When I wake up, we're all back in that room our captors seem to like watching us wake up in. The twenty-three of us that remain are back in our color-coordinated handcuffs and Yukiko is still here along for the ride.

However, as opposed to the last sham of a trial, we don't have cuffs around our ankles. They probably bumped up their security or something.

"This is really happening, huh…" Mai whispers low enough that I have to strain my ears to hear her. "And this time someone's actually…dead…"

Kano, lazing around near her, rolls his eyes. "Are you really so bent out of shape over someone you knew for less than a month?" he says distastefully and laughs when Mai winces. "How pathetic. You'll be the next victim at this rate if you don't put on your big girl shoes." Kano says with a condescending sneer.

Candace, sitting next to Mai, glares at Kano and puts her arm around a trembling Mai. "Just because you lack the emotional capacity to care about someone doesn't mean everyone else does, sweetie." she snaps. "Get a grip."

I turn my attention elsewhere when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I look over to see Nemiko; she opens her mouth to speak and, "Man, this is gonna go crazy. I have no idea who dunnit! This is gonna be fun!"

…

…

…

…That's not Nemiko's voice.

Harlequin pokes his head out from behind Nemiko, a grin on his face. "Eh? Eh? What'd you think?" he asks eagerly.

"I think the voice of a seventeen year old boy coming out of a fourteen year old girl is going to haunt me for the rest of our time here." I say dryly.

Nemiko smiles apologetically while Harlequin just laughs, unperturbed. Nemiko nods her head, motioning for me to look behind me. I turn my head and come extremely face-to-face with Kasumi.

Kasumi laughs and grins when I fall backwards, startled. "Oh? What's the matter, Sora?" she coos.

"You scared me, damn gremlin." I grumble, pushing myself back up into a sitting position and scooting back a safe distance from Kasumi's face.

"Then why are you blushing?"

"That's the inflammation from being punched in the face."

"The what?"

"Use your context clues, Kasumi." I mumble, looking around the room.

Greyface and Kaori are pestering each other again (Greyface's 'friendships' are always a strange thing to witness), Kanna is back to comforting a much better looking Harumi, and Armen and Luan are whispering amongst themselves.

I wonder if they figured out who the hair belongs to.

With Kaori busy with Greyface (and Yume unavailable to chat), Shun busies herself with Kensuke.

"No, I'm telling you," Kensuke insists. "Prince Kirishima and-"

"No no no," Shun shakes her head. "Prince Kirishima-"

Yeah, no, I'm not interested in debating Sun Witch Esper Ito right now. Is this really the time for that?

The ever polite and friendly voice of Takeshi calls for me, capturing Kasumi and I's attention. "Sora Sugawara! How are you?" he asks, approaching with Toshiro and Hitoshi trailing behind him. "I saw you take a bit of a fall earlier." Takeshi says with a small laugh.

Which time?

Either way, both times it was Kasumi's fault.

"I'm fine." I say and glare at Kasumi. "No thanks to her."

Kasumi gasps dramatically, putting her hands over her heart. "Sora! You know you'd lose your mind without me." she says. "Because you liiiiiike me." Kasumi coos.

I ignore her.

Mostly because the next very loud thing that comes out of Yosuke's mouth makes the entire room go silent:

"If Miss Yume was killed with a kitchen knife, wouldn't that narrow down our list of suspects to those who went to the kitchen the other day?"

Well.

I was hoping that we wouldn't have to have this conversation until we were actually in the trial.

A majority of our classmates start looking at myself, Ken, Hitoshi, Luan, and Greyface suspiciously.

Most of their looks are directed at Greyface.

Fortunately, the Guard Monokumas come to escort us to 'Daddy' Monokuma so the would-be conversation ends there. For now.

The Guard Monokumas once again herd us into the courtroom we were sentenced in and the first 'trial' was held in.

Hm…

Looking around the room, I can't tell that anything's different - other than the addition of a stand with an x-ed out photo of Yume. Sting also now has a stand where he would've been and instead of xs, both him and Ryu have question marks on their photos.

Funny.

