
Hikakin would never work with someone like you.
What if you start a TikTok account?
It's more accessible than TV.
TikTok? What videos would I make?
What can you do?
What if you review books? A book-reviewing TikToker.
But I write the books.
I guess you can't.
SAWADA - A TIKTOKER REVIEWED YOUR WORK
A TikToker...
Where are you right now?
The Unknown Room.
Makoto Asada untangles the webs of the case.
This is the fourth installment in the series.
This book takes place in a designer hotel Asada designs.
A new character appears to replace assistant Nanase,
who disappeared in the last book.
The murder takes place in a room no one knows of.
THAT LIE COUNTS FOR SOMETHING
The narrative trick revolves around a room.
This is really something.
- I buy books he recommends. - It will redefine your concept of a room.
You won't believe this plot twist!
They ended up printing more copies within a week.
- Wow. - Well...
- I'm back. - Welcome back.
Hello there, Sensei.
- Good to see you. - Good work today.
-Oh, sorry, -Yes?
But could you go pick up the dry cleaning?
- Sure. - Okay.
- The one by the station? - That one.
Also, could you grab something to eat?
How about fried pork?
Anything you feel like eating will do.
Then I'll get fried shrimp.
Seriously? Make sure to get a side of cabbage.
You can't skimp out on vegetables, you know?
I eat my veggies.
Well, we're off for the evening.
- Good work today. - Good work.
Have a great night.
Hey.
Did you know Izumi is Fuku's son?
- Kind of. - For how long?
For a while now.
Was I the only one left in the dark?
Mito made me promise not to tell you.
Why just me? I feel left out.
I only followed Mito's orders.
But does it matter?
You guys are one big family now.
Not a family. It's more like working with a couple.
- What? - When I pass by
as Fuku and Izumi are talking, the conversation stops.
What do you think about that?
I don't know.
- Welcome. - Oh, sorry.
- I got started without you. - That's all right.
Oh, Sensei.
Can you watch Nabeshima just for today?
Why? What is it now?
You see, my girlfriend...
Her husband found out about us.
What?
What's that?
Your married girlfriend?
- That sounds like trouble. - It is.
His attorney says I need to go apologize to the head of the husband's family.
- They live in Kyushu. - Kyushu?
They're also demanding compensation.
I'm headed to the airport now.
I don't have time to look for pet hotels.
- Sure. We can take him. - You mean it?
- Thank you. - Can't we?
Thank you so much. Here's his food.
Thank you and sorry for the trouble.
Thank you. Please look after him.
- Good luck. - Thank you.
I have to get going.
There you are.
He shouldn't have played with fire.
I should've stopped him.
When he said his girlfriend is married, I could only make a joke out of it.
Sawada is an adult too.
You can't stop him from making his own decisions.
Do you know how to feed him?
I thought you're the one who's taking care of him.
He asked you, not me. My son is allergic to cats.
- But... - I can't take it.
Yes, but neither can I.
Wait. Fuku likes cats.
Can you ask him?
You ask him.
Things are awkward between us right now.
You go ask him.
So that's how it is?
One night, when he got a bit drunk,
Sawada confided in me that he's dating a married woman.
I tried to sound cool
and said something like, "You both know what to expect then."
"Sounds trouble-free to me."
But what would happen to us if all trouble suddenly disappeared from this world?
Uber Eats.
- Thank you. - At that time, the trouble she caused
was the only thing still tying us together.
THE NEW YEAR'S GREETING LOTTERIES WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED JAN. 16TH!
STRANGEMAN MAGIC SHOW
SIS - HOW ARE YOU? FORGET THE MONEY. I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU. CONTACT ME.
Nabeshima, time to eat.
Nabeshima!
I have your food.
Nabeshima?
What?
- It's been forever. - What happened to you?
It's nothing. A lot happened while you were gone.
I got retinal detachment and it kept coming back.
I've recovered, but I feel anxious without the eyepatch.
Excuse me.
Can I have coffee and a shortcake?
Yes, ma'am.
You better pay.
What nice clothes you have on.
What were you doing the past six months?
I would go on a spending spree,
then get cold feet and check how much I spent.
Or I'd check into a luxury hotel,
but get scared and look frantically for jobs after reality set in.
