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

Whether you're playing along or just reading, I hope you enjoy!

By the way, here is the layout of the courtroom for the class trials (going clockwise from the stand in front of Monokuma's throne):

This is a lot harder than I thought it'd be to write. I hope everything makes sense.

Well, the first part of the class trial is finally finished.

Chapter Text

LET THE CLASS TRIAL BEGIN!

[OST: Class Trial Dawn Edition]

[We fade in to a Courtroom, decked out with white and black tiles forming a chessboard pattern. The walls are a deep navy blue, and red curtains line the top of the walls. Monokuma sits atop a purple velvet throne, which almost resembles an extravagant high chair for a child. The students stand behind polished wood witness stands. Behind one of these stands, an image of Degawa's smiling face hangs in black and white, with a scar-red cross hastily painted over it.]

Monokuma: So, what do you think? Isn't it a clear display of your headmaster's amazing interior decorating skills?

Muramoto: [Eyes narrowed slightly] One of our number is no more, and you choose to focus on the design of a room?

Monokuma: Of course I do! You think I actually give a damn about any of you bastards?

Washio: [Reluctantly looking up] Um... I sort of, uh, have a question...

[The camera focuses on the image of Degawa.]

Washio: [Off-screen] So, um... what's that picture for?

Monokuma: It's not fair to exclude someone from the discussion just because they're dead!

So Degawa lives on with us not only in our memory...

Noguchi: [Smirk] She's not exactly going to contribute much, though, is she?

Matsuoka: [Irritated] OK, seriously, Noguchi. Time and place.

Chiba: [Sighing] Even I thought that was in poor taste...

Okazaki: [Nervous] So, like... where are we supposed to start?

Takanashi: [Biting brush] Good question.

...

I mean...

None of us have ever done something like this before, right?

Fujihara: [Smiling] No, but I've directed my fair share of murder mysteries.

Tamura: [Looking away] Yeah, like we all give a fuck...

Hagino: [Thinking] I am not one for television, but...

Typically, the first thing everybody discusses is the scene of the crime, isn't it?

Minami: [Gesturing] I guess it's as good a place to start as any.

Urayama: [Arms folded] Gets my vote.

Mai: [Cheerful] Sounds super cool by me!

Akutagawa: [Pointing] Then we are all in agreement!

The first topic of discussion is to be the location of the crime!

Minami: [Hand on chin] Right. So we're all going to be talking pretty much at once...

If I want my voice to be heard, I better make sure I speak up.

We can't go too far off track, or...

[Determined] ...I can't think about that! I've just got to give it everything I've got!

[OST: Trial Underground]

Hello there. Just interrupting the flow of things a little. Don't mind me.

As you've no doubt realised, this fanfic is in script format to allow for interactivity.

The class trials are one such example of this interactivity. Aside from reading them normally...

...you are also able to play along as if Heights of Despair were an official Dangan Ronpa game.

To that end, we have replicated several of the series' minigames.

To be honest, we sort of just pinched them from other writers who did the same thing first... but never mind that!

This first game is called Nonstop Debate.

Everyone is going to be shouting over each other...

...and it's your job to ensure that the trial doesn't go too far off the rails.

At the start of a Nonstop Debate, you are given a selection of Truth Bullets.

These are drawn from the pieces of evidence Minami collected during the investigation.

Whenever you see a bolded statement, it means you can contradict it with one of your Truth Bullets.

In order to progress, it's a matter of matching the right Truth Bullet to the right statement.

Here's an example.

Truth Bullets: Photo of the Sky, Bagel

Random Guy: I haven't been outside in ages!

Chances are that after all that time I spent inside...

...the sky's probably gone green, or something!

As you can clearly see, by matching the first Truth Bullet with the bolded statement...

...a contradiction becomes clear!

The answer will be presented at the end of the Nonstop Debate in the format:

EX, SX

The E stands for Evidence, and the S stands for Statement.

The X is to be replaced with the number that the Truth Bullet/Statement appears as.

For the above example, since Photo of the Sky is the first Truth Bullet listed, it is E1.

Likewise, the statement is S1.

There's more information to come later, but this is an unwieldy interlude as is.

I wish you the best of luck. Over and out.

NONSTOP DEBATE!

