INVESTIGATION: START
Kaede looked around the Gym she stood in: Angie, Himiko, Tenko, Kaito, Gonta, Miu, Keebo and Korekiyo stood around the room talking, and investigating. However, the first piece of evidence Kaede focused on was the one that had been shoved into her hands. The 2nd Monokuma File.
She turned on the device and scrolled through it, Kaito looking over it with her.
MONOKUMA FILE #2
VICTIM: RYOMA HOSHI
HEIGHT: 105 CM
WEIGHT: 40 KG
CAUSE OF DEATH: Asphyxiation
EXTRA:
Victim is Ryoma Hoshi, he died from asphyxiation. His body was then later consumed by piranhas
"This has a lot less information than it did for Rantaro's," Kaito grumbled as he looked down at the device. "Hell's up with that?"
"Hm…" Kaede stared at the Monokuma File deep in thought. "Maybe it's hiding information that actively reveals the culprit?"
"In that case, knowing the time and place where Ryoma was killed is the most important thing,"
"That's right!" Kaede smiled.
+MONOKUMA FILE #2
"There's a lot to investigate, huh?" Kaito said as he looked around the Gym. "Where should we start?"
"Well, obviously here, but I'm also thinking we should go to Himiko's lab, and to Maki once we're done,"
"Sounds good!" Kaito nodded. "As my sidekick, I'm letting you lead the way,"
Kaded crossed her arms and scoffed at the astronaut with a smile. "My hero,"
She walked over to the large water tank, staring at the stained water with a grim, yet curious look on her face.
"Eugh, it's still gross thinking about Ryoma getting eaten like that…" The astronaut shivered.
"They ate most of his clothes too…" Kaede shuddered too as her eyes glazed over the stained water, all the way down to Ryoma's skeleton and-
"What's that?" Kaede said as she noticed a square pane of glass on the floor of the tank.
"It's a pane of glass, doesn't seem to be apart of the bigger tank," Kaito pointed out.
"I have a feeling that'll be important…" Kaede made a mental note of the pane
+SQUARE GLASS PANE
Kaede briefly looked up as she finished her investigation around the glass tank.
"Is the Gym window open?" Kaede stared up at the curtain covered window.
"Yeah, guess we didn't notice," Kaito shrugged. "Where do you think it leads?"
"I was about to find that out," Kaede nodded as she walked to the side of the stage where some stairs stood to lead, Korekiyo was standing near them, seemingly investigating a pile of wet rope, and a pile of Himiko's wet clothes on the floor near the stairs, there was a puddle behind the stairs.
"I wonder how long that rope is…"
"65 feet all together," Korekiyo answered. "Though it's been cut into smaller lengths, this was probably used to tie up Himiko,"
"How do you know the exact length of it?" Kaito quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh, it's nothing suspicious," Korekiyo reassured suspiciously. "During my travels I encountered a village where the use of rope was… very commonplace, kehehe…"
"Okay, okay, we get it!" Kaede waved her hands around. "We do not need to know,"
Korekiyo chuckled again. "I suppose it's a story for another time…"
Never, preferably.
+ROPE
+TIED UP HIMIKO
"Also, that spot behind the stairs is wet," Korekiyo pointed out. "That's likely related to Himiko's trick… unless you believe it was truly magic?"
"I don't," Kaede sighed. "I stopped believing in that when I was 12,"
"Kehehe… you'd be surprised how prevalent it still is even in modern society. Belief is such a beautiful thing to witness,"
"That's… great, Kiyo,"
"It can wait for later though, sorry," Kaito chuckled as he scratched the back of his head nervously.
Korekiyo shrugged. "No hard feelings, none at all. We do have a murder to investigate after all,"
+WET STAIRCASE
"I think that's it for here, let's go explore that window!" Kaito said, Kaede nodded as the two walked up the stairs to the top of the water tank. The window Kaede wanted to investigate was also right next to the small tank formerly filled with Piranhas, only the front of it was made of glass with the rest of the sides being made of wood though, that should be kept in mind too, Kaede thought.
+PIRANHA TANK
Kaede opened the window, she and Kaito looked out to where it led.
"The pool?" Kaede asked to no one in particular.
"I'm seeing what you're seeing," Kaito shrugged.
Both looked around to see if anything was out of the ordinary, as usual something was.
There was a rubber inner tube with one of its handles having been tied to a small, seemingly broken length of rope, there was also a window on the other end of the pool area that was slightly above the one in the Gym.
