Team Law & Order

We are in the process of creating a visual novel-esque web series that is both an original product and continues off of the traditional Danganronpa timeline. The Trial of Danganronpa: Law & Order follows the Ultimate Jury, a chosen jury of Ultimates in a world where the title follows you even after graduation from Hope's Peak Academy. With heavy inspiration and mechanics from the Ace Attorney world, this aims to be a harsh look at the way the Ultimate title itself affects both the bearer and those around them, alongside the means in which justice and the truth can be manipulated.

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 016: Ultimate Tour Guide

Pre-Evaluation: Ms. Sosonaka… or, I should use her proper title, Jurist 016, was an interesting person to evaluate. Jurist 016 knew the courthouse inside and out, mainly due to her father’s work here. It was always evident even amongst other members of staff that Jurist 016 does not like the courthouse, nor do they enjoy the prospect of law, something that her father had attempted to push her down the path of early in life. Instead, Jurist 016 flourished as a reputable tour guide, and despite her stand-off nature, she was more than willing to talk about her job and title. Jurist 016 was on-time, but I could tell she wanted to get the evaluation over and done with as soon as possible; a running theme amongst many of the jurists that I had the pleasure, or displeasure, of speaking to. Before I proceed, there were many parts of the report that I could not include and were instead reported to the… relevant members of staff.

Summary: Jurist 016 was sound of mind, but not very talkative, similar to Jurist 015 before her. However, Jurist 016 at least provided substantial answers. There was a lot more information on Jurist 016 compared to others, outside of Jurist 001, due to her being the daughter of the Chief Justice, which made questions easier to ask. Unfortunately, the answers were still hard to come by, and Jurist 016 remained suspicious of my intentions throughout. Jurist 016 denounced the Ultimate Jury as a concept, stating that the root cause of the public’s lost faith in the law can only be solved through tackling the problem head on. Jurist 016 called herself and her fellow Ultimates “damage control” for something that they didn’t cause, and now they were attached to the government’s mistakes. As you can tell, Jurist 016 had a lot to say for herself, and she demanded that all of this be reported back to ‘him’, which was insinuated to be her own father. I could tell that the bond between the two had been broken for quite some time.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“An obvious question, but do you believe your relation to the Chief Justice had any impact on securing you a place on the Ultimate Jury?” [REDACTED.]

“When you aren’t travelling and are at home, is there anything you like to do?” Yeah. I foster cats. Due to the nature of my job, how in-demand I can be due to my title, and the fact that I’m always travelling, there’ll be periods where I don’t get to spend much time with the cats, however, I have enough connections to where they’ll continue to be taken care of. Cats are better than people. They understand me and they’re cute. That’s all I need.

“Do you love your father?” … ‘love’ is a strong word, too strong even.

Additional Notes: N/A.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 015: Ultimate Astrologist

Pre-Evaluation: This was… interesting. Jurist 015 is not very talkative, in fact, there were very few sentences and words I could get out of him. It was a very quick evaluation, and Jurist 015 was keen to leave the evaluation office. When asked what Jurist 015 had been doing since they arrived in Tokyo for the proceedings, all I managed to confirm was that they’ve been eating ice cream and playing video games. I suppose the word ‘hermit’ could be used to describe Jurist 015, although they are very articulate with a lot of their words, which matches up with their wealthy upbringing.

Summary: It’s unfortunate that we did not obtain much information from Jurist 015, as once again, he was not talkative at all. A lot of questions only exhibited a single answer or even a shake of the head. However, there were some questions that Jurist 015 felt inclined to expand upon, which was a nice surprise whenever he did. I couldn’t tell if Jurist 015 felt intimidated by the prospect of the evaluation itself, or if they were simply too drowsy to think up much of a response. I’m rather disappointed in this one.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“You’re the jurist with the least amount of information available about them. How did you come to pursue your Ultimate title?” Um, uh… I dunno. It was more so the stars that guided me towards earning my title, I only followed the path it illuminated in front of me.

“How does it feel being here in Tokyo? Do you feel out of your comfort zone?” Eh, not really… it’s just like my town, but a lot bigger… much bigger, even. There’s this ice cream place near my hotel and I like going there a lot, for… um, ice cream. I’ve gotten halfway through the menu as of today.

“If you can see the future, do you see the success of the Ultimate Jury?” Mhm.

Additional Notes: Monitoring to continue. Information acquired is insubstantial.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 014: Ultimate Comedian

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 014 came into the courthouse out of breath, not entirely late, but only a minute or so before she was scheduled for her evaluation. According to Jurist 014, she was taking a nap and completely forgot to set an alarm. It seems that napping is a predominant hobby of Jurist 014’s, as she was quick to explain to me. I’m not too sure if ‘napping’ counts as a hobby, but so be it. Jurist 014 appeared fairly nervous, with her body language and stance being quite reserved; it also took a considerable amount of time to get through the initial first few questions before the evaluation could truly begin. Regardless, Jurist 014 didn’t appear like she would cause any problems, with the true task being attempting to get her to open up to me in regards to the Ultimate Jury.

Summary: Jurist 014 appeared sound of mind, however, her attitude seemed to completely shift when discussing anything that could be constituted as “negativity”, especially if it’s to do with her, including a standout question involving her supposed stealing of material. Jurist 014 is a very mixed figure within the world of comedy, but you wouldn’t know that from the personality she presents; both out in public, and here to me in a more private setting. Jurist 014 is what I would describe as “innocent” looking, but when talking about her own passions or most things in general, she can get very motivated and bubbly. Fame is another topic that came up between myself and Jurist 014, with her stating that she both came to appreciate and resent the attention that she would receive out in public. If I could hazard a guess, it seems that Jurist 014 is recognised mostly for being an Ultimate rather than for her comedy.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“There’s been rumours floating around for years that you steal other comedians’ material and use it for your own routine. Is this true?” N-No! That’s such a stupid thing to accuse me of… it’s always these same jealous bullies who see my title and think that I was given it out of pity, or something, or whatever… ugh. What these people should be taking away from my routines is that I’m only attempting to put a smile on the faces of my audience. It makes me so happy to know that I might’ve made someone laugh that needed it! Why can’t we focus on that? Why do we continue to slander people like me with such negativity?

