ACT 2: NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE
Chapter 8: Trial (part 2)
Day 9
Tartarus Keep
8:30
Trial Ground
"Break time's over, bastards," Monokuma stated impatiently. "I haven't gotten all day sitting around watching you frolicking. The trial must now go on."
"Alright," said Inori as she stood up and walked, without anyone's assistance, to her stance. "Thank you, everyone. I'm ready now." I could sense irritation in her voice as she spoke as if she was annoyed at being pitied by others.
As soon as Inori began to make a recovery, Monokuma insisted on us getting on with it and completing the trial. None of us here protested. Since participation in the trial was mandatory, we could not simply send the Ultimate Patient back to her room no matter how sick and tired she was. Besides, even if the rules didn't state, we needed her here to testify evidence related to the autopsy of the body which we might find ourselves in dire need of. Inori didn't mind, saying she could go for another round and insisting that we continued even if her condition worsened again, and I could not help but admire her bravery in the face of not one but two unstoppable foes - Monokuma and her own diseased condition.
The sooner the trial was over, the sooner Inori, and the rest of us could finally take some rest.
"Let the trial recommence." With a shrilly announcement, Monokuma pulled our bodies and minds back to where we left off twenty minutes ago when the court was postponed. The break seemed to have helped more than Inori; everyone else, myself included, seemed to have refreshed ourselves from the tiredness of having a restless night, and found a sense of renewed resolve to push through unto what fate awaited us. There was only one problem...
Class Trial Resumes!
"So, uhm..., where were we at again?" Hokuto began.
Elize snorted. "What? You don't remember, peabrain?"
"Hey, there was a lot to take in with everyone telling their own story," Hokuto tried to explain. "Don't tell me you have mesmerized them all just by hearing people talk once."
"I am also not certain what details I heard in the last three testimonies either," Minako admitted. "I can only say they were Tatsuya-kun's and Hijiri-san's."
"Should we have them repeat?" El Viento repeated.
"Can you two repeat?" asked Rin.
Tatsuya shifted uncomfortably. "Do we h-h-have to?"
"In your dream," Hijiri retorted bitterly. "It's not our fault you are all a bunch of scatterbrains."
"It could not be helped," said Amelda. "Inori nearly fainted and we were forced to cancel the trial for a few minutes. None of us could have predicted that."
"We were too worried about Inori that the trial just slipped our minds there," Yume added.
"I'm sorry I detailed the trial," said Inori apologetically. "I didn't mean to. Honest."
"It's not your fault," Amelda assured. "Anyway, we still need to figure out which details of each account belonging to Hijiri and Tatsuya match one another."
"Or whether they fit an account we already heard," said Rin.
Yume clutched his head. "Just listening to it makes my head spin like a top. How are we supposed to make such an analysis without writing them all down?"
"Maybe we should have written them down in the first place," Amelda commented. "That was rather careless of us. My bad. I am the Ultimate Accountant - I should not have overlooked this."
"So, can two you tell us again?" Hokuto asked.
"Screw you all," Eliza scolded. "Didn't we already prevent Monokuma from repeating his cruddy rules at the beginning of the trial? Why are we doing this now?"
"If this is where we are stuck, then we are all screwed," said El Viento in a matter-of-fact manner.
"Right you are," Monokuma goaded. "If this is where you all cease to be productive, I will have this whole trial terminated and move on to the voting."
"Ehhh! But we are still in the d-d-dark about who killed Ashley," Tatsuya blabbered. "How are we s-s-supposed to vote then?"
Fitzgerald sighed in disappointment. "How pathetic. It looks like it falls to me to salvage the situation."
"Allow me instead," Kai volunteered.
Account Reconciliation.
Which details of Tatsuya and Hijiri's accounts are related to one another or a different account?
A. Fitzgerald's shot hit Tatsuya, causing his injury.
B. The dog fight Tatsuya saw was between El Viento and La Pantera.
C. Tatsuya was Okamu Naruhime.
D. Tatsuya's delivery package was Inu's chemical.
E. Tatsuya was mauled by an enraged Eliza and bitten all over.
E. Hijiri was disarmed by Hokuto's throwing the badge at her.
F. Hijiri and Ashley engaged in Mortal Kombat, with Hijiri delivering a fatality.
G. Hijiri threw El Viento onto the table.
H. Hijiri was whom Fitzgerald saw as Mikolevski.
"Practice makes perfect."
"There seems to be at least one of us, in addition to myself, who has been paying attention around here," Fitzgerald remarked snidely.
"And happens to have a really good memory," said Rin, grateful.
"That was amazing," Minako praised. "When I saw all those options, my eyes were as disoriented as a bat in the sun."
"What we c-c-could have done without you?" commended Tatsuya.
"Well done, Kai," Inori joined in. "I knew you could do it."
Kai flushed with joy. "Thanks, guys. I'm glad I could help."
"You didn't have anything, do you, Fitzgerald?" Amelda growled. "You're just attaching yourself to other people in their glorious moments without lifting a finger. Why don't you stop messing around and tell us the answer already?"
"Your deduction is flawed, Mason," Fitzgerald replied blankly.
"So is your arrogance," Amelda retaliated.
"I had higher hopes for you, especially after you performed admirably during the first trial," said Fitzgerald, "yet now you turn out rather underwhelming."
"Sorry for not living up to your lofty standards," Amelda replied sarcastically. "I'm no detective. And I don't like playing games that aren't fun for all participants."
"Guys, let's not fight," Inu recommended. "I... I don't like it when we disagree like that."
"You two, we've got bigger things to worry about than the fragility of your egos," Rin admonished.
"Right," El Viento continued. "You really saved us there, Kai. We are in your debt. Still, I thought for sure option F was the correct choice."
(Hijiri gave an uneasy look as the Ultimate Luchador brought forward the bloodstained scissors).
"That h-h-hurts," Tatsuya moaned. "A lot. Hijiri..."
Hijiri bowed her head apologetically. "I am terribly sorry for what happened to you. I hope you could forgive me for my disgraceful actions. I swear had no intention of
harming you."
"But you did try to kill this Omaku," said Rin. "And let's not forget your little incident with Amelda here."
"El Viento, do you think that's the murder weapon?" asked Amelda. "Or one of the items we can include as the potential murder weapon?"
"It almost sounds too good to be true," said Yume, unconvinced. "It's like she's admitting the murder."
"I have no reason to hide anything," Hijiri stated firmly.
"As I said, no matter how incriminating your account could be, the chance of any of you committing the murder is still the same one in thirteen," Fitzgerald reminded. "Even I don't know if I am innocent unless I listen to your accounts as well. The truth is obscured in many layers of cobweb which can only be peeled, patiently, one at a time."
"Yet, sometimes, the truth is underneath our nose the whole time," El Viento cut in.
Non-stop debate.
"Could Hijiri have killed Ashley via stabbing?" Amelda asked.
