Pathway to Japanese Literature

1

“Mayumi-chan, when I rushed over wondering what this was about—oh no, is this about that marriage proposal again? I’ve decided after all to stay single my whole life and devote myself to my art, so I must decline.”

Yuriko said bluntly.

Since Mayumi knew it would be futile to persuade her once she had refused, she remained silent, and Yuriko—perhaps thinking she had offended Mayumi’s feelings—took out peanut-filled candy she claimed to have bought at the station’s black market, offered it, and put a piece in her own mouth,

“I met Ms. Takemura Harue, the pharmacist, at the inner entrance. Is that woman here again?”

[Yuriko] changed the topic.

“That’s right.”
“She returned from evacuation but had nowhere to stay, so we’ve decided to have her help at the pharmacy for now—but you see, even private practitioners aren’t faring well these days.”
“Business isn’t thriving like when Ms. Takemura was here before, and really, when the old currency switched to new, hordes of patients came flooding in with piles of old yen to deposit—but now it’s all frozen savings we can’t access. These days it’s just a pretense—busywork without pay.”
“Ms. Takemura insists she doesn’t need a salary, but what good is a salary anyway when we’re spending so much on food?”

Yuriko twisted her thin lips,

“Just turn her down!”
“I hate that high-and-mighty woman, I tell you.”
“Putting on airs like some beauty—”

Mayumi and Yuriko were cousins and both only daughters, so from early childhood they had been as close as sisters. They were both twenty-four years old, stood at the same height of five feet one inch, shared fair complexions with distinct facial features, and even their delicate airs bore striking resemblance. However, their natures were polar opposites—while Mayumi was gentle, quiet, and reserved in all matters, Yuriko was brisk, competitive, and bold. As wealthy young ladies, the two cousins were taught many things outside of school, but traditional dance held particular importance since both sets of parents adored it—they were sent to lessons from the age of six in June. Mayumi herself had been determined to stand as a dancer until becoming Dr. Mitsumura’s wife, so even these close companions would clash like sworn rivals whenever dance was involved. But no matter how much Yuriko strove, she couldn’t even approach the hem of Mayumi’s kimono, who possessed innate talent.

However, five years ago, when there was a dance recital at the Kabukiza Theater, Mayumi caught the eye of Dr. Mitsumura who had come to watch. After being earnestly entreated and becoming his wife, she abruptly severed all ties with dance, transforming into a modest young wife who withdrew into the depths of her household.

Mayumi was about to put the candy into her mouth with her slender fingertips when Takemura Harue, the very subject of their conversation, entered. She was a sleek, beautiful woman in her late twenties.

"Madam, the doctor says Mr. Kawasaki is waiting in the reception room, so please attend to him—"

She gave the candy she had been about to put into her own mouth to Takemura,

“Wait here a moment,” Mayumi said before leaving Yuriko behind and exiting the room with Takemura—passing Dr. Mitsumura in the doorway as he entered with his stethoscope still around his neck.
Yuriko gave a slight bow and smirked.
Dr. Mitsumura picked up the photos scattered before her knees, grinned mockingly, and said:

“Oh, splendid!
“Modern.
“A candidate for your groom? Isn’t he a splendidly handsome man?”

"I don't know."

Yuriko sulked and stiffened haughtily.

Dr. Mitsumura deliberately read the family register aloud in a booming voice.

“Son of a Supreme Court judge and a lawyer, hmm? His sister married a university professor with a law doctorate—so no sisters-in-law in the house, parents gone—carefree indeed. Plus he’s got property.”
“500,000 yen—you’d be better off marrying this guy!”

“I don’t want to.
“Even you’re saying such things now—how hateful!”
“I will marry dance and live my whole life thinking of it as my husband!”

“Oh? That’s not what we agreed on.”

“So if Mayumi-chan dies, you’re saying I’ll marry you? I don’t even know when that was supposed to be—ugh, thinking about it is so tedious.”
Yuriko, appearing impatient, crumpled her handkerchief into a ball and slammed it onto the tatami mats,

"Everyone—every single person—gets on my nerves! I want to kill Mayumi-chan! She snatched away my precious Dr. Mitsumura and acts so nonchalant about it."

“Stealing? Ohoho.”
“Isn’t it to make you shine that I’ve sealed away the dance Mayumi loves more than life itself? You could stand to show some gratitude.”

