Chapter 1: Deadly Life (1-1)
Disclaimer - I do not own Danganronpa or any of the characters you may see in this story. All rights is reserved for Team Danganronpa and basically anyone else involved with the making of this wonderful, hopeful, and despairing series. All characters you see here are based on me and my friends, only Japanified for Danganronpa tradition sakes.
Warning: This story may contain cursing with some * censors, character deaths, despair, no hope, absolutely disturbing sexual innuendos and dark backstories. Side effects may include tears, sadness, depression, and of course despair. Puhuhuhu. Don't say I didn't warn ya!
BIG GIANT WARNING: BE CAREFUL! THERE ARE SPOILERS AND SUBTLE HINTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE OTHER GAMES! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
...
...
...
...
"Yamashita..." Awaka was shocked to see Yamashita Sachiko, the Ultimate Prostitute, laying on her bed, dead as a doorknob. Her skin cold as ice, and whatever life (even if corruptive in nature) she had gone.
"N-No, c-come on," Ryu was as shocked as everyone in the room. "You've got to be pulling our leg! Tell us it's joke! Tell us you're playing! This isn't funny anymore!"
"As much as you cry or whine about it now," Hatsuharu crossed his arms, a distinct frown on his face. "Sachiko is dead. And there is no doubt now, that she was most definitely murdered."
Then with a pause and a stone cold look at his fellow students, Hatsuharu finished his sentence which would soon ring into everyone's ears. The very phrase that would soon cause them all to envelope in fear of what this could mean.
"By one of us no less," Hatsuharu said.
And the chills on everyone's spine ran cold. Friend to friend, student to student, classmate to classmate, everyone stepped away from one another. Anyone of them could be a murderer, and now it all came down to whodunnit.
Immediately, the screen in Yamashita's room began to crackle before showing Monokuma, with his trusty brand of whatever he had in that wine glass he held. Then with a chuckle and that innocent sounding voice, Monokuma began to announce.
...
Ding dong bing bong
...
"A body has been discovered," Monokuma announced. "Soon after a certain amount of time, in which you may use however you would like, the Class Trial will begin! So get prepared to investigate to your hearts intent! Oh and also, I have provided some useful information in your iHandbooks. So get looking into that if you please! Monokuma out! Puhuhu!"
That chilling voice made the students nervous. Now dropped to fifteen, the students looked at one another, unsure on what to say. They had to investigate the death of one of their (although very uncomfortable) friends. Maybe classmate was a better word for Sachiko but no matter, Hatsuharu was the man to voice everyone back into reason.
"Well now," Hatsuharu crossed his arms. "Let's stop mucking around and get to investigating. We are on a time limit here ladies and gentlemen. We need to produce as much clues as we can or else everyone but the murderer gets executed. Chop chop."
And so they did...
INVESTIGATION
Immediately, a majority of the students began to investigate Yamashita Sachiko's room, where her body continued to lay on her bed. Her blanket was placed on her body since her body was naked.
The boys had stepped back to give her some respect when it came to her bare body. But let's be honest, if she was still alive, she would've enjoyed having the boys stare at her bare body like that.
Currently, the students who were in Sachiko's room were:
Anzai Akira, Hamano Hatsuharu, Hatari Todou, Konno Michiyo, Murakami Nanaho, Nakashima Yusuke, Ogawa Makoto, and Ryu Sugoui.
All of them were ready to help investigate the crime scene so let's keep a chart here shall we?
(Sachiko's Bedroom) - Akira, Hatsuharu, Hatari, Michiyo, Nanaho, Ogawa, Ryu, Yusuke
"So how should we start?" Ogawa asked, crossing his arms keeping his fedora tipped over his eyes. "And why the hell did she sleep naked?"
"Hey!" Nanaho glared at Ogawa. "Show some respect for the dead! Or should I teach you a little something about discipline?!"
"Hard to show respect for a dead someone when that someone didn't show much respect of keeping us clean and pure," Yusuke pointed out as he crossed his arms. "But in any case, show that discipline for the real killer, got it Nanaho?"
Nanaho glared at Ogawa then at Yusuke then crossed her arms and huffed. She went back to the body where the others were still trying to piece together what could have possibly happened. In any case, Akira was the first to speak up as she looked at her iHandbook.
