Before we get started, there are some things I need to address…
1. The creators of Masahide, Pyonpyon-King, and Akira – I still need your executions!
2. Yes, I am aware that there are quite a few typos here and there, the most frequent one being 'murderer' changed to 'murdered'. Well, relying on Microsoft Word 2010 wasn't a very good decision of mine, was it…
3. If you have any ideas or concerns for your character, just PM me!
4. Happy despairing!
Monokuma: Now, allow me to begin with a short explanation of the class trial! *ahem* You students will use your time during the trial to try and figure out who the culprit is! Once you guys get a clear idea, you will cast your vote for who you think did it! If you vote correctly, the blackened will be punished! However, if you pick the wrong person, everyone except for the blackened and one person of their choice will be punished! Let's begin!
TRIAL IN SESSION
Kuno: Okay, so what should we start with?
Akira: Hold on just one second, spy boy!
Ryota: Are you kidding me?! It hasn't even been ten seconds and Akira's already making accusations…
Akira: Well you wouldn't know what I'm talking about unless you listened!
Kuno: *sigh* What would you like to share, Akira?
Akira: I already know who the killer is! That's what I'd like to damn share!
Masahide: You…already know?
Akira: Well, duh! It's really obvious! Are you guys blind or something?!
Masaru: I think it would be near impossible to start jumping to conclusions at this point, Akira. You should wait until we've actually discussed things, first.
Kuno: He's right. We should at least start a discussion before we try to find out who the killer is. You guys agree, right?
Akira: …The one time you guys would actually deem me 'useful'…fine, yap all you want. I'm not speaking until it comes up, you got that?!
Kuno: Yeah. Anyways, for the second time, what should we start with?
Masaru: I think we should start with the basic things. You know, such as the weapon used to murder Paige.
Sugita: Oh, I know! That's super easy! It was a sharp object! It said so in the Monokuma thing.
Haniji: And that sharp object…was a knife…
Kuno: It's pretty safe to assume so, since that's the thing that was sticking out of Paige's stomach.
Ryota: So we got that out of the way…now what? We can't just guess the killer based off of a single knife.
Akira: Oh yes we can!
Ryota: Here we go again…
Natsumi: Isn't it nearly impossible to choose a prime suspect only based off of the murder weapon? You must have some justification.
Akira: Didn't you hear me back at the library? That knife belonged to Eiko! She's the only one that could have access to it, so the killer has to be her!
Eiko: Akira, please! I told you before, it wasn't me!
Akira: But you made it clear that the knife was rightfully yours!
Daichi: But that doesn't necessarily mean that she was the one who killed Paige.
Akira: Fine! Unless someone here has concrete evidence, then I'll refuse to believe any word that comes out of your damn mouths!
Masahide: But…you acting up all of a sudden makes you look very suspicious…don't ya think?
Akira: …Huh?! Who are you to be accusing me all of a sudden?
Masahide: You're trying to put all of the blame on Eiko just because the weapon used for murder was her knife! Also, you're the only one trying to lead us in the wrong direction! Sounds like a killer to me, doesn't it?
Natsumi: I wouldn't be surprised if it was you, Akira. After this whole act, you're our clear target.
Elena: But if that bub is the real killer, then how did they manage to get the knife from Eiko?
Masahide: That's easy! Now, all of you listen to me!
NONSTOP DEBATE
Masahide: So the murder weapon was a knife…
Masahide: And that knife belonged to Eiko!
Ryota: Yes, we know! This is, like, the tenth time we've mentioned that!
Masahide: But the culprit isn't Eiko…
Masahide: Because someone managed to steal the knife from her!
Sugita: But how would they do that? Wasn't the knife in her room?
Masahide: Exactly! And the only way that the culprit, also known as Akira, would be able to successfully get into Eiko's room…
Masahide: Was to pick the lock with a hair pin!
Kuno: No, that's wrong!
Elena: That doesn't sound wrong. It sounds perfectly good in theory, Kuno.
Kuno: It may sound like it's the truth, but it's really not.
Kuno: You see, the killer didn't get into Eiko's room by simply picking the lock or something like that. There's no way that anyone would be able to tell.
Sugita: Then how did they get in?
Masahide: I don't know! Why don't you ask Akira! She's the one who did it, after all!
