"Waaaahhh! So much blood!"

"Nyeeeh...?"

"YAAAAH"

"GYAAAAAHHH"

"What is this!?"

Shuichi examines Rantaro's body amidst the mayhem, he looks at Kaede and shakes his head. My breath hitches, I know he's dead, but having it confirmed? It's like a punch to the gut. I curl into whoever's holding me. I can't bring myself to check, to turn away from those eyes. Those cold dead eyes.

"H-He's dead...?"

"Rantaro..."

"This means the killing game has started, huh?" Maki's calm voice cuts through the chaos, silencing us with a look.

"K-Killing game!?" Tenko backs up "S-Someone killed-"

"Finally! A murder has happened, I've been waiting far too long for this!" Monokuma cheers, appearing in the room.

"Monokuma!?"

"Puhuhu What an exciting twist! You sure know how to keep me in suspense!" Monokuma stands in the middle of the room, watching all of us.

Kirumi, still kneeling beside the body, looks at Monokuma carefully, "So... can anyone explain the meaning of all this?"

"Nah, an explanation ain't necessary." Monokuma cackles, "Thanks to the first blood perk, there won't be any class trial, so that'd just be a waste of time! With that said... If you're the blackened who killed Rantaro, raise your hand!"

"Killed Rantaro," Kiyo mutters, glancing around the room at all of us.

"Well, it was obviously a degenerate male! Violent crimes are almost always committed by violent, revolting men!" Tenko snarls, pointing wildly at all of the males in the room. I lift myself up slightly to look at everyone. I may still be on the ground, but that doesn't stop me from glaring at everyone. Except for Kaito, who was the one helping me.

"Dumbass! How dare he go get himself killed!" Kaito screams

"Well, who the hell did it!?" Miu cries from the back of the room

"Puhuhu, don't get so angry. May the blackened step forwards and leave with a warm heart." Monokuma grins.

Silence. Fuckin' silence. You've gotta be kiddin' me!

"Oh, I see how it is. The blackened would rather do a class trial!" Monokuma bellows. "Well, who am I to deny them."

I stop listening after that. A class trial. We have to investigate. No one is escaping tonight. Why couldn't the blackened step forwards?

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

First Blood Perk


"May I make a suggestion?" Kirumi speaks up

"What is it?" Kaede asks

"I suggest that we investigate in pairs." Kirumi proposes

"Why?" Gonta tilts his head in thought

"The culprit may try to destroy evidence if they're left to their own devices," Kiyo states, eyes closed

"Okay, let's do that!"


E


Pairs? When did that ever work?

I glance at Rantaro's corpse.

I...I can't bring myself to investigate his body. I'd never find anything either way. I leave the room. I pass Shuichi and Kaede, who are walking right up to Rantaro. Sunshine. Why did it have to be you? Was it our fault this happened? We were the ones who told you to come here... to the dining hall. Our mistake.

"Nishishi, hey, Angie!" I blink and turn to Kokichi who has latched himself onto my arm, "Let's investigate together, It'll be fun!" He babbles nonsense and drags me out into the hallways before pushing me into an empty classroom.


Monokuma file 1

Rantaro Amami, Ultimate ?

The victim's body was discovered in the Dining hall, Kitchen.

Stab wound.


*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Monokuma File 1

No time of death. This case is all about time. I look at the clock, 9.27 p.m. We got to the dining hall around 9.20 p.m.

Argh, this is going to be tough.

"When was the last time you saw Rantaro?" I ask Kokichi softly, breaking the silence that had surrounded us.

We were both sitting on the desks, not knowing what to do. After all, there's a high chance we... we're the last to see him.

"When we all last met up in the warehouse, around 7.20," Kokichi responds, expression serious.

"My group got to the dining hall about 10 past 9," I start slowly, "Where were you?"

"Is my beloved questioning me?" He beams, though there's a certain tension in it, "I was with Kiyo, Tsumugi, and Gonta the whole time in the games room, giving myself the alibi for the prank. Didn't think my alibi would be used this way."

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Kokichi's Account


"Okay, before you came to the warehouse I was with Rantaro mixing all the paint, we were there for maybe an hour?" I rub my forehead, this is tough.

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Rantaro's Whereabouts

"Nishishi, so Rantaro was killed sometime between 7.20 and 9," Kokichi writes all of this down in a notebook, "With the way the blood and everything was... I'd say it's safe to rule out those first 10 minutes before you guys arrived."

