Chapter 192 - Name and Reality 115 {143 Solo} (340–341: Nishida and Yoshimura Return to Kitami)
"As long as people keep doing things like pinning all the blame on others or specific individuals when things turn out poorly in hindsight, while pretending they had nothing to do with it themselves... the masses will just keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. Because it's easier that way..."
Nishida said this and started to reach for a cigarette, then stopped. He remembered that the taxi was a non-smoking vehicle. Feeling keenly that the world had become harsh for smokers lately, he looked toward Yoshimura. Normally, Yoshimura would have been smirking at the sight of Nishida like that, but he remained staring straight ahead without even a glance. Then,
"I heard that during the last war, after we lost, people started crawling out of the woodwork saying things like 'I was against it.' In the worst cases, even the ones who were pushing for it supposedly flipped their scripts... On that point, since I had the chance, I should have asked Oshima earlier... For the next ten or twenty years, what kind of society is Japan going to become? It's frustrating, but I've suddenly become uneasy. It feels like I was easily influenced by Oshima, and it's quite pathetic..."
He lamented, repeating words like frustrating and pathetic.
"I know I just said all that, but unfortunately, in the face of a great tide, our position is one where we're ultimately helpless... Though that might be a problem for Oshima. In reality, don't we have no choice but to live while being swept along? Though originally, that shouldn't be the case."
Nishida didn't think that was acceptable either, but the reality that a mere detective could do nothing led to such a statement.
"Well, that's true!"
Yoshimura agreed in words, but from the tone at the end of his sentence, he was clearly feeling irritation at Nishida's words. That said, Yoshimura himself must have recognized the helplessness of the situation, and that irritation surely included a portion directed at himself.
After that, there was no proper conversation between the two, and after driving for a while, they arrived at the ground-level entrance of Bus Center-mae Station.
From there, they transferred to the subway Tozai Line. Since it was Saturday, it wasn't the evening rush of salarymen and students returning home; instead, families and the like stood out. Even so, partly due to the time of day, it was more crowded than expected.
"This is a pain," Yoshimura clicked his tongue. It was the usual pattern; if he were working in Sapporo, this level of crowding wouldn't be a big deal, but once one becomes fully accustomed to working in the countryside, even the congestion around Sapporo feels quite harsh.
Once, at the next stop, Odori Station, there was a turnover of most of the passengers, but then the same number or more boarded again, making the interior of the car cramped once more. Hearing a group that looked like high schoolers—perhaps they'd had club activities—talking loudly about something utterly trivial, Yoshimura muttered a complaint to Nishida in a low voice.
"Do these kids even think about things properly..."
"We were probably just like that when we were high schoolers," Nishida brushed him off coldly.
"Well, I suppose so," Yoshimura looked dissatisfied but seemingly dropped it since nothing more could be done. Of course, for the two of them, whose spirits were dampened in a sense despite the great results from today's hearing, it couldn't be said that there was nothing that grated on Nishida's nerves either.
However, even so, the sight of such ordinary townspeople actually acted in a direction that put Nishida's mind at ease at that moment, as he had been in a heavy mood. That might also be an undeniable fact.
Nishida intended to get off at Maruyama Koen Station, but just before that, Yoshimura spoke up.
"Let's get back to work properly starting tomorrow."
"Yeah... It's not over yet. There's more beyond Oshima," Nishida said simply, then gave a small wave of his hand in farewell and stepped quietly onto the platform.
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The next day, Sunday, October 13th. The world was completely at rest, but at the Sapporo Detention Branch, things were quite hectic with the interrogation of Oshima and the preparation of his deposition, with high-ranking officials from the Hokkaido Prefectural Police also gathering. Nishida and Yoshimura continued to handle the task, and Oshima, as promised, was revealing everything just as he had yesterday. Of course, it wasn't something that could be finished in a single day, but the police side was gradually regaining its composure. Considering Oshima's health, they cut the interrogation short at about three hours, but Nishida had something on his mind and visited Criminal Investigation Director Gojo, who had come to the Detention Branch.
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"Thank you for your hard work."
"No, you really pulled it off this time. I can only say you did a great job. You'll likely be eligible for the Superintendent General's Award, and you can look forward to a promotion!"
Gojo spoke cheerfully, but Nishida replied,
"To be honest, I don't really care about that... More than that, I want you to do something about the reward for the true contributor."
"Was it Takeshita? Are you talking about him?" Gojo's expression clouded for a moment.
