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

[incrediblystressedout]

I was near Akechi the whole time he was looking at Torri's body, and I didn't see him do anything suspicious or hide anything. I know that doesn't prove anything, but...

[Just. Looking pleadingly at Akechi here. You didn't do it, right?]

[incrediblystressedout]

It's two snakes eating each other or something, isn't it?

...that sounds kinda familiar now that I say it out loud, but I'm pretty sure that's not all it means to you. D'you want to share what it is?

[eyesofdespair]

Truly, I think that piece of evidence was planted like the pills last week. It just doesn't go with everything else that shows this killer knows what they are doing.

[eyesofdespair]

That's the problem, I can't. When I was brought here I thought I was still sixteen and I was training for a profession that isn't that. The profession I was training for is a group that protects people.

[byanyother_name]

There's no need to apologize, Meridies-san. I would have included myself as well.

[This expression is trying very hard to be Shuuichi's understanding smile, but there's something sharp simmering under it. Anger that at least isn't directed at Croix. It's very much directed at the fact that they have to go through this.]

I do have a question for Karma, for my own interests. When we were speaking before the investigation began, why did you think Katsuki-san was the intended victim? Given that he looked to have fallen, while Feiiji-san was surrounded by blood.

[incrediblystressedout]

So we don't know what Ouroboros is, and you don't know what Ouroboros is? That's going to be really irritating until we figure it out...

Anyway...are you willing to tell us your secret? That wouldn't clear you, but it'd make you a lot less suspicious.

[foolishjustice]

[He briefly meets her eyes, before turning his attention back to his coffee.]

I carried out the investigation the same as I did last week.

[byanyother_name]

[He does, though not until he's finished saying his piece. As he's said, focus is one of his specialties. His expression softens to something concerned.]

Perhaps I didn't need to go into it quite so thoroughly.

[eyesofdespair]

[Except she's wrong because his secret would make him even more suspicious, but it's still nothing worth killing two people for and he'd not sacrifice the others for it.

So he'll go ahead and tell part of it to stop this pointless line of questioning.]

According to the secret, I disguised my little brother, Joshua, as a girl one time. I can't explain much more because I don't remember that.

[theirmagic]

[ Ursula rolls her eyes. She thinks it unnecessary to prove she has no injuries, but she does. No injuries here. ]

[steelmagnolias]

...

That's it?

[thegreenhornet]

Can you prove that's the secret you received? Can you show it to us?

[incrediblystressedout]

Wow.

......

How come I never thought of that? Jude would be adorable.

[theirmagic]

[ Ursula's don't match either. Small women's feet. ]

[theirmagic]

[ ... She looks at Karma as Croix says this, and then... she inhales. Exhales. She's wringing her hands together. She doesn't want to believe this. Not Goro. Not Akira. Not Shuuichi. So that just leaves, in her mind-- ]

... Karma did tell me something... about his teacher. That he was dangerous. If he felt that his teacher were going to kill everyone, maybe he might judge our lives worth that risk. The few versus the many.

[foolishjustice]

He told me the same thing. That they had until the end of the semester to kill him or he would destroy half of the planet.

[theirmagic]

... Karma... would you... judge it worth it? Killing all of us, so you could go back and stop him? As it's been brought up, you could have been healed, so it's possible there may not be evidence on you anymore. And the others... I don't think they have secrets they'd be willing to kill us all for so quickly.

Unless you're hiding something else...?

[ Please don't be hiding something else. Her expression is pained enough as it is. ]

[beguiledcard]

[ Looked to have fallen... ]

Could it be... [ He's now staring at Karma for a moment, his expression tensing even more. Then he's looking at the floor. ] ... he was aiming a punch at Katsuki-san but missed because of his speed ... and then Katsuki-san fell down the stairs during his attempt to dodge...?

[ He swallows hard. ]

Mod ping!

[eyesofdespair]

Uh, I honestly don't know and I'm only showing it if the others accused do. I barely get how to use the phone beyond opening my door. Probably not too surprising for someone who hadn't seen a DVD player before, right?

[Can they even still access the secrets?]

[foolishjustice]

[At the mention of secrets, Akechi's hand tightens around Akira's to the point where it might get painful. ...He's glad he didn't grab the hurt one.]

[eyesofdespair]

Yeah, I can imagine Joshua would pass as a little girl quite well if he had a wig.

[thegreenhornet]

Karma wouldn't miss a punch!

[After getting punched a few times by Karma that's what he thinks, at least]

[thegreenhornet]

Why'd all of you have to show our secrets? Five or so people didn't collectively decide to dress your brother like a girl, pal. Yours is the one that sounds like it could be made up on the spot.

[theirmagic]

[ The glance she's giving Akechi is obviously, "I can tell you have things you don't want people to know, but I don't think it's you. I don't think you'd kill one of us."

She trusts you too much, Akechi.

So she'll just offer a sad smile.

... Maybe they should talk later. She refused to participate in that minigame for a reason, after all. ]

[foolishjustice]

[...He doesn't meet her eyes, instead focusing down at the top of Akira's podium.]