Title: The Great Ace Attorney 3: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke
Summary: Ryūnosuke Naruhodō's story isn't over yet! With a new resolve, Naruhodō takes on the Great Japanese Empire's Court system! Meanwhile, Susato isn't really content with remaining in obscurity. She is determined to help Naruhodō. These two will flip the scales of the Japanese Court!
Characters: Naruhodō R., Susato M., Yuujin M.
Genre(s): Crime, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
A/N: My first DGS Story! I loved both of these games. DGS 2, especially. I'm not going to overestimate my writing skills by saying that I hope it's on par with DGS 2, but I hope I can at least make something to entertain you. Speaking of which, I am not a Japanese-speaking person. All the information related to DGS 2 found in this story comes from one of the few translated walkthroughs on Youtube.
I would like to confirm that this judge is the modern day judge's father. Not his grandfather, his father. With that, I hope you'll all enjoy this new FanFiction!
Fair Disclaimer: This story will contain sexist remarks and plot points that merely reflect the time. They do not reflect my opinions nor the opinions of Capcom.
Ryūnosuke Naruhodō sat in the Naruhodō Legal Consultation Agency. His small desk was brimming with papers. He coated the tip of his quill in ink and scribbled down his signature.
"Naruhodō, could you try and write legibly? I'm having trouble deciphering it." Susato Mikotoba placed her hand on her cheek and squinted her eyes.
"S-Susato!" exclaimed Naruhodō. "I didn't expect you to be here today!" She put her hands on her hips.
"We're the only legal consultation agency in The Great Japanese Empire! Try to put on a better face!" scolded Susato.
"O-of course, Susato!"
Susato lowered her firm stance. She smiled, placing her hand on her mouth and let out a quiet laugh. Naruhodō relaxed.
"Don't worry, Naruhodō, I was just joking."
"O-ok."
"Even if your handwriting could use some work." she added promptly.
Naruhodō smiled. The atmosphere was quiet and calm for a moment, before being interrupted by an incessant banging on the door. Susato jumped, widening her eyes.
"Please open the door, Substitute Legal Exchange Student Naruhodō!"
"Th-That voice!" Naruhodō sprung from his chair. He opened the door to be greeted by, surely enough, the now famous author, Sōseki Natsume.
"S-Sōseki!" yelled Naruhodō.
"Substitute Legal Exchange Student...!" cried Sōseki, gripping the attorney's button up. He looked at Naruhodō with glossy eyes, only to be met with his agitated glare. Sōseki quickly let go and sat down in one of the chairs.
"What do you need?" Sōseki began to fidget with his fingers.
"I-it's my wife! She's been arrested!" yelled Sōseki, clearly in despair. Naruhodō reeled back. Susato jumped up in shock, her hand moving to her mouth out of instinct.
"Wh-what!" shouted Susato.
"S-Sōseki, You have a wife?!" He nodded.
"Y-yes! D-dear Kyoko! We've been married for 6 months. But... She! Has! Been! Arrested!" yelled Sōseki, moving his limbs in odd movements. Susato tilted her head, concerned.
"He seems to be very worked up," said Susato.
"I'm pretty sure Sōseki is always like this," said Naruhodō, bitingly.
"Perhaps you're right," said Susato. "Still, we should head out to investigate the case a little bit."
"Oh, so you'll do it! Oh thank you so much, Substitute Legal Exchange Student Naruhodō! B-but, the trial is... in ten minutes." Naruhodō reeled back.
"T-TEN MINUTES!" cried Naruhodō.
"Let's go straight away then!" They sprinted out of their quaint office and ran to the Great Court.
"Court is now in session for the trial of Kyoko Natsume. Is the prosecution ready?" The judge turned to face the cocky face of Weypin Payne.
"The prosecution is ready to win this trial!" yelled Payne. The judge turned to the empty bench on the opposing side and shook his head. He faced the woman on the stand who was shaking uneasily. She kept glancing around the courtroom.
"Very well, let us commence the fair trial of Kyoko Natsume!"
"Objection!"
Ryūnosuke Naruhodō and Susato Mikotoba approached the defense's bench. Naruhodō slammed his hands on the bench.
"The defense is ready, Your Honor!" The Judge's eyes widened.
"Ver well then. It has been a long while since we've had a defense attorney stand in our court," said the Judge. He turned to face Susato. "As a woman, you are not mature enough to stand in the Great Court! I trust you will remove yourself from the courtroom at once!" Susato nodded. She turned to Naruhodō, her features turning sympathetic
"Very well, then," said Susato. "Good luck, Naruhodō!" She pumped her fist into the air before walking out of the courtroom. Naruhodō turned to face the opposing prosecutor.
"Well this is a surprise... Naruhodō Ryūnosuke!" The attorney and prosecutor locked eyes. Naruhodō lifted his hand and began to rub his neck.
"Eheheh. Who are you?" The prosecutor glared daggers at the former exchange student.
"Hmph! Anyhow, the prosecution is here to convict the woman on the stand, Kyoko Natsume!" yelled Payne. He gestured to the petite woman on the witness stand. She stopped fidgeting. "The prosecution has firm evidence and three witnesses to prove this!"
