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In the twelfth-floor hallway, near the door to room 1202, the paneling was being eaten away by termites. Tiny holes sprinkled the wood. Eustace had counted about twenty. He scoured the place until he discovered where these little beasts had got in. He'd forgotten why he'd come in the first place, then got distracted by the marks of time on the furniture.
The wood was peeling here and there, the carpet darkening in places. Though he'd walked this corridor many times, he'd never noticed the damage. He knew that his attention was diverted by the slightest detail, but he remained aware of his surroundings.
A few meters away, he heard light footsteps. They were careful not to put their heels down as they strode forward. He knew of only one person who could be so discreet and stealthy. So he didn't flinch when she put her hand on his shoulder to frighten him.
"Kay, did you know there were moths in the courthouse?" he asked, still absorbed in the woodwork.
The latter wore an astonished expression.
"Moths or termites? No. I hadn't noticed but... wait, you didn't even react! How did you spot me?" she exclaimed, her voice louder than she'd expected.
"I recognized your footsteps” he replied without hesitation. "Oh, the holes end here."
"What do you mean, you recognized my footsteps?! The Yatagarasu never leaves any trace of its passage and it doesn't make any noise."
"Well, I don't know. You were walking fast and on tiptoe, and only you would walk like that." Eustace turned and looked at her with his mischievous smile.
Kay, on the other hand, watched him with shining eyes. He didn't know how to explain it. He had learned to associate each step with a person even before seeing them. He didn't think it was anything extraordinary. He even thought anyone could do it.
"Really? But that's incredible! The great Yatagarasu could really use an sidekick like you! Would you be able to recognize anyone's footsteps?" She was bubbling over with excitement at this revelation. Having such exceptional ears would be a considerable asset for her next missions.
Eustace nodded. For the first time, he felt as if someone admired him. Although he had previously thought that his classmates had marveled at his remarkable achievements, he was certain that their gaze had betrayed more jealousy than awe. With clenched fists, he almost had a tear in his eye. He'd never suspected he was gifted with such power.
"Could you give me another demonstration, Eustace? I'd love to see your senses in action!" Kay had tightened her gloves, ready to see her faculty with her own eyes.
"Nothing could be easier!" he replied, raising his baton.
Kay tied her scarf over the boy's eyes. He had to guess the footsteps with his ears only. She had to make sure he couldn't cheat.
Eustace took a deep breath and concentrated. He had to stay focused on his task and not let himself be distracted.
After a few seconds, the elevator door opened. A soft ding indicated that someone was about to get out. He was certain that the individual had a confident gait. They wore high-heeled shoes and a long dress rubbed against their legs.
"Judge Gavèlle!"
Kay gave a little cry of surprise, while Eustace glanced up, lowering the scarf from his sight. He'd got it right. He hadn't hesitated, and he was happy to at least be a prodigy in one field. His heart was racing. He wanted to start again and see in someone's eyes an ounce of pride. His life had been nothing but searching for that feeling, and despite the events of the last few weeks, he couldn't tear himself away from that goal.
Verity Gavèlle, noticing their little merry-go-round, approached intrigued.
"Eustace, Kay, what are you doing?" she asked in a gentle tone.
"Did you know that Eustace has an incredible gift? He can recognize people just by listening to their footsteps!" Kay replied enthusiastically. "You could see for yourself, it's worthy of an acolyte of the great Yatagarasu!"
"Is that so? You intrigue me. I've got a few minutes, so if Eustace doesn't mind, I'd like to see this skill."
Despite her gentle tone and affectionate gaze, Kay noticed that her fingers had tightened on her hammer as if this statement made her uncomfortable. Eustace didn't seem to notice and hastily pulled the scarf back over his eyes. She chose to ignore this sign. She hadn't seen Eustace so proud since his father's arrest. She wouldn't ruin this moment for him over an unfounded assumption. A minute passed and movement was heard.
The first thing Eustace recognized was the unmistakable creak of the door to room 1202. He knew the hinges were low on oil. Two distinct pairs of footsteps trod the corridor floor. One was pacing the floor with a supple, relaxed stride. His steps were long and almost dance-like. The other walked with a clumsy, insensitive step. His heels vibrated against the half-open door.
"What ar-'"
"Dick Gumshoe and Edward Fender” exclaimed Eustace before either of them could open their lips.
"Whoa, pal, you can't scare us like that, gasped the detective.
Once again, Kay applauded him. The young prosecutor removed the cloth and wore his usual smile.
"May I ask what you're up to in this corridor?" Edward opened his notebook and took out his pencil, ready to take notes.
Gumshoe scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
"We're testing Eustace's ability” Kayay exclaimed, overexcited.
"Eustace's ability?" Gumshoe repeated, wandering.
"It seems that Eustace can guess a person's identity by the mere sound of his footsteps” replied Judge Gavèlle.
"Impressive indeed."
