First attempt at a full Kokichi POV!
Sorry for the late update, but I wanted to finish the class trial before editing this. I am up to ch8.
Also, as no one brought it up, I am definitely going with a script format for the trials. An example:
Monokuma: [shocked expression] Woah! A script format! How unexpected.
[He chuckles darkly.]
Kokichi: [he smirks] I think the author is a hack.
Just giving a second warning.
Kokichi cleared his throat and read the Monokuma file out loud.
" The victim is the Ultimate Detecive, Shuichi Saihara. The victim's body was discovered in the Ultimate Magician's Lab. The cause of death was blood loss. He in the chest. The victim also suffered extensive bruising, several shallow stab wounds, and cuts along his arms. "
[Truth bullet added: Monokuma File 2]
"There's no time of death." Kaito pointed out. "So, it could've happened at any time. It…it could've happened this morning." His voice was full of shame and self-loathing.
Kokichi shook his head.
"I highly doubt that Momota-chan. No one saw him. I bet he's been dead for hours. And I think that Yumeno-chan and Chabashira-chan checked the lab before the performance this morning and they didn't find his body. The curtains were drawn up. Saihara-chan's body was purposefully hidden." He said, pointing at the red curtain next to the water tank.
"That makes sense." Kaito mumbled. He looked at their classmates.
They were just standing there, awkwardly watching them.
They didn't know what to do.
"Umm…Shuichi wouldn't have wanted everyone to stay together. We should split up and cover more ground, but we shouldn't be alone. Choose an investigation partner and head off." Kaito said slowly.
Kokichi blinked. He quickly pulled himself together and smiled goofily at Kaito.
"Uwah! Momota-chan actually had a good idea. I volunteer to be your investigation partner." He cheered.
He turned to the others.
"I want Gonta and Chabashira-chan to stay here and guard the crime scene. And Yonaga-chan and Yumeno-chanshould also stay here! I wanna interrogate them. The rest of you can scatter. Momota-chan and I will come and find you after we've finished here." He said, making sure his tone was overtly rude and demanding.
In response, his classmates either frowned or shook their heads, refusing to listen to him.
They had been receptive to Kaito, but weren't receptive to him.
"Hey! Who says you can boss us around?" Miu complained.
"Go and choke on a dick, Iruma-chan. I want to investigate without your annoying stink." Kokichi insulted her.
"Choke…dick…Stink…?" Miu mumbled. She was blushing profusely.
"Everyone, just listen to Momota and Ouma. We're running out of time and we need to get on with it." Ryoma suddenly snapped. He sounded angry and tired.
"Hoshi-kun…are you okay?" Tsumugi asked.
Ryoma waved her off.
"I'm fine. I just want to get this over with." He said.
"Same here. I am deeply saddened by Saihara-kun's passing, but the sooner we solve his case and find the blackened, the sooner we can return to living our lives." Kirumi concurred.
Ryoma chuckled darkly, but didn't say anything else.
"Yeah. Listen to Ouma. Go and investigate." Kaito mumbled.
The others reluctantly agreed.
Kokichi's grin grew.
"Miu and Kiibo should investigate the gym! Atua tells me that Miu wants to investigate there!" Angie suggested.
"W-what!?" Miu balked.
"I agree. I want to investigate with Iruma-san." Kiibo said, a light blush on his cheeks.
Miu blush deepened and she nodded eagerly. They left together.
The others argued a bit, sorting out who would investigate with who, and then quickly left the room.
"Gonta will do whatever he can to help!" Gonta yelled, baring his fists.
"Y-yeah. If Yumeno-san needs anything…I'm here." Tenko squeaked and looked longingly at Himiko.
The Ultimate Magician was back with Angie. They were discussing something in hushed tones.
Kokichi turned to Kaito.
The Ultimate Astronaut had fallen silent and was staring at Shuichi's beaten up corpse with an odd expression.
He looked ill. Not like he was going to vomit, but like he still couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Kokichi could relate to that.
Shuichi was the leader, the investigator, not them. They were poor substitutes for the Ultimate Detective.
But he was dead…and so here they were, investigating his murder together.
He slowly approached Kaito and coughed to get his attention.
Kaito looked at him expectantly, a bit of colour returning to his cheeks.
"I'll investigate Saihara-chan's body. You look around the lab." Kokichi directed.
He kept his bossy tone up, but made it slightly, slightly, softer than beforehand.
Kaito nodded and went to the opposite side of the room. He seemed relieved.
Kokichi immediately kneeled and started studying Shuichi's body.
The Monokuma file was mainly right. It described Shuichi's injuries perfectly.
