Hello.
What showed up?
It's your job to figure that out, isn't it?
I didn't call you out here for a field trip.
Is that it?
I've never seen this drug before.
I wonder if it's a new kind.
What happened to the owner?
He was arrested last night after going berserk downtown.
If you want to talk to him, go ahead and go to the precinct.
I can go.
Thanks.
We'll have to have Kotaro take a look at this.
"Stand My Heroes"
"Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo"
You managed to get Mr. Hiyama to introduce you to the next STAND candidate?
Not bad.
A best-selling author, huh? Must be nice having celebrity connections.
You're coming with me this time, right, Sugano?
Sorry!
Huh?
I've got a bunch of reports I have to do piled up.
So could you maybe ask someone else?
What about one of the narc guys?
They've been busy all morning on a different case where a man was arrested
in possession of a new kind of drug.
I think Mr. Asagiri was covering the case on your end.
Oh, that... Then why not go by yourself?
What else can you do?
But Mr. Aoyama said I should bring someone with me at least for the introduction.
Oh?
Mr. Hattori.
Makoto Tsuzuki, eh?
Isn't he the "God of Tear-jerker Novels," or something?
If I recall correctly...
Weren't you a fan of his, Sosei?
"The Planet Next Door Is Blue" "Makoto Tsuzuki" N-No...
Um...
I must say that I didn't picture you to be a fan of books like that.
Shut up.
S-Sorry.
Um, I've been wondering...
Mr. Tsuzuki is the genius novelist who keeps writing
one hit after another despite how young he is, right?
His younger brother, Kyosuke, who's a popular young actor,
is also another STAND candidate.
Do the police regularly ask novelists and actors to aide them in their investigations?
One of STAND's goals includes
trying to look into new ways of solving cases that were never considered before.
Actors are one thing, but with Mr. Tsuzuki--
They're considering Makoto Tsuzuki as a suspect profiling advisor.
Profiling?
Oh, right. Mr. Tsuzuki used to write crime fiction books, didn't he?
Yeah, to the point that he's being considered
a reliable reference to the police.
Then it'd be great if he's willing to help us out.
Calm down. This isn't a game.
I'm sorry.
Not to mention, we don't know how reliable he'll be.
You looked into how many series he's currently writing, right?
"Is the Popular Novelist Considering Retirement?!" But I think I saw in some tabloids lately that he's possibly considering retirement.
What kind of idiot actually believes what's written in the tabloids?
Oh, right.
You were planning to meet him with unreliable information like that?
This isn't a game.
I'm sorry!
He seems scarier than usual.
Um, my name is Izumi, and I have an appointment with Mr. Makoto Tsuzuki.
We've been expecting you. Please go ahead.
Yes?
Hello, my name is Izumi. I'm here on Mr. Hiyama's referral.
"Novelist: Makoto Tsuzuki"
I'm Makoto Tsuzuki.
Basically,
we were hoping we could ask you to assist us with
your exceptional observation skills and ability to read people.
I'm sure you'd need some time to think this over,
--but if you could--
--That's enough. --but if you could--
--That's enough. --Huh?
I said, that's enough.
That sounds absolutely dull and plebeian
to the point that it's discouraging. It's unthinkable.
And if you're trying to say that something so stereotypical is my skill,
I can only imagine what you're going to say next.
I'm sorry to make you come all this way,
but I'd like you to leave now.
M-Mr. Arakida!
Um...
If I have somehow insulted you in any way, I'm terribly sorry.
But I can't leave knowing that I've insulted you.
Could you consider hearing me out again?
There are two reasons I can't take on this request.
The first is work-related. Right now, I'm rather busy.
Due to certain reasons, I'm thinking about ending all of my current series.
Since I'm planning to quit due to personal reasons,
I need to do everything I can to ensure that
I can come up with endings that my readers will be satisfied with.
I have no time to take on a side job right now.
The second reason is rather personal.
I don't trust narcs.
I believe they're incompetent.
As long as narcs are involved in this
I have absolutely no intention of cooperating.
You're not supposed to look so blatantly disappointed in front of him.
I'm sorry. But after he was so blunt about how he felt, I couldn't hide my shock.
Yet you were still audacious enough to say,
"I'll be back again," and gave him documents.
So he's going to end his series...
So what if he does?
It's work. If it became too personal, he'd probably keep seesawing back and forth.
Right...
These are the drugs we confiscated.
