Usagi Tsukino: Ace Attorney

Part 3: Turnabout Classroom! (2)

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Everyone had agreed to ajourn for a recess until Sakura Hiroshi had regained conciousness.

Usagi and Umino had found a spot to eat and discuss things.

Umino was pale and sweating, but he managed to smile gratefully at the odango-haired girl. "Th-thanks a lot, Usagi. If it weren't for you, I would have been finished long ago."

Usagi beamed back. "Hey, it's the least I can do! You know, I like to think that we're at least KINDA friends."

The bespectacled boy smiled at that.

They looked up as someone came up to them. It was Naru.

"What do YOU want?" Usagi growled.

The other girl flinched from her friend's tone. "Look, I'm sorry about before. I - I realise I should've stood by Umino-kun, but those girls had seemed so sincere. And well, I just jumped to conclusions." She bowed apologetically. "I'm so sorry. I promise, I'm with you from now on. Both of you."

Usagi rubbed the back of her head. "Well, I don't know..."

Umino, however, leaped at his girlfriend, crying happily. "Oh, Naru-chan! I'm so glad you believe in me!"

"Yeah, sure." Usagi relented. She suspected that the only reason Naru beleived in them was due to her defence, and not due to any actual belief in the boy's innocence. Still, better not to rain on someone's parade.

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Ami sat with Makoto and Minako. The blonde and the brunette were looking doubtful.

"Do you really think that we're on the right side here?" Minako wondered aloud. "I mean, Usagi is trying really hard to help out Umino, and believes in him. And that Sakura girl is looking pretty suspicious right now."

"Yeah, and the only reason we're against them is to force Usagi to change her mind." Makoto added. "Ami-chan, I'm starting to think that we should support Usagi, as real friends should."

"Shut up." Ami said, glaring angrily. "That....That...idiotic girl is making some very stupid choices. We're only trying to make her see some reason. As for Umino, Hiroshi-san obviosuly can't take stressful situations, and was overwhelmed. Usagi's BADGERING didn't help any, either. I'm POSITIVE that Umino is guilty. We just need the right evidence." She sneered. "Our luck will change, you have my word of it."

Minako and Makoto looked at each other, unconvinced and concerned.

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Usagi's family had watched the preceedings, and were impressed.

"I had no idea that our daughter was so....skilled." Ikuko remarked in wonder.

"She sure has been full of surprises today." Her husband remarked.

"She's just getting lucky." Usagi's little brother snorted. "She'll mess sooner or later, like always."

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"Wow." A girl in Usagi's class sighed. "That was amazing!"

"Yeah, Usagi's awesome!" The boy beside her said. "I just knew that Umino was innocent."

The girl, Keiko, nodded. "So did I. Too bad we're the only ones who think so."

The boy, Jiro, smiled reassuringly. "Hey, come on. I just know that Usagi will end this. Just you wait, she'll prove us right. Just you wait and see."

Keiko smiled appreciatively at her friend, and looked back down at the 'courtroom'.

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Haruna banged her gavel (okay, it was a chalkboard eraser, but you have to make do), and order was restored as the proesecution, the defence, the defendant and the witness returned to their respective places.

"So, let us recap. The witness, Sakura Hiroshi, has accused the defendant, Umino, of having stolen some....undergarments. However, The defence, Usagi Tsukino, has placed considerable doubt on the witness' testimony, as well as her accusations. Hopefully, we can shed some light on this matter."

Inwardly, Haruna grinned. She was having quite a bit of fun here, just as a few others were. Who knew?

Ami frowned. "I hope you are not enjoying yourself here, Haruna-sensei. We are dealing with important matters here. I would hate to think that you were taking all this lightly."

Haruna shook her head, frightened by her student's icy tone. What ahd happened to change the girl? "I assure you, I am taking this matters very seriously."

"I should hope so."

Usagi frowned. "I think we're getting a little off topic here." She looked up at Sakura. "Okay, Hiroshi-san, so care to explain why you were so....unnerved by my cross-examination?"

Sakura gulped, sweating nervously, but still maintaining a strained smirk. "Why, I was feeling a little stressed out, is all. Your constant badgering didn't help me, I can tell you. I hope you're not going to make a habit of that."

Many eyes glared, unconvinced, at the girl.

"So, you stand by your testimony?" Ami said, a little annoyed.

"Yes. Umino stole those panties." Hiroshi shrugged. "I told you I had forgotten something, didn't I? I didn't say what it was because it was too embarrassing."