“Haven’t I sacrificed my own lover to Mayumi-chan too?”
“My art—which I’m determined to achieve even at love’s expense—”

Yuriko let her shoulders slump for a time,

“Those without talent can’t be helped. Ah, how I envy Mayumi-chan—the iemoto always says she’s never seen anyone as gifted as her.”

“Flattery.”

“More than envy—it’s hatred. I have no choice but to claw my way up through effort—no matter how much you try to seal it away, Dr. Mitsumura, who’s to say Mayumi-chan won’t change her mind someday? Lately she seems bored with married life. As long as that person lives, I can’t feel at ease—I want to kill her even more.”

Yuriko brusquely shook off the hand that had been taken by the doctor and tried to stand up when—

“Mr. Kawasaki’s medicine is ready.”

With that, Takemura brought the medicine bottle.
The two of them, engrossed in their conversation, felt their hearts thud.
Dr.Mitsumura panicked and pointed toward the reception room,

“Takemura—Mr.Kawasaki’s over there—quickly pass me the bottle—no—take it directly to him!”

He was flustered and incoherent.
Takemura left toward the reception room as if she hadn’t noticed anything.
Yuriko watched her retreating figure with relief,

“What a beautiful woman.”
“Dr. Mitsumura likes her, doesn’t he?”
“Those wide, alert eyes of hers look so clever—you can’t let your guard down. Do you think she’s noticed something?”

“Even if she’s noticed, who cares? We’ll just kick that wench out and be done with it.”
“More importantly—Yuriko-chan—what day are we holding your debut performance?”
“I’ll handle a whole bunch of tickets!”

Dr. Mitsumura tried to change the subject, but Yuriko remained fixated on Takemura.

“If that woman tells Mayumi-chan something, it’ll be trouble. She was staring at me strangely—do you think it’s all right?”

“It’s just your imagination.”
Brushing it off lightly, Dr. Mitsumura lit a Corona.

2

On the day before the stage rehearsal, Yuriko suddenly declared she didn’t want to dance Heron Maiden.

The Iemoto, exhilarated from the final run-through, instantly grew furious at this selfish request, but since this was the precious young lady of her favored patrons after all, she swallowed her rage with great effort,

“That won’t do.”
“You’ve even achieved professional-level technique.”

she said calmly in words alone.

“But I can’t do it properly, you know.”

“What do you mean you can’t do it—and you a Licensed Master?”

Yuriko let out a sigh,

“I really shouldn’t have accepted this Licensed Master title,” she let slip.

With those words, the dam of suppressed fury burst—the Iemoto flew into a rage,

“Now, say that again.”
“I’ll have you know, Yuriko-chan—it’s only because you begged me in tears that I reluctantly granted you that Licensed Master title.”
“And yet you dare say you shouldn’t have received it—what is this about?”
“And mind you—if you had Mayumi-chan’s natural talent, that’d be one thing, but after all the trouble you’ve put me through with your selfish demands, even I—favored as I am by your parents—can’t keep bending over backward to humor you!”

Yuriko’s lips turned white at the Iemoto’s outburst.
The fellow disciples who had been lined up there waiting for their turns dwindled one by one, then two by two, until before anyone knew it, they had all stealthily vanished and fled to the next room.

“I’m sorry… Ms. Iemoto.”
“Ms. Iemoto.”

Yuriko apologized in a low voice while glancing at the karakami partition; behind it, the disciples were likely huddled together, eavesdropping.

Yuriko bowed her head apologetically once more, but the Iemoto would not be appeased by such a gesture.

“If I told you to dance as skillfully as Mayumi-chan, that would be an impossible demand from me, wouldn’t it? But you should at least be capable of an average performance. Even considering how you forced your way into obtaining the Licensed Master title—you should at least have the pride to—”

“I understand perfectly, Ms. Iemoto.”

“If you understand, then why aren’t you studying harder?”

“I am studying, but even so—no matter how much—”

“Are you saying you can’t do it? For someone who can’t manage it even after being taught this much to think of making a living through art—that’s too naive. You’re a wealthy young lady—wouldn’t it be better to get married than struggle with an art you can’t even perform? If it were someone like Mayumi-chan, I’d consider it a waste for her to abandon her art—but for someone like you, there’s nothing particularly regrettable about it.”