"So apparently time of death was apparently last night around 12:30," Akira said. "Her head suffered a major blunt force injury, but most peculiar, the cause of death wasn't blunt force trauma, but a stab wound on the back. Death was instantaneous."
"Stab wound on the back?" Hatsuharu asked, raising an eyebrow before stepping back from the body. "Well then, if you don't mind ladies, would you care to flip her over?"
"Be careful though," Yusuke noted. "She's lighter than she looks."
Akira, Hatari, Michiyo, and Nanaho gave a nod at Hatsuharu and Yusuke, as they approached Sachiko's cold body. Hatsuharu, Ogawa, Ryu, and Yusuke stepped back and watched the girl each grab a side of the body.
"Please forgive us Sachiko," Hatari told Sachiko.
"Honestly girl, I don't think Sachiko will mind one bit," Michiyo remarked as the four girls flipped Sachiko over. Now her back was revealed and quickly, Nanaho covered up Sachiko's bums so the boys don't get any funny ideas.
And sure enough, on Sachiko's back was a stab wound, now dried and plain as day.
"There's the wound," Ryu muttered, looking a bit saddened. "Man. It must've come from a sharp knife too. Small. But still, small knives can do almost a lot of damage. I mean, Olivia often cut herself accidentally with small knives, so I'm kind of aware the damage they-"
"Ryu, now's not the time to be talking about your imaginary friend," Nanaho looked at Ryu with an annoyed look on her face. She crossed her arms and pointed at him to go close to the body. "It's time to investigate, so quit daydreaming and start investigating!"
"Ah, sure sure," Ryu nodded at Nanaho.
"You didn't have to be rude about it ya know," Ogawa tipped his fedora down, staring at Nanaho coldly.
"Well I'm sorry if I want to live!" Nanaho glared at Ogawa. "If you can't understand that then I suggest you go investigate somewhere else got it?!"
"You f*cking-"
"Enough," Hatsuharu frowned at Nanaho and Ogawa. "If you both are going to fight then I suggest you take it outside. After all, your bickering is not currently helping our investigation. So either help or leave!"
Murakami Nanaho and Ogawa Makoto glared at each one other one more time. Then the person who had decided to leave was none other than Ogawa, who left before looking back at Yusuke.
"Oi, Yusuke," Ogawa began. "You wanna join me in investigating someplace else?"
"Sure," Yusuke gave a shrug. "There's too many people in this room anyway."
With two nods, Ogawa and Yusuke left the crime scene leaving Akira, Hatari, Hatsuharu, Michiyo, Nanaho, and Ryu behind. They had gone to who knows where to collect more evidence but in the meanwhile, the 6 students investigating the crime scene looked at one another before continuing their search for clues around Sachiko's room.
(Hallways) - Inoue, Kumiko
Before we continue on through the investigation in Sachiko's bedroom, let's take a look at what the other eight students are doing at the moment. For now, Inoue and Kumiko were making their way to the cafeteria.
They had left the other eight to investigate the bedroom and had decided to investigate the cafeteria. The idea was thought up by Inoue, who had believed that the murder weapon may have come from the kitchen.
"I can't believe it," Kumiko looked down, her face saddened. "Is Sachiko really...?"
"Dead?" Inoue finished her sentence, seemingly without a care in the world. "I'm afraid so. She wasn't moving. Her body was stiff. Rigor mortis had already begun to take place. The murder had occurred last night at around 12:30 midnight. It is now currently 2 in the afternoon. Her body has remained as found for a long while it would seem."
"You sound like a detective from one of those detective shows Inoue," Kumiko pointed out, the image of Sachiko's lifeless body still haunting her.
"Perhaps, but I have other experiences with death in the past," Inoue shrugged. "That is all there is to it."
Kumiko was silent. Sachiko was killed by one of them. She couldn't believe that. She couldn't believe any of her classmates could be murderers. Then she realized something and instantly looked up at Inoue, her voice trembling.
"H-Hey I-Inoue," Kumiko shivered. "Y-You d-didn't um..."
"Kill her?" Inoue asked, finishing her sentence. Then shaking his head. "Well, you'll just have to find out won't you? But in any case, my innocence is more or less proven. You'll see at the Class Trial."