Ami nodded in understanding. "Ah yes, that explains why you had admitted to being the victim."

"Exactly, so can I go now?"

"You may certainly step down from the stand."

Hirshi did so, smirking confidantly at Usagi. The blonde fumed.

Haruna sighed. "Okay, is there anything more?"

Ami smirked icily. "Of course. We still have that small matter of proving Umino's guilt. He may not have wronged a group, but someone was wronged by his actions. I propose we hear it from the horses mouth."

"Meaning?"

Ami smirked, gesturing her arm outwards. "I call for the defendant to take the stand!"

There were gasps of surprise all around.

Umino hung his indespair, and got up, walking towards the stand like one going to his execution. His hand was in his pocket, and there was clearly moevement inside.

"Hold it." Ami stated. "Umino, whatever you have in their, give it to me. It could be useful."

The boy sighed, taking out a scrap of paper, handing it over to Ami. The blue haired girl looked at the scrap, and put it away.

"So?" Usagi aksed. "What was it?"

"Nothing important." Ami said, quickly.

Usgai narrowed her eyes. She had noticed Ami's eyes widen upon seeing the...whatever it was. Which meant it could be important.

"I ask that that scrap be added to the court record!" Usagi shouted.

"Whatever for?" Ami said, visibly enraged.

"Why not?"

haruna held her head in her hands. "Very well then, just so we can avoid any more posturing."

(Scrap Paper entered into Court Record.)

"Now, if the defendant can state his testimony." Ami stated coldly.

-WITNESS TESTIMONY-

"......"

Ami tapped her fingers on her arm, irritably.

"......"

The blue haired girl was scowling, her fingers tapping faster.

"......"

"SAY SOMETHING ALREADY!" The prosecuter exploded. "WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY!"

"The preying mantis can rotate its head 360 degrees!" Umino shouted out, fear covering his features.

"I meant about the case!"

"Oh." Umino said, calming down, but still visibly nervous. "Well, I don't know what to say, really. I don't remember ever going near the girls locker room. I mean, I have a girlfriend, and I wouldn't dare attempt anything unfaithful."

"I don't care about your excuses. The evidence speaks for itself."

"Well, I do remember taking pictures for the photography club."

Ami's eye twitched. "You mean to tell me that this school has a photography club?"

"Sure, doesn't every school?"

Ami growled. "Just get on with it."

"Well, we were supposed to be taking pictures of daily life here in the school." He held his head thoughtfully. "Now that I think about it, I did pass by the girl's locker room."

"Oh really?" Ami said, smirking.

"Yeah. I tripped, and the camera went off. It was a flash camera, so there was a flash. I heard some shouting, and I quickly ran."

"Why?"

"I recognised the voice. It was...someone I rather not face alone."

"care to elabortate?"

Umino shook his head. "Sorry, but I'd rather not."

"I see.

-WITNESS TESTIMONY END-

"That....is not a very good testimony." Usagi admitted, regretfully.

"Yes." Haruna nodded. "I would have to agree. Not least of which is the lack of evidence to back it up."

"OH." Someone in the audience exclaimed. "I have his camera!" A young boy ran out of the crowd, and handed the camera over.

"Why would you have this?" Haruna asked, being the reciever of the device.

"Well, I'm president of the photography club" The boy said, rubbing his head. "I kinda forgot until Umino mentioned it."

"So, his testimony can be backed up!"

"Perhaps." Ami said coolly. "But we don't know the exact day and time this happened. For all we know, it could have been weeks ago."

"Actually," The photgraphy club president said, "it happened yesterday afternoon, around 12 PM."

Ami glared at the boy. "Whatever! Either case, it doesn't matter!"

"Actaully, it might." haruna said. "Either way, this camera could be important evidence. I'm entering it into the Court record."

(Camera was entered into the Court Record)

"And we also had his photos developed."

Haruna nodded. "Then we shall enter those in too."

(Photos entered into Court Record)

Haruna looked over at Usagi. "Usagi, you may begin your cross-examination."

"Hai." The blonde nodded.

-CROSS-EXAMINATION-

"Umino-kun, if you could repeat your testimony, please."

"Um," The boy said, fidgeting, "wouldn't that be too much of a hassle? I mean, I did just say it not too long ago."

The blonde shook her head. "It's no hassle at all. We need to make sure you didn't make any mistakes, that's all."

"Oh, okay then.

