CASE FILES
Monokuma Case File #1
Victim #1: Kikuko Akagi
Misc: The Victim suffered post mortem sexual assault
Cause of Death: A single stab wound through the victim's stomach via a Machete
Time of Death: 9:55-10:00 P.M
Discovery: The body was discovered at approximately 10:20 P.M in the hallway near the Garbage Disposal Chamber
Monokuma Case File #1
Victim #2 : Daniel Todd Morton
Misc: Victim sustained multiple varying wounds throughout the torso and even the groin.
Cause of Death: A scalpel having pierced through his right eye and into his brain.
Time of Death: 11:20-11:25 P.M
Discovery: The body was discovered at approximately 11:40 P.M in the Morgue
TRUTH BULLETS
Alice's Autopsy (Daniel)
Alice's Autopsy (Kikurin)
Amanda's Alibi
Blood Analysis
Blood on Daniel's Hands
Blood Pool around Kikurin's body
Bloody Footprints
Bridgette's Alibi
Chijimatsu's Testimony
Curfew and limited Access
Daniel's Nudity
Daniel's Time of Death
Frida's Curfew Search
Frida's Theory
Hockey Mask
Jingai, Shiori, and Alice's Alibi
Jin's Theory
Kasumi, Frida, Timothy, and Kosaku's Alibi
Kikurin leaving around Curfew
Kikuko's Time of Death
Konyu's Testimony
Machete
Missing Luck Charm
Monokuma Sticker
Nessa's confirmation about Psycho
Noelle's Alibi
Lack of Physical evidence (Daniel)
Lack of Physical evidence (Kikurin)
Psycho Killer Profile
Psycho written in blood
Rene's Testimony
Rene's Theory
Sexual Assault
Semen
Scott and Kaiyo's Alibi
State of Daniel's Body
Chapter 8: Masks: Act: Six
12:09 A.M Day Three
Bio Dome Elevator
Twenty had swiftly shrunk to eighteen. Before long, that number would likely shrink again.
They were crammed inside of a darkened elevator, ascending up an extensive shaft. While the trip only lasted around thirty seconds, it felt like a short eternity.
Very soon, everything would be on the line. If the spotless failed to expose the blackened, this is where the game would end. All of them would die, save for one person...
The elevator came to an abrupt halt. Its doors spilled light inside by sliding open.
What awaited the group was nothing short of astounding. It appeared as if they were at the top of the station.
The trial room was a massive circular chamber, with walls and ceilings of reinforced glass. Being inside was like standing amidst the vacuum of space.
Billions of stars sparkled in every direction. The Earth, Moon, and Sun loomed over them, watching them from their seats in the solar system.
Twenty podiums formed a perfect circle around the center. Each one had markers to indicate who belonged where. Their tops had touch screens, as well as a small counter surface containing pens, paper, and folders. Monokuma sat in an obscenely high judge's podium positioned behind the circle.
Portraits of Kikuko and Daniel occupied two of the student podiums. Both bore a large X through their likenesses.
"What in the world is this? It's as chilling as it is beautiful," Kaiyo commented with a sense of wonder as she stepped out of the elevator and onto the tiled floor.
"Don't you think the name 'Observatory Courtroom' sort of fits this place? Yuk yuk yuk. If you'll find your places, we can bring to order the first class trial." Monokuma's excited giggles rocked him back and forth in his chair. "This is going to be a blast. I can just feel it!"
One by one, the remaining teenagers took their spots.
Scott folded his arms. "Yo, so how does this shit work? I ain't ever actually been in court. I only know whatcha see in movies and TV."
"Pupupu, have no fear. There aren't a lot of rules in this courtroom. You all have an unspecified amount of time before I will call for a vote. Heh, don't worry. I'm a judge, so I'll be bear-y fair. Just don't bore me too much." The two-toned bear snickered as he raised a paw to his mouth. "Secondly, attacking someone else is immediate grounds for punishment, and I don't need to remind you what that means. As much as I love watching you all tear each other to shreds, that's absolutely forbidden here."
Jingai gave a small scowl. "I can't help but fucking notice a computer screen, with all of our faces on it. I'm assuming that has something to do with voting?"
"Right you are! All of you, and I mean all of you, will have to lock in a vote. Not voting is also punishable. Make sure you do perform your duty, alright?" Monokuma grinned. "Any further questions?"
"A-Actually, I have one." Timothy timidly raised his hand. "What would happen in the case of a tie? Say, if half of us chose the right culprit, but the other half were mistaken?"
The bear tapped his paw against his chin thoughtfully. "Leave it to you to ask a tricky question. I think we'll just keep it simple. A majority has to be right, even if it's by a single vote. If a tie occurs and a majority can't be reached, it will also result in a win for the blackened."
"How unfortunate. I was kind of hoping we could split votes if we were stumped. Guess it's all or nothing," Konyu said with a small sigh.
Amanda offered a weak smile. "So it would seem, though it was worth considering. Now we know the gravity of the situation."
"YUP YUP. No half-assed solutions here. Either find the truth or die in a horrific fashion. Now let's get this trial underway. We've got not one, but two schmucks pushing up daisies. It's up to you all to reach the truth!"
Kosaku cracked his knuckles. "There's no way I'm gonna let little sis' death be in vain. I'm not letting her down again."
"Hey, don't forget about Danny, big guy! We've got two victims to live for now!" Bridgette exclaimed with a fiery look in her eyes.
Rene offered a disgusted expression. "Daniel may be considered a victim by the definition of this game, but he can rot for all I care."
"Silence, you fiend! I'm already growing weary of the filth that pours from your mouth. You should not speak ill of the dead. Such animosity is unwarranted," Frida said in a cold voice with narrowed eyes.
The Acupuncturist sighed. "Normally, I'd agree with you. I wouldn't wish death on him, but I'd be lying if I said I felt sympathy for his passing."
"Meow, sounds like we don't have the whole story. I think the plot is about to thicken, but the question is if it's a T-H-I-C-K or T-H-I-C-C. We need more details," Noelle said as she waved her arm sleeves back and forth.
Kasumi rubbed her forehead in annoyance. "I noticed some strange additions to the investigation tab on our Monopad. I take it that this is somehow related?"
"You'd be right," Alice responded with an apprehensive expression. "This is bloody hard to say, but there's no right way to explain it. Between semen collected, and bruising...we determined that Daniel was a necrophiliac."
"Indeed. There were a few notes jotted down, but it's clear that his reasoning for wanting to perform a proper autopsy was so that he could…take advantage of the situation," Shuhei explained.
"Take advantage of the situation?" Shiori was still trying to process the details.
The Ultimate Sniper locked her jaw to ground out her response. "He violated Kikuko's body."
"Violated...her body," Kosaku repeated in an almost hoarse voice. The burly boy shut his eyes as he shook in a mixture of anger and disgust. "Please forgive me for failing you little sis."
