Yeah, I know it's been a long time... assignments are done (yay), so I have a bit more time to spend writing for now. Exams are still coming up though, so don't expect another chapter until those are finished as well.

CaptainPancakes - Nice speculation o: you're definitely on the right track. If you haven't already figured this case out, maybe this chapter will help. Or maybe it won't :P

Veltrops - Lots of good speculation here! It's true the timeline is very important to this case... and this chapter should clear up at least some of your questions.

FenMoon - Yes, I agree that the characters aren't as developed as they could be... it doesn't help that I hadn't planned an awful lot going into this. This is my first time writing a long story, so hopefully you'll bear with me :P. And no, I haven't actually gotten that far into SDR2 yet haha. I do assume that people have finished the first game though, so spoiling that isn't a problem. Regarding your speculation, you've got some really good stuff! Hopefully this chapter will help you figure out the culprit.

TheRoseShadow21 - Looking at the speculation it's probably not as easy to get as I thought, lol... I think my viewpoint is just warped because I know what happens. The evidence was deliberately made to be confusing and contradictory but the murder itself is fairly simple, I think.

There has been one minor change made - when Aurora challenged Saito, it is now just setting a time. They only decide to play table tennis once they've actually met up at the agreed time.

Now, onto the trial! This time, it will be split into three parts for pacing reasons... the overall length of the trial may be slightly longer too, but probably not too much more than normal.

Have you got your facts straight?

1|: Monokuma File : There is no information contained in this file.

2|: Bloody Hammer : A large, blood-covered wooden hammer. Quite heavy.

3|: Bloody Clock : A broken clock stuck at 10:15 PM. Belongs to Rei, but she lost it.

4|: Kitchen : The kitchen has been totally cleaned.

5|: Night Time : Night Time begins at 10 PM.

6|: Erika's Whereabouts : Erika left her room at around 11:00 PM, to investigate the cafeteria.

7|: Erika's Testimony : According to Erika, one hammer is missing from the art storage room.

8|: Saito's Whereabouts : Saito left her room at around 11:15 PM, and met Erika on the way to the recreation room.

9|: Note From Aurora : A note, asking Saito for a rematch at 11:30 PM. Not written by Aurora.

10|: Body Discovery Announcement : Monokuma announces the discovery of a body after three people find it.

11|: Blood Packs : Blood packs are missing from the infirmary.

12|: Art Storage Room : Two hammers are missing from the art storage room.

13|: Akemi File :

::| Victim: Matsuda Takao. |

::| Time of Death: Who knows? I'm not a doctor. I'd be dead if I was... what, too soon? |

::| Cause of Death: Single blow causing massive trauma to cranium. Basically, someone smashed his head in. |

::| Additional Information: He died instantly... I think. He had no bruises or cuts, so he wasn't involved in a struggle. Unless some appear later. Then I'll look like a fool. |

14|: Akemi's Testimony : The high angle of Takao's head wound suggests a tall culprit.

Court is now in session!

MONOKUMA: Welcome back! Aren't you all so glad to be here again...?

MONOKUMA: I'm sure you've heard the rules enough times by now, so I'll let you get straight into it.

MONOKUMA: I won't even start you off this time! Don't you feel so independent already...?

AURORA: Okay, let's get started! What should we discuss first?

MIHARU: There are certainly a lot of questions that need to be answered...

IZANAGI: Please, let's talk about the rule we came up with!

AKEMI: Er... rule?

IZANAGI: The one we made yesterday evening. You were there, Akemi...!

IZANAGI: I'm sure I don't need to remind everyone, but it was in the interest of safety that we all agreed to stay in our rooms tonight.

AKEMI: Oh, right. I almost forgot about that rule, honestly...

AKEMI: It sure failed spectacularly preventing a murder in the end.

IZANAGI: Yes, and I would like to know why! It was a perfect suggestion in theory...

IZANAGI: So how come there were so many of us outside of our rooms!?

AURORA: I know! Let's interrogate the people who were up!

AURORA: Speaking of which... Who was up, anyway?

TOMOE: Hmm, let's see... we know Saito and Erika both discovered Takao.

TOMOE: Which means that they would have been up already, right? I think we should ask them first!

SAITO: I've already said why I was up... It was because of that note.

SAITO: I headed to the rec room to play with Aurora, but I didn't go anywhere else.

AURORA: Just so we're clear, Saito... That note wasn't written by me.

