Chapter 2: Johnny Beach Goode Part 7 (Deadly Life)

Citizens Remaining: 14

I lowered my eyebrows and took a look at the evidence we had gathered, before glancing up at the others.

Emma gulped and looked toward the rest of us determined.

Gold spun his pool cue before placing it on his shoulders.

Ryuji gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, eager to find the culprit.

Miles suspiciously looked around at the others.

Shantae fidgeted, before slapping herself on both cheeks to psych herself up.

Killua & Espio remained calm, the latter taking deep breaths.

Bernadetta was not calm at all, trying to do the same, but was breathing quicker.

Trunks stared directly at Aoba, who simply placed his fingers to his chin.

Alice was lost in thought, perhaps trying to piece things together.

Sucy already looked bored.

And Ishigami looked even more dead inside than he already was.

Monokuma's red eye glowed as he sat upon his chair, "Let's begin with a quick reintroduction of the city trial! So, your votes will determine the results. If you can figure out "whodunnit" then only they will receive punishment. But if you pick the wrong one... Then I'll punish everyone *besides* the blackened, and the one that deceived everyone else will be able to leave Monocity!"

"Like hell we'll let them leave, they killed our friend!" Ryuji yelled.

"Calm yourself, please. I'm angry too, but we'll find them soon enough." I assured him.

"Let's start by discussing the cause of death. The Monokuma File doesn't mention it, unlike last time, so we need to find out how Marty was killed." Trunks says as he brings out the file on his e-handbook.

"That's just problematic for no good reason, now it'll take longer." Sucy sighed when she heard that.

"It is what it is, that stupid bear just wants that despair or whatever." Killua put his arms behind his back and leaned back.

"Hey! I'm still here y'know! Stop being so disrespectful towards your mayor, Zoldyck—!" Monokuma raged at him.

"Let's just get this over with…" Ishigami replies as we ignore Monokuma.

The bear growls at us as I once again bring up my evidence as the discussion begins.

Non-Stop Debate

"McFly was killed in the men's restroom at 7:45 pm, there's not much one could use to murder someone there…" Ishigami began.

"Perhaps the killer used something on him from the outside, there's plenty of things for murder at the beach." Aoba mentioned.

"T-that's true… we didn't get rid of any dangerous items for the party…" Bernadetta mumbled.

Alice was the next to speak, "Hm... perhaps the killer didn't use a physical weapon at all?"

"I agree!" I said aloud.

CONSENT

BREAK!

Truth Bullet Used: Vomit in Toilet Stall

"While investigating the men's restroom we found vomit all over one of the toilets." I said, causing a few gags within the courtroom, I think I even heard one from Monokuma.

"That's really gross, but what does that have to do with the murder?" Shantae held in some vomit herself as she turned to me.

"Well, that vomit most likely came out of our victim. It looked like it hasn't been there for very long as well, so the 'weapon' the killer used must have been placed in something he consumed."

Alice's eyes widened after hearing this, "The murderer put something into my dishes? Which one of them has been tainted?".

"From what we've gathered at the crime scene, it's safe to say that…"

Truth Bullet Selected: Punch Bowl

"Got it!"

"... The punch was the item at the buffet that killed Marty."

"Ret-2-Go!"

ARGUE

"No, I can't believe that! There's some things wrong behind your statement. If you don't mind Ai, I'll explain it." Shantae told me and I allowed her to speak.

Rebuttal Showdown

"If the punch was the thing that was tainted, then how are the rest of us not affected by what was put into it? We all drank from the punchbowl, so how are we—!"

"Not everyone drank punch, they could have gone for something like soda or juice instead." I responded.

"I actually drank water." Ishigami suddenly chimed in.

"Same here." Trunks continued and Espio nodded his head.

"Oh! Sorry, anyways, what about the ones who did drink it? How are they okay? There has to be something else he ate to make him vomit!

"Cutting-into the contradictions!"

COUNTER

BREAK!

Truth Blade Used: Marty's Cup

"No, the proof is in Marty's own cup." I reinforced my claim as Gold and Emma grinned at me.

"What?! His cup?" Shantae gasped.

"That's right, when we found it in the restroom, the punch had a different tint to it. Compared to what was in the punch bowl, it had a darker shade of red." Emma explained.

Gold smirked, "The punch we drank was a lot more pink. Plus there was blood on his cup as well."

"Ah, I really did get it wrong there…" Shantae looked down in defeat.

"Hold on, how did Marty's punch turn darker then? Elaborate on that if you don't mind." Aoba turned to us in suspicion.

