Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner

In Japan, the time it takes for a criminal case to go from resolution to prosecution isn't fixed. Generally speaking, if there are no special circumstances such as delays, the prosecutor usually decides whether to prosecute within 23 days after the suspect is arrested.

If the police believe it is necessary to arrest the suspect, they can apply for an arrest warrant from the judge. Once the warrant is issued, the police must hand over the case to the prosecutor within 48 hours.

Japan adopts a strict single-charge indictment system to prevent pre-judgment, meaning the case generally won't be pre-tried. Once the prosecutor completes the paperwork, the case can proceed to court.

Minamoto Tamako, holding on to a slim hope, asked if the case could be withdrawn for a retrial, and Kinosaki Shoujin gave a definitive answer:

No.

If the prosecutor feels the facts are unclear, they will request the law enforcement agencies to conduct supplementary investigations during detention; but now that the prosecutor has decided to prosecute, it shows he is very satisfied with the case file, not even needing to send it back for revision, directly proceeding to court.

It's all over.

Minamoto Tamako realized she had made a severe mistake in her career, and there was no way to remedy it. She was beyond frustrated.

"Cheer up; maybe my reasoning is wrong?" Fushimi Roku rarely offered a word of comfort.

"Wrong where? I don't see any problem." Minamoto Tamako slumped on the couch, transforming into an unmotivated couch potato.

"You not seeing it doesn't mean there isn't a problem... why don't you add another stamp, and I'll tell you where the flaw in this reasoning is." Fushimi Roku said with ill intent.

Minamoto Tamako snorted, ignoring him, listlessly turned over, burying her face in a cushion: "Say it if you want."

It's clear she's genuinely dejected.

Seeing this, Fushimi Roku lost interest in teasing her, shrugged and said, "Have you ever thought about who sent this tape?"

"You know?" Minamoto Tamako immediately lifted her upper body, looking like the expression in an Ultraman meme.

"I don't know, but it indicates third-party interference in the case, right? There's also the question, how did Yoshikawa Ritsuo know her boyfriend's disappearance was related to Fujiwara Homare?" Fushimi Roku clapped his leg, slowly stood up.

"How is that doubtful? It's not important at all." Minamoto Tamako went back down.

"Where is your famous detective spirit? You can't overlook even the smallest doubt!" Fushimi Roku threw on a coat, went to the entrance to change shoes.

Minamoto Tamako slightly turned, half her face buried in the cushion, observing Fushimi Roku with one eye, noticing his stance, he seemed ready to head out... could it be Mr. Fu Jian was going to investigate for her?

At this thought, she felt slightly touched, warmth welling up in her heart, suddenly not as depressed.

"Are you going to investigate?" Minamoto Tamako flipped over: "I'm going too..."

"What investigation? Isn't the case closed?" Fushimi Roku used a shoehorn to slip into his shoes, saying: "It's almost summer, I want to eat ice cream... do you want one? I'll bring some if you do."

Fuming, Minamoto Tamako punched the cushion, then slumped back, voice muffled: "Yes."

When you're in a bad mood, you need something sweet.

Fushimi Roku 'hmm'ed, leisurely opened the door. As he reached the corridor, the adjoining door opened, Kazama Tatsuya stuck his head out, urging him about when he'd go for the mental health assessment.

"Soon, soon, why the rush!" Fushimi Roku looked visibly annoyed: "I'm just about to go, you know how hard it is to find a good excuse to slip away?"

Kazama Tatsuya eyed him up and down, without saying much further, was about to close the door and head back. Unexpectedly, Fushimi Roku suddenly reached out, jamming the door crack: "Wait, there's something to discuss with you."

"What is it?" Kazama Tatsuya asked.

"I feel your mental state isn't too well either," Fushimi Roku, at least with a level seven psychological guidance skill, could tell Kazama Tatsuya's recent state was deteriorating: "Why don't you get checked too?"

"Not necessary."

Kazama Tatsuya forcefully pulled the door single-handedly, but it didn't move, Fushimi Roku's strength was beyond his expectations.

"If you aren't going, why demand me?" Fushimi Roku challenged.

"I'm not like you..."

"What's so different? Aren't we just two eyes and a mouth? Haven't you been teaching Minamoto Tamako how to use a gun lately? What if you have an episode during practice?" Fushimi Roku pointed at Kazama Tatsuya's nose, imitating a signature move: "I don't trust you either."

Kazama Tatsuya paused in silence, decisively opened the door, saying: "Fine, we'll go together then."

Fushimi Roku nodded in satisfaction, asked: "Do you have a wheelchair at home?"

Kazama Tatsuya actually did, having once been shot on a mission, unable to move independently after discharge, bought a wheelchair, left it to gather dust at home for years, unexpectedly today, Fushimi Roku benefited from it.

At Fushimi Roku's strong request, Kazama Tatsuya brought out the wheelchair, helping him downstairs. The latter initially planned to go directly by car to the mental hospital, but midway through, Fushimi Roku caused a scene, saying there's a quick errand to run, delaying a bit, asking Kazama Tatsuya to proceed first.

"If you're not going, I'm not going!" Kazama Tatsuya fiercely pulled the wheelchair handle.

