(3rd Person's POV)

"It was me."

Everyone in the trial grounds turned to...

Hina: The footprints...they're mine.

Makoto: H-Hina...?

Hina: ...If you're all gonna find out anyway... I'd rather you hear it straight from me, ya know?

Hiro: Then...Ogre's killer was--!

Hina sighed.

Hina: Yup... I did it! I killed Sakura!

Byakuya hummed with interest.

Byakuya: Just as I suspected. The footprints were made by a pair of sneakers--there was no mistaking it. And the only people here who wear sneakers are...

Sneakers... Sora thought. The only people who wear those are...

---

-Makoto and Hina

-Makoto and Leon

-Makoto and Byakuya

"EASY PEASY"

---

Sora: Well... The footprints can only be from Naegi and Hina. I mean, personally, I only wear heels, so there's no way that can be mine.

Kyoko: Plus, your feet are smaller than anyone else's.

Sora: ...How do you know that?

Kyoko: (Smirks) Oh, I have my ways...

Makoto: So Togami...that explains why you...

---

"These footprints must be... Naegi, are they yours?"

"No!"

"Okay. Then let me see your shoes and I'll confirm their size for myself."

---

Byakuya: If the footprints didn't belong to Naegi, that left only one other possibility.

Hiro: Just Hina...

Byakuya: Plus, Hina's been acting strange ever since the trial began. You were in an awful rush to get to the vote, weren't you?

He made an accusing point towards the swimmer.

Byakuya: This whole time, you've been focused on pinning the crime on someone else, haven't you?

Hina: ...

Makoto: I...I can't believe it.

Byakuya: What about it can't you believe?

Makoto: Well, it's just...the two of them were so close.

Byakuya simply chuckled.

Byakuya: That's likely exactly why it turned out this way. Because they were so close, Ogami didn't think twice about it when Hina handed her the concoction. Hina used that trust to kill her! She deceived the victim, and she tried to deceive all of us. I have to say, Hina...coming from you, this was a particularly nasty little scheme.

Hina: ...

Makoto: Hina...is it true? Did you really...kill Ogami? And if you did... Why!? Why would you do that!?

Makoto narrowed his eyes. This was the first time he actually looked visibly angry at one of his fellow classmates during the Class Trials...

After a moment of silence echoed through the room, Hina started to explain.

Hina: ...I found her, there in the rec room... She was hurt. She asked me to bring her that protein drink. But...when I went to get the powder from the chem lab, it just...occurred to me all of a sudden.

Byakuya: "Now's my chance to kill her." That's what you thought, right? That's when you switched out the protein powder, and that's when you gave her the poisoned mixture.

Hina: And then...she downed it, all at once. And...and then...

"Hold on."

Everyone's heads whipped to the source of the sudden voice: Sora.

Sora: Somethin' about this doesn't seem right... I'm not buying this.

Byakuya scoffed.

Byakuya: You're not about to claim she wouldn't kill a close friend, are you? You still don't get it, do you? The game we're playing here isn't so kind. Honeyed words like friendship don't matter here. What matters is outwitting the opponent, defeating them... Not a person alive would sacrifice themselves for another. In the end, we're all in it for ourselves. Just like how this girl sacrificed Ogami...to save herself.

Hina: ...

Sora: You say that, but...

Byakuya: (Sighs) How many times do you plan to repeat yourself?

Sora: Hey, don't get the wrong idea. That's not the main reason I think she's not the killer. I may be lazy, but I'm far from stupid.

Kyoko: I...agree with Shirayuki. There's still that one unsolved mystery, and I, too, am not convinced.

Makoto: Are you talking about the locked room problem?

Kyoko: Hina...if you really are the killer, explain it. How did you create that locked room?

Hina looked hesitant for a moment, freezing up as she struggled how to answer.

Hina: W-Well... Th-That doesn't matter! Just cuz I'm guilty, that means I have to tell you everything!?

Sora: Well, no it doesn't, but the fact that you won't tell us even though you "admitted" to being the killer makes me doubt your guilt even more.

Byakuya looked at Sora with confusion.

Byakuya: Surely you're not--do you honestly think Hina didn't actually kill her?

Sora: Maybe I do. Why does it matter?

Byakuya: Impossible. She switched out the mixtures. She's the culprit. There's no way you can doubt this.

Makoto: Are you sure about that? Even ignoring the fact that I don't want to believe it...it just doesn't fit.

Byakuya: What doesn't fit?

Makoto: I mean...why would someone leave such a clear clue like a footprint? It's too...obvious. Too easy.

