Shinji Kotobuki

Shinji Kotobuki
Age	51
Nationality	Japanese
Occupation	HC Unit Chief Director
Affiliation	Heinous Crimes Unit
Status	Deceased
First appearance	case#1:decoyman

Shinji Kotobuki is a character in The Silver Case. He is the Chief Director of the Heinous Crimes Unit.

Appearance and Personality

Kotobuki has a tough appearance, always wearing a dark suit and dark black sunglasses. He also always has a serious look on his face. Despite this, he is actually very kind and has a strong conscious. For this reason, he is very popular. He is insightful and has a lot of experience with investigation.

When he was in Regional, he reacted very negatively to the use of the common Japanese phrase "it can't be helped". It was his belief that detectives never use that phrase. However, near his death, he uses the phrase himself, seemingly in despair over the upcoming events of the story.

History

Kotobuki is first seen in case#1:decoyman, preparing for the briefing on the death of Yuriko Sonoda. He next appears after the events at Babylon to place Kusabi on leave, booking a hot springs retreat for him and his wife. He ordered Sumio Kodai to continue looking after Akira and to bring him along on the investigation.

In case#2:spectrum, he is approached by Chizuru Hachisuka, who says she can no longer trust Morikawa. Rather than re-assign him, Kotobuki instead dismissed Chizuru from duty. Kotobuki recruited Akira to the Heinous Crimes Unit, and asked him to investigate the recent death of Kenichi Hiruma with Morikawa. He ordered Akira to keep in contact with Koichi Sugita in case he turned out to be a witness. He later congratulated Akira for completing the 100 Question Kumite, and urged him to learn the truth from Koichi.

Kotobuki attended the meeting at HQ at the beginning of case#3:parade. He spoke with Daikichi Sakaguchi, who mocked him and his "band of killers", and assured that he would be able to solve the Yukimura kidnapping on his own. Kotobuki later insisted to Sakaguchi that Akira be the one to perform the hostage exchange for the Chairman.

In case#4:kamuidrome, Morichika Nakategawa purchased a second password to the candid live feed of Sayaka Baian for Kotobuki. He watched along with the others, and spoke in the feed's chat, accidentally using Naka's real name, and chastising him when the video cut off. Kotobuki was ordered to not intervene with Method Tank, and told the others to stay away. He watched the end of the countdown with the rest of the group.

At the beginning of case#5:lifecut, Kotobuki is promoted to Deputy Commissioner, making Nakategawa the new director of the HC Unit. Knowing that his time is limited due to his probing of the truth about the Silver Case, he meets privately with Kusabi, resigned over his helplessness in the situation. He asks Kusabi to look after Natsume's daughter, and reveals that Natsume is still in a coma. He tells Kusabi to not dig any deeper, and that they're already after Morikawa as well. Kotobuki says that "it can't be helped", signaling to Kusabi that he's accepted his fate. After this, Kusabi shoots and kills him.

Official profiles

HC Unit Boss. Deeply insightful and very conscientious and sympathetic. Consequently, his popularity is amazing. Kotobuki doesn't directly go out into the field, but he provides crucial support from the sidelines. Cases are never solved by chasing them, from Kotobuki's point of view. "You have to wait patiently." He is a man who knows how to manage people. (case#1:decoyman profile)

Gallery

• 
  Portrait
• 
  Spectrum
• 
  Parade
• 
  With Daikichi Sakaguchi
• 
  Kamuidrome
• 
  With Tetsugoro Kusabi
• 
  Kotobuki's death
• 
  Pre-Lunatics