Chapter 141 - Name and Reality 64 {92 Solo} (218-220 Deciphering the Takeshita Code 3)
"Heh! If that's true, then Motohashi must have clearly thought that, out of desperation, Takeshita would be the one to read into it? If he created this text and tanka on the premise of Takeshita's intellect... But still, isn't thinking that much about the 'no' in the tanka a bit of a stretch? It's probably just a coincidence!"
"Since the other party is dead, there's no way to confirm it, of course. But having come this far, I don't think it would be strange even if he intended it. If he aimed to make me conscious of the starting point with 'desperation' (jiki)..."
As for Takeshita, even after being told by Nishida, he seemed hesitant to treat it as a mere product of chance. Furthermore, there was a hint of dissatisfaction that he hadn't been able to fully decipher it from the beginning. However, in truth, after hearing Takeshita's explanation, Nishida had also inwardly begun to think that Motohashi might have aimed that far. The reason he still made a denying remark was perhaps due to a childish psychology of not wanting to honestly praise the talent of a formidable foe. Yet, while Nishida was completely excluded from the battle of wits between the two, it was also a fact that by this point, he felt it was interesting, almost as if he were watching a good sports match. But here, Nishida suddenly remembered the morning of the second day when he and Takeshita had interrogated Motohashi at Engaru Station in '95.
"Come to think of it, on the morning of the final day of interrogating Motohashi in Engaru, didn't he ask you, 'Why did you become a detective?'"
"...Now that you mention it, I think that did happen..."
A sense of bewilderment could be seen in Takeshita at Nishida's contextless words.
"At that time, if my memory serves me right, Motohashi heard that Takeshita had aspired to be a newspaper journalist and asked if you were good at Japanese. And whether you were good at Classical Japanese and Classical Chinese as well."
When Nishida said this much, Takeshita muttered briefly,
"I see..."
At that time, Motohashi had been confirming that Takeshita seemed to have a fair amount of knowledge regarding Classical Japanese and Classical Chinese. Needless to say, it goes without saying that he was operating on the premise that Takeshita was considerably sharp. In that sense, Nishida became convinced that this coded message was undoubtedly created on the clear premise of having Takeshita decipher it. Naturally, Takeshita must have realized that too, but perhaps out of consideration for Nishida, he didn't delve deeper into the matter and instead praised his opponent.
"I don't know how much (Motohashi) expected from my reading, but at the very least, even if it's not a complete loss for our side, it's definitely not a win no matter how you look at it. Conversely, for Motohashi, if he could make me focus on the character for 'abandon' (ki) and somehow get me to read it, while managing to keep me from noticing the true meaning of the character 'self' (ji), it might have been a complete victory. As for the 'no', it's a case of 'it goes without saying'."
However, regardless of the content of his speech, unlike his manner until just now, Takeshita's voice had become somewhat brighter again. Surely, rather than moping forever, he wanted to rejoice that it had led to what to do next.
"Still, for that guy to confess something completely opposite to the main text using such an elaborate method, he really does troublesome things..."
Nishida felt like he had been half-forced to go along with Motohashi's play, and at this point, the element of exasperation grew stronger again, but Takeshita spoke as if to defend him.
"Maybe he wanted to do that because he was bored in the detention house... no, because he wanted to distract himself from the fear of death. But even looking at how he intentionally made a wrong mention of the statute of limitations in the main text from the start, he might have had a strong desire not to let those involved in the Sada murder know that he had intentionally moved the investigation. Isn't that what made him create this troublesome coded message? Though there might have been a bit of an intention to mock us as well."
"But the existence of this letter is only known to us, the Prison Chaplain, and the prison officers who probably did a light check, and then... this unknown person called Kuboyama?"
"Well, that's how it is. It's probably just to be safe, even if his own reading is correct."
Having said that much, Takeshita's tone had quieted down a bit.
"By the way, when we interrogated (Motohashi) in Engaru, I remember Motohashi grinning for a split second when you deciphered the code from Shiino and confronted him with it. Thinking about it now, was he happy that he could conversely utilize the fact that you read it at that moment?"
Nishida remembered the events of that time once again.
"I remember Nishida-san confirming something like that with me after Motohashi was sent back to Sapporo. However, as I think I said then, I didn't notice that at all over here..."
"That's right. But since he basically followed that deciphering method this time too, wouldn't that momentary smile mean he was already thinking of utilizing this method back then, seven years ago? And then he thought of even more detailed methods with Classical Japanese and such..."
Nishida tried saying that, but realizing it was likely overthinking, he retracted his previous statement, saying, "I guess it's impossible at the very moment it was presented..."
However, Takeshita replied,
"At that time, it's quite possible that Motohashi already harbored the irritation of 'making me give an unnecessary confession, which instead led to the police getting suspicious about various things,' though we don't yet know what the truth he wants to convey is. If that's the case, looking at this current matter, it might not be so strange if he had been thinking of various ways to get back at us and came up with it quickly, unexpectedly."
"I wonder. But if that's so, was he already planning to write this letter and have it delivered to us since then? If so, that's a bit scary..."
