[Recap] Metro PD: Close to You ~ Ryohei Kimura Main Story Episode 14

 ***Note: This chapter is available to read after buying the main story in the play store (android) or app store (ios). Main story is $3.99 unless on sale (usually $2.99)***

File 14 Recap

Note: Yuichi = Kuromine (same guy)



Episode 14 begins with Yukiko and Kimura in Mr. Osato's office at Blast Promotions. They begin their meeting by asking Mr. Osato why he committed those murders.

He doesn't deny it. So I'm going to leave out some of the details here but basically... Mr. Osato's motive for his crimes were to protect the company. If word got out that they had such deep ties to the mafia then a scandal would bring an end to the company. Mr. Osato continues to answer the rest of Yukiko's and Kimura's questions. Then he tells Kimura that it was Ryuichi (one of the victims) that made up the scandal between him and Yuichi back then. Kimura reveals to Yukiko that 10 years ago someone from the mafia threatened Mr. Osawa that he would to start a scandal by revealing Yuichi's past to a magazine.

Yuichi's girlfriend, Fuka, was in the office that day and happened to overhear that conversation. Fuka tailed the mafia guy to a river, called Kimura about what was going on, Kimura arrived, and then Fuka got abducted by the mafia guy. Fuka did it all to protect Yuichi but three days later, Fuka's corpse was found. Yukiko reasons that Kimura never told Yuichi because he would only blame himself for Fuka's death. Instead, Kimura blames himself for her death.

Not only does Mr. Osato tell Kimura to quit blaming himself, he also apologizes to Yukiko for framing her. He only framed her because he believed that Kimura would prove her innocence and because he needed to buy some time. His plan was to force Director Osawa to resign. After getting him to resign he would quit and then kill himself. Mr. Osato sheds a few tears. All he wanted to do was protect the company but he might have actually destroyed it.

Scene change!

Yukiko finds Kimura gazing out at the stars.  She asks him if it's really easier to live without caring about anyone. She always thought that it was weird to think that way until today.  She understands that Kimura punishes himself because he thinks he doesn't deserve to be forgiven.

Kimura looks a bit upset when she tells him that it's time for him and Kuromine to move on. She reassures him that moving on won't mean leaving Fuka behind because it would mean living the way Fuka would be proud of. In her opinion, life is easier and worth living if there are people you care about by your side. When Kimura still doesn't reply she tells him the truth about Fuka's murder would come out eventually and that Kuromine probably wants to hear it all from him and not from a TV show or trial.

Kimura finally starts speaking. Four years ago, on the anniversary of Fuka's death, he coincidentally met Yuichi while visiting her grave. At that time he debated whether or not to tell Yuichi the truth but before he could Yuichi punched him and left.

He acknowledges that Yukiko was probably right about him. Being blamed by Yuichi made him feel better because it felt like he was paying for his crime. And he paid for his crime for 10 years. Kimura goes back to looking up at the stars and Yukiko follows his gaze. 

End of Episode 14

***Comments***

This episode finally solves the murder cases. I didn't find this episode very entertaining but I thought it was well written. 

Although Mr. Osato was the mastermind behind all the murders I still felt bad for him. It seems like he has a soft spot for Kimura, putting faith that he could do his job well when he believed that he could prove Yukiko's innocence, and he calls Kimura by his first name.

One more chapter to go!