The next day, Masaru met the others in the dining hall early for a quick breakfast.

"Do we even have enough evidence to find the mastermind?" Seto asked as he ate, "I still have no clue."

"All we have to do is go over what we have," Masaru explained, "we'll win this trial just like we've won all the others."

"It will all be over soon," Toma assured them.

Mizuno put both of her hands on the table. "Promise that once we get out of here, we'll all go for pizza."

"I'd like that." Winona giggled.

"And..." Mizuno turned to Masaru, red faced, "consider my offer again, okay?" She then prepared for his signature "not a chance" remark but was shocked when he answered differently.

"Okay," Masaru said, simply.

Mizuno gaped at him. "Really?!" She then covered her face with her hands from embarrassment.

"I don't even wanna know what you two are talking about," Seto commented.

Ding Dong!

"Ahem! It is now 7am so get ready for a thrilling, exhilarating class trial!"

Masaru and the others shared nervous glances then prepared to make their way to the red door like they've always done.

They all rode the elevator down in silence and the courtroom was the same as the last time they've left it. Except for the red and black balloons tied to Monokuma's throne.

"What's with the party decorations?" Seto asked the bear.

"It's a celebration of course!" Monokuma chirped from his seat, "this is the final battle! The final showdown!"

"You're a bit over the top," Winona said.

"Anyhow!" Monokuma ignored her, "your lives are on the line so do your very best!

Class Trial Begin!

Masaru Yamaguchi: I think we should start with what we know about the killing games.

Seto Hamasaki: I'm not an expert on the legends but from that book you showed us, it all started with a girl named Junko Enoshima.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Right, the Ultimate Despair. She ended the world which is also well known as the tragedy. There were three killing games in total but our situation resembles the first one the most.

Mizuno Okimoto: Well this Junko girl can't be behind this because she'd be dead or just really really really old.

Mizuno Okimoto: Oh! Maybe they're a descent of Junko Enoshima.

Winona Masuya: A descent?

Toma Nikolaev: You think someone related to her is the mastermind?

Masaru Yamaguchi: If this all really did take place during the end of the world then I doubt that's possible. Humanity rebuilt itself from the ruins of that so there shouldn't be anyone still alive from that time.

Mizuno Okimoto: I guess you're right.

Seto Hamasaki: Can we get to our main clue now?

Winona Masuya: Our main clue?

Seto Hamasaki: 4WD.CO

Masaru Yamaguchi: Yes, the 4 wealthy dynasties: the Michio, Nakayama, Bushida, and Watanabe families. We know that the person behind this belongs to one of them or at least involved with the corporation.

Mizuno Okimoto: Didn't one of the papers we found in the hidden library room have their logo on it?

Toma Nikolaev: You are right, it was at the bottom of the blueprints of the school and all of its hidden passages we found. That is just more proof.

Seto Hamasaki: We also found scrapped sketches and ideas for Monokuma's design.

Monokuma: To think I could've looked like one of those monstrosities!

Mizuno Okimoto: There was a box full of metal copies of Monokuma too but they didn't look like they worked.

Monokuma: They're just rejects! Do you know how hard and how much it costs to make those things? Metal doesn't grow on trees!

Masaru Yamaguchi: Really? Tell us more.

Monokuma covered his mouth and narrowed his beady eyes but didn't say another word.

Winona Masuya: Well I think the biggest things we found in the library room was that stack of papers labeled The New Tragedy.

Mizuno Okimoto: Right! Is this person really trying to end the world? It's insane!

Seto Hamasaki: There was something in there that also mentioned finding their own remnants of despair. What even is that?

Toma Nikolaev: Maybe they want to find more people to be on their side?

Seto Hamasaki: I guess so. The mastermind no doubt wrote this but they kept mentioning a "he" in their little rant.

Winona Masuya: You're right. If they weren't talking about Umeda then who were they referring to?

Masaru bit his lip but knew there was no more time for lies. He needed to put everything out there or they'd never move on.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I think they were talking about me.

Toma Nikolaev: What?

Monokuma: Huh?!

Seto Hamasaki: Why would they be talking about you?

Masaru Yamaguchi: I've already told you about my memory dreams. I walked into this school on my own accord and I've even spoken with the mastermind although I couldn't make out their face.

Mizuno Okimoto: That... that doesn't mean you were the one they were talking about.

Masaru Yamaguchi: It's not so hard to believe though. I know the mastermind wouldn't give me an execution because they wouldn't dare let me get hurt. Plus, I remember feeling the desire to participate in this killing game in my dreams so I... I could've also been working with the mastermind just like Umeda.

Toma Nikolaev: But I also mentioned it could have just been part of your job.

Mizuno Okimoto: Toma's right! You could've been undercover but just lost your memory.

Masaru Yamaguchi: In that packet the mastermind also said the "he" was confident in their abilities. They have to be talking about my detective skills.

Mizuno Okimoto: You don't know that! They could've been talking about Seto or Toma's skills.

Masaru Yamaguchi: What skills? Seto is a masquerader.

Seto Hamasaki: Ouch.

Masaru Yamaguchi: And Toma is a bird keeper. Those skills wouldn't intrigue the mastermind. Plus they're too good of a person.

Toma Nikolaev: Thank you?

