Chicory Monki

* Anime
* Manga

**Chicory Monki** (門季チコリ, *Monki Chikori*) is a crime reporter at Lime Weekly.

## Physical description

Chicory is a young woman of a fair complexion with light brown eyes, light brown hair reaching down to her chin, and bangs. She usually keeps her hair in a ponytail, and wears round glasses.

Her clothes consist of white shirt, a light brown jacket, dark blue jeans and white shoes.

## Personality

When first meeting Totomaru Isshiki, Chicory appears like an enthusiastic and outgoing character who holds a deep admiration for detectives and their line of work.

## Biography

### History

Chicory was kidnapped as a child, and a police detective solved the case and rescued her. Because of that incident, Chicory thinks of detectives as her heroes, and pursued a career as a reporter.

After becoming a journalist, Chicory notably reported on the "Kushiro Giant Snowman Murders" and the "Izumo Eight-Headed Serpent Assassination," notorious cases from around the country.

She was hired by Lime Weekly not long before meeting Totomaru Isshiki whose cases she has been following and researching. Sometime later, Chicory wrote an article on one of Hummingbird's kidnappings. While doing her research, she even learned that he sends greeting cards first, a detail the police did not make public.

### Poisoned Latté Case

Chicory meets Totomaru Isshiki at the Metropolitan Police Department's headquarters after she arranged a meeting with him as she wants to feature him in the "person of note" section for Lime Weekly's next issue. This stuns Toto because the section normally highlights entertainers or athletes. Chicory explains that she chose him because she admires detectives and has heard of the recent cases "he" solved. Albeit taken aback by her enthusiasm and admiration, Toto agrees to her request to shadow him all day nevertheless.

After Toto wraps up his work, he and Chicory go to Pot Coffee to do a quick interview. There, they run into Ron Kamonohashi who is working at the cafe as a barista called "Kamokyu Chasaku." Toto speaks to him in private for a while, and Chicory watches them from afar, not liking the fact that "Kamokyu" seems to intimidate Toto.

When Ron learns that Chicory is a crime reporter, he tries to get into her good graces; after all, Chicory could be a valuable source of information for difficult cases. However, Ron's attempts only annoy Chicory because they bother Totomaru. A moment later, one of the other guests, Julie, dies after drinking a poisoned latté.

The ambulance and police arrive, and Ron is about to inspect the corpse when Chicory interrupts him. She urges Ron to leave and make room for Toto, "the famous detective" who will definitely solve the case and she will record every step of his investigation to turn it into an article.

Toto begins by interviewing the suspects, among them Ron as he has prepared the drinks. Hayami brought the lattés to their table, and right after she and her friends took a group photo with the drinks, she excused herself, having received a call. Julie left the table too to take more photos; during that time, Tamada was the one watching the drinks. When they all came together again, Julie picked the first cup and then collapsed after drinking it. Ron points out that, considering the chain of events, he, Hayami, and Tamada all had an equal opportunity to poison Julie. Totomaru objects because Ron could not have possibly known which latté Julie would choose; he also has no motive for indiscriminate murder. Ron praises Toto's improved deduction skills, and Tamada informs them that Julie took the latté that was the farthest away from her.

Chicory, Ron, and Totomaru then check Julie's social media posts and the pictures Chicory took earlier. They find a picture of the three lattés right after Ron finished them and the group picture in which Julie poses with her latté. Toto frantically scrolls through the pictures trying to figure out what happened. Chicory is surprised to see him like that, as he is so different from the cool and collected detective she believed him to be.

Shortly afterward, "Toto" solves the case. He asks Chicory to hide all the knives in the kitchen to prevent a second murder before he gathers everyone to give his deduction: Hayami killed Julie. She poisoned one latté and scratched the platypus art on the other two, knowing that Julie would choose the poisoned one as it was the best-looking one. "Toto" figured this out after comparing Chicory's photo to the group picture.

Hayami admits her crime; she killed Julie because she always wanted to be the center of attention and stole Hayami's boyfriend when he got scouted by a talent agency. Ron then pressures Hayami to smash her head on a teapot sculpture, though Toto can save her on time by grabbing a sack of coffee beans and hauling it between Hayami and the sculpture. In the process, Toto accidentally knocks Chicory's recorder from her hands, breaking it. He apologizes for that afterward, but she is not upset at all because she could see him in action. She realized that he was not like how she imagined him; he may not be a quickwitted detective, but he is amazing nonetheless because of how devoted he is to all he does.

