Yoji Shono

Yoji Shono (, Shōno Yōji) is the overarching antagonist of Judgment. He is the lead researcher of the Advanced Drug Development Center, as well as the inventor of AD-9.
==Profile==
===Appearance===
Shono is of short stature and has rather big ears. He wears medium-length hair and has a shaved mustache.
===Attire===
Shono wears a lab coat over standard office attire.
In flashbacks, he wears a standard gray suit over a white shirt with a green tie.
=== Personality ===
Outwardly, Shono appears to be a very meek, quiet man. However, beneath the surface, Shono harbors an overdeveloped ego and delusions of grandeur. He believes that his research into AD-9 will "save the world" by curing Alzheimer's Disease and that he is the only one talented enough to complete his "miracle drug". Consequently, he will go to any length to ensure his research bears fruit, including multiple murders, committed both as part of illegal human experiments and to cover-up the aforementioned human tests.
== Background ==
Shono's grandparents were bedridden with Alzheimer's disease, leading to his mother having to take care of them. When they died, his mother had collapsed and died as well. Since this event, Shono developed an intense passion for curing Alzheimer's, believing himself to be God's servant. 
He began working for the ADDC as a head researcher and developed a drug known as AD-9 which is publicly known as a revolutionary drug that can instantly cure Alzheimer's. The animal trials on mice were successful, leaving Shono to begin his own secret clinical trial when he tested it on his first victim, Koichi Waku. However, the test had completely failed and killed Waku. Shono needing to find a way to dispose of the body, dumped it into a truck that was driven by Shinpei Okubo, who upon discovering it, panicked and buried the body in the mountains. Okubo was arrested, but was proven innocent by Yagami.
After a successful press conference announcing the drug itself, Shono admitted to Kido that the drug is completely lethal to humans, and that he had been the one who killed Waku in a botched human test of AD-9. Shono assured Kido that he could fix the drug. 
After Okubo was proven innocent, Shono knew the police would start investigating him next, so he killed Emi Terasawa and framed Okubo instead. Later, he enlisted the help of The Mole and his allies to cover up for AD-9's failure, as the drug would eventually turn the victim's eyes blue. The Mole would provide test subjects, mainly yakuza since they were detested by society, and Shono would gouge out their blued eye after death to prevent leaving evidence that implicates the involvement of AD-9. Afterwards, the Mole would dispose of their bodies and as a detective, write autopsy reports that minimize Shono's role in their murders. 
==Involvement==
===Judgment: 2018-2019===
Shono is present in the ADDC alongside Ryusuke Kido and Kaoru Ichinose when the three greet Takayuki Yagami and Issei Hoshino. He keeps his head down in silence and when prompted by Kido about Emi Terasawa, he makes the remark "[...]If only my testimony had been better..." as if he feels responsible for Shinpei Okubo "murdering" Emi. As Kido brings Yagami and Hoshino to his office, Shono and Ichinose inform Mitsuru Kuroiwa about their presence in the institute. Shortly after, Shono is called by Kido about the details of Masamichi Shintani's phone call to Shono. Shono feigns ignorance and claims he never answered the call and doesn't know why Shintani would call in the first place.
As Shono is doing research in the ADDC's research wing, Yagami and Hoshino manage to find and confront Shono. Shono makes blank statements to Yagami's questions, and continues to feign ignorance to Shintani's call.
During Kazuya Ayabe's trail, Shono is present at the ADDC. Shono is tracked down Kuroiwa, and is held at gunpoint by the latter. As two police officers attempt to confront Kuroiwa, Kuroiwa lets go of Shono to fire at the two officers. Shono attempts to run from Kuroiwa but ends up shot in the shoulder from behind while doing so, prompting Yagami and Sugiura to carry Shono to the safety of a nearby lab room. Shono is advised by Yagami to make sure a wounded Sugiura stays with him and Shono responds with "Okay...". As Yagami heads to confront Kuroiwa, Shono relocates himself and Sugiura to a nearby doorway to watch the encounter unfold.
Following Kuroiwa's defeat, Shono starts to approach the former, who pulls out a blade and starts charging at Shono. Shono watches as Kuroiwa is shot ten times by nearby police officers. With the threat secured, Shono continues to face the mortally wounded Kuroiwa who claims "Your little... science games... Are over now." which prompts Shono to respond by claiming his miracle drug is actually complete at this point and pulls out a syringe of the drug. Shono continues to verbally celebrate the completion of AD-9 and injects himself with the drug in the neck to prove the safety of it. Shono suffers from the side effects of AD-9 starting with extreme headache, then blue pigmentation of the eyes, and then eventually his death.
==Gallery==
Yoji Shono Title Card.png
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==Notes==
==References==
Category:Advanced Drug Development Center
Category:Judgment Characters
Category:Judgment Antagonists