Kumiko didn't know what Inoue meant by that but it seemed like Inoue was on to something. And she was curious to hear what it was.
"Inoue," Kumiko began to clear her throat. "I don't think you killed her. But maybe, you might know who did it? Because if that's true, then you should tell everyone else! Our lives are at stake."
"Unfortunately," Inoue shook his head. "I do not know who killed Sachiko nor do I have any evidence to find out who did. All answers will be revealed at the Class Trial, I'm sure of it. And in any case, I have a question of my own."
Kumiko looked at Inoue and perked her head, curious.
"What is it?" Kumiko asked.
"Why are you following me?" Inoue asked, his voice sounding a bit cold and distant and also had a hint of confusion to it.
"Huh?!" Kumiko was surprised to hear that question. She didn't know the answer herself. Why was she following him?
"It's something I've been noticing for a while," Inoue looked at Kumiko through his mask. "Somehow you are always latched near me. Investigating with me. Talking to me. Cooking with me. It seems like you were always next to me. So I ask again, why are you following me?"
Kumiko was silent. She remembered her journal. She remembered her little gushes about Inoue from her hang out yesterday:
Well," Kumiko said before smiling to herself. "I guess there is this one guy. We've been hanging out for the past few days and so far, everything about him just really interests me."
"Ooh, do tell," Michiyo looked really interested. Everyone in the room did and all this attention instantly made Kumiko blush faintly.
"He's just so mysterious and even though he acts cold and distant, there's a part of me that just doesn't want to leave him you know?" Kumiko asked, smiling. "I feel like there's just some sort of connection between me and him."
"You got all that from just a few days?" Hatari asked, blinking.
"Not even a few," Natsumi shook her head. "Four days, counting today."
"I'm sorry, but even as the Ultimate Matchmaker," Kumiko looked at them all sheepishly. "I don't really understand just why these feelings for him are so strong. I mean, it's not normal for these feelings to be strong after three days upon meeting the guy right?"
"The way I see it," Michiyo had laid back on the bed as she spoke. "It's most likely because you rejected so many people in the past that you probably held all your romantic lusts deep inside. And now that you met someone you actually think you might like, all that romantic lust has come spilling out and it is satisfying you to the bitter end. Get what I'm saying?"
"So it's like when you want to pee but you have to hold it in," Natsumi noted with a nod of understanding.
"Yeah," Michiyo grinned. "Go you Kumiko. Who's the lucky bastard?"
Kumiko was silent. What Michiyo had said could make sense but deep inside, she thinks it might've been something else. But at the other question at hand, Kumiko blushed once again.
"Um um well um," Kumiko began to stammer.
"We shouldn't be surprised," Hatari smiled before her face turned into a teasing smirk. "Someone who's cold and distant. Someone who hung out with Kumiko for the past three days? By any chance, does this person wear a mask?"
"Eep," Kumiko blushed harder.
"I knew it!" Hatari giggled. "It's Inoue! You have a crush on Inoue Tadayoshi!"
The thought made her blush lightly. It really confused her. How the hell did she manage to gain a crush on this masked person so quickly? That wasn't normal was it? Ah...but she needed to stay firm and not fluster herself when it came to someone distant and cold like Inoue.
"Why do you care?" Kumiko asked, her voice assertive but not as cold or snarky as it would sound.
"People don't get too close to me because of my appearance," Inoue said, crossing his arms. "A guy who wears a Halloween costume? Heh. Anyone won't bother themselves talking to a guy like that. But you're somehow different. No one usually bothers talking to me and I'm used to pushing people away. So why are you talking to me?"
"...Did you not want someone to talk to you?" Kumiko asked, her voice softer.
Inoue was silent as he looked away.
Kumiko looked at Inoue as they made it to the cafeteria. Inoue was just so mysterious and it definitely intrigued her. He also mentioned that he tended to push people away from him...
"We are here," Inoue opened the cafeteria doors without another word to add to this conversation.
(Kitchen) - Awaka, Izumi, Kenta, Naoki, Natsumi
Kaito Awaka, Nakamura Izumi, Nakajima Kenta, Sakamoto Naoki, and Fujiwara Natsumi were in the kitchen currently. At the moment, these were the people who were trying to clear their heads after seeing the dead body of one of their fellow classmates. They weren't sure if they should help with the investigate, and even if they wanted to, they either didn't know where to start or still needed time to recover from seeing a dead body for possibly the first time in their lives.
