The spears that struck Junko shot back through the floor. Her body falling lifelessly the ground. Blood poured through the wounds as we looked on in total shock.
"Wh-What the…?" Stammered Asahina.
"I don't…" Was all Chihiro could say before she started crying.
"Th-This can't be real." Gasped Leon.
"NO WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY!" Screamed Yamada.
Monokuma stood up. "Now I am painfully aware of the great power and meaning of a promise…" He began. "I really wanted to keep a corpse from popping up for no good reason, ya know? But I guess you needed to be taught a lesson, after all. Ahh, what an amazing promise! But now you guys understand, right?"
Monokuma's next words put us into a state of shock.
"Now you see just how serious I am…" He began. "Defy me and you get shot full of holes, exploded, buried alive, disintegrated… Et cetera. So, if you don't want that to happen to you, you'd best obey those school regulations!"
We all looked down at Junko's corpse. An unbelievable amount of blood poured out from her body. It was the first time of many that I'd seen someone's life end abruptly. Nobody there could deny what they'd seen. Junko Enoshima, who until just a second ago had been our friend, was dead. She'd died. She'd been murdered. In simple terms…
…It was the death of a human being.
"It's really not all that shocking." Monokuma said. Clearly not phased by this at all. "She just died, that's all. Just went and died. It's no more remarkable than the inevitable demise of the entire human race. It's just as natural as the eventual end of the world itself. This isn't some superhero comic. So it's not like when you die, you didn't really die. This is reality! Cram as many feathers down her throat as you want, he ain't coming back!"
"…Why did you have to kill her?" Asked Kirigiri. "Didn't you say that you would put her in prison or something?"
"I changed my mind." Said Monokuma.
"No, you've been wanting to kill her this entire time." Kirigiri stated ominously.
"Kill this entire time…?" He repeated in confusion. "Don't be silly, you can't kill time! Or are you being metaphorical? Are you saying I wanted to waste time this whole time? Come on, what do you take me for? I'm Monokuma! Anyway, none of that matters right now. I have something I'd like to give you to help you in your search for the blackened!"
After his speech, Monokuma pulled out some sort of file with his face on it, and the number one in an orange square in an upper corner. The words "MONOKUMA FILE" were imprinted on it in all capital letters.
"This little file has all the information I've gathered about the death in question. I like to call it the Monokuma File!" He continued. "I mean, naturally you guys aren't experts at this kind of thing, so you can only do so much with a corpse. So instead, I've gathered up everything I know about the circumstances and cause of death. What's that? How do I know the cause of death, you ask? Cuz the surveillance cameras picked up the whole thing! I got to see it all go down!"
"Wait, so then… You know who killed Maizono?" Asked Kirigiri.
"Of course, I do!" He replied. "If I didn't, I couldn't possibly pass up a fair and accurate judgement during the trial, now could I?"
"That's a good point." Kirigiri agreed. "The judge has to be able to make the proper decision. That's… Somehow comforting."
"Now then, please put your full effort behind your investigation!" Said Monokuma. "After all, you don't have any choice but to give it your best shot! Seriously, you don't have a choice! Okay, so we'll meet up for the class trial… In a little while!"
And with that, Monokuma disappeared once again. He left us stunned and confused…
He left us at a total loss.
He left us with Junko's dead body growing colder right in front of us.
And for who knows how long, nobody said a word. The fact that Maizono and Junko were dead was a huge shock, of course. But there was more to it than that…
It was also the idea that one of us had actually murdered someone. And that if we didn't find out who it was, we would all die here. We'd found ourselves in a situation where we couldn't help but look at each other with open suspicion. It was the worst situation imaginable. And yet, even in such a perversely terrible situation, Kirigiri didn't show the slightest hint that it had gotten to her.
"Now's no time to wallow in your depression." She said. "The worst thing we can do right now is lose faith in each other. That would lead to the same disastrous result as having total faith in everyone else."
"Huh…?" Was all Leon could say. He, like myself, and possibly many others, were in total awe at what she just said.
"Cooperation is absolutely key at this point." She continued. "Who you decide to trust or not trust is, of course, up to you."
"Continuing to think about and talk about the deceased certainly isn't going to help anything. Said Celeste.
"S-Saying stuff like that is just-!" Asahina began. Celeste cut her off.
"How many times have I told you?" She asked no one in particular. "Anyone who can't adapt… Will die. Death is the only thing awaiting those who are unable or unwilling to adapt. If that happens, you only have yourself to blame."
Asahina didn't take kindly to that. "What an awful thing to say!" She exclaimed. "Especially after what's happened!"
"Right now, exposing the killer is the most important thing." Said Kirigiri. "Because if we don't, we're all going to die here."
"…She's right." Stated Togami. "We need to begin our search right away."
"Either way, we can't run away from the situation, so we have no choice but to move forward." Said Sakura.
Asahina sighed in defeat. "We just hafta do it, I guess… What other choice do we have?"
"No way in hell am I letting someone kill me…!" Grunted Leon. "Alright, damnit! Let's do this!"
We just have to do it… Everyone kept repeating that sentiment. They were using it like a mantra to give themselves strength. But they're right. We just have to do this. No matter how much we don't want to, we have no choice. If that's what it takes to survive, then that's what we have to do!
On top of that, there was something I needed to find out…
I had to know why Maizono had to die. Why did she have to be the one…?
I'm terrified to find out, but still… I have to know. Otherwise, I knew I'd never be able to accept her death. Which is why I don't have any other choice! I have to do this!
Suddenly, I felt someone staring at me. It was Celeste. At first, she looked as if she was observing me, and then she chuckled.
"Heh heh… So you finally noticed."