Natsumi: I think we should let Kuno finish what he was talking about…
Kuno: Thank you, Natsumi. Anyways, was anyone else out in the hallway during the investigation? If you were, you would've seen a large open hole in the middle of Eiko's door.
Eiko: That's right! Someone made a hole in my door to break in!
Ryunosuke: That sounds rather obvious, though. The easier way would've been to pick the lock. They wouldn't just leave a large and blatant hole in the middle of Eiko's door for no reason.
Kuno: Well it's too late now, since that's how it happened.
Elena: Okay, so we've got that the killer stole the knife from Eiko by kicking a whole in her door and then they killed paige with the knife!
Natsumi: And they probably used that specific knife in order to frame Eiko, but they made a terrible mistake of leaving a large open hole in her door.
Ryota: And yet, we still have no idea who the killer is.
Masaru: Ryota's right…for once. We're not gonna get anywhere if this is all we have.
Daichi: So what should we discuss now?
Natsumi: I think that there is some vital evidence that we still need to talk about.
Akira: And what would that be?
Natsumi: I'm talking about the library itself. The state it was in when we found it.
Ryunosuke: That's right. As I recall, the library was a complete mess when we found it. All of the bookshelves in the room were knocked down.
Sugita: And so were the tables and that chair that Paige used to sit on. Does this have anything to do with the murder?
Kuno: It probably has to do with it…
Masaru: It's not entirely clear how, though. The library being a wreck and Paige being murdered don't really connect.
Elena: Well, if she was killed anywhere, wouldn't it have to be in the library?
Natsumi: That's what the Monokuma file said, didn't it?
Daichi: Plus, if she was killed anywhere else, they would have to drag her there. That would leave a lot of bloody drag marks on the floor.
Eiko: And if they carried her there, they'd be drenched in Paige's blood.
Haniji: That would look like a pretty picture…
Masaru: …But something isn't adding up…
Kuno: Would you care to tell us, Masaru?
Masaru: Yeah. So in order to kill Paige, they would've had to go up close to her and stab her, am I right?
Elena: Unless we have any knife throwers here, then that seems like it could be the only way.
Ryota: What are you getting at?
Masaru: So if they had to get really close to her to kill her, wouldn't they be covered in her blood?
Ryota: You're right…
Eiko: So the killer would need to find some way to clean themselves off.
Sugita: But then how would they do that?
NONSTOP DEBATE
Sugita: So in order to not look all murderous and stuff…
Sugita: The killer washed themselves off!
Sugita: But how did they do that without being caught?
Eiko: They could've gone into my room after they made the hole…
Eiko: And used my room to clean up!
Ryota: They could've used water bottles from the kitchen…
Monokuma: I wouldn't allow that! That's already happened before!
Daichi: So if they didn't use Eiko's room…
Daichi: They must've used a room that was unlocked in the first place!
Kuno: Daichi, I agree with that!
Kuno: Unfortunately, I have a feeling I know what happened…
Natsumi: Would you care to tell us so we can move on?
Kuno: I just remembered…I forgot to close and lock my door this morning…
Akira: Kuno! Are you kidding me?! You're such a damn idiot! How could you forget to close and lock your door?
Kuno: I thought I would be late to the ballroom that morning, so I went out the door without thinking about it. Maybe if I had the chance, I would've gone back and closed it, but I was in the kitchen the whole morning.
Elena: Yeah, and I can prove that! Kuno and Eiko and I were in the kitchen the whole time! So that gets us off of the list, right?
Eiko: I believe so…so I can't be the killer!
Elena: So this leaves everyone else who doesn't have an alibi, right?
Kuno: I suppose. But before we move on to that, I have something I need to share.
Akira: If it's anything that doesn't make me look like the killer, then I'll listen.
Kuno: Don't worry, it doesn't. Anyways, did anyone else…no, I'm sure you all noticed.
Sugita: What are you talking about?
Kuno: If we go back to what Natsumi was saying about the state of the library earlier, than you'd know what we're talking about.
Sugita: Ugh…I'm not good with hints! Just tell me, please!
Natsumi: I'd guess that you were referring to the footprints, am I correct?
Masahide: Oh, yeah! There were a whole bunch of crazy and bloody footprints everywhere!
Ryota: But they weren't going in any specific direction.
Daichi: But I believe that Kuno was following the out of the library. Right? I saw you do so.
