For the fourth time, the descending elevator finally came to a halt, the doors creaking open. Oonishi stepped out into the room, finding himself in yet another 'not quite right' courtroom. The walls were rough and rocky, covered in what appeared to be fake moss. The sixteen podiums were unchanged, and Monokuma's throne remained the same as ever, the robot bear sitting in it, watching them enter. "Not-Kotobuki, you know what to do. Kotobuki, I sped up the seat finding process by making yours have the only screen that blinks! Even a monkey could find it!" Monokuma heckled her. Kotobuki didn't respond as she reached her podium, though she clearly wasn't pleased. Oonishi shot Monokuma a look before standing at his own podium, facing Kotobuki, nodding in assurance when they met eyes. Her hard look faded, and she forced a slight smile.
Looking around a bit more, Oonishi saw they were joined by three more portraits. Urushibara's had the normal cross, while Toyoguchi's had a bit of the blood colored paint (or at least, he hoped it was paint) dripping down. The other one was Akutsume's, the cross being formed of two unfolded butterfly knives. Kinashi, looking at one of them asked, "Excuse me, but why is Toyoguchi-san's cross different?"
Monokuma answered, "Well, I was in a hurry! I forgot about it until the elevator started descending, you see. Don't you realize how much prep work I've got to go through to do all this? Anyone can die at any moment! Isn't it gripping? Heart pounding? Kotobuki could die at any second now, once her tiny brain shrivels up and dies from embearasment. Now, let me explain the rules before we start. You have already investigated, so you must use what you learned to assess and grade the culprit. When all facts have been laid out, a vote will be called, where everyone will vote on the believed Culprit. If you vote the 'Black' Culprit Guilty, they will Fail. If you vote a 'White' innocent Guilty, the Culprit will Pass, and the rest of you will Fail!" After a few moments, Monokuma finished, "Now, where should we start? How about the basics: murder weapons!"
Going along with the bear, Tsujimoto spoke up, "Okay, let's narrow it down: there were three weapons at the scene, and three wounds."
"Urushibara's gun, Toyoguchi's gun, and the knife," Taiyoshi remembered.
"Also from Toyoguchi's room," Oonishi added.
Saitou spoke up, "So, Urushibara shot Toyoguchi in the leg, then Toyoguchi shot Urushibara, who replied by stabbing him. Toyoguchi passed out, then Urushibara crawled over to the tree and died. Sound right?"
"Possibly," Katsuragi stated.
"Only possibly? Course it's possible, but is it right?" Saitou asked, trying not to get angry.
Oonishi spoke up, "Well, it's not as simple as that. There were more than two bullet casings."
"Sooooooo: someone missed," Tachibana spoke up.
"Yeah, but where were the other bullet holes?" Tsujimoto asked. "I didn't give the room as good a look as I'd like to have."
Kotobuki explained, "They were all around the door area. There was one on the wall, and I think a few on the ground. I bet if we had more time, we would have found six. No! Seven. There were seven bullet casings over in the Garden, and one in the Park."
"So, we don't know if he hit anything important or not..." Taiyoshi mumbled.
"I think what's more important is how those shots were fired," Tsujimoto nodded.
"Indeed. What kind of scenario would cause someone to shoot so wildly?" Katsuragi pondered openly.
Oonishi thought on the matter, taking into consideration the way the casings were scattered. They probably only moved that way with recoil, but the shooter was probably firing rapidly because... "They were panicking," Oonishi suggested.
Kinashi suggested, "You feel it was Urushibara?"
Saitou nodded, "Yeah, your cards were over there too."
"Ah, then it could only have been him. In fact, I imagine he shot once he saw Toyoguchi," Kinashi noted. "No, I do not need to imagine it, I heard it. I was close by, after all, in the Sun Lounge. I heard the rapid fire, then later, a single shot."
Tachibana puffed out a cheek, "And you didn't think to tell us?"
Kinashi looked downwards, "I did not have a chance to say anything: I was too worried for Toyoguchi's safety."
Katsuragi gave her a hard look, before saying, "Very well, moving on. Toyoguchi entered, taking fire from Urushibara. However, with Urushibara panicking and being a lousy shot, he only struck Toyoguchi once: in the leg. Toyoguchi likely collapsed near the bench. But then, it gets a bit strange."
"Really? Didn't Urushibara stab him?" Tachibana asked.
"Maybe he did but there's something else weird too," Tsujimoto said. "He was face up. He wasn't sprawled out either; his arms were at his sides."
"Yeah, if he was shot, where did he get hit?" Kotobuki asked.
"The leg!" Tachibana said as if she were onto something.
"N-no! I mean, yes, but I mean, where was he standing?" Kanata elaborated.
"Dunno!" Tachibana said with the same enthusiasm.
Katsuragi postulated, "Well, what would you do in that situation? You enter the Park, and suddenly hear gunfire from the Garden area. Or perhaps you walk a few steps in first, then you become a target. What would be your first course of action?"
"Hide behind the tree," Saitou said.
"Make like a tree and get the hell out of there," Tachibana smiled.
"Shoot back," Taiyoshi snarled.
"Take cover behind the bench," Tsujimoto suggested.
"The tree would give you more cover," Saitou argued.
Tachibana interrupted, "And walls and doors are even better!"
Oonishi spoke up, "I think Tsujimoto is right though."
Saitou raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest as he debated, "Come on, the tree is obviously the best option."
Oonishi replied, "Well, I don't think it's a wrong course of action, but we're trying to think about what Toyoguchi did, not the smartest thing to do. If he did hide behind the bench, one of Urushibara's shots could have hit him, couldn't it?"
"Oh, I see what you're saying. His leg wouldn't be covered by the bench, that's right," Saitou nodded in understanding.
Katsuragi summed it up, "So, Toyoguchi ran up to the bench when he heard gunfire, and got shot in the leg, falling backwards, his pistol ending up under him, perhaps tucked into his obi. Urushibara's next course of action was to go up to him. It must have, as there was no blood beyond the bench. But what did he do then?"
Taiyoshi suggested, "There's no way he could know if the leg wound would or wouldn't be fatal, so he took the knife and stabbed him."
"The knife Toyoguchi brought?" Kinashi asked.
"So, he picked the pockets of the possibly very conscious Blacksmith, stabbed him, and tried to run?" Katsuragi asked dryly. "Why not simply shoot him once more?"
"Oh. Huh, didn't think about that," Taiyoshi said.
Oonishi nodded, "That's a good point."
Kotobuki suggested, "What if he didn't stab him? Maybe Urushibara tried to get away, then Toyoguchi shot him?"
