This door wasn't locked....
Yet why can't it be opened?
It's because this whole house is greatly distorted.
A locked room mystery that's not locked...
...in a sense, can be quite troublesome.
Because if there's a key, the door can be opened. If there's none, then it likely won't.
This specific criteria does not exist.
It is the same in human psychology.
It is said that trying to understand one's distorted mind...
...is a herculean task.
In order to solve this troublesome mystery...
...we need to ask, "Why is this house distorted in the first place?"
And this distortion...
...caused what kind of tragedy?
We must start from there.
Wow... it'll be 2 months...
...until your wedding. When will you be moving here?
Maybe after our honeymoon is over...
...Until then, we're all busy as a bee about it. - Lucky you. Bet you're happy, huh?
How about you, Junko? You don't have plans on getting married yet?
None at all. I don't even have a partner.
- Really? - Yeah.
I thought that person is your boyfriend.
Eh?! No way. Stop it.
- What? He's not? - No, no... Enomoto-san's just someone who...
- Huh? - Someone who?
Like, uh... He's not a client...
He's not an adviser either. Let's see... what is he?
...Acquiantance? Ah. A friend. Huh?
- Thank you for waiting. - Uwah!
I have finished inspecting the structure of the house.
- First, I'll work on the estimate. - Thank you very much.
Come to think of it, I saw a special feature on TV yesterday about...
...houses with shoddy construction. - Oh, me too! It's scary, isn't it?
Actually, there are some simple techniques to identify shoddy work.
Really?
First, you can put a ball on the floor.
If it rolls by itself, then it means it's tilted.
Go outside and check for cracks in the concrete part of the foundation.
And when you jump up and down on the second floor...
...and feel the house shake, it's possible that the number of pillars is not enough.
Then, checking whether enough insulation was used...
...by taking a look at the attic is also important.
I understand. I'll try to do them.
(Number withheld)
- Sorry to make you work on a day-off. - Did...
...some issue come up with the Joei Homes acquisition?
- I don't know. Where's Mitsui-san? - He's in your office.
Thank you.
Passed away? Pres. Takemoto of Meishin Builders?
He had fallen while inside a house which he had constructed... (Joei Homes, Director Mitsui)
...It seems he had hit his head. - Is that so.
And I heard some worriesome rumors.
Actually, there was an earthquake right after that house was turned over...
The house became greatly distorted and the owner claims...
...it was because of shoddy construction.
- Shoddy construction? - The builder said...
...there was no issue with the construction but...
...since the acquisition agreement are in the works...
...he has decided to repair the house as a manner of courtesy, free of charge.
Since Sensei said there are no issues with Meishin Builders...
..we've decided to pursue with the acquisition.
If indeed it is true that it was because of shoddy construction...
...then we must immediately cancel the acquisition agreement.
I understand. I'll look into this right away.
Well, wadda y'know, it's Serizawa-sensei. What's up?
Are you trying to solve another locked room case again? (Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Crime Squad 1, Kono Mitsuo)
- Locked room case? - I read...
...your interview.
You made it sound like... ("Person of the Week"... "Puts Police to Shame!")
...that the police are not trust-worthy. ("Shrewd lawyer who solved many locked room cases"..." 'Don't just depend on the police'..." )
That's ridiculous. All I said was that one shouldn't just take...
...the police's views too hastily.
- Excuse me. - Over here...
...is Serizawa-sensei, an attorney. He's Sugisaki-san, the homeowner.
I'm the lawyer representing Joei Homes.
My client has signed an acquisition agreement with Meishin Builders the other day...
But we heard there were possible shoddy construction done so I'm here to verify--
Oh, dear. You're researching after the contract was signed, huh?
That doesn't sound like the hotshot lawyer I know.
It's because you kept poking your head into locked room cases...
...and neglected your main job, right?
I heard this distortion happened after the earthquake...
...what was the intensity? - The seismic intensity was 4.
We were planning to move in here after the wedding three weeks from now.
That's really unfortunate.
I heard that during his visit, Pres. Takemoto died...
...while he was inspecting it for the restoration.
- Wasn't it an accidental death? - Why do you think that?
- Didn't you say it was a locked room case? - Did I...
...say such a thing? - That's what you said, right? A locked room case.
