There he is! Suspect Yudai Kiharazaka!
Mr. Kiharazaka,
did you really let her die?
You abducted her, didn't you?
You've lost weight.
You poor thing...
Your lawyer, Mr. Takeda.
Sis...
Do exactly...as he says.
She consented to be my model.
As we were getting ready,
a candle on the set fell over.
I immediately tried to save her...
...but it was too late.
"Occupation: Photographer"
"Charge: Abandonment resulting in death"
"LAST WINTER, WE PARTED"
"Chapter Two"
- Morning. - Good morning.
"Editorial Department 1"
Kobayashi.
That student killed by a robber...
Yeah?
The hospital was the fifth the EMTs tried.
Others refused?
Her life could've been saved.
Details?
Not yet. This story isn't so heroic.
Don't rush it. Make sure it all stacks up.
Okay.
Kobayashi.
The chief's waiting.
A meeting?
No, a book pitch.
Excuse me.
Kobayashi's an editor here.
Hello, I'm Kyosuke Yakumo.
Hi. I'm Kobayashi.
Thank you.
Have a read of this.
"Blind Beauty Burns to Death"
Yudai Kiharazaka's a famous photographer,
and acclaimed internationally.
Last September, his studio caught fire.
A blind model burned to death.
The victim, Akiko Yoshioka, had been reported missing.
Prosecutors believed Kiharazaka abducted and confined her,
but he claimed she agreed...
Yeah, it was big news. I don't need a recap.
Okay...
Yakumo.
Kiharazaka got a suspended sentence already.
If we accused him of murder now,
we'd get sued for libel.
Luckily, we avoided that.
Thanks to his cautious editorial stance.
Anyway, it's old news.
No point dredging it up...
According to a BBS post,
Kiharazaka didn't try to save Yoshioka.
He kept shooting.
And those photos still exist.
If that turns out to be true,
he could be charged with murder.
Dubious info from an anonymous...
Kiharazaka has a track record
of obsessive behavior.
Stalking models, confining them...
That's not enough...
Read my manuscript, then decide.
You're very confident.
It's now or never for me.
How so?
I'm marrying in October.
No more risk-taking.
So I want to make a mark now.
Yoshiki, if he takes conclusive evidence to our rivals,
we'll be humiliated.
The guy's a nobody.
But passion's rare these days.
He could surprise us.
If not, cut him loose.
Give him a chance.
Alright.
"Kyosuke Yakumo - Freelance Writer"
Who is it?
I'm Yakumo. I requested an interview.
I'm getting a lot more work now.
I'm not quite sure why though.
So, why write a book about me?
- Well... - You want to know the truth?
Is there some truth that didn't come out?
It's all in the trial records. The media lie.
And you're one of them.
The late Akiko Yoshioka was blind.
The fire trapped her. You were burned too.
- You couldn't save her? - No, I couldn't.
Don't you feel guilty?
Of course I do.
Enough stupid questions.
You have photos?
Ones you took of Ms. Yoshioka burning.
Of course I don't.
Get out.
I'm not like the others. I'm not a sensationalist.
I want to profile
Yudai Kiharazaka in his entirety.
Are you ready for that?
Ready?
Being with me
might be dangerous for you.
I hope so. All the more to write about.
I like your style.
I'll be honest.
I wanted to write about you after seeing that.
This photo won the Eamel Award, and brought you renown.
I saw it in a magazine, and it fascinated me.
I wanted to push through the butterflies.
As if something I sought was beyond them.
Their darkness was hiding the truth.
So it seemed.
A gate key.
Come whenever you like.
Oh, here he comes.
Welcome.
Sorry I'm late.
Unbelievable. Late to a wedding meeting?
I was held up with work.
Wipe off your sweat.
Okay.
You're under her thumb already.
Come on, sit down.
We're just about done.
Coffee for you too?
Thank you.
Sorry.
Look. It's the food menu.
Looks extravagant.
Yeah! Flowers and candles are free.
Are you sure? On our budget?
Yuriko's a valued employee.
She deserves it.
Your strategy worked.
What strategy?
Don't say it!
Yuriko told me,
"I want a fancy wedding,
so I got a job here to get a discount."
Yeah? ls that so?
Why'd you tell him? You're unbelievable.
Source: Eisaku Ozaki, 49.
Resident of Karuizawa, Nagano.
