The temperature on the coastal mountain road was not particularly high, but the direct sunlight still made people feel as though their skin were burning. It seemed capable of piercing through flesh and illuminating the bones, even the soul, within.
At the very least, that was how Masahiko Michikyo felt.
In the end, because he stubbornly insisted on coming along, and considering their numbers, they had no choice but to abandon the vehicles together. They decided to leave Masahiko Michikyo's car for the traffic police and walk to the nearest police station.
As they walked, Masahiko Michikyo listened to Tangze casually explain the scene he had witnessed the day before yesterday to Kyogoku Makoto, the only one who had not seen it firsthand. Every word was agony.
"It was on the road from the riverbank where the fireworks festival was held to your inn... Yeah, it was some distance from the roadside, but my eyesight is pretty good."
"That guy was probably fairly agile. Mostly, he seemed really good at climbing trees—he moved up them fast. Hm? I'm sure it was a 'he.' A large-built adult man."
"Unfortunately, he didn't make much noise. Otherwise, I might have recognized him just by hearing him."
"Thankfully, the victim is still alive."
"The victim definitely knew the killer. Aside from the abdominal wound and defensive injuries on her arms, there weren't many signs of struggle on her body. Rather than being dragged into the woods, she was more likely lured in. The police are investigating her social connections now..."
Whether deliberately or otherwise, Tangze had included many details about the case in his account—details precise enough that even Masahiko Michikyo, a complete layman, could recognize his own "carelessness" when it came to crime.
Watching Masahiko Michikyo slow down more and more, sweat nearly