Afterward, Ron makes Chicory and Toto more lattés on which he writes "You did it!!", "Got 'em!!", and "Reporter Connections." Toto stirs them before showing them to Chicory.

### Shibuya Revelation Serial Murders Case

Chicory encounters Ron and Toto while they are investigating the Shibuya Revelation Serial Murders Case. Toto inquires whether she knows of a place nearby that has something to do with "0," and Chicory tells him about Platform 0 at the Shibuya Station Bus Terminal. Toto and Chicory immediately hurry there; however, Ron does not accompany them because he is unconvinced that this is the solution as the corners of the "0" are unconnected.

Chicory and Toto arrive at the bus terminal five minutes before 10 a.m. Toto then receives a call from Ron: He figured out that the "0" refers to the scramble crossing; the missing corners stand for the areas where there is no pedestrian crossing paint. Toto and Chicory rush to the crossing, and they and Ron make it just in time. At exactly 10 a.m., the crossing is covered in smoke. When the smoke subsides, it reveals Hibino's corpse. Toto tells Chicory to get away as it is dangerous. She complies and leaves..

### Genius Composer Kidnapping Case

On Ron's request, Toto contacts Chicory to find out what happened to the geniuses Hummingbird kidnapped. She learns that none of the kidnapped geniuses said a bad word about Hummingbird; their encounter even helped some of them out of slumps and enabled them to create new masterpieces. She forwards this piece of information to Ron and Toto.

### Psychological Research Lab Murder Case

Totomaru and Ron join Chicory to gather data about a research lab at Tokyo University. While she is thrilled for Toto to be there, she is unhappy to see "Kamokyu." However, when Ron claims he came along to learn from Toto because he now wants to become a police detective himself, Chicory enthusiastically voices her support.

Together, they head to the Maruyama Laboratory where they are welcomed by Takanori Aoe. However, he can only briefly explain what they do—researching the mechanisms of emotions and learning—before he has to leave. Kanae Himeno then continues the tour.

After Himeno shows Chicory, Totomaru, and Ron the shield room, two members of the lab, Shun Oigawa and Renjiro Imai, get into a fight about using the experiment room in the afternoon. Riko Niki then asks Himeno why she does not "flirt" with Aoe so that he can solve the problem as she "always" does.

Later, when it is time for Chicory, Ron, and Totomaru to leave, Himeno apologizes for the incident earlier. Totomaru says there is no need to worry as everyone can get stressed. His words and Ron's anecdote about the fierce competition at his former school lift Himeno's mood and make her swear to work hard to benefit humanity with her research like Aoe.

The next morning, Chicory learns that Himeno has died in an explosion in the lab. Crying, she calls Totomaru to inform him of her death.

Later, Toto calls Chicory to tell her that he got assigned to Himeno's murder case. This relieves her as he will certainly find justice for Himeno, and Chicory says she will head to the university too.

Chicory arrives at the university after Totomaru and Ron gathered Aoe, Imai, Oigawa, and Niki to reveal what actually happened: Aoe is the culprit. Because he wanted to destroy the computer in the research lab as it contained evidence that he forges the data for his papers, Aoe took the computer to the MRI machine whose magnetism erased the data. To divert attention from the computer, Aoe filled the shield room with flammable gas; the next person that opens the door would then trigger an explosion. He also sent threat letters to each student to the university, and when he found out that Himeno was the one who was killed in the explosion, he picked out her letter and showed it to Toto and Ron.

Only Aoe could have been the culprit because he did not use the experiment room all week, knowing that it would be futile. After Aoe confesses, Chicory asks Aoe if he even feels anything after using and throwing away Himeno, who admired him, to protect his own position. Aoe replies that he does not feel bad to have killed Himeno; after all, some sacrifices are required to create a "great man." He then tries to blow everyone up with a bomb, and Ron tackles him before he loses consciousness because of the side effects of his Kill on Sight medication.

