Chapter Text
| July 14, 10:03 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby|
Kotone arrives in Tatsumi Port Island’s Courthouse, completely out of breath. She can hardly take in the elegantly drab decor as she braces herself against the closest wall.
Kotone: …whew. I made it. I thought I was going to die, but I’m here!
Kotone: Take That! Objection! Hold…it…haaah…
(...so…so…out of breath. Who in their right mind chooses to jog to the courthouse before a big trial?)
Akihiko: Ah, Kotone. Glad to see you made it. I was starting to get a little worried.
Akihiko Sanada appears. He appears clean-cut and confident, if not a little concerned when laying eyes on Kotone. He crosses his arms and frowns.
(Oh, right. Sanada-senpai. Guess it’s my fault for listening to his advice about dealing with pre-trial jitters. Now I’m nervous and completely exhausted.)
Akihiko: You look a little tired. Don’t tell me you stayed up all night cramming for this.
(No, senpai. That was the 50-minute jog, and I’m pretty sure that’s your fault.)
Kotone: I got a good night’s sleep, just as instructed. I need to be in top form today!
Kotone: I’ve gotta prove to myself that all that law school paid off by showing my skills…against Prosecutor Kirijo no less! Her conviction rate is no joke –– even a newbie like me knows that.
Akihiko smiles.
Akihiko: Don’t sweat it. Mitsuru is a good friend of mine. While I can’t say she’ll go easy on you, she values finding the truth above all else.
Akihiko: I know she believes in Shinji’s innocence — we’ve just got to prove it.
Kotone: Right! You got it, Senpai!
(My name is Kotone Shiomi. I’m 24 years old, and today is my first trial as a full-fledged lawyer.)
(I graduated top of my class from law school, and my senior at Ikutsuki and Co. Law Offices, Sanada-senpai, has done a lot to prepare me for my court debut. But…to think he’d trust me with defending his childhood best friend from a murder charge…I can’t afford to let him down.)
Akihiko looks over his shoulder.
Akihiko: Looks like we still have a minute or two before we need to head in there. The bailiff will call us over in a second. In the meantime, anything on your mind?
(Besides the fact that I should never, ever attempt to run in a skirt again?)
[Prosecutor Kirijo]
Kotone: I think you’ve mentioned before that you’re friends with Prosecutor Kirijo, but isn’t that sort of unusual? For defense attorneys and prosecutors to get along, I mean.
Akihiko: You think so? I don’t really see things that way.
Kotone: You don’t?
Akihiko crosses his arms, looking thoughtful.
Akihiko: Well, I think every lawyer approaches the job differently, but in my case, I walk into every trial intent on finding the truth. By finding contradictions and forming opposing theories, we ensure that the guilty are punished and that the innocent walk free.
Kotone: With the power of arguing and pointing your finger in your opponent’s face!
Akihiko smiles sheepishly.
Akihiko: Well…yes. That too.
Akihiko: I’ve known Mitsuru since we were both in middle school, actually, so we’re really good at arguing with each other.
(Sheesh. That’s certainly easy to believe.)
[Our Client]
Kotone: So…where’s our client? He should be here in the defendant’s lobby, shouldn’t he?
Akihiko: Oh, I’m sure he’s lurking around somewhere. He’ll be here by the time we’re called into court.
Kotone: What, you didn’t have him jog here to deal with his pre-court jitters?
Akihiko: I told him that it works wonders, but he just brushed me off like usual. I think he’ll be just fine though. I saw him earlier, and he didn’t look nervous at all.
Kotone: Seriously? He does know that he’s on trial for a murder, right?
Akihiko: He has nothing but faith in you, Kotone. You’ll prove him innocent –– and I’ll be right there by your side as your co-council.
(He has faith in me? I haven’t even met the guy yet…Sanada-senpai is the one who got his testimony at the Detention Center yesterday.)
Kotone: I figured as much. But really, you don’t need to worry about me! I’ve totally got this!
Akihiko looks bewildered.
Akihiko: Are you sure? You sound so confident but…you’re sweating buckets.
(Crap. Is it that noticeable? Good thing I went with a black suit jacket…if Mitsuru Kirijo saw me with pit stains, I think I’d die of embarrassment on the spot.)
Shinjiro: …Fucking hell, Aki. Don’t tell me you made my lawyer run all the way here.
Kotone: !
Shinjiro Aragaki appears, his hands shoved in his pockets and his eyes narrowed at Akihiko.
Akihiko: I didn’t make her do anything!
Akihiko: All I suggested was a light jog as a warm up –– I can’t concentrate on a trial unless I get my blood pumping.
Shinjiro: …is that why Mitsuru told me she once caught you doing chair-sits behind the bench in the middle of a trial?
Akihiko punches a fist into his palm.
Akihiko: I did some of my best work that day.
Kotone: Aragaki-san! I-It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Shinjiro: …
Kotone: …
Shinjiro: …this charge is nothing but bullshit. Clear it up for me quick.
Kotone: O-Oh! Yeah, no problem!
(I wasn’t worried at all before…but he looks like he’s going to beat me up if I don’t get an acquittal. …Not that I really believe that, of course. Anyone who has been friends with Sanada-senpai for so long has got to be a good person.)
Bailiff: The trial is about to begin. Please make your way to the courtroom at this time.
Akihiko: Well, time to get right to it, I guess. See you on the other side, Shinji.
Shinji: …
Shinji: Tch. Idiot. Of course, you will.
Shinji leaves, escorted to the stand by the bailiff.
Akihiko: Ready, Kotone?
Kotone: You bet. First trial, let’s do this!
| July 14, 10:15 AM
District Court
Courtroom No. 2|
The judge bangs his gavel.
Judge: Court is now in session for the trial of Shinjiro Aragaki.
Mitsuru Kirijo stands behind the Prosecutor's bench. With an elegant sweep, she flips her hair.
Mitsuru: The prosecution is ready, Your Honor.
Kotone looks around the courtroom, her eyes flitting around nervously.
(Oh no…the nerves are definitely hitting me now. Do I need to let my hair down too?)
Kotone attempts a hairflip, only really succeeding in fluffing up her ponytail.
(Bad idea, Bad idea!)
Judge: Miss…Shiomi, is it?
Kotone: !
Kotone: Um…yes, Your Honor? Oh, right! The defense is ready! I’m ready and raring to go!
Judge: Oh! Such enthusiasm! You young’ins always keep me on my toes in this courtroom –– keeps the work from getting dull, I’ll tell you that!
Akihiko stands at Kotone’s side in the defense bench, looking pained.
Akihiko: Looks like we’ve got Judge Bunkichi…
Kotone: …is that a bad thing?
Akihiko: Oh, not exactly. He always gives fair verdicts, in my experience. He just tends to be…
Judge: Now, where did I put my glasses? Those blasted things always go missing…
The judge’s glasses, which are sitting on his forehead, fall down onto his face, causing him to jump.
Judge: Oh, goodness! Looks like they turned right up in time for the trial!
Akihiko: …a tad forgetful.
(Oh boy…do you think that means he’s already forgotten that hairflip I just attempted?)
Judge: Now, if the Prosecution would be so kind as to give her opening statement.
Mitsuru nods.
Mitsuru: Of course, Your Honor.
Mitsuru: On July 12th, at around 2pm, a young man dropped dead in the dining room of the fast food establishment “Jollibee”. The victim has been identified as Kenji Tomochika, a college student. He was a frequent customer, according to the employees who were interviewed.
Mitsuru: That same day, the defendant, Shinjiro Aragaki, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. It is the prosecution’s hope that during this trial, some of the murkier details regarding this crime will come to light.
Judge: Well, we can only hope so! Miss Prosecutor Kirijo, you may call your first witness to the stand.
Mitsuru nods.
Mitsuru: Very well, your honor. The prosecution calls the arresting officer, Junpei Iori, to the stand.
-----
Junpei takes the witness stand. His shirt is untucked and he looks wildly unprepared to speak. He lifts his cap and scratches the back of his head, looking around the courtroom.
Mitsuru: Please state your name and occupation to the court.
Junpei perks up and grins.
Junpei: You got it! Name’s Junpei Iori, Ace Detective. I’m the best the force has to offer. Don’t you forget it, ladies!
Junpei suddenly looks alarmed.
Junpei: Ah, crap, this is my first time testifying in court. Was I supposed to wear a tie or something?
(…come to think of it…was I supposed to wear a tie too?)
Akihiko: If he’s really the best the force has to offer, I sincerely worry for the future of justice in this country…
Kotone: I guess we’d better hope his incompetence extends to arresting the proper person, at least in this case.
Mitsuru: Detective Iori.
Mitsuru reaches for her hip and produces a rapier, twirling it with a flourish before pointing it in Junpei’s direction with narrowed eyes.
Mitsuru: Please keep your statements relevant to the matter at hand. If you waste this court’s time, a swift execution will be in your future.
Akihiko: …I’d hate to be that guy right now.
Kotone blushes fiercely.
(I’d love to be that guy right now…)
Mitsuru: Detective, please testify about the murder scene and explain your reasoning behind the arrest.
Junpei: H-Hey, watch where you’re pointing that!
Junpei: Er…I mean…yes, ma’am!
Junpei: I’ve got here a floor map of the restaurant. I circled the booth where the body was found.
Kotone looks at a piece of paper, leaning her head against one hand.
Kotone: Looks like his booth was in the corner behind this wall…that’s pretty separated from the rest of the dining room. Doesn’t look like there’s many lines of sight to the body either.
Mitsuru: And this other table that you have marked?
Junpei: Oh yeah, that’s where the other guy in the restaurant was sitting. He was still finishing his fries when we got there.
Kotone: Wait, what’s this smudge on this table, here?
Junpei: Oh, ignore that. That’s there because I circled the wrong table by accident on my first attempt.
Mitsuru: I…see…
Judge: The court accepts this into evidence.
Floor Plans added to the Court Record.
Akihiko: Make sure you keep note of the evidence that goes into the court record. It’s all future ammunition we can use in our cross-examinations.
Kotone: Got it! I’ll keep it super-duper organized, just like always!
Akihiko looks defeated.
Akihiko: You say that now, but I’ve seen your desk. Why don’t you just sort what we’ve got quickly? It’s always good to review it thoroughly, anyway.
(Well…I guess it couldn’t hurt.)
(There isn’t much to go through. Let’s see…here’s the autopsy report. Looks like the cause of death was asphyxiation. Apparently, there were bruises consistent with strangulation around his neck.)
(Yikes…)
Autopsy Report added to the Court Record.
Mitsuru: Please testify to the court about the details of the crime, and what cause you had to arrest the defendant.
Junpei: Sure thing! Ladies and gentlemen of the court, prepare to be dazzled!
| Witness Testimony: The Arrest |
Junpei: When we got the call that a murder had occurred, I rushed right over to the scene!
Junpei: It was mid-afternoon, so the restaurant was pretty empty. So, we found the body easily.
Junpei: I clocked the guy working in the kitchen as the most likely culprit. I mean, come on! He’s super scary-looking!
Junpei: We’ve also got some hard evidence that Aragaki walked over to the victim's table and got physical with him!