Butterfly collector.
With those eyes,
it threatens predatory birds,
and invites them to attack its more durable wings.
They instill fear, and beguile.
Much like Kiharazaka, don't you think?
You bred the butterflies in this photo?
Yes. Five years ago, I think.
May I record this?
Sure.
How did you meet him?
We were introduced at a friend's party.
When I raved about butterfly wings,
suddenly he took an interest.
We hit it off.
- You next met where? - Here.
It seemed to inspire him right away.
He began shooting, saying nothing.
For hours,
in silence.
It was rather unsettling.
Later, he said he wanted to shoot live butterflies,
and asked for my help.
Drink up, while it's hot.
Thank you.
When you saw the photo, what did you think?
I hear he spent hours on end amid the butterflies,
and kept shooting until he fainted.
I'm sure it's a superb work of art,
but when looking at it,
don't you feel like you're in quicksand?
I grew fearful of him,
and broke off contact.
Then the inevitable happened.
Dinner's ready.
I'll eat later.
Yeah? Okay.
1995
Kiharazaka's father was killed in a home invasion.
Young Yudai and older sister Akari
were both stabbed in the abdomen.
This childhood trauma
undoubtedly influenced the formation of Kiharazaka's personality.
"Suspect still unknown"
"Investigation hits dead end"
Source: Tamotsu Katani, 32.
Resident of Minato City, Tokyo.
Day trader. Kiharazaka's classmate.
I hear he's denying it,
but he definitely held her prisoner.
Why do you think so?
He did the same in high school.
With my girlfriend at the time.
I mean, he's good-looking, right? And a smooth talker.
She fell for it and went to his place.
He wouldn't let her go for three days.
After that, I never spoke to him again.
He always wants other people's property.
Always goes for someone else's girl.
Oh, so um...
That blind girl?
Akiko Yoshioka.
She probably had a boyfriend too.
His father was killed when he was little?
Yeah.
Never met him. A university professor.
Actually, he was just a lecturer.
The killer got away.
Right.
Kiharazaka was injured too.
And his sister.
Akari.
They were really close.
Always clinging together.
To a weird degree.
Oh.
I remembered something creepy.
What's that?
Five days after he was stabbed,
I visited him in hospital.
Before entering his room,
I heard loud laughter.
I looked in,
and they were cuddling in bed.
I mean, it kinda looked like...
Incest?
Their dad had only just died...
Well, I guess the rumor was true.
What rumor?
That they'd been
abused by their father.
You mean they were beaten?
Kiharazaka was.
His sister...
She's a girl, so...You know.
You're back?
Straight from the airport.
For how long this time?
About a week, I guess.
If you're just shifting money online,
you can do it anywhere.
Unfortunately, I can't.
You look busy.
Hired to take shitty photos, as usual.
They're not shitty. I like them.
You're exceptionally gifted.
I know that, better than anyone.
Oh yeah.
A writer's interviewing me.
Interviewing you?
To write a book about me.
He's a freelancer, and quite a character.
It'll help relieve my boredom.
Don't tell him too much.
You don't have to tell me.
My mother died before I can remember.
My father, who raised us alone,
met a tragic end...
After that, we lived in an orphanage.
Dad left us money, so we weren't poor,
but the orphanage was stifling.
I discovered photography in junior high,
and it changed me.
For the first time in my life, I felt free.
What's your sister like?
She's an investor.
A globetrotter.
I only see her rarely,
but our souls are intertwined.
She's my guardian angel.
Guardian angel?
Protective like a mother,
instructive like a teacher, and inspirational.
My greatest love.
My special one.
You're more than a brother and sister?
Meaning what?
Meaning...
...sexually.
Don't be stupid.
Next question.
I've been told that your father abused you two.
Is it true?
I can guess who told you.
It's an utter falsehood.
My father was kind.
He raised my sister and I lovingly.
You talk with no hesitation at all.
As if you prepared answers.
Because your questions are precise.
Go ahead.
Excuse me.
Hello?
I told you, I'm working.
Alright. I'll go to you.
Who's that?
- Never mind. - Your girlfriend?
Kind of.
Together long?
We'll marry in October.
I'm jealous. What type?
"What type"?
The lonely type?
- Why? - She called, knowing you're working.
You're perceptive.
Her parents died young, and she only...
Has you to rely on.
Pretty much.
Better treat her right.
