Chapter IV - The Inmates' Ensemble: Class Trial END

*Past chapters referenced: 15, 31.

**CW for gun violence.

Breath hitching in her throat, Kaede swallows back her nausea. Blinks back any oncoming tears.

"Rantaro only started getting defensive when Ryoma was implicated. When it was Kokichi, Tsumugi, and even Rantaro himself, he didn't speak up at all." She forces the brim of Shuichi's hat over her face. "So, if he's trying to get us to vote for the wrong person… doesn't it make sense whenever we hone in on the real culprit he tries to convince us otherwise?"

"Hmph," grumbles Ryoma. "So that's the conclusion you've come to."

Himiko sniffles. "So then… it really is Ryoma?"

Sighing a heavy sigh, Kaede bunches her sleeves into her fists. "I… really do think it is." Straightening her back, she breaths in to compose herself. "But, to ensure I'm correct, there is one final piece of evidence that will absolutely solidify whether or not Ryoma is the culprit. But it'll need Ryoma's—"

"Hold on!" booms Kaito from across the way. "That hasn't been decided yet!"

Kaede blinks. "Wh-what hasn't?"

"That Ryoma's the culprit, obviously!" Knuckles whitening around his stand, Kaito matches Kaede's stare. "We've been talking and talking but not providing any actual physical evidence!" He thrusts a hand out towards Kokichi. "We have Kokichi's story, whatever the hell Rantaro's tryna do, and what else? Where the hell did the actual proof go? In the other two trials, we had enough evidence to one-hundred-percent convict Tenko and Angie, but here there's barely any proof to suggest Ryoma has any part in anything!"

Ryoma sighs. "Momota, let Akamatsu—"

"No," Kaito snaps. "I won't let her continue because she's being brainwashed by Kokichi and Rantaro into believing the culprit is Ryoma, and I won't stand for it! And you shouldn't either!"

Tsumugi tilts her head. "B-brainwashed? That's a bit of a stretch, isn't it?"

Chuckling, Rantaro shrugs. "Weirder things have happened, haven't they?"

"Shut it, you!" Miu snarls. "You're just makin' things worse!"

Tsking, Kokichi shakes his head. "Kaito, Kaito, Kaito. Surely you've realised by now that it's impossible for anyone else other than Ryoma to have committed this crime, don't you?"

"How?" asks Kaito. "It's not impossible at all!"

Clucking his tongue, Kokichi checks his nails. "If you use the process of elimination, it's pretty simple, actually." Eyes lighting up, he's already rubbing his hands together and preparing to tick people off his fingers. "Let's start with me, Kaede, and Miu first of all. Why are the three of us cleared of the murder? Kaede, do the honours!"

"Because…" Kaede grits her teeth. "Because at the time of the crime, all areas along the river were being scoured by three different groups. We were the only three people not around the river at the time of the incident, so it would have been impossible for us to have… done this without being seen by at least someone."

Kokichi nods, "Right, right! Next person off the suspect list is Rantaro. Care to explain why?"

Himiko frowns. "This really has become the 'Kokichi Show', hasn't it?"

Scoffing, Miu bites on her lip. "If my fuckin' code didn't ban me from runnin', I'd have had his head on a platter the moment he started talkin'."

Ryoma silences her with a wave of his hand. "It's fine. I want to hear their reasoning."

Tsumugi grimaces. "Even though we think you're the culprit?"

"Yeah." Ryoma shrugs. "Like I said, every side should be heard. Once Akamatsu's made her decision, I'll refute her as I see fit." He folds his arms. "Our lives are on the line here, so we've only got one chance to make our choice."

"Rantaro…" Kaede sighs. "He's cleared because he was logged out at the time of the incident. Although…" She shoots him a look. "Although he says Kiyo could have been in the water from before the time he left, it's highly unlikely."

Rantaro lifts a brow. "And why's that? I don't believe we ever discussed that, no?"

"It's obvious," Kaede replies. "Kiyo wouldn't have been able to log you out once he was in the water. He was stuck in the mountains, remember?"

"Even if he somehow could, I would imagine escaping from the mountains would have been his priority," Maki adds. "Logging Rantaro out probably didn't even cross his mind."

"Right." Kaede nods. "Which means Kiyo logged Rantaro out before he was put into the water. So Rantaro could not have done that to Kiyo."

"Which means Rantaro is also off the suspect list!" Kokichi punctuates. "Next is Kaito, Tsumugi and Himiko. What makes them innocent?"

"Kaito and Tsumugi…" Kaede's frown deepens. "They all saw each other around the time this all have alibis to back each other up."

Kokichi grins knowingly "Mmhmm, mmhmm, they surely, totally do! Which leaves Maki and Ryoma." He cocks his head to one side. "And you know why Maki can't have done it, yes?"

"Her NG Code prohibited her from using her talent," Kaede replies. "And as she's an assassin…"

Kokichi claps his hands. "Exactly! She couldn't kill people whilst in the sim! Which means…" His eyes slide to Ryoma's stand as it once again, pushes itself out to the centre. "The only person who was alone by the river, the only person with no alibi at the time of the murder… and the only person who could have killed Kiyo iiiis… Ryoma Hoshi!" Giggling, he locks his arms over his head and smiles. "We have such good synergy, Kaede! We shoulda teamed up waaaay earlier than this case!"

Clenching her jaw, Kaede averts her gaze.