"Huh? Noticed what?" Asked Leon in confusion.
"I was looking through the Monokuma File we received, and I noticed something very obvious, and very unusual." She explained.
"Huh? What are you talking about…?" Asked Chihiro.
"Go ahead, take a look." She replied. "Notice anything interesting about where Maizono died?"
Her next words sent a chill down my spine.
"She died in Naegi's room."
"Wh-? She's right!" Exclaimed Asahina. Ash she looked up from her e-Handbook.
"Then, could it be…?!" Trembled Yamada.
All at once, everyone's gaze turned to me. Some faces were in fear, others in anger. But Kirigiri had her usual expression.
"H-Hold on a second!" I stammered. "You've got it all wrong! F-For just one night, I… I traded rooms with her. I did it because… She was afraid."
"Y-You expect us to b-believe that?!" Stammered Fukawa in anger. "Just tell us the t-truth!"
The look in everyone's eyes had done a complete 180 from just a few minutes earlier. The feeling of suspicion and fear had returned. In other words…
I was in MASSIVE trouble!
"Y-You think I did it!?" I asked.
"Naegi… How could you?" Stammered Chihiro.
"Bastard…" Mondo muttered under his breath.
"I didn't do it!" I exclaimed. "I swear!"
"Everyone, calm down!" Yelled Kirigiri. Gaining our attention. "Before we start searching for Maizono's killer, we need to decide what to do about securing the crime scene.
"What do you mean…" I asked her.
You're thinking of putting someone on guard duty so nobody can disturb the area, aren't you?" Asked Togami. After all, if the culprit decides to destroy the evidence, we're pretty much screwed."
"In that case, I don't mind doing it." Said Mondo. "I don't like havin' to think, anyway. I'll let you guys find out who killed Maizono."
"Okay, then we can let Mondo look after the scene." Said Asahina.
"Well, no…" Togami interfered. "We can't just leave him there alone."
"What?" Mondo gasped in disbelief. "Why the hell not?!"
"Isn't it obvious?" Togami continued. "If you were the culprit, what's the first thing you would do? By volunteering for guard duty, you're in a position to destroy all the evidence you want."
"Wh-!? Fuck you!" Mondo Retorted.
"Fine, then I'll stay on guard duty as well." Said Sakura. "That way, there's no problem."
"2-player co-op base defense with the two of them…" Mused Yamada. "With their stats, they're totally OP!"
"Since, we won't be able to help investigate, we're putting our faith in the rest of you." Sakura continued.
"I-I'm still pretty freaked out, but… I'll try." Agreed Asahina.
"Are we done talking?" Asked Kirigiri. "We need to begin our investigation soon. At this point, we should split up. We need to get to the bottom of this and find out who killed Maizono. We'll have to construct clues to form a foundation, then construct an argument to come to a final decision. If we get this wrong… Well, do I have to say any more?"
"I'd rather you didn't, no…" Worried Yamada.
"Everyone pray for good luck."
With that, Kirigiri ran out of the gym.
"I'll be going, too." Said Togami as he fallowed her. He was gone before we realized it.
"Oh yeah, I'm on guard duty, huh?" Asked Mondo to no one in particular. "I'd better head to the scene of the crime!"
"Ah, that's right." Agreed Sakura.
"Lemme just say this right now!" He began. "If whatever son of a bitch did this is here right now, and they're thinking of destroying the evidence, they'd better not let me find 'em! I'll skip the trial and cave their goddamn skull in myself! I'm serious! I will fuck them up!"
Letting his deadly words hang in the air, he and Sakura ran off.
"But…" Began Asahina. "I mean, we're not detectives or anything, y'know? And we're gonna investigate a murder? How do we even do something like that?"
"We don't r-really have to do anything in p-particular." Said Fukawa. "W-We already know who k-killed Maizono…"
"What are you implying…?" I asked. Fukawa angrily pointed at me.
"It was y-you!" She snapped.
"I'm telling you, it wasn't me!" I snapped back.
"D-Don't come any c-closer!" She angrily yelled. "Are you g-gonna kill me next!?"
"W-Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot." Asahina spoke up. "It's not for sure that Naegi's guilty yet."
"That's true." Agreed Yamada. "We may as well at least check just to check."
"Even if I w-wanted to, I c-couldn't help inv-vestigate…"
"Wait, why not?" Asked Leon.
"I'm not g-good with… B-B-Blood." She explained. "All it takes is o-one glimpse and I b-black out."
"Well whatever." Shrugged Leon. "I don't think anyone was expecting much from you, anyway. Alright, I guess I better get going."
"W-Wait, don't go yet!" I yelled as everyone left the area. "You have to hear me out!"
But it was pointless. Everyone already left. And their parting looks at me had still been filled with suspicion.
I had some time to collect my thoughts. First, we're trapped in this school, then Maizono is murdered, then Monokuma killed Junko, and now people suspect that I killed Maizono! Does everyone really think that? How did it turn out like this? Did Monokuma really have to kill Junko like that? Seriously, they've got it all wrong…
"Why do they have to suspect me?!" I yelled out to no one in particular.
I have to do something. Otherwise, everyone, me included, will…
"Execution is… Execution. Ex-e-cution! Electric chair, bzzt bzzt! Poison gas, cough cough! Torn apart like a paper plane in a hurricane!"
I can't let that happen… I can't let things turn out the way Monokuma wants! All I have to do is find out who really did it. Who really killed Maizono!
My name is Naegi Makoto, and I'm being framed for a crime I didn't commit…
A/N: Whew! Another chapter completed! Boy, my fingers are tired! Anyway, hope you're all enjoying the story so far!
Next time, the investigation for Maizono Sayaka's murder begins…