Things like that.
What was I doing?
I spent a lot of money and wasted time,
but somehow, it didn't feel right.
What would you have spent the money on, sis?
Maybe I would've gone on a trip with you.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry.
Wow. So you can bake bread and chicken in your brick oven?
Yes.
Wow. That's awesome.
I'd love to see your remodeled house. I want to try out your new sauna.
I have to get going.
Wait.
How did you pay for the renovation?
I scraped through by canceling my insurance.
Let me pay.
- Don't worry about it. - Here.
- Please. - It's fine really.
- But... - Who's our special guest?
Don't miss it!
For the next...
You sure you won't regret this?
You won't wish that you'd accepted the money?
"The Room No One Knows'!
The fourth installment in Makoto Asada series.
No, I won't.
It was highlighted by the book-reviewing TikToker.
If I accept it,
then I might forget the way you betrayed me.
We interviewed the author!
I didn't betray you.
He is the writer of the mystery novel 'The Room No One Knows."
- I know. - Here's the interview!
It's as if your world expands.
That's the magic of a book.
It trains your imagination far better than TV or the internet.
We live in an age where books don't sell.
So I hope he will continue doing his reviews...
Do you have a Tfitter account?
Oh, you don't use Tfitter?
You sure?
Tfitter's nice.
You get direct feedback from people.
It's only recently that I learned
how much Social Media and subscription services
are what's moving modern-day society forward.
Hello?
Hello, Fuku?
Nabeshima's gone.
What?
Sawada's cat.
I've been watching him since yesterday.
When I woke up, he was gone!
I don't follow.
I might have killed a cat again.
What?
Yes?
Sorry for the trouble.
He won't come out.
I looked inside every crack and corner, but he won't even meow.
- Did you open your window? - No.
Did you open the door for deliveries?
Not at all.
Are you sure you've been watching him?
- Maybe you dreamed it up. - It wasn't a dream.
He's a fat cat. Maybe he's stuck somewhere.
- He's right here. - Where?
Here's your drink.
- Sorry to trouble you. - That's my line.
Sorry this is how I repay you.
It's been a while since I've enjoyed eating out like this.
- Well, you can cook your own food. - Yes.
That's part of it, but I'm saving up right now.
Are you going to buy something?
Not for me, for Izumi.
He doesn't even have a license.
Yes.
- You're his father after all, Fuku. - That's right.
I'm not really though.
What?
His real father is a buddy of mine.
He's a good-for-nothing bum.
Still, if Izumi's mother wants to lie and say I'm his father,
then I thought I should step in and take over the role.
But are you okay going along with a lie like that?
Why not? Should I not do that?
You know?
What if Izumi finds out that you lied?
I couldn't take responsibility if I were you.
But if someone else can fill the shoes, why shouldn't they?
Then this lie counts for something.
If responsibility is a worry, then I'll stick with it as long as I need.
Sensei, you ought to go along with people's lies.
You'd be grateful if someone lied for your sake.
Hello? Sawada?
- Hello. - How'd it go?
Well...
There's not much I can do in terms of compensation.
I promised in writing that I won't see her ever again.
Wow. That must've been rough.
No. Honestly, I'm a little relieved.
I don't have to be a part of her lie anymore.
I'll fly back to Tokyo tonight.
I'll come pick up Nabeshima as soon as I get back.
Okay.
Today,
I'd like to ask someone from the audience to assist with my next act.
Sir, please join me on stage.
Now, step inside this box.
Now, I shall move the boxes around!
Hold on...
Shall we begin?
Behold!
The right people in the place
Where all is right And then I'm unfit
It was not the same as you said
About how I have to be an ordinary boy
But I'm not I want to sink them so deep
It was not the same as you said
About how I have to be an ordinary boy
But I'm not I want to sink them so deep
Your heart beats slow Once upon a dream though
If you can't come here for me Take me to the place you are
Your heart beats slow Once upon a dream though
If you can't come here for me Take me to the place you are
- Hey! - Welcome back!
From now on, just do the things you feel like doing.
PREVIEW
Do you want to go on a trip together?
The culprit left the body at the scene...
Wait...
Seriously?
Translated by Megumi Hunter