(See the end of the chapter for more notes .)

In any case, please enjoy!

I'm sorry for the large break between chapters, but I have two good reasons. One: enrolling for university is hard, and demands a lot of my time. Two: I had the first murder fully realised before I started writing even the Prologue, whereas this murder still needed a bit of touching up to make sure it all made sense.

Chapter Text

Monokuma: [Voice only] DING DONG DING DONG!

Attention all students! Attention all students! A body has been discovered!

There will be a short investigation period, followed by a class trial.

Look alive, you kids! And happy hunting! Upupupu!

[OST: Weekly Despair Magazine]

Okazaki: [Covering mouth, aghast] Ohmigodohmigodohmigod...

Noguchi: [Shaken] ...

[Regaining composure] ...He had it coming.

Matsuoka... Oh, god...

Noguchi: [Neutral] ...Minami?

Minami: I... I'm fine...

...

Akutagawa: [Sweating, arms akimbo] I saw classmate Muramoto outside!

[Pointing, shouting] Classmates! Where is the body!?

Minami: ...U-up there...

Akutagawa: [Wincing, sweating] ...! This is...

Washio: [Wringing hands, in tears] No...! Another... another murder...!

Tamura: [Enraged] Yo, what the fuck's goin' on!? Who died!?

Noguchi: [Arms crossed] Matsuoka's dead.

Tamura: [Shocked] No! You're fuckin' kiddin' me!

[Running hand through hair] Jeez... fuck! I didn't fuckin' think it'd happen ta him...

Noguchi: [Neutral] Someone needs to get the others.

Tamura: [Angry] Whaddaya, stupid? We gotta get Muramoto up ta the Nurse's Office!

Noguchi: [Smirk] Hmph... If you really think it's so necessary, then go ahead.

Tamura: [Determined] I'm on it!

Yo! Muramoto! Ya got help incomin'!

Washio: [Wringing hands] I... I'll go, um... tell everyone...!

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Extracurricular Lesson]

Monokuma: [Neutral] There's no need! See, when I made that announcement, everyone knew that a body had been discovered!

Hence the name, "Body Discovery Announcement".

[Chuckling] Take notes, this will be on the test!

Okazaki: [Anxious] L-like, you're here to give us that file thing, or whatever, right...?

Monokuma: [White side] Not necessarily! Maybe I just want a friendly chat.

Hello, students! Isn't it a wonderful day outside in the perpetual energy storm?

Minami: ...Send out the file.

Monokuma: [Chuckling] Ooh, this is the part where the mystery girl shows her true evil and gritty colours, right?

[Sighing] Well, colour me unimpressed if it is. You know, that trope is so overdone.

Minami: Please... just send out the file so we can start.

Monokuma: [Black side] Oh, now I get it! You're upset by ol' Matsuoka swinging away up there, huh?

Because you two had a relationship more on and off than Archie and Veronica? Hormones, I swear...

[Belly laugh] I thought you'd be happy to see him like this! I mean, he's clearly well-hung! Gyahahaha!

Minami: ...

Akutagawa: [Pointing angrily] Enough! Monokuma! You may insult me all you like!

But you may not insult my classmates... my friends!

Monokuma: [Neutral] ...Okay, okay, I've had my fun. Here's what you've all been waiting for!

[Both paws in the air] It's the Monokuma File!

[A vibrating sound is heard.]

My ElectroID...

[We see an ElectroID screen, held by Minami's hand. Monokuma's grinning face is displayed on it, along with the words, "Monokuma File!", in bubbly hot pink letters.]

Sure enough, it's the Monokuma File...

I have to remember to look at this.

Monokuma: [White side] Alright, kiddos, I gotta go set up for the big speech.

[Chuckling] See you in hell... and by hell, I mean the basement! Upupupu!

[OST: None]

Noguchi: [Arms crossed] ...Minami. Investigate with me.

Minami: H-huh? Why!?

Noguchi: [Neutral] We're smart. We can do what Okazaki and the other mouth-breathers can't.

Okazaki: [Pouting] Hey! I'm, like, standing right here!

Minami: Actually, Noguchi...

...I'd rather work alone on this.

Noguchi: [Scowling] ...Hmph. The instant you need help, you'll come crawling back anyway.