“What made you pursue comedy? Has it always been the plan?” Yeah! It always was! My family was the main reason that made me start… like, writing my own routines, coming up with the right jokes for the occasion, and everything else really! I’m so thankful for them, especially in the position that I’m in now, being able to say that I’m an Ultimate!

“What’s the biggest stage you’ve performed on? Any dream destinations you’d love to bring your talents to?” Right here, in Japan! There’s no stage bigger than home! I don’t really like the big arenas or the big shows; smaller crowds and smaller venues are ones I appreciate so much more. In terms of where I’d like to go… maybe the U.K.! Pip pip cheerio! Hehe!

Additional Notes: Further monitoring is not needed.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 013: Ultimate Farmer

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 013 arrived on-time, and promptly too. However, apparently he had gotten “extremely lost”, in his own words, attempting to navigate the city and had taken an hour to even locate the courthouse. It was a miracle that Jurist 013 arrived at all, seemingly. Jurist 013 stated that he wasn’t used to the big city and much preferred his days out in the countryside, as even when it came to his job as both a farmer and businessman, Jurist 013 often found himself sending people to speak on his behalf, only making the journey on rare occasions. It was evident that Jurist 013 had only really known one life, which is that of living on the farm, and even whilst he studied at Hope’s Peak Academy, a course such as his accommodate Jurist 013 near a farm on-site, where he’d unofficially work for the school in some capacity. To say that Jurist 013 was the definition of a working man would be an understatement, he took it to a completely different level. I could even admire the dedication of Jurist 013, which became even clearer when he spoke about his job, title, and his family.

Summary: Jurist 013 was very sound of mind, and almost ‘too normal’, similar to another member of the jury. I have no idea if this is due to the fact that he’s only experienced one way of living, or if he may have been sheltered as a youth; perhaps both. Jurist 013 was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic not only about farming, but also about the world of business and making sure that local farmers were able to be supported by people like him. Jurist 013 stated that before he was invited to Hope’s Peak Academy, he and his family worked on a very small farm, and it was due to his title and recognition that Jurist 013 was able to bring them the lives that they all wanted. Jurist 013 was very proud when discussing his family; his incredible number of siblings are “his life” and that he’d do anything to make sure they can live the life that he was able to achieve.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“You’ve been accused of dealing with shady businesses in the past to make sure your own company flourishes. Is there any truth to this?” Oh, hell no! That’s ridiculous! I understand that in this day and age, it’s hard to present yourself as a true honest businessman, but I’ll swear on my own family that I’ve been as honest as I can be! I’ve made it my goal to make sure that these companies aren’t able to take advantage of the farmers that keep our country going, from the local farmers to even the more successful ones. We’re all in this together, y’know? It puts a smile on my face when I can be responsible for an upstart farm being able to flourish, or helping a family get out of a debt that wasn’t their fault in the first place. Being that hand that others can reach out for… yeah, I like that. It makes me feel really warm inside.

“You’ve got quite a large family. Will they be supporting you throughout this process?” Why, of course! Every single one of them is fully behind me! Having a big family means you’ve got more people to take care of, and especially with my younger siblings wanting to be like their big brother; seeing him in such an important position is gonna be so inspiring. I’ll do my best, just for them!

“Do you think being away from your farm will disrupt your daily routine?” Well, I’m an adaptable fellow! Farm or no farm, it’s been interesting to explore the city and what’s in and around it. As long as I’m waking up bright and early, then there’s nothing to worry about! Even away from the farm, it seems that my sleeping habits haven’t changed one bit… but I don’t ever really feel tired as long as I’m always focused on a task! That’s how farmers like me are able to work so hard!

Additional Notes: Further monitoring is not needed. Keep an eye on the news.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 012: Ultimate Skateboarder

Pre-Evaluation: This evaluation got off to a rocky start, as Jurist 012 was late, only for me to discover that she had been kicked out of the courthouse by a bailiff for skating inside. The next few minutes were a rather annoying conversation, but eventually, we managed to get Jurist 012 inside the evaluation room… with her skateboard. It was easier to let her keep it than leaving it in the hands of the bailiff until she was finished. Jurist 012 didn’t seem too keen on talking to me, even asking at one point if she was ever going to get paid for her duties here on the Ultimate Jury. I tried my best to ignore a lot of these questions, but I do have to question the decision to place Jurist 012 upon the jury itself. She appeared unenthusiastic, lazy, and would seemingly rather be anywhere else. Perhaps, it had something to do with her former status as prodigy, alongside representing Japan on the global stage with her skateboarding abilities.

