A Story in Yokohama -24【Sky and Clouds in Yokohama】
A Story in Yokohama【 Subtitled "Longing"】-24
Three months passed.
In the meantime, Naomi told the investigator in charge, Ms. Hayashida, the truth as it was.
“Why did you agree to Mr. Murakami's invitation when you could have asked Milan Travel Agency for tax money if you had told them?”
“It's just an old woman's game, but now that it's happened, I'll take full responsibility.”
“You have always been polite and well-spoken, and apart from the incident, I think you are a person I can respect. I can't believe that such a person would have accepted Mr. Murakami's invitation just for fun.”
“Sometimes human minds can't be explained by logic. The only thing that is clear is that I accepted Yuichi's offer and evaded taxes. That's all that matters, isn't it?”
“I cannot, in my immaturity, understand your motives for doing so.”
“I don't know my motives either.”
“Could you please explain?”
“I...”
“If it's too difficult now, it doesn't have to be right away.”
“Well... yes. Maybe I can tell you sometime.”
“May I ask you one more question?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know Mr. Ando, who has an office in Bashamichi?”
“What?”
“What kind of relationship do you have with Mr. Ando?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“I get the same impression from Mr. Ando that you've accepted Mr. Murakami's obvious invitation.”
“In what way?”
“Because he lives in a strict organization that doesn't tolerate compromise, but he seems to be operating at Mr. Murakami's pace.”
“You met him?”
“Yes, I went to see him on the first day of the investigation.”
“You dared to do such a daring thing? He's an executive member of a famous gangster.”
“So you know him.”
“I wouldn't lie to you.”
“How are you related to Mr. Ando and Mr. Murakami?”
“You are a perceptive girl. But I can't talk about that now.”
“Why not?”
“I need more time. Ms. Hayashida, you're smart and you do understand people's feelings. I don't hate you. But I'm sorry. I can't talk right now.”
Eventually, Yuichi was forced to confess.
“I appreciate that you stated the facts, but your behavior is unacceptable for a certified public tax accountant.”
The investigator said.
Yuichi felt hopeless.
“Am I going to be criminally prosecuted as a tax evader?”
“The decision is based on the fact that you have done it.”
“What I did was certainly shameful for a tax accountant. However, it is also true that I tried to save the taxpayer who could have used a more advantageous valuation method by a small margin. I also wanted to avoid having the shares of the company that the decedent had worked so hard to grow acquired by competing companies. That's the reason why I manipulated the situation.”
“Even if you started out with good intentions, if the result is tax evasion, you will have to take responsibility. Mrs. Fukada would not have evaded taxes if you had not approached her. What you have done is serious.”
“I'm sorry for what I did. But Mrs. Fukada is a kind-hearted and sincere person. Are you accusing someone like her?”
“We don't mean to criticize your character or that of the heirs. We are only pursuing the crime of tax evasion.”
“I think property valuation is essentially the world of tax administration. I don't want you to prosecute me. I beg you.”
“I'll take it as your opinion.”
(What a difference. Mrs. Fukada says that she was just playing with fire when she took part in the scheme, and that she will take responsibility by explaining the facts in a straightforward manner. On the other hand, this person, who had constructed a tax evasion scheme that was impossible without his expertise and dragged Mrs. Fukada into it, was just trying to escape...)
Commentary
Naomi explains the facts in detail, and Yuichi is forced to confess.
Investigator Hayashida asks Naomi about her relationship with Yuichi and J, but Naomi replies, "”I can't talk about it now.”
To be continued...