After everyone took their places I took a quick look around to see who was where. To my left was Butters and my right was Henrietta. Going from left to right it was me, Butters, Stan, Wendy, Kyle, Heidi, …Bebe, Eric, Kenny, Craig, Clyde, Tweek, Token, Nichole, Jimmy and then Henrietta bringing up the end. Behind Kenny was Monokuma sitting in a chair on top a platform. He looked down at us, probably trying to symbolize some sort of god complex.

"Now then let's begin with a basic explanation of the class trial, during the trial you'll present your arguments on the case, and vote for whodunit, vote correctly and only the blackened will be punished, but if you pick the wrong person, I'll punish everyone besides the blackened and that person will get to graduate" Monokuma explained. "Alright now let the class trial begin!"

All of us looked around confused, "so how does this debate thing even work" Clyde said confused.

Everyone had the same look of confusion on their faces, until Butters spoke up,

"Hey Mike you've debated before, right?"

"In a governmental setting yes" I answered. "But never like this."

"Either way you're the only one of us with experience," Nichole said. "You should probably lead this since you know the basics."

"Alright," I said feeling the pressure of suddenly being named the trial leader. "How about we begin by going over the basic facts of the case, sound good?"

"Yes let's" Wendy agreed in a defeated tone. Bebe's death was still weighing heavily on her I could tell. With that, we began discussing I had to be on the lookout for any mistakes or contradictions as well as true statements I could back up with the evidence we had.

"The murder victim, in this case, was the Ultimate Fashionista, Bebe Stevens" Butters said.

"Tell us something we don't know stupid" Eric said rolling his eyes.

"She was found in the library at approximately 9am," Token said.

"She had a knife in her back, from being stabbed to death, poor Bebe probably didn't even see it coming," Heidi said in a sad tone. Hold on something she said might not be true.

"No, that's wrong," I said quickly.

Heidi looked at me confused. "What do you mean the knife is what killed her right?"

"Yes, but it isn't right to say that she was ambushed." "I found bruising on her hands which indicated signs of a struggle."

"Oh yeah," Stan said. "Didn't you say she went down swinging or something like that?"

"She definitely put up a fight" I said.

"So, we know there was a struggle, so whoever she fought with probably has some kind of cut or mark on the right" Nichole asked.

"Possibly, however, given the small window of time in which Bebe could've been killed, I'd say the killer probably had preplanned for that exact scenario."

"Speaking of which, when exactly was Bebe killed" Token asked. "We have a one-and-a-half-hour window but that's too big for an alibi to be questioned justifiably."

"Token's right," Stan said, "we need to determine an exact time of death or we won't get anywhere in this trial."

"So, when was the last time anyone saw Bebe alive," Clyde asked.

"It was me," Tweek said, "I saw Bebe heading for the library."

"What time was that at," Kenny asked. "It had to be about 7:30" Tweek answered. That statement lines up with the evidence. "I agree," I said.

"Tweek's statement is correct, right Heidi," I said. "Yes, Tweek and I saw Bebe head for the library at 7:30."

"What were you two even doing up that early" Clyde asked.

"We were making coffee and breakfast for everyone" she replied.

"Yeah since we all agreed to eat at 8:30, Heidi and I wanted to make sure we had time to prepare everything," Tweek said.

"Aww, how sweet of you guys your like the parents that we don't want," Eric said mockingly.

"Fuck off Eric," Craig said as he gave him the finger.

"Moving on we still don't have a smaller window then what we started with," Henrietta said.

"In order to do that we need to determine everyone's arrival time to the cafeteria," I said.

"So, who arrived at the cafeteria first," Jimmy asked.

"It was Mike" Tweek answered. "He showed up right before the first group came in at 8:30."

"In that group, it was me, Kyle, Stan, Token, and Butters," Wendy said.

"I came in around 8:45," Kenny said. "Clyde and Nichole were with me."

"I came at 9 with Jimmy," Craig said. "Henrietta was with us and so was Eric."

"That doesn't exactly narrow down our timeline," Henrietta said.