[OST: Discussion -BREAK- (2nd mix)]

Truth Bullets: Bloodstain on Floor, Chiba's Testimony, Hammer

Akutagawa: [Pointing] Let us discuss the scene of the crime!

Muramoto: [Arms crossed] T'would be my opinion that the scene was obvious.

Junpei: [Biting thumbnail] Y-yeah... I mean, it's pretty simple, right?

W-we found her body in the Medical Room...

Mai: [Cheerful] Right! Yeah, that's right!

So, I mean, of course Yuiwa was killed there!

Chiba: [Exasperated] ...

Are you guys kidding me?

Minami: [Thinking] Well, this is a fairly easy problem to solve...

I'm just wondering how such a simple mistake happened to begin with...

Answer: E1, S2

Minami: You've got that wrong!

[OST: Class Trial Dawn Edition]

Mai: [Hurt] OK... no reason to shout at me...

Minami: [Surprised] Oh, uh... I was worried nobody would hear me...

Mai: [Cheerful] It's OK! I mean, I shout all the time!

Shouting is super fun!

Noguchi: [Irritated] Enough banter. Tell us why she's wrong already.

Minami: [Thinking] Mai... you never went inside Degawa's room, right?

Mai: [Thinking] Um... nope! Never! Why?

[OST: Class Trial: Solar Edition]

Minami: [Explaining] If you did, you'd know we found a large pool of blood there.

Mai: [Disgusted] Eww! That's super icky!

Minami: [Exasperated] ...The point is...

[Thinking] Since the blood soaked into the carpet there, we can assume that that's where the murder took place.

Tamura: [Looking away] Huh. News ta me, too. I never got the chance ta check it out...

Muramoto: [Arms crossed] I am in the same situation as Miss Tamura.

Noguchi: [Irritated] Did any of you actually investigate?

Or did you just stand around being useless?

Matsuoka: [Serious] Enough, Noguchi.

Hagino: [Concerned] Well... now we know that the murder took place in Degawa's own room.

This, of course, raises another question.

Minami: [Confused] ...It does?

NONSTOP DEBATE!

[OST: Discussion -BREAK- (2nd mix)]

Truth Bullets: Degawa's ElectroID, First Aid Kits, Broken Glass

Hagino: If we assume that the murder took place in Degawa's own room...

...then how did she end up in the Medical Room?

Akutagawa: [Pointing] Indeed, this is a good question!

Chiba: [Grinning wickedly] Maybe she walked there by herself!

Washio: [In tears] P-please don't say that... I hate zombie movies...

Okazaki: [Irritated] Anyway...

[Thinking] So, like, maybe the killer brought her there?

Urayama: [Arms folded] Don't be stupid.

There's absolutely no reason a killer would bring his victim there.

Fujihara: Exactly. So the killer didn't move her.

Takanashi: [Thinking] But then... who did?

Matsuoka: Hmm... another good question...

[Serious] There doesn't seem to be anything concrete that says who would...

Chiba: [Exasperated] ...We're not really gonna go with my theory, are we?

Urayama: [Irritated] Again, don't be stupid.

[Pointing passionately] The crime must have happened in the Medical Room! The blood in Degawa's room is just a bluff.

Tamura: [Scratching head] I... guess?

Minami: [Thinking] Urayama's definitely in the wrong here...

But I'll never convince him of that unless I figure out what would motivate moving Degawa's body...

[Determined] Come on, Minami! You've got this! You can't let this trial go astray!

Answer: E2, S3

Minami: You've got that wrong!

[OST: Class Trial Dawn Edition]

Minami: [Thinking] Actually, Urayama, I think there's a pretty good reason the killer would take Degawa to the Medical Room.

Urayama: [Irritated] ...Care to explain?

[OST: Class Trial Solar Edition]

Minami: [Explaining] Just take a look at all the first aid kits scattered around the place.

Urayama: [Surprised] Ah...

Hagino: [Gentle smile] "Ah" indeed. I believe Minami has hit upon a solution.

Minami: [Blushing] Hey, it's no big deal, really...

Tamura: [Confused] Anyone wanna explain it for the stupid kids?

Akutagawa: [Posing] Classmate Minami is saying that the killer attempted to save Degawa's life!

Minami: [Neutral] Right. That's why she ended up in the Medical Room.

[Thinking] And it's why all the bandages were missing from the first aid kits, too.

Urayama: [Sweating] ...

