"Takeo, it's me."
"Ryan? Where's Logan?"
"I don't know. Place is empty."
"Oh, crap..."
Walking the desolate hallways of a high-security prison was one Ryan White. Holding his breath so not to smell the blood of prior events, he carefully steps over a raw, red chunk of meat, not even wanting to think about where it came from. His eyes check each of the cells, each one full with blood, but not a single one had a soul. In this prison was supposed to be Ryan's younger brother-Logan.
"If I stay in here, my nose is gonna shrivel up and fall off my damn face. Should I leave?" Ryan asks, through his earpiece.
"Well, I mean... we need to find Logan..." Takeo replies. He's back at Camp Hope, talking to Ryan in a communications room. "Can you find any evidence where they went?"
"I was a detective..." Ryan mutters, "Alright, yeah, whatever. Call you in a bit, take care."
"Seeya." Takeo says, ending the transmission.
Back at the city, the students made it to Despair Square. Waiting for them was none other than Monokuma. As the bus unloaded, nobody said a word. Not even Monokuma. The bus remained where it was, as the bear walked over to the bridge blocking the Square from the next part of the city. It was blocked off by comically large chains, and a single huge lock in the center. Monokuma had a comically large key for the comically large lock, and unlocked it right in front of us. The chains fell to the ground.
"Well, here ya go, kids! Next part of town unlocked! Y'all get to explore after! Well, that is, if any of you survive. Sadly, the culprit won't be able to... they're either outta here or outta here." Monokuma says. "Anyway, get back in the damn bus."
Next part already? I won't complain... that much closer to finding a way out of here, now. Maybe there's an airport. Er, more preferably, a train station. Something that doesn't fly... if only we had an Ultimate Pilot. Nicholas internally monologues. Deciding he has nothing to say to Monokuma, he gets back in the bus, as does everyone else.
The bus keeps moving. After crossing the bridge, it's immediately noticed that this part of town is not as grand as where the students initially awoke, with less shops and recreational buildings, and more richer and fancier places such as well established restaurants and condos. Nicholas noticed the bus passing by a shopping mall and a hospital, which he mentally jotted down.
As they keep going, the buildings become less and less. Next thing they knew, the students went up a ramp and onto a giant six-lane highway. The bus goes through an underpass, with a sign on the bridge above. Whatever was on it at one point was crossed out with a hot pink 'x' and Monokuma's face in the middle, much like a skull and crossbones. Aside from the non-active streetlights, the highway was completely bare. On the outside of each lane were small, steep grassy hills, with walls cutting off the highway from whatever was on the other side, though Nicholas caught the roofs of a few residential houses.
"Soo..." Hikaru's voice cuts through the silence infiltrating the bus. Like her attire has been the past few days, she was in a comfortable pair of athletic shorts and a t-shirt. "Anyone have any idea where we're going?" Hikaru asks.
"Looks like out of town..." Durion suggests.
Nicholas suddenly remembers the map. He instinctively reaches into his jacket for it, only to realize he didn't bring a jacket. "Did anyone bring a map?" he asks.
"Yeah." Tennoyama replies. She waves her rolled up map in the air, before unrolling it and taking a look. "This ain't helpin'."
"Oh, hey. What's that place up there?" Hikaru asks Tennoyama, looking over her shoulder from behind.
"What?"
"That thing." Hikaru points somewhere on the map.
"Some kinda buildin', I don't know." Tennoyama replies.
"Looks like it could be a warehouse...?" Hoshiko, sitting next to Tennoyama, suggests.
"Is it where we're going?" Nicholas asks.
"Hey, yeah, I think so." Tennoyama says, looking at the map in closer detail. "There's a path from th' "downtown district" out to the next area and outta town to some, well, warehouse I suppose."
"So a warehouse is the setting for Class Trial..." Seymour, from next to Nicholas, says.
"That's a bit concerning." Ryoko says from the window seat behind Seymour.
"Hey, Nick. Catch." Tennoyama says, rolling up the map and suddenly whipping it at Nicholas like a football. He instinctively reaches out, and it fumbles about in his hands before he gets a proper grip on it.
"Thanks." Nicholas says, assuming she gave it to him so he can check out the path, but the first thing he notices when he unrolled the map was something else rather peculiar.
"That wasn't like that when I checked my map." Seymour comments, looking over at Nicholas' map.
The district next to downtown was completely blacked out, Nicholas remembered. But for whatever reason, it was like that no longer.
