Summary: …huh. Well what'd'ya know.

"Eh?" Ishimaru scratched his cheek, visible confusion on his face. "Haven't we already gone through everything? Celestia-san has even confessed her own wrongdoings."

"Bro's got a point." Owada folded his arms, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I know the goth chick was just trying to fuck with you earlier…but what gives man? It's pretty clear who's the murderer in this situation."

"Well…" The Luckster grinned unapologetically. "I just wanted to check something. Don't want to fuck up this close to the end." Some of his classmates looked exasperated. The sharper ones were suspicious, and rightfully so.

Now, why would Naegi just throw his ideas out the window? It was him that had placed them on the path to figuring the Gambler's scheme out in the first place, questioning a clear-cut case with nothing but circumstantial evidence and a gut feeling. And it was already pretty obvious that Celeste was responsible for Hagakure's murder. He had rolled the dice and came out on top with a hasty gamble and some Luck. And she did just explain her whole plan from start to finish, including her own motivations and how it was carried out. If he was correct, most of his classmates simply assumed he was screwing around. But considering the way Kirigiri was silently gesturing for him to continue or how Enoshima was tilting her head in thought, at least a couple had heard the same inconsistency he did.

To be fair, it was a minor nitpick. One that only he would've had the ability to draw from their investigation. A very specific detail that didn't escape detection only through a series of coincidences. He repressed a snicker. In fact, you could almost call it sheer dumb luck.

"Celeste-san." He called out softly, attracting the attention of the doomed teenager.

She appeared curious…and he neatly avoided the slightest bit of Hope in her eyes. "Yes, Naegi-kun?"

"Remind me, just cause my memory's a little shoddy from the pain…" The Luckster shrugged, subtly watching the room from beneath his bangs. "How did you kill Hagakure-san again?"

"Jesus Christ Naegi, are you enjoying this!?" No comments from the peanut gallery will be acknowledged, Asahina. The Gambler placed a clawed finger on her chin, eyes darting briefly to the left, then upwards. So far, so good.

"I had Yamada choke him in his sleep…then when he was unconscious, I killed him with a crystal ball to the back of the head before going back to bed." He could feel the confusion radiating off her, even as she tried to conceal it. The Luckster took a moment to breathe, watching Fujisaki murmur something to themself, and Togami briefly gained what could only be described as an "oh shit" expression before it was snuffed out beneath layers of haughty apathy. Ah, good, so it wasn't just him.

"A single crystal ball?" He questioned, keeping an eye (well, he only had the one at this point) on the Doujin Author, who had abruptly gone still. "Just one?"

"I think I would know how many pieces of overpriced glass I broke against that empty skull." Sheesh. Zero remorse for your crimes, huh? He absentmindedly wondered how that would feel like, lacking a conscience, or at the very least, not havinga sense of morality that demanded everything and more of you. Neagi shook his head slightly to dislodge that surprisingly bitter thought, but it lingered, like many others, in the dark corners of his mind. Another reason to find a way out of the Killing Game. He was starting to reach his limit. And not in the particularly good way that felt like bloody knuckles and torn muscles. Focus, focus!

"What about the murder weapon?" The Biker Gang Leader still looked as confused as those who hadn't been present for the investigation looked. "It fits the Monokuma File. Blunt force to the back of the head."

Truth Bullet Selected: [Monokuma File 2]

Truth Bullet Selected: [Missing Weapons]

"It's definitely certain that Hagakure-san's own glass orbs were used to kill him." He wisely sidestepped the quip that threatened to follow up that statement. "However, there are two irregularities. Well, one actually, but it ties into the other one."

He tapped a single finger against his podium, the cogs in his brain slowly turning. "You see…there were two crystal balls missing from Hagakure-san's shelf."

"Oh—" Celeste put the pieces together immediately, whirling on her unfortunate target. "—you sly rat!" Yamada quivered, shrinking back from the obviously furious Gambler.