Noguchi: [Smirk] Hmph. I expected better from you, Urayama.

Urayama: [Shaken] Nng...

Minami: [Thinking] Wow, looks like Noguchi cut pretty deep there...

[Explaining] Anyway, as far as I see it --

[OST: None]

Urayama: [Enraged] You see nothing!

[OST: Trial Underground]

Hello again. It seems another game is about to take place.

This one is called Rebuttal Showdown.

It works exactly the same as a Nonstop Debate does.

However, there is only one other student in a Rebuttal Showdown.

Makes things a bit more tense, in my opinion.

But I'm just a voice. Not even a character.

I wish you the best of luck. Over and out.

REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN!

[OST: Rebuttal -CROSS SWORD-]

Truth Bullets: Antiseptic, Degawa's Body, Tamura's Testimony

Minami: Huh? Urayama, are you OK?

Urayama: [Furious] Am I OK? After you just insulted my pride?

Minami: All I did was call out a mistake you made!

Urayama: [Enraged] Oh, and I suppose that your argument is completely flawless!

There's no reason a cold-blooded killer would take Degawa to the Medical Room?

Minami: How do you know they're cold-blooded?

Urayama: [Pointing passionately] All killers are! They just are!

[Clenching fists] Who's to say Degawa didn't try and flee from the killer herself, huh?

Minami: ...Uh...

Urayama: And that once the final blow was struck, she collapsed onto the bed!

[Pointing] Is there anything that says that's impossible?

Minami: Um... well... I mean...

Urayama: [Smug smile] See? With a bit of reason, we can prove the scene of the crime to be the Medical Room!

Damn it. He has a bit of a point...

I have to disprove him so we can forget this Medical Room argument and move on!

Answer: E3, S2

Minami: I'll cut that claim to pieces!

[OST: None]

Fujihara: [Exasperated] ...Seriously, Minami?

Minami: [Smiling awkwardly] I have a flair for the dramatic, OK?

Urayama: [Arms folded] You were saying?

Minami: [Surprised] Oh, right!

[OST: Class Trial Solar Edition]

Minami: [Thinking] Urayama... Degawa definitely didn't collapse on the bed.

Urayama: [Irritated] And what makes you so sure?

Minami: [Asking] Tamura... remember when I asked you if you noticed anything weird?

Tamura: [Scratching head] ...

[Surprised] Yeah, I do! Ya asked 'bout that when we were in the Medical Room!

[Pointing] An' I said, "Degawa looks like she got put there on purpose!"

Matsuoka: [Confused] On... purpose?

Minami: [Thinking] Right. Degawa looks like she was laid flat on the bed deliberately.

[Pointing] Which means someone put her body there!

Urayama: [Surprised] ...! You...

Minami: [Grinning confidently] Any objections?

[OST: Class Trial Dawn Edition]

Urayama: [Despondent] ...Fine. I give in.

Degawa was killed in her room. I accept that now.

Noguchi: [Dismissive] Hmph! You never should have suggested such an idiotic theory.

Fujihara: [Annoyed] Anyone mind if I punch him out?

Tamura: [Cracking knuckles] Get in line, buddy!

Hagino: [Frowning] No more violence, please. We've had enough for one day.

Washio: [Reluctantly looking up] U-um... Sorry, everyone, but, um...

I think that, um, there's a problem with Minami's theory...

Minami: [Confused] Huh?

Come on! Can't I catch a break for once here?

Washio: [Hand raised gingerly] Does... um, does anyone mind if I bring it up?

Akutagawa: [Pointing] Just present it, classmate Washio! Now!

Washio: [Startled] A-ah! OK... Just, please... um, don't shout at me...

Hello. Me again. The friendly neighbourhood voice without a body.

I just wanted to note that there's a new addition to Nonstop Debates.

If you see underlined text , it means you can agree with it.

The process is exactly the same as with arguing a point: match a Truth Bullet with the statement.

Don't forget: it isn't all contradiction in a debate. Sometimes you have to agree.

I wish you the best of luck. Over and out.

NONSTOP DEBATE!

[OST: Discussion -B side-]

Truth Bullets: Blood on Door, Bloodstain on Bed, Unusual Blood Trail, Antiseptic

Washio: [Looking up reluctantly] So, um... there's a flaw in Minami's theory...