Kuno: Yeah, I was. The ones that weren't going in crazy directions went out of the library and into the nearest open room…which was mine. My bathroom was full of blood, and the sink was flooding as well.
Haniji: But…wouldn't it have been a lot easier…to use Eiko's room…?
Masaru: It would make more sense, since leaving evidence at two rooms would be stretching it.
Natsumi: The killer maybe knew the order of the rooms beforehand, so they must've used the unlocked door that was closest to the library.
Ryota: Either that or they started panicking and they tried opening all of the doors to see which one was open.
Natsumi: And Kuno's room is far closer to the library than Eiko's room.
Ryunosuke: …I think…I think I just figured something out.
Sugita: Will it help with finding the killer?
Akira. Hmph. It better be useful…
Rynosuke: If the killer wasn't panicking and trying to open any door that was closest to them…then they must have known the placement of the rooms.
Sugita: I…don't get it.
Ryunosuke: So if they already knew which room would be one of the closest to the library, then it could only be one person.
Sugita: So you've already figured it out?!
Natsumi: I have a feeling that I know who you're talking about as well.
Masahide: Can't you guys just be blunt about it?
Kuno: *thinking* If they put it that way, then it can only be one person!
MAKE AN ACCUSATION
ACE GRAYSON
Kuno: Ace, it can only be you!
Ace: …Huh?
Natsumi: There had to be a specific reason why he hasn't said anything during the whole trial…
Ace: Okura-sama…You think that I am the culprit?
Kuno: …You're the only person I can think of.
Ace: Then would you care to elaborate on that?
Masahide: Yeah, I would like to have a say in this! You're the only person in here who would even think of killing anyone! Besides, you hated Paige!
Ace: That doesn't mean anything. I hate everyone that isn't Okura-sama.
Kuno: But it's more than that. As I recall, Ace, you were the only one who memorized the location of all of the rooms.
Ace: …I didn't think you would remember…
Kuno: Well, you did blatantly state it on the first day.
FLASHBACK
"That's right. Did everyone receive a room key?" Daichi asked the students. Everyone nodded in approval. "Good. Now, I think we should discuss what we found." He turned to Kuno and Ace. "Let's start with the late ones, since it was probably important for them to take so long."
Kuno sighed heavily at the last remark. "Okay. We were in the corridor with everyone's rooms. Each room had a picture of the owner near it to show whose it was. Nothing seemed to be too out of the ordinary, besides the security cameras everywhere. I think that's about it."
"Yes, that's right," Ace butted in. "I've memorized the location of everyone's rooms as well. Just in case I needed that extra information."
"Then why the hell did you take so long?" Akira asked harshly.
"I mean…" Haniji started. "Did you see how…they were holding hands…? My guess is that…they were…"
FLASHBACK END
Masahide: Oh, yeah! I remember that now! It was the first hint about how gay you guys were!
Ace: …
Kuno: …That's not the point! Anyways, I remember that you specifically said that you memorized the location of everyone's rooms.
Natsumi: You also said, 'Just in case I need that extra information'. So were you planning to kill someone all along?
Ace: …Okura-sama. You know I didn't do it, right?
Akira: But all of the damn evidence points to you! Who else could it be?!
Masaru: We can't assume that it was Ace just yet, though. There are still things we need to cover.
Elena: Still? But it's clearly Ace!
Eiko: I also remember how strangely you acted when you went into the kitchen to tell us that you 'found a body'. In reality, you were just trying to get the announcement to sound.
Masaru: But just because he knew where the rooms were doesn't mean that he killed Paige.
NONSTOP DEBATE
Masaru: Sure, Ace knew which rooms were closest to the library…
Masaru: But that doesn't mean that he was the culprit!
Elena: But all of the evidence points to him!
Eiko: Ace has no alibi as well. And in order for the body announcement to sound…
Eiko: Three people have to see the body.
Eiko: And since Ace was the only one in the library at that time…
Kuno: No, that's wrong!
Ace: I don't lie, you trashy bastards. I never tell lies. If I tell Okura-sama something, it means that it's the truth…
Kuno: If Ace wasn't lying, then what he told me was the truth.
Natsumi: Then what did he tell you?