Tsujimoto thought on that point for a moment, before shaking her head, "No, the bullet definitely entered from the front."
Oonishi added, "Then there'd be a bullet casing on the other side of the bench." His eyes widened in realization, and he added, "That right! Toyoguchi couldn't have fired from where he was lying! There wasn't a bullet casing near him, the closest one was over by the door."
"And it was not his?" Kinashi asked.
Oonishi shook his head, "It would have been on the other side of the bench, if he'd shot towards the entrance, that is."
Taiyoshi shouted suddenly, "Not so fast!" As Oonishi stopped, she countered his point, "You said yourself that the bullet casing could have ricocheted. Toyoguchi was right next to the bench though, and on the ground. The casing could have bounced off the bench and gone the other way!"
Oonishi retorted, "Well, I also said that the casings don't go that far, and that's assuming they go unobstructed. If it ricocheted, it would only have gone a few feet. It's still too far away!"
"And what's the basis for that? What you heard from some television show? Tsujimoto probably doesn't even know that kind of stuff, and she's the Super High School Level Junior Police Officer! Come one Oonishi-san, think!" Taiyoshi argued.
"Well, there's...Urushibara's positioning!" Oonishi pointed out. Explaining himself, he said, "Why would he just stop by the tree and turn around? That's asking for it. Not only Urushibara's positioning, but the gun too. Why did Toyoguchi hide his gun after shooting? If he had the knife in him, he should have just let himself pass out and conserve energy."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Taiyoshi nodded, "Good. If you couldn't answer that much, my next question would have been 'why do we put so much faith in you?'"
"Er..." Oonishi mumbled, not sure how to respond.
Tsujimoto nodded, "I don't know much about all this bullet casing stuff, but that's one thing we haven't answered: why was the gun under him?"
"Shall we tackle the knife issue first?" Katsuragi interjected. After a moment, Tsujimoto nodded, not having a reason to deny it. Katsuragi spoke, "As I said before, why not just shoot Toyoguchi again?" after a few moments, no one answered. Letting out a sigh of frustration, Yumi said, "Come on, Oonishi, do the thing where you think for a bit and come up with the answer."
"Er, well...okay, I'll try," Oonishi said.
"Do or do not, no trying!" Tachibana shouted suddenly.
Ignoring her, Oonishi thought for a moment, trying to think of why the knife ended up in Toyoguchi's stomach. Contemplating, he wondered if Urushibara had put it there in the first place. After coming up with a possibility, he said, "Could...Toyoguchi have done it?"
There were a few moments of silence. Taiyoshi broke it, saying, "At first, I thought it was dumb, but then I remembered..."
Kinashi looked down, "Toyoguchi did claim he would slit his stomach, or otherwise inflict harm on himself in the event he made a mistake."
Kotobuki gaped, "You mean, he tried to kill himself!?"
Oonishi said, "Maybe not kill, but at least punish himself somehow. Even so, why though? It doesn't look like he shot Urushibara."
"There are several possibilities," Katsuragi said. "However, nothing makes sense unless you add a third person into the equation."
Tsujimoto asked, "Yeah, but who?"
Katsuragi shrugged, "Irrelevant, for now. Let's just call them, C-ko, for Culprit girl."
Taiyoshi narrowed her eyes, "Why a girl?"
Katsuragi shrugged, "Is there any condemning evidence for either Oonishi or Saitou? Any at all? There are no other boys left." There was no answer. Katsuragi continued, "Now, with the addition of C-ko, there are a number of possibilities. Perhaps, as Urushibara approached to deal the final shot, C-ko interrupted, shooting him. Then, Toyoguchi, out of shame for letting another murder occur, stabbed himself. Or perhaps, upon entering, wielding her own gun, Urushibara, who had been retreating, hid behind the tree, but was shot by C-ko anyway. Or perhaps Toyoguchi did, in fact, shoot Urushibara as he took cover next to the tree, but C-ko stabbed him and hid the gun underneath him. Which do you think is most likely?"
After several moments, Oonishi finally said, "The one that makes the most sense is...C-ko did both the stabbing and the shooting."
Taiyoshi asked, "What makes you say that?"
Oonishi sighed, "Why would C-ko interfere? She would want to secure her escape, and try to frame the two Victims in the process, wouldn't she?"
Katsuragi nodded, "If so, what would be the past of least resistance for our C-ko?"
Tsujimoto began, "So, they entered, seeing..."
"Toyoguchi on the ground, and Urushibara standing? What if Urushibara was above Toyoguchi, about to perform the Grand Finale?" Tachibana suggested.
Finger on her chin, Kotobuki wondered aloud, "But why didn't C-ko let him shoot?"
"Perhaps, she could not?" Kinashi suggested.
Oonishi nodded, "If Urushibara saw her, he'd have stopped, right? Or turned the gun on her. But if she already had her gun ready, just in case."
"Boom! Shot him in the stomach. What a way to go," Tachibana exclaimed.
Tsujimoto shook her head, "But Urushibara was near the tree. Oh wait, the trail of blood, never mind."
Katsuragi followed up, "So, after letting Urushibara crawl to the tree, or dragging him, or even before, C-ko took Toyoguchi's knife and stabbed him."
Saitou nodded, "It didn't go very deep, did it? Do you think Toyoguchi was conscious, and tried to stop it?"
"The Culprit might not have wanted to bloody themselves," Kinashi suggested. "It would be a dead giveaway."
Katsuragi opened her mouth, but stopped, suddenly saying, "That's...true. Then...how did you move Urushibara without getting a drop of blood on you!?" She pointed her finger at Kinashi, whom recoiled in surprise.
"E-excuse me, I believed we w-were talking about C-ko," Kinashi stammered.
Tsujimoto frowned, "Well, I can see why she suspected you."
Oonishi nodded grimly, "There are only two possibilities, aren't there? Everyone was in their rooms except Katsuragi, Kinashi, and the Victims."
Kotobuki shook her head, "N-no, it couldn't have been either of them!"
"Huh? Sorry, Kotobuki-chan, but why not?" Saitou asked in incredulous confusion.
"Because...it couldn't! Yumi wouldn't hurt anyone! And you saw how Kinashi reacted to Toyoguchi's condition!" Kotobuki spoke quickly, firing her words out rapidly. "There's got to be another explanation! I...I don't want any of you to die!"
Oonishi tried to interrupt, "I know, Kotobuki-chan, but-"
Kanata continued, "Toyoguchi and Urushibara had to have killed each other! Maybe the gun ended up under him because he was still standing and leaning on the bench when he was stabbed. Yeah, that's it!"
