I've changed the format for the trial due to the intensity and quick action dialogue. I hope you memorized who everyone is!
Chapter 1 – Future Disasters of the Teenage Mind (Trial)
The court room was built in circular style so that everyone can see everyone. The walls were tinted an electric blue and had a carpeted area leading to and around the stands. There was a giant metal door on one part of the circle, Narumi didn't even want to know what was behind that. In the middle of everything was a big throne, equipped with a gavel and a button.
"Hey, hey! Welcome to the trial grounds! Please step out of the elevator and find the place marked for you, then we'll get started!" Narumi and the others walked to their assigned placements and noticed the picture frame of Hiroe where he would have stood. "I think that isn't in bad tastes for anyone. I just want everyone to be here to experience the trial – living and dead!"
Setsuko: Fine, whatever. Let's just get this thing started so that we can get out of this creepy place.
Monokuma: Creepy? That's insulting! I worked so hard on this just for everyone here.
Setsuko: So, yeah. It's creepy.
Monokuma: Anyways, let's give a quick rundown of how the class trial works. Basically, you've gathered information about the murder and you will be testifying in the court to determine who the killer is! But choose wisely, if you choose the wrong person, EVERYONE besides the killer will be punished! But, if you choose correctly, I'll only punish the killer!
Taro: And by punished you mean…
Monokuma: EXECUTED!
Seika: H-How dare you?! That's so horrible!
Monokuma: It's the punishment deserved for someone who would disrupt the daily peace and bring death and despair! Now, without further ado…LET THE TRIAL BEGIN! Maybe start with determining what was the thing that killed poor Hiroe.
Euiko: I don't even want to think about that!
Naomi: I'm pretty sure it had to be something handy that the killer could have used.
Kazuma: And what exactly would you suppose that item is?
Yuno: I didn't get a good look at the body, but wouldn't it have to be something sharp? It did look like he had a big wound on his chest…
Kyoko: There was?
Narumi: Do you really not remember? On the body's chest, there was a stab wound that kept pouring out blood…I'm surprised that would escape anyone's memory.
Kyoko: I don't like gore so much, so I just went to sleep right then and there!
Koyomi: You took a nap?!
Seika: No, she fainted.
Koyomi: Oh, that makes better sense.
Kazuma: I'm waiting on an answer here.
Setsuko: Oh, for fuck's…wouldn't it have to be the knife that we found at the scene?
Kazuma: Precisely. The knife matched the same size and diameter that created the wound. There's no doubt here that the killer used that knife that was stained with the victim's blood!
Narumi: No, that's wrong!
Kazuma: Then explain to me how I'm wrong.
Narumi: Naomi and I both examined the wound further. It had a certain tenacity that most stab wounds don't normally exhibit!
Kyoko: Oooh! ~ Fancy words! I wonder what they mean?
Yuno: I don't get where you're going, but I can act as a translator for Kyoko. She says there's something about the wound that doesn't normally happen when a person gets stabbed.
Narumi: And our residential Ultimate Doctor could shed some well needed light on that!
Shigemori: Oh? What? My turn? Sorry…I was taking a nap.
Setsuko: But you're standing up! How do you do that?
Shigemori: Well, you know how cows lock their knees when they go to sleep…
Narumi: Now isn't the time for trivia that doesn't pertain to your field of study!
Hirokuma: Hey, doc? You think you could hurry it up? I'm growing old over here.
Shigemori: Oh, oh. Right…what's the question again?
Naomi: Damn you're useless. What's the one thing about the wound on Hiroe that doesn't consist with a normal stab wound?
Shigemori: Aside from the odd way the wound healed…it should be the flow of blood that keeps coming out. Post mortem, the heart shuts down and the blood flow should stop almost immediately. That's the one thing that I still can't quite explain about the body. How did it get stabbed and not stop bleeding?
Naomi: That's easy. Because he wasn't stabbed to death.
Kazuma: W-What?!
Naomi: Or at least, he wasn't stabbed with the knife.
Kazuma: Then tell us, what was he stabbed with?
Narumi: I've got it! No, he was stabbed with that knife. However, that's not the reason why the wound isn't normal.
