Yeah, at this point, the group is becoming female dominated and I like it when that happens, lol.
The Fourth Trial
*CLASS TRIAL: IN SESSION*
Monocrow: Very well, let's being with the class trial. Discuss the evidence, argue with debates, find the culprit and vote, you know the drill so get to it!
Hibiki: Geez, why is he in such a rush?
Kokoro: It's because of the time. The killing took place at 6:35pm, so if we take too long, it'll become late at night.
Mikado: Right you are, Ms. Mitsume. On the ball as always.
Shinji: ...
Yuki: Big bro.
Owen: It's okay, Shinji. No matter what happens in this trial, I will help you get through this.
Shinji: Y-yeah...then let's start.
Emma: Shall we begin with what we know already?
Yoruko: Yeah, that would be best. Cause there's a lot of things I'm confused with right now.
Setsuka: Then it's up to Ro-Ro to guide us again.
'Well, point out the evidence when needed, but yeah, I get what she means.'
*NON-STOP DEBATE*
Kokoro: We know that the time of the murder was at 6:40pm.
Setsuka: And Jime was killed by an explosion.
Shinji: But how did part of a floor gave way?
Mikado: They must've used something to trigger an explosion.
Emma: And because of where it happened, Hajime must've been killed by surprise.
NO, THAT'S WRONG!
*BREAK*
Owen: Wait a minute, I'm sure that it wasn't a surprise kill.
Emma: Oh, but why is that?
Owen: Because on his body, there was a lethal cut around the neck, so he had to have been attacked with something sharp and then was killed in the explosion.
Kokoro: Correct. Although the top half of his body was burnt by the fire, there was still the presence of the cut.
Hibiki: So then, boxer guy got attacked first and then killed?
Shinji: Well, should we really discuss that when we already have the time of death?
Owen: If you mean go over the alibis, we should leave that until all of the other evidence is discussed.
Mikado: And what else is there to discuss, Mr. Rogers?
'There is something that someone mentioned...I CAN PROVE IT WITH THIS!'
Owen: What caused the explosion was a spray can.
Yuki: A spray can?
Owen: It was found in the boiler room when part of the floor was gone. So we can assume that the explosion took place in the boiler room.
Shinji: THAT'S NOT RIGHT!
*ARGUE*
Shinji: Hold on a second, that doesn't make any sense!
Owen: Huh? What do you mean it doesn't make sense?
Shinji: Well, I know I'm not good with words, but even I can tell your losing your edge. So listen up, I'm gonna help you out!
'Wait, I think I know what he means, it was found among the wreckage as well.'
*REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN*
Shinji: I know Hajime was killed by an explosion...
...and that it happened in the boiler room.
But as for what caused it...
...it can't be a spray can!
It's flammable, but it's contained inside, right?
*ADVANCE*
Owen: True, the fuel inside a spray can is contained until it's used to spray. But that wasn't the only thing that caused the explosion.
Shinji: You're saying it wasn't the only thing?
But then what else could've triggered it?
If they wanted to make a spray can explode...
...they would need some kind of light!
But we didn't find anything like that at the crime scene!
I'LL CUT YOUR ARGUMENT IN TWO!
*BREAK*
Owen: Actually, we did find something that proves the spray can was involved.
Shinji: Huh? You did?
Owen: There was a lighter that was found in Hajime's jacket. Right, Kokoro?
Kokoro: He's correct. I checked over his body and remarkably, part of his jacket didn't burn and inside the pocket was a lighter.
Setsuka: But was that the only reason the explosion happened?
Owen: No, because there was something else among the wreckage as well. There was a fuel can, or what's left it, right, Yuki?
Yuki: Yeah, that's right. I didn't see it at first because nearly all of it was gone, but I saw part of a big plastic-shaped can which had to be a fuel can.
Hibiki: But where did the fuel can come from?
Mikado: Most likely from the first island's mart store. That one is more hardware-based than food-based after all.