Monokuma - back in full court dress: scarlet robes with a white jabot and a bench wig - attempts what sounds like a poor attempt at an ojou-sama laugh while the hooded figures of Hanako and Taro stand in front of him.

Hanako takes Yukiko away once again while Taro instructs us to get into position.

Continuing from my right is:

Kasumi,

Harlequin,

Luan,

Armen,

Kensuke,

Hitoshi,

Toshiro,

Candace,

Takeshi,

Juriya,

Yosuke,

Kanna,

Shun,

Kano,

Masaki,

Mai,

Greyface,

Kano,

Harumi,

Valentin,

Sasaki,

the photo of Sting,

the photo of Yume,

Nemiko,

and directly to my left, the photo of Ryu.

Monokuma finishes his spiel about the class trial and the blackened and blah blah blah. He turns to me expectantly, "What, no rude interruptions from the peanut gallery this time?"

Instead of looking at him, I turn to my right. "Hmm? Kasumi, did you hear something?" I ask dryly.

Kasumi snickers under her breath.

"Ignoring me is beary much just as rude, you know!" Monokuma cries, waving his gavel at me threateningly.

I sigh. "I know Monokuma isn't here anymore but sometimes it's like I can still hear his voice…'I'm a stupid psycho mascot responsible for driving kids insane and making them kill each other for the sake of despair' it says…"

Monokuma grumbles under his breath and crosses his arms. "It's for more than just 'the sake of despair'..."

What?

"Now let the class trial commence!" Monokuma declares and slams his gavel down on his judge's bench.

Truth Bullets

Valentin's Account - Val came to me before Yume's murder and told me about what happened yesterday. In the Medical Ward, he witnessed Juriya and Greyface in a…compromising position. In the Rec Room, he witnessed a confrontation between Kaori and Yume. He was exposed by Greyface who also seemed to insinuate that she had his secret.

Sora's Attack - I can't remember why but I decided to leave my cell and go to Solitary instead of waiting for Valentin and Kasumi. When I went inside one of the cells, I was attacked by someone with either red or pink hair. I know that because I managed to rip some hair from their head but not enough to clearly see the color of it.

Monokuma File - The victim is Yume Nii. The body was discovered in the Church. The estimated time of death is 11:24. Her throat was slit with a kitchen knife. The cause of death is from blood loss. There is a small trail of blood leading to the body.

Yard Game - Sasaki, Shun, Kaori, Greyface, and Harumi were playing a rough game outside, leaving all of them a bit beat up. The game started out with Kaori, Greyface, and Shun. Kaori invited Sasaki and Harumi to join later. Kanna was there to watch.

Greyface's Injury - Greyface became injured somehow, causing her to limp. Juriya tended to her injury.

Kitchen Knife - Yume was killed with a kitchen knife, something only myself, Kensuke, Luan, Hitoshi, and Greyface had access to.

Double-sided Old Bandages - There are old, used bandages in the Medical Ward's trash with blood on both sides.

One-sided Old Bandages - There are also old, used bandages in the Medical Ward's trash with blood on one side.

Juriya's Account - Juriya tended to Greyface's injury before tending to Kaori's. Through unknown circumstances, Greyface got a bad cut on her inner thigh.

"First, we shall begin with an overview of the deceased's life and their crimes!"

What?

TRIAL START!

What the fuck?

"Oh yes," Taro laughs. "We heard all your comments about this place still being under construction, and quite frankly you all were right…but no longer! We are fully prepared to host our sinful little inmates now!" he declares.

Hanako hums. "Oh yes," she mimics Taro. "No one will be leaving the facility without our explicit permission." Hanako says and repeats in a much more sinister tone, "No one."

Well I guess that makes the plan with Juriya, Armen, and Yosuke null and void. And what the hell is 'without our explicit permission' supposed to mean?

Almost as if to prove Taro's earlier statement, the ground in the middle of our trial stands suddenly opens up and some sort of flat device emerges from it.

A bunch of lights on the side of the device turn on and a light starts emitting from the base of it, displaying a holographic picture of Yume's Hope's Peak ID. It slowly spins around so we all get a view of Yume's smiling face.

