Take Responsibility.

[wordsmithery]

The ride up to the courtroom occurs, as before, after an allotted period of time for investigation; the elevator waits patiently for you at each floor - third, second, first - before sending you upwards and on your way to the courtroom high above. As always, the trip is a smooth one; granted, after everything that the morning had been, any small comfort that fact may bring is likely not helping much. There are three less of you this time around, a fact reflected in the podium circle standing in the middle of the room; Alani, Milla and Chiyuki have all joined the ranks of the deceased, their podiums draped in black and their portraits in greyscale keeping a watchful eye over the rest of the trial circle. There's still no one present in the lectern above; however, once everyone has found their place in the circle, the Wordsmith's voice can be heard throughout the room. "I can see that matters are beginning to seem dire for you, Apprentices. I am sure that you all cared for Sympathetic in some measure—all except the guilty party. And now it falls to you once again to determine who that is. For your own sake as well as Sympathetic's, hold her killer accountable and have them take responsibility for their actions." Twenty-four Apprentices remain. We'll see how many remain at the end of the day.

Comments

[avoidcomplications]

...

[Kira laughed, a surprisingly casual and light sound as though he'd just heard a genuinely amusing joke. Very calmly, he spoke up in a clear and level voice.]

My name is Yoshikage Kira. I'm 33 years old. My house is in the northeast section of Morioh, where all the villas are, and I am not married.I work as an employee for the Kameyu department store, and I get home every day by eight PM at the latest. I don't smoke, but I occasionally drink.

I am telling you this because I am one who wants a quiet life above all else. I don't trouble myself with things like 'winning' or 'losing' that would cause me to lose sleep.

[The pleasant tone and expression vanished like the cloud of smoke following an explosion. Kira's eyes were ice cold, his voice dropping to something cruel and indifferent.]

I'm tired of all this roundabout discussion and theorizing of secrets and abilities. I only wish to live my quiet life the way that I am, with the pastime that I enjoy.

If you think that is why Chiyuki had to die, I would like to see any of you prove it.

[ STAND NAME: ? ? ? ]
[ STAND MASTER: YOSHIKAGE KIRA ]

[FIGHT]

[tsugomori]

[ Well, shit. ]

It doesn't seem like there's much that I can think of. You're quite the fortunate one, aren't you? To be able to pull something off like this without something obvious behind.

[avoidcomplications]

Luck has always been on my side. But that doesn't automatically condemn me.

[tsugomori]

[ He's bad at interrogations so he's not expecting anything, but... ]

Well, well... the reveal of those paint flecks do, and the fact you lied to Kimbley is enough to do you in. So, do you believe it was worth it now?

[ Just out of curiosity, since it's over technically and everything. ]

[avoidcomplications]

Worth it...? You make it sound like this was all because of that motive.

I do this because it is what I enjoy. I was born with these tastes, and choose to live as the person Yoshikage Kira is. There's nothing wrong with that.

[neverheardofhim]

Alright then, Average. Why don't you take your shirt off? I'm not convinced Mikazuki was on the right track here, is all.

[avoidcomplications]

Of course, I would be glad to. You'll find that I'm not injured at all--

[Which, as it turns out, is true...]

[....but as he starts to take his suit jacket off, some paint flakes fall off of the inside to the floor.]

[introspects]

[ Orihime gasps loudly. ]

...Yoshikage-san...!

[feistytrader]

[...Well damn.]

And those are from the secret room behind the library with all the cans of paint, right?

[avoidcomplications]

...

[Fuck.]

Ah. Well. That's quite unfortunate, isn't it?

[officerhops]

[Well damn]

[iaspis]

.....I see.

Tell me, Kira. You were looking for scientific volumes in the library a while back.

I don't think that's a coincidence.

[introspects]

He told me the same thing, too, when I ran into him in the library.

[avoidcomplications]

...Sodium azide is a very tricky substance, Jasper. If it touches metal or water, it reacts violently.

[quadruples]

[ ...!! Viktor stares, his eyes widening. ]

[elepe]

...My, what a shame...

[Dammit, you were just getting interesting Kira. Why'd it have to be now...]

[uncouthhatcher]

What kinda pastime do you enjoy?

[avoidcomplications]

That's a secret. And hardly one I'm willing to share.

[uncouthhatcher]

Oh come on, seriously? So it's not an ordinary hobby you've got?

[avoidcomplications]

It's ordinary to me. I was born with the tastes I have, and so whatever I do with them is simply natural.

[oyashiromama]

Was that written on the envelope you burned?

[avoidcomplications]

...Yes. I don't mind saying that much, since it seems most of you can guess I lied to Kimbley about my secret.

[sportadork]

You can't just say that and not tell.

... Mainly because I am sure everybody here could think up something much worse. [NOT THAT HE'S ENCOURAGING SUCH AWFUL BEHAVIOR BUT

HE KINDA IS]

[alchemicals]

...I think he likes fireworks.

[By now it's probably very, very clear that "fireworks", when Kimbley uses it, is a euphemism for something bad.]

I told him about what I've done. What my alchemy does. He knows almost everything.

He didn't react to any of it. Not like an "average" person would.

[modernmedicine]

Kimbley mentioned that you have an ability. I'm going to assume that ability would interfere with your desire to have a quiet life.

If that ability were discovered by someone else, someone you couldn't trust to keep the secret, I think it's entirely possible you would murder to make sure your quiet life wasn't disrupted.