Junko let out a scream. "AHHHH!" She turned around, trying her hardest to regain her composure. I was silent. I so badly wanted to run to her, lift her off the weight rack and ask if she was okay, but my feet had frozen to the floor. I couldn't move. The first thing I felt was tears streaming down my face. Gradually, I felt the rest of my body begin to move, and I grabbed my face in anguish.

"No…" I whispered. "This can't be happening." I forced myself to look at Chihiro's… corpse. "I-I just talked to her yesterday! S-she was so happy and full of life!" I stamped my foot and yelled. "Who could have done this!?"

"My my, it seems this game has gotten very interesting. VERY interesting indeed." Togami said quietly.

Before either Junko or I could scold him for his heartless comment, I heard the monitor go off, and the voice I had come to dread came laughing through.

"A body has been discovered!" Monokuma said. "After a certain amount of time, the class trial will begin!"

The monitor shut off, and I forced myself to accept the reality of the situation.

Chihiro was murdered. By one of us.

"Goddamnit!" Junko cried and punched the wall. "It shouldn't have to be like this!" She sobbed.

Gradually, everyone came running into the pool changing room. Ishimaru and Owada came in, equally disturbed by the sight. Owada looked furious, and for once I understood why.

"Chihiro… why…?" Ishimaru sobbed. He buried his face into Owada's chest.

Owada said nothing and stared at the corpse, an angry snarl forming on his face.

"I'm sorry, Owada. I knew you two w-were close." I said, barely managing to keep my speech steady.

Owada looked down at the ground and continued to stay silent.

"I would have thought an obnoxious beast like you would have more to say, Owada. Your best friend has just been murdered." Togami said rudely. "Or do you have something to hide?"

Owada's muscles tensed. "SHUT UP!" He yelled. "How fuckin' dare you!? Chihiro was my friend! Let me fuckin' mourn my bro you insensitive freak!"

During that time, Kirigiri had walked in and made a beeline for the body. I hadn't even notice her coming in.

"I'm fuckin' done with your bullshit, Togami!" Owada cried. He turned away. "Get out of here if you know what's good for you."

"Hehehe, unfortunately I cannot. The game has started again, and it's time for me to start playing."

"Togami, for the love of god, shut your mouth." Junko said softly, still facing the wall that she punched, leaning on her fist.

"Yes. Please." Kirigiri said pointendly. "Your asinine comments are preventing me from focusing." She was crouching down below the body, investigating it VERY closely.

For whatever reason, that was enough to shut him up. Everyone else came in one by one, each reacting to the sight of the body.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Yamada cried loudly.

"B-blood?" Fukawa cried, her knees shaking. "I-i-is t-that b-blood?" Without warning, her eyes rolled back in her skull and she collapsed on the floor.

"Fukawa!" Asahina cried, rushing to her side. She lifted up Fukawa's head slightly to elevate it.

"Fainted." Ogami said. "Makes sense, she faints at the sight of blood." She turned to the body, her expression cold. "And from the looks of it, I don't blame her."

"Tch. As I expected: Hopeless." Togami said. He looked around, waiting for someone to berate him, but no-one was paying him any attention. That seemed to greatly annoy him.

"Great! You're all here!" Monokuma appeared suddenly. "I will now present the Monokuma File!"

Our eHandbooks made a ding sound, and we all took them out and read the file.

"The victim was Chihiro Fujisaki. Cause of death was blunt force trauma to the skull. Estimated time of death is 2:00am."

"Interesting." Kirigiri muttered.

"W-what is?" Yamada asked nervously. "Could it be? You-"

"Chihiro's eHandbook is missing." Kirigiri interrupted.

"Huh?" Owada said. "That can't be right."

"M-maybe she just lost it…" Ishimaru said, finally standing on his own.

"I don't think that's it at all." Kirigiri said simply. "My guess is that the killer took it."

"But why would they do that?" Asahina asked. "What could they possibly hope to gain?"

