01x02 - Episode 2

[bunniefuu]

I'm in a terrible slump.

Oh my. Tell me more.

It started while I was writing a verdict

for a vandalism case.

The defendant's name was Tadashi Ueda.

Tadashi Ueda?

-Can I borrow that?

-Sure.

This name

is geometrically perfect.

You're right.

And the kanji for his name means "right,"

written as "one" and "stop."

To be "right," do you have

to stop and think?

When I started to think about that,

my brain ran with it.

I don't remember ever liking kanji,

but suddenly I became fixated.

Maybe you're unconsciously searching

for hidden rules.

Fixations in autism spectrum disorder

often change.

Try enjoying the fixations.

That mindset might help.

Okay

I'm an alien.

I see the world differently

from Earthlings.

My job as an alien is to judge

Earthlings' conflicts properly,

according to their social rules.

THEMIS' UNCERTAIN COUR

EPISODE 2

DUTY OF TRUTH AND DUTY OF GOOD FAITH

Excuse me, could you stop

filming the students?

You may have already seen it in the news,

but we'll explain the case.

One of our basketball players, Nao Kurita,

has been committing thefts

totaling several million yen with a group

over the past six months.

A former basketball graduate

from another school,

Kazuki Yagi, confronted Kurita.

Yagi was seriously injured.

He remains unconscious

and in critical condition.

We want you to take on Kurita's defense.

The family is looking

for a competent lawyer.

Your father is a graduate of our school

and makes donations every year.

We'd like you to be our legal advisor.

I understand. I'll accept.

Please protect them.

Both the student's future

and the school's honor.

We're counting on your skills.

Yes.

To start with,

tell me what really happened.

It's not my fault.

I didn't start the fight.

Yagi hit me, demanding the stolen money.

So I defended myself.

Can you explain in more detail?

Charges and penal provisions,

Articles 204, 61 paragraph 1,

and 235 of the Penal Code.

How does the defendant plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

On as*ault, self-defense applies,

so not guilty.

On theft incitement, it amounts

only to aiding and abetting.

I will outline the case.

Two years ago, the defendant and victim

met during a practice match

and became friends as they played

the same position.

Why are you paying attention to me?

Because you're too weak.

You're no match for me!

c*ck much?

I'll make you regret it!

Soon, the basketball court that lay

halfway between the two schools

became a hangout.

Back when Mr. Yagi was around,

it was a well-behaved group.

But after the victim graduated,

the defendant took charge.

Seeking money for fun,

he instructed them

to extort and harass people.

This later escalated to group theft.

The father of one of his accomplices'

works in real estate,

and they used his master keys

to steal from rental properties.

When the victim learned this,

an argument broke out

in front of the clubroom.

The defendant pushed the victim,

causing injuries that left

the latter unconscious.

After graduating,

the victim was studying

at a vocational school.

Taking advantage of the victim's

inability to testify,

the defendant falsely claims the victim

attacked him and demanded money.

To argue that it was aiding theft,

not incitement, is just an excuse

Bilateral symmetry

About the juvenile criminal case

Explain why you agreed to let Ando

handle this case on his own.

It's hard to explain in just a few words.

Then use as many words as you need.

I know a good place,

we could talk over a drink.

You're dodging again.

No, thank you.

I shouldn't have become a judge.

I retire in two years.

I'm just a bit curious.

Symmetry.

NAO KURITA, KAZUKI YAGI

Your Honor

Your Honor

Your Honor,

the opening statement is complete.

-Were you listening--

-I was.

The court has some questions

for the defendant.

Defense counsel, prosecutor,

may I proceed?

Defendant, please take the stand.

After Mr. Yagi graduated

and you became the leader of the group,

why did you start committing crimes?

Because I wanted money

to spend on fun stuff.

Be more specific.

To eat out with friends,

go to karaoke

Anything else?

To buy basketball cards

of overseas players,

and bid on basketball goods.