"That's easy! Thanks to this baby." Gold claimed.

Truth Bullet Selected: Used Red Food Coloring

"Here it is!"

"It was this food coloring that changed the punch's color." I took it out to show it to everyone.

"Couldn't that have just been used as one of the ingredients?" Killua asked.

Alice then perked up, "Ah ha ha, of course not! Just look here!".

Truth Bullet Selected: Punch Recipe

"I would never use something of that quality in one of my dishes. If I wanted color, then I could have found something much more suitable!" Alice continued.

"So the killer added this, along with whatever killed him into his marked cup. We wrote down our names on the cups so we could find them more easily." I said, as the others observed.

"So McFly was their prime target…" Espio grimaced after hearing that.

"Okay, so we know how he was killed, but what was added along with the food coloring?" Miles pondered.

Non-Stop Debate

"U-um, was it sand or something?" Bernadetta said.

"Pretty sure he would have just spat it out. Maybe they stole one of the potions I was working on…" Sucy wondered.

"Wh-what kind of potions have you been making?" A slightly worried Emma comments.

"She looks like a witch, so she must make magical potions that could maybe kill people?" Killua points out.

Aoba then decides to speak, "Why waste time thinking about what had poisoned him? The killer is more important."

I've got him.

"I agree!" I responded.

CONSENT

BREAK!

Truth Bullet Used: Poison Powder

"You just said 'poisoned', right Aoba?" I asked.

"Indeed, did you figure something out?" He responded.

"I managed to find some rodent killing poison powder in the kitchen."

I heard someone gasp, but I'm not sure who it was.

"Really now? I knew I left that somewh—… oops! Slip of the tongue." Aoba smiled, then looked directly at me.

Killua's tone changed, "What did you just say?!"

"I knew it. I noticed you were missing before we found Marty and when the investigation began…" Trunks gripped his fists in anger.

"It's totally him, why would he show up at the last minute before the trial? You killed him!" Gold pointed his pool cue directly at him.

"G-guys there needs to be more proof before we accuse him!" Shantae put her arms up to defend Aoba.

"There does need to be proof, but I'm sure you managed to gather enough to prove my guilt." Aoba snarked.

He's not wrong… but what's his deal?

Non-Stop Debate

"Just admit that you're guilty already! Why drag this thing out?" Ryuji raged.

"You already admitted to knowing about the poison, there has to be more that you're hiding." Miles started to sound annoyed.

"Please don't be too hasty! Our lives are on the line, so we can't just choose him based on one thing!" Shantae continued to defend him for whatever reason.

"Just let them continue their accusations. After all, I was there the entire time after Marty & Ai got off stage.

I found a surprisingly easy contradiction, "No, that's wrong!".

COUNTER

BREAK!

Truth Bullet Used: Sucy's Account

"It was true that you showed up after our performance, but Sucy saw you moving something into the water before then."

"I don't know how this will connect with where my presence was, but do pray tell, explain what I dropped?" Is he enjoying this?

Truth Bullet Selected: Moved Dock Planks

"Got it!"

"You dropped the wooden planks from the dock, into the water. Am I correct?" I asked Sucy who nodded.

"Someone fell into the water and almost drowned because you got rid of them. Do you know who that was?" Sucy waited for his answer.

He thought for a moment before making his statement, "Hm… I don't, do you mind sharing who it was?" His attitude is very patronizing, starting to get annoyed at him myself.

"It was… me." Bernadetta said, solemnly.

"Ah, that makes sense. My apologies." Aoba hadn't wiped that smile off his face ever since he got accused.

Something doesn't seem right. He's acting like he's not the real killer, but evidence has pointed to him, and he already revealed he knew about the poison. I need to figure out more before making a final judgement, even though I'm getting frustrated at Aoba.

I glanced at Trunks, Gold, and Ryuji, the three of them were convinced that he was the killer. It will be a difficult pill for them to swallow if it turns out he isn't. Emma and Miles nodded at me, and I looked at Marty's portrait, hoping that it would give me some motivation to get it right.

"You've all got me in a corner, so does anyone want to explain my entire process in murdering Marty McFly?" He proclaimed.

"Easy, you put the food coloring and the poison powder into Marty's cup and you forced him to drink it in the restroom after the concert!" Gold rubbed under his nose, confident in his deduction.

"Quite the assumption there, Gold, but tell me this one thing… did you know if the crime even happened IN the restroom?

"What are you saying?" Gold scowled at Aoba's question.

