Extract from phone interview conducted with Ikuko Tanabe, 17th July 2039, 13:50

In Attendance: Detective Seiji Takamoto

I.T: You have a lot of nerve, the lot of you, trying to hound my sister again.

S.T.: We're not trying to hound her, Tanabe-san. We are simply trying to track her down for the reopened investigation.

I.T.: (snorts) and for whose benefit is that, exactly? Certainly not for Miyumi's, not after how you and that goddamn school treated her.

S.T.: Yes, well, I understand that she did leave Hope's Peak after 78-B were fo-

I.T.: Not just leave Hope's Peak, she left teaching altogether! It was her dream career, did you know that? No, of course you didn't.

S.T.: And we would be interested in knowing what precisely happened with your sister.

I.T.: Hah, yeah, no. Not going to happen. I encouraged her to fully cooperate with you even though that school threatened her, because she loved those kids and it wasn't about her or us or our shitty experiences. But what did you do? You threw that back in her face. I regret ever saying anything.

S.T.: Listen, I was not on the original case, I am not fully aware of the situation, but if you could just-

I.T.: Excuses, excuses as always.

S.T.: Ma'am, please…

…

Extract from a post put up on Hope's Peak's official website, 1st April 2019

Posted by: SchoolAdmin

…Like the rest of the country, we were thrilled to see the new name of the era revealed. The Reiwa Era will surely be a peaceful, prosperous one and Hope's Peak are honoured to be a part of the beginning of this new age. Our many students, from all walks of life, continue to represent the best of the country's youth and will surely be an example to us all throughout Reiwa.

We were lucky enough to be able to witness the ushering of the Heisei area, which we celebrated appropriately with a huge party that opened the grounds to the public, with special invites for disadvantaged schoolchildren. Therefore, we plan on doing the same this time around, but bigger and better, with our students at the forefront of it all. If you are a particular fan of one of our students, then this may just end up being the party of a lifetime for you, but even if not we do hope you will come and join us on this momentous occasion …

…The party will be taking place over the entirety of the weekend beginning the 3rd of May, and more details are to follow…

…

Interview with Kazuo Tengan conducted at Hope's Peak Academy, 29th April 2019, 11:45

In attendance: Detective Shizuka Onoe, Detective Matsuo Amasaki, Kazukiyo Oomori (lawyer)

M.A.: I understand, Tengan-san, that despite the fact that you retired over twenty years ago, you are still heavily involved in the running of Hope's Peak.

K.T.: Oh, purely as an advisor of sorts. Being able to guide and nurture the young generation has always been a passion of mine-it is why I have been here for so long, after all. I will admit to a little bit of narcissism too-the glory of these young people does reflect well on us as staff.

K.O.: Yes, Tengan-san has been a valued member of both this school and my family's life for a very long time. Just as he coached me to make the right choices in life as a young man, he is now doing the same with my eldest son, and with his children too-though they are still little more than babies, those three.

S.O.: That eldest son is Kazutaka Oomori, correct? He has had a lot of interaction with Class 78-B?

K.O.: (slightly raised voice) I do not like what you are implying.

S.O.: I am implying nothing, Oomori-san, I am simply asking a question in response to the information you offered me.

M.A.: Nonetheless, as Kazutaka Oomori-san isn't currently present, let's get back to you, Tengan-san? How involved are you with the day to day life of the students currently?

K.T.: Well now, of course, I am retired as you so rightly mentioned before, I do not spend all my waking hours here (chuckles). Most of the time I am here, I am sequestered right in these offices, advising Kirigiri-kun on various matters in relation to running the school. Indeed, I am supporting him through this terrible time and am hoping that it will soon be resolved so we can go back to the important things.

S.O.: And what important things might this be?

K.T.: Why, the Reiwa Era celebrations of course.

S.O.: More important than bringing back twenty young people back safely?

K.T.: Well, young lady, you couldn't possibly know this, but Hope's Peak Academy has been around since the middle of the Showa Era, and during my time as Principal we welcomed in the Heisei era with much joy and celebration, it is only natural that this new is treated just as momentously.

K.T.: (coughs delicately) But of course, you are right, we do need to get the young people back, especially as they had such a big role in the organisation of the celebrations. Yes, we do have the two other classes, but it'll be such a shame if we had to cancel because we didn't have all the help needed.

