Tachibana studies Ryoma's expression in silence, carefully searching his face for any sign that he is making this up. He takes his time, seemingly weighing the sincerity behind every word before finally speaking.
"How much of that night can you remember now?"
"Everything," Ryoma answers. "That's why I'm willing to make this confession now. I know for certain that I didn't kill Muneyaki."
Tachibana gives a faint, skeptical scoff. "You're not thinking this statement alone is enough to clear you of suspicion, are you?"
"I'm not that naive, Detective," Ryoma says. "If anything, this confession makes things more difficult for me. To be honest, I did intend to beat up Muneyaki that night. I believed someone had hired him to hurt me, and I wanted to force him to reveal who was behind it. That's all."
Tachibana smiles. "Now you're giving me a motive that you did intend to do something to him."