Chijimatsu stroked their chin. "My, if that isn't quite a grim and oddly not surprising revelation. I must admit sounds a bit cliche. I knew he had some skeletons in his closets, or perhaps corpses would have been a more apt analogy."
"Jesus, could you at least try to pretend like you care? I mean shit. It's bad enough someone killed her, but then to do that...tch, that monster is lucky to already be dead. Otherwise…" Scott trailed off with a dark expression in his eyes.
Shuhei's sympathetic smile broke his normally stoic demeanor. "As someone who lost my own sister to a killer, I can certainly relate to your anger. However, it's important that we not let emotion cloud our judgements. A single wrong action in this game could turn any of us into monsters."
Frida extended her arms widely. "I could not have said it better myself. Divine punishment will be brought, but we must not lose our focus on the here and now."
"I-I just don't know what to think anymore." Kaiyo hugged herself for comfort. "Despite Monokuma's words, I never thought anyone would actually murder, let alone… You know, I didn't think things like necrophilia really happened. It just always seemed like something disturbing you see in movies or on tv."
"Compartmentalization is the best we can do for now. I don't say that to be cold, but there will be a time to grieve afterward," Amanda offered with a solemn expression.
The Ultimate Exterminator pulled his cap down slightly. "It's time to face facts. This isn't a game with petty stakes. We have to stop screwing around, or we'll just add to the dead. And I have no intention of dying here…"
"Indeed, dying here would be terrible for business. Might I suggest we find a place to focus first?" Konyu proposed as she looked around the room.
Nerai eyed each of the other students intently before responding in a level tone. "As it stands, we clearly have two murders to solve. The biggest question beyond the identity of the blackened is if the same culprit committed both crimes."
"That sounds like a smart place to start. Worst case scenario, we have two killers. We can punish them both if that's the case," Kosaku said.
Bridgette nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, it's definitely a headache, but Himbo is right. No matter if it's one or two, we'll get to the bottom of it."
"I-I'm not so sure if that's true." Shiori stared at the ground.
Chijimatsu questioned as they arched a single brow. "Something to say, little witch?"
The Contortionist cocked her head to the side at an unnatural angle. "Meow, I think she means that we can only spank one person for being a bad boy or girl. There might not be enough paddling going around. What a shame, I enjoy some nice friction."
Kasumi jabbed a finger at Hollie. "Care to translate if that was useful or nonsense?"
"I'm fairly sure she's referring to the rule that a second blackened killing after a first isn't eligible for reward or punishment. If there are two killers, the second is going to get away with murder regardless of whether we solve the first," Hollie stated as she stared down at her Monopad.
"M-Maybe I have an idea? If there is another killer, why don't they just come forward? I-I mean, it may be difficult, but if they killed because of what Daniel was doing, I think most of us could at least forgive them or be willing to hear them out. If there really is a second killer and they don't come forward, they are just as susceptible to the outcome of this t-trial," Timothy stated in a shaky breath.
Jingai broke the following lull of silence. "I respect what you're trying to do, but this shit ain't gonna work. This isn't just Daniel's killer, but also someone using the Mr. Psycho moniker. I doubt they would expose themselves in this situation. Besides, this is all speculative. We have no idea if the theory of a second killer is even true."
"Might I suggest we start with the first incident and work forward? Once we've gone over all the evidence, we might be able to better determine if the two crimes are connected." Alice knitted her brow together. "Hollie, would you mind stating what we found from first murder?"
The Acupuncturist glanced over her device once more. "We determined that Kikuko died somewhere between 9:55 and 10:00 P.M. The information we gathered was added to the Monopads as a result. The body was discovered within around twenty to twenty five minutes after death."
"Excellent. So, to find Kikurin's killer, we just have to find someone who didn't have an alibi during that particular time window." Amanda jotted everything upon a piece of paper.
"Um, I have a question. How could someone in either of these murders avoid tracking blood? It just seems like something would have been left behind," Shiori offered.
"Maybe someone is good at throwing weapons?" Bridgette suggested. "If they weren't face to face, then maybe that would explain it?"
Noelle bobbed her head up and down. "I've seen carnies do some crazy stunts like that when I was in the circus. I even got a few pointers." She covered her mouth with her sleeve. "Meow, that wasn't a confession. Nyeh, that just sounds even more suspicious… Don't throw the book at me. I hate reading…"
"What a surprise to learn this nutcase was in a circus," Rene remarked with an eyeroll. "This is a good line of questioning, though. We didn't find any towels, napkins, mops, rags, or anything to suggest the killer cleaned up afterward. Could this crackpot suggestion actually have some merit?"
The Sniper rubbed at her chin thoughtfully. "It's probably a simpler explanation than you might expect. It's true an immense amount of blood pooled out of her body, but she only suffered a single wound. Furthermore, I don't think we're dealing with a high impact wound, despite the small spray of blood." TRUTH BULLET
"Uh, mind clarifying for those who don't live and breathe forensics?" Kaiyo asked sheepishly.
"It's quite simple," Shuhei responded coolly. "The most likely scenario is that Kikuko was run through by the machete in some sort of altercation between her and her attacker. There's a good chance the weapon wasn't disposed of, because doing so would have resulted in the transfer of more blood and physical evidence." TRUTH BULLET
Kosaku scratched at the back of his head. "So I guess if there was blood, it may not be as much as we think. Whoever did this may not have even gotten any on themselves."
"I must disagree! Even if the killer was fortunate enough to avoid getting blood on their attire, I simply can't believe that they wouldn't have gotten it on their hands," Alice said before raising her gloved hand. "Unless, of course, they were wearing gloves. Regardless, there must be bloody gloves or something from which they wiped their hands with. With water being shut off, they couldn't have simply washed it away." TRUTH BULLET
Jingai smirked. "Nice job, Bunhead. So either we need to find out if anything like that was discovered, or if the killer may very well have that evidence still on them."
"Hell yeah! Turn out your pockets or I'll give ya a serious beating!" Scott exclaimed enthusiastically.
"No violence, Scrappy. This is considered sacred ground, but I understand your excitement. This could certainly bear fruit. If someone opposes it, it would certainly make them suspicious in any case," Frida mused.
Shuhei adjusted his glasses. "There's no need to perform a pat down or cavity search. Timothy, we found something, did we not?"
"Oh, yes. We found a bloodied cloth in the hallway near the dormitory wing, which was close to the garbage disposal. It was wadded up, but didn't appear to be very old," the Engineer stammered slightly. TRUTH BULLET
"Kekeke, so it would seem we're making some progress. Our medic's theory seems spot on. Someone certainly went to some trouble to clean up after making a mess," Chijimatsu chuckled darkly.
Konyu nodded in response. "So we have some pieces of the puzzle. Consider me sold so far, but now we have another challenge. Who had the opportunity or possible motive to kill Kikuko?"
"I'm not sure they had a motive to kill her at all," Kasumi remarked, almost to herself.
Shuhei raised a single brow. "So you think the crime was either unplanned or random?"