However, what really interested Kokichi was a large graze along Shuichi's right palm.
It told him that at some point, Shuichi had tried grasping a sword or knife by the blade and had injured his hand. It must've been a rather blunt one as the wound wasn't that deep.
He also studied the cuts along Shuichi's arms.
He immediately knew what they were.
Defensive wounds. Saihara-chan tried to fend off his attacker, but he lost the battle. Kokichi realised.
He then briefly looked at the stab wound in Shuich's chest.
It was quite large and gaping…and crude. Almost as if it'd been a desperate act.
There was nothing else of any note on Shuichi's body.
And…well, he just didn't want to look at it anymore.
So, he moved on to the three items that had been found in the tank with the detective's body.
The first one was pretty interesting; it was a tiny piece of black cloth.
It seemed familiar to him, but he couldn't quite place it.
A lot of his classmates wore black clothing. He would have to wait for an opportunity to compare it.
It was too thin and flexible to have come from Shuichi's thick uniform. So, it had presumably came from his attacker.
Or it could be a misdirection. Kokichi mused.
[Truth bullet added: Black cloth]
The second one was also pretty interesting.
A pair of handcuffs.
Kokichi knew where they had come from.
Ryoma's lab.
[Truth bullet added: Handcuffs]
The third item was the most significant.
It was a large, blunt sword that was pretty beaten up.
Kokichi guessed that it had hit a hard surface, something that had deflected it.
There was no blood on it. The water had washed it off.
However, Kokichi would bet money that it was the blade that had given Shuichi his odd graze.
[Truth bullet added: Blunt sword]
He got up. There was nothing left.
"Ouma, you done?" Kaito called out uncertainly. "I've umm…. I've found a few clues."
Kokichi gave Kaito a beaming smile. He almost meant it.
Kaito swallowed and stared at him with wide eyes, still confused by his motives.
Good.
"Yup. Tell me everything Momota-chan." Kokichi said lightly.
"Follow me. It's easier if I just show you." Kaito said, and led him into the main room.
Kaito stopped in the middle and pointed at the carpet.
"There's blood on it. Not much, but it's spread around pretty evenly." He said minutely.
Sure enough, there were streaks of blood all around the centre of the carpet.
They weren't that big, but they were all pretty consistent with one another.
[Truth bullet added: Bloodstains in Himiko's lab]
More evidence of a struggle. Kokichi reflected.
He looked back at the side room.
It was completely clean. He hadn't seen any blood there.
Someone's cleaned up. He thought, then frowned.
Something didn't add up.
"Ouma?" Kaito questioned.
"Hmm?" Kokichi hummed.
"Do you have an idea?" Kaito asked.
"Nope. I'm completely in the dark. This crime stumps me." Kokichi lied easily.
Kaito glared at him.
Kokichi sighed.
"I have some ideas Momota-chan, but nothing concrete." He admitted wearily.
Kaito nodded slowly and looked away. He didn't press him for answers.
Kokichi grinned again.
It was so easy to fool people.
But it was a benevolent lie. If he had told Kaito who his main suspect was, the Ultimate Astronaut would've probably run off and confronted them.
No. It was best for him to keep his suspicions to himself, at least until the class trial.
For Kaito's own good.
"What else?" Kokichi said.
Kaito led him over to the Iron Maiden.
"It also has blood on it. And a sword is missing." He revealed.
Kokichi peered closely at the insides.
There were a few blood drops on the floor of the device.
More importantly, he knew where the missing sword was.
[Truth bullet added: Iron Maiden]
"That makes sense. The missing sword ended up in the tank with Saihara-chan." Kokichi said.
"It did?" Kaito quizzed.
"Yup. I think Saihara-chan used it to defend himself." Kokichi outlined.
He could give Kaito titbits of the truth. Enough to keep his co-operation.
"What makes you think that?" Kaito said.
"He has a large graze on his right hand. It fits the general shape of the blade. I think that Saihara-chan grabbed it- "
Kokichi went ahead and lightly gripped one of the swords in the Iron Maiden, pretending to fumble with it.
"- and tried to loosen it and yank it out. He was desperate. Someone lured him here and attacked him."
Kaito briefly gasped, before he quickly recovered and nodded.
Kokichi couldn't help but preen a little.
"You're very observant Ouma." Kaito said.
"Well…I have to be." Kokichi said cryptically, keeping his grin up.
Kaito narrowed his eyes.
Kokichi waggled his eyebrows playfully at the taller teen, pretending to just be fooling around.