Yoruko: So did the culprit ignited the spray can with the lighter and then threw it at the fuel can?
Shinji: But if they did that, then...sorry, leader, I guess I jumped the gun on that one.
Owen: Don't worry about it, it's fine to double check on any evidence I may have forgotten, I can't remember everything at once.
Setsuka: No one's expecting you to, Ro-Ro.
Emma: So if we can move on, why did it take place in the boiler room?
Owen: That's what I'm trying to figure out as well. Because looking at the crime scene, there were no messages and no sign of handbooks either.
Hibiki: Did someone steal a handbook again?
Yoruko: If they did, we would've seen it somewhere nearby.
Shinji: So Hajime went to the tower without his handbook?
Yuki: Big bro?
Shinji: Now that I think about it, Hajime was acting a little weird earlier.
Emma: Do you know something?
Shinji: Yeah, it just came back to me. Hajime and I were at the gym, we were talking and then he said he got a message on his handbook. He said that he had to go to the tower alone and if that's true, he must've went to the boiler room to meet with someone...and then he must've gotten attacked.
Kokoro: What time was that?
Shinji: It was...6:25pm.
Setsuka: That's five minutes before Emma's meeting with Mikado.
Mikado: Oho! So two other people were planning to meet up at the tower.
Hibiki: But why the boiler room?
Owen: It has to be someone who knows about the meeting between Emma and Mikado. Because if they had it near thier location, Emma's life would've been in jeopardy.
Mikado: Fufu, afraid of Ms. Magorobi getting killed? You should be.
Yoruko: Do you always have to make a snide remark?!
Setsuka: But that would mean all of us knew about the meeting, so it could've been anyone of us that did it.
Owen: I believe that's what the culprit was trying to do.
Kokoro: Which was to create a murder scene that would get everyone suspected and use the knowledge of the meeting to their advantage, correct?
Yuki: Then I guess we should move to the meeting that happened between Emma and Mikado.
'Indeed and I saw something that couldn't have been there, cause Mikado showed it to me...'
*NON-STOP DEBATE*
Shinji: So...umm, what happened at the meeting?
Emma: Well, I met up with Mikado at 6:30pm. And the meeting took place on the second floor.
Mikado: We were talking away in a civilized manner for a while, until it got rather sour.
Hibiki: What do you mean? Did you try to attack her?
Mikado: Unfortunately, I couldn't do that. Because I was distracted by an object that threw me off.
I AGREE WITH THAT!
*BREAK*
Owen: Can't believe I'm agreeing with the mastermind. But he's right, it wasn't possible for him to attack Emma.
Setsuka: But why not?
Owen: Cause on the second floor where they had the meeting, there was a smoke bomb that was used.
Kokoro: Which must've been what Emma used to buy herself time to run away. Isn't that right?
Emma: Kokoro, you're sharp as always. But yes, I carried a smoke bomb just to keep myself safe like I said I would.
Yoruko: But where did the smoke bomb come from?
Mikado: Most likely from our hidden location. She is a Void member after all, don't forget that.
Shinji: But you're the mastermind! You could've used your magic to stop her!
Mikado: I'm afraid that's not correct. The tower itself prevented me from using my powers.
Yuki: What do you mean?
Mikado: It is as I said, this world is a virtual reality, but the creation of Babel's Tower was NOT part of the original plan.
Kokoro: So it was hacked into from the real world?
Mikado: And as always, you never miss a beat. Because of the tower's influence, I could only stand back after Emma threw the smoke bomb.
Hibiki: So there was nothing you could've done?
Shinji: Does that mean we finally have a chance to beat you up?
Mikado: ...
'He's looking at me...he obviously wants me to ask what her decision was, but asking it now will throw us off the trial...'
Owen: Let's not take any risks and get back to the clues. There was something else I found that was near the second floor.
Yuki: You did? What did you find?
'It was connected from the boiler room to the second floor...'
