Towards the end of the trial to determine who murdered the robotic man who once was Nekomaru Nidai (dubbed "Mechamaru" by Chiaki Nanami), Hajime Hinata went over all of the final details of the case to fully prove who the blackened killer was. In a clear voice, Hajime presented all of the evidence that he and his classmates had scoured over during their investigation, and said evidence was either rebutted or agreed with during the trial itself. In a clear and confident (he hoped) voice, Hajime made his final presentation.

"Let's start by going over the many tricks the killer prepared before they committed the crime. First, the killer destroyed the contact elevator. This separated Nagito and the others in Strawberry House from the group who was in Grape House. Next, they lured Nekomaru out by himself by turning back all of the clocks in the Funhouse by two hours. Additionally, in order to secure an alibi, the killer went to the Strawberry House lounge and set the wall clock's alarm to 5:30am. After finishing their preparations, the killer then went to Strawberry Tower with the necessary tools in hand. They obtained these tools from the Octagon, which can be entered once you clear the Final Dead Room. What this means is that the killer discovered the secret of the Funhouse faster than anybody else. That secret was that Strawberry House and Grape House are actually the same building.

"On the morning of the incident, Nekomaru woke up and headed over to Grape Tower for a specific reason. There, Hiyoko, who was at the lounge by coincidence, witnessed Nekomaru. According to Hiyoko's testimony, that was around 5:00am but by that point, the killer had already messed with our perception of time. In actuality, Hiyoko witnessed Nekomaru at 7:00am. That's also the same time that Monokuma Tai Chi begins, and Nekomaru was heading to Grape Tower to participate in that.

"However, because the contact elevator was broken, Nekomaru was unable to go to Grape Tower, so he decided to try going to Strawberry Tower. The killer was already waiting for Nekomaru at Strawberry Tower. With the power of hamsters, the Good Night button on the back of Nekomaru's neck was able to be pressed. This forced Nekomaru to enter sleep mode, which rendered him immobile. From there, the killer began preparing to use the Ultimate Weapon.

"First, they set the alarm in Nekomaru's chest to 7:30am so that he would wake up. Then they tied Nekomaru up with a metal wire, tied the tip of the wire into a loop, and hung it on the doorknob.

"After leaving Strawberry Tower, the killer then destroyed the button to Strawberry Hall. This was done to prevent us from entering Strawberry Tower and to keep us from discovering the secret of the building structure, which was used to kill Nekomaru. Then, they used the secret Octagon passageway to travel to Grape House. After arriving at Grape Hall, they pressed the button to open the door to the tower. When that happened, the elevator-like floor of the tower began descending. Nekomaru's body was still inside, dangling upside-down in mid-air from the wire. The killer entered Grape Tower to see if their set up was successful, then placed a hammer on the floor to look like the murder weapon, and then wrapped a chain around the back door. This was done to make us believe, falsely, that we couldn't enter the tower from Strawberry Hall.

"With this, the killer had finished their set up and tried to go back to their room using the secret passage so that they could craft their alibi when Nekomaru died from the fall. But something unexpected happened. Hiyoko, who saw Nekomaru earlier, was still at the lounge. As a result, the killer couldn't return to their room, and with no options available, time ran out. The lounge's alarm clock started ringing at 5:30.. well, actually 7:30. To avoid a worst case scenario, the killer was forced to appear in front of Hiyoko with the others. When the wall clock's alarm rang, that was also the same time that Nekomaru was waking up. He woke up while he was still upside-down, so he couldn't help but sway his body powerfully. Originally, the loop of wire was only supposed to slip off of the doorknob. But because there was a heavier load than expected, the doorknob ended up breaking. Nekomaru ended up falling from the 4th floor all the way to the 1st floor.

"He crashed into the pillar, which decapitated him on impact, thus causing his immediate death. The sound of Nekomaru's impact echoed throughout the Funhouse. However, by this point, the killer's plan was about to fail thanks to the broken doorknob.. and Hiyoko. This meant that the killer was someone who wouldn't have heard the alarm if they were in their Deluxe Room. They also wouldn't have been able to return to their room because Hiyoko was at the lounge. That someone.. is Gundham Tanaka. I can't think of anyone else but you."