Is that all?

Twenty people participated

in the thefts, right?

Your Honor,

how he spent the money

isn't relevant to the trial.

It started with a few

thousand yen extorted,

then escalated into planned,

large-scale thefts.

I want to identify all the factors

that led to this escalation,

so I can fully understand the case.

I'll investigate before the next hearing.

Defense, do you have evidence

to support the claim of self-defense?

We will submit witness testimony

as evidence.

How did the trial go?

The defense is contesting everything.

They argue self-defense,

and aiding, not incitement, on the theft.

Things are getting interesting.

I'm curious to see what

that rich-girl lawyer does.

Remember I told you she used to work

at a major law firm in Tokyo?

Apparently, she was a full-time volunteer.

She was doing a lot of it pro bono.

She focused on criminal defense,

but after moving here,

she started doing corporate work

through her father's connections.

Well, criminal defense

has no perks at all.

"No one wants to do it."

"There's no money or reward in it."

Looks like she'll be

the school's legal counsel.

In the end, it's all about money.

Yes, money.

Ms. Onozaki.

I'm here to pick up the agenda

for the next three-party conference.

Understood.

Excuse me,

how much did you hear?

-How much?

-Yes.

Oh, you didn't hear anything?

Then we're good.

What were you talking about?

About you moving back here

and pursuing corporate law

with your father's help,

all because of money.

He told her everything.

Ando,

you always manage to surprise me.

You're really something else.

Thank you.

It wasn't a compliment.

What's that?

Some new kind of sarcasm?

Defendant: Nao Kurita, 18.

Third-year at Toyodai Academy.

The charges are

as*ault and theft incitement.

The incident happened in front of

the clubroom behind the school gym.

The victim repeatedly called

the defendant with no response,

and went to the school.

An argument followed.

Eyewitnesses claiming self-defense include

Yusuke Masaki,

Satoshi Kawano,

Yuichi Kawagoe.

All three give nearly identical accounts.

"I heard shouting and ran over."

"I saw Kazuki Yagi attack Nao Kurita."

The shouting was heard

at the ground entrance,

the school entrance,

and the gym.

"I heard shouting and ran over."

"I saw Kazuki Yagi attack Nao Kurita."

Same testimony different locations

Same testimony different locations

Same testimony different locations

Excuse me

There's a weird guy

What do you think you're doing?

I'm talking to you.

What are you doing?

I may look suspicious,

but I'm not a suspicious person.

Have you looked at yourself?

What exactly do you mean by that?

Come with us. We have a few questions.

Hey, you!

You're coming with us.

Are you listening?

Hello?

Mr. Ando?

What are you doing here?

Do you know him?

He's a judge.

A judge?

Did you come to speak with people

involved in the case about the defendant?

Something was bothering me.

Something you were already looking into.

Roughly speaking,

it takes 15 seconds

from the entrance to the scene.

20 seconds from the gym,

and about 40 seconds

from the ground entrance.

Shouts would likely carry

to any of those locations.

But given the layout, even if someone

hurried over at a 7 km/h pace,

there'd be a time gap.

The accounts from the gym

and the school entrance line up.

But

coming from the ground entrance,

it would be more natural for him to say,

"When I got there,

Yagi was down and unresponsive."

Do you think the witness is lying?

You thought so too.

Isn't that why you're investigating?

No I thought his memory might be off.

Then present evidence to support that.

Evaluate the statements

based on the spatial layout.

It's like being in court.

We're not in court.

Huh?

My actions went far beyond

a judge's authority. This is not okay.

Absolutely not okay.

I'm leaving.

Ah, please wait!

Please.

Just wait around.

Around where?

I'm going to speak with some students

from the defendant's class.

After that, let's talk.

Where do you want me to wait?

I'll speak with the school.

Wait in a classroom, for example.

Please.

For example?

Do it.

Hurry up and do it!

