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Chapter Text

The villains have won.

Izuku Midoriya didn't know how it had happened.

How All For One had defeated All Might.

After everything that had happened, how could the heroes just... lose?

Life tried to go on, despite the death of the Number One Hero and the rise of the villains. All was in vain, however, as from the shadows came all of the evil the world could possibly harbor. The League of Villains was growing.

U.A. tried to continue on teaching their heroes-to-be. The dorms were built in a valiant effort to keep the students together and protect them, as well as to find the traitor that set this sequence of disasters into motion.

The Provisional License test came and went, with everybody passing this time around. In times like this, petty rivalries and grudges against certain heroes were set aside, with the threat of villains overtaking hero society growing greater with every passing day.

The previously planned Internships were to go on, despite the debate and controversy with the police and authorities. The rescue of Eri from the Eight Bullets went as planned, with the girl being successfully taken from Chisaki and quickly forming a bond with Izuku, Mirio, and Aizawa.

But now, with the Cultural Festival cancelled due to the heightened villain activity as of late, the students had nothing to do but continue with classes and worry about an attack.

Said impending attack came one late winter evening.

Class 1-A had been visited in their dorm building by Mei, who had been recommending new costume features for the class. Mirio, Nejire, and Tamaki came by as well to accompany Eri and discuss the suspended internships.

The delicate winter peace of that fateful evening was interrupted by a sneak attack on the dorms by the League.

The grudgingly created alliance between a weakened Chisaki -weakened, as in, he now had prosthetic arms- and the growing League allowed for an extraordinary attack of massive scale. Their entrance had been blasting right through a wall, showering everyone with debris. Izuku's first response had been to get Eri and those crushed by the rubble to a safer place- basically anywhere other than the battlefield.

"Come on, Kouji, Hitoshi!" Izuku cried desperately over his shoulder to his two classmates trailing behind him. Kouji was limping heavily, dragging along his bloodied right leg, his eyes unfocused and his gait unsteady. Hitoshi had his arms wrapped around his chest and his posture was slumped, due to his broken ribs and possibly a strained shoulder. Aside from the delayed shock, they'd both have to get first-aid soon, lest the wounds cause internal bleeding, organ damage, gain infection, or otherwise.

Okay, maybe Izuku shouldn't have reeled off that list of possible negatives in his head. That only made this situation worse.

He himself had his arms occupied. He was carrying an unconscious Mei -who'd been hit on the head by a flying rock- on his back and hugging a wide-eyed Eri tightly to his chest. A wave of relief washed over him as Mirio ran over to help the injured pair.

Izuku had just made it to the back door when from one of the bushes a certain blondie leaped out.

"Izukuuuuu! I've been looking everywhere! Come on, let's dance!" Toga whipped out a pair of knives and leaped at him. Her eyes were alight with manic excitement, and Izuku was sure he did not want to know whatever this girl's rendition of a foxtrot was. For a split second, he considered jumping up to deliver her a kick as his Full Cowling sparked to life around him in the form of jade electricity. Then he remembered Mei would probably be thrown right off his back and into the wall, which was quite far from ideal.

He ducked and darted to the side instead, Toga hot on his tail as he began to run down the back path towards the other side of the dorm building. As he did, he spotted the flash of a fiery laser beam from the entryway.

"Yuga! Help!" Izuku yelped as he just barely avoided Toga's blade. He ducked to the side as Yuga fired his laser beam, striking the girl's shoulder and collarbone.

"Ooh, that hurts!" Toga giggled, jumping back. The patch of her clothes in the strike zone had been seared off, revealing a bubbling, bright red burn on her skin. Her eyes flashed with laughter, betraying no pain. "I guess I'll have to get a taste of you to- mmph!"

She was cut off by a strip of thick silver ribbon wrapping around her face, snaking around her body as she hacked at it determinedly with her knives. Izuku whipped around to see Aizawa behind them, restraining Toga with his capture weapon, his crimson eyes blazing behind dull yellow goggles.

"You kids, get to the main building, fast as you can! I've already ordered Toogata to take the injured there. The other teachers should be able to help. Get reinforcements if you can. Go!" He added quickly as Toga slashed through the band around her mouth. As soon as her mouth was free, she gleefully called, "Izuku, I'm coming!"

Izuku and Yuga -who was now carrying Mei much more securely in his arms- raced towards the main building, down a path surrounded by ruin. Casting a glance behind them, Izuku was graced by the terrible scene of fighting and destruction throughout the many dorm buildings that housed the population of the school.

Every building was surrounded by several flying Nomu, as well as clusters of villains baring fangs at the students, all of whom fought back with determined vigor. He suddenly spotted Denki rush out the front door of the 1-A dorm building, carrying an unconscious Kyouka. The Hearing Hero's ears were bloodied, having evidently been attacked by a villain bearing a sound-related Quirk. "Izuku, Yuga!" His golden eyes were wide with terror. "Look up, at the main building!"

Looking up towards the main school building, Izuku now saw, through hazy eyes, what Denki was referring to. At the top of the two tall pillars, there were massive, black portals that spewed out countless Nomu and other villains of all sorts.

"Kurogiri," Izuku murmured, noting the quirk. He saw the shadowy man himself moments later, standing upon the left tower. On the right tower was Shigaraki, with a Nomu crouching next to him like a guard dog. And on the platform in the middle, between the two towers...

"All for One."

The mastermind, the murderer, the leader of the League himself was watching over the destruction of the students. There were several figures around him, but Izuku couldn't bother to see who they were in the moment being. The presence of this man alone even made his Full Cowling fade out of distraction.

In their paralyzed state, the cluster of students didn't notice the shifting of the shadows behind them.

The next sequence of events was all a flash to Izuku.

A cry jolted him out of his stupor. He whirled around and his blood grew cold.

A band of Aizawa's capture weapon had lashed out and lassoed around Denki's neck, tightening and dragging him to the ground, next to Kyouka's crumpled form. He writhed, gasping for breath against its hold. His fingers pried uselessly at the weapon.

"Sensei?! Sensei, what are you doing?!" Izuku shrieked in horror, snapping around towards the origin point of the coil. He was met by Toga barreling into him, her deadly little hands wrapped around blood-splattered coils of the gray capture weapon. She had evidently tied one end of the ribbon into a sloppy lasso, with which she had snagged Denki.

"Toga!" Izuku yelped. He was on his back, the girl hovering above him. Eri tilted her head to gaze fearfully up at the insane blonde.

"Izuku! I'm so glad I found yooouuuuu!" Toga squealed in excitement. "I wanna see you all bloody and battered! I wanna see you bleed!" Her voice was dripping with arousal; her violence was only driven further by her lust, it seemed.

"Get away!" Izuku screamed and jumped up, Full Cowling activated. He held Eri tightly to his chest. "You won't hurt me. You won't hurt any of us!"

"Oh, Himiko Toga, what are we to ever do with you?" There was a thump and a grunt, and Izuku turned to see Yuga and Mei disappear in a flash of light. Denki and Kyouka's unconscious bodies followed to also vanish, leaving the loop of capture weapon lying loosely on the ground. When the initial glow dissipated, all that was left were mere blue beads.

Blue beads...

"Ooh, Compress! You came just in time! Watch me, watch me!" Toga giggled in excitement before surging towards Izuku again.

Izuku whirled around and began to bolt with Eri, charging past Mr. Compress, who was gathering his new beads and evidently ignoring Toga.

The masked magician leaped into the air and landed on top of Izuku, his real hand resting on Eri's trembling head for a split second and turning her into a little sky-blue marble before Izuku could react. He snatched it up just as quickly and bounded back.

"No!" Izuku whipped around, soaring after Mr. Compress. He kicked at the man's side, but the magician darted just an inch out of reach. He next reached for the pocket he'd seen him place the marbles in, but the man darted to the side, causing him to miss yet again. At the next grab, Compress grabbed his hand, compressing his own body into yet another tiny, teal orb.

The last thing Izuku could remember were the claws of despair, snatching him up to drag him into its blackened abyss, before it all went dark.

Chapter Text

Kyouka awoke from a deep, dark slumber. As she roused, blinking away the remnants of her sleep, she found herself seated in a dim room. Her head and arms had been resting on the smooth, cold, wooden table before her.

"Hmm?" She mumbled. "Where am I?"

As her mismatched crimson and violet eyes adjusted to the low light, she realized she was in what appeared to be a conference room. The U-shaped table was surrounded by chairs. Blinking away the last of her drowsiness, she was overcome by a wave of confusion. How did I get here?

Then she remembered.

The attack, watching her friends being taken down around her, being shot and falling unconscious... Now, as she looked around, she realized that she was not alone.

"Yaomomo?" Kyouka looked to her right. "And Denki..." She looked towards her left to see the electric boy.

Around the table, she identified Yuga, Mezou, Ochako, and Mei. They all seemed to be asleep. As she continued glancing about, she realized something odd. In the corner of the room was a surveillance camera, staring down at her with a round, dark lens. I've never seen any cameras like that around the school before... Unnerved by its watchful gaze, Kyouka decided to step outside.

She got up, trying not to let her chair creak too loudly, and walked over to the door. It opened without trouble. Outside in the hall, however, things didn't look any better. The windows had been covered with massive metal plates. Huge, iron screws bolted them to the wall, preventing any sunlight from streaming in. Their only indication of time was to trust the clocks on the walls.

Kyouka trotted over to the nearest one and leaned on one of the bolts, putting her entire body weight on it in an attempt to move it. The hunk of rough metal didn't even budge a millimeter. Huffing, she stepped back, scrutinizing the plate. "Maybe I can wake up Yaomomo, and she could create something and get us out... Mezou's strong too. And Yuga's laser..."

Kyouka re-entered the room, glancing up at the sign next to the doorframe as she walked by. It read, "Conference Room A".

The tomboy approached the Creation girl. "Yaomomo? Yaomomo?" She gently shook her friend's shoulder.

Yaomomo groaned and blinked open her stormy gray eyes. "Wh- Kyouka?" She lifted her head off of the table. "Where are we?"

"A conference room in U.A., I think. The windows are bolted shut." She gestured outside through the open door. "Could you help me with the bolts?"

"Of course." Yaomomo got up and stepped out to take a look. Meanwhile, Kyouka awoke the others in a similar fashion.

Once the group was gathered outside, Yaomomo rolled up her sleeve, then closed her eyes. Two awkward heartbeats later, during which everybody stared blankly at her, she reopened her eyes and blinked down at her arm, confused.

"Strange. I can't use my quirk. What about you, Kyouka?"

"Um..." Kyouka willed her earphone jacks to extend and hit the ground. They didn't respond to her wishes, staying limp and draping on her shoulders. "I can't... Maybe it's something from that bullet I'd been shot with. It gave me this tingly feeling."

"Yeah, were those real bullets?" Ochako asked, worry tugging at her voice. "They did feel weird... even stranger is that all of my wounds have been healed. There's not a trace of any of them."

"We better find our classmates first, though. They've got to be around here somewhere," Mezou suggested.

Together, Kyouka, Yaomomo, Denki, and their friends began wandering about. They quickly found out that they were on the fourth floor of the U.A. main building. Venturing to the teachers' lounge and Recovery Girl's office, they found Rikidou, Fumikage, Tsuyu, and Shouto and Katsuki. Kyouka had discovered the latter pair arguing in the lounge.

Going downstairs, the cafeteria was abandoned. Denki discovered a second kitchen separate from Lunch Rush's main cook-space at the borders of the cafeteria, just across the hall from it. The door had been previously labeled 'Staff Only' and was locked during school hours. Now, it was open to all.

Upon further examination, the group found out it was just another high-end kitchen of sorts, while also acting as a food storage area for some massive bags of flour, rice, and other cooking ingredients. They found not a single soul, though- no villains, no staff, not even any fellow students. The shiny new surveillance cameras on the ceiling watched their every step with buzzing lenses.

Venturing further down to the ground level -or floor zero-, the group found Nejire, Mirio, and Tamaki passed out in a pile in the Principal's Office. Once awakened, they joined their search party. All of their wounds had been healed, too, much to Kyouka's suspicion.

Other than the students, the entirety of U.A. was abandoned. Only the hall and classroom lights were on, too, leaving the rest of the rooms dim until Denki managed to jumpstart the electricity by by locating the switch in the Main Office and pulling it. The stairway leading to the other building was blocked by a gate that not even Rikidou, Mezou, and Mirio could open, and the front door had transformed into a massive, intricate-looking iron barricade that was also unopenable.

Moving back up to floor two, Mezou discovered Eijirou and Tenya in the trophy room bordering the indoor gym. The trophies, ribbons, and medals were all still intact in the glass case, and the U.A. pride banners still hung from the ceiling. On the second floor, Kyouka found Tooru and Hitoshi wandering the halls, trying to remove the bolts on the windows. When they ran into each other, Kyouka couldn't help but yelp aloud in shock.

"T-Tooru!" She stammered. "You're... visible!"

The previously invisible girl had lost her transparency. Her tan skin, red eyes, and shoulder-length black hair were completely foreign to Kyouka's eyes. The only way she recognized her was from her voice.

"Yeah, I dunno what happened," Tooru mumbled, embarrassed, scratching the back of her head. "I just woke up like this. I mean, at least I was clothed back there at the dorms."

After a bit of fuss over Tooru's visible form, the group managed to recollect and continue their exploration.

Upon further examination, they discovered that the classrooms on floors five and six had been altered. As they entered their former homeroom, they were met by a small, triangular space with two locked doors leading further into the space. One had the nametag 'Bakugou, Katsuki' on it, while the other read 'Kirishima, Eijirou'. Eijirou stated he had no idea what it meant.

On the fifth floor, Izuku and Kouji were found in the hallway, trying to break down the windows. A couple doors over, Mashirao, Hanta, and Mina were examining a surveillance camera they had broken off the ceiling.

Once all 24 students were together, standing in a confused huddle before the stairway to floor six, they began sharing their discoveries and looking to each other for comfort. The mysteriously healed wounds of some of the students didn't help with the atmosphere, either. Unfortunately, they were quickly interrupted by the a loud screeching noise from a nearby speaker. Taken by surprise, half the class screamed in a mixture of surprise and terror.

As the speaker crackled to life, an all-too familiar voice echoed from its passages.

"Mmh, testing? Ah, you can hear me, I can tell. Let me make a few announcements." Shigaraki's voice was being broadcasted over the PA system. Nobody dared to move or make a sound. Kyouka herself stared up at the speaker, her heart thumping in her throat. Why..? How..?!

"Now, let me make this clear: we will not harm you physically unless you initiate violence. We have brought you all here to live together in the safe-place that is U.A. High. We've even cleared out this area of the building for you. So, uh, welcome to your new home, I guess. You'll be here until you die, so get comfortable."

A beat of stunned silence.

"Go down to the Principal's office. There's a box on the desk with your new dorm keys in it. Get the key with your name on it and go to the room on the tag. Wash up, the lot of you, and change. We've provided outfits for the occasion as well; how some appreciation and put them on, then go to the auditorium on floor one. Quickly, now."

Just as abruptly as it had begun, Shigaraki's drawling voice crackled to silence.

A moment later, all hell broke loose.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Mina screeched, hands on her head with a death-grip on her horns. "AND WHAT HAPPENED TO EVERYONE ELSE HERE?"

"Yes, what has happened to this place?" Yaomomo asked softly, amidst the voices increasing in volume around her. "First we wake up at U.A. without our quirks, then there's the classrooms, and now Shigaraki is operating the speakers..."

"Hurry up," Shigaraki drawled from the speakers above once more. Everybody froze and quickly rushed down the stairs. They re-entered the Principal's office as instructed. Kyouka's eyes immediately landed on the large box on the desk. Strange, she thought. That wasn't there when we found the Big Three in here earlier.

Regardless, she silently walked along with the others to the desk. Since she was at the front of the group, she made it her duty to hand some of the others' keys to them when she grabbed them in search of her own. They were all on aluminum rings, a variety of colorful, acrylic tags and metallic keys sifted through by her fingers. After a minute, she found her own at the bottom of the box. 'Jirou, Kyouka' was on the front of the plastic tag. On the back of it, 'Ultimate Musician' was emblazoned in silver lettering. Whatever that meant.

The key itself was a silver color, speckled with dark purple flecks. '1-K' was engraved on it. She would've thought it were cool, had it not been provided by the Villain League. "Come on, guys," Izuku said, snapping Kyouka's attention away from her key. "We should probably head to our rooms. It's not like we can fight these guys without our quirks, anyway."

Everybody separated in a hush, traveling up the stairs in small clusters towards their new dorms.

There's got to be more to this, Kyouka thought fearfully as she approached 1-K. I wonder what the villains' plan is.

***

Mirio strode up the stairs, flanked by Tamaki and Nejire.

"Do you have any idea what's happening?" Nejire suddenly asked, her voice hushed.

"No," Mirio replied softly as they reached the landing. "But whatever it is, I'm sure we'll all get through it!" He instinctively attempted to grasp a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel. At his immediate right was Classroom 1-B. 1-G and 1-H were just down the next hall. Out of reflex, his eyes flickered towards the two at his side.

Looking down at Nejire, Mirio saw the uneasiness in her crystal-blue eyes. The sight of such negativity displayed by her, the brightest member of the Big Three, was enough to cast a haze of gloom over everyone in the surrounding vicinity. He wished she'd smile again. Nejire didn't wear the upset look well.

Tamaki, on the other hand, looked terrified. He was pressing rather close to Mirio's side, his eyes fixed to his feet. Concern washed over Mirio as he observed the boy's hunched stance. The blonde took his hand, causing Tamaki to jump before gratefully lacing their fingers together. He's trembling.

Going down the hall, Nejire entered 1-H, joining Mei, leaving Mirio with Tamaki. The two made their way into 1-G, entering the triangular common area. Mirio let go of Tamaki's hand and tried his metallic-gold key in the keyhole. The door clicked open with ease.

"Meet you here later?" Mirio asked his partner. The ravenette nodded before slowly slipping into his own room. The blonde watched Tamaki's door click shut before entering his new dorm. He shut the door and looked around, taking in his surroundings.

The rectangular room had light blue flooring and white walls, just like the classroom had been before. There were scuff marks on the floor, so the villains most likely just took out all the desks and removed the podium and chalkboard. How they did that was another question, albeit one Mirio was uninterested in.

At the base of the new wall separating Mirio and Tamaki's rooms was a bumpy row of hard cement. Cementoss' quirk, he realized as he brushed his fingers along the ridges. But how..?

No. No way. Mirio swiftly got up. No way would the villains manage to do that.

Well, All for One did beat All Might, the BEST hero, a nasty voice at the back of Mirio's head noted. Who's to say the lower ranks wouldn't follow suit?

Shaking off his unease, Mirio busied himself by continuing to look around. One corner of the otherwise perfect rectangular room was cut off by another segment of wall. Probably just a construction thing, with the three separate areas and all. There was a bed, too. The sheets were crisp and finely made, and the head of the bed was up against the wall. A set of clothing, consisting of a suit, bow, tie, pants, and dress shoes, was laying on top of it. Behind the bed, the windows had metal plates and large screws on them, just like in the hallway. On the ceiling, a security camera and monitor hung, gazing over the room.

Next to the bed was a desk and cabinet. There was a set of stationary on the table, along with a note. Mirio picked it up to read it over.

Welcome to your new dorm. They're all monitored by cameras, but we won't intrude on your privacy too much. In one cabinet, you will find a toolkit. A solid blow to the head should do the job, but you could certainly be more creative. Your outfit is on the bed. One spare set is folded up in one of the cabinets. If you mess both up, that's your problem. Casual sleepwear is also provided. You can wash your clothes in the laundry room, which you can surely find later. Enjoy your stay.

-Overhaul

Confused, but sickened at the fact the letter was handwritten by Chisaki, Mirio crumpled up the paper and threw it in the waste bin next to the cabinet.

He proceeded to walk over to the other end of the room, where there was another wall and a door. When he opened it, it revealed a bathroom. I suppose I should take a shower, Mirio thought. I'm certainly not going to be the one testing out what happens if you don't do as they said, especially since there's cameras...

Mirio took off his dirty clothes. He quickly realized that his former wound -a gash made by a knife- was gone. The skin on his arm was now undamaged. Unnerved, he opted to not ponder over it and quickly got to showering instead. Afterwards, Mirio decided to put on his new... school outfit? Uniform? Whatever the villains wanted to call this ridiculous thing.

It was a gothic-style black and white suit set, with a white dress shirt underneath. White lace bordered the dark cuffs, and there were twin white stripes on the flaps. The dress pants had two white lace patterns on them as well. The black and white outfit was adorned with a dash of color, in the form of a pair of dark maroon dress shoes and a red tie, along with a silver bowtie.

He turned to a mirror standing against the wall with the dorm entrance door to examine his look. I don't look too bad, I suppose... the white lace is a bit odd, though. At least there was hair gel in the bathroom.

Mirio quickly exited the room, only for his eyes to land on a familiar mop of black hair as he shut the door. "Tamaki!" he exclaimed. "You were quick!"

The boy in question merely looked down at his feet, his arms crossed over his chest and his fingers fiddling with his tie. He wore a simple black suit and dark blue tie with a white dress shirt underneath, along with dark gray dress pants and black shoes. I'd say he looks nice, if only his expression were a little less troubled.

Mirio inclined his head and reached out one hand to softly rest it on Tamaki's back, gathering him in. The ravenette limply allowed him to hug him and let his head fall forward, his nose pressed into Mirio's shoulder.

Mirio could feel his warm breath through the cloth. "Are you okay?" he asked in a soft voice.

"Mmh, yeah," Tamaki muttered into Mirio's neck, his body relaxing, but still stiff. "Just... scared."

The latter took Tamaki's arms in his hands and gently pushed him back so they were now gazing into each other's eyes- Mirio's concerned and gentle, Tamaki's anxious and dull.

"I'm always here if you need m-"

"No, it's fine." Tamaki didn't elaborate; Mirio didn't push.

The blonde sighed and brushed Tamaki's side-lock of darker navy hair out of his eyes. "Alright then. Everything's going to be okay, okay?" Tamaki tilted his head, and Mirio smiled. "Let's go down to the aud."

The two re-entered the hall, meeting up with Nejire and Mei, who had also changed into their own outfits. The group went downstairs to the second floor, with Tamaki huddling between Mirio and Nejire. They met up with the others outside, before all entering the auditorium in a crowd.

Upon entering the auditorium, they instantly noticed how the entire place looked different. The chairs had been removed, instead providing a space that resembled a halved Colosseum. A massive half-ring of stairs curled inwards towards the stage, on which was the podium and drawn-back red curtains.

Then Mirio's eyes landed on who was actually on the stage.

"Ah. They're here."

Chapter Text

Yaomomo's eyes widened as she entered the auditorium.

"Shigaraki! Kurogiri!" Her stormy gray gaze flickered from villain to villain. There weren't that many; just Shigaraki, Kurogiri, Dabi, Toga, and Chisaki. But their presence, alone with the powerless students in an abandoned U.A., held a frightening kind of aura just by itself.

"You came." Shigaraki muttered, idly scratching his dry-ass neck. "I was beginning to wonder."

"Please explain what is happening!" Tenya yelled, his arms waving like a robot's.

Shigaraki sneered. "You're so impatient. Let us explain.

"We have brought you all here to play a little... game. As you all know from the announcements earlier, you're all to live here. And of course, you unappreciative brats probably all want to leave. So, we've made a little system. To leave, you have to graduate. And to graduate-"

"You have to kill someone!" Toga suddenly interrupted.

A stunned silence fell over the students as the villains waited for a response.

"Wh-what do you mean?!" Izuku yelped, his voice slicing through the quiet like a knife. "Kill someone?"

"Yes! Kill someone!" Toga sung. "Stab 'em, burn 'em, mutilate 'em! The gorier the better!" She danced around Dabi excitedly, who watched her with lazy blue eyes.

"And there you have it," Shigaraki groaned, waving a hand at Toga in what might've been a threatening gesture. The blonde didn't seem to care as she re-took her place beside Dabi. "Kill someone to graduate. Oh, and because we can't bother watching you idiots all day, and have better things to do than give lengthy explanations of this thing, we made a new toy for you. It's for the occasion. Kurogiri?"

The warp-gate man silently opened a portal, and out tumbled a short, white rodent.

"Principal Nedzu!" Yaomomo called out, a wave of relief washing over her. The principal was here! Maybe he could tell them what was happening.

But as he got up, all the joy in Yaomomo's heart froze, giving way to terror.

The left half of Nedzu's face was black-furred, the dark pelt sewn onto his head, as evident by the blood-speckled stitches. In place of his eye on the black side, there was a red, mechanical lens that flickered and glowed. The left side of his mouth was bent into an awkward smirk.

What scared Yaomomo the most was his right side, though. The right corner of his lips were curled down in a trembling frown, and his beady black eye was shiny with agony. His entire body seemed to be trembling, yet at the same time stiff; perfectly artificial.

"I am Monokuma!" Nedzu yelled. His voice was shrill, robotic, ragged. It was like a bad audio recording overlaid on top of static and glitches. It was as if Nedzu himself was trying to fight the robotic parasite leeched onto him, but failing and being swallowed by its dominant call. A frozen chill ran down Yaomomo's spine.

"Monokuma here will be watching you from the control room. He can also answer questions, talk to you, and enforce rules, that kinda thing. We'll also have one or two members on standby at all times as well, in case something happens," Shigaraki continued.

"Have fun," Dabi sneered. He jumped into the new portal as soon as Kurogiri opened it, waving his hand as he disappeared.

One by one, the villains all filed into the portal, Kurogiri leaving last and closing the portal behind him. This left the group of students staring, terrified, at Monokuma, who was now standing alone atop the podium.

Yaomomo still hadn't completely grasped the whole Killing Game concept. Kill each other? Who would be insane enough to do that? They were all friends. They were Class 1-A. They'd been through so much together. Besides, even if they weren't friends, nobody would have the heart to physically murder another human being.

And why? If the League wanted them dead, they could do the job themselves. As much as she hated it, Yaomomo knew that none of the 24 students would be able to defeat a single one of the villains in their current state.

So... why?

"Now, time for some housekeeping!" Monokuma continued brightly. "As Shigaraki said before, you will all be living your School Life of Mutual Killing here! Either you can all live under the League's rules, or you can be naughty and try to graduate! They even provided some basic weapons for you in your rooms, knowing you wannabe-heroes. Is that clear?"

"Um, N- Monokuma?" Yaomomo suddenly blurted out. A couple pairs of eyes flickered towards her in surprise, but she kept her gaze steady on the black and white creature.

"Yes, Yaoyorozu, Miss Ultimate Heir?" Monokuma asked, rocking back and forth on the podium. "What seems to be the matter?"

"Yes, about the Ultimate titles... what are they?"

"Oh!" Monokuma jumped up, ears pricked. "Well, we picked out your most memorable attribute and titled you it. I guess you could say, your personal 'ultimate' talent, aside from playing hero. It'll come in handy later, I'm sure!

"Good question! You get a gold star." Monokuma smiled, as if mocking her. "Any more?"

The room was dead silent, spare for the droning of the fan.

"In that case, it's time for the most important part of this whole thing-a-ma-jig! A little something for all of you, to get ya goin!" Monokuma ducked down behind the podium, before swiftly reappearing with a cardboard box.

"DVDs! Come and get the one with your name on it, and go up to the teacher's office to watch 'em on the computers!" He tossed the box at the students, and Yaomomo, who was near the front of the group, caught it.

Everyone grabbed their DVD. After a fair bit of yelling and Katsuki grabbing the box to chuck at Monokuma -who easily dodged before retorting with something about hurting the principal- they made their way up the stairs to the teachers' office. The glowing lights of the monitors were the only light sources in the room. Everyone sat down at a computer and slid the DVD into the media slot before putting on the provided earbuds.

Yaomomo clicked the play button, and the screen darkened. For a moment, nothing happened. And then...

A sunny image appeared on-screen. An image of her family, crowding around her and smiling. There was her younger sister, her mother and father, even Cynthia, her best friend, the maid she had grown fond of back at the mansion. Their bright faces lit a spark of hope in her heart. We were happy.

But then, the screen flashed to black once more, and a familiar, shrill voice rattled Yaomomo's eardrums.

"The Yaoyorozus: a rich, high-end, happy family. Their business was great, life comfortable, and wishes fulfilled. But then, something horrible happened!"

The screen flickered back to life. Yaomomo gasped, her hand coming up to cover her mouth.

There was her family. Hanging by their wrists against a wall, the four people were helpless, at the mercy of their captors. Yaomomo's sister's silver eyes shone with fear, a cut on her cheek caked with dry blood. Her gaze was fixed on the camera, piercing Yaomomo's with her own through the screen. Her mother's stare was directed at the ground, dull and submissive. There were scuff marks on on her face.

Her father appeared to be asleep or unconscious, from the light movement of his chest despite his closed eyes. His glasses were askew and dirtied. The maid, Cynthia, stared forlornly at the camera, her blue eyes hazy and dull. Yaomomo found herself trapped in her glossy gaze.

"The villains attacked, and this family was captured! What will their fates be?!" Monokuma's robotic voice blared into Yaomomo's ears once more. She barely heard him, her mind addled with fear for her family. I'm a hero! I'm supposed to protect people! And yet, somehow... my family...

The screen flickered to darkness once more. A message in bold red letters appeared.

'Find out the answer after Graduation!'

A light piano tune was playing in the background, completely unfitting of the images shown before it. Yaomomo tore off the earbuds, throwing them at the keyboard before her.

Around her, the others' reactions to their videos were becoming evident.

"AAAHHHH!" Izuku screamed, his fingers tugging at his curly green locks. "Wh- why?!"

"How..." Hitoshi stared, wide-eyed, at the screen. "How could they be..?"

"Wh-what's happening?!" Mina yelped, her gaze flitting fearfully from side to side. "Never before..!"

Amidst all the chaotic screams, Yaomomo's darting gaze landed on a couple people. Namely, Ochako and Fumikage.

Ochako's wide, chocolate eyes held a haunted, vacant kind of look. Her entire body seemed to be trembling as she stared into the screen. Fumikage stared indifferently at his monitor, his crimson eyes lazy and unfocused.

"Puhuhu!" Yaomomo jumped, whirling around to see Monokuma had re-appeared in the far corner of the room.

"AAAHH!" Nejire screeched. The Big Three member had obviously been unnerved by the video, judging by her jumpiness. "Where'd you come from?! How'd you get in?! The door's over there!" She jabbed a shaky finger at the closed door, which was on the other side of the room.

Monokuma waved his paws in an arc. "Maaagic!" He chuckled. "Anyways, there you have it! These discs are one-hundred percent authentic, for your information." He cheerfully began trotting around, walking by the students and ignoring their stunned expressions.

"Wh- how?!" Mei's usual merry expression had turned to one of terror. She glanced around the room. "H-heroes will be coming soon, I'm sure! The prisoners will be saved! We'll be saved!"

"Puhuhu!" There it was again, that creepy, little laugh. Monokuma stared up at Mei. "You're seriously going to rely on the heroes?! Wouldn't that mean you should be relying on yourself and your own wits to escape? Now how about that graduation rule, hmm?"

"A-are you serious?! We're Class One-A! We would never kill anyone, let alone our own friends!" Despite Izuku's claim, his eyes were wide, his gaze flitting from side to side, as if afraid of a sudden attack at any moment. Yaomomo felt dread fill her up from the inside, and an unnerving thought rose in her mind.

Would we? Would one of us really kill another for freedom, and the determination of our family's fates?

"Are you so sure about that? Do you know what everyone else's situations are?" Monokuma's red eye gleamed with malice, while his black one was still eternally pained. "You cannot judge others based on your own standards! How do you know... that none of the students here in this classroom are already planning a murder?"

A dark hush washed over the students. After a moment, everybody began to look at each other with suspicious glares. Yaomomo felt her heart sink. No... surely nobody is...

...planning to kill one of us?

***

Tenya felt a rush of rage race through him at Monokuma's words. How dare he..?

"Provoking us with those poisonous words? Convincing us that we're going to kill each other? Are you insane?!" Tenya jumped to his feet and yelled at Monokuma, waving his hand at the little rodent.

He looked around, red and blue eyes flickering from person to person. Everyone's suspicious mutterings had faltered, their attention now completely on him.

"We would never!" He boldly announced. He turned back to Monokuma. "You and the League of Villains, holding our teachers, families, and loved ones captive to try and convince us to succumb to your plans! We won't fall! You will!"

In an impulsive, adrenaline-driven moment, Tenya rushed forward at Monokuma, who was standing in the middle of an aisle between the computers, at the very center of the group.

He never regretted his choice.

Tenya lunged at Monokuma, and a moment later, the rodent was laying on the ground. Tenya's foot was planted on top of his chest, effectively pinning him.

"Villains, listen up!" Tenya glared directly into the surveillance camera next to the TV screen on the ceiling, which stared right back down at him. "Let go of your captives, before we beat you and your... your Monokuma to a pulp!"

Around him, Tenya could hear his friends' surprised gasps. I won't let the villains hurt them... I am Tenya Iida, class representative of 1-A! I will protect them until my dying breath!

"I'll protect my friends and family! I refuse to let you hurt them!" Tenya confidently announced to the ears behind the cameras.

That's when the TV screen lit up. There was Shigaraki, sitting cross-legged on a red-leather wheeled chair. One of his red eyes was visible, observing Tenya with cruel amusement.

"Um, intention of injury to the principal is strictly forbidden!" Monokuma suddenly began talking again, waving his little paws, and everyone's eyes returned to him. "Kurogiri! Spinner!"

A multitude of dark portals suddenly appeared around the room in a loose half-dome over Tenya, their entrances all pointed at the direction of the class representative. Katanas and spears flew out of them with a zing, their blades glinting in the artificial light of the computers for a fraction of a second before impaling themselves deep in Tenya's flesh. Several of the spears' tips had even gone through the other side of his body. Blood blossomed from the many wounds, painting his blue suit-jacket magenta in a breath's time.

For a moment, he was so shocked he forgot about the pain.

"Wh..."

He was beginning to go numb, his vision blurring. Did my glasses fall off?

He was getting dizzy, as if the world were tilting. Or am I swaying?

"Class One-A..."

His limbs were growing unresponsive as blood rapidly flowed from the wounds, although he couldn't even feel the warmth of the liquid against his skin. He forced air into his lungs, despite how each breath felt like a thousand more daggers to his chest. He made a choked coughing sound, blood spurting out his mouth and dripping down his chin.

"Remember... who you wanted to become..."

His breath caught in his chest, and suddenly his body went from frosty numbness to feeling as if he were on fire. The heat and the flames licked his skin, sending prickles of needles and burns throughout his limbs as another wave of blood gushed from the impalement points, the blades holding steady in his body.

His eyes were growing heavy. He was sleepy. So tired...

The spears and katanas jerked as he swayed and fell, sending a fresh spout of blood bursting from the wounds. His vision went dark, and he let the vestiges of sleep take him one final time.

***

Tenya Iida was dead.

In one explosion of blades, he was gone.

Tenya Iida. Our class representative.

Everyone could only stare at the body on the ground, spears and katanas impaled all over his body. And the blood, the blood. There was so much blood.

Thick, dark pink fluid dripped from the wounds, trickling in a steady river onto the floor, flowing into the seams between tiles, entirely soaking through Tenya's blue suit and blotting it a permanent indigo. The growing puddle of gore rippled around the corpse with every new drop.

Despite the magenta mess before him, Monokuma stared down at his corpse, brushing himself off. He'd evidently slipped out from under Tenya's foot at one point or another, as he was unscathed and clean. "Well, that's that."

"THAT'S THAT?!" Ochako suddenly screamed. About a dozen other students jumped at the brunette's sudden outburst. "WHAT DO YOU M-MEAN?!"

Her eyes were wide and brimming with tears. Her face was painted with terror and rage. Her hands were clenched in fists, and the small bow in her hair seemed to droop, mirroring her expression.

"You just killed him!!" the brunette screeched, her face red with pent-up emotion. "And all you can say is- is THAT'S THAT?!"

Monokuma shrugged. "He's dead now, isn't he? This is real life, not some hero manga!"

Ochako opened her mouth to say something when Tsuyu tapped her on the shoulder. Meanwhile, Eijirou was trembling, huddled between Mina and Katsuki. His usual courageous spirit had been shattered. "Why are you doing this? What do you want?"

A strange pause, filled by the mechanical beeping of the room's gadgets.

"Oh, that's simple," Monokuma suddenly said. He grinned.

"Despair. That's all."

Anothere beat of silence. Then...

"Despair?" Denki asked softly.

"Yes, despair!" Monokuma laughed, the noise robotic, mechanical, unnatural. "That's all we want from you! Now, before I accidentally say too much, it's time for me to leave! Sayonara! Puhuhu..."

Monokuma waddled out the door. Nobody tried to stop him. Nearly everyone's eyes were locked on Tenya's broken body.

Above, the TV screen had long flickered to darkness.

So this is it.

What despair. What agony, what pain... it's so evident in their faces, their eyes, their posture, their voices.

Welcome to the Killing Game, they told us.

Welcome to your new life, we were told.

>Prologue : The End | Surviving Students : 23 | To Be Continued<

>Item obtained: Bloody Pair of Glasses<

Chapter Text

Mashirao could only stare in stunned horror.

Tenya's crumpled, stiff body continued to run a river of pink on the floor, the spears and blades still sunk in his bleeding flesh. Nobody dared move, nor make a sound. It was still all too surreal for most of the students to even register.

Silence. The whirling technology was the only source of noise in the room.

Then she spoke.

"He's... he's really dead, isn't he?" Yaomomo's voice trembled, and when Mashirao turned to meet her eyes, they were watery orbs of gray, the tears threatening to spill and trigger a waterfall.

They were filled with despair.

Despair.

It's what the villains want.

Mashirao felt a stab of sorrow pierce his heart. It's the opposite of what Tenya would've wanted.

Fumikage suddenly stepped forward. He slowly crouched down, avoiding the pooling blood, and placed two gloved fingers on Tenya's blood-splashed wrist, followed by his neck.

"He's dead. He's truly dead."

Fumikage's voice was, for the most part, steady. Mashirao felt his throat constrict, and a tear ran down his cheek.

Tenya...

The best we can do now is honor him and his wishes... to not forget him.

"G-guys... " Mashirao decided to speak up. His voice cracked, and he swallowed down the knot in his throat. He wiped a tear off of his face. "To fight, to be heroes... That's what Tenya wanted. We should honor that. We can't just give in to the villains and despair!"

For a moment, everyone just stared at him, their eyes wide pools of monotone colors. When his words registered to them, Mashirao watched with relief as the thick cloud of despair that had been hanging over the groups' heads dissipated.

"You're right, Mashirao," Yaomomo murmured. "That is what he would've liked."

"Shall we get to work, then?" Fumikage asked from his spot hovering over Tenya.

"But- but it's not like we can just leave him here, right?" Izuku spluttered.

"We'll be taking care of that," Shigaraki suddenly spoke up over the overhead speakers.

"Leave him to the mercy of the villains?!" Ochako suddenly cried. Mashirao turned to face her. Tears were streaming down her face, and her entire body was trembling. "How could we do that?"

"I'm afraid it's the only choice," Mashirao murmured. He didn't want to leave Tenya here, leaving the villains to do as they pleased with him, but it wasn't as if they could do a burial, being trapped inside of U.A.. Cremation could be possible, but it could get sloppy, since Mashirao was pretty sure nobody here was the Ultimate Cremationist. Nobody wanted anything less than perfect for their deceased friend, either.

"I'll stand guard," Katsuki suddenly volunteered. For once in his life, Mashirao saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes, underneath a crimson mask of confidence. "If the villains try anything fishy, I'll rip their heads off their shoulders!"

He tried to sound angry, but his voice shuddered, betraying that even the boldest, most ignorant and headstrong member of the class had been deterred. That was what scared Mashirao the most; that the villains were winning, playing them like puppets.

He couldn't let that happen.

"I'll stay with him," Eijirou volunteered. He seemed shaken as well. "You guys try to find an escape. Surely we overlooked something during the previous look-around. Anything interesting, take note of it. We can meet up at the cafeteria at twelve."

With everything going on, Mashirao forgot completely about the time. Looking up at the clock on the wall, it read 9:16.

"That's a plan," Yaomomo replied softly. "Come on, guys. Let's split up into groups and investigate."

Within a couple minutes, Mashirao, Yaomomo, and Tsuyu managed to organize a rough bunch of groups. Mashirao was with Tooru, Mezou, Kouji, and Rikidou. Yaomomo had suggested they check out the base floor, specifically the front door and windows with Hitoshi's group. After a couple of last words, everyone headed off.

Mashirao headed down the stairs, flanked by Tooru and Kouji. Tooru's steps were light and jumpy, expressing her nervousness, while Kouji darted alongside Mashirao, as if he were his shadow and saw him as a comfort source.

If that's what Mashirao could do for his classmates, then he would do it.

"Hey..." Tooru suddenly said in a small voice. "Mashirao?"

"Mmh?"

"I was wondering... what did the villains show you on the DVD?" Tooru's wide, magenta eyes gazed into Mashirao's, and in that moment, she seemed so vulnerable, seeking for any small source of distraction, that he just wanted to hold her and promise her she'd be safe.

"My family," Mashirao murmured. "My Ma and Pa... and my cat, too. Her name's Yuki." A flash of ice jolted down his spine as he remembered the scene of his parents in chains, and his beloved Scottish Fold cat huddled in a cage, her muscles tense and golden-brown eyes wide with fear. "She's almost like a daughter to me, if that makes any sense."

Tooru nodded, her expression warm once more. "It must be nice, to have somebody you can count on to not judge you or anything."

"Yeah, it is. What did you see, Tooru?"

"Well... I saw my mother and father, and my two brothers. I think their Quirks were erased, too. I didn't even recognize my father and one of my brothers for a moment." Tooru shuddered. "It's terrifying, isn't it? How we're all just here at the mercy of the League?"

Mashirao stopped at the side of the landing, letting the others flood past him. He placed his hands on Tooru's shoulders. "We'll be alright, okay? I promise you that. We'll all get out of here. Nobody else will die."

Tooru stared, her eyes blank, up at Mashirao for a moment. Then she gave a small sniffle.

"You're such a good friend, Mashirao!" She suddenly surged forward, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest in a tight embrace. Mashirao wasn't sure what to think for a moment, before returning the gesture by draping his arms around Tooru.

They stayed like that for a couple seconds before Tooru awkwardly pulled back. "Uh, sorry 'bout that."

"It's fine," Mashirao chuckled. "Come on, we're being left behind."

As Mashirao and Tooru approached the massive iron doors, rejoining the group, Mei turned to face them. "Ah, our lovebirds are back." Despite the amused words, her sad demeanor drowned them out. Her voice lacked its usual flair, instead being dull with grief, and her eyes were misty, as if she were lost in thought. I wonder what her inventor's mind is thinking up now. "Anyways, now that we're all here, let's work on this gate," she continued.

Mashirao inspected the various screws and the gate-frame, while Mezou, Rikidou, and Kouji attempted to yank on the door at every imaginable angle in an attempt to force it open. As Mashirao attempted to twist the screws, he sensed the presence of someone at his shoulder. As he looked up, he found his eyes locked in hazy indigo ones.

"Hitoshi," Mashirao nodded in acknowledgement before returning to his work. It'd been a few months since Hitoshi had apologized for brainwashing him at the Sports Festival, but their interactions had been awkward ever since, considering Mashirao didn't have a reason to provoke him every time they met. At least the hostile air between them had cleared.

"How... are you?" Mashirao asked hesitantly, breaking the tense silence without looking up. "You know, with everything going on..."

"It's... alarming, I could say," Hitoshi slowly replied. He absently ran his finger over a screw next to Mashirao's arm.

The tailed ex-hero turned to look at Hitoshi. The violette was tracing the indentations and bumps in the screws and metal bars, his motions detached and slow. His eyes were clouded, as if he were staring at something on the gate-frame that nobody else could see.

He looks... well, sad isn't exactly the right word. Distant? Lonely? Fearful?

Despairing?

"Anything else?" Mashirao pressed. Over the past months he had to admit he'd been interested in befriending Hitoshi. The violette was rather intriguing, so to say. He wondered what he was like once his walls were down; most people surprised you once you got past your own perception of them. Now, seeing him look so lost, Mashirao couldn't help but want to learn about it and comfort him in some way.

Hitoshi tilted his head to meet Mashirao's dark chestnut eyes. His gaze was vacant, fixed once more on something he couldn't reach. "Why would you ask?"

"Because-" Mashirao caught himself, unsure of what to say. You look sad? I'm worried about you? You seem lost? None of the direct wordings would've sounded right, and Mashirao wasn't about to cut the small thread of an understanding between them. "Because- well, maybe the right way to put it is: are you really... okay?"

Hitoshi blinked slowly, then let out a sigh. "You overthink too much. I'm fine."

"You sure aren't acting 'fine'," Mashirao retorted before softening. "But I guess I won't press."

The two continued examining the doorframe in silence. After a couple minutes, neither one of them managed to budge a single screw, bolt, or latch, not even the tiniest bit. Mezou's trio didn't get anything done, either.

The two initial large groups rejoined for a brief discussion. Yuga didn't find anything abnormal in the library, while Mei and Tooru only found a large stack of the principal's paperwork and a variety of books in his office. Mei stated that the papers might betray some interesting details they could later use.

Hitoshi let out a small sigh as Mei concluded her overview of the files and everyone reaffirmed that there was no especially important information or possibilities of escape. "I suppose that's it, then. Hopefully the other groups found something."

Mashirao felt a pang of worry sprouting in his chest. For Hitoshi, of all people, to just give up that easily? The Hitoshi I thought I knew would've stopped at nothing for victory.

I do wonder what he saw in that video...

What could they have shown him that was so despair-inducing?

What did they show all of us?

***

Izuku hauled himself over the counter of one of the cafeteria serving stations, glancing around. The small area was brightly lit by the white lights overhead, and outside, he could hear Ochako's shuffling footsteps and the shutting of the door as Tsuyu exited the room to join Shouto in the kitchen. None of the familiarity of his surroundings gave him an ounce of comfort.

Tenya's death still hung, raw and fresh, in the front of his mind. Every thought of his friend brought tears to his eyes. Every corner he turned, he half-expected to see a villain looming over him, or a barrage of spears, or the corpse of one of his friends limp on the ground, bleeding their life out on the floor. He felt so uptight, so fearful, so in despair.

Mashirao was right; Tenya would not have wanted his friends to grieve so much they were unable to operate and get out of this slice of hell. But Izuku could barely think without being overcome with emotion and tears. After all, Tsuyu had just barely managed to comfort him enough to stop sobbing on their way down the hall.

And now, alone in a corner of the cafeteria, Izuku curled up in a ball on the floor and let his tears flow silently down his face, falling down onto his black vest, the sleeves of his white dress shirt already splattered from wiping them away earlier.

He already missed Tenya. His friend, his class president, his comrade in battle, yet also his partial rival. He was always looking out for his friends, taking care of them as if they were his family. He could be such a motivation, even if it was in the wrong way.

He was like the heart of the class, the trunk to the branches and leaves and fruit. Tenya was a light, guiding them through troubled waters. He was so strong, his desire to be a hero so bold, so bright.

And he was dead. In one flurry of spears, one flash of blades, he was gone. Forever. Izuku wished he were here, telling everyone it'd be okay, that they should thoroughly explore the building, make a plan, fight back and not despair. To rescue the hostages, get reinforcements, defeat the villains, no matter how long it took.

To give his daily reminder that Izuku must live every day to the fullest, to work hard and save his friends, his class, and to be a hero... Oh, what Izuku wouldn't give to just talk to him one more time before he vanished for good.

Through the messed up jumble of thoughts about Tenya and death and worrying about his other friends, Izuku felt a light thud directly above him. He whirled to his feet, crouching in a defensive position on the floor, ready to leap up and deliver a punch to his attacker's face.

Fortunately, it was only Ochako. Izuku quickly relaxed as his emerald eyes met his friend's mocha ones. "Ochako," he murmured, gazing at the brunette leaning against the countertop.

Izuku's relief was short-lived as he took in Ochako's hollow expression once again. She wore an air of fear, its dark tendrils wrapped around her like an aura. He had never seen her so afraid before. Not at USJ, and not even when she confided in him about her guilt over Nighteye's death. No, her appearance was one of a person who'd just seen the devil, followed by their friend's gruesome death.

Now, Ochako stared sadly at Izuku, her hazy eyes taking in how much of an emotional mess he was. He personally didn't like the sorrowful frown on her face. It didn't suit her. "Deku, are you alright?"

Izuku sniffed. "I'm fine," he stated softly, wiping the tears off his face. "No, I should be asking that question. Are you okay, Ochako?" Tell me you aren't.

"I'm okay," Ochako murmured. "I'm okay, I'm okay..." Her voice trailed off as she repeated the phrase over and over, as if trying to convince herself that she was.

"You're clearly not," Izuku replied softly. He approached her from behind the counter and rested his scarred hand over hers. "What did they show you?" he asked in a whisper.

"It's not your concern," Ochako retorted, pulling her hand back.

"It'll be better if you confide in someone," Izuku pushed himself onto the counter and dropped down to the other side, so that he stood right next to her. "Did they show you your family?"

Ochako lowered her head so that her hair shadowed her face. She gave the smallest nod as a reply, her hands clenching into fists over her bosom. "My mom and dad... imprisoned, taken captive. I couldn't stand it... I'm a hero, I'm supposed to be selfless and brave and save people. And I couldn't even save my own parents." She gave a weak smile, lifting her face so that Izuku was trapped in her teary, chocolate eyes. "Tell me, Deku, what hero can't even protect their own family?!"

Izuku blinked at her, her words ringing in his ears. He let out a soft breath. "Ochako," he began. "It's not your fault. We all just got taken prisoner, had our quirks removed, and our friend killed in the span of twenty-four hours. We never could've had a chance to save our families. We were at the dorms, then imprisoned in the school by the villains. Nobody could've saved them, okay?"

Ochako nodded, wiping the tears out of one of her eyes with her hand. Izuku took both of her hands in his own. They were softer than his, her fingers intertwining with his calloused ones, the soft pink pads that once contained her quirk's magic brushing his palm.

"Even the strongest heroes sometimes fail. Don't blame yourself over it." Izuku released her hands and leaned forward to wrap his arms around Ochako's torso, pulling her into a hug. "We'll be okay, alright? Help will come, or we'll find an escape route. Nobody else will die. We'll all be okay."

And yet, feeling Ochako tremble in his arms, her tears slipping onto his shoulders and neck, he couldn't help but doubt his own words.

Nobody else will die...

...right?

Chapter Text

The entire group gathered in the cafeteria. Mashirao and Mezou had shoved some tables together to form a long table that seated all 23 of the students. Once everyone was settled, Yaomomo began going down the rows, requesting any gathered information.

"Personally, my group didn't find much," She herself reported. "The locker rooms are exactly as we'd left them, and the locks are all still intact. No trophies, medals, or banners are missing, and nothing more was added to the shelves. The gym was deserted. The training tools are still in the supply closet. The windows had metal plates over them, and there were surveillance cameras in all the rooms and hallway."

If Mashirao could still move his tail, it would have been tucked between his legs in anxiety.

"We did find the laundry room, though!" Nejire decided to pipe up. "It replaced one of the extra classrooms. It's like the ones in the dorms, plus some bleach, borax, and other oddball laundry supplies." The bright lilt to her voice had begun to return, much to Mashirao's relief. Tenya would've liked this. Getting back to work on a game plan. He tried to ignore the twist of sorrow in his stomach.

"That isn't worth shit unless you want to wash your goddamn clothes or something!" Katsuki barked from the other side of the room.

"Oh yeah, Katsuki, what happened to... Tenya?" Denki asked, his voice softening on the last word.

"Kurogiri came and whisked him away. He said they'd take care of him." Katsuki said, his words clipped. A heavy silence fell over the group as they took in that information.

"I'm sorry!" Eijirou wailed. "We didn't do anything..! We couldn't-!"

"Nobody blames you," Izuku cut him off gently. His voice shook dangerously. I can't blame him, though...

"If that's all," Yaomomo spoke up, hushing the murmurs of the group. "Then we should go down to the library and study some books on non-quirk-related fighting and strength techniques. Anything that'd help us fight the villains, or get out of here."

Mashirao, and the rest of his classmates, agreed with her idea. The group quietly got up and went down to the library, where the afternoon and evening were used for studying. All Mashirao learned was a possible weight trick that he'd try on the screws on the windows later. He really was starting to miss the sun.

It took the whole day to scour the entirety of the massive U.A. library, since Yaomomo decided to send half of the students on exploration duty again, in hopes of finding some secret passageway or weapons to use against the villains. At 10 P.M., the ringing of a bell sounded. On the new TV monitor, which was mounted on the library ceiling, a video flashed to life.

Mashirao stared in confusion at Monokuma's face on the screen. What do they want..?

"Ahem! This is a school announcement. It is now ten P.M. As such, it is now officially nighttime. Good night, sleep tight! Don't let the bed bugs bite..! Upuhuhu!" With that cheery message, the screen flickered back into darkness.

Tooru, who was sitting next to Mashirao, shut her book with a heavy snap, a red, velvet ribbon bookmark caught between the pages. "I guess we can't operate without sleep." Her eyelids were starting to droop, and in an overwhelming wave of tiredness Mashirao realized just how sleepy he had become.

"You're right," Yaomomo sighed, closing her book and resting it on the table next to her. "Come on, guys. Let's go find the exploration group and call it a day. I suppose we can sleep in the dorms."

And like that, after a long day's worth of emotional rollercoasters, Mashirao made his way back to his dorm space, which he had been supposed to share with Tenya.

"Good night, Tenya," Mashirao whispered, stroking his fingertips along Tenya's nameplate. He sighed before entering his own room.

His dorm, as aligned with his assigned Ultimate talent of 'Ultimate Martial Artist', was filled with training equipment, wall murals, and sliding screens, styled like a professional dojo; he vaguely wondered what the others' rooms looked like in comparison.

Mashirao showered and changed before collapsing in bed, his consciousness drifting away as soon as his head hid the pillow.

Our first day here... it's over already.

~~~

The next day, everyone gathered once more in the cafeteria. Upon a short discussion, the group decided to study the papers the previous evening's exploration revealed in the principal's office. They consisted of some emergency plans in case of villain attacks -all of which obviously failed in the face of reality- and a blueprint for an evacuation bunker, which had a 'REJECTED' stamp in the corner in red ink. In other words, they had wasted two hours.

Half of the class decided to go back to the library, and perhaps tinker with the computers a little. The other half -including Mashirao- decided to go up to the kitchen and make a feast for lunch. Aside from some light snacks the previous evening, nobody had had a meal since they arrived last morning. Nobody could really stomach anything the previous night, either, with death and gore fresh on their minds.

Last morning. Was it only that short a while ago that Tenya had been alive, that we'd all been alive and composed?

And that was how Mashirao found himself in the massive kitchen across from the cafeteria. He busied himself by filling a rice pot with water and rinsing the white grains. As he did so, he glanced absently over at Hitoshi.

The violette was idly spinning a wooden spoon inside his pot of miso on the range set next to Mashirao's. He was wearing that faraway look again, not even noticing when he began to overmix the soup.

"Hey. Hitoshi?" Mashirao asked softly, just loud enough for the teen in question to hear him over the bustle of the kitchen around him. When Hitoshi didn't respond, Mashirao turned off the water and placed his pot on the counter, leaning over to gently nudge Hitoshi on the shoulder. "Hitoshi?"

Hitoshi jumped, nearly dropping the spoon. "What?" he asked as he regained part of his composure.

"Um, you kind of had a weird look in your eyes... it was a little concerning." No way Mashirao was going to confess how much he'd been worrying over him and Ochako's states over the past day. Ochako's mental instability he could understand, with her family and whatnot, but he didn't even know himself why he worried so much about Hitoshi, of all people.

He could be monitoring Fumikage, who seemed so unfazed it was unnerving, or Tamaki, who seemed insecure to levels of dysfunctionality ever since the capture, but instead, he couldn't stop worrying about this stupid brainwasher guy who used him like a toy in the Sports Tournament.

"P-plus, um, you're messing up the soup," Mashirao added quickly when Hitoshi met his gaze with unresponsive, clouded indigo eyes. At that, the violette glanced down and lifted his spoon.

"Thanks, I suppose," Hitoshi muttered. He tapped the spoon on the edge of the pot, shaking the excess liquid off of it, before turning around to go get a ladle and bowl from the cupboard.

Mashirao sighed. He returned to his own job of washing the rice, while switching over to sneak glances at Ochako, whom he also had his eye on, albeit less than Hitoshi.

There she was, talking to Mezou and Rikidou. The trio were by the cupboards and cabinets containing baking supplies and a variety of other treats, like spices and dried fruits. Regardless, Ochako was holding up a bag of what looked like flour.

"Mezou, Rikidou! Look what I found!" Ochako lifted up her little trinket.

"What is that?" Mezou asked the question Mashirao had in mind. The octopus-man's hands were full with the two pots of udon he was about to take to the central island the cooks had reserved for finished dishes.

"Is that mochiko?" Rikidou suddenly spoke up. He had been making a tray of pastries, and was about to slide it into the oven behind him.

"Yup!" Ochako's voice was surprisingly bright. When Mashirao shot a glance over at her, he saw the renewed happiness in her chocolate eyes. "I can make mochi! In fact, I'll go make some right now!"

So she's recovered, it seems... looking at her now, it's hard to think of how depressed she was yesterday, when Izuku and Tsuyu had to comfort her as she cried in the hallway after the noon meeting.

After about half an hour, Mashirao and Yaomomo had managed to gather everyone in the cafeteria for their nice lunch. They'd all filled their plates and bowls, had a toast, and started eating when Tsuyu spoke up over the light chatter.

"Guys, kero," she called out, catching the attention of the group. "Since we're all here for a leisurely time for once, how about we share our Ultimate titles? If we're to honor Tenya and be a team, it's best if we know each other completely, including sharing these given names."

That roused some murmurs, but for the most part everyone consented.

"I guess we can go around the table," Tsuyu said after taking a sip of her drink. "I'm the Ultimate Swimmer, kero. I suppose it makes sense. For my training, I joined my school swim team. I've made regional and national youth competitions." Tsuyu's expression was neutral, her appearance calm.

"Impressive," Ochako grinned through a mouthful of rice. "I'm the Ultimate Mochi Chef! Fitting, I know." She shot a glance down at the dish of mochi containing various fillings on the table, which she'd made. The dish in question to her Ultimate must've cheered her up, Mashirao mused. A little random, but it's understandable.

"I'm the Ultimate Hope, whatever that means. This mochi is delicious, by the way," Izuku added. His voice still trembled at times, but he seemed to be less fearful than the day before.

"Ultimate Conspiracy Theorist," Shouto stated without any further elaboration as he continued slurping his cold soba.

"I'm the Ultimate Affluent Progeny," Yaomomo said, disappointed. "I suppose they couldn't think of any better traits of mine."

"Villains can be just stupid," Kyouka said in a gesture of comfort. "And I'm the Ultimate Musician," she continued. "I mean, it kinda works, considering I can play a bunch of instruments..."

"Are you kiddin' me? You can play a ton of instruments, AND you're really, really good!" Denki reassured, patting her arm. "Ultimate Electrician over here, by the way," he added. "Other than my former Electricity Quirk, I helped my dad on the job a lot. He's an electrician, so it kind of rubbed off on me."

"I'm the Ultimate Bodybuilder!" Eijirou gave a crooked half-grin. "I guess it does make sense."

"Ultimate Explosion King," Katsuki snarled through a mouthful of spicy curry.

"Oh come on, we all know that can't be your legit title. Spit it out!" Tooru waved her arms at Katsuki, nearly taking out Mashirao's face, as well as his bowl of rice and Mezou's udon.

"None of your goddamn business, Ghosty!" Katsuki yelled back across the table.

"Give it up, Tooru, he won't answer," Mina waved her hand at her friend. "I'm the Ultimate Dancer," she continued. "Apparently my dancing is a lot better than I thought! Or they couldn't think of any other memorable things about me."

"I'm sure your dancing's great," Hanta interjected. "I'm the Ultimate Arachnologist. I studied spiders in my spare time to come up with interesting ways to use my Quirk, and I kept a tarantula as a pet as well. I think he should be okay, as long as he managed to get out of his tank..." He murmured the last part worriedly, his eyes clouding over.

'Personally, I'm scared of spiders...' Kouji signed, subtly shuffling his chair away from Hanta. 'But... I'm the Ultimate Animal Tamer.' He seemed anxious, as usual.

"Ultimate Nightwalker," Fumikage stated, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. He's still wearing that undisturbed look...

"Creepy! Like, does that mean you're basically a night-owl? Someone who goes around at night instead of day?" Nejire Nejire'd, calling out her questions from the other end of the table.

"I suppose you could put it like that," Fumikage replied. Since the room was quiet, spare the sound of the heating systems running and the clinking of utensils, the two could hear each other perfectly fine.

"I find that Ultimate intriguing, Fumikage," Mezou put in. "I do wonder how you resist from falling asleep in class if you're half nocturnal. Spare the answer," he swiftly added as Fumikage opened his beak to respond. "Personally, I am the Ultimate Heavylifter."

"That sounds about right, since you're super strong, even without your extra arms," Tooru chimed in. "I'm the Ultimate Artist!"

...Ultimate Artist? She's never brought that up before, and her room had zero art and painting supplies in it, too...

"I've never seen any work of yours," Mashirao noted. "You'll have to show me sometime. What's your main focus?"

"Oh, I focus primarily on painting. I took a painting club up until I passed the U.A. Entrance Exam. I don't really have any paintings on me right now, since... well..." Tooru trailed off.

"I could ask the League for painting supplies," Mashirao suggested. "If they're going to continue to provide us with food and shelter, they probably wouldn't mind that."

Tooru nodded slowly, as if hesitant of the idea of the League providing her her supplies. "Later, I suppose."

"Yeah, once we've all settled. Ah, I'm the Ultimate Martial Artist myself," Mashirao announced to the group, realizing that he hadn't yet revealed his own talent. "It's accurate, alright."

"And I'm the Ultimate Psychic," Hitoshi continued the chain. His eyes had regained some focus. The upbeat atmosphere of the group was starting to rub off on him, it seemed.

However, Hitoshi didn't elaborate at all, which was rather unlike him. Mei noticed the silence and cleared her throat, her magenta gloves having been removed for the meal.

"If we're continuing, I'm the Ultimate Inventor! I mean, I did make the adjustments for all of your hero outfits, didn't I?" Mei's calculating, yellow eyes gleamed with pride, having regained some spunk.

"Power Loader-Sensei did mine ☆," Yuga retorted. "Et je suis le Modèle Ultime ☆!"

"...That means 'Ultimate Model'," Izuku added to translate the blonde's words.

"You're too French for us," Rikidou joked. "Moving along, I'm the Ultimate Baker."

A small silence followed. Mashirao cleared his throat. "Tenya..." He glanced over at the empty seat between Rikidou and Nejire. "Tenya was the Ultimate Race Car Driver. I once heard him say he used to participate in races... He mostly won first or second."

"I never would've expected Tenya to be a race car driver," Nejire commented. Mashirao smiled, glad that everyone had decided not to wallow in their grief. "I'm the Ultimate Beauty Pageant Star, by the way!"

"Well," Tamaki murmured. "I'm the Ultimate Florist." He didn't speak any more, which seemed like something he would do, but he still seemed excessively anxious, fiddling with his chopsticks.

"And I'm the Ultimate Hope, too!" Mirio announced, finishing up the ring of students. "It looks like we can twin, Izuku!"

The rest of the meal went on without trouble. For the afternoon, the group continued exploration.

There goes another day, Mashirao thought as he collapsed in bed that night. Another day of practically useless exploration. At least we figured out the whole thing with the Ultimates, though. That was all we actually figured out...