After Hajime finished his closing argument, and before Gundham could say anything, Hiyoko went off. She'd been quieter since they all had been in the Funhouse and due to the fact that they'd also had nothing to eat or drink since before they were lured inside by Monokuma, but now she just couldn't hold her thoughts.

"It's just so typical that a selfish bastard like you could think that you could get away with murder just to let us all die!" As she pointed in Gundham's direction, her voice echoed from the gaudy trial room walls as she shouted, "Nekomaru did NOTHING to deserve being murdered! You deserve to roast in hell for what you've done!"

In a softer tone than she normally used, and with heavy emotion in her voice, Akane Owari simply and softly stated, "Hiyoko.. stop.. please, just stop.. we all know that Coach Nekomaru didn't deserve this.. "

Her voice trailed off as Gundham looked to Hajime appreciatively and stated, "Splendid.. for a mere human, you did quite well."

It was Akane's turn to shout as she looked to Gundham. "If you continue to use weird words to bury or hide the truth.. I'll friggin' kill you myself!"

Sonia Nevermind, in a stunned tone, then asked, "You.. did you really.. kill Nekomaru, Gundham? I cannot.. I will not.. believe something like that!"

Gundham merely looked stoically to the group and stated, "Finish it. Cast your impure votes for Gundham Tanaka."

Once the votes were cast, Monokuma confirmed that the voting was correct and accurate. "Getting four votes in a row right is SUCH an awesome achievement! The blackened, who killed Nekomaru at the amaa-a-aaa-azing Funhouse, was indeed Gundham Tanaka!"

Nagito Komaeda, seeming to be bored, stated, "All right, we know who did it. Let's just get this execution over with."

Hiyoko, her cheeks now reddened from anger, replied, "Yes. Let's see him die like the dirty, foul person that he is!"

Stunned, Hajime shouted, "No! Hold on! While it's true that the trial is finished and that the blackened has been decided, it doesn't mean that everything is wrapped up into a neat, nice bow. There's no way that we can finish this without hearing anything else that Gundham may have to say!"

Nagito lamely retorted, "It's not like it'll matter anyway, but trash like me has no right to stop you true Ultimates so.. do whatever you choose."

Gundham's inner confusion only showed through his voice. "I don't know why you would desire to talk to someone who's lost. The loser just leaves.. it wouldn't be helpful or necessary for me to elaborate further." He took a short breath and continued in his normal voice. "That is what I would like to say, but for the sake of the honor of Gundham Tanaka, I am required to correct one thing!"

Everyone in the trial room was stunned, except for Nagito who was bored, and Hiyoko who was impatient and pretty ticked off by this point.

Gundham continued, "You mortals stated that I caused Nekomaru to become powerless without a fight. That, however, is not only not true.. it is a grievous mistake."

Hajime could only blurt out, "Huh?"

Gundham nodded once in Hajime's direction and proceeded with his explanation. "Nekomaru did fight, that is absolutely no mistake.. and because he fought, he lost.. and died."

Akane chimed in, "How the hell did Coach LOSE!? He couldn't just LOSE!"

Gundham further explained, "If Nekomaru attempted to cling to his precious life, he could have accomplished that task in many ways. But, that was something that he did not allow to happen."

With Akane now becoming angrier, she spat out, "You had best start to explain what you mean by that. Now."

Gundham merely laughed as he said, "All will be revealed." He gathered his breath and stated, "It was true that I had successfully navigated the Final Dead Room, thus discovering the true secret of the Funhouse. This served to assist with me devising the plan as Hajime Hinata has just explained before your impure votes were cast. The plan did have a difference than the explanation that has already been offered. I did lure Nekomaru to Strawberry Tower.. and what happened is that we both were alone, face-to-face, having a merely average staredown after he'd assessed the situation. It would have been more than simple enough had he wanted to turn and walk away.. however, he not once turned his back to me. He instead chose a battle of life or death."

Sonia nervously asked, "Life.. or death?"

Gundham nodded. "Yes, and Nekomaru was of the utmost seriousness towards the terms of the battle. He gave it all that he could, to try and kill me. Let me just say that if I had been the one to perish, the mystery would have been even more complex. My motive for going to the tower alone would never have been discovered had I fallen victim in our battle. None of you would have clearly known that I, Gundham Tanaka, had planned everything down to the last detail."