Eiji said, "Kotobuki-"
"Toyoguchi dropped, the knife, Urushibara grabbed it and stabbed him, then got shot when he tried to run!" Kotobuki continued her expression more fearful than angry.
"Kanata-chan-" Katsuragi tried to interrupt.
The Luckster continued, "Then Yumi came along! They couldn't have done it!"
Oonishi tried again, "Kotobuki-ch-"
He might as well have been talking to a brick wall. Kotobuki's eyes started to water, "You didn't even think about that. We have to consider everything guys-"
"Kanata-chan!" Oonishi suddenly yelled forcefully. Kotobuki hiccuped in surprise, stopping, looking at Oonishi in shock. "That's enough, K-Kanata-chan. In order to consider everything...we have to suspect everyone. No one wants anyone else to die, but if someone does...if someone wants everyone to die so they can live..." He trailed off, letting her fill in the blanks. Continuing, he said, "Could C-ko have been anyone but Katsuragi or Kinashi? It's too unlikely. If the Culprit didn't know Katsuragi was about, they'd have been seen as she went down that way. She didn't hear the gunshots, she just showed up randomly. Even if they did account for her, how would they know the gunshots wouldn't bring her? Maybe they could have snuck back, but-"
"No, they couldn't. I'm sneakier. I'd have spotted them first," Katsuragi nodded.
Oonishi nodded, "I'm sorry, Kanata-chan."
Kotobuki looked away, turning a bit pink, a slight smile at the edge of her lips. Oonishi heard her mumble, "You said my name...you finally said my name..." He realized that, although she seemed fine before, she still hadn't quite recovered from the deaths. But that was no excuse: they had to find the truth.
"So, we've got it down to two," Saitou pointed out, returning to the original subject.
After a moment, Katsuragi bit her lip, "And I'm a suspect again. That's three out of four Trials now? Disgusting. Let's just cut to the chase, it wasn't me."
Kinashi frowned, "I don't want to accuse you but...it was not me either."
Taiyoshi rubbed her forehead, grumbling, "We can do this all day."
Katsuragi spoke up, "Shall we argue motivations? Very well. Who let Urushibara take the cards? Who was in the position to tell Toyoguchi about it and only Toyoguchi? Who was in the perfect position to kill Toyoguchi in the Medbay?"
Kinashi tried to say something, but all she couldn't do more than stammer. Suddenly covering her mouth with her hand, she said, voice slightly muffled, "I can only say that I did not, and hope you believe me."
"Very well, let's call a vote!" Monokuma said, jumping up.
"P-please, no!" Kinashi said, growing more flustered.
"I'm sorry, Kinashi-san, but we can't do anything unless someone offers a counterpoint or piece of evidence. Kotobuki-san, want to take it from the top?" Tsujimoto asked. Kotobuki didn't respond, finger curled over her mouth in thought.
After a few moments, Monokuma opened his mouth, but Kinashi said shakily, "Very well." Taking a steadying breath, it seemed to hinder rather than help, and her hands began to shake. "As I am a suspect anyway, it would be foolish of me to deny the truth any longer," she spoke up, head bowed, as if requesting forgiveness.
"W-what's this, Kinashi-san?" Oonishi said in surprise.
Kinashi looked up, both anxious and serious, saying, "My true testimony." Taking one more breath, she began. "I was not quite honest about Toyoguchi's actions, or mine. Upon begging for his help, he did not desire to bring his pistol along. I begged him too, as I reasoned that Urushibara might turn his on both of us. He complied, and I took the knife, to defend myself. I was too afraid of the pistol. What if I missed? I could cause so much damage. But with the knife, I could at least be more certain of what I was striking. We went to the Garden and Park, and I waited by the door, listening. Toyoguchi entered, and was attacked. I heard him trying to speak with Urushibara, trying to reason with him, then I heard him cry out when he was shot. Despite myself, I cried out his name. Toyoguchi was in too much pain to give me any orders. I heard Urushibara approaching, so I claimed I'd shoot him if he didn't let Toyoguchi and I go. He believed my bluff, but not that I would simply take Toyoguchi and leave. In his paranoia, he believed that I was planning on shooting him regardless: he told me as much. Before I could do anything to mend the situation, I peeked out and saw Urushibara aiming his gun at the door. He didn't fire, but Toyoguchi did. The bullet casing must have bounced off the bench. But Urushibara did not die instantly... he tried to crawl away, making it to the tree. I heard his last pained cries." Kinashi stopped, her shoulders shaking. "Toyoguchi...felt he had failed. He wanted to slit his stomach. I reluctantly handed him the knife. He put the gun down, and lost his strength trying to stab himself. He thrashed a bit in pain before passing out. That must be how the gun ended up under him. I was afraid, so I went to the Sun Lounge. I'd have returned to my room, but my legs were shaking too much, I could hardly walk to the there. By the time Katsuragi found me, I had already calmed down, mostly."
She took a few breaths, and Kotobuki asked, "So-"
"E-excuse me, Kotobuki-san, but I was not finished. I was quite surprised to see that Toyoguchi had lived, and relieved. I waited by his side as the rest of you investigated. He did not pass in his sleep however, he woke up. He was as surprised as I was when I discovered him alive. But he was in Despair. He still felt that he had failed. He did not want to look me or any of you in the face and try to explain what he had done. He begged me to help him commit suicide, but I refused. He began to use what little strength he had to open his wounds, striking his stomach. I tried to stop him, but his wounds must have opened up." Kinashi paused, eyes watering, "I could not stop him from bleeding. I could not fix the wounds. I could not call for help, because you might have suspected me of being the Culprit. So I just...acted as though it hadn't happened. I only let my sadness out when the body discovery announcement had rung. I am sorry. For failing Toyoguchi, for failing all of you." Kinashi took a step back, sinking to her knees, bowing, her head low to the ground. She could hardly be seen from behind the podium. As she stood, she asked, "Is there any evidence suggesting my testimony was false?"
Katsuragi thought for a moment, before letting out a long sigh, "No, it all adds up." Kinashi let out a sigh of relief.
Oonishi opened his mouth, but Kinashi spoke first, saying, "Let us end this, and call the vote."
"W-wait one moment!" Oonishi said more forcefully. Ignoring the surprised look, he asked, "Kinashi-san...why didn't you tell us? Did you think we wouldn't trust you?"
Kinashi shook her head, responding, "It is not that. I simply did not want you to think ill of Toyoguchi or I."
"But we'd have found out anyway. You don't want to die, right? What if we'd settled on Katsuragi?" Oonishi said, still confused.
Kinashi blinked, and then stated as if it were obvious, "I would have had to stop you, of course." She leaned forward, saying, "If there was something wrong with my testimony, please, let it be known."