Kyoko: He's right. It makes it look like you wanted people to suspect you.

Sora: Yeah. Hina may be dumb, but she's not "Too Dumb To Live" dumb.

Hina: Th-That was... I was just...nervous! So I-I didn't notice I'd left a footprint!

Sora gave her a deadpan glare.

Sora: ...Really?

Hina: Y-Yeah! That's just how it was. What can I do?

Kyoko: Listen, Hina... Could you go into a bit more detail? Tell us more about when you switched the poison and the protein.

Hina: H-How come?! That doesn't matter!

Makoto: Hina...please, I'd like to know, too.

Hina: ...F-Fine...

Byakuya: ...Waste your time if you like. It's clear that Hina is the culprit. There's nobody else to suspect. Nobody else could have possibly done it.

Kyoko: Go ahead, Hina. Start from the moment you arrived at the chem lab.

Hina: W-Well... Right away I went to section C, and got the poison.

Kyoko: And is that when you spilled the powder in front of that part of the shelf?

Hina: Y-Yeah...when I opened the bottle, I dropped it like an idiot.

Kyoko: I see. Okay then, go on.

Hina: So then I moved to section A and got the protein powder, and that's where I switched them. Once I was done with that I took the protein can that had the poison in it and left the room. But I accidentally put the bottle filled with protein powder back on the wrong shelf. And because of that, everything I did got found out. And...that's it.

Sora: ...Lemme get this straight; First you went to section C to get the poison, then moved to section A to get the protein. You went from section C to A. Am I right?

Hina: Y-Yeah...

But if that's the case... Sora mused to herself, flashing back to her mental sketch. That doesn't add up with...

Sora: Hey. Mind if ya tell us again? One more time?

Genocide Jill: What's wrong with you, Mistress!? You're being awfully pushy!

Sora: (Eye twitches) Please stop calling me that...

Byakuya: It's the same thing no matter how many times you hear it. How long until you're satisfied...?

Until I figure this entire thing out. Sora replied in her mind. I won't stop until I bring out the truth of this case!

---

NONSTOP DEBATE! MAKE YOUR ARGUEMENT!

Hina: First I went to section C... That's when I grabbed the poison.

Kyoko: And you spilled some of the powder on the ground in front of the shelf.

Hina: Yeah. When I grabbed the bottle, I dropped it...

Kyoko: Okay, and then...?

Hina: I moved from section C to section A... And that's where I switched the powders. Once I was done switching them I put the bottle filled with the protein powder back in section A. Then I took the bottle with the poison in it and left the chem lab. That's all there is to it.

Byakuya: Honestly, that's enough. How much longer must we tolerate this?

Sora's Truth Bullet: Footprints In The Powder

"I DOUBT THAT!"

---

Sora: You said you spilled the powder when you went to get the poison from section C, right Hina?

Hina: Yeah...what about it?

Sora: And then, you said you got the protein by moving to section A... but the footprints that were left at the chem lab weren't moving from section C to A. Your testimony and the evidence don't fit.

Hina: Wh--!?

Hiro: Then...maybe she moved in some weird direction on purpose to disguise her movements...?

Sora: No. Remember what Hina said earlier...?

---

"I was just...nervous! So I didn't notice I'd left a footprint!"

---

Hina: Ah--!

She covered her mouth, mentally cursing herself for the slip-up she just made.

Byakuya narrowed her eyes as she glared at Hina.

Byakuya: What the--? Hina, what's the meaning of this!?

Hina: U-Um, well...

Kyoko: You lied to us, plain and simple. If you look at the footprints, your movements in the chem lab are obvious. The powder had already been spilled when you came in, and you went straight to section A. So you never went to section C. Whatever you did there, it only involved section A.

Hina: W-Well, you see...

Byakuya: Wh-What the...? What the hell? What's going on here!?

Sora giggled. Honestly, this was a surprise. Byakuya...nervous?

Kyoko: And the footprints aren't the only problem with her account.

Byakuya: What...?

Kyoko: Before I explain that part, I'd like to submit some new evidence.

Byakuya: New evidence!? Impossible! There can't be!

Kyoko: ...Are you sure? After all, you're the one that gave it to me.

Byakuya: I...did?

Kyoko: It was hidden inside the bottle of poison you gave me. I'm amazed you of all people would miss such a vital clue. A truly grave oversight...

Byakuya: ... Just say it, already! What is it you think you found!?

Kyoko: I found this.

She pulled out a piece of glass.

