A/N: Somehow, I forgot to publish this chapter here, and for that I apologize. As a gift to the readers, both this chapter and the next will land here in short order. But I will discuss more at the end of the second chapter, so see you on the other side.

"Miss Saionji is on the witness stand, but what exactly does she intend to testify about?" Judge Kirigiri asked. "She told us everything she knew yesterday."

"Not everything! I haven't said anything about Snot Hair over here," Hiyoko said, looking scornfully over at Sato. "But if helping her is the same as helping Mahiru, then I'll talk about her!"

"You have a strange definition of 'help', Saionji", Sato said dryly. "How did you even know to come here?"

"I couldn't find anyone, no matter how hard I looked! So eventually I came over to this building." Tears started forming in Hiyoko's eyes again. "I can't believe no one told me that this was happening!"

"It's okay, Hiyoko. I didn't want to trouble you with this, since you were brave enough to help yesterday," Mahiru said, smiling at the shorter girl. "We've got it under control here, alright?"

"But all the people in here are giving you nasty looks, Bis Sis!" Hiyoko raised both her hands. "So I'm going to crush them all under my feet like ants!"

Witness Testimony

Hiyoko's Account

"Yeah, that Snot Hair was there that day, when we took a picture together," Hiyoko said. "She didn't join in, cause she's kind of a weirdo."

"I was going to be in the next photo, but Mahiru ran out of camera film," Sato explained. "As I've said before. But the girls did see me there."

"And Sato was still with us when we heard the breaking noise," Mahiru added. "So she wasn't the one that broke it."

"That girl did leave eventually, but it's not like she mattered all that much. She's a reserve course student, she's like a speck!" Hiyoko exclaimed.

End Testimony

"The important part of this testimony is that even if Miss Sato was there that day, it changes nothing," Byakuya said. "As much as the defense insists otherwise."

"...Hmm." Tenko had observed the testimony carefully. "Look at the way that Mahiru and Sato are looking at Saionji, Peko."

Peko observed the two girls as well. "I'm not seeing what you mean."

"They aren't happy that Saionji suddenly intruded on this," Tenko noted. "They're trying not to show it, but their eyes tell a different story."

Looking a second time, Peko suddenly spotted it. Sato's eyes had a trace of anger in them, while Mahiru's eyes looked stressed.

It seems like Hiyoko is going to be the spanner in the ongoing cover-up. Now to see what can be learned from her.

Since Hiyoko's testimony was brand new, Tenko decided to focus on that first. " HOLD IT! Why would you call Sato a 'weirdo'?"

"Because Bis Sis is so nice, inviting her to hang out all the time. Yet, Sato usually stands there, saying nothing," Hiyoko said, sneering. "It was the same that day, too. The rest of us were taking a picture, and she was off to the side."

Tenko looked over at Sato. "Do you have an explanation for this, Miss Sato?"

"I'm not part of Mahiru's class. So I do feel a little awkward around them," Sato said, carding her fingers through her hair. "And as much as I love Mahiru's photos, I feel like she could take pictures of prettier things than me."

"Nonsense, Adzumi. You're certainly pretty-"

"Ugh, gross! You don't have to make this skank feel better," Hiyoko said, gagging.

"This doesn't seem to be accomplishing anything," Peko said wearily.

"I wouldn't say that so soon, Peko. Look!" Tenko gestured at the witness stand.

One of Sato's eyes was starting to twitch, and Mahiru's smile had a distinctly strained quality to it.

"Yes, Hiyoko does tend to drive people crazy. But how does this relate to the trial?" Peko asked.

"I normally dislike playing dirty like this. But if Saionji keeps going like this, I have a feeling the other two will forget themselves," Tenko explained. "That's how we'll break through their rehearsed testimony!"

As much as I wish otherwise, it does seem like we have no other path forward.

With no further objections, Tenko continued. "HOLD IT! So around when would you say that Miss Sato left the group?"

"Like I'm supposed to know! That girl probably went back to the Reserve Course building," Hiyoko said dismissively. "I mean, where else would she be?"

"If you didn't see Miss Sato leave with your own eyes, you can't say for sure where she went!" Tenko pointed out. "For all you know, she went up to the second floor!"

"Geez, Tenko! That's not the same as proof that Adzumi was there," Mahiru said. "Besides, even if she did go upstairs, that wouldn't change anything anyways."

"Because by your logic, the murder happened long before I was in the main building," Sato added. "This should prove for sure that I'm not the killer."

"Squish squish!"

The high-pitched voice could only belong to one person. Hiyoko seemed to be chuckling to herself.

"HANG ON! Miss Saionji, did you think of something?" asked Tenko.

"Yes. That you are so hopelessly stupid, even this Reserve Course student is smarter than you!" Hiyoko said cheerfully.

