The next day.
Inside the research institute, Mikoto gathered the team for a meeting. She wrote down the entire timeline of the incident on the whiteboard, carefully detailing every key event.
Then, she marked a special emphasis on one specific point—the night the two of them spent together!
"That night, they kissed over twenty times," Mikoto stated. "According to how this virus spreads, if Miss Baba were exposed, she should have shown symptoms by now!"
That meant one thing—she had never come into contact with the virus at all!
In other words… Takano wasn't infected in the Middle East. He had contracted the virus after returning to Japan!
And there was only one place where he could have been exposed—Tokyo Medical University Hospital!
It wasn't that Takano had spread the virus to others. He was infected at the hospital!
At that moment, Kamikura Yasuo recalled something crucial—Tokyo Medical University had an ongoing research project related to this!
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The realization sent shockwaves through the audience.
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"Genius… Absolute genius!!"
"This is incredible! The way the story constantly misleads the audience and then corrects itself—it's just like a top-tier crime drama!"
"That final twist was absolutely brilliant!"
"Most importantly, it doesn't feel forced! Every detail was foreshadowed perfectly!"
"Just this first episode alone is enough to crush every other contestant in the competition!!"
"Damn it! Who allowed a genius like Warrior of Love and Hope to participate?! There's no way anyone else stands a chance! (lol)"
"I can't believe this entire episode was written in such a short time!"
"The story is so detailed that it could be filmed right now!"
"Wait… does this mean all of sensei's stories are created this way?! (lol)"
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Even though everyone knew another twist was coming, they were still eager to see how it would unfold.
So when they saw Akifumi pick up his pen again, all discussions ceased. Everyone focused their full attention on the next development.
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Although Mikoto's theory made perfect sense, there was still one problem, they had no solid evidence.
And without proof, Tokyo Medical University could simply dismiss the claims as baseless accusations.
At that moment, someone who had been silent the entire time Nakado calmly placed a document on the table.
"This… is your evidence."
The usually reserved man had suddenly stepped into the spotlight like a protagonist making a grand entrance.
A funeral home worker had reported that there had been an unusual surge in deaths at Tokyo Medical University Hospital.
Upon investigating, they found that the number of inpatient deaths had doubled!
This sudden spike began at the start of the previous month.
Takanoshima had visited the hospital exactly one month ago.
Even more suspiciously, eighteen of the deceased had died from acute pneumonia, kidney failure, and respiratory distress all symptoms that could be linked to the virus.
Nakado paused before continuing. "Oh, and by the way what's up with that outfit?"
This unexpected remark completely threw the team off, shifting their attention away from the case.
Mikoto, usually seen in her signature white lab coat, was now wearing an elegant pastel-yellow dress, paired with high heels.
"Shut up about my outfit!" she snapped. "Let's focus! Even if these numbers are real, they aren't enough to serve as solid proof."
Hospitals control how causes of death are reported. If they wanted to cover something up, no one would be able to stop them.
"Unless we get our hands on internal records, this data alone isn't enough."
"The evidence isn't in the numbers," Nakado interrupted. "It's in the nineteenth victim."
A five-year-old boy, hospitalized for diabetes, had suddenly developed vomiting and diarrhea. After that, he was completely isolated from everyone.
The hospital claimed his condition had worsened, but instead of being transferred to the ICU, he was placed in a negative pressure isolation room.
For three weeks, the child hovered between life and death until he finally passed away two days ago.
And his body… had yet to be cremated!
But in just thirty minutes, it would be sent into the incinerator.
For a moment, the room fell into a heavy silence. Then, Rokurou grabbed his helmet and gloves.
The message was clear.
Still in her dress and heels, Mikoto sprinted full speed, jumped onto Rokurou's motorcycle, and raced toward the crematorium.
[TL Note – Poor Rokurou lol]
By the time they arrived, the body had just been placed into the furnace!
Ignoring all protests, Mikoto slammed the emergency stop button.
The coffin was partially burned, but the body inside remained intact, it's slightly scorched, but still usable for examination.
Mikoto quickly instructed Rokurou to contact the research institute while she turned to the deceased child's family, bowing deeply in apology.
She then carefully explained the situation, asking for permission to perform an autopsy.
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That night.
Kamikura Yasuo engaged in a tense negotiation with the president of Tokyo Medical University.
At the same time, the forensic examination of the child's body was underway.
And when the final report was slammed onto the president's desk, the once-defiant old man was left utterly speechless, his strength drained.
After everything was said and done, Mikoto removed her white lab coat and dashed out of the research institute.
Tonight was an important night—the night she was supposed to meet her boyfriend's parents for the first time.
But by the time she arrived at the restaurant, his parents had already left. Only her boyfriend remained, sitting alone.
Even though she had restored Takano's reputation, the price she paid was her own three-year-long relationship.
At the same time, news about Mikoto's mysterious background was beginning to spread due to special circumstances.
"Episode One—End."
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