PSYCHO-PASS : Paradigm Shift

Chapter 6 : Thousand Steps Back

PART 6 – Thousand Steps Back

"The thing is... he claims he didn't intend to kill Ichimoto," Inspector Moe was explaining, while Shizuka was doing her best to keep her focus on his words instead of her fatigue. "He says he was enforcing his target... and that Ichimoto was collateral in that shot."

"MP blasts don't exactly work that way. It's hard to believe someone trampled with that Dominator, or that it malfunctioned somehow," Shizuka sighed. "That aside, you know Yamatsuki. Seeing Ichimoto, out in the open... he probably thought it was his only chance."

Divison Three had a specific case. Inspector Moe was sitting opposite of Shizuka, his arms were crossed over his chest in somewhat defensive mode. He seemed upset, but he was maintaining his composure the best way he could. He had calm tone while concluding his verbal report. He also kept the eye contact with Shizuka the whole time. But, the difficulty of the situation he was facing was already starting to stress him out. His hue was currently tainted.

"Is there anything we can do?" he asked.

"It was an intended shot. Your subordinate was enraged," Shizuka said, scrolling down to reread parts of the submitted report. "Your Lurcher fired out of rage and personal assumptions - not because it was his job. The blast wasn't supposed to obliterate two people but one, the target he was aiming for. However, he purposefully aimed to obliterate Ichimoto as well. Range itself suggests this. Sibyl treats it as premeditated murder for that sole reason."

"Yamatsuki still claims otherwise," Moe shrugged his shoulders.

"Because he knows his chances to return to Division Three are pretty slim, given the situation."

Of course he will claim that.

Shizuka looked at the projection of the said Enforcer on her wristcom. He was young... younger than her. He was a good Lurcher, his actions were usually effective and commendable, but he was now facing spending the rest of his days in the imprisonment, considering how high his current crime coefficient got. No amount of therapy will help someone who went that far. Both Moe and Shizuka knew that much.

"To say slim... is to put it kindly. He'll never get out of confinement," Inspector noted with a heavy sigh. It was unusual to see him behave that way.

"I know how it feels. Yamatsuki was valuable addition to your unit, it's a pity it has come down to this," Shizuka said. "If we neglect the fact that he was an Enforcer, he was quite useful asset to the Sibyl system..."

"He used to be an Inspector beforehand, you know. His record was impeccable. Until..."

"... the Whisperer case," Shizuka recalled. There's always that one case that messes up with good inspector. That twists their perception, their view of the world. Not many had Ginoza's stern outlook on the world, and not many followed rules as strictly as he did. She sometimes wished she had his fortitude. It would make her life much, much easier.

"It got to him, Akibara... the Whisperer. That madman got to Yamatsuki's girl," Moe said, averting his eyes from Shizuka.

Yamatsuki had a girlfriend before, they were supposed to marry. But, the poor thing had the misfortune of crossing paths with the Whisperer. It wasn't disclosed whether she was the target because of Yamatsuki himself, who was close to exposing that killer's identity... but that girl was chosen nonetheless. Shortly after she arrived home... she took the climbing rope and attempted to hang herself in their shared apartment.

For better or for worse... the noose broke and she survived her suicide attempt... only to obtain permanent brain damage instead. Yamatsuki couldn't deal with the stress of it all... and his hue got heavily affected, causing his demotion. His life was ruined. Her life as well. Sometimes, he'd say he preferred if she died instead.