The Historian's lips drew into a fine line. "I think our victim was initially designed to be a blackened. Think about it. We know our killer in this case wasn't the one given the weapon and mask, right? Otherwise, we wouldn't be standing here. What if our innocent child star was actually the recipient? What if she ran into someone and an altercation took place?" TRUTH BULLET
"W-Wait, you think Kikurin was somehow involved?" Timothy asked with a horrified expression. "But she was just a child. I can't imagine her planning to kill anyone."
Rene sighed. "Don't be so easily fooled by appearances. Despite her looks, she was no younger than the rest of us. Most likely, the child star gimmick was nothing more than a persona she stuck to."
"I-I don't mean to speak ill of the dead, but I did see a glimpse of the real Kikuko. I don't think she was a bad person, but I don't think any of us really knew her either," Shiori admitted with a downcast expression.
"Nah, there's no way! Shit. I don't know if I buy that she was just acting. She seemed so sincere," Scott said, shaking his head.
The Construction Worker offered a frustrated expression. "I don't know what I believe, but I won't say anything until I know more. Whatever is true, she is a victim and she didn't deserve any of this."
"You can say that again! Even if she wasn't being wholly honest, we don't know what was going on in her mind. So I'm going to choose to think the best until we know otherwise," Kaiyo said with a determined expression.
"I do appreciate your devotion, but I have to admit...the circumstances do explain a lot. Kikuko said she was going to assist us with our dormitory search, only to back out and run off at the last second. Whether she was planning murder or something else...she was certainly keeping secrets," the Chocolatier pointed out.
"If it puts anyone's mind at ease, it's possible that Kikuko was planning to dispose of the weapon, which is why her body was near the garbage disposal in the first place," Konyu offered. "But, since nothing was found inside, she may not have gotten the chance to toss anything."
Jingai sighed before shrugging. "I hate to sound like a dick, but her intentions don't really fucking matter. Not unless it actually affects the outcome of this case. We have some circumstantial evidence, but do we have anything definitive to prove she was the recipient?"
"I believe Bridgette and I can testify to that." Nerai held up a small Monokuma sticker before suddenly setting it down on the podium. "My guess is this was likely attached to the bear's gift." TRUTH BULLET
The Ultimate Cheerleader bobbed her head up and down in quick succession. "That totally makes sense. We found it mixed in with Kikuko's clothes. That's probably where she hid the mask and machete." TRUTH BULLET
A pained expression flitted across Amanda's face. "I-I should have pressed Kikurin more. She did seem unusually cagey in regards to her wardrobe, but I thought there was an innocent explanation. I didn't want to put a strain in our relationship by pressing her for an answer."
*FLASHBACK*
9:31 A.M Day Two
Ground Deck
Archive
The Child Psychologist shifted a large clothes basket in her arms before peering over at Kikuko, who lay kicking back and forth on the bed. "Kikurin, I don't mind putting away our clothes if you have something you'd rather do."
"W-Wait! I don't mind!" the Child Star exclaimed abruptly as she sprang to her feet before giving the taller girl a grin. "Big sis shouldn't have to do all the work, right?"
"Heh, that's very thoughtful of you. You don't have to be embarrassed about anything, I've been around plenty of children and other boys and girls my age. It would take a lot to really shock me," Amanda chuckled.
Kikuko stuck her tongue out. "It's nothing like that, sis! I just wanna be the best and coolest roommate I can be. That means helping you out!"
"Oh? Then far be it for me to protest. If you want to sort your clothes, I'll handle my own."
"Kay!" the Star chirped as she skipped forward towards the closet ahead of the other girl.
*END FLASHBACK*
"Amanda, luv, you can't blame yourself for that. That was just after the motive was introduced. I'm sure most of us were still hoping nothing would even come of it. I don't think any of us would have expected Kikuko of all people would be the one to receive it," Alice said with a sympathetic smile.
"Pupupu, that's why it was so perfect! I can't anticipate what will happen, but it's fun seeing how these things play out." Monokuma snickered behind one of his paws.
"Meow, I think bear-kun just admitted what we already suspected. Loli was definitely the recipient. We're on track so far," Noelle said with a deadpan expression as she made a peace sign. "...Go team."
"As reassuring as it is, there's something that's still bugging me. Obviously, the murder weapon was found still at the crime scene, but if nothing was found in the disposal or in her room with Amanda...there is still something unaccounted for," Hollie pointed out.
Chijimatsu raised a pierced brow. "Oh? And what, pray tell, would that be?"
Shuhei's eyes narrowed slightly. "If I had to hazard a guess, it would be where this was." He pulled out an iconic hockey mask before setting it down on his podium. "While we're on the subject, could you enlighten us as to why Timothy and I found this in your room, Galexialyn?" TRUTH BULLET
The Occultist cast a mild look of interest at the mask. "Fascinating. It certainly looks like something I would have in my collection, though I haven't the slightest idea how it ended up there."
"Yo, we're gonna need more than that as a defense. The bear confirmed the mask and machete were given to Kikuko, so how the fuck did you get that?" Scott snapped as he jabbed a finger at Chijimatsu.
"S-Scrappy calm down. There might be a good explanation," Kaiyo said with a conflicted expression as she looked at the mask and the Occultist.
Rene shrugged. "I can't believe I'm agreeing with the moron, but it does seem pretty damning if you ask me. There's no sensible reason I can think of for why someone other than the culprit would have the mask. It didn't just materialize out of thin air."
A wicked grin spread across Galexialyn's lips. "Oh, this is quite a game. Perhaps I'm merely a victim in someone else's web. Besides, even if I were the killer... do you want to hang everyone's lives on a mask? That's a bit much for a piece of circumstantial evidence."
"Agreed. Even if the wind is blowing in that direction, we should explore every angle before pulling the trigger, so to speak. We only get one chance of getting this right," Nerai said with a stoic expression. "It's far too soon to make a snap decision because of a single piece of evidence."
Kosaku offered a stern nod in response. "Not only one chance for ourselves, but also to make sure little sis gets justice. We can't screw this up."
"Then might I implore us to change our line of thought to the second murder? We still need to determine if the same culprit committed both crimes," Kasumi pointed out.
The Ultimate Scientist nodded in agreement. "Definitely, the outcome of this case depends on if we can solve that. Alice, I know it makes you uncomfortable, but would you care to go over your findings?"
The Field Medic offered the boy a forced smile. "My feelings are far less important than the results of this trial. As for Daniel's body, we already determined the circumstances he was found in. It is my opinion that he was accosted while in the midst of his desecration of Kikuko's body. I estimate the time of death being somewhere between 11:20-11:25 P.M. Just as in the case with Kikuko, we were unable to find any traces of blood or tracks from the assailant. However, it's important to note that Daniel suffered a far more vicious attack than Kikuko." TRUTH BULLET
"That's not an exaggeration, either. There were several wounds throughout the torso, his groin was stabbed as well, and the lethal strike was a scalpel that went directly through his eye. This killer must have been a magician to avoid leaving some sort of physical evidence behind," Nerai commented.