~~~

The next day passed with ease as well. The group split up and did a re-exploration, with Eijirou and Kyouka uncovering some questionable items -matches, pocket knives, and poisons, to name a few- from various locations.

Again, they had group meals, discussing their past experiences outside of hero work and relating to their Ultimates. By the end of it, Mashirao had learned that Fumikage occasionally goes days without sleep, Mezou once went to the United States for a wrestling competition, and Tooru's favorite hobby was attending museums.

At the end of the day, though, it wasn't much. There was nothing that pointed in the direction of escape.

Mashirao went to bed once again in his dorm. We're not making any progress... all we found were some matches, which are useless anyway...

He'd drifted off to sleep. He didn't know for how long, but he was awoken in the night by a knock on his door.

"Hm?" Mashirao sat up with a start. The lights were still off, indicating it was still night-time. Mashirao squinted at the clock on the wall, waiting for his eyes to adjust, and just barely made out the hour hand, which was a smidge past 3 A.M..

"Who would wake me up at three in the morning? And why me?" Mashirao grumbled to himself as he dragged himself over to the door in his slippers. As he opened the door, letting the overly bright light of the common area into his room, his eyes widened.

"Wh- Hitoshi?" Mashirao was so surprised he couldn't even bother giving a proper greeting, and he considered himself a polite person. "What are you doing here? And why are you awake?"

His eyes flickered across the slightly taller violette's face. The bags under his eyes had grown much more prominent, and his eyes were tinged with red.

"Err- I couldn't sleep, so I decided to come over and maybe talk..." Hitoshi awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

"Come in, then," Mashirao said slowly, opening the door fully and half-blinding himself in the process. He assumed Hitoshi wanted to talk to him in particular because of how he'd noticed his drop in mood. Fumikage, who was his neighboring dormmate, wasn't the most sympathetic or patient of people, and Denki wasn't exactly one to sit still, either. Plus, Izuku might still want to be left alone.

Hitoshi hovered hesitantly in the middle of the room, lost amidst the equipment scattered around him. Mashirao shuffled over in the dim lighting, approaching his bed. "Come and sit." He patted the sheets next to him, and Hitoshi complied, settling on the mattress. An awkward beat of silence passed between them, and Mashirao cleared his throat. "So, um... talk?"

The violette took a heavy breath. "It's about the videos. I kept thinking about them, and I feel bad because of it."

Well, clearly he's the definition of 'to-the-point'. "Well then, what did they show you?"

Hitoshi hesitated, then sighed. "I suppose with all that's been going on, the secret wouldn't be worth keeping..." His violet eyes glistened in the darkness. "They showed me my family. Aizawa and Yamada... and Eri, too."

"Wait, wait, wait. Hold up." Mashirao waved his hands at Hitoshi's face, unknowingly nearly stabbing him in the eye as his brain did backflips. "Your parents are OUR TEACHERS?"

"Mmh-hmm..."

"AND THEY'RE MARRIED?!"

"Yeah," Hitoshi murmured softly. "The whole thing is supposed to be a secret, though, so don't go telling everyone else.

"Anyways, the video kinda shook me. I was close to them, you know..? They had adopted me when I was eight. The entire concept of affection had been foreign to me before then, and they'd made up for it. They really were my family. And now they're prisoners at the mercy of the villains, depending on whether or not we murder someone for the sake of their freedom..." Hitoshi's voice tapered off. Mashirao felt pity wash over himself as Hitoshi continued.

"Then there was Tenya's death. He'd been a great friend to me. He was always there for me when my dads couldn't be. And now he's gone, too. And everyone accepted it, took his ideals in stride and pushed forward, staying strong for each other. I just couldn't do it.

"I tried, Mashirao. I tried to remember what Tenya would've wanted, what my family would've told me. But instead, they weighed on me like a ton of bricks, and I couldn't help but feel what Monokuma said he'd wanted: despair." In the darkness, Shinsou shook his head, his eyes clouding over.

"What hero wallows in his own grief? What hero is selfish enough to let down his friend and family's ideals, and fall into the villains' trap?"

Those words stung deep in Mashirao's mind, and he got a frightening, powerful sense of Deja vu. He shook it off and reached out a hand to place on Hitoshi's shoulder.

"Everyone's feeling the same as you right now," Mashirao soothed. "Some are able to trick themselves into thinking it's alright, so they hide the grief better. Nobody has really moved past Tenya's death. It's alright. You're not weak. We'll all be here for you, too. Nobody else will die."

Hitoshi's eyes glistened, and under the shadows that shrouded him, he seemed to shudder. He sighed, his expression softening. "Thanks, Mashirao."

Mashirao would never admit the bubbly satisfaction he felt at Hitoshi saying his name with genuine warmth in his voice.

"It's nothing," he forced himself to say. "Do you want to stay a bit longer or go back to your room?"

"I can stay, if you don't mind."

"It's fine."

Maybe everything will be alright after all.

Chapter Text

On the fifth day of being trapped at U.A., disaster struck.

It was just before 7 PM. Izuku was making his way back to his room after paying a visit to Mei, who was tinkering away in the Support Lab, when he ran into Ochako.

"Deku!" she cried, pelting down the hall towards him. She collapsed in his arms, her breathing heavy. Izuku was too shocked for a moment to even speak, before fear set in.

His jade eyes widened as Ochako pulled back. There were dark pink stains up her ripped sleeves and torn cuffs, as well as a bleeding cut on her cheek. Tears bubbled over her wide, brown eyes, which must've made the wound sting even more, although she didn't seem to care. "What happened, Ochako?"

"The- the kitchen!" Ochako wailed, sobbing even louder. At this point, several figures had overheard her and darted around the corner.

"Ochako!" Nejire rushed forward, closely tailed by Tsuyu. "What happened?! Oh my god, you're bleeding! Hold on, let me go get some supplies from the Nurse's..!" She was rushing away before she even finished her sentence. Hopefully she doesn't trip on her heels...

"Kero! Ochako, what happened?" Tsuyu was asking the same question Nejire had asked before, alarm evident in her voice. Ochako started trembling and crumpled in her arms, sobbing too hard to reply.

"The kitchen." Fear began to dawn on Izuku, a knot forming at the bottom of his stomach. "She told me 'the kitchen'."

"Let's get down there, then," Tsuyu ribitted.

"No, don't let me go back there!" Ochako began to wail again. She wrapped her arms around Tsuyu and held onto her, much like a small child latching onto their mother. "Don't..!"

"I'll take her to the Nurse's. I think it would be best if Nejire and I stayed with her. We can meet up with you later, kero." Tsuyu's voice and demeanor were deceptively calm, as her jade eyes shone with fear and her body was shaking. She clutched Ochako as if she could slip away any moment.

Izuku began to run, tripping down the stairs and catching himself on the landing with his hands. He leaped up and continued to run, running and running, hitting the landing-

Izuku's breath caught in his throat. He fell to his knees as his limbs crumpled underneath him.

A dead body.

A river of blood flowing from a dark, fuchsia hole that pierced deep into the victim's throat, darker, pulsing flesh revealed from within the neck it resided.

A blood-splattered white outfit.

Wide, pearly eyes, the pupils having rolled into the back of their head.

And the blood. There was pink liquid everywhere, trailing towards the kitchen door...

Rikidou Satou was dead.

Izuku suddenly heard the sound of screaming. It took him a moment to even realize he was the one emitting the noise. He shut his jaws with a dull snap and trembled in a miserable heap on the floor, eyes fixed on the corpse, until he heard a rush of footsteps behind him.

"Izuku!" Eijirou had evidently heard his screams and came running. Moments later, four more pairs of feet thundered down as well.

Everyone could only stare, for what felt like millennia, at Rikidou's unmoving corpse gushing pink blood all over the floor.

The nearest TV screen on the ceiling suddenly crackled to life. Izuku tore his eyes away to gaze up at it.

Monokuma. Of course.

"A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!"

It flickered back to darkness.

Stunned silence. Then-

Another scream.

That'd be Nejire, Izuku thought, his brain snapping back into motion.

Rikidou Satou is dead. There's no way he can just be unconscious with that much blood being lost, especially with it coming out a mysterious neck wound. And what was that Monokuma mentioned? Class trial? What would that be?!

"Ri-Rik-Rikidou!" Nejire stammered, her voice shaking. Izuku still couldn't quite turn to face her, but she was clearly behind him.

"What happened..?" Tsuyu asked raspily, her voice trembling. Ochako was still crying, as evident of her choked sobs and whimpers.

"Well, one of you killed him, that's what!" Monokuma suddenly jumped out from behind the bend in the hall. He delicately stepped over the pooling blood to approach them.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ONE OF US?!" Izuku suddenly felt words being ripped from his throat, leaping up in a bout of rage. Burning tears welled over his eyes. "Are you saying one of us killed him?! Impossible!"

"Possible," Monokuma purred. "It wasn't me, or Shigaraki, or any villain, really! We just wanted to see you all spiral into despair, remember? Why would we do this thing for you when you could do it yourselves?"

A beat of silence.

"One of you remaining twenty-two students murdered Rikidou Satou," the rodent reinforced. "And you're all gonna find out who!"

"What do you mean, we're gonna find out? They're about to graduate, right? You'll announce them and-"

"Puhuhu, my sweet Nejire! It's not that easy! The murderer now has to get away with it!"

"What do you mean, get away with it?" Izuku's voice trembled as he wiped the tears out his eyes, his brain beginning to whir once again.

"The class trial!" Monokuma held up his paws like this was the greatest thing in the world. "As my announcement stated, you will all have a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, before we have a trial and you kiddos piece together who the murderer is! But before I leave..."

Monokuma whipped out a small tablet. On the back of it, it read 'Monokuma File I' in silver lettering. "Behold, the Monokuma File!"

"Monokuma File..?"

"Yes, the Monokuma File! A case summary! It will be of use to you... Puhuhu.."

With that, Monokuma waddled off, disappearing around the corner.

Stunned silence. Then-

"If w-we're going to have a trial... maybe we should gather some evidence?" Yaomomo's voice was small and shaky. She was clearly terrified.

"I agree with her." Fumikage suddenly stepped forward. Out of shock, Izuku turned to look at him. The bird-headed male was perfectly calm as he approached the body.

"If we're to get anywhere in the trial, we'll need to gather evidence. What's a claim without proof?" He knelt down next to Rikidou and began to inspect his body.

>Investigate!<

***

The group began to regain their wits. Most of the class, including Hanta, slowly trailed behind Fumikage. He was running a gloved finger over Rikidou's throat and prodding at the hole of a fatal wound, causing the blood to violently bubble out of it like a fountain.

"Wh-What are you doing?!" Mina stammered, mirroring Hanta's shock at Fumikage's calm inspection of the wound.

"Inspecting the body." Fumikage tched. "Why are you all standing there staring at me like you're brain-dead? Read the Monokuma File. Go inspect the area if you don't want to see the corpse!"

"But- he's d-dead, and-"

"In times like this, you have to adapt to your environment. Those who can't adapt die." Fumikage continued inspecting the wound, the pink blood staining his gloves. "Help me by looking around. Hell, check around the entire school. This class isn't filled with idiots; anyone with a shroud of intelligence could've concocted a careful, widespread plan for such a quiet murder."

Hanta swallowed as the group slowly began to disperse. He decided to stick by, in case the murderer decided to do anything else. As much as he hated it, he noticed the suspicious looks his friends were giving each other.

We can't let the villains win. We can't be driven into paranoia by their scheme...

We'll find out who it was. Then we'll be alright.

Hanta picked up the tablet. He turned it over, and the screen lit up with a single-page summary.

'Case I

Victim: Rikidou Satou

Fatal Wound: Throat impalement.

Other Wounds: None.

Weapon: It seems a thin, sharp object was stabbed into the throat.

When: 18:56'

"Strange," Izuku noted softly from Hanta's side, sounding a little shaky. "A thin, sharp object?"

"I'm trying to extract it," Fumikage spoke up. When Hanta looked down, he instantly regretted it as he saw the more violent washing of pink blood on Fumikage's gloves, sleeves, and boots.

"It's in quite deep," Fumikage continued. From behind Hanta, Izuku involuntarily gagged. "And it's so messy I can barely, just barely tell where the esophagus and trachea are, as well as the weapon. Not a very clean shot. Even before I started prodding the wound, it was already enough to leave behind evidence."

"W-We'll let you continue then..." Izuku quickly said, ignoring Fumikage's careful comments on the evidence. Hanta's eyes were fixated painfully upon the Nightwalker's drenched fingers, which were miraculously -expertly, even- opening the wound and widening the hole while pressuring all the right points to make sure the blood didn't squirt upwards and get on the rest of his outfit.

Weaving around the body while trying not to look at it, Hanta started his investigation in the kitchen with Izuku matching his steps. As they started to enter the room, Hanta noticed the irregular, jagged trail of bloodstains. I'm guessing this is what Fumikage meant by 'evidence'...

The liquid was smeared, leading into the kitchen.

Or leading from...

Hanta turned to enter the kitchen, stepping cautiously over the bloodstains, when he halted, causing Izuku to yelp in surprise and nearly run into him.

The smudged blood trail led down the aisle directly in front of him, stopping in front of the oven, where a larger pool of blood was. A couple feet to the right of it, there was a spillage of some kind of white flour. There was a swirl of blood in the powder, and a trail of footprints that appeared to be of blood and white powder lead into the spill.

"It looks odd, the footprint trail," Izuku commented. "They lead into the powder, but looking at the prints, the person would've had to step in the powder and blood first..." He trailed off, the pitch of his voice rising in anxiety and cracking.

Hanta glanced around the kitchen, eyes darting from place to place, drinking in the details. He noticed several subtle things wrong with the room; the scratch on the counter, the mess of more white footprints just around the corner of the kitchen island, the slightly open cupboard around the bend...

Hanta stepped over the mess of footprints towards the cupboard. He slid it open, and-

"A cabinet of baking supplies." There was a haphazard heap of items at the front of the cupboard. He picked up the mostly-used bag of white flour that was sealed with a pin. Reading the label, he didn't recognize the name and placed it on the counter.

Continuing through the various ingredients, he picked out a spatula, a cutting board, a pan, some baking sheets, sugar, cornstarch, and a small bottle of red bean paste. The bottle had a smudged bloody fingerprint on it, but it was almost indistinguishable other than a few lines that identified it as a fingerprint and not a mere smudged drop.

Looking up, he also noticed a liquid measuring cup next to the sink. He reached over and was about to inspect it for any suspicious cracks -hey, Fumikage did say to check everything- when he heard a small "Hanta?" from behind him.

The ravenette in question jumped and whirled around, meeting Izuku's anxious jade gaze.

"Um, sorry..." Izuku awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "It's just- I found something you should check out."

He pointed at the drying rack. When Hanta followed his finger, he noticed an obviously wetter item on it among the dishes from dinner, the silvery blade coated in water droplets.

"A paring knife?" He leaned over to look at it. "It looks perfectly normal. There are some small, thin scratches on it, though."

"Sorry for scaring you," Izuku quickly apologized. "I just thought it might be important."

"You might be right," Hanta replied softly, glancing from the dripping knife to the supplies on the counter and the open cupboard, where the contained items -aside from the baking supplies- were neatly organized and seemingly unused. "Let's keep looking around."

Nothing else was abnormal in the kitchen. As Hanta and Izuku circled around the island to go to the door, something on the floor caught Hanta's eye.

He leaned down and gingerly picked it up. He instantly dropped it when he realized what it was.

"A bloody towel," He noted as Izuku leaned down to look at the now-overturned cloth. "We should keep note of this for later."

Exiting the kitchen, the two instantly ran into Fumikage.

"Ah, Fumikage!" Hanta tried not to look at the bird-headed teen's hands, but his eyes swiftly gravitated on their own will to the bloody gloves. He noticed that the Nightwalker was holding something thin and completely covered in blood. Mixed in with the liquid were small morsels of... flesh? No, I most certainly am not going to wonder what else it could be-

"GYAH!" Izuku couldn't suppress his yelp of surprise. "Wh-What is that?!"

"Judging by its shape and size, it appears to be a needle," Fumikage calmly replied. He continued into the kitchen. Hanta and Izuku both turned to watch the corpse-inspector calmly weave around the bloodstains, footprints, and spillage to access the sink and wash the object that may or may not be a needle. "I'll confirm with all of you later."

Hanta gulped and Izuku quickly stepped out of the kitchen, skirting around Rikidou's leaking, bloody corpse. The Arachnologist quickly followed suit, and the two dodged into the cafeteria.

Hanta immediately spotted Tsuyu, Ochako, Nejire, Mei, Tamaki, and Mirio standing in a cluster and conversing in hushed tones. Ochako was all bandaged up and had changed into her spare clothes, but she still looked shaky. Izuku strode over to her, so Hanta was obligated to follow.

"Ochako," Izuku greeted the brunette. "How do you feel?"

"S-Scared," She stammered. She began trembling, and Tsuyu and Nejire both started comforting her again, rubbing her back.

"If you don't mind..." Izuku's voice trailed off, as if hesitant to pry into her account.

"If I don't mind what?" Ochako asked quietly. She sniffled, refusing to make eye contact with him, but wasn't exactly cold to the idea of explaining.

"Um, could you just tell me what happened? Like, everything you remember? Hanta and I are collecting some evidence... But I don't want you to scare yourself or anything!" Izuku quickly added. "Do whatever you're comfortable with."

Ochako sighed. "I suppose a hero has to be strong and leave her comfort zone... I'll tell you.

"I had invited Rikidou to go baking with me after dinner. We were in the kitchen, getting all the supplies out, when the lights suddenly shut off..." She shuddered, thinking about the event. "I was about to call out to Rikidou when something hit me- a person, I think. They attacked me... and I ran. I ran away and left Rikidou to die..!" Tears welled in her soft, mocha eyes. "I-"

"AAAHH!" Someone's scream from the other side of the cafeteria cut her off. Ochako jumped, and Tsuyu and Nejire began to fuss over her again. Meanwhile, Izuku, Hanta, Mei, Mirio, and Tamaki turned towards the direction of the scream.

Mina stood in one corner of the cafeteria. Between them was a dividing half-wall, so all Hanta could see was Mina's terrified expression.

"Get over here, quickly!" Mina was pointing at something next to her. Mirio and Tamaki, who were the tallest of the group, leaned over the wall to see.

"Mezou," Mirio murmured. Tamaki made an alarmed sound somewhere between a squeak and a whimper. Hanta, being shorter, clambered onto the wall to peer over as well.

As Mina had apparently been trying to say, Hanta instantly spotted Mezou slumped over the table, his head down on top of his arm. Hanta swiftly slipped down and gently shook him by the shoulders.

"Mezou? Mezou, can you hear me? MEZOU??"

Mezou stirred at Hanta's direct yell into his ear and opened his eyes with a groan. "Hanta?"

Hanta let out a sigh of relief, and confusion swiftly overtook his initial worry. "What are you doing here?"

"It's a long story..." He must've noticed the unease in Hanta's eyes, because he asked, his voice full of concern, "What happened?"

"Rikidou is dead," Tamaki said softly from above them. He was staring at the floor by Mezou's feet. "Monokuma said one of us was the killer."

Mezou's eyes widened. "I have to go see the body." But as he got up, Hanta let out a yelp of terror.

"MEZOU! YOUR HAND!"

Mezou's left hand, which had been on his lap, and his cuff were both soaked in blood. He glanced down at it in confusion before seeing the drying stain. Mezou's eyes widened.

"W-What?" Mirio was wide-eyed from his new place a couple feet back from the wall; he had probably jumped back when he saw the bloodstain. Tamaki was holding onto his arm, trying to stay out of Mezou's line of vision. "Why is your hand bloody?!"

"I-I don't know!" His voice was incredulous as he waved the pink limb, which caused Izuku- who had followed Hanta to see- to yelp and leap over the wall in one bound. Hanta himself backed up a step. "I just-" Mezou trailed off when he saw the look in the others' eyes.

"I have an alibi! I'm not the killer!" He wailed in desperation. By now, everyone else in the cafeteria had also turned to them.

"M-Me-Mezou!" Ochako's voice was shaking horribly. Tsuyu and Nejire flanked her protectively. "Those bl-bloodstains are clear proof... you can't deny it! You killed Rikidou and attacked me, didn't you?! Why else would you be covered in blood?!"

"Ochako?!" Mezou's voice was laced with shock. "I never did such a thing! All I remember was coming here for tea and blacking out! And I'm not 'covered' in blood, it's just my arm, somehow!"

"What about your entire alibi?" Nejire asked. Her eyes were a clouded mixture of absolute terror and dark iciness. The hollow gashes in her demeanor sent a chill down Hanta's spine. Even she's terrified by all this.

"Well, I was given an unsigned note earlier, saying to meet them in the cafeteria for tea," Mezou began. "So I went and when I got here, there was nobody here. Instead, on this table, there was a cup of tea and a note. 'Sorry, I had a change of plans. As an apology, have this cup of tea I made in a jiffy just for you.' That's what it said. Again, it was unsigned. I drank some of the tea and just- blacked out. Next thing I knew, you woke me up here!" Mezou pointed down at the chair.

"L-Lies!" Ochako whimpered. "That whole tale sounds fishy! Who would give an invitation that was unsigned? You must've hid here with that poorly made-up story!"

"I never attacked anyone, much less killed anybody!" Mezou snapped in response. But by then it was too late, as everyone was staring at him with suspicion, fear, or a mixture of both.

Except for Hanta.

He lowered his gaze and stared gloomily at the ground, watching their shadows dance across the floor while his classmates argued.

We're tearing ourselves apart...

I have to get more evidence. Prove Mezou is innocent... or prove he is truly to blame.

"What about the note you mentioned?" Ochako cried, her arms wrapped around her upper body.

"I-I don't know!" Mezou stuttered. "It was right there when I first saw it- I didn't even touch it!"

"Oh, I have an idea! Hang on just a sec..." Mina reached over and picked up the cup of tea. She stared down into its contents for a moment, sniffing the liquid slightly.

Then she raised the cup and began to drink it.

"MINA! THAT'S DANGEROUS!" Hanta screamed, rushing forward. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHA-"

Too late. Mina's eyelids drooped and she collapsed backwards, the cup falling out of her hands and shattering on the floor. The remaining quarter-cup of tea spilled across the tiles, and Hanta caught her as they both collapsed onto the ground.

"WAHH! MINA!" Nejire screeched, rushing forward and jumping the wall despite Mirio and Tamaki's concerned cries. She stumbled on her heels, but, as she regained her balance, ran forward to crouch over her friend nonetheless.

She pressed her fingers to the Dancer's neck and wrist. "Phooey," she sighed in relief. "She's alright. Just asleep, or unconscious, or something." She looked up at Mezou. "So you were telling the truth?"

"Or maybe- maybe he set it up so that if one of us tested the tea they'd black out!" Ochako declared.

"Why would I do that?" Mezou's eyes narrowed in a glare. "Of course I was telling the truth! I even have the first note. Right here!" He dug one hand into his pocket. He wriggled around for a moment before his eyes widened.

"It's not there." He fiddled through the rest of his pockets, his eyes a mixture of confusion and horror. "Why isn't it here?"

"So you have no evidence to prove your alibi? No confirmation from any other student? Can we believe a word of your tale?" Tamaki's voice was soft but deadly.

"I would never make up such an alibi! It's real, you fool!" Mezou rounded on Tamaki, his voice raising to a yell. Hanta flinched, having never seen calm, collected Mezou quite so furious. Tamaki jumped and dodged behind Mirio, who turned to protectively wrap an arm around him. The Florist eyed Mezou with fear, as he might attack him and slit his throat any second, while Mirio's eyes were chiseled shards of navy flint.

"Enough is enough." Everyone turned to see Fumikage stride into the cafeteria, hands in his pockets. There was still blood on his clothing and shoes, causing Ochako to visibly flinch.

"What happened to you?" Mezou asked, suddenly befuddled. "I thought Rikidou was... killed."

"I inspected the body and extracted the weapon. I took a look around the kitchen too; otherwise, I would've come in as soon as Mina screamed." He jumped onto the half-wall, knelt down between the two groups, and pulled his gloved hand out of his pocket.

On his gloved palm, on top of a stain of drying blood, was a shining, silvery needle. As Hanta stared at it, he realized that the tip end of the needle was slightly bent.

"I was right in my prediction. It seems to be a sewing needle." Fumikage slipped the needle back into his pocket and jumped down onto Hanta and Mezou's side. "Now quit your bickering. We don't have definitive evidence of Mezou's villainy yet. We don't have clear evidence for anyone yet." He looked down at the shattered glass and puddle of cooled tea on the floor.

"Now keep investigating," he continued when he was met with silence. "Trash cans can be useful. Check those serving stations too. There's too many nooks and crannies behind the counters." With that, Fumikage strode towards the nearest station, jumping into it with swift ease.

As instructed, the group spread out to explore the area once more. Mirio left to carry Mina upstairs to the Nurse's. Fumikage, Tamaki, Nejire, and Tsuyu started to explore the serving stations, while Ochako "stood guard over Mezou", as she worded it. Izuku decided to stay with her.

Meanwhile, Hanta approached one of the massive trash cans in the corner of the room. He gulped and rolled up his sleeves, before lifting the lid off the can.

He immediately noticed the small bottle on top of the reeking food waste. He carefully reached down and picked it up.

"Sleeping pills?" Hanta slowly read the label on the bottle aloud. He put the lid back on the can, still holding the bottle, before approaching Fumikage with his discovery.

"I found this. I think it'll be useful in the trial," Hanta said. Fumikage took the bottle, turned it around, and smiled grimly.

"Thank you, Hanta." He tucked the bottle into his pocket before turning on his heel to continue investigation.

Hanta continued examining the trash cans, but found nothing else. As the group gathered and began to discuss where to explore next, the TV on the ceiling suddenly crackled to life.

"Attention, students! This commences the end of the investigation. Please gather at the elevator on the ground floor as soon as possible! Puhuhu..." Monokuma's voice boomed over the speakers as well, his final laugh sending chills down Hanta's spine.

The group stood in stunned silence for a heartbeat. Of course, he was the one to break the silence.

"I suppose we must go, then." Fumikage started towards the cafeteria doors, all the evidence they'd collected in his pockets. Mezou began to follow, loosely tailed by Ochako and in turn Izuku. Tsuyu, Nejire, and Mirio went next, with Tamaki keeping close to the fellow Big Three members. Hanta left last, glancing around before shutting the door.

The body was still in the hall. It seemed Kurogiri had yet to clean it up due to the ongoing investigation, but Hanta suspected he'd do it during the trial.

All 22 students gathered in the elevator room on Floor Zero. It was nothing extraordinary; a small room, with a small elevator against the wall. At least, that's how it used to look.

The League of Villains had evidently rebuilt the entire place, because the small elevator had been replaced by a massive one behind a pair of wrought iron gates.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Hanta was jolted out of his shocked stare at the gates by a shrill, robotic voice. He jumped, only to see Monokuma perched atop the metal bars.

"Puhuhu! Did I scare you? Not that I care!" Monokuma jumped over to stand right in front of the exit door. "Now that you're all here, jump on!"

On his cue, the gates swung open. The students slowly poured onto the massive bronze elevator. There was just enough space for all of them; as a result, Hanta was pressed against a wall by Tsuyu and Mina, who was still half out-of-it but coherent enough not to collapse.

The elevator doors closed and the gates shut with a creaky SLAM. The machine rumbled to life and began to descend.

Hanta glanced around the elevator, his eyes landing on the fellow students, one by one.

One of us killed Rikidou Satou. One of us killed our own classmate for a chance at escape.

And we're about to find out who it was.

The elevator continued to creak downwards.

The murderer is among us.

A traitor, a deception, a mystery...

A class trial.

The elevator clicked to a stop. 

Chapter Text

The trial room was beautiful.

The elevator spilled out onto a massive, ornate circular room, lit by the grand diamond chandelier hanging from the high ceiling above. At the center of the room was a ring of small, fenced half-circle podiums that faced inwards, creating little a circle of stands. There were 24 of these in total around the circle; each one had a gold name-plate on the railing, as well as a small lever and panel display.

The floor had a black and white checkered pattern. A red rug with gold rimming led from the elevator to around the ring of placements. The walls were dark blue, with golden columns and red curtains for decoration.

On the end of the room, directly in front of the crowd of students, was a set of five stairs. They led to a tiny, raised half-circle stage of sorts that was also covered in the red rug. On the little plateau was a crimson and gold throne. And on the throne-

"Ah, you've arrived."

Shigaraki absently scratched his pale dry-ass neck. "Please find your assigned spots. Quickly, now."

The group of students hustled around the large circle, taking their rightful places. However, there were two vacant podiums. In place of where a person would stand, there was a sign boasting a mugshot of the respective boys. A large, red X was drawn over their faces.

"Why would you keep the signs for Tenya and Rikidou?" Izuku softly asked aloud the question surfacing in Hanta's mind.

"Just because they died doesn't mean they should be prohibited from participating in the trials," Shigaraki stated dully. "Now, then." He regarded the students with a shadowed crimson stare through the fingers of Father, his dismembered hand. "Monokuma, would you do the honors?"

"Of course!" Monokuma jumped down from his risky seat atop Shigaraki's throne and marched up to a tall podium, which was separate from the ring of students, in front of the staircase. "Let me explain the rules of the class trial!

"In the class trial, you will strive to uncover whodunnit! At the end, you will take a vote! If the majority votes correctly, only the murderer -or Blackened- will be punished. But if you choose the wrong one... we will punish everyone besides the Blackened, who goes free with a bounty of added rewards!

"Are you all ready? Then let the class trial begin!" Monokuma jumped down from the podium and re-took his spot atop the throne.

>Class Trial : Start!<

"So... Our first trial." Hanta took a shuddering breath. "I never would've imagined that we would have to hold a trial accusing one of our friends of killing our classmate."

"Yeah. It all seems so surreal..." Yaomomo's voice was hushed with an odd sort of shocked wonder at the absurdity of the situation.

"Let's begin, then, shall we?" Fumikage cleared his throat. "We should start with what we do know; that's a rule of thumb."

"What do we know? Rikidou was killed. That's it," Denki said anxiously.

"I mean the Monokuma File." Fumikage looked to Hanta. "I believe you have it."

"Oh! Right." He pulled out the tablet and began to recite the information. "The victim is Rikidou Satou. He died from throat impalement. He has no other wounds. The murder weapon is a thin, sharp object. The time of death was about seven in the evening." He looked up from the screen.

"Now then, I believe the murder weapon goes without question," Fumikage stated. "I extracted it from the victim's wound itself."

A thin, sharp object Fumikage removed from the victim's throat... ah, it's obviously-

>Select a Truth Bullet<

...

>Needle : I got it!<

"The needle, right?" Hanta looked to the Nightwalker for confirmation. "You specifically extracted it during your autopsy."

"Yes, precisely so," Fumikage confirmed.

"So that means that the murderer attacked Rikidou with a needle, and managed to only hit him once. That one time was the killing blow," Shouto said.

"So there wasn't a fight?" Mei spoke up. "I mean, Rikidou's strong. He would've fought back if he realized he had been jumped."

"Not necessarily so. There was another possible weapon at the crime scene, one that was involved in the case but not used as a murder device," Fumikage explained.

Another weapon? Hanta thought. Perhaps it's...

>Select the Correct Answer:

Needle

Paring Knife

Sleep Pills<

>Paring Knife : I got it!<

"The paring knife. It had scratches on the sides of the blade and had been recently washed by the time of investigation," Hanta said.

"Yeah, that! The obvious signs of wear suggest that it'd been used," Izuku exclaimed. "How, though? Rikidou had no other injuries, and the needle was the weapon."

"So... there was a scratch on the knife, right? What if the scratch was from the needle?" Nejire suggested.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Yuga asked.

"That means... that there was a fight between the killer and the victim!" the bluette declared.

>Non-stop Debate: Start!

Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #1, Mezou's Account, Ochako's Account, Spilled White Powder, Paring Knife, Fumikage's Autopsy, Needle, Footprints<

"A fight? Between the killer and Rikidou?" Eijirou questioned.

"Yeah!" Nejire affirmed.

"So, the killer jumps Rikidou, and Rikidou notices and fights back with the knife," she explained.

"If there'd been a fight, wouldn't there be evidence of a tussle?" Mina asked. "But there was none, right?"

"No, that's wrong!"

>Spilled White Powder : Counter!<

"Someone had spilled some white powder on the floor in the kitchen," Hanta said. "That's the evidence of the tussle. It must've happened while they were fighting."

"The scratches on the paring knife confirm the claim, kero," Tsuyu ribbited. "They definitely look like they could have been made by a thin object."

"So it was scratched by the needle?" Izuku questioned.

"Yeah," Hanta replied. "Which means..."

>Choose the Correct Answer:

Rikidou used the knife

The killer used the knife

The knife wasn't used<

>Rikidou used the knife : I got it!<

"If the killer wielded a needle, then that means Rikidou used the knife. Likely in self defense, as a parry, judging by the scratches," Hanta explained.

"Alright! So we now know how the two weapons were involved!" Mirio said encouragingly.

"Mirio... you're a bit too enthusiastic," Tamaki muttered.

"Just as Mirio said, we know how the knife and needle were used now," Shouto continued. "So how were both of them brought into the case?"

"I think the paring knife was already there, in the kitchen," Mei stated. "So how did the killer get their needle?"

"Well, all the girls were given sewing kits, which included needles," Tsuyu said.

"Gah! Tsu, why'd you say that?! Now everyone's gonna suspect us!" Tooru yelped.

"Kero. It's a fact, so I had to share it. However, there were also needles in the Nurse's office, for stitches. It's identical to a sewing needle, so there's no definitive way of knowing where it came from," Tsuyu continued.

"Alright, so the needle came from one of those two places," Fumikage said. "Without more evidence, we cannot determine anything further. Any suggestions as to what to do instead?"

"What about the scene of the crime?" Yaomomo inquired. "The kitchen was filled with evidence. We can determine a lot about the nature of the case from that."

"True. During their tussle with Rikidou, the killer did make quite a mess," Shouto murmured. "The spilt powder says as much."

"B-Because of that powder... they left behind footprints," Kouji mumbled.

"Yes. There was another item used after Rikidou's death that was used to halt the glaringly obvious trail, though," Fumikage noted.

An item used to remove footprints... It must be-

>Select a Truth Bullet!<

...

>Bloody Towel : I got it!<

"You must mean the bloody towel," Hanta said. "It had been lying on the floor next to where the backwards footprints stopped."

"Exactly. The killer must've been dragging Rikidou when they noticed their footprints. Preoccupied with their task at hand, they hastily wiped off just their feet and continued moving the body, scared that they'd be seen," Fumikage visualized.

"This evidence gives us a timeline of events, sort of," Mirio said. "If we combine this with Ochako's account, we could come up with a coherent story of sorts."

"Right! Ochako, your account!" The brunette, who had been silent up to this point, turned to Nejire. "Could you repeat it for us so we can incorporate it into our timeline so far?"

"Oh... sure." The Mochi Chef glanced around the room, her gaze glazing over Mezou for a moment before she turned away. "Well, I was in the kitchen with Rikidou after dinner. We'd gotten out the ingredients for mochi, the dish we were planning on making. We were about to start working when the lights turned off, and someone jumped me. They... they left behind these wounds." She pointed vaguely at the bandage on her face. "I ran away... I didn't know what happened to Rikidou after that. I'm... I'm sorry."

Tears welled in her clouded eyes, hot, liquid diamonds cascading down her face. "I'm sorry I left him to die..." She moved swiftly to wipe them.

"It's not your fault, Ochako," Izuku murmured. "Anyone would've ran in that situati-"

"But... I think I know who the killer is, too." She cut him off before he could offer her any more comfort. Her expression had turned cold. "Mezou was found in the cafeteria during investigation with blood on his clothes, right? He also has the physique to attack me like that. It has to be him..! IT HAS TO BE HIM!"

Hanta jumped; Ochako's stance had changed entirely, as she was now pointing at Mezou with fire in her eyes and a determined grimace set in her face. Her glare was matching his equally. "Mezou killed Rikidou! It could only be him!"

"How many times must I say this?! I'm not the killer!" Mezou snapped, seething. "I went to the cafeteria, drank the tea, and passed out!"

"That's absurd, even for a lie!"

"Mina tried the tea! It was authentic!"

"You could've set it up!"

"W-Wait..! Calm down, Ochako!" Nejire cut into their rapid-fire exchange of poisoned words. "You can't just..."

"Then how do you explain the blood on his arm and his testimony filled with holes?" Ochako pressed, her voice softening. "Who- Who else is strong enough and tall enough to have attacked me like that?!"

"..that's it!"

"Huh?" Ochako turned to Hanta. "What?"

"There's one other person who could've attacked her in the kitchen," he said. "It's..."

>Select someone!<

...

>Rikidou Satou : It's got to be you!<

"Rikidou."

"E-Eh? What do you mean, Rikidou attacked me?!" Ochako cried. "That's- That's impossible!" He was the one who died!"

"But it's a possibility," Fumikage cut in. "Rikidou set up Ochako, caused the blackout, and attacked her. She ran away. Then who killed him..?"

"N-No... No, I can't believe he'd..!" Ochako tried to protest, tears welling in her eyes and spilling over, droplets dripping down her flushed cheeks. "He was kind... and gentle... he couldn't have..!"

"But it's something we have to consider." Shouto repeated Fumikage's words. "Other than Mezou, he's certainly tall and built enough to jump you. We have to consider it."

"But... I... I won't believe it!" Ochako wailed, her arms wrapped around her chest. The teardrops were still overflowing, slipping down her face, splattering against the railing of her podium. "I WON'T BELIEVE RIKIDOU ATTACKED ME! MEZOU DID! IT HAS TO BE HIM!"

"Ochako, s-seriously, calm down-!" Tamaki called out, but his words were left unheard.

"I-It has to be him! There's clear evidence against Mezou... and there's none against Rikidou! You can't accuse him baselessly!" she cried. "C-Come on! Give me evidence! Give me anything! There's nothing- NOTHING you can give!" She looked between Hanta and Fumikage with wild eyes. "In all of your investigation... th-there was nothing, right? Right?!"

"Well..." She's asking for evidence against Rikidou... and I have to admit, there's nothing. He may have fought with his killer with the knife, but... there's nothing specifically against an innocent bystander like her.

Unless... no, that can't be it. Hanta sighed and shook away the thought, opting to just answer her question instead. "No, but-"

"E-Exactly! It has to be Mezou!" she cut in. She whirled around at the Heavylifter. "You... You killed Rikidou, you lying bastard!" she screamed.

"I didn't! You have to believe me, I don't know what happened!" he retorted, his eyes blazing as he met hers. "You have to stop accusing me! I didn't do anything!"

"Stop. Ochako, please, hear me ou-" Hanta tried to speak but was cut off once more.

"F-Fine! I- I'll argue with you and your baseless arguments, if it'll shut you up!" she yelled. "Come on, give me what sort of lies you've scraped off the ground to defend this murderer!"

"Of course."

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Ochako Uraraka : Hanta Sero

Truth Blades: Bloodstains on Floor, Footprints, Paring Knife, Baking Supplies, Monokuma File #1<

"I'll say it now and I'll say it as many times as it takes for you to listen- Mezou. Shouji. Killed. Rikidou!" Ochako screamed. "What more is there to say?!"

"Well, according to Mezou, he drank the drugged tea after being stood up for an invitation to share a drink in the cafeteria," Hanta recalled. "Mina tested the tea and it was indeed drugged, and I found sleeping pills in the trash can nearby. It's very plausible that he was actually drugged by the killer and set up as a distraction, as he would've slept through the tussle going on across the hall."

"Your claim with the sleeping pills is invalid!" she snapped. "Mezou could've easily set up the drugged tea afterwards and pretended to be asleep when we found him during investigation," Ochako explained. "The bigger issue here is that he mentioned having some notes from someone supposedly inviting him to tea. However, when we asked to see them, they weren't there!"

"How does that even work in your favor?" Hanta asked. "Mezou didn't have the notes. If he'd really been the killer, he wouldn't be so careless as to lose such a crucial piece of evidence that provided an alibi for him."

"Well, even if that were the case, he's still suspicious! Maybe he came up with that out of a panic of being found!" Ochako was still holding her ground, despite Hanta's best efforts to push her back.

"Okay, fine then. Now, if Mezou were the killer, how do you think he would move Rikidou's corpse from the kitchen to the hallway?" Hanta decided to tackle the problem at a different angle.

"Well, that's obvious! Mezou carried him into the hall!"

"I will cut through your words!"

>Footprints : Cut!<

"There had been a series of backwards footprints leading out of the kitchen door," Hanta said.

"Backwards footprints?" Ochako tilted her head. "Doesn't that mean the same thing as footprints leading into the kitchen?"

"Yes, but that would not make sense. The footprints had been tracking the white powder and blood, which were both from the kitchen. It'd be impossible for someone to track it inside," Hanta elaborated.

"Anyway, a person carrying something would not walk backwards with it," he continued. " That would make no sense. However, a person dragging something they could not lift into their arms might.

"Mezou is the Ultimate Heavylifter. He would not drag Rikidou's corpse; like you said, he would pick him up. However, this evidence proves that the body was dragged. Also, if Mezou had carried Rikidou, then Mezou's chest would've been smeared with blood as well, not just his left arm."

"He's right," Fumikage suddenly spoke up. "Such a large amount of movement of the body so soon after death, before the blood has fully clotted, would've caused a torrent of bleeding from the wound. Considering those factors, it's safe to assume Mezou is not the murderer here."

"Besides, why would he use a needle as a weapon? It seems so ridiculous," Shouto added. "It's a very risky move, if it were tailored to disguise the culprit, so the risks outweigh the benefits."

Ochako stared, wide-eyed, at the Nightwalker, her gaze flickering from him to Mezou to Hanta to Shouto and back again. Then she let out a sigh, as if she were a balloon that had suddenly deflated.

"I suppose... there's logic in that." Ochako was downcast, her eyes fixed to the floor. "So... that means... Rikidou attacked me..?"

"That seems to be the case, most likely," Mirio admitted bitterly. "There's the possibility he jumped you with the knife, and after you ran, also wielded it against the blackened. We just don't know yet."

"..." Ochako was quiet for a moment to that. "I... I want to believe." Tears were slipping down her pink cheeks, hot and steady and falling to the ground. "I have to believe that Rikidou hadn't attacked me, or that if he did... that it was for a noble reason." She sighed and wiped her face dry. "I'm sorry about that, everyone. But I'll try my best now... for all of you. Even if I have to suspect my friend."

"There's the Ochako we know," Izuku murmured, smiling. "Let's continue, then, if we're done with that."

"We should recap what has happened so far, kero," Tsuyu suggested. "Go over the story before we continue."

>Nonstop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Needle, Fumikage's Autopsy, Monokuma File #1, Footprints, Bloody Towel, Baking Supplies, Ochako's Injuries, Mezou's Account<

"So, Ochako and Rikidou were in the kitchen when a blackout occurred," Mei began.

"Someone, either Rikidou or the killer, jumped Ochako," Eijirou continued. "And she ran away."

"The killer then attacked Rikidou with the needle," Mina said. "He had the knife, so they duked it out!"

"Eventually, the killer stabbed Rikidou in the throat and dragged his body into the hallway. After cleaning up the various baking supplies and the knife, they fled," Fumikage finished.

"Now what?" Ochako spoke out. "How do we determine who the killer is, the one who stabbed Rikidou with the needle?"

Kouji clapped to get everyone's attention, having reverted back to sign language outside of rapid debate. 'Maybe we should try looking into some pieces of evidence that we haven't touched on yet,' he suggested.

"I agree with that!"

>Baking Supplies : Consent!<

"Kouji's right," Hanta affirmed. "We should talk about something we haven't yet, like..."

"Ah! Like the baking supplies in the cupboard, right?" Ochako piped up. "How could they be suspicious?"

"Well, the half-empty bag of white powder matches the one that was spil-," Izuku began, only for Fumikage to cut him off.

"Wait. Ochako." The bird-headed boy was staring at her with a deathly sharp stare. "What did you just say?"

Ochako blinked, confused. "Um, I said the baking supplies in the cupboard-"

"How do you know that?"

Her eyes widened as she realized her mistake, and dread settled in the pit of Hanta's stomach. I knew it... "Huh? Wh-What do you mean?"

"You were in the cafeteria the entire time, both before and after Mezou awoke," Shouto spoke up. His voice was cold. "You haven't been in the kitchen since the time you and Rikidou were getting out the supplies. We haven't mentioned this in the trial room yet, and I don't think anyone told you, so how do you know that they wound up in the cupboard?"

"I..." Uncertainty laced her meek voice. "I..!"

"Ochako..." Denki's golden eyes were alight with fear. "Have you been lying to us this entire time? Can we... can we even trust your account of being jumped in a blackout?"

"No... I..!" The Mochi Chef tried to find words, but failed, her tongue twisting itself into a knot.

"Ochako..." Tsuyu was staring at her best friend with wide, jade eyes. "Did you- did you really..?"

Ochako's eyes flickered around the ring, her fear glaringly obvious. "I..."

Chapter Text

"I'm not the killer!" Ochako screamed, her overly-forceful voice sending a jolt down Hanta's spine.

"But can we really believe that?" Fumikage taunted. "After that slip-up? Do you have anything in your defense? Anything to say for all of the lies you've been feeding us?"

"Anything in my- OF COURSE I HAVE EVIDENCE IN MY DEFENSE!" Ochako's eyes were a manic as a cornered animal'. "I-It's obvious I'm not the killer! How could I be when I got beat up by the killer themself?! I have- I have ample proof on my side! Come on, Hanta, Fumikage! Argue until your throats run dry, because no matter what you say, I'M NOT THE KILLER!

"NOT THE KILLER- NOT THE KILLER- NOT THE KILLER!"

Ochako's voice, while spewing such angry words, sounded... fearful. Like she was trying to hide her terror at being in such a situation. Knowing that, Hanta felt a pang of guilt in having to drive her into a corner, killer and avid liar or not.

She's terrified... Hanta met her gaze, and instantly realized she was shaking. Behind a mask of raging flame, she was cowering in fear, hands-over-her-head scared out of her mind.

I don't want to do this... but...

For my sake, and for the sake of everyone else... I have to!

"Come on, Hanta! Bring it!" Ochako challenged with false confidence.

>Panic Talk Action : Start!<

{Ochako's Audio Clips <> Hanta's Retorts}

"Why are you suspecting me?" <> "You're the only one who could've done it!"

"Wrong! Wrong!" <> "Logic and evidence says otherwise, Ochako."

"No! I'd never kill!" <> "Can we truly believe that?"

"Stop! Please!" <> "I'm sorry, but I must continue!"

"Do you really think I'm the killer?" <> "There's no other option!"

"I was jumped by the killer!" <> "Can we really believe that lie?"

"Believe me! BELIEVE ME!" <> "I'm sorry, Ochako..."

>Final Strike!<

>W = Bloody
A = And
S = State
D = Beaten<

"There's no way I'm the killer when I was actually attacked by them!"

"Here is the proof!"

>D-A-W-S : BeatenAndBloodyState : Break!<

"Ochako. When Izuku found you, you were in a bloody and beaten state. Your clothes were ripped, and there were bleeding cuts all over you," Hanta began.

"Y-Yeah! Because I was attacked!" Ochako retorted, but Hanta could begin to see the terror seeping through onto her expression.

"However, it's likely that you were the killer, and those wounds were inflicted on you by Rikidou with the paring knife. The killer was wielding the needle, and your wounds are too deep to have been made by a needle. A blade is more suitable. Why else would the knife had been washed?"

"So, Ochako, killer of Rikidou," Fumikage hissed. "Are you done lying now?"

"I... I...!" Ochako stammered.

"Let's vote, then, now that that's settled!" Mezou suggested, anger boiling in his voice.

"No. We have to go over the case one more time, and get things straight..." Hanta said. "And when we hear the whole story, we'll have a definitive tale of the case. But... with the story Ochako fed us..."

"Consider her word as a lie for now," Fumikage decided. "It's clear that isn't the truth, not when she knows things she shouldn't have if she were innocent."

"Alright then. With that in mind, I'll go over this case one more time," Hanta announced.

"Here's what happened!"

>Closing Argument : Start!<

"A short while after dinner, Mezou went to the cafeteria to meet up with somebody. That somebody was the killer. They had given him a note earlier bearing an invitation for tea in the cafeteria at six. However, unbeknownst to Mezou, this was a trap.

"When Mezou arrived, the killer was not there. Instead, he found a cup of tea and a note stating they had a change of plans and had to cancel, but left some tea for him as an apology. Of course, Mezou began to drink the tea. However, the tea had been drugged. Mezou fell unconscious on the spot after drinking it, having fallen into a deep slumber.

"Just a little while later, probably somewhere around six-forty-five, the killer met with Rikidou in the kitchen, under yet another false invitation to bake with them. Rikidou had unknowingly fallen for their trap.

"After they'd gotten the ingredients for mochi out, the killer attacked him with a most peculiar weapon: a sewing needle. Luckily for Rikidou, he grabbed a nearby paring knife and parried their shot, leaving a scratch on the blade from the sharp-ended weapon.

"The two fought back and forth in the kitchen, the killer attacking with their needle while Rikidou parried their hits and sliced at the offender with his own weapon. During their little scuffle, they managed to knock a bag of white mochi flour -mochiko- onto the floor, causing a spillage.

"Finally, the killer managed to drive the needle deep into Rikidou's throat. A lucky hit, too; it stabbed through his windpipe and swiftly killed him.

"Their deed done, the killer started cleaning up the scene. They washed the paring knife, which had their own blood on it from when Rikidou had cut them, and hastily put the baking supplies away all in the nearest cabinet.

"The killer then further messed with the crime scene by moving Rikidou's body into the hallway. They began dragging him, which left a trail of blood. When they realized, they only had time to securely wipe all of the blood and mochiko from the soles of their shoes with a kitchen rag. The rest was left as evidence.

"Finally, their work complete, the killer entered the cafeteria and rubbed some of their own blood from their wounds onto Mezou's sleeve. Since Mezou was sound asleep on top of one of his arms, the killer could only rub blood on one arm. They also took their notes from him to erase evidence. They likely kept them on them and disposed of them privately.

"To finish up the case, the killer ran away and met Izuku, acting terrified and giving a false story of a blackout, being jumped, and fleeing. However, that isn't the case...

"Isn't that right, Ochako Uraraka? You were the killer all along, weren't you?"

>Break!<

***

The world was crashing down on her head.

Ochako's eyes flickered from classmate to classmate, friend to friend, fear clashing with anger clashing with sorrow. Her anger had completely drained out of her after Hanta's groundbreaking conclusion, leaving her feeling like a deflated balloon.

Terror was coursing through her veins. Her lungs felt like they were collapsing onto themselves, her heart thrashing to break out of her chest, her stomach twisting into a knot and drowning itself in its own acidic saliva.

What can I say to defend myself?

How could I have made such a horrible slip?

Just a few mistakes is all she had to make, it seemed, to destroy her intricate web of silky lies.

"As Hanta had stated many times, the evidence is clear. I'm surprised all of you were dense enough to not suspect her from the very start," Fumikage tched.

"H-Hey, Fumikage, don't be like that!" Izuku cried. He turned to Ochako. "Ochako, he's got to be wrong, right? There's no way you'd lie, I'm sure! Everything Hanta and Fumikage said had to have been wrong, right? Right?!"

Ochako didn't answer.

There was no way she could tell Izuku that they were right.

"Have any of you ever read a mystery novel? How the murderer always covers up the murder? How they always put up a scheme to blame it on another?" Fumikage shook his head. "She obviously managed to trick all of you, but it seems she wasn't clever enough."

"But- But she had been attacked by the murderer!" Nejire started to jump to Ochako's defense, whose heart ached with guilt, her eyes stinging. "She said that she'd been jumped and ran..." They trusted me so much...

"Were you even listening?" Fumikage snapped. Nejire winced at his harsh tone.

"Remember what Hanta had explained to us already. She can lie, and very well, it seems," Shouto said thoughtfully. "After all, who was the one who so swiftly tried to turn us on Mezou?"

"Hanta's story was rather clear. This case seems to have been solved, at last." Tamaki's fearful eyes were edged with something colder, something darker: anger. "You're the murderer, aren't you?"

His words crashed down on Ochako's ears. She jumped back fearfully.

"I... I'm not... the murderer..." is all she managed to whimper one final time in defense of her now-obvious crime.

"It's all clear, now, isn't it, kero?" Tsuyu suddenly said. Ochako turned to face her friend, whose voice was trembling and gaze lowered.

"Ochako. You killed Rikidou, lied to us, and tried to frame Mezou... why?" Tsuyu looked up to meet Ochako's wide brown eyes with teary jade ones. "Why would you do this, kero?"

Ochako didn't -couldn't- answer. Tsuyu's pitiful expression was too much for her to bear holding. In that moment, she felt as if someone had thrown her into a frozen lake, as if her lungs were filling with water and her heart was turning to ice.

She had been defeated once again, and there was no redemption this time.

"Well, are we done here?" Shigaraki suddenly asked. Monokuma jumped down and waddled up to his podium when nobody responded.

"If you're all finished with discussion, it's voting time! Please vote by pointing the lever in front of you at the culprit! Be sure to double check and triple check your choice using the panel in front of you!" Monokuma reminded cheerfully.

Ochako stared down at her own lever, which pointed straight up at the ceiling. There was a tiny panel under it on the railing of her podium. As of right now, it was blank. As she shoved it down, it pointed at Katsuki, who was directly across the circle from her. On the little panel, the name 'KATSUKI BAKUGOU' flashed into existence.

Ochako swallowed a mouthful of bitter spit. Guilt constricted her throat, clouded her thoughts. It's all my fault. I shouldn't push it on someone else.

She reached forward with a trembling hand and flicked the lever backwards. The name on the panel flickered and changed.

'OCHAKO URARAKA.' That was the name on her panel.

She flashed a glance around the circle apprehensively. As her classmates and friends began to figure out how the levers worked, more and more began to point at her, until she felt like she was an intruder on enemy territory and the guards had their guns on her throat.

Even that was more than she deserved, though.

I deserved this... Ochako thought sadly. All my friends, my classmates... for them to turn on me and hate me... that's all I deserve.

But I did what I had to, right? I'm a hero, aren't I? For the sake of saving people, of saving my family, I did what I had to...

So why does it hurt so much?

Ochako's gaze suddenly met Tsuyu's once again. The frog girl's eyes were teary, her expression one of sorrow, of betrayal. Unable to continue seeing her friend in such despair because of her own actions, Ochako turned, only to find herself caught in Nejire's sad, sky-blue stare. With another pivot, she was ensnared in Izuku's glistening jade gaze.

She kept moving her eyes, unsure of where to look, meeting the horrified, frightened, betrayed, or saddened expressions of her friends -no, former friends- at every turn.

And to think they all trusted me...

"Are you all done? Time for the results!" Monokuma sang happily. He bounced over to what looked like a casino game. It was a golden slot machine, with the sign 'MONOKUMA VOTE' standing proudly over the three columns. The columns appeared to have each of the student's faces on each slide.

Monokuma popped a little gold coin into the machine. The lights on the sign began flashing, and the dials began to rotate.

They soon began to slow. Ochako watched with her heart in her stomach as all three columns clicked into a solid row.

All three images were of her face.

The machine began to spit out a torrent of more golden coins with Monokuma's face engraved in them. The sign that said 'GUILTY' underneath the dials began flashing all-too cheerfully.

>Class Trial : End!<

"You were correct! Ochako Uraraka is guilty!" Monokuma cheered as the music faded. "Hooray!"

"That settles it," Mina murmured. She stared at Ochako with a frown on her face. "Why? Why would you kill him? And why forge such a lie for us?"

Tears were threatening to bubble over her eyes as Ochako met her gaze. She managed to drag up her voice. "I... I had to... My family..." She flinched at the thought, curling her arms around her chest and coiling inwards on herself in a pitiful, defensive position.

"Was it the DVDs?" Tsuyu asked, her voice a mixture of sadness and worry. Ochako nodded, averting her gaze. Her friend's agonized expression was too much for her to bear.

"I saw my mother and my father. Chained, imprisoned... I couldn't bear it. Everything in my life up to this point, I'd done it in the intention of making their lives easier, better... " Ochako began to tremble. "I'm so sorry... I had to do it."

A beat of stunned silence. Then-

"But to go so far as to fight and kill... Why?" Nejire's voice trembled, her tone soft and broken.

It's all my fault.

"I didn't want to, I swear... I was terrified, but I had to, in order to save them... I'm sorry..."

It's all my fault.

"To fall into despair and do as Monokuma wanted- I've failed, haven't I?" Ochako's voice was nothing but a murmur as tears streamed down her face. "I'll never be a true hero, won't I?"

"I-It's alright!" Izuku stammered, coming out of his initial shock. "You'll be a hero! You- you were always a hero!"

A day ago, Ochako would've believed him. A month ago, absolutely. But now, she wasn't quite so sure of his words.

"Well, are we done with the sentiments?" Monokuma interrupted her train of thought. "If so, it's Punishment Time!"

Ochako's heart nearly jerked to a premature stop as his words hung in the air over her like a storm cloud. Then, as their meaning began sinking into her, panic started to flood her veins, constricting her throat and turning her stomach into a puddle of acidic sludge. "Punishment... Time?"

"W-Wait a minute!" Izuku and Nejire both called out in near-perfect sync. "You can't just kill her!" the latter wailed.

"Sorry! Rules are rules!" Monokuma grinned in a crooked, unapologetic way. "She disturbed the peace, and will receive the fair penalty!

"Now, I have prepared a very special punishment for Ochako Uraraka, the Ultimate Mochi Chef! Let's give it everything we've got! It's... PUNISHMENT TIME!"

>GAME OVER

Ochako Uraraka has been found guilty. Time for the punishment!<

Ochako suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Her mind began to become too clouded with panic for her to even consider an escape route. Her eyes flickered from classmate to classmate, the sound of her breathing becoming louder and louder to her ears.

"G-Guys... I'm sorr-"

A cold metal chain suddenly wrapped around her neck. Her last words were violently cut off as it jerked backwards, taking her down with it as she was dragged out of the trial room, down a tunnel leading out the other side at a rather violent speed. She could see flashes of her classmates' horrified expressions as they were replaced with fear.

"Ochako! Kero!" Tsuyu cried, leaping out and chasing Ochako down the tunnel, though to no avail, since the speed at which Monokuma was dragging her was faster than any rate the jadette could run, leap, or bounce, even if she still had her quirk.

Ochako tried to call out to her best friend, to tell her not to follow her, but the chains around her neck prevented her from making a sound. Not even her constant tugging of them made their metal constraints budge as they pressed against her throat, gagging her.

Suddenly, the bumpy ground beneath her turned into cold, smooth tile. Ochako watched as a large chain-link gate blocked the passage she'd come from, just meters away from her toes. Monokuma slowed down, and she was hauled to a stake in the middle of the massive fenced area.

The execution room was easily the size of several tennis courts side by side. Had she been a bystander and not the one being executed, Ochako would've wondered what kind of executions required this amount of space. In the moment, though, jolts of despairful terror were making their way through Ochako, and it took all her self-control not to vomit, cry, scream, or do all three.

Beyond the chain-link gate, the remaining 21 students had gathered and were now watching her. Most were staring at the ground, or at her in a frozen state of terror, or at Monokuma, who was swiftly tying Ochako to the stake.

Some, however, were rattling the gate, calling out to her.

It was those voices that would echo in her head as her final thoughts.

"Ochako!" Tsuyu sobbed. Through her blurry eyes, Ochako could tell she was crying. "Ochako, I love you! You were... you were the most important person in my life!"

"They say that as long as a person is remembered, they'd be alive," Nejire cried, tears dripping down her face. She was subdued and merely pressing against the chain-link with her hands. In her shadow, Tamaki and Mirio watched her with sad expressions.

"You'll be immortal, Ochako!" she continued. "When we get out of here, I'll- we'll- I'll tell the world about you! You'll live forever! You're loved, everyone loves you!"