We questioned the man who had these, and according to him
these drugs are safe because they aren't addictive.
Wha? He can't be serious.
Where'd they come from?
He refused to tell us.
Kotaro.
How's the component analysis going?
It's going. There was one thing that concerned me though.
This drug has very similar components to another drug in our database.
It was commonly known as "Plus."
It made the rounds ten-odd years ago.
What kind of drug is it?
That's unknown.
Wait, what?
All we had were the results of its component analysis.
That itself was incomplete and insufficient data.
There might be more detailed information kept elsewhere.
All right.
Yui, continue analyzing the drug.
Natsume, could you take another look through the database?
What?
Carefully search through the whole database to make sure
there isn't any other information concerning Plus.
But that's insane...
Kotaro couldn't find any more info, could he?
You're a firm believer in getting off from work on time, correct?
Then we're going to work you as hard as a racehorse while you're on the clock.
Hey!
Um...
Isn't there anything I can do to help?
Your scouting duties should be your priority.
Izumi.
Scouting Makoto Tsuzuki didn't go so well?
It wasn't the best encounter.
Sorry I haven't been able to help you out lately.
Oh, no!
I'm fine. Mr. Arakida was even kind enough to call me audacious!
I'll keep doing my best!
You had no right to decide that on your own!
I had every right.
Why are you always so...
Fine!
Ah...
So you're the one that left those STAND documents with him.
Must be cool, being a narc.
Thanks!
Don't be so nervous, Miss Rei.
"Miss Rei"?
"Actor: Kyosuke Tsuzuki"
You can just call me Kyosuke.
"Actor: Kyosuke Tsuzuki" Don't be too distant with me, okay?
Wait, did I creep you out?
Oh, no! It's just that you seem nothing like your brother.
I get that all the time. My brother's talented, after all.
No, that's not what I meant!
I know. My bad.
Sorry for what you saw earlier
and to make you hold off on seeing my brother again.
It's fine...
It's not like he was going to welcome me with open arms anyway.
So my brother's novel Being In Love In the Center of the World...
There are plans to make a live-action drama of it.
I got offered the leading role.
That's amazing.
But my brother refused to let it get adapted into a drama.
Really?
Apparently, it's because he's planning on ending all of his series,
so he wasn't thinking about having any adaptations made.
But he declined so quickly that I got pissed off and went off on him.
So you really wanted to do that role.
Of course.
It's not like offers to star in one of my brother's works come around every day.
But he didn't even discuss it with me.
There's obvious concern about him ending his books,
but he just keeps telling me not to worry about it.
I'm his brother. Of course, I'm going to worry.
You two must be very close.
Yeah.
We have a really special bond as siblings.
"You've got this, Rei! Today's treats are Cube Rusks from CAFE OHZAN! From Watabe"
"Department - Novelist " "Name - Makoto Tsuzuki" "Age - 28" "Height - 175 cm"
"Makoto Tsuzuki | Himself" "Kyosuke | Younger brother" "Sara | Younger sister"
A younger sister?
"Hatori Otani" "You continuing your pursuit on the Tsuzuki Brothers?" "Make sure you come hang out with me sometime, too."
"That being said, wanna have dinner soon?"
"Do you know anything about Mr. Tsuzuki's younger sister?"
He's so fast!
What?
Makoto.
What are you doing here?
Well, I...
M-Miss Rei?
And... Bro?
Can you handle the rest?
I left some work unfinished that needs to be done immediately.
Sure.
Um...
Are those...
...for Sara?
I'm sorry about this.
"Sara Tsuzuki"
For looking into information about your sister without permission.
It's fine. I mean, it surprised me, but...
It's not like we were trying to hide her.
I guess she already went to sleep for the day. Too bad.
I was hoping to introduce you to her. She's a great kid.
She was in a car accident?
Yeah...
Sixteen years ago.
She's been in this state ever since.
She's taking medicine to lessen any subsequent complications,
but they cause her to be asleep most of the time.
The guy driving was a junkie and
was going through an overdose when he got in the accident,
according to the officer who was in charge of the case.
"Operating"
As for what happened afterwards... I guess you could call it "complicated."
The identity of the suspect, the drugs he was using...
Everything in this case was left unanswered and unsolved.
They were acting like the incident with Sara never happened.
My brother hates drugs just as much as you guys.
But... That narc didn't help us at all back then.
I'm so sorry.
