"I want to serve you, regardless of the money," Kirumi told the Ultimate Detective. "As your personal maid, allow me to support your future," she bowed her head respectfully and waited silently for his reply. For a moment, though, Shuichi was speechless. For Kirumi to devote herself so freely and completely to him, that was how he knew she was being completely serious about the offer. But despite his nervousness, he felt a rush of affection for the Ultimate Maid. Even if he couldn't see his potential, Kirumi clearly did, and it filled him with relief and pride to think that no matter how insecure he felt, Kirumi was unwavering in her confidence in him.

"But do you really think you can help?" he asked. "I don't mean to doubt you or your talent, but can a maid really train a detective?"

"Ah, you do not yet know the true power of the Ultimate Maid," Kirumi gave him a smile that was almost mischievous.

"True power?" Shuichi echoed in confusion. Kirumi laughed softly, but she decided to spare the boy and explain.

"You know that it is my pride and duty as the Ultimate Maid to fulfill every request I accept, and to the best of my ability as well," she said.

"You aren't saying you can fulfill my request… just because I asked for it, are you?" Shuichi asked in surprise.

"And because I have accepted you as my master," Kirumi nodded. "So if that is your wish…"

"It is!" Even though Shuichi was still nervous, it was as if Kirumi's talent was already working on him, and he gave her a confident nod.

"Excellent!" she smiled cheerfully back at him. "I cannot wait to begin supporting you in all your endeavors!"

"I can't wait either," Shuichi gave the maid a shy smile before extending his hand to her. She smiled back and shook his hand warmly.

"I have a feeling we are going to work very well together," the maid commented, and Shuichi could not have agreed more!

ooo

"Me?" Kirumi asked softly. Even though her voice was barely a whisper, the entire room heard her loud and clear. "I cannot believe you would suspect me…"

And in some ways, she was telling the truth. Even though Shuichi was right about her being the culprit, she never ever imagined a scenario in which he'd figure it out. Ultimate Detective or not, he was less confident and competent with his Talent than Kirumi was with hers. But behind her quiet voice, there was a raging spirit.

How!? How did he figure it out?! How did this… boy! manage to catch anything!? I WAS SO CAREFUL!

A surge of shame washed over the maid and she longed to confess. Even though her eyes were full of fury, when she looked up and met Shuichi's, she saw nothing but sorrow and compassion in his. It was clear that he was confident in his decision, but it also agonized him to reach it. It was clear that he wanted to believe in his friend, but all the evidence pointed to the contrary.

Meanwhile, Kirumi found herself struggling to accept the mercy in his gaze. Even if the game was already over for her, even if she was indeed guilty of everything he was accusing her of, he still wasn't mad at her. It broke her heart and a tiny piece of her just wanted to come clean and be honest… but she couldn't.

Kirumi literally could not confess. Every time she tried, every time she came close to breaking, something always ripped her right back.

"If that is the case, then I will have to deny it," she told Shuichi coldly. Most of the others were quick to agree with her, but none of that mattered now. By this point, they were nothing but spectators. The real fight was between Kirumi and Shuichi, and they already knew the truth of the case, Kirumi just refused to go down quietly.

"But why, Kirumi, why?!" Shuichi pleaded. While his eyes were full of pain and compassion, hers were cold, empty and resolved.

"I will refute your accusations with all my might, for everyone's sake!" she cried. It sounded almost like a declaration of war, and perhaps to her, it was. They both knew Kirumi was guilty, but Kirumi still wasn't going to surrender. This was her way of initiating the challenge. This wasn't just about finding out if she was guilty, it was about making her admit it. That's what made it a declaration of war. Kirumi was ready for battle.

Under normal circumstances, she would've confessed. She would've been honest from the start. Heck, she wouldn't have even killed to begin with! But these were not normal circumstances. The maid had seen her motive video, and now, everything had changed…

ooo

"I'm the personal assistant to the Prime Minister!" she gasped, eyes wide as she watched her past self give a respectful curtsey. Even though it was only a video, the longer she watched, the more she remembered… "As the Ultimate Maid, I was called upon to lift the country out a dire situation. I swore to prioritize saving the country from an unprecedented crisis…"

The maid put a gloved hand over her mouth, tears starting to burn her eyes. The second she'd started the video, she'd sealed her fate. She had a new mission now, and she was duty and honorbound to accept it. Intentionally or not, by watching that video, Kirumi had restored all of her memories, and with them came all of her old responsibilities as well, including her request from the Prime Minister. Because she'd accepted it, and now that she was aware of it again, she had no choice other than to do her very best to fulfill it!

"Shuichi, in this class trial, we must be enemies," the maid had whispered as she and the others entered the trial room together. "Although it is not something I wish to do, my wishes are irrelevant, and I must refute your every accusation. No matter what you learn, I must lie and deny and continue to sow the seeds of chaos and confusion. Even if you manage to somehow figure it out, I will keep denying it until my very last breath. I will never accept it, even if you are correct! I cannot lose this battle, I cannot falter even in the slightest!

