THE SECOND TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE SECOND TRIAL


[Soon enough, once the final clues have been uncovered, the telltale DING echoes through the Mall. The elevator in the food court has opened once more, and it will not close until all of the remaining Titled have gotten in it. And, as before, a thought comes to them, the realization that they needed to get on the roof, and get to the bottom of this.

Soon enough, everyone is back on the roof, and they will find that their platform arrangement has changed to reflect those who had died since last week. The podiums of Dio, Torri, and Yuuri are each all lowered and covered with white cloths. Otherwise, everyone else's platforms also have food and drinks, just like last week.

It's probably still not much comfort, especially with what everyone knows must happen. They must look at the evidence they have gathered, and once more, they will have to figure out the truth, putting their lives on the line to do so. Hopefully, their luck will hold.

So, get ready.

The trial for the murders of Torri Feiji, The Bliss, and Yuuri Katsuki, The Future, has begun.]

Comments

[steelmagnolias]

So...

Coach-chan, I know you probably can't tell us the details, but if I can ask you one question...

We have someone tampering with the murder scenes. Did they interfere at all with this one?

[beguiledcard]

[ His voice is actually a heavy indication he's uh... really. Not liking that. ]

... He wouldn't have...

[foolishjustice]

[...He's staring at the floor.]

[steelmagnolias]

[ He's just. Giving you a blank stare.

He really liked you, kid. ]

[totalbullshit]

[ Helena... actually laughs at that. ]

You know... When I met with Dio in the very first night here and we talked about risks of this system, what I said to him was "what if a culprit tries to play detective to mask their guilt".

[foolishjustice]

Is it so strange for a detective to be on edge at a time like that?

[byanyother_name]

[The chill melts from Kurama's eyes and he looks openly wounded. But his voice is steady.]

The cuts were post-mortem after I looked at the pictures again. There were no other minor injuries on Katsuki-san's body.

Goro...

[incrediblystressedout]

Akechi...say you didn't do it. I was watching you. I was...alone with you gathering evidence for like ten minutes...

Say you didn't do it. Please.

[totalbullshit]

If it wasn't you, whom I am sure he would cover for, then... he probably has.

[scienceofmagic]

...If you didn't have anything to hide in all of this, why be nervous?

...Akechi. You killed them, didn't you?

[theirmagic]

[ Hearing Croix say that, Ursula stares at Akechi from across the podiums. Just... just stares, her red eyes to his own.

She's giving him a pleading look.

Please. Please don't be behind this. Please she begs you. ]

... C-Croix, there's... there's no way he'd do something like this. It had to have been someone else. Anyone else. Please, look at me before you look at him like that. Please.

[ It's almost begging, practically. She's desperate. Please don't take his life. Please don't take his bright future. ]

[lifecoach]

Umm... probably.

There's a couple things that look wrong, and if they did it even once with what's at stake, they must be totally determined.

[beguiledcard]

[ He's clenching his teeth so hard. ]

[scienceofmagic]

...

[ ...She can't look at Ursula. Sorry. She won't be able to, and she won't blame Ursula for being upset at her. ]

[theirmagic]

[ Oops do y'all wanna hear Ursula yell because she is. ]

Goro is a sweet young man--he works so hard--there's no way he'd ever do something like this!

[ She's gripping her podium so hard she might break a nail. Her hands are white. The food hasn't been touched. ]

[theirmagic]

... I wish... I could say it was me... b-but then... then you'd all die...

[ She's starting to cry. Her glasses are getting blurry. She has to push them up to wipe under them. ]

[totalbullshit]

Is there not?

Do you want to die for that conviction? Or do you perhaps want to offer us a more likely suspect? Who here do you think is that kind of person?

This would be a fantastic time to let your convictions be known to the collective group.

[beguiledcard]

[ And... he's shaking now.

Guess this is another example of having the wind knocked out of you? ]

[theirmagic]

I... I...

[ She's breaking. Something inside of her is crumpling. ]

I'm not going to condemn someone else just to say someone is innocent. I don't think... anyone here is truly a bad person... but there's no way he would do this... t-there's... n-no way...

[totalbullshit]

They're dead.

[ Helena balls her fists until her knuckles turn white, but she doesn't get loud. ]

That's the undeniable truth before our very eyes. They've been killed, murdered, maimed. This is a double homicide case.

It's time to wake up from the dream world, no amount of social make-up will cover up for this!

[steelmagnolias]

...thanks.

You've been very helpful.

[foolishjustice]

[After Croix's accusation, Akechi takes another breath...except this time he stands up straight. He looks around the room at everyone with a stoic expression, but there's something sad in his eyes.]

It's true that I could have killed Katsuki-san and Feiji-san, but as you've all noted, why would I? I've been very vocal in my desire to help everyone here. Why would I turn around and condemn all of you, including someone I love, to escape a situation I planned to dismantle from the inside out?

The fate of everyone here depends on the accuracy of your accusations. Before you vote, you should first figure out why I would be willing to do something so horrible.

[MTB Start]

[theirmagic]

... Th-that's right. Goro has no reason to be doing something like this, right?

[ She's grasping at straws, desperately hoping she's wrong. ]

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama will reach for him, actually, fingers curling around Akira's wrist. He tugs gently, an invitation but not a demand.

If Akira takes it, he'll get a hug.

Take the hug, Akira. Kurama needs it too.]

[incrediblystressedout]

Akechi...

[She can't do this, she can't. She can't.]

What's your secret?

[She can try.]