Kazuma: So, what you're saying is…
Narumi: I'm saying that the murder was not performed with the knife! The knife was only a prop that aided in the murder!
Koyomi: Hey, I could be of some use with these acting words!
Kyoko: I'm lost.
Setsuko: What else is new.
Shigemori: So, if you're suggesting that Hiroe wasn't killed with the knife…then what was the actual weapon?
Narumi: The killer…turned Hiroe's own work against him!
Kyoko: The killer made the plants into his servants and then used them to attack Hiroe only to kill him in his sleep! How mortifying!
Euiko: Nooooo! That's terrible!
Taro: Don't talk about servants as if we're all murderers being controlled by someone!
Kazuma: …
Narumi: What's on your mind?
Kazuma: Genjo. What do you have to add?
Genjo: Hmm?
Kazuma: You're the Ultimate Lawyer. I would imagine you would have the ability to discern what here is a lie and what isn't. Why are you deciding to shut up now? You bothered me all yesterday in the laundry room with talk about the latest court dramas.
Genjo: I'm only waiting until the opportunity presents itself.
Kazuma: Right.
Narumi: Anyways, let's establish the weapon the killer used and how they killed him.
Kyoko: I told you! The killer made the plants into his servants and used them to attack poor Hiroe while he slept!
Narumi: No, that's wrong!
Kyoko: I'm wrong?
Narumi: Kyoko, not everything is a fantasy. But aside from that, I have proof that says that Hiroe was not killed in his sleep.
Hirokuma: And what is it? Don't hold out on us. SHOW US YOUR ULTIMATE POWER!
Setsuko: Again, dude. Turn it down five notches.
Narumi: Koyomi. You said it yourself. You take nightly strolls around the castle to ease your soul.
Koyomi: Yeah, I do that. Your point?
Narumi: You said that last night, around 3:50 am, you saw Hiroe leave his room and go downstairs. Is that right?
Koyomi: Yes, that sounds exactly right.
Narumi: Then that proves that Hiroe was not attacked in his room.
Kyoko: Meanie! Shot down my only smart suggestion without any remorse!
Takumi: That was supposed to be smart?
Taro: Okay, then. If you can tell us when he left his room, how can you tell when exactly he was murdered and where?
Narumi: I've got it! Naomi found a note in the greenhouse during our investigation that asked for someone to meet someone in the greenhouse at 4 am.
Setsuko: How vague. Can you tell us who was meeting who? Who was that note intended for? Did the killer send the note to Hiroe to lure him there only to murder him?
Narumi: I can tell you that Hiroe was leaving ten minutes before 4 am. Meaning that he wanted to have the time to get there. I would say that Hiroe was actually the person that sent the note!
Euiko: Hiroe sent the note? But to who?
Narumi: That's what we're here to figure out.
Taro: Hello? We still haven't established how Hiroe was murdered!
Seika: Hiroe left his room ten minutes before meeting someone…maybe they used the knife and stabbed Hiroe from behind.
Taro: And even then…the killer stabbed Hiroe from behind in the hall and then stuffed him in the closet! How cowardly.
Narumi: No, that's wrong! Hiroe wasn't just stabbed in the hallway and put in the janitor's closet.
Taro: He wasn't? Then where are you suggesting he was killed?
Narumi: He was actually killed in the greenhouse!
Hirokuma: In the greenhouse? Why of all places would he do it there?
Narumi: Because that's where Hiroe went to meet the killer. And if my guess is correct, then I'd have to say that the killer only arrived at the greenhouse on or after 4 am!
Tomoe: I'm sorry, but that's not right.
Narumi: Huh?
Tomoe: If the killer met Hiroe in the greenhouse, and if what you're saying IS true, and he killed him there…how come there is no dirt on his clothes?
Narumi: What do you mean?
Tomoe: Listen closely! If I were directing a horror movie. And we got to the scene where someone was going to be killed in a room filled with plants, wouldn't the victim have some form of dirt or grime on his clothes that would show he was thrown on the dirt? You're not even suggesting that there was even a hint of a struggle!