Ando,

your desk is a mess.

Clean it up already.

We did it though, ha ha ha

Mr. Ando.

Mr. Ando.

Mr. Ando!

Most people's actions

are influenced by the environment.

School is a microcosm of society.

In a small community,

abnormal can seem normal

depending on the trigger.

You're curious about

what led them to commit group theft?

I am.

I learned some interesting things

from the students.

They say

they saw Kurita confronting his friends,

saying, "You took your cut. Now pay up."

Took your cut?

Also, among his friends,

some students would buy

extremely expensive things,

then suddenly be short on cash

and sell personal items online.

Money coming and going

Did something come to your mind?

And you came to me?

As a court enforcement officer,

you know how ugly it gets over money.

That's what Mr. Ando thinks.

After hearing the story

and the part about "your cut,"

something clicked.

Tell me.

What's in it for me?

I'll treat you to

the new sushi restaurant by--

The conveyor-belt one?

You want a dinner at a high-class

sushi restaurant or money?

Is that it?

I heard a rumor.

Your father is the ambassador

to the US, Junzo Onozaki.

And you've started focusing

on corporate law here?

You can return the favor

another time.

EXECUTIVES REPORTED

FOR GAMBLING DURING GOLF GAMES

Wait, what is this?

Apparently, "How much is my cut?"

was their code phrase.

High school students?

The group thefts began

right after this incident.

School is a microcosm of society.

And children grow up watching

the adults around them.

Toyodai Academy is filled

with children of big-company executives.

From the beginning,

I asked you to be honest

about what happened.

What are you talking about?

The group gambling.

There have been nationwide cases

of minors using online casinos.

Using smartphones and cashless payments,

there are loopholes.

But evidence is left behind.

So you came up with another method.

Your own gambling ring.

At first it was just for fun.

But it escalated.

The bets got higher,

and to pay off debts,

you ended up committing thefts.

Your evidence?

I confronted the boys

who took part in the group thefts.

They all reacted with shock.

That's not evidence!

Yes?

Excuse me.

Someone called from Toyodai Academy.

They said it's urgent.

Understood.

I'll be right back.

Onozaki speaking.

What?!

Understood. I'll check right away.

Kazuki Yagi has regained consciousness.

Now we'll find out

exactly what happened.

I talked to him already.

This trial is going to be messy.

You're Kazuki Yagi, right?

Tell me about the incident.

He doesn't remember?

Yes.

The doctor says the head injury

caused memory loss.

There's something I meant to ask you.

What is it?

Did the school actually know

the extent of the minors' gambling?

What if we did?

Director

This is a good opportunity to tell her.

We only had circumstantial evidence.

So it could be covered up.

What would happen if this got out?

The students would face harsher punishment

for their crimes.

And the school's reputation

would take a bigger hit.

The school imposed a gag order.

Ms. Onozaki.

A lawyer's job is to protect

the client's interests.

Do your job.

Hm?

Hey there, rich-girl lawyer.

The term "rich girl"

you just used

clearly implies "naive"

and "privileged."

I'll sue you for defamation.

Someone's been drinking

-Bartender, pour him a beer.

-Coming right up.

Wait we're drinking together?

You don't want to?

Sure, why not.

Okay.

-I have something to say.

-Okay.

There's something I'd like

to ask you, as my senior.

Fire away.

Why do we have trials?

Who are they for?

Hm?

What is a defense attorney's job?

What does protecting a client mean?

I shouldn't have become a lawyer.

What's this about?

My past.

Another round, please.

Coming right up.

What's going on

with that rich-girl lawyer?

I thought I'd just hear some ranting,

but she vented about her job.

Her emotions were all over the place.

I've got a hangover.

Onozaki actually kept up

with the chief? Not bad.

What's that supposed to mean?

Exactly what I said.

You're so cold.

That's fine.

Anyway, Ando, I hear the trial's stalled.

