ACT I: THE TITANS, THE BEAR AND THE FORTRESS OF DESPAIR

Chapter 7: Trial (part 1)

Day 5

Tartarus Keep

12:00

Trial Ground

Unlike most of the keep, the basement Monokuma led us to had proper air-conditioning, so at least we did not have to worry about anyone feinting during the trial due to the humidity (although for other reasons, I could not say for sure). The chamber looked very much like a makeshift tribune, consisting of a circle of stands in front of a high bench occupied by the judge. There were sixteen stands in total, each with the picture of one of the students, and without instruction, we took up our position neatly. Only one stand was left empty, the picture of Akihiko crossed in red ink in its place.

"Listen up, my ever so loyal subjects," began Monokuma with an eerie honey-sweet voice that caused a couple of cringes among our group. I supposed since his voice was artificially produced, it did not have to be humanly possible to mimic. "I know you all want to get down to business as soon as possible, but we can't let the trial start without a few rules being explained. So ears up and listen carefully. Or you can just ask me to repeat as many times as you can; I love explaining these rules, you know?"

"Cut the crap and get over with it," Eliza grumbled.

"Alright, then," said Monokuma. "Here's the catch. One of you has passed away before his time, and one of you is responsible for that. As you all know, this sets in motion a sequence of events that will determine who will walk out unharmed and who will join the murder victim in kingdom come. In this trial, it's up to you lot to uncover the culprit. Evidence will be presented, arguments brought forward or countered, distrust shrouds your minds like a cloak. If all goes well for the majority and the guess is correct, ONLY THE ACCUSED BLACKENED will face punishment, but should you make the wrong call, then it's punishment time for EVERYONE BESIDES THE ACQUITTED BLACKENED, who will be given the privilege of leaving this place and returning to the loved ones they are so desperate to reunite with. Such sweet despair, isn't it? One way or another, at least one of you will be executed, but, for the sake of viewership, do try to not let this whole game ends after one trial. That's bad for business. But I won't cheat - you can have my word on that. Anyway, you might have already noticed a category called Truth Bullet has been added to your Electronic-ID where evidence for the upcoming trial could be stored. This is a novel feature introduced after I discovered how anti-social most Ultimate Students tend to be. Having a shared pool of evidence in front of you helps quickening the trial without making it less interesting while reducing the amount of damage poor communication could cause. So, with all that being said, will you make the decision that leads to victory, or will it be that one that forever condemns you?"

"Damn," said Hokuto, poking at his ear. "They should call you the Ultimate Monotone Speaker."

"Thank you for making things easier for us," said Fitzgerald, ignoring the heated stares from others. "The Truth Bullet system is a good design, though, of course, I always have my own private clues just in case the killer catches on."

"So that's it, huh?" Kazuki commented. "Our lives are at the mercy of a kangaroo court headed by a talking stuffed bear. Oh, the irony."

"Let's just get on with it so I can have lunch already," said Eliza, uninterested.

"Uhm, I kinda missed the whole explanation thing," Minako voiced sheepishly. Apparently, she was sleeping the whole time while Monokuma was doing his monotone. Lucky for her, too. "Can you repeat that?"

"Oohkie dookie," Monokuma replied cheerfully, to everyone's shock. For whatever reason, Minako seemed to have a knack for self-harming; in this case, however, the deal was on all of us. "Here's the catch…."

"No, don't do it! Don't do it!" I exclaimed fearfully. One more Monokuma monotone and we might have a death in the trial, namely someone committing suicide.

"Don't fucking do it!" Hokuto added.

"Have mercy, will you?" Kai cried.

"Stop this, Monokuma!" El Viento demanded. "One time is enough already. I am not going through that crap again."

"She doesn't know what she is saying," Ashley chimed in, gagging a confused Minako next to her. "Please forgive her, your greatness Overlord Monokuma. She will pay extra attention to your senseless preaching next time."

"Fine," Monokuma conceded. "If you want to gain the upper hand on your poor classmate like that, then I will not have any problem with it. So without further delay, let the trial begin!"

