Mystery Arena (2026) Movie Script
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The storm was nearly upon them.
With the typhoon over the sea
south of Kanto,
the rain was growing in intensity
By the time Hikaru Taira had arrived
at Mariko's manor,
a strong wind had begun to blow.
In the short run from the driveway
to the front door,
Hikaru Taira had become wet as a fish.
Droplets from Hikaru's body
fell steadily onto the floor.
Hikaru flinched
at a sudden bolt of lightning,
and gasped at the portrait of the lady
of the manor illuminated by the flash.
The corner of the piece
bore the artist's signature.
Hung in the dim foyer, directly across
from the front entrance,
the painting's icy gaze seemed as though
it were judging those visiting the manor.
The woman's eyes intrigued Hikaru.
When Hikaru turned around
at the sound of the front door closing,
someone spoke to him from behind.
A fine piece, isn't it?
The man was Hide.
He held out a towel and shirt to Hikaru.
It captures Ms. Mariko's features well.
Hide It's been a while.
Change of clothes?
Your bag must be soaked as well.
I'm fine.
Is everyone here?
Yes, everyone but Marumo.
With so many visiting,
all the guest rooms are filled.
It's our favorite event of the year.
Sayaka's been here
since yesterday apparently.
The instant the name left Hide's mouth,
Hikaru felt his heart beat faster.
So, doing all right?
Yeah.
Nothing new with Kyoko or Bunta either.
Hikaru had intended to ask about Sayaka,
but Hide seemed to think
the inquiry was about everyone.
Are you taking your stuff to your room?
-No, I think I'll drop in to say hi first.
-Right.
Hikaru wanted to see Sayaka
as soon as humanly possible.
You know it's about 5,000 yen
for a taxi from the station.
So we decided to share a ride.
Just over 1,000 yen from each of us.
Saved a pretty penny this year.
The manor was laid out
with the guest rooms
on either side of the foyer in the center.
With Hide, Hikaru Taira reached the top
of the west staircase in the left wing.
And then, Hikaru saw something
outside the window and stopped.
Hikaru?
It's nothing.
Hey, Hikaru! Took you long enough!
There he met Bunta,
the fun-loving life of the party,
and Kyoko, a high-strung
but loyal companion.
Bunta, Kyoko.
Ignoring the pair delighting
over the annual reunion,
Hikaru searched for the person
who mattered to him most.
With her plaintive
and somehow ethereal gaze,
Sayaka arrested Hikaru's heart.
She seemed to be lost alone
in her thoughts.
Sayaka
Goodness, you're absolutely soaked.
Yeah. As you can see.
The typhoon's supposed to
stick around for a while.
Here. A cup for the latecomer.
-Darjeeling.
-Thank you.
Four other cups of tea were
already placed on the table.
Where's Tama?
Huh?
She was running around here
until just a minute ago.
Sayaka's reluctance to join in
made her all the more endearing,
and enticed Hikaru to force an interaction
by asking about Tama's whereabouts.
Sayaka?
Huh?
Tama. You know anything?
No idea.
Gosh
How cold.
Hey.
This small gesture from Sayaka was
enough to rattle Hikaru Taira's heart.
I guess I'll go get changed
On both the left and right sides
of the foyer,
guest rooms lined the first two floors.
As with years prior, Hikaru's room was
on the right side of the first floor,
the furthest room on the east side.
Luckily, the rain hadn't seeped
into my bag.
I was tired from the drive up
the unfamiliar mountain road,
so I surrendered myself
to the bed's soft embrace.
It's mostly mountain roads up here.
And with the rain and that strong wind
on top of that, it's dangerous.
You know the Shirahige Bridge?
-We crossed it on the way here.
-You get some sleep?
Returning to the lounge,
Hikaru Taira heard
the voice of the self-appointed leader,
brimming with irrepressible confidence.
I stepped on the gas. And then
-And then?
-I barely made it.
The second my Volvo was
over the bridge, boom!
-It collapsed?
-Completely.
-And it'll take time to fix!
-His exaggerated
body language and arrogance
made Marumo Hikaru's worst enemy.
He hasn't changed a bit.
-Will we be okay?
-It'll be fine because
-I say so.
-Where's Mariko?
She's been in her room all day.
-Right, Sayaka?
-Busy getting everything ready.
I'll go tell her everyone's here.
Thanks.
LOUNGE - GUESTROOM
Hikaru Taira headed to Mariko's room,
situated in the middle of the third floor.
Mariko?
She should be in her room,
Hikaru thought,
reaching for the doorknob.
The sight that met Hikaru Taira's eyes was
Mariko lying face down on the ground,
a pool of blood spreading
across the floor,
and
a knife sticking out of her back.
For all those who
love mysteries, devote themselves
to mysteries, and live
their lives with mysteries
Which of you will conquer
this puzzle in the end,
faster and more accurately
than all the others?
At the apex of logic and insight lies an
arena of fathomless mind and intellect
Welcome to Mystery Arena!
REIKA MONTELEONE
ASSISTANThis year's mystery is set in
an old manor in the mountains.
Mariko Suzuki is the lady of this manor,
and gathered there are
a group of former college classmates.
In the middle of their annual
get-together, tragedy struck!
We are not concerned with the motive.
Tonight the goal will be
only to deduct which member
of the storm-stranded group
committed the murder
and how they managed to pull it off.
MOMOTARO KABAYAMA
PRODUCER / HOSCROWNBIRCH, INC. PRESIDENWelcome to our annual
New Year's Eve extravaganza.
Everyone in front of your screens,
we have a sublime mystery
to be solved tonight.
The ultimate quiz show begins now,
a battle for all the marbles between
our chosen warriors of wit.
Come on, you're not getting
cold feet already, are you?
Of course not.
That same look
again.
HOSHIKUZU-EN ORPHANAGE
DONATIONS ACCEPTED
Why did you answer wrong on purpose?
You can do better.
Because
I don't want to stand out.
CORRECT: 39
INCORRECT: 1
And? What about the assignment I gave you?
Oh, that
I already finished.
Hey.
Who are you talking to?
10 YEARS LATER
PRIZE: 10 BILLION YEN
It's just not possible.
Sure it is.
The two of us can win that thing, 100%.
Listen.
It's ten billion. Ten billion.
With that kind of money you can say
goodbye to living like a peasant,
and have enough left over
to keep this place going.
HOSHIKUZU-EN
EVICTION NOTICE
Fine. I'll do as you say.
All right!
HEAVEN OR HELL!?
PRIZE MONEY 10 BILLION YEN
In accordance with our ethos that
everyone we work with is special,
Crownbirch Group has grown over the years
through many amicable mergers
and partnerships with other companies.
Our expertise and technology are
always used exclusively to ensure
smiles and happy futures for everyone.
Mr. Kabayama, make sure
to double-check your choreography.
Over 20 million real-time viewers
at program start.
It's a record high.
Okay, time for the main event!
Three, two
And now, it's officially time for
this year's Mystery Arena!
And our contestants' brilliant deductions
aren't the only thing to thrill
our audience.
That's right,
there's also the enormous cash prize!
The first one to solve the mystery
written in our show bible
will walk away with ten billion yen!
IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ SHOW!
20TH ANNIVERSARY!
But, wow, it's been so many years,
the prize has piled up to ten billion yen!
The mere mention of such an amount must be
shocking to our lower-class viewers!
-Mr. Kabayama!
-And tonight,
for our 20th show, we have
a live video link with none other than
Hello!
Remember me, folks?
I'm Katsura, aka Longshot.
I went into early retirement
right after winning
and I've been resort-hopping
overseas ever since.
TONIGHT, AT THE CASINO
-Later.
-Hi.
Oh, it's just beautiful here.
There's paradise on Earth waiting for you
if you win.
Good luck. It's Arena time!
Be seeing you!
Be seeing you!
Be seeing you!
It looks like he sure is living it up now.
I'm jealous!
And gathered here to try to
follow in his footsteps today
after besting thousands
in the qualifying rounds,
are our six contestants!
First is none other than the man himself.
Who would have thought
that we'd once again be hearing
his brilliant deductions here?
The winner of the second Mystery Arena
Legend!
Je suis Legend!
MAKOTO ICHINOSE
A.K.A. LEGEND
The young researcher of
such brilliance, he was chosen
by the government to head
the medical research during the pandemic.
Edison!
DAITO MISAWA
A.K.A. EDISON
Good evening.
Pachinko, horse and bike races, casinos
The intuition and luck this man has
built up in games of chance are unrivaled.
Once he gets into the zone,
he is unstoppable!
Gamble!
SHOTA KUKI
A.K.A. GAMBLE
Who's to blame for endless days
stuck in the same dead-end temp job?
The way you tell it, life is predetermined
the moment you're born.
And you can be the one
to prove that wrong!
Unlucky Day!
KENJI SHIWASUDA
A.K.A. UNLUCKY DAY
The one you've all been waiting for!
A winner of the venerable mystery award,
ANO Mystery!
The award went to one of
my personal favorites, titled
Pointy Tusk!
It's Empty Husk!
She rose to fame with impeccable
depictions and brilliant misdirection.
A major player
in the world of mystery writing.
ANO-Mystery!
KIMIKO HATTANKA
A.K.A. ANO-MYSTERY
It's a pleasure.
And lastly
get your hankies ready, everyone.
Here, we have a young orphan
all alone in the world
Sango!
-What?
-Sango!
Boring? Heard that one before?
Hold on now, what if I told you
she's a bona fide genius,
the youngest applicant
to ever take first place
in the qualifier--
Just be quiet right now, Sango!
Sorry
The talking to yourself is
a little creepy.
THE INSIGHTFUL GIRL-GENIUS
ICHIKO
Ichiko!
ICHIKO SHINOZUKA
A.K.A. ICHIKO
I am so very excited to hear the answers
that these fine contestants will cook up!
But they're not the only thing
that we need to get started.
This program is an immersive mystery show
that utilizes a next-generation
shared-vision device,
the Dj vu, to create a visualization of
the story in our one and only show bible.
The Dj vu is a revolutionary gadget
that converts the brain signals produced
by the wearer's visualizations
into video, allowing them to be shared
with others through a screen.
Now, please note that
the video of the story will be based
solely on my subjective interpretation
of the bible.
Contestants, be sure
to base your deduction
on the text of the bible
that will be sent to your tablets
in real time as we go.
In other words, don't get too caught up
in what you see on the screen!
You can cry or you can laugh,
but each contestant's Dj vu
only gives one chance to answer, so--
Whoo, okay!
Real-time viewership of 29.3 million!
Yes!
Hey! Who was that?
I can understand wanting to
make sure it works, but
Legend!
Surely you don't need to
I pressed it because I know the answer.
What?
-Wait, what?
-No way
-Faster than us
-Unbelievable!
That's the stuff!
This is it!
This is the moment I've been dreaming of
since that day 18 years ago.
This is the thrill that no amount
of money could ever buy!
Okay, Legend, step right up
to the answer stage.
From this point,
instead of Mr. Kabayama
the video will be provided
by our current answerer, Legend.
Let's see what theory he presents for us.
Will we witness the glory
of Legend once again?
Reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
The culprit is
The discoverer of Mariko's body, Hikaru!
What?
The first one to find the body?
And here I thought that
Hikaru was our protagonist.
Our first guess is already a shocker.
He truly is a legend.
This is what Mystery Arena is all about!
But this fact is is hidden by
multiple misdirections artfully included
in the structure of the narrative itself.
LEGEND'S DEDUCTION:
THE CULPRIT IS HIKARU TAIRA
WHO FOUND MARIKO'S BODY
Mystery fiction has
a number of unwritten rules.
The more refined the work,
the more likely it is that the crucial
clues are all in the opening.
There were three points
that brought me to my conclusion.
I'll start with the simplest.
Point one.
After catching up with his friends,
Hikaru said he "surrendered himself
to the bed's soft embrace."
From the surrounding text,
it makes sense to think
that this means he fell asleep.
But I want you to recall something.
We never actually saw Hikaru sleeping.
That's right.
The context
and vague language of the story
led us to believe that Hikaru was asleep.
Why would he tuck in his shirt
and tighten his belt only to lie down?
After "relinquishing himself"
and taking a breather
Hikaru used this blank space
to murder Mariko.
He then innocently returned to the lounge
before going back
to her room and "discovering" her body.
His sudden monologue, which appears
nowhere else in the story
I was tired
is the proof.
I surrendered myself
to the bed's soft embrace.
There was indeed a monologue
spoken by Hikaru there.
My second point is
Hikaru's unusual behavior.
Why didn't Hikaru take
the change of clothes from Hide?
Normally, if you were soaked
so heavily in the rain,
it would only be natural to take
the clothes and get changed right away.
But instead of going to his room
to change into his own clothes,
Hikaru headed straight to the lounge.
And then my third point.
Hikaru went to the lounge drenched.
We can surmise that this was because
he wanted to see his beloved Sayaka
as soon as possible.
But if so, wouldn't it be better
to change into the clothes from Hide,
rather than showing up soaked?
Who wouldn't take every chance
to look their best
for the object of their affection?
And yet, Hikaru didn't change.
Did he not like Hide's clothes? No,
it's not that he didn't change.
It's because he couldn't change!
The fact that Hikaru's smoldering gaze
was directed at a woman, and moreover,
that Mr. Kabayama's picture of him
was a man,
led us to believe without doubt
that Hikaru was, in fact, male.
However
Hey, Hikaru! Took you long enough.
-So nice to see you again.
