Ch.17 The Date A Live Turnabout: Trial Part 2
Saori, under the fake name of Mei Mitsurugi, is about to say something that gets Shido and Mana exceptionally worried. Saori has an uneasy smile as she explains.
"Something was bothering me up till now. That something was this, if our little defendant is devilish shooter, then when did she make the time for this?"
Saori presents the burnt sheets that Hiro and Mana found yesterday. Judge's eyes widen as he asks.
"Prosecutor Mitsurugi, what is it that you are showing us?"
Saori smirks and says.
"Bedsheets that were found burned inside a guitar case that was found in the defendant's dressing room. I thought it would be strange that the defendant killed the victim, and not try to cover it up. But thanks to Miss Tohka's testimony, I now know that she did."
The people in the gallery start erupting with voices, and the judge slams his gavel.
"Order! Order! I will have order!"
Shido is sweating as he thinks.
"Saori, please don't say anything too damning."
"As we know, the victim was killed around 6:30, which means that she could have been killed anywhere between 6:25 and 6:35, but the defendant was seen on stage at 6:33; thanks to camera images that we collected. So that means, she must have killed the victim between 6:25 and 6:29. She then leaves to the stage and performs her first session. Then, during the first brake, she goes back to the dressing room immediately, and then she tries to, crudely, cover up her crime. The first brake was between 7:00 and 7:07, but the actual song didn't begin until 7:12. This means that there is an eleven minute gap between the songs; which is plenty of time to burn some bed sheets."
Objection!
Shido slams his hands on his desk and points his finger as he asks, desperately.
"Do you have proof that she ever left the stage?"
Shiori lowers her head and is snickering as she replies.
"Of course, , I have a witness that can testify to this. So we'll dismiss this lackluster bodyguard."
Tohka tries to convince the judge to let her stay.
"But I have more to say!"
Objection!
Saori wags her finger as she tells Tohka.
"We've heard enough out of you. So please leave peacefully."
Shido thinks for a second, and Mana tells him.
"We should let her go for now. She won't be much help like this."
Shido listens to Mana's advice and doesn't say anything. Tohka is escorted off the stand, and moments later, another person takes the stand, Axel Gibson, Shiori's guitar player. Saori then asks the usual question.
"Your name and occupation?"
Axel is dressed the same as yesterday, and has a look of confusion.
"My name…Oh, Axel Gibson, I play guitar for Me-rice."
The judge now looks confused himself, so Saori explains.
"Forgive his confusion. He's not used to using names in our fair language yet."
Axel now puts on a normal smile and says.
"Dude, like, you're that lawyer dude, and lawyer babe, I met yesterday. Yeah, Mr. Not-A-Hotdog, and Ms. Pea-soup-boogie."
Shido is now confused and thinks.
"Wow, this jerk can't get names more wrong if he tried."
Saori has annoyed look as she demands.
"Let's skip the formalities. Witness, tell us about what you saw during the first break."
Axel looks confused again and says.
"OOOOOOOkay."
Testimony
-What Axel saw—
"Okay, so, like, during the first break, I was taking a nap in the green room."
"I got up to take a walk to stretch before I went on."
"I was walking around the hallways, and I saw Story walking by her dressing room."
"I think it was around 7:09 when I saw her."
End
Shido is rubbing his chin with finger and has a thinking expression as he asks.
"Are you sure it was her?"
Axel continues to have his confused look as he follows.
"Yup, she looked like how she does in the poster. Here's one right here; just in case you don't remember."
(Axel gives Shido a poster of Shiori meant as a promotion for the charity event. Submitted as evidence.)
The judge nods shakes his head and expresses his own opinion in s somewhat sad tone.
"It very much troubles that seeing a young lady this innocent looking could be a killer. But I can't let personal feelings cloud my judgment."
The judge looks as if he's about to announce his verdict, so Shido immediately says.
"I'm ready to cross examine the witness."
Saori smirks again at her stand and thinks.
"Little Shido, so desperate to help. Yet he has no clue what I really want from trial. I'll be the one laughing at the end."
Cross examination
-What Axel saw—
"Okay, so, like, during the first break, I was taking a nap in the green room."
Hold it!
Shido stands straight and asks.
"How long was this nap?"
Axel simply replies.
"Like, I took it at 4:50, and woke up at 7:00. I was feeling pretty tired."
Shido tries pulling at strings with his next question.
"Then isn't it possible that you were too drowsy to be sure on anyth…"
Objection!
Saori wags her finger at Shido again, and mischievously says.
"What did I say about badgering my witnesses?"