"Yes. Without his efforts, it would have been impossible to drive Oshima to confess. In addition to that, I believe there is a certain responsibility on me, and on the Prefectural Police, for failing to respond to his sense of justice seven years ago."
Nishida's statement wasn't just about Takeshita; it was also based on his promise to Takeshita's current boss, Desk Kumada of the Doho.
"I know about this time, and I understand there were various things in the past... Hmm..."
It seemed Gojo had also looked into and grasped the past circumstances.
"It seems the information about Oshima's full confession hasn't been made public yet."
As Nishida said, at this point, no information had leaked from the police side that Oshima had fully confessed.
"Are you saying we should let the Doho scoop it?"
Gojo glanced at Nishida for a moment, then looked away.
"This is a case of this magnitude. It's a bit much to give it to just the Doho..." He seemed to have clear hesitation. However, Nishida actually had a different plan in mind.
"Setting that aside, how about letting the information Takeshita obtained himself, along with the detailed information I obtained in the interrogation that can be reported, be revealed in print after a short delay? Even if it lacks breaking-news speed, the story surrounding not just Oshima's crimes but his life has sufficient news value. I want to let Takeshita do that."
"Is that a request from their side?"
Gojo checked by peering into Nishida's face without a moment's delay, but Nishida flatly denied it.
"Will they be satisfied with that? If it's just a one-sided request from you..."
He was still negative, but Nishida was certain. That Takeshita would choose to take this case seriously and convey it to society as his homework from seven years ago, and do so gladly.
"He'll do it," Nishida replied with full confidence.
"Well, if that's the case, then fine... In any case, it's a fact that you've conducted an investigation worth at least that much... All right, I don't mind! However, there's the matter of maintaining the public trial. Regarding the content and timing, you'll have to properly consider the balance with the Prefectural Police. Though, I suppose I don't need to worry much since Nishida is involved, and the other party surely understands... He's not a reporter with a normal career, after all."
At the end, he spoke in a tone as if settling the matter with himself.
"Then, I'll leave it to you. I'll finalize the details later. Also, if I may add one more thing..."
Nishida spoke slowly at the end, as if checking the other's mood with every word.
"What is the 'one more thing'? Just say it already."
At this stage, Gojo wasn't so much in a bad mood as he was giving a wry smile.
"Then I won't hold back. It's about the matter of Engaru Station. It goes without saying that this case is already at the level of HQ or Regional HQ direct control, but originally, it was a case handled by Engaru Station where I was stationed at the time. I take pride in the fact that the basic investigation results leading to this resolution are also the achievements of the investigators at Engaru Station back then."
By the time Nishida said that much, the momentary humble attitude he had shown earlier had been swept away.
"The current Engaru Station doesn't have the members from back then, of course, but even if it's a small-scale jurisdiction, I would like you to let the investigators of Engaru Station—who should have been in charge—participate in the interrogations of Oshima and Takigawa, even if only in an indirect capacity. By participating in this series of cases back then, I also gained invaluable experience in my career as a detective. It's an experience hard to come by in a small regional jurisdiction, so I think it's a good opportunity. Please consider it."
Upon hearing this, Gojo accepted surprisingly quickly.
"I see. That's a perfectly reasonable opinion! Of course, it would be impossible to have them participate directly in the interrogation right away, but having them join in an observer-like capacity is an option. Also, regarding the interrogation in Osaka, Nishida, I'll permit it in the form of having them accompany you."
"I am very grateful."
Nishida thanked him in a clear tone and walked away quickly.
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Wednesday, October 16th. Nishida and Yoshimura had finished the basic interrogation of Oshima for the time being, and since the outline of the deposition was ready, they had returned once to the Kitami Regional HQ. They intended to give a report on the current situation to Headquarters Chief Yasumura.
During this time, on October 14th, reports of Oshima's full confession were made all at once starting in the morning under the lead of the Prefectural Police. From wide shows to news programs, the nation was greatly shaken by the confirmed involvement of a major Diet member in multiple murders and his resignation from office. Starting with Criminal Investigation Director Gojo's press conference in the early afternoon, members of the press swarmed the Sapporo Detention Branch, Oshima's offices in Tokyo, Kitami, and Abashiri, and the Minyu Party headquarters.
Meanwhile, on October 15th, it was announced that abduction victims would be returning temporarily from North Korea, causing a massive stir there, and public attention immediately shifted in that direction. Politically, they might have wanted to release Oshima's full confession on the 15th to disperse public interest, but it seemed the National Police Agency side had announced it earlier, having been pushed by the intentions of the Prefectural Police HQ instead.