This was it, the dreaded trial we had all been waiting for. Monokuma was right about one thing: that not all of us entering this basement will come out alive, but we could not lose hope. Even if it meant sending another of our friends to their death, the trial was the only option for us now.

Of the Truth Bullets, two of them I just noticed right now, obviously evidence I missed due to lack of time to cover all grounds. The last one was particularly worrying, partly because I could only imagine how torturous it was for Hijiri to go through all of it and partly because if Rin and Fitzgerald were privileged to certain information, I would have no choice but to place my absolute faith in their innocence, more than how much I had in my own.

Truth Bullet list.

#1

The eye injury

Though not what killed Akihiko, the injury sustained by his left eye is a matter of interest. The weapon punctured the eye just enough to reach the brain where it caused the most of the damage.

#2

Murder weapon

The needles mounted on these injectors match the wound on Akihiko, all of which 20G and 40mm in length. Since two boxes are opened and Hijiri took fewer than the content missing from either, we can conclude at least three people have used them, Hijiri, the killer and someone else.

#3

Killer's approach

Akihiko stood no chance against his killer, which was strange considering he was of a brawny physique. A non-conventional approach must have been used. But what?

#4

Akihiko's shades

The Librarian is never seen without them. The shades had become part of him as much as the lavish clothes. They were found folded up in his pocket, not in the right place when he needed the most.

#5

Electro-ID flashlight

The Electro-IDs provide a flashlight feature. Useful for navigating during Night-Time, but probably not enough to commit a planned murder.

#6.

Minako and Tatsuya's account

Minako was probably the last person aside from the killer who saw Akihiko alive, as Tatsuya denied doing so while confirming the lack of presence of anyone else in the main hall last night aside from Eliza and himself. Akihiko seemed to disappear altogether for an unknown length of time after exiting the botanical garden, only to show up dead in the main hall. The shades were still on when he was last seen.

#7

Monokuma's rules.

Particularly regarding the Night-Time designation where all lights are turned off and the fact two murders committed by two different parties were forbidden. Can be helpful in narrowing down the time of Akihiko's death. Will require Hijiri's account as well.

#8.

Unaccounted for entry

Someone went to the kitchen through the main hall last night. Perhaps just for some snacks. Perhaps not. As of right now, they would be the number one suspect.

#9.

Bullseye.

The dartboard has clearly been used by someone. Whether this is merely an innocuous pastime or practicing for the murder, let's wait and see. If the latter is correct, we have yet to determine how the killer was able to toss the injectors/needles with such precision. Perhaps they had some sort of ballistic weapon. Or perhaps we are running into a corner.

#10.

Night vision goggles.

A perfect tool to commit murder in the dark. Unlike Clarice Starling, Akihiko wasn't so lucky against a killer armed with these.

#11.

Killer's return to the storeroom.

Should truth bullet #10 proven false, this should be discarded. If the killer managed to dispose of their murder weapon after committing the deed, they would have to return to the store. However, this contradicted with the fact there existed no storeroom opening entry that could fit into this.

#12.

Bouquet of flowers.

Akihiko made this just before he died. That would explain his absence after his leaving the botanical garden. Perhaps it could prove more than that.

#13.

Discarded injectors.

A number of used injectors were found in the garbage bin. Some of them no longer have their needles. If Truth Bullet #2 is correct, then we are looking at our murder weapons right here.

#14.

Hijiri's account.

Following a harsh interrogation by Rin and Fitzgerald, Hijiri admitted the details of her murderous plan. Quite a lot of information to put down and not all would be relevant. Thankfully, her interrogators caught the gist of it.

"So….now what?" Eliza began.

Rin scoffed. "What do you mean, 'now what?' We are on a trial now."

"I think she means what we should be discussing right now," said Yume. "We have quite a few leads, evident by the number of Truth Bullets we have acquired so far. Is there a good way to start this?"

Kazuki turned towards the Ultimate Detective. "How about you, Fitzgerald? You are the Ultimate Detective, after all. This should be a piece of cake for you, shouldn't it?"

Fitzgerald replied with a grin, "Your faith is not misplaced. However, you seem to have mistaken my talent. I am the Ultimate Private Detective. Most of my work is unofficial. This is indeed the first trial I have ever partaken in."