TOMOE: Really? That's strange!

TOMOE: I wonder who wanted to play with you, Saito...

DAISUKI: Call me paranoid, but I somehow doubt whoever wrote that note actually wanted to play table tennis...

DAISUKI: And as for you, Saito. You realise that going was a terrible idea, yeah?

SAITO: How was I supposed to know that? It looked legitimate enough.

AURORA: At night time? But I can crush you at sport during the day!

SAITO: ...

SAITO: Okay, so maybe it was a little suspicious... but I couldn't just back down!

DAISUKI: ... Does anyone around here have some common sense?

AKEMI: That's odd... Daisuki is the responsible one all of a sudden.

AURORA: Watch out, Izanagi! He's trying to steal your character niche!

IZANAGI: Good! We could certainly use some more order around here!

KURODA: What about you, Erika? What were you doing?

ERIKA: Heh heh... Personal affairs.

MIHARU: We're... going to need something a little more specific than that.

ERIKA: I believe it is a concise summary of my activities... but if you would like me to elaborate, so be it.

ERIKA: I stayed in my room after 10 PM, as we had agreed. I was fixing my hair between 10 and 11 PM, after which I went out to investigate the cafeteria.

ERIKA: That is all.

TOMOE: You really spent an hour on your hair...? But it looks the same as it always does!

ERIKA: Of course it does. Take that as a testament to the effort required for this hairstyle.

DAISUKI: I dunno, you sound like you're full of shit... do you really think that we're going to believe that story?

ERIKA: My priorities simply differ to yours. If you believe my testimony is false, I welcome you to prove that is the case.

DAISUKI: ... Whatever.

MIHARU: So, to sum up what we know so far... Including Takao, that's at least three people who were up after 10 PM.

MIHARU: Furthermore, it seems reasonable to conclude that our culprit drew out Takao somehow, and then killed him.

AKEMI: We're a bunch of rule breakers, it seems.

MONOKUMA: I object to that statement! No one has decided to break any of my rules yet!

SAITO: But we get executed for breaking your rules. That's totally different.

MONOKUMA: Then you should have adopted my punishment scheme. Death is an excellent incentive!

TOMOE: Getting back to the point at hand, though... Do we actually know if anyone else was up that night?

TOMOE: I would've, but Daisuki made me promise not to!

REI: D-do we even have a way to tell? There's not really any evidence...

IZANAGI: Hrm... If we lack evidence, then we must rely on them to admit it!

IZANAGI: I request that anyone who was outside their rooms volunteer themselves at once!

DAISUKI: And put themselves under suspicion? Yeah, not happening...

AKEMI: So... where does that leave us?

HISOKA: Right back where we started...

HISOKA: I think we should stop our discussion here. I don't want to hear any more pointless debate.

SAITO: You've been silent this whole time, and that's the only thing you have to say?

SAITO: We're trying to catch the culprit, so how is that more pointless than just standing around!?

HISOKA: How is it not pointless? What, exactly, did you discover that we don't already know?

SAITO: Grr... You're really infuriating, you know that?

SAITO: If it's so pointless, then why don't you actually participate so we can get something done!

HISOKA: Hmph. I don't need to contribute.

IZANAGI: Hisoka! Teamwork is essential if we are to solve this case...!

HISOKA: Don't get me wrong. I would participate, if I had a need to.

HISOKA: But, I already know all the facts about this case... Which includes the identity of the culprit, naturally.

REI: W... What!?

TOMOE: Ooh, already? Yay!

SAITO: What the hell, Hisoka! If you knew, why didn't you say something earlier!?

HISOKA: Well, you never asked. I would have volunteered it earlier, but it simply wouldn't fit into the flow of conversation.

ERIKA: A legitimate reason... I understand completely.

ERIKA: But you now have our attention. Please, don't keep us waiting.

HISOKA: Heh. If you insist.

HISOKA: The culprit... is none other than you, Erika.

KURODA: (I-it was Erika...?!)

ERIKA: ...

ERIKA: I must admit, I did not expect an accusation to come out so early...

TOMOE: Hey, isn't that something you'd say when you're guilty...?

TOMOE: Good call, Hisoka! She's totally the killer!

ERIKA: Ehehe... Please listen more carefully. I said nothing to that effect.

AURORA: Aha! Her laugh just changed... That's really suspicious, isn't it?

AURORA: We have you now, Erika! Confess to your crimes!

