"W-What... did you just say...?"
"K... K...! What do you mean by that...?!"
"I-Ikusaba... y-you... killed her...?"
K's bombshell confession plunged the courtroom into instant chaos, yet the man who had caused it all stood there in eerie silence, doing nothing but glare at Monokuma.
"Upupupu... pretty gutsy, huh? But... I haven't even explained the rules yet..."
"....."
"Welp... I guess I should give you the quick and dirty version of the Class Trial... The result is decided by your votes, and, um, also..."
Monokuma droned on in that glib, theatrical voice of his, explaining the rules of the Class Trial, but not a single person was listening. Everyone just stared at K, desperately wishing what he'd said was some vile joke in catastrophically bad taste.
"Um... hey... is nobody listening to me...? Anyway, if you correctly identify the blackened, only the blackened gets executed! But if you pick the wrong person... then every last one of you gets executed! So then, looks like you've all got a lot to say, so let's get this show on the road!"
The instant Monokuma finished, K declared it again.
"There's no need for a Class Trial. I already confessed that I'm the culprit, and that's an undeniable 'truth.' So let's skip ahead to the voting—"
"That's wrong...!"
K had spoken with chilling calm, but Makoto Naegi cut him off with a voice sharpened by panic.
"...What is it, Naegi? I'd appreciate it if you didn't waste time and just moved on to the vote."
"Forget every other question for a second. If you really are the culprit, then why would you confess right at the start without even trying to deny it or make excuses?"
"Because it was manslaughter."
".....What?"
"I'll tell you what happened after that video you all saw. First, Ikusaba kept strangling me after that, and eventually I blacked out."
"....."
"Ikusaba must've thought I was dead. To avoid being executed, she tried to hide the body, and while you were all gone, she carefully carried me up to the fifth floor."
".....She suddenly went to the fifth floor?"
"Well, Ikusaba was the Mastermind one way or another, so I guess she planned to ask Enoshima, her ally, to open the fifth floor for a while so she could dispose of me there."
"But—"
"I'm not finished. Anyway, once Ikusaba reached the greenhouse on the fifth floor, she started digging to bury my body."
"Wait. There's a contradiction in what you just said."
When Kyoko Kirigiri cut in, K frowned for a moment, then smoothed his expression back into that same detached calm.
".....What part is contradictory, Kirigiri?"
"You said yourself that Ikusaba had knocked you unconscious. So how do you know all of this in such vivid detail, as if you saw it with your own eyes?"
".....Actually, I regained consciousness while Ikusaba was carrying me to the fifth floor."
"You're seriously claiming that Ikusaba, the [Ultimate Soldier], wouldn't notice whether the person on her back was conscious, and wouldn't even make sure you were dead?"
"...At the time, for whatever reason, Ikusaba was mentally unstable, and physically she was in terrible shape too. It's not impossible."
"....."
"Well? Satisfied, Kirigiri? Then can I continue?"
K shot Kirigiri a look of quiet irritation, but Kirigiri only stared back with eyes that burned like open flame. In the end, K let out a sigh, turned away from her, and resumed his story.
"Anyway, Ikusaba was so focused on digging that she never noticed me waking up and creeping up behind her with a rock. I struck her in the head with everything I had, and she went down. After that, I saw the kitchen knife she was carrying, and my hatred for the Mastermind who'd driven us all into this hell boiled over. So I stabbed Ikusaba and made sure she was dead."
"....."
"Sure, she attacked me first, and yes, I was trying to kill the Mastermind... but none of that changes the fact that I killed someone. I deserve to die for it. So... can we stop wasting time and vote now?"
For a long moment, silence spread between the students like poison gas. In that stillness, K glanced sidelong at Monokuma, and Monokuma, catching that look, began to speak in a strangely sour voice.
"This is... not the picture I had in mind... I wanted betrayal, schemes, tension, all that juicy stuff... and instead I get a confession...? Well, then... let's begin the vot—"
"It's all nonsense."
"Upupu?"
"Your testimony is riddled with contradictions."
Just as Monokuma was about to shut the Class Trial down in disappointment, Byakuya Togami cut in, glaring straight at K.