S-E-C-R-E-T P-A-S-S-A-G-E-W-A-Y
Owen: There was a secret passageway I found while investigating.
Setsuka: You did? Where was it?
Owen: It was connected from the boiler room and I followed it until it took me to a bookcase, I pushed it aside and ended up on the second floor.
Kokoro: Then the secret passageway must've been involved.
Yoruko: So the culprit used the passageway to sneak through and then kill Hajime in the boiler room?
Mikado: But I did not see anyone use it from the second floor.
Hibiki: Then they must've heard the conversation when the meeting happened.
Yuki: So someone was listening in and then went back to the boiler room?
Emma: But that means they would've overheard what was discussed...so, they must know about the choice I made.
Owen: Don't worry about your decision, Emma. You need to put that aside and focus on the case.
Emma: R-right...
Setsuka: Wait, do if we even know if the culprit didn't move the bookshelf?
Hibiki: Yeah, because we still haven't found what cut Hajime.
'Wait a second...I think I saw it hiding in the corner of the passageway...I CAN PROVE IT WITH THIS!'
Owen: It was a pocket knife and it was hiding in the corner of a passageway.
Shinji: Hajime was carrying a pocket knife? Dammit, so that's why he must've left.
Yoruko: What do you mean?
Kokoro: It means Hajime was planning to commit a murder.
Hibiki: What?!
Mikado: Are you suggesting that Mr. Makunouchi was lying in wait, ready to strike me down, in case I attacked Ms. Magorobi?
Owen: That means the culprit must've seen what Hajime was doing and that was how they got into a fight that ended up in the boiler room.
Yuki: But if that's true, who could've done it?
Emma: Perhaps we should go over the alibis again?
Mikado: How about we do something different? Why don't we simply guess the name of the culprit, it would be much more fun that way.
Monocrow: Hmm, are you sure that's wise, Mikado?
Mikado: But it would make the killing game more interesting.
Yoruko: To you, it would be, but not the rest of us!
Setsuka: That's right. If Emmie's actions during the meeting proves anything, you're on your own.
Mikado: But there is still one unknown Void member among you, are you sure you want to run that risk?
Yuki: Not if it's a friend that we've come to know since we became friends.
Mikado: Then my apologies, I'm not on my own.
Owen: What do you mean?
Mikado: I hope Monocrow forgives me, but I really do desire to make the trial more interesting.
Monocrow: Sigh...do as you please, but just this once!
Mikado: Thank you, teacher! Now then, listen carefully. I won't tell you who the culprit is, but who the last Void member is.
Hibiki: Then who is it?
Mikado: It's someone who you cherish as a great friend, someone who is a Void member but wanted to protect others. Isn't that right, Mr. Kasai?!
'I was instantly shocked...'
Owen: What?!
Yoruko: Shinji?
Setsuka: What did you...just say?
Yuki: WAIT! Big Bro is a Void member?! Th-that's a lie! You have to be lying!
Shinji: Why you?! Are you trying to pin this on me, asshole?!
Mikado: I did not say you were the culprit. I said you were the last Void member.
Hibiki: But every culprit we found was a Void member.
Yoruko: Well, apart from the first one. But still, that can't be true!
Shinji: Yeah, there's no way I'm a Void member!
Mikado: Come on, Mr. Kasai. There's no reason for you to lie, if I'm the one who's saying it.
Yoruko: He is telling the truth, unlike you!
Setsuka: Yeah, who would wanna believe in a no-good mastermind like you?
Shinji: That's right! I would never kill Hajime, I would never kill anyone!
Yuki: I believe you, big bro! You would never hurt anyone.
Shinji: You think so as well, right, leader?
Owen: Me?
Yuki: What's wrong? You seem distracted.
Owen: Well, I'm trying to work out why Mikado would reveal that to us now instead of after the trial. Because of that, I can't shake the feeling that there's something going on, something is...off about all this. And until I can address that problem, we can't really continue the trial.