When Takamatsu visited North Korea, the Prefectural Police side felt they were "used conveniently" by the NPA; perhaps the will to not let that happen again had sprouted not only in Nishida and the others but also on the Prefectural Police HQ side. And it likely meant the Prefectural Police side had sufficient grounds to make the NPA accept their say, with the achievement of taking down big game including Takigawa, the don of the Aoi-ikka.
However, after some time passes, it could lead to further uproar. This was because the fact that Oshima was originally an individual named Onodera Michitoshi who had assumed the identity of Kuwano Kinya had not yet been made public.
Regarding this point, Nishida had asked Criminal Investigation Director Gojo to shut out the information until Takeshita could write an article before the trial. Rather than for the scoop value, Nishida felt that only Takeshita could write an article based on the proper background, so he wanted to let him write it thoroughly. Nishida believed that this matter must not be treated as a mere scandal, but must be handled with a proper historical context. That was for the sake of Oshima Kaiji, and it was Nishida's own answer after chasing the case this far.
Also, regarding Secretary Nakagawa, after being told by the defense lawyer on the afternoon of the 14th that Oshima had confessed everything and hearing a voice recording of Oshima instructing him to testify honestly, he reportedly continued to wail like a child, creating a situation so chaotic the interrogation had to be suspended. Nevertheless, perhaps he felt refreshed by it, as he simply began testifying from the morning of the 15th. Currently, his testimony is said to match Oshima's almost perfectly. There seemed to be no worries there either. Isaka Masamitsu, Sakamoto, Itagaki, and others also seemed to be testifying smoothly, and bright prospects were being established on that front as well.
Now, the two of them were sitting on the sofa in the Headquarters Chief's office waiting for Yasumura to arrive, but even after ten or twenty minutes past the appointed time, there was no sign of him coming, and they were starting to get restless.
"I wonder what happened."
As he was discussing this with Yoshimura,
"He's delayed by a meeting with the Mayor of Kitami, so wait a while," Councilor Teranishi, the number two, came to deliver the message. They couldn't very well complain to a Councilor, so they waited another twenty minutes, and then Yasumura came rushing into the room out of breath.
"So sorry, so sorry! I apologize for keeping you waiting so long."
At Yasumura's characteristically humble words, Nishida and Yoshimura reflexively stood up.
"We haven't been waiting that long, so please don't worry about it!" they said, speaking things they didn't actually mean. However, Yasumura didn't react to each word; he thudded the documents he brought onto the desk and immediately sat down in front of the two.
"Anyway, thank you for your hard work this time. Thanks to the efforts of you two, from the arrest of Takigawa to Oshima's confession, we've managed to reach almost the full clarification of the truth in one go. Even though I was the one who recruited you, to be honest, I didn't think you'd be able to do this much, if you'll excuse me for saying so. Since so much time had passed, I was prepared for it to be an extremely difficult case... Thank you very much. I have nothing but words of gratitude!"
Yasumura, who spoke one-sidedly, had an unbelievable smile that perfectly fit the phrase 'a face breaking into a grin.'
"We still have the interrogations of Takigawa, the Aoi-ikka associates, and other witnesses left, so we can't rest easy yet."
Nishida was also in a peaceful mood influenced by Yasumura's attitude, but he replied that way to stay sharp.
"Regarding Takigawa, at this point, even the Prefectural Police side hasn't been able to get anything out of him regarding the first murder of Motohashi, so honestly, isn't it impossible... We'll just have to close the net and indict him without a confession, including us."
Nishida and Yoshimura nodded in agreement with Yasumura's analysis.
"By the way, regarding the content of Oshima's interrogation, has the Headquarters Chief already heard most of it?"
Nishida checked, assuming he had received a certain level of reporting.
"Yes. I've received a general report regarding the involvement in the cases. However, I don't know the details, and including those, I'd really like to hear directly from the two of you who actually handled the interrogation."
"In that case, I will explain in detail following the chronological order."
Nishida said this and began to look back on the life of Onodera Michitoshi, alias Oshima Kaiji, including things they had grasped in the investigation prior to this time.
Yasumura listened intently to Nishida and the other's story, occasionally interjecting with questions about the strange fate of Oshima's cousin, Kuwano Kinya, and the story revealed in this interrogation about how Onodera himself survived the war years as a Tako-beya laborer.