The atmosphere of the trial grounds was oppressive and rife with despair. I swallowed and looked around. The golden-tiled walls were painful to look at. Three X's marked the trial circle: Makoto, Kuwata, and Chihiro. "How did it come to this?" I asked myself. "This should not be happening…"

"First we need to discuss how Fujisaki was killed." Kirigiri said.

"The weapon was that dumbbell laying on the ground, right?" Junko said. "It was… covered with Chihiro's blood."

"That does seem correct, yes." Ogami said.

"Why waste time with unnecessary details such as that?" Togami scoffed. "We already know who the culprit is."

"Wait, we do!?" Hagakure cried.

"How on Earth did you forget it out so quickly!?" Yamada asked in shock.

"It was perfectly obvious if you bothered to look at the scene." Togami replied dismissively.

"You are talking about the message written on the wall in blood, yes?" Celeste asked. "If I recall, it said 'bloodlust'. It appears to be a calling card left by the killer."

"A calling card unique to one individual." Togami grinned.

"Who the fuck are you talking about, ya goddamn loon!?" Owada growled. His already short patience had been worn thin through the investigation, and it was easy to understand why.

"Y-you're talking about… Genocider Syo, correct?" I said nervously.

"You mean- that crazy serial murderer that keeps appearing in the news!?" Ishimaru yelled.

"The very same." Togami nodded. Fukawa looked nervous.

"He's… in the school!?" Asahina cried in terror.

"Not necessarily." Kirigiri quickly snapped. "This could be the work of a copycat, the murders are all over the news. It would not be hard to replicate."

"Not possible." Togami replied. "Pay attention to how the body was positioned, and it will become perfectly clear. This is the real deal."

"Do you have evidence?" Celeste asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do." He adjusted his glasses and looked at me. "Tell 'em, Maizono."

I quickly snapped to attention at his sudden order. "Y-yes of course." I cleared my throat, searching my mind for the right words to relay the gruesome information. "The victims were all killed in the same way: Stabbed to death by scissors and strung up against a wall. The word 'bloodlust' is written in the victim's blood on the wall next to them."

"But… it's as Kirigiri said. Anyone who knows about those crimes could have recreated that to pin it on them." Hagakure explained, sweat dripping from his forehead. It was clear he didn't want to consider the possibility that he was trapped in a school with a serial killer. I swallowed. I didn't either.

"Focus." Togami snapped. "There is one detail that Maizono failed to mention that makes it perfectly clear that this is the real Genocider Syo."

A detail… I forgot to mention?

"You… you must be talking about the way the bodies are positioned, right? They're all in… crucifixes or whatever." Junko said.

"Exactly correct. That important detail, being that all of Syo's victims are strung up in a crucifix, was never released to the public. That was top secret information."

"That seems like an unnecessary detail to keep hidden, considering how many of these murders keep popping up in the media." Ogami said with an eyebrow raised.

"That doesn't matter now. What matters is that it means the killer was no copycat. Fujisaki's killer is the one and only Genocider Syo."

"Holy cow!" Hagakure cried. "So it's true!? Genocider Syo is in this school!?" Hagakure clutched the sides of his head and started screaming. "Aaah! Get me outta here!"

"Calm down, Hagakure." I said. Hagakure shook his head, lowering his screams to a mere whimper.

"If Genocider Syo really is in the school… How did they get in?" Asahina asked.

"This building is sealed off." Yamada added. "It would be really hard for them to bust in."

"That's because they didn't need to bust in. They were already in the school." Togami explained.

"But like… how?" Owada asked. "How did no-one notice a fuckin' serial killer sneaking into the school?"

"Yes. That concerns me as well." Ishimaru frowned. "This school only accepts Ultimate students. I can't imagine the school would have such sloppy security, even before all this… maximum security equipment was added."

I thought about what Ishimaru just said. Now that he had mentioned it, it did seem odd. Hope's Peak Academy definitely was not built with iron plates attached to the windows. Photos promoting the school online certainly did not show them. Whoever must have kidnapped us must have somehow transformed the school in such a short amount of time…

"It seems none of you are getting it." Togami sighed. "The school let them in as an Ultimate student."

"Genocider Syo is a high school student!?" Yamada yelled.

"Are they in this room with us!?" Asahina cried.

"Yes, exactly. Genocider Syo is one of us." Togami grinned and pushed his glasses up his nose. "In fact, it's the very person who has refused to utter a word this whole trial." He rolled his shoulders back and pointed to his right. "Toko Fukawa!"

Fukawa jumped out of her podium. "Ah!" She cried.

"What the hell are you smokin' man!?" Hagakure cried. "A girl like her? A serial killer? That's crazy!"

"Inconceivable!" Yamada growled.

"Oh, believe me it's true." Togami sneered. "The true identity of Toko Fukawa, and Fujisaki's killer, is none other than Genocider Syo!"

"NNGGHH!" Fukawa cried, her voice caught in her throat. She was completely caught off-guard and unable to provide a rebuttal.

"Do you have proof for this very serious string of accusations?" Kirigiri stared hard at him. Her glare, directed at anyone else, would have scared their soul right out of their body. Togami's stone-cold arrogance grew triumphant, however.

"Of course I do." Togami scoffed. "Maizono. You recall the file I had you read in the archives, correct? Explain it to Kirigiri: It has all the relevant information regarding the murderous fiend."

I swallowed. Why on earth did he keep passing it on to me? I didn't bother complaining, it would have just granted me a snarky reply back. "The murders were done in the afternoon or at night in the weekdays, or any time during the weekends/holidays. Thus, the investigators theorised that the killer was most likely a high school student."

"Correct."

"And…" Junko added. "You said something like… the lead suspect would often appear a fair distance from the scene of the crime shortly after it happened, dazed and confused."

"Exactly."

"So… based on that, the investigators also thought that the killer might have had… what did you say it was called? Dissociative Identity Disorder?" Junko asked.

"That was it!" I said, with perhaps a little more vigour than I intended.

"What does that mean?" Asahina asked.

"It means that Genocider Syo most likely has a split personality." Ogami explained.

"Split personality!?" Asahina cried. "Oh my god…"

"N-no…" Fukawa cried weakly. "Y-you've got it all wrong!"

