A/N: Reading your rewiews in trial chapters is always a blast! You're concocting some pretty nifty theories so keep it up, folks! You'll see which ones were right and wrong soon enough.
ACT 3: Holidays For The Hopeless
CHAPTER 9: Monkey See, Monkey Do
Kikyo: I thought Maruko's suicide would be an easy way out of this...
Kikyo: Maybe we wouldn't need to doubt each other anymore!
Kikyo: But... someone helped her do it!?
Tsukushi: Everything we've gathered up until now regarding the case points to it. Unfortunately.
Sakurako: It's indeed quite unfortunate...
Shizuka: Are we really glum about this of all things? This is our third rodeo, everyone.
Shizuka: I'd think you would have grown some backbone after executing two people.
Tsukushi: It's not like we enjoy it though!
Shizuka: It's a life or death situation, Hananari-san. Adapt or you die. I rest my case.
Tsukushi: There you go with the 'adaptation' crap again... do our friends' lives not matter to you?
Yatarou: Please settle down you two... this isn't the time to argue.
Tsukushi: Ngrh...
Tsukushi: He's right, Tsukushi... just ignore him, we have bigger fish to fry.
Kiyoshi: We've had plenty of fried shit today, thank you.
Sakurako: Mister Ikeda.
Yatarou: M-More importantly, what do we do now?
Riou: Find out who let the pipsqueak out the house in our sleep, duh!
Akahana: I wouldn't be too sure that's a necessity now, Riou.
Akahana: We must vote for Maruko's killer... I hadn't pondered the possibility before but...
Akahana: Monokuma. In the event of a suicide, we should vote for the victim itself, right?
Monokuma: Wow! You did it! First person who ever managed to get that detail right, first guess!
Akahana: This means... we've found out the killer. We don't need to debate anything further.
Chigusa: We're supposed to let the person who freed her go unpunished!? Hell no!
Akahana: Oh, I wouldn't worry if I were you. After all... Eita, calculate the most probable outcome of this case.
Eita: Hm. Yori's killer is Maruko's suicide accessory. Which means, they will be executed if they're found.
Sakurako: There's always other possibilities we must consider though.
Eita: My calculations are always correct.
Kiyoshi: Stuck-up little bitch. The culprit should've offed you.
Kikyo: Anyways! What do we debate now? We've found Maruko's killer...
Kikyo: Which means we can start talking about Yori's death now, right!?
Eita: Yes. About time we did this.
Shizuka: We should go through the four basics then, right?
Akahana: Yes, that would be a wise first step.
PHASE SEVEN
MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT: NON-STOP DEBATE
Loaded Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #3 | Yori's Clothes | Music Venue Ladder | Talent Swaps
Shizuka: Murder weapon, crime scene, time and cause of death.
Shizuka: Are we sure of any of these?
Shizuka: What should we be debating first?
Chigusa: I think the time of death might be a good starting point.
Kikyo: The murder weapon is more important.
Tsukushi: We won't have a murder weapon if we don't have the cause of death...
Yatarou: Maybe the crime scene will have something to use as a weapon?
Kiyoshi: I'll bet the motive has something to say.
Sakurako: So we're pretty certain the motive is irrelevant as of right now.
Kiyoshi: Hey, bitch, I resent that!
Riou: I got your back, Tsukushi! Fistbump!
(Fired: Monokuma File #3)
~ CONSENT ~
Riou: Both the time of death and the crime scene are written in the file.
Riou: The magic pipsqueak was offed after midnight, by the shore next to the lake house.
Riou: That means the murder weapon and cause of death are both dealt with!
Kikyo: Wow, Riou, nice job!
Eita: Why didn't he agree with me, though? I was right as well.
Tsukushi: That's not important right now!
Yatarou: You sure seem tense, Tsukushi... something the matter? Huuuuuh?
Tsukushi: J-Just focus on the trial...
Tsukushi: We have to figure out a cause of death and a murder weapon.
Sakurako: I think I might have an idea as to how Yori's untimely demise came to be.
Sakurako: As stated previously... Akahana, Kikyo and myself went to the movies last night.
Sakurako: We saw this film named Crimes, Sins and Confessions, was it?
Kikyo: Yeah, but wh- Oh! Oh I get it!
Kikyo: But that doesn't make any sense...
Tsukushi: Care to fill us in?
Sakurako: I thought it was strange but I hadn't had a good reason to suspect this.
Sakurako: First, in order for you to understand everything, I'll have to give you a short summary of the movie.
Yatarou: Spoilers! Spoilers!
Chigusa: It's not like we can go back to Marine Views and watch it now... right?