"Is this... your 'plan'? Revolting. Truly revolting... Did you really think this was the best option?"
".....What are you talking about, Togami?"
"There are far too many flaws to point out, so I'll stick to the core issue. First, you say you struck Ikusaba with a rock, then stabbed her with a knife. And yet at the crime scene, there was a knife, but no rock. So where did the rock you supposedly used go?"
".....I buried the rock in the dirt. Of course you wouldn't find—"
Kirigiri, who had been listening in taut silence, finally snapped and cut in.
"You hid the rock, but not the knife? And if you were planning to confess from the start, why would you even bother hiding the murder weapon?"
".....At the time, I'd just committed an impulsive killing. I was confused. That's why I made those obvious mistakes. Besides, this wasn't premeditated murder. Isn't it natural for there to be sloppy holes in the story?"
"That isn't the only suspicious point. Even if we assume you killed Ikusaba with the knife, what about the explosion afterward?"
"I don't know."
"...What?"
".....I said I don't know."
"You...! How could that possibly make any sen—!"
"I really don't know. After I stabbed Ikusaba, the guilt of killing someone sent me into a panic, and I just ran out of the greenhouse without thinking. Maybe Monokuma did something for fun. Isn't that right, Monokuma?"
"Um... maybe that did happen... I guess...?"
"...Then that's it! You're the culprit, Monokuma! No—Enoshima!"
"Upupupu... At least in here, I'm a good little bear who would never commit murder, okay?"
".....And there's something else strange. Earlier, when you heard the explosion, you came running in here in a panic and asked what had happened. If you'd really done all that and then decided to confess out of guilt, why would you react like that?"
"....."
"Just as I thought. Your argument is crawling with errors from top to bottom. I don't know why you're doing this, but—"
"Then if it wasn't K, who is the culprit supposed to be?"
".....What?"
Celestia Ludenberg suddenly cut in, her face glacial, her voice colder still as she looked at Togami and Kirigiri.
"If it isn't K, then who else could possibly be the culprit?"
"....That's—"
"The rest of us all have perfect alibis, and the one who died was Mukuro Ikusaba. So in the end, doesn't that leave only K?"
".....The Mastermind."
"...Excuse me?"
"The culprit is the Mastermind."
At Kirigiri's words, the others visibly flinched.
"What are you talking about—"
"Yes!! Time's up!!"
Naegi was just about to seize on Kirigiri's statement with a razor-edged rebuttal, but Monokuma abruptly declared the trial over.
"Wait! Hold on!! That's a whole new topic—!!"
"I already told you I didn't commit murder! I'm sick of listening to this! Stop dragging it out and let's get to the vote already...!"
As the others reeled from the sudden turn, Kirigiri shouted.
"Enoshima!! Allow a vote for you too!!!"
"Upupupu... How many times do I have to tell you? I'm Monokuma...! And the culprit is one of you! Don't make me say it twice, kay...? Upupupupupupupu!"
"This... this isn't right...! It's too contrived...! Every single part of this is forcing K into the role of culprit...!"
"Now then... voting time...!"
"...I abstain."
"K-Kirigiri...?"
"I refuse to accept a Class Trial this sloppy. I won't vote for anyone."
"I-I will too...! If nobody votes, then maybe—"
"Upupupu... Any student who doesn't vote gets executed too... okay...?"
"No way...!"
Kirigiri glared at Monokuma like she wanted to kill him on the spot. Monokuma watched her with obvious delight, then suddenly burst out laughing.
"Uahahahaha! Kirigiri! That face is priceless! So you can make a despairing expression like that too?"
"....."
".....Fine, then. Should I let you choose me too...?"
".....What?"
"But... not for free. There has to be a condition, right? So how about I tweak the voting rules just a teensy bit?"
"Change... the voting rules...?"
"Right now, the prime suspects are K and me, your kind and innocent bear who's never murdered anyone, right? So then... all of you, except K and me, will choose one of us as the culprit...!"
"There's no need for that. Just add you to the ballot—"
"Honestly, listen when someone talks... or when a bear talks! If I'm going to let you vote for me, there has to be a penalty!"