The lattice door of the practice hall clattered open, and the girls noisily entered with laughter leading the way, but upon immediately sensing the uneasy atmosphere, they slipped away into the next room.
Yuriko could no longer bear being spoken to so bluntly any longer, so,

“I understand.”
“I’ll do my absolute best.”
“I’ll definitely dance well, so please forgive me.”

“Since you had the nerve to say you shouldn’t have become a Licensed Master, if you don’t perform well, I’ll have you return the license.”

“Yes.”
“You should go to Mayumi-chan’s place and learn properly from her.”

“Yes.”

“That person’s Heron Maiden was truly splendid.”

“Yes.”
Yuriko let tears fall onto her lap.

“If word gets out that you—the star of your own Licensed Master debut—were the most inept performer, that’d be a disgrace.”

“Yes,” she pressed her tear ducts with trembling fingertips. Tears streamed down those very fingers.

Yuriko’s chest tightened with bitter frustration. The Iemoto’s every word pierced her flesh and bone like injected venom. Did that woman have to humiliate her so thoroughly before their peers? To cleanse this shame, she resolved—no matter how agonizing—to dance flawlessly through to the end. There existed no other path.

When she returned home, she immediately began fierce practice.
She danced through the night without a moment’s sleep until near dawn when she collapsed face down on the stage and fell into an oblivious slumber.

“Yuriko-chan, you’ll catch a cold.”
“Today’s the important stage rehearsal—and yet—”

Awakened by her mother, Yuriko opened her eyes with a start and immediately rose to resume practicing, startling her mother. Her face bluish-pale and eyes bloodshot, she rushed to the stage rehearsal. She was now in a deathly frenzy—this was her retribution against the Iemoto who had shamed her. With desperate resolve she poured her entire soul into the Heron Maiden, yet tragically, Yuriko’s artistry held neither unique character nor any grace beyond the forms she had memorized. The more she panicked, the more rigid she became.

The Iemoto had already given up on her,

“It can’t be helped now. In fact, being a laughingstock gives it a certain charm,” she sneered.

The fellow disciples who had been stifling their laughter could no longer contain themselves once the Iemoto laughed, and they all burst out at once.

Yuriko became like a madwoman and rushed out through the stage door.

3

Ever since she heard that Yuriko would perform the Heron Maiden on the grand stage, Mayumi had become utterly despondent.

“Please—I implore you to distribute these tickets far and wide, celebrate my debut into the dance world with your blessings, and pray for my success.”
“On the day itself—I earnestly beg that both of you honor me with your presence at the performance—”

Along with a hastily written letter, a program and a large number of tickets were delivered.

As she gazed at the tastefully designed program, Mayumi found her heart involuntarily fluttering.
If she hadn't given up, she too could have stood on such a splendid stage—the thought of retreating amidst the audience's applause made her very being ache.

"It's been ages since I've seen it, but Yuriko-chan, you must have improved quite a lot by now."

Envious, jealous, lonely—a jumbled mess of emotions welled up, making my eyes grow hot.
Just as I inadvertently let out a sigh, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway, and suddenly Yuriko burst into the room.
Her face was deathly pale; the moment I saw that abnormal expression I was startled, but in the next instant—as my hand was suddenly seized—I was startled a second time by the feel of Yuriko’s violently trembling hand.

“Mayumi-chan!”

Yuriko collapsed in tears onto her knees.

“What’s wrong with you, looking so pale—stop crying and tell me.”

“Oh, I’m so bitterly frustrated!”

Yuriko bit her lower lip until it bled, tears streaming down her cheeks,

“The Iemoto is such a horrible person!”

“Were you scolded?”

“I wasn’t scolded—I was bullied! I’m so bitterly frustrated, Mayumi-chan!”
Yuriko ripped the linen handkerchief with her front teeth and stiffened,

“You—won’t you grant me this one lifelong request? Please help me.”

Having said that, she burst into tears again, but—

“Mayumi-chan, you must swear you’ll absolutely never tell another soul what I’m about to say.”

“I swear.”
“But what is it?”
“Will you definitely keep the secret?”
“I will.”

“If you blab, I won’t let it slide—I won’t let you live, I’ll kill you.”

“You’ll kill me?”

Mayumi involuntarily let out a loud voice.

“Shh!”
Yuriko pointed at the garden.
Takemura was crouched in the shrubbery pulling weeds.

Mayumi stepped out onto the veranda and called out.
“Ms. Takemura, the weeding doesn’t need to be done now.”

“Yes.”

