⬆️Have a dabbing Gundham

Yes this is the new dab

Hey you guys! Time for a new chapter! ^^ I'm sorry that I haven't published for quite a time but it's quite... long o_o
Also, I HAVE A DR ANON ACCOUNT!!!!
GUESS WHO IT IS???

...

BYAKUYA!!!!

Yas, I have a Byakuya account!

[account name respectfully removed in 2021 since the account has been deleted and another person made an account with the same name. Peace!]

Enjoy! ^3^

⊱⋅ ──────────── ⋅⊰

"Well, what now?" Nagito asked as he looked at the students. "If the knife isn't the murder weapon, there's no definitive proof that I'm the killer."
"S-Shut up! We'll be the judge of that!" Mahiru yelled at him.
"Y-You say you were shoved away, but... You can't actually prove it, right?" Teruteru huffed.
"That's right... Even if a different weapon was used, it does not mean Nagito has been cleared of suspicion!" Gundham crossed his arms angrily.
"B-But... There's another reason why I don't think Nagito is the killer..." Mikan muttered quietly.
"T-There's still more!?" the short cook cried desperately.
"Based on what we've discussed... Byakuya was killed under the table, right?" she asked shyly.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Sonia tilted her head.
"Well... Even if that's true, I feel Nagito looks... you know... clean..." she played with her fingers in embarassment.
"Nobody's ever complimented me on my appearance before! Not even my own mother!" Nagito cheered with a huge smile on his face.
'I'd like to speak up, but if I think about it it's the same for me except the time when... I punched and kicked Kazuichi on our first meet...'
You facepalmed at the memory but shook it off, and paid attention.
"Nyehhh... I'm not talking about your looks!" the purplenette squeaked, blushing slightly.

"Are you trying to say something like... 'Why didn't Nagito have any bloodstains on him?'" Hajime asked her.
"Y-Yes! That's it!" she nodded quickly. "Because... Under the table, there was a lot of blood splattered everywhere, right? There were even bloodstains on the inside of the tablecloth..."
"If he stabbed Byakuya to death, it's strange he did not get splattered with an appropiate amount of blood..." Peko stated.
"I didn't get any blood on me? That is weird, heh." the luckster smirked.
"You just used somethin' to block the blood, didn't ya!?" Akane gritted her teeth.
"Something that might've been used to block the blood splatter... What do you think it could've been?" Nagito turned to Hajime. "Hm... I guess we did see something I could've used... Isn't that right, Hajime?"
Mentioned boy opened his mouth to answer, but you interrupted him.

"There was a bloodstained tablecloth found in the storage room." you crossed your arms.
"If there are bloodstains on it, that settles it. Nagito used the tablecloth to block the blood splatter!" Fuyuhiko gritted his teeth angrily.
"But, Dark Queen, we found that in the storage room, right?" Gundham raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting he hid it there after the murder?"
"You mean after the lights came back on? What would he have done if we'd seen him?" Catmaru asked.
"True." you sighed. "The tablecloth was quite big, so... Even if you tried to hide it..."
"Wearing a tablecloth, going under the table, getting a knife in a blackout, and stabbing someone..." Nagito counted the steps on his fingers. "That's not just impossible for someone like me... Wouldn't it be impossible for you guys, too?"
"T-Then... What does it mean...?" Teruteru stuttered.
"....... Maybe... The killer didn't necessarily stab Byakuya under the table." Chiaki hummed sleepily.
'I'm starting to think Chiaki's the group's genius.'
"No, there's no mistake that the murder occured under that table." Gundham stated sharply.
"Even the inside of the tablecloth was bloody... so there's no denying Byakuya was killed there." Mikan nodded.
"But that doesn't mean where Byakuya got stabbed and where the killer did the stabbing are the same... Right?" she tilted her head slightly.
"I don't understand at all!" Ibuki cried.
"Huh? Hajime... You look like you're onto something." Nagito smiled.
"R-Really!? B-But... It sounds like a riddle!" Teruteru stuttered with wide eyes.
"I feel like I'm onto something, but... It's still not clear what that is..." Hajime murmured.
"Hajime. Under the table, but not under the table." you tried to gave him a hint.
"If it's somehow possible, it's the only way that makes sense!" the gamer nodded. "Moving forward, we should put aside all unnecessary preconceptions and just choose the answer... I think."
Hajime took a deep breath, and closed his hazel eyes for a few seconds. Then his eyes snapped open wide.

"I got it! The killer must've stabbed Byakuya from under the floorboards!" he yelled confidently.
"U-Under the floorboards!?" Mahiru gasped.
"The floorboards in the old building are full of gaps, and there was no carpet laid out under the table." he explained. "If they stuck the weapon through one of the gaps, they could've stabbed Byakuya to death."
"If so, that means the killer was able to get under the floorboards. But from where? And how?" Nagito sighed.
"I don't know that yet, but... I have a feeling there's someone here who does know." he looked around.

"Hey, Gundham... You dropped your earring in the dining hall, right?" he asked the breeder.
"... Are you referring to the Hell Hound Earring?" he raised an unexistent eyebrow.
"About that earring..."
"... I said, are you referring to the Hell Hound Earring?"
"About that 'Hell Hound Earring'..." the ahoge-boy sweatdropped, "you dropped it beneath the floorboards, right?"
"Yup, I was there when he found out it was under the floor." you nodded.

Flashback

"Maybe it fell under the floorboards?" you suggested. His eyes lit up, then he knelt to the ground, and peeked through one of the gaps.
"Ah! There it is!" he shouted. "I have found it! Truly, that is the Hell Hound Earring!"