The judge shakes his head.
"The defense will refrain from unnecessary questions."
Shido gets starts sweating again.
"Crap! The judge is with Saori on this."
Axel continues.
"Okay, so…"
"I got up to take a walk to stretch before I went on."
"I was walking around the hallways, and I saw Story walking by her dressing room."
Hold it!
Shido is too nervous to ask his question at this point, so Mana pats his back a little and tries to comfort him.
"Big brother, hold your breath, make a wish, count to three. You can do this."
Shido smiles and tells her.
"Thank you, Mana."
He regains his composure and clearly asks.
"Are you sure that you saw Shiori in the hall?"
Axel seems a little annoyed now, but he kindly says.
"Yeah, I remember because of her outfit. Her aqua-green outfit, her matching gloves, and her ruby pendant."
Mana taps Shido's arm and says.
"Shido, I think we got something. Tell him to add it to his testimony, and then..."
Shido nods and asks him.
" , would add that last part to your testimony?"
Axel looks confused again and responds.
"Well…I guess."
"She was wearing her aqua-green outfit with matching gloves, and that shiny red, ruby pendant."
Objection!
Shido has a confident look with his arms at his side as he proclaims.
"Rubies are pretty, aren't they, Mr. Gibson?"
Axel puts a happy smile as he replies.
"Yup, they're, like, my favorite, dude."
Saori appears to be a little irritated because she knows what Shido is about to say and say he does.
"Well that presents a problem. Because Shiori never wore a "ruby" pendant, she wore an "emerald" pendant!"
Judges eyes widen once he looks closer at the poster and he exclaims.
"He's right, that pendant is clearly green and not red."
Axel gets a little nervous and says.
"Well…I guess I must have not seen it that well."
Shido shakes his head.
"No, I don't think so. You sounded too confident to make that excuse."
Objection!
Saori slams her fist against the gallery wall, and says.
"Look, Naruhodou, even if he didn't see the pendant that well. The point is, Shiori was the only who has motive, the only one at the scene during the time of the murder, and is the only one who had time."
Shido, now throwing caution to the wind, blurts.
"What about Axel!? He has a weak excuse, and he had time!"
The judges widen and Mana is actually a little surprised. Shido backs up a little, and nervously asks.
"….Um, did I say something embarrassing."
Mana looks at him, and softly says.
"Shido, you have a good point. He did have opportunity."
Shido thinks about what he just said, and realizes that now he has a good argument. So he goes with it.
"Yeah…as far as we know, Axel was alone the entire time, so how can we believe what he says?"
Objection!
Saori has a smug look and presents everyone with a picture. It is a security photo taken in front of the green room, and Axel is in it stretching his arms like he had just woken up. The time is stamped at 7:08, the time Axel claimed he was in the hall. Saori crosses her arms and says.
"I'm getting bored with your weak accusations. Axel is in the right place at the right time. He is clearly telling the truth. Your Honor, I move for a verdict before I get a migraine."
(Outside the court)
The group is watching the trial, via monitors on their ship. They're getting more worried, and Ellen asks.
"Isn't there anything we can do?"
The group starts making more desperate attempts to figure something out. Hiro then shouts his idea to the group.
"We have to find out who took those photos!"
Hiro then lays out a scenario for the group to illustrate his point.
"Okay, say this, if the victim found out who took those photos, then she would have most likely confronted them, so if we find out who did it, then we may have our killer."
With little options, the group splits up to search anywhere that could have clues to find out who took the photos.
(Back to the trial)
The judge looks disappointed as he utters.
"I believe this case has no more leads to press, so it with a heavy heart that…"
Shido can't get the words to describe this situation, and begins to panic.
"NO! I can't let it end here!"
Shido is ready to blurt out objection, when a voice booms through the room.
Hold it!
Everyone is in shock as a new person takes the stand. This person says in plain tone.
"I have things to say."
This person is wearing sun glasses, so their eyes can't be seen. They have long, wavy, blonde hair, fair skin, their face appears to be a shade of pink. They are wearing a long-sleeved buttoned yellow shirt with a blue scarf around their neck, black pants, white boots, and appears to have feathers in their hair. The thing that is on everyone's minds are: is that a boy or a girl?"
The judge is flabbergasted at the appearance of this new person. Shido is shocked himself, but thinks.
"Could this be the break we need?"
The judge composes himself and asks.
"Young…man..or lady? Um would you please tell this court your name, please?"
The young person simply says.
"Flugel."
Saori has her arms crossed, but is smiling, as she explains."
