The trap had been sprung. The weight of it slowly filled the room.
To some of them, the weight managed to bring understanding.
To others, it continued to baffle them at what the sudden realization brought.
But to Naegi, all it did was bring confusion, and eventually, it would only bring despair...
"W-Wait, why are you guys looking at her like that? F-Fujisaki, what's going on?" Naegi asked around. She was the only one in the dark about everything currently going on.
Even to those who didn't understand completely, they were still closer to the truth than she could ever be.
"W-What's everyone staring at me like that for?" Fujisaki cringed.
"Fujisaki, perhaps you can explain this to me." Kirigiri requested as she rubbed her chin. "How exactly did you come to seven pages while everyone else counted six?"
Fujisaki blinked. "S-Six?" She froze for a few, silent, seconds as she thought. "O-Oh! Haha," she chuckled with anxiety. "D-Did I say seven? I meant s-six too!" She corrected. She poked her chin with wonder. "I-I guess I must've miscounted...or counted the file itself by mistake."
"Hmm, a reasonable correct claim, of course." Yamada agreed. "I-It's impossible my darling Chihiro could be a suspect."
"Y-Yeah dude," Oowada added, rubbing the back of his head, "I mean the kid can barely stand on her own when someone's yelling at her. And to someone like Togami? That's just...There's no way she could."
Celes hid the slight grin growing on her face with her fingertips. "Hmhm, I can't help but agree with both sentiments, yet I feel like there's something Kirigiri has yet to show us." She suggested.
"S-Show us?" Fujisaki asked curiously. Kirigiri could only shake her head, slightly in disappointment.
"To be honest, Fujisaki, knowing your usual demeanor, I hadn't considered it possible at first." Kirigiri revealed her feelings. "After your sudden confession, I've realized now that I've been taking you for granted. And I apologize for that." She crossed her arms as she focused on Fujisaki intently. "You're no different from everyone else- someone capable of killing."
Numerous glances were thrown between Fujisaki and Kirigiri all at once. Glances of shock, glances of peril, and glances of continued doubt.
But among them, only Naegi's glance was empty. No shock, no despair, and no doubt.
"K-Ki-Killer...?" Naegi muttered. Her eyelid began to twitch slightly as her face curled into a grin. "H-Hey K-Kirigiri, enough of the jokes p-please. Can we find out the real killer now?" Naegi said in denial. Her pupils quivered endlessly.
Kirigiri could see the pain had already sprouted. And it would only grow.
"Naegi...I'm sorry that you have to watch this, but it's the truth." She apologized. "The one who murdered Togami," she pointed intently, "was Chihiro Fujisaki!"
W-Whaaat?!" Fujisaki cried loudly.
"H-Hey, don't get so worked up, Kirigiri." Oowada commented. "I-I mean maybe you should make absolutely sure before you say something like that."
"I agree!" Ishimaru yelled proudly. "To make such an accusation towards some like her is unthinkable!"
"K-Kirigiri, are you even sure about this?" Asahina asked. She was conflicted between doubt and worry. "I mean, out of anyone, how could..." She trailed off in thought. "W-Wait, is this because she got the number of pages wrong?" She wondered. Fujisaki hiccupped as she sniffled.
"I-I-I j-ju-just misr-red it wrong," Fujisaki sobbed loudly, "a-and you think- you think... t-that makes me a k-k-killer?!"
"On the contrary, that's not the problem." Kirigiri stated. Fujisaki froze suddenly as she looked at her. "The real problem is," she dug through her coat pocket, pulling out a crumbled piece of paper, "that's the correct number of pages."
All eyes were focused on her now. Now all, except for Naegi, were enlightened and shocked.
The trap had been revealed to all of them, especially Fujisaki, whose expression had left her eyes.
And now, the trial would truly begin.
"K-Kirigiri," Fujisaki mumbled "w-w-where did you get that?" She shook with a pointed finger.
"Oh, this?" Kirigiri implied with a smile. "It's just a little paper I found from the files in front of Togami."
