I'm your total coordinator.
Mitsuko Motomiya at your service.
I'm here on behalf of Ken'ichi Kujo.
Ken'ichi!
A will?
"Finally, to Natsu Imai,
all shares shall go to you."
What have you done!
I will reinstate
all of the previous CEO's projects
and I offer myself as a candidate
for Kujo Development's next CEO.
My older sister
died in Kujo Development's fire.
She was Mariko Ohara, the CEO's secretary.
I can't be convinced
that that fire was an accident.
I have been deceiving you
this entire time.
Our family is beset with women.
Haruto is the male
we were all waiting for.
You sold me out.
All to make Haruto CEO.
You can go to hell.
That makes five people for Ms. Imai.
Next.
All in favor of Haruto Kujo?
Five as well. It's a tie.
What a pickle.
Mitsuko.
The police are here.
They think he might have been m*rder*d.
They think Mom might have been involved.
Mom!
How did it go?
What did they want with you?
Well...
Before you continue...
I'd like to hear it as well.
Reika? Why are you here?
Reika lost her standing in the company
after going against her mom.
I think she has nowhere else to go－
Getting back on track.
The directors are in a frenzy right now.
Saying the police took you away
because you k*lled the former CEO.
-I－
-They're wrong.
Mom's not a m*rder*r.
-Excuse me.
-Mr. Bando?
So this is where you slunk off to.
Work's been piling up.
-Deal with this.
-Save it for later.
Now's not the time.
Ms. Imai. Ms. Isuzu wants to see you.
Well, well, Reika.
You really have sided with Ms. Imai.
Yes. Unlike some people,
she is kind and considerate of others.
Considerate?
Is that enough to run a company?
It's better than having a monster smiling
as their own family is sent to slaughter.
A monster?
-Who would that be?
-Do you need a mirror?
I can lend you one.
Ms. Imai. What happened?
The police came to ask
about the day that Ken'ichi died.
I'd actually forgotten to take
my phone home with me that day,
and so I went back
to pick it up that night.
To Dad's room?
I was only there for a minute.
One minute?
That's plenty of time
to m*rder my sick husband.
-What?
-No, I could never－
You stood to benefit
the most from his death.
Isn't that why the police are onto you?
The police only called on Natsu
to do their due diligence.
If they really considered her a suspect,
she would not be walking
free amongst us now.
We cannot have a suspect
in a m*rder case as our CEO.
Hey.
Where's your evidence
that Natsu is the k*ller?
Ms. Isuzu.
I have a proposal.
Why don't we settle the matter of the next
CEO at tonight's management meeting?
Tonight?
Now, that's a good idea.
It's too soon.
Natsu needs to be cleared
of these accusations.
And she can do so at the meeting.
What do you think, Ms. Isuzu?
I think
prolonging matters will only weaken
morale among our employees.
We will settle everything
by the end of the day.
But...
So we have to clear Mom
by the end of the day?
And if we don't, it's game over.
Quite the devil's proof.
How are we supposed to prove
something didn't happen?
And we don't have much time.
This is impossible.
We're right where they want us.
What are you going to do?
If Ken'ichi really was m*rder*d,
the m*rder*r may have had a hand
in the fire from six months ago.
The fire?
If the fire was deliberate
and not an accident,
one could be led to believe the culprit
was trying to take Ken'ichi's life.
You think it's the same person?
I'm thinking it's highly likely.
Chiaki.
You said you were with Haruto
six months ago when the fire broke out.
Was that true?
Sorry, that was a lie.
I don't know where Haruto was
or what he was doing that day.
He'd be the only one who knows.
So that makes Haruto a suspect?
But would he really m*rder his own father?
Only family can make you hate someone
to the point of wanting to k*ll them.
Either way,
we must bring the truth to light.
We'll find the true k*ller
by the end of the day.
You have guests.
Bring them in.
I've been looking forward...
What's this?
Your client is a friend of mine.
I had them cancel their meal with you.
