I have kidnapped again.
I have kidnapped the daughter of Aoi Miwa.
Prepare 500 million yen.
Hold on!
I would like Haruto Narusawa to do the negotiating.
Five years ago, Koharu was kidnapped.
My daughter.
Why didn't you tell me?
A gag order was placed on the press.
I can't tell anyone about that kidnapping.
The connection between the two kidnappings is Akutsu.
First, we'll get Yuzuki back.
36 HOURS AFTER YUZUKI MIWA WAS KIDNAPPED
2 HOURS 25 MINUTES UNTIL RANSOM HANDOFF
Those dresses...
Since you bought her two of them, she insisted on wearing both.
She even made me change her hairstyle.
Like at a wedding...
Don't spoil her like that.
You're not part of our family anymore.
SATSUKI MIWA MIWA'S EX-WIFE
By the way...
When was Yuzuki kidnapped?
2 HOURS 10 MINUTES UNTIL RANSOM HANDOFF
What do you want?
Sorry.
He spotted you instantly, Umeki.
Thank you for this food.
You still take huge bites.
I spoke with the publisher.
You wrote that tell-all, didn't you?
What's happened to you?
You never used to be the type who jumped straight to the point.
I'm about to be removed from this case.
Sorry.
Because I exposed you on the internet?
That's not all.
The top brass is worried about the Koharu Todo case.
It's been five years since Koharu was kidnapped.
The top brass are using the gag order
to hide the failure of the police to catch her kidnapper.
So,
they don't like that I'm digging it up because I think it's the same kidnapper.
What are you going to do, Mr. Katsuragi?
Whatever it takes. If you get any leads, let me know.
Thanks for the meal.
Umeki, let's go.
-Yes, sir! -Mr. Katsuragi.
Do you think Koharu is still alive?
She's alive.
I swear it.
-Okay. Ready to go? -Yes.
1 HOUR 28 MINUTES UNTIL RANSOM HANDOFF
See you later.
See you.
-You take care too, Misaki. -I will.
You okay?
Yes. Wow. I almost ran into that.
Morning.
This sure is an early call.
About today's schedule...
Could you reschedule my meetings?
What?
Well, I want to think over some ideas.
By myself.
-You're so selfish. -Oh, and another thing.
Please don't tell Michiru that I'm not at the office today.
I don't want her to think I'm goofing off.
Wait. You're not doing anything stupid, are you?
What?
Like having an affair, or seeing a lover.
Of course not.
If there's a scandalous article or rumor,
it won't end just your life, but Harukana as well.
I'm perfectly aware of that.
You know, doing something that risky just to see someone...
would be exhausting.
People who have affairs know that too, but still do it!
What? Whose side are you on? Anyway, take care of it.
Sorry to make you meet me.
How did it go?
I wasn't tailed.
I don't think the kidnapper is watching either.
It's an hour and a half until the kidnapper calls.
Let's go.
50 MINUTES UNTIL RANSOM HANDOFF
Satsuki, good morning.
Are you working?
I know I shouldn't be at a time like this.
No, that's not what I mean.
I need an income.
I finally found this job.
I can't let myself get fired.
I'm almost finished.
You can do it if you try! Oh, you go on ahead.
Sure. Okay.
You're Misaki Akutsu, right?
MISAKI AKUTSU AKIRA AKUTSU'S DAUGHTER
Yes.
I'm Katsuragi of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police.
Can I talk with you a little about Tomoka's kidnapping?
I need to get to school.
I want to make sure we capture Tomoka's kidnapper.
If Tomoka ever tells you anything about her kidnapping,
call me at this number.
UNKNOWN CALLER
Hello?
Haruto Narusawa is there, right?
Yes. We've got the money. Give us back Yuzuki.
Bring 500 million yen to the lighthouse memorial
at Odawara Fishing Port by 10 a.m.
If you're late, I will kill Yuzuki.
Satsuki.
Let's go.
Who knows what the kidnapper will want us to do.
Let's go in two cars.
Got it.
Satsuki.
