Ch.16 The Date A Live Turnabout: Trial Day
After hours of training, seventeen cups of coffee, and a lot of help, Shido is ready to defend Shiori in the trial. However, he didn't finish all three games due to their length and attention to detail. Shido has bags under his eyes due to his lack of sleep. The others let him sleep while they go over the evidence they've gathered so far. The evidence they have and the ones they know of are:
1. Charred bed sheets (Discovered by Hiro, Mana, and Kurumi)
2. 9mm Pistol with silencer (thanks to Tonomachi's information)
3. Bag of prescription medicine without medicine. (Provided by Tonomachi)
4. Guitar case with broken lock (Inspected by Mana)
5. Bottle of medicine (Painkillers) with bloodstains around the bottle (Given to Mana by Enfer Rimbaud and confirmed by Hiro.)
6. Bullet hole surrounded with blood (Found by Hiro)
7. Photo of the crime scene before the body was taken away (Given to Hiro by Tonomachi)
8. The strange strands of hair of a light color (Discovered by Hiro and Mana)
9. Concert program (Given to Shido by Miku)
With this evidence, the group should be able to hold their own in court. Mana has decided to join her brother in the court as his legal aide. They don't know exactly who is going to testify in the trial besides Tonomachi. With all this done, Shido and Mana go to the courthouse and meet with Shiori to get her found innocent.
August 3, 9:47 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No.2
Shido and Mana meet with Shiori without a piece of glass separating them. Shiori is visibly upset since she looks like she hasn't stopped crying for hours. To cheer her up, Shido hands her the teddy bear she loves so dearly since they aren't in the prison anymore. The moment she holds her bear, Shiori smiles and appears to cheer up a little; she thanks Shido and asks him, in a scared tone.
"Everything will be okay, right?"
Shido isn't very confident in his abilities as a lawyer since this is the first, and probably only, case he's ever done. Nonetheless, he assures her that she'll be okay as long as he's around. Mana walks up closer to Shido and whispers in his ear.
"We have to win this case, big brother."
Shido agrees, and also asks.
"What did you pick for your fake name?"
Mana tilts her hat and, falsely, introduces herself to Shiori since she didn't before.
"I'm Minunki Naruhodou, master magician."
Shiori's eyes light up with excitement as she exclaims.
"Oh my, I had no idea. That sounds amazing. What kind of tricks or illusions can you do?"
Mana didn't think about that part, and instead she bashfully taps her fist to her forehead with her tongue slightly sticking out. Shiori gets a blush and says.
"That was adorable."
Being Miku's daughter, Shiori has a liking for cute girls like her mother, but has absolutely nothing against men. Shido talks to Shiori about his meeting with her mother, but this confuses Shiori as she says with questioning.
"I thought that mother was over her man phobia; she's never had any problems with men since I was a little girl."
While Shiori is wondering, someone shouts at Shido from behind.
"Hey! I've got something to say to you!"
Shido turns around and sees this world's Tohka; she is wearing the same clothes that she had at the concert. She has a very serious look on her face as she demands.
"You better get Shiori off the hook. If you don't, I'll…I'll.."
Shiori walks up to Tohka and rubs her head, just like her father, and says in a soothing tone.
"Now..now, Tohka, we must have faith in . He's a good man, and I trust him."
Tohka calms down, but she still walks up to Shido and explains.
"I was called here to testify, I think, and they told me to say what I saw. So I'll just say I saw someone go into Shiori's room and shot Hibiki, okay?"
Shido catches that and retorts, very seriously.
"So you're suggesting that we lie!?"
Tohka maintains her serious demeanor as she replies.
"She didn't do it, so we have to get her off the hook, right?"
Mana approaches Tohka and explains, in a sincere and serious manner.
"Tohka, we can't lie here, if we do, then it will only make us, and Shiori, look bad. We have to win this with the truth and nothing else."
Shiori nods in agreement, and softly asks Tohka.
"Tohka, will you promise me that you'll tell the honest truth?"
Tohka puts on an earnest smile and nods at Shiori. Shiori then goes to use the bathroom before the trial starts. Shido takes this opportunity to say something to Tohka, he says it in a sincere tone.
"You must really care about Shiori."
Tohka bits her lip a little and puts her right hand on her left arm as she says with her face turned away.
"Well, to tell you the truth, I have feelings for her father, but he didn't love me back apparently."
Shido hadn't really thought about it yet, but in all the timelines he has visited, he must have not thought about the others girls feelings. However, Tohka adds something that makes him feel better.
"But he's still the kindest man that I know, he's always welcomed me in his life and for that, I'll always love him, and his children."