-Bunta, Kyoko.
Huh?
I just assumed he was a man
when I read it.
The gender changed
Isn't that against the rules?
No, they haven't broken any rules.
They told us at the beginning.
The video is just Mr. Kabayama's
subjective imagining of the text.
Wait, what?
In other words,
different readers could easily
interpret the same text in different ways
to create different visuals.
It is written such
that Hikaru could be either.
At any rate,
it isn't safe to just take the video from
Mr. Kabayama's imagination at face value.
Exactly!
That's why they used
the gender-neutral name "Hikaru."
That was the biggest hint there was,
right from the first line.
LEGEND'S DEDUCTION:
THE CULPRIT IS FEMALE HIKARU TAIRA
Brilliant!
We might just have a winner
on our hands here.
Is that your final answer, Legend?
Once I make the call,
there's no going back.
Will it be heaven or hell?
Legend, your answer once again,
if you please.
The killer is
the woman who discovered the body, Hikaru!
FEMALE HIKARU AS THE CULPRIThank you very much!
Now, Legend, if you would,
please go to the answerer's booth
and stand by until the correctness
of your deduction is revealed.
While Legend's answer included the theory
that Hikaru is a woman,
to avoid confusion,
I will continue to picture him as a man
just as I have thus far,
until the story makes it clear
one way or the other.
Sorry for giving you the right answer
from the beginning.
-Well, that was quite a climax
-I think we might be in trouble.
Let's move on
to the next part of the story.
Looking down at Mariko
lying in the pool of blood,
Hikaru Taira simply stood there,
unable to move,
as he heard multiple sets of
footsteps approaching.
The first to enter the room was
Marumo.
What's going on?
Don't come in!
At their feet,
Tama was crying.
Is she really dead?
I checked her pulse, but
You touched the body?
All right,
no one else touch anything.
-I'll investigate.
-Hold on.
What makes it okay for you?
Because we know for sure
that I didn't do it.
What? How?
And even if we call the police,
they won't be able to get here soon
with the bridge out.
We're trapped here in this manor.
Try letting the killer walk around free,
see what happens.
We could wake up tomorrow morning
with another body on our hands.
She's pretty cold.
It's been a while since she was killed.
We don't even know for sure
if it was murde--
Of course it was!
How do you stab yourself in the back?
Given that the manor is isolated
from the outside world,
one of us must have done it.
Then it could've been you.
I just got here and was in the lounge
the whole time.
But you could have snuck in
and killed her,
then acted like you just got here--
Marumo, Taira, that's enough!
It's pretty clear that
the number one suspect right now
is you.
You can't be serious.
I was up late
with Mariko last night
SAYAKA: YESTERDAY NIGHSPENDS TIME WITH MARIKO
I got here a bit before noon today,
on my motorcycle.
When, more precisely?
11:30 a.m. or so.
The three of us had lunch after that.
Right?
After that, we just hung out for a bit.
Then Hide called asking for help with
his luggage, so I went to the station.
Hide met up with Bunta,
and we all came here together.
I think
it was around 2:00 p.m.
And where was Mariko?
We didn't see her.
But Hide did talk to her on the phone.
Ms. Mariko had been in her room
since lunch.
She asked me to clean out the guest rooms
from the first floor up
and wax the east stairway.
I talked with her a bit too,
so that's for sure.
Hey, Mariko, long time no see!
Come down for a second. Huh?
Okay. See you at night, then.
14:00 MARIKO ALIVE
What was everyone else doing?
After unpacking, I think we were
pretty much in the lounge the whole time.
But not everyone was there the whole time.
Yeah. Was it just you who was in
the lounge the whole time, Sayaka?
Yes.
And there was always someone else with me.
I'm gonna go unpack.
Sayaka.
Which means
that Sayaka's the only one with an alibi.
Then Hikaru came.
I think it was just
before 4:30 p.m. or so.
We met at the entrance
and went to the lounge.
But, Hikaru, you weren't there
when I arrived.
I was in my room.
Alone?
Yeah, so?
And Mariko's body was found at 5:45 p.m.
17:45 MARIKO'S BODY FOUND
MARIKO - HIKARU - SAYAKA
BUNTA - KYOKO - HIDE - MARUMO
MEET AT THE STATION 14:00
TALK WITH MARIKO ON PHONE
Well, I'm stumped.
We all could have been anywhere,
there's no way to narrow it down.
Would've been nice
if the killer left footprints.
What do you mean?
I waxed the east stairway.
Anyone going through would leave
a mark until it dries.
Tama, though
Tama! Tama, no!
She just had to be in the way
trying to walk all over the place.
That was a pain.
Anyway, then I noticed Hikaru's car
arrived and went down to the foyer.
That!
Is that true?
If they couldn't use the east stairway
In order to get to Mariko's room
on the third floor
MASTER BEDROOM
the killer would have had to use
the west stairway.
Sayaka,
you said you were in the lounge
the whole time, right?
I was reading,
but I didn't see anyone
go up the west stairs.
Are there any other ways
to get inside the manor?
After Hikaru got here,
I locked the doors.
And all the first floor windows
that could be big enough for a person
don't open.
Hikaru realized something
and muttered to himself.
"Which means that
no one could have gotten
in or out."
And there we go! Our answerer is
the former
the former
the former top-class researcher,
Edison!
Pardon me.
That almost makes it
sound like you're washed up.
Now, Edison, to the stage, please.
ELITE RESEARCHER
EDISON TAKES THE STAGE!
NO ONE HAS AN ALIBI!
ONLY THE WEST STAIRCASE WAS ACCESSIBLE!
UNMASK THE MURDERER
AND FIND OUT HOW MARIKO WAS KILLED!
Sayaka's testimony has revealed the manor
to be cut off completely from the outside.
How will Edison unravel this mystery?
Reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
The crime would be possible
if there was more than one culprit.
I'll call this person "A."
While A was keeping Sayaka's attention,
another, B, went to Mariko's room.
B killed Mariko,
and casually strolled back to the lounge.
Aside from Hide, who was
waxing the east stairway,
the only ones who could have done this
are Bunta
and Kyoko.
But it wouldn't be Mystery Arena
if that was all there was.
There is
another culprit.
Look at these cups.
MULTIPLE PERPETRATORS
Normally, you'd think one each
for Sayaka, Kyoko, Bunta and Hide.
But remember,
Hide was out waxing
until Hikaru came, right?
Why would there be tea here for him?
So, whose was it, then?
-Tama's.
-Tama?
Yes.
But,
not the cat, though. The person.
What?
But in the scene,
when they found the body, she meowed.
Ostensibly, that was not a cat's "cry,"
but a person literally crying.
I see.
A different kind of "cry"?
Mr. Kabayama imagined
Tama as a cat last chapter,
leading us to think that the one who
interfered with Hide's waxing was a cat.
However, it isn't actually written
anywhere in the bible that Tama is a cat.
So, I looked for
hidden evidence that confirms
that Tama is a person.
That taxi story!
You know it's about 5,000 yen
for a taxi from the station.
So we decided to share a ride.
Just over 1,000 yen from each of us.
Saved a pretty penny this year.
Right here!
If each person paid just over 1,000 yen
out of a total of 5,000 yen, that means
there were four people in the taxi.
Hide, Kyoko and Bunta
who joined them to help.
Then who is the last person?
Tama.
Right.
Tama being a human is the only way
that the taxi fare math makes sense.
So then why is the story so eager
on hiding her existence?
The answer is simple.
EDISON'S DEDUCTION:
BUNTA, KYOKO, TAMA COLLUDED
Because she was also
involved in the crime.
Sayaka had someone keeping an eye on her.
So did Hide.
Hey, hey, where're you going?
Ensuring that they couldn't interfere
with Mariko's murder.
So there are three culprits:
Kyoko, Bunta and Tama.
The three of them
colluded with each other!
KYOKO, BUNTA, TAMA AS THE CULPRITS
Over 30 million!
That's a very clever deduction
for a scientist who couldn't show his face
in public after faking results.
I didn't forge anything! I was framed!
So you say.
But hey, maybe winning here will earn you
back some credibility. Don't you think?
Okay, Edison, off to the answerer's booth.
-Bunta was on a motorcycle
-Enjoying the show, everyone?
Couldn't use the east stairs
2:00 p.m. Mariko's alive.
be sure to stay tuned for
some messages from Crownbirch.
WHO IS THE CULPRIT?
KABAYAMA APPEARS WITH AN AFRO!
One minute until we're back
from commercial break!
One minute!
Mr. Kabayama.
Could I try speaking a bit more
normally for my parts?
Huh?
As written, it seems a bit too pandering.
How many years have you been
in this business?
This year's my ninth.
And you're still a nobody,
which is why we write your lines for you.
On in three, two
"Marumo, Hikaru, and Sayaka
stood at the east stairway,
checking for any footprints
between the second and third floors."
Mariko had this clenched in her hand.
Feel like working together yet?
It's not the color Mariko had on.
Meaning
the killer is a woman.
What?
Hikaru proposed to you?
And? What did you say?
It made me happy, but
Taira's a very popular person.
I've heard about
quite a few past relationships.
Me?
Oh, no, no! A long time ago, yes,
I had a lot going on with him,
but not anymore.
Really?
What?
Is that what you were worried about?
In fact, I fully support you two
having a future together.
Thanks.
Actually, Mariko,
there's one other thing
I'm carrying
Taira's baby.
Shocked, Mariko drops her fork
with a "clink."
And we have our first proven
incorrect answer.
I was surprised too.
But this one's pretty cut and dry.
I mean,
"I'm carrying Taira's baby." What?
Meaning that
Hikaru Taira must be a man.
And therefore, Legend's theory that
a female Hikaru was the killer
has been proven incorrect.
WRONG
LEGEND
Oh, Legend?
No way
I can't believe you're leaving us so soon.
Stupid!
You only won once on a fluke!
So, that's the end of Legend's run.
Let's all give him
a big round of applause!
He may be a legend,
but that doesn't exempt him
from his side of the deal.
It's a shame to see him go,
but, as per usual, Legend will be
staying here for one year,
-helping us with our research
-What?
Come on, you're scaring me!
I said I'm scared!
About 20 years ago,
many lives were lost to the pandemic,
and many more were affected
by its terrible lasting effects.
Birth defects caused by the disease
reached a level that some called
a national crisis,
so our company devoted its full effort
to developing a cure.
To both support the government
in its recovery efforts
and to create a safe, permanent cure
that could eliminate the lasting symptoms
once and for all,
we created this program.
We offer an unprecedented sum
of prize money to encourage
participation in our project,
and in return, we ask for a small amount
of time from everyone who fails.
While we restrict communication from
the research center to protect
confidential information,
some of our guests have described
the star treatment
they get there as far preferable to
the harsh realities of the outside world.
Tomorrow's billionaire could be you,
watching this right now.
Applications to the qualifiers for
next year will open after the show.
We very much look forward
to hearing from you.
TOUCH THE QF CODE FOR DETAILS!
Things are heating up here
on Mystery Arena!
I can feel my heart pouncing.
-They want to answer
-Come on, Ichiko.
-You know the answer.
-But
We've had our first disqualification,
but it's still a race to the answer!
And no one knows
how long the story will last.
Remember those years the contestants
failed by being too cautious
and not answering before it was too late.
He's going for it! Ichiko! Push it!
Oh!
ONE ELIMINATED!
FOUR CONTESTANTS YET TO ANSWER!
Ota!
And Ichiko got there first!
Yes!
Well then, Ichiko,
to the answer stage, please.
THE INSIGHTFUL GIRL-GENIUS
ICHIKO
It's finally happening.
THE HIGHEST QUALIFYING SCORER,
ICHIKO, DESCENDS!
Ota, don't get cocky!
Okay, Ichiko, show us what the top scorer
in the qualifiers can do!
Reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
Something was bothering me
about the whole story.
There's one person missing.
At this point, Hide said that
the guest rooms were all taken.
That got me thinking
the entire time about just how many people
were in the building.
I saw on the map
that the manor has four guest rooms,
each on the first and second floors,
two on either side, for a total of eight.
I want to take a moment
to go over the cast.
So far, we've seen
Hikaru,
Sayaka,
Marumo,
Hide,
Kyoko,
Bunta,
and
if Edison's theory is correct,
the human Tama.
Seven in all.
Which means there's an extra room.
This contradicts Hide's statement
at the beginning that
the guest rooms are all taken.
There is one way
to resolve the contradiction.
Another character
who has been intentionally concealed.
Interesting But if that were true,
wouldn't the number of taxi passengers
and teacups on the table be off?
No.
For the taxi, what if
Hide, Kyoko, Tama and
the secret character each paid
a bit over 1,000 yen
to make up the 5,000 yen?
But Bunta did go to meet
that group, didn't he?
Yes, but how did he get there?
That's right.
He went to meet them on his motorcycle.
And naturally, he would have
returned the same way.
Which makes for
one extra space in the taxi,
matching the one extra guest room.
The cups are much simpler.
There just needs to be one more cup
that's not on the table,
because someone's holding it.
ICHIKO'S DEDUCTION:
SOMEONE IS BEING HIDDEN
There were traces of this person
everywhere.
Given this portrayal, I believe that
this person's definitely the killer.
Nicely done.
Here I thought she was just here
for the tragic backstory,
but maybe that top score
in the qualifiers wasn't a fluke.
Now then, with respect,
Miss Ichiko,
will that be all?
Will it be heaven or hell?
Your answer once again, if you please!