Akutagawa: [Arms crossed] I severely doubt that, Noguchi!

[Pointing passionately] Classmate Minami is a strong and independent woman, and she isn't taking any of your business!

Minami: It's fine, Akutagawa...

Washio: [Surprised] A-ah...! The screens...!

As Washio had noticed, all the screens began to turn on.

[We see Monokuma, reclined comfortably, with the information for the murder in his paws.]

Monokuma: Okay, you bastards, let's see what we've got!

The not-so-flawless gem, Matsuoka, was remorselessly cut down in his prime!

A murder on stage! How truly dramatic!

Your investigation time starts now! Listen to the funky beat and catch me a killer! Upupupu!

[Back to Stage]

INVESTIGATION START

[OST: Ikoroshia]

First things first...

I have to look at the Monokuma File to figure out the basics.

[We see an ElectroID, held by Minami. The screen has a small image of Matsuoka, as well as three dot points next to it.]

VICTIM: Kentaro Matsuoka

CAUSE OF DEATH: Asphyxiation

TIME OF DEATH: Between 11 am and 12:30 pm

Hmm... between 11 and 12:30...

That's round about when the tea party was on, wasn't it?

I better keep a mental note of that...

[Monokuma File added to Truth Bullets]

[Back to Stage]

Now that I've done that...

Even though not everyone is here yet, I should start getting together a few statements.

..."Statements". I sound like a lawyer or something...

In any case, it should tell me where I need to look.

[Talk to Okazaki]

Okazaki: [Panicking] This stage is, like, a total deathtrap!

[Hugging herself] First, I nearly get killed, and then, l-like, Matsuoka really does get killed...

We should, like, ban anyone from ever going in here again!

Minami: Speaking of yesterday... this morning, Mai said you were trying to relax from that incident, right?

That's why you weren't at the tea ceremony?

Okazaki: [Nodding] Like, yeah, that's totally right!

[Playing with hair] I was, like, taking a bath the whole time. My fingers are, like, still a bit pruny, even.

Minami: So... how did you end up finding Muramoto?

Okazaki: [Surprised] ...Oh! Like, right! Uh...

[Head tilted] So, like, while I was in the bath, I heard this, like, big clangy noise!

Minami: Clangy noise?

Okazaki: Like, um... it was the sound you hear when, like, metal smacks against metal.

[Thinking] I would have gone out there and checked what was happening right away, but...

[Bashful] ...oh, it's, like, embarrassing...

Minami: Huh?

Okazaki: [Playing with hair] My tuxedo takes, like, forever to put on...

These buttons are, like, totally really hard to do up, you know? Because they're, like, so small!

Or because something else is so big...

Okazaki: [Neutral] So, like, by the time I got outside, there was nobody there.

[Sad] I decided to, like, look around a bit, and, like, I saw Muramoto...

Then you showed up with Noguchi, and, like, that's it.

Minami: Hmm...

So, she heard a metallic noise...

I need to look around the bathhouse when I get the chance.

[Okazaki's Testimony added to Truth Bullets]

[Examine Mask]

Here it is... the mask of Ultimate Despair.

It's incredible to think that one of us was behind this mask just yesterday...

...That's odd. Even though it's right next to the pool of blood here...

...there's no blood on it whatsoever.

If there was blood on it, then I'd say it fell from Matsuoka's body, or that it was on the ground when he was... cut...

But since there's no blood... maybe it was left here intentionally?

[Monokuma Mask added to Truth Bullets]

[Examine Side of Stage]

Huh? What's this?

...It's a piece of a pool cue... and there's blood on one end!

This thing is surprisingly heavy...

Could this be the pool cue that went missing a few days ago?

[Bloody Pool Cue added to Truth Bullets]

[Talk to Washio]

Washio: [Eyes averted] This... um, this is really bad...

Minami: Washio... you weren't at the tea ceremony, were you?

Washio: [Wringing hands] ...Ah! You're, um... y-you think I did it...?

Minami: H-hey, I didn't say that!

Washio: [Eyes averted] It's... it's fine... I can, um... I can see why you'd be, ah... suspicious...

[Looking up reluctantly] I was, um... I was with Akutagawa at the, uh... the time of death...

[Wringing hands] ...Ah! B-but... I wasn't with him, um, like that!

...I didn't say anything about that...

