Shôta Sasano

In 1940, Masaaki Takaoka works as a teacher in the agricultural division at a youth training institute. Although Japan’s defeat seems imminent, all of Masaaki’s students are drafted in a futile last-ditch effort. In an attempt to give the young men some hope, he makes everyone promise that they will all meet again under the cherry blossoms upon their safe return. Consumed by sadness over the fate of his students, Masaaki devotes the next 30 years of his life to develop a new species of cherry blossoms that could thrive in any climate in remembrance of his students.

貝塚北署所轄内で、顔をつぶされ指紋も焼かれた男の死体が発見された。少ない遺留品から身元が判明、担当刑事の内海と草薙は弁当屋を営む被害者の元妻・靖子を訪ねる。だが有力容疑者と思われた彼女には完璧なアリバイがあった。捜査に行き詰まった2人は、帝都大学の物理学者、“ガリレオ”こと湯川に協力を求める。当初は興味を示さない湯川だったが、靖子の隣人が学生時代に数学の天才と認めた親友・石神であることを知り……。