"Let's begin with a basic explanation of the class trial!" Began Monokuma. "So, your votes will determine the results. If you can figure out "Whodunnit", then only they will receive punishment. But if you pick the wrong one… Upupupu! Then I'll punish everyone besides the blackened, and the one that deceived everyone else will graduate!"
"And the killer really is one of us, right?" I asked. Taking in everyone's looks again.
"Of course!" Snickered Monokuma.
"Okay then!" Stated Ishimaru. "Everyone close your eyes, and whoever did it, raise your hand!"
"Don't be a goddamn idiot." Grunted Mondo. "Why the hell would they raise their hand?"
Just then, Kirigiri cleared her throat. Gaining our attention. "Before we move on and start the trial, can I ask a question real quick?" She asked.
She then pointed to the signs depicting Junko's and Maizono's faces. "What's going on with those pictures?"
Monokuma chuckled evilly. "I'd feel awful if they got left out just because they died." He chillingly explained. "Friendship penetrates even death's barrier!"
Yamada began sweating. "Friendship… Penetrates?"
"Okay, but what about that other empty seat?" Asked Celeste. Addressing the seat in front of Monokuma's chair. "There were only fifteen of us to begin with, so why are there sixteen seats?"
"Oh, no reason." Shrugged Monokuma. "It's just that our little courtroom here can technically fit up to sixteen people. Okay, that about does it for the preamble. Get ready to get started! First up is the case summery. Now, let the class trial… Begin!"
After that, he pulled out a small gavel and banged it on the arm of his chair. It's about to begin; the debate to decide who we think the killer is… Anything I found, anything I noticed… I have to be ready to speak up about everything. Because this isn't just about me.
Everyone's lives are on the line!
Ishimaru started it off. "I assert that the one who was murdered was Miss Maizono Sayaka!"
"…Yeah, we know that part already." Sighed Hagakure.
"And the murder took place in Naegi's room." Added Togami. Taking a quick, cold glance at me.
"In the bathroom…" Corrected Asahina.
"So, it seems most likely that the killer must have taken her by surprise while she was in the bathroom." Assumed Chihiro, "She didn't even have a chance to resist…"
That caught me off guard. I know she didn't participate in the investigation, but when I discovered Maizono's body and screamed, surely everyone rushed to my room and saw how it looked.
"Just a second, Chihiro." I spoke up loudly, but not loud enough to scare her. "Try to remember how my room looked. With the way things had been damaged, I think we can definitely assume there was a struggle."
"A struggle?" Repeated Chihiro. "Between who… And who?"
"Between Maizono and the killer, of course." I said.
"So, you're saying…" She began. "Maizono wasn't caught by surprise in the bathroom…?"
"She must have been attacked in the main room first, then she ran to the bathroom to try and hide." Assumed Celeste. "The killer fallowed her in, and that's where they finished the job…"
"That much should have been obvious after taking one look at the scene." Stated Togami. "It shouldn't even need explaining."
"S-Sorry…" Apologized Chihiro.
"Hey, at least you tried." Comforted Hagakure. "Okay, so what's next?"
"Next is the subject of the murder weapon." Stated Sakura.
"Wow…" Said Yamada amazed. "This is starting to sound like a real trial!"
"So, what was used to kill her?" Asked Sakura. Ignoring Yamada's pointless comment.
"There was some kind of sharp object thrust into her stomach…" Assumed Ishimaru. "Without a doubt, that is the murder weapon!"
"So, the killer used some random knife they had on 'em…" Began Mondo. I cut him off there.
"No, that's wrong!" I exclaimed. "I do think it was a knife, but not just any knife. I'm almost positive it was a kitchen knife."
"Huh? A kitchen knife…?" He repeated.
"After the murder, we discovered that one of the knives from the kitchen was missing." I explained.
"Which means that knife must be the murder weapon." Sakura finished.
"Ohh… Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Shrugged Mondo. "You could sorta see the weapon stickin' out of her stomach… And if you look real close, I could totally see that being a kitchen knife."
"Okay, so the murder weapon was a kitchen knife." Said Leon. "But where does that get us?"
He then pointed angrily at me. "I mean, we all know Naegi killed her, right!?"
"That's r-right…" Stammered Fukawa. "Naegi's room was the s-scene of the crime. What more proof do you n-need?"
"H-Hold on a second!" I protested. "I'm-!"
Thankfully, Kirigiri spoke up to prevent an early judgement. "Let's draw our conclusions after we've presented our arguments." She explained. "Otherwise, what's the point of the trial?"
"Well, we can talk all we want, it's not gonna change that conclusion." Replied Leon.
"I don't think that's true at all." Said Kirigiri. "I'm sure if we keep at it, something new will reveal itself."
"You really believe that…?" Hagakure asked under his breath. Nonetheless, she's right. There's gotta be a breakthrough somewhere just waiting for us to find it. Because I know damn well I'm not the killer!
"So, I guess there's no question that the kitchen knife was the murder weapon." Said Leon.
"But where does that get us?"
"N-Naegi must have taken it f-from the kitchen, right?" Assumed Fukawa. "He did it in s-secret, when nobody was in the d-dining hall…"
"Okay, wait, hold on." I interrupted. Making Fukawa growl in frustration. "I didn't take the knife from the kitchen."
"Next you're g-gonna say you're not the k-killer, right?" She asked furiously. "Go ahead and say it all y-you want…!"
"Well, what if I have a witness?" I asked before turning to the one person who I knew had something to say. "What do you think, Hina?"
"…Huh?" She asked as she cocked her head to the side.
"Remember what you were telling me earlier?" I asked. "Just to be perfectly clear, the knife disappeared while you were in the dining hall, correct?"
"Y-Yeah, that's right…" She said. Still having no idea what I was talking about… Yet.
"And at any point while you were there, did you ever see me come into the dining hall?" I continued.
"Umm… No, I don't think so…" She replied.
"You don't "Think" so?" Repeated Togami.
"…No, he definitely wasn't there!" Said Asahina.
"The knife disappeared while Hina was in the dining hall. But I wasn't there the entire time." I explained. "In other words, there's no way I could have taken the knife!"
"Okay, th-then what about this…?" Began Fukawa. "What if the i-idiot swimmer girl and N-Naegi are in on it together, a-and lying to protect each other?"
"Idiot swimmer girl?" Asahina repeated in disbelief before getting mad. "Oh, and more importantly, why would I get involved in something like that!?"
"Speaking of which, I'd like to ask the bear…" Began Togami as he turned to face Monokuma. "If there is an accomplice, do they also become "Blackened"?"
"So you ask, and so I shall answer!" He chuckled. "Each murder is allowed to have an accomplice, but only the one who does the killing will get to graduate."
"So in other words, two people can work together, but one of them has no chance of profiting from it…" Assumed Kirigiri.
"Then there's no way anyone would work together, right…?" Asked Mondo.
Chihiro spoke next. "But…" She began nervously. "What if they did work together, and they just didn't know about the rule?"
"Uggh, good grief!" Monokuma groaned frustratedly. "Enough already! No, okay!? There are no accomplices in this case!"
He then realized what he just said. "…Oops!" He chuckled as he covered his mouth. "Did I say that out loud…?"