"And what about you, Rin?" Kai asked. "Are you familiar with the court procedures?"

"I try to stay away from it," Rin replied with bitterness in her voice. "The judges don't agree with me; they told me I was impeding the trial with my fanaticism, whereas I merely presented the truth about the scums they were supposed to sentence."

"The judges have the right to be respected by all parties during the trial," Amelda burst out. "As well as the right to remove you from the hearing if necessary. You had best remember that."

"Truer words were never spoken," Monokma sniggered upon hearing. "Thank you very much, Mason."

Several pairs of eyes stared at Amelda who shifted uncomfortably at his stance. He cursed himself for allowing his rigidity to paint him as an advocate of Monokuma, the ultimate antagonist.

"You then, Amelda?" Yume addressed. "You have been in trials before, haven't you?"

"Yeah," said Amelda. "I have."

"So tell us where to start," Eliza demanded.

"I think we are being too formal here," Amelda refused. "This is a kangaroo court, for God's sake. Just start with the evidence we've collected so far. Any evidence."

El Viento had had enough. "This indecisiveness is getting us nowhere. Let's talk about the unaccounted for entry last night. Perhaps that will shed some light on our investigation."

El Viento used Truth Bullet #8: Unaccounted for entry.

"Who it was, raise your hand," Ashley urged.

Predictably, no one did.

"Oh come on," said Ashley. "I'll give you some cookies if you admit."

Eliza scowled. "As if that could be effective. That someone actually comes up with that is an insult to human intelligence."

Amelda was unconvinced but in a different way. "Knowing you, I am willing to bet those cookies are full of paste that glues your teeth together."

"Hey, stop discrediting me, guys," Ashley pouted.

"Ah, we are not yet five minutes in the trial and the sense of distrust is sooooooo overwhelming," said Monokuma shrilly.

"We already know who was there last night," Kai intervened. "Evidence from the kitchen points out to one specific person. Inu. I'm sorry I have to call you out. Please tell us the truth. What were you doing there?"

Inu looked as though he had been struck by lightning. "Me…? I didn't…. I…. I…."

"I don't want to push you," said Amelda calmly, "but you need to understand our situation here. And I am afraid unless you can give us a good explanation for your action, we cannot help you."

Rin adopted a harsher approach. "What he's trying to say is that if you don't talk, we'll have to consider you our number one suspect. So spill it already. We don't have time for this."

"Yeah," Eliza pressed. "Admit it."

"Just tell us, buddy," Hokuto encouraged. "If you didn't do it, then you have nothing to worry about."

"Alright," Inu replied, exasperated. "I was hungry. And I was also afraid. I… could not help myself. I am sorry I kept this from you guys."

Kazuki was unconvinced. "Is that really it? That does sound quite suspicious if you ask me."

"I think I will agree with Kazuki here," said Inori. "And I am not really a fan of late supper. A healthy body requires nutrition to be added at specific times in a day, and past midnight is not one of them. You should have eaten dinner with us, Inu."

"I...I...," Inu mumbled incomprehensibly. "I do...don't..."

Fitzgerald snickered. "I see. That you would choose the go out in the middle of the night where you are most vulnerable to an attack rather than joining us, you really don't have much faith in your friends, don't you?"

The Ultimate Chemist was tearing up at the accusations brought against him at this point. He clutched his face with both hands, whole body trembling.

"Hey," El Viento interrupted. "Give the guy a break, will you? He looks like he is one step away from a mental breakdown."

"He would be of no use if so," Rin scoffed.

"Inu, take it easy," said Amelda softly. "We are not drawing any conclusion yet. I am so sorry it has to come to this. We are all tense here. But you need to speak up. Do it for yourself and for all of us. Can you give it a try?"

Inu took a deep breath to calm his nerve. "I…will try."

"So you just went out to have some snacks last night, didn't you?" Amelda asked.

Inu nodded. "Yes."

"And you didn't see Akihiko's body, at all?" Minako continued.

"No. I didn't," answered Inu. "It was dark. I could barely see anything."

"Then how the hell did you navigate without bumping into things?" asked Ashley incredulously. "Don't tell me you have some sort of psychic abilities."