MIHARU: Let's not get carried away, Aurora... Anyone would react if they are accused of a crime, guilty or not.

MIHARU: Besides, the only thing we have to say Erika is the culprit is Hisoka's word.

HISOKA: You underestimate me, Miharu...

HISOKA: I have more than just my word. There is evidence to back it up, of course.

SAITO: Then hurry up and present it already, so we can get this over with.

HISOKA: Not so fast. If I just lay it all out on the metaphorical table, I'm sure Erika would try and poke holes into my argument.

ERIKA: Is that not the purpose of a discussion...?

HISOKA: Heh. Instead, I'll show everyone the logic that brought me to this conclusion.

HISOKA: Let's start by discussing Erika's testimony. Her error will become clear.

KURODA: (Well, I can't deny she's been kind of suspicious.)

KURODA: (But is Erika the culprit...?)

:==:| Nonstop Debate! |:==:

Useable Ammunition:

::| Saito's Whereabouts

::| Erika's Whereabouts

::| Art Storage Room

IZANAGI: Let's hear it, then! What were your movements tonight?

ERIKA: ... Alright. Please, listen carefully.

ERIKA: I was inside my room between 10 and 11 PM.

AURORA: You spent the whole hour on your hair, right?

ERIKA: Yes, precisely.

ERIKA: After 11 PM, I went out... and discovered Takao in the kitchen.

ERIKA: I waited for someone else to come by...

ERIKA: Saito, of course. The rest is history, as they say.

TOMOE: Um... So where's this contradiction?

TOMOE: That sounds like a pretty normal night to me.

IZANAGI: I am also having trouble seeing your point, Hisoka...

IZANAGI: ||Her testimony does not contradict with any evidence!||

ERIKA: Of course... did you truly expect to find a contradiction?

ERIKA: I am a logician. Thus, my testimony is always perfect.

KURODA: You've got that wrong!

Ammunition used: Art Storage Room

KURODA: It might be true there's nothing wrong with your testimony about your movements during the night...

KURODA: But, you still have a lot of explaining to do.

ERIKA: ... Is that so. What would you like me to explain?

KURODA: Just something I found strange. You said that there was a hammer missing from the art storage room, right?

KURODA: But we went up there... and there was another hammer missing as well.

ERIKA: It was...? I stand corrected, then.

ERIKA: However, I don't see how that is a contradiction to my testimony. The hammer must have been taken some time after I visited.

TOMOE: But... when did you visit, Erika?

TOMOE: You never came up to the storage room during the investigation.

HISOKA: Do you really need to ask...?

HISOKA: It's obvious. She checked it during the night.

MIHARU: That scenario certainly makes sense... although I don't think we can prove that is the case.

MIHARU: After all, it's also possible that she saw it during the day.

HISOKA: Normally, I would agree with you. However, this time is different... because I saw her.

IZANAGI: R-really...!?

AURORA: Eh? Another sudden plot twist already!?

MIHARU: You saw her take a hammer from the storage room...?

HISOKA: Not exactly. I saw her on the first floor, heading for the stairs.

HISOKA: I was just passing through, so I didn't bother to follow her... But I think it's quite clear where she was going.

ERIKA: So, you did not truly witness me entering the art storage room as you claim...?

HISOKA: ... No, I suppose I didn't.

SAITO: It's still the logical conclusion though, isn't it?

SAITO: It's not like we can trust what you say, Erika... seeing as what Hisoka saw proves you were lying about being inside your room.

ERIKA: Ehehe... It was a little white lie, nothing more.

ERIKA: I shall admit it... I went to the art storage room. However, it was merely a visit.

ERIKA: Besides, if I had really taken one of the hammers as you say... it raises a very important question, wouldn't you agree?

DAISUKI: Does it? Because I think it fits pretty well with our theory that you're the culprit.

ERIKA: ... Perhaps it is less obvious than I thought. I shall elaborate, then.

:==:| Nonstop Debate! |:==:

Useable Ammunition:

::| Bloody Hammer

::| Blood Packs

::| Blood-covered Clock

ERIKA: Regardless of whether I am the culprit or not...

ERIKA: This murder only requires the use of one weapon.

ERIKA: Is there really a reason I would have to take a second hammer?

DAISUKI: You needed to cover your tracks, didn't you?

DAISUKI: The second hammer was used to ||fake the murder weapon||, obviously!

AKEMI: Remember, the hammer designs are identical...

AKEMI: We don't actually know which hammer is which.

