"I'm being peer pressure by my own
audience— fuck it ima kill them all."
-Author

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"Allow me to put it into words for your simple minds..." Kyoko sighed. I was shocked. "Here's what happened--the murder took place before the sprinklers went off. But the body didn't get wet, because the killer covered it with a tarp. Then, later, at the same time the killer was gathering up the tarp, they pulled the coat over the body. The coat they'd already covered in blood. This series of cover-ups was meant to disguise the actual time the murder occurred. They wanted us to think the murder happened sometime after the sprinklers had gone off, at 7:30."

"If that's actually what took place, it certainly becomes possible that the murder happened earlier..." Celestia said.

"But...to pull all that off...wouldn't they have had to go back to the garden after the sprinklers turned off?" Aoi tried to rip out her hair.

"That actually wouldn't have been all that difficult. They had help of course." Kyoko nailed me right in between the eyes. "They already had the coat ready. So they just had to grab the tarp and pull the coat over the body. They'd be done in no time."

"Maybe, but still..."

Kyoko cut off Makoto, "Hina. After you met up with Makoto in the dining hall, did you two stay together from that point on?"

"Oh, no. I headed off to the gym, and Makoto didn't show up till later." She sighed.

"Chihiro and Hiro, you two were waiting for Y/N all morning?" She asked.

"W-Well... u..uh..." Chihiro looked as if he were going to cry.

"I take that as a no...Then they had plenty of time to spare, wouldn't you say?"

"Th-That's not--!" Makoto shouted.

"This is bullshit!" I agreed. This is all crazy, please don't drag me down with Makoto! I thought we were besties, Kyo...

"Don't bother saying it's not possible." She narrowed her eyes.

"But it's not--?"

"Shut up, Y/N."

"I must admit, Kyoko's reasoning is sound. But both Y/N and Makoto's alibi are...inadequate." Byakuya fixed his glasses before throwing his hands in the air again. "Well then, it looks like we're back to square one. Makoto's alibi is not good, so once again our suspects are him and Kyoko."

"For serious, man...which one of 'em did it? Hey, why don't we let luck decide? Let's flip a coin! Fifty-fifty odds!" Hiro started rummaging through his pockets.

"A coin doesn't have three sides, dumbass."

"O-Okay okay! Stop with the insults already.." Yashihiro let his hands fall.

Aoi gasped, and when she didn't continue everyone looked at her. She turned red before saying, "I just remembered something super serious!"

"Well, don't just stand there. Out with it." Byakuya shouted.

"You know that knife we found all black and burnt?"

"The one we found stuck in the body before it exploded?" Celestia asked."According to the Monokuma File, the knife went all the way through, from front to back."

"I'm pretty sure I'd seen that knife somewhere before... That's what I thought when I first saw it. I just remembered!"

"I-It's...the knife we gave to Makoto!?" Toko shouted, 'RIP, dig your own grave...'

However, Makoto had a straight face.

"You don't seem surprised. You must have noticed earlier..." Byakuya asked.

"Y-Yeah..."

"Then why did you hide that fact?"

"It's not that I hid it. It's just..." He trailed off.

"Suspicious... Very suspicious indeed! The knife we found stuck in the body came from Makoto!" Yashihiro slammed a fist on the wooden stand. "Now I'm totally convinced he did it! Twelve thousand percent convinced! The stab wound must've killed her!"

"Wait, hold on. The stab wound isn't what killed Mukuro. That should be clear from the description of the cover-up we just heard!" Makoto argued back.

"Lies! We never talked about what killed her!"

"No, don't you remember? The killer covered the dead body with the tarp, and then put the bloody coat on it, right? In other words, the victim never wore that bloodstained coat until after they were dead."

"Okay, fine! So what!?"

"So, when we discovered the body...the knife had been thrust through the coat along with the body. Isn't that right, Y/n!" Makoto assured me to continue on with what he was saying.

"This is really suspicious, Makoto but I've got you...if she wasn't stabbed until the coat was put on, and she was already dead at that point, obviously the stab wound isn't what killed her."

