bang bang bang!

Perhaps the only good thing Aideen could take from this trial anymore was the incredibly relatable looks she and Kaya had exchanged. Yes, that was quality. Truly the pinnacle of friendship, indeed. But then everyone else was being so… so…

“「 Why the fuck are y’all still debating this? Honestly? What the fuck? Dolls don’t kill people! There is no such thing as ghosts! Jesus fuckin’- 」”

Then, of course, she realizes that she is not, in fact, speaking Japanese and scrunches up her face with the switch.

“Look, whatever your name is, Yoona? Yuna? Whatever, like, why don’t you prove it was the doll. Prove to me that the doll fuckin’, whatever, walked around and shit, killed a dude. Do it. I can prove it was Himeno in that he is a person, in possession of the doll, who can actually use his hands to murder. And like, please don’t start off the votin’ for Masamune again… I don’t know how much more of that I can take…”

At least Yori was still here to keep it real. She could appreciate that, except he seemed to be lowkey questioning her, so she wasn’t that appreciative. At least he did it civilly, though. That was good.

“Like, look, that makes sense? But… I don’t want any of you controllin’ the islands, really, but especially not him, with the way he killed that girl. So I’m votin’ to get him out. If there’s a way home, tough shit, I’m not lettin’ someone like that run around for a possibility.”

If only that civil tone could have been maintained, though. Because as soon as Shion opens her mouth-

“Oh my God, can you just shut it, Tsuzuki!”

It’s as if a dam of frustration is ruptured, and Aideen clenches her fist so violently that there’s the slight splintering of wood. Her poor pencil… and more importantly, her poor hand, which now had splinters jammed in it.

“One of your thousands of skills? Try gettin’ one useful skill first. You never contribute anythin’ besides a giant ego! Your talent is playin’ an instrument, that’s it! Stop actin’ like you’re goddamn above us! I’ve got a background in law enforcement, but you don’t see me lordin’ that shit around, Jesus!”

It seemed she couldn’t stop, but she was just so-

This was the kind of personality she hated the most.

“「 Jaz never did any of that, you asshole. The fuck is caterwauling even supposed to mean? She- 」”

Her eye shuts in frustration as she reverts back to English once more. It was so hard, getting a point across in a language she wasn’t entirely comfortable with. But she wouldn’t stand for this- this slander of her friends.

(friends?)

(“Kyaha, you’ll never have real friends, ‘deenie! Just me, because I’m stuck with you.”

She hadn’t even looked up at him to respond, “I don’t want real friends. And especially not you.”)

“She wanted to save herself, like anyone would, and she wasn’t the one who proposed votin’ for Masamune. She just went with it. And I didn’t see you contributin’ there, either, as much as you ran your damn mouth. Your precious buddy Kagata told people to vote for Masamune after he confessed! That’s like, okay, really, are you gonna compare those?“

"And, y’know, as far as I’m concerned, we are morally superior, because we at least try, unlike you! So don’t you dare talk to Kaya like she’s some sort of damn- criminal or somethin’. She’s proposed infinitely more useful shit than you have.”

She needed to… calm down, she needed. To calm down, or people would start getting on her, because that’s what always happened, because Aideen Quinn was mean and that’s all anyone ever got from her. They would probably listen to every word she’d just said, because it was aggressive and they only wanted to see her bad side, but-

She was getting fired up again.

“…Slow your damn roll.”

Her gaze darts around like some sort of- pathetic cornered animal before she manages to calm down minutely, unclenching her hand after another moment.

“…Ow.”

If she was calmer, it was only because she was now distracted by picking bits of wood out of her hand with really dull fingernails. Why had she cut them? This was so inconvenient, really. She’s so focused, all she can give is a muttered- “「 As if anyone’s gonna listen to that shit… 」” -at Masuyo’s words as she blots off pinpricks of blood on her jacket. Agh, what an inconvenience, really.

"Just vote for Himeno… he did it… we all know it… why is there even still debate going on?”

Now, more than anything, she just sounded… tired. Tired of arguing, tired of this trial in general. Her hand really hurt, too.

“Does anyone have a bandaid…”

Aside from the ones already stuck all over her fingers, of course.

But now… Suzume was talking, and… she was so tired. So, so tired. She fixes the other girl with a dull-eyed stare before shrugging.

“It’s Quinn. If you’re not gonna pronounce it right… use my first name… or are you bein’ formal for a reason… ?”

“Completely focused on a mundane thing… ? You’re the one who opened the trial sayin’ the doll did it. And that’s not the only evidence? Have you been… listenin’ to Kaya at all? There’s the hair, the messages, the weirdness of the body, the fact that Kudo had the doll… what else do you need? God… it’s not a damn frame job. Who would go to those lengths for a framin’? It’s really inconceivable. Like, who do you think we are…?”

If people started leaping on everyone with black hair… she would be really annoyed, she thought. Really. But… that seems to be all she has to say on the matter at all, as she trails off again and goes back to rubbing at her palms.

“I don’t care… it was Himeno, everyone believes it except you. Your problem…”

In all honesty, Aideen was not entirely sure how people were still staying on this point of view. They were calling for… proof, was it? Proof that a doll didn’t kill someone? It makes her laugh again, although she’s still unused to genuinely doing that and so seems to default back to her usual cackle. It takes her another moment still to look up from whatever she’s drawing.