Winona Masuya: You're a good person too. Even if you were working with the mastermind, you're helping us now and that's all that matters.

Seto Hamasaki: So does that make Masaru a secret second traitor? Why would Monokuma reveal that to us about Umeda but not him?

Mizuno Okimoto: He's kind of right. Monokuma did say that there was a traitor among us. Not two.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Something tells me that the mastermind won't put me in any danger for some reason I don't know.

Monokuma: What? You're not so special!

Winona Masuya: Look, Masaru's on our side so let's move on for now. I remember in that packet somewhere, the mastermind said they don't care if their name gets exposed. If that's true then why don't you tell us who you are and let us go?

Monokuma: Where's the fun in that?

Seto Hamasaki: Monokuma, it also said that this was only your first killing game. You think you can get away with another one?

Monokuma: I'm getting away with this one, aren't I?

Mizuno Okimoto: He's kind of right. The police have obviously failed us so we need to escape here on our own.

Seto Hamasaki: Alright then let's get back to 4WD.CO and talk about the linguist now.

Monokuma: Linguist?

Seto Hamasaki: Don't play dumb. We know that's your true ultimate talent.

Monokuma was quiet for a moment before bursting out into uncontrollable cackles.

Seto Hamasaki: ... now you're making me doubt myself.

Masaru Yamaguchi: In Shoji's notes he says he remembers an Ultimate Linguist being on the student list but not an Ultimate Detective. That means someone is lying about their talent and identity or there is a seventeenth student.

Monokuma: Nonsense! There has always been sixteen!

Masaru Yamaguchi: Maybe you don't know about it.

Monokuma: You think I'd let anything get past me?

Masaru Yamaguchi: Then what's the truth? And don't say the linguist is me because I know for a fact that I really am a detective.

Monokuma: Are you?

Masaru Yamaguchi: ...

Masaru Yamaguchi: What are you getting at?

Monokuma: Oh, nothing!

Masaru Yamaguchi: But—

Seto Hamasaki: You say nothing gets past you Monokuma so why didn't you know what Shoji was doing with his laptop?

Mizuno Okimoto: The only way you found out was because your traitor told you. And that brings us to the fourth trial.

Monokuma: What about the fourth trial?

Mizuno Okimoto: It was rigged!

Monokuma: What?!?!??? How dare you!

Masaru Yamaguchi: For the fourth motive you gave out cards randomly with two facts on them about another student but I don't think they were random at all. For example mine's involved something about Winona being a lion tamer or liking heavy metal while Seto's debated whether Toma was Russian or Irish.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Needless to say, both facts were stupid so why were Matsuyama and Nao's different? Matsuyama's card had some vague question whether I was a devil or an angel and Nao's card seemed hand picked just for her.

Masaru Yamaguchi: You knew Nao didn't know what her family was really like or have any knowledge of the other families because Umeda told you, right? The facts you gave her would've obviously made it easy for her to assume Matsuyama was the traitor since she didn't know he was from a wealthy family.

Winona Masuya: That way you could get rid of the two people who could've helped us out a lot in this trial.

Monokuma: Puhuhuhu, that is a craaaaazy assumption.

Toma Nikolaev: It is not an assumption. You cheated. Just like how you would have cheated during our fifth trial.

Mizuno Okimoto: Oh he's totally right! You did let it slip that you gave Umeda a legit way out during his execution.

Monokuma: But he didn't take it and he still died so everything turned out perfect!

Masaru Yamaguchi: But if he did take it, then what? You can't possibly deny it wouldn't be unfair.

Winona Masuya: Why would you even give him a way out in the first place?

Seto Hamasaki: She's got a point. You said so yourself, you didn't tell Umeda to follow through with killing Priscilla because you knew he'd have to abide by the rules and be executed.

Seto Hamasaki: Yet, you still found a way to give him another chance almost as if you cared about him...

Monokuma: Puhuhuhu! Now that's a good one! This is all just for my entertainment and the traitor's only purpose was to do my dirty work!

Winona Masuya: What if the mastermind is somehow related to Umeda?

Mizuno Okimoto: Oh my gosh, Umeda could've been the one lying about their talent and identity!

Masaru Yamaguchi: No, Umeda is the Ultimate Game Designer. He told us himself that he designed all of our executions.

Seto Hamasaki: Except yours apparently.

Mizuno Okimoto: But he still could be apart of the Bushida or Watanabe family.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I guess that is a possibility. Still, I believe the fourth and fifth trials were created to Monokuma's advantage.

Winona Masuya: I thought only the fourth one was rigged?

Masaru Yamaguchi: Yes, but the fifth trial also gave Monokuma something that benefited him.

Toma Nikolaev: Shoji's computer.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Correct. It's still in your possession, isn't it Monokuma?

Monokuma: I said you're not getting it back!

Masaru Yamaguchi: That deactivation Priscilla and I caused really threw you off. Once you heard we were planning to do it again as many times as possible, you just couldn't have that.

Mizuno Okimoto: Thats why you took that opportunity when Priscilla entered that secret passage near the game room to have Umeda steal the laptop for you.

Monokuma: How was I supposed to know that kid had two laptops? That little problem needed to be dealt with immediately!