Flashback ends

"Though, obviously, he couldn't reach it from the dining hall." you sighed.
"Kehehe... Just a bit longer and I would have reduced everything, including that old building, to ashes..." he smirked. "However, it's just as the old legend said! The Hell Hound Earring has returned to it's owner, me!"
"Is it safe to say that... that earring is the one hanging from your right ear?" the brunette sweatdropped.
"Huh? Could it be!?" Teruteru gasped.
"Gundham wasn't wearing an earring during the investigation... And if he had it on by the time the class trial began... Then that means Gundham was able to retrieve his earring from beneath the floorboards during the investigation." Hajime explained.
"Then... Gundham knows how to get under the floorboards." Peko stated.
"Kehehe... It's understandable. After all, you fools only view the world through eyes of glass..." Gundham laughed. "But I am different! With the power of my Four Dark Devas of Destruction, it is of no concern! Truly, this is the 'Evil Fourth Eye'! Before the might of the 'Evil Fourth Eye', all visual chaos is rendered asunder!" (I love this guy sm siriusly)
"What should I do!? I'm embarassed just listening to him! He doesn't even make an expection with [F/N] brat anymore!" Hiyoko cried.
'Brat, huh.'
"Oh?" Gundham broke out from his pose. "Dark Queen is still an exception of course. She was there and helped with her power when I found my earring."
'More like I found your earring...'
"Wait, wait, wait. You mean, [F/N] knows what's the way under the floor too?" Mahiru asked.
"Of course she knows!!!" he roared suddenly. "What kind of stupid question is that??? Fuhaha, she's the Dark Queen, so it's only natural she knows!"
"Quite the bubbling and speak like a maaaaan!!!!" Catmaru roared.
"Fine, I shall tell you all!" the breeder smirked. "The answer was in the storage room! One of my Four Dark Devas Destruction... Mirage Golden Hawk, Jum-P, has seen beyond the chaos. A Secret Passage of Doom leading to the underground lurks beneath a large assortment of random boxes... After I let know Dark Queen what we found, she ventured below the floorboards and has recovered the Hell Hound Earring with her own two hands!" (I'm trying, ok, I'm trying)
"Wait, what? Your ha-- I mean, deva found the secret trapdoor? Because you told me that you found it, and you called it the 'gate to hell' then." you gave him an odd look. He was silent for a few seconds, then coughed awkwardly, pulled up his scarf to his nose and said "That does not matter right now!!"
"Oh... Wait, so what [F/N] couldn't come out from was the secret passage!?" Hajime widened his eyes.
"Why, what did you thought it was?" you raised an eyebrow at him.
"Well I thought that, you know, the floor was old and it breaked and fell down beneath you..."
"Thank you Hajime, I love you too." you replied sarcastically.
"W-Wait!!! I mean- I didn't meant that you are fat, I meant --- the floor was old a-and--"
"You're not gonna explain yourself out of that, Hajime." Nagito laughed.
"S-Shut up!!!"
"... Anyway..." Peko sweatdropped, "It sounds like you can go under the floorboards from the storage room."
"Then that has to be how the killer did it." Chiaki said, then lifted up the diagram Mahiru drew and pointed at it. "If the space beneath the floor is empty, it's not that far to move from the storage room to the dining hall."
"I see... If they passed through the storage room, I understand why the tablecloth was put there." Catmaru said.
"The killer lurked under the floorboards during the party and from there... 'stab stab stab!'" Ibuki punched into the air with both of her fists.
"Hmmm, are you sure?" Teruteru hummed.
"You don't like 'stab stab stab'...? Should it sound more fleshy like '*splat shank stab!*'?" she pouted.
"No, I'm not talking about your sound effects..." he sweatdropped. "You're saying they snuck under the floorboards, but that means they would've had to leave party, right? So... Was there anyone who was able to do that?"
"Then whoever wasn't at the party is the killer. They must be the one who was waiting under the floorboards." Hiyoko said.
"... Who wasn't at the party again?" Akane asked.
"I didn't participate, but... I was guarding the entrance, remember? Monomi over there can be my witness... Right?" Chiaki muttered and pointed at the rabbit.
"Yes, this Monomi over here is your witness." she nodded while she hang.
"I believe there's no need to discuss this matter further, but... I was unable to leave the bathroom..." Peko mumbled quietly, looking at the ground.
"I was in the kitchen for a long time, but I frequently went to the dining hall to deliver my dishes." Teruteru jabbered.
"Uhm... The only person who wasn't at the party..." Mahiru hummed silently. "Judging from the photo I took before the blackout... It obviously has to be him."
Everyone looked at Fuyuhiko. He gritted his teeth, but stayed silent.
"Yay, it's decided!" Hiyoko cheered, lifting her hands up in the air.
"Wh-What the fuck are you saying!? I'm not the killer!" he yelled angrily.
"Oh really...? What happened to the tough guy who was saying stuff like, 'I can do it'?" Mahiru placed her hand on her hip.
"Don't mess with me! I'll fuckin' kill you!" he screamed at her.
"See? You're making threats again!" she bit back.
"Yep yep, that's right. Things are starting to get exciting!" Monokuma giggled to himself, and you sent a glare to him. "What? I tought you warmed up!" he got an even deadlier glare. "Okay, okay, jeez..."

"During the party, the killer was lurking under the floor like a cockroach!" Hiyoko giggled.
"Then they could've stared at panties all day without going to the storage room in the dark!" Teruteru yelled.
"Is that true, Fuyuhiko!?" Ibuki gasped.
"Don't act like I'm the fuckin' killer!" the yakuza growled.
"But when the party started, nobody saw you, you know?" the red-head crossed her arms. "That means you have no alibi!"

"N-No! Fuyuhiko has an alibi... Right, Chiaki? I mean, you guarded the entrance so you would've saw if he went in... Right?" you quickly said. You felt like that you needed to save him from the suspicion, just like he did for you earlier.
"Uhm... Oh, you're right." Chiaki nodded, and you silently sighed in relief.

