ACT 3: IN THE GRIP OF DESPAIR
Chapter 8: Trial (part 1)
Day 12
Tartarus Keep
14:30
Trial Ground
Once more unto the breach, me and my friends. Once more we faced the mistrust and horror the trial inevitably brought. This was the third time we entered the trial ground and already I was getting sick and tired of this charade, this mockery of justice. Minako was a sobbing wreck and on the verge of giving up while Hijiri looked like she was already dead on the inside. Given what she had seen so far, including the terrible effect that video had on the mind, and the attempt on her life, it wasn't surprising that the usually aloof Ultimate Geisha would feel that way. It frightened me how a person could be pushed over the brink of despair until they were left as a hollow shell of their former self.
On the other side of the spectrum, Hokuto, Rin, and El Viento were looking forward to this trial or at least pretended to appear not at all suspicious - I knew better than to trust people while killing was going on. While we could understand why Kazuki was driven to do what he did, and Inori wasn't even aware of her action, the culprit in this case clearly planned it out meticulously. All of this for a motive that didn't make any sense. The idea that we lived in a world where the concept of 'homo homini lupus est' applied was unthinkable even after what we had seen so far. Notwithstanding the fact this was little more than a kangaroo court, the chance of delivering righteous retribution to the responsible party still got them riled up. I shared their determination to get to the bottom of this but not their enthusiasm. Whichever the case, we must not allow the killer to get away with it, lest it would be our doom at the paws of Monokuma.
"You lot are fewer than I expected," Monokuma sneered. "Good grizzly, my subjects are dropping like dodo birds here."
"Shut the hell up, Monokuma," Hokuto snarled. "We want no more of your bullshit."
"Stop talking like you have nothing to do with it," Minako joined in, her voice shrilly. "You killed them, Monokuma. It's all your fault!"
"Seeing you two in denial makes me pity," said Hijiri. "I think I will savor this moment."
"Are you mad, Hijiri?" Kai demanded.
"I think she might be," said Inu, noting the ghost of a smile on Hijiri's face.
"As a matter of fact, I think we all are," Hijiri replied.
"Oh, no. She has been possessed by an evil spirit," Yume cried out. "I have heard of this. Once you have fallen to despair and your will is diminished enough, your body becomes perfect vessels for evil spirits through which they can wreak havoc on earth."
"Can you exorcise her or something?" Minako asked.
"I don't know if it will work," said Yume. "My sister taught me in order to stop an earth-bound soul from taking over a person's body, a ritual must be carried out. It involves smacking them in the face three times with a magical mallet."
"There are mallets in the storage," said El Viento. "Not sure if any of them is magical, though."
"Hey there, let's not accidentally cause a third killing with that," I intervened. Daemonic possession was not beyond my realm of believability - for all I knew, that might be the case with Monokuma right here. However, as it stood, I strongly doubted Yume was qualified for the job with or without his magical tools. The fellow was the Ultimate Baker, not Ultimate Exorcist. "That's not even allowed."
"Well, at least someone here has been good at remembering the rules I so thoughtfully thought out," Monokuma gleefully stated. The rules dictated that only one murderer and two unavenged victims could exist at any given time. The last time it was evoked, it ended quite well for both myself and Hijiri.
"You say I am possessed," said Hijiri insouciantly. "From my point of view, I am the sanest person in the group. You are all deluded."
"As if you have any right to talk," Rin grunted.
"Somebody shut this perra up," El Viento bawled. "Grab the goddamn mallet. I don't care if it's magical or not."
"What's that for?" asked Hokuto. "Just use your fist to knock her out." It was indeed a more practical solution to Hijiri not being helpful at all, but I digressed.
"Can we wait for that until AFTER the trial?" I suggested. "I mean, I don't enjoy her trash-talking, but maybe she can still contribute in some way. We don't know for sure if she is the culprit or not."
"Why are we slandering each other like this?" Minako wailed, exasperated by the poor attitudes of her classmates.
"It makes no difference," Hijiri remarked. "The end is coming to all of us. You can choose to embrace it as I have, or desperately fight it only to be swept away like a sandcastle at high tide."
Ever since we revealed she was the target of the assassination, her attitude had changed from passive-aggressive to outright condescending. Perhaps this had been going on for a while without anyone noticing until Hijiri saw no reason to hide her nature anymore. Hijiri was the Ultimte Geisha after all. Her theatrical skills should be unquestionable.
"Please just stop talking," Yume demanded. Even he who was normally the conciliator of the group was beginning to lose it. Rin and Hijiri continued to stare daggers at one another for a few moments.
"Let's just get on with it," I intervened before this argument became out of control. The trial had not even started and already there were dramas. I missed being in a real court. "Begin the trial, Monokuma."
I agreed with Minako to an extent that Monokuma was the cause of all the deaths so far even if he had never done so in a direct manner. Still, the bear could have ordered all of us executed if he wished, yet had given us a chance to stay his paws clutching on our throats. If nothing else, we must continue.
My sense of justice, while having not yet gone, had been severely blunted by my experience so far. Even then, I remained staunchly committed to this venture. At this point, the most I could ask for was to see my family again. For that to happen, I must survive. For me to survive, someone else must take the fall: the culprit behind the bomb attack.
"As soon as you are all ready," Monokuma giggled. "Does anyone need me to explain the rules again?"
"Wait, I think...," Minako started.
"Ehem," Rin coughed.
"Uhum," Kai distracted.
"Please don't," Inu pleaded.
"If there is anything you don't understand, I will cover for you," I offered.
