DN 14: Dangerous!

"Thanks for coming, Masaki-sensei."

"It was an honor to have you here."

After the show wrapped, as the audience filed out, Takashi Matsuo shook Hayato Masaki's hand backstage with earnest warmth.

Ayako Nagai bowed in gratitude. "Thank you so much."

"No, I'm the one who was looked after," Hayato said. "Honestly, I had no idea hosting was this tough. First time on a show like this—really, thank you both."

"But Masaki-sensei, you didn't seem nervous at all," Nagai said. "Some crossover guests are fine rehearsing, but they freeze when the cameras roll."

"I was nervous. Just hid it well."

"Ha! Can I get your autograph, Masaki-sensei?" Matsuo asked.

"Of course."

The vibe was friendly, easy.

Eri Kisaki, as family, joined them backstage, along with Hayato's editor, Nanami Asamiya.

"Where's the director?" Asamiya asked, frowning.

Normally, the director would meet the guest post-show. With staff bustling but no sign of Suwa, it felt off—almost disrespectful.

As Asamiya wondered if the director was pulling rank, a staffer rushed over. "Matsuo-san, Director Suwa's gone missing."

"What?"

"His phone's not picking up, and no one's answering in the fourth-floor sound room."

"How's that possible? Could you check the sound room?"

"Right away."

The staffer darted off.

Matsuo turned, offering a wry smile. "Geez, no idea what's up with Suwa. Keeping Masaki-sensei waiting like this."

"Maybe he got held up," Hayato said, unbothered.

He glanced at Eri, who watched him with a proud, radiant smile, her professional attire underscoring her mature elegance.

"You did great today, Hayato."

"How about we celebrate at a nice restaurant later, Eri-san?"

"Sounds perfect."

Eri smiled back.

If Ran weren't out on a date today, she'd have loved to introduce them properly.

As they waited, a nearby landline rang. A staffer answered, then paled instantly.

"What?! Suwa-san's covered in blood?!"

His shout froze everyone.

Face taut, he hung up and stammered, "They said Suwa-san's dead in the sound room…"

"How?!"

"Let's go see!"

A death out of nowhere felt unreal. Several bolted from backstage to check.

The sound room was on the fourth floor; they were on the ninth. The elevator was jammed, so they took the stairs.

But at the seventh floor, crates blocked the stairwell, forcing them to detour through another staircase to reach the fourth.

A crowd had gathered at the sound room's door.

"Move, please—let us through!"

Pushing past, they saw it: Suwa Michihiko's body slumped against a blood-splattered window, a bullet hole in his temple.

Screams erupted.

Quick thinkers shouted, "Has anyone called the police? Call them!"

"I already did!"

"Then no one enters until they arrive."

Hayato's clear, steady voice cut through the panic, calming the chaos. He stepped forward, standing at the room's entrance.

Even faced with a gore-soaked corpse, his expression didn't flicker. A quiet aura cloaked him. The crowd exchanged glances and instinctively stepped back.

Twenty minutes later, police swarmed in.

Leading was a slightly stocky, kind-faced inspector. He deftly ordered the scene secured, coroners to work, and statements taken.

A shooting wasn't just any murder. The gun made it serious.

"Megure-keibu," Eri greeted.

"Hm? Kisaki-sensei!" Inspector Megure Juuzo blinked, surprised. "What're you doing here?"

"I came with my nephew for his taping," Eri said, nodding toward Hayato.

"And this is…?"

"Hayato Masaki, my nephew. He's a mystery novelist."

"First time meeting you, Megure-keibu," Hayato said.

"A mystery novelist?"

Megure's eyes sparked.

He'd known a sharp novelist before, so the title piqued his interest. Snapping to, he shook Hayato's hand.

Officers and the coroner soon reported from the sound room.

"Reporting, Megure-keibu."

"The victim's Suwa Michihiko, 37, a producer here. Cause of death: gunshot. Bullet entered the head and hit the window behind."

"We found other bullets in the walls."

"Two under a poster by the window, one near the clock."

"Four shell casings recovered in the corner."

The intel came fast.

Likely due to Eri's presence, Megure didn't bar Hayato from listening.

"Shell count matches the bullet holes. The room's got one door and that window—no balcony or railing outside."

"No doubt, the shooter came through the door, fired wildly to corner Suwa by the window, then finished him with a headshot."

Megure reached his conclusion swiftly.

In the crowd, Matsuo's lips twitched into a faint smirk.

Then Hayato spoke. "Megure-keibu, mind if I take a look inside?"

"Got something, Masaki-san?"

"Maybe. I write mysteries, so I toy with crime ideas sometimes. Just thought of a few angles—might overlap with the killer's method."

"You imagine crime methods?"

Megure's jaw hung briefly.

That sounds a bit dangerous, kid!

***

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