The murderer is
"X," the nameless character
purposely obscured by the text.
"X"?
"X"?
"X."
THE UNKNOWN "X" AS THE CULPRIQuite the astounding,
sophisticated answer we've received!
This year's show might just be
one of the greatest.
Now Miss Ichiko,
off to the answerer's booth.
Hold that thought,
we have another answer! Oh, this is tough
The hell?
You guys are good!
Now then, I believe
it's time for me to show my hand.
Quite the gambler indeed,
giving your own answer right away!
Now it's Gamble's turn!
Reach out and grasp your future.
With your own deductive skills!
Idiots!
Everyone's thinking way too hard
about this.
The truth is always the simplest,
most obvious thing.
This is the culprit.
You mean Hikaru as a man?
Mr. Kabayama. Read the story
right here one more time.
Let's see
"Hung in the dim foyer, directly across
from the front entrance,
the painting's icy gaze seemed as though
it were judging those visiting the manor."
"The woman's eyes intrigued Hikaru."
The woman.
She's the murderer!
THE WOMAN'S EYES INTRIGUED HIKARU
I just don't know what to say
She ran,
right before Hikaru's eyes.
Then Hide showed up right after.
That's why Hikaru looked outside here.
"Why would she go outside in this rain?"
He was still thinking about her
as he half-listened to Hide,
constantly wondering just where she went.
THE CULPRIT IS THE WOMAN
And that is my answer.
THE WOMAN AS THE CULPRIThank you very much!
Now to the answerer's booth,
if you please!
If Gamble's answer is correct,
I dare say he'll be able to pay off
every last scrap of debt in one swoop!
I'm in a heck of a spot now
thanks to your theory.
But it's not confirmed yet.
I don't want your reassurance!
I need to win this
And use the money to research
the birth defects again?
If those lies about fabricating data
hadn't spread
What is this?
I was so close to something we could use!
I can't believe
Crownbirch got there first.
Big talk for a loser.
Sango!
Now, continuing the story.
ONE PERSON ELIMINATED!
The trees around the manor
swayed in the wind.
In the lounge,
Hide, Kyoko, Bunta awaited
their friends' return with worry
written across their faces.
Oh, don't you look cozy.
Did Hide get that for you?
It's just kind of cold in here.
There are more blankets
if you want one, Kyoko.
There's a whole pile
in the guest room being renovated.
I really think we should go
to call for help.
I told you,
the bridge is out.
Bunta's bike can handle offroad
Even my bike isn't getting through
those mountains.
And besides, it can't be used right now.
I got a flat tire on the way
to meet everyone at the station.
-What?
-Bunta
never comes through when you need him.
I rode with them in the taxi
on the way back.
I want to eat clam chowder
when we get there.
It was absolutely crammed with
all the people and luggage.
Tama's words contained an amount of ire.
-Hey, it meant we all paid less.
-Hey, it meant we all paid less.
I have some unfortunate news.
That is our second confirmed
incorrect answer of the show.
WRONG
ICHIKO
That's right.
It's you, Ichiko.
And so the least fortunate
meet even more misfortune
Just how it always goes!
But there wasn't anything
about a flat tire
And yet it's right here in the book.
And the renovations, that was
completely after the fact!
Quit whining! Shut up and get outta there!
Mr. Kabayama!
Well, maybe you should have watched
a bit more of the story before answering.
Damn it!
And that's the end of Ichiko's run.
Let's all give her a big hand!
And now, we take a break.
-Going to commercial break!
-Mr. Kabayama!
Time for plan B, I guess.
Ichiko, do what I say.
Grab that chair and throw it
as hard as you can at that camera,
then run.
Now, do it!
Hey, the camera's out.
-No! Go left!
-But
Stop!
Hold it right there!
Why?
I'm a cop.
What?
Come with me if you want to live.
If it gets us out of here, go for it!
The contestants escaped?
General, we're terribly sorry.
We have everyone searching, but
-Reika.
-Yes?
-Help find them.
-What?
And report any progress to me.
Search everywhere,
including the restricted areas, with this.
What about the show?
You being gone won't make a difference.
Get a move on!
All of you!
Yes, sir!
Expensive
Mr. Kabayama, we're almost back
from commercial break.
I know that!
What's wrong, Sango? Are you okay?
If you're coming with me, hurry up.
But what is a police officer doing here?
We had an anonymous tip from the inside.
A tip?
Nearly every person who has been on
this show has gone missing shortly after.
Back from commercial break in 15 seconds!
TOKYO MPD
PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU
I see
They used an ex-con's identity.
What do you mean by
"people going missing"?
I was hoping it was made up, but
I guess everything in that
creepy ad was a lie too.
Help with research for a year--
If you call that "helping."
Legend?
Why All shriveled
TO: CHIEF
FAILED TO SEND
Was I
Was that me, a shriveled husk?
Sango, you
You were a contestant on this show?
How did you
Sango
You seemed to know the layout
of this building.
No! Go left!
Sango, explain.
You tricked me?
Getting me to do all that studying
All so I'd get on this show?
Listen, Ichiko. I--
I don't want to hear it!
Quiet!
Geez, hot in that thing!
Hey, don't point that thing at me.
Red's not my color. Cut it out.
So damn hot! I told you,
get that off me. I'm serious!
That's not funny.
You're
Aren't you supposed to be overseas?
Be seeing you!
I'm just a hired actor.
-An actor?
-Yup.
Would you have signed up to this show
if no one had ever won?
Sure kept me waiting.
You gonna put that thing down or what?
Wasn't easy sneaking out, I tell you.
Plan only works if people
follow orders, damn it.
BE ON MYSTERY ARENA
You answer third.
Then we meet here, right?
I'm the one who tipped you off,
ya lunkhead.
Why did you?
Oh, my sense of justice.
Well, that's not really my character.
This for ten years.
They've kept me trapped here
ever since I "won."
I can't take it anymore.
You get me out of here and
I'll tell you everything I know.
Everything's ready to go.
Hell yeah. Let's go then.
Got something I want to show you.
Come on.
Je suis Legend!
Two contestants, Edison and Gamble,
have already answered
and still have a chance.
You two in the answerer's booth?
You're still in it to win it!
Sadly, we can't connect with them
right now due to an equipment failure.
Let's continue the story.
Hikaru!
Taira! Please come out!
You all suspect me
because I found the body, right?
Then I'll prove I'm innocent.
I'm not leaving this room
until help arrives!
But it's better if we stay together.
Leave me alone!
He's right.
We should all protect ourselves.
I'm going to hole up in my room.
Why?
Because the killer is
Hikaru Taira.
What?
Marumo!
This is
It's proof they're running a scam.
Hurry up and take pictures.
Oh, no, that's not good. Leave it.
We're going, come on.
TRESPASSED 1 MIN AGO
They've been in the restricted area.
Search the room.
Reika.
Report.
We should be close.
What? You still haven't found them?
I'm sorry.
Can't read the script, can't do this
What are you good for, you washed-up idol!
Just find them!
SECURITY PORT COMPLETE
STANDBY. SQUAD B4
Just a bit further.
After that turn, it's a
straight shot to the tunnel out.
THEY ARE NOT TO MAKE IT OUUNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
IF YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM ALIVE
Damn it They found out our plan?
Put the gun down!
Run!
Don't move! Go, go, go! Go!
Go, go, go!
Go, go!
Amid howling wind, the screams of
Sayaka echo throughout the manor.
In the room, Hikaru lies dead, strangled.
Taira!
Sayaka, Bunta!
No way
That's why I said
we shouldn't have left him alone.
Marumo and Tama were killed
in their rooms too.
What is going on?
I was with Sayaka,
you three were together, we all should
have had someone watching us!
Tama went to wake Marumo up,
but she never came back.
Then, the killer must be
Sadly, as Tama has been murdered,
Edison, who posited
Kyoko, Bunta and Tama as the killers,
has been proven incorrect.
Take that! That's what you get
when you cross me!
You're dead!
Die, die, die
Die already, you piece of scum.
EDISON
Damn it! Damn it!
My last memory was in that operating room.
When I woke up,
somehow I was inside you,
when you were a baby.
It's true that I led you
to coming on this show.
But
I just needed to know.
What happened
to me there?
I thought that I could learn something
if I came back.
Seventeen years of confusion
I felt bad for you,
but I couldn't stop myself.
Enough.
After we get out of here, you're
paying me back for these 17 years.
Ichiko
I'm getting out no matter what.
Shut up a second.
Your conviction is impressive,
but do you realize just how screwed
we are here?
Longshot?
So much blood.
He's been shot.
Without you, we
The truth will remain a mystery, huh?
This Mystery Arena,
from the very beginning
Is it rigged so that it's impossible
to answer correctly?
Bunta warmly called out
to the fading voice.
I've got it! I know the answer!
And ANO-Mystery finally takes
her chance to answer!
With the group's likeliest suspect
Hikaru Taira killed,
along with Marumo and Tama,
the pool of possible culprits
has narrowed quite a bit indeed.
To the stage, if you please!
THE LEADING FIGURE OF THE MYSTERY WORLD
HIKARU, MARUMO AND TAMA WERE KILLED
IN ADDITION TO THE LADY, MARIKO!
WHO IS THE CULPRIT?
AND WHAT'S THE TRICK?
Will ANO-Mystery be able to use
this second chance
to regain her former glory?
Finally, the goddess of mystery
has smiled upon me.
Reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
The killer is
the victim, Mariko's
son, Hiramitsu!
"Hiramitsu"?
"Mariko's son"?
Was there such a character?
"Hiramitsu," written identically
to "Hikaru Taira."
WIth the same kanji characters as
Hikaru Taira who was just killed.
Oh, my!
You mean that some of the places where
I pictured them saying "Hikaru Taira,"
the text actually meant "Hiramitsu"?
Yes. Nasty little trick.
But I deal with words for a living,
you can't fool me.
I thought it was strange
from the beginning.
Right after someone
gives a plausible theory,
some new piece of evidence
shows up that disproves it.
And there are plot holes
all over the story
that leave room for wild theories
like Gamble's.
But changing the right answer every time
someone guesses is untenable.
The story would fall apart.
Well, no human mind could pull it off
That thing!
That's where it happens.
As far as I can tell,
when a new guess is made on the show,
Kabayama sends a signal
that triggers an AI system to analyze it
and alter the story
so that it's incorrect.
So they can create an unlimited number
of show bibles with different endings?
Kabayama made the entire system.
As long as that room is running,
we can never answer correctly.
God damn it!
So everyone who's been on the show
Mind telling me what exactly
you're talking about?
Marumo said this before
he locked himself in this room.
Because the killer is
Hikaru Taira.
Marumo's statement here must have been
Because the killer is
Hiramitsu.
Marumo was saying that
he was going to hide in his room
to protect himself from Hiramitsu, who
could use secret passages to move freely
-throughout the manor.
-I'm going to hole up in my room.
That's what he said.
How could that be?
There was also evidence of
Hiramitsu's existence in the opening.
What!
The signature on the portrait of Mariko.
The portrait?
There it is!
She's right!
I'm impressed you caught
such a tiny detail!
I can feel my heart pounding!
Palpitating even!
So weird
Do we have finally
have the correct answer?
No right answer, that's just messed up.
You didn't know anything?
They treat us underlings like crap.
I just tried not to think about anything.
-Then
-What?
Don't get me wrong.
What would I get out of helping you?
If I turn you in,
maybe I could
Can you really go back, now that you know?
If we don't get this truth
out to the world,
Edison and ANO-Mystery
and Unlucky Day,
and everyone who signs up
in the future will die.
You'd be assisting in those murders.
And the past contestants will
never be able to rest in peace!
Ichiko
I've had enough lectures
from Kabayama alone.
Are you really going to let go
of this chance to get back at him?
He's been harassing you, hasn't he?
And you're still a nobody,
which is why we write your lines for you.
You have a plan?
Well
Ichiko.
Doesn't live performance get
your blood pumping?
We'll reveal the truth live on the show!
Sounds like fun.
I'll take over the switching room.
At Osu Kannon Temple in Nagoya
on New Year's Eve,
a crowd is gathered on the street to watch
the 20th annual Mystery Arena.
The afro is so popular.
That's how things are looking out here.
General Producer Kabayama,
you have quite the amazing show.
Will you be doing your New Year's visit
to a shrine after the show?
No, the whole team here will be
enjoying a celebratory toast together.
Oh, I see.
Thank you once again, Mr. Ishii.
-Thank you as well.
-Makes me think,
the Japanese really just do
the same things year after year.
Thank you!
And we're down to Unlucky Day
as the only remaining contestant.
The momentous 20th edition
of Mystery Arena has finally reach--
-Protect Mr. Kabayama!
-Don't move!
We've taken over the switching room.
Whatever happens here will be
seen by the entire nation!
Why, if it isn't Miss Ichiko!
I thought you answered wrong
and dropped out. Why are you here?
I'm here to tell the people the truth.
The truth?
These people are toying with
the lives of the contestants!
Now, just hold on a second.
Where is this coming from?
A sore loser hijacking
the broadcast like a terrorist!
Our program was founded on the idea
of a fair chance for all.
I think it's clear who our wise
viewers will side with.
A fair chance for all?
Where do you get off, after making
a show built on a bed of festering lies?
Every single person you disqualified
-could have been righ--
-Everybody knows
that Crownbirch Group
is a highly trustworthy organization
that greatly respects
the sanctity of life, right?
Incorrect answerers assisting
with research is all a lie!
What?
