The policeman preferred not to mention the conversation he had with the girl to L. Mainly so as not to make him more worried. He was already quite suspicious of his plan. Instead, he decided to go home and call his older sister to explain the situation to her. And if everything went according to plan, they would celebrate their victory. The greatest victory of the Kira case... He wished for it with all his heart!
The two siblings talked to each other for quite some time, both about L's love affairs and about the plan that was at a critical point. Matsuda at one point suggested his sister to do exactly as he did. It simply was easier to pretend they both were a relative of Tomoko who came for just a visit. That was what she should tell to the reception man, but the real reason would be to do her makeup. This of course had to be done on the day of Misa's execution or at least the day before.
His sister then disagreed and said that since their goal was to make the judges and jurors think that actress Misa Amane was on trial, it wasn't beneficial for them to have her makeup done on December 28th, when Tomoko was supposed to have been executed on the 27th. They could be discovered at any time. Matsuda agreed, realizing how complicated his plan was after all. He did well to say nothing to L.
They discussed it for about twenty minutes until they came to the conclusion the best they could do, was to tell Tomoko to run away from the reformatory, so she could stay at Matsuda's sister's house for the night, and do her makeup there. In the end, Matsuda's sister decided to do as her brother told her. She wouldn't be doing Tomoko's makeup at that time, just informing her of their plan. Proper communication was everything for such a risky attempt. She certainly didn't want to disappoint him!
"It would be best, Shioriko to act today, so we can prepare for the trial. See you." Matsuda said and hung up after she greeted him first.
Ordinarily, Shioriko worked every day on the set of a movie to makeup the actors. However, today the shoot was postponed due to weather, so she was given the opportunity to enter the reformatory.
My brother lives the most adventurous life and I know nothing! There's no way I could ever be a policewoman. It's for daredevils! I wonder how he even decided it... No one in our family is a police officer,she thought while the windshield wipers on her car erased the thick tears of the sky. One would think nails were falling instead of raindrops. Until she noticed they weren't drops but... Stones. No, pellets. A hailstorm. She should have expected it. It was winter after all. She just hoped the car bonnet wouldn't break.
Even she didn't know how something like this convinced her to do her brother's favour. On the other hand, though, she had no reason to disagree. Even though she didn't consciously realize it, deep inside lurked a fear, a tiny little worry that she might get herself in trouble. She didn't know how but didn't want to think about it either.
Ever since they were little children, she remembered Matsuda dreaming of adventures, bringing unscrupulous people to justice. She couldn't remember exactly what he had told her once, but the father of an old friend of his in elementary school was a policeman. And whenever he went to his house to play, they heard stories from the father of this child. She certainly didn't acknowledge the father's words, but perhaps he made the stories a little more dramatic since he was a traffic warden. She could have been wrong though. How could she know this man's position in the police department? But anyhow, it's no wonder Matsuda has always loved adventure.That's Touta for you...she thought.
She finally arrived at the institution. With the help of the GPS system of course, since she was in the suburbs of Tokyo and had never been to this area before. If someone were at the reception desk she would pretend to be the girl's cousin. It definitely wasn't the occasion that needed stress. She would go with confidence and assurance just like her brother did. No stress at all!
Fortunately, the man at the front desk was convinced. He didn't seem to suspect anything. On the other hand, Shioriko learned that Tomoko had sessions with a psychologist and she would have to wait for her to finish. So it happened. The young woman sat on a bench, entwining her fingers together.
About half an hour passed when a woman walked past Shioriko. She nodded in greeting. The man at the reception waved his fingered hand forward as if telling her to come.
"As you found out yourself, the therapist finished with the conference. If you don't mind though, I would like your ID card."
So it happened. She passed the security check and now was able to talk to the girl through her ward. After he told her which one was, of course.
*
*
"I see... So, you're the sister of the guy who came yesterday."
"Yes, that's me."
"And what do you want? I thought we had the plan figured out with the cop."
"Well, we discussed some details with my brother you should know. That's the reason of my visit. I didn't want to come, but didn't want to ruin the favour for him either. Am a person who always keeps her promises!"
Huh... The first is loyal to his friend, and the other's loyal to her sibling. It's probably a genetic thing. How stuffy people, damn it! Tomoko thought, but let the woman convey the news nevertheless.
"Touta thought there should be no misunderstanding at a time when the plan is at a critical point, so he sent me to inform you. Besides, we don't have your cell phone number to call you." She said as soon as she finished.
"You did well... After all, I agreed to participate myself," said the girl, as if it were some kind of competition. "So... To recap: I run away from the reformatory on December 26th and stay at your house for a night. You do my makeup on the day of Misa's trial, I take her place, I go to the other world, and Touta's friend gets a happy ending. Isn't that so?"
"Correct," Shioriko confirmed.
Tomoko sank into her bed with her legs spread out and a deep sigh. Her gaze fell on the sticker stars on the window glass.
"What was your name again?"
"Shioriko"
"Well, Shioriko... I know I agreed to do all of this, and that you're both counting on me but... I don't want to die! I mean... Who wants to? And why does the state allow the death penalty? What if a person is innocent and as soon as they die, the judge finds out they were wrong?"