Flashback (that wasn't in the book lol)

"...Huh? What happened, Fuyuhiko?" Chiaki asked the yakuza, because he just arrived near the old building.
"O-Oh, hey... What are you doing here...? All alone at a place like this...?" he muttered while sweatdropping.
"I'm standing guard so Monokuma doesn't come inside." she answered.
"Heh... How diligent of you..."

Flashback ends

"I saw Fuyuhiko after the party started. There's no way he could've been waiting under the floor before then." she said silently.
"You should've said that earlier, dumbass." Fuyuhiko mumbled.
"It's still your fault. Like... Why were you even lurking around the old building in the first place?" Mahiru crossed her arms.
"S-Shut up..." he looked away.
"Maybe there really is a secret passage to go under the floorboards from outside, and he came to spy..." Teruteru muttered.
"... What'd you say, motherfucker!?" Fuyuhiko roared at him.
"Oh noooooooo-ho-ho-haha-hmm!" the cook laughed in answer.
"Wow, he got chewed out, but he looks super happy!" Hiyoko gasped.
"In any way, it's impossible to go under the floorboards from outside. I already checked that..." Chiaki yawned, taking her hoodie on.
"Then someone definitely went under the floorboards through the storage room during the party." Sonia stated.
"During the party... It was probably during the blackout..." Mikan mumbled silently.
"Well, if someone disappeared during the blackout, no one would've noticed." the pinkette gamer said while she pulled her hoodie in her eyes.
"But walking down that dark hallway to the storage room is like trying to make eggs benedict without any eggs!" Teruteru cried.
"You're right... I couldn't even see the office in that darkness, and that room was much closer..." Kazuichi agreed sweatdropping.
"... But is it really impossible?" Hajime asked suddenly. "It might be better if we examine that possibility a little bit more..."
'They're getting closer... Thank goodness.'
"It was super dark, y'know? There's no way you'd be able to find your way to the storage room!" Ibuki pouted.
"It appears... We're getting close to the final stage..." Nagito smirked. "The blackened or the spotless... Which is superior...? I think it's time to settle this."

"The hallway was really dark during the blackout!" the cook said. "Moving to the storage room like that is like making a seafood bowl without fish!"
"Is it really not possible?" Chiaki hummed.
"What if they used a string like the cord?" Catmaru suggested.
"Maybe there was another pair of night-vision goggles?" Hiyoko tilted her head.
"What a pain, I'm gonna go with my gut." Akane sighed. "What if they used a light?"

"I know... The killer had a light with them!" Hajime yelled.
"Oh, I was right!?" the gymnast grinned proudly.
"But where could they have found a light?" Ibuki asked curiously.
"There was one nearby for sure. See? It's written on the kitchen's equipment list." he pointed at the paper in his hand.

20 forks
20 knives
20 spoons
5 iron skewers
3 frying pans
20 wine glasses
iron plates
portable stove

"It's the portable stove." he said.
"P-Portable stove!?" the musician gasped.
"The portable stove isn't powered by electricity and it's also small enough to carry around..." he explained.
"Well duh. It's called portable." you commented, and Hajime glared at you. "Okay, sorry."
"So, the killer used the portable stove to move from the hallway to the storage room during the blackout!" he yelled motivated.
"I see... I never considered the portable stove, but there's a hole in your argument." Nagito smiled, clearly enjoying the situation.
"A hole? What kind of hole? It would be great if you could explain it to me in... much more detail." Teruteru smirked, but then widened his eyes. "Ah, I wasn't making a perverted joke or anything! It's really not a perverted joke! I-I'm serious! Hm..."
"Repeating yourself just makes it even more suspicious!" Mahiru huffed.
"Now then, Hajime. Will you battle aganist me?" the luckster glared daggers into his eyes.
(You've got those eyes that drives me crazy
And I've got eyes to watch you sleep--

Author's randomness kicks in lol)

"... Will you be able to break through my argument?" he smirked.

Nagito argued with the fact that Kazuichi was in the hallway, and he could've seen the light, but he confessed that it was pitch black. You decided to cut in again.

"I see that you forgot it, Nagito." you muttered. "Or you're pretending you forgot."
"...Hm? What are you talking about?"
"There was a wall between Kazuichi and the culprit that blocked the light." you said, now you're being the one glaring into his greenish grey eyes. "The fire door in the hallway. If you close it, it makes a perfect wall. Plus, the hallway rounds a corner right beside that fire door. So even if the door didn't fit perfectly, the light still wouldn't pass it."
"I see... To actually, notice the fire door, just as excepted from the Ultimate Assassin..." he smiled.
"Nagito, what are you plotting? For someone who insists he's not the killer, you are quite nosy." Peko narrowed her eyes at him.
"You sound so scary. If you're that angry, why don't you take a deep breath...?" he smiled awkwardly.
"You sure like to piss us off! How about I shut your fuckin' mouth for you!?" Fuyuhiko yelled at him while trying to jump at him.
"Heeeey! It's okay if you guys fight, but I won't allow a burly brawl that might offend people!" that annoying bear appeared between them while dancing around. Then he turned to the other students and tilted his head. "More importantly, can you hurry up and decide who's the blackened already? Time runs out when I get bored."
"Fine, I get it... You're telling me to pass the torch, right?" Nagito asked.
"P-Pass the torch?" Sonia gasped.
"We're going to ask the real killer, not an imposter like me, to show themselves!" he announced.
"Hmph...! You're obviously the killer, right?" Catmaru gritted his teeth, stubbornly staying by the first statement.
"If you think I am... I really don't mind." he shrugged. "Whatever conclusion you Ultimates arrive at, I will accept it, no matter what it is."

