## Chapter 55: The On-Location Drama Incident

#

The next day.

After a full day of trailing a cheating case, Fujino hurried to the filming location of *The Threat in the Dark Smile*.

Originally, Fujino had considered declining this assignment. However, when Yoko Shunyo mentioned the 300,000 yen commission and provided accommodation at a traditional Japanese inn, he quickly changed his mind.

Although 300,000 yen wasn't a huge amount, it was equivalent to a month's salary for a relatively high-paying job in Japan.

Such a chance to earn money simply by giving some pointers was too good to refuse.

For Fujino, money wasn't the primary motivator; it was Yoko Shunyo's genuine sincerity that moved him.

The sunset cast a warm glow on the shrine, with the distant cawing of crows echoing in the background.

Yoko Shunyo stood in front of the shrine, her clean face tinged red by the sunset's hues. In her hand, she clutched a blood-stained fruit knife, staring blankly at the man lying on the ground before her. Her blue dress was soaked with blood.

The man, dressed in casual short sleeves, lay spread-eagle on the stone path of the shrine, his chest wound bleeding profusely and staining the stones beneath him.

After a moment, Yoko Shunyo slowly came to her senses. The fruit knife fell from her hand, and she sat on the ground, tears streaming down her face, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Cut!"

As Yoko Shunyo cried out, the director suddenly shouted.

He waved his script triumphantly. "Great! This scene is perfect! Yoko, your acting is superb!"

"You truly are a top actress. You made it look so real."

At this point, Fujino was sitting on the stone steps nearby, bored, observing the filming.

When he heard the director call "Cut," he sighed and remarked, "If I didn't know better, I'd think a real murder had occurred."

Hearing the director's call, Yoko Shunyo let out a sigh of relief and slightly bowed to the 'corpse' in front of her. "Thank you so much for cooperating."

"No problem at all! My performance as the corpse was flawless!" The actor playing the corpse, Natsuki Shingo, stood up from the stone path, exuding a smug demeanor.

"Playing a corpse doesn't require much acting skill, does it?"

Fujino shook his head in disbelief, observing Natsuki Shingo's conceited behavior and muttering, "I bet even I could manage lying there."

Fujino's words weren't far from the truth. He had seen real corpses before and knew what they looked like.

But what was up with Natsuki Shingo?

Despite having corrected his exaggerated acting many times, he still didn't look like a real corpse.

His acting was atrocious. It was a mystery how he even managed to become an actor.

"Detective Fujino, how did you find the scene just now?"

The director approached Fujino, inquiring about his thoughts.

"It was okay. It wasn't extraordinary, but it was good enough…" Fujino thought for a moment before answering, "If only that arrogant guy had played the corpse more convincingly, the scene would have been near-perfect."

"Nothing in this world is perfect."

The director scratched his head and sighed quietly.

He knew Natsuki Shingo's acting was lacking and was dragging Yoko Shunyo down. But the actor was chosen by the investors, and without him, the whole film would be at risk.

Fujino understood. Sometimes, directors were helpless.

"Hey, do you want to join me for dinner tonight?"

"Never mind."

"It's just dinner."

At this moment, there was some flirtatious chatter from the side.

"That brat is hitting on Maiko again."

"Excuse me, Detective Fujino. I need to defuse the situation."

The director complained and, after saying goodbye to Fujino, walked over to where Natsuki Shingo was hitting on the script supervisor, Maiko Dōgen. "This is getting out of hand. Maiko is getting married to that guy next month…"

"Is that so, Shimazaki?"

The director pointed to a man in a white T-shirt with a spiky hairstyle standing behind him.

The man, Shimazaki Yūji, was the AD (assistant director) for the film, responsible for managing the daily operations.

"Yes, that's right."

Shimazaki Yūji scratched his head sheepishly.

"Before marriage, everyone seems like a flower… but who knows what will happen afterward."

A snide voice interrupted the conversation.

Fujino turned to see a man with a red hat and an unremarkable appearance, putting down his camera and sarcastically mocking the others.

"Shut up!"

Yūji, furious, stepped forward, ready to argue with the man.

"Yūji, let it go."

Maiko Dōgen hurriedly stopped him. "We're getting married next month; don't cause trouble."

"That guy always says annoying things!"

Yūji clenched his fists, glaring at the man.

It was understandable why Yūji was upset. Anyone would be irritated hearing such comments right before their wedding.

"I wasn't targeting you."

The man smirked triumphantly. "Or did you take it personally? Ha ha ha!"

"Gah hah hah!"

A chilling voice rang out as the man raised his wrist, flaunting a skull watch he had bought from the US last month. "Look at this! Isn't it interesting?"

"Looks like this guy is the victim this time…"

Fujino observed the man, musing to himself.

The man was named Anzai Mamoru, the film's photography assistant, with a thoroughly unpleasant demeanor. He had even mocked Fujino when he arrived.

"Why do you care about others' post-marriage lives?"

Fujino rose slowly, adding, "By the way, you're almost thirty, aren't you? Don't tell me you don't have a girlfriend?"

"People like you, with such a plain appearance, must find it hard to get a girlfriend. How old are you, still wearing a kid's watch?"

"What did you say?!"

Anzai Mamoru immediately flared up, his true nature revealed. He came at Fujino, ready to argue.

"Oh, I'm sorry if I hit a nerve. Are you upset?" Fujino said with a faint fake smile, and noticing Anzai Mamoru's intent to strike, he added sternly, "But you know, if you act out against a famous detective on set, someone might end up with a ruined reputation."

"Che!"

Anzai Mamoru snorted, suppressing his anger, and stormed off the scene.

*End of Chapter*