Hanako clears her throat and starts…whatever's about to happen. She starts walking around us in one direction while Taro walks in the other.

"Yume Nii, Ultimate Comedian. All of you know her as a bright, cheerful girl who brings laughter and smiles wherever she goes." Hanako says dramatically. "But alas, that was all a lie."

Shun frowns. "What are you talking about?" she asks. "Yume was one of the nicest people here!"

Taro laughs. "Her acts of kindness and talent for comedy were genuine, yes, but the person behind it…not so bright and cheerful." he shakes his head and clicks his tongue. "Yume Nii was stewing in a pit of her own despair for many, many years." he reveals. "Not quite to the point where she would have completely fallen to despair, but very, very close."

Hanako nods sagely and continues, "It all started with her parents-"

"Of course it did." Harlequin scoffs.

"-abandoning her for an unknown reason at a very young age. When she was discovered due to the concern of a neighbor, Miss Yume Nii was remanded to state care." she says and the hologram changes to a picture of a young, unhappy Yume in a crowd of her orphaned peers. "With the question of 'why did my parents abandon me' weighing down on her, Yume struggled to make friends with her peers both in state care and in school." Hanako says.

Taro wags his finger. "But not to worry, for that's where the Ultimate Comedian was born!" he exclaims. "She quickly learned that laughter was the key to curing her loneliness so she watched and studied anything and everything she could get her hands on, learning exactly what could draw out laughs and tease a giggle out of frowns. The Ultimate Comedian's chance to shine finally came on the first day of junior high." he says.

The hologram changes to a video - specifically what looks to be security cam footage.

It's a full classroom with the teacher standing at the front of the room. Students are standing up and introducing themselves - some formal and stiff, some bright and cheery.

Eventually, the familiar face of Yume stands up and climbs on top of her desk. She strikes a pose and shouts at the top of her lungs: "My name is Yume Nii, and I'm here to conquer the WORLD!" she declares, laughing maniacally for a moment before calmly getting back down, bowing, and politely continuing with: "I hope we can all get along together." Yume lifts her head and gives her classmates a goofy and sincere grin.

The entire class bursts out into laughter - some laughing at her, some laughing at the absurdity of the situation, and some just laughing because everyone else was.

The video ends there and the device returns to displaying Yume's Hope's Peak ID picture.

Hanako continues where Taro left off, "With that display, for the first time in forever, Yume Nii no longer felt alone. Her middle school life was pleasant for once, with both her classmates and teachers-"

"Ah, forgive me for interrupting," Takeshi says, raising his hand. "But if I may ask, what is the point of reviewing Yume Nii's life up until this point?" he asks. "Is this going to help us discover who the blackened is?" Takeshi wonders.

Good question.

"Possibly. But, discovering the blackened is your goal." Taro says.

"We have a different purpose." Hanako says.

Armen narrows his eyes. "And telling us the life story of the victim is going to help you achieve your purpose?"

Their faces are hidden but I can practically hear the smiles in their voices when the hooded duo speaks again, "Reviewing the victim's life serves several purposes," Taro says.

Hanako and Taro point a finger at Armen. "But we don't have to tell you shit." the two of them say in unison and without missing a beat, they continue the 'review'.

(Armen grumbles under his breath.)

"As I was saying," Hanako says. "Yume Nii's middle school life was pleasant for once, with both her classmates and teachers lavishing her with attention and praise. Life was a show and the spotlight was on her. She'd never be left in the dark again…or so she thought." she says darkly.

Taro snaps his fingers and the projector changes to show a display of middle school Yume and another student behind their middle school. There's no sound this time but the scene is pretty clear: Yume's classmate is confessing their love for her. But instead of any of the usual emotions you would expect to see on her face while being confessed to, Yume just seems rather…confused.

"The beginning of the end started with a simple confession of love. Yume Nii gently turned down her classmate, but she also couldn't understand why her classmate liked her." Taro says. "So she asked them: 'why?'"