"..." Hajime bit his lips, and sighed. "Teruteru... Could it be you?"
You smirked proudly at that sentence. 'Yup, this guy is the genius of the group.'
Teruteru was silent for a second, processing what he just said, then he widened his eyes.
"Huh!? What!? What are you talking about!?" he screamed.
"T-Teruteru's the killer... Is that true!?" Mahiru gasped in shock.
"W-What are you talking about! There's no way!" he stuttered, sweating hardly.
"Of course, that's simply my assumption, so if you have an objection, please speak freely." the ahoge-boy said calmly, closing his eyes.
"O-Objection or not... Why am I being treated like the killer...?" the brunette cook muttered.
"Because... the portable stove used in the murder came from the kitchen." Hajime answered.
"That's it!? That's the only reason you're treating me like a killer!? Isn't that a little drastic!?" Teruteru gasped, completely indignant. "You're cruel! Cruel! Too cruel!"
"Ah... Teruteru... That attitude is so not like you." Nagito sighed. "For the Ultimate Cook to get so upset..."
"Call me 'Chef'..." he corrected him.
"If you fall to aspersions like this, who will be there to support the future of the culinary arts?" he pouted.
"T-The future of culinary arts...?" Teruteru sweatdropped.
"That's right. For the future of the culinary arts, you must face this and fight it fair and square." Nagito nodded with a detirmened look on his face.
"Y-You're right... Yeah... That's totally right...!"
"So what's an 'aspersion' anyway? Is it yummy?" Akane grinned.
"Did you know asbestos is yummy, too? You should try some later!" Hiyoko giggled.
"Nagito... Why are you interfering!?" Hajime yelled at the luckster.
"Let's assume that the killer used a light..." he looked at Hajime, then looked at you, "and they used the fire door to mask that light... And that they moved to the storage room and snuck under the floorboards. Then what? It's dark under the floorboards too, so how would they be able to stab Byakuya? You're not gonna say they shined the light (Go on and SHINE SHINE SHINE A LIGHT--) on Byakuya, right? The plan would've been ruined if he noticed."
"Th-That's right... What do you think about that!?" Teruteru nodded quickly.
"T-That's..." Hajime stuttered.
"There's no way you can answer, right? You personally haven't investigated what's beneath the floorboards." he stated as a matter of fact.
"He haven't."
Nagito turned to you with a surprised look on his face.
"But I have." you smirked in his face.
"Oh?" he tilted his head.
"In actuality, I found something rather interesting under the floorboards." you crossed your arms. "... I found glowing paint where Byakuya's blood was dripping."
"Huh!? Glowing paint!?" Mahiru gasped.
"That sounds super important!" Ibuki clinged into your arm.
"So if there was a mark like that, they would have been able to move to it in the dark, right?" Sonia said, tilting her head.
"And in doing so, it might've been possible for them to use that mark to target the victim." Chiaki agreed.
"I see... The killer didn't target an actual person, they just struck the moment when the glowing paint moved!" Hiyoko yelled confidently.
"That would be the moment someone grabbed ahold of the knife!" the blonde princess nodded.
"So... The killer used the mark that I prepared for finding the knife as a mark for stabbing..." Nagito muttered. "I see... That's why Byakuya got killed when he took the knife..."
"But if they were able to do that, wouldn't that mean the killer knew about Nagito's plan all along?" Chiaki asked.
You gritted your teeth as you remembered the scene you and Fuyuhiko eavesdropped at. It was painful to remember.
"Well, Teruteru!?" Catmaru rubbed his fists as he looked at the small cook.
"S-Seriously, I don't know anything... Really... I don't know anything at all..." he stuttered, playing with his fingers and sweating.
"Then can I ask everyone a question instead?" Nagito smiled.
"Y-You again!? Just stop already!" Mahiru screamed at him.
"N-Now, now! We should give everyone a fair opportunity to speak!" the cook quickly said, waving his hands around.
"If Teruteru is the killer, that would mean he went to the storage room during the blackout..." Nagito started. "And just what did Ibuki hear during the blackout?"

Flashback

"Waaah! Don't step on my feet!"
"What the hell!? What's going on here!? T-This is...!"
"Ow!"
"Turn the damn lights on! I can't eat like this, y'know!"
"You guys? Where are you? W-Wasn't the blackout... just in the kitchen?"

Flashback ends

"She heard... Teruteru's voice in the dining hall?" Peko sweatdropped.
"Doesn't that prove Teruteru was in the dining hall during the blackout?" Nagito smirked. (I make Nagito smirk a lot in this class trial.)
"Th-Th-That's right! That's exactly it!" Teruteru nodded so violently you thought his head just gonna fall off.
"But Teruteru was in the kitchen the moment the blackout occured, right? So... Why was he in the dining hall?" Mahiru asked.
"I-I thought the blackout was only in the kitchen, so I panicked and ran out of there..." the cook stuttered. "Of course, the hallway was dark, too... But somehow I managed to move along the wall toward everyone's voices."
"Well, it's not that far to move along the wall from the kitchen to the dining hall..." Catmaru murmured.
"... That sounds fishy!" Akane crossed her arms.
"If I remember correctly, you can tell when a person is lying by licking their sweat..." Teruteru muttered in thought. "So if you want, you should try licking me! Rawr!"
'Am I dreaming or did he just roared? Ew.'
"No way. You look greasy." she made a disgusted face.
"But I heard Teruteru's voice in the dining hall! Ibuki swears on her honor!" Ibuki shouted confidently.
"That's right. Teruteru was in the dining hall, not the storage room. Which means... he's not the killer." Nagito stated, clapping his hands together.
"Dude, stop lying." you clicked your tounge in annoyence. "That statement's wrong, and you know it."
"W-Why...?" Teruteru stuttered. "Why do you two want to keep falsely accusing me!?" he screamed.
"Because it's not false. Duh." you narrowed your eyes at him.
"W-We don't want to blame you... We just..." Hajime started, but you cut him off.
"Keep the sweaty talk for later, will you? We're talking about serious manners here."
Nagito put a hand on your shoulder.
"You should be so proud of yourself, [F/N]. You're just progressing toward the hope you believe in..." he muttered, then took both of your shoulders and turned you towards himself. "Now, show me more of your hope. Will that be enough to crush Teruteru's hope?"
"Can you please not talk like you're the narrator of a shitty novel?" you narrowed your eyes, taking his hands off of yourself and turning back towards the other students.

