#sometimes i think about how none of this would have happened if akio was straight /lh

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[ 𝙼𝚒𝚢𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚠𝚊 𝙰𝚔𝚒𝚘'𝚜 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝟹 𝚅𝙳] 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝-𝙷𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚗'𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚢𝚊𝚕

time to judge the prisoners let's go! the first pair is akio and aimi as always. i feel like i know what akio's trial 3 verdict is going to be but when it comes to aimi.. i'm not so sure.

Warnings for Akio's VD: descriptions of murder and violence (specifically hanging), a mention of a character throwing up.

Warnings for Akio's MV: toxic relationship themes, hanging

(sounds of footsteps)

Hinode: So.. Time to interrogate the first prisoner.

Hinode: Hopefully, I'll have enough energy to interrogate all ten of them, haha.

Miki: Well, if something happens, we can rely on Eiji-san.

Hinode: Um, Miki-san.. I'm not sure when Eiji-san will be able to join us-

Miki: But he will join us, right?

Hinode: .. Y-yeah, definitely.

Miki: So we have nothing to be worried about, right?

Miki: "I just.. hope that he will forgive me for voting Kei-san innocent."

(the door opens)

Hinode: Hello, Akio-san. I hope you're ready for your interrogation.

Hinode: How are you feeling-

Akio: I'd prefer it if we could just get started already.

Hinode: .. O-okay then.

Miki: "There's a screen on the wall.. Is Eiji-san supposed to appear on it?"

Miki: "There's probably a screen like that in every single cell then.."

(sounds of Hinode and Miki sitting down)

Miki: We'll start with a few questions that aren't related to your crime, but to your life in Milgram instead.

Miki: As we.. you know.. usually do.

Miki: What can you tell us about your condition?

Akio: .. It's fine. Definitely better than what it used to be, at least.

Akio: I can read and write again, but uh..

Akio: I still need help sometimes. My head still hurts a lot too.

Akio: .. Will I always have that scar there?

Hinode: Your injury was very serious, so I wouldn't be surprised if it did stay there for a while or even for the rest of your life.

Hinode: I'm still not sure how you got treated.. From what I've seen, that injury really was bad..

Hinode: Like.. How are you still alive?

Akio: ...

Hinode: O-oh, sorry, a weird question, I know, haha..

Akio: .. I actually don't know how much I have left.

Miki: Huh?

Akio: I mean, sure, maybe I feel better at the moment, but what if you vote me guilty again this time? 

Akio: If you punish me again, I.. 

Akio: ...

Akio: Yeah, I'll die for sure.

Hinode: Well, we can just make your punishment more psychological in nature, right? Also, let's not assume your future verdict for now. It's better if we don't make any predictions until we learn more about your crime and watch your video.

Akio: Heh, like a punishment like that would be any better.

Akio: .. Will my body still be like this if I'm able to get out?

Akio: H-how will I explain this to my parents..

Miki: "I've never thought about this actually.." 

Hinode: I'm sure that you'll be able to finally get actual help if you're able to leave. Let's be more optimistic about it.

Miki: "And we still don't know who exactly treated Miyagawa-san.."

Miki: "If this place has a doctor, shouldn't we know about them? And why didn't they help us during the second trial?"

Miki: "Oh, right."

Miki: Miyagawa-san, do you remember anything about the person who treated your injury? 

Akio: Um.. I wouldn't say I was fully conscious when it happened and I couldn't open my eyes, but I think I heard someone talking.

Akio: I think it was a man's voice. Probably around, uh..

Akio: This guy's age.

Hinode: M-my name is Hinode-

Akio: Whatever.

Miki: "So, a man in his twenties.."

Miki: "It's a shame that Miyagawa-san couldn't see what he looked like, I wonder if he's actually very attractive-"

Miki: ".. This personality trait of mine is getting annoying."

Miki: Ah, do you remember what he was talking about, Miyagawa-san?

Akio: I think he was just mostly talking to himself?.. Just rambling about stuff.

Akio: He probably assumed that I was completely unconscious, so he felt like he could talk about anything he wanted.

Akio: .. I remember him saying something about the prison guards though. 

Miki: Prison guards?..

Hinode: So.. He was talking about us, huh?..

Akio: Maybe. I have no idea, my memories are really blurry.

Akio: .. Can we talk about my murder already?

Miki: Oh, uh, s-sure, but..

Miki: .. Don't you want to talk about the other prisoners too? Like, what's your relationship with-

Akio: How is it supposed to be related to my murder? You're here to solve it, or what?

Hinode: Your current relationships can say a lot about your past, so-

Akio: Stop trying to sound smart, nobody cares. 