Junpei: So…yeah! I cuffed him and brought him in for questioning.
---
Mitsuru: …
Kotone: …
Judge: …
Junpei: …What?
Akihiko: Did he seriously just say he arrested Shinji because he’s…scary-looking?
Kotone: Yep. Sure did.
Judge: Ahem. Well, if the defense would begin her cross-examination at this time…
Kotone: Y-Yes your honor!
(Okay. Cross-examination…I’ve done it in mock trials, but this is the real deal. No time to freak out now. You gotta dig more info outta him, Kotone!)
| Cross-Examination: The Arrest |
Junpei: When we got the call that a murder had occurred, I rushed right over to the scene!
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: Who was it that called the police? Can you elaborate on that?
Junpei: It was the other employee working at the time. Well, actually she called an ambulance first. Then, from what she told us, she left out the back entrance to call the police, since she suspected it had been murder.
Junpei: She was really freaked out, so we couldn’t get a lot of useful information outta her beyond that. Aragaki was still on the scene when we got there, though.
Kotone: Don’t you find that strange, Detective?
Junpei: Find what strange?
Kotone: Wouldn’t a killer want to flee the scene of the crime? Why would my client stick around and speak to the police if he had just murdered someone?
Junpei lifts his hat and scratches the back of his head.
Junpei: You’re asking me?
Mitsuru: There are many reasons a culprit might avoid fleeing the scene. In this particular case, Aragaki-san could have wished to avoid raising suspicion by leaving his shift early.
Kotone: …yeah…that’s a fair point.
Mitsuru: Speculation will get us nowhere. Tell us more about the state of the body when you arrived, Detective.
---
Junpei: It was mid-afternoon, so the restaurant was pretty empty. So, we found the body easily.
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: Who else was in the restaurant at the time?
Junpei: There was only one other customer inside the dining room. I think he’s gonna be called as a witness later.
Junpei: That customer only had one brief interaction with the victim, after which he sat at a table on the opposite side of the dining room.
(So they have a witness from the scene. I wonder if that’s good news…or really, really bad news.)
Akihiko: We’d better save any lines of questioning related to this other customer for later.
Kotone: Yeah, I was thinking that too. Detective Iori doesn’t seem that well-informed…
Mitsuru: Please, get back on topic, Detective. What was it about Aragaki that struck you as suspicious when you arrived on the scene?
---
Junpei: I clocked the guy working in the kitchen as the most likely culprit. I mean, come on! He’s super scary-looking!
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone slams the defense bench, lunging over it like she’s about to crawl over it entirely and start a fight.
Kotone: All just because of how he looks?
Kotone: Just because my client has a resting death-stare face and looks like he could break me in half, that doesn’t mean that he’s a murderer!
Akihiko: …
Mitsuru: …
Kotone: …I mean, I just met him today…so…
Junpei: H-Hey, that’s not the only reason we took him in for questioning, you know? He was super suspicious! I’m not in the wrong here!
---
Junpei: We’ve also got some hard evidence that Aragaki walked over to the victim's table and got physical with him!
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: And what exactly is this hard evidence?
Junpei adjusts his hat, looking smug.
Junpei: You want evidence, you got it! Suck on that!
Junpei: …uh…I mean…take a look at this.
Security Footage added to the Court Record.
Judge: I see…
Akihiko: …
Akihiko: …damnit, Shinji…
(That footage doesn’t lie. Even if the security camera doesn’t have a clear view of the victim’s booth…Aragaki ran up to him and grabbed him.)
(Still…it doesn’t look like he’s strangling him. In fact…wait, isn’t something off here?)
Kotone: Objection!
Kotone: Your Honor! This footage contradicts the witness’ testimony!
Mitsuru: Interesting. Would you be so kind as to point out what you believe isn’t right in this footage, Shiomi-san?
(It’s right there…before Aragaki walks into frame. It’s hard to see, but…doesn’t it look like the victim might be struggling?)
Kotone: Take That!
Kotone: Your Honor, please play the footage starting thirty seconds before my client enters the frame.
Judge: Oh…of course!
Kotone: Right there…this is the evidence that will tear this flimsy case apart!
Kotone slams her hands on the defense bench.
Kotone: This footage isn’t showing my client murdering the victim at all. In fact…judging by the victim’s thrashing that can be seen, long before my client even got close to him, it becomes clear that Kenji Tomochika was already choking.
Mitsuru: I concur. I believe this footage shows the victim struggling to breath for almost a full minute before Shinjiro Aragaki approached him physically.
Kotone: That’s right!
Kotone: It is the defense’s belief that, while dining at Jollibee, Tomochika-san began to choke on his Jolly Spaghetti. The sound was likely what called my client over to his booth.
Kotone: There is no crime being committed in this footage! In fact…this evidence reveals my client, Shinjiro Aragaki, attempting to save the victim’s life with the heimlich maneuver!
Mitsuru: …
Judge: …
Court: …
Kotone: Have I…rendered you all speechless?
Akihiko: …
Akihiko looks sheepish.
Akihiko: Um…there’s a few problems with that.
Mitsuru: Miss Shiomi. Please locate the autopsy report in the Court Record and read it over thoroughly. I’m sure you’ll be able to identify where your thinking has been steered wrong.
Mitsuru: Though, I can’t really blame you for this error. After all, it seems our witness here has also been misinformed about one very important detail .
(A very important detail in the autopsy report…why can’t they all just knock off the suspense and tell me already?)
(Let’s see…)
Kotone: …
Kotone: …
Kotone: … N-No way! What the hell!?
Kotone: The cause of death is listed as asphyxiation but…there was a lethal dose of poison in his system!
Kotone looks irritated.
Kotone: Grr…why wouldn’t you just say that! Who does this coroner think he is, pulling a fast one on me?
Akihiko: Well, it’s not exactly my field, but I can tell you that the autopsy report’s written correctly. Lots of different poisons cause respiratory failure, and that failure is the actual cause of death. The poison is better classified as a “murder weapon”.
(Well…I guess it would be pretty stupid to write someone’s cause of death as “Knife” or rather than “blood loss”.)
(Who cares. I’ve still got a bone to pick with this…’Makoto Yuki’ person. His stupid report made me look like an idiot in my first ever trial!)
Junpei: You’re kidding me! He was poisoned too? Why didn’t the killer just pick one?
Akihiko: …is he serious?
Kotone: That’s a fair point though, isn’t it?
Kotone: From the look of the corpse, Tomochika-kun was strangled…but who could have done that? And for what purpose?
Akihiko closes his eyes, looking pensive.
Akihiko: Well, it’s hard to imagine it’s unrelated to the murder…but unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of exploring that avenue right now.
(That’s right. I need to prove that Aragaki-san couldn’t have poisoned the victim, if that was the true murder method. I’d better focus on that for the time being.)
Mitsuru brushes her hair aside while she reads a document.
Mitsuru: Although the clearest sign of foul play apparent in the crime scene photos are the bruises around the victims neck, this was indeed a case of lethal poisoning.
Mitsuru: For the court’s convenience, I will submit the complete toxicology report. Please look it over promptly.
Judge: The court accepts this into evidence.
Kotone looks at the document, scratching her head.
Kotone: I can’t make sense of a lot of this. But it looks like Tomochika-kun really was poisoned.
Toxicology Report added to the Court Record.
Mitsuru: Detective Iori. You owe this court a proper testimony.
Mitsuru brandishes her sword with a flourish.
Mitsuru: If the police have reasons to believe Shinjiro Aragaki had the means to poison the victim, then explain them now. Otherwise, you will be dismissed, and I will recommend a swift and deadly cut to be made to your salary.
Junpei: H-Hey! I got a lot more to say. There’s no need to be so drastic!
Junpei: I’ll tell you all about how it all went down. F-For real this time!
| Witness Testimony: The Jollibee Killer |
Junpei: So…uh…right! Shinjiro Aragaki was working in the kitchen of Jollibee, and he decided that the day was ripe for murder.
Junpei: His chosen victim was Kenji Tomochika. Aragaki murdered him in cold blood!
Junpei: And how did the perp pull it off? That’s easy! Kenji Tomochika was poisoned, simple as that. That shady guy must have slipped something into his Jolly Spaghetti!
Junpei: The victim ate that poison, which made his throat start to close up. That sound alerted the killer that the job was done!
Junpei: And so…he leapt over the counter and choked the rest of the life out of him for good measure!
---
Judge: I see. So…you’re saying the young man on trial used two methods of murder?
Junpei: It’s the only thing that makes sense! He must have really hated that Tomochika guy…
Mitsuru closes her eyes and flips her hair.
Mitsuru: …
Akihiko: That’s a pretty flimsy theory if I’ve ever heard one. Mitsuru doesn’t look very happy with that detective.
Kotone: Yeah, no kidding. He’s not even trying to establish a motive. I’m not sure I heard any contradictions, though…
Akihiko: Better just press him for more information, then.
Kotone: Okie-dokie!
(It wouldn’t hurt to go over all of my evidence again, either…)
| Cross-Examination: The Jollibee Killer |
Junpei: So…uh…right! Shinjiro Aragaki was working in the kitchen of Jollibee, and he decided that the day was ripe for murder.
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: Was my client the only person working in the kitchen that day?
Junpei: Sure was! He was running the whole kitchen by himself, and was the only one other than the victim to touch the food.
Kotone holds her head in one hand, looking thoughtful.
Kotone: What about the cashier? You mentioned another employee was there on the scene.
Junpei: Oh, that’s right. We can confirm from the security camera footage that she didn’t touch the food. While Kenji Tomochika was being served, she was taking her break. So, Aragaki was the only one the victim interacted with at all.
(Damnit. Guess that’s a dead end.)
(I still don’t get why Iori’s so convinced that Aragaki-san would just kill someone for no reason.)
Mitsuru: I can confirm that the other employee on the scene was thoroughly interviewed and determined to be uninvolved with the incident.
Judge: Tell us more about your assessment of the defendant.
Junpei: R-Right! So, anyway…
---
Junpei: His chosen victim was Kenji Tomochika. Aragaki murdered him in cold blood!
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: What sort of motive could my client have possibly had to murder a random patron of the restaurant?
Junpei: Haha! I’m glad you asked!
Junpei: While being interrogated, Aragaki said the victim was, and I quote, “Fucking annoying”.
Kotone: …
Kotone: Uh…okay?
Junpei: Hey, it’s not nothing! It’s proof they at least interacted!
Kotone: So…just because my client found the victim annoying…you’re saying that fact alone would drive him to murder?
Junpei: I don’t know! The guy’s dead, and it happened somehow!
Junpei: Besides, ain’t you ever worked in food service before? That sort of work could make anyone lose it.
Kotone: …well, you have a point.
Akihiko: No, he doesn’t!
---
Junpei: And how did the perp pull it off? That’s easy! Kenji Tomochika was poisoned, simple as that. That shady guy must have slipped something into his Jolly Spaghetti!
Kotone: Objection!
Kotone slams her hands on the defense bench.
Kotone: Detective Iori…I need you to clear something up for me.
Junpei: Huh? Uh…shoot.