Masaru Yamaguchi: But you're the one who put us into this killing game and into our rooms. I'm sure you went through all of our belongings to make sure we had nothing useful to our escape so how could you miss a whole laptop?

Monokuma: ...

Seto Hamasaki: He's right. Either you were sloppy and not thorough enough or maybe someone else was in charge of that...

Mizuno Okimoto: Maybe it was Umeda's job.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Something tells me the mastermind wouldn't trust someone like Umeda to be in charge of that. He's an idiot.

Monokuma: You're right, this is indeed due to someone's miscalculated incompetence.

Masaru felt like Monokuma was talking to a specific person but not one of them...

Mizuno Okimoto: So you admit that someone else is working for you!

Monokuma: I admit nothing!

Seto Hamasaki: Well what now? I'm glad we're figuring some things out but I don't see how it's leading us closer to the mastermind's true identity.

Winona Masuya: Masaru can you remember anything else about your memory dreams? Maybe something will help us.

Mizuno Okimoto: Do you remember all of them?

Masaru Yamaguchi: I can try. I think the first one I had involved the mastermind speaking to me but it was very short lived. They asked if I would like a challenge.

Seto Hamasaki: A challenge?

Masaru nodded and swallowed down the sickness.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Another one I had was me standing in front of the school before I walked in on my own but you already know that. I couldn't make out any other features except for the path I walked to my dorm.

Mizuno Okimoto: What about the one where you had a longer conversation with the mastermind?

Masaru Yamaguchi: Right, I told you about how I asked if I would have an execution but they said they wouldn't let me get hurt.

Masaru tried to remember more of the memory.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Now that I think about it the person's demeanor seemed somewhat dramatic.

Mizuno Okimoto: Oh my gosh that sounds like Seto.

Seto Hamasaki: Seriously? It could be a girl, you know.

Toma Nikolaev: Masaru, do you know if the mastermind is a male or female?

Masaru Yamaguchi: I do not. I do however remember bits of the conversation. I told them I was playing this game for a reason and that it wouldn't be fun if my life wasn't on the line like everyone else's.

Seto Hamasaki: No offense, sounds like you were a little psychopath.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I think the mastermind would agree with that. They said I was just as crazy as they were.

Toma Nikolaev: I... I am starting to believe my theory about you being undercover is false.

Masaru Yamaguchi: It was never true but thanks for having faith in me.

Seto Hamasaki: Maybe the mastermind isn't related to Umeda. Maybe they're related to you.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I can barely remember my family so I wouldn't know.

Mizuno Okimoto: Do you think you could've been from one of those wealthy families?

Masaru Yamaguchi: I doubt it. I'm a detective so why would I need to be one if I could have all the money I want to be anything I want?

Winona Masuya: You also mentioned a memory where you investigated a diner.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I did. It was a relief of a dream that proved that I actually am an Ultimate Detective.

Monokuma: Not!

Masaru Yamaguchi: Why do you keep doing that? It sounds like you're mocking me.

Monokuma: I am. Your memories are totally bogus!

Masaru Yamaguchi: Don't try to fool me. I have a memory of me investigating a robbery gone wrong so don't try and lie—

Monokuma: Oh, I remember that.

Masaru Yamaguchi: ... what?

Just then, Masaru felt a splitting headache coming on and he grit his teeth.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Not now...

Mizuno Okimoto: What's going on?

Seto Hamasaki: Maybe someone should give him some water.

The rest of what was said faded in and out while Masaru tried to stay conscious but eventually failed...

...

A familiar memory played out in front of him.

"Looks like a robbery gone wrong," Masaru said to himself as his eyes were drawn back to the pool of blood.

Masaru glanced over his shoulder to see one of the officer's approaching him. The man's eyebrows furrowed at Masaru's presence and put a rough hand on the guy's shoulder.

"You shouldn't be here, kid," the man spoke in a deep voice, "you have to get back behind the tape."

"But I can help," Masaru told him.

The man chuckled. "Everyone wants to help. No one likes to see the world turn to such hatred and crime." He gestured back to the civilians observing the scene. "But you have to leave."

Masaru stubbornly put his foot down. "But I'm an ultimate."

"An ultimate?" The man looked impressed, "you go to one of those ultimate talent schools?"

"No but—"

"Look, I'm sorry kid but you need to remove yourself from the scene," the man said then smiled politely, "but I do believe you could make a great ultimate someday. You have the spirit."

It was a kind gesture but all Masaru felt in that moment was resentment while storming away from the crime scene hoping they'd never solve it. He then reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone before speed dialing a number.

Masaru held the phone up to his ear and spoke immediately once the person answered.

"Yeah, about your offer. I'll take it."

Mizuno Okimoto: Masaru!

Masaru breathed heavily and held onto his podium for support as Monokuma cackled.

Monokuma: Did you have another breakthrough?

Seto Hamasaki: What just happened?

Toma Nikolaev: Are you alright? Someone get him water.

Winona Masuya: I'll go get some!

Monokuma: No one's going anywhere!

Mizuno Okimoto: Masaru are you okay?

Masaru Yamaguchi: No... I'm not.... Monokuma is right.

Seto Hamasaki: About what?

Masaru Yamaguchi: I...I'm not a detective.

It pained Masaru to say that but it was the truth that couldn't be denied any longer.