"But it is nothing personal. This is not just about the truth of the class trial, but the truth of the entire world! There is so much more at stake than you know, and even though I know it is not your fault that you do not know, I still must stop you…" the maid winced in regret, but she still gave her declaration of war. "Let us at least attempt to make this an honorable duel. It is the least we deserve. Now, may the better Ultimate win…"

ooo

But although Kirumi tried to frame it as a noble duel between equals, involving clashing duties, talents and hopes, it didn't end that way.

"While I do understand where you are coming from, I assure you this is just… a part of your petty imagination! An empty theory created from nihilism!" Kirumi cried, eyes flashing as she raised her voice and chin. Shuichi grit his teeth in pain, but because he knew she wasn't going to give in of her own free will, he only steeled his nerves and kept on pushing.

"If it was for my sake, it would be much easier to forfeit," she admitted eventually. "But I cannot allow that! Because I must do this for everyone!" almost as fast as she'd confessed, she snapped back again. It was like she was at war with herself, more of a puppet than person. Maybe that was who her earlier declaration of war had truly been for: herself. Maybe she'd been trying to reassure herself rather than intimidate Shuichi. Or maybe it was a bit of both. Either way though, one thing was painfully obvious:

"I refuse to surrender! They won't forgive me if I do!" she shouted. Her words took everyone aback, but her tone was worth worrying over as well. Even though she held the reputation for most mature student, it was Shuichi who remained calm and polite while Kirumi began to break down.

It was a cruel role reversal. Once upon a time, Shuichi had been the frightened one, full of doubt and struggle. But now it was Kirumi who was beginning to flounder while Shuichi never once raised his voice or lost his temper. Even if he might've been timid, reluctant or doubtful, he never lost the calm dignity that Kirumi used to be so well-known for. And unlike her, he retained his kindness as well. It was clear Kirumi no longer cared about the lives of her classmates, but Shuichi still felt a strong sense of empathy for all of them, including her.

The student had surpassed the teacher. Kirumi had done her job too well. By accepting Shuichi as her master and accepting his request, she had sealed her own fate even faster than the motive video. She'd ensured he would succeed in every trial he was ever thrown into and now such a glorious and generous gift was being used against her, the very one who made it possible to start with!

Whether Kirumi was aware of this not did not matter. Even if it had been a lost cause from the very second she decided to give her service to Shuichi, the maid was bound by her Ultimate Talent to fulfill every request she accepted to the very best of her ability. That meant she had been bound to make Shuichi a successful Ultimate Detective. But it also meant that once Kirumi realized she also had the Prime Minister's request to take care of, then she had to do everything in her power to get back home as fast as she could, no matter what it took. Even if it conflicted with a past request, this was her current request, therefore, she had to do anything and everything to fulfill it.

"I made a promise to Kaede!" Kirumi cried. "I want to fulfill my duties as the Ultimate Maid! I wish to serve everyone! So please believe me! YOU HAVE TO!" It was a low blow, using Kaede like that, but again, Kirumi had to be ready and willing to do anything. But Shuichi managed to stand his ground. Even though Kirumi's words had hurt him, he was growing stronger while she was growing weaker.

"I made a promise to Kaede too," he breathed. "And she gave me her wish too! Just like you did, Kirumi!" he added, growing more and more confident. "I don't want to do this either, but I have to! My path as the Ultimate Detective demands that I continue to seek the truth, no matter how horrible that truth may be. That is truly what makes me the Ultimate Detective. It's not just my ability to figure things out, but to accept them, even if I really don't want to. It is my willingness to face any truth that makes me the Ultimate Detective!"

"Don't you want to protect everyone?!" Kirumi finally cried, temper flaring again. "And what "truth"?! All you care about is your own reasoning! You won't even listen to others! I can't bet everyone's lives on a deduction made by a self-righteous brat!"

Shuichi had to fight the urge to insist that everything she just said also applied to her. Instead, he only begged her one last time to just admit defeat.

"Never," the maid replied. To her, this was not about truth, this was about fulfilling a request. She was not internally denying her guilt, but to the rest of the class, she would continue to shake her head even if they found a way to bring Ryoma back and have him testify. She had a duty to her people!

So Shuichi was forced to let Kirumi drag him into another verbal battle. He hated having to prove her guilt over and over again, but he was on the quest for truth and if this was what it took, then so be it. Besides, Kaede had faced her death with dignity, grace, selflessness, courage and integrity. If she could do all that, then so could Kirumi! Especially since Kirumi supposedly believed in selfless devotion. Besides, if Kaede didn't get to get out of admitting her guilt, then neither would Kirumi, especially if Kirumi had the audacity to throw Kaede's name around so flippantly.

Granted, Shuichi knew Kirumi had only mentioned Kaede to unsettle him, but if anything, it only did the opposite. Remembering that he was responsible for Kaede's wish just as much as he was for Kirumi's, Shuichi was able to center himself and advance. No matter what game Kirumi was playing, no matter why she was lying, the truth was that she was guilty. That was that. Now all Shuichi had to do was get her to admit it. If she wanted a duel, she would get a duel!

"In this class trial, everyone's life is at stake!" Kirumi shouted at him.

