Episode 4: Tragedy
It is determined from DNA tests that the burnt body at Arakawa River is not that of Ogura. Learning that this was all part of Kira’s scheme to tip the balance for ‘God Corn’s’ rights and commercialisation in his own favour, Suzuki parts company with him.
On the other hand, the government, which wishes to take possession of ‘God Corn’ as its final trump card to make a breakthrough in the food crisis, gets hold of Suzuki to seek his cooperation. Suzuki, who has grown disillusioned by the people around him ever since he invented ‘God Corn’, is also harshly critical of the government’s response to the food crisis. He tells Prime Minister Hiraishi to demonstrate her sincerity to convince him that she is doing this for the sake of the country and not self-interest. However, Prime Minister Hiraishi is baffled by the concept of sincerity …
Meanwhile, Kira has located Ogura’s whereabouts. He has been “dumped and betrayed” by Suzuki who is nothing like the unworldly, awkward academic that Ogura had described. “In the end, he tried to take all the credit,” he reminds Ogura. Vowing not let things rest like this, he offers to joins hands with Ogura and suggests that Ogura get a patent for ‘God Corn’ in the United States. Ogura is swayed. However, he cannot reproduce ‘God Corn’ unless he sees Suzuki’s data because he does not have a grasp of all the genetic information.
In the midst of this, Prime Minister Hiraishi holds a press conference to address the article that Tachikawa had written based on the information leaked by Muto. She is critical of his claim that Japan will become an archipelago of hunger and starvation in 90 days. While she acknowledges a shortage of grain due to unseasonable weather, she calls the article an exaggeration and discloses measures that the government will undertake to stabilise the lives of citizens. Then, she announces that she will personally visit an old folks home and Hakenmura to show her sincerity to the people of Japan.
Suzuki, who had watched the press conference, makes a decision. He contacts Shuko and asks if she can look for Ogura. In exchange for her help, he offers to tell her about what has happened to date. Shuko agrees and Suzuki begins to talk about the last time he had seen Ogura. “If he is still alive, I want to hear everything, and then apologise to him.” After listening to Suzuki, she points out that it is naive of him to say that he will not cash in ‘God Corn’. “The miracle maize ‘God Corn’ has brought you misery. Perhaps it will also bring misery to the people around you.” Suzuki wonders if he has done wrong by creating something that should not exist.
At the same moment, Ogura goes to Koto University Hospital where Sakiko works, guessing that there is a good chance that Suzuki had contacted her and entrusted the usb drive containing information on ‘God Corn’ to her for safekeeping … He lies that Suzuki had asked him to take the usb drive from her. However, Sakiko is suspicious of him and refuses to hand it over. After Ogura leaves, Sakiko calls Suzuki to inform him of Ogura’s visit. Fearing that the usb drive will bring her trouble, Suzuki asks her to return it to him.
Prime Minister Hiraishi pays visits to an old folks home and Hakenmura in appearances carefully orchestrated to demonstrate her sincerity to Suzuki. To her exasperation, she is informed by Muto that Suzuki’s whereabouts is not known.
At that moment, Suzuki is with Shuko at an underground carpark where he has arranged to meet Sakiko to retrieve his usb drive. However, Sakiko has changed her mind about giving it back to him. Claiming that the money she had paid as alimony was an investment in his research, she demands 100 million yen. Suzuki refuses and is about to say more, but Shuko interrupts. There is a figure standing in the distance among a row of cars. Recognising Ogura, Suzuki calls out to him. “I will not forgive you!” Ogura yells and runs off. Suzuki and Shuko chase after him.
Left alone in the carpark, Sakiko becomes aware of the presence of a mysterious man, who tells her to give the usb drive to him. She tries to run away from the man but gets hit by a car.
Suzuki and Shuko, who have lost sight of Ogura at a nearby park, return to the carpark to find Sakiko’s empty car. Noticing an ambulance, they hurry over just in time to see an unconscious Sakiko being put into the vehicle. Suzuki and Shuko accompany Sakiko in the ambulance as she is taken to a hospital. Suzuki is filled with regret. If he had not given the usb drive to her for safekeeping, such a fate would not have befallen … Then, Shuko realises that Sakiko’s handbag, which had contained the usb drive, is missing!
At Hakenmura, Prime Minister Hiraishi is handing out rice balls when a man approaches. “This is my sincerity,” she says and he envelopes her in what seems like a hug. However, when he steps back, blood quickly stains the front of her jacket. “How do you expect me to live without a job, money or food?!” the man asks. The stunned prime minister clutches at her injury and collapses on the ground. The media covering the event goes into a frenzy as Muto rushes to her side …
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