when you hear me calling out to you, saying, "i'll always believe in you"

[ratherdoweddings]

[It occurs to Yurika that she has no idea what either of the men they'd lost just now had with regards to religious beliefs. She doesn't know who they wanted to leave their things to. She doesn't miss the detailed funeral requests, and at least neither wanted their ashes scattered over a lake on a planet that might not even exist here while the mall radio blasted "Stairway to Heaven," but having nothing...

It's actually kind of fitting. They don't have much to begin with.

Arianna strongly insisted on handling the food, so don't worry, your afterparty food today does not consist of disgusting burnt lumps and will not send you all back into the courtroom should somebody eat one. Candles are lit on another table and Yurika's standing at the front with a hand on her shoulder.]

In my last group... our last group, for some of us, the only cases we've remembered so far had culprits who were either cruel or just that determined to escape. Here, it seems different. We're all survivors, so it seems, and we're all friends who are doing our best -- even when the motives make it seem like we should give up. Even when people die anyway.

Maybe Togami-san was right that it'll just keep going from now, but he was also right that it can't keep going forever. I'm going to make sure to keep trying for all of you, and I know you will, too.

Comments

[burninglight]

It's open, Yurika.

[He gave a hesitant and tired smile, still in the bloodstained shirt and vest he'd been wearing in the courtroom; luckily, it looked like his shoulder had at least been bandaged.]

This? This is hardly anything at all.

[ratherdoweddings]

It sure doesn't look like nothing! You'll need to take care of that! It's like Yamada-san when he broke his leg and still thought he could pilot!

[burninglight]

Relax.

[Sitting on his bed because standing sure was difficult, Ardyn leaned back against the wall.]

Nari's seen to it, and I'm hardly up and about right now.

[ratherdoweddings]

Okay... Well, at least Nari-san is good at her job, so there's probably less to worry about. She's actually pretty impressive, isn't she?

[burninglight]

...she is, yes. We're fortunate to have her with us.

[ratherdoweddings]

Did you take any painkillers? I have a few different medications from the prize machine.

[burninglight]

Do you really, because it turns out the human body's tolerance for pain is abysmal and I would love something.

[ratherdoweddings]

Absolutely! One moment, I know there were some mild ones...

[Yurika bolts off to the janitor's closet. She's back fairly quickly and hands Ardyn a small bottle.]

I haven't used very many, so this should be good. You can keep it just in case.

[burninglight]

You're a lifesaver, Yurika. Thank you.

[ratherdoweddings]

I try my best! At least I can help somebody. Though I don't think this is what Togami-san had in mind when he told me to take care of you if you did something.