"And if our wannabe murderer here only used one ornament to bash in the victim's brain…" Togami added his two cents, a note of grudging admiration in his tone. "Given that her accomplice was the one to stay and clean up, he must've broken the second one. Of course, there is the chance that he accidentally dropped it while tidying the crime scene, but I don't think that's the case here."

"W-what are you talking about!?" The Doujin Author turned to plead with Naegi. "Do not sacrifice the lives of our brethren on such a wild claim!"

"It was rather suspicious that the crime scene was so incomplete." Kirigiri mused. "The murder weapons were discarded, but not the paper on the floor. Your shaky defence, which ended up incriminating someone who believed herself to be the killer. If you were going along with her plan, why bother professing your innocence in the first place? All you had to do was confess, and we would've voted you for execution."

"I—" Yamada stuttered, nervously gripping the podium. "We've talked about this already! I was supposed to be a likely suspect, why wouldn't I defend myself to throw off suspicion!? It wouldn't have made sense to confess to the murder immediately!"

Enoshima flapped a hand dismissively. "Yeah yeah, but you had plenty of chances to do that after the evidence stacked up against you." She frowned. "Still, you continued to deny it, giving Naegi the chance to suggest Gothic Horror over there was involved. And when she started being interrogated, you barely put up a defence. One hell of a coincidence."

"The Monokuma File explicitly mentioned that death was not immediate." Fujisaki's eyes were cold and calculating. Even the kindest among them seemed to hold contempt for this whole situation. "But why? What clue could we have gained from that? Maizono-san's File implicated Kuwata-san in several ways, hinting at the events that led up to her death. Hagakure-san's File has allowed us to figure out that he was killed with a crystal ball, and strangled before that. Not particularly important in this case. And yet, it mentioned he did not die immediately."

"We could be reading too much into it." Naegi noted, closely watching every twitch and expression Yamada was making. "Although it certainly seems to imply that while Celeste-san did bludgeon him…someone else finished the job. And unless you left enough of a window for someone else to sneak in and steal the kill—" in which case, he didn't think there was a possibility of finding out the true culprit. "—the only other person involved is you."

"I had no reason to betray Ludenberg-dono!"

The Luckster aimed an accusatory finger at the Doujinshi Writer, smiling grimly. "Oh you had plenty of reasons. You're not stupid, Yamada-san. It was highly unlikely that Celeste-san was inviting you into her scheme out of sheer goodwill. You knew she needed a scapegoat." Anyone would resent anyone if they were being set up to die in their place. "More importantly, you knew her opinion of you. Maybe you believed her at first, but as the days passed, you probably started to realise the flaws in her logic. And thus, began to put your own plot together."

"You're jumping at shadows! This isn't a game, Naegi-dono, and you aren't the hero of this story!" Despite his protests, the trembling that the Doujin Author was doing began to start looking like angry shaking, rather than a reaction to terror.

He closed his eye. "Let's wrap this case up for good. Without all the lies, trickery and deceit."

[CLOSING ARGUMENT: BEGIN!]

"A couple days ago, Monokuma presented us with the third motive; ten million dollars." A giggling bear, prancing about on a colossal stack of cash. "Celestia Ludenberg, who saw an opportunity to achieve her dream and escape this prison, began to plot against us." The Gambler, tapping her fingers as she began to construct a plan.

"Of course, she needed an easy target." Celeste, considering who to kill, before her eyes fell on an oblivious Hagakure Yasuhiro, walking alongside Naegi. "And why not settle a grudge while she was at it?"

"But how to successfully kill him? Even knowing his habits and carelessness, you still weren't able to bypass a locked door…unless you had help." Recruiting a figure with honeyed words and sweet lies. Beginning preparations. "In the beginning, you were completely fine with the plan. It made sense, and Monokuma had already made exceptions about the one victor policy. But then…" A teeenager, allowing doubts to creep in and hatred to fester. "...you started thinking about it more. Her only credibility was her word. And the word of a liar isn't worth much at all. Maybe you even verified her lies with the Principal." A figure, exchanging words with a grinning bear. Becoming furious.