"You have your map with you?" Nicholas asks, to which Seymour shakes his head. Confused, Nicholas throws the map back to Tennoyama.
"And what was that about?" Daiki asks from near the back of the bus, raising a brow in equal confusion.
"There's maps in the hotel. Everywhere except downtown, where we woke up, was blacked out. Now, the district next to downtown is completely clear." Nicholas explains.
"Swear to god I didn't do that. Map was on my desk all night and all of a sudden it's like that." Tennoyama says, putting up her hands in defense.
"Monokuma?" William suggests. "He could've snuck in and fixed your map?"
"Okay, whoever you even are, why in all bloody hell would he wanna do that?" Tennoyama turns around to face William, her absolute confoundment present in her facial expression.
"Don't ask me. Why in all bloody hell would he want to kidnap us and make us kill each other?" William shoots back.
With that, the silence from before suddenly falls on the group again. Right. Kill each other. That's why we're here. Somebody did kill someone. In cold blood.
"We're not all making it back alive." Kinzoku brings up, from farther back. The bus' chairs folded up, according to how some were indeed folded and Kinzoku's wheelchair took their spot.
"What do you mean? Of- of course we will!" Rina protests. Her voice is clearly strained.
"No we won't." Seymour agrees with Kinzoku.
"Unfortunately..." Zéphyrine trails off, also agreeing. She sighs.
"All of us will make it back!" Rina says, still protesting. "I refuse to believe someone else is going to die..."
"Did you even read the rules?" Kinzoku asks, bitterly. "Rules say it plain and clear. Either the culprit dies or everyone except the culprit dies. We're taking this bus to someone's death."
"Well, if that's true, then Monokuma's gonna die. No real problem there." Rina replies, a bit quieter.
"You're so ignorant..." Kinzoku sneers.
"Excuse me?" Rina asks, head snapping around to face Kinzoku.
"I said, you're so goddamned ignorant." Kinzoku repeats herself, grinding her teeth.
"Please. Explain." Rina says, eye twitching as she attempts to keep her calm.
Lord, here we go. Nicholas thinks.
"Does everyone in this bus still think that bear did it?" Kinzoku asks. "Because he didn't. It was someone sitting in this bus right now!"
"You sound awfully sure..." Durion comments.
"She does have a point." Seymour adds. "It wasn't Monokuma."
"Shut up, shut up, shut up..." Rina says, turning back around and facing forward-or, down at her feet. "I... god, I don't want to do this. Holy Roman Empire, I don't want to do this." Her voice quieted down to not much more than a whisper.
Soon enough, the bus becomes absolutely silent. Not another word is said.
"Isn't it funny? This always happens. Every time, never fails! They preach about how they'll never fall to despair, never kill anyone, and look what happens. They're already on their way to the first Class Trial."
The Storyteller sat in the passenger seat of an armored vehicle, watching the bus make its way to the Class Trial on a small TV in the console. His legs were up on the dashboard and his seat was set back, as he reclined leisurely. The vehicle drove on an empty two-lane road with nothing but dust and dirt in all directions. Above the truck was a dark night sky, crescent moon illuminating the lone road. Little stars could be seen, for there was just too much pollution in the air.
"They're getting pretty predictable." the driver says.
"Getting? Oh, come on Mihane. This literally happened in your game. This has been going on forever!" The Storyteller replies. It couldn't be seen due to the mask covering his face, but he rolled his eyes.
"Apologies. It has." Mihane agrees, seeing little other choice.
"Happened in mine, too." he murmurs. "I don't even remember who the first victim was. Can you remind me?"
"Kasai."
"Right! Thank you. Always on task, Mi." The Storyteller laughs. "Thanks. Love ya."
Silence is his only reply.
Some time later...
"Alright, you bastards! Let's get a move on! We're here!"
The bus comes to a stop on some gravel outside a large building, with nothing but bare wasteland around. The door opens and there stands Monokuma, getting everyone out.
Here we go.
Everybody pours out of the bus, and no one says a word to each other. The group gets the idea and starts walking to the warehouse in front of them. Nicholas takes the lead.
This is it.
Nicholas steps over a hard, rocky white object. If he didn't know any better he'd say it was a bone.
Time for the truth.
The crunching of gravel underneath everyone's shoes was the only sound to be heard for miles.
They were right. We're not all going to come back alive.
The officer takes a deep breath, as his hands slowly ball into fists.
Someone's going to die. Either the killer, or all of us.
