The second episode of the Nippon Television drama series "Punch-Drunk Woman: XX Days Left Until Prison Break" (Sundays at 10:30 PM), starring actress Shinohara Ryoko, aired on January 18th. The episode featured a scene in which Kusaka Reiji (played by Jesse), who fell from a rooftop and was rushed to the hospital, confesses to a female prison guard, Fuyuki Kozue (played by Shinohara), about his suspicion of murdering his father, which sparked a stir on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers.
In the second episode, Kozue Fuyuki, a prison guard who serves as the head of the female section of Hikawa Detention Center, begins to become emotionally disturbed by Reiji, who has been transferred there on suspicion of murdering his father. Meanwhile, a fight breaks out in the female section. Taking advantage of the confusion, someone steals Kozue's tablet. The tablet contains confidential data such as records of inmates and staff, as well as court records. The head of the treatment department, Taisuke Koyanagi (Takashi Ukaji), pursues Kozue to hold her responsible. Kozue resolves to "take disciplinary action if they can't find the culprit," and sets out to find the culprit.
Meanwhile, Reiji contacts Hiroyasu Yoroizuka (Yamato Kawachi), a death row inmate in solitary confinement, and proposes escaping from prison. Yoroizuka then says he needs a tablet.
Meanwhile, the tablet is discovered during a search and returned to Kozue's possession. However, the data on the tablet has been copied by Kawakita Ryuma (Karma), who is being held on suspicion of fraud. On the roof, Ryuma tries to sell the data to pretrial detainee Tokai (Takahashi Tsutomu) for 100 million yen, but Reiji appears and, after a scuffle, steals the memory card. Reiji falls from the roof, but survives, and after handing the memory card over to Kozue who rushes to his aid, he is taken to the hospital... and so the story unfolds.
The episode then shows Koyanagi talking on the phone with someone. When the person on the other end asks, "I hope Kusaka Reiji isn't saying anything unnecessary," Koyanagi replies, "Yes, don't worry...Minister." The scene then changes to Kozue visiting Reiji, who is handcuffed to his hospital bed, as a security guard. As Kozue murmurs, "Thank you for helping me," Reiji suddenly grabs her arm and demands, "Let me out of here." Shocked, Kozue tries to shake him off, but Reiji confesses, "I didn't do it. I didn't kill my father."
Social media was abuzz with comments about Koyanagi's harsh attitude towards Kozue and Reiji, and the conversation he was having with someone. Comments included, "There was definitely something being said behind the scenes," "Is the minister involved?" and "There are a lot of suspicious characters." Reiji's confession in the final scene also drew a lot of attention, with comments like, "That's what I thought," "Is it a false accusation?", "Did they find out some weakness and frame him as a murderer?" and "I can't wait to see what happens next."