Serizawa-san.
Aoto. You... Don't tell me...!?
Thanks for waiting.
Enomoto.
EarthBuriTeam Subs presents: ~ KAGI NO KAKATTA HEYA ~ "The Locked Room"
Episode 5: "The Room That Wasn't Locked"
Translation, Editing, and Fine timing: earthcolors
Translation, Spot translator, QC, and Retiming: danburi
Special thanks to: furransu, \( -o _ o- )/
Special thanks to: mikaljan, honest
- Thanks for waiting. - You have a keen nose!
- Huh? - It's great you brought Enomoto here.
You really are useful once in awhile.
Excuse me, please. Enomoto-san...
Please go inside. I will explain to you the situation.
No. Wait just a bit. Wait.
- You're the one who called him? - That's right.
I just happened to remember him so I contacted him.
Without informing me about it?
I don't see why I need to talk to him through you.
This way.
Aoto, why were you with him?
I was with Enomoto-san regarding another matter but...
...when I heard he has another locked room case, I couldn't let it go.
If you were with him, you should've stopped him!
How dare you bring Enomoto here.
You really ARE useless! Sheesh!
This tilt... is quite bad, isn't it?
When the body of Pres. Takemoto was found here, it was a locked room situation?
Yeah. That's why we...
...suspected Takemoto-san died in an accident.
To make sure whether it was really impossible to enter and exit this room...
...I wanted Enomoto-san to examine it just in case.
Were the doors and windows locked?
The windows were locked. But...
...The door has no lock. - Wait a minute.
Has no lock? If it wasn't locked...
...then you can't say it was a locked room case. Right?
Not only it has no lock, it can't even be closed normally, right?
The door frame is distorted so it won't close.
But when I discovered the body, it was completely closed.
While investigating the scene yesterday, we've tried different ways to close it...
No matter how we tried, we couldn't close it from the outside.
- How about from the inside? - Yeah...
It will close somehow if you beat the edge of the door...
...to force it into the frame. With something like a soft hammer...
...if you can beat it many many times in the right spot, it will go in barely.
- What is a soft hammer-- - Supposing it was a murder...
...it was impossible for the culprit to exit from this door.
Since this door can't be closed from the outside.
What's a soft hammer? Please answer it!
It's a hammer with a head made of polyurethane (type of foam material).
What about this door?
Oh. That one, no matter how much you crash and kick...
...it wouldn't budge. - Because of the entire house's distortion...
...there are massive pressures around the door frame.
Yeah. It's impossible to escape from this door. ("Danger! Do not open!")
What was the state of these windows?
It was locked with crescent locks...
And it was protected with plastic from the inside.
So it's also impossible to escape from these windows.
- Who placed the note and the plastic? - It was Sugisaki-san.
In order to check for damages in the concrete...
I thought of removing all of the flooring.
So as not to damage the glass windows while doing so...
...I covered them with plastic.
But, well.. I eventually gave up removing the flooring though.
- Is this from the leaking roof? - Yes.
Maybe Takemoto-san slipped...
...because the floor was wet.
I'm a math teacher...
..at Nozomigaoka High School down the street.
Yesterday was a Saturday and my day-off but...
...since I am the adviser of the baseball club, I went to school in the morning.
"I'm at the house. I'll go in for the inspection..."
"After the practice is over, I'll stop by, too."
"See you then."
"Takemoto-san, this is Sugisaki. Please open the door. Takemoto-san."
When I saw Takemoto-san lying on the floor, I called an ambulance right away.
Excuse me, what time did the baseball practice start and end?
Yes. Uh, it went on from 9 am til 2 pm.
- What was Takemoto-san's estimated time of death? - From 10 to 11 am.
What are those?
Oh, I had some notes posted there.
Seriously, the police have no shame.
Treating people like suspects, and utterly harrassing you...
...they become nice when they need your cooperation.
Who do they think they are?
Enomoto-kun, listen... you don't need to hold back just because they're the police.
If you don't want to help, you better tell them clearly. Would you...
... like me to tell him off for you? - No, that's not necessary.
- It's not? - Anyway, it is a strange locked room case.
If you do not hit a certain part of the door...
..many times with force, it will not close.
But if you close it from the inside, you will not be able to escape.
