A/N: The trial is upon us once more! As per usual, please be a little more lenient with this trial and look out for any plotholes. If you find any, please be sure to tell me in a review or PM so I can go ahead and rectify them. That being said, enjoy the coming chapters and don't forget to refer to the Truth Bullets chapter so you can participate in Non-Stop Debates and the like! Happy reading!
ACT 3: Holidays For The Hopeless
CHAPTER 8: Burn the Witch
TIME UNKNOWN
Location: Anghern Trial Grounds
As the elevator door opened in front of me, the uncomfortable lighting of the gaudy courtroom shone on what remained of our group, making us trickle out of the small metal box and onto the more spacious trial grounds. Unsurprisingly, the expected changes were all there. The previously forest-ish walls of the room had been changed, being replaced by a sunny beach, with light blue cloudless skies, white foam in the crystal ocean, and golden sand that filled the bottom rim of the wallpaper, before continuing on the actual floor. There were fake starfish and shells strewn about the sand, making us watch carefully about where we put out feet as we made our way to the familiar center of the room - the circle of stands, still unchanged.
The other people started making their way to their stands, Eita looking surprisingly glum as he didn't have to help Yori avoiding the floor hazards. Before anyone else got to their stand, Chigusa was already firmly standing on hers, looking up, almost as if waiting for the helmets to come down. The rest of us plodded to the center in silence, only hearing the shifting of the sands beneath our feet.
Around us were familiar faces - or there would be, were they not obscured by the same cross that Yuki, Yuzuru and Asuyo had already been sullied with. Frances's portrait had a blood X on it, a face Sakurako refused to look at for too long, probably over fear of not being able to contain her tears. Yori's mugshot was one of peace, with a slight smile on his face, and his eyes closed - not like it made a difference. Maruko's frame was much different that I remembered her - her disfigured face, or even before, when she was acting up because of the disease and the talent swap... everything contradicted the smiling girl I saw then.
"Hurry the hell up, you guys!" Chigusa hurried, banging her hands on the stand before clapping repeatedly, signaling the pace we should be walking at.
"Shut the fuck up." Kiyoshi snarled, rolling his eyes at the Gardener before taking his stand at the usual speed.
Soon enough, we were all ready. Eyeing Yori and Maruko's portraits, Kikyo looked down sadly and took a deep breath before adopting a more resolute stance. My eyes eventually turned to Riou, who was looking at me lovingly, with a smile and a thumbs-up. Although unexpected, his optimism was well-received.
I feel safe with him there.
The helmets dropped from the ceiling and found their way over to us in a matter of seconds, placing the screen in front of our eyes. The third pre-trial message presented itself, making the feeling of imminent danger sink much further.
PRE-TRIAL - Have you got your facts straight?
Two murders at once!? What an interesting turn of events - or it would be, were this not the third trial, upupu. Who's the victim this time? Well, of course, Yori, our friendly neighbourhood Magician, and a blind man at that. Would could be sooooo heartless to kill off a defenseless, blind man? Or better yet, why did no one off him sooner!? What an easy target! And Maruko, the Translator, was also shot down, you say? Ahh, the despair that is death seems to have seeped its way into the sickly as well... too bad! Who killed those two poor souls!? Was it even the same person? In what way did my brilliant motive trigger this event? Who will win - blackened, or innocent? Let the third Class Trial decide all these questions!
"Bad taste as always, I see." Shizuka commented, shaking his head. "You should go over these before presenting them to us. Maybe do them a bit better."
"Well, well, what's it to you!? Are you a SHSL Critic? Or maybe a SHSL Asshole!?" Monokuma retorted, making the Street Magician shrug it off, now the only illusionist in the group alive.
Silence fell on us, and as such, Chigusa broke it. "Look lively, everyone! Maruko and Yori can't have died in vain! Let's find the culprit!"
Yatarou eyed the Gardener and nodded. "Yeah... she's right."
"Yori and Maruko deserve as much!" Kikyo agreed.
"Yeah." Eita interjected lowly. Followed by other agreements of various levels of enthusiasm, the trial was ready to begin.
Riou cracked his knuckles before eyeing Monokuma. "We're all ready, bear! Magic pipsqueak and that other one are gonna be avenged, so start this shit up!"
"So eager to execute one of your own!" the bear cackled before wiping an imaginary tear from his eye, moved. "Despair has finally been rooted in all of you. Look at all of you, trying to kill one of you! I'm a proud bear!"