He approaches the front doors. Gripping the handles tightly, he pushes it inward, opening the warehouse.
This is it. The Class Trial to live... or the Class Trial to die.
The Trial of Hibiki Yukata, the Ultimate Hairdresser - Begin
SURVIVORS: 16/17
The warehouse's interior was illuminated by a single, dim lightbulb danging from the center of the ceiling. Shelves went up to the roof, stacked with boxes full of all sorts of things. And in the middle, were seventeen stands, much like a witness stand in a courtroom, arranged in a circle. One was noticeably shorter, probably a bit more than half the size of the others.
"Welcome to Class Trial!" Monokuma announces. He's seen sitting in a tall throne overseeing the circle. In his paw is a judge's gavel. "Please, find your stand! Kinzoku, yours should be bear-y obvious."
Sure enough, names were carved into the varnished wooden stands. Kinzoku drove her wheelchair to the shorter stand, which seemed to be hers. Everyone found their stand soon enough. Nicholas found himself facing the front door, with Annie on his right and Rina on his left. With the way the circle was set up, each student could see one another perfectly. On the side of the stands facing the inside of the circle were the names and Ultimates of their respective owners, so everyone else could see. Hibiki's had a portrait of his face behind it, in black and white with a pink 'X' over it, pushing the fact that he was dead even further in.
"Oh, by the way, you're gonna wanna put your ElectroIDs in your stand. Don't worry if you didn't bring yours, I got you covered-check your pockets. I'm a generous bear, y'know?" Monokuma says, putting his paw on his chin.
There were rectangular indents in the wood, underneath where everyone's names were carved. Also there was a plug. As the students would notice, there's a place in the ID that it'd go into, and so everyone plugs their ElectroIDs in. They come to light, with the words 'CLASS TRIAL' in pink, splattered writting-like blood-on a black background.
"You sure you want to do this?" Nicholas asks Monokuma. "Look, you know who I am. Sargent Nicholas White of Special Unit. I know people. I can give you whatever it is you want, we have money bags waiting for you."
"I also know that you've never once negotiated with terrorists-not that I like to call myself one." Monokuma replies. "Last time you tried that, you captured the guy and shoved a razor blade in his eyeball."
"You know too much..."
"While I'd... really like to know the story behind that one, I think we have more important matters..." Rina says, giving side-glances to Nicholas. "Should we get on with the trial now?"
"Please, let's..." Seymour agrees. He rests his camera on the stand, recording the events about to unfold.
"See, they get it! Would y'all like a walkthrough of Class Trial?" Monokuma asks, to which more or less everyone agrees to it.
"Class Trial is when you find the one who killed your fellow classmate. Yes, it was one of you. Yes, they're in this very room. No, I had nothing to do with it. There's an interesting way to how it all goes down, however..." Monokuma begins explaining.
"If you notice, the front of your ElectroID has a hologram emitter." As he says this, a hologram of Monokuma suddenly appears in front of everybody, coming out from on top of their ElectroIDs' screens. "There will be points when you present evidence to prove your point. Simply press the 'present' button on your ID."
Everyone's ElectroIDs change from the 'CLASS TRIAL' screen to the evidence page. Each piece of evidence added is listed, and at the top is a little button reading 'present' with an arrow on top. Nicholas' ElectroID is used for the example, as the ElectroID emits a hologram of Hibiki's body into the center of the circle where everyone can see. On Nicholas' ID, it changes from all the evidence to the Hibiki's body piece. He can choose from each picture to emit into the circle, which Monokuma explained. The ability to go back to the page is given, as well as being able to add new evidence.
"Every so often, a minigame will be activated. These are usually very quickly paced, and you may be presenting evidence in rapid fire." Monokuma continues, explaining each game.
Nonstop Debate. Sometimes a specific topic will come up, such as the murder weapon, and everyone will debate it out as to what happened. Everyone's words in this time period will show up in a small hologram directly in front of each person. Using the controls on their ElectroIDs, one would choose a line of dialogue and either agree with it, or disagree by presenting evidence to knock down that claim. The ability to use someone's words against another is also an option.
Panic Talk Action. Obviously, the culprit will not want to be caught. But when you get on their case, this is what will put them down for good. It's a one-on-one rapid fire argument, in which the innocent insists on the other being the killer. Once they finally get through to them, they present a final argument-done by putting the four words on their ElectroIDs in correct order.