Check the area and make sure there aren't any suspicious vehicles.
Haruto.
Thanks.
Did they hide a phone somewhere again?
It's likely the kidnapper will tell us to go to another location.
They want to make sure there aren't any cops.
Here's the call!
Hello?
Be at the White Lighthouse in Katase Fishing Port in 40 minutes.
We'll be going back to where we were.
If you're not in time, I'll kill Yuzuki.
Let's go.
Why all these isolated spots?
They're making sure there are no cops.
It's the kidnapper.
Hello? We've got the money. Where's Yuzuki?
Be at the Akagane Gate at Odawara Castle in 40 minutes.
You want us to go back again?
Come on. There are no cops.
Believe us, would you?
Let's go back.
Here's the call.
There are no cops. We've got the money.
Where's the handoff? Anywhere is okay.
Yuzuki's first field trip.
The first amusement park she went to. The first time she rode a pony and cried!
I know them all.
Just tell us where.
That is all for today.
What the?
The handoff is postponed until tomorrow.
Why? What's wrong with today?
I will call tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Yuzuki better not be hurt. Let me hear her voice!
Satsuki.
Are you all right?
The kidnapper is just seeing how we react.
I swear we'll get Yuzuki back.
I'm going to go buy some food.
Hey, you need to be with Satsuki. I'll go do the shopping.
It's okay. I want to walk.
How far are you going to go?
Satsuki told me...
Yuzu was kidnapped on her way to run an errand at this supermarket.
How can she send her so far away alone?
What's more, it was after nightfall.
It was dark, with hardly anyone around.
Well, I'm sure she had her reasons.
Satsuki never once spoke to the kidnapper today.
She didn't even try to look for them with the binoculars.
Don't you think that's odd?
What are you implying?
Satsuki could be working with someone...
and copying the last kidnapping to fake Yuzuki's kidnapping.
What?
If she read that tell-all, she could easily do it.
Hold on here.
I understand why you're panicking.
But don't mistrust family.
She's not family.
We divorced because I cheated on her, so she hates my guts.
It wouldn't surprise me if she faked the kidnapping to fool me.
Aren't you overthinking this?
I wish I could trust Satsuki.
But we've been separated for years.
I have no idea what's going on in her head.
It's Michiru.
Hello?
Tomoka fainted at school.
What?
In science class,
the room was darkened and she had an attack.
Is she all right?
Well, she's in the nurse's office.
Tomoka says she's fine, but you know how she puts on a brave face.
What's wrong?
Tomoka fainted.
What?
Oh, sorry. You're working, aren't you? I'm going to pick her up now.
Oh, sorry. Thanks.
Go on. Family takes priority, right?
No.
I need to be here now.
Oh, it's okay. You don't have to do that.
Well, but, you see, I am staying here, after all.
You know, you really do keep this place clean.
Dust isn't good for Yuzuki.
I'm home... Wait. No, that's not right...
Welcome home...
Oops. This isn't home...
Oh, Satsuki. Aren't you hungry?
Todo's a great cook.
Oh, I'm okay. I'm not in the mood to eat.
The kidnapper should be glad to see there aren't any cops.
After we hand over the money tomorrow,
follow them and find out who they are, Todo.
What's gotten into you?
If the kidnapper sees him, what'll happen to Yuzuki?
If we follow them, we could find out where Yuzuki is being held
and even expose the kidnapper.
What? Hold on a second!
Wait. That's not any different than what the police would do.
I thought if we didn't call the police and paid the ransom--
You want to call the police?
What's wrong with you?
Calling them would cause you trouble, wouldn't it?
Miwa.
-Cut this out. -Tell me this.
I bet this is a fake kidnapping you set up with someone, isn't it?
You can't be serious.
Why did you send Yuzu on an errand alone?
The supermarket is so far away and there's nobody around!
I bet you're hiding something! Aren't you?
I'd rather this were a fake kidnapping and Yuzu wasn't suffering.
Tell me honestly!
What a scumbag.
My own daughter was kidnapped.
For five years,
my daughter has been kidnapped.
