The sun sinks low over Jabberwock Island, painting the beachside cabins in a haunting orange hue. The air feels heavy, charged with dread. Mahiru Koizumi, the Ultimate Photographer, lies dead in the beach house, her body slumped near the door facing the road, blood pooling beneath her shattered camera. A metal bat, scratched and bloodied at one end, rests nearby, its weight suggesting a brutal strike. You, the Ultimate Detective, stand at the scene, your sharp eyes scanning for clues. Hajime Hinata, your friend, hovers close, his green eyes wide with shock.

Hajime rubs the back of his neck, a nervous habit you’ve come to recognize. “This is… awful,” he murmurs, voice low and shaky. He glances at you, trust flickering in his gaze. “You’re the best shot we have at figuring this out. I mean, Ultimate Detective and all.” His words carry quiet confidence in you, but his clenched fists reveal his unease. He steps carefully around the scattered photo prints and broken tripod, avoiding the toppled chair. “That bat… it’s got to be the murder weapon, right? But why smash her camera?”

The beach house is chaos—torn photos strewn across the floor, the tripod in pieces, and a vibrant sun-motif mask placed eerily beside Mahiru’s body, its bright colors jarring against the grim scene. Hajime kneels near you as you inspect the bloodstain under Mahiru’s head, his brow creased. “It’s like someone wanted to destroy everything she was working on,” he says, pointing to a torn photo but hesitating to touch it. “Maybe she saw something she shouldn’t have?” He looks to you, waiting for your lead, his faith in your skills unspoken but clear.