Yatarou: R-Right... we're going to a new sector after this.
Monokuma: Either a new sector or Hell, huh.
Yatarou: Sh-Shut up!
Akahana: The movie plot is as follows: there are two teenagers who've fallen in love with each other.
Akahana: Unfortunately, due to the boy having a fatal disease, they had lost hope in love.
Akahana: Then, there's a flashback to each of their previous lives. Both of them met their end while pursuing or being pursued by love.
Akahana: The girl was accused of being a witch and forcing the local priest to fall in love with her. She was burned alive for her sins.
Chigusa: B-Burned alive!? But that's just like...
Tsukushi: Maruko!
Kikyo: Exactly! Maruko's murder is exactly as the movie describes it!
Tsukushi: In that case, how did the boy die in his past life!?
Sakurako: The boy fell in love with his best friend, another boy, and was thrown into a raging river by his own father.
Kiyoshi: Sh-Shit, talk about harsh.
Akahana: The motives are completely irrelevant here, but the fact is, there are similarities regarding the cause of death.
Kiyoshi: Does that really mean anything, though? It could be a coincidence or some shit.
Tsukushi: Hm... I wouldn't say so...
ANSWER THE QUESTION!
What suggests that Maruko's death being similar to the movie wasn't a coincidence?
1. The cause of death
2. The crime scene
3. Maruko's death was a suicide
Tsukushi: Take that!
Tsukushi: The cause of death itself suggests that it wasn't a coincidence!
Tsukushi: Think back to how Maruko died. She burned alive.
Tsukushi: Why would her suicide assistant make her burn herself alive?
Tsukushi: There are easier ways to commit suicide. And ones to make it look less suspicious.
Kikyo: Why did the killer choose that then?
Akahana: I think it would be because Yori was killed beforehand.
Akahana: Maybe the killer planned another method, but something went wrong.
Akahana: And they felt the need to divert attention off to something else.
Yatarou: For some reason, that sounds really off... it's not that good of a reason.
Akahana: Can you come up with anything else?
Yatarou: No but, the movie isn't even listed as a Truth Bullet, is it? So it shouldn't be too vital.
Akahana: Hm... I stand corrected.
Sakurako: Nevertheless, with the present evidence, we have no other theories... so let's proceed with the previous topic.
Chigusa: Yori's cause of death! We went on quite a tangent there, I almost forgot him.
Shizuka: This all brings us to one conclusion. Hanamichi-san's cause of death was similar to the movie as well.
Shizuka: Meaning... he was killed by being thrown into the lake.
Chigusa: He died by the shore though! Yori wouldn't die from falling over and splashing into the water...
Chigusa: And that also doesn't explain the broken neck.
Riou: Wait a minute, that's it! The broken neck has to be how he died!
Tsukushi: Sure enough, there weren't any other wounds on the body, right...?
~ ARGUMENT ~
Kiyoshi: Can't believe I need to clean that shitty ass argument!
Kiyoshi: Yeah, douche, you're kinda right. That little prick wasn't hurt anywhere else.
Kiyoshi: But what the fuck does that matter for!? Nothing, that's what!
Sakurako: Mister Ikeda.
Kiyoshi: Nuh-uh, not now, bitch! This is my time to shine! You'll all see how much of a fucking genius I am!
Kiyoshi: Listen up, lawyer dickhead! You're as wrong as wrong could be!
Tsukushi: K-Kiyoshi, why the sudden hostility? Just calm down.
Kiyoshi: No, no, no, you're not getting past me, asshole! Buckle up!
Kiyoshi: I'm about to show you the biggest, bestest theory you've laid eyes on!
Tsukushi: But Kiyoshi, think this through... if he wasn't hurt then-
Kiyoshi: Shut the fuck up, dude! Why didn't the killer off you as well!?
Kiyoshi: Always talking about how right you are! Listen to me for a sec!
Kiyoshi: Would it kill you to give me a little bit of goddamn attention, shithead!?
Tsukushi: K-Kiyo...
Kiyoshi: Now then, we're set! Get ready to be knocked out by the guy you hate so much!
Tsukushi: But Kiyo!
Kiyoshi: Don't fucking talk back to me! I'll wipe the floor with you!
Kiyoshi Ikeda has challenged Tsukushi Hananari to a Rebuttal Showdown!
PHASE EIGHT
CROSS SWORDS: REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN
Sheathed Truth Swords: Monokuma File #3 | Shizuka's Account | Dirt Below the Window | Talent Swaps
Kiyoshi: Now I finally got your fucking attention, listen up, bastards!
