| “ | Right now, one of my Twelve Olympians is engaged in a violent mind battle with dear Kindaichi-kun. The God of Tricks, Hermes, I can expect a lot from a trickster like you, right? | ” |
—Takato, when he knows his subordinate, Hermes, is faced off Hajime. | ||
Ayase Serial Murder Case (綾瀬連続殺人事件 Ayase Renzoku Satsujin Jiken) is the sixth story arc of The Case File of Kindaichi age 37.
It follows Hajime and Marin managing the Osokawa Mystery Award Ceremony and the murder case that happened after that imitating the story of the winner of the award, "Ayase Serial Murder Case," that the novelist of the novel is missing and becomes the prime suspect. At the same time, it follows Fumi's in the plot surrounding the case and the wit battle between Hajime and one of the Twelve Olympians, Hermes.
Summary[]
Prologue[]
In his jail, Yoichi Takato reads the Osokawa Mystery Magazine, praises all the winners of the Mystery Award, and finds out Fumi Kindaichi, Hajime's cousin, becomes the honorable mention of the grand prize under the name of Kaneda Hifumi. Takato praises her story and knows the trick was based on Hajime's past case and criticized Fumi's novel as naive. After that, he reads the winning story of the award, "Ayase Serial Murder Case," written by Ryo Setokura.
First Case, October 15, Ayase, Saitama[]
At the Osokawa Mystery Award Ceremony Venue, Tokyo, Hajime, and his subordinate, Marin, managed the award ceremony thanks to Hajime's connection from Denpodo PR from the previous event and his relative, Fumi. The preparations were all done, and the ceremony announced the award's winner. The first announcement is the honorable mention of the prize, "Hinokawa Legend Murder Case," written by Fumi under his pen name. The announcer said she works in a detective firm and has solved cases. The second announcement is the award runner-up, "And Then Someone Was Gone," written by Agatha Fuyuki, an English Literature student at Chuuchi University. And the final announcement is the winner of the award, "Ayase Serial Murder Case," written by Ryo Setokura, a part-timer who won the award in his first participation. When Hajime looks at the initial video of Setokura, he feels something dark within Setokura's eyes and guesses he is the criminal rather than the novelist. Still, later, Hajime swayed his speculation because there are many more eccentric novelists than Setokura. They meet Fumi and his boyfriend, the best-seller author of the Jinnai Detective Firm Series, Yuto Omino. Fumi told their relationship with Omino to them. Then the award judge, Riichi Mamiya, appeared and asked Omino why he refused to judge this award. After that, the runner-up of the Osokawa Award, Agatha Fuyuki, greets them too and tells Mamiya that his novels were inspired her.
Suddenly, Eisuke Minoda tells Hajime that Ryo Setokura is missing. Minoda was supposed to meet him an hour before the event. He tried to call him but got no response. The award ceremony begins in twenty minutes, so Hajime and Marin decide to search for him around the building, and Minoda checks the men's restroom and the area around the hotel. But, before they searched for him, a mysterious video was played.
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The first murder is going to happen.
The video shows a worn-out building with the sign on the pole in front of it showing the name of Ayase Children's Clinic. Everyone was amazed by that bold side-shown, but Minoda said that video wasn't a part of the event. The video shows the inside building and an abducted man seen in a bathroom. That man was stabbed several times by someone, and the video showed a big hiragana letter of "A." Hajime guessed that was a murder that imitated the first murder in the novel, "Ayase Serial Murder Case."
On October 15, 5:45 pm, everyone at Osokawa Award Party was shocked after watching that video. Fumi remembered the first victim in that novel as someone whose name started with the letter "A" and was killed in Ayase, Hasuda City, Saitama. After that, Minoda returned and told Hajime that someone had switched the actual USB drive. Everyone starts questioning that video. Yuto Omino guessed that the video was someone's prank. Still, Fumi denies that possibility and guesses that the video imitates the novel's scene and considers its respect to the book's author, Ryo Setokura. Then, Agatha guesses the culprit of that prank video is none other than Setokura himself as his acceptance speech for winning the award. Mamiya approves that possibility, and Setokura could kill someone for that.
