"My next shōnin (証人, witness)," intones the corpulent kensatsukan (検察官, prosecutor), "is Mr. Toshi Saito. Mazu (まず, first of all), please tell the court, Mr. Saito, what your kankei (関係, relationship) was with the hikokunin (被告人, defendant), Yasuo Yamazaki."
"He was my friend."
Reiko Keyes, from her seat among the six saibanin (裁判員, lay judges), observes the witness closely. He is clearly kinchō (緊張, nervous). He shifts uncomfortably in the witness box. His face twitches.