"A penalty...?"
"That's right! If every single one of the students except me and K chooses me as the culprit, then I'll accept the votes for me! But... if even one vote goes to K... then the result will automatically be treated as K being chosen as the culprit! Well? Isn't that fun?"
".....That's way too unfair!"
"Upupupu... If you want to vote for me, the headmaster, you should be prepared for that much, right...? And hey, this is for your sake too! If I'm chosen as the culprit... that'll be the wrong answer, so all of you will be executed, you know...? Upupupupupu!"
Silence fell over the students again. They wanted to believe in K. But K had also declared himself the culprit with his own mouth, and that confession gnawed at them. On top of that came the crushing terror of execution if Monokuma wasn't actually the culprit. Hope and fear locked together in a dead heat, and no one could move.
Then, just before their minds seemed ready to overload, Kyoko Kirigiri spoke in a quiet voice.
".....Please."
"...Kirigiri?"
"Please... I'm begging you... choose Monokuma... please..."
Her voice was desperate enough to shake the others, and their eyes began to waver.
".....Um, but..."
"Please... please... the culprit is Monokuma...! You can feel it too, can't you...? This whole case is... stuffed with contradictions...!"
".....Ugh..."
Seeing their resolve falter, Naegi spoke carefully.
"Of course... everyone's lives are on the line, so I can't force anybody... But... let me ask anyway. Everyone... can you vote for Monokuma?"
As Naegi bowed his head, more and more of the others began to wear expressions of grim determination.
"I'll... go with your choice."
At last, K's short but heavy words sealed it, and every student made their final decision.
"Upupupu... then... let the voting begin...!"
.
.
.
When the voting ended, every student stood there staring at the spinning roulette with taut, bloodless faces.
Only two faces were displayed on it: K and Monokuma.
Creak... creak-creak...
The roulette began to slow. Monokuma leaned on one arm at the judge's stand, swinging his legs and watching it with eager anticipation, while K simply watched from his place with a calm expression.
".....I believe in you, K."
".....Me too."
"Don't chicken out, damn it!! We all know you're not the culprit!! Monokuma threatened you or something, didn't he?!"
"My master being a murderer... there's no way that's true."
"I... believe in you, K."
"Where d'you think you're goin' without even lettin' me guarantee ya? My fortune says you ain't fated to die here yet."
".....To trust someone with a spirit as unyielding as yours... that too is the duty of a warrior."
".....Hmph. If you really are the culprit, you'd better prepare yourself."
The roulette slowed until the portraits of K and Monokuma were clearly visible, then at last selected the one to be executed.
Boom!Bang!
Baam~ ba-ram-bam~!!
"Upupupupupupupu!! Correct! You got the culprit right!!! Upupupupupupupupu...! Whoever it was, that one single vote saved all of you! Upupupupu..."
"Ah... ah..."
The roulette had stopped on K.
.
.
.
.
.
I looked around at the others, all of them wearing expressions of utter despair. Celestia Ludenberg had bitten her lip so hard she was bleeding.
'I never thought I'd end up using that wish like this.'
I did feel sorry for Celestia Ludenberg, but a little while ago in the park, where no one could hear us, I'd used my wish on her and told her to vote for me as the culprit.
This trial had been staged by Enoshima to frame me as the culprit, which meant the culprit of the trial had already been decided as me. In other words, if I didn't become the culprit, the others would be in danger.
That's why I'd given her that command as insurance, figuring that if I used the wish on her, she'd do her utmost to steer the blame onto me. I never imagined it'd become such a godlike move.
From her perspective, she hadn't really had a choice. The others could still cling to the hope that Monokuma was the culprit, but she must have been terrified that even if the Mastermind was the culprit, she'd still be executed because of the rules of the wager she'd made with me.
"K... K... why...?"
"No... no way... this can't be happening... this can't..."
"You bastard..."
It hurt to see their reactions, but soon enough, all of that would turn into hope. Earlier, I'd secretly asked Chihiro Fujisaki about Alter Ego, and the quiet smile he gave me had to mean the plan had succeeded.