Yes.
Hobbies?
She likes watching plays.
Job?
That's enough.
May I continue?
You're home late a lot. What's your story?
I can't say yet.
- It's dangerous? - It's not that.
Oh.
Yuriko, I need a favor.
What?
Can we postpone the wedding for a while?
Why?
I need to finish this job.
But the invitations are...
My future's at stake here.
Why now?
I can't waste time...
- "Waste time"? - I need to focus!
We still have customers.
I'm sorry.
Sorry. I was too harsh.
Source: Kokichi Sawada, 66.
Resident of Kawasaki, Kanagawa.
Former Tokyo Metro PD detective.
Investigated the murder of Kiharazaka's father.
I want to forget that case.
Because it's unsolved?
Police thought it was money-motivated.
The victim taught at university,
but earned little.
He used to be wealthy though.
What was stolen?
His bankbook was gone,
but no withdrawal attempts were ever made.
No money was stolen?
Zero witness reports as well.
We only had the kids' word to go on.
Akari and Yudai?
They described the murderer?
In his 40s or 50s.
A chubby man, with thinning hair and glasses.
Any suspects?
Not a single one.
What if the children
weren't telling the truth?
They killed him, and...
Don't speculate!
I've heard their father abused them.
I can't say I didn't doubt them.
But,
their testimony never wavered.
They were only kids.
They weren't capable of it.
Plus,
they didn't stab themselves.
All the evidence at the scene
pointed to someone over 170 cm tall, so...
"Source: Kokichi Sawada (66);
Re: Children's wounds"
Patricide?
Well I'll be.
It's intriguing, but the detective denied it.
He admitted he still has doubts.
How can you explain the kids getting stabbed?
If there was someone else...
- An accomplice? - Right.
Another adult to back up their story.
Any possibilities?
I don't know yet.
Even so...
Could children so young do something so atrocious?
They could. Monsters could.
"Monsters"? That's quite an accusation.
Yakumo.
I appreciate your passion.
You write and gather info well.
But our job is to layer facts, one on top of another,
not to let our imagination run wild.
If you want to make up a story,
do it somewhere else.
I'm sorry. I got carried away.
"Hell Screen" by Ryunosuke Akutagawa
That book interests you?
What is "Hell Screen" about?
It's set in the Heian era.
An artist is commissioned to paint hell on a screen.
He can only paint what he's seen,
so he goes to extremes
to complete each scene, one by one.
But he gets stuck on one scene.
A noblewoman burning to death in agony.
So what does he do?
He paints it.
While watching his beloved daughter burn to death.
The artist creates a painting of
extraordinary horror and beauty.
When we met, you asked
about photos of Akiko Yoshioka burning.
They do indeed exist.
I'm joking.
That's nasty.
You would know.
What's your greatest work?
That butterfly photo?
You've had no other successes in five years.
No photos I've liked.
Nothing but imitations.
Not an inkling of originality.
Am I right?
If you'd taken a photo
like "Hell Screen"...
What would you know?!
Watch yourself.
I saw it in his eyes.
That BBS post was right.
- Yakumo... - I know, it's conjecture.
I'll only write what I see.
I have to expose what he's done.
The chief said that'd justify a book.
Having a book published is my dream.
He says things he doesn't mean.
Listen.
You haven't got a single killer fact.
I can't let you write a single page.
I understand.
Actually, I came here so I could work with you.
With me? Why?
Your reputation as an editor.
To hone my writing.
You don't disappoint.
Kobayashi, our next appointment...
Oh, okay.
- Got the info? - Got it.
- Be right there. - Okay.
I'll be going.
Oh, sorry.
Oh yeah.
I'm going to meet his sister.
You're meeting?
No contact details yet.
I'll have to ask Kiharazaka.
Bye for now.
Bye.
He's tenacious. I'm impressed.
Saeki, I need a favor.
Sure.
"Kiharazaka"
Yudai? It's Kobayashi.
We've met before.
This is for Mr. Kiharazaka.
Akari.
What did you want to talk about?
A writer working with us is interviewing your brother.
He told me. It relieves his boredom.
Could you tell him to end it?
Why?
The writer's young, but talented.
He's digging into the past, and wants to interview you too.
Of course, he's found nothing yet.
But...he's a dangerous guy.
Akari?
You Okay?
Got his card?
Why?
He wants to interview me.