Hinode: O-okay.

Akio: .. My relationship with Riku is better now. That's all I'm going to say.

Miki: "He's calling him by his first name.."

Miki: "Wait, didn't he-"

Miki: ".. I should ask him about that."

Miki: Thank you for saving him, Miyagawa-san. Even though you've almost died because of what he said to you, you still saved his life. 

Miki: Hehe, you really are a good person.

Akio: Shut up.

Miki: ".. Maybe he felt guilty about his murder and that's why he tried to save someone's life?.."

Miki: What about your relationship with Hanasaki-san? Are you still close?

Akio: .. She's been acting weird lately. I do not like that.

Miki: "Weird"? What do you mean?

Akio: You know exactly what I'm talking about. I mean, she doesn't talk to anyone except you nowadays.

Akio: It's like she's obsessed with you or something.

Hinode: Just like your accomplice was obsessed with you?

Akio: !

Akio: .. So we're gonna talk about that, huh.

Akio: Okay, bring it on.

Hinode: So, if we were to tell the story of your crime..

Hinode: There were three main characters: your accomplice, Saito Arata-san, your victim, Kitami Chise-san, and well, of course, you. 

Hinode: You were in charge of all the planning when it came to the murder and you also were the one who really hated Chise-san, meanwhile Arata-san was the one who did all the dirty work. A king would never kill someone with his own hands, he needs an executioner for that, right?

Akio: .. Are you making fun of me?

Hinode: But then, something went wrong between you and Arata-san. Perhaps it was some kind of argument? Maybe one of you didn't like the plan so much? Maybe one of you suddenly felt sorry for Chise-san?

Hinode: Maybe something went wrong in the middle of the murder?

Akio: ...

Hinode: Actually, Miki-san, I'm surprised you and Eiji-san never asked Akio-san about this very important part of his murder.

Miki: Huh? What are you talking about-

Hinode: I'm talking about the murder method.

Hinode: How exactly did you plan to kill him, Akio-san?

Akio: .. I'm sure you saw something like that in my videos. I mean, they're supposed to show my murder, right?

Miki: "I remember seeing something like that in his second video.. What was it.."

Miki: ".. Oh."

Miki: Miyagawa-san, this might be a weird question, but..

Miki: .. Did Kitami-san die by hanging?

Akio: !

Akio: W-wait.. Y-you really saw it?

Miki: There was a lot of.. hanging symbolism in one of your videos. 

Hinode: Fitting for someone who saw himself as a king of his class. It's a pretty popular execution method, after all.

Akio: I-I.. I didn't think you'd actually.. see it..

Hinode: There's one thing that really bothers me though.

Hinode: Akio-san, why exactly did you go with hanging as your murder method?

Akio: ...

Akio: I thought it was.. easy to do.

Akio: Like.. we just needed a rope and a stool and that's all..

Hinode: Hmm, I'm sure there must be more to it.

Hinode: You really hated Chise-san, right? So why go easy on him?

Hinode: If you do it right, hanging is supposed to be quick, right? You know, neck snaps, ouch!.. And that's it, you're dead.

Hinode: Like, that's one of the reasons why it's such a popular execution method. Like, we're killing someone, but we're doing it so quickly, they won't realize what happened to them! We're so nice!

Hinode: .. I just don't understand why a king like you would go with an execution method like that.

Akio: .. I-

Hinode: Also, there was this scene in your second video..

Hinode: Like I've said, hanging is supposed to be quick. But..

Hinode: What did Chise-san look like, Akio-san?

Akio: Huh? Why do you need to know-

Hinode: Answer the question, please. This is an interrogation, after all.

Akio: .. Blond hair, dark pink eyes. Freckles. A stupid smile of his that always looks way too wide and annoying.

Hinode: Oh, so that's who we saw in that video.

Akio: !

Akio: Wh-

Akio: What are you-

Miki: So that boy really was Kitami-san..

Hinode: Then answer me this, Akio-san.

Hinode: If hanging is supposed to be quick and painless, why could we see so many bloody marks on his neck?

Akio: .. Ah..

Akio: I.. I-it..

Miki: Are you okay, Miyagawa-san?

Akio: I-it wasn't.. 

Akio: *stands up* IT WASN'T MY FAULT, OKAY?!

Akio: I'VE TOLD HIM THAT WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL, THAT WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO MY PLAN, BUT HE DIDN'T LISTEN!