Ace: When I heard the crashing sound, I went to the library. My room is right across from Okura-sama's, so I would've heard the noise just as clearly. So after a few seconds of contemplating whether or not it was worth my time, I went to the library to see what it was. But it was only the body of that trashwad. I also saw the figure of someone else in the library, but since the lighting is so poor, I couldn't tell who it was. I guess when I left, they ran out…
Kuno: You also mentioned something about hearing doors close, right?
Ace: Yes, in fact, I did. I never closed the door to the library when I went in, but I heard the noise of somebody closing a door. I made sure to close it on the way out, though. But I was in the library for quite some time, just looking at that trash.
Natsumi: So that noise must have been the culprit entering Kuno's room and bathroom.
Eiko: Then who would the person in the library be?
Ryota: For all we know, Ace was probably hallucinating.
Ace: I don't lie about what I see…
Elena: Ooooh, I understand now! So the killer saw the body, then that bub in the library, then Ace?
Masaru: But that doesn't make sense! That's three people, so wouldn't the announcement go off then?
Monokuma: Finally, I get to say something! I forgot to mention that the culprit doesn't count as someone who sees the body! So that means that Kuno was the one who triggered the announcement!
Eiko: So Ace came to get us to make the announcement go off…I feel bad for accusing him now. Sorry about that, Ace.
Ace: …
Ryota: So…what else is there to discuss?
Kuno: I'm not sure…is there anything else about the body that we haven't covered?
Sugita: Oh, yes! Don't you remember the bruises all over her body?
Kuno: Oh yeah, she was covered in bruises.
Natsumi: I assume she got them from a struggle with the killer…fighting them back, I guess.
Sugita: YOU'VE GOT THAT WROOOOOOONG!
Ryota: Whoa! What the hell was that?!
Masahide: Has the true Sugita been unleashed?!
Natsumi: I'm not afraid to murder the 'true Sugita' myself…
Sugita: Don't say that! Anyways, you're wrong! She never fought with the killer!
Daichi: Then how did she receive bruises so severe?
Sugita: She fell, that's what! Those are clearly bruises you get from falling!
Natsumi: If she got bruises from falling, then what did she fall from?
Sugita: That…I don't know.
Masaru: But does Paige falling have anything to do with her death?
Kuno: Well, aside from her stab wound, those are the only injuries that she received.
Masahide: Maybe after everything fell over, Paige tripped over something and got a bruise! That's probably what went down.
Pyonpyon-King suddenly began vigorously dancing and clapping its hands.
Akira: What now?! Does it have anything to say?
Ryota: It just keeps dancing…I have no idea what that means…
Monokuma: Oh, relax, you guys!
Ryota: Huh? What do you want?
Monokuma: I can speak the language of the kigurumis! I know what they're saying, and it's quite some vital information to the case! Upupupu!
Natsumi: Then can you translate for us, bear?
Monokuma: Oh, fine! *ahem* It's saying that if the destruction of the library had happened before Paige was killed, then the killer would have to try and catch her first, which would give Ace enough time to catch up to the scene! Then there'd be no point to this trial!
Monokuma: That's what it said! But I don't know if I'd believe it. Kigurumis are quite the shady characters! Upupupupupu-
Masaru: Okay, so it only makes sense that the destruction happened after Paige died. It would be hard to navigate through the library in near darkness with a lot of bookshelves knocked down.
Monokuma: HEY! I wasn't done talki-
Eiko: So she must've fallen a different way! I don't think that there's any other way to trip in the library…
Ryota: Unless the killer tripped her...or she could've just fallen out of her chair.
Masaru: She was a little clumsy, so that might've happened.
Natsumi: …I think…
Kuno: What? Did you figure something out?
Sugita: I just wanna find out who the killer is!
Natsumi: The motive…
Ryota: W-What?! What about that stupid motive?!
Akira: Why are you getting so defensive all of a sudden, huh?
Ryota: What does the motive have to do with this whole thing?
Natsumi: I think I've got it.
Masahide: Got what?! The killer?
Sugita: Wow! You've found the culprit already?!
Natsumi: Not necessarily. But I have some sort of theory. It could help clear some things up.
Daichi: If it has to do with who killed Paige, then go right ahead.
Natsumi: That motive. Having two people being able to leave instead of one…there's no reason not to believe that the killer had an accomplice who helped them carry out the murder.
Ryota: …Huh?! You're saying that there are two culprits?
Natsumi: No. I'm saying that the killer had assistance while murdering Paige.