"I know," he replied calmly, quietly. "That's why I'm doing this. Because if I make the wrong decision, then we all die."

"Grr!" Kirumi grit her teeth and narrowed her eyes. Even though she knew that he had no idea about her motive, a tiny part of her brain still judged him as if he did. What was this idiot boy doing? Risking the lives of everyone in Japan for what? 13 stupid little high schoolers?! He was insane! Anyone with half a brain would know that Kirumi was making the best and most logical decision! Granted, it was a difficult one, but it was still the best available option and it drove Kirumi mad to see that Shuichi was still resisting.

Rather than him giving her the benefit of the doubt for behaving in this way, he kept pushing right on through! Rather than just letting it go, he missed all of her signals and wound up unraveling her entire plot.

"Because of your self-righteous truth, EVERYONE MIGHT DIE!" Kirumi accused, snarling and seething.

"No! This truth is going to be what saves us all!" Shuichi replied confidently.

And there it was again. Us all. Stupid boy. Did he really think that they were the only ones whose lives were currently at stake!? If only he knew…

"I completely understand your reasoning, but I will never accept it," she muttered grimly. Another declaration of war. Shuichi gave her a heartbroken stare, finally realizing just how far Kirumi was willing to go in order to win. It horrified, disgusted and tormented him, but now was not the time to mourn. Now was the time to fight back. Now was the time for his declaration of war!

"I only want to protect everyone!" she almost pleaded. "Why must you interfere?!"

"I'm doing this because I want to protect everyone, just like you!" he pleaded. For a moment, Kirumi looked heartbroken, as if torn between horror and joy that he would compare himself to her even after everything else they'd just been through, but that look of pain was gone just as fast as it had come. They were still in a battle, after all, there was no time for weakness!

But as hard as Kirumi fought, Shuichi's talent won out and truth triumphed over determination. Without the element of truth on her side, especially while facing an opponent like Shuichi, Kirumi had been beat before the trial even began. Now it was time to vote.

ooo

Every vote went to Kirumi. Except one. Her own. That one went to Shuichi. He winced as he saw the vote pop up by his name. Then he turned to look at her, and again, he caught a glimpse of sadness in her eyes. He tried to get her to look back at him, so they could share in one another's pain and build any sort of connection through it, but Kirumi only hardened her expression after she realized what he was trying to do. She was no longer interested in building bridges. Or if she was, she was doing her best to resist the temptation.

"You always talked about serving and protecting. You always talked about unveiling the truth, even when it's hard to accept. So why?" Shuichi asked the maid softly, sadly. He wasn't hurling accusations, he was praying for reassurance. "You taught me to be more confident in myself, so I was! So why, Kirumi? Why did it have to be you? Why?! Don't you understand that I never wanted anyone to die? That's why I fought you so hard! I only wanted to protect everyone. I couldn't just lose more friends! Not like Kaede… I never wanted… any of this… or… for you to…"

Two friends had become enemies, and even though it broke both of their hearts, it was long out of their hands. Kirumi was still desperately trying to fulfill her master's request while Shuichi was trying to fulfill his own. Their talents had dictated that they battle, and Shuichi had come out on top. Even if neither of them were necessarily happy with the outcome of the "duel", it didn't matter. The game was over. Shuichi's talent bound him to truth just as much as Kirumi's bound her to devotion, but this time, truth won out.

Kirumi had done her job too well. She'd trained Shuichi too well. Her Ultimate Talent had worked its magic too well. What once had been a blessing now became a curse. Kirumi had bestowed the gift of excellence to Shuichi and that excellence had led to this. She'd been setting herself up for failure long before she realized it, and what could've once worked in her favor ultimately turned against her in her final hour.

But even though the battle was over, Kirumi continued to fight. All sense of honor had vanished from her. Like she'd told the rest of the class, there was nothing she wouldn't do to fulfill a request. She was willing to sink to any level, and she was willing to try any trick she could think up. She had meant it quite literally when she'd said she would fight until her last breath. As per her role as the Ultimate Maid, she had no other choice than to keep fighting, even if it meant playing dirty. All that mattered was trying to fulfill the accepted request to the best of her ability.

So with nowhere else to go and nothing left to turn to, the maid did the only thing she could. She ran. And she gave one last declaration of war. Only this time, it was her very last, and her final opponent was… herself. And just like with Shuichi, she lost. But even though it was over for her, the survivors would remember her forever. And none of them would ever how the last thing they ever heard her say was a declaration of war.

"I will live! I refuse to die in a hellhole like this! For my nation! For my people! I WILL NOT DIIIIIIIIIIIE!"

AN: Random theory I have that Kirumi is partially responsible for Shuichi's detective skills. After offering to help him improve them, she does such a good job that it totally backfires on her in the second trial.

I just thought it would be a bittersweet irony. On top of two ex-friends fighting to the death, the "winner" only won because the loser gave him the skills he needed to win. And even worse, it happened back when they still thought they'd be friends for life!

And I also just liked the idea of expanding upon Kirumi's talent. And this, again, holds to the theory that the Talents "control" their owners. In some way, Shuichi was just as much a slave to his talent as Kirumi was to hers.