Akio: IT WAS ALL HIS IDEA! IT WAS HIS FAULT! HIS FAULT, HIS FAULT, HIS FAULT, HIS FAULT-

Miki: P-please calm down, Miyagawa-san, you're still injured-

Akio: ..  My head hurts. *sits down*

Hinode: So, by "his fault".. You mean Arata-san, right?

Akio: .. Yes.

Hinode: What did Arata-san do? 

Akio: .. W-we didn't just kill him.  

Akio: We, uh..

Akio: W-we tortured him.

Miki: You what??

Hinode: This boy committed murder, but you draw the line at torture?

Miki: N-no, it's just-

Akio: I-it was my idea too. Arata went along with it.

Akio: It's like he looked.. excited, even.

Akio: When Chise woke up, the rope was already on his neck. He started to panic and try to get the rope off, but then Arata made the stool shake and Chise quickly stopped.

Akio: He wasn't hanging exactly, he was just standing on it, but one wrong move could cost him his life.

Akio: A-and then I..

Akio: I-I started to taunt him and.. 

Akio: H-he never was the brightest student in class, so I just continued to ask him questions and make him solve problems and told him that if he keeps giving me the wrong answers, w-we will kill him.

Miki: ...

Miki: .. You're messed up, Miyagawa-san.

Hinode: So what happened after?

Akio: .. Arata moved the stool. Chise's neck did not break.

Akio: He continued to try to get the rope off his neck. He kept trying to say something.

Akio: .. T-this went for at least five minutes-

(sounds of Akio throwing up)

Miki: Miyagawa-san!

(sounds of Miki's footsteps)

Miki: Hinode-san, do you have anything-

Hinode: Here, you can wipe it off with this.

Hinode: So.. A botched execution, huh?

Miki: Hinode-san, thanks for helping. Now shut up, please.

Akio: T-this.. This is what I meant when I said that it never was m-my fault..

Akio: H-he told me he has experience with it.. T-that it really will be quick and painless..

Miki: "Experience with it?! So Miyagawa-san ended up here, but that guy didn't?!"

Akio: T-that's why I ran away right after w-we were done.. I-I couldn't even look at him anymore after that..

(bell rings, machinery sounds)

Miki: Miyagawa-san, before we extract your video, please answer one question. You can go and rest after this.

Akio: Wow, that's so nice of you, haha..

Miki: .. I noticed that you usually call everyone by their last names, but when it comes to people you're close with, you call them by their first names.

Miki: Like you called Hanasaki-san by her last name at first, but after she saved you, you started to call her by her first name.

Miki: So I just wanted to ask..

Miki: Why are you calling your victim "Chise" even though you claim you hated him?

Akio: ...

Akio: .. Isn't that for you to figure out?

Akio: You already got the murder method and my reaction to his death. You don't have to be a genius like me to put all these things together.

Miki: .. I see. Thank you.

Miki: Hinode-san- Ah, he's asleep.

Miki: Well then..

Miki: Prisoner 001, Akio, please sing your sins. 

42% ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░ 100%

[ Akio's Trial 3 MV: Experiment: Failed ]

The video starts with showing us that Akio is sitting in some kind of lab and working on his computer, he's even dressed up as some kind of scientist. He is going through the files he has on his computer and suddenly notices something suspicious in one of them. But before he can open it, he gets distracted because Arata walks up to him, offers him some coffee and smiles at him. He seems to be a scientist working here too. 

"I'm the one who planned this, so trust me, it's gonna be fine

I'm the expert in this field, nothing can go wrong

This is what I tell myself every morning or otherwise I'll break down

Only your smile can keep me sane, so just stay here, it's gonna be fine"

Akio just sighs and accepts the coffee and forgets about the file. 

The video cuts to Akio explaining something to Arata and writing something on a chalkboard. Arata stands up and starts writing something on it too. Akio seems to disagree with him and starts correcting him. After a playful fight, they seem to finally agree on something and they shake their hands. 

"I'm the smart one here, the "genius child", that's what they call me

You're the strong one here, nothing scares you, that's what you've told me

Let's work together, I'll do the planning, you'll do the killing-

Oh, what did I just say? Well, whatever, it's just our secret code for.."

When they walk away, we can see the chalkboard better and we see that they've actually been playing Hangman all this time. 

Arata is now the one doing all the explaining and he seems to be very passionate about it. Akio is listening to him very intently and he can't stop staring at him. 

"I know there must be something deeply wrong with you, I can see it in your eyes

But I can't help but feel curious, let me put your messed up brain in a jar

I wasn't born to solve love problems, so let's just hope the answer isn't "Break up""

When you look closer, you can notice that one of his eyes is slowly becoming more pink, meanwhile the other one is becoming more green. But it looks like Arata has some work for Akio to do and he drops a stack of papers on his desk. 

