Bab 50: Chapter 50 Please, Miss Itakura
In the auditorium of the Empire Theatre.
Many audience members were confused by the sudden suspension of the performance.
With no way to continue watching the play, many wanted to leave directly.
However, when those who wanted to leave were stopped one by one by the police guarding the theater exits,
everyone started to realize that something was wrong.
"What's going on? Why is the police here?"
"I think I just saw Detective Mouri off to the side."
"Could it be that someone was killed?!"
As the audience whispered to each other, news quickly spread that a murder had occurred at the Empire Theatre.
"A murder case?!"
Misaki Itakura, who had been angry about the interruption, was shocked to hear the news.
She looked at Koichi Nishihara, sitting calmly in front of the bar set up at the center of the stage.
A sense of foreboding began to rise in her heart.
Itakura Misaki still remembered that when she first brought Akikawa Kyusuke to rehearsals five weeks ago, Okino Yoko had told her solemnly:
We must keep our performers away from Koichi Nishihara.
Later, Misaki Itakura searched for Nishihara Koichi's name and found he had been involved in two violent incidents in middle and high school.
Although this happened long ago,
Misaki Itakura couldn't shake a feeling that linked these incidents to Koichi Nishihara.
"No... no way! How could that be possible? No matter how you look at it, it can't be…"
The more Misaki Itakura thought about it, the more panicked she became, so she got up and began walking toward the stage's backstage area.
She wanted to personally confirm the safety of her artist Akikawa Kyusuke and her idol Okino Yoko.
Misaki Itakura was questioned by the police before entering backstage.
However, after revealing her identity as a talent manager, they allowed her to go through.
As soon as she entered backstage, Itakura Misaki noticed the tense atmosphere.
Whether it was Takemura Mine, the director of the play, her idol Okino Yoko, or the other performers present,
all seemed panicked.
After spotting Yoko Okino, Itakura Misaki felt a bit of relief.
She began looking around, but couldn't see her artist, Akikawa Kyousuke.
"No... that's impossible. Mr. Akikawa should be in the dressing room. His appearance is in the fifth act, and it's not his turn yet!"
Just as Misaki Itakura was anxiously thinking,
her dark eyes suddenly saw emergency personnel coming out of the storage area, carrying a stretcher.
Itakura Misaki hurriedly walked toward the direction of the emergency personnel.
At the same time, Itakura Misaki noticed something else.
There was another figure behind the stage also quickly approaching the emergency staff—
her idol, Okino Yoko.
While everyone was unsure of what was happening,
Misaki Itakura and Yoko Okino had already rushed to the stretcher carried by the emergency staff.
When Misaki Itakura clearly saw who was lying on the stretcher,
half of their face covered in blood, dressed in a British student uniform from the late 19th century,
she felt a sudden wave of dizziness overwhelm her.
Why is this happening?!
Why did something like this happen again?
I'd successfully joined the company where my idol works.
I secured an excellent artist for the role.
The first project was to work with Yoko Okino.
I thought I'd finally left that chaotic life behind and was back on track.
But why?
Did my artist end up being killed?
Itakura Misaki felt her mind begin to blur, the scene before her eyes becoming fuzzy with double images. "Hello, how are his injuries?"
A familiar voice sounded clear and gentle, yet full of urgency.
Misaki Itakura turned her head.
She saw her idol Okino Yoko, once so vibrant, now with her cheeks marked by visible worry.
She no longer looked like the brilliant idol she once did.
More like a mother concerned for her injured child.
"The injured person suffered 'several' blows to the head and has significant bleeding."
The accompanying policeman explained.
"Additionally, he has a subconjunctival hemorrhage in his left eye. Without timely treatment, it could affect his vision."
"Although it's not life-threatening, there's a high chance of concussion, so he should get to a hospital as soon as possible for examination."
Everyone present noticed.
After hearing the officer's words, Okino Yoko's face turned as pale as paper.
Even her posture began to tremble slightly.
"Why does Miss Yoko look so pale?"
Itakura Misaki couldn't help but wonder.
Just as Okino Yoko was about to go with the emergency personnel to the hospital, the police stopped her to the side.
The reason, of course, was that Megure Juzo, Detective Mouri Kogoro, and others were still determining the murderer's identity.
No one backstage could leave the theater at will.
Okino Yoko became very anxious, so she quickly approached Itakura Misaki and grabbed her hand.
Then she looked into Misaki Itakura's eyes with her deep blue eyes, a pleading expression on her face:
"Miss Itakura, could you accompany Kou to the hospital? I'll return later."
"Ah, oh, yes."
Misaki Itakura, caught off guard by Okino Yoko's sudden request, was slightly overwhelmed and quickly agreed.
Then she saw Okino Yoko turn to the police and speak up:
"Miss Itakura is Akikawa's manager. She's been in the audience since before the play began and only came backstage now."
"Miss Itakura can't be a suspect, so after confirming with the police officer, could she be allowed to go with Akikawa-kun to the hospital?"
Hearing this, the accompanying police looked over at the officer who had allowed Itakura Misaki in.
After receiving the officer's confirmation, the escorting policeman said:
"Alright, go ahead."
Hearing this, Okino Yoko turned and clasped Misaki Itakura's hands with both of hers.
"Please, Miss Itakura."
Itakura Misaki once again saw the sincerity in Okino Yoko's eyes that she'd never seen before.
A strong sense of responsibility surged in her heart as Misaki Itakura nodded firmly.
"Leave it to me, Miss Yoko."
After Misaki Itakura finished speaking, she followed the emergency personnel and the accompanying officers out from backstage.
On the way to the hospital after leaving the theater,
Misaki Itakura looked at Akikawa Kyusuke lying on the stretcher with his eyes closed, and she couldn't help but recall Yoko Okino's intense expression of worry.
"I can't help but feel Miss Yoko cares more for Mr. Akikawa than most would."
—
Meanwhile,
the artists and crew present dared not breathe, their eyes focused quietly on Okino Yoko.
Okino Yoko's gaze had been following the people who had just left.
And when they completely disappeared from view,
everyone heard a soft "thud."
They saw Okino Yoko fall to her knees, as if all her strength had drained away in an instant.
(End of Chapter)
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone