SCIAW: Chapter 372/373

Chapter 372: We Don't Ignore Him

Miwako the one who had always believed that the murderer responsible for her father's death 18 years ago was someone else—never imagined that the true culprit would turn out to be one of her father's closest friends.

"How could it be… him?"

Having received the truth, Miwako found it difficult to accept. Yet, no matter how unbelievable, it was still the truth.

Taking a deep breath, she recalled that her father's good friend had gone abroad not long after the incident and had only ever returned on the anniversary of her father's death.

Back then, she believed the man was merely paying his respects, mourning her father. But now she understood—it wasn't out of remembrance, but because he was waiting. Waiting for the expiration of the prosecution period.

"So… it was him…"

Miwako gradually understood the name hidden in her father's police notebook. The name should be pronounced Kano.

Her father had already left behind a clue in that notebook. The truth had been there from the beginning, yet due to a sudden twist of fate, the secret was buried for 18 years.

She had always thought it was the culprit's name, but that turned out to be the name her father suggested—to encourage the real murderer to surrender.

The name Kan-o written in the police notebook, that was the real name of the killer.

"Unbelievable, right?"

"Yeah… I never imagined that my father's friend would be the one who killed him back then."

"No. Your father's friend didn't intend to kill him."

Ren interrupted Miwako's train of thought, correcting her misunderstanding.

"That bank robbery was exposed by your father. He caught the suspect and was going to escort him back to the station. But on the way, in a moment of despair, Shuji Kano thought his life was over. He didn't want to be caught, so he attempted suicide by jumping into the path of an oncoming truck."

"But your father instinctively pushed Shuji Kano away… and was the one who got hit by the truck instead."

"After the accident, realizing your father had been injured, Shuji Kano took the opportunity and fled without hesitation."

"Also, your father didn't have the heart to handcuff his friend… which gave him that opening to escape."

Hearing the entire story, Miwako stood frozen, her head lowered.

"So… that's what really happened…"

She could now imagine what her father must have felt at the time—his best friend had become a bank robber, yet he still hoped his friend would surrender peacefully. That hope blinded him.

Her father tried to shield his friend until the very end. But the man didn't accept his compassion—instead, he used that moment of chaos to flee, pushing her father into the abyss.

Thinking back on what happened 18 years ago, Miwako took a deep breath. She knew now—she couldn't afford to have compassion for every criminal.

When making an arrest, the first consideration must be preventing escape or suicide. Otherwise, a desperate suspect could harm others.

Having learned the truth, Miwako was able to process her long-suppressed emotions. The weight on her chest was finally lifting.

The culprit responsible for her father's death while on duty had finally been identified. Now came the time to act.

"He's been living abroad this whole time, only returning each year on the anniversary of my father's death. I used to think it was out of guilt. But now I know—it was also because he wanted to avoid prosecution."

"This year is the final year of the statute of limitations. The day he returns… is the final day of that period."

"If I don't act then, I won't have any legal way to arrest him."

Ren nodded slowly.

"But Miwako, keep in mind—he's aware of the prosecution period. He deliberately left the country and is only biding time. You won't catch him using conventional methods."

"Since he's delaying, he must know why you're pursuing him. He'll do everything he can to survive that day. Once he does, the burden in his heart will disappear. Even if your father died because of him, it's been 18 years."

"He's been hiding abroad for nearly two decades to escape legal responsibility. He won't fall for any tricks or slip up easily."

"I know."

Miwako knew that Shuji Kano would endure until the very end. Once the final day passed, she'd lose any chance of sending him to prison.

Her gaze fell on Ren.

"So, Ren, I want your help."

"Help? I don't really care about this matter. But are you sure? Once you use powers beyond your range, it won't be a method legally recognized for you."

"Yes."

Miwako knew that this was crossing a line. But she couldn't let the man who caused her father's death walk free—living off the money he stole 18 years ago, enjoying the rest of his life outside the law.

"To me, the law is above all things. But that doesn't mean I can allow someone like him to escape justice."

"My father chose to show kindness to that man. But I can't do the same."

"No matter what I have to do, I will make sure he ends up behind bars. This won't be a case of surrender—it will be an arrest."

Surrender would only lighten the sentence.

But Miwako would never accept that. A man like Shuji Kano deserved to spend the rest of his life in prison.

"You've made up your mind?"

"Yes."

"Then, contact me on the day of your father's death. For someone like him, just a little emotional amplification is enough to make him say something he normally wouldn't. After that, hand it over to the Meguro Police Department to record."

"Understood."

The heavy burden Miwako carried began to ease.

Her father's death would always be a scar she couldn't erase. But this time, she would give the runaway criminal the ending he should have faced long ago.

She wouldn't kill him. But she would use everything in her power to make sure he was finally, completely brought to justice.

Bank robbery. The death of a police officer in the line of duty. Multiple serious crimes.

Once the case was concluded in court, the only future waiting for him… would be life in prison.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 373: There Are Still Opportunities

After treating Miwako to lunch, there was naturally no need for another meal.