"Knock it off!" I ordered. "We're not like that, and you know it. But whatever must be done, will be done. Start the damn trial!"
"Sheesh, tough crowd..." he crowed, and clapped twice before announcing the event. "It's about time to begin again! Let the third Class Trial in Anghern's Mutual Killing Game... start!"
THE MURDERS OF YORI HANAMICHI AND MARUKO INUBARASHI ~ CLASS TRIAL BEGIN!
Yatarou: I can't believe we're down to ten people... six people have died already!
Kiyoshi: You seriously waited until now that we're debating just to say that!?
Kiyoshi: Neko-moron really is the perfect nickname for this retard, fuck's sake.
Yatarou: Hey!
Sakurako: Settle down this instant, you two. We have work to do.
Tsukushi: Last time we were here, we had a really hard time during the first half of the case.
Tsukushi: All because of the lack of the basics.
Riou: What were those basics again? I kinda forgot.
Kikyo: Murder weapon, crime scene, time of death and cause of death... right?
Akahana: Yes. We'd be hardpressed to have a smooth way through these murders without establishing the basics.
Akahana: Now... we're in a bit of a pickle, are we not? There are two bodies on our hands.
Shizuka: Indeed. And you could be looking at a third, were I to succumb to my wounds.
Kikyo: Yeah, I almost forgot! Shizuka was attacked! It should be related to the overarching murders, right?
Shizuka: I'd assume so. That being said, I think I'm more connected to Hanamichi-san's case.
Kiyoshi: Why the fuck would you say that?
Yatarou: May I?
Yatarou: Kiyoshi, why aren't you accusing someone like you usually do?
Kikyo: True... you suspected Yuki of killing himself back in the first trial.
Shizuka: And suspected me of killing Kanzaki-san in Verdant Views last time.
Kiyoshi: How the shit did you know that!? You weren't here!
Shizuka: Word travels fast.
Sakurako: Anyway, we have two separate murders to worry about, and well as an assault.
Sakurako: Where do we start?
Eita: I'd like to begin discussing Yori's case first, if at all possible.
Chigusa: Like hell we're doing that! Maruko needs the most debating!
Yatarou: My money's on Maruko as well. She was found way off in the music venue!
Yatarou: But she should have been with us in the lake house, so what gives?
Akahana: Let's begin establishing the basics for Maruko's case, then.
PHASE ONE
MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT: NON-STOP DEBATE
Loaded Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #4 | Quark V9 | Work Schedule | Lighter | Wet Floor
Kikyo: What do we know for sure about Maruko's death?
Chigusa: All right, buckle up, sister, let me tell you!
Chigusa: Maruko was killed in the music venue by one of you guys!
Yatarou: H-Hey, no need to go throwing accusations yet!
Chigusa: All girls were in the cinema!
Chigusa: So we can definitely say she was killed off by a man!
Shizuka: We are establishing the basics right now, Takagawa-san, calm down.
Akahana: Yes, Chigusa. Let us resume. Maruko was killed in the music venue.
Akahana: The cause of death is burning alive.
Akahana: And the Monokuma File places her death between midnight and 1am today.
Kikyo: That's all of the basics taken care of, right? That was easy!
Tsukushi: Objection, Your Honor!
(Fired: Lighter)
~ BREAK! ~
Tsukushi: Not so fast, Kikyo, we're still missing a murder weapon.
Kikyo: Oh right! My bad... what could be used though? There weren't any torches in the venue.
Kikyo: And you'd need quite a big flame to do as much damage as Maruko sustained, right?
Sakurako: Not necessarily. You'd just need good fuel.
Yatarou: Was there any fuel in the mall maybe? Or something in the lab?
Tsukushi: No need to go that far, Yatarou.
Tsukushi: There was something in the music venue that could very well be used to do it.
Tsukushi: The lighter!
Kiyoshi: Say what? How the fuck would the killer use a tiny little lighter!?
Kiyoshi: Did you not see the fucking body!? She was burned to a crisp, dumbass!
Sakurako: Yes, indeed she was. Which is where the fuel must come in.
Chigusa: So the culprit used fuel as well!? What a bastard...
Chigusa: It's bad enough they killed someone, but a slow, tortuous way like burning alive...
Chigusa: What a sicko! Psychopath! I want them dead!
Tsukushi: Ch-Chigusa, calm down... a hot head won't help us finger the killer.
Kiyoshi: Hey, hey, no fingering here. I don't wanna fucking see that shit, ya hear?
Riou: We're getting off topic! Tsukushi, continue. About the fuel.