"I used a glow stick," Inu explained.

"I don't remember any glow stick in the warehouse," said Amelda.

"How did you get it?" asked Hokuto. "I am dying to get my hands on some."

"I… made them myself," said Inu. "It's not that difficult once you get the basics. Still, I could barely see where I was going, so I had to plan ahead my directions carefully before venturing out of my room."

"You planned your destination before you went out?" asked Rin.

"The E-Handbook includes the map of the castle," said Fitzgerald. "At least the area we currently have access to."

Inu nodded. "I had one target alone."

Kai sighed dismissively. "Yeah, that poor fridge. You could have closed it, you know?"

"I was going to," Inu insisted. "And then I heard some noise outside. I thought someone might be out there and panicked. I opened the door to see if anyone was in the main hall, but it was too dark and I didn't want to be spotted with my glow stick. So I ran out as fast as I could. I didn't know what happened next. All I knew was that I made it back to my room safe and sound."

"But made yourself the main s-s-suspect in the process," said Tatsuya.

"What is the chance of you running into Akihiko and kill him in a panic?" asked Kazuki.

"I didn't do it," Inu persisted. "I swear!"

"Then give us more detail," Kai demanded.

"That's everything I can remember," said Inu.

"Then remember harder," Rin urged. "Our lives are on the line here."

Non-stop debate.

"I am telling you," said Ashley. "This guy is fishy as hell. And I am the Ultimate Prankster here. I know when someone is being fishy."

"Because in terms of "fishiness", no one can beat you?" asked Fitzgerald.

"That's right," Ashley proclaimed proudly.

"Stop detracting this discussion, you cocky asshole," Eliza scolded. "If you are so good at this, tell us who the killer is already."

"Not so fast," said Fitzgerald smugly. "We need to look into all evidence first. But I can say with certainty that Inu is NOT the killer we are looking for."

"Go on, then," Kazuki challenged. "Prove it to us. Out of all of us here, Inu is the only person who is confirmed to have been at the crime scene last night."

"That does not prove no one else was there as well," said Tatsuya.

Fitzgerald shrugged. "Maybe. If it weren't for the timing of the murder and all".

"What timing?" asked Inori, confused. "We know that he was killed last night and his body found early this morning. The killer probably has plenty of time to commit the act and conceal their whereabouts."

"I think he is referring to the specific time where the murder takes place," said Yume. "Fitzgerald, does that mean you have figured it out?"

"By timing, are you referring to the point in time where Hijiri and I scuffled with one another?" asked Amelda.

"Fear not, for the law will back you up!"

Rin used Truth Bullet #1: Hijiri's account.

"Stop beating around the bush, Fitzgerald," Rin scoffed. "You know very well this information is privy between the two of us."

"So what did Hijiri say about when the murder occurred?" asked Eliza. "And how the hell does she know the specific time where Akihiko was murdered?"

"No, don't tell me," Yume uttered, aghast. "Hijiri and the one who killed Akihiko are accomplices?"

"Outrageous," El Viento exclaimed. "That means she part-took in not one but two murders. Lucky for us, only one succeeded. Unlucky for us, one succeeded. Hijiri, what do you have to say for yourself? Tu eres un cucuy."

"No," Hijiri cried, her face darkened. "I have nothing to do with it. I swear!"

"How are we supposed to take you at your word anymore, liar?" Eliza spat venomously.

"Guys. I think we are moving a bit too fast here," Kai urged.

"We should s-s-slow down a bit," agreed Tatsuya.

Fitzgerald sighed. "I normally do not defend criminals, but in this case, I must speak out. Some of your accusations towards our fiendish friend Kaneshiro here are misplaced. There is nothing that suggests the killer might have an accomplice. Additionally, there is no point in that. Remember the rules."

"That's right," said Kai, lit up. "Only the blackened gets to leave. All others including the accomplice will execution."

"We can worry about that piece of human trash later," Rin continued. "For now, we have confirmed that Monokuma dropped his intervention at around half-past ten to eleven last night. That puts the timing of the murder long before Inu's little quest for supper, which rules him out as a murder until further proof is obtained."