Kyoko: It had sunk to the bottom of the bottle. And the hidden clue was exposed thanks to Shirayuki ingesting the powder. Even though she was the one who drank it, you were the one who found it in the first place. I couldn't have solved the mystery without you. So, thank you for that.

Byakuya: B-But...what is it?

Now he's stuttering? This isn't good...

Kyoko: Oh, you still don't realize? Well then... Naegi, why don't you explain it?

Makoto: Huh? Me!?

Byakuya: ...F-Fine! If you really do know, explain the meaning of that shard of glass!

The shard of light blue glass Kyoko found in the bottle of poison...

---

-The bottle of poison

-The rec room window

-The Monokuma Bottle

"I GOT IT!"

---

Makoto: It's...part of the window from the rec room door, right?

Byakuya: The window...?

Makoto: The window we broke to get in was light blue, just like that. So I think that must be it.

Kyoko: You're right, it must be. Of course, that leads to another question... How did a shard of glass from the window get inside this bottle of poison?

Genocide Jill: What's so strange about that!?

Makoto: What's strange is that...according to what Hina told us...

Where was it the bottle of poison should have been when Makoto broke the rec room window? According to what Hina told us...

---

-Section C of the shelf

-The rec room locker

-Section A of the shelf

"I GOT IT!"

---

Makoto: The bottle of poison was left on the shelf in the chem lab. That is what you said, right Hina?

Hina: Uh...umm...

Makoto: And yet, somehow a piece of glass from the rec room window made its way into the bottle...

Hiro: Then everything Hina told us was a lie!?

Makoto: In reality, that bottle of poison most definitely found its way to the rec room. It was there at least until the window got broken. In other words, when the locked room was unlocked. There's no other way to explain the presence of that glass in that bottle.

Kyoko: And then, once the room was opened, the bottle somehow got moved back to the shelf in the chem lab. Meanwhile, the protein can we found at the crime scene was planted there. That had to be after the locked room was opened. In other words, after Ogami died.

Byakuya: Wait, hold on... You're moving too fast!

Byakuya spoke up as he planted his hands on the trial seat.

Byakuya: I'll grant you, the bottle of poison may well have been in the rec room when it was locked, but how can you say the protein can was put there after the room was unlocked!? We already know she was given the protein can with the poison inside, right? If that can wasn't there when she died, how did she get poisoned!?

Kyoko: You're right. We do need to explain that. But before we do, there's something I'd like to confirm with everyone here.

Hiro: Huh...?

Kyoko: It has to do with the protein can. After Ogami's body was discovered, did anyone move it or trip over it or anything like that?

Byakuya: What are you talking about? Is this some kind of loaded question?

Kyoko: Not at all. Just answer to the best of your ability.

Byakuya: ...Well, no. Not that I remember.

Makoto: Yeah, me either.

Sora: Nope.

Hiro: Not me.

Genocide Jill: Same here!

Hina: Y-Yeah, me either...

Kyoko folded her arms as she smirked again.

Kyoko: Okay then, that settles it. That proves that the protein can found its way to the murder scene after the room was opened.

Byakuya: Oh, come on! How can you say that!? How can you know what I don't know!?

The reason she can say that is because there's evidence... There's proof that someone brought the protein can to the rec room after it was opened!

---

NONSTOP DEBATE: MAKE YOUR ARGUEMENT!

Kyoko: When it comes to that protein can, there's not a doubt in my mind. Until the locked room was unlocked, it absolutely was not in there!

Hiro: So you're saying...someone planted it there after we got the door open?

Byakuya: No...no, that's impossible... I-It had to have been in there the whole time! It had to be! It was in there before the rec room was unlocked!

Makoto's Truth Bullet: Empty Protein Drink

"NO, THAT'S WRONG!"

---

Makoto: You remember how there was broken glass scattered all around the room, right?

Byakuya: Of course! It came from the window you broke to get in. What about it?

Makoto: Well, those pieces weren't just scattered around the protein can... We also found pieces underneath the can.

Byakuya widened his eyes, flabbergasted.

Byakuya: Wh-What!?

Makoto: And this proves it... It shows that the can must have been put down on the floor after the window was broken. So it had to be after we got into the room!

Byakuya: Kh--! I-I see... So that's your explanation... Kirigiri...earlier, when you asked if anyone had moved the can, or tripped over it...

Kyoko: If that were the case, that would explain the can being on top of the glass.

Makoto: So you asked everyone about it to eliminate that possibility right out of the gate...