Tsukushi: Yes! The fuel... If my theory is correct, there isn't really much else it could be.
Tsukushi: But just to be sure... Chigusa.
Chigusa: Hm?
Tsukushi: You went to the lab earlier, right? Did you find anything flammable there?
Chigusa: Examined all the bottles I could from the various floors! Nothing turned up as flammable.
Chigusa: Well, there were loads of flammable stuff. But none of them had been opened.
Sakurako: I take it there were no other flammable liquids?
Shizuka: Liquids, you say? Why liquids? Could it have been, say, paper or fabric?
Shizuka: Those would also be flammable.
PRESENT EVIDENCE!
1. Cleaning Supplies
2. Wet Floor
3. Lighter
Eita: My calculations are always correct.
Eita: The floor around her was wet, presumably with fuel.
Eita: I believe Sakurako or Tsukushi will be more than capable of proving that as fact.
Kiyoshi: I was there too, shithead! Gimme some credit.
Eita: Very well. Then say, what was used as the fuel, Kiyoshi?
Kiyoshi: Ack... asshole...
Yatarou: I have a question! The Wet Floor bullet says the floor smelled nice.
Yatarou: Shouldn't it smell all burnt though?
Riou: Maybe the floor itself smelled nice!
Shizuka: I'm leaning more towards the fuel smelling nice.
Tsukushi: That's right, Shizuka! Sakurako, take it away.
Sakurako: Very well. The fuel was indeed found in the music venue.
Sakurako: Specifically, in the music venue storage room.
Sakurako: There was a box full of cleaning supplies, some of which flammable.
Tsukushi: Lots of them had clearly been used - some were even empty all the way.
Tsukushi: Cleaning supplies have a nice, sweet scent, right?
Akahana: I see.
Yatarou: Then, it must be the fuel the killer used!
Akahana: With that, we have the four basics of a murder case all set.
Akahana: Maruko was burned alive with a lighter, in the music venue, around midnight or 1am.
Kikyo: Is there anything we can do to make the time more precise?
Chigusa: She's right! One hour is a big window of time. Not good enough to pin down a murder.
Shizuka: The Work Schedule might help us there.
Shizuka: All the boys and sick people were in the lake house, and the girls were in the cinema.
Yatarou: Did one of you girls leave the movie theater?
Akahana: Negative. Sakurako, Kikyo and myself were together for the entire duration of the movie.
Akahana: Bathroom breaks included.
Chigusa: So I was right! Maruko's killer is one of you guys!
Kikyo: Let's not get ahead of ourselves and start pointing fingers, Chigusa...
Kikyo: Now, moving on... I have a question regarding Maruko's body.
PHASE TWO
MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT: NON-STOP DEBATE
Loaded Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #4 | Bed Restraints | Wet Floor | Music Venue Ladder | Cleaning Supplies
Yatarou: Go ahead and ask then. What's the matter, Kikyo?
Kikyo: Maruko was burned alive, wasn't she? But how?
Kiyoshi: With the goddamn lighter, you fucking moron! Are you serious!?
Kikyo: N-No, not that! I mean... burning alive must be really painful and slow.
Kikyo: But we didn't find any traces of a struggle in the music venue.
Kikyo: No one heard any screams or anything. But how!?
Shizuka: No matter which way you look at it, it seems like she was conscious during the whole ordeal.
Akahana: That's highly illogical, though. Let us look at other possibilities.
Akahana: Perhaps she was knocked unconscious prior to being killed?
Yatarou: Or maybe she was put to sleep using a drug from the lab!
Chigusa: She loved her naps, maybe she was just asleep during the entire thing!
Kiyoshi: This bitch finally snapped.
Kiyoshi: You think that other chick would stay asleep while she burned alive!?
Sakurako: That would really be a stretch, would it not?
Chigusa: Y-You're right.
Kikyo: That argument needs no trimming!
(Fired: Monokuma File #4)
~ CONSENT ~
Kikyo: I think I got it... and surprisingly, Shizuka was the right one. Maybe.
Chigusa: What the hell!? You say... Maruko was conscious during this entire thing!?
Chigusa: Sh-She probably suffered so much... Agh! Freaking bastard...
Sakurako: Kikyo, please, progress.
Yatarou: K-Kikyo? Since when do you treat people by their first name?
Sakurako: I... I am trying to be more-
Sakurako: I will explain later. We should focus on Kikyo's point for now.
Kikyo: Thanks. Now, as I was saying, I think Maruko was very much alive and conscious.