Washio: [Eyes averted] We were, um... doing a fitness session...

I needed to, ah, take a break, so... I, um, I did that...

[Looking up reluctantly] But... Akutagawa was in the, um, gym the whole time...

Minami: Do you have any idea when this was?

Washio: [Wringing hands] U-um... it was, uh... before Muramoto was attacked...

[Eyes averted] I know because, um... I talked to him for a bit...

A-and... he was fine...

So, Washio didn't run into whoever attacked Muramoto...

That's not good. Assuming they were the same person who killed Matsuoka, we might have been able to solve the case right now...

...Then again, I'm glad Washio wasn't hurt, either.

[Washio's Testimony added to Truth Bullets]

[Examine Blood Spatter]

Hmm... I'm sure this blood spatter is important somehow.

But, I don't know anything about how liquid flows or falls...

I should wait for Takanashi to arrive before I examine this more closely.

[Examine Matsuoka's Body]

...Oh, Matsuoka...

Even if it had to be you...

...did it have to be so grisly?

Even if I really don't want to, I need to take a closer look at the body.

I'll have to go up onto the catwalk.

[Talk to Akutagawa]

Akutagawa: [Arms akimbo] Classmate Minami! No doubt you are waiting for my expert autopsy report!

Minami: Uh... I guess?

Akutagawa: [Arms crossed] Unfortunately, it will have to wait!

While the body is hanging from the rope like that, we can see the scene of the crime as we discovered it.

[Shouting] I do not want to disturb it before our other classmates arrive! It would be unfair!

Minami: ...Actually, Akutagawa, I was just going to ask a few questions.

Akutagawa: [Disappointed] ...Oh.

[Enthusiastic] ...Of course! Ask away!

Minami: So, at the time of the murder, you were --

Akutagawa: [Grinning confidently] Doing a fitness session with classmate Washio, correct!

[Thinking] ...Well...

Huh?

Akutagawa: In truth, the murder might have happened while classmate Washio was taking her break, in which case I have no alibi...

[Grinning confidently] But you can trust me, classmate Minami! I was in the gym the entire time!

Minami: Okay. Besides that...

...Matsuoka's wearing the cloak of Ultimate Despair. I thought you grabbed it yesterday?

Akutagawa: [Neutral] That's true! I did grab it! Why?

[Shocked] ...OH! I apologise! I see what you mean now!

[Thinking] I did take the cloak...

[Frustrated] But I was so frustrated at Ultimate Despair's escape that I threw it with my powerful arms back onto the catwalk!

Any one of our classmates could have picked it up after that point!

Minami: Okay. Thanks for your time, Akutagawa.

Akutagawa: [Grinning confidently] It is no problem! We will catch the blackened! I am sure of it!

[Akutagawa's Testimony added to Truth Bullets]

Alright. Those testimonies have given me the information I need to look around further.

Let's see... where should I go first?

[Move through: Central Lounge -> Left Hallway -> Bathhouse]

[Examine Boys' Lockers]

Hmm... there's something behind this locker...

...Bingo! It's the other half of the pool cue that went missing!

There's no blood on this one, so I'm guessing it isn't involved with the murder...

...But, this is interesting. It looks like there's a groove cut into the end.

I wonder why that is...

[Piece of Pool Cue added to Truth Bullets]

[Examine Broken Locker]

Wasn't this one of the lockers that was broken shut?

It's hanging wide open! Is there anything inside?

...Empty. Of course.

Still, that means that someone found a way to open this broken locker.

It's on the boys' side, so, I'm guessing it was Fujihara's...

I wonder what was in here?

Minami: ...Achoo!

Wow... it's a little dusty...

...Now that I think about it...

This doesn't look like normal dust...

[Fujihara's Locker added to Truth Bullets]

Nothing else of interest around here...

[Move through: Left Hallway -> Central Lounge -> Right Hallway]

Mai: [Determined] Hanni! Hanni Hanni Hanni! This is super important! Come take a look right now!

Minami: Gah, okay! Just one sec--

Mai: [Shouting] NOW!

Mai grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to where she wanted to go...

[Auto-move to Music Room]

Minami: Uh, Mai? I don't think anything happened in the Music Room...

Mai: [Determined] But! Butbutbutbutbut! Look!

Minami: ...At what?

