Despite the massive amount of pressure I felt, knowing these interrogations could be key evidence, I did my best to remain calm as I continued to interrogate each person. The next to come up was Ulric, who unfortunately didn't have a very good alibi.

"Like I said before, I was resting in my room for about an hour, since it hurt a lot. Rin said he could handle finishing the rest of the decorations." Ulric said.

"And no one saw you do this other then Rin?" I said. "Unfortunately not. I know that makes my alibi weak, but its all I got to tell. Sorry." Ulric said. I smiled. "It's okay. You may not have a very strong alibi, but we'll need more evidence then that to pin you as the only suspect." I replied. Ulric looked at me surprised before smiling.

"Thanks. Means a lot." he said. "Did you at least see anything strange during any time? Perhaps anyone suspicious?" I asked. Ulric placed a hand under his chin, thinking. Then suddenly his ears perked up.

"Oh well, I did see one thing. I don't really think it was anything important honestly, but as I was about to walk down the stairway of the second floor, I saw Amaimon walk up the stairs and go the opposite direction I was going. He might've gone onto the third floor." Ulric explained. I looked at Ulric surprised. "You saw Amaimon? But he didn't see you?" I said.

"Didn't seem like it. Heck I could only see his face for a second before he turned his back to me and walked away. I thought he was going to that little candy shop on the third floor." Ulric replied. I placed a hand on my chin, looking down as I began to think. Near said that Mello was looking for Amaimon. Was Amaimon trying to avoid him in some way? But if that was the case, why would he do that? What am I thinking, that probably has nothing to do with the case at all.

"Violet? You alright?" Ulric asked.

"Yeah, fine. Just thinking. Thank you, Ulric. I think that's all I need to hear right now." I said. Ulric nodded. "Okay, glad I could help. Good luck, kay?" he said, turning to walk into the roller coaster room. I only had to wait a few moments before Kanato had come out of the room, giving me an annoyed expression.

"I am told you want to speak with me. Make it quick." Kanato stated in a cold tone. Kanato was a different kind of scary from the others. It's like one wrong move or word and he'll snap. Still, I could see the hesitance in his eyes as he awaited for me to speak. Perhaps I make him nervous as well, since my recent....transformation.

"I just wanted to ask what you were doing between 4 and 5 pm." I said. Kanato narrowed his eyes. "And why should that be of any your concern?" he asked.

"Because Rin was killed sometime between those hours. It's important everyone has an alibi for in between those hours if they want to be proven innocent." I stated. "I assure you, I was not capable of such a crime. I wouldn't dare partake in something so sloppy." Kanato stated. I couldn't help but feel annoyed, like I was talking to a naive brat.

"If you're so confident, then you can tell me where you were. For your sake and ours." I stated more firmly. Kanato shot a glare at me, making me return the glare. This seemed to cause him to step down, sighing in defeat.

"Very well. I remained by myself in the garden on the second floor, enjoying the quiet. Eventually I had fallen asleep against the tree. I only awoke when I heard the others coming up to gather at the roller coaster room for the party." Kanato explained. 

"You slept in the garden room? Why not in your bedroom?" I asked.

"It was not intentional! I just...I didn't realize I...ugh! I was simply tired, alright?!" Kanato stated in a harsh tone. Something felt off about him, but it was somewhat familiar. That part of him that defends himself when he is cornered. That's normally when he reveals a part of his true self.

"Are you really telling the truth?" I asked.

"Baka! (Fool!) Do you really believe me to be a liar-"

"Kanato, I'm serious." I said calmly. Kanato looked at me surprised, perhaps not expecting such a calm response. However, he looked down, holding his teddy close. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again.

"....fine. I was praying for the departed ones of this killing game. Happy?" I looked at Kanato surprised.

"Kanato, you prayed to them? I thought you didn't want to before. So why do it now?" I asked. Kanato suddenly blushed, looking away. "Don't take it the wrong way. I only did it cause your sister had requested it before it was even 4 pm. I refused at first, but eventually gave in around twenty minutes later." he explained.

"Lilac requested it?" I said. "Well, she gestured for me to. She never actually spoke, as usual." Kanato said. Still, I was surprised. Kanato did something....for my sister? I thought he didn't care for anyone here, much less my sister. In a way, its actually kinda cute that he did that for her. I couldn't help but smile.

"So you care for my sister then?" I said. 

"Urusai! I never said any such thing!" Kanato snapped. He pouted and looked away, face bright red. "Are we about done?" he asked. "Yeah, I think so. Thank you, Kanato." I said. Kanato only huffed before walking away. As Kanato walked away, the door suddenly swung open, and Kokichi bolted past the vampire boy.