"Hiyiko, if you're going to talk, you could at least refer to Adzumi by name," Mahiru said gently.

"Well, even if they wanted to pin her as the murderer, they couldn't. Because Miss Green Hair was definitely never inside that crime scene room, even once," Hiyoko said. "When me, that nasty pig barf, and that no-talent musician went upstairs with Big Sis, Green Hair stayed behind!"

"...Believe it or not, I believe that refers to Mikan, and Ibuki," Peko said. I've been classmates with Hiyoko long enough to translate her nicknames. That concerns me.

"Wait a moment! If there was a period of time that Sato was by herself, that is significant!" Tenko quickly said.

"STOP TALKING!" Byakuya shook his head, tutting all the while. "This witness being by herself wouldn't matter. It was just established that this happened after the murder."

"Urgh!" Tenko raised her hands up as if warding off a blow.

This is her main flaw in her role as defense- once Tenko takes a blow, it throws her off badly. I need to get her back on track. Peko considered the circumstances. It's true, the murder had already happened at this time. But there should be something else that happened around that time.

"The prosecution is demanding you to prove Sato committed the murder at that time," Peko said, thinking out loud. "But that could be a misdirection."

"Mahiru and three others went up the stairs, directly to the music room, while Sato stayed behind," Tenko said, her face screwed up in concentration. "If she went upstairs for any reason, it could be…"

Judge Kirigri slammed down his gavel. "That is enough time, defense. Present evidence to show if Sato being by herself means anything."

Tenko raised a hand, and brought it down in a karate chop onto her bench. " TAKE THAT! The room next to the music room had a water stain on the floor!"

"I believe that was from the flower vase breaking on the classroom floor," Byakuya said. "We discussed this in the previous trial."

"But according to Peko and Maki, when the murder was discovered the vase shards had been cleaned up," Tenko said. "And none of the other witnesses ever mentioned such a thing. We only learned about the vase through Mahiru's picture."

Sato averted her eyes from the court, combing her fingers through her hair with a nervous speed.

"That means that between the girls hearing the vase break and Kuzuryu being arrested, the vase shards were cleaned up." Tenko pointed at Sato. "And I believe the only one that could have done it is you!"

"Ow!" Sato yelled, pulling on her hair.

Byakuya clenched a fist at Tenko. "Do you really expect the court to believe that out of the six people there that day, including the defendant, only one person could have gone into the other room?"

"Logically, that is the only possibility. Fuyuhiko was locked in the crime scene," Peko said. "While Mahiru, Mikan, Ibuki and Hiyoko stuck with each other. As such, only Sato could have cleaned up the vase shards."

"Okay, so let's say I cleaned up some vase shards. But so what?" Sato asked in a distinctly haughty tone. "That in no way makes me a murderer."

"Miss Sato, you didn't share this information with anyone but Mahiru, and in response…" Tenko took a deep breath. "She concealed your presence in this case. As much as it pains me to think about it, there's only one reason she would do that!"

Tenko smacked her bench with both her palms. "Because she knew you were the killer!"

"Tenko, don't!" Mahiru cried out, rearing back into Sato. Sato caught Mahiru by the arms.

"Don't do what, Mahiru? If Miss Sato is the real killer, that means that she framed Kuzuryu," Tenko pointed out. "And that is wrong!"

" STOP TALKING! " Byakuya shook his head. "Before the defense gets too carried away, answer me this. Can you prove that this witness was ever in the crime scene?"

Togami has already adapted to a new angle of attack. I can see why the headmaster chose him as the prosecution.

"Let's entertain your fantasy, and say the witness snuck off the clean up traces of their crime," Byuakuya continued. "That means that the committed the murder before even the other four girls arrived, and before even the defendant entered the music room."

"I guess that would make sense," Tenko said in an uncertain tone. "Why do you ask?"

"But you have no witnesses that say Miss Sato was anywhere near that area." Byakuya chuckled. "Too bad for you, but your case ends here."

Peko knew she had to stop this assertion in its tracks. "Not quite. Earlier, we learned that Mikan had been sent to the second floor a full hour earlier, by Hiyoko here."

"Serves that pig barf right! She probably looked so pathetic, standing around by herself," Hiyoko said, sounding proud of her mean-spirited prank.

Tenko stood up straight. "I remember that! Shortly after, Mahiru showed up and sent Mikan to get breakfast. So she was by herself at the stairs to the second floor."

"It's been debated that Mahiru was more than just a witness to this case. That in fact, she was an accomplice." Peko stared down Mahiru. "So isn't it possible that after Mikan had been sent away, Mahiru waited for Sato to arrive, so they could set their murder scheme into motion?"