"I-I-I c-c-can't b-believe sh-she's r-really d-dead," Izumi shivered nervously, close to tears and definitely close to crying. "Sh-Sh-She m-may h-have b-b-been f-flawed b-but sh-she d-d-didn't d-d-deserve t-to d-d-die..."
"Like f*ck she didn't," Naoki pointed out with a frown, rubbing his ascot nervously. "That b*tch kept pouncing on everyone like a sleazy drunk girl in the movies. Frankly, if the killer hadn't gotten to her first, then maybe I would've."
"How can you say that?" Natsumi glared at Naoki. "Just because you think you're better than everyone gives you no right to talk to a dead person like that! In fact, now that you said that, I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one who killed her!"
"Bite me lower-class b*tch!" Naoki barked at Natsumi.
"Guys guy, calm down," Kenta interjected Naoki and Natsumi's little argument. "We need to investigate so there's definitely no time to start fighting and such, got it guys? After all, if we don't provide much evidence, then we're dead! We're totally dead meat! And I don't want that happening!"
Naoki and Natsumi huffed at each other and looked away before stepping far from each other. They were like a brother and sister having a fight and Kenta was forced to be the mom who had to keep them under control.
"I-I-I-In a-any c-c-case, A-Awaka," Izumi shivered. "W-Why e-exactly a-are w-we h-here?"
"I just need to make sure of something," Awaka rubbed his chin, looking around the kitchen before nodding to himself. This very act confused the others in the kitchen currently. "Yeah. Thought so."
"Thought so what?" Natsumi perked her head in confusion.
"One of the knives is missing," Awaka told the group he was with. "A small knife. And given that it doesn't seem to be around the kitchen, there's no doubt that the knife was definitely used to stab Sachiko on the back."
"So the small knife is the murder weapon," Kenta nodded before raising an eyebrow. "Okay, but where is it?"
"The murderer most likely disposed of it," Inoue arrived at the kitchen with Kumiko. As it turns out, it seemed Inoue had wanted to check up on the fact of the knives. Great minds think alike. "Our question is now: Where did the murderer dispose the weapon?"
A very good question indeed.
(Sachiko's Room) - Akira, Hatsuharu, Hatari, Michiyo, Nanaho, Ryu
Back at Sachiko's Room, which let me just say, my gosh, this investigation segment is going faster than had originally planned. We might not even get past 8K words for this chapter. How terrifying. In any case, back at Sachiko's Room, the 6 students listed above were investigating the room and looking around for any sort of clue.
"So Sachiko was killed last night at 12:30 AM," Hatsuharu began to rub his chin, repeating the information already provided on the Monokuma File. "Stab wound on back. Wounded on the right side of her head."
"You going to keep repeating that or are you going to help?" Nanaho asked, irritated.
"Nanaho, you're easily irritated," Hatari gave a sheepish look at Nanaho who immediately snapped her head to glare at the Ultimate Supermodel herself.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Nanaho glared. "If this guy isn't going to be much help then maybe he should leave as- ah clue!"
Nanaho raced toward where the lamp was placed. It was strange for her to get excited about a "clue" but then instantly, the other five realized what she was talking about. Nanaho held the lamp carefully and on the lamp was specks of blood, with cracks on the lamp and missing pieces as well on the lamp.
"So that must've been used to hit Sachiko on the head?" Ryu asked.
"It would seem so," Hatsuharu nodded at Ryu. "And upon closer inspection, some glass shards are missing on it so everybody please watch your step. You might end up getting your feet pierced by such shards."
"Then I should've worn boots instead of sandals," Ryu groaned.
"In any case," Michiyo began to think. "Don't we all have the same lamps as the one used in this crime? I recall mine was more or less the same as this lamp. Actually, why am I talking about lamps like this. I doubt it would-"
"Not at all Michiyo," Akira shook her head. "I believe everyone has their lamps arranged the same way correct?"
"I can confirm that aside from the blood specks and missing shard pieces, my lamp is placed exactly at the same spot as Sachiko's," Hatsuharu nodded. "And speaking of shard pieces, I have yet to hear anyone yelp in pain. Where are the shard pieces?"