"Ochako... Ochako, you were a hero... you were always a hero! You forever will be!" Izuku was crying a river, which was quite expected. "I love you!"

Izuku's words sent a jolt down Ochako's spine. For a moment, her mind cleared, with his words blissfully ringing in her ears, before all the terror that accompanied death gave racing back, sending a heavy pounding up into her ears and skull.

Ochako's gaze drifted down to the chains binding her to the stake. Her arms were pressed to her sides, her fingertips brushing her shoulders. A flash of the thought of escape briefed through her mind when a beeping sound suddenly echoed through the chamber. Her classmates fell silent at once, their eyes fixating on something above Ochako.

Slowly, Ochako looked up to see three gun barrels pointing down at her from their mounted points on the wall in front and above her. Two were in the corners and one was in the middle, between them.

Suddenly, Monokuma jumped out from behind Ochako, her chains apparently successfully fastened. He ran up to stand with his back to the chain link fence, next to the gate so everyone still had full view of the execution room. He whipped out a small metal remote bearing a hot pink button. He pressed the button, grinning maniacally.

>Ochako Uraraka's Execution: 1,000 Needles of Gungnir : Executed!<

The guns began firing needles at Ochako, showering her with tiny silver pricks. At first, they met her skin and clothes softly and unevenly; some just hit her arm and fell to the floor below her. Maybe I can survive this, she thought, her hope like a light at the end of a shady tunnel.

As soon as she thought that, though, the needles began coming down faster and harder. The guns shuffled from side to side on their conveyor belt on the ceiling, causing rows of needles to impale Ochako's skin on her shoulders, arms, collar, stomach, legs, and sides.

Pain erupted like blistering flares from the impalement points as the number of needles multiplied. Ochako gritted her teeth in an attempt to distract herself from the throbbing, white-hot pain, but to no avail. In fact, the movement only made it worse. Blood began to blossom from her wounds, slowly soaking Ochako's jacket magenta.

She screamed out in pain as the guns started whirling even faster. Her entire body felt like it was on fire, as if flames were dancing under her skin, incinerating her until her nerves were burned away and she were slowly being reduced to a cinder.

Her body throbbed with agony. It was like getting a shot at the doctor's, but multiplied by a thousand, and there were syringes being inserted all over her body. It was numbing, but so painfully fiery, with no end in sight and no relief or breath.

Through the murk of panic at the front of her mind, Ochako could only form one conceivable thought.

I suppose I deserved this.

Tears bubbled down her face as her chest constricted. She could feel the blood dripping from her body, her life seeping out, drenching her clothes, trickling to the floor...

I brought this upon myself, didn't I?

It was my fault. My selfishness, my stupidity... all for what? To save my family... But what hero would end someone's life for the sake of saving another?

The world was starting to dull around her.

And I once thought I was to live past twenty... All those dreams cut short because of my stupid mistake...

One mistake...

Funny how they said mistakes are a part of life. Funny how they said that one mistake doesn't define you.

Funny how they were wrong.

Ochako's breath hitched, tears rolling down her cheeks. The pain was starting to numb. All sound was starting to fade around her. All she could feel now was the cold dampness of her own blood soaking through her clothes, the frozen tips of hundreds of needles impaled in rings around and around her body.

She had become a living pincushion, but not for long.

Through the magenta clouds floating around her eyes, Ochako thought that the shower of needles had stopped. She could now see Tsuyu rattling the chain-link gate, her mouth opening and closing. She might've been screaming, or speaking, but Ochako couldn't tell. She could also dimly make out the shapes of Nejire and Izuku next to her, but their expressions were unreadable.

The silence was deafening, the cold dripping from her body until only a sliver of life remained, her heart fluttering like a drowning bird. Izuku always said I had a strong heart...

The world was tipping, it seemed. Ochako's vision was flickering. She felt her heart finally trip and stutter, and for a moment, she thought it was over.

But the darkness merely began to submerge her, swallowing her slowly, relishing in her despair as she sank deeper and deeper.

Despair.

That's what made me do what I did, right?

I gave in to despair...

Tsu, Izuku, Nejire...

I hope you knew I loved you...

But Izuku... you, of all, truly were my hope.

My last hope... how did I forget you, in my darkest minutes?

The shadows were spreading, her body freezing, the cold depths of death wrapping its slimy tendrils around her.

"Ochako, I love you...!"

"You'll be immortal... you're loved, everyone loves you..!"

"You were always a hero... I love you..!"

Her most beloved friends' words echoed in Ochako's head. They kept repeating, over and over, their familiar voices growing fainter as she slipped away.

"I love you... immortal... hero... I love you... immortal... hero...

"I love you, immortal hero..."

Those words were the last thing Ochako remembered when it all cut off.

***

"Ochako! Ochako!"

Tsuyu's voice ripped through the deadly still air like a knife through flesh. Her emotions spilled onto the floor like blood from a wound, drowning herself, sinking everyone else into it like quicksand.

She screamed her friend's name -the friend she'd always held closest to her heart, the person she loved most dearly without reciprocation. Her hands wrapped around the metal rods of the fence, rattling the chain-link gate. Tears ran down her face. Her heart was beating at a speed she hadn't realized hearts could reach.

Her friend, her most beloved best friend, Ochako Uraraka, the hero Uravity... was dead.

She looked terrible. Her body hung limply on the stake, the chains keeping her in the same position. Her head lolled unnaturally, her chin brushing her shoulder and dipping, her eyelids having drooped shut. Rows upon rows of needles were impaled all over her body, the pink blood coating their silver lengths and dripping, running, pouring from her wounds, painting her clothes fuchsia and slowly dripping to the ground, giving her the impression of a soaked cat drenched in blood.

Monokuma strolled out and opened the gate, letting himself out of the execution chamber. "Well, that sure was neat!"

"That's all you can say for your horrible execution?" Tamaki asked softly, his voice trembling.

"Hey, it could've been worse!" Monokuma gave a toothy grin. "Now, let's get back up to the school! This'll take a bit to clean up, but let's leave that to the League, shall we?"

Tsuyu couldn't move. She felt rooted to the spot, her hands locked around the chain link, eyes glued to the brunette's dead body as tears streamed down her face and fell to the ground below.

Ochako...

How much suffering did she go through?

The agony of a thousand needles... how much pain did she go through, only to achieve the cold, eternal darkness of death?

Tsuyu ripped her eyes from the terrible sight and pressed her forehead to the cold fence, her eyes squeezed shut. Her breath hitched and she tried not to sob aloud.

"Tsu." She heard a voice beside her and a cold hand brushing over her shoulder. She looked up and realized it was just Fumikage.

"Come on. It's better if we don't gaze upon the scene of the death too long." He began to lead her away, but stopped when he felt Tsuyu stiffen under his touch.

"H-how are you s-so calm about this, kero?" Tsuyu croaked weakly, trying to suppress her cries.

Fumikage's eyes widened in surprise, for the briefest moment, before he dipped his head. "It takes practice," he replied slowly. "To see the limp bodies, the river of blood... it's difficult, I know."

After such a response, Tsuyu wasn't sure whether to be sad, suspicious, or angry. She didn't speak, but let him lead her away.

As they tailed the silent group down the hallway back to the courtroom, Fumikage suddenly spoke up.

"Tsu." She looked up at him. He was facing away from her.

"Remember, you can't cling onto all of our friends' deaths. If you did, you'd drown in grief and fall into despair. We can't do what the villains want us to do, and fall into their trap." He turned to scrutinize her with dark, crimson eyes. "Do you understand?"

For a moment, Tsuyu was silent, contemplating Fumikage's emotionless words. Then-

"No."

Fumikage's eyes widened. He had clearly not been expecting such a response. "Hm?"

"No, I won't let go of their deaths... I can't forget. How they gave in to despair, how they tried to play the villains' game and escape- I'll hold onto them! It's like Nejire said..." Tsuyu's voice trembled. "Tenya, Rikidou, Ochako... as long as we remember them, they'll live on! We'll escape with them. We're Class One-A! We'll make it out together..!"

Fumikage froze as her words trailed off. Then he let out a soft sigh. "Alright. Do as you wish. Just don't forget what I told you."

As he walked ahead, Tsuyu paused, for a moment, thinking she could see a flicker of pink at the edge of her vision. But when she turned, there was nothing.

I guess it's just my mind making me see things...

"Tsu. Come on, everyone's leaving," Fumikage called over his shoulder. She shook herself off and continued walking, focusing on the Nightwalker's back and counting the thread stitches instead, to keep her mind from wandering.

The class spilled into the courtroom, everyone except the two still in a stunned silence. Monokuma jumped up to the throne, which was now empty. Shigaraki most likely was watching the execution, Tsuyu thought with a pang. Tears threatened to spill over her eyes once again at the thought of the death.

"Well, that sure was fun!" The black and white rodent chirped. "Now that we're finished with that whole ordeal, class dismissed!"

"Hold up," Katsuki snarled. "You bastard. You just murdered her in cold blood. How are you so casual about this death shit? You don't give a fuck, do you? DO YOU?"

He suddenly lunged at the bear on the throne. "I'll kill you!"

"Katsuki, no!" Tsuyu jumped in surprise as Tamaki leaped to grab Katsuki's arms. With a swift twist he managed to pin the spiky blonde face-down on the floor.

"Do you not remember what happened to Tenya?" He hissed. Katsuki's eyes widened ever so slightly, as if realizing what would've happened to him, had Tamaki not stopped him.

"Get off of me, Chicken Face," the blonde snarled, but returned grudgingly to his podium when Tamaki released him.

"Phew, you almost had me there! I'm sweating! Wouldn't want a relapse of Tenya's unnecessary loss, would we?!" Monokuma didn't look the least bit remorseful as he giggled. "Now, shoo!"

The group silently filed back onto the elevator. Tsuyu stood against one of the walls, her shoulder brushing Fumikage's arm as they ascended. Through the heads of her classmates, she could see Nejire staring blankly at her feet, her eyes so distant, it was hard to realize she was still the same person.

But then again, are any of us really the same after such a case?

The reality of it all hit her like a bulldozer once more.

To fall into despair, and kill a classmate to escape...

It's happening.

But will it happen again? Or will we have enough hope to survive?

I trust these people... but how should I know how they feel?

For all I know, this may just be the beginning of it all.

>Chapter 1 : Rise Up, Star-Touched Hero! : The End | Surviving Students : 21 | To be Continued<

>Item obtained: Used Sewing Kit<

Chapter Text

Nejire was in the abyss.

At the end of the tunnel, a pool of pink was spreading towards her. She stood, paralyzed, as images began to flicker into existence on the surface of the blood, reflections of things that weren't there.

Rikidou's dead body, a needle driven through his throat... Ochako, screaming as she was dragged away... Ochako, tied to a stake...

Ochako's dead body covered in needles.

The blood was rising, dragging Nejire down. She screamed, but no sound came out. Blood began seeping into her nose and mouth, the metallic taste in her throat and tongue, hot and vomit-inducing, filling her lungs, drowning her...

Nejire awoke in cold sweat, ensnared in her silky blankets. Breath heavy, she tugged them off of her coiled body and glanced nervously around her room. The too-many mirrors were reflecting the light of her small night-light, creating the illusion of spirits dancing by the walls.

It was still night-time, the very evening of the trial day. The room was empty. There was no wave of blood, nor any dead bodies. Despite that, various thoughts began to crowd Nejire's mind against her will.

Ochako's smile, back when they were still heroes, when she had just captured a villain with Nejire and Tsuyu.

Ochako's determined frown, as she kicked down and pinned villains during the attack on the U.A. dorms.

Ochako's defiant yells, fighting even after she was shot, all the way until she fainted from overexertion.

Ochako's fearful expression, having just been shown the videos, her despair -in hindsight- blatantly obvious after Tenya's death.

Ochako's pure terror, as she was exposed during the trial.

Ochako. Ochako. Ochako.

Nejire clutched her head in her hands, gripping clumps of her silky blue hair in her hands.

How could I have not noticed? Her despair, her mental state, her fear, all of it...

I could have prevented it. All of it..!

I'm a horrible person. A terrible friend.

Nejire began to cry, burying her face in her sheets, curling into a ball.

You pathetic girl, she thought to herself. Nejire, you pathetic, pathetic girl... Now you're just letting everyone down. Aren't you supposed to be the sky of The Big Three? The soft clouds, the playful stars, the happiest little innocent to brighten up the darkest nights?

No, scratch that, I'm not even a raindrop now... An innocent? The stars to light a way for all the lost wanderers? Forget it, I couldn't even light one person's way when they needed it most... ha...

And now I'm falling into the same trap she died to show us- despair. Am I making her death simply meaningless?

I'm just horrible. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

***

Izuku tossed and turned, trying to fall asleep. His mind was in turmoil, thoughts spilling out one after another, banging against his skull against his will.

Ochako, killer.

A limp body dripping blood.

Rikidou, victim.

A white outfit stained magenta.

Tenya, example.

The first death, a body impaled by spears.

Killer. Victim. Example.

She turned on her own classmate, our classmate, her friend. For what, freedom? For the sake of her family, at the cost of her class?

He died as a mere example of the villains' cruelty and dominance. An example? To live such a life, and die as a mere tutorial to the horrors beyond, in this game of death?

Ochako... Tenya...

I miss you so much...

How could you die before me?

Why did you both have to be the first to go?

...

Somebody save me... I don't... I can't understand any of this...

Izuku let out a despair-filled sob into his pillow, a plea for help nobody heard.

"I can't take this..." he muttered into the darkness. "Need to... talk to someone..."

He got up and slipped into the lobby before cautiously tip-toeing into the hallway, a blanket draped over his shoulders. Sweat dampened his back as he crept down the stairs in search of his friend's dorm. Why do we have to live a floor away?

Izuku swiftly found classroom 1-B, his heart in his throat. He entered the common area- the single light on the ceiling was unable to reach the darker corners of the room. Unnerved by the shadows, Izuku swiftly rapped on Shouto's door.

Is he even awake? Would he find it odd for me to be knocking on his door the night of a trial, so soon after a murder? Would he be suspicious of me?

If he were, I don't think I'd be able to take it anymore...

"Who is it?" Shouto's muffled voice could be heard from the other side of the door. His tone was icy, edged with suspicion, causing Izuku's mood to dip sadly.

"Sh-Shouto... it's me, Izuku..."

A heartbeat of dead silence. Then the door opened a crack.

"Izuku? What is it?" Shouto slowly pushed open the door, his silver and blue eyes flickering in paranoia behind the jadette's small form.

"I... I needed someone to talk to. Couldn't sleep." Izuku shuffled his feet nervously, his heartbeat thudding in his chest. "Can I come in?"

Shouto paused, his flickering eyes betraying his hesitation. However, he opened the door to let Izuku in.

"What's wrong?" Shouto asked as he closed the door. In the darkness, his mismatched eyes seemed to glow ever so slightly, like the last embers of a dead fire. Behind him, by his desk, there was a large whiteboard mounted on the wall. There were many papers stuck to it with magnets, and various notes were scrawled around them- Theorist's equipment. Izuku dragged his eyes away from it.

"Um- It's nothing-" Now that he was actually in Shouto's room, awkwardly facing his friend, he wasn't sure what to say.

"Come on, Izuku. You must've come here for something," Shouto insisted.

Izuku blinked. "Um... it's just- I had a lot on my mind and wanted to tell someone..."

"It's okay. You can tell me anything," Shouto said, his voice softening. He leaned forward and placed his left hand on Izuku's shoulder. So warm...

"Um... alright." Izuku took a deep breath. "I'm...

"I'm just... confused. Weren't all of us friends? Weren't we Class One-A? And yet, Ochako- how could sweet, strong Ochako be a killer?" He soon devolved into barely coherent mumbling. "To shed blood for a chance at freedom, before being executed herself? I don't believe it. And now, to think I'll never see her again- that she's gone and dead and will never be a hero- why? Why her? She, of all, deserved to live on and become one, to save people and help her family-" Izuku's rant stammered to a halt. "Shouto?"

"Hm?" Shouto's eyes were alert as he gazed down at Izuku. To see such trust in his friend's eyes, Izuku felt safe, for the first time since the Body Discovery Announcement.

"How do you feel about all this? First we're captured, then our families and friends taken hostage, then Tenya- and now... Ochako-" Izuku's voice broke as his brain kicked into life and visions of magenta darted through his mind's eye.

Shouto was silent for a moment. He let out a sigh.

"If I had to be honest, it's... certainly shocking," he said slowly. "I certainly hadn't expected Ochako to have the capabilities as a murderer. And Rikidou... for her to target him had been alarming, considering their difference in size. I couldn't help but wonder, after the trial... what if Rikidou had fought back? How could our story have changed then? I-"

A soft knock at the door. Shouto halted mid-word, his eyes widening. A jolt of terror flew through Izuku's heart. What- who had heard us? No... no, I don't want to-

"Shouto? Who are you speaking to?"

Izuku relaxed as he recognized Yuga's hesitant voice. Shouto, on the other hand, was less than relieved.

"Nobody. What are you doing up at this hour?" He asked coldly to the locked door, and in turn the teen apparently standing behind it.

"Yuga!" Izuku suddenly blurted out. Shouto's head snapped towards him, his eyes gleaming with panic, but Izuku continued to call out. After all, Yuga was his friend. He trusted him. As the jadette met the taller's gaze, Shouto reluctantly sighed and nodded ever so slightly- consent.

"Yuga, come in," Izuku continued, walking over to the door. He clicked it open and let the blonde inside. Shouto didn't speak, instead observing Yuga with a sharp eye, still hesitant about the intrusion.

"I heard talking through the wall," Yuga explained. His gaze flickered from Izuku to Shouto and back again. "So I decided to come in and... see what was going on."

"We were just discussing our... predicament," Shouto said simply. "It seemed talking it out would help us relieve some stress."

"I'd like that," Yuga noted softly.

The three wasted the night away, talking about both meaningful and unimportant things alike, in an attempt to get their minds off of the horror they were living in. It all hung heavy in Izuku's heart; his own confusion, Shouto's oddly calm, paranoid edge, Yuga's fear... where did it all come from?

Despair? Fear? Misguided grief?

Whatever it was, Izuku hated it. He hated it so much.

***

Tsuyu was awoken by the ringing of a bell.

She listened to Monokuma's voice broadcast over the speakers as he made the morning announcement, none of the words really processing through the haze around her head.

As the TV clicked into darkness, Tsuyu groaned and rolled out of bed, slipping on her room slippers and entering the bathroom to wash up. After she brushed her teeth and had a shower, the frog girl found herself pacing in the middle of her plain room with its blue walls and cutesy stationary on the desk. Her restless energy bubbled up under her skin like fire.

"I can't take this... kero...." she muttered. She dragged her feet to the door, changed her shoes, and plodded down the hall.

The gray haze seemed to have swallowed the entire school. Tsuyu's steps were heavy as she trudged down the stairs and entered the kitchen. Nobody's here, she observed dully as she approached the fridge. Probably all in their own rooms.

"I can't exactly blame them, though," Tsuyu muttered to herself as she pulled out a small cup of yogurt. "After what happened yesterday..."

No, don't think about it, she swiftly chided herself. The pain was still too real, the death too imminent. She couldn't -no, wouldn't- think about it. I have to focus on the future.

The future... it's brighter than the present, it has to be. Yes, the future.

We'll figure out a way to get out, escape, and host Tenya, Rikidou, and Ochako's funerals... then we'll figure out how to continue hero work and get rid of the League forever. I can see it... I have to see it, I have to believe it's there and within my- our- reach.

A small smile slipped over Tsuyu's lips as she sat atop the kitchen island, eating her breakfast. She was alone in that kitchen, but for some reason... she felt like the bloodied apparitions of her fallen friends were all around her, bearing down on her, filling the air with their filthy impurity, keeping her wicked company.

There was Tenya, with blood bubbling out his body from countless puncture wounds. He hovered by her side, his bloodied, cracked lips moving but not making a sound. And Rikidou, the hole in his neck weeping pink liquid. He was still as a statue, standing behind her, his touch cold as his hands rested on her shoulders.

And Ochako, her dear Ochako... she was covered in blood, her eyes hollow and gray, her hair a mess and streaked with dust and blood. She was smiling, despite the magenta fluid spilling over her lips and running down her chin. She was pretty, in a haunting, hollow sort of way.

We must have hope. Hope... it'll defeat despair in the end, I know it.

Our Ultimate Hopes, Izuku and Mirio; when they get better, they'll show us a way out, our light at the end of the tunnel.

If they don't step up, even I would do it.

Tsuyu threw out her empty cup and swiftly washed her spoon, her fingers having found a new sort of strength. The spirits were gone now, retreating to their cage in her head. She continued to mindlessly pace the school.

"Hope..." she toyed with the word on her tongue. It tasted sweet, it tasted right...

Oh, Ochako, Tenya, Rikidou... we'll honor your deaths and your wishes.

We'll get out, we'll become heroes, and we'll defeat the villains.

After all, it's just like Tenya said.

We're Class 1-A. We can do anything.

"We just have to have hope."

Chapter Text

Tamaki tensed as he heard a knock at his door.

It had been three days since the trial, and he'd yet to see a single person except for Mirio and Nejire. The class seemed to have made a silent pact to avoid each other as much as possible, out of fear and grief. He didn't mind that too much. It was nice to be able to stay in his room and its many potted blossoms all day, or to eat with Mirio and Nejire in one of their dorms and talk about hope and despair and other mind-induced concepts.

Today, however, something appeared to have changed.

Tamaki approached the entryway with caution. If it'd been Mirio or Nejire, they would've said something upon knocking to confirm their presence. As he opened the door, however, nobody was there.

Confused and slightly off-put by such a disturbance, he recoiled back into his room, only to see the note slipped under the door. It was a small piece of notebook paper, hastily torn from its rings. When he picked it up, Tamaki instantly recognized Mirio's scrawl.

'Meet in the cafeteria ASAP for group meeting!

Mirio ♡'

Tamaki considered the offer. For one, a sudden group meeting might ensue with violence, lest anybody decides to suspect another and start a fight. Tensions were high, so it was a major risk to gather all the remaining 21 extremely emotional and likely traumatized kids in one enclosed space.

On the other hand, Tamaki was absolutely certain that the note did, in fact, come from Mirio. The two had never explicitly told anybody except Nejire that they were together, so the addition of the heart was a personal touch. It was a very Mirio thing to do, Tamaki realized with a pang of warmth, adding the little heart next to the signature. Besides, Tamaki refused to believe anybody could forge Mirio's handwriting and signature quite so well. He'd know that trademark bouncy, messy scrawl anywhere.

Tamaki trusted Mirio with every centimeter of his soul. He was the sun, a beacon of hope to light the way for the others. If he were going to try and bring the class back together, his efforts may pay off for the better in the long run.

But just to be sure, Tamaki swiftly tucked the note in his pocket and headed straight for Nejire's room. Upon rapping on her door and calling her name, the blue-haired girl bounded out of her room.

"Huh? Tamaki?" Nejire eyed him up and down with dull blue irises. "What's wrong? Do you not feel well? Are you worried? Sick? Anxious? Or did you get a note?"

"I'm fine," he replied quickly, cutting off Nejire's overwhelming spew of questions. "I just have to go to the group meeting. You got that note, too? From Mirio?"

Confusion spilled across Nejire's face. "From Mirio? I got one from Tsu... it said to go to the cafeteria for a group meeting. I bet it's the same meeting, though."

Tamaki let out a sigh. "Good. I just wanted to see if we were all on the same boat. Come on then, we should get going."

Tamaki and Nejire made their way down to the cafeteria. They didn't run into anyone on the way there, but once they arrived it was clear they weren't early. At one secluded table in the corner of the room, Izuku, Shouto, and Yuga settled together. Behind the half-wall, Mezou sat alone with his arms crossed. Fumikage hovered a couple meters away, occasionally eyeing the Ultimate Heavylifter.

Tsuyu and Mirio stood together at the head of the long table. Katsuki, Hanta, Mina, Eijirou, and Denki sat at the opposite end, crowding together for a sense of security. Tamaki and Nejire sidled up next to their friends. Tsuyu murmured an offhanded greeting, while Mirio nodded in acknowledgement. He glanced around the room, his sapphire eyes alight with worry.

"A lot of people are still missing," Nejire pointed out. Tsuyu nodded worriedly.

"However, we only just gave out the notes. Maybe they'll show up soon," the Swimmer murmured.

"I can always go get them if they don't show up," Nejire offered. Tsuyu didn't respond, as if she were silently musing the risks of heading off alone to get a hostile classmate.

However, after around ten minutes, everyone was haphazardly arranged around the cafeteria. Tamaki's eyes darted around the room, worry eating away at his heart and making his head spin as he noted the obvious division between the students.

Yaomomo, Kyouka, Mei, Kouji, and Tooru sat together. Mashirao and Hitoshi lurked in one corner. It was obvious that everybody stuck only with their closest friends and were trying to avoid the others, as if they were serial killers who massacred anybody within two meters of them.

"H-Hey, guys," Tsuyu ribbited, the obvious split through the class obviously having unnerved her.

"Everybody, get over here, where you can hear me!" Mirio called out, making up for her lack of strength.

The students slowly got up and individually shuffled over. They managed to form a ragged crowd. Suspicious, cold looks were exchanged.

"Now, I know it's been a difficult past couple of days for all of us," Mirio began. "And I know it's easy to want to avoid and be suspicious of each other! But we can't be like this! Look at all of you!" He swept his hand across the huddle. "Weren't you all once friends? Comrades? Classmates?"

"Things can change," Mezou said, his voice edged with rigid ice. Being Ochako's target as a false suspect had obviously shaken him, as Tamaki never recalled the guy being nasty or snappy before the trial. "Things can happen, and people change. Why must be remain friends?"

"Because we can get out of here, if only we had hope and stuck together," Mirio retorted. "Have some faith in each other, in yourselves! Have some hope! Right now, what would the dead say if they saw you like this? What would Tenya want? What would Rikidou like to see? Ochako? She'd fallen into despair and made a mistake that cost her two lives. Would you like to replay of that?"

There was a blistering blue fire in Mirio's eyes, a spark of determination, a glimmer of hope. It was contagious, warming Tamaki's heart and calming his nerves, if only for a moment.

"If we stick together, if we have hope, we can do anything!" Tsuyu continued. "We can work together and escape! Save our families and friends, save everyone, defeat the villains; anything. Just as long as we get over this obstacle, this stage of our lives. Have hope, and we can do it!"

"That is all!" Mirio flashed a smile and a thumbs-up to the class. "Class dismissed!"

A murmur spread over the class. Students looked at each other thoughtfully. But as they began to disperse once more, Tamaki's heart fell. The division of the class was still obvious.

Nejire stayed with him, Mirio, and Tsuyu. The rest of the girls, minus Mina, went off together. The Bakusquad kept to their huddle, although Denki seemed more hesitant to remain hooked to them. Mashirao, Hitoshi, Kouji, Izuku, and Shouto joined together. Fumikage and Mezou both kept to themselves and parted ways, alone.

The meeting had relieved some of the tension, but not all of it.

Mirio sighed. "I wouldn't have expected them to just go back to their old ways after one meeting. But it'll work. We just have to keep it up, right, Tsuyu?" He regarded the frog girl, and they began discussing their new hope-inducing project.

Tamaki glanced over at Nejire. She wore a smile, but there was something different about her eyes. They seemed... sad. They didn't mirror her smile; her smile was bright. Her cerulean gaze was like shattered glass reflecting light. It was broken, deep with unspoken emotion, darkness behind a deception of stars. On a whim, Tamaki murmured, "Hey, Nejire. Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Nejire turned to look up at him. Her mouth twisted into a small O, her posture upbeat. But her eyes maintained a cloudy haze. "What do you mean? I'm all good!"

"Mmh," Tamaki mumbled before turning away. She was hiding something, the Florist knew that much. But he also trusted her enough to not do anything rash, especially after her friend's death.

However, even if she wasn't going to do anything to the others, that didn't prevent him from worrying.

I'll talk to her, another time, when she's more ready to spill.

***

Mezou strolled down the silent halls, his footsteps the only sound for what felt like miles. He was practically fuming as he made his way towards the gym entrance.

Hope? Faith? Trust? What a load of bullshit.

How could I possibly trust any of those hope-induced fools after that case?

Ochako, that cold-blooded imbecile, framing me? Why me? Did she think I was weak? Gullible? The most innocent?

Hmmph. Weak.

I'm not weak, I'm not weak, I'm not...

"I'm not weak..." Mezou snarled through gritted teeth. "I'm not weak, not weak..."

He stomped across the gym, towards the dumbbell stand. He picked up a hundred-kilo and smashed it into the floor. It landed with a heavy CRUNCH as it broke the floorboard and left a massive dent.

"I'll prove that much to them," Mezou muttered. "To train until nobody can touch me, much less frame me... yes. That's my goal..."

Losing himself in the work, the Heavylifter trained until the late afternoon. As he was leaving, he was so tired his arms felt like noodles.

Preoccupied in his exhaustion, of course Mezou failed to notice the flash of movement behind the vent cover on the far wall.

Chapter Text

"So, what do you think about all this?" Mina suddenly asked in a pause between the constant clanging of Mei's tools.

Yaomomo shuddered. "It's startling, to say the least," she murmured.

The girls were hanging out in the Support Lab to accompany Mei, who was tinkering on some odd thing or another to occupy herself. They talked about random nothings to pass time and explored the Lab in an attempt to grasp a flare of inspiration for an escape. So far, it was to no avail.

"Yeah, it's pretty crazy, isn't it? One day we were taking classes here at U.A., and the next this place is taken over by villains, and then people started dying, all in, like, a week! Life is weird, isn't it?" Tooru was running words out her mouth, her eyes manic and her hair slightly mussed due to her repeatedly running her fingers through it.

"I just lock myself in the Lab," Mei called from her place at a worktable. Looking up, Yaomomo glimpsed an odd, boxy metal contraption before her. The pink haired girl herself didn't even flash a glance to the other girls, though.

"Come on, guys," Tsuyu spoke up. "We can't just give up! We have to stick together! If we all just have a little bit of hope, we'll get out of here."

"I agree!" Nejire said brightly, her voice a little too loud. "You guys were an amazing class, y'know? Working as a team here is essential!"

"You've got a good point," Mina murmured. "We were a great team..."

"Yeah," Kyouka mumbled. "To be honest, though, everything's just so sudden. We were all just thrown into this, then Tenya just... died... and now this. The trial, the execution, it's all so... surreal. I feel like I'm lost in a dream or something, except it's not a dream, and everything is actually reality. It's disorientating, y'know?"

"Hey, Kyouka," Yaomomo leaned over, her voice softening as she attempted to comfort her friend. "I'm confused, too. We're all confused. But we'll figure it out, alright? It'll be fine, I promise. We're going to get out of this mess together. Just stick with us, okay?"

Kyouka stared back at her for a moment before a small smile slipped onto her face. "Yeah. Thanks, Yaomomo."

The girls continued to chatter for a while before Nejire suggested that they take a break. She wanted to train a little in the gym, and Tsuyu and Mina followed her. Tooru went off on her own to find Mashirao, and Yaomomo insisted that Mei also take a break. The two of them and Kyouka headed down to the kitchen to get a cup of tea.

"You know, Kyouka, you're right. Sometimes it all does get a little too surreal," Yaomomo commented as she poured the tea. It wasn't anything special; just green tea with teabags. However, in such complicated times, Yaomomo enjoyed the simplicity of the drink.

"Yeah. Unwinding like this is nice," Mei admitted. "Thank you," she added as Yaomomo gave her a cup.

The three sat in the cafeteria for a while, talking about random subjects to pass the time, when Kyouka suddenly brought up the library.

"Why don't we go down to the library for a while? Maybe read up on some more complex building mechanics and mystery books to make some progress on an escape plan?" the Musician suggested.

"That's actually a great idea!" Mei brightened up. "We do need to hurry up the whole getting-out-of-here thing, since no heroes have been showing up."

The three girls took their drinks along and went down to the library for the rest of the afternoon.

***

"Too slow," Mashirao huffed as he dodged Hitoshi's lunge and stuck out a leg to trip him. Losing his balance, Hitoshi yelped as he collapsed on the ground, face-down, with Mashirao looming above him.

"I win," the tailed ex-hero hissed, his hands on the backs of Hitoshi's biceps and his knee resting on the small of his back to keep him down.

Hitoshi scoffed, turning his head to look up at him. "Get off of me," he playfully commanded.

As Mashirao let go of him and Hitoshi rose to his feet, the blonde crossed his arms and put on a teacher-like expression. "You were too slow in your movements and far too predictable. Try feinting before making your move. Oh, and keep a better balance. Your feet have to be directly under you, not behind or before you, or else you're easy to trip. Let's try again."

"Yes, sensei," Hitoshi drawled in a play-mock. Mashirao grinned at him as they retook their places several meters apart and facing each other. The violette gently tugged at his shirt in an attempt to cool down.

This time, Hitoshi dove at Mashirao's right. The Martial Artist side-stepped to his left, but Hitoshi whirled towards him at the last second, grabbing his shoulder and knocking him off balance. Mashirao took a tumble as the Psychic twisted him onto his back, his punch missing his opponent's jaw by a hair. Hitoshi pinned him in one swift motion. Mashirao gasped as he hit the floor on his back. his hands were up by his ears, wrists gripped by Hitoshi's steady hands. One of the violette's knees was pressed into the Martial Artist's side, the other applying pressure to his stomach, effectively rendering him defenseless.

"I win," Hitoshi grinned, finding his work satisfactory. Underneath him, Mashirao laughed.

"You sure did. Come on, let's go change now."

The two of them got up and headed for the locker room. They'd been sparring -training- to improve their fighting skills and share techniques. Besides, it was a good way to pass time, as well as get stronger in case they ever had to face a villain in hand to hand combat. Learning moves to dodge Dabi's blasts of fire and jabs with knives by Toga sure did seem like a better alternative than getting destroyed by them at a moment's notice.

"Hey, Hitoshi," Mashirao suddenly said as they were dressing after their showers. He was in the process of putting on the scarf around his neck and tying his headband.

"Hm?" Hitoshi turned. He was slipping into his violet dress suit.

"You're improving quickly," the blonde smiled at him. At the sight of his friend so carefreely happy, Hitoshi felt his anxious heart lift a little. Just a little.

"Thanks, Mashirao," he murmured. "I mean it."

As the two made their way down the halls, casually chatting about their training, the figure of an electric-yellow haired boy making his way towards them caught the attention of Hitoshi. Mashirao noticed as well, as he broke into a grin and waved at him. "Hey, Denki!"

Denki's eyes lit up as he met Mashirao's gaze. "Hey Mashirao. Where're you headed?" His gaze slipped to Hitoshi, and he grinned and waved in greeting.

"Not sure," Mashirao replied. "But you can hang out with us if you'd like! We just finished training." He glanced over at the violette. "Hitoshi's improving quickly. Maybe we should all train together, one of these days!"

The three of them wandered the halls for a while before they made their way down to the cafeteria to get a drink. They took their bottles with them and decided to just wander the school while they continued to talk.

After about ten minutes, however, they happened to run into Tooru. The black-haired girl stopped them. In her hands was -oddly enough- a cooking spoon. She looked more alive and bright-eyed than she had over the past couple of days combined, which was a lot.

"Hey Mashirao, Hitoshi, Denki!" she greeted joyously. Hitoshi gave a small smile. She was clearly happy about something.

"Hi Tooru," Mashirao replied. "What happened?"

"Oh, that's what I wanted to tell you about!" she was grinning from ear to ear. "We're having a class dinner again! We need all hands on deck in the kitchen, so could you guys come and help us?"

"Of course," Hitoshi affirmed. "We'd be glad to help."

As the four of them made their way back to the kitchen, however, Hitoshi couldn't help but notice Denki eyeing Tooru funny. His expression was slightly... off. He just couldn't pinpoint why.

"Denki? Is something bothering you?" He asked. Denki jumped, clearly having not expected such a question.

"It's nothing, really," he quickly replied. "The trial's just still wearing on me, that's all..."

Hitoshi's concerned gaze lingered on him one second longer before he decided to shrug it off. Maybe he is just still bothered by the trial. It was a rather life-changing turn of events, after all.

By the time Hitoshi, Mashirao, Denki, and Tooru made it to the kitchen, everyone else had mostly gathered there as well. The only one missing was Mezou, but Kouji explained how adamant and aggressive he'd been about not coming, so they let him be.

After making and eating their feast of a meal, it was clear the mood had certainly improved quite a bit. Katsuki's friends were joking around. Shouto and Izuku were chatting. Tsuyu had even managed to strike up friendly conversation with Fumikage.

However, just as the class regathered in the cafeteria after washing the dishes, the loudspeaker clicked to life.

"Ahem! This is a school announcement!" Monokuma, Hitoshi thought bitterly. That wretched bear-rat. "Please gather in the auditorium immediately! This is an emergency!"

After that, silence fell over the crowd. Cold dread settled in Hitoshi's heart like a lead weight. Auditorium? Emergency?

Is it another death? No, everyone's here except Mezou, which means it's impossible for another killing to have occured. And so soon, too...

The group made for the auditorium. As they ducked inside, Hitoshi realized that the Heavylifter was already there.

"Mezou," Fumikage greeted. "How did you make it over so quickly?"

"Unlike you, I didn't have to wait for anyone," Mezou replied coldly. He kept put in his position under the shadow of the wall in the back of the room. Hitoshi decided not to try and bother him.

Monokuma bounced out from behind the podium. "Good evening, everybody!"

"Hurry with the formalities," Dabi drawled, stepping out from one of Kurogiri's dark, swirling portals. "Let's just present the next motive."

"Motive?" Mashirao asked softly. "For what?"

"For the next killing, of course! None of you are killing anyone, and it's getting boring, so, we've made a new motive for you guys!" Monokuma announced happily.

"If another murder happens in the next forty-eight hours, and the killer gets away with it, nobody else gets executed and the killer goes free with the promised rewards," Dabi further explained.

"So if anyone wants escape but doesn't want to kill all their friends in the process, there you go! Toodles!" Monokuma waved cheerily. He and Dabi disappeared behind the podium, most likely through another hidden portal.

"Th-this is crazy!" Izuku was the one to break the stunned silence that had fallen over the students. "Who would even kill again?!"

The dead quiet that followed his words answered his question better than any spoken reply.

It's true, Hitoshi thought, fear trickling through his bones. Nobody knows when another may kill again, especially with such an interesting motive. To only have to kill one person, and have a chance at freedom, along with the freedom of their prisoners; it's certainly tempting.

Augh, no! He quickly chided himself. What am I thinking?

"I think I'll be going now," Mezou stated, making his way up the aisle and towards the door. "Wouldn't want to hang around here. Who knows which one of you is a killer in plotting?"

The Heavylifter's words hung like a storm cloud over the other students. One by one, everybody followed in Mezou's footsteps and made their way to their rooms early.

As Hitoshi entered his dormitory and collapsed on his bed, he really couldn't help but wonder. Is someone really planning to commit murder again? Who can I trust?

Can I even trust myself?

Chapter Text

Mashirao sprinted down the hallways, his heart thumping in his throat. Perspiration ran down the sides of his face, and his lungs felt like they were burning up in his chest. Tooru, Denki, Mezou... the next is Hitoshi.

He ripped open the door and skidded to a halt in front of his friend's room. Not even bothering to catch his breath, Mashirao forcefully rapped on Hitoshi's door.

"Hitoshi! It's me, Mashirao!" He called through the door. Anxious fear bubbled in his chest like boiling water. Come on, come on, answer the door, please..!

Much to Mashirao's relief, Hitoshi opened the door, meeting his eyes with his own tired, violet ones. "Mashirao? What happened? You look like a wreck," he observed blandly.

"S-Something happened!" Mashirao blurted out, terrified. "The library- it's all- oh, just come with me! Hurry!"

Hitoshi's eyes widened and he tailed Mashirao down the hallways and stairs. They rounded onto the ground floor, back to the library. As the two stumbled to a halt in front of the dark oak doors, Hitoshi's eyes widened in shock.

Mashirao couldn't exactly blame him. The library had obviously been brutally burned in a fire, as evident of the blackened shelves, scorched walls and floors, and piles of ash on the floor. The windows were half-melted, blurring the view inside.

"What- What happened?!" Hitoshi stammered. "It's- it's all burnt!"

"It was like this when I found it this morning. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to come down here, and- I found this." Mashirao swallowed nervously. "The doors are locked. I couldn't get in. I've tried getting multiple people, but they didn't answer the door. Only you did. Help me get in, we have to investigate..."

Hitoshi and Mashirao worked on ramming down the door. They kicked it, pulled at the doorknob, punched it, body-slammed it, everything of that sort. Finally, after several minutes of trying to knock it down, the door cracked out of the frame and fell into the room.

As soon as Mashirao stepped into the library, a horrid stench wafted up his nostrils. He immediately gagged and covered his mouth with his hand. Hitoshi was having roughly the same reaction.

"What- what is that?" Hitoshi coughed. "It smells like- like-"

"Like death," Mashirao finished grimly, swallowing bile. "Blood, rot, and smoke."

The two traversed the burned library. Mashirao inspected the piles of ash and the dark burn marks on the walls. The windows were half melted. When he brushed his fingers against it, it was still slightly soft and decently warm. He brushed off a bit of the melt, and upon touching the layer underneath it, it was still burning hot.

So the fire occurred sometime in the night, Mashirao concluded. That'll be evidence for later...

Suddenly, a scream rose from the other side of the library. Mashirao's eyes widened, his heart dropping into his stomach.

"Hitoshi!" He yelped as he raced towards the direction of his friend's voice. "Hitoshi, are you okay?"

Hitoshi had his back to a blackened shelf. His eyes were round violet discs of terror as he stared at something invisible in front of him. "It's- it's worse than I expected." When he met Mashirao's confused, frightful stare, he gestured vaguely behind him, around the shelves he was leaning against.

In a rush of adrenaline, Mashirao whirled around the shelf, anxiety bubbling in his chest as he wondered who it was. The people who didn't answer the door earlier- Izuku, Denki, Shouto, Tooru, Mezou, and-

As Mashirao rounded on the corpse, a wave of nausea rolled through him, thudding against his head in a throbbing dizziness.

-And him.

Blackened, sizzling skin, cracked like earth in a drought.

Blood oozing out of ravines in blistered, crisp flesh.

Crumpled limbs, burnt cloth.

Bubbling pink liquid everywhere, like spilled, boiling water over a blaze.

A river of blood...

Mashirao stumbled back in shock. The body was nearly unrecognizable, had it not been for his rock-shaped head.

Kouji Kouda is dead.

Mashirao gagged as the stench of ash, rot, and blood all rolled into one rose from the body. Above him, a TV screen clicked to life. He didn't look up. His eyes were unblinkingly glued on the corpse, his gaze scanning over Kouji's corpse over and over, confirming the reality of this situation.

It's happened again. Someone... killed...

A robotic, painfully cheerful voice echoed from over their heads. The words felt like knives stabbing into Mashirao's skin, every syllable hitting him like a thousand-kilo boulder as the weight of it all collapsed on his lungs.

"A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!"

"Wh- how-" Mashirao stuttered, his gaze still fixated on Kouji. "How could this happen again?" he whispered hoarsely. Tears were building in his eyes, and the back of his throat tightened.

Kouji... he was so sweet, so kind to everyone, so selfless... he always worked so hard to be a hero. How could... anyone be so heartless as to choose him as their victim?

Then again... killing anyone else would be just as cruel.

"Mashirao..." Hitoshi murmured, his voice trembling as he pulled Mashirao back to reality. "We should go tell the others."

"Y-yeah, you're right," Mashirao quickly said, backing away from the scene. "I'll go... get them..."

***

How could this happen?

Kyouka's hands were shaking as she stared down at her friend's burned, lifeless corpse. She'd been awoken by the body discovery announcement, and in her panicked confusion, Mashirao had come to her door to confirm the tragedy. Now, though, staring at Kouji's body with her very own eyes... it was a hundred times more real.

Kouji... is dead?

Kouji... the same boy who'd won the match for us in the final exams, who overcame his fears, who fought and trained twice as hard as everyone else to become the hero he wanted to be... is gone? Forever?

"..How?" Kyouka murmured. "Who did this?"

"It seems," Fumikage replied coolly, "that somebody took up Monokuma's motive."

"How could you be so calm about this?" Yaomomo spoke up, regarding Fumikage's statement. "Our friend has just been killed in this... this horrid fashion! Could you at least show some emotion?"

"A death," Fumikage dipped his beak. "It happens every day. You just don't know it. Every day, thousands die, and we don't consider their lives ended at all. It's merely a passing to the next life."

"Merely?! But-"

"Guys," Izuku cut into the budding argument before it could explode into something a bit more violent. He was obviously shaken, but still had the strength to prevent another fight. "P-Please don't fight! For now... I think we should gather evidence. Because... it's gonna happen again, right? The class trial." His voice shook as he most likely recalled the last one, in which Ochako had been executed.

"He's right," Mezou said. For the first time in days, his eyes betrayed emotion: grief for his friend. "We must figure out this case. If we don't, the killer will get away."

"I-is there even a killer this time around?" Tamaki asked fearfully. "This... this looks like a fire. Surely there's a more efficient way to- to kill one person than a large-scale burning like this."

"What could've caused such a fire?" Hitoshi asked. "Gas explosion from the basement, perhaps?"

"Nope!" An ever-cheerful voice suddenly burst from behind the group, causing everyone to jump in surprise. Monokuma stood there, having appeared out of thin air once again. In his paws, he held another monochrome tablet. "You heard the body discovery announcement! One of you definitely killed Kouji Kouda!"

"One of... us? Again?" Tsuyu's voice was low. Her eyes were teary, as if she were on the verge of breaking down.

"Yup!" Monokuma cackled. "Now, here's what I came here for: the Monokuma File!" Monokuma tossed it at the students. Out of reflex, Kyouka willed her earphone jacks to extend and snatch it, only to remember she could no longer do that. She hastily caught them in her hands instead. 'Monokuma File II', the tablet read in etched silver letters on the back.

"Bye-bye! Have fun!" Monokuma ran around the corner and vanished.

"Um... I guess we should do what he told us to, then," Mei concluded. Murmurs of agreement rose from the students around her. On that somber note, the group dispersed around the library, searching the scene for any clues.

>Investigate!<

***

Fumikage, of course, began a body inspection. Hanta quickly decided that he'd check back on the Nightwalker later and simply ask for a description rather than wait and watch. He turned and joined Kyouka instead.

The Musician had the Monokuma File and was turning it on. She noticed him approach and held it between them so they could both see. It flashed open to a screen that contained the following information:

'Case II

Victim: Kouji Kouda

Fatal Wound: Heavy burns all over body, smoke inhalation/suffocation.

Other Wounds: Other than the variety of burns, none.

Weapon: Due to the burns, it appears fire or extreme heat is the culprit.

When: 00:59 AM'

"One A.M., hm?" Kyouka muttered to herself.

"So it was tonight," Hanta mused. "Hey, do you want to investigate with me?" he added, watching Kyouka tuck away the tablet.

"Sure," she said, brushing off her hands. There was a sort of misty, melancholy determination in her red and blue eyes, a chord struck by the death of her friend.

The two made their way across the library, back to the main door. Hanta sidled up to the front windows and brushed his fingers through the hot, melted glass. Kyouka joined him, their hands side by side. They'd never interacted before, but the very nature of the game, forcing cooperation in solving cases, had brought them to work together.

"It's still warm," he noted as he pulled his hand back, residue heat pulsing through his finger-pads. Kyouka was inspecting the melt streaks.

"I'd guess that's because of the fact that the fire was in an enclosed space," someone said right behind him. Hanta and Kyouka both jumped and whirled around, only to find themselves staring into Shouto's steady, sharp gaze.

"Sorry. Did I startle you?" he asked, stepping back.

"Oh! No, um, it's nothing," Kyouka quickly affirmed. Hanta nodded in agreement. "But what were you saying?"

"Well, since the fire was contained only in the library, the enclosed space would mean the heat had nowhere to go," Shouto explained. "So the room would've maintained a fairly high temperature after the fire extinguished itself due to lack of oxygen. "

"What about the vents?" Hanta pointed out. "The ventilation would've circuited the air."

"That'd be impossible," Shouto retorted. "Look."

He pointed at something at the base of the wall. Hanta turned and spotted the vent cover in question, before quickly realizing what he was talking about.

"It's closed," Kyouka stated from behind him. The vent door behind the bars of the cover was down, blocking the circulation of air. Upon examining the rest of the vents in the library with Shouto, they quickly realized all of them were blocked.

"So the killer must've blocked the ventilation to keep in the heat," Shouto concluded as they circled back around. "Intriguing, very intriguing indeed..."

Kyouka and Hanta and Shouto split up again as the Theorist went to investigate the area around the body. Hanta and Kyouka looked over the busted door again -which now lay on the ground next to the doorframe, having been completely ripped from its hinges- before moving into the library once more.

Hanta brushed his fingers against the scorch marks on the walls and shelf sides. The books they once held had been reduced to shriveled, blackened crisps. He sighed, blowing the black ash dust off of his fingertips. Who could've created such a horrible scene?

"Hey, Kyouka, Hanta," a voice suddenly spoke up from behind him. When Hanta turned to see who it was, he realized it was Mina. The pink-skinned girl was wearing a rather worried expression.

"What did you find?" Kyouka asked.

"It's- uh- I just thought of something." Mina gestured towards the busted door. "If the door had been locked, then how would the killer have left the room? There's no other exit out of the library. I checked the emergency exit door, which is unlockable, but there were many scorch marks and burns on it. Even the handle was partially melted."

"I see what you're going at," Hanta said slowly, thinking about what evidence his friend had described. "If they set the fire and then blocked the doors, which they only could've done from the inside, then..."

"How did they leave?" Mina finished for him. "I've been stumped by this question, and I've already asked Mei and Nejire about it."

"I'm not sure," Hanta replied, his mind reeling off random possibilities. "But we'll discuss it... later."

Mina nodded, her stance determined. She left them to their own devices, strolling back to the front of the library. Hanta and Kyouka continued investigation throughout the room, swiftly noticing the trails of ash leading from shelf to shelf. There was a larger pile of the burnt remains of presumably books next to each shelf.

I wonder what's up with this ash chain, Hanta thought. As he followed the trail, he suddenly realized that it formed a closed loop around a quarter of the library. Within this encirclement of ash was the mystery section, the computers, and Kouji's body.

As Hanta circled back to the aisle between the mystery and horror shelves, he noticed something on the ground. It was partially burnt, but it still held up a shape. When he knelt down to examine the scorched piece of evidence, Hanta made a sudden discovery.

"A matchbox," Kyouka murmured, taking it from him and running her finger along the side of the box. It collapsed due to her touch, so she retreated her hand, placing it back on the ground. "And it appears to be empty." She took note of it and wiped her blackened finger on her shirt hem. Hanta got up, and the two carried on.

Fumikage should be done with the body investigation by now, Hanta realized as he made his way back to the body. I should ask him about it.

"Fumikage," he said, approached the inspector to alert him of his presence. Fumikage looked up at him, still kneeling beside Kouji's body. Behind him, he could hear Kyouka's sharp intake of breath as she saw her friend's corpse again.

"Ah. Hanta and Kyouka." Fumikage got up. "I presume you are here for the autopsy results?"

Hanta nodded.

"Well, I've examined his body, as you can tell," Fumikage began, raising his hands. Hanta suppressed a gag as he realized his gloves were covered in blood. It was certainly fresh, as evident by the shiny, wet pink liquid, but the charred, dry chips of skin and black flesh mixed into it made the sight rather revolting.

"I have also examined his burns. He indeed appears to only have these burn wounds, and died in this position." Fumikage gestured down, at Kouji's face-down corpse. "It appears, however, that he was holding this when he died. I extracted it from his grasp."

Fumikage proceeded to bend over and pick up what looked like a charred, black folder. The top was mostly clean, spare for a splashing of blood, with only its corner blackened from a burn. Hanta read the small, emblazoned golden words on its cover. Kyouka sidled up next to him.

"The Porcupine Bomber?" He read aloud, confused. "What is that?"

"It's a case on a rather popular bomber as of late," Fumikage explained. "They appear to be a male, high-school age guy who wears a full-head porcupine mask on their expeditions. Their targets vary from time to time, and bombings occur around once a month. Here, the case has some more details on it."

Hanta took the folder from Fumikage and opened it. Within its contents were some shadowy surveillance camera snapshots of the suspect, eyewitness accounts who were at the locations, and a list of the locations bombed over the past year. Fumikage had gotten the general gist of the case pretty well.

"I found something else in this file, too," Fumikage suddenly spoke up. He leaned over and flipped the file to a certain dog-eared page. The pages were detailing the two bombings that occurred back in October, but over one of the pages, a scrawled message written in blood read: 'Secret venl'. The letters became paler and shakier as the words progressed.

"It is Kouji's dying message," Fumikage said.

"Secret Ven?" Hanta read aloud. "Why does it matter? It doesn't even make sense!"

Next to Hanta, Kyouka gave him a glare. "Um, sorry..." Hanta muttered, realizing that saying one of her closest friends' final thoughts were meaningless was rather rude.

"Whatever it means, we should keep it in mind," Fumikage finished.

Before he could say any more, a bell rang over the loudspeakers. Monokuma's voice was broadcasted over them following the chime.

"Ahem! Investigation is over. It is time for the class trial! Please make your way to the elevator immediately. See you later!~"

"I suppose we should get going, then," Fumikage said. Hanta nodded and placed the open case by Kouji's body. Kyouka knelt down to give him a final prayer, her fingers brushing over his cheek, before she too got up and swiftly strode out of the library without looking back.

Hanta grimly began to follow the rest of the class out of the library and towards the elevator. They boarded the fancy space, its containment less crowded than before, reminding him of what had happened just a few days prior.

I can't believe it's happened again, Hanta thought. But it has.

A deadly deceit. A deadly crime.

A case of fire and blood and death...

A deadly class trial.

The elevator doors slid open, and the class entered the trial room.

Chapter Text

"Weeelllllcome back!" Monokuma said brightly, jumping down from the throne as the class took their places in the ring. "I hope you're ready!"

"Monokuma and Twice!" Denki yelped in alarm, eyeing the villain on the throne and the artificial rodent. "Are you here to watch us this time?"

"Well, yes. For that reason, and to dish out the possible execution at the end..." Twice tapped his finger cynically on the golden armrest. "Now, Monokuma, would you start this thing already?"

"Oh, yeah!" Monokuma jumped back up onto Twice's lap. "Let the class trial begin!"

>Class Trial : Start!<

"Alright, like last time, we should start with what concrete evidence we have," Hanta began. "Meaning the Monokuma File."

"Good idea," Mirio noted. "It's a good base for our story of the case."

"Kyouka, you have the tablet. Could you read it aloud to us?" Mina asked.

Kyouka pulled the tablet out from inside her jacket and began transcribing the file. "The victim was Kouji Kouda." Her voice shuddered as she spoke her friend's name, but she continued with a moment's hesitation.

"The time of death was around one A.M.. The only wounds he had were the severe burns, in addition to smoke inhalation, and the cause of death appears to be from fire or extreme heat."

"Knowing this, we should proceed onto the weapon, or in this case, fire-starter," Fumikage said. "The murder weapon may open up new details to the case."

>Non-Stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets : Melted Windows, Monokuma File #2, Burned Floor and Shelves, Empty Matchbox, Trail of Ash, Dying Message<

"What could've the killer used to start a fire?" Tamaki asked.

"Maybe it was a gas explosion," Eijirou said. "After all, the next floor under the library would be the basement, and who knows what's down there?"

"We're practically in the basement level right now," Mei argued. "The trial room would be destroyed if there was a gas explosion."

"So what is it?" Izuku asked.

"What if it was a portable stove from the kitchen?" Yuga suggested.

"Where the fuck would you find a portable stove?" Katsuki retorted.

"I'm unsure... likely the kitchens, Monsieur," Yuga replied.

"The heat could have caused the books to catch fire," Shouto mused. "But it is unlikely. I don't believe I ever even saw a portable stove in the kitchens."

"What else could you possibly use to start a fire using our given materials?" Nejire wailed. "It's impossible! It's impossible to find out what was used to cause a fire!"

"No, that's wrong!" Hanta countered.

>Empty Matchbox : Counter!<

"The cause of the fire is pretty clear," Hanta explained. "While investigating, a rather burned, empty match-box was found near some of the ash. That's what was used to start the fire. The killer used matches to start it!"

"Ooh, matches?" Nejire digested the information. "Where would you find matches?"

"We found some in the teacher's lounge, a while ago," Tooru said. "It's not that far-fetched."

"Alright, so we've established the cause of the fire," Kyouka said. "Now what?"

"There's a question that's been on my mind for a while now," Hanta said. "How did the fire spread so quickly?

"The library is pretty big, and just about all of it, front to back, was burned in the fire. How did the killer spread the flames quickly enough that Kouji couldn't escape?"

"An interesting question, and a good step in the right direction," Fumikage complimented. "Fair enough. We can go from there."

>Non-Stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets : Burned Exit Door, Locked Room Murder, Trails of Ash, Burned Floor and Shelves<

"What could have the killer used to spread the fire..?" Kyouka mused.

"I bet it was with oil from the kitchen," Shouto speculated. "A ring of oil around the library..!"

"Th-that's a little extreme," Denki said.

"How about they just set fire to several different places? I mean, they had a whole matchbox," Eijirou offered.

"That would've been too obvious and suspicious. Kouji could easily escape if they did that," Izuku countered.

"Y'know, maybe the weirdest ideas are the best," Mina brought up. "Take Shouto's idea, but with a trail of flammables instead of the oil."

"I agree with that!" Hanta called out.

>Trails of Ash : Consent!<

"Mina is right. The killer most likely took a ton of flammables and made a loop of them around the section of the library they were trying to burn," Hanta said. "The trail of ash around part of the library confirms that. And-"

"No, that's wrong!"

Hanta jumped as somebody interrupted him. "What?"

"That's wrong! A trail of flammables wouldn't work!" Izuku boldly exclaimed.

"Wh-what are you saying?" Hanta stammered.

"I'm saying that there has to be another way," Izuku claimed. "I'm going to prove it!"

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Izuku Midoriya : Hanta Sero

Truth Blades : Dying Message, Locked Room Murder, Empty Matchbox, Burned Exit Door, Piles of Ash, Monokuma File #2<

"A trail of flammables wouldn't work. There has to be another way the killer could've spread the fire!" Izuku began. "A trail like that made out of something such as books wouldn't spread the flames fast enough. It wouldn't work. Kouji would just pick up on the smell of smoke and escape the loop!"

"Well, there's no other possibility on what happened," Hanta retorted. "That trail of ash proves it!"

"Well, maybe it was something else!" Izuku pressed on. "A single trail, no matter how quickly it spreads, won't make it! The killer-"

"No, that's wrong!"

>Piles of Ash : Cut!<

"I don't believe the killer planted a fire in just one part of the library and ran," Hanta said. "The larger piles of ash every so often prove that. It's likely the killer set fire to multiple, broad checkpoints around the loop before running. They wouldn't have to set many checkpoints, so it wouldn't have been too suspicious. That's how the fire spread so quickly."

"Ah, I see..." Izuku sighed and stared down. "Sorry."

"It's fine," Kyouka reassured her classmate. "If what Hanta said was true, then now we know that the killer likely started the fire while Kouji was already in the library. They must've set up their checkpoints before he arrived, though, because he would've noticed such a suspicious act and fled. You could easily drop smaller items to form a trail inconspicuously, once Kouji was already there."

"A logical conclusion," Fumikage concluded. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to discuss our alibis and accounts. Based on what Kyouka stated earlier, we know the murder took place at one in the morning last night. Who has an alibi for such a time?"

Silence followed Fumikage's question. He let out a sigh of disappointment. "Is that so? Do none of you have an alibi, other than myself?"

"You have have an alibi?" Tamaki probed. "Could you give it to us?"

"Well, as befitting of my Ultimate title, I was wandering around," Fumikage explained. "I left my room at around ten PM, and I went down to the library. I was looking around in the Restricted Section."

"Wait, the library?!" Tooru called out. "Did you see-?"

"Yes, indeed I did. I watched Kouji enter the library. I may have been around eleven... He signed me a greeting and headed to the computers. When I left just a few minutes after his arrival, I think he was getting to work."

"Did you see what he was doing?" Hanta questioned further. I need all the evidence I can get... there's a frightening lack of information here...

"Reading an article? Trying to communicate with the outside world? I'm not sure. But I saw him." Fumikage crossed his arms lowered his head. "That was the last I saw of him. However, as I made my way back to my room, I did run into a certain someone..."

"You saw even more people?! Who was it?" Mei called out.

"Denki. Would you care to elaborate?" Fumikage turned to stare at the electric-haired teen.

"A-Ahh!" Denki jumped. "Uh- well, uh, it's nothing, really..."

"Spill it," Tamaki stated, his voice characteristically soft, but cold nonetheless. Denki shuddered as if struck by ice.

"U-um, I was going to get a glass of water from the cafeteria... I ran into Fumikage, and saw him go back to his room, then, uh, I ran into another person- Katsuki!" Denki nervously said. "He was going to the gym."

"Katsuki?" Eijirou inclined his head and gave Katsuki a curious look. "You went to train? Did you hear anything or see anyone?"

"No, of course not!" Katsuki snapped. "If I had, I would've spoken up at this point! I didn't hear shit, you got that?! How am I supposed to know what's happening two floors below me?"

"Okay, okay! We get your point, Katsuki," Kyouka cut him off. "But I was just reminded of something. The case we found Kouji clutching... Fumikage? 'The Porcupine Bomber', am I right?"

"Yes," Fumikage confirmed. "That case... it was about a notorious bomber who bombed hero agencies and business buildings alike. They're all work places, but that's about it as far as similarities between cases go," he explained.

"Interesting... Kouji had been holding that file, so could it have any importance to this case?" Hanta asked.

"I most likely does," Fumikage said. "However, I had only skimmed it through, and I don't have it on me. We'll need to see that if we're to make any conclusions..."