Yuki: You mean you want to...suspect big bro?
Owen: I didn't say that, I was saying that there's gotta be a reason why Mikado did that. And I know how much it means to believe in someone, but if we want to survive, we have to look at what the truth is, even if it hurts us.
Shinji: But, Owen...just because Mikado says I'm a Void member, th-that doesn't mean I killed Hajime!
Kokoro: It would be better if we did discuss this.
Emma: What?
Kokoro: We should go over whether or not it's possible for Shinji to commit the crime.
Hibiki: I don't like it, but I get what Owen is saying. After all, my sister was killed by a Void member as well.
Emma: I hate this as well, but if Hajime was killed after hearing my meeting with Mikado, then it has to be the culprit.
Yuki: But why...why are you all turning against Big Bro?!
Shinji: Yuki...
Mikado: Too bad, Mr. Maeda. It would seem that Mr. Rogers agrees with me.
Owen: It's not that I agree with you, you're still an asshole as far as I'm concerned.
Mikado: Thanks for the amateur insult.
Setsuka: So we're even...we can't go any further, because we're split.
Monocrow: HOO-HOO HOLD ON!
*HOLD ON*
Monocrow: Sorry to interrupt your trial, but it is as Setsuka says, you're more or less split right now. So allow me to bring up the scrum debate once again!
Yuki: Why, Owen...why won't you believe Big Bro? I thought you were a good friend to him.
'Yuki seems convinced that Shinji didn't do it...it's just like how I was with Sora, but we need to clear this up, no matter how much it hurts.'
*SCRUM DEBATE*
Is Shinji capable of committing the murder?
Yuki, Setsuka, Shinji, Yoruko = It's not possible.
Owen, Kokoro, Emma, Hibiki, Mikado = It is possible.
Yuki: Owen, are you telling me Shinji is the culprit?
Owen: I'm not saying he's the culprit. I'm saying there's something going on with this trial.
Yoruko: Shinji is a big sweetheart who wants to protect everyone. So that can't be right!
Mikado: Just because someone's a sweetheart, doesn't mean they can't become killers.
Setsuka: Do we even know if Shin attacked Jime, that could be a lie as well.
Hibiki: But if Hajime wasn't attacked, how do we explain the pocket knife that was left behind?
Yuki: There should've been a witness in the boiler room.
Emma: But we don't have a witness who saw everything in the boiler room.
Yoruko: Then that has to be a lie, Mikado is the one who killed Hajime!
Kokoro: That is incorrect. Because Mikado said that his powers are useless at Babel's Tower.
Shinji: I couldn't have killed Hajime, I swear!
Owen: I'm sorry, Shinji, but you could have killed Hajime.
THIS IS OUR ANSWER!
*BREAK*
Owen: As long as there's a possibility of someone being the culprit, we have to keep pressing on until we are absolutely sure they are innocent or guilty.
Yuki: No! You're gonna believe Mikado over Big Bro?!
Owen: Of course not, cause it may all just be a lie by Mikado as well. But we need to keep finding the truth, that's what Sora would say.
Yuki: That's not fair! You can't use Sora's words as an excuse to accuse Big Bro!
Kokoro: Yuki, you should calm down. Getting irrational will not solve this trial.
Yuki: But I...
Shinji: It's okay, Yuki.
Yuki: Huh?
Shinji: If...we have to do this, then...we gotta see this through to the end, I won't run away from this.
Yuki: Big bro...
Mikado: Hmm, perhaps I was a bit too hasty in revealing that information.
Owen: You know, it just occurred to me. Could the discussion from earlier have something to do with it?
Hibiki: What do you mean?
Owen: Thank back to when we were talking about what we discovered, after putting in the reset code and learning that this world is a virtual reality. After we finished that conversation, Shinji said that he wanted a private word with Hajime, isn't that right?