"Oh? Have we?" Togami sneered. "I think you're the one who is wrong. You killed Fujisaki and strung up her corpse just like you did all your other victims! You have a split personality, shared with Genocider Syo!"

Fukawa looked down and said nothing.

"Is this true, Fukawa?" Asahina said softly.

"Please! Tell us he's lying!" I cried. "It c-can't be you!"

Fukawa started shaking, tears dripping down her face. "Y-you said… y-you said you wouldn't tell a-anyone…" She clutched her podium in anguish, trying to steady herself. "Y-you promised!"

Gasps filled the room.

"What!? S-she admitted it! I-it's true!" Yamada yelled.

"It… It can't be!" Ishimaru cried.

"N-no way man! This can't be real! Fukawa really is- is Genocider Syo!?" Hagakure said, terrified.

"'Promised?' I did no such thing. Besides, you broke your promise first." Togami scowled.

"Togami. Get to the point." Kirigiri said.

"Last night, after Monokuma revealed the motive, Fukawa came up to me. Normally I wouldn't give her the time of day, but she told me something veeeeery interesting." Togami explained. "She told me she would confess her dark secret: The dark secret being that she shares a body with the Ultimate Murderous Fiend, Genocider Syo. She demanded I keep it a secret, and in return she vowed to never let Genocider Syo gain control and kill someone. Clearly, she failed to keep that promise."

"What in the goddamn hell are you talking about, man!?" Owada yelled. "Whaddya mean she's the killer!?"

"Th-that's- that's preposterous right?" I asked. "Right, Fukawa!?"

Fukawa said nothing. She just kept shaking.

Togami smiled. A twisted smile mixed with malice and ego. "All we have to do now is hear it from the culprit in question."

"The culprit… in q-question?" Fukawa finally looked up, a terrified look on her face. "You d-don't mean- NO!" She cried. "N-no! No way! I'm not… I'm not gonna let her control me! I'M NOT!" She started convulsing rapidly, her knees shaking as she started losing her balance.

"Fukawa! Get a hold of yourself!" Junko cried."

"NO! NO! NOOOOOO! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Fukawa screamed. She fell backwards onto the floor.

Togami chuckled evilly.

"F… Fukawa…?" I said slowly.

"It appears as though she passed out." Ogami sighed.

Suddenly, like lightning, Fukawa sprang up, but she appeared much differently than before. Her stance was upright and far more confident, and she no longer had to hold her podium to keep herself balanced. But most importantly…

"GAH!" Yamada cried. "WHAT'S UP WITH YOUR TONGUE!?"

Fukawa's tongue hung out of her mouth like a dying fish. Her eyes were moving rapidly, with a gleam in her eyes that conveyed pure insanity. "Well, hello there! Was it me you wanted to see?"

"Fukawa?" Asahina asked.

"Nope! Miss Morose is having a weeeeee nap. But you've got me instead! It is I, Genocider Syo, Ultimate Murderous Fiend!" She put her feet together and did a deep bow. "At your service!" She cleared her throat. "And, for the record, I don't go by any other aliases! This is Japan, you know!"

"Jesus Christ!" Hagakure was startled. "What the hell happened to you!?"

"What happened was a good ol' fashioned switch-er-ee-doo!" Genocider Syo laughed. "Books McGee went beddy bye-byes, and I woke up in her place!"

"So. You are Fukawa's other personality, correct?" Ogami asked.

Genocider Syo raised a disapproving eyebrow. "What is this, the 90's? Blegh!" She scowled. "The correct term, I think you'll find, is alter!"

"You are in no position to barter over semantics, murderer!" Togami said forcefully. He had more emotion in his voice than I had ever heard. "We called you here cause we demand a confession!"

"A confession?" Genocider Syo looked confused. "For what? You'll have to be more specific."

"For the murder of Chihiro Fujisaki!" Togami pointed at her. "You murdered her and strung up her body in the girl's locker room, then left your calling card in her blood!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Syo scowled. "Who the hell is Chihiro?" Her eyes scanned the room until she found Chihiro's podium with her portrait marked with an X. "Oh! That's right! I remember now!"

"So you admit it?" Asahina asked angrily.

"Admit what? I didn't kill her." Syo shrugged nonchalantly, as if the crime was en par with accidentally spilling a drink.

"WHAT!? But the word bloodlust was written on the wall and everything!" Hagakure shouted.

"That don't mean a thing, urchin hair!" Syo tutted, wagging her finger. "Everyone knows about me. Anyone could have done that to try and pin it on me!"

"As we already discussed, the killer could not have been a copycat. The body was strung up like a crucifix. That detail was never released to the public. No-one would be able to replicate it." Togami explained.

"I see. I see." Syo giggled. "Master knows me well!"

"Master?" Yamada said, a weirdly curious expression on his face.

"Don't ask." Junko muttered to him.

"But, like I said, I don't remember killing her! I would admit it if I did!" Syo cried. "By the way, what happened to the Lucky Boy?"

That was such a stark change in topic I almost got whiplash. "You mean… Makoto?"

"That's the one!" She replied.

"You remember his talent but not his name?" Junko asked.

"I'm terrible at remembering names! Besides, I don't share memories with her anyhow!"

Kirigiri, who had been silent up until now, narrowed her eyes. "Then how do you know who he was? As far as we know, none of us have met you until now."

Syo blinked in confusion. She shrugged. "That's just semantics! Anyway. Where is he?"

I slowly pointed to the podium next to me where Makoto's sign was. "He's… dead. Kuwata murdered him."

Syo gasped. "Oh no! Not poor Makoko! He was the second prettiest boy here!"

"M… Makoko?" I said.

"Second prettiest?" Junko said.

"We're getting off-topic." Togami snapped. "Genocider Syo, you're lying. You very clearly killed Fujisaki. As I explained, there was no way a copycat killer could have done it."

"I certainly understood your explanation, big boy." Syo grinned. "I did get a small glimpse at the scene, and it allowed me to figure out this much: Whoever the copycat was, they were incredibly sloppy!"

"So. You're still claiming it was a copycat, huh?" Togami frowned. "That's not possible. You clearly killed the easiest target in order to escape."

"Don't call her an easy target!" I spat.

Togami said nothing.