Narumi: No, that's wrong! I get where you're going, Tomoe. But the fact of the matter is that there was a struggle! If you even step foot inside the greenhouse, you would be able to see that for yourself. Tables were turned over, pots were smashed, dirt was all over the floor, even the bookshelf on the back wall was tipped over. I do think the murder happened in the greenhouse, and I do think that there was a struggle in there.
Naomi: I can't accept that.
Narumi: What do you mean, Naomi?
Naomi: I mean that you're overlooking a fact that we spotted earlier in the greenhouse. In fact, YOU were the one that noticed it. If you hadn't said anything, I would have overlooked it all together.
Narumi: You don't mean, the bloodstain on the dirt, right?
Naomi: Exactly. You're saying that there was a struggle in the greenhouse that led to Hiroe's death. What if I told you that it could have been set up?
Narumi: Set up? What are you getting at?
Naomi: If you remember the state of the floor, then you should remember that the blood had seeped into the dirt and made it clumpy. That means that the dirt was already on the floor before Hiroe even stepped foot inside the greenhouse.
Setsuko: Then what you're saying is…
Naomi: Narumi's earlier assertion about the killer being there on or after 4 am was wrong. In fact…the killer was there at least an hour before it happened!
Kazuma: Oh, come on! How do you speculate that much?
Naomi: Think about it this way. If the killer was going to meet up with Hiroe and intended to kill him, do you think he would do it so easily? No, no, no, no. This killer was a very sadistic fuck.
Hirokuma: What do you mean by that?
Naomi: The killer trashed the greenhouse.
Narumi: What?! But that would break Hiroe's heart to see all the plants like that!
Naomi: Exactly, it would make it harder for Hiroe to run away or fight if the plants he loved were now on their way to becoming trash worthy. You must know that most of those plants and flowers were foreign. A single one of those would go a long way when it comes to selling the seeds here in Japan.
Hirokuma: So, you're saying that the killer broke Hiroe's spirit to continue on before killing him?
Naomi: Exactly.
Taro: All right, if what you're saying is true…then what was the thing that murdered Hiroe? We have no evidence of anything other than the knife suggesting a different way the Hiroe was killed!
Narumi: No, that's wrong! Hiroe's journal, his life's work, was found hidden under the bookshelf.
Hirokuma: What? Hidden under the bookshelf?
Narumi: And there was a single page ripped out of the notebook that could…no…IS THE MURDER WEAPON!
Taro: Fine, out with it. What was the murder weapon?
Narumi: I've got it! I know exactly how this sounds, but what if Hiroe was killed with a flower?
Taro: A flower? A fucking flower? You've got to be pulling my chain.
Naomi: No, she's right.
Taro: HE WAS KILLED WITH A FUCKING FLOWER?!
Narumi: Not just any flower! The silver-leaf nightshade! From what Naomi said while we were investigating, every single part of the nightshade is incredibly poisonous to human beings. And I'll bet this sucker has thick thorns that can pierce through any flimsy t-shirt like what Hiroe wore.
Takumi: So, the killer pushed Hiroe onto a flower, hoping that the thorn would stick him? That sounds kind of faulty to me.
Narumi: You're right. THAT does sound faulty. So, let's make it less faulty. What's something that we've already discussed that could have helped get the toxins into Hiroe's blood stream?
Kyoko: Ooh! Ooh! I know! I know! It's the knife!
Narumi: Exactly so! The knife had already played its role!
Kyoko: YES! I HELPED!
Takumi: The knife did kill him then. If you're saying that the killer stabbed Hiroe with the knife, then he wouldn't even need a stupid flower to kill him.
Narumi: No, that's wrong! If you look at the wound again, you'll notice exactly just how shallow the stab wound was. If you think about this logically, then the knife was not the culprit. Nor was it able to make such an odd-looking wound.
Yuno: So, the killer surprised Hiroe with the destroyed greenhouse, then stabbed him from behind, and then Hiroe fell on the nightshade?
Narumi: Exactly so! That must be how it went down!
Kazuma: Maybe, so. But you're forgetting one crucial piece of evidence that dictates the position of death!
Narumi: What am I missing?
Kazuma: We found Hiroe in the janitor's closet in the west wing. That means that the killer would've had to have killed Hiroe in front of the closet.