5A1K0 chortled loudly from Timothy's podium. "Lo and behold, we have two of those amongst us. The plot thickens."
"I-It's just an expression. Please don't take any offense," Timothy stammered slightly.
"Meow, it does make me wonder, would either our witch or occultist have some sort of supernatural powers like that? Sounds like they could make a lot of money that way," Noelle remarked.
"I-I swear, I didn't hurt Kikuko! Even if she did steal my real lucky charm...I promise I would never hurt her." Shiori began to slowly wring her hands.
"Lucky charm? Oh, those things you were hocking with Konyu and Rene. I hate to sound cruel, but if I had bought one, I might ask for a refund," Bridgette responded.
The Witch bowed her head slightly. "Nothing is perfect, even luck...but unlike the others...that one was actually the real deal."
A scowl spread across Frida's face as she jabbed a finger at Konyu. "I knew you were a charlatan! I demand you repent immediately for deceiving us."
Jingai groaned as he folded his arms behind his head. "How you fell for that in the first place is beyond me. Then again, Konyu could probably sell dirt."
The Merchant offered an apologetic smile. "I admit that we may have stretched the truth. However, it was done with a most noble intention. The thought was that it would put people at ease, and perhaps prevent any bloodshed. Clearly, without the real deal, luck just wasn't on our side."
"Setting aside the scam you were running, there is something we're missing. I don't remember seeing anything like that on Kikuko's person, though I do remember her wearing a charm earlier in the evening. No one made mention of it being found during the investigation or autopsy either...so what happened to it?" Amanda questioned.
Shuhei adjusted his glasses. "Hm, that is difficult to say without more to go on. It's possible that she discarded it at some point this evening and it was simply overlooked during the investigation."
"Considering we have very little physical evidence, but plenty of speculation...we really should focus on something more concrete. Maybe we should start by eliminating suspects?" Hollie proposed.
"That's a reasonable suggestion. Since we haven't decided if we're dealing with two killers or one, our best bet is to start by eliminating all those who have alibis for either crime," Nerai stated.
"Very well, I shall commence with this phase." Frida's voice boomed across the room. "Kasumi, Kosaku, Timothy, and I were together trying to ensure safety during the time of Kikuko's death. Furthermore, Kasumi and I were in the Briefing Room during Daniel's murder."
The Robotic Engineer squeezed at his stress ball. "After Kikurin was found, I spent almost the entire time searching the dormitories with Shuhei. We didn't separate until after Daniel was reported dead."
"Alas, I have no alibi for the first incident. I had been reading in the Bio Dome, and lost track of time when the announcement of Kikuko's death played," Shuhei said as he pressed his hands into his pockets. "As Timothy said, we were both accounted for during Daniel's death. I spent the rest of the investigation assisting with the second autopsy after searching the dorms."
"Right, and I was helping at the crime scene with little sis earlier on. Amanda and I split up and searched a few different areas, and I ended up heading back to the Briefing Room. That's when I bumped into Scrappy, who wanted to check on the status of the autopsy. That's how we both came to discover the body with Rene," Kosaku said.
The Scrapper frowned. "Yeah, I had some shitty luck, to say the least. Kaiyo and I were going for a late night snack in the mess hall and were on our way back when we found Kikuko's body. Then the big guy and I found the bastard in the morgue."
Kaiyo scratched at one of her tattoos. "I was pretty shaken after that, so I stayed in the briefing room during the investigation after changing clothes. I never left."
"I sort of felt in the way," Shiori admitted with a deep-seated frown. "That's why I also stayed there when Daniel was killed. I was with Alice and Jin all evening before that."
The Chessplayer rubbed under his nose with a look of pride showing on his face. "Pretty sure my work speaks for itself, but hell yeah I was occupied with these beauties. Can't really say the same during Dan's death. Konyu and I parted well before that."
Alice ran a hand through her loose hair with a thoughtful expression. "I'm not sure it really needs stating, but Hollie and I were still investigating the scene where Kikuko was found when Daniel died."
"I was with Bridgette most of the evening leading up until Kasumi came to inform us about the dormitory search, so neither of us had such an opportunity. Unfortunately, I can't claim the same for the second murder. Kosaku and I split up. After coming up with little to nothing, I came back to the briefing room," Amanda offered.
"Don't sweat it! I'm pretty much in the same boat. After our pow wow, I don't really have a good alibi. Nerai and I had already split up to search different rooms, but I don't think anyone saw us," the Cheerleader admitted.
"Meooooow! I was catnapping, but no one saw me in my room when Loli met Machete-kun. Also, I was balled up in the briefing room when Corpselover was turned into a pincushion, so don't look at me! My boobs are fine to look at, just not at me. I'm telling you I'm not the culprit!" Noelle said as she waved her arm sleeves frantically.
"I'd say that's suspicious, but you're always sort of suspicious," Kasumi deadpanned before shaking her head. "Let's see... If I'm not mistaken, that means seven people have ironclad alibis: Frida, Kaiyo, Shiori, Alice, Scott, Timothy, and myself. Then we have another seven people who have alibis for one murder but not the other: Bridgette, Amanda, Hollie, Noelle, Shuhei, Kosaku, and Jingai. Finally, we have only four people who don't have alibis for either murder: Nerai, Konyu, Galexialyn, and Rene."
"Seems pretty simple, don't you think? It has to be one of those four. Nice job!" Scott said with an assured nod.
Konyu wagged her finger back and forth. "Woah now, let's not get too hasty. You're forgetting something pretty major. That only applies if the same culprit committed both murders, but if we're dealing with two killers, then it means a lot more people could be suspects."
"Exactly! Don't be so eager to chop our heads off. Remember, if you're wrong, you'll end up screwing most of us over," Rene said with a sour expression.
"Then it seems our next task is simple, wouldn't you say? We should determine if this is the work of one or two killers. Otherwise, the credibility of the alibis and the case itself is in turmoil," Chijimatsu mused with a thin smile.
"Pupupu, this sounds like the perfect time for a scrum debate!" Monokuma chortled as he clutched at his sides.
"Nyeh, is that some kind of food? It sounds pretty tasty. Maybe it's some sort of cat treat?" Noelle asked with a blank expression.
The Sniper shook her head. "I somehow doubt that. Even if it were...I wouldn't suggest accepting anything from this one."
The two-toned bear offered a mock look of hurt. "Ohoho, you wound me, chica! Allow me to explain. At certain points, when it's clear there's a split opinion amongst you all, we'll hold what I call a scrum debate. It's basically two sides arguing until one side definitely wins. Careful, though...a wrong verdict could lead to devastating consequences."
"You seem to be deriving some sick pleasure from watching us struggle. How do we go about this?" Kasumi questioned as she folded her arms.