Well, I don't know what to say, really. I don't remember ever going near the girls locker room. I mean, I have a girlfriend, and I wouldn't dare attempt anything unfaithful."

"Noone's accusing you of anything like that."

"Actually," Haruna said nervously, "we kinda are."

Usagi blushed. "Oh! Oops! Oh well, go on, Umino-kun."

"Well, I do remember taking pictures for the photography club."

"What can you tell us about this photos?"

"They are just pictures of people, places and events that I encountered around the school. The club activity for the day was to take pictures focusing on the theme of daily life around the school."

Ami frowned. "Usagi, the photos are unimportant. What we are concerned with here are the events of TODAY, not of yesterday." She shook her head. "This cross-examination is pointless."

Usagi gritted her teeth in frustaration. Friend or not, the blue haired girl was getting on her last nerve. "We shall see about that. Umino, continue please." She began looking through the court record, hoping to find something useful. "Now, did anything unusual happen, see anything out of the ordianry or did you do anything outside of your schedule?"

"Well, I did pass by the girl's locker room."

Usagi nodded. "And why, exactly, were you there?"

The boy shrugged. "I was just doing what the club asked of me, and I was just wondering around. I just passed by, that's all."

Usagi nodded. "Of course. If one could be called a pervert based solely on passing by a certain room or building, then...we'd have a lot people being called perverts."

"Just get this inane conversation over with." Ami said irritably, rubbing her head. "I'm getting a migraine."

Usagi stuck out her tongue. "Be patient, Ami. We'll get this done soon." She looked back at her client. "Once again, please continue, Umino-kun."

"Well, as I walked past, I tripped, and the camera went off. It was a flash camera, so there was a flash of light. I heard some shouting, and I quickly ran."

"Why were they shouting?"

Umino slumped in despair. "I guess they thought that I was a pervert taking pictures, or something."

"And is that why you ran away? Because you didn't want to be accused like that?"

Umino nodded. "That, and, well...."

"And...?"

"I recognised the voice. It was...someone I rather not face alone."

"Like....a bully?"

"I....I can't tell you."

Usagi looked through the court record, and looked at the profiles section. And she looked at the evidence, her eyes shining. Ha, gotcha.

Usagi smirked. "You do not wish to elaborate more on this bully?"

Umino shook his head. "I'd rather not say."

Ami smirked. "Usagi, just admit that you've run out of luck, and end this farce. There's nothing in his testimony to help his case."

"OBJECTION!" Usagi shgouted, pointing her finger outwards. "Umino, I think I know the bully you do not wish to reveal!" Usagi presented Sakura Hiroshi's Profile. "I hope we can all remember this person."

"Th-that's Sakura Hiroshi, the victim!" Ami exclaimed. "Y-you're accusing her of being a - a bully!? Preposterous! Where's your proof!?"

Usagi smirked, and presented one of the 12 photos. "Look carefully at this picture."

Haruna blinked in surprise. "Wh-what's this!?"

The picture clearly showed Hiroshi smilign triumphantly over a beaten young boy, who looked to be bleeding from his mouth and nose.

Ami flinched, an expression of shock on her features. "Th-that's --!"

Haruna frowned, and glared at Hiroshi. You ahve some explaining to do, Hiroshi-san."

"H-he must've doctored it!" Sakura Hiroshi yelled indignantly. "There's no way I'd --!"

"Enough! Now, let me show you the next photo."

Usagi presented a second photo, which showed a running Hiroshi, an angry look on her features.

"The camera probably went off accidentally as Umino was running away." Usagi said, smirking.

"Th-that is.... I would never... I never knew him before in my life!" Sakura Hirsohi was losing her confidence, her voice shaking in nervousness.

Usagi continued to smirk in triumph. "Ah, but that is not true is it? When you came to our classroom earlier, you said that the perpetrator of the 'crime' was Umino. You referred to him by name. But, how the hell did you know his name, if you never met him before? Sure, you could have described him to someone, but I'm sure he's not the only student here with brown, messy hair and wears glasses. So, hod did you know his name, huh?"

"AAAH!" Hiroshi was pale.

"OBJECTION!" Ami shouted. "Hirshi-san is not the one on trial here, even if it is a mock trial. She's not even on the witness stand!"

"Y-yeah!"

Several boys, and a couple of girls, stepped forward. "Actually," one boy, the photography club president, said, "we've all been...victims of Hiroshi-san for some time now." He gulped, looking at the ground. "We were all threatened by Hiroshi-san earlier, and that's why we didn't come forward before."

