"A drug trafficking case involving the whole of Tsukikage Island, rooted in a fire incident that was ruled an accident twelve years ago... Without solid evidence, mere deduction won't clarify anything; the news won't even report it."
After hearing Asai Narumi's story, Hoshimiya Yuu stated his honest opinion.
"I thought too simply."
After a long silence, Asai Narumi took a deep breath and said, "I can let others go, but I must kill those three murderers."
"Dr. Asai, killing is wrong. Let's call the police."
Ran clenched her fists and stood up, agitated. "The police will surely find evidence. Even if they can't, I know a detective who can definitely solve this matter for you."
Hoshimiya Yuu remained silent. If Asai Narumi were that easily persuaded, she wouldn't have chosen self-immolation after the case.
For Asai Narumi, revenge was likely the sole purpose left in her life.
Asai Narumi smiled but didn't respond to Ran, only politely saying thank you.
Looking into Asai Narumi's gentle yet unwavering eyes, Ran knew that the other woman still hadn't given up on revenge.
Ran mustered her courage and stated seriously, "Dr. Asai, regardless of the circumstances, killing is wrong, and I will stop you."
Hearing this, Asai Narumi, who had been smiling even while talking about the twelve-year-old murder, dropped her smile for the first time.
She looked at Ran just as seriously. "You can report me afterwards, but you cannot stop me."
Ran wanted to say more, but Asai Narumi had already opened the clinic door.
"Goodbye, ladies. I won't see you out."
"Hoshimiya Nii-san, I…"
Ran anxiously held Hoshimiya Yuu's hand. Her lifelong education made it impossible for her to simply watch this happen after knowing the truth.
Hoshimiya Yuu understood Ran's internal struggle, and this was exactly his goal.
Through Asai Narumi's situation, he wanted her to understand that the world isn't black and white.
More often than not, gray is the dominant color of the world.
"Ran, when the law fails to bring justice to the party concerned, private vengeance, from that moment on, is righteous, and even noble."
Hoshimiya Yuu looked into Ran's amethyst-like eyes and said calmly, "That is a famous quote from Sherlock Holmes. Shinichi probably never mentioned it to you."
Having grown up with Shinichi Kudou, Ran's worldview was heavily influenced by him.
Sherlock Holmes, Shinichi Kudou's idol, was thus a semi-life mentor for Ran.
But she had indeed never heard this quote from Shinichi Kudou. Furthermore, Shinichi Kudou had never told her that Holmes intentionally let criminals go free.
After all, Shinichi Kudou, that "Justice Demon," had selectively forgotten the human side of Sherlock Holmes.
He only saw what he wanted to see, let alone conveying it to Ran.
"If the police were effective, the Asou family wouldn't have been wronged for twelve years."
Hoshimiya Yuu began to show Ran the cruel truth of this world. "Even if you asked Shinichi to investigate, he could deduce the truth, but after all these years, there's no evidence left. He still wouldn't be able to bring those three drug traffickers to justice."
"How… how could that be…"
Ran's worldview suffered a strong shock, but she was a reasonable person and could listen to persuasion.
More importantly, Asai Narumi's expression made her realize Hoshimiya Yuu was right.
"'When the law fails to bring justice to the party concerned, private vengeance, from that moment on, is righteous, and even noble…'"
Asai Narumi softly repeated Hoshimiya Yuu's words, a slight curve appearing on her lips.
"I really like that sentence, Mr. Hoshimiya. Unfortunately, no matter what, killing is not allowed, so I will turn myself in afterwards."
Hoshimiya Yuu glanced at her. Turn yourself in? More like self-immolation, right?
Asai Narumi didn't realize that Hoshimiya Yuu had long seen through her inner thoughts. She turned to Ran and said, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Ran, but I absolutely will not back down on this matter."
This time, Ran didn't argue back because she was now caught in a vicious cycle of self-doubt.
Hoshimiya Yuu knew that haste makes waste; making Ran understand the truth of the world wouldn't happen instantly.
"Dr. Asai, your plan is likely on the night of the full moon. I wish you the best of luck."
"I accept your good wishes."
Asai Narumi smiled. "I never expected Mr. Hoshimiya to support my revenge. I wish I had met you sooner."
Gazing at the fleeting look of regret in Asai Narumi's eyes, Hoshimiya Yuu smiled slightly.
"It's not too late now."
Asai Narumi: [?_??]
Before Asai Narumi could react to what he meant, Hoshimiya Yuu had already pulled Ran away.
After checking into the hotel, Hoshimiya Yuu put down his luggage and sat on the edge of the bed with the crestfallen Ran.
"Ran, those three drug traffickers caused countless families to break apart. You don't need to feel guilty."
Hoshimiya Yuu comforted her. "If we let them go unchecked, there will be more victims."
Few people who have tasted the exorbitant profits from drug trafficking can resist continuing.
The current village chief's secretary, who was one of the original murderers, was still secretly trading heroin.
"No, that's not it."
To Hoshimiya Yuu's surprise, Ran shook her head. "I'm not feeling bad for those three. Although I don't want anyone to die, I know Hoshimiya Nii-san is right."
"But Dr. Asai is so gentle and excellent. I don't think she should…"
After a brief astonishment, Hoshimiya Yuu recovered.
It seemed he had been too presumptuous, or perhaps he had underestimated Ran.
Ran's moral compass was very sound, she was deeply empathetic, and most importantly, she was a normal person.
In Asai Narumi's case, any normal person would support her revenge.
Perhaps someone with a stronger sense of justice might report her afterwards, but no one would try to stop her beforehand.
If there really was someone who couldn't stand to see the death of a drug dealer and murderer…
Does that kind of person really exist?
Hoshimiya Yuu was highly doubtful.
Even Shinichi Kudou, the Justice Demon, probably wouldn't.
Unless he could find evidence to ensure those drug traffickers spent the rest of their lives in prison.
Most people probably didn't want Asai Narumi to sacrifice herself, and Ran was the same.
After the initial shock, realizing she couldn't stop Asai Narumi, her focus of worry shifted to what would happen to Asai Narumi afterward.
The death penalty is rarely carried out in Japan anymore.
If Asai Narumi turned herself in, and with Eri Kisaki helping with the defense, she would likely be released after serving about ten years.
After all, the victims were three heinous drug traffickers, and the case would expose Tsukikage Island's ongoing drug trade.
With such a huge scandal, the Tokyo police would likely have to show some deference if they didn't want the whole world to know.
Tsukikage Island was part of Tokyo Prefecture, and the Tokyo police were already often called incompetent. If this were exposed, someone would likely have to resign.