"Let me ask you again..." he muttered. "Did you go to the storage room during the blackout?"
"Th-There's no way I went to the storage room!" Teruteru shook his head violently. "I was somewhere totally different!"
"I definitely heard Teruteru's voice!" Ibuki crossed her arms. "It's handsome! Unlike his face!"
"Maybe it was a recording or something...?" Mahiru mumbled in thought.
"Nope, definitely a live voice!" the musician shook her head.
"Right, as long as I have her testimony, the fact that... I was in the dining hall... cannot be disputed!" Teruteru shouted.

"No, that's wrong!" you pointed at him dramatically, and the others looked at you weirdly. "What, Hajime can do it but I can't? Anyway. Just because we heard Teruteru's voice in the dining hall doesn't mean he was literally in the dining hall."
"Huh? Wh-Why...?" the cook muttered.
"I believe we already mentioned that the floor in the dining hall was full of gaps." you closed your eyes calmly. "And, when I was under the floor, I made a test. Right, Mahiru?" you turned to the red-head.
"Huh?... Oh right!"

Flashback

"Anyone here!?" you shouted up.
"Huh? [F/N], is that you?" you heard Mahiru's voice.
"Yeah. I'd like to ask a question!"
"B-But where are you?"
"Not important. So, close your eyes."
"Uhm, okay..." she mumbled.
"Did you close them?"
"Yes..."
"Okay. So, listen to my voice. Forget that I'm not in the dining hall. If I shout like this, where do you think I am?"
"... Uhm... It strangely sounds like you're here."

Flashback ends

"When I closed my eyes, it completely sounded like she was in the dining hall!" she yelled confidently.
"So I believe that proves the fact that if you shout from under the floorboards, it can be mistaken with the voices that are in the dining hall. Isn't that right, Teruteru?"
"..." the cook stared into space with wide eyes. "But... But-but-but-but-but....!"
"I see... So he brazenly shouted from under the floor to make us think he was in the dining hall." Peko nodded in acknowledgement.
"... Is that true, Teruteru?" Mahiru narrowed her eyes.
"H-Hold on a second..." the cook sweated, waving his hands around.
"C-Can you explain this, Teruteru!?" Mikan squeaked.
"I told ya to wait a sec, ain't IIIIII!?" he screamed at her.
"Hyaaaaa!?"
"What're y'all even sayin' anymore!? I'm tellin' ya I was in dat dere dinin' hall durin' da blackou'!"
"... Where are you from again?" Hiyoko tilted her head.
"Oooh I was born 'n West Azabu and raised 'n South Aoyama!" the cook answered, screaming.
"Hey, you guys! This guy's a major liar!" she giggled.
"... If Teruteru was in the dining hall during the blackout, he should've been there after the power returned, right?" Chiaki asked.
"Well, I believe so. There's no way he could've gone back and forth in that dark hallway. " Nagito smiled.
"Huh? Was Teruteru actually there during that time?" the photographer wondered as she looked into the distance, trying to recall the memory.
"I-I sure was... I was dere da whoooole damn time..." Teruteru laughed awkwardly.
"Something like this shouldn't be decided by gut instinct. People's lives are at stake." the marshmallow boy chuckled.
'Why is he trying to protect him!? He's really starting to piss me off!'
"Daaaamn right! You guys shouldna been decidin' this on the spot with your hazy memories!" Teruteru agreed.
"His accent is getting even worse! He's definitely lying!" the traditional dancer shouted with a disgusted face.
"However... I am not sure. I believe that he was there... And I believe that he was not there." Sonia muttered sadly.
"Nnnnnghhhh....! Is there any way we can decide...!?" Catmaru gritted his teeth.
"... Why don't we consult his memories?" Chiaki suggested.
"Grah! Cher, don't be sayin' dings like dat don't make no sense! Can you even prove I wasn't in da dinin' hall!?" the cook screamed, like he was insane.
"I probably can." Hajime and you stated calmly, but sharply in unison.
"Gaaaaargh! You two again!?" he widened his eyes.
Hajime and you looked at each other.
"Ask him." you shrugged. He nodded, and looked at Teruteru.