"It's certainly a possibility," said El Viento.
"She doubts your conclusion, Omakase," said Fitzgerald, addressing the Ultimate Ballerina. "What do you have to say about it?"
"Haven't we discussed this?" Kai insisted. "There was no blood trail in the library leading to the corpse."
"Which means if Ashley received the fatal blow while in the hallway," Amelda deduced, "then it must not have caused uncontrollable bleeding."
"What if the blood is absorbed by her clothes," Inu suggested. "That should have been impossible if it were a gunshot through her body, right?"
"It is certainly possible," said Inori.
"Aren't the scissors we found completely drenched in blood?" El Viento inquired. "Maybe when Hijiri was flailing around with that, she might have hit Ashley who was passing by."
"I assure you," said Hijiri. "My attacks were precise with the aim to cause as many injuries as possible to that wretched person before he could enjoy the sweet release of death."
"Hey, I do wonder this, if we were in a fighting game, what would our fatalities be like?" Hokuto abruptly asked.
"Eeeek!" Tatsuya shrilled. "I don't want to i-i-imagine it. Too v-v-violent!"
Monokuma appeared to enjoy the concept. "Now that you mention it, maybe I could incorporate that into the next execution."
"Cut it out!" Eliza demanded. "This isn't the time for it."
"You have the right to remain silent!"
Rin used Truth Bullet #11: Bloodied Scissors.
"I do not blame you for not noticing," said Rin. "Even the Truth Bullet description isn't clear."
"Rin is correct," said Fitzgerald. "If you look at the blades, you can clearly see where the bloodstain begins to look different."
"You mean between the part that comes into contact with the flesh and the part that got blood splattered on," said Amelda.
"Ah, that's more like it, Mason," Fitzgerald chuckled. "Yes, you may notice how only the tip of the blade is so thick. That's because fragments of skin and flesh became attached to it as well when the scissor was used to rend someone."
"Speak Japanese, please," Eliza hollered. "Some of us here aren't experts in crime scene forensic, you know?"
"Maybe we should imagine how those scissors could be used to maim someone," said El Viento.
"I think I have an idea," Minako raised. "I hope I'm correct."
Logic Dive
What was wrong with assuming the bloodied scissors were the murder weapon?
1. What is the likeliest cause of death?
Brain trauma
Cannibalism
Blood loss
Inori's autopsy stated this was the likeliest cause of death. It didn't mean it was the only possible one.
2. How deep are the thick blood clogs on the scissors?
One centimeter
Two centimeter
Three centimeter
The blood clog was only thick for one centimeter. Which meant the injury inflicted by stabbing should have only been that deep.
3. Why the blades of the scissors could not have caused fatal injuries?
Not long enough
Not sharp enough
Not hard enough
The blades themselves were more for trimming. They weren't sharp enough to have cut deep into the skins. Hijiri must have been extremely spiteful towards this Omaku person to want to kill him so messily.
"I declare in the name of Mother Earth."
"Ah, I think I see where you are coming from," Hokuto noted. "The edges of the scissors are not sharp enough, and the bloodstain at the tips of the blades are also too shallow. The scissors could not have cut deep, and we can already discount uncontrollable bleeding from a cut in somewhere like the throat to be highly unlikely because of the lack of blood dripping when Ashley entered the library."
"Precisely. I have seen people kill or be killed many times before," said Rin. "I thought I, by now, have seen death in all forms. Though Monokuma's very existence continues to baffle me as ever, I am certain the scissors could not have brought about anyone's demise in this case."
Inori cut in. "I would also like to point out that, while Ashley's body had sustained such catastrophic damages that it was impossible to discern one from another when I looked into Tatsuya, his wounds are an exact match of what could have been caused by those scissors El Viento are holding there."
"Neither Tatsuya nor Hijiri's account mentions a third party involved during their struggle," said Kai. "So we can rest assured that Hijiri wasn't the culprit."
"I see where my folly lies," El Viento lowered her voice. "Please accept my apology, Hijiri."
Hijiri gave the Ultimate Luchador a venomous glance. "As long as you stop thinking I am some sort of murderous maniac, it's alright."
"Ouch, that was straightforward," said Inu.
"Moving on from here," said Eliza, "there seem to be many interactions in Hijiri's account, which I totally remember, by the way, that we haven't figured out with whom yet."
"Yeah, I think I remember them now," Amelda agreed. "But none is ringing any bell."
"We will need to look into m-m-more accounts, then," Tatsuya proposed. "If everyone is c-c-comfortable, that is."
"So, who else wants to share their darkest humiliation and terror with the rest of us?" asked Hijiri.
Amelda sighed. "Looks like I'm next in line."
Inori also stepped up. "I was definitely in the hallway during the gassing, so I think I would give my account as well."
"So do I," stated Rin.
"Perhaps Yuza here should share with us her story as well since we already confirmed Mason found and took her into his room at some point," Fitzgerald suggested.
Minako nodded. "Yes, I suppose I should do that. As long as it leads to whoever killed Ashley-chan."
"Four accounts at the same time," Hokuto remarked. "Well, this is going to be a handful."
Eliza scowled. "Listen more carefully and try to remember this time. Kai isn't going to save your sorry ass every time."
"But it's my ass on the line as well," Kai countered. "What good is it withholding vital information from others when I am not the murderer?"
"Guys, again," Rin urged. "Quit beating around the bushes and get to the meat of the discussion already."
"Fire away," said El Viento.
Amelda's Account.
I was in the place I now consider hell on earth, my middle school. I found myself in the hallway. All the classroom doors were locked, but one remained open. Inside, I saw what had been stolen from me ten years ago which I had not recovered since, the cherished pencil case my mother bought for me. Bullies took it from me when I was in middle school and I lacked the gut to report it.
Exiting the classroom, I had an encounter with a leper - someone with his skin literally peeling off, like a zombie, but still alive and conscious. The leper roaming near my school was my most terrifying childhood encounter. He threatened me and we had a fight. I overcame him and knocked him unconscious, but not before I was infected.
It was at that point that I realized I was under the effect of fear gas, which I didn't know back then was actually Despair Gas. I knew I was in the hallway of Tartarus Keep, even if all my senses were deceiving me and I was still convinced I was going to become a leper myself. My will was broken once more when I saw none other than my sister, limping with one arm missing. Even though I knew the visions were fake, I still thought she was real because she was just like that the last time we met when Monokuma revealed the first motive. I carried her to where I predicted was my room. My infection was getting worse, causing my whole left hand to be immobilized and covered in diseased skin. Luckily, E-handbook clicked, the door opened, and I locked myself and my sister - Minako as it turned out. I kept a distance from her, not wanting her to be infected as well, and waited inside until the gassing was over.
Rin's Account.