Ryota: Th-then…what's your evidence for this?!
Natsumi: If there had been two people at the scene, then that explains a few things. The body discovery announcement, for example. It also explains the other person that Ace claimed to see in the library when he got there.
Masahide: So you're saying that one person just murder Paige…while the other one stood there and watched?
Natsumi: Like Ryota mentioned earlier, Paige could have been tripped, but she would have tripped over the killer's accomplice. Then the killer proceeded to make their move while Paige was down.
Akira: Is there a reason why that explanation is so descriptive? Maybe you were the one who had the accomplice. Hell, maybe you are that accomplice!
Kuno: Not everyone here has an alibi, so it could've been anyone.
Elena: Anyone that isn't me or Eiko or Kuno or Ace isn't cleared yet, right?
Kuno: Yes, but I believe we should listen to everyone else as well…
NONSTOP DEBATE
Eiko: Well, we already know that me, Kuno, Elena, and Ace have an alibi…,
Eiko: So will anyone else like to share where they were?
Natsumi: I guess I will. I was walking around the whole school before I heard the announcement.
Sugita: Oh, and Ryunosuke and I were in my room!
Haniji: I have the urge…to say something dirty…but now's not the time…
Daichi: As I said, I was being pepper sprayed by Monokuma near my room..
Masaru: And…I stayed in my room the whole time!
Kuno: No, that's wrong!
Kuno: Masaru, you're contradicting yourself.
Masaru: …Huh?
Kuno: During the investigation, you said that you and Ryota stayed in the cafeteria.
Masaru: I…did?
Ryota: Whoa, hold on a second! You're lying, Kuno!
Kuno: I'm pretty sure I'm telling the truth.
Ryota: There's no way you are! You can't just assume that Masaru was the killer!
Kuno: I never said that he was! But he was just lying about what he was doing, so I called him out for it. There's nothing wrong with what I'm doing.
Ryota: Hell yeah there is! Then how come you're the only one that's called him out?!
Kuno: Actually-
Ryota: Save it! I don't wanna hear it! You can't suspect him because you're the only one who ever claimed to see us!
Kuno: No, you're wrong!
Ryota: …Then…
Kuno: Someone else saw you and Masaru together, and it wasn't in the cafeteria. Isn't that right, Masahide?
Masahide: Huh? What happened?
Ryota: Don't say stupid things like that! Masahide hasn't even been paying attention this whole time, and you're telling me that he saw us in the hallway near the library?
Kuno: …I never said that you were in the hallway near the library.
Masaru: But…neither I nor Ryota killed Paige!
Natsumi: Actually, it sounds pretty solid that one of you did kill Paige.
Masaru: Please don't make me angry, guys…I can prove that we didn't kill her. I swear.
Ace: Funny how you say 'I swear' every time you tell a lie…
Masaru: Stay out of this, Ace! Anyways, if we were walking near the library, then we wouldn't have gone in. We never went in, in fact. We walked right past it.
Elena: And we would've heard if they went into the cafeteria, too.
Kuno: Masaru…are you telling the truth?
Masaru: I…absolutely. I wouldn't lie in a time like this.
Eiko: But we still have no idea who the killer is! We've gone nowhere!
Kuno: Well, what we know is that the killer broke into Eiko's room, stole her knife, and killed Paige with the help of their accomplice. Then somehow, the library got completely destroyed, which made that sound we all heard. The killer then panicked and ran to the nearest unlocked room, which happened to be mine. They cleaned themselves off, and then…what happened after they cleaned up?
Daichi: Wouldn't Ace have seen them after they had cleaned up?
Elena: It would be silly of them to have hid in Kuno's bathroom the whole time, so…
Sugita: Why is all of this so damn confusing?!
Akira: …Oh…That's it!
Kuno: What?! What happened, Akira?
Akira: I know who it is now! Really, I do! And nobody is gonna interrupt me this time.
Natsumi: You better be correct, Akira. You're on thin ice right now.
Akira: Yeah, yeah. How about we stop focusing on interrogating me and question the most suspicious one in the room?! The one who was hiding the whole freaking time!
Kuno: Most…suspicious?
Akira: Jeez, spy boy! You're really slow in the head, you know that?
Ryota: Stop stalling and tell us who you think it is!
Akira: Jesus, can't you just be patient for once?! I would tell you their damn name if I remembered it!