"M-Maybe you two stabbed her twice! Once to kill her, and once to cover it up!"

"The Monokuma File clearly states that there was only one stab wound." I held up one finger.

"Oh yeah, it sure did! I totally forgot about that!"

"The knife was just another piece of camouflage set up by the true killer. They probably stabbed her to draw attention away from what actually killed her. I assume exploding the body afterward was probably meant to do the same thing.Am i right?"

Makoto grinned at my explanation, "Correct. The explosion severely damaged the body, making it impossible to know what really killed her. It was all the killer's attempt to destroy all evidence of their crime!"

"So they wanted us to notice the stab wound, and then detonate the body afterward... They meant for us to latch onto the knife as the cause of death, then destroy any evidence proving otherwise." Byakuya glared at the two of us.

Aoi pointed her fingers together, "Oh, hey, I have a question! It kinda goes back to the beginning, but... What's the deal with that explosion, anyway? Why'd the body just blow up all of a sudden like that?"

"If you bothered to put that lump of gray matter between your ears to use, you'd know the answer..."

"Well if you're so smart, just tell me!"

"I'll tell ya! I bet some unknown quantum particle caused an atomic-level spontaneous combustion!" I thought we all agreed to not allow Yashihiro to talk anymore...

"I might be dumb, but even I'm not dumb enough to believe that!" She shouted.

"Go ahead, Makoto. Tell her, or we won't make any headway on this." Byakuya used his favorite line.

"After the explosion, we found a tiny fragment of something on the ground near the body, right? That fragment reveals the cause of the explosion." Makoto explained.

Aoi asked, "Huh? You know, I feel like I've seen something like it before..."

"That's only natural. Because, of course... We saw the same thing when we dismantled Monokuma. It's part of a bomb."

"Oh! Then the explosion was cuz of the Monokuma bomb!"

"Anyway, the culprit's motive is becoming more and more obvious by the minute." Byakuya sighed, "They wanted the knife wound to look like the fatal injury so that we'd suspect Makoto. And the only one who would benefit from that...is the only other possible suspect. You, Kyoko."

"Hold on a second, Byakuya..." Makoto sighed.

"...What's the problem?"

"Well I just feel like...we need to think this through. We still don't know what actually killed the victim." 'you just don't want your girlfriend to die--'

"That's true! It's definitely bugging me. What really killed her...?" Aoi agreed.

"...Fine, I have no problem with that. Let us continue the debate. It won't change the facts of the case, regardless." Byakuya snarled. "Then shall we continue the debate? The victim's fatal injury has yet to be determined, correct?"

"The explosion didn't kill her for sure, I guess..."

Yashihiro agreed with Aoi, "Well, yeah. She was already totally dead when that happened."

"And it wasn't b-because of the knife, right? Th-Then there's only one other thing..." Toko mumbled.

"Oh yeah, um...according to the Monokuma File...That's gotta be it! There was evidence that showed she was hit on the back of her head!"

"And more than that, the victim had suffered countless wounds across her entire body." Byakuya agreed with Yashihiro.

"Mukuro died because of the blow to the back of the head she suffered!" Makoto shouted.

He asked, "What about the wounds all over the rest of her body? They didn't have anything to do with it?"

I started to sweat. In the original story, Mukuro died right in front of everyone... would Makoto and Kyoko be able to tie in theat Mukuro wasn't actually Junko--or where Mukuro as junko even went... god this was so confusing.

"The Monokuma File makes it clear that those weren't fresh wounds." Makoto explained.

"Oh yeah, good point. If they were old, I guess they don't really matter." Yashihiro sighed.

"They weren't that old however... I'll digress though. Okay, then we're safe in assuming the blow to the back of her head is what killed her."

Aoi jumped on what Byakuya said, "I guess if they're more then a few days... its okay...But then...what was the murder weapon?"

"The M-Monokuma File says she was hit with a b-blunt object, about as thick as a m-metal pipe..." Toko shuttered.