Usagi nodded. "I understand."

"OBJECTION!" Ami wasn't about to lie down. "Th-this matter is unimportant! We'll deal with Hiroshi's actions later, but right now, we have to first handle the injustices she ahs faced at the hands of that pervert, Umino!"

"OBJECTION!"

They all stared at Minako and Makoto, who had both shouted.

"Ami-chan, this has gone too far!" Makoto cried.

"Yeah! We had our doubts but....we're ready to stand behind Usagi here!"

The blue-haired genius growled. "You traitors! Do you think I'm enjoying this!? I'm doing this for the best of the team. and Mamoru, and Chibi-Usa! I'm doing this to save the future!"

"But Umino is going to eb punished for something he didn't do!"

"SHUT UP! Umino is GUILTY!" Ami sneered. "With all this, you have forgotten one thing: motive! What reason would Hiroshi ahve to go so far to accuse Umino! Hmm? Sjow me some proof!"

Usagi stared sadly at the genius she had once called a friend. "Ami, what's happened to you? What have you become?" She shook her head, and frowned in determination. "Okay, Ami. I accept your challenge. Here's the final, clinching piece of evidence!"

Usagi presented the crumpled scrap paper that was in Umino's pocket.

"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING!?"

Sakura Hirshi, however, was hsaking in fear, a look of panic upon her features.

"All this: the planting of ehr own panties, the accusation of theft, all of it, was so Hirshi could cover up this piece of evidence. I'm guessing she even went so far as to make Umino collect this from the photography club HQ. She was so paranoid to believe that Umino would use this against her, not realising that he didn't even know!"

The picture showed Sakura Hiroshi, once again, but this time, she was intimate...with an older woman.

"Why, this is....!" Haruna gasped. "This woman is Hiroshi-san's homeroom teacher!"

"GAAAAAAAH!!!!!" Hiroshi screamed, foaming at the mouth. "It's true! That little twerp, I didn't care what he said about me, what he revealed, but that picture, would have ruined my poor, dear Keiko-chan! I had ensure he kept quiet, but I knew he was going to use it against me, as revenge for all those times I tormented him! I had to do it, turn everyone against him, so that they wouldn't beleive him! AND YOU HAD TO RUIN EVERYTHING, ODANGO-ATAMA!"

She leapt at Usagi, her features twisted with fury. However, Makoto jumped in the way and hit the enraged bully with a sweeping high kick. The bully eas kncoked out.

Haruna blinked. "Well, seeing as we got ourselves a full confession, I heareby declare the defendant...

NOT GUILTY."

There were cheers all around as Umino slumped in relief.

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Usagi, Makoto and Minako stood together, the brunette and the other blonde giving Usagi congratulatory pats on the back. They stopped as Ami stepped forward.

"I...I'm sorry guys." The blue-haired girl said, frowning. "I...I was just overtaken by it all. At first, I merely took on a different persona, like an actor portraying a role, so I could give my all to beat Usagi. I had hoped that she would give up if faced with a tough enough opponent." She sighed. "However, I soon became that cold, spiteful person. I only realised my mistakes at the end. And, because my actions, Umino-san almost...."

Usagi laid a hand on the genius' should, smiling. "It's okay, Ami-chan, I forgive ya. Besides, you gave me a good fight, figuratively speaking. You were just doing your duty as a prosecutor, that's all."

Ami smiled back. "Thanks, Usagi. And, you know, I can see why you would wish to follow this path. It is quite exciting, surprisingly." She smirked. "Which is why, I have decided to become a prosecutor. Not only so I can make amends for today, but so I can face you again. I won't be as easy to overcome, next time, Tsukino."

Usagi smirked. "I look forward to it, Mizuno."

And so, the four friends went on their way, reunited.

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This is bad.

If she contineus like this....

No! I won't let her ruin everything! Not to let all that I've done be in vain!

And those....idiots, have taken her side!

No, I will not allow it!

I will stop you, Usagi Tsukino! I will save the future.

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And, huzzah, I continue this story.

I apologise, once again, for major OOCness, and for any lack of quality this chapter holds. I hope to improve on future cases, and hopefully it'll play out more in tuen with the games.

The reason I continue this is because someone has favourited this story, and that was enough inspiration to not abandon this story.

I apologise for the long wait. And, can you guess what's going on at the end there?

Well, hope ya enjoyed it (I fear that you won't), and please comment!