They're all dead.
Drained of all their fluids to be used
for experiments.
It's completely unforgivable!
Silence!
Seriously?
I can't believe you'd spread
baseless lies over
the public airwaves like this!
This happens far too much,
people ensnared by conspiracy theories,
trying to defame us!
I'm not lying! I saw it with my own eyes!
If this went on the air, it would be more
than just an unfortunate incident,
Mr. Kabayama.
I'm sorry
Reika locked me out.
Open up! Open up!
Looks like this washed-up idol
is in charge now.
Reika?
Is that you, Reika?
Good job!
That's my assistant for you.
Huh?
I'm not sure you get the picture here,
Mr. Kabayama. I'm in charge now.
Mr. Kabayama,
how about you try on
the assistant role for once?
What are you talking about?
Well, aren't you slow on the uptake?
I'm saying that the show
is going to go on!
Guards?
Would you just stand down
until I give the word?
Unless you want the whole country to see
you pointing your guns at a civilian.
If the final contestant
can answer correctly,
I will give you the opportunity
to expose the show's wrongdoing.
If he is incorrect,
the show will continue as normal.
-Stop messing around!
-I am dead serious, you scum!
If they get their chance,
I will be the savior that gave them
the opportunity to expose the truth.
If things go back to normal,
I will have saved the show,
and will receive quite the warm welcome
from the board, I expect.
I win either way.
So, what'll it be, Mr. Kabayama?
Fine.
On my authority as head of the show
and representative of Crownbirch,
I will allow the show to resume.
Hold on! You know the show is--
I don't care.
I just want to put some fear
into that egomaniac.
And also
Isn't solving the unsolvable
what Mystery Arena's all about?
We'll just have to hope
the last contestant gets it
I'll go to stop the new show bible.
Not exactly someone
I'd trust with my life.
All right, Reika!
-Resume the broadcast!
-Excuse me?
That's "ma'am" to you,
you slack-jawed imbecile!
Yes, ma'am. Please take us live.
It's dark down here.
Watch your step.
Can't we turn on the lights?
He's accustomed to the dark.
Huh?
Are we there yet?
Just past here.
This is Ms. Mariko's son,
Hiramitsu's studio.
These are all of Mariko?
Those eyes
I remember Hikaru found the eyes of
the painting in the foyer quite intense.
All these years, I had no idea.
Ms. Mariko was very insistent on it
staying a secret.
Hiramitsu has a condition,
and can never be in the sun.
Oh, no.
But why would he
Well, only he knows
Hiramitsu, I know you're in here.
Hiramitsu?
Hiramitsu?
What?
What is it?
He's rotting
Must have been dead for days.
Are these sleeping pills?
So he killed himself?
But
So, it wasn't him either?
Then
"In the darkness,
a scream could be heard."
Come on, FD!
Let's go!
Yes, ma'am!
How unfortunate!
The eyes that caught Hikaru's attention
when he first arrived
at the manor were indeed those
in the painting.
There was no mystery woman,
so Gamble is now out of the running.
And
a days-old corpse could hardly have
killed Hikaru and Marumo,
so ANO-Mystery has now
dropped out as well.
X!
X!
ANO-MYSTERY
There it is!
Our final contestant, Unlucky Day!
And,
that analog bell means the story is over.
Now that the final sequence has been read,
there are no more clues to be gained.
And to think, if he had hit the buzzer
just a second later,
he would've been out.
Well, Unlucky Day?
Feeling confident?
I just pushed it because it felt like
it was going to end.
A shrewd guess,
but it's only your theory
that counts in the end.
All that remains now is the solution!
You can cry and you can laugh,
but this, the 20th edition of
Mystery Arena,
has come down to
the final contestant's answer.
Viewers at home,
are you ready?
Now then, Unlucky Day,
let us hear the final deduction!
Reach out and grasp your future.
With your own deductive skills!
FDs, off stage.
Come on, dude.
I
I can't answer.
Unlucky Day, you are my favorite!
To make it official, you are forfeiting
your opportunity to answer?
Yes.
Hell no!
So instead,
I'm ceding it to her.
What?
What's this now?
That's Ichiko. She already answered,
incorrectly. What's she doing here?
Nothing good ever happened in my life.
I've wanted to die more times
than I can remember,
but
if what she said is true
I don't want die here!
What are you talking about, Unlucky Day?
Have you cracked under the pressure?
"What she said"?
What are you talking about?
But
There's no way I could solve
a problem this hard.
So
So instead
I'm putting my life
in her hands.
Please,
use my life!
UNLUCKY DAY WITHDRAWS?!
ICHIKO TO MAKE A COMEBACK?!
Sorry to burst your bubble,
but there's no such a rule.
I'm not breaking any rules.
You explained it yourself,
Mr. Kabayama.
You can cry and you can laugh,
but each contestant's Dj vu
only gives one chance to answer.
One answer
per Dj vu.
Not one answer per person.
And
I haven't used my Dj vu.
Fine!
Tonight is the special 20th Arena!
Anything goes, just make it a good show!
Go ahead.
Ichiko.
Take Unlucky Day's Dj vu.
Come on, Kabayama.
Give her five minutes.
It wouldn't be fair
without a recap of the story.
And we have so much hype right now
it'd be a waste not to draw it out.
You worthless prick!
Now, we're going to give Ichiko
a little time to think.
As you're all well aware, this program is
practically synonymous
with sportsmanship and fair play.
Your time begins now!
And time's up.
And now, what you've all been waiting for!
Ichiko will lay out the final deduction
of the show.
For one last time,
reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
It's okay, Ichiko.
Believe in yourself.
Okay.
The killer is
a character that has already
appeared in the story.
One who knows the manor inside and out,
and can move about it freely.
The killer is
So, when's the big reveal?
Thank you for playing along
and not saying anything.
Come on, Marumo.
You've been in there long enough.
I'm sorry.
But now all three of us can be together.
I'll be there with you soon.
The rest is up to you.
I think that's enough.
The murderer is the lady of the manor
and the first victim,
Hikaru's former lover,
and mother of Hiramitsu,
that she had with Hikaru.
Is something wrong, Mr. Kabayama?
Is the new bible not arriving?
You see? I am not all by myself.
The culprit written in that bible is
Hiramitsu's mother
and the lady of the manor,
Mariko. Am I correct?
THE CULPRIT WAS MARIKO
Show me!
Oh, no! How terrible!
The one and only show bible ever made!
THE CULPRIT WAS
-Don't be angry! You're saved.
-Amazing!
What do you mean?
The culprit written in the book
wasn't Mariko.
-Liar.
-It's true, but
now that the proof's been burned away
due to my clumsiness,
Miss Ichiko,
I cannot disprove your answer.
So
I'm giving you one more chance.
I will write down the killer's name
on this piece of paper.
If you can guess it correctly,
I will judge you victorious.
Impossible! There is no other suspect!
Oh, but there is.
The show bible is gone.
All of the evidence is in what you saw
and heard here tonight.
I'll make a special exception.
You can use my Dj vu.
Of course,
you are also free to resign.
Here too
And here
I just can't think of anyone
who could have done it other than Mariko.
Sango, where are you?
Sango
And tonight's Mystery Arena
has reached its climactic finale!
Until the final moment when the killer's
name is given, anything could happen!
Miss Ichiko's long-awaited answer
will be right after these commercials.
Hey, cut to commercial!
Going to commercial.
And we're on commercial!
Okay.
In accordance with our ethos that
everyone we work with is special,
Crownbirch Group has grown over the years
through many amicable mergers
and partnerships with other companies.
Our expertise and technology are
always used exclusively
to ensure smiles and
You don't even have the right
to answer correctly.
Ever since birth, you've had another
personality inside you, haven't you?
I had you investigated quite thoroughly.
That is
a rare side effect of the medicine
my company makes from human fluids.
Human fluids?
Concentrated intracellular fluid
taken from the failed contestants.
About 20 years ago,
because of that awful pandemic,
many newborns started dying,
completely unable to grow.
We started developing a new drug, but
we couldn't shake off the data fabrication
claims, so the government pulled out.
We stuck with it, and finally succeeded
in creating a drug from
bioactive human bodily fluid
that extended the children's lives.
From living people?
Curiously,
the more intelligent the person
the fluid was from,
the higher the children's
chance of survival.
So, this show is
Exactly.
It started as a way
to select for intelligence.
But there's no way I would have
been given that medicine.
We were low on test subjects
at the beginning,
so we used orphaned
and abandoned children.
You are one of the children
this show has saved.
I'm practically your father.
Are you still sure you want to expose us?
Off commercial in one minute!
Without the treatment,
all the lives like yours
that could be saved will be lost.
Without Sango, I
Exactly.
You losing here will ensure
the future of the next generation.
Beautiful!
Isn't it beautiful?
The cycle completing itself,
continuing on forever.
Your life was preserved
by the sacrifice of the woman within you.
And now you can do the same
for someone else.
It's what she would want.
It's why
she brought you here.
Welcome home,
Ichiko.
It's your turn
to pass the torch.
I
Back from commercial in 20 seconds!
When I give the signal, take her down.
I
I
My God, get a grip!
You're being pathetic.
Sango!
I don't remember raising you so soft.
But
Kabayama has you caught in his web.
I've figured out who the killer is.
Who is it?
You
You figure that out yourself.
I can't! Not without you.
Believe in yourself.
You can take care of yourself now.
No! I don't want to be alone!
No.
You never needed me.
I'm sorry.
It's my fault
you were always alone.
You're wrong!
I wasn't alone.
You were
always there for me.
You're important to me, Sango.
You're my only friend.
I'll give you a hint, as a parting gift.
Think carefully.
The hint
is this.
You gotta win, Ichiko.
Don't
let there be any more victims like me.
Sango
Back from commercial in five seconds!
Four, three, two
We have come to the crossroads of fate!
It's time for your answer, Ichiko.
Will it be heaven or hell?
Where will your answer fall?
To be honest, I'm still not certain.
This might not even qualify
as a deduction
But
if there is someone
who could have committed the murders
who hasn't been guessed,
I think it would have to be this person.
The people who come on this show are
worthless refuse, dropouts from society!
Would you save them or the children
who've had their future senselessly
stolen by illness?
Don't be dumb.
There's no such thing as a life
more important than another!
I
want to change the future,
with the people alive now.
The murderer is
you, Mr. Kabayama!
Mr. Kabayama appeared in the manor
as a narrator,
but there was nothing stating
one way or another
whether he was a character
in the story or not.
He was the omniscient narrator,
the story's god.
A swing-like presence that moves freely
between the real world
and the Dj vu world.
When I was in Mariko's room,
I was able to touch her clothes.
That undeniably proves that,
with your Dj vu,
you could cause physical harm
to the characters.
Come on, Marumo.
You've been in there long enough.
Hiramitsu, I know you're in here.
Hiramitsu?
You created the most
underhanded kind of murder mystery,
the omniscient narrator as the killer.
There's no way I could've got that.
Why did you give me your Dj vu?
Was it your way of facing your fate?
You wrote on that piece of paper
that you yourself are the killer.
That is what I chose to guess.
Now,
we check my answer.
It is true
that I would not be alive
if not for your experiments.
But Because of that
Sango showed me what I needed to do.
No,
this is my own decision!
I can't just sit back while you commit
crimes against human life.
You have no right to decide
who lives and dies!
THE KILLER IS MOMOTARO KABAYAMA
Mr. Kabayama,
please state the result for the camera.
The world is waiting!
HEAVEN OR HELL
Correct.
CORRECShe's good.
We're here to discuss
your sensational new book,
A Sickness Called Mystery Arena, which
is already slated for a second edition.
First of all, congratulations
on making the bestseller list!
Thank you.
KIMIKO HATTANKA
It was an attempt at a new genre for me,
but I think that I proved that
it's never too late or too early
to try something new.
Speaking of trying new things,
how did it feel to be chosen to star
in the movie adaptation?
REIKA MONTELEONE
I just want to do the very best job
that I could.
You were a part
of the actual Mystery Arena
as an assistant, Ms. Monteleone,
-but do you share
-Come in.
anything with your character in the film?
I learned the truth about the show
I heard that you woke up.
Thanks.
Wonderful!
So the orphanage is staying open for sure?
Yes.
We got so many donations,
probably since people saw me on the show.
Speaking of which,
Unlucky Day has started working there.
Really?
-Good for him.
-Hey, I'm doing laundry now.
And Edison is back at his former lab after
clearing the allegations against him.
He's waiting for
his new cure to be approved.
The government is moving as fast as it can
while ensuring safety, apparently.
Still wild to think that
all those accusations
against Edison were Kabayama working
through his group's companies.
So awful. Just so his company
could corner the market.
At any rate,
we took down his whole murderous system
thanks to you.
And me, of course.
Now we can only pray that
Edison's new drug saves the world.
I never want to just pray,
or rely on someone else.
I'm going to study hard
so I can work with Edison
and make Sango's wish come true.
The mark
Yeah, ever since that day
Sango's voice too
But I feel like she's still nearby.
And always will be.
For all those who love mysteries,
devote themselves
to mysteries, and live with mysteries
At the apex of logic and insight lies an
arena of fathomless mind and intellect
Welcome
to Mystery Arena!
Shut your pie hole!
And it begins, Mystery Arena!
Go to sleep already!
The unconquerable show
of logical deduction
that stimulates your intellect
and curiosity!
If you answer correctly,
you will receive
a grand prize of
ten billion yen!
to self-harm and other sensitive topics
that require caution.
