Chapter 1: Urban Despair Part 4 (Deadly Life)

Citizens Remaining: 16

The realization that one of us was murdered has slowly sunk in.

Who could do this to Misato?

Seeing her lifeless body in the corner, still bleeding at that, is enough to make a person vomit. It's a good thing Ishigami was near the trash can.

We were then sent a message through our e-Handbooks: The Monokuma File.

Victim: Misato Tachibana

"The time of death was around 5pm."

"The body was found in the Hope-tel 2nd Guest Floor in the victim's bedroom."

"Cause of death is a wound to the chest made by a sharp object."

It was a file similar to an autopsy report, listing down the time of death, location of the body, and the cause of death. Today was a rollercoaster of emotions, but it seems like it won't end until the trial happens, so we need to start investigating. Not everyone was in the diner when I talked about the plan to avoid the killing game and open up the new areas. Maybe it was one of the missing people who gave into the motive Monokuma had set for us, but the question was which one of them?

Gold, he and Misato didn't get along too well, to the point where I saw them glaring at each other each time they were in the same place. Having him be invited into her room could potentially have caused this to happen, yet I doubt killing is in his nature. He was even the one to come get us, so unless he's hiding something...

Trunks, I saw him prepare to cut down Monokuma before he went away. This motive could have pushed him into the point of snapping, but once again his behavior around us hasn't suggested that he would be willing to cut one of us down. You could never tell though.

Ryuji, I seriously don't believe he'd manage to pull off a successful murder. I feel like if he did try to kill her, he'd be in the same corner as she was, except blasted instead of bleeding.

Bernadetta, Shantae, & Espio had all reacted appropriately to what Monokuma did to their loved ones. The latter two especially looked crushed at what they saw, so perhaps that was the trigger. The murder weapon was also Espio's lost kunai, could he have been lying about losing it? Hopefully not, but I still have a bad feeling for suspecting them.

That just leaves…

(Insert Song: Box 15 (Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc))

"Hm…"

Kaiba, he was looking over the room, inspecting everything that was out of place. He picked up one of the black hairs off the ground and placed it in his jacket pocket.

Clue: Black Hair (Crime Scene)

I then promptly checked my own pockets and found the hair left from the costume store in the shopping district. Glad I managed to keep that, since I see a bunch of it lying around the crime scene.

Clue: Black Hair (Costume Shop)

Espio went over and investigated his kunai and hesitated when he went to pull it out of her body. The blood dyed the sharp part of the small blade completely in red, and after seeing that he dropped it on the ground.

"I was far too careless…"

"Indeed you were…" Kaiba said to him as he continued looking around.

The ash on the walls we saw before we walked in, it looks like she tried to defend herself from her attacker. One of the weapons she always carries with her must be what she used.

Clue: Ash on Wall

Miles opened her closet door and saw something other than clothes that surprised him.

"Whoa, check this out."

It was a whole stash of weapons. A bazooka that we've seen her with before, the cannon she almost used on Gold yesterday, a turret, a pistol, machine gun, how did she carry all of this? I then saw a bundle of grenades, yet there looked to be an empty spot where one should be.

Clue: Missing Grenade

There were only two more pieces of evidence we managed to find while searching her room, it was a piece of cloth lying on the mattress which was covered in blood, and the way the mattress was positioned as well.

Clue: Mattress Position

Clue: Bloody Piece of Cloth

After we collected all that we could, we left the crime scene, turning the light off to let our lost companion rest. Out in the hallway everyone was gathered together, and as expected was shaken up by her death.

"Damn it… if I had only been there for our meeting…" Gold was infuriated.

"Meeting you say? What meeting Gold?" Alice curiously asked him.

"Me and her were supposed to patch things up after arguing, so she invited me to her room."

"Inviting you there, alone? You weren't suspicious in the slightest?" Aoba said cautiously.

"A bit, yeah, but I wanted to make sure I could make Bazooka Girl a good pal of mine."

"I don't know dude, you two always looked like you were going to throw down. Who's to say you wouldn't try to get rid of a girl who can take out a cannon out of nowhere?" Ryuji did not believe him and a few others looked at him like they didn't either.

"What?! I'm not a murderer, come on guys!" He pleaded as he looked at them all, even Bernie was too scared to look at him.