Hanako clicks her tongue. "Her classmate said it was because she's funny." she says. "For a mind that only just started healing, the answer wasn't what Yume needed to hear. It stirred something unpleasant and existential within her. Overtime, as she lost and gained friendships and watched other relationships start and fall apart, it only got worse." Hanako says and the hologram returns to displaying Yume's ID.

"Eventually, Yume started feeling empty. Alone. Surrounded by people who only wanted to laugh, Yume Nii began to feel like nothing more than a clown in a circus." Taro says. "And what a clown she was, for her fame only grew because of course, Yume was also cultivating her talent and making her mark as a future Ultimate Comedian during this time."

Hanako nods along with Taro's words. "And for a young girl at such a tender age whose mind and heart was already fragile to begin with, her state of mind suffered. But Yume continued with her circus act and gave the people what they wanted." she says and the device begins to whir and displays the student ID of a girl who looks to be around the age of a highschool freshman alongside Yume's ID.

"Time had told Yume that the only way to keep everyone on the same side was for there to be someone on the opposite side." Taro says and he and Hanako stop their pacing.

"There was a certain girl in Yume's junior high graduating class that had caught her attention." Hanako says. "Not for any romantic reason, but because she reminded Yume of herself."

"Yume found the girl to look as lonely as Yume once did." Taro says. "But this girl had parents, some friends, and she'd been lonely enough to no longer let it show." he says.

"So this girl became the target of Yume Nii's jokes that day, the day of their junior high graduation ceremony. Yume thought it'd be fine so long as she kept things under control out of ear shot."

"Of course, things don't always work out the way you intend them to. After the ceremony, Yume Nii was getting ready to walk home alongside her friends when she saw that lonely girl again, running past her with silent tears streaming down her face."

Hanako and Taro begin their pacing again.

"For the first time in a long time, Yume felt something." Hanako says. "A stabbing pain in her chest. Guilt." she says. "Yume didn't let it show to her friends."

Taro shakes his head. "But she did make a polite excuse to leave them and followed the girl home, intending to apologize." he says. "Yume charmed her way past the girl's parents and entered the girl's room, only to find it seemingly empty, save for the evidence of the closet having been opened and closed…"

"Upon checking the closet, Yume…" Hanako hums and the device whirs again, changing to display a picture that makes almost everything in the trial room still. "broke."

There in the picture was the girl whose ID we'd been shown…hanging in her closet.

"There Yume Nii saw the hanging body of her classmate, still warm, with a look on her face that Yume Nii would never forget." Taro says, sounding all too gleeful while talking about a girl who killed herself. "She stood there long enough for the girl's parents to find her and the body. All Yume could think about was a face staring at her with a look of utter despair and pain." he says and the hologram returns to displaying the IDs.

"Yume eventually returned to her small, lonely apartment and was assaulted by all of her memories. Her abandonment, those questions she started asking herself after that love confession…" Hanako says.

"Was that all?" Taro croons.

"Is that what everyone sees in me?" Hanako croons.

"Just someone to make them giggle?"

"Was that why my parents didn't love me?"

"Was that why nobody loved me?"

"Because I wasn't funny enough back then?"

"Is this all I'll ever be?"

"Is there even anything for anyone else to love?"

"Yume recalled her own emptiness and once again she remembered the look on her classmate's face as she hung from the noose, and the look she'd had just hours before as Yume joked and jibed at her with her 'friends'." Taro says.

"Those petty hangers on with their selfish troubles and pointless feuds all buzzing around her like flies seeking out the carrions that spewed ceaselessly from her own mouth." Hanako says. "And all she could do was laugh."

"And laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh…it was pretty creepy, actually." Taro says and ironically, laughs.

Hanako and Taro stop their pacing at the head of the courtroom and turn to face us. "And so Yume Nii is found guilty of the sins of Lust and Sloth." Hanako says. "Lust, for what was once a craving for love and affection, an ache for attention and accompaniment that once burned in her chest and led her to surrounding herself with others constantly." she says.

"Sloth, for the hollow hole that her Lust has left in her, unable to find what she once so desperately craved. Now only a pathetic machine that only knows - sorry, knew how to make others happy, but could no longer be happy itself." Taro says gleefully and moves to return to his spot by Monokuma.

