61: Chapter 61: The Unfathomable Human Heart

"Does Akagi Hideo have any enemies?" Fujino pressed Naota Ryoko.

"No way. He couldn't possibly have any enemies," Ryoko insisted, shaking her head firmly.

"Hideo is kind to everyone, and people always speak highly of him. I really can't imagine anyone hating him enough to kidnap his brother just to make him lose a game."

"If that's the case, then identifying the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠culprit becomes more difficult," Fujino stated, taking a deep breath. He thought for a moment, then said seriously,

"In that case, please take me to the initial crime scene where Akagi Mamoru was taken. Perhaps we can find some evidence there that points to the kidnapper's identity."

Akagi Hideo lived in a nearby apartment building. The apartment itself was large and likely quite expensive. Given Hideo's status as a star player for the Tokyo Spirits, it seemed plausible. Of course, it was also possible he inherited it, much like Fujino's own situation. Akagi Hideo's parents had died in an accident two years prior, leaving him to care for his younger brother, Mamoru. They're brothers in a similar situation to mine... Fujino thought fleetingly. Though, at least Hideo still has his brother. The original Fujino was truly alone.

"Was the lock picked?" Fujino examined the faint scratches around the apartment door lock, asking Ryoko.

"Yes," Ryoko nodded. "When I came over this morning to make Mamoru breakfast, I noticed the marks too. When I went inside, I realized Mamoru had already been kidnapped."

"When was the last time you saw Mamoru?" Fujino continued.

"The last time?" Ryoko thought back.

"It was yesterday evening, when I came over to make him dinner."

"So he was kidnapped sometime between last night and this morning?" Fujino clarified.

"By the way, Ryoko-san, why do you come over to make dinner for the Akagi brothers? And from your description, it sounds like a regular occurrence."

"It's because Hideo and I are childhood friends," Ryoko explained, blushing slightly like a shy young girl.

"Hideo is always busy with games and training; he barely has time to look after Mamoru. So he usually asks me to come over and cook for Mamoru."

"I see," Fujino nodded. Another pair of childhood friends. Why were there so many in this world? Why didn't he have one?

He followed Ryoko inside and into the room where Mamoru was supposedly abducted.

The room was a complete mess. A cabinet by the wall was overturned, drawers pulled out from desks, various items strewn haphazardly across the floor. It looked like the aftermath of a violent break-in and robbery.

"Something's strange here," Fujino murmured, frowning as he surveyed the chaos.

"Strange?" Ryoko looked at him questioningly.

"Detective Fujino, did you notice something?"

"None of the other rooms were touched. Only this one is like this..." Fujino pointed out.

"The culprit came here to kidnap someone, not rob the place. What's the point of making such a mess?" He turned to Ryoko.

"Don't you find that odd?"

"Now that you mention it, yes," she admitted, looking around the trashed room, still confused. "But what does this have to do with Mamoru being kidnapped?"

"Those marks on the door lock... they aren't consistent with lock-picking," Fujino stated.

"They look like they were deliberately made after the door was opened, perhaps on the way out. It's impossible to create those specific marks by actually picking a lock."

"But if the lock wasn't picked, how did the kidnapper get inside?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Fujino replied.

"Mamoru opened the door himself."

"Mamoru is a very good boy," Ryoko shook her head.

"He would never open the door for a stranger."

"What if it wasn't a stranger?" Fujino asked, looking at her with subtle meaning.

"Could it be..."

"Precisely." Fujino nodded at Ryoko's dawning realization.

"The person who took Mamoru wasn't a stranger. It was someone he knew!"

"Someone he knew?!" Ryoko exclaimed.

"But which acquaintance would kidnap Mamoru and threaten Hideo like this?"

"The reason the kidnapper trashed this room was to create the illusion of a forced abduction, to divert suspicion away from themselves as an acquaintance." Fujino explained.

"Can you think of anyone Mamoru knows well enough that he'd open the door just by hearing their voice?"

"Someone he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knows... Besides me, the only other person would be Kamimura Naoki." Ryoko thought for a moment.

"Naoki and Hideo are very good friends. They joined the Tokyo Spirits youth team together. But a while back, during practice just before the J-League finals, Hideo accidentally kicked Naoki and broke his leg..."

"He's been recuperating at home since then. Naoki is really good at video games, and he and Mamoru got along well, so he often came over to play."

"That must be him, then," Fujino concluded grimly.

"Because Hideo broke his leg, Naoki held a grudge and kidnapped Mamoru... And now he's threatening Hideo to throw the final match."

"No! That can't be!" Ryoko looked shocked and disbelieving.

"Naoki and Hideo are best friends! How could he possibly hold a grudge like that?"

"The human heart is unfathomable..." Fujino stated flatly.

"Right now, all evidence points to Kamimura Naoki. Whether it's actually him or not... we'll find out by paying him a visit."

Ryoko clearly didn't want to believe Naoki was responsible.

But after some persuasive arguments from Fujino, she reluctantly agreed to go with him.

"Wait," Fujino cautioned as they approached Kamimura's house.

"Don't reveal why we're here immediately. If he realizes he's exposed, Mamoru could be in danger."

"I understand." Ryoko took a deep breath, nodded, and rang the doorbell.

Ding-dong.

After a moment, a young man's voice came through the intercom. "Yes, who is it?"

"It's me, Ryoko!"

"Ryoko?" The voice on the intercom sounded surprised. Then, slightly nervously,

"It's late. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What do you want?"

"Just open the door first."

"Did something happen?" A moment later, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kamimura Naoki opened the door slightly, peering out at Ryoko through the crack.

"Can I come in for a minute?"

"Ah, that's not really possible right now..." Naoki waved his hand awkwardly, looking flustered.

"My girlfriend is over... It might cause a misunderstanding, you know?"