"Very simple. Use the touch screens in front of you and select one of two options. Do you support the theory of one killer, or two? Depending on what you select, it will determine what side you'll be arguing for. There's no better way to do this than to experience it first hand. Make your choices, kiddos!" Monokuma exclaimed as the touch screens on each of the podiums flickered to life.
One by one, each of the teens made their decision. However, before any of them could question things further, the podiums began to hum to life as they raised off the ground. The podiums lifted the students up before separating and taking two opposing sides. Monokuma's podium also levitated up, so that all the occupants hovered near the star-filled dome ceiling.
"Quite a theatrical production, right? Hehehe, the sides have been decided for our first scrum debate. Arguing for the single killer theory, we have: Rene, Konyu, Shuhei, Kaiyo, Scott, Kasumi, Timothy, Bridgette, and Frida. While on the other side, arguing for a second killer theory, we have: Noelle, Shiori, Amanda, Nerai, Kosaku, Alice, Jingai, Galexialyn, and Hollie. Time to make your cases! This may very well shape the direction of the whole case. Let the debate commence!" the bear exclaimed.
SCRUM DEBATE
Kaiyo's lips pursed together. "Well, both victims were stabbed to death, right? And neither had any physical evidence left behind? That probably means we're dealing with the same killer."
"But dear, that's only surface level detail. A stabbing and lack of evidence is hardly proof that the same person is responsible," Amanda countered.
"I must disagree. The fact that both incidents resulted in no evidence being recovered suggests we're dealing with an experienced individual. Doubly so if we're dealing with a foul serial killer like Mr. Psycho," Frida responded.
The Construction Worker rubbed at his chin. "It just doesn't seem right, though. One murder was straight forward and the other was ruthless. That doesn't seem like the same person to me."
"All that proves is that the culprit took much more delight in killing Daniel. Considering what he was doing at the time, I think that isn't that odd at all. Frida is probably right about this being our infamous killer," Rene mused.
"But it's exactly for that reason I don't think it could be Mr. Psycho for both crimes. While they may be adept at avoiding leaving evidence, they don't tend to have such a sterile kill as with Kikuko. The first murder spoke to either impulse or spontaneous choice. It was quick and efficient. Regardless of Daniel's indiscretions, most serial killers abide by their preferences. I don't think the evidence lines up for it being the same individual," Nerai pointed out.
Kasumi frowned slightly. "The keyword being most, there is a reason why this individual has never been apprehended. Everything we've learned is based on the deaths left in their wake. If they live up to their designated name, then an established pattern may not be applicable. I think the logical conclusion is that Psycho killed Kikuko and targeted Daniel initially to remove some key evidence he may have ascertained in his autopsy."
"Ultimately, none of this matters. We're looking at this in the wrong way. If there is only one culprit, we just need to solve for the first murder. If there is a second blackened, we can only punish the first. We're only wasting time debating the wrong parts," Jingai said with a frown.
The Ultimate Cheerleader bounced in place. "Yeah, I get what you're saying, Jin Jin, but what if the really damning piece of evidence is only found with Daniel's body? If we knew it was a single culprit, it would mean solving the whole case. Ya know, maybe the blackened killed Daniel just to keep us wondering this whole time."
"Kekeke, I'm hearing a lot of lovely theories but absolutely zero proof. Are we truly going to roll the dice on our souls based on feelings and speculation? I'd rather we focus on any actual evidence, lest we all share a grim fate." The Occultist chuckled darkly.
"Yeah, you would say that! Considering you're the most suspicious person here! You have no alibi, and if we're talking about evidence, the hockey mask was found in your room!" Scott snapped irritably.
Noelle nodded blankly. "Huh, the chihuahua makes a lot of sense. No questions. Case closed."
The Merchant shrugged. "Not sure you're on the right side, but whatever. It makes this easier. Look, this is all about selling a narrative. I think Bridgette is onto something. Look how much more complicated this all became by adding a second murder. Fact is, this is probably simpler than it appears, and it's just been window dressed to seem complex."
"W-Why would anyone risk being caught a second time? Wouldn't that just double their chances of discovery? And there's still no explanation for why there was no physical evidence or where my charm disappeared too," Shiori said quietly.
Timothy shakily responded. "W-Well, if it was the work of an unstable serial killer, it's possible that their actions are hard to predict or understand. Maybe they took the charm, like the mask, as a trophy…and that's how we found the mask."
"But why? This illustrious serial killer has avoided Interpol and various other agencies. You're telling me they - Chijimatsu, in theory - just left a mask lying in their room? It doesn't make any sense," Hollie stated.
Shuhei pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "At times you have to just follow the evidence, regardless of what your feelings may tell you otherwise. We have little evidence, but what we've found points in a specific direction."
"...You're right. It does point in a particular direction." Alice swallowed a lump in her throat. "You were counting on that, weren't you, Shuhei?"
"...Excuse me?" the Scientist responded coolly as he lifted a single brow.
Suddenly, the rest of the podiums floated back a few feet as Shuhei and Alice's podiums rocketed forward till they were in the center of the room, directly across from one another.
SCRUM REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN
The Field Medic steeled her nerves as she met the much taller boy's gaze. "While it's true the mask was found in Chijimatsu's room, that doesn't mean it's because they left it there. In fact… I believe you planted it there yourself."
"Alice, I take great offense to such an accusation. I'm a man of science and a forensics expert. I would never tamper with an investigation," Shuhei bit back.
"I believe that would be true in any other situation, but when your life's on the line, almost anyone would be compelled to lie and fight for survival."
"The crux of your entire argument is based on the idea of me planting evidence? Need I remind you that we haven't even determined how many killers there are?" Shuhei pointed out.
Alice meekly nodded. "Y-Yes, I'm aware, but I think I know why you chose to argue on that side. You are a man of forensics and yet, of all those medically trained and with investigative experience, you're the only one who chose to argue the counterpoint. I think that's bloody deliberate. If we could establish there were two killers, then your alibi for the second murder wouldn't exonerate you for Kikuko's death."
The boy waved the comment off. "While that may be true, I'm not the only one who benefits under that scenario. Furthermore, just because I arrived at a different conclusion doesn't make me guilty, I simply interpreted the evidence differently. Perhaps the rest of you should have done so as well."
"Evidence, huh? ...Shuhei, I would like to ask something. Is your lab coat reversible? I don't see a seam, but it looks as if it can be turned around and worn either way,"
The Scientist seemed to hesitate momentarily before chuckling. "If you believe finding blood is some grand revelation, I'd caution you to not get ahead of yourself. Don't forget I investigated both crime scenes. It would be only natural if trace amounts of blood ended up on my clothing. I can even see specks on your own attire and glove."
"That's true, but... Unlike you, I had an alibi for both murders." Alice glanced down at the blood on her single glove before growing paler. She quickly glanced back up at the boy. "Humor me, luv. Someone who has nothing to hide should be willing to do that much."
