Monster

"When did you discover blood in your home yesterday?"

"At night."

"Can you tell me exactly what happened?"

"Sure."

Takuto Mizuno seemed unable to meet anyone's eyes. Looking down at the floor, he said somewhat nervously, "I spent the night before last online, so I slept all day yesterday. When I woke up, there was blood all over the floor."

"I was scared, so I called the police."

"Between finding the blood and calling the police, did you leave at any point?" Takuto Mizuno asked.

"No."

"Takuto Mizuno." Shun Takakura suddenly called his name.

"Huh?" Takuto Mizuno looked up at Shun Takakura in confusion. "Officer, is something wrong?"

He responded to the name, so it probably wasn't fake... Then again, an experienced criminal would know that trick. But he hardly looked the type at his age. Shun Takakura's gaze flickered before he asked, "You never left. Do you know when the blood disappeared?"

"No." Takuto Mizuno shook his head and lowered his gaze to the floor again.

"You didn't notice when it vanished?"

"No."

Shun Takakura frowned. "May we take a look around?"

"Mm."

Takuto Mizuno nodded slightly and stepped aside.

Shun Takakura checked the kitchen and windows, while Reiko Ono went into Takuto Mizuno's bedroom.

Like most bedrooms in the Eastern Isles, Takuto Mizuno's was simple.

Through the open door, she could see a futon laid out on the floor. Farther in, beside the mattress, stood a small wooden table with an old computer on it.

A trash can beside the table was stuffed with drink cans, food wrappers, and crumpled tissues.

Reiko Ono rummaged through the trash can. After checking the cans and food wrappers and confirming they were just household rubbish, she took out a crumpled tissue, unfolded it a little, and held it to her nose.