Seto Hamasaki: But you've been saying you were one this whole time—

Masaru Yamaguchi: Well I was wrong!

Masaru Yamaguchi: I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong—

Mizuno Okimoto: Masaru!

Masaru Yamaguchi: ...

Mizuno Okimoto: Detective or not, you're the only reason why we're all still alive to this day.

Winona Masuya: She's right, every trial you find out who the blackened is and you're right every time.

Masaru Yamaguchi: But I'm not an ultimate... I never was...

Seto Hamasaki: Who can really define an ultimate, though?

Toma Nikolaev: You are special, Masaru. You do not need a title to be great at what you do best.

Seto Hamasaki: And truthfully we can't do this without you.

Masaru Yamaguchi: ......

Monokuma: Oh? Are we giving up?

Mizuno Okimoto: Not even close!

Seto Hamasaki: Hey, I don't mean to rub it in but if Masaru isn't an ultimate or even part of our class then if we replace him with the linguist that makes sixteen students...

Masaru Yamaguchi: ... replace...

Masaru Yamaguchi: Replace!

Seto Hamasaki: Oh God, he's broken, isn't he.

Masaru Yamaguchi: That's exactly what you did, isn't it Monokuma?

Monokuma: No comment!

Masaru Yamaguchi: You made me switch places with the linguist to make it seem like I was a student. If you didn't then it'd be weird if there were seventeen students when we all know there are only supposed to be sixteen.

Monokuma: I didn't make you do anything.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I see. Then maybe I made you have me switch places with the linguist so I could fulfill some sick fantasy of finally becoming the Ultimate Detective.

Winona Masuya: But that would mean... the linguist has nothing to do with this.

Monokuma: Puhuhuhu! They aren't even here! They're probably watching the news about this catastrophe from the comfort of their home!

Winona Masuya: Why choose the linguist though?

Monokuma: Oh, that was all random. It really could've been anyone.

Seto Hamasaki: So, I could've been the one switched out with Masaru and be safe at home right now?

Monokuma: Yup!

Mizuno Okimoto: That's messed up.

Seto Hamasaki: But we assumed the linguist could have been the mastermind. What else do we have now?

Toma Nikolaev: The 4 wealthy dynasties?

Seto Hamasaki: If we were wrong about the linguist then we could be wrong about that too.

Winona Masuya: No. The blueprints to this place had the 4WD.CO label on it so they definitely had a part in making this whole thing a reality.

Mizuno Okimoto: Masaru we need your help. You always find these hidden and tiny details. We cannot win this trial without your insight.

Masaru tried to think of anything he could bring up that could serve as some kind of clue. Maybe a hint that was hidden right under them...

Masaru Yamaguchi: I want to talk about Umeda.

Mizuno Okimoto: Huh?

Seto Hamasaki: What about him?

Masaru Yamaguchi: Do you remember what he said in his last moments?

Toma Nikolaev: He said the mastermind was one of us.

Seto Hamasaki: The person should just fess up now to save our time.

Masaru Yamaguchi: That is not what he said.

Mizuno Okimoto: Uh, I'm pretty sure it is.

Masaru Yamaguchi: No. What he said was...

"The mastermind! It's one of us sixteen students!—"

Winona Masuya: I'm sorry but I'm still not following.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Saying that the mastermind was one of us would've been much simpler. It would have narrowed my suspects down to the four of you.

Masaru Yamaguchi: So why would he go through all the trouble to say one of us sixteen students?

Seto Hamasaki: I don't know, to confuse us? He was the traitor after all.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I think it was because he was telling the truth. The mastermind could really be one of us sixteen students.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Even the dead ones.

Mizuno Okimoto: What?!

Toma Nikolaev: What are you talking about?

Winona Masuya: That's... that's impossible.

Monokuma: She's right! It's impossible!

Seto Hamasaki: Wait so the mastermind isn't one of us here? You think someone faked their death?

Masaru Yamaguchi: I think we need to go back through every murder and class trial that has happened. Maybe we've missed something.

Seto Hamasaki: But that'll take so long.

Mizuno Okimoto: We'll do whatever it takes.

Class Trial Suspended!

Class Trial Resume!

Masaru Yamaguchi: Let's start with the first motive.

Seto Hamasaki: This psycho mastermind kidnapped our families and showed us disturbing videos threatening to kill them.

Monokuma: I didn't threaten to kill them! I said to find out after graduation!

Mizuno Okimoto: Our first victim was Margot Gibbs, the Ultimate Surfer, she died of strangulation inside the female school hallway bathrooms.

Toma Nikolaev: And the blackened was Asya Neyzi, the Ultimate Makeup Artist.

Winona Masuya: All she wanted to do was save her father. He was everything to her.

Seto Hamasaki: We all wanted to save our families but we didn't go and kill anyone. She didn't even seem sorry.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Every blackened had their own reasons. Our second motive promised that if the traitor was killed we'd all escape together.

Winona Masuya: Our second victim was Kaneko Yanagi, the Ultimate Snake Charmer, who died by blunt force trauma. I use to not like snakes very much but Pinku was her pet and just like Kaneko, she is very sweet.

Mizuno Okimoto: The blackened was Arata Hisao, the Ultimate Volleyball Player. It was a misunderstanding between the two that led him to act on his feelings. He was a good guy...