I do what I must to protect others and ensure justice is always served at the appropriate proportion, yet one person consistently stood in my way of doing things: Joshua Randall, a human rights activist. We had an intense argument. He was stubborn and even my faith in the absoluteness of justice could sway him. He gave me that silent look and I, having had enough, walked away in disgust.
My rage turned to horror as I saw one of my most trusted comrades, Daniel Ramos, got shot and went down. There was blood everywhere, just like that day. Knowing I could do him no good, I immediately gave chase to the criminal that attacked him.
We ran into a slum, my favorite hunting ground for scums of the world, but I lost the pursuit. The mass of impoverished people around gave me a sickening look as if I were an alien coming from another planet to wipe them out. One of the residents, a wobbling drunken scruffy-looking old man, crashed into me. My reflex kicked in and I threw him aside, into another person standing next to a wall. The man fled, but the person I threw into... he just fell apart heads and limbs and torso. I was horrified by what I did, for I just accidentally killed a passerby. The look on their face turned to pity, which enraged and aggravated me even more.
Then the mayor of the slump arrived, saying that I had overstepped my authority and now I must pay for it. I digressed and we fought in hand-to-hand combat, him and I. I underestimated his power and was knocked down in the process.
It took me a while to get up again. But the scene had changed. I was in that place. On that day. Her body was right there, in a pool of blood. I couldn't help but break down in front of the scene. Then, to my unspeakable horror, she rose up, bloodied and all, and smiled at me. As her shattered body shambled towards me, like a real zombie, I felt the urge to embrace her as I did all those years ago... but there was no way that was going to happen.
I couldn't take it anymore. I fled. I ran as far as I could. If there was anything happening around me, I didn't notice. When the gassing stopped, I found myself in the botanical garden, hiding inside an empty tree trunk.
Inori's Account.
The scene I witnessed tore my heart into a thousand pieces. I was in the town I grew up in again. And it was just as I remembered. There were bodies in the street and dying people were moaning. Because of the quarantine, we could not escape.
In their final moments knowing death was inevitable, many of the townsfolks had gone mad. In front of my eyes, horrific things played out. I saw the mother stabbing her son to death he wouldn't suffer anymore. The father, a humongous person, knocked the knife from her hands and the mother fled, screaming for her life. It was then that the father coughed, convulsed, and fell again, never to get up. I saw a Kanji Tokomaru carrying his dead daughter back to their house, yet his left hand was blackened and I knew for sure his time was also running out.
I felt something on my feet, a ball. I heard someone calling for me to toss it back to them, so I picked it up, only to discover it was the decapitated head of a man. Overcome by fear, I threw it as far away as I could, screaming as I did so. Having seen enough, I fled from the scene with all the little strength I could muster.
My heart sank when I finally saw my best friend, Umeko. She was clearly suffering, for the disease spared no one but me. I came to her comforted her. But it was too late. She died in my hands as I could only watch helplessly. When I recovered from the Despair Gas, I found it was Tatsuya in my arm. And you can't imagine how happy I was to see he was alive.
The whole thing took its toll and I fainted. El Viento was there to help me and Tatsuya.
Minako's Account.
The forest where I spent most of my time living in was constantly encroached by the Nishiki Corporation who wanted to clear out a large section for the construction of a new vehicle pool as part of the expansion of their transportation business in the area. I could not allow such blasphemy against nature and Mother Earth, so I tried to thwart them. This time, however, they sent in Homura Kimura, a martial artist, to come and get rid of me for my trouble. We had a scuffle, and though I could not recall the details, I did throw him down bodily onto the tractor and smashing it to bits. He became unconscious but I was sure he was still alive.
I had little time to celebrate my victory because I suddenly found myself back in Tokyo. The city, bustling with activities, was the antithesis of the calm and peaceful I lived in. Needless to say, I was disoriented. A car nearly crashed into me as I tossed myself aside just in the nick of time.
I knew I didn't belong there, so I ran as fast as I could. I don't know how far I made it before I was standing in front of Nishiki Corporation's headquarter. I needed to talk to them, to tell them how important the forests were to me, to all of us. So I entered. Realizing I was bare feet and that wasn't a good impression on these business people, I picked up a pair of flats nearby. They were uncomfortable, but I pushed on.
I went straight to the director's office (which obviously wasn't how booking an appointment worked) to have a talk with him. His wife was also there. No matter how hard I tried to convince him, no matter how desperate I implored, he wasn't swayed. As I walked up to him, he suddenly grabbed me hard on my chest. Repelled by the abrasiveness and depravity of the act, I kicked him in the face, many times. Before I realized it, I saw he was dead. My mine was turmoil, I took off my flats, left where I found them (just in case its previous owner needed it again) and ran away.
I barely exited the building when the police arrived. One of them shot and wounded me in the arm as I was running away. I used my herbs to treat the injury, but it wasn't enough and I passed out at some point. When I awoke, I was in Amelda's room. So, uh, thanks for helping me.
"That is a lot to take it at once," said Inu, eyes wide.
"Maybe we should d-d-dissect them one at a time?" Tatsuya suggested.
Hokuto refuted. "There is not enough time for that. Still, for better understanding, perhaps narrowing the scope of the discussion would be helpful."
"Don't worry, guys," Amelda assured. "I wrote them down on my E-handbook."
"Can you share it with the rest of us?" asked Eliza.
"Of course," said Amelda. "Just a second. And, there. Does everybody see it?"
(Amelda uploaded the notes to the Truth Bullet section under number 17 - "Student Narratives", which allowed everyone else to see)
"Wow, that's very useful," said Yume. "Thanks, Amelda."
Hokuto sighed in relief. "Oh, good. Now I don't have to be bothered to remember everything everybody says anymore."
"This should have been implemented right at the beginning of the trial had we thought ahead a little more," said Hijiri.
"Better late than never, not that I have any problem remembering, though," Kai remarked.
"Ah, the Ultimate Accountant coming to our rescue just when we need him the most," Fitzgerald grinned. "I see how my faith wasn't misplaced."
"Shut up, Fitzgerald," Amelda bellowed.
"Looks like things are going to be smoother from now on," said El Viento. "Great job, Amelda. Let me have a go at this. I know I nearly derail the trial and accuse an innocent person, but I shall be redeemed."
Account Reconciliation.
Which parts in the accounts of Amelda, Inori, Rin, and Minako connect with one another?
A. Minako criticized Rin for the destruction of the forest.
B. Rin was brought down by Amelda.
C. Minako was Amelda's sister.
D. Amelda was Kanji Tokomaru.
E. Inori was the zombie woman in Rin's vision.
F. Inori kicked away the decapitated head of the man in Rin's vision.
G. Rin was Homura Kimura.
H. Amelda was infected by Inori's disease.
J. Minako's injury was caused by Rin throwing her into someone else.
K. Minako kicked Rin in the face.
"I have pinned down the truth!"
"I guess you are redeemed, El Viento-san," said Hijiri.