"If you're claiming that you were in the dining hall when the power came back... Then you should know how Mikan was positioned at the time, right!?" he yelled, pointing at him.
"Wh-Whaaaaat!?" he gasped in answer.
"Ngaaaah! Don't make me remember! I-It's so embarassing!" Mikan cried out, her cheeks red as a tomato.
"No, this is a very important question..." the brunette tried to silence her. "Well, Teruteru? If you were really in the dining hall at that time, you should know the answer to that!"
"Huh? Huh? Ummmm?" Teruteru was sweating like hell.
"It was a pretty clever way of tripping. There's no way you'd forget about it so easily." he narrowed his hazel eyes.
"Eeeee... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I showed you something so... unsightly...!" Mikan facepalmed in embarassment.
"H-How about it!? You can't answer, Teruteru!?" Ibuki glared at the cook.
"Um... Um..." he was looking at the ground, avoiding everyone's eyes. "Huh? Uhhh... Huh...? That's weird, it just slipped from my mind."
"There's no way it would slip from your mind... Especially not a pervert like you...!" Mahiru crossed her arms and sent a glare at him.
"U-Um... Even so..." he stuttered. "N-Nagito! Say something!"
'Relying on others to save your fat ass!? I'll kill this guy with my own two hands!'
"Hmmm... I guess you might have to give up now..." Nagito pouted.
"Wait... Give up? What do you mean, 'give up'...?" he muttered with wide eyes.
"Teruteru... I'm disappointed too, you know..." the luckster sighed, as he closed one of his eyes. "It's lonely watching someone I admire reach the limits of their hope. It kind of feels like a broken dream..."
"Nagito, what are you doing!? Why are you messing with the killer like that...!?" Hajime screamed at him.
"Ho-Ho-Hold on a sec! Don't go movin' dis along on your own like I really am da killer!" Teruteru shouted, returning to the strange accent.
"Huh? But it's already decided, right?" Nagito raised an eyebrow.
"Da-da-da-da-da... Hm... Da-da-da-da-da... Da murder weapon hadn't been cleared up yet, cher!"
"It's no use! I can't understand him anymore!" Hiyoko cried.
"It appears he's saying... 'The murder weapon hasn't been cleared up yet!'" Monomi helped her out.
"You understand him!?" Ibuki gasped.
"But it's such a sad defense... This is too cruel..." the rabbit sobbed.
"Oh! 'F you callin' me the killer den where da weapon!?"
"Come on, Monomi! Enough with the whimpering and translate!" Mahiru sweatdropped.
"U-Uhm... He said... 'If you're calling me the killer, then where's the weapon?'" she sniffed.
"The weapon, huh...? It's not the knife, right?" Catmaru rubbed his chin.
"Judging from Byakuya's wounds... It was a thin, edged tool that's roughly five mm in diameter!" Mikan explained shyly.
"Also, if they stabbed from under the floorboards, the weapon would need to be at least fifty cm in length." Gundham added, crossing his arms.
"... After all this, who cares about the weapon?" Nagito smiled.
"Na' goo' enuff! Na' goo' enuff at all!" Teruteru shook his head.
"He said... 'Not good enough. Not good enough at all.'" Monomi translated.
"Fine, I got it... Let's try thinking about what the weapon was." Chiaki hummed.
"Wannado'twannado't!?"
"Uhm... He said, 'Try to do it.'"
"What a confusing accent!" Ibuki pouted.

Hajime closed his eyes, and thought about it. Then, his eyes snapped open.
"That's it! The weapon must be the iron skewer!"
"Huh!? The iron skewer!?" Mahiru gasped.
"Before the party, as Byakuya was confiscating all the dangerous items, he spoke to Teruteru..." he started.

Flashback

"I checked the equipment list and there seems to be one iron skewer missing..." Byakuya muttered.
"Ah, that's right... As far as I know, that's been missing from the start." Teruteru nodded.

Flashback ends

"So that missing iron skewer is the weapon!?" Catmaru roared.
"An iron skewer would match up with the wounds perfectly!" Mikan gasped.
"Hey Teruteru! Where'd ya hide the iron skewer!?" Akane rubbed her fists, looking at the cook.
"Aah, aaaah.... Aaaaaahhhh..." he got a panick attack. "Avrillavignnnnne!"
'... I'd rather not say anything.'
"... Avril Lavigne!" Monomi translated happily.
"Huh!? Did he really just say that!?" Ibuki gasped.
"He's just saying random shit to fuck with us! You probably dumped it somewhere on the island, didn't you!?" Fuyuhiko screamed at him.
'Is it just me or... No, his anger really looks more honest than it was with Nagito.'
"This school trip has a no littering rule. If he had violated it, the island sirens would be ringing nonstop." Monomi shook her head with a serious face.
"Island sirens...? Just for littering!?" Kazuichi made a confused face.
"Also... I was on guard duty and I never once saw Teruteru leave the old building." Chiaki mumbled sleepily.
"Which means... He obviously hid it somewhere in the old building..." Peko stated.
"It's probably the kitchen again, right!?" Hiyoko smirked.
"Teruteru... Just man up and be straight with us." Catmaru ordered.

(Cause you are not straight right now

...)

"OH... OH, OH, OH, OOOOOH... OH WHAT DA HELL YOU EVEN SAYIN', YOU STUPID COUNTRY HICK!?!?" Teruteru screamed at the top of his lungs.
"He said, uhm... 'Oh what the hell are you even saying, you stupid country hick.'" Monomi translated.
"I guess... We have no choice but to somehow find out for ourselves..." Chiaki hummed.
"Ah'm na' hidin' an'thing!" he shook his head violently.
"He said... 'I'm not hiding anything!'"
"Ah'm na' hidin' an'thing! Ah'm na' hidin' anythiiiiiiiiing!"

Teruteru started jabbering nonsense, not letting anyone say anything. In the end, he screamed: "Where would the weapon be!?"

"The iron skewer have been hidden inside the piece of meat on the bone."
Teruteru went silent after your words, and, once again, everyone looked at you.
"... Wha.... Wha-Wha-Wha-Wha-Wha!? What are you sayin'...? Dere's no way I'd hide anything... In a place like that..."
"Th-That's clearly impossible! I mean, that's inside the food!" Akane cried.
"'Impossible'... That's what Byakuya and I thought... That's why we overlooked it..." Hajime muttered, gritting his teeth.

Flashback

"It seems there are no dangerous items, like that skewer in the churrasco earlier, inside that pile of food." Byakuya stated.
"That... appears to be the case..." Hajime muttered.