Shuhei's jaw tensed slightly as he removed his lab coat and slowly flipped it inside out. As he did so, several visible streaks of dried blood could be seen adorning its surface. "As I said, it's nothing that extraordinary. Are you satisfied?"
The blonde shook her head sadly. "Why would someone so focused on an investigation bother to reverse their lab coat? There were several people who handled the scene and ended up with blood on them, but no one else took the time to change clothes, with the exception of Kaiyo. Why bother?"
"...That's quite simple. I knew your aversion to blood and saw no reason to agitate it further. I had considered it a thoughtful gesture," Shuhei said in a quiet voice.
Alice bit the inside of her cheeks. "I-I really and truly wish I could believe that, but I think the real answer is much simpler. When Kikuko's blood splattered on your coat, you had to reverse it then. If you didn't, then you'd immediately be discovered by us. Since you couldn't return to the dorms to change or wash your clothes without running into someone, you improvised. You cleaned your hands, and turned your coat around." TRUTH BULLET
"Nonsense! Everything you're saying is only speculation and circumstantial at best. Do you truly wish to put all of our lives in jeopardy? Alice, you must see that you're wasting your time. I am no killer. I've dedicated my life to hunting and solving crimes, not orchestrating one!"
"A-Alright then, Shuhei. Do me one favor and I'll consider what you're trying to say," the Medic said in a breathy voice. "...Turn your pockets out. All of them."
The Ultimate Scientist's body stiffened before he let out an audible chuckle. "...Damn. Your mother wasn't exaggerating when she gushed about her children. Seems like this is the end of the line."
END OF DEBATE
The podiums lowered to the ground and returned to their normal positions. The circle was quickly reformed.
"Shuhei, what are you saying? Is this really true? What could you have that's so damning?" Kasumi asked with a mixture of shock and intrigue.
The Scientist wordlessly fished into a pocket before holding up a bloodied charm. He let it drop onto his podium with a small thunk. "What irony. A man of science brought down by something based in supernatural nonsense."
"My charm…" Shiori breathed as she held her hands up to her face.
"Yo, will someone explain what the fuck is going on?!" Scott snapped as he looked around the room with a puzzled expression.
Kaiyo nodded numbly. "Y-Yeah, I'm a bit confused."
Nerai folded her arms as a look of calm settled on her face. "The mystery of the missing charm has been resolved. It was missing when Kikuko's body was found. I doubt Shuhei took it as a trophy, but rather it was likely the last act of our Child Star. She literally left a calling card to her own killer." TRUTH BULLET
"Sharp as ever, Agent." Shuhei lifted his head to stare out at the starry constellations above them. "It all happened so quickly. I pride myself as someone who is always rational, someone who puts justice above all else. However, in the end, I'm just as susceptible to fear and desperation as anyone…"
*BEGIN FLASHBACK*
9:52 P.M Day Two
Ground Deck
Hallway
Shuhei stifled a small yawn as he made his way down the long corridor. He stopped mid stride, when he caught sight of movement near the Garbage Disposal Chamber. The boy raised a single brow and continued in that direction. He adjusted his glasses as he caught sight of a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction. "Evening, Kikuko, aren't the dormitories the other way? What brings you this way?"
The Child Star kept her arms behind her back as she mustered a nervous smile. "Oh, me? I was, uh...I was looking for you and some of the others not in the dorm. Frida and a few others wanted to do a room check. Y'know, to make sure nothing bad would happen! Isn't that totally a good idea?"
"Yes, I can certainly see the merit of that. Remove the threat at its source. If the recipient is revealed, then it would lessen the chance of bloodshed. We could even dispose of the machete to ensure safety."
"Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking too," Kikuko said in a quieter voice before she pulled her hands from behind her back to reveal the mask and machete.
The Scientist visibly tensed. "...Kikuko, why don't you go ahead and throw those in there?" He didn't take his eyes off of the girl while gesturing at the Garbage Disposal.
"Jeez, don't be so nervous! Do I look like some sort of scary killer or something?" the girl asked with an impish look, though there was a slight edge to her voice.
"I don't think you are, but I also understand the temptation the motive offers. No matter how good it sounds, I promise you that it's not worth the price. That's a heavy weight to carry around for the rest of your life," Shuhei said in a level tone.
Kikuko let her shoulders slump. "I'm not some stupid kid. I know that already. I don't want to hurt anyone; that's why I came here. I was gonna chuck these things. All I have is my image. If people knew I was considering murder...I mean, that would ruin everything."
The boy offered a sympathetic smile. "I think I understand. You have a reputation to uphold. Look, no one else has to know. Let's just dispose of those things before the curfew, and no one will be the wiser."
"Heh, you're pretty nice to be such a stick in the mud sometimes! I didn't expect you to be so nice, big brother!" Kikuko said, flashing a tiny smile towards the boy.
Shuhei rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. "...What can I say? You sort of remind me of my own sister."
"Eh?! You have a weird sister complex, don't you?" the Star asked with a mock look of horror before snickering.
"No, it's nothing that disturbing. I just don't want to see you make a terrible decision out of desperation. Murder changes a person… They're never the same afterward."
Kikuko's expression softened slightly. "Kay, then let's get rid of this junk. Just promise you'll look out for me? I-I don't wanna die here."
The Scientist gave the girl a rare smile before turning away and towards the Garbage Disposal's entrance. "I'll do everything in my power to keep you and everyone alive. The first step is to avoid playing into the bear's hand."
"Think we can really do that? Avoid anyone getting hurt?" Kikuko asked as she slowly trudged after the boy.
"I won't lie to you. I doubt it's possible for us to get out unscathed. However, even if it's unlikely, we have to strive for that goal," the boy responded.
The Child Star sucked in a quiet breath as she raised the machete in her hand. Without another word, she launched herself forward.
The squeal of a shoe on the slick tile floor provided a last minute warning for the Scientist. Shuhei instinctively whirled around and caught the girl's extended arm, stopping the blade only an inch from his chest. "Kikuko! Stop this! You're better than this. No one has to die here."
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" the girl cried with a look of fury on her small face. "You're super smart, strong, and intimidating. I have to do this before someone comes after me. I-I won't wait to be killed, not when I can go home!" She threw as much weight into her attack as she could muster.
Shuhei felt his instincts kick in. He turned the momentum against her and twisted her wrist. The next moments happened in slow motion. He felt the turned blade sink into her torso. He felt the the blood splatter across his coat and soak his hands. He felt nothing but shock as the girl stumbled back and collapsed to the floor.
"K-Kikuko…" Shuhei hurriedly fell to one knee beside her.
The Star sucked in a series of frantic breaths as blood spilled out of her mouth. "...I knew this w-would happen. This was always gonna happen sooner or later. That's why I…why I was so conflicted," she choked out as she slowly yanked the charm from her neck. "...Worthless charm."