Shiori returns, and is ready for her trial. Mana tells Shido.
"Now let's win this thing. We can't let everyone's hard work be for nothing."
Shido agrees and is now ready for the trial. With everything said, the time has come for the start of the trial. Unfortunately, the others will not be joining the trial since they have to keep an eye out for anyone that might attack the city. Even Shiori's parents aren't around.
August 3, 10:00
District Court
Courtroom No. 2
Shido and Mana go to their stand and await the trial to start. The sound of a gavel hitting a small pedestal echoes throughout the court. At the judges stand sits a old looking man wearing a black judges robe with a red tie and white shirt underneath. He has a rather simple appearance with a bald head and a great grey beard on his face. He looks serious as he announces.
"The court is now in session for the trial of Ms. Shiori Itsuka."
Upon the announcement, the prosecutor in charge of the case suddenly becomes visible to Shido and Mana, and they both think.
"No way!"
Because at the prosecutor stand, is Saori (Dressed as Franziska von Karma). She has dyed her hair black like Shido and has a mischievous smile as she says.
"The prosecution is ready, your honor."
The judge looks awed as he utters in a surprised tone.
"I must say, you look rather young to be a prosecutor, miss…"
Saori introduces herself using a fake name.
"Mei Mitsurugi, your honor."
The judge looks at Shido and is notices that he is also young, and states.
"My, we must have two very promising young lawyers present in my court. I must say, I feel out of place."
Shido takes a good look at the judge and asks.
"Didn't I see you in a videogame?"
The judge nods his head as he answers.
"My grandchildren are fond of these new types of games, so I agreed to let a certain company use my image in their games."
Shido would like to ask more about the judge's resemblance to the judge in games he played last night, but has much more important things to do. So, after delaying, Shido finally says.
"The, um, defense is ready, Your Honor."
Shido did think that this would happen, be he really hoped it wouldn't, he's nervous. He begins to panic a little and thinks.
"Throat clenching, vision fading, room spinning…"
Mana pats his arm and smiles as she says.
"Don't worry so much. We're not alone in this."
Shido takes a deep breath and the judge takes notice of this as he asks.
"Are you sure you're up to this? Murder is a very serious charge, and I must say that I'm not pleased to see such a promising young lady being charged for such a crime."
Shido then says, with more confidence."
"The defense it definitely ready, Your Honor."
The judge nods and then proclaims.
"Very well, prosecutor Mitsurugi, will you explain to the court, the details of the crime at hand?"
Saori smiles as she says.
"Gladly, Your Honor."
Shido feels uneasy since he has no idea of what Saori will say or do. Saori then explains.
"Two nights ago, a young lady named Hibiki Keieisha was murdered at about 6:30 PM. She was killed by a bullet shot from a 9mm pistol, which was recovered at the scene. The scene is the defendants dressing room at Tengu stadium. She was performing a live concert on the night in question."
The judge asks.
"Are you certain that the victim died of a gunshot injury?"
Saori then extends her arm and snaps her finger as she says.
"I have to autopsy report right here, Your Honor."
(Autopsy report submitted to evidence)
Saori continues.
"Our little defendant was arrested on the spot, and with good reason. She was discovered at the crime scene at the time that the police arrived, but the one who originally called the police is my first witness. Her motive, of course, she believed that the victim, her manager, took lewd photos of her and sold them for a sizeable fee."
The judge is a little surprised by this and says.
"I must say, this trial is off to a fast start."
Saori puts her arms on her desk as she has her head lying against the back of her left hand and waging her finger with the other as she confidentially says.
"Well, I do hate to prolong the inevitable, so I'll call my first witness. I had originally intended to have a certain police detective come to testify, but he isn't feeling very well."
Shido is not happy with Saori for making the accusation she has, but doesn't get her intentions yet. The judge nods as the first witness is called. Naturally, Tohka is the first witness. She walks up to the stand and the judge asks.
"Your name and occupation, if you please."
Tohka plainly says.
"Tohka Yatogami, I'm a bodyguard in charge of protecting Shiori."
The judge is stunned again as he says.
"A bodyguard? The young people of today are taking too many of the serious jobs. I fear my job will be next."
Saori becomes a little annoyed as she says with a serious tone.
"Witness, will tell everybody what happened on the night in question."
Tohka looks uncomfortable as she says.
"Yes, I will."
Shido thinks to himself.
"Tohka, please tell the truth, please!"
The judge then says.
"Okay, please tell us what happened. Don't be shy."
Tohka nods.
Testimony
-What happened-
"I had just gotten to my post around 6:00, after having a pre-concert snack."
