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

[relieable]

[well]

I guess, what I wanna know is... are all of you involved, somehow? Did you help someone else plan these games?

[cuteandinnocentpet]

I suppose you could say I was involved with the Empress' game. Yours, as well, Osomatsu.

[necroyalty]

If that's the case...

I'm tired with you being so coy. In what exact manner were you involved?

[cuteandinnocentpet]

We merely stepped in to contain you all in a single place. Otherwise, we did not directly intervene in the games.

[necroyalty]

So I suppose that's a no on you moving the chairs.

Or otherwise tampering with the scene.

[cuteandinnocentpet]

As I said, I did not interfere with any evidence whatsoever.

[comesaround]

....Kyuubey. If you didn't interfere with evidence...

[ He stops, takes a breath then continues. Looking really pale, too. ]

Can you at least answer this one question for me?

[ He's staying calm... well as calm as he can be next to everyone else freaking out. ]

Were you speaking with Lala and trying to make a contract with her when someone interrupted you? Maybe even trying to attack you directly?

[cuteandinnocentpet]

. . .

Ah. An excellent question, Karma!

I can confirm that this was the case.

[comesaround]

[ His entire face just goes pale at this, breath hitching. There's only one person he knows who could shoot without a gun and who would be angry enough to attack Kyuubey without thinking. ]

...Then that means... I think I know who was responsible for shooting Lala.

[ A pause. God he hates everything. ]

Thanks. That clears something up.

[cuteandinnocentpet]

Of course!

[unwittingking]

[Still keeping Kyuubey against the pedestal, but instantly getting his attention.]

You do?

[That look...isn't a happy look...]

[comesaround]

Yeah.

[ Ugh. He has to come outright and say it... and he absolutely HATES it. ]

[otherworldlyking]

Then say it so we can end this trial already.

[unwittingking]

[…he hates having to do this...but he doesn't want an innocent person dying...]

Can you tell us? Please?

[relieable]

[he remembers the Empress' game from the video but.

now this.

he looks sick, and also angry, his fingers gripping the podium. no more questions from him. for now. gotta stay on track....... or he'll let Ambrosine ask]