"But above all else, she carried the weight of Sloth for not being quick enough to stop the consequences of her action: for failing to stop her classmate's suicide." Hanako says. "Any questions?" she asks as she returns to her position opposite Taro.

Hitoshi is the first one to break the deafening silence. "Yeah, I've got one." he says angrily. "What the hell was that!?" the Ultimate Rancher snaps.

"Is it not common to review the life of the deceased in court cases?" Taro drawls. "Especially so when both the victim and her killer are known criminals?" he asks.

Greyface hums, tilting her head to the side. "Is that how that works…?" she wonders and giggles to herself.

Shun clenches her fists. "E-Even if that's true, what was the point!? If anything, you proved that Yume never should've been here!" she cries. "Criminal? Sure, Yume was apparently guilty of being depressed or whatever, but how is that a crime? And as for her classmate's suicide, it was an accident! Yume didn't intend for the girl to hear her - let alone to go and off herself!"

Well that's a bit harsh.

"Now now, honey," Candace says. "I know emotions are running high and everything but relax, okay? I know it's not what you want to hear but there is such a thing as involuntary manslaughter." she says. "Yume was…she was guilty."

"Wow, something smart is coming out of your mouth. I'm shocked." Juriya says dryly.

Valentin gulps. "So we are all really…we're-"

"Yeah, yeah, Yume was depressed and accidentally caused someone's suicide and you're realizing they didn't lie about our reasons for being here. Whatever." Kano says. "Can we get on with our lives now? We have a case to solve." he says and grins, "A real one this time."

"So heartless…" Luan mutters unhappily.

"File away the information about Nii for later." Armen says. "Hanazaki is right. If we don't solve this murder, we're going to join Nii and her classmate much sooner than any of us intended to die."

Kasumi gasps, "Wow, something sort of heartfelt coming out of your mouth. I'm shocked." she says.

Both Armen and Juriya shoot her unimpressed looks.

But, unfortunately, both Armen and Kano are right.

Truth Bullet: Yume's History, acquired!

"Now, as much fun as I think it'd be to start off with the suspects," Kano says with a twisted grin. "I think we should make sure we're all on the same page with the murder weapon, don't you?" he asks, giving me a look that I would slap the back of Kasumi's head for.

Nonstop Debate

Nemiko, who's been given a little bit more leeway on her handcuffs to write, writes something down and holds it out for the rest of us to see:

The murder weapon? Isn't that obvious?

Harlequin raises his hand. "Ooh! Was it a shard of glass?"

I take it back. Nemiko writes.

Hitoshi frowns. "I don't even know why this is a question. Wasn't it written plain and clear in the Monokuma file?"

Truth Bullet: Monokuma File, FIRED!

"You're more well read than I thought."

"Let us harvest for the truth."

BREAK!

"That's what I thought." Hitoshi nods and shoots Kano a look. "I would've thought you of all people would've read that thing." he says. "It says it there, clear as day, Yume's throat was slit with a kitchen knife."

Kano smiles. "Oh, I know. Like I said, I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page."

"And why, pray tell, is it so important that you waste our precious time with questions we already know the answer to?" Armen frowns.

Kano's smile widens. "Weren't you listening to the big oaf's loud ass mouth before?" he asks.

I ignore her.

Mostly because the next very loud thing that comes out of Yosuke's mouth makes the entire room go silent:

"If Miss Yume was killed with a kitchen knife, wouldn't that narrow down our list of suspects to those who went to the kitchen the other day?"

"Which means-"

"Which means the ones on the suspect list should be myself, Luan, Hitoshi, Greyface, and Kensuke." I finish for him, glaring. "You just had to get that out there, didn't you?"

Kano doesn't look too pleased at being interrupted but he continues on, "Exactly. They were the only ones who had access to the kitchen knives so it should be pretty obvious that one of them is the blackened." he says matter-of-factly.

Kaori scrutinizes each member of Ken's kitchen crew, her eyes lingering on Greyface. "I'm inclined to agree."

Valentin shrinks back for a split second before steeling his resolve: "I-I…am not." he says.

Kaori frowns but doesn't say anything else.

