Forum Thread

Koda sighed heavily. She had hated these trials. She wished she never EVER came- but wait. Her life would be different if she hadn't. No Kowai, no Suko. She'd have to put up with it, if she wishes to stay with them.

Suzume Fujimori's POV

Suzume made her way into the elevator with a nod, her hands clenched into fists. She looked hopelessly over at Megami, and grimaced. Why... why had she acted so impulsively? She was going mad. Going mad with hate. She needed to calm down, so they could all find Femi's killer.

She inhaled and exhaled, raspily. Think rationally. You need to.

Kowai Kurai's POV

Kowai's face fell as she got into the elevator. Why, was indeterminable. "Another trial, huh?" she stated quietly. "I wonder what'll happen this time."

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Hisoka Yamanaku

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The doors closed shut as the last of the Ultimates crept in. At last, Hisoka could breathe. Suko was still leaning on his shoulder. Their breathing was surprisingly rough. Were they sad? Was it choked with tears for the person whom they had lost?

That was... awful. Hisoka couldn't imagine losing someone that important to him. What would it be like to lose Haruka, or Maji?

He didn't know. He really didn't know.

The elevator jerked upward and a yelp broke past his lips. He stumbled a bit. Suko's grip on his arm tightened. Was the flight this bad last time-? He didn't think so. That was odd- And more oddly, he didn't think the beach room had as many floors as it seemed to have now.

Thankfully, the trip smoothed out. And the Ultimates were soaring up and up, heading for the trial room. Heading closer and closer to their own doom... Each with the grim face of a man awaiting his own execution. Which in their own sense, they were.

Can I save Maji, at the very least?

That had been his initial thought. But now, feeling Suko's painful grip on his arm- seeing the determination set on Megami's face- and hearing the oaths around him-

For some reason, he found himself wanting...

The elevator jerked to a stop. And the doors slid open with a clinical chillness, revealing a horrific bloodied sight for their eyes.

Amano was lying face-down on the ground and dried blood was pooled around his head.

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Suzume Fujimori's POV

Suzume felt herself start to choke. She stiffened at the sight of Amano's dead body. She'd barely known him, and been-- rather uncertain of him. Nonetheless, she was disturbed. "So that was what happened when none of us decided to look for him..." Feeling queasy, she forced herself to walk to her podium.

Kowai Kurai's POV

A pang of... disdain? Some kind of sorrow? Crossed Kowai's face as she saw Amano's body. "Oh..." she remarked, making her way to her podium.

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Kōun no Megami
I felt a pang of guilt at the sight of Amano's body. It wasn't a surprise, but to have it confirmed...

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Buraddo Jemu

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu

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Suko Nobu

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Amano was dead.

Something curious, a hint of light, the catch of a bird's wing fluttered in their heart. They disentangled themself from Hisoka who hesitated, but released them, too focused on Amano's body.

Suko made their way to the podium, trying to ignore the numerous portraits now speckled around the room...

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Niwa Atsushi

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"So many dead people..." Niwa mumbled.

And so many more could join them this day...

Their grip tightened on Keiki's arm.

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Hisoka Yamanaku

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"Amano." He was no longer holding Suko up. But his legs now felt wobblier than ever. What had happened? For all his control, all his pride, he had not been able to stop this...

"I'm so sorry."

And tears came to his eyes.

He had been wrong about everything. It was about time he got his just desserts. Except-

"Maji. Maji-?" Where was Maji? Hisoka sighted him next to his own podium. Which was also edged with Amano's, but also Maji and-

Hisoka glided over, barely feeling his own feet.

...

....

......

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DEATH PORTRAITS

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Keiki Meyumi.

Keiki stumbled backwards.

"Oh my gawd."

Amano was dead. Femi was dead. They'd lost two today, and would lose another if this detective process went smoothly.

Three dead.

Keiki trotted over to their podium slowly, shaking. "Niwa-" They whispered. "What do we do-"

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Third Person POV

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"We live," Niwa replied.

As he passed Majikaruman, Hisoka seemed to slip something to him. How odd. What could that have been? Ahahha. Not desperately trying for a post.

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Keiki Meyumi.

They rolled their eyes. "Haha. Very funny." Keiki narrowed their eyes. "Shall we figure out Amano's or Femi's death, first?"

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Third Person POV

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"Eh-?" Niwa blinked slowly. "Do... both of them count? Isn't this just the trial for Femi's murderer? Shouldn't Amano's be cancelled out?"

"Puhuhuhu~ Here's the answer to your question." The Lame Monokuma Model popped up in its throne. "We are here to investigate the first murder which took place. Whoever committed the latest one will be exempted." It smiled broadly.

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Keiki Meyumi.

Keiki nodded slowly. "Sooo- what should we go with first? Motives? Establishing who was where? When do we think Femi's death was?"

They frowned. "I don't know who would want to kill Femi though- motives seem a little....confusing-"

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Niwa Atsushi

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The First Murder-? That'd oddly worded...

"Keiki," Niwa told them softly. "I don't think we're here to investigate Femi's murder at all. Look at Amano- he's been dead for days. Femi's only been dead since this morning."

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[BBCode stolen by my stupidity]

Keiki blinked.

....

"Oh."

..."...well I feel stupid now don't I-"

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Niwa Atsushi

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Niwa felt his face flush.