Both the defense and prosecution

requested a postponement.

I approved after hearing the reasons.

It's in your hands now.

Handle it properly.

Properly how?

Hmm

Jaaang something like this.

Okay

My head hurts

Welcome.

Ketchup spaghetti meal, please.

Sure Oh, hm

This is a new dish.

I recommend it.

Ketchup spaghetti meal, please.

It's authentic paella

with a rich seafood broth.

It's on special right now.

Ketchup spaghetti meal, please.

Coming right up.

I had drinks with Mr. Kadokura last night.

I thought he was just going to rant,

but he vented about being a judge.

His feelings were all over the place.

It was exhausting.

He said the same thing.

The conversation just kept going,

and I almost said too much.

Bartender,

one more round.

You got it.

Why am I even telling all this to you?

Beats me.

And

you probably shouldn't.

Especially not to someone like me,

who regrets becoming a judge.

If you're lost on what

being a lawyer means,

talk to someone

who still tackles cases head-on.

-Another round.

-Gotcha.

Make it cold.

I

basically ran away from Tokyo.

Why are you telling me this?

In Japan's criminal justice system,

indictment nearly guarantees conviction.

Even if you believe in your clients

and give it your all, you can't save them.

At some point,

I started saying this

to defendants who plead not guilty.

It's smarter

to plead guilty and ask for leniency.

Six months ago, I handled

a criminal traffic case.

The victim was partly at fault.

The defendant was basically

caught up in it.

But that was hard to prove.

I told the defendant

he'd get a suspended sentence.

That it was better to plead guilty.

That's how I went into trial.

They ran into me. It's the truth.

Why won't you believe me?

Why?

Defense counsel?

Defense counsel?

Defense counsel!

That's when

something inside of me snapped.

I came back here

and decided I'd never

stand in court again.

But the Bar Association insisted,

so I took one last criminal case.

Takuro Ezawa's case.

That moment,

I thought, "Yay!"

I was ready to quit,

but I thought, "Yay!"

What does "Yay" mean?

Yay means

Yay!

It's all your fault.

Why?

I know that's shifting blame.

But I couldn't forget that feeling,

so I took this case.

If you regret it,

you can step down as counsel.

-That's easy for you to say.

-It is easy.

Once you empathize with a defendant,

it's not that simple.

The defendant is lying.

There's still more we don't know.

If you don't know what you don't know,

you'll never know what you need to know.

When the duty to uncover the truth

conflicts with the duty

to act in the client's interests,

the choice lies with the defense counsel.

That's what we learned in training.

It's true

We did learn that.

Something's off.

Don't talk to me about that.

Meeting like this

without the prosecutor is unethical.

But

There's something I need to understand.

Then just include him.

Pardon?

What on earth is this?

We're facing a truth problem.

Both the defense and the prosecution

have cards they can't play in court.

How about putting them on the table?

You're having trouble getting testimony

from Kazuki Yagi, aren't you?

I spoke to him several times,

and I keep wondering

whether he truly doesn't remember.

What if he's protecting Kurita?

-Why would he do that?

-I don't know yet.

That's why I went back

and looked into both of them again.

Yagi grew up in a single-parent household.

He lost his mother at 12,

and was raised in a care facility.

Perhaps because of everything

he's been through, he's kind by nature.

Nao Kurita, on the other hand,

grew up well-off.

But three years ago, he lost his father.

His mother contacted me

through the school,

and she seems cold towards her son.

If it's true he's covering for him,

then your self-defense argument

collapses.

I'm aware of that.

All I can tell you

is this.

You didn't actually think

I had nothing, did you?

We don't have proof he "took a cut,"

but secrets have a way of coming out.

They're hard to keep buried.

Symmetry

Mr. Ando?

What

are you looking at?

I've seen this. When he starts thinking,

he gets like this.

Ms. Onozaki, who picked your name?

What? My name?

My dad.

