Los Angeles Legendary Sleuth

"So, for now, we've only identified the genetic material found in the house," Mary said, pulling out a document. "We found genetic material from 3 individuals in the house.

We compared the 3 samples of genetic material with the DNA database and identified one of the suspects."

Name: Yoshida Ryosuke

Ethnicity: Japanese-American

Age: 25

Phone Number: 626 876 2473

Address: 209 Kite Community

Social Security Number: 623-53-3872

Criminal Record: Attempted Assault, Solicitation

Luke stared at the file. The victim, Hashimoto Yumi, was of Japanese descent, and so was he. Could there be any other connection between them?

...

The United States is the world's second-largest comic book market.

It boasts a plethora of exciting original comics, like Marvel, DC, The Smurfs, The Walking Dead, and more.

In addition to its own great comics, it also imports many Japanese manga.

For example, masterpieces like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, One-Punch Man, Fullmetal Alchemist, and others.

Even though the internet has developed a lot and online comics have huge potential, paper comics are still the king.

Many comic enthusiasts still enjoy the ambience of a comic book store. Yoshida Ryosuke is a seasoned comic enthusiast who, when he had time in Tokyo, would spend it at a comic book store. He'd pick a favorite comic, buy a coffee, and eat a tuna sandwich or sushi when hungry as he read and sipped his coffee. He could stay in a comic book store for an entire day.

Since coming to Los Angeles, many of his habits had changed, but his love for comics remained. To him, a person without any hobbies might as well be dead.

At that moment, Yoshida Ryosuke was seated in a quiet corner of a comic book store, with a cup of coffee and two comics on the table before him, one Detective Conan and the other Hunter x Hunter.

Both books were considered unique within the entire world of Japanese manga.

In his hand, he held another comic, engrossed in reading, with the title "Fierce Teacher" written on the cover.

Suddenly, a voice rang out not far away, "Yoshida-san."

"Hey," Yoshida Ryosuke instinctively responded, turning his head to scan his surroundings, and saw two unfamiliar men walking towards him.

"Are you calling me?

I don't think I know you guys."

Luke glanced at the book in his hand and chuckled, "Is this your type?"

Yoshida Ryosuke slipped the comic book he was holding beneath the other two, "Just flipping through."

Jackson flashed his badge, "I'm Detective Jackson from the Robbery and Murder Department, and this is Captain Li.

We're investigating a criminal case and would like to ask you a few questions."

"A criminal case? You must be mistaken; how could I possibly be involved in a criminal case."

Jackson took out a photo of Hashimoto Yumi, "Do you recognize her?"

Yoshida Ryosuke hesitated slightly, "What happened to her?"

"She's dead."

Yoshida Ryosuke's face showed shock, "Dead!

When did this happen? Are you joking?"

Luke said, "Right now, we are asking you, do you recognize her?

Don't lie. To us, only a killer would lie."

"Yes, I do know her."

"How did you meet her?"

"It was quite by chance.

The night before last, I was feeling down, so I drove around aimlessly. When I saw an Asian woman hitchhiking on the road, I stopped to chat her up and found out she was Japanese.

I was delighted and we struck up a conversation.

Then, she invited me to her place and we got to know each other more intimately.

She was an amazing woman.

Last night, I went back to the same spot looking for her, but she wasn't there. I was quite disappointed. I had no idea she had died."

Jackson smirked, "Prostitution is prostitution, no need to dress it up as something refined."

"No, it's not what you think.

I admit, I did have that intention at first...

But afterwards... she didn't take my money.

It's not that I didn't offer; I did, but she refused.

She said she really liked me, and enjoyed talking to me, and taking money would ruin that.

That moved me—it wasn't about the money...

It was this incredible feeling.

I even considered pursuing her...

But now, it's too late."

Jackson pressed, "What exactly do you mean by 'pursuing'?"

"Asking her to be my girlfriend."

"You don't mind her past?"

"Why should I? What happened in the past is over, and I care about the future.

Moreover, I don't care about what others think.

She's my ideal other half, that's enough." Yoshida Ryosuke sighed sorrowfully, "I really liked her.

When did she die? Can I see her?"

Thinking that no one had identified the body yet, Luke agreed, "You can see her, but before that, you need to cooperate with the police investigation.

That way we can catch the killer sooner."

"No problem, I'm willing to cooperate."

"Did you know her before?"

"No, we met for the first time the evening before last, it was love at first sight."

"Tell me the exact time you met."

"It was around midnight, I saw her on the roadside, then she took me back to her apartment, and I left around one o'clock.

She stood at the door to see me off; it felt great, like a wife seeing her husband off to work...

I once longed for such a life."

Luke took note of the time in his notebook. If Yoshida Ryosuke wasn't lying, it meant Hashimoto Yumi was alive around 1 a.m., so her time of death could be narrowed down to between 1 and 2 a.m.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No."

"If you long for such a life, why don't you have a girlfriend?"

"I'd like to, but it's not that easy.

I used to study in another state, where I had many friends from the Japanese community.

After graduating, I came to Los Angeles, everything was unfamiliar...

I've approached white girls, but they have prejudices against Asians, and I never stood a chance.

It's the same with black girls."

Jackson said, "There are quite a few Asian communities in Los Angeles, why not try there?"

"You think just because we are both Asian, we are close?

Once I tried picking up girls in Koreatown, and nearly got beaten to death by a bunch of Korean thugs." Yoshida Ryosuke showed a resigned expression, "I also don't want to find streetwalkers, but I've been jerking off for two years, do you understand that feeling?

If I don't find a woman soon, I'll go crazy."

Jackson smirked, "That goes without saying."

"I just want to say it, I feel better talking about it."

Jackson "..."

Luke steered the conversation back, "Did you see anyone suspicious around you when you were with Hashimoto Yumi?"

"No."

"Did you drive there?"

"Yes."

"Where's your car?"

"It's in a nearby parking lot."

"Take us to see it."

"OK." Yoshida Ryosuke picked up his comics, following Luke out of the comic book store.

The three walked to the parking lot, and Yoshida Ryosuke stopped, seemingly realizing, "You're going to search my car?"

Jackson said, "Not exactly a search, we just want to see if we can find any clues in your car."

"So, you suspect I killed Hashimoto Yumi?"

Luke said, "No, we're trying to prove your innocence."

"Can I refuse the search?"

"Of course, that's your right.

But if you're innocent, I think it would be better to assist with the police investigation and not complicate things unnecessarily."

"What if I refuse?"

"We will arrest you on charges of soliciting prostitution and then apply for a search warrant."

"Maybe you're right, no need to complicate things. Go ahead and search." Yoshida Ryosuke pulled out his keys and unlocked the car.

Luke asked, "Do you have any weapons?"

"No."

Luke and Jackson approached the flashing light of the car.

They opened the car door and began to search separately, and at the same time, Luke kept an eye on Yoshida Ryosuke's movements.

The car was a bit messy, filled with many comic books, most of which were mainstream, with a few adult comics among them.

No contraband was found in the car.

Jackson began checking the dashcam footage to corroborate Yoshida Ryosuke's statements. If the time and place he went to and the time he left matched up, it meant his testimony was somewhat credible.

As he watched, Jackson discovered some new clues...