Kikyo: Look at the Monokuma File. The fourth one, regarding Maruko.
Kikyo: Aside from burn marks, there weren't any other wounds or things of note, according to Monokuma.
Riou: What does that have to do with her being conscious when she died?
Tsukushi: I think I follow... take for example, the three theories we had.
Tsukushi: We can discard Chigusa's for now. I don't think Maruko was too heavy of a sleeper, was she?
Chigusa: Yes, she was indeed a pretty light sleeper. Moving on: what about Yatarou's idea?
Chigusa: There were plenty of drugs in the lab.
Tsukushi: I don't think that's relevant right now...
Akahana: Let me explain. I believe I can knock Yatarou's theory, as well as my own.
Akahana: Being knocked unconscious or drugged would mean new weapons and, more importantly, new wounds.
Eita: The File told us there weren't any other details of note.
Eita: As such, we can infer she wasn't knocked unconscious or drugged. I see.
Kikyo: Yeah, that's about it. What do you guys think?
~ ARGUMENT ~
Chigusa: That argument has more holes than my great-grandfather's gopher-infested crops!
Yatarou: Y-Your what now?
Riou: What kind of lame catchphrase was that?
Chigusa: To hell with the catchphrases! Are you all dense or something!?
Chigusa: It's absolutely impossible for Maruko to have been conscious during the entire thing!
Chigusa: Sh-She wouldn't be able to stand the pain! She would... cry her eyes out! And scream as loud as she could!
Chigusa: She wouldn't sit still and burn to death, she wouldn't!
Chigusa: K-Kikyo, you're s-s-stupid!
Kikyo: H-Hey!
Yatarou: Don't call her stupid, Chigusa! We're all trying to help you find Maruko's killer!
Yatarou: Hell, our lives depend on it! So we're doing our best!
Chigusa: I don't believe you! Do you seriously believe her, Yatarou!? Unbelievable!
Chigusa: She did it! That's why she's trying to shove wrong thoughts down our throats!
Chigusa: Kikyo killed Maruko!
Yatarou: You're not thinking rationally, Chigusa, breathe, please...
Chigusa: No, no, no! I'm not letting her get away! Maruko deserves better!
Yatarou: She's not the killer!
Chigusa: Prove she isn't!
Yatarou: Prove she is!
Chigusa: I... I... I'm not backing down! She's the one who did it, I just know it!
Yatarou: I'll take you on then! Come at me, do your worst! I'll clear her name!
Chigusa Takagawa has challenged Yatarou Nekomirin to a Rebuttal Showdown!
PHASE THREE
CROSS SWORDS: REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN
Sheathed Truth Swords: Monokuma File #4 | Work Schedule | Wet Floor | Talent Swaps | Quark V9
Chigusa: Maruko would never take this lying down!
Chigusa: Heck, no one would ever take this lying down!
Chigusa: Kikyo is trying to make us think she was conscious...
Chigusa: ...when in reality, she knocked her out somehow!
Chigusa: Chloroform! There was some of it in the lab! She used it!
~ ADVANCE! ~
Yatarou: We know for a fact she didn't have anything weird inside her body...
Yatarou: The Monokuma File states as much!
Yatarou: Plus, there's no evidence linking Kikyo to the music venue!
~ DEVOLPMENT! ~
Chigusa: She's a crafty little pest, I bet!
Chigusa: She wiped all of it clean! It's the only way she could get away from her sins!
Chigusa: It's the only explanation, Yatarou, open your eyes!
Chigusa: After all, Maruko would never in a million years burn to death in silence!
(Unsheathed: Talent Swaps)
~ CUT! ~
Yatarou: Listen to me, Chigusa, and calm down, please...
Yatarou: There's an easy way to say both you and Kikyo are correct.
Chigusa: Huh!?
Yatarou: Listen to me!
Chigusa: Eep!...
Yatarou: Now... like I was just saying. There are two problems with your claim.
Yatarou: Number one: Kikyo being the one who did it.
Yatarou: Like I said, there's nothing connecting her and Maruko's death, so there goes that theory.
Kiyoshi: For now.
Yatarou: ...for now, sure. Second, the chloroform. We already established that one.
Yatarou: Maruko wasn't drugged. There wasn't anything in her lungs or blood or anything.
Yatarou: If there was, Monokuma would have mentioned it in the file.
Chigusa: S-So I was... wrong?
Yatarou: Yes.
Chigusa: I... I'm very sorry for my outburst... I'm just a wreck right now.
