Ch 28

"It is my pleasure to present…The Monokuma File!" Monokuma sneered, throwing the file at them.

Surprised, Kaito lurched forward, barely catching it in time.

"I'll give the other one to you when you investigate Gonta's body. I don't want to overwhelm you with too much information."

"Meaning you don't want us to have all the answers at once. No matter. It's obvious who the culprit is." Kokichi said brazenly.

"I love your excitement, Ouma. Let's hope you're not disappointed with the trial!" Monokuma laughed.

"Nothing can disappoint me. But as for the others…" Kokichi shrugged.

"Heh. I'm sure that whatever happens, the ensuing despair will be quite delicious."

"Yeah. It will be."

Monokuma looked around the room. "Wellll, if the rest of you have nothing to say, I guess I'll be on my way. Good bye…and good luck!"

He disappeared into the floor.

Miu immediately rushed towards Kaito.

"Right. Read out the file and we can start investigating." She requested.

"Iruma, slow down." Kaito said, gripping the file tightly.

"I need to find Kiibo's killer."

"Iruma-chan, I'm not trusting you with any of the evidence. You're a prime suspect." Kokichi cut in.

Miu flinched. "I thought you- and Kaito- "

"Neither of us suspect you. But everyone else does." Kaito said, grinning and showing his teeth. "Trust me, things will proceed more smoothly if you're not involved."

Miu tightened her jaw, then nodded briskly and strode away to the other side of the room.

"Right. Now we can get started." Kokichi announced. "If any of you want to say something, say it now. Otherwise, Momota-chan and I will be completely controlling this investigation."

"I don't think we should all be in the same room." Ryoma suggested.

"Good idea. We should separate into two groups, so the blackened isn't alone with any of the evidence." Kaito said.

"Yeah. There are two crime scenes; one group can investigate here, while the other can go to Shinguuji-chan's lab. Momota-chan and I will investigate some other places. Alone." Kokichi instructed.

"Kukuku. I'll play devil's advocate. What if one of you, or both of you, are the blackened? And you're just investigating in an effort to cover your tracks?" Korekiyo said.

"Shinguuji-chan, that's a very stupid idea. But I see your point. To allay your doubts, someone should come with us. Keep an eye on us while we investigate." Kokichi said, chuckling.

Miu opened her mouth.

"Not you." He added curtly.

Miu bristled and looked away.

"I'll do it." Ryoma offered.

"Thank you, Hoshi. It'll be good to have an extra pair of eyes with us." Kaito said.

"So, who is going where?" Tsumugi mumbled.

"I don't want to be in the same room as Gonta's body." Himiko said, shaking her head. "Or Kiibo's…but if I have to choose…I'd rather stay here."

"I'll go to Shinguuji's lab. Tojo can come with me." Maki said.

"I'll accompany you. It is my lab after all." Korekiyo insisted.

"Everyone else should stay here." Kaito said.

"Can I study Kiibo's body?" Miu asked.

"Sure. As long as someone is monitoring you." Kokichi said.

Miu made a face.

"I'll do it." Tsumugi said.

"Chabashira, Yumeno, what will you two do?" Kaito said gently.

"We'll just stay out of everyone's way. Until you want to question us." Tenko said. Beside her, Himiko bit her lip and nodded in agreement.

"Of course. We'll talk to you near the end of the investigation."

"Make sure you get your stories straight." Kokichi sniped.

Tenko huffed and led Himiko away.

Kaito frowned. He was worried about Himiko.

She's going to go after Iruma in the trial…

Suddenly, a pungent, sweaty, odour hit his nose.

He gagged. It was, really, really, bad. Like someone hadn't bothered to shower in a week…

It's probably just Miu. She's been working herself ragged. He shook his head. I can't let it bother me. I need to investigate.

Kokichi gave him a knowing grin, but Kaito ignored him and addressed the others.

"Everyone knows where they need to be. Kokichi and I will be in Shinguuji's lab soon. We're just going to have a quick look around here."

"We'll make sure nothing is disturbed." Maki promised.

She left the room with Kirumi and Korekiyo.

Miu knelt by Kiibo's body and got to work. Tsumugi hovered close by, watching her with wide eyes.

Kaito turned to his two companions. "Where should we start?"

"I have no idea." Ryoma shrugged. "You guys are way better investigators than I am."

"Hoshi-chan is our bodyguard." Kokichi joked.

"I'm not going to fight anyone."

"We know Hoshi." Kaito said. "And- "

"Momota-chan?"

"Yes, Kokichi?"

"The Monokuma file?"

"Oh. Right."

He turned on the file and read it out.

[The victim is the Ultimate Robot, Kiibo. The victim's body was discovered in the computer lab. The cause of death is blunt force trauma from multiple blows to the head. The body has no other wounds.]