"As much as I'd hate to argue with you, Master, there's several issues with your statement. One: I murder with conviction! With passion! I don't target just anyone, and certainly not people I deem weak. Two: If I were to murder someone for such a petty reason as to, say, escape, why the hell would I design it to look like one of my own killings? I would get found out in no time!" Syo shook her head disapprovingly. She did not seem fazed in the slightest that she was being accused, so her rebuttals seemed a lot more genuine.

"But… you're a fucked-up crazy serial killer! There's no way this isn't you!" Hagakure cried.

"HEY!" Syo screamed. She grabbed a pair of bright silver scissors and pointed them to Hagakure. "You don't have to be rude about it! Did your mother never teach you proper manners!?"

Hagakure was taken aback. "Why am I being lectured by a serial killer?"

"GAH! Where on earth did you get those scissors from!?" Yamada, who was standing right next to Syo, jumped backwards.

"I'm so glad you asked!" Syo giggled like a happy schoolgirl. She lifted her skirt slightly and stuck her right leg in the air. "I have them custom-made!"

Celeste shuddered. "I did not need to see that…" She muttered under her breath.

"If she has her scissors with her, she could be ready to strike at any moment." Ogami said.

"Then that's it! She must have killed Chihiro!" Ishimaru cried, his hands balling into fists.

"No, actually." Kirigiri said. "Syo showing her scissors may actually have proven her innocence."

"Puhuhu! This is getting incredibly interesting!" Monokuma laughed.

I allowed myself a moment to scowl at Monokuma before glancing around at everyone else. Everyone was very obviously confused by Kirigiri's statement. Junko and I looked at each other. When it was clear that no-one was going to say anything, Kirigiri cleared her throat and continued.

"Allow me to lay the facts: Genocider Syo kills in a very particular way." Kirigiri said.

"See? The girl with the sexy hair gets it!" Syo said.

Kirigiri grabbed at a strand of her hair. "What…?" She shook her head. "Anyway. Firstly, the murder weapon was a dumbbell. Fujisaki was struck in the head with said dumbbell."

"There was a bloody dumbbell on the floor next to her body, yeah." Owada said.

"Exactly. I'll ask Maizono for the next fact." Kirigiri smiled and looked at me.

"Huh?" I said, confused.

"How does Genocider Syo usually murder her victims?"

"She… stabs them to death with the scissors she has. The ones she's currently holding." I pointed to Syo and she brandished her scissors proudly.

"Knowing these two facts, it reduces the likelihood that Syo murdered Chihiro, doesn't it?"

"N-not necessarily…" Ishimaru said. "She could have decided to… change it up for this murder. To throw us off the trail!"

Kirigiri shook her head. "No, I don't think someone so dedicated to 'passionate' killing would change her method now."

"Besides, that dumbbell weighed a ton! I doubt I could even lift the thing let alone kill someone with it!" Syo explained.

"I see…" Ishimaru looked lost in thought.

"Lastly, although my knowledge isn't quite as extensive as Togami's, I know a decent amount of information regarding the Genocider Syo killings." Kirigiri said. "So Maizono. I'm going to ask you two more questions about those cases."

I nodded in reply.

"Who did Genocider Syo always target?"

I thought about it for a minute, but couldn't really come up with an answer. Junko answered for me.

"Oh… that's right! It was men! She only killed men!" Junko answered. "Right, Sayaka?"

My eyes widened. "Of course! That's right! But Chihiro was a girl, so Syo would not have targeted her!"

"Exactly." Kirigiri smiled. "Chihiro does not fit the profile of Genocider Syo's victims. An esteemed and dedicated serial killer such as herself would not change her targets, even in dire circumstances."

"Oh, you know me soooo well!" Syo laughed. "This is alllll the evidence that proves I'm not the killer!"

"Hold on just a moment." Togami replied. "You have not explained the crucifixion. Like I said. This supposed 'copycat' could not have possibly known about that detail, that was never released to the public."

"But, whoever had access to the case files would know about it, wouldn't they, Togami?" Junko stared hard at Togami, a small smirk on her face.

Togami's expression turned cold and hard. "What on earth are you implying?"

"Oh, Mr. Togami. Poor Mr. Togami." Junko folded her arms and put her weight on one leg, sticking her hip out. She was clearly relishing her moment. "Your arrogance finally got the better of you."

"What? What on earth are you talking about?" Togami scowled menacingly. His voice was still cold and uninterested, but I could tell his ego was beginning to crack.

"I remember it clearly: When you showed us the case file, you were very eager to tell us that you, as a member of the esteemed '1%', had access to a copy of those files stored in your own private archive at your estate. You said yourself that you read through classified cases and solved them for leisure. No doubt you would know that nugget of information more than anyone."

"Are you suggesting I'm the copycat killer?" Togami turned up his nose and scoffed. "Where's your proof?"

"Woah, way to jump the gun, hotshot!" Junko said smugly. "I never said you were the killer. You volunteered that notion yourself."

"Hey. Togami. What's the big idea, huh?" Asahina said angrily. "Did you really do it?"

Togami rolled his eyes. "Oh come on. None of what you have said can clear Fukawa. It's all circumstantial evidence."

"I'm not Fukawa!" Syo growled. Togami ignored her.

"Well, then allow me to provide a piece of evidence that does prove your involvement." Kirigiri said. "The method in which Fujisaki was hung in the crucifix. You asked yourself for the supposed inconsistency, and I shall lay it down for you: In addition to the cause of death, what other key difference is there between how Fujisaki's body was positioned and how the Syo's victims were positioned?"

"They were both in a crucifix, right? Like the cross Jesus died on." Hagakure said.

"Yes, but there is one key difference. Namely in what was used to position the bodies."

I quickly realised what she was talking about. "The body was attached to the wall by the scissors!"

"Exactly. But that does not match what was used to hang Fujisaki." Kirigiri said.

"Fujisaki was strung up on the weights." Ogami explained. "That does clear Syo, but that does not suggest Togami did it."

"Well then, if we clear up what was used to hang up the body, then you all will understand."

Junko clasped her hands over mouth. "Oh my god. It was an extension cord!"

Celeste's interests were piqued. "An extension cord, you say?"

"There was an extension cord plugged into the desk lamp in library prior to the murder. Afterwards, it had been removed." Kirigri said.