It doesn't make sense.
Can you not really close it from the outside?
Yes. You will not be able to close it with any trick.
So that room is a real locked door case?
No. It's not conclusive yet.
Because aside from the doors and windows...
...there were other openings.
There were two holes for airconditioner ducts.
It was equipped with a screw cap but it's possible to...
...open and close it from the outside if you thrust your hand in.
It's a large hole with an inner diameter that measures around 7.5 cm...
...even a man's hand can fit through it.
Still I don't know how you can use it to close the door.
So could this be a mere accident?
- If indeed it was an accident, there's one thing that bothers me. - What is it?
Why did Pres. Takemoto shut the door of the living room?
Pres. Takemoto was alone, right? Then...
...if he himself closed the door firmly...
...he could have been trapped inside until Sugisaki-san comes.
Before that, how was he able to close it in the first place?
Takemoto-san didn't seem to have a soft hammer...
...with him or anything like it.
- Plus those tapes. - What tape?
The torn pieces of tape... left on the wall.
The tape on the door and the protective plastic on the windows...
...they were thoroughly and carefully attached.
So then why only those pieces of tape...
...appeared to be roughly torn off?
Are you suspecting Sugisaki-san?
That's not what I'm saying. It's just that... although the ground is indeed loose...
..it's hard to believe that the distortion was caused by...
...an intensity 4 earthquake alone.
It was obvious that it was due to Meishin Builders' shoddy construction.
But they were going to repair it with no charge, right?
Sugisaki-san has no reason to kill Takemoto-san.
He also has an alibi.
If he was at the club activities from 9 am to 2 pm...
...then it's impossible for him to commit the crime from 10 to 11 am.
I will need a little more time to think about this.
You know what... We'll need the scale model, as always...
...we'll give you time to make it. We'll come again tomorrow.
Yes, Kono-san said he wants to come here tomorrow, too.
- Kono will be coming here? - Yes.
Forget about the model. We'll just go gather some information tomorrow.
Huh? Why?
"Why"? So that way, it'll be more efficient.
Ah. Is it maybe because you're feeling jealous?
Me... j-jealous of him?
I have no reason to be jealous like some kid.
Why do I have to be jealous of someone like him... Honestly.
Do you know what? He seems to have many things...
...inside his suit like peanuts and ballpoint pens, it's so weird.
I've seen many different types of people.
He's no good. Mm. Absolutely won't make it ahead in life. Yeah.
Alrighty. First, let's confirm Sugisaki-san's alibi.
Enomoto.
I wasn't jealous.
Last Saturday, we practiced from 9 am to 2 pm.
I see. Then Sugisaki-sensei was at school by 9 am, right?
- Yes. He was. - I see. Thanks for your time.
Excuse me.
What're you doing?
I'm trying not to let the students know about the accident.
Oh, is that so? Sorry.
I thought they already know about it.
My fiancee is a teacher here as well.
We've been keeping our wedding and the new house a secret...
So I don't want you to bother about the accident and cause trouble.
We're very sorry. We'll be careful from now on.
Is your fiancee in school right now?
She has been on leave since last month so she can prepare for our wedding.
- Up next, the fiancee. - Serizawa-san sure is active today, huh?
This time, it's a special case.
- Oh, hey! Thanks for that information earlier. - You're welcome. Let's go.
Eew. They've been smoking, huh?
Ah...Ugh~... Boys will be boys...
- Shall we go? - Yeah.
This is it.
Uh, yes?
- Come in. - Please excuse us.
Hello.
- What an unpleasant coincidence. - The feeling is mutual.
Oh. Enomoto-san. Go ahead.
Oh, are those invitations to England Hotel?
Yes. You know it well.
Oh. A friend of mine is also going to hold her wedding at England Hotel.
I got the same invitation the other day.
- Really? - So, Iikura-san, your wedding will be at England Hotel, too?
The garden there looks wonderful.
Actually, I'm thinking of cancelling the wedding.
What?
But there's no reason to stop the wedding.
Even after the repair work's done, I'm sure she doesn't want to live in that house.
If he tries to sell it, the price would be reduced significantly, too.
Either way, Sugisaki-san will have to pay the large amount remaining in his housing loan.