Kiyoshi: Just because there's no other wounds on the Monokuma File...
Kiyoshi: ...doesn't mean the dead dude doesn't actually have other wounds!
Kiyoshi: Monokuma's an evil bastard, you know!?
Kiyoshi: He's been fucking with us and you all fell right into his trap! Retards!
~ ADVANCE! ~
Tsukushi: Monokuma might be the pest behind all of this but...
Tsukushi: The Files have never lied to us! They were all important pieces of evidence!
Tsukushi: Why would the fourth one we examine be the wrong one!?
Tsukushi: Try to find some solid evidence before you go around screaming!
~ DEVELOPMENT! ~
Kiyoshi: How stupid can you get!? Monokuma's the villain!
Kiyoshi: There's no need for other evidence! But if you want some, here it comes!
Kiyoshi: Read your precious Truth Bullets! Yori's Clothes had blood on them!
Kiyoshi: The blood must have something to do with his murder!
(Unsheathed: Shizuka's Account)
~ CUT! ~
Tsukushi: Now, you listen to me, Kiyoshi! The blood on Yori's clothes had nothing to do with his own death!
Kiyoshi: Show me some proof, then!
Tsukushi: Gladly.
Tsukushi: Think back to everything that happened last night... Yori's death, Maruko's death, Yatarou and Eita being trapped and...
Tsukushi: Shizuka's assault. That's the only place the blood could've come from!
Kikyo: Yeah, no one else bled at all... But if that's the case, how did Shizuka's blood get on Yori?
Kiyoshi: Heh, try and squirm your way out of this one, smartass!
Chigusa: H-He completely ignored that he was wrong?
Eita: Is anyone surprised?
Kiyoshi: Shut the fuck up! Watch the great Tsukushi fall just because he can't handle the fact I'm right!
Kiyoshi: Let me guess! The magician was the one who knocked the supposed security guard unconscious!
Kiyoshi: That's how the blood got on him! Oh, but... he's fucking blind!
Tsukushi: W-Wait, could you repeat that?
Kiyoshi: Wh-What? Oh, um... he's... blind?
Tsukushi: Not that, before you said that you talked about... how the blood got on Shizuka's attacker.
Tsukushi: Think about it, this happened during Yuki's case as well... blood splatter.
Kiyoshi: S-So I w-was right?
Tsukushi: Kind of!
Yatarou: Are you seriously half-praising him after that Rebuttal Showdown?
Shizuka: If it were me, Ikeda-san would be dead where he stands.
Shizuka: Figuratively.
Chigusa: Back up for a second! That means you think Yori is the attacker!?
PHASE NINE
MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT: NON-STOP DEBATE
Loaded Truth Bullets: Dirt Below the Window | Yori's Clothes | Music Venue Ladder | Shizuka's Account | Tsukushi's Account
Chigusa: You're not saying Yori was the attacker, are you!?
Tsukushi: God no! Yori was blind! That'd be insane to consider but...
Tsukushi: The blood might have splattered onto Shizuka's assailant anyway.
Yatarou: Meaning... Yori was an accomplice? That's a way for the blood to get on him.
Sakurako: I have a hard time believing that to be the case as well, Yatarou.
Shizuka: Could the killer have smeared it on the body deliberately?
Kikyo: That wouldn't make sense. It would be to be an accident.
Eita: My calculations are always correct.
(Fired: Yori's Clothes)
~ BREAK! ~
Riou: Hey, pipsqueak. You sure like that sentence, don'tcha?
Kikyo: I must say... it's become a bit of a running thing, actually.
Kiyoshi: It's getting old, and it makes him sound like a snob, conceited asshole.
Eita: You're one to talk.
Tsukushi: Eita, can you please continue? You think Shizuka's wrong, right?
Tsukushi: How so? The culprit didn't mean to dirty the body?
Eita: Why would the killer want to leave Shizuka's blood around Yori's body? It would be unnatural.
Akahana: My thoughts exactly. No matter which way you slice it, it seems like it had to have been accidental.
Shizuka: Do we have anything to prove said theory? Kurogane-san mentioned Hanamichi-san's clothing items.
Shizuka: Those would be the top hat and the wand upstairs? Or the ones still on the body?
Eita: The ones Yori was wearing are the key to my theory. Namely, look at where the blood is.
Riou: If I remember right it was... just under the armpit.
Tsukushi: That's right. Yatarou and I can attest to that being true, as well.
Yatarou: It'd be pretty difficult for blood splatter to get to someone's armpits though!
Chigusa: Blood splatter? I thought we agreed Yori wasn't anywhere near Shizuka when he was attacked!