Mai: [Serious] These CDs on the desk! Somebody moved them, I swear!

Minami: ...Ooookay?

Mai: [Head tilted] ...Well, usually tiny details like these are important in murders, right?

Minami: ...Yeah, but...

...Is there anything you wanted to talk about?

Mai: [Sad] ...Okay...

The truth is, I'm scared to go look at the body...

It's super creepy for me...

Minami: Hey, it's fine... with any luck, you won't have to see another, right?

Mai: [Sad smile] Right...

[Serious] ...But, I'm serious about the CDs, too! They were moved!

...If it makes her happy, I'll take a note about the CDs...

..."Sing-Along with Leon Kuwata"? What kind of CDs are these?

[CDs added to Truth Bullets]

Hmm... it's probably about time I checked up on Muramoto...

I hope he's alright...

[Move through: Right Hallway -> Central Lounge -> Entrance Hallway]

[Talk to Hagino]

Hagino: [Upset] Oh, it's awful... absolutely awful...

I can't believe there was another murder. It's... it's just so terrible!

Minami: Yeah...

Hagino: [Sympathetic] Oh, but excuse me, Minami. Of course, you were close with Matsuoka, weren't you?

Minami: ...

Hagino: [Serious] ...If it helps in any way, I have some evidence which may prove useful.

[Thinking] When the Body Discovery Announcement played, I looked outside the Karesansui to see what was happening.

As I did so, I noticed one thing in particular. Nobody's shoes were missing from the entrance.

Minami: Shoes...?

Oh, right. We had to take off our shoes before we went in to your ceremony...

Hagino: [Serious] Indeed. And everyone's shoes were still there when the announcement played.

Minami: Hmm... thanks.

I don't know how it helps yet... but I'm sure it will somehow...

Minami: ...Speaking of...

Hagino: [Gentle smile] I have your shoes right here, Minami.

If there's anything else you need help with, please come to me.

[Partygoers' Shoes added to Truth Bullets]

[Move through: Stairwell -> Blue Hallway -> Foyer]

Is that...

Urayama: [Serious] ...

...If there's one person I have to talk to, it's him.

[Talk to Urayama]

Minami: Not bothering to help?

Urayama: [Dry smile] No, this hideous statue of Monokuma is far more interesting than Matsuoka's corpse.

Minami: How could you say something like that?

Urayama: [Arms crossed] I told you once before, Minami.

Everyone here obscures the truth - the one thing I can never forgive.

And throughout our stay, nobody has done it more so than Matsuoka.

[Dry smile] So, I really don't care for investigating at all.

There's something really suspicious about this...

I swear his personality has really changed in the last few days...

Minami: Fine. Will you at least tell me where you were when the murder happened?

Urayama: [Neutral] ...No.

Minami: W-what!? Then what was all that crap about obscuring the truth?

Urayama: [Arms folded] The truth is, where I was is totally irrelevant to the crime. Therefore, I don't need to tell you.

...Urayama's definitely got something to hide...

[Urayama's Testimony added to Truth Bullets]

[Move through: Green Hallway -> Medical Room]

Here I am again, after another murder...

...and the same person was attacked twice, too.

I hope he's okay...

[Talk to Muramoto]

Minami: Muramoto? Are you okay?

Muramoto: [Clutching head] ...The sea-lion says no...

Minami: ...What?

Muramoto: But, mother, I don't want to go to elocution...

Tamura: [Irritated] Forgeddabout it, Minami. He isn't talkin'. He's been doin' this ever since we got here.

Hmm... poor Muramoto...

Muramoto: Daisy, daisy, give me your answer, do...

Tamura: [Scratching back of neck] Best guess is someone really put the hurt on his head, ya know?

Like, smashed him up or somethin'.

[Thinking] Musta been pretty heavy ta knock him this bad, I reckon.

Minami: He'll be okay, right?

Tamura: [Arms crossed] Yeah, he's just got one of those things ya get when ya get a head injury...

Uh... a concussion! That's the word.

[Neutral] He'll be fine in a bit. I'm just tryin' ta keep him awake an' iced, ya know?

Minami: Yeah...

Tamura: [Awkward smile] Still! He better not get smashed in the next murder, right?

That'd suck!

Minami: ...Hopefully, there won't be another one for him to get attacked in...

