Naruhodō doesn't find being a lawyer difficult
I've been thinking about writing about this for a long time, but I doubted that I would find confirmation of this in the Japanese version
I had no reason to doubt it, and now I’ll tell you in more detail why I came to this conclusion.
Even at the very beginning of the game, we are told how Chihiro (Mia) characterizes Naruhodō. And although she jokes about the fact that with his experience the defendants will face a guilty verdict, she still throws out one short phrase that shows Naruhodō’s true abilities
天才(てんさい) [tensai] - genius; prodigy; natural gift
まさに 《恐怖のツッコミ男》 と いったところかしら
masani “kyōfu no tsukkomi otoko” to itta tokoro kashira
He is able to "strike fear into the hearts of his opponents."
Chihiro literally says: He's talented.
And this is not surprising, because Hodō began studying law and preparing for the exam in 2012-2013. How this is confirmed: Hodo himself says that he made this decision after reading an article about Mitsurugi in the newspaper (he also became a prosecutor at the age of 20 - his first trial was on September 10, 2012). Plus Case 3-1, where it turns out that he meets a lady in the courthouse library in August 2013 (the day the lawyer was poisoned in the cafeteria) and talks about his determination to help his friend.
And already on August 3, 2016 he stands behind the defense counter. Considering that in Japan, judicial practice is mandatory for all lawyers for 1-1.5 years, this skill machine was able to achieve enormous results in just 2-3 years.
どうすれば証明できるの! あの人が、灰根さんだ、って……。
dōsureba shōmei dekiru no! Ano hito ga, Hai ne-sanda, tte…….
How can you prove that that person is Haine-san...
daijōbuda yo. Kantan'na hōhō ga aru.
Don't worry. There's a simple way to do this.
Repeatedly during court hearings, he says the phrases: “It’s easy to prove,” “The answer lies on the surface,” “I know that I’m right and I’ll prove it.” Hodo has very well developed logical thinking, which he skillfully operates with (which, by the way, Mitsurugi was impressed with - show him the evidence in 1-4 in the detention center after the first day of the trial and see for yourself)
(ファイルを調べるのが メンドウなだけじゃないか････)
(fairu o shiraberu no ga mendōna dake janai ka)
(It's not that difficult - just study the files).
Even a brief comment about working with documents shows us his attitude towards work.
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And then - the cherry on the cake. Dialogue with Odoroki in 4-1.
一晩中、最悪のカードを配られても 勝てる、ただひとつのゲーム････
hitobanjū, saiaku no kādo o kubara rete mo kateru, tada hitotsu no gēmu
The only game you can win even if you're dealt the worst cards all night...
ポーカーの本質は、 心理を “読み合う ”ところにある。
pōkā no honshitsu wa, shinri o “yomi au” tokoro ni aru.
The essence of poker is to "read each other's minds."
･･･そうだな。ある種、 法廷戦術に通じるものがあるね。
sōda na. Aru tane, hōtei senjutsu ni tsūjiru mono ga aru ne.
That's right. It's kind of similar to courtroom tactics.
Poker like...courtroom tactics!
相手が何を考えているかを、知る。それができれば、勝つ。
aite ga nani o kangaete iru ka o, shiru. Sore ga dekireba, katsu.
Know what your opponent is thinking. If you can do that, you'll win.
sorya-sōdesukedo. Son'na Koto, dekiru hazu ga
That's true. I mean, it's not like I can do that...
人間の思考・感情というものは ････かならず。ningen no shikō kanjō to iu mono wa kanarazu.
Human thoughts and emotions are... always...
karada kara “jōhō” to shite hasshin sa rete iru.
...sent out as "information" from the body.
Naruhodō literally compares court hearings to a game of poker and gives advice to carefully listen to the words of witnesses and opponents and try to predict their next action. And this comparison is very much in the spirit of Hodō: bad cards = bad evidence (which must be used correctly); opponents trying to deceive = witnesses who give false testimony; a dealer who was bribed = a prosecutor who pulls the judge to his side. It may seem like he's only setting up Odoroki to use his ability (to find people's nervous habits), but he puts a share of his three years of experience in court and seven years of experience at the poker table (whatever, he acted the same there) into it. It is impossible to compare something that you have not experienced.
Yes, Naruhodo is nervous, worried, and faces difficulties in court and beyond, but for him this is not something that can disturb his inner harmony. He knows his worth and always does what he is capable of (and sometimes demands the impossible from himself).
