"Can't start my day without a smoke and a coffee."
For thirty years as a police officer, Chief Sato never skipped his morning routine before starting work. Not too long, Daigo parked his bicycle, greeted the chief, and walked toward the kōban.
"Want a smoke?" Sato asked.
"No, thanks, Chief," Daigo replied.
"Get in and get ready! We've got a lot to handle today!" Sato added. At the kōban, officers Toriyama and Masashi were already getting ready, just as Chief Sato had instructed. Each grabbed a chair and sat down, waiting calmly for their orders.
"Alright, alright, alright!" Chief Sato said as he walked in, rubbing his hands together. "Listen up! Today's a little different. Two bodies were found this morning. I'll keep it short: a high school girl's body was discovered in Shinjuku Park. They've requested two officers for scene assistance. Daigo and Masashi, you guys go. Here are the rest of the details!"
"You got it, Chief!" Masashi said.
"What about the other one?" Daigo asked.
"Hmph. This one's… unusual." Sato replied, "Someone found a folded human body in a suitcase in one of the Golden Gai alleys."
"Whoa! Right near us?" Toriyama exclaimed.
"Yeah. And they need as many officers as possible there... it'll be crowded," Sato added.
"No info on the body yet?" Daigo asked.
"A twenty-six-year-old man. Still unidentified," Sato replied. "A twenty-six-year-old man. Still unidentified," Sato replied. "Anyway, I've called backup to stay at the kōban. I'll go with Toriyama to Golden Gai."
"Chief!" Daigo called out. "Can I go with you?"
"I don't mind," Sato said, "but someone has to stay with Masashi."
"Toriyama, you okay with that?" Daigo asked.
"Sure," Toriyama replied. "I can handle either."
"Thanks, I owe you one," Daigo said.
Chief Sato walked over to his desk, grabbed a fresh pack of cigarettes and his keys, then slipped on his coat and hat. Without another word, he headed out to the car, leaving the others behind. The three officers followed suit, gearing up and ready for the day.
Daigo patted Toriyama on the shoulder and thanked him before he left. Then he headed to the car, tossed his stuff in the back, and climbed in.
"Want a smoke?" Sato said, breaking the silence.
"What've you got there?" Daigo asked.
"Seven Stars," Sato replied with a grin. "Finally, you dropped the formality."
"You asked for it," Daigo said. "And no thanks... I only smoke Marlboros."
"What hooked you on a foreign brand?" Sato asked.
"Nothing... just a habit," Daigo said, leaning over to light Sato's cigarette.
Sato exhaled a slow puff. "Elaborate."
"No," Daigo said calmly.
The route to Golden Gai stretched about 500 meters. The morning sun cast a soft glow over the streets, still quieter than usual. Taxis filled the lanes, scooters rattled past, and the car moved slowly along Yasukuni-dō. Overhead, the Gracery Hotel towered, its Godzilla head peeking down. Bars and shops remained shuttered. Pedestrians hurried past, some clenching their heads, others staggering from last night's drinking. Sato found a free spot to park, though it was far from the crime scene; there was no way the car could get through the crowded alleys.
"First time at a scene like this, huh, Daigo?" Sato said, maneuvering the car next to a vending machine.
"Indeed… it is," Daigo replied.
"Before we head out," Sato said, locking eyes with him, "tell me... why'd you choose to come with me instead of going with Masashi?"
Daigo smirked slightly. "Once we reach the scene, I'll fill you in."
As they stepped out of the car, Daigo paused and glanced up at the sky. A strange-shaped cloud drifted above the buildings. He pointed at it.
"It's the same one I saw at Yuigahama," he said quietly, then slipped into the crowd ahead. The alley was swarming with officers. Some were assisting the medical examiners, others were holding back the crowd behind the yellow tape. As Sato and Daigo approached, the scene unfolded before them: what once was a man now lay in sections, neatly split and arranged as if someone had taken their time. Cameras clicked in the background. Sharp and mechanical sounds that only made the silence heavier. The sight was overwhelming. A few officers turned away, faces pale, while others puked quietly in the corners.
"Terrible," Sato muttered, his voice low and rough. He glanced at Daigo. The man wasn't flinching, just scanning the scene like he'd done it a hundred times.
"Figures…" Sato said under his breath. "Detective instincts, huh?" He exhaled a thin stream of smoke and added, "Alright, what do you see?"
"Can't say unless I get closer!" Daigo replied, "Can you help me with that?"
Sato immediately started looking around. "Lucky for you, the detectives are old friends!" He then said.
The two approached the detectives at the scene. At first glance, Daigo could tell they were seasoned, not by their age, but by the way they handled the chaos. Their movements were steady, deliberate. They scanned every angle, ahead, to the sides, windward and a lee, as if reading currents of evidence in the air. They were already deep inside the case.
"Hello, hello, hello!" Sato shouted, breaking the detectives' focus.
"You old coot!" one of them shot back with a laugh.
"Shin!" Sato barked, grinning. "Get over here, you bastard!"
Daigo hung back, observing the veterans' greeting. The three seemed more like old friends than mere colleagues. As their small talk wound down, Sato turned, grabbed Daigo by the shoulder, and introduced him to the detectives.
"Shin, Kenji, this is my boy Daigo," Sato announced. Daigo nodded politely, his calm expression and measured bow giving off more confidence than his age suggested.
"A rookie?" Kenji asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Not exactly," Sato said. "He used to be a detective..."
"Used to?" Shin cut in, skeptical.
"Yes," Daigo replied evenly, his voice quiet but firm.
"Oh yeah..." Kenji arched an eyebrow. "Where?"
"Kamakura," Daigo said, his gaze steady, scanning the scene even as he spoke.
He watched the two nod subtly, as if they could read his history just by looking into his eyes.
"Terrible day," Sato muttered.
"Yeah… looks rough," Shin agreed, glancing at the parted body.
"Do me a favor," Sato added. "Let my boy get a closer look at the scene. He might notice something for you!"
The two exchanged a look, then turned to Daigo. His expression was calm, firm, professional. They glanced back at Sato and gave a single, approving nod. Daigo crouched by the body, gloves on, eyes scanning every detail. Moments later, he waved Sato and the detectives over.
"That fast?!" Sato barked.
"What do you got, kid?" Kenji asked.
"Look at the victim's left leg," Daigo said, pointing.
"Nope," Shin said, "pathologist's territory."
"Hmm…" Daigo sighed, standing up. "Here's the situation: this rotten mark on his left tibia… the same mark showed up on two other bodies in Kamakura. The only difference here is that this one's been chopped. If the suspect left nothing else behind, finding more clues is going to be much harder."
"Elaborate!" Sato barked. "We want the full picture!"
"It's clear these three cases are connected," Daigo continued. "My ex-partner is still handling the first two, and when I say he's lost… I mean it. They looked like normal deaths. No leads, nothing but the rotten mark. But this one… this one suggests it wasn't fate or chance. Someone human was behind it."
"Are you saying we're dealing with a serial killer?" Kenji asked, his eyes flickering nervously.
Daigo took off his gloves and rubbed his eyes, letting a strained glance sweep the scene one last time. Then he let out a short, uneasy laugh.
"I… I don't think anyone could pull this off alone," he added.