"No worries!" Monokuma suddenly spoke up, making Hanta jump in surprise. "Bombing file, you say? You need the thing?"

"Yes," Yaomomo huffed. "Could you fetch it?"

"Oh, I'll get it, just you wait!" With that, Monokuma ran off, diving behind the throne and vanishing.

Twice sighed. "He'll be quick. Just wait a minute, okay, kids?"

"I'd rather not wait on the rodent, but I suppose we'll have to," Fumikage replied. "No bother."

An awkward silence fell over the trial room, spare for Twice tapping his finger on the armrest. The quiet was short-lived, however, as Yaomomo broke it.

"So... while we wait on the bear, there's another thing I wanted to discuss... it's the killer's method of escape," she said.

"Huh? Method of escape?" Tooru remarked.

"Yeah. If the killer really had set the library on fire, then how did the killer themself escape?" Yaomomo continued.

She's right, Hanta thought. In order to solve this case... we have to figure that out! I have to show them... the answer...

>Non-Stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets : Kyouka's Account, Monokuma File #2, Dying Message, Burned Floor and Shelves, Fumikage's Alibi<

"So, how did the killer escape the library?" Mirio mused.

"Maybe they did leave through the front door," Tooru suggested.

"That's impossible! You can't lock the door from the outside!" Eijirou retorted.

"Are there any other exits in the library, though?" Mei asked.

"Well, yeah! How about the emergency exit door?" Nejire suggested.

"Well, wasn't that door locked?" Denki piped up.

"No, that's wrong!"

>Kyouka's Account : Counter!<

"The door was not locked, as Kyouka told me earlier," Hanta said. "Nejire was right. It's the only way... the killer must've escaped via the emergency exit door," he declared. "Since the front door was locked, the only other way you can leave is through that door."

Nejire grinned. "Ah! I was righ-"

"Not so fast!"

Hanta whirled around to meet Mina's dark gaze. She looked awfully agitated.

"No, that's impossible!" Mina snapped. "I was the one who discovered the emergency exit, and I know for a fact that the door had a severe burn on it, as well as a melted doorknob. You can't leave through there!"

"M-Mina, calm down-"

"Did you investigate that personally? I don't remember you doing so, and therefore your claim is unreliable!"

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Mina Ashido : Hanta Sero

Truth Blades : Monokuma File #2, Severe Burns on Body, Trail of Ash, Burned Exit Door, Warm Melted Glass, Burned Floor and Shelves<

"When I had gone to investigate the emergency exit door, it had severe burns on it and the handle was practically half melted," Mina began. "If the handle had been melted, how would you use the door to get out?"

"Maybe the door was burned by the fire after the killer left," Hanta reasoned. "The order of the events here is certainly up for debate."

"Well, when I went to check to melted handle, that stuff was cool," Mina replied. "It's certainly possible for the thing to have burned first, which is why it would have cooled off. Also, that door was severely burned. It was probably literally on fire, which is why you wouldn't be able to go through it!"

"Fine, look at this a different way: how else could the killer have left the library after setting the fire, if not through the emergency exit?" Hanta changed the direction of the conversation, realizing that there was no way he could argue against her strongest points. But if I can target her weak spots-

"Well, what if they just hid in there, in somewhere safe until the fire died down?"

"That's wrong!"

>Burned Floor and Shelves : Cut!<

"The library had been burned all over. The walls were all scorched, and every bookshelf was also burned. Even the cabinets were scorched. There would be no place to hide, and therefore, the killer must've left the library after setting it on fire," Hanta explained definitively. "And the only possible way out was the emergency exit door. The handle easily could've melted after they left."

"Oh. I see..." Mina looked drained and stared at her feet instead. "Hmm... sorry."

"Wha-wha?? Did I miss something big?" Monokuma suddenly bounced through the trial room, a skip in his step and the burned, bloody bombing file under his arm.

"Yeah, you missed a really fun Rebuttal Showdown," Hanta casually replied.

"Boo! I wanted to watch that..." Monokuma looked downcast as he handed Fumikage the file. "I got your file, you ungrateful kids."

Hanta winced as Fumikage casually took the blood-covered file. The gore streaked his gloves, painting them pink and singed black all over again.

"Thank you, Monokuma," the bird-headed teen drawled. "Anyway, let's take a look at this file... Kouji died holding this, so it must have some significance."

Fumikage opened the file and flipped through it. Several people -including Hanta- left their podiums to huddle around him.

"Look," Kyouka suddenly spoke up as Fumikage slowly turned the pages. "Pictures of the Porcupine Bomber."

Hanta followed her finger. Her attention had been snagged by a page bearing two screenshots that displayed the mysterious criminal, both taken from surveillance camera footage.

They were wearing a black jumpsuit and were shrouded in shadow. However, Hanta could still make out their general figure.

In the one image, they were backlit by a stark-white street lamp. They appeared to be slouched, and due to their full-head mask their hair was hidden. A single, spiky crest that resembled porcupine spines ran over their skull.

"You know," Eijirou commented. "I feel like I know what the connection between this file and this case is. You know how the Bomber is reported in this file to be a teenager?"

"Well, yeah..." Hanta cocked his head. "How is that relevant?"

"What if the Porcupine Bomber killed Kouji?"

There was a stiff beat of silence. Then-

"Are you implying... that the Porcupine Bomber is one of us?" Izuku slowly asked. His green eyes were wide with horror.

"Yes," Fumikage said. "It's the most plausible theory as of right now. The massive-scale attack, the fiery theme of the murder, this Bomber file in particular... It's certainly not far-fetched."

Hanta's gaze flickered from classmate to classmate. The Porcupine Bomber... one of us? Who could it be?

Brave, kind-hearted Izuku? Upbeat, ever-curious Nejire? Bold Eijirou, or clever Katsuki? Sweet Tsuyu? Cold but caring Fumikage?

Looking at his friends and classmates, Hanta couldn't exactly comprehend the concept that one of the ex-heroes was a killer of dozens of innocent civilians and the destroyer of entire buildings.

"If that really is the case," Yaomomo said slowly, "Then how do we even find out who the Bomber is?"

"Since we have nothing else to go off of, I thought we should determine the height of the Porcupine Bomber. Since our most plausible theory as of right now is that the Bomber is one of us, we just have to match up the heights," Fumikage explained.

"How do we do that?" Denki asked softly.

"Well, I have this." Fumikage reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a measuring tape, pen, and notepad. "We'll do some simple measurements and use proportions to convert them into actual heights."

Hanta watched in awe as Fumikage quickly got to work. In the second screenshot in the file, there was a simple recycling bin in the alley, next to the form of the Bomber with his back to the camera.

Fumikage swiftly measured the height of the recycling bin. "Two centimeters," he muttered, jotting it down on the notepad. He turned to Yaomomo. "Yaomomo, didn't you read something in one of those books about the standard height of public recycling bins in Tokyo?"

"Um, yes," Yaomomo replied. "They're usually one and a half meters, or one-fifty centimeters."

"Perfect," Fumikage gave a small, rare smile. "So one centimeter in this photo is equivalent to seventy-five centimeters in real life." He continued in his work by measuring the height of the Bomber in the picture and simply converting it using the proportion.

"Mmh... based on these measurements, I can safely declare that the Porcupine Bomber is about one hundred and seventy centimeters tall!" Fumikage announced, grandly circling the number on his paper.

"Well, aren't we lucky someone paid attention in math?" Denki muttered.

"Monokuma, Twice, do you have a list of student profiles?" Fumikage asked, turning to the bear.

"Sure do! Here, have this folder." Twice handed Monokuma a manila folder, who tossed it to Fumikage in turn. He handed it off to Yaomomo.

"Could you check the heights of everybody? Tell me the names of those within two centimeters of one-seventy." Fumikage requested. Yaomomo did as he asked, flipping through the report cards and softly stating a name every so often.

"Yuga... Mashirao... Eijirou... and Katsuki..." Yaomomo looked up from the device. "That's it."

"So, here are our suspects!" Fumikage called out. "Yuga, Mashirao, Eijirou, and Katsuki! One of you is the Porcupine Bomber, as well as the murderer of Kouji!"

Hanta whipped around to face the shocked expressions of the four. Yuga was petrified to the spot, Mashirao's face had gone blank and his eyes were wide, Eijirou was a mixture of confused and horrified, and Katsuki looked rather angry, as usual.

"What are you callin' me, you fuckass bird-face?!" Katsuki shrieked. "Me? A killer?"

"Yeah, there's no way I'd kill someone! Ever!" Eijirou sobbed.

"I... Do you doubt me?" Mashirao murmured.

"I wouldn't... I would never..!" Yuga stammered.

"None of them are exactly coming forward," Hanta noted. "And all of them are acting as expected of somebody accused of possibly being a mass-bomber."

"With this in mind, let's take a look at the alibis," Fumikage said. "Whoever has the weakest alibi is most likely the Bomber. Yuga, you go fi-"

"Mashirao has an alibi."

Hanta jumped and turned to meet Hitoshi's dark, violet eyes.

"Excuse me?" Fumikage cocked his head.

"I said, Mashirao has an alibi." Hitoshi met Fumikage's peculiar stare. "I asked Monokuma about rules earlier. He gave me this information.

"In order for the Body Discovery Announcement to play, three people have to have discovered the body, excluding the killer. When Mashirao and I showed up, the Discovery Announcement played. Therefore, Mashirao is not a suspect."

"But what if two people other than the killer had seen the body before?" Hanta argued.

"How would that be possible?" Hitoshi retorted. "The door was locked. The exit was burned, and the window was darkened."

"Then what if two people saw it before the windows melted and burned?" Hanta insisted.

"Then whoever it was, step forward!" Hitoshi snapped. "That would remove them from all suspicion as well, as they helped trigger the Announcement."

"Fair enough. Would anybody like to step forward and admit that they saw Kouji's body before Hitoshi and Mashirao?" Tokoyami asked, his crimson eyes surveying his classmates cautiously.

A beat of heavy silence. Then-

"I saw it."

"Yuga?" Tokoyami stared at the boisterous blonde. "You saw it?"

"I was taking a walk because I couldn't sleep. I saw the body then." Yuga raised his head defiantly. "I glimpsed it through a half-melted window. At a certain angle from the left side, you could see it through the shelves."

"So that settles it. Yuga and Mashirao are not suspects anymore. Neither is Hitoshi," Fumikage said. "That leaves Eijirou and Katsuki."

"Hey... before we continue any further, I think I have a suspect," Tooru suddenly cut in.

"A suspect?" Hanta questioned, eyeing the tan girl. "Who?"

"Katsuki Bakugou."

Chapter Text

"ME?!" Katsuki screeched. "There's no way!"

"Well, I have a pleasant theory," Tooru insisted, her voice uncharacteristically silky. "Look at the pictures again. Notice anything? Don't worry! Even if you don't, I do," she added a little too brightly when Hanta gave her a confused look. Fumikage flipped back to the screenshots in the file.

"You see the slouched position and the extreme addition of spiky ornaments in the outfit? And even the name itself, Porcupine Bomber? Very aggressive and very... well, pointy, am I right? Doesn't it remind you of our favorite spiky blonde?" Tooru asked, her voice bright but her gaze sharp and cocky. It was extremely unlike her, when compared to the bouncy, optimistic invisible girl they'd know before.

"Well, yes," Yaomomo said slowly, obviously confused by her sudden change in attitude. "But is that it..?"

"Pretty much. But it all matches up, doesn't it? Right height, right decor, right posture... even the title is befitting of our explosive classmate." Tooru put on an overly sweet smile. "Am I right?"

"Wh- Tooru, no! Katsuki would never- never kill-" Eijirou cried.

"Well, his aggressive temperament and alleged violent behavior in junior high fits the bill, don't you think?" Tooru said softly. Eijioru opened and closed his mouth several times, but made no sound, his eyes wide with stubborn disbelief.

"Explosives... Katsuki's quirk was Explosion. It does fit the bill," Mei murmured.

"Hey! Shut up, shut up!" Katsuki suddenly screamed in the pinkette's face. He certainly does sound desperate...

"So, Katsuki," Tooru prompted. "What do you say?"

"What do I say?" Katsuki snarled, whirling around to meet her mocking, dancing, magenta gaze. "I say this is BULLSHIT!

"Me, the PORCUPINE BOMBER?! IMPOSSIBLE! THIS IS ALL BASED OFF OF SHITTY ACCUSATIONS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES!"

Katsuki's eyes were wild, blazing, blood-fire orbs, filled with shadowed, desperate, sorrowful hatred. Hanta winced and stepped back from the blonde.

"K-Katsuki..?" Eijirou slowly said, approaching his buddy like a hunter approaching a cornered wild animal.

"Shut up! SHUT UP! I'M NOT THE BOMBER!" Katsuki screeched in his face. Eijirou jumped back in shock, hurt and shock evident on his face. Hanta though that, for a split moment, the blonde's expression betrayed regret in upsetting the red-haired ex-hero, before morphing back into rage at Tooru and her theory.

"Katsuki... calm down..! You're just acting even more suspicious!" Hanta cried, catching Katsuki by the arm. The blonde shook him off.

"I don't give a shit!" Katsuki screeched. "It doesn't matter, because there's no way I could be the killer anyway!"

"Huh?" Tooru butted in, cocking her head. "Huh? Huh? Why nooot?" she whined.

"Well, obviously, I was training all last night! I wouldn't- wouldn't have time to go and set a stupid-ass fire!" Katsuki yelled.

"Can anybody confirm that?" Tooru asked. "Fumikage? Denki? Eijirou? Can you?"

Dead silence.

"Come ON, guys! I'm not the killer!" Katsuki continued screaming.

"Can you prove that?" Hanta asked softly.

"YES I CAN! WHY ARE YOU DOUBTING ME?! OF COURSE I FUCKING CAN, YOU DUMBFUCK!" Katsuki screamed.

"Get back to your podiums! It's time for some action!" Monokuma called, sensing the breaking tension in the room.

>Panic Talk Action : Start!<

{Katsuki's Audio Clips <> Hanta's Retort}

"I'm not the killer!" <> "You're the only one!"

"Shut your fucking mouth!" <> "I won't!"

"Shitty theories!" <> "There's solid evidence, not just conspiracies!"

"You have no real proof!" <> "Yes, I do!"

"I'm not the fucking Bomber!" <> "It could only be you!"

>Final Strike!<

>W = Known
A = Title
S = Ultimate
D = Un<

"It's just a fucking theory! It's all just a bunch of coincidences!"

"It's over!"

>D-W-S-A : UnKnownUltimateTitle : Break!<

"Katsuki. It's about your Ultimate Title," Hanta hissed.

"What?! What about it, Dunce-face?!" Katsuki snapped.

"You've never actually told us what it is, have you?" Hanta prompted. "What is it?"

"It must be something he doesn't want us to know about... ah! I see!" Nejire piped up. "If Katsuki tells us his Ultimate title, we may get the definitive clue for this case!"

"Katsuki. Come on. It's over. Just... please. Tell us your Ultimate title," Hanta pleaded.

"Bro! What do you mean, it's over?!" Eijirou yelled. "How could you just turn on your friends like this! After all we've been through... And you still can't trust us?!" Hurt and betrayal shone in his bright crimson eyes, sending a pang through Hanta's chest.

"I... I don't want to do this either," he admitted. "But... to survive... I have to! We have to get out of here... we have to uncover every case thrown at us, remember, Eijirou?" Hanta hoped nobody would notice the way his voice broke or the way his hands were shaking. He didn't want to do it. He didn't want to put Katsuki to certain death, but he didn't want to die either.

How selfish of me...

"Now, if we just go through this case one more time, I think we'll be ready to cast votes," Fumikage cut in. "Come on, Hanta. Give us the story from the very beginning, one last time."

Hanta's heart sank. That's right... I have to do this... and close the case, once and for all!

>Closing Argument : Start!<

"At about eleven P.M. last night, Kouji went down to the library to work on something on the computers. When he had gone in, Fumikage was there. They greeted each other and went their separate ways, as the latter soon left.

"After Fumikage left, the killer entered the library, ready to carry out their scheme to kill Kouji, who was busily working away on his computer at that moment. The killer began stealthily laying out a trail of flammables, such as a books, folders, and papers. Once they had created a ring of flammable materials around the section of the library Kouji was in, they used the box of matches they had taken from the teacher's lounge to set the trail on fire. To spread the flames faster, the killer simply set multiple intervals of the books on fire.

"After setting the fire, the killer quickly escaped out of the emergency exit before their trail set the door ablaze and locked them inside, since they had also locked the main library doors. At this point, Kouji had realized there was a fire in the library, but it was too late. He'd been surrounded by a wall of fire that crept ever closer towards him.

"Knowing he was done for, Kouji gave us one definitive clue: he ran to the Restricted Section and grabbed the file on The Porcupine Bomber: the secret identity of the killer, whom he had glimpsed in the library. Actually, if I may go out on a limb for a moment, that was probably what Kouji had been doing in the library all that time: uncovering the identity of the Bomber, due to being suspicious of them ever since they refused to reveal their Ultimate title a week ago at dinner.

"Regardless, Kouji stumbled back through the library, file clutched to his chest, when he collapsed on a rug. As heat delirium began overtaking his senses, he wrote one final thing on the file with his own blood from the burn wounds: Secret Ven. He likely meant to write "Secret Identity", but got sloppy and never got to finish due to death taking him in its arms, his corpse doomed to burn forever.

"Isn't that right, Katsuki Bakugou? You're the Porcupine Bomber and the killer of Kouji, right?!"

>Break!<

"K-Katsuki... that can't be..." Eijirou's eyes were wide with horror. "Come on, tell me that's a lie!"

"I wish I were wrong..." Hanta murmured. "But there's no other plausible truth."

"C-Come on, Eijirou," Katsuki suddenly said, his voice breaking in the middle of his sentence, the rage obviously having been drained out of him completely after his crimes were revealed. "Here. Here. Just take it, shitty Soysauce. I don't give a fuck anymore."

On that note, he pulled something out of his pocket and threw it at Hanta. The ravenette fumbled and caught it in his shaking palms. And as he opened his hands...

"Your key," Hanta murmured. "It's your room key. And..."

On the silver key ring were two accessories. First of all was the bronze-colored key with Katsuki's room number etched into it. The second item, however...

The name-tag.

It was a little, orange tag made out of plastic. It was one of those tags that looked like it'd been painted from the inside, with a clear plastic layer around a block of shimmering color. On one side of the metallic red and orange tag was the name 'Bakugou, Katsuki.' And on the other side...

"The Ultimate Bomber."

Those words sank into Hanta's heart, and a cold horror pooled in his gut. So it's true. Katsuki Bakugou... He looked up. The blonde appeared subdued, glaring at the floor. The Ultimate Bomber.

"Katsuki... so that's really it," Eijirou murmured mournfully. "The Porcupine Bomber... the killer of this case... Why? Why did you do all this?"

"Wh-What? Why I did what?" Katsuki snapped out of his daze, his eyes blazing as he whirled on Eijirou.

"Why would you... bomb... all these places?" Eijirou looked like he was on the verge of tears.

"Why? Well... I did it for the money."

"WHAT?"

"The money. I was paid by other agencies to do this kind of stuff, you know. Eliminate the opposition. I'm pretty high-demand, too. I needed the money to help my parents pay for my school bills and shit. I had to..." Katsuki cracked a small, sad smile. "I'm sorry you had to find out, Eijirou."

"Katsuki..." Eijirou's eyes were filled with tears now. "To find out the guy I love is a mass murderer... How do you think I'm supposed to respond to this?"

Hanta blinked in surprise when Katsuki had no major reaction to his statement. Eijirou and... Katsuki? Those two were in a relationship? I guess it was kind of obvious, considering how close they were, but still...

"Eijioru, I'm sorry," Katsuki muttered. His eyes were downcast; it was so uncharacteristic of him that it sent shivers down Hanta's spine. "I'm so... fucking... sorry..."

A beat of silence, before the trial room erupted into chaos.

Nearly everyone began calling out at once, yelling at Katsuki. It was an expected response from the class, finding out their beloved classmate was a mass bomber, Hanta decided. He himself was silent, although some of his friends -like Mina, for example- were less than quiet.

"Katsuki, how could you be so indifferent?!" Yaomomo suddenly screeched over the other voices, directly to Katsuki, with a passion so violent and so raw, that everyone fell silent and made way for her.

Katsuki looked up and met her gaze, his eyes sad orbs of crimson. "What do you mean by that?"

"You're a bomber... a mass bomber... have you ever seen the reports of your bombings? The number of people who die in each of these incidents? How many people would you guess you have killed and not even batted an eye at?!" Yaomomo's voice was laced with a venomous rage that none of them had seen before. She's truly a hero at heart... a lover of the masses, of every civilian and innocent human being.

"I... I-" Katsuki tried to get a word in, but Yaomomo kept ranting. People around them began to mutter and cry out in indignation once more in agreement with her, so she kept raising her voice to be heard.

"And if that's not enough, you killed our friend, Kouji! How do you think we feel? You think we'll forgive you, right, you emotionless bastard?!" She yelled at him.

Katsuki was stunned into silence, staring at her. Most of the class had resumed yelling again, fueled with a new perspective from her rant. As Hanta glanced around, his own mouth shut, he could tell many people were hit hard by Yaomomo's point.

Some, like Tamaki and Mei, were now glaring at Katsuki while screaming at him, although the former was characteristically silent. Most disturbing of all, however, was Mina. Like before, she was calling out wishes of imprisonment and death upon someone she'd considered a close friend mere hours- no, minutes- prior.

"Ahem! Sorry to break into this emotional stuff, but it looks like you guys are done debating. It's Voting Time!" Monokuma yelled, casting a sudden and uneasy silence over the students. He jumped down and mounting his own podium. "Please use the lever in front of you to cast your votes!"

"Wh-What?!" Katsuki yelled, breaking out of his haze, his voice rising over the din. "W-Wait! Just because I'm the fucking Porcupine Bomber doesn't mean I killed Kouji! WAIT! WE'RE NOT DONE! MONOKUMA!"

"Puhuhu... sorry." The bear didn't look very apologetic.

"Guys! GUYS! I'M NOT THE KILLER! I'M NOT, I SWEAR ON MY FUCKING LIFE! COME ON!" Katsuki had transformed back into a cornered fox, screaming desperately that he wasn't the killer.

"I'm sorry, Katsuki." Hanta murmured. "But you're the only one who could've done this..."

With an outcome like this, it's no wonder that everybody was horrified when the Monokuma Voting machine landed on Katsuki and made a horrible screeching sound. It was so unlike Ochako's outcome that Hanta nearly screamed in terror.

"Wh-What the-? Why did that just happen?!" Hanta yelped.

"Puhuhu... looks like you got it wrong this time!" Monokuma cackled. The machine's screen and lights had turned dark once more.

>Class Trial : End!<

"Wr-Wrong?! What do you mean, we got it wrong?" Hanta spluttered.

"It means," Katsuki snarled. "That I'M NOT THE KILLER!"

"Well, then who is?!" Tooru stammered. She was obviously shocked, her wide magenta eyes betraying horror and guilt for driving the class down the wrong path.

"Patience! All will be revealed in due time! Anyway, the killer now gets to go free and you're all gonna be PUNISHED!" Monokuma grinned maniacally. "I can't wait, I can't wait!"

"...However, due to our motive this time around, there will be no executions," Twice butted in. "Remember, Monokuma? If the killer got away, there would be no punishments."

"Oh. Oooh. Aww..." Monokuma sighed. "Fine. You party poopers..."

"So," Hanta prompted slowly. "Who was... the killer?"

"Oh, the killer?" Monokuma smiled. "Oh, you never would've expected this...

"Yuga Aoyama, please come on down!"

***

Yuga... was the killer?

Horrified, shocked murmurs rippled around the trial room as Yuga stepped from his podium and approached Monokuma.

"Y-Yuga?!"

"Yuga... how could you..?"

"Him?! There's no way-"

Yuga himself was staring at his feet. His expression was dark, his lips drawn into a frown. He showed no sign of victorious joy, or any hint that he was excited or happy to be let free.

Denki couldn't believe any of it. "Yuga... how did you... trick us all..?"

Yuga didn't speak.

"Y-Yuga..." Izuku's voice broke as he stared at his friend. Denki glimpsed the shimmer of betrayal in his watery jade eyes.

"How could you?" Yaomomo whispered softly.

A beat of silence. Then-

"I... did what I had to," Yuga murmured.

That single phrase caused the class to immediately explode again. Denki was surprised by the difference between Yuga's reveal and Ochako's reveal, how Yuga was currently being yelled at while people cried over the latter. Maybe we've all gotten over the grief part. Maybe we're all just hellbent on anger instead.

While his classmates sobbed and screamed at Yuga, and Twice and Monokuma watched in amusement, Denki continued to listlessly stare at the Model. I wonder what his drive was... his family, perhaps?

Suddenly, in a swirl of dark, shadowed purple, Yuga was gone. The screaming in the trial room instantly subsided to silence.

"Ah, that's that," Twice stretched and got up. "Kurogiri must've warped him off. Oh, yeah, look up there."

Denki trailed his eyes to where Twice was pointing. On one high ceiling of the trial room was a large, flatscreen monitor. It was reminiscent of the TV screens around the school that Monokuma and the villains broadcasted messages from.

The screen flickered to life. It displayed an image of Yuga and his family -parents and siblings- being teleported through Kurogiri's portal into the center of the nearby city. The family of bedraggled blondes stumbled and looked around frantically, obviously all confused and lost.

All except Yuga. He stared at his feet, perfectly unscuffed, his back to the camera.

People began pointing, screaming, and whispering. One civilian cried, "Isn't that one of the missing kids?" Another screamed, "Call the ambulance!" upon seeing the injuries on the tired former prisoners. Suddenly, a wail rose above the pedestrians' voices.

"The villains! The villains are coming! The villains- they'll put you into the Killing Game!" shrieked Yuga's younger sister. She couldn't have been any younger than seven or eight. She had messy, dust-streaked dirty blonde hair that draped over her shoulders and watering orange eyes. Her tears left clean streaks down her filthy face.

The bystanders began to panic again upon hearing this. Some ran up to Yuga's family to try and comfort them. Soon, an ambulance arrived, along with the police, and the family was whisked away in a storm of red and blue lights and sirens.

Then the monitor flickered to darkness.

"Well, that's that!" Monokuma grinned gleefully. "Off you go, now! Back to the school, through the elevator!"

As Denki sullenly loaded onto the elevator with the rest of the class, he couldn't help but think about just how lucky Yuga was.

>Chapter 2: True-Red Murder Mystery : The End | Surviving Students : 20 | To Be Continued<

>Item obtained: Red Handkerchief<

Chapter Text

Shouto was exhausted.

It was the day after the trial, and the entire morning he'd stayed cooped up in his room, pondering over the case, racking his brain for possibilities on what could've really happened in that burning library.

If Yuga was the killer... does that mean the Porcupine Bomber thing was a coincidence? No, that's just not right... there has to be... a solution...

But what if... that really is it? A coincidence; Kouji grabbed the nearest folder so he could leave his dying message, and it turned out to be the Porcupine Bomber one that led us to our conclusion.

Or, the more likely solution... is that Yuga set up that folder on the floor, and Kouji happened to put the dying message on it. Then what was the significance of the message? Secret Ven? Secret Identity? Secret... what, Secret Vent?

...

Oh...

A sudden thought hit Shouto like a flash of lightning, a golden lightbulb. He jumped up from his seat at his desk, abandoning his messy notebook, and made for the door.

I have to get out there and tell everyone... we will solve this case, and we'll possibly unlock a new secret that could change this entire game..!

He hurried down the hall. He'd come up with the ultimate theory, a solution so wild yet so plausible all at the same time. As befitting of my title, too, huh...

But as Shouto made his way down the stairs and reached the cafeteria, he heard an angry racket rising from the room. Intrigued and unnerved, he ducked in, only to see-

"I'm telling you, he's dangerous! A threat to all of us!" Mina was screaming.

"How could you turn on Katsuki so quickly?!" Eijirou yelled back. "Was all the time we spent together for nothing?!"

Oh, he's siding with his boyfriend... I guess between yesterday and today, they figured it out.

"G-guys... she's got a point..." Denki stammered. "I mean, he has no problem killing hundreds and destroying entire buildings, so what's to say-"

"Shut up!" Hanta snapped in the blonde's face, causing him to wince back. "You don't know what you're saying!"

In the middle of all of it was Katsuki. He sat in a chair next to Eijirou, his eyes darting from the bold redhead to the electric blonde, clearly uncertain as his friends argued over the table. He didn't speak, instead opting to clench his teeth in frustration.

Shouto blinked and slowly shuffled back towards the wall, next to a potted plant by the door. Izuku was huddled behind the plant, anxiously watching the Bakusquad arguing. "What happened?" the Theorist asked softly.

"Th-They started fighting... I came in to see what was happening, and they were yelling at each other, so I just hid back here to watch." While Izuku was shaking, his eyes seemed completely alert as he watched his classmates, observing their expressions and noting their claims. He was absolutely captivated by the argument.

Shouto glanced around the cafeteria. Now he noticed several more people watching from the sidelines. There was Fumikage, of course, perched atop the half-wall and watching with sharp, hawk-like eyes. Then there was Mezou, crouching behind the same half-wall a few meters down. Mashirao and Hitoshi were standing together by the counters. Yaomomo quietly leaned against the wall, her expression betraying sadness. Mirio and Tsuyu watched anxiously from the other side of the door.

The fighting was reaching its peak. Denki was huddled behind a chair, while Mina continued yelling at Hanta and Eijirou. She looked ready to throw hands, while Eijirou's eyes blazed with such crimson-hot anger that Shouto was sure he would combust on the spot.

Finally, Mirio rushed forward, just as Mina rose her hand by her head in a fist. "Stop! Stop fighting!"

Everybody immediately had their attention turned to him. The room went dead-silent as Mirio broke up the squabble.

"Please don't fight!" he pleaded. "We can't allow another killing to happen! Do you guys want another one of your classmates to die?!"

"Yeah," Tsuyu murmured. She'd followed him out from the entryway. "Yes, you're right. We shouldn't fight. Have some hope." Somehow, her voice seemed more subdued than usual. Shouto thought he glimpsed light bags under her eyes, too. How had he not noticed before?

A murmur of mixed agreement and irritability spread throughout the room. Before long, the class began to disperse at Mirio and Tsuyu's prompting. However, Shouto could see that there was yet another rift in the group. Eijirou and Hanta flanked Katsuki, while Mina sulked off on her own, most likely to find some of her girl-friends. Denki rushed to join Hitoshi and Mashirao. Mezou and Fumikage went their own ways, alone. Shouto stuck by Izuku's side.

This division... how much longer can we keep going like this?

Chapter Text

The following day, Yaomomo joined the others in the cafeteria for a morning meeting as appointed by another round of notes from Mirio and Tsuyu. She sat uncomfortably between Kyouka and Shouto, slowly eating a bowl of rice. The others were either dining alone or sitting in stony silence.

Much to Yaomomo's satisfaction, Katsuki and Eijirou had both decided not to show up. That made Hanta the only supporter of the Bomber present, which was slightly awkward for him, as Denki kept avoiding his gaze and Mina was openly glaring at him.

"Alright, team," Mirio called out, rubbing his hands together. Tsuyu stood in silence beside him, gazing out over her classmates with hazy jade eyes. "Time to investigate!"

"Investigate?" Kyouka echoed. "But isn't that trial... over?"

"Yes, but we never truly uncovered the case," Mirio retorted. "So, we're going to spend the morning investigating the library."

"Kurogiri, Shigaraki, and Monokuma have already cleaned out the library," Mezou said coldly. "There is no more evidence left."

"Oh. Good point..." Mirio sighed, hesitating. "I guess..."

"Wait! No! I have an idea!"

The class collectively looked up at the boy who had spoken out. Yaomomo blinked, wondering what intriguing thought he, an expert Theorist, had in mind now.

"Shouto?" Mirio looked up.

"Yesterday, I was thinking about the case," Shouto said. "And I came up with an idea! It's about Kouji's dying message. Secret Ven... What if he meant Secret Vents?"

"Secret Vents?" A murmur of confusion rose from the group. "What does that mean?" Hanta questioned.

"Well, what if Yuga escaped the burning library after setting the fire through the vents? Crawled through and moved in the security of hiding in the ventilation system back to his room?" Shouto suggested. "Instead of the obvious -the emergency exit- he could've acted much more under cover by going through them."

"That is absurd," Mezou stated. "The vents? Can a human person even fit through those?"

"A skinny person, like Yuga, could," Shouto argued. "So Yuga set the fire, and escaped through the vents. Simple as that."

"What about that Bomber file?" Nejire asked.

"There are two possibilities," Shouto said slowly. "The more likely one is that Yuga set the file there for us to find, and Kouji happened to use it as a paper to write on. The other is that it was a mere coincidence, and Kouji happened to just grab that file.

"Regardless, he only needed a paper to write on; it's the dying message that was important, not the subject of the file," Shouto finished.

A stunned silence fell over the room; nobody was quite sure how to react to Shouto's theory. "So..." Mirio began slowly. "We should investigate that today, then. Come on, let's go right now."

The group traversed to the library. As promised from the villains, the mess was cleaned up and the shelves and books restocked. It was almost as if there had been no fire or murder at all. "Well, let's check it out," Fumikage said, breaking the mourning silence. He strode over to one vent cover.

Yaomomo and the others observed as he carefully took off the cover and removed the panel blocking it. He looked inside. "It's surprisingly deep; almost a meter down," he reported. He took off his trench coat and began sliding himself in in his short-sleeved T-shirt. Within moments, he landed lightly in the vent.

Yaomomo stepped forward and peered in. Fumikage was crouching in the vent and began crawling forward. It was the perfect size for a person to move through. "Hey, Fumikage, you can come out now," she called after a minute. The Nightwalker backed up and slid out, dusted himself off, and put the trench coat back on.

"It's clear. The vents are perfect for a single, average person to crawl through. It is likely these were Yuga's means of transporting himself out of here. He likely practiced going around the school beforehand and mapped out the system," Fumikage stated. "And on the night of the murder he left the library, closed the vents from the inside to keep in the heat, and retreated to his room. Nobody would've saw him."

Silence fell over the room. The fact that Yuga, the killer, had outsmarted his classmates and gotten away free with his family safe was outrageously unfair. Unfortunately, it was the truth. The vents, Yaomomo thought. How much more will they be used in our time here? How many more murders? How many less witnesses and evidence will we have? Heck, the killer could just dump a body in the vents and it might take hours, even days, to find it, all rotten and spoiled and lacking in evidence...

"After this incident, I see it fit to declare the vents off-limits," Mezou suggested.

"But who would actually listen to a rule if they were conducting murder?" Tamaki questioned.

Mezou had no response to that.

"C-Come on, guys," Tsuyu cried. "Trust in each other a bit more!"

"Trust? Who gave you the right to speak about trust? You don't know what it's like to be betrayed and used! You don't know how it feels to have your trust broken!" Mezou snapped at her.

Tsuyu met his glare evenly, standing her ground. Her fists were clenched in front of her ribs. "You don't know," she muttered, her voice cracking. "You don't know what I've seen..."

Mezou held his glare for a moment longer before storming off. Fumikage watched him disappear out the door, slamming it shut behind him. Yaomomo turned to Tsuyu. She was shivering despite the relative warmth of the room, her gaze having dropped to the ground.

What did she mean there, 'You don't know what I've seen'? Yaomomo wondered. It's something important, I know that much... I've never seen her so shaken, except for the time after we rescued Katsuki and All Might died and she cried with us that evening on the lawn...

Yaomomo gazed at her worriedly. "Ah, Tsu... What you said..."

"It's- It's not that important..." Tsuyu murmured. "For the greater benefit, it's not important at all."

"Whatever is bothering you is important to me, to us," Yaomomo said softly. "You're our friend." By now, every face in the room was watching her and the Swimmer. Tsuyu paused for a moment before raising her gaze from the rug floor. Yaomomo glimpsed the glitter of tears in her eyes.

"You know how the Body Discovery Announcement only activates after three people have seen it, excluding the killer?" Tsuyu asked. Yaomomo nodded. "Well, Yuga had been lying, of course. He was the killer, so if he somehow did glimpse the body through the window, it wouldn't count anyway. No, he didn't do that.

"It was me. I was the first person to see the body." Tsuyu's entire body was shuddering now. "Yuga... he kidnapped me from my room and dragged me through the vents... he let me see the body in the blazing library... and he told me, if you tell anybody, I will kill you. Whether we're in the trial room or in investigation, I will strangle you until you draw your last breath." She took a shuddering breath. "I was... scared. So I didn't speak, kero..." Her words trailed off into a sob.

A hush fell over the class, broken only by the soft sound of Tsuyu trying to stifle her crying. Yaomomo gasped softly. For Yuga to do such an uncharacteristic, horrible thing...

"I-it's okay now, Tsu," Izuku cried. He rushed over to her to wrap her in an embrace. Although his back was to her, Yaomomo was pretty sure he was crying now, too.

Yaomomo stepped forward as well. "Yuga is gone now," she murmured as she ran her fingers through Tsuyu's dark, jade hair "You'll be alright."

Everything will be okay...

...right?

Chapter Text

Mashirao noticed things.

Little things. Little things that worried him, that rooted in his heart, that pawed at his mind with their despair-ridden claws.

He noticed Denki's behavior changes. The electric male jumped when Mashirao approached him or called his name, or when someone began simply walking towards him, their footsteps echoing through the hall and instilling an instinctual panic in his system.

He noticed how Denki spoke a little too quickly, too nervously. He noticed how he averted his gaze a bit too much, too soon, too fearfully. He had lost his spark, both literally and figuratively, that spark that powered his friends, that electrified their hearts into action and unity.

At the very least, it seemed Hitoshi was sane. His eyes were dull, of course; they were clouded with grief for the class, a permanent mist that couldn't be parted nor broken by sunlight. But he wasn't broken, no, not yet; he wasn't despairing quite so soon.

He hasn't really changed at all, Mashirao realized one morning while eating breakfast with him, Denki, and Tooru. He's still trying, refusing to give up and succumb to despair.

And so the Martial Artist stuck by. He let Denki cower behind him, comforted him with gentle words. He let Hitoshi confide in him, stay by his side. And Denki allowed Hitoshi to soothe him with his presence. Together, they were a system.

The bubbling spark of their circuit was Tooru. The girl often hung around, showing sympathy and concern, comforting and trying to help them. But for some reason, her words just didn't register as deeply with any of them. It was like trying to stab a nail into a brick; it clangs off the surface and barely makes a mark.

But still, surrounded by his friends, Mashirao was content.

He still had some hope in him, and he wasn't about to let it go.

***

Izuku felt things.

Feelings he'd never felt before. They weighed in his chest like lead weights, melted in his soul, coldly dissolved his being until he was hollow.

What is this feeling? Is it despair? Or is it something more, something darker, more personal..?

...I'm scared...

Is this what Monokuma and the villains were talking about?

Izuku didn't want to fall. He didn't want it. He just wanted to be content and happy again.

So he stuck by his friends. Friendship was like a healing essence. Before, during hero work, it had always filled him with warmth and made his heart beat brighter and bolder.

Shouto walked step by step with him. Izuku could see the fractured light in his eyes, the stars made of fire and ice that were slowly extinguishing and melting in those perfect, heterochromious irises. They hung onto the light they thought they could see at the end of the tunnel, hoping, wishing, for a miracle, a rescue.

None came, but that was to be expected.

So the two hung on for dear life.

Ochako and Tenya were both gone. It was still unusual to Izuku. He'd been so used to hearing Ochako's laugh and Tenya's friendly yet commanding voices around him, that now, it felt like a part of the world had gone silent.

But Izuku knew, in his blackened heart, that they would want him to move on. Ochako would've wanted him to be happy. Tenya would've wanted him to be strong.

So he did. He stepped away from their lingering phantoms, held onto the brighter parts of life for their sake, since it was the least he could do for them.

Tsuyu sometimes came around, too. Izuku could see her slowly withering and drowning in her own shadow; her eyes were hazy and unfocused, her feet stumbling, her body drained. She looked so tired, tired of everything, tired of trying to instill hope into unresponsive, unwelcoming peers, tired of the killing. Tired of clinging onto all of her deceased demons. Tired of feeling fear, of hope, of despair.

The only weight she was being alleviated of was her ever-present fear of Yuga. The entire class fawned over her, consoling and comforting her. She trusted everyone, and everyone loved her, so Izuku could say she was relatively safe. The girls often even slept in her room with her, barricading the vent door. They protected her from the monster under her bed, guarded her from the ghost of Yuga's image slinking out of the vent and taking her away.

But even their best efforts wouldn't be enough to dissolve the lead drapes of hope and despair and memory Tsuyu was carrying on her shoulders.

She was trying, but Izuku could see right through her.

***

Mirio worried about things.

Things that bothered him, that only he could see because only he knew them well enough and stuck by them for long enough.

He was worried about Tamaki and Nejire.

Worried about their minds, worried about if they were falling into despair, worried if he could still light them up with the hope he so greatly cherished.

Tamaki was always jumpy and introverted, but never like this. He kept to Mirio and Nejire's sides, never leaving them, clinging on like his life depended on it. When they got out of here -Mirio liked to hang onto the hope of escape and rescue, ever since Yuga was sent out and most likely interrogated by the police and heroes-, he wondered if Tamaki would ever be able to go solo on a hero mission again.

Nejire was losing her shine. Her eyes had lost their light, her heart having lost some of its hope. She was wearing a mask, a mask of hope and life and unfazed, dancing stars. She kept it up; a little too well, even. But Mirio could see the despair settling over her skin like grime, like dust on a cracked porcelain doll wearing her best poker face, dressed to perfection but already falling apart.

Through the curtains of despair and the waves of shaded, clinging hopelessness, Mirio found himself doubting his actions within the realm of his own mind. Was he doing the right thing, trying to cling to hope? Was he doing the right thing, motivating the class, motivating a group of people too far gone to be rescued? He confided in Tamaki one night, only to receive the idolized reply he expected- of course Tamaki would say yes, would tell his most beloved that he was in the right. So he dropped the subject and confined it to the cage of his own brain.

Even if he doubted himself, there was one thing he was certain of.

He had a star of hope for his friends, for the two people he loved oh so dearly.

He believed in them.

He believed they'd get better even if he didn't, despite the fact that somewhere deep within his heart, he knew that a part of them was already gone.

***

Mei focused on building things.

Before, she hadn't even been sure of what she was making. Her hands had flown out of instinct, hammering and nailing and putting things together. Her mind sped in circles, desperate to escape from the despair that chased her, like a mouse racing for its life from a feline.

Now, however, she had goal.

She knew what she was doing, for the first time in days. Her hands moved efficiently, with purpose.

While she focused mostly on her machine, a part of her was also concerned about her fellow girls. The group sometimes stayed in the lab with her, although she didn't even talk to them most days, so it was inevitable.

Little things bothered her. She never was much of a social bug, preferring to stick to her machinery in the lab, but she was observant enough to take note of changes in her peers.

Tooru... Tooru was strange. Her sudden change in personality during the trial had been frightening and absolutely bizarre, but even stranger was that she reverted right back to her previous self after the trial.

She was now so energetic, Mei had decided that it was because of despair. She was always a little too bubbly, too bright, too... there. Her presence was so loud, so present... and it unnerved Mei, to be entirely honest. She wasn't personal or direct; it was as if she were trying to help everyone, and in the process, helped no-one.

But at the same time, Mei couldn't help but find herself sucked in by Tooru's unmistakable public charm. She wasn't selective, or judgmental; she just helped everyone inclusively. Mei liked that a lot. She found them hanging out more and more, Tooru often staying behind after everyone else left.

Even if she could be unnerving, Mei trusted Tooru. She liked her charm, maybe a bit too much...

Kyouka was falling away from reality, it seemed. Her voice was always too quiet, her tone subdued and soft and unfocused, as if one ear and half her mind were in another world entirely. Whether it was because of despair or as a coping mechanism to the Killing Game, Mei didn't know. She didn't particularly care, either.

Mina had changed, drastically, ever since the whole situation with Katsuki. She was always a little off, acting sort of strange. She was always a bit angry, a bit too cold, as if all her malicious emotion for Katsuki was seeping into her general personality, until it engulfed her in its red maw.

Nejire was... too bright. She was always a bit too happy, too quick to jump into conversations, as if her senses were all off and her mind jumbled. She was a bit like Tooru, except the Artist was sweeter.

It bothered Mei, but she decided not to dwell on them. If they had the ability to keep up a happy, healthy outer appearance, that was good enough. It was better than most of the others, at least.

Yaomomo was the only sane one, it seemed. At the worst, she appeared extremely worried, but that anxiety was directed at her fellow peers, not at some distant concept. She loved her classmates, especially her friends and the girls, so it was only natural.

So Mei kept working.

It was the only way.

She knew that if she could complete her latest project and make it a success, it could mean escape for the entire class.

Chapter Text

Eijirou strolled down the hall on his way to the cafeteria, his mind blank. It'd been a few days since that argument, and frankly, he didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about the friends that betrayed him, betrayed Katsuki. Think about how easily they had split apart, as if their friendship meant absolutely nothing.

However, much to his surprise, just as he rounded the corner facing the kitchen door, the speakers crackled to life.

Huh, he thought. I wonder what it is. I mean, Monokuma hasn't talked to us in days, now... a motive perhaps? Great... the last thing we need is another killing.

The words that echoed through the hall next were not what he'd been expecting.

"A body has been discovered!"

A scream from the floor above Eijirou followed those dreadful words, confirming the cause of the announcement.

That voice...

"Denki," he muttered, his crimson eyes widening.

"After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!" Eijirou hastily turned on his heel and scrambled down the hall and up the stairs, hitting the floor and racing towards the direction Denki's continuous wails rose from.

And as he rounded the corner-

"Eijirou." Yaomomo turned to meet the shark-toothed teen's gaze. Her eyes were, almost surprisingly, dark with sorrow, which had since replaced the chiseled dislike that had edged her gaze for the past few days whenever she regarded Eijirou and his boyfriend.

"What happened?" Eijirou asked in a hushed tone. Denki, who was sitting in a ball next to the half-open door of a supply closet, gripped his hair in his hands and wailed again. His voice resonated eerily, buzzing through Eijirou's bones like earthquake tremors. Standing over him was Hitoshi, his hand on the blonde's shoulder. The Psychic's violet eyes were haunted. "Who- Who was it, Yaomomo?"

"Look for yourself." Yaomomo stared at her feet, her eyes glistening as she fought back tears.

Heart in his throat, Eijirou ran into the closet, bashing open the door, and-

His heart seemed to halt as he stopped dead in his tracks.

Blood streaks all over the floor, slicking the boards in a layer of wet, pink marks.

Dangling feet. A limp body, clothed in a dark purple sailor outfit.

A rope hanging from an abandoned clothing rack rod high up on the wall, the end of it tied in a noose around the corpse's neck.

A knocked-over stool.

Wide, blank, dark eyes, their amber shine reduced to a shady haze.

The lifeless, hanging body of-

"MINA ASHIDO IS DEAD!"

Denki's scream ripped Eijirou from his daze. As reality set back into him, he felt a horrible chill pass through his body, turning his blood to ice and his bones to brittle branches.

"What... the..?

"...how?"

Mina. She had been so kind, so cheerful, so bright and full of life. She had changed so drastically after Katsuki's reveal that he'd almost forgotten the person she'd been before: an optimist, a joker, a dancer.

And she was dead. Gone. Erased from the world the moment she began her fall from grace.

Eijirou could barely comprehend the reality of it all.

Suddenly, the speakers crackled to life yet again.

"A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!"

"Again?" Eijirou dimly heard Yaomomo say outside. "But..."

Another scream. It was clearer than Denki's from when Eijirou had heard it through the floor.

"No... Eijirou!" Yaomomo burst into the closet in a frenzied haste and grabbed his arm. "Come on- come with me!"

"Wh-" Eijirou had no time to even form a comprehensible word when Yaomomo had started dragging him down the hall. He stumbled and managed to get his feet under him, racing alongside her. "What- why?!"

Yaomomo didn't answer. And as Eijirou spotted the faint, speckled trail of blood on the floor tiles, the pieces suddenly fell into place inside Eijirou's mind.

Another Announcement.

Another scream.

Another body.

And as they rounded the corner, for the second time that day, Eijirou felt his heart freeze in his chest.

Tsuyu, Tamaki, and Mirio were huddled with their backs against the wall. Directly across from them was the Nurse's Office Door. And on the floor between those two points-

A pool of blood.

A body lying on its stomach, a pink-splattered metal object's edge glinting from its place impaled within the person's side, the majority of it buried in skin and bloodstained cloth.

Torn brown and yellow clothes.

Dark hair. Closed eyes. Limp hands.

"H-Hanta..?"

Reality set in once again.

Hanta Sero is... dead?

Dead?

...

Why?

Eijirou couldn't move. He couldn't speak, couldn't think. He could only stare at Hanta's bloody body on the floor, the fluids painting the tiles pink.

Kind, easygoing Hanta... The MVP of the class trials, Eijirou's friend, headstrong and loyal. Why is he lying on the floor, bleeding out his guts?

Why... why are two of my friends dead..?

Someone has killed Mina Ashido and Hanta Sero... Or is it someones? Two killers, whose timings synced by coincidence? Or was Mina's death a suicide?

Or both..?

Or-

The footsteps of people, more and more classmates appearing, echoed dully in Eijirou's ears. The screams that followed were dull and muffled, as if he were underwater and someone were trying to get his attention from the world above.

"Eijirou. Eijirou!" The Bodybuilder was snapped out of his daze by someone shaking him by the shoulders. He looked up to meet the startling crimson gaze of Katsuki.

"Get a hold of yourself." Katsuki's voice was soft, his eyes blank. It's almost difficult to remember that they were his friends, too.

Almost.

Eijirou supposed it would hurt less if he didn't care quite so much.

"Pupupu, a double kill?" A maliciously cheerful voice suddenly piped up. Eijirou tore his gaze from Hanta's blood-soaked corpse to find Monokuma waddling over, tablet in his arms. No...

Not again... to fight over this tragedy that bestowed our friends and execute another for the cause, it's too cruel...

It's all too cruel...

***

Yaomomo steadily met Monokuma's teasing, robotic eyes. He was clutching a tablet; the third Monokuma File.

"Pupupu, a double kill?" The monochrome teddy laughed, his voice robotic yet cruelly amused. "How fun! Just the slightest inconvenience, however, as our dear protagonist boy was slaughtered. We need a replacement! How about you, Yaomomo? Take this!"

"You've never actually given Hanta a File," Yaomomo observed dully as she took the tablet. "Despite him being your protagonist."

Monokuma laughed. "Pupupu... have fun, kids!" He waved and waddled away, disappearing around a corner.

Yaomomo stared at the file blankly. Hanta had been a supporter of Katsuki's... but in the end, he was still Hanta. Clever, quick-witted, dorky Hanta.

And Mina... she was strongly against Katsuki. Bold, strong Mina, who would've been a fantastic hero...

Of course, we always appreciate people most after they die...

A silence hung over the students. "I suppose... we'll have to do the trial again," Yaomomo said slowly, carefully.

"Let us begin investigation," Fumikage announced coldly.

>Investigation : Start!<

"We should begin with the File," Tamaki said shakily. He was leaning against Mirio and trembling, his head lowered and eyes closed, as if trying to block out the grisly scene before them. "Yaomomo?"

"Ah- um, yes." Yaomomo hastily picked up the tablet and clicked it on.

'Case III

Victims: Mina Ashido and Hanta Sero

Fatal Wound: Mina appears to have died due to a crushed windpipe.

Other Wounds: There is heavy bruising on Mina's head.

Weapon: The pair of scissors impaled in Hanta's abdomen is the cause of his death.'

"It's... so vague," Yaomomo murmured. Fumikage scanned over the file with his sharp red irises, drinking in the information.

"There's a reason certain information is withheld," Fumikage said. "It must be because such knowledge would reveal key features of this case."

"So... if we unveil those hidden clues, we can solve the case?" Yaomomo further questioned.

"It seems so." Fumikage sighed. "Hold onto the File. We'll cover it in the trial." With that, he strode away and began inspecting Hanta's dead body in his usual manner.

Yaomomo lowered the tablet with a sigh, loosely holding it to her side. She decided she'd investigate the area around Hanta first, before checking in on Fumikage's work. She didn't think it'd be wise to try and determine anything solid on Mina without the Nightwalker's seemingly expert assistance.

She stared at Hanta's body from a few meters away. She surveyed his expression and upper body the most, trying to avoid looking at his fatal wound. He looks... so scared. Sad, even, Yaomomo observed sorrowfully. And his hand...

It's extended towards the Nurse's Office door...

Could it be that he was trying to make it to the Office? In addition to that trail... then that means...

Yaomomo took a mental note and carefully skirted around Hanta's body to enter the Nurse's Office.

Inside, she looked around. It looked unsuspicious. Completely, perfectly unsuspicious...

Keep looking, Yaomomo urged herself. Even the most minor of details might be vital...

She began scouring through the cabinets and drawers of medical supplies. So many medicines and bottles...

Then she found it.

An inconspicuous space in a cabinet, the medicine gone. Looking at the list on the inside of that cabinet door that read how many of each medicine were in it, she began counting each and every bottle. She realized, after a long count, that the missing container was-

-"Anesthetic liquid..?"

Yaomomo looked from the list to the cabinet again. Flanking the space were the two other bottles of the stuff.

Hmm...

Yaomomo put down her list and closed the cabinet before leaving the office. I bet Fumikage is long done by now...

She walked into the hall to find Fumikage kneeling by Hanta's body. Yaomomo couldn't help but stare at the mess of slick, pink blood all over his non-absorbent, leather gloves. But alongside the noticeably larger pool of blood around Hanta's corpse, there was something in Fumikage's hand that he was observing...

"Um, Fumikage?" Yaomomo stepped towards the body. "What did you find?"

"The murder weapon," he replied. "It's quite... unorthodox, I would say."

"What is it?"

Fumikage held up the object. It was soaked to the handle in blood, dripping in the liquid, the silver twin-blades coated in it-

"A pair of scissors."

Yaomomo stared at the fatal object. The tip was sharp; it was probably a pair used for cutting thread in sewing. Where had the killer gotten it? Probably a supply closet or random drawer; the villains have practically weaponized every nook and cranny...

"Umm... why wouldn't the killer use a more... reliable... weapon?" Nejire spoke up, her voice uncharacteristically soft and shaky.

"The scissors may have been chosen to be conspicuous," Fumikage explained. "So it wouldn't be suspicious if someone happened to see her with them. At the very least, it's less jarringly suspicious than, say, a knife."

"Huh. Okay." Nejire nodded and fell silent. She edged back towards Mirio and Tamaki.

"What else did you uncover?" Yaomomo asked Fumikage.

"Well... there are rope burn marks on Hanta's wrists and ankles. Other than that, not much. I have another theory, but in order to test it, I'd have to-" He suddenly cut himself off, eyes widening slightly.

Yaomomo blinked. "Have to what?"

"Never mind," Fumikage hastily brushed her off. "I'm going to go investigate Mina's body now. You may follow me if you'd like," he added to Yaomomo.

Yaomomo squinted dubiously at Fumikage's back as he strolled down the hall. Suspicious... Nevertheless, she followed him.

As they walked, Yaomomo observed the blood trail that led down the hall, from Hanta's body to the closet, or vice versa. It was faint; some splatters here, a splash here, but nothing consistent.

Fumikage stepped into the supply closet. Yaomomo followed him inside, and immediately wished she hadn't. The blood all over the floor was creating a sickening scent, a horrible metallic stench of death as it aged.

Yaomomo watched, suppressing a gag, as Fumikage stepped over the pools of blood and approached Mina's hanging body. However, he stopped short there, and bent down to look at the stool.

"Yaomomo," he called. She carefully stepped over and gazed down at the stool. "Look at this."

Yaomomo did as he asked. Upon further inspection, she saw the smear of blood on its side.

"I thought it may be of consideration," Fumikage explained, setting the stool down. "Now, let us investigate Mina's body."

Yaomomo stepped back and watched Fumikage work, taking in the information he offered as he went through the analysis.

"Well, clearly, there's the rope. I would presume this to be her murder weapon. Ah, but here... there's a knot in this rope. A useless knot. Take that into notice," Fumikage added as he ran his gaze up and down the rope. "There's also a blood splatter on it... in a seemingly random middle part. Nowhere near the knot and noose itself."

"I'll think about it," Yaomomo murmured.

"And the body... hmm... ah."

"What?" Yaomomo looked up. "What did you find?"

"Bloodstains. There is a bloodstain on her hand. Across her palm, a dash over her purlicue. There are also blood smears on the soles of her shoes. Intriguing, hm? You said her only injuries were the bruises on her head, correct?"

"Correct."

"Hmm... remember that for the trial."

Fumikage kept working, inspecting Mina's body, confirming her head bruises in the process.

"Her neck... it appears something hard had been smashed into it to crush her windpipe. Oh, and Yaomomo, investigate around the room while I finish up this autopsy, alright?" He added. Yaomomo obliged dutifully, entering the room and poking around for clues.

And as she bent down in a corner, she found... something.

A crumpled piece of duct tape, Yaomomo realized. Could it be a massively vital piece of information...? No, that's unlikely... but it can't hurt to be careful. After all, it wasn't here before.

And as she brushed it off and continued digging through the boxes, Yaomomo found what could be the investigation equivalent of a gold mine.

"Two... bookbags?"

"You found something?" Fumikage suddenly appeared over Yaomomo's shoulder, causing her to jump.

"Ah! Um, yes. Look." Yaomomo gestured to the bookbags in an attempt to mask her embarrassment at being caught off-guard.

Fumikage knelt down beside her. "Hm. I don't think they were here before. Let's check inside them."

Yaomomo took one. Fumikage took the other. When Yaomomo opened hers, she immediately found-

-"A bunch of books?"

There were several books within the bag. There was an especially thick and heavy one on psychology. There was a dent in one of the corners.

"Just books, huh? What's in yours?" Yaomomo prompted Fumikage.

"...look at this."

Yaomomo leaned over. And within that bag was the missing bottle of anesthesia, as well as some cloth. It appeared slightly used, minor wrinkles in the light fabric. There was also a roll of duct tape.

"Ah, duct tape. I just found a small crumpled up piece in the corner. You think it has relevance?" Yaomomo asked.

"Possibly. Possibly... Yuga's case sure did have some coincidences, so there's no guarantee. But keep it in mind," Fumikage sighed.

"This appears to be all," Yaomomo said as the two set down the book bags. "Do you know anything else?"

"You mean my account?" Fumikage prompted. Yaomomo nodded.

"Well, I saw Hanta in the library an hour before his body discovery announcement, if that counts for anything. Oh, and I do believe he had a bookbag on him, one that resembled the ones we just found."

"Thank you," Yaomomo said after a pause. Yes, that's helpful...

"Oh, and... um... if you're looking for accounts, I have some information, too..."

Yaomomo's head snapped up. Her eyes met the sky-blue ones of Nejire. In the dim lighting of the closet, they were dull and subdued.

"What do you know, Nejire?" Fumikage questioned.

"Well, I saw Mina earlier. She was heading towards the library. She was acting sort of odd, so I asked if she was fine. She hastily said she was and continued on her way." Nejire sighed. "If only I had done something... then I could've prevented this..."

Yaomomo felt a pang of sympathy strike through her heart. "It's alright, Nejire. You alone couldn't have prevented any of this."

Nejire looked up, and the two girls simply gazed at each other for a moment, before a crackle over the loudspeaker interrupted them.

"Ahem! Investigation time is over! Students, please report to the trial room ASAP! We'll be waiting!" Monokuma laughed and shut off the announcement.

"Ah. It's time." Fumikage huffed and walked out the closet. Nejire and Yaomomo followed suit.

The entire class was gathered before the elevator in no time. Yaomomo glanced around, anxiety swirling in her stomach.

Seventeen students... And one of us killed two people...

Who could possibly be so cruel as to kill two of their own friends?

Yaomomo stepped onto the elevator with everyone else. It was so much roomier...

And so it's happened again.

A murder... the double murder of Hanta Sero and Mina Ashido.

We must unveil their killer... and bring to light the truth.

The truth...

This time, we'll find it.

I'm sure of it.

Chapter Text

"Upupupu! And so we've returned!"

Yaomomo glared up at Monokuma, who was seated on Kurogiri's lap on the velvet throne. The warping villain gazed down emotionlessly at the students; if masses of swirling indigo gas could even express emotion, that is.

"Everyone, please go to your podiums. The trial is beginning."

Yaomomo slowly stepped up to her place. Around the ring, there were another set of signs set up. In Hanta and Mina's places were a pair of profile shots of them with a red X drawn over their faces. The signs of the dead.

And Yuga... Yuga's podium had no sign. It was just empty. Devoid.

A reminder of his freedom. How he's alive, and free...

"I assume you don't need a rerun of the rules, right? That'd just be a boring waste of my words! Any questions before we begin?"

"Ah, yes. Monokuma, I've been wanting to ask you this for a while..."

"What is it, Fumikage?"

"About the double-kill. Is there any rule about the number of murderers? Is it possible there were two killers?" Fumikage questioned.

"Hmm. One killer? Two? Who knows?! There's no rules about that, so good luck figuring it out yourself!" Monokuma replied cheerily. "Is that all?" He paused and noted the silence. "Good! Now let the third class trial begin!"

>Class Trial : Start!<

"Let's begin this case with the Monokuma File. We can go from there," Fumikage suggested.

"Sure." Yaomomo pulled out the file and began reading through it. "The victims were Mina Ashido and Hanta Sero. Mina's fatal wound is a crushed windpipe, and there is heavy bruising on her head. The pair of scissors in Hanta's abdomen is his cause of death."

"Why is it so vague? It doesn't give half the information we need!" Eijirou wailed.

"That's because the information, if given, would provide the keys to the entire case. Isn't that right, Monokuma?" Fumikage implored.