You'll go now?
Before I go to London.
No, you shouldn't.
I'll shelter Yudai from falling sparks.
Akari, please. Calm down...
His card!
Come here.
Good evening.
Kyosuke Yakumo?
You're interviewing my brother.
You live in an unusual place.
I accept your interview request.
Something came up. Today's a no-go.
Alright.
Oh, I met your sister.
She came by last night.
Asked me all sorts of questions.
That's all?
She threatened to sue
if I'm not careful.
That's my sister.
Sorry for the other day.
Here. My apology.
What is it?
An unwanted gift. Passing it on.
Go with your girl.
Yuriko.
Here.
"Bonfire Noh Theater"
Why?!
Didn't I say I'd go too?
Hey...
Mind introducing me?
Mr. Kiharazaka. A photographer.
How do you do?
How do you do? I'm Yuriko Matsuda.
Pleased to meet you.
Let's go.
Enjoy.
Hello sir...
Thank you for the other day.
What a coincidence.
You work here, Yuriko?
I do.
I'll seat you upstairs.
Did Yakumo say anything?
No.
He never talks about his work.
Is that so?
You're a photographer?
Right.
That's so cool. I wish I could be.
Actually, I didn't come by chance.
I need to ask a favor,
so I looked up your workplace.
I'd like you to model for me.
Don't tease me...
I'm serious. You captivated me instantly.
You don't know your true self.
Good night.
"Akari Kiharazaka"
Er, hello?
You're in London?
So what did you end up doing?
I'll call again.
Hello?
It's Yakumo.
Good, I was going to call you.
About Kiharazaka's sister. Did you...
Sorry, no time for that.
Can I cancel our meeting?
What for?
My girlfriend hasn't come home.
The fiancée I mentioned.
I can't contact her. She's missed work.
Don't worry about the meeting.
I'm sorry. I'll call you again soon.
Yakumo.
Look.
Did you know?
"The shoot's starting"
"It's tough, and still going"
"3 a.m. Still shooting"
Mr. Kiharazaka!
Yuriko's here?
- So what? - What's going on?!
I simply asked her to model for me.
- Let her go now! - Calm down.
I don't trust you with her!
Get this straight.
She wants to be here.
She's grown sick of you.
Ring any bells?
She's a normal girl. Your world doesn't suit her.
Only I can bring out her beauty.
Let me see her...
What a great face.
Mr. Kiharazaka!
Detective!
Well, I just spoke with her.
Is Yuriko alright?
She told me,
"I'm here of my own free will. I'm no-one's prisoner."
He made her say that!
You two haven't been getting on lately?
That's what she said.
This isn't a police matter...
He's done it before...
Allegedly, yes.
But, this is different.
Please!
Get her out of that studio!
Save Yuriko!
I beg you!
Stop that! Hey!
Wow.
You're stunning.
Let's take a break.
After you.
Try these on next.
Restraining the body
elicits unexpected expressions.
I want to capture the face you never show.
But...
Don't worry. It's just a prop.
"Chapter Three"
Hey, Kobayashi.
About that favor.
I asked people I know in publishing and editing,
but nobody's heard of Kyosuke Yakumo.
His previous jobs?
Someone else's work.
Maybe Yakumo's a pseudonym.
Should I stay on it?
No, it's fine. Thanks.
Hello?
It's Yakumo.
Kiharazaka's held Yuriko captive for a week now.
The police won't do anything.
It's my fault he targeted her.
I should've known better.
Where are you?
Outside his home.
I'm on my way.
Akari, Yudai's sickness has returned.
We have to take action quickly.
Just call me, okay?
The next corner please.
Yes sir.
Huh? What's that?
Yakumo!
Yuriko!
What are you doing?!
Out of my way!
Stop it!
Back off! Back off!
What are you doing?!
I'm shooting her! I'm shooting her!
You're crazy!
Look out!
Run!
Hurry!
How exactly did the fire start?
I've told you repeatedly.
I need to confirm it repeatedly.
When I came home, there was a burnt smell.
A candle must have fallen over.
The fire had spread inside the studio.
Then why didn't you try to save her?
- Why take photos? - She was already dead.
So why not take photos?
Human bodies produce such beautifully colored flames.
Not that you people would know.
Hey.
Tell the truth.
You started the fire?
The fire didn't start because of me.
My gift was being tested.