Toma Nikolaev: Arata wanted us to end this killing game so we would not make his mistake.

Masaru Yamaguchi: And that's what we're finally doing now. Our third motive was another promise that if one became blackened and won the trial they could escape with another student of their choice. This case had two victims.

Masaru Yamaguchi: The first one was Shoji Isao, the Ultimate Hacker, who died from a stab to the neck. Even though he's gone he's had a big hand in our discoveries.

Mizuno Okimoto: Yeah his laptop was a great help when Priscilla and Masaru shut off Monokuma for the first time.

Masaru Yamaguchi: It also gave us our first clue about 4WD.CO. He and Umeda were close...

Seto Hamasaki: I wonder how he would've reacted if he was there when it was revealed Umeda was the traitor.

Winona Masuya: I am sure he would've been upset as well but like Masaru said, they were close. They would've gotten through it together.

Mizuno Okimoto: Maybe so. The second victim was Herb Sowle, the Ultimate Drafter, who died by blunt force as well. He was actually the one who killed Shoji but only the second blackened would be punished since the first was already dead.

Seto Hamasaki: Another selfish murderer.

Winona Masuya: Seto...

Seto Hamasaki: What? It's the truth. I could've used the motive to get us both out of here but I didn't.

Mizuno Okimoto: There were about half of us who could've used that motive but Herb was more vulnerable. He was a shy guy.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Our third blackened was Valini Bhatt, the Ultimate Swim Suit Model. She was the one closest to Herb but didn't think he'd actually do something so horrific. She felt that he was a danger to us and himself at that point so that's why she did what she did.

Seto Hamasaki: Our fourth motive was the fact cards Monokuma handed out "randomly" but the truth is, it was all rigged.

Monokuma: Nothing was rigged!

Seto Hamasaki: You didn't even try to make it subtle!

Monokuma: Those are just theories!

Masaru Yamaguchi: Moving on. The fourth victim...

Mizuno Okimoto: The fourth victim was Matsuyama Michio, the Ultimate Columnist, who died by two gun shots to the chest. He was basically the mom of the group.

Winona Masuya: He cooked breakfast for us all on multiple occasions. It was a pleasure to work beside him.

Seto Hamasaki: Our fourth blackened was Nao Nakayama, the Ultimate Chess Player . She acted the way she did because of the rigged motive.

Monokuma: Grrrr!

Mizuno Okimoto: She didn't know Matsuyama was from a wealthy family so she instantly believed that him being the traitor was the truth.

Toma Nikolaev: Now two people who are associated with 4WD.CO are gone.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Although we did not have a fifth motive we did have a fifth victim. Priscilla Azumi, the Ultimate Curator, died by a stab to the heart. We found her in one of the secret passages hidden all throughout the school so we knew the culprit had to either be the mastermind or the traitor.

Mizuno Okimoto: Since the mastermind wouldn't involve themselves in things like that, they sent their traitor to do the job.

Seto Hamasaki: Our fifth blackened was Umeda Susumu, the Ultimate Game Designer, aka the traitor. He was sort of a lovable idiot but the fact that I now know he designed an execution for me is disturbing.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I know he was the traitor but I believe he really did care about Shoji and Matsuyama. They were like brothers to him.

Winona Masuya: I know that but he killed Priscilla when he didn't even have to.

Monokuma: Murderer!

Masaru Yamaguchi: Shut up.

Masaru Yamaguchi: You do have a point, Winona. I'm guessing that feeling of us knowing he had betrayed us was greater than his morality.

Winona Masuya: We could've talked something out. Yes, it would hurt at first knowing he lied to us but we still could've worked together.

Mizuno Okimoto: Look we'll never know what was going through Umeda's head at that time but he made a choice and it backfired on him. We've went through all the deaths so now what, Masaru?

Masaru bit his lip as he pondered on all they went over. There had to be something in all of that he was missing...

Masaru Yamaguchi: What do we do every time a body is discovered?

Seto Hamasaki: Panic? Throw up?

Mizuno Okimoto: Where are you going with this? Do you believe the mastermind could be a victim or a blackened?

Toma Nikolaev: Wouldn't it be more believable for it to be a blackened?

Winona Masuya: Yeah how could a victim fake their death? They wouldn't know when someone is about to attack them and be caught off guard.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I just... want to go over our usual procedure when we find a body.

Mizuno Okimoto: Okay, well we always check the victim file to see how and what time the person died.

Toma Nikolaev: We then investigate the scene and the body of the victim.

Winona Masuya: We also jot down the clues we find so we can use them in the class trials.

Seto Hamasaki: Then when the bell rings, we come down here to have yet another debate on who the killer among us is.

Masaru nodded and knew all of this already but— his eyes widened.

Seto Hamasaki: What was that?

Mizuno Okimoto: I know that look. You have a suspect in mind, don't you?

Masaru Yamaguchi: No.

Winona Masuya: What do you mean, no?

Masaru Yamaguchi: It's nothing... it's just that one of those things you all mentioned... we didn't do.

Seto Hamasaki: I'm pretty sure we did. I mean I always check my victim file.

Toma Nikolaev: What thing are you talking about?

Masaru Yamaguchi: Checking the body.