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Time Of Death

"So, the killer had a two-hour window to get to Rantaro?" I conclude

"I think it's safe to rule out Keebo after we all left the warehouse I did my part and found him in the courtyard, I didn't leave him until we found the body. He had no time."

"Great, that just leaves 9 other people," Kokichi says, rolling his eyes,

"Umm, Maki and Kaito were training all afternoon, I'm not sure, but they should have an alibi, Maki's hair looked wet when she came into the dining hall." I start, thinking back to when I saw her rush in, "She must've been drying it and rushed over."

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Training Group

"Okay, so those two might have alibis. We can check later." Kokichi writes it down, "7 people left. I..." He bites on his nail, "I think I saw Himiko and Tenko in the AV room around... 7.50" he looks up "When I left to watch the prank happen, they were still there."

"When did you leave?" I question eagerly, please be a good time.

"3 past 9," Kokichi replies slowly.

"Then they're clear for that time, they only had 30 minutes when they could've been with Rantaro!" I exclaim, "We can confirm with Tsumugi, Gonta, and Kiyo."

"Yeah, yeah, that works. That just leaves 5 people. Kirumi, Miu, Shuichi, Kaede, and Ryoma." Kokichi declares.

I shake my head, "After that fight in the dining hall I never saw Kaede or Ryoma again, I saw Shuichi in the dorms this morning, but after that, he just disappeared."

Kokichi nods, "I saw Ryoma at the shrine of judgment around 7. I never passed Shuichi or Kaede."

I grimace, "That leaves Miu and Kirumi. Miu was in her room all day, Kirumi said she was there as well, waiting for Miu to wake up."

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Miu's whereabouts

Kokichi frowns, "Flimsy. They weren't together." Kokichi sighs, "So Miu, Kirumi, Kaede, Shuichi, and Ryoma. Five people. We can get a confirmation for Maki, Himiko, Kaito, and Tenko. Once we figure out the exact time of death, we can probably rule them out as well." he finishes.

I sigh, "Let's just hope someone else saw Rantaro, otherwise, we really were the last ones with him."

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Angie's Account

*TRUTH BULLET GIVEN

Angie's Account


"Kaito, mind answering a couple quick questions for me?" I ask, running up to him.

"Sure thing," Kaito turns to me.

"Okay, how long were you with Maki? " I ask, c'mon Kaito.

"Damn it, I think it was around 4... I went to her room, and we talked for a while in the hallway. We started training at 6 and finished at 8.35. After that, we both went to the dorms to shower real quick. I met up with you after that." Kaito concludes thoughtfully.

*UPDATED TRUTH BULLET

Training Group

"When was the last time you saw Rantaro?"

"At the fight," Kaito responds

"Did you see Miu, Kirumi, or Ryoma at all?"

"Uh, I saw Miu around 8 a.m. That was the last time I saw her, she was headed to her lab." Kaito pauses, "Ryoma joined Maki and me while we were training, not sure when." Kaito looks down, eyebrows scrunched together. "Kirumi... I think I saw her near the dorms, but I dunno if it was her. You should ask Maki or Ryoma for that." Kaito finishes, scratching his head. He looked painfully determined to stay focused.

"Thanks, Kaito!" I reply, already running off to find Maki.

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Kaito's Account


"Kirumi? Yeah, I saw her around 8.40 going to the dorms, she got there just before us. By the time we walked in, she was already in her room." Maki responds.

"When was the last time you saw Rantaro?"

"I saw him in the dorms around 11" Maki answers

*UPDATED TRUTH BULLET

Rantaro's Whereabouts

"When was the last time you saw Miu?"

Maki looks thoughtful, "9, She left her lab and went to her room, I think she stayed there the whole day."

*UPDATED TRUTH BULLET

Miu's Whereabouts

"Kaito told me Ryoma was with you guys, when did he join you?" I ask

Maki's face scrunches up, "A-Around... 8, I think." She looks deep in thought, "We took a break, and Kaito saw him coming from that shrine. He invited Ryoma to join us, and Ryoma stayed with us until we all went into our rooms to shower, so he was with us for maybe an hour."

"When the announcement happened, were you all still there?" I urge

Maki squints, "Other than Kaito, yes. We ran to the dining hall together."

*UPDATED TRUTH BULLET

Training Group

"Uh-huh, gotcha. Thank you!" I pull out my monopad and walk away. Where's Ryoma now?

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Maki's Account


"You wanna know where I was?"

"Yep, It'd really help, and after that, if you can answer some of my questions."

