The body was laid gently on the concrete near the bridge, water pooling around the edges of the white cloth draped over it. Only the pale, lifeless face of Mahime Kawakami remained visible—a face that had once been full of vitality. Even now, in death, her beauty shone faintly, a haunting reminder of her youth and the tragedy of her untimely demise.
Three days ago, she had been a lively high school girl, confessing her feelings to Akihiko Tou. Now, she was the center of a grim scene that had drawn a crowd of curious and horrified students, their murmurs barely kept in check by the cordon the police had erected.
Akihiko stood within the taped-off area, his expression unreadable as he watched the proceedings alongside Shinichi Kudo. Beyond the barrier, Mahime's parents had arrived, their anguished cries piercing the cold air.
"Mahime!" her mother wailed, her voice raw with grief. Her father clutched her trembling shoulders, his own face contorted with a mixture of sorrow and helpless fury.
The sight triggered a flicker of memory in Akihiko. He recalled the first murder case he had ever tackled under his mentor's guidance. Back then, too, the victim's family had been left shattered, their cries echoing in his mind long after the case was closed.
Around him, the atmosphere grew heavier. Police officers shot daggers at him with their eyes, while students whispered behind their hands, some already weeping at the tragedy that had unfolded in their school.
"Now that we're all here," Officer Megure said in a somber tone, his gaze fixed on Akihiko, "do you still maintain your innocence?"
Akihiko met his eyes with an unwavering stare. "Why should I plead guilty to a crime I didn't commit?"
The simple defiance in his words made several officers bristle, but Akihiko pressed on. "I'm not the murderer. Why should I bear the burden of someone else's actions?"
His voice turned sharper as he gestured towards the scene. "And is this what passes for a criminal investigation here? Sakura Country's legal system is modeled after modern European practices, isn't it? Yet, you bypass proper judicial procedures to demand I identify the murderer? That's not only unprofessional; it's outright negligent."
The boldness of his critique made several officers glance uncomfortably at each other. Shinichi Kudo, standing silently to the side, watched Akihiko with renewed scrutiny.
Akihiko didn't stop. "Tell me, have you followed the standard protocols for modern criminal investigations? Site visits, forensic examinations, detailed analysis—have any of these been conducted?"
Megure and Shinichi exchanged a brief look, the weight of his words sinking in. Akihiko had struck a nerve.
"You claim to have evidence," Akihiko continued, his voice steady, "but without proper procedures, even the strongest evidence can be thrown out in court. Surely you've heard of cases where procedural failures let suspects walk free?"
"Enough!" a young officer burst out, his face flushed with anger. "We have proof! How dare you question us?"
Akihiko shook his head, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the officer's outburst. "Proof without process is nothing. Even a first-year law student could dismantle your case in court."
Megure's brows furrowed as he weighed Akihiko's words. Shinichi's sharp eyes hadn't left Akihiko for a moment, his thoughts unreadable. The young detective's respect for Akihiko's intellect was grudging but undeniable.
"How do you intend to disprove my reasoning?" Shinichi finally asked, breaking the tense silence. "How will you prove your innocence?"
Akihiko's gaze shifted to the body lying beneath the white cloth. "Simple," he said. "Where's your coroner?"
A slight, hesitant man stepped forward from the crowd of officers. "I'm here," he said nervously.
"Why are you standing so far away?" Akihiko's tone was scathing. "Your job is to examine the body. Get over here."
The coroner, a man named Kimura, shuffled forward, clearly uneasy. Under Akihiko's sharp gaze, he crouched by the body and began his examination. His hands pressed gently against the corpse, testing for muscle elasticity, while his eyes scanned for visible clues.
After several minutes, Kimura straightened and cleared his throat. "From the wear on the victim's shoes, it seems there was a struggle before her death. She was likely pushed into the water and drowned. However, the time spent in the water has obscured many details, so this is all I can conclude."
Akihiko stared at Kimura, disbelief plain on his face. "That's it?"
Kimura blinked, taken aback. "Y-Yes. The body has been submerged for too long, so it's difficult to gather more conclusive evidence."
Akihiko let out a sharp laugh, his frustration breaking through his composure. "Unbelievable."
He turned to the officers, his voice laced with derision. "This is your forensic expertise? I've seen more thorough analyses from medical students."
"W-What's wrong?" Kimura stammered, shrinking under Akihiko's glare. "Did I miss something?"
"Everything," Akihiko snapped. "Bring me a pair of sterilized gloves."
Kimura hesitated, but Akihiko's icy stare left no room for argument. "I'll figure this out myself. Clearly, relying on you was a mistake."
As the gloves were handed over, Akihiko knelt by the body, his movements precise and deliberate. The gathered crowd held its breath, their attention riveted on the suspect who now seemed more like a professional investigator.
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