BAR LIGHTHOUSE
WHILE I'M JUST A HUMBLE AUTHOR, I'VE DECIDED TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT.
I'M NEW AT THIS, SO SORRY IF I'M NOT UP ON THE LINGO.
For your first tweet, you can just introduce yourself.
A little hello.
Yes, but make it more polite.
"While I'm just a humble author, I've decided to open an account."
It's a little stiff.
Is it?
Simplify and make it friendlier.
Should I use emojis?
No, you'll get ridiculed for being too old.
This isn't easy.
Maybe you should reconsider.
Hey, he only just started warming up to the idea.
Why a social media account now?
I don't understand the point either,
but Sawada wants me to have one.
You need a platform to make announcements.
It's also a good place to advertise your new steps as a writer.
That's right.
His column is pretty popular.
If fans feel connected to you through social media,
you can expand your fanbase.
I had a professional profile picture taken too.
We even booked an esthetician.
I guess you have a lot to deal with.
Do you think I'll have followers?
What if no one follows me?
Don't worry about that.
We'll share your tweets on our official account.
Your fans will see that and follow you.
Do you have an account?
Sorry, I don't do social media.
Really.
- Here. - Thanks.
What?
I guess this will do.
Well, okay. You can post it.
Let's publish it.
- Stop. - What?
- Publish it now? - Yes, right now.
- I'm getting cold feet. - It's fine!
Make sure it flows smoothly.
- It's fine. - "I've decided to open an account."
It reads fine.
- Can't change that part. - "Sorry if I'm not up on the lingo."
- Don't worry about this part! - But..
- "Sorry if I'm not..." - It's no help.
- What am I even saying? - It's okay.
I followed Sawada's adviceand opened a social media account.
Only a couple of hours later, my follower count reached 800.
AUTHOR. MY WORKS INCLUDE "REVENGE IN HAND"
It's never too lateto pick up something new.
Every time I open the app, more people have followed my page.
When I announce an upcoming event, I get hundreds of likes.
When I make a post, someone, from somewhere in the world,
leaves a comment.
I WILL BE APPEARING AT A TALK EVENT DON'T MISS OUT!
I WANT TO GO! I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU!
What?
"I want to go! I can't wait to meet you!"
If this isn't a leap for civilization, then what is?
I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
I hope to see you there.
YOU HAVE 1 MESSAGE IN YOUR INBOX
SOMEN SHIMETARO
"I'll come snap your every joint at the event."
"I swear I will come for you."
What?
I WILL BREAK ALL YOUR JOINTS
Look at this.
Is social media usually this disturbing?
Don't let it bother you.
I get those all the time on my secret private account.
Why?
- What's the point of sending this? - Who knows?
It's all anonymous.
People's tendencies just spill out.
Also, if you send a polite response, they'll fixate on you.
So just ignore it.
- Oh, thanks. - Thanks.
- There you go. - Wow.
This account has been active for a while.
You're not in harm's way.
How do you know that?
If they're cooking something up,
they'd open a new account to avoid leaving a trail.
But this user has a solid number of followers.
You're going to be all right.
"You're going to be all right"?
I'm the one whose limbs are under threat.
Do you want to file a report with the police?
Yes. Let's go there now.
I'd hate to get Akiko involved if this does turn sinister.
That's true.
- This is it. - Okay.
Oh, I see.
I'll come snap your every joint."
Joints?
This doesn't count as a threat.
COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT
They want to inflict harm.
It's an obvious threat.
- They'll only snap your joints. - What?
Your life's not in danger.
- Do you mean it has to say, "die?" - Well...
"Die!" could be interpreted as "I hope you die."
We'd want something like "I'll kill you."
Anyhow, write down your contact information for now
and come again if you need more assistance.
I'll take your bag.
Shouldn't we cancel the event?
You can't do that. It's this weekend.
By the way, have you found any clues about your girlfriend?
She's not wanted by the police or anything.
Oh, right.
I hope she's not embroiled in something dangerous.
Is frog meat really tasty?
Did it hit you that you were eating frog?
- Your food's ready. - Not really.
- Wow. - It's like chicken.
Are you okay?
- You know, chicken... - Really?
The world today is a mystery to me.
Is something the matter?
I can't believe the sheer number of people
who send junky messages to people they've never even met.
Maybe I'm not fit for social media.
Let me see.
"Give me back my 600,000 yen."
"You've been stalking me."
- "Please stop." - Sensei.
Get a load of this one. "I'm the real Yui Aragaki."
"I desperately need money."
"Can you wire me some?"
- It gets worse. - That's nuts.
I've gotten pictures of female genitalia.
- Seriously? - That's bold.
But you might be an easy target.
You have an innocent look.
Maybe it's your profile picture.
Instead of a photo, use an illustration instead.
- I want to try. - What?
- You'll draw him? - I'm good at caricatures.
When I was in high school, I dated a girl in the art club.
- Wow. - Really?
She was dating the captains of the softball team and baseball team.
All done.
- Doesn't it look like him? - Come on...
- It looks just like him. - You can do better.
- Look at the eyes. - The resemblance is there.
- It looks great. - This is nice.
- That's good. - Yes.
- Fuku, you look like an artist too. - Yes.
I do?
I suck at drawing. I can try though.
Let's all draw. The funniest one will be his profile picture.
- I like that. - I like that.
- There you go. - Thanks.
I'm going to draw a lure.
Then I'm going to draw a wombat.
So this art club girlfriend...
She was dating the captains of the softball club and baseball club...
Hold on, I thought you were her boyfriend.
I was. But I was on the judo team.
I guess she liked to date captains.
I wasn't a captain though.
Where are you going with this?
BAR LIGHTHOUSE
So after walking around, she dozed off right there.
No way.