Summary: Jurist 012 seemed to be sound of mind, just not in the way I would personally describe it. As discussed earlier, Jurist 012 was very abrasive and rude when it concerned answering questions. There were never any long answers, nor did Jurist 012 feel the need to continue on for too long. If it wasn’t for easily obtainable information about her online, it would’ve been quite difficult to put together a profile of Jurist 012 from this evaluation online. I’m rather confident that she did have a slightly rough upbringing and there was a brief moment she seemed to talk about it, but eventually relented and resumed her typical behaviour. Even asking Jurist 012 on her history with skateboarding didn’t go anywhere, as she was more than happy to comment on her own capabilities and merits. Is she potentially avoiding talking about the past? I certainly think so. However, perhaps Jurist 012 can surprise us when it comes to the trial, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Jurist 012 is what you can perfectly describe as a bit of a loose cannon, or a wildcard, similar to Jurist 003.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“How does something like this compare to your skating career? Do you think you’ll find it hard?” First, it’s ‘skateboarding’, skating makes me sound like I’m one of those weirdos who ride around on roller skates. Major ick. Second, this shouldn’t be hard at all compared to what I’ve had to train for. What I do takes a crazy amount of skill, but this? I’ve just gotta sit in a room surrounded by a bunch of other people, let them talk, and I can leave without as much as lifting a finger. That’s the gist, right? I don’t have to contribute, nor do I want to.

“You recently represented Japan at a competition in the United States. How did it feel to represent your country?” I mean, it was fine. I was doing it for me though, not the country, and hey, I won. Nobody should’ve been shocked, yet some people were. People’s doubt of me is a horrible mistake that seems to keep repeating itself over and over again.

“Can we trust you will actually turn up to the courthouse on the day?” Yeah, because then all of you here will leave me alone.

Additional Notes: Monitoring to continue; potential loose cannon.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 011: Ultimate Samurai

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 011 arrived on-time and in… full costume, stating to me that as per his role as the Ultimate Samurai, he believed that wearing an outfit that suits said title is the right thing to do. Apart from that, Jurist 011 remained extremely respectful, even bowing before we started the evaluation as a whole. Albeit, I did not appreciate Jurist 011 bringing a samurai sword with him into the room. Jurist 011 stated that the sword was necessary to complete his outfit, and at this point, I was more than fine to accept whatever else he planned on explaining. Clearly, I would not be cut out for the life of a samurai… whatever that means in the modern day. Overall though, Jurist 011 made a very positive impression early on, proving that it was a correct decision to add him to the first Ultimate Jury.

Summary: Jurist 011 appeared sound of mind, if not slightly delusional due to his ramblings about making his ancestors proud. I did confirm with the higher-ups that Jurist 011 has links to samurai of the past, spending most of his early life pre-Hope’s Peak as an aspiring theatre performer, leaving his main group at the time to study at the academy. When asked how he even earned the title of a ‘samurai’ in our current landscape, Jurist 011 was quick to explain that due to his extensive love of the times of the samurai, his links to samurai as a whole, and his efforts as an almost “local hero” to his small town, it was the only title that would fit him. Jurist 011 was studying under the initial title of Ultimate Local Hero, but eventually had it changed to Ultimate Samurai closer to graduation. I’m honestly surprised they let him do that, but there are weirder titles out there. Jurist 011 was extremely enthusiastic about justice and expressed several times his love for making the world a better place, meaning that yes, he was very excited to hold a seat on the Ultimate Jury.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“What prompted your journey to becoming this ‘samurai’? Have you always had a passion for that particular time period?” My mother and father are both professors at the university nearest our town, and it was my father who specialised in teaching history; including the various periods our country went through, which is where I became fascinated at a young age about the art of the samurai. The way that these warriors protected their loved ones and the places they lived, it was incredible. Thankfully, there is no need for a true ‘samurai’ in our world, but that’s when I began doing what I could for our small town. From simple tasks to meeting with the mayor himself, if I knew I could help somebody in need, then I would jump at the opportunity.

“Do you still have a love for theatre?” I do! I had recently attempted to reconnect with former members of my group, and whilst it may have been a slightly rocky start, especially with how all of us have aged and the fact I hold an Ultimate title, I believe that sooner, rather than later, we’ll all be able to return to the stage together and do what we love. In fact, whilst I’m staying here in Tokyo, I made sure to situate myself nearest one of my favourite theatres. It’s an easy walk in the morning and I’m able to spend as much time there as possible.

“It’s a well-known fact that you have a room entirely dedicated to your talent. How far does your knowledge of the samurai age go?” Extremely far! Ever since I began studying, I made it my mission to purchase as many relics from that time period as possible, as well as literature and even outfits, some of which may have been worn by the very samurai that I look up to. I believe as an Ultimate, it’s important to dedicate yourself to both performing and learning your chosen craft.

Additional Notes: Further monitoring is not needed.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 010: Ultimate Mythbuster

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 010 was on-time, barely, clearly following in the footsteps of other jurists by believing this was mostly a waste of time. I assured Jurist 010 that evaluations like this are extremely important, especially with the uncertainty that surrounds the jury system within the country as a whole. It was through this did Jurist 010 appear to relent and became a lot more open to answer questions. It was extremely clear to me that Jurist 010 values her own integrity over everything; holding quite a great ego too. I suppose this is to be expected when you know that Jurist 010 is an extremely famous television personality, with her own show ‘Happy Hour’, being a hit around the nation. The more I think about it, we’ve recruited quite a few famous Ultimates for the first jury, and it should make them and those around them proud that they’ve been chosen for such a great experience. Before we began, Jurist 010 asked if she should have a lawyer present. I informed Jurist 010 that this was an evaluation, not an interrogation.