El Viento didn't say anything but from the look on her face, she might actually go berserk and tear this whole place anew if she had to listen to Monokuma's monologue about the dos and don'ts of the trial one more time.
"Not," Minako finished timidly. I hoped not remembering the rules would not negatively affect her ability to contribute to the trial. With two people ending up as victims, one as the killer who would no doubt try to sabotage the trial to prevent their identification, Fitzgerald out for the count, and Hijiri being pugnacious, we could not afford any more detractors.
"Cut the crap and get on with it, silly old bear," Hokuto bawled. "We're ready to put whoever behind this in their coffin." Not the best expression, but I concurred with his spirit. I would not, however, condone going so far as to lynch the culprit after the trial in the absence of formal execution. The purpose of courtrooms was to mitigate uncontrolled violence after all, and I also had very little faith in Rin's twisted view of justice.
"I have heard your beseechment," Monokuma responded. "And I say ookie dookie. Let's give it you all, my ever-dutiful subjects. Let's see how well you fare when that smart-ass detective isn't around to pull you up whenever you are in a cinch."
Truth Bullet list.
#1
Booby trap
The bomb was triggered by a detonator attached to a present box. The opening of the box was what led to the explosion.
#2
Detonator
The detonator was converted from a toy remote control. Such a device has not been seen anywhere in Tartarus Keep. It is suspected that somebody has it as part of their introduction package given my Monokuma.
#3
The complexity of the murder
While the booby trap was easy to pull off, the killer must have the necessary technical knowledge to carry out their crime, which is extensive.
#4
Pillow and blanket in the warehouse
These items weren't here before. Evidence suggests someone was trying to evade the Night-Time rule by sleeping in the warehouse.
#5
Disarmed C4
3 tubes of C4 were found in the warehouse, all neutralized.
#6
Guidebooks
Two books in the library, Guide on Handling Bombs, Explosives, and IEDs and Armory of Novoselic Armed Forces Encyclopedia show signs of having been used. The marked sections in them contain the knowledge necessary to perform the murder.
#7
Murder weapon
The device is called JE-7 and is used extensively as anti-personnel mines and booby traps due to its triggering mechanism. There are four C4 tubes attached to the standard device, but, apparently, only one was used to cause the explosion in the main hall.
#8
Force of the explosion
The explosion in the main hall was created by a single C4 tube, which packed the power of a hand grenade. The explosion was local and did not produce any shrapnel, so only the person within its small blast radius, namely Eliza, was directly harmed.
#9
Missing chemical vials
Some of Monokuma's special products are missing from their shelves. They include the following:
- Bane's Venom.
- Xenomorph blood.
- Memory-wipe syrup.
- Liquid ice.
#10
Tampered DVD
A video with unsettling content is found in the archive. The video produces dazzling effects that wreak havoc on the mind. It is believed the video was used as a tool for torturing or brainwashing.
#11
Booby trap in the gym
Monokuma wasn't lying when he said the unauthorized access to the female changing room would result in a swift end. The floor beneath the door used to contain explosives - the same explosives likely used as the murder weapon.
#12
Killer's tool
The killer used an undetermined tool to sear away sections of the panel on the floor in front of the female changing room in the gym. This was what gave them access to the bombs below. The tool is highly precise.
#13
Eliza's locker content
Eliza's locker contains her jacket which bears numerous burn marks as well as an empty tube without any label.
#14
Shattered binding
The metal binding used to connect the four bombs together was found in pieces. It is unknown what caused this or what device was used.
#15
Location of the bomb
The bomb was planted right underneath Hijiri's table during breakfast. Whoever committed the crime might have been targetting her specifically.
Class Trial Begins!
"There's a lot to talk about this time," Hokuto began. "Where do we start?"
"I thought you said you were ready as ever?" Kai chided.
"I said WE were as ready as ever," Hokuto corrected. "As a group, that is. After what happened last time, perhaps I would do better if I follow instead of lead."
"How about the one thing that has been bothering us the most?" said Amelda.
"You are talking about Hijiri?" Yume asked. "She doesn't seem to be in the right state of mind."
"Don't we all?" asked Hijiri dreamily, her face showing a complete lack of any emotion.
"She's crazy," Inu exclaimed fearfully.
"Ugh, I fear no man, but this devil lady is freaking me out," El Viento grunted. "There is something about her that unsettles me."
"Makes my skin wanna crawl," Yume agreed.
"Great, as if being stuck here with a bunch of to-be-murderers and to-be-murdered isn't bad enough," said Rin sardonically. "Now this. Why not just fucking confess already and spare us the trouble of beating the information out of you."
"I have nothing to confess," Hijiri replied evenly.
"That remains to be seen," Amelda spoke. "Let's get back to the fact instead of dwelling on conjecture."
Amelda used Truth Bullet #15: Location of the bomb.
"Tell us, Hijiri-chan," Minako urged. "Is this the reason you don't trust us? That you almost became the victim?"
"Wow, wow, wow, hold it there," Hokuto chimed in. "How do we ascertain that? I don't even remember where I sat this morning before the bomb went off."
"I can attest to that," said Kai.
"Can we trust Kai's words then?" asked El Viento. "I mean, this is important information here. I don't want to take on wild guesses or the claim that some of us here have a better memory than others."
"Why not ask her ourselves?" Amelda responded. "I saw you sat at the same spot away from the rest of us every meal. Is that where the bomb was placed?"
Hijiri sighed. "Yes. So what?"
"I don't like this kind of attitude," said Kai.
