[Day 8, Erika's room]

[very_good_end]

So, you came. I still wonder what you're hoping to accomplish.

It makes one such as I very suspicious, Kurusu-san.

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[ERIKA. . .]

I'm beginning to think you're always suspicious.

[very_good_end]

Doesn't that just make me astute?

There is certainly much to be suspicious about.

[purrtagonist]

In a way. But too much makes you paranoid.

[tilts his head]

I don't have any ulterior motives, Erika.

[very_good_end]

It's more than that. You don't even have an apparent, non-ulterior motive.

[purrtagonist]

Hmm. . .

How mysterious of me.

[very_good_end]

I don't know what you expect to find out.

I'm the detective, after all. Not going into my backstory is my right. And it would be inconsequential besides.

...Well, I suppose we have time before the next murder.

[she turns her back and locks the door]

[purrtagonist]

[well. that's not ominous. but it isn't a killing night, so it should be fine]

Not going into one's backstory is anyone's right. That doesn't mean I'm not allowed to ask.

[very_good_end]

...

I've always liked you.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . ???????]

[he seems genuinely taken aback]

What? Why?

[although that's a weird question to ask after being told as such]

[very_good_end]

"I was dating another girl recently, but I'm completely over her."

"There might be some envious girls who talk behind your back, but just ignore them."

[It was obvious she was reciting from memory now, words of a masculine speaker.]

"I want to devote my entire life to you. So, please devote your life to me in return. We'll find our own happiness together."

[purrtagonist]

[-- oh]

[he lapses into silence once he figures it out, and the way he stands at attention makes it clear he's listening. he doesn't say anything. he just lets her continue]

[very_good_end]

Whose hair is this? It's too long to be yours, and none of your friends have this coloring.

What made you buy a new wallet?

Why do you have a new music album of a genre you never listen to or cared about?

Who cleaned out your sink, garbage disposal, and emptied the trash cans?

Since when do you leave the toilet seat down?

Why do you have point cards from stores you don't go to and receipts for things you don't buy?

How did you manage to sleep through my phone call?

Why did you make more food than one person could possibly eat?

The scent you're wearing isn't your regular cologne.

Did you really spend the whole night with a 'friend'?

Who taught you about woman's cosmetics when you never displayed that knowledge before?

The mud on the soles of your shoes is proof you went out when it rained Monday, and that corresponds to the strange symbol you placed on your calendar. In addition, how do you explain that you suddenly know the plot of a movie that just came out?

...All together, I've compiled a list of no less than eighty-four separate pieces of evidence that lead me to one conclusion.

What is your reply...?

[pause, as if she expects him to answer]

[purrtagonist]

[he pauses as well, carefully considering his reply. he decides to play along, to put himself in the shoes of whoever it is she is speaking to]

You're thinking about it too hard. You're looking at things too deeply. You're convincing yourself of something that isn't there.

[a beat]

Is that how they responded?

[very_good_end]

"What's wrong with you? If you can't trust me, then that means you don't love me. Why should I give my love to someone who can't love me back? If that's really how you feel, then we need some time apart.

Get out of here, you bitch. Stop coming over. You're disgusting. What, you're going to cry now? Shut up already, you're going to wake up my neighbors. You know what? You can just fuck off and die for all I care. Yeah, never come back."

[said in a soft monotone.]

[purrtagonist]

. . .

[jesus christ]

Erika--

[very_good_end]

That man wouldn't even give me a response. He just ran away from the situation.

I searched for evidence that I loved him... and I found it.

I searched for evidence that he loved me... and I found that, too.

However, I found no evidence that proved he wasn't cheating on me.

[sighs, before turning around]

But now... I am happy. I have the freedom to pursue the truth... without worrying about the pitiful little lies people tell themselves in the name of 'making nice'.

Giving someone the benefit of the doubt, assuming they're acting with the best intentions, or that 'surely this person would never commit murder'... those are all things that just blind you to the truth. That keep you from searching for evidence. From investigating. Asking nosy questions...

Forget those, and you'll find the truth. Much more than you ever would otherwise.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . there's something about this that is. . . incredibly sad]

And that's why.

[quietly. thoughtfully]

That's why you are the way that you are.

I'd like to thank Ryuk07 for writing most of that thread.

[very_good_end]

Hey, do you remember what I told you before, Kurusu-san?

Whenever one seeks to expose the truth, Furudo Erika is their ally.

...Did you think of what that implies?

applause!!

[purrtagonist]

I did.

But I don't like to make assumptions.

[it's best to hear it straight from the woman herself]

[very_good_end]

Is that so? It's probably off-target from what I have in mind.

It means "anyone who clouds the truth is my enemy."

You know to whom I'm referring, don't you?

Of course, I speak about Akechi Goro-san, who I understand is a good friend of yours?

I don't know what he's hiding, or why he felt it was so worth concealing he needed to burn down the entire library, but if anyone were to know what he was hiding... it would be you, would it not?

