The empty lot behind the Berry Mart near the Yashikata underground station used to be a prime hangout spot for cigarette-smoking delinquents, but even since the lockdown, many convenience stores stopped being open 24/7, leaving the area unlit at night and occupied with little more than two vending machines that haven’t been refilled in ages, and large trash containers filled with the food the store’s part-timers threw out at the end of their shift. It makes sense for homeless people to linger here, Koharu ponders, especially as police are still understaffed following their temporary exile from the city. But that doesn’t explain what Yosuke was doing here.

Yosuke: Shit.

Koharu: What’s wrong?

Yosuke: It used to be right there, next to that vending machine. I saw it, it was a body, I swear!

Koharu: I believe you. (she takes out her smartphone and flicks on its flashlight function, using it to inspect the supposed crime scene from up close) That’s blood.

A smear of blood on the wall seems to indicate that someone collapsed against it. Its size seems to indicate a small wound, like a single knitting pin having been pushed straight through the victim’s chest.

Yosuke: Someone… moved it.

Koharu: No, look. (she shines her flashlight to the right, showing a single bloody handprint on the wall) Probably the victim’s. Must have put their hand on the wall to support themselves getting up.

Yosuke: You think… The victim survived? But I saw her, she— She’d have asked for my help if she were still alive, no?

Koharu: Might’ve been unconscious. Or didn’t see you. Or pretended to be dead, thinking you were the killer, or an accomplice. Homeless people don’t like attracting attention. Gets them into trouble.

Yosuke: So, you think she regained consciousness, then stumbled off to some back-alley doctor? Where’s the trail, then?

Koharu: Probably not enough blood for a trail. Clothes must’ve absorbed all the blood, plus, the victim probably tried to stop the bleeding with their hands. Hence the handprint.

Yosuke: Guess I’ve got a lot of forensic cop shows to watch if I ever wanna get on your level…

Koharu: I don’t watch TV. It’s just logic. (she puts away her phone, holding out her hand) Pictures.

Yosuke: Oh! Oh, right! (he takes out his camera to show Koharu the photographs he took of the body — unfortunately, they show little more than some dark smudges, making it impossible to even recognize the contents if one weren’t already aware of them) Shit… Really should’ve used—

Koharu: — the flash, yes—

Yosuke: Using the flash would’ve attracted too much attention, I didn’t wanna risk it.

Koharu: — doesn’t matter. It’s okay. You can see her history now, right?

Yosuke: Oh! Oh right, yeah, o-of course!

It has been a while since he’s done this. Focusing on the washed-out smears on his screen, he narrows his eyes, filtering out his surroundings until only the picture remains — but it’s too black, the darkness in the picture being indistinguishable from the darkness around them. He can get the smudges to move, but they’re out of focus. It’s night on top of night on top of night; one hell of a proverbial headache. And, as it turns out, a literal one as well. The static just at the edges of his peripheral vision aren’t helping

Yosuke: (he clutches his head) Nggh! Ow.

Koharu: Are you okay?

Yosuke: Yeah… though I’ve seen enough TV to know that I shouldn’t push this any further… Ngh…

Koharu: It doesn’t usually hurt, right? Has your ability stopped working now that you’re no longer a Balancer? Or is this the killer blocking themselves from being detected like this? Or—

Yosuke: No, no, the— it did work, I… I saw the past of what is in this picture. The only problem is that it’s as unclear as the picture itself.

Koharu: Did you recognize anything?

Yosuke: No, it’s just some smudges moving around in the dark, some flickering here and there, but—

Koharu: Flickering? Like a gun or a knife?

Yosuke: I can’t tell, Koharu… I’m sorry. (as he removes his hand from his forehead, he watches something in the corner of his eye, a slight twinkle on the ground, reflecting the thinnest sliver of moonlight) Wait a second…

Koharu: What?

Yosuke: Can you shine your light over there, where the body was? … N-No, more to the left. (the beam of light from Koharu’s phone moves to the right) … Other left. Near the vending machine. (this time, it ends up where he would like it, and indeed…) Look there! There’s something on the ground.

Koharu: (she squints as Yosuke squats down to pick up the flickering object) How did you even notice that?

Yosuke: Glasses, I guess? (with a grin, he holds what he found to the light)

Koharu: … That’s a coin.

Yosuke: A coin that was left behind by the killer as key evidence, you mean!

Koharu: Next to a vending machine? There’s a likelier explanation. (she turns to leave, moving the light away from Yosuke’s hand)

Yosuke: N-No, wait! Gimme back the light.

Koharu: (she complies) What is it?

Yosuke: This is… not a yen coin, right? Look… It’s… American?

Koharu: … Can’t buy a drink from a Japanese vending machine with American dollars.

Yosuke: So… Do you think…?

Koharu: I don’t think anything… yet. But nothing yet is better than nothing at all.