"Tweek was anyone acting odd" Wendy asked. "You saw us all walk in right did anyone look a little unusual?" "Now that you mention it" Tweek started. "Ah man, I can't remember ugh this is too much pressure."

Wait I asked that same question to Tweek and there were two people that he mentioned. "No that's wrong," I said.

"Wait Tweek, remember what you said to me when we talked in the cafeteria after the investigation started."

Tweek looked at me eyes widened I could tell the trial stress was setting in. "It's ok I wrote it down."

"Yeah when they came for breakfast, Butters and Eric looked like they were a little upset about something."

"Butters and Eric" Wendy said shocked. "Alright which one of you did it!"

"Wendy calm down," Tweek said. "This isn't helping."

"He's right" I concurred, "yelling won't get us anywhere." "Tweek who looked more on edge?"

"It was Eric" he answered. Eric's podium automatically moved closer to the middle and turned from light blue to red.

Eric scoffed at us brushing off the accusation. "You really think I'd kill that dumb broad," he said, "why would I bother she wasn't worth risking death over." His words angered Wendy even more.

"You better explain right now" she screamed. "Or will vote you the culprit and let Monokuma string you up."

"I didn't kill her simple as that, you want an explanation and an alibi fine." "I was in my room before I went to the cafeteria," he said. "I didn't leave at all the night before."

"What kind of alibi is that," Wendy said.

"Probably the same one we all have," Kenny said.

"Furthermore, Bebe was in a fight before her death and I have no marks on me." As much as I didn't want to agree with him knowing what it could mean I had to do what was right for the group. "I agree," I said.

"There's one way to prove your innocence Eric, take off your gloves."

"Oh, wow never had a gay guy ask me to strip before" he replied mockingly. "But fine here ya go." Eric took off his gloves and showed us his hands, not a mark in sight. It doesn't prove his innocence but it does lower his suspicion level.

"Wait so if it wasn't Eric" Wendy started. "Then that means." She stopped short widened her eyes and stared at Butters. "You killed her didn't you."

"No, I didn't I swear," he said panicking.

"Your lying you killed her because she thought you were some weird fanboy and didn't want to hang out with you" Wendy shouted. Her theory has too much emotion to be sound but Butters is hiding something.

"Back off Wendy" Kenny said. "Your jumping to conclusions and making a fool of yourself, for Bebe's sake please calm down a little, you won't get her justice otherwise." Wendy went to argue back but decided to stand down instead. "Butters does seem suspicious, however" Kenny continued. "He's hiding something but I doubt he's the actual culprit."

"I disagree," Tweek said. "No one but him and Eric were acting strangely during breakfast and since it's not Eric it has to be Butters."

"I'm with Tweek we have no other suspects" Craig agreed. I saw that Clyde, Token, Henrietta, Eric, and Wendy agreed. However, the other eight, myself, Stan, Kyle, Kenny, Butters, Nichole, Heidi, and Jimmy didn't believe he was guilty.

"Hold it right there" Monokuma interrupted. "It seems like your split down the middle, which means that it's time for the Collegiate Cruise Line's newest invention the morphenominal trial grounds."

"Morphenominal trial grounds," Henrietta asked unamused.

"The trial grounds are gonna morph? Seriously, I totally wanna see that" Eric said excitedly.

"Yep it's time for a team debate," Monokuma said. "Here's how it works, since your split down the middle you team up with those on your side and argue your position on a question." "Today's question is, Is Butters the Culprit?" "On the no side, we have, Mike, Butters, Stan, Kyle, Heidi, Nichole, and Jimmy." "On the yes side we have, Wendy, Eric, Craig, Clyde, Tweek, Token, and Henrietta." "Hang on tight everyone things are gonna get bumpy."

Monokuma hit a button on his console and all our podiums starting moving upward and aligning themselves to everyone's respected sides it was time for the debate to begin.

Wendy opened, "Butters killed Bebe I know it."

Butters replied, "I swear Wendy I didn't kill her."

Tweek spoke next, "he was the only one acting odd at breakfast besides Eric he's definitely hiding something."

Kenny rebutted, "hiding something and being the culprit are two different things."