"And when you realised you were being set up to die for someone who didn't give a damn about you." Celeste, splashing tea in his face. "You started to think about how you could get your revenge." He took a momentary breather, before shaking his head and continuing. "Of course, you could just tell everyone what was going on. But that would be too easy, wouldn't it?"

Naegi leaned in closer, eye flickering with dark intent. "She'd get off so very lightly. And it was her word against yours. You could just as easily be implicated. You wanted to ruin her. Take your pound of flesh from someone who considered you an easily manipulated idiot. And what better way than to outsmart her at her own game?"

"So…" A battered teenager, confronting Monokuma in the gymnasium. At the same time, Celeste watching impatiently as a figure fiddled with Hagakure's door. "When she saw an opportunity, you two got to work." Pulling the key out from underneath the door. Unlocking it, and slipping into the room. Meaty fingers, reaching for a sleeping figure.

"A surprise attack!" Hagakure, jolting awake as hands clamped down on his airway. Kicking futilely as he slowly suffocated. Falling unconscious. "And without further ado…" Celeste, grinning as she smashed a ball into the Clairvoyant's skull. The sounds of bone shattering alongside glass. Dusting herself of glass shards before leaving. "The Ultimate Gambler thought that she had murdered her target. And so, she left you to clean up her mess." A figure, watching her return to her own room. Flipping Hagakure over, then reaching for another crystal ball. "You could've killed him any other way…but then the Monokuma File would've stated that, and Celeste-san would've noticed something was up. There were so many crystal balls, no one would notice an additional one missing." Smashing that one into his skull as well, before arranging the body.

"Sure, people might believe it was an accident…but you didn't want that." Tearing up the newspaper, but leaving it on the floor. Leaving Hagakure's corpse in the wrong position. Collecting the glass shards carefully, before swapping keys. "So you left just enough evidence to turn it into a locked room murder." Walking to the trash room. Discarding the glass and turning the incinerator on before leaving, glasses glinting in the light. "And waited patiently, content with the knowledge that no one would be able to figure it out."

"Isn't that right…Yamada Hifumi!?"

Several hearts of silence passed as Naegi folded his arms, waiting for response. The Doujin Author's expression was blank as he looked at the floor, arms shaking slightly.

"Naegi-dono…" The bespectacled teen looked at him with utter loathing. "You're so full of yourself!"

He slammed the podium repeatedly. "This isn't some sort of episode on a true crime television series! Planning to double-cross someone else who was going to betray me!? Are you stupid or just delusional!? No one but you would come up with a plan like that!" Yamada jabbed a finger in his direction, snarling all the while.

"You didn't even have evidence to prove Ludenberg-dono was the culprit, and you're just gonna let her go when she confessed to everything!? What kind of sexist bullshit is this!? Are you really going to let everyone die for your own arrogance!? Name one reason, just one reason apart from your own idiotic theories that would prove you even have a chance of being correct!?"

The teenager panted heavily after his tirade, before wiping sweat from his brow. "Not going to say anything, Naegi-dono? Or are you about to admit that you're just looking for connections where there are none?"

Naegi grinned.

Final Bullet Selected: [Additional Evidence]

He pulled a glittering shard from his pocket, presenting it to the class. "You probably shouldn't have left your door open."

"Huh!?" Everyone else was stunned into silence. Even Kirigiri's eyes widened slightly, the only display of her shock.

"What, you thought I was shooting blanks here?" The Luckster laughed. "Of course I checked your room out when I had the chance. Managed to find this in your sink. Even has a trace of blood on it." He twirled it between his fingers. "At first I was going to use this to prove you were part of it…but what'd'ya know? Guess someone wasn't paying enough attention when cleaning himself up afterwards!"

"And considering he erased the rest of the evidence…" Celeste giggled maliciously. "The only reason he'd still have a glass shard in his room is if he accidentally got injured while killing Hagakure. I know I was plucking thoe fragments from my fingers for a good day or two. Not a very good weapon."