"The shard pieces?" Hatari asked, a little bit confused.
"The lamp is missing shard pieces," Nanaho said. "My guess is that it's probably lodged in Sachiko, or it fell to the ground. So why don't we check those two spots and then we can be done with this whole missing shard nonsense."
"Not nonsense I'm afraid," Hatsuharu smirked shaking his head. "Take a closer look at the head wound and you will see no shards stuck there."
"And I checked the ground a couple of times," Hatari noted. "There is also no way it could've fell underneath the bed. After all, underneath the bed is a large mattress. And even so, I couldn't find any shard pieces or anything. Maybe the killer cleaned it up? But if they did, for what purpose did they do that?"
"I can only think that it is because there is something incriminating hidden within those shards," Akira shrugged. "For now, anyone else find anything?"
"Well, aside from the bloody bedsheets," Ryu scratched his chin. "And her clothes on the ground, I didn't find anything else that could be of any use here."
"Then I guess that is all we can gather here in the victim's room," Akira nodded. "Let's go and find the others to see what they found. I'll continue looking just in case we missed something."
"What's to stop you from destroying evidence?" Nanaho raised an eyebrow at Akira before taking out her Disciplinary Stick. "I will stand watch and make sure you don't do such a thing you suspicious girl!"
"That's fine," Akira nodded, unfazed by her actions. "I might need help anyway."
"Then in that case," Hatari smiled. "Hatsuharu, Michiyo, Ryu, and I will head out to find the others and share what we all have gathered. Hatsuharu. Michiyo. Ryu. May we?"
"Sure," Ryu gave a weak smile. Walking away from Sachiko's was going to be a huge relief, especially since its his first time seeing a dead body like that. Hatsuharu on the other hand merely shrugged as Michiyo gave a nod.
"If you insist," Hatsuharu shrugged.
"I'm coming," Michiyo nodded.
The four headed off as Akira and Nanaho stayed behind to do extra investigating on this case.
(Hallways) - Ogawa, Yusuke
Ogawa and Yusuke wandered away from the dorms and ventured into the hallways to search for clues. As of now, Yusuke was heading to the Incinerator Room, also known as the Trash Room, also known as the place where people dump trash, obviously.
"Why the hell are we heading here?" Ogawa asked, fixing his fedora.
"Might as well check to see if the killer tried to dispose of anything here you know?" Yusuke gave a smile at Ogawa as they opened the door to the trash room. "Killers also dispose evidence so it's best to check the trash and the incinerator in case something happens you know?"
"I know I know," Ogawa sighed, shaking his head. "Did you forget I'm the leader of the mafia? I kill people and I get rid of evidence too. You don't need to remind me about the stuff that I do."
"Sorry bro," Yusuke gave a small smile and a shrug. "Guess I forgot your talent was the Ultimate Godfather. But in any case..."
Yusuke opened the door to the Incinerator Room, allowing Ogawa to enter first as Yusuke followed behind.
(Incinerator Room) - Ogawa, Yusuke
Once inside the Incinerator Room, Ogawa and Yusuke began to look around.
There was a large trash bin that sat at the left corner, to which no one was able to climb over for most likely good reason. But next to this large trash bin was a smaller trash can to throw away the goods inside.
In the middle of the room was an incinerator with two large buttons: a green and red button. And aside from that, that was all there was to note about the Incinerator Room. Of course, it seemed none of the students have ever been here before. The incinerator wasn't even on and the floors were just collecting dust.
"So this is the Incinerator Room?" Ogawa asked. "It's too dusty in here. Has anyone ever been here?"
"I don't think so," Yusuke shrugged. "I guess no one bothered to check this place when we wanted to find an exit right?"
Yusuke said this with a smile before looking at the incinerator for a moment. He rubbed his chin in thought, wondering at how exactly this might work. Then as if he had summoned him somehow, Monokuma jumped out from behind Ogawa and Yusuke.
"Wondering how that incinerator works?" Monokuma asked. "Well I'll tell ya! But you're better off doing something else like I dunno, investigating the murder?"
"Jesus Christ," Ogawa looked at Monokuma, jumping from Monokuma's surprising appearance. "Quit doing that bear."