"Every dog has its day, I suppose," said Fitzgerald.
"What are you talking about?" Hokuto argued. "Wasn't El Viento the one who dropped the final accusation onto Kazuki in the first trial?"
"Amidst making many wild accusations, as I can recall," Hijiri reminded.
"It looks like things are coming together," said Minako. "Good job, everybody."
"Not yet," Rin insisted. "We still need to compare these four accounts with the ones we already have."
"Which Amelda didn't put down," Yume noted. "Wait, I'm not blaming you, I just..."
"No problem," Amelda told him. "I can take it from here."
Account Reconciliation.
Which parts in the accounts of Amelda, Inori, Rin, and Minako connect with a previous account?
A. Rin argued with Hijiri.
B. Minako implored Hijiri to stop the forest destruction.
C. Inu was Daniel Ramos.
D. Fitzgerald shot and wounded Minako.
E. Hokuto caused Minako's injury.
F. Minako stomped on Ashley's corpse.
G. Minako threw El Viento onto the table.
H. Amelda took Tatsuya's package.
J. Rin disarmed Hijiri.
K. Hijiri was the murderous mother in Inori's account.
L. Minako stole El Viento's boots.
M. Amelda defeated Tatsuya in combat.
N. Minako took Kai's shoes.
"All accounts are balanced, as all things should be."
"Wow, so it was Minako the one who knocked El Viento onto that table in the main hall," said Hokuto. "That sounds like one hell of a fight. I didn't think anyone of us here would stand any chance against the Ultimate Luchador."
"That sounds a-a-amazing, there, Minako," Tatsuya commended.
"It seems I have found my better," El Viento proudly admitted.
Hijiri was sarcastic. "Oh, how the mighty has fallen."
Minako blushed at the attention she was getting. "Uhm,... sorry for that, El Viento-chan. I hope you weren't hurt by it."
"Don't worry," said Amelda. "She's made of harder stuff than any of us here, isn't that right, El Viento?"
"Such defeat humbles me, but I shall admit it with my head high," El Viento said excitedly. "I call for a rematch."
Minako was shocked. "Ehhh! I don't want to fight anyone."
"And Amelda beat Rin as well," said Yume. "Who would have thought the Ultimate Accountant has what it takes to bring down the Ultimate Policewoman."
"Well, I certainly did," said Hijiri.
"Do not underestimate him," Fitzgerald added. "His talent might not be telly, but he has held his ground admirably on his own against Kaneshiro."
Rin shrugged off. "Whatever. That's beside the point. But something catches my suspicion."
Non-stop debate.
"Minako, you said you kicked the director of Nishiki Corporation in the face multiple times, is that correct?" asked Rin.
"Yes," Minako replied.
"I don't see any of us here bear that kind of injury," said Inu.
"What about the person who isn't here?" Kai suggested.
"Ashley," Rin pointed out. "Could it have been her who Minako attacked?"
"If what Minako said is t-t-true, that sounds like a k-k-killing blow," said Tatsuya.
"Yes," Hijiri backed up. "It does seem to fit what we learn about the most likely cause of death so far."
"We need to unplug life support on that argument at once."
Inori used Truth Bullet #4: Dungeon burglar.
"While it is true that Minako displayed violent tendencies during the gassing, I strongly believe it was the corpses of the couple in the dungeon that she vented her wrath upon," Inori explained.
"You mean, the couple of zombies," said Hokuto.
"I don't suppose putting them to the grave counts as committing a murder," said Amelda.
"Nope," Monokuma confirmed. "Only killing another student counts."
"Then I guess Minako is clear now," said Yume.
"Not so fast," said Rin. "Something else is bothering me."
Identity parade.
Of all accounts so far, whose are incomplete?
Hokuto
Eliza
El Viento
Tatsuya
Hijiri
Fitzgerald
Minako
Rin
Amelda
Inori
Inu
"You are under arrest!"
"It seems we have our first contradiction so far," said Eliza, grinning. "This is going well."
"Tatsuya said he passed out after getting maimed by Hijiri," said Rin, "but Inori's account indicated he walked up to her."
El Viento nodded. "I can confirm that. When I came to, I saw Inori trying desperately to stop the lad from bleeding."
"Minako's account also ended with her losing consciousness," Fitzgerald theorized. "But we know that Amelda here encountered her at some point and took her into his room. Was she still conscious then?"
"Under a lot of pain and stress, my sister was," Amelda replied firmly. "But she was standing and awake for sure."
Non-stop debate.
"Minako, Tatsuya, your testimonies are lacking information," Rin addressed. "What do you have to say?"
"That's all I can recall," said Minako. "What happened next, I can't seem to remember."
Hokuto shook his head disappointedly. "That answer isn't good enough, I'm afraid."
"Think harder," Hijiri urged. "Do you remember how you ended up in Amelda's room at all?"
"Did you see anyone picking you up?" asked Yume
"No, I swear that's all I can remember," said Minako, her face whitened.
"Could Amelda be incorrect then?" Hijiri suggested.
"I saw her limping with my own eyes," Amelda denied. "The Despair Gas doesn't make you see a walking person as someone on the ground, you know."
"What about you, Tatsuya?" Inori asked. "I saw you walked to me, yet you said you were unconscious between Hijiri's attack and El Viento bringing you to your room."
"I-I-I don't remember anything," Tatsuya stuttered, sweating as the pressure was put on him. "Please, I'm n-n-not the killer!"
"Calm down," Yume assured. "We are not pointing any finger yet."
Rin scoffed. "Well, aren't we? Do you know what I think? You both have evidence that you think might incriminate you, so you decided to keep them away from us. Is that right?"
"Never give up!"
Eliza used Truth Bullet #7: Despair Gas.
"Take a look at this," Eliza stated. "According to the instruction, Despair Gas causes involuntary actions, even in unconscious bodies."
"This means Minako and Tatsuya really did get up and sleepwalk," Amelda articulated, "but they couldn't remember because their minds were not functioning correctly."
"Sounds like a load of voodoo bullshit to me," said Hokuto skeptically. "Should we believe in this?"
"Monokuma left behind the can for us to find," said Fitzgerald. "He's not one to cheat around here."
"I understand fear gas, but Despair Gas, in capital letters?" Rin sounded unconvinced. "How the hell did Monokuma come up with this shit anyway"
"You think I couldn't?" Monokuma sneered at the Ultimate Police Woman. "Why I happen to have the greatest psychologist and the greatest chemist working for me the whole time."
"How big is this?" asked Fitzgerald, frowning. "I know we are the best in our field and all, but is it worth the resource spent?"
"Your concern is trivial compared to what we have been able to achieve," Monokuma replied. "I assure you, every penny we've spent so far has paid off nicely."
"You're bluffing," El Viento spat. "There's no way this is true."