Oonishi said, "It's just...the timing is convenient, isn't it? You only gave us your story when you were backed into a corner. Shouldn't you have done it the moment you were suspected in the first place? It doesn't feel right."
Taiyoshi grunted, "Calm down! You really think it's easy to think logically when under pressure?"
Oonishi opened his mouth, saying, "Well, that's true, but there's something else bothering me. You said Toyoguchi hit himself to open his wounds, right? Why wasn't there blood on the blanket though? And why did Urushibara head for the tree? It didn't look like he had blood all over him either: if he was crawling with that gut wound, it'd be everywhere, I think."
"That's...a good point," Tsujimoto admitted. "But why would there be blood on the blanket?"
"Think about it. There was blood on the bandages, but not the blanket. Isn't it kind of weird that it didn't seep through to the blanket too? If he was really trying to kill himself, he would have used as much force as he could. He might have even gotten blood on his hands," Oonishi reasoned.
"That is..." Kinashi began, stopping mid-sentence.
"Reasonable," Kotobuki finished sadly.
Saitou nodded, "I don't speak from experience, but I helped tied those bandages. No way the wound healed that fast. It should have bled like crazy if someone was hitting it."
"It did," Tsujimoto stated. "There was no bruising, but it wouldn't have needed to be hit very hard to start bleeding again."
"So, perhaps, Kinashi was the one who opened his wound. It's still also possible that she shot Urushibara as well with her own pistol," Oonishi stated.
"But why bother hiding the opened wound with the blanket?" Tachibana asked.
"How would you explain that you didn't notice Toyoguchi die from his wounds with a big splotch of blood right there?" Taiyoshi said.
"Excuse me, but you did check the room, correct? Was the sink recently used? Were and towels in the bin?" Kinashi asked. Neither Saitou, Oonishi, or Tsujimoto responded. "I understand the need to go over anything, but did you consider that, after opening his wounds, the bandages slowly absorbed the blood? Perhaps, had we waited longer, it would have seeped into the blanket as well. He did not get blood on his hands because he did not get blood on the blanket. That is the only explanation that makes sense. How can we deny that?"
Oonishi opened his mouth, but Kinashi interrupted him, "Please, Oonishi-san. It hurts that you distrust me so much, but can we not just end this?"
Oonishi kept going, "But back on the pistol: it's way more likely that the bullet casing bounced off of the wall behind you. You can't be a very good shot. You must have moved closer to shoot; you wouldn't have tried to take aim from the doorway."
Kinashi shook her head, "I saw what I saw. Toyoguchi shot Urushibara."
Oonishi shook his head, "It would be more reasonable this way: if Toyoguchi's gun was under him, it was probably because it was in his obi, and fell out later. There's no way he could have fired his gun and ended up with the it in that position."
Kinashi insisted, "Your claims are weak. If you have no evidence, we cannot make a proper decision. All you have is speculation."
Starting to get a little frustrated with her constant rebuttals, Oonishi pointed out, "You're a Karuta player aren't you? Your hearing is nothing short of excellent, yet you didn't hear Katsuragi walk by the Sun Lounge?"
Shaking her head, Kinashi pointed out, "She said herself that she was sneaky, but if I were the Culprit, would it not have been wiser to say that I did hear her? Or even say that I heard her approach before the final gunshot? Then you would have pointed her fingers at her first. But here we are, because saying that would have contradicted my true testimony." Once again, Kinashi repeated, almost proudly, "Your claims are weak."
Oonishi knew he needed something else. Thinking back to the blood, he tried to think of what else could be used to wipe it away. Without leaving an obvious trace... "Can I check your hakama, Kinashi-san?" Eiji requested. While several looked at him in confusion, Kinashi's expression remained blank. "You were really specific when you mentioned towels and the sink, weren't you?"
"Wait, are you thinking she wiped the blood from opening Toyoguchi's wound on her clothes?" Saitou asked.
Kotobuki frowned, "The color of her hakama is the same color as blood..."
Oonishi nodded, "If you had wiped your blood on your hakama, it would be hard to notice, wouldn't it? At least, it would at a glance. But a closer look would have shown the slight discoloration from the actual blood. In fact, the fabric is so thick, that you could have wiped it on the underside and we'd never have noticed, regardless of color. Can we look, Kinashi-san?"
The Karuta Queen was silent. She bowed her head, muttering quietly for a few moments before snapping her head up, glaring at Oonishi Eiji. "Pervert," she spat. "You simply want to see me in a state of undress, don't you? You are a disgusting boy, but what choice do I have to comply?" She took a step back, grabbing at her sash.
"C-calm down! It's just a cover over the lower part of your kimono, isn't it?" Oonishi said as she began to take it off, holding it up, showing the full, gold colored kimono with its light pink flower pattern. She flipped it over, showing both sides. Saitou, the closest, leaned in.
"Now what?" Kinashi asked.
"Uh, fwip it," Oonishi said.
"...Excuse me?" Kinashi asked.
Shaking his head, Oonishi replied, "Er, like a towel. Kinda, shake it out."
Kinashi's eyes narrowed, and she lifted it up, gently bringing it down. Oonishi said, "Harder."
"It is delicate fabric," Kinashi insisted.
"No excuses," Oonishi stated. He realized he was being more forceful than usual. Had he finally grown so accustom to these Trials?
Kinashi gave him a hard look, before biting her lip, and shaking it with all her might. It was faint, but Oonishi heard it: the sound of a number of small things hitting the ground. Looking around, Oonishi could see the faint specks.
Saitou, right next to her, looked around, saying in shock, "B-blood. Bits of dried blood! It's just a little dust, but..."
Tachibana asked, "Is it over?" Kinashi wrapped her hakama around her once again, her expression was still displaying her frustration as she looked downward.
Monokuma laughed, "Maybe! You seem so sure that she killed Toyoguchi, but what about Urushibara? You can vote for the Culprit of both, or separate it, I don't care."
Katsuragi smiled in satisfaction, "That matter is simple. It Kinashi did indeed shoot Urushibara, she would have to have her handgun. She didn't have an opportunity to put it in her room: we searched both the Park, Garden, and Medbay. It would be in the upper part of your hakama, correct?" The Karuta Queen looked at her feet, biting her lip, not responding.
Oonishi added, "If you had hidden it in your hakama, Toyoguchi wouldn't have noticed it, would he?" Kinashi's tooth punctured the skin on her lip, and a bit of blood shone. They had hit a mark.
"Manipulative skank," Katsuragi spat.
Tsujimoto shook her head, "That's what's bothering me. I mean...what the hell, Kinashi?"