That is, um... there's no bandages on Degawa's body...

Akutagawa: [Posing] Classmate Washio has a point!

[Pointing] In my examination of the body, I found no such bandages!

Fujihara: [Confused] So... where did the bandages go?

Okazaki: [Guessing] Like, maybe the killer used them?

Noguchi: [Smirk] It would be a very incompetent killer who is wounded that badly while murdering.

Okazaki: [Pouting] Like, you could have just said no...

Matsuoka: [Arms crossed] I wouldn't be too dismissive, Noguchi.

[Explaining] They could have used the bandages to clean blood off them .

Hagino: [Concerned] I'm not too sure about that...

I believe we would have found the bandages afterwards if that were the case.

Mai: [Head tilted] And besides, that's a super big number of bandages!

[Cheerful] You wouldn't need that much to clean everything off!

Muramoto: [Eyes closed] T'is a puzzle, to be sure...

Minami: [Thinking] Hmm... Washio's pretty much destroyed my theory.

I don't see much point in trying to push it any further.

[Neutral] Maybe I ought to change gears and see what else is possible...

Answer: E1, S3

Minami: I agree!

[OST: Class Trial Dawn Edition]

Minami: [Neutral] Okazaki... I think you might be on to something there.

Okazaki: [Confused] Huh? Like... really?

Minami: [Smiling] Like, really.

Chiba: [Exasperated] Did you have to shout, though?

Minami: [Smiling awkwardly] A-anyway...

[Thinking] I think it's pretty likely the killer was wounded.

Muramoto: [Arms folded] ...Pray tell, Miss Minami, why are you so certain?

Minami: [Explaining] Take a look at the door to the Medical Room.

We decided that the scene of the crime was Degawa's room, right?

Takanashi: [Thinking] Because of that big bloodstain on the floor, if I remember correctly.

...

[Biting brush] I think I do, anyway...

Akutagawa: [Arms crossed, grinning] Your memory has not failed you, classmate Takanashi! I also remember the bloodstain!

Minami: The point is...

[OST: Class Trial Solar Edition]

Minami: [Explaining] If that's true, then there's way too much blood here.

Tamura: [Grinning] Oh! I getcha!

I mean, how's Degawa ever gonna pump out so much ta stain the door too, ya know?

Mai: [Shivering] That's super icky!

[Smiling] But I get it! If all that blood is in Yuiwa's room...

[Excited] ...there's no way it's her blood on the door, too!

Minami: [Grinning confidently] Right! I don't see how it's possible.

Noguchi: [Dismissive] Hmph! Flimsy evidence, I must say.

Tamura: [Angry] Fuck off, bird boy! You're just jealous that I managed ta figure somethin' out before ya!

Noguchi: [Arms crossed] Do you have any other evidence, Minami?

[OST: Class Trial Dawn Edition]

Minami: [Confused] Other... evidence?

Noguchi: Other evidence.

[Raised eyebrow] For instance, if we're going with your theory, how was the killer wounded, hm?

[Smirk] Or did a weapon just magically fall from the sky to cause them to bleed?

Chiba: [Exasperated] ...He has a point.

Washio: [Looking away] Um... I'm, ah, not sure what to say...

Matsuoka: [Eyes closed] Hmm... I don't believe Minami is wrong...

And yet... there is a lack of hard evidence...

Minami: [Smiling awkwardly] Guys, come on... I know there's something to prove it!

It's right on the tip of my tongue, too!

Urayama: [Irritated] So get it off the tip of your tongue and into our ears, please.

Minami: [Thinking] Damn it... I know there's something! There has to be!

...I need to think this through! What is it that proves the killer was wounded?

[OST: Trial Underground]

Sorry to interrupt again, but we're about to play a new game.

This particular one is called Hangman's Gambit.

It's a very simple game. No Truth Bullets or matching evidence here.

All it is is an anagram.

You simply take the scrambled word...

...and rearrange the letters to make a case-relevant word.

For example, if the scrambled word was:

L O D B O

You could probably work out fairly quickly that the unscrambled word is BLOOD.

And so it goes. Not too tricky, is it?

I wish you the best of luck. Over and out.

HANGMAN'S GAMBIT!

[OST: ANAGRAM.NET]

What is it that shows how the killer was wounded?

M A R H E M

Answer: HAMMER

Minami: Everything's falling into place!