"I almost fell in the incinerator," Yusuke wiped his brow as he looked at Monokuma. "But yeah, you're right. I was wondering how this incinerator works. And I was wondering if this incinerator could've been used in the murder so um, how exactly does this work?"
"You're the Ultimate Gamer and you don't know how a few buttons work?" Monokuma looked at Yusuke in surprise. "Jeez teenagers. What they say is true then. Video games do fry their brains. In any case, see that green and red button there? Green makes it work and burn up the trash. Red makes it stop. Easy peasy."
"I see," Yusuke gave a nod. "Thanks for telling me Monokuma. I guess no one's been here for the past few days right?"
"That's right," Monokuma revealed with a nod. "No one's been touching the incinerator for the past few days because no one bothered to check it out. But as for being in the room well...I guess there was one person."
"Whoa, you're revealing kind of a lot," Ogawa noted. "Who was the person?"
"Yipes!" Monokuma looked shocked. "I did reveal too much! Ah poopie! Gotta go!"
And Monokuma ran off as Yusuke laughed. Ogawa looked at Yusuke, confused as to what exactly he was laughing about.
"What are you laughing about?" Ogawa raised an eyebrow as he tipped his fedora up.
"Isn't it obvious who that person could be?" Yusuke gave a smile. "It's obviously our culprit. And no doubt they came to dispose of some evidence. Monokuma said no one touched the incinerator for the past few days, so no doubt, they dumped our evidence in the trash. Let's give it a look."
...
And so they did. The two boys peeked into the trash can as Ogawa widened his eyes, his fedora tipped down now. Yusuke gave a satisfied smile.
"Called it," Yusuke smiled.
(Cafeteria) - Awaka, Hatari, Hatsuharu, Inoue, Izumi, Kenta, Kumiko, Michiyo, Naoki, Natsumi, Ryu
When Hatari, Hatsuharu, Michiyo, and Ryu arrived at the cafeteria, they found the other half of the students already gathered at the table. It seemed like they were all deep in thought as to who could have committed this heinous crime. And certainly, the four who have just arrived didn't bother wasting time to jump into this conversation.
"So what have you all gathered so far?" Hatsuharu asked, interested to see what his fellow classmates may have discovered.
"Nothing much," Kenta shrugged. "Everything's just speculation at this point, but we're kind of thinking maybe our weapon might have come from the kitchen. There was a small kitchen knife missing so that was something."
"So that could our potential weapon," Ryu nodded. "But who you do think went and took it? I mean, who was at the kitchen or cafeteria yesterday that could actually help us determine when the knife went missing and such?"
"I was in the kitchen," Awaka nodded at Ryu. "With you, remember?"
"And I was the cafeteria," Kenta nodded as well. "Our boy hang-out session ended quicker than I had expected so I spent the majority of my day hanging out by the cafeteria with Ogawa."
"It took everything I had to not punch the guy in the face, so I left him there soon later," Ogawa shook his head, tipping down his fedora. "This guy got into the school by accident. And that's about as unnerving as people who would go pay for sex."
"I'm not going to ask what the conversation was about," Natsumi shook her head.
"In any case," Inoue crossed his arms. "Kenta. Awaka. We need some eyewitness testimonies. Please tell us what you have seen, heard, or even know for all we care. Anything to the lightest detail can count."
Kenta was unsure on what to tell them. So he just looked at them, confused as to what to say.
"Um, so um," Kenta scratched his head.
"It's okay Kenta," Hatari smiled at him supportively. "Maybe try telling us who you saw come to the kitchen. That'll help us out very much."
"But I saw a lot of people head to the kitchen," Kenta blinked.
"We need to establish a time," Hatsuharu crossed his arms. "Awaka. Around what time did you head into the cafeteria and around what time did you notice the knife was missing?"
Hatsuharu had turned to Awaka and everyone now had their eyes on him. Silent, Awaka began to his chin, thinking about this.
"...I don't know the exact time, but I guess I came to the kitchen at around 1 PM," Awaka said. "And then I stayed there with Ryu for about 2 hours before leaving. By that time, I felt like something was missing in the kitchen, so when we found Sachiko's body, I came directly here."
"So in other words," Kumiko noted. "Whoever came between 1 PM and 3 PM is the one who took the knife."
"Well, Kenta?" Natsumi looked at Kenta. "Think you can list some names with that information?"