Summary: Jurist 010 appeared sound of mind, but definitely felt a little… ‘off’. Jurist 010 spoke with a lot of praise for mainly herself and the people that she chose to surround themselves with, somehow both appreciating them and calling them ‘lucky’ at the same time. Jurist 010 was certainly the full package, from personality to the answers she gave. There was such a stark difference when she discussed her own heritage as somebody who moved to Japan from China, and how she found her success within television. It was also discovered that Jurist 010 was going under a stage name whilst here in Japan, albeit she was quick to say that this was a known fact, it’s just a decision she has to uphold due to the popularity that the ‘Rin Jikyuu’ name obtained up to this point. Jurist 010 also appeared extremely enthusiastic about the case at hand, bragging that the jury could have only consisted of her, and she would have the truth of the matter discovered almost straight away. How bold.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“It appears that your real name is not Rin Jikyuu. It’s actually ‘Jin Meifang’. Was there a reason you took on a stage name?” … well, you people do need to know everything, legal things here, legal things there, so I dunno why I’m so surprised you know that. It’s not that deep though, at least, not as deep as what you’re probably expecting. Despite the fact my family came to Japan when I was super-duper young, we faced a lot of resentment simply because of where we came from. Y’see a lot of nice people, but for every one person with a bit of goodwill, there’s at least two who’ll see you as nothing but scum. For the first few years of my career, that’s where ‘Rin Jikyuu’ was born, and the name stuck, even when my heritage was a lot more widely known. All in all, it makes me proud to embrace where I came from, and I ain’t going nowhere!

“Due to your jury commitments, you won’t be appearing on television for a short period. How does this make you feel?” Honestly, not too bad! As much as you have to put on a smile for the camera; in front of said camera is where I love to be the most. I love putting on a show, really. With how Happy Hour started and how hard I had to work to make it into what it is today, I feel like people give me too much shit off-set for how I behave. Who cares? I’m the reason they’re here anyway. They should be thankful that I’m able to give these people a great show! Sometimes though, I think I can be too harsh to some of the newer people who come to work on the show. It’s a bit of a whirlwind backstage whenever I’m around, so as long as they get used to it, we’re going to get along just fine!

“Do you think that the Ultimate Jury will be a success?” Uh, duh! Yeah! It’s got me on it!

Additional Notes: Despite concerns, monitoring is not needed. Keep an eye on close associates

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 009: Ultimate Hip-Hop Sensation

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 009 arrived on-time, and smartly dressed too. It was nice to have somebody with a bit of “class” to them for one of these evaluations, with Jurists 002 and 007 being similar. As a well-famed musician, Jurist 009 appeared very well composed before walking into the evaluation room, albeit I could tell by the bags under his eyes that it had been a rather sleepless night for him. This would make sense, as last night, Jurist 009 held a small concert in a nearby nightclub. I didn’t hold this against Jurist 009 as he only appeared tired, not intoxicated, hungover, or anything of the sorts. His sitting posture could do with some work though, nearly choosing to lounge on the couch similar to Jurists 004 and 006 before him. I thought I was quick to judge on the “class” part, but Jurist 009 continued to carry himself calmly and composed right up until the evaluation fully began.

Summary: Jurist 009 appeared sound of mind, striking me as the type who has been carrying many chips on his shoulder throughout his career as both a musician and an Ultimate; coming from a family like his will do that to you. With a heritage from both Japan and Norway, it was very interesting to dissect Jurist 009’s mind in how it worked. It was clear that Jurist 009 was raised well by his parents, and especially when questions involving music would come up, he would become extremely enthusiastic and somewhat jovial when it came to giving answers. He mentioned that he did have many regrets in life, with many of them extending back to his family, who moved back to Norway whilst he remained in Japan, stating that it’s where he “thrived” the most. It was intriguing to hear the inspirations behind Jurist 009’s musical career, as they extended all the way from globally-known singers to hip-hop groups here in Japan; Soul’d Out and Scha Dara Parr were two names in particular that Jurist 009 felt particularly drawn to. However, it was clear that Jurist 009 wanted to be more than what his title lead on, even leading to a point where he’d asked for another Ultimate title.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“You come from a very well-accomplished family of musicians; recognisable to many here in Japan and in your other home of Norway. Do you feel the pressure gets to you?” Not really. My family has always thrived on pressure, honestly, especially my dad. We all do pretty different things and appeal to different audiences, which especially for a family of musicians is pretty rare. You’ll see a lot of them gravitate towards one particular genre of music, whether that’s classical or pop. However, I knew that I couldn’t thrive back in Norway, I had to come back to Japan, and I had to experience the crowds here again. I’ve been forced to withstand the larger crowds due to what I do, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared shitless if I look out from backstage and the audience extends from miles backwards. The music helps me though, it helps me get lost in my own world, and I’m able to give the audience exactly what they came to see. Some damn good music.

“We’ve noticed that recently, you contacted Hope’s Peak Academy to apply for another Ultimate title. Could you tell us why?” That’s an easy one. I got bored. Hip-hop as a genre has shaped me to who I am now, and hey, it’s how I got this fancy title, but I’m the type of person who continues to push and evolve. I wanted more. So, I asked Hope’s Peak if they’d let me come back to study, even if it was the full three years again. I’ve yet to hear back from them since it was not too long ago, but I hope it can happen!

“Your manager also contacted us to ask if you could be excused from the Ultimate Jury. Why was that?” It’s simple, really. I had a whole “tour thing” going on. I’m not really one for the big stages, the festivals, anything like that; underground is where I thrive. To see packed out crowds of people that are there for me is a feeling I can’t really explain, nor can you replicate. I appreciate every single one of them, truly. To have to cancel shows for something like this… I understand the importance of this jury, but I felt so bad letting my fans down. Once this is all said and done, I’ve promised them and myself that we’re going to pick up on where we left off, and have an incredible time whilst we’re at it. There’s no need to doubt my dedication to this jury though. I’ll do everything I can.

Additional Notes: No further monitoring needed.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 008: Ultimate Sommelier

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 008 was ever-so slightly late, but I could let that slide, they appeared formally dressed and explained that even in the lead-up to the trial, they were adamant about continuing their duties as an Ultimate. It’s always a pleasure speaking to Ultimates who truly take their titles seriously, unlike a few of the other jurists I’ve previously spoken to. Jurist 008 is the Ultimate Sommelier, or well, maybe they should’ve given her the title of bartender too, since that’s what she was doing at the hotel all the jury were staying at. Before the evaluation started, I could tell that Jurist 008 was incredibly nervous, and fidgeted relentlessly throughout the evaluation. When I asked Jurist 008 if she was okay, she only asked for a glass of water, explaining that the previous night had been very long and stressful, since she was working into the early hours of the morning.

