| Shiki | “Oh? That’s…” |
| Sagishima | “It appears to be a handkerchief. Shall we take it to the police box?” |
| Shiki | “No need for that. There’s something embroidered on it. It seems that it belongs to the daughter of the Kusanagi family.” |
| Sagishima | “Well then, let’s deliver it to her afterwards.” |
| Shiki | “We might as well deliver it to her now. I dare say she dropped it just recently.” |
| Sagishima | “How do you know that?” |
| Shiki | “It’s not dirty, and it’s still fragrant. It’s not so strange if it had been blown away by accident on a windy day like today.” |
| Shiki | “Miss Kusanagi’s mind would be at peace the sooner we deliver it, no?” |
| Sagishima | “That is what you say, however you simply wish to meet the young miss, do you not?” |
| Shiki | “Would you stop implying that there’s an ulterior motive to my kindness?” |
| |
| Izumi | (The play begins with Shiki and Sagishima picking up a handkerchief during their stroll, and then going to return it to the owner. There, they discover the body of a young woman…) |
| Shiki | “That person on the ground – is that Miss Kusanagi?” |
| Sagishima | “Master Shiki, please stand back.” |
| Shiki | “Call for a doctor at once—” |
| Sagishima | “I’m afraid it’s too late.” |
| Shiki | “What?” |
| Sagishima | “She’s dead.” |
| Izumi | (Homare-san’s Sagishima is different from before. Even though he acts indifferently, you can feel his concern for Shiki.) |
| (And Hisoka-san’s Shiki looks relaxed even though Sagishima is standing behind him.) |
| |
| Nakatsu | “I’m the one in charge of this case. My name is Nakatsu Keiji.” |
| Shiki | “Detective Nakatsu?”[1] |
| Sagishima | “My lord, detectives typically do not introduce themselves as Detective such-and-such.” |
| Nakatsu | “Keiji is my name.” |
| Shiki | “Detective Nakatsu Keiji. It’s almost as if you were born to be a detective.” |
| Nakatsu | “I’m often told that.” |
| Izumi | (Tasuku-san’s role as the detective really suits him. He’s good at whatever he does, but since he has a minor role this time, he’s relaxed and being playful.) |
| (Maybe it’s because the protagonist and the second lead are strong, so you can really feel that he’s enjoying his role without worries.) |
| |
| Shiki | “Sagishima, investigate Miss Kusanagi’s interpersonal relationships at once.” |
| Sagishima | “Master Shiki, you have a bad penchant for meddling in other people’s affairs.” |
| Shiki | “I’m suspected as the culprit who murdered the count’s daughter. I can’t stay quiet.” |
| Sagishima | “Who would be so insolent as to suspect you, Master Shiki?” |
| Shiki | “Even a dog would notice if it’s being tailed by a detective around the clock.” |
| Sagishima | “To think that a dog would be outwitted by Master Shiki… That is unfortunate.” |
| Shiki | “What do you mean by that?” |
| Sagishima | “Oh, no, it’s nothing.” |
| |
| Izumi | (According to Sagishima’s investigations, two people stand out as suspects. Miss Kusanagi’s brother, Shizuma, and Miss Kusanagi’s fiancé, Soma Keiichi…) |
| Shizuma | “My sister was not the type to incur ill will. She was an intelligent, good-natured young woman loved by everyone.” |
| “How could something like this have happened to her…” |
| Audience A | Huh? Azuma-san’s hair— |
| Audience B | You’re right. It’s short…! |
| Izumi | (Ohh, they’re surprised! Yuki-kun’s strategy succeeded.) |
| (Shizuma’s gloom over losing his sister suits Azuma-san well.) |
| Keiichi | “As a fiancé, she was the perfect woman; I couldn’t have wished for more. I was not worthy to be her partner.” |
| “Just a few days ago, she showed me her smile when we met for the ceremonial preparations…” |