"My theory is that it has vital information that points directly to the killer." Kirigiri rubbed her chin and stared at the body. "We should see to it that it is recovered."

"Gah!" Owada cried. "Yeah! I-I wanna know who the fuck did this to my friend!"

"Well, Owada. Do you and Ogami want to guard the body again this time? I'm sure you of all people don't want the crime scene tampered with."

"I absolutely fuckin' don't want that!" Owada yelled, and then composed himself. "Sorry, yeah. I would be happy to guard it."

Kirigiri simply nodded. "Now, I will need some time to investigate the body undisturbed, in the meantime-"

Kirigiri was interrupted by a sudden noise. The noise was Fukawa, who seemingly jumped up from the floor where she was lying and on her own two feet. But she looked a little… strange.

"F… Fukawa? Are you okay?"

"Ooo hoo hoo hoo…" She said slowly, her speech slurring. Her eyes were vacant and her tongue was sticking out. "Is that a dead body!?" She shrieked excitedly, despite her expression not changing. "Is that a dead body- is that a dead body!? Kyehahahahahahaha!" She laughed excitedly, before proceeding to collapse on the floor again.

"Sh… she's unconscious again." Asahina said, confused.

"W-well… that was extremely weird…" Hagakure said. "W-wait! You don't think she was possessed by Fujisaki's-" His face turned white. "G-g-ghost!?"

"What the hell are you talking about, ya weirdo!?" Asahina cried.

"Calm down, Hagakure." Kirigiri said slowly. "I'm sure that had nothing to do with the occult."

"Even so, her change in behaviour was quite dramatic and extreme." Celeste said. "Perhaps we should keep an eye on her?"

Everyone looked at each other. Yamada nodded. "That's probably wise. I mean, she acted like a totally different person there."

"Kehehe…" Togami chuckled to himself and said nothing.

"Then Asahina and I will carry her back to her room. From there, anyone who is not investigating, or in mine or Owada's case, guarding the scene, can take turns making sure she's alright." Ogami said.

"Tch. What a waste of time." Togami said. "However, her change in behaviour after seeing a dead body is very intriguing. It is certainly where I want to start with my investigation."

"Why?" I asked.

"Maizono!" Togami suddenly cried, pointing at me. "You will help me with my investigation!"

I jumped in surprise. "What? Why?"

"You not only have known what it is like to feel murderous intent, but you also know what it is like to act on that. Your experience will help me greatly in getting into the culprit's mind."

I fumed. "No way, Togami! Screw you!"

He sighed. "What a shame. I was even going to let your beloved Miss Junko join you as well. But after that, there's no way I would give you the privilege."

"If you're going to yell at each other, please do it somewhere else. I'm trying to investigate the murder of one of our friends." Kirigiri said with little emotion in her tone. It was hard to tell if she was exasperated or simply being matter-of-fact.

"Fine." Togami folded his arms. "I'll wait for you in the library if you change your mind, and I know you will." Togami walked off, leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

"Guess I better start looking…" Ishimaru said.

"N-no!" Owada cried. "Please, stay here for a bit."

Ishimaru smiled. "Okay, bro." He couldn't bring himself to look at the body or the murder weapon, so instead he looked around at the gym equipment.

Junko cleared her throat. "We probably should…" She trailed off, but I could tell what she was going to say.

"Y-Yeah. Okay." I walked over to the body of my friend. The way she was hanging, our faces were almost level. That freaked me out more than anything. Her face was drooping sadly to the floor. It looked like she was crying before she died, like she knew who her killer was. "I'm sorry, Chihiro…"

"You didn't kill her, Maizono." Kirigiri said quietly. I looked up. "We have to find out who did."

I nodded. I forced myself to look at the head wound, and then immediately turned away. It was too horrifying to describe. I looked down at the floor and saw a bloody dumbbell. I crouched down to get a good look at it.

"A dumbbell, huh?" Junko said from next to me. "That must be the murder weapon."

Kirigiri nodded. "The shape and size of the dumbbell is consistent with the wound on her head."