"I said, you go first, I'll follow!" Fushimi Roku clung to a street lamp, refusing to budge.

"Trying to run? Are you trying to back out on what you promised?" Kazama Tatsuya was quite displeased.

"When did I say I wanted to back out? I've told you, I have serious business to attend to. You think everyone is as free as you?" Fushimi Roku said seriously.

Seeing that he wasn't pretending, Kazama Tatsuya simply let go and stood nearby with one hand on his hip: "Then I'll accompany you with your 'serious business,' then we can go to the hospital together."

"You're an adult now, are you still afraid to go to the hospital by yourself?" Fushimi Roku taunted, "At your age, shouldn't you be fond of the nurses at the hospital?"

"Are you sick?" Kazama Tatsuya asked.

"I'm not sick, you are."

"You're the one who's sick!"

"Hey! Just joking and you're getting all worked up! Definitely guilty..."

"Stop!" Kazama Tatsuya waved a hand and interrupted, unable to tolerate it anymore, "Don't you have business to attend to? Hurry and finish it, check-up quickly, we go our separate ways, no hassle, alright?"

"You really want to come along?" Fushimi Roku asked playfully.

"Is that a problem?" Kazama Tatsuya asked.

"What if I'm going to do something bad? Would you report it to Tamako?" Fushimi Roku retorted.

Kazama Tatsuya paused for a moment, then slowly bent over, meeting Fushimi Roku's eyes, his forehead furrowed: "Are you going to kill someone?"

Fushimi Roku wore an expression like an old man on the subway: "What do you take me for?"

"So you're going to instigate someone else to kill?" Kazama Tatsuya pressed.

"No, I'm going to see a lawyer," Fushimi Roku decided to tell the truth, "Chat with the lawyer a bit, doesn't bother you, right?"

Seeing Kazama Tatsuya silent, Fushimi Roku carefully observed his expression, guessed a bit in his heart, and added: "You're not a cop anymore, idleness doesn't suit you, how about being my assistant? I'll pay you, what do you say?"

"I haven't fallen to that level." Kazama Tatsuya disagreed verbally, but his hand was already back on the wheelchair handle.

"How can that be called falling? When you were criminal police, were your hands clean? You even planned to coerce me back then!"

Fushimi Roku smiled faintly, lowered his voice and tempted, "Isn't there a lot of pressure on cases within the system? Being criminal police feels tied down, right? Now if you follow me on cases, you can really stretch your legs..."

Kazama Tatsuya pushed abruptly, making Fushimi Roku tremble, nearly thrown from the wheelchair, only to hear him say: "Careful or I'll dump you in the stinky ditch by the roadside."

Fushimi Roku was unfazed and didn't take offense, he changed approach and continued to persuade, "Since you don't want to participate, I won't force you... But let's put it this way, letting me continue to act recklessly really isn't suitable, how about supervising me as an observer, to prevent me from doing anything outrageous."

Kazama Tatsuya didn't speak, he looked at his watch, seeming quite impatient.

"No need for you to get involved, you just need to watch from the side, in case I do something outrageous, you can stop me anytime." Fushimi Roku raised both hands, showing sincerity.

"Can I stop you?" Kazama Tatsuya straightened his body.

"Aren't you carrying a gun?" Fushimi Roku glanced at his waist, "I'm not Superman, with a leg injured, isn't it up to you?"

Kazama Tatsuya said nothing, he patted the handle and asked: "Where to?"

Fushimi Roku felt victorious, he kept his expression composed and took out his phone and business card, calling Lawyer Kikuta, arranging to meet at a café to discuss serious business, saying he wanted to talk about the case regarding Fujiwara Homare.

After listening, Lawyer Kikuta told Fushimi Roku to wait, someone nearby wanted to speak to him.

A few seconds later, another voice came through the receiver: "Mr. Fushimi, still busy outside?"

Fushimi Roku recognized it as Director Fujiwara's voice, scratched his nose with a sense of being chased for debts: "Yes, busy with a case."

"What case is left to handle? Wasn't it already submitted to the prosecutor?" Director Fujiwara's voice was gentle, "I reviewed it, done very well, evidence and witnesses complete, the trial should conclude in under five minutes... Kujo Yua truly has a good daughter."

Fushimi Roku knew Director Fujiwara was speaking sarcastically, he directly asked: "Still think Fujiwara Homare didn't commit murder?"

"That's the fact, nothing to argue."

Director Fujiwara's tone was calm but extremely annoyed.

He was profoundly disappointed, thinking Fushimi Roku was a discerning man, exchanging Fujiwara Homare's acquittal for their future happiness would undoubtedly be a profitable deal—even if Fushimi Roku delayed a bit, he would not be so angry, but Minamoto Tamako submitted the dossier in less than 24 hours, indicating Fushimi Roku completely ignored his words.

If so, there was no need for Director Fujiwara to be courteous.

Director Fujiwara was about to hang up but heard Fushimi Roku softly counter: "But what if the fact isn't that?"

"Hmm?"

"You've found the right person," Fushimi Roku smiled and said, "I'm very good at arguing."