Some police suspected
that my wife had faked her kidnapping.
At first,
I got very angry with them.
But...
gradually...
I started to think that she was hiding something.
In the end,
I couldn't believe my wife anymore.
Then,
my wife left and disappeared.
I want to see her
and apologize.
Satsuki.
Miwa...
may be like this,
but he
cares for his child way more than I ever did.
But, right now,
he's so troubled and worried
that he can't think clearly. That's all.
She wanted an allowance.
I sent her on an errand so late because she wanted an allowance.
She has been
helping me out a lot to save up money to buy you a present.
Yuzuki loves you dearly!
I didn't tell you because I hated to admit it.
Satsuki...
I've got to finish my work now.
I am terribly sorry.
Misaki and Tomoka are so close. They're like sisters.
But then you go and ask Misaki to inform on her?
How dare you use their friendship that way!
I'll make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again.
If anything does happen, contact me directly.
The Investigations Division Chief came all the way here?
The chief also said he'll make certain this doesn't happen again.
Is this because I have connections in the political and financial worlds?
Mr. Akutsu, I have some questions for you. May I?
Hey.
If it will help solve your case, I'll assist in any way I can.
One year ago, Mr. Akutsu, you made a contract to buy
a large portion of Mr. Narusawa's company, Harukana, isn't that right?
What about it?
Then NEX Holdings entered into a business alliance with Harukana.
Your company's shares climbed in price,
and you rose to the position of CEO of NEX Holdings.
Is there some problem with my promotion?
Not at all.
However, that kidnapping was what got you that promotion.
That's one way to look at it, right?
Are you saying my husband
planned a kidnapping so he could get promoted?
It's pure coincidence.
Those two things happened at the same time by chance.
I have experienced that kind of thing numerous times in the business world.
Coincidence? By chance? Yes, I guess that does happen.
I want you out of here!
Don't come near here ever again!
I'm sorry.
Let's go.
Goodbye.
Misaki, get back to your room.
I'm sorry this guy did that creepy thing.
It won't happen again. Don't you worry.
Goodbye.
So you gave your card to his daughter so you could get close to him?
The person who benefitted the most from Tomoka's kidnapping is Akira Akutsu.
Maybe so. But if it's the same kidnapper,
what reason would Akutsu have to kidnap Todo's daughter?
I found a connection between Koharu Todo and Akutsu.
When Koharu was kidnapped, Misaki Akutsu was attending
a Yokohama Seifu Women's elementary school, just like Koharu.
What's more, right now, Tomoka is attending a Seifu Women's middle school.
It sure seems like a connection.
Let me call Akira Akutsu in for questioning.
You know, you're being removed from the kidnapping case.
By order of Detective-Sergeant Goto.
I'll be taking over.
Leave the rest of it to me,
Mr. Katsuragi.
KOHARU, MISAKI
KOHARU
Yes?
The bath's ready. Go on ahead.
Okay.
Welcome home.
Oh, hi. Where's Tomoka?
She went to bed.
Was she all right?
By the time I got there, she was fine. But I think it was her usual brave front.
Well, sorry about today.
Oh, it's okay. It was so sudden.
Were you out schmoozing?
What? Yes. Oh, no... Wait. Why?
Well, it's just that you smelled of perfume.
What? Oh, must have been our client.
Anyway, I'll go and take a bath.
You get a call from the kidnapper?
No. From Michiru.
Michiru?
Dang, she was really angry.
She thinks you're up to something fishy
and wanted to know if I knew anything.
Earlier, she asked me about my smell too.
Your smell?
You mean the smell of Satsuki's house?
You know how it kind of smells like perfume.
You need to be careful.
I heard women are more sensitive to smells when they're pregnant.
How am I supposed--
Oh, the water. I'll change the bottle, okay?
Say...
Isn't there something you need to tell me?
What?
What do you mean?
I see.
Morning.
Oh, morning.
Where's Mom?
What?
Oh, I think she went with a friend to some kind of breakfast buffet.
Really? When she's that pregnant?
Yes.