For clarification's sake, Chiaki Nanami asked, "So.. Mechamaru.. really did that?"

Gundham again nodded. "Yes. The atmosphere in the tower was rife with tension, which Nekomaru noticed immediately as he commented upon it. He'd asked for confirmation if I was intent on killing him, to which I replied that I, the warlock, did indeed have that murderous intent. Nekomaru merely laughed as he said that I would.. drench myself in evil until the bitter end. In kind, he retorted that he would kill me with all of his might in response to the blackness of that spirit I carry within. We then agreed to not hold anything back, and I stated that his blood would drench the entirety of my empire."

Crying softly, Sonia asked, "But.. why? Why even fight? We are all friends! Why did you not stop this? It was wrong, regardless if both sides agreed or not!"

Gundham looked to Sonia with a kinder eye than he did to his other classmates. "I will not bandy about in argument, as I do not wish to force my values upon you, or anyone else in this room. But I must ask you all one important question. What is the point of living if you are just merely waiting until you finally die? There is no courage to that mindset! That is tantamount to abandonment of your spirit and soul, merely resigning yourself to eventual death."

Hajime then recalled something that Kazuichi Souda said once they'd entered and had gotten trapped in the Funhouse by Monokuma. 'Wait! Are you seriously telling us to just WAIT until we all starve to death!?'

Hajime had lamely responded with, 'I'd rather.. have that happen to us.. than to have our friends.. kill each other.'

At that time, Nagito had incredulously asked, "You.. you mean that you would rather die!?'

Hajime was pulled from his somber reverie by Gundham continuing to offer his explanation. "Ever since we all were trapped and locked inside of that.. chamber of horrors, everyone had that.. aura of abandonment. But nothing sacred is ever born from resignation. It is.. merely a reason to tell yourself to give in and give up. Giving up on your precious lives.. THAT IS AN INSULT TO LIFE ITSELF!"

As the conversation between everyone went back and forth, Hiyoko's breath softly hitched as she felt a mental tug courtesy of a memory during the second class trial, when Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu told everyone Mahiru Koizumi's last words. 'Nobody has the right to judge others for their crimes!' Imagining Mahiru saying that with the conviction that Hiyoko remembered that Mahiru had, her prior anger and judgment of Gundham began to slowly soften. 'Mahiru.. was right,' Hiyoko thought. 'Gundham.. never showed true malice towards anyone, even that idiot Kazuichi.. and me.' As she processed her inner thoughts, Hiyoko felt the sting of silent tears in her eyes.

Gundham continued, "Have you mortals ever heard of the term dog-eat-dog?"

Chiaki thought for a moment, then asked, "Wait, do you mean cannibalism?"

Gundham again continued, "Cannibalism is a very common observation in zoology, and many creatures in their life span will, at some point, engage in cannibalism. THAT.. is what it means to live. If any of you say that killing for the sake of living is evil, then what would you then call giving up on life itself? If any world considered that as some form of justice, then I will fight that world with EVERY last fiber of my very being! Giving up on life to choose death.. that is blasphemy to the sacred thing that is life. It is a violation of the natural order! It is merely the arrogance of humanity!"

With anger still in her voice, Akane growled, "Are you just sayin' all of that to justify what you did to Coach Nekomaru?"

This time, it was Nagito who responded. "No, Akane, I don't think so. It sounds to me like Nekomaru felt the same way.. and that's why the fight to the death happened."

Akane merely huffed while Gundham replied, "That man.. had the courage to die when he needed to die. THAT.. is why he challenged me to our battle. But as I have already stated.. I will not force my ideals and values upon you mortals. I have ultimately betrayed all of you. That.. that is is the truth. The absolute truth. But.. even so.. is that not a better alternative than slowly starving to death here?"

With understanding in her face and demeanor, Chiaki replied, "Oh.. that belief.. that's why you committed your crime. But hey.. the Final Dead Room.. did you do the Russian Roulette too?"

Gundham replied, "Unlike Nagito, I did only do that once but.. that was child's play compared to my battle with Nekomaru."