"Oi! Watch where you're going!" Kanato snapped. "Sorry fang boy, I gotta run a small errand!" Kokichi said. I looked at him surprised. 

"Hey! Kokichi, where are you going?!" I called. "Nee-heehee, I could tell you....but I won't. Be right back!" Kokichi chirped. I called out for him again, but he had already disappeared down the hall.

"Dammit, I was gonna interrogate him next. Ugh, I can't waste time chasing him. I'll have to talk with him later. Besides, knowing him, he could easily just lie to me." I thought. So with no other choice, I continued to interrogate the others. Next to come out was Mello, who immediately seemed annoyed.

"This better not take too long. I don't need to waste time being out here talking with you." he stated. "I'm sorry, but these alibis are important. We need to see who was where when the crime had taken place. It could very well prove you innocent." I said.

"Whatever. You just need me to tell you where I was between 4-5 pm, right? Simple, I was looking for Amaimon at first. I tried to ask Near if he had seen him, but he didn't, so I went to look elsewhere. It wasn't too long before I found him in the game room on the first floor." Mello explained.

"So Near was telling the truth about Mello looking for Amaimon." I thought.

"Why were you looking for Amaimon to begin with?" I asked. "I just wanted him to fetch me a chocolate bar from the candy shop on the third floor. And since he and Kanato were the only two with key cards to that place, I wanted to ask him to fetch it for me." Mello stated. I looked at him surprised. "You wanted a chocolate bar?" I asked. I never saw Mello as the kind of person to have a sweet tooth.

The detective glared at me. "Yeah, I did. So what?" he asked harshly. I flinched. "N-Nandemonai (Nothing)." I replied. Mello huffed but continued. "Anyway, he said he would and left to get it, but the damn bastard never kept his word. He never came back to give me the chocolate." he said in an annoyed tone.

"Amaimon never came back? Why?" I asked. "Who knows. Ask him yourself." Mello said. "Hmm, well at least now I can confirm Ulric was telling the truth about seeing Amaimon on the second floor and going to the third. Well at least, that's what it seems like at least." I thought.

"Look, if we're done here, can I get back to looking for actual clues in the crime scene?" Mello said impatiently, arms crossed. "Yeah, sure. Thank you Mello. I know this might've been bothersome, but it helps." I said. Mello nodded as he walked back to the roller coaster room. I sighed. I hope there's enough time to talk with the others; there's still Crona, Junko, Magane, Amaimon, and Kokichi.

I waited patiently for Magane to come out from the roller coaster room, giving me a wide smile. "Hey there, Violet! Guess you wanna hear my alibi?" she said. I nodded.

"Right, if you wouldn't mind." I said. "No problem, no problem. I was the one that suggested this after all. It'd be hypocritical to not cooperate. Anyways, if you wanna know where I was, I was in the kitchen with Junko. We were making a cake." Magane explained.

"You two were making a cake?" I said. "Hai (Yes), for the party. We thought we could surprise everyone. Sadly, we had burned it pretty badly, so it had to be thrown out. A shame really. It was smelled so good, and it was chocolate!" Magane whined, placing a hand on her cheek. 

"Did you happen to see anything strange while you were in there? Anyone suspicious?" I asked. Perhaps it was a low chance they saw anyone strange in the kitchen, but every option needed to be explored.

"I'm afraid not. Gomenasai, it was just me and Junko. But perhaps someone else has seen something suspicious~" Magane said. 

"I see. Well, thank you very much, Magane. This was very helpful." I said. She nodded. "Sure thing! Always happy to help!" she stated. She turned and began to walk back to the roller coaster room. However, she paused at the door. "Oh, and Violet," she said, looking back at me....wearing a wide smirk, "remember to be careful while talking to everyone. Cause someone here is lying. Ne? (Right?)" 

The way she spoke that last sentence sent a shiver down my spine. A part of me couldn't help but feel startled. Was that....meant to be a warning? That girl was a bit difficult to read. I can never tell if she was my friend or someone I should be worried about.

However, I shoved the thought aside as Junko began to approach me, pigtails bouncing with every step and smiling widely. 

"Okay, let's get this started. I hear you're interrogating people for who ripped Rin, right? You need an alibi from me, correct?" she asked. I nodded. "Yes, that's correct." I said. "Alright, then I'll get started. It's simple; Magane and I were in the karaoke room on the third floor, singing some tunes." Junko explained. I froze, eyes widening. 

"What?" I said. "Yeah, we were thinking we could perform a song for the party, since we were apparently a hoot yesterday." Junko stated. I placed a hand under my chin. That isn't right. Magane just said that the two of them baked a cake in the kitchen during that time. Why is Junko standing here telling me something completely different? Is she....trying to lie to me?