Mahiru's legs went weak, and the photographer would have fallen if she wasn't in Sato's arms. Sato in turn put her hands protectively around Mahiru's waist.

"Look what you've done. Your baseless theories have stunned Mahiru," Sato said, her voice filled with contempt.

"Oh? What about our theories are baseless?" Peko asked, her tone neutral.

Mahiru stepped out of Sato's arms, standing on her feet again. "You talked about me being on the second floor by myself. Well, let me explain what I did there."

It feels like we are damaging their defenses. But there is still a tough battle ahead.

Witness Testimony

When did Sato arrive?

"After I dismissed Mikan, no one else passed through the second floor," Mahiru explained. "The other three girls arrived first, then Adzumi."

"Big Sis is not a liar, so even if Green Hair is a nasty troll, she must be telling the truth!" Hiyoko exclaimed.

"Besides which, I may be classmates with Natsumi, but I had no reason to meet with her," Sato added. "I didn't even know she was at the main course building."

I didn't know Natsumi was up there either. I was there to meet with friends, after all," Mahiru said. "But I had strange noises upstairs, and went to check them out."

"That slutty blonde girl must have been waiting for some guy but got killed instead," Hiyoko said derisively. "She certainly looks the type."

Sato looked down at Hiyoko. "...The point is, I don't know what happened, because I wasn't there. That's why I can't be the killer."

End Testimony

"This is it, defense. You won't be allowed to state more allegations without strong evidence," Byakuya said sternly. "You brought Miss Sato to the witness stand as a suspect. Now take responsibility for your accusations."

"I am in full agreement with Prosecutor Togami. As such, I will also place a condition on this cross-examination," Judge Kirigiri said. "Any baseless conjecture or careless presenting of evidence will be penalized hardly."

"I get it, I get it! Just let me do my job!" Tenko cried out.

I feel some sympathy for Tenko. This has been an agonizing experience for her. I will aid this effort in whatever way I can.

"HOLD IT! This about when you decided to not report the murder, right?" Tenko asked Mahiru.

"I know that doing it was wrong, but that's because I've been conflicted about it this whole time," Mahiru said, clenching a fist to her chest. "Having to suspect my friends of murder has been tearing me apart."

"And because we already discussed this earlier, I believe this defense is wasting time," Byakuya said, sneering. "Perhaps the defense needs to be taught a lesson."

Judge Kirigiri glared down at Tenko. "Take this penalty as your lesson. And yes, this will reflect badly on your grades at the end of the year."

Tenko winced. "Sorry about that! I thought I would see how Saionji and Sato would react to this information."

"Press more carefully moving forward," Peko said, a trace of chastisement in her tone. "Especially this far into the trial."

Taking the words to heart, Tenko considered her next action. "HOLD IT! As much as it pains me to say this, you have lied on Sato's behalf. You could be lying about when she arrived."

"If you're going to say Mahiru is lying, prove it!" Sato shouted, narrowing her eyes at the defense.

"How about you let Mahiru answer the question," Tenko said, returning with her own glare. "Unless you think she has something to hide?"

As Sato floundered for a response, Mahiru cut in: "I admit I've done wrong by not reporting the murder at first, but that's all I have to confess!"

"Still not much more new information, and further pressing is risky," Tenko said, sounding frustrated. "What am I supposed to do?"

"We brought Hiyoko to the witness stand to have her disrupt the testimony. So we may have to take a risk with one of her statements," Peko suggested. "But tread carefully."

"HOLD IT! Miss Saoinji, you can't just make assumptions. Is there a reason why you'd know the reason that Natsumi was in the main course building?"

"Have you ever seen her? That girl had 'loose' written all over her," Hiyoko said, sneering. "Probably literally, too."

"Hey, defense! Can you stop this brat from running her mouth?!" Fuyuhiko snapped from his defendant chair. "She has no fucking right to say any of this!"

"Kuzuryu is right. This is his sister you're talking about!" Tenko exclaimed. "So I won't allow you to slander her name without proof!"

"Make me, you gorilla," Hiyoko said, not taking anyone's words seriously.

Sato let out a long, drawn out sigh. "Okay, let's clear this up once and for all. Natsumi was in that music room because she had an appointment with her brother. Saionji, if you want to help Mahiru, don't make things up."

"Hey, don't pick on me," Hiyoko said, suddenly sniffling. "How was I supposed to know that?"

"Still, I think that we just learned something important! Add it to the testimony!" Tenko added.

"If it means the little blonde girl is going to stop running her mouth, I would welcome it," Byakuya said.

"I think… I've finally got it. I know how we're going to break this testimony," Tenko said, talking out loud to herself.

"Then make that strike," Peko said. "End this farce."

Don't hesitate, Tenko Chabashira.