Flashback ends

"But in fact, [F/N]'s right... The only place you could hide the weapon was inside the food that couldn't be inspected." he sighed.
"Out of all the dishes you prepared, the only one that could hide a weapon as long as an iron skewer is..." you started, giving a dramatic pause, "... the meat on the bone!"
"WHAT NOWWWW!?" Catmaru roared at the top of his lungs.
"I'm usin' mah right to remain silent!" Teruteru jabbered.
"There's no way that exits here!" Hiyoko narrowed her eyes.
"W-We need to confirm this now!" Ibuki stuttered.
"So if we eat that tasty lookin' piece of meat and find the iron skewer inside... Bullseye!" Akane said.
"All right, Monokuma or Monomi, one of you hurry and bring over that piece of meat!" Kazuichi ordered.
"One minute... Just gimme one minute... I'll eat the whole thing...!"  the gymnast grinned.
"Wait now hold on a second! Time out! Time out!" Teruteru screamed.
"What are you doing!? Hurry up and bring it over!!!" Catmaru yelled.
"Ah... About that..." Monomi muttered silently, and everyone looked at the two dolls' direction... Or rather one.
"Huh...? Where did Monokuma go?" Mahiru sweatdropped.
"I'm... right here...!" a muffled voice could be heard, and everyone looked at the bear. He was sitting on a random chair, happily munching on the huge piece of meat. "Nom... I'm already eating it!"
"Gyaaaah! A bear that eats meat!" Ibuki screamed, hugging your arm again, but then let go and added; "Wait, now that I think about it, that's pretty normal."
"Om nom nom... What is this...? So yummy." the bear mumbled with a stuffed mouth.
"D-Dammit! That's my meat!" Akane cried desperately.
"I've never eaten anything like it in my entire life. The taste brings me back to my days in the wild."
"Th-Th-Th-This... THIS IS BAD! Seriously, this is really bad!" Teruteru shouted in panick.
"My, my... There's something inside the meat..." Monokuma smirked. "Look what came out!" he lifted up the missing iron skewer.
"I-Isn't that...!?" Ibuki gasped.
"Is that... An iron skewer...?" Sonia tilted her head.
"Check it out... The handle looks like it's made of bone. Pretty clever." Chiaki pointed at the handle.
"The sword of destruction! Encased in bone and sheathed in meat! It brought catastrophe unto Byakuya!" Gundham jabbered.
"As expected from Teruteru! Such a fantastic weapon from the Ultimate Chef!" Nagito smiled.
"Y-Y-You're wrong...! I'm not the killer... I'm not the kind of person... Who would kill someone...! I got it! You all set me up! You guys set me up so you could blame dis on me!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Okay, now I fucking had enough of you!"

Teruteru fell silent, and everyone looked at Fuyuhiko.
"Wh-Wha-"
"I'm not gonna die here because you can't fucking man up and admit what you did..." he muttered, searching in his pocket.
"What are you planning to-..." you started, but cutted yourself off as you saw what was in his hand. "... Isn't that my recordist...?"
He didn't answer, just pressed the 'play' button.

"D-Don't worry, momma... It will be all okay... When I killed him, and got out... I will return home... It will be all right... As long as my name is Teruteru Hanamura..."

It was Teruteru's trembling voice.

"..... What.... Wh-What.... D-D-D-Dat..." Teruteru stuttered with eyes wide as saucers.
"And don't freaking tell me that's not you." he narrowed his eyes.
"But... When did you...?" you muttered.
"Remember what you told me when we investigated the old building?"

Flashback

"That guy really needs some help!" Fuyuhiko whisperyelled.
"That can wait for later. We have to stop him whatever he's planning to do."
"Won't you turn off the recordist?"
"No. It might record something important. Let's go to the dining hall. I need to see what's his plan is."

Flashback ends

"When you went to find out what's that bastard's plan was, the bug on the dining hall's door recorded what the garden gnome was muttering to himself."
"Wait, so you knew who the killer was from the start? Why didn't you tell us!?" Mahiru screamed at him.
"One, like why the fuck I would help you bastards? Two, you bitch wouldn't let me say a fucking word." he said.
Mahiru opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it and stayed silent.
"So, Teruteru really is the killer..." Sonia sighed sadly.
"N-N-No... He set me up... I-I-I'm not the killer... I wouldn't do that..." the cook muttered.
"... Jeez, what a disappointment..." Nagito sighed. "Such an unseemly defense for an Ultimate like you. Can you really call that hope?"
"Hey Nagito... I'm sorry but can you just stay quiet?" Chiaki narrowed her eyes, and Nagito went silent.
"Y'all nothin' but a buncha poor, loudmouthed, fast-food eatin' hicks!" Teruteru screamed.
"He said... 'You're all nothing but a bunch of poor, loudmouthed, fast-food-eating hicks.'"
"Y-You don't need to translate anymore... Somehow I can... tell what he's trying to say!" Mahiru sweatdropped.
"Nevah nevah nevah shoulda wasted mah cookin' on you 'ngrates!"
"I guess we need to settle this... For once and for all..." Chiaki murmured sleepily. "To do that, we need to go over the entire incident from beginning to end and make everything clear..."
"So... We need to do it!" Hajime shouted dramatically, then started to explain the whole case.