"Am I missing something here?" asked Ashley. "How does that prove anything?

"I don't want to pressure Inu-kun," said Minako, "but how does it prove his innocence?"

"I think this is how," stated Kazuki.

Kazuki used Truth Bullet #7: Monokuma's rule.

Yume nodded thoughtfully. "I see you what you mean now. Only one murder is allowed at any given time. For this, we might actually have to thank him for saving Hijiri from death and Amelda from becoming a murderer, though."

"Thanks for that," said Amelda sarcastically.

"You're welcome," said Monokuma.

"Which means Akihiko must have already died before eleven last night," Kai put the pieces together. "Inu went to the kitchen at midnight, which is well after that. He could not have killed Akihiko then."

"Doesn't prove that he did not do it earlier, though," said Kazuki. "His journey to the kitchen might have been a ruse to clean up evidence he just recalled. He is not off the hook yet.

Ashley was also not convinced. "I am still calling him fishy."

"Please stop accusing me," Inu pleaded. "I didn't do it! Honest!"

"Speaking of the timing of the murder," Amelda went on, "I believe we can further narrow it down a bit further. Using the same Truth Bullet, I can tell you the murder happens after Night-Time is in effect."

Brainstorm.

Why it is certain that the murder took place after 10 pm?

A. Hijiri nearly killed me.

B. I looked at the clock.

C. State of the body.

D. Akihiko would have reacted to the killer if there had been light.

"With this, all accounts are balanced."

"Can you explain, Amelda-kun?" asked Minako.

"When I entered Hijiri's room, it was already Night-Time," Amelda elaborated. "Monokuma intervened when I tried to kill her, but not when she was attempting to off me first. It was a very close call that could have gone either way. That means Akihiko's murder must have taken place after Hijiri had her chance which she did not succeed."

"Wait, you tried to kill her, Amelda?" Yume was taken back, his face pale. "But….I thought you were the victim."

"It seems the table turned," Kazuki remarked.

"What's going on here?" El Viento demanded. "Who was killing whom?"

Fitzgerald spared Amelda the trouble of explaining. "It's very complicated, but the fact Rin and myself let him off our leash should assure you that he is innocent. He was just not in his rightest mind back then."

"He got drugged," said Inu. "He was probably hallucinating and not knowing what he was doing. I was the one treating him this morning."

"None of us is in our rightest mind," Amelda stated. "That said, with this, I think we have come up with the closest timing for the murder as we could."

Hokuto concluded. "So now we know that the murder occurred after 10 pm. And probably within a narrow window as well, perhaps before 11 pm."

"What about the others that were outside late last night?" asked El Viento. "We should hear from them."

El Viento used Truth Bullet #6: Minako and Tatsuya's account.

"I can confirm with Tatsuya," said Eliza. "We were in the kitchen last night. When we entered the main hall just before the designated Night-Time, we saw nobody was there."

"Anything out of the ordinary, then, aside from the fact everything here resembles a 16th century keep?" asked Rin. "The killer seems rather well prepared. They might have made alterations in the main hall before they commit their deed."

"There was nothing u-u-unusual as far as we can see," said Tatsuya.

"We have evidence indicating Akihiko was held up in the corridor making a banquet of flowers which he intended on giving to Minako," Hokuto pointed out. "Are you aware of this, Minako?"

Minako shook her head. "No, I am not."

Fitzgerald grinned nonchalantly. "A ship sank before it sails. Sounds like Japanese drama alright."

"I have a soft spot for the classic," said Kazuki.

"If Tatsuya's account is verified as you said, collusion between two or more persons is completely senseless," said Hokuto. "But what about Minako's?"

Yume was confused. "Wait, we are discussing the validity of a Truth Bullet? But I thought…"

"Just because it made a Truth Bullet list doesn't mean it's a fact we have to take at face value," said Fitzgerlad. "Remember, the omnipresent Monokuma did not add them, we did. One of us here is the killer, and I am sure they will stop at nothing to derail this investigation and conceal their track. We must be vigilant. Is there anyone here who can confirm what Minako said is true?"

"I can," said Ashley.

