That's right. Kurama noticed I smelled of smoke from disposing of evidence, so...I confessed to everything, to him and all of our fellow captives. There were fifteen of us, in all.

[He runs a hand through his hair with a heavy sigh.]

He and Akira tried to stop the execution, but it only got them rendered unconscious. Though, I can't say I don't find it a relief that they didn't have to see the moment I died. It was...roughly a week and a half, before I became a Composer, during which I haunted the mall we were trapped in as an ordinary ghost, invisible and insubstantial to the living. I can still reclaim those qualities, but I much prefer passing for living.

[One hand reaches into the box of fudge cookies and he takes one out, but only ends up nibbling at it distractedly.]