The leap day murder

February 29th, 2000

"So Shiruka-sensei, tell us about this drama. What possessed you to make it so terrible?" a female news anchor named Riho Amanuma asked.

"Well, I was crunched by the editor to make a television drama in time for the fall season. Naturally, I was pissed and gave him my shittiest work," Shiruka smirked.

"So the context of this show is that you were mad at your boss for overworking you?"

"Yes. You could say I'm Richelieu forcing my editor Roux to experience the shit of Yowie Hunt."

"So Roux was intended to represent your editor?"

"Yes, that's why I made him suffer so much. That's also why "Spoilers" I added in that final question in the last episode. My boss answered in a similar way, which is why I'm now at a far more luxurious publishing company instead of his."

The editor in question quickly became uncomfortable as he found himself in Riho's glare. When he received the offer for a TV interview over the TV show his ex-author Shiruka wrote, he thought he'd be showered with praise, not called out.

"So Mr.Editor, is it true your forcing of Shiruka sensei to overwork is what ultimately led to the creation of Yowie Hunt?" Riho glared.

"Yes, it was thanks to that hard work that my company ended up producing a profitable masterpiece."

"The Ministry of Labor will probably wish to have a word with you."

The editor hung is head in defeat as the Riho resumed her interview with Shiruka. "Do you also have some beef with actor, Mamoru Daigoro-san?"

"Not really, but since our precious editor wanted a show staring him really badly, I decided to have the hot looking guy wear an ugly kangaroo suit for nearly the whole thing."

"That suit was really hot!" Mamoru complained.

"Probably because you were doing so many intense scenes, you ended up sweating more. I'd say this was by far your most intense role to date, but you did an amazing job. I'd say you easily proved you're more than just a guy with good looks. Definitely consider doing some voice acting," Shiruka smiled.

"I guess you're right. Well, I guess it worked out well. I was worried at first, but hearing you, the snarky writer offer genuine praise, it really means a lot so thanks. And wouldn't you know it, I actually have been starting to get lots of requests to do voice acting, " Mamoru laughed.

"See, told you people would like hearing his voice," Shiruka smirked at the editor.

"Some of the episodes contained lots of references to old movies, video games, and internet videos, care to explain those?" Riho asked.

"Sure. It was basically me browsing the internet and saying, "Hey, I should base an episode around this." I have no ill will towards those being referenced/parodied, I just decided to throw more of a homage to them in order to increase the quality of the show."

"Indeed, many praised the references you made."

A large airy man in Australian outback attire then suddenly burst onto the set in Dumbee mode. "G'day Japan! Ready to hunt for some yaoi Yowies?" he smiled at the camera.

"So what made you go with Dumbee?" the anchor asked Shiruka.

"Simple, he's meant to draw you in. Ironically, he's presented as dumb, but actually has some street smarts. Had Roux respected him a little more, perhaps he could have- Oh apologies, I'm heading into spoiler territory again."

Everyone laughed as the Australian man continued to smile in place.

"Well that's all the time we have. Thanks for coming on the show," Riho smiled.

"And also Grouping of ghosts' second to last volume is available now!" Shiruka smiled.

Shortly after the interview ended, Shiruka met with Riho to ask if she had any juicy scoops on things he could potentially use for his upcoming mystery novel.

"Actually I do. But, it'd be better to talk someplace a little more private," Riho said with a serious expression.

As the two headed down the hall, they passed by a group of highschoolers visiting the station for a field trip. Before the group could react, the Australian man then appeared before them.

"G'Day mates! Welcome to the television station. I'm Drop Bear Dumbee. Where do ya wanna go?"

"Do you have a knife on you?" a girl with long magenta hair asked.

"Yeah, I gotta knife, biggest one they'd let me bring through customs," Dumbee smiled as he pulled out a realistic looking Australian knife.

The girl skeptically gazed at it, while her classmates gawked in amazement.

"Want an autograph? I gotta make it quick though, so pull out something and I'll sign it."

Many students whipped out something to sign, including the girl who asked about the knife. After autographing everything, Dumbee put his pen away and walked down the hall. Unaware, that he was being followed.

Meanwhile, in a vacant room, Riho and Shiruka entered a vacant room and shut the door.

Considering you asked to meet me in private, I assume their might be some non-fiction elements to this," Shiruka smiled.

"Well that's a mystery writer for you," Riho giggled.

"Technically I haven't written anything yet, but I guess some of my other works have some mystery elements so I guess you could say I'm a mystery writer."

"Anyway, if you're asking about interesting cases you could use for your mystery novel, there were a few instances where the higher ups refused to let us report on certain things. At the threat of "Severe legal action + immediate termination", we were dissuaded from reporting on..."

Shiruka's expression grew more concerned the more he heard. Suddenly, they heard the door open.

"Hey! they said I could get an interview here! Wait a moment, this is dark like a cave, maybe there's a Yowie working in here," Dumbee smiled as he waltzed inside and quickly ran up to Shiruka and Riho before they could hide.

"Oh Dumbee, nice to see you. Not sure who told you about the interview. I'm actually just chatting with Amanuma-san about something for my upcoming work," Shiruka stated.

Dumbee began sniffing the air and walked in between the two. "Seems like you two were discussing something big. The woman's been sweating like crazy."

"Oh, it was nothing, just a little sweat from the tension," Riho nervously laughed.

Then, tragedy struck. Out of nowhere, Riho Amanuma's throat was slashed with a knife, killing her instantly.

"WHAT ARE YA DOING, MATE!" Dumbee shouted.

Shiruka's eyes widened as he clenched the knife tighter. "Dammit, I can't pull it out..."

A few moments later, Nobuto "Shiruka" Shiragiku died too, by alleged suicide. Dumbee later testified that as he was greeting the two, Shiruka suddenly grabbed his knife and slashed Riho in the throat. He then shouted, and prepared to fight, but then Shiruka killed himself by stabbing himself in the throat. Due to only Shiruka's fingerprints being on the knife, Dumbee's story was believed. Dumbee was also barehanded the entire time, and no trace of gloves were found anywhere in the room.

This quickly led to Shiruka's works being discontinued, though Yowie Hunt managed to get a few more seasons in thanks to the editor's greed. One of Shiruka's assistants, vehemently defended Shiruka, alleging he was actually murdered instead, but the police said otherwise. An upstart conspiracy theorist also claimed that Shiruka was innocent, but was naturally shunned. Thus, the verdict was that Shiruka killed Riho Amanuma before killing himself. Though it was worth noting the police could never figure out his motive, even to this day.