"It's not the first time, is it?" Oonishi said, recalling something. "Last time...Toyoguchi said you tried to convince him to get a Murder Textbook. You wouldn't want to risk your own life for the knowledge if you didn't have too. Right?" Kinashi didn't answer, unfettered as she wiped her lip, wiping the blood on her hakama.
"Fine then, don't defend yourself," Taiyoshi let out a frustrated sigh. Looking over to Kotobuki, she said, "You wanna tell her where she messed up?" Kanata looked down, not answering. Taiyoshi frowned, before saying, "Fine, Oonishi, you do it."
Eiji looked around, not seeing anyone object. "Well, here it goes..." he said.
Taking a breath, Oonishi began. "The plot began with Urushibara. After we got our handguns, he panicked, staying out of everyone's way. However, instead of taking the risk of waiting for someone else to act, he tried to lure the Culprit into a trap, stealing a box of Karuta cards and giving them a note, in an attempt to lure them there. While Urushibara waited for his trap to be sprung, the Culprit received his note. Spotting the trap a mile away, they capitalized. The Culprit contacted Toyoguchi, begging for his protection. For self-defense, they had Toyoguchi bring his gun, while they themselves took a knife. However, unbeknownst to Toyoguchi, the Culprit had their handgun as well.
"The two reached the Park, and Toyoguchi entered while the Culprit waited by the door. Urushibara started firing, leaving a number of bullet casings behind. Toyoguchi tried to reason with him, but only got shot in the leg. He collapsed, and Urushibara moved in closer to finish the job. The Culprit popped out, firing, hitting Urushibara in the gut. The Culprit came over, and taking their knife, stabbed Toyoguchi in the stomach. There was no need to hide the gun: if Toyoguchi hadn't used it, it would have ended up under him, as it was probably tucked into the sash of his yukata. The Culprit then dragged Urushibara over to the tree, trying to make it look as though Toyoguchi had shot him, leaving a trail of blood. The Culprit also had no idea about the bullet casing, leaving theirs on the ground."
"The Culprit hid in the Sun Lounge, waiting for someone to come along, or for long enough to pass. Katsuragi showed up shortly after, and the rest happened as we know: all of us were brought to search the scene, and the investigation started. However, we discovered that Toyoguchi was still alive. The Culprit couldn't let him wake up and reveal everything, so they stayed by his side. Then, when they were alone, the Culprit took the chance to remove the blanket and reopen his wounds, but ended up with blood on their hands. They then wiped the blood off on their outfit, which happened to be blood colored as well, before covering Toyoguchi with the blanket. He died of his wounds, and sometime later, Katsuragi and Saitou triggered the second discovery announcement.
"Kinashi Ririka...you can no longer defend yourself, can you?" Oonishi finished.
Kinashi raised a finger, stating, "Absolutely correct, in every way imaginable. In fact, I am sorry to say, you are so correct, it sickens me."
Taiyoshi snapped, "What the hell is wrong with you!? All those crocodile tears were just to throw us off, weren't they?"
"Do you hate me, Tayoshi-san?" Kinashi asked. The Runner opened her mouth, before looking away. Kinashi nodded, "I thought not. If this were a real court, I believe I would be let off under 'extenuating circumstances'. As would have Mizunoe and Tomoe. But alas, I am to die. And then I ask, what of you all?"
"What do you mean, 'what of us'?" Saitou asked, getting frustrated at his own confusion.
Kinashi shrugged, "The only reasonable outcome is the death of you all. Time runs short: you cannot have much more than a week until each of you Fails, following I. And as long as Katsuragi and Oonishi live, none will be able to get away with their crime. So, you will rot here, alone and forgotten, until your last days. If you feel content with that, then please, let us continue, and begin the vote."
Kotobuki shook her head, "R-rescue will come!"
Kinashi giggled, her voice hollow, "So adorable. Kirifuji said that too, didn't he? And where is he now?" She let the question hang in the air, glancing over at his portrait. She continued, "As long as things continue this way, that is how you will end up. Unless..."
Tsujimoto said incredulously, "'Unless' what? You can't have a better idea."
Kinashi explained herself, "Die with honor, on your own two feet, denying this Exam and all it stands for. Akutsume Sora may have been a cruel boy, but he was no fool. He is a respectable sort, despite his professions and evils."
Oonishi's mouth hung open in disbelief as he stammered, "Are you saying we should...let you go?"
Kinashi nodded, "Please, do not think ill of me for even suggesting such a thing."
Katsuragi scoffed, "Don't worry, we already think quite badly of you."
Kinashi frowned, "Then I urge you to reconsider. If we end this Exam now, I will live to carry the weight of the fallen on my shoulders. Your stories will be remembered by me, and I will carry on, ensuring this awful thing never occurs again. After all, the one who Passes is the World's Hope. Or, you can choose to wither away in here, a statistic, nothing more than one of the many lost in these Exams. Toyoguchi-san even made himself a reasonable scapegoat for your votes, if you choose to end things now."
There was dead silence. Oonishi looked around: everyone's trust in him had countered Akutsume's attempt to split the vote, but this time, Kinashi was betting on everyone's prospects of the Future.
Monokuma laughed, "With that thought fresh in your minds, let's vote! I know you've got it in you. Make your choice: present or Future!"
Oonishi looked down at his screen, sixteen mugs visible, half of them grayed out. Before he could doubt himself, he quickly cast his vote for Kinashi. Looking around, he saw more than a few unsteady hands, still trying to choose. He was relieved to see Kotobuki Kanata was not one of the ones hesitating.
In a few more moments, the votes were counted. The slot reel rose above Monokuma's seat, and they began to spin. They lined up after a few moments, on the face of Kinashi. The word 'GUILTY' flashed, and confetti spilled out of the sides. "No need to beat around the sweet, sweet honey bush of truth, the Culprit said as much herself: Kinashi Ririka! Stick to Karuta, murder isn't your sport," Monokuma chortled. "But it seems at least one person here doesn't want to play anymore, since there was more than just her vote for Toyoguchi."
Kinashi sighed, "I am truly sorry I could not convince you. I suppose there must be someone out there interested in the conclusion of this game, no matter the result. This 'Super High School Level Despair', perhaps. At the very least, you may entertain them with the continuation of this broadcast."
Katsuragi sneered, "Don't try to make us regret our choice. I don't think I've been happier to submit a vote."
"I am sorry you feel that way," Kinashi said plainly. "Do you not wish for someone to pass on your legacy? Bear your Hopes?"
Oonishi said regretfully, "If we did, Kinashi-san, I don't think we would choose you. I'm sorry."