Valentin takes that as a sign to continue.

"You…you did not get along with Señorita Yume." Valentin says, accusing the Ultimate Impressionist. "You know that I know that, I saw as much myself." he says confidently. "Señorita Greyface saw it too."

Greyface barks out a laugh, "BAHAHAHAHA! I'm being brought into this? How fun! Do I get to pick a side?" she asks.

Sasaki grumbles under her breath, "I would think you'd pick the side that means you get to live…"

Kaori scoffs. "Yeah, I won't lie. We did have an argument before she died. But are you seriously saying you can judge the entirety of our relationship from one interaction you happened to see?" she asks. "Not everything in life is rainbows and sunshine - people aren't going to get along every second of every day, especially when they're being held hostage. I'm not gonna die here because you're basing your accusation on one argument, Valentin." Kaori snaps, mimicking Harumi's voice with a precision that's still horrifyingly accurate.

Armen narrows his eyes.

"Why me…?" Harumi grumbles.

"And besides, did you forget already, Señor Valentin? Yume was killed with a kitchen knife - I had no way of getting one." Kaori points out.

Valentin doesn't look like he accepts Kaori's reasoning but he lets the conversation move on.

Takeshi frowns thoughtfully. "Hmm…but wouldn't grabbing a knife be too obvious?" he asks. "How would any of them have smuggled a knife out without alerting the others?"

Luan raises his hand. "A-Ah, excuse me, but…I do not understand how any of us but Kensuke could have gotten a knife," he says.

What?

Kanna frowns. "Luan?"

Luan looks at a suddenly nervous Kensuke wearily. "Ken…Kensuke hid the knives in a secure location after we were finished cooking. He said he counted them all before he passed them out and before he put them away."

Truth Bullet: Hidden Knives, acquired!

"What? When did he have time to do that?" Hitoshi asks, confused.

I frown. "Yeah, when?"

Luan gestures at Greyface. "You were busy focusing on making sure she did not do anything." he says and looks at me. "You were busy washing the dishes."

Toshiro hums and tilts his head to the side. "Oh? And what were you doing?" he asks.

"Watching everyone. My eyes are very good."

"Mmm…fair enough." Toshiro whistles.

Luan shuffles in place. "I do not mean to throw suspicion on Kensuke, and I do not - I do not believe he is a liar." he says carefully. "But if he counted them before and after, does that not mean that one of us already took a knife?" Luan suggests.

Kensuke lets out a heavy breath. "Don't scare me like that, Luan!" he cries.

"I'm sorry."

"Okay…" Masaki frowns. "So one of them took the knife before anyone else realized they were getting knives. How'd they bring it back to D-Pod?" he asks.

Hm…

Question: How could someone smuggle the knife back to D-Pod without anyone else seeing it?

They asked Ryu to bring it back through the air vents

In their clothes

In one of the dishes

"That's the only thing that makes sense…right?"

Answer: In their clothes

"Wouldn't the only way be through their clothes?" I ask when nobody else offers any ideas.

Masaki shrugs. "I guess." he says noncommittally.

"I don't mean to disagree, but if we're just offering ideas, what about in one of the dishes brought over on the cart?" Kanna suggests.

Kano wags his finger condescendingly. "Interesting idea, but no. We all opened our trays together, there wouldn't have been any way to hide it." he says.

"So, is it settled then? The knife was smuggled to D-Pod through one of these bitches' clothes?" Harumi asks.

"Smuggled…but by who?" Yosuke wonders.

Takeshi hums, rubbing his chin. "Allow me - this is my area of expertise after all." he says and turns his eyes towards me, looking me up and down. "I believe we can all agree that common sense rules out Sora Sugawara." Takeshi says. "White shirt, white thigh highs, and a skirt…if she were nicked by the knife, there'd be no way of hiding any evidence of blood," he says.

"Fair enough." Toshiro whistles again.

Phew.

Takeshi turns to Hitoshi, looking him up and down. "Hm…I believe you can also be ruled out, my dear friend." he says. "Tan clothes would not hide any bloodstains very well either. Maybe in your boots but I don't believe you'd risk hurting your feet - along with your hands, they're also quite vital to your job as a rancher, yes?" Takeshi judges.