"And I don't like the entire person," Rin added. "Whichever the case, we have established where the bomb was. That doesn't mean Hijiri was the one it was meant for, though."
Non-stop Debate.
"Wait, so the killer wasn't after her?" Minako frowned.
"Then why is she acting so strange?" Inu inquired.
"Perhaps that's her true person," said Rin bitterly. "Never forget she did almost become the first murderer."
"And you don't need to remind us about it so many times," Amelda said, frustrated.
"Back to the discussion," said Kai. "Could the killer have put the bomb there at random?"
"Sounds like a plausible plot," Hokuto agreed. "A kill is a kill, after all."
"Doesn't matter who falls victim, the villain will have achieved their objective," El Viento snorted. "How despicable. I guess it was a closer brush with death for me than I had thought."
"Don't worry," said Kai assuringly. "Given your muscle mass, that bomb wouldn't have killed you even if it had exploded right on top of you."
"Sounds a bit too convenient that the bomb is right under the table where Hijiri is certain to be and the killer didn't even mean it," said Amelda skeptically.
"I know fool's gold when I see one."
Hokuto used Truth Bullet #8: Force of the explosion.
"I don't consider myself an expert when it comes to military equipment, but from what I can gather from Amelda and Hijiri's research, it seems unlikely the killer would have placed the explosive there without any purpose," explained Hokuto. "After wasting so much time and effort, would you allow chances to dictate whether you succeed or not?"
"I see where you are coming from," said Amelda. "Eliza was slain because she happened to be right on top of the explosion. And as for Tatsuya, well, it was bad luck that he was impaled. As for the rest of us, we not only survived but are uninjured by the blast."
"I am still in disbelief that Hokuto started the trial with something intelligent this time," Hijiri sneered.
"Me too," Monokuma chimed in.
"Shut the hell up," Hokuto snapped angrily. "As for you, Hijiri, you won't replace Eliza as my counterbalance so easily."
"I knew it," Minako spoke softly. "You two were in secretly love with one another. And, just like me, now you are all alone."
"I can sense a curse in this place," said Yume. "If you love someone, they die."
"Eeeeek!" Inu shrieked. Please don't love me, guys. I would rather live a virgin."
"Tatsuya and Eliza," Amelda noted. "Perhaps the deaths of the ones closest to him has finally pushed Hokuto to act more mature."
"Hey, hey, HEY!" Hokuto hollered. "I never said that old prune was my lover or anything. So stop spreading baseless rumors. That said, I do miss her trying to outsmart me even when I was just breathing some air. With her gone, there is a feeling of emptiness, one that I won't see being covered any time soon."
"The romantic stuff aside, Hokuto makes a valid point about the killer's choice of where they put the bomb," said El Viento.
"Given the size of the room, it is quite likely indeed that a random explosion like that could have resulted in no casualty at all," Rin nodded. "Not something the killer would have wanted. So we're back to the Hijiri being the target?"
"Wait," said Minako. "If Hijiri-chan is the target, then why is she still here and two others are dead?"
"I believe I have the answer for that," said Amelda.
Brainstorm.
How did Hijiri end up surviving?
A. The bomb was a dud.
B. Hijiri moved from her spot before the explosion.
C. Hijiri chose to sit at a different table this morning.
D. Hijiri did die and became a zombie.
"Not even the great Shlomoh could have put it better."
"So it seems the killer didn't expect we would scramble from our seats by the time Hokuto opened the present," Kai noted.
"It had seemed like the right thing to do," Amelda conceded. "We all thought the present box was where danger was coming from. It turned out to be a decoy."
"Given the blast radius and the fact Hijiri didn't like sharing her table with anyone else, she might have been the only casualty had we remained where we were," said Hokuto.
"Hah, so it was a bad idea after all for us to take cover," said El Viento. "If we had let Eliza open the box in the first place, we would be holding this trial with one more person and one less dickhead."
"Well, thank you for thinking my life is not worth it," said Hijiri. "I tend to think so too myself."
"Definitely possessed," Yume noted.
"I swear to God, if her head starts rotating, I'm gonna start clobbering," El Viento hollered.
"You have my sanction for that one," Monokuma sneered.
"Since neither the killer nor Hijiri is willing to talk about why she is being targetted, let's leave that for now," Amelda suggested. "Though, to be fair, that topic is still too jumbled at the moment to understand clearly."
"What should be our next line of discussion then?" based Inu.
"How the culprit ended up with a bomb in their possession," Hokuto stated.
Non-stop Debate.
"It's difficult to think a bomb just appears out of nowhere," said Rin.
"Given what Monokuma has been showing us, we should expect the unthinkable," El Viento noted.
"Are there weapons in the storage room?" asked Inu. "You guys did arm yourselves before descending into that dungeon the other day, right?"
"Akihiko, Hokuto, and I managed to profile the items in there," Amelda pointed out. "If there were any explosives in there, we would have noticed."
"Akihiko?" asked Kai.
"We both liked it when things are neatly arranged, and the stuff in the storage room could come in handy," said Amelda. "After his death, I haven't been able to keep up with the stocks. But I am certain we didn't find anything that could have blown up in there unless Monokuma added in at some point."
"So many useful talents lost forever," Hokuto lamented.
"Maybe the explosives are disguised as something innocent," Minako suggested. "Much like the trigger."
"Ughhhh," El Viento grunted. "Knowing Monokuma, I can already see he would have mechanisms that would kill or maim us scattered throughout the castle. Those zombies in the dungeon, for example."