"We'll find our own way out of here!" Saitou insisted.
Kinashi flashed a glare at him, before returning to a neutral expression and stating, "In that case, I hope the Applicant who Passes is more worthy than I." Kinashi began to walk towards the Execution Chamber. Before she reached it, she turned and bowed low, before submitting herself to Monokuma.
FINAL GRADE
PLOTTING: D
PLAN EXECUTION: B
COOLNESS UNDER PRESSURE: A+
OVERALL GRADE: UNSATISFACTORY
KINASHI RIRIKA HAS FAILED THE MUTUAL KILLING EXAM
PREPARING EXECUTION
Stepping into the dark Execution Chamber, Kinashi sat peacefully on a large floor covered in a straw mats. As she sat, a Monokuma in a black and white hakama approached, plopping down near her with a deck of familiar green bordered cards. He began to set them out, placing fifty on the floor in between them as Kinashi looked on in confusion.
Full of Passion...for Despair!
A voice echoed throughout the room: it was Monokuma's, reading out the first verse of one of the Hyakunin Isshu poems. Monokuma swatted at one, removing it from the field, going to pick it up. Starting to understand, Ririka leaned down over the cards, eyes darting around as she memorized them. As the second and third cards were read, she didn't react, and Monokuma added more to the pile next to him as he got them.
Then the fourth card was read, Kinashi didn't move, and neither did Monokuma, as it was not in play. The fifth card was, however, and Kinashi, faster than a swordsman with their blade, struck her hand out, striking the corner of one of the cards, swatting it away before Monokuma could even lift a paw. As she moved to get it, she looked at her right hand, the finger sliced open. The metal card was embedded deep in the straw mat when she retrieved it.
The game continued, and Kinashi continued to bleed, striking to take cards without cutting herself on the razor edges, rapidly outpacing the bear, who grew frustrated. As the game dwindled down, Kinashi possessing very few cards on her side of the field, Monokuma pulled a ball and chain from nowhere, quickly tossing it at Kinashi. It wrapped around her arms, pulling her back, keeping her from moving. The Reader quickly recited syllables of the poems, as in fast forward, as Monokuma picked up the cards one by one, quickly throwing them at Kinashi. The girl couldn't even move as the razor cards pierced her body, embedding themselves in her torso through her hakama. Blood dripping from her wounds, the girl collapsed, the thick liquid staining the mat underneath her. Monokuma crouched and bowed to his opponent, thanking her for the match.
The Trial room was silent after the Execution. Oonishi wished the brutality wasn't something he was starting to get used to, but the aftershock always wore off quicker and quicker each time. Katsuragi moved first, turning and heading to the elevator, and the others followed, not even needing to speak. "See you next time!" Monokuma laughed, taunting them. The elevator door closed, and they began their climb upwards.
"Next time, huh?" Tachibana sighed.
Saitou asked, "Dammit, she was nuts, but she was right about a couple things. How much time do we have left?"
Oonishi shook his head, "It can't be long."
Kotobuki said, "I think Monokuma would tell us though, right? That might even be the next incentive."
Taiyoshi nodded, "Yeah, that sounds about right."
The elevator finally came to a stop, and the Applicants began to head off. There was still plenty of time in the day. Oonishi moved to get off, but Saitou grabbed him by the wrist.
"Got a second?" the Backpacker asked as they stood at the top of the large staircase, the red double doors closing behind them.
Oonishi nodded, "Er, sure, what's up?"
"You know...Urushibara and Toyoguchi are gone now, so that means it's just us. I mean, doesn't evolution say that it's the role of the guys to protect the girls?" Saitou reasoned.
"S-something like that," Oonishi replied with a slight smile. He thought he understood what Saitou was trying to say though, but replied, "I don't know what I can do though."
Saitou paused for a moment, before saying, "Yeah, I don't know either, but I'd rather try everything we can first before we give up and try to wait. We're running out of time, but not ideas. Let's meet up later, okay?"
Oonishi nodded, "Uh, sure, Saitou-san." The Backpacker seemed to have an idea. Saitou nodded and headed off. Oonishi stood on the First Floor alone. Looking over, he saw the door to the other hall, the room where they first woke up in. There was nowhere left to be opened up except...
Figuring it wouldn't hurt to check it out, he descended the stairs and entered. It was still fairly dim, monitors and cameras about like the rest of the Building. Walking through, he reached the large metal door, the panel on the side still reading, 'Lockdown: In Progress'. Oonishi gave the door a closer look, but didn't find anything of note. He was just wasting time. And time...wasn't a commodity to be wasted in their situation.
In an unknown location, there was a familiar looking, well lit room. It was not dissimilar to the Meeting Room of the Exam Building, almost identical, in fact. However, its lone occupant was someone who had likely never stepped foot into that Exam Building. A woman in her thirties, with long, black hair, almost shining, tied into a ponytail, wearing a long, white dress, a dark green blouse, and a white apron cleaned the room with a spray bottle and a rag, her hands gloved. She wiped the walls and floors with smooth motions, wasting no energy, her movements evenly wiping the surface: a machine couldn't have done it better.
She looked up as one of the two doors opened. At the doorway was a well-built man in his thirties wearing a solid black suit and tie, with a white dress shirt. His gold hair was slicked backed, a scar poking out from under a plain, black eye-patch over his right eye. His right hand was gone, a silver hook menacingly in its place. The man's expression was hard, almost angry looking. He studied the woman, saying politely, "Ah, good morning, Asumi-san. I didn't expect anyone to be in here."
The former Hope's Peak student, Asumi Haruka, the former 56th Class Super High School Level Housekeeper, stood. She smiled as she returned the greeting, as if everything was perfectly natural. "Good morning, Kirifuji-san. Oonishi didn't tell you about the meeting?"
Kirifuji Yuuji, the 59th Class Super High School Level Economist, shook his head, "I was not informed. Perhaps it does not concern me."
"Nonsense! I know he also told Toyoguchi, Tsujimoto, and Kinashi. It must be about our current mission," Asumi reasoned.
Kirifuji pondered for a moment. He finally said, "I imagine he also told those related to the other survivors. A number dwindling by the hour. Have you seen the Exam broadcast this morning?"
Asumi seemed worried all of a sudden, "D-did something happen this morning? I heard about the Incentive last night, but..."
Kirifuji nodded grimly, "Kinashi Ririka ended the lives of Urushibara Yuugo and Toyoguchi Yousuke."
Asumi frowned, downcast, "Three more gone..." After a moment of silence, she said, "Do they know yet? The relatives, I mean."
