15strangers | THE SECOND TRIAL

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.]

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[ Now that everything's calmed down... she has less "questions" and more, well... ]

Goro... is it... well--I...

[ ... You know what, she's just going to walk over and gently... place a hand on his shoulder. ]

... I wish you were the sort of person who would let me hug you. Even if it breaks the rules, I'll... I'll find a way to fix things. Somehow. I'm so sorry you felt it had to come to this. I'm sorry... that I couldn't do more... to be the kind of person you needed in your life. I'm sorry we didn't meet sooner, so that you didn't have to feel this way.

But... but I still care about you. You're someone I love as a friend. And that is never going to stop. Even if what you did was wrong. So please... don't leave trying to make people hate you.

Because it won't work on me. Croix tried that too, and it didn't work either.

[He doesn't answer for a moment, but then he pockets his switchblade and crosses the room to wrap his arms around Ursula.]

...It would be easier for both of us if you did.

[ She gives him such a tight hug. She's crying more than a little bit. ]

Sorry... I guess I'm just stupid and stubborn like that. ... I'm going to miss you.

...Make sure everyone else survives.

Oh, Goro... I'll try. I'm going to try so hard. I hope no one else feels like they have to do what you did. I'll try as hard as I can.

[ It takes her a long moment to let go. She doesn't want to. ]

... Please, never forget that we cared, okay? That there's not just... people like your father or the people that hurt you or your mother out there.

I can't make up for all the bad things you had to suffer through, but... I swear... if I can find a way to bring you back, and give you a second chance... I will. You deserve better.

[ She knows abuse when she sees it. ]

So please, just... just wait patiently until then, okay?

...We have a disagreement about what I deserve. But... [His voice is tight, trying not to cry.] I want you to know that these past two weeks have been earnest. All of you...made me feel like I was wanted, for the first time in my life. What I did last night, it wasn't because I didn't care about you.

We'll have to agree to disagree, then. Because I think no one deserves to be left behind. Oh, Goro... I'm so happy to have met you.

[ She has to wipe at her eyes. ]

... Besides, how am I ever going to beat your high score if you're not around to re-challenge me? No one else could even hope to have beaten me, but you did it.

I do have more experience than I was willing to admit, even if I was always too embarrassed to play in arcades before.

[He sighs and slowly steps back.]

...I'm happy to have met you too, Ursula-san. Along with everyone else in this room.

You're a good detective, Goro. I meant everything I told you.

[ Her gaze lingers, but there's... nothing else she can say or do, not really. Not anymore. ]

... Is it passe to say good luck in such a strange situation? I... I don't know. But I don't want to say goodbye.

There is still something to wish me luck in.

[He pulls the knife back out of his pocket, ready to open at a moment's notice.]

I don't plan to go down easily, after all.

THE SECOND TRIAL

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