"Or perhaps the killer crafted the weapon on their own," Inu noted. "The lab might not contain the required chemicals, but we should not discount the botanical garden. Monokuma did mutate some of the plants for weaponizing purposes."
"An explosive fruit?" asked Minako.
"Your argument is as elegant as a swan."
Kai used Truth Bullet #11: Booby trap in the gym.
"I believe the phrase is directed at El Viento's proposition rather than her overall build," said Hokuto.
"Remember Monokuma said male trespassers into the lady's changing room would be punished by death?" Kai reminded. "He wasn't kidding. We found a compartment under the front of the door where explosives might have been placed."
"That is until the killer removed them," Yume continued.
"What type of explosives was used, then?" asked Rin.
"I believe Amelda knows that," said Hijiri.
"Finally, something useful out of her," El Viento exclaimed. "Is it too hard for you to be like this for the rest of the trial?"
"I don't think so," Hijiri refuted. "However, I am not willing to allow my efforts to go to waste."
"I see," Amelda noted.
Amelda used Truth Bullet #7: Murder weapon.
(Amelda took out the guidebook on weapons and equipment of the Novoselic military force and turned to the marked page where information regarding the explosives that were used. He showed this to the entire class. Rin also placed the remnants of the disarmed bombs forward for the others to see.)
"The weapon that was used matches the description of the JE-7, a locally mass-produced land mine," said Amelda.
"Mass production of weapons?" asked Hokuto. "Why would a small country like Novoselic do something like that?"
"The kingdom appears highly militarized despite being so secluded and unknown," said Rin. "I have gone through some of their books, the ones written in English, about their past military campaigns, how they played along with the Nazis, the Soviet, Yugoslavia, and then the fallout of its break-up. Its relationship with the current government of Bosnia and Herzegovina is tenuous at best. The kingdom's leaders are a reclusive bunch and they understand the need to deter military intervention."
"And Monokuma is part of this evil empire," Minako shouted.
"I guess you can say that," Monokuma replied.
"See? He admits it," said Minako quickly. "He's the one behind it."
"Him, the culprit?" asked Hokuto. "Are we on the right track here?"
"Now that I think about it, it makes sense that only he would be using those explosives against us," said Kai.
"And that letter too, don't forget," El Viento added.
"Why would he do something like that?" asked Inu.
"The same reason he puts us up into this killing game in the first place," El Viento bellowed in accusation. "To slowly torture and kill us."
"Doesn't he wish us to do the work for him instead?" Amelda questioned suspiciously. "Isn't that the whole point of the Mutual Killing Game? Up to this point, hasn't he been giving us motivations so that he wouldn't have his paws dirty?"
"He did give an extremely poor excuse for a motivation, though," Yume indicated.
"Yeah, that one makes no sense," Minako claimed. "Except if Monokuma is the hunter is time around."
"He wouldn't have to execute himself," Yume concluded.
"As much as it sounds plausible, perhaps we should be wary of this," said Rin. "It is too good to be true."
"It seems we are split when it comes to determining could the Overlord himself be the culprit," Amelda remarked.
"Well, I will have none of it," Monokuma shot back with indignation. "How dare one of my zealous subjects to make such a wild accusation against your holy Overlord?"
"So you didn't do it, then?" asked Hokuto.
"Believe not what he says," Minako warned. "He might look like a bear but he is more sly than a fox."
"Monokitsune?" Inu yelped. "Eeek! That sounds too scary."
"You won't put the blame on me so easily," Monokuma barked. "I will fight to defend my honor as the rightful ruler of Tartarus Keep and fair host of the 23rd Mutual Killing Game."
"Wait, so he is joining the argument, as in, directly?" asked Inu in disbelief. "Isn't he, like, the judge?"
"We are pinning him to the crime, after all," Amelda responded. "It is in his right to fight for himself."
"Looks like we got a show on the row here," Kai commented. "Hijiri, which side are you on?"
"It matters not to me," Hijiri replied apathetically.
"Then we'll just going to start this without you," El Viento shouted in annoyance.
"For the sake of having an orderly discussion, let's take turns presenting our opinions," Amelda reminded.
A House Divided.
Could Monokuma have placed the bomb that killed Eliza and Tatsuya?
Yes: Minako, Kai, Yume, El Viento.
No: Amelda, Rin, Hokuto, Monokuma, Inu.
"Monokuma is our enemy. We should not be defending him," Minako stated.
"It's not defending him, it's protecting ourselves from a blunder that could get all of us killed," Amelda corrected.
Counter!
"Monokuma is the one who had the bombs in the first place," Kai argued.
"Having and using are two different things," Hokuto pointed out.
Counter!
"What prevents him from using them?" asked Minako.
"Perverted men trying to peek on on naked ladies, duh," Monokuma answered.
Counter!
"Shouldn't he be the only person who knows the bomb is there?" Yume questioned.
"He did tell us the floor beneath the lady's locker room in the gym would blow up upon the approach of an unauthorized person," Amelda explained.
Counter!
"What about the letter written and signed by Monokuma himself?" El Viento continued.
"That letter is probably forged," said Rin.
Counter!
"How do you know for sure?" Kai insisted.
"Because if I want you bastards to do something, I would have just told you myself," Monokuma shouted.
Counter!
"How can we even trust anything this bear is saying?" El Viento snapped.
"He is running a show here for an audience, not to mention his title as the Overlord. That means he has a reputation to uphold," Rin stated.
Counter!
"The motivation is absolutely ridiculous. There's no way anyone could have fallen for that," Yume remarked.
"It's definitely more than just the motivation given by Monokuma," Amelda said.