Yatarou: And he wasn't! He was with me... he left the room when he heard noise downstairs.
Yatarou: Given the facts, I think we can all say it was Shizuka being attacked... by Yori's killer, I'd think.
Chigusa: S-So you just contradicted yourself... a-anyway, moving on. Eita?
Eita: I share that same conclusion.
Eita: But if Yori wasn't around when Shizuka was attacked, how did his blood get on him?
Tsukushi: Let me go through the facts one by one, and maybe then I'll have an idea.
Tsukushi: If it worked with finding out the truth behind the locked room, I'll give it a shot.
Tsukushi: So, the odd thing about the stains would be their placement. Namely, near the armpits.
Tsukushi: Since Yori was with Yatarou and Eita the moment of the assault, that theory is out.
Tsukushi: That being the case, though... how did the blood get there?
Akahana: I think I might have a theory. Think back to two previous pieces of evidence.
Akahana: The Monokuma File regarding Yori, for one. Focus on the crime scene: the shore.
Akahana: That, coupled with the fact Yori was found in the middle of the lake, should give you some idea of what happened.
Sakurako: Let's see... Yori died outside the lake, on the shore by the lake house.
Kikyo: But he was found way off, in the actual lake! How did that happen though?
PHASE TEN
DISCOVER THE KEYWORD: HANGMAN'S GAMBIT
_/_/_/_ _/_/_ _/_/_/_/_
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_/O/_/_ _/A/_ _/O/_/E/_
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_/O/D/_ _/A/S _/O/_/E/_
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_/O/D/Y _/A/S _/O/V/E/_
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B/O/D/Y _/A/S _/O/V/E/D
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B/O/D/Y W/A/S /M/O/V/E/D
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KEYWORD: BODY WAS MOVED!
~ COMPLETE ~
Akahana: The answer is obvious. The body had to be moved to the lake after the murder.
Shizuka: That would make quite a bit of sense. But I'd taken that as a fact up until now, haven't you, Nakajima-san?
Chigusa: Shizuka has a point. Yori couldn't have died in the shore and be found in the lake if he didn't move.
Chigusa: So he must've been moved there afterwards... but the most probably scenario would be... him floating there?
Akahana: That's where you're wrong.
Chigusa: H-Huh? I am?
Eita: I see. I think I understand Akahana's reasoning.
Eita: Depending on how the body was moved, there was a way for the blood to reach Yori.
Eita: In fact, one means of moving him would explain why there was blood on his armpits and nowhere else.
Yatarou: You don't say!? But... how? For the blood to have gotten below his arms, it must've been a pretty hard trick to pull off.
Kikyo: I think I got it... and if I'm right, it really isn't that difficult at all! After breaking Yori's neck...
Kikyo: The killer dragged the body over to the lake and threw him! R-Right?
Sakurako: If the culprit hooked his own arms below his armpits, there would indeed be an opening to leave a bloodstain.
Sakurako: And just below the armpit as well.
Yatarou: Damn it... what a tricky little bastard this culprit is! And worst of all, the contradictions aren't as obvious as last time...
Sakurako: Th-There were... good reasons behind those obvious contradictions.
Shizuka: Let us not dwell in details of the past, yes?
Shizuka: Moving on, the body was dragged over to the lake, and disposed of there.
Kikyo: That's what it seems like, anyway. Any objections?
Riou: None.
Tsukushi: Yeah, it's a pretty sound theory... nothing seems out of place as far as I can recall.
Kiyoshi: Now, now then! You've had plenty of time to think all this shit through, right?
Kiyoshi: Can I accuse someone already!? I've been itching to point it out!
Sakurako: Go right ahead. Knowing your track record, that person should be unmistakeably innocent.
Chigusa: That's an iffy way of getting rid of potential suspects...
Kiyoshi: Buzz off, bitch! Sheesh, fucking assholes, all of you. Let me share my theory or however the fuck you guys say it.
Kiyoshi: There can only be one answer to this... and that is that the killer is... you!
PHASE ELEVEN
MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT: NON-STOP DEBATE
Loaded Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #3 | Talent Swaps | Work Schedule | Shizuka's Account | Tsukushi's Account
Kiyoshi: The killer can only be you! Steroid man!
Riou: Wh-What the hell did you say, pipsqueak!?
Tsukushi: Don't accuse Riou like that, Kiyoshi! Where's your proof!?
Kiyoshi: Oh, I got your proof alright! It's all in the file!
Kiyoshi: The magic wimp died from a broken neck! It's the only wound!
Kikyo: Talk about switching lanes... you were saying the exact opposite earlier!