"N-no! I haven't done anything!" yelled Kyoko, speaking her first words in the courtroom. Payne smirked.
"Oh really?" said Payne, smirking. "I, Weypin Payne, will concluded this trial with a single piece of irrefutable evidence!" The Judge's eyes widened.
"What a bold claim! Are you truly certain you can do this?" asked the Judge. Payne smirked.
"Of course. You'd best prepare yourself, Naruhodō Ryūnosuke!" yelled Payne. He pulled out a lovely book encased in silver. "This is the murder weapon." The Judge paused.
"Wh-what is the significance of this book, prosecutor?" asked Naruhodō.
"The victim was a traveler, and he had no form of identification on him. We don't know his true identity, however he introduced himself to fellow fans as 'Wagahai', as his fans should know was Sōseki Natsume's cat's name. The actual crime took place at one of his book signings. As you all know, Kyoko is Sōseki's wife!" yelled Payne. "The audience, however, was unaware of one thing specifically. Sōseki was going to be giving away a copy of "I am a cat" that was completely encased in silver."
"Wouldn't that be a pain? It'd weigh down on your legs when you try to read it," said Naruhodō, placing a finger on his chin.
"These are new societal traditions that we must accept, despite how odd they appear," said Payne. "Anyways, the reason this evidence is completely conclusive is because there were only two people who knew that this book existed. Those two would be Kyoko Natsume and Sōseki Natsume!" Naruhodō leaned over.
"Sōseki and his wife? Umm..." Naruhodō paused. "What is your point?"
"As you know, Sōseki Natsume was out signing books for his devoted fans. Which leaves Kyoko Natsume as the only one who had access to the murder weapon. In other words, the only one who could've used the murder weapon!"
Silver Book recorded in the Court Record
"Objection!"
"What if the crime was on the spur of the moment? What if someone went backstage unauthorized and attacked the victim?" asked Naruhodō.
"Heh heh heh!" chuckled Payne. "That's because of this little thing here!" He lifted up a key. It was a wooden key that looked slightly damp and almost rotten.
"Explain, prosecutor," said the Judge.
"This key belonged to Sōseki Natsume. According to Natsume, this key unlocks the small safe behind the curtain. This book was inside of that safe. Naturally, Kyoko Natsume, a his wife, would also have access to it! Leaving her as the only one who could've committed the crime." said Payne, smirking.
Old Key filed in the Court Record
"This is completely decisive!" yelled the Judge. Naruhodō reeled back against the courtroom wall, only to fall forward onto the desk. "Well, defense? If you have a counter argument, now is the time for it. If you don't, then I will hand down my verdict right now." Naruhodō lifted himself up and continued to sweat.
"Well, I, uhh, I never got the chance to... to I-investigate the crime scene. I-i don't have any evidence," said Naruhodō. His voice was shaky and his brow was furrowed.
"Heh heh heh. See, Your Honor! This is why these 'defense attorneys' have no real role in the Great Japanese Empire's court system! They never help anyone and they only exist to hinder an inevitable conviction." His breathing hitched. The room was fading around him. I-is this it? Is this what my time in the Great British Empire was for? For me to blow my first case back here because I never had the chance to investigate?
...
"Objection!"
The doors to the courtroom flew open. A figure ran up to the defense's bench and stood beside Naruhodō. He turned to see a familiar face donning a hat and a robe.
"S-Susa-."
"Shh. Naruhodō. Right now, I'm Naruhodō Ryutaro," said Susato. Before he could even ask any questions, the Judge spoke.
"Who is this?" asked the Judge. Mustering her deepest voice, she began.
"M-my name is Naruhodō Ryutaro. I'm Ryu's cousin," said Susato. The Judge appeared convinced. Naruhodō hunched his back, leaning into a cold sweat.
"They actually bought it," whispered Naruhodō. "Anyways, what is going on?" Susato turned to him.
"I did a quick look over the evidence and brought one that helps out case. We have to continue the trial and prove her innocence!" Susato turned back towards the Judge. She drew her finger back and thrust it forward. "The defense has new evidence to present!" Payne clenched his teeth.
"Wh-what is the evidence, Susato?" whispered Naruhodō. Susato held out a photo of the crime scene. Naruhodō paused for a moment, before widening his eyes. Susato nodded.
"Y-Your Honor! I found a crime scene photo in the evidence! As you can see in this photo, there are four books that have fallen around the victim!" yelled Susato. The Judge was puzzled. She noticed as all eyes in the courtroom fell on her and became noticeably more anxious. "And..., th-this m-means th-tha-, oh Naruh-, I mean, Ryu, why don't you tell them?" Naruhodō nodded. He lifted up a piece of paper and began to tap it.
"As you can see, there are three books sprawled upon the crime scene. Does that mean that there were three people total at the crime scene? I doubt the victim needed three signed copies of'I am a cat! So, prosecutor, can you answer me this question? Were there any witnesses who came across the crime scene?" Payne reeled back.
"Y-yes. There were... two witnesses," said Payne. He broke out into a cold sweat. The Judge slammed his gavel.
"Very well then! Prosecutor, I order you to summon them to the stand. They may be potential suspects in this case!" Payne lifted himself up and adjusted his glasses. He gestured to the bailiff.
"Bring the witnesses out!"