Kirifuji nodded, "Kinashi Rentarou has secluded himself. He refused to believe his younger sister was the Culprit until she said as much herself. Urushibara Itaru has taken to the bottle. In all honesty, he should have expected it after his nephew's breakdown last night. Toyoguchi Hana is too proud to let her true emotions be shown, but I believe she was affected as well."
As soon as he finished, another entered through the other side. It was an older man, easily in his eighties, perhaps older. His hair was gray, his scalp bald, short, strait hair circling his head. He had a thin beard and spectacles. He also wore a labcoat over a long sleeved white dress shirt, black tie, and black slacks. He shakily made his way to a chair, sliding it out and sitting down.
"Oh, good morning, Katsuragi-san," Asumi smiled to the man.
Katsuragi Seijiro, the 7th Class Neurologist, nodded, "And a good morning to you. Now, where's that Mahiro!? He said something about a...get together or collaboration..."
"Meeting," Kirifuji said.
"Yes, that was it!" Katsuragi smiled, a few teeth missing.
Asumi replied, "The meeting doesn't start until noon, Katsuragi-san." Kirifuji and Katsuragi both checked their watches.
"Let's see, the big hand's on the eleven and the small hand's gone!" Katsuragi seemed shocked. "I need a new one."
"It should reappear in less than one minute," Kirifuji sighed. Katsuragi stared at his watch intently, suddenly gasping in surprise. Kirifuji let out a sigh of exasperation. "Some Neurologist: shocked his brain into ashes," he muttered.
Asumi gave him a stern look, saying "Extra carrots in your stew tonight, mister!" Kirifuji opened his mouth to protest, but stopped as the door behind him opened, yet another Hope's Peak Alumni stepping through. He was a younger man, not much older than twenty. His hair was hidden by a black beanie cap, and he had a set of headphones around his neck, sunglasses over his eyes. He wore a white dress shirt, which was wrinkled and not tucked in properly to his black dress pants.
Asumi stomped over to his before he could even open his mouth. "Yamamoto-kun, what do you think you're doing!? You'll ruin that shirt if you don't treat it right."
The young man, the Radio Host of the 73rd Class groaned as Asumi grabbed his shirt, attempting to rub the wrinkles out. "I'll change later! I was up all night! Gosh, give me a break. Didn't hear jack over the radio though."
"You should focus on sending messages, child," a forceful voice came from behind him as the door on the other side opened as well. From behind Yamamoto Shiki came an older woman, her short hair dark gray, attired in a dark blue wear not dissimilar to that a ninja might wear. She pushed past him, glaring at the man who had just entered through the door on the other side. He wore a black suit and tie, and black gloves. He was burly and broad, if a bit on the short side. His eyebrows were bushy and his curly black hair, tinted a bit with gray, was cut very short. Toyoguchi Hana, the former 36th Class Super High School Level Shinobi sneered, "Shiata-kun." Gotou, the 38th Class Super High School Level Sniper didn't respond, moving to a seat, placing the briefcase in his hands on his lap. Cracking it open, he pulled out a rag and a piece of a sniper rifle, beginning to polish it.
The mood growing a bit tense with the two latest arrivals, the group waited in silence. Asumi put away her spray bottle and rag, putting them under her chair as the seventh entered, loudly greeting, "Good morning!" She wore a long black skirt and a white button up blouse with a black tie. Her hair was medium length and dirty blonde, and she wore a wide pair of glasses. Despite her greeting, she had a serious look on her face.
Asumi smiled as she replied, "Good morning, Tsujimoto-san."
The 58th Class's Super High School Level Civil Servant, Tsujimoto Touko, stomped over to her seat, sitting straight. Looking around, she asked, "Who else are we expecting?"
"Who knows," Shiata Gotou practically mumbled, returning his things to his breifcase.
"Speak up, will ya!?" the old shinobi woman cried out. Shiata snorted. The woman turned away, but her hand suddenly twitched. Shiata raised his briefcase, a pair of sharp needles embedding themselves in the leather.
Asumi cried out, "Toyoguchi-san, Shiata-san, quit it!"
"Oh please, we've been at it since before you were born. Besides, he started it," Toyoguchi insisted.
Kirifuji checked his watch again, saying, "He appears to be a little late." As if on cue, the door opened again. The first one to step in was a young, tanned skinned man in his twenties, wearing the same uniform as many: a black suit and tie with a white dress shirt. He also had tanned skin and brown, curly hair. Behind him was a taller man with straight black hair framing his stern face, black framed glasses over his eyes. He wore white, button up short sleeved dress shirt, black slacks, and a black tie. He had black bags under his eyes and a folder in his hand.
The man who could only be Oonishi Mahiro, former 59th Class Super High School Level Secretary, looked around, nodding, "It seems we are all here, and then some. Good day." Without blinking, he moved past a few of the others to the projector, opening it and taking a disc out of the folder, popping it in. Taking a small, white remote from the holster on the side, he moved to the podium in the front of the room. "As you can no doubt imagine, I gathered you here today in regard to the current Mutual Killing Exam situation taking place in an unknown location. Before we begin, I wish to offer my condolences to the deceased. For those uninformed, Toyoguchi's grandson, Urushibara's nephew, and Kinashi's younger sister were all killed this morning, if the news I heard is true."
Toyoguchi scoffed, "Stupid boy. Women were always a weakness of his..." She glanced down sadly, before taking a breath and looking back with determination.
Tsujimoto asked, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but is there a reason for Kirifuji and Shiata to be here? I am not offended by their presence, just curious."
Oonishi answered, "Most of you are here because this news concerns you, as your relatives or wards still remain in the Murder Exam. Toyoguchi and Shiata were asked here for reasons I will elaborate on. I am not sure regarding Yuuji, but he may stay if he would prefer."
"I simply walked in, but I am curious as well. I may not have personal involvement, but I wish to see this through to the end," Kirifuji nodded, crossing his arms over his chest, hook curled upward.
"Well, half of it," Yamamoto smiled, though no one else laughed. "G-get it, because...eyepatch..." he mumbled, before clearing his throat, taking that as a cue to stay quiet.
Oonishi nodded, starting, "I will begin with the Exam itself." Oonishi hit the button on the remote, and the projector flashed, shining an image onto the wall behind him, of the staircase of the First Floor in the Exam Building, as evidenced by the presence of sixteen Applicants and Monokuma in the image. "From the beginning, we realized that the Mutual Killing Exam appears to be occurring in one of our bases. The layout is exactly the same as many the ones we have constructed, among others, though there a number of alterations, including room placement adjustments and traps, but these are irrelevant."