Kiyoshi: Shut up! Anyway, who could break a neck aside from muscle brain over there, huh?
Kiyoshi: No one here has that much arm strength, shitheads, it's obvious!
Shizuka: You do realize you don't need that much strength to break a neck, right? A quick snap and you're golden.
Chigusa: Wh-Why do you know that...?
Shizuka: Work reasons. I'll be sure to specify them later.
Kikyo: Riou was a Hairstylist during the murder, though! He might have the strength, but he didn't use it!
Kikyo: He was harmless as all heck when he was acting all sissy and stuff!
Riou: H-Hey...
Tsukushi: Kikyo's right! That means there is no one leftto suspect for the time being!
Kiyoshi: Nuh-uh! The garden hoe did it! She was a Boxer right!? What now?
Eita: She might've been a Boxer, but it's clear she can't snap a neck. She's too frail.
Akahana: Objection, Your Honor!
(Fired: Talent Swaps)
~ BREAK! ~
Akahana: That's where you're wrong, Hananari. Listen here...
Akahana: We've all been overlooking someone that might be of critical importance to the case.
Akahana: The sixth and final talent swap... the unaccounted for one.
Kikyo: Sh-Shoot, you're right! I'd totally forgotten about that!
Riou: But even then, is that any good? We're all feeling fine now. Ever since the murder...
Riou: ...we've been back to normal! So we can't find out who was the last swap.
Akahana: We sure can't but, we can maneuver our way around with theories that make the most sense.
Akahana: Think back to everyone's talents, including our fellow dead members.
Akahana: Monokuma must've had a reason to use those against us, am I right?
Yatarou: I'm not sure I follow... what do you mean?
Chigusa: Is Monokuma's motive the key to this case as well?
Akahana: I wouldn't be sure it would be the key to solving the case... but it's a useful tool, at least.
Akahana: Now, back to my question. Whose talents could be used as a means to murder?
Kikyo: The first that comes to mind would be Yuzuru's... she was an Assassin.
Chigusa: But look at Maruko! An innocent little Maid and she still met her end because of the motive...
Shizuka: Information Brokers have a way with weapons, I'd wager. We should be wary of the possibility.
Sakurako: I wouldn't be too certain of that. Our line of work involves espionage and stealth, but barely any violence.
Akahana: I'm afraid I must set you aside for now, Shizuka and Chigusa. Kikyo's claim interested me the most.
Akahana: Indeed. We, the healthy people, as well as Tsukushi and the final talent swapped person, discussed the possibility earlier this week.
Akahana: The possibility of our missing link being the SHSL Assassin. A walking murder machine.
Tsukushi: Now that I think about it... the remaining Talent Swap was still with us back then.
Tsukushi: And they managed to pretend being healthy!
Yatarou: They pushed through the disease and managed to convince us... who could it have been, though?
Akahana: Perceptive, cold, cunning, discreet, deceptive... trademarks of a typical Assassin.
Akahana: The Information Broker would also line up with these tropes...
Eita: Yes, but the Assassin theory is the most likely one, according to my calculations.
Kikyo: I say we go with that theory, then! Whoever had the Assassin swap was the killer, then?
Riou: That would leave me and Tsukushi off the hook!
Chigusa: Maruko, Eita and myself too...
Akahana: Assassins can be manipulative, so we mustn't be sure yet. It's likely you're right, though.
Kikyo: That shortens our list considerably!
Shizuka: That can't be right.
Kikyo: Hm?
Shizuka: I can already see where this is going. Out of all the people unaffected by the talent swaps...
Shizuka: Hanamichi-san was a victim, and blind, so he's out of the way as a suspect.
Shizuka: Ikeda-san was asleep in his room, as proved by Nekomirin-san and Kurogane-san.
Shizuka: Nekomirin-san was locked in his room by the killer.
Shizuka: Namikaze-san, Nakajima-san and Ohwatani-san were at the cinema at the time.
Shizuka: As such, the blame will fall on me! I am, however, unable to be the killer because I was unconscious at the time.
Akahana: Hm... agh, I have no qualms with his reasoning.
Yatarou: Wh-What!? Akahana conceded her loss so quickly... but then... we're back to square one!?
Akahana: Unless we can prove anyone's alibi to be false, we have no choice to but keep debating.
Kikyo: Ugh... this sucks. I thought we were close to finishing this off...
Kikyo: This is putting a lot of stress on all of us.
Tsukushi: We have to push through, Kikyo, just a bit longer! We're gonna get to the bottom of this.
Tsukushi: And get back up to the surface alive... now, what can we debate next?
Sakurako: The whole circumstances behind Yori's cause of death are a bit unstable.