Takemura widened her intelligent eyes and beamed.
Mayumi returned a smile.

“I’ve sent her away, so hurry up and tell me that secret.”
Mayumi returned to her seat.

“Mayumi-chan, won’t you become my substitute and—dance the Heron Maiden for me?”

“What?!”

“Pretend to be me and dance.”

Startled by the abruptness of this request, Mayumi found herself unable to respond.

“Well? You’ll do it, won’t you?”

Mayumi remained silent.
If I accepted, it would mean defying my husband’s orders.
Once I stood on a public stage, there’d be no telling where or by whom I might be exposed.
Even if it went well, I’d just remain an unseen pillar behind the scenes—if it went wrong, I’d have to throw away being the doctor’s wife.
As Mayumi wavered and fidgeted helplessly, Yuriko bore down on her with a piercing glare and vehement tone.

“If you refuse, say so plainly.”

“It’s not that I refuse—”

“Then say you’ll accept and put my mind at ease.”

“But—it’s just... I’m scared.”

“You coward! Fine then—I won’t ask. I’ve already made up my mind—if you refuse me, I won’t go on living. I’ll die resenting you, Mayumi-chan. Right now. Here. In this room—if you think I’m lying, then watch. I’ve stolen the medicine from the pharmacy properly and have it right here.”

Yuriko took out the medicine from her obi,

“Whether I live or die depends entirely on your decision—I’m already at my wit’s end! If you don’t agree, I have no choice but to die!” As she said this and tried to gulp down the medicine in one go—Mayumi snatched it away in alarm and threw it into the garden.

“You shouldn’t do something so foolish!”
“Then you’ll accept?”
Mayumi could only nod.

“But can I really do such a thing? I wonder…”

“Of course you can! Mayumi-chan and I look exactly alike—once we do your makeup, there’s absolutely no way anyone will notice.”

“I wonder if I can pull off being your double? And what will you do?”

“I’ll just hide in some corner of the dressing room.”

“It’s such a dangerous plan… If we’re discovered—” Mayumi shuddered.

“Dr. Mitsumura stated he can’t attend due to having a critically ill patient,”
“The audience will be so entranced by Mayumi-chan’s exquisite skill that there’s no chance anyone will see through it.”
“I won’t give tickets to anyone who seems suspicious.”

Becoming Yuriko’s substitute and dancing, Mayumi felt a mix of terror and exhilaration. If such an opportunity weren’t given to her now, her hope of ever standing on stage would never materialize—her mind soared with visions of the dazzling performance ahead.

“I’ll never forget this kindness my whole life.”
“If by some chance Dr. Mitsumura finds out, I’ll stake my life to take full responsibility.”
“I absolutely won’t do anything to plunge you into hardship, so trust me and dance magnificently without fear. Now—you’ll do it, won’t you?”

Yuriko’s eyes shone sharply with an intensity that would force consent whether refused or accepted, and Mayumi seemed pierced through by that gaze,

“Okay,” she answered faintly.

Yuriko took Mayumi’s hand, pressed it firmly to her lips, and wept.

“Thank you. You’re the savior of my life.”

Mayumi was extremely anxious, but on the other hand, she couldn’t help but feel joy at the unexpected opportunity to step onto the stage she had longed for.

Yuriko stood up,

“Then, without fail, come to the stage door tomorrow. I’ll make sure to cover it up smoothly.”

4

On the day, since she had coordinated everything with Yuriko beforehand, all went smoothly.

The dressing room was so crowded that even attempting to greet the iemoto was nearly impossible, so even with Mayumi loitering beside Yuriko, not a single person found it suspicious.

Everything had gone perfectly.
Having successfully impersonated Yuriko in white figured silk with a black obi, her bare feet and hand towel flowing loosely over her head—there was no conceivable way anyone would have suspected she was a substitute.

Finally, the time for Heron Maiden had come.

The fellow disciples, half out of sympathy and half out of curiosity about how Yuriko—who had been thoroughly scolded the day before—would perform today, abandoned their own tasks and went to watch, so not a single person remained in the dressing room, leaving it completely empty.

Yuriko was unbearably anxious about the stage but couldn’t go out to watch; as she huddled among the luggage, the involuntary sighs of admiration from her fellow disciples peeking from behind the curtain reached her ears.

“Oh my! What a marvelous performance!”

“What incredible artistry—”
“It surpasses even the *iemoto*!”