"Someone left an inner tube in the pool, it might've just been an accident, but I think we should keep it in mind," Kaede said as Kaito pulled out his Monopad to check something
+INNER TUBE IN POOL
"That window should lead to Ryoma's lab," Kaito stated as she showed Kaede the map on the Monopad. "If this map is correct, anyway,"
"That's right, we should check there and the pool too, then," Kaede said as she continued to look around the pool and the Gym's window for anything else…
"What's this?"
"What's what?"
Kaede pointed to a strange marking on the top of the windowsill. "There's a marking, like something was scratched against the windowsill,"
"There's a lot of suspicious stuff with these windows," Kaito said.
"You got that right,"
+MARKED WINDOW FRAME
"Are we done up here then?" Kaito said as he looked around nervously. "I'd like to get down now,"
"Kaito, are you scared of heights?"
"I'm scared of falling into a tank full of piranhas!" Kaito shouted.
Kaede raised her hands in surrender. "Fair, fair,"
The two walked off of the stage using the stairs and walked back to the front of the tank.
"Guess all that's left is interviewing people," Kaede said.
"Guess so, you use your words, and I'll use my good looks!" Kaito said, smiling an overconfident yet charming smile.
"Of course, of course,"
They decided to start with Himiko, who was seemingly being consoled by Tenko.
"Nyeh… can't believe someone would use my magic show for this…"
"Don't worry Himiko, we'll find this killer easily!" Tenko said confidently, making Himiko flash a small smile at the Martial Artist.
"Hey," Kaito gave the two women a wave, Tenko glared at him, her look softened when Kaede approached her though.
"Oh, hi…" Himiko mumbled. "What do you want?"
"We're just here to ask where you were when the murder could've happened," Kaede said.
"We were at the insect meet and greet with you!" Tenko said loudly and confidently. "Everyone that was there should have an alibi!"
+INSECT MEET AND GREET
"That makes sense, however the Monokuma File doesn't state a time of murder," Kaede pointed out.
"Yeah, it's possible Ryoma was killed before Gonta captured you," Kaito said.
"Right…" The Magician mumbled. "Well, I wouldn't ever use my magic for evil, so I'm in the clear,"
"Yeah, completely in the clear!"
"I'm sure of that, I'm sure of that," Kaede nodded. "However, I'm curious what the trick used for your escape was, Himi-"
"It wasn't a trick, it was magic," Himiko said, more confident than anything else she had said before.
"Himiko you uh… don't need to keep up the magic thing anymore," Kaito said. "We kinda need to know so we can-"
"It was magic, that's the end of it!" Tenko shouted. "Now quit it, you're making Himiko uncomfortable! Damn degenerate!" The woman hit a fighting pose as Kaito raised his hands in surrender.
"H-Hey, chill out!" Kaito said fearfully as the two quickly moved away from Tenko and Himiko
"Guess we'll need to figure out Himiko's trick another way," Kaito shrugged.
"Unfortunately yeah, who should we interview next?"
"Hmm…" Kaito cupped his chin, deep in thought. "Gonta saw the top of the tank," The astronaut pointed to the large man standing depressed near the tank. "He could give us a good idea what was happening during Himiko's show,"
"That's right! Good call, Kaito,"
"A hero should always help his sidekicks, don't mention it,"
The two walked towards the large man, who slightly moved his head to look at the duo.
"Oh, hey you guys, you here to talk to Gonta?"
"Yeah, we're here to ask what you saw when you were on top of the tank," Kaede said.
"Gonta see nothing in tank, tank empty entire time while Gonta up there," Gonta shrugged. "Maybe Himiko really magic?"
"Believing that will be our last resort," Kaede chuckled. "Thanks for giving your account, Gonta,"
"Don't mention it… also Gonta very sorry for capturing you all yesterday,"
"All is forgiven, don't worry," Kaede shrugged.
"Okay, Gonta glad!" The man smiled.
+GONTA'S ACCOUNT
The two waved Gonta goodbye as they walked towards their next interviewee, Angie Yonaga who seemed lost in thought as she stared at the now empty piranha tank.
"What's up, Angie?" Kaede greeted. "Why are you staring at that tank so hard?"
"Oh, just wondering," Angie shrugged. "Yesterday, there weren't that many piranhas, but this morning they were all cramped in there,"
"That's right," Kaito made fingerguns. "I helped move the big tank, there were a lot less piranhas in the small tank yesterday,"
+CRAMPED PIRANHAS
"Interesting…" Kaede paused for a moment as she thought of her next question. "Who else helped with setting up, by the way?"