Sakurako: Are we sure he died from a broken neck? What caused it?
Eita: Those are two of the basics, and we're still missing them.
Riou: Hm... I'm pretty sure we can say he died from a broken neck. Right, Tsukushi?
Tsukushi: Right. There aren't any other wounds, and the Monokuma File doesn't state anything else off.
Tsukushi: The body eliminates the chance he was poisoned like Yuzuru...
Tsukushi: So yeah, I think we're okay for now! The cause of death was the broken neck.
Shizuka: Murder weapon?
Chigusa: That's another question... how could the killer break Yori's neck?
PHASE TWELVE
MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT: NON-STOP DEBATE
Loaded Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #3 | Talent Swaps | Yatarou's Account | Dirt Below the Window | Music Venue Ladder
Kikyo: Let's talk murder weapons, then! Anyone have any theories?
Sakurako: I'm certain sheer brute force would be enough to do the deed, right?
Eita: Maybe an object was used in the heat of the moment?
Kikyo: I don't think that's too likely... there'd be blood on the weapon, wouldn't it?
Akahana: Hm... yes, that's a worthwhile point to make. Unless it was washed.
Riou: No one found anything wet anywhere though, did they?
Tsukushi: Seems like it... aside from Yori's body, nothing was wet!
Sakurako: That shoots down Eita's theory, then?
Yatarou: Aaaack, it's useless! I'm racking my brain but nothing's coming out!
Chigusa: I don't think that's a fruitful argument!
(Fired: Frying Pan)
~ BREAK! ~
The Solo Bullet "Frying Pan", privy to Chigusa Takagawa, is a now a regular Truth Bullet.
Chigusa: Finally! A good enough reason to show this off to you guys!
Tsukushi: Another Solo Bullet, huh? What's this about a frying pan?
Chigusa: I found it in the kitchen, freshly washed and all! It was hidden away, stashed in the back of a cupboard!
Chigusa: I'm not as good of a sniffer as Yori was but... I'll bet that frying pan had blood on it!
Chigusa: There was an iffy smell of it! The fact that it was wet is pretty suspicious too.
Chigusa: Since no one used it during the breakfast - which he didn't have - the only other way was to use it last night.
Chigusa: Did anyone use a frying pan?
Eita: Last night, Maruko and I prepared dinner and we used nothing of the sort. Huh, interesting.
Kikyo: So the murder weapon was... a frying pan? That can't be, can it?
Kikyo: Think. There'd be some kind of bump on his head if that was the case, right?
Kikyo: But the broken neck was the only thing Yori had wrong on his body!
Yatarou: Now that I think about it, isn't it weird? How did that happen?
Sakurako: Don't stray from this topic so soon! I feel we are reaching a conclusion here...
Sakurako: The frying pan might have been used somewhere else.
Riou: Somewhere else?
Tsukushi: If you don't mean Yori's murder, there are only two other options...
Tsukushi: Either it was used in Shizuka's assault, or in Maruko's case.
Shizuka: I believe us to be sufficiently done with Inubarashi-san's murder, for now.
Shizuka: My assault is the most concerning... I think the frying pan was used against me.
Chigusa: Could we check the wound on Shizuka?
Akahana: Without the murderous frying pan, we wouldn't be able to discern if the wounds matched.
Akahana: Nevertheless, it must be true that Shizuka was attacked with the frying pan, in the lake house living room last night.
Kikyo: Heh, that sounded like a round of Clue!
Yatarou: K-Kikyo...
Kikyo: Ah, sorry! I-I apologize, um, moving on... we found out the weapon used on Shizuka but...
Kikyo: We're still missing the weapon used on Yori, which might be a bit important too.
Kiyoshi: You think?
Sakurako: We didn't find any weapons anywhere. Aside from the frying pan, what could be used as a weapon?
Yatarou: Maybe if someone strong enough bopped Yori in the head with his magic wand?
Akahana: Unlikely. It would break on impact and not leave any lasting damage on him.
Shizuka: Would the ladder outside the house be enough to do it?
Tsukushi: If someone could lift it and actually use it as a weapon, it might do the trick.
Tsukushi: I don't think even Riou could lift that by himself though... at the very least, we wouldn't wield it easily.
Eita: Maybe there was no murder weapon to begin with.
Kiyoshi: Kurogane's lost it for good. Like seriously, what the fuck? How do you kill someone without a weapon?
Chigusa: You're saying... the culprit used their bare hands to kill him?
Chigusa: Sh-Shizuka did say a regular person's arm strength would be more than enough to break a neck.
Kikyo: Which would mean... we're still short on guesses.