[OST: Class Trial Dawn Edition]

Minami: [Smiling] I got it! The thing which wounded the killer!

Tamura: [Confused] Ya... ya do?

Noguchi: [Arms crossed] ...Care to enlighten us?

Minami: [Explaining] It has to be the hammer in Degawa's room.

Urayama: What makes you so sure?

Minami: Well, for starters, there's nothing else which stands out as a possible murder weapon.

[OST: None]

Hagino: [Gentle smile] The broken glass in Degawa's room stands out to me.

Minami: [Sweating] ...Oh.

I completely forgot about that...

Chiba: [Shrugging] I mean... I guess that makes sense.

Degawa broke a glass open to use against the killer.

Mai: [Excited] Sounds super OK with me!

Minami: [Confused] Huh? No, wait, guys...

What about the hammer, then?

Fujihara: [Shrugging] What about the hammer? Doesn't the glass work a lot better?

Minami: Am I... wrong on this?

[Despondent] I was so sure, too...

[OST: Class Trial Dawn Edition]

Muramoto: ...I am inclined to put my stock with Minami.

Minami: [Confused] Muramoto?

Muramoto: T'is to me the more agreeable theory. Naught more.

Matsuoka: [Shrugging] Well, as long as two people accept something, I suppose we should hear them out.

[Serious] Minami. Do you have anything which proves the killer was wounded with the hammer?

Minami: [Smiling awkwardly] ...Just give me a second to work it out.

[Thinking] OK, Minami... This is a big moment.

You need to think through this logically.

[Determined] How do I show the hammer is the weapon which wounded the killer?

[OST: Trial Underground]

Hello again. Funny how we keep running into each other.

I have another game for you to play.

This one is entitled Logic Dive.

In turn, you need to answer questions to come to a logical conclusion.

Think of it as diving through a deep tunnel...

...choosing which route to take.

...I don't suppose the analogy helps.

Here's an example.

1. What colour is the sky in that photo?

A. Blue B. Green C. Red

2. What colour did that man say the sky is?

A. Green B. Red C. Blue

3. What colour is the sky?

A. Red B. Blue C. Green

As you can see, it's a matter of answering each question in turn to come to a logical conclusion.

I wish you the best of luck. Over and out.

LOGIC DIVE!

[OST: DIVE DRIVE]

1. Aside from the hammer, what shows the killer was wounded?

A. Bloodstain on Bed B. Bloodstain on Door C. Unusual Blood Trail

2. What about that evidence shows the killer was wounded?

A. Location B. Shape of blood C. Amount of blood

3. Therefore, what about the hammer shows the killer was wounded with it?

A. Amount of blood B. Location C. Shape of blood

Answer: BCA

Minami: I've pieced it together!

[OST: None]

Minami: [Thinking] The reason the hammer is the murder weapon is...

[OST: Class Trial Solar Edition]

Minami: [Grinning confidently] ...the amount of blood on it.

Junpei: [Biting thumbnail] Um... Minami? I'd expect a m-murder weapon to have at least a little blood on it.

Muramoto: [Glaring] Let Miss Minami finish.

Junpei: [Terrified] AHHH! OK! OK! Just don't hurt me!

Minami: [Neutral] Actually... Junpei's right. A murder weapon should have blood on it.

[Explaining] But there's way too much on this hammer.

Matsuoka: [Serious] ...In what way?

Minami: This hammer's completely soaked in blood.

The claw end, the handle... All of it's covered in blood.

There's no way to get so much blood on a hammer...

Chiba: [Smiling] ...Unless two people were wounded by it!

Minami: [Grinning confidently] And the other person who was wounded...

[Pointing] ...must be the killer!

[OST: None]

Muramoto: [Eyes closed] Ah.

This is where our accord with the theory ceases, Minami.

Minami: [Sweating] ...What?

Muramoto: [Arms folded] I thank you deeply for leading the theory to this head.

[Staring] However, t'is now I disprove it. The killer was not injured by this hammer.

Mai: [Head tilted] What makes you super sure, Yoto?

Muramoto: T'is facile to explain.

[Looking away] If there is one element of this heinous crime I know for sure...

[We see Muramoto, his right sleeve rolled up. His forearm has been bound in bloody bandages, and he is staring straight into the viewer.]

Muramoto: T'is that I am not the killer.