I want a happy ending so I will make one.

-Flashback-

"What have you done?" Hibiki felt her blood freeze as she said this, watching in horror as the murderer turn. Io looked like an emotionless mannequin with her blue dress splashed with bits of blood. Seeing Miyako dangling with her whole body mutilated with ice shards and electricity, Hibiki shook and took a step back. A part of the garden looked like a frozen graveyard, Miyako was frozen in place like a grotesque piece of art. Hibiki knew she failed and planned on running away. Taking a deep breath, Hibiki couldn't handle her failure and her friend's murder and turned away.

"Don't go." Io muttered, running after Hibiki to hold her arm tightly. Hibiki didn't look at her, the raven knew she was crying. Hibiki felt empty, not angry when Io confessed. "We promised we'd always be the best of friends. But because of her, we fell apart…I… I had to do it."

"I know." Hibiki commented. Turning to face her, Hibiki wondered why Io cringed at her gaze. Doesn't she know the implication of murdering the daughter of one of the most influential humans in history? How was she going to handle this, when even Hibiki couldn't bring herself to find a way to escape the law…Wait. An idea emerged in her head. Hibiki spoke quickly, "Where is Lugh? I want to speak with the deity Io. We don't have much time left."

"Lugh lied…" Alcor said, his eyes were closed. Yamato turned to stare at the teen, nodding to himself that the deity was dead later when the Sword comes out and have a 'chat' with Lugh.

"Hibiki's really charismatic for persuading Lugh to lie even under oath of the universal law." Fumi nodded in acknowledgement. Alcor thwacked the scientist's head, stating in an authoritative voice that "You shouldn't promote such behavior."

"But then why did Io…" Daichi said in a soft voice, looking at Lugh and Hibiki talk to each other. Seeing Lugh bow before vanishing, Hibiki faced Io and pulled out a white handkerchief. The brunet tried again to complete his sentence, "Why did Io have to commit suicide?"

-Flashbacks-

"Shh… Shh. Don't worry…" Hibiki comforted, hugging the blood-soaked murderer. Facing Io's tear-soaked face, Hibiki gave out a tired smile but was also teary eyed. The demon trial was inevitable, one of them had to die. That the raven knew who was going to die. Hibiki did promise to clean up their mess, after all. This ending was expected. "It's going to be okay. I'll fix this."

"And if it won't? The murder's done and you said so yourself, the Administrator knows everything…" Io was shushed by her friend. Hugging her tighter, Hibiki's eyes were closed as the hug was reciprocated by the broken teen. Hibiki knew they don't have much time so she had an idea to cheering up her friend. "Let's go back in time and remember the good times. Don't look back in the past."

"Let's change your clothes first, ok?" Hibiki whispered to the other, a small smile perched on her lips. Io nodded and held the outstretched hand. "Ignorance is a bliss for an audience including ourselves? Let's hide this secret from the whole world. Together, the Truth will never be found by the Administrator."

"Okay." With the brunette's answer, Hibiki dragged her away, heading to the change room.

"Friendship is indeed a double-ended sword..." Fumi finalized and narrowed her eyes. "Okay. So is it Io who masterminded all of this or is it Hibiki who planned the murder to make it intricate for the cops not to find out? Which one of them was the pawn and which one was the king? Or are they both pieces when seeing each other? Huh… So that's why Polaris gave a quick verdict."

"No… Polaris had other plans…" Alcor snapped his fingers and opening the metal container, it held nothing but the color red. The scent was absent and Alcor walked on top of it. "She knew we would find out about this and hastened the trial. This must have triggered Nitta to commit suicide, probably from Guilt or Fear."

"Nitta did the correct move. By committing suicide, she evaded the trial and is now within the purgatory. Resurrecting her body will have side effects that will strengthen her innocence in the trial." Yamato looked at Alcor scrutinizing the floor. Watching Alcor walk around in circles, Yamato wanted to say to Alcor that he looked like a fool but stopped himself. Now's not the time. "If the Administrator planned this… It becomes understandable that Kuze's memories would have no trace even in the Akashic Records…"

-Flashbacks-

"…" Hibiki wore a yellow Mariposa mask which Io was supposed to use for the ball. Now, the raven was using this at the time of the murder, she watched Io and Daichi heading to the garden. Having her dress now worn by Io, Hibiki wore a plain white sundress. A spare which the raven had if some student spilled punch over her dress or whatnot. Looking down to see the black-and-red cube keychain, Hibiki looked up and searched for someone. Instead of going to Alcor, the raven stopped and walked towards a violet-haired female. "Excuse me, Miss? Can you do an important task for me? I would like you to keep a certain keychain for me. Don't tell anyone that I gave you this since it's from a very special person. If this someone comes up to you and ask where you found this, tell him that 'you sent this to me, my virtual husband.' Hehe~ Oh. Sorry. This sentence is one of my unforgettable quotes to him. Thank you very much."

"I understand… I'm Mizar by the way-" Mizar paused when Hibiki showed to her a small black-and-red striped cube keychain. Snatching it from the raven, the purple-haired teen loses composure and twirls while holding the keychain. Having black and violet themed gothic-lolita dress, Hibiki knew she made the right choice for selecting Mizar. She looked like a game character all right. "I will willingly do this for your sake. You may go now, Human."