"Ah ha!" Yamada rubbed his chin gleefully. "I remember going to the library during the investigation. I saw the desk lamp on the table, but it was not plugged in. I found it odd at the time, but I didn't think it was related to the case, so I ignored it."

"Fair assumption." Hagakure shrugged. "But, why does that extension cord mean anything? Anyone could have grabbed it, right?"

"That is true." Kirigiri said. "However, Togami has spent most of his time in the library these past few days. If the extension cord he had been using to help him read had gone missing, surely he would have mentioned it."

"But he has not." Junko grinned smugly at Togami. All eyes followed hers to stare at Togami. Despite the accusations, however, Togami still remained cool and arrogant.

"I see. So that's your reasoning. So. By your understanding, I killed Fujisaki in the girl's locker room with the dumbbell, hung up her body on the weights using the extension cord I took from the library, then wrote the word 'Bloodlust' on the wall in her blood? Is that all correct?"

He had laid everything out so clearly. He made it sound completely foolish. If we had him on the ropes, why the hell was he acting so calmly? It's as if… he's completely innocent.

"What's your damage, Togami!?" Asahina shrieked. "You're acting as if you've done nothing wrong!"

"Y-Yeah!" Owada's face was red, and he looked ready to kill someone. "Fuck you, asshole! You killed my best friend!"

Togami shook his head, laughing. "You're all fools. I can't believe you have the audacity to call yourselves Ultimates."

"FUCK YOU!" Owada leapt down from his podium, ready to stride over to Togami, fist raised.

Kirigiri grabbed his arm, halting him in his tracks. "Hold it, Owada. There's no reason to get violent. We haven't finished the trial just yet."

Owada spun around furiously, then relaxed when he saw Kirigiri's face. Asahina also jumped down from her podium, as if to block his path to Togami.

"Now now, Cornhead Boy!" Monokuma said, standing up from his seat. "Young Madam Kirigiri is right! Violence is not permitted during a class trial! It is MY job to punish individuals, and I only do so based on the results of said class trial!" He brandished his claws. "Now. Hop on back to your podium if you know what's good for ya!"

Owada shuddered, clearly having flashbacks to the exploding Monokuma that had almost killed him less than a week ago. He stepped back up onto his podium.

"Anyway. Back to the issue at hand." Ogami addressed with her usual calm conviction. "Togami, I take it you have a rebuttal?"

"Naturally. I of course wouldn't let you plebeians accuse me so readily." Togami replied. "I would like to take us back to something Syo said before."

Syo's eyes lit up. "Huh!? MOOOIIII!?" She giggled excitedly. "Master has noticed me!"

"Shut up." Togami growled.

"Spit it out, Togami!" Asahina said angrily.

"Syo said, 'Why would I commit a murder in such a way that I would get immediately found out?' Her question is one I am repeating now." Togami said. "Why on earth would I design a murder using information only I know?"

"To be fair, it was rather convenient for you that Genocider Syo happened to be inside the school." Hagakure said.

"Who's side are you on!?" Asahina shouted.

"Ah, um! I don't know! I'm just saying what I think!" Hagakure said. "Isn't discussion important in a class trial?"

"Togami did say that Fukawa confessed to him about her disorder." Kirigiri said. "I think Togami's entire goal was for us to discover his plan." She scowled.

"WHAT!?" I cried. "WHY!?"

"I have no idea behind Togami's motive, but if the intent was for us to discover that he set up the scene, then it is highly unlikely that he is the murderer."

"Oh come on, that's insane!" Hagakure shouted. "What possible benefit does he get to gain from all this?"

"Y-yeah! I thought accomplices didn't get any benefit!" Asahina said.

"Then consider this: Togami is neither the blackened nor an accomplice. He simply interfered in the crime scene for his own nefarious reason."

Togami said nothing.

"You're sick, Togami." Asahina growled. Tears had begun to form in her eyes.

"Mutilatin' an innocent girl's corpse like that…" Owada fumed. "I hope your fuckin' company goes broke and you die penniless you fuckin' insensitive freak!"

"No thanks. The Togami corporation will never befall such a fate." Togami grinned.

"Puhuhu!" Monokuma laughed. Togami raised an eyebrow at him but said nothing.

"We need to disregard Togami for now, and focus on the true killer." Kirigiri explained. "If we vote now, we will all be executed."

Everyone aside from Celeste and Togami grumbled in agreement.

"The killer would require access to the crime scene, correct?" Celeste asked. "Chihiro was killed in the girl's locker room, so the killer would have to be a girl." Celeste shook her head. "I should have realised it sooner. Togami cannot be the culprit, since he does not have access to the girl's locker room."

"Not necessarily." Kirigiri said. "There's several discrepancies in that logic."

"Discrepancies? What do you mean?"

"There's several strange phenomena in the crime scene. Ishimaru and Ogami, I believe you know what I am talking about, correct?"

"Right. Yes." Ishimaru said pointedly. "I'll let you go first, Ogami."

Ogami nodded. "Yesterday I spilled protein coffee on the carpet in the locker room whilst preparing for my training. However, during the investigation, I noticed it had disappeared. I assumed it had been cleaned, but Celeste said it appeared as if it had never been there in the first place."

Celeste nodded. "If it had been cleaned, there would have been a discoloured stain on it from the bleach. But there was no difference in the colour anywhere on the carpet."

Ogami nodded to Ishimaru, who nodded back and cleared his throat. "I'm unsure if it's related, but the poster in the girl's locker room was a poster of a supermodel. The poster was covered in blood. I found it odd that it was in the girl's locker room as opposed to the boys. Normally I wouldn't find it so strange, but when I checked the boy's locker room, I noticed that there was a poster of a boy band in the boy's locker room."

Junko nodded. "I found it odd too. That particular boy band was super popular with teenage girls, but not so much with boys. It wouldn't really make sense for it to be in the boy's locker room."

Celeste nodded and clicked her tongue. "Ah. I see. Yes, of course. I remember now. I had completely forgotten my own theory: The crime scenes had been switched."

"Switched? Why?" Hagakure asked.

"To hide that the crime had been committed in the boy's locker room." Kirigiri explained. "The poster of the supermodel being covered in Fujisaki's blood proves that it was in the same room as her when she was killed."