Kenta was much more sure about this now. He gave a nod as he began to list off some names.
"I think from 1 PM to 3 PM," Kenta rubbed his chin as he began to think. "Ah yeah. Awaka and Naoki came at that time. And Ryu did. And Inoue did as well. Oh yeah, and Sachiko came as well. That's the people who came. They were the same people who entered the kitchen. Sachiko went in first. Awaka went into the kitchen with Ryu. Then Inoue went in and then Naoki."
"Then in other words," Hatsuharu smirked looking at three of the people called. "Awaka, Inoue, Naoki, and Ryu could have taken the knife. And committed the bloody deed."
"H-Hold on a second," Kumiko looked nervous. "Isn't it possible that Sachiko could have taken the knife as well? I mean, if you think about it, what if Sachiko had called someone to her to um...do...stuff...with her? And then she attacked but was killed."
"In other words," Ryu began to think. "Self-defense?"
"Well, we can't disclose that possibility now can we?" Hatsuharu crossed his arms. "Guess we will have to wait and see once the Class Trial begins."
And so they waited.
There was not much evidence to collect in this first case. Monokuma sat back, watching the students look around for some clues. Then he chuckled his signature chuckle: "Puhuhuhu."
He knew who did it. He knew how it happened. This first case was easy in his book. Heck, even you viewers might see stuff coming in an instant or two!
Then deciding to get this show on the road, Monokuma began to showcase his adorable little face throughout the TV monitors planted throughout the school.
Monokuma's voice alerted the students from wherever they all were. His face appeared behind the TV monitor and began his next announcement of the day and personally what I and most likely everyone else here must be waiting for.
"Erm, so I am bored, but that just means we should just get this show on the road now!" Monokuma declared. "It's now time for the long-awaited Class Trial! Everyone head to the Red Door on the first floor of the building with nothing but your knowledge of the case at hand and your logical reasonings. Don't be late! See you all soon! Puhuhu!"
"...Well, you heard the bear," Hatsuharu nodded, standing up and leaving. "Meet you all at the Red Door, wherever that could be."
And with that, the group began to head off to wherever the Red Door might be. Inoue stood up as well and prepared to leave, but before he could do so, Kumiko took his arm and stopped him in his tracks.
"Do you have a second?" Kumiko looked at Inoue, who looked at her behind his mask, confused.
(Red Door)
The students began to head inside the Red Door, ready to start the long-awaited Class Trial. But the first thing they saw inside the Red Door was an elevator that had yet to come. As of now, the students who have arrived were Akira, Nanaho, and Hatsuharu.
Unsurprisingly, these were the same early birds to get up early in the morning, so typically, of course they would be the first ones here beyond the Red Door.
(Cafeteria) - Inoue, Kumiko
Inoue was stopped by Kumiko from even leaving the cafeteria door. Silently, he looked at Kumiko behind his mask. Then he sighed and opened his mouth to speak.
"We have a Class Trial to get to Kumiko," Inoue sighed. "What is it that you want?"
"A clear answer," Kumiko looked at Inoue, pouting a bit and looking a bit serious. "Did you not enjoy the times we've talked together?"
"Truth be told, I was kind of forced into those so I guess no," Inoue said honestly. "Am I finished now?"
Kumiko blocked him from leaving the cafeteria. She wasn't done yet, and this certainly intrigued Inoue to the finest.
"Inoue," Kumiko looked down. "You said people don't talk to you because of your Halloween costume. You say you push people away. But Inoue, I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed our cookouts together. I really enjoyed talking to you and I most importantly want to say...you don't have to push people away. We're trapped here with possibly no way out so in order to get through this together, you have to start working together with others."
Inoue was silent as he listened.
"So please stop acting so distant," Kumiko told Inoue with a small glare. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable but my only wish is for you to not be too distant with the others. We're in this together after all...right?"
Inoue was still silent. Then he shook his head and sighed behind his mask.
"Someone died Kumiko," Inoue spoke behind his mask. "And that someone was killed by one of us. It was an admirable speech, I'll give you that. But sooner or later, more bodies will drop. And in the end, working together with others will end up being a waste of time."
Kumiko was silent as she looked down.