Kotone: This is the toxicology report Prosecutor Kirijo submitted as evidence. Have you had a chance to look at it?
Junpei: …
Junpei: …what? Y-Yeah, of course I saw it!
Mitsuru: Hm. Perhaps, you did not read thoroughly enough, if you still fail to notice the contradiction in your testimony that Shiomi-san has flawlessly identified.
Kotone: Oh! Thank you, Prosecutor Kirijo! Do you want to go for drinks after this?
Akihiko: …Kotone, we’re in court. This is a murder trial.
(I know that! That doesn’t mean it has to be a bummer the whole time!)
Kotone: A-Anyway, if we look at this toxicology report, we can see that no poison was identified in any of the victim’s food.
Junpei: What? You’re kidding me!
Kotone: The food was clean. The interaction my client had with the victim prior to symptoms appearing was short and professional. So…that leaves me with just one question, Detective.
Kotone points her finger across the courtroom.
Kotone: How could my client have poisoned the victim?
Junpei: Uh…
Junpei: …
Junpei: …I dunno.
Mitsuru points her rapier towards Junpei, glaring sharply.
Mitsuru: Your Honor. It seems I've committed a discourtesy, and for that I apologize.
Mitsuru: I have called a witness that has done nothing but waste this court’s time, and would like to propose that we dismiss him swiftly.
Judge: Hm…yes, I think that’d be alright. Defense, do you have any remaining questions for the detective?
(Questions…for the detective.)
(...)
Kotone: Nope.
Judge: Very well. This ends the cross examination. Detective Iori, you are dismissed.
Junpei: Er…you got it. Sir. Your Honor.
Junpei steps down from the witness stand.
---
Judge: Hm. As things currently stand, I haven’t heard enough to make a ruling either way.
Mitsuru: Your Honor. It is the prosecution’s opinion that we discuss the use of the poison in detail. I have a witness prepared for the express purpose of clearing up any questions we may have about the toxicology report.
Judge: I believe that would be best. Does the defense have any objections?
Kotone: Nope! Er…none, your honor.
Judge: Very well. Please, call your next witness, Prosecutor Kirijo.
Mitsuru: Of course, your honor.
(We’re not out of the woods yet, but I think I managed to raise some important questions. But something tells me this next witness is going to be more capable than Ace Detective Iori…)
A young woman in a pink button-down shirt and a lab coat is led to the stand. She has a medical bag slung over her shoulder and red-tinted glasses sitting on top of her head.
Mitsuru: Please state your name and occupation for the Court.
The woman fidgets with her shoulder bag, which is filled to the brim with various vials and powders.
Yukari: …Yukari Takeba.
Yukari: I’m a forensic scientist, and I specialize in poisons.
Mitsuru: I understand that you were involved with the investigation into Kenji Tomochika’s death?
Yukari: Ugh. Yeah.
Yukari: They paired me up with one of the rookie detectives…what a headache.
Yukari: The poisoning itself was pretty straightforward, so I’d be glad to answer any questions about it.
Mitsuru: Takeba-san, please testify to the court about the poison found in the victim’s system.
Yukari: Yeah, sure thing.
| Witness Testimony: About the Poison |
Yukari: Honestly, I wouldn't even have to be here testifying if Stupei could just read the toxicology report properly…
Yukari: The victim had Tetrodotoxin in his system. It’s a toxin that naturally occurs in pufferfish, sunfish, and blue-ringed octopuses.
Yukari: With a high enough dose, symptoms can present themselves in under twenty minutes.
Yukari: Tetrodotoxin causes abdominal pain, dizziness, numbness of limbs, and eventually, paralysis. That’s why the cause of death is listed as “suffocation”.
Yukari: If the killer was intent on a death via suffocation, the marks on the victim’s neck are just overkill…
---
Judge: My goodness! What a strange thing to find in fast-food spaghetti!
Mitsuru: …
Mitsuru: …please excuse me, your Honor, but I believe we’ve established that the poison could not have been in the victim’s food.
Judge: Huh? We did?
Kotone: Takeba-san, do you know how the poison might have been delivered to the victim?
Yukari adjusts her glasses, looking thoughtful.
Yukari: It was ingested. We know that much.
Yukari: As for the how…your guess is as good as mine. But if you’ve got any questions about the poison itself, go ahead and ask. The rest of it’s up to you lawyers.
Judge: Well, now, I think you ought to start your cross-examination now, Defense.
(...she said…pufferfish? Octopuses? What does seafood have to do with anything we’ve been talking about?)
Akihiko: …
Kotone: Senpai?
Akihiko: …no. It’s nothing.
| Cross-Examination: About the Poison |
Yukari: Honestly, I wouldn't even have to be here testifying if Stupei could just read the toxicology report properly…
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: So…I take it you were working with the last witness we heard from? The um…Ace Detective?
Yukari shifts her bag on her shoulder and grimaces.
Yukari: Ace Defective is more like it…
Yukari: Seriously, how is he even keeping his job if he can’t even read an autopsy report?
Kotone: Ha…ha…right! Totally!
(Note to self: learn how to properly read autopsy reports.)
Akihiko looks at the autopsy report.
Akihiko: I see…So we know the poison was ingested because the coroner didn’t find any puncture wounds on the body.
Yukari: Yeah. It’s not a huge surprise, really, considering what was used…
---
Yukari: The victim had Tetrodotoxin in his system. It’s a toxin that naturally occurs in pufferfish, sunfish, and blue-ringed octopuses.
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: …
Kotone cringes, looking a little lost.
Kotone: …um. So…just in fish, then?
Yukari looks annoyed.
Yukari: Yeah, that’s what I said. What about it?
Kotone: So…it definitely doesn’t occur naturally in fried chicken? Or spaghetti sauce? Or…peach pies?
Yukari: Of course not!
Kotone: Then…
(Then how the fuck did a poison like that get in the victim’s system, anyway?)
Mitsuru: …I believe the defense would like your opinion on how the victim could have ingested such a poison, since he didn’t appear to have consumed any of the fish tetrodotoxin naturally occurs in.
Yukari: Well…
Yukari: Most cases of tetrodotoxin poisoning result from ingesting fugu that hasn’t been properly prepared –– usually by amateurs who don’t know what they’re doing.
Kotone: So, in other words…not the sort of thing you’d find in a fast-food restaurant.
Yukari: True. But of course, tetrodotoxin can be extracted from fish, if you’ve got the proper culinary know-how.
Mitsuru: I see. So, the poison, though it originates from toxic organs inside of fish, could be extracted and administered in another way?
Yukari: That’s right.
Yukari pulls a vial of something out of her bag, toying with it and making the liquid slosh around.
Yukari: Pure tetrodotoxin is a colorless crystalline powder. If it were to be extracted, it could be dissolved within a liquid.
Akihiko: Do you happen to have a sample of pure tetrodotoxin with you, witness? That seems like particularly relevant evidence.
Yukari frowns.
Yukari: Are you serious? Why would I be carrying around a vial of rare poison?
Yukari: I mean…some of these chemicals are toxic…but…
Mitsuru: Your notes on pure tetrodotoxin and its properties will suffice, witness. Your Honor?
Judge: O-Oh, yes! So long as none of those toxic chemicals are on the witness’ notes…the court will accept them into evidence.
Notes on Pure Tetrodotoxin added to the Court Record.
(It says here that the paralysis induced by tetrodotoxin happens gradually, starting with the face and throat. I’d better keep that in mind. )
Akihiko: I’d imagine our killer used Tetrodotoxin in its pure form and slipped it into something Tomochika-kun ingested.
Kotone: Yeah…seems way easier to do it that way than to trick a guy into eating puffer fish against his will.
(But there’s no point worrying about the exact method until I get a better understanding of how the poison works…)
---
Yukari: With a high enough dose, symptoms can present themselves in under twenty minutes.
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: So…what you’re saying is…the dose in Tomochika’s system was high enough to have killed him that quickly?
Yukari: Well…
Yukari: …no. He actually didn’t have a very high dose in his system at all.
Mitsuru flips her hair.
Mitsuru: But it was a lethal dose, was it not?
Yukari: With a poison this potent, even a single drop can be a lethal dose. It’s more dangerous than cyanide.
(Even a single drop can be lethal…I’d better take note of that.)
Notes on Tetrodotoxin updated in Court Record.
Yukari: Tetrodotoxin isn’t understood well enough to establish a strict timeline of ingestion to death. But what we do know is that even though symptoms will always reveal themselves less than half an hour after ingestion, death can be delayed for up to four hours.
Kotone slams her desk.
Kotone: So there’s a distinct possibility that the victim was already poisoned before he ever entered the Jollibee my client was employed at!
Mitsuru flourishes her sword and slams her own desk with one hand.
Mitsuru: Don’t be so hasty, Shiomi-san. Have you so quickly forgotten that the victim’s symptoms were noticed by your client?
Kotone freezes.
Kotone: …h-huh?
Mitsuru: While it’s true that death may not occur immediately when given only a small dose of tetrodotoxin…
Mitsuru: The fact remains that symptoms will always present themselves shortly following ingestion.
Kotone: Ah, shit.
Kotone: I mean…Oh. Right. Yeah.
Judge: Witness, will you describe the symptoms that precede death by tetrodotoxin to the defense once again, if you please?
(You know, it really hurts to be patronized by a man wearing his spare pair of glasses on his forehead.)
---
Yukari: Tetrodotoxin causes abdominal pain, dizziness, numbness of limbs, and eventually, paralysis. That’s why the cause of death is listed as “suffocation”.
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: So, tetrodotoxin poisoning causes suffocation? How does that happen?
Yukari: Essentially, paralysis causes the muscles that control respiration to fail entirely. The throat constricts…and the victim begins to suffocate.
(Is that what caught Aragaki-san’s attention on the security footage? Tomochika-kun wasn’t choking on his food…)
(...He was already suffocating to death.)
Mitsuru: These symptoms were witnessed by the defendant, and by the other customer present in the dining room at the time of the incident.
Mitsuru: Thus, we can conclude that the poisoning occurred while the victim was at the restaurant.
Akihiko picks up the Security Camera Records and frowns.
Akihiko: Looks like our victim entered the restaurant at 1:20 PM. Shinji ran over to him when he noticed him choking a little over half an hour later, at 1:54 PM.
Akihiko: And by 2:00 PM…the officers on the scene pronounced him dead.
Kotone: That’s a pretty narrow timeframe. So the poisoning would have had to occur shortly after he arrived.
Kotone: Would he even have time to get his food on a timeline that strict?
Akihiko: It’s called fast food for a reason, Kotone. He was sitting down and eating by 1:23 PM.
(That means it's going to be really easy for the prosecution to pin this all on Aragaki-san.)
Yukari: I can only shed light on the properties of the poison used. Motives and stuff like that aren’t really my area of expertise. After all…
---
Yukari: If the killer was intent on a death via suffocation, the marks on the victim’s neck are just overkill…
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: So, I just want to be completely clear on this…
Kotone: There’s no way that poison can produce marks like that on its own, right?
Yukari: Definitely not.