Narumi: That's an easy fix. You see, the killer could have dragged Hiroe's body from the greenhouse to the janitor's closet. THEN the killer threw Hiroe into the closet and shut the door.
Euiko: I'd like to finally be of use!
Setsuko: This is a surprise. I didn't think you'd want to say anything during the trial.
Euiko: I've already said some things! Anyways, I would like to bring everyone's attention to something very important that I found in the trash room in the basement! It's a bloodied blue cloth! And most of it is burnt, except for a small portion!
Genjo: Objection! Are you even sure that the cloth is relevant to this case?
Euiko: I'm sorry! I should've thought before I brought it up…
Naomi: Wow, that was odd. But I'd expect nothing less of the Ultimate Lawyer…wait…
Genjo: Even if what you're saying is true, Narumi, then how come we didn't find a blood trail leading from the greenhouse to the closet?
Setsuko: Are you an idiot? Let me tell you exactly where we found Hiroe. In the custodial closet. Janitor's. If my insertion is correct, then we can assume that the killer used the mop and bucket to clean up any unneeded stains and spills!
Narumi: That sounds right to me.
Genjo: Alright, that's all well and good. But answer this: What is the killer's motive? Why did he kill Hiroe? Did he have some sort of grudge against him? There's no motive!
Narumi: No, that's wrong! Back a couple nights ago, Monokuma gave us motives that would get us killing each other. Something from our past that we regret, I'll bet.
Euiko: Yeah, I remember reading mine. It was so horrible! I'm surprised Monokuma even knows what I did for that guitar! Ah! I've said too much!
Narumi: If what my letter said was like everyone else's, then it was something we don't want anyone to see. I'll bet cash money that Hiroe found out what the killer's motive was, so the killer had no choice but to kill Hiroe!
Genjo: Objection! You're assuming that Hiroe found out what the killer's letter was. It could have been anything! Any possible solution or outcome is going down right now. You've got no evidence or proof that the killer's letter had been leaked!
Euiko: You've got that wrong! When I was sorting through the clothes in the laundry room, I actually found a balled-up piece of paper that didn't make any sense to me. I thought it was like a diary entry, so I naturally just put it back where I had found it.
Genjo: Oh, yes? And would you mind telling us what this entry said?
Yuno: Genjo, cool down! You're getting mad at Euiko! That's not nice, she hasn't done anything but help us.
Euiko: T-The entry said: I want to discuss the motive, but I want to do it in secret.
Genjo: !
Setsuko: Euiko?! You had damning evidence like that the entire time and you never told anyone?!
Euiko: I'm sorry! I thought it was rude of me to even look!
Seika: Well, now. I think we've heard enough. The killer is so obviously Genjo!
Narumi: Seika, why do you say that?
Seika: He keeps volleying the trial back at all of us! We're stuck in eternal deuce!
Genjo: Can you prove I did it, Seika?!
Seika: Well, no, I can't…
Genjo: Then don't accuse someone unless you have evidence!
Naomi: It's not Genjo. That I am sure of.
Genjo: See? Even the detective lady thinks so.
Naomi: But he's protecting the identity of the killer!
Narumi: Genjo's doing WHAT?!
Genjo: Why would you even suggest that I do such a thing!
Naomi: Aside from the fact that you're not contributing anything useful to the trial, you are also sending us around in circles and attacking anyone who has important pieces of evidence. I say we look back at that cloth, Euiko.
Euiko: Oh, sure thing. Here. The bloodied blue cloth.
Naomi: Now, if I'm right on this. Then that means that the killer wasn't out of this entire situation clean.
Tomoe: And how do you suggest that?
Naomi: I'd like to point out both the correlation between the bloodied cloth and the clumpy dirt. I don't think the blood in the dirt is Hiroe's blood!
Taro: What are you saying?
Naomi: And if we bring the knife into the mix, you'll notice just how odd the knife looks. It's not your ordinary knife, it's…
Setsuko: It's a knife used for gardening!
Naomi: Precisely.
Genjo: So, you're saying the killer trashed the greenhouse, surprised Hiroe, then Hiroe attacked him?! How absurd!
Naomi: But not out of question. Instead of thinking about this from a "it crushed Hiroe's soul" let's think of this from a "Hiroe retaliated in an unexpected way" angle!
