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

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama doesn't even try to dodge, just lets Karma punch him. He shifts slightly with the force of the hit. He just reaches out and wraps his arms around Karma gently. Holds his friend.]

I was careless. She grabbed my arm with her antenna and... I hit her instead of Kyuubey.

There was no saving either of us after that.

[comesaround]

[ His whole body is trembling a little, though whether purely from anger or sadness is hard to tell, but either way he is not dislodging Kurama any. ]

I... didn't want you to have done it.

[ Karma's breath hitched and he hung his head down a little. ]

I... I just.... I didn't want to lose you too. First Akira... now you.

[byanyother_name]

I know, Karma. I'm sorry.

[Kurama is just going to hold him. He's even going to breathe, a carefully calm rhythm to it.]

Make it through to the end. Make them pay.

[comesaround]

[ He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to handle the pain wrenching through his chest. The rhythm of Kurama's breathing does seem to help just a little, though. ]

...I'm all that's left out of the three of us... Someone has to, right?

[ It hurts saying these things but he's even forcing himself to smile just the slightest touch. ]

I'll do my best to make it through and teach them why they never should have brought us here.