It's that time of the week again!
Extra long chapter for you guys! Enjoy!
"We're so fucked, aren't we?" The young man said.
Nanami sighed and pushed up his glasses.
"I don't think so Watanabe. Why would we be?" He said.
"We've lost our second main character! Seasonal marketing was relying on Saihara, and audience polls have been largely negative to his death! It's only chapter two and people already hate this season with a passion!" Watanabe squawked.
Someone laughed sharply.
Watanabe turned around and glared at a tall willowy woman with long black hair who was leaning against a desk.
"Stop being such a worrywart. This has happened before. The audience usually hates chapter two anyway, irrespective of who dies. They'll warm up to it after the season is over." She said, walking up to them and crossing her arms.
"But it's my first season! Nothing's going right!" Watanabe complained.
"In a killing game, nothing ever goes right. Adapt or die, Watanabe, adapt or die." The woman quipped.
Watanabe flinched.
"Sakura, can you please not antagonize our director? If I recall, you also have a personal stake in this season…you don't want it to fail." Nanami said pointedly.
Sakura bit her lip and nodded.
"I'm sorry Watanabe. It's just…panicking will get us nowhere. It's best to view a season of Danganronpa on a chapter-by-chapter basis. Our cast could still fuck up and vote wrong. They hate Tojo. We could have an early end." She said gently.
Watanabe took a deep breath and shook his head.
"I don't want my first season to end this early." He said, focusing on his monitor.
The kubs intermission was almost over.
"Why not? Early ends are the best. We get more holiday time. Plus, it gives you the clout to demand a new season!" Sakura joked.
Watanabe glared at her again.
Nanami smiled.
"She's right. "Better a short season that works than a long season full of errors"." He stated.
"You're siding with her?" Watanabe balked.
"I am. Look, I've been working on this show for over a decade. This is only your third year and your first as director. Don't be selfish. You don't want a long season for your first gig. You'll get overwhelmed." Nanami warned.
"I just want a proper season! Like the early seasons of Danganronpa. They were so good!" Watanabe confessed, smiling dreamily.
Nanami frowned at him. Sakura snorted.
"Yeah, and I want a pony made of diamonds. Neither one of us is going to get what we want." Sakura snarked.
"It's just…it was so inspiring when the kids defeated Monokuma and came out on top. They had so much hope." Watanabe said.
Nanami blinked.
"Trust me, you don't want that. Not that there's a real risk of that kind of ending happening…we have a two-survivor limit for a reason." He said.
"Oh yeah. I understand that bit. I just want a good ol' fashioned hope vs despair showdown." Watanabe beamed, smiling at his co-worker.
"We've had plenty of those..." Sakura murmured, sounding confused.
"I meant one without an artificial vote. If that's possible." Watanabe said wistfully.
"Ah. Well, that won't happen. It's too unmanageable." Sakura said quickly.
"Yeah, yeah. Having Amami here would've been great though. It's a pity that he died…" Watanabe trailed off sadly.
"There's a reason that producer-san pushed for Amami-kun's death. He was popular, but boring. He was making the tastes of the audience complacent. This was his fourth killing game. He looooved the attention, and he wasn't even a teenager when he- "Sakura ranted.
"Sakura, that's enough." Nanami cut in.
"Woops." Sakura said, covering her mouth with a hand.
"Rantaro Amami was my friend." Watanabe said slowly. "I thought he died because of bad luck…that Shirogane killed him because she was desperate to get the killing game started."
"Watanabe, get back to work. The Kubs intermission is about to end." Nanami advised.
Watanabe cursed and quickly focused on his monitor, seemingly forgetting Sakura's words.
Sakura smiled gratefully at Nanami and went back to her desk.
Nanami sighed and pushed up his glasses.
A moment later, he reached for his e-cigarette.
[TRIAL RESUME]
[Kirumi carefully tucks in her shirt and buttons up her dress.]
Kaito: [He scoffs.] Why should we believe you? It's obviously a lie! You've been cornered. Admit your guilt Tojo!
Kirumi: [She sighs.] You really think that I stabbed myself in the stomach, as part of some desperate gambit?
Kaito: Come on! It's not that deep.
Kirumi: It's deeper than it looks. Saihara-kun tricked me.
