FIHAK Case 4

> **This page details the events of FIHAK's fourth case. For the main chapter, trial and investigation see FIHAK Chapter 4.**
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## Truth Bullets

### Vent Book (Courtyard)

A journal with four entries, documenting the author's heart-breaking descent into hopelessness.

### Love Letter (Courtyard)

A love letter, addressed to Felicity, though its contents more subtly describe a familiar rockstar.

### Pile of Potatoes (Food Court)

In the kitchen of a fast food joint, next to sacks of potatoes, a pile of potatoes lie on the ground.

### Shingo (Golden Lotus)

The Ultimate Drummer's body is slumped against the wall. A deep slit across his throat let a wave of blood pour down and soak his chest. There are some abrasions on the sides of his neck and cuts on his face. A sign around his neck, cardboard scribbled on with marker, labels him COWARD AND QUITTER.

### Broken Bottle Shards (Golden Lotus)

Shards of glass, once a bottle, now in pieces and bloody.

## Closing Argument

Avery had discovered the vent book and letter and read through it, his weariness of Shingo growing with his paranoia. He leaves the book and letter in the courtyard before finding Shingo in the restaurant, seeing an opportunity to confront him about the letter and rekindle Shingo’s hope with the two of them alone, he takes it. What was meant to be a peaceful conversation quickly turns aggressive, a result of Avery’s growing agitation from his resurfaced motive combined with Shingo’s denial of the letter’s intention. The two brawl, smashing into tables and chairs, eventually leading Shingo to pin Avery in a spot he can’t get out of. Avery’s heart pounds with adrenaline and his head floods with thoughts of his own potential demise. Taking a risk, he unclips his lasso from his belt, slips it over Shingo’s neck and pulls it tight. As Shingo becomes distracted while wrestling the rope, Avery slips out of his grip, reaching to grab a liquor bottle off of a table. He smashes it over Shingo’s head, knocking him unconscious. Avery crumbles, assuming he had already killed Shingo. His mind races and struggles to rationalize his actions as he whispers frantic and manic arguments. You’re still a cowboy, you’re still a cowboy.

And what do cowboys do? They hang people.

Avery runs to different stores, rambling quietly to himself, formulating a story of justice to preserve his honour and what remains of his sanity. He returns to the restaurant, swiftly crafts the bedsheet noose, writes the note, and covers Shingo’s head before recovering his lasso and hoisting Shingo into the air.

Avery tries to collect himself in Candyland, cleaning the blood off of his hands with one of his handkerchiefs before discarding it without a second thought.

Haruki had enough of his own fears and was making his way to the courtyard to get some sunlight and fresh air. On his way he noticed that there was a lot of noise coming from inside of the Golden Lotus. Curious to what was going on the boy had peaked inside of the restaurant to see the events taking place. Without being noticed he would catch Avery hutched over one of the shadowy figures with a bottle in his hands. What was curiosity now turns into terror as the boy ducks into the nearest store to wait for the cowboy to leave. He waits for him to pass the first time, watching as he disappeared to the food court before he came back to the Golden Lotus. A few more minutes pass before Avery finally leaves and doesn't return. Now that he's certaint that he dissapeared the boy goes inside to see the scene.

Haruki is quick to start removing any of the evidence directly pointing at Avery. He first cuts this unknown shadow loose from his lasso and keeps it in his pocket. The sack which was placed on his head is taken off and set to the side while he inspect the enviornment. When he notices that the figure is still breathing on their death bed, he uses the remains of the glass bottle to slit their throat and scar their face. He then tosses the glass to the side and drags the body over to the wall, propping it there. The figure (who Haruki doesn't know is Shingo) continues to bleed all over the floor. In an attempt to soak up the blood and hide their face, he recovers the sack and the sheet and lays it ontop of them. The sign is left untampered with.

Having gotten rid of most of the evidence against Avery, Haruki sets out to frame himself. He takes a bit of the blood which has covered the floor and puts it on his t-shirt, shoes, and gets a little on his ears when he pulls his hair back. He then leaves the scene to go retrieve a coin from the fountain as his last piece of evidence before going to the courtyard.