While we have you,
why don't we have a little chat?
I know Natsu can get it out of him.
I see.
In that case,
we'll look more into Ken'ichi.
Thank you.
We now know that Natsu paid a visit
to the Kujo household that night.
But why is this only being brought up now?
Apparently Kumi's the one who told.
Kumi?
It'll be a busy week next week.
Keep your schedule open.
Yes ma'am.
Hello?
Ms. Isuzu is going to announce
the new CEO early next week.
I see.
So she's preparing for the worst.
Let me know if you learn anything else.
Okay.
Was that Mrs. Kujo on the phone just now?
Why don't you tell us about it?
Come with me.
What is this?
You're working for Mrs. Kujo?
You've been reporting on every little move
Ms. Isuzu makes to Mrs. Kujo.
And that's not all.
You've also been butting in with Natsu.
With Natsu?
You pushed her
into oncoming traffic, didn't you?
I thought that was you!
One foot out of place, and Natsu
could have been in serious trouble.
What do you have to say?
Your father's business is a subcontractor
working under Kujo Development, right?
Yes. We've always been reliant
on Mrs. Kujo's good graces.
We cannot disobey her.
She's the one who asked me
to dig up dirt on Natsu.
And so you tattled.
I am so sorry.
But there's something about Ken'ichi
that I never told Mrs. Kujo.
After Natsu had retrieved her phone,
I saw Haruto going into Ken'ichi's room.
I wonder why.
How long was he there for?
I'm sorry. I don't know.
So this means Haruto
was with Ken'ichi that night?
That's not all.
If anything, it means...
What?
What were you doing that night?
You must be joking.
This is a waste of time.
This is Dad who died.
So?
Do you even hear what you're saying?
Was it you who k*lled him?
Was it you?
-Reika.
-Reika.
And Aya.
Could you leave us for a moment?
-What?
-What?
Will you please leave?
Sure.
Haruto.
I'd like to ask you something.
Why do you want to be CEO?
Excuse me?
Sorry. I know it's a silly question.
But it's been on my mind.
I want to know your thoughts
on why you want to be CEO.
Just look at the company forecast
and the operating profits.
-I'm clearly best aligned to－
-No.
I'm not interested in the numbers.
I'm not interested in comparisons.
I want to hear your own personal thoughts.
My own thoughts?
Yes.
What will you do when you become CEO?
What dream do you want to make a reality?
I was inspired by Ken'ichi's dream.
I want to make his dream come true,
and that's why I'm running for CEO.
That is what drives me.
And so that's why
I want to know what drives you.
What do you want?
Why do you want to be CEO?
I told you, I...
I...
You will be our next CEO.
You will be CEO tomorrow.
Haruto.
Can you tell them at the meeting
what you just told us now?
Yes, of course.
This should be enough
to clear Natsu's name.
I believe this elevator
came from the basement level.
Where were you? Who did you see?
You can't find Kumi?
She's not picking up.
What's wrong? I thought she
was going to appear at the meeting.
It could be Mrs. Kujo.
You mean we're busted?
But how?
We've got to find her
before the meeting starts.
Mrs. Kujo.
Excuse me.
What's wrong? Is it something urgent?
Where is Kumi?
Kumi?
She wasn't feeling well,
so she left work early.
Are you blocking her?
To make sure she doesn't talk?
I don't know what you mean.
Mr. Bando.
I was hoping to catch you at some point.
And I you.
Your sister was my subordinate, after all.
Such a shame she had to pass away.
And why did she pass away?
Did the Kujos k*ll her?
Was it Haruto?
I think sometimes there are some things
where you're better off not knowing.
What is that supposed to mean?
You'll have to excuse me.
I have a meeting to attend.
What do you want?
Why do you want to be CEO?
Haruto.
I see you're anxious
for the meeting to start.
Now we can finally put this to rest.
Do you really think
Natsu Imai is a m*rder*r?
There's something I haven't told you.
That night...
