[Prologue, Friday: Sousei]

[doublecrows]

[WELP]

That woman. She was your partner, correct?

[this is absolutely the conversation Sousei wants to have now, right?]

Comments

[doublecrows]

. . . I'm sorry for your loss.

[this isn't something Sousei will get angry at him for showing condolences over, right??]

And you're right. We are. Somehow, our captors pushed someone hard enough to drive them to homicide.

And now, all the rest of us can do is enter the next phase of this game: the trial of which our instructions spoke.

[disilluded]

[Nope, no anger here! He nods quietly in response, because he definitely accepts those condolences.]

... I suspect it will be set up again, though whether to allow us to fail or succeed I am not yet certain.

[But just like the investigation seemed to be set up to lead them in circles...

His mouth twists.]

Whatever is most amusing to our hosts, most likely.

[doublecrows]

[hmph. . .]

They do seem to take some pleasure in our suffering, which is a bit concerning.

[UNDERSTATEMENT]

[disilluded]

[BIG UNDERSTATEMENT.]

Keep in mind that we still do not know what the criteria for a "win" is in their game with each other.

[That's key, he thinks, in understanding how this game works, and thus how to crack it apart.]

[doublecrows]

. . . I actually have a working hypothesis about that. It's unconfirmed, but if you're curious, I wouldn't mind sharing.

[maybe show a little empathy for the supposed dead man walking, Akechi]

[disilluded]

Oh?

[A quirk of an eyebrow. If nothing else, he can at least try to help brainstorm before he kicked the bucket? Anything helps...]

I'm listening.

[doublecrows]

Have you noticed that our titles are divided into three categories? Heroes, villains and civilians.

Is it just for "aesthetic," or does it have some kind of deeper meaning?

[disilluded]

[Hm]

You believe one side is that of the "villains", and one side is that of the "heroes".

[...]

The one who kills the most, or has the most survivors is the winner, perhaps.

[doublecrows]

Perhaps. Or whichever group manages to completely eradicate the other two. There are many ways to look at it.

But I can't help but feel as though all three groups are meant to compete. Good versus evil versus neutral, even if our captors didn't mention that last alignment.

[disilluded]

[... Hm.]

Which claims the neutral group, then? Or if neither, what is its purpose in existing in this game that is between only those two? The answer to that may have an answer in how to end this game without eradicating an entire group of people.

[doublecrows]

It may. You're right. Unfortunately. . . I don't have any answers to those questions at this point in time.

[disilluded]

It is better to have questions to try to find the answers to, than none at all. It is a direction, at least.

[A beat, and he adds:]

I believe you are onto something. I believe you are intelligent, as well.

[There's a heavy "but" there, though Sousei pauses as if trying to figure out how to put it into words.]

[doublecrows]

. . . but?

[Sousei pauses, but the "but" is so obvious that Akechi can't help but prod into it]

[disilluded]

...Everyone has some sort of facade with which they face the world.

[Sousei keeps his eyes on Akechi carefully, arms crossed.]

I am not sure what it is you're hiding, but your pleasantness is often skin deep.

[You've made too many shithead comments, Akechi--don't think he hasn't noticed them. Picking out shithead comments is his job.]

I believe your purposes in coming to speak with me now are sincere--but it does not sit right with me to leave things as they are without clearing the air.

[If he really is to die tomorrow...]

Consider hard what it is you are trying to accomplish here, and come to a decision for yourself. That is the only advice I have to offer to you.

[He could ask Akechi not to harm people, but in truth he doesn't know exactly what lurks beneath that pleasantness, and he doesn't think that Akechi's a killer or anything--just that there are hard edges under there, and he doesn't know what Akechi means to do by pretending to be so kind, when he clearly has more to him than that. But if Akechi isn't careful, that could come to bite him later as well, if more people catch on to something being just slightly off. With mob mentality, "just slightly off" is more than enough.]

[doublecrows]

[thank god I love it when people call him out on his bullshit]

[he's quiet for a very long moment, staring at Sousei with an even expression. no smile, just a calm sort of neutrality. something detached, something that isn't quite connecting with the situation at hand. something definitely a bit. . . off]

I already know what I wish to accomplish.

[disilluded]

...I do not like that expression at all.

[Oh, thanks, Sousei.]

It has no place in a "game" like this.

[doublecrows]

[OH, THANKS SOUSEI]

. . . oh? And what's wrong with it?

[at least he's back to smiling]

[disilluded]

You are far too detached. Do you care about nothing here but yourself?

[It's a sincere question.]

[doublecrows]

[yes]

No. I care about everyone here.

[he answers quickly, at least]

. . . perhaps, as a detective who primarily investigates homicides, I have just learned how to remove myself from the situation, in order to preserve my own feelings.

[disilluded]

[... There's a long, long pause.

And then Sousei just makes a noncommittal noise.]

... Perhaps.

[...]

Regardless, I did not intend to turn this into an interrogation. Did you require anything else?

[doublecrows]

[he shakes his head]

No, I don't. But I do thank you for your time, Sousei-san.