"Thanks. I didn't really need to hear that." Junko said.

Kirigiri frowned and said nothing. Instead, she ran her hands up Fujisaki's arms and neck. That's when I saw it.

"An extension cord?" I asked.

"It seems to be. This must be what was used to suspend her body."

"Why go to all that trouble?" I asked.

"Clearly you haven't seen the glaring clue in front of you." Kirigiri said dryly.

"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked.

"I…" Junko said. I turned around. Her face was very pale. She slowly raised a shaky hand and pointed at the wall behind Chihiro's body. "I think she's referring to that."

I looked at where she was pointing and cried in terror. "WHAT THE HELL?"

The word "bloodlust" was painted on the wall in blood. Chihiro's blood.

"This isn't the work of someone desperate." Kirigiri said. "This is something else entirely."

"This is the mark of a professional…" Junko said quietly.

Kirigiri frowned. "This might be why Togami was so interested. He knows more about this than we do." She turned to me. "I'm afraid you are going to have to see him after all."

"Ugh, fine!" I moaned. I turned back at the body, giving Chihiro one last look. "But only for Chihiro."

Kirigiri smiled. "I promise I will solve this case and avenge the death of our lost friend."

I was surprised. I didn't realise how caring Kirigiri really was. My preconception that she was cold and unwelcoming was perhaps a misjudgment on my part. I remembered how much of a force of nature she was during the trial for Makoto. It was odd, she refused to tell me her talent, but I still felt inclined to trust her.

"Thank you, Kirgiri." I smiled. "Come on, Junko. Let's go see what Togami wants."

Junko followed me out of the changing room. I was glad to be away from the body. Owada didn't seem too excited to be in the same room as the body of his former friend, but he insisted on being there. Owada was strange. I shook off the thought. My thoughts should be on Chihiro's killer and not her aggrieved friend. We got to the library where Togami had resumed his reading.

"Ah, you've arrived." He said, clearly bored.

"Mind telling us why you dragged us here?" Junko asked.

"A simple, 'thank you for waiting so patiently, Sir Togami' would have sufficed." He replied.

I sighed. "Thank you, Togami. For waiting." I turned to Junko and whispered. "Probably best if you keep quiet for now."

Junko scowled, but nodded.

"Well, without further ado, let me show you what I've found." Togami announced. He opened a door at the back of the library and walked in. As I tried to follow him in, the door almost swung on my face. I angrily pushed open the door and held it open for Junko.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"In short, it's an archive." Togami grinned. "An archive with metric tons of information that no mere 99% would ever have access to."

"99%?" Junko asked under her breath.

"Some of these police files are ones that, outside of actual investigative personnel of course, only the Togami corporation has access to. As such, there was one particular case that caught my eye. One I had managed to solve myself before we arrived at Hope's Peak. Go ahead, take a look." He grabbed a file off the shelf and thrusted it into my hands.

"The geno- What?" I asked.

"Genocider Syo…" Junko said out loud. "I-I've heard about this person! A murderous fiend who murders in the most brutal way!"

"This particular file points out a pattern most police departments don't even know." Togami smiled. "See if you can spot it."

I flicked through the file, looking at the mausoleum of horrendously brutalised victims. Each one was suspended on a wall of some sorts with sharp scissors stabbed into various organs. On the wall behind them, the word 'Bloodlust' was written on the wall in their blood.

"Jesus, that's awful!" I cried, handing Togami back the file.

"Brutal, isn't it? A mere normal person like you would trouble stomaching it. However, for me, it is second nature."

"That's not something to brag about!" Junko looked horrified.

"Anyway, did you spot the pattern?"

"Uh…" I thought for a moment. "They're all suspended on a wall, and each one had the word 'bloodlust' written above them in their own blood."

"Oh, and they were all killed by those scissors." Junko added.

Togami sighed. "I was right to think of you as idiots. And here I thought poor Naegi trusted you for a reason."