Narumi: Unexpected? That means that the killer let their guard down because they thought that Hiroe's soul would have been crushed, but instead it made Hiroe furious!
Naomi: And because Hiroe was furious, he grabbed the nearest thing, AKA the gardening knife, and stabbed the killer.
Genjo: No, no, no! I refuse to believe that happened!
Narumi: This should prove it! Hiroe loved his plants more than anything. He loved it more than other people! There's no doubt that the Ultimate Botanist would allow such a disaster to go unpunished! And since that, he attacked the killer who turned it all on him.
Tomoe: But for the killer to do that, they'd have to be very strong.
Narumi: Which leads me to believe that the killer is Hirokuma Kikutake!
Genjo: Okay? So? You've accused him! Where's your proof!
Narumi: Let me make this clear so that you will finally understand, Genjo! The killer wanted to meet Hiroe in the greenhouse to discuss the motive that Hiroe found out. Since the killer wanted his letter to be kept completely secret, he decided that the best thing to do would be to destroy Hiroe's soul so that Hiroe wouldn't ever think of telling anyone, but the killer didn't expect Hiroe to take the destruction of the greenhouse as a fuel of retaliation. And because of that, Hiroe was able to land a single blow on the killer. However, since the killer was stronger than Hiroe, he was able to take the knife from Hiroe and stab him once in the chest. But the killer didn't want to kill Hiroe, but they made a fatal mistake. And that mistake was allowing Hiroe to fall. Hiroe's fall bumped his head against a table edge which sent him off course. After which, Hiroe landed on an area of the greenhouse that didn't have dirt under it yet – the bookshelf. And under the bookshelf was a specimen of silver-leaf nightshade! Noticing that Hiroe wasn't getting up, the killer took the body from the greenhouse and dragged him into a different place in the building. Since he made a mess, he took stuff from the custodial closet and cleaned up all the dirt and blood that Hiroe and the killer made. After finishing up, the killer tore some of his blue shirt and tied it around his wound. Shortly after, he dressed it and threw the cloth into the incinerator in the trash room to get rid of the evidence. However, he made minor errors that led to big issues. His first error was allowing Hiroe to fall. After he had fallen, he was able to get a piece of his notebook out from under the bookshelf, tear it off and stuff it in his pocket. His second error was tearing the note in half. After Euiko was able to find it, it spelled doom for the entire operation. Isn't that right, Hirokuma?!
Hirokuma: ...
Narumi: Anything to add or take away, Genjo.
Genjo: …
Hirokuma: Wait. You didn't tell it right.
Narumi: Huh?
Hirokuma: I was wounded on my left arm. I tied the cloth around my left arm where it wouldn't be noticed. The wound is still there. You're right about Hiroe retaliating, you're right about the state of the greenhouse, but the hole in your logic was about Hiroe falling…he didn't.
Narumi: What?
Hirokuma: He hit his head on the table, but he didn't fall over. He stood straight back up, then threw the bookshelf down. I didn't know what he had done, but he already had the page in his pocket. He fell over on a table and that's where the flower got him. I didn't mean for him to die. He just…knew too much.
Narumi: It's over, Hirokuma. But, before we end this, could you tell us what was in your letter?
Hirokuma: …back before I became a marine…I did many regrettable things. One of which was in that letter. My buddies and I, we were ruthless sons of bitches. We stole, we killed, and we felt nothing about it. But one night, we did something more. I didn't take part in what we did to her, but it was still horrible nonetheless. They took advantage of the fact that her children were unable to fight. They knocked both of the kids out within seconds and then they…took advantage of her. I had no idea what they were planning and I didn't know it would be so awful. I only killed her. I put her out of her misery. I didn't want to let them do it any longer, but I didn't want to be on their bad sides either. I was loyal. I had the faith of being a marine in my blood.
Yuno: That's so…horrible!
Hirokuma: Isn't it? Well, little known fact. One of her kids wasn't younger than me. He only looked like it. I didn't know until last night that Hiroe's Mom was both raped and murdered by my group. Hiroe…Hiroe only wanted to do something. This was the thing I didn't expect. It wasn't Hiroe's retaliation. Hiroe didn't even want to retaliate. He didn't! Hiroe wanted to meet with me in private and tell me…that he forgave me. He forgave me for what I had done! I had ruined his family's life! I took all of that away and he was willing to forgive me!? And now…I just keep taking from the Ohishi family.