"Well: Himiko and I did all the planning, Kotoko, Kaito, Keebo and Tenko helped move the big tank, and Kirumi helped us both attach the piranha tank to the stage's light controls, and sew the curtains cause I didn't wanna do them,"
"Good to know, that'll be all Angie,"
"Bye-onara Kaede!" Angie beamed as Kaito and Kaede waved the islander goodbye as she moved to her final interviewees. Keebo and Miu.
Don't get annoyed at her, Kaede, Keebo seems to make her tolerable while he's around anyway.
Kaede sighed. "Hey Miu,"
"Oh, sup Kaeidiot, you here to get me n' Keebo's alibi?"
"Actually, it's 'Keebo and I'" The robot corrected.
"Eeep!"
"How did that- nevermind, yeah we just wanna know where you were during the insect meet and greet,"
"Well-"
"Keebo we already know you were there," Kaito chuckled.
"Oh yeah, right…"
"I was in the courtyard," Miu said confidently. "Gonta can confirm my alibi, so don't go doubtin' it, titless!"
"How did you avoid capture then?" Kaede quirked an eyebrow.
"Wh-Wha? I-I uh… I used my secret woman weapon, w-we'll leave it at that…"
Kaede sighed again. "Fine, anything else important you wanna tell us before we go?"
"Of course, what I got to say is always important!" Miu shouted. "Ryoma was in the courtyard too, up until 8:30 when he went back into the building,"
"Wow, that actually is important," Kaede smiled. "Good job Miu,"
"Fuck you mean good job? My input's always been the most valuable thing here besides my golden fucken' brain!"
"She could serve to be more humble, but her input is always pretty useful,"
"Guhhh!"
God she's weird, at least her account was useful.
+MIU'S ACCOUNT
"I think that's it here," Kaede said. "Where should we go next?"
"Hmm… Himiko's lab," Kaito nodded. "Himiko's lab seems important, I think it'll help us learn how her trick works,"
"Sounds good!" Kaede nodded. The two quickly left the Gym and headed straight to the Magician's fancy, trick filled lab.
Tsumugi and Kokichi were also standing around there.
"Hey Mugi, what are you doing here?" Kaede smiled as she asked the question.
"Well, I just wanted to make sure Kokichi didn't mess with anything," Tsumugi said as she shot a glare at the short man.
The man gasped dramatically. "I would never!"
"Didn't you get Gonta to kidnap everyone yesterday?" Kaito asked, glaring at the Supreme Leader as well.
"Y-You're all being so mean!" Kokichi gave a couple fake sniffles.
"We aren't falling for it, Kokichi," Kaede sighed.
Kokichi groaned. "Ugh, you're all so boring,"
Kaede ignored it and shook her head. "I just wanna ask what you were doing while you weren't in Gonta's lab, you took awhile,"
"About two hours to be exact! Nishishi~" Kokichi chuckled. "I was getting your motive videos, buuuuuuut I encountered Mom-"
"Kirumi," Kaede corrected.
"Ugh, I encountered Kiwumi," Kokichi put on a mocking, completely inaccurate impression of Kaede's voice. "Like the minute I left Gonta's lab-"
"Kokichi, what are you doing?" Kirumi asked, sounding on edge as she saw the small Supreme Leader in the courtyard of the academy. "It's not like you to be up this late,"
"Well, I waaaaaas gonna go kill someone, but…" Kokichi quickly tapped Kirumi on the shoulder and began to bolt. "Tag, you're it!"
"Is that a request?" Kirumi turned her head as the boy stopped and groaned.
"Duh! Chase me now!"
"And then we played tag for about an hour, and then I got back to Gonta's lab at about 11!" Kokichi finished. "I also saw a girl walking around in her underwear,"
"Weird, but useful," Kaede nodded. "Was it so hard to just tell the truth?"
"Yeah, when you're being so unfun!"
+KOKICHI'S ACCOUNT
"Y'know what? Nevermind, done talking to you forever now," Kaede groaned as she walked over to where Kaito was, which was the large glass tank in this room.
"I wish I could do that…" Tsumugi crossed her arms. "But someone needs to watch him…"
"You're doing us a service, Mugi," Kaede giggled, Tsumugi blushed.
The Pianist looked over at whatever Kaito was focusing on with the tank, the outside of the leftmost side had a handle on it.