"Mention his name like that again, and you'll find your head to be a nice ornament on my mantelpiece." Junko threatened.

Togami laughed. "For a woman who struts around on a catwalk for a living, you sure like to talk big."

"All YOU do is steal from poor people. I'll take the catwalk over mass graves all day." She spat back.

Togami sneered. "You're acting as if I care. Moving on to more pressing matters…"

Junko's entire body tensed. I could feel the ground shift beneath me. If looks could kill, this entire building would have imploded.

"...The connection I was talking about was the position of the bodies. If you care to look, you will see it." He handed me back the file and I forced myself to look at the bodies again.

"I… I think I see it." My eyes widened. "They're all suspended in a crucifix, just like Chihiro."

Togami nodded. "Exactly. Which is why I don't believe this to be the work of a copycat. That detail has never been released to the public. Which could only mean that Chihiro was killed by the real Genocider Syo."

I dropped the file, my face growing pale. "W-what?"

"You can't be serious! Genocider Syo is in the school!?" Junko cried.

"No questioning it."

"How did he- or rather they, sneak in?" I asked.

"That's easy. They didn't." He smiled evilly.

"W-what? What do you mean?"

"The murders tended to occur between late afternoon and early evening during weekdays, and any time during weekends and public holidays." Togami explained. "As such, detectives concurred that the suspect is more than likely a high school student."

"Huh?" Junko said, shaking.

"Meaning that the culprit didn't sneak into the school, but rather was accepted into it."

"W-what?" I said.

"So let me get this straight: One of the students in this killing game is a literal serial killer? How the hell haven't we found them yet?" Junko asked.

"Clearly they were just biding their time." Togami grinned. "Or better yet, perhaps the motive was the incentive."

"Having the fact that you're an actual serial killer revealed would be pretty devastating…"

"Exactly. That's why I'm more than convinced Genocider Syo is responsible for the murder of Fujisaki."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. A serial killer was hiding among us and they killed Chihiro? It was too much for me to process. "We should continue our investigation…"

"Before you do that, I want to check on Fukawa. I have something to ask her."

"You? Checking on Fukawa?" Junko scoffed. "This is seventeen layers of fishy."

Togami rolled his eyes. "You have no idea how much willpower I am exerting."

Without another word, we walked downstairs and back to the dorms. I slowly walked towards Fukawa's door. Why was I so nervous? I shook my head and rang the doorbell.

"Fukawa?" I yelled.

After a few seconds, the door slowly opened a crack and Fukawa peered around the corner.

"N-no… st-stay away from me!" She yelled. She slammed the door in my face.

"Hey!"

"Togami, since you're so concerned, why don't you talk to her?" Junko asked sarcastically.

Togami shrugged then walked towards the door and rang the doorbell.

Once again Fukawa peered around the door. "N-no, I-I said g-go-" She stopped when she saw Togami. "M-Master Byakuya!" She cried in surprise, but didn't open the door. "I-I'm s-sorry… I-I-I couldn't k-keep my p-promise… B-but… I p-promise now… I w-won't let her have c-control again!"

Togami put his foot in the door before Fukawa could close it. "Is that it?"

Fukawa turned red. "I-I-I won't let Genocider Syo have control again!" She screamed. Togami seemed satisfied and shut the door.

"W-what was that?" I said.

"Togami, what the hell does this mean?" Junko asked.

He chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough. Anyway, run along now. I'm going to do some more digging on Genocider Syo. On my own."

We took the very obvious hint and walked off, grateful to be away from him. Our minds were still reeling from everything we just witnessed. As we walked down the hall, we saw Celeste walking towards the warehouse, clearly deep in thought.

"Celeste!" I cried out. She turned to us and smiled.

"Good morning, you two. I trust your investigation has been going smoothly?"

"Smoothly is hardly the word I'd use." Junko groaned. "We just found out there's a friggin' serial killer in the school!"