Kaito: What!? How-
Kokichi: [He puts a finger to his lips.] She's telling the truth Momota-chan.
[Kaito gives him a questioning look.]
[Kokichi grins gently at him. He's trying to get the astronaut to follow his lead.]
Kaito: [Angrily.] What the fuck Ouma!? I thought you were helping us!
Kokichi: [Smug expression.] I am helping.
[Kaito grits his teeth and glares at him.]
[Kokichi sighs. Kaito is too upset to accept the reality of their situation.]
Kaito: Tojo stabbed Shuichi! She wanted to kill him! She admitted it!
Kokichi: I know that it's ridiculous, but we need to hear her out. There's some evidence that hasn't been explained yet. Her testimony could help us find the real killer.
Kaito: I-I can't do this. [He points accusingly at Kirumi.] She killed him. There's no one else!
[The rest of the class remains silent, just watching them argue.]
[Except for two people.]
Kirumi: This is pointless. We don't have much time. We need to find the real blackened.
Maki: [Sharply.] Momota and Ouma, stop it.
[Kokichi shrugs leisurely.]
[Kaito sighs.]
Maki: Momota, Ouma is right. Let's at least hear Tojo out.
Kaito: But-
Maki: I think she's innocent.
[Miu flinches.]
Miu: [Frustrated expression] Are you fuckin' shitting me with this bullshit? You're actually falling for her lies?
Kiibo: [He smiles warmly at her.] Iruma-san, calm down. I agree with Harukawa-san and Ouma-kun, let's hear her out.
[Miu blushes and slowly nods.]
Tsumugi: [Nervously.] I uh…okay.
Kaito: [He grimaces.] Let's just get this over with.
Maki: Go ahead, Tojo.
Kirumi: Very well. It shouldn't take long.
[CONFESSION]
Kirumi: I had originally planned to target Hoshi-kun, because I thought he would be too depressed to resist me.
[Ryoma shrugs.]
Ryoma: Yeah. I'm not surprised.
Kirumi: I had planned an elaborate murder. I was going to strangle Hoshi-kun in his lab, then transport his body to the gym and hide it in the piranha tank, using a glass partition to keep it away from the hungry beasts. Then, when it opened during Yumeno-san's show, everyone would've been too confused to deduce that I had murdered him and would've blamed Yumeno-san for his death.
Himiko: [She rubs her ear.] Nyeh. That would've been a pain.
Angie: [Patiently.] Himiko, let Kirumi finish.
Kirumi: To move Hoshi-kun's body, I planned on creating a ropeway between his lab and the gym, utilising a rope, his tennis net, and a rubber tire. That way I wouldn't have broken curfew. I was hoping to confuse everyone about the time of death.
[She pauses as everyone reacts to her frank confession, before quickly continuing]
Kirumi: However, as you know, things went wrong. I was forced to seek out a new target. I chose Saihara-kun because I thought I'd have a better chance of succeeding in the Class Trial if he was gone. After all, he was the Ultimate Detective.
[Kaito glares at her.]
[She ignores him.]
Kirumi: It didn't take much to lure him to Yumeno-san's lab. I roused him at a quarter past midnight and told him that I had found something suspicious in her lab. I said that I didn't want to spread panic, and that I had only told him because I trusted him the most. He was very tired, but agreed to come with me. We did argue a bit in the foyer…but I quickly allayed his suspicions. I didn't want to wake anyone up.
Kokichi: [Blithely.] Saihara-kun was stupid to believe you. He was too trusting.
[Kaito glares at him.]
[Kokichi quickly counters with a mocking smirk.]
[Kirumi frowns.]
Kirumi: He just wanted to protect you all. I took advantage of his concern.
[She takes a deep breath.]
Kirumi: When we arrived at Yumeno-san' lab, I got out the handcuffs and tried to restrain him…but he dodged me. He was quicker than I anticipated. We fought, and in the scuffle, I dropped the handcuffs. You know what happened next. At one point, Saihara-kun tried to grab the sword from me. He managed to rip my glove and make me drop the weapon. I kicked him into the wall by the tank- he was heavily injured. I thought that I had knocked him unconscious, so I advanced on him. I was ready to finish him off.
[She winces.]