"Let me…" Kaito said as he easily opened it. "It's a secret hatch in the tank,"
"This is probably the key to Himiko's trick!" Kaede smiled. "I think we've figured it out,"
"Hell yeah!" Kaito and Kaede high fived. "What's next?"
+WATER TANK TRICK
"The pool, I wanna investigate that, then Ryoma's lab, then we talk to Maki," Kaede planned out their journey, Kaito heh'd in agreement and the two moved outside into the courtyard, then into the pool area.
"Hi Kay-Kay, hi Kaito!" Kotoko greeted as she looked down into the wide, yet shallow pool
"Hey Koto!"
"Hi Kotoko, what are you looking at?" The Actress' hyperfocus had piqued Kaede's interest.
"Oh, well there's this piece of black trash in the pool," Kotoko pointed to the offending piece of fabric. "And I'm kinda confused on how it got there, I mean basically no one uses this pool, right? So it's gotta be important to the murder, right?"
"You're probably right, good call Koto!" Kaito patted the Actress on the back, she giggled in response.
"Yeah, I wouldn't have noticed that on my own," Kaede smiled warmly.
Kotoko smiled back, more confidently than the Pianist. "I know, that's why I said it, ehehe!"
+BLACK FABRIC
"Also, did you know that we're not allowed to swim at nighttime? That's so totally dumb!" Kotoko pouted.
"I don't get it either, Koto," Kaito shook his head, Kotoko nodded energetically.
Right, you can't swim at nighttime, should keep that in mind too.
+POOL RULES
"I guess that's all we need from here," Kaede shrugged. "See you around, Kotoko,"
"See ya Koto!"
"Bye Kaito, bye Kay-Kay!" Kotoko waved as the two left the pool area. "Don't mess this up, or else I'm gonna haunt you down in hell!"
"We won't!" Kaede chuckled nervously.
Kaito and her moved to the second to last place they had to explore, Ryoma Hoshi's lab on the third floor.
Kaede felt a dark energy as she entered the room, Ryoma didn't even get to play tennis before he… passed. The room also felt off, though she couldn't pin down why.
"Well, can't see any windows in here," Kaito said as he looked around.
"It's probably in the bathroom," Kaede said as she walked towards the room, picking up the pace a little because they were beginning to run out of time. "C'mon,"
The bathroom was dingy, gross and grey with nothing but a couple shower heads to "decorate" the room.
"This… doesn't look like a lab for a Tennis Player," Kaede said.
"Yeah, guess this lab was personalised for Ryoma…" Kaito said grimly.
"Poor guy, always being reminded of his mistakes," Kaede sighed. "I don't think anyone deserves that, y'know?"
"Can't learn from them if you don't let yourself," Kaito reminded.
Kaede weakly smiled at the astronaut. "That's right,"
The Pianist looked around the room briefly, inevitable spotting the large window at one end. She opened it, lo and behold it looked down onto the pool area, it also shared the same marks as the other window.
"Same marks on this window, let's keep that in mind," Kaito said confidently. "Guess that's our investigation done here, let's get out, this place is giving me the creeps,"
"It's just a shower room," Kaede shrugged. "But yeah, our investigation is basically done,"
The duo walked through the tennis lab, until-
BANG
"Gahh!" Kaito grumbled as he fell to the ground. The man had tripped on the tennis net because… because the cable had been untied.
Kaede helped the astronaut to his feet as he helped her up.
"So that's what felt off, someone untied this," Kaede looked over the cable, noticing a small detail. "And… there's blood on this part of it," She pointed to the middle of the cable.
"That… eugh," Kaito groaned. "No clue what that could mean though,"
"I think it'll become clear during the trial," Kaede mused. "I… think this is the last thing here, unless you manage to trip over any more evidence,"
+BLOODY TENNIS NET CABLE
"Heh, hopefully not cause that hurt," Kaito chuckled. "Guess all that's left is to interview Maki,"
"Yeah…"
Kaito noticed the apprehension in Kaede's voice and went to pat her on the back. "Don't tell me you're scared of little old Maki," The man chuckled, Kaede smiled just a bit at him in response. "I'm sure she's forgiven you by now,"
"I-I hope," Kaede said. "Let's get go to her,"
"That's the spirit!" Kaito patted, Kaede chuckled and the two went to Maki's lab at the end of the third floor's hallway.
The scary looking woman was guarding the outside of her lab as usual, Kirumi was standing there seemingly watching the woman.
"Hey Maki, hey Kirumi," Kaede waved.