"Let's try going over the whole incident, beginning with right after the party started... Byakuya had us gather in the dining hall of the old building near the hotel. He and [F/N] were extra cautious about a murder occurring that night because of a threatening letter they received. Therefore, Byakuya decided to throw a party so he could monitor us. Though one person didn't come, the rest of us assembled at the dining hall... and the party was underway. But, at that time, the trap set by a certain someone was already in motion. They plugged three irons into the outlets in the storage room, which nearly capped the power usage... Additionally, they prepared something else that would activate at 11:30 p.m.... The air conditioners in the office and dining hall. They had already set the timers for these. Thanks to the irons maxing out the power usage, the breaker was tripped when the air conditioners kicked on. Since the windows in the old building were covered, the blackout plunged the dining hall into total darkness. But when that happened, Byakuya took out a specific item that he brought in his case. That item... was the night-vision goggles. Byakuya was so concerned about a murder occurring that he brought a variety of security equipment with him. When he put on his night-vision goggles, Byakuya witnessed a certain someone making a suspicious move... He saw Nagito guiding himself with the desk lamp's power cord so he could get under the table. That's right. Everything up to that point was all part of Nagito's plan. The murder warning to Byakuya, the source of the blackout... It was all Nagito. While the blackout was happening, someone else - the real killer - began making their move in the kitchen. The killer probably already knew about Nagito's plan, so they knew a blackout was coming... That's why the killer prepared all the items they would need to commit their crime in the dark beforehand. They needed a light source, which was provided by the portable stove in the kitchen. They needed a weapon, too... This had also been hidden in the kitchen beforehand. The long iron skewer used in the churrasco dish. The killer hid that inside that meat with the bone in it. With the weapon and portable stove in hand, the killer stepped out into the hallway... First they closed the fire door in the hallway so their light source wouldn't peek toward the dining hall. Then, guided by the light, the killer headed toward the storage room and grabbed a specific item... That's right. A tablecloth to block the blood splatter. With this, the killer finished their preparations and snuck under the floorboards through the secret passage. They probably turned off the portable cooking stove at that point, or left it near the entrance of the door. The floor in the dining hall is full of gaps, so there's no way they could've safely held a light source. But thanks to the glowing mark they painted earlier, the killer was able to get beneath the table. Under the table, Byakuya found the knife that had been hidden there... If only he had retreated, he probably wouldn't have gotten killed but... He had to retrieve that knife. And, at that moment... The killer lurking beneath the floorboards stabbed straight up with the iron skewer! The killer had been waiting in the dark for the moment when the glowing paint began to move. After they murdered Byakuya, the killer purposefully shouted from beneath the floorboards to make it seem like they were still in the dining hall. Afterward, they came out from underneath the floorboards and rushed back to the kitchen. And then, after hiding the murder weapon in the kitchen, they rejoined the group as if nothing had happened. There's only one person who would've been able to commit this crime... Especially if that person is someone who'd think of an unexpected way to hide a weapon inside food... Isn't that right... Teruteru Hanamura!?" he finished, pointing at the trembling cook.

"That's what happened... How about it? Did I get anything wrong?"
"T-This... is a mistake... A mistake, I tell you... I would never... I would never kill anyone..." Teruteru muttered. "Would... never... Gh... ugh... ughhh..."
Then... He started crying a like a freshly born baby.
"WAAAAAAHHH...!"
"It seems... This is the end." Peko sighed.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

"Geh-hehe... It looks like your argument has come to a close." Monomuma laughed. "Oops! I lost control of my wide side for a second. Was that a side effect of the meat I just ate?... Well, putting that aside, let's move along to the nerve-wracking voting time! Now then, please pull the lever in front of you and cast your vote. Oh, just a reminder... Make triple sure you vote for someone! If you don't vote... I'm gonna eat you up just like that meat from earlier..."
"Ugghhhh...! W-Why did this happen...!?" Monomi cried.
"Who will be chosen as the blackened!? Will you make the right choice or the dreadfully wrong one!?" the bear grinned. "Puhuhu! Such heart-pounding excitement!"

You sighed.
'It seems this is the end...'
~This is so not cool.~
'Well, I might just vote then...'

⊱⋅ ──────────── ⋅⊰
Length: 7767 words

...

Well then... *passes out*

Fuyuhiko: O-Oi! O_O;
Nagito: She was writing for such a long time! So much hope... ^^
Hajime: Stop it. -_-
Kazuichi: Could we just wake her up?
Fuyuhiko: Not gonna work. *pokes her cheek* She's gone.
Nagito: I know the perfect way to wake her up!!

*inhales*

SAKURA, LOOK, ICE CREAM!!!

Sakura: OMG WHERE!? *jumps up*
Nagito: All done ^^
Fuyuhiko: -_-;
Kazuichi: You surely love ice cream ^^;
Sakura: WHERE IS MY ICE CREAM.
Hajime: There's no ice cream.
Sakura: WHERE IS MY FRYING PAN--
Fuyuhiko: WTF SAKURA, THE READERS ARE HERE!!!
Sakura: ...Oh. I passed out from writing? ^^;
Hajime: Yeah ;;
Sakura: OK then.

So.

HOLY MOTHER OF CHEESECAKE.

WE ALREADY PASSED IT ON QUOTEV, AND IT'S ALMOST THERE HERE ON WATTPAD...

10K READS!!!!!!!

Guys I just CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. I love you all sm I just CAN'T explain it.

HUGZ!!! *virtual hug for everyone*

Oh, also, I hope the bonus evidence I added with Fuyuhiko wasn't too bad? ^^; I tried. Just wanted to add a little something of my own and not just write down the whole class trial... ;-;

Anyway, hope you enjoyed!!

SAY BYE BOYZ!!

Hajime: Bye. *waves*
Nagito: A big kiss to all of my hopeful fans! ^3^
Sakura: Really Nagito? -_-;
Fuyuhiko: *stays silent but waves anyway*
Kazuichi: Don't forget to vote!! :D
Sakura: Kazuichiii, I don't write that on purpose!! I don't wanna seem forceful...
Fuyuhiko: *began fighting with Nagito in the background and is about to kill him*
Sakura: Uh oh. Gotta go! BYE, READERS!!!! ^^