"H-hold on a sec!" Sighing, Kaito's head falls into his chest. "It… was a lie."

Kokichi cocks a brow. "Hm? What was?"

"Don't play dumb! You already know!" Kaito shouts. "Me and Tsumugi seeing each other on the roof! We didn't see each other at all!"

Tsumugi blanches. "Wh-what!? Kaito! What are you—?"

"Ahahahaha!" Cackling, Kokichi spreads his arms wide. "It doesn't matter anymore, Kaito!" He presses a finger to his temple. "Maki couldn't kill Kiyo, and Tsumugi was with her the whole time. Himiko was on your back, so that leaves you as the only other suspect." He sends him a simpering look. "So you're saying if it wasn't Ryoma, it was you who killed Kiyo?"

"That's…" Kaito clenches his jaw. "N-no… I didn't—" he stops in his tracks. "Th-this has to be some sorta trap! Kokichi's taking control of the whole trial! Ryoma didn't kill Kiyo, and I can prove it!"

Kaede's eyebrows fly into her hair. "You… you can?"

"Yeah!" Fumbling with his touchscreen, Kaito pulls up the map of the Virtual World once again. "Ryoma, Rantaro, and Kokichi's team were at the chapel, which was all the way over to the west of the world. And we know that whoever killed Kiyo had to have used the signboard! And where is the signboard in all of this?" He draws a large red circle by the mansion with his finger. "It's all the way over at the mansion! There were two groups by the river, so if Kokichi, Kaede and Miu couldn't get over there without being seen, then neither could Ryoma!"

"Wait," says Miu. "Wait… yeah… yeah! How the fuck did he get over there without being seen!? The fuck?"

"Perhaps he just got lucky?" Rantaro suggests.

Maki glowers over at him. "No one asked for your opinion."

Rantaro closes his mouth.

"I see!" exclaims Tsumugi. "Maki and I took turns on the binoculars, so we'd have definitely heard if someone approached the mansion from down below, and we didn't see or hear anything coming from that direction!"

"Yeah," says Kaito. "And neither did Himiko and I. Which means Ryoma couldn't have been the killer!" He sends a glare Kokichi's way. "How about that? You get it now, right?!"

Himiko taps her lip. "Maybe he could have—! No… or maybe—! Wait, no that wouldn't work either… Nyeeeeh! What kinda stealth magic did this killer use to get the signboard!?"

"Stealth magic," Kaede echoes. "That's it… that's how he did it…!"

"Huh?" asks Himiko. "S-seriously!?"

Kaito's brow creases. "What?"

"A-actually, Kaito." Kaede takes a deep, shaky breath. "That point you just made, it— it actually solidifies that Ryoma was the only person who could have done this."

"Nee-heeheehee," giggles Kokichi. "Kaede's figured it aaaaall out! I'll leave the rest to her."

"Kaito…" Kaede sighs. "I understand that this upsets you, and trust me." She presses her palm into her heart. "It upsets me too, and I still don't accept this! But… we have to move forward, y'know?" She tugs on Shuichi's cap with trembling fingers. "On that night, the night when Shuichi left the academy, he told me to never lose sight of the truth, even when it's terrifying." She clenches a fist. "Which is why I have to pursue the truth, no matter how cruel it is and save all of us!"

Kaito shakes his head in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm hearing this from you of all people, Kaede." His head snaps up. "Weren't you supposed to be my sidekick!? Was that a lie, too?"

"Wh—?" Kaede's brow knots. "What does that have to do with this?"

"It has everything to do with this! Because you're refusing to listen to reason!"

"But I told you!" Kaede claps back. "Ryoma was the only person who was able to take the signboard without getting caught! You didn't let me finish my reasoning!"

"You don't need to," Kaito snarls. "Because I'll tear your reasoning to shreds and bring you back to reality!"

Argument Armament

"I'll never accept this!"

"Don't you know Ryoma at all?"

"He promised to put his life of killing behind him!"

"And I know in my heart that he meant it!"

"He's being doing his best to change! Why can't you see that!"

BREAK

"Damnit, Kaede!"

"Why are you believing Kokichi of all people!?"

"He's a pathological liar!"

"Rantaro, too! He's admitted to trying to screw things up for the rest of us!"

"Snap out of it!"

"Aren't you supposed to be my sidekick?"

BREAK

"What the hell's gotten into you!?"

"Ryoma's been nothing but co-operative this whole time!"

"Kokichi has done so much to us, yet you're choosing his side over Ryoma's?"

"So how the hell could Ryoma be the culprit!?"

"And yet you still wanna accuse him?"

"You say the truth this, the truth that, but…"

"I'll have to make you understand, even if it's by force!"

BREAK

"How the hell could only Ryoma have reached the signboard!?"

SHU

KU

CHI

STEP

BREAK!

As the atmosphere thickens, so too does the lump in Kaede's throat.

"Himiko asked earlier what kind of 'stealth magic' the culprit could have used to take the signboard without being caught." She puts a hand to her chin. "That's when I remembered something that happened last week, back before the incident with Angie, Kiibo and Kirumi. Ryoma and I went up to convince Angie to stop the resurrection ritual. But Angie wouldn't give in no matter what. We eventually gave up and left, but then…"

"Geez." Kaede leans back against the wall. "Well, that was a huge failure."

