After a brief moment of contemplation, Akifumi had his answer.
Nakado Kei
If Rokuro's presence serves as the foundation for the story's growth, then Dr. Nakado's existence is what elevates the entire narrative, adding layers of depth and intrigue.
Having made his decision, Akifumi swiftly stood up from the couch.
Then, he picked up his pen.
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"In a world where there is light, there must also be darkness."
"While Mikoto Misumi remains hopeful, embodying the beauty of life, the Unnatural Death Investigation Office has another figure—"
"A man whose face is perpetually etched with indifference, whose demeanor is harsh, and whose words are biting. Even a clinical laboratory technician with 24 years of experience couldn't help but express their frustration:
'I have no complaints about the job itself, but that guy, That 175.6 cm tall guy is unbearable!'"
"No one has lasted long as his partner. The longest tenure? Three months. The shortest? Three days before they quit."
"The other protagonist of this story, a man trapped in darkness—Nakado Kei"
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After a brief pause, Akifumi continued his description.
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"Eight years ago, after performing a certain surgery, he plunged into an abyss he could never escape."
"A top forensic pathology student from Nichisho Medical University, he was once destined for a bright future. But that surgery led to his arrest.
Although he was eventually released due to insufficient evidence, the storm of online public opinion painted him as a murderer, dragging him into an unrelenting scandal.
Yet, Nakado Kei, now consumed by darkness, cares little about the online discourse. For the past eight years, he has focused solely on uncovering the truth."
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After finishing this passage on the whiteboard, Akifumi exhaled deeply. Gazing at his own writing, a genuine smile spread across his face.
This time, his approach was entirely different from before, sparking heated discussions among the live stream viewers.
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"This style is completely different from his usual work!"
"Wait… am I the only one dying to know what kind of surgery led this man to prison and plunged him into despair?!"
"Didn't he mention it later? A murder scandal. He must be trying to clear his name, right?"
"You think sensei would write something that cliché? I don't believe it!"
"Same! And for some reason, just reading this passage gave me phantom limb pain. Weird… I didn't even see any 'knives' yet!"
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Kanae, who had been lurking in the stream for a while and was about to check in on other contestants, suddenly halted.
Seeing a brand-new character brought to life in less than a minute, she couldn't help but exclaim.
"Amazing! Contestant #13 Warrior of Love and Hope-sensei is truly incredible!"
"In under five minutes, he's already creating a new character!"
She then turned to the three judges.
"Judges, what are your thoughts on Contestant #13's new character?"
Having spoken multiple times already, Nojima Shinji naturally took the lead in responding.
"We can see that compared to the first character, this one is far more developed.
It's clear that Contestant #13 now has a more concrete direction for the story.
The contrast between a righteous and a fallen character is a standard storytelling template.
However, if he merely follows a formula, the story could become predictable. I hope he has something unexpected in store for us."
Kitagawa, intrigued, added, "I'm more curious about what exactly happened eight years ago. What kind of surgery caused Nakado Kei to fall into darkness?"
"Think about it, wouldn't a forensic pathologist, someone who knows human anatomy inside and out, find it easier to commit the perfect murder?"
Yukawa, visibly interested in the topic, chimed in.
"That's definitely something worth pondering."
"Take Mikoto for example. She's performed 1,500 surgeries. If she wanted to kill someone, it would be effortless."
"And Nakado Kei, who is even more experienced than her—if he really did it, wouldn't he be skilled enough to leave no trace behind?"
"From a certain perspective, forensic pathologists are practically experts in murder, aren't they?"
"…But clearly, Nakado Kei didn't do it," Nojima Shinji interrupted with an exasperated sigh.
"If he had, he wouldn't be tormented by this darkness, he would've already been in it from the start."
"The story may be using a light-vs-dark approach, but I believe Nakado Kei is meant to be a protagonist, not a villain."
"As for why he's trapped in darkness, the more reasonable explanation would be his despair towards life itself."
Initially, he wasn't planning to voice his thoughts so directly.
Although he was confident in his interpretation, if the actual plot turned out differently, he'd be setting himself up for embarrassment.
As a mature and composed man, he knew when to speak and when to stay silent.
But seeing the other two spiraling deeper into wild speculation, and the chat following suit, he had no choice but to step in and steer the conversation back on track.
Realizing their discussion had gone off the rails, Kitagawa and Yukawa exchanged glances before giving Nojima Shinji a grateful nod.
"You're right, Nojima-sensei," Kitagawa admitted, clearing his throat.
"That was just a random thought, nothing more. It doesn't mean the story will go in that direction, so let's not dwell on it."
"Exactly," Yukawa quickly added.
Without giving them time to linger on the topic, Akifumi had already resumed writing on screen.
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"For those who have never tasted a lemon, most will instinctively cut it in half and take a bite, enjoying the initial burst of tangy sweetness that floods their mouth."
"But soon after, all that remains is overwhelming bitterness, an indescribable pain that lingers on the tongue. The other half is often discarded, left to wither and rot."
"Lemons are dual-natured by design, just like Nakado Kei's life."
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