ayano's theory of bruises - 9/19, 4:15PM

[kagepuro]

Ummmm

Is there anyone on here who’s like...good at make up that can help me...Like one of those instagram models or something...

I was clumsy enough to give myself a black eye, and I need to hide it from my parents so they don’t freak out or get the wrong idea…

[A picture of Ayano follows, purple and black underline her left eye--thankfully not particularly swollen. Even so, whatever she smashed into must have smashed into her pretty hard. She wears a weak, sheepish smile on her face despite the heavy bruise. If it weren't there, this would be a perfectly good Facebook profile picture, in fact.]

It’s not that bad, right? Silly me...
Maybe I should just do the emo hair thing...?

Comments

[kagepuro]

[There's a long delay between the previous text and the next one--maybe she was indisposed for a bit? She was certainly doing something all that time, enough to change her demeanor a bit.]

hey. sorry.

I'm being pretty stupid after all...you're right, naoto. I should tell someone before things get worse with him

Um




can you help me?

[truedetective]

[The change in her tone is pretty striking, actually.]

Of course.
What do you need?

[kagepuro]

i know that this is a lot to ask for someone you probably don't even really know or care too much about but

can you help me come forward about this, somehow...




I dont really know how, and I'm too scared to do it all by myself...
You seem like you know this sort of stuff so...please?

[truedetective]

I'll help in any way I can.
Do you want to go to the police? I work with them fairly often so I'd be happy to accompany you.

I could take the information down but they'd probably insist on talking to you.

[kagepuro]

You work with the police...?

[A high schooler?]

But, I'd really like it if you came with me to the Police Station...
I think...if I had someone like you with me, I could definitely handle it. I think.

It's scary but...

[truedetective]

Yes. As I said, my family has long connections with the police. It's something of a work study.

I'll of course accompany you. You don't need to be frightened.

[kagepuro]

would it be okay with you if we did it as soon as possible?

I'm scared of what might happen to malik or what he might do if he isn't...dealt with

And...i need to make sure i still have the

Um

Evidence

[truedetective]

I'll clear my schedule right away.

[kagepuro]

...thank you so much for this, naoto

[~*~*~Her Hero~*~*~]

[truedetective]

There's no need to thank me. I'm doing what anyone who cares about justice would. And as you insisted the other day, we are friends. Where should I meet you?

[kagepuro]

i'm still by school, but i can head towards the TT by myself and meet you by the Volunteer place? And we can walk to the station together?

[truedetective]

That works. I'll need to stop by my apartment but I can be there in twenty minutes. [She's getting her dog! She figures that Kanji will make it easier for Ayano. He's a very friendly good boy.]

[kagepuro]

roger that! I'll see you there

I uh...stick out atm...

thanks again

[Ayano will be waiting at the steps in front of the volunteer center, relieved to have made it there before Naoto. She takes out her phone to reexamine her eye. Yep, still awful. She'll be looking out for Naoto, and raising an eyebrow at the unexpected pupper.]

[truedetective]

[Naoto is walking, or more accurately being pulled by, her big friendly shepherd mix. Kanji, when he sees Ayano, is probably going to try to nuzzle into her hand.

He senses something is wrong.] I thought, uh, you might feel more comfortable with him along. He's quite a good guard dog.

[A little sigh.] ...save his tendency to be affectionate towards anyone he meets.

[kagepuro]

[Ayano can't help but chuckle a bit as Naoto approaches with the dog. Naoto following quip makes her laugh a little bit louder as she's happy to pet Kanji for a bit, before turning up to Naoto. There's an immense gratefulness is the way that she smiles, here.]

He's sweet. Dogs are supposed to take after their owners, right? [Petpet. The police boy and his dog. It's really quite cute.]

I bet he's just a good judge of character...[Ayano rises up to her feet, gently brushing her bangs out of her face, a touch embarassed as the black eye is better revealed to Naoto.]

...Pretty bad, huh?

[truedetective]

I've heard that, yes. Given that he's only been with me for a few months, though, I can't really take much credit for it.

[Kanji keeps nuzzling into the pets. He likes pets. Naoto, though, frowns as she sees the black eye.] It looks like it hurts.

"Malik," was it? That was the name you mentioned over text. What's your relation to him?

[kagepuro]

A bit...[Lightly brushes her thumb over the bruise.]

Malik, yeah. [She starts walking forward along with Naoto.]

He was someone I was trying to make friends with. We had chatted on the network a bit and...we both had detention yesterday. The teacher left the room for a few minutes, and then Malik and I...got into it.

And, well, I think I already told you what happened next.

[A weak, weary smile.]

I got clocked.

[truedetective]

You did, yes. If it's not too much trouble, would you mind telling me again? With as much detail as you can remember.

--it might make it easier when you're talking to an officer if you've practiced telling it to someone else, first.

[kagepuro]

[She frowns, but only briefly before cracking another smile. The matter-of-factness on that "You did, yes" is almost comical. Naoto is...quirky.]

...Yeah, that's a good idea, okay.

[She folds her hands behind her back as she walks, fixating her gaze on Naoto's shoes.]

