Pursuing in the vicinity of 1-chome.
The culprit is on the run with 100,000 yen in cash.
Armed with a knife.
Get outta my way~!
What the hell's this smell!
- Yes! - Alright!
10:08. You're under arrest for robbery and assault.
- Let go!
- Marukou, good job. - I'll leave the rest to you.
Aoi-chan. Nice pitch. Good job, good job.
Yeah, that was good control. You're doing good these days.
- You're starting to be like a cop. - Thank you.
- Really, you're starting to be like a detective. - Very good.
Yum~. Delicious.
Is this your catcher in this picture with you?
Yes, she's my senpai, Furuya Atsuko-san.
She's coaching a boys' softball team now.
So she's your favorite senpai.
Senpai's an amazing person. I quit softball, but
I treasure those days I spent with Senpai striving to reach the Olympics.
See this?
A matching strap Atsuko-san gave me.
She said, "We're battery for life."
She's my moral support.
I know that feeling. See, us too.
Ours is this.
Well, in the sense that we sink or swim together,
buddies and battery mates might be similar.
That's sickening.
What does a lone wolf like you
- know about buddies? - I don't even want to know.
Excuse me.~ Senpai's buddy
would be me, right?
My buddy is...
Hashizo. Right?
You're still a babysitter for a while.
I know, but during the past 2 months, in my own way, I supported Senpai...
- Supported me? - Now, now...
She's lasted longer than anyone else.
Let's commend Russell-kun for that!
Aoi-chan, you're doing good. Act like a senpai for once and give her kudos.
Ah~ good job, good job. Wonderful, wonderful.
Can you show a little more enthusiasm?
Senpai.
There's a sale on baby wipes today.
Not hardly.
This store's cheaper by 2 yen.
It is.
A woman's body, a possible murder victim, was found.
The scene, South Azabu...
- Russell! - Yes!
They're starting to come together as a pair.
Oh, we'd better go too.
Miniskirt police?
The weapon's a handgun, huh? Looks like she was shot point blank.
Is that handgun the weapon? Wah! Hey!
You idiot. Can't you even recognize a model gun?
- Huh? - The barrel of model guns are blocked.
Hey, hey... Marukou, don't mess around with the evidence.
But it's a well-made toy, isn't it? It even feels real.
Authenticity is sought by the manias.
Since she's in a miniskirt police costume, could it be a cosplay (costume play) accessory?
We don't have any testimony from people in the area who heard gunshots.
- Alright. - This was in the business card holder.
"Traveling Cosplay Lap Top Mimikaki*"? (*mimikaki-to pick/clean ears)
What's so great about that?
More than likely a cute girl in a naughty costume
lets you put your head on her lap while she cleans your ear.
That explains the miniskirt police costume. Was she on her way home from work?
20, 21, 22.
- Hey, Marukou, what are you doing? - Wow, there's 220,000 yen in here.
- It must be a pretty profitable business. - Hey, you!
If you even take one, I'll arrest you for theft!
Who's gonna take it, dumbass!
- What, you wanna fight? - Now, now...
A gold ear pick and
a wooden ear pick...
Alrighty then. Let's get some legwork done in the area
before the folks from the First Division arrive, and then...
- Russell! - ...Yes!
Marukou, I'm still talking. Where are you going!
Hollywood.
Excuse me, is this "Hollywood"?
Do you work here?
Uh, well...
We'd like to work here.
How's this?
Fourth floor...
Thanks.
Don't lie to me! Weren't you recruiting for employees?
Aomori dialect?
Yes, but you won't do. No one's gonna ask for you!
Don't you know? 40-ish women are the rage now.
Don't kid yourself. Besides, you don't expect to work with a kid in tow, do you?
That's discrimination against single mothers.
Listen, the job calls for more than mimikaki.
No problem. Bring on the cosplay~.
There are other covert assignments!
What do you mean covert assignments?
You know what happens when a man and a woman
are alone in a room, right? That's how we make money!
I smell something illegal.
If you don't want to get arrested, you'd better cooperate.
- Senpai, what do you mean cooperate? - Undercover investigation.
- Russell, which costume do you like? - What? Do I have to wear one?
We want to meet Jennifer's customers. When her customers come,
tell them we're her substitute and send them our way.
Got it! Right.