- Can you believe that? - No way.
SHIBUYA STATION IS JAM-PACKED. I'LL BE LATE.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
Afterward, they went to a hotel.
They entered the hotel around 1:15 p.m.
TOMORROW'S THE BIG DAY. WHICH LIMB SHOULD I BREAK FIRST?
They were at the hotel for four hours or so.
Where did he take her after that?
They split up for the day after the hotel.
We also investigated a few other women.
From what I gather, he meets up with her two to three times a week.
He paid for everything at the hotel.
I can introduce her.
That's my ex-wife.
- Which one? - The private investigator on the left.
Wow.
Manba, how many marriages have you had?
Five.
And she's...
My fourth wife.
Even though you two split, she still comes to your cafe.
You must be close.
She's investigating my current wife's affair.
You're getting divorced again?
No. We have cards left on the table.
Is there a problem?
It's nothing.
If you have any trouble,
come see me any time.
Thanks for the food.
Thank you for coming.
Do you have a case for her?
No.
COUNSELOR MISA AGASA
And? What do you want me to investigate?
It's this message.
The talk event is tonight.
I'm being threatened, but the police brushed me off.
No one's taking it seriously.
This is...
Unless the software company agrees to share their information,
nothing can be done on our end.
It may take time, but you'll probably win if you take it to court.
Can't you hack their account?
Hack their account?
That's ludicrous. Why should I break the law for your sake?
You're right.
Thanks anyway.
How do you find a person who's disappeared?
Is someone missing?
Not exactly.
But I know a woman who dropped everything and took off.
Her family filed a missing person report.
If there's no underlying cause, the police won't help.
Especially if she meant to vanish.
It's also possible that she's fleeing your domestic violence.
- That's ridiculous. - Of course.
From what I can tell, you're not serious about finding her.
I don't know the circumstances,
but people don't go missing if there's not an incident.
Maybe you have an inkling about why she left
and that's why you haven't tried to find her.
Here you go. Cash or credit.
Thanks.
MYSTERY ARCHITECT AND THE SEARCH FOR ESSAYS
WAITING ROOM FOR TALK EVENT AND MEET-AND-GREET
The audience will then applaud.
You and Sensei will then enter the room.
Afterwards, we will...
This is a big success.
There are even people standing to watch.
They're all Akko's fans. Anyway, enough about that.
Is Somen Shimetaro here?
Who's that?
The man who wants to snap my every joint.
Remember the threat?
You're still worried about that?
I forgot.
Don't forget, this is serious!
There are only women in the audience. You'll be fine.
It's time.
- Okay. - Okay.
Our other guest is an actress who is also an active lead editor of Mash magazine.
She also writes columns for our magazine, Landscape Travel.
Ms. Akiko Kikuchi.
The speakers will now enter the room.
Please give them a round of applause.
She's so cute!
Here are your seats.
Thank you.
Can we have a word from you, Sensei?
Hello. Thank you for coming today.
Please introduce yourself, Ms. Kikuchi.
Hello, I'm Akiko Kikuchi.
Thank you for coming.
I'll be your emcee, today.
I’m Miyanishi from Oshu Publishing. Thank you for being here.
It seems unusual for you to be a guest at a talk event, Sensei.
You're correct.
I don't make many public appearances.
I heard that you recently opened a social media account.
How do you like your online interactions with fans?
People send me things they usually keep to themselves.
It's invigorating in a way.
Thank you.
Now, I have a question for Akiko,
who is a huge fan of the Architect Makoto Asada series.
What did you think of the latest release, "The Unknown Room?"
Okay. I'm not an avid mystery reader by any means.
But when I saw...
- "Architect mystery", -Yes.
It piqued my curiosity.
Here.
Thank you.
- Hello. - Hello.
It was a wonderful event.
Thank you so much.
Thanks.
Please.
I'm rooting for you.
Thank you so much.
- Thank you. - Thanks.
- Hello. - I've always been a fan.
Sawada!
I'm a big fan. You're so pretty.
This is a gift for you.
Thanks for coming today.
Thank you very much.
Sawada!
- Thank you. - Amazing!
Thank you.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Thank you.
- I've been reading your columns. - Thank you.
- Well... - Yes?
I've always been
a big fan.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
I've read all of your works all the way from your debut novel.
I always knew you'd make a big break one day.
Thank you.
Can I have your autograph?
Thank you so much.
I'm always rooting for you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
No, thank you.
Well...
I follow your account.
Excuse me.
- Do you mind? - Not at all.
Hi there. Thank you for coming.
"Sorry about my terrible message the other day."
"I was frustrated about work and I took it out on you."
"I run a bar in Mie Prefecture."
"If you happen to be in the area, please stop by."
Give me a break.
- I'm leaving now. - Sorry.
See you tomorrow.
Once a post is made,
someone, somewherearound the world, responds.
That someone can even beyour long-lost girlfriend.
Tahiti?
It's busy.
Yes.
It's unusual for this place to be so crowded.
I...
I went to your talk event.
It came back to me as I took a shower
That regretful night
The water and the soap
Can't wash the stains away
My reflection stares back at me
In the mirror
No matter how I might struggle
I can't erase my sins from that day
Expecting nothing
Backs slumped
Let's keep living in the shade
Isn't that how it goes? Isn't it?
Isn't that how life goes?
The more I think, the more I think
The more I feel there has to beSomething more
I want to be myself each and every day
I want to feel regretEven if it brings shame
It's okay if you don't love me
Because I know I was loved
Though it may seem like I've given up
This is who I am
I want to take you somewhere.
Where are you headed?
Are you suspicious of me?
So you two were together the entire time.
Even though your girlfriend is missing.
If we don't do something, things won't end well.
What is it?
Translated by Megumi Hunter