DNA identification wasn't available yet, so the flesh and blood fragments couldn't pinpoint the killer.
Vice Principal Inoue returned with the teachers. "We checked. Only one student was absent between 2:16 and 3:16—Doi Hayato himself. All staff, except two on leave, were at their posts."
"Did Doi have morning classes?" Inspector Samezaki asked.
"He attended morning classes but vanished after lunch," a third-grade teacher replied.
"No afternoon classes for Doi. No one noticed?" Officer Megure frowned.
"Class had started," the teacher said. "I couldn't leave my students to search for him."
Cold but reasonable—no one expected Doi's death.
"Any breaks during that time?" Kogoro Mouri asked. "Could the killer have struck then?"
"You think we didn't consider that?" Inoue snapped. "The gymnasium had students all afternoon. The judo club room's door was locked, and no one was seen entering or leaving."
The room faced the indoor basketball court, where students played even during breaks.
"Anyone check the well during lunch?" Hayashi Shuichi asked.
"Lunch break? Didn't ask," Inoue huffed. "Doi was fine then."
A third-grade teacher recalled, "A student mentioned seeing Hoshino Teru call Doi away during lunch."
"Is that true, Hoshino?" Inoue asked.
Hoshino nodded, glum. "He seemed down lately. I wanted to cheer him up, tell him not to dwell on the national league."
Suddenly, Hoshino's eyes lit up. "Officer, I know the killer! It's Makino Shinji!"
"Why?" Samezaki asked.
"The National Judo League had two slots per school. Makino was sure he'd get one, but two days before tryouts, he injured his leg in an accident and couldn't compete," Hoshino explained. "While hanging a motivational banner, the ladder collapsed, injuring him. Makino blamed Doi for tampering with it and vowed revenge. The judo club seniors know."
"Megure, verify with the judo club," Samezaki ordered, then turned to Inoue. "Where's Makino Shinji?"
"He's on a three-month leave for his injury," the teacher said. "Hasn't returned."
"His leg's likely healed. He's the only one absent, with time to kill!" Hoshino said eagerly.
Megure returned. "Confirmed. Second- and third-year judo club members say Makino swore revenge on Doi."
"Find Makino Shinji now!" Samezaki commanded. "Bring him in."
"Yes!" Megure organized the officers.
Kogoro frowned. "If Makino's the killer, how'd he do it? The room was locked, and no one entered or left between 2:16 and 3:16."
"Maybe they misremembered," Hoshino said quickly. "Breaks are chaotic."
"Why didn't you mention Makino earlier?" Inoue grumbled. "We wouldn't have assumed suicide and lost face!"
"I didn't think he'd actually do it," Hoshino defended. "I thought Makino was just bitter about missing the league."
"No, that's not it," Hayashi interrupted. "You killed Doi and manipulated rigor mortis to make the school and police think it was suicide."
"What?" Hoshino stepped back, stunned. "I'd never kill Hayato! We're friends! And I was in class from 2:16 to 3:16—my classmates can confirm!"
"You tampered with rigor mortis," Hayashi sneered. "The forensic time of death is wrong. Doi died earlier."
"Tamper with rigor mortis?" Megure asked, surprised. "How?"
"Rigor mortis starts 1–3 hours after death, stiffening the jaw, neck, and face. It spreads fully in 4–6 hours, peaks at 12–24 hours, and eases after 24–48 hours," Hayashi explained, glancing at the forensic officer. "Right, Officer Tomi?"