"There's no time of death." Kokichi observed.

"Monokuma wanted to hide it from us." Kaito said.

"If Kiibo was struck multiple times, the first blow probably didn't kill him." Ryoma said.

"The blackened wanted to make sure he was dead…" Kaito shuddered. "But why was he here, alone?"

"Good point. He was always by Iruma-chan's side. We should interrogate her. Ask her why she abandoned her best friend…" Kokichi said.

"We can talk to her after she's finished examining Kiibo's body."

Kokichi nodded.

[Truth Bullet Added: Monokuma File 3]

Turning off the file, Kaito glanced at Kiibo's body and realised something.

"Wasn't it-the body covered in boxes when we found it?"

"It was." Kokichi confirmed.

"That makes no sense." Ryoma said.

"It makes plenty of sense." Kokichi argued. "Kiibo's killer either didn't want us to find his body too quickly…or they wanted to give him some dignity."

"They regretted murdering him? But what about the motive- wasn't that their reason for killing him?"

"Hmm. Food for thought. Anyway, let's move on."

"One sec. What did you pick up In Korekiyo's lab?" Kaito said.

"The key to his lab." Kokichi revealed, taking it out of his pocket.

"But the room was locked. How did it get in there? And why did you pick it up?"

"So many questions Momota-chan." Kokichi laughed. "Obviously, the killer locked the door and then slid the key underneath it. And I picked it up because I was suspicious of Shinguuji-chan. I thought he might pick it up before we could notice it."

"Oh."

"Don't worry Momota-chan, you'll catch up soon enough."

"Hopefully."

[Truth Bullet Added: Key to Korekiyo's lab]

"Right, what else do we need to do here?" Kaito said.

"Iruma-chan, are you done?" Kokichi called out.

"No." Miu snapped. "It's going to take a while."

"Right." Kokichi nodded. "Let's go to Shinguuji-chan's lab. We can return here when Miu is finished. Aaand-" He turned to Tsumugi. "Shirogane-can, I need you to search these boxes."

"Wait! I thought- All of these boxes? "Tsumugi asked, gawping.

"It's more important than watching Iruma-chan. I need you to search for clues."

"Wait! What am I looking for?"

"You'll know it when you find it."

"O-okay." Tsumugi muttered, kneeling and grabbing the nearest box.

"Yumeno-san, wait!" Tenko yelled suddenly.

Himiko stomped towards them, a determined look on her face. Tenko stumbled after her, expression flitting between concern and grief.

"Yumeno, what is it?" Kaito said.

"I want to help Shirogane." Himiko declared.

"Yumeno-chan, I don't trust you." Kokichi said bluntly.

"Don't be stupid. It'll take ages for Shirogane to search all these boxes by herself. Things will go much quicker if I help her."

"If we help her." Tenko added, making her smile.

"Fine." Kokichi conceded. "But be thorough. Search every single box."

Himiko nodded and went to help Tsumugi.

Tenko remained behind, eyeing Miu.

"Chabashira?" Kaito said.

"I'll keep an eye on her. I won't let her tamper with Kiibo's body." Tenko said.

"Sure. Whatever." Kokichi dismissed her.

Tenko frowned at him, then huffed and joined the others.

"Finally. We can start investigating." Kokichi said, sighing in relief.

They left the room and went down the hall.

"You're doing a good job, directing everyone and keeping them calm." Ryoma said.

"Thank you." Kokichi smirked.

"Not just you Ouma. Momota is also doing a good job."

"Well, we're partners." Kaito said.

"In every sense of the word." Kokichi jibed.

Kaito felt his heart skip a beat, but hid it with a laugh.

"Kokichi, we're only investigative partners. Otherwise, I struggle to be in the same room as you. You're so annoying."

"Jeez, how you wound me."

They entered Korekiyo's lab.

Korekiyo was hovering by the display cases in the centre of the room, checking his artefacts. Maki and Kirumi were both watching him with bored expressions. Gonta's body lay undisturbed.

"Hey guys!" Monokuma called out, coming down the stairs. "Ready for the next Monokuma file?"

"Always!" Kokichi shouted.

"Then heeere it is!" Monokuma sang, throwing the file across the room.

Kokichi leapt forward gracefully, catching it in mid-air.

"Like a ballerina." Monokuma guffawed. "Anyways, bye again." He ran up the stairs, vanishing from sight.

"Momota-chan, here." Kokichi said, handing the file to him.

"Thanks." Kaito said, blinking in surprise, before clearing his throat and reading it out.

[The victim is the Ultimate Entomologist, Gonta Gokuhara. The victim's body was discovered in the Ultimate Anthropologist's lab. The time of death is approximately 1:00 p.m. The victim suffered a slight burn to his left foot and a blow to the head.]

