"Well... I don't think this will help, but..." Mai started, a thoughtful look on her face. "Could it be the killer's fault Satchiko went missing? I know she was killed two days after, but y'know...."

"It's pretty likely." Michio said, "I mean, she was missing for a while then we found her body. It's too much of a coincidence."

"So Satchiko was kidnapped by the murderer!" Mai exclaimed.

I slowly shook my head. "That might be true, but I don't think it'll lead us to the killer."

"You're right." Jikkō replied, slipping what looked like a crumpled piece of paper out of her pocket. "But I think I know what might. Satchiko was holding onto this tightly, even in death. I don't think the killer noticed."

"What does it say?" I quickly asked, waiting anxiously as the black haired girl unfolded the paper. She held it up for us all to see, and written on it in messy writing was a single letter.

M.

"What do you have to say about this, Michio?" Jikkō asked accusingly.

Michio's eyes widened. "Wait, this doesn't mean it's me! Mai's name starts with an M too, and it could always be a W."

Jikkō shook her head. "Mai and Willow have alibis. It can only be you..." I heard a hint of sadness creep into her voice, something she hadn't expressed before. It seemed like everything really was affecting her.

I felt completely shocked. Michio, my friend, did he really kill Satchiko? I looked to him, waiting for an answer.

Slowly, a small smile formed on his face. "Well, you've got me cornered. There's not much I can do. I should've kept a closer eye on the brat."

"W-wait, no..." I looked at the blond with eyes wide in disbelief. "You didn't...."

Michio's smile only widened. "I was pretty sure I wouldn't get away with it, but this makes things a lot more interesting."

I could only stare at him. Even now that he was going to be executed, he was calm... happy, even. At first it was just odd, but now, it was much more than that. I only managed to utter one word. "Why...?"

"Why not?" Michio simply replied. "She gave me every reason to want her dead. She didn't even try to hide it... not that it matters now, of course. If you haven't guessed by now...."

"I knew it." Jikkō spoke quietly. "I knew it... I just didn't want to believe it, so I told myself I was wrong. I wanted to trust you...."

"Aw, Toki, I'm touched. You threw away your brain for me~" Michio said in a teasing tone.

"A-am I the only one that's confused?" Mai suddenly spoke up.

I was confused as well, but I could definitely guess... and I didn't like how this was going at all.

Michio let out a small laugh, then looked to the robotic bear with a smirk. "It would be pretty unfair if I was killed now, right? They'd never get out."

"Upupu, breaking your own rules, are ya? You naughty boy." Monokuma responded. I felt as if I couldn't breathe, this couldn't be happening....

"Y-you..." Katashi spoke for the first time since the trial started. He wiped his eyes, then glared at Michio, full of rage. "You did this, didn't you? You're the reason they're all dead!"

"Of course." Michio responded, still wearing a smirk on his face. "I was surprised only Satchiko figured it out. I must be a better actor than I thought."

The despair was settling in as I couldn't tear my eyes away from my classmate, friend... enemy. I trusted him, I thought he was a good person, I just couldn't believe this. "Michio... you're... the mastermind?"

"That's right, Kazuki. I'm the one who created this death game." Michio responded, his expression changing to something more sinister, like I had never seen before... and it scared me.

"W-why? Why would you do this?" I immediately asked.

Michio grinned. "For the sweet, wonderful, exhilarating thrill of despair. Like your expression right now, it fills me with pure despair, and I love it!"

"You're... y-you're insane." Katashi stuttered. "You're a monster...."

The mastermind, my former friend, only smiled wider. "You better get used to it, because I'm not going anywhere."