Mizuno Okimoto: Okay I know for a fact we always do that. First victim we checked was Margot's body and we saw the mark around her neck and skin particles under her fingernails.

Toma Nikolaev: We examined Kaneko's body and her head wound.

Masaru Yamaguchi: I know. I even found the hair clips she intended to give Nao in her hand.

Seto Hamasaki: When we examined Shoji's body it was pretty obvious what killed him by the tool in his neck.

Winona Masuya: And when we observed Herb's body we saw the deep wound on his head and the bandages in his hand.

Mizuno Okimoto: We examined Matsuyama's gun shot wounds and found that card he received about Masaru along with the note Nao wrote to him in his pocket.

Toma Nikolaev: When we examined Priscilla's body we saw the wound in her chest that was her cause of death but we also saw the head wound which confused us.

Seto Hamasaki: See? We've literally investigated every victim.

Masaru immediately shook his head and let out a deep breath.

Masaru Yamaguchi: No, there is one body we did not investigate. You're getting yourselves confused.

Winona Masuya: Confused about what?

Seto Hamasaki: Just enlighten us already.

Masaru Yamaguchi: ...

Masaru already knew what he was about to say would cause some retaliation and frankly he didn't want to say it out loud either. Still, even if he wasn't an Ultimate Detective he's still a detective at heart.

Masaru Yamaguchi: The fourth victim—

Mizuno Okimoto: No. Try something else.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Mizuno.

Mizuno Okimoto: Do you even hear what you're about to say right now?

Masaru Yamaguchi: You say that we examined Matsuyama's gun shot wounds and found that card he received about me with the note Nao wrote to him in his pocket. But we didn't.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Only one person was in charge of that.

Seto Hamasaki: Umeda...

Winona Masuya: He... he's right. Umeda wouldn't let anyone get near Matsuyama's body because he was so devastated.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Or maybe Umeda just didn't want us to realize something.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Maybe he didn't want us to realize that it was all fake.

Toma Nikolaev: But that would mean you think the mastermind is...

Mizuno Okimoto: I won't listen to this! You are talking about someone who cared for all of us every morning knowing he didn't have to. This is the person who took care of you when you were sick.

Mizuno Okimoto: To accuse him of being—

Masaru Yamaguchi: You don't think I know this?!

Mizuno Okimoto: ...

Masaru Yamaguchi: I don't like emotions but do you know how hard it is to come to this conclusion? And if I am right then I would like to have some words with our mastermind.

Seto Hamasaki: I need to hear some proof because you're accusing a very kind person of being... that.

Monokuma: Hey, I'm adorable!

Masaru Yamaguchi: Well for starters, Matsuyama was the first to recognize who Monokuma was and the situation we were in once we first woke up in this school. He was well aware of the killing game tales and even accused Monokuma of being a copycat.

Winona Masuya: Well, there were others who knew about the legends as well. Didn't Priscilla?

Masaru Yamaguchi: She did but not as well as Matsuyama. He even mentioned Monokuma trying to be like "her" in the beginning which I can only assume he was referring to Junko Enoshima.

Mizuno Okimoto: So what? He's a columnist so it's not hard to believe he's well versed on the topic.

Seto Hamasaki: I would also like to add that we already established that the fourth trial was rigged to kill off Matsuyama and Nao. How can the mastermind who wanted to get rid of him and Matsuyama be the same person?

Masaru Yamaguchi: You're right. We assumed that the mastermind did this to get rid of two people that could've exposed their identity.

Masaru Yamaguchi: But maybe it was so one of them could disappear behind the scenes without raising any questions to where they went. That's why they faked their death.

Toma Nikolaev: But why?

Masaru Yamaguchi: I haven't thought about it before but I don't think it was a coincidence that Matsuyama was "killed" soon after we revealed to him and Umeda that we were able to shut off Monokuma using Shoji's computer.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Maybe the mastermind believed they couldn't continue participating in the game if something like that was going on. So they had to find a way to remove themselves so they could handle the problem more thoroughly.

Seto Hamasaki: But what about Nao? She definitely shot him so how could he still be alive after two gunshot wounds? There was even blood on the towel.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Im not too sure on that...

Mizuno Okimoto: It's because you're wrong.

Masaru Yamaguchi: But Monokuma could've found a way. A bullet proof vest and a blood pack could do the trick. Maybe the nurses room had—

Mizuno Okimoto: Now you're just making things up! You just said you weren't sure how they did it.

Seto Hamasaki: But I do think if... if it really is him. That would've made it easier to get Nao to target him.

Masaru's eyes widened with a realization.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Matsuyama and I had a conversation to expand more on his past in his dorm room. When we were discussing 4WD.CO I asked if we should let Nao in about what her parents were apart and but he disagreed.

Masaru Yamaguchi: He claimed it was so she wouldn't have the hardship of knowing who her family really was but I think there was an ulterior motive.

Toma Nikolaev: If you two had told Nao about it then the fourth motive would not have worked because she would've known Matsuyama is from a wealthy family.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Exactly. Not to mention Matsuyama was the one to persuade Nao to play with the chessboard when we all met up in the game room. The one thing that would incriminate her.

