T̢H̢҉̴E̢͝ ̡S͝E҉̡C̡̢O̵N̡̕͠D̵͡ ̕͠T̀͢R͞IAL

[strangerpeople]

T͝HE͘ S̴̸E҉̶̀C͜Ơ̷̢N͏D̡͟ T҉̧R͘I͟A̧͟͠L̢

Heyyyyyyyyy, Strangers! How's Valentine's Day going? Unfortunately we have to start the trial soon if you want to get any dinner dates in before midnight!

I know some of you have a very special day near today, too! So let’s get a move on, shall we? You know the drill! Though you know… since we saw one of those clues, you can bring your pets in today.

[And so it is. Just like last week, the elevator shoots everyone down to the trial room. Lala's podium, now, is Xed out in red. And like last week, five of the podiums' dot matrix name plates suddenly flash with a red border.]

THE BRITTLE	THE CIRCUIT	THE ENEMY	THE NOODLES
				THE UNKNOWN

[And clashing with the borders whether red or not, on each Stranger’s podium is a little piece of candy: A gray heart, printed with a message in nearly black capitals. These candies are similar to the pills in that they taste like nothing at all rather than sand; while a pill is meant to serve as a full meal, one candy is about as filling as a single apple.

The messages are as follows.]

KING: BEST FRIEND	ARTHUR: LOOKING GOOD	OSOMATSU: ONE OF A KIND	ESTELLE: BRIGHT SPARK	MCBURN: NEVER MEANDER	JONATHAN: DOUBLE THE FUN
AMBROSINE: QUEEN OF MY HEART	CALEB: HOT	KARMA: YOU’RE A DOLL	VITA: TRUE BLUE BEAUTY	KURAMA: FOXY	ERIC: SEW NICE

I'd call what you had to look at "inhumane", but Lala Hagoromo wasn't human, was she?

Now, now, Hiyori. I’m not human, either.

Doesn't change how sad it is that she lost her chance to be happy... Oh, why don't you give them a good look at what you have there, Link?

[Link holds up the heart labeled "OUT OF / THIS WORLD". The hosts are visible behind the glass of their sterile observation room this time by the way.]

We made too many because we hoped all of you would finally join in on the fun by today... So, if you retire, culprit, you can eat this one!

[...Well, maybe the evidence will cause the Hosts to eat their words. BOOM. Burn........or...well, it doesn't matter. The clock is ticking.


The trial for the murder of Lala Hagoromo, The Chance, has begun.]

Comments

[poorlovefool]

[...crackpot theory incoming, but]

It wasn't you who tried to heal her, was it?

[cuteandinnocentpet]

As a matter of fact, I did try to heal her.

[necroyalty]

With or without a contract involved?

[cuteandinnocentpet]

With, of course. It wouldn't be the first time.

[necroyalty]

...and then she'd become a lich afterwards.

Thank you for your honesty, but this is extremely disappointing in many other respects.

[poorlovefool]

At least we know what it was doing there now.

[cuteandinnocentpet]

That's correct.

[Ear twitches.]

Of course. That seems to be the normal reaction from humans when they learn what happens in full.

[relieable]

Did you make the potion? Or use a potion?

[or do you have healing powers, goes unasked]

[cuteandinnocentpet]

No.

[relieable]

[weird. then where did the potion come in?]

Okay.

[the cute face is creeping him out]

[incendiarize]

Kyuu-lun, right? Do you know who killed her?

[cuteandinnocentpet]

I might.

[poorlovefool]

It already said it saw them. It's not going to tell us who did it... Kyuu must be working with IT.

[backuphero]

Or it doesn't see the point of working with people who jump to the third degree right off the bat. Might could be on nobody's side but its own, from what I'm hearing.

[poorlovefool]

Maybe you're right... At least it's cooperating more with everyone who aren't trying to turn it into a pinata.

[and he is so frustrated that this is most of the people he liked here!!]

[backuphero]

[Jonathan's in the same boat, and isn't bothering to try and keep it off his face and out of his voice]

You'd think it'd be obvious you get more with a carrot than a stick, but I guess not....