“Ahuhuhu… proof? You really want proof that it wasn’t a doll? I mean, fine.”

Still snickering under her breath, she rubs at her eye tiredly before shoving her pencil behind her ear- perhaps so she can get more passionate gesturing in?

“Hey, so, like, y'know that sayin’? Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Same goes for this, don’t it? Dolls don’t kill people, because they aren’t alive and are toys. People kill people, and pass it off as their doll. So, like…. y'know, you guys always do this. Why do you focus on how it was done, when we know who did it?Like, honestly? I don’t care how he got the scratches on the ceiling, or how he broke the door. I’d like to know, sure, but we know it was him, so why aren’t we votin’ and goin’ back to bed?”

And as if to punctuate her words, she casts a vote with a smirk.

But at least one person was listening to her ranting. Maybe two. She shrugs, glancing over at Ren. 

“I dunno, I don’t do image editin’. I’m no good with tecnology? But, like, he had all the doll stuff… hair and stuff, and wasn’t he wearin’ a hoodie… jacket… before? Like, okay, whatever, I’m no expert, but. That’s pretty easy to fake.”

And then– speak and he shall appear, was that the saying? Hyouri finally speaks up, only to contribute a laughable sentiment, in her opinion, and she turns a sardonic smirk in his direction almost instantly.

“Dolls don’t have souls. You do. Pretty shitty to kill your friend, innit? Why’d you do it?”

She’s prepared to go back to not paying attention (or perhaps she is paying attention, given the speed at which she rebuts everyone who dares argue with her?) but then… Kaya speaks up, and she can’t help but give a genuine laugh, which once more sounds like she’s got something stuck in her throat.

“Kyehe-ha! Damn, Kaya! That’s, like, the most thorough explanation I’ve ever heard for why dolls don’t kill people.”

Still laughing, she gives a tiny round of applause in Kaya’s direction. Thanks, Aideen.

“But, like, she’s right in just about everythin’. Why would you have given your supposedly ”~*haunted*~“ doll to your friend? Doesn’t seem like the most friendly thing to do, y'know? Just like killin’ her isn’t friendly, kyehaha…”

Say what you want for the subject matter of this trial- and boy, she had a lot to say- but Aideen was at least having a good time listening to all these ridiculous defenses for why it could be a doll… for about five minutes. Then, she gets bored again and goes back to her drawing. At least she’s consistent? There is one final thing, though…

“I’m not riskin’ my own life because y'all fuckers thought you could vote for the doll, just sayin’… you’re gonna mistrial if you do that, and I won’t allow it…”

Truth be told, Aideen had not investigated much. She’d laughed at Katsuki’s joke, which she didn’t understand that much but was probably funny, finished her drawing of the body, poked around a bit… and then she and Katsuki had gotten popcorn. All in all, a great, productive investigation, and the trial would surely be over quickly, she hoped, so long as people didn’t-

“…What?”

Now, she wasn’t one for horror in the least. Haunted houses were not her style, since she was the type to jump and punch the actors in the faces by accident. She preferred westerns to horror movies, since they were all so… cheesy. Unbelievable. 

“「 You've gotta be shittin’ me, dude. 」”

That as well.

She wonders, for a moment, if she hasn’t been mysteriously deposited in some 2-star horror movie with terrible effects. It’s impossible to keep the look of complete exasperation off her face, and honestly, she makes no effort to at all as Suzume goes on and on, occasionally interspersing the speech with deep sighs.

She just wanted to go to bed, really, but this…

“Okay, uh, I was goin’ to say that we really don’t need to deliberate about this at all, do we? Since it’s so obvious who did it, but… I mean, you honestly can't  be serious in sayin’… the doll did it? Like, did I miss some memo that it’s propose-impossible-theories day?”

And on she goes, rapidly sounding more and more irate with every word.

“Look, I don’t care what the guy said, but that doll he has is literally just a doll. Ghosts don’t exist. Haunted dolls don’t exist? I thought we were all rational, talented people… I mean, most of us? I guess? I had some faith, but hey! Whatever! It looks bad for… Himeno-san, was it? Because, you know… it was… him…?”

A really unimpressed look is shot in Hyouri’s direction, and then Suzume’s, and then Aideen rolls her eye and begins digging through her bag.

“I mean, I’d love to know how he got that shit on the ceiling, but, like… sorry for accusin’ this early and all, but if y'all are gonna jump in with the haunted doll shit straight out the gate, I’m gonna have to stop you right there before I get a migraine? You feel? And then, like… even if hey, I think to myself, Aideen, why don’t you go along with the paranormal activity stuff… I can’t even take that seriously, honestly. But, like, say the doll possessed him? Or whatever? Y'know? No, I don’t even know. It’s bullshit, like I said, but hey, don’t listen to me, I’m no expert…”

With that, she barks out a short, choking laugh, yanking her sketchbook from her bag and flipping to a blank page. It seems she’s… no longer in the mood for talking? Well, wait.

“Any more questions- hopefully about actual evidence that makes sense- just flag me down, hey?”

Aideen had seen some gross bodies in her time. Even worse, she’d had to draw them in minute detail. Perhaps years ago she had cringed and felt ill at the sight of a limb out of place or blood or anything like that, but now…

God, she was just tired.

Of course no one would kill at a respectable time again, so she had to be woken before noon, or even eleven. Aideen was nothing if not a stereotypical teen in that she didn’t like being awoken, especially not rudely like this, if that had not been obvious with her dreary, late arrivals at crime scenes in the past. 