"You took that from the files, dude?!" Hagakure stammered. "Why would you do something like that?"
"Just in case something like this was to occur." Kirigiri replied. "I wanted to have a little "insurance policy" with me for the trial. Looks like my intuition proved useful too."
"Heh? Insurance policy?" Yamada questioned.
"Teehee," Celes chuckled, "that was rather mischievous of you, Kirigiri, but it looks like it worked."
"B-But where did you get it?" Fujisaki repeated, almost demanding for an answer.
"Like I said, I found it when I came across Togami's body. And, before you say anything, Celes already assured me that despite the three of you discovering Togami's corpse, none of you went over to his body as you contended with Fukawa." Kirigiri explained.
"Indeed I did." Celes agreed with a sweetened smile.
"Wait, hold on," Oowada said, "you knew about the issue with the number of pages earlier, didn't you? So why didn't you bring anything up then?" Kirigiri grew silent for awhile.
She had two things concerning her from all of this. One was figuring out how to organize her thoughts. There were so many things revealed from Naegi's "help" from earlier that she needed to piece them all together.
That was the easy part.
The hard part, was figuring out how far she could put up with this, without having to worry about Naegi's sanity breaking. After all the poor girl had gone through within the last week alone, this was the last that she needed.
Perhaps the last she could even handle.
Kirigiri looked back again. "Because to be honest, I needed to clarify other factors that were bothering first."
"W-Wait, h-hold on, please!" Fujisaki cried. "W-What are you talking about? How does that make me a ki-killer?!" She sobbed.
"I can tell you're willing to drag this out, aren't you?" Kirigiri asked. "If you truly need to know, the answers simple."
"Well tell the rest of us dude, because quite frankly I don't get it either." Hagakure commented.
"Huff, she didn't say it was THAT simple." Asahina sighed.
"I'll clarify if needed, but it should be easy to understand. "Kirigiri said holding the paper. "I took this immediately after discovering the body, and before anyone else had a chance to see. So the question this concerns is, when did you have the time to see this?"
"Hmmm so that's what you were getting at." Oogami realized. "If none of us saw the paper before the murder occurred, then the only possible time they could have-"
"Is before, when the murder was taking place." Kirigiri answered.
Now was the time for truth from Fujisaki's own mouth.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Oh?" She asked with a curious tone. "Is that all?"
Kirigiri nearly flinched, being caught off guard by such an unexpected response. There was something wrong, especially as she watched Fujisaki sigh in great relief.
"Phew, oh dear. I'm really sorry for the misunderstanding, Kirigiri." Fujisaki apologized.
"Something's not right..." Kirigiri thought to herself. "What misunderstanding, Fujisaki?" She asked.
"Umm..w-well you see, w-when I saw the files about Genocider Shou, i-it was actually the day before yesterday." Fujisaki revealed. For once Kirigiri's eyes widened.
"What?" She was confused at the sudden turn around.
"Y-Yeah...You can ask Fukawa if she wakes up and Naegi herself. Two nights ago, I left from Naegi's room because Fukawa needed me for something." Fujisaki frowned slightly after. "I-It only involved getting y-yelled at by Togami, and I saw the files he was reading when I looked down from him... but it's a fact both Fukawa and Naegi can prove."
"Y-Yeah!" Naegi said with excitement and great relief. "I saw her coming down the hall crying too!"
"Ah ha, I see!" Ishimaru yelled. "And if Togami was to show up the next day for Monokuma's last motive, then there's no way Fujisaki could possibly be the killer!" He exclaimed.
"That is an interesting turnabout." Celes said looking back to Kirigiri. "Do you have anything you'd wish to add, Kirigiri?"
Kirigiri was at a loss for words to be honest. Everything had gone so well for her up till that point, that it almost looked like she was on top of things the entire time. Yet, the one instance she gets shot down completely demoralized her as she stood there dumbfounded
Had she been wrong? Had she off track from the very beginning? She couldn't even focus her thoughts anymore. She simply stood there with a blank expression on her face.