But marriage has nothing to do with that.
You're too naive. You shouldn't gloss over marriage too much.
You have to think of your life.
If you live with a debt-ridden man, your future will look hopeless.
- Right? Enomoto-san. - With an honorific?
I guess this was an accident.
This matter will be processed as an accidental death.
What? Why?
First, Sugisaki has an alibi.
Second, he also doesn't have a motive. Third, the scene was a locked room.
With all these three factors, is there anymore reason why we should continue to investigate?
Right? Sensei.
So then, thank you for your cooperation.
Is it...over?
So what should we do next?
In terms of the written agreement, you can cancel the contract... (Joei Homes)
We will push forward in making the penalty claims.
I do apologize for the lack of thorough investigation...
I am really sorry.
Oh. By the way, was the death of Takemoto-san...
...seen as a case? - No, there was no case.
- The police deemed it as an accidental death. - I see.
"Well, having a person die inside the home where you're supposed to spend your married life..."
...is truly a grave thing.
But calling off the wedding, isn't it a bit cold?
Really? You think so, too?
I'm sure it's gonna be hard...
But if two people really love each other, they can weather it together.
Normally, that's what we'll think, right?
You do have a point. It was only two days...
...since the accident happened... It was too early to make such a decision.
"If it's three weeks before the wedding..."
..then, they have already sent out the invitations, right?
It'll take considerable courage to inform the guests about the cancellation.
Say, how many weeks should you send out the invitations before the wedding takes place?
"I think they should all be out two months before, or no later than one month before... "
Because about a month before the wedding, you'll need to have a final count of the attending guests.
What's the matter?
Uh, no. It's nothing.
- What is it? - Oh.
Well, for the reason of money...
...or because of a tremendous grudge...
...without those easily recognizable reasons...
...would a person murder someone?
Consistency in motives for murder....
...is not something you can easily see.
Oh, I'm sorry to bother you on your way out.
- No problem. See you. - Thank you, sir.
What do you think?
Those pieces of torn off tape, when you connect them together...
...it will form a mysterious line. - Mysterious?
That one moves in an upward sloping line over there....
Then it changes into a downward sloping line. Supposing...
...there was something like a sheet that was stretched here...
...then it would form a triangular pattern on both corners of the floor.
So what about it?
But how was it possible to close the door using this hole for the duct?
That's the key to solve this mystery.
- I got it! - What is it?
From that hole, the culprit inserted a long rod...
...and pounded the door with it.
- Nope, it's impossible. - What? Why not?
Because 1 meter behind this wall, there's a high concrete fence.
So you can't be able to thrust a long rod inside.
In addition, the distance from the hole up to the door measures 10 meters or more.
With the hole serving as the fulcrum, 1 meter space at the back, and 10 meters in front...
This principle of leverage will work against you and...
...you will need great strength just to lift the end of the rod a bit.
Let alone to hit the door with it is impossible.
Hmm...
- Ah. - Ah.
Serizawa-san. What's the matter?
Nothing. What are you guys doing here?
Well, it really bothered me.
I thought we should inspect one more time...
...before the police removes the protection order, so I called Enomoto-san.
Ah, I see.
Huh?
Is it maybe Serizawa-san had the same thing in mind?
Ah. Mine is different. I just happened to pass by in front of the house.
C'mon~. If you were just passing by why would you come inside the house?
- Right? - Right.
Oh, I saw the guys from the baseball team just now.
- Why? - "Why?" Well, those guys...
..are in the middle of their jogging routine. They look so full of youth.
They said they run for an hour. Go go go!
Hmm.
An hour?
- Which way did they go? - What?
The baseball team. Which way did they go?
Ah, well... Oh, that way...
- Move aside please. - Where're you going? Aoto!
Aoto!
Hey!
What was that about?
- 1, 2. - 1, 2.
- Excuse me! Excuse me!
Wait a minute!
Are you the baseball team from Nozomigaoka High School?
- Yes. - Do you run...
...for an hour each time you practice? - Yes.
- Even during your practice last Saturday? - Saturday?
- Uh, yes. We ran. - During that time...
..where was Sugisaki-sensei? - Well... I dunno.
- Maybe in the teacher's lounge? - I don't know.
- Do none of you know for sure? - Well, yeah.