This time was no different. After pulling her hair back (she really would have to ask Katsuki for that haircut soon) she grabs her bag and almost immediately jams earbuds in as she shuffles out of her room. She really was seeing the benefit of them, when the thing they were attached to wasn’t full of guzheng music. It was actually pretty relaxing, especially at ass-o'clock when she didn’t want to talk with any of her annoying classmates. 

And so she arrives at the scene of the crime. 

Perhaps years ago she would have cringed, as stated, but now she just… stares, disgusted. Not out of any sort of fear or repulsion, but disgust at whoever had gone much too far over-the-top with this. Had she particularly liked the victim from the very small amount they’d interacted? No. Did she deserve this? No. Did Aideen have to draw this incredibly anatomically incorrect body? Indeed she did, and she wasn’t happy about it.

With nothing more than a scowl to indicate she’d even registered the gruesome death at all, Aideen uses the space formed by other, less seasoned classmates as they flee to scoot in and get a good vantage point. Boy was she putting off having to touch the body at all. She wasn’t in the mood for blood all over her poor hands, so she just… took an especially long time drawing. Not that there was a lack of things to draw. God, this was like reliving when she’d first started with people and put arms in the wrong place… although with less blood, less nasty words. Euck. Whoever this killer was, she knew already she would be more than content to send them directly into the sun. She would probably wave goodbye, or use one of those handkerchiefs like they did when people got on boats and their loved ones stood on the dock. Bidding them adieu, wasn’t it?

Frankly, there were few things that Aideen wanted to do less than watch two identical stuffed bears duke it out on video. Almost as soon as she’s hit play on the annoying video she receives, she tosses the keycard aside to her bed, going back to… whatever she does in her room. In this case, taping up pictures on the wall. She’s perfectly content to continue straight-up ignoring the video until she hears the call to go meet up. As if the keycard is at fault, a dirty glare is shot in its direction, because one of the few things she wanted to do less than watch the video was receive another motive. Still, she valued her life enough to suck it up and go, so with the last picture taped up, she retrieves her bag and grumpily heads out of the hotel, jamming headphones in her ears as she goes. 

While sure, Aideen had enough sense to go to the meeting, she certainly doesn’t have enough respect for the entire practice of giving out motives to remove the headphones at all. In fact, she seems to turn the volume up several notches. At least, following her episode in the trial, she seems to be back to her usual difficult self? Is that even a good thing? 

Anyway, though. She didn’t understand the motive so much. Not like she was going to be one of those people who said that out loud, as if the bear was going to change his mind, but… yeah. She does… consider something for a moment, tilting her head slightly like a curious dog, but thinks better of mentioning it and turns to leave as soon as she’s able. Way to keep up the social skills, dude! Who knows where she even goes. Probably back to her room.

—

Yet alas, that evening Aideen is forced to exit her room once more in search of sustenance. After the food motive, she’d run out of apples, and so actually had to go socialize to get dinner and such. It was probably healthier this way, but damn if it wasn’t a hassle. Especially with her complete lack of kitchen ability, she had often wondered if it was worth risking burning down the entire island for a sandwich or something. 

But… she was nothing if not hungry. 

So, looking furtive, like she’s up to something (even though she isn’t this time!) Aideen shuffles into the Mizu kitchens (they had re-heatable food there) only an hour or two before they’re set to close. This way, she reasoned, there was a lower chance of someone being there-

And sadly, her reasoning fails. As soon as she steps in the door, her eye narrows at the sight of… who was this? She had a vague memory of the pink hair… doing something… annoying. However, just like much of the other things from that trial, she can’t quite form a solid memory of who this was, including a name, which left her with-

“You’re the one who talk-…”

Thankfully enough, she cuts herself off before that thought gets much further. Even if she wasn’t making active efforts towards being ‘nice’ anymore, she didn’t want to straight-up be an ass. 

“…Uh. What are you… makin’?”

An indifferent view on death- that’s what Aideen strove to present, and in all honesty, it came quite naturally. She simply wasn’t affected. It wasn’t anything special, or a lack of a heart or some such silly emotional excuse for it. Aideen just… didn’t care. 

(But then again, there was always an exception.)

Although she still… was developing a headache. Quite a bad one, really, like her brain was trying to escape her skull. That seems to be drawing most of her attention, her attempts to try and focus on anything coming up fruitless as she winces. It felt like… like her brain was stuffed with cotton, and she had to slog through it to recall what was happening around her. Distantly she heard someone talking- she’d thought that person talked too much in the trial, too, what was her name? Sumia? Suzie? Aideen couldn’t recall, but if she’d been in the mood for talking, she would have been happy to snap out about keeping your damn morals to yourself, no one gives a fuck. Also someone was… on the ground? She didn’t know what was happening there, honestly. And Shion had left at some point, which was great. There was still too much going on.

Luckily enough, it seems, she’s more content (or discontent) with rubbing a hand across her temple and staring at her podium, even as the execution begins. 

Perhaps it’s good for her that she has a hard time focusing with the loud music, the colors and the crowd. She does try- it was respectful to observe, right? Or wasn’t it? Maybe… it wasn’t. Wouldn’t Jaz want her to remember (ha!) her as she was before one of these theatrical, humiliating deaths? Well, that was fine with Aideen.