Kirumi: It was a ruse. He was feigning unconsciousness. When I was close enough, he picked up the sword and stabbed me. In retaliation, I grabbed it from him and stabbed him in the chest. Because the blade was so blunt, it took all of my strength. I quickly checked his pulse and found that it was faint. So, I left him to die and went to the nearby bathroom to treat my wound. I was bleeding profusely. It would've gotten in the way of my clean up.
[She swallows.]
Kirumi: When I returned, Saihara-kun was floating in the tank. He was dead. I was mystified. At first, I wanted to retrieve his corpse, then I realised that I might remove evidence implicating the real killer. So, I left it in. I think someone followed Saihara-kun and I, and then killed him after I had left the room. I only cleaned up most of the blood. I was hoping to buy time to find the real blackened, but I couldn't figure out their identity.
[END CONFESSION]
Kaito: That's a ridiculous story! You really expect us to believe you!?
Korekiyo: Also, I cannot believe that someone as careful as Tojo would just leave evidence lying around…unless she'd planned it that way.
[Kirumi sighs in frustration.]
Kokichi: [Mockingly.] Seriously Shinguji-chan? I thought you were smarter than this. Anyways, I believe Tojo-chan and I can prove part of her story.
[PRESENT EVIDENCE]
Kokichi: She left her rope by the pool. She must've forgotten about uit. Anyways, it supports her story. There's no other explanation for it.
Kirumi: It slipped my mind. I had planned on leaving it in the gym, but with everything that happened…I simply forgot.
Kiibo: I'm sorry, but there has to be more than just some rope. It's too little for me to believe her.
Tenko: [Reluctantly.] Yeah. Tojo-san is female…but she could still be lying to us.
Kokichi: [He frowns at everyone.] Do we really need to waste any more time on this? Tojo-chan isn't the killer. She's-
Kaito: I object to that! She's tricking us all!
[REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN]
Kaito: [Desperately.] Isn't the rope just more proof that she's lying to us? Couldn't she have planted it there to support her lies?
Kokichi: [Annoyed expression.] Wow, your mental gymnastics are impressive! Momota-chan, are we really gonna do this?
Kaito: [He narrows his eyes.] I just want to be sure.
Kokcihi: [He snickers.] You're just in pain over Saihara-chan's death. You can't keep a cool head. Well, don't worry, I'll help you calm down! [He smiles tauntingly at Kaito.]
[Kaito bristles.]
Kaito: Tojo is meticulous to a fault! She could 've easily planted that rope!
Kokichi: [Sarcastically.] You just can't believe that the person who stabbed Saihara-chan didn't kill him. You can't wrap your tiny little brain around the fact that there's something deeper to the mystery. You just want the pain to end. You don't really care about avenging Saihara-chan and finding his killer!
[Kaito gasps and clenches his hands into fists.]
Kaito: I can't believe that I trusted you! That I believed in you! Why are you still covering for her?! There's no other evidence that supports her story.
[Kokichi widens his smirk. By lashing out at him, Kaito has given him an easy opening.
The sooner Kaito understands and accepts Kirumi's innocence, the sooner they can move on and wrap up the Class Trial.]
Kokichi: Unfortunately for you, there is more evidence that supports her story.
[CUT]
Kokichi: [His voice is sickeningly sweet.] Momota-chan, remember our investigation. When we were in Hoshi-chan's lab, he pointed out that someone else had re-tied the Tennis Net?
[Kaito pales and winces.]
Kaito: I-I remember.
Kokichi: The knots weren't his. I bet they're Tojo-chan's. They're very fancy.
[He pauses.]
Kokichi: [He lowers his voice.] Can you please man the fuck up and accept the truth? That Tojo-chan didn't murder Saihara-chan. I want to find the real killer. Plus, I'm having so much fun and I want you to entertain me! You owe me!
[Kaito blinks wildly and then frowns cautiously at him.]
[Kokichi winks.]
[Kaito takes a deep breath and nods.]
Kaito: Guys, as much as I hate to admit it, Ouma is right.
[Someone chokes loudly.]
[Everyone looks at Gonta.]
[He is crying and hiccupping heavily.]
Gonta: [He shakes his head.] Gonta can't believe it. That mum would hurt Saihara-kun and lie about it. We can't trust her.
