Kenta's Tuesday morning routine was always the same — a 5 a.m. breakfast of rice, miso soup, and salted salmon, followed by his walk to work at Tomogaoka Middle School, where he greeted students at the blue gates every morning.

But today was different.

Kenta took the same route as always — turned the same corner — and dropped his briefcase onto the ground. His hand flew to his mouth. Maybe he let out a scream, maybe he didn’t – and it was all just in his head.

Shaking, Kenta read the letter:

"This is the beginning of a game

You stupid police

Try and stop me if you can

Murder is something I cannot help but enjoy

There's nothing I want to see MORE than people's deaths

Let the foul vegetables be punished with death

Let there be bloody judgment for my many years of bitterness."

On the blue metal gates of the school — right next to the sign that read TOMOGAOKA MIDDLE SCHOOL — sprouting from one of the jagged metal picks of the fence - 

The severed head of an 11-year-old.

The note was shoved in his mouth.

Full Source Notes: rottenmangopodcast.com