"Yup! Right you are!" Monokuma grinned. "Your job is to solve those mysteries!"

"So we have to figure out who died first, Hanta's fatal wound, possibly any other wounds the two had, and the weapon used in Mina's murder," Yaomomo listed.

"But- but isn't Hanta's fatal wound the one inflicted by the scissors?" Tamaki asked quietly.

"But that one wound could've had any number of fatal outcomes," Shouto retorted. "It could have been blood loss over a prolonged period of time. It could be the piercing of a vital organ. Or, the scissors wound could be a red herring, and the killer used another, hidden means of murder."

The trial room fell silent after that. So many options... how are we supposed to know which one is the correct one?

"But first," Mirio spoke up. "I think we should clear up the order of the deaths first. It could prove crucial in the end."

"Good idea," Fumikage sighed. "Let us discuss."

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets : Crumpled duct tape, Blood on closet floor, Monokuma File #3, Knot on rope, Stool, Blood on Mina's right hand, Rope<

"So, who died first? Mina or Hanta?" Mirio murmured.

"H-how would we find out?" Tamaki asked. "Does the Monokuma File say anything about it?"

"Of course not, Chicken Face!" Katsuki barked. "That's what we're trying to find out!"

"Hey, don't yell at him," Mirio said threateningly to Katsuki. "Continuing, what about some clues from the scenes of the crimes?"

"Is it possible that Hanta and Mina's deaths are completely unrelated and there were two killers that just happened to kill at the same time?" Mei suggested.

"What if one of the kills happened way before the other and we just found the body now?" Nejire asked.

"Hey, I just thought of something." Shouto spoke up. "The blood on the closet floor... whose is it?"

"Well, no duh!" Katsuki snapped. "It's Mina's! Her body is in the closet, after all!"

"No, that's wrong!"

>Monokuma File #3 : Counter!<

"Huh? I'm wrong? How is that?" Katsuki asked angrily.

"The Monokuma File stated that the only external wounds on Mina's body were the bruises on her head. Fumikage can confirm that, right?" Yaomomo regarded the body inspector.

"Yes. There was severe bruising on her head, although it appears they weren't fatal blows, according to the File," Fumikage stated. "There were blood smears on the soles of her shoes and a stain on her hand. However, she has no open wounds. The blood is not hers."

"Then... does that mean... the blood in the closet was Hanta's?" Mei questioned.

"That seems to be it," Fumikage said grimly.

"So how does that tie back to the order of the deaths?" Tooru prompted. "The blood on the closet floor determines it?"

"I think so," Yaomomo said. "Mina's hand... it had blood on it. Hanta's blood."

"And what's that supposed to mean, though?" Tooru inquired. "Hanta's blood is near Mina's body, so he was stabbed in the closet. And his blood got on Mina's corpse. It doesn't solve anything!" she wailed.

No, it definitely explains something... I have to show them..!

>Nonstop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Anesthesia, Two Bookbags, Bookbag One, Bookbag Two, Monokuma File #3, Nejire's Account, Fumikage's Account<

"Just because Hanta was stabbed in the closet," Tooru began, "doesn't mean much."

"What do you mean by that?" Eijirou asked. "They were killed in the same place."

"Oh, it's possible for Mina to have died earlier, and her corpse was there, and Hanta happened to walk in," Hitoshi suggested. "And they had the same killer, who herded them both into the same place."

"There's many possibilities," Shouto acknowledged. "But there's one clear conclusion we can draw."

"Yeah! That Mina was killed before Hanta!" Mei declared.

"Mmh, that's not quite what I was going to say, but alright," Shouto murmured.

"So, if Hanta was killed after Mina... does that mean Hanta was stabbed in the closet after Mina was hung?" Mashirao questioned.

"No, that's wrong!"

>Blood on soles : Counter!<

"Not quite," Yaomomo said slowly. "There was blood on the soles of Mina's shoes," she explained. "She had stepped in Hanta's blood. Therefore, she had not been hung, and was alive when Hanta was stabbed."

"Well, if Hanta had been stabbed and killed in the closet, how did his body get into the hallway?" Kyouka asked.

How his body moved into the hall.... The clue that answers that question, it's...

>Select a Truth Bullet<

...

>Blood trail : I got it!<

"The trail of blood leading from the closet to his body suggests he'd been killed in the closet and dragged into the hall," Yaomomo said.

"Alright, so we've figured out Hanta's death," Nejire spoke up. "But what happened with Mina?"

"Well, she was hanged, wasn't she?" Mei said. "She must've committed suicide!"

"Suicide?" Tooru tilted her head. "Um, doesn't that seem a little odd, considering the circumstances..?"

"No way! It's got to be a suicide!" Mashirao declared.

Squabbling immediately broke out in the trial room, people arguing for one side or the other.

The answer of suicide... it's so straightforward, yet seems so wrong...

"We're split down the middle..."

"HOLD ON!!!"

>Break!<

Everyone in the trial room collectively jumped and fell silent. Monokuma had leaped up and off of the throne. Kurogiri, who remained in his royal seat, appeared slightly irritated and very amused at how enthusiastic the rodent was being.

"Split?! Did you just say split?!" Monokuma was bouncing on his heels in excitement. "This is perfect!"

"U-um..." Yaomomo eyed the monochrome creature, confused. Why is he so happy? "Monokuma, what are you doi-"

"Ahem! Now, I present to you our new morphenomenal trial ground!" Monokuma announced happily.

"Yes, I suppose it's time to use that," Kurogiri muttered from behind him.

I'm... not sure what this is about, but... if it will help unite us... then I'll do it.

For Hanta and Mina's sakes, and for all of the living...

>Split Opinion<

Kurogiri threw a strange looking device to Monokuma. The rodent eagerly grabbed it, whipped out a key, and inserted it into the slot in the center of the device. It lit up, and the entire trial room seemed to glow from the veins of light running through it.

"H-hey, what's happening?" Izuku asked nervously.

"The trial grounds are morphing! This is cool," Mei grinned. "I wonder what type of tech goes into this..."

Suddenly, Yaomomo felt the ground shift under her. "GYAHH!"

The podium bases glowed and lifted off of the ground, ascending into the sky,

"Ooh! This is just like floating with my quirk!" Nejire exclaimed. "Except you can't control it."

The podiums shuffled among each other, creating two neat lines facing each other, and lowered back down. Below, the floor shifted to accommodate the rows.

>Scrum Debate : Start!

Did Mina commit suicide?

Mina committed suicide : Shouto, Mashirao, Izuku, Mei, Mezou, Mirio, Tamaki, Kyouka, Denki,

Mina didn't commit suicide : Yaomomo, Tooru, Fumikage, Eijirou, Katsuki, Hitoshi, Nejire, Tsuyu<

"Mina must've committed suicide by hanging," Mirio declared.

"Tooru!"

"But her cause of death wasn't from hanging," Tooru replied.

"Her cause of death was a crushed windpipe, so it's possible for her to have been hung," Shouto stated calmly.

"Fumikage!"

"During my autopsy, it seems something being slammed against her neck crushed her windpipe. That's the cause of death," Fumikage retorted.

"Just because Mina had something smashed into her neck doesn't disprove the rope being used!" Mei claimed.

"I got this one!"

"Using a rope not for choking, and leaving behind no rope burn is rather unpractical and unlikely," Yaomomo replied mildly.

"Mina committing suicide explains all of her injuries," Mezou said.

"Tsuyu!"

"Not all of her injuries; if she'd only been hung, that wouldn't explain the bruises on her head," Tsuyu said.

"Mina must've felt pressured from her argument with Katsuki, so she committed suicide," Kyouka suggested.

"Nejire!"

"But last I saw her this morning, she was acting completely normal! She wasn't suicidal!" Nejire shot back.

>Crouch Bind : Set!<

>A - W - D - A<

>Full Counter : Break!<

"Guys! It's obvious Mina didn't commit suicide!" Yaomomo announced.

"I agree with her. Mina's cause of death, behavior, and injuries all do not line up with the simple explanation that she hung herself," Fumikage said.

"We have to work together if we want to solve this case," Tsuyu murmured.

"Well, if she did not commit suicide, that must mean her killer set her body up after she died to make it appear so," Shouto concluded. "If that's the case, then we must figure out what her murder weapon was, next."

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets : Monokuma File #3, Fumikage's Account, Fumikage's Autopsy, Two Bookbags, Bookbag One, Bookbag Two, Anesthesia, Scissors, Rope, Stool<

"S-so, Mina was killed from blunt force to her neck, crushing her windpipe," Tamaki began. "According to Fumikage's autopsy, that is."

"If that's the case, what was the weapon?" Nejire inquired.

"Something sharp, I bet!" Mashirao stated.

"I still think it was the rope," Mei announced boldly.

"Um, I'm not a sure a rope could be used for blunt force," Denki stammered.

"Well, maybe the killer just used something and took it away from the murder site," Kyouka suggested.

"No, that's wrong!"

>Two Bookbags : Counter!<

"There must've been something on site that could've been used in killing Mina. There's a lot of stuff inside of the two bookbags we found," Yaomomo said.

"What was in the first one, the one I looked in?" Fumikage prompted.

In the bookbag Fumikage investigated... there were three items.

I can.... I must remember..!

>Mind Mine : Start!<

...

>Roll of duct tape, anesthesia, cloth : Break!<

"There was a roll of duct tape, anesthesia, and a cloth from the nurse's office," Yaomomo said. "I recall there was a bit of crumpled up duct tape in the closet. Right, Fumikage?"

"Yes, indeed. Now, the cloth and anesthesia are easy to explain and go hand in hand. The killer used it to sedate their victim," Fumikage said. "However, whether that victim was Mina or Hanta, that is unknown. Now, go on. What about the second bookbag, Yaomomo?"

The second bookbag... There was something, something important...

>Mind Mine : Start!<

...

>Books : Break!<

"There were a bunch of books in there, right? A particularly thick one on psychology, one on arachnids, and one on modern architecture, if I remember correctly," Yaomomo said.

"Yes, that's right. The psychology book with the dented corner, the arachnids encyclopedia, and the architecture textbook. Out of all these items, the books seem likely to be weapons," Fumikage said. "They're hard objects that can cause blunt force trauma. They could also be used to explain the bruising. The killer could've easily bashed Mina on the head with a book before slamming it onto her neck when she's vulnerable."

How cruel... Yaomomo thought sadly. "And then they hung her up with that setup?"

"Yes, to throw us off the scent."

"I think we should go over what we know about the case right now," Mirio suggested. "Get a grip on this case again. Then we can tie up all the loose knots."

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets : Crumpled duct tape, Stool, Pool of blood, Scissors, Nejire's Account, Fumikage's Autopsy, Two Bookbags<

"So, this morning," Shouto began. "The killer somehow got Mina and Hanta into that closet."

"And they stabbed Hanta with the scissors," Izuku continued. "Mina stepped in his blood."

"The killer followed to crush Mina's neck with a book. They hung her up to fake a suicide," Hitoshi said. "And Hanta was somehow moved into the hallway."

"So the questions that remain are," Nejire spoke up. "Hanta's cause of death, and any other wounds he may have."

"Hanta... he didn't have any marks on his body other than the fatal wound, right?" Mashirao said.

"No, that's wrong!"

>Fumikage's Autopsy : Break!<

"According to Fumikage's autopsy, there were rope burn marks on Hanta's wrists and ankles," Yaomomo said.

"Rope burn..." Tamaki mused. "Rope... L-like the rope used to hang up Mina?"

"What-" Eijirou's eyes widened. "-are you implying..?"

"What if it's the same rope? The one used to hang Mina, and the one that was at one point tying up Hanta?" Shouto theorized, doing what he did best. "I mean, it may actually make sense."

"The rope... it had blood on it, as well as a knot," Yaomomo said. "It's possible the killer tied him up, stabbed him, got blood on the rope, untied him and accidentally left a knot on the rope, killed Mina, and hung her up."

"That's... confusing," Denki said slowly.

"But it makes sense, I guess," Tooru said. "Reusing the rope in both kills."

"It also proves that Hanta and Mina's deaths are undoubtedly connected," Kyouka said.

"Connected... and to what extent?" Fumikage suddenly spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Yaomomo asked. "What do you know, Fumikage?"

"Think back to what I said earlier, when I was giving you my account. Where was Hanta before his death?" Fumikage asked.

Hanta... his location prior to his death...

>Hangman's Gambit 3.0 : Start!

Where was Hanta directly before his death?

🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆<

...

...

...

>LIBRARY : I got it!<

>Break!<

"That's right... Hanta was in the library directly before his death, right?" Yaomomo asked Fumikage.

"Yes. And I was there to see him. He was taking out books. He was carrying a bookbag, strikingly similar to the one we found in the closet. And the sections he went in," Fumikage explained. "Were the health aisle, nonfiction aisle, and architectural aisle. Do those titles seem similar?"

"Health, nonfic, and architecture..." Izuku mused. "And the bookbag in the closet... a psychology book, arachnids book, and an architectural book. They match up perfectly."

"So the one bookbag was Hanta's. It consisted of all the books. And?" Tooru summarized.

"A book was used to kill Mina, right?" Shouto murmured conspiratorially. "And the books were Hanta's. So what if... Hanta killed Mina?"

A wave of silence rolled through the trial room. Yaomomo herself was confused. Hanta? Killed Mina?

"H-hey, hold on," Denki cut in. "That makes no sense! Hanta killed Mina? The books don't prove anything! What if the killer just took them from him after killing him?"

"That's possible," Yaomomo said slowly. "But look at it this way for a moment. It may make sense."

"So Hanta kills Mina by killing her with a book. Then what? Some other shithead stabbed Hanta? Who did it?" Katsuki spoke up.

Silence. Then-

"...Mina."

Chapter Text

"What?" Everyone, including Yaomomo, turned to Shouto in alarm. "Mina? How?"

"There was blood on Mina's hand. It's possible she could've killed him. And after stabbing him, she could've stepped in his blood. That's why his blood is on her," Shouto said.

"Ah... that makes sense. So Mina killed Hanta, and accidentally got his blood on her-"

"Wait up!"

>Break!<

"Hold on, Didn't Mina die first?" Mei exclaimed.

"That was our original assumption," Yaomomo replied calmly.

"But even with our current assumption, it doesn't add up! Hanta killed Mina and Mina killed Hanta both at the same time?! Then how did Hanta's body move, and Mina get hung up? It doesn't make sense!" Mei declared.

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Mei Hatsume : Momo Yaoyorozu

Truth Blades: Anesthesia, Scissors, Rope, Pool of blood, Nejire's account, Crumpled duct tape, Blood on closet floor, Monokuma File #3, Fumikage's Autopsy<

"Nothing makes sense! Mina killed Hanta?! Hanta killed Mina? But Mina was killed first! How could she and Hanta kill each other at exactly the same time? Plus, following that logic, the bodies moved on their own, which is obviously impossible," Mei said.

"Whoever said they had to die at the same exact time?" Yaomomo countered.

"How else could they die? Mina getting hit on the head was fatal, and the scissors killed Hanta instantly!"

"I will cut through your words!"

>Fumikage's Autopsy : Cut!<

"There's no proof that the scissors killed him instantly. Fumikage stated that the scissors were most certainly the fatal wound, However, it might not have been deep enough to kill immediately. Fumikage didn't have the chance to check that. Blood loss, or the scissors shifting and cutting a vital organ, may have been his demise," Yaomomo explained.

"But the File said the scissors impaled in Hanta's abdomen were the cause of death!" Mei wasn't giving up.

"Then it's possible Hanta made a movement too sharply with the scissors still in the wound, and it moved to slice a vital organ, or major artery," Yaomomo countered.

"Well, why would he leave the scissors in, in the first place?" Mei shot back.

"Because if he had removed the scissors, the blood flow would not have been stemmed," Fumikage cut into the two girls' back and forth. "The scissors being left in the wound, if carefully held still, would have stemmed blood flow.

"However, he must have been too rash, and the blades shifted within his side, slicing an internal organ or artery and sealing his fate."

"Oh... I see. Fine then," Mei said, admitting defeat.

"So our current theory is that Hanta and Mina killed each other," Izuku spoke up. "Mina tied up Hanta and stabbed him. Hanta woke up and retaliated with his book. He set up her body and left the room, before dying down the hall."

"So it's just a theory," Hitoshi concluded.

"Well, it's the most plausible one yet, and covers everything, actually," Shouto retorted. "The blood in the closet, the rope burns... even the bookbags."

"Huh? The bookbags?" Tooru looked up. "How is that explained?"

"There were two bookbags in the closet, right? The second was Hanta's. The one with the books," Izuku explained. "So the first bookbag... doesn't this make that..."

The person the first bookbag belongs to... it's...

>Choose an answer!

Fumikage Tokoyami

Nejire Hadou

Mina Ashido

Bakugou Katsuki<

>Mina Ashido : I got it!<

"The bookbag with the duct tape, cloth, and sedatives... that's Mina's, isn't it?" Yaomomo said. "If she's the other party of this case, then it would make sense to be hers, as it contains the sedatives."

Izuku nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense-"

"Your logic is flawed!"

>Break!<

Yaomomo whirled to face Mashirao. Now what? "What is it?"

"Just because the other bookbag was there doesn't automatically make it Mina's! We don't know for sure yet!" Mashirao declared boldly. "Come on, try and change my mind if you can!"

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Mashirao Ojirou : Momo Yaoyorozu

Truth Blades: Stool, Rope, Monokuma File #3, Fumikage's Autopsy, Nejire's Account, Scissors, Crumpled duct tape<

"Alright, I'll admit, saying Mina stabbed Hanta and that Hanta killed Mina is reasonable," Mashirao began humbly, before quickly going on the offensive. "But that doesn't automatically make the other bookbag in the closet hers!"

"What would've a random bookbag been doing in the closet if it wasn't one of the victims'?" Yaomomo prompted. "If it was yet another person's, they would have spoken up by now."

"What if it was Hanta's?" Mashirao brought up. "The bag with the books was full because of the thick encyclopedias. What if he took a second bag to hold his other murder equipment?"

"But following our theory, Hanta wouldn't have had to use the sedatives and duct tape. We have no evidence for it," Yaomomo retorted.

"Well, yeah." Mashirao paused. "But there isn't any evidence of Mina ever obtaining a bookbag in the first place, either!"

"I will cut through your argument!"

>Nejire's Account : Cut!<

"Earlier, Nejire told me that she saw Mina heading to the library. The library is where the bookbags are located. She could have easily gone in and taken it then. Actually, she probably went to the library for that very reason!" Yaomomo deduced.

"Nejire, did this actually happen?" Mashirao turned to the blue haired girl.

"Yeah. I saw her," Nejire replied, her voice growing softer as she remembered the last time she saw her friend. Yaomomo caught Mirio and Tamaki shooting her concerned, sympathetic looks.

"I see. Sorry, Yaomomo," Mashirao sighed.

"It's fine. And it helped clear this whole thing up, too. As of now, it's perfectly reasonable for Mina to be the owner of the first bookbag," Yaomomo said.

"But we need more evidence!" Eijirou retorted. "It's not a solid enough conclusion to stand on, yet!"

We have all the evidence we need... we just have to piece it together, Yaomomo thought. I have to.... I have to show them!

I see it... I can see the story coming together..!

>Psyche Taxi : Start!<

...

>Question 1: Who originally brought the rope, and for what purpose?
Left: Hanta, to kill Mina.
Right: Mina, to tie up Hanta.
Right : Correct!<

...

>Question 2: What did Mina use to help her tie up Hanta easier?
Left: Books and Duct Tape
Right: Anesthesia and Duct Tape
Right: Correct!<

...

>Question 3: How did Hanta get free to attack Mina?
Left: Mina tied him up too loosely.
Right: Mina forgot to tie him up.
Left : Correct!<

>Success!
Question 1: Mina, to tie up Hanta.
Question 2: Anesthesia and Duct Tape
Question 3: Mina tied him up too loosely.<

>Break!<

"We don't need any more evidence... I think I've figured out the story," Yaomomo said, her revelation giving her confidence in her deduction.

"Oh? Please do share it with us," Shouto prompted.

"Well, Mina was the one who originally wanted to kill, since she brought the rope," Yaomomo said. "She attacked Hanta with the anesthesia, soaking the cloth with it to cover his mouth with it and knock him out, so that it was easier to tie him up. She must've put the duct tape over his mouth to make sure that if he awoke, he wouldn't scream."

"I do recall a crumpled up piece of duct tape in the corner," Fumikage affirmed.

"However, Mina must've tied him up too loosely, in a hurry. He woke up, likely when she stabbed him, and got free. He hit her over the head with his book, before slamming it into her neck. The rest is history," Yaomomo concluded sadly.

"One thing, though," Mirio spoke up. "The blood trail in the hallway... we said before that that trail was Hanta's. With this information, does that mean..?"

"Yes. Hanta was not killed in the closet, so he must've gotten up and walked down the hall, trailing blood as he went. And he died in front of his destination, the Nurse's Office," Fumikage said.

"Now that we know what happened, we should go over the case once more now," Tsuyu prompted, "Just to make sure we covered everything."

Yaomomo nodded in agreement, recalling what Hanta had done in the first two cases.

"Wait!"

Yaomomo stared at Eijirou. His crimson eyes pierced into hers, his gaze a mixture of sorrow and desperation. Of course. They were both his friends. He can't stand the thought that they'd kill each other...

"Hanta and Mina... they'd been friends! Why would they kill each other? Or, should I say, why would Mina target Hanta of all people?!" Eijirou wailed. "It doesn't make sense!

"None of this makes sense! And that's why... I can't stand to see this be taken as fact! Because if we... if we get this wrong... we're all going to die! We're going to die, just like so many of our classmates and friends already have!"

Yaomomo stared at Eijirou. The redhead had tears in his eyes, but his stance was as determined and headstrong as ever.

"Come on, convince me! Prove your story is true!"

>Argument Armament : Start!<

{Eijirou's Audio Clips <> Letters to Counter}

>Phase 1<

"Why would Mina target him?!" <> (W) (W) (W)

"It makes no sense! <> (A) (A) (A) (A)

"They were the best of friends..." <> (W) (W) (A)

"So why would they even think to kill each other?!" <> (D) (D) (D) (D) (W)

>Advance : Phase 2<

"Why do you keep insisting?" <> (S) (S) (S - Hold)

"I knew them too well..." (A) (A) (A - Hold)

"They would never do such a thing!" (W-A-S-D)

"You have to listen to me!" (W) (W) (W - Hold)

"I don't want to die here..." (D) (D) (D - Hold)

"...All because you thought those two would ever hurt each other!" (W-A-S-D)

>Final Blow!<

>W: Ment
A: Squad
S: Baku
D: Argu<

"Mina and Hanta were the best of friends! It's impossible that they'd kill each other!"

"I got it!"

>S-A-D-W : BakuSquadArguMent : Break!<

"Hanta and Mina... they were both part of Katsuki's friend group, right? They called themselves the Bakusquad," Yaomomo said to Eijirou.

"Yeah! We were all so close... there's no way..!" Eijirou sobbed, his voice cracking.

"Remember, after the trial... that argument in the cafeteria..." Yaomomo said. "You guys were fighting. Hanta and Mina were on opposite sides. Hanta was defending Katsuki. Mina was against him. Maybe Mina saw Hanta as threatening and attacked him."

"Then why didn't she attack Katsuki? He's the cause of their problem," Mei pointed out.

"Back in that argument, remember what she said?" Yaomomo asked.

~*Flashback*~

"I'm telling you, he's dangerous! A threat to us all!" Mina was screaming.

~*Back to Present*~

"She saw him as dangerous and a threat. He would've been too risky of a target for her," Yaomomo continued. "So she chose one of his supporters instead."

"Katsuki's supporters were Eijirou and Hanta, right? And Denki was Mina's ally," Nejire said.

"So... why not Eijirou?" Tooru asked.

"Because Mina was closer to me than Hanta," Eijirou said slowly. "She's known me since junior high, while she's only known Hanta since the start of the school year."

"So she chose Hanta because she didn't want to kill Eijirou..." Tamaki murmured. "So technically, Hanta's identity was never the reason he was chosen to be killed. His lack of a long-term relationship with her was what did it."

A short silence followed his words. Yaomomo tossed her thoughts over in her mind.

The Bakusquad Argument... caused by Katsuki's crimes... was the cause of the death of two of our classmates.

At this rate, how many of us will Katsuki manage to kill?

"Anyway," she decided to break the quiet, keeping her voice steady. "Let's go over this case once more, before putting in our final votes."

>Closing Argument : Start!<

"This morning, Mina began her plan to kill Hanta. She went to the library to pick up a bookbag, before gathering her supplies. This included anesthesia from the nurse's office, a cloth for the drugs, duct tape, and some sharp thread scissors. She put it all in the bookbag to appear unsuspicious.

"Meanwhile, Hanta also visited the library this morning. He went to take out books. He checked out three particularly thick and heavy books, put them in a bookbag, and headed out, going up the stairs, most likely on his way back to his dorm.

"Mina found Hanta on the fourth floor and attacked him, knocking him out with the anesthesia. She dragged him into a supply closet and got to work tying up his ankles and hands with rope. However, she was most likely in a rush and didn't tie the bounds particularly tightly.

"She put duct tape over Hanta's mouth to muffle his screams, in case he roused, before stabbing him in the side with her thread scissors. Unfortunately for her, the blow didn't hit anything vital, instead only causing excessive bleeding. Mina didn't know that though. She may have dropped her guard, because at that moment Hanta woke up.

"Hanta struggled out of his bindings, grabbed his bookbag, and used one of his heavy books to hit Mina on the head. Dazed, Mina was left vulnerable, and Hanta took the opportunity to continue attacking her.

"He slammed the same book onto Mina's neck, crushing her windpipe and killing her. Now bleeding and running completely on adrenaline, Hanta began setting up the crime scene.

"He unbound his legs and used the rope to hang up Mina. He placed a knocked-over stool under her as well, to make it look like a suicide, while smudging his own blood on it by accident. He ripped the duct tape off of his face and crumpled it up, throwing it in the corner. He also hid his and Mina's bookbags, hastily tucking them behind some boxes.

"His work done, he began making his way out of the closet and down the hall towards the Nurse's Office, trailing blood the entire time. However, he was just a moment too late. Outside of the Nurse's Office, he collapsed, and the wound finally got to him. He died in arm's reach of the Office. The cause of death is unsure; it may have been the blood loss finally registering after his adrenaline wore off, or the scissors shifted in the wound and struck a vital organ, but whatever the case is, he died, sure as day.

"That is the story, the truth behind this case! In this double death, the killers... were the victims themselves! Mina Ashido and Hanta Sero were the culprits the entire time!"

>Break!<

"So that's it, huh..." Mezou murmured. "We should begin voting, now."

Yaomomo half-expected there to be more opposition at the voting by the remaining members of the Bakusquad, like Eijirou had when she was about to start the Closing Argument. However, that wasn't the case.

Katsuki stared, uncharacteristically silent, at his feet, hands in his pockets. Eijirou defeatedly gazed at something on the railing of his podium, his crimson eyes glazed over. Denki's arms were wrapped around himself, and he subtly trembled, his eyes shut.

"Hey, um, Monokuma," Tooru spoke up, turning to the artificial bear. Monokuma perked up at her voice. "Since there are two killers... who do we vote for? We can't vote for two."

"Oh! I forgot to mention! In all double kills, vote for the killer of the first body discovered!" Monokuma grinned.

"Fine then," Yaomomo remarked. "Let's vote."

She stared down at her voting lever. She took it and pointed it at Hanta's podium, which was occupied by the sign with his X-ed out profile shot. Since Mina was discovered first... Hanta is the one to vote for.

The voting concluded, the machine was spun, and it landed on Hanta Sero with cheerful blinking lights and a short, happy victory tune.

>Class Trial : End!<

"Puhuhu! You were all right this time! How fun!" Monokuma smiled widely, baring his sharp little teeth.

"We were... right..." Eijirou murmured, eyes still glazed and fixed on nothingness. Katsuki's shadowed gaze was lowered. "Mina and Hanta... they did kill each other..."

"Yup!" Monokuma affirmed all-too-cheerily.

"Even them... two once-close friends... they fell into despair, and killed each other," Nejire remarked slowly, softly. Yaomomo wondered, in a flash of horror, if the Beauty Pageant Star was relating this revelation to her own friends, Tamaki and Mirio. She has a good point, but it's unlikely for those two to get into a fight and kill. It's just... different...

"Puhuhu! It's a Killing Game! Anything can happen!" Monokuma laughed sadistically. "Now then, it's time to get to the execution! I'm getting impatient, and there's nobody for the lot of you to yell at this time around!

"I have prepared a very special punishment for Hanta Sero, the Ultimate Arachnologist, and Mina Ashido, the Ultimate Dancer! Let's give it everything we've got! Iiiit's PUNISHMENT TIME!!!!"

***

>GAME OVER

Hanta Sero and Mina Ashido have been found guilty. Time for the punishment!<

The execution took place in the center of a large, bleak, yellow field. The grass was short and dry, wavering slightly in the faint artificial breeze. Above, the sky was a flickering projection, a vast sheet of dark indigo, speckled with artificial stars. The moon was nowhere to be seen; the only light in the chamber was the small set of streetlights in the corners.

Denki stiffly watched in horror as a podium rose into the center of the field. A large case sat atop it. Monokuma ran into the field and opened it with grandeur, sending up a plume of cold mist.

Inside the frozen case were two corpses, preserved by the low temperature. Hanta and Mina's dead bodies were deposited, dropped onto the grass before the open door. Monokuma shut the case and the podium lowered back into the ground.

>Hanta Sero and Mina Ashido's Execution: Feeding Time for the Creepy Crawlies!<

As Monokuma raced off the field and a couple of sleek metal claws reached in from the ceiling -which opened up-, Denki noticed the two stakes each about a meter to the left and right of the corpses. A claw plucked up Hanta's body and brought him to the left stake. The machinery effortlessly tied him up. The claws followed to do the same to Mina, tying her to the right stake.

As the technology retreated off of the field, the eeriness of the scene struck Denki with a pang. Two of his friends, now both dead, were tied to a pair of stakes in the middle of a silent field, a moonless night over their heads. Even the streetlights seemed to dim, casting only a blurry fog of light onto the killers' faces.

The field was silent. The room seemed to be holding its breath, before the horror truly began.

Beneath the left stake, out of the earth crawled what seemed like a million tiny spiders. The black wave swarmed over Hanta's body, crawling up his corpse. He became engulfed in a mass of skittering black arachnid bodies, devoured by the creatures he'd so passionately studied in his livelihood. Denki could practically hear the spiders munching away, at cloth, skin, bone, flesh...

He thought he was going to be sick.

The entire crowd of remaining students could only watch, eyes glued, horrified, as the speckled swarm of arachnids ate Hanta's corpse.

When the horrible things retreated, back into their home in the ground, there was absolutely nothing left on the stake.

The horror then quickly moved to Mina, whose whole corpse was still tied up on the right stake. A panel on the ceiling slid open, revealing a cage wall. The door clicked and fell open, allowing a murder of crows to fly into the field. The grimy black birds cawed and bore down upon Mina's corpse, landing on it.

The flock began pecking at the body. Between masses of feathers and shiny beaks and talons, Denki could see blossoming holes in Mina's clothes and patches of off-color flesh being revealed by the birds' incessant hunger.

Mina's body was demolished just like Hanta's, but agonizingly slower. Denki watched helplessly as the birds pecked at and fed on the corpse. How they could stand feeding upon a body that'd been dead for hours, he wasn't sure. Actually, when he thought about it, the creatures were both probably miniature Nomu, rather than actual animals; artificially created to do the villains' bidding.

When the crows retreated, flocking back into their cage in the ceiling, all that was left was a clean skeleton and scraps of purple fabric and blue ribbon on the ground from Mina's sailor outfit. The birds apparently had a smaller appetite compared to the spiders. Or they were just pickier.

The streetlights flashed slightly, casting their eerie light upon the two stakes -one standing alone, one bearing a figure of bones- before flickering out entirely, casting everyone in darkness.

The remaining students were beginning to react to the execution they'd just witnessed.

Several students screamed. Others huddled or fell to their knees in despair. Denki dearly hoped nobody would vomit quite so soon as a response, although his own stomach was flipping uncomfortably.

Some jumped to cling to each other for comfort. Denki felt someone hastily grab his arm out of panic, causing him to jump. He guessed it was Kyouka by her mild scent gracing his senses.

"Upupupu! Wasn't that just incredible?!" Monokuma laughed in the dim, causing a Denki to flinch. "Beautifully gruesome, huh, huh?"

"Y-y-you're a monster!" Yaomomo wailed. "To toy with their dead bodies like that..."

"Eh! It's all in the name of fun, right, Kurogiri?!" In the darkness, Denki's eyes landed on the bear's glowing red eye. Monokuma presumably turned to the Warp Gate man.

"Sure," Kurogiri replied. He opened a shimmering portal. "Come on, now, Monokuma. The trial and execution are over. Students, you are dismissed."

Monokuma grinned at the class before jumping through. Kurogiri closed it before warping himself. They both vanished.

The class began to silently, numbly, make their way to the elevator. Denki himself glanced back towards the dark field once more before re-entering the all-too-bright trial room.

Oh, Hanta, Mina...

Why were they the ones to fall to the villains?

The class boarded the elevator.

We've lost so many to this game already.

Tenya. Rikidou. Ochako. Kouji. Mina. Hanta.

And Yuga is free.

As Denki dragged his gaze over his classmates in the elevator, he thought sadly, In this unjust world, we all must cope in our own ways, it seems.

>Chapter 3: Third Time's a Pinky Promise : The End | Surviving Students : 18 | To Be Continued<

>Item obtained: Pair of Severed Horns<

>Item obtained: Brown and Orange Bandanna<

Chapter Text

"Hey, Pikachu?"

Denki jumped in his seat on the sofa, nearly dropping his English novel. He looked up, sweat immediately breaking out on his neck. He relaxed -only slightly- when he realized it was just Katsuki. The ash blonde was sitting next to Eijirou on a couch across the sitting area. The redhead's arm was draped over his boyfriend's shoulder, their thighs brushing.

The three remaining members of the Bakusquad were reading in the library together. It was a mere two days after Mina and Hanta's trial, and the horror of their execution was not finished with haunting Denki quite yet. He found himself unable to sleep at night, and when he did, he slipped into a fitful rest plagued by nightmares of spiders and crows and rotten corpses.

In addition to the night horrors, Denki found himself gnawing over the very nature of Mina and Hanta's deaths. They, two close friends, had turned on each other and murdered in cold blood.

He didn't know who to trust anymore.

Denki himself had been against Katsuki and Eijirou in the argument. He wasn't sure if they truly trusted him after Mina's crime. He noticed the slight, wary glances Eijirou gave him. He noticed Katsuki jumping to not be in the same room with him alone.

It was as if they were scared of him.

In actuality it's most certainly opposite...

"Wh-what?" Denki blinked, meeting Katsuki's steady gaze.

"You don't have to be so distant, y'know," Eijirou piped up. "Why don't you come over and join us? The past two days, all you've done is follow us. Are you scared? Because..." he paused. "Because we are too. It's okay, Denki."

Denki was surprised by the raw honestly of Eijirou's words. He had just admitted he was as frightened as he was, and that easily. Maybe he does trust me.

But that didn't mean Denki completely felt the same.

"Nah, I'm good. Thanks." Denki shut his book and set it on the table. "I'm thirsty. I'll be going to the cafeteria. See you guys later." He hastily took his leave, while consciously trying not to move too quickly.

He entered the cafeteria, moving to the beverage vending machine. He had found out, way back before Rikidou's death, that the machine didn't require any money to operate. You just had to punch in the numbers and the machine dispensed the item. Denki got himself a soda.

He tried not to be disturbed by the lower row of the vending machine. It had been empty back in the days when U.A. was operating as a school, but now, it dispensed bottles of poison and other deadly substances, like acid. None had been taken yet, since there were only one of each to begin with.

As he sat down on the half-wall to sip his drink, two more people entered the cafeteria, followed by a third, who bounced along behind them. The scene reminded Denki of his own relationship with Eijirou and Katsuki, albeit that was much gloomier.

"Hey, Denki!" Hitoshi's face split into a small smile as he spotted the electric blonde. Denki waved back, and he couldn't help but smile as well.

"Hello, Hitoshi, Mashirao, Tooru," Denki greeted the three in turn. Hitoshi and Mashirao approached him on the half wall and jumped up beside him. When Denki looked to the girl, he immediately realized something had changed about her appearance.

"Oh, Tooru," he exclaimed. "You dyed your hair!"

"It's just a highlight," she replied humbly. A streak of her black hair that draped down and brushed her cheek had been dyed bright pink. On second though, however, Denki decided that that color did remind him a bit too much of blood.

"A-Anyway, what are you guys here for?" Denki asked a little too loudly, jumping away from the thought of gore.

"Well, we were training together earlier," Hitoshi said. "And we got hungry. Mezou was there too, but he stayed to himself in one corner. When Mashi tried to approach him, he got angry and yelled at him to get lost."

Denki tried not to take note of the nickname. They've clearly gotten closer under these circumstances. In some ways, this game really is neat, bringing enemies together as friends.

But then again, it still is a Killing Game.

"That's cool. Hey, do you guys want to cook something together?" Denki suggested.

"That'd be nice. Let's make some of your fried fish. Both of us liked it," Mashirao said, gesturing at Hitoshi.

Tooru considered the offer. She was perched atop a table near the three boys. "I wasn't there when you guys last made it, but I'll give it a shot."

The four of them spent the rest of the afternoon together in the kitchen frying sardines, before experimenting with some octopus and clams as well. Denki was pretty sure Tamaki wouldn't like it when he found out they'd taken half of the tentacled cephalopods, but Monokuma would surely restock the food within a day, so it wasn't too bad.

Mashirao manned the stove. Hitoshi liked preparing and cleaning the seafood, and Denki took up setting the plates and gathering ingredients. Tooru ran around, not doing anything in particular but helping with random tasks as they suited her.

This could be nice, Denki decided as they ate the fruits of their labor in the cafeteria together afterwards. It could be nice to have friends like this.

***

Mezou huffed as he threw the weight over the hurdle. He could hear it crash into the wall on the other side, most likely sprouting yet another new hole in the cement surface, but he could care less. He'd been in the gym all day, as usual, training. He only left to occasionally get food and drink from the cafeteria. It was his way of... coping, per say.

He needed to distance himself from everyone else.

That way, nobody could touch him.

Nobody would ever be able to frame him again for anything. Never targeted, never hurt, staying alive. That was all he needed. He had to become stronger, to become strong enough to fight for himself.

Today, however, something had changed.

Someone was standing in the doorway of the gym. Mezou could tell by the blurry shadow they cast across the floorboards under the dimmed lights of the massive room. His head snapped up, and his hand immediately snatched a weight from a nearby rack in case he had to defend himself.

"Hello, there, Mezou. No need to be quite so on edge," Fumikage said, strolling into the gym, the tail of his black trench coat flapping ever so slightly by the backs of his knees as he walked. The shorter male was calm as an incoming storm, and Mezou hated it. He hated it for being like an insult to his own paranoia and distrust.

Fumikage was tranquil and patient, observant, in charge of his own head and thoughts. Mezou wasn't, and he couldn't stand it.

Mezou exhaled and turned back around, continuing with his weight-chucking from earlier. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Fumikage approach the javelin-throwing station the villains had set up since their infiltration of U.A.. Subtly, Mezou continued to observe.

The bird-headed male had a surprising knack for javelin throwing. His arm was steady, his release of the pole perfect. The pointed spearhead struck its mark every time.

The two trained by themselves, alone, for a few minutes, before suddenly, Fumikage turned and threw a javelin at Mezou.

Mezou whirled and raised a weight to deflect it, anger already boiling in his stomach for trusting Fumikage to not do anything entering a gym alone with Mezou, but the javelin's trajectory course easily curved, and it flew away from the multi-armed male without even brushing the weight. Anger morphing into confusion, Mezou turned on Fumikage, who casually leaned against the now-empty rack of javelins. The targets behind him were all covered in them; metal points impaled themselves in the cut-outs of human bodies, piercing the head, heart, and neck.

"You looked particularly tense, as if you were upset over something. I thought I'd loosen you up a little," he explained, as if expertly throwing a javelin at someone for it to miss by mere centimeters were as easy as breathing.

Mezou fumed. "If your idea of loosening up is nearly killing someone, you have issues. Want to be executed next?"

Fumikage smiled. "No, not really. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be. You'd think I'd be clever enough to not leave a single clue, hm?"

Mezou sighed. "Whatever you want." He turned and returned to weight chucking.

Fumikage seemed to pause and consider his options for what to do next. "Hey, Mezou," he said after a few breaths.

"What?" Mezou half-snapped. What does he want with me?

"You know, you're not weak. Ochako... I'm sure she only chose you because you were the most trustworthy."

"And? Trusting is a weakness."

Fumikage tilted his raven-feathered head. "Oh, really? Then we're all weak. You, Mirio, Yaomomo, Hitoshi, me, everyone. We trusted. We trust each other, and that empowers us, makes us strong."

"And look where that trust has gotten us. I trusted Ochako, right? And she used me like a puppet. Rikidou trusted her too, and he's dead. Kouji trusted Yuga enough to to not run away when he entered that library, right? And Mina and Hanta once trusted each other, but they wound up killing each other in the end." Mezou laughed, but it was bitter. A bitter, sad laugh. "Trust makes you strong, my ass! You'd wind up dead before it did that."

"But turn away from the cases and the murder. Remember, before this all happened. In that training exercise on our first day at U.A., Ochako and Izuku trusted each other to do their jobs properly. In the attack on the training camp, I trusted you and Izuku to save me from Dark Shadow.

"And even now... I trusted Yaomomo and Hanta to investigate crime scenes with me. They trusted me to investigate the bodies properly. And we've successfully solved two cases already. And... for some reason, I trust you. I trust that you won't kill someone, wouldn't kill someone after what happened with Ochako."

When Fumikage finished speaking, his words hanging in the air over Mezou's head, the questions under his monologue were clear. Does that comfort you at all? Will you let me in?

Will you trust me, too?

Mezou considered this. He considered Fumikage's words, considered Fumikage himself.

"I trust you. I trust that you won't kill someone."

It was that that sold Mezou to say what he did next.

"Thank you, Fumikage. I guess... I'll try to trust you, too."

Fumikage's eyes widened ever so slightly, before he allowed a small smile to slide onto his face, the corners of his beak gliding upwards. It was like he was trying to say, That's good to hear.

The two trained into the night together. Mezou didn't know anyone could ever do quite so much with a javelin, nor did Fumikage likely know quite how strong the Heavylifter was becoming with all his secluded training over the days in the school.

They walked back to their dorms together that night. Mezou hadn't done that in a long while, not since before Rikidou's death.

When they passed Fumikage's dorm, Mezou took a moment to wave goodnight to him.

He hadn't done that in a long time, either.

Chapter Text

"Are you really sure this is a good idea, Mirio?" Tamaki asked downcastedly, trailing slowly behind his charismatic boyfriend as they trudged down to the cafeteria. They'd just finished distributing his and Tsuyu's notes to the entire class; the frog girl in question had also joined the rounds, as she now strolled along beside Mirio.

"Hey, don't worry so much, Tamaki! Remember how it went last time. It'll be fine!" Mirio turned to flash Tamaki a sunny grin that immediately engulfed him in its bubbly warmth.

It was enough to pierce the haze clouding his mood, if only for just a moment.

"Yeah! Worrying is bad for your health, Tamaki," Nejire added. It was one of her signature bursts of cheerful advice, but for some reason, it lacked her usual flair. It lacked her cheer and light, and Tamaki didn't like it.

When he turned to glance at the girl flanking him, he immediately noticed the glazed expression in her eyes and her disheveled look in general. The faint bags under her eyes appeared to have been attempted to be covered by a hasty layer of concealer. Her unbrushed, unstyled blue hair was naturally wavy and slightly tangled. Her previously snug dress was now sagging in places, as if she'd lost some weight. Worry washed over him again, much against Nejire's wish of improvement on his already dropping mental health.

"Anyway, what's the worst this could do?" Tsuyu commented offhandedly without looking back.

The four of them made their way to the cafeteria in silence after that. Mirio settled at his usual place at the table. Tamaki sat down to his right, rested his head on his arm, and waited for people to arrive.

He casually rested his free left hand on the chair edge next to him, his pinky subtly extended from his ring finger. Mirio blinked, noticed, and smiled, reaching down to intertwine his right pinky with Tamaki's. His gentle touch grounded him, pinpointed his focus on Mirio and Mirio alone, instead of thinking in circles about everything that could go wrong and had already gone to shit over the past few weeks.

Even if the windows were barricaded in this hellscape, Tamaki still had a sun in his bleak little world.

It took about ten minutes for everyone to show up, including Katsuki and Eijirou, surprisingly. Once the last person sat down, Mirio stood up to speak, letting go of Tamaki. His hand was achingly cold without the rays of sunshine brushing it.

"Hello everyone! I have gathered you all today to discuss what to do going forward!" Mirio began cheerfully.

"What do you mean by that?" Shouto questioned amidst the murmuring that erupted from the table at those words.

"I mean what we should do now. We still have to get out of here, to honor our friends. I was thinking that we should continue with our escape efforts, but we need to first discuss what to actually do. We've already tried a lot of things that all didn't work," Mirio explained. "So, any ideas?"

The class was silent for a moment. Then-

"I think I have something that can help," Mei said. "I'm working on a little device. It's a surprise!~ A work in progress, but it should be able to get us out of here if it does what I want it to!"

A rustle of oohs and quiet celebratory murmurs rose from the students at Mei's words. Mirio gave Mei an excited smile. "That's fantastic! While you're working on that, I think we should try some other stuff too, though. Any more ideas?"

"The villains watching us is a concern," Yaomomo spoke up. "How about we tamper with the cameras? If we're not allowed to, Monokuma would likely appear to just stop us, so it's not exactly unsafe."

"Another problem is the door," Hitoshi said. "It's unopenable, but we could attempt to break it. Mezou, you could try bashing some weights into it, right?"

Mezou met Hitoshi's stare evenly, considering the request, before nodding. "I suppose, yes."

"And remember all that techy stuff on the door? Denki, you're an electrician, right? Maybe there's some secret lock that you could deactivate," Nejire suggested.

"Oh! U-Umm, sure, yeah, I'll try," Denki spluttered.

"Is that all?" Mirio asked. Emboldened by the prospect of escape, the class nodded. "Alright! Then let's get to work! Split up into groups, please!"

Tsuyu left to join Izuku and Shouto. Nejire and Tamaki both stuck by Mirio. "I guess it's the three of us, huh?" He smiled. "I was actually thinking of another thing we could do. We should investigate the principal's office. No reason why, but I think it may prove useful."

"Sounds reasonable enough," Tamaki murmured. The three made their way down immediately.

Entering the principal's office, Tamaki glimpsed Mezou, Denki, Fumikage, Mashirao, Tooru, and Hitoshi working on the door. The three slipped into the office without a word. The group of six appeared to be entirely focused on what appeared to be a keypad on the door, anyway. And besides, any means of avoiding social interaction with the lowerclassmen was fine for Tamaki.

Upon entering the office, Mirio began giving instructions. "So... I'll take the desk, Tamaki can take the right shelves, and Nejire can take the left shelves. Is that okay?" Tamaki and Nejire nodded. "Great! Let's get to work, then."

Tamaki approached the right shelf. It consisted of a variety of binders and folders. He immediately began pulling things from it and examining them. The first binder he picked out consisted of some financial things for the school, for everything from food to electricity to water. Interesting, yes. Helpful? No. Tamaki put it back.

He continued shuffling through the binders, trying not to think about anything that may worry him or frighten him; instead, he was opting to focus on the papers and words swirling in front of his eyes. He worked in peace for a few minutes before someone said something behind him, startling him out of his skin for a moment.

"Um, Tamaki?"

The ravenette in question jumped and whirled around, only to see it was Nejire.

"Oh, uh, sorry," she said sheepishly. The stuttering was unlike her, Tamaki noted. "I just wanted to ask if you were okay. You've been even jumpier than usual since the game began, since the... the deaths began occurring." The concern in her voice was genuine, and Tamaki appreciated the gesture, but he still felt uncomfortable with Nejire's over-observant nature.

"I'm fine," Tamaki quickly said. As Nejire continued staring at him though, obviously disbelieving. He didn't elaborate. There was no way he could tell her how the game was gnawing away at his mind, the fear of death and loneliness hanging in front of his eyes at any given moment. He liked the girl, he really did, but Mirio was his comfort, his support beacon, someone who made him feel safe. Back then, in school, he would have loved to hide behind the bluette as well. Now, when he looked at Nejire, all he saw was someone he had to protect.

He slipped the file he'd been investigating back onto the shelf, opting to tackle that one of his anxieties, just this one time. "More importantly, are you okay?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Nejire asked, playing dumb. As if her hair weren't a mess and her eyes weren't dull and she hadn't lost weight.

"You know what I mean," Tamaki retorted softly. "You look terrible. Especially ever since Hanta and Mina's trial. Are you okay? You can talk to us too, you know."

At this point the conversation had caught Mirio's attention, as he got up from his work on the desk. "Yeah, Nejire. I gotta say, you have been acting funny for a while now. Your secrets are safe with us, you know."

Nejire looked, almost panickedly, from Tamaki to Mirio. Realizing she'd been cornered, she seemed to deflate, slumping down. "F-Fine. I guess... it wouldn't hurt to talk about it once, right?

"It's... the deaths, first Ochako, then Mina.... I watched them die, and I couldn't do a thing about it." Nejire paused, uncertain, staring at her hands. "You know why I've always loved being so curious? Because the more you know about someone, the more you can help them. That's what a hero does, right?" She said softly, her voice shaky.

Tamaki stared at her, surprised. He had always just assumed she was curious because she liked interacting with people and just had that irrepressible urge to know all and hear all. But no. It'd always, always been so much more meaningful than that. Tamaki internally slapped himself for being so simple-minded.

"And yet, I've failed," Nejire continued, clenching her hands into fists against her chest, "a-at my only task... and they were my friends, too. I sh-should've known th-them best, a-and I didn't! I DIDN'T! I f-failed them... I'm just a h-horrible friend... and a failure of a h-hero..!" Nejire's explanation quickly devolved into venting and sobs as she went on. She fell down to her knees and settled on the floor, crying into her hands, her waterfall of sky-blue hair framing her tiny figure.

Mirio rushed forward to comfort her, with Tamaki following suit. "It's okay, Nejire," the former soothed, setting a hand on her shoulder. "None of us could've done anything to prevent what happened. You're not alone."

"B-But... I could've at least tried, or been a bit more observant, and then- and then-" Nejire sobbed.

"I-It's okay," Tamaki murmured, crouching beside her to rub her back. "It's not your fault alone. We all could've been a bit more observant, a bit more sensitive. We're all in the same boat."

It took a while to calm down Nejire enough. When she finally stopped, she sniffled and said, "I- I think I'm fine now."

Mirio gave her his trademark sunshine smile. "If you'd like to help our friends, you just have to do your best, okay? Even if it doesn't go perfectly, at least you tried, right?" She nodded pitifully. "Do you want to keep investigating?"

Nejire looked up, forcing a smile onto her red, tear-stained face. "Yeah."

The three continued to investigate for a while, until Nejire stumbled upon something in a folder labeled CONFIDENTIAL.

"Hey... guys, come look at this."

Mirio and Tamaki immediately rushed to huddle over her.

"It's... a map." Mirio took the sheet from Nejire's hands. "A blueprint-style map... of..."

"The vents," Tamaki murmured, reading the text blocks around the images. The vents were split into sections, labeled by letter. Vent A1. Vent A2. Vent B. Vent C. Vent C-side. It was all so confusing, and yet, so useful. The entire layout of the ventilation system was here, at their disposal.

"This is... seriously important info. It could get all of us in a ton of trouble if we let this get out," Nejire murmured.

"So we don't. We safekeep it," Tamaki suggested.

"Yeah. That's a good idea. How about... Mirio, you take it." Nejire said to the blonde.

Mirio was slightly surprised. "Me? Ah... okay, then." He folded it and tucked it in his pocket.

"Just don't let anyone find out, okay?" Nejire reaffirmed.

"Not a single soul. I promise."

Chapter Text

"Hey, Tsuyu, can you pass me that wooden rice spoon?"

Tsuyu turned to Kyouka and gave her the item in question. "Thanks!" The Musician ran off again, hurrying to help Denki with the fried rice. It was the most energetic she'd seen her be in a long time.

The entire class was having a feast together for dinner. Tsuyu was in charge of making little fruit pastries, staying in the one corner of the huge kitchen with her baking supplies. She slipped on her gloves and took the final pan of pastries out of the oven, transferring the soft, small cookies onto the cooling rack. She then began icing and filling the previous batch, which was now cooled enough to not melt the icing.

"Is this your way of remember Ochako and Rikidou?" Fumikage questioned as he approached her. For once, he wasn't wearing his leather gloves, and his sleeves were pulled up. He was in charge of the barbecue with Mezou. They've been getting along recently, I think.

Tsuyu supposed she did choose the job of baking pastries in respect to the bakers. Heck, she hadn't even helped Ochako with baking the first time they'd had a feast, way back before Rikidou's death.

Yet now, with the pink-splattered figures of Ochako and Rikidou at the edges of her sight and Yuga's blurry face melting into oblivion within the oven's flames, she realized he was absolutely right. "Yeah. Sort of," Tsuyu replied idly without glancing up from her work filling a creme puff.

Fumikage continued standing there, observing her work for a few moments, before turning away to return to Mezou, who was covering another grill of chicken and beef with sauce.

After about a half hour of preparing and table setting, the feast was in full swing. The lineup of their seats at the table had shifted, since they'd lost so many classmates that it'd be depressing for people to sit with chairs between them. Tsuyu sat between Mirio and Izuku. She silently ate her barbecue and fried rice and observed her classmates.

Mezou and Fumikage sat together. Mezou was chatting with the shorter boy, who ate while listening intently and replying when needed. They're really getting along, huh?

Katsuki and Eijirou were sitting especially close together, bumping each other's shoulders. The shark-toothed male was jokingly attempting to feed Katsuki, who was less than cooperative.

Tsuyu had expected Denki -the last remaining member of their group- to be with them, but no; Denki was sitting between Kyouka and Hitoshi; the latter was sharing fried rice with Mashirao. Tooru sat a short distance away from the trio, excitedly chatting with Mei about her invention.

Kyouka was smiling and sitting pressed up next to Denki. He too was especially happy. Yaomomo was on her friends' other side, watching from a distance and careful not to intervene. There was a glimmer of relief in her eyes; Kyouka had been acting off earlier in the week, and it was nice that she now had Denki to ground her.

However, even despite her new buddy-buddy, Tsuyu could see the glaze in her eyes, as if she were still distracted, her mind in another galaxy of sorts. Denki was a bit too high in cloud nine at the moment to tell, though, much to Tsuyu's dismay.

Next to Yaomomo was Nejire. However, she was more focused on her closer two friends, Tamaki and Mirio. The golden trio appeared to be content. Nejire was chuckling, amused by her friends' antics. Tamaki was flanked by both of his friends, so he appeared somewhat comfortable. Mirio was joking and keeping up the mood. The same as usual. They're always happier together than apart.

Finally, there was Izuku and Shouto, who were to Tsuyu's left. Izuku was leaning against Shouto, talking softly. Tsuyu tilted her head, observing the two. Izuku seemed... almost subdued, his movements smaller. He winced if he moved a little too sharply or exerted a bit too much muscular strength, relying instead on Shouto for strength.

But despite his strange behavior, Izuku's eyes didn't lose their blossoming light. Actually, he seemed even happier, even, now with his closest friend at his side, alive and well.

They're all seeing hope... finally...

And behind them... Tsuyu thought she could see the rest of her class there, too. There was Tenya and Ochako weaving around Shouto and Izuku, both of their clothes soaked with blood and their eyes filled with tears; whether sad or happy or pained, Tsuyu did not know.

And there was Rikidou, hovering by and dripping thick, blackened liquid out of his punctured neck, and Kouji, his skin burnt and ashen, oozing thick blood out of the many cracks caused by the dryness and heat of flame- both were content to merely observe as well. The Animal Tamer was smiling as he watched Kyouka and Denki, who were now calmly talking, a consistent giggle edging the male's voice. The small upwards curve of Kyouka's lips betrayed her warm affections for the boy she so often said was infuriating and annoying in the past.

A fuzzy apparition of Yuga was present, but he was trapped against the wall of the room. The flames fluttering behind him and his unblinking stare forced her to look away.

Mina and Hanta were there, too. Two zombie-like spirits with hollow eyes hovering over Katsuki and Eijirou, smiling with their living companions.

Our class...

Tsuyu stared at her visions of the deceased, the world fogging around her as she focused on them and tried to ground them. However, her efforts were to no avail; one by one, they dissolved. Even Yuga, who so often remained to haunt her, vanished in a mere blink of an eye.

I once said I'd remember all of you...

Tenya, Ochako, Rikidou, Kouji, Mina, Hanta...