"Have you forgotten the pain from our first meeting, my dear?" Monokuma sniggered. "Remember my personal bodyguards, the Four Horsemen? Who else could they be if not the extraordinary talents Hope's Peak Academy strived, and ultimately failed, to cultivate?"
"God, how many people, Ultimates and not, are involved in this?" Amelda exclaimed. "Is Hope's Peak Academy behind this? Have they gone absolutely mad? Or is this their new way of researching talents?"
"Amelda, you take his words too seriously," said Yume.
"Maybe he's just bluffing," Kai added.
"Yeah, you are s-s-scaring us here," mentioned Tatsuya, unsure whether to direct at Monokuma or Amelda.
Monokuma chuckled sadistically. "Upupupupu. He has every right to be a little paranoid. I always tell the truth. So just let it out if you don't like it. This is just a small taste of what I have to offer. As for your questions, despite what I just said, I am not obliged to tell you anything. You will learn, in time."
"It's pointless arguing with Monokuma," Eliza declared. "We should get back to the murder trial, asap."
"We now learn that there is a loophole in this story-sharing," Inori continued. "Whoever lost unconscious could still get back up and acted without their knowledge. Kinda like sleepwalking."
"Or zombies," Hokuto reminded. "Like those we found in that dungeon there."
"Stop saying that," Minako shrilled. "Now you're scaring me."
"Zombies or sleepwalkers notwithstanding, that means there are gaps in our accounts," said Kai.
"I guess Fitzgerald's idea wasn't so failproof after all," Hijiri stated.
"It's still the best shot we've got," Amelda countered.
Fitzgerald nodded approvingly. "Even if we cannot pin down the culprit, we should be able to narrow down the list so that our lives would be determined by fewer variables."
"Come to think about it," said Yume, "I doubt either of them could have committed the crime. Both of them were severely injured before passing out, weren't they?"
"The Despair Gas just makes us act against our will, it doesn't give you superhero power, does it?" asked Inu.
Hokuto turned to the Ultimate Patient for confirmation. "Inori, is it true?"
"I think so," said Hijiri. "Both suffered multiple injuries and blood loss which would have cripple any normal person. Even if they were sleepwalking, they wouldn't have been able to use any amount of force that could have shattered Ashley's skull like that."
"Wait, Minako is no normal person," said Hokuto. "She took down El Viento, remember? What if she has some special strength that allows her to push on despite her injuries. And she also said she applied some herbs onto it, which would have mitigated the damage."
"Do you have anything to say about it, Minako?" Amelda asked.
Minako shook her head, looking at her feet in anxiety. "No... I don't."
"Then we have no choice but to put you on the list of suspects since you cannot prove what you did after fainting from your injury inflicted by Hokuto but before you were found by Amelda," Rin proclaimed.
"Looking back, perhaps one more person should be... added to the suspect list," Inu stated. "And I am sorry for calling you out."
Brainstorm.
Who else has an incomplete account due to loss of consciousness?
A. Hokuto.
B. Eliza.
C. Hijiri.
D. El Viento.
"I've got the formulae right this time."
"El Viento passed out after... she drank from the Inurium vial," said Inu.
Hokuto doubled over. "Pffffff. Ahahaha. Sorry. I can't help it. That name sounds like something you would find in an episode of Star Trek."
"Hey, be more respectful, will you?" Eliza scolded. "He probably put his heart and soul into it."
"Certainly, this man has been living in a basement for so long, he forgets basic manners," said Hijiri derisively.
"So it's my turn on the chopping block," El Viento mused. "That's okay, Inu. No hard feelings."
"Where were you when you woke up, El Viento?" asked Rin.
"In the hallway," El Viento replied. "I saw Inori clutching onto a tattered Tatsuya as soon as I came to."
"Inori already confirmed that much, didn't she?" asked Kai.
"Does that absolve or condemn El Viento?" Yume pondered.
"We'll need to go through the entire thing before coming to any conclusion," said Fitzgerald.
"Well, if that's the c-c-case, why not listen to the final two accounts?" Tatsuya suggested.
El Viento nodded. "Good idea. Since we are at the end here, let's give everything you've got."
"I hope I won't disappoint," said Yume in anticipation.
"Well, here goes," Kai began.
Yume's Account.
The Despair Gas made me reexperience two of the most terrifying experiences I have had in my life. The first one was losing control of my wheelchair during my visit to Italy where I underestimated how slopey the road down the hill was. I was rolling too fast with no hope of stopping it, and golly, it made every hair on the back of my head stand up. After narrowly avoided several people, I was heading for a cliff that would throw me into the ocean. With no other choice, I jumped off my wheelchair and watched as it disappeared.
Without my wheelchair, I lost the means to move around, which I found myself in desperate need of because I realized I was inside an abandoned warehouse. My arch-nemesis was also there, the serial killer and terrorist who called himself TURNABOUT (all capital letters), fresh from his latest victim which he gruesomely dissected. The scene made my stomach churned and I crawled to a hiding spot behind some crates. From my hiding spot, I saw him walking towards me with murderous intent. My heart stopped.
Then, as I watched, Amelda jumped out. TURNABOUT turned to fight him, but he managed to disarm the serial killer, causing him to flee away. I was filled with joy seeing it. My exuberance turned to horror as Amelda threw out blood and dropped to the floor. I didn't know whether he was dead or not, but I was too scared about the prospect of TURNABOUT coming back.
I crawled my way into a hiding place and waited for anyone to come to my rescue. When the Despair Gas lost its effect, I was cramping myself inside a baking oven. Thankfully it wasn't turned on.
Kai's Account.
It seems I'm the last to go. I was on stage in front of a large auditorium. Countless eyes were fixated on me. The pressure was on, but I was confident. As I performed my favorite ballet, the Nutcracker, I realized there were actual swans dancing next to me. My excitement didn't last long. The music kept getting louder and louder. I could not ask them to lower the volume, for I could not let the audience hear me talking during the ballet. But soon the noise became a distraction, and I missed a beat, made a wrong move, and rammed into someone who threw me back with force and right into the main character playing the titular character. The entire play fell apart like the wooden Nutcracker he was and the audience was booing. It was a total disaster!
As I recovered from my daze, the theater was in utter chaos as a fire had broken out and people, or shadows of them, were running in every direction. My accident had not only ruined the show, but it also caused a freak accident that was destroying the theater and killing everyone in it. As I made my way to the exit, my gut wrenched as I saw a man on fire running away. Another thing I then saw was a lady who got hit right in the head by a falling spotlight as she tried to run away. I was too afraid to check whether she survived or not.
As if things weren't bad enough, I could feel my feet rapidly expanding like they were a couple of balloons or something. I had to throw off my ballet shoes in the end despite knowing well the implication. The room I ran into contained no exit, so I headed back, only to be greeted by a wall of flame. There was no other way out. I thought I could dance my way through the flame. It was a big mistake, though. As it turned out, the marble floor was scorching hot and with only my bare feet, I had just jumped straight into a frying pan. It was excruciating and before I knew it, I passed out from the pain.