Yukari: Visible symptoms of various poisons are a lot more subtle than something like that. Dilated pupils…drooling…pale skin…
Kotone looks sheepish.
Kotone: Yeah, I…should have figured. But I was just thinking…maybe what we thought were strangulation marks…could be a weird rash…or something.
Yukari: …
Mitsuru: …
Akihiko: …don’t feel bad, Kotone. That’s just how court is. You have to take wild swings…
Akihiko grins and gives Kotone a thumbs up.
Akihiko: And sometimes you’re going to miss. And that’s okay!
(I think he’s trying to be encouraging. In his own way.)
Kotone: I guess those marks on the victim’s neck are still a mystery, then.
Yukari: Are they really?
Yukari: Don’t you have security footage that shows the defendant strangling the victim?
Kotone recoils, eyes wide.
Kotone: N-no! I mean…that’s not…
Mitsuru: Objection!
Judge: Oh…Prosecutor Kirijo! You’re…objecting to your own witness?
Mitsuru: We must keep the record straight, your Honor.
Mitsuru flips her hair.
Mitsuru: While we do have security footage in the Court Record showing the defendant in close proximity to the victim, the partition in the restaurant is obscuring the view of the victim’s booth.
Mitsuru: While it would be easy enough to conclude that the strangulation marks were inflicted in this footage, it does not prove this decisively all on its own.
Mitsuru: Perhaps the defense should take care not to doze off over there. It’s hardly a good look for the Prosecutor’s Office if I’m forced to argue for both sides of this case.
Kotone gathers herself and bows her head slightly.
Kotone: Thank you…Prosecutor Kirijo.
(Damn it. So much for asking her out after the trial. I probably just seem like another rookie to her.)
(A rookie with a beautiful smile and a great rack…but a rookie nonetheless…)
Akihiko: What’s with that face? Don’t let Mitsuru get to you, okay? She can be intimidating, but she’s just looking out for you in her own way.
Akihiko: So don’t give up yet!
Kotone: Yeah, you’re right! It’s too early to give up! I’ll ask her out for coffee for sure!
Akihiko raises an eyebrow.
Akihiko: Uh…What?
Judge: If the defense is done conferring, please continue with your cross-examination.
Kotone: Yes, Your Honor…
---
Kotone: Damn it…I pressed her on everything, but I don’t know how to proceed.
Kotone: There’s so much that doesn’t make sense yet but…
Akihiko: Yeah. There’s no use in pointing out a contradiction if you can’t offer up an alternative solution, supported by evidence.
Judge: Miss Shiomi, do you have any more questions for the witness?
Kotone: …
(I can’t let this cross-examination end until we can make the blurry details of this case come into focus.)
(Prosecutor Kirijo still has another witness…there was someone else there that witnessed the crime as it happened, or at least, how they think it happened.)
(I believe in Aragaki-san's innocence. That’s…all I really have right now. Just my belief in him.)
(And if I’m right…if he’s really innocent, then I need to be as prepared as I can be to find the truth. It’s time to start talking through some of these mysteries with Yukari-san and Kirijo-san. If they’re as committed to finding the truth as I am…)
(...then I need to believe in them too.)
Kotone: Your Honor, there are some aspects of this case that I wish to clear up, and I believe that Takeba-san can add some insight to the discussion. I would like to request that she stay on the stand for a bit longer.
Yukari: Huh? Sure…I don’t mind.
Judge: Prosecutor Kirijo, do you have any objections?
Mitsuru: None, your honor. The defense and the prosecution are in agreement –– there are many questions that arise from the circumstances of this case that we have yet to address.
Mitsuru: Shiomi-san, you are free to lead the discussion. What aspect of the poisoning would you like to discuss with our witness?
[Obtaining the Poison]
Kotone: Well…for starters…I’m curious about how someone would even go about obtaining a poison like tetrodotoxin.
Kotone: It’s found in pufferfish, blue-ringed octopuses…stuff like that, right?
Yukari: Yeah, that’s what I said. It’s not exactly easy to get your hands on something like that. You’d have to be a marine biologist or a talented chef.
Kotone: A chef?
Kotone: Right…you mentioned something about that in your testimony. Something about fugu poisoning…
Yukari: Yeah. The poisonous pufferfish is served in some restaurants, if you know where to look for it. Not even the risk of lethal poisoning can deter some people from delicacies…
Yukari: Cooking the fish won’t do anything to negate the tetrodotoxin, so you have to meticulously cut out all the toxic bits in order to make it safe to eat.
Yukari grimaces.
Yukari: It’s so freaky…who’d want to try something like that!?
Yukari: I mean…maybe I’d try it, if I could afford it on my salary…
Mitsuru: Personally, I’d recommend it. Having a meal prepared by a true professional is an experience that cannot be replicated.
Mitsuru: Chefs must undergo at least three years of rigorous training in order to legally prepare and serve it. I’ve always felt perfectly safe when eating it –– in fact, fugu sashimi is a favorite of my father’s.
Kotone: I see. And you’re certain there isn’t an easier way to obtain something like that?
Yukari: Not that I know of. I heard you can’t even buy raw fugu without a license.
Kotone: Then, in that case, I have a question for the prosecution.
Kotone slams her hands on her desk.
Kotone: How would it be possible for my client to get his hands on a poison like that?
Kotone: From everything we’ve heard…it seems impossible. Aragaki-san doesn’t work with dangerous sea creatures, and he’s not a trained fugu chef. He’s a fast food employee!
Kotone: My client may have been on the scene when the victim died from tetrodotoxin poisoning, however…
Kotone points her finger across the courtroom at Mitsuru.
Kotone: …If you want to accuse Shinjiro Aragaki of having access to tetrodotoxin, you’re going to need to prove it!
The gallery murmurs, and the Judge bangs his gavel.
Judge: Order, order!
Judge: Prosecutor Kirijo…I have to say that the defense has raised a good point.
Mitsuru: …
Akihiko: …
Kotone: …Sanada-senpai? Is…something wrong?
Mitsuru sheaths her sword and crosses her arms.
Mitsuru: …it’s not out of the realm of possibility for the defendant to have attained such a poison.
Kotone: Huh? What do you mean? They don’t serve that kind of stuff at Jollibee…
Akihiko: They don't. That’s not what Mitsuru’s getting at.
Kotone: Then, what? If there's something I need to know, then tell me!
Akihiko: Well…
Akihiko: Shinji isn’t just a fast-food worker by trade. That’s just a part-time gig. Most of his time nowadays is taken up by culinary school.
Kotone: Really? That’s super cool!
Kotone: …
Kotone looks distressed.
(Crap. But it’s also super bad for my case, isn’t it?)
Mitsuru: I explored this lead on my own in the days leading up to the trail. While the defendant was not enrolled in a course catered towards the preparation of fugu , such classes were held in the same building.
Mitsuru: While we have no concrete evidence of the defendant obtaining the poisonous fish, we must acknowledge that the poison was something he could easily access, if he were determined to do such a thing.
Mitsuru: In fact, our defendant would have a far easier time obtaining tetrodotoxin than the average person. I believe this evidence supports the prosecution's assertion that Aragaki is the killer we are searching for.
Kotone: But we don’t know that for sure!
Mitsuru: Nothing is certain until a verdict is handed down. But, until the time comes for that…
Mitsuru: Is there anything else you’d like to discuss with our witness?
[Method of Poisoning]
Kotone: Takeba-san…about the method of poisoning.
Kotone: You said it was probably ingested. How sure are you about that?
Yukari: Very sure. The coroner didn’t find any injection marks on the body, so that’s out of the question.
Yukari: Tetrodotoxin can be inhaled too, but that seems unlikely. No one else present in the restaurant that day reported symptoms of tetrodotoxin poisoning. It had to have been given to him orally.
Kotone: So something he ate or drank in the restaurant was poisoned…
Yukari: Yeah, it would seem that way. But…
Kotone: But….?
Yukari: Forensics checked everything served at the Jollibee that day thoroughly. Nothing the victim ate or drank seemed to have been tampered with. They even checked the soda fountains and the cutlery. Everything was clean.
Yukari grins, putting on her pink-shaded glasses.
Yukari: It’s a real mystery. We have no idea how that poison could have gotten in the victim’s system. Given the circumstances, it seems impossible.
Yukari: But that impossibility proves something really important.
Kotone: Which is?
Mitsuru brandishes her sword with a flourish.
Mitsuru: It means that this posioning was murder, and a premeditated one at that.
Kotone: Objection!
Kotone: I’ll admit that it’s strange to find tetrodotoxin in a place like Jollibee, but…premeditated murder? That’s a stretch if I’ve ever heard one.
Mitsuru: Objection!
Mitsuru: It’s the only conclusion that can be drawn.
Mitsuru: Mysteries such as this one seldom occur naturally. Accidents leave evidence behind, a trail of incidents and circumstances that can be re-traced and untangled.
Mitsuru: But a death that leaves no trace of evidence is likely to be one with an architect.
Mitsuru: Obtaining tetrodotoxin alone is not an easy feat, and concealing the method with which it was ingested would require careful planning on the part of the culprit.
Kotone: …
Kotone: So, that’s your stance, is it? The prosecution is claiming that Aragaki-san planned this murder in advance?
Kotone: Sorry, Kirijo-san, but I find that hard to believe.
Mitsuru: Oh? Please, tell the court about your misgivings.
Kotone: I believe we established early on that my client has no connection to the victim, Kenji Tomochika. They met for the first time that day, as a customer and a fast food employee.
Kotone: If this was really a case of premeditated murder, then what’s the motive?
Mitsuru smiles to herself and flips her hair.
Mitsuru: Very sharp, Shiomi-san. Allow me to rephrase my point for clarity.
Mitsuru: It is the prosecution’s belief that the killer who orchestrated this poisoning planned their crime out in advance, intent on poisoning a patron of the Jollibee restaurant.
Mitsuru: In other words, it was the trap itself that was planned. Our victim, Kenji Tomochika…simply had the misfortune of being caught up in it.
(She’s making it sound like Aragaki-san is some sort of…deranged criminal mastermind! I can’t believe this!)
(Though…something about the way she said that…)
Yukari: I have to agree. If someone went through all the work to get their hands on that kind of poison, they probably planned to use it. It doesn’t have any other sort of use, when isolated like that.
(What do I do? What… can I do?)
Judge: Well, defense? Do you have anything else you’d like to discuss about the poison, before I let this kind young lady in the lab coat head on home?
---
Kotone: …
Kotone: Those were all of my questions, Your Honor.
(And all they did was make things look worse for Aragaki-san…)
Judge: Very well. This ends the cross-examination. Witness, you are free to go.
Yukari: Thanks. Well…good luck, Shiomi-san. Kirijo-san.
Yukari smiles at Mitsuru and Kotone.
Mitsuru: That’s appreciated. Thank you for your time, Takeba-san.
Yukari leaves the stand.
---
Judge: I have to say…I just can’t seem to wrap my head around this whole thing.
Judge: Trial’s running pretty long too…I should call up my wife and ask her to pick up some fried chicken for when I get home.
Judge: It’s no good for my heart, but hey, nothin’ good really is at my age!
Mitsuru: …
Mitsuru: …Your Honor?