"Was it though?" asks Kokichi, shifting his weight to the wall adjacent. "Because I think Ryoma would say otherwise."

"Huh, you're pretty sharp-eyed to have seen that," Ryoma remarks.

"What?" Kaede blinks at them both. "Wait..." Her mouth falls agape when Ryoma pulls out a familiar looking book from inside his jacket. "Wait, is that what I think it is!? But how!?"

"Sure is." He replies, dusting wax residue off the book's front. His lips twitch when he meets Kaede's dumbfounded stare. "You ever hear of the Shukuchi Step, Akamatsu?"

"N...no?"

"Anyway, my apologies for using you as a decoy," He grimaces. "I kinda already knew tryna' convince her was gonna go nowhere."

"He used some tennis technique called the 'Shukuchi Step' to maneuver around Angie and take back the Necronomicon without any of us realising he'd done it." Kaede's face pulls into a tight line. "Is it really a stretch to say he didn't use that same technique to grab the signboard without being noticed?"

The blood drains from Kaito's face. "The legendary Shukuchi Step… He used it?"

"It's impossible to say whether he got the signboard before or after Rantaro was logged out by Kiyo," Kaede goes on. "But the fact remains that he was the only one able to retrieve the board without being seen."

Screwing his eyes shut, Kaito's shoulders sag. He wilts into his podium.

"Nee-heehee!" cackles Kokichi. "Looks like we finally shot down the last of Kaito's morale! At long last, we can finally end this thing!"

"Wait," says Kaede. "There is one more thing I want to do before we decide on this for certain." She turns to Ryoma. "Ryoma, you've been so quiet throughout this whole thing. Do you have anything you'd like to say?" Her face softens. "Please?"

Ryoma is quiet for a long minute. He looks from Kaito's deflated form to Rantaro, Kokichi, back to Kaede.

"Why don't you ask me, Akamatsu?" His eyes narrow. "You know what I'm talking about, right?"

Kaede's chest pulses with pain. "I… I do…" Inhaling through her nose, Kaede tries to will away the rapidly growing knot forming at the pit of her stomach, but to no avail.

"Ryoma Hoshi… did you—?" she stops in her tracks. "Wait I-I can't ask it."

"Did you kill Kiyo?" Maki asks in her stead.

Ryoma is quiet again.

"Yeah."

Kaede's heart plummets to her feet.

"… All right. That's all I needed to hear."

Kaito sinks lower into his podium. Both Himiko and Tsumugi gasp in unison, and Rantaro mutters a curse under his breath.

"Wait, wait, wait." Miu holds up a hand. "How'd we know he isn't lying?" She clenches a fist. "A-are we really takin' his word at face value? What if he's doin' a Rantaro and trying to make us vote wrongly for him too?"

"He's not," Kaede says, voice sullen. "Remember, Miu? When we looked at all the NG Codes on the computer?" She takes another breath. "Do you remember what Ryoma's was?"

"It's fine, Akamatsu, I've got this." Holding up his arm, Ryoma slides his sleeve up. Switches on his bangle.

NG Code: Answering a question with a lie.

"I see," says Maki. "Then... it's settled."

"Yeah," Rantaro mumbles. He runs a hand through his hair, and smiles a forced smile. "Guess the jig's up, huh?"

Sighing, Ryoma's frown deepens. "Sorry, Amami. I tried to keep it up as long as I could." He tugs at his beanie. "But Akamatsu and the others… Heh, they're just too smart."

"It's all right," Rantaro purses his lips. "We tried, at least, and that's the most important thing."

Miu slams her fist into her podium. "So you WERE in on it together!"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Kokichi whisper-shouts. "Can we get into all of that after we vote?"

Monokuma pouts. "So that's how we're going into this one? He just confesses and it's all over? Yeesh, what a buzzkill of a finale; where's the pizazz? The drama? The exhilaration!?"

Montaro tilts his head. "What are you talking about, Father? The other three culprits confessed just like this!"

Monokuma scratches his chin. "Hmm, I guess you're right. After so many killing games, it was bound to happen eventually, I guess." He flings a paw skywards. "Anywho! Let's proceed forth with… VOTING TIME!"

Swallowing thickly, Kaede leaves her hand hovering over Ryoma's face on her touchpad. The sounds of other votes being locked in surround her from all corners. As the voting timer reaches the final ten seconds, Kaede bites the bullet. Slams her eyes shut. Locks in her vote for Ryoma. She glances up just as the timer runs out, and Monokuma directs attention to the descending plasma screen. Once again the lights flick on, trumpets sound, and confetti explodes as the voting screen illuminates the courtroom. With two votes to Rantaro and the remaining seven sitting next to Ryoma's sprite, his name is displayed in big, blinking letters.

CLASS TRIAL: DISMISSED

A universal click resounds around the room, and a weight falls from Kaede's wrist. Gritting her teeth, she rubs the tender skin where her NG Bangle had been hugging her flesh. But she barely feels the pain.

"Well, I never!" Monokuma exclaims. "You voted correctly yet again! Congratulations! Let me hear your joyful voices! Korekiyo's killer was indeed none other than Ryoma Hoshi, the Ultimate Tennis Pro!"

"Nyeh?" says Himiko. "Why are there two votes for Rantaro?"

"Probably Rantaro himself." Maki folds her arms over her chest. "A last ditch attempt to turn the voting would be my guess."

