(3rd Person's POV)

CLASS TRIAL...ALL RISE!

Monokuma cleared his throat as he began speaking.

Monokuma: Since this will be the final class trial, I've come up with a special rule! So listen up! If you can figure out Ikusaba's killer, and go on to solve the mystery of this school...you guys win! But if you can't...then I win! And of course, waiting for the loser is the super exciting, super heartpounding punishment! 

Kyoko:  Are you saying that if you lose, you'll execute yourself?

Monokuma: Yup, sure will!

Kyoko: (Narrows her eyes in suspicion) ...And that's final? No loopholes? No wiggling out of it later?

Monokuma: Of course not! Bears never go back on their word!

At that moment, Hiro spoke up.

Hiro:  Never mind all that. I just have one question for you...

The bear tilted his head in intrigue.

Monokuma: Ohh, you're taking this seriously, huh? Are you feeling okay?

Hiro: Is the mastermind...only one person?

Monokuma: ...Hmmm?

Hiro: Don't bother. I already know the answer. (Furiously points at the rest of the students) You're all the mastermind, aren't you!? You're all out to get me! I'm right, aren't I!? I knew it!

---

NONSTOP DEBATE: MAKE YOUR ARGUEMENT!

Hiro: You guys have all been working together, haven't you!? I have evidence, so I know I'm right!

Hina: Hey! You stole my line! You're all out to get me, I'm sure of it! I have evidence of my own! 

Byakuya: What a coincidence. I, too, have evidence to present. Evidence that proves everyone other than me has been working together...

Hiro: Wh-What...? Wait, hold on... This doesn't make any sense... How can the three of us each have that kind of evidence!?

Sora's Truth Bullet: Group Photo

"I DOUBT THAT!"

---

Sora: Hold on. It's not just the three of you. I have evidence like that as well.

Hiro (Widens his eyes in shock) What?! You too?!

Sora: Mm-hm. What all of you are referring too (Pulls it out) ...is this group photo, right?

Hina: W-Well, yeah... ...Huh? Wait, but mine's different! With the picture you have...I'm in it!  But that can't be right! Cuz in my picture...

The girl mumbled in confusion as she pulled out a photo.

It was another group photo of the students, but this time they seemed to be outside. And unlike the photo she got, Sora was in the picture, wearing the same uniform as everyone else and standing in the shade next to Kyoko, watching Sayaka, Hifumi, Leon, Makoto, and Sakura race with a tired expression.

Hina: See? I'm the only one not in it!

I figured as much. Sora thought. In that case...

Sora: Hiro, you have a picture too, right? Mind if we see it?

Hiro: O-Okay, but be careful with it. It's pretty important evidence...

Hiro worriedly took out the photo and showed it to everyone.

This photo looked to be taken inside the school. Everyone was wearing the same school uniform with the majority of them looking at the camera. Sora was in this one as well, standing next to Makoto and making a tired yawn.

This one, too... Just like she thought...

Sora: So the secret in these pictures has been revealed...

Hiro: Secret or whatever, I don't care! You guys are all in on this together! That's why I'm the only one missing!

Hina: But you're in my picture! You're the ones trying to trick me!

Sora: (Shakes her head while sighing) Good grief, you guys... Don't any of you see? The whole purpose of behind these photos was to get us questioning and feel suspicious of one another. The mastermind laid out a trap to make us suspect each other and you guys fell for it, hook, line and sinker.

Monokuma: Huh? I laid a trap? (Looks offended) A trap!? How rude! What grounds do you have for such audacious accusations!?

The proof she needs to reveal Monokuma's trap... Each photo has a certain something in common. There's a connection regarding what person isn't shown in the group photos. And that person is...

---

-Toko

-Monokuma

-The ones who got the photo

"EASY PEASY."

---

Sora: In each case, the only one not in the picture is the person who received it. So, in the picture I got, I'm the only one missing. In the picture Hina got, she's the only one missing. And in the picture Hiro got, he's the only one missing.