Nishida voiced his awe as if muttering to himself.
"But since such an elaborate letter was sent five years after Motohashi died, there's no doubt he was reading quite far ahead. Even during the interrogation in Osaka, he made a strange distinction between the client and the person giving instructions, and while challenging the police by revealing the truth at the very limit, he acted as if he would never let secrets leak, toying with us and enjoying it, while also protecting the rules of the yakuza society for the sake of yakuza pride (mentu). However, in truth, he might have been checking to see if we were the kind of people who could notice those subtle differences. And perhaps he judged back then that we were people he could utilize..."
Takeshita also seemed to be speaking tentatively, lacking his usual crispness.
"Hmm, from that point on... However, assuming the elaborate nature was meant to ensure it couldn't be read by anyone other than those well-versed, the question is why now? After he's dead, and five years later at that..."
Nishida didn't have the slightest clue, but Takeshita began to speak.
"Well... I can think of about two reasons. I'm not certain, though."
"Go ahead and say them."
Prompted by Nishida, he spoke.
"Well then... First, as for the reason the letter was sent a while after he died, it's possible that, just like how he rigged it so it wouldn't be found out, he tried to hide as much as possible that he was involved in the exposure. So to speak, it's a perfect alibi. For a yakuza, exposing things about an incident would mean being a loose-lipped person, and even if it's after death, there are parts where his honor would be stained. As a result, he might have wanted to make it seem like the police side accidentally and, moreover, on their own, grasped something a considerable time after his death. Regarding this, I feel it's quite likely correct. Of course, at a stage where we don't clearly know what truth Motohashi wants to reveal, I can't be certain."
Despite having started reluctantly, he reeled off his own theory as fluently as ever.
"Certainly, 'dead men tell no tales' is exactly why Oshima and Takigawa's side probably instructed him to reveal the murder of Sada as being limited to the responsibility of Motohashi and his group once Motohashi's death penalty was finalized. They probably never thought he would reveal such things after dying."
Nishida also deeply agreed on this point.
"The problem is that he had instructed it to be sent (okuru) specifically at this time, five years later..."
Having said that much, Takeshita hesitated this time.
"Just continue."
Prompted again, he said,
"Isn't it because it's the most effective?"
"Effective?"
With just this remark, the meaning didn't get through to Nishida.
"Yes. A so-called surprise attack."
"Even if you just say surprise attack..."
Leaving the bewildered Nishida behind, Takeshita began his explanation.
"As I've said many times, since it's unclear what exactly Motohashi is trying to reveal at this point, it's hard to say, but at the same time, the possibility that it's 'something very important' for the criminal investigation doesn't seem that low. If that's the case, if the police grasp an important clue that might somehow lead to the resolution of the case just as the statute of limitations is about to expire, so long after Motohashi died, wouldn't the people involved in the case be quite shocked? If he aimed for that..."
"In that case, it would mean Motohashi is, so to speak, trying to 'strike back'?"
"Isn't that a possibility that can be considered?"
Hearing this much, he finally remembered the conjecture that Motohashi had used a Sherlock Holmes story to indirectly convey a part of the truth to Nishida and the others during the interrogation in Engaru.
"Is it compensation for 'someone' making Motohashi do something unnecessary (meaning, making him specifically confess to the murder of Sada Minoru, which hadn't been clear)?" he questioned.
"Something like that might be possible... Of course, there's a possibility he had some thoughts about it even before that."
Takeshita, who had already mentioned that earlier, answered while perhaps intentionally not touching on that matter.
Anyway, if Nishida and Takeshita's reasoning was correct, the story wasn't without logic. For Motohashi, if he didn't want it to seem like he was the one who revealed it, but at the same time had the will to strike back, the method of "fulfilling" it at the point of maximum effect by involving another person after his death could be said to be ideal in a sense.
"He's an increasingly scary guy, if that's true..."
Nishida felt as if he were shivering, but Takeshita added,
"At the same time, it will also be the greatest present for us."
"It's like a teasing effect... It's also a reward for moving exactly as he wanted," he self-mocked. On top of that, he asked,
"The problem is, assuming what Takeshita says is true, will (the investigation) be in time even from now? Is it possible that he's thought of that too?"
"If my arbitrary assumptions so far are correct, as you just said, given the remaining time, I have some expectations that he'll delve into something quite concrete," he spoke in a quite powerful tone for someone saying "some."
"I see... I wonder what will come out. It would be good if it's as expected, but the shock when it's not would be painful for us, conversely to a surprise attack."
While having negative thoughts opposite to Takeshita's, he suddenly seemed to pull himself together.
"It can't be helped to say this or that about it now... since we don't even know what will come out yet. However, there are other problems, right? First, we have to find out who this Tadano is. And Rokkou and Hinako? Is this a woman's name... Is Rokkou also a high school somewhere?" he asked Takeshita.