"Nee-heehee!" Kokichi snickers behind his hand. "And I mean, I think we can all guess where the other one came from…"

"Why…" mutters Kaito. "Ryoma… what the hell!?"

Ryoma's torso rises and falls. "I'm sorry, Momota. Seems I didn't live up to your expectations after all."

"Before you guys start moping around even more…" Monokuma brandishes a claw. "Kokichi Ouma! What gives? You told me adding that motive to the killing game would make things more exciting!"

"Hm?" Kokichi cocks his head. "Didn't it, though?" He smirks. "After all, without that motive, this murder wouldn't have happened, riiiiight?"

Monokuma holds his tummy and laughs. "Hey, y'know, you're right! Gold star for my top pupil!"

"Really?" Gasping, Kokichi's eyes light up. "Yay!"

"Ryoma, please. Tell us why you killed him." Kaede blinks back the tears welling at the corners of her eyes. "I… I really wanted to believe it wasn't you. I wanted to believe that you wouldn't do something like this!"

Ryoma sighs. "Sorry, Akamatsu. Looks like I failed you too."

"I don't care about you failing us; I couldn't give two shits about that!" Kaito yells, storming up to Ryoma. "I just want to know man… why? Why did you kill him?" He clenches a fist. "After everything we talked about… everything we went through—!"

"We've already established that, haven't we?" Rantaro cuts in. "It was the motive."

Tsumugi tilts her head. "You mean the card key from way back then?"

Rantaro nods. "Exactly. Thanks to Kokichi, it was installed into the Neo World Programme in the form of a Flashback Light, it would seem."

"So then…" Kaede forces her gaze to Ryoma. "That means Ryoma saw the secret to the outside world too. Along with Rantaro, Kiyo and Kokichi."

"Yeah," replies Ryoma. "I saw it." He straightens up. "But you guys got something wrong back there. Shinguuji never saw the contents of the Flashback Light. He went to the grave never finding out it's contents." He scoffs. "For the better, I'd say."

"But wait," Kaito cuts in. "I thought back then, when Kokichi said he ran into Kiyo…"

"He totally was! And to make it even more suspicious, he kicked something into a bush as I approached him."

"Kicked something into a bush…" Kaede thinks for a moment. "That… must have been the Flashback Light, right?"

Kokichi shrugs. "Probably. I didn't bother asking."

"Oh, that?" Throwing his hands up, Kokichi grins a toothy grin. "Sorry, that was a lie!"

"Are you fucking serious!?" screeches Miu. "Are you pulling my tits? How many fucking lies are you gonna tell in one day!?"

"Hey!" Pouting, Kokichi balls his fists and puffs out his cheeks. "It's not like it was a totally useless one! We had to segue into my plan with Monokuma somehow, didn't we? Besiiiides, we got the culprit right, so who cares anyway?"

"Th-that doesn't matter anymore," says Kaede. Her nails dig crescents into her palms. "I just want to know what happened in the Virtual World. What caused this to happen?" Her gaze hits the floor. "What caused you to kill Kiyo?"

Ryoma exhales. "It's as Ouma said. Amami and I… we came to an agreement a couple nights ago. That if we got put in a tight spot, a spot that endangers the rest of you guys, we'd…" He tugs on his beanie. "Well, you already know now."

Tsumugi tilts her head. "You'd fight to the death, right?"

Ryoma nods. "Right. A fair fight in which the loser gives up their life." He sighs. "Me, who has nothing left to live for, and Amami, who doesn't think he deserves to be alive. It only made sense that we'd decide on such a plan, no?"

Kaede's breath hitches in her throat. Rantaro… doesn't think he deserves to be alive…?

"But you have plenty left to live for!" shouts Kaito. "We already talked about this, Ryoma!"

"I know," Ryoma mutters. "I know. But compared to the rest of you…" Another sigh. "You guys deserve the chance to carry on more than I do." His expression clouds over. "Hmph. At least, that's what we thought before Ouma shined that Flashback Light in our eyes."

Kaede blinks. "Wait… Kokichi?"

Miu's face contorts. "Then the reason you guys saw that memory…"

"Hahaha, yep!" Kokichi grins. "I was the one who found the Flashback Light and wanted to share it with my beloved teammates!" He presses a finger to his lip. "Like I said, it'd be horribly selfish of me to keep it all to myself, wouldn't it?"

"What!?" shrieks Himiko.

"It was Kokichi that found the Flashback Light," Rantaro explains. "He came to us with it, delighted in himself for finding it." His eyes darken. "But now, knowing that he planned this all out with Monokuma, he probably knew where it was hidden to begin with."

"We originally wanted to take it back to the rest of you guys," Ryoma continues. "But before we could…"

Kaede's jaw clenches. "He turned it on."

Ryoma nods. "Right. And what we saw…"

"It was the same as what I saw with the keycard: permission to view the outside world," Kokichi explains. "And after hearing what Ryoma and Rantaro were up to, that's when it hit me: I could simply... combine the two So, I made a deal with Monokuma. If I could spice up the killing game, he'd install the secret into a virtual Flashback Light and code it into the Killing Game Simulator." He giggles. "And hey, looks like it worked!"

Kaito's eyes narrow. "So then, you guys saw the secret of the outside world when Kokichi shone the Flashback Light?"

"Well? What did you see!?" Himiko asks.

