The lights converged on Asano Kiyoshi, while the gazes of everyone around him formed chains that bound him tightly. The air was oppressive, and amid the thick atmosphere, no one spoke. They were all waiting for Asano Kiyoshi to speak.
Hearing the councilman's clearly leading question, Asano Kiyoshi paused slightly before replying with a calm expression, "Councilman, I believe that anyone with a conscience would not refuse to help when faced with a classmate's gravely ill mother. Kojiro was not merely my opponent; he was also my classmate. After a proper friendly match, one that was reasonable and witnessed by everyone, I visited and treated my classmate's mother under Captain Shunsui's accompaniment. That was an entirely reasonable thing to do."
Hearing Asano Kiyoshi's answer, Jushiro Ukitake let out a long sigh of relief. In response to that question, Asano Kiyoshi's most important task had been to first deny the premise that he had killed Kojiro. Only by erasing the hidden condition the councilman had constructed for him could anything he said afterward carry credibility.
At the same time, how he denied that assumed premise—that he had killed Kojiro—was also crucial. Asano Kiyoshi absolutely could not deny it outright. Otherwise, not only would he appear guilty, but he would also fall directly into the other side's rhythm, allowing others to lead the subsequent proceedings by the nose.
Asano Kiyoshi's answer had exceeded even Ukitake's expectations. By Ukitake's estimation, although Asano Kiyoshi was usually rather composed, he was still a young man. Faced with such a sophisticated frame-up, he would still have been anxious to deny it, thereby falling into the other side's trap.
He had never expected Asano Kiyoshi's response to rival those of some seasoned old hands, leaving them unable to find even the slightest flaw.
It was not only