Each time she heard such voices, Yuriko’s heart raced.
Curious to see just how splendid it was, she poked her head out for a quick look—only to be spotted by a young female disciple who happened to dash into the dressing room at the worst possible moment.

“Huh?!”
The girl was so shocked she nearly jumped out of her skin.
Of course she would—both the one dancing on stage and the one in the dressing room were Yuriko; she had seen two Yurikos at the same time.

Yuriko pressed her index finger to her lips,

“If you tell anyone, I’ll kill you.”

She threatened her with the prop dagger that had fallen there.

Just at that moment, on stage, Mayumi was dancing in a flame-patterned underrobe.
Yuriko was peeking from behind the curtain, wearing a stagehand’s black costume.
She’s good… really good, she thought, and at the same moment felt a surge of jealousy welling up inside her.
She felt as though her chest were splitting apart.
She hated her!
As she stared intently, Mayumi suddenly furrowed her brows and made a pained expression.

The Heron Maiden was a great success; the curtain fell amidst applause that shook the venue.

Yuriko’s mother flew from the audience seats to the dressing room and thanked the iemoto.
The iemoto lavished praise on today’s splendid performance.
Yuriko, feeling restless and unable to stay put, quickly slipped away. When she scanned the audience seats, Mayumi—as promised—had changed into Western-style clothing and was beckoning to her.

“Yuriko-chan, there’s been a problem.”
“Ms. Takemura was in the audience seats—the moment I realized that, I stumbled and stepped on a nail. Since I was barefoot, it went right in.”
“It was agonizing, but I kept dancing. But the pain—it’s unbearable.”
“I’ll go home like this. Ms. Takemura probably won’t realize it’s me, but somehow I’m scared.”
“But how did they get the ticket?—Anyway, no matter what happens, tonight’s events must remain a secret.”
“It’s something that would cause trouble for both of us—”

Yuriko looked worriedly at her feet,
“Shall I walk you home?”
“I’ll be fine. I can get home alone.”

Mayumi returned home, dragging her foot.

From that night onward, Mayumi began to suffer, and by the time Yuriko came to visit her the next morning, she could no longer even move.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Thanks to you, it’s been such a sensation—” Mayumi smiled sweetly and grasped Yuriko’s hand—her own burned like fire.

Mayumi’s agony grew worse with each passing day; bacteria had entered through the puncture wound, but no one could determine where she had stepped on the nail.

Day and night, she continued to suffer—and on the dawn of the fourth day, Mayumi finally died.

5

The cause of Mayumi’s death, which had been thought to be sepsis, was overturned by her husband Dr. Mitsumura.
It was discovered that a terrifying poison had been applied to the nail she had stepped on.
It was possible that stepping on a nail and having bacteria enter through the wound could lead to sepsis.
However, if poison had been applied to it beforehand, that changed everything.

As a mysterious murder case, the Metropolitan Police Department abruptly became tense.

A detective hurriedly entered and reported before the judicial chief.

“There was a girl who claimed to have seen Yuriko in the dressing room while Yuriko was dancing on stage during peak performance.”
“The girl had been running a fever since that night and kept raving deliriously about ‘A monster dancing the Heron Maiden.’”
“The iemoto—being who she was—later realized that dance could never have been Yuriko’s artistry and found it uncanny. Then when she heard Mayumi had died, she grew increasingly terrified—or so we’ve heard.”

“What did you find from investigating Yuriko?”

“No matter what we asked her, she just kept crying and wouldn’t talk—but instead, we obtained substantial helpful information from a pharmacist named Takemura Harue.”
“Yuriko and Mayumi appeared extremely close on the surface, but in truth they reportedly hated each other and burned with jealousy.”

“Jealousy?”

“Yes.”
“It was Yuriko who introduced Dr. Mitsumura to Mayumi.”
“The Doctor—quite adept when it came to women—skillfully talked Yuriko into it and married the beautiful Mayumi.”
“In exchange, he made a promise to permanently seal away her rival Mayumi’s artistry—they say that promise held such appeal that Yuriko immediately approved their marriage.”

“Did Yuriko confess to that?”

“Why would that strong-willed, vain woman expose her own weaknesses?”
“She only admitted she was supposed to dance the Heron Maiden but suddenly felt unwell—since backing out would’ve meant a scolding from the iemoto, she reluctantly had Mayumi substitute for her.”
“Mayumi apparently stepped on the nail during the performance.”
“She wouldn’t say anything more.”
“And regarding her relationship with the Doctor—she absolutely insists there’s nothing between them.”