Rebuttal Showdown. The trial may be leaning to one's argument. But if someone has other ideas, they will counter that person's argument with their own, and the two engage in a duel until one side convinces the other of their argument.
"There'll be more. But that's not important. Now, it's time for the trial to begin!" Monokuma exclaims, breaking out into insane laughter.
"Here we go... are you ready?" Annie asks, looking over to her neighbour.
"Ready as I'll ever be, I suppose." Nicholas replies, "You?"
Annie nods. "I agree. We'll make it through this."
Nicholas also nods. "Yeah. Let's go."
BEGIN CLASS TRIAL 1: THE CASE OF HIBIKI YUKATA
"How do you propose we start?" Nicholas asks Monokuma.
"I dunno. What's gonna get you to Hibiki's killer?" Monokuma shrugs.
"Let's start with how he was killed, then?" Seymour suggests.
"He was stabbed and that was 'bout it. What is there to talk about?" Tennoyama crosses her arms.
"No, no... it's pretty peculiar. We should." Nicholas says.
"Upupu, looks like we're getting started..." Monokuma puts his paws over his mouth, giggling.
NONSTOP DEBATE
Weak points are in italics. Break points are in bold and italics. Agree break points are in italics and underlined.
EVIDENCE: Autopsy Report, Monokuma File #1, Blood, Mattress
Tennoyama: Still don't get what there is to talk about. Hibiki was stabbed through the throat.
Seymour: If only it were that convenient...
Tennoyama: Is it not?
William: I agree with Tennoyama... it looks like Hibiki was simply stabbed through the throat and that was about it.
Nicholas: I'm afraid that's wrong!
Evidence Used: Autopsy Report
Nicholas emits a picture of Hibiki's wound. "Look at the wound. It's not just any wound-it's at a forty-five degree angle."
"Huh. So?" William asks, "I mean, if you're standing above someone and you stab downward, it could be forty-five degrees..."
"That's if the entry point was higher than the exit point. Except, it wasn't. The killer stabbed Hibiki from the bottom of the left side of his neck, and the blade came out higher on the right side." Nicholas explains.
"Still... nothing wrong with that, no?" William raises a brow.
"Well, think about it. I just find it very odd, considering how it'd be much easier to stab someone in a straight line, or maybe like you meant, a forty-five degree angle in which the entry is higher than the exit." Nicholas replies.
Don't I have evidence for this...?
PRESENT
Present the correct evidence.
1. Autopsy Report
2. Monokuma File #1
3. Mattress
4. Blood
5. Napkins
Nicholas: Got it.
"Not to mention, the mattress." Nicholas says, presenting the mattress piece of evidence.
"The cut." Ryoko says, noticing where Nicholas is going with this.
"Exactly. There's a cut in the mattress exactly in line with the wound." Nicholas says.
"Soo... the culprit missed and got the mattress, too?" Hikaru suggests.
"Wouldn't quite explain why the cuts are so clean." Durion says.
"Yeah," Nicholas agrees, "Both the cut in the bed and Hibiki's wound are perfectly straight and clean. It's as if someone wanted to make that cut."
"They wanted to cut the mattress?" Hikaru asks.
"I'm... not sure, but the straightness and cleanness suggests it was no accident..." Nicholas says, although he had doubts in his own claim.
Seymour: You really sure about that?
"That cut was an accident. And, I'd even say the angle wasn't meant to be." Seymour claims.
"Oh? What makes you say that?" Nicholas raises a brow.
"Listen..." Seymour starts.
REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN
Fight to prove your point!
EVIDENCE: Autopsy Report, Blood, Mattress, Springs
FIGHT
Seymour: Now why would someone -/- want to make such a cut?
Seymour: Here's a thought. What if -/- the killer had to do it?
Seymour: Something forced them to -/- do it. They must've attacked from a low point.
-/-
-/-
-/-
PROGRESSION
Nicholas: Nobody's that -/- short.
Nicholas: What kind of situation would -/- force someone to attack from so low?
Nicholas: Hibiki was sleeping, he wasn't going -/- anywhere. How does one miss a non-moving target, and have gotten the bed?
Nicholas: For whatever reason, the -/- culprit wanted to make this cut!
Seymour: Tch, I'll have to write an article about you after this!
Evidence Used: Springs
"What if the killer didn't even use their hands?" Seymour asks. "What if the blade was spring-loaded?"
"What the hell do you mean?" Nicholas shoots his own question back, looking at the hologram of the shelf missing springs from the hardware store.