Judge: Er…yes, yes! Prosecutor Kirijo, you said you had another witness to call?
Mitsuru: I do.
Mitsuru: At the time of the incident, there was one other customer in the dining room of the establishment. I believe his testimony will help us clear up exactly what happened that led to Tomochika-kun’s death.
Kotone: You mean…he saw the whole thing go down?
Mitsuru: …
Mitsuru crossed her arms, frowning tightly.
Mitsuru: I have to admit…I found extracting testimony from this particular witness to be…somewhat…taxing.
Kotone: …?
Mitsuru: I’ll be counting on you, Shiomi-san.
Kotone: Uh…okay!
Judge: Bailiff! Please, bring the somewhat taxing witness to the stand!
---
A portly man takes the witness stand. He is well-dressed in a button-down shirt and a bolo tie. He’s fanning himself with a take-out menu and looking rather indignant.
Mitsuru keeps her arms crossed, looking a bit uncomfortable.
Mitsuru: Witness. Please state your name and occupation.
The witness looks over at Mitsuru with disinterest, and then turns back to the menu, popping it open and scanning the contents like a newspaper.
Mitsuru: Witness. Your name and occupation.
The witness summonly shuts his menu abruptly, readjusting his tie and glaring at the court.
???: My name and occupation? Don’t act like you don’t already know!
Kotone looks defeated.
Kotone: Uh…I don’t.
???: My name? The Gourmet King. Occupation? The Gourmet King.
???: Don’t you go forgetting it! Aren’t lawyers supposed to smart or something?
Kotone: …
Kotone: How does the law feel about punching witnesses?
Akihiko: I’ve been told it’s frowned upon.
Kotone: Great.
Mitsuru: …Witness. It is essential for record-keeping purposes that you provide your name and occupation to the court before you give testimony.
Mitsuru brandishes her rapier.
Mitsuru: I suggest you comply before I deliver a swift execu––
???: Could you be quiet for a moment? I’m making an important decision here! If you don’t mind …
Mitsuru’s rapier flies back, narrowly avoiding her face.
Mitsuru: T-This is a court of law! I have to ask that you put that away this instant.
(Is that…a menu for Wakatsu? Guess he’s ordering post-trial takeout.)
Kotone: You should get the Prodigy Platter. I used to always get that when I had to cram for tests and stuff. Totally makes you feel smarter, and it tastes amazing.
???: Hm…
???: The Prodigy Platter.
???: Yes, I suppose that will do for my third course. Although, I don’t remember asking for your opinion…
The witness folds up his menu and stuffs his hands in his pockets.
.
Nozomi: Nozomi Suemitsu. I’m a food critic.
Nozomi: No…not just any food critic. The food critic. I’m the Gourmet King!
Kotone: …so you said.
Mitsuru stands with her arms crossed and her brow furrowed.
Mitsuru: …
(Is she…not going to say anything?)
(Did I somehow agree to make this guy my problem?)
Akihiko: Well…go ahead, Kotone! Get whatever you can out of him!
(Sanada-senpai, you’re abandoning me too?)
Kotone: Right…uh…Suemitsu-san.
Kotone: You were at Jollibee when the incident occurred?
Nozomi shifts on his feet, looking thoughtful.
Nozomi: Oh…that. Yes, I won’t deny it.
Kotone: Could you…uh…
Kotone: …Tell us…about your experience?
Nozomi: Regarding my visit to Jollibee on the 12th of July…you can find my thoughts in full on my blog. I suggest you peruse my Bibliotheca of culinary knowledge before you bother me in person about such things.
Nozomi: I have to keep my palette cleansed! Once I’m finished with a restaurant, if it has not left an impression on me, it fades away like the last layer of an after-dinner mint!
Kotone: I was hoping you could talk about the murder. You got called as a witness, so you must remember something important.
Nozomi: …ugh. What a pain!
Nozomi: If this trial drags on so long that my food is cold when it's ready for pick-up, there’s going to be hell to pay. I can promise you that!
Kotone: Please just tell us what you saw…
Nozomi: …
Nozomi: Hmph. Very well. But don’t expect a free autograph on my way out.
(Is this guy for real?)
Judge: An autograph? Might be nice to have for the old collection…
Judge: Oh, right! Go ahead and start your testimony, witness.
Mitsuru: …
Kotone: Okay…here we go…
| Witness Testimony: The Gourmet King's Jollibee Review |
Nozomi: Let it be known, dear readers, that the great Gourmet King, Nozomi Suemitsu, does not recommend dining at the Jollibee on Port Island.
Nozomi: The staff I found quite disagreeable. I was needlessly shamed for carrying a light snack with me. Told that it violated the “no outside food” policy! The nerve of those lowly service workers…
Nozomi: One of the other patrons died in the midst of my meal, which did not aid the already unpleasant atmosphere. The gruesome sight of that brutish employee strangling him very nearly ruined my appetite.
Nozomi: Regarding the food I was served, it was of good quality, but the delicious, savory taste of my ChickenJoy® Bucket was lost when police swarmed the establishment, tearing me away from my food and leaving it to go cold.
Nozomi: In summary…4/10 stars.
---
Mitsuru: …
Akihiko: …
Judge: …
Kotone lunges forward over the defense bench in anger.
Kotone: What the hell was that testimony?
Nozomi: Consider this a privilege! Usually, I only do in-person reviews for a performance fee. If you’re looking for a more in-depth breakdown of my opinion on each menu item, you’ll have to read my blog.
Kotone: I didn’t ask about what you thought of the restaurant! This is about what you witnessed that day! Someone died!
Nozomi: Relax, would you? People die all the time, and that doesn’t stop anyone else from eating. I’d appreciate it if you kept your judgments to yourself.
Kotone looks defeated.
(Can…can I go home? Can we all just call it a day and go home?)
Mitsuru crosses her arms, eyes closed and expression tight.
Mitsuru: Shiomi-san, I implore you not to waste too much of the court’s time with your cross-examination.
Mitsuru: Only have the witness elaborate on what’s important. If you needle the witness needlessly, the Judge may hand down a penalty.
Kotone nods.
Kotone: Understood.
(Guess Mitsuru wants this guy off the stand as soon as possible too.)
Judge: Defense, please begin your cross-examination. And uh…make it quick for Prosecutor Kirijo’s sake, will you?
| Cross-Examination: The Gourmet King's Jollibee Review |
Nozomi: Let it be known, dear readers, that the great Gourmet King, Nozomi Suemitsu, does not recommend dining at the Jollibee on Port Island.
Nozomi: The staff I found quite disagreeable. I was needlessly shamed for carrying a light snack with me. Told that it violated the “no outside food” policy! The nerve of those lowly service workers…
Nozomi: One of the other patrons died in the midst of my meal, which did not aid the already unpleasant atmosphere. The gruesome sight of that brutish employee strangling him very nearly ruined my appetite.
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: So, the person you saw near the victim…
Nozomi: That hulking figure in the defendant’s chair, yes.
Nozomi: I could do nothing but watch as he grabbed the customer by the throat and choked the life out of him! I would have done something to help, of course, were I not otherwise occupied.
Kotone: …with what, exactly?
Nozomi: With my Palabok Fiesta®! I wasn’t about to let it go cold!
Akihiko: So…even though he thought he was witnessing a murder…he just kept right on eating?
Akihiko: I find that hard to believe.
Kotone: …
Kotone closes her eyes, frowning in thought.
(Is he really telling the truth? The Security Footage does show Shinji getting a bit rough with the victim, though we’re not sure why yet.)
(As seriously as he seems to take the whole food critic thing…I would think anyone who witnessed something like that would do something. Freeze entirely, call the police, get up from their chair to help…)
(I can’t let this opportunity pass me by. It’s time to trust my gut. Something isn’t right here!)
Kotone slams the defense bench.
Kotone: Witness. Your testimony sucks, and I think you know it. But even in your effort to bury your statement in a food review no one asked for, it’s still clear that you are lying to this court!
The gallery mutters.
Judge: Order, order, if you please!
Judge: Shiomi-san, I love to see that you’re fired up, but you can’t go accusing folks of perjury without pointing out a contradiction.
Mitsuru: If you have reason to believe this witness is lying, then please, show us some evidence.
Kotone: R-Right! Evidence…there’s gotta be something.
Akihiko looks shocked.
Akihiko: Don’t tell me you’re just winging this…
Kotone: Of course not! That’d be silly!
(Shit, shit, hurry! Go through the evidence!)
Kotone: I have a piece of evidence here that will prove that the witness couldn’t have seen my client strangling the victim!
Kotone: Take that!
Kotone presents the Floor Plans.
Kotone: I have here the floor plan of the restaurant, which was provided to us by Detective Iori. There’s a diagram of all the tables, and it notes the location of the crime scene, as well as the table you were sitting at.
Kotone points to the circled table.
Kotone: Can you confirm that this was where you were sitting?
Nozomi: Indeed it was! I always strategically place myself halfway between the soda fountain and the bathroom, so both are equally accessible to me in a time of crisis.
Kotone: If that’s true…
Kotone: Then there’s no way you could have seen the victim being choked!
Nozomi recoils, dropping the menu in his hand.
Nozomi: Wha-huh? Whaddya saying? What’s that supposed to mean?
Kotone: As you can see on this map, there was a partition separating Tomochika-kun's booth from most of the dining room. If we draw a straight line between where you were sitting, and where he was sitting…
Akihiko: The view’s completely blocked.
Kotone: That’s right!
Kotone: Suemitsu…you didn’t see my client choking anyone. If you’d been looking that way, all you would have seen was a wall!
Kotone: You didn’t actually witness Tomochika’s death at all!
Nozomi: Wait a minute! WAAAAAIT A MINUTE!
Kotone looks sheepish.
Kotone: What?
Nozomi pushes back his hair and pulls out a different menu, browsing through it as he continues to speak.
Nozomi: I most certainly did witness a murder that day. The thought of it now is souring the pastrami sandwich in my gut as we speak…
Nozomi: Fine. Maybe there was a wall that was obscuring my view…but that doesn’t matter! Not one bit!
Nozomi: I have often said that my senses work in synergy, each one intensifying the other and giving me a sense of taste that is truly unparalleled!
Nozomi: I would consider myself a supreme observer, a connoisseur of that which is set in front of me.
Nozomi: That is to say, what I heard that day was so detailed, so vivid, that it was as if I had seen it with my eyes! It’s practically the same, really. There’s no need to get up in arms about such a small distinction…
Kotone: That’s completely different!
Mitsuru flips her hair.
Mitsuru: Well spotted, defense. But I’m afraid there’s still an issue to be addressed.
Kotone: What’s that?
Mitsuru: The victim undeniably has distinctive red marks around his neck. And while our witness may not have been able to see the critical moment…
Mitsuru draws her rapier.
Mitsuru: …it is not unreasonable to conclude that he saw Aragaki walking from the counter to the dining room, then heard the telltale signs of the victim being choked, and merely connected those dots unconsciously in his mind.
Kotone: You’ve got to be kidding me.
