HENTAI-OSAKA
TEAM BENIO, SAIRA, AND MIYASI

[Scene: Himeko's house
6th August
8 am, morning
Entire team gathered]

The golden sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows of Himeko's lavish home, casting a warm glow over the room. The spacious living area was adorned with elegant furniture, marble flooring, and intricate chandeliers that reflected the morning light in dazzling patterns. Soft classical music played faintly in the background, adding a serene touch to the grand atmosphere.

Seated around the polished wooden table in the center of the room, the team gathered to review their findings. The air was thick with anticipation, a mix of exhaustion from the previous day's events and determination to piece together the mystery that had drawn them in so deeply.

Kavei stretched his arms, cracking his knuckles before speaking. His sharp eyes scanned the group. "Now, let's review everything from the last two days and start connecting the clues," he announced.

"Starting from Osaka," he added, his voice firm.

Benio leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Alright, let's begin with Hentai," he started. August 4th, the day Miyasi, Saira and Benio had gathered evidences for the Hentai kidnapping case.

Miyasi and Saira exchanged glances before nodding. "We spoke to his mother again," Benio continued, his tone serious. "It seems that his father still hasn't returned home. So, we asked her about his most recent whereabouts. We had already covered his likes and dislikes earlier, so this time, we focused on places he had been to recently."

Himeko, sipping her morning tea, listened intently. Her usually composed face showed hints of concern.

"She mentioned a parlor," Benio said, placing a stack of photographs on the table. "So, we decided to go there for answers. This time, instead of just talking to the manager, we asked her to gather all the staff. But unfortunately, none of them recognized Hentai."

He spread out twelve photographs in front of them. Himeko and Kavei leaned in to examine them closely.

"Then," Benio continued, "we asked if there were any staff members who had left the parlor recently. And as luck would have it, there was one-Nakomi Usaki."

He pulled out another picture and placed it on top of the others. The woman in the photo had short, sleek black hair and a gentle yet mysterious gaze.

"She used to be the owner of the parlor," Benio explained. "But for some reason, she never mentioned that before. Three years ago, she handed the business over to her sister, who is the current manager, and left the beauty industry entirely. She started working as a typewriter instead."

Kavei furrowed his brows. "Why would she leave something she built from the ground up?"

Benio sighed, rubbing his temples. "That's what's odd. During her time as the owner, the parlor became extremely popular. People came from all over, even just for a simple trim. But then... her financial situation collapsed. Her account had absolutely no money left, so she abandoned the business. The strange part is-on the very same day she left, she met Hentai."

Kai, who had been leaning back in his chair, suddenly straightened. "What?"

Benio nodded. "She said Hentai was unusually friendly to her, and they seemed to be surprisingly close. When she saw him, he looked extremely worried. She asked if she could help, and he told her he was looking for an address. Once she gave him the directions, he immediately brightened up and left."

Himeko folded her arms, deep in thought. "And where did he go?"

Benio pulled out another set of photographs. "A construction site. The building was still under construction, but for some reason, they had already decided to demolish it."

He laid out more pictures-shots of the site, the surrounding area, a coffee shop, and a small convenience store nearby.

"These were the only landmarks in the vicinity," he explained. "We asked for permission before entering. The place was massive-fifteen floors, each with five rooms. So, we split up."

Kavei's jaw tightened. "And?"

Benio exhaled. "On the twelfth floor, in the second room, Miyasi found something... disturbing."

He placed another photo in front of them. The image depicted a dusty, unfinished room with plain cement walls and no furniture. The door looked like any other-old, wooden, and covered in dust.

Himeko frowned. "What's so disturbing about this?"

Kavei picked up one of the pictures and studied it closely. His sharp eyes caught a faint diagonal line stretching across the wall from the top left to the bottom left.

"What is this?" he muttered.

Benio leaned forward. "That's exactly what caught our attention. At first, we thought it was a hidden passage, like the one we found in Aroshi's balcony."

"But it wasn't?" Kavei asked.

Benio shook his head. "No. We thought the same, so we tried breaking the wall. And while it did break, there wasn't a secret room behind it-just a safe."

"A safe?" Kavei repeated, his curiosity piqued.

Benio nodded grimly. "Yes. A strong, metallic safe hidden behind the wall. And what was inside... Well, let's just say, the killer we're dealing with is seriously disturbed."

His expression darkened as he reached into his bag and emptied its contents onto the table.

Everyone stared.

"...Cotton pieces?" Himeko picked up one and twisted it between her fingers. "Why cotton pieces?"

Kai's voice was low. "What if the criminal wiped blood with it?"

Benio nodded. "That was our first thought too. But we aren't forensic experts. We need someone skilled to confirm it."

The atmosphere in the room grew heavier.

Kavei ran a hand through his hair. "So, let's recap-you have photographs of the building, the inside, every room, the safe, and the cotton pieces. That's solid evidence. But something still doesn't add up."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Kavei narrowed his eyes. "It's about Usaki. Something about her story doesn't sit right. Think about it-when your bank balance drops to zero, the bank charges a penalty, right? But they also notify you when your balance is running low. So, why didn't she pay before it hit zero? And even if she had no money then, why leave her job after finally paying?"

Benio's face darkened. "You think she lied?"

Kavei shook his head. "No, not necessarily. But something about her quitting doesn't make sense. We need to analyze the other cases too. I have a feeling that once we do, the missing pieces will start falling into place."

The others exchanged glances.

The mystery was far from over.

"And this," Kavei then spoke, tapping his finger on the photographs lay on the table. Capturing the building from the outside with every nook and cranny, an astonishing feat. "How did you you manage to get these?" Kavei asked them.

Benio glanced at Miyasi who looked back at Saira. Saira gulped as she nodded. "We got on the tower cranes the construction boys were using to take pictures of the building from a straight line angle,"

"...you guys...so reckless," Kavei sighed as he leaned back.