The room was serene, peaceful, the stained glass windows reminded me of a majestic cathedral, but… something was off with everything. The painted windows had been changed, the serene decorations preaching peace and love had been desecrated and were now stained red., the floor was barren and cold, and the only source of light came from the middle of the room where I stood.
I didn't stand alone here, there were 8 people sitting in our glowing booths, with an equal amount of booths left unoccupied.
We were all facing each other in a circle, my friend and assistant Shuichi stood in the chair to the right to me. He looked as calm as ever, but I could sense that something was disturbing him. I couldn't understand what he was worried about, this sordid affair was hopefully soon over, and we'd be able to put all of this behind us. Still, my sidekick couldn't be incompetent and I've gotta admit that he's managed to spot missing clues that proved crucial earlier, and they don't call him the ultimate detective for nothing.
Despite this i started to relax, and my eyes scanned the room, no matter what happened I trusted that he'd be able to figure that out on his own. At the opposite side of the room my Maki-roll was glaring daggers at Kokichis head, which was unsurprising, the only one that disliked that bastard more than her was me, Kaito Momota, the Luminary of the Stars. Truth be told, we were probably the only ones happy with the outcome of this trial.
Still, no one looked unhappy, Kokichi was a man of many talents but making friends was not one of them. His chronological lying has estranged him from the rest of us, most likely intentionally.
Looking out at our group it should be obvious that people who'd lost as much as we had wouldn't react well to his inability to take anything seriously. To be frank, it was a miracle that he was still alive, though I don't know what sick god would ever try to aid him, but nevertheless this miracle was soon about to be remedied. As the trial had progressed his guilt had become obvious and hopefully the only thing left was for him to accept his sentence
Though even I wouldn't wish for him to be sentenced. At least not in this court, and not by this judge.
Said judge could be found napping on his throne, in this mockery of a courtroom his bench was the one thing approaching normalcy. It was a large and imposing wooden structure, standing roughly two meters above ground with a miniature throne perched on top.
Monokuma, the animatronic teddy bear that oversaw this trial was lazily observing all of this, his detachment somehow annoyed me more than his earlier malice, if he wants to keep us here the least he could do was pay attention to our suffering.
I'm woken from my thoughts by the final parts of Kokichis confession
But I didn't kill her, Gonta did!
Kokichis words echoed through the now silent room. The world seemed to slow down to a halt
Confusion settled down over the trial ground, and the debate started raging. I could barely keep up with what was happening around me, I could only catch a few snippets of it, my mind focused on the reveal.
How could this be? Our precious Gonta, a killer?
As the argument went on , I couldn't Respond to their argument, the only thing on my mind was that accusation, could it be true?
No, it was impossible. No matter where the evidence lay, I knew that he was wrong. Our friend was no murderer, and I'd rather die than condemn him.
With that belief firm in my heart, I felt prepared to face the lies coming out from Kokichis mouth, that little shit would regret trying to frame Gonta!
As the debate started calming down I shouted out my own addition to the discussion
"How can you say that Gonta is the murderer without any proof?"
And before I could continue with my rebuttal, I heard a line that I never thought would be used against me.
"No, that's wrong"
It felt like time stopped, as I turned to look at Shuichi, my sidekick who had just double crossed me, siding with that little lying scumbag over me. I heard some babbling about some convenient rule Miu had used to make sure that couldn't happen, but I wasn't processing that. The only thing I could focus on was the feeling of anger rising within me, how could he side with the piece of shit that murdered miu and accused me, how could he stand there and argue that our friend is a killer, how can he stand there arguing about our with that emotionless face.
Just as he finished his tirade explaining why Gonta was the only one who could have killed him I couldn't keep it in anymore
You traitor! I yelled out and punched him so hard he was knocked back, I heard astonished gasps and other explanations of surprise all around me. My anger faded as soon as it'd realized what I'd done., and regret filled me. This temper was like a ship in a storm, the only way to arrest it's momentum is for it to crash it into something else.
But I knew that I could not stop here, it seemed as though time slowed to a crawl, and my every breath felt like an eternity. I could already predict the snide comments that Kokichi would make, and as this moment started to pass and time started moving like normal, I knew that if I didn't seize control over this conversation this outburst would be my last, and my temper would have gotten both me and my friends killed
Before I consciously realized it I had already started talking.
How can you do this? How can we doubt Gonta like that? Kokichi admitted to setting up this crime, he orchestrated Ryomas death and exposed Maki to spread doubt. He's lying now, and we'd have no way of even knowing we're being lied to. Evidence can be rigged, testimonies can be faked and programs can be hacked, but the one thing that we have, that he can't take away from us, is our trust in our friends. I believe in Gonta, no matter which lies you come with, or whatever truths you've decided to trick us with today. Because today, I reject this killing game, I choose to believe that my friends aren't murderers. And, most importantly I believe in them because I chose to, because I don't need facts or truths to do so.
After my long winded speech everyone was uncertain, It seems like I've managed to shake everyone.
Everyone except for two people. Kokichi and Shuichi; whose eyes shone with hardened determination. His eyes, so uncertain now shone with determination and… anger?
No matter, that was a case to solve another day. Now, with everyone so uncertain there was only one thing left to do.
"Monokuma, we're finished here, let's begin the voting"
Pandemonium erupted, and I was suddenly struck with a feeling of fear so overwhelming that I couldn't compare it to anything else. Did I do the right thing? What if everyone dies? Or even worse, what if they vote to convict Gonta regardless?
It was then that I heard a voice speak out for me, it was my sweet little Maki roll.
"Kaito's right, we can't get through this killing game by doubting everyone. I believe in Gonta, and I believe in Kaito. Because I know he believes in me too, right?
Before I could respond Kokichis annoyingly shrill tone rang out. "Aww, what a cute couple! So sickeningly sweet that they're willing to die for his ideals. But why do you have to drag the rest of us down with you hmm? I can't believe you're that deluded, or maybe you're like that wacko Korekiyo, and you want to murder us all.
His insult was interrupted by maki, who had pulled a dagger to his throat and drawn blood. She looked into him with bloodlust radiating from here, and from her mouth came a phrase I would never dismiss as a cutesy habit again.
"Do you want to die?"
as she was about to finish the job, I heard a voice shouting "Maki, stop!" it took a moment until I realized it was my own.
I couldn't think of anything else to say, but it seems like that was enough, and she was back in her seat before any of us could react.
With that out of the way, I believe in Maki, just like I believe in every one of you all, You're better than this, don't fall for hi'
""let's give it everything we've got, it's voting time!" Monokuma had finally awoken it seemed, and he was as eager to be done with this as we are.
My final reply may have been cut off, but I feel calm. I've spoken my piece, and I know everyone else will believe in me, just as I believe in Gonta. As the votes keep getting counted I grow calmer, even if I've erred and we all die here, we'll die because we believed in our friends until the end, and that would be a death I'd be proud of.
/AN
Hey y'all, made this one shot whilst sleep deprived one day, hope you enjoy!
If people want, I'll post a followup to this, so leave a review if you liked this.
Have a good day/dalexe