The air in the courtroom was thick with tension, every breath measured, every sound amplified by the sheer gravity of the moment. The judge sat towering over the room, eyes scanning the gathered faces before settling on the defendant.
Tsuki stood up from her chair, rigid, hands clasped together in front of her. Though her face remained composed, the slight tremble in her fingers betrayed her nerves. Beside her, her appointed attorney gave her a reassuring nod. Her gaze finally drifted to the crowd; she had been quarantined at the hospital for weeks instead of being jailed. Bakugo had told her it was a "pathetic excuse for compensation for her trauma."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Katsuki ... is he here?"
She could sense all the eyes on her back.
The judge cleared his throat, drawing the room's focus back to him.
"Will the foreperson of the jury please stand?"
Tsuki and her attorney turned to face the jury. The audience was now in front of her. In the rows of seats before her, Bakugo sat stiffly, his arms crossed, his leg bouncing restlessly. The crease in his eyebrows was firm; his mouth downturned in what seemed like a permanent glare. His mother, Mitsuki, was beside him, her arms folded, but her face unreadable. AllMight sat a few seats away, his posture upright but tense. Tsukauchi and several officers stood along the perimeter, their expressions unreadable, but their presence alone added to the weight of the trial's conclusion.
A middle-aged woman rose from the jury box, holding a single sheet of paper in her hands. She adjusted her glasses before clearing her throat.
"In the matter of the charges against the defendant, Tsuki Akai, we, the jury, have reached a verdict."
The quiet in the room became suffocating. Bakugo clenched his fists. "Come on ..." He sat up slightly in his chair.
The judge gave a firm nod. "Proceed."
The foreperson glanced down at the paper, her voice even but final.
"On the charge of conspiracy with villains, the jury has found the defendant not guilty."
A few murmurs rippled through the audience, but Bakugo didn't hear them over the rush of air leaving his lungs. His fingers loosened slightly, though he said nothing.
The foreperson continued.
"On the charge of territorial vandalism, the jury has found the defendant— not guilty."
Tsuki's breath hitched, "Oh my—"
Her hands clenched together as if grounding herself.
"No way—" Bakugo exhaled sharply, his grip tightening again.
"On the multiple charges of unlawful use of a quirk, the jury has found the defendant not guilty."
Tsuki's eyebrows twitched. Bakugo sat up, noticing her slight change in posture. They thought together, "How is this happening ..."
Her heart was racing so badly she found herself losing the ability to breathe.
"The charge including countering a hero—"
"Crap. That's because of me." Bakugo's expression shattered for a moment, his breathing airy. "Say not guilty ..."
"The jury and I have found the defendant— not guilty."
Mitsuki grabbed Bakugo's forearm and squeezed it. He glanced at her, then followed her gaze down the row of seats toward All Might. He was gripping the knot of his tie with his other hand clenched in a tight fist, mumbling to himself. Bakugo's gaze shifted back to Tsuki, who looked as if she were about to faint.
"This is it ..." The entire room thought simultaneously. "The final verdict."
The room held its breath.
"On the charge of 18 counts of manslaughter—"
A pause.
"The jury and I have found the defendant Tsuki Akai—"
It was as if the entire room took a deep breath in.
"Not guilty on all charges."
A surge of silence flushed the room. Then, a wave of sound crashed over the courtroom—gasps, murmurs, scattered sighs of relief.
Bakugo's entire body sagged against his chair. His head tipped back slightly as he let out an exhausted breath, the tension finally releasing from his shoulders. He could feel his pulse hammering in his throat, but for the first time since this nightmare began, it wasn't from anger.
"She did it."
Tsuki's knees nearly buckled, but she kept herself upright, lips parting slightly in stunned disbelief. Her shaking hand lifted to cover her mouth. Her attorney pulled on her arm and gave her a strong hug.
"Justice has been served, Ms. Akai." He rubbed her back. "Thank you for all you've done up until this point."
The judge nodded firmly. "In light of the jury's decision and the evidence provided, this court finds the defendant, Tsuki Akai, not guilty of all charges. Effective immediately."
The gavel struck once. Final. Absolute.
Tsuki turned slightly, her eyes instinctively seeking out Bakugo in the crowd. He was already staring at her.
For a brief moment, they just looked at each other. No words. No theatrics. Just the quiet understanding of what this meant.
Mitsuki smirked beside him, nudging him with her elbow. "You guys did a good job."
Bakugo released one last, slow breath before letting his head fall forward. "Tch. Whatever."
AllMight let out a small chuckle, relief visible in his usually stoic face. Tsukauchi exhaled, walking over beside him, shaking his head before adjusting his tie.
Tsuki turned to her lawyer, who was packing up his papers.
"You're freed from the curse," he told her.
Her fingers clenched slightly before loosening.
"Yeah," she whispered. "I am."
...
Authors note: Old me woulda had her die in prison on some touya shi.
