Mashiro Daisuke sat at his desk, browsing the latest financial news. His companies stocks were down. In front of him, an article quoted a Nikkei analyst. The man had expressed the sentiment this unfortunate evolution reflected that “a lack of focus” due to “recent events” led him to a cautious “sell” recommendation in spite of “strong fundamentals,” but that investors should remain of the lookout for “changes in the current situation” which could lead to a rapid recovery of the stock in the event of a “positive outcome.”

  The callous backstabbing bastard wasn’t wrong, though. Daisuke couldn’t bring himself to care about any of it. Still, it grated him that a man—a man he knew personally—would dare to publish such a thing while Kaori was missing.

  He would remember… His thoughts were interrupted abruptly by his secretary.

  “Police Commissioner General Fujiki is here to see you, Sir.”

  “Let him in,” he answered quickly, rushing to meet him at the door. The commissioner had called on him every day since the kidnapping, and never seemed to have good news in spite of his repeated assurances. Perhaps this would be the day—he was unusually early.

  His heart sank as Fujiki Tomohisa walked in. He was surrounded by two police officers in dress uniforms and wore a black suit.

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  No, this can’t be. Please God, no! Daisuke screamed internally. He barely contained himself as he watched in terror the officers bow deeply. It was too deep for a simple visit. Dazed, he returned the bow stiffly and stared directly at Tomohisa.

  “Mashiro-sama, it is with my deepest regrets that I must inform you of the passing of your daughter Mashiro Kaori. As you know, we had tracked her kidnapper to Sado island. Her kidnapper had taken refuge inside one of the warehouses and set fire to the facility last night. We have recovered six bodies at the scene. Preliminary DNA findings indicate that your daughter was one of them. We will have full lab confirmation within the next three days, but sadly there is little doubt she has left us as of 4:32 am…. ”

  Tomohisa droned on, but Mashiro was no longer listening. He had expected a ransom demand, a standoff, anything… anything but this. He stood there dazed, his mind going numb with pain.

  This can’t be real. It can’t be. It’s not. I’m going to wake up, it’s just a nightmare. I’m tired, I’m hallucinating, that’s all. That’s…. His mind raced, trying to find an alternative, to bury this ugly reality. It didn’t work.

  “Mashiro-sama?” Tomohisa asked.

  Mashiro looked at him. A single tear rolled down his cheek.

  Tomohisa and his police officers bowed deeply again and he returned the bow mechanically. The door closed. He didn’t see them leave. The room was empty. He collapsed on the floor, sobbing.