(And it was, of course, only for that reason. Aideen felt indifferent about death. She didn’t really care that much that Jaz was-)

Sure, she could still hear, but she tears her gaze away from the screen, retrieving her pencil from where it’d rolled across her podium. As the execution drags on and on, Aideen listens, but she doesn’t look up once, not even at the sound of slamming or voices or anything like that. Instead, she draws… something. Surely she shouldn’t have been grateful for her current state, but her inability to recall what was happening only moments after it occurred was coming in handy at this moment. Ironic, ironic, that this was the thing she wanted to avoid most and she was thanking it. 

A sound of a scream, and… 

She looks up at the crash, finally, less-than-blank gaze fixing on the rubble and body as it’s dumped. She stares and stares for several moments, expression twisting through a whole myriad of emotions before finally settling on… confusion once more. 

“「 …Jaz? 」”

Why had this happened? She couldn’t quite… put her finger on it. But Jaz was now dead, that was that, and she shouldn’t have been upset in the least because she was Aideen Quinn and she didn’t- care. About anyone- she didn’t care. She really didn’t.

Her head really hurt, at this point. Perhaps it was convenient that she could scrub a hand across her eye (probably dust, but-) and disguise it as another press of her hand to her temple. 

Now, after these… people left. She needed to leave. Her sketchbook is messily shoved into her bag, the two objects picked up with a confused look at the labels on them, and Aideen turns to leave, only to see… Ayano entering. 

Right, they hadn’t been there. That was why she had the labelled… thing. She had to do something. It was… for Ayano, but. She didn’t want to talk in this state. So, as her embarrassingly dizzy, shuffling feet carry her from the room and she passes the psychologist, she gives what she hopes is a brief excuse. 

“I… later, I need to. Talk to you… later. Yes.”

Good one, Aideen. Totally comprehensible. 

Sadly, she only makes it to around the elevator before she once more seems befuddled, staring around her like she’s not sure how she’d gotten there. 

Aideen was having trouble focusing. 

The last time this had happened was… years ago. She knew that much, and she knew her name, so that was a good sign, and she knew that the person yelling at her… was Jaz. And she even vaguely remembered why she was getting yelled at. Enough to haltingly retort, at least.

(But Jaz had been trying to… what, spare her? Aideen didn’t get it. They had been friends, and she’d been lied to- she could recall, vaguely- so why had Jaz not lied to accuse her?

Although she finds it hard to identify the emotion that comes with the realization, she would later categorize it as relief.)

“「 You… wouldn’t have used me… you didn’t- I-… I had a plan and- you… I… what was I goin’ to say… 」”

There was something she wanted to say. Something she needed to tell Jaz before… she was dragged away like everyone else. That was what happened to killers, and she was a killer, Aideen could remember that because she’d had to explain that she thought it simply couldn’t be true. 

As she tries to recall what it was- because it was important, she knew, she needed to- say something… she presses a hand to her forehead, eyes slipping in and out of focus as they fix on the podium, those around her yelling. God, they were so annoying. She couldn’t really find it in her to tell them off at the moment, not in this state, but in spirit she definitely was. 

There’s one voice that does stand out momentarily, though. The cowboy guy… his name escaped her, but she fixes her gaze on his face blearily, managing to look scathing even though she was already rapidly forgetting what she’d said only a few minutes earlier. Truly impressive.

“You say that… like I want people to trust me. Spoiler… I couldn’t give less of a fuck, because I don’t trust you people. Maybe- Maybe if you had friends…” She snorts out an incredulous laugh at the idea, because she had friends now, didn’t she? “If you had friends… you’d see what I was- agh, just shut up.”

Well, she tried. As she finishes her little rebuttal (not as cool as she’d intended, but there was an effort), she scratches her head slightly, unsure why it was so… fuzzy.

“「 How… did I get here? 」”

Again she asks, once more confused even though, at some point moments ago, she’d realized that there was a trial going on. It’s even more fruitless because the person on her right- he never spoke, and then on her left was Shion, and if there was one thing Aideen was sure of it was that she hated Shion. Her smug face and her not-listening and her stubbornness. It was embarrassing, to be in such a state in front of her. But anyway, it was useless because neither of them would hear her or bother to respond.

Something was certainly wrong, she thinks, for her to look up and stare across the circle at Jaz again, and… they’d talked, right? Before the trial and- recently?

Her confused staring (someone had once equated it to a record on repeat, the way she acted) is interrupted by a voice she doesn’t recognize. Her hand drops from her face and she turns to stare at the other, not quite registering the fact that English is being spoken and it’s directed at her. 

“「 I’m… fine. 」”

She was becoming more and more aware that she was, in fact, not fine, but hell if she was going to spill her embarrassing issues with someone she didn’t know. Good old Aideen, mistrustful even in the face of an obvious sort of health issue. Way to keep it real, champ.

“「 Yes, Aideen. Quinn… Aideen Quinn. It means fire or somethin’, I don’t remember. Stop yellin’ at Jaz. 」”

And once more she came back around to the ultimate issue. Something had happened to Jaz, and Aideen needed to tell her something, it was on the tip of her tongue but for some reason she- couldn’t recall at all! It was so frustrating, really! She was almost certain it was something that absolutely had to be said, some sort of friendly thing that she didn’t usually say… but that only served to make it harder to remember. 