Shinji: Huh? Oh yeah...I asked to meet with him in my room and...we were thinking of what to do, because we couldn't trust Mikado in not hurting Emma. But then...we actually got into a fight...we argued about who should do what. And then, he left my room in a bad mood. It was then that I saw Hajime in the gym at 6:20pm, he calmed down and apologized before suggesting that we do something about saving Emma, just in case Mikado tried to kill her.
Emma: So in a way, you still wanted to be my bodyguards, but in a different manner?
Shinji: Y-y-yeah...
Mikado: Oho! Then it looks like we have our culprit.
Yuki: Wait, that doesn't mean he did it!
Kokoro: After hearing Shinji's words, we should go over the alibis.
Owen: Yeah, we should. Because remember, if we get this wrong, we'll all be punished except for the culprit.
Yoruko: You...don't need to remind us of that rule.
Owen: So to begin with, Setsuka, Hibiki and myself can be removed from the list, because we triggered the body discovery announcement.
Mikado: And from what I heard, the three of you were outside the tower, so there was no way for one of you three to commit the murder.
Owen: The next two to be removed are Emma...and Mikado, because of thier meeting that took place on the second floor.
Emma: Indeed that is true, and because we didn't know of the secret passageway, it would've been impossible for either of us to have done it.
Owen: That leaves Yoruko, Kokoro, Shinji and Yuki. Kokoro can be the next one removed, because she was still recovering from her panic attack earlier.
Kokoro: Yes, I didn't go anywhere else except around the cruise. I'm back to normal now, but that was a frightening experience.
Setsuka: Koko...
Owen: Yoruko could not have done it either because of her account. She was in her room making cocktails, right?
Yoruko: Yeah, I was busy making those until the announcement came on.
Owen: That leaves Shinji and Yuki as the only remaining suspects.
Yuki: Then it's not me! There's no way I would ever kill Hajime!
'Which means we're down to one...I'm sorry, but this is the truth...'
*SELECT A SUSPECT*
Owen: There's only one left...and it's Shinji.
Yuki: No! Please no! This has to be Mikado's trap!
Kokoro: Yuki, I know this hurts, but you can't fight against this.
Yuki: What do you mean I can't? I'll defend Big Bro to the very end as long as I want!
Owen: Yuki...please, don't make this any harder than it needs to be.
Yuki: Why? Because you can't tell Mikado is lying?!
Owen: Yuki, please!
Yuki: FINE! I'LL SAY IT OVER AND OVER UNTIL YOU GET THIS THROUGH YOUR HEAD!
'Dammit, he's being way too stubborn. But if its Shinji, then he and Hajime must've decided on something together. Alright, I think I know why...I can't back down!'
*PANIC TALK ACTION*
I'll never accept this!
Why do you keep accusing him?!
I thought you were a good friend!
Big Bro would never kill anyone!
Why are you listening to Mikado?!
Big Bro has always tried his best to protect us!
I'll never believe he's the culprit!
I don't have to accept your truth!
That is obliviously a lie!
If Big Bro attacked Hajime, he would've had bruises as well!
CULPRIT AND VICTIM-TEAMED UP-TO WORK-TOGETHER
IT ENDS HERE!
*BREAK*
Owen: That's it! So that's why it happened! Shinji attacked Hajime because it was part of the plan they came up with together!
Yuki: What?!
Shinji: So you figured it out, huh? Yeah, I thought you would...
Mikado: Interesting, Mr. Rogers, and how did you work that out?
Owen: Because of what Shinji said earlier. He and Hajime must've talked about forming a plan to save Emma. But in order to so do, they would have to...sacrifice their lives by setting everything up in the boiler room and then possibly fight it out for the right to carry out the rest of thier plan.
Kokoro: The idea of a culprit and victim working together. That doesn't sound like a bad logic to follow.
Yuki: But...but then...hic...
Mikado: Fufufu, it would seem Mr. Maeda's morale has been shot down.