The Ultimate Scientist gritted his teeth. "Save your strength. Maybe with Alice, we can stem the bleeding. No one has to die…"
A bloody smile spread across the girl's face before she motioned with her free hand at the boy to lean closer.
Hesitantly, Shuhei leaned over, not noticing as Kikuko's other hand slid the charm into one of his pockets.
Her voice became barely a whisper. "Dummy, it's a killing game. Death is inevitable. I played my hand and lost. Time to see if you're a better actor than me…" Then the light faded from her eyes as she fell limp.
The boy pushed down the bile rising in his throat as the nighttime announcement played and the doorway in front of him was suddenly sealed. He shakily rose to his feet, shooting a series of looks down both sides of the hall before refocusing on the discarded mask a few feet away. He cursed under his breath as he turned his coat inside out and bent over to pick up the mask…
END FLASHBACK
"So the tale is one of tragedy. A noble man who intended well but found himself caught in an unfortunate situation. How truly unfair," Frida mused.
"Tch, save your damn pity. Did you forget he was trying to screw all of us just a moment ago? Circumstance or not, he became a coward," Rene snapped.
The Child Psychologist leveled an icy stare at the boy. "I may resent what he did to Kikuko and his deception, but fear leads us all to make unfortunate decisions. Can you say you'd act any differently?"
Shuhei shook his head with a sad smile settled over his face. "You need not offer any excuses on my behalf. I turned my back on my own pursuit of justice, just to defend my own life. I may not have planned Kikuko's death, but I conspired in every way to cover it up. Chijimatsu simply made for the easiest person to incriminate."
"S-So the mask truly was planted. You even wanted me to find it, so to make it seem even more legitimate," Timothy said in a shaky voice before hugging himself.
"Yes. I had to improvise, but I assumed what you all would be looking for and tried to misdirect evidence. Of course, I couldn't anticipate Daniel's death. However, it offered me a solution and smokescreen, so I tried to use that to my benefit too," the Scientist admitted. "I apologize for manipulating you and making you an unwitting accomplice Timothy."
Galexialyn shrugged. "I can hardly blame you for trying. I made for a good person to blame. You came very close to pulling it off. I suppose it's good for us that this was improvised and not premeditated. We may not have been as fortunate in that case."
"Oh my God, I-I don't even know what to say. Like, I'm super angry, but I can't imagine being in that position," Bridgette admitted as she shook her head in disbelief.
The Ultimate Acupuncturist frowned. "That aside, we've confirmed there were two killers. However, we still are no closer to solving what happened to Daniel."
"Then it's fortunate our objective only pertains to solving the first murder," Jingai pointed out. "I don't think our fucking Captain is gonna let us ponder that all night."
"Pupupupu, right you are! Besides, doesn't this add a bit more intrigue? Knowing you answered one mystery, only to be left with another unsolved? The delicious tension will be great! Now, if you'd kindly interact with your touch screens again, we can get to voting...and then my favorite part: punishment. Oh, and remember, if you don't vote, you'll be punished too!"
Kosaku let out a deep grumble. "This is the worst. I should feel happy about little sis getting justice, but not like this. It makes me feel like I'm a murderer."
"I think that's the point, to a degree. He's making us culpable for every part of this game. He probably gets some sort of twisted satisfaction out of it," Konyu responded with a grim expression as she retracted her hand from the touch screen.
"I think Bear-kun needs a new hobby. Might I suggest chronic masturbation of knitting?" Noelle proposed as she slapped her sleeved hand onto the screen.
Monokuma chortled as each of the votes were cast. "Heh, watching you all bumble around and kill each other is my hobby of choice. I can't think of anything more fun, especially when it's this exciting. Good job nailing the culprit. Shuhei Kisaki is indeed the blackened. Anything you'd like to say before we get to the fireworks, bucko?"
The Scientist took a deep breath as he glanced around the room. "I know this is meaningless now, especially considering how I betrayed you all. However, I hope you heed my advice. Use this as a lesson and don't give into desperation, like Kikuko, or the desire for self-preservation, like me." He stepped off his podium before circling the group a moment. He stopped in front of Alice's podium to give her a weak smile. "You did a good job back there. You pushed past your insecurities and did what was necessary."
The Medic blinked back tears before averting her gaze. "Fat good it did me. How can you be so calm? It's my fault that you're going to…" she trailed off as her breathing hitched.
Shuhei offered a dry laugh. "Silly girl, you called out my lies. You made the right call, whereas I was just being selfish. You can't let this keep you down. With Daniel and I gone, it'll be up to you and Nerai to pick up the slack."
The blonde sniffed before taking a few strides away from the podium and embracing the towering boy. "S-Shuhei, I'm so sorry. N-None of this is right. Please forgive me."
"What are you apologizing for? There's nothing to forgive." The Scientist returned the gesture with one arm before patting her head. His expression turned serious when he leaned down to whisper something to her.
Alice's eyes widened marginally as she stared up at him with a look of befuddlement. "Are you sure?"
The boy smiled faintly. "Consider it my last deduction and a sincere one this time. Monokuma, if you don't mind, let's get this over with. I'm not about to beg."
"Heh, what a shame. That would have been entertaining to see. Works for me, though; I was getting sick of all these warm and fuzzy moments. Let's get to the part I've been waiting for. I have a special punishment in mind for our Ultimate Scientist!" Monokuma he pulled out his gavel and slammed it down upon a button on his own podium.
Suddenly, a series of robotic arms sprang out of the ground to pull the boy out of sight.
"W-What the fuck was that?!" Scott tensed up, as if preparing for a fight.
"Monokuma, please, won't you reconsider this? It wasn't even intentional. It was self defense," Kaiyo said as she stared at the bear with a pleading look.
The Captain merely giggled. "Pupupu, murder is murder around here, sweetums. Intention doesn't really matter. Only cold hard facts. Now feast your eyes on the screen above. It's going to be a show of a lifetime."
"I-I can't… No, I won't watch," Timothy stammered as he squeezed his eyes shut.
Kosaku numbly walked over before pulling the smaller boy into a hug. "Hey, it's alright. You don't have to watch any of this. Just try and breathe, alright?"
"I'd suggest anyone with a weak stomach heed that advice, I have a terrible feeling about what's in store for us," Amanda offered quietly as she chewed on her thumb.
The Chocolatier shook her head. "I think not. It would be a dishonor to his final moments to not face this head on. I consider this a grim reminder of what we should seek to avoid in the future."
Nessa's form flickered in the midst of the trial room with a somber expression. "I think I may understand the sentiment, but you may not wish to see this shit. The captain has a most twisted sense of justice."
"This is not justice in any way, shape, or form. This is nothing more than a twisted spectacle. We've become puppets for his entertainment," Nerai said coldly.
"Yuk yuk yuk, glad you know it, kiddo! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a job to do!" Monokuma exclaimed as his red eye flickered to life...