"This is G. Flugel, the little murderer's pianist. I hear that she met this person while on tour in Germany."
Shiori hands judge some paperwork, and he reads that the G stands for Gabriel. But he can't tell how it's pronounced; whether it is GAH-briel or GEI-briel, is unknown to him. Due this young person's appearance, they can't tell if they are male or female. Fleugel is silent for a second, but within moments, they say, rather bluntly.
"I killed Miss Keieisha."
Shido, Mana, and the Judge's eyes all widen as they are surprised by this. The Judge, with his eyes still widen, asks with surprise.
"You did it!?"
Fluegel remains stoic.
"….I did."
The Judge sets his eyes on Saori as he asks her.
"Prosecutor Mitsurugi, what do you think of this?"
Saori, oddly, has a more uneasy smile than before, as she states her opinion.
"Interesting, I move that we have our confessor testify what they did."
Shido and Mana, while both happy that they have more time, don't like that smile Saori has on her face. Nevertheless, Shido and Mana agree that a testimony is needed. The Judge also agrees, nods, and says to Fleugel.
"Very well,…Uh, Fleugel, please give us a testimony about what happened."
Fleugel simply nods.
Testimony
-Fluegel's confession—
"…I am a fan of Shiori's, so I became concerned for her when I heard about the pictures."
"Three days ago, I had found out it was Hibiki who took them."
"…So I grabbed my Magnum, and confronted her in the dressing room."
"I shot her… without anyone hearing the shot."
"I panicked, and ran away from the stadium."
"But I returned in time for my time on the stage."
"I nearly let Shiori take the blame for a crime she didn't commit… I am ashamed of myself."
End
Fleugel's testimony, while fluent, felt hesitant to Shido and Mana. Saori stays silent, and Judge is gathering his thoughts. Shido looks at Mana, and asks her with uneasiness.
"Mana…I don't think this is right."
Mana has a serious look on her face and responds.
"I know that something is wrong with that testimony, so let's get on that first, okay?"
Shido agrees, and with his casually look.
"I'd like to start my cross examination now, Your Honor."
The judge nods.
Cross examination
-Fluegle's confession—
"…I am a fan of Shiori's, so I became concerned for her, when I heard about the pictures."
"Three days ago, I had found out it was Hibiki who took them."
Hold it!
Shido is wondering.
"How did you find out that Miss Keieisha took the pictures?"
"… I saw an email on her laptop that said: I'll give you $500, American, for the pictures."
Shido finds this interesting and makes a note of it, and then asks.
"Are you sure it was HER laptop?"
"I saw it in her office at the recording studio, so yes."
"Okay, so what happened next?"
"…Okay, I knew that I needed some form of advantage…"
"…So I grabbed my Magnum, and confronted her in the dressing room."
Objection!
Shido, once again presents the gun to everyone. (There will some repeating element, so we'll take a break to go the group.)
August 3
Gavinner Studios
Mirai's private area
Ellen and Aki elected to take a look into the studio where Mirai and her friends record her albums. It is a rather cute looking area filled with musical themed decorations, stuffed animals, and a coffee station. Aki is somewhat reminded of his younger sister, and Ellen is thinking about her daughter. They look around the room for clues as to who took those pictures. Ellen digs through some papers in a nearby desk, and finds a piece of scratch paper that has a song written in crayon on it. Ellen quietly reads the name.
"I love you, daddy. That is just precious."
She sees that this most likely Shiori's first song she wrote. She then imagines her own daughter singing this song to her husband, and gets lost in thought. Aki, on the other hand, is looking in Shiori's private room in the area. It is practically a bedroom. She has a tea set, most likely prepared the same way Miku's tea is made, a small collection of books, mostly fairy tales, and a mp3 player stationed near a bathroom. He isn't comfortable being in this room, but for the greater good, he swallows his pride. He looks around the area, and as luck would have it, he finds a camera hidden somewhere near the edge of the ceiling. He checks it out from the outside and finds nothing. He brings it to Ellen since she may know what to do. She stops fawning over the idea she was just having, and takes the camera. She takes this very seriously. Aki asks.
"So what can you do?"
Ellen gets a confident smile of her own.
"Easy, I'm going to check the photos, the timestamps, and think about what we know. But, you might want to look away. I'm very uncomfortable as it is, looking at these photos."
Aki turns away because this camera is indeed the one used to take scandalous photos of Shiori. As a mother herself, Ellen empathizes with Miku; it can't be easy knowing that someone is taking advantage of such a sweet girl like Shiori for profit. She then notices a nearby laptop, and hooks the camera up to it to get a better view of the pictures to compare them.