Chiaki thought a moment before stating, "You know, after listening to you talk for a while, I'm honestly starting to think that... well, you did also admit your crime without a lot of resistance.. "

Hajime interjected and asked, "Gundham. Don't tell me that.. you didn't.. sacrifice yourself for our sake.. did you?"

Gundham merely chuckled as he usually did and replied, "Hajime Hinata.. I cannot believe that you would ask such a foolish question. Just who do you think that I am!? I.. am GUNDHAM TANAKA, history's greatest monster! My cursed existence is feared by the entirety of mankind! There is NO way that I would sacrifice myself for the sake of you foolish mortals! Nay, not in a million.. not in a billion.. not in ten thousand billion YEARS! In the name of Pandaemonium, that feat would be impossible!"

Hajime shrugged and sadly replied, "That's it, then? I suppose.. I'll just leave it at that."

Gundham chuckled once more and loudly proclaimed, "Let us be shed of this foolish discourse! It is time! Let the fun be brought forth to commence! MONOKUMA! LET US PROCEED!"

Monokuma slightly yawned, then replied, "It's about time. Yoooou got it! I have prepared a very special punishment for the Ultimate Breeder, Gundham Tanaka!"

Crying even harder, Sonia exclaimed, "No, p-please wait! This.. is too much! Please! Monokuma! Please, you must help Gundham!" Seeing Sonia crying officially broke Hiyoko's dam, her tears not the childish fake ones that she would use just to get her own way. They were silent, but they stained her cheeks nonetheless.

Confused yet concerned, Kazuichi Souda asked, "Miss Sonia?"

Not hearing Kazuichi, Sonia again exclaimed, "Please! I beg of you!"

Seeing the state that Sonia was in, Gundham tenderly stated, "Sonia.. an act as unrefined as stopping a man from going to his death.. does not befit a refined noble such as yourself."

Sonia tearfully replied, "B-but.. Gundham!"

Eyeing the situation, Monokuma asked, "Hey, um.. it's fine to start for reals, right?"

Turning to face the half-black, half-white bear, Gundham replied, "Yes, it is fine. I do not mind. However.. "

As he paused, four little heads and bodies popped out of Gundham's purple scarf and perched on his shoulders. He asked quietly, "What is it, my Four Dark Devas of Destruction?" The four climbed into both of his outstretched hands and he bent his face down to them as he asked, "Oh, are you worried about me? My most feared Devas, this is most unlike you. However.. there is no need to fear. I am merely a temporary visitor to this world. I was simply visiting for a fragment of time.. and now that my duty is complete, I must return to the darkness. That, my Devas, is why.. until the very end.. pride! Conceit! Courage! Insolence! Fearful of nothing! Daunted by nothing! LET US LAUGH UPROARIOUSLY! THAT is Gundham Tanaka! I shall abide by my evil until the very end! Open to me, Pandaemonium! I shall fill hell with TRUE hell!"

As Gundham ended with raucous laughter, Monokuma made his usual statement. "Let's give it EVERYTHING we've got! It's.. PUNISHMENT TIIIIIME!"

Gundham and the Devas moved to the field where he was to be punished for his crime. Before he faced his execution with pride and honor, he carefully placed the Devas on a high sand dune away from the field. He then strode to the execution field, and then he created a protective magic circle around himself.

Meanwhile, in the trial room, Sonia and Hiyoko both were crying while holding on to each other. Hiyoko could barely speak, but to no one in particular she said, "I-I'm.. so... sorry.. p-please.. forgive.. me.. "

Nagito just sighed aloud, while Chiaki immediately went over to them and gently pulled the both of them into her arms. Hajime, Kazuichi, and Akane then followed suit. They all felt the weight of sadness on their hearts, and the meaning of the sacrifice that Nekomaru and Gundham had made for all of them to survive.. and to leave the hell that was Jabberwock Island and the Killing Game.


A/N: Most of the dialogue for this fic is either lifted directly from Danganronpa 2, or edited for clarity. This was an idea given to me on another fan fiction site where, in DR2 AU, Fuyuhiko dies and Hiyoko lives. Basically, more character development that should have happened for Hiyoko since her murder in the game wasn't actually supposed to happen. I'll be honest here when I say that I almost cried several times while adapting this all out. Trial 4 was really heartbreaking, especially since Gundham became one of my favorite characters from DR2.