"Do you want to question Yumeno and Yonaga now?" Kaito said. He sounded annoyed.
"One second. I wanna test something." Kokichi mumbled.
He wanted to check something in the Iron Maiden.
Pushing down on the swords one by one, he found that all of them retracted.
By chance, Shuichi had yanked out the only real blade.
Kaito eyed him warily.
"Right. All done. Let's question Yumeno-chan and Yonaga-san." Kokichi chirruped.
Across the room, they found Angie and Himiko in prayer.
They were sitting cross-legged by the door.
Angie had a deeply peaceful expression on, as did Himiko, although it was far lazier. She was drooling.
"Hey! Hey! We're ready to interrogate you!" Kokichi yelled loudly at them.
"Ouma! Don't be so loud." Kaito said.
Angie slowly opened her eyes and smiled beatifically at them, while Himiko pouted childishly.
"We are ready is answer your questions." Angie said, leaping elegantly to her feet.
In contrast, Himiko fumbled to her feet, almost tripping over herself. She had tried and failed to emulate her senpai.
"Psh. Yumeno-chan is such a clumsy oaf." Kokichi jeered.
"Nyeh. I don't care. I have Atua." Himiko muttered.
"Can you tell us about the body discovery?" Kaito forged ahead.
Kokichi scowled at his partner, feigning embarrassment.
"Yes. After the magic show, you, Kokichi, and Kirumi left the room. The others stayed in the gym, but, Himiko, Tenkoand I came here. We wanted to make space for clear up. Himiko noticed that the curtain was drawn up- she had left it loose last night. Before Tenko or I could do it, she pulled it back. She found Shuichi's body. It was terrible." Angie said.
"Nyeh. I'm over it now." Himiko said.
Angie nodded sagely at her. She was proud.
"Then the body discovery announcement played, and the others came rushing in from the gym. Then Ryoma arrived. Then you two." Angie finished.
[Truth bullet added: Angie's account]
"So, aside from the curtains, was anything else different with the room?" Kaito enquired.
"No." Himiko said.
Angie cocked her head for a moment, and then nodded eagerly.
"I wasn't sure earlier, but I think that that table has been moved. Yesterday, I put it aside." She said, pointing at a small table by the door.
It had a white cloth on top of it.
Kokichi ran over and pulled it off.
There was a dent in the surface of the table.
A long dent
It wasn't too deep.
Gotcha. Kokichi thought, smirking as his suspicions were realised.
Kaito joined him a moment later.
"Momota-chan, someone grabbed this table and used it to deflect a sword." Kokichi whispered.
Kaito widened his eyes.
"Was it the sword from the Iron Maiden?" He asked dumbly.
"Duh. Obviously." Kokichi mocked him lightly.
Kaito glared at him again.
Kokichi returned it.
Didn't Kaito understand that he was being nice to him?
Then Kaito suddenly winced.
"But wait- wasn't Shuichi the one with the sword? And if this table was used to deflect it…was he the aggressor?" He said.
"Momota-chan, Saihara-chan was fighting for his life. He was probably desperate to get away from his murderer. I don't believe that he would've killed them. Not for a second." Kokichi said evenly.
"I know, I know. I'm just trying to get the events in order." Kaito admitted. "I'm a bit slow with these things."
"That's because you value emotion over logic. You're blinded by it." Kokichi teased gently.
"And you value logic too much. You're the blind one." Kaito snapped back.
"Seriously, I don't understand you, but I- "He looked back at Shuichi's corpse.
"I'll follow your lead through the investigation, for Shuichi's sake."
"Good. I don't want your friendship Momota-chan. I just need your co-operation." Kokichi said blithely.
Kaito blinked and then frowned at him.
"Now, I need to ask Yumeno-chan another question- I was distracted by the table. Then we're done here." Kokichi yelled excitedly and turned on his heel.
Kaito hurried after him.
Kokichi stalked over to Himiko and Angie, who had resumed meditating, and poked Himiko's nose.
She opened her eyes and glared lazily at him.
"Yumeno-chan, the Iron Maiden…tell me how it works!" Kokichi demanded.
"It's magic. It has no explanation." Himiko muttered.
"Don't be a brat. Just tell me. It's for Saihara-chan's sake!" Kokichi pouted.
"Don't pressure Himiko." Angie cautioned. She still had her eyes closed.
Himiko sighed.
"All of the swords are magic, but one is more magic than the rest." She confessed. "It needs to be taken out and sharpened regularly. I haven't done it yet. It's there in case anyone doubts the magic, and needs to be shown that it's real."
Kokichi nodded.
"Thank you! That's all I needed!" He said.