I'm new here. My name's Marilyn. Nice to meet you!
Same here. I'm Russell.
Russell? Is there an actress by that name?
- You know, Russell Crowe~. - Yeah, but he's not an actress.
I'm Cameron.
Marilyn-chan, you're amazing.
Normally, people don't do this work at your age with a kid in now.
What's normally?
I'll do anything to feed this child.
That's amazing~!
We're new at this so there's a lot of things we don't know.
- Please teach us the ropes. - You can count on me!
Ah~. I'm so glad to have such a nice senpai!
Lousy actress.
About the ear pick...
would this be okay?
What's that?
You can't use a raggedy ear pick like that on the customers.
This is the one that's provided to us.
The customers feel special just by the fact that it's gold.
I see.
Marilyn-san, Russell-san. You're up.
Alright~! We're on our way!
- See you later~ - Later.
Hello. Thank for calling "Hollywood."
Russell, you don't have to if you don't want to.
I'm alright. I made up my mind. If all I have to do is mimikaki...
The covert assignment aside, I can do it.
Alright, that's the spirit.
- I'll be waiting out here. - What?
There's nothing more disgusting than cleaning a stranger's ear.
Traitor!
Didn't you say you're fine with mimikaki?
Aw, give me a break~.
Can't you go by yourself? Can't you do anything by yourself?
I'm fine. I can do it. I'll do it!
Okay. Here.
But this is the evidence.
Go get information about this ear pick.
If you find a guy who knows anything at all about it, call me right away.
Okay.
If you can do it right, I'll praise you right too.
Yes.
Gold or wood,
which ear pick is your preference?
Uh... Gold or wood,
which ear pick...
Ei-either one.
But gold or wood...
Gold, then.
Are you sure you don't want the wooden one?
- I said the gold one's fine. - Hold it!
Ow. I suddenly have a stomachache!
It might be a stomach flu!
I'll call for a substitute.
The first guy was a dud.
I'm here to substitute.
Thanks.
It's cold out here.
Thanks.
What kind of a person was Jennifer-san?
She was kinda sneaky.
There was a rumor that she was meeting customers on the outside
without going through the shop.
And you know what else?
- She was kinda scary too. - Why?
This model gun goes with the miniskirt police costume, but
she used to carry a gun with other costumes too.
Isn't it strange to carry a gun in a nurse or school uniform costume?
That's for sure.
- Cameron-chan~, you have a customer. - Coming~.
- If you'll excuse me first. - See you later~.
Yes?
I think I'll ask for Marilyn.
If you're generous with your tip.
I'm just kidding!
I found the gun dealer, but there's a slight problem.
Gold or wood, which ear pick is your preference?
The usual gold one's fine. What's with that raggedy one?
Another dud.
What do you mean "dud"?
- I'm sorry. - You'd better not insult me!
What kind of an attitude is that towards a customer!
Oh, I just remembered I have something to do. I'll call for a substitute.
You can't just leave like that. Hurry up and do the mimikaki.
And the usual Pink Sigh course!
Ouch! Ow, ow...!
Change, change! I want you replaced! Ow...
It's rather deflating when you get replaced.
Don't let that get you down.
Thanks.
Alright. Let's move on, shall we?
Kitamoto Atsushi.
I got as far as ascertaining that he's the guy, but
one day he suddenly disappeared.
Was he was killed, is he in prison, or did he flee overseas.
In other words, we're at a dead end.
About the only lead I have is his old address. What shall we do?
What to do...
We gotta go with that.
Operation Cannonball.
Ah...
What's with that stroller?!
The body's made of the same material as an armored vehicle. The tires are custom-made.
Hashizo's protected from bullets, explosives, and any other kind of danger.
Incidentally, it's equipped with an air bag.
So what do you want from me?!
Tell me anything you know about Kitamoto, the gun dealer.
- Kitamoto disappeared. - I know.
So tell me anything you know about him.
This stroller's equipped with a machine gun.
If I push this switch, your body will be full of bullet holes in 5 seconds.
5, 4, 3, 2...
Alright! I'll tell you.
He had a mistress in Nishiazabu. She's a proprietress of a club.
Zero.
I lied to you about the machine gun.
O-Taka's nuts.
- Why are you following me! - Because I need to talk to you.
What do you want!