The screen in the courtroom came on, showing another Monokuma standing on a balcony, leaning against the railing. A bright glow was shining beneath him as the camera pulled in close to the bear. The Captain laughed as he stood with his arms crossed. "Upupu, let's make sure this first execution makes a real splash! I call this little number, 'The Scientific Method!'" As Monokuma continued to cackle, a loud cracking sound started up. Some chains from above began rapidly shifting. After a moment, Shuhei was slowly lowered into view. He was tied up in the chains with a few hooks pierced into his sides. Small streaks of neon pink blood ran down the chains as the Scientist feebly struggled against the bindings.
"Mister Science Guy, since I have you here, I figured I could get your help testing out my new superacid!" Monokuma mused as he raised his paws to stifle his giggles. As he talked, Shuhei looked down, seeing a huge pool of bubbling grey liquid beneath him. The smell started burning the inside of his nose, making it curl in disgust.
"W-Why are you doing this…? Just kill me…" Shuhei grunted as he clenched his teeth from the pain of the hooks digging into him.
Monokuma just waved his hand dismissively. "What? This is a game! It needs to be exciting! You might have done a half-assed murder, but that doesn't mean this is going to be as boring!" The Captain giggled again as they leaned over the railing. As the bear looked down, their black cap slipped off and began falling down. Monokuma gasped as they looked down in terror. The hat splashed into the acid and a loud sizzling started as it was quickly dissolved and destroyed.
"My hat! Nooooooo!" Monokuma called out as he looked upward in distress. He was quiet for a moment before he settled himself and pulled out an identical cap and placed it on his head. "Anyway, with that demonstration over, let's see how you hold up to it!"
Clear horror took over Shuhei's face as the chains started lowering again. Every move and shift he made caused him to hiss as the hooks dug in deeper. After a moment, he was low enough that his foot reached the surface of the acid. His shoe hit it first, but he instantly felt his foot being eaten through. He quickly raised his legs with a shout. He was terrified by the sight. His foot was already missing a few of his toes. Blood flowed out, staining the acid below pink. "Nononono, fuck!" The silver-haired boy cursed, his usual composure gone in an instant.
The tall boy began struggling against his chains, doing everything he could to keep himself above the pool. A loud snap echoed, pulling his attention upward. One of the links was starting to break apart. Time stood still as Shuhei watched the chain break and plummeted through the air. His back broke through the surface of the acid, the sizzling growing even louder. The acid quickly began turning pink with blood.
The boy's screams only lasted for a moment before he sank into the thick pink cloud. After a second, an arm abruptly reached out of the acid. The skin was mostly eaten away, leaving exposed muscle and the bones of the hand visible. The mangled limb only held together for a moment until the arm crumbled apart. Shuhei Kisaki, the Ultimate Scientist, was no more.
"O-Oh fuck me. Jesus fucking...Oh God," Jingai gagged and promptly vomited onto the floor as he clutched at his side.
The sound of retching echoed through the room as several others mirrored the gesture.
Bridgette pressed her hands to her face as she shook her head frantically, as if trying to banish the sight from her brain. "W-Why? Why did I watch that? I should have just looked away."
"I believe that's known as morbid curiosity. It's like when one passes roadkill. You feel sickened to look back...though most tend to still do so," Chijimatsu said in a flat and unaffected tone.
Kasumi clenched her jaw as she felt herself trembling. "You could at least try to seem mildly disturbed. What the hell is wrong with you? How can you be so relaxed?"
The Occultist shrugged. "I'm sorry, was I supposed to break down after the man who killed someone and tried to frame me was punished? 'Fraid I can't muster much empathy."
"Tch, well we know who's on the short list for being this Psycho killer," Hollie commented with a clear disdain in her voice as she shook her head.
"I don't blame them for feeling that way," Rene said dismissively. "Just because they're made of sterner stuff, doesn't make them a killer. It just means Chijimatsu isn't as emotional as the rest of you. If Kikuko hadn't been so impulsive herself, this could have been avoided."
Shiori squared her slender jaw. "D-Don't you dare blame her for all of this! She made her mistakes, that's true, but that's no excuse to speak ill of the dead. It's just not right."
"Pupupu! Oh, I could cut this tension with a knife! This is going to be even more fun as time goes on. I can hardly wait!" Monokuma squealed with clear delight.
Konyu offered a look of disgust. "I know that sex and death sells, but we're not here as your personal entertainment. You'll have to search elsewhere for that."
"Not by our free will, Karen, but everytime we kill, fight, or struggle we're giving him what he wants. Nyeh, makes me want to sleep till the heat death of the universe," Noelle said in a flat voice.
Alice pushed back the bile in her own throat as she stared at the now darkened monitor. "Unfortunately, I don't think we have the luxury of even coexisting for the rest of our lives here. I don't think our Captain here would abide by something that boring, which means we only have one option that doesn't involve murder. We have to solve the mysteries of Tranquility Station...and find a way home. So no one else has to join Kikuko, Daniel, or Shuhei."
"A splendid outlook. I do wish you all the best of luck. You all were scouted for a reason, so I'm sure you can find a way of succeeding together," Nessa said. Her blue glow reverted back to white as her sad demeanor shifted to her normal state.
Monokuma snickered behind his paw. "Where have I heard that before? Sure, try your hardest. It's more fun when a game isn't so one-sided, and it'll make my victory all the more enjoyable in the end. Now sweet dreams, my dear students. You all have a big day ahead of you tomorrow, and an even bigger reward: a whole new world! Hey, it only cost you three people. Seems like a pretty good trade if you ask me, so I better not hear any complaints about me never giving you anything."
A series of guffaws overshadowed the quiet sobs and faint sounds of retching that still persisted through the room.
As the curtains closed on the first case, it had become clear that nothing would ever be the same again.
Tranquility Station's name had become truly ironic.
17 Survivors Remain
*AN* As always I'd like to shoutout the betas. Particularly BouncingFish and Fee5h for their work on this chapter. Seriously thank you both. Secondly, a big shoutout to Shuhei's creator. I truly will miss writing for this boy. He's a character I've written so much for in the past and I already miss him =. Seriously though, thank you for submitting him way back when. He proved such a great staple in this series!
Review Section:
TJMike
Well I hope you got some of those awaited answers, probably along with a slew of more questions. I always love the speculation though. I live for it hehe.
Guest
Certainly. I'll add the link in my profile, but you can also search for me on Discord. I'm Crit Fail#9493. Be happy to have you!
PotatoSorcerer
Yeah that chapter is definitely one of the reasons why I always slap an M rating on my fics. Sometimes things can get pretty dark and or disturbing haha.
Jedi2020
I hope it lived up to expectations or at the very least was entertaining. The idea of taking a character who might be perceived as a leading character, perhaps even trusted and turning that on people was important to me. Sort of like the Kaede twist in V3.
RandomStranger48
I think the fun part of this trial is the second murder took what may have been a far more straightforward trial and made it far more complicated. Even in the aftermath of the trial, there's still this lingering mystery. Which I think is an important hook for any Danganronpa story.