Celeste didn't even blink. "You are talking about Genocider Syo, no?" She huffed. "I hardly believe a murderous fiend like that would be accepted into this prestigious school, that's just preposterous." She frowned. "Then again, this school could be that twisted. But I still believe this is the work of a very dedicated and very cunning copycat."

"I'd like to believe so too, but… the evidence is there." I replied.

Celeste shrugged. "Believe what you will. It is no business of mine. Which, by the way, I believe you have business with me?"

Her tone barely changed as she spoke, which took me by surprise. "Um… yeah! We were just wondering why you were going to the warehouse."

Celeste narrowed her eyes. "I'm surprised you don't know, being so close to her. I suppose my theory goes out the window then."

"W… what do you mean?" I asked nervously.

"I was out late last night, yes breaking my own rules I'm aware, searching the warehouse for something to help me sleep, when I ran into Fujisaki. Right here." She opened the door to the warehouse and let us in.

"Why was she in here?" Junko asked.

"That is what I was hoping to ask Maizono, but she clearly does not know." Celeste replied.

I shook my head. "No, I have no idea why she was in here."

Celeste clicked her tongue. "Well I do have a theory: When I saw her, she was stuffing a track jacket into a duffel bag. When I confronted her, she looked nervous and said she was in a hurry. Then she left."

"That's so weird…" I whispered.

Celeste nodded. "Indeed. I doubt you have an explanation, but my theory is she went to train with someone in the middle of the night."

"Why?" Junko asked. "Why did she do that?"

"That I believe Maizono might know." Celeste looked at me curiously.

Suddenly, it all clicked into place. "She said she…" I choked on my tears. "Wanted to get stronger. That's why she did it."

"But do you know why she wanted to?" Junko asked.

"It most likely has something to do with her secret. The motive for this case." Celeste asked. "When Kuwata killed Naegi, it wasn't because of his own motive. Perhaps the same is for the killer in this case."

I started shaking. "Please don't remind me of that."

She sighed. "Well there's no use talking about it anyway. We need to look at the scene of the crime again. We might find more clues now that we have this information."

We all walked back upstairs and went back to the crime scene one more time and found Ogami down on one knee, investigating the carpet.

"Hmm…" She said quietly.

"What is it, Ogami?" Celeste asked.

"Ah, you're all here. Kirigiri vanished as per usual, so I was hoping you three could help me solve this puzzle." Ogami said.

Owada was sweating. "Yeah, there's something that's been bothering me, too." He looked at Ishimaru, who was standing underneath a bloody poster, nodding at him. "But you go first."

Ogami nodded. "Yesterday when I was training with Hina, I spilled protein coffee on the carpet in this room. It seems to have vanished."

Celeste peered down at the stain. "It doesn't even look like it's been cleaned. It's as if it was never there in the first place." She said.

"How can you tell?" Junko asked.

"The state of one's clothing during a poker game, or any gambling game for that matter, provides a small piece of insight as to their playstyle." Celeste said matter-of-factly.

"Really?"

"No, I just know what a properly cleaned carpet looks like." Celeste giggled.

Junko scowled. I couldn't help but laugh.

"What does it mean, then?" Ogami asked. "How can a coffee stain just disappear?"

We all thought briefly, but none of us could come up with anything.

"Maybe you're just mistaken?" Ishimaru suggested.

Ogami shook her head. "No, I'm positive it was on this very carpet."

"Odd." Celeste said.

"Okay, forget about the stain. I'm sure we'll find out what happened later." Owada said. "There's something I wanna ask."

"Then ask away." Junko prompted.

Owada's voice caught in his throat. He turned towards the body and froze. "Sorry, I can't. Taka can you…?"

Ishimaru nodded. "Sorry, he's still taking the loss quite hard. Perfectly reasonable in his position if you ask me."

"Do you know what Owada is talking about?"

"I think so." Ishimaru rested his fist on his chin. "I believe it's this poster." He pointed to a bloody poster just behind Chihiro's head. "Forgive me for being presumptuous, but isn't it a little strange for a poster like this to be in a girl's changing room?"