By who?
God.
Bullshit!
You did it. Like you did before.
You've killed twice now!
You were right.
She was being threatened by Kiharazaka.
It's too late now,
but if only I'd listened to you back then...
She had no family.
Only you can identify these.
They were Yuriko's.
She made entries in this just before she died.
August 22nd.
Don't panic.
Stay calm.
August 23rd.
Kyosuke, forgive me.
I was scared. I wanted the beatings to stop.
That man is insane.
August 24th.
I don't want to die in a place like this. I was stupid.
I should have stayed by your side.
Forgive me, Kyosuke.
I love you.
You're the one I love.
Take me...
...to Yuriko.
She's not in a good condition. You shouldn't...
I don't care.
Well, but...
Mr. Kobayashi,
will you come with me?
I'll take you home.
I'm fine.
Is there anything I can do?
Please wait.
For me to finish my manuscript.
Where's Akari?
I can't get hold of her.
Did you talk her into avoiding me?
Of course not.
Then why?!
Actually,
we're in contact by email.
She gave me authority...
You lie!
It's no lie!
She's become...emotionally unstable.
Some journalist is hounding her relentlessly.
Yakumo...
"Kyosuke Yakumo"
"Burning Black Butterflies"
"Chapter Four: A Beloved Sister"
"Akari returned from London..."
"...in shock..."
"...worn out..."
"...wasting away..."
"...abnormal behavior..."
Akari...
Come at 10 p.m. tonight. I'll leave the door unlocked.
Stab us.
Then we'll be free.
Please.
Akari...
You went to meet Yakumo, didn't you?
Why won't you answer my calls?
I'm worried that what Yudai did might've upset you.
I'm beside myself.
Please, let me help you.
I'd do anything for you.
Whatever the cost, I'd...
"Akari Kiharazaka"
"I don't want to talk right now"
Hey, Yoshiki.
Read Yakumo's manuscript?
Oh, yes.
It's really something.
He didn't find photos of the first burning,
but he witnessed the second.
It's powerful.
I told the print section.
A four-week serialization during the trial,
and a book afterwards.
By the victim's fiancé.
It'll be a death sentence.
It'll sell truckloads.
I told you he'd surprise us.
Yakumo here.
It's me.
How's my manuscript?
Well written.
The chief's okayed a book.
It's ironic, my dream coming true like this.
But it's not finished yet. I'm revising it.
Hey, tell me something.
You describe Akari Kiharazaka after Yudai's crime.
Did you meet her?
I did.
I'll be in touch when I'm done. Bye.
Kobayashi.
Can we talk?
What is it?
Kyosuke Yakumo. Something's not right.
I kept looking into him.
His resume is totally fake.
He has no credits at all as Yakumo.
He's Kyosuke Nakazono.
A small-time book editor in Kanazawa till last year.
"3F: Hokuriku Publishing"
Nakazono's fluent in English,
and began translating for us part-time as a student.
He graduated and joined full-time.
But as you can see,
we're just a family-owned business.
He put together this book.
Nakazono was a great help to us.
He... I mean,
Nakazono worked for you as an editor?
Mostly of translated books.
Unfortunately, none of them sold many copies.
"Ends of the Rainbow"
I admired his drive.
Few guys are that driven these days.
Why did he leave this job?
Things began to change when...
When was it? His girlfriend's car accident.
- Car accident? - Yeah.
June last year, I think.
That long ago?
She was barely hurt though.
Nakazono was awfully worried about her.
He said he wanted to be with her, and stopped coming into work.
He was head over heels for her.
That's why he quit?
No, that was later.
His girlfriend dumped him.
Dumped him?
Yes. That photo's from Christmas the year before last.
She was such a lovely girl.
What happened was so sad.
A blind model burned to death.
The victim, Akiko Yoshioka, had been reported missing.
No. 395. Someone sent this.
"For the two YKs In memory of AY"
"Demolition Notice"
"For the two YKs In memory of AY"
"Introduction"
First, let's talk about you and me.
You were one of the few things in my life that meant anything to me.
I wonder if you remember how we met?
The summer before last, at a library in Kanazawa.
No other place could have been more appropriate.
"Ends of the Rainbow"
Did you enjoy it?
You're asking me?
I was the editor of that book.
I found it when I was in the US.
You mean you...
Yes. Oh, volunteers translated it into braille.