Kikyo: If we can't rely on any weapons, or the missing talent swap, then anyone of the people in the house could have done it!
Tsukushi: Wait a minute! Waaait a minute, you guys, I think I got something...
Tsukushi: Maybe... Just maybe, Eita's theory isn't so farfetched after all!
Riou: So someone snapped pipsqueak's neck with their body? That's brutal.
Tsukushi: No, no, that's not it... let me think for a second.
PHASE THIRTEEN
DIVE DRIVE: LOGIC DIVE
Okay, Tsukushi, we're back to you. Eita proposed the possibility of there being no murder weapon in Yori's murder case, and although everyone dismissed it at first, maybe his guess wasn't so off after all. We didn't find anything that could be used as a weapon, and Yori had no other wounds aside from his broken neck so, it must be the case. There's something we found at the scene that suggests as much!
QUESTION #1
What suggests Yori's murder has no murder weapon to speak of?
The dirt on the floor below the window
The ladder from the music venue
The lake house's work schedule
The girls' night out to the movies
...
...
There's something off about the dirt below the second story window!
I found it a bit hard to swallow from the very begginning, when Yatarou showed Kikyo and I that imprint on the ground. Sure, it could have been made with a ladder, but how would the two pieces that actually touch the ground make that big of a mess? Unless the culprit had to move around the ladder a whole lot, it wouldn't make an imprint that big. That being said, what could've made it?
QUESTION #2
How did the imprint below the second floor window come to be?
The culprit planted it, and it was a red herring
The killer was clumsy while using the ladder
Something was thrown out of the window
...
...
The killer must have thrown something out the window for the imprint to be left there!
The dirt below the window was hardly important or confusing enough to be classified as a red herring, so that option is probably not worth thinking about. The killer might've been clumsy when using the ladder, but with the level of detail and planning this case took before it came to fruition, I wouldn't dare say the culprit was a messy killer. They thought of everything. The only reasonable way left that such a big mark was left there, was if something was dropped from the window.
QUESTION #3
What was dropped from the second floor window?
Yori's dead body
Maruko jumped down
The killer himself
...
...
The imprint was made by Yori's body falling from the window!
LOGIC DIVE - COMPLETE!
Tsukushi: I think I've got it!
Tsukushi: This is... surprising to be sure. I'm still a bit confused.
Akahana: Just spill it already, Hananari, time's of the essence.
Tsukushi: Y-Yes...
Tsukushi: Jerk.
Tsukushi: I might've come up with something that'll finally settle the basics once and for all.
Tsukushi: Eita, you said there wasn't any murder weapon involved in Yori's case, right?
Eita: That's correct. Was I right in assuming so?
Tsukushi: Yes, actually! It would explain why nothing that could be used as a weapon turned up during investigation.
Tsukushi: But the question remains... if there was no murder weapon, how did Yori die?
Tsukushi: The answer lies right by the lake house. Below the window, to be exact!
Yatarou: So... the ladder? Did Yori try to go down it and fell?
Kikyo: I-I think he means the imprint we found. It was quite a big mark as well.
Tsukushi: Bingo, Kikyo.
Chigusa: What could that have to do with the weapon though? Or the lack of a weapon, anyway...
Tsukushi: According to my thoughts... the ground below the window was the weapon.
Tsukushi: Yori was thrown out the second floor window and fell to his death. He broke his neck on impact.
Tsukushi: That'd explain the lack of an actual wound made by a weapon!
Sakurako: It... It sure makes sense, does it not? It doesn't contradict with anything.
Sakurako: Yori was killed in the shore, and I believe the outside of the lake house constitutes as much.
Sakurako: Does anyone have more evidence to back up Hananari's claim?
PRESENT EVIDENCE!
1. Work Schedule
2. Shizuka's Account
3. Yatarou's Account
4. Music Venue Ladder
Yatarou: This argument will become a historical landmark!
Yatarou: I do. It also explains the scream I heard.
Yatarou: It was probably Yori falling to his death...
Riou: You... You heard it, pipsqueak?
Yatarou: Y-Yeah... I caught wind of his final moments. Ugh, now that I think more about it...
Yatarou: It's pretty hard to wrap my head around it. I heard him die and couldn't do a thing.
Kikyo: Hey, hey, Yatarou! No time to be acting so glum, now, is there? Cheer up!
Kikyo: It's because you heard it that we're progressing through this trial... you're helping us.
Yatarou: Kikyo... Yeah, you're right, sorry for my little depression session there.
Akahana: The cause of death was falling then, huh? Likely.
Akahana: That means we have finally finished establishing the basics for this case.