[Muramoto's Injuries added to Truth Bullets]

I'm not getting anything else out of being up here...

I better head back to the stage.

[Move through: Green Hallway -> Foyer -> Blue Hallway -> Stairwell -> Entrance Hallway -> Central Lounge]

Come to think of it...

I haven't taken a look at the catwalk yet...

[Move to Backstage]

[Talk to Junpei]

Junpei: [Biting thumbnail] P-poor Matsuoka...

I mean, I know he was kinda c-crazy at the end, but...

Minami: He wasn't crazy... I think. Just really stressed...

Junpei: R-right...

[Awkward smile] It must have been because of his b-brother... I mean... what happened to him...

Minami: ...Yeah.

Junpei: [Thinking] N-not to mention... it would be p-pretty stressful looking after us, r-right...?

And on t-top of that, the m-motive...

[Biting thumbnail] I g-guess it all just b-built up...

[Junpei's Testimony added to Truth Bullets]

[Examine Control Panel]

This is the control panel used to raise and lower the sandbags, isn't it?

Hmm...

Minami: Hey, Junpei!

Junpei: [Startled] A-ah! Y-y-yes...?

Minami: You did some work backstage yesterday, right?

Junpei: [Biting thumbnail] Th-that's true... I s-spent a lot of time familiarising myself with the c-controls...

Minami: Do you know which rope Matsuoka is hanging from?

Junpei: [Thinking] ...I s-see...

...Th-that would be... r-rope number four.

Minami: Number four? Okay, thanks, Junpei.

Junpei: [Smiling] ...F-for you? A-anytime...

...I'll pretend I didn't hear that.

Minami: ...But that still doesn't tell us when it was used to lift up Matsuoka...

[OST: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson]

Monokuma: [Neutral] That doesn't tell you, sure! But I'm just generous enough to help! Upupupu!

Junpei: [Panicking] AAAAAAAH! MONOKUMAAAA!

Monokuma: [Annoyed] ...Jeez. Laying it on a little thick, aren't we?

Minami: You said you'd tell us when this control panel was used...

Monokuma: [Neutral] Not so fast! I can't tell you every tiny detail, you know!

But! I will give you this.

[White side] It was used recently. As in, "after the murder" recently.

Minami: ...Got it.

Monokuma: [Chuckling] There! I did my one good deed for the day!

[Neutral] At this rate, I'll be reincarnated as... a flea, or something.

[Belly laugh] Except, I can never die, so I can't be reincarnated anyway! Upupupu!

[OST: None]

...Even if he was irritating...

He was surprisingly helpful just now.

[Rope added to Truth Bullets]

[OST: Ikoroshia]

[Move to Catwalk]

[Examine Unusual Knife]

W-what on earth is this bloody knife doing here!?

It doesn't look at all like any of the knives I've seen in here...

Certainly nothing like the kitchen knife I stole.

Hmm... this black-and-white handle looks custom-made...

And the jagged way it curves seems... very familiar.

[Unusual Knife added to Truth Bullets]

[Examine Matsuoka's Body]

...Even up here, closer than ever, I can't get a good view of his body.

I can get a good look at the cloak, though. It's definitely Ultimate Despair's, all right.

Hmm... there's much less blood on it than I expected.

[Ultimate Despair's Cloak added to Truth Bullets]

[Talk to Chiba]

Chiba: [Bored] ...It wasn't suicide.

Minami: H-huh?

Chiba: Look at the knot.

Minami: The knot...? The one holding Matsuoka up?

Chiba: [Looking away dejectedly] That's not a noose. I know...

...I know how to tie a noose. That's not a noose.

Minami: ...Okay. Thanks for the help.

Chiba: [Bored] ...Yeah.

...It looks like it was done quickly.

Minami: Sorry?

Chiba: ...The knot, I mean.

[Looking away dejectedly] ...I don't know why I bothered to say that.

It's not like any of you care...

...Poor Chiba...

[Chiba's Testimony added to Truth Bullets]



[Move through: Backstage -> Central Lounge -> Stage]

Looks like Takanashi's finally here. I wonder where she's been?

Either way, I can finally find out more about that pool of blood...

[OST: None]

Junpei: [Off-screen] Uh... h-hello? Can you guys hear me?