Ryoma: Gonta, calm down. I agree with Kaito and Kokichi.
Kirumi: Yes, and those are my knots. I learned them when I was training to be a maid. I re-tied the tennis net, but I couldn't replicate the knots that Hoshi-kun had originally used.
Hoshi: [His mouth quirks up.] They're my own knots. I invented them five years ago.
Kokichi: Nishishi. See? Tojo's plan failed. Let's move on-
Tsumugi: Wait! What about her motive?
[Kirumi frowns and looks at the floor. Obviously, she doesn't want to reveal her motive to the class.]
Korekiyo: Good point. It's what drove her to attack Saihara-kun. If she really wanted to be honest with us, she'd let Monokuma show it to us.
[Kokichi grins scornfully at Kirumi.]
Kokichi: I hafta say…I'm curious about it as well!
[Kirumi stares blankly at Kokichi.]
Kirumi: All right. I'll share my video. But before Monokuma plays it, I just want to reveal that yesterday, I received my own video.
[She points at Monokuma.]
[The bear flails around and pretends to panic.]
Kirumi: It's clear to me now, that this damn bear planned it that way and wanted to tempt me into committing a murder.
[Monokuma shrugs and laughs sharply.]
Monokuma: Duh! I'm running a killing game! I want you to murder one another!
Monosuke: What an obvious observation!
Monodam: …
Monotaro: [Confused expression.] Didn't we already tell you guys that we're running a killing game?
Monophanie: We did. Maybe they've forgotten?
Monokuma: Shut up kids! *ahem* Are you finished Tojo? Can I play your video, and make the class even more suspicious of you?
[Kirumi glares at him.]
Kirumi: I just want to say one more thing. If I received my own video, then that means someone else also received their own video. It's a simple deduction.
Tenko: [Nervously.] So, someone else could already be planning a murder?
Kaito: [Determined expression.] After this trial, we should get together and watch all of the motive videos. That way, none of us have anything to hide.
Kokichi: [He chuckles.] Wow! I was right all along.
Monokuma: No more stalling. I wanna share Tojo's motive video. The suspense is killing me. Hold on to your hats! It's gonna be a whopper!
[The TV screen appears. It flickers to life.]
Monokuma (on screen): Back by popular demand, it's time for the motive video! Who's the most important person in *your* life? And now, without further ado… Kirumi Tojo, the Ultimate Maid!
[The screen shows a bustling street]
Monokuma (on screen): With clients in politics and finance, this elite maid is renowned for completing any request.
[The screen shifts to the office of the Prime Minister of Japan. Kirumi is standing in the middle of the room. Everyone is bowing to her.]
Monokuma (on screen): One fateful day... she was suddenly summoned by one of her most influential clients - the prime minister.
[He pauses for dramatic effect.]
Monokuma (on screen): The prime minister had a request of utmost importance. He requested that she use her talent as the Ultimate Maid to serve her country. He transferred all his authority to her. No one suspected that the prime minister's new secretary was secretly running the country. And over time, she became the de facto prime minister!
[The screen shifts to a nursery class.]
Monokuma (on screen): Only Kirumi could save the country from impending doom. Yes! The future of the country rests entirely on her capable shoulders!
[The screen shifts to a care worker looking after two old people.]
Monokuma (on screen): Kirumi is up to the task, for she only accepts requests that only she can fulfill. She is driven by the belief that her citizens are the most important people in her life. Oh, and while we're on the subject of those important people...
[The screen blurs and warps.]
Monokuma (on screen): An unfortunate event will soon befall those vermin and sheeple.
[Monokuma appears and smiles smugly at the audience.]
Monokuma (on screen): What event you ask? It's a secret! Find out for yourself. Puhuhuhuhuhu...
[The video ends. The screen goes dark and disappears.]
Kaito: [Astonished expression.] Y-you were the fucking prime minister!
Kirumi: [Calmly.] Yes. That's why I attacked Saihara-kun. I have to get back to my people. Japan is in trouble.
[Everyone gasps. Except Kokichi.]
Kokcihi: [Sarcastically.] It sounds fake as fuck to me. A single maid in charge of the entire government? Bullshit.
[Kaito carefully studies Kokichi's expression. Then he plasters on a look of panic and stares at Kirumi with wide eyes.]