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A of Ayase.
Hajime tries calming everyone, told it's too early to conclude anything at this stage and needed to find Setokura. But Minoda says that Setokura vanished an hour ago before their initial meeting. Hajime borrows that USB drive and rewatches the video tries find any clues within. He looked at a pole written "Ayase Children's Clinic" and found it was located in Saitama prefecture and sure that dilapidated building must be located around that area. Hearing that, Fumi said she would go after that building after-party, and Yuto accompanied her because it was too dangerous to go alone. They need a car to go there, so he suggested using his vehicle in the hotel's parking lot. Meanwhile, Hajime will contact his acquaintance policeman because they are unsure whether the video is an actual murder or a mere prank.
Ayase Serial Killer.
At 6:15 pm, Hajime's acquaintance policeman, Makoto Makabe, arrived at the party questioning that video and demanded to know a bit of novel of "Ayase Serial Murder Case." Hajime describes that novel as a psychological thriller story by a crossword addict where there are words, he'd line them up, where there are blanks, he would fill them up, and he fell in love with a woman. That woman sent a single message and requested him to go to Ayase one day. He went there, but she said it was wrong Ayase. Then he went to another place named Ayase in Adachi Prefecture, and she said that was wrong as well. Then he went to Ayase in Kanagawa Prefecture, but she stopped her message and lost contact with him. That incident caused that man to develop an abnormal fixation with the word "Ayase," His distorted desire for revenge led him to do as he did with blanks in crosswords to carry out the indiscriminate murders in these three locations of "Ayase."
Illustration of Ayase Serial Murder.
The first victim was someone with the first letter name of "A," the second victim was "Ya," the third victim was "Se," and if they put them together, it becomes "AYASE." Hajime guessed if that video is real, then the killer will follow the story of that novel and will kill someone else in Ayase in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, and Ayase in Kanagawa Prefecture. Then Marin guessed that "Se" refers to Ryo Setokura. Hajime agrees with her, but there is another possibility that the author is the killer based on his own novel.
After that, Fumi and Omino come up. They're ready to go to Ayase in Saitama. Fumi meets Makoto and remembers meeting him at Fudo High School Festival and knowing he was a Mystery Club member in his High School. Makoto is counting on them for any updates at Ayase in Saitama Prefecture. Suddenly, Hajime feels a bad premonition in his heart. At 7:10 pm, Fumi and Omino ride in Omino's car and go to the home center to buy a flashlight. When Omino went, Fumi called Hajime and told him they would arrive in Ayase, Saitama, in twenty minutes. Hajime said that Makoto had already contacted Saitama Police, and Fumi could say to them if they found something. After it, Omino's back and hands over Fumi a stun gun to defend herself.
Sometime later, they arrived at Ayase, Hasuda City, Saitama. They found the same pole as the video and were ready to go to that dilapidated building. Surprisingly, they're meet Agatha Fuyuki inside the building. They have the same intention in that building. And then they meet someone else there. He's Riichi Mamiya. The four are going to the bathroom, where the body can be found. After they reach that bathroom, they've really found a body and are sure that the video contains an actual murder.
Second Case, October 15, Ayase, Tokyo[]
At 8:00 pm, in Osokawa Mystery Novel Editorial Department Fumi called Hajime, they told that they found a body in the dilapidated building in Ayase, Saitama, and sent a picture of the crime scene. Makabe, who with Hajime, tells Fumi that he will contact the nearest police station and demand they leave the crime scene as soon as possible and leave the case to the police. On Fumi's side, Agatha said that if this case is inspired by Setokura's novel, it's just the beginning. Mamiya also agrees with Makabe's opinion, and he wants to go home to organize everything that happened today. Also, Mamiya guesses that this case is a challenge set up for the fellow mystery novelists, and he accepts this kind of challenge.