Winona Masuya: That would also explain the relationship between the mastermind and the traitor. We know the mastermind didn't want to execute Umeda and even gave him a way out.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Yes but there is also something Umeda said during the last trial that now makes sense as well.

Seto Hamasaki: And what is that?

Masaru Yamaguchi: When I accused him of telling Monokuma about Matsuyama's past he said, "I didn't tell anyone anything". At first I thought he was just denying it but maybe he really didn't have to just like he said.

Toma Nikolaev: Because the mastermind would already know.

Mizuno Okimoto: Why is it so easy for you guys to accept this...

Toma Nikolaev: It is not easy.

Seto Hamasaki: It never is.

Masaru Yamaguchi: This is only a theory of who the mastermind could be but everything is seeming to fall into place.

Mizuno Okimoto: ...

Mizuno Okimoto: If Matsuyama's death was fake and the stuff about a bullet proof vest or a blood pack is true... How would someone not see him just get up and walk away after the investigation? I mean how would he just disappear so quickly?

Masaru Yamaguchi: Don't you remember where Priscilla's body was found?

Mizuno Okimoto: ... yeah.

Winona Masuya: Oh right, isn't there a secret passage near the game room wall?

Toma Nikolaev: There is. It would be easy for him to slip inside after Nao was done with her cleanup and after we were done "investigating" the body.

Seto Hamasaki: You'd think maybe Nao would've saw him at least breathing as she was cleaning the room.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Nao would've been in a panic with adrenaline coursing through her veins. I doubt she would've noticed anything other than the task at hand.

Mizuno Okimoto: Why can't the mastermind be any other victim or blackened? I know some evidence points to him but...

Masaru tried to stay focused on finding this mastermind instead of dwelling on who he thought it was but Mizuno was obviously struggling to come to terms with it.

Seto Hamasaki: I think I have an idea why.

Winona Masuya: What is it?

Seto Hamasaki: We know the mastermind and Masaru are involved with each other. They wouldn't give him an execution and they seemed to be close in the outside world. Everyone knows Matsuyama cared for Masaru just a little bit more than the rest of us.

Mizuno Okimoto: I always felt like I was competing with him for Masaru's attention.

Winona Masuya: If the mastermind really does care about Masaru then I don't see what other victim or blackened could be a possible candidate.

Toma Nikolaev: Masaru didn't you say in one of your memories the mastermind seemed a bit dramatic? That doesn't really sound like Matsuyama's personality.

Seto Hamasaki: If this guy is really the mastermind then I'd say he's a damn good actor. Him having some kind of split personality seems plausible.

Masaru Yamaguchi: ...

Masaru Yamaguchi: Maybe I was wrong.

Winona Masuya: What?

Seto Hamasaki: You just gave us a ton of evidence and now you're saying it's wrong?

Masaru Yamaguchi: I don't know.

Mizuno Okimoto: You're doubting yourself. You never doubt yourself.

Masaru Yamaguchi: But I don't think even the best actor could be so kind to us then turn around and become some kidnapping murderer.

Toma Nikolaev: So you don't think it is Matsuyama?

Masaru Yamaguchi: ...

Mizuno Okimoto: Masaru I know I was pushing against the conclusion you came to but whatever intuition or feeling you have, I will believe it's right. It always has been.

Seto Hamasaki: Just keep doing what you're doing. Don't give up.

Monokuma: But giving up is always an option!

Seto Hamasaki: Shut up.

Toma Nikolaev: We know Umeda was one person helping the mastermind and Masaru may have had a hand in that as well. There is also a chance that someone else we don't know about is involved.

Mizuno Okimoto: Yeah Monokuma mentioned something about someone's incompetence. If he wasn't talking about Umeda then who could it be?

Masaru Yamaguchi: ...

Mizuno Okimoto: Come on Masaru. I won't argue against you anymore, okay?

Masaru Yamaguchi: ... if Matsuyama is really behind all of this then who do you think was controlling Monokuma before he was supposedly killed?

Seto Hamasaki: Oh wow, you're right.

Winona Masuya: It has to be that secret person we don't know about.

Toma Nikolaev: But all of us were present during that period of time so it cannot be one of us sixteen students.

Mizuno Okimoto: You're right. Masaru do you have any idea who it could be? Can you remember anything from the conversations you had with Matsuyama?

Winona Masuya: Could it be his mom or dad? Maybe a friend?

Masaru Yamaguchi: The way he talked about his parents with me, even if he is a liar, I think those discussions were very much real. I doubt his parents are aware or even helping him with this. As for a friend, he never mentioned any but I know his parents were strict about that kind of thing when he was young.

Masaru thought back on their conversations and focused on the one they had in Matsuyama's dorm room. He was talking about his past so there has to be something...

Masaru Yamaguchi: I think... well it's kind of a stretch...

Mizuno Okimoto: Just tell us. We'll hear you out.

Masaru Yamaguchi: When Matsuyama spoke about his family he mentioned a butler that cared for him more than his own parents did. The butler was like a father to him and helped him find his love for writing.

Toma Nikolaev: You think that is who this other help could be?

Seto Hamasaki: We're all still young so it would make sense for him to have an older adult helping him with all this.

Winona Masuya: But why would a grown adult even encourage this behavior?

Seto Hamasaki: Maybe Matsuyama is blackmailing him?