We were in detention together, and the teacher was out of the room. We started arguing, because he didn't want to be friends with me, or talk to me. I poked him in the arm with my pencil, and he through it across the room. All of a sudden, he started yelling at me, about how I don't know anything about him...How he's this bad guy that I shouldn't bother talking to.

[Some brief eye contact follows.]

What was I supposed to do? He seemed...sad almost. Unstable and lonely, so I prodded him a bit more, and I really shouldn't have. He said...

Um, and then, he said...

[Wow, this part is hard to get out, isn't it? Ayano just stops talking completely for a quiet moment to compose herself.]

Ah...That he killed people. And...I think, he was just talking about the memories? [Taps the side of her own head.]

I didn't believe him, and he got angrier, and angrier and stood up, telling me what a monster he is...I told him that if he was really as bad as he says he is, he should hit me. He should hit me as hard as he could. Me, a defenseless, five foot one girl...He should just hit me and prove it.


He did.


Which...you know. [Smiles weakly and brushes some of her hair over the wounded left eye, as if still slightly embarrassed by it.]

I just kind of crumbled, haha...I fell backwards, and hit the ground hard. My back is still kind of sore from it...I was just staring up at him, and my face stung so, so badly. I started crying. All of a sudden, I was hurt, and scared that he was going to come keep hitting me...I covered my face, and I just cried. I felt so weak, and dumb, so dumb, Naoto. I couldn't think. Eventually, I dragged myself up and walked to the front of the classroom and sat there, covering my face in my arms and crying. Malik...got up and left. I haven't seen him since. I don't know if anybody has...

[Finally, looking back to Naoto. Her eyes are a bit red and misty at this point. Was recalling all that really so painful? Maybe just...uncomfortable.]

How'd I do?

[truedetective]

[Naoto listens as they walk, not saying a word as Ayano gets it out. She frowns to herself. This Malik sounds dangerous. Unstable, at least. It seems wrong to judge someone based on their past self's actions, but it's also a little difficult to not feel that said actions might bleed over into this life.

Kanji bumps up against Ayano, as if sensing her emotional distress, and whines softly.] You did very well. You remembered important details and told your point of view comprehensively. If you can tell the officer on duty exactly what you told me, I think that will be more than sufficient. [She pauses.] Thank you for trusting me with that.

[Another pause.] They will likely ask you if you want to press charges. What will you say to that?

[kagepuro]

[Absent mindedly petting Kanji as she keeps her attention on Naoto.]

No, thank you...I...

[Hm. She has to stop and think, but keeps look at Naoto nonetheless. He has an interesting, handsome face. Very serious. He's probably been through some tough things, hasn't he? She briefly wonders, before realizing to reply to his question.]

No...? Should I press charges? [A weary laugh.] I don't even completely know what pressing charges means...

If I didn't press charges, would he just...get off scot free?

[truedetective]

It's up to you. Pressing charges can mean different things, depending on the severity of the crime. For more serious crimes, the police are asking if you fully intend to cooperate with their investigation and trial, if need be; they don't want to waste time if their only witness doesn't want to, say, testify in court.

[She shifts slightly.] Given that battery is a misdemeanor, however, an officer can't arrest someone for a misdemeanor they didn't personally witness. If they did see your testimony as evidence of a crime, it's effectively asking you if you want to citizen's arrest him-- which they would carry out as your surrogates.

To be honest, it's unlikely that anything will happen to him. You have the story and the physical evidence, but if it is a first-time offense and you did say something that could be seen as provoking, they might be inclined to let him go with a warning.

The reason that I'd suggest you file a complaint nonetheless is so that there's a paper trail. The next time he does something-- if he does-- they'll be able to refer to a history of violent acts. It makes it less likely that he'll get off "scot free" in the future.

[kagepuro]

[It's almost a little disheartening. She doesn't want him to get a warning. She wants them to acknowledge that something is wrong, and to get him help...The words that are coming out of Naoto's mouth are so complicated and scary. She hangs her head a bit, feeling as dumb and stupid as usual.]

I'll...press charge then, I think. Whatever happens...something should happen, right? I need to do something...

[A slight, likely forced smile.]

At least I picked the right person to get help from...I wouldn't have any idea what to do without you here explaining it to me...

[And another pat to Kanji.]

And you, too!

[truedetective]

I would say you would like to, yes. That's the way to lodge a formal complaint, and as I said, it means there's a record if he does anything violent later. But as is, especially given that he's a minor, it's unlikely that he'd face any significant penalty for the crime. Possibly just community service. I'm happy that I can at least walk you through this process. I understand it might be intimidating.

[kagepuro]

[Ayano leans slightly as she walks. They're getting closer to the Police Station and her nerves are starting to act up. She accidentally bumps shoulders with Naoto, and presents a weary smile in apology.]

I just want people to know about him. I think he needs help, is all.

[Folds her hands back behind her once more, taking slower, more careful steps.]

I'm kind of nervous about school. Stuff people might say after they find out what actually happened to me, and why my eye is all messed up...
[SIGH.]
No more bad rumors about me, please...