Speak of the devil. Before Aideen’s gaze can get too unfocused off Yona, Jaz appears next to her, and the artist blinks in surprise, trying to register. If Ayano was alive? Certainly they would be alive, but why was Jaz speaking like she couldn’t see them again? It wasn’t as if-

Oh, right. She takes the card, her face twisting from a sort of hope (pathetic, really) to a blankness that seemed practiced, at this point. Either that or she was just cursed with a really grumpy resting face.

“「 I’m sure… she’s fine. She’s not here, right? Wait… maybe not fine, then. Those other two died… 」”

But that wasn’t the right thing to say.

“「 …Sorry. I’ll give it to her.  」”

Her blank expression only grows darker as the mp3 player is set on her podium as well, and she realizes that this was like- final words. She sometimes heard people bargaining in the interrogation rooms, trying to get whoever was interviewing them to ‘tell my wife I love her!’ or something like that before they were dragged out. And that seemed to be what Jaz was doing to her. Giving a goodbye. 

“「 Why… me? 」”

As previously stated, Aideen had never been truly upset about one of the deaths before. She considered that one of her strong points, really, that she wasn’t affected. But now- she didn’t want Jaz to die. She didn't want the mp3 player or the card, she wanted… 

(God, it was so embarrassing. And a bad idea at this point, to boot. After all, although she couldn’t quite recall, something had triggered her attack.

But… what she wanted was a friend.)

She can only stare blankly at the pieces of paper labelling the two gifts, inwardly thankful but unable to say anything at all. She was glad Jaz understood but wasn’t making a big deal, and it was really actually useful, given the fact that she was already confused as to why Yona was standing there next to them as well. But she doesn’t say anything. No, instead, Aideen’s face screws up like she’s trying her hardest to remember something, hand unconsciously reaching out to pick the two objects up and hold them in her slightly sweaty palm. 

Something… she wanted to say.

(“You know,” the boy says, unceremoniously tossing a can of soda at her feet, “you’re supposed to thank me for being such a kind, caring cousin and getting you a soda.”

She doesn’t even look up from her drawing as she replies: “Why would I thank you if I don’t like you?”)

That was it! That was it, she remembered- for some reason it had taken her forever, the length of this obnoxiously long post, but she knew what she meant to say to Jaz… and Jaz was leaving. Like a fish Aideen’s mouth opens and closes several times, fingers on her free hand fumbling for a pencil in her bag so she can write down the words to avoid yet another long internal monologue of recollection. 

But- she wanted to say.

Somewhat shakily (they told her not to move in this state, but really, she wasn’t some grandma) she scoots out from behind her podium, breaking into a powerwalk after Jaz and reaching out to grab the other girl’s wrist when she catches up. It was important she said this. Very important, and also embarrassing, so she hoped no one was listening.

“「 I wanted to… thank you. For- thank you for being my friend. Even if you… lied. Before that. It was… I had a good time. I’ll- keep your things safe. Thank you. 」”

She nods once, face turning red to match her hair before she releases Jaz’s wrist and turns back around to stand behind her podium again. Sure, it seemed out of character and all that, and she still couldn’t remember… why that was so important, but. It was. She was glad she’d said it, even if she was confused as to why and why she had someone else’s keycard in her hand and where she was-

The end of the trial had, frankly, been a mess. First she had been mentioned as a suspect, and someone had mentioned that the culprit was a lousy shot and she’d been opening her mouth to retort but thought better of it because it was petty. Surely no one would have the gall to actually accuse her of anything, and thankfully, that theory was quickly brushed over in favor of… well, she wasn’t sure what was happening. 

And yet she found herself silently rooting for Jaz as the other defended herself, which was odd, because:

Aideen Quinn did not make friends. 

That was something she had willingly inflicted on herself. A choice to live in isolation for a reason that she found incredibly logical, actually. And sure, she'd said she was friends with others at school and such, because that’s what you were meant to do, but she’d not considered anyone an actual friend of hers for… years? Years and years. 

The thing was that she didn't understand friendship and the trust and faith that came with it, because she was basely incapable of exhibiting this level of faith in another person. (Or she thought, at least). What was the point in emotionally investing yourself in what someone else would do, she wondered, if they would inevitably betray you?

And yet.

[look we’re friends right.]

[and friends are supposed to do this kind of stuff or something.]

Had she really, 100% believed it wasn’t Jaz? It was hard to tell, but for the first time in years, Aideen had allowed herself to have at least some semblance of faith in another person. And look where it had ended up getting her. 

“A… chunk of hair.”

Because Finn was having a wild concert experience, Aideen neglects to contribute much at the end of the trial at all, not even managing to get a vote in in her daze.

Stop voting! she wanted to yell. But-

Instead, she watches, and finally… the votes are deemed correct. And… Aideen had failed. She had told not one but two people that she would keep Jaz out of trouble this trial, and here she was- one of those people was now the killer. 

As if she needed more of a reason to equate trust to failure.

Instead, as the announcement of their correctness finishes in its usual drawn-out way, Aideen’s eye widens and narrows in turn, as if she’s not sure if she’s surprised or angry. Her hands ball into fists on her podium (thankfully clutching a pencil this time, so there wouldn’t be ink everywhere) and she opens her mouth to say something. She probably needed to say something. 

“You… goddamn liar- you told me it… wasn’t you! You-" 

But again, had she really believed that?

