never lose, my rule

Totonou, who becomes a murder suspect, says the following during interrogation to the police sergeant who believes that "there is only one truth": "Getting caught up in something so ambiguous, like 'the truth,’ is what causes false accusations.”

Furuichi: "The stance taken by Totonou, who says that there are as many truths as there are people, and who tries to see the world in a flat way, is the core of this work as well as the antithesis of detective fiction. This is something I've always wondered, but most detective stories seem to end when the culprit is caught. But, merely revealing the facts doesn't solve anything. From the day the case closes and onward, the grief of the victims and the troubles of the perpetrators will continue. And that period of time is far much longer. The perspective that there’s no such thing as a single happy ending in reality is what makes this work so interesting."

Everyone who comes into contact with Totonou has their own beliefs and contradictions shattered. In the process, readers are also made aware of the things that have unconsciously bound them.

Furuichi: "I've been reading Tamura's works for a long time, including BASARA, but this one seems particularly tough on the "uncles." The old men who tend to believe that men go to work and women stay at home; who uphold a seniority-based hierarchy where they obey their superiors and give orders to their subordinates; and who put on airs just because of their titles. Through Totonou, this work casts a strong suspicious eye on those men. This specific line in volume 3 gave me quite a shock: "Don't fall for notions like 'a woman's happiness' [1.] either. Because they were probably made up by old men." This line points out that words accepted as truth in our society may actually be just prejudices that are convenient for someone else. However, the work achieves this kind of critique without being preachy. I think this is because the protagonist is always sincere with and serious about the people he faces. That's why all the people who meet him feel enabled to think for themselves and choose to change after being persuaded by his honesty. Totonou is actually very kind. He's usually not too involved with people, but when he realizes the crime by Garo, whom he grew fond of, he properly points it out. He doesn't turn a blind eye in order to be liked. Instead, once he's involved, Totonou continues to worry about Garo and tries to take responsibility for his actions. I believe being reasonable to yourself and to others will ultimately lead to kindness."

By the way, Mr. Furuichi, you naturally used some of Totonou's sayings as your own, but what part of him do you feel is similar to yourself?