"Simple. A spring was used to shoot the knife into Hibiki." Seymour says.
"What makes you so sure? That doesn't even make any sense-if you're gonna be close enough to use a spring, then why not just do it yourself?" Nicholas retorts.
"What makes you say someone was even in his room?" Seymour asks.
"Woah, okay, hold on!" Tennoyama exclaims, gripping her stand and leaning forward. "That was real amusing 'n all, but what the hell kinda claim is that?"
"I agree. That's just..." Kinzoku trails off.
"Hibiki's room was locked. This was proven by the fact that we had to bust it down this morning. This could suggest no one but Hibiki was in his room to begin with!" Seymour explains, a determined look in his eye.
There's a pause as Seymour taps at his ElectroID.
A new piece of evidence has been added. [Read]
-Hibiki's Door
The door to Hibiki's room was locked. Assuming it stayed that way the whole time, it can be assumed nobody entered or left.
- Added by Seymour West
"Are you implying suicide?" Kinzoku asks.
"No... it was definitely someone else's doing." Seymour answers.
"Here's a thought. Who says nobody stole Hibiki's cardkey and got their way in, locking the door on the way out?" Nicholas then asks a question of his own.
"Doubt it. But hold on, I have other ideas. Monokuma-question." Seymour says, changing the topic.
"Upupu. Yessir?" Monokuma is quick to answer.
"Is there a gap under the doors?" he asks.
"A gap... maybe. There could be indeed." Monokuma says, tilting his head.
"This is shaping out pretty well." Seymour chuckles.
"U-u-um... e-excuse me..." Gabriel suddenly speaks up.
"Yeah?"
"I-I found something... i-in my room e-earlier." Gabriel replies.
"Wait, what?" Nicholas says, quickly looking at his evidence for anything from Gabriel's room, finding nothing. "What is it?" he quickly looks up to meet Gabriel's eyes with his own.
"I-I didn't put it there but... th-there was s-some garbage in my room..." Gabriel explains. "Metal, a-a spring, an attenna, a camera, a-and some wheels."
"How much?" Seymour asks.
"U-uh, n-not a lot." Gabriel answers.
"I see. Can you tell us anything else?" Seymour nods.
"...the wheels were kind of sticky." Gabriel says.
Seymour then goes quiet, tapping away at his ElectroID once more.
A new piece of evidence has been added. [Read]
-Garbage
In the trash can in Gabriel's room were pieces of metal, a spring, an attenna, a camera, and wheels. Apparently, "not a lot".
- Added by Seymour West
"Sounds like you know a lot there." Kinzoku comments.
"Suppose I have some ideas." Seymour replies.
"Please, enlighten us." Kinzoku says, sarcastically.
"I don't know who did it yet... but I think I know how it went down." Seymour says, starting to explain.
ANSWER
Choose the correct answer.
1. A dwarf stabbed Hibiki.
2. Hibiki committed suicide.
3. A robot was used to kill Hibiki.
4. Dark forces of evil from the seventh circle of Hell were summoned onto Hibiki.
Seymour: This sounds right.
"A spring-loaded robot was used to kill Hibiki. Hear me out." Seymour says, "Springs were missing and found in Gabriel's room, for starters. It had to be small to get under the door's gap. And..."
There's one more part that seals it.
HANGMAN'S GAMBIT
Find the word/clue to further the trial.
_/_/_/_/D
A
F
B
E
B/_/_/_/D
O
O
R
T
B_/OOD
P
S
C
L
BLOOD
Seymour: This is it!
"I'm sure you all noticed the unusual splatter of blood. Everyone, take a look at the shape." Seymour says, bringing up a photo of the blood not on Hibiki, but on the bed next to him.
"It splattered onto the rest of the bed?" William asks.
"Correct. Why would it shoot out so far?" Seymour asks.
"Is this really quite so complicated?" Bert cuts in, finally speaking up. "Wouldn't the blood just be there because Hibiki was stabbed?"
"But if that were the case, would it have gone that far? And in such levels?" Seymour counters.
"It could only be like that if the knife came in with a really high velocity..." Rina comments.
Seymour points at Rina. "Exactly."
"Nothing proves the spring was even used." Kinzoku scoffs. "You realize that, right?"
"Why do you say that?" Seymour asks.
"Hmph. Take another look at the evidence." Kinzoku says, simply.
"I'd rather you explained..." Seymour sighs, to which Kinzoku shoots a sharp glare.