I'm fond of it, but it didn't sell.
Thank you so much.
For making such a lovely book.
No, I should thank you.
Here.
"S" right?
"E"?
"A"?
"S," and "I."
What's this again?
"D."
"D"? Oh.
And "E."
"Seaside"?
Here we go! It's set!
No need to rush.
3! 2! 1!
Merry Christmas!
This feels so nice!
We're here.
We made it!
Here it comes!
Let's dance!
I love your books.
My books?
I love you too.
"Too," huh?
Excuse me. Is Akiko...
Akiko!
You're okay?!
I'm okay.
I fell and sprained my hand.
Did you hurt your head?!
The car just grazed me, that's all.
I'm so relieved!
Hey... Calm down.
Kyosuke.
At that moment, I considered the possibility of losing you.
Of you vanishing from this world.
It was terrifying.
If that happened,
the world would lose everything of value.
And so, I...
Sorry! Are you okay?
- I'm okay. - Can you stand?
I'm okay! Please go.
I'm sorry...
I know you're there.
Say something! Kyosuke!
Let go!
You do this every day since my accident.
A workmate told me.
"Some guy's following you."
The other day, your boss called me.
He said you haven't come to work.
This isn't right.
I'm not a child!
Kyosuke,
do you know how much this is hurting me?
It's not me who can't see.
It's you.
I'm sorry I left like that.
In truth, I wanted to walk alongside you forever.
But, the longer we stay together,
the more we'll hurt each other.
Kyosuke,
what I really want is for you
to make the books you want to make.
And I'll read them.
I hope and pray that day will come someday.
On to our next story.
Photographer Yudai Kiharazaka's home
in Kunitachi caught fire this morning,
and a woman's body was found in the ruins.
The deceased is Meguro resident Akiko Yoshioka, 28.
Police believe Yoshioka was unable to escape,
and are questioning Kiharazaka, who was present.
Firefighters say...
I've been expecting you.
No need to post that now.
I went to Kanazawa.
You've read it?
Just the intro.
It's nothing like your manuscript.
Yakumo...
No.
Nakazono.
You had me fooled.
You were using us.
To avenge your ex-lover's death,
you got close to Kiharazaka.
You're getting your book.
It'll make people hate Kiharazaka.
He'll get the death sentence.
Then your revenge will be complete.
At the cost of losing
your new lover.
Don't be presumptuous.
You taught me the danger of conjecture.
Don't you...want to read on?
Why did Akiko have to die?
After losing her,
I became obsessed with that question.
"Chapter One"
I moved to Tokyo,
and dug for dirt on Kiharazaka.
The law was too slow.
Winter was just around the corner.
I'd be the one to expose what he'd done.
That was all I lived for.
They instill fear...
...he took an interest.
...and kept shooting...
A butterfly collector.
...he held her prisoner...
...other people's property.
...abused by their father.
A school friend.
We only had the kids' word to go on.
Don't speculate!
A detective who knew him.
Their recollections formed the notes I showed you.
Talking with nearly 50 sources told me
it wasn't an accident.
I was convinced Kiharazaka killed Akiko.
And then,
I finally discovered...
...the truth.
Last winter, on the night of the first snowfall...
Akari Kiharazaka?
I'm Kyosuke Nakazono.
You're the one who's been stalking me?
No comment. Please go.
I was Akiko Yoshioka's fiancé!
I want to know
why Akiko had to die. That's all.
It was no accident.
Your brother started that fire.
To shoot someone burning. He killed Akiko.
You won't say anything to incriminate him.
I know that.
I know, but I can't help it.
Searching for answers every day
keeps me hanging on to life.
You poor thing.
Swallow this, and feel better.
I'm sorry.
Blaming you is pointless.
I understand how you feel.
You lost your love unjustly.
Of course you want to know why.
You want to know?
The truth.
Then make love to me.
If you do,
I'll tell you. Everything.
I...
...had no choice...
My Yudai...
...hadn't taken a decent photo in years.
It tormented him.
He couldn't find his ideal subject.
In midsummer last year,
he saw your beloved in the street, and fell for her.
He'd finally found his ideal subject.
Even so,
she kept refusing him.
I'm sure...
...she still loved you, even after you broke up.
But Yudai didn't give up on her.
I wanted to do my best to help him.
So...
...I abducted her for him.
Abducted?