"Why… Why did you act all buddy-buddy only to do this? Why’d you let me say… we were… 「 You just ran around with us like it was nothin’! I could have- have helped you, I said that! We… trusted you… 」”

And there was the issue. Aideen had trusted, to some degree, and now…

She was upset. Not just upset, given the utterly hurt expression on her face. She was… something. She’d never been good at describing her emotions, mostly because she tried to avoid them for a reason. And yet, here they were, and she felt… dizzy.

If she was more metaphorical and stuff, she would have described it like a wave. A buzzing wave that made her entire body feel like it wasn’t her body. That was what feeling upset felt like. Aideen hadn’t been upset over a single murder or death until now, really, and there was always the reason for that.

She needed to stop right then, before-

(She remembered, there was an officer who worked at a desk in the front of the station. She’d talked to him- he was nice and let her take the evidence folders before they were filed away, and then-

She hid under a bench and there was smoke and a knife and-

He had been there, she knew, but- she couldn't remember.)

She couldn’t remember. 

She realizes too late that she can’t remember, too distracted by the overwhelming distress she was feeling (the first time in years), and when it strikes her, she goes silent near-instantly, her face shifting into… fear, of all things. 

What had she been doing? Going to… tell someone something. Her gaze shifts around the room, focusing blearily on… Kaya. Aideen wanted to tell her something. To… apologize? What for? Why was she apologizing, she never apologized, really. And then Jaz was… something had happened to Jaz, but as Aideen tried to recall what it was, everything only seemed to slip further away, and why was she so cold and upset?She didn’t get it. 

Everything escapes her mind like she was trying to grab smoke or something out of the air, leaving it half-empty, and at some point she covers her face with her hands- in an effort to hide? When she lowers them, she blinks dazedly at the room, not quite… understanding.

“「 How did I… get here? 」”

That was… an odd question to ask. But there were people she… vaguely recognized around, so she could just ask them and try to quell her rapidly-growing panic. 

“「 Where is this? Where… how- I- what happened, or… I can’t-… remember? Jaz was… 」”

That’s about as far as she gets before she trails off again, staring in confusion down at her sketchbook still open on her podium.

Angry red-head. Angry red-head? That had to have been referring to her, of course, and if there was one thing Aideen had in droves, it was pride. Who did this girl think she was, not even making eye contact to insult her? At least Aideen had more class than that. She thought it was completely justified to shoot the chiptor-whatever-ologist a nasty look.

“I’ve got a name, asshat. It’s even on my podium for people like you, if you could be assed to look up from your game. You know there’s a trial goin’ on, right? Try proposin’ somethin’ useful and then you can not pay attention.”

Pride, indeed. 

“Anyway, given the fact that there were no signs of a struggle, yes? I’m going to say the gun did not, in fact, switch hands. Wow.”

Then it was onto Sora, who did seem to be trying to keep it civil. She was thankful for that, really- he seemed like a good dude, even if she had to argue with him.

“I appreciate… your efforts in keepin’ a personal bias out, but. You have yet to actually clear Fujino with solid evidence. Nor does your alibi excuse you as an accomplice unless Setsuna can clear you. Also… there was a trap. On the paper that… you found? Right?”

Thankfully, Yori seems to be keeping up his reliable thing and covers in that regard, so she can focus on more pressing issues for the moment. 

“I still don’t see how this is really a callback to previous murders? There was nothin’ from the last case, for example, and the link to the second one was… a gun? You know guns are used in like 70% of murders, right? And the third was… what? It seems more like a coincidence than anythin’, so I don’t think we should bank on it being someone from Kaze necessarily. I mean, if someone wants to explain why it has to be, fine. ”

“Also, literally… what will revealing other people’s secrets solve?”

God, she was so confused. Free her from this flesh prison. 

At least Yori still somehow managed to stoke her pride more by asking her about guns. If there was one thing she was good at, it was Gun Facts™. That and drawing, but. 

“Okay, hm… I originally… thought that the gun could have been fired with the hook, but that really doesn’t make much sense, as it would have to be mounted on something to have hit her thigh? But then, the thing with the plan drawn out said ‘Bang’, so- hm. Take that as you will. Anyway, though, what I found lookin’ around was kinda interestin’. Given the layout of the room, see…”

Here, she pauses to scribble something out on a page of her sketchbook and holds it up. 

“So, like, the door’s here and the machines are here, right? So you’d think that the bullets would be on the side of the door. However, on the ice machine at least, it was like- across. No bias to either side, so- it would have had to have been fired from here.”

And she draws a line to indicate. 

“So… were they in the room, then? Who knows. That’s all I can say in that regard, though. I’d probably attribute the bullets hittin’ other things to shitty aim, though. Like, how many people here are expert sharpshooters?”

Wow, that was intensive. Nice interactive presentation, Aideen. 

Although she would never actually admit it and would probably go into a porcupine-like level of thorniness if someone pointed it out to her, when Jaz presents an alibi that makes sense and defends herself, the artist does… relax minutely. Lowkey. She hadn’t been that concerned, after all.

But that begged the question of what had actually happened.

“Look, so y'all think that the victim made the note? Cool. In that case, then, she knew someone had a 'specific skillset’, which would imply the culprit was from Mizu. In that regard… Fujino remains a suspect for now. Other people…”

She gives a blank glance around the trial room, eventually fixing on… Hyouri. 

“The hair… hey, don’t they make dolls with like, real human hair? In weird colors… like purple. What’s your alibi, doll? Kyehaha.”