Tell me anything you know about Kitamoto.
- Kitamoto disappeared! - I know.
So tell me anything you know!
That's putrid!
That was a 3-month egg.
And this is a 3-year rotten egg.
The smell probably won't go away for at least a week.
That's not good, considering you're in the hospitality business, huh?
Was there anything unusual about Kitamoto before he disappeared?
Ah~!! Alright...
He said he was getting his tattoo removed. At a plastic surgery clinic in Akasaka.
I see.
Here.
Ah~ The fifth customer was a dud too.
- Your hand. - Huh?
Konpeito*? (*sugar candy)
They're sweet.
Yes.
They're sweet.
Yes...
Thank you.
It's sweet!
It's a gentle sweetness.
My special konpeito.
Thank you, um...
Oh, I'm Hatakeyama.
Thank you, Hatakeyama-san.
Is that...
Oh, my mother...
I'm sorry.
But...
she bought me konpeito at the shrine.
Is that right?
Yes.
Oh, that's right. Hatakeyama-san,
have you seen this before?
- It's Jennifer-san's... - Do you know about it?
When I was driving her...
Did she say anything about this ear pick?
No, nothing in particular...
- Is something wrong? - No, just that...
That's okay, I just wondered if you knew anything.
Thanks.
Ah~ I just can't do it like Senpai.
Good for you. You're working towards your dream, huh?
Not too many people can quit their job and strive to be a detective.
You did the same thing too, Reiko-san.
You held the top spot in sales, yet you quit and realized your dream to be a magazine reporter.
I made up my mind after watching you.
I told the section chief,
"None of the erasers our company makes
- can erase..." "...can erase my dream."
...right?
- Oh... you heard? - As soon as you said it.
So what's up today?
Well,
it's official. I'm going to work for "Shukan Bunkou."
Congratulations!
I can finally say farewell to "Sweets Party Monthly."
- But you like sweets. - So,
I thought it would be nice if I could bring them an interesting topic.
I see. So you want me to leak out information on the dark side of police.
I wouldn't go that far.
I thought maybe you could let me in on
an interesting incident or two.
There are no such incidents.
What's the matter? Are you at an impasse?
That's not it.
It's just that after I met a certain person, I don't know what a detective's job is anymore...
Police officers enforce the law, right?
But it's like justice doesn't prevail just by enforcing the law...
Personally, I don't believe in justice.
What I believe in is truth.
I'll do anything in pursuit of truth.
Do you know you're saying that to a police officer?
I was just mumbling to my beloved junior.
You get me every time, Reiko-san.
I'm back~.
Where did Senpai go? Did someone ask for her?
- Hello~. - Hello.
Are you Atsuko-san? Are you Furuya Atsuko-san?
Nagashima?
Why are you at a place like this? Why are you here, Nagashima?
Oh, this is my side job. I'm known as Russell here.
Russell?
- Is there an actress by that name? - Oh...It's Russell Crowe.
What about you, Senpai?
Angelina.
From Angelina Jolie.
Ah! You always liked Brad Pitt, didn't you?
Still?
Yeah, Brad Pitt's still the best.
Yeah.
But isn't this is kinda weird, after so many years?
Yeah, I guess people tend to chitchat about nothing when it's been a while.
What's Brad Pitt got to do with anything, huh?
Really.
Senpai, are you still
coaching the boys' softball team?
Oh... I quit.
What? You quit?
Yeah, I gave it up.
Really?
Russell-san, you have a customer~.
Excuse me.
Hello, I'm here in place of Jennifer-san. My name is Russell.
You're not her substitute.
Job interview? We don't hire women with kids.
Who would've thought you'd change completely, not just the tattoo
Kitamoto Atsushi...right?
How did you...
No one's supposed to know.
When you were still a guy,
do you remember who bought this same gun from you?
I was born again. I don't remember anything from the past.
Then would you like to be reborn again?
You might remember something then?
Scar... a young guy with burn scar on his hand.
Burn scar?
What about bullets (tama)*? (*tama could mean balls too)
- I don't have them anymore. - I don't mean those.
I'm asking you how many bullets did you sell that guy!
5! Only 5!
Model gun.
Did you want mimikaki?
No, you don't have to do anything.
I'll pay the fee.
H-here.
Thank you.
It's stressful to be replaced all the time.