When I finally came to, fragments of wine bottles were underneath my shredded feet.
"How are your feet, Kai?" asked Amelda.
"Better now," Kai smiled in response. "Don't worry, I can walk just fine. Fitzgerald made sure all the fragments were removed."
"You sure about that?" asked El Viento. "Last time we saw, you were quite messed up."
"I said I'm fine," Kai insisted. "Nothing I couldn't handle."
"Looks like we made it through," said Fitzgerald. "Good job, everyone."
"That was... both physically and mentally exhausting," Inori breathed.
Rin turned to ask the Ultimate Accountant. "Amelda, did you write them down?"
"Of course," said Amelda confidently. "I am uploading them right now."
"So, now do we know who k-k-killed Ashley?" asked Tatsuya.
"Not so fast," Eliza warned. "Let's put the pieces together first, one at a time."
"Right, you do that," said Hokuto dismissively. "I've got shit memory."
Amelda sighed. "Let's just get this over with."
Account Reconciliation.
Which parts of Kai and Yume's accounts link back to previous narratives?
A. Minako threw Yume off the wheelchair and onto the table.
B. Hijiri was TURNABOUT.
C. Yume was seen by both Minako and Tatsuya as a speeding truck.
D. Fitzgerald was the man on fire in Kai's account.
F. El Viento had a scuffle with Kai.
G. Kai slammed into Hijiri and disarmed her.
H. Rin threw Kai.
"By the numbers."
"That should be it, right?" asked Minako.
"Not yet," Fitzgerald stated. "There is one more account we haven't looked into."
"Whose account?" asked Rin.
Hokuto frowned. "I might have shit memory but I don't think there is anyone of us who didn't share our story."
"Exactly, because that person isn't here," Fitzgerald pointed out.
"Stop beating around the bush and tell us who," Hijiri demanded.
"I think I know who you are talking about," said Rin.
Hangman's Gambit.
Whose account relevant to the case has not been examined?
_._._._._._
A
A._._._._._
E
A._._._.E._
S
A.S._._.E._
L
A.S._.L.E._
Y
A.S._.L.E.Y
H
A.S.H.L.E.Y
"Justice will be served!"
"You are talking about the victim's right?" asked Rin.
"Correct," Fitzgerald confirmed. "Her account is the most important in finding the killer."
"Are you insane?" Eliza argued. "Ashley is dead. Dead people don't talk. And don't even say the word zombie."
"But that doesn't prevent us from forging a narrative for her using the narratives everyone else has shared so far," Amelda articulated. "From what I see, it appears quite a few of us saw or interacted with Ashley while we were affected by Despair Gas, seeing that many incidents between two persons do not have a match."
"Right you are," Fitzgerald remarked coolly. "I am impressed."
"We have already deducted Ashley's whereabouts during the gaming from Fitzgerald's account," said Rin. "Let's move on from there."
"There is still too much information," Yume moaned. "We still won't be able to discern which activity was taken by Ashley and which by one of our classmates who fell victim to his foul mind-controlling magic by Monokuma."
"Let's take a look at Kai's account then," Hokuto proposed. "Something is amiss, and it has to do with this."
Hokuto used Truth Bullet #16: Bloodied bottle shards.
Non-stop debate.
"Kai, you said you passed out from the pain in your feet, right?" Hokuto asked.
"Yes," Kai answered.
El Viento sighed, defeated. "Another unconscious person, another hole in the account."
"Wasn't Kai in the bar when we last saw her?" Eliza asked.
"That's right," said Amelda. "She could not have moved from her spot even after she became unconscious. There definitely would have been bloody footprints if she otherwise."
"I doubt she could walk anywhere on those feet," Inori added.
"But she would still have full control of her arms," said Hokuto.
"What you are saying is...," Rin began.
"Kai might not have moved from her spot but in her delirium caused by Despair Gas, she might have picked up the bottle and thrown in," said Hokuto.
"And h-h-hitting Ashley who happened to walk by," Tatsuya finished.
"Should we consider it a possible cause of death?" asked Inu.
"Touch not the forbidden fruit."
Hijiri used Truth Bullet #17: Students' narratives.
"More specifically, Fitzgerald-san's account," Hijiri elaborated. "You won't find it in the list because we didn't write it down. But you still remember, correct?"
"Yes," said Amelda. "Fitzgerald said he was hit by a bottle in the head as he was chased by a rowdy mob. That must have been Kai right there."
"Just her? And not a m-m-mob?" asked Tatsuya.
"I could not make out the shapes but the noises I heard led me to believe there were quite a few of them," Fitsgerald admitted. "And I have wronged quite a few people in my career as well, in addition to Cordell Chevilla and Mikolevski."
"Ruing people's lives makes you so proud?" Hijiri asked sourly.
Fitzgerald returned a dismissive look. "Murderers, drug dealers, smugglers, money launderers, traitors, rapists, and spies. Do you blame me for ruining their lives?"
"Of course not," Monokuma boomed. "I'm ruining your lives as well."
"The Despair Gas causes distortions to all senses," Amelda came back to the topic before any drama broke out. "Fitzgerald must have heard the sound of many bottles shattering and thought there was more than one person."
"Are you sure?" asked Kai. "There was some blood on the pieces I found in the bar, but Fitzgerald looked just fine when he came to treat me."
"Oh, I can confirm what Kaneshiro and Mason here are saying alright," Fitzgerald confessed. "I patched it up. See?"
(Fitzgerald pulled his hair to let the rest of the class see the small cuts on the back of his head. Fitzgerald appeared to have used some medicinal gel from the storage to treat his injury).
"What if Kai grabbed another and threw at Ashley?" El Viento suggested.
"Not possible," Inori refuted. "We could find only one broken bottle that could have been thrown at anybody."
"If that's the case, should we remove Kai from the suspect list?" asked Minako.
"Probably," Yume concurred. "Good job, everybody. I know we can do it. With each person proven innocent, we are closer to ending this trial."
"Nice to see you all step up your game since last time," Fitzgerald remarked.
"Stop trying to sound high and mighty," Amelda shouted back. "If you have found the culprit already, tell us who."
"Have patience," Fitzgerald guaranteed. "I only have inklings at this stage. All will be revealed in time."
"Or maybe not," Hokuto declared. "Huh, you call yourself the Ultimate Private Detective? Well, why not listen to what I have to say, because I am solving this mystery on my own."
"You have found the culprit?" asked Tatsuya.
"Not really the culprit, but prime suspects," Hokuto corrected.
El Viento was interested. "Can you tell us?"
"Yeah, stop blowing hot and cold and get to it already," said Eliza.
"You said 'suspects'," Amelda coined. "Could you be referring to Eliza and someone else?"