While her original intention had been to not contribute past her initial statement unless prompted, Aideen found herself rapidly becoming more and more irate at- at the ridiculousness that was already forming. Lifting her head from whatever she’s drawing, she gives Tori and then Shion a very exasperated look.

“Those hearin’ tests were goddamn useless last time, and you really wanna try ‘em again? Really? Do you just have, like, the shortest-term memory ever? Sure, their ears probably would have been ringin’ after shootin’ it, but there’s not gonna be residual effects this late. But, hey, if you wanna waste time and go around to everyone, Tsuzuki, be my guest. 「 At least you’ll be out of the way. 」”

The next thing that catches her attention- well, multiple things really, because everyone seems to be dead-set on discrediting the fact that the hair was fake. Very obviously so. There was one rebuttal that stood out especially, though, and left her giving Yuki an incredulous look.

“No, what, I- a plant. A fake. Someone planted it. Not an actual plant. Jeez, how dumb do you think I am? There’s literally no good reason for there to be hair there unless someone planted it, and if you were plantin’ it, why the fuck would you use your own hair, especially if it was purple? That’s just stupid. Given the whole setup of this case, I’d bank on the killer not being a complete idiot.”

Her gaze shifts briefly to Jaz (sadly no longer directly across the courtroom, so she couldn’t deliver exasperated looks) as the musician speaks, and she seems to manage a look that isn’t scathing disgust for a split-second. Truly a miracle. 

“Jaz is right. It’s not unthinkable that someone got hair dye- or just brought it- and then dyed hair purple. Like I said, as someone with relatively distinctive hair, I wouldn’t leave that shit lyin’ around even if I was tryin’ to frame someone. It’s too obvious.”

Her hand flexes into a fist on her podium for a moment and she glances away, obviously considering something, before next turning her attention to Kaya. Once more her expression evens out into something not that grumpy. A miracle, indeed.

“Take it easy, Kaya… she’s right, though. I was with Sora until about 3:30, so unless he sprinted all the way over to the ice room to meet with the victim, I doubt he did it. That’s not to say the laundry basket isn’t relevant, though…”

Instead of finishing that statement, she trails off awkwardly. Thanks. No worries, though, because she’s back to pure annoyance when Shion opens her mouth again.

“Wow, Tsuzuki, as if I needed more indication that you literally don’t listen to anythin’ I say- when the fuck did I cover for anyone? I believe I told you quite explicitly that I wouldn’t cover for anyone. Try clearin’ out your fuckin’ miraculous ears sometime, Jesus. I’m only takin’ a realistic approach, and that’s that a lot of the evidence in this case was probably planted to throw us off. But whatever. Do your little hearin’ tests and solve absolutely nothin’, I don’t care.”

She actually kind of felt bad- not for Shion, of course, but because she had just told Kaya to take it easy and now she was getting all involved in arguments again. Hopefully the other would understand that she had an obligation to defend her pride. Ordinarily she wouldn’t have really cared all that much, but- well, things had changed, if only a bit, and she had to… readjust. 

“…Sorry for derailin’. Uh, I still think the message is faked. It’s either from a Mizu kid tryin’ to accuse a Kaze one, or someone framin’ Nishida. I’m inclined towards the former, but- whatever. The writin’ on the kanji was fairly shaky, right? So was the handwritin’ on the notes that were found around, askin’ someone to meet in the cleanin’ room. Uhm… hrm. Furthermore, the message looks like- she wrote it from under the machine, right? But somethin’ like that fallin’ on her… would have killed her probably on impact, right? So she wouldn’t have been able to, in that position.”

Aideen, on principle, should have enjoyed investigation. It was her talent, after all- well, sort of. And in that regard, she did enjoy drawing the bodies, as it was good, practical practice. They were often in interesting positions too, or wore impractical but interesting clothing. 

What she didn’t enjoy was actually walking around. And what she enjoyed the least of all was emotions.

And yet, despite her best efforts, she had them. Quite a bit more than she’d like, really. This investigation had turned into an example of why they were a complete and utter hassle and she hadn’t enjoyed it one bit. (Well. There were some parts that she didn’t mind as much. Not that she’d tell anyone that, because it was embarrassing and she was not embarrassing.) Either way, though, the majority had been a pain in the ass and she was like 80% sure she was going to exit this trial with a headache. Not to mention there was the new class to deal with. She really had no time for this at all. 

So, sipping a smoothie, of all things, she grumpily shuffles into the trial to see what the setup is. And god forbid one thing go right in her sick life, because she had to be stuck next to Shion Tsuzuki. The chances of a headache rise to 90% as she takes her place and promptly thuds her head down on the podium (setting her smoothie down gingerly first) to listen to aforementioned thereminist’s super important speech. 

Which went on, and on, and really, she wasn't trying to doze off, but her mind wandered a bit to the events of investigation after the drawn-out introduction, and she only really fazed back in at the mention of hair, which makes her groan under her breath. 95% headache potential. She could actually feel one forming as she sat there and waited.

But, finally, the speech seems to be done- or at least Shion stops for a breath and Aideen has no problem clearing her throat to interrupt- but the Kuma gets there. Kumashiro, as she already knew, but-

“Ah… who th'hell’s Yuzuru, then…”

At least she keeps her salt to a muttered volume. That feel when you think you have spoilers but you only have half of them. In her opinion, the salt was justified. 

