2025-09-30: After The Fall
- Cutscene: After The Fall
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki's family, and their father's boss, Takumi Kimpara, discussing something with Daichi Furudate
- Where: Port Island Family Home / Kimpara Tower
- OOC Date: 2025-09-30
- IC Date: Thursday, Jul 19 2012
- Summary: Tsubasa's family feel the effects of their attempted assassination, too. Powerful figures decided the shape of the board before any of the pieces began to play.
- Content warning: Domestic violence, misgendering, drug use.
Etsuko Seki isn't even watching the news, any more; her eyes are glazed, and with a numb and placid expression, her face is turned to the screen. Her bruises are all covered with concealer and blush; her eyes are dry, now she's safely far from herself.
"Aoba Park's World Day for International Justice art installation was brutally attacked yesterday, with arson claiming the art house as well as several outdoor sculptures. While no culprit has been found, police presently suspect the 'Arsonist of City Hall', a youth with ties to several arson events. Convicted for assaulting a local seat of Government, this individual was also associated with the arson which destroyed Akiyama High School and the recent gang attack involving fire on Kasugayama... and while they were reportedly found innocent of the latter two events, police are 'open' to re-evaluating their role in these past crimes should more evidence arise," the reporter on the screen says.
"When pressed for comment, Sergeant Ezoe of Sumaru PD told reporters, 'Presently, we just want to talk with the individual in question due to their suspicious presence. We hope that even if this person is not the culprit behind Aoba Park's attack, they will have knowledge of the true culprit.'" And there is not a single mention of the Joker Killer, though Etsuko knows it was surely him.
"While the media cannot identify this individual due to their age, anyone who was present at Aoba Park on the 17th is encouraged to call the Police Tip Line with information about the event. After the break: is the rise in youth gang crime in Hirasaka now endangering neighbouring areas? We ask the experts!"
Of course it was shocking to hear that her child was being blamed for something she surely caused...
... but there's no risk she'll turn herself in, now.
The home isn't where these decisions are made, though. No, atop Kimpara Tower --
"I'm surprised this is the favour you called in, Furudate-kaicho," Takumi Kimpara speaks into his phone, as he sits behind his vast, fine desk in his penthouse office. "But yes... with a few suggestions, the police were quite happy to pursue my suspicions of the girl. They're hunting for her now, as I understand..."
He pauses, tilting his head against the receiver. "Oh, you haven't inconvenienced me at all," he assures his fellow company head, smiling. (There is a hidden implication, though, in their different honourifics -- that Furudate is kaicho implies he's the founder, not merely the President, as the younger Kimpara is.) "I wanted to see how Seki-senmu would handle the situation... but it seems he's still a little hasty. Of course, I never expected him to succeed... not without the structures in place to handle the situation he's otherwise had. I'd like to work with him a little longer before I give him free reign. And you said you'll be taking care of the girl? You're quite sure she'll change her approach...? Ah, very good," Takumi smiles. "Then my own approach is clear. It's always a pleasure to work with you. 'Til next time."
He lets Hanzou twist in the wind another day, before he calls him into his office to inform him that regretfully, there's no way they can offer him that position now... though of course they'll be open to reconsidering their decision based on his performance.
... and with the added instruction that he ought to be seen caring for his wayward daughter, he handily ensures that Hanzou won't try again.
This, too, becomes Etsuko's problem, though she's far too distant from her body to register his harsh words. Kiyoshi hears less of it, yet feels more of it -- and feels his sibling must have done it, for they've demonstrably done it before -- but he has no time to devote to processing his feelings over what Tsubasa's done to their home, between his furious efforts to study.