(A/N): So I was looking for reference pics on Pinterest as one does, and I came across this amazing AU art for Danganronpa. I love this art so much and this a really cool AU concept.

Warnings: Death, mentions of violence and murder, language, indirect spoilers for Danganronpa V3 chapter 1

P.S.: Keep in mind that this is basically the origin of protagonist Kokichi and antagonist Shuichi, so their roles aren't completely set in stone yet in this story.

Kaede Akamatsu: The Ultimate Pianist lay dead on the floor of the library, her head dented in from the impact of the heavy metal ball rolled a few feet away from her corpse. (A/N: I also swapped the first victim and culprit btw)

Kokichi stared down at her motionless body, frozen. He hadn't expected someone to actually murder another student.

But there was nothing that could be done. Someone had really gone through with it.

"A...Akamatsu..."

Kokichi's amethyst eyes widened as he saw the slender detective standing frozen behind him. It was a bit hard to tell with his hat, but Kokichi was pretty sure that tears were looking in his eyes.

Oh yeah. Kokichi remembered. Shuichi was close with Kaede, wasn't he?

Shuichi's expression quickly hardened as the other students began to file into the library.

As everyone began to freak out and a body discovery announcement went off, Kokichi could practically see the resolve solidifying within Shuichi.

Kokichi was almost convinced that he could hear Shuichi repeatedly think a single oath to himself.

I'm going to avenge you, Kaede. I'll bring your killer justice if it's the last thing I do.

Kokichi gulped, almost scared on the culprit's behalf.

As Shuichi separated from the group, Kokichi took it upon himself to delegate searching for clues to different groups of their classmates.

***

It was time. The class trial had begun.

After Monokuma and his Cubs explained how the trial was to work, everyone shifted uncomfortably, hoping someone else would take the initiative to begin the discussion.

After a few seconds of mentally preparing, Shuichi began to speak. "The only injury on Akamatsu-san's body was a dent in her skull from the shot put ball, which was covered in her blood. The murder weapon, in turn, is more than obvious, but I assume the rest of you were aware of such. I only aimed to verbally confirm what we were all thinking. But besides the weapon and the time of death, which are practically given to us, we need to discuss suspects. I don't care how known your alibi is, I want everyone to state theirs."

Kokichi was almost in awe. The shy little detective had a look of pure determination on his face as he spoke. Kokichi saw the drive to find the culprit burning within him.

Everyone seemed surprised at the authority in the detective's tone, but they all obliged, albeit some less willingly than others.

Kokichi intervened with his own evidence at several points in the trial, but it seemed like Shuichi already knew or inferred everything Kokichi told the group.

But despite that, Shuichi remained quiet unless he was called upon by one of his classmates. The strange duality of his presence made Kokichi confused.

It had been over an hour and the trial had still gotten nowhere. Kokichi was getting anxious. "We've discussed everything and we've gotten nowhere! Are you guys sure we covered every-"

Shuichi sighed loudly, making everyone redirect their attention to him.

"Oh? Does Mr. Detective have someone to tell the class?" Kokichi questioned, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

"I'm done giving you all time to figure this out on your own. You're all too slow."

"Huh?!" Miu glared at the solemn looking detective. "Get off your f*ckin' high horse, you emo virgin! You don't know sh*t!"

"I beg to differ." Saihara responded coldly. "The murderer is Rantaro Amami."

There was a moment of dead silence before Rantaro broke it.

The mysterious boy cleared his throat awkwardly. "... Where's your evidence?"

Kokichi felt a sense of dread. Rantaro was secretive, but he almost never acted this nervous.

The class exploded into yelling after Rantaro's response.

"We can't just accuse each other!"

"Stop wasting our time, Saihara!"

"Don't act like we're stupid enough to believe whatever you say just because of your talent!"

Shuichi rolled his eyes at the backlash. "Fine then, I'll dumb it down for you all."

Kokichi exhaled softly, looking between the detective and mystery. "Shuichi, present your case, then we'll see if Rantaro can refute it. Sound good?"

Everyone grumbled unhappily, but they soon grudgingly agreed.

Shuichi didn't spare the leader a glance as he immediately began explaining. "I'm sure you all remember before Akamatsu-san was killed. She and I had created a plan to unveil the mastermind. She had set up a plan to kill the mastermind behind my back, assuming that I didn't realize what she had planned, which I was preparing to convince her to let go, but before I could, she went down to the library to double check the cameras. At the same time that Akamatsu-san got to the library... our culprit coincidentally arrived at the same time. As Akamatsu-san took off her backpack to help her move around the library more quickly, Amami-san noticed the shot put ball peeking out of Akamatsu-san's backpack. As he grabbed the ball out of her backpack, he left a crucial piece of evidence in the backpack, a ring that fell of his finger as he slid a few books in her bag to mimic the weight of the ball."

"How do you know that the ring is mine?! I'm not the only one who wears rings!" Rantaro objected firmly.

"I looked through Kaede's backpack at the crimes scene." Shuichi told him with a glare. "The ring from inside the bag matches the one missing from your right hand. What's more, you were the one who ran up to where I was waiting for Akamatsu-san, telling me that she needed assistance."

"So you're implying that Rantaro rolled the shot out ball down the vent once he was alone?" Kokichi frowned, not wanting to convict his friend.

"Well, I'm glad someone in this class has half a brain." Shuichi grumbled under his breath, making sure he was loud enough so the others heard him. "Yes. When I was making my way to the library, Amami-san grabbed the shot put ball from his strangely new messenger bag and rolled it down the vent, killing Kaede Akamatsu!" His voice rose as he spoke, his anger visibly building up as he decisively pointed at Rantaro, solidifying his fate. "Isn't that right, Rantaro Amami?!"

(A/N): Sorry if it seems rushed, I felt really impatient while I wrote this for some reason.

But thank you all for reading anyway! I hope y'all enjoyed!