| Izumi | (Keiichi is a pleasant-looking young man. Tsumugi-san’s pleasant personality is really coming through.) |
| (No matter how you look at it, neither of the two suspects look like they would be the culprit…) |
| Shiki | “I’ve figured out who the culprit is.” |
| Sagishima | “Oh? Who is it?” |
| Shiki | “It’s you, Sagishima.” |
| Sagishima | “I wish to hear the reason why it would be me.” |
| Shiki | “The person least suspected by the detective turns out to be the culprit. It’s a cliché.”[2] |
| Sagishima | “Is that so? Then it cannot be helped that I’ve been exposed. Thank you for taking care of me all these years. I shall take my leave.” |
| Shiki | “It was a joke. Don’t take it seriously.” |
| Sagishima | “I would be troubled if you treat me as a murderer for a mere joke.” |
| Izumi | (Unable to narrow down the true culprit, Shiki unexpectedly gets along with Shizuma, and they deepen their friendship…) |
| Shizuma | “Chance encounters happen in the most unexpected places, don’t you think so?” |
| Shiki | “Indeed. I feel like we’re going to be good friends.” |
| |
| Izumi | (One day, Shiki receives a threat letter, and ominous things begin to happen.) |
| (At the same time, Sagishima discovers that Soma Keiichi was being intimate with other women besides Miss Kusanagi…) |
| (Despite Sagishima’s opposition, Shiki lays a trap for the sender of the threat letter…) |
| Shiki | “You were completely caught in the trap. Were you the one who wrote the threat letter, Soma Keiichi?” |
| Keiichi | “Gh…” |
| Sagishima | “Now why would Miss Kusanagi’s fiancé threaten Master Shiki?” |
| Shiki | “Is it not obvious? It’s because he was the one who murdered Miss Kusanagi.” |
| Keiichi | “You’re wrong! I did not kill her!” |
| Shiki | “What? Then why did you threaten me?” |
| Keiichi | “I would be in trouble if Mr. Kusanagi finds out about my relations with women.” |
| “Mr. Kusanagi promised that he would give me aid even after her death.” |
| “There is no way I would let something like this ruin that for me—” |
| Shiki | “What a greedy man. You should be ashamed of yourself.” |
| Izumi | (As what you would expect from Keiichi’s true nature when you remove his mask of a pleasant young man. It’s not showy at all, but his selfishness and cowardice are really coming to light.) |
| |
| Izumi | (Just as Keiichi said, they could not uncover any proof that Keiichi murdered Miss Kusanagi. And so the case goes back to square one…) |
| Sagishima | “That is an unusual book you’re reading.” |
| Shiki | “Shizuma-kun lent it to me. He’s quite an interesting fellow.” |
| Sagishima | “I am most glad that you’ve found a friend you can get along with. Shall we cease our search for the culprit?” |
| Shiki | “Why would it come down to that? Of course we’re not stopping it.” |
| Sagishima | “Very well.” |
| Izumi | (Immediately after Sagishima’s words laced with meaning…) |
| (Shiki notices that the bookmark inserted in the book Shizuma lent him has an aroma similar to Miss Kusanagi’s handkerchief’s scent.) |
| Shiki | “That can’t be… The one who murdered Miss Kusanagi is…” |
| Sagishima | “What are you so taken aback for? If Soma Keiichi was not the culprit, then there is only one suspect left.” |
| Shiki | “But…” |
| Sagishima | “This is why I inquired if you would like to cease our search for the culprit. Even a dog would outwit you, Master Shiki.” |
| Shiki | “What did you say?” |
| Sagishima | “*cough*. Well? What do you intend to do?” |
| Shiki | “Of course, I’m going to ascertain the truth directly.” |
| Sagishima | “Is that so? Well, that must be what he’s hoping for as well.” |
| |
| Izumi | (Shiki meets with Shizuma under the pretense of returning his book… Shizuma looks as composed as he always does.) |