### Missing Cabbage Case

By chance, Chicory and Mofu Usaki run into Toto. He is surprised to see them together, as he did not know they know each other, but they clarify that they met today for the first time. After they talk a bit, Chicory and Mofu leave to do some "pressing" business and say they will "see him later."

Not long afterward, Chicory and Mofu join Toto, Amamiya, and Omito Kawasemi at Ron's apartment right. Ron then reveals that he invited everyone to throw Toto a hot pot party. Toto is touched by everyone's effort and thanks them for everything.

Then, Chicory tells everyone that she could not get any Chinese cabbage despite having been to three supermarkets. Toto is fine with not having any cabbage, but Ron and Kawasemi insist that Chinese cabbage is essential to hot pot, and Ron calls Spitz Feier to search a bit farther away.

In the meantime, Chicory, Mofu, and Ron prepare the other vegetables. When Mofu's knife slips out of her grip and gets stuck in the ceiling, Amamiya takes over, understanding that Mofu must be exhausted as the world's top neurosurgeon. Chicory remarks how kind and earnest Amamiya is and that it is no wonder that she is Totomaru's superior. Amamiya is flattered by the compliment but tells Chicory that she will not give her any information for her magazine. Chicory replies that she knows that before she adds that she is impressed that even "Eagle Eye Kawasemi" from the Aichi Prefectural Police came to Toto's birthday party.

In the background, the television is running: A news broadcast announces that a jewelry store in Tokyo was robbed this morning. Then, Amamiya and Kawasemi get into an argument about the hot pot flavor: He suggests using the *hatchō miso* he brought, but she insists on using the standard soy sauce flavor as they are in Tokyo. Chicory is amazed to see them so "in sync" with their banter as she heard they used to be colleagues. Ron then ends the quarrel by telling them that the flavor was decided already: The hot pot will be brown sugar-flavored.

A moment later, Spitz arrives; to everyone's shock, he announces that he was in 15 shops and none of them had any Chinese cabbage. Suspicious of the situation and not wanting to forgo cabbage, Chicory, Ron, Mofu, Amamiya, and Kawasemi get ready to investigate this case. Toto and Spitz, however, think they are exaggerating.

After everyone agrees to Ron's plan to solve the mystery of the missing cabbage for Toto's birthday, they realize that they all know him by different names: Amamiya knows him as "Kamoo," Chicory as "Kamokyu," Kawasemi as "Kamosemi," and Mofu as "Kamonohashi." Ron explains that he sometimes does not feel like using his real name; Toto then thinks of a suitable nickname. Everyone readily accept this "lame" explanation and decide to keep calling Ron by the name they know him.

They then review the facts, and Chicory says that cabbages have not been trending anywhere, but she found out that a greengrocer reported having seen a man in disguise buying all the cabbages. With that in mind, Mofu, Toto, Kawasemi, Amamiya, and Ron each make a guess. However, they are all dismissed.

Mofu thinks the culprit may need so much cabbage because they keep ruining them out of clumsiness (dismissed because no one is as clumsy as Mofu). Totomaru believes a Korean chef he knows may be the culprit as he always covers his face and may need that much cabbage for kimchi (dismissed because no one can make so much kimchi). Kawasemi theorizes that the robber on the news hid the jewels in a cabbage truck and later had to buy out all Chinese cabbages to retrieve the stolen goods (dismissed because the thief was caught and cabbages are cut up before they are displayed). Amamiya suggests that the culprit may be a farmer who wants to "erase" Chinese cabbage from the market to force shoppers to buy something else as a substitute, e.g. lettuce (dismissed because the farmer would not make any profit like that).

Ron says he also thinks the culprit may be a farmer: He may have gotten into a fight with his son who poured pesticides over the cabbages in his anger. The father then delivered the cabbages without knowing any better, and the son had to rush to buy out all the Chinese cabbages so that the reputation of his family business would not be jeopardized because of his anger-fuelled action.

Everyone is satisfied with Ron's theory. However, he insists that he is only an amateur and that Toto will solve the mystery. Everyone roots for Toto and awaits his deduction—only, he has no other idea than his kimchi one. Stressed, Toto reaches for a drink in Spitz's shopping bag and discovers multiple receipts which all show that Spitz has purchased dozens of cabbages in various supermarkets. Caught, Spitz confesses that he bought up all the cabbages because he despises Chinese cabbage which shocks everyone.

