Take Responsibility.

[andexecutioner]

As before, once the investigation is done the corridor at the northwestern edge of the foyer opens up; it wasn't open, and then it simply was, and the hallway is no less claustrophobic as you enter it. And the podium circle still stands in the middle of the courtroom at the end of those tightly enclosed walls – though the journey may be a bit less cramped, given that there are fewer of you than there were the last time you traversed it. Rideaux, Chitoge and William have joined those with podiums draped in black, their framed, greyed-out profile portraits keeping a watchful eye over the rest of you. Presumably, they're doing so along with Juri; he's nowhere to be seen, but judging from the feeling permeating the room, someone – or something – certainly does see you. Either way, you'll be addressed once you've all found your spots in the circle. "Unconventional is dead; whatever the reason was hardly matters by now. Clearly, whomever acted knew what they were doing; the completion of Rule Seven is possibly on the table for them, as is taking advantage of the incentive if they succeed. It's your job to hold them responsible. Good luck." Twenty-four Competitors remain. How many leave this place is up to you.

Comments

[passional]

Mozu gets dibs on my stuff.

[greenmamabear]

We'll wrap this up quick so you can die in peace then.

[glaciates]

At this rate we're all going to die. We've got to be missing something.

[COME ON GUYS FOCUS......]

[oasisrose]

R-right. We need to take this seriously.

[PLEASE IGNORE THE FACT THAT SHE'S SMILING...]

I'm still not seeing what we're looking for...

[glaciates]

The only piece of evidence we've really got is the metal stuff, right?

[meanttobe]

And the, you know. Doll and matchbox.

[glaciates]

Yeah, but anyone could've gotten one of those dolls out of the machine or gotten a matchbox. The metal stuff's a little weirder.

[meanttobe]

Yeah, I thought we really had something checking all the metal things everyone has... Hey, Kyouko, did you bring it with you? Maybe someone's withholding something, and we can actually like. Compare it?

[...kid put your shirt back on]

[glaciates]

Well, yeah, but... what if they didn't bring it? We've looked at a lot of metal already and nothing seems damaged.

[meanttobe]

That's...a good point. Hm. Why would anyone bring something like that to a trial...?

[glaciates]

Yeah. Seems like a stupid idea, honestly.

[seventhprogenitor]

Ex-act-ly! We might just die here!

[... Despite that, he's oddly cheerful.]

Though, in other words, doesn't that mean it's something that someone can't take off?

[glaciates]

Why would you say that? I would've thought it'd be the opposite, if it's not something we found while looking at everyone's metal stuff.

[seventhprogenitor]

It might be something they don't think of or would look out of place being damaged in the first place. In fact, it could be even more suspicious if they didn't have it.

Though this is as wild a guess as anything else. There's no harm in that, is there?

[glaciates]

Huh, yeah. There's definitely no harm in it, we just need to figure out something to put us on the right track.

[seventhprogenitor]

Clearly. As sad a death as it is, this trial has become fairly... tedious.

[Fucking boring, actually, but that's a nice way to put it.]

[glaciates]

I'm just worried we're all actually going to die.

[you know, instead of worrying about boredom]

[seventhprogenitor]

It does seem fairly evident we will, doesn't it. Well, should this be the last day we speak to one another, I can't say I carry any regrets.

[meanttobe]

Hmm... So, something someone's always got with them? And that...usually looks damaged.

[There are some gears turning in his head.]

[glaciates]

Do you have an idea?

[meanttobe]

[...]

AZ, could we uh. Take a closer look at your...kneecap-thing?

[fittedgloves]

I did, yes. [ And she takes a little plastic bag from a pocket on the inside of her jacket. Sure enough, there's some tiny little flakes of metal in it. ]

Would you like for me to pass it over?

[meanttobe]

Hold on to them for the moment. I don't...have anything to compare them off, but maybe Ferid's on to something.

[oasisrose]

Right. And if it's not something that someone wore... maybe they blocked it with something, instead?

[She muses on it for a moment.]

We checked these over carefully, right? Any signs that the doll was gashed? [It seems as though it would have metal under the wood, after all.]

[andneversaydie]

I'll take good care of it, Inigo.