And there was only one thing she could say.
"Huh... I guess I was wrong." Kirigiri admitted. There were a few surprised looks from the audience who heard her.
For those like Celes, they were surprised Kirigiri admitted to being wrong about such a thing. For others like Naegi, the only other being Fujisaki, she smiled brightly at the outcome.
"Huh, seriously?" Hagakure asked in disbelief.
"I never thought I'd hear those words coming from you." Celes admitted.
"Well they are, and she's right." Kirigiri replied. "Fujisaki, I dearly hope you can accept my apology." Kirigiri said with a slight bow. Fujisaki smiled warmly to her.
"I-It's ok Kirigiri! I-'m really sorry for the misunderstanding to be honest." She, as always, slightly teared up. "I wish I mentioned it earlier to avoid conflict."
"No, no, no," Kirigiri shook her head, "this was undoubtedly my fault, and for that, I am sorry." Kirigiri deemed. There were a few awkward stares directed towards her.
"Hey uhhh Kirigiri, are you feeling ok?" Asahina wondered.
Instead of her, Kirigiri turned her attention directly at Naegi. "Especially to you too, Naegi," Kirigiri apologized holding her hands, "I'm so sorry for ever doubting you and your trust in friends." She frowned. Naegi's smile brightened to heights that Kirigiri hadn't seen before since things started.
It would be the last she would see in a long while after this.
"It's ok, Kirigiri!" Naegi said happily. "Like Fujisaki said, everyone makes mistakes!"
"No, really, I should've had more faith in you." Kirigiri's lips began to tremble as she looked away slightly.
"Hey, what's up with this chick all of a sudden?" Oowada asked confused.
"I almost risked everyone's life because of one stupid assumption," Kirigiri's voice wavered, "and now because of it, we may never find anymore clues leading to the killer." She closed her eyes as she started sniffling. "Could you ever forgive me?" She begged.
If you saw her directly, you'd think she was about to cry.
Naegi softly held her shoulders as she continued to smile.
"Kirigiri, it's alright, you don't have to be sad!" Naegi encouraged. "We just need to take everything slow! We just need to find out why he was murdered, who moved him from the weight room to the library, and who copied the serial killer's M.O., and everything will be alright!" She assured.
"..."
"..."
"..."
It took Naegi a short while to realize the ambience of the room had shifted. From conflicted opinions, the room had suddenly gone silent once more. And she had no idea what she said was the most vital part of this case.
She had no idea that she had fallen into Kirigiri's last trap.
And for once, Fujisaki's expression was covered in hallow-eyed fear, but without a single tear in her eye this time.
"W-What..." She paused looking around. "What's everyone so surprised for?"
"What do you think dude?!" Hagakure stammered. "You're suddenly telling us the crime actually happened in the Weight Room?!"
"We always thought the crime happened in the Library," Asahina stated, "we never even checked the Weight area!"
"Huh?" Naegi raised her brow. "B-But I thought Kirigiri would've told you all after-...!" Naegi's pupils shrank as she suddenly let out a gasp.
It was almost in a zombie-like trance as she stiffly turned her head facing Kirigiri again. Kirigiri clearly knew what she did as she had a simple frown on her face looking away. She wouldn't even shift her eyes or glance back at Naegi.
She perfectly knew what she did to Naegi at this moment. And she was right; Naegi was tearing up inside with each passing second.
Total awkwardness followed by your typical "...ouch..." moment?
Yes.
"Naegi..." Kirigiri muttered softly as she gently patted Naegi's hands off her shoulders. "I'm sorry." She apologized.
Only the she-devil herself could find any amusement from this. "Hmhmhm," Celes chuckled, "that was a rather cruel performance you just put on for us, Kirigiri." She commented.
Kirigiri couldn't even face the rest of the group for a brief moment, already feeling the scorn she was giving off to herself. "I didn't do it to be "cruel", Celes. It was the only way to ensure Naegi would give me the truth without fear of lying."