Kinzoku: You need to build a better argument!
"You're claiming there was a robot in close enough range to shoot a knife into Hibiki. Right?" Kinzoku deadpans.
Seymour nods.
"And splattered blood all over the place."
Nod.
"I bet you were gonna say that's why there's blood out in the hall. Robot left and tracked blood with it."
Nod.
"Then I have a question for you..."
REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN
Fight to prove your point!
EVIDENCE: Blood, Springs, Garbage, Shelf, Napkins
FIGHT
Kinzoku: Why was there no -/- blood on the spring?
Kinzoku: If this robot was close enough to -/- cause that kind of damage, there should have been some blood on it!
Kinzoku: In order for the robot to trail blood outside, -/- it shouldn't have been sparkling clean!
-/-
-/-
-/-
PROGRESSION
Seymour: Simple. It was -/- cleaned.
Seymour: It must've -/- gotten bloody.
Kinzoku: For what reason would you clean the robot? -/- Obviously they weren't that clean because there was a trail in the hall.
Kinzoku: Face it, there was no robot! -/- The metal was just Gabriel tinkering around, he probably forgot!
Seymour: I guess you're getting an article too, huh?
Evidence Used: Napkins
"Ah..." Zéphyrine notes the holographic pictures of the napkins, remembering taking them. "That's right. The soil was disturbed, so I investigated. There I found these bloodied napkins."
Kinzoku scoffs again, eye twitching.
"Maybe the robot did get blood on it. That would make sense. But using the napkins, the robot was cleaned!" Seymour adds.
"Oi, this is too much..." Tennoyama rubs her temples. "Look, if it was cleaned, then why was there still blood in the hall?"
"The pilot wasn't in the room with the robot. They had to drive it outside to meet it halfway and be able to clean it." Seymour says, still confident in all his claims.
"So let's get this straight, then..." Nicholas says, crossing his arms. "Somebody built a robot. Got some kind of kitchen knife or something. Loaded it into a spring, drove it under the gap to Hibiki's door, went up to the bed, and shot the knife into his throat. Then it drove back outside where the pilot cleaned it, and disposed of the napkins downstairs. Do I have all of this right so far?"
Seymour nods, confirming.
"Now how did the remains of the robot get into Gabriel's garbage can?" Nicholas then asks. "Remember, it was him who found the metal in the first place! I'm not so sure if robots can just, self-destruct in the garbage..."
"Oh. Wait, that I can get behind." Tennoyama speaks up. "Only one way it coulda ended up there."
"How?" Nicholas asks.
"Gabriel put it there!"
NONSTOP DEBATE
Weak points are in italics. Break points are in bold and italics. Agree break points are in italics and underlined.
EVIDENCE: Blood, Mattress, Garbage, Springs, Shelf
Tennoyama: Gabriel, was yer door locked?
Gabriel: Wh-wh-I, y-yeah, it was...
Tennoyama: So that means no one came into your room at all?
Gabriel: I guess not...
Tennoyama: Then Gabriel put the metal there! There was no one else who could have!
Ryoko: Wait a moment... are you claiming Gabriel killed Hibiki!?
Tennoyama: Exactly! Isn't he the Ultimate Engineer!? He wouldn't have a problem makin' a robot death machine!
Ryoko: But... something doesn't quite add up...
Gabriel: I-I didn't put it there! I-I-how could I-I have k-killed Hibiki!? And if I-I killed him, and planted e-evidence i-in my r-room, wh-why would I t-tell you!?
Nicholas: I agree!
"It doesn't make sense. Nobody was in Gabriel's room to plant the evidence, but Gabriel wouldn't either. It'd lead right back to him, and he wouldn't have told us about it in the first place!" Nicholas defends Gabriel.
"Maybe he wants ya t' say that!" Tennoyama retorts, leaning forward on her stand. "He's the damned Ultimate Engineer! Ain't no one else here who can build better than him!"
That's... not right, is it? Who else could have built such a thing?
ANSWER
Choose the correct answer.
1. Hikari Tennoyama
2. Kinzoku Mitsuko
3: Monokuma
4: Nicholas White
Nicholas: Got it.
Nicholas' eyes go toward Kinzoku. Wait a minute...
His memories would drift back to the morning before. Breakfast. Most of the students were present, and introductions were made. And if he remembers correctly...
"Kinzoku. What is your Ultimate, again?" Nicholas asks.