"Haha~ Have fun…" Hibiki smiles at the teen. Mizar stopped twirling and was there smiling and holding the trinket as if it was a precious treasure. Tracing the outline of the work, the strange woman seems to be fascinated with her own world. Hibiki shook her head. Turning around, the raven left with her head bowed as she passes through Yamato. Yamato together with Alcor, was looking around to find for Miyako. As soon as Hibiki reached the earthy ground, the sound of Daichi's cry echoed. Hibiki didn't look back and continued running.

"Then Hibiki should've gotten a lighter judgement, right?" Daichi confirmed. Yamato stared at the scarfed brunet, his arms are still crossed when the he responded. "The Hotsuin clan has never been murdered before by any ordinary citizen. Usually, it is by other clans but that dates way back the Meiji era. However, if Kuze isn't the real murderer, then the punishment will be life imprisonment in a sealed area… What do you say, future Administrator?"

"…" Alcor plucked a white shard from the broken wall, ignoring his friends to stare at the glistening glass piece. Holding it with both hands, Alcor couldn't help but smile with his victory. Unfortunately, Daichi couldn't comprehend why his associates were acting this way. Here was Alcor, who finished bashing the container to find one tiny shard. Then Fumi stares at the shard with a small 'o' on her mouth, astounded with the man's findings. Yamato was also jubilant, shaking his head in good nature when Alcor presented the shard to them. Alcor's declaration made Daichi's confusion grow further. "I win."

"What do you mea-" Daichi wanted him to elaborate, but the doors opened. Makoto and Ronaldo came in with the files. Fumi and Yamato went over Makoto who told them about their findings. Ronaldo, who was part of the investigation team look at Alcor with a folder on hand. "Alcor. Evidences regarding the trial have added once the investigation team entered one of the witness' house… However, the victim and witness have been revived by the four gods yet have no prior memory concerning the event. Alcor. Do you think this case should still be opened?"

'What is he talki-' Daichi saw two people come out from the door, it made him skip a beat. Walking forward, Io tilted her head innocently as she held Miyako's hand. Miyako was looking around and stared at Yamato, he stared back. There was this silent communication between the two until Miyako smiled with Yamato giving a swift nod. The brunet didn't notice or rather not care as he rushed forward to hug both girls. Miyako was curious as to why the teen was crying loudly while Io laughed at her friend's antics. "Miyako! Io! I missed you guys so much~!"

"Shijima. Remember where you are..." With the cold voice behind him, Daichi made a mistake to turn around and see silver eyes turn golden slits. Hearing the shrill scream of the group, Alcor chuckled at his friend's overprotectiveness. Grinning, Alcor went in front of Ronaldo to snatch the file. Skimming it like a pro with one hand, Alcor commanded his detective. "Before the trials start, be meticulous in analyzing Nitta's letter. I'm giving you…An hour from now?"

"What?!" Ronaldo's jaw fell at the impossibility of the task. Looking at the letter within the plastic, Alcor taps the bag and continues challenging him, "There's a secret message here. Do try to find the answer before the trial begins. I'm counting on you Detective Kuriki."

"Unbelievable…" Fumi muttered, but she went to the detective and patted him on the shoulder. "No worries. Me and Sakocchi will help you, right Sakocchi?"

"Indeed. We don't have much time." Makoto stares at the shard the prosecutor was holding with one hand resting on his chest. The shards glow was dulling, "We must find the true perpetrator."

"Oh and Hotsuin twins, be Io Nitta's attorneys. The others are cowards, afraid to fight me in the court." Alcor looked at the shard; a lazy smile was on his face. Miyako and Yamato faced him at the same time, about to react, as they haven't gotten a degree yet. Alcor waves his free hand to them. "In the demon court, the only thing needed is a brain, not some piece of paper."

"Don't listen to Alcor. He's a bad influence…" Ronaldo told the other two, shaking his head in dismay. Io nodded obediently while Daichi pulled out his phone to save the quote. "Shijima. Do not. I repeat. Do not create a hashtag with Alcor's name on it. I know you are better than those fan girls outside. The same fan girls that has a Yamato Hotsuin face on their shirts…"

"Uh…. You should start going now, Mister Kuriki. You have forty minutes left." Io looked at her wristwatch as she said this. Ronaldo took a step back and dragged both Makoto and Fumi outside. Yamato and Miyako were also arguing at Alcor, telling him about his false claim. Alcor was talking to them, but he was also texting on his phone. Daichi could've swore he saw for a short time, two AIs hovering through the TV screen near the trial door. Having violet hair, the AIs vanish before he could see other features. Daichi felt a tug on the shoulder, looking at the side was Io. She looked at Daichi expectantly, he scratched the back of his head, giving her a shrug. Io had a sweat drop fall when her friend did this, "Hey Daichi. Everyone's so lively now."

"I know right? Let's get ready for the trial. We're going to pass this challenge okay?" Daichi smiles back, wondering how far back was the two female's memory erased. Io nodded in agreement but paused. Eyes flickered, Io bit her lips and looked down. Daichi knew she realized where Hibiki went, Ronaldo and Makoto must have debriefed them about the case. Looking at the shard, Daichi had a tiny hope that maybe. Just maybe… Hibiki will come back…?

Is there anything left untouched?

Yup. Deus ex machina. Yay~