Thereafter, everyone wishes Toto a happy birthday, and Ron brings the nabe hot pot to the table. The pitch-black brown-sugar-syrup-based hot pot garners many unnerved looks. Ron innocently says they agreed on *hatchō miso* in the end and wonders where the brown sugar came from. He suggests searching for the culprit, but Toto replies that they already know who it is. Ron praises him for the quick deduction, and Toto tells him to shut up.

### Obon Dance Murder Case

To her luck, Chicory runs into Toto at an Obon festival while she is gathering material on summer festivals. Ron and Elmer Stingray are with Toto.

Because Chicory calls Toto "Officer Isshiki," Hiiragi, the manager of the famous singer Nana Haruno, approaches him and asks for a favor: 15 years ago, when Haruno performed at this festival as well, she received a death threat. Though she has received no such note this time, the culprit has likely been released from prison by now, and Hiiragi fears that they might still return for revenge. Toto, Ron, and Elmer agree to help and watch the venue. Chicory is rather happy about Toto's willingness to help.

Despite everyone's best efforts, Haruno gets stabbed on stage when the lights go out for a moment. Haruno, in critical condition, is rushed to a hospital, and Hiiragi accompanies her, whereas Chicory, Toto, and the others stay behind and investigate the case. The murder weapon was stolen from a takoyaki booth, and a man from the neighborhood association turned off the lights for 30 seconds at 6:15 p.m. because he received a message from Hiiragi. However, they find her phone in the trash, and Hiiragi testifies that she lost her phone before Haruno's performance.

Afterward, Chicory accompanies Toto and the others to speak to the musicians that were on stage with Haruno. Each of them—Tsutsui, Kimura, and Tateishi—plays an instrument that requires both hands. Thus, none of them could have stabbed Haruno without stopping to play, and the music continued throughout the attempted murder. They also did not notice anyone coming on stage during the blackout.

Chicory, Toto, Ron, and Elmer then discuss the case. Elmer believes the culprit from 15 years ago might be one of the musicians, pretending to be a local. Chicory mentions that person also used to gift poisoned chocolate to other idols, and while she checks the previous case again, Toto calls Hiiragi for further information: Back then, a box cutter blade and a bullet were sent to the office of Haruno's agency back then. The bullet also reminds Hiiragi of the earlier commotion. Chicory returns and announces that the old culprit is already dead.

Determined to identify the new culprit, Totomaru attempts to play the musicians' instruments one-handedly and, by chance, discovers that one of Haruno's false nails is lodged deep inside the stage's paving stones. Ron then solves the case. Right afterward, Toto receives a call from Haruno's hospital that she regained consciousness, and Ron instructs the hospital to get Haruno a bodyguard as the culprit will try to finish their business.

Chicory and the others hurry to the hospital and can stop Hiiragi just in time. She was hiding under the stage during Haruno's performance. The blackout was meant for a costume change, but when the lights went out, Hiiragi stabbed Haruno instead. Hiiragi gave herself away when she mentioned the gun commotion: If she had been in front of the stage as she claimed, she would have known that Totomaru had made a mistake and there had never been a gun. Furthermore, Hiiragi asked for Toto's help protecting Haruno because she had not planned to kill Haruno. However, when Haruno mentioned that she had given away the candy she received back then to children, Hiiragi decided to murder her.

Hiiragi admits that she wants to kill Haruno because she was one of the children who got candy. She gave hers to her bedridden mother; she died not long afterward, and Hiiragi believes that the candy must have been poisoned. Haruno woke up in the meantime and now reveals that she did not give Hiiragi the candy that a fan gave her: When Hiiragi came to Haruno, she had already run out of candy and given her other sweets as a substitute. Shocked, Hiiragi apologizes to Haruno.

### Ron Kamonohashi's Homecoming Case

Because of what happened the last time they travelled, Chicory gives Toto and Ron her misanga bracelet for good luck before they depart for England. Further, while Ron and Toto are gone, Chicory and Mofu look after Ron's cat.