"...why is that important?" she asks, with a noticeable pause before speaking.
"Just tell us." Nicholas says, calmly.
"I'm... the Ultimate Programmer." Kinzoku replies.
"That's awfully familiar..." Seymour furrows his eyebrows. "You the new Chihiro Fujisaki, or something?"
"The new who?" Kinzoku blinks.
"Chihiro Fujisaki. 78th class of Hope's Peak Academy. She's the Ultimate Programmer, is she not...?" Seymour trails off.
Kinzoku goes quiet.
"I remember you saying otherwise yesterday, too." Nicholas says.
FLASHBACK
The day before
"...and I'm the Ultimate Composer."
It's breakfast time. Many of the students were eating at the food set up for them by Monokuma, and they were going through introductions. Shiori had just finished hers, and all eyes went on the girl sitting next to her.
"My turn?" she rolled her eyes. "I'm Kinzoku. Yeah, I'm in a wheelchair, don't really want to talk about it."
"What's your Ultimate?" Nicholas, sitting next to Seymour, asked.
"I'm the Ultimate Roboticist, I guess."
Apparently Monokuma knew where Nicholas was going with this, as the camera feed of the morning before was emitted out of his ElectroID for everyone to see. A few 'ohh's and 'ahh's were made, while Kinzoku remained silent.
"Hey, we didn't even go through all the evidence yet," Kinzoku grumbles, "Can we not with the accusations so quickly?"
"Gotta admit Kinzoku, if we go through the rest of the evidence, it only points toward you." Daiki says, looking down at his evidence.
"You even lied about your talent..." William adds.
"Huhuhu, you guys sound like you're having so much fun without me..."
An odd, yet familiar voice suddenly cuts through the debate. Durion, who had kept quiet for the past little while, was the next to speak. He reached into his dark blue jacket, pulling out a teddy bear, and leaving it on his stand as he takes off said jacket and ties it around his waist.
"Heeey... Durion? Is that a teddy bear?" Nicholas asks, confusion taking over. His eyes dart between Durion's bear and Monokuma.
Durion tilts his head. "Who's Durion?"
Oh, what the hell is this crap now?
"Kidding! I know who that is!" Durion exclaims, before grabbing his bear. "Huhu, they actually bought it, didn't they Teddy? Yes they did..."
"What the hell's wrong with you all of a sudden?" Nicholas asks, bluntly.
"Nothing." Durion replies.
Durion's entire... being changed, suddenly. His speech was much lighter and bubbly, rather than the usual quiet and monotone. His mannerisms had the same evolution, overall becoming more carefree. It's as if he were someone else entirely.
"Have I introduced myself yet?" Durion asks.
"You're Durion." Nicholas replies. "...right?"
"Eeeengh!" Durion makes the sound of a buzzer when you get the wrong answer on a game show. "I'm not Durion..."
"I'm Nori. Nori Pazuru, and I'm the Ultimate... er, what was it? Teddy, do you remember? Wait- I got it, I'm the Ultimate Puzzle Solver!"
-NORI PAZURU-
ULTIMATE PUZZLE SOLVER
At one point, this was Durion. But no longer, supposedly. He now claims he is Nori Pazuru, the Ultimate Puzzle Solver. His overall body language changed from the neutral, strong-silent type to a more bubbly, optimistic one. Even his voice had a change. Nori owns a bear he appears to call Teddy, and talks to it. Finally, he wears his jacket around his waist, instead.
"So I've been listening in for the past little while," Nori says, putting his pinky in his ear and scratching. "Sounds like we got a murder case, hm?"
William stares at Nori in shock and surprise. "...I, yeah, it's a murder case."
"Who died?"
"His name was, uh, Hibiki..."
"Right. You know who did it yet?"
"No."
"Oh my goodness." Nori says, mouth agape. He looks to his bear. "Are you hearing this, Teddy? They didn't figure it out yet. The most obvious case of all time and they don't even have a clue!"
"I think I have somewhat of a clue..." Seymour protests.
"Sure ya do." Nori rolls his eyes. "Look, can I just get you guys on the right track? Seriously, this is upsetting me."
"Let's hear it, Nori." Nicholas says, a bit hesitantly.
"See that girl in the wheelchair over there?" Nori says, pointing at Kinzoku. "She did it."
"What?" Nicholas didn't quite catch that.
"Heeeer. Seriously, it says her Ultimate title right there. You shoulda figured it out as soon as you saw it!" Nori replies.
