"Hypovolemic shock induced by clawing out their own throat.

Tissue is packed under the nails.

Not someone else's nails.

It's undoubtedly by the individual's own nails.

The shape of the scars also matches."

"Yeaaaah...

I know the immediate cause of death was suicide."

"I get it.

You're saying the cause of death is unnatural, right?"

"It's not quite on the same level as when your back itches and you scratch a little too hard and draw blood, after all."

Some of Tomitake's fingernails had been pulled out.

Fingernails actually rip off surprisingly easily.

But it really hurts.

Under normal circumstances, the pain would prevent you from completely pulling them out.

Also, there were a lot of bruises on Tomitake's body.

...It's clear from the shape of them that he was assaulted first by someone—or a group of people.

"According to the toxicology report, the deceased was in an extreme state of hysteria right before death."

"Then he fought back and clawed out his own throat because of how hysterical he had become?

The guys attacking him certainly would have been surprised by that."

It is possible that, in such an abnormal environment, a person could perform acts that a sane individual couldn't possibly imagine.

Of course, those are very rare cases.

"Actually, Ooishi-kun,

that wood plank the deceased used as a weapon?

They only found sand and the paint from the guardrail on it."

"What about cloth fibers or skin?"

"Nothing.

The deceased didn't strike the assailants...

Or it could be they took the plank he was fighting back with."

"In that case, they wouldn't have gone out of their way to replace it with another.

They'd take them all."

"Har har har har!

That's true."

"Tomitake's pretty built and tanned...

He was quite athletic."

"Hm?

That's right.

He was pretty active."

...I can't imagine what kind of sports he did when he was alive, but I think his physical strength would be on the higher side.

Meaning, he would be difficult to overpower in a brawl.

If a man with such a physique sensed he was in danger and swung the plank around frantically...

It's just unthinkable that it wouldn't even nick the perpetrator.

And his opponent was unarmed.

This guy had a wooden plank, so you'd think he'd hit them at least once...

"To surround and take down someone of his physique...

I wonder how many people it would take."

"Ya dimwit...

If anything, that's your specialty.

Have you forgotten your 'Bad Cop' days?"

If I was to take down this guy, how many would I need?

When a group wants to take down big prey it's fundamental to attack with numbers.

...I'd guess about four.

Even if there was a gap in their strength, they'd manage.

"Then there were quite a few perpetrators.

So any drunk-and-disorderly groups of more than four are suspicious?"

...A group of four or more.

Just... if they had that many, then couldn't they have hidden the body in a less obvious location?

Or... did he somehow break away from that fatal predicament...

Then there would be no reason to commit suicide.

Moreover, I still can't comprehend the irregular way he died...

It's full of mysteries.

"That's under serious consideration on my end, too.

I'll be examining it as thoroughly as possible, but don't get your hopes up.

After all, we've never encountered a death like this before."

"I'm not hoping for much.

But I am looking forward to the results."

"Ooishi-san~!

The chief is calling you!"

"Thanks. See ya 'round."

"Yeah.

Best wishes!"