Eric went next, "my name's been cleared and Butters is the only other suspect."

Kyle shot back at him "your name hasn't been completely cleared yet fatass."

Craig took his turn, "if Butters is hiding something he should just speak up if he doesn't want to be voted the blackened."

Heidi spoke for our side next, "What he's hiding could be too painful for him to speak about."

Clyde went next "all of our lives are on the line here he better grow a pair or we'll all get axed."

Stan took over, "not everyone can be as brave and outgoing as you are Clyde."

Token stepped in, "the evidence we have points to Butters."

This one was mine "not to sound pessimistic but that evidence is shaky at best."

Henrietta was their final salvo, "Unless you got another suspect in mind we need to vote for Butters."

Nichole finished the job, "we may find another suspect if we continue debating the case."

After debating as teams for a minute longer the yes side backed down and the podiums returned to normal. "If it wasn't Butters then who was it," Wendy asked.

"Butters we don't think you're the culprit anymore but if you know something you need to tell us," Craig said. Butters looked down at the floor his eyes heavy with sadness.

"Go ahead Butters," Kenny said. "Whatever you have to say could help us survive."

"Hey, Kenny" Butters began. "If I'm wrong about this please don't hate me."

"I won't I promise, whatever it is," Kenny said with a smile.

"Alright everyone here I go," Butters said. "I saw Kenny take the knife from the kitchen last night."

Everyone was in shock, Kenny didn't say a word he just closed his eyes and smiled.

"I think you better start at the beginning Butters," I said.

"Yeah ok," Butters said reluctantly. "I went to go get a snack late last night." "When I got to the cafeteria." "I saw the light in the kitchen was already on." "I peeked through the door and I saw Kenny hiding the knife in his jacket pocket."

The missing knife in the kitchen lines up with that theory.

"I agree," I said. "That story lines up with the evidence Heidi collected." "The knife that disappeared from the kitchen and later reappeared in Bebe's back." Kenny still silent looked at the ceiling.

"Kenny you need to explain now." Kyle said.

"An explanation huh" Kenny started. "Very well, listen closely." "I took the knife I will confess to that." "But I took it for protection against possible threats." "I didn't want to die so I decided to keep it in my room to protect myself while I sleep." Hold on he just slipped up big time.

"No that's wrong," I said. "Kenny, if you decided to keep that knife for self-defense, then how did it end up in Bebe's back at the crime scene?"

"Someone must've broken into my room" Kenny answered.

"Nope not possible," Monokuma said. "Those locks are all fingerprint locks no one can get into anyone else's room but their own unless they're invited in."

"I-I'm sorry Ken I shouldn't have said anything," Butters said.

"It's ok Butters" Kenny replied, "I got this."

"I'm sorry Kenny but if you can't explain it then we have to vote you the culprit," I said but Butters interrupted me as I finished.

"I won't let you bully my friend!" "No Kenny isn't the culprit I refuse to believe that."

"But the evidence points to him plus he confessed to taking the knife" I explained.

"You're wrong," he said, "and I'm gonna prove it." "If Kenny was the culprit." "How come there was no blood on his clothes." "He couldn't just walk back to his room with blood all over him." "And he had no time to change before showing up to Breakfast regardless."

"There's a simple explanation to why he had no blood on him" I answered.

"Oh yeah well what it is" Butters shot back. "If he didn't run back to his room." "And he didn't bring a change of clothes."

I stopped him there. "I'll cut your words," I said. "He did change his clothes, right after the murder."

"How," Butters asked. "More importantly where are the bloody ones?"

"I believe that Kenny wore two layers of his outfit so when the first one got dirty then he could toss them and just walk away clean as a whistle," I said. "Or so he thought. Theirs one piece of evidence that proves my theory true." "The blood on the railing and staircase." "Remember how I said early that Bebe put up a fight?" "Well, I believe that in that struggle Bebe slashed one of Kenny's hands with her nails and Kenny didn't notice until after he left the scene."

"Furthermore, remember that brown string we found on the ground, I think I figured out what it is." "When Bebe slashed Kenny's glove the string came loose and since it was so small he didn't notice in the heat of the moment."