I looked at the poster. It was of a woman in a bikini in a sexy pose. "I suppose it is a little weird…"

"Two strange phenomena at the scene of the crime?" Celeste said. "Very suspicious. I think we should check the boys' changing room."

"Huh? How come?" I asked.

"It might confirm the very thing I am speculating."

Ogami raised an eyebrow. "Actually, now that you mention it, I'm fairly sure that is where Kirigiri went."

"Well, she is very clever and deductive. If she went to the boys' changing room, I am now fully confident my suspicion is correct." Celeste said. She quickly turned on her heel and walked out of the changing room. Junko and I rushed out to follow her. As Monokuma had opened up both changing rooms, we had no trouble entering the boys' changing room.

"Ah. So you figured it out, too." Kirigiri said, crouched on the floor.

"I don't know what we have figured out, but we have figured out something." Junko said. Kirigiri frowned in disappointment.

"Hey, wait!" I pointed down to a spot on the carpet. "Is that a stain?"

"Yes." Kirigiri said. "Specifically, protein coffee."

"Wait, isn't that what Ogami said she spilled on the carpet in the girls' room?"

Kirigiri nodded. "Exactly. The poster is strange too."

I looked around for the poster in the boys' changing room. When I found it, I saw what she was talking about. "Isn't that that one boy band?" I asked. "I'm pretty sure my friends from junior high obsessed over them…"

"Ugh." Junko pulled a face. "I hate that band. They looked like they were all made in a factory. Sound like it too."

"Well, regardless of how you feel about the boy band, don't you think it's a bit strange that a poster of them is residing in the boys' changing room?" Kirigiri asked.

"It is very strange, indeed." Celeste said. "This pretty much confirms my suspicion: The crime scene where Chihiro is now and the actual scene of the murder are not the same, and not only that, but their contents have been switched."

"Switched?" Junko asked, her jaw agape. "But why?"

"To perhaps pin the crime on someone of a different gender?" I suggested.

Kirigiri tapped her chin with her index finger. "Question is, if that is the case, how did Chihiro get into the boys' changing room?"

None of us had an answer for that. And it seems we wouldn't find one, as the monitor sang its deathly tune, and Monokuma's smiling face appeared, telling us it was time for the trial. We slowly made our way down the stairs and into the red door near the gym.

"Now then! It seems there is one person yet to arrive." Monokuma said when we all gathered.

"Who?" I asked, but he had already vanished. I looked around, trying to count the number of students present. I couldn't figure out who was missing. When Monokuma arrived back, dragging Fukawa by her pigtails, I realised.

"Ah. Well that makes sense."

"Nnghhh!" Fukawa cried, clutching her hair. "I-I t-told you to l-leave me alone!"

"Nope! No can do! Participation is necessary in the class trial. If you don't show up, you get punished! Puhuhu!"

Fukawa gritted her teeth. "Ngh! I guess I'll just have to power through it…" She turned and faced the wall. "Oh… I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate this!" She mumbled to herself.

"The hell is up with her?" Junko asked. I shrugged.

Kirigiri opened the doors to the elevator and we all walked in.

And thus, we descended down the elevator for a second time, praying it would be the last. When the elevator slowed to a halt, we exited and came upon the new trial grounds.

"Wha… what is this?" Hagakure cried.

"The trial grounds look different!" Yamada exclaimed.

"You like?" Monokuma said, sitting on his little throne. "I redecorated a little. Puhuhu! It's good to have a hobby, you know."

"You're so… so… ugh!" Asahina cried, shaking her head. "Just shut up already!"

"Fine! I suppose you're eager to get this trial under way! Well, I won't delay you any longer! Please stand behind the podium dedicated to you and we shall begin!"

Seeing Chihiro's portrait with an x over it… it made my heart sink. She befell the same fate as Makoto, but this time the person who did it was unknown. I looked around at the crowd of people before me.

One of us brutally murdered Chihiro Fujisaki, and now we had to find that killer.

The trial for Chihiro's murder had begun.