[Kokichi smirks playfully.
Kaito is finally learning how to play the killing game. He thinks.]
Kirumi: I know it sounds impossible. But after watching my video…I remembered everything. A country of 120 million people depends on me. I need to save them.
Miu: That doesn't change shit. You were still willing to sacrifice all of our lives – that's why you murdered Saihara! Your motive makes me even more suspicious of you.
[Kokichi rolls his eyes. Miu is being an unhelpful bitch…she's right about Kirumi, but she's still an unhelpful bitch.]
Tsumugi: You were so desperate to escape this school, that you attacked Saihara-kun! You could've told us about your motive and we could've worked together to escape. I'm sorry, but I can't trust you.
Kiibo: I'm conflicted about Tojo's guilt. But my inner voice is telling me to side with Iruma-san. Sorry.
Himiko: [Lazy expression.] Nyeh. I think Tojo is guilty.
Angie: Kirumi is the desperate sort. She's willing to do anything to leave this school. Even lie to us and trick us!
Korekiyo: Yonaga-san, don't forget she's also willing to murder us. Aside from that, I also believe that Tojo is lying. She's trying very hard to convince us she's not guilty…but I simply can't bring myself to believe her.
Gonta: Gonta agree!
Tenko: I'm with Himiko.
[Kokichi pinches the bridge of his nose and breathes through clenched teeth.
My classmates are so stupid. Maybe I should abandon them? He muses, then shakes his head. Nah. Too boring.]
Ryoma: As unbelievable as it sounds, I believe Tojo. I know I was her intended victim, but I believe in the evidence. It's led us away from her.
Maki: I believe her as well. She didn't murder Saihara.
[Kaito bites his lip and shuts his eyes. He's thinking deeply. He raises his head and looks at Kokichi.]
[Kokichi nods brightly, grinning at him.]
[Kaito smiles minutely.]
Kaito: As much as it pains me to say this…I agree with Harukawa and Hoshi. Tojo isn't the Blackened.
[Kokichi beams at his partner. He's finally caught on.]
Kokcihi: Nishishi. You know which side I'm on.
[Kirumi blinks in disbelief. She wasn't expecting to receive any support.]
[The class falls silent. They all know what's coming.]
[Kokichi gives Monokuma a knowing look.]
[The black and white bear chuckles darkly.]
Kokichi: [Excited expression.] Wellllllll, it seems that we have a split opinion!
Monokuma:[He grins.] Oh boy! Is it that finally *that* time again?
[He stands up.]
Monokuma: The Ultimate Academy is proud to present its very own morphenomenal trial grounds!
Kokichi: [He grins childishly.] Ohhhhh! I love this part!
Kaito: [He snorts derisively.] Pshhh. Shut up Ouma.
[Kokichi looks pointedly at Kaito and cocks his head.]
[Kaito defiantly stares back.]
[Light violet meets dark violet.]
[They share a tense look.]
[Kaito refuses to look away. His eyes are boring into him.]
[Kokichi frowns and stares at the floor, pretending to blush.
He can still feel Kaito's intense gaze, even as Monokuma gets out a key and turns the trial lock, initiating the scrum debate shift.]
[The podiums lit up and rose to the top of the room, before separating and drifting to opposite sides. Eight on the left, five on the right]
[Eight against me. Five with me. Kokichi thinks.
He's in the middle of his group; Maki and Kaito on his left, and Kirumi and Ryoma on his right.
Opposite them, from left to right, is Gonta, Miu, Tsumugi, Kiibo, Tenko, Korekiyo, Himiko, and Angie.]
[Kaito is no longer looking at him. Instead, he's looking ahead with determination, ready to take their classmates on.]
[Kirumi glances at Kokichi, her eyes are wide with confusion. She can't figure out why he is defending her.]
[Kokichi waggles his eyebrows at her, then looks ahead.]
[Monokuma's throne rises.]
Monokuma: Start!
[SCRUM DEBATE]
[He points to the left, letting them begin.]
[Gonta, being the first one in his group, starts his argument.]
Gonta: Tojo-san already lie during trial. She is still lying now.
[Kokichi catches Maki glaring at Gonta. She wants to counter him. He subtly nods at her.]