AKEMI: Could it be that the first hammer is actually the missing weapon?

IZANAGI: But then... why is the first hammer gone!?

REI: M-maybe it had another use...?

REI: I-if not... then maybe it's unrelated to the murder.

KURODA: I concur!

Ammunition used: Blood Packs

KURODA: I agree with Daisuki. I think the murder weapon was faked.

TOMOE: Eh? You mean the hammer in the kitchen isn't the real weapon?

KURODA: Yes... there were blood packs missing from the infirmary. The culprit probably used them to cover the hammer we found in the kitchen in blood.

AKEMI: I suppose that would explain why there was so much blood all over the hammer...

IZANAGI: But... that conclusion is very strange, Kuroda!

KURODA: H-huh? What's wrong?

IZANAGI: If the hammer at the scene was not the real murder weapon, then it is probable that the other hammer was the one used to kill Takao...

IZANAGI: But then why would you set up the fake weapon to be an identical copy of the real one!?

MIHARU: It is a very strange thing to do...

MIHARU: Perhaps we were wrong to assume that one of the hammers was used as the murder weapon?

IZANAGI: That cannot be right either!

IZANAGI: If that was the case, then the culprit would not have any reason to take a second hammer in the first place!

KURODA: (Izanagi has a point. It's doesn't make sense for Erika to fake the murder weapon like that.)

KURODA: (Is there another explanation...?)

:==:| Why did Erika fake the murder weapon?|:==:

There's something special about the other hammer.

She wasn't the one who faked it.

To hide the fact that Takao wasn't killed by his head wound.

She was trying to make it look like a murder because it was actually suicide.

KURODA: This is it!

KURODA: The missing blood packs show the hammer was set up to look like the murder weapon... but it's also true that it wouldn't make sense for her to do it.

KURODA: Which leaves the possibility that someone else faked the weapon instead.

REI: So there was someone else involved...?

KURODA: It has to be. Nothing else makes sense.

DAISUKI: Erika's still the culprit though, yeah? If the other person covered their hammer in blood, then she would've taken the one that was used in the murder!

TOMOE: But, Daisuki... isn't that strange?

TOMOE: The other person wouldn't have any reason to bother setting up a fake murder weapon.

MIHARU: She has a point... if they didn't kill Takao, it would be counterproductive to sabotage our chances at catching the culprit.

DAISUKI: Like I know what they were thinking. Maybe they did it for kicks?

MIHARU: That justification is beyond terrible.

DAISUKI: ... Yeah, I guess so.

AURORA: Well, that got shut down quickly.

REI: S-so if that explanation doesn't make sense... What do we do now?

AKEMI: We'll just have to try looking at it from the other direction, of course.

REI: Huh? What do you mean?

AKEMI: Let's assume for a moment that this other person is actually the culprit.

HISOKA: It definitely gives them a reason to fake the murder weapon. Because Erika took the second hammer, the murder weapon must have been something else...

HISOKA: But, it also raises another question. In this scenario, Erika is largely unrelated to the murder itself...

HISOKA: Why, then, did Erika take a hammer from the art storage room?

ERIKA: Ehehe... You just said this was unrelated to the murder, no?

ERIKA: In that case, this line of questioning has no relevance to the case at hand.

AKEMI: I'll be the judge of that. We won't know everything about this murder if we don't answer all the questions that come up.

ERIKA: ...

KURODA: (Erika is definitely still hiding something...)

KURODA: (And if I'm right... it's because of her reason for taking the hammer!)

:==:| Why did Erika take the second hammer? |:==:

She was planning a murder.

She is a kleptomaniac.

She was working on an art project.

She was trying to frame someone else.

KURODA: This is it!

KURODA: Look at the dimensions of the hammers... They're really big, and really heavy.

KURODA: Hammers that size are too unwieldy to act as anything other than weapons.

TOMOE: What do you mean? They're sculpting hammers, aren't they?

MIHARU: They're a little large for that, don't you think...?

MIHARU: Monokuma probably did something to them.

MONOKUMA: Upupupu... Bigger is better, wouldn't you agree?

MONOKUMA: In fact, I guess you could even say it's my motto in life!

DAISUKI: Is that why you're so small...

MONOKUMA: I'm a special case, of course. Perfection in a despairingly fun-sized package!

MONOKUMA: Ah, but I'm getting off track a bit...