Edward took notes with a tense smile. Kay couldn't help but feel that ambient unease again. Why did Eddie's and Judge Gavèlle's reactions seem so wrong? She couldn't understand their concerned expressions.
Only Detective Gumshoe warmly and sincerely congratulated Eustace.
"Can you explain to me how you do that, pal?"
"Well... you have to wait for someone to come along and uh... he walks and then you pay attention to the noises he makes with...his shoes... And it comes all by itself."
As usual, his explanations only made sense to the speaker. Gumshoe was even more confused. He was about to reply when the defense lawyer put his hand on his shoulder. He gave him a disapproving look. Judge Gavèlle put her index finger to her lips to silence him. The inspector scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Kay, who witnessed this strange interaction, didn't dare ask for further explanation. She observed Eustace, who seemed to have noticed nothing and struted.
"Leaves you speechless, doesn't it?"
His voice had faltered on the last word.
His fingers tingled. His heartbeat echoed in his ears. His excitement was greater than any crime scene discovery. He could hardly wait to hear what they had to say.
Judge Gavèlle was the first to break the silence.
"We all agree that this ability is... surprising."
"Surprising?" Eustace repeated the last word. He didn't know what to think.
Kay put back the scarf the young prosecutor had dropped a few moments earlier. She felt a slight frustration. She bit her lips. She couldn't understand it. Why weren't they impressed by Eustace, who for once had a talent? She felt she couldn't contradict them head-on at the risk of getting hammered. However, the joy on the prosecutor's face was such a rare thing that he had to at least give her the reaction he was hoping for.
"Of course it's surprising, because it's a superpower that very few people have. Even the reincarnation of the great Yatagarasu doesn't have it!" she said, rubbing her nose.
No sooner had she uttered these words than Judge Gavèlle took her aside, accompanied by Edward. She leaned over her ear, her pungent perfume tickling her nostrils.
"Divine justice believes that this is not something to be encouraged."
"What do you mean by that?"
Edward lost his cheerful air. So did Verity, who glanced discreetly at Eustace and Gumshoe. They said no more. They seemed torn between telling her the truth and leaving them in the dark.
Kay felt she would get nothing more out of them. She didn't let this discourage her. She knew a certain prosecutor who wouldn't deny her a few explanations.
"May I ask what all the fuss is about?"
Prosecutor Edgeworth emerged from his office. He wore his usual exasperated expression. Arms folded, he watched Eustace and Kay. The latter rushed over to him and took her sidekick's arm.
"Eustace has a very special power. Would you like to demonstrate it to Mr. Edgeworth?"
"Of course it's surprising, because it's a superpower that very few people have. Even the reincarnation of the great Yatagarasu doesn't have it!" she said, rubbing her nose.
The young man in question nodded and pulled the girl's scarf over his eyes. If he succeeded again, he was sure to impress his new mentor. He focused even harder than usual. Edward and Judge Gavèlle wanted to interrupt the demonstration, but Edgeworth gestured to them not to intervene. They waited.
Yet for several minutes, no one passed in the corridor. Only the distant sound of the elevator travelling upstairs could be heard. Detective Gumshoe finally broke the silence.
"I don't think anyone's coming, pal, there's no point standing around here."
"No! Someone will come!"
Eustace hoped with all his strength to hear footsteps. He moved blindly before stumbling and falling on the carpet. The scarf slipped from his face. He sniffed, ashamed of such a fall.
At his feet, he saw a file. He suddenly remembered why he had come to the twelfth-floor hallway in the first place. He hastily ordered the sheets and handed it to Edgeworth.
"I assume this is the autopsy report” he replied with a sigh.
Eustace buried his head in his shoulders. Prosecutor Edgeworth had given him a mission and he'd failed once. He'd forgotten, then gotten distracted by the holes and Kay with that stupid power. He felt like the dumbest assistant district attorney this court had ever known. He was entrusted with responsibilities and all he could manage was to be a weight on his shoulders.
He didn't dare utter a word or look up from the floor. Kay laid a hand on his shoulder and put his scarf back on his neck.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Edgeworth. It was me who distracted Eustace from his miss-"
"T"There's no need to apologize. I'm just... intrigued” he looked at Judge Gavèlle and Edward Fender. "If there's anything important you wanted to talk to me about, please come into my office."
With that, the two teenagers entered the place as orderly and presumptuous as usual. Not a single book was out of place on the bookshelf, the furniture was shiny as usual, and the tea set rested by the window. A light citrus scent filled the room. Kay slumped onto the sofa, while Eustace stood uneasily.
"Can you tell me more about this so-called “very special power”?" Miles said between sips of tea.
Eustace played shyly with his baton. He wasn't sure how important the subject was. Judge Gavèlle and Fender hadn't seemed as amazed as Kay. It wasn't such an extraordinary thing after all.
Kay looked at him with empathy before answering.