Chigusa: Maruko's death really hit me hard and... I want to bring her killer to justice.
Kikyo: I understand... I forgive you, don't worry. But please, be more careful with accusing people.
Kiyoshi: Stop the sappy shit, damn it! This is a fucking trial!
Sakurako: Mister Ikeda.
Kiyoshi: So much for being more friendly, huh, bitch?
Kiyoshi: I'll keep quiet. Sheesh, y'all must really hate me.
Kikyo: But anyway, Yatarou... you cut her claim down with the Talent Swaps sword, right?
Kikyo: How come?
Tsukushi: I think I can guess his train of thought there. Think back to all the Talent Swaps.
Tsukushi: There were three stereotypical talents, and three personality swaps.
Akahana: The three personality swaps were Tsukushi acting like Kiyoshi, Chigusa acting like Riou and Eita acting like Frances.
Akahana: And the two mock talents were Maruko playing the typical Maid, and Riou getting the stereotypical Hairstylist.
Akahana: There's also a mock talent that's still unaccounted for. But now that we're okay, it's impossible to find out whose.
Shizuka: Whose talent or personality matters here, then?
ANSWER THE QUESTION!
Which one of the talent swaps made it so Maruko died in silence?
1. Riou being a Hairstylist
2. Chigusa being Riou
3. Maruko being a Maid
4. Tsukushi being Kiyoshi
5. Eita being Frances
6. The 'unaccounted for' talent swap
Yatarou: This argument will become a historical landmark!
Riou: The language pipsqueak's own talent swap? Whaddya mean?
Eita: I think I understand your claim. Since Maruko was a Maid...
Eita: Her killer could have just ordered her to keep quiet, and she would.
Shizuka: Hm... it would make sense. As a SHSL Maid, disrespecting orders would be inadmissable.
Kikyo: So... her killer just said 'Keep quiet' and she did? While she was burning alive?
Yatarou: That's what I think...
Sakurako: It's a possibility. And it makes a great deal of sense, surprisingly.
Yatarou: S-Suprisingly? Hey...
Chigusa: That's the reason why Maruko died without a struggle? Even without being unconscious?
Chigusa: That makes... a lot of sense, yes... I...
Chigusa: ... sigh...
Akahana: We don't have any time to lose. We already discussed a lot of Maruko's case.
Akahana: But we're still short on suspects. Who could have killer Maruko in the music venue?
Yatarou: I can cover for everyone in the house, I think. Well... aside from...
Shizuka: Let me guess, me.
Yatarou: Y-Yes... Shizuka was downstairs the entire time, so I couldn't keep an eye on him.
Yatarou: We heard him get ambushed though! That's why Yori left the room in the first place.
Tsukushi: In other words... everyone in the house has an alibi?
Sakurako: Not so fast! Us girls were together at all times, so we have alibis.
Sakurako: The people in the house were not all together. In fact, they were all in their separate rooms!
Akahana: Sakurako has a point. Tsukushi, Riou, Chigusa, Shizuka and Kiyoshi are all potential suspects.
Eita: Yatarou, Yori and I are exempt from suspicion?
Akahana: Yatarou and you were both trapped at one point, and can cover up for each other.
Akahana: Yori's blindness makes it difficult for him to commit such a crime, so he's out too.
Shizuka: And me? Why am I being suspected although I was almost a victim?
Tsukushi: You could have made noise downstairs, waited for Yori to come, killed him, disposed of him in the lake, bring Maruko out of her room and into the venue, killed her, and went back to the lake house, where you faked an assault.
Shizuka: I wouldn't go through all that hassle for a murder. But alas, I have no evidence... Eh, so be it.
Shizuka: My conscience is clear, after all.
Riou: Everyone aside from the street magician was fast asleep, though.
Yatarou: I can attest to that.
Eita: Faking sleep is quite easy. That's not enough to cover for you all.
Kiyoshi: Hmph, easy for you to say. Your name is already fucking clear, dumbass.
Kiyoshi: Now, how the fuck do we clear the rest of ours!?
Sakurako: Kikyo? Yatarou?
Kikyo: Hm?
Yatarou: Yeah?
Sakurako: I think it's high time we unveil the Solo Bullet.
Monokuma: Oh, come on! Don't ruin the surprise and say it's a Solo Bullet!
Monokuma: Where's your sense of suspense!? Where's the build-up!?
Tsukushi: A Solo Bullet, huh? Well... if it doesn't go against the rule, then go ahead and show it to us!