Oonishi hit the button again, and the image changed to a map of the upper half of Japan, three red dots on the green land layout. "Over the past two years, Super High School Level Despair has captured three of our Future Foundation bases for their own use, marked as so. Any attempts to approach or scout have ended in failure. We have presumed that one of these bases is the current location of the Exam. Attempts to narrow it down have ended in failure as well."
Katsuragi spoke up loudly. "Oh, that's right. The boy, the psycho one? He tried to figure it out, didn't he? What was his name? Kiri...Konoha..."
"Ah, yes. His prediction was a reassuring, 'none'. Thirty percent success rate indeed," Kirifuji scoffed.
Oonishi continued, hitting the button again, displaying an image of a starry sky, as viewed at an angle through two layers of glass. "This image was taken from the broadcast, three days ago, when Kotobuki Kanata and my son were stargazing at ten PM. Since then, Samidare Konami and I have been going over star charts, trying to calculate where they were based on this image."
"Ah!" Asumi gasped, clapping her hands. "That's so smart! Good idea, Oonishi-san!"
Yamamoto grinned, "Lucky you guys thought of it, heh heh."
"Perhaps we should thank Kotobuki when we get her out of there?" Asumi smiled.
"Don't explain the joke! Oh never mind," Yamamoto sighed.
"That was a joke? The Tachibana Chiyoko girl has a much better sense of humor. How are you related again, exactly? Because you inherited none of it," Kirifuji scoffed.
Yamamoto shrugged, "Beats me. And the crushed flat crack at SHSLD two nights ago had you smiling, don't you deny it." The man with tanned skin loudly cleared his throat, and Yamamoto shut his mouth.
Oonishi continued, "I may have come up with the idea, but it was Samidare who did most of the work and research."
Samidare Konami, the tan skinned 70th Class Super High School Level Sailor, shook his head, "You were the one up all night doing calculations. We'd still be working if you weren't for that, but now we could get my cousin and everyone else out of here all the faster. As fast as she can run, she certainly isn't going to be able to do much from in there."
Oonishi hit the button again, this time switching the image to another map. The three red dots from before were there, but there was a fourth, blue one. "We believe the Exam is taking place in this region. There may be some error, but assuming the night sky view was indeed correct, this is the mostly likely spot. It is in the middle of a forest, and probably well-guarded," Oonishi explained.
Kirifuji's jaw dropped as Katsuragi laughed, "By golly, the kid was right! It wasn't any of the bases!"
Kirifuji nodded regaining his composure, saying, "I should apologize. I believe I called him a 'fool'."
Yamamoto shrugged, "Meh, I've called him worse for less."
Tsujimoto, returning to the original subject, asked, "But how could it not be one of our bases? The layout is exactly the same."
Oonishi said, "I am unsure, but my hypothesis is that they did not use one of the captured bases, but instead built a near replica, for the purpose of throwing us off. This would have also allowed them to make their alterations easier. Had we not uncovered them, our plans to assault all three captured bases at once would have ended in tragedy: countless lives lost for nothing, followed by the threat of Failure for the Applicants who reach the end of this time limit Monokuma has been threatening. "
Yamamoto sighed, "Speaking of him, who's operating that bear? It was Enoshima Junko in the event last year, right? But she's dead, so..."
Asumi Haruka suggested, "There are other members of Super High School Level Despair."
Kirifuji shook his head, "Don't get hung up on petty details when we haven't even been able to uncover the true purpose of this 'Exam'. There's no Hope's Peak to be enrolled into. In fact, there isn't even a 79th Class. It was scouted, I believe, but their identities and whereabouts are unknown, if they are even alive."
"Some of them in the Exam right now could have been scouted, the older ones, at least," Toyoguchi hypothesized.
Oonishi Mahiro nodded, "I concur with Yuuji. Our efforts should be dedicated on the rescue attempt. I've contacted our higher ups about the operation. After the meeting, I will begin organizing our movements: we have a number of forces that need to be mobilized to the zone, but we can't operate on simple Hope." Looking at a certain pair, he asked, "That is why I asked Toyoguchi and Shiata to join in the meeting. I will go into detail later, but you will be our scouts. As soon as you are able after briefing, you are to head out to the area and pinpoint the exact location of the Exam Building. Can you be trusted to accomplish this key task?"
After a few moments, Toyoguchi said, "Certainly." Shiata nodded as well.
"You sure? You guys are practically at each other's throats half the time," Yamamoto pointed out.
The usually quiet Shiata spoke firmly, "That's personal. This is business." Yamamoto opened his mouth, but no words came out, and he scratched his head, dropping the matter.
"Very well, we're counting on you. The operation cannot be finalized until the Exam Building is located," Oonishi noted. He then asked, "Are there any other questions?"
"How long until we can rescue them?" Asumi asked.
Oonishi adjusted his glasses, saying, "Assuming everything goes correctly, five to six days. However, once we begin to move, no doubt Super High School Level Despair will as well. Delays are inevitable."
"A race against time..." Samidare frowned, adjusting his cap.
Oonishi nodded, "Yes. We don't know how seriously Monokuma is about this time limit, but I estimate we have a week. Counting the possible delays, we'll be cutting it close."
"The real question is, can they hold out that long?" Kirifuji sighed.
Toyoguchi nodded, "Of course they can! As long as they've got the Oonishi kid, I think they'll be fine. It's scary how much he resembles his father. He's got your brains. Heart too."
Kirifuji smiled, nodding in agreement, though his grin looked more like a grimace, the muscles not used to it, or at least not recently. Oonishi changed the subject, "Are there any further questions? If not, I've got an attack to organize." He put the remote down on the podium, heading for the door, but Asami Haruka stood, stopping him.
"Look at you, Oonishi-san, you need rest!" she said, pointing out the bags under his eyes.
"Coffee will suit my needs..." Oonishi said plainly.
"Rest!" Asami insisted.
"Do you think us useless, Oonishi Mahiro?" Kirifuji said suddenly. "You are surrounded by Hope's Peak Alumni. We'll live for a few hours without you. You'll be no good to us like this: one fault could be disastrous. Former Super High School Level Secretary or not, you are a human, and you can make a mistake."
Samidare nodded, "We are all worried about our relatives. You've done well thus far. Have Hope, Oonishi-san."
Oonishi glanced downward, hesitating for a moment before saying, "I'm just afraid. Afraid that they'll need more than Hope to get through this."
CHAPTER 4 END
SURVIVORS: 7
Design Notes, for Chapter 4 can be located here (I'd recommend giving it a look if you want my thoughts on my least favorite Trial): pastebin(.com)/v73Q5y8v
Big thanks to 39cf for yet another review! And thank everyone for reading! See you next time!