Byakuya: (Lets out a small sigh) As long as we're talking about it, I suppose I should show you my photo, as well.

The progeny then took his out.

The group photo looked to be taken inside the school pool. Sora was in the picture, wearing the same one piece swimsuit as the majority of the girls and sitting between Sayaka and Kyoko. And although she still had the same tired expression, her cheeks were even more pink than usual, looking like she was embarrassed or something.

Sora: In other words, Monokuma gave each of us a group photo in which that person wasn't included.

Hiro: And when we each saw our picture, we just assumed everyone else was the enemy...?

Monokuma: Puhuhu... Figured it out, huh?

Kyoko: Yeah, I thought that must be it. But how was that a hint?

Sora closed her eyes in contemplation. But you know...there might be more to this than just Monokuma trying to confuse us... There's something else that bothers me about everyone's pictures... What is it? What's digging at me...? 

Sora: (Opens her eyes and looks at everyone) Hey. Mind if I see everyone's group photo one more time? It's not directly connected to what we're talking about, but I'd like to double-check something...

Hiro: Sure, no problem.

Hina: Yeah, I don't mind.

The three gave Sora their group photos as Sora looked at them intently. She's sure there's something unusual about these group photos... What is it? She needs to compare each of them one more time.

Byakuya's picture...

Hina's picture...

Hiro's picture...

And hers...

Sora: ...

"There's something strange about all of them. Something I can't quite pin down... Something..."

Truth Bullet: Group Photo

Hiro lets out a sigh at seeing Sora hyper-focused on the photos, despite the fact that they already figured their true purpose.

Hiro: Can you just forget about the photo already? (Lets out a small growl) Grr... Trying to trick me with such an obviously fake photo... I'm still pissed about that!

Hina: And on top of that, they went to all that trouble to make it look like we were wearing matching uniforms!

Monokuma: Hmm? So you think they're fake?

He let out a mocking chuckle.

Monokuma: No no no, I assure you, they're quite real.

The other students looked quite shocked, though that shock quickly turned into denial as Hina and Hiro narrowed their eyes in insistent disbelief.

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

Hiro: Yeah! I don't remember ever taking a picture like that! So it's gotta be a fake! I'm sure of it!

Sora: But you know... Can we really be so sure?

Hiro looked at her like she was crazy.

Hiro: ...Huh?

Sora: Don't get me wrong, I don't remember taking these photos, either. And I sure don't remember meeting any of you before we got here, but...can we really write these of as fake?

Toko: Wh-What do you mean...?

Sora closed her eyes. The reason I don't remember this picture isn't necessarily because it's fake... There might be...some other reason... Some...terrible reason...

An unbelievable, but entirely horrifying reason...

---

HANGMAN'S GAMBIT: THINK ABOUT IT!

A.M.N.E.S.I.A.

"THIS IS THE ANSWER."

---

Sora let out a sigh as she opened her eyes and looked towards the other students with a grimace, knowing how they'll react to her theory.

Sora: Let's say that somehow...we'd all...lost our memories and we did take those pictures. Would that explain it...?

A deep, deafening silence echoed throughout the entire trial grounds. A drop of sweat rolled down Sora's face.

Finally, after what seemed like an hour, Hiro spoke up.

Hiro: Oh, I get it! So we all just lost our memories at the same time and forgot about the photo. Makes sense! (Smiled before it turned into a scowl)  ...As if! You expect me to believe such an unbelievable occult-type story!?

Hina: Y-Yeah! We all lost our memories? That's just...crazy!

Sora: Oh, good grief...

The blonde shook her head. She knew they'd react like that. After all, it's only natural that they wouldn't believe it.

But no matter how much they refuse, if that's the absolute truth, they have no choice...! They can't move forward until they accept it!

Class Trial: On Hold

To be continued...?