MONOKUMA: You've got me all figured out, you bastard. No one was using them for actual art, you know...

MONOKUMA: So I decided to supersize them! They serve their intended purpose much better now!

KURODA: I think that proves my point. Monokuma made these as weapons.

KURODA: So, it stands to reason that the other hammer was taken for it's true purpose - to commit murder!

ERIKA: Ehehe... That logic is flawed!

ERIKA: I see you are content to follow up on baseless accusations...

ERIKA: Please, give up now. I had no involvement in this murder.

KURODA: I believe that... because you were planning to kill someone else, weren't you?

ERIKA: Ehehe... Eheheheheheheheheh!

ERIKA: Except, there is a fatal flaw in your reasoning. You have yet to prove anything.

ERIKA: But if you truly refuse back down... You are welcome to attempt to destroy my counterargument.

KURODA: It's kind of you to offer... because that's exactly what I'm planning to do!

ERIKA: ...

ERIKA: Good luck. You will need it.

KURODA: (... We'll see about that!)

:==:| Cross Swords Battle! |:==:

Useable Swords:

::| Note From Aurora

::| Erika's Whereabouts

::| Erika's Testimony

Do you truly bel==/==ieve I would commit murder?

How vulgar. I am above ==/== such dirty work.

Perhaps you should ==/== consider another possibility?

To==/==moe could have taken the hammer instead...

She was alone ==/== for most of the investigation, no?

It would have been sim==/==ple for her to take it.

...

DEVELOPMENT!

...

KURODA: It's the only explanation for taking the second hammer.

KURODA: That's why you were out tonight...!

You are adding attempted ==/== murder to your claims...? Preposterous.

I will remind you that I discovered ==/== Takao's body in the cafeteria.

A mur==/==der had already occured...

Thus, I have ab==/==solutely no motive to kill.

Furthermore... who would be my target? Sai==/==to?

I certainly hope not. That would be ev==/==en more nonsensical.

It was merely ==/== chance that she was the first to come by... nothing more.

There's simply no way I could have anti==/==cipated Saito's movements!

KURODA: I'll cut that claim to pieces!

Sword used: Note From Aurora

KURODA: Actually, there was a very simple way to predict her movements...

KURODA: Or have you forgotten why Saito left her room in the left place?

SAITO: Ah! I got given a note...

KURODA: Yes... specifically, one that specifies a place and time for a meeting.

KURODA: With this note, you'd know exactly where Saito would go!

ERIKA: ... A valid point, I suppose.

ERIKA: However, you have yet to prove that I was the author of that note. If you cannot do that, then your narrative does not hold water.

DAISUKI: That's easy! Saito got the note after night time started, remember?

DAISUKI: You were definitely out of your room after 10 PM, so you definitely could have done it!

ERIKA: Ehehe... You seem to be forgetting an awful lot of things in this trial.

ERIKA: Hisoka has also admitted to being outside of his room past 10 PM. It was perfectly possible for him to forge the note.

KURODA: ... No, it's not.

ERIKA: ... And why is that?

KURODA: Think about it. Who was actually there for the game between Saito and Aurora?

IZANAGI: Aside from those two... It was you, Erika, Rei, and myself, was it not?

KURODA: Exactly. But there's something else... they didn't decide what they were going to do until they had already met up.

IZANAGI: Ah, I see! The note talks about the table tennis match, which means it must have been written by someone who was there!

MIHARU: Can you confirm this, Hisoka?

HISOKA: Yes, that's right.

HISOKA: Of course, I knew that Aurora challenged Saito to something... but no, I didn't know the details.

KURODA: In other words, it's impossible for Hisoka to have written it. He couldn't have talked about something he didn't know about.

KURODA: Which only leaves you... you're the only one who could have written that note!

ERIKA: ...

ERIKA: ... Heh.

ERIKA: Very well... I accept defeat.

SAITO: So you admit it, then?

ERIKA: Of course... It is terribly rude to not accept defeat gracefully.

ERIKA: You are correct. I was the one who forged the note. Additionally, I also took the second hammer from the storage room.

ERIKA: My plan was quite simple. Draw Saito out to the recreation room with the note...

ERIKA: And then kill her.

Okay, this trial is probably a bit dodgy - there was no way to tell Hisoka was also outside his room after 10 PM, so it wasn't actually possible to completely work out what happened from the investigation. It was, however, possible (i think :P) to figure out the culprit.

Again, sorry this took so long to write. Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait, lol.