"But I get a feeling you aren't stopping me because of the Killing Game, are you?" Inoue asked assertively. "No no. I've been wondering for a while. Why are you always talking to me and why am I always talking with this Kumiko girl? But now hearing it from your own mouth, I guess I understand now."
Kumiko began to blush faintly. Did he know? Did he already know?
"You're worried that a guy who stays away from others will be the easiest to pick off," Inoue deducted. He was wrong, but not completely. "You're trying to establish a friendship with me so I don't get killed. That's it isn't it?"
Kumiko gave a small sigh of relief before stepping aside for Inoue to pass through. She gave a small timid nod as Inoue prepared to leave.
"Kumiko.." Inoue looked at her from behind his mask. "You're wasting your time worrying over someone like me. Believe me, I don't deserve your kindness."
And with that Inoue left as Kumiko looked down. Inoue was so strange. And no guy has ever made her feel so strange like this. Inoue was pushing her away, just like he said he had always done.
...
So now it was up to her.
"Inoue," Kumiko muttered to herself. "I'm not letting you off that easy..."
Kumiko grabbed her journal and took a peek in it. She blushed faintly. Then she hurried off to head to the Red Door.
(Red Door)
Everyone had gathered in the Red Door. Kumiko was the last one to arrive after her little conversation with Inoue and at the moment, they all waited patiently. And as they waited, it wouldn't hurt to of course start up a conversation.
"So, Akira and Nanaho," Hatsuharu crossed his arms. "I suppose you found some new information while we were all at the cafeteria talking about what we had found?"
"Nothing much," Akira shrugged. "But I made sure to get a clean look at the crime scene so I have no doubt that we will be able to find our killer. In any case, what have the rest of you found?"
"Well, we got a witness testimony," Awaka nodded as he glanced at Kenta who also nodded.
"Yeah," Kenta nodded. "I saw Sachiko head into the cafeteria along with Awaka, Inoue, Naoki, and Ryu. But I'm not sure how good that testimony will end up helping us in this long shot situation we're in. But I have no doubt that if we work as a team, we'll find the killer in no time!"
"In any case," Hatsuharu nodded at Kenta before looking at Ogawa and Yusuke. "What have you two found Ogawa and Yusuke?"
Ogawa was about to answer but Yusuke himself interjected with a calm smile.
"We'll tell you during the Class Trial," Yusuke smiled. "Don't you worry about that."
"Ahem, is everyone here?" Monokuma arrived with a happy smile. "Good! Then let's get this show on the road. Please enter through that elevator over there and then we can begin our little Class Trial."
The 15 students looked at themselves with an unsure look. But nevertheless, they had no time to argue. They entered the elevator, and once the gated door closed, they began to descend.
They began to descend down, further and further.
Further down and further down they went, each of them knowing they will end up participating in a Class Trial. With deadly rules. With deadly senses of Hope and Despair. A deadly Class Trial.
Thank you Makoto Naegi for repeating the word deadly.
(Trial Room)
The Trial Room was a room with a large seat that was meant for Headmaster Monokuma. And below that giant throne-like seat were 16 podiums, one for each student. Of course, one student was going to be replaced with a picture of Yamashita Sachiko, her face crossed off with a large 'X'.
The room itself was in a shade of red and everything looked as if they were really down in Hell.
And that itself was true.
This was Hell.
A Hellish Class Trial of Life and Death run by an evil bear.
"Let the Class Trial begin!" Monokuma exclaimed with a joyous voice, excited to get the show on the road.
Students Left: 15
Anzai Akira - The Ultimate Law Enforcer
Fujiwara Natsumi - The Ultimate YouTuber
Hamano Hatsuharu - The Ultimate Affluent Progeny
Hatari Todou - The Ultimate Supermodel
Inoue Tadayoshi - The Ultimate ?
Kaito Awaka - The Ultimate Fitness Trainer
Konno Michiyo - The Ultimate Biker
Murakami Nanaho - The Ultimate Teacher
Nakajima Kenta - The Ultimate Revolutionaire
Nakamura Izumi - The Ultimate Writer
Nakashima Yusuke - The Ultimate Gamer
Ogawa Makoto - The Ultimate Godfather
Ryu Sugoui - The Ultimate Cartoonist
Sakamoto Naoki - The Ultimate Film Director
Saruwatari Kumiko - The Ultimate Matchmaker