“How did that woman Takemura Harue come to know such intricate details?”

“Well…”

“It’s unimaginable to even consider that someone would suppress Mayumi’s artistry—especially given how much she loved dancing. It was precisely because she was forbidden from it that she refrained.”
“But isn’t it strange that she would know such details?”

“Takemura keeps emphasizing the relationship between Dr. Mitsumura and Yuriko, stating that about a week ago, she saw the doctor drive Mayumi out of the reception room and fool around with Yuriko.”
“She also states that on the day before the public debut, while she was in the garden, she heard Yuriko and Mayumi having a fierce argument that seemed to involve Yuriko threatening Mayumi in some way.”
“At that time, when she picked up the paper package that Mayumi had snatched from Yuriko’s hand and thrown into the garden, she found poison inside; thinking it was strange, and now this incident has indeed occurred—this is undoubtedly a premeditated murder, and she is vehemently asserting that Yuriko must have made Mayumi dance the Heron Maiden with the intent to kill her.”

The judicial chief immediately summoned Takemura Harue.

“By what justification did the pharmacist come to eavesdrop on the conversation in the inner quarters?”

“I was not eavesdropping,”
“While tending to the doctor’s work, I happened to overhear voices from the adjacent room.”
“Madam remained unaware of everything, but since Ms. Yuriko’s truly wicked nature had long grated on my nerves, I ultimately listened to their discussion.”

“From whom did you learn about this pact to suppress Mayumi’s artistry?”

Takemura faltered in her reply and looked down.

“Nonsense!”

“No, that was something Dr. Mitsumura told me once when he was drunk on sake.”

“You know who the culprit is.”

Takemura remained silent but did not claim ignorance.

“If you know something, spit it out. If you don’t confess, suspicion will fall on you instead.”

She started, raised her face, and firmly—

“It’s Ms. Yuriko.”

Takemura declared.

“Where’s the proof?”

“Ms. Yuriko killed Madam and intended to become Dr. Mitsumura’s wife herself. She must have coated the nail with poison and deliberately placed it where someone would step on it—there can be no doubt about that. From the moment medicine went missing at the pharmacy a few days ago, I had suspected her and, while keeping Madam safe from afar, was seated in the audience near the stage that very night.”

“How did you obtain the ticket?”

“I received it from the doctor.”

“You knew about coating the nail with poison and even throwing it there—so why on earth did you stay silent?”

“Because I was terrified—terrified of Ms. Yuriko’s retaliation—for she is a fearsome person, quite unlike her delicate appearance, someone who would stop at nothing—to think she would manipulate Madam into being her substitute, reap all the benefits for herself, and blind the eyes of society—and then plot to kill Madam, who had resolved to dance as her sacrifice… It’s truly despicable.”
“If it had come to light that I was the one to expose it, I can’t imagine what horrors I might have faced.”
“The thought of that was absolutely terrifying, which is why I couldn’t bring myself to speak up until now—but when I heard that suspicion had fallen upon the doctor, who knows nothing and is such a kind and virtuous man, I resolved that I could no longer remain silent.”
“It would be too pitiful for an innocent person to shoulder the blame—so even if Ms. Yuriko resents me for it, I resolved that I must save the doctor and thus gathered my courage to confess everything.”
“Dr. Mitsumura has no involvement in this incident whatsoever.”
“That Ms. Yuriko is a demon in human skin—the true villain here!” she cried out frantically in defense of the doctor, sparing no harsh words to revile Yuriko.

The judicial chief stared intently at Takemura’s large eyes—eyes that grew more beautiful the angrier she became—then broke into a smile.

“Thank you, you’ve spoken well—with this, everything has become clear.”

he said in a gentle voice, but Takemura turned deathly pale at those words, as if jolted.

From Takemura’s fervent pleas to prevent Dr. Mitsumura from being blamed, the judicial chief had discerned a certain suspicion.

After intense interrogation, she finally confessed everything: according to her statement, she had intended to become the doctor’s wife, but Mayumi had appeared from the sidelines and snatched it away.
Out of that resentment, she resolved to kill Mayumi.
It was, of course, Takemura who had coated the nail with poison and placed it on the stage, and she stated that her next plan had been to cast murder suspicion on Yuriko in order to permanently distance her from the doctor.