Please view with care.
The storm was nearly upon them.
With the typhoon over the sea
south of Kanto,
the rain was growing in intensity
By the time Hikaru Taira had arrived
at Mariko's manor,
a strong wind had begun to blow.
In the short run from the driveway
to the front door,
Hikaru Taira had become wet as a fish.
Droplets from Hikaru's body
fell steadily onto the floor.
Hikaru flinched
at a sudden bolt of lightning,
and gasped at the portrait of the lady
of the manor illuminated by the flash.
The corner of the piece
bore the artist's signature.
Hung in the dim foyer, directly across
from the front entrance,
the painting's icy gaze seemed as though
it were judging those visiting the manor.
The woman's eyes intrigued Hikaru.
When Hikaru turned around
at the sound of the front door closing,
someone spoke to him from behind.
A fine piece, isn't it?
The man was Hide.
He held out a towel and shirt to Hikaru.
It captures Ms. Mariko's features well.
Hide It's been a while.
Change of clothes?
Your bag must be soaked as well.
I'm fine.
Is everyone here?
Yes, everyone but Marumo.
With so many visiting,
all the guest rooms are filled.
It's our favorite event of the year.
Sayaka's been here
since yesterday apparently.
The instant the name left Hide's mouth,
Hikaru felt his heart beat faster.
So, doing all right?
Yeah.
Nothing new with Kyoko or Bunta either.
Hikaru had intended to ask about Sayaka,
but Hide seemed to think
the inquiry was about everyone.
Are you taking your stuff to your room?
-No, I think I'll drop in to say hi first.
-Right.
Hikaru wanted to see Sayaka
as soon as humanly possible.
You know it's about 5,000 yen
for a taxi from the station.
So we decided to share a ride.
Just over 1,000 yen from each of us.
Saved a pretty penny this year.
The manor was laid out
with the guest rooms
on either side of the foyer in the center.
With Hide, Hikaru Taira reached the top
of the west staircase in the left wing.
And then, Hikaru saw something
outside the window and stopped.
Hikaru?
It's nothing.
Hey, Hikaru! Took you long enough!
There he met Bunta,
the fun-loving life of the party,
and Kyoko, a high-strung
but loyal companion.
Bunta, Kyoko.
Ignoring the pair delighting
over the annual reunion,
Hikaru searched for the person
who mattered to him most.
With her plaintive
and somehow ethereal gaze,
Sayaka arrested Hikaru's heart.
She seemed to be lost alone
in her thoughts.
Sayaka
Goodness, you're absolutely soaked.
Yeah. As you can see.
The typhoon's supposed to
stick around for a while.
Here. A cup for the latecomer.
-Darjeeling.
-Thank you.
Four other cups of tea were
already placed on the table.
Where's Tama?
Huh?
She was running around here
until just a minute ago.
Sayaka's reluctance to join in
made her all the more endearing,
and enticed Hikaru to force an interaction
by asking about Tama's whereabouts.
Sayaka?
Huh?
Tama. You know anything?
No idea.
Gosh
How cold.
Hey.
This small gesture from Sayaka was
enough to rattle Hikaru Taira's heart.
I guess I'll go get changed
On both the left and right sides
of the foyer,
guest rooms lined the first two floors.
As with years prior, Hikaru's room was
on the right side of the first floor,
the furthest room on the east side.
Luckily, the rain hadn't seeped
into my bag.
I was tired from the drive up
the unfamiliar mountain road,
so I surrendered myself
to the bed's soft embrace.
It's mostly mountain roads up here.
And with the rain and that strong wind
on top of that, it's dangerous.
You know the Shirahige Bridge?
-We crossed it on the way here.
-You get some sleep?
Returning to the lounge,
Hikaru Taira heard
the voice of the self-appointed leader,
brimming with irrepressible confidence.
I stepped on the gas. And then
-And then?
-I barely made it.
The second my Volvo was
over the bridge, boom!
-It collapsed?
-Completely.
-And it'll take time to fix!
-His exaggerated
body language and arrogance
made Marumo Hikaru's worst enemy.
He hasn't changed a bit.
-Will we be okay?
-It'll be fine because
-I say so.
-Where's Mariko?
She's been in her room all day.
-Right, Sayaka?
-Busy getting everything ready.
I'll go tell her everyone's here.
Thanks.
LOUNGE - GUESTROOM
Hikaru Taira headed to Mariko's room,
situated in the middle of the third floor.
Mariko?
She should be in her room,
Hikaru thought,
reaching for the doorknob.
The sight that met Hikaru Taira's eyes was
Mariko lying face down on the ground,
a pool of blood spreading
across the floor,
and
a knife sticking out of her back.
For all those who
love mysteries, devote themselves
to mysteries, and live
their lives with mysteries
Which of you will conquer
this puzzle in the end,
faster and more accurately
than all the others?
At the apex of logic and insight lies an
arena of fathomless mind and intellect
Welcome to Mystery Arena!
REIKA MONTELEONE
ASSISTANThis year's mystery is set in
an old manor in the mountains.
Mariko Suzuki is the lady of this manor,
and gathered there are
a group of former college classmates.
In the middle of their annual
get-together, tragedy struck!
We are not concerned with the motive.
Tonight the goal will be
only to deduct which member
of the storm-stranded group
committed the murder
and how they managed to pull it off.
MOMOTARO KABAYAMA
PRODUCER / HOSCROWNBIRCH, INC. PRESIDENWelcome to our annual
New Year's Eve extravaganza.
Everyone in front of your screens,
we have a sublime mystery
to be solved tonight.
The ultimate quiz show begins now,
a battle for all the marbles between
our chosen warriors of wit.
Come on, you're not getting
cold feet already, are you?
Of course not.
That same look
again.
HOSHIKUZU-EN ORPHANAGE
DONATIONS ACCEPTED
Why did you answer wrong on purpose?
You can do better.
Because
I don't want to stand out.
CORRECT: 39
INCORRECT: 1
And? What about the assignment I gave you?
Oh, that
I already finished.
Hey.
Who are you talking to?
10 YEARS LATER
PRIZE: 10 BILLION YEN
It's just not possible.
Sure it is.
The two of us can win that thing, 100%.
Listen.
It's ten billion. Ten billion.
With that kind of money you can say
goodbye to living like a peasant,
and have enough left over
to keep this place going.
HOSHIKUZU-EN
EVICTION NOTICE
Fine. I'll do as you say.
All right!
HEAVEN OR HELL!?
PRIZE MONEY 10 BILLION YEN
In accordance with our ethos that
everyone we work with is special,
Crownbirch Group has grown over the years
through many amicable mergers
and partnerships with other companies.
Our expertise and technology are
always used exclusively to ensure
smiles and happy futures for everyone.
Mr. Kabayama, make sure
to double-check your choreography.
Over 20 million real-time viewers
at program start.
It's a record high.
Okay, time for the main event!
Three, two
And now, it's officially time for
this year's Mystery Arena!
And our contestants' brilliant deductions
aren't the only thing to thrill
our audience.
That's right,
there's also the enormous cash prize!
The first one to solve the mystery
written in our show bible
will walk away with ten billion yen!
IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ SHOW!
20TH ANNIVERSARY!
But, wow, it's been so many years,
the prize has piled up to ten billion yen!
The mere mention of such an amount must be
shocking to our lower-class viewers!
-Mr. Kabayama!
-And tonight,
for our 20th show, we have
a live video link with none other than
Hello!
Remember me, folks?
I'm Katsura, aka Longshot.
I went into early retirement
right after winning
and I've been resort-hopping
overseas ever since.
TONIGHT, AT THE CASINO
-Later.
-Hi.
Oh, it's just beautiful here.
There's paradise on Earth waiting for you
if you win.
Good luck. It's Arena time!
Be seeing you!
Be seeing you!
Be seeing you!
It looks like he sure is living it up now.
I'm jealous!
And gathered here to try to
follow in his footsteps today
after besting thousands
in the qualifying rounds,
are our six contestants!
First is none other than the man himself.
Who would have thought
that we'd once again be hearing
his brilliant deductions here?
The winner of the second Mystery Arena
Legend!
Je suis Legend!
MAKOTO ICHINOSE
A.K.A. LEGEND
The young researcher of
such brilliance, he was chosen
by the government to head
the medical research during the pandemic.
Edison!
DAITO MISAWA
A.K.A. EDISON
Good evening.
Pachinko, horse and bike races, casinos
The intuition and luck this man has
built up in games of chance are unrivaled.
Once he gets into the zone,
he is unstoppable!
Gamble!
SHOTA KUKI
A.K.A. GAMBLE
Who's to blame for endless days
stuck in the same dead-end temp job?
The way you tell it, life is predetermined
the moment you're born.
And you can be the one
to prove that wrong!
Unlucky Day!
KENJI SHIWASUDA
A.K.A. UNLUCKY DAY
The one you've all been waiting for!
A winner of the venerable mystery award,
ANO Mystery!
The award went to one of
my personal favorites, titled
Pointy Tusk!
It's Empty Husk!
She rose to fame with impeccable
depictions and brilliant misdirection.
A major player
in the world of mystery writing.
ANO-Mystery!
KIMIKO HATTANKA
A.K.A. ANO-MYSTERY
It's a pleasure.
And lastly
get your hankies ready, everyone.
Here, we have a young orphan
all alone in the world
Sango!
-What?
-Sango!
Boring? Heard that one before?
Hold on now, what if I told you
she's a bona fide genius,
the youngest applicant
to ever take first place
in the qualifier--
Just be quiet right now, Sango!
Sorry
The talking to yourself is
a little creepy.
THE INSIGHTFUL GIRL-GENIUS
ICHIKO
Ichiko!
ICHIKO SHINOZUKA
A.K.A. ICHIKO
I am so very excited to hear the answers
that these fine contestants will cook up!
But they're not the only thing
that we need to get started.
This program is an immersive mystery show
that utilizes a next-generation
shared-vision device,
the Dj vu, to create a visualization of
the story in our one and only show bible.
The Dj vu is a revolutionary gadget
that converts the brain signals produced
by the wearer's visualizations
into video, allowing them to be shared
with others through a screen.
Now, please note that
the video of the story will be based
solely on my subjective interpretation
of the bible.
Contestants, be sure
to base your deduction
on the text of the bible
that will be sent to your tablets
in real time as we go.
In other words, don't get too caught up
in what you see on the screen!
You can cry or you can laugh,
but each contestant's Dj vu
only gives one chance to answer, so--
Whoo, okay!
Real-time viewership of 29.3 million!
Yes!
Hey! Who was that?
I can understand wanting to
make sure it works, but
Legend!
Surely you don't need to
I pressed it because I know the answer.
What?
-Wait, what?
-No way
-Faster than us
-Unbelievable!
That's the stuff!
This is it!
This is the moment I've been dreaming of
since that day 18 years ago.
This is the thrill that no amount
of money could ever buy!
Okay, Legend, step right up
to the answer stage.
From this point,
instead of Mr. Kabayama
the video will be provided
by our current answerer, Legend.
Let's see what theory he presents for us.
Will we witness the glory
of Legend once again?
Reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
The culprit is
The discoverer of Mariko's body, Hikaru!
What?
The first one to find the body?
And here I thought that
Hikaru was our protagonist.
Our first guess is already a shocker.
He truly is a legend.
This is what Mystery Arena is all about!
But this fact is is hidden by
multiple misdirections artfully included
in the structure of the narrative itself.
LEGEND'S DEDUCTION:
THE CULPRIT IS HIKARU TAIRA
WHO FOUND MARIKO'S BODY
Mystery fiction has
a number of unwritten rules.
The more refined the work,
the more likely it is that the crucial
clues are all in the opening.
There were three points
that brought me to my conclusion.
I'll start with the simplest.
Point one.
After catching up with his friends,
Hikaru said he "surrendered himself
to the bed's soft embrace."
From the surrounding text,
it makes sense to think
that this means he fell asleep.
But I want you to recall something.
We never actually saw Hikaru sleeping.
That's right.
The context
and vague language of the story
led us to believe that Hikaru was asleep.
Why would he tuck in his shirt
and tighten his belt only to lie down?
After "relinquishing himself"
and taking a breather
Hikaru used this blank space
to murder Mariko.
He then innocently returned to the lounge
before going back
to her room and "discovering" her body.
His sudden monologue, which appears
nowhere else in the story
I was tired
is the proof.
I surrendered myself
to the bed's soft embrace.
There was indeed a monologue
spoken by Hikaru there.
My second point is
Hikaru's unusual behavior.
Why didn't Hikaru take
the change of clothes from Hide?
Normally, if you were soaked
so heavily in the rain,
it would only be natural to take
the clothes and get changed right away.
But instead of going to his room
to change into his own clothes,
Hikaru headed straight to the lounge.
And then my third point.
Hikaru went to the lounge drenched.
We can surmise that this was because
he wanted to see his beloved Sayaka
as soon as possible.
But if so, wouldn't it be better
to change into the clothes from Hide,
rather than showing up soaked?
Who wouldn't take every chance
to look their best
for the object of their affection?
And yet, Hikaru didn't change.
Did he not like Hide's clothes? No,
it's not that he didn't change.
It's because he couldn't change!
The fact that Hikaru's smoldering gaze
was directed at a woman, and moreover,
that Mr. Kabayama's picture of him
was a man,
led us to believe without doubt
that Hikaru was, in fact, male.
However
Hey, Hikaru! Took you long enough.
-So nice to see you again.