K.O. (delicately clears throat)

K.T.: (chuckles) Oh yes, excuse me. I do tend to …ramble somewhat in my old age. Ah, if you could remind me what it was we were originally talking about.

S.O.: Your relationship with the missing students, if any. How well you knew them and so on.

K.T.: Ah, yes, of course. Well, I cannot say I particularly talked to any of them more than the other. Perhaps the Kamiya girl and the Komiya boy, as they were the class representatives. I did see them a few times in the offices for Council related matters. And of course, Lao-san and Hashiri-san, I did talk to them at the beginning of the year, what with them coming from abroad and all. Hashiri-san was a lovely young lady, well bought up by the older generation. And her grandmother Sachiko Hashiri is quite an upstanding woman herself-I knew her for a while, in my glorious youth. The rest I've seen from time to time, mostly while I'm with Kirigiri-kun, and at graduation ceremonies and the like. And that more or less characterises my interactions with most of the students in the school.

M.A.: So you wouldn't consider yourself close to particular students? You've never given them any specialist advice or anything like that.

K.T.: Well now, if a student was to approach me, I'd hardly reject them. But mentorship at large isn't part of my role here.

S.O.: Then how do you explain reports from some of the other students that several of the students of 78-B, mainly the girls, attempted to make complaints that they were being stalked?

K.T.: I have (clears throat) no idea what you are talking about. Who has been saying such things?

M.A.: We are not at liberty to reveal that to you.

K.O.: This is a serious allegation, we would like to know the name of the young person so that we can appropriately clarify this matter.

M.A.: You say that, and yet, according to the students in question, the response to these complaints was to brush them off and discourage them from making further complaints.

S.O.: You, specifically. Speaking on behalf of Principal Kirigiri.

K.T.: I do sometimes speak for Kirigiri-kun yes, because though he is bright and ambitious he is…young, and inexperienced in life much as most young people are in new situations. Much like yourselves, actually.

S.O.: (pause)What do you mean by that?

K.T.: (throaty chuckle, then a pause)

S.O.: Tengan-san.

K.T.: I am sure the two of you are fine detectives. Indeed, I have read up on past cases you have managed to solve and know that you are. However, that does not mean you understand how a school like this works. And unfortunately, I do not think you can. The rules of ordinary society do not fully apply to such brilliant beings as these teenagers, never mind the institution that houses them.

S.O.: I assure you that if anyone in this school is found to be involved in the disappearances of the students, especially if they have come to harm, then the fact this school has a prestigious history will not protect them from the law.

K.O.: Tengan-san, you don't need to say anything more. You don't need to stand for this slander.

M.A.: What about what we have said could be constituted as slander, Oomori-san? We are simply trying to follow up on any leads we have in order to bring home a group of teenagers whom your client has some duty of care towards.

K.O: Tengan-san, don't say anything.

K.T.: It is alright, I have nothing to say at this point. Please see these detectives out and wish them well in their investigative efforts.

…

Extract from an email sent from Forensics to the detectives investigating the class 78-B case, June 3rd 2019, 14:30

RE: DNA Identification

…Fumiaki Amai's remains were identified as being in one of the two bags of what can only be described, somewhat inelegantly, as paste. This was done by matching his DNA with the sample provided from his surviving brother. Additionally, the remains proved a match for some of the skin fragments found snagged on Rin Hatakawayama's fingernails.

Though it took some doing, Takayuki's Fujimoto's DNA was extracted from the little toys found at the crime scene that had been confirmed to be touched/handled by him, as well as from bedding and clothing found in the room that we have been informed he was sleeping in. Using this, we were able to find a positive match between the samples from these sources, and the remains that were found stuffed into the toy. Similar sources corresponding to Katsuya Komiya were used to identify his remains as being in the second bag of 'paste'….

…

Extract from the autopsy report of Seiko Yamamoto

…many of the wounds caused by the shrapnel had bled for an extensive amount of time before she died. A number also had gravel embedded in them…

…the burns across her arms and hands were third-degree for the most part, with some reaching the extent of fourth-degree particularly across her forearms which both suffered fractures….

…The remaining burns across her torso and legs were second-degree..

…after seeking a second opinion, the conclusion is that Seiko Yamamoto died as a combined result of bleeding out from where she was hit with shrapnel, and shock from the multiple injuries that she received. The death would have been a slow one…