As if hearing those thoughts, Tenko shouted out, "OBJECTION! Got you, Adzumi Sato. I finally caught you in a contradiction you can't explain!"

"That's a lot of unwarranted confidence for a girl that doesn't even have a legal-related talent," Sato said, turning her nose up at Tenko. "You were warned about baseless accusations."

"Don't you worry, I have you covered! It's about your claim that you didn't know that Natsumi was in the main course building," Tenko said. "But you also said that she was meeting with her brother."

"We established this already," Byakuya said impatiently. ""Don't tell me you are going to question this basic premise."

"I'm not, Prosecutor Togami. But I'd like to focus on her exact wording," Tenko said. "According to Sato, Natsumi 'had an appointment' with her brother."

At his defendant chair, Fuyuhiko's eyes widened. "Hey, wait a fucking second!"

Tenko nodded. "Exactly. This is something that is impossible for Sato to have known about!"

Sato jumped in her skin, and reached for Mahiru's hand again.

"I mean, I didn't know much about Natsumi, and I know that she admires her brother," Mahiru said. "Sato would know that too."

"You know full well that's not the issue here, Mahiru," Peko said sternly. "There is no way that Sato should have known that Natsumi had plans. Unless she has an explanation for herself?"

"You just want to trick me into saying something so you can pin a false charge on me!" Sato yelled indignantly.

"This is a serious charge you are raising. As such, I demand that you present strong evidence," Judge Kirigiri said. "To prove that the witness's knowledge is important."

This does make for a contradiction that is hard to explain. But to be a truly decisive blow, we have to connect it to the crime. "Tenko, think of the evidence that was at the crime scene during the day of the murder."

"Evidence that would have been in the music room?" Tenko's face was screwed up in concentration. "We've discussed most of what was in there, haven't we?"

Judge Kirigiri slammed his gavel on his bench. "That is enough time. Present your evidence now."

Tenko had a distinctly panicked expression. "If we're talking evidence from the music room, first it would be good to have it in front of us. For example, where is the victim's cell phone?"

"As the prosecution, it is in my care," Byakuya said. "During the initial investigation, I gave really clear orders to preserve the evidence as is. The victim's cell phone is in an evidence bag that I have with me, and has not been touched since that day."

"But why are you talking about Natsumi's cellphone, Tenko?" Mahiru asked curiously.

"Um, yeah, that…"

Peko realized what was happening. She's bluffing. She didn't expect to get pressed so hard about the cellphone.

"Because we investigated too, and found that Natsumi's last message on that phone was to her brother! But well, Sato couldn't have known that unless…" Tenko's eyes slowly widened. "Unless she was in the music room the moment of the murder."

Sato didn't say anything, but her breathing grew ragged, her shoulders heaving unevenly.

"What, are you trying to see if you can get phone numbers of girls from a dead girl's phone?" Hiyoko asked, sneering at Tenko. "You would be that much of a-"

"Shut up, Saionji. If you aren't going to say anything useful, just shut up."

Hiyoko gaped in horror at Sato's words. "Big Sis, she just told me to shut up! Do something!"

"..." Mahiru lay a hand on Hiyoko's shoulder, "Why don't you leave this courtroom? It would make me feel better if you did."

"Huh? Mahiru, is something wrong?" Hiyoko asked, sounding genuinely worried.

"Please, do this for me!" Mahiru said urgently. "I think it would be best if you weren't around for what will happen next!"

Hearing Mahiru's tone, Hiyoko practically fled from the courtroom, even as she looked by one last time.

"So, defense. How exactly does all your rambling make me the killer, again?" Sato asked.

"It's simple! Natsumi could have only sent that message shortly before her death," Tenko explained. "So the only way you could have seen it is if you were in the room when she sent it!"

"Then tell me!" Suddenly, Sato's face took on a twisted expression of fury. "Tell me how I would have known that Natsumi was there in the first place!"

"Woah!" Tenko exclaimed, putting up her hands in front of herself.

So this is the true face of Adzumi Sato. The true face of Natsumi's killer.

"Adzumi, calm down," Mahiru said gently. "You know they've got nothing on you."

" STOP TALKING! " Byakuya pointed his finger at Mahiru. "I would not be saying that, in the position you are in."

"H-hey, what are you saying all of a sudden? I'm trying to support your case!"

"Against all odds, the defense has proven something crucial," Byakuya said. "That Miss Sato has knowledge she could have only gained if she were in the crime scene, the moment of the crime. So the burden of proof rests on you."

"You want me to prove my own innocence? Fine!" Sato shouted. "Fine! But I will make you eat those words!"

It seems we are reaching the last of their defenses. Now that Sato is unbalanced, the chance to finish her off should present itself.

To be continued.