Ryoma frowns. "That… doesn't matter right now." He slips out a candy cigarette and twists it between his fingers. "We saw what's going on outside, Amami and I. Ouma ran off as soon as he'd forced it into our hands. And that's when we decided. In order to save everyone here, we had to put our plan into action." His face darkens. "'Cause what we saw on that Flashlight… it'd be better to go to the grave without that knowledge."

Rantaro laughs bitterly. "It's funny, really. Miu's always talking about how this school is a hellhole, yeah?" His bangs fall over his eyes. "Well, it's a paradise in comparison to what's goin' on out there."

Tsumugi pales. "That can't be… can it?"

"It is," Ryoma confirms. "And that isn't a lie."

Kaede's hand flies to her head, mind needling with questions. "W-wait a second. Are you guys saying the outside world… is worse than being in here?"

"Yes, Kaede, that's exactly what we're saying," Rantaro snaps, voice uncharacteristically shaky. "Inside here is hell, outside here is hell, so what the hell should we bother living on for? Everyone up until now has died and for what? A fate even worse than death!?" His head falls into his chest. "All I wanted to do was end this game and save us all… but after seeing what lies ahead of us…" His knuckles whiten. "I think it'd be better for all of us to die here instead."

"So that's why you tried to get us to pick the wrong person," Maki surmises. "So that we'd all be killed and not have to go back outside?"

"Right," says Ryoma. "And since I'm Shinguuji's killer… I'd shoulder whatever lies ahead alone." His candy drops to the floor. "Sorry for tricking you guys. I… no, we just wanted to do the right thing." He scoffs. "And turns out I couldn't even do that right. Hmph."

"Ryoma…" Tears brim in Kaede's eyes. "Ryoma, that's… that's just too sad!"

Ryoma sighs. "Akamatsu..."

"But why did Kiyo end up dead?" asks Tsumugi. "If the plan to kill us all was between the two of you?"

"Because he saw the glint of the Flashback Light from the woods," Kokichi explains. "He told you and Kaito he was going to investigate, and when he did, he saw Rantaro and Ryoma planning to fight." He smiles. "So, what's the reason Kiyo intervened, despite not knowing what was on the Flashback Light?"

"His NG Bangle…" Kaede mumbles. "He… Kiyo knew he wouldn't be able to come out of the world regardless, so… so he…"

"He told me as such," Ryoma says grimly. "Once Amami was logged out, it was just Shinguuji and I, face-to-face by the chapel." He looks to the floor. "The moment we locked eyes; he instantly understood the situation. If he wanted to flee, tell you or anyone else what I was doing, he could have, easily. But he didn't. Because he knew he wasn't getting outta this world alive and chose a fight that teetered upon life and death."

"Was that you?" Ryoma asks, as Korekiyo appears behind the flash of light that beams Rantaro out of the world. "Why'd you do that?"

"I am but a mere passer-by," replies Korekiyo. "Should it not be me asking you what you're doing, Ryoma?" His eyes narrow. "Could it be... you were on the brink of doing something unthinkable to our dear transfer student from beyond the grave?"

"Heh," Ryoma chuckles lowly. "Spot on as usual. As expected of the Ultimate Anthropologist."

Korekiyo's eyes flash. "It was not due to my title that I was able to decipher the atmosphere, Ryoma. I think you know that well enough."

"Hmph. That's right. We're both killers, after all. Sensing my killing intent would only natural to you."

"Indeed."

A pause.

"I take it you intended to resolve our current predicament by killing Rantaro, yes?"

"And if I was?"

With a sigh, Korekiyo wraps his arms around himself. "If the circumstances were different, I would have been more than happy to observed from the side-lines. Watching two men at their wits end, fighting for the chance to live on... It is an element of humanity one doesn't come across all too often. But, alas, I know that cannot be. Which is why I must regretfully take Rantaro's place, and... witness such grave desperation first-hand."

"So you want to take me on, huh? I thought you only killed the ladies."

"Kehehehe, that may be true. However..." Lifting his arm, Korekiyo flashes Ryoma is NG Code. "I do figure, if I am to perish here anyway, I would much rather go out fighting than merely sitting around. You agree, do you not?"

"You…" Ryoma's eyes go wide. "Hmph. I see." He rolls back his shoulders. Cracks his knuckles. "In that case, don't expect me to go easy on you, Shinguuji. I may be your first male opponent…" The snow beneath him crunches as he steps forward on his right foot. "But I'll also be your last."

Korekiyo titters. "Indeed, Ryoma, you will." He falls into a fighting stance. "Now, show me, Ryoma! Let me witness one final time how beautiful humanity can be at its most depraved!"

"We were put in a programme called the 'Killing Game Simulator," Ryoma continues. "You really think Monokuma was gonna let us up and leave whenever we were done searching? He locked that computer room door for a reason." He shoves his hands in his pockets. "If Amami and I, no, Shinguuji and I didn't do what we did, we'd all still be roaming around fruitlessly in that programme, or at best, still stuck in that computer room with no food, no water…" He shakes his head. "Waiting around until death creeps up on you… that's not a cool way to go out. And it isn't a way for any of you to go, either." Ryoma juts his head towards Kaito. "Momota, I didn't kill because I gave up on life, I killed because giving up in there would've been an insult to life itself. Idling isn't my style, 'specially not in this kinda situation." Sighing, he pulls at his hat for the final time. "What we saw on that flashlight… There may not be much left to life outside of here, but giving up before you even take a stab at it… that's nothing but a blasphemy towards life."