"Of course!" Junko cried. "The carpet in the boy's locker room had a stain on it!"

Ogami nodded. "From my protein coffee!"

Yamada rubbed his chin. "I see, this all proves that the crime took place in the boy's locker room, but then was later switched to the girl's locker room." He frowned. "But I'm confused. Firstly, was it Mr. Togami that switched the crime scene or the killer? And secondly, how on earth did Miss Fujisaki get into the boy's locker room anyway? I thought we were only allowed to go into the locker room that matched our gender?"

"Ohhh yeah!" Asahina said. "That giant friggin' gun was there to prevent us from sneaking into the other locker room!"

"Pew pew pew!" Monokuma giggled quietly. He was mimickng firing a large gun where he was sitting. I rolled my eyes.

"It wasn't possible for me to get into the girl's locker room." Togami explained. "I am obviously not a girl, and none of the girls loaned me their handbook to use either."

"Okay… but what about Miss Fujisaki?" Yamada asked. "She was a girl, she would not be able to get into the boy's locker room."

"What if her gender was wrong?" Kirigiri said.

Everyone was stunned into silence.

"What?" Hagakure chuckled nervously. "How can someone's gender just be… wrong?"

"I'm saying, Fujisaki might have said she was a girl, but that does necessarily reflect reality." Kirigiri explained. "Or, at the very least, what was in her eHandbook."

Asahina's eyes widened. "Wait, are you saying-"

Kirigiri sighed heavily. "There is no easy way to say this, so I'll just say it: Fujisaki was actually a boy dressed as a girl."

"HUH!?" Hagakure cried.

"SAY WHA-!?" Yamada shrieked.

"What the hell!?" Asahina said.

"I… I can't believe this!" Ogami shouted.

"Chihiro… if only I knew…" Owada said quietly.

Similar cries echoed throughout the trial room. I was completely stunned. Chihiro… lied? He was just… pretending?

"AH-HAHAHAHA!" Monokuma laughed maniacally. "So you figured it out, huh? You're absolutely right! Chihiro Fujisaki pretended to be a girl, but he was actually a boy aaalll along! His poncy little skirt and small, high-pitched voice were a good ruse, but he was a lying little fake!"

Everyone looked at each other with a mixture of shock and confusion on their faces. However, I was skeptical. Chihiro? A liar? A fraud? "I don't buy it." I whispered.

"What did you say, Sayaka?" Junko leaned over to me.

I leaned over to whisper back. "I said I don't buy it. I just… I don't believe Chihiro would lie about something like that."

Junko looked at me and frowned. "I'm not saying I don't believe you, but what makes you say that?"

"I know w-what I have to do! I will get stronger! I will change, in the way th-that I want to!"

"Thank you, Maizono! You've opened my eyes! I… I-I want to change! N-No more being scared! Eventually, I w-will have the confidence. I will become who I really am!"

I remembered Chihiro's words. They circled around my brain. Bouncing back and forth.

"Due to an inferiority complex he had during middle school and high school, he dressed as a girl, completely changing his identity to hide his shameful lack of masculinity!" Monokuma continued his monologue.

"No, that's wrong!" I cried.

Everyone was silent.

"Wow. What a lame interjection. I really hope that doesn't stick." Monokuma said, clearly bored.

"Chihiro wasn't a liar! Chihiro was honest, kind, and a sweet person with a good heart! There is no way she would lie!" I screamed. "Does Chihiro not get a say in ANY of this!? Here we are, debating about Chihiro's gender after she's dead and can't provide any input of her own! It's not fair! Chihiro was a girl through and through. I talked to her. I KNEW who she was!"

"But… the facts don't lie." Kirigiri frowned. "I checked the body thoroughly-"

"EW!" Junko shouted. "First of all, it's super gross and weird! That was completely disrespectful to Fujisaki!"

Kirigiri looked angry. "Disrespectful? This is a murder investigation. We have to-"

"That's no reason to… to violate someone's body like that! Her injury was on her HEAD. Why the hell did you feel the need to check her… her… her lower body!?" Junko cried, exasperated.

"Come to think of it…" Owada said. "Enoshima's right! That is super weird!"

Kirigiri whipped around to face Owada. "So. Are you planning to lecture me now too?"

"Woah, chill out, Kirigiri! I thought you were the quiet type!" Hagakure said nervously. "Like, the type that would never show emotion or whatever."

Kirigiri shot him a look, and Hagakure backed down, apologising.

"We're not… lecturing you, Kirigiri." Owada said awkwardly. "I-I'm just saying- you didn't know her like I did." He looked at me. "Ah, like… like Maizono and I did."

"She… she wanted to be strong…" I said.

"Yeah…" Owada looked incredibly sad. "Hey. Maizono?"

"Y… Yeah?" I was completely taken aback by Owada addressing me so… seriously.

"You talked to her, right? You were the one… the one who told her about strength. About there… being different kinds of strength and stuff… right?"

I nodded. I had a horrible feeling I knew where this was going.

"Okay. I just… I just wanna say… I think she really took it to heart. Your words really meant a lot to her, and I think she took your advice." Owada looked away, embarrassed. "That's all."

Tears streamed down my face. "Thank you, Owada." I said weakly.

"What the hell is this!?" Genocider Syo cried. "It's like I'm watching a goddamn soap opera!"

"Hey! Don't talk about my bro like that!" Ishimaru yelled. "Show some manners?"

"Manners!?" Syo laughed. "Buddy Cop, do you know who I am!? I'm a freaking serial killer! Do ya think I give a flying crap about manners!?"

Ishimaru's face turned blue with frustration. Hagakure huffed, clearly annoyed at Syo's hypocrisy.

"Jesus Christ… leave it Taka! There's no point." Owada sighed.

"We should get back to the case, though." Ogami said.

I nodded. "You're right."

"So. Regardless of Fujisaki's intention with… their… gender." Celeste said slowly. "We know that Monokuma marked the gender on their eHandbook as male, so she could only access the boy's locker room, and not the girl's."

"The killer would have had to have access to both locker rooms though, right?" Hagakure pointed out. "That would be impossible."

"Gaining access to the boy's locker room would have been no issue for a girl." Togami explained.

