In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

However, despite the fact that the police had obtained a sufficient chain of evidence, Gen Chiya and Hattori Heisei still frowned.

The two exchanged a glance, nodded to each other, and then Hattori got up and chased after them.

"Huh? What's going on?" Rikka tugged at her older brother's arm. "Um, Chiyo, can you explain this? I didn't quite understand."

Shiyu, who was lounging on the sofa, said lazily, "It's very simple, Xiaoliuhua. After committing the crime, the victim's best friend deliberately staged a scene where the burglar jumped out of the window to escape, in order to exonerate herself and try to steer the investigation towards a non-existent outsider robber."

However, her methods were clumsy; she not only left her fingerprints at the scene but also disposed of the murder weapon rather carelessly, simply throwing it into nearby bushes. Therefore, the police now believe the evidence is conclusive and can make an arrest.

After she finished explaining, her face was filled with disgust and disbelief: "How could there be such a bad person! The victim was already seriously ill and didn't have much time left, right? And the police officer just said that they were good friends who had known each other for so many years! How could they do such a thing!"

Yukino said coldly, "If they were really good friends, they wouldn't do that kind of thing with her husband behind her back. People's hearts are complicated. Of course, that husband is also a scumbag."

After she finished speaking, she noticed that the scene was very quiet. Suddenly realizing something, she quickly looked in Saeko's direction and stammered that her words were only directed at the parties involved in this case and had no hidden meaning.

Instead, Saeko, completely unconcerned, comforted her instead.

The crowd discussed in hushed tones, lamenting the dark side of human nature exposed by the case and its heartbreaking ending.

However, after a while, they finally realized that Gen Chiya had been silent since the beginning, with the same expression as when Hattori left, as if he was thinking about something.

Rikka slowly leaned closer and massaged his shoulders: "Hey, Chiya, what's wrong? The case's already solved, what are you still thinking about?"

Yuan Qianye shifted her body, focusing her attention on her trapezius muscles: "I'm thinking that this murder case might not be as simple as that police officer said."

Rikka was taken aback: "Huh?"

Shi Yu then asked, "Is there any other hidden story in the case?"

"Yes, there is a guess. Now we just need Heiji to confirm it. The focus is on the deceased, not on the obvious traces left at the scene. Those are less clues left by the murderer due to carelessness, and more like illusions that the murderer deliberately made us notice."

"?"

His words completely stunned everyone present.

Yukino and Utaha reacted a little faster. Hearing his hint, a hint of understanding flashed in their thoughtful eyes, as if they had vaguely grasped something, but they couldn't see it clearly because of a thin veil.

At this moment, Hattori, who had been out for a while, ran back into the room. His eyes met those of Minamoto Chiyo, and he seemed to understand everything: "I have already asked Inspector Kuma to help investigate."

"The results of it?"

"As we suspected, the victim, who lacked a sense of security due to her upbringing in an orphanage, would have paid a considerable amount of insurance premiums for herself each year. According to the insurance policy, if she were to die from illness or accident, her family would receive a total compensation of over 100 million yen."

The room fell silent instantly.

The insurance payout... exceeded 100 million yen...

“The situation is clear now.” Yuan Qianye stood up.

"Ah, that's right. Let's go and make those two obediently confess to crimes they didn't commit."

Huh? What? What's clear now?

Wait, what are you guys talking about?! I didn't understand a single word!

Rikka wanted to get to the bottom of it, but the two had already walked out of the room side by side.

Rikka didn't care anymore; her intense curiosity compelled her to immediately follow them out.

Seeing this, the other girls also got up and followed suit.

…………

Volume 2: Chapter 136: She's the culprit, but not the murderer (7k)

Inside the hotel, in An Shinju's room.

Sergeant Michida stood in the center of the room with a serious expression.

Before him stood An Zhenzhu, whose face was ashen white.

"...The above evidence chain is quite clear, including the fingerprints found at the crime scene, the bloodstains on the murder weapon, and the jewelry and wallet belonging to the deceased Ms. Matsui Yuki found in your suitcase."

Sergeant Michida stared intently at Shinju Ariyama: "Do you have anything else to explain?"

In front of the deceased's only relative, Kento Matsui, Sergeant Michida presented the evidence that the police had found during the search to Shinji Arisu.

The situation is now quite clear: An Shinju killed Matsui Yuki, took the victim's belongings and jewelry, and fabricated evidence of a non-existent burglary at the scene in an attempt to mislead the police investigation and thus escape punishment.

"Waaaaah..."

An Zhenzhu's mental fortitude was clearly lacking; his legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground, muttering incoherent, resentful murmurs.

"It's all her fault...it's all that woman's fault...she deserves it...what right does she have...sob sob..."

She appeared to be in a state of utter despair, knowing that all hope was lost and she could not escape punishment, and thus began to give up on herself.

It was as if they wanted to vent all the jealousy, dissatisfaction, and resentment they had been holding in their hearts towards the deceased at once.

Matsui Kento, standing to the side, stared wide-eyed at his former lover's sobs and accusations, looking at her in disbelief.

His finger trembled as he pointed at her, his lips quivering but unable to utter a complete sound. He subconsciously took two small steps back, as if he were seeing this woman for the first time.