"Eustace can recognize someone just by listening to their footsteps. I think it's an extraordinary power that would be very useful for the great Yatagarasu's missions. I don't understand why Judge Gavèlle and lawyer Fender weren't so impressed."
She swung her legs, unable to stay in place. Eustace looked worriedly at the prosecutor. His face frowned. His eyebrows furrowed, his mouth tightened and the wrinkles reappeared on his forehead.
"Do you know how long you've been aware of this ability?" He questioned him like a suspect in a murder case.
His harsh tone frightened Eustace. He was shaking like a leaf.
"I-I-I don't know, maybe a few years."
His baton inadvertently struck his cheek, tears welling in his eyes. He rubbed his sore skin. The citrus aroma was giving him a headache.
"Do you remember how this “power” came to you?" Miles went back to the hunt with the same inquisitive tone as if he were playing a mental chessboard.
"I-I don't know. I don't know anything. I'm an idiot” he hastened to reply.
He wanted to run away from these questions. He couldn't understand why he felt he had done something wrong.
Kay came to his rescue and answered for him.
"I don't see why you don't encourage Eustace. It's not a bad thing to have keen hearing, it's an asset. With your questions, it's as if you were accusing him of a crime."
Miles sighed and put on a more neutral face. He was aware that he'd only burdened the boy rather than looking for answers. He handed him a handkerchief.
"I'm sorry I wasn't subtle enough. When you're a prosecutor, you're confronted with nameless atrocities and questionable behavior on the part of witnesses and suspects.
He paused. Eustace didn't understand what he was getting at. Did he consider him a suspect? He stirred, saddened to have disappointed his mentor. If he hadn't been wearing his gloves, he'd probably have gnawed the skin off his fingers to calm the palpitations in his chest.
"If you've got something to say, Mr. Edgeworth, say it!" Kay replied, looking into the boy's frightened face. She, too, wanted to get to the end of the story.
"I've heard that this behavior is linked to a defense mechanism created when a child grows up in an unhealthy environment. I'm not sure, but I suspect you've developed this power to protect yourself."
For those who hadn't known a climate of fear in their home, it was hard to understand why such behavior was adopted. It was not surprising that Kay was unaware of this. She thought she was doing the right thing in defending Eustace.
Putting down his cup of tea, Miles watched the young prosecutor's reaction carefully. His cowlick lengthened on his head. He bit his lip thinkingly. He didn't know what to say. Until now, he'd never wondered about this ability. He thought it was perfectly normal to pay attention to footsteps, especially HIS footsteps.
His breath hitched. Heat enveloped his body like an inferno. He felt himself suffocating as he thought back to the percussion of HIS boots on the wooden floor. He felt the vibrations every time his heel crushed the floor. He never forgot HIS footsteps.
He could hear HIS voice rumbling like a thunderstorm.
His words were so ugly that his hair bristled and if he uttered them, he'd throw them up.
Idiot.
Foolish.
Useless.
He wanted to cover his ears but his words slipped through his fingers. His footsteps always found him. He had to play the immobile puppet, hoping he wouldn't spot him. His presence was omnipresent in this narrow house. However, his shadow surrounded every room. The smell of oil and sweat wafted through the doorways and holes in the parquet.
He was like a bird locked in a cage not far from his owner's fangs. If his fingers ever touched his feathers, he feared he'd never wake up the next day. He feared his horrific gaze and disgusting words more than his fists.
Was death as painful as his piercing eyes?
Sorry.
Sorry, sorry, sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Please save me.
He regained his senses when a damp washcloth touched his forehead. He was lying on the sofa, his jacket unbuttoned and Miles moistening his face. His baton rested on the desk.
"I'm- I'm sorry” he muttered in shame. "I'm just turning others."
"You mean torment... I don't know the content of what you went through with him. You're not the one who should be ashamed and apologize."
Eustace didn't know how to react to his words other than to cry. He murmured forgiveness. He didn't want to react like that, but his body was stronger than reason.
Sleeves rolled up, Miles rested the top of his hand on his forehead. The fever had dropped enough not to be alarming. Kay, who had so far said nothing, took Eustace's hand and placed a piece of candy in his palm.
"Eat up! There's nothing like a bit of sugar to help you get over your emotions. If I'd had any change on me, I'd have bought you a Swiss roll."
"Wait, where did you get that candy?" Prosecutor Edgeworth exclaimed.
"It's not that important, is it?" Kay replied.
"Of course it's a commercial collaboration with the Steel Samurai. You should ask my permission before going through my personal belongings."
Eustace unfolded the wrapper and sucked on the candy. A sweet taste of cherry and raspberry enveloped his taste buds. He enjoyed this precious moment, imprinting the scene in his memory. He preferred to recognize the graceful, discreet steps of Prosecutor Edgeworth and Kay, not to protect himself but to make sure they were always by his side.