Summary: Jurist 008 appeared… somewhat sound of mind, but it was clear that she didn’t feel too comfortable with the prospect of an evaluation like this. As the questions continued, Jurist 008’s answers became longer and drawn-out, sometimes veering off-topic, potentially trying to distract her own mind by talking about more things that interested her. I had no qualms to this, as I was still obtaining valuable information in the process. It’s also clear that Jurist 008 isn’t one for personal questions, as she appeared to shut down when the topic of her previous drinking habits came up. Perhaps Jurist 008 was looking to forget her past, but judging from the fact that she had checked into rehabilitation two previous times, it’s clear that the past continues to bite back. I did feel a weight of sympathy for Jurist 008, making sure to tell her that everything was going to be alright, even if I didn’t entirely mean it. As long as Jurist 008 turned up to the courtroom that day and was able to proceed with business, then that’s all that mattered.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“You recently confided in us that you were having doubts on your placement in the Ultimate Jury. Could you explain why?” It’s as simple as I feel like there’s other things in my life that I should take care of first before trusting myself with such a position. Albeit, I am grateful to those I spoke to in exchange for retaining my position as a member of the Ultimate Jury, that they’d pay for my rehab in full as soon as the trial concludes. So, uh, if you wanted to pass that message along to the ones up top, then that’d be nice, y’know. I’m super grateful, again, really. I have doubts about stuff like this all the time, even my own Ultimate title, but it’s been nice to be recognised for the “first” of something, especially since I was already thinking my life could do with a little extra “zing”.

“As per your title and job, you’ve travelled all over the world and attended several high-standing events. What’s been the best experience?” Oh, gosh! I couldn’t possibly name one. It’s been an honour to attend many different events, and even better, serve some of the biggest names on the planet. It’s not every day that you can serve British royalty a drink, is it? That’s definitely one of the best experiences, alongside this one huge cruise in Australia… Las Vegas, yeah, that was pretty good too. It’s always a party over there, so it can get extremely chaotic, but that’s part of the fun, right? The more pressure, the better. It challenges you to continue growing, even as an Ultimate. That’s what I love about my job. I feel like any challenge that’s put in front of me, I can take it, knock it down, and use it as a learning experience.

“Can we trust you’ll remain sober throughout this process?” … yeah.

Additional Notes: General monitoring not needed.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 007: Ultimate Economist

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 007 arrived on-time, but I was already raising an eyebrow when he was already asking questions before he had sat down. It was clear that similar to Jurist 001, Jurist 007 maintained an aura of suspicion surrounding the events that led up to the Ultimate Jury. One of his questions involved how we here at the courthouse referred to the jury as “jurists”. I explained to him that these greater titles were bestowed upon the Ultimate Jury because they were more than deserving of them; they weren’t simple jurors. This seemed to satisfy Jurist 007, for now, but I could tell that he may have already done his research into this, which is worrying. With Jurist 007 being an accomplished CEO, I understood that conversing with him would be a mixed bag, but these early exchanges made me change my approach to the evaluation.

Summary: Jurist 007 was extremely polite, sound of mind, and answered all questions as clearly as possible. There was most definitely an ego present, however, part of me doesn’t blame Jurist 007 for holding one and I didn’t hold it against him unlike a few certain jurists that came before. There were several points where he pondered questions for an extended amount of time; an unnatural amount of time, that is. In a way, this felt like a game between the two of us, since he clearly knew more than he was leading onto, and I wasn’t exactly going to let my guard up. All questions proceeded as planned though and Jurist 007 did not refuse to comment on any of them.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“How do you feel about briefly stepping away from your company?” Well, I don’t feel too bad. There’s not a day that goes by when one of my subordinates feels like they could run the company better than me, solely due to the fact that even for a CEO, I’m still rather young compared to the company that I keep. It’s why I made sure not to pick any of them when it came to choosing a temporary replacement, even if it’s only for a few days. The company runs with or without me; all that matters is they don’t stray away from our ideals. Besides, they all know what’ll happen if I come back and I’ve got several angry phone calls waiting for me.

“You’re quite a controversial figure in the business world despite recent showings. Does it get to you at all?” No, not particularly. People in the business world are too desperate to connect my name to that of my father, who left me, a teenager, in a rather uncomfortable position when I inherited his position. I suppose the way I ran the company at that time was what led me to also studying at Hope’s Peak Academy alongside my duties as CEO. If I let every small complaint or wrongful assumption get to me, then I may as well give up the position and live life as a recluse.

“You’re the most experienced Ultimate on the jury. How does it make you feel?” Nothing’s changed. When you’re me, when you’ve lived the life I have, then being the “tallest in the room” per say can come as second nature. I’ll be happy to lead my fellow jurors into discovering the truth.

Additional Notes: Monitoring to continue, as soon as possible.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 006: Ultimate Cartographer

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 006 arriving on time was a pleasant surprise, especially since the first thing she said upon arrival concerned the packed nature of Tokyo. It didn’t take me long to find out that Jurist 006 was a “country girl” to use appropriate terms, even stating that her stay in the city in preparation for this trial has been nothing but a headache. Similar to those before her, Jurist 006 complained about how long the evaluation would take, and at this point, I could almost feel a migraine coming on with how frequent this question would be. Regardless, Jurist 006 arrived at the evaluation in rather dirty clothes, stating that she had decided to “go exploring” before this. I would usually not take notice of her clothes being dirty, but it made a mess of my floor and the couch. A shame.