"Solve the problem! You know the answer! Good job! I love you, love you, you can do it!

I can't concentrate with those words playing in my head!

Well, whatever, I know I'll get the best grade in loving you anyway

So keep looking at me, keep saying I'm a genius, please praise me once more"

Before Akio can say anything, Arata places his hand on his chin and looks him in the eyes. Akio blushes a bit and nods reluctantly. Right after that Arata walks away from him, not even taking a single look at him. Akio has no choice but to get to work.

On the next day, it looks like Akio spent the entire night working. He wakes up because he can hear someone talking and suddenly, Arata opens the door and Akio can see that Arata is not alone. He has brought Chise with him and the blond boy looks very excited to be here and he keeps looking around. 

For some reason, Akio looks terrified, but he tries to stay calm after Chise looks at him and gives him a smile. Chise's smile seems to be very different from Arata's and it feels more warm and sincere, meanwhile Arata's is simply more polite. 

"No, why did you do this? We're not ready yet, how am I supposed to act in this situation?

You don't know the whole truth, you don't know what happened between me and-"

Akio tries to look away from him and notices the way Arata is staring at both of them. He doesn't look pleased. Akio clenches his hands and nods and Arata looks to be happy with Akio agreeing to do something. 

"No, I can't turn back now. What's done is done, I'll do the planning, you'll do the-"

Akio continues to work on his computer meanwhile Arata seems to be testing some kind of machine on Chise and Chise doesn't mind, it actually looks like he's having fun. 

"An innocent victim? No, just a test subject, just another experiment

He's not that pure, that's what I want to believe

He'll fight back if he wants, don't let him fool you

Do whatever you want with him, I don't care at all"

Akio can't help but keep looking at them and then he remembers about the weird file and finally decides to check what's inside of it. Once he clicks on it, the computer screen suddenly goes red and the same happens to all the computers in the lab. 

"Ah, I knew this plan was a bad idea from the start

Even geniuses like me make mistakes sometimes, okay?!

I just got a bit too confident, I got lost in my pride

I beg you, don't point at me and call me an idiot"

Akio starts panicking and he runs to the machine that Arata was testing and it looks like the thing is malfunctioning. Akio tries to help Chise, but Arata puts his hand on his shoulder and once again, gives him a smile. 

"But you still tell me:

Solve the problem! You know the answer! Good job! I love you, love you, you can do it!

I can't concentrate with those words playing in my head!

Please comfort me, tell me everything's gonna be fine

I'm not going to be punished for my stupidity, right?"

Akio lets Chise's hand go and even tries to force a laugh and pretend everything is fine. 

But then, the whole "illusion" of a lab shatters and we're brought back to reality. Akio blinks and he sees that they're not in this super cool laboratory, but in a dark and creepy basement. He sees that this whole time they weren't testing a machine on Chise. They were actually trying to hang him. 

"It really was a bad idea from the start

Good boys like me aren't made for murder

Sorry for making you stain your hands like this

I'll lick all the blood off if it makes you feel better"

We can't see what happened to Chise in all the detail, but we can see his legs and his neck and there appear to be strange red marks on it. Even when most of his body can be seen, we can't make it out that well because of how dark the basement is and we can't see his face at all.

"Something went wrong, totally wrong

Something went wrong, oh so totally wrong

I admit my mistake, but don't punish me for it

It's too embarrassing for a king like me to beg for forgiveness"

Akio falls on the floor and covers his mouth with his hand and it looks like he's trying to calm himself down and pretend everything is okay again, but then he looks at Arata, hoping he can comfort him and to his horror, Arata can't stop staring at Chise's corpse and laughing. When Arata turns back to Akio, he looks way too excited for someone who just murdered an innocent person. 

"You are the problem! I know the answer! You did the job! I hate you, hate you, I can't do it!

I can't concentrate with those words playing in my head!

So let me run away from you like a coward would

Just to get obsessed with you later again"

He tries to grab Akio's hand, but Akio pushes him away and looks terrified. Akio runs away and leaves the house. It's raining outside and he keeps running until he trips and falls and sees a paper crown lying on the ground. It's in a terrible condition because of the rain and it has some dirt on it too, but Akio still reaches to grab it. It's in his hands now and Akio looks at it and smiles. It's a sad smile, but still, a smile.

"Maybe, one day, I will be noticed

Maybe, one day, I will be recognized

Maybe, one day, someone will smile at me again

Maybe, one day, I won't need anyone's praise anymore"

He continues to lie on the ground as more and more rain drops fall on the paper crown. The video ends.