Character Story 6: Deduction is a Dance

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Kasumi
Hey, Assistant. Sorry for having you go out of your way to come all the way out here.

Kasumi
Please, I'd like for you to help me out with my work again.

Kasumi
This Shadow's mysteries run deep. The investigating is going a lot slower than I thought... It's embarrassing, but I'd like your expertise.

Kasumi
Huhu. Sorry for the poor hospitality.

Kasumi
This is an official government prison overseen by the royal palace. This is a special ward mainly used for political prisoners and felons.

Kasumi
A while ago while I was still working solo, there was a certain incident I resolved...

Kasumi
During that time I built up a relationship with a guard here, so they made an exception and allowed me to borrow a cell.

Kasumi
Using a government facility for private purposes is a bit of a problem. So, I'd like you to keep it a secret from everyone. Confidentiality is one of a detective's ironclad rules, after all.

Kasumi
Anyway. The Shadow we managed to capture the other day is imprisoned in this cell.

Kasumi
Thanks for your assistance at that time, Assistant.

Kasumi
The plan somehow going off without a hitch is definitely cause for celebration.

Kasumi
This situation is unheard of. I made meticulous preparations in order to prevent the Shadow's escape.

Kasumi
I asked that aforementioned guard I'm acquaintances with to keep an eye on things and even used magic to place a barrier around the Shadow to prevent its escape.

Kasumi
Of course this being a prison, security is already tight.

Kasumi
However, Shadows are still very enigmatic beings. Who knows if they have some unforeseen method of simply disappearing. This investigation into a Shadow's true form needs to speed up a bit.

Kasumi
I've even asked various specialists and such that I know to assist with the investigation, but...

Kasumi
There still haven't been any results up till now. I'm starting to sweat a little, to be honest.

Kasumi
I always thought once we captured a Shadow, the incident would be as good as solved.

Kasumi
Turns out, what to do going forward is the troubling part.

Kasumi
Well, the more difficult the problem is, the more satisfying it will be to unravel the truth.

Kasumi
Huhu. First, let's check on the Shadow's current condition.

Kasumi
Just thinking about it without inspecting the real thing will, in most cases, not lead to any answers.

Kasumi
Heey. Do you have a sec, Kiiri. You've got someone here that wants to meet you.

Kiiri
........

Kasumi
Yeah. Good morning.

Kasumi
Huhu. She seems to recognize me now that I've spoken to her so many times...

Kasumi
If you call out to her, she seems to have some sort of reaction.

Kasumi
Though it's still not enough to call it communication.

Kasumi
By the way, Kiiri is this girl's name. Not having a name for her is pretty inconvenient.

Kasumi
She took on my appearance, but calling her "Kasumi Number 2" or "Kasumi Shadow" feels a little weird.

Kasumi
Within the meaningless phrases she repeats, I was able to confirm something resembling a name... So for now, I put a spin on that and decided to use it. ^[1]

Kasumi
Yes. Kiiri-chan... I'd like for you to call her that as well, Assistant.

Kasumi
Treat her with kindness and civility whenever possible.

Kasumi
Shadows don't seen to have any self-awareness... so even if you treat them roughly they will neither complain nor sour in mood.

Kasumi
But in the end she still looks exactly like me, so being forceful is hard for me to take.

Kasumi
Even just seeing her locked up in there makes me break out into a strange sweat.

Kiiri
"Good morning, Senpai..."

Kiiri
"Thank you for your concern... I am okay... You're a kind person, aren't you, Senpai..." ^[2]

Kasumi
....? Eh? It just started blabbering all of a sudden. I wonder why?

Kasumi
The timing points to it being because of you, but the reason is unclear...

Kasumi
Well, anyway. Try speaking with her a bit more, Assistant.

Yuuki
1. Gently speak to her.
2. Shout at her.

Option 1.

Kiiri
"Ehehe♪ ... Senpai says some interesting things... Let's talk some more..."

Kasumi
Whoa, wasn't that a response? No, maybe those random remarks just so happened to string together into something coherent?

Kasumi
Even besides that, Kiiri reacted right away to your words, Assistant.

Kasumi
The reason is still unclear, but this is a big discovery!

Kasumi
I feel like the chances for progress with this Shadow investigation just shot up.

Option 2.

Kasumi
Hyaaa!? This wasn’t meant to be a cue for you to suddenly raise your voice like that, Assistant?

Kiiri
.......

Kasumi
Ah, see! Kiiri got flustered too and backed up all the way against the wall!

Kasumi
...wait, flustered? That's a curious topic as well.

Kasumi
Shadows have typically never demonstrated behavior so similar to living beings before.

Kasumi
It's been established that Shadows are not living creatures. They lack both self preservation instincts and crisis avoidance instincts.

Kasumi
Even when cut with a sword, they just calmly go on with whatever they were doing.

Kasumi
That was the theory, but... Kiiri felt fear toward the loud voice.

Kasumi
Wait, is it possible that it only appeared that way? Let's try experimenting some more.

Kasumi
>Kiiri, Kiiri... Good girl, come over here.

Kiiri
........

Kasumi
Hmm. she doesn't really listen to what I say. Assistant, I'd like you to try calling her over.

Kiiri
"Did you have a task for me, Senpai? ... Preferably something I'm capable of doing..."

Kasumi
Wow, she just came over here like normal. Why does she properly listen to what you say, Assistant...?

Kasumi
The reason she calls you "Senpai" is also a mystery.

Kasumi
But anyway, we managed to get a new reaction from Kiiri. This is definitely progress.

Kasumi
With this pace, let's keep on clearing up facts about these Shadows.

Kasumi
Investigate, analyze, deduce, demonstrate. Only through repeating these steps will we arrive at the truth.

Kasumi
I'm counting on you, Assistant. Together, let's dispel this mystery!