Day 17 - WHODUNNIT?

[pandatrash]

[It's that time again! The Great Detective has been killed, so put those little grey cells to work and find the culprit!]

[Most of the flooding has been stopped as well, though it's uncomfortably damp just about everywhere. Looks like the raccoons only half-assed their cleanup.]

[Speaking of half-assed, where's Tycoon? I mean, broken ones, sure, but has anybody seen him up and about? Looks like you guys might be flying blind this time around...]

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Trust sheets - (not due until next Tuesday)
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Comments

[truthstranger]

[he also doesn't move, but]

...Yes.

[afailedmurder]

[cool, well]

[I'm gonna go attack Kurosaki now]

[truthstranger]

Ah! Akechi-kun!

[he freezes up, not sure what to do. fortunately Akira stops him, and he manages to approach again once he's down]

P-Please, just...

[afailedmurder]

[once Kurusu gets off him he sits up, burying his face in his arms]

So...

[sob]

So what if he killed her? He did it for everyone.

[truthstranger]

[after a brief hesitation, Shuichi sits on the floor next to him]

I know. I'm not... angry with him. But I don't want you to die.

[afailedmurder]

[turns his sad, waterlogged face toward him]

But it should have been me. This isn't justice.

[truthstranger]

[he flinches at the look, and his voice wavers]

...Did you plan it that way...? That you'd...

[afailedmurder]

[rubs his eyes and nods]

It wasn't Plan A, but if you or he had ended up under heavy suspicion, of course I'd want to step up and stop that.

I simply... didn't have the time.

[truthstranger]

Nnnnn...

[now Shuichi is definitely crying, tears running steadily down his cheeks, and he wipes at them futilely]

I don't want you to die. I don't want either of you to die! Don't... don't act like it's simple...!

[afailedmurder]

[peers at him for a moment and then uncoils some]

...Sorry. I always end up putting him first, even though you're right here.

[so it's possible he's still not entirely grasping the issue, but on the bright side, he finally reaches out]

[truthstranger]

[he grabs his hand and grips it firmly, like he might escape otherwise]

No. I... I know he's... important to you. I don't want you to stop caring about him. I want you to care about yourself. And to try to keep living.

[afailedmurder]

[stares for a long moment, and then just crawls over to hug him]

[truthstranger]

Ah—

[he starts in surprise before turning into the hug, free hand gripping Akechi's shirt and body trembling as he leans into him]

[afailedmurder]

[it's Akechi's turn to cling like he expects the other to disappear]

I'll live for you. I know it's not the same... but that, I think I can do.

[truthstranger]

[In fact that's not really what he wanted, but if it keeps Akechi alive, he'll take it for now]

...Mm. Please.