I was with－
It doesn't really matter
who the culprit is.
The past is not important.
What matters is the future.
The future where you are CEO.
Say I become CEO.
Then what?
Why do you want me to be CEO?
Isn't it obvious?
Because you are Haruto Kujo.
You were born to be CEO.
That is your destiny.
And if anyone should stand in your way,
I will put an end to them personally.
So there's no need to worry.
I love you, Haruto.
Did you find Kumi?
What do we do?
It's almost time for the meeting.
If only we had some clue from Ken'ichi
on what happened that night.
Like my sister's diary.
Diary?
Now that you mention it...
I feel good today.
He was always recording his thoughts
in place of written memos.
Then he might have recorded
something from that night.
Where is his voice recorder now?
I'd say in his room, perhaps?
It's not there.
His assets were all liquidated.
-Where were they taken?
-I don't know.
But Kumi would know.
And so would Haruto.
He's using Dad's office at the moment.
What do you want?
Why do you want to be CEO?
You were born to be CEO.
That is your destiny.
-What are you doing?
-I'm so sorry.
I forgot something.
Don't lie.
Is this that Mitsuko's doing again?
What does she want now?
Say it.
The voice recorder.
Ken'ichi had one while he was alive.
His assets were liquidated,
so we were wondering where it was.
He just rushed out.
You should be good now, right?
Where is Haruto?
My apologies. He says he's running late
from his previous meeting.
-Where is he?
-He's not picking up.
I'll go look for him.
And where is Mitsuko?
Thanks for the ride.
This is the house key, right?
Is this the Kujos' villa?
Hey!
Hey, don't touch that.
Don't worry about me.
Isn't it time for your meeting?
You should probably go.
You go!
I'm afraid I can't do that.
Can't have you disposing of
that voice recorder we need as evidence.
Where is it?
Don't ask me.
Kumi handled the assets.
Then please ask her for me.
She's not picking up.
Are you blocking her?
What?
Kumi's testimony
would be bad news for you,
so you silenced her, didn't you?
Silenced her?
Apparently you were there that night.
You saw Ken'ichi in his room
after Natsu had already left.
What happened?
It looks like Ms. Imai lacks any evidence
disproving the allegations against her.
Wait.
Kumi can testify for her.
Kumi can?
Well? Where is she?
Why bring her up if she's not even here?
Because you're hiding her from us.
No more excuses.
Ms. Isuzu.
We're here to make a decision
on our next CEO, so shall we proceed?
You're right.
In that case,
Natsu Imai will withdraw her candidacy,
and our new CEO will be Haruto－
No, wait.
Forcing someone to withdraw
based on trumped-up charges,
is that not tyrannical?
What?
Natsu was closer than anyone to Ken'ichi.
She supported him, and even now
she's doing her best to achieve his dream.
There's no way she could have k*lled him.
That is my judgment of her.
What further proof could you need?
Mr. Oginome.
Well said.
That is your judgment?
Don't be stupid!
What is so stupid about it?
You are discarding a member's opinion
without so much as a second glance.
Is that how this company operates?
Isn't this the fundamental problem
that has infected this company?
Ms. Isuzu.
I beg of you.
Please give us just a little more time.
My team is currently
in the middle of a hunt
for evidence and witnesses.
So we only need a little more time.
Me too.
Please do this for us.
This is a waste of time.
We need our new CEO now.
-All right.
-Ms. Isuzu!
You'll have
until tomorrow morning's meeting.
If you don't come up
with anything before then,
you will withdraw your candidacy.
I will.
Haruto.
When you went to visit
Ken'ichi in his room that night,
he was still alive, wasn't he?
Which means Natsu
could not have k*lled him.
What I want to know
is what happened after.
What happened when you saw Ken'ichi?
Was it you?
Did you k*ll him?
No.
If not, then why are you here?
I'd say you're here
because you feel guilty.
No!
Is this how low you'll stoop
to become CEO?
That you'd k*ll for it?
What do you want?