| Shizuma | “How was it?” |
| Shiki | “It was quite interesting. It’s the first book I’ve read from this author, but I think I will read their other works as well.” |
| Shizuma | “I can lend it to you again if it was to your liking.” |
| Shiki | “By the way, did you perfume this bookmark? It gives off a nice scent.” |
| Shizuma | “…Yes, it’s the smell of incense.” |
| Shiki | “…I see. It’s a nice scent. It smells quite familiar – do you use this scent anywhere else?” |
| Shizuma | “No, it’s a scent we had especially mixed for use in the study. I can give some to you if you would like.” |
| Shiki | “…Thank you. However, that seems difficult.” |
| “It was you… the one who murdered Miss Kusanagi.” |
| Shizuma | “…” |
| Izumi | (Shiki points out the matter regarding the scent to Shizuma, whose expression doesn’t show a hint of surprise. Shizuma truthfully confesses to his crime…) |
| (Azuma-san’s Shizuma shows a gentleness and composure unthinkable of a criminal. This kind of acting is unique to Azuma-san.) |
| Shizuma | “You were my only miscalculation, Shiki-san.” |
| Shiki | “What a shame. I thought that we could become good friends.” |
| Izumi | (Shizuma smiles wistfully… What incredible presence.) |
| Sagishima | “Are you truly fine with this, Master Shiki?” |
| Shiki | “Of course.” |
| “But for things to turn out like this… Miss Kusanagi must have felt remorseful as well.” |
| Sagishima | “I wonder about that.” |
| “Miss Kusanagi’s corpse showed no traces of resistance.” |
| Shiki | “What does that mean?” |
| Sagishima | “Kusanagi Shizuma may have lied about quarrelling with his sister.” |
| Shiki | “You mean to say that Kusanagi Shizuma made a surprise attack to murder her?” |
| Sagishima | “She was stabbed from the front. Of course it could not have been a surprise attack.” |
| “Meaning that Miss Kusanagi may have accepted the fact that Kusanagi Shizuma was going to kill her. I cannot think of any other possibility.” |
| Shiki | “She accepted that he was going to kill her? But why?” |
| Sagishima | “Well, who knows. As they say, ‘dead men tell no tales.’” |
| “However, Miss Kusanagi seemed to have been a clever woman. I can’t imagine she was unaware of Soma Keiichi’s real nature.” |
| “Perhaps she chose to be killed by her beloved older brother, instead of be wed to a man she did not desire.” |
| Shiki | “I don’t understand.” |
| Sagishima | “I expect no less from Master Shiki. Even a dog would— No, never mind. It’s nothing.” |
| |
| Izumi | (It’s the final scene after they’ve solved the case safely…) |
| Shiki | “…What a windy day.” |
| Sagishima | “Master Shiki, your gloves are going to get blown away.” |
| Shiki | “It had also been this windy that day too. Perhaps I was summoned unexpectedly by Miss Kusanagi that day.” |
| Sagishima | “You will catch a cold. Let’s head inside.” |
| Izumi | (The way Sagishima’s movements show concern for Shiki is like second-nature. Shiki is also entrusting himself to Sagishima with ease, showing his trust towards him…) |
| Sagishima | “…But well, you know what they say about fools catching colds.”[3] |
| Shiki | “…” |
| Sagishima | “…Are you quite all right?” |
| Shiki | “What?” |
| Sagishima | “You seemed more hurt than expected… No, I’m sorry. That was impudent of me.” |
| Izumi | (It’s an adlib. It’s oozing of their usual relationship.) |
| Shiki | “It’s quite disturbing for you to be showing concern. What on earth are you thinking?” |
| Sagishima | “…It appears that I am fond of Master Shiki more than I thought.” |
| Shiki | “…What a strange fellow.” |
| Izumi | (The play ends with Shiki and Sagishima smiling faintly—)[4] |