"...Oh! I bet it was the pickaxe!"

"I thought I took away your speaking stick a long time ago?"

He stared to sulk at what Celestia said, I guess this was her breaking point... "Why do you all bully me?"

"H-How is that even possible!? If you hit someone with that, it'd cave their s-skull in completely!" Toko shouted.

"Well...maybe they held it the other way, and hit her with the handle!"

"No w-way. The balance would be all off. Y-You wouldn't be able to swing it with a-any kind of power..." Toko looked at Yoshihiro flirtatiously, "I w-wouldn't mind testing it on y-you if you want...!"

"I..vow to take away her speaking stick as well.."

"N-No thanks...Lets take her stick as well... I bet you'd just hit me with the metal end and call it an accident..."

"I'd love to s-scoop out that nasty brain of yours, throw it on the g-ground, and spit on it!"

"Hahahaha! I feel the same way! Looks like we're on the same page this time!"

"We're just wasting time... We want to figure out what killed her, right? It just so happens we already know." Byakuya sighed.

"W-We already know!? I knew we could count on you, M-Master!"

He jumped at the 'master', he pulled a face before continuing. "God... Go ahead and tell them, Makoto. Surely you've deduced the real murder weapon?"

"Mukuro was hit in the back of the head with something, and that's what killed her." Makoto explained. 'I'm not sure if that still holds up..but' "And that something was...the titanium arrow we found in the locker in the dojo."

Mondo asked, "An arrow... That's what the culprit attacked Mukuro with?"

"Indeed, there's no doubt about it." Byakuya smirked.

"Are you sure? That sounds...kinda weird." Aoi mumbled under her breath.

"Hey! If you're going t-to mumble under your breath, a-at least be loud about it! How dare you back-talk Master!? You have n-no right...!"

"I'm not back-talking anything! I'm just saying what I think!" She scratched her hair. It bounced with every scratch, it was so cute.

"T-The titanium arrow... I-It was in the dojo locker, right?" Chihiro asked.

"I have no doubt, that was the murder weapon." Byakuya confirmed, 'just five minutes ago you thought me and Makoto were the killers.'

"Are you sure...?" Chihiro asked. 'We do have the same minds.'

"You guys don't sound convinced. What's the problem?"

Aoi jumped at Hiro's question. "Well, cuz in the Monokuma File...it said the weapon must've been about as thick as a metal pipe, right? It seems like an arrow would just be too thin."

"Talking back to the Master... You have no r-right!"

"I'm so tired of you, Toko."

"You're right. Just one arrow would've been too weak. That's why the killer used another weapon." Makoto shouted.

"Another weapon...?" Aoi asked.

"I remember, Inside the dojo locker, we also found a balled-up wad of duct tape." I hummed. "The killer probably used this duct tape to bind multiple arrows together. Bundling them together using the duct tape would easily create a single weapon as thick as a pipe. And that's exactly what the killed did!"

Toko hummed, "It's similar to Aesop's fable about the bundle of sticks... One stick is weak, but put them together, and they become strong. It's meant to teach cooperation."

"Damn, that's harsh..." Yashihiro scowled.

"How is it harsh? Were you even listening?" Celestia argued. "Anyway, that explains the murder weapon. As for who the culprit is that stashed the weapon in the dojo locker... It was you, Kyoko!"

Kyoko lied, "...I've never been to the dojo."

"Oh no, you absolutely have." Byakuya argued.

"How can you say that with such confidence?" Aoi gasped.

"Because we have proof, of course. Don't we, Makoto?" Byakuya was smug. When Makoto didn't answer he turned furious, "Hm? What's the matter? Surely you don't intend to protect a murderer... You know what will happen if you do, don't you? If you cover for the culprit, there's only one thing that can lead to... The death of us all. Remember?"

"O-Of course I remember!"

"Then show us! Show everyone the evidence that proves Kyoko went to the dojo!" Byakuya shouted over everyone.

"The one thing that proves Kyoko was in the dojo is right here. The key to the dojo locker."