Rantaro's brow creases. "Ryoma… are you saying, even if we had managed to succeed in having them believe I was the killer, you'd have…?"

"Yeah," says Ryoma. "I'd have given myself in eventually. Sorry, Amami. There may not be anything left for me out there, but I never expected there to be." His eyes flit to Kaede. "That's what my motive video said too, right?"

Kaede's mouth falls open. "What? R-Ryoma, how did you—?"

Ryoma shrugs. "Dunno. Just a feeling I had. Guess that reaction says I was right." He turns his back. "Anyway, might as well get this over with."

"No, wait!" Kaede flings out her hand. "Please, hold on a sec!"

Ryoma looks over his shoulder. "Hm?"

"The reason you did all this," she rasps, voice trembling. "The reason you killed Kiyo… are you saying it was all to… sacrifice yourself?"

"Hmph." A ghost of a smile pulls at Ryoma's mouth. "Even after killing one of our own, you really think of me as someone that selfless, huh? I'm flattered." He glances up to Monokuma, paw hovering over an ominous red button. "I've been on death row for a long time. It's about time I get my due course."

"No!" shouts Kaito. "Please, Ryoma… don't go… this…" He grits his teeth and exhales shakily. "This is all Kokichi's fault!"

Kokichi blinks twice. "Eh? My fault? But it was Ryoma and Rantaro that came up with this plan?"

"Shut the fuck up!" snaps Miu. "You're the one who gave him those memories in the first place!"

Kokichi rolls his eyes to the heavens. "Are you deaf or just stupid? They would have done it anyway!" Clicking his tongue, he leans against the nearest podium. "Anyway, Ryoma tried to save you guys from the despair of what lies outside by killing us all. But you all had to go and ruin it all because you wanted the cold, harsh truth!" His face contorts. "So you should all apologise to Ryoma, because now he has to die because you had to be so selfish!"

"So you're saying it was wrong to reach for the truth?" asks Kaede. "We'd all be dead if we didn't!"

"Exactly. And it'd be for the better too." Scoffing, Rantaro lowers his head. "You… no, we allshould have died ignorant… That's why Ryoma and I decided to do what we did. So that we could save you."

"Rantaro…" Kaede mutters. "What did you guys see on the Flashback Light? What on earth could have possible pushed you to do something like this!?"

Bangs overcasting his eyes, Rantaro's face goes frighteningly dark. "Stop trying to get it outta me, Kaede. I won't tell you, so don't ask me again."

Supressing a shudder, Kaede gnaws on her lip. "S-sorry..."

"Now then," announces Monokuma. "I've prepared a very, very special punishment for Ryoma Hoshi, the Ultimate Tennis Pro…"

"Guess it's that time, huh?" Ryoma sighs. "This has been a long time coming." He starts to walk away. "To think you'd have to watch your old idol be put to death like this… It's best if you look away, Momota."

"Dammit," Kaito grumbles. "Dammit, Ryoma!"

"Ryoma…" Kaede sniffles, heart heavy like lead. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

"Akamatsu… no, Kaede," Ryoma soothes. "You just continue living as you are, all right? You got your second chance at life. Don't blow it like I did." He glances around the class. "That goes for the rest of you too. And… thanks…" His face softens. "For giving this killer one last chance at seeing just how kind people can be, even in the direst of circumstances."

"Let's give it everything we've got!" Monokuma hollers, brandishing his mallet and smacking the red button with all his strength. "It's PUNISHMENT TIME!"

With a smile so unbefittingly serene, Ryoma presses a hand to his heart. "Maria… hold on just a little longer. I'll be with you shortly."

GAME OVER
RYOMA HOSHI HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY
TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT!

Ryoma opens his eyes, and he finds himself at the edge of a tennis court. The sky is a dreary shade of grey, and smatterings of blood paint the dimly-lit court crimson. Jacket removed, Ryoma's striped jumpsuit is on full display. Silver steel handcuffs tie his wrists firmly together. On his left ankle, a ball and chain weigh him down, the picture of a stereotypical prisoner.

Ahead of Ryoma on the other side of the tennis court stands a podium, the word "CRIMINAL" branded into the metal in block capitals. A barely-there path lights the way to the podium. Off to the side, Monotaro and Monodam are sitting by the court sidelines of the, engaging in their own mini-game of tennis with overly sized rackets.

DEUCE

Ultimate Tennis Pro, Ryoma Hoshi's Execution:
Executed.

With his right foot, Ryoma steps onto the court, a mechanical groan fills the air. Forty beige dummies with bear-shaped heads rise from the earth lining Ryoma's path to the end of the court, twenty-aside.

Ryoma passes the first dummy. As he does, a whistle rings out. Monokuma leaps into the skies, racket in paw, and whacks a tennis ball the dummy's way.

An iron tennis ball.

With a sickening bang, the dummy's head is blown off in an instant. Flinching, Ryoma continues on his path. He passes the second, third, fourth dummies on both sides of him. Each one receives an iron ball to the head as Ryoma passes the concurrent dummies.

Four, five, six, seven.

Eight, nine, ten, eleven.

Eyes screwed shut, Ryoma persists forward. One foot after another. The ball and chain drags against the ground.

Twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.