Right before the execution, Alter Ego would intervene and stop it—or I'd fall into the trash pit, one way or another. Either way, I'd survive. The others' outrage would explode, and Enoshima would be cornered.
Then I'd withdraw my confession and stand with everyone again, and Enoshima, driven to the brink, would open the sixth chapter of the game—a Class Trial to end everything.
There, we'd have our final showdown with Enoshima, survive, and leave this academy together. That would give everyone a happy ending.
"K... don't worry. It'll work out..."
Chihiro Fujisaki quietly came over and whispered to me. I was so proud of him in that moment that I answered in the same hushed tone.
"Yeah... I know it wi—"
"Upupu? What are you two talking about?"
".....None of your business. Why don't you stop stalling and start the execution already?"
"Upupupupu... So composed even in the face of death... that's not like you, K, trembling over every little thing. Or do you have something to rely on?"
"....."
"Hmm... it couldn't possibly be Alter Ego, who's trying sooo hard to break into the school network right now, could it?"
...What?
"Upupupu! Judging by that reaction, I guess I was right! I mean, sure, pretending it was destroyed and planting a backup copy in the school network was clever, but what can ya do? A few years ago, someone got me really good with a similar trick, so I prepared an Enoshima version of Alter Ego too...!"
Wait. That changes everything... doesn't it?
"So right now, the two Alter Egos are fighting over control of the network! Which means Fujisaki's Alter Ego still hasn't taken over the system!"
"W-Wait... th-then... K is...!"
"That's right. In this execution, there's no one left who can save K... Upupupupu..."
Monokuma sneered at me as my face turned deathly pale before his eyes.
"What's wrong...? Feeling despair yet...?"
.
.
.
.
.
Thud!Thud!Thud!
Tied to a chair, I was being slowly dragged forward while the press machine behind me slammed into the ground with thunderous force.
Up ahead, Monokuma was scribbling something on a blackboard with that infuriating expression on his face, but in my terror of death, there was no way I could focus on something like that.
Thud!Thud!Thud!
My farewell with the others had been a disaster. The moment my calm facade shattered and panic flashed across my face, they instinctively realized something had gone horribly wrong—but by then, everything was already too late.
These were people who had never given up, even when those precious to them were staring death in the face. But now that I was the one about to die, they had fallen into despair.
Everything had failed. Maybe I was never worthy of saving everyone in the first place.
Thud!Thud!Thud!
I never thought I'd see Kirigiri cry like that, so heartbreakingly, so openly. I really am hopeless. If I'd known we'd part like this, I should've at least given her that gift.
Now all I feel is sorry.
It's because I wasn't good enough.
I'd sworn not to blindly trust my knowledge of the game, and yet I made the fatal mistake of blindly trusting Alter Ego instead.
I said I'd trust everyone, and yet I still tried to solve this alone without asking any of them for help.
Thud!Thud!Thud!
The sound grew louder and louder. Unable to bear the fear, I turned my head to the side and saw the others watching my execution with expressions too numerous and too fractured to count.
The sight of their faces sent a surge of guilt crashing through me, and I tried to turn away again—but my eyes met Kirigiri's.
Tears were streaming down her face. In that instant, a memory flashed through my mind. It was so happy, so painfully warm, that in a moment like this I almost wished I hadn't remembered it at all.
".....I'm sorry."
There was so much I wanted to say, but I had no time left, no strength left, so that was all I could force out. In the end, as I watched Kirigiri lower her head, tears spilled from my own eyes too.
Thud!Thud!Thud!
With the sound of death now right behind me, pressing against my whole body, I quietly closed my eyes and prepared myself for the final moment.
Thud....!
"Everyone... don't give up... until the very end...?"
I sensed the end and tried to leave them with my final words, but every one of them was staring somewhere else with stunned expressions.
Just as I wondered what was happening, a long iron bar suddenly came flying in and slammed into Monokuma, who had been standing in front of me in confusion.
"STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I looked toward where the iron bar had come from.
Mukuro Ikusaba, her entire body covered in wounds, had kicked the door open and was sprinting toward me with everything she had.
It seemed hope still hadn't abandoned us after all.