Counter!
A House Divided No More!
Conclusion: No, Monokuma cannot be the killer in this case!
Hokuto, Amelda, Rin, and Inu spoke in unison: "This is our answer!"
Monokuma cried out triumphantly: "Bow down to your Overlord!"
"Not that I enjoy siding with Monokuma, but him carrying this out by himself is like the British Empire conquering the entirety of India in the same way the Mughals did," Amelda tried to calm the others.
"I can see the logic," El Viento conceded.
"So, it really was one of us?" Yume breathed.
"We do now know, however, that the letter is forged," said Kai. "It is unusual that Monokuma hands us critical evidence on a silver platter."
"Let's see if you can exploit it," Monokuma sneered.
"We shall go over that later," Amelda advised. "Right now, we should continue with the current line of discussion, which is on the murder weapon."
"When we previously mentioned the force of the explosion, we already established it had a small radius and, despite the blast being enough to disintegrate anything within a meter, did little damage outside that," Hokuto went on. "Yet, the description seems to show a much larger blast. Why so?"
"That doesn't look like C4," Inu pointed out. "It's not RDX that was used in as the component, but TNT which is weaker."
"It still says the blast is enough to turn over a tank, though," said Kai.
"A smaller blast is just what the killer wants to murder someone without accidentally killing themselves," El Viento stated.
"Or more likely, without killing three or more people which would have resulted in instant disqualification," said Amelda.
"I think I get it now," said Rin.
Brainstorm.
How did the bomb didn't go off as violent as in the description?
A. Some components had been removed.
B. The table suppressed the blast.
C. The encyclopedia's description was exaggerated
D. The bomb loses potent during handling.
"One step closer to justice."
"The description shows the entire unit which consists of four tubes," Rin noted. "Since we found three of them in the warehouse disarmed, we can assume the last one was used in the murder."
"The killer was able to disarm the bomb?" asked Kai, cringing.
"Apparently so," Amelda spoke. "Had they not, the explosion might have ripped the whole room apart."
"That might have been the end of all of us if I am not mistaken," said Hokuto grimly.
"Not something legally possible, I can assure you," said Amelda, "killing the entire group in one go. Monokuma would have certainly intervened."
"You betcha," Monokuma confirmed.
"I might be dancing without rhythm here, but I believe I have come up with a theory that might explain the whole thing," Kai claimed.
"You've solved the murder?" asked Minako hopefully.
"We are all ears, then," said Amelda.
Theorycrafting.
This is just a wild guess, but I believe I have seen Hokuto having a metal cutting saw in his room. I am both impressed and bewildered by the amount of work he has put into finding an escape path, as well as the number of tools he had in his possession.
Hokuto has wanted a means to tear down the walls of this place, no matter how much we object to his ambition. It is, therefore, understandable that he used whatever he had at his disposal, namely the electric saw, to slice through the plate underneath the mat in front of the female changing room. That was how he managed to obtain the bomb. Being the Ultimate Miner, I have no doubt he has much knowledge and experience in handling explosives.
Hokuto might have had good intentions, but he ultimately loses hope after his venture into the dungeon didn't go so well and the place was sealed off. Desperate, Hokuto sought another means of escaping and gave in to the temptation of playing the Mutual Killing Game.
Hokuto knows Hijiri wasn't well-liked around here, so he disarmed three of the bombs and placed the last right under the table where she always sits during breakfast. Hokuto volunteered to open the present, but this was a ruse. He knew the bomb wasn't in the gift box and there was no danger of him being the closest to it.
Unfortunately, the plan backfired and it was his closest friends who perished in the end. Hokuto Yamakazi the Ultimate Miner, what do you have to say about that?
"It is my duty to defend the innocents," Rin exclaimed.
Rin used Truth Bullet # 1: Booby trap.
"Not a bad deduction," said Rin. "However, there are glaring issues with this accusation. One of which is the fact it would not have been a booby trap if Hokuto set it up and then detonated it himself. Much less believable is the fact his target was no longer on top of the bomb and he still decided to go forward with it."
"Double-tap from the Blue Devil," El Viento cheered.
"With pleasure," Rin smirked.
"There is also the fact Hokuto triggering his own trap would only direct the suspicion onto himself," added Inu.
"To be honest, I did find myself questioning my whole existence after that whole thing in the dungeon which got Fitzgerald seriously wounded," said Hokuto. "However, you guys were there for me and made me realize just how awesome as a group we are. That is why I would never have tried to harm you just to escape alone. I might not be able to save you all seeing how far we've gone and how deep we are sitting at, but I will try my best to save as many as I can."
"I believe in you, Hokuto," said Yume.
"Me too," said Minako.
"There are other flaws in Kai's theory that are hard to ignore," said Amelda. "I think it might actually limit the number of suspects we can have at the moment."
"And what could that be?" asked Inu.
"It wouldn't make sense for me to have been the one who removed the bomb from Monokuma's contraption," Hokuto stated.
Logic dive.
What couldn't the saw be used?
1. Why couldn't an electric saw be used?
Too noisy
Sheared metal
No plug around
2. Why couldn't Hokuto be able to handle the explosives as easily as Kai said?
He liked digging instead
Personal trauma
Mining explosives are different
3. Why couldn't Hokuto be where he was needed to obtain the bomb?
Monokuma's booby trap
Social taboo
He has an alibi when the bomb was stolen
"Everyone complains about a lack of money, but none complain about a lack of brains. Thankfully, I have both."
"In short, it is not feasible for Hokuto to be the one who took the bomb," said Amelda.
