Story
In 2004, Noguchi Takahiro and his wife Naoko are murdered in their high-rise apartment on the 48th floor of the Sky Rose Garden. University student Sugishita Nozomi, her classmate from high school days, Naruse Shinji, as well as Ando Nozomi and Nishizaki Masato who live in the same apartment as her, happened to be at this murder scene because of a plan they had devised. Nishizaki is arrested at the scene. He is handed a 10-year prison term for murder as a result of his confession, “I killed Takahiro. He stabbed Naoko whom I was having an affair with, so I punched him in the heat of the moment.” 10 years later in 2014, while Nishizaki is about to be released from prison after completing his prison term, Takano Shigeru, a former police officer pursuing the murder of the Noguchi husband and wife, reads all the investigation reports and trial records he can lay his hands on. He has misgivings about the verdict of this case. This is because there are subtle discrepancies in the statements of each person concerned, and despite the contradictions between the results of the investigation at the scene and the criminal’s statement, Nishizaki was convicted due to his testimony that “he did it”. Moreover, Takano has known two of the people involved in the case for some time. They are Nozomi and Naruse. The two of them are natives of Aokage Island in the Seto Inland Sea where Takano had been stationed for a long time, and high school classmates. How did the two of them all come upon the scene of the murder? Was it really a coincidence like they stated? He is convinced that it all began as a result of an incident caused by Nozomi and Naruse on an island in the Seto Inland Sea in the summer 15 years ago. Some truth must be hidden in the murders of Noguchi Takahiro and Naoko. Which N ended up committing a crime, for which N?
Characters
Eikura Nana as Sugishita Nozomi
A native of Kagawa Prefecture’s Aokage Island. Her family was one of the wealthy ones on the island and she grew up in the lap of luxury with her parents and younger brother. But in the autumn of her second year in high school, her father completely changed and brought his mistress into the house. She ended up being chased out along with her mother and younger brother. The two of them got through life despite being at the mercy of their mentally unstable mother. She feels ill at ease if a massive amount of food is not stocked in the refrigerator because eating was also difficult. Having seen her parents’ warped relationship with her own eyes, she learns that she has little faith in love and decides that she will build a life for herself with her own abilities. Her classmate Naruse Shinji was her only trusted friend. After high school graduation, she went on to a Tokyo university. She works part time cleaning buildings. A world-wise person, she lives at a subdivided apartment, Nobaraso, as she squeezes money for school and living expenses. Some incident results in her becoming close with the other residents, Ando Nozomi and Nishizaki Masato. At 22, Naruse, Nishizaki and her get involved in the murder case of Noguchi Takahiro and Naoko because of a plan they devised.
Kubota Masataka as Naruse Shinji
A native of Kagawa Prefecture’s Aokage Island and Sugishita Nozomi’s high school classmate. He has a kind heart and even temper, but tends to take the roundabout way in everything because he is serious to a fault, He was the only son of the owner of Sazanami, the first restaurant on the island. But during high school, the restaurant ran into financial difficulties. Both the restaurant and house were burnt down in an act of arson. While in danger of not being able to further his studies, he obtains a scholarship with Nozomi’s help and goes on to study in a Tokyo university but … … At 22, he gets involved in a plan in order to help Nozomi … …
Kaku Kento as Ando Nozomi
A native of Nagasaki Prefecture’s Chihaya Island. Aware of his own abilities early on, he perseveres in putting himself to the test in the wide world. He gets to know Sugishita Nozomi at Nobaraso. He feels that her rationalism and desire to improve her standing is just like himself. Their relationship is like that of siblings, he taught her shogi and they got their scuba diving license together, but … …
Koide Keisuke as Nishizaki Masato
A native of Kanagawa Prefecture. He aspires to be a novelist. He has been afraid of fire ever since an incident in his childhood. He is enrolled in university, but mostly shuts himself up in his own room at Nobaraso and writes novels. Although he has been immersed in writing rather than involving himself with other people, he meets Sugishita Nozomi and Ando Nozomi, and slowly starts to open his eyes to the outside world. One day, he meets Noguchi Takahiro’s wife, Naoko, and falls in love. He devises a plan with Nozomi and Naruse Shinji in order to save Naoko, and serves time for the murder of Noguchi.
Konishi Manami as Noguchi Naoko
Noguchi Takahiro’s wife. A full-time housewife. She is the homely sort who does her very best for the sake of the husband she loves. She takes an active part in volunteer activities with her husband. This is how she becomes acquainted with Sugishita Nozomi and their interactions deepen. During a visit to Nozomi’s apartment, she strikes up a friendship with Nishizaki Masato who also lives there. However, her relationship with Nishizaki is found out by her husband and her life starts to change dramatically.
Miura Tomokazu as Takano Shigeru
A native of Kagawa Prefecture’s Aokage Island and a policeman who worked in the island’s residential police box. Because he was away from home at the time the restaurant Sazanami was on fire, his wife who rushed over to the scene on his behalf, died of smoke. With the statute of limitation expiring next year and the criminal still at large, he tries to solve the case of arson. He wonders if Sugishita Nozomi and Naruse Shinji were the arsonists, but he has no proof. He knows that the two of them were at the scene of the murder of the “Tower Mansion couple” and approaches each person involved.