"Wait, Kokichi." Angie said suddenly.
"Yes, Yonaga-chan?" Kokichi muttered, letting some exasperation creep into his voice.
"I have been communing with Atua. He told me that everything will be fine. There's no need to be afraid." Angie said and beamed at him.
"Nice proselytizing, but I'm not afraid. Next." Kokichi said.
"It's not for you. I said for Kaito's benefit." Angie revealed and looked at Kaito.
"Kaito, Atua wanted me to tell you that he has seen the future. You will find Shuichi's murderer and peace will be restored."
Kaito stiffened and paled.
Kokichi snorted, then chuckled richly.
"That's nice Yonaga-chan, but Kaito and I need to get going. We need to investigate and find real clues for the class trial." He said derisively.
Kaito recovered and latched on to his words.
"Yes. Where should we go?" He asked.
"The gym!" Kokichi replied.
Kaito nodded at him and they left the room together.
As soon as they were outside, the door to Himiko's lab burst open and Gonta came hurrying out.
"Wait up! Gonta wants to talk to you." The Ultimate Entomologist beseeched them.
Kokichi scowled indifferently at him.
"Gonta, Momota-chan and I are busy. Very busy. If you want to apologise for last night, now is not the time." He seethed.
He still remembered the bugs crawling all over him. He was lucky that he had passed out fairly quickly and that Gontahad brought him to his room.
"Gonta does want to apologise…but Gonta understands you are busy. No, what Gonta wanted to talk about was Insect Meet and Greet." Gonta said.
Kokichi decided to humour him. He already had the alibis for last night sorted out in his head, at least from 9-11pm, but it would make the Entomologist feel better if he was under the delusion that he had contributed to the class trial.
"Go ahead Gonta. Just be quick." Kokichi said.
"Gonta wants to help with alley-bye. Insect Meet and Greet started at nine, then went on for two hours. At the end, Ouma-kun and Gonta were in lab together for twenty minutes. It was quarter to twelve when we went to dorm rooms. Gonta also saw Miu outside- "Gonta blushed profusely. He coughed and continued.
"Miu ran away. Gonta didn't see anyone else. That's it. If there's anything else Gonta can do, please tell me." Gontafinished.
[Truth bullet added: Gonta's account & Insect Meet and Greet]
"Thank you Gonta." Kaito said sincerely, managing a small smile.
Gonta smiled back and then started crying.
"Gonta so sorry about Saihara-kun. Fell for Ouma-kun's lies…should've protected you all." He blubbered.
Kokichi smirked at him.
"I was doing that for everyone's benefit Gonta. I enlightened them about bugs. Wasn't that great? I know I lied- but that's just what I do. Nishishi." He said, putting a finger to his lips.
Gonta stopped crying and stared at him in abject confusion; his big brown eyes were full of disbelief.
"Gonta want to share bugs in a nice way. Not with lies." He said.
"Gonta, I know how you can help us. Go back to Yumeno's lab and watch over Chabashira, Yumeno, and Yonaga. Keep them safe." Kaito said quickly.
Gonta nodded happily and smiled.
He hurried back to Himiko's lab.
"Ouma, what was that all about?" Kaito asked afterwards.
"I wanted him to leave." Kokichi stated. "He was getting in the way. Anyways, lets head to the gym. It shouldn't take too long. After that, we need to go to Hoshi-chan's lab, the pool, and then question a few more people… then we should be done."
"You seem to have a good grasp on this." Kaito observed.
Kokichi shrugged.
"I'm suspicious of everyone Momota-chan. All the damn time. Well, except you…at the moment." He confessed easily.
Kaito was silent for a moment, his lips pursed.
"I'm not suspicious of you. I-I don't think you killed Shuichi." He said slowly.
"Aww. How sweet of you Momota-chan. And how completely unfounded- for all you know, I could be guilty. I could be manipulating the class trial by leading the investigation. You could be falling for one big lie." Kokichi jibed, his tone sickeningly sweet.
"No. Just no, Ouma-san. Please don't mess with me. Not now. I wanna have faith in something. Even if it's you." Kaito said desperately.
"You shouldn't have faith in me Momota-chan. After the class trial…stay away from me unless I approach you." Kokichi warned.
For your own good. You don't want to be dragged into my plans, and I don't want you to get in the way. I only need you for class trials. He added inwardly.
Kaito frowned.
"Ouma…" He trailed off.
"Let's get going. Quit wasting time Momota-chan!" Kokichi shouted.
He grabbed Kaito's sleeve and dragged the perplexed astronaut to the gym.
Howzat?
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