"Dude...but still..." Hagakure groaned.
Everyone could feel the same twinge of pain from the performance Kirigiri displayed. They all knew why she did it- Naegi was close to her friend, Fujisaki. They were practically best friends!
But with Naegi's recent trauma and other problems, everyone did know her emotions would be a bit unstable. There would be no way in knowing if she would tell the truth if she discovered for herself if Fujisaki was the killer or not. As harsh as it was, it was also a simple fact.
They couldn't trust her at this time.
"Besides that, Fujisaki's behavior the entire time is that of a true killer's too." She added. Yamada grew curious.
"Huh? Could you elaborate on this, please?" He asked.
"Just think of everything that's gone on in the trial. To be honest, I didn't pay it too much attention at first, but now I'm sure." Kirigiri said with such determination as she pointed to Fujisaki. "She's been trying to mislead us this entire time!"
"Huh? When has she ever attempted this?" Ishimaru asked.
"Think back to all the critical points we came across, all the points that she shot down." She reminded as she began counting off with her fingers. "First their was the bit with the Killer's profile...
"Umm...Kirigiri?" Fujisaki quietly spoke. "I-I think there might be a slight problem with that..." Fujisaki nearly squeaked. Kirigiri was slightly surprised.
"I-I-I don't know how strong your a-assumption is. About no one else knowing about the s-serial killer..." Fujisaki's lips trembled from the stress this brought her.
"W-Well...you remember the desk in front of Togami? I-It had information about Genocider Shou..." She stated.
"To be honest, I actually thought you were just making an input, but as of now, I realized you were trying to divert attention from yourself." Kirigiri explained as she held up a second finger. "Secondly, it's what you said immediately after we found Naegi.
"Watch her head!" Fujisaki said worriedly. Kirigiri did a brief double take between her and Naegi's head before realizing what she meant.
She's surprised she didn't notice it as she was untying the cloth behind her head. There was a small bit of blood on her hands. Upon checking it, most of it appeared to be dried up by now, but there was a very, very, thin amount of it that still seemed fresh.
"You actually surprised me quite a bit. One thing I couldn't help ponder was how you immediately knew something was wrong with her head before we even finished taking her out.
"T-tch I-I-I was just-!" Fujisaki teared up.
"3rd," Kirigiri interrupted holding up her third finger, "you seemed pretty insistent that the suitcase found in Togami's room, even though it was in a place it couldn't even be to begin with..."
"W-We-Well maybe you overlooked it the first time?" Fujisaki timidly suggested, terrified at the rage building up behind Oowada's expression. "I m-me-mean maybe-"
"No, Fujisaki. It was absolutely not here the first time." Oogami turned to her. "I even moved the dresser to where it was now when we first investigated. Someone brought it here."
"Now why would you insist it was in a place like that?" Kirigiri asked herself. "The only interpretation I came up with," she said smiling back calmly, "is that you didn't even know it was in place of something from a different time.
"If you will allow it, Kirigiri," Oogami began requesting, "I also have something to make note of." She stated.
"Sakura?" Asahina asked curiously.
Oogami turned her gaze towards Fujisaki. "Fujisaki, one thing has gravely bothered me when we discovered Togami's room like that, and you know what it is."
"N-No I don't! J-Just stop making these lies about me pleeeese!" She cried loudly.
"Chihiro," Oogami said again, grabbing her attention, "earlier today when I saw you in the hallway, you were undoubtedly wheeling the same suitcase...twice..."
*Flashback*
"Fujisaki, what are you doing with that?" Oogami asked, halting Fujisaki's progress down the hallway.
It was one thing to be wheeling down a suitcase half her size, twice in width, in a hallway. It'd be another thing to be doing it during a class trial investigation!
"O-Oh...I-I-I'm sorry!" Fujisaki cried. "I-I was just getting some weights from the weight room to bring to my room..."