## Quotes

* (To Totomaru Isshiki) "*I've been researching unsolved cases and impossible crimes. And you, the one who's been solving those cases one after another with your magnificent deductions... are a hero among heroes!*"
* (To Totomaru Isshiki) "*You're not amazing because you're able to solve cases like magic... but because you earnestly devote yourself to everything you do... I have even more respect for you than I did previously.*"

## Relationships

* Totomaru Isshiki
* Ron Kamonohashi
* Kanae Himeno

Chicory idolizes Totomaru because she is impressed that he was able to solve various unsolved and impossible cases; to her, he is her hero and god. She is thrilled when she is finally able to meet him. In turn, Toto initially thinks that she is weird and does not know how he should respond to her enthusiasm and adoration as he is, after all, not the one who is actually solving the cases.

Furthermore, Chicory imagined Toto as a level-headed detective who calmly and quickly solves cases. During the Poisoned Latté Case, she learns that he is not like that, but after seeing him in action, she realizes that he is not amazing because he can swiftly solve cases: He is amazing because he earnestly devotes himself to everything he does. For this reason, Chicory respects him even more than before.

Chicory is irritated by Ron as she believes that he is only hindering and intimidating Totomaru. She also dislikes it that he always acts "high and mighty" although he is not a detective. However, when Ron later states that he wants to become a police detective like Toto, Chicory gives him her full support. She becomes friendlier to him afterward, though she does not tolerate Ron calling Toto an "idiot."

Ron, on the other hand, is very interested in cultivating a good relationship between her and Toto as he hopes that Chicory, a crime reporter, could be a valuable source for information on cases. He encourages her to consult Toto about all difficult cases she finds and wants to use her connections to find and solve cases all over Japan.

Chicory immediately bonds with Kanae Himeno over their deep admiration for certain people: Himeno admires Takanori Aoe, and Chicory admires Totomaru. Toto even calls them "kindred spirits," like sisters, and Himeno "Chicory's double" because they are so similar and understand each other so well.

Himeno's death greatly saddens and upsets Chicory.
## Etymology

* Her name "Chicory" (チコリ) is almost the Japanese name for the common chicory (チコリー).
	+ Her name was originally spelled as "Chikori." The MangaPlus translation still uses that now-obsolete spelling.
	+ Root chicory is used as a coffee substitute or additive in Europe. Chicory was introduced in the Poisoned Latté Case.

## Trivia

* Chicory loves detectives and considers them her heroes.
* Her favorite detective TV drama is *Seibu Keisatsu* (西部警察, "Western Police").
	+ Within the *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* series, the show is called *Seibu Keiji* (西部刑事, "Western Detective"). Chicory owns a shirt of that show and later gifts one to Toto for his birthday so that they can match.
* Chicory's good luck charm is her misanga bracelet which she wore when she won a speech contest.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 36, page 5
2. ↑ "Konomi Kohara Joins Cast of Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions Anime as Chicory" — Anime News Network
3. ↑ Character Visual Release: Chicory — Official Ron Kamonohashi TV on Twitter
4. ↑ File:Chapter 58.png
5. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, page 17
6. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, page 1
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, page 9
8. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 15, page 3
9. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, page 8
10. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 31, page 6
11. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, pages 7-13
12. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, pages 17-25
13. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 15, pages 3-26
14. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 23, pages 9-18
15. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 23, pages 9-18
16. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 33, page 12
17. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 34, page 19
18. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, pages 5-18
19. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 36, page 3
20. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 37, pages 2-16
21. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 58, pages 5-6
22. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 58, pages 10-18
23. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 59, pages 2-19
24. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 69, pages 3-10
25. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 69, pages 16-19
26. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 70, pages 2-20
27. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 71, pages 2-4
28. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 71, pages 7-17
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 97, page 5
30. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 15, pages 24-25
31. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, pages 7-10
32. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 15, page 11
33. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 15, pages 24-25
34. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, page 13
35. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, page 19
36. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, pages 22-23
37. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 23, page 10
38. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, pages 6-7
39. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 69, page 4
40. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 70, page 19
41. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 14, page 18
42. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 15, page 4
43. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, page 10
44. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, page 17
45. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, page 13
46. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, page 15
47. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, pages 17-18
48. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 37, page 12
49. ↑ File:Ch14 Chikori's name reference.png
50. ↑ Wikipedia:Chicory
51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Volume 7, Bonus: Everyone's Birthday Gifts
52. ↑ File:Chapter 35.png