Everyone looked towards Kenny whose podium had almost reached the center of the trial chamber. "Kenny, please, tell me he's wrong," Butters said.

Kenny didn't respond but he was no longer smiling at this point. "K-Kenny?"

"I'm sorry Butters," he said. "Looks like you hit the nail right on the head Mike, why don't you go ahead and explain it all out one more time for everyone make sure you didn't miss anything."

"Very well then I will." I said. "The truth of this case has been revealed!" "It was early this morning around 7:30." "The victim Bebe walked to the library before Breakfast." "Heidi and Tweek who were in the Kitchen making Breakfast saw her, at the same time the culprit had begun to put his plan into action." "He noticed Bebe heading for the library and knew he had to take his chance." "Waiting until after Tweek and Heidi weren't looking he snuck by and made his way to the stairs leading down to the basement."

"At this point, Bebe was already in the library reading a book." "The culprit snuck up behind her and planned to stab her in the back, nice and easy." "But Bebe sensed her attacker and a fight began, in the midst of it she slashed the culprit's glove and caused him to bleed as well as removing a string from his glove." "At that point, the killer finished the job overpowering her." "With the last of her strength, she put a thumbprint in her book as the culprit walked away." "He disposed of the bloody clothes he was wearing on his top layer and headed for the exit." "By wearing two layers of clothes he doubted we'd be able to pin this crime on him." "The culprit didn't realize he was bleeding until after he left the library and at that point, the damage was done." "The culprit joined us at Breakfast around 8:45 as if nothing happened, thinking he'd committed the perfect crime."

"The man shrouded in mystery was the phrase Bebe left behind and by that she meant you didn't she, the man with the unknown ultimate talent, Kenny McCormick, you are the culprit in this case."

The room fell to a deathly quiet for what felt like an eternity, but the silence was broken as Kenny started to cry.

"You're right Mike, I did it, I killed Bebe."

I looked at him and looked to Wendy, the anger she was feeling this entire trial had clearly left her.

"Why, why did you do it," she asked.

"Hold it right there Ms. Testaburger" Monokuma said. "Will get there in a minute, but first things first, it's time to cast your votes, simply press the face of the person you believe to be the blackened on the touch screen in front you." "The heart racing excitement as the blackened and the spotless finally face off, it's voting time."

The screen in front of me lit up and I saw everyone's faces in a circle, the exact layout of the trial circle. With great sadness, I pushed Kenny's button and hit vote. A moment later a screen appeared and showed the results, it was unanimous everyone had voted for Kenny, even Kenny. It was at that point I knew we made the right decision despite what the implications meant and what the consequences were about to be.

"Who will be chosen as the blackened will you make the right choice or the dreadfully wrong one."

A white wheel appeared next to Monokuma again with all of our faces on it. A black bar spun around three times before slowing down and inevitably landed on Kenny's face. "You got it, right folks, Bebe Stevens killer was indeed, Kenny McCormick" Monokuma announced joyously. At this point most of us began to tear up,

"Kenny why did you do it" Wendy asked.

"I-I had no choice, the video Monokuma left for me it showed me who the most important person in my life was, someone I had completely forgotten about until now," Kenny said, it was hard to make out what he was saying, he was rather emotional.

"The video I had shown me a picture of a young girl in an orphanage, Monokuma's video explained that she was my little sister, the moment that happened the memories of her and I came flooding back. She-she needs me she's all alone, I needed to escape to be with her and keep her safe."

"I have a question Kenny," Eric said he was among one of the few who wasn't crying. "After Butters told us about you in the kitchen, you didn't put up much of a fight, in all honesty, you kind of bent over and gave up."

"I want to see Karen don't get me wrong, and I know that is impossible now, but during the trial when Butters was the primary suspect and then when he told us the truth I knew that I had two options, either attempt to lie my way through it and hope for a wrong answer or accept my fate." "Either fourteen lives would be lost or one would." "There's an old quote, the needs of the many out way the needs of the few." "I killed Bebe to try and see my sister again, but when I knew I was being backed into a corner I decided that it was better to die for my crimes rather than to live with the guilt and the burden of throwing all of you, my friends, to the gates of hell."