Kiyoshi: Can I just say these Solo Shits are really stupid?
Monokuma: It's all for suspense, Custodian! Now shut the hell up!
Kiyoshi: Fuck's sake... even the bear, now!?
Akahana: Hey, hey! Less whining, more revealing! Sakurako, Kikyo, Yatarou...
Yatarou: If Monokuma thinks it's okay.
Monokuma: Now the cat's out of the bag! Which one should I share with everyone?
Sakurako: The twelfth one on my list.
Monokuma: Will do! Truth Bullet #12 coming riiiiiiiight up!
The Solo Bullet "Body Discovery", privy to Sakurako Ohwatani, Kikyo Namikaze and Yatarou Nekomirin, is a now a regular Truth Bullet.
Chigusa: The body discovery announcement? What does this have to do with anything?
Eita: It secures Yatarou, Kikyo and Sakurako's alibis. The B.D.A. doesn't go off in the presence of a killer.
Riou: That bit us in the ass last time, though... there were people finding the body before the announcement.
Riou: It made the trial go all screwy! How do we know it's not the same thing here?
Sakurako: Read the entry carefully, please. The three of us did discover the body but...
Tsukushi: Let me read it out loud for everyone.
Tsukushi: Body Discovery. Sakurako, Kikyo and Yatarou were the first three to find the body, triggering the announcement. They entered the crime scene through the only possible entrance, after breaking down the front door, which was previously barred shut with a drumstick.
Shizuka: Locked?
Akahana: Why was this information withheld from us during the investigation!?
Sakurako: The moment we entered, the drumstick was pushed aside and we were too shocked to pay it attention.
Sakurako: We called everyone there and investigation proceeded smoothly. I... apologize.
Sakurako: I was only reminded of it while going through my Bullets. By then, it was too late.
Riou: Because of the rule, right...? Damn bear.
Kikyo: Sakurako was the one who broke the door. And Yatarou and I didn't even investigate the venue so...
Yatarou: We don't have the time to discuss this, guys, come on.
Chigusa: All I'm understanding here, is that... your alibis are now even more solid.
Tsukushi: There's something even more important about it.
Chigusa: Huh? There is? What?
PHASE FOUR
DISCOVER THE KEYWORD: HANGMAN'S GAMBIT
_/_/_/_/_/_ _/_/_/_
...
...
...
_/O/_/_/_/_ _/O/O/_
...
...
...
_/O/C/_/_/D _/O/O/_
...
...
...
_/O/C/_/E/D R/O/O/_
...
...
...
L/O/C/_/E/D R/O/O/_
...
...
...
L/O/C/K/E/D R/O/O/M
...
...
KEYWORD: LOCKED ROOM!
~ COMPLETE ~
Tsukushi: Before the B.D.A. triggers entered the room, there was a locked door.
Tsukushi: The Body Discovery bullet says it all: it was the only entrance, and as such...
Tsukushi: We're in the presence of a locked room murder.
Kikyo: A what now?
Shizuka: A locked room, huh? I heard a few things about those.
Monokuma: First a drumstick locking a door, now a locked room murder!?
Monokuma: What's up with all the throwbacks, culprit? It seems I've caught a killing game fan!
Yatarou: H-Huh?
Monokuma: ...
Riou: Figures.
Akahana: Locked room murders are a self-explanatory, I believe. A murder commited in a locked room.
Eita: There are a couple possible solutions to these, aren't there? Does anyone know them by heart?
Akahana: Hananari?
Tsukushi: H-Huh?
Tsukushi: Goddamnit, she's backing me against a wall... Good thing I know this one.
Tsukushi: Sure thing. Let me explain them all, in short. There are four solutions to a locked room mystery.
Tsukushi: Number one, the door was locked from the inside after the culprit left. This requires some trick with the lock. Cogs, threads, weights, or something.
Tsukushi: Number two, the door was locked before the murder happened. The culprit must use some other method to target the victim, like firing a gun or arrow through a hole in the wall.
Tsukushi: Number three, the culprit was still inside the room when the body was discovered. They usually slip back in the crowd during the commotion of the body discovery.
Tsukushi: Finally, number four, the locked room was never a locked room. There's a secret entrance or exit to it, which the culprit used.
Akahana: Very well, did everyone catch that?
Riou: Yeah, yeah, I got it. But that still makes me wonder: which solution is the best one for this case?
Tsukushi: Let's look over the facts and think about it... logically.