But then she had important things to say. Sort of. In her opinion. They should have been important to those around her too, but no one really listened. Still, there was no harm in trying (but like hell she was introducing herself.)

“Leave some evidence for the rest of us, Tsuzuki…”

Good start. 

“Miraculously, in her long and ramblin’, slightly excessive speech, Tsuzuki actually managed to miss important information. Did she not have it? Is she omitting it to seem cool? We just don’t know. Luckily, I’m here. The basics of this case are that someone from Mizu was killed by bleedin’ out. Not the ice machine, mind you. I suspect that was dropped post-mortem, as it didn’t kill her but would have if she was alive.”

“There were four bullets fired from a revolver at the scene. One hit the ice machine, one the vending machine- before it fell- one hit the trash can, and one hit the victim’s thigh. There’s a large artery, erm- femoral, that goes through there. If it’s severed, you’ll bleed out in, oh… less than five minutes, probably. She was small, too, so maybe faster. Given the amount of blood- some wiped up- that’s what happened to her. I doubt she wrote that message in her own blood, by the way. Nya. My guess is someone was framin’ a kid from our class.”

Gun Trivia Power Hour was sadly underwhelming this time around. 

“Let’s see. The murder was pre-mediated by one of the parties involved, as someone found plans lyin’ around. There was this string trap thing… who really knows. I don’t really care. I also doubt it was a reference to previous murders, but if you wanna read into that shit, be my guest.”

She makes a sweeping hand gesture to punctuate her words. Thank you.

“I can say that the hair Tsuzuki refers to is a plant. Like, who just mysteriously drops hair in a post office. But… better luck next time, ne? You really tried hard.”

There was enough sarcasm in that statement to down a grown man, really. She doesn’t seem to care much, given her completely impassive, if not a touch bored expression. Briefly, though, it shifts to irateness as Yui speaks up, her attention turning to the idol for a moment.

“That’s a stupid idea, and if you all participate I’m going to be actually awed that you can stoop so low. Then again, I keep gettin’ surprised. Also, there was quite a few things in Mizu, but I’ll let people who found them present them.”

She inhales as if to add something else, thinks better of it, and instead rolls her eye tiredly before turning back to address the class. At least she doesn’t seem to have any qualms about expressing her opinions?

“If you need a sketch of the body or any of the more prevalent evidence- the message, for example- I have it. Same goes for any gun… facts. Gun facts. I’ll be over here, gettin’ ignored. Kyehaha.”

Thankfully enough, Aideen did not have to walk far to find the body at the sound of the announcement. Even more conveniently, it was a reasonable time. Maybe the tides were finally turning in her favor, or at least trying to even out the vast misfortune of tacking another class full of presumed irritations onto her. Either way, she wasn’t looking a gift horse in the mouth, so after making herself presentable she slips out of her room, shuffling down the hall to lurk around the outskirts of the gathering crowd. 

It was probably immoral to be so glad that someone had been killed, but as had been made clear, Aideen was certainly not the picture of morality. As it is, she breathes a sigh of relief as she walks up, thankful that the motive was once more out of the way. Thank goodness. Hopefully whoever’d picked hers up wouldn’t connect it to her, and she could move on her merry way. 

Now, as she stares somewhat disconnectedly at the tiny girl on the ground, there’s really only one thing she can focus on. Not grief at a life lost, not pity for the seemingly brutal death, but-

“Who… is this?”

That’s what she got for skedaddling out of the meet-and-greets so fast, it seemed. The next thing that catches her attention is the sight of what seems to be a gun on the ground. Get ready for some more Gun Trivia Power Hour, because her gaze lights up from completely dull to the wattage of a nearly-dead Christmas light. Truly impressive. 

But first… there was the matter of actually being effective in investigation. Truth be told, Aideen really had no interest in it at all, especially since she had no idea who the victim was and therefore didn’t really care (thanks). But… that was no way to make a first impression. If she was going to make a second group of people hate her, it would be naturally, not because she was lazy. But still. There was a lot of ground to cover, and she was only one vaguely effective girl. So then came the matter of recruiting help. 

After staring around for a moment, Aideen clears her throat and turns first to face Jaz, who seemed to be busy helping with the vending machine or something. Her hand hovers uncertainly, as if she’s trying to figure out how to be polite for once in her sick life, and then she tugs on the musician’s sleeve somewhat sheepishly (?).

“「 Hey… Jaz… would you, uh, be interested in. Teamin’ up for… investigatin’, or- I mean… yeah. It would be more effective to work together. 」”

As allies. Because god forbid she admit they were friends. 

A moment later, though, she spots another candidate, and Aideen Quinn has… an idea! Everyone watch out. She holds up a finger to signal Jaz to hold her thought, and then scoots over to tap Kaya on the arm as the cosplayer probably tries to be productive and is interrupted. Thanks, Aideen. At least she makes the effort to crack a grin.

“Hey, Kaya… do you, uh, wanna help me investigate? Me and Jaz, that is. We can, um. Collaborate. Civilly.”

Helpfully not waiting for Kaya’s response, she grabs the other girl’s arm and (gently, at least) tows her off in Jaz’s direction. After situating the two, she clasps her hands together and gives one of her odd choking laughs.

“Kyehaha… see, we’re all… uh. Friends… allies… here. A good team. No arguin’ or anythin’.”

Way to somehow get more awkward, Aideen. You’re reaching new levels.