Ah...are you
trying to make me feel better because I'm always being replaced?
Alright. Let me do mimikaki for you.
- Uh... - Just a minute.
I go wash my hands.
Hatakeyama-san?
What are you doing!
What is she doing?
- Please give it back to me. - Pardon me?
The wooden ear pick.
That doesn't belong to Jennifer-san.
I'm sorry, but I can't.
Why?
I'm a police officer.
You're trying to deceive me.
I'm not! It's true.
That wooden ear pick is evidence.
If you think I'm lying, here's my police badge!
Oh, here it is. See?
Handcuffs.
Is that ear pick that valuable to you?
This is my mother's ear pick.
Hey, wait, Hatakeyama-san!
Hey!
...Almost there!
Senpai!
Hatakeyama...
...got away?
I'm sorry.
Who needs police if "I'm sorry" resolves everything!
So what happened?
He said that the ear pick belonged to his mother.
- His mother? - Yes.
What about the gun?
He has it.
Yes, Maruoka.
The body of another mimikaki girl from Hollywood was found.
She's the second victim. It's a serial murder!
The suspected murderer of Komiyama Hiromi,
also known as Jennifer, is the driver for Hollywood, Hatakeyama Yutaka.
The weapon is a gun of the same model used for cosplay.
Currently, Hatakeyama's on the run with it.
Is that right? Russell-kun.
Yes. I'm sorry.
The second victim, who was a mimikaki girl at the same place as the first victim,
is Yoshida Kana, also known as Cameron.
The body has been sent in for autopsy.
I asked them to determine the estimated time of death ASAP.
More than likely, it's the same culprit.
So he attacked Cameron immediately upon escaping from Russell.
Anyway, an alert's been issued for him.
Russell-kun.
I think you'd better be prepared.
If Hatakeyama eventually gets away,
you will be dealt with severely.
Anyway, you stay still for now.
- But Chief! - Stay still!
Okay, we gotta find Hatakeyama.
Go get information about this ear pick.
If you find a guy who knows anything at all about it, call me right away.
- Please give it back to me. - Pardon me?
- The ear pick. - This is evidence.
If you think I'm lying, here's my police badge.!
See?
Hey Hashizo. Morning.
I'm sorry about yesterday.
That's okay.
I feel responsible too.
Senpai.
You're a babysitter after all.
You stay here and babysit today.
But Senpai, how did you arrive at Hatakeyama?
By investigating patiently.
If you're persistent, any lead, no matter how small,
will give you an answer.
That's why I don't overlook any lead I find.
You, you go around destroying precious hints.
Be quiet and stay put.
But I'm the only one who talked to Hatakeyama.
So?
Hatakeyama's lead... or should I say hint, is with me, right?
Hatakeyama said the ear pick belonged to his mother.
You already told me that.
And
konpeito is sweet.
Huh?
Hatakeyama gave me sweet konpeito.
He said it was a special konpeito his mother bought him at a shrine.
Shrine? Which one?
Uh... I didn't get that far.
You're hopeless.
Please, wait a minute!
Fukazawa told you to stay still, didn't he?
Stay here.
Give up.
I can't!
If you leave me behind, I'm going to kidnap Hashizo-kun!
Oh no. I guess I'll take him with me then.
I'm his babysitter. I'll push the stroller!
You don't have to take it so personally.
I'm not taking it personally!
I'm scared...
I'm so scared I can't stay still.
I feel that if I give up now, it's all over for me.
So please.
Scared, huh?
For your information, I don't believe in buddies.
You probably already know this, but I don't believe in other people's rules either.
I do my work the way I see fit.
Because I don't want to lie to myself.
If you can resign yourself to that,
then come along.
I don't see it.
- Nagashima. - Senpai.
- What're you doing? - Looking for something. And you, Senpai?
I forgot something.
This place was shut down, right?
What are you going to do, Senpai?
I'm not sure.
Please stop working at a place like this.
I wish you'd continue on with softball.
Where did that come from.
What I do with my life is my business. Leave me alone.
You're right, but...
This wasn't your side job, was it?
Actually, I'm a police officer.
I was here for an undercover investigation.
Figures.
Someone in the same trade would never say "a place like this."
Sorry for working at "a place like this."
Sorry I couldn't live up to your expectation.