"Again? Fujisaki, our friend is in peril, and you're wasting time gather weights?!" Oogami nearly yelled.
"I-I'm sorry! I just- I just-!...Tch awwhhahaaa!" Fujisaki began sobbing loudly. "I j-just don't want to die neeeext!" She cried. Oogami looked at her with anticipation. "I-I-I need to get st-stronger... b-but I'm too scared to come outside my room anymore after this!" She sniffled. "I-I don't...I don't want to be the next one to diiie! A-and I don't want to end up like Naegi eitherrrr!" She continued sobbing.
Oogami continued staring at her before softening her expression. She knew that Fujisaki and Naegi were indefinitely best of friends. A part of her believed she was only doing this as a distraction, so as to not hide her fear or sadness in front of everyone else.
Oogami kneeled as she gently patted Fujisaki's shoulder. "Chihiro, forget what I said. I am sorry." She apologized. She waited for Fujisai to ease on her hiccupping for the next few seconds before she continued. "I understand you must be under a lot of stress. Why don't I help carry this to your room?" She suggested.
Fujisaki rubbed her nose with her sleeves briefly before giving back a weak smile. "N-No...That's ok. I know I shouldn't do this either, but I'm just scared. Please, continue looking for Naegi, I'll come help once I drop this off." She promised. Oogami smiled with a nod before parting ways with her once more.
*End Flashback*
"I was a fool to fall for such a trick." Oogami grumbled, crossing her arms.
"What the fresh heck dude?!" Hagakure yelled. "You didn't bother checking inside the suitcase itself?! Nag's was held up in it!" Oogami retained her silence for a few moments.
"I did not bother, because earlier in the day she was doing the same thing." She explained.
"Huh?"
"She was wheeling down a caseload of weights in the suitcase to her room earlier this morning. At that time, she even showed me one of said weights to prove it." Oogami's anger rose from that remark. "If I wasn't so foolish as to not check the other one..." She growled.
"From the sounds of it, the first one was a simple herring, I believe, so you would be less likely to do so later." Celes noticed.
"It appears it was also success on that part." Ishimaru added.
"Ah! Wait! How did she even have the time to bring the suitcases to the weight room to begin with?" Asahina asked. "She was with you guys the whole time until Celes sent her to find us." Asahina mentioned.
"Oh? Then perhaps it's a good thing you told us about that." Celes retorted. "Because she wasn't with us at all while we searched."
"Are you guys kidding me?!" Harakure screamed.
"She insisted we split up to cover more ground," Yamada commented, "and at this point, I think it's safe to assume what half of the floor she covered."
"Dude, it's all coming together!" Hagakure stated proudly. "It had to be Fujisaki man! It's the only explanation!"
"B-Bu-Buuuutt-t-t-t-..." Fujisaki was too choked up to even finish a single word.
If she was really innocent, the tears should've proved that. She cried and sobbed the entire time everyone started accusing her at once. Everyone was starting to doubt her!
Even Naegi didn't know what to do. She must've been taking it all too deeply. Her pupils were dilating the entire time, starring intently at the podium in front of her. It was like Kirigiri said; every minute this trial continued, another piece of Naegi was consumed deeper with despair.
And Kirigiri's chest tightened as she hadn't even revealed her biggest tip off.
"And 4th," she held her fourth finger, "what was actually something far worse than what I just did minutes ago..." Kirigiri claimed.
"W-Wh-What?" Fujisaki stuttered.
"You claim she's made a remark that you find worse than your little act earlier?" Oogami asked with surprise.
"Interesting... I would very much love to hear about this." Celes smiled.
"To be honest, everyone except for Naegi has before," She commented taking a brief glance towards Naegi. "But I doubt anyone would've noticed."
"Heh?" Yamada mumbled. "Chihiro Fujisaki already told us?"
"What did she say?" Asahina asked curiously.
All eyes were on Kirigiri for the brief few moments of silence. Kirigiri herself pondered the results this could end up leaving on Naegi's psyche, but at this point, there was no going back.
