Knocking on Death’s Door

File Room, Death Incorporated Building, Late afternoon

The file room is filled with shelves and shelves of files, documents and paperwork. Piles of paper clutter the floor. There is a singular desk that faces the door. Akane sits at it, clearly drowned with work. The desk is piled high with documents and binders.

Akane groans with annoyance as she puts another document into a binder and then puts it atop another pile of binders.

Receptionist (Off-panel): “I thought you were the boss’s new assistant.”

Akane looks up. The door is open and the receptionist stands in the doorway with her arms crossed.

Akane lets out a deep sigh.

Akane: “This is just his latest attempt at getting me to quit. He has me down here doing menial grunt work, filing away these reports.”

The receptionist laughs.

Receptionist: “I could never be that patient. You know, you could just laze around and clock out whenever you want. I doubt Death would ever notice.”

Akane shakes her head. She smiles through the work.

Akane: “Yeah, it’s tedious. It’s boring. It’s obviously meant just to torture me. But…it’s still my job, right? If I manage to make the world even a little bit better, then I’m more than happy to do this work.”

The receptionist looks at Akane. There is a hint of envy in her eyes, though she hides it well.

Receptionist: “You’re a very hardworking woman, Hayakawa-san. I could never be like you, especially if my boss was such an asshole.”

Akane laughs it off.

The receptionist leaves.

With that, Akane returns to filing the documents and reports. She is studious with her work and very focused.

Suddenly, her expression grows suspicious. She holds up a document and reads through it carefully. Then, she searches through the pile of binders for a specific one. She opens it and flips through the pages to find another document.

Akane reaches for a pen to underline something written on the document. She holds up both pieces of paper side by side.

Her expression shifts from suspicion to concern. She realised something is wrong.

Akane: “What is going on?”

Title card: My New Boss is the Grim Reaper?! Episode 4.

Lounge, Death Incorporated Building, Morning

Miss Sato sits at a table by herself. She has both hands on her lap. She looks down nervously. Cleary, she is waiting for someone.

Akane runs in, holding two canned drinks. She is catching her breath.

Akane: “Sorry I took so long!”

Akane puts one can in front of Miss Sato and sits down.

Akane: “I’m still new to where all the vending machines are here, so it took me a bit to find your drink.”

Miss Sato has a surprised and embarrassed expression.

Miss Sato: “Oh, you really didn’t need to! I can drink anything.”

Akane insists with a kind smile as she sits down.

Akane: “No no, I’m the one who brought you out all this way. It’s the least I can do.”

Akane takes out a document and a pen.

Akane: “Sato-san, right?”

Miss Sato nods.

Akane tries to be sincere and genuine with Miss Sato.

Akane: “I want to ask you about some really personal details about your…passing. I understand it’s very difficult for you, but I promise you, I will do my utmost to help you. If you’re uncomfortable at any time, we’ll stop.”

Miss Sato has a difficult expression. She nods.

Akane smiles at her.

Akane: “Thank you.”

Akane glances down at the document.

Akane: “It says here your cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. Is that true?”

Miss Sato looks like she’s recollecting a painful memory.

Miss Sato: “Yes.”

Akane: “If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me everything you can remember about that day?”

Miss Sato is nervous and uncomfortable, but she forces herself to tell her story.

Miss Sato: “I was…coming home from the supermarket.”

Miss Sato is suddenly replaced with a different person. This person is a middle-aged man. He sits in the same spot as Miss Sato. Instead of a canned drink on the table, it’s a cup of coffee.

Middle-aged Man: “I was coming from work.”

The middle-aged man is replaced by another person. It is a young girl in a high school uniform. The drink on the table is now a cup of juice.

High School Girl: “From school.”

Then, it’s a man in his thirties. The juice is now a different canned drink.

Thirty-year-old Man: “From my parent’s house.”

Akane listens intently and with a focused gaze.

It is Miss Sato again.

Miss Sato: “It was dark. I heard footsteps behind me. I didn’t get a good look, but I think it was a tall man—”

It is an older woman now, likely in her fifties.

Fifty-year-old Woman: “It was an old man.”

It is a young man who is dressed like a punk.