Hitoshi gives him a small smile and a nod. "That's right." he says.

"As for the remaining three…" Takeshi says, looking Kensuke, Luan, and Greyface over. "I'm afraid you can't be ruled out based solely on clothing." he says.

Kensuke, still nervous, nods. "I thought as much." he says. "I have an alternative method of proving our innocence…well, mine and Luan's anyway." Ken says, glancing at a grinning Greyface. "Whoever has our secrets, reveal them. That should prove we had no reason to kill Yume, right?" he says and lets out a shaky breath. "I believe I already know what my secret is…it may cause some of you to look at me differently but..."

Mai, who hasn't spoken a word since her breakdown before the trial, finally speaks up: "I…I don't understand how revealing your secrets will prove you two didn't take the knife." she says. "S-Sure, maybe it proves you didn't kill her, but who said the one who took the knife is the same one who killed her?" Mai suggests.

The embodiment of suspicion herself cackles loudly, "BOY I'm sure glad someone finally said it!" Greyface laughs. "None of ya would've taken to the idea if it came from my lil ol' mouth, right?" she asks and bows mockingly. "Behold, it was yours truly," Greyface says. "I took the knife!"

(Kensuke lets out a little sigh of relief.)

…

…

…

I don't know why I'm even surprised.

Nonstop Debate

"Greyface took the knife?" Toshiro asks, tapping his chin. "Hm. Fair enough." he nods.

"Is that all you're going to say…?" Masaki grumbles.

Sasaki frowns. "Isn't Greyface's whole shtick like, draining all the blood from her victims?" she asks. "Yume lost a lot of blood, sure, but she wasn't…gray." Sasaki grimaces.

"I'd agree with you there but Mai did just suggest the idea that the one who took the knife and the one who killed her aren't the same…" Shun says.

Kano scoffs. "Don't be stupid. There's nothing to suggest that any part of that theory is true."

Truth Bullet: Greyface's Injury, fired!

"Don't be stupid. Weren't you paying attention?"

BREAK!

Kano scowls. "What the hell do you mean 'injury'?"

Kasumi snickers. "Looks like you're not as smart as you thought you were."

Kano shoots her a deadly look. "I don't want to hear that from the one who was medically diagnosed as-"

"Shut your mouth and listen." I snap. "Greyface definitely took the knife but there's no way she killed Yume."

Greyface's grin widens again. "Oh-ho-ho-ho, and now I've got people sticking up for me!" she beams. "To what do I owe the absolute pleasure?"

"Your injury. It was from smuggling the knife in your clothes, wasn't it?"

Greyface merely continues grinning.

"How can you be sure whatever injury she has was caused by a knife?" Armen asks, moving the conversation along.

I shake my head. "I can't be sure…but Juriya can." I say, turning to the Ultimate Surgeon.

Juriya doesn't falter when every head turns to look at her. "She smuggled the knife into D-Pod by hiding it in her pants. On her way back, it gave her a nasty cut on her inner thigh. I cleaned it and stitched it up." she says.

On her thigh, huh…

Hm…

When we tell the Guard Monokumas we're ready to go, we have to go through the same process of being cuffed, shackled, and blindfolded. Before they make me bend down so they can blindfold me, I see Greyface shuffling uncomfortably. I guess even the serial killer isn't used to being chained, huh?

…

Greyface cackles as she pushes her way out of the crowd: "I'll be in my room for a minute, don't give away my food!"

…Shit.

"And you didn't think to mention this sooner!?" Candace cries. "You knew a known serial killer was in possession of a knife!? And you didn't say anything? To anyone!?"

Juriya glares at Candace. "Not that I have to explain myself to you, but I was given certain…assurances that the knife would not come to harm anyone by her."

Kasumi frowns. "Not to like, stir the pot or anything, but I'm finding this a little hard to believe too." she says. "Weren't you and Greyface like, enemies? Why would you believe her, let alone help her?" Kasumi asks.