If Kirigiri wanted to save everyone and Naegi, then the truth would have to come out. The only pondering question was how she would deal with Naegi's reaction to it.
"Again, I'm sorry Naegi, but this has to happen." Kirigiri said once more. "The one thing you said that caught to me, was this..."
"B-Bu-But we can't just leave her!" Fujisaki cried. "S-S-She's our friend!"
"Huh?" Oowada's jaw dropped. "That's the big heart breaker?!"
"Ehhhh...I really don't see what the big problem is here..." Hagakure complained.
"I would be most surprised if there was anything behind those words." Celes added.
"W-Wh-What do you mean?" Fujisaki sniffled. "S-S-She's my friend! My best friend! I meant what I said in those words!"
"Hmph, and so do I." Kirigiri agreed.
"Whaaaaa?!" Yamada yelped. "Now you're taking back your claim?!"
"I never said that." Kirigiri quickly replied, looking back to Fujisaki. "Naegi is my friend too. She's all our friends. But that's not the part that disgusts me." Kirigiri gestured, pointing intensely at Fujisaki. "My problem with what you said is the reasoning behind it."
"Hmm? Reasoning?" Asahina asked.
"You didn't want us to find Naegi at all at that point. You were trying to encourage us to take the chance in the hopes we'd fail and be forced to vote. You wanted to set all ours lives up the entire time!" Kirigiri shouted for the first time.
And like that, everyone else was focused. They couldn't believe the words they heard, but it all made sense. If the killer was Fujisaki, then it would explain the numerous details that lead up to this point.
Beyond that, only the killer would've suggested they throw their lives away in the hopes of getting away with it.
"I...I can't believe you Kirigiri..." Fujisaki muttered. "Ehaahwaaa..." She cried loudly.
There was an unease spreading amongst the trial participants. Even if Fujisaki was the killer, there was a strange sadness that filled the scenery around them.
Fujisaki was the kindest, sweetest girl any of them knew. Her smiles were always the things that brightened up their day. And everyone would feel terrible whenever they made her cry. But here she was now, a killer for her crimes.
And she was taking it...surprisingly well.
For the first time ever, she displayed a wicked, gleeful smile. The light which appeared in one's eyes had completely disappeared from her, leaving her brown eyes slightly hollow and transparent. It was as if she wasn't the same anymore. "You really are a stupid bitch you know that!" She cursed.
It was almost terrifying. Sweet and lovable Chihiro had suddenly cursed someone for the first time, in the midst of a class trial of all things. The fact she cursed someone at all is what got to everyone. It was creepy.
"F-Fujisaki?" Oowada questioned. "Are you ok, kid?"
"Ooohhhhoho..." She breathed heavily rubbing her legs together as if experiencing some form of "pleasure" from this. "Thiisisiisi is truly...truly...stimulating..."
"Ch-Chihiro, are you ok?" Yamada asked worriedly and frightened. Fujisaki casually stretched as she let out a deep, exhausting, sigh.
"Mmhhhhh ahhhh..." She breathed. "I've never felt sooooo...gooooood..." She chuckled.
"W-What the hell is wrong with you?!" Ishimaru yelled, terrified by the sudden "transformation".
"Mmmhh...I think I'm getting turned on a bit from this...feeling..." Fujisaki admitted tapping her lip. "I've never felt so wonderful before." She said as she looked around to everyone.
"Everyone one of you here...versus poor, defenseless, Chihiro..." She began trailing off. "The ultimate fighter...the ultimate biker leader...The girl who can swim like a mermaid...the ultimate gambler...the ultimate moral compass...and you Kirigiri, the mysterious girl who seems to have all the answers when needed." She paused as she reached Yamada and Hagakure. "...I could really care less about you two...
"Whaaaat?!" They both shattered on the inside as their souls cried endlessly.
"Are you confessing to your crimes then, Fujisaki?" Oogami asked with her arms crossed.