I intend to keep that promise.

~~~

"You know, so much has changed here," Nejire said, stirring sugar into her tea with a petite silver spoon.

"Yeah," Yaomomo murmured absently.

The girls were having tea together that very same evening, after dinner. The only one missing was Mei. She had been determined to stay in the lab and work on her mystery device, and was so passionate about it that Yaomomo and Tsuyu allowed her to stay.

"I know this is tea, and toasts aren't exactly suited for such a beverage, but... for Ochako and Mina." Yaomomo raised her cup.

"For Ochako and Mina." The girls solemnly toasted tea to their two beloved friends, both of whom had been killed at the stake. When Tsuyu gazed upon their five hands, their five cups clinging together, the image flickered, and for a moment she thought she could see two more; there was a hand that was ringed by a pale, blood-soaked cuff, and another that was pink skinned, dull, and zombie-like.

But when she blinked, her eyes flickering down to see the bodies and faces attached to those ghostly hands, they were gone once more. She shook herself and lowered her cup with the others to take a sip.

"We've all been through a lot at this point... but, somehow, I still sort of am enjoying myself. Is that strange?" Kyouka asked, her voice soft. Despite her words, Tsuyu still felt as if the Musician were a thousand miles away; so distant, yet so present all at the same time.

"Nah, it's fine!" Tooru reassured, sipping tea. "Living together, working together to a common goal, it's all pretty nice, to be honest."

"While this is a truly terrible thing to happen, it's also a bonding experience," Yaomomo elaborated. "And to just hang out like this... it's nice, isn't it?"

"Yeah." Kyouka stared into her tea. Yaomomo gave her a concerned look, her relief from earlier gone now that Denki was no longer present and Kyouka had gone directly back to being distant.

"Anyway, it'll be all fine soon, I hope. We're so close to getting out of here, now, with Mei's invention and whatnot. So it'll all be fine soon!" Nejire said, always trying to be optimistic.

Hope.

That's all... we just have to have hope. Hope that we'll all escape, together.

Hope, hope, hope...

...but do we really have hope?

Do any of us... Yaomomo, Kyouka, Nejire, Tooru, Mei... have hope?

Do I?

I don't think I know anymore.

Chapter Text

"Help! Help!"

Yaomomo whirled around in the kitchen, Denki and the Big Three at her side. They'd been in the process of making breakfast when Izuku burst into the room, sweating and red-faced. His jade eyes were wide and wild.

"I-Izuku?!" Denki yelped, looking nearly as afraid as Izuku was at the moment. "What happened?!"

"Ah- body- gym- go..." Izuku promptly fainted, crumpling to the ground in a daze. A moment later, Shouto suddenly raced into the kitchen after his friend.

"How is he moving so- Oh god, he fainted." Shouto looked up to meet the confused, frightened stares of the other students. "Listen to him. The gym... something bad must've happened there. I ran into him as he was bolting up the stairs."

He was less obvious about his fear, but Yaomomo could tell by his wide eyes and shaking figure. She turned and met eyes with Denki before running out the room. "H-Hey, wait up!" Nejire called, hurrying to stumble after them.

Yaomomo dashed down the stairs and down the hallway with Denki, Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire hot at her heels. Her heart was in her throat and pounding like a sledgehammer against her chest. Not again... who could it be? Who could it possibly be this time?!

And as she rounded the corner, she saw it. She'd been expecting it, of course, from Izuku and Shouto's warnings.

But even with that in mind, nothing could've prepared her for the horrific scene on the floor before her.

A body, lying in a pool of blood.

A mass of glistening organs sprawling out of the gash down his front; a slick, sac-like stomach, a dark liver, slimy, deflated lungs, a tangled esophagus, and crimson muscle all lying on the floor, soaked in blood, slashed, crushed, and spilling out their acidic contents.

A human heart, ripped from the boy's chest, torn and lying in front of his eyes, his crimson eyes, which glared with such vicious, white-hot, reckless rage at something in front of him that was long gone.

A disemboweled body, drowning in his own blood...

"...wh-wha-?!"

Yaomomo was at a loss for words. Something sickening was spiraling through her body, coursing through her veins, sending her own stomach flipping and her insides churning. The hot, rank tang of vomit threatened to make its appearance at the back of her throat.

"A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, which you may use however you like, the class trial will begin!" The body discovery announcement played overheard, but Yaomomo ignored it. Her gaze was glued to the corpse before her.

It's him... him.

The eyes were what gave it away. Only one person could have such hateful crimson eyes.

Katsuki. The Porcupine Bomber...

I've wanted him gone since the second trial. He killed so many...

...so why don't I feel satisfied that he is dead?

Why am I sad that he had been murdered in cold blood?

A silence fell over the group. A silence as they tried to comprehend the horror of the mess before them.

"I'll... go... tell the others..." Nejire staggered off, her voice faint. When Yaomomo ripped her eyes away from the body to look at her, her steps were shaky and her skin pale. She looked like she was going to be sick. Hell, all of the students present looked like they were.

"I'll go with her..." Tamaki rushed to follow her, unable to continue to look at the bloodsoaked body. His eyes were wide with a gripping, cold fear, with blistering anxiety that ate away his brain. "M-Mirio... come on..." The blonde in question didn't follow him, instead stiffly staring at the corpse with wide eyes.

>Investigation : Start!<

"L-Look... He's propped against the door..." Denki choked out.

Yaomomo looked up. He was right. Looking beyond the body, it was lying against the pull-open door, making it impossible to open it without moving the corpse. "If we're to investigate, the room the body is blocking may be a good starting point," Yaomomo agreed slowly.

Denki swiftly turned a rather ill shade of green at what she was implying. "H-hold on, I... think I need to go to the bathroom." He hastily ran off, leaving Yaomomo and Mirio alone together with the corpse.

"W-Well..." Mirio stumbled over his words. "He's right. The gym may have clues that are hidden. Look at the smeared blood pool around him... it looks like he's been dragged."

Yaomomo followed his finger. Sure enough, there were drag marks through the pooling blood around his body. "Then we'll have to report that and move the body. We can't wait; investigation time is beginning," she said grimly, swallowing the bile in her throat. "Help me, Mirio."

The two of them reluctantly and gingerly managed to slide the body around, so that it now laid perpendicular to the set of doors. Thankfully, the organs were somehow still attached to their host. Yaomomo wiped some of the blood on her fingers onto her skirt and opened the gym door.

And when she did-

...no.

No, no, no, no, no, no...

It can't be... no, not her, not her, no, NO!

Yaomomo threw the door behind her in a panicked haste and stumbled forward, staggering over to it in an attempt to possibly deny the most obvious truth before her.

There was another body.

It was disemboweled in roughly the same fashion. Her chest was untouched, but below her ribs, there was a wide cut, allowing the red and pink heaps of mucus-coated tissue membrane that were her organs to spill out and onto the floor. A tangled mass of intestines framed her slashed, deflated, dark stomach. Blood covered her clothes.

Her slashed clothing confirmed her gender to be female, although that wouldn't have been necessary, since her hair was not slicked back and her face untouched, so her identity was out in the open.

Her expression was positively terrified, her eyes wide and mouth slightly open, as if she'd been surprised.

No... Yaomomo fell to her knees before her friend's body. She was like a gruesome piece of artwork, framed in a canvas of blood.

Why her..?

The girl's short, choppy hair swept over her forehead. Her earlobe jacks lay around her like trailing wires, trailing bloodstained wires.

Kyouka... Kyouka Jirou. My friend...

Why did it have to be her?

Her, her, her...

A choked sob ripped itself free from Yaomomo's throat. She crumpled forward, her hands falling right into the pool of blood. The substance was drying; it was cool and sticky to the touch, covering Yaomomo's hands with her own friend's life.

And... and who- who could've done such a horrible thing?

Which of our classmates could be so cruel in their double murder?

...

...

...

"Yaomomo. Yaomomo. Hey, Yaoyorozu, wake up!"

Yaomomo blinked and snapped out of her thoughts to someone shaking her shoulders from behind. Thoughts of Kyouka. Wondering who could've done this and why.

"Wh-What? What happened?" She looked up to meet Shouto's steady, dark eyes.

"The entire class is here now. You have to clean up your hands, too, it seems," he stated. "Come on. Fumikage is waiting for you. Investigation is starting."

"Aren't you at all fazed by these bodies?" Yaomomo asked, her voice a mere pitiful, soft whimper. She wanted to be comforted, to be told Kyouka wasn't dead, to be told this was all a dream.

Of course, that wasn't going to happen. Shouto lowered his voice, eyes darting to the side for a moment, as if checking to make sure he wasn't being listened to. "I am. I just can't let it show. I have to stay strong." He met Yaomomo's silver gaze. "They still look up to me, you know," he said. "I'm still a top student, spare for the Big Three, and you are too. Keep it together. Denki and Hitoshi and a lot of people still look up to you, just like how Izuku relies on me when these times get rough. So be there for them, okay?"

Yaomomo held her gaze evenly with Shouto's. Okay. Listen to Shouto. Keep it together.

"Okay," she said. Shouto allowed her to get up and step away from the body, before handing her a wet towel. She gratefully took it and cleaned off the sticky blood from her hands.

Grieve for Kyouka after this. After the trial...

I have to do this for her. To find her -and Katsuki's- killer...

Yaomomo turned in place and simply watched Fumikage hunched in front of Kyouka's disemboweled corpse, checking over the corpse. She tried not to look at the horrible mess of blood and tiny bits of- were those nerves?- something on his gloves.

"Um, where is the Monokuma File?" Yaomomo attempted to break the near awkward silence, as well as to distract herself.

"Ah, I took it, when Monokuma came around earlier. Here you go." Shouto handed Yaomomo the tablet.

'Case IV

Victims: Katsuki Bakugou and Kyouka Jirou

Fatal Wounds: Kyouka appears to have died from a pierced heart, and Katsuki from a heart attack.

Other Wounds: Both Kyouka and Katsuki's bodies are heavily disemboweled.'

"H-Heart attack?" Yaomomo read over that line again to make sure she wasn't hallucinating or something. "What does it mean, Katsuki died from a heart attack?"

"We don't know," Shouto said. "Maybe when Fumikage investigates his body next, it'll become clearer."

That's awfully optimistic, Yaomomo thought inwardly, tucking away the File. "What have you found so far?"

"Not much," Fumikage said. "She's been completely disemboweled. Opening up her chest, there's a small, clean piercing right over where the heart is, which is the fatal wound. Some of her organs are slashed or crushed.

"It's certainly likely for the killer to have stabbed her heart before moving on to the other organs." He sighed. "This sure is messy," he added quietly, and gently attempted to shift all of Kyouka's innards back into her body. Yaomomo tried not to gag.

"There's not much to learn," Shouto said. "All of the organs below her ribs have been slashed. The Monokuma File could be right or wrong."

"What do you mean by that?" Yaomomo questioned.

"I have a theory," Shouto said. Befitting of his title. "Since the File states 'it appears', there is a possibility that what appears to be is not the truth. How do Monokuma -and in turn, the villains- create the File? They watch the murder through the surveillance cameras. If it had been internal, it is possible what appeared to kill her from the outside did not actually."

"Well," Yaomomo murmured. "That's... complicated."

"It is," Shouto replied. "But it's definitely possible."

Yaomomo decided to consider Shouto's words. It could come in handy during the trial and be a determining factor in success, or it could be a hindrance and confuse everyone. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to try. If the theory was wrong, then it's wrong, and the trial could progress.

"I'm done here," Fumikage suddenly spoke up. He had stood up, gloves covered in blood. "Nothing interesting with her insides."

Yaomomo forced herself to glance down at Kyouka's body. Fumikage had dutifully rearranged Kyouka's insides back where they rightfully belonged, and she was rolled over onto her back so that they wouldn't fall back out, but the gash in her abdomen was unhidable. Yaomomo quickly looked away, unable to stare at her best friend's organs, open to the world when they never should've been seen.

Try as she refused to admit it, Yaomomo knew the world was still moving onwards even as Kyouka wasn't. A black feather -Fumikage's, presumably- was already half buried in the substance, a sign of life still being present all around her. It made Yaomomo feel a little sick.

"I'm moving on to Katsuki's autopsy," Fumikage said. "Care to join me?"

"Um, I'll check back later for the results," Yaomomo said a little too quickly. Shouto merely sighed and followed Fumikage to check on Katsuki.

Yaomomo guiltily turned away from Kyouka's body. I'm sorry... it's just too much. I can't bear looking at you, at your terrified expression, at your dead corpse.

I hope that's okay, Kyouka.

She decided to merely investigate the rest of the gym, perhaps for clues. There'd been plenty in and around the scene of the crime last time, after all, with the bookbags and missing sedative.

However, as she scoured the gym, nothing seemed out of place. As she hovered by the weights station, however, Yaomomo noticed something on the floor. She crouched to pick it up.

A... dart?

She flipped it over in her hand, inspecting it, when something in her peripheral vision caught her eye.

There was something behind the vent cover.

A dash of pink...

A bloodstain.

Yaomomo looked around swiftly. In her bout of panic, she wondered if she'd found a third body. After all, it's not like she'd checked if every other student were present in the investigation. "Tsuyu! Mirio! Come here, quickly!" she called.

The two hope enthusiasts raced across the gym to her. "What is it, Yaomomo?" Tsuyu asked, her voice shaky. In fact, her entire body was shaking. She obviously wasn't taking the disemboweled bodies on the scene very well.

"Th-There's a bloodstain... behind the vent cover..." Yaomomo said, her voice trailing off as she realized, slightly shamefully, that she was scared. Scared of what was in that vent.

Mirio met her gaze and nodded. "Yeah, I'll take it." He walked over and ripped off the vent door. He looked inside. Yaomomo held her breath.

"There's some stuff in here. Come and take a look before I take it out," Mirio said. Yaomomo let out a strained sigh of relief. Phew. There wasn't a third body. How silly of me, in hindsight. People would've been in a frenzy if someone was missing.

She crouched down as Mirio stood up and peeked inside. Within the dark confines of the vent, she could make out smudged blood stains. The trail led down the vent, disappearing into the darkness.

She stood back up, allowed Tsuyu to look. "Oh, and Tsuyu," she said as the frog girl stood up, having evidently seen nothing new. "Look, I found this on the floor, by the weights." Yaomomo held up the dart she'd found.

Tsuyu took it from her. "It's a dart... and there appears to be some type of liquid on it." She carefully rubbed her finger on the tip of the dart. It came off with a slight amount of slick. She sniffed at it. "Poison," she said grimly.

"Poison..?" Yaomomo asked nervously. A poison dart? Why is it here?

"Strange... a poison dart?" Tsuyu murmured.

"Hey, guys, there's something else in the vent, hold on-" Mirio had crouched down again, staring down the vent. He stuck his arm in and attempted to reach for it, but to no avail. He groaned and backed out. "There's something in there, but it's been flung down the vent. I can't reach it. I can only see it because the light from this opening is reflecting off of it."

"Then the only way to get it is to go inside. Except you won't fit, Mirio, no offense," Yaomomo said. "I'm not sure about me, either... I think I'll get stuck."

"Then I'll do it," Tsuyu spoke up. She looked up at the taller students with a sort of scared determination. Yaomomo could see she was still shaking and her voice trembled. Her eyes glittered with fear, her body anything but steady, but her words were bold. "I'm the smallest person in the class, so I'm gonna go get it."

She didn't wait for Yaomomo or Mirio to protest and clambered in. Yaomomo could barely hear her crawling through. Of course. She's lighter than Fumikage, when he crawled in, and she's used to doing this type of thing in her frog form, so she's obviously going to be quieter.

After about half a minute she scrambled hastily back out with something in her hand. She got up, handed it to Mirio to inspect, and brushed herself off, skittering behind and between her taller classmates.

"It's a flask of poison," Mirio stated, spinning it around once before handing it to Yaomomo. She took it carefully and stared at the contents. Translucent light purple liquid was inside the small container. There was a narrow spout at the top with a lid that could easily be popped open with a flick of the finger.

The spout's perfect for dipping the dart in...

"Let's keep this all here on the mat," Mirio suggested. Yaomomo and Tsuyu complied, and they placed the dart and flask on top of it.

"I think Fumikage should be nearly through with the autopsy," Tsuyu said. "Let's go check on him."

The trio went into the hallway, where Eijirou, Tamaki, Nejire, and Shouto watched Fumikage dissect Katsuki. Yaomomo noticed that Fumikage had since re-fluffed up Katsuki's now-pink hair, so he looked more like himself than before. A wide pool of drying blood surrounded his body.

"So far, it's just like Kyouka's. Slashed organs. Disembowelment," Fumikage said as he heard them approach. "Nothing too special. I'm wrapping up now."

"W-Wait! Let me see," Eijirou suddenly blurted out, his eyes glimmering with tears. Tamaki was gazing at him silently, sympathy warm in his eyes. "I just- want to see him again. And- and make sure he's really dead a-and gone and all that... stuff..."

"Eijirou. I really do hate to be insensitive, but his heart is laying detached from his body, right here in my hand," Fumikage stated dryly, holding up the vital organ from his place kneeled by the body. Yaomomo nearly choked on the bitter bile rising in her throat and turned away. Tsuyu lowered her gaze to her shoes. Nejire gagged, the sound muffled behind her hands.

"C-Come on, just let me!" Eijirou protested. Fumikage sighed and shuffled back against the wall.

Eijirou took Fumikage's place in front of the body, staring down at his boyfriend's ripped open body. His eyes dragged over the corpse, over and over, disbelieving and full of grief each and every time.

For a long couple of a dragged out seconds, he was silent. But then-

"Hey, um, Fumikage?" Eijirou spoke up in a small, shaky voice.

"What?"

"Um, what's this?" Eijirou pointed at something in the body. Fumikage got up and reapproached it. He knelt down and reached in to fumble with something. Judging by the horrible squelch this action caused, Yaomomo guessed he had moved an organ to remove the object of Eijirou's curiosity.

After what seemed like a prolonged breath, Fumikage pulled out his hand. In his pink, slick grasp was a blood-covered tube. He rubbed at it with his sleeve. "It's a syringe," he noted slowly. Yaomomo gingerly skirted around the corpse and leaned over to peer into his palm. Sure enough, there was a blood-splashed medical needle atop his pink-stained leather glove.

"A- A syringe was hidden within Katsuki's body?" Eijirou stared at the object. "Why would that be?"

"Probably the killer's," Tamaki said grimly. "They used it somehow... and hid it in the body."

"We'll look into it later," Fumikage said. He tucked it into his pocket, apparently not minding the inevitable blood stain to follow.

"There's still time left in investigation," Shouto spoke up. "And there's something I personally would still like to hear."

"What?" Yaomomo turned to the heterochronous male.

"Accounts. In Ochako's case, her account was a major mislead. In Yuga's case, there were next to no accounts, and that was the case we failed. And in Mina and Hanta's case, Nejire's account attributed to finding Mina suspicious. Perhaps this case will be the same," Shouto explained.

Fumikage nodded in consent. "It's a good idea. Let's share our own first before seeking the others'."

"Personally, I've got nothing of interest. I was heading downstairs from my dorm when I ran into Izuku in the stairway, and the rest is history," Shouto said. "Yaomomo? I know you were close friends with Kyouka."

"Well... ever since Mina and Hanta's case, I have to admit, she's been acting odd. Quiet. Never talking, looking down, as if deep in thought. When she started dating Denki, I thought she would be okay..." Yaomomo's heart dropped into her stomach at the thought. "Maybe if I'd done something, she wouldn't be dead..."

"It's not your fault, Yaomomo," Mirio soothed. "None of us could've done anything to prevent a murderer from choosing her as one of their targets. If you were at fault, then all of us would be."

"What about Katsuki?" Fumikage diverted the topic. Maybe it was because he knew they were likely short on time, or maybe it was to distract Yaomomo from thinking about Kyouka. Either way, she was grateful.

"Katsuki... he's been normal." As normal as a mass-murderer could've been. "He appeared barely externally affected by Mina and Hanta's deaths. He's become even closer to Eijirou. Everyone was very bitter towards him after his reveal, except for a select few. Anyway, have you noticed anything?" She regarded the red-haired male.

"Um, no," Eijirou said. "He's been acting normally. I've been with him nearly every moment of our days. It was just this morning, he didn't meet me in the cafeteria..." His voice broke and he fell silent, his eyes dropping to Katsuki's blood splatter, which stained the floor right before his feet.

"What about you, Mirio?" Fumikage prompted. "Anything odd or out of place recently, especially this morning?"

"Well, um... I did hear something weird today. I was awoken in the early morning by a strange noise. It was a muffled thumping sound. It passed by me, left to right, before slowly fading. I was on edge the entire time, but nothing happened afterwards. I got up after that and quickly went to find Tamaki and Nejire. Being in a group is always safer than being alone, I figured," Mirio detailed.

"That's... bizarre," Fumikage mused. "We'll discuss later."

"Tamaki, Nejire, Tsuyu, do you guys have anything to share?" Mirio asked his friends.

"No. Nothing suspicious. Other than Yaomomo's comment on Kyouka's behavior, I haven't seen anything," she said simply, seemingly staring at the wall. Perhaps to distract her eyes from being drawn to the body?

"I've got nothing." Tamaki's voice was soft; his eyes now lowered to his shoes. A few off-handed glances to Eijirou, empathetic pain clear in his expression, were the only gestures of comfort he could offer, it seemed. "Katsuki was often with Eijirou. That's it."

"Neither do I," Nejire whimpered, a hand over her mouth, her gaze fixed on her thumb. No further words from her.

"In that case, Fumikage? Have you seen anything?" Mirio turned to the other shorter Ultimate.

"Yes. In fact, I have a very important piece of information," Fumikage said, looking confident in himself.

"What? You saw them?! Who was it, Fumikage?" Tsuyu jumped to ask, obviously riled up by his words.

"Well, I was nightwalking, and on my way up to the cafeteria after being in the library, I passed by the gym, and I glimpsed someone entering... she appeared to be female, with simple, short hair," Fumikage said.

"The surviving girls... that's Yaomomo, Mei, Tooru, Nejire, and me," Tsuyu mused. "You said simple, short hair, right? Yaomomo's hairstyle is obvious with the ponytail, mine's is long, as is Nejire's." She put on a grim expression. "Thank you for the account, Fumikage."

"Not a problem. Oh, and I have someone else I'd like to ask the account of... come on, let's go find him." Fumikage turned and began to move back towards the gym, around Katsuki's body.

"Who?" Yaomomo asked, hurriedly chasing him. Shouto followed her; the rest stayed by Eijirou and Katsuki.

"Mezou. He's always in the gym, right?" Fumikage strolled into the gym, quickly making his way over to the tall male. "Hello, Mezou."

"Fumikage." Mezou turned. "What is it?"

"We need your account," Fumikage said. "You're always in the gym, right? Did you see anything last night?"

Mezou hesitated. "Actually, yes. Kyouka entered the gym. Went to... the darts station, I believe," he said. "I saw her approach the opposite corner of the gym." He pointed at a corner. "Over there."

Yaomomo turned. In the corner was a treadmill, which was next to the darts station and the pull-ups bar.

"I left a while after she arrived," Mezou continued. "I'd been working on the weights, personally."

"Okay," Fumikage thanked him for the account and turned around. "We should ask around a bit more. About Kyouka and Katsuki's behavior before their deaths," Fumikage suggested.

"Denki was close to both of them, especially Kyouka. Let's ask him," Yaomomo suggested. Fumikage nodded, and they headed off to find him.

Denki was crouched by Kyouka's body. He'd closed her eyes and gently eased her arms to a more natural, less stiff position, so that she appeared more peaceful. More like she could simply be sleeping, had it not been for her ripped-open body.

"Denki," Yaomomo said gently. He jumped and looked up, his eyes wide and clouded with grief. Tears welled in them as he met her somber gaze.

"We're sorry to interrupt, but we need your account," Shouto said softly. Denki hesitated for a moment, but got up and met Yaomomo's gaze.

"You mean if I'd noticed anything with Kyouka and Katsuki before... this, right?" Denki asked shakily. Yaomomo nodded.

"The last time I was with Kyouka was last night. We had dinner together in the cafeteria. Fried fish and squid," he began. "Nothing odd. We made the food in the kitchen, sat down in the cafeteria, and ate for a while. I kept trying to make small talk, but she wasn't too much in the mood for talking. At one point she got up to the vending machine. She came back with a bottle of water.

"We finished our meal. We washed the dishes. Parted ways. I said, 'See you in the morning.'" He trembled slightly, tears spilling over and running down his face. "I never- I never saw her after that."

Yaomomo rushed forward to comfort the distraught boy. "I'm sorry," she murmured, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. They were both in the same situation; two people, having lost their companion to the insensitive void of death.

Their embrace was broken by the ringing of a bell over the intercom.

"Time's up! Investigation is now over," Monokuma said, his voice echoing off the vast walls of the gym. "Please make your way to the elevator ASAP! See you soon... upupupu! Upupupupu..."

The voice cut off.

Yaomomo sighed and dusted herself off. "I suppose we must do as he says."

The group of students solemnly gathered and shuffled down to the elevator, boarding in silence and waiting for it to transport them earthwards. Yaomomo stood in her usual place, the space to her left occupied by Shouto but the space to her right devoid. Kyouka always stood there.

And now she's dead.

Kyouka and Katsuki... another double murder, right after the last one.

Who could've done this? Orchestrating their crime in such a gruesome fashion, targeting two instead of one...

I've got to solve this.

For Kyouka. For her sake, I must solve this case. For Denki, too, her boyfriend, her closest companion, whom she lost all too soon.

And... for Katsuki, too, I think. Even if he was a criminal in the end, he was a great hero before that. For Eijirou, too, who was his best friend and lover.

I will solve this case once again, for the sakes of both the living and the dead.

Chapter Text

And so it has happened again.

The students had already taken their spots around the circle. Yaomomo's eyes darted around the ring. Kyouka and Katsuki had been replaced by X-ed out images of their faces upon their podiums.

Monokuma sat on Toga's lap on the golden throne. The girl was dressed in her usual schoolgirl outfit, her yellow eyes twinkling as she gazed over the students at her disposal. A small blade twirled in her free hand, the other occupied in being wrapped around the monochrome bear. She appeared much like child cuddling her teddy.

The bear laughed maniacally. "Puhuhuhu! It's time for our fourth case already! Ooh, I'm hyped! Are you all ready? Let the class trial begin!"

>Class Trial : Start!<

"We should begin with the Monokuma File and establish some basic facts." Fumikage started off the trial as usual. "Yaomomo, if you would please..?"

"Ah. Right." Yaomomo took out the tablet and read off of it. "The victims were Kyouka and Katsuki. Kyouka appears to have died from a pierced heart..." She paused to swallow, attempting to rid herself of the tightening feeling in her throat. No. Don't show them your feelings. You must stay strong. Strong. She steeled herself and continued after a mere breath's break. "And Katsuki appears to have died from a heart attack.

"Both of their bodies are also heavily disemboweled, and the organs are all slashed." She looked up at her classmates. "That's it."

"Alright. Again, there's gaps of information in the File that we must find. That includes the relative time and orders of the deaths, as well as the weapons used," Fumikage stated.

"We should start by determining the order of the deaths again," Mirio said. "Last time, it was a discussion starter."

"Then let us discuss," Fumikage prompted. "Who was killed first? Kyouka or Katsuki?"

>Non-Stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #4, Syringe, Flask, Katsuki's Blood Pool, Fumikage's Account, Denki's Account, Blood in Vent<

"So, the death order... Katsuki was discovered first. He was outside the gym," Nejire mused.

"Kyouka was killed inside and discovered second. Perhaps she died first?" Hitoshi suggested.

"And Katsuki was killed on the way out. That makes sense," Mashirao jumped to agree with his friend.

"But there's no proof of that! I mean, we can't exactly testify to it," Mei said.

"Yeah, it's not like anyone saw them or something," Eijirou commented quietly.

"No, that's wrong!"

>Fumikage's Account : Counter!<

"No. Someone can testify to that, and prove that Katsuki was not at the gym until after Kyouka had arrived. Fumikage, could you elaborate?" Yaomomo handed it over to the witness in question.

"Yes. In fact, last night, I was walking by and glimpsed someone entering the gym. They appeared to be female and had a short, simple hairstyle," Fumikage said.

"So you're saying you saw the killer enter the gym? Then Kyouka must've already been there or entered shortly afterwards," Izuku concluded.

"That's right," Fumikage agreed.

"But how do you know Katsuki wasn't in there, too?" Shouto prompted.

"Because there's another account that aligns with mine," Fumikage said. "You recall that, right, Yaomomo?"

Another account, which aligns with Fumikage's, and proves Katsuki arrived to the gym after Kyouka... it's got to be... that one!

>Select a Truth Bullet!<

...

>Mezou's Account : I got it!<

"Mezou. That's right! He said he saw Kyouka enter at around eleven, and she was the only one in the gym with him. He left shortly after, and didn't run into anyone on the way back," Yaomomo exclaimed.

"Hey, I can explain my own accounts," Mezou huffed. However, there was no iciness behind his words. He's warming back up to us. Perhaps it's the time he's been spending with Fumikage recently.

"So Kyouka arrived to the gym quite a while before Katsuki ever went near the gym," Tamaki mused. "M-Mezou... you don't happen to know..."

"Know what?" Mezou questioned. His tone was blunt but not cutting. However, it was enough to make Tamaki shudder slightly.

"Um, you know, did Katsuki ever go to the gym on a schedule before he... uh... died?" the Florist spluttered out.

"Yes, actually. He enjoyed late night training. He often arrived a bit before midnight. He didn't let off on that habit even after he was framed for his actions during the dark hours in Kouji's case," Mezou explained.

"So it's certain. Kyouka was killed before Katsuki," Fumikage concluded.

"But with that aside... there's something I find peculiar..." Hitoshi murmured. "It's about your account, Fumikage."

"What about it?" The raven-headed boy would've cocked an eyebrow right then and there, if only he actually had eyebrows.

"Well, you said you saw a girl with a short, simple haircut enter the gym, right?" Hitoshi said. "This may be crucial in determining the killer. Because that person could very well be the killer that Fumikage saw."

"Did you see any other defining features of hers?" Eijirou asked the Nightwalker.

"Well, I only saw her for a split moment as she entered. Out of the side of my eye, I saw movement, and when I turned, I only saw the back of her shadowed head vanishing into the gym. I have given all the details I know. She had short, simple hair, the tips at just the right length to brush her shoulders. And she was most certainly female, based on her body shape. No guy in this class would look quite so slender." Fumikage elaborated on his sighting.

"There are five girls present right now," Mashirao said. "Yaomomo, Tooru, Tsuyu, Mei, and Nejire. So the killer Fumikage saw must be one of them!" he declared boldly.

"H-Hey! Don't pin them as the killer quite so quickly!" Tamaki protested, but he was ignored by the majority of the group as they began buzzing with excitement at such an easy trial.

"Yaomomo always wears her hair in her trademark fluffy ponytail. Fumikage would've recognized it instantly, so it's not her. Tsuyu and Nejire both have long hair. That only leaves two girls: Mei and Tooru." Hitoshi glanced at the two girls. "It must've been one of them."

"Hey! Don't blame us so quickly!" Mei exclaimed.

"Y-Yeah!" Tamaki suddenly called out again. "Guys, hold on! We can't jump to a conclusion so quickly!"

>Double!<

"I can't believe it! I've been working on our best escape plan all this time, and you suspect me?!" Mei wailed.

>Triple!<

"I wasn't even awake last night by ten! Why are you blaming me all of a sudden?" Tooru protested.

"Don't suspect them so quickly!"

"I am obviously not the culprit!"

"It's impossible for me to be the culprit!"

>Mass Panic Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Mezou's Account, Fumikage's Account, Fumikage's Autopsy - Kyouka, Syringe, Blood Pool - Kyouka, Blood in Vent<

"G-guys, don't pin blame so quickly!" Tamaki yelped.

"I cannot believe you guys would suspect me so easily!" Mei said, disappointed.

"I know exactly where I was last night..." Tooru began.

---

"Why, may I ask, are you defending them?" Shouto inquired.

"All this time, the only thing I've done is work in the lab," The pinkette continued.

"...and it was definitely not anywhere near the gym!" Tooru declared.

---

"W-well, I believe you guys are all overlooking an important fac-" Tamaki stuttered.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE MY HARD WORK WOULD BE FOR NOTHING!" Mei yelled.

"Well, do you have an alibi that can be confirmed by another person?" Mashirao asked.

---

"Who cares?! All we know is that the culprit has to be one of these two!" Eijirou wailed.

"Your hard work is not gone to waste, Mei," Hitoshi rushed to comfort her.

"N-No... but I know I was definitely sleeping in my room!" Tooru said, her voice wavering.

"No, that's wrong!"

>Mezou's Account : Counter!<

"No... I don't think that the culprit necessarily is Mei or Tooru," Yaomomo said.

"Huh? How could that be? They're the only ones who fit Fumikage's description!" Izuku replied.

"They're the only ones present who could fit the description," Yaomomo corrected. "According to Mezou's account, Kyouka entered the gym at about eleven. Fumikage, when did you see our mystery girl?"

"I'm not certain, but it must have also been around eleven. I made it back to my room at eleven-fifteen. I had made a stop at the cafeteria between seeing her and going back, so I believe eleven is a reasonable estimate," Fumikage explained.

"That lines up pretty closely with Mezou's account," Nejire said. "So it's almost certain that the girl Fumikage saw was Kyouka!"

"And the killer arrived later, after Mezou was gone," Tsuyu said. "That makes sense."

"Okay, okay... so Kyouka died a while past eleven, maybe around half-past," Tooru pondered. "And the killer can still be anyone."

"By anyone... is that including Katsuki too?"

"Hm?" Tooru looked up, her eyes meeting the Electrician's.

"Is there any possibility that, like last time, they killed each other?" Denki suggested, averting his eyes to avoid meeting the Artist's. "He died because... augh, Yaomomo, back me up here!" He looked to her as Tooru tilted her head in confusion.

Katsuki's cause of death... we can get it from...

>Select an answer:

Monokuma File

Syringe

Slashed organs

Time of death<

>Monokuma File : I got it!<

"The Monokuma File said that Katsuki appeared to have died from a heart attack," Yaomomo stated.

"Then who disemboweled the bodies? Who'd go around doing that on purpose? And why? It makes no sense! It's like someone has a death wish for all of us, or something..." Tooru's voice trailed off.

Denki slumped and Yaomomo paused. She's right. "Yeah, that's a good point," Denki muttered.

"Hey, while we're on the topic of the Monokuma File... I have a theory I'd like to share," Shouto spoke up again.

Oh yeah, Shouto's theory. "What is it?" Mei spoke up to ask.

"Well, notice the wording of the Monokuma File. It says that it appears that Kyouka died of a pierced heart and Katsuki a heart attack. The key word is appears. How does Monokuma create the File? He watches the scene through the security cameras the villains installed in every room. Either that or he pops out like he always does with a portal and hides to watch it in person.

"Both possibilities have one fatal flaw, however. If something internal happens and kills the person, Monokuma has no sure-fire way to confirm it, since he can't tamper with the body. As a result, saying Katsuki died of a heart attack may possibly be inaccurate."

As soon as Shouto shut his mouth, the trial room erupted in chaos.

"Are you saying the File could be wrong?! It's never been wrong before!" Izuku cried.

"How are we supposed to figure out a case if supposed 'given' information is inaccurate?!" Tooru wailed.

"Y-Yeah! If the File's wrong, then how are we supposed to figure it out?!" Denki wailed.

"Like we did every other time this happens!" Mezou yelled. "Use our investigation clues to figure it out!"

"Hey hey, we can't do that if don't have any basic info to work with!" Nejire piped up in response to the Heavylifter.

"It's impossible!" Eijirou wailed.

Yaomomo's eyes flitted anxiously from person to person in the trial room. The voices were rising, bouncing off the walls and encasing everyone in layers of horrible sound that instilled a ringing deep in the girl's ears. Calm down. Everyone has to calm down.

Come on, what can I say to restore order..?

"Come on guys! I have an idea!" Mashirao suddenly called out over the din. Everyone instantly shut up.

"So, we have to either confirm or disprove this theory to move on, right?" Mashirao said. "Since we can't confirm it, we just have to disprove it!"

"And how do we do that?" Mezou asked.

"Well, the File says Kyouka died of a pierced heart and Katsuki died of heart attack, right? So we just have to prove those two facts, and the theory will be disproved. If we can't, then we can consider it. Or we can ask Monokuma himself." Mashirao turned to look at the bear. "Monokuma? Can you confirm or disprove?"

"My lips are zipped!" Monokuma grinned. "You can't ask me anything about anything!" Over his ears, Toga gave a small, fang-toothed smile.

Mashirao sighed. "Then we'll figure it out ourselves."

"So... Kyouka..." Fumikage pressed the discussion onwards. "She died of a pierced heart. So in turn, we must figure out what the weapon used to kill her was."

"Then let's discuss," Nejire prompted.

Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Syringe, Dart, Fumikage's Account, Monokuma File #4, Shouto's Theory<

"Kyouka was killed from a pierced heart. That must mean the weapon is something sharp that they stabbed her with!" Izuku declared.

"But we have to find that item. We've got to find something at the scene," Hitoshi insisted.

"If it was used to stab her, it must have blood on it," Tamaki reasoned softly.

>have blood on it : Copy!<

"Ooh! I bet they used a dart!" Nejire jumped to speak out.

"Perhaps it was a regular old knife that they took out of the kitchen," Hitoshi said.

"How about broken glass?" Tsuyu suggested.

"Maybe a javelin?" Mirio mused.

There's something wrong with one of those statements... Come on, what is it?

>Discussion : Repeat<

"Kyouka was killed by a pierced heart. That must mean the weapon is something sharp that they stabbed her with!" Izuku declared.

"But we have to find that item. We've got to find something at the scene," Hitoshi insisted.

"No, that's wrong!"

>have blood on it : Counter!<

"There was nothing at the scene that could be used as a weapon and actually had blood on it," Yaomomo said. "Tamaki is right; the murder weapon would certainly be bloodied if it was used to stab her heart."

"So the killer killed her with something else, and left?" Mei asked.

Yaomomo nodded. "Yeah, that's righ-"

"I disagree with that!"

>Break!<

"I still think the dart was used!" Nejire declared boldly.

"Wh- Nejire, I don't think-"

"Hey, I want to speak my mind here too!" The blue-haired girl replied. "Equal voices, equal debate, right?"

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Nejire Hadou : Momo Yaoyorozu

Truth Blades: Fumikage's Autopsy - Kyouka, Mezou's Account, Syringe, Dart, Flask, Denki's Account, Syringe, Kyouka's Blood Pool<

"So, you guys found a dart by the weights, right?" Nejire began. "That dart had poison on it. Why would there be poison on the dart if it were not to be used as a weapon in the murder? It makes perfect sense!"

"But there was no blood on the dart. How would have the killer used a dart to stab someone and gotten no blood on it at all?" Yaomomo retorted.

"They poisoned her! They must've stabbed her in the heart with a poison-coated arrow, and the poison flowed through her, infecting her entire body-"

"I will cut through your argument!"

>Fumikage's Autopsy - Kyouka : Cut!<

"Hey, how's that wrong? What if the File was wrong?!" Nejire protested.

"The File may have been wrong, but one person would've immediately realized that if your claim were true," Yaomomo said. "Fumikage did an autopsy on Kyouka. If she'd been poisoned, then he would've instantly noticed the signs of poisoning."

"Indeed. There would've been discoloring, swollen patches, inflammation, blue tongue, tinted skin, those kinds of symptoms. I noticed none. Only slashed organs. It was a mere bloodbath, with a lack of hidden tricks," Fumikage said.

"Oh. I guess that does make sense," Nejire said thoughtfully, sounding defeated and tired.

"Anyway... is there any way to actually determine what Kyouka's murder weapon was, if it was taken away?" Izuku questioned.

"Probably not. But judging by the shape and size of the slit-shaped hole in her heart, I believe it was a blade," Fumikage replied. "And the depth of the wound suggests it was thrown, since outright stabbing would've created a deeper indent. However, what was used is unlikely to be important, though, considering our other clues."

"So now that the matter of Kyouka's murder weapon has been determined, we should move on to Katsuki. The File says he died of heart attack. How is that possible?" Mezou inquired.

"Well, what other strange stuff did we see around the scene of the crime?" Mei prompted.

"There was the dart, the flask of poison, the syringe, and of course all the various items around the gym. However, no equipment had any trace of blood on them except the syringe, which was hidden in Katsuki's body, so it would obviously be bloodied," Shouto said.

"Can poison cause a heart attack?" Eijirou asked.

"Some poisons can. Hemlock can shut down the entire central nervous system. In fact, most poisons are neurotoxins designed to do that," Tsuyu spoke up.

"How do you know so much about poison?" Mezou asked in a questionable tone.

"When I was a frog hero, I studied some of these types of things. I wanted to see if I could develop my quirk so I could secrete a stronger poison," Tsuyu explained. "However, the poison we found in the vent was clearly a lethal venom, secreted from a venomous snake or spider. It would not stimulate a heart attack, of all things."

"Alright, then which of the items do you believe was used in the murder of Katsuki Bakugou?" Fumikage asked, his eyes fixed on Yaomomo. He clearly expected her to answer.

Out of the four items; javelin, dart, poison, and syringe... it's got to be- that one!

>Mind Mine : Start!<

...

>Syringe : I can see it now!<

>Break!<

"The syringe... it's the only possibility," Yaomomo said slowly. "But how?"

"Have you ever heard of how injecting a syringe of air between a person's toes will kill them?" Fumikage asked. "This is called an air embolism. Air enters a vein or artery and blocks it, causing a heart attack."

"Oh... so it all makes sense now!" Nejire remarked. "The killer injected air into Katsuki's artery and caused a heart attack. And they hid the syringe in his corpse! So cruel, so creative..." She trailed off, her voice wavering.

"So the File was right," Eijirou said slowly, shakily. "and Shouto's Theory is wrong."

"Ah. I admit to being wrong, then," Shouto said calmly, "That is the nature of theorizing. You must be prepared to admit defeat."

"However, this discussion has also confirmed another one of my suspicions," Mirio spoke up. "The disembowelment happened after the victims were killed. If they'd been killed by the disembowelment process, the File would've said so."

"Then what was used to disembowel them?" Mei asked.

"Likely some small blade or other sharp object- Kyouka's murder weapon, perhaps. The slashed wounds said as much, and you need something that's sharp enough to cut through skin and muscle," Fumikage replied. "And of course, they took it away with them. Besides, it should be relatively unimportant unless we see otherwise later."

"Then let's move on," Yaomomo pressed. "Nejire did remind me of something... I'd like to talk about the dart."

"Oh, the poison dart," Tsuyu remarked.

"Are we sure the poison in the flask was the poison on the dart?" Tooru asked for confirmation.

"Yes. I checked; it's a match," Tsuyu replied.

"So where did the poison itself come from?" Tamaki asked. "We should figure that out first, instead of trying to figure out how the dart ties into the case, if we can establish that..."

"Do we know where in the school poison can be found?" Mezou asked.

Poison in the school... you'd find it in...

>Choose the Answer!

Closet

Nurse's Office

Vending Machine

Kitchen<

...

>Vending Machine : I got it!<

"The vending machine in the cafeteria... the lower row of the machine dispensed poisons. There was one of each. Last I checked was last evening, at about six o'clock for dinner, and all the poison was still there," Yaomomo said.

"Then someone took poison from the vending machine after you left and before midnight," Fumikage said. "Does anybody have any idea who it may have been?"

Someone who has an idea of who it may have been- I know who...

>Select Someone!<

...

>Denki Kaminari : It's got to be you!<

"Denki. You may have seen something," Yaomomo said.

"Wh-What?!" Denki jumped, eyes widening. "A-Are you suspecting me?!"

"No, not at all," Yaomomo soothed her voice to calm the anxious teen. "But you... you and Kyouka were together in the cafeteria until eleven. When did you get there?"

"About six-thirty," Denki replied shakily.

"So you would've seen anybody who tried to use the vending machine," Yaomomo said. "It's perfect. So, did anybody use the vending machine while you were there?"

"Umm, umm- no. Nobody except... Kyouka. She got up to get a bottle of water. She came back with exactly that," Denki said slowly, his voice slowly tapering off. "No... no, that can't be right."

"The poison is Kyouka's," Fumikage mused softly. "That lines up with Mezou's account, too. He said she headed straight to the darts station. She must've brought the poison in the flask with her, and dipped the dart then."

Wait a minute...

Kyouka... poisoned the dart? Why... why would she..?

"Wh-What? Kyouka... tried to kill?!" Nejire yelped. "But- how..?"

"I agree with Nejire," Yaomomo spoke up, her voice small. "Kyouka... No, I don't think it's in her nature to do such a thing..."

She didn't want to even consider this outrageous, insane possibility. Kyouka? Kyouka?! Her best friend tried to kill someone? No, that couldn't be right. Absolutely not... it was impossible...

"Nature has nothing to do with this," Shouto said patiently. "I thought we already established that. In this foul place, nobody can be entirely trusted to not have the nature to kill. Would anybody have expected sweet Ochako to kill? Or good-natured Yuga? Or Hanta and Mina, who used to be the best of friends? Nothing can be ruled out here."

"Shouto is right. We cannot rule of the possibility of Kyouka trying to kill somebody on something so shallow," Fumikage said. "Have you all learned nothing over these past few weeks? You have to believe that anyone would kill."

"N-No! No, it can't be!" Yaomomo cried, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes. She didn't want to think about it, didn't want to believe it... Not Kyouka, not her best friend... she was already dead, and to think her final thoughts had been of murder would be too much.

Inside, somewhere in her head, she knew she was stupid and ignorant to think such a thing. But she didn't want to believe it...

And maybe, to fight against it would make it false.

"I... I stand by Yaomomo!" Denki called out, her voice breaking. His eyes shone with disbelief, with tears, with blind wishes and fear.

"I agree with her, too!" Nejire yelped.

"How fucking stupid... it's like Ochako all over again, except this time there's half the class defending the wrong side," Mezou grumbled bitterly.

"HOLD ON!"

>Break!<

"'Half the class defending the wrong side?! You guys have got another split opinion?" Monokuma grinned. "In that case... it's time... FOR A SCRUM DEBAAAAATTTTEEEEE!"

"Hehehe... this'll be fun!" Toga smiled and threw Monokuma the controller. He snatched it, inserted the key, and the trial room began to glow.

***

For Yaomomo of all people to side so blindly on the blatantly wrong side of an argument... how surprising, Fumikage mused, observing her from his side of the debate. Are her emotions getting the best of her ration judgement? Disappointing, I must say.

And because of her, everyone else got riled up... she really has a way with the class, doesn't she? Enough so to drag us all into this pointless argument.

>Scrum Debate : Start!

Did Kyouka intend to kill with poison?

Kyouka did not intend to kill: Yaomomo, Tsuyu, Tooru, Nejire, Mei, Denki

Kyouka intended to kill: Tamaki, Mirio, Izuku, Fumikage, Mashirao, Eijirou, Mezou, Shouto, Hitoshi<

"There's no way Kyouka has the nature to kill someone!" Yaomomo declared, her voice desperate for her wish to be the truth.

"Mezou."

"In this game, you cannot deny someone's actions with their 'nature'," Mezou retorted bitterly. Recalling Ochako, are you?

"Her behavior was fine before... she wasn't acting odd!" Denki claimed.

"Shouto."

"That's incorrect; her behavior has been odd since Yuga's crime," Shouto replied.

"It's impossible for Kyouka to be the killer when she died before Katsuki!" Nejire reasoned.

"I'll do it."

"Kyouka may not have succeeded in being a killer, but she had intended to," Fumikage stated.

"What reason would Kyouka have for killing?" Mei inquired.

"Mirio."

"Perhaps her reason was for her family, and she was inspired by Yuga's escape," Mirio suggested.

"Who was Kyouka targeting anyway, out of all her friends?" Tsuyu asked, in a last ditch attempt to turn the argument around. Odd for her, of all people, to defend that someone couldn't have been cruel.

"Tamaki."

"She could've targeted anyone, especially someone she didn't know too well," Tamaki murmured. Like Mei, or Hitoshi, or the Big Three.

>Crouch Bind : Set!<

>D - W - D - A<

>Full Counter : Break!<

"You can all quit your petty argument now," Fumikage hissed, eyeing the girls and Denki as the podiums began to shift back into circle formation. "It's a waste of time to argue something so blatantly clear. Kyouka obtained poison from the vending machine and intended to kill someone, only to have her victim retaliate and kill her."

"Yaomomo... please," Izuku murmured, his voice soft. "I know that you don't want to believe it... I know you don't want to think that, in her last moments, Kyouka had been trying to kill someone. But it's the truth. And that's the reality of our life here... that the truth is never what you want it to be."

Yaomomo stared, stunned, her silver eyes wide as she looked from one person to another. The other girls and Denki merely looked forlorn, their gazes lowered. It was, of course, reasonable: Yaomomo had merely gotten their emotions working out of impulsiveness. There was no rationale, so it was relatively easy to convince them of the truth.

But finally, wordlessly, Yaomomo, too, gave in, and averted her eyes to the railing of her podium. "Fine," she muttered. "Fine." She looked back up at her classmates. "If we're going to find the truth, then we should continue."

***

Just don't think about it.

"If we're going to find the truth, then we should continue," she said, her eyes shifting from classmate to classmate. They're right. It's the truth... and I have to just take it.

Grieve later... remember later.

But right now, it's time to solve this case.

Because whether or not Kyouka tried to kill... she's dead now. Dead because someone took her life, ripped it from her with their own hands... so I have to do her justice.

"Um, if we're going to continue... I think we should discuss the dart. Why is it on the floor?" Mei spoke up, keeping the conversation moving.

"She probably missed," Hitoshi said. "Since nobody died of poisoning, and the poison was all still on the dart anyway."

"And how does Katsuki's death tie into this?" Mezou asked.

"Oh, I know!" Tooru piped up. "What if he was Kyouka's true victim, and he was killed for being the Porcupine Bomber?"

"That's reasonable," Izuku mused. "The last case was caused by that. Who's to say it isn't the same this time?"

"But that wouldn't make any sense," Mirio said. "According to Mezou, when Kyouka entered the gym, Katsuki was nowhere to be found. It's presumable she had the flask on her and was going to get the dart. And then what? She'd wait in the gym with her weapon ready? There's any number of people who could see her then, including Mezou. It'd be suspicious any way you looked at it."

"So Kyouka wouldn't have gone to the gym so early if she was intending to kill Katsuki, knowing he would arrive by midnight?" Yaomomo asked softly.

"Yup," Mirio affirmed. "I'm guessing that, for once, his Bomber history had nothing to do with the case."

"On that note, I have a better idea," Fumikage spoke up. "He died outside the gym, judging by the lack of stray bloodstains on the gym floor, which is rather strange. If the killer had killed Kyouka before midnight and disemboweled her, it's certainly likely he walked in on the scene or saw the killer leaving, bloody and battered. They could've killed him to tie up the loose ends."

"That sure sounds likely," Tamaki agreed. "It all lines up- the timing and location."

"How cruel... so Kacchan died... just because he saw too much?" Izuku asked, his voice shaking.

"They never intended to kill him... He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," Shouto murmured, a whimper in his throat.

Eijirou was silent. His face was stricken, his eyes squeezed shut. Yaomomo decided not to bother him, allow him to grieve in silence.

"But following the Bomber logic, if Kyouka had gone there intending to kill, she must've followed someone, invited someone under the pretense of training, or knew they'd be there and went looking," Mashirao pushed the debate onwards. "Like Mirio said, waiting is illogical since you could be seen. If she'd gone looking for someone, who else was in the gym?"

"Um, Mezou," Denki replied quickly. "He was the only one reported to have been in the gym at the time. He'd said he saw Kyouka enter."

"But what if he was the victim-turned-killer? Then it'd make sense for him to lie," Tamaki accused.

"Hey! Don't blame me again!" Mezou yelped, but everyone opted to ignore him.

"I agree with Tamaki. We found the dart by the weights, and Mezou was working on the weights, right? If Kyouka had missed her shot, that's the perfect place for it to land," Mirio reasoned.

"Well, that's inconclusive. He could also be telling the truth and the invited victim arrived later," Fumikage butted in.

"Yeah! What if he's telling the truth and Kyouka just invited someone to go train with her much later, and she really had showed up early to set up her plot? So she could shoot them at the door," Mei reasoned.

"Then why's the dart by the weights?" Tamaki asked.

"She could've attempted to shoot them once they'd entered and gone in that direction, towards her," Mashirao argued. "Or she could've missed into the door or hallway, and the victim-turned-killer moved it to throw us off."

Yaomomo's eyes flickered from person to person as the argument slowly escalated, her voice silent as she watched the people around her becoming more and more agitated.

We're not getting anywhere with this. And if we don't solve this...

What will happen to us?

Then, above all the clamor, a single voice rose to snag everyone's attention.

"Wait! I just realized- I know who the killer is!"

Chapter Text

"What do you mean, you know who the killer is?" Mezou questioned, turning to fixate his eyes on Shouto, who'd spoken out. "And besides, the last theory you concocted was flat-out wrong."

"Well, this one may not be," Shouto shrugged. "I just remembered something odd about a certain object near Kyouka's body. It's a big clue. Yaomomo, you must recall, right?"

Why push it onto me? Yaomomo complained internally. I guess I'll have to do it... the clue Shouto speaks of... oh, that-

>Select a Truth Bullet!<

...

>Blood pool - Kyouka : I got it!<

"You must mean Kyouka's blood puddle. Fumikage's feather was in it, and I fell in it, right?"

"Remember the details of the feather," Shouto insisted. "If you think it through, it'll become clear."

If I think it through, it's clear..? What am I supposed to learn from a puddle and a feather?

I have to figure this out... for Kyouka's sake. Yes, I'd like to think about it that way.

>Psyche Taxi : Start!<

...

>Question 1: What place in the blood was the feather?
Left: On the surface of the blood
Right: Buried in the blood
Right: Correct!<

...

>Question 2: What was the texture of the blood like at the start of investigation?

Left: Wet and fresh
Right: Sticky and dry
Right: Correct!<

...

>Question 3: When did the feather fall into the blood?
Left: Before investigation
Right: During investigation
Left: Correct!<

>Success!
Question 1: Buried in the blood
Question 2: Sticky and dry
Question 3: Before investigation<

>Break!<

As she put the pieces together in her head, Yaomomo felt a lightbulb in her mind go off like a nuclear bomb, a revelation that was both heart-wrenching and groundbreaking at once. Her chest tightened, as if a knife had been driven into her heart. Why you, of all people..? "Oh... I get it now. It's all coming together... The killer... it really is you..."

>Select someone!<

...

>Fumikage Tokoyami : You're the only one...<

"F-Fumikage... it can't be..." Yaomomo stared at him in distress.

"Hmm?" Fumikage blinked back at her, feigning innocence, although the subtle ruffling of his feathers made it clear that she'd hit the jackpot.

"The feather... we know it's yours, that part is obvious. But since the body discovery, the blood has been dry. If your feather had fallen in the blood during investigation, it would've stuck to the top of the blood. But it's not. The fact the feather is buried in blood makes it clear that it'd fallen in while the blood was fresh," Yaomomo explained, her hands shaking. She was still disbelieving, despite the logical truth her words held.

"So therefore, he was present at Kyouka's body when she'd just died," Tamaki spoke up softly.

"You've got to be the killer, Fumikage. The feather doesn't lie," Shouto said cooly. "And besides, it's not like your alibi says anything in your defense either."

Fumikage merely sighed, keeping his cool. "Look. Following that logic, if I were the killer, how would I leave the gym?"

"Hey, stop trying to distract us," Eijirou snarled, rage overcoming his grief in the moment. He was obviously already becoming angry at the accused Nightwalker, realizing that he was Katsuki's murderer.

"Eijirou. He does have a point, you know. We do have to figure that out, regardless of who the Blackened is," Izuku said softly. Eijirou visibly sighed a little, but kept his mouth shut.

"So, how about it? How did the killer leave the gym?" Tamaki prompted.

"Well, they obviously left out the door," Mezou said bluntly.

"Yeah, that's the most plausible, but there's other ways out, too. Where there's blood, there's murder," Hitoshi said.

"And where there's a dead body, there's murder too," Eijirou muttered bitterly. Everyone opted to ignore him.

"Well, there could be any number of escape paths," Fumikage spoke up. "Shall we talk about it?"

"No."

"I beg your pardon?" Fumikage glanced, surprised, at Shouto's resilience to a discussion.

"No, there's one way out of the gym that would explain a crucial piece of evidence, something that would be unexplainable if the killer hadn't taken this one particular path," Shouto said. "You know what it is, right, Yaomomo? You were the one who investigated it yourself, after all."

A certain way out the gym, a way that explains an odd piece of evidence... I can see it now...

>Hangman's Gambit 3.0 : Start!

How did the killer leave the gym?

>🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆 🗆🗆🗆 🗆🗆🗆🗆<

...

...

...

>THROUGH THE VENT : I got it!<

>Break!<

"That's it... the kil- Fumikage left through the vent," Yaomomo said, making sure to double back and use Fumikage's name in place of an anonymous nobody. "That would explain the bl-"

"I will not let this go on!"

>Break!<

"Hold up, hold up. You're saying the killer -who is, as of now, still inconclusive- went through the vent?! Are you serious?" Mezou asked coldly, a sizzling, volcanic rage boiling just under the frozen surface. "That's ridiculous! I won't let it go by!"

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Mezou Shouji : Momo Yaoyorozu

Truth Blades: Denki's Account, Mirio's Account, Fumikage's Account, Syringe, Javelin, Blood in Vent, Dart, Blood pool - Kyouka<

"So, you claim the killer went through the vent? How ridiculous! Why would the killer go through the vent if the door's right there anyway?!" Mezou began.

"Well, Katsuki's body was blocking the door, so it wasn't 'right there' for someone to easily leave out of," Yaomomo replied smoothly.

"That's exactly my point! Who'd be there to move the body if the killer didn't leave through the door?!" Mezou retorted. "And besides, it's not like there's any more evidence of the killer actually going through the vent than a couple of blood smears."

"I will cut through your words!"

>Mirio's Account : Cut!<

"Actually, there is more evidence of someone travelling through the vents," Yaomomo said. She could feel a tightness in her chest, and tears behind her eyes. "Mirio. Could you explain to Mezou?"

"Sure! In the early hours of the morning, I heard a faint, muffled thumping sound pass by my room. It sounded as if it were coming from through the wall... or in the wall. I had heard someone passing by my dorm through the vents. It's unmistakable," Mirio elaborated.

"That's-" Mezou began to speak, but Nejire cut him off.

"Oh! And that explains the blood smears in the vent, too! Disemboweling two people must've gotten messy, and the blood got all over the killer's clothes. So when they crawled through the vent, they must've trailed it," the Beauty Pageant Star said.

"However, Mezou, your rant did bring up another good point," Tooru piped up. "If the killer left through the vents, how did Katsuki's body get moved?"

"Maybe the killer didn't move it. Maybe..." Shouto paused. "There was an accomplice."

An accomplice? A murmur spread throughout the trial room.

"Don't be ridiculous," Mezou growled. "An accomplice? There is next to no conclusive evidence of that."

"No, there is," Mashirao cut in. "Remember the Body Announcement rule. It only plays when three or more people, excluding the killer, have seen the body. To Mirio's word, when the Body Discovery for Kyouka played, only he and Yaomomo were present.

"Technically, if nobody had seen Kyouka's body before then spare for the killer, the announcement should not have played for the two of them. However, it did, which must mean another person had seen her corpse before them."

"He's completely right," Mirio confirmed.

"So... an accomplice," Yaomomo pondered slowly. That sure throws a wrench in the conclusion of Fumikage being the Blackened. "Going off of our justified conclusion from earlier, if Fumikage had been at Kyouka's body when she had just died, he could either be the killer or accomplice. But either way... his account is a lie."

"Was there someone else whose alibi lines up with his?" Nejire asked.

"No, not exactly," Izuku said. "But I think I have evidence that Fumikage is the... killer... and not the accomplice."

"Go on," Tooru implored.

"Well, a few days ago, Shouto and I were taking a walk at about midnight to walk off a nightmare. We passed by the gym. Mezou and Fumikage were there. They were making light conversation.

"Fumikage was at the javelins. His throwing was so accurate that every time, it landed on or in close range of the bulls-eye. Remember what he said earlier? How the wound looked like it'd been from a thrown knife?"

"Not only that, but... they have been getting awful close recently," Tsuyu noted.

"You say that like it's a negative!" Mezou accused. "And besides, what's wrong with us interacting? And what's so suspicious about that?"

"It means that, if Fumikage were an unplanned killer, then you could've very well accepted to being an unplanned accomplice," Mashirao said, his voice cold as frost.

"An unplanned accomplice? Me?!" Mezou was in a frenzy. "That's absurd! I'd never agree to that!"

"How do we know that?" Yaomomo questioned. "Remember during investigation... how Fumikage insisted on getting your account. If he is the killer, that'd make sense. You two came up with matching alibis that worked in your own favor, didn't you?

"And when it was time to leave the scene, you left through the door and shifted Katsuki's body to create a locked room, while Fumikage used the vents after disemboweling his victims. Isn't that right, Mezou?!" Her voice was chiseled, edged with anger. For Kyouka...

Fumikage was silent, his eyes closed and arms crossed. Mezou was glaring openly at every student in the room, his eyes darting from side to side. He was breaking out in a sweat. He's really lost it, hasn't he?

That just proves I'm right, though.

"Okay. Mezou, for one, calm down," Fumikage spoke. Mezou turned on his shorter friend, as if about to snap something in reply, but held back from doing so.

"And if you all truly believe this nonsense Yaomomo is spouting... let me ask you: If I were the killer, then why would I give you not one, but two honest autopsies? I noted there was no poison. I noted the destroyed organs. I told you the truth. Do you think I lied? I didn't, since my information has carried us through this trial with logic and truth." Fumikage fixed Yaomomo with his red eyes. "I'm right. Admit it."

Yaomomo stared at him for a moment. She was barely fazed by the intensity of his stare, meeting it with her own fiery eyes. "No. I won't."

"Mmh."

His indifference made her insides boil even more violently than before. The killer of Kyouka... he's standing right here, before me... "I'll force you to speak the truth, which I know you're hiding, Fumikage Tokoyami!"

>Argument Armament : Start!<

{Fumikage's Audio Clips <> Letters to Counter}

>Phase 1<

"Come on, Yaomomo." <> (W) (W) (A)

"Think it over again in that brain of yours." <> (D) (D) (D) (A) (S)

"I gave you evidence." <> (S) (S) (D)

"I gave you autopsies and the entire truth." <> (A) (A) (A) (D) (W)

"I would have no reason to reveal something only I can prove if it does not benefit me." <> (W-A-S-D)

>Advance : Phase 2<

"Why are you so stubborn today?" (S) (S) (A - Hold)

"Are you allowing your emotions to get the better of you?" (W-A-S-D)

"You know you can't do that." (W) (W) (S) (S)

"Because in this game..." (A) (A) (S - Hold)

"There is only the cold truth." (W-A-S-D)

"Why don't you pursue that instead of me, hm?" (W) (W) (A) (A) (D - Hold)

>Advance : Phase 3<

"Yaomomo, stop it!" <> (W) (W - Hold)

"Do I have to spell it out for you again?" <> (S) (S) (S) (D) (D)

"Why would I give you two correct autopsies..." <> (W) (W) (W) (A) (A) (A)

"Why would I give you evidence..." <> (W) (S) (S) (S)

"Why would I give you an account at all..." <> (D) (D) (D) (A) (A)

"If I were the killer?" (S) (S - Hold)

"It's remarkably unlikely for I to be the culprit." (W) (D) (A) (S) (W) (W) (W)

>Final Blow!<

>W = Honest
A = Dis
S = Ulti
D = Mate<

"Why did I give you honest autopsies if I were the killer themself?"

"This is why!"

>A-W-S-D : DisHonestUltiMate : Break!<

"Alright, first, you weren't exactly honest this time. You didn't reveal the syringe, which you must've found in your shuffling of Katsuki's organs during your autopsy. Even Eijirou, who wasn't even looking for evidence, saw it immediately," Yaomomo said. "And second, I think the question you should be asking is just how you even gave honest autopsies in the first place."

"What do you mean?" Fumikage asked, feigning innocence once more. Yaomomo could feel her insides boiling with contained rage. "I did because I could."

"How could you have given such autopsies from the start? How were you so comfortable with a dead body and extracting a needle from Rikidou's bloody throat from the start?" Yaomomo confronted. "Can you answer that?"

Fumikage hesitated, as if debating whether or not to speak out.

"Fine," he said slowly. "It's because I've dealt with death before." He opted to speak out.

"How?" Yaomomo pressed.

"Well, many things happen under the cover of the night, you know. I'm a nightwalker. You'd think I'd see some things that may not have been under the sun," Fumikage stated.

"I wouldn't believe that for a moment. Crime resulting in death doesn't happen that often with the night patrols of heroes, and besides, why and how would you interact with said dead bodies anyway?" Yaomomo paused for effect. "Maybe... because you were the one who killed them?"

"What are you getting at?" Fumikage's voice had become cold, and his eyes turned into hard lead.

"I'm saying, you're not the Ultimate Nightwalker," Yaomomo claimed. "You made that up, didn't you? To hide your true identity. Something darker... something along the lines of genocider or hitman, perhaps," she ventured. "And this idea of an Ultimate also explains how you'd have knives and a syringe on you in the first place, since you were an unplanned killer. You have so many pockets, too... it'd be easy to hide your little weapons. Isn't that right?"

Fumikage stared at her, his crimson eyes wide, feathers spiking in alarm. Then he sighed, deflating, as if accepting his fate. He sagged slightly, and for once Yaomomo saw him as a small, thin teen, the same age as her, regretful that his spur-of-the-moment choice to kill had been his demise.

It was only for a moment, though, before he shifted back into being the blood-stained murderer of her best friend.

"Fine. You're right. I give up." Fumikage's feathers were drooping. He looked up, his round red eyes meeting Yaomomo's. "Here."

"Wh- wait! Fumikage, no, you can't just- give up- Fumikage!" Mezou went haywire on his podium, eyes wide with urgency, hands gripping the wood railing hard enough to leave an indentation and cause splinters to erupt from the smooth oak. "Fumikage! No, listen- come on, keep trying-! Fumikage!"

"It's alright, Mezou." Fumikage paused, his hand in his inner jacket pocket, and turned to meet Mezou's wild eyes with calm, collected crimson orbs. "It's too late. I'll figure it out, okay? And as for you... keep living. Keep living, okay? Don't become like me."

Fumikage dipped his beak again and slipped two items out of his pocket. He opened his left hand first, revealing a small silver blade in its gloved palm. The knife had a black ivory handle, engraved with cryptic markings. "My weapon of choice. I used it to kill Kyouka and disembowel her and Katsuki. It's a signature of mine."

"A signature-? Oh god, no, Fumi-!" Tsuyu blurted out, her eyes widening as she realized the reality of his words.

"And my key. Take it." Fumikage threw the trinket in his right hand to Yaomomo. She caught it clumsily out of haste and adrenaline-fueled jolts of energy. She examined its top side.

It was a sleek, silver key with flecks of pink imbedded in it, as if mimicking blood splatters. On the enamel-ridged, dark indigo tag, it read 'Tokoyami, Fumikage' in ornate gold.

And when she flipped it over...

"The Ultimate Assassin." Yaomomo stared at the tag for a dark second, before raising her gaze to look to Fumikage. He was silent, his arms crossed and eyes closed. His beak dipped, as if waiting for everyone to react.

But nobody did.

It was silent in the trial room.

Silent as everyone merely gazed at Fumikage, wondering how they could've been ever so wrong about their friend.

Yaomomo herself felt disconnected as reality hit her. I was right. The various thoughts inside of her clashed like swords, her anger and betrayal and sorrow and grief mixing up into... whatever this was.

Monokuma was the one who broke that silence.

"Upupu! It seems you've all come to a decision! In that case, it's voting time!" Behind the artificial creature, Toga grinned and flashed her own knife, twirling it.

That blade in her deadly little hand seemed so insignificant compared to the one in Fumikage's, it made Yaomomo feel hollow all over.

Hollow as she realized what all this meant.

"W-Wait. Monokuma, please wait," she blurted out, the words sliding off of her stiff tongue.

"Hm? What is it, my dear Yaoyorozu?" The bear gave her a wicked grin.

"W-We have to do the... the closing argument. Go over it again. Make sure there's no inconsistencies in our case." She swallowed, waiting for Monokuma to object.

But he didn't. "Upupu! I guess it is a staple of class trials, so go right ahead!"

Alright. Alright then.

I just have to restate the facts, right? So don't get angry... don't get sad... just don't get anything.

Recount the case...

>Closing Argument : Start!<

"Late last night, the killer and Mezou were in the gym training, Mezou with weights, and the killer with javelins.

"Kyouka entered the gym. She had on her a flask of poison, which she'd gotten from the vending machine in the cafeteria. She had full intent to kill that night, but unbeknownst to her, it was she who was about to be killed.

"She headed straight to the darts station. She took a dart, dipped the tip in poison, and shot it at Mezou.

"However, she missed, alerting the killer of her misdeed. The killer attacked her in retaliation for trying to kill Mezou, their friend, using a knife. They threw it at her, which impaled itself in her heart.

"The killer approached Kyouka and proceeded to disembowel her corpse, reusing the same knife they'd used to kill her. However, as they did this, someone happened to walk in at just the wrong time. It was Katsuki, who had been coming to the gym for his daily midnight training. He realized that the killer had seen him and likely tried to run, but was caught immediately by the killer, who raced towards him as soon as they saw him.

"The killer attacked Katsuki, whipping out the syringe they had on them. They injected an empty tube of air into one of Katsuki's arteries or veins. The most likely and easiest to reach is his neck artery, but it's irrelevant to the case.

"This injection of air into his artery caused an air embolism, triggering a heart attack in turn. Katsuki swiftly died. The killer followed to disembowel his body as well. They hid the syringe -the murder weapon- among the organs before closing the door and leaving his corpse outside.

"They must've earlier asked Mezou to work as their unplanned accomplice, since Mezou then followed to move the body so that it propped against the door. This prevented the door from being opened from the outside, inconveniencing whoever was to discover Kyouka while creating a more complex case. Mezou left the scene after that, hasty to get back to him room unseen.

"Inside the gym, the killer was alone with Kyouka's body, which they'd disemboweled earlier. How were they so calm doing this? Because... their Ultimate talent... is the Ultimate Assassin. They have experience, which explains why they're carrying around weapons and have such a knowledge of the human body. Their signature in their murders was disembowelment.

"Disemboweling the two bodies must've gotten blood on their clothes, but they were unbothered. As they left the body and began their escape plan, they accidentally left behind a critical piece of evidence, though... a black feather in the pool of blood around Kyouka. It must've fallen out during the disembowelment process, as it was buried in blood. This was proof that this specific person was present while the blood was still fresh and flowing.

"The killer hid Kyouka's flask in the vent by the gym, leaving the dart on the floor- a fatal mistake. They kept the knife used for disembowelment on them, most likely in a pocket. They then began crawling through the vents. Most likely blindly, while also following a mental map of the school layout from hours of walking around it under the cover of night. They passed by some of the dorms, including Mirio's, before reaching their own, where they were safe in isolation.

"And the mastermind behind this case... was Fumikage Tokoyami... the Ultimate Assassin."

>Break!<

For a moment, all was quiet. Before Fumikage began to laugh.

It was a dull, sad, little chuckle. But it was enough to send another stab of emotion through Yaomomo's chest, clenching her lungs. What is that emotion? I'm not sure anymore. They all seem the same to me.

Is it sadness?

Or is it anger?

"You're so unbelievably correct that it makes me think you'd seen me yourself, Yaomomo. Come on, hurry it up with the voting."

The voting was silent. Everyone simply clicked their levers into place without hesitation; was it because they genuinely saw Fumikage as a natured murderer, or because they just wanted it to all be over already? Yaomomo wasn't sure.

The machine erupted in a cacophony of lights, coins, and ringing techno bells. Exactly as expected.

>Class Trial : End!<

"Upupupu! You were right! The blackened this time was Fumikage Tokoyami!" Monokuma laughed, his sharp, robotic teeth flashing in the eerie lighting of the trial room.

"No... Fumikage..." Tsuyu whispered shakily. "Tell me... tell me that isn't true..."

She's obviously sad, Yaomomo observed. That much is clear.

So what am I?

Do I have to choose? It seems like such a pain...

Fumikage was silent. His eyes were closed, his arms crossed across his chest.

It's all true. He's the Ultimate Assassin...

That means... That means he's a murderer, a murderer of dozens, dozens, maybe even a hundred, and that includes our two classmates, one of whom was my best friend and the other... the other a classmate.

He killed them, just like he killed all those nameless strangers that gave him the title of Ultimate Assassin.

"Fumikage..." Izuku spoke up. His voice trembled as he stared at his friend. "Why... why did you do it..?"

Fumikage sighed and raised his eyes to meet Izuku's. Yaomomo suddenly glimpsed, for a moment, Kyouka's crimson iris staring at her, observing her with its warm, yet sharp gaze. And then she blinked, and it was all gone; just Fumikage, and his eyes the color of dry blood.

And in that moment, she realized, in a passionate, violent burst of inspiration, that she hated those crimson irises more than death itself.

"I never wanted to kill them," he said. "I didn't want that fiery rival of yours to die, nor the Musician. They were my peers too, or have you forgotten?"

"Kyouka and Katsuki. They had names!" Yaomomo suddenly screamed, her words impulsively rushing over her tongue. Anger reached a boiling point in her chest, her sorrow trampled over by her rage. How dare he not even have the courage to utter their identities, as if it lightens the blow?!

"Or have you forgotten?" she continued, her voice laced with venom as she intended to burn him beyond repair with it. "How many people's lives have your fingers graced since the day you killed your first target in some shady back alley? How many innocent people have you killed? Do you count the number of lives you've cut short, and dreams you've snatched away? Is the number so high that taking your own friends' lives meant nothing more to you than another tally in the list?!"

"Yaomomo-"

"You killed my friend, my best friend Kyouka," Yaomomo spat, not allowing him to spew his rancid words at her. "And you also killed Katsuki. A murderer for a murderer. Fitting, huh?"

"Yaomomo. I do not go around killing as I please," Fumikage replied calmly. "Do you know of the murderer that goes by the alias Justice's Blade?"

"Why, yes, I do happen to know who that is," Yaomomo snapped.

"Yeah, we've all heard of Justice's Blade. He's infamous..." Nejire's voice trailed off. "Oh... no, you don't mean-"

"I am Justice's Blade," Fumikage continued. "I killed criminals to bring them to justice."

A stunned silence fell over the trial room. It was like the quiet before the storm, because it was at that moment that Yaomomo exploded.

"That's all you have to say in your defense?!" she wailed. "What did Kyouka ever do to fit your criteria of criminal?! Kyouka may have attempted to murder, but she wasn't in her right mind! Can't you forgive that? Katsuki... he- oh, forget him- regardless, you knew them and you were their friend, and you still killed them without hesitation."

"I had to tie up the loose ends. I hadn't intended to risk his account," Fumikage stated cooly, but Yaomomo ignored him, words spilling out her mouth like a relentless waterfall, polluted with anger and grief.

"Did you ever truly understand your countless criminal victims either? No! Did you know their reasons for crime? Did you know what horrible pasts they may have had to lead them to such actions?! You're not justice. Whatever you are, I know one thing for sure. You're a monster!"

Fumikage's shoulders tensed. Everyone in the trial room was silent, stunned, their eyes fixed on the arguing students. Yaomomo panted, her anger spent, but she had obviously struck a nerve. A burst of satisfaction flowed through her veins.

But suddenly, he relaxed, the sharp edges of his gaze softening. He sighed. Yaomomo held her glare. "I understand how you feel, Yaomomo. Because I often ask myself the same. Am I really happy doing this, killing people based off of their criminal record, without truly knowing them? How many have I ripped apart and left for the police to find?"

Yaomomo refused to let him through, into her heart. She refused to believe his twisted words when he was the murderer of Kyouka and Katsuki, and dozens more of strangers. She refused to believe that he wasn't a cold-blooded killer, through and through.

He laughed, but it was a bitter, sorrowful sound. "I suppose, what I mean to say is... I'm sorry."

Yaomomo chuckled bitterly. "Sorry? Sorry doesn't bring back the dead, Justice's Blade." She spat out the last words.

Fumikage stared at her, his crimson eyes unwavering. "I suppose you have a right to hate me. But what would you have done if Kyouka had killed Mezou? Then she'd be the monster in your story, right? A, oh, cold-blooded murderer of two, perhaps? She's quick and clever, I know that. She wouldn't have allowed Katsuki to live, either. So, please... have reason. Forgive me. Forgive me, Yaomomo."

Yaomomo couldn't speak. Emotion rolled through her again, conflicting and clashing painfully within her mind. He speaks of reason, I know.

I don't want to believe him, though...

...because he's right...

"Hey hey hey! Are we done here? 'Cause it's time for the execution!" Monokuma interrupted.

"Exe...cution..?" Yaomomo heard Tsuyu murmur. She herself had gone numb again, choosing to force down the emotions rioting within her to spare herself the choice.

"Executed? Fumikage... no..." Mezou gazed at his friend, for once emotional and rendered speechless. Tears were spilling down his face.

"Remember what I told you before. Keep living, Mezou. Forget all of this and just keep living. Get out of this hell for me, alright?" Fumikage smiled at his friend before turning to Toga and Monokuma. He took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

"No... No... Fumikage, wait! Listen to me!" Tsuyu cried. He paused and turned to face her. Is it just my twisted mind creating mirages, or is that a glimmer of sorrow in his eyes?

"It's okay, Tsuyu. I deserve this," he said bitterly. "The world will never forgive me, and I'll go down in history as Justice's Blade, the heartless murderer."

"No! I... I forgive you!" Tsuyu choked out. Yaomomo stiffened.

"Oh? You do?" Fumikage's icy expression softened. "Then please... remember me... as your friend, Fumikage Tokoyami."

Monokuma laughed mockingly, obviously amused by the little display he just witnessed between the two students. Yaomomo suddenly felt something flip in her stomach as she met the bear's relentless stare. Something slipped through her numb mask, sliding through the cracks as she faced the raw reality before her.

Fumikage is about to be executed. Executed for the murder of too many to count.... But also executed for protecting his friend, even if his life were the cost.

What's to say I wouldn't have done the same?

Monokuma laughed. "Upupupu! Now then, I've prepared a veeeery special punishment for Fumikage Tokoyami, the Ultimate Assassin! Let's give it everything we've got! Iiiiit's PUNISHMENT TIIIME!"

***

Fumikage was dragged away by Monokuma, who chained him and began taking him down one of the tunnels branching out of the trial room. Tsuyu jumped up and attempted to chase after them, only for Toga to leap down from the throne, knife in hand.

"Follow me, beloved pets!" Toga sang, skipping down a different tunnel. The class had no choice but to follow the insane girl.

She led them into a large room with a massive screen on the wall. Toga bounced up to the control panel, hit a few buttons, and it now displayed the scene of execution.

>GAME OVER

Fumikage Tokoyami has been found guilty. Time for the punishment!<

Fumikage was standing in the center of a rock cavern. It was dim and rimmed with shadows, the only light source being the skylight high above, which revealed a bleak, white and gray sky. An endless expanse of steep rock walls bridged the distance between the cave and the rest of the world.

There was no escape. Only the concept of it flickered like a dying candle before Fumikage's eyes mockingly as he tipped his head up to gaze into the silver clouds overhead. His eyes were emotionless, blank canvases of red. I wonder what he's thinking, Tsuyu thought, her heartbeat quickening in her throat.

The Assassin lowered his raven head and scanned his surroundings, calculating his chances, perhaps. Suddenly, from behind him, a slow, creaking laugh emerged.

"Upupupu... Upupupupu!"

Four robot Monokumas dressed as soldiers leaped out of the inky black shadows. Fumikage whirled around, producing three daggers and a syringe from his jacket pockets. The small silver blades were securely clipped between his fingers on his right hand, while the syringe was gripped in his left.

Fumikage darted to the side, avoiding Monokuma One's sword. He whirled and unflinchingly drove a dagger with deadly accuracy into the robot's red, mechanical eye. Monokuma One screamed, the sound sending Tsuyu's heart jolting against her ribs while her ears rung with anxious energy. It crumpled and collapsed on the ground, deactivated.

Having found the robots' weak spot, Fumikage took on Monokumas Two and Three at once. The two leapt at him while Monokuma Four approached from behind, surrounding him. However, the experienced Assassin was prepared. He ducked and dove under the leaping beasts, causing them to run right into Monokuma Four, whose inertia caused him to overrun.

While the three beasts were confused and distracted with figuring out who to bite, Fumikage leaped onto Monokuma Two's back and plunged his syringe deep into its eye. Monokuma Two made a terrible screeching noise and stiffened, collapsing.

Now Monokumas Three and Four were focused entirely on Fumikage. He threw one dagger with deadly accuracy, the silver flicker in the air giving way to a blade sunk several inches into Monokuma Three's eye. It screamed and collapsed, just like the first.

Now Fumikage was armed with a single dagger against the final Monokuma. Isn't this a bit too easy? Tsuyu thought hopefully. He'll win, he'll definitely win. And he'll be freed, or he'll come back to us, alive...

But no, maybe that was too optimistic of a thought. One too happy and hope-filled for the villains to even consider being a possibility in their little game.

Monokuma Four parried Fumikage's dagger throw with its sword. It leaped at him. Fumikage attempted to dive under it to get behind it, but the beast's claws snagged on the collar of his jacket. The two of them tumbled into a pile of limbs, Monokuma having the Assassin pinned under its paws.

The creature bared its fangs and took a small syringe of bright green liquid out of some hidden compartment on it. It ripped away a section of Fumikage's sleeve and injected the liquid into his arm.

"A life sustaining drug!" The real Monokuma's voice boomed over the speaker system of the execution cavern, the audio ending up static-filled in the recording of it being broadcasted to the class. "It will remain in action for about five minutes, forcing the heart to beat and lungs to work, before it wears off and the body is left to its own defenses!"

Tsuyu wondered why they'd give such a thing to Fumikage if they only intended to execute him.

She was about to find out.

>Fumikage Tokoyami's Execution: Loki's Punishment : Executed!<

The robot Monokuma dragged Fumikage into the center of the cavern, so that he was bathed in the white light of the skylight. It took out a black blade and sank it into Fumikage's stomach. He gritted his teeth, trying to stifle a hiss of pain.

The robot followed to slice the blade down in one swift motion, ripping through clothes. Pink blood blossomed from the wound, soaking Fumikage's clothes. Now he couldn't help but cry out in agony. The sound sent a jolt down Tsuyu's spine and made her heart leap into her throat. No, no, no, please no... just end him instead of toying with him like prey!

The Monokuma tore away Fumikage's shredded jacket and shirt, revealing the deep, blossoming, red ravine it'd created. The image sent a hot, vile tang to rise in Tsuyu's throat, and her hands began to shake.

The Monokuma pulled open the gash, ripping and parting the skin, flesh, and muscle like curtains, causing blood to flood out. Fumikage screamed, the unholy sound violently torn out of his mouth in one dark cry. His eyes were wild with pain and terror, glistening with tears that bubbled over his feathers.

The gesture revealed all of his innards to the open air; shreds of muscle wracked by spasms, a stomach resembling a slime-slick balloon, a blood-streaked red liver, a glimpse of cages of ribs that framed his two bloody, balloon-like lungs patterned by pale bronchi lines.

It seemed that it had carefully made the cut so that it was deep enough to draw blood but not deep enough to rupture any organs, as none of them were damaged beyond being covered in blood and mucus. The beast then began to delicately extract- oh god. Oh god oh no why why why WHY WHY?!

The Monokuma was removing Fumikage's intestines. Swiftly yet carefully, the creature began to extract the bloody, slimy, horrible pink worm-like organ from the Blackened's abdomen. It then began to slice them into neat lengths, causing clear, mucus-like fluid to spew out of them and pool over its paws, mixing with the blood like water with paint, creating a generally disgusting scene.

Fumikage was openly screaming now; horrible, agonized wails, sobs of pain and terror, of possibly regret and most certainly of sorrow. Oh, and pain. The pain in his voice was so raw, ripped from his throat and pleading for death to take him and ease him of his atrocious suffering, to no avail.

His voice clawed at Tsuyu's every being, tearing away at her heart and soul and mind. She could barely bear it. She wanted to look away and cover her ears and eyes, she really did, but she just couldn't. Her eyes remained glued on the screen, watching her dear friend die.

The Monokuma then began tying Fumikage's wrists and ankles to four rocks using the pieces of intestines it had just sliced, the organ slick against his blood-splattered wrists. It had placed him in a spread-eagle pose. Then, from the shadows, another entity emerged.

A snake.

A slim, agile, dark green snake. Its red eyes glimmered with hatred for the world it was born into, its scales shimmering in the bleak light. The reptile hissed and slithered to Fumikage before rearing up, rising and seeming to "stand up", before slipping up onto a stalactite that pointed directly at the Assassin's face.

The snake coiled around it so that its slim nose was in line with Fumikage's wide, pain-filled eyes.

Oh no.

It opened its jaws, and its two long fangs emerged. White and gleaming, like ivory needles. The reptile flicked its upper jaw, tongue twirling within its mouth, and a translucent, green liquid dripped from its sharp white fangs.

The venom dripped down, droplets raining down upon Fumikage's eyes. He wailed in agony, poison sizzling across his skin, searing his face and eyeballs, revealing bloody, pink flesh and blood, oh, the blood. It flowed like a river, pooling, streaming, painting his feathers a rainbow of magenta hues.

It was terrible.

Tsuyu decided to count her own racing heartbeats instead, to count the seconds Fumikage was forced to endure and suffer.

One, two, three, four.

Venom seared his eyes and face, burning away feathers and down.

Five, six, seven, eight.

His screams continued, tearing away at Tsuyu's heartstrings.

Nine, ten, eleven, twelve.

Blood was pooling in a sea around him, drowning him, turning his body into a work of gruesome, gutspill art.

Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen.

His screams were growing weaker, his throat raspy.

Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty.

He was still alive, but not for much longer.

...

He died after exactly fifty-eight seconds of suffering.

Fumikage was dead, framed in his own guts and blood, his eyes and face seared and gory with venom.

Tsuyu could only stare in horror at the screen, the camera frozen over the corpse, unable to comprehend the hellscape that she and her classmates were watching, the hellscape that they were all in.

Fumikage...

You once told me to not drown myself in grief and remembering, for it'd drag me into despair.

I swear I'll try to keep that in mind.

For your sake, I'll keep fighting for everyone who has passed.

Tenya, Rikidou, Ochako, Kouji, Mina, Hanta, Kyouka, Katsuki, and Fumikage...

I'll try to keep fighting for them.

>Chapter 4: Justice Demands of JDs and tears : The End | Surviving Students : 14 | To Be Continued<

>Item obtained: Black Ivory Knife<

Chapter Text

How can one death change this school so much?

Mashirao sat on the half-wall in the cafeteria, quietly sharing a double-strawed bubble tea between him and Hitoshi. His eyes scanned over the room, over the other people huddled around the tables. Denki was sitting next to Mashirao, his eyes blank as he stared at the floor. Mashirao had nothing to say to him; he didn't know what to say. How was one supposed to speak to someone who just lost their girlfriend, and all of the hope that came with it?

At a table across the room, Yaomomo was sitting with her head in her arms, her gaze vacant. Tsuyu was sitting next to her. They were conversing in hushed tones, Yaomomo grieving over her best friend and her revelation over Fumikage.

The only spark in the room was Mei and Tooru. The two girls were sitting on a counter, side by side, talking in hushed tones as courtesy to the sad students. Apparently Mei had finished her device that would supposedly help them escape, and the two had made ice cream sundaes to celebrate the small achievement. It was a small step in the class' long term healing, but it was a step nonetheless.

Mashirao had noticed that Mezou and Eijirou had vanished over the past few days. He was pretty sure Mezou had retreated to the gym in solitude once more, and Eijirou probably locked himself in his room, after the loss of Katsuki. On the other hand, he'd also seen Shouto and Izuku coming down earlier to get food. They'd taken it promptly back to one of their rooms. Izuku's eyes had been dull and his feet unsteady- Mashirao wasn't sure why. However, he'd smiled, and his laughter rang like music.

Even through sickness, he's happy... Shouto really has given him all the joy he's ever needed.

Suddenly, there was the loud ringing of a bell overhead. Mashirao glanced up at the monitor. What do they want now..?

Monokuma's face flashed onto the screen. He was wearing a nurse's cap, which was balanced elegantly atop his fuzzy head. "Ahem! This is a school announcement! Everybody, please go down to the auditorium ASAP! We'll be waiting.... Upupupu.... Upupupupupu!"

"The auditorium, huh?" Mashirao muttered. He shook the bubble tea bottle between him and his boyfriend. "Looks like there's just ice left, huh..."

"You can throw it out," Hitoshi offered. He hopped down from the half-wall and brushed himself off. "Come along now."

Mashirao hurried over to the trash can and threw out the empty bottle before meeting with Hitoshi, who was waiting by the door. Denki trailed after them with a fazed expression. The loose trio made their way down to the auditorium. Mezou was already there, huddling in a shadow. Neither party made any attempt to talk to each other.

Once the rest of the group arrived and assembled before the stage, a small black and white rodent bounced up from behind the podium. "Heeeeeee-llo everyone!" he crowed.

"Cut to the chase," Mezou said coldly. He had not joined the majority group, instead opting to stay to the wall.

"Aww, so rude!" Monokuma pouted. "Ah, well... anyway, it's time for a new motive!"

"Motive?" Mei asked softly. "Another one, so soon after Kyouka, Katsuki, and Fumikage..?"

"Why does it matter anyway?" Yaomomo asked, her voice monotonous. Tsuyu was at her shoulder, her eyes troubled and heavy as she gazed up at her friend.

"Why does it matter?!" Eijirou wailed. "Katsuki was just killed! Your best friend was murdered too, and Fumikage! How could you act so indifferent?"

Yaomomo was silent, her silver eyes glazed over as she stared back into Eijirou's teary crimson gaze. Tsuyu shook her head at the Bodybuilder. "Leave her alone for now, please," she said.

"Ahem! I'm right here! Listen up!" Monokuma barked. Everyone's chatter died down, their attention immediately fixated on the rodent. "The new motive is.... Despair Sickness!" He spoke the phrase with relish, as if it were the best thing in the world.

"Despair... Sickness?" Mirio echoed, confused. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll see if you don't act soon!" Monokuma grinned his shark-toothed grin. "In two days, I will inflict one random student with Despair Sickness! For every day after that where no murder occurs, I will inflict another student with the maladie, until everybody is infected. If a murder occurs, I will immediately cure every student of all illness, and everyone will be in tip-top shape again!" He grinned. "My own Monokuma antidote! I'm so clever, aren't I?!"

"And what if nobody kills at all?" Mezou inquired?

"Well, if it really does get to that point, I'll just execute someone random to keep the ball going! Upupupu... puhuhu! See ya later!" With that ominous laugh, Monokuma vanished, leaping down from his podium, casting the auditorium into shocked, confused silence.

"I don't get it," Nejire muttered, breaking the silence. "What is the Sickness, exactly? How does it work? Like, symptoms and fatality rate."

"We won't know until it happens. That's what Monokuma wants," Shouto said. "We don't know what the Sickness will do, which may drive us to murder out of the anxiety of the illness being fatal.

"However, this part of the motive is rather useless. We can assume he won't kill any of us with an illness, since it wouldn't cause despair -which he wants- and isn't gory and brutal -which he and the villains enjoy. Since we're at their disposal, they wouldn't let us go without blood being drawn," Shouto concluded.

"So there's no need to worry?" Tooru asked hesitantly.

"No, we shouldn't have to worry about the sickness. It'll be fine, I'm sure," Izuku piped up. Mashirao noticed how he had his arm looped around Shouto's and how he was leaning on the taller Theorist, putting half of his weight on him. I wonder what's going on over there.

"Yeah, it'll be fine," Mashirao reaffirmed, echoing Izuku. "We'll be alright."

Until the Sickness falls... we'll be okay.

I hope.

***

"HELP! EVERYBODY, GET UP! SOMETHING HAPPENED! HEEEEEELLLLP!"

Nejire awoke with a start at the sound of somebody screaming outside her door. Clearly, she would've preferred an alarm clock to... whatever happened that was violent enough for Mei to run up and down the dorms yelling at the top of her lungs.

She tumbled out of bed, slipped into her bath slippers -which she'd resorted to wearing in favor of the glittery high heels, since they were making her feet hurt-, and rushed for the door. As she stepped into the hallway, she could see that Mei's efforts in waking up the entire class was paying off. Mirio, Mashirao, Tooru, Shouto, Tsuyu, Hitoshi, and Tamaki were already up and trying to calm down the Inventor, who was practically going off-the-rails insane in her hysterics.

"Mei- Mei, calm down- Just, um, take a deep breath-" Tooru was desperately trying to console her writhing friend, but to no avail.

"MY BABY! MY BEAUTIFUL BABY! SHE'S GONE!" Mei sobbed.

"Baby?" Hitoshi asked aloud, visibly confused and stunned.

"She means her machine," Mashirao quickly explained. "The device that she was making for our escape."

"Well, if it's broken, let's go see it!" Mirio insisted.

The group rushed down the stairs, with Mei leading the way. They all entered the Lab. Just as she had reported, there was a heap of broken pieces of metal, circuits, wires, and shattered glass screens all over the large work table in the center of the room.

Mei sobbed again. "My baby! I'd just finished it, and now it's broken! Somebody broke it!"

"Somebody broke it?" Tooru asked aloud. "Oh, Mei, I don't believe anybody here would do that! Who wouldn't want to escape? Your device was gonna help us get out, so it makes no sense for one of us to break it."

"Th-Then Monokuma did it! Or some other villain!" Mei insisted. "Somebody broke it, I know! It wouldn't just fall apart and blow up like this on its own, I know it! My babies don't do that!"

"Hey hey! But I didn't do anything!" Monokuma suddenly ran through the door, waving his arms.

"Yeah, like we're going to believe that," Mei snapped at him. "You or one of the villains must've broken it! Who else would?!"

"Puhuhu... one of your fellow students, perhaps?" Monokuma grinned maliciously, his robotic eye glinting in the light of the pale ceiling lights.

"We've already ruled that possibility out!" Tooru retorted. "Nobody has any reason to!"

"Hmm... suit yourself. But beware... just know that the villains and I never interfere with the killing game directly, other than our motives. Your device is not of our concern, miss Inventor. Upupupu!" With an ominous laugh, Monokuma ran away.

Mei huddled over the broken remains of her machine, wailing. Tooru rushed to comfort her while the others pondered what Monokuma's words could've meant.

"Monokuma said that the device was not of his concern... what is that supposed to mean?" Shouto mused.

"It must mean the device wouldn't have posed a threat to the... the game. So it wouldn't have been any help in a hypothetical escape," Tamaki concluded. He turned to the devastated Inventor. "Mei. What was your device designed to do?"

"It... It was designed to-" Mei began to speak, but was suddenly, rudely interrupted.

"Hey, hey! Don't be giving these dumbnuts any bright ideas, squid girl!" Monokuma yelped in alarm, running into the room again. "Say a word, and I'll- I'll have you executed, just like your buddy Tenya, okay?!" He vanished again with that parting threat.

"That was... strange," Hitoshi said slowly.

"What he just said was blatantly contradictory," Mashirao muttered. "First, Monokuma says he doesn't care about the device. If he truly cares that little, why would he be so desperate to keep how the device works a secret?"

"Maybe how it works or what it was supposed to do was a vital escape clue... but the actual machine wasn't actually working properly?" Nejire suggested. "No offense to Mei, but her machines sometimes... malfunction," she said slowly.

"Perhaps that's it," Tsuyu stated, before Mei interrupted.

"Nooo! I was sure they worked! I even had a test run and it worked perfectly!" Mei claimed loudly, her voice making Nejire's ears ring, which was unusual, considering how loud she herself was.

"If the device was to help us escape, is there any possibility the test run may aid us?" Shouto asked.

"Possibly. There's a chance it might, but consecutive use would've been more effective," Mei said glumly.

A murmur spread through the group. "I guess that's another escape plan gone to dust," Tsuyu murmured sadly, shuffling away. People slowly began trickling out after her upon giving their consolation to Mei, who was still being soothed by Tooru at the table.

Nejire left last after giving Mei a hug. "It'll be okay," she murmured subduedly. "Now that you know how to make the device, you can remake it, right?"

"Yeah," Mei muttered. "I'll... I'll try my best! I'll even sleep with the device in this lab this time!"

Nejire paused, but opted not to speak. I feel as if that would only put you in danger. If someone was truly out to ruin their escape, for whatever wicked reason, she was sure they wouldn't hesitate to kill.

"Well... good luck," was all she said instead.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Shouto awoke to someone desperately rapping on the door. Instantly on edge, he roused, carefully slipping out of Izuku's loose arms and tucking the blankets around him tighter.

After the commotion the previous sunrise, he wasn't all that eager about another situation arising. Approaching the door, he glanced back at the jadette's sleeping form, wondering what would happen if this person awakening him were a killer, or somebody dangerous, before warily calling, "Who's there?" to the person beyond the door.

"Shouto, thank god you're there- It's Mirio- there's something wrong with Tsuyu! Come quick!" The Ultimate Hope's voice was panicked, and his words were coming out much too fast.

"Alright. I'll be right with you," Shouto replied steadily. He quickly strode over to the desk and scribbled a note for Izuku on the notepad. "Mirio called me. Something's wrong with Tsuyu. Be back soon. Don't worry. -Shouto." The Theorist quickly left his room after that, nearly running into the taller blonde in the process. "What happened?" he asked, shutting the door as softly but swiftly as he could as to not wake up Izuku.

"Tsuyu... she attacked Mezou... said she wanted his strength... real weird... come on, I think they're still going at it in the cafeteria!" Mirio explained breathlessly before dashing off again. "Come on!" Shouto hastened to chase after him.

When the two finally reached the third floor, Shouto could instantly hear screaming and the crashing noises that signaled a fight. Over the ruckus, he suddenly heard one feminine voice stand out in particular.

"I want it... I want your power, your strength! I want it all!"

Tsuyu, Shouto realized. Her voice was so angry, so loud, and so harsh that he couldn't even recognize it for a few seconds as he picked up speed, anxious to see what had happened and what damage this newly-crazed version of the girl had done. Mirio and Shouto dashed into the cafeteria. In the center of the room, with tables and chairs knocked over around them, were Tsuyu and Mezou, still duking it out.

Tsuyu leaped at Mezou, kicking at him and blocking his hits with swift and agile motions. Mezou was keeping perfect pace with her, blocking and punching. Tsuyu appeared to be on the losing side, though, as her chest was heaving with exhaustion. Her constant screams of nonsense and power aren't exactly helping her keep a steady breathing rate, Shouto noted. Her clothes were battered, the ribbon in her hair askew and loose. On the other hand, Mezou appeared to be unscathed by the frog girl's unprovoked attack.

Around them, at the edges of the cafeteria, several people hovered to watch. Denki, Tooru, Mashirao, Hitoshi, Tamaki, and Nejire were spread out along the wall, observing the fight anxiously but too fearful to jump in, since the risk of getting hurt between the two hostile fighters was extremely high. They didn't even have a certified nurse among their ranks, so a broken bone or bad scratch could turn deadly in days.

"H-Hey! Knock it out, you two!" Mirio and Shouto leaped into the fray, Shouto easily restraining Tsuyu -considering their large height difference- while Mirio grabbed Mezou, hauling the two apart.

"What's gotten into you?" Shouto yelled at Tsuyu. The frog girl turned her head, and he suddenly found himself staring into a pair of cloudy, glaring green eyes.

Swirling green eyes... filled with despair.

As Shouto moved to secure a stronger grip on her, pinning her arms, he realized that the girl's skin was extremely warm; uncomfortably so, even. When he rose one hand to test her forehead, he realized that it was burning with fever. "She's sick," he spoke up. "She's not in her right mind."

"Thhhaaaaaat's right!" Monokuma suddenly jumped into the cafeteria, wearing a stethoscope around his neck and a nurse's cap. "This is the Despair Sickness!"

"This... this is the Sickness you mentioned as your motive?" A confused-looking Hitoshi spoke up from one side of the cafeteria. "How is that supposed to work?"

"That's exactly right!" Monokuma ignored the violette's second question. "It's a specially engineered illness designed by yours truly! For every day until there is another murder, another one of you will be -at random- inflicted by the illness! It is not contagious, and each case is different!" Monokuma grinned, flashing his pearly teeth. "Symptoms will vary, but they will all alter a person's personality to some degree! And because I'm a kind bear, I'll tell you a bit about them!

"Tsuyu here's case involves the symptoms lust, greed, and envy!" Monokuma paused to grin. "I'm clever, aren't I? I gave her symptoms from the Seven Deadly Sins!"

"It just proves you're incredibly uncreative," Hitoshi muttered, but the robot ignored him.

"Anyway, have fun dealing with her! Toodles!" Monokuma ran off again, and Shouto vaguely wondered why the bear had even bothered to bring the nurse's equipment.

"Um... what should we do with her?" Mashirao asked slowly. Shouto was starting to have trouble keeping Tsuyu down, so Mirio came over to help pin her arms. Mezou had already left in solitude, standing and watching by the door with a cold expression. He regarded Tsuyu with a particular icy glare; it was obvious that he was tired of being the target of hostile female classmates.

"We should keep her in solitude with someone she won't attack, to prevent her from going insane in her head," Tooru suggested, her voice small and wary.

"That's a good idea. Let's take her back to her room, then," Hitoshi said. "Who should we keep with her?"

"Nejire, maybe? She's her friend," Denki suggested shakily, his voice small.

"She may get envious of Nejire's beauty. I mean, she is the Ultimate Beauty Pageant Star, so that would be a problem," Hitoshi said.

"How about Mirio?" Nejire herself suggested. "Both of them tried to stir up hope in this group, so they're equal. Mirio even lost his quirk before the rest of us, so Tsuyu may see herself as superior."

"But Mirio's also strong," Tamaki pointed out. "Like Mezou... and you saw how that went. And... I don't know how Tsuyu's lust symptom would come into play if she's alone with a guy..."

"As far as I see, I'm pretty sure her 'lust' refers to her lust for others' power," Shouto spoke up. "Like how she wanted Mezou's strength. It's a powerlust, not sexual or romantic lust."

"What about Yaomomo?" Hitoshi suggested. "She's... tame. And her wealth has been put out of play by the game."

"But her title suggests it," Tooru interjected. "I think the best candidates are me, Tamaki, Denki, and Hitoshi."

"You should go, then," Denki spoke up quickly. "I mean... you two are kind of equal in power and stuff..."

After a bit of discussion and assigning Tooru the role, the two girls were locked in Tsuyu's room.

"We'll figure this all out," Mirio assured Shouto as the Theorist headed back to his room to find Izuku. "There won't be any killing. Once the villains realize the illness isn't doing much, they'll remove it."

Shouto nodded in agreement, but in his heart, he was hesitant. Would the villains really give up that easily? Look at what lengths Monokuma has gone to before for motives, imprisoning our families and such... it's unlikely they'd give it up that quickly.

I wonder what's going to happen...