"I always stand outside Shiori's dressing room. That day was no different."
"Around 6:30, Shiori left her dressing room to get the concert started"
"I don't know when Hibiki entered, or left the room."
"Some time later, I heard a loud noise."
With a sad look "The next thing I knew, they arrested Shiori."
End
Shido thinks.
"Tohka, this must be really hard, but at least she's being honest."
Mana looks Shido and says.
"So far, everything seems okay, but there is one thing."
Shido nods as he says.
"Yeah, I think I see it too."
Saori, in her waging and head lying on her hand position, says.
"I think it's time for the defense to cross-examine my witness."
Shido now thinks that Saori must have seen it as well, but then asks Mana, silently.
"Cross-examine?"
Mana smiles and says.
"You're training, remember? Just press her on what she said and show evidence to the court."
Shido remembers and nods. He then says.
"I'm ready, Your Honor."
Cross-Examination
-What happened-
"I had just gotten to my post around 6:00, after having a pre-concert snack.""
Hold it!
Shido rubs his chin with his finger as he asks.
"Pre-concert snack? Is this common when you work?
Tohka has a little drool on her face as she says.
"Of course! I always eat a snack before Shiori goes on stage. This time I had many things from the snack stand."
Shido is not surprised by that, and ask.
"Is there anything else that you always do at Shiori's concert?"
Tohka nods as she says.
"Of course…."
"I always stand outside Shiori's dressing room. That day was no different."
"Around 6:30, Shiori left her dressing room to get the concert started"
"I don't know when Hibiki entered, or left the room."
Hold it!
Shido stands straight as he asks.
"You don't know when Miss Hibiki entered the dressing room originally?"
Tohka shakes her head as she explains.
"No, Hibiki usually spends most of her time in Shiori's dressing room, so I didn't think much of it. (Sad look) Hibiki really cared for Shiori.
Objection!"
Saori wags her finger as she exclaims, rather coldly.
"So what of it? Humans betray their friends. It's a harsh truth."
The judge shakes his head as he retorts.
"I must say Prosecutor Misturugi, that is a pessimistic life view."
Saori shakes her head as she replies.
"But it is true, Your Baldness."
The judge's eyes widen as he exclaims.
"Excuse me!"
Shido breaks up that impending argument by asking Tohka, rather awkwardly.
"So, is there anything else that DID seem weird, Miss Tohka?"
Tohka crosses her arms and tilts her head as she says.
"Now that you mention it…"
"Some time later, I heard a loud noise."
Hold it!"
Shido rubs his chin, and asks.
"What kind of noise was it?"
Tohka thinks for a second and then answers.
"Oh, it was like… a ban….it was a gunshot! Yeah, it was a gunshot."
Shido catches this one and smiles as he thinks.
"Now this one I can see through. Miss Tohka, will please tell us more about this gunshot?"
Tohka nods and says.
" I heard a gunshot some time later!"
Objection!
Shido slams his hands on his desk as he explains.
"Miss Tohka, I find it weird that you heard such a noise."
Tohka looks confused as she asks.
"What do you mean?"
The judge nods as he requests.
"Yes, why is that weird, ?"
Shido presents the murder weapon and explains, while tapping his fingers against some paperwork that he suddenly produces.
"Simple, the murder weapon, a 9mm pistol, was found equipped with a silencer; now, I find it strange that the witness could even hear such a noise. Clearly, a contradiction."
(Que Objection theme)
The judges eyes widen as he says.
"Why, you're absolutely right, that is strange."
Objection!
Saori is back to waging her finger while her head is lying on her hand as she explains.
"Oh, Souka, you fail to realize a simple truth to that contradiction."
Shido is getting nervous as he asks, while sweating.
"What do you mean?"
Saori stands up straight, extends her arm, and wags her finger.
"Tsk tsk tsk, you shock me. The defendant fired the gun, and then equipped the silencer to the weapon. I spoke to the defendant yesterday, and she showed a bit of ignorance about firearms, so I find it normal that she would make such an error."
Shido can't believe his ears; however, the judge nods in agreement as says.
"Prosecutor Misturugi has a point."
Shido is getting more nervous, but Mana taps his arm again, and suggests.
"Why don't we get Tohka to talk about the events surrounding the gunshot?"
Shido likes the idea, and asks.
"Miss Yatogami, would you tell us more about the gunshot?"
Judge looks at Saori and asks.
"Does the prosecution have any objections?"
Saori remains silent, showing that she is in agreement. The judge then asks Tohka.
"Miss Yatogami, would you please tell us more about what happened?"
Tohka nods slightly and explains about what happened during that time.