Masaru Yamaguchi: No, Matsuyama spoke fondly of this man and something tells me the man felt the same. It's like a parent supporting their child no matter what it is they're trying to accomplish...

Mizuno Okimoto: Even if it's murder?!

Masaru Yamaguchi: Yes. I just don't see how our paths would've crossed in the outside world.

Masaru Yamaguchi: But... maybe now I have what I need to end this... To conclude this trial for the last time.

Mizuno Okimoto: Are you sure? I'm not doubting you, I... if you're right...

Masaru Yamaguchi: I know. Umeda felt betrayed in his last moments which is why he gave us that clue before his execution. Like I said, it would've been simpler for him to tell us that the mastermind is one of us.

Seto Hamasaki: But he said it was one of us sixteen students, right?

Masaru Yamaguchi: Exactly, that would include every student that was once alive. Looking back on all of our classmates deaths we saw the causes up close which couldn't be denied. This person is the only body we didn't check and that's because the traitor made sure we'd stay away by masking the scenario with grief.

Winona Masuya: Well then it looks like you've made up your mind.

Masaru Yamaguchi: Yes. Although we may not have all the facts I hope our mastermind will be able to fill some things in.

The mastermind obviously had a love and passion for the killing game legends and wanted them to become a reality. With the funds from a certain corporation they now could make that possible but first they'd need victims. They targeted a college class of ultimates for their first killing game experience but around that time they came across an intriguing individual.

Masaru wasn't an ultimate but desperately wanted to be. He believed in his detective skills and was confident that he would be a success. Unfortunately, no one cared or acknowledged his skills because wanting to be an ultimate is severely different from actually being one. No one could see his true talent without a title until one day...

It can't be said just yet how the two met, but the mastermind saw the true potential in Masaru and wanted to test him. He asked Masaru if he'd like a challenge and Masaru of course agreed. However, the mastermind knew there were only sixteen students in the class and it would be weird if there were suddenly seventeen.

By random selection, the mastermind chose to remove the Ultimate Linguist and replaced them with Masaru who would from here on out be known as the Ultimate Detective. Masaru and the mastermind conversed on how this would all work and decided that Masaru's memories would be wiped to amp up the difficulty. That way he wouldn't know the mastermind's identity or anything about himself.

Masaru walked into the decoy school that was built and straight to his dorm room and waited for his memories to fade away. During this time, the mastermind prepared their own dorm because participating in the killing game was much more fun than running the game. Since that was the decision, there would need to be another person to control Monokuma in the meantime so the mastermind turned to a trusted individual that was present during their entire childhood.

The trusted adult played the role as the killing game began and continued while the mastermind fooled everyone around them. They became a leader and a person you could go to with any problem you may have. But there was one thing the mastermind didn't know and that was Shoji's plans to hack Monokuma.

Sadly, Shoji could not follow through with it but Masaru and Priscilla made sure to bring him justice by putting his laptop to good use. The two successfully deactivated Monokuma which threw the mastermind off their game.

The mastermind probably had no clue how this could have happened until the very two people that messed up their plans confided in them. The traitor didn't have to tell the mastermind about a certain someone's past or the deactivation because Masaru and Priscilla had done that themselves without knowing.

After hearing this information, the mastermind figured it would be best to remove themselves from the scene to get control of the situation. That's when the rigged fourth motive came into play. The fact cards that were handed out were not random at all and the mastermind made sure Nao got their card. Nao wouldn't have known about the person's past on the card she got so the other choice was to believe this person was the traitor.

The mastermind readied themselves for Nao's attack and played the part up until their fake last breath. It can't be said what was used but any type of bullet proof vest or fake blood would've done the trick. The mastermind always wore a thick coat that would've hid the mass under their shirt. After Nao did the deed, she began to clean up the room including the chessboard she knocked over. The chessboard that the mastermind had convinced her to give a try.

When Nao fled the game room for good and after the investigation, the mastermind quickly slipped into the secret passage on the outside wall. Now they could finally attempt to get their game back under control and at first there was nothing to worry about. But when Priscilla told everyone including the traitor that Shoji's laptop was back on and that they were planning to shut off Monokuma again, that became another problem.

The traitor let the mastermind in on this little secret and the two probably tried to think of a solution to this but it soon turned out they didn't have to. Priscilla had entered one of the secret passages, specifically the one near the game room, with the intention of it being a trap. She knew there was a possibility she would get killed but if so then a class trial would be held which would mean the killer had to be either the mastermind or the traitor since there was no motive for any of the other students.

It was already revealed that the traitor, Umeda, was the culprit and they were the ones who retrieved Shoji's laptop from under Priscilla's bed and gave it to Monokuma. However, he didn't expect he would get executed since he was on the mastermind's side but the mastermind had to abide by their rules. In that moment of betrayal Umeda yelled out one thing in his last moments, "The mastermind! It's one of us sixteen students!"

It would have been easier for him to yell that, "the mastermind is one of you!" but went out of his way to include everyone even the dead students. The last death and last trial is what prompted Masaru to have one more but to find the mastermind this time. Now he thinks he can finally put an end to this.

Masaru Yamaguchi: The mastermind behind this killing game can only be you, Matsuyama Michio, the Ultimate Columnist!

Class Trial!

[END]