PHASE FIVE
DIVE DRIVE: LOGIC DIVE
Let's start from the top. This is a locked room murder, and there are four possible solutions to it. The door was locked before the murder, the door was locked after the murder, the culprit hid in the room until the body was discovered, or the room had a second way in and out. I bet we can easily throw one of these options away.
QUESTION #1
Which option are we sure isn't the correct one in this case?
The door was locked before the murder
The door was locked after the murder
The culprit hid in the room until the B.D.A.
The room had a second entrance/exit
...
...
The music venue couldn't have had more than one entrance/exit!
It's elementary, really. The Body Discovery bullet that Sakurako shared with us just now proves it. It mentions the three of them discovered the body by entering the room through its only entrance, and that it was locked. That being said, there are still three choices I have to sort through before we arrive at a conclusion. Let's try a different approach... now, the room was locked before the murder... do I have any evidence that contradicts that option?
QUESTION #2
What makes it so the second possibility is rendered impossible in this case?
There were no holes in the walls of the music venue
The cause of death was burning
The murder weapon was inside the venue
...
...
Maruko burned to death!
It'd be damn near impossible to burn someone alive if the flame didn't reach them. The small flame of the lighter wouldn't reach the middle of the venue where Maruko died. There wasn't any fuel leading away from her body, so even if there were holes in the walls, they weren't used. Since there aren't any other possibilities, the second option is moot. So, what's left? The room was either locked after the murder, or the culprit hid inside the room. Does anything contradict the former?
QUESTION #3
What makes it so the room couldn't be locked after the murder?
The makeshift lock was a drumstick
The room was locked from the inside
Maruko's body was still inside the venue
...
...
There's no way to bar the door shut from the inside, from outside, with a drumstick!
LOGIC DIVE - COMPLETE!
Tsukushi: I think I've got it!
Tsukushi: I thought long and hard about it, and I've reached a conclusion...
Tsukushi: The culprit must've been inside the room during the body discovery!
Tsukushi: Nothing else makes sense.
Kikyo: But, the three of us were there and we saw everyone coming through the front door!
Yatarou: We never left the body alone after we found it. And everyone came in through the only entrance.
Sakurako: I can confirm as much. So, how do you suggest the culprit hid?
Tsukushi: I'm not so sure myself... but that's the only thing that's even remotely possible.
Riou: If Tsukushi says so, then it should be right! He hasn't let us down yet, has he?
Riou: I say we go through with this theory for now! Any objections?
Chigusa: N-None!
Riou: Good! Now, how do we get out of this?
Yatarou: We've gotten ourselves in quite a pickle with this theory...
Sakurako: It's quite a wild proposition, but we don't have any irrefutable evidence that proves otherwise.
Eita: If we eliminate the impossible, whatever remains is the truth. No matter how improbable it is.
Kiyoshi: There's some deep shit, coming from you. But it's really fucking obvious, you guys.
Kiyoshi: Tsukushi over there fucked up! That's all there is. He's wrong!
Shizuka: You have evidence to back that up, I hope.
Kiyoshi: You think? Fuck no! But we all put so much blind hope in him for being a lawyer.
Kiyoshi: He can be wrong, you know? Shit, he could be leading us to die.
Sakurako: Mister Ikeda.
Kiyoshi: Aaaagh, call me when you're all dead. See if I care. Dicks.
Yatarou: He sure likes drama.
Kikyo: Off-topic! Off-topic! C'mon, you guys... the culprit hid in the room.
Tsukushi: First question would be, where?
Sakurako: There is no way we could miss them if we stayed hidden too long, so...
Sakurako: I believe they needed to escape while we were entering. And be quite quick about it too.
Chigusa: Wait, wait, wait! I think I found a really strange detail here... the murder happened at around midnight, right?
Chigusa: But think back to this morning... everyone was there when we found Yori's body!
Yatarou: Everyone except from Shizuka, Yori and Maruko...
Shizuka: Am I back on the table again? Oh dear.
Shizuka: I didn't do a thing to any of them, you hear?
Shizuka: Plus, do you suggest I ran to the music venue after discovering Hanamichi-san's body, and locked the door?
Shizuka: And when the three of them found Inubarashi-san, I sneaked out while they were distracted by the body?
Shizuka: Please.
Riou: It really sounds impossible... plus, with the blood on his head, he have left some traces somewhere.
Sakurako: There was blood on Yori's body, though... maybe he's connected to that murder?
Akahana: Let's leave Yori's murder be for now... we're focusing on Maruko.
Chigusa: Yeah!