"That's right," Hokuto confirmed. "There are two of us who could have committed the crime. One of them is Eliza as we discussed earlier, the other is none other than this person."
Theorycrafting.
From what we have learned, Despair Gas causes sensory disorders but objects that you could interact with will be at the forefront. Because of that, any interaction made to another person will also be experienced in the opposite manner by the person on the receiving end. With that in mind, the accounts so far have led me to this conclusion.
During the gassing, Ashley fled from Fitzgerald from the Main Hall to the hallway between it and the gallery. What she saw is anybody's guess, but we can deduct what happened to her from other people's accounts. There is one thing that sticks out. Kai ran into Rin who grabbed and threw her into someone else. This someone else does not match any person in this trial room based on our accounts, so, therefore, we can deduce they could only have been Ashley.
And since Rin tossed Kai in such a violent manner which she is so famously for when it comes to criminals, there is a positively high chance this was what caused the fatal cranial injury that ended Ashley's life. Even Rin claimed the head of that person came off. The Ultimate Prankster, after getting brutally knocked down, would wake up again, only with her brain irreparably damaged. She traveled to the library where Eliza, hungry from the stress she was under, finished the job.
And so, we should consider Rin Kaguya the Ultimate Police Woman as our top suspect from this point onward.
Rin looked impressed, despite being the accused. "Not bad at all, Monokuma. Even I am on the rope now."
"That theory won't pass the acid test!"
Amelda used Truth Bullet #9: Crumbled armor.
Hokuto grimaced. "You again, Amelda? What is it with you getting in my way?"
"Sorry to rain on your parade, but that theory is flawed," Amelda replied sternly. "Rin couldn't have thrown Kai into Ashley. The crumbled armor we found in the hallway proves that."
"So Rin here dropped Kai into the castle's decoration, rather than someone else?" asked El Viento.
"It appears so," Yume agreed. "Even the part where the head comes off is consistent with how the helmet must have rolled away from the rest of the pieces."
"And Ashley could not have lost her head prior to entering the library," said Amelda. "I don't think even the Despair Gas could make someone get up after they are decapitated."
"Is that right, Monokuma?" asked Hokuto. "Can Despair Gas reanimate someone without their head?"
"Figure that out yourself, nailhead," Monokuma growled disapprovingly. "I didn't hold this trial so I can solve the mystery for you."
Eliza smirked. "Well said, Monokuma."
"Hey! Whose side are you on?" said Hokuto grumpily.
"And whose side are YOU on?" Rin accused. "We know you left out information in your account, Hokuto."
El Viento was taken back. "He did what?"
"Well, this is getting dramatic," Hijiri remarked.
"What a turn of events," Eliza commented smugly. "Hokuto is now the one on the defense."
Non-stop debate.
"What are you talking about, Rin?" Hokuto debated. "Eliza confirmed what I said, didn't she?"
"Well, sort of," said Eliza. "I did confirm you threw that badge and injured Minako for that."
"I am talking about before that," said Rin. "We know you were in the dungeon."
"Is that t-t-true, Hokuto?" Tatsuya yelped.
"What do you have to say about that, Hokuto?" Amelda pressed.
"Where the fuck did you come up with such a claim?" Hokuto shouted back angrily. "Haven't we agreed Minako was the only person there?"
"At the crime scene, the area next to the trap door didn't have any book on the floor," said Rin. "Minako could not have known the way to open the pathway. She could not have entered it by pulling out the correct book first try."
"Is that right, Minako?" asked Amelda. "When you met the director of Nishiki Corporation, did you open any door?"
"No," Minako confirmed. "His office was open."
"Preposterous," Hokuto barked. "You said I was in the dungeon, but you have no evidence to put me there other than opening the door. What if Minako just got lucky?"
"This man sounds exactly like someone who lies through his teeth," said Hijiri.
"Time for you to tap out!"
El Viento used Truth Bullet #4: Dungeon burglar.
"We already used this Truth Bullet, but only half of it," El Viento presented. "Minako never mentioned taking anything from the corpses. Only you could have."
Amelda glared at Hokuto. "Even in a life and death situation, you still couldn't help it, could you?"
"H-H-Hokuto..." Tatsuya stammered.
Hokuto sighed in defeat. "Sorry, buddy. I disappointed you. Yeah, I kinda left that part out of my testimony. Happy now?"
"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Yume.
"Because you wouldn't agree with me," said Hokuto. "We have the Ultimate Policewoman and the Ultimate Goddamn Private Detective here."
"Hell right," Rin hollered. "We are Ultimate Students. We are the hope of humanity for the future. You are the Ultimate Miner, not the Ultimate Thief. You dig wealth from the earth, not stealing it from someone else."
"The previous owners of Tartarus Keep are quite dead, you know?" said Hokuto. "They wouldn't be needing it."
"The jewelry would belong either to their heir or the kingdom's treasury," Rin rebutted. "In any case, you have no claim to any of it."
"A greedy man dies a lonely death," said Hijiri.
Minako shook her head. "Mother Earth does not approve of that."
"Fuck me," Hokuto swore. "Fine, I confess. Stop aggravating me."
"You seem very deliberate your lies, Hokuto," asked Fitzgerald. "Could it be you were conscious about what happened?"
"Yes," answered Hokuto. "I was inside the dungeon when I woke up. It was only after I exited that I encountered the Despair Gas began to hallucinate. When I was in the dungeon, I didn't know what was outside, but I didn't want to stay in that dark and scary place for long. What happened next, well, I already told you. All in all, I should have stayed inside."
"I see," said Kai. So the dungeon is airtight after all. That's the reason why the Despair Gas couldn't seep in."
"If that is the case, then this doesn't have anything to do with Ashley's murder," said Amelda.
"I know," Rin repeated. "But caught him red-handed. And he thought he could get away with it."
"Cut off my fingers, burn my tongue, poke my eyes," Hokuto groaned. "Do whatever you want."
"Ooooh! I would love to," Monokuma chimed in. "Stealing valuable items from my castle is unforgivable. I want all of your ill-gotten gains returned right after the trial. Failing to do so will result in immediate punishment."
"There were no cameras in that dungeon," Hokuto continued his whining. "You guys just had to ruin it. I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for you lousy bear and meddling classmates."
"With Rin no longer a suspect, there is only one person left," said Fitzgerald. "And I don't think you will like it."
"So you've finally decided to speak out," Amelda commented callously.
"About time," said Hijiri.
"Why the change of heart?" asked Rin.
Fitzgerald chuckled to himself. "Since you have performed with distinction, it seems I too must live up to my reputation."
Choose the second suspect.
Amelda Douglas Mason
Yume
Fitzgerald Scott
Tatsuya Toshishai
Akihiko Kazuhiko
Inu Kagyuu
Hokuto Yamazaki
Rin Yamamoto
Hijiri Kaneshiro
Inori Hayashi
El Viento
Akai 'Kai' Omakase
Elizabeth "Eliza" Piket
Minako Yuza
"Putting people in a tight spot is my specialty."
