After realizing that the recent murders and the Specimen Case are indeed connected, Ginoza takes Kogami off the case and requests Akane to watch over him. Akane discusses Sasayama's murder with Kogami, and he shows her his one piece of evidence: a blurry image of Makishima. Meanwhile, Makishima, in a study with Toyohisa Senguji, reveals the circumstances of Rikako Oryo's father's death and discusses the nature of the shortening life expectancy. Later, Rikako continues her crimes with the help of Makishima's colleague, Choe Gu-Sung, and abducts another fellow student who is worried about her friend's disappearance.