"How so? The rules clearly state that there is no possible way to gain access to another student's handbook." Ishimaru replied.

"Not necessarily. The rules only stated that loaning your handbook was prohibited. Borrowing someone else's is fine."

"Puhuhu! Figured out that loophole, did ya?" Monokuma said.

"I'm unsure how our culprit did." Togami scoffed. "There is a small cabinet right near the entrance hall filled with eHandbooks. I picked one up and turned it on, and saw Naegi's name clear as day."

"So… the eHandbooks of the… deceased students are put in there?" Ishimaru asked.

"I see… so a girl would have had access to the boy's locker room, but not vice-versa." Yamada explained. "Since no girls have died so far."

"Aside from Chihiro, you mean." I looked at Yamada with a stern expression.

"Ah, um. Yes. But in regards to her eHandbook…" Yamada trailed off.

Celeste clicked her tongue. "I just realised something."

"What is it?" Junko asked.

"If we consult the Monokuma file, the time of death was roughly 2 in the morning. Now that we know for sure that Fujisaki was murdered in the boy's locker room, we need to ask: Why was she in the boy's locker room that late at night?"

"Yeah… that's true... It could be related to her handbook going missing as well." I said.

"That is true. The killer must have taken the handbook off of her body after she was killed. But where could it have gone?" Celeste asked. "I don't understand the purpose of hiding it."

"The killer may have had some remorse for Fujisaki after they killed her. It's not uncommon for murderers to feel a sense of remorse immediately after killing someone." Kirigiri explained.

"Ah. I see." Celeste said. "I think I'm beginning to understand."

"Celeste, you said you saw Chihiro late last night, right?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes, in the warehouse. She was stuffing a track jacket into a duffel bag. She most likely wanted to train. I'm not sure why she wanted to train in the middle of the night, but she did. She also appeared to be in a hurry."

"Hm. That makes a lot of sense." Ogami said. "She always refused to train with Hina and myself during the day. If she took us up on our offer, or tried to train by herself during the day, her secret regarding her gender would have been found out."

"So… she decided to train in the middle of the night by herself?" Asahina asked. "Poor girl…"

"No, I don't think she was by herself." Togami said. "Listen to Celeste's testimony carefully."

"I don't think any of us want to listen to you anymore." Asahina growled.

"Khh. Waste of my time." Togami muttered to himself.

"He is right, however." Kirigiri said. "Celeste did say that Fujisaki was in a hurry."

"Well, she probably panicked when she saw Celeste. After all, it was Celeste who proposed the initial nighttime rule." Ishimaru said.

"I do not think that was the reason." Celeste replied. "She made a note of shoving the jacket all the way into the bag after she saw me and then ran out of the warehouse."

"So. It's more likely that she was meeting someone." Kirigiri said.

"I see. I see." Genocider Syo smiled. "So what you're saying is, whoever met up with Chi Chi in the boy's locker room last night is the MURDERER!" She raised her hands triumphantly.

"And because it was the middle of the night, none of us have alibis. We would have all been in our rooms." Celeste said.

"Apart from Togami over here. Fucking weirdo." Junko muttered. Togami huffed and said nothing.

"Right. So we have to establish who she met up with in the boy's locker room." Kirigiri said.

"Miss Fujisaki was pretty good at following rules, and was nervous around the other girls." Yamada said. "I doubt she would have asked them."

"That is true. She did not ask me nor Hina last night." Ogami responded.

"So we can rule out the possibility that Naegi's or Kuwata's eHandbooks were used." Celeste explained. "And Monokuma strictly prohibited holding the door open for someone of the opposite gender."

"Exactly correct!" Monokuma exclaimed. "No perverted behaviour allowed on this campus! You are students after all!"

Yamada smirked. "But Miss Asahina and Miss Ogami are very close and often spend a lot of time in each other's rooms…"

"Get those perverted thoughts out of your head, Yamada!" Asahina growled.

"Mr. Yamada, don't you worry your little head. I'm keeping an eye on them." Monokuma chuckled.

"EW! Just stop it already!" Asahina shivered.

"Moving on…" Togami frowned. "It's far more likely that Fujisaki was training with a boy, thus preventing any altercations with Monokuma."

"Exactly. All we have to do now is find out who." Kirigiri said.

"And how do we do that?" Junko asked.

"Focus on the track jacket and it will all become clear."

"The track jacket that Chihiro was wearing?" I asked. "How come?"

"So we just have to establish who was wearing a matching blue jacket, right?" Owada asked. "But my jacket is black!"

Everyone stared hard at Owada.

"B… Bro…?" Ishimaru asked.

"What did you just say?" Junko asked.

Oh no.

"Gh-" Owada's voice caught in his throat.

"It seems as if you've dug your own grave." Kirigiri smirked.

"You knew from the beginning, didn't you?" Togami smiled. "Your statement earlier was simply to make him panic. It worked out extremely well for you."

"Exactly. Despite all the red herrings so infuriatingly put into place by you, my target was Owada from the beginning."

"But… how?" Owada was shocked, as was I.

"You might not notice it, but you tend to refer to men and women very differently." Kirigiri explained. "Togami made a snide remark about your reaction to discovering the body, and you made one very crucial mistake in your response."

"Let me mourn my bro, you insensitive freak!"

Owada started sweating. "I… I said that?"

"'Bro' is a term you used exclusively for Ishimaru. 'Bro' is obviously short for 'brother', a term of endearment used for a male companion." Kirigiri said solemnly. "However, you used that term for Fujisaki. At the time none of us knew about her gender."

"Shit…" Owada said sadly.

"Bro… what is she saying?" Ishimaru asked Owada, but he didn't respond.

"Owada… I can't believe it…" I said. "You two were so close…"

"Man… This sucks…" Hagakure said.

"N-no!" Ishimaru cried. "You've got it all wrong! Where's your evidence, huh? Yeah! Where's your evidence!?"

"Ishimaru…" Junko said quietly.

"Without evidence, you can't pin any of this on him!" Ishimaru screamed.

Kirigiri ignored Ishimaru and instead looked to Owada. "Owada. Would you mind showing us your eHandbook?"

"Hrk-!" Owada's cry was forced, as if his body was fighting itself.