Ryoma's leg gives in. Clenching his jaw, Ryoma persists. The steel ball weighing him down screeches across the concrete court, dragging paint, mud, and blood.

Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen.

Ryoma reaches the twentieth pair of dummies. Grunting, he steps onto the podium, nearly slipping as he does. He turns himself around until he can see his classmates in the distance beyond a mesh fence, a dimly-lit rainbow of coloured dots. A spotlight beams down onto him, "criminal" of the hour.

With a sickeningly evil grin, Monokuma starts waddling up the aisle towards him. Tennis racket in paw, he lifts it to the skies as he walks. It glints in the light. Ryoma's eyes widen. Exhaling, he hangs his head.

An ironically fitting end for the shell of the Ultimate Tennis Pro.

As Monokuma reaches him, a forty-first dummy emerges from the ground. A black leather mask adorns its face. Ryoma resists the urge to laugh at the crudeness of it all.

With clumsy paws, Monokuma manoeuvres the dummy until it's face-to-face with Ryoma. For a long moment, all is silent. From the start of the court, up until the end where Ryoma stands, each headless dummy slowly turns to face the podium. Monokuma flips a switch, and on cue, each dummy's torso slowly opens to reveal a gun barrel.

With a resigned chuckle, Ryoma's eyes flutter shut.

Monokuma flips his switch again.

The roaring of gunshots tear through the air.

The world goes red.

Amidst the hurricane of bullets, one stray bullet bounces off the back of the arena and flies in a beeline for the back of Monotaro's head.

Within an instant, Monodam jumps up and over Monotaro. Takes the impact head-on, instantly limpening once the bullet pierces his torso. Monotaro's eyes grow wide as synthetic blood paints the air around him.

Lifeless, Ryoma drops off the podium not unlike a ragdoll.

Jumping after him, Monokuma lands by Ryoma's head, and presses the barrel of his own smaller gun to his temple, execution style.

Monokuma pulls the trigger. Amidst the echo of the gun, the lights illuminating tennis court shut off, leaving the remaining students in darkness until the courtroom lights brighten once again.

END

"Monodam!" Monotaro wails, cradling Monodam's spazzing body in his arms. "Why… why would you do that? Why would you!?"

Monodam buzzes weakly. "YOU-SAVED-MY-LIFE... I-AM-ETERNALLY-GRATEFUL, AND..." A gargled, mechanical sound erupts from him. "BECAUSE…WE-ARE-FRIENDS... NO, BECAUSE-WE-ARE-BROTHERS. AND-BROTHERS… MUST-ALWAYS… GET-ALONG."

Monodam's eye flickers off.

Throwing his own head back, Monotaro slams his eyes shut and wails, "MONODAAAAAAM!"

"Waaaaaaaahhh!" Himiko sobs. "Ryomaaaa!"

Dropping to her knees, Kaede's head falls into her hands. "He didn't deserve that… He didn't deserve that at all!" She snivels into her palms. "After all he did for me… and I still couldn't help him…"

"God dammit!" Kaito punches the wall of the courtroom. "Why'd it hafta end up like this?"

Eyes narrowing, Maki sends Kokichi a pointed look. "I think we've earned an explanation, Kokichi. What was the secret of the outside world that you saw? If it was something even Ryoma was willing to kill for, I think we also deserve to know what it —"

"No way!" barks Kokichi. "If Ryoma was willing to kill over it, what makes you think I'm gonna tell the rest of you!?"

Kaito's eyes flash, and he sees red. "Why, you…!" He lunges for Kokichi.

Maki holds out an arm. "Don't. It's not worth it."

"Tch." Straightening his back, Kaito wipes his eyes with his sleeve. "Whatever, I'm heading off." With heavy footsteps, Kaito stomps through the courtroom. He falters by Kaede's crumpled form, but catches himself and wordlessly walks away with Maki at his heels.

After dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, Tsumugi slides her glasses back up her nose. "Well, if Kokichi refuses to say anything, what about you, Rantaro— Rantaro…?"

Eyes burning, Kaede glances up and scans the courtroom. Rantaro is nowhere to be seen.

"Oh," says Kokichi. "He stormed out during Ryoma's execution. You guys were too transfixed on watching the show that you didn't notice."

"D-don't call it a show!" Miu snaps. "It's a shitshow if anything!"

"Hey, hey!" Monokuma whisper-shouts. "How long are you bastards gonna stand around chatting? I've got a corpse to clean up here, y'know! The class trial is over, so you can head on back to the academy with your other classmates." He chuckles. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to deliver your prizes early tomorrow morning, so make sure you're well-rested, as the Killing Game will continue as per usual!" And with that, Monokuma vanishes alongside a forlorn Monotaro.

Himiko slaps her cheeks and springs back to life. "Okay! There's still a whole day ahead of us before then, so we gotta make the most of it!"

Kokichi lifts a brow. "What's with the change in mood all of a sudden? Aren't you guys supposed to be super sad about Ryoma still?"

"I am…" Himiko's shoulders slump. "I am super sad about it. Depressed, even!" She pumps her fists. "But Ryoma said we hafta keep living on for him, so I'm not gonna disappoint him just yet! When Gonta and Tenko died, Ryoma was the one of the first people who helped me get back on my feet, so I can't let his efforts go to waste!"