Kyoko: And that's made everything clear, hasn't it? As long as it was a "locked room," it only contained the bottle of poison, and not the protein can. But once the room was opened up, they were switched. And as a result the protein can wound up in the rec room, and the bottle of poison returned to the chem lab.

Hina: ...

Hina looked at the two in disbelief. How...? How could they...?

Byakuya: If that's all true, then...why did Ogami drink the poison? I thought we all agreed she was tricked into drinking it because of the protein can...

Makoto: No...that's not why... The only explanation is...she drank it from its original bottle, knowing exactly what it was.

Kyoko: Precisely. She was alone in a locked room. All she had was the poison. What other possibility is there?

Byakuya: You're saying she drank it...knowing what it was? Such a ridiculous fiction is...

Kyoko: ...exactly what happened.

Byakuya: ... Then tell us already...! Er, sorry. Please, tell us.

Now he's trying to be polite? This is bad...this is really really bad!

Kyoko: Before we get to that, we need to clarify one other thing... We need to establish who exactly got the poison from the chem lab and took it to the rec room.

Hiro: ...It was Hina, right? She took it and gave it to Ogre.

Kyoko: ...

The one who got the poison from the chem lab and brought it to the rec room... It had to have been...

---

-Sakura

-Hina

-Hiro

"EASY PEASY."

---

Sora: No...it wasn't Hina...it had to be Ogami herself.

Genocide Jill: Huh? So Ogami, who was apparently murdered, just...poisoned herself?

Hina: Wh-What are you talking about!? There's no way!

Kyoko: On the contrary. We know for a fact she went to the chem lab, right to the section full of poisons.

Sora: It's obvious at this point. She's the one who went to section C to get the poison.

But Hina didn't want to hear it.

Hina: You're lying... Stop lying! Why!? Why would you lie like that!?

Sora shook her head. No, it's not a lie. Sakura definitely went to section C. She has to get Hina to admit that!

---

BULLET TIME BATTLE: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH!

You're Lying! - Aoi Asahina

"You're a liar!"

"What are you saying?!"

"Wrong... You're wrong!"

"I'm telling you, I did it!"

"Just let it end already!"

"Stop talking!"

"I don't wanna hear it!"

"You're a liar!"

"What are you saying?!"

"Wrong... You're wrong!"

"I'm telling you, I did it!"

"Just let it end already!"

"Stop talking!"

"I don't wanna hear it!"

"I hate you!"

"Do you have any kind of proof Sakura took the poison!?"

Sora's Truth Bullet: Yellow Powder

"I'LL CUT THROUGH YOUR WORDS!"

---

Sora: Pfft-! Snrrk-!

Hina: Wh-What's so funny?!

Sora: Hina... didja know that some yellow powder stuck to Ogami's foot?

Hina: ...It did?

Sora: Yuppers. The same powder that was spilled in the chem lab. It was yellow...so it's not a stretch to say that it's the same powder we found on Ogami, riiight?

Hina: Ah--!

Hiro: Wait wait wait... So what was that powder doing on Ogre's foot?

Genocide Jill: And it was only on her instep, right!?

Kyoko: Shirayuki...how did you even know that Ogami had powder on her foot...? From what I can remember, Hina wouldn't even let you near her body.

Sora: Oh, that's easy. While she was talking with Naegi, I took the chance to sneak a little peak, and wouldn't you know, I saw some suspicious looking powder.

Hina: You did what?!

Sora: Good grief...looks like you weren't as attentive as you thought you were, Hina... (Mischievously winks) Mmm-hmm-hmm...!

Hina: What...?! You...!

Sora: Aaaanyway, Ogami must've been standing where the powder was spilled. So the one who made the mess wasn't Hina, but Ogami!

Hina: Ah...!

Sora: And when Ogami dropped the bottle, she dropped it away from where she was actually standing. Which is how she was able to avoid getting it all over herself. But the powder still got scattered around, and some of it must have gotten on her foot. (Smugly smirked) ...Am I wrong?

Kyoko: But why did Ogami pay a visit to section C in the first place? The only explanation is that she was looking for poison. After all, that's all that section contained.

Hina: N-No! It was me! I--! The poison--! Because... Because...! Because I killed her!

Sora: No, you didn't. Actually, nobody did. ...Well, nobody that's here, anyway...

Hina: Wh-What're you-?!

Byakuya: What the hell do you mean "nobody" killed her?!

Sora made her signature smug grin. "The one that killed Sakura... The connection between Sakura and the poison, the unsolved mystery of the locked room... There's only one way to explain it!"

Class Trial #4: On Hold

To be continued...?