"So, you're saying..." Nicholas starts, hoping for Nori to finish the sentence.
"Yes..." Nori nods, staring the girl in the eyes. "'Twas Kinzoku Mitsuko, the Ultimate Roboticist who did poor ol' Hibiki in!"
"Well, this is an interesting turn of events..."
"An alternate personality. Familiar, isn't it?"
"I... really hope Nori isn't anything like Genocide Jill..."
"Oh? Why not? It'd make it all much more amusing."
"Still in it for the amusement, aren't you, Byakuya?"
"Kagome, it's Ryan. We have a situation."
"Talk to me."
"First of all-the prison wasn't just where the families were being kept. It was the location for a Mutual Killing game."
"Shit. What makes you say that?"
"I'm standing in a trial room right now... it's one of those real tall ones, like the 78th's class. But that's not why I'm calling."
"Lemme guess. I only have the choice between the bad news and the bad news right now."
"Yeah, there's definitely no good. There's a message on one of the walls here, takes up the whole thing. It's in blood, and it says 'catch me if you can', signed 'The Storyteller'."
"...The Storyteller's involved in this?"
"Yeah. It's Arata. He's back."
"Fuck."
Logan's eyes slowly open. He'd been out for who knows how long, but when his eyes opened, he didn't expect to see what he was seeing. It was a sky above and streets in front of him. He was bound by handcuffs and rope around his legs, lying on the asphalt road. Around him were the other kidnap victims.
"Greetings, everyone!" Out of the corner of his eye, out comes The Storyteller. He walks in front of the group, hands out to his sides. Following him is a familiar face. Suzuki Mihane. Another mastermind. "How are you guys? C'mon, tell me!"
"Fuck you," Logan spits.
"Aw, how rude." The Storyteller says. You couldn't see it, but you could practically hear him frown. "Anyway, I have some news for you."
"What is it...?" a weak voice asks.
"You're free! Kinda. From the prison anyway. That was the deal, you'd be freed from there. You aren't entirely free yet though. Sorry." The Storyteller answers, making hand motions to further his point.
"Get on with it." Logan growls.
"Yeesh. Well, it's time for part two of your captivity!" The Storyteller explains.
"Welcome to Las Despair City! I hope you're all ready to join the ranks of Ultimate Despair, because your training begins now!"
[A/N: Ooooo part one of the trial has happened. I was like a thousand or two words in before the trial actually started whoops. Next part will most likely be the last of the trial, then I guess some free times or something I dunno. I'll figure that out later. Also, apologies if update gaps become longer, I have finals and such soon. Thankfully most of it is in class stuff but y'know. Time for reviews.
ApexUtopia: I'M SORRY. The next chapter will be 100% Ryoko I swear. Hope you enjoyed the format and all though, I did some experimenting so let me know if it doesn't look right.
PSISomething: Honestly? The gaps are just way too long so I kind of wanted to rush into the trial. I will give you one hint about the ending: all hell's gonna break loose. Do with that what you will.
Shadedlyht: RIP HIBIKI. Again, yeah, I wanted to rush a little bit. Also someone's totally gonna get an axe and just start cutting down doors all The Shining style because of that rule. And tbh this was kind of simple anyway, so I guess there'd be little evidence. Dw next time like 10 people will die. :D
FireDusk: William, eh? Well we still have one more part to go, let's see what happens.
Saiynt: Next investigation will be 50 chapters. Is that long enough for you? Hmmm? Hmmmmmmm? And shit, I need to write Bert more too. Dammit. Okay, 50% Ryoko and 50% Bert for next chapter. Also like yeah you can say ami like that but at least say bye in French too like god
dashunterman: There will be worse. Honestly by the time next death comes around this fic might actually need to go to an M rating... I really wanna write some seriously detailed gory ass stuff like. That'd be fun.
"The silver blade was flushed into the flesh of his throat, immediately spurting out blood like a fountain. It made an oddly satisfying, squishy sound. The inside of his throat was left with nothing more than tethered remains, some bits of red meat sticking together by a thread. Pained chokes escaped his mouth as he fell to the ground..."
yeees... Alright, that was weird I'm sorry. But yeah it could (and probably will) get worse. Be prepared, this is Dangan Ronpa, I don't wanna hear anybody being offended. No offense to y'all but this is what you're getting into man.
And that's about it. Trial will finish up at some point in time maybe. I feel like I'm forgetting something though ._. Probably. I'll fix it eventually.