"So he's confirmed clean?" asked Inu.
"Not yet," Rin explained. "As he had said it himself, having the bomb and using the bomb are two different things. He might not have been able to obtain the explosives from Monokuma's booby trap, but that doesn't mean he didn't do so from whoever did remove the bombs."
"And that person, according to the rules set out by the bear, can only be female," El Viento pointed out.
"That should make things a bit easier," Inu mused.
"We still need to learn what exactly was used to open the panel, though," Kai advised.
Kai used Truth Bullet #12: Killer's tool.
Non-stop Debate.
"Maybe we are not looking at this from the right angle," said Rin. "What if the panel was loose from the start and the killer did something to make it as though it had been opened by heavy tools?"
"Not likely," said Amelda. "If the explosives could be removed so easily, then what is the point of laying out the trap to prevent lecherous men from entering the female locker room?"
"Could they have used their own hands to pry the panel open?" asked El Viento.
"If that is the case, doesn't that make you the prime suspect?" asked Rin suspiciously.
"Oh, right," said El Viento shyly. "Hmmm. Well, even if this puts me in that position, I still think it needs to be said. I didn't do it, though, so I have nothing to fear."
"Not even you could have done so without causing major contortions to the panel," said Hokuto. "From what I can tell back there, whatever was used kept it in its original shape, mostly."
"What if the culprit used magic?" Yume suggested.
"Magic?" asked Inu, panicking. "The killer was a wizard? I... I don't like the sound of that."
"You know what? I'm not going to discount that possibility at first glance," said Amelda firmly. "What if something we believe only exists in science fiction was indeed used? This whole place is full of them."
"What do you suggested, some sort of death ray?" Hokuto asked, confused.
"A lightsaber should do the trick nicely," Kai stated.
"Maybe it was alchemy," Minako added.
"Or maybe we should think of something more grounded," Rin chimed in.
"Your claim has been solidified."
Inu used Truth Bullet #9: Missing chemical vials.
"When we were looking at the lab, Amelda told me some chemical containers were missing," said Inu. "These are some bizarre finished products, it seemed."
"You have a full inventory of the chemist lab as well?" asked Rin, looking impressed.
"Hokuto and Inu were a big help," said Amelda modestly. "Weird names aside, I thought we might have use for them at some point."
"Well, apparently the killer found it alright," El Viento remarked.
"Not just the killer," said Yume. "Four vials are missing, according to the Truth Bullet. I am not sure if these are all related."
"I see," Hokuto nodded. "Our of the four, there is only one that could have been used to open the panel."
Brainstorm.
Which chemical was used to cut open the panel?
A. Bane's Venom.
B. Xenomorph blood.
C. Memory-wipe syrup.
D. Liquid ice.
"I see the light at the end of the tunnel."
"It was alien blood!" Hokuto exclaimed.
"A-alien?" Inu blurted frightfully. "I-I thought we were talking about magic. This is even worst than I thought."
"Come to think about it, could Monokuma be an alien and we are being experimented on?" asked Kai. "Are we even on a UFO?"
"Absolutely not," said Monokuma.
"Oh, okay," Kai noted.
"In the first movie, a small amount of blood from the Xenomorph could melt through several floors of a spaceship in a minute," said Amelda. "It contains a very powerful acid."
"The strongest acid ever created is fluoroantimonic acid," said Inu. "If it was indeed used, I believe it could have eaten through the panel for sure. That acid could melt even glass. However, the fact so little was actually left at the sides to the point where we initially believed it was sheared off makes me think whatever this alien blood is, it also has the ability to disintegrate rather than just corrode."
"Sounds like Xenomorph's blood alright," El Viento approved. "But that begs the question: how the hell did Monokuma manage to create that stuff? Did Ridley Scott leave a formula in the script or something?"
"I have my own recipe for that one," said Monokuma gleefully. "But it's a trade secret. I can't let you know or else profit will plummet."
"Let's just play along with that," said Amelda. "I have been on a copyright case before and, believe me, it was confusing as hell."
"So he made it to appear like the blood of a Xenomorph instead of extracting from an alien itself," said Kai. "Am I getting that right?"
"I don't think Xenomorphs even exist on Earth so their blood could be harvested," said Hokuto. "Except those awful crossovers with Predators."
"I don't think I've seen any of the movies you guys are talking about," said Yume. "But if you are certain about this particular alchemical substance, then it does seem the likeliest answer to the question we have been asking."
"Speaking of truth bullet number 9, if four chemical vials are missing, who among us has each of them?" asked Amelda.
"Now is the time to confess," Rin urged.
(Despite Rin's fervor, nobody decided to come forward.)
"I believe Yume has one of them," said Kai. "I tried one of the cakes he left in the kitchen this morning and it was really cold on the inside. Soooooo delicious, though. That said, now that I think about it, I don't think the ingredient was natural."
"You are welcomed," Yume sighed. "It's a shame this happened instead of us eating them together."
"We'll do that after the trial," Hokuto promised. "If we still have the stomach for it. Damn it, now I REALLY miss Eliza."
"I believe I know which chemical vial Yume has at this point," said Minako.
Brainstorm.
Which chemical did Yume have?
A. Bane's Venom.
B. Xenomorph blood.
C. Memory-wipe syrup.
D. Liquid ice.
"The light of Mother Earth guides me."
"Is that what you used in your cakes, Yume?" asked Amelda.
Yume nodded. "Yeah. It works really well in storing the flavor at the center."
"So Yume has Liquid Ice, who has the others?" asked Kai.