"Kenny," I said. "We can't forgive what you did to Bebe, but at the very least I understand your reasoning behind it."

"I forgive you, Kenny," Butters said running up to him and hugging him. Butters was hysterical at this point, "please don't leave me." "I didn't want to say it during the trial but after you told me to speak freely another memory came back to me." "Kenny, we grew up together and you were my best friend, you protected me from my abusive parents and in time we fell in love."

Kenny was shocked and then as if a cruel God was giving him a final middle finger, the memories of his past with Butters rushed back to him.

"Oh, Butters I'm so sorry, I completely forgot everything we've been through."

"It's ok Kenny," he said smiling tears rushing down his face.

"Now I must go," Kenny said. Butters looked at him they were both crying, Butters' face said it all he'd completely forgotten about the fate of a blackened. When he did he ran towards Monokuma's chair and began begging on his knees.

"Mr. Monokuma, please let Kenny leave." "If you do you can execute me instead." "He needs to go to his little sister, he's the only one who can keep her safe, please I'm begging you let him live and take me instead."

"Sorry no can do kiddo, rules are rules, he killed and got caught which means he dies, be grateful I'm giving you time now to say your goodbyes," he said with an evil smile, he truly was the embodiment of despair. Kenny walked up behind him and put his hand on Butters shoulder.

"Stand up babe, don't let my last sight of you be on the ground crying." Butters stood up and hugged Kenny again. "Go on, go to the others my time is up." With that Butters kissed him and whispered into his ear,

"I love you, Ken, I always will." Kenny smiled and Butters returned to the rest of us. Kenny looked at all of us and said,

"you may or may not forgive me and that is fine, but promise me this one thing, escape here alive, you all have to live on for me and for Bebe, I believe in you all so please never walk into this chamber again, and when you all escape stay friends ok?"

"No problem Kenny," Craig said.

"We'll do it," Tweek said.

"We will honor your last request," Stan said.

Wendy stepped forward, "Kenny, I won't forgive you, but promise me this if you see Bebe on the other side tell her I'll never forget her."

"I promise Wendy," Kenny said. "Butters?" Butters looked up at him. "Babe does me a favor when the execution starts to close your eyes and don't open them until Mike says it ok, and Mike keep an eye on him for me will ya." I nodded in agreement and Butters closed his eyes.

"Alright Monokuma I'm ready when you are,"

"Geez about time, now then I've prepared a very special punishment for Kenny McCormick," Monokuma said. "Let's give it everything we got, it's PUNISHMENT TIME!"

With that Monokuma hit the big red button next to him with his gavel and on the screen behind us showed a little pixel Kenny and a Monokuma walking towards him the text read, "Kenny has been found guilty, commencing execution." Suddenly a metal ring latched itself onto Kenny's neck and pulled him straight towards the ceiling until he was out of sight, the giant TV turned on again and we saw Kenny falling and then being caught on something, his neck latch holding him up. The camera zoomed out to show some sort of spinning top device, picture the swing ride at your local amusement park and you'll understand what I mean.

A graphic appeared, "spinning around the world, Ultimate ? Kenny McCormick's execution: executed." The device powered up and started swinging Kenny by his neck. It picked up speed faster and faster until any attempt to follow resulted in extreme dizziness. Then suddenly it stopped and Kenny's neck was snapped from the force and the jolt, his lifeless body laid hanging there. The neck latch dropped him and we never saw him again. The screen turned off and Monokuma vanished, we all looked at each other horrified by what we just saw, all except Butters whose eyes remained closed till the very end. He honored his lover's wish even as he passed on. We heard the elevator door open and Monokuma came over the loudspeaker.

"Nice work everyone, the first trial is over, now all of you may exit the trial chamber and head back down to the first floor, good night and happy killing." The PA system turned off and we took the elevator back down to the ground floor, no one said a word, no one could, seeing what becomes of a blackened shook everyone to their very core, I doubt another murder will ever happen, who would risk the fate Kenny suffered just to escape this place. In all honesty I was afraid to find out.