"Alright, Kid." Ryoma sighs, "You were at the fight, I was there. I went to my room for a couple hours, left around 1 to get some food, Kirumi was in the dining hall at the time, so was Kaede. After that, I went back to my room." Ryoma looks off to the side, "Around 7, I went to that shrine outside, stayed there for an hour and ran into Kaito and Maki. I stayed with them before we went to the dorms. That's all."

"Okay, thanks. When was the last time you saw Rantaro?"

"9 a.m. in the hallways," Ryoma replies

*UPDATED TRUTH BULLET

Rantaro's Whereabouts

"What about Miu?"

Ryoma shakes his head, "didn't see her all day."

I smile slightly, "Thanks, Ryoma!"

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET

Ryoma's Account


I stand around in the entrance hall, thinking before they approach me.

"Are you not investigating, Angie?" Kaede asks

"Hmm, investigating's necessary, but it's also over. I've already done that."

"O-Oh, okay." Kaede stammers briefly

I start rocking back and forth on my heels, "So, do you two want to know my alibi?" At Kaede's dumbfounded expression, I continue, "Isn't that kinda hard? I mean... there's no time of death, right? He could've died at any time during the day." I press, I know when he could've died, but other than Kokichi no one else can narrow it down that much.

"That's why we're asking people to explain what they did during the afternoon, It's roughly the last time anyone saw him," Shuichi replies carefully.

I narrow my eyes before immediately smiling, they're hiding something.

"Okay, from 8 a.m. I was with Kokichi up until about 5.30. I was alone in the warehouse after that. Kokichi came into the warehouse around 7 p.m., and we were there for 30 minutes before we left. I met up with Keebo later, and I was with him until we found the body."

*TRUTH BULLET GIVEN

Kokichi

Kaede nods slowly, taking in the information I've given her.

*TRUTH BULLET GIVEN

Angie's Account

"Did you see anyone else throughout the day?" Shuichi asks, looking over his hat to make eye contact with me. I hesitate, my mind flashing to Rantaro before I reply, "Not when I was with Kokichi, but when I was with Keebs, we ran into lots of people!" I nod rapidly, counting on my fingers, "Let's see, let's see! We saw Kaito around let's say... 8.45ish!" I put a finger to my lips, "We went with him to the dorms and saw Miu and Kirumi at about 9, Kirumi said they'd both been there all day, and after that, we went to the dining hall! Kirumi and I found the body."

"I see," Kaede says, a nervous smile on her face

*TRUTH BULLET GIVEN

Kirumi and Miu

*UPDATED TRUTH BULLET

Kokichi


I sit outside in the courtyard, scrolling through my Monopad.

Truth Bullets

Monokuma File 1

Time Of Death

First Blood Perk

Angie's Account

Kokichi's Account

Maki's Account

Kaito's Account

Ryoma's Account

Rantaro's Whereabouts

Miu's Whereabouts

Training Group

I lean back, what a mess. I know I shouldn't stop, I should keep going, but why bother. I doubt I could even get close to Sunshine's body without throwing up.

I get up and start walking around. Rantaro. Why him? It could have been anyone, so why him? Was he targeted? It's possible. The Mastermind would be desperate to get him out of the game. IS it something I can't change? Is he destined to die first, chosen by the Gods? I know it's selfish, but a bitter part of me wants that to be true. It's cruel, but it helps. It wouldn't be my fault. If there was no way to save him from his fate... I can accept that. I can't trust the thought of knowing there was an opening, a chance. Though I am curious, would the flashback lights have worked on him? It's interesting. I grimace slightly, I need to remember not to believe the flashback light, maybe try to convince everyone they're fake or at least get people suspicious.

Hah! I scoff as if they'd listen! Some of the people here are so headstrong that I bet everything I'd say would go through one ear and out the other.

I stop in front of the academy. Damn idiots wouldn't-


ding dong bing bong

"Puhuhu! It's time for what you've all been waiting for- the class trial! Please assemble in front of the Shrine of Judgement in the courtyard! From there, you'll be escorted to the class trial! Remember, attendance is mandatory! See you all there!"


My breath hitches, it's time. I stumble away from the academy, straying from the path to walk on the grass near the dorms.

"Whoa!" I slip and trip over myself, crashing into the ground.

"What the hell!?" I scowl, turning around only to pause, ". . ."

*OBTAINED TRUTH BULLET


The next chapter is the trial! Got ideas for who killed Rantaro?