"If I were to take an educated guess, I would say only one person here could even think of using Bane's Venom," said Amelda.
Brainstorm.
Based on FTEs so far, who is most likely to possess Bane's Venom?
A. Minako.
B. Rin.
C. El Viento.
D. Hokuto.
"This will balance all accounts."
"Fair game," El Viento admitted, chuckling raucously. "Yeah, I took that one."
"Sorry, El Viento," said Amelda.
"You're just going to confess?" asked Hokuto. "Amelda hasn't even presented evidence."
"I am not a good liar," said El Viento bluntly. "If I could remain silent about it, I would. But never will I shirk from a charge. And just because I took that item doesn't mean I have committed any crime with it."
"This is getting quite dramatic," Hijiri remarked. "Perhaps I should try to have some enjoyment in it while it lasts. I know who has the Memory-wipe syrup. I know for a fact this person has been leaving greenish fingerprints over a book on human physiopsychology."
Brainstorm.
Who has Memory-wipe syrup?
A. Minako.
B. Rin.
C. El Viento.
D. Hokuto.
"An elegant display of wit."
"Why didn't you tell me about it before when we were in the library?" asked Amelda.
"I didn't think it was related to the bombing," said Hijiri. "Come on, do you really expect me to show you every book someone has read and made a mess on it?"
"Is she telling the truth?" El Viento demanded. "Can we trust this possessed senorita?"
"What do you have to say for yourself, Minako?" asked Rin, staring at the Ultimate Herbalist.
"Alright, I did take it," Minako conceded, blushing. "Please, I didn't mean to harm anybody. Promise."
"Silly girl," said Hijiri, sneering. "What on earth do you hope to achieve with that? Do you really want to remember so badly?"
"Hey, leave her alone," Kai admonished.
"And what about you, Hijiri?" asked Amelda contemptuously. "How does it feel to remember who you are?"
Non-stop Debate.
"I have no idea what you are talking about," said Hijiri.
"Wait, does that mean Hijiri remembers what happened between us entering Hope's Peak Academy and awakening here?" asked Rin.
"Is that true, Hijiri-chan?" asked Minako.
"Must I always entertain you with an answer?" Hijiri responded irritably.
"Sheesh, I don't know if she is trying to help or sabotage us anymore," Hokuto complained.
"She did contribute evidence just then," Kai pointed out.
"For all we know, that could be useless," said Hokuto.
"How did she regain her memory, though?" asked Rin. "Does she have super-memory or something?
"Maybe it's the possession," El Viento stated. "The memory wipe didn't affect the daemonic spirit inside her body."
"I thought she was possessed by an earth-bound spirit," said Hokuto.
"Could she have seen something dramatic in her life that triggers her memory?" asked Minako. "When I did my research, I find it a leading cause of people regaining their memory."
"Nothing tasted better than a well-baked argument."
Yume used Truth Bullet #10 Tampered DVD.
"What video are you talking about?" asked Hijiri insouciantly.
"That one in the archive," said Yume. "You know, the one showing your, uhm, hidden past I would say."
"How did you find it in the first place?" asked Rin. "The truth bullet doesn't say."
"It's the only item not covered in dust," said Kai. "I had a feeling it was super-suspicious. I was right."
"Wait, do we know for sure that Hijiri was the one who watched it?" asked Hokuto.
"Positively," Amelda replied. "Only she is enough to come up with it."
"I think I get where this is going," Kai noted.
Breadcrumb of Justice
Known characteristics of Hijiri Kaneshiro the Ultimate Geisha:
1: Cleanliness.
2: Disheartened.
3: Intricate.
Known actions undertaken by the watcher of the tape:
A: Dust off the DVD casing and equipment.
B: Put back every device to its original location.
C: Bear witness to the horror of the tape's content.
Matchings:
1 - A
2 - C
3 - B
"I have cracked the nut of this case."
"Please don't remind me about that video," Yume deplored. "Just thinking about it makes me feel nauseous."
"Me too," said Amelda. "I can only imagine what it feels like to watch that horrendous thing alone and see that yourself are in it."
"Monokuma has a video on Hijiri?" asked Inu. "Is that how she was able to regain her memory?"
"What do you have to say about that, Hijiri?" asked Rin.
"Why must I entertain you with an answer every time you bark a question at me?" Hijiri replied.
"Back to bitch-mode, isn't she?" said Hokuto gruffly.
"It will avail her not, I assure you," Rin snapped. "It is coming together now.
Rin used Truth Bullet #1: Booby trap.
"That one again?" asked Kai. "I thought we already discussed it?"
"There is one element that we didn't touch on," said Rin. "The letter that was supposedly written by Monokuma."
"I see," said Hokuto. "That wasn't normal Japanese on it, but a highly stylized version of the text."
"Which was why we were confused that it was made by Monokuma in the first place," said Yume.
"Given our talents, only one person here could have written this," said Rin. "No doubt the same person who set up the bomb in the first place."
Choose the Culprit.
Amelda Douglas Mason
Yume
Kazuki Ishikawa
Fitzgerald Scott
Tatsuya Toshishai
Akihiko Kazuhiko
Inu Kagyuu
Hokuto Yamazaki
Rin Yamamoto
Hijiri Kaneshiro
Inori Hayashi
El Viento
Akai 'Kai' Omakase
Ashley Wiltarrow
Elizabeth "Eliza" Piket
Minako Yuza
"No criminal shall escape my light."
"So that demoness is behind it the whole time?" El Viento bellowed.