You know, she probably wants to do that kind of thing before the baby's born.
"How can you possibly know that?" That's what Mom would say to that.
Yes, you're right.
This is the kind of thing...
I'm just no good at.
MICHIRU NARUSAWA
I'VE GONE TO MY PARENTS' PLACE. DON'T CONTACT ME FOR A WHILE.
See you later.
5 HOURS UNTIL NEW RANSOM HANDOFF
Okay. I see. I'll finish the proposal docs at home and send them in.
I'll have them done by this evening.
Goodbye.
You should report that lousy boss.
When I think how it's for Yuzuki, it doesn't bother me.
What'll you do after she comes back?
For the time being, you can't leave her by herself.
I'll have my sister come over.
Naho has her own family to take care of.
What business is it of yours anyway?
In fact, are you okay losing all that money?
It belongs to my law firm.
Insurance will cover it.
You're lying, aren't you?
About what?
I talked to someone from your previous law firm.
You got fired and deliver office lunches now.
Yuzuki kind of noticed too.
She said, "I think Daddy's broke but he's acting like he isn't."
She was worried.
You're so sloppy and reckless
and vain
and have an oversized ego.
If you want to be her father,
then be your real self when you're around her.
See you.
I almost ran into it again today.
Nobody following me again today.
Michiru left me.
She obviously thinks I'm having an affair.
Don't you think you should tell her what's up?
No, there's no way I can do that.
Miwa?
What's wrong?
The handoff's begun.
They want us outside the Oiso Golf Course clubhouse at 9 a.m.
Why the sudden change?
The kidnapper called.
Yuzuki's asthma has gotten worse.
Dust is bad for Yuzu.
I told them to give her medicine, but they refused.
They're afraid of being traced.
So they demanded the handoff happen now.
Satsuki and I are taking the money and medicine there now.
We're leaving now too.
Let's go.
We've still got 12 minutes.
Wait! Isn't the timing odd?
They're watching us.
Hello?
Place the 500 million yen in the back of the dark blue mini-wagon.
Dark blue...
Hurry. Yuzuki is suffering.
There it is. It's over there!
If there's a GPS or other tracking device in those, I will kill Yuzuki.
Do not tail the car either.
If you do anything to interfere, it will only harm Mr. Narusawa's family.
Don't you worry. We won't interfere.
Close the trunk and leave the area.
Wait! Where's Yuzuki?
I'll tell you after you all leave the golf course.
Tell me right now!
Please! Hurry up and give her this medicine!
Yamakita 3860, Yamakita, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Let's go!
-Hey! -What's wrong?
-I'll ride with you. -What?
After we get Yuzuki back safely, I want Todo to follow the kidnapper.
No.
It'll put Yuzuki, you, and your family in danger.
It's the same risk for all of us.
But for these last five years, Todo hasn't seen Koharu.
Okay.
But promise me you won't get near the kidnapper until Yuzuki is safe.
Okay, Satsuki?
I promise to put Yuzuki's safety above everything else.
As soon as she's safe, I'll contact you.
We're almost there.
She's all right, isn't she?
She's fine.
I swear she's fine.
It's from Michiru.
Sorry, but I'm about to get a very important phone call.
I'm tailing the kidnapper right now.
The kidnapper?
What are you talking about?
Remember what you asked me the other day?
If I was asked to be the go-between in a kidnapping, would I do it?
That got me thinking.
Then when I watched the dashcam,
I realized you really were acting as the go-between.
I stuck a GPS tracker on your car and followed you.
Just now, I was watching the handoff point from far away.
I'm a few cars behind the kidnapper's car.
I was going to keep tailing them.
But I'll lose them at the lights, so I'll go get a look at them.
Michiru!
Hey! Michiru!
Todo!
I was following from farther back.
They're getting away! We have to go now!
It's Miwa's daughter they've kidnapped.
Michiru,
Haruto told me.
We're about to rescue my daughter.
I don't want to make the kidnapper angry.
I want to catch the kidnapper too!
Five years ago, Todo's daughter was kidnapped by the same person.
But she still hasn't returned.