-Bunta, Kyoko.
Huh?
I just assumed he was a man
when I read it.
The gender changed
Isn't that against the rules?
No, they haven't broken any rules.
They told us at the beginning.
The video is just Mr. Kabayama's
subjective imagining of the text.
Wait, what?
In other words,
different readers could easily
interpret the same text in different ways
to create different visuals.
It is written such
that Hikaru could be either.
At any rate,
it isn't safe to just take the video from
Mr. Kabayama's imagination at face value.
Exactly!
That's why they used
the gender-neutral name "Hikaru."
That was the biggest hint there was,
right from the first line.
LEGEND'S DEDUCTION:
THE CULPRIT IS FEMALE HIKARU TAIRA
Brilliant!
We might just have a winner
on our hands here.
Is that your final answer, Legend?
Once I make the call,
there's no going back.
Will it be heaven or hell?
Legend, your answer once again,
if you please.
The killer is
the woman who discovered the body, Hikaru!
FEMALE HIKARU AS THE CULPRIThank you very much!
Now, Legend, if you would,
please go to the answerer's booth
and stand by until the correctness
of your deduction is revealed.
While Legend's answer included the theory
that Hikaru is a woman,
to avoid confusion,
I will continue to picture him as a man
just as I have thus far,
until the story makes it clear
one way or the other.
Sorry for giving you the right answer
from the beginning.
-Well, that was quite a climax
-I think we might be in trouble.
Let's move on
to the next part of the story.
Looking down at Mariko
lying in the pool of blood,
Hikaru Taira simply stood there,
unable to move,
as he heard multiple sets of
footsteps approaching.
The first to enter the room was
Marumo.
What's going on?
Don't come in!
At their feet,
Tama was crying.
Is she really dead?
I checked her pulse, but
You touched the body?
All right,
no one else touch anything.
-I'll investigate.
-Hold on.
What makes it okay for you?
Because we know for sure
that I didn't do it.
What? How?
And even if we call the police,
they won't be able to get here soon
with the bridge out.
We're trapped here in this manor.
Try letting the killer walk around free,
see what happens.
We could wake up tomorrow morning
with another body on our hands.
She's pretty cold.
It's been a while since she was killed.
We don't even know for sure
if it was murde--
Of course it was!
How do you stab yourself in the back?
Given that the manor is isolated
from the outside world,
one of us must have done it.
Then it could've been you.
I just got here and was in the lounge
the whole time.
But you could have snuck in
and killed her,
then acted like you just got here--
Marumo, Taira, that's enough!
It's pretty clear that
the number one suspect right now
is you.
You can't be serious.
I was up late
with Mariko last night
SAYAKA: YESTERDAY NIGHSPENDS TIME WITH MARIKO
I got here a bit before noon today,
on my motorcycle.
When, more precisely?
11:30 a.m. or so.
The three of us had lunch after that.
Right?
After that, we just hung out for a bit.
Then Hide called asking for help with
his luggage, so I went to the station.
Hide met up with Bunta,
and we all came here together.
I think
it was around 2:00 p.m.
And where was Mariko?
We didn't see her.
But Hide did talk to her on the phone.
Ms. Mariko had been in her room
since lunch.
She asked me to clean out the guest rooms
from the first floor up
and wax the east stairway.
I talked with her a bit too,
so that's for sure.
Hey, Mariko, long time no see!
Come down for a second. Huh?
Okay. See you at night, then.
14:00 MARIKO ALIVE
What was everyone else doing?
After unpacking, I think we were
pretty much in the lounge the whole time.
But not everyone was there the whole time.
Yeah. Was it just you who was in
the lounge the whole time, Sayaka?
Yes.
And there was always someone else with me.
I'm gonna go unpack.
Sayaka.
Which means
that Sayaka's the only one with an alibi.
Then Hikaru came.
I think it was just
before 4:30 p.m. or so.
We met at the entrance
and went to the lounge.
But, Hikaru, you weren't there
when I arrived.
I was in my room.
Alone?
Yeah, so?
And Mariko's body was found at 5:45 p.m.
17:45 MARIKO'S BODY FOUND
MARIKO - HIKARU - SAYAKA
BUNTA - KYOKO - HIDE - MARUMO
MEET AT THE STATION 14:00
TALK WITH MARIKO ON PHONE
Well, I'm stumped.
We all could have been anywhere,
there's no way to narrow it down.
Would've been nice
if the killer left footprints.
What do you mean?
I waxed the east stairway.
Anyone going through would leave
a mark until it dries.
Tama, though
Tama! Tama, no!
She just had to be in the way
trying to walk all over the place.
That was a pain.
Anyway, then I noticed Hikaru's car
arrived and went down to the foyer.
That!
Is that true?
If they couldn't use the east stairway
In order to get to Mariko's room
on the third floor
MASTER BEDROOM
the killer would have had to use
the west stairway.
Sayaka,
you said you were in the lounge
the whole time, right?
I was reading,
but I didn't see anyone
go up the west stairs.
Are there any other ways
to get inside the manor?
After Hikaru got here,
I locked the doors.
And all the first floor windows
that could be big enough for a person
don't open.
Hikaru realized something
and muttered to himself.
"Which means that
no one could have gotten
in or out."
And there we go! Our answerer is
the former
the former
the former top-class researcher,
Edison!
Pardon me.
That almost makes it
sound like you're washed up.
Now, Edison, to the stage, please.
ELITE RESEARCHER
EDISON TAKES THE STAGE!
NO ONE HAS AN ALIBI!
ONLY THE WEST STAIRCASE WAS ACCESSIBLE!
UNMASK THE MURDERER
AND FIND OUT HOW MARIKO WAS KILLED!
Sayaka's testimony has revealed the manor
to be cut off completely from the outside.
How will Edison unravel this mystery?
Reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
The crime would be possible
if there was more than one culprit.
I'll call this person "A."
While A was keeping Sayaka's attention,
another, B, went to Mariko's room.
B killed Mariko,
and casually strolled back to the lounge.
Aside from Hide, who was
waxing the east stairway,
the only ones who could have done this
are Bunta
and Kyoko.
But it wouldn't be Mystery Arena
if that was all there was.
There is
another culprit.
Look at these cups.
MULTIPLE PERPETRATORS
Normally, you'd think one each
for Sayaka, Kyoko, Bunta and Hide.
But remember,
Hide was out waxing
until Hikaru came, right?
Why would there be tea here for him?
So, whose was it, then?
-Tama's.
-Tama?
Yes.
But,
not the cat, though. The person.
What?
But in the scene,
when they found the body, she meowed.
Ostensibly, that was not a cat's "cry,"
but a person literally crying.
I see.
A different kind of "cry"?
Mr. Kabayama imagined
Tama as a cat last chapter,
leading us to think that the one who
interfered with Hide's waxing was a cat.
However, it isn't actually written
anywhere in the bible that Tama is a cat.
So, I looked for
hidden evidence that confirms
that Tama is a person.
That taxi story!
You know it's about 5,000 yen
for a taxi from the station.
So we decided to share a ride.
Just over 1,000 yen from each of us.
Saved a pretty penny this year.
Right here!
If each person paid just over 1,000 yen
out of a total of 5,000 yen, that means
there were four people in the taxi.
Hide, Kyoko and Bunta
who joined them to help.
Then who is the last person?
Tama.
Right.
Tama being a human is the only way
that the taxi fare math makes sense.
So then why is the story so eager
on hiding her existence?
The answer is simple.
EDISON'S DEDUCTION:
BUNTA, KYOKO, TAMA COLLUDED
Because she was also
involved in the crime.
Sayaka had someone keeping an eye on her.
So did Hide.
Hey, hey, where're you going?
Ensuring that they couldn't interfere
with Mariko's murder.
So there are three culprits:
Kyoko, Bunta and Tama.
The three of them
colluded with each other!
KYOKO, BUNTA, TAMA AS THE CULPRITS
Over 30 million!
That's a very clever deduction
for a scientist who couldn't show his face
in public after faking results.
I didn't forge anything! I was framed!
So you say.
But hey, maybe winning here will earn you
back some credibility. Don't you think?
Okay, Edison, off to the answerer's booth.
-Bunta was on a motorcycle
-Enjoying the show, everyone?
Couldn't use the east stairs
2:00 p.m. Mariko's alive.
be sure to stay tuned for
some messages from Crownbirch.
WHO IS THE CULPRIT?
KABAYAMA APPEARS WITH AN AFRO!
One minute until we're back
from commercial break!
One minute!
Mr. Kabayama.
Could I try speaking a bit more
normally for my parts?
Huh?
As written, it seems a bit too pandering.
How many years have you been
in this business?
This year's my ninth.
And you're still a nobody,
which is why we write your lines for you.
On in three, two
"Marumo, Hikaru, and Sayaka
stood at the east stairway,
checking for any footprints
between the second and third floors."
Mariko had this clenched in her hand.
Feel like working together yet?
It's not the color Mariko had on.
Meaning
the killer is a woman.
What?
Hikaru proposed to you?
And? What did you say?
It made me happy, but
Taira's a very popular person.
I've heard about
quite a few past relationships.
Me?
Oh, no, no! A long time ago, yes,
I had a lot going on with him,
but not anymore.
Really?
What?
Is that what you were worried about?
In fact, I fully support you two
having a future together.
Thanks.
Actually, Mariko,
there's one other thing
I'm carrying
Taira's baby.
Shocked, Mariko drops her fork
with a "clink."
And we have our first proven
incorrect answer.
I was surprised too.
But this one's pretty cut and dry.
I mean,
"I'm carrying Taira's baby." What?
Meaning that
Hikaru Taira must be a man.
And therefore, Legend's theory that
a female Hikaru was the killer
has been proven incorrect.
WRONG
LEGEND
Oh, Legend?
No way
I can't believe you're leaving us so soon.
Stupid!
You only won once on a fluke!
So, that's the end of Legend's run.
Let's all give him
a big round of applause!
He may be a legend,
but that doesn't exempt him
from his side of the deal.
It's a shame to see him go,
but, as per usual, Legend will be
staying here for one year,
-helping us with our research
-What?
Come on, you're scaring me!
I said I'm scared!
About 20 years ago,
many lives were lost to the pandemic,
and many more were affected
by its terrible lasting effects.
Birth defects caused by the disease
reached a level that some called
a national crisis,
so our company devoted its full effort
to developing a cure.
To both support the government
in its recovery efforts
and to create a safe, permanent cure
that could eliminate the lasting symptoms
once and for all,
we created this program.
We offer an unprecedented sum
of prize money to encourage
participation in our project,
and in return, we ask for a small amount
of time from everyone who fails.
While we restrict communication from
the research center to protect
confidential information,
some of our guests have described
the star treatment
they get there as far preferable to
the harsh realities of the outside world.
Tomorrow's billionaire could be you,
watching this right now.
Applications to the qualifiers for
next year will open after the show.
We very much look forward
to hearing from you.
TOUCH THE QF CODE FOR DETAILS!
Things are heating up here
on Mystery Arena!
I can feel my heart pouncing.
-They want to answer
-Come on, Ichiko.
-You know the answer.
-But
We've had our first disqualification,
but it's still a race to the answer!
And no one knows
how long the story will last.
Remember those years the contestants
failed by being too cautious
and not answering before it was too late.
He's going for it! Ichiko! Push it!
Oh!
ONE ELIMINATED!
FOUR CONTESTANTS YET TO ANSWER!
Ota!
And Ichiko got there first!
Yes!
Well then, Ichiko,
to the answer stage, please.
THE INSIGHTFUL GIRL-GENIUS
ICHIKO
It's finally happening.
THE HIGHEST QUALIFYING SCORER,
ICHIKO, DESCENDS!
Ota, don't get cocky!
Okay, Ichiko, show us what the top scorer
in the qualifiers can do!
Reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
Something was bothering me
about the whole story.
There's one person missing.
At this point, Hide said that
the guest rooms were all taken.
That got me thinking
the entire time about just how many people
were in the building.
I saw on the map
that the manor has four guest rooms,
each on the first and second floors,
two on either side, for a total of eight.
I want to take a moment
to go over the cast.
So far, we've seen
Hikaru,
Sayaka,
Marumo,
Hide,
Kyoko,
Bunta,
and
if Edison's theory is correct,
the human Tama.
Seven in all.
Which means there's an extra room.
This contradicts Hide's statement
at the beginning that
the guest rooms are all taken.
There is one way
to resolve the contradiction.
Another character
who has been intentionally concealed.
Interesting But if that were true,
wouldn't the number of taxi passengers
and teacups on the table be off?
No.
For the taxi, what if
Hide, Kyoko, Tama and
the secret character each paid
a bit over 1,000 yen
to make up the 5,000 yen?
But Bunta did go to meet
that group, didn't he?
Yes, but how did he get there?
That's right.
He went to meet them on his motorcycle.
And naturally, he would have
returned the same way.
Which makes for
one extra space in the taxi,
matching the one extra guest room.
The cups are much simpler.
There just needs to be one more cup
that's not on the table,
because someone's holding it.
ICHIKO'S DEDUCTION:
SOMEONE IS BEING HIDDEN
There were traces of this person
everywhere.
Given this portrayal, I believe that
this person's definitely the killer.
Nicely done.
Here I thought she was just here
for the tragic backstory,
but maybe that top score
in the qualifiers wasn't a fluke.
Now then, with respect,
Miss Ichiko,
will that be all?
Will it be heaven or hell?
Your answer once again, if you please!
