Takanori Aoe

**Takanori Aoe** (青江 尊徳, *Aoe Takanori*) is a professor for cognitive psychology at Tokyo University and specializes in memory research. He is part of Professor Maruyama's research group and looks after his lab whenever he is absent.

## Physical description

Aoe has short dark hair and dark eyes. He usually wears a dress shirt and a sweater vest.

## Biography

### History

For a long time, Aoe forged research data whenever Maruyama was away. He published this incredibly clean research data in numerous articles for international academic journals to great success.

Then, Kanae Himeno reported Shun Oigawa to the university for deleting other people's data. Before the university could inspect the computer and find the forget data, Aoe devised a plan to erase it.

### Psychological Research Lab Murder Case

When Chicory Monki, Ron Kamonohashi, and Totomaru Isshiki come to the Maruyama Laboratory to gather data, Aoe welcomes them in Maruyama's stead as he is currently in America. Aoe briefly tells them what they do—researching the mechanisms of emotions and learning—, and Ron asks if he knows why his early childhood memories are missing pieces. Aoe replies that there are multiple possible causes, e.g. dissociative amnesia. Then, Kanae Himeno reminds him that it is almost time for his meeting with England. Aoe excuses himself and tells Himeno to show Toto, Ron, and Chicory around.

At night, Aoe takes the research lab's computer, wraps it in a blanket, and goes to the MRI machine so that its magnetism erases the computer's data. He returns the computer and disposes the blanket in his waste basket. Aoe fills the shield room with flammable gas and places a heat source. Earlier that day, he also sent out four threat letters, one for each of the students in the research lab, with the intention of presenting the one addressed to whoever will die in the explosion to the police.

The next morning, when Himeno wants to go into the shield room, the gas touches the heat source and there is an explosion. She dies and the lab is destroyed.

To investigate Himeno's murder, Toto and Ron interview Aoe and ask him what he did after yesterday's meeting. Aoe says that, last night, he performed an experiment with the MRI machine and passed by the lab, but the light was out. He also tells them that, because of the explosion, all the equipment has to be replaced and a computer with ten years' worth of experiment data was destroyed. Then, Aoe hands them a letter the lab received today: It is a threat letter addressed to Himeno.

Later, Toto and Ron gather Aoe, Chicory, Shun Oigawa, Riko Niki, and Renjiro Imai in a lecture hall to reveal the culprit and tell them what actually happened. Toto exposes Aoe as the murderer. Aoe challenges his claim, but admits to the crime when Totomaru lays out all the evidence. He says that some sacrifices are needed to produce a great man, and Himeno was one such sacrifice.

Ron tells him that he has no right to live in this world. Aoe laughs and takes out a bomb from his trousers, saying that if he has no right to live, neither have such "mediocre" people like them. Manic, Aoe holds the bomb above his head and declares that he will be an "outstanding professor right to the end" if they are all dead. Before he can fire the bomb, Ron tackles him to the ground and Toto secures the bomb. Ron presses Aoe to the ground and tells him that he cannot die: He has to spend his life atoning for Himeno.

## Relationships

### Kanae Himeno

Himeno works with Aoe in Maruyama's laboratory. She greatly admires him and his work. He is her role model; Himeno wants to conduct research that is as beneficial for humanity as Aoe's is.

In turn, although Aoe calls Himeno an "exceptional" student, he views her as a future rival and is glad that she is the one who died in the explosion.

## Etymology

* The name "Takanori" means "virtue" (尊徳).
* His surname "Aoe" means "blue, green" (青, *ao*) and "bay, inlet" (江, *e*).

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, pages 7-8
2. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 37, page 12
3. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, page 9
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 37, pages 6-7
5. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, page 10
6. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 36, page 13
7. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, pages 7-9
8. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 37, pages 8-10
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 36, page 3
10. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 37, pages 3-4
11. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 36, pages 17-18
12. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 36, pages 7-10
13. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 37, pages 2-16
14. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, page 10
15. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, page 16
16. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 35, page 9
17. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 37, pages 12-13