"Ah, hello," Kirumi greeted, Maki just looked at the Pianist and Astronaut blankly. "I suppose you're here for our alibis?"
"Well, obviously," Kaito chuckled.
Kirumi nodded. "Very well, I was helping set up Himiko's show, and then I left once I was finished, and then I saw Kokichi and played tag with him,"
"That last part is what Kokichi said," Kaede nodded. "So it's good to have confirmation on that,"
"Yeah, what about you Maki Roll?" Maki groaned at the nickname Kaito gave her. "Where were you?"
"Don't call me that," She glared as she spoke. "And I was guarding my lab, alone as usual,"
"That's… rather hard to confirm," Kirumi said.
"It's the truth," Maki said. "Isn't that what you want?"
"Y-Yeah," Kaede said. "We'll keep your alibi in mind,"
+MAKI ALONE
DING DONG BING BONG
Monokuma, the demonic bear appeared on the monitors around the school and began to speak.
"Attention students, investigation time is now over. Head to the Shrine of Judgement to finally begin this trial!"
"Guess that's our investigation time up," Kaede said, a hint of anxiety in her voice. "Let's do this,"
"Yeah, let's," Kaito nodded.
Everyone walked towards the Shrine of Judgement at once, everyone pouring into the cagelike room in the courtyard in small groups until all 15 students were there.
"Guess this is it," Kaito said.
"Gonta just hope this over quickly," The man sad sadly. "Hard to believe another murder happened so soon,"
"M-Me too, these things make me queasy…" Tsumugi mumbled.
"I can believe it," Kokichi smiled. "If only we got to see everyone's motive video, could've let us keep watch on anyone with a particularly strong motive, y'know?"
"Kokichi!" Kaede scolded.
"Eh, you're actually kinda right about that," Kaito shrugged. "Maybe we shouldn't of written off the motive videos so soon,"
"Their point was to give us a desire to leave, yes?" Angie turned her head. "It was best to ignore them,"
"Yes, I believe it's for the best no one sees them," Kirumi said.
"I didn't get one, so I can't really comment on this," Kotoko shrugged.
"Right, you don't have a motive cause you're like… a traitor or whatever," Kokichi shrugged.
"Kokichi!" Kaito scouted.
"Whaaaat? It's true!"
"You're only half right," Kotoko confirmed. "I guess I did betray one cause,"
"Kehehe, Monaca did seem quite upset at you…" Korekiyo whispered. "I wonder what you did to attract the ire of someone so… seemingly innocent,"
"She's always been kinda off," Kotoko shrugged. "Glad I'm not in that group anymore though, trust me, I feel pretty shitty for what I was doing…" Kotoko looked grimly at the ground, lost in thought.
"Well at least you have a conscious…" Himiko sneered.
"Well, you're a girl, so I'm inclined to be slightly less suspicious of you than usual," Tenko hmmphed.
"Hurray for double standards!" Kotoko cheered sarcastically.
RUMBLE RUMBLE
As the conversation died down, the Monokuma statue began to do its thing and smash the pot in its hand, point at the students and lower into the fountain revealing the elevator.
This was it, all that was left was to go in…
The elevator trip felt longer then last time, the silence was deafening as Kaede looked around at the slightly shrunk crowd of people within.
Eventually, it landed and everyone went to their stands in the trial room. An extra witness stand had been made for Kotoko, placed next to Kaito's.
Ryoma and Shuichi each had death portraits now. Shuichi's had an X made up of two magnifying glasses, and Ryoma one of a tennis racket and a pair of handcuffs.
Kaede looked around at the crowd of the class trial.
I still can't believe that another murder happened, especially so soon… but if I want to get out of here I'll need to accept that truth.
The truth that someone killed Ryoma, he never seemed happy with his life, with the situation he was in; now that he's been murdered he'll never get the chance to find meaning.
I need to find the truth of his murder, not only for his sake, but for the rest of my friends in this trial room for them…
I'll reveal the truth!
CLASS TRIAL: START
TRUTH BULLETS:
MONOKUMA FILE #2
SQUARE GLASS PANE
ROPE
TIED UP HIMIKO
WET STAIRCASE
PIRANHA TANK
INNER TUBE IN POOL
MARKED WINDOW FRAME
INSECT MEET AND GREET
GONTA'S ACCOUNT
CRAMPED PIRANHAS
MIU'S ACCOUNT
KOKICHI'S ACCOUNT
WATER TANK TRICK
BLACK FABRIC
POOL RULES
BLOODY TENNIS NET CABLE
MAKI ALONE