"You were in the botanical garden last night as well?" asked El Viento.

Ashley shook her head. "No. I was sleeping like a baby in my room while sucking on my thump. I do that when I fear I would get nightmares. I coated it with chocolate first, so I would have a sweet dream free of my worries."

"Ugh, TMI," Amelda moaned.

"Tell me about it," Hokuto concurred.

"Then what do you have to attest?" asked Yume.

"Well, I know her," said Ashley. "And I can assure you she couldn't have done it. She's sweet and kind and innocent. And she loves Akihiko. Why would she want to kill him in the first place? Minako considers all life precious. She wouldn't even hurt a fly, let alone a person. The only person she's capable of hurting is herself.

"Ashley-chan…," Minako muttered.

"Don't worry, Minako," Ashley assured her. "I've got your back."

"This is preposterous," Eliza burst out. "Don't give us that friendship crap. We are in a trial here. One of us is dead, killed by the very friend he trusted. So unless you have something resembling intelligence to speak, keep quiet."

"Eliza makes a good point," Rin agreed. "We all need to keep or head straight no matter what, even when facing the ugliest of the truths."

Non-stop debate.

"I'm telling you all," Ashley persisted. "She didn't do it."

"This is getting rather s-s-silly," said Tatsuya.

"I consider this contempt of court," Amelda stated.

"Guys," Yume spoke up. "We should not be fighting in each at a time like this."

"Not until she starts being more serious," said Kazuki.

"Show up real evidence pointing to her innocence," El Viento urged.

"Then show us your real incriminating evidence," Ashley retorted. "Don't just judge her by the fact she was the last one to see Akihiko."

Inori took a deep breath and began. "Here's my take on the case. I hope I am wrong, but,…here goes. Minako and Akihiko spent some time together in the botanical garden last night. As Akihiko tried to comfort her, Minako murdered him. Perhaps she did so by accident. Perhaps she wasn't sure of her action after all. I am an Ultimate Patient, so I have some knowledge about medicine and human psychology. Most of us have our own issues, but for Minako, I am afraid they are most severe. A person with a mental disorder sometimes will do things on a whim and will not be able to recall what they did. It's possible that Minako simply did not remember doing so."

"Now that's what we are looking for," said Hokuto.

"I….I….I don't…," Minako stuttered.

"I think she might be panicking," said Kazuki.

"Arghhh...," Minako panted heavily.

"Have you recollected your memory of the crime yet?" Rin pressed.

"Hey, give her a break, will you?" Ashley scoffed. "You guys are not helping."

"If she is an uncontrollable mad dog like Inori say, then it's my responsibility that no one else falls victim to her," Rin declared.

"The only mad dog around here is you!" Ashley angrily shouted.

"That argument needs to be written off!"

Amelda used Truth Bullet #4: Akihiko's shades.

"If you are suggesting Minako's mental disorder is responsible for the killing," Amelda stated, "how is it that she could be so precise? Why haven't we found anything that can be pinned directly to her yet?"

Kazuki shrugged. "Anything can happen."

"Penetrating a man's eye without leaving anything on the shades he was wearing is impossible," said Amelda. "I know for a fact Akihiko was wearing those shades last night. It's as inseparable from his body as his own eyes."

"But they were found inside his pocket, is that right?" said Inori. "Did he take them off on his own account or did someone else?"

"Could she have fooled him into taking them off just before murdering him?" Yume suggested.

"I see what Mason means," said Fitzgerald. "If Yuza was truly unable to control her action, she would not have been intelligent enough to ask for that. Given her being the Ultimate Tarzan, it was more likely that she was overtaken by feral instinct, rather than a murderous one."

"Ultimate Tarzan?" Hokuto laughed. "More like Ultimate George of the Jungle."

"Who are they?" Minako asked.

"Doesn't matter," said Kazuki dismissively. "She's not out of it yet. "

"She could still have removed it by force," said Tatsuya. "And by the time she woke up, the d-d-d-deed was done. She was terrified, I could only imagine. So she put the shades neatly inside his pocket and dragged his body back to the main hall so that she would not be incriminated."

"There is a flaw in that statement," Fitzgerald remarked.