"We'll see sooner or later, let's just prepare for the trial." Killua put his arms behind his head as he and the rest of them walked away.

Gold was still there along with me, Miles, and Emma.

"It's alright, I believe you Gold." The Ultimate Moral Compass told him.

"Thanks, but it looks like I'm against all odds, not the first time that's happened, heh."

"How can you smile knowing that almost everyone thinks you killed Misato?" I asked him, as he had a small grin on his face.

"Well, if you guys believe in me, I can't be all gloomy and cry about it. Plus, you're gonna need more evidence, right?"

"Uh… yeah? What kind of evidence do you have?" Miles put his fingers to his chin.

"What do you call it… uh… ali? Alibaba?"

"An alibi?" I bluntly corrected him.

"Yeah, an alibi! I was just messing with you guys." He rubbed the spot under his nose confidently.

"Liar." Is what we all most likely thought as we stared at him exasperated.

"Anyways, I think it was at 4:40, I was grabbing some grub from the restaurants and it took forever for me to bring them all here. I was planning on sharing a meal with Bazooka Girl, maybe try to charm her while also trying to be a good guy. Here, let me show you where I put them."

We followed Gold to his room and when he opened the door, there was a HUGE pile of junk food on top of his bed, how did he manage to get it all here?

"It really did look like it took forever to take all of these! You wouldn't have been able to make it in time for the time of the murder!" Emma was taken aback by the amount.

"Well, looks like in our book at least, you're innocent, but now we need to figure out whodunit with what we've gathered."

Clue: Gold's Alibi

Clue: Gold's Pile of Snacks

We all dispersed after that and while they took the time to rest up, I decided to see if there was anyone else who was in the Hope-tel during the time of the murder. I went for the most obvious choice, someone who was in their room the entire time and could hear if something went down. It's a good thing the walls aren't completely soundproof.

"Bernadetta? Are you there?"

She creaked open the door slightly and peeked from behind it, "Hey Ai. Sorry, I don't feel like coming out right now, I don't even know if I can even make it to the trial."

"Yeah that's understandable, but I need your help."

"R-really? You need help from Bernie of all people?

"Yes actually. I wanted to ask if you heard some things, like if you heard the killer."

"Ah! Do you think they're going to come after me next?! Nooo, I still need to write out who I'm leaving my stuff with when I'm gone! My hedgehog pencil case with the Professor, my armored bear stuffy with Dorothea…"

"Hold on, I don't think they're coming for you, at least I think they aren't, but still I just need to see if you heard something."

"W-well I did hear something but I don't think it's too useful…"

"Anything helps, let me hear it."

"Alright, so I didn't hear much, but I did hear someone say that—"

*Ding dong bing bong!*

Monokuma once again popped up on our e-Handbook screens with his drink.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, our first city trial will now begin shortly! Please make your way to the Monocity Courthouse, or should I say Courtroom so we can get this going! Investigation is now over people!"

Ugh, maybe could have used at least a minute. What terrible timing, you stupid bear.

"Time's up, we have to go, bring it up during the trial, okay Bernie?"

"I-I'll try…"

The two of us walked down the stairs and out the Hope-tel alongside everyone else. Making our way to the elevator in Enoshima Park, eyes stared down at Gold as he just ignored them and continued on. We entered the elevator and Espio clicked the downward button. He still looked saddened to see his weapon used for murder, rather than protection. As we entered the trial room, we saw a picture of Misato, like one you would use for a funeral, except for a big X across her face.

"Welcome everyone to the first city trial of the Monocity Killing Game! It's time to find out who killed Misato Tachibana, The Ultimate Arsenal! And remember, you have to vote correctly, or else the blackened gets to skip town and you all get massacred!"

Monokuma crossed his stubby arms and sat upon that throne like a bratty kid who pretended he was king. It was time to find out who murdered our companion, and bring them to justice… if only it wasn't a cruel and unusual punishment that awaits whoever it is.

The first trial is now underway people! The evidence has been gathered, so it's time for the Truth Bullets to be shot, and the Truth Blades to be sharpened. As always, keep leaving your thoughts on the chapter and tell me what you enjoyed! Have a good day, night, morning, or evening, whenever you're reading this.