~~~

Over the next few days, more people fell ill, as Monokuma promised.

The next was Tamaki. Nejire had arrived late to breakfast that morning to fetch a tray of food.

"Tamaki's sick," she explained while picking up bagels. "The Despair Sickness."

"What are his symptoms?" Shouto asked, curious.

"Uh- he's very anxious and distressed- Mirio's with him right now, but I gotta run," Nejire said quickly. "We're going to stay with him in his room. You guys, remember to deliver food to Tsu!" With that, she ran off as quickly as she'd come with a basket of fruit and baked goods.

~~~

Mei was next.

"Hey, Mei, are you sure you're gonna be able to eat all that?" Tooru asked the pinkette as she sat down. The Artist had swapped places with Hitoshi for the day to give her a break. "Besides, why did you come down to the cafeteria anyway? I thought you said you were gonna stay in your lab..."

"Nah. Got tired. Hungry." Mei immediately began scarfing down the massive plate of food

"H-Hey! What's up with you-? Stop eating so quickly, you'll get yourself sick!" Tooru attempted to stop Mei by grabbing her by the shoulders. She immediately winced back as soon as their skin met.

"What? What's wrong?" Shouto asked in concern.

"Mei... she's burning up!" Tooru wailed. Mei was oblivious to the ravenette's anxiety as she continued to devour her breakfast.

"It's the Despair Sickness," Mashirao commented from across the table. Shouto felt his stomach drop.

"We're going to have to isolate her," he said. "Um... Eijirou! You can accompany her."

"Why me?" the redhead asked softly, his eyes glazed over.

"Because-" Shouto stopped himself short. Eijirou was still in a state of grief over Katsuki. It probably wasn't a smart idea to put him in charge of another human being when he wasn't even capable of really taking care of himself. "Never mind. Mashirao, you take care of her. Make sure she doesn't overeat and get herself sick."

~~~

The next to grow ill was Izuku, much to Shouto's dismay.

The already sickly boy was instilled with wrath. Shouto decided to stay in his own room with his significant other, which proved to be a mistake.

"Hey, Izuku, what are you doing?" He reprimanded the shorter jadette, who was ripping apart a pillow. The ill boy turned, his eyes set in a dead glare, before he leaped at Shouto, who was promptly caught off guard and brought to the floor.

Shouto huffed, expecting it to be easy to push off Izuku. He'd been awfully weak before the Despair Sickness had taken him, so it was a surprise when he found himself unable to pry him off with minimal force. Left with no other option, Shouto twisted and kicked him off, sending Izuku tumbling to the floor next to him.

"Ah- are you oka-" Shouto hadn't even gotten back to his feet when Izuku jumped him again with a savage snarl that resembled an animal more than a human. Shouto dodged this time, sending Izuku diving into the floor. He scrambled for the door, racing out and hastily shutting it before he freed the apparent beast now living in his dorm. He swiftly locked it from the outside, since his and Izuku's keys were both in his pocket.

That night, he fell asleep in Izuku's bed, worried about how much longer the boy's physical body would be able to handle the Sickness.

He barely recognized the creature in his room now.

~~~

Yaomomo became sick the day after that.

"Yaomomo, what's gotten into you?!" A horrified Hitoshi was pinned to the wall under the ill Affluent Progeny, who had unbuttoned the top of her blouse and was rubbing against him like a cat. Mashirao rushed over at that moment to fight her off, kicking her away. She tumbled to the ground and began to advance forwards again in a crawl.

"It's today's Despair Sickness victim," Shouto said sadly, watching the formerly elegant, refined hero he'd come to know reduced to a less bloody rendition of Toga.

"We better lock her up," Mashirao insisted, standing protectively in front of Hitoshi, who'd since risen and was eyeing Yaomomo suspiciously. "Who should we put as her guard?"

"Someone tame, clearly," Nejire said. She was in the cafeteria, happening to see the commotion while grabbing food for Tamaki again. "Umm... what about Denki?"

Shouto considered her choice. While Denki was still grieving over Kyouka, Yaomomo was -had been- too. Perhaps he'd be able to handle her company, even if she was a bit wonky in the head.

"Denki, do you think you can do it?" He turned to the electric blonde.

"Um... I'll try," Denki said slowly, eyeing Yaomomo nervously.

~~~

It didn't work out at all.

"She... she attacked me..." Denki was shaking when he told the assembled group what had happened. "You know... Um..."

"Okay, it's alright. Sorry, Denki. I should've remembered her symptom was lust," Shouto said apologetically to the poor Electrician.

"So we can't give her a male guard. So far, she's only tried to assault two people, Hitoshi and Denki. They're both guys, so what if we gave her a female guard?" Mashirao suggested.

"It's worth a shot, but there are no girls left who aren't sick or already guarding someone," Hitoshi pointed out.

"Then let's switch out Nejire or Tooru," Mirio spoke up. He was off guard duty and attended the meeting.

"How about Nejire? I mean, Tamaki also has you," Shouto asked.

"Sure. I'll go get her right now." The blonde was already halfway out the door.

~~~

The change of gender in guard did not deter her at all. Nejire escaped the ill girl with the same traumatized story as Denki, so the class decided to leave Yaomomo alone instead.

~~~

The next day, Mashirao succumbed to the Sickness.

Shouto didn't even see the tailed teen in person; he just woke up and went outside when he ran into Denki, who informed him that Mashirao had fallen ill and he was taking over as Mei's guard.