The murderer is
"X," the nameless character
purposely obscured by the text.
"X"?
"X"?
"X."
THE UNKNOWN "X" AS THE CULPRIQuite the astounding,
sophisticated answer we've received!
This year's show might just be
one of the greatest.
Now Miss Ichiko,
off to the answerer's booth.
Hold that thought,
we have another answer! Oh, this is tough
The hell?
You guys are good!
Now then, I believe
it's time for me to show my hand.
Quite the gambler indeed,
giving your own answer right away!
Now it's Gamble's turn!
Reach out and grasp your future.
With your own deductive skills!
Idiots!
Everyone's thinking way too hard
about this.
The truth is always the simplest,
most obvious thing.
This is the culprit.
You mean Hikaru as a man?
Mr. Kabayama. Read the story
right here one more time.
Let's see
"Hung in the dim foyer, directly across
from the front entrance,
the painting's icy gaze seemed as though
it were judging those visiting the manor."
"The woman's eyes intrigued Hikaru."
The woman.
She's the murderer!
THE WOMAN'S EYES INTRIGUED HIKARU
I just don't know what to say
She ran,
right before Hikaru's eyes.
Then Hide showed up right after.
That's why Hikaru looked outside here.
"Why would she go outside in this rain?"
He was still thinking about her
as he half-listened to Hide,
constantly wondering just where she went.
THE CULPRIT IS THE WOMAN
And that is my answer.
THE WOMAN AS THE CULPRIThank you very much!
Now to the answerer's booth,
if you please!
If Gamble's answer is correct,
I dare say he'll be able to pay off
every last scrap of debt in one swoop!
I'm in a heck of a spot now
thanks to your theory.
But it's not confirmed yet.
I don't want your reassurance!
I need to win this
And use the money to research
the birth defects again?
If those lies about fabricating data
hadn't spread
What is this?
I was so close to something we could use!
I can't believe
Crownbirch got there first.
Big talk for a loser.
Sango!
Now, continuing the story.
ONE PERSON ELIMINATED!
The trees around the manor
swayed in the wind.
In the lounge,
Hide, Kyoko, Bunta awaited
their friends' return with worry
written across their faces.
Oh, don't you look cozy.
Did Hide get that for you?
It's just kind of cold in here.
There are more blankets
if you want one, Kyoko.
There's a whole pile
in the guest room being renovated.
I really think we should go
to call for help.
I told you,
the bridge is out.
Bunta's bike can handle offroad
Even my bike isn't getting through
those mountains.
And besides, it can't be used right now.
I got a flat tire on the way
to meet everyone at the station.
-What?
-Bunta
never comes through when you need him.
I rode with them in the taxi
on the way back.
I want to eat clam chowder
when we get there.
It was absolutely crammed with
all the people and luggage.
Tama's words contained an amount of ire.
-Hey, it meant we all paid less.
-Hey, it meant we all paid less.
I have some unfortunate news.
That is our second confirmed
incorrect answer of the show.
WRONG
ICHIKO
That's right.
It's you, Ichiko.
And so the least fortunate
meet even more misfortune
Just how it always goes!
But there wasn't anything
about a flat tire
And yet it's right here in the book.
And the renovations, that was
completely after the fact!
Quit whining! Shut up and get outta there!
Mr. Kabayama!
Well, maybe you should have watched
a bit more of the story before answering.
Damn it!
And that's the end of Ichiko's run.
Let's all give her a big hand!
And now, we take a break.
-Going to commercial break!
-Mr. Kabayama!
Time for plan B, I guess.
Ichiko, do what I say.
Grab that chair and throw it
as hard as you can at that camera,
then run.
Now, do it!
Hey, the camera's out.
-No! Go left!
-But
Stop!
Hold it right there!
Why?
I'm a cop.
What?
Come with me if you want to live.
If it gets us out of here, go for it!
The contestants escaped?
General, we're terribly sorry.
We have everyone searching, but
-Reika.
-Yes?
-Help find them.
-What?
And report any progress to me.
Search everywhere,
including the restricted areas, with this.
What about the show?
You being gone won't make a difference.
Get a move on!
All of you!
Yes, sir!
Expensive
Mr. Kabayama, we're almost back
from commercial break.
I know that!
What's wrong, Sango? Are you okay?
If you're coming with me, hurry up.
But what is a police officer doing here?
We had an anonymous tip from the inside.
A tip?
Nearly every person who has been on
this show has gone missing shortly after.
Back from commercial break in 15 seconds!
TOKYO MPD
PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU
I see
They used an ex-con's identity.
What do you mean by
"people going missing"?
I was hoping it was made up, but
I guess everything in that
creepy ad was a lie too.
Help with research for a year--
If you call that "helping."
Legend?
Why All shriveled
TO: CHIEF
FAILED TO SEND
Was I
Was that me, a shriveled husk?
Sango, you
You were a contestant on this show?
How did you
Sango
You seemed to know the layout
of this building.
No! Go left!
Sango, explain.
You tricked me?
Getting me to do all that studying
All so I'd get on this show?
Listen, Ichiko. I--
I don't want to hear it!
Quiet!
Geez, hot in that thing!
Hey, don't point that thing at me.
Red's not my color. Cut it out.
So damn hot! I told you,
get that off me. I'm serious!
That's not funny.
You're
Aren't you supposed to be overseas?
Be seeing you!
I'm just a hired actor.
-An actor?
-Yup.
Would you have signed up to this show
if no one had ever won?
Sure kept me waiting.
You gonna put that thing down or what?
Wasn't easy sneaking out, I tell you.
Plan only works if people
follow orders, damn it.
BE ON MYSTERY ARENA
You answer third.
Then we meet here, right?
I'm the one who tipped you off,
ya lunkhead.
Why did you?
Oh, my sense of justice.
Well, that's not really my character.
This for ten years.
They've kept me trapped here
ever since I "won."
I can't take it anymore.
You get me out of here and
I'll tell you everything I know.
Everything's ready to go.
Hell yeah. Let's go then.
Got something I want to show you.
Come on.
Je suis Legend!
Two contestants, Edison and Gamble,
have already answered
and still have a chance.
You two in the answerer's booth?
You're still in it to win it!
Sadly, we can't connect with them
right now due to an equipment failure.
Let's continue the story.
Hikaru!
Taira! Please come out!
You all suspect me
because I found the body, right?
Then I'll prove I'm innocent.
I'm not leaving this room
until help arrives!
But it's better if we stay together.
Leave me alone!
He's right.
We should all protect ourselves.
I'm going to hole up in my room.
Why?
Because the killer is
Hikaru Taira.
What?
Marumo!
This is
It's proof they're running a scam.
Hurry up and take pictures.
Oh, no, that's not good. Leave it.
We're going, come on.
TRESPASSED 1 MIN AGO
They've been in the restricted area.
Search the room.
Reika.
Report.
We should be close.
What? You still haven't found them?
I'm sorry.
Can't read the script, can't do this
What are you good for, you washed-up idol!
Just find them!
SECURITY PORT COMPLETE
STANDBY. SQUAD B4
Just a bit further.
After that turn, it's a
straight shot to the tunnel out.
THEY ARE NOT TO MAKE IT OUUNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
IF YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM ALIVE
Damn it They found out our plan?
Put the gun down!
Run!
Don't move! Go, go, go! Go!
Go, go, go!
Go, go!
Amid howling wind, the screams of
Sayaka echo throughout the manor.
In the room, Hikaru lies dead, strangled.
Taira!
Sayaka, Bunta!
No way
That's why I said
we shouldn't have left him alone.
Marumo and Tama were killed
in their rooms too.
What is going on?
I was with Sayaka,
you three were together, we all should
have had someone watching us!
Tama went to wake Marumo up,
but she never came back.
Then, the killer must be
Sadly, as Tama has been murdered,
Edison, who posited
Kyoko, Bunta and Tama as the killers,
has been proven incorrect.
Take that! That's what you get
when you cross me!
You're dead!
Die, die, die
Die already, you piece of scum.
EDISON
Damn it! Damn it!
My last memory was in that operating room.
When I woke up,
somehow I was inside you,
when you were a baby.
It's true that I led you
to coming on this show.
But
I just needed to know.
What happened
to me there?
I thought that I could learn something
if I came back.
Seventeen years of confusion
I felt bad for you,
but I couldn't stop myself.
Enough.
After we get out of here, you're
paying me back for these 17 years.
Ichiko
I'm getting out no matter what.
Shut up a second.
Your conviction is impressive,
but do you realize just how screwed
we are here?
Longshot?
So much blood.
He's been shot.
Without you, we
The truth will remain a mystery, huh?
This Mystery Arena,
from the very beginning
Is it rigged so that it's impossible
to answer correctly?
Bunta warmly called out
to the fading voice.
I've got it! I know the answer!
And ANO-Mystery finally takes
her chance to answer!
With the group's likeliest suspect
Hikaru Taira killed,
along with Marumo and Tama,
the pool of possible culprits
has narrowed quite a bit indeed.
To the stage, if you please!
THE LEADING FIGURE OF THE MYSTERY WORLD
HIKARU, MARUMO AND TAMA WERE KILLED
IN ADDITION TO THE LADY, MARIKO!
WHO IS THE CULPRIT?
AND WHAT'S THE TRICK?
Will ANO-Mystery be able to use
this second chance
to regain her former glory?
Finally, the goddess of mystery
has smiled upon me.
Reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
The killer is
the victim, Mariko's
son, Hiramitsu!
"Hiramitsu"?
"Mariko's son"?
Was there such a character?
"Hiramitsu," written identically
to "Hikaru Taira."
WIth the same kanji characters as
Hikaru Taira who was just killed.
Oh, my!
You mean that some of the places where
I pictured them saying "Hikaru Taira,"
the text actually meant "Hiramitsu"?
Yes. Nasty little trick.
But I deal with words for a living,
you can't fool me.
I thought it was strange
from the beginning.
Right after someone
gives a plausible theory,
some new piece of evidence
shows up that disproves it.
And there are plot holes
all over the story
that leave room for wild theories
like Gamble's.
But changing the right answer every time
someone guesses is untenable.
The story would fall apart.
Well, no human mind could pull it off
That thing!
That's where it happens.
As far as I can tell,
when a new guess is made on the show,
Kabayama sends a signal
that triggers an AI system to analyze it
and alter the story
so that it's incorrect.
So they can create an unlimited number
of show bibles with different endings?
Kabayama made the entire system.
As long as that room is running,
we can never answer correctly.
God damn it!
So everyone who's been on the show
Mind telling me what exactly
you're talking about?
Marumo said this before
he locked himself in this room.
Because the killer is
Hikaru Taira.
Marumo's statement here must have been
Because the killer is
Hiramitsu.
Marumo was saying that
he was going to hide in his room
to protect himself from Hiramitsu, who
could use secret passages to move freely
-throughout the manor.
-I'm going to hole up in my room.
That's what he said.
How could that be?
There was also evidence of
Hiramitsu's existence in the opening.
What!
The signature on the portrait of Mariko.
The portrait?
There it is!
She's right!
I'm impressed you caught
such a tiny detail!
I can feel my heart pounding!
Palpitating even!
So weird
Do we have finally
have the correct answer?
No right answer, that's just messed up.
You didn't know anything?
They treat us underlings like crap.
I just tried not to think about anything.
-Then
-What?
Don't get me wrong.
What would I get out of helping you?
If I turn you in,
maybe I could
Can you really go back, now that you know?
If we don't get this truth
out to the world,
Edison and ANO-Mystery
and Unlucky Day,
and everyone who signs up
in the future will die.
You'd be assisting in those murders.
And the past contestants will
never be able to rest in peace!
Ichiko
I've had enough lectures
from Kabayama alone.
Are you really going to let go
of this chance to get back at him?
He's been harassing you, hasn't he?
And you're still a nobody,
which is why we write your lines for you.
You have a plan?
Well
Ichiko.
Doesn't live performance get
your blood pumping?
We'll reveal the truth live on the show!
Sounds like fun.
I'll take over the switching room.
At Osu Kannon Temple in Nagoya
on New Year's Eve,
a crowd is gathered on the street to watch
the 20th annual Mystery Arena.
The afro is so popular.
That's how things are looking out here.
General Producer Kabayama,
you have quite the amazing show.
Will you be doing your New Year's visit
to a shrine after the show?
No, the whole team here will be
enjoying a celebratory toast together.
Oh, I see.
Thank you once again, Mr. Ishii.
-Thank you as well.
-Makes me think,
the Japanese really just do
the same things year after year.
Thank you!
And we're down to Unlucky Day
as the only remaining contestant.
The momentous 20th edition
of Mystery Arena has finally reach--
-Protect Mr. Kabayama!
-Don't move!
We've taken over the switching room.
Whatever happens here will be
seen by the entire nation!
Why, if it isn't Miss Ichiko!
I thought you answered wrong
and dropped out. Why are you here?
I'm here to tell the people the truth.
The truth?
These people are toying with
the lives of the contestants!
Now, just hold on a second.
Where is this coming from?
A sore loser hijacking
the broadcast like a terrorist!
Our program was founded on the idea
of a fair chance for all.
I think it's clear who our wise
viewers will side with.
A fair chance for all?
Where do you get off, after making
a show built on a bed of festering lies?
Every single person you disqualified
-could have been righ--
-Everybody knows
that Crownbirch Group
is a highly trustworthy organization
that greatly respects
the sanctity of life, right?
Incorrect answerers assisting
with research is all a lie!
What?