"I can't say anything for sure there. Regarding Rokkou, I tried searching a bit, and the old system Rokkou (Sixth High School) that was in Okayama came up for the time being, which caught my attention. Especially since the old system high schools were involved in the Kuwano matter. However, since Motohashi was likely just asked to commit murder, it's a bit hard to think of such a connection, and if the location is Okayama, Kuwano is probably unrelated. Besides, in terms of age, Motohashi wouldn't be involved with the old system high schools. Then, even in this text, there's a good chance the corresponding words are just cases where the reading is the same, so assuming that, what I imagine with Rokkou is Mt. Rokkou."
"The Rokkou of the Hanshin Rokkou Oroshi... Kobe, then."
"Yes. That's how it would be. From the perspective of Motohashi, who was a Kansai person, that would be easier to imagine geographically. Of course, I can't say for certain."
"Looking at the text you read, there's probably no mistake that those two are keywords, but there's nothing we can immediately understand from them right now."
"Exactly! That's why we have to meet this person called Tadano... well, it might be dangerous to assume beforehand whether it's a person, but since he says 'listen,' it's probably a human being, right?"
Takeshita finally presented the main objective to Nishida. Of course, Nishida knew that too.
"Alright! I'll just have to check with the Prefectural Police first thing tomorrow morning! Anyway, really, thanks for deciphering it in less than half a day. Even though it doesn't earn you a cent."
Nishida expressed his gratitude once again, but was instead thanked.
"Rather, I'm almost sorry for being entrusted with such an important thing even though I quit the police and became an outsider... Today wasn't that busy, and like Motohashi, it might be misleading to call it 'a good way to kill time,' but I enjoyed it in that sense."
This part was indeed the line of a person who was almost stiffly well-mannered.
Even so, Nishida had never thought at the start of the investigation's resumption that he would end up relying this much on Takeshita, who had become a complete outsider. However, considering Takeshita's hidden feelings toward this case and the labor he had put in back in '95, he was beginning to think it might have been a kind of destiny.
"I can't say anything for certain, but for now, nothing will start unless I ask the Prefectural Police various things about the Prison Chaplain, Kuboyama, and the group called Tadano."
"Yes. That's the only way! I feel like there will be a big development from there. Motohashi wouldn't be so mean as to make us go this far after his death without giving any results, right? Though I shouldn't jump to conclusions about how much it relates to the case."
While saying that, whether he was looking back at his battle with the guy at that time or momentarily enduring a bit of anger, Nishida sensed it through the mobile phone, albeit unscientifically. In fact, even from the perspective of the two of them, there was no doubt that Motohashi was an unpleasant fellow. However, despite that, it was strange that there was also a part of him they couldn't completely hate.
"Yeah, I got it. Anyway, let's leave it at this for today. If I find out anything, I'll let you know as much as I can."
Nishida spoke conventional words to Takeshita, but he kept quiet about the fact that at this point, the idea of having Takeshita help out once more had already sprouted. He didn't want to trouble his former subordinate until he had obtained proof that he could definitely rely on him.
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The next day, October 3rd. Nishida went to work early in the morning and requested the Investigation Cooperation Division of the Osaka Prefectural Police to check as an additional order if there were any individuals around Motohashi related to organized crime named "Tadano." Immediately after that, he headed to the detention branch and checked the interrogation of Oshima, but his manner was the same as ever. That said, since they were going to prosecute for the Kyoritsu Hospital incident no matter what, it didn't really hurt much even if he dodged and parried there.
The problem was the matter of Sada Minoru, for which the statute of limitations was approaching, and although he didn't show it in the slightest on the surface, Nishida's heart was shifting toward putting his full effort in that direction.
As a result of the Prefectural Police's simple fingerprint appraisal, fingerprints of Kuboyama and Motohashi were detected on the inner envelope, and the simple handwriting appraisal confirmed it was Motohashi's. As for the handwriting appraisal of Kuboyama regarding the address and recipient on the outer envelope, he decided to leave it for now, as it would not only take time to obtain the materials but was also unnecessary at this point.
And in the afternoon, information about the Prison Chaplain, Kuboyama, and Tadano was faxed all at once from the Prefectural Police.
The Prison Chaplain's name was "Mizuno Soun (Real name: Hitoshi)." Born in 1940, he was the abbot of Fukimizu-ji Temple in Kita-ku, Osaka (Author's Note: Fukimizu-ji seems to exist in Kumamoto, but this is a completely unrelated fictional setting). He had served as a Prison Chaplain at the Osaka Detention House and Osaka Prison since 1970, and the death row inmate Motohashi was also one of his charges.
Needless to say, he had no prior record, but due to his involvement in entering and exiting penal institutions (prisons, detention houses, etc.), his fingerprints had apparently been taken at the Osaka Detention House, and that fingerprint data was also sent to the Hokkaido Police. As a result, Mizuno's fingerprints were detected on the envelope handwritten by Motohashi (Author's Note: I don't think it's common for a Prison Chaplain to have their fingerprints taken even if they enter and exit the facility, but please understand this as a fictional setting). Because it was a detention house under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, information had not been shared with the police, so the police side had no data beforehand and could not identify them.