"If my theory is correct, it would explain why Fujisaki's eHandbook went missing, and proves that you are the culprit." Kirigiri explained.

"I… I…" Owada's body was shaking. "I can't…"

"What do you mean, you can't?" Togami asked. "Kirigiri asked you to do something very simple."

"It's… no… It's…"

"Owada. It's okay." I smiled at him. "Please. Just tell us what happened."

Owada gripped the podium in order to help him stand.

"C… Come on, bro! Haha, just… show them your eHandbook!" Ishimaru said nervously. "That'll prove your innocence!"

"He can't show us his eHandbook because it's broken." Kirigiri responded. "Isn't that right?"

"What!?" Ishimaru recoiled backwards. "But Monokuma said those eHandbooks were virtually indestructible!"

"Well, Monokuma?" Togami said. "Is it possible for the eHandbooks to break?"

Monokuma said nothing.

"Monokuma. This information is necessary for carrying out a fair trial." Ogami said.

Monokuma sighed. "Ah, fine! I'll tell you just for the trial. But I don't want you using that information to destroy your own eHandbooks!" Monokuma yelled, then cleared his throat. "Okay. The eHandbook has exactly one weak point. If it reaches extremely high temperatures, the eHandbook overloads and shuts down!"

My eyes widened as I realised. "THE SAUNA!" I screamed.

"The sauna!?" Hagakure jumped back.

"Owada and Ishimaru had an endurance contest in the sauna two nights ago. Ishimaru took off his clothes but… Owada didn't."

"Owada most likely had his eHandbook in his pocket." Kirigiri explained. "That explains how it got broken, and how he knew to break Fujisaki's."

"What's the point of breaking her eHandbook?" Syo asked.

"I believe Owada should be the one to answer that."

"Gh… Uh…" Owada's breaths became shallow. Aside from Owada's rapid breaths, the trial room became silent. Slowly, Owada's breaths slowed down and he stood up.

"You're right. It's me. I did it." Owada said.

"WHAT!?" Ishimaru cried. "Y… you're lying! I-I-It can't be you! It's Togami, right!? Surely it has to be him!"

"Not possible." Togami snapped.

Owada looked over Ishimaru and smiled weakly. "It's over, man. I'm sorry."

"Y-You don't have to apologise, bro! You did nothing wrong!" Ishimaru begged.

"Fuck that. I did everything wrong." Owada took a deep breath. "I'll.. I'll tell you everything."

"What…?"

"Last night, Chihiro asked me to meet her in the locker room to train. She walked into the boy's locker room. I was obviously confused as to how she got in, but that's when she told me."

"Woah, Chihiro! How the hell did you get in here?"

"I used my eHandbook of course!" She smiled.

"But… how?"

"I… I have something I need to get off my chest."

"Anything, pal."

"I'm… I'm a… uh…"

"What's wrong?"

Chihiro took a deep breath. "I was born a boy!" She cried.

"I couldn't believe it when she said it. She was so small. And weak. Admitting something like that… I thought she was joking." Owada said.

"But… I'm tired of hiding myself. I'm tired of lying to other people, or myself for that matter. I… I need to get stronger. That's why I asked you to help me."

"Wha... ? Me?"

"Yeah! You're so strong, Mondo! You can help me, right?"

"Hearing Chihiro confess her dark secret so easily… It tore me up inside. She kept saying I was strong, but really I was the opposite." Owada balled his hands into fists. "She made me feel weak. And weakness is something a man like me can never have."

"Yeah. You're right. I am strong. Ha ha ha."

"M… Mondo?" Chihiro asked weakly.

"I AM strong. Strong strong strong strong strong strong STRONG!"

"Mondo-!"

"That's right. I'm strong! Stronger than you!"

"MONDO WAIT-!"

"AND STRONGER THAN DAIYA!"

"Chihiro was crying, but I wasn't even paying attention. I just got… so angry. I must have blacked out, cause I don't really remember what happened. When I came to, I was standing over Chihiro's… dead body, holding the bloody dumbbell." Owada sniffed.

"Holy shit…" Junko breathed.

"Bro… why didn't you tell me sooner?" Ishimaru asked quietly.

"HOW, TAKA? HOW COULD I?" Owada yelled. "How could I tell the man I love that I murdered our best friend!?"

Ishimaru looked down and said nothing.

Owada continued. "I dropped the dumbbell and immediately raced to her side. Blood was dripping down her head." Owada started shaking again. "I knew there was nothing I could do to bring her back." He looked up at me. "But… there was one thing I could do. I already knew how to dispose of the eHandbooks, and I already knew about the spare eHandbooks in the entrance hall. I was already using Kuwata's. I took Chihiro's eHandbook out from her shirt pocket and went downstairs to the sauna. After raising the temperature enough, I threw the eHandbook in and shut the door."

"Why, though? What was the point in that?" Hagakure asked.

"Everyone would have figured out that her eHandbook could open the boy's locker room, and I wanted to avoid that discovery at all cost." Owada explained. "I may have betrayed her trust by killing her, but I could keep my promise to her and keep her secret safe."

"So… how did the crime scenes get switched?" Yamada asked. "You needed a girl's eHandbook but you would not have had access to one."

"Oh… I think I know how…" Asahina said quietly.

Owada nodded. "Yeah. As I was going into the sauna, I saw an eHandbook just sitting on one of the benches. I picked it up. I couldn't believe my fuckin' luck."

"Hina…" Ogami said softly.

"Yeah… I lost my eHandbook yesterday." Asahina said, her face covered in shame and guilt.

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Togami growled.

"B… Because I forgot! I was too busy trying to investigate my friend's murder!" Asahina yelled.

"Pathetic." Togami sneered.

"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Asahina yelled.

"ENOUGH!" Kirigiri cried. "Owada. Please, continue."

Owada took a deep breath. "After I recovered Chihiro's broken eHandbook and stole Asahina's, I went back upstairs to the boy's locker room. I then switched the crime scenes to make it look like Chihiro was killed in the girl's locker room, thus protecting her secret."

"So, you didn't do it just to cover your tracks?" Togami sneered.

"OF COURSE NOT!" Owada screamed. "I didn't fuckin' CARE about escaping. I just… I didn't want my best friend's secret to be found out."

"Is that why…" I asked quietly.