"I—" Yamada's mouth hung open long enough to catch flies. "I—"

"Still going to profess your innocence?" Naegi shrugged. "Too bad you were careless."

The Doujin Author bowed his head. "...you win, Naegi-dono."

"W-wow…" Fukawa muttered. "Wh-who knew t-t-t-that he had it in him?"

"What a plot twist." Togami smirked, as though he had been the one to solve the case. "I must admit, that was well played for a peasant."

Yamada sighed, the fight having completely drained out of him. "I just…I'm not stupid, you know? I figured that she was lying to me. I just hoped that it wasn't true. And then I got so angry…"

"You could've saved him." Naegi's hand tightened on the shard, ignoring the way it sliced into his palm. "But you killed him anyway. There's no excuse for that."

"Indeed." The Doujin Author nodded, still avoiding eye contact. "And I will carry that shame to my grave."

The Luckster scoffed. "Save it for someone who cares. Let's get this over with."

"What drama! My precious students exceeded my wildest expectations!" Monokuma theatrically wiped a tear from its eye. "Now then, if all the talk is over…it's voting time! Time to see who will become the blackened!"

Naegi pressed his button within seconds, remaining silent as bile burned the back of his throat. His eye throbbed. They all knew where this was going.

"Will you make the right choice, or the dreadfully wrong one? What's it gonna be? What's it gonna beeeee!?" Monokuma giggled as the slot machine rose once more, ominously rattling as the cylinders cycled through their faces. It spun and spun, glittering and chiming obnoxiously before coming to a stop and displaying, unsurprisingly, Yamada's face on all three cylinders. The fanfare pierced his eardrums like spikes, and Monocoins spilled out to make a mess on the floor.

"It's basically a formality at this point, considering Makoto-kun's exquisite performance, but you're totally correct! Celeste-chan may have devised this whole stinkin' scheme, but the one who killed poor old Hagakure-chan was Yamada Hifumi!"

The room was silent. Unlike the first Trial, which had been filled with rage and desperation, this one was just…sad. There was nothing more to be said.

"Sheesh, did someone lose a dog or something?" Monokuma clapped its paws together. "Ah, whatever! I've been waiting for this for so long! You know how it goes; the blackened disturbed the peace and now, he's gotta pay the price! And like with Kuwata-kun, I've prepared a very special punishment for the Ultimate Doujin Author! Let's give it everything we've got!"

"Naegi-dono." Yamada offered him a shaky smile, even as tears began to stream from his eyes. "I'm sorry I played a part in hurting you, even as you tried to keep us all alive. I know you don't owe me anything…but keep at it, okay? You're the protagonist, after all. I'm sure if it's you…you'll find some way to rescue everyone."

"It's…PUNISHMENT TIME!" Monokuma swung his gavel—

The Luckster trembled. "Goodbye, Yamada-san."

—and this time, when the collar clamped around the shaking teenager's neck, he still broke into a run, desperately chasing the doomed teenager despite the knowledge that he had no chance of saving his classmate.

Yamada was dropped in an empty room, and he frantically searched for an exit, even as the doors that he was dragged through slammed shut behind him. Naegi forced himself to keep watching through the iron bars, hands clenched tightly at his sides. He may not have agreed with his actions, but at the very least, he could make sure Yamada didn't die alone. The scenery shifted and changed, becoming more fantasy-esque in nature. The ground was replaced by rolling hills, and the sun shone above them. The Luckster grimaced. He would not look away.

[Kiwotsukete, Buko-hime! Dai Kaijū Shinkō!]

It began with Monokuma popping up from a hole in the ground, a box (like that for a remote-controlled car) in its hands. Steam billowed out menacingly, forming a thick fog as the sky turned red.