"Inori?" Yume breathed. "How could she be?"
"Are you sure about it?" asked Rin.
Fitzgerald nodded grimly. "I am positively certain aside from Eliza, she is the most likely culprit."
Non-stop debate.
"Fitzgerald, you said I was the prime suspect?" Inori asked, her face showing no sign of fear or rejection.
"I'm sorry, but the evidence we've gathered so far supports that," Fitzgerald replied.
"How so?" Rin insisted. "Her account doesn't mention her committing any act of violence."
"Could she have been lying?" El Viento inquired.
"There's no reason for that," Kai rebutted. "Any account is as suspicious as another, no matter what you say."
"I think you've got the wrong person," said Inu. "Inori could barely walk, let alone kill someone."
"Maybe she had a weapon?" asked Hijiri.
"I don't see it in her a-a-account," said Tatsuya. "Though to be fair, she could have picked up without knowing."
"And we certainly didn't find anything there that could be used to kill Ashley," said Inu.
"That argument must be written off!"
Amelda used Truth Bullet #10: Bloodied helmet.
"Wait," Amelda called. "There is something Inori could have used as the murder weapon, namely the armor's helmet. This is also the missing link between Inori and Kai's accounts."
"The woman who got the spotlight dropping on her head in Kai's narrative, could it be Ashley?" said Minako. "It fits with what we have here."
Minako used Truth Bullet #3: Head blow.
"Since none of us here experienced something like that aside from Fitzgerald, and we know Fitzgerald's was caused by Kai, it is highly likely," said Amelda.
Inori nodded. "I see. The helmet is quite heavy and hard. Having that fall on your head could have been fatal. I did notice the severed head to be heavier than I thought when I picked it up."
"Uhhh," Tatsuya moaned. "That sounds c-c-creepy."
"We are on the verge of accusing you, Inori," said Yume worriedly. "Yet, why do you still help us?"
"The truth is something none of us here can avoid," Inori replied. "And from my point of view, it is better me than anyone else as the culprit."
"Inori...," Amelda breathed.
"How could you think that way?" asked Minako, feeling her stomach churning.
"I only have a few years left to live even if I do survive Monokuma's Mutual Killing Game," Inori explained softly. "You guys have your whole life ahead of you."
"I don't want to believe this," Yume claimed. "Is there any other evidence pointing to Inori?"
"No," said Fitzgerlad. "But we have evidence to absolve another one of us."
"Who?" asked Amelda.
"The one who disarmed Hijiri, of course," said Fitzgerald. "Don't tell me you have not figured out."
"I think I know," Yume raised.
Brainstorm.
Who disarmed Hijiri?
A. Amelda.
B. El Viento.
C. Fitzgerald.
D. Chuck Norris.
"Finding this one is a piece of cake."
"It was El Viento who did that," said Yume. "I thought for sure it was Amelda when even Hijiri saw him in her vision. But now that I think back, only El Viento would fit."
"So El Viento disarmed Hijri and then fainted again?" asked Rin.
"It's an effect of Inurium," said Inu. "It seems she was brought back up by Despair Gas, but only for a while."
"Given the timing and position where El Viento found herself later on," said Fitzgerald, "we could safely remove her from the suspect list as well."
"Awesome," Eliza whooped. "That list is getting smaller and smaller."
Hokuto glared daggers at her. "But never will be without you in it."
"And I think we can agree on Minako's innocence as well," Amelda raised.
El Viento tilted her head. "How so?"
"I think I k-k-know," Tatsuya chimed in. "S-s-sorry, Inori."
Brainstorm.
What confirms Minako could not have killed Ashley?
A. She lacked strength due to her injury.
B. Amelda found her before Ashley was murdered.
C. She never mentioned interacting with Ashley.
D. Mother Earth forbade killing.
"Just in the nick of time!"
"According to Kai, she saw Amelda c-c-carrying Minako away before Ashley was hit by the h-h-helmet," Tatsuya explained. "And since Ashley was r-r-running at that point, we can assume nothing too v-v-violent took place between the two of them."
"It seems that way," Yume concurred thoughtfully. "So we are down to two suspects?"
"Is there anything else we can discuss?" asked Inu.
Fitzgerald shocked everyone with his answer. "No. This is the end as far as I can see."
Hokuto raised his brows. "Seriously?"
"Are you sure?" asked Amelda, unwilling to believe.
"Is it... over now?" asked Inu timidly.
"But who killed Ashley?" Minako questioned as she looked fruitlessly for any further from her disappointed classmates. "We don't have a definitive answer yet."
Fitzgerald sighed deeply. "As arduous and frustrating as it has been, this trial can come to its conclusion now. And unfortunately, thanks to the particular nature of this case, I will not be able to provide you the definitive answer you are seeking."
"Then let's just try our best to recount the whole thing one more time," Kai suggested. "Ashley's story, derived from all the accounts we've collected so far, will be our closing argument."
Closing Argument.
Act 1: The second Motive of the Mutual Killing Game is Despair Gas. It caused us to lose our sanity and experience hallucinations, ultimately being unable to control our actions. Additionally, Despair Gas can also cause unconscious people to sleepwalk.
Act 2: We were knocked down and scattered across Tartarus Keep when Despair Gas was used. Ashley was first seen in the Main Hall where she strung up Fitzgerald using her pranking device. Fitzgerlad shot powder into her and bullet into the rope, freeing himself and causing her to flee. Fitzgerald gave chase but lost Ashley.
Act 3: Ashley fled to the residential area hallway. There, Rin flung Kai into an armor suit and broke it. The helmet rolled next to Inori who, seeing it as a decapitated head, threw it away, only to hit Ashley in the head. The blow was catastrophic.
Act 4: Despite severe brain trauma, Ashley made her way to the library where her ultimate fate awaited. Eliza, feeling an uncontrollable urge to eat after being endlessly derided, looked upon the wobbling Ashley and saw a walking marshmallow. Without hesitation, Eliza fell upon Ashley and devoured her, causing the mess in the library.
"Despite our best effort, we are unable to crack open this case. The killer could be either Elizabeth Piket the Ultimate Tinkerer or Inori Hayashi the Ultimate Patient. It seems Monokuma really made fools out of us in the end."
Author's notes: Oh yeah, we are at the end of the second trial now. I can't believe we made it this far. I am hitting a stride here.
This chapter I want to feel like the 5th one in Danganronpa 2 where the trial ultimately ended without any conclusively pinning down who the killer is, all thanks to Nagito's plan. Here, the class could narrow down the suspects to only two, but could not go further due to the lack of advanced investigation techniques like DNA testing and shit like that.
It has been a blast writing all of these characters. I really love them so much.
Hope you enjoy it. I will see you next time.