At 9:30 pm, the police force, Makabe and Hajime, arrived at the crime scene. Makabe wants Hajime to help him, and Hajime can't refuse because he has to investigate the disappearance of Setokura. They meet Yoshizaki, the police officer from Saitama Prefecture, inside the building. Makabe asked about the body's identity. They found a driver's license inside his pocket and knew he was Fuma Asagiri, lived in his wife's family home at Kawasaki, and works in a small firm. Hajime shocked the victim's name starts with "A," the method of the murder and the crime scene at Ayase, Hasuda City, Saitama, is as same as the first victim in the novel. Then, Hajime asked Yoshizaki about the fingerprint examination around the crime scene. Makabe persuaded him to help Hajime and Yoshizaki told that the fingerprints they found there were all pretty old. Nothing seems new, even the door on the way to the bathroom. Hajime feels something odd. The killer showed that video to claim Setokura as the killer, but he did not leave any fingerprints at the crime scene. That's very contradicting. Also, they found that the body had a lot of stab wounds. Then, Hajime suggests the police thoroughly investigate the victim as well. The killer could have been killing randomly, but the victim was from Kawasaki. The killer should choose someone nearby the crime scene if they really want to imitate the novel's plot. After telling that, Hajime once again reminded of the chills he felt when he saw Setokura's initial video.
At 10:30 pm, Hajime and Makabe went to a tavern and had dinner together. Makabe asked Hajime why he didn't want to solve any mysteries anymore. Hajime said an idol, his friend, Reika Hayami, suddenly retired, and many things happened around that time.
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Ayase, Adachi Ward, Tokyo (Video).
Before Hajime told any further, Minoda called him and said he had received a video from Setokura's number. After receiving that video, Hajime watches it with Makabe. This time, the video showed a lot of tall buildings and dates October 15, 202x, 7:25 pm. Hajime sure that is Ayase in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, where the second murder happened in the novel. After that, that video showed someone tied up and his mouth closed with scotch tape. And then, the culprit wrapped a plastic bag into his head and tied it up with scotch tape. The screen blanks for a second, and a big letter of "YA" appears. The murder happened.
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The second murder is going to happen.
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Ya of Ayase.
Soon after watching the second video, they are going to Ayase, Adachi Ward, Tokyo. They meet Minoda and find a place that could be the crime scene. That place is a deserted goods store. Judging by the video, Makabe is sure that the crime scene is a Japanese-style room. Before they went to that kind of room, they found a scotch tape already used and then found a body with his head wrapped in a plastic bag. They are sure that the body is the second victim in the second Ayase.
At 11:30 pm, the police force had arrived at the crime scene. They found the driving license of the victim. The victim is Reiji Kamiyama. 32 years old and lived in Okubo. Along with the driving license, they found ten business cards inside written the name of Reiji Yakumo, a handyman. Because of that driving license, Makabe thought this murder was still related to the novel and told the forensic to estimate the time of death.
After that, Hajime sent a message to Fumi to inform the situation after receiving a second video from Minoda. The details will be given tomorrow, and he suggested telling Omino about this too. Fumi feels relieved seeing Hajime has started the investigation and sent a message to his boyfriend, Omino. A second later, Omino reads her statement and calls Fumi. In his call, Fumi told Omino that Minoda received a second video from Setokura, and it looks like it's following the same patterns as his novel. Omino guesses the third murder could happen in Ayase, Kanagawa. Fumi said she wanted to go there tomorrow and Omino will come, and they will meet up at a train station. Suddenly, Omino guesses it'll be rainy, so they will go in his car. Fumi takes a look at the window, and it's already rainy. Before hanging his calls, Fumi and Omino exchange their love.
