The Case of the Psychological Research Lab Murder Pt. 1

**The Case of the Psychological Research Lab Murder Pt. 1** is the 35th chapter of the *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga.

## Summary

Toto finds Ron on the floor of his apartment, waving a toy pteranodon around and playing dinosaurs. Toto grows highly concerned. Even if Ron told him he gets weird from boredom without a case to work on, but is it really that bad? Toto suggests that he talks to Mofu, but Ron says he was just recreating memories from when he was three years old. Mofu said one of the side effects of the medications is seeing past memories. But there are still portions that Ron could not remember, and he is trying to sort them out. He realizes his memories before he was six years old are spotty.

When Toto says that is probably the same for anyone, Ron disagrees, saying usually he remembers everything, but for some reason his memories before age 6 are missing pieces. As an example, he recalls being three years old and playing dinosaurs with Max and Molly on April 11 at 11am. He remembers someone some distance away, but it is hazy in his memory. That is why he was trying to recreate the scene.

Toto is just glad Ron is not going crazy from boredom, but Ron is still bored, and asks if Toto has a case. Toto answers that it s not a job of a police officer to run around looking for cases. He is also not a reporter like Chicory. Ron thinks it is a good idea to ask her, and Toto regrets saying too much.

The next day, Ron and Toto head to a research laboratory at Tokyo University, where Chicory is gathering data. Toto is not sure about the idea, but Ron thinks it is important to maintain a line of communication with a crime reporter. Meanwhile, Chicory is excited to be gathering data with "the Metropolitian Police's ace detective," and Toto feels pressured. Chicory asks though why Toto brought "Kamokyu" the barista, and Ron tells her that Officer Isshiki lit a fire in his soul and he wants to be a police detective as well, thus he came along to learn all kinds of things from him. Chicory brightens up, thinks it's a wonderful goal and gives her full support, much to Toto's chagrin.

All three arrive at the Maruyama Laboratory, but Professor Maruyama is attending an academic conference in America. Currently in charge of the lab is Professor Takanori Aoe. He says they research cognitive psychology, a specialized branch of psychology that studies cognitive function in humans, that is, they focus on the mechanisms of emotions and learning. Aoe introduces the graduate students: Kanae Himeno, Shun Oigawa, Renjiro Imai, and Riko Niki.

Ron directly asks if the professor knows why his early childhood memories are missing pieces. Aoe says his speciality happens to be memory research, and that he could think of several causes, but supposes it could be dissociative amnesia. Receiving a powerful shock could erase memories before and after the event.

Himeno informs Aoe of a meeting with England, and Aoe tells them to direct their questions to Himeno, saying she is exceptional. After he leaves, Himeno tells them that he is an amazing person, that he contributed many groundbreaking research papers to international academic journals, and calls him an unrivaled young ace in the field of memory research. Chicory says she understands Himeno's admiration, saying Officer Isshiki is the amazing person she admires. The girls immediately understand each other, and Toto notes an odd place to find a kindred spirit.

Ron points to the laboratory's shield room, and Himeno is impressed that he knows. She explains that a shield room is used in their psychological experiments and the room ensures no sound waves, radio waves, or magnetism can penetrate the room. They record brain waves and measure a subject's line of sight in the room. For security purposes, data obtained could not be taken outside and are preserved in the lab's computer. Himeno adds that another lab has a shared-use MRI machine. Himeno is proud that the assistant professors are able to produce amazing research even with the limited equipment, and Toto muses that she is like Chicory's double. Chicory gushes again about Toto's amazing results, so she understand how Himeno feels.

Meanwhile, Oigawa and Imai are arguing; Imai says Oigawa is trying to steal his afternoon reservation for the experiment room, and Oigawa saying he reserved it first. Niki intervenes and tells Himeno to flirt with the Aoe so he can arbitrate; after all, "oh, professor!" is almost her catchphrase.

Himeno apologizes for her fellow graduate students, saying everyone is working hard to contribute to the field, such that sometimes it gets savage. Toto says everyone gets stressed and lets it pass. This makes Himeno say that Toto is kind and she can understand Chicory's admiration. Ron adds that the competition was pretty fierce at his school, and a lot of people picked fights with him. But everyone shuts up if you go all-out and break their nose. Toto panics at this. Nonetheless, Himeno thinks "Kamokyu" is so funny, and she feels better, and like he said, she will go all-out in the lab, and work hard to benefit humanity with her research.

The next morning, Ron and Toto have coffee at Pot Coffee and discuss what happened yesterday. Toto was not sure about it, but he had fun. Ron comments how interesting it was to see Himeno and Chicory get along.

Then, Chicory calls Toto. He learns about an explosion in the lab and hears Chicory crying. There has been one victim of the explosion; Himeno is dead.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Totomaru Isshiki
* Ron Kamonohashi
* Chicory Monki
* Takanori Aoe
* Kanae Himeno
* Shun Oigawa
* Renjiro Imai
* Riko Niki