A Promising Lead

(A/N: I went through a couple of iterations of this chapter because I wanted to create a logical, yet satisfying reason on how, as the title suggests, a new lead was discovered that respects Tsukauchi's detective skills, but also how smart Kramer is. So, with that out of the way, I hope you enjoy the chapter!)

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[1 Day Later]

[Narrator's POV]

The air was crisp and cool as John Kramer — now Okazaki Yuudai — strolled through the park near his apartment flat. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his warm coat, his mind drifting between the fluffy clouds above him as he followed the walkway. The path beneath his feet was familiar as he winded through the trees and the occasional lamppost.

He had found himself here often, drawn to the tranquillity of the place, but more than that, a tether to his past. This park, with its ancient trees and buildings off in the distance, was where he had awoken to his second life. It was a reminder of his purpose, his mission.

As Kramer approached a bend in the path, Kramer was jolted from his thoughts by a sudden, brief, contact. A man, tall, blonde, and nondescript, had brushed past him, muttering an apology under his mask as he continued.

Kramer barely acknowledged the guy, his mind already shifting back to his contemplations. But it wasn't until he reached into his coat pocket some minutes later that he realized his wallet — containing important items such as his credit and debit cards — was missing. 

'Looks like I found another person to test…' Kramer thought to himself as a cold smile formed around his lips. 'Blonde hair, tall, and possibly a quirk that allows for stealing objects. Whoever you are, I will find you, and I will test you…'

Kramer's mind was already turning, thinking of the possibilities and logistics for an appropriate trap that would suit the individual. But, he stopped himself from doing any further planning until he reported his missing credit and debit cards to the proper authorities and his bank. 

After all, nobody liked having their financial affairs compromised.

[Scene Change]

[3 Hours Later]

Kramer threw his bag on the nearby couch as he closed his apartment door behind him. Reporting the theft to the police took a bit longer than expected, which only served to remind Kramer of his poor experience dealing with the Hero Insurance Corporation and reporting Yuki's robbery all those months ago.

Hanging his coat by the door, the Jigsaw made his way over to his small desk that occupied the corner of his living room. Powering on his computer, the blue light hit his eyes and he immediately began doing his research.

His fingers seemingly danced on the keyboard, searching through databases news articles and social media websites that fit the description of the man who pickpocketed him. The search yielded results somewhat quickly as Kramer absorbed the information on screen.

Toya Setsuno — a known petty criminal with a history of theft and other minor offences. With a quirk that allowed him to excel in pickpocketing, he operated in mostly crowded areas, blending in with the masses and taking what he wanted without a trace.

But this time, he had chosen the wrong target.

"I could only assume the Pro Heroes haven't bothered to catch him despite these reports as his thefts didn't exceed a certain monetary value…" Kramer leaned back in his chair as he pondered. His quirk was interesting, but his crimes were all too familiar with Kramer. He was a man who thrived on the thrill of taking from others without consequence, without remorse. 

A man who needed to be tested.

The ideas began to form in Kramer's mind — concepts for a trap that would force Toya to confront the consequences of his actions. But first, there was more planning to do. The trap had to be perfect, tailored to Toya's specific sins, and it had to be constructed with the precision and care that Kramer was known for.

The next few hours were a blur of planning, sketching, and preparation. By the time the night had settled in, Kramer had a clear vision of the test that awaited Toya Setsuno. A trap that would strip away the façade of the petty thief and reveal the true nature of the man beneath.

[Scene Change]

[1 Week Later]

The morning air was heavy — something that Detective Tsukauchi always noticed on days like these. Another body was found, and Jigsaw's work was written all over it. Police tape fluttered in the air like a butterfly as officers and forensics teams worked diligently, but Tsukauchi's mind was already shifting gears.

"Hey, Officer Miyagi," the detective called out to a colleague of his. Miyagi's head perked up from what he was doing as his eyes met the detectives. Putting down the police tape, the officer lightly jogged towards Tsukauchi before formally greeting him.

"Detective Tsukauchi," Officer Miyagi spoke with politeness. "How may I assist you?" Tsukauchi put his hands in his pockets. 

"I want some information on the victim," he said as he gestured to the deceased body of Toya Setsuno that the forensics team was working on transporting to the autopsy lab. "The videotape mentioned that he was a thief, and I want to know who some of his victims are, possibly interview them for a motive."

"Sure thing, detective. I'll get back to you in about an hour with the files you want." Giving a quick bow, the officer turned in the other direction as Tsukauchi stayed on the scene and did his detective work like he usually did.

The hour had quickly passed by as Officer Miyagi, with a brown folder in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, made his way over to the detective and handed him the file he requested. Tsukauchi gave him his thanks as he opened up the file and scanned its contents, reading though the papers quickly.

For a moment, nothing stood out to him at first glance. Most of the reports consisted of stolen items that had been swiftly replaced or deemed insignificant. Wallets with only cash, cheap phones, small trinkets — nothing that would usually grab the attention of someone like Tsukauchi. That was, until, the detective flipped over to the last page and saw a face he recognized.

The photograph was attached to a report filed just a week before Toya Setsuno's death. The victim's name, Okazaki Yuudai, was printed neatly at the top of the page, along with a brief description of the incident: wallet stolen, credit and debit cards used briefly before being cancelled, no significant financial loss.

Tsukauchi's eyes narrowed as he studied the photograph. He had seen that face before, not just in the file, but in person. The memory came flooding back — the convenience store, the quiet conversation, the way Yuudai had seemed so unassuming, just another face in the crowd.

But his mind drifted further back, to the interrogation with Jigsaw's only surviving victim, Shinohara Yuki. Amidst the oddly cooperative interrogation, one detail had stuck out to Tsukauchi: Yuki had mentioned robbing a store on a certain street, almost as an afterthought, before he had been captured by Jigsaw.

"It's the same store…" he muttered to himself as his eyes narrowed once more. The coincidence gnawed at him like a hungry piranha. Was it just luck that two victims of Jigsaw had a previous encounter with this one individual? Or was there something more to it?

The detective couldn't shake the feeling that this was too much of a coincidence. First, Yuki had mentioned a robbery on a particular street, and now Toya Setsuno had unassumingly targeted the owner of the same store, Okazaki Yuudai, only to end up dead in one of Jigsaw's traps. It was as if Yuudai was a common thread tying these events together.

And it was a thread that Tsukauchi was determined to follow.

He tapped his fingers thoughtfully against the file, considering his next move. A casual visit to Yuudai's store seemed in order, a chance to probe deeper without raising any alarms. He needed to know more about this man and his potential connection to the growing number of victims.

Tsukauchi closed the file, and his decision was made. "I'll pay this man, Yuudai, a visit. Light and harmless conversation, that's all…" he said under his breath, intending to dig deeper into what might really be happening.

With a final glance at the photograph, Tsukauchi tucked the file under his arm and left the crime scene. The investigation was taking a turn he hadn't anticipated, but he was ready to follow it wherever it led.

"I remember there being some Pringles chips there too. I should buy some extra while I'm there. Those are my favourite…"

(A/N: I remember one comment asking if there will be any survivors of Jigsaw's traps other than Yuki. To answer that question, there will be. I am focusing on tying the story back to chapter one. One more small note, at this point Toya Setsuno was not affiliated with Overhaul, just a small-time criminal. Thanks for reading!)