"....okay. I see." I said. Something told me not to inform her of Magane's interrogation. If by some chance she's hiding something from me, I don't want her locking up her defenses by spilling more lies. If I keep her in the dark, she'll continue to have her guard down and possibly leak more evidence.

"Did you and Magane see anything? Did you hear the crime going on down the hall?" I asked. "Can't say we did. We were playing the music to the highest volume, so the world around us was deaf." Junko stated.

"I see..." I said. I looked away, thinking. Did Junko really commit this crime? I mean, its entirely possible. She has been known as a master criminal in her universe....causing the most Despair Educing Event of Mankind, as I hear its called. The events she led caused thousands of people to die. She even invented this killing game we're in. Ironically, now she's become someone forced to play in her own game....

"Helloooo? Earth to Violet? You there?" Junko said, waving a hand in front of my face. I shook my head slightly.

"Sorry, just thinking," my hand began to reach up, and I played with a strand of my hair between my fingers, "Hey, Junko....do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Uh, duh. That's what you do in an interrogation, right?" Junko asked. "No, I mean, about something unrelated to the case." I said. Junko looked at me surprised. "Huh? Sure, I guess. Whaddya wanna know?" she asked.

"Um, in your universe....you've done a lot of bad things, right?" I asked. That's when Junko put on a wide, wicked smile and giggled. "Well of course I have! Obviously! I might've killed a few people here and there, to put it lightly. But then again, everyone in this damn academy seems to have done something horrible." she said.

"I wanted to know....what was your motivation? Why would you want to hurt anyone? Why would you want to cause this much....despair?" I asked.

"....that's obvious. Because despair is fun!" she stated. "Huh?" I said. "You see, I've never really been a fan of hope. It's bland, repetitive, and predictable. You'll always know what happens next. But with despair....its a giant mystery box," Junko placed a hand on her cheek, and her smile widened as she spoke, "Despair is full of chaos, destruction, and craziness! And I love it! You can never even begin to think what will happen next! What people will do, how they'll react, how things would change around them....its incredible! That's why my goal is to create the Ultimate Despair! Just to see what that feels like! What misery I'll feel!" she exclaimed.

I was beyond disturbed, and very much puzzled. I've never seen her so passionate about something so dark. It was so scary how she could talk like despair was her twisted form of immortality. Like it was something to treasure forever. How could anyone....feel like this?

"....and's what the most Ultimate Despair to you?" I asked. Just when would she be willing to stop?

"Oh, I know exactly what that would be! I would put together this whole plan to bring all of mankind to utter despair, make them feel like there was nothing left to hope for! No future! Plus, no one would know it was me till it was too late, since I never slip up! I almost get away with my plans! But then....something does stop me. Suddenly hope would rise up, and would put an end to despair, demolishing all my hard work and well thought out plans! That kind of despair of everything going into ruins....that's the Ultimate Despair I want!" Junko stated. I swear her eyes were giant swirls as she spewed out this madness.

I only stood there in shock and fear, regretting asking my question. But, this was her answer. Her full, complete, honest answer. And that's whats the scariest thing was. A person's determination is the most fearful thing. I looked down, placing a hand on my chest, while Junko seemed to be in her own trance. There was a moment of silence, while the two of us just stood in silence. 

"....you're wrong." Junko blinked, looking at me.

"Huh?"

"I don't believe that would be the Ultimate Despair. At least, that's what I think...." I said quietly. Junko placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side, a genuine expression of curiosity on her face. "Oh? You don't think so?" she said.

"No....if you were to ask me, the Ultimate Despair would be the guilt." I said. That made Junko perk up. 

"The....guilt?" she said. I nodded.

"Right. If I was in your position, I would do all you said. Hurting others, destroy their future, no hope left. I would do that. But, if I wanted true despair....then I'd realize what I was doing was wrong. I'd realize just how much I hurt all the people, how much fear I have brought, how much blood had been spilled. I would've realized how much it hurt to see someone die before me at my own hands. I would want to take it all back. I would regret all that I've done, and want to die and never come back. I believe that guilt of knowing what I did....that would be the Ultimate Despair." I stated. 

When I said my piece, I slowly looked up at Junko....who looked frozen.

Her eyes were wide, and seemed to be at a loss of words. Her feet shuffled slightly below her, and she averted her gaze. I watched and observed her actions. She looked to me, opening her mouth to speak, but slowly closed it.

"Junko?"

".....was that all you wanted?" she asked quietly. I nodded. "Uh, yes, thank you." I said. Junko nodded before shaking off her strange timid behavior and putting on a smile.

"Yeah! Glad I could help ya out!" she stated before turning and brisk walking into the roller coaster room. I couldn't help but wonder though....what had gotten into her just now.