Kokoro: Yes, I'm afraid the matter is settled.
Yoruko: Shinji...no...
Owen: Shinji, I'm going to go over the case from beginning to end, like I've done before. I want you alone to give me an answer when I'm finished. If you believe that I am right with every detail, let me know when you're ready. Like I said at the start, we'll work together to the end, so let's end this trial together as good friends.
Shinji: Hic...alright, leader...
*CLOSING ARGUMENT*
HERE'S THE TRUTH OF THE CASE!
It all began earlier in the afternoon, after we discovered the truth about this world. We came back from the tower to discuss what we found, we were then in Kokoro's room to talk about it more privately. After I put in the reset code which was what we found from the tower's Oracle Room, the handbook I used showed a disturbing message saying that the world is not real. We then worked out that we were inside a virtual world and that someone from outside may be watching us. This gave Kokoro a panic attack and we had her calm down. Emma then suggested that because of this reveal, she had to make the big choice soon, but Mikado's appearance forced her to change that.
After we started leaving Kokoro's room one by one, two people left to have a private word, one of those two was Hajime and the other would end up being the culprit and despite an argument that happened, they came together to make the plan work. First, Hajime left the cruise early to begin making preparations for the murder. Since he left before the culprit, he must've went to the hardware mart on the first island to grab what was needed which were a fuel can, a pocket knife and a lighter. He then went to the mart on the fourth island to grab the spray can, with those three items, he made his way to Babel's tower and set everything up in the boiler room.
When the plan was put in place, Hajime used the secret passageway and listened in to Emma and Mikado talking. On the other side, Emma was talking about what she decided to do with her life, and even though we still don't know her answer, we can assume that it was one that Mikado didn't like. So thinking that her life was in danger, she pulled out a smoke bomb which caught Mikado off guard and she ran away. After that, Hajime was caught by surprise by the culprit, the pocket knife came into play and Hajime suffered a cut around the neck, the knife was then dropped and both Hajime and the culprit ran out of the passageway.
With the culprit making the first move, they struggled but Hajime, despite being the ultimate boxer, ended up being cornered. He then threw the lighter at the culprit who picked up the spray can and sprayed the fuel at the lighter, causing a fire and then dropping the spray can onto the fuel that was poured out from the fuel can. They then threw the lighter back at Hajime who pocked it...before a part of the floor was consumed by the explosion. Throwing the lighter back was done in order to ensure we could work out why it happened. And with all that in mind, there's only one person who can stand up to Hajime's strength with thier own strength...
...as much as I'm sad about this, the only one who could've done this, is you, Shinji Kasai, the Ultimate Firefighter!
*COMPLETE*
Owen: And that concludes the reality of this case. Was that okay for you, Shinji?
Shinji: Y-yeah...that's how it all happened...he's right...I did it because it was part of our plan! I killed Hajime to save Emma!
Emma: Shinji...
Shinji: But to do that, I had to...kill one of my best buddies...Hajime! I'm so sorry...I had to kill you, but I hope...you understand!
Yuki: Big bro...hic...
Yoruko: Hic...
Setsuka: If only he was being tricked by Kado, cause of him saying Shin is a Void member.
Mikado: Hmm? I don't remember playing a trick on him. But before we talk about that, why don't we move on with the voting?
Monocrow: Well, I can understand you wanting to vote now, as the evening sky has begun to settle. That aside, if you are done with the trial, get ready to cast your votes, you should all know how this works by now, so get ready and start voting!
We voted and a roulette machine came out just like before, when the spinner stopped on Shinji's face, confetti and coins came out, but I didn't want them.
'Now we just had to know...why did Mikado mention Shinji as the last Void member? What was he planning to gain from revealing that?'
*CLASS TRIAL END: ALL RISE*
Poor Yuki...it's gotta be heartbreaking for him that Shinji is the culprit.
Next time! Shinji makes a shocking decision and Hibiki wants to sing for Owen.