Summary: Jurist 006 appeared sound of mind, however, to say that Jurist 006 was slightly immature would be a severe understatement. As explained previously, Jurist 006 didn’t seem to be taking the evaluation seriously, lounging around on the couch similar to Jurist 004 and even refusing to comment on certain questions before I had finished asking them in full. However, when Jurist 006 was able to give me proper answers, her insight into the world itself and her own talent was certainly quite interesting. Jurist 006 clearly cares for her family, especially her dear grandfather, who recently fell ill, and it took me by surprise how much the topic of family meant to her. As a fairly fresh Ultimate, at only 19 years of age, Jurist 006 understood her position on the Ultimate Jury clearly, even stating that being able to be part of the Ultimate Jury itself was an incredible honour… before then stating that she wasn’t surprised at all that she was chosen to be part of the first. Jurist 006 also asked about the gender ratio amongst the jury, appearing disappointed that there weren't more women present.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“We’ve seen a familiar pattern amongst the jury of jurists similar to yourself having a legacy to live up to. Do you feel any pressure regarding that?” There’s always pressure. Always, always, always. Part of me wishes that people would treat me as… ‘me’. I love my grandfather, and I will always treasure our adventures together, but I think even he would agree that I deserve to stand on my own two feet.

“You’re amongst the youngest Ultimates on the jury. How have you been fairing since your graduation last year?” I’ve been good! With the title comes plenty of recognition, and with that, comes many more opportunities. Even whilst I studied at Hope’s Peak, I was allowed to go on expeditions around the world, so really, becoming an Ultimate has just allowed that to become what I do for a living! I can never really stay in one place for too long, otherwise I become bored, which is why I was almost a ‘ghost’ at Hope’s Peak. There’s only so many times you can walk around the campus after all! On the topic of being one of the youngest though… eh, it doesn’t bother me. I’m probably more mature than most of the older Ultimates.

“What’s the best location you’ve visited?” Um… probably a shrine, yeah. There’s so many really really pretty shrines in Japan. My favourite would have to be the Fushimi Inari Shrine, which is… in Kyoto! Heh. If you’re like me, you’ve been to too many locations, you forget which is which!

Additional Notes: Annoying, but no further monitoring needed. Investigate potential connections.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 005: Ultimate Chess Grandmaster

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 005 arrived perfectly on-time. We had actually met previously in the day, since both he and his father are acquainted with many figures here in the courthouse. Jurist 005’s positive attitude and politeness remained consistent throughout, however, he appeared very much in a rush, asking how many questions were left a numerous amount of times. This didn’t bother me all too much, nor lead me to believe there was something suspicious afoot, simply because I don’t think Jurist 005 could harm a fly. Despite being a world-renowned chess grandmaster at such a young age, Jurist 005 appeared unaware of the position he was in. This was in relation to his position as part of the Ultimate Jury, but I’ll dive further into this in the relevant section of the report. Before we actually started, Jurist 005 took notice of an old chessboard I keep around in the office, just something I left laying around and forgot to clear up, to which he asked if we could have a game. I declined, and Jurist 005 appeared quite disappointed.

Summary: Jurist 005 was full of compliments… for himself, even if he didn’t realise it. We should not be surprised that some of these Ultimates are quite full of themselves, but for Jurist 005, it was combined with an aura of confidence and belief that he was indeed being humble. Jurist 005’s polite nature could masquerade this detail. However, it was this nature that made him a delight to speak to, and his mood seemed to spike when the topic of chess came up. On some occasions, Jurist 005 even walked me through many of his moves in high-stakes games, which contradicts a constant suggestion of his of wanting the evaluation to be done with as soon as possible. I suppose that when talking about himself, Jurist 005 comes alive and can forget what he’s said previously. I’ll go out on a whim and say that the word ‘hypocrisy’ is not in his vocabulary whatsoever. I’m extremely curious to how the other jurists… jurors, whatever, get along with Jurist 005. There’s so many clashing personalities already.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“How does playing chess compare to something like this? Being part of the Ultimate Jury, that is.” That’s an interesting conundrum. I suppose in a way, both involve making tough decisions, but then again, the result of any one of my chess games only affects myself and not the public. Chess is a very fast-moving game, where your mind has to be multiple steps ahead of both your opposition and even itself. I wonder if something similar will happen here. Having to collaborate with multiple other Ultimate title holders may sound exciting on paper, but the title can come with an ego, and I’d bet good money there’ll be plenty of egos in the jury chambers. I choose to remain optimistic though; if we clash, we clash, but the truth will prevail. I’ll make sure of it.

“How do you deal with the pressure of being a second-generation chess player? Do you feel you’ve surpassed your father’s legacy?” It’s… not something I like to say out loud, however, we have to look at the facts first of all. My father is my greatest inspiration and the reason why I sit here today as both a representative of the first Ultimate Jury, as an Ultimate as a whole, and as a grandmaster. I don’t think he would be too angry in suggesting that I have surpassed his legacy, when in reality, that’s the truth.

“You’re acquainted with a lot of the personnel here through your father. Would you say this influenced your placement on the Ultimate Jury?” What a ridiculous question. Let’s move on.

Additional Notes: Monitoring not needed.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 004: Ultimate Tattoo Artist

Pre-Evaluation: This was another late evaluation. Jurist 004 arrived on-time, however, she did not appear too pleased, explaining as such as soon as she was invited into the evaluation room. When asked why she was in a bad mood, Jurist 004 explained that being back in the city was something she did not like. Whilst not as rude as Jurist 003, I wouldn’t say that Jurist 004 was exactly too polite either; not even choosing to take a seat and instead laying her body across one of the couches within the evaluation room. When asked if she wouldn’t mind sitting up, Jurist 004 declared that this looked like “therapy or something” and refused to elaborate. I did not push her any further on this topic. For once, I didn’t know what to expect before beginning this evaluation; picking Jurist 004’s mind was shaping up to be like a puzzle.

