Holmes of Kyoto (京都寺町三条のホームズ)

Holmes of Kyoto

Episode Three

"The Case of the Mt. Kurama Estate Inheritance"

Holmes-san invited me to go hiking in Kurama today.

Will this be your first time on Mt. Kurama, Aoi-san?

Yes. I'm really looking forward to it!

I'm sorry. After all that...

Oh, you're going to Mt. Kurama?

Would you mind stopping by Kajiwara-sensei's mountain villa, then?

Your fellow novelist?

He passed away earlier this year, didn't he?

Yes.

It seems his family would like to ask for your help with something.

Do you mind?

I don't mind, but...

Oh, I don't mind at all!

I'm sorry. To both of you.

Oh, it's not quite an apology,

but you should eat at a kawadoko restaurant in Kibune.

I'll make a reservation.

Our special hiking trip turned into an errand for my father.

That's okay...

It's not every day you get to eat lunch at a Kibune kawadoko

and visit a writer's mountain villa.

I really can't wait.

You're too kind, Aoi-san.

Aoi-san.

Look at that!

What is that?

It's a happiness strap. They say that if you grab it, it will bring you happiness.

A happiness strap?

Aoi-san?

Sorry...

Wow! The Momiji Tunnel!

I see taking the train was the right idea.

Yes! It's like I'm on a real vacation!

Though it really feels more like a pick-me-up trip...

That's right.

Well, let's enjoy the vacation.

You're so right!

Water Fortune Omikuji

Best Luck

This is wonderful!

I'm glad I invited you.

You've seemed rather listless lately.

As usual, you see right through me, Holmes-san...

I was thinking you must have saved up the money to go to Saitama by now.

Yes... but each time I think about going, I hesitate.

I can understand that.

At times like this, it's best to do what comes naturally,

rather than trying to force yourself to action.

Thank you very much.

But I'm a little surprised that you understand how I feel.

To be perfectly honest,

your discerning eye wasn't the only reason I asked you to work at Kura.

There was another reason.

The truth is... I've been through the same thing.

I lost my girlfriend to someone else.

When I was in my third year of high school,

I was in a relationship with a girl in my grade.

At the time, I took everything very seriously,

and I'd sworn to myself that, for both of our sakes,

we should remain chaste until after entrance exams were over.

I was keeping our relationship pure in a way that would not shame the Kiyotaka name.

Is his given name special somehow?

But I think she started feeling lonely around me.

Once we were in college, she was quickly

swept off her feet by an arrogant and overbearing Osakan.

But because I went through that, I can understand how you feel.

Aoi-san?

Oh, it's nothing. I was just surprised...

It felt kind of... "Wow, Holmes-san is so normal."

What is that supposed to mean?

S-Sorry...

It seems she's going to marry that arrogant and overbearing Osakan.

But when I heard that news, for some reason, it came as a relief.

A relief? Why?

"If they were so meant for each other that they're joining in matrimony,

then it was destiny that she would leave me."

It freed me to think of it that way.

Destiny?

So rather than forcing a decision, you may be better served by leaving it to destiny.

Maybe so.

That was so delicious!

I need to thank the manager.

I suppose we should take care of business for him, then.

Okay!

Kajiwara-sensei's secretary, Kurashina-san, will escort us to the villa.

I am Kajiwara's wife, Ayako.

A pleasure to meet you. I am Yagashira Kiyotaka.

A-And I'm Mashiro Aoi.

A pleasure. I'm the eldest, Fuyuki.

The third son, Haruhiko.

Second son, Akihito.

You attend Kyoto University, Kiyotaka-san?

Yes, though I entered in graduate school.

I was at Kyoto Prefectural before then.

Kyoto Prefectural? Our Haruhiko is a second-year there now.

Maybe I'll try to get into Kyoto U, too!

Kyoto Prefectural, Kyoto U...

It's like a different world to me.

That's because you ran off to become an actor.

You're an actor, Akihito-san?

The rising star of AK Company.

Ever seen me on TV?

S-Sorry...

You've got a ways to go, Akihito.

Holmes-san?

Is something the matter?

No... I was thinking the resemblance is striking.

Resemblance? Between who?

Now... what did you wish to discuss?

Allow me to explain.

When Kajiwara-sensei died, I was given two wills.

Will

The first was regarding the division of assets,

but the second contained a request that

I open it here at the Mt. Kurama villa three months later.

I opened it the other day.

It contained instructions to bestow a set of his treasured art pieces to his sons,

as well as a code to a safe.

Inside the safe were three hanging scrolls.

Hanging scrolls, you say?

Yes. But when I had an appraiser look at them,

he said that they were reproductions with no artistic value.

Then why...

Actually, that's not even the real problem.

The truth is... someone burned the scrolls.

Someone burned the scrolls?

Yes. All three were burned in the incinerator here.

Who would do something so awful?

Who else?

It was somebody in this room.

It's true that the only ones who could have burned the scrolls that night

are the people who live here.

See?

Then the appraiser, Yanagihara-sensei, told me that Ijuin-sensei's son

was also known as "Holmes," so I asked for an introduction.

I see. So it was Yanagihara-sensei...

You know him?

He's an old friend of my grandfather's.

Oh, the owner!

So, Kiyotaka-san, is it?

You'd better catch us that culprit!

If you call yourself Holmes, you'd better be something special.

I'm only called "Holmes" because my last name is Yagashira, actually.

So there's no way you can help us, right?

Not so. I actually have an idea of who did it already.

Really?

But I have no proof just yet, so I'd like to speak with each of you.

Very well.

I'll start with Fuyuki-san.

Certainly.

How do you feel about your share of the estate?

H-Holmes-san!

I don't mind.

Regarding the inheritance, my primary thought was, "Ah, of course."

My father was quite a spendthrift.

Yeah, no kidding...

At the same time, he had a very strong sense of obligation.

I see.

Then would you tell me about the scroll that was left to you?

Yes.

I think it was like...

Taira no Kiyomori in a golden kimono, holding a large fan up to a red sun.

I see. "Kiyomori Calls Back the Setting Sun."

Was it this?

Yes!

That's the Holmes-san I know! He sure works fast.

Fuyuki-san, what did you think about your scroll?

I just figured my father liked Kiyomori...

Thank you very much.

Next, Akihito-san. The same question, if you would.

I was pretty surprised by my inheritance.

He basically treated me like the prodigal son.

I'm honestly surprised I got any—

Very well. Now, about the scroll...

Um, I think it was by Hokusai.

It was mostly an unpainted background with a dragon and Mt. Fuji—

This?

"Dragon Flying Over Mt. Fuji."

Yeah...