Yes. A magazine editor named Kobayashi did it for me.
He'll do anything I ask.
He even became a non-existent burglar,
and stabbed me and Yudai.
You were another important character
in this story.
However,
your beloved...
...cried, screamed, and struggled,
and was no use at all.
So...
...I started the fire.
You did?
Yes.
I did.
I wanted Yudai...
...to shoot her at her most beautiful.
But Yudai...
...became too agitated to shoot.
That's insane...
You're insane.
Do you know what you've done?
You screwed your beloved's killer.
I wanted to kill her.
But I didn't.
Killing her would've meant
leaving you and Kiharazaka to the law.
I couldn't let that happen.
Her father's to blame.
Because of him,
when Akari starts to lose control...
...she falls apart.
You let Akiko be killed.
If you'd stopped it...
Nobody could've! Nobody!
Since I stabbed her...
...I've...
...had no choice but to do her bidding.
As her soulmate.
You're pathetic.
You're a slave. Just like me.
I would've done anything for Akiko too.
I thought of how I could punish Akiko's murderers
all by myself.
I thought,
and thought, till I could think no more.
I came up with a plan.
But I needed... another character.
Yuriko Matsuda.
She'd been tricked by a man into taking on a huge debt.
"Suicide Forum"
When I met her, she was contemplating suicide.
I offered to pay her, if she helped me.
She preferred my plan to dying.
She agreed to join me.
I put my plan into action.
The second chapter began.
Give him a chance.
Alright.
A gate key.
Come whenever you like.
She played Yuriko Matsuda perfectly.
A cheerful and dedicated bride-to-be,
who gets cold feet and falls for a handsome photographer.
She embodied her character.
I can't waste time...
- "Waste time"? - I need to focus!
No photos I've liked.
What would you know?!
As I expected,
Kiharazaka rose to my provocations.
You don't know your true self.
You used her to make Yudai repeat his crime?
Yes.
Knowing he coveted women?
Yes.
And confined them?
Yes.
Don't you understand?!
You took an innocent girl...
She burned to death! In front of me and you...
I can't do this.
- Going somewhere? - The police.
- We're not done. - I am!
What Akari did...
What I did, what you did...
I'll tell them everything.
Don't you want to know where Akari is?
You told that woman about me,
and gave her my card.
You're interviewing my brother.
You live in an unusual place.
I accept your interview request.
Come in.
I was worried you'd killed yourself.
Using a fake name to get close to Yudai...
Are you...up to something?
Yes, of course.
Don't worry. This drug isn't shady.
You'll only sleep.
You held Akari prisoner here?!
Where is she?! Tell me! Tell me!
Please scrap this for me.
You still don't get it?
I told you...
...I'd punish Akiko's murderers myself.
You...
No...
The third chapter begins.
The final chapter.
I'm heading out. I'll be back after 11.
Every piece was in place.
I took Akari Kiharazaka...
...on that rainy night,
to her brother's studio.
He'll be back soon.
Relax. Stick to the plan.
Go.
Go now!
She made entries in this just before she died.
Akari Kiharazaka
writhed in the flames.
Yudai Kiharazaka took photos like a man possessed.
Yakumo!
You...
...witnessed your soulmate's death.
You saw her charred like some grotesque doll.
I listened to all your messages.
You loved her, didn't you?
With all your heart.
This book...
...is for Yoshiki Kobayashi and Yudai Kiharazaka...
...in memory of Akiko Yoshioka.
You're the monster.
A deranged monster.
You're the monster!
"For the two YKs In memory of AY"
I got rid of the car.
It's all over.
As promised, your money and a new ID.
I was part of something terrible.
Maybe I should've died back then.
I'm guilty too...
Yuriko Matsuda no longer exists.
You'll be reborn.
So...
...live.
I fell in love with you!
Akiko.
Even though you broke up with me, it didn't seem real.
Even after you died,
although it might sound strange,
I didn't have the feeling of leaving you.
It was in last winter that we truly parted.
After Akari Kiharazaka told me the truth,
I came here.
Kyosuke,
what I really want is for you
to make the books you want to make.
And I'll read them.
I hope and pray that day will come someday.
That day,
I abandoned myself.
To surpass those monsters, and avenge you.
But,
your boyfriend couldn't be a monster.
Isn't that right?
So...
last winter,
we parted,
and I decided to become a monster.