Kaede's eyes widen. "Himiko…"

"She has a point," Miu adds. "Mopin' around over them ain't gonna bring them back, after all." She flushes pink. "N-not that I'd ever wish for those two murderers to come back. They can rot in hell for all I care!"

"Miu…" Rising on wobbly legs, Kaede wipes her eyes and adjusts Shuichi's cap. "You're right… You're both right. After all," she beams through her tear-soaked eyes. "That's… what it means to live, right?"

"You guys," breathes Tsumugi. "Then… I'll do my best too!"

Himiko flashes her a Ryoma-esque thumbs-up. "That's the spirit, Tsumugi! Now, let's go back to the dining hall and eat as much as we can! And after that… we can sleep as much as we can!"

"Right," says Kaede. "And when tomorrow comes… we'll just do our best to overcome whatever lies ahead."

"Ooh, you guys are going to brunch?" Kokichi's eyes light up. "Am I invited?"

"Hell no!" snaps Miu. "You're the fuckin' reason this trial happened to begin with! Go sit in the corner and play with yourself!"

Kokichi deflates. "Aww, okay. You guys are boring. It's fine. I didn't wanna go to your boring tea-party anyway." He turns on his heel and walks a couple steps. "Oh, but I will say this." He throws Kaede a look over his shoulder, and his unnaturally wide grin shakes Kaede to her core. "I will be the one who comes out on top at the end of this all. Don't you forget it."

Amidst the superficial optimism, Kaede shakes him off and turns back to the chattering girls. But the dread lurking beneath her fake smile lingers and festers like a cist beneath her skin.

Later that night

Beneath the shade of Tenko's dojo, Himiko pulls her knees to her chest. Gazes up at the stars, speckled across the unchanging sky. Wonders if somewhere, somehow, someone's gazing back at her. "I dunno how Kaede does it, leading a group like that every day. No wonder she always looks so tired."

"Feeling guilty?" comes a voice to her left.

"Nyeh!?" Himiko jumps. "Oh, it's you." she says, as Kokichi slides into view from behind one of the dojo pillars. Scowling, she narrows her eyes as Kokichi swings around the pillar, carefree as the wind. "Shouldn't you be the one feeling guilty? It's all your fault this even happened."

Kokichi stops swinging. "Why should I feel guilty? I didn't kill either of them. If you're gonna blame anyone still alive, you should blame Rantaro." He clicks his tongue. "My involvement was merely the catalyst for the inevitable. If not for me, we'd still be stuck in that computer room, starving to death, no doubt."

Himiko's lip curls. "So, you don't feel even the tiniest bit bad?"

"Nope!"

"Tch. You're awful."

"Oh, I'm awful, am I?" Kokichi crouches.

Flinching, Himiko looks away.

"Lying to your friends, keeping things to yourself, willingly siding with the most hated person in this game… those all sound less awful than me, do they?" He rises to his feet. "At least I'm honest about being a liar. Liars who can't even be honest about their lies are the worst of the worst!"

Himiko fidgets in place. "It's not willingly siding…"

Kokichi shrugs. "I mean, I'm not forcing you to."

Himiko's head snaps up. "You said you'd tell everyone the secret on my Motive Card if I didn't side with you!"

"But that's not forcing you to, is it?"

"Yes, it is!"

"No, it—" Kokichi stops himself short. "Actually, no. I'm not in the mood to argue with you. You know I'm right." His eyes flash dangerously. "You, Himiko are twenty times worse than I'll ever dream to be."

Himiko tugs her hat over her face. "I… d-dunno what you're talking about."

Kokichi chuckles beneath his breath. "Mmhmm, sure you don't."

A distant chime rings in the distance, the chime for night-time.

"Welp, there's my cue." Jumping down the dojo steps, Kokichi dusts himself down and sends one final glance Himiko's way. "Remember, "Student Council" meeting before breakfast tomorrow, if you want to continue your little charade."

Himiko makes a small grunt of acknowledgement, eyes glassy, cheeks flushed red with emotion.

Kokichi smiles knowingly. "Alrighty then! Have a good night, Himiko! Or should I say... traitor."

Chapter IV: The Inmates' Sonatine

END

Victim: Korekiyo Shinguuji

Culprit: Ryoma Hoshi

Surviving Students: 8

Trivia:

❃ An 'Ensemble' refers to a group of musicians, actors, or dancers performing together. A 'collaboration', if you will!

❃ In tennis, 'Deuce' refers to the score of 40-all in a match, at which each player needs to earn 2 consecutive points to win the game.

❃ The motive of the NG Bangles, as you can guess, is a reference to the items in DR3 of the same name (as there isn't a DR3 game for me to use lol) and Ryoma's NG code mirrors that of Kazuo Tengan.

❃ I wanted to keep to the traditional theme of 'Chapter 4 is a sacrificial chapter' which is why both Korekiyo and Ryoma sacrificed themselves for the others, not only to graciously end both of their arc and fully redeem them both, but their selfless sacrifices were necessary to set the stage for what is to come in the oncoming Chapter 5.

❃ This year's Kira Cookie goes to... well, a lot of people guessed Ryoma in the comments before the trial chapters started, so I have to give it instead to AO3 guest user Bruhv who, in the last chapter, somehow managed to guess that the final clue to the murder was Ryoma's Shukuchi Step! I know you said it as a haha funny joke but the FACE I MADE when I read that bit sure was... something! 😂