Brainstorm.

What was wrong with Tatsyua's theory?

A. Minako not strong enough to drag Akihiko.

B. Dragging the body would leave a trace of blood.

C. Not enough light to drag the body.

D. Minako would probably have cannibalized the corpse to hide evidence.

"Another mystery is history!"

"The murder took place after Night-Time was in effect," explained Fitzgerald, "which means all the corridors and chambers are as dark as pitch. Minako would have gotten quite a hard time just navigating through, let alone dragging a dead body with her and landing it so precisely in the main hall."

"She could not have the glow stick as Inu did," said Hokuto.

"Couldn't she have used any device to light her way?" asked Inori. "The E-Handbook offers a flashlight, you know?"

"I doubt that would have helped," Amelda replied. "Minako is terrible with technologies. I've seen it. She has not been using her Electronic-IDs ever since she was given one."

"As expected from someone living in the forest for so long," said Eliza.

"If that is the case then, Minako, how have you been spending entire nights in the botanical garden, without being able to see anything?" asked Rin. "Do you have night vision like owls or something?"

"I have my own way to travel in the dark," said Minako. "Mother Earth blessed me with the ability to commune with her children so that I can understand their silent feelings which humans have so often ignored. It's…difficult to explain, but, in return, the trees guide my path me with their scents whenever they are around. I can wander with my eyes closed in the forest and not get lost. And yet, I am mostly blind within a man-made environment."

Eliza was skeptical. "Come on, are we seriously going with this?"

"Yep," replied Ashley.

"Of course," said El Viento.

"I don't see why not," Kai agreed.

"We have observed her for a while, haven't we?" Amelda added. "This is consistent with what I have learned about her so far."

"Logically, yes," said Fitzgerald.

"I guess this vindicates what Ashley said earlier about Minako not being the killer," said Yume.

"See?" Ashley shot out. "Eat your words, Eliza."

Eliza scoffed. "Do not insult me with your feeble intelligence."

"We are wasting time here," said Rin. "It's going to take forever to establish alibis on a person to person basis. Our question right now is, if Inu accounts for the unaccounted for entry last night, then how did the killer make it back without being recorded? In fact, how did they even get to the main hall in the first place without being seen?"

"Eliza and I departed at about a quarter-to-ten last night," said Tatsuya. "We did not see a-a-anybody on our way back to the resident area."

"Well, we now know that Fitzgerald was doing some indecent business in the lady's room, but we didn't notice him," said Ashley. "That's fishy too, you know?"

"There is no entry into the main hall between ten and eleven," said Amelda. "Which means the killer must already be at the crime scene or its adjacent post before Night-Time."

"Have they been hiding, then?" asked Inori.

"I think I have an idea," Hokuto noted thoughtfully.

Hangman's Gambit.

Where could the killer be hiding during the act?

_._._._._._._

A

_._._._.A._._

S

S._._._.A._._

G

S._._._.A.G._

T

S.T._._.A.G._

R

S.T._.R.A.G._

E

S.T._.R.A.G.E

O

S.T.O.R.A.G.E

"I think I've struck gold".

"There is practically nowhere to hide in the main hall when the lights were still on," Hokuto elaborated. "The kitchen is out of the question because Tatsuya and Eliza were just coming out. The botanical garden and the hallway leading to it are also unlikely, given the lack of hiding spots and the fact Minako was there and she confirmed the presence of no other person. The only place left is the warehouse."

Fitzgerald nodded. "A plausible claim."

Amelda nodded. "That would explain why the Door Usage History doesn't show their entry; the killer was already there before Night-Time began, waiting for the right time to strike against their unfortunate victim. If that is the case, they probably kept the door minimally open so that they could enter the main hall without being recorded."

"I get it," said Inori. "The Door Usage History only takes in every time a door is opened. It does not display how long it is open.

"Then I am afraid that will only add further complication to this case," said Yume. "The fact that doors could be left open and no one would notice means there is a possibility, no, a certainty, that not all movements in and out of the main hall last night is properly accounted for by the Door Usage History. The killer, undoubtedly well-versed in the way the Door Usage History works, must have abused this to get in and out of the main hall undetected."

