[Day 14, afternoon: Futayo]

[purrtagonist]

[DID YOU SERIOUSLY MAKE THIS INJURED KID WALK UP LIKE FOUR FLIGHTS OF STAIRS TO FIND YOU IN THE AQUARIUM TUNNEL, FUTAYO]

[he's wheezing by the time he gets there, leaning heavily against the wall]

Fut-- [GASP] -- yo. . .

G-got a minute?

Comments

[purrtagonist]

Circumstances change.

[he sighs, thunks the back of his head against the wall]

Can you understand why I'm bringing this up to you, Futayo?

[cluelesscavewoman]

I do not. You are being confusing.

[And she crosses her arms and goes back to watching the fish.]

[purrtagonist]

. . .

I was worried Erika may have asked you to kill Maki for her last night.

[it's not an accusation. it's a gentle, serious concern]

[cluelesscavewoman]

She did not ask. Before the night started we only discussed which areas we would explore.

[purrtagonist]

[he breathes out a sigh of relief, and nods]

All right.

Shuichi has already hinted at that theory in his conversations with Erika. I just. . . want you to be careful, okay?

[cluelesscavewoman]

[She's so confused right now.]

...Why do I have to be careful?

[purrtagonist]

[Futayo!!]

Because he may think you're the culprit at Erika's bidding, and thus put in his vote for you.

[cluelesscavewoman]

[Completely, utterly, unfazed. It's like you just told her water is wet.]

That is fine.

I have already placed my vote for myself.

[purrtagonist]

[startled]

What? Why?

[cluelesscavewoman]

Because this one wants Masazaumi to be safe.

[It's really simple.]

[purrtagonist]

[???]

And how does voting for yourself accomplish that?

[cluelesscavewoman]

Because you are supposed to vote for the people who killed someone else... I do not know who killed the others though.

[She's missed like 90% of this investigation.]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . . . . . . . .]

That's. . . what we're trying to figure out.

[cluelesscavewoman]

I am not very good at this, so I cannot help.

[Hence the staying here all day.]

[purrtagonist]

. . . but you still put in a vote for yourself.

Knowing that people are supposed to put in votes for someone who killed another person.

[once again, subtly, asking her if she was the one who killed Maki]

[cluelesscavewoman]

Judge.

[You should know by now, subtle won't work.]

[purrtagonist]

[GOD FINE]

[he hates to ask this question. he hates it. he likes Futayo a lot. she is a friend. but--]

Did you kill Maki, Futayo?

[cluelesscavewoman]

Judgement...

[She even nods.]

[purrtagonist]

. . . . . . . . . . [is]

[that]

[uh]

Are you-- confessing to a murder?

[cluelesscavewoman]

Jud...

[She doesn't seem too bothered. About, well, anything really. Her profile does say 'what is fear' after all. She just takes another swig of wine.]

[purrtagonist]

. . .

Are you confessing to a murder to protect someone?

[TRYING TO. . . STAY CALM. STAY EVEN. STAY NEUTRAL. he's stuck on the "Erika goaded Futayo into killing for her" theory, but. . .]

[cluelesscavewoman]

Jud?

[Head tilts? She's not really sure what he's getting at now.]

[purrtagonist]

. . .

Did Erika kill Maki, and then ask you to take the fall for her?

[cluelesscavewoman]

The raccoons locked Erika-dono in her room...

[purrtagonist]

[nnnnngh. . . nnnnnngh. . .]

Futayo--

What was your motive? Your "carrot" and your "stick?"