[237] Thirty Minutes to a Syndrome
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Baba boyfriend had just died, yet she remained eerily calm. It was strange, and Rokuro's suspicion wasn't entirely unfounded.
However, Mikoto, understanding her duty as a forensic doctor, argued that perhaps she was simply someone with a naturally composed temperament. She then advised him not to make any more inappropriate remarks.
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Akifumi paused for a moment before putting pen to paper.
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"A forensic doctor's duty is to determine the cause of death through autopsy, not to conduct investigations like the police."
"They do not have that authority, nor should they recklessly suspect others."
"The moment they overstep this boundary, the impartiality of their profession is compromised, and their judgments become skewed by personal bias."
"Mikoto, having worked in forensics for years, understood this deeply."
"But for Rokuro, who was just starting his internship, the gravity of the profession had yet to sink in. This scene highlights their ideological clash."
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As the audience read this passage, many felt as though they had gained a deeper understanding of forensic science.
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"Forensics is such an amazing profession!"
"Rokuro was a bit too reckless. If she's not the killer, wouldn't it be too cruel to suspect Miss Baba just because she's the victim's girlfriend?"
"But it also shows that Rokuro has a strong sense of justice, doesn't it?"
"It's clear that Rokuro represents the general public's perception of forensics. Seeing forensic doctors interacting with the deceased's families in such a calm manner might seem cold and heartless."
"But in reality, it's because they respect life that they remain so composed. They've seen too much death. If they let themselves be overwhelmed by emotion, how could they continue their work?"
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With a greater understanding of Akifumi's world-building, the audience realized that the forensic team's emotions were not as simple as they seemed.
After all, no amount of empathy could truly ease the pain of a grieving family. At best, it would be nothing more than self-indulgent sentimentality.
While the audience pondered over this, Akifumi continued writing.
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"On one hand, Mikoto and her team were organizing Mr. Takanojima's belongings when they overheard rumors about his alleged affair with the deceased Miss Shikishima."
"On the other hand, Rokuro discovered from a colleague that Takanojima had been planning to marry Miss Baba. However, due to her busy work schedule, their plans had yet to progress."
"Coincidentally, Miss Baba's research involved polyester experiments, and one of the chemicals used in the process was ethylene glycol."
"When ingested, this chemical causes abnormalities in the digestive and nervous systems within 30 minutes, breathing difficulties within 12 hours, and kidney failure within 24 hours."
"The symptoms matched those of both victims, Shikishima exhibited the early-stage symptoms, while Takanojima showed signs of the later-stage complications."
Everything seemed to point to a single undeniable truth."
"Ethylene glycol has a sweet taste, and both victims had eaten the same brand of horse-shaped biscuits. This immediately raised suspicion..."
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The sudden twist left the audience in stunned silence.
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"Wait… Could it really be?"
"That would be way too predictable, wouldn't it?"
"With Warrior of Love and Hope-sensei level of storytelling, there's no way he'd settle for such a straightforward plot twist!"
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And indeed, he did not disappoint.
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After conducting tests, no traces of ethylene glycol were found in the biscuits. Furthermore, Takanojima's autopsy showed no presence of the toxin, nor was it found in any samples collected from his office or home.
It was clear—Miss Baba was not the killer.
Faced with this conclusion, Kamikura speculated that both deaths were nothing more than unfortunate accidents and instructed Mikoto to finalize her report.
However, Mikoto wasn't convinced. One isolated case might be an accident, but two occurring simultaneously? The odds were far too slim.
Could the 'Unknown Poison' truly exist? This question began to haunt both her and Rokuro.
That evening, while working overtime, Mikoto sought advice from Nakado, a far more experienced forensic expert.
'If you want answers, just ask. The knowledge of the world is at your disposal.'
With that cryptic remark, he retreated into the chief's office to rest.
Taking his advice, Mikoto began researching similar overseas cases. Meanwhile, Rokuro returned from an outside investigation with new information—
The biscuits had been purchased by Takanojima himself while on a business trip abroad.
Furthermore, the rumors of an affair were baseless; Shikishima had merely caught a cold from Takanojima, which had fueled the gossip.
When exactly did he catch the cold? Where had he traveled?
Following this lead, Mikoto deepened her investigation and finally uncovered a breakthrough!
It was neither an accident nor a case of poisoning—the cause of death was something else entirely!"
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At this crucial moment, Akifumi suddenly put down his pen, stood up, stretched his limbs, and—before the audience's bewildered eyes—flopped onto the sofa!
The once-quiet chat, captivated by the story's intensity, instantly exploded with frustration.
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"Are you kidding me?! Not again?!"
"This has to be intentional! How can you stop right at the climax?!"
"Get up and keep writing! I swear, don't make me beg you!!"
"ARGHHH! What was the cause of death?! Just tell us already!!"
"Please, don't make us wait two more hours for this!!"
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Thankfully, this time, Akifumi only took a brief five-minute break before returning to the whiteboard under the expectant gazes of millions.
He picked up his pen and wrote:
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"MERS-CoV—also known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome."
Takanojima had traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he contracted the virus.
Upon returning home, he began displaying symptoms.
Subsequent tests confirmed the diagnosis.
Because they had identified the cause early, proper countermeasures were taken, preventing a larger outbreak.
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The entire audience gasped in shock.
This revelation tied the entire story together seamlessly—
Forensic science exists to serve the future.
At that moment, no one questioned Takanojima's cause of death anymore.
They were simply left in awe by the sheer brilliance of the story's execution.