"What I'm saying is, do you know why he was in the men's restroom to begin with?"

"I… uh… hey Ai, help me out here…" He whispered to me and I sighed, looking at what I could use to answer that question. And right when I found it...

Truth Bullet Sel—

"He was there to control his coughing fit, is what you were about to say, weren't you Ai?" He found out without doing the investigation with us? How did he know this?

"Surprised, huh? Well, I guess it's time to pull the rug from under you all. I'm not the one who killed Marty."

I knew it was too good to be true, but the way he said it still had a shocking impact.

"I was just lying about my whereabouts to see if any of you would fall for it, and it looks like it worked on a few idiots." His expression changed to a more serious one, "By the way, that handwritten map you planned on using as evidence? I'm just going to tell you right now that I used it to remember the path to take for my plan."

Ryuji was fully pissed off now, "You expect us to believe you didn't kill McFly?! After all that you've said, you bastard?!"

"Where were you then, when Bernadetta was drowning? If you want us to believe you, then spit it out!" Emma demanded and Aoba chuckled.

"Heh, your 'leader' should know about it. I'll even let her use the last of the evidence she gathered to find out the real culprit." What an ass he is.

I thought for a moment, before realizing what to use to (reluctantly) prove his "innocence" in the case.

Truth Bullet Selected: Body Discovery Announcement

"Here it is!"

"You… were there to see Marty's body before us." I let out.

"You're kidding… he was the third person to find it?!" Gold held his hands up against his head in shock.

"I was. Truly a sad sight to see the time-traveler, laying on the ground, dead. Though in all honesty, I could care less about him."

"YOU—" I finally had enough and had to hold myself back from socking him in his smug face.

"Then… if it's not you… then who…" Alice was surprisingly struggling to come up with a response.

"Before I can tell you that, it's time for a quick question. When was Marty given the poisoned punch?"

I took some time to breathe, in order to piece together my answer.

A F T E R C O N C E R T

"It's coming together…" I said in my thoughts.

"It was given to him after the concert by…" Before I could finish, I suddenly remember who gave the punch to Marty, and it felt like a punch to the gut.

"You've figured it out, haven't you? Heh, I believe it's time for a reintroduction. My name is Aoba Kuronuma, The Ultimate Manipulator."

"He definitely fits that type." Ishigami bluntly put it.

"Ultimate Manipulator?" I looked into his eyes as everything fell into place.

"I am. Using that talent, I managed to convince a gullible someone to add the poison and food coloring into Marty's cup. And give it to him after you two sang your stupid song..." Aoba then looked to his left…

And Shantae was in tears.

"No… that's not…" Trunks couldn't come up with anything.

Emma and I were speechless.

"Lies… lies… EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID WAS A LIE!" Ryuji yelled and yelled, but Aoba ignored it.

"This time I'm not lying. I'm sure one more piece of evidence can solidify that claim… if you are not willing to use it, then I will."

"Shantae couldn't have done it! You're making it all up! Just admit it already!" Gold's eyes were beginning to water.

"Fine then, time to use it."

Panic Talk Action: Ryuji Sakamoto & Gold

"Ultimate Manipulator, my ass! You've been lying to us so many times during this trial!"

"You killed Marty! Shantae is completely innocent!"

The two of them continued to call out Aoba, but he just remained calm.

"There's no need for you to get executed by Monokuma, I can just kick your ass myself asshole!"

"Allow me to use Super Rising Thunder, pal, it's time to make him pay!"

Aoba was starting to get annoyed with them, but he still didn't falter.

"SHANTAE WASN"T THE ONE WHO ADDED THE POISON, YOU DID!"

"You're finished." He stated.

Truth Bullet Used: Shantae's Account

BREAK!

I couldn't say a word back at him, because he was right. It hurt so much to see this happen, but there's nothing we can do.

"Shantae and I were in the kitchen for two hours, helping Alice with the buffet. She worked on the refreshments, instead of the full meals, which includes the punch." His distrustful smile crawled back to his face.

"Here's the kicker, Shantae was confused about the lack of sugar in the punch itself, so I told her she could use some to give the performers a sweet surprise after singing their throats out. I showed her the poison powder mixed with the food coloring, while hiding where they came from. She fell for it, and Marty did as well! Though I told her not to put any of it in Ai's cup in case Marty didn't like it, which he wouldn't have anyways."

"Everyone… I'm so sorry I ruined the party…" The half-genie sniffed as she looked heartbroken.