[purrtagonist]

[oh no]

[and Akira immediately bristles, hackles raising]

I don't know, Erika.

[despite that, his voice remains casual]

He could have just been having a very bad day.

[very_good_end]

I see. It goes without saying that I don't believe you.

But, that's fine. I have the feeling even if I were to be especially creative with the use of my duct tape in my interrogation of you, you would not part with the information. What a pity for me.

Instead I will ask this.

Do you have plans for the next... as they say, 'lovey dove-y couples night'?

[purrtagonist]

[the way his eyes flash, clearly visible even behind the glasses, is an obvious challenge. I'd dare you to try]

[but she moves on, and he relaxes]

I do. But I'd rather not break a rule by discussing them "in public," Erika.

[very_good_end]

This isn't public. We're two private individuals, in a private room.

[purrtagonist]

[folds his arms, brows quirking upwards]

I don't intend to to kill anyone. That much should be obvious. But I will go exploring, as I have the past two "killing nights."

[very_good_end]

So I understand. I am asking for a name.

If you were to die, I would like to know who to suspect as having perpetuated the murder act upon you.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . a snort]

Ichigo.

[he says with a nod]

So you have little to worry about. He wouldn't kill me.

[very_good_end]

[...smiles]

Oh. Good choice, Kurusu-san. Kurosaki Ichigo is certainly a person who values life and would not commit the murder act. Or at least, so one could suppose based on the evidence of his extreme emotional reactions to the various deaths.

...

[grins]

Though, isn't this strange? Isn't there a contradiction here?

[purrtagonist]

I bet you're abut to tell me exactly what it supposedly is.

[very_good_end]

It seems to me, Kurusu-san... if I were the type to have friends who I trusted, and I am doing some extreme imagining here, and I found one of them with me at a place where everyone is being instructed to murder each other for real or imagined rewards... then I would stick close to this friend. I would say to this friend 'let's continue to go out at night together. Because there certainly are some crazy persons in this place.'

...And, yet, 'how strange,' I think. That Kurusu-san and Akechi Goro-san know each other and yet are not exploring together at night. It seems like it would go against common sense. "They're friends, so why aren't they going out together?" That sort of thing. It is a very noticeable contradiction.

--Perhaps I presumed too much, and Kurusu-san and Akechi-san are actually bitter enemies? That's one possible resolution.

[purrtagonist]

[bristles yet again]

We explored together the last killing night. Or have you already forgotten that we were the ones who discovered the nurse's office?

[very_good_end]

Were you? I suppose it must have slipped my mind.

[smiles]

And this night?

[purrtagonist]

"If you can make six different Killing Night friends, 'friend' being defined as two people who didn't kill each other, you win and has the option to safely quit the game."

[he repeats the rule easily. he has them all memorized, after all]

[very_good_end]

Very interesting. Very interesting indeed, that you would take the risk of choosing a bad 'partner' for the chance to 'quit the game'.

What about future nights, Kurusu-san? ...Assuming of course, you live that long.

[purrtagonist]

I like to think that I'm a good judge of character.

[a shake of his head]

I'll handle future nights as they come. Right now, I only know what I plan on doing for this next one.

And yourself?

[very_good_end]

[sighs]

Honda Futayo-san is my assistant. I see no reason to change unless extreme circumstances present themselves.

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

I'm glad that despite everything, you've managed to make a friend.

[very_good_end]

... [snickers]

Are you familiar with Knox's Ninth, Kurusu-san?

[purrtagonist]

Absolutely.







Not.

[hit him, Erika]

[very_good_end]

[laughs, back to a ladylike laugh]

Perhaps if you have time for idle chat in the new day or so, you can ask Akechi Goro-san. He seemed surprisingly knowledgeable on the subject, and will perhaps provide appropriate context.

[purrtagonist]

Ah. It's a detective thing.

[he's no detective!! despite him being the public face of the solved mystery of Sigma's death]

You could just save me the trouble, you know.

[very_good_end]

I could, but this way takes more effort on your part.

See? I can make little 'points' too.

[purrtagonist]

Whatever the point may be. . .

[he draws his hand over his head and makes a whooshing noise]

[aka: he missed it]

[very_good_end]

Who knows?

[turns and unlocks the door]

If there's nothing else, you're free to go, Kurusu-san. If you stay, I'll conclude you consent to further interrogation and get out my duct tape.

[purrtagonist]

[ERIKA. . .]

Is that a threat?

[very_good_end]

...

[holds up a roll of tape, with her finger on the edge sticking out.]

Whether you find it pleasant or not will be open to your interpretation, of course, Kurusu-san.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . . . . . . . . . . OH MY GOD]

[s-she has a little bit of sadist in her, doesn't she]

-- have a good evening, Erika.

[AND HE'S OUT]

[very_good_end]

[She'll just laugh, letting him run out the door, before smiling.]

And thus, the curtain falls on another interrogation and another day...

Who will die next, I wonder? I hope they leave another good message.

[heee hee heeeheheeeheheeee]