They're all dead.
Drained of all their fluids to be used
for experiments.
It's completely unforgivable!
Silence!
Seriously?
I can't believe you'd spread
baseless lies over
the public airwaves like this!
This happens far too much,
people ensnared by conspiracy theories,
trying to defame us!
I'm not lying! I saw it with my own eyes!
If this went on the air, it would be more
than just an unfortunate incident,
Mr. Kabayama.
I'm sorry
Reika locked me out.
Open up! Open up!
Looks like this washed-up idol
is in charge now.
Reika?
Is that you, Reika?
Good job!
That's my assistant for you.
Huh?
I'm not sure you get the picture here,
Mr. Kabayama. I'm in charge now.
Mr. Kabayama,
how about you try on
the assistant role for once?
What are you talking about?
Well, aren't you slow on the uptake?
I'm saying that the show
is going to go on!
Guards?
Would you just stand down
until I give the word?
Unless you want the whole country to see
you pointing your guns at a civilian.
If the final contestant
can answer correctly,
I will give you the opportunity
to expose the show's wrongdoing.
If he is incorrect,
the show will continue as normal.
-Stop messing around!
-I am dead serious, you scum!
If they get their chance,
I will be the savior that gave them
the opportunity to expose the truth.
If things go back to normal,
I will have saved the show,
and will receive quite the warm welcome
from the board, I expect.
I win either way.
So, what'll it be, Mr. Kabayama?
Fine.
On my authority as head of the show
and representative of Crownbirch,
I will allow the show to resume.
Hold on! You know the show is--
I don't care.
I just want to put some fear
into that egomaniac.
And also
Isn't solving the unsolvable
what Mystery Arena's all about?
We'll just have to hope
the last contestant gets it
I'll go to stop the new show bible.
Not exactly someone
I'd trust with my life.
All right, Reika!
-Resume the broadcast!
-Excuse me?
That's "ma'am" to you,
you slack-jawed imbecile!
Yes, ma'am. Please take us live.
It's dark down here.
Watch your step.
Can't we turn on the lights?
He's accustomed to the dark.
Huh?
Are we there yet?
Just past here.
This is Ms. Mariko's son,
Hiramitsu's studio.
These are all of Mariko?
Those eyes
I remember Hikaru found the eyes of
the painting in the foyer quite intense.
All these years, I had no idea.
Ms. Mariko was very insistent on it
staying a secret.
Hiramitsu has a condition,
and can never be in the sun.
Oh, no.
But why would he
Well, only he knows
Hiramitsu, I know you're in here.
Hiramitsu?
Hiramitsu?
What?
What is it?
He's rotting
Must have been dead for days.
Are these sleeping pills?
So he killed himself?
But
So, it wasn't him either?
Then
"In the darkness,
a scream could be heard."
Come on, FD!
Let's go!
Yes, ma'am!
How unfortunate!
The eyes that caught Hikaru's attention
when he first arrived
at the manor were indeed those
in the painting.
There was no mystery woman,
so Gamble is now out of the running.
And
a days-old corpse could hardly have
killed Hikaru and Marumo,
so ANO-Mystery has now
dropped out as well.
X!
X!
ANO-MYSTERY
There it is!
Our final contestant, Unlucky Day!
And,
that analog bell means the story is over.
Now that the final sequence has been read,
there are no more clues to be gained.
And to think, if he had hit the buzzer
just a second later,
he would've been out.
Well, Unlucky Day?
Feeling confident?
I just pushed it because it felt like
it was going to end.
A shrewd guess,
but it's only your theory
that counts in the end.
All that remains now is the solution!
You can cry and you can laugh,
but this, the 20th edition of
Mystery Arena,
has come down to
the final contestant's answer.
Viewers at home,
are you ready?
Now then, Unlucky Day,
let us hear the final deduction!
Reach out and grasp your future.
With your own deductive skills!
FDs, off stage.
Come on, dude.
I
I can't answer.
Unlucky Day, you are my favorite!
To make it official, you are forfeiting
your opportunity to answer?
Yes.
Hell no!
So instead,
I'm ceding it to her.
What?
What's this now?
That's Ichiko. She already answered,
incorrectly. What's she doing here?
Nothing good ever happened in my life.
I've wanted to die more times
than I can remember,
but
if what she said is true
I don't want die here!
What are you talking about, Unlucky Day?
Have you cracked under the pressure?
"What she said"?
What are you talking about?
But
There's no way I could solve
a problem this hard.
So
So instead
I'm putting my life
in her hands.
Please,
use my life!
UNLUCKY DAY WITHDRAWS?!
ICHIKO TO MAKE A COMEBACK?!
Sorry to burst your bubble,
but there's no such a rule.
I'm not breaking any rules.
You explained it yourself,
Mr. Kabayama.
You can cry and you can laugh,
but each contestant's Dj vu
only gives one chance to answer.
One answer
per Dj vu.
Not one answer per person.
And
I haven't used my Dj vu.
Fine!
Tonight is the special 20th Arena!
Anything goes, just make it a good show!
Go ahead.
Ichiko.
Take Unlucky Day's Dj vu.
Come on, Kabayama.
Give her five minutes.
It wouldn't be fair
without a recap of the story.
And we have so much hype right now
it'd be a waste not to draw it out.
You worthless prick!
Now, we're going to give Ichiko
a little time to think.
As you're all well aware, this program is
practically synonymous
with sportsmanship and fair play.
Your time begins now!
And time's up.
And now, what you've all been waiting for!
Ichiko will lay out the final deduction
of the show.
For one last time,
reach out and grasp your future!
With your own deductive skills!
It's okay, Ichiko.
Believe in yourself.
Okay.
The killer is
a character that has already
appeared in the story.
One who knows the manor inside and out,
and can move about it freely.
The killer is
So, when's the big reveal?
Thank you for playing along
and not saying anything.
Come on, Marumo.
You've been in there long enough.
I'm sorry.
But now all three of us can be together.
I'll be there with you soon.
The rest is up to you.
I think that's enough.
The murderer is the lady of the manor
and the first victim,
Hikaru's former lover,
and mother of Hiramitsu,
that she had with Hikaru.
Is something wrong, Mr. Kabayama?
Is the new bible not arriving?
You see? I am not all by myself.
The culprit written in that bible is
Hiramitsu's mother
and the lady of the manor,
Mariko. Am I correct?
THE CULPRIT WAS MARIKO
Show me!
Oh, no! How terrible!
The one and only show bible ever made!
THE CULPRIT WAS
-Don't be angry! You're saved.
-Amazing!
What do you mean?
The culprit written in the book
wasn't Mariko.
-Liar.
-It's true, but
now that the proof's been burned away
due to my clumsiness,
Miss Ichiko,
I cannot disprove your answer.
So
I'm giving you one more chance.
I will write down the killer's name
on this piece of paper.
If you can guess it correctly,
I will judge you victorious.
Impossible! There is no other suspect!
Oh, but there is.
The show bible is gone.
All of the evidence is in what you saw
and heard here tonight.
I'll make a special exception.
You can use my Dj vu.
Of course,
you are also free to resign.
Here too
And here
I just can't think of anyone
who could have done it other than Mariko.
Sango, where are you?
Sango
And tonight's Mystery Arena
has reached its climactic finale!
Until the final moment when the killer's
name is given, anything could happen!
Miss Ichiko's long-awaited answer
will be right after these commercials.
Hey, cut to commercial!
Going to commercial.
And we're on commercial!
Okay.
In accordance with our ethos that
everyone we work with is special,
Crownbirch Group has grown over the years
through many amicable mergers
and partnerships with other companies.
Our expertise and technology are
always used exclusively
to ensure smiles and
You don't even have the right
to answer correctly.
Ever since birth, you've had another
personality inside you, haven't you?
I had you investigated quite thoroughly.
That is
a rare side effect of the medicine
my company makes from human fluids.
Human fluids?
Concentrated intracellular fluid
taken from the failed contestants.
About 20 years ago,
because of that awful pandemic,
many newborns started dying,
completely unable to grow.
We started developing a new drug, but
we couldn't shake off the data fabrication
claims, so the government pulled out.
We stuck with it, and finally succeeded
in creating a drug from
bioactive human bodily fluid
that extended the children's lives.
From living people?
Curiously,
the more intelligent the person
the fluid was from,
the higher the children's
chance of survival.
So, this show is
Exactly.
It started as a way
to select for intelligence.
But there's no way I would have
been given that medicine.
We were low on test subjects
at the beginning,
so we used orphaned
and abandoned children.
You are one of the children
this show has saved.
I'm practically your father.
Are you still sure you want to expose us?
Off commercial in one minute!
Without the treatment,
all the lives like yours
that could be saved will be lost.
Without Sango, I
Exactly.
You losing here will ensure
the future of the next generation.
Beautiful!
Isn't it beautiful?
The cycle completing itself,
continuing on forever.
Your life was preserved
by the sacrifice of the woman within you.
And now you can do the same
for someone else.
It's what she would want.
It's why
she brought you here.
Welcome home,
Ichiko.
It's your turn
to pass the torch.
I
Back from commercial in 20 seconds!
When I give the signal, take her down.
I
I
My God, get a grip!
You're being pathetic.
Sango!
I don't remember raising you so soft.
But
Kabayama has you caught in his web.
I've figured out who the killer is.
Who is it?
You
You figure that out yourself.
I can't! Not without you.
Believe in yourself.
You can take care of yourself now.
No! I don't want to be alone!
No.
You never needed me.
I'm sorry.
It's my fault
you were always alone.
You're wrong!
I wasn't alone.
You were
always there for me.
You're important to me, Sango.
You're my only friend.
I'll give you a hint, as a parting gift.
Think carefully.
The hint
is this.
You gotta win, Ichiko.
Don't
let there be any more victims like me.
Sango
Back from commercial in five seconds!
Four, three, two
We have come to the crossroads of fate!
It's time for your answer, Ichiko.
Will it be heaven or hell?
Where will your answer fall?
To be honest, I'm still not certain.
This might not even qualify
as a deduction
But
if there is someone
who could have committed the murders
who hasn't been guessed,
I think it would have to be this person.
The people who come on this show are
worthless refuse, dropouts from society!
Would you save them or the children
who've had their future senselessly
stolen by illness?
Don't be dumb.
There's no such thing as a life
more important than another!
I
want to change the future,
with the people alive now.
The murderer is
you, Mr. Kabayama!
Mr. Kabayama appeared in the manor
as a narrator,
but there was nothing stating
one way or another
whether he was a character
in the story or not.
He was the omniscient narrator,
the story's god.
A swing-like presence that moves freely
between the real world
and the Dj vu world.
When I was in Mariko's room,
I was able to touch her clothes.
That undeniably proves that,
with your Dj vu,
you could cause physical harm
to the characters.
Come on, Marumo.
You've been in there long enough.
Hiramitsu, I know you're in here.
Hiramitsu?
You created the most
underhanded kind of murder mystery,
the omniscient narrator as the killer.
There's no way I could've got that.
Why did you give me your Dj vu?
Was it your way of facing your fate?
You wrote on that piece of paper
that you yourself are the killer.
That is what I chose to guess.
Now,
we check my answer.
It is true
that I would not be alive
if not for your experiments.
But Because of that
Sango showed me what I needed to do.
No,
this is my own decision!
I can't just sit back while you commit
crimes against human life.
You have no right to decide
who lives and dies!
THE KILLER IS MOMOTARO KABAYAMA
Mr. Kabayama,
please state the result for the camera.
The world is waiting!
HEAVEN OR HELL
Correct.
CORRECShe's good.
We're here to discuss
your sensational new book,
A Sickness Called Mystery Arena, which
is already slated for a second edition.
First of all, congratulations
on making the bestseller list!
Thank you.
KIMIKO HATTANKA
It was an attempt at a new genre for me,
but I think that I proved that
it's never too late or too early
to try something new.
Speaking of trying new things,
how did it feel to be chosen to star
in the movie adaptation?
REIKA MONTELEONE
I just want to do the very best job
that I could.
You were a part
of the actual Mystery Arena
as an assistant, Ms. Monteleone,
-but do you share
-Come in.
anything with your character in the film?
I learned the truth about the show
I heard that you woke up.
Thanks.
Wonderful!
So the orphanage is staying open for sure?
Yes.
We got so many donations,
probably since people saw me on the show.
Speaking of which,
Unlucky Day has started working there.
Really?
-Good for him.
-Hey, I'm doing laundry now.
And Edison is back at his former lab after
clearing the allegations against him.
He's waiting for
his new cure to be approved.
The government is moving as fast as it can
while ensuring safety, apparently.
Still wild to think that
all those accusations
against Edison were Kabayama working
through his group's companies.
So awful. Just so his company
could corner the market.
At any rate,
we took down his whole murderous system
thanks to you.
And me, of course.
Now we can only pray that
Edison's new drug saves the world.
I never want to just pray,
or rely on someone else.
I'm going to study hard
so I can work with Edison
and make Sango's wish come true.
The mark
Yeah, ever since that day
Sango's voice too
But I feel like she's still nearby.
And always will be.
For all those who love mysteries,
devote themselves
to mysteries, and live with mysteries
At the apex of logic and insight lies an
arena of fathomless mind and intellect
Welcome
to Mystery Arena!
Shut your pie hole!
And it begins, Mystery Arena!
Go to sleep already!
The unconquerable show
of logical deduction
that stimulates your intellect
and curiosity!
If you answer correctly,
you will receive
a grand prize of
ten billion yen!