Testimony
-The gunshot-
"It was around 8:10 at night. I checked my cell phone to keep track of time."
"I was standing in the hallway near Shiori's dressing room."
"And I heard the gunshot coming from the dressing room, and went to check it out."
"But the door was locked, so I called the police using my phone."
"But I didn't know that Hibiki was the one who was shot."
End
The judge shakes his head as he tells Tohka.
"Young lady, you did the right thing by calling the police."
Tohka doesn't cheer up, but tells the judge.
"Uh, , I'm in my late thirties."
The Judge is stunned as he says.
"Late thirties! But you look so young."
While the Judge is gathering his thoughts, Shido thinks.
"8:10, then that means Shiori was on stage at the time. She couldn't have done it!"
Mana looks at Shido and, sadly, tells him.
"She lied to us."
Shido is surprised and says.
"What, but she said…"
Mana shakes her head and says.
"Think about what she just told us, and look at the evidence."
Cross-Examination
-The gunshot-
"It was around 8:10 at night. I checked my cell phone to keep track of time."
Hold it!
Shido puts his hand to his chin, and asks.
"Are you sure that it was 8:10?"
Tohka looks a little irritated as she answers."
"Of course, I'm sure of it. I said I checked my phone."
Shido presses harder on it.
"But are sure…."
Objection!
Saori wags her finger at Shido as she tells him.
"Please refrain from badgering my witness, or is there something wrong with her testimony?"
Mana looks serious as she tells Shido.
"So, she did see it. Shido look at something we have."
Shido doesn't fully understand, but that changes, once he looks at something he didn't fully look at yet. Then we he looks at "that evidence" he pulls it out.
Take that!"
Shido pulls out the autopsy report and slams his hands on his desk as says, seriously.
"Miss Yatogami, you lied just now in your testimony!"
Tohka becomes angry as she says.
"I did not!"
Shido pulls out some paperwork and smacks his hand against the papers as he explains.
"Just now, you claimed you heard a noise at 8:10, but I think that sounds fishy. Considering that the murder occurred around 6:30!"
Tohka gets a shocked expression and begins to sweat. Shido doesn't like what's going on, but the truth has to come out, so he slams his hands on his desk and declares.
"Miss Yatogami, tell us the truth! What time did you actually hear the gunshot?"
Tohka is clearly getting nervous and starts to sweat a little, and even loosens the collar of her suite, which she continues to do. She nervously says.
"Well..I .."
The judge looks at Tohka with anticipation as he says.
"Well, Miss Yatogami, what time did you hear the gunshot?"
Tohka becomes more visibly upset (making it a good thing that her powers aren't acting up) as she finally shouts.
"Okay! I didn't actually go to Shiori's dressing until about 7:20! I was eating my snacks for a while, okay!"
The judge's eyes widen as he exclaims.
"7:20!? That's a very long time for someone's bodyguard to not be, well, bodyguarding."
Saori starts chuckling as her body can be seen moving up and down a little. She tilts her head back as she explains.
"Our little bodyguard has quite the voracious appetite. I talked with the snack vendors, and they sold all of their goods to her."
Shido takes this moment to raise a point; since he and Mana have realized something.
"Your Honor, Miss Yatogami's new point has raised a new question, did she even hear a gunshot in the first place?"
Tohka gets defensive as quickly retorts.
"I did, I swear I did!"
Objection!
Saori wags her finger as she tells the judge.
"Your Honor, I say we dismiss this witness. She clearly has no real intentions of telling the truth."
Mana looks at Shido as she suggests, rather conflicted.
"Shido, I think Saori has a point. Tohka hasn't been telling the truth so far."
Shido thinks to himself.
"Tohka…I want to help Shiori as much as you do, but I don't know…"
The judge looks at Shido and asks.
" , do you have any objections to dismissing the witness?"
Shido thinks for a moment, and then says his answer.
"Your Honor… I think we should give the witness one more chance. One more chance to tell us the truth."
The judge looks as if he's thinking. He then looks at Tohka, and asks.
"Will you tell us the truth this time?"
Tohka has pleading eyes as she answers.
"Yes, I promise."
Saori stands up straight as she expresses her opinion.
"I disagree. The witness is too closely connected to the defendant. She will most likely lie to protect her."
The judge shakes his head as he responds.
"I agree with , I am willing to give the witness one more chance."
Tohka looks grateful as she readies to tell the "real" truth.
Testimony
-What really happened-
"Okay, so I got my snack at 5:40…I think"
"I found a quiet bench to sit at, and ate my food, which took a while to finish."