Punk Man: “It was a young guy.”

It is a very old and shrivelled old man. He is dressed like a monk.

Old Monk: “It was the devil in human form.”

Akane’s expression is now fearful. She is really concerned.

She is looking at Miss Sato again.

Miss Sato: “I’m sorry. I just…it all happened so fast. And it was over so fast.”

Akane: “Anything will help, Sato-san, please.”

Miss Sato thinks about it.

Miss Sato: “There is…something.”

Akane: “What is it?”

Every single person Akane had been talking to said the same thing.

Everyone: “He held a wrench.”

Akane looks down at the document, terrified. The information she had learnt is disturbing to her.

Miss Sato looks at Akane, concerned and apologetic.

Miss Sato: “Um, Hayakawa-san. I’m thankful that you’ve taken an interest in my case, but…it’s been years. Whatever happened to me, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Immediately, Akane reaches a hand across the table. She holds Miss Sato’s hands tightly. Akane looks Miss Sato in the eyes. She has a passionate and fiercely determined expression.

Akane: “That’s not true at all! It doesn’t matter if it’s been a thousand years; you matter, Sato-san! You deserve to know how you died and your killer deserves justice! Most importantly, you deserve to be at peace!”

Tears gather at Miss Sato’s eyes. They flow down her cheeks.

Miss Sato: “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Hallway, Death Incorporated Building, Late evening

Akane speeds down the hallway, carrying a stack of documents under her arm. She gets up to the door to Death’s office and she immediately swings it open without knocking.

Akane: “Death, you have to see this—”

Luxury Bedroom, Night

Death’s office is no longer an office. Rather, it is now a luxurious bedroom. The ground is littered with rose petals and there’s a candle on the tables. The bed is a canopy bed with poles that hold up slightly transparent curtains. It is a very romantic atmosphere.

On the bed, the receptionist lies completely naked. She sits against the headboard with her legs spread wide. Death is also naked, with his back facing the door. He has his head on the spot between her legs, performing fellatio.

The receptionist’s face is flushed.

Akane’s face goes fully red. Her eyes are wide.

The receptionist notices Akane standing at the doorway. She smirks, then exaggerates her moans of pleasure. She puts her arms back and grips tightly onto the backboards. She makes loud noises and makes an expression as if she is having the best oral sex ever.

Akane’s expression hides a hint of jealousy and annoyance.

The receptionist finishes. Death turns around and notices Akane. His expression is one of shock, anger, and some guilt.

Death: “Get out!”

Akane: “Sorry!”

Akane is flustered. She quickly steps out and closes the door behind her.

There is a moment of silence as Death stares at the closed door. Suddenly, Akane thrusts open the door again.

Akane: “Actually, no, I really need to talk to you!”

Death: “Can it not wait?!”

Akane’s face is red but she is still determined.

Akane: “It can’t!”

Death is very annoyed, but he ultimately gives in. He snaps his fingers.

Death’s Office, Death Incorporated Building, Late evening

Akane and Death now stand in Death’s office. The bed and the receptionist have disappeared.

However, Death is still naked. His bare body is well-toned and incredibly attractive.

Akane covers her eyes with the documents.

Akane: “C-Can’t you magic yourself some clothes or something?!”

Despite sounding annoyed, Akane is obviously taking peeks at Death’s body. She is very clearly attracted to him. She has a sensual blush on her cheeks.

Death sighs. He snaps his fingers, and he is suddenly wearing his signature suit.

Death: “I specifically gave you a job that lets you be as far away from me as you wanted, and now you’re coming back?”

Akane approaches Death and hands him the documents she was holding.

Death holds them in his hand and reads the first one.

Death: “What is this?”

Akane: “Thirty-nine deaths, across two prefectures, and all from blunt force trauma to the head.”

Death flips through some of the documents.

Death: “Death from blunt force trauma is more common than you’d think.”

Akane: “They were all done with a wrench.”

Death glances up at Akane. He is surprised by the information and realises that she might be right.

Akane has a fiercely determined look. She is truly passionate about these cases.

Akane: “There is no way these cases aren’t related. This is the work of a serial killer.”