"Am as clueless as you are, girl. Justice itself is a concept that doesn't have a clear answer, precisely because morality is subjective. Everyone knows murder is reprehensible, but what if they're a criminal? My brother has been dealing with these questions for the last year. He didn't find an answer though... Of course, I understand how you might feel, but the matter is purely a matter of heart. That's why I'm glad you're understanding."
Tomoko's eyes were now watering. She looked at the window so that the sunlight would hide her tears.
"But even so... I can't!"
Shioriko noticed the girl's unusual behaviour but preferred not to comment on it.
"Why am I even thinking about this? It's not my fault if the justice system is a complete ass! Now it's over... And she'll win!"
The more Shioriko listened to her, the more her curiosity grew. She didn't want to ask, so as not to seem prying, but who knows what problems this girl carries on her shoulder? It totally seemed she was in need of companionship, even from a stranger. He would let her talk. After all, she had already fulfilled her duty as a sister.
"You know... Not that I'm used to expressing my feelings, but I'd like at least one person to know before I die. My fate is sealed, there's no going back... Well...
»Things have been heard about my family like they're drug dealers, but that probably comes from my great-great-grandfather who was a shipowner. You know what they say about ship owners: That the money doesn't belong to the family and is made by selling drugs. The Uehara estate could still exist, but my great-grandfather refused to take it over for some reason.
»Anyway, for about two months now a classmate of mine has been bothering me. At first, they seemed like simple teasing, so I didn't pay attention. Until one day she found me in the toilets with her gang, blocked the door and pulled my pants down. The three boys in the group touched various forbidden spots. I tried to fight back, but they were stronger than me until they smashed my head against the toilet bowl. I didn't say anything to my parents, thinking I'd finish it myself, so the next day I brought a knife to school as a threat. When she saw me, we were both at the entrance to the porch, and no one saw us. She put her hands out to push me, but I scratched her face. In the end, I was the one who threw her down the stairs."
The more Shioriko listened, the more her face changed expressions. She didn't know what to say about all this, or where to start. Besides, why would the girl open up to a foreigner, especially about something so violent that happened to her?
"I'm not mad the bitch reported me to the principal. All he cares about is going on vacation to Hokkaido every summer. Besides, he's not a policeman to find out who's right or wrong. The point is why shouldn't the juvenile court get involved? Is the favourthatbig? It's not like we'll sit on their backs! Right? I don't understand... I don't understand anymore!" she stuttered the last words while trying to keep her voice normal, so it wouldn't look like she was about to cry.
"She spread the rumours my parents are drug dealers. She's also the daughter of my father's ex. Why wouldn't she know about the family's great fortune?"
"I... Don't know what to say... Really. It's-"
"Horrible?"
"Yes. Exactly that!"
"I know I shouldn't have told you so abruptly, especially in a stranger, but... It just came completely out of the spot. I'm sorry."
"No, Tomoko. It doesn't matter at all. There's nothing better I could do to help you."
"Help me? It's too—"
Before she could finish her sentence, the young woman hugged her, not knowing what else she could do in such a situation. Many thoughts gathered in her mind, how to collect them now?
"Listen, I understand how you might feel. The revelation was abrupt, but you did well to finally get it out of your chest. I promise nothing in regard to your own salvation. We're saving someone else around here. Of course, how could my brother know he chose an innocent candidate? The only reason he did that was because your facial expression and hair are the same as Misa's. And I'm not going to tell you to look on the bright side, because there isn't one."
The girl responded to the hug. "Don't worry... Things are the way they are and don't change. I just... Like to think I'll help in my own way. One is sacrificed to save another. Don't these words sound historic? How many times have such events occurred in world history?"
"Anyway, I'll let Touta know who he's dealing with. And from then on, may God help us..."
Meanwhile, back at the secret base, L had fallen into deep thought. Should he let Misa free in the end? She had broken up with Light, not just as lovers but as partners, so there was no danger of them coming back into contact. On the other hand, it would give her the impression the trial would be cancelled, which was not the case. A person about to be put on the death penalty doesn't just casually go home.
So, how was Matsuda's plan doing? Did he really do all of this or was just trying to ease his bitterness? Perhaps hopefully his beloved would survive. But why would Matsuda go to so much trouble for something that's out of L's reach? He crushed the cookie on the research table. His gaze fell on the TV. He rarely watched TV in his spare time, but he would give it a try. He shouldn't bother Misa. Besides, this morning she had informed him she was a bit unwell. The painkillers he gave her were accepted. Even if he just knocked on the door and left them at the entrance to the room. He didn't feel like talking to her. Hopefully, she'll be better the next day.
He went to press the red button on the remote when he felt a vibration in his jeans pocket. It was the cell phone. Matsuda would have texted him to inform about the plan. The message was not what he expected.
December 25th is Misa's birthday. I didn't remember until I read it in a magazine. If you're thinking of giving her a gift, buy some jewellery. She likes them a lot. If you decide not to get one, buy something of your choice.
December 25th huh? So she was born at Christmas. Her gift will be both birthday and Christmas-like. He would give her the present, no doubt needed. But it shouldn't be too luxurious, but also not too ordinary like a bouquet of flowers. Buying such a person's gift shall be done carefully, even to impress her a little bit.