"Not quite," Tatsuya refuted. "When Eliza and I left the main hall, we were sure the door was properly closed. I understand how the k-k-k-k-killer might have entered and left the warehouse undetected, but there was no way they could have done it with the door leading from the main hall to the gallery."

"I agree with what Tatsuya is saying here," Eliza echoed. "It's impossible."

El Viento wasn't convinced. "Oh, but there is actually a way for that."

Brainstorm.

How did the killer escape from the main hall and not get recorded?

A. They can phase through walls.

B. They followed Inu.

C. They followed Fitzgerald.

D. They stayed in the main hall and mixed with the group after the body was discovered.

"I've pinned down the truth!"

"Like a Fantasma, the despicable murderer stalked Inu in the dark hall while he made haste to head back to his room, his belly full of supper," said El Viento dramatically. "The little lad must have been too panicking to notice."

"They did?" Inu began finickily. "Oh, God. I was only meters away from the killer! I could have died there. They could have killed me if they were so close…"

"Calm down, Inu," said Inori. "They didn't kill you and you are still here, very much alive."

"It's a good thing they didn't kill you back then," Amelda noted. "I wouldn't be standing here if it hadn't been for you."

"Oh,... Yes," said Inu, pausing before exclaiming. "I'm alive. I live!"

"Sheez," Eliza groaned. "Delay your celebration until after the trial is over."

"Of course the culprit didn't kill you, Inu," Rin pointed out. "They are nefarious, but we now know for sure they aren't an idiot. They need you very much alive to get back to the resident area so that they can use your incomplete account to their benefit."

"One death is enough, two is just too much," Inori mumbled.

"Sorry to break your bubble," Monokuma chimed in. "But aren't you forgetting the only two possible outcomes of the trial?"

"At least one more will perish," Amelda confirmed. "Either the blackened or the rest of us besides the blackened."

"That's right," said Monokuma.

Inori's face paled. "Oh dear, I almost forgot. This is bad. Very bad."

"Save that for later, Fitzgerald admonished. "There is a good reason why a double murder is avoided. It's too complicated. Getting away with both requires not only extensive planning but also talents. And I have very little faith any of you here have them."

"That's quite the compliment," replied Ashley snarkily. "But if you said none of us had such talents, does that mean you have?"

Fitzgerald was aloof. "I prefer not to disclose my trade secrets."

"Let me get this straight," Kazuki proclaimed. "The killer followed Inu after he left the kitchen, using the dark and Inu's ignorance as their cover, all the way through the gallery and to the residential area, bypassing Fitzgerald who was holding up in the lady's room. As a result, all of their movements are recorded in similar accounts as Inu's. Sounds about right."

"That's great," Hokuto cheered. "Now we know exactly how the killer planned his movement. One step closer to exposing them. You hear that Monokuma? We'll solve your mystery. And we will all make it out of here safe and sound.

"Quite the progress so far," El Viento whooped. "I am impressed. Onward, friends and comrades. To victory."

Eliza slammed her forehead. "Ugh. Why do I even…?"

Author's note: Alright. I know this chapter comes out late. I am a salaryman now, so cut me some slack. I really hope I will be able to finish the next chapter soon, considering I have already had a good idea of what is going to happen in my head.

Another reason for this lateness is the lack of respect around the Danganronpa fanfiction community. I will not point out who, but I am very displeased with this person's attitudes, and that has been holding back my writing passion for this fandom. At this point, I have all but given up all hope on them. If you know I am talking about you, then reply and I will have this note deleted.

This is my first time writing a trial. I hope I make it engaging enough for you guys without distracting too much with the minigames and such. A trial should not be presented in the normal format because it is literally one person talking after another, and there are 15 of them (Hijiri not taking a big role, for obvious reasons). Also, as can be seen, the main protagonist is not the only person progressing the trial like in the game, making it look more like a team effort rather than just one person solving the mystery on their own. Finally, I came up with one-liners for all the characters when presenting their argument. I hope you like them, too.

I shamelessly admit a lot of inspiration comes from Imprisoned in Despair's Wall by Daichi Yamazaki. If you are reading this, you rock, dude!