Kyoko watched Makoto pull out the key, she looked unaffected. "And how does that prove anything?"

"Because...I found it in your room." He handed her the key.

"It was...in my room?"

Byakuya crossed his arms, "Don't bother trying to play dumb. That key is just the final piece of the puzzle. Your non-existent alibi, your clear motive, your attempts to frame Makoto for the crime... This all proves that you are the true culprit. You can't explain this away, so just give up."

"...Hold on a second."

He sighed at Makoto, "Not this again. You really are dead-set on defending her, aren't you?"

"No...it's not that I want to defend her. It's just... There's one more thing I need to ask her. Kyoko, I want you to tell me something. Last night...you were in my room, weren't you? Why? What were you doing there? That's what I need to know."

"...I was just...protecting you." She looked off, uninterested.

"What...?" He was shocked.

"That's enough. The time for idle chatter is over. A verdict is close at hand..." Byakuya slammed his fist on the table.

"Wait, this is a love story I really want to see." I waved him off. He hit me on the head.

"Wait. I'm warning you, don't make this mistake. I'm not the killer." Kyoko looked at the two of us seriously, something in her eyes was telling the story.

"I knew you were stubborn, but this is just getting ridiculous." Byakuya sighed. I could tell he was done with all of us. But Kyoko was determined to tell us something with her eyes. I already knew what she wanted, i've played the game of course....i think Makoto on the other hand was struggling a little...

"Really? But you should know better than anyone that I didn't do it. Can you tell me I'm wrong?" Kyoko sighed.

"I...should know?" Byakuya was baffled. "Those words you just spoke... What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. I'm not the killer. You should understand that more than anyone here." Kyoko crossed her arms.

Yashihiro asked, "Byakuya, what are you hiding!?"

"Master would n-never hide something from me!"

"There's proof that you aren't the culprit... Is that what you're saying?"

"You stated a theory earlier. You said I hid the evidence of my crime in the dojo locker...and then left the locker key in my own room. Correct?" She asked Byakuya. "But...could I really have done that?"

It was silent for a bit before Makoto struck up the conversation, "If I'm right, Kyoko wouldn't have been able to get into her room."

"Huh? Why not?" Aoi asked.

"Because she had given her room key to Byakuya."

Byakuya went pale a bit, "I see. So that's what you meant... And if I had the key to your room..."

"Then obviously I had no way of getting in. Without my room key, I couldn't possibly put the locker key in there myself. Am I wrong?"

"It...would appear not."

"Then you're finally starting to understand." Kyoko smirked, 'her brain is so powerful--'

I wondered, would Makoto expose Kyoko or....not? Usually the player has the decision to expose Kyoko or not... But, I'm not behind the wheel--oh shit. What is Makoto going to do, for once this decision isn't in my hands.

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Dangan-Trust Stats

Makoto Naegi — (Trust)

Kyoko Kirigiri — (Trust)

Byakuya Togami — (Slightly Less Tense)

'Junko Enoshima' — (Deceased)

Kiyotaka Ishimaru — (Tanaka, nice kill!)

Leon Kuwata — (Deceased)

Mondo Owada — (Scandalous Affairs)

Chihiro Fujisaki — (Newlyweds)

Aoi Asahina — (Neutral)

Sakura Ogami - (Backstabber...)

Hifumi Yamada - (Deceased)

Toko Fukawa - (????)

Yasuhiro Hagakure - (Neutral)

Sayaka Maizono - (Deceased)

Celestia Ludenberg - (Babysitter)

Achievements:
Petting Zoo
Friendship is magic
Boom Baby
Cooking mama
Are Ya Making Friends Son?
THE GIRLS ARE FIGHTING
Parent Trap
Ace Attorney
Minecraft sparkle
Bounded together?
Fortune Teller
Cyberchase
Angsty teen
Eggless...
Bakugou was here

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Double update because I have so much love for you guys and we're in the home stretch! I have something planned you all might love coming up soon—

(And probably WAYYYYY overdue)