(Back to the trial)
The trial isn't picking up much speed since Shido has pointed out the flaw with Flugel's assertion that they shot Hibiki. Saori even retorted the same comeback, ignorance of firearms. Flugel is even about to give another confession. But this time, they seem more nervous.
Testimony
-Flugel's confession pt.2—
"Okay, so I don't know much about guns."
"That doesn't mean I didn't shoot that girl."
"I tried to hide the gun inside Shiori's guitar case, but it was locked."
"I panicked, and kind of blacked out after that."
"I still did it. That's all there is to it."
End
"So there, I keep telling you jerks the same thing."
Flugel's voice has gotten higher and Shido is starting to think he knows them for some reason. Saori is still snickering as she says.
"Well I guess someone got desperate."
Shido is noticing how odd this is since Saori has been merciless in trying to get Shiori declared guilty. Mana notices this change as well and is wondering about it.
"Hey, Shido, isn't it jarring that Saori is now suddenly working with us?"
Shido is rubbing his chin again as he replies.
"Yeah, I don't get it at all. Saori has been so relentless with us, and yet, as soon as Flugel took the stand, she's been helping us."
Shido is hoping that Saori is now helping them out the goodness of her heart, but his heart is telling him otherwise. Mana is especially suspicious. Saori, with her smug smile, looks at Shido and says.
"I believe it is time for the cross examination, Souka."
Shido gets his attention back to the trial. But Flugel's testimony is starting to become more obviously filled with holes.
-Flugel's confession pt.2—
"Okay, so I don't know much about guns."
"That doesn't mean I didn't shoot that girl."
"I tried to hide the gun inside Shiori's guitar case, but it was locked."
Objection!
Shido, with a confident posture, simply says to this confessor.
"Flugel, do truly know anything about this case?"
Flugel appears more upset as they retort, irritated.
"Of course, I'm the one who did it!"
Shido then brings up the guitar case.
"Flugel, if you knew anything about the case, then you'd know that the guitar case's lock was broken before the police arrived. So how could you not have opened it?"
Once again, the Judges eyes widen.
"Is this true, ?"
Shido now looks a little nervous, but not because of his claim, rather, he is worried about the Judge.
"Well…yes, Your Honor. (Gets serious again) So, Flugel, how could you have missed this, if you are the killer we're looking for?"
Flugel's glasses seem to almost drop down, but they quickly readjust them before their eyes can be seen. They try to regain their composure.
"Of…course..I just don't…"
Shido realizes that Flugel is just trying to be a friend and take the fall for Shiori, but something else is bothering Shido.
"I don't get it. Something about Flugel just seems off."
Objection!
"Oh no, not her again!"
Saori is has yet another claim to say.
"Flugel, I think you're just confused is all. The police did happen to find the gun inside a guitar case. But it wasn't the one in Shiori's room!
Flugel then regains their confidence, and picks up with.
"O-Of course, I must have shot the guitar case when I shot Hibiki."
Hold It!
Neither Shido, nor Saori shouted that, but rather it is Mana who did. She has her own objection.
"That isn't possible. Because at the scene, we found a bullet hole in the wall in the room, and it had blood around it!"
Saori's visible eye begins to glow red a little as she say, irritated.
"W-what?!"
Mana takes note of this and whispers to Shido.
"Did you see that? She's surprised by the bullet hole."
Shido notices this as well. While he didn't visit the scene itself, he was told by Mana about the hole. Yet Saori seems genuinely shocked by this. Mana then adds.
"This must mean she didn't visit the crime scene at all. That detective must not have told her either."
Saori then pounds her fist against her desk as she shouts.
"I object to those fools foolishly foolish objection!"
The shakes his head and proclaims.
"Objection overruled. But, , what does this mean for your client?"
Shido comes back the real situation, but holds his composer.
"Excuse me?"
"Surely, you must realize that whatever is good for this confessor is also bad for your client."
Shido and Mana where so caught up with the bad smell of the situation, that they forgot about Shiori. Saori regains her composure and adds in.
"Hold on! So what if the guitar case wasn't shot. That doesn't automatically mean that it wasn't locked when Flugel committed the murder. For all we know, it could have been broken before the mur…"
Mana begins taking the initiative, and confidently says.
"What's that? I could have sworn that you were going to say something that contradicted the facts."
Saori then begins pounding her fist against her desk again and begins growling. Then Mana gets an idea that she tells Shido.
"Shido, I think I've figured something out. I think that since Saori never went to scene, then she has no idea about another piece of evidence that we have."
