Facing Senichi's candid response, not only was Horikoshi shocked, but even the director assisting on the side and the seemingly invisible Rintaro Okabe in the corner were also momentarily stunned.
Obviously, they had not expected Senichi to easily utter what was essentially a "surrender."
But soon, a sense of unease crept into Horikoshi's heart despite Senichi's composure. The more straightforward the other party, the more unsettled he felt.
"Ordinary words would naturally be unacceptable"
Senichi looked at the bewildered Horikoshi and said with a smile. "But you are an esper, and I think no matter what, you can use your superhuman ability as an excuse to evade the situation. In such a case, evidence becomes crucial, that can clearly prove that you are the culprit."
Senichi walked up to Horikoshi and politely said, "So here, I would like to ask for your assistance in collecting fingerprints. This way, we can solve the case."
"Fingerprints?" Upon hearing Senichi's words, Horikoshi snapped back to attention and looked towards the door, where the forensic expert was approaching with a toolbox, causing Horikoshi to burst into laughter.
At the time of the incident, when he was riding his motorcycle towards the bridge, he was wearing gloves. There wouldn't be any fingerprints of his at the crime scene. This was his firsthand experience, and he was certain that his fingerprints were not present at the crime scene.
"Please cooperate," Senichi said with a polite smile while watching as the forensic expert took out tools.
"If you need to collect them, it's fine," Horikoshi said while extending his hands. He hooked at Senichi with a mocking expression and said, "Fingerprints at this point, what's the use?"
"Ah, please take off your jacket." Faced with Horikoshi's outstretched hands, the forensic expert ignored him and politely requested his jacket.
"Eh?" Faced with the forensic expert's request, Horikoshi's face showed a puzzled expression, and an inexplicable sense of unease arose within him, though he couldn't pinpoint its source.
"Did you think collecting fingerprints is meaningless?" Senichi looked at the bewildered Horikoshi and gestured with his hand. "Is it because at the time of the incident, you happened to be wearing gloves?"
Senichi's words caused Horikoshi's heart to sink gradually. If the other party wasn't miscalculating, it meant...
As if confirming his premonition, in the next moment, Senichi stood beside him and pointed at his shiny black plastic-like jacket. "I'm not looking for your fingerprints; I'm looking for the deceased's fingerprints.
Perhaps you were wearing gloves while riding the motorcycle, but I'm afraid the deceased didn't wear gloves.
After all, as you mentioned yourself, 'a man fighting with another, even buttons were torn off.' This should be the sequence of events. In such a case, your jacket should bear countless fingerprints exclusive to the deceased."
To be honest, at the beginning, I was still worried about how to catch you, this "Esper." After all, without concrete evidence, attributing everything to superpowers would give us a headache.
But after seeing your jacket, I found this decisive evidence. Shiratori, my colleague, I specifically asked him to investigate your schedule today and concluded that you shouldn't have had the opportunity to go back and change clothes."
Speaking up to this point, Senichi wore a polite smile. "Please take off your jacket; we'll temporarily entrust it to the forensic personnel.
I think the fingerprints of a deceased victim, whom you have never met before, can be imprinted on your clothes by superpowers, right?
If that were the case, it would be too bizarre, wouldn't it? It doesn't make logical sense. After all, who would let someone's fingerprints be all over their clothes?"
Horikoshi remained silent, or rather, at this moment, he couldn't find the words. Only his trembling lips and vacant eyes betrayed the despair within.
He took a shaky step forward, but his entire body seemed to lose control and swayed as if he were a drunken reveler about to fall.
"Oh, be careful."
Senichi reached out and steadied Horikoshi and said with a smile, "These are all pieces of evidence. If they accidentally get wiped off on the ground, it would only add more work for our forensic team."
Following that, like a courteous butler, Senichi removed the jacket from Horikoshi and handed it to the nearby forensic expert.
Horikoshi staggered forward unconsciously, and with lifeless eyes, he began to speak.
"When I was fifteen, a fugitive broke into our classroom while being pursued," Horikoshi's eyes reflected a reminiscent tone. "He pointed a gun at the teacher I liked, so I intervened.
At that time, my power truly existed. Without hesitation, I stood up and activated my ability in front of the criminal and everyone else.
Afterwards, a fan fell down and injured the criminal. Then newspapers, television, they all came rushing in.
I really had superpowers back then, but that rescue seemed to far exceed my capacity.
As I grew older, my 'ability' slowly dissipated, and after the age of twenty, I couldn't sense it at all.
But the environment around me doesn't allow me to do that. No one cares about these things. They just want me to do incomprehensible things. And say stiff words If I don't respond to these expectations."
"Then why not stand up and explain everything earlier?"
"It's not that simple!" Horikoshi interrupted Senichi and his face carried a self-deprecating mockery.
With that, Horikoshi, in a choked voice as if grasping at the last straw in water, shouted, "But please believe me, I really have power, at least I did once!
No!! Even now!!"
Horikoshi said this and suddenly lifted his head. He looked at the ceiling above the stage. Then he tightly closed his eyes, and his whole body began to tremble. Veins appeared on his neck, and his face even turned extremely red.
In the next moment, the huge "Light" on the ceiling dropped straight down with a rope, bouncing and rolling on the ground, finally settling in front of the two.
This time, not to mention Shiratori and the director on the side, even Senichi couldn't help but show an astonished expression, constantly turning his head between the "Light" and Horikoshi.
"Hahaha."
Horikoshi's face revealed a smile, and then his laughter became louder and louder. "Hahaha!!!"
The man laughed madly, He pointed at the "Light" and shouted like a release, "See that?! This is my power!! This is why people call me a 'hero.'"
But the next moment, above everyone's heads, came a man's apologetic voice.
"Sorry, sorry, my hand slipped. Is everyone okay?"