"There's no cause of death. But there is a time of death…one o'clock." Kaito frowned.

"That's when the lights flickered." Ryoma said.

"They're probably connected." Kaito read the file again. "And what about Gonta's injuries? Which one caused his death?"

"Let's take a look at the body." Kokichi grinned. "Unless you're too chicken Momota-chan?"

"I'm ready." Kaito said, mouth set in a hard line.

[Truth Bullet Added: Monokuma file 4]

Kokichi hurried forward, while Kaito and Ryoma approached the body more cautiously.

"You okay Momota?" Ryoma asked.

"I'm fine." Kaito lied.

I can do this. I can do this.

"Momota-chan! I found a hammer!" Kokichi yelled. "It has a few teeny tiny drops of blood on it!"

"So, that's what the killer used…to bash Gonta's head in."

"I think so. Come and take a look at his head wound."

Kaito took a deep breath and joined his partner, trying not to slip in the water.

Kokichi smiled at him and pulled back Gonta's hair, covering Gonta's eyes with his other hand.

A swell of affection overcame Kaito. Kokichi was being so thoughtful…

"If you look closely, you can see it isn't that deep." Kokichi said, motioning at a small abrasion on Gonta's forehead.

"Ah. So, you don't think it was fatal…"

"Yes. I also think the burn is what killed him- or rather, linked to what killed him." Kokichi stated, releasing Gonta's hair and standing up.

"Huh."

[Truth Bullet Added: Head Injury]

"The wound is very precise. I don't think Gonta was moving when he was hit. So, he was either unconscious or already dead when the blackened struck him." Kokichi explained, picking up the hammer and swinging it through the air.

"They were trying to hide the real cause of death."

"Which they utterly failed to. They're a really piss poor murderer."

"They still killed two people."

"Yeah…"

[Truth Bullet Added: Hammer]

"What about the water?" Kaito asked. "Kokichi?"

Kokichi pursed his lips. "Something is peeking out of Gonta's back pocket." He knelt down and retrieved it.

"What is it?"

" It's a note. It says: "Meet me in the Ultimate Entomologist's lab around one pm. I believe that someone is planning to murder me. I need your help. Don't tell anyone else about this "." Kokichi pursed his lips. "It's unsigned. And it's written in bold nondescript caps. So, we won't be able to tell who wrote it."

"Someone lured him here? And then murdered him in cold blood?" Kaito said, shivering in horror.

"Maybe."

"Kokichi…"

"Don't worry Momota-chan, we'll figure this out." Kokichi vowed, pocketing the note. "At the moment, all I know is that one o'clock is very important."

[Truth Bullet Added: Appointment Note]

"As for the water…" Kokichi stared at the puddle. "I still need to figure it out."

"Well, Gonta didn't drown. So, how did it get here?" Kaito said.

"Maybe Yumeno-chan magicked it here?"

"Or someone just brought it here? In some sort of container?"

"That's sound's way more likely."

[Truth Bullet Added: Water in Korekiyo's lab.]

"I think I might be able to help you."

Kaito jumped and whirled around.

Korekiyo was standing right behind them, peering at them closely.

"What did you find?" Kokichi said, completely unfazed.

"I found a clue. Behind the stairs."

"Lead the way."

The reveal was both underwhelming and interesting.

"Wow. How amazing. A bucket." Kokichi deadpanned.

"Yes. And obviously, it was used to transport the water here." Korekiyo said. "It's still wet on the inside."

"It came from Monokuma's storage room." Kaito said.

"Yeah. There were a bunch of buckets there. In the back of the room." Kokichi confirmed.

[Truth Bullet Added: Bucket]

"Ah, so the murders are linked." Korekiyo said.

"What? I didn't say that…how can you tell?" Kaito murmured, going red.

"Kukuku. It's fairly obvious."

"Is it?"

"Yes, Momota-chan, it is." Kokichi said. "But convincing everyone else in the trial will be difficult. And it doesn't solve the quandary of who was murdered first."

"Are you going to tell me how you figured it out?"

"No."

"Fine." Kaito sighed. "Shinguuji, give us your account."

"Very well." Korekiyo cocked his head. "Let me think…I went to the cafeteria to eat lunch at about half past twelve. I brought a book with me. I wanted to sit there and read for a while after my meal. Tojo-san and Harukawa-san were there. Then Harukawa-san left. Tojo-san followed a few minutes later-

"They separated?" Kaito couldn't believe it.

"It was only for a few minutes." Korekiyo repeated, glaring at him. "Why don't you ask them about it? After I've finished talking."

"Right. Sorry Shinguuji. Please go on."

"Around one o'clock, the lights flickered. I didn't think anything of it."

Kaito opened his mouth, but shut it when Korekiyo glared at him again.