Akihiko: Mitsuru has a point. We still don’t know how those marks got on the victim’s neck. It’s clear enough that somebody strangled him, and according to the autopsy, those marks were inflicted prior to his death.
Kotone: What about the security footage? Did Tomochika-kun already have those marks around his neck when he walked in?
Akihiko: …no. He had to have gotten them at some point during his meal.
Kotone: Let’s take another look at that. There had to be someone else who approached Kenji Tomochika…
Kotone runs the footage at double speed, and eventually hits pause when a familiar figure enters the frame.
(That’s Suemitsu…he’s talking to the victim!)
(No way…could he have…oh. Nope, there he goes. Stayed all of twenty seconds and didn’t even get close enough to poke Tomochika.)
Mitsuru recoils, looking furious.
Mitsuru: Witness! You are clearly shown in this security footage conversing with the victim! Why is this the first time I’m hearing about this?
Nozomi: Hmph. I was asked to testify about the moment the crime occured. I was not asked to testify about a brief interaction I had with an irritating fellow customer of the establishment.
(We definitely didn’t ask you for a restaurant review either, but you gave us that .)
Mitsuru: At any rate, it would seem from the footage that no one else had the opportunity to leave those marks on the victim. If you are claiming that your client is innocent of assault as well as murder…
Mitsuru: …then please show the court your evidence. How did the victim obtain those strangulation marks?
Kotone: Take That!
Kotone presents the Crime Scene Photo.
Kotone: If the court would direct their attention here, to the bruising marks on the victim’s neck…don’t they seem odd?
Mitsuru: …I’m not sure I follow you, Shiomi. What about the state of the victim’s neck seems odd to you?
Kotone: It’s been bothering me all this time…
Kotone: We’ve established that after the victim sat down with his food, no one got close enough to strangle him except for my client, and it was presumed that it was at that moment that the victim acquired these bruises.
Kotone: But as I pointed out previously…in this footage, the victim appears to be struggling before my client can even enter the frame!
Akihiko: If the Tetrodotoxin in his system was causing his throat to close up, then he would have audibly struggled. That could have been what called Shinji over to him in the first place!
Kotone nods.
Kotone: Your Honor, it is my belief that my client did not approach Kenji Tomochika with the intent to hurt him, but instead, to aid him however he could.
Judge: Then, what of those red marks, then? Where do you suppose they came from?
Kotone: Suemitsu, you talked to the victim briefly that day.
Nozomi starts furiously shredding the menu in his hands into scraps.
Nozomi: I didn’t touch him! I didn’t lay a finger on him, and the footage will show you!
Kotone: I know you didn’t choke Tomochika-kun. Not only are you too far away, it looked like your exchange was a very brief one.
Nozomi: I’m telling you! It’s gotta be that scary looking guy in the defendant’s chair! He…He must have choked that guy, all while pretending to help him out!
Akihiko: Kotone, where are you going with this?
Kotone: Tell me, Your Honor. If you were going to choke someone to death by squeezing their neck, what sort of grip would you use?
Judge: I would never do such a thing! You defense attorneys can get so fired up accusing people. I always knew I’d get caught in the crossfire one day…
Kotone: …
Kotone looks defeated.
Kotone: Just…try miming it, Your Honor. Pay special attention to the way you’d position your thumbs.
Judge Bunkichi holds his hands out as if he’s choking someone, furrowing his brow.
Judge: How unpleasant…
Kotone: Now take another look at the bruises on Tomochika-san’s neck. I think you’ll find… that they don’t match up.
Judge: Oh my!
Mitsuru’s rapier flies back and narrowly misses her face.
Mitsuru: What…What are we supposed to make of this?
Akihiko: The hand prints…they’re…upside down?
Kotone slams her hands on the bench.
Kotone: It’s the defense’s opinion that there’s only one person who could have choked Kenji Tomochika. It becomes obvious when you consider the position of the hands.
Judge: Tell us then, Ms. Shiomi. Who was it that choked the victim?
(I don’t know where this new evidence will lead me. It might not be enough to save Aragaki-san. But I’m here to find the whole truth.)
Kotone: The only person who could have strangled Kenji Tomochiki in the matter shown on the corpse…is Kenji Tomochika.
Judge: The…What now? But…Ms. Shiomi…Kenji Tomochiki is the victim!
Kotone: That’s right.
Kotone: Kenji Tomochiki was the victim of tetrodotoxin poisoning. And we heard from Takeba-san that he would have been conscious as his throat began to close up.
Kotone: And what are some signs a paramedic or other healthcare professional might look for to identify a choking victim? Their face is usually pale, they might be gasping, and…oh, yeah! A person who is choking will often put their hands on their own throat!
Mitsuru smiles.
Mitsuru: Bravo, defense. It’s a well-crafted theory, I must admit.
Akihiko: Nice work, Kotone. I didn’t realize you’d studied up on some first-aid basics!
(I never thought I’d be saved in court by that K-drama with the hunky lifeguards.)
Mitsuru: There is one issue, however, with the version of events Shiomi-san has put forth.
Judge: Oh? W-What’s that?
Mitsuru: Let us not quickly forget that the victim was suffering from Tetrodotoxin induced paralysis . Given that the cause of his respiratory failure was the poison he injected, do you really think it's reasonable to assume that he was about to squeeze his throat enough to leave marks?
Kotone: It’s very possible.
(It has to be!)
Akihiko: I think you’re on the right track here. You’ll just need some supporting evidence to prove that your theory is plausible. And I think you’ve got just the thing…
Kotone: R-Right!
(If he knows what piece of evidence I need, why doesn’t he just tell me ?)
Kotone: This piece of evidence will prove that Kenji Tomochika could have left those marks on his own throat!
Kotone: Take that!
Kotone presents the Notes on Tetrodotoxin.
Kotone: The notes on Tetrodotoxin that Takeba-san provided us with tell us two important things. One -– the paralysis caused by the poison starts in the face and throat . It’s not unreasonable to assume Tomochika-kun still had use of his arms when he noticed his throat was closing up.
Kotone: Two –– one of the symptoms of Tetrodotoxin is numbness of limbs. If anything, this only supports my theory! Why did Tomochika-kun squeeze his own neck hard enough to leave those ugly red marks? Because he couldn’t feel just how hard he was squeezing!
The gallery murmurs.
Judge: Order, Order. Can I have order, please?
Judge: Prosecutor Kirijo, what do you think of the defense’s theory?
Mitsuru smiles and flips her hair.
Mitsuru: I think Shiomi-san has handily summarized one of the core mysteries of this case, and provided a more-than-reasonable explanation for what we had assumed were strangulation marks. I must applaud her for her efforts.
Kotone: !
Kotone: O-Oh…haha…it was nothing, really!
Mitsuru: However, this changes nothing. Her client still stands accused of poisoning the victim, and the defense has failed to convince this court of his innocence.
Kotone: His guilt hasn’t been properly established either! We’re only working under the assumption that my client is the only one who could have poisoned Tomochika-kun, but we still don’t know how the poison was ingested.
Kotone: Unless this witness saw anything that’s actually helpful––
Mitsuru slams her bench.
Mitsuru: …
Kotone: …
Mitsuru: Your honor. I would like to request that the witness be allowed to testify once more.
Kotone looks defeated.
Kotone: …No. Please. Not again.
Mitsuru: Unless we can get more information about the scene of the crime and the events that took place that day, we find ourselves at an impasse.
(That’s true…but…will anything really come of this?)
Mitsuru: Witness. You interacted with the victim on the day of murder. Please testify to the court about your interaction.
Nozomi: W-Why should I? I already told you lawyers everything you need to know!
Nozomi: Need I remind you that I have much better things to do than stand around here? I am the Gourmet King! I have connections in the culinary world that would make your heads spin! Private chefs, suppliers of rare ingredients, exclusive restaurants, you name it! I’m a very important figure!
Nozomi: Show some respect for your superior! You’re wasting my valuable time!
Mitsuru draws her rapier with a look that could kill.
Mitsuru: …
Nozomi: …
Nozomi: I expect to be compensated for the new lunch I’ll be forced to order due to this inconvenience. My takeout has definitely gone cold by now…
Kotone: …D-Don’t look at me!
(Even if I wanted to compensate him, the best I’d be able to do is cup ramen on my salery…)
Judge: Well then, let’s hear your testimony. I’ll see what I’ve got in my wallet in the meantime…
Mitsuru: …that won’t be necessary, Your Honor.
| Witness Testimony: The Victim |
Nozomi: Let me make one thing very clear. The Gourmet King must always dine in absolute solitude! Mealtime is between me and the food, you hear?
Nozomi: That sniffling cretin on the other side of the dining room was a disturbance. His crying and the incessant scratching of his pen…I could scarcely savor the flavors on my plate, thanks to his unabating noise!
Nozomi: I interacted with the victim only once, during which I informed him that his sniveling sobs were disturbing the sanctity of my lunch time…
Nozomi: Then I went back to my seat and drifted away to a land of culinary bliss.
Nozmi: …until, of course, the police swarmed the place and ruined the peace I’d worked so hard to create. My sweet, sweet leftovers were ripped away from me and taken into evidence…it was a very tragic day.
---
Kotone: …
(Well. At least that one was short.)
(Short, and incredibly unhelpful to both myself and Kirijo-san.)
Akihiko: …
Akihiko: …Alright. Let’s cross-examine him.
Kotone: …do you really think this guy has anything helpful to tell us?
Akihiko: I know he does.
Akihiko crosses his arms, looking serious.
Akihiko: Shinji would never hurt anyone. My belief in him might not be court-admissable evidence, but nevertheless, I’m going to let it guide me. No matter how bad things might look, Shinji is innocent of this crime.
Akihiko: And if he’s innocent…there’s really only one other person we can put on the scene at that time.
Kotone looks frazzled.
Kotone: …what? Huh?
Kotone: Him?
Akihiko: Not so loud. I can’t say for certain. We don’t have anything concrete to tie Suemitsu to the crime. But that’s what the cross-examination is for.
Akihiko: If he has something to hide, then you’ll just have to press him until he coughs it up!
(Ugh. Not the visual I’d have chosen, given how much our witness has been eating this entire time.)
Judge: Defense, please begin your cross-examination.
(Alright. I’d better give this my all. Just what are you hiding from us, Suemitsu?)
| Cross-Examination: The Victim |
Nozomi: Let me make one thing very clear. The Gourmet King must always dine in absolute solitude! Mealtime is between me and the food, you hear?
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: So, what you’re saying is that you came to the restaurant alone that day, and you didn’t intend to talk to anyone?
Nozomi: That’s what I just said, isn’t it?
Kotone: When you review restaurants, do you always dine by yourself? No collaborators or anything like that?
Nozomi: Ab-so-lute-ly NOT!
Nozomi: The Gourmet King is a Monarch. He doesn’t need anyone’s support. Do you hear me? I don’t need anyone!
(Yeesh. I am so sorry I asked.)
Nozomi: I built my brand up myself with my own culinary expertise and impeccable taste.
Nozomi: You can read more about it on my blog - “The Gourmet King”! Here, have a pen, free of charge! You’ll find the url printed on the side for your convenience.