His face was filled with a complex mix of emotions, including shock and heartache.

Yes, on the surface, it does seem quite affectionate.

Judging from his behavior, it's hard to believe that he was having an affair with his deceased wife, and with her best friend no less.

That's utterly hypocritical.

Sergeant Michida, who was impartial in enforcing the law and had seen all kinds of criminals, was not particularly moved by the situation before him.

He now only wants to close the case as soon as possible, bring the murderer to justice, and restore normal order to the hotel and the tourist town.

It is currently peak tourist season, and the negative impact of a murder case needs to be eliminated as soon as possible.

He raised his wrist to check the time and announced clearly: "July 27th, Saturday, 1:52 PM, suspect Ayumi Shinju is confirmed to be arrested."

"Let's talk at the police station." Inspector Kuma, standing to the side, took out handcuffs and deftly cuffed them onto Ayane Shinju's slightly trembling left wrist.

Just as he was about to cuff the other side as well—

"Inspector Michida, the culprit is not Arisu Shinju!" Hattori Heiji shouted as he arrived.

Ok?

The police officers at the scene all turned to look at the source of the sound.

Hattori Heiji was standing at the door, slightly out of breath, clearly having run all the way there.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stared sharply at Sergeant Michida.

At this moment, Chiya Minamoto, who was traveling with them, added: "To be more precise, it is true that the perpetrator was Shinju Ayumu, but it was not her who killed Ms. Yuki Matsui."

what? !

His seemingly contradictory and grammatically incorrect sentence not only confused the police officers present, who showed expressions of bewilderment and astonishment, but also left the girls who followed him even more puzzled, completely unable to understand what he was trying to express.

She didn't kill him, but she committed a crime? What does this mean?

Only Matsui Kento and Arisu Shinju, who were handcuffed, stiffened almost imperceptibly upon hearing these two sentences, a hint of panic flashing in their eyes.

Sergeant Michida frowned, but instead of immediately reprimanding or interrupting, he humbly asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Hattori Heiji stepped forward: "It's simple. We were all initially fooled by the criminal's elaborate but seemingly crude illusion."

Sergeant Michida was still puzzled: "An illusion?"

Yuan Qianye followed up with an explanation: "That's right, the messy state of the room, the missing valuables from the victim, and the careless disposal of the murder weapon..."

If the real intention is to exonerate someone, this plan is riddled with flaws.

Putting everything else aside, if this case was truly premeditated, how could they not have thought of something as simple as wearing gloves to avoid leaving their fingerprints?

"But this irrefutable evidence..."

"It's all because of that stinky woman!"

Sergeant Michida frowned, about to say something, when he was interrupted by Shinju Arisu!

All eyes turned to her.

An Zhenzhu's face was gloomy and vicious, and his voice was full of hostility: "It's all because of that woman. I asked her for money, but not only did she refuse, she also mocked me. What right does she have?"

Yuan Qianye raised an eyebrow and took over the conversation, saying with a half-smile, "Then you two had a fierce argument, which escalated into a fight. In a moment of impulsiveness, you stabbed her to death with a knife."

Because your crime wasn't premeditated but rather an impulsive act, some evidence wasn't completely eliminated, creating loopholes. Is that what you're trying to say?

"Yes Yes!"

She met the boy's gaze somewhat guiltily, but her expression remained largely unchanged.

"I accept my loss. I made a mistake in a moment of confusion and I'm willing to atone for it. Now that things have come to this, I have nothing more to say. Please take me away, officer. I'm willing to accept the punishment of the law!"

"Ah la la la."

Hattori stroked his chin.

"That's really strange. According to what you said, you had a fierce argument and a physical fight, which should have been quite a commotion."

However, according to our previous inquiries, the guest staying next door to the crime scene said that he slept soundly last night and did not hear any unusual sounds or movements.

"That's because..."

An Zhenzhu's eyes flickered with panic for a moment, then, as if he had found a reason, his voice suddenly rose.

"That sickly fellow didn't have much strength to begin with, how could he possibly be my match!"

I subdued her so easily! It didn't take much effort at all, and I didn't make much noise!

Hattori pressed on, "And what about all those unnaturally numerous wounds on her body?"

"Of course I hate her, I hate her to death! So even after killing her, I wasn't satisfied, I wanted to torture her!"

As An Shinju spoke, his voice was almost a shout, bordering on hysterical!

Yuan Qianye's gaze was like a sharp knife, capable of delivering a fatal blow: "Is it that you truly want to torture her, or is it because, for some reason, you have no choice but to do so?"

"Enough!" Aru An grabbed Inspector Kuma's arm. "Whether you convict me or put me in jail, just take me away now. I don't want to stay here any longer!"

Hattori Heiji couldn't help but chuckle, "Even now you're still acting so well, trying to take the blame for this case all by yourself. You and Matsui Kento must have a really good relationship."

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze turned in unison to Matsui Kento, who had been silent all along.

He broke out in a sweat, instinctively avoiding everyone's gaze, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

Hattori Heiji walked up to him and said, "Let me be frank, Mr. Matsui Kento, you and Ms. Arisu Makoto must have a relationship that goes beyond ordinary friendship, right?"