"Hahahhaaa..." Fujisaki took a deep breath as she laughed. "Nnnnnno."
"No? Even after all this evidence, you still deny it?" Ishimaru questioned.
"Well of course I do. It's just...after all this time, I'm the one being ganged upon. I'm the one being feared, cornered, yet it takes all of you at once to do so. I feel...so...sooooo strong..." She turned her gaze back to Naegi.
"You won't have to worry Naegi," Fujisaki completely ignored all else it seemed, "I'll fix your little mess here." She commented. She turned her attention back to Kirigiri. "So Kiri," Fujisaki began, not even using her full last name, "you say I'm the one who killed Togami, and now, thanks to Naegi's input, killed him in the Weight Room?"
"That's correct." Kirigiri replied crossing her arms. She knew they were starting to see a more confident Fujisaki. It was going to get bad.
"Wow...what a stunning theory." Fujisaki retorted with a sarcastic tone. "But there's one little thing that's bothering me..." She added tapping her chin.
"What's that?" Kirigiri wished to know.
Fujisaki was a Super Duper High School Programmer. Kirigiri would not take her lightly.
"Well, aside from the whole thing of course, let's focus on Naegi for the moment, shall we?" She suggested. "Now let's say I "did" kill Togami in the weight room. The end. Did you forget how Naegi was attacked after?" Fujisaki reminded.
Kirigiri was glad she was not underestimating this trial. Fujisaki seemed prepared for everything. Even the climax. Her gaze turned to the back of Naegi's head, still seeing the blotch where the blood had dried.
It was surprisingly easier to notice now that Naegi, who's sadness only grew, was on her knees staring at the ground.
All that mattered though was that Kirigiri knew what Fujisaki was referring to when she mentioned the injury. And it did present a problem.
"You're referring to how she was struck, yes?" Kirigiri asked for confirmation. Fujisaki gave her one of her typical, sweet, sincere smiles. But now there was something..."off" when she did it from this point.
"Always the bright one, huh? But it's true when you think about it." Fujisaki replied.
"Would you two mind filling us in here?" Asahina asked.
"I believe it's quite simple." Celes commented. "Fujisaki is simply asking, if she did end up killing Togami, and attacked Naegi immediately upon exiting the women's Weight room, then how did she get behind Naegi to begin with?" Celes explained.
"But it doesn't mean Fujisaki is telling the truth. I'm starting to believe Naegi's and Kirigiri's words that the body was moved from there." Oogami believed.
"Oh, I get it too Sakura. Buuuut what if there was a third possibility we've been missing here?" Fujisaki suggested.
Kirigiri bit her lip, thinking she knew what was coming.
"Like, if all this played out like Kirigiri suggested, and all of this was set up from trying to catch A culprit, not THE culprit..." Fujisaki trailed off with a sly grin directed at Kirigiri.
"You wouldn't..." Kirigiri whispered to herself.
"Then, isn't it only likely that there had to be someone else in the same weight room at the same time as Naegi?" Fujisaki hinted.
"Are you suggesting this was Kirigiri's doing?" Celes wondered twirling her hair.
"...Hey uhhh..." Hagakure muttered. "Not that I'm officially agreeing with Fujisaki or anything, buuut that would explain something that's bothering me." All eyes focused back to him, obviously except for Naegi's. "How exactly did Kirigiri know where Nag's was located?"
Fujisaki brightened up. "Why, that's a very good question there, Hagakure. I never would've thought about bringing that up."
"Hehe, I have my moments." He cheered, happy with himself, as he rubbed under his nose.
"Hagakure, I believe I made my previous point clear when I mentioned the two suitcases from earlier." Oogami commented. Fujisaki looked to her curiously.
"But Oogami, don't you think it's just as possible Kirigiri brought them there and stuffed Naegi into the suitcase to frame me? You didn't remember to check the second suitcase I had full of weights, remember?" Fujisaki reminded.
"That...actually does make a little bit of sense." Ishimaru agreed.