"Certainly possessed by an evil spirit," Yume muttered. "No reason for her to do so."
"I was unsure about this at the beginning," said Rin bitterly. "However, now that it is confirmed that Hijiri's habits are die-hard, it makes sense that she wrote the letter with her own handwriting."
"And if she is responsible for a portion of that trap, it is reasonable to assume she also masterminds the whole thing," said Hokuto.
"Wait, haven't we already established Hijiri was the one being targetted?" asked Inu. "How is she the bomber also?"
"Could she be committing suicide?" asked Kai.
"If that was the case, why didn't she stop the Hokuto from triggering the bomb when she is no longer on top of it?" asked Amelda. "No, I believe she did have murderous intent back then. Only it's not as we thought."
"I think there could be only one explanation," said El Viento.
Hangman Gambit.
Who did Hijiri try to kill?
_._._ _._ _._
A
A._._ _._ _._
O
A._._ O._ _._
S
A._._ O._ _.S
L
A.L.L O._ _.S
F
A.L.L O.F _.S
U
A.L.L O.F U.S
"Might makes right."
"All of us?" Inu gasped. "W-what does that even mean? W-why would she want to kill me as well? What did I ever do to her?"
"Wait, isn't that illegal?" asked Kai. "I thought two was the maximum number of people that could be murdered in one go."
"Does that fact seem like it matters to someone looking like Hijiri right now?" asked Amelda.
"Why would she want to kill us all?" asked Yume.
"That video," said El Viento. "She watched it and it messed her up good. She's as good as possessed right now."
"Hijiri-chan, please say something," Minako begged, tears flowing from her eyes.
"Ahahahahaha," Hijiri simply laughed in turn. "So you found it after all. Not bad. Not bad."
"She's lost it for real now," Hokuto said, aghast.
The revelation hit like a truck. As we all looked upon with horror, Hijiri Kaneshiro continued her maniacal laugh while showering us with mockeries and obscenities.
"How blinded you all are," Hijiri spat, all semblance of sanity gone from her. "What a joke this is. Instead of finishing off each of us one at a time, I gave you a chance to end your suffering, and you buffoons ruined it. We should have all died back there, me and you. None of us should live."
"I have had enough of this," Rin declared.
As fast as a blue falcon, the Ultimate Policer launched herself at the Ultimate Geisha and seized her by the neck. The rest of us were rooted at our stand with looks of terror and bewilderment. We had always known that Hijiri was not above killing others to achieve her goal - something that I found out to my detriment - but this was on a whole other level of depravity. In front of us no longer stood the elegant entertainer but someone akin to a mental hospital escapee.
Instead of pain or anger, Hijiri responded by laughing at her assailant, "Pathetic. This changes nothing!"
"But it will make me feel good," Rin shouted back, bashing Hijiri's face against the bar of her stand. There was a sickening crump. Followed by another. And another. Each blow felt like a needle penetrating my heart.
At some point in this senseless violence, Minako couldn't bear it anymore and rushed to Rin stop her. Lost in her bloodlust, Rin turned and punched Minako in the face, causing her to reel back in pain. Hokuto caught Minako as she fell.
"Stop this at once!" I could not believe I spoke these words, let alone jumping at Rin and pulling her away from Hijiri. If this continued, the Blue Devil might actually commit murder in court.
Throughout my life, I had been avoiding direct physical confrontation despite possessing the means to turn them in my favor. It wasn't because I was afraid of anything, but my faith in the judicial system and the fairness of God (including in the afterlife) was strong enough that I found violence the needless solution to everything.
When Hijiri threatened my life, it wasn't my urge to fight that was triggered, but some dark presence hidden within me.
When Fitzgerald ambushed me in the library, I thought I should be better prepared for anything.
But it was during the raid into the dungeon that I came to the conclusion that great causes sometimes required a bit of brawl.
Such as right now.
As I pried Rin from Hijiri, the former lashed out at me like a rabid dog. Avoiding her flurry of fists, I grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her sideways. Rin let go of Hijiri who dropped to the floor, still conscious but no longer laughing. So much blood dripped from her nose.
"Why do you still defend this animal?" Rin bawled. "This is the second time she has tried to kill you."
"This is a courtroom, not a place where you can lynch someone as you please," I persisted. "Please, we need to finish with this trial. All of our lives are at stake here."
"Screw that," Rin shouted.
With that, she lunged at me, fully intent on ripping me apart for my defiance. This case had already taken a toll on me as it was without having to resort to this. Faced with the possibility of Rin jeopardizing everyone else's survival for a trivial act of vengeance - a delivery of misguided justice, I had no choice but to fight back.
A courtroom should never become the scene of a brawl, but Monokuma didn't seem to mind. Instead, he sat back, grabbed some popcorn, and enjoyed the show.
Author's Notes: HURRAH! I have done it at last. I have finished the first part of the trial. Damn, it took a long time. Sorry for the long wait.
I would like to give my sincerest thank to all the readers who have stuck around this far, as well as newcomers. Your kind words are my inspiration. You guys rock, so give yourself a pat to the back.
As always, I enjoy taking the normal Danganronpa formula and spice it up a bit to make each trial unique. In the third trial, a new minigame is introduced and even Monokuma is having fun by taking part in the Scrum Debate (called A House Divided here). This trial sees a significant drop in the number of participants due to the double-murder as well as Fitzgerald being out of action. Without the Ultimate Private Detective who always claims he has most of the clues but does not want to take too much credit for himself, it's going to be an uphill battle.
Even worst is that both Hijiri and Rin have finally cracked.