Ren didn't know exactly how much that lunch cost, but he had a feeling it wasn't cheap.

After walking Miwako back to the ground floor of her apartment, Ren took out a two-person cake.

"A birthday cake. It just doesn't feel like a real birthday without one."

"Do you normally eat cake with rice?"

Miwako didn't dislike cake. In fact, she had a bit of a sweet tooth. But eating cake right after a big meal still felt a little indulgent.

Still, when she thought about it… She'd just learned the truth behind her father's death 18 years ago and even identified the real culprit. Maybe this was a moment worth celebrating.

Whether for her or her mother, this was a milestone.

Alcohol wasn't ideal, and eating cake was a more modest way to celebrate.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

Ren handed her the cake box and was about to take his leave.

"Wait, Ren."

He paused slightly, sensing Miwako step closer.

He felt a sudden warmth on his cheek.

When he came back to his senses, he saw Miwako smiling confidently in front of him.

"Thank you~"

"See you later."

With that, she turned and headed toward her apartment building, cake in hand.

Ren looked at the cheerful bounce in Miwako's step. He turned and left the apartment complex.

However, the sudden exchange between the two hadn't escaped the attention of a certain observer on the third floor—Miwako's mother.

"Looks like that girl's finally falling for someone…"

Mrs. Sato was very familiar with her daughter's bright and bouncy steps. Maybe she wouldn't have to nag her about dating anymore.

But she still needed to understand more about that boy.

And judging by Miwako's reaction, she clearly had strong feelings for him. Otherwise, she wouldn't be acting this way.

After waiting at home for a short while, Mrs. Sato heard the sound of the door opening.

"I'm back."

There was a lightness in Miwako's voice that confirmed Mrs. Sato's suspicions. Her daughter was in an exceptionally good mood.

Probably because of that kiss…

Mrs. Sato smiled and walked toward the entryway.

There, she saw Miwako carrying a cake box.

Almost immediately, she noticed something new on Miwako's wrist—not part of the cake box.

A silver-blue crystal bracelet. Clearly brand new. Definitely a gift.

Mrs. Sato stepped forward and took the cake box from her daughter's hand.

"What's with the cake tonight? Aren't you afraid of gaining weight?"

"It's from Ren. I do think it's a bit sinful to eat cake right now, but today's a special case."

Miwako smiled, her expression slowly turning serious.

"Mom, I found out who the person my father was chasing 18 years ago really was. The one who caused his death."

Mrs. Sato's heart skipped a beat. At long last… an answer.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions.

"Don't talk about it here. Come inside. We'll discuss it properly."

"Okay."

Mother and daughter entered the living room together.

The cake box was opened and placed on the heated table. The two sat across from each other, the air warm and the mood subdued.

"Did that boy tell you?"

"Yeah."

"Is it reliable?"

Mrs. Sato couldn't help but ask.

She wouldn't be upset if they never got an answer, but she feared they might get the wrong one.

She had once longed to find the person responsible for her husband's death, but lacked the means to do so.

Now that Miwako had received an answer, Mrs. Sato only hoped it wasn't a mistaken one.

"We always thought it was a name. The detectives handling the case thought so too, but that interpretation was wrong."

"Wrong? How so?"

Mrs. Sato looked stunned. She had also once suspected that it wasn't actually someone's name, but she hadn't known where the logic failed.

"It was the wrong direction."

Miwako nodded slowly.

"It wasn't a name. It was my father's final plea to the suspect—to surrender."

"He was speaking to someone he knew. Someone he hoped would turn himself in."

"If they had investigated from that angle back then, they might've realized that the person who left the country at the time was the true culprit behind my father's death."

This revelation hit Mrs. Sato like lightning.

When it came to her husband's acquaintances, there was only one person who had gone abroad at that time. She still remembered that name clearly.

It referred to Shuji Kano.

Everything from back then—each piece of evidence—pointed toward the same person.

But 18 years ago, the clues had been so fragmented. Everyone had focused too much on interpreting the words, when in fact it wasn't a name at all—it was a plea. That single misunderstanding had thrown off the entire case.

If someone had realized this back then, the case in 2007 wouldn't have become an unsolved mystery. The murderer could have been caught quickly.

"Yeah."

Seeing her mother react with understanding, Miwako nodded.

"But even so, hasn't the statute of limitations already expired…?"

Mrs. Sato recalled that the statute of limitations for a bank robbery was 15 years. That meant it would've expired three years ago. In other words, the case could no longer be prosecuted.

"No, there's still time. If the suspect fled the country after the crime, the statute of limitations is suspended while they're abroad. That time doesn't count against the total."

"And he's clearly been avoiding coming back to Japan all these years. So technically, the clock stopped ticking."

"Even if the robbery charge eventually times out, we can still pursue the stolen money. If we can find where he hid it, we'll have a solid case."

Stolen bank funds don't become legal just because time passes. Miwako was convinced that the suspect hadn't touched that money yet. He was likely waiting for the heat to die down, planning to use it only after people had forgotten.

So yes—there were still opportunities.

(To be continued.)