Why do you want to be CEO?
You were born to be CEO.
That is your destiny.
You know what?
From the minute I was born,
I was chosen to be the next CEO.
This was not all my doing.
No matter what Kujo Development does,
it's all on the assumption
that I will be its CEO.
Do you have any idea of the burden I bear?
This is not a matter
of me wanting or not wanting something.
I must be CEO! I must!
That is why
I fight so hard for this.
And yet...
he said...
I will never let you become CEO.
He said he wouldn't make me CEO.
I can see...
this would be something
you simply could not let slide.
Is that why you k*lled him?
Haruto.
Did you k*ll him?
You didn't, did you?
You're not the k*ller.
How do you know?
His bedroom.
You're using it right now, aren't you?
If you really did hate your father...
you wouldn't want to be
in the same room as him.
In fact...
on the contrary.
You wish you were more like him.
Ken'ichi's projects.
They were not profitable,
and so they made no sense.
One could call them wishful thinking.
But that's precisely why
you envied him, isn't it?
He was able to withstand
the pressures of being CEO
whilst pursuing his dreams.
That's why even now...
you still look up to him.
But...
he hated me.
It wasn't him?
No, I don't think so.
He was after the voice recorder
because he thought Ken'ichi's last words
would have an impact on the election.
So Ken'ichi really did die of an accident?
About that...
Also, Natsu. Where are you now?
In the basement.
Reika and Chiaki are here as well.
Can you put me on speaker
so they can hear this as well?
Sure.
Any news on Kumi?
Tomo and Aya are looking for her now.
We have until tomorrow morning.
Did you find the voice recorder?
No, it wasn't with all his other assets.
It wasn't?
Where could it be then?
Natsu, do you have any ideas?
Did he leave anything with you,
or did you accept anything from the Kujos?
I'll be taking these clothes then.
The clothes!
Right, his clothes!
You took them with you.
The voice recorder
might be with those clothes.
Where are they right now?
They'd be in my locker
at the carer's center where I work.
Carer's center?
I'm still registered there.
But they'd be closed at this hour.
We'll go there first thing
in the morning to check.
Okay.
MINATO CARER'S CENTER
STAFF ENTRANCE
UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL
PROHIBITED
NATSU IMAI
Good evening.
Might I ask what you're doing here?
NATSU IMAI
Good evening.
Might I ask what you're doing here?
Mr. Bando.
I was intrigued.
What with Kumi and all,
I got the feeling
we were being monitored today.
And then I found this.
FY24 PR STRATEGIC PLAN
Work's been piling up.
Deal with this.
You attached a listening device.
That you were willing to go this far
must mean you fear the identity
of the k*ller will be revealed
as a result of our investigating
Ken'ichi's death.
I had you listen in on our conversation
earlier to remove all doubt.
They'd be in my locker
at the carer's center where I work.
The real k*ller
would surely make haste
to retrieve the voice recorder.
Is that so?
In fact, it was there.
In the pocket of Ken'ichi's clothes.
Everything that happened,
everything you did that night,
is all right here.
My goodness.
To think the evidence was there all along.
Are you going to turn yourself in?
All right.
I'll go.
This was his fault.
It was him! He was going to
throw me to the wolves!
I'll k*ll you too.
Hey!
Mitsuko.
Was it really you?
Are you all right?
Yes.
And what's more...
I got a confession.
Confession?
Yes, this was Ken'ichi's voice recorder.
But there was nothing recorded on it
of you from that night.
Mr. Bando did?
Dad must have found out
about the affair between him and Mom.
And what's more,
Mr. Bando has been leaking information
to one of our rival companies.
Dad was on his tail...
and then that night,
after Haruto had left...
Die!
I see.
And what about Kumi?
She was under house arrest
at one of Kujo Group's hotels.
She's uninjured.
Good. I'm glad to hear she's all right.
I have something to say before I go.
During my time as secretary,
I've been privy to a lot
of Kujo Development's dirty laundry.