Found it.
We got a tip from an eyewitness. A security guard at a discount store in Chofu City
reported that a guy who looks like Hatakeyama was buying a plastic fuel tank.
Is he planning to set fire on himself?
Excuse me...
Takuya...
Information on shrines that Maruoka Shunin asked for.
Thanks.
Um...
Oh, hey.
Hello.
What are you looking for?
The shrine that sells this.
It could lead to the culprit on the run.
He might be going to this shrine that
sells this konpeito. The place that holds memories of his mother.
I may be able to find out...
Let me ask someone I know.
Yes.
Oh, Sasaki. What's up?
I just emailed you a picture.
Konpeito?
Apparently, it's sold at a shrine. Do you know which shrine it is?
Ah~ That's Nitta Shrine in Chofu City.
As I recall, it's only sold on the first Friday of the month.
It's very good with an elegant sweetness.
Thank you very much.
That's okay. But you owe me one.
It's Nitta Shrine. It's only sold on the first Friday of the month.
The first Friday...
That's today.
Welcome.
I'll take one.
Are you planning to die after eating konpeito filled with memories?
Please, let me die.
Your mother will be saddened.
No she won't.
Mother will be mad at me.
Mother did this too...
Where's your mother?
She left... when I was 10 years old.
But Mother, she was kind to be before she left.
She bought konpeito for me and
while eating that, she let me put my head on her lap and she cleaned my ear.
I was happy.
So that's why you wanted to retrieve that ear pick.
But why did Komiyama Hiromi-san have it?
She was kind...
like Mother back then...
so I gave it to her.
The gun she had was real.
She said she had a frightening experience in the past, so that's why...
You killed her with that gun.
Why?
That ear pick? You like that raggedy one?
Do you like it because it's pliable?
Then next time you call for me, I'll bring it, okay?
But in exchange, be prepared to tip me well!
What's the big deal. I wipe it clean each time, and
besides, it's dirty to start out with.
I gave you the real handgun and I gave you most of my money.
So don't use my mother's ear pick on other people.
You're sick.
I put up with you because you were an easy customer who just wanted mimikaki, but
I'm not your mother.
Why don't you go back to your mommy?
Truth is, she never liked me.
I'm sure Mother doesn't like me either.
What a fool you are.
A mother won't ever dislike her child.
But Mother abandoned me!
Just leaving the ear pick behind!
So that's why you treasured that ear pick.
Well then...
let's go ahead and break that ear pick.
Wait, Senpai. What are you saying?
That's just an ear pick.
It's not your mother.
In the first place, mother, father, senpai, teacher are
people you have to learn to overcome.
You should break that old fragile thing.
Even without that thing,
just as you won't forget your mother's face,
your mother will never forget about you either.
How do you know that?
Because I'm a mother.
I'm sorry for what happened.
Starting tomorrow, I'll work even harder with renewed effort.
There were no questions asked, so
let's just say all's well that ends well.
You must be tired. Go home.
Thank you.
Russell.
Baby wipes.
Senpai.
This store is
cheaper by 3 yen.
I'll stop by on the way tomorrow and pick some up.
If you'll excuse me.
Woah, first time she got the better of Marukou.
She's making great strides.
"Don't lie to yourself"...
- Excuse me. - Yes?
You used to be Coach Atsuko's battery mate, right?
Huh? Ah... yes.
My name is Tsukui.
She coached me when I was a kid.
Is she doing well?
Oh...uh...
Tsukui, let's go.
- I'm sorry for bothering you. - That's alright...
Sorry.
Well, now that the
serial murder case is resolved thanks to us,
- what do you say we all out for drinks. - Thanks for the treat.
Isn't it too soon to celebrate?
There's one more gun.
The dealer sold Hatakeyama 5 bullets.
If that gun was used to kill Jennifer and Cameron, there should be 3 bullets left.
But Hatakeyama's gun had
4 bullets left.
Do we have the estimated time of death of Cameron, the second victim?
We do.
Around 6:00 pm, it says.
When I went to the hotel to rescue Russell,
it was 6:10.
What? Does that mean Hatakeyama
might have been with Russell at that time?
What time did Hatakeyama leave the hotel?
Russell isn't picking up her phone.
Hey, Marukou. Hey, where are you going!
- Hey! - Marukou!