"I DID hear a gunshot at around 6:30, but I didn't think much of it."
"I finished around 7:13, but I used the bathroom first."
"Then, finally, I got to my post at 7:20."
"But, Shiori never entered her dressing room, I swear."
End
The judge looks at Tohka with a very serious expression, and asks.
"Are you sure that's all?"
Tohka looks at the ground, but has a very honest tone as she answers.
"Yes…the only other thing that matters was Shiori getting arrested."
The judge nods since he clearly wants to trust Tohka's new testimony. Mana looks back at her brother and looks happier as she tells him.
"I think she told the truth this time."
Shido smiles since Tohka is being honest, and this may make it easier to draw the true line to the truth.
Cross examination
-What really happened-
"Okay, so I got my snack at 5:40…I think"
"I found a quite bench to sit at, and ate my food, which took a while to finish."
"I DID hear a gunshot at around 6:30, but I didn't think much of it."
Hold it!
Shido scratches his head with confusion as he asks a question most people would ask.
"Why didn't you think much of a gunshot?"
Tohka smiles as she answers.
"Because Shiori's opening song was "Shot of Love". She has a gunshot effect sound off occasionally during the first part."
Shido looks at the program and reads the songs that Shiori sang that night.
6:30 Shot of Love
6:35 Heart (FYI this is real Vocaloid song, and not a name I just came up with. But the real name is Kokoro)
6:50 Starduster (FYI this is real Vocaloid song, and not a name I just came up with.)
7:00-7:07 Break
7:12 Lovely World
7:20 The True Choice
7:25 Melt My Heart
7:30-7:40 Break 2
7:41 Nostalgic Days
7:56-8:06 Break 3
Note: TVs will not be airing these songs due to legal issues.
8:10 The Greatest Feeling
8:16 Heartfelt Lullaby
8:27 End of concert
Tohka notices that Shido is reading the program, and points out.
"That program doesn't say anything about the fourth song that Shiori sang. She actually changed "Lovely World" to "Guilty Love"."
Shido is curious about this and asks.
"Why did she do that?"
Objection!
Saoir has her straight expression as she declares.
"That has nothing to do with the case."
Shido argues.
"But what if the reason she changed the song was because of something that happened?"
The judge is skeptical, but says.
" may be correct. Objection denied."
Tohka explains.
"Shiori hurt her arm some time ago. She got a new guitar player a few months ago to help with that."
That gets both Mana and Shido curious, as Shido asks.
"How would a new guitar player help her arm?"
"Because, Shiori used to play guitar herself, but once she hurt her arm, she needed to get someone to play for her. She changed the song because he can't play the guitar riff for "Nostalgic Days" quite right yet."
Mana thinks to herself.
"That girl can sing, play piano and guitar, speak Italian, and dance. I can't help but be impressed."
Aside from that, Shido wonders about something else.
"You mentioned that Shiori hurt her arm. How did that happen?"
Saori jumps in as she answers it for Tohka.
"Shiori fractured her forearm eight months ago. She wears an arm brace to help with it, but her constant waving, signing, and piano playing didn't help with her recovery. I have the medical report right here."
(Doctors Report added to evidence)
Shido and Mana read the report.
Patient: Shiori Itsuka
Physician: Reine Murasame
Diagnosis: Fractured wrist from impact with marble floor.
Treatment: Medication and wearing an arm brace until further complications rise.
Saori continues.
"The defendant fractured her forearm when she fell off the stage during a show at a store opening."
That explains why Shiori is wearing her brace, but Shido feels like raising a point.
"If her arm is fractured, then wouldn't it shatter her already fractured arm?"
Saori responds.
"Hardly, she could have used the opposite hand, or better yet, the gun itself doesn't have that kind of recoil."
Shido gets a little frustrated.
"Damn, why did I have to have such a clever daughter? I don't know whether to be proud or sad right now!"
Saori smirks as she continues to talk.
"Thank you Miss Yatogami, because now I am certain that the defendant is guilty."
Tohka gets upsets and shouts.
"NO SHE ISN'T!"
The judge looks at Tohka and demands.
"The witness will refrain from outbursts, or I will be forced to remove her. Miss Mitsurugi, I hope you have something interesting to say."
Saori stands straight and shrugs.
"Of course, Your Honor. I have something VERY interesting to say."
Shido and Mana are getting more uneasy since Saori has the advantage in this trial. What she says could impact the trial, and without help from the others, Shido and Mana are going to have to prepare quickly.
To be continued...
Author's Note- I had to go with the judge. Also, I meant to establish the date as August 2 in the last chapter, but I think I labeled it as August 1 in some cases.