Takanashi: [Confused] Junpei? Where are you?

Junpei: [Off-screen] I'm using the stage's PA system... p-pretty cool, right?

...Uh, so...

I'm lowering the b-body now, so you can all get a good l-look at it...

Switch four, and... okay!

[Matsuoka's body begins to descend from the catwalk, finally coming to a rest in the blood on the stage.]

[OST: Ikoroshia]

Well, that's certainly a big help, too...

I have to get this done before we all run out of time...

[Talk to Takanashi]

Takanashi: [Neutral] ...Hi, Minami...

Minami: Hi, yourself.

Takanashi: [Biting brush] ...I guess... you want to ask about the blood?

Minami: Well, you were really helpful last time, so... please?

Takanashi: [Grateful smile] Really helpful? You... you think so...?

[Biting brush] ...Uh, sorry... one moment...

[Concentrating] ...So, it looks like the blood is in two areas.

Minami: Two? I only see this one pool...

Takanashi: Right, but...

[Gesturing with brush] ...in the middle, the blood is really pooled, and on the outside, it's a bit more spattered.

[Thinking] So, I think that some of the blood got here from on the stage...

...and some of it fell from the body.

Minami: Thanks. That really helps a lot.

Takanashi: [Grateful smile] ...Thank you for thanking me, I guess... ha ha...

[Biting brush] ...I'm sorry, I don't have any more ideas...

[Blood Spatter added to Truth Bullets]

[Examine Matsuoka's Body]

Well... here goes nothing...

There are some bruises on Matsuoka's neck...

They're pretty wide, though. Wider than the rope, even...

So, even if asphyxiation was how he died, I guess I also have to look at...

...the carving.

..."DESPAIR"... I have a feeling Ultimate Despair did this.

There's blood all over his chest.

Not only is it dripping down his torso...

...but it's going to either side, as well.

I wonder what that means...

[Matsuoka's Body added to Truth Bullets]

Huh? In his jacket pocket...

...It's his ElectroID. And it's open to the motive page...

W-what? According to this...

Matsuoka was the most likely person to commit murder!?

...He was also tenth most likely to be a victim...

...I gotta get away from here!

[Matsuoka's ElectroID added to Truth Bullets]

[OST: None]

Monokuma: [Voice only] DING DONG DING DONG! Time's up, bastards!

I sure hope you saw everything you needed to, because you're not getting the chance again!

Everyone make your way over to the elevator in the foyer. I'll meet you down in the courtroom.

Good luck! Upupupu!

Argh... damn it! I hope that was enough time...

I still don't know if I have everything I need!

What if we fail this time?

It'll be even worse... because this time, we knew what we had to do.

If we lose...

...

Oh, god... please don't let us lose...

Noguchi: [Neutral] Minami.

Minami: Agh! Noguchi!

...Don't scare me like that...

Noguchi: [Smirk] Your fault for not being focused.

[Neutral] ...You know we have to go now.

Minami: Yeah... yeah, I know.

Noguchi: [Arms crossed] ...In the end, you didn't ask me anything at all.

Impressive.

Minami: You wouldn't have given any help anyway.

Noguchi. [Smirk] Hmph... you're probably right.

Let's go.

[Fade to black. Fade in to Foyer, in front of the Elevator.]

...Everyone's even more tense than after Degawa's death...

[The Elevator's steel doors slide open. Fade to black. The shunting of an elevator may be heard. Fade in to the thirteen surviving students standing in the Elevator as it slowly descends.]

Muramoto: Maybe we live, maybe we die...

Noguchi: Can someone shut the samurai up?

Okazaki: Like, he's got a concussion! No way!

Noguchi: Hmph. Imbeciles. We have nothing to gain by listening to him.

Urayama: ...Don't we?

...I agree. Keep him quiet, Tamura.

Tamura: I'll keep YA quiet!

Hagino: Please, everyone. No fighting. Not now.

Not when someone won't get a chance to leave the courtroom.

Everyone was silent from that moment on.

Maybe they were taking to heart what Hagino said...

Maybe they were thinking about the trial ahead...

Maybe they were preparing their arguments.

But one person...

...was planning how to kill us all.

At least, that was what I thought.

Thirteen go in...

...and either twelve leave...

...or one does.

The Class Trial was about to begin.

[Fade to black.]