Eita: Fine.
PHASE SIX
MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT: NON-STOP DEBATE
Loaded Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #4 | Quark V9 | Body Discovery | Cleaning Supplies | Shizuka's Account
Tsukushi: We're back to square one, then, aren't we?
Kiyoshi: We've lost all our leads!? Well, sounds like Tsukushi was fucking wrong!
Kikyo: No... there must be some solution to this! Everything else is impossible!
Yatarou: Maybe we have to look through the Monokuma File again?
Sakurako: There might be a hidden fifth way to look at locked room mysteries?
Eita: Or perhaps, something related to Yori's murder could help.
Shizuka: No matter which way we think about it...
Shizuka: We can't solve this without some new piece of evidence.
Chigusa: What a fruitful argument, Shizuka!
(Fired: Quark V9)
~ CONSENT ~
Chigusa: ...
Chigusa: ...
Yatarou: Chigusa? Did you not agree with Shizuka there?
Chigusa: ...
Kikyo: Hey! Earth to Chigusa! Are you okay, girl?
Chigusa: ...no...
Tsukushi: Something's wrong with her... is it because of the disease?
Tsukushi: I haven't had the time to browse through these files...
Tsukushi: What could possibly b- oh... oh no...
Tsukushi: No way...
Riou: Tsukushi? Are you feeling sick too!?
Akahana: I think I know what's got them so shaken... it was... the fact that Chigusa is correct.
Yatarou: That wasn't very nice!
Sakurako: No... That... That wasn't what she meant.
Kikyo: That... That can't be, can it?
Riou: The pipsqueak didn't...
Shizuka: This was... unexpected, to be sure.
Yatarou: Guys!? I'm lost here!
Kiyoshi: Fuuuuuck, that shit's messed up!
Eita: Were we really this off?
Yatarou: Hello!?
Tsukushi: Yatarou... the bullet Chigusa just fired. Did anyone read it until now?
Chigusa: I handed the files out pretty late...
Akahana: Hm... sounds like I was the only one to give it the time of day.
Akahana: Which is why this is unsurprising to me.
Yatarou: I'm still lost. What's up with that disease now? Is it the one Maruko had when she went bananas?
Eita: Yes, it was.
Kikyo: Do you realize what that means? We... We know who did it.
Tsukushi: It all makes sense now... the fact no one in the lake house saw her being taken away, the way that two murders could be carried out so soon one after the other, and... how the culprit managed to elude Sakurako, Kikyo and Yatarou in the locked room.
MAKE AN ACCUSATION!
1. Tsukushi Hananari
2. Frances Baishou
3. Riou Ryielo
4. Asuyo Uemura
5. Yatarou Nekomirin
6. Kikyo Namikaze
7. Yori Hanamichi
8. Sakurako Ohwatani
9. Eita Kurogane
10. Maruko Inubarashi
11. Kiyoshi Ikeda
12. Yuzuru Kanzaki
13. Yuki Batora
14. Akahana Nakajima
15. Shizuka Matsuoka
16. Chigusa Takagawa
Tsukushi: She's the only one...
Tsukushi: Maruko... Maruko commited suicide.
Yatarou: What did you... huh?
Tsukushi: Quark V9 has some symptoms. Irritability and irregular sleeping patterns, for example. There's one more though...
Tsukushi: Suicidal tendencies.
Yatarou: Oh, is that it? Well, no duh! She wanted to kill herself! She shouted about it all the-
Yatarou: Wait, you don't mean...
Tsukushi: I... I think I do...
Chigusa: Maruko... killed herself? She locked herself in the venue and burned herself alive...?
Shizuka: It would explain a lot of things...
Akahana: It explains everything but one detail, in fact.
Akahana: Remember the kitchen a couple of days ago... Maruko bribed her masters with food.
Akahana: In return, she wanted permission to kill herself. She wouldn't do it unless she was specifically permitted.
Akahana: Also, her bed restraints were still cut by someone in this room. That person... is an accessory to this suicide.
Tsukushi: So... that means... one of us still... indirectly killed Maruko.
Tsukushi: But... who?
A/N: Who indeed! Haha, cliffhanger.
How was that for a first Trial chapter? There's still some other bits and pieces you might want to look out for in the future, keep your eyes peeled! Is this theory even correct? Hm? Who knows!
I have three more chapters planned out for Act 3, the final one being the end of the trial. How are you liking this third one thus far? Leave a review and tell me! I love reading your thoughts on stuff. Until I update next, though... Yamazaki out!