"Oh no!" he said desperately. "Don't think that. Don't be self deprecating." He rubbed his arms, shivering. "I just- I just made an observation. Blame me, if anyone..."

A face flickered into his mind's eye view.

Blame me, blame me, blame me-

He shook it off.

"It's okay," he mumbled. "We just need to focus on the trial at hand. Look-" he angled his chin. "The New Monokuma is about to start."

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[bhfkjbfker]

Keiki scowled. "Mph...fiiine-"

(short post because im tired)

Suzume Fujimori's POV

Suzume crossed her arms (which were shaking). She sighed. "Well. If we're here to investigate Amano's murder, this might be an impossible trial. Who could've killed him? Could he have been killed somewhere other than the Trial Room and dragged there? If he was killed here, who could have killed him in the Trial Room? It could've been anyone. Maybe Femi's death is the key to this mystery."

This might not even be solvable...

Kowai Kurai's POV

Kowai frowned thoughtfully. "Well, I guess we should discuss motives first then? I guess? Who could've had a reason to kill Amano or Femi?"

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Niwa Atsushi

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He opened his mouth to speak, but his attention was snatched away by the Monokuma who had begun speaking.

"Welcome! Welcome all to the despairfullll Third Class triallll!" Dead silence answered him. Monokuma was not deterred. Instead, he grinned brighter. "You are here today to discover the truth behind the despairfully delightful death of your beloved classmate, Amano Tetsuo! Under mysterious circumstances, he has died, in a locked room of which you have had no access~"

Monokuma smirked. "The rules of the trial go as follows; You will debate over the death with the evidence and the Monokuma files you will find underneath your podiums. At the end of the trial, you will each pull your individual levers after selecting who you believe to be the killer. If you're right- the Blackened will receive rightful justice for their heinous act- and if you're wrong-"

Monokuma's expression became downright monstrous.

"You will all be executed in their steed. And they will graduate from this school into the outside world."

Niwa closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Let the class trial... BEGIN!"

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Suzume Fujimori's POV

Suzume's hands came up to her face, with a distraught expression. Normally, she had it all. Normally, she could do this. But all she'd done was cost everyone time.

Everyone was going to die, and it was her fault. Her fault. Is that anything new?

"I guess... we should discuss the weapon. I doubt anyone has an alibi they could give about not having killed Amano. He's been dead for days now, as Niwa said..."

If... he has been. Did Niwa just assume that?

Kowai Kurai's POV

Kowai shrugged, looking puzzled. "Anyone could've obtained that baseball bat. Also, considering the state Amano was in mentally... anyone with any level of strength could've killed him. If he was murdered. Wait, what if he killed himself? Isn't that possible?"

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Kōun no Megami
I wonder if... I pulled out my Monomuma File. The bear's "wording," maybe it means "something?" I felt parts of my inner monologue slip out. "The bear is trying to steer us towards a locked room mystery narrative, and locked room mysteries are usually solved when you discount every assumption. We can't assume he was beaten to death, we have to reference the file, specifically the ameteur autopsy, to make our call."

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Buraddo Jemu

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu
I looked down to my hand, seeing a small set of pearl earrings. They looked antique. With a smile, I quickly put them on before turning back to the center of the room.


@The-very-amazing-goddess-running-this, can you describe the file

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Niwa Atsushi

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"That seems like a good plan..." Niwa tugged anxiously on his bangs. They were growing out again. They hadn't been this long since he'd been a child... he so badly needed a hair cut... but he probablt wouldn't get one here. "Oh gosh... poor Amano..."

"What about Femi?" Suko piped up. Their eyes were shadowed, but as they raised their head, the light struck the blue depths, illuminating a furious hate blazing within. "Are we abandoning him? Because he's not relevant? Abandoning our oaths for vengeance." They shivered, clutching at their scarf.

For a moment, Niwa saw a lost child sitting there. And his heart clenched with pain.

"I wish we could," he said quietly. "It's logical to go after Amano's killer, though. If we pursue Femi's, then we'll run out of time- and die." He did his best not to look at Suzume. He did partly blame her selfishness... did she realize the lives she was putting in danger by attacking Monokuma?

Hisoka was watching him. Niwa felt uncomfortable. Had he said something wrong? Or was he going down the wrong rabbit hole?

The redhead looked away. His eyes fixed on Maji. His throat bobbed in visible nervousness.

Oh. He knows something about the case.

"You're a bunch of cowards," Suko marvelled. Niwa flinched. "You just care about- your own lives-" their shoulders began shaking.

Then they slumped.

"Okay," they said quietly. "Okay. I'm with you. Let's figure out Amano's killer."

"Good plan," Hisoka murmured. But a grim surrender was visible in his eyes.

Hisoka would not share his information.

For what reason, Niwa wasn't sure.

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The Monokuma File

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The Monokuma file lists both victims.

Location of injuries:

Pink patches are all over Femi's body, while only one isolated spot appears on Amano's head.

Cause of death:

Cause of death for Femi is smoke inhalation. Cause of death for Amano is internal brain hemorrhage caused by repeated blows to the head with a blunt instrument.

Time of Death: Femi's death occurred at 1230. Amano's time of death is unknown, but listed to have happened several days before Femi's.

Heights and weights are listed but not relevant.

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