Nozomi tosses Kotone a pen from the witness stand, with Kotone only barely managing to catch it.
Kotone: Uh…thanks?
Free Pen added to the Court Record.
Akihiko: I guess you can take notes with that.
Kotone: Oh, that’s a good idea, senpai!
Kotone tries to draw a heart and a smiley face on the paper sitting in front of her, but the pen doesn’t seem to work.
Kotone: Aw, man…my free pen’s busted.
Nozomi: If you lick the tip of it, it’ll work just fine!
Kotone: …that’s disgusting. No note-taking for me!
Akihiko: Were you even going to write down anything helpful in the first place?
Free Pen removed from the Court Record by Akihiko.
Kotone: Hey! Don’t take my pen away!
Akihiko: It doesn’t work!
Kotone: I’ll try it again later! A pen’s a pen!
Free Pen added to the Court Record. Again.
(This conversation isn’t going anywhere fast. Should I press him for more information or ask about something else?)
[Press Him]
Kotone: …so…
Kotone: How is licking a pen supposed to make it write better, exactly?
Nozomi: That’s common knowledge!
Nozomi: All you gotta do is put your tongue on it, and cover the tip with spit to help lubricate the ball…
Kotone: How about we stop talking about this. Now.
(Okay, time for a topic change.)
Kotone: So, about the victim…
Nozomi: Tch. What about him?
---
Nozomi: That sniffling cretin on the other side of the dining room was a disturbance. His crying and the incessant scratching of his pen…I could scarcely savor the flavors on my plate, thanks to his unabating noise!
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: So the victim was crying…and…writing something?
Nozomi: It was the sound of a man cruelly scorned by a lover who didn’t deserve him…a feeling I know all too well, myself.
Nozomi: That being said, I would never waste my time writing something as frivolous as a love letter. The Gourmet King is always the pursued, never the pursuer.
Kotone looks thoughtful.
Kotone: The victim was writing some sort of love letter?
Mitsuru: The police discovered the letter in question crumpled up in the bag belonging to the victim. It would seem the woman it was addressed to was out of town during the incident, on her honeymoon.
Mitsuru: She was questioned, of course, but we have no reason to suspect her involvement. Her only connection to our victim was that she was his Economics professor, and due to the size of her lecture, it seemed she hardly knew of Tomochika at all.
Kotone: Did he have anything else of note in his bag?
Mitsuru: There was nothing the police found out of the ordinary. But, if it pleases the court, I will submit Kenji Tomochika’s bag and its contents into evidence.
Judge: Very well, Prosecutor Kirijo.
Victim’s Belongings added to the Court Record.
Kotone looks at the letter, frowning.
Kotone: …
Kotone: …
Akihiko: Well?
Kotone: …it’s not juicy as all. Just pathetic.
Akihiko: …I’m…sorry to hear that?
(I should probably go through the victim's other belongings when I get the chance…)
Mitsuru: So, you knew what it was the victim was writing. When did you catch a glimpse of the letter’s contents?
---
Nozomi: I interacted with the victim only once, during which I informed him that his sniveling sobs were disturbing the sanctity of my lunch time…
Kotone: Hold it!
Kotone: So, in the security footage…
Kotone: You walked over to the victim’s booth and told him that his crying was disturbing you, and that was it?
Nozomi: I had nothing else to say to him, and I didn’t appreciate having to abandon my meal. I had gotten up only to reprimand him for his excessive noise.
Nozomi: That was the extent of our unpleasant interaction.
(Was that really all that was said? Their interaction certainly looked brief in the footage, but…)
[Press Him]
Kotone: Witness, I need you to tell me everything you discussed with the victim. Don’t leave a single thing out.
Nozomi: …
Kotone: …
Nozomi: Nope, that was all of it.
(Was that really all of it? Is this whole line of questioning just a wild goose chase?)
(I want to believe in Aragaki-san, just like Sanada-senpai does…but…)
Akihiko: Witness. It’s not a good look to lie in a court of law, you know.
Kotone is taken aback.
Kotone: Wh-HUH?
Akihiko: Remember, Kotone. Evidence is everything in court.
Akihiko: Evidence is the only thing that’s going to save Shinji. So, go back through everything, and find something that’s going to keep this trial going!
(Now who’s bluffing, Senpai? I don’t have anything like that!)
(Well, it doesn’t hurt to take another look.)
[Examine]
Kotone examines the Victim’s Possessions. She pulls a love letter out of the bag. The love letter, written in pencil, cuts off abruptly mid-word.
Akihiko: …”Emiri, my heart burns for you”…it’s just cliche after cliche, huh?
Kotone: Then it just stops right here. Do you think he died before he got a chance to finish it?
Akihiko: Judging by that smear of graphite, I guess his pencil broke. But it doesn’t look like that was the end of it…
(There’s a little indentation in the paper after the letters in pencil stop. There’s no marking, but someone was clearly scribbling here with something. It distorted the paper.)
Akihiko: Maybe he switched to a pen and couldn’t get any ink out?
Love Letter added to the Court Record.
(Let’s turn over the bag and see what else we’ve got.)
Akihiko: Chewing gum, a train ticket, a pencil with a broken tip, a pocket-sized comb…and a couple hundred yen.
Kotone: Do you think the police counted the amount of yen in the bag?
Akihiko: Stop acting like Ikutsuki-san doesn’t pay you!
---
Mitsuru: Witness, please continue. After you were finished speaking with the victim, what did you do?
Kotone: Objection!
Kotone slams her hands on her desk.
Kotone: Witness. It’s not a good look to lie in a court of law, you know.
Akihiko: …are you just stealing my lines now?
Kotone slams her hands on her desk even harder.
Kotone: Your interaction with the victim may have been brief, but you didn’t tell us everything, Suemitsu. I’ve caught you now.
Mitsuru: !
Akihiko: !
Judge: !
Kotone presents the Love Letter.
Kotone: Here, take another look at this love letter. Right after the writing stops…I think you’ll see something very interesting.
Mitsuru holds her rapier defensively.
Mitsuru: …What exactly did you find?
Kotone looks smug.
Kotone: Heh. I’ll tell you.
Kotone: There’s aggressive scribbling marks there, the kind left by a pen.
Kotone: More specifically, marks left by a pen that doesn’t work.
Kotone: But the victim didn’t have a pen in his belongings. And, since you testified earlier that you heard the scratching of Tomochika-kun’s pencil along with his crying…then we can only come to one conclusion.
Kotone: Nozomi Suemitsu…on the day of the crime… you gave the victim a pen!
Mitsuru: …
Akihiko: …
Judge: …
Mitsuru: …and what about it?
Kotone: W-What do you mean, “what about it?” The witness claimed that he walked over to the victim to complain about the noise he was making, and that was the extent of the interaction. But that’s just not true!
Kotone: Given the time frame, you’re the only one that could have given Tomochika a pen to use for his love letter. So…go ahead and admit it already!
Kotone points her finger aggressively at Nozomi.
Kotone: You gave the victim one of your free pens!
Nozomi: …
Nozomi: Yeah, so what?
Kotone nearly falls over in shock.
Kotone: S-So what? So…it’s a contradiction! You didn’t tell us about that!
Nozomi opens yet another menu and fans himself with it.
Nozomi: Details, details! Yes, I graciously gave him a pen, in the interest of ceasing his sobbing and returning to my meal in a timely fashion.
Nozomi: I carry those pens wherever I go, only distributing them to the lucky few who catch my eye. Really, giving it to that repugnant worm was a saintly act of generosity.
Kotone: I’d hardly call it saintly when the pen didn’t even work…
Nozomi: And I told him the same thing I told you! All you have to do is lick it!
Kotone: Th-That’s not all! That pen wasn’t found at the scene of the crime, was it? Why isn’t it here in the victim’s possessions?
Mitsuru: Objection!
Mitsuru: I fail to see the relevance of a simple pen. In all likelihood, it rolled off the table during the victim’s struggle, and ended up underneath the soda fountain or between the cushions of the booth. I highly doubt such a thing was removed intentionally.
Kotone: B-But! I mean…but…wh-what if…
The judge bangs his gavel.
Judge: You mind if I interject here?
Mitsuru: By all means, Your Honor.
Judge: You kids have been arguing for an awful long time, and it’s all still so plum confusin’ to me. You’ve been talking to this witness for a good while about food and pens, but from where I’m sitting up here, the only person who could have committed this crime was the defendant.
Mitsuru: …
Mitsuru crosses her arms.
Mitsuru: …indeed. Although we were unable to find the source of the poison that killed the victim, the only logical explanation is that it was in something Tomochika-kun ate at the restaurant.
Judge: I’m afraid that until the matter of the poisoning is cleared up, I can’t say I’ve heard enough to firmly establish Shinjiro Aragaki’s innocence.
Akihiko: …
Akihiko hangs his head, defeated.
Akihiko: …how did this happen? What are we missing?
(No…is this really how it ends? After all that arguing, we’re just in the same place that we started.)
(I believe in Sanada-senpai, so that means I believe in Aragaki-san too. I have to. At this point…that’s all I can really do. But it won’t be enough to save him from a guilty verdict.)
(...there’s no time. Think, Kotone, think! That poison had to get into Tomochika's system somehow! Is there any other way it could have happened?)
Judge: Well, if there are no objections from the prosecution or defense…
Mitsuru closes her eyes, her arms still crossed.
Kotone clutches her head, looking defeated.
Judge: Then, I’ll just go ahead and hand down my verdict.
Kotone: Objection!
Kotone’s eyes are wide and uncertain, even as she leans over the defense bench.
Kotone: I-I’ll tell you right now how he was poisoned!
Kotone: Takeba-san is still in the building, right? I just need her to run a test for tetrodotoxin on one piece of evidence.
(The poison had to have been ingested. All of the food he ate was clean. )
(What else was it that Takeba-san said about the dosage?)
(Yukari: With a poison this potent, even a single drop can be a lethal dose. It’s more dangerous than cyanide.)
(Just a drop…just a drop…)
Kotone: Take That!
Kotone: You want a murder weapon, your honor?
Kotone points her finger proudly across the courtroom.
Kotone presents the Free Pen.
Kotone: I’ve got it! It’s the Gourmet King’s Pen!
Akihiko: Kotone, you’ve got to let this pen thing go.
Kotone: This is the murder weapon we’ve been looking for!
Mitsuru: The…pen? That’s absurd!
Kotone: We’ll see about that. All we’ve got to do is retrieve that pen from the crime scene and run a test for Tetrodotoxin on it!
Judge: Shoimi-san, I don’t know if I can allow something like that. We’d have to drag out the trial for another day!
Mitsuru: This is nothing but a waste of this court’s time!
Kotone crosses her arms, a smug smile on her face.
Kotone: Is it really?
Kotone: Then why do you think our dear witness has started to sweat like that?
Nozomi’s fanning with the menu increases in speed, sweat pouring down his face.
Mitsuru: !
Judge: !
(...I have a hunch. It’s far-fetched…but…)
Kotone: Actually, we may not need another trial day at all. After all, I have one of Suemitsu’s pens right here with me. And, this might just be me, but I was getting the impression that, for whatever reason…
Kotone: …Suemitsu. You really wanted me to put this pen in my mouth.