"Huh?"

"Is that why you said the colour of the jacket?" I asked.

"W… Whaddya mean?" Owada asked nervously.

"Since Chihiro's secret had been revealed, you had no reason to keep hiding. But you couldn't confess directly." I smiled, trying my hardest to reassure him.

Owada hung his head solemnly. "Yeah." He sighed deeply. "Even after all this time, I'm still as weak as ever."

"Bro…" Ishimaru said quietly.

"Well, I believe that settles it." Celeste sighed. "We should probably vote."

"Understood!" Monokuma shouted. "Please pull the lever in front of you to make your choice. The heart-racing excitement as the blackened and the spotless finally face off! IIIIIIIIIT'S VOTING TIME!"

"NO! YOU'VE STILL GOT IT ALL WRONG! THERE'S… THERE'S NO WAY!" Ishimaru screamed, pounding his podium in desperation right next to me. He turned to face me. "Maizono, please. Don't do this. Chihiro wouldn't want this to happen." Tears streamed down his face.

"I'm sorry… Ishimaru." I said sadly. I made my vote.

"AND THE RESULTS ARE IN!" Monokuma cried. "Looks like you all voted correctly! The blackened responsible for killing Chihiro "Bad Anime Trope" Fujisaki is Mondo Owada!"

"That comment about Chihiro was completely unnecessary!" Junko growled.

"No… it's wrong! This is all wrong!" Ishimaru cried.

"Admirable as it was to vote for yourself Ishimaru, but if everyone else had followed suit then you would have been executed!"

"Then… Bro… tell me…" Ishimaru said. "Tell me why? WHY DID YOU KILL HER!?" Ishimaru's face was completely red.

Owada said nothing.

"Since Owada has taken a vow of silence, I will explain on his behalf!" Monokuma cleared his throat. "Mondo Owada, the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader. He was the de facto leader of every biker gang across Japan! They aaallll worshipped him and loved him. However, he wasn't always in charge. That responsibility initially belonged to his brother, Daiya Owada."

"Gh-!" Owada cried.

"Owada Jr. was ever so jealous of Owada Sr. His insecurities ate him up inside. Old Owada was due to hand the leadership rule over to his kid brother soon, but the kid brother was so worried about his reputation! The other gang members talked so negatively about him. 'He's weak. He's not fit to lead. Daiya was a much better leader' etcetera etcetera. Baby Owada did not appreciate these comments one bit! They festered in his mind, constantly plaguing him with self-doubt. So one day, he challenged Onii-chan Owada to a street race!"

"Onii-chan?" Yamada asked gleefully.

"Shut up!" Junko hissed.

"The older brother had a strong lead, but the younger brother was determined to win! Mondo sped up along the highway, but accidentally swerved into an oncoming truck! Daiya came to the rescue, knocking his motorbike out of the way, and WHAM!"

"D… Daiya…" Owada moaned. "I… I-"

"Young Owada, now the leader of the biker gangs, hid the truth about his brother, claiming that Daiya had crashed on his own. And everyone believed it. The secret that he had been hiding all these years is finally coming back to bite him in the butt. The secret that he murdered someone to protect!"

"Secret?" Hagakure asked.

"The secret that Mondo Owada murdered his own brother!"

Owada gripped the podium again, tears began to form in his eyes.

"But…" I said softly. "That wasn't murder, that was just a terrible accident! You can't claim that Owada is responsible for that! His brother saved his life! He-"

"Stop it, Maizono." Owada said.

"What?"

"No matter how ya paint it, it's still the truth. I killed him. I killed him because I was weak. I killed Chihiro because I was weak. Because of that weakness, I did something I can never take back!"

"Indeed ya can't buddy! Cause now it's punishment time!" Monokuma declared.

"What? P… Punishment?" Ishimaru said weakly.

"Oh, you haven't forgotten, have you?" Monokuma chuckled. "The blackened has been found guilty, and thus, punishment awaits them."

"No… no… no no no no no no no NO NO NO NO NO!" Ishimaru screamed. "STOP IT! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO HIM!"

"Oh but I can! And I will!"

"TAKE ME INSTEAD! BRO'S LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN MY OWN!"

"Bro, it's over. Stop it." Owada stepped down from his podium and walked over to Ishimaru. He gently grabbed Ishimaru's arm. Ishimaru stepped down from his own podium and turned to face Owada. Owada wrapped his arms around Ishimaru in a tight embrace.

"LET'S GET IT EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT!" Monokuma shouted. "IIIIIIIIIIITTT'S PUNISHMENT TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!"

"Sorry, man. I couldn't keep my promise. From one man to another."

The lights arose on a stage set to look like a circus. In the middle there stood a giant round cage. In the distance, Owada was strapped to a motorcycle, unable to move. The motorcycle started up and accelerated rapidly towards the cage. The cage spun around and around. Around and around. Around and around and around and around and around again, faster and faster. Suddenly, the cage was lit up with a flash and started shaking violently. The lights got so bright I had to shield my eyes. When I looked back again, the lights had dimmed and the motorcycle had stopped spinning. But no-one was there.

Mondo Owada was gone.

We all walked solemnly out of the trial grounds. It was a long, slow ascend up the elevator. I clung on to Junko's arm the whole way, burying my head into her shoulder. As the elevator opened its doors at the top, Togami strode out first, not bothering to look at us.

"Kehehe, it seem as if it was an interesting trial after all." Togami said.

The next thing happened so fast, I didn't even register it. I lost my balance. Junko had left my side and had instead pinned Togami up against the red door…

With a knife against his throat.

"JUNKO!" I cried.

"I see. Are you planning to kill me in front of everyone here? I can't say I see that going well for you." Togami sneered.

"Don't. Ever. Speak like that again." Junko said. Her voice sounded completely different than normal. It was quiet, low, and full of rage. "I would not mind being executed for your pathetic death."

"I would like to see you try, Enoshima." Togami looked down at the knife against his throat. "Where does a mere fashionista get such a deadly and expensive weapon like that anyhow? Are you really who you say you are?"

Junko said nothing.

Togami pushed Junko's arm away from him and opened the red door. "Mark my words, Enoshima. Threaten me like that again…" He turned around and glared at her. "I will consider you an enemy of the Togami corporation."