Please...
Michiru.
I'm sorry.
YAMAKITA, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
Yuzu!
Yuzuki!
Yuzu!
Yuzuki!
-Yuzuki! -Yuzu!
-Yuzuki! -Yuzuki?
-Yuzu! -Yuzuki!
Yuzu?
This way!
-Yuzu! -Yuzuki!
Yuzu!
Yuzuki!
-Yuzuki! -Yuzu!
-Yuzuki! -Yuzuki?
-Yuzu! -Yuzuki!
-Yuzuki? -Yuzu!
Yuzu!
Yuzuki!
Hold on. I'll open it.
-Yuzu! -Yuzuki...
-Yuzu! -Yuzuki!
Yuzuki!
Yuzu!
Yuzuki!
Are you okay?
Slowly.
Daddy...
You did well! Oh, thank goodness!
You did well. You're all right now.
You're okay...
You're okay. You did well.
You're just fine now.
You did well. Real well. What a good girl.
You did well.
You're okay now.
You did well.
Yuzuki's safe now.
Okay.
She's fine.
Thank you.
I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have done that.
This is my wife, Michiru.
I would be glad to help you if you need anything.
Feel free to call me anytime.
Thank you.
Are you pregnant?
That's right. It's big, isn't it?
There.
Let your mommy and daddy give you lots of love.
Michiru.
Satsuki.
We may be divorced and unrelated now... Well, legally we're strangers.
But...
I'm still Yuzuki's father.
I can't just leave her now.
So,
please let me stay with her for a while.
Please.
Do what you like.
All right! We can all be together!
You did it, Daddy!
I did it.
Your daddy did it.
Say, can I borrow your car?
You're both going home, right?
Sure, that's fine. What'll you do, Todo?
I want to check the plates on the car the kidnapper drove.
I'm sure it's stolen though.
Also, I'd like to examine where she was confined.
Todo.
Next, we'll get Koharu back.
You can ask me for anything.
Don't cause Michiru any more worry.
I'll take care of chasing down the kidnapper.
Why didn't you tell me what was going on?
Well, I didn't want to make you worry.
When I asked, you said family was the most important, right?
If I'd known it was Miwa's daughter, of course, I would have helped.
Sorry.
From now on, swear that you'll always consult me.
I will.
Okay.
Okay, let's go.
What?
Hey! This is embarrassing! Cut it out!
-Quit laughing, Mom! -What's wrong?
-Welcome back. -Thanks.
Say, why don't we get curry at Sangosho.
-Nice! I'd like that! -I want their spare ribs too.
-Nice! Okay, let's go. Let's go. -Nice!
-Let's go. -Let's go.
-Get in. -Thanks.
Sure.
What are you having, Mom?
I don't know. Maybe their curry.
Yes, it's hard to choose.
Yes. What should I get?
Day 380
PROPOSAL FOR NEW DUNGEON TABLE ITEMS
INVINCIBILITY
Okay.
RIBBIT WALKER YOU HAVE A NEW MESSAGE
THERE'S A DELIVERY AT YOUR BACK DOOR.
UNKNOWN CALLER
Hello?
Did you get the package?
What's this all about?
By working together, we pulled off a kidnapping for ransom.
Twenty percent of the ransom, 100 million yen, is your share.
That's ridiculous!
Wait...
This was originally
my own money.
I'm sure Mr. Miwa will pay you back. This is actually profit for you.
Then...
I can't take this.
Let's succeed again next time.
Next time?
I have kidnapped again.
It's Misaki Akutsu.
If you report it to the police, I will kill Misaki.
I will call at 9 p.m.
Please have Mr. Akutsu get the money ready.
Wait a second!
Please, don't do this.
This time, don't tell anyone except Mr. and Mrs. Akutsu about the kidnapping.
If you do anything to interfere, your family will be hurt, Mr. Narusawa.
Wait a second! What the heck is this? What?
Do you hold a grudge against me?
I am very grateful to you.
We can pull off the perfect kidnapping.
We're family, after all.
Translated by Brian Athey