I remember there were other club members, where are they?
Those guys are always missing during the running.
"Those guys"?
Ah... aah... What on earth is this about?
I see. So that's how it was.
Huh?
Thank you. Goodbye!
- Let's go. - Yes!
I don't wanna be young again...
Oh, sh*t.
You guys were also here last Saturday, smoking cigarettes...
...instead of doing your running routine, weren't you?
- We're sorry! - Idiot.
I do like to ask you one question.
- My leg... I got a cramp. - Please get a hold of yourself.
Oh, Enomoto-san. What is it?
The locked room... has been unlocked.
Hasn't Takemoto-san's death been declared as an accident?
So please give me a break already.
Actually, the situation has changed a bit.
It seems there was a strange thing found in this living room.
Eh? What is it?
- A ball. - Ball?
What would such a thing be doing here?
Do you have any idea?
Ah, I remember. Was it a tennis ball?
- I was the one who placed it here. - Placed? What for?
It's for verification, of course.
I used it to demonstrate how the floor slopes.
I planned to video tape it so if Meishin Builders...
...refuses to repair this house for free, I would upload it in the internet.
I see.
You just said tennis ball, right?
- Yes. - Why did you think...
...it was a tennis ball? I only said "a ball."
As an adviser of the baseball team...
...don't you think a baseball would come to your mind first?
Nah. What comes to my mind or not, the ball I used was a tennis ball.
- Am I wrong? - Ah.
We believe that someone murdered Takemoto-san.
And with a trick using balls...
...this locked room was created.
Trick? What trick was that?
About that...
He will now demonstrate it for you.
To escape from the living room...
...the culprit had no choice but to use the door to the hallway.
In other words, if he wants to make a locked room...
...he must close the door somehow.
The only thing he can use to do that is this hole.
How did the culprit use this hole?
First, he attached a string to the inner lid.
He then unscrewed the lid and had it hang inside the room.
When he was done with his task, he pulled it up and closed it.
Next, take a look at this.
I borrowed this from your school...
It's a pitching machine.
This machine can be used with rigid, non-rigid and softballs.
You can also fire tennis balls with it.
Now let's try to shoot the door with this.
It really did close.
Ah. The door certainly closed...
...but the room is filled with balls now.
How was he able to put them away?
There is a magic cast to this room.
- Magic? - Because the floor tilts downwards...
...towards this direction, the balls will naturally roll back towards here.
In order to collect all the balls in one corner of the wall...
...he stretched a plastic sheet at an angle.
He collected the balls by suctioning them up using a vacuum cleaner.
Then the plastic sheet can be pulled by...
...using a string that he attached it with beforehand.
That's when the tapes were torn off and left on the wall.
Finally, after he closed the lid back on the hole, the clean-up was complete.
Sugisaki-san.
The one who killed Takemoto-san... was you, wasn't it?
That's just a mere assumption.
Is there an evidence that show I'm the killer?
There's no conclusive evidence yet.
But we were able to gather some circumstantial evidence.
If you're referring to a tennis ball...
I used it for filming...
It had nothing to do with any culprit's trick.
There was no ball left on the floor.
Nevertheless, you said that you placed a tennis ball.
You knew tennis balls were used in the crime...
...it's an equivalent to exposing your secret.
- You tricked me? - I only said...
...that "it seems there was."
The diameter of the hole is 7.5 cm so a ball from baseball cannot pass through.
That's probably why you used the tennis balls but it didn't occur to you that...
...the hairs of the felt would be scattered.
Through a thorough inspection, we know the police have found...
...yellow hair in this room.
- I have an alibi. - Pardon?
I was in school from 9 am til 2 pm.
Members of the baseball team saw me. The whole team are my witnesses!
During the 1 hour running routine, it's possible for you to leave the school...
...and commit the crime, then go back.
We were able to get some valuable information from some club members...
...who didn't bother to join the run.
"When you were here last Saturday..."
"...was there anything unusual here?"
- "Anything unusual?" - "For example..."
"...were there some things missing that are usually here?"
"Come to think of it... It wasn't here, right?"
"It was..."
"...the pitching machine, wasn't it?"
Even so...
...do you have any evidence to prove that I brought the pitching machine?