Once I am arrested,
all of that will be going
straight to the media.
It'll be out by early next week.
Kujo Development will be booed
out of business by the public.
I have had it up to here with you lot.
-Mr. Bando.
-See you.
Little boy.
Mr. Bando.
Tell me.
Who k*lled my sister?
Did you start that fire?
It wasn't me.
Then who was it?
You heard what he said.
This is the end for Kujo Development.
All that I've ever done. All for naught.
Why am I even here?
For all your help.
There wasn't anything on there
from the time of his death,
but there was something
he recorded from a little earlier on.
A little earlier?
After your fight with him.
I fought with Haruto again today.
Worse than we've ever fought before.
I went too far.
He must hate me now.
I don't...
want Haruto to be CEO.
I stand firm in this decision.
But...
I don't have it out for him.
Haruto...
That boy was destined to uphold
the family name since the day he was born.
As such,
he was made to sacrifice
so much in the line of duty.
Same with Reika.
I wish they'd both had
a more peaceful upbringing.
I wish they'd had the freedom
to pursue something bigger for themselves.
To be able to love themselves.
And so,
Haruto, Reika...
it's okay if you're not CEO.
Let me bear that burden for you.
Please,
be who you want to be.
I want you to live your own lives.
Dad...
I envy you.
I would have liked
to hear even just the voice
of my sister.
Haruto.
I won't ask you of your past.
Instead, just for this moment,
do as your father says.
Give yourself some grace.
Change yourself,
and you can change your world.
Wait.
Will you do something for me?
I need your help.
Not for me.
At this rate, thousands of employees
are about to lose their jobs.
Because of the Kujo family.
I'll take full responsibility.
I don't care what happens to me.
So please,
won't you at least help our employees?
Please.
I have no reason at all to do that.
But my sister did love this company.
Despite how cruel it was to her.
I will not do this for you.
I'll do it for her.
Leave it with me.
As it stands, as of early next week,
the corruption that exists
within Kujo Development
will be broadcast to the entire world.
Which is why we're going to be proactive
and be the first to report on it.
Be proactive?
You mean air our own dirty laundry?
The worst thing we can do right now
is give anything less than 100%.
If it'll happen either way,
we want to beat the media to the post.
Then, we'll follow it up
with a touching story for the masses.
A touching story?
It will be a dramatic tragedy
starring none other than Ken'ichi.
We'll play Mr. Bando and the Kujo family
as the villains
to be condemned by society.
The directors tried
to crack down on Ken'ichi's projects.
They are the root cause
of all that is wrong here.
They were about to get away
with the m*rder of Ken'ichi,
but there is one person
willing to take on Ken'ichi's dying wish.
That is Natsu.
She will have the public's backing.
She will be a beacon of hope
who refuses to buck under pressure
in bringing Kujo Development
back from the ashes.
This is the only way
to salvage the company.
To compensate
for this string of injustices,
eminent board directors
have been discharged,
along with a full management overhaul.
Furthermore, we have appointed a new CEO.
We have decided upon Natsu Imai.
I, Natsu Imai,
humbly accept the reins
from former CEO Ken'ichi Kujo.
I am of the opinion that we should
reinstate all of Ken'ichi's projects.
I will do my utmost to ensure
this new era of Kujo Development
can be of service
to everyone in the community.
KUJO DEVELOPMENT
CEO INAUGURATION
She really did it.
Mom really became the CEO.
You even managed to limit public backlash.
I can't help but think
this is all according to your plan.
You may now raise your hand for questions.
How did it come to this?
-She won't last long.
-You lost.
The Kujos lost.
But...
this is only the beginning...
for Dad's dream.
How does it feel?
Ms. President of the company.
Stop. Don't call me that.
I know I have a lot still ahead of me.
That's true.
And the same goes for me too.
I need to find out why my sister died.
I must find the truth.
Are you all right?
Help!
Natsu?
Sorry.
-I'm so glad you came.
-Stop. Wait.
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