Tsugumi Hitotsugi

**Tsugumi Hitotsugi** (一ツ木 つぐみ, *Hitotsugi Tsugumi*) is a minor character who first appears in Chapter 42.

## Appearance

Tsugumi is a woman of average build and light colored hair. She has always been seen with a bandage on the left side of her face. She says she's "clumsy" and falls down a lot. Tsugumi often seen wearing a long warm coat and knee or even feet long dress (or a skirt) under it. Her neck is often covered.

## Personality

Tsugumi appears to be a happy and a cheery person. Unfortunately, part of her happiness stems from her decision to kill herself to escape from her stressful life and abusive husband. After discussing her domestic issues with police, she seems to be doing much better mentally.

## History

Tsugumi was raised by a single dad that she always shared a very strong bond with. It's unknown where her mother is. Hitotsugi didn't want her father to be concerned over her future so she tried finding a couple as soon as possible.

However, this proved to be a great mistake as that hurry caused her to search for a significant other in places like online matchmaking apps. Marrying a man she matched with there, Tsugumi quickly got stuck in an abusive relationship for years. Her husband was obsessed with her mimicking his mother - even doing things like chores ''a teeny tiny'' bit different from his own mother caused an aggressive outburst and beatings. It's stated his devotion goes so far as to marry Tsugumi only to please her.

While preparing for her mother-in-law's birthday party, she missed the phone call letting her know that her father was dying. She wasn't allowed to leave until party preparations were ready, thus not letting her dad see her face one last time, the action that she regrets to this day.

## Story

When Sachi and Yashiro take a walk around the coastal town they are staying in, they encounter Tsugumi at a shrine. Tsugumi asks if they are there to see the forest behind the shrine. It is a popular place for people to kill themselves. Sachi notices a Band-Aid on her face and Tsugumi says she's clumsy and falls a lot. Suddenly a man approaches Tsugumi and tries to forcefully take her away. He went looking to find her because she'd left her wallet behind. Before he can become aggressive with her Sachi steps in front of him with a box cutter and tells him to leave. He leaves.

Later on that evening, while wandering alone around the forest (Sachi was separated from Yashiro in Chapter 42), she encounters Tsugumi. Tsugumi tells her that the man harassing her was her husband. She explains her history to Sachi and then tells her she recognizes her from TV as the kidnapping victim. Tsugumi says she won't say anything because if her kidnapper gets caught, she won't be at fault. She says she's jealous of Sachi because she's young and can start her life over again, whereas Tsugumi feels trapped as an adult. This enrages Sachi because she remembers what jealousy feels like, and how hard she tried to push that feeling aside. She tells Tsugumi to shut up or she'll kill her. This makes Tsugumi happy, because she came to the forest to kill herself anyway. Sachi remembers that she was the same way before Onii-san entered her life.

Feeling sorry for Tsugumi being desperate and lost without and "Onii-san" in her life, Sachi takes up her box cutter and rushes towards Tsugumi. But Onii-san appears behind her and grabs her arm, stopping her from taking Tsugumi's life. Onii-san tells Tsugumi that he doesn't care what she does with her life, but if she wants to be rescued, she has to be alive. As he finishes talking to her Matsubase and Yashiro appear, and, without disclosing that they are detectives, tell her to talk to them about her troubles before killing herself.

## Etymology

* The name **Tsugumi** is written in hiragana (つぐみ), which has no special meaning. However, when written in kanji (亜美, 亜実, 亜弥, 亜海, 次美, 次実, 次弥, 次海, 都久美 or 都玖未), it could possibly mean:
	+ 亜美 - "second, Asia" (亜) (**tsugu**) and "beautiful" (美) (**mi**).
	+ 亜実 - "second, Asia" (亜) (**tsugu**) and "fruit, good result, truth" (実) (**mi**).
	+ 亜弥 - "second, Asia" (亜) (**tsugu**) and "all the more, increasingly" (弥) (**mi**).
	+ 亜海 - "second, Asia" (亜) (**tsugu**) and "sea, ocean" (海) (**mi**).
	+ 次美 - "next" (次) (**tsugu**) and "beautiful" (美) (**mi**).
	+ 次実 - "next" (次) (**tsugu**) and "fruit, good result, truth" (実) (**mi**).
	+ 次弥 - "next" (次) (**tsugu**) and "all the more, increasingly" (弥) (**mi**).
	+ 次海 - "next" (次) (**tsugu**) and "sea, ocean" (海) (**mi**).
	+ 都久美 - "metropolis, capital" (都) (**tsu**), "long time" (久) (**ku**/**gu**) and "beautiful" (美) (**mi**).
	+ 都玖未 - "metropolis, capital" (都) (**tsu**), "beautiful black jewel, nine" (玖) (**ku**/**gu**) and "un-, not yet, hitherto, still, even now, sign of the ram, 1-3PM, eighth sign of Chinese zodiac" (未) (**mi**).
* Tsugumi's surname **Hitotsugi** means "one" (一) (**hito**) and "tree, wood" (木) (**ki**/**gi**).

## Gallery

Tsugumi tells Sachi she envies her youth and ability to start a new life.Sachi attempts to kill Tsugumi so she can forget how horrible she felt before Onii-san kidnapped her.Yashiro stops Tsugumi from killing herself.Tsugumi confirming her ageTsugumi in Chapter 52Tsugumi admitting her abuse to cops