Aoba looked over at Monokuma, "Allow me to sum it all up."

Closing Argument

(Insert Song SUPER DANGANRONPA 2 Re: Climax Return)

"Before the party started, Shantae and I helped set up the buffet. When Marty wrote down his name on his punch cup, I told her about setting up the 'sweet surprise' in his cup and she put the red poison powder into it. While the party was going on I removed some boards in the dock so someone would end up falling through and causing a distraction later on. After the concert, Marty was given the punch and had a coughing fit and headed to the restroom. When Bernadetta managed to fall into the water, I went over to check on McFly, surely enough the poison worked. I snuck back into the crowd and acted surprised when the body was found. Right before going to the department store garbage area to throw away both the food coloring, and the map I used to follow the path I set for myself. Despite my actions, the killer is you, Shantae."

COMPLETE!

"And that's that. Voting time people, wake up, bear!" Aoba shouted at Monokuma who fell asleep during the trial.

"Agh, can't believe I missed the good stuff! Ahem, now, who will be chosen as the blackened? Will you make the right choice, or the dreadfully wrong one?" Monukuma joyfully stood up from his chair.

I couldn't hesitate more when voting.

Shantae wasn't a bad person by any means.

Aoba was the one who set up the murder, and she was the one to unknowingly execute it.

I almost didn't vote until…

"Guys… please don't throw your lives away, just so I can live. It's… quite ironic for a genie to ask for a wish, but I am half human after all. Even though the party ended abruptly, for that brief moment during our performances, I saw hope in everyone. Ai, you and Marty gave it your all to sing in front of us, just to make the memories of the killing game disappear. You need to continue with that attitude. The same goes for the rest of you. I wish for you all to get out of here, by not succumbing to the killing game and Monokuma. Thank you…" Shantae finished and pressed her button, voting for herself.

The results were in. Only two votes weren't for her, but the majority still voted correctly.

"Most of you are correct! The blackened was Shantae! Hey you two brainlets! Pull this wrong answer stuff again, and you'll be punished too!" Monokuma chimed in.

"..." Gold & Ryuji remained silent, knowing what was to come.

Shantae went around shaking everyone's hands, as well as giving hugs to the aforementioned "brainlets", Emma, and even Ishigami, who slowly decides to hug her back.

She offers a hand to me, as I remember the wish she wanted us to grant, and the waterworks started.

"Alright Monokuma… I'm Ret-2-Go." Her last words come out of her mouth as she smiles.

"Now then, I've prepared a VERY special punishment for Shantae, The Ultimate Half-Genie!" Monokuma guffawed, "Let's give it everything we've got! It's...PUNISHMENT TIIIME!" He hit the button with his gavel, and pain began.

GAME OVER

SHANTAE HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY. TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT!

Another shackle grabbed her neck and dragged her to the execution room where a stage with red curtains and a giant genie lamp was waiting. We watched on the courtroom's large screen with dread at what was to happen to our dear friend.

Execution: Itty-Bitty Living Space

Shantae began to dance to the rhythm of the music being played on the speakers behind the curtains. Colored gems began to be thrown at her by a crowd of Monokumas, and she felt every single one hit her body.

One gem hit her square in the head, and she began to bleed as the crowd booed at her. She began to get back up, but then the giant genie lamp started to suck her in. She held onto one of the curtains until it ripped and she ended up inside of it. The lamp then fell through a trap door on the stage on top of a junkyard crushing machine.

The lamp was crushed in as many ways as possible until it was nothing but a small metal cube that leaked Shantae's blood.

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I fell to my knees in disbelief.

No one said a single word to each other before our real culprit decided to leave.

"Where… do you think you're going?" Trunks asked Aoba, his sword unsheathed and at his throat.

"The Hope-tel. It's late, and I don't feel like being executed after watching someone else go through it. Now if you'll excuse me." The Ultimate Manipulator headed towards the elevator, but stopped next to me.

"I know what you are, you freak. You're lucky I just decided to reveal the truth you were afraid to say. You may not be human, but I hate you as much as I do the rest of humanity. That includes this group, even that chameleon. Don't expect me to save your lives again, I'm getting out of this city one way, or another."

"…"

Remaining Citizens: 13

To Be Continued...

Johnny Beach Goode… comes to an end. After this, a bonus chapter with the Infinity Saga DVD set Ai got from the MonoMono Machine, which takes place sometime before Deadly Life. If anyone has anything they want to say about this chapter, let me have it. It can't hurt as much as the pain I gave to these characters. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to Chapter 3.