"Under the premise that one's life is threatened, taking action to stop unlawful harm and causing injury to the perpetrator constitutes self-defense, which carries no criminal liability."
"However, there are clear boundaries for what qualifies as self-defense."
"First, the person must genuinely be facing unlawful harm, and their defensive actions must be a direct response to that harm."
"Second, the unlawful harm must be ongoing."
"For example, if the perpetrator is already unconscious or severely injured, incapable of further harm, but the victim still attacks them, that's considered retaliation after the fact, exceeding the scope of self-defense."
"Third…"
"…"
That night, over a late-night meal, Eri Kisaki shared legal insights with Hayato Masaki.
Japan has its own laws regarding self-defense.
As such, there are also provisions for excessive defense.
Wakamatsu Toshihide's situation would likely be deemed excessive defense—though Yokokawa Naotani took his own life, the forensic department in this world isn't exactly reliable, so it's best not to hold high hopes.
However, Yokokawa's cries for help before his death would serve as strong evidence pushing for Wakamatsu to be charged with negligent homicide.
"Learning some legal knowledge feels pretty useful," Hayato remarked.
"You're right. Especially if you're aiming to be a detective, Hayato-kun, it's wise to memorize some commonly used legal clauses," Eri Kisaki agreed.
"Yeah, I'll flip through some books on it when I have time."
Hayato Masaki nodded with a smile.
His method of manipulating Yokokawa Naotani's suicide to frame Wakamatsu Toshihide was admittedly rough.
But he chose to trust the Beika police.
Moreover, the information provided by Gin was excessively detailed.
Detailed to the point of noting whether there were surveillance cameras outside Wakamatsu's apartment.
Still, such methods should be avoided in the future.
One suspect claiming the victim committed suicide and that they were framed is fine. Two or three suspects saying the same is still plausible. But if more pile up, it starts to look suspicious.
Surely, Hayato Masaki wouldn't have that many people he'd want to frame with the Death Note… right?
---
Time moved forward.
At 1:12 a.m., a Porsche 356A cruised steadily along the road.
"After the tune-up, Aniki's car feels even smoother to drive… though it was already pretty great," Vodka commented from the driver's seat.
Gin reached for the car's cigarette lighter, casually lighting a cigarette.
The smell of smoke quickly filled the car.
"Tomorrow at 2 p.m., deliver the new materials to Sherry's lab."
"Got it."
The Organization's research on APTX4869 was currently being conducted in Beika City.
The process required materials that couldn't be obtained through normal channels, and Gin was responsible for supplying them.
"Tomorrow's the deadline that novelist set for himself, isn't it?"
"Yeah, though we gave him five days, he said he'd finish in two…"
Gin smirked, pulling out his phone.
Managing a group of subordinates meant constantly checking their reports.
As he scrolled through his inbox, one message caught his eye.
"Gin-sama, Wakamatsu Toshihide is suspected of causing death through excessive defense and has been taken to the police station for questioning."
"The deceased is Yokokawa Naotani."
Gin's eyes narrowed slightly.
That afternoon, Hayato Masaki had texted him to look into a medical student named Wakamatsu Toshihide. Gin didn't ask why, but after sending the information, he had his men keep tabs on Wakamatsu.
And Yokokawa Naotani was one of the two targets he'd ordered Hayato to eliminate.
"Follow up on the investigation."
He sent the reply, then spoke aloud.
"Yokokawa Naotani is dead."
"Huh?" Vodka glanced over.
"Killed by a university student named Wakamatsu Toshihide, excessive defense."
"Wakamatsu Toshihide? Who's that?"
"Hayato Masaki asked me to dig into him this afternoon."
Gin lowered the window, flicking his still-lit cigarette out.
Thud.
Gin's tone was flat, but Vodka swallowed hard.
He'd been wondering if Hayato just got lucky, with one target mysteriously gone. Turns out, it was connected to him.
…This new guy Aniki's got his eye on is kind of terrifying.
Vodka focused on driving.
The early morning highway was nearly empty, so he pressed the accelerator, the polished vintage car gliding swiftly and smoothly.
But after a while, Vodka noticed a red sedan in the rearview mirror, barreling toward them at breakneck speed.
From his seasoned driver's instincts, he estimated it was going over 150 miles per hour—and still accelerating.
"What's this guy's deal? Some street racer?"
Vodka scoffed.
He nudged the car closer to the center of the middle lane, letting the red sedan blaze past in the adjacent lane.
The red car shot by the 356A like a crimson blur, signaling to merge into the middle lane ahead.
But something seemed to block its path. Vodka and Gin watched as the red sedan, veering left, suddenly jerked the wheel right—causing the car to lose balance, swaying wildly like a drunken fool.
"Slow down," Gin said sharply.
Vodka was already braking, trailing behind as the red car spun out of control, then slammed into the right guardrail at over a hundred miles per hour.
"Aniki…"
The Porsche 356A slowed to a crawl, barely ten or twenty miles per hour. Vodka's voice was strained.
"…"
Gin stared, stunned.
A car losing control and hitting a guardrail wasn't unusual. But this red sedan didn't just hit the guardrail—it collided with a steel pipe inexplicably strapped across it.
Vodka edged forward cautiously.
As they passed the smoking wreckage, they saw the steel pipe had pierced straight through the driver's window, with blood splattered across the passenger side glass.
The driver's head had been impaled.
Gin caught a familiar whiff from the scene. At that moment, his phone buzzed with a new message.
"Task completed."
"Good night."
It was from Hayato Masaki.
***
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