Summary: To be perfectly honest, there wasn’t a lot I could tell about Jurist 004, but she appeared sound of mind. Not a lot of what I said seemed to concern her in any way, and she appeared to switch between saying she could fall asleep on the couch to asking when the evaluation would be over. There was even a period where I had to ask her if she had “consumed anything” over the past twenty-four hours, to which Jurist 004 simply stated she wished she had brought some marijuana with her to Tokyo. When discussing the nature of why Jurist 004 had been summoned here, similar to Jurist 003, she seemingly didn’t care too much what happened to the defendant and instead saw the experience of being on the first Ultimate Jury as… exactly that, an experience. I sometimes wonder why people like her were chosen to be on the jury itself. Then again, I suppose balance is a good thing. Despite the title of an ‘Ultimate’, you’d be surprised how many of them fail to live up to it.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“You’ve moved around a lot since graduation, but recently have found yourself settling down in Hokkaido. What made you attracted to the place?” It’s quiet, it’s chill, it’s cold. Those are three things I think make for a pretty good place to live. Do I miss travelling around a lot more? Sure, but I’ve got plenty of time left in my life. I can do all the travelling I want when I’ve perfected my craft. Even as this “Ultimate”, there’s always ways to continue growing, especially as an artist. Hey, maybe I’ll go back to Hope’s Peak when I’m older and get a bunch more Ultimate titles. That’d be pretty cool. I’d have so many titles they’d have to crown me the ‘Ultimate Ultimate’. I’m going off-course, aren’t I? Anyway, Hokkaido, yeah. It’s pretty good. I live with my mentor, and she’s really great. I can’t complain at all.

“It’s been noted that you have an eidetic memory. When did you notice you had this?” When I was younger. That’s about it. It’s not some deep rooted answer. I could remember a lot of things, and then when I was older, I discovered what it was called.

“Have you ever wondered if your excellent memory could be used in a field outside of art?” Nah.

Additional Notes: Doesn’t require additional monitoring, for now. Subject to change.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 003: Ultimate Poker Player

Pre-Evaluation: Despite him being listed third, Jurist 003’s evaluation was the last one to be completed. I assume this is due to the fact he only arrived back to Japan a day before the trial itself… but I will pick up on this in the relevant section. Jurist 003 was, unlike a lot of his fellow jurists, reasonably late to the evaluation. When I proceeded to ask him what held him up for so long, he stated that it was “personal business” with none other than the Chief Justice himself. I had no time to act stunned or surprised, and even now I still question if what he was saying was the truth or not. The Chief Justice knows a lot of people, Ultimates included, so it wouldn’t be too farfetched, yet dwelling on it for too long will dampen this report considerably. Apart from that, Jurist 003 appeared relatively calm; almost too relaxed.

Summary: Jurist 003 appeared sound of mind, if not a little too sound of mind. As the Ultimate Poker Player, being able to masquerade his true feelings most likely comes as second nature, however, it makes evaluations like these a lot more complicated. Answers to most questions appeared safe, whilst more complex questions had Jurist 003 thinking on them for a considerable amount of time. If I had to give my own input, it feels like he sees this whole process as a game that only he can enhance. Jurist 003 seemingly didn’t care about what happened to the defendant, nor interacting with his fellow jurists. In fact, it got to the point where he asked me if I would indulge him in a game of cards; my choice. I politely declined under the pretense of professionalism and assuming this was a strange way of flirtation. However, when I even suggested the latter was at play, Jurist 003 gave me a weird look. It appears I may not be his type. When concerning the discussion over his own Ultimate title, Jurist 003 said that he appreciated it only for the extra fame and wealth that he had gathered through being recognised as such. On his time at Hope’s Peak Academy, Jurist 003 didn’t wish to answer the question; the first and only time I saw him taken aback.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“Your dating history is quite extensive. Would you say that makes you a ‘people person’? I don’t really see how those things are linked, honestly. Just ‘cause I get around a lot doesn’t mean I hold contempt for most of those people. For the longest time, I was used for my title, my money, my fame, and so I had to start fighting back. I’d get what I wanted out of these bastards and leave them hanging high and dry before they could strike first. The best way to survive in a pit of snakes is to strike first before anyone else. Let’s hope nobody else on this jury tries biting back, huh?

“We’ve done some extensive research online and discovered that you’re also known as-” Stop, stop, stop. Why the fuck are you asking something like that? That’s not relevant. Next question. Move on.

“After your studies here in Japan, you moved to Las Vegas in America permanently. Did you find it difficult to adapt to a brand new country?” Eh. I knew what I wanted to do before graduating as an “official” Ultimate, so I had been taking English classes for up to two years before I made the move. It’s not like people over there care what language you speak though when you’ve got wealth to flaunt. The most difficult part was making sure people took me seriously, y’know. I started off in a shitty apartment, and then it didn't take me long to get a penthouse. People accused me of cheating, bribing, everything under the sun. They’d never seen anything like it. A foreigner walked into their yard and made it his own. That was me, and sooner rather than later, they’d be treating me like the big fuckin’ deal I am.

Additional Notes: A wildcard. Monitor closely.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 002: Ultimate Bookworm

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 002 arrived exactly on time. I already prefer her to Jurist 001, who was early enough to watch me like a hawk whilst I prepared everything for the evaluation. Jurist 002, similar to Jurist 001 before her, was very willing to answer the questions I required of her, and remained extremely polite throughout. There were no complications outside of Jurist 002 correcting me on how I phrased my sentences. “Ah”, I said to myself, “She’s one of those people”, and it seems like she found comfort in correcting me. Due to her title as the Ultimate Bookworm, it led me to believe that Jurist 002 prided herself on her knowledge and capabilities. This would be something to keep in mind.