Oogami stared silently at her for a few seconds before turning away. "Regardless I will stand by my beliefs. I will side with Kirigiri."
"Despite the sudden turnabout, I think I shall side with her as well." Celes said. "She has been rather on top of things for the most part.
"Errrr..." Yamada frantically began wiping the sweat forming from his forehead. "I... I think I'll wait to see who's majority here...there's too much pressure." He whined.
"Umm...I-I'd like a minute or two to think here please..." Asahina requested.
"Huh, funny..." Fujisaki chuckled. "Then that's 3 for 3. And I don't think Naegi or Fukawa will be in any position to vote anytime soon. So that means our tie breaker will have to be...?" Fujisaki gestured her attention towards Oowada, who could only look to the side with an uneasy feeling on his face.
"Oowada?" Celes guessed.
"Of course," Fujisaki tapped her chin, "although...I think he might be considering voting towards Kirigiri..." She smirked.
"What would make you think that?" Oogami asked in confusion.
"Well, see...he made a...certain promise the other day, and the only way he could break that promise is by voting against me. Buuut then that would break his Man's honor towards me, isn't that right?" Fujisaki hinted. Oowada could only grumble inwardly as he squeezed his fist angrily.
"I can't...I just can't!" Oowada grumbled. Despite not showing it, Kirigiri grew worried with this.
"Oowada...please, I need you to confess to the truth as well." Kirigiri pleaded. Oowada looked at her with much surprise.
"W-What? You know?" He asked. Kirigiri closed her eyes as she smiled.
"I've had... a few clues related to the truth as well. But I won't convince anyone if you don't confess as well." Kirigiri stated.
Oowada could only look away as he grumbled. He couldn't. He just couldn't.
Breaking a Man's honor is the lowest dignity a man can sink to. There were so many meanings behind a man's honor, that even he knew Kirigiri didn't know. And knowing something Kirigiri didn't seem to know was rather saying something.
But at the same time, he felt it was wrong. His gut agreed with him, but he just couldn't bring his mind to cooperate. It was like he was holding a rope that was connected to a bus of children, while he was holding a similar one in the other. If he didn't choose one, it would hurt the other.
He knew what he had to do. And it was regrettable.
"I'm...sorry." He apologized with a huff. Kirigiri could only close her eyes as she looked down.
"I guess that's your answer then..." She commented.
"It's alright Kirigiri. No one can ask you to do anything better than your best. Just know that-"
"The deal's off, kid." Oowada exclaimed. Fujisaki paused, her hollowed eyes never changing their expression, as she looked towards him.
"...Hm?" She mumbled.
"I have to...To keep another promise I made..." Oowada replied, slowly looking back to Naegi herself. "I owe her one."
For those who were currently sided with Kirigiri, her whole group directed their attention towards Naegi. Even Kirigiri couldn't figure out what he was referring to.
"Oh...really? Are you suuure you want to do that?" Fujisaki poked her chin again as she went into thought. "I mean, it would be reeeeally bad if someone found out what you tried to do last night..." She mumbled.
Ishimaru's attention instantly caught on. "W-Wait, last night?" He quickly looked back to Oowada uneasily. "Bro, what is he talking about? What happened?"
"Yes, what did happen, Oowada?" Celes asked curiously. Oowada's expression tightened as he clenched his teeth.
"Gehhhh...I...I almost...I almost killed Fujisaki last night." He revealed.
...
...
A/N: Ok I know this is a rather abrupt end, but freaking lorey (whoever that is) I've literally been up since 1AM this morning, apparently insomnia or something, and working on this for like the last 5 hours alone. I'm tired, feeling sluggish, and more importantly, I wanted to rap up the trial here.
You can take heart in knowing I won't actually end it here- I'll finish up the other 1/3 by tom and post it with this one, and post it as an entire chp so you guys can get the updates ^^.
As always, to encourage more and frequent updates, continue to leave a like and a review if you would. And prepare for many needed explanations tomorrow...