Apparently Mashirao's symptom was pride, and he had been chattering since he entered the cafeteria, delirious, rambling on and on about himself and how great he was and how everyone else was terrible in comparison. Hitoshi was Mashirao's guard, which made sense, but Shouto wondered if even the Psychic would be able to take the noise, come tomorrow.

~~~

That night, as Shouto collapsed in Izuku's bed, he couldn't help but wonder.

How much longer can we go on like this?

Chapter Text

Yaomomo awoke alone in her dimly lit room to the muffled sound of a clicking noise. She sighed, sitting up. Why do I feel so groggy and disgusting..?

She slid off of the plush mattress of her canopy bed, sliding her bare feet into a pair of slippers. She looked around. My room's an absolute mess... What exactly happened here again? Upon changing into her spare outfit, she found herself standing over her vanity, still trying to recall what happened, when it suddenly hit her.

I'm not sick anymore.

But for some reason, with her mind still foggy with the aftereffects, she couldn't connect that with any solid facts.

Suddenly, there was a rapid series of soft knocks on her door. She picked herself up and strode across her room, opening it to reveal Denki huddled behind it.

"Yaomomo- o-of course, you're well again- um, there's been a- a death," he said, his voice downcast and stricken with grief. For a moment, she just stared blankly at him, her eyes wide. Then she seemed to wilt, her posture slumping, eyes downcast and clouded.

"Another death..?" she muttered, half to herself, her dull silver eyes unshifting as she gazed at the floor while Denki watched on, misty-eyed and slightly offput by her behavior. "Why... does this keep happening?"

Why does it even matter anymore? Why does this game have to keep taking our friends' lives?

Why does it transform everyone into monsters and murderers?

"Um.. Y-Yaomomo..?" Denki broke into her thoughts with his shaky voice. "Do you want to... see the body?"

The body... Another human being, who had been alive and speaking just yesterday, reduced to an empty corpse, never to smile or walk or speak again.

Why should I want to know who it was? Why... why must this go on?

"Okay," was her simple response.

Denki led her outside, down the hallway of the dorms.

A body, hanging from the ceiling by its neck, wires sparkling and coiled around its neck.

A canvas of weeping puncture wounds in its stomach, blood flowing from the magenta holes in a heavy stream of fluid, dripping to the floor.

An empty hole where its left eye once was, a dark pit that sagged at the edges and revealed a mess of torn tissue and bleeding veins, nerves that have been ruptured and leaking liquids. An empty hole crying a river of blood that flowed over its face and down its chin, staining the skin magenta.

An eyeball endorning a vermillion colored iris, covered with blood and mucus, obviously torn out in cold blood and left to rot, speared through with a knife, a knife that lay on the floor below, ringed with blood.

A hanging corpse, horribly damaged and devoid of life...

A corpse who was once a human being, a living entity with feelings and thoughts.

A person, who went by the name of Eijirou Kirishima.

"Wh-what..?" Yaomomo stared at the body in horror. The three members of the Big Three -Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire- as well as Tsuyu were all huddled below the corpse. Yaomomo noted that the Despair Sickness had, in fact, been cured overnight with the death, since Tamaki, Tsuyu, and herself were all healthy again.

"Another death," Mirio said grimly. "Denki, I'll go get the others, unless you want to..?"

"No, it's fine. I'll... stay by the... body..." Denki's voice trailed off as he stared at the corpse of someone who had once been his friend.

Yaomomo, Denki, and Nejire stood with the body. Tamaki had opted to follow Mirio, silent but clearly unable to take looking at his dead friend's body, and Tsuyu went to fetch the students on the other floor. This left them behind to keep watch. In no time, the entire class had gathered.

"Ei-Eijirou?!" Izuku screamed.

"How cruel... poor Eijirou..." Tooru whimpered, staring wide-eyed up at him.

"I hope he's happy with Katsuki and Mina now," Mashirao murmured. "Maybe they'll all make up in the afterlife."

Does an afterlife even exist?

Would there really be such a happy ending, after this hellscape?

Maybe it's better not to look at all, not to care.

Then it wouldn't be so bad, right?

"Who knows? Upupu!" Monokuma suddenly appeared, tablet at hand -at paw?- and laughing. The class jumped in surprise.

"It looks like my Sickness worked! How wonderful!" He grinned, flashing his pearly whites.

"Your Sickness worked?! How insensitive is that?!" Nejire sobbed.

"Sensitivity isn't exactly my strong spot, if you can't tell," Monokuma laughed. "And now that your dear Fumikage has gone and passed, somebody's gotta do your autopsy, and it ain't gonna be me! Have fun kids! Upupupu..!"

Monokuma threw the tablet at the nearest person -Tamaki- who hastily managed to catch it, his eyes widening as he eyed the File nervously. The file on his dead work partner... he's probably upset.

"I'll take it," Mirio said, taking the tablet from him. "I guess... we're going to have another trial. It's time to investigate."

>Investigation : Start!<

"What Monokuma said was kinda true," Tooru said slowly. "We need a body inspector, and someone who knows how to do it."

Body inspector... toy with the corpse a little, poke around and figure out what happened. I think I could manage that...

"I'll do it," Yaomomo spoke up. "I think I can."

"You? Are you sure about that, Yaomomo?" Shouto side-eyed her.

Oh. Of course. He's remembering how I reacted to Kyouka's body.

Well, that's in the past. I was weaker then. Weak, and foolish.

"It doesn't really matter. I'll do it, since nobody else wants to." She looked up and glanced around to see if anybody was going to contradict her second statement. Of course, nobody did. They were staring at her like she was crazy for taking such a job.

"Come on, then. We're wasting investigation time," Mezou cut in sharply. Yaomomo was genuinely surprised he'd actually shown up.

Maybe he's given up too. Decided to follow the rules.

"Let's get to work," Mirio said. "First, we have to get the body down. Then, Yaomomo can take the body. The rest of us can split up to cover the area around it."

Why does this all matter so much anyway? Just to live... won't we all die sometime anyway? Killed for our sins, whether by God or by Justice? Why work so hard, when so many have already perished?

"Come on, Yaomomo. Izuku and I can help you with the body," Shouto said, instantly snapping Yaomomo out of her haze. She blinked, gazing into his mismatched eyes for a second before looking away, opting to stare at Eijirou's hanging feet instead.

In that moment, she felt something bitter rise in her, seeing Izuku at Shouto's side. It reminded her that she, no matter what she did, would never amount to anything compared to him.

It reminded her of how insignificant she was, of how all of them were.

So why should it matter?

Why do I still care..?

"Okay." Yaomomo shoved her emotions aside and stepped towards the body. "We're going to have to get it down, but I also want to see the way the wire is looped, up there. I need a stepladder."

"There might be one in the closet," Mirio suggested. "I'll go get it."

Izuku, Shouto, and Yaomomo hovered awkwardly around the body while Mirio and Tamaki went to fetch the stepladder. They came back carrying it.

Yaomomo gratefully took it and stepped up, inspecting the coil around Eijirou's neck. It was a bundle of wires, some broken and sparkling. The ceiling tile that would've concealed the wires had been removed. It looked like someone had taken off the tile and loosened the lines, so that they could be used as a hasty alternative to a rope or cord.

"We can take the body down now," She called down. At her prompting, Mirio and Shouto worked to help her bring the body down, delicately lowering him to the floor.

Yaomomo stepped down from the stepladder and put it to the side. She stared down into Eijirou's bloody, blank face for a moment. To think he had been alive and breathing just yesterday... no, she didn't even want to think about it.

She sighed and crouched down, staring at the multitude of wounds in the body's abdomen. Where to start..?

What did Fumikage always do?

She began inspecting the stab wounds in Eijirou's abdomen first. With no other option to see them more clearly, she looked around in need of a sharp object. I need to slash the clothes...

"Shouto, do you have a knife, or scissors?" She asked, turning to the slightly taller male. His eyes widened, as if he were surprised. Surprised that I could do my job exactly like Fumikage, who had been indifferent and tactical?

How silly... of course I can...

After all, what else can I do?

Shouto shook his head. "No, but I can go get some. Come on, Izuku." The two strode off in search of the item Yaomomo had requested. She noticed that Izuku seemed to have a bit more energy and strength in his steps compared to before.

She turned back to her work and decided to take the time to continue investigating Eijirou's corpse instead. Namely, the eyeball impaled on the bloody knife by his hand. It'd been under his corpse previously.

She picked it up and turned it over in her fingers and looked back to Eijirou's hand. It was limp and splattered with blood, the splashes shaped like poisoned raindrops and pointing down his fingers. Dead.

The eyeball on the knife was misshapen and bloody, the broken veins and nerves still attached to it. The back of it was red and dripping, dented and squished, as if someone had toyed and tussled with it. How odd. She set the item down on the floor, exactly how she'd found it. She needed the blade she'd sent Shouto for to cut away his clothes, so it was impossible for her to inspect the wounds as of the moment.

Circling around the corpse, however, Yaomomo could see the damage on his body. There was a heavy bloodstain on his front- clearly, he'd been stabbed violently in the abdomen, considering the amount of blood drawn. There was also a stab in the back that was bleeding less heavily. A gash on his arm ripped his blood-splattered clothes.

As she circled back, around the corpse, she noticed something sticking out of Eijirou's pocket. It looked like a crumpled piece of paper. She kneeled down and tugged at it, removing it from the pocket.

"A... map?"

The sheet bore a very sketchy version of what looked like a map, written in pencil and smudged from the creases in the paper. For a moment, it was all just a mess of lines to her. She stared at it, wondering what it could ever mean.

Then she realized.

It's a map... she thought, turning the paper over. ...of the vents.

The crisscrossing lines, the many labels in letters and numbers, the symbol key in the bottom left corner; a blacked out rectangle meant a vent cover. The whole thing was a three-dimensional side view of layers of vent systems, stacked like a tower. It showed clear routes for all the rooms, too; an extra section on the right of the paper showed the fifth and sixth floors in higher intricacy, due to the number of classrooms and more dense vents.

Yaomomo was just folding the map, ready to store it for the trial, when someone approached her from behind.

"Hey, Yaomomo? Could you spare a moment?" She jumped, bouncing into a squat so her feet were both flat and stable on the ground. She swiftly tucked the map under her belt and turned her head, looking up to meet Mirio's blue eyes. Tamaki was still at his side. Nejire had clearly branched off to help out elsewhere.

"U-Umm... sorry for scaring you..." Tamaki muttered, eyes averted to the side.

"It's fine. What is it?" Yaomomo stood up, wiping off her hands on her skirt.

"The Monokuma File," Mirio cut in. "You're the body investigator; you should see it!" He handed the black and white tablet to her.

Yaomomo took the tablet and clicked it on, scanning over its contents.

>Case V

Victim: Eijirou Kirishima

All Wounds: There are multiple stab wounds in his abdomen. His left eye is ripped out. There are light burns on his neck. Furthermore, there is a gash on his arm and a single stab wound in his back.

When: ~0:50<

"So it doesn't give the fatal wound, or weapon," Yaomomo muttered under her breath. "But it gives the time. Here." She handed it back to Mirio, storing the facts in her brain for later. "I'm done with it."

Mirio gave her a warm smile. "You'd be a great detective, you know? Our own personal Ultimate Detective."

"Please," she huffed, her voice devoid of energy. "I'm just an Affluent Progeny. I only took up Hanta's job because we needed someone to after he died, and Monokuma sort of gave me the role anyway."

"You're a great detective, really," Tamaki said softly. "You've solved two cases for us already..."

"It's nothing," Yaomomo murmured.

Tamaki eyed her again, as if wanting to say something else, when a certain someone came running back and cut him off.

"Hey, Yaomomo! I got you scissors." Shouto called at that moment, and all eyes turned to him. Izuku was still at his side.

"Thanks." She took the twin blades gratefully before leaning back down and carefully cutting apart Eijirou's shirt. She ripped back the cloth to reveal the gaping, weeping wounds underneath.

She heard Tamaki take a sharp intake of breath behind her and Izuku gasp. In the corner of her eye, she saw him turn away and shut his eyes. "That's... those wounds are deep," Shouto commented, clearly unnerved by how Fumikage-like Yaomomo was handling the body.

Why does everyone have to act so surprised?! I mean, it's not that hard, is it?

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Yaomomo asked softly, gray eyes vacant, as she began to inspect the depth of the wounds, poking into it with her finger to test it. This caused blood to bubble up and soak her skin, but she didn't seem to mind.

"W-Well, you're literally sticking your finger into a dead body! How do you want us to react?!" Izuku wailed.

"It's sort of easy, if you consider it for a moment," Yaomomo stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Just don't think emotionally. Look at it from a different lens. In the future, when this is all over, it won't matter. None of it will matter at all. Eijirou won't matter, and neither will Kyouka, and Fumikage, and Katsuki, and Hanta, and Ochako, and all of those who have been wiped from the face of this planet already."

"That's so- so-"

"So cruel?" she asked. "What part of this game isn't? We can't do anything about it. We can only live in it."

Silence followed, the squishing of her fingers in the wound being the only sound.

"Anyway, these wounds are deep. They likely punctured vital organs," she said, pulling her hand back. Her finger was soaked to the knuckle in blood, dripping with mucus and dashed with an odd, fleshy substance. Behind her, Izuku involuntarily gagged.

"We should investigate around the body now," Shouto suggested, keeping his cool. "I'm going to investigate the stairs. I noticed something starkly unnatural earlier, coming downstairs. Come on, Izuku."

He and his boyfriend started walking away when he suddenly turned again and called, "Hey, Yaomomo! I'll give you my account later. I think it'll be useful."

"Okay," Yaomomo called half-heartedly. She had already began looking around, absorbed in her work.

The carpet directly below the body was bloodstained, which seemed natural considering the body itself was dripping blood, the fluid having created a stain trailing down Eijirou's leg. However, Yaomomo still felt like there was way too much blood on the floor if the corpse had only dripped from hanging. She decided to keep it in the back of her head as she continued circling around.

She swiftly noticed that the carpet in front of the 1-A classroom's door -which was near the body- was matted with a small amount of blood. Intrigued, she entered the room. Standing inside the small triangular space, lit by the single yellow lamp on the ceiling, she quickly realized what was irking her.

The cabinet.

There was a small square cabinet in the corner of every dormitory common space. That was common knowledge. However, the one in this room looked... off.

It's backwards. Yaomomo suddenly realized, her eyes widening, that the cabinet was facing the wrong way. Normally, the drawers, with their tiny brass knobs, would be facing the entry doorway from the hall. Now, it was facing Eijirou's door.

Right. These are Eijirou and Katsuki's dorms... Yaomomo stepped up to the Bodybuilder's dorm door and brushed her fingers over the brass nameplate. Her fingers left a streak on the metal, which swiftly faded.

She sighed and turned on her heel, exiting the common area. Next to the 1-A dorm was a supply closet. If the killer wanted to spread out the evidence, they might put it in two different rooms next to each other... since it'd be too risky for them to take it to another area entirely.

As she approached the closet, however, another object on the floor, one that shone with a silver sheen, caught her eyes. "A paperclip?" she murmured to herself, bending down and picking it up. It was a paperclip, an everyday little metal thing. It was completely bent out. I'll keep it in mind.

She dropped the item and opened the closet door, allowing light to spill into the small, dusty space. And just as she expected, there was something laying on the floor, on top of some cardboard boxes. She carefully picked it up to examine it.

The ceiling tile, she realized as she turned it over. There was no blood on it, but that was to be expected, since removing a tile over the corpse without dropping it would keep it clean. Again, it probably doesn't mean anything new, but I'll keep it in mind...

Yaomomo left the door open and laid the tile back where she found it. She stepped into the hall and turned to the stairs. As soon as she saw her, Nejire looked up from her work over a large potted plant by the landing and called her over.

"Yaomomo! I found something!" She approached the bluette. She was hovering anxiously over something in the pot. She'd obviously upturned a lot of the soil, since there was dirt on her hands and under her fingernails.

Lying in the pot was a knife. There was sticky blood that covered the silver blade nearly to the hilt. Small clumps of soil coated the long-dry liquid like flies to a rotten body. Looks like a kitchen knife, Yaomomo noted. She lifted it up gingerly by the handle.

"I found it buried in the plant," Nejire said. "I thought the dirt looked a little messy and upturned, so I dug it up."

"Alright. Thanks, Nejire." Yaomomo placed the knife back in the pot. Everyone cares so much that even the Ultimate Beauty Pageant Star would dirty their hands just to find a piece of evidence that wouldn't even matter in a week, wouldn't matter when you're dead, would mean nothing to the dozen of dead among our ranks.

How... how silly.

"Ah, Yaomomo. You came." Shouto looked up. He was sitting on the first landing in the middle of the stairs. Izuku was sitting at his side.

There were slashes in the carpet covering the stairs, ripped and frayed edges of hard fabric sticking up. When Yaomomo bent down to inspect the rips, she noticed the faint speckles of blood among the frays and cuts.

"Yeah, there are the bloody slashes in the carpet. That was what I was looking at earlier. Anyway, I wanted to give you my own account. Come on, sit down here." Shouto patted the carpet to his left, since Izuku was at his right. Yaomomo took the opportunity gratefully, content to be at his side.

"Last night, I was awoken at about midnight by a banging noise. I got up to investigate, and realized that the wooden barricade I'd put up over the vent had been broken down. The vent grate had fallen as well. When I looked down the vent, however, nobody was there. There was a bend in the vents just down to the left of my vent entrance, so maybe they crawled over there to hide.

"Anyway, I got nervous and left the room. I had been staying at Izuku's, since he had been locked in mine. I stayed at Mirio's for the night. When I was on my way to the upstairs dorm in the morning, I saw Eijirou's body. I had been carrying my blanket and pillow, so I quickly went back to the room to drop it off. I entered to find the room a mess.

"Someone had clearly entered and ransacked Izuku's dorm, where I had been residing. The vent cover had been bashed down again. There was a weight on the floor next to it, so I suppose the vent intruder had re-entered after I left. However, sweeping over my room, nothing had been taken."

"Are you absolutely sure nothing had been taken?" Yaomomo asked. "How could you possibly keep track of every little thing that was in the room? It's Izuku's, not yours."

"I don't own much," Izuku spoke up. "There's nothing fancy in it, unlike the other Ultimates' themed stuff. There was my extra sets of clothes, my bed and the things that came with it, like the slippers, sheets, and pillow; my notepad, which I hadn't used; a pen, the toiletries and spares in the cabinet, and a pack of tissues. That's all." He'd reeled off the list with ease.

"I confirm what he just said," Shouto said. On the desk was the one pen and the completely unused notepad. I'd actually started using it during my stay. I only filled in the top page, though, and it hadn't been taken. I hope you don't mind," He added to Izuku, who shook his head good-naturedly.

"Okay, then. Can I go see the room?" Yaomomo inquired. "Have you cleaned any of it up?"

"Of course not. There'd been a murder. My focus had been on telling everyone about it so investigation could begin." Shouto's voice was surprised, which seldom happened.

"Ah, of course. Anyway, can I go see?" Yaomomo asked her first question again.

"Sure. I'll continue the account as we walk." Shouto got up, Izuku following suit. The three of them went up the stairs and towards Izuku's dorm.

As the trio reached the landing, however, Yaomomo noticed something on the floor. "Is this a... bloodstain?" She knelt down to inspect the off-color stain in the carpet about a meter from the landing.

"It appears so," Izuku said grimly. Shouto nodded in affirmation.

"It's in a strange place. We'll figure it out later, I think," he said. "Come on, now. We can take a look at the dorm."

They continued walking.

"Now, despite finding my room a mess, I dropped the blanket and pillows on the bed and left," Shouto said, continuing his account. "I went back and told Mirio and Tamaki, and Nejire of the crime. I got Tsuyu and Denki along the way. I was out getting everyone when Denki got you."

Shouto reached the 1-I room door and opened it, stepping into the small common area. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Izuku's key.

"You have that?" Yaomomo asked.

"Of course. On my way out the dorm, I'd grabbed both my own and Izuku's key. I also locked my own door. Since the doors are only lockable using the keys, it was to keep Izuku in." Shouto turned the knob and pushed the door open, casting a strip of light over the dorm.

He was right. It was a complete and utter disaster. The bed had been stripped, obviously in a haste as the blankets and sheets lay in a heap on top of the bare mattress. The drawers of the cabinet and dresser were slightly ajar, and the bathroom door was wide open as well. The notebook was on the floor, the top page indeed filled with notes in Shouto's messy scrawl.

"As you can see, the room has been wrecked by someone, probably in search of something. And yet they didn't take a thing... how curious," Shouto remarked.

"Funny," Yaomomo muttered. She stepped into the room and approached the vent. There was a wooden barricade, slightly dented and lying on the floor. The vent cover was lying on top of it. There was a weight next to it.

Yaomomo crouched down by the weight and rolled it over. It was a mere fifteen pound weight, so it gave easily.

She got back up and wandered around the room idly, checking the drawers and desk. "It does look like whoever had broken in had been searching for something," she concluded. "But according to you, Shouto, nothing is missing."

"Yes," he confirmed. "Ah, and I think we should go collect some accounts now, like last time," he continued. "It helped last time, didn't it?"

"Okay," Yaomomo said placidly, following him out of the dorm.

Once outside, Izuku suggested, "Maybe we should see who last saw Eijirou. Figure out his situation, or something like that."

"Alright... since both of you had been in confinement for the last few days, I don't think either of you saw anything. I last saw him in the dining hall yesterday morning. He wasn't eating much. We parted ways and I didn't see him again all day," Shouto said.

"Who's closest to him?" Izuku asked.

"Katsuki was his closest companion, but he's dead," Yaomomo stated bluntly. "Most of his friend group is gone, actually. Just Denki is left."

"Then let's go find him," Shouto concluded, walking away. "Come along, now."

The trio found Denki downstairs. He was hovering over the body, having adjusted Eijirou's body into a more comfortable position, so he -like Kyouka- appeared as if he were merely sleeping, and could awaken at any moment, smile, and get on with his day.

Of course, that was a fantasy. A fantasy that was a broken creation of their poisoned minds, a useless shimmer of hope in a dark world that only spoke of sickness and death.

"Hey, Denki," Yaomomo said softly, as to avoid startling him. The electric blonde looked up with tear-filled, dreary eyes.

He looks so tired.

"We wanted to ask for your account," Shouto said. "Since you knew Eijirou relatively well."

"U-Umm... I wouldn't say that, but I did see Eijirou yesterday," Denki replied, his voice small and meek. Yaomomo leaned forward slightly to hear him. "He was in the kitchen... I was passing by and saw him walk out. It must've been mid-afternoon when that happened."

"Alright. Thank you, Denki," Shouto said.

"Anything else? Maybe over the past week, anything odd?" Yaomomo prodded. Denki fidgeted, as if uncomfortable with her blank gray stare fixed on him.

"Err... he wasn't eating much, I think..." he managed. "That's it."

"Okay, then. Thanks, Denki," Yaomomo finished. As soon as she did, she noticed a flicker of movement in the corner of her eye. She jumped, glancing down the corridor she just had her back to, and spotted Mezou strolling away.

"Oh, Mezou," Yaomomo called, hastily giving chase after him. Mezou turned to glare down at her.

"What do you want?" He hissed.

"Your account," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing.

"Why should I give my time and sightings to you?" he asked darkly. "You're all just traitors and killers who'll take each other's trust and information, before backstabbing them. Selfish, miserable rats," he grumbled.

"Didn't Fumikage tell you to keep living, Mezou?" Yaomomo's voice suddenly softened dangerously. She stood on her toes so that they were almost the same height.

"Hm?" Mezou blinked.

"If you have information, and don't give it to us, we might all die, and that'd be your fault," she said grimly. "And you'd die too. How would you preserve Fumikage's memory now?"

Mezou shuddered, his eyes alight with renewed, white-hot anger, followed by sorrow. He wilted into silence. The two stared at each other.

Then he spoke.

"Fine. I saw Eijirou yesterday night. It was eight-thirty. He entered the gym- I was working on my weights, and throwing them across the room, since nobody else usually came in. I had been taking a break, and he rushed in, grabbed something from against the wall, and rushed off."

Yaomomo took in the information, storing it in her mind for later. "Thank you for your account," she said politely, before walking back to Shouto, Izuku, and Denki, who were all waiting for her.

"You got an account out of him?!" Denki murmured.

"It wasn't that hard," she replied promptly. "Anyway, what do you think of this case, Shouto?"

"What do I-? Why are you asking me that, all of a sudden?" The heterochronous male seemed startled by the sudden request.

"Well, you're the Ultimate Theorist, after all. What do you think the motive would've been?" Yaomomo inquired in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Well... it may have been Monokuma's own motive. The Despair Sickness motive," he began slowly. "Maybe someone really did kill in order to stop the illness from spreading further. Also, Monokuma said he had an antidote... he would cure every sick person the moment a death occurred. Perhaps those things would be important to the case."

Yaomomo was about to reply when a bell rang overhead.

"Ding, dong, bing, bong..."

The monitors flickered to life, Monokuma's face endorning all of their screens. "Ahem! Investigation is now over! Please make your way to the elevator ASAP! Upupupu... see you soon!"

With that, the screen flashed to darkness once more.

Wordlessly, the group of students headed downstairs, to the elevator. When all of them had gathered, the doors opened, and they stepped on.

There's so few people left, Yaomomo realized. Me, Shouto, Izuku, Denki, Mashirao, Hitoshi, Tsuyu, Mirio, Nejire, Tamaki, Mei, Tooru, Mezou...

Thirteen of us, and one is a killer.

The blackened of the case, the murderer of Eijirou Kirishima...

Will be revealed in this trial.

Chapter Text

Yaomomo stepped out of the elevator among her classmates, the sight of the ornate trial room reinforcing itself in her permanent memory. It felt so familiar to her, yet at the same time, so wrong, every time she stepped into its grounds. She halted among the crowd and looked up at Monokuma, who sat atop the throne with Dabi, awaiting instructions.

"Heeeeeello kids!" Monokuma smiled. "Please go to your podiums! You know the drill by now!"

The class was silent as everyone approached their podiums. Today, Fumikage and Eijirou were replaced by their profile signs.

Another two lost to death. The last we'll see of them are these signs, these podiums...

"Puhuhu! Are we ready? Now let the class trial begin!"

>Class Trial : Start!<

"Let's start with the Monokuma File, like always," Mirio prompted, after an awkward pause. Fumikage always started off the trial with that line, Yaomomo mused. Only now do we realize how much we'd depended on him.

"Yeah, that'd be fine," Denki murmured, his voice downcast and unspirited.

"Mirio, you have the File, right?" Tamaki turned to the blonde.

"Yup. I'll start, then." Mirio took out the File and scrolled down.

"The victim is Eijirou Kirishima. There are multiple stab wounds in his abdomen. His left eye is ripped out, and there are light burns on his neck. Also, there is a gash on his arm and a single stab wound in his back. His time of death is about fifty past midnight. That's it," Mirio finished.

"So... we have to figure out the weapon, as well as the fatal wound," Hitoshi said.

"Let's start with the fatal wound. Since this File gives all wounds, that includes the fatal one. So we just have to go off of that," Shouto deducted.

"Okay then. Let's talk about what Eijirou's fatal wound is," Tsuyu prompted.

Talk about it... okay. I can do that...

After all, I did do the autopsy.

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Denki's Account, Ceiling Tile, Monokuma's Antidote, Yaomomo's Autopsy, Knife Two - Potted Plant<

"Eijirou's wounds included stab wounds to the abdomen, a ripped out eyeball..." Mashirao began, "...burns, a stab to the back, and a gash on the arm."

"We can obviously rule out the gash on the arm as the fatal wound," Izuku began. "Any of the other options could have been fatal."

"The burns are probably from the wires, since some were exposed. It also explains why they're so light," Shouto said.

"Then the burns themselves can't be fatal, but it's the physical wound that came from hanging," Denki murmured. "So it's possible that killed him."

"I agree with Denki," Nejire said. "Eijirou was probably hung to death."

"But what about the stab wounds, or the gouged-out eyeball? They could easily be fatal," Mezou grumbled coldly.

"His eye being ripped out couldn't have been fatal," Tooru argued. "It would hurt a lot, but it shouldn't actually be fatal."

"But the blood loss could kill him. Such a major injury would bleed a lot," Shouto shot back.

"Oh, and could those stab wounds themselves have really killed him? It's possible they weren't fatal, but the subsequent blood loss was," Mashirao suggested.

"No, that's wrong."

>Yaomomo's Autopsy : Counter!<

"During my autopsy, I determined that the stab wounds were clearly deep enough to puncture vital organs," Yaomomo explained. "They could definitely be the fatal wound."

"But what if the killer hung Eijirou, then mutilated his body?" Tooru suggested.

"But why would they mutilate the body if he's already dead?" Tsuyu asked softly.

"To confuse us, maybe?" Mei wondered.

"Guys, it's got to be the stab wounds," Mashirao spoke up. "Like Yaomomo said, they were deep enough to kill. Besides, it makes no sense to mutilate a dead body. You only leave behind more evidence."

"Well, we can't continue in our discussion until this is settled," Shouto murmured. "So why don't we-"

"HOLD ON!!!"

>Break!<

"Ooh, so soon? You're barely five minutes into the debate and you're already split right down the middle! In that case... it's time... for the most anticipated Scrum Debate!" Monokuma cheered. Dabi sighed and handed down the controller.

"A Scrum Debate? Already?" Tamaki murmured.

Starting off on a split note... this is just great.

Monokuma slid the key into the controller and turned it, like twisting a knife in someone's chest. The trial room began to glow, the podiums lighting up and rising. The light was gentle, soft, but it made Yaomomo's eyes ache, as if she were gazing at an angel.

...

>Scrum Debate : Start!

What was Eijirou's fatal wound?

Eijirou died from hanging: Mei, Tooru, Izuku, Nejire, Denki, Hitoshi

Eijirou died from the stab wounds: Shouto, Mashirao, Tamaki, Mezou, Tsuyu, Mirio, Yaomomo<

"Of all the wounds, hanging is the most likely to be fatal!" Mei claimed.

"Mezou."

"The stab wounds could've pierced vital organs, so they're just as likely," the Heavylifter said.

"It's possible the killer hung Eijirou, and then mutilated the body," Tooru repeated.

"Tsuyu."

"What reason would they have to mutilate the body?" she retorted.

"They could've been trying to distract us from the real cause of death," Izuku suggested.

"Mirio."

"Hanging couldn't have been the of death, because the Monokuma File mentioned nothing about its aftereffects as wounds," the blonde said.

"The Monokuma File mentioned burns, which are from Eijirou being hung," Hitoshi said.

"I'll do it."

"The burns were from the wires physically being around his neck. They aren't an effect of being hung, such as cutoff of oxygen to the brain," Yaomomo stated.

"It's also possible Eijirou mutilated his own body, then hung himself," Nejire suddenly suggested.

"Tamaki."

"If Eijirou did that to himself, he wouldn't have been able to remove his stepping stool from the scene, apart from maybe kicking it," the Florist spluttered.

>Crouch Bind : Set!<

>W - D - W - S<

>Full Counter : Break!<

"No matter how you look at it, the points do not line up," Yaomomo said slowly. "Everything points to the stab wounds in Eijirou's stomach being fatal."

"Mutilating the body would potentially leave behind more evidence. It's a risky move to make," Shouto said. "And Eijirou couldn't have mutilated himself and committed suicide right after. He wouldn't have had time to kick a stepping stool away, since there's no other way to reach the ceiling."

"Besides, it's unlikely he could've withstood the pain of gouging out his own eye without passing out," Mezou said.

"Y-Yeah... Nejire, where did that idea come from?" Tamaki shuddered.

"I dunno... it kinda popped into my head," the girl responded dejectedly.

"So now that we've determined the stab wounds to be the cause of death, I suppose we can also figure out when the body was hung," Tsuyu commented.

When the body was hung... I know that...

>Select an answer:

Before Eijirou was stabbed

After Eijirou was killed

During the body mutilation, while Eijirou was alive<

>After Eijirou was killed : I got it.<

"Eijirou's body must've been hung after he was stabbed to death," Yaomomo said. "And he was definitely on the ground when he died."

"Hm? How'd you determine that?" Tooru asked.

There's a piece of evidence that proves it...

>Select a Truth Bullet<

...

>Bloodstains on Floor Five : I got it.<

"There was a large blood pool in the carpet directly under where Eijirou was hanging," Yaomomo said. "There was a bit too much blood on the floor to be only from the wounds dripping throughout the night.

"Eijirou must've been killed first and collapsed on the floor, allowing blood to freely run all over the carpet. The killer then hung him up, but couldn't get rid of the bloodstain because it was in the carpet," she finished.

"Ah... that makes sense," Izuku murmured. "But in that case... how did the killer hang him up? Like Shouto mentioned before, you would need a stepladder of some sort to reach the ceiling, remove the tile, and hang the body."

"It would have to be near the scene. I doubt the killer was confident enough that they'd try moving such a large piece of evidence that far, with the risk of being seen," Hitoshi commented.

Near the scene... there was definitely something near the scene that could be used as a stepladder.

>Select something from the scene<

...

>Cabinet : I got it.<

"It must've been that cabinet in the common area of Eijirou and Katsuki's dorms, in room 1-A." Ah. Our former homeroom. How fitting, Yaomomo thought. "The cabinet was facing the wrong way when I checked it during investigation. Every cabinet in every room, based on our previous investigations of the school, face the entry doorway into the hall. However, this one faced Eijirou's door. It was backwards."

"So the killer went into the nearest room, dragged out the cabinet, used it as a stepladder... removed the tile, hung up Eijirou, and moved the cabinet back into the room, without noticing they'd put it the wrong way," Mashirao recapped.

"That seems about right," Hitoshi commented. "Just one thing... where did that ceiling tile go? If it was removed, where did the killer take it?"

Where the tile is...

>Select an answer:

Closet

Room 1-A

Under the floorboards<

>Closet : I got it.<

"It was in the closet," Yaomomo said. "I went in there, and it was laying on top of the closet's contents, like someone hastily threw it in without bothering to hide it."

"Very obvious... whoever this killer was clearly wasn't too careful," Shouto murmured. "Maybe they were a little too scared of being caught, and got hasty..?"

"Whatever the case, we have to work with the evidence they left," Mashirao commented. "Which is quite a lot."

"Now that we've established a fatal wound and burns, we should examine the rest of them," Yaomomo suggested. "There's a single stab to his back, a gash on his arm, as well as his eyeball."

"Why would he have so many wounds, especially such a major one as the ripped out eyeball?" Tooru asked. "There's no reason for a killer to injure him so much... you just need one clean shot to leave behind the least evidence."

"I believe it was intentional," Shouto suddenly spoke up.

"Intentional? What do you mean?" Tsuyu tilted her head.

"The killer tried to mutilate the dead body after he killed Eijirou, in order to make it more difficult for us to pin down a solid fatal wound, in addition to hanging it," Shouto explained. "Or they tortured Eijirou before dealing the fatal blow."

"T-Tortured him?!" Denki wailed. "Why... why would anyone do such a thing?"

"It's as unbelievable a thing as the idea of our friends killing each other. Which has already happened, several times now. So... it's not that unlikely," Tamaki sighed.

"Let's recap what we know," Mirio prompted. "See if there are any loose ends we forgot to cover."

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Stab wounds, Hanging, Bloodstains on Floor #5, Eyeball, Knife One - Eyeball<

"So, when the killer attacked Eijirou," Mei began, "they stabbed him several times in the stomach, which was fatal."

"As for the other wounds, they were either from the killer torturing Eijirou, or mutilating his dead body to confuse us," Nejire said.

"They probably stabbed him in the back with the same knife as the one used for the wounds in his abdomen," Shouto murmured. "The gash on his arm was from the same weapon as well."

"And the eyeball's obvious, right? The killer stabbed it out using the knife driven through it," Izuku declared.

"No, that's wrong."

>Eyeball : Counter!<

"When I inspected the eyeball, the back of it was slightly squished," Yaomomo said. "I believe someone ripped out Eijirou's eye with their own fingers, hence the squish marks."

"So... they stabbed through the eye with the knife afterwards, to make it seem like it'd been stabbed out?" Izuku inquired further.

"Yeah, I believe so," the Affluent Progeny replied grimly.

"Wh-What?! Why would someone do that, when they had that knife handy?" Tooru spoke up.

"I-I agree with her. Who'd be mental enough to do something so... disgusting by hand?" Tamaki asked.

"...I'm not sure," Yaomomo murmured in response.

A silence fell over the group. It, indeed, was a conflicting situation; why would the killer choose to gouge out Eijirou's eye with their own hands when they had other tools available?

Mezou sighed, shattering the glassy silence. "Is it seriously that difficult? There's only one solution here, and it's pretty obvious."

"Well, Mezou, what is your idea?" Shouto prompted.

The Heavylifter huffed. "For a group that's solved four cases already, you're all actually sort of dull. Remember what motive Monokuma gave us?"

The motive Monokuma gave us... it's...

>Select a Truth Bullet!<

...

>Despair Sickness Motive : I got it.<

"You mean the Despair Sickness, right, Mezou?" Yaomomo replied, her words soft and careful.

"Exactly so," Mezou said. "Anyone with the Sickness was practically out of their mind insane... it wouldn't be a stretch to think one of them had gotten out and attacked Eijirou. That would include ripping out his eye, seeing how far gone they were."

"The victims of the Despair Sickness were... Tsuyu, Tamaki, Mei, Izuku, Yaomomo, and Mashirao," Tooru said. "So... one of them is the killer?"

"According to the fact Eijirou's eye was gouged out by hand, yes. No one else would be insane enough to do that," Mezou said.

"But you can't confirm that," Yaomomo argued back. "All of the victims of Despair Sickness were locked up in their rooms with guards. It doesn't make sense. Besides, with that clear of a possibility open, anyone could've gone the extra mile and imitated such an action."

"I suppose you could put it that way," Mezou grumbled. "Fine. Do what you'd like. Just remember what I've said."

"We'll think about it after we've figured out the case map," Yaomomo said dismissively. "Where were we again?"

"We were establishing each of Eijirou's wounds," Denki murmured. "But we've already done that. Eijirou was tortured or had his body mutilated, hence the stab to his back, and the gash on his arm. His fatal wounds were the stabs to his abdomen. His eye was ripped out as a part of the body mutilation."

"The other thing missing from the File is the weapon used to deliver the fatal wound," Shouto spoke up. "So we should fill in that gap first."

"In that case, let's discuss. What was the murder weapon used to kill Eijirou?" Mirio prompted.

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Shouto's Account, Stab Wounds, Bloodstains on Floor 6, Mezou's Deduction, Knife One - Eyeball<

"What was the weapon used to stab Eijirou?" Mirio inquired.

"I bet it was the knife in the eyeball," Hitoshi said. "They stabbed Eijirou, then reused it by impaling it in the eye."

"What if they took the weapon away from the scene, like what Fumikage did with Kyouka?" Tooru suggested. "I mean, what else was there onsite that could be used?"

"How about the knife Nejire found buried in the plant?" Tamaki spoke up.

"I agree with that."

>Stab Wounds : Consent!<

"Tamaki is right. The knife in the potted plant was larger than the one impaled through the eyeball, and it was covered in blood to the hilt. The width of the blade also matches the width of the stab wounds," Yaomomo explained. "It's the most likely murder weapon."

"Now that we've filled the blanks in the File, we should recap again to make sure everything's consistent," Tooru suggested. "Just in case."

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Cabinet, Hanging, Wires, Bloodstains on Floor 6, Monokuma File #5<

"Eijirou's fatal wounds were the stab wounds in his abdomen," Tamaki began.

"And the weapon used to do so was the knife Nejire found in the plant," Shouto continued.

"The killer took two knives with them, though," Izuku noted. "They stabbed the second one through Eijirou's eyeball, which they'd ripped out by... by hand."

"They also hung him up on the ceiling," Mashirao said.

"But before all that," Mei spoke up. "The killer attacked Eijirou on the fifth floor, in the dorm hallway."

"No, that's wrong."

>Bloodstains on Floor 6 : Counter!<

"There were bloodstains upstairs, as well as slashed carpet on the stairs," Yaomomo explained. "I believe the killer attacked Eijirou upstairs and wounded him, hence the bloodstain. However, the wound wasn't fatal, and Eijirou fled down the stairs."

"So which wound was dealt upstairs?" Nejire asked. "It couldn't have been the eye, or the stab wounds in the front."

"So it's either the gash on his arm, or the stab to his back," Hitoshi commented. "Which one..?"

Which wound was fatal... it must've been...

>Hangman's Gambit 3.0 : Start!

Which of Eijirou's wounds were inflicted on floor six?

🗆🗆🗆🗆 🗆🗆 🗆🗆🗆 🗆🗆🗆🗆<

...

>STAB TO THE BACK : I got it.<

>Break!<

"It must've been the stab wound on Eijirou's back," Yaomomo deducted. "He was most likely attacked from behind, so a single stab to the back would be sufficient."

"I agree," Shouto spoke up. "If a killer were the approach someone with intention to attack them, especially at night, they wouldn't walk up to him from the front. It's too obvious, and Eijirou has time to react and run. It's more likely they attacked him from behind."

"But what if they attacked him and he fell?" Denki suggested. "Besides, one stab wound shouldn't leave that much blood."

"Then there's the possibility the killer made him fall, before stabbing him in the back and slashing his arm," Shouto replied. "There couldn't have been too much blood lost, because there wasn't a blood trail down the stairs."

"Based on this conversation, I think we can assume the killer attacked Eijirou upstairs," Tsuyu concluded, "wounded him non-fatally... pursued him downstairs when he broke free and fled... and finally killed him on the fifth floor. They had either tortured him there, or mutilated his body afterwards. They also hung him up."

"Speaking of the pursuit... what about the slashed stairs?" Hitoshi asked. "Why are they all cut up?"

"There's... no clear answer," Shouto said. "I see no reason for the stairs to naturally get slashed in such a pursuit."

"There were blood stains on the slashes. They were slashed with the same knife that was the murder weapon," Yaomomo said. "But it could've been done before or after Eijirou died. My best guess is that the killer slashed the stairs as a distraction or diversion after Eijirou died. It seems unlikely during a hot pursuit for someone to bend over and cut the carpet as they run."

"For now, we should leave it," Tooru suggested. "If it seems that unnecessary, it shouldn't be so major a clue."

"In that case, we've covered quite a lot of ground," Mei noted. "Yaomomo... why don't you give us a sorta abridged closing argument?"

"...why are you relying on Yaomomo to do all the work?" Hitoshi asked.

"Because! She's like, the smartest of us here. She's like... um... ooh! She's like our own personal Ultimate Detective!" Mei grinned.

What..? Why does everyone keep calling me that? Isn't it obvious that I'm doing this just because I was handed the role, and because otherwise someone needed to step up to Hanta's job..?

"It's fine, Hitoshi. I'll do it," Yaomomo said. "The case so far... it's clear..."

>Psyche Taxi : Start!<

...

>Question 1: Where did the killer attack Eijirou?
Left: Floor six
Middle: Floor four
Right: Floor five
Left: Correct!<

...

>Question 2: What did Eijirou do after being attacked and wounded?
Left: Died on floor six
Middle: Ran downstairs to floor five
Right: Ran upstairs to floor seven
Middle: Correct!<

..

>Question 3: Where was Eijirou fatally wounded?
Left: Floor six
Middle: Stairs
Right: Floor five
Right: Correct!<

..

>Question 4: What did the killer do after killing Eijirou?
Left: Hung up his body
Middle: Mutilated and hung up his body
Right: Mutilated his body
Middle: Correct!<

>Success!
Question 1: Floor six
Question 2: Ran downstairs to floor five
Question 3: Floor five
Question 4: Mutilated and hung up his body<

>Break!<

"Here's the order of events...

"The killer attacked Eijirou on floor six from behind. After wounding him, Eijirou escaped and fled down the stairs. The killer followed him, and killed him on floor five. After killing him, they mutilated his body -that is, if they hadn't tortured him before dealing the fatal wound- and hung Eijirou up on the ceiling by the wires," Yaomomo explained.

"Explained so eloquently! That's our Ultimate Detective for you," Tooru encouraged.

Oh, please, why this again..? "...let's just move on," Yaomomo murmured, the title her classmates had bestowed upon her burning in her brain.

"Since we have the general gist of what happened down, as well as the time of death... does anyone have any accounts?" Mirio inquired.

"I do." Shouto immediately spoke up. "Last night, at around midnight, I woke up to someone breaking down my vent cover. I'd put a barricade up against the vent. I went to investigate, and nobody was there. I left the dorm -Izuku's, which was where I decided to stay after he took over my own room-, and stayed at Mirio's for the night. In the morning, the room had been ransacked, but nothing had been taken. A weight was left by the vent cover, which had been knocked down again."

"Are you sure nothing was taken?" Nejire piped up.

"Yes. I had just the same conversation with Izuku and Yaomomo earlier, actually; of Izuku's meager possessions, nothing was missing when we scoured the room," Shouto confirmed.

"If this is the case... we should figure out, first and foremost, who had knocked down the vent cover," Tamaki said.

Who knocked down the vent cover... it's obvious who did it, if you consider the presence of the weight...

>Select a person!<

...

>Eijirou Kirishima : It's got to be you.<

"It was probably Eijirou," she said aloud.

"Hm? Eijirou? Even my genius brain didn't consider that! Where did you get that idea?" Mei prompted.

"I'm not certain yet," Yaomomo said. "But I could confirm or disprove with a certain someone's account. Hold on."

The account I deduced that from...

>Select a Truth Bullet!<

...

>Mezou's Account : I got it.<

"Mezou. You told me that you saw Eijirou enter the gym, grab something, and leave," Yaomomo said. "Could you repeat your account in more detail again?"

"Fine. It was yesterday night, about eight-thirty. I was in the gym, throwing weights across the length of the room. Eijirou ran in, snatched something from along the wall, and then left. I didn't see what he took," Mezou said.

"You said you were throwing weights across the room. Did any hit the wall?" Shouto asked, catching onto Yaomomo's logic.

"Of course," Mezou huffed. "Most of them hit the wall."

"What were the weights of the ones you threw?" Tamaki continued.

"I threw the lightest ones first, just for fun, before gradually increasing in weight. The lightest weights are three kilos, seven, ten, fifteen, and so on. Why?" Mezou's eyes were icy as he regarded Yaomomo, Shouto, and Tamaki.

"Did Eijirou grab something from the wall you were throwing at?" Tamaki insisted, ignoring Mezou's question.

"Yes! Now tell me, why are you asking?" Mezou snapped.

"That confirms it," Shouto murmured.

"Confirms what?" The Heavylifter retorted.

"It confirms that Eijirou was the one who grabbed the weight, and therefore the one who broke down the vent cover with said vent," Yaomomo replied calmly. "But why would-"

"That's wrong!"

>Break!<

"Hold on! Something doesn't add up," Denki cut in.

"What?" Yaomomo said slowly.

"It's about the vents," Denki said. "I'm going to convince you why Eijirou couldn't have broken down the vent cover!"

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Denki Kaminari : Momo Yaoyorozu

Truth Blades: Monokuma File #5, Cabinet, Eyeball, Hanging, Denki's Account, Mezou's Account<

"In order to break down the vent cover," Denki began, "You'd have to go in from inside the vent. But how would Eijirou fit in the vent? We did the test with Fu-Fumikage all the way back, right after we'd failed the second case. There was just enough space for him! There's no way Eijirou, of all people, would fit!"

"You say Eijirou wouldn't fit in the vent? Why not?" Yaomomo asked.

"B-Because! His build is too wide, and his figure is too big in general to fit," Denki reasoned.

"I'll cut through your words."

>Denki's Account : Cut!<

"According to your own account, Eijirou had been eating less after Katsuki died. He could've lost enough weight to conceivably fit in the vent. Also, height doesn't matter much either; even if you were as tall as Mezou, but you were very thin, you would definitely fit," Yaomomo said.

"Hm... that makes sense, I guess. Alright then. Continue..." Denki practically deflated, shutting his mouth.

"It's fine, Denki. No need to be upset. Anyway, there's something else that also proves Eijirou went through the vents, for sure," Yaomomo said.

"Something that proves he went through the vents..? What else could there have been?" Nejire inquired, her sky-blue eyes alight with... curiosity? It'd been so long since Yaomomo had seen the bluette with her naive, child-like thirst for knowledge.

The item of her curiosity, the item that makes it obvious Eijirou went through the vents... I can see it now...

>Mind Mine : Start!<

...

>Map of the Vents : I got it.<

"When I was investigating Eijirou's body, I found... this." Yaomomo reached down and pulled out the map from its place tucked under her belt. She unfolded it and showed the image to the trial room.

"What is that? It looks like some map, or graph," Hitoshi noted.

"It's- that's a blueprint, or map of some complex system!" Mei suddenly spoke up, excitement in her voice. "It's so complex... look at all the symbols and layers! It's so messy... why is it drawn on normal paper, instead of graph paper?"

"Relax, Mei. You can examine it later," Shouto said. "Anyway, from what I can tell, it's a map of... the vents."

"The... vents?" Denki murmured. "How would Eijirou get-"

"A map of the vents?! That again?" Tooru cried out.

"Two killers have used them already! We should've known they'd prove to be only trouble," Hitoshi muttered.

"Yeah! We should've just blocked them off-!" Mashirao jumped to agree.

"Even worse, there's now a map of them for anyone to use? Even if you didn't spend ages exploring the system, you'd be able to utilize them with this!" Izuku wailed.

"Yeah, that looks like it," Tsuyu murmured, her voice haunted and quiet. She's probably thinking of the time Yuga dragged her through them... "But like what Denki was trying to say, where would Eijirou have obtained such a thing? We investigated the whole school... wouldn't someone have spoken out if they found this sort of thing?"

"Maybe not," Mezou suggested, his voice deadpan and cold. "Maybe... maybe someone kept it a secret."

"..." "..." "..." Yaomomo glanced around the trial room. Most of the class was about as startled as you'd expect them to be. However, she noticed a certain trio had yet to speak, and the expressions on their faces were, under a thin mask of surprise, painfully awkward and horrified.

As if they know what it is.

"Haven't you been quiet..." Yaomomo muttered.

"Huh? What did you say?" Nejire asked. She was trying to act casual, Yaomomo could tell; it was a pretty good deception, actually, spare for the fact her hands were shaking and her eyes were like a startled rabbit's.

"Nejire. Mirio. Tamaki." Yaomomo looked up and looked at each member of the Big Three in turn, holding up the map at them. When she said each of their names, each respective person looked like they'd been stabbed in the chest. "You've seen this map before, haven't you?"

"Wh-What are you talking about?" Tamaki stammered. "I've never seen that paper in my life!"

"Yeah! What are you trying to pull, Yaomomo? Has your detective intellect gotten you confused, somehow?" Mirio asked.

"What do you mean, we've seen that map before?" Nejire inquired. "We definitely haven't!"

"Don't play dumb with her," Shouto said darkly. A jolt went through Yaomomo's skin. Why's he speaking up for me? "It's obvious from your reactions that Yaomomo's right."

"For once, I agree with him, and our newly-fledged Detective, too," Mezou said. "Why don't all three of you just play nice, and explain to us how you know what the map is? Even if I don't care about this class, I don't like backstabbers and deceptive cowards."

Isn't that sort of contradictory? Didn't Fumikage lie and deceive us about his Ultimate talent? Yaomomo thought. Oh, well. I guess as long as he doesn't try to kill him in the process of lying, it's okay.

At the very least, Mezou's threat got the three of them talking, despite the fact that they could probably, logistically, take on the Heavylifter if things did get violent.

"Well... remember a while back, before Fumikage's crime, when we all decided to investigate around. Tamaki, Nejire, and I decided to investigate the principal's office. Any of you who investigated the door can confirm, right?" Mirio began to explain.

"I remember that!" Denki blurted out. "Ah, um... I can confirm you three were in the principal's office, yeah... what does that mean, though?"

"Well, we found the map in there. A blueprint, color-coded and printed perfectly, of the vent system, all labeled and marked up. We decided to keep it a secret, because if it got out... we sort of expected something like this to happen," Mirio continued.

"Why the fuck would you keep something so major a secret?!" Mezou yelled. "Didn't you consider that you would all get very, very suspicious, keeping something like that? At least one of you could actually fit in those things, too!"

"Y-Yeah... we kind of did realize that after Mirio took the map and hid it in his room," Tamaki murmured. "We just thought that if we kept it hidden until we escaped, it would never be a problem..."

"Yeah, and look how that turned out," Hitoshi muttered, his voice edged with cold. "You could barely hold that paper for a few weeks before something happened with it!"

"H-Hey, hold on, guys!" Mei cried out.

"What? This is an important lead," Izuku said, his voice trembling at the end, while his jade eyes darted to Mirio. He obviously didn't like the way this was going, especially considering his upperclassman friend.

"Mirio said the map he found was a blueprint. It was also apparently color-coded and printed. The map we found on Eijirou is none of that!" Mei pointed at the map Yaomomo was still limply holding up. "It's handwritten, messy, and all in pencil! Plus, I doubt such an important blueprint would be put on such a lousy piece of computer paper!"

"The original was on graph paper, and each floor's vents were color-coded, so you could see them a bit better," Nejire put in. "And yeah, that map Yaomomo has is definitely not the one we found. It's the same content, but... not the same."

"I agree with her," Tamaki spoke up. "Mirio still has the original copy, anyway. He checks it every morning..."

"Yup! And this morning, it was still there!" The Ultimate Hope added.

"So it's a copy of the original blueprint," Tsuyu mused. "Where could've Eijirou got that?"

"Did you guys make any copies of the map?" Shouto asked.

"No! Why would we need to do that?" Nejire retorted immediately. "We were going to keep it a secret, so why would we make copies of it?"

"But even then, this is still suspicious," Yaomomo said. "You guys had the original map. Eijirou died with a handwritten copy of it in his pocket. It's connected, so in a way, you guys are connected to this case."

"Are you suspecting us?!" Nejire wailed. "Why would you suspect us? We never would've shown the map to anyone!"

>Double!<

"And we still have the original copy, safe in my cabinet!" Mirio added. "How do you explain that?"

>Triple!<

"Yeah! Besides, even if Eijirou somehow got the map from us, the logic doesn't add up! None of us could've been the culprit anyway!" Tamaki declared, surprisingly confident.

"It doesn't make sense!"

"It just doesn't add up!"

"It's not logical!"

>Mass Panic Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Shouto's Account, Knife 2 - Potted Plant, Slashed Carpet, Eyeball, Ceiling Tile<

"You've got to believe me when I say this," Nejire began.

"Even if Eijirou somehow got a copy of that map..." Mirio said.

"We all have alibis! It's useless to suspect us," Tamaki cried.

---

"I swear that none of us showed the map to anyone!" she wailed.

"...that doesn't mean we're suspicious," he reasoned.

"What do you mean, you all have alibis?" Mashirao asked.

---

"There's no way we can confirm what you're saying for sure," Tsuyu whispered.

"How is that supposed to make sense? Eijirou definitely got a hold of your map," Izuku said.

"Well, I had Despair Sickness, so last night I was with Mirio," Tamaki said.

---

"Do you trust us that little..?" Nejire murmured, her eyes teary.

"If what you're all claiming is true, then how the heck did Eijirou make a working copy of it?" Hitoshi asked.

"Obviously, if I left sometime in the night, he would've stopped me," the Florist finished.

---

"I'm sorry, Nejire... it's just that we have to find the truth," Tsuyu replied softly.

"What if Eijirou stole it, copied it down, and then returned it?" Shouto suggested.

"Sure, fine, but Nejire doesn't have an alibi! She's still suspicious," Mezou shot back.

"No, that's wrong."

>Knife 2 - Potted Plant : Counter!<

"Nejire was the one who found the knife during investigation. The murder weapon," Yaomomo said.

"That doesn't make her any less suspicious. In fact, that makes it worse," Mashirao said. "How'd she know that digging up a plant would reveal the murder weapon?"

"But look at it another way," Denki spoke up. "Well, if Nejire had been the culprit, she'd know where the weapon was. But she also wouldn't reveal it and dig it up. That was the purpose of burying the knife; so people wouldn't find it in investigation."

"That's probably the most intelligent thing I've heard come out your mouth in a while, now," Hitoshi teased.

"...eh?" Denki stared at his friend, looking slightly hurt. He'd obviously taken it seriously.

"Wait, no, I was joking! I'm sorry, Denki!" Hitoshi rushed to apologize.

"Moving on..." Tooru said awkwardly, "How does clearing the Big Three of suspicion contribute to the map thing?"

"It could mean several things," Shouto said. "It's possible they're telling the truth, and Eijirou snuck into Mirio's room, likely through the vents, and copied down the map. He would've had to know they had it, but it's possible he overheard them in the principal's office, anyway.

"A second possibility is that one of them is lying, though. Or more than one," Shouto said cryptically. "Someone could've shown Eijirou the map, hence allowing him to copy it down without thought for the consequence. Or, they were going to try and help him murder someone. There's endless possibilities."

"Help him... murder someone?" Nejire whispered, her voice shaking. "Why would you think such a thing of us..?"

"It's nothing personal, Nejire, I swear," Tooru spoke up. "It's just that we can't take any chances."

"We should move on," Yaomomo cut in. "This is all fine and dandy for finding suspects, but we still haven't figured out the rest of the story. Why would Eijirou break into Izuku's dorm, where Shouto was staying?"

"Yeah... that's something we'll have to answer to figure out the culprit," Izuku noted grimly.

"We'll figure it out," Yaomomo reassured. "Now, let's get back on track."

We're getting close to something. I can feel it now...

Chapter Text

"There's something that's been bugging me since we discovered Eijirou was the one who broke down the vent," Mashirao said. "Why did he?"

"Yeah! Why would Eijirou break down Shouto's vent, of all people?" Tooru piped up. "Plus, Shouto wasn't even staying in his room. He was in Izuku's dorm, because Izuku took over his dorm."

"Maybe... Eijirou intended to kill Shouto?" Mei suggested.

"Wha-? Kill Shouto?" Izuku yelped. Of course he'd freak out if that ever happened.

"Yeah! It makes the most sense, actually!" Mei said. "Eijirou broke into Shouto's room with a weight! Why else would he try to enter the room, anyway?"

"But that doesn't explain why after Shouto left, Eijirou reentered and ransacked the room," Tsuyu said.

"...maybe Eijirou thought Shouto was hiding, and wanted to find him and finish him off?" Tamaki suggested softly.

"If that's the case, why would Eijirou touch things such as the bedsheets, the cabinet, and the desk? I obviously can't hide in any of those places," Shouto spoke up. "My desk was a mess and the drawers had been rummaged through, for example."

"See, he's right," Tsuyu agreed. "Someone in a hurry to kill someone wouldn't waste time on tiny cabinets."

"So what was Eijirou doing?" Hitoshi inquired.

"He was looking for something."

"Say again?" Nejire turned to Yaomomo.

"I said, Eijirou was clearly searching for something in Shouto's room," Yaomomo repeated. "He ransacked the place, and certainly didn't make it a secret he was entering, bashing down the vent cover so loud. A killer wouldn't try to wake up their victim. It was as if Eijirou wanted Shouto to get out."

"If that's the case, what was Eijirou searching for?" Mirio questioned.

What Eijirou was searching for... I can definitely figure that out, with a bit of work...

>Psyche Taxi : Start!<

...

>Question 1: What did Eijirou plan to do when he entered Shouto's room?"
Left: To destroy something
Middle: To kill him
Right: To find something
Right: Correct!<

...

>Question 2: What did Shouto take with him when he left the room?
Left: Keys, Pillow, Blanket
Middle: Pillow, Blanket, Notebook
Right: Keys, Pillow, Blanket, Notebook
Left: Correct!<

...

>Question 3: Did Eijirou find what he was looking for?
Left: Yes
Right: No
Right: Correct!<

...

>Question 4: What was Eijirou looking for?
Left: Keys
Right: Notebook
Left: Correct!<

>Success!
Question 1: To find something
Question 2: Keys, Pillow, Blanket
Question 3: No
Question 4: Keys<

>Break!<

"That's it! Eijirou was looking for the keys," Yaomomo murmured aloud.

"The keys?" Denki asked. "What keys?"

"Shouto and Izuku's dorm keys," Yaomomo replied. "When Shouto moved to Izuku's dorm, he brought his own room key, which was where Izuku stayed, and Izuku's key, where he stayed. Eijirou must've been looking to get one of them."

"Why only one? And how do you know it's the keys?" Hitoshi asked.

"I'll answer your second question first," Yaomomo said. "We know Eijirou entered Shouto's room looking for something. Out of everything left in the room -which was not a lot-, nothing was taken. Shouto and Izuku could both reel off a list of the belongings in the room, most of which being common items in every dorm.

"However, Shouto took three items with him when he left, before Eijirou got in," she continued. "He took the two keys, his pillow, and his blanket. Again, the pillow and blanket are common items in every dorm. Eijirou wouldn't have wanted those. So by process of elimination, he was looking for the keys."

"That's... actually pretty smart," Izuku commented. "But then, what about the thing with it being one key Eijirou was looking for?"

"Eijirou had just entered the room Shouto was in by vent," Yaomomo explained further. Unless he really wanted to open the door for some reason, he doesn't need Izuku's dorm key. Therefore, the key Eijirou was searching for..."

>Select an Answer:

Shouto's dorm key

Izuku's dorm key<

>Shouto's dorm key : I got it.<

"...was Shouto's dorm key, where you, Izuku, had been residing."

"Why would Eijirou want the key to that room?" Tsuyu spoke up.

"Yeah! I had the Despair Sickness, remember? Why would Eijirou want to enter... my room?" Izuku asked, confused.

"Oh, and Eijirou had the vent map! Why does he have to go through the door, when going through the vent means entering as well?" Nejire prompted.

"None of this makes sense," Tamaki muttered.

"Eijirou must've wanted to go through the door, for some reason, whatever it is. But why?" Shouto asked. "Like he just said, Izuku had the Despair Sickness. He had the symptom of wrath. He was violent. Why would Eijirou want to approach him?"

"Yeah! To open Izuku's door, when he was like that... that would let him out into the dorms!" Tooru said.

"H-Hey, don't talk about me like I'm some savage animal!" Izuku protested.

"Letting a violent Izuku into the dorms would result in injury, or death, if he attacked someone unprepared," Denki commented. "Why would Eijirou let him out like that?"

"To kill someone for him, perhaps?" Mezou suddenly spoke, for the first time in a while. "Or to kill Shouto? Maybe Eijirou really did want Shouto's key as well, to open the door."

"But Eijirou also scared Shouto out of his room. If that was his intention, he would've failed by doing that in the first place. Eijirou obviously didn't want to kill Shouto, using Izuku," Hitoshi deduced.

"Guys, I think we're forgetting something important here, though," Mashirao suddenly said.

"What?" Tsuyu turned to him.

"Whatever the reason, did Eijirou actually open Izuku's door?" the tailed ex-hero asked. "He didn't get the key. The doors are only unlockable by key."

Did he..?

There's something that proves he did...

>Mind Mine : Start!<

...

>Paperclip : I got it.<

"Yes, Eijirou did open Izuku's door," Yaomomo confirmed, confident in her choice. "He picked the lock using a paperclip. I found it on the floor in front of the door when I went to investigate."

"If that's the case... then Eijirou let Izuku out of his room, before he died," Nejire said. "Oh. Wait a second..."

"To open Izuku's door... paired with this circumstance, that could only result in death," Mirio finished grimly.

"Wh-What are you saying?! I would never kill Eijirou!" Izuku wailed. "He was one of my closest friends! One of the only ones I had left, next to Shouto!" His voice cracked as he said those last words, 'the only ones I had left'.

"You would never kill Eijirou, sure... but the Despair Sickness might say otherwise," Yaomomo countered.

"Hey, Yaomomo. Lighten up on him, would you?" Despite his words, Shouto was staring at Izuku with wide eyes, as if he realized what this case was starting to reveal.

"I can't, Shouto. After Kyouka... you should know that by now." Yaomomo's voice was lifeless, her eyes hazy as she looked at him. He dragged his eyes from his boyfriend to the Affluent Progeny- or the Detective, whatever floats the boat; Yaomomo wasn't even sure of her own talent anymore. "I can only seek the truth."

"If this is what you're going at... give some evidence to prove it," Shouto challenged. He's going to defend Izuku to the last step, she realized. He's going to let his emotions get the better of him...

"Of course I have evidence. I wouldn't give a baseless argument," Yaomomo huffed. Evidence, evidence... let's see...

>Select a Truth Bullet!<

...

>Slashed Carpet : I got it.<

"Izuku being the killer would make sense, considering the slashed carpet," Yaomomo said. "If he'd pursued Eijirou down the stairs, he could've ran on all fours, considering his wrath. Shouto, you once said that he attacked you on all fours in your room, back when you tried to accompany him, right?"

"Y-Yes, that's true..." Shouto murmured.

"...but your logic is inconsistent!"

>Break!<

Wh... What the fuck?

"What? What's wrong?" Yaomomo wasn't exactly used to seeing Shouto so riled up.

"You're saying Izuku ran after Eijirou on all fours, carrying knives? Are you absurd?" Shouto hissed.

"Shouto..." Izuku murmured softly from his own podium.

"What do you mean, absurd?" Yaomomo asked.

"What I mean? I'll show you what I mean!" There were tears in Shouto's eyes, Yaomomo could tell; he knows the truth, but he just doesn't want to accept it.

I'll have to show him...

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Shouto Todoroki : Momo Yaoyorozu

Truth Blades: Eyeball, Knife One - Eyeball, Knife Two - Potted Plant, Shouto's Account, Denki's Account<

"So you say Izuku ran after Eijirou holding knives," Shouto began. "That's illogical, because how could Izuku have obtained knives? There's no way he could've gotten his hands on some blades. Obviously, there were none in his room to begin with, and nobody would give them to him!"

"I will cut through your argument."

>Denki's Account : Cut!<

"What do you mean, I'm wrong?" Shouto stared at Yaomomo.

"According to Denki, Eijirou got something from the kitchen last night. He wasn't sure what he got, but it was likely the knives," Yaomomo said. "Denki. Can you say anything to confirm or deny?"

"Um... not really," Denki replied slowly. "I know he didn't go near the fridge. He didn't say hi to me, either. He was sort of hasty."

"That confirms it, then. Eijirou hurriedly grabbed two knives from the kitchen. If he'd go as far as to open Izuku's door, he might as well provide the weapons," Yaomomo deducted.

"But... to give Izuku, with Despair Sickness, knives... that'd be-" Mashirao was about to say.

"Ah!"

"Hm? What's wrong, Yaomomo?" He cocked his head at her.

"That's it! That's the answer," she exclaimed, a burst of inspiration in her veins.

What Eijirou intended to do... why he would give Izuku knives, and open his door... I can see it now....

>Hangman's Gambit 3.0 : Start!

Why did Eijirou approach Izuku?

🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆<

...

>SUICIDE : I got it.<

"Eijirou had been planning to commit suicide all along," Yaomomo declared.

"Eh? Suicide?!" Denki yelped.

"Everything Eijirou did, from breaking into Shouto's room, picking Izuku's lock when he failed to get the keys, getting knives from the kitchen... it was all in an elaborate plan to commit suicide!" Yaomomo declared.

"S-Suicide? Why would he involve me..?" Izuku's voice was hushed, haunted, hollow.

"Ah... it does make sense," Mirio said. "Eijirou wanted to open Izuku's door, give him knives, and let Izuku kill him."

"G-Guys... please wa-" Izuku's soft protests were ignored.

"If that's the case, then why did Eijirou even try to enter my dorm?" Shouto retorted. "Why didn't he just lockpick from the start?"

"I don't think Eijirou ever considered lockpicking until after he failed to get the key," Yaomomo said. "He would've used the key to be faster, and afterwards Izuku would take it upon returning to his room, so it would be harder to tell. However, because he improvised and picked the lock, he left behind the paperclip by mistake."

"So, Eijirou had to improvise... even if he had gotten the key, his plan was kind of bad," Hitoshi murmured. "He must've planned for Izuku to pursue him downstairs and kill him swiftly in the hall. Except Izuku must've been faster than he anticipated, and he got attacked upstairs, leaving that blood stain. Second, Izuku also slashed the stairs, leaving even more unwanted proof."

"G-Guys... why are you-" Izuku tried to speak again, only to be run over once more.

"Eijirou's plan hinged on secrecy, and a bunch of unrealistic independent variables," Mezou muttered. "It's no wonder it failed so poorly. People saw him retrieving his weight, and the knives... that was the first mistake. The second was expecting an ill Izuku to show such control."

"M-Mezou-" Izuku spluttered.

"But his failure became our success," Yaomomo finished. "We should now go over the case again, one last ti-"

"Wait! Yaomomo!"

She looked up, turning to meet Shouto's gaze. "What?"

"You're missing something. Something didn't add up, and I knew it; with what Hitoshi and Mezou said, I realized what it was." Shouto's eyes were even, his voice steady. Looks like he got himself together, except he's still on the wrong side.

"Well? What's your groundbreaking evidence, Shouto?" Yaomomo prompted.

"My evidence... I'll show you! And after I do... it'll be clear why Izuku can't be the killer!" Shouto declared.

"Sh-Shouto..." Izuku's eyes were wide and filled with tears. "Shouto, wait-"

"Izuku, it'll be okay, just you see!" The Theorist's eyes softened as he turned to the jadette, a smile tugging at his lips. He returned his gaze to Yaomomo, and in a blink he was a boy of ice once more. "I'm going to show you the truth, Miss Detective!"

>Argument Armament : Start!<

{Shouto's Audio Clips <> Letters to Counter}

>Phase 1<

"Yaomomo, I believe..." <> (A) (A) (A)

"...that you've overlooked an important piece of evidence." <> (W) (W) (A) (W) (W) (A - Hold)

"It's about Izuku's physical state before contracting Despair Sickness." <> (D) (D) (S) (D) (D) (S - Hold)

"He was ill and weakened. You saw that yourself." <> (W-A-S-D)

"There's no way he could've attacked Eijirou like that!" <> (A) (A) (A) (D) (D) (A)

>Phase 2 : Advance!<

"Yaomomo, can't you see my logic?" <> (W) (A) (S) (D)

"Izuku was sick!" <> (D) (A) (W)

"He couldn't have chased and attacked Eijirou..." <> (D) (S) (A) (W) (W - Hold)

"And besides, even if adrenaline and Despair Sickness contributed..." <> (W) (W) (A) (S) (S) (D)

"It wouldn't explain the set up after Eijirou died." <> (W-A-S-D)

>Phase 3 : Advance!<

>You can't see anything... anything at all!<

"Why do you keep insisting?" <> (W) (W) (A - Hold)

"I've given you so much evidence..." <> (W) (A) (S) (D)

"You can't just throw it down the drain!" <> (W) (A) (D) (S)

"Listen to me, Yaomomo." (A) (A) (D - Hold)

"Izuku would never kill..." (W) (W) (S - Hold)

"Not even under the influence of Wrath..." (S) (D) (A) (W)

"There must've been a part of him in there..." <> (W-A-S-D)

"...under the wrath..." (W) (W) (A - Hold)

"He wouldn't have killed Eijirou!" (W) (A) (S) (D) (D - Hold)

>Final Blow!<

>W = Dote
A = Mono
S = Kuma's
D = Anti<

"Izuku had been ill, even before the Despair Sickness! How could he have set up the body afterwards?"

"This is why."

>A-S-D-W : MonoKuma'sAntiDote : Break!<

"If Izuku's weakness prior to the Despair Sickness had been an illness, then Monokuma Antidote would've treated it as well." Yaomomo's eyes met Shouto's wide, blue and gray ones.

"What do you mean?" he murmured.

"Monokuma. You released your Antidote in the form of a gas through the vents, didn't you? It's the most logical way to cover every single ill person, no matter where they were in the building."

"Ooh, how smart! You're absolutely right!" Monokuma grinned. "My special antidote can cure any illness, including Despair Sickness! I evaporated it and released it into the ventilation system, as soon as Eijirou bit the dust. It sure worked well."

"See? It was released throughout the whole building, the exact moment Eijirou was killed. Therefore, Izuku would've been cured of both Despair Sickness and whatever illness was making him so weak previously. He would've regained his strength, and would've easily set up the body," Yaomomo explained.

"But what about before that, while he was chasing Eijirou downstairs?" Tsuyu asked.

"He must've been powered by his Wrath illness. Remember what happened when Shouto himself tried staying in the same room as Izuku?" Yaomomo prompted. "He attacked him. He was strong and sturdy, too, according to what he told us afterwards. It's not a stretch to think Izuku would attack Eijirou."

"B-But... to think Izuku would set up the body after he was cured of Despair Sickness would mean he was conscious of what he was doing and what he had done. Are you sure he would do that?" Shouto challenged.

"Yeah."

"I-Izuku?" Shouto whipped around, not having expected the second Ultimate Hope to say such a thing. "Izuku, what are you saying?"

"Give it up, Shouto. It's okay. I'll admit it." Izuku's gaze was shadowed. He looked up to meet his boyfriend's gaze, tears streaming down his face. "It's true. I killed Eijirou. I was cured of Despair Sickness when Monokuma released the antidote, and I set up the body afterwards."

"Izuku..!" Mirio's eyes were wide. Everyone in the trial room was gawking at him, at the formerly hopeful boy, at someone who'd been their friend the whole time.

At someone who'd ended up killing their classmate in such a despairfully hopeless way.

"Izuku... why are you..?" Shouto's eyes were disbelieving, alight with crystal tears.

"I told you, it's okay. I wasn't going to admit it at first, actually... I don't want to die. I want to keep saving people." Izuku smiled sadly, tears still falling. "But then I saw you jump to defend me, even though you knew Yaomomo was right... is that right?"

"I-Izuku-"

"Tell me, did you really think that with so much evidence stacked against me, I still wasn't the culprit?" Izuku's voice was insistent.

"I..."

"Tell me." His voice softened, his green eyes hardening. "Or I won't know if you're an idiot or a coward."

"Izuku..." Shouto stared at the shorter Ultimate with tears falling down his face. The trial room was silent. Yaomomo could feel the tension in the air.

"I... yes. Yes, I knew you were the killer, I knew nobody else could've been it, not when everything pointed at you." Shouto's voice broke, his gaze dropping to the floor. "But that didn't mean I wanted to admit it. I didn't want to think you would..."

"Haha... so you were just scared." Izuku's voice was sad, his green eyes boring into Shouto's. "I didn't want to see you waste yourself on trying to fight something you couldn't win against... so I decided, maybe I'll just let everyone know. Get it over with. Right, Yaomomo?"

"...Sure." Yaomomo was taken by surprise as the ex-hero turned to her. "You want me to go over the case again, right?"

Izuku nodded in reply. Shouto was silent, his eyes lowered and shadowed. He's not going to fight it.

Yaomomo took a deep breath. "In that case... here's the entire story, one last time."

For Izuku.

>Closing Argument : Start!<

"At around midnight, Eijirou entered the ventilation system and broke down the vent barricade in the culprit's dormitory with a weight from the gym. Shouto was staying in this room, since he and the culprit had swapped rooms a few days prior, when the culprit contracted Despair Sickness.

"Also, Eijirou had a copy of the map of the vents that the Big Three had found. How Eijirou obtained this copy is up for debate; it's just known that he had the copy, and likely used it to reach this room.

"Anyway, due to the loud crashing noise from the wood barricade breaking, Shouto woke up. He got up to investigate the sound upon seeing the damage. Eijirou crept back in the vent and hid around the corner with the weight in hand.

"Shouto didn't see Eijirou. Instead, unnerved, he propped the barricade back up and left the room with a few possessions: his pillow, a blanket, and a pair of keys. One of the keys was to Shouto's own dorm, where the culprit was, and the other was to the culprit's dorm, from which Shouto was leaving. He stayed at Mirio's dorm for the night.

"Eijirou broke down the barricade again once Shouto left. He entered the room and ransacked it in his hasty search for a certain item: Shouto's dorm key, in order to open the door and approach the ill culprit. Because Shouto had taken the key with him, Eijirou was distraught to find that the item was gone.

"Undeterred, Eijirou had to come up with another way to enter the room he wanted to. He decided to pick the lock instead. Eijirou left Shouto's room through the vents, went to the culprit's room, and picked the lock open with a paperclip.

"Eijirou entered the ill culprit's room, confronted and provoked them, and dropped a pair of knives he'd taken from the kitchen on the floor for them. He then booked it out of the dorm and ran, hurrying to get downstairs to the fifth floor. However, the culprit was faster than Eijirou expected.

"With the knives in hand, the culprit was hot in pursuit. They managed to jump Eijirou on the sixth floor, stabbing him once in the back and possibly slashing his arm. Eijirou managed to get free and continued running downstairs. The culprit followed, still holding the bloody knives and running on all fours. They slashed the carpet on the stairs in the process, likely tumbling down partially.

"Eijirou stopped in the middle of the hallway on the fifth floor. Why would he stop? Because this was his plan all along: to commit suicide via allowing the culprit to murder him in a Wrath-fueled bloodbath.

"The culprit attacked Eijirou. If they hadn't already, they slashed his arm with one of the blades and stabbed him repeatedly in the abdomen. They also ripped out of his eyes with their bare hands. Eijirou died swiftly, just as he'd hoped.

"As per Monokuma's promise, an antidote for the Despair Sickness was released in the form of a gas through the vents. This antidote was special, though; it would cure all illnesses, including the Despair Sickness, but not limited to. Therefore, as soon as the culprit delivered the fatal blow, they would be in the process of recovering swiftly from the Despair Sickness... but also from a mysterious illness they had prior to contracting that, an illness that physically weakened them. They would regain their strength, which is crucial to the next part of the case.

"When the culprit came to, they realized that they had killed someone under the influence of Despair Sickness. Likely realizing what this meant, they decided to set up the body further. The culprit took the smaller of the two knives and stabbed it through the torn-out eyeball. They then went into the nearest dorm -room 1-A- and borrowed the cabinet from the common area.

"They used the cabinet as a stepladder and reached the ceiling, ripping off a tile to expose the wires behind it. They hung Eijirou up, using the wires as makeshift rope. Some of the wires must've frayed or ripped in their work loosening them enough to hang the body up, because there were some light burns on Eijirou's neck, where the wires contacted his skin.

"The killer left the eyeball, endorned with the smaller knife, on the floor, under the hanging body. They returned the cabinet to the common area of 1-A, without realizing they'd put it in backwards. They also left the ceiling tile in a nearby storage closet, obviously nervous and in a haste to get away from the scene. To tie it all up, they buried the second knife, still covered in blood, in a potted plant by the stairs on their way up.

"And the culprit of this case... the killer behind this murder... was the one and only Izuku Midoriya, the Ultimate Hope."

>Break!<

Izuku chuckled softly. "Haha... you're absolutely right, Yaomomo. I killed Eijirou, just as you described."

"Izuku... how could you just... admit to all this?" Shouto's voice was hushed, his eyes wide.

"Because it's the only thing I can do." Izuku's eyes were soft, his voice low and sad. Forlorn. Tears still tracked his cheeks. "I messed everything else up so badly that this was my only option left. Now, can we please get the voting over with?"

As per Izuku's request, everyone was silent as they cast their votes, pointing their red levers at him like guns. Once everyone had submitted their votes, Monokuma got up and approached the slots machine that determined their vote.

All three little images landed on Izuku. The machine lit up in a frenzy of lights and music and bells. Coins spilled from the rewards slot. We were right.

"Puhuhu! Three in a row now!" Monokuma grinned and walked back up to his golden throne, accompanying Dabi atop it.

>Class Trial : End<

"You were right again this time! Izuku Midoriya, the Ultimate Hope himself, was the blackened!" Monokuma declared all-too cheerfully.

"We're always right... but sometimes, I don't want it to be that way," Mei murmured.

"Izuku... so it really was you." Tsuyu's voice was hollow as she said those words.

"Of course. Izuku admitted to it earlier himself," Mezou said, emotionless, his arms crossed and eyes lowered.

"It all really does feel more real when the vote confirms it though..." Hitoshi was holding his hands together and rubbing his fingers against each other, as if to comfort himself.

"Why..? Izuku, why didn't you fight it? The Sickness, I mean. Could you fight it?" Mirio seemed shocked and heartbroken as he stared at his friend.

"Izuku couldn't fight it! That's why he killed Eijirou!" Shouto declared. "Right, Izuku?"

The freckled boy was silent for a moment before choosing to speak, tears dripping from his face. His words were quiet, but clear and fragile as glass. "No, Shouto... you're wrong again. It's been happening quite a lot recently, isn't it?" He let out a choked laugh.

"Hm? Wh- What do you mean..?" Shouto took a step back, as if struck by a knife.

"Izuku... did you really kill Eijirou... on purpose?" Denki was in shock.

"Well... When I was pursuing Eijirou, when I was on the floor over him and stabbing him in the stomach... I think a part of me knew what I was doing. But I let it happen." Izuku's voice was steady as he spoke, his teary jade eyes fixed on Shouto, as if challenging him to say otherwise. Of course, he didn't.

The trial room was, surprisingly, quiet. Nobody dared speak as they absorbed what Izuku had said.

Shouto was the one to break that quiet.

"Why did it have to turn out like this..?" he murmured, his voice breaking. Tears welled over his eyes; his gaze was shadowed as he pursed his lips. He looked like he was ready to break down and sob on the floor like a baby.

"I'm... sorry, Shouto." Izuku lowered his own eyes, refusing to find his lover's. "I know you wanted a happy ending for us... and I'm sorry I couldn't give that to you. It's all my fault. You don't deserve me, or the mess that I've created-"

"Izuku, don't say it like that!" Shouto cried, his voice cracking. Tears ran down his face. Yaomomo couldn't think of a time she'd ever seen the stoic boy shed a single tear, much less cry like the world were collapsing. "None of this is your fault..!" He took a tentative step forwards, towards Izuku, hesitating for just the slightest moment. "