"A minute later, Tenko came in. She was heading for the dorms. We waved at each other and she left the room. About ten minutes later, Tsumugi came in. For some reason, she was very nervous. She was fidgeting with her hands and stuttering a lot. She left pretty quickly."

Korekiyo paused.

"A few minutes later, I left. In the corridor, I passed by Himiko. We exchanged pleasantries. She was heading back to her lab. Then I went upstairs and discovered that the door to my lab was locked. You guys know the rest."

"When you were going upstairs, did you see anyone else?" Kokichi pressed.

"No."

"Where was Yumeno-chan coming from? The bathrooms or the stairs?"

"I didn't see."

"Can you estimate how much time passed? From the lights flickering to discovering your door was locked."

I guess… it couldn't have been more than seventeen minutes. It was almost twenty past one when I met you in the cafeteria."

"That's all. Thank you, Shinguuji-chan."

[Truth Bullet Added: Korekiyo's account]

"If you need anything else, you know where I am." Korekiyo nodded and then wandered off to inspect a shelf.

"Isn't he suspicious, Momota-chan?" Kokichi said, once the anthropologist was out of earshot.

"Was he lying to us?" Kaito said.

"No." Kokichi scrunched up his eyes. "I mean, I don't think so. But he was holding something back. I just can't quite figure out what or why. Which I don't like." He teared up. "I'm getting overwhelmed Momota-chan. I think we should give up."

"Ouma, stop messing around. I know you." Kaito chided him. "You're the smartest person here. You always know more than you let on."

"Thanks for the ego boost." Kokichi said, grinning at him.

"Not that you need it…" Kaito muttered, struggling to hide his own smile. "C'mon, let's go speak to Tojo and Harumaki."

"Suuuuure."

The two girls were standing by the door, patiently waiting for them.

"Harumaki, we're here to interrogate you!" Kokichi shouted, crossing his arms. "So, spill the beans!"

Maki glared at him. "If you stop being annoying, I'll tell you what happened this morning."

"Nuh uh. You've got things to explain. Like- why did you leave Tojo-chan alone in the cafeteria?"

Maki stiffened. "We were only apart for five minutes. If even that."

"Ah. So, you admit to it."

"We had just finished lunch. I left Tojo behind while I went ahead to prepare my lab."

"I finished cleaning up and went right upstairs. I didn't have enough time to murder Kiibo and Gonta." Kirumi stated.

"Yeah. That makes sense." Kokichi conceded. "But how are you going to prove it in the trial?"

"Aside from those five minutes, I have a perfect alibi. Therefore, it would be very difficult to pin the murders on me." Kirumi huffed. "But I'm sure if people do accuse me, you'll be able to clear my name."

"Touché Tojo-chan."

"Did you notice anything odd? Around the time of the murders?" Kaito said.

"As a matter of fact, we did." Kirumi said. "Just before one, we heard someone running past Harukawa-san's lab. They were heading for the fourth floor. It was really loud. Panicked. The person was either running for their life, or…" She shrugged. "I don't know."

"That's interesting. Really interesting. Thank you." Kokichi said.

[Truth Bullet Added: Someone running the corridor]

"Anything else?" Kaito said.

"No. We spent the whole morning in my lab. We didn't leave until the body discovery announcement." Maki said.

"What do you think caused the flickering lights?" Kokichi asked.

"It happened right after we heard the person running in the corridor." Kirumi said. "Considering the murders…they're probably connected. But as to what that connection is…I have no idea."

"I wonder if Gonta's murder has something to do with it." Kaito said.

"How could his death have made the lights flicker?" Kirumi shook her head. "I can't see it."

"Well, Kokichi and I will keep investigating. We'll find the truth."

"Good luck."

[Truth Bullet Added: Flickering Lights]

"Right, we're done here Momota-chan." Kokichi declared.

"Do you want to return to the storage room?" Kaito said.

"Not yet. I want to check out the computer lab first."

"Why?"

"Because of what Miu said- when we ran into her earlier, she said "everything is a mess". I'm curious what she meant."

Kaito caught on immediately. "You think the blackened purposefully trashed it?"

Kokichi nodded.

They left and hurried down the corridor. Ryoma trailed behind them, a thoughtful look on his face.

Kaito went ahead and opened the door for Kokichi, ushering him through.

Kokichi blew him a kiss and went in.

Kaito rolled his eyes, but felt his cheeks heat up.

"Momota…" Ryoma chuckled, shaking his head.

Kaito frowned. "Hoshi? What- "

"Uhh, Momota-chan? You need to see this." Kokichi said.

Kaito cursed and hurried inside, closely followed by Ryoma.

Sure enough, the lab was trashed.

But that wasn't the problem.

Kokichi was pointing at something in the centre of the room-

A metal baseball bat, covered in scratches.