Seika: Hiro…kuma…
Monokuma: Yes, yes. Quite a tragic tale. Well, now, if everyone's all done we have to finish up this trial! Please pull the lever in front of you to cast your vote. Who will you choose? The right one, or the dreadfully wrong one!
After everyone had voted, a panel behind half of the class opened up to reveal a television screen. In slot machine style, the three bars rolled and rolled until they landed on Hirokuma. Afterwards, the screen displayed a big flashing VICTORY sign.
"Hoo, boy! You guys are on fire! You got it right! Hirokuma Kikutake killed Hiroe Ohishi!" Monokuma laughed loudly. Nobody else was laughing.
"Answer me this, Hirokuma. Why was Genjo defending you?" Naomi demanded.
"Because I asked him. I asked Genjo if he would protect me if blame came my way. I needed to do something and I didn't want to die yet. Genjo didn't know that I was the killer." Hirokuma looked at his feet. "I'm so sorry for everything I've done. There's nothing that I can do to take it back."
"Well, now. Let's stop with this sentimental stuff! It's boring me to tears!" Monokuma shrieked.
"Huh?" Seika gasped. "How can you say something like that?"
"Because it's time for the big finale for Hirokuma! Thrills! Chills! Kills! I have a special punishment in store for you!" Monokuma laughed.
"What's going on?!" Narumi shouted at Monokuma.
"Let's give it everything we've got! It's punishment time!" Monokuma grabbed his gavel and hit the button next to his throne. The television screen now showed an 8-bit version of Monokuma and Hirokuma saying: Hirokuma has been found guilty! Time for the punishment!
Suddenly, the metal door at another part of the court opened and seven Monokumas marched out and handcuffed Hirokuma. Then they led him through the door. Outside the door, all the Monokumas shoved Hirokuma onto a big ship and tied him to a wall. He looked at all of them and closed his eyes. A title card appeared on the screen saying "21 Shotgun Sa-shoot!" The Monokumas all grabbed a rifle with a bayonet and stood in front of Hirokuma. He didn't even appear scared. Another Monokuma with a whistle stood to the side and held his hand in the air. Whistle! All the Monokumas shot at Hirokuma. Whistle! All the Monokumas shot at Hirokuma again. Whistle! All the Monokumas shot at Hirokuma a third time. Whistle! The Monokumas rushed up and jabbed their bayonets into Hirokuma's body. Blood poured out from the gunshot wounds and the bayonet stabs. His eyes began to flutter, but Hirokuma smiled. Finally, he let his head hang down as his life ended.
"Now, wasn't that exciting?!" Monokuma laughed heartily. "What an excellent display of judgement!"
Everyone was in shock of what they had seen. No words could describe what kind of horror they were all feeling. It was all too surreal.
"You're probably all still wondering what Hirokuma desperately needed to go do. You see, there's this lovely place of his that was going to be foreclosed by the bank. He needed to get home and make sure that the bank didn't take away his grandparent's shop." Monokuma laughed. "Like that matters anymore!"
"You're despicable." Narumi grumbled.
"Hmm? Did you say something?" Monokuma acted innocent.
"No matter what happens, I will not fall to you." Narumi looked at Monokuma with a fire in her eyes. "Listen to what I say! This is not a game to us! We will stop you, you horrible creature!"
"Please, lady. You're gonna need harsher insults if you want to phase me." Monokuma's eyes glinted.
"Monokuma, you're without a doubt, the single worst thing to ever exist. To take such pleasure from all our pain? You're worse than Satan himself!"
"Hey, hey! Your spirits are supposed to be broken! Where is this sense of justice coming from?"
"Don't forget my words, Monokuma. I will end you!"
"Is that so? We'll have to see about that one day." And with that, Monokuma was gone. He left all of them alone in the court room. Nobody spoke. Nobody dared to say a word. Two of their new friends were gone, no words could help. No words could stop that disaster.
Chapter 1 End
Remaining: 14 Students
To be continued…