Summary: Jurist 002 appeared sound of mind, like Jurist 001 before her. Wow. These two have more similarities than I thought, albeit whilst I wouldn’t mind having a longer conversation with Jurist 002, I would rather talk to a brick wall than Jurist 001 again. When asked if she ever gets stressed due to the nature of her title and her work within the library, Jurist 002 said that she doesn’t let the stress get to her much, stating that she would rather struggle if it meant making her patrons’ days better. Jurist 002 sticks to a rigid routine that involves plenty of exercise, healthy food, and peace of mind through yoga and meditation. There’s not a day that goes by where she doesn’t adhere to it, and even on holiday, Jurist 002 is adamant that she continues to take care of her mind and body. When discussing her perspective on being “famous”, as well as inheriting an Ultimate title, Jurist 002 said she would trade her fame away in a heartbeat for her own comfort, but being able to inspire people makes it all worth it. Links back to her previous comment of prioritising others over herself, despite the extensive self-care routine. Interesting. Is her routine more of a vital necessity than what she leads on?

Standout Questions & Answers:

“You’ve had multiple great opportunities to move out of Tokyo, mainly from high-established institutes in Europe, is there a reason you’ve never strayed far away from home?” This one is rather simple. I value the friends I have made, my mentors that continue to inspire me day by day, and the patrons that visit our library on a daily basis. Whilst visiting these locations from time to time is a great way to learn more about the world, I could never see myself living anywhere else. The people that I hold around me are so special, and the connections we share with each other is all I could ask for. I’m still very young and there’s still plenty to learn. Could this change one day? Sure, it definitely could, but I’d rather focus on the present than worry about the future.

“What are your thoughts on the Ultimate Jury? Do you think it’s a good thing?” Yes, I do. Whilst I have been precautious over the way that the legal system has been handled in recent years, I hope that bringing together many of us Ultimates to one place, and showing that we are more than capable of inspiring people outside of our chosen areas, that others can take the initiative and do what we do. It all boils down to that exact word, ‘inspiration’. I cannot wait to meet my fellow jurors and listen to their stories.

“Amongst all your fellow jurists, you have the highest recorded IQ. Do you think that puts more pressure on you?” It’s ‘jurors’, but no, I don’t really feel the pressure. To make it onto the first Ultimate Jury and go through these various processes, from tests, to this evaluation, to the background checks, I’m sure that those chosen have been picked because we’re all as capable as one another. A conclusion can only be reached if we all work together, thus I don’t think that I personally need to worry about the pressure on myself, but instead the pressure that all of us as a collective carry together.

Additional Notes: Appears normal enough. Additional monitoring not needed.

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Dr. Date Asami

Ultimate Jury Evaluation 001: Ultimate Prosecutor

Pre-Evaluation: Jurist 001 arrived almost ten minutes ahead of his evaluation. This may be due to the fact that he works at the courthouse, to which these evaluations take place inside. Jurist 001 appeared extremely willing and content to disclose any information that I required of him, maintaining a professional stance and attitude at all points. This attitude only wavered a few times throughout the evaluation, and the exact points of which will be expanded upon later in this report.

Summary: Jurist 001 appears mentally sound of mind, if not slightly stressed due to the amount of work that he had been taking on. When asked if he took on a lot of work as a means to prove himself to his much older and experienced colleagues, Jurist 001 merely laughed at this suggestion and stated that he did so because of how much he enjoyed his job and status as an Ultimate. Jurist 001 appeared very ‘stiff’ in posture, never choosing to try and distract himself or focus on something other than the questions being asked his way. Asks a lot of questions himself, including more about my own background and who I was exactly working for. Rebuttals to said questions seemed to prove successful, but there is a chance that Jurist 001 may choose to do his own research due to his exceedingly great curiosity. Body language seemed to exhibit signs of suspicion, but Jurist 001 did not let down his guard once, even when he was willingly giving information. Attempts to dive deeper into his psyche were stopped so as to not raise further suspicion.

Standout Questions & Answers:

“What is your familial situation like?” It’s just my mother and I, albeit, we haven’t spoken properly in what feels like years. Ever since my father died, she would do her absolute best to support me in all my endeavours, but after a while, I think it… simply got too much for her. We don’t really text, only a brief phone call from time to time, and even then I find myself never having enough time for those. If you truly want me to answer the question though, then my familial situation is non-existent. I… try not to dwell on it too often. After all, there’s work to do, and as an Ultimate, it’s my duty to inspire those around me.

“Would you say that you’re fit to lead the first Ultimate Jury?” Unbelievably so. I still resent those who were instrumental in myself being removed as prosecutor within the case, but regardless, an Ultimate Jury in itself is exactly what we need for the public to maintain trust in our wonderful legal system. That’s really all I can say.

“How was your time at Hope’s Peak Academy? What other Ultimates did you meet there?” This seems… irrelevant, but sure, I’ll indulge. I never made too many friends outside of a small circle. Then there was… my one closest friend. We did a lot of stuff together, until one day when she simply disappeared. Then it came out that she had been removed from the academy. For what reason, I still don’t know. So many rumours floated around; she was transferred to a different branch, or maybe she killed someone, but I never believed any of them, it was all mindless chit-chat. I don’t even remember the title she was studying for. Maybe that was simply how I functioned though; I remembered names, not titles.

Additional Notes: Could prove a threat to plans. Monitor at all times until the date of the trial.

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Dr. Date Asami