Shido knows about it as well, the medicine bottle. But he wants to figure something else at as well. Until…
Hold it!
Everyone's attention is shifted back to Flugel as they shout.
"Don't ignore me! I have more to say!"
The Judge appears to be a little startled, but he manages to says.
"Okay, by all means."
Testimony
-Flugel's confession pt. 3-
"Like I said, I blacked out."
"So I probably just forgot I broke the lock myself."
"But that's all I did. I didn't do anything else after trying to get trying to hide the gun."
"So there's no more room for doubt, I did it."
"So just let Shiori go."
End
"So there! Now just get it over with, and arrest me!""
Shido slams his hands on his desk and proclaims.
"No, not until I've performed my cross examination."
The Judge nods and says.
"I agree."
Saori remains silent since she's lost her edge.
Cross Examination
-Flugel's confession pt. 3-
"Like I said, I blacked out."
"So I probably just forgot I broke the lock myself."
Hold it!
Shido is wondering.
"How could you break a lock like that?"
Flugel begins to sweat
"I don't know. I told you I blacked out."
"Are you sure?"
Objection!
Saori, now irritated, simply tells Shido.
"The witness stated what they needed to say. Now tell us about anything else you did, Flugel."
Flugel regains their composure to continue.
"But that's all I did. I didn't do anything else after trying to get trying to hide the gun."
Objection!
Shido presents the bed sheets and tells Flugel.
"No, that wasn't all that was done. Or didn't you know that the killer tried to burn some bed sheets?"
Flugel is getting flustered again as they desperately utter.
"No, wait, I did try to burn some bed sheets. I swear!"
Shido is then getting mad since it is clear that this person is trying desperately to protect Shiori. Then it hits him like a ton of bricks.
"Wait, I get it now! How could I not see it before?"
Shido looks at Mana and asks.
"Can I see something really fast?"
Mana nods and hands him a specific item. He then begins to laugh a little, so the Judge asks.
"What is so funny, might I ask?"
Shido, with his hands at his side, says, confidently.
"Because I figured something out. I know why this person is trying so hard to protect Shiori.
"Flugel then begins to sweat.
"I told you, it's because I care about her."
Shido nods and follows with.
"Oh, I know that, but I think that it's more than just concern. No, I think you love Shiori more than the world itself. After all…you are her mother!"
The Judges eyes widen and the gallery erupts with noise. The Judge bangs his gavel again and shouts.
"Order! What is the meaning of this? I could have sworn that the defendant's mother is none other than Miku Izayoi or Itsuka?"
Shido, still confident, answers.
"Here is my proof that this person, is in fact, Mrs. Miku Itsuka."
Take That!
Shido presents the hair strands to the court. He tells everyone.
"These are hair strands that we found inside Shiori's dressing room. At first glance, they appear average hairs. But, they are actually strands of hair from a wig!"
Flugel then starts sweating rapidly and says.
"No…this hair is my hair. It's not a wig…"
Shido knows a thing or two about wigs since the time he had to wear one, so he recognizes the feel of a wig hair. He shakes his head and says.
"Well, then why don't we simply removes some of your hair, and compare to the ones I have here."
"Well…I can't…."
"Enough of this, (Epic finger point) I demand you take off that wig, and show us who you really are!"
Flugel's clothes then suddenly begin to flap, as if they got caught in a gust of wind. Then their hair begins to flap as well. The gust suddenly picks up, and their hair begins to fly off their head and a new set of light-indigo hair flows down.
"MY HAIR!"
The sunglasses fall as well, revealing light indigo-eyes with a panicked look.
"MY GLASSES!"
Then, finally, the sound of snap is heard. Then, finally, her chest pops out and her face turns to it's normal color.
"MY CORSET!"
Since the snap, Shido has a blush on his face, as does the Judge. Then a voice, Shiori's, shouts.
"MOTHER, YOU DIDN'T!?"
Now revealed, Miku has an agitated looks on her face with her cheeks puffed as she retorts.
"Shiori, I both respected your privacy by letting start a music group, but I asserted my right as your mother by joining it anyway."
Shido now has revealed why he has had such a nagging feeling about her, now everyone gets it. He knew that only two people would this adamant about it, but only one person who would act like that; especially when he talked to her yesterday. But now he also realizes another important detail. Saori wasn't trying to get Flugel arrested; she was trying to get Miku arrested.
Author's Note- I am simply terrible with keeping up with my work lately. I am once again very sorry about the delay. I will be busy again soon, but don't worry. I'll keep working on this story until I finish it.