Akahana: Yori fell to his death, breaking his neck on impact. He died just outside the lake house, shortly after midnight.
Shizuka: Now that I think more about it, it also matches the cause of death in that movie, does it not?
Kikyo: Oh! I'd forgotten about that already, but yeah. The boy was killed by being thrown into a river.
Yatarou: We thought Yori had to have been killed by being thrown into the lake because of it but...
Yatarou: Maybe he was just dumped into the lake after being thrown off the window! That'd match the movie nicely.
Chigusa: Something sounds off to me, though... like, for example, why? Why would the culprit imitate the movie?
Chigusa: It would only narrow down suspects to the people that have watched it.
Tsukushi: Chigusa's right. Unless someone spoke of the movie's contents before the trial?
Akahana: Kikyo, Sakurako and myself had no time to do such a thing. We were there until quite late.
Akahana: After leaving, we went straight back to the lake house. Everyone was asleep.
Akahana: As for how all three of us missed Shizuka's unconscious body... we were tired, and half-asleep. It was also dark.
Kiyoshi: You didn't notice anything!? Sheesh, you three must've been stoned as fuck.
Kiyoshi: Wasn't he smack dab in front of the goddamn stairs!?
Kikyo: W-We weren't stoned or anything! What the hell, Kiyo... Anyway.
Kikyo: Akahana and I looked out the window, and you joined us shortly after, Tsukushi. Then the B.D.A. went off.
Eita: Long story short, only the people who watched the movie could have commited the crime. Unless this was a coincidence.
Eita: Before any of you think of it, it is highly unlikely, as you're probably able to perceive.
Yatarou: Who watched the movie, then?
Kikyo: Me.
Akahana: Me.
Sakurako: Me.
Chigusa: Maruko saw it too, I think. Maybe she went to see some other film, though, so don't quote me on it... Can't remember too well.
Kiyoshi: Fuck's sake, Neko-moron, you really thought asking that would make everyone reveal themselves?
Kiyoshi: What kind of murderer would fucking incriminate himself like that? Retard.
Yatarou: N-No need to be rude...
Shizuka: It was quite the idiotic strategy, however, Nekomirin-san, I must admit.
Yatarou: Ahh, sorry! I was only trying to help, okay?
Akahana: Nevertheless, I think it's safe to make a suspect list at present time. Any objections?
Sakurako: None. Go ahead.
Akahana: We can't rely on the missing talent swap, so...
Akahana: The people who are most suspicious are Hananari, Maruko, Kiyoshi, Riou and Chigusa.
Akahana: Yatarou and Eita were stuck in a room while Yori was being killed. Shizuka had been assaulted prior.
Akahana: The three of us who went to the cinema are also clear. We can support each other's alibis.
Chigusa: If Kiyoshi is the only healthy person on the suspect list... he should be the missing swap, right!?
Shizuka: Not necessarily. Nekomirin-san and me have the same chance of being the missing talent swap.
Shizuka: Same goes for the three girls. As Nakajima-san said, in fact, the talent swaps are unreliable.
Shizuka: We have no idea if the killer was affected.
Tsukushi: Which means, the suspect list has been cut in half. And all the sickly people, plus Kiyoshi, are in it.
Monokuma: And you'll have to stay that way until after this short commercial break, bastards!
Kikyo: M-Monokuma!
Shizuka: I almost forgot he was there.
Monokuma: Ah! You wound me! Prepare to be punished later!
Monokuma: Aaaaaaanyway, this trial has been going on for quite a while and you've only now "established the basics" as you say it.
Monokuma: Seriously... having two lawyers in this game made for some stupid methods of trialling. Can one of you get killed already?
Tsukushi: N-No! And what the hell, Monokuma, we're getting close to the killer's identity!
Monokuma: Are you? Oh, I apologize! Please, forgive me as I permit you to continue your debating!
Monokuma: Not! Take five, you bastards, conserve energy or whatever, I wanna grab some nachos.
Chigusa: Again with the food...
Monokuma: Stop judging me, Gardener girl! Sheesh, teenagers these days. Bullying really is a big issue in today's world!
Monokuma: Come on, now, shoo! And enjoy your recess!
A/N: And thus, part two out of three of this third Class Trial is finally upon us! What are your thoughts on it so far? PM me or leave a review to tell me! The suspects will be narrowed down to one by next chapter, and the one after that will be the final verdict. Will the students be killed off, or see another friend depart? Or maybe both, or maybe neither. Who knows! (Aside from me, of course.)
I'll be seeing you next update, everyone. Take care, happy writing and... Yamazaki out!