Why did he pick "Noa"?

Because it would work overseas as well.

How about you?

Apparently, "Shinji" means

"the one who governs truth."

A name is the first gift

a parent gives a child.

It always has meaning.

Take a look.

The name of the defendant's father,

Naomasa Kurita, is symmetrical.

And every design he created

is built on symmetry.

The victim's and defendant's names

are also connected through symmetry.

We need to find out if these coincidences

are coincidences at all.

I'm leaving.

-Oh.

-Hey!

Hey

Excuse me.

As Nao Kurita's defense attorney,

I intend to uncover the truth.

I'll prioritize defending my client

over the academy's reputation.

SECOND HEARING

Prosecutor, you were set

to examine a witness, correct?

It was Mr. Kazuki Yagi,

but after deliberation, he declined.

We are trying to persuade him.

Your Honor.

I'd like to speak with the defendant

on that matter.

Prosecutor, any objection?

None.

The defendant will take the stand.

Do you know why

Mr. Kazuki Yagi refused to testify?

I don't.

Because he knows the truth.

But he can't bring himself to say it.

When Mr. Yagi was 12,

he lost his mother,

his only remaining family.

At that time,

she told him who his father was.

A former high school classmate

she happened to reunite with

through work.

As they parted,

she confessed that

she had always loved him.

The man felt the same,

and the two began a relationship.

But the man was married.

What are you talking about?

Mr. Yagi's mother got pregnant.

The man decided to leave his wife.

He even thought about names,

Kazuki for a boy and Anna for a girl.

However,

Mr. Yagi's mother

considering the man's future

as an unknown designer,

told him she had an ab*rtion and left him.

She decided to raise the child alone.

You and Mr. Kazuki Yagi

are blood-related siblings.

Yagi, we're the same.

Huh?

Our names are symmetrical,

left to right.

My late dad said it's a good omen.

It brings lucky connections.

Connections

need to be treasured.

I'll teach you

basketball.

Okay.

-Thanks.

-Bring it on!

You said

that Mr. Yagi demanded money

and struck you first.

And that you fought back.

Correct?

Regarding the incident,

Mr. Yagi isn't saying anything.

The only person who can tell the truth

is you.

Yagi

Yagi is

Kurita!

What the hell are you doing?!

This has nothing to do with you.

Return the stolen money.

Then turn yourself in.

No way.

No one's found out, why--

Stop messing around!

This isn't a joke!

Don't do it!

Don't ruin your own future!

Why do you care so much?

Leave me alone!

We're going to the police!

Come on, let's go!

Stop it!

Yagi was the only one

who tried to face me head-on.

And I

I punched him

And I shoved him.

If the gambling got out

it'd get everyone in trouble.

So

I made

a false statement.

When Yagi regained consciousness

I was scared.

But

I was also happy.

I was happy.

I'm sorry.

Defendant, approach the stand.

VERDICT IN THE ASSAUL

AND INCITEMENT TO THEFT CASE

Before delivering the verdict,

may the court say a word?

The kanji for "truth"

is written symmetrically.

Mr. Kurita, I hope that you and Mr. Yagi

can return to the harmonious relationship

you once shared.

The verdict.

The defendant is sentenced

to two years' imprisonment.

The sentence is suspended

for three years,

and during that time,

the defendant will be placed on probation.

If the defendant hadn't confessed,

we would've been the ones

to uncover the truth.

In that case,

he might not have received

a suspended sentence.

Feels like we lost somehow.

You got all the glory.

Toyodai Academy is in turmoil.

Resigning as the academy's

legal advisor

I can't say I understand it.

It was worthwhile.

So, yay!

Yay?

Yay!

I can't tell anyone.

-Overwork among truck drivers.

-Someone died.

I want to believe

it wasn't the father's fault.

I want to know the truth.

Wasn't the record falsified?

Information must be handled with care.

It's an inexcusable mistake