Maki: Tojo has no reason to lie now. Her plan failed. We've already proven that. She wants to find the blackened just as much as we do.
[Gonta bites his lip and backs down.]
[Next to him, Miu glares stormily at the other group and leans forward.]
Miu: She freaking admitted to stabbing Saihara. She basically confessed.
[Ryoma takes the initiative.]
Ryoma: Tojo only confessed to stabbing him, not killing him. There's a difference.
[Miu continues glaring, but she has lost some of her fire.]
[Tsumugi nervously begins her argument.]
Tsumugi: T-Tojo-san could've thrown Saihara-kun into the water tank, in order to hide evidence. She's lying!
[Kokichi scoffs. He can handle Tsumugi's weak argument.]
Kokichi: Tojo-chan explained her plan. She had no reason to hide evidence with Saihara-chan's body. She purposefully didn't retrieve the items from the tank, in case they helped reveal the real Blackened.
[Tsumugi reels backwards and looks at Kiibo for support. He takes a deep breath and backs her up.]
Kiibo: But the sword was in the tank as well. Tojo-san used it to stab Saihara-kun. It was purposefully hidden.
[Kaito frowns angrily at Kiibo.
He looks at Kokichi.]
[Kokichi grins at him.]
[Kaito stands up and shakes his head.]
Kaito: No, it wasn't. At least not by Tojo. If hiding the sword was part of her plan, she could've just cleaned it and put it back inside the Iron Maiden!
[Kokichi blinks. Kaito is almost back to his old self. He's full of fire, arguing for the innocence of someone who admitted to attacking his best friend.
At least he's being more helpful. He thinks, trying to ignore a strange, warm, sensation in the pit of his stomach.]
[Kiibo falters and backs down. He smiles apologetically at Tsumugi.]
[Tenko quickly steps up.]
Tenko: There was another object in the tank as well. What about the handcuffs?
[Kirumi takes a deep breath, and reluctantly looks at Kokichi for permission to argue.]
[He smiles mockingly at her.]
[She takes it as a yes.]
Kirumi: I dropped the handcuffs during the fight, and I forgot about them after I'd been stabbed. Following Momota-kun's logic, If I had wanted to hide them, I could've just returned them to Hoshi-kun's lab. I didn't put them in the tank.
[Tenko swallows nervously.]
[Korekiyo cocks his head.]
Korekiyo: You did stab Saihara-kun before you left. Ergo, how can we trust that you didn't strike the killing blow?
[Kirumi also counters him.]
Kirumi: Saihara-kun had wounded me. It wasn't deep, but it distracted me. Therefore, I didn't stab him with my full strength. That, and he did have a faint pulse when I left him. I checked on principle. When I returned, he was already dead and someone else had removed the blade from his chest. They must've struck the killing blow.
[Korekiyo bows respectfully and stands back.]
[Himiko pouts lazily. It's her turn.]
Himiko: What about the black cloth? Did you purposefully leave that behind?
[Kokichi sneers at her.]
Kokichi: We've already discussed this Yumeno-chan. Saihara-chan's real killer definitely threw the black cloth into the tank. It incriminates Tojo-chan too much. She wouldn't have left it behind if she'd known about it.
[Himiko shrugs sluggishly.]
[Only Angie remains. She smiles cheerfully at everyone and waves at the opposite side.]
Angie: Kirumi knew Ryoma was suicidal, and she planned to take advantage of that fact and murder him. She is a cold and calculating person, and she has the strongest motive and will to murder. Are you really going to trust her?
[Ryoma quickly takes the initiative.]
Ryoma: If I had swapped videos with Harukawa last night, I probably would have let Tojo murder me. I'd have been so depressed that I wouldn't have cared about my own life. But I didn't. That's why Tojo went after Saihara. She revealed her own motive to us. She's trusting us. So, let's get on with it and find the real killer before we run out of time.
[Angie beams at him and nods gently, accepting his recourse.]
Kokcihi: [He grins.] I think we've refuted all of your pathetic points. Any more?
[Everyone on the opposite side shakes their heads.]
[Monokuma leers.]
Monokuma: Well, the right-side wins! The obvious has been established! Tojo didn't murder Saihara!
[SCRUM DEBATE END]
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