Juriya sighs, annoyed. "I was given very good reason to believe her and let go of any past…disagreements." she says and gives Greyface a look. "Honestly, how long do you intend to keep this up? They're not going to move on from the conversation unless they understand."

When I turn to look back at Greyface, I'm surprised to find a cold, serious expression on her face instead of her usual manic grin.

"...Very well." Greyface says and adjusts her posture, standing tall and poised instead of hunched over and tensed. She reaches up towards her eyes - she's wearing contacts? Colored contacts at that. "I suppose I was going to be forced to reveal myself sooner or later." she says, taking out her colored black contacts and tossing them behind her, revealing much less intimidating blue eyes.

…What the hell is going on? Reveal herself? What the hell is that supposed to…?

…Oooh.

I scan over the benches again. Ryu and Armen are the only ones watching with zero emotion. I don't know why, but Sting, a Remnant of Despair who should be taking joy in the despair everyone is feeling right now, is in the second group of people. Greyface, a serial killer who also brings about despair for fun, is also in the same boat as Sting. I wonder…

Monokuma continues, "Some of you were very comfortable during the Tragedy. Some of you got by without too much trouble. Others were…less fortunate." he says darkly. "The less fortunate ones might snap from having to live in similar conditions again. The rich ones aren't used to apocalypse life." Monokuma grins."Upupupu…which ones will snap first, I wonder?"

Everyone starts glancing at the people around them, fear and suspicion on all of their faces. Hell, even Greyface looks a bit scared.

Greyface flashes us her pearly whites (who knew a serial killer who looks like they just crawled out of hell would have such good hygiene?). "If you ever happen to find out my government name, you're welcome to call me whatever you want! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" she laughs. "Good luck with that!

We turn to see Greyface sitting on one of the beanbags, her arms crossed and a blank look on her face as she stares at the spot Sting's body was laying on. She was putting up her usual crazy act earlier but I guess the psychopath really didn't move his body.

Greyface groans, "Why nooooot?" she whines. "Hanako and Taro said that if we were to cause harm to the child that we would basically die as punishment - it's not like I'm going to hurt her." Greyface pouts.

A serial killer Pouting.

…

I've said it before and I'll say it again - something is off about her, there's no reason I should be finding a serial killer c-

Or, wait.

Am I the problem?

The signs were always there but nobody ever put it together.

Greyface has a look on her face that I've only seen Armen and Juriya put on: cold and calculating. She brushes her hair out of her face, smoothing it into something more akin to a bedhead. "My name is Aja Wanatabe and I'm the Ultimate Moral Philosopher. I can't say it's a pleasure to be here with any of you." Greyf - Aja introduces herself properly. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know about Greyface after we sentence Yume's killer." she says. "Honestly, I can't believe you'd really think Headmaster Naegi would purposely accept an unrehabilitated serial killer into Hope's Peak…"

Yikes. I suppose we all owe Headmaster Naegi an apology if we get out of here alive.

And at least I know there's nothing wrong with me for finding her pretty now that she's revealed herself…

"Wait," Kanna says. "So all those times I won in our games, was that just you letting me win on purpose!?"

The embarrassed flush that rises to Aja's cheeks clearly says that's not the case and Aja is really just that bad.

Greyface - sorry, Aja, clears her throat and continues where Juriya left off: "So yes, Juriya was more than willing to stitch me up once I confessed that Greyface was merely a persona for my research." she says and gives Valentin a look. "She was stitching up the wound on my thigh. That was the compromising position you walked in on." Aja explains.

Valentin blushes lightly. "O-Oh. I see. I understand." he nods.

"And to explain the knife, yes, I really did take the knife from the kitchen but I did not kill Yume Nii." she says and turns her cold gaze to…

Oh.

"Kaori did."

Everyone turns to look at Kaori and again, I'm surprised by the look on my classmate's face. She doesn't look upset or panicked about being accused of murder, no…Kaori's staring at Aja with unbridled hatred on her face…and…

Betrayal?

7~7~7

A/N periodt i had covid but i recovered and now i'm here

i've been laughing at all of you in the discord saying greyface is gonna die bc 'no way a serial killer makes it'

ha