Nozomi is shaking, but doesn’t respond. He twitches, his eyes darting back and forth.
Kotone: The defense requests that this pen in my hand be tested…for Tetrodotoxin.
Judge: Miss Shiomi, I really don’t think––
Mitsuru: Objection!
Mitsuru flips her hair.
Mitsuru: Your Honor. Please oblige the defense’s request. Takeba-san is still in the gallery, and we must explore every possibility before closing the book on this case. Wouldn’t you agree?
Judge: Eh? Oh…yeah, yeah that sounds right! Er…balliff! Take this piece of evidence to forensics! And uh...other baliff, with the long hair, could you take the witness into holding for the time being?
Judge: In the meantime, the court will take a short recess.
Judge Bunkichi bangs his gavel.
---
(After we reconvened, the courtroom was tense and silent as we waited for the results.)
(And then…)
Bailiff: I have the report from Yukari Takeba and the other members of the forensics department.
Bailiff: This pen…tested positive for Tetrodotoxin.
The courtroom erupts into noise. Judge Bunkichi bangs his gavel.
Judge: Order…Order, I say!
Mitsuru: Tetrodotoxin…in this very courtroom…I could hardly call that a coincidence.
Kotone: Nozomi Suemitsu. You poisoned Kenji Tomochika that day, didn’t you?
Kotone: You’re the Gourmet King, or so you keep telling us. It would have been easy for you to obtain a rare poison, found only in delicacies like fugu.
Kotone: I’ll admit, your motives aren’t clear to me. But given that the murder weapon has your url plastered on the side of it…I would wager that you should start adjusting your palette to prepare for years of cold, bland prison food!
Akihiko: Let’s not get too hasty, Kotone. We’ve proved there’s poison in that pen you received, but we won’t have proved anything unless we can prove that it was also in the pen that Tomochika used that day.
Akihiko: We’ll probably have to extend the trial for another day and…
Akihiko trails off, his face growing pale.
Kotone: Sanada-senpai? What’s…
(…oh. Oh my god. Suemitsu…what’s with that face he’s making?)
(His eyes…they look… Dead.)
Nozomi: …that’s right…ha…hah…ha…
Mitsuru looks uneasy.
Mitsuru: Witness?
Nozomi suddenly slams down his fists on the witness stand, with crazy-looking eyes and a foaming mouth.
Nozomi: I did it!
Nozomi: I showed that guy the true meaning of life! I did it all on my own, without any of your help! You…bastards…
Mitsuru holds her rapier at the ready, her face serious.
Mitsuru: Without whose help? Tell the court at once why you did such a thing.
Nozomi: …
Nozomi: …
Nozomi: You don’t want to share it with me? You won’t let me join?
Nozomi: Well…that’s… FINE!
Nozomi: I can do the job better than any of you can!
Nozomi: He found exaltation through his death, and I didn’t need to be part of your group to help him. I’ll start my own if I want!
Nozomi: I don’t need you assholes…and I don’t need Midnight to do it…
Akihiko: Midnight?
Kotone: …
Kotone: …
(What…what’s with me? He confessed so…that’s a good thing. It means Aragaki-san is an innocent man.)
(So, then…why…do I feel sick to my stomach?)
Nozomi begins swaying back and forth, clawing at the witness stand to stay upright. His eyes are now bloodshot, focused on nothing.
Nozomi: Death…will soon come…to this rotten world.
Nozomi: All of you…should just die. Die and be freed from your burdens.
Judge: B-Bailiff! Come and get that witness of the stand before he hurts someone!
Nozomi: We’re all going to die…together…just die…just die…
Nozomi’s hand goes limp, and his takeout menu drops to the ground. With a horrible gasp of breath, he collapses with a great thud.
Kotone goes pale, clutching her head in a panic.
Kotone: Suemitsu…? H-Hey…Suemitsu?
Bailiff: Everyone, clear the courtroom, now!
Kotone: …
(All I can remember after that was the shouting, and the flood of police filling up all the empty space in the courtroom. After a minute, I was still standing there, and Sanada-senpai had to lead me away. I was steps away from the defendant lobby when I heard them pronounce Nozomi Suemitsu dead. )
(…)
(…the trial was over. My first trial…)
| July 14, 1:10 PM
District Court
Defendant Lobby|
Kotone stands alone in the lobby as Nozomi’s body is wheeled out of the courthouse. Police swarm around and take statements from those in the gallery.
Eventually, Akihiko appears.
Akihiko: …hey.
Akihiko: You, uh…did good in there today. Shinji’s free to go. You saved him.
Kotone: …
Akihiko: Kirijo-san made sure the police will allow us to go home. They’ll contact each of us later to take our testimonies.
Kotone: …
Kotone: …Does prosecutor Kirijo have the authority to do that?
Akihiko: Hm? Oh, no. I was talking about the Chief of Police, Takeharu Kirijo. He’s Mitsuru’s father.
Kotone: …oh.
Akihiko looks away, clenching his fists.
Akihiko: We got Shinji acquitted…so why the hell did this have to happen?
Akihiko: …
Akihiko: You should go home, Kotone. I’m so sorry that you had to see something like that.
Kotone: …
Kotone: It’s fine.
Kotone: I didn’t become a lawyer because I thought it’d be fulfilling, or stable, or anything like that.
Kotone: It’s not even for the sake of justice or to save anyone.
Kotone: It’s because…I need the means to uncover the truth.
Kotone: There’s a rotten underbelly to this city, and it’s stealing countless lives right under our noses. I wouldn’t dare look away from that. It’s what I’m chasing after.
Akihiko: You want to punish criminals, then. I would think you’d become a prosecutor for that, or a cop.
Kotone: It’s not about punishing anyone. It’s about…protecting people. I need to protect everyone I can from the bastards that steal people’s lives away.
Kotone: …I hear they have a name for it now. Apathy Syndrome.
Akihiko: Apathy…Syndrome?
Akihiko: I’ve heard a bit about it, but…I don’t really see what that would have to do with criminals. It’s a psychological phenomenon.
Kotone: …
Kotone: Maybe it is. But I need to know for sure. I won’t be satisfied until I do.
(The unexplained psychological phenomenon that causes the afflicted to become lethargic, numb, and eventually, suicidal…)
(They call it Apathy Syndrome. The first recorded cases began two months ago, or so they say.)
(When someone is affected, their eyes glaze over, their posture collapses, and they swiftly lose their will to live. There's only been about a dozen of these cases that have been reported to the media. Some wasted away until they died by suicide. Others...the lucky ones... are kept under careful watch in hospitals.)
Shinji: Hey.
Shinjro walks into the room, and Akihiko manages a pained grin.
Akihiko: Glad to see you’re a free man. We worked our magic there in the courtroom, huh?
Shinji: Tch. Don’t flatter yourself. Shiomi did all the work.
Shinji: …good job in there.
Kotone: …oh…thank you, Aragaki-san.
Shinji: The hell are you thanking me for? Quit that.
Shinji: Look, uh…I doubt any of us have an appetite right now. But I’ll take you out sometime, to return the favor. Or…something close to that.
Kotone: …I’d like that.
Kotone: O-Or, maybe I could try your cooking sometime! Straight from your kitchen!
Shinjiro: …don’t just go inviting yourself over…
Shinjiro sighs.
Shinjiro: Fine. I guess I do owe you.
Shinjiro: They’re going to question me a bit longer, so I’ll catch up with you later, Aki.
Mitsuru: …leaving so soon without saying hello?
Mitsuru enters the room, looking tense, but managing a smile. Shinjiro returns the smile roughly.
Shinjiro: You could have taken it easier on Shiomi. It’s like you wanted to see my head on a chopping block.
Mitsuru: Don’t be silly. I wouldn’t have allowed such a thing. Even if Shiomi hadn’t managed to pull out that surprise confession, I wouldn’t have let them charge you with such flimsy evidence. It would reflect poorly on the prosecutor’s office.
Kotone: …uh…huh?
Akihiko: I told you Shinji and I go way back, didn’t I? I’ve known Mitsuru since middle school. Did you really think they were total strangers this whole time?
(Was I just supposed to know that?)
Kotone: …you were going easy on me?
Mitsuru: Hm? Oh, not at all. I wouldn’t dream of disrespecting your skill or denying you the opportunity to learn. I had hoped this would be a relatively simple case for your trial debut. However….
Mitsuru looks down, crossing her arms.
Mitsuru: …it seems no one could have predicted this horrific outcome.
Akihiko: ...
Akihiko: Have you heard anything about...how it happened?
Mitsuru: We won't know for sure until an autopsy is conducted. That doesn't stop anyone from speculating, though. You all are far from the first people I've heard whispering about "Apathy Syndrome".
Mitsuru looks to the side, troubled.
Mitsuru: All that I heard is that the condition of the body was...unusual.
Kotone: ...unusual?
Mitsuru: ...
Mitsuru: The officers I spoke with said that the body was cold.
Akihiko: That seems pretty normal to me. Dead bodies are usually––
Mitsuru: Suemitsu's body is ice cold. So much so that it's unpleasant to touch.
Kotone: !
Akihiko: ...Kotone? Are you alright?
(That’s what Minato said…in that trial so long ago. He said that even in the flames of the wrecked car…)
(…Our mother’s body was ice cold.)
Kotone: ...I-I'm fine. Sorry. It's just...the shock of all of this. I just can't believe that someone died like that, in the middle of the trial. I guess...no one could have seen that coming.
Shinjiro: Those cops didn’t seem to agree with you. They were saying they knew this was going to happen.
Mitsuru looks shocked.
Mitsuru: What do you mean?
Shinjiro: They were saying something about a cursed prosecutor. I guess he was watching in the gallery today.
(A… cursed prosecutor ?)
Shinjiro: Sounds like a load of bullshit to me. But that’s what they were saying.
Mitsuru sighs, her posture relaxing.
Mitsuru: Just more of the same rumors then. It’s really quite exhausting.
Mitsuru: At any rate…I think we all ought to go home and get some rest, now. That wasn’t the sort of thing anyone should have to see.
Shinjiro: …when you’re all free, let me know. I’ll make you all dinner as thanks.
(Guess I really didn’t need to twist his arm that much, did I? I can see why Akihiko believes in him so fiercely. Aragaki seems like a really sweet guy.)
Mitsuru: Très bien! I’ll look forward to it.
Mitsuru and Shinjiro leave.
Akihiko: I can walk you home, Kotone.
Kotone: No, that’s okay. I’ll be fine. Tell Ikutsuki I’ll be back at the office tomorrow.
Akihiko looks shocked.
Akihiko: Tomorrow? Kotone, no one expects you to be back by tomorrow.
Kotone: I’ll see you then, Senpai!
(…and so I left the courthouse that day with my head held high and my heart in a tight grip.)
(In truth…I did want to go home and cry. I did want to hide away and take my time. But I couldn’t afford that. I couldn’t let myself forget why I became a lawyer.)
(Little did I know, that fateful first trial was only the first in a long series of events that would change the course of my life and everything I thought I knew about back then forever…)
END