You don't need to apologize, Miss Rei.
It's just... It might be hard to convince my brother to join you guys.
He's not the type to ask for help, and he's able to do most things on his own.
My brother doesn't rely on anyone...
Come to think of it... I don't think I've ever felt like he's needed me either.
Kyosuke...
"Unsolved Drug Cases"
"Where are the ones involved with this unsolved case now? The Hagiya Family, the president of a popular restaurant chain, the beautiful actress..." "Bokuto Ward Overdose Murder Case"
What?
"[Anonymous Case]"
The "Anonymous Case"...
Where have I...
Have you ever heard of the incident called the "Anonymous Case"?
The case where Maki was kidnapped...
Why am I getting hits for it when I searched for drug cases?
"What is the Anonymous Case?" Why am I getting hits for it when I searched for drug cases?
"Summary of the Anonymous Case.
A victim who seemed to have died of suspicious activity
was found somewhere in the city.
It's been rumored that this case involved drug smuggling.
At the time, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare had
their eyes on a certain drug smuggling organization.
The people who sit at the top of this organization
are people of influence in the medical field.
There are rumors that even the Kujo Family has ties with them."
Kujo...
"Omori Pharmaceutical Company" "Executive Director"
So many candidates that have some kind of history with drug cases...
I'm just overthinking things... Right?
Pardon me. It's me, Izumi.
Makoto?
Um...
Pardon me...
Makoto?
Sorry... But today...
Makoto! Makoto!
My brother?
Should I call an ambulance?
Oh, no. If he's asleep, it's fine.
I'll tell him to go to the hospital tomorrow.
Overworking, anemia, lack of sleep...
I can think of a ton of reasons as to why this happened.
I'll head right over after I'm done filming.
Until then, could you...
Of course.
Is there anything else I should do?
Um... Today's Thursday, right?
He might get a visit from his publisher...
Sorry about this...
"To Tokyo Literary Publishing"
This must be it.
This is...
Makoto!
Thank goodness!
Sorry for coming in without permission.
I did contact Kyosuke though.
What time is it right now?
Oh, don't worry about your manuscript.
I handed it over to your publisher.
Um... Why did you push yourself this much?
That doesn't concern you.
Kyosuke was worried about you, too.
He mentioned that you wouldn't discuss anything about your work with him.
He looked really sad about that.
But you're not actually going to quit, are you?
What are you talking about?
When I went into your office, I accidentally saw your computer.
Oh! I didn't read it that carefully, though!
But you read it?
I'm sorry...
It doesn't matter. It's not like it's something that shouldn't be read.
It seemed rather different from the rest of your work.
Of course, it is.
It's an adventure novel for kids.
For kids?
I'm sure that's not what society wants from me though.
The truth is I wanted to write something like that for a long time.
To write something I want to write, not something I'm forced to write.
Because when we were kids, they would smile at my stories.
They told me how much they liked them.
"The Hero and his friends began their adventure."
Every time I wrote anything, it was for them.
So you're just like Kyosuke.
You love Kyosuke and Sara very much.
Of course, I do.
Nothing is more important to me than those two.
My brother actually said that...
Yes.
I think this is the first time I've seen him asleep in a while.
Even though we were always together when we were little.
This takes me back.
My sister and I were obsessed with the stories my brother would write.
They were the most important thing to us, and we loved them.
You idiot.
Are you sure? Do you want me to make something he can eat when he wakes up?
Don't worry about it. He prefers sweets over something nutritious.
Okay... Well, take care.
Yup, thanks.
Could you tell Makoto to not worry about STAND for now?
I think he wants you and Sara to be able to read that book as soon as possible.
I think you somehow keep seeing the most embarrassing sides of us.
How lame.
There's nothing lame about a boy who cares so much about his older brother.
That slightly embarrassed smile you showed me
almost resembled a child.
You really don't look like your brother
who always has such obstinate expression.
But his tender fingertips and his kind smile
"The Hero's Adventure" But his tender fingertips and his kind smile
were just as beautiful as the worlds he creates.
"The Hero's Adventure" "Makoto Tsuzuki" were just as beautiful as the worlds he creates.
"The Hero's Adventure" "Makoto Tsuzuki"
Well, I'll be going now.
Kyosuke?
Miss Rei, why not choose me?
Huh?
I'm one of the candidates you're supposed to scout, right?
Can't it be me?
Huh?