A towering and more robotic Monokuma appeared behind their Principal, and with a gleeful twist of the joysticks, the real Monokuma sent his giant stomping forward. Yamada shrieked, scrambling away on all fours until he lost his balance, falling on his face as a new figure approached. Naegi furrowed his brow at the anime character. He didn't recognise it, but judging from the Doujinshi Writer's reaction, it must've been that Princess Piggles character he enjoyed talking about. How cruel.

It gave the teenager a second of Hope, before violently backhanding Yamada with an audible crunch that sent his glasses flying. He screamed as she began to wail on him, following up with several heavy punches and kicks as the Ultimate curled into a ball to shield his vital regions. The blows continued to rain for what felt like an eternity, blood splattering across the grass as Yamada was beaten to a pulp. All the while, the giant Monokuma continued to move forward, one lumbering step by lumbering step.

As though given an invisible signal, the anime character kicked Yamada into the air, then before he could fall back to the ground, sent him flying towards the titan with another blow before reaching for the bow on her back, nocking an arrow. Monokuma pushed another button, and his puppet paused, jaw unhinging as the room darkened, drawing attention to the way both the arrow and the titan's mouth were glowing.

It was like being hit by a flashbang. Both fired at the same time, laser beams colliding with Yamada at the center of it all. Naegi heard a single agonised cry before any other sound the Doujin Author may have made was drowned out by the hum of electricity. He clapped his hands over his ears as it grew to a fever pitch and swallowed back bile. The sweet-sickly scent of burning flesh punched through him like a bullet to the face, and distantly, he knew that he would be scrubbing that smell out of his clothes for days. He cursed himself for the connection to roasting pork that his mind made, and hated himself further for the involuntary watering of his mouth.

This went on for several agonising minutes before the Princess' beam overpowered the Monokuma-titan, ending with a series of explosions that he could feel in his bones as the giant robot fell over, their Principal running away dramatically to avoid the impact. The ground trembled with the impact.

And then there was silence.

Slowly, Naegi rose to his feet. When had he collapsed to his knees? Disregarding the people around him, he shrugged off the hand someone had placed on his shoulder, pushing open the wrought iron doors and shakily making his way to Yamada's final resting place.

Very carefully, he approached the twisted and crushed frames of the Doujinshi Writer's glasses, picking them up between two fingers. He swallowed, gingerly tucking the last remnants of what had once been a teenager into his pocket.

Around him, ash fell from the sky like a grotesque mockery of snowflakes. He tried not to think about it.

11 Left

OMAKE: When Worlds Collide [3]

"Holy shit!"

"Is he okay!?"

The class gathered like vultures swarming a fallen corpse, shoving one another in their frantic rush to get to the open window. Naegi was lucky enough to have been close enough to witness the whole scene from start to finish.

Three seconds of terrifying free fall before "Naegi" had hit the ground rolling, transitioning fluidly from the drop into a series of unnecessarily fancy flips. Before his stunned audience, "Naegi" waved nonchalantly before pulling up his hood like he hadn't just thrown himself from the third floor, almost as though it was routine.

"...I'm going after him." Ikusaba was already climbing out the window.

"Hold on Ikusaba-san, we still have class— and she's gone." Ishimaru sighed as the Ultimate Soldier slid down a pipe, briskly walking after the slowly plodding Luckster(?) before catching him by the wrist. They exchanged words, and judging by the barely concealed smirk on "Naegi's" face and the interesting shade of red Ikusaba was turning, he didn't want to hear what it was. For the sake of his own sanity.

"Damn, herbivore boy." Enoshima folded her arms, an uncharacteristically baffled look on her face as the class watched his counterpart tug her sister away by the hand. "You may have the fashion sense of a hobo, but you've got game."

"I don't—I'm not—it isn't like that!?" Naegi stammered, waving his hands around to try and hide himself from the suspicious gazes of his classmates. He turned back to the scene just in time to see "Naegi" press a kiss to the hand he was holding, causing Ikusaba to trip over nothing.

Owada shot him an impressed thumbs up. "Cheers, dude."

"It's not like that!"