Why do I have to kill Takemoto-san in the first place?
Well, certainly...
...we were at odds with regards to the shoddy construction...
...but it was already settled.
I have no reason to kill him.
Is that all? Please excuse me.
Please wait.
I've spoken with... Iikura Kana-san.
"Why haven't you sent out the invitations yet?"
"Perhaps..."
"...even before Takemoto-san died..."
"...you were already thinking of calling off the wedding?"
"I had already cancelled the wedding."
"What? When?"
- "A day before Takemoto-san died." - "A day before?"
"I was going out with Sugisaki-kun's friend for a long time..."
"But I was dumped."
"I was really depressed... That's when..."
"Sugisaki-kun told me that he had always liked me."
"So I accepted his proposal."
"But as our plans for the wedding and the new house were going forward..."
"I started to have doubts and grew more and more anxious."
"That's when the earthquake happened and the house became distorted."
"Around that time, I told him my desire to call off the wedding."
"So then you went alone to cancel it?"
"Yes."
"I told Sugisaki-kun about it and ended our relationship."
The next day, when she heard Takemoto-san had died...
Kana-san felt frightened.
By any chance, you could have killed him?
If so...
...she could be the one who drove you to it...
So she wasn't able to say anything to the police.
Sugisaki-san, could it be that you...
Why?
Huh? Why is it?
Why the hell did this happen~?!!
"Why did you cancel it?"
"I told you, I'll take care of the house problem..."
"That's why I got this..."
"...letter from Meishin Builders that promised to repair it free of charge, it's already settled."
"Sugisaki-kun. Let's just stop it."
"The new house will be restored to its former state..."
"...so you don't have anything to worry about."
"I will do anything for you, Kana..."
"It's true. This is the evidence."
"I threatened Meishin Builders that I'm going to interfere with their acquisition talks..."
"Finally, they issued a written agreement. Please understand, okay?"
"That house..."
"When I saw that distorted house..."
"I thought, 'This is our future.' "
"Surely God was trying to warn us."
"I'm sorry."
If I can't live in this house with Kana...
...then it has no value to me.
So I told him that, too.
"No. Like I said, no need to repair it."
"I don't need the house anymore. Please return me the money."
"What?! Please don't be ridiculous."
"Because of you, I won't be able to get married."
"For me, I have lost the most important thing in this world."
"I'm already here to do the free repair as a manner of courtesy."
"You can't blame us..."
"...for your broken engagement, too."
"If it weren't for your shoddy construction, this wouldn't have happened, right?"
"... So please take responsibility!" - "You're so demanding!"
"Maybe that's because she couldn't take it anymore?"
"What do you mean?"
"If she really liked you..."
"...she would've stayed with you regardless of whatever state the house is in."
"I don't mean to be rude but she just wasn't..."
"...into you from the start. Anyway, as planned..."
"...we'll go ahead with the repairs. So..."
"...can you please stop with these false charges!"
I'm gonna kill him. I'll kill him.
Kill him. Kill him. Kill him.
That's when it suddenly flashed upon me.
The way I can use that distorted house as a murder weapon to take revenge against Takemoto.
- "There? Eh?" - "Over there."
"Ah. That one."
"Yeah. Well, if it's just a leak, it can be fixed quickly."
Even I don't understand it myself...
...how I could have done such a thing.
I'm not sure why I did it.
But... now...
...it doesn't matter... anymore.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Nope, no problem. That was an easy case.
If you need assistance, we'll lend a helping hand anytime.
But next time, if ever you need to contact Enomo-chan...
...you have to pass through me first.
Alrighty. Team Enomoto will go out and celebrate. See you.
Uh. Why 'Team Enomoto?'
It's because we're teammates. Right? Enomo-chan.
Ah.. um...
"No, no... Enomoto's just someone who..."
"Huh?"
- "Teammate." - What is it?
- Oh, it's nothing. - Oh, that's right...
There's a good bar right this way. Let's go over there. Okay?
What're you doing? C'mon, let's go.
Teammate, huh?
(Identification Inquiry and Dactyloscopy Report)
(Sample: Palm print found on lost article - Pattern A)
("For the material received from..." "...Conducted cross analysis with..." "...Possibly belong to an offender...")
(This drama is fictional.)