On October 16, 00:05 am, the report of the victim's time of death is out. He died sometime between 6:45 pm and 7:45 pm, around four and a half hours ago, when they with Minoda at Osokawa Office. Assuming at that time of death, Hajime guesses that Minoda, Fumi, and Omino have a perfect alibi. Meanwhile, police told Makabe that they found the victim's car around a hundred meters away from the crime scene. When Hajime and Makabe meet, Agatha sits around the victim's car when they go there. She came there because he received the second video from Minoda, guessed the location, and found the car there. After knowing that car was the victim's belonging, Agatha took some pictures. She even said that she has confidence in her deduction skills and could help the police. Makabe refused her intention because writing a novel and investigating an actual crime is different. Suddenly he asked why Hajime, an employee of PR Agency, was with the police. Makabe said Hajime is an exception because he's the grandson of the famous detective, Kosuke Kindaichi, and has impressive deduction skills that could help in the police investigation, even he's a boring middle-aged guy now. Then, Agatha asks Hajime could be the murderer is Ryo Setokura. Hajime answered that he's not sure yet. There is not much reason to believe he's the murderer besides that Setokura is still missing. Agatha responds that the murders following his novel so closely and the video sent from his smartphone were enough reason to accuse Setokura of the killer. Once again, Hajime refused that deduction and told that Setokura's novel was already published in the magazine, so anyone could have read it, and someone else could've stolen his smartphone and sent the video from it. Hajime also said that all things Agatha mentioned are insufficient to deduce that Setokura is the murderer. Also, they didn't know why the murderer had to start an elaborate imitation murder. Hearing that, Agatha said that the murderer is insane and committing these crimes is just a plain insane person. Once again, Hajime refused her that these murders were committed by someone who had a fine and calm sense of judgment but had a deep hatred for something to do these dreadful murders. Hearing that, Agatha impressed Hajime, and she decided to interview Hajime for the basis of her next novel. Hajime convinced Makabe to stop their investigation because he had to work tomorrow and leave Agatha alone. Hajime feels unpleasant with Agatha's saying. He also said that he's not a fountain of inspiration for a crime novelist and wouldn't try to solve this case if it wasn't a part of his job. In other places, Mamiya has seen riding a car heading for Ebina exit on the side of Hachioji toll from the east highway Ebina junction and also make a voice-recording for his direction. Meanwhile, some mysterious figure arrived at a deserted house at Ayase city, Hayakawa x-chou, and tried to do something there.
Intermezzo, The Battle of The Maidens[]
Third Case, October 16, Ayase, Kanagawa[]
Fourth Case[]
Investigation[]
Face to Face with The Twelve Olympians[]
Conclusion[]
The culprit is Fumi's boyfriend Yuto Omino aka Hermes, known by his real name as Yuji Kisaragi, the younger brother of Koichi Kisaragi who was killed by the three victims.
Appearances[]
Volumes and Chapters[]
- (9). The Case File of Kindaichi age 37 Volume 9
- (67). Ayase Serial Murder Case
- (68). Ayase, Saitama
- (69). The Diagnosis of The Murder
- (10). The Case File of Kindaichi age 37 Volume 10
- (70). The Mystery Authors
- (71). The Battle of The Maidens
- (72). The Culprit's Message
- (73). A Trace in The Bushes
- (74). The Culprit's Undoing
- (75). The Tragedy of Lowly Scum
- (76). Deduction Meeting
- (11). The Case File of Kindaichi age 37 Volume 11
- (77). The Answer to that Uneasy Feeling
- (78). Sheep's Clothing
- (79). Hermes
- (80). The Door to Anywhere
- (81). The Time's Blind Spot
- (82). Hermes Confessions
Gallery[]
.png "Ayase Renzoku Satsujin Jiken (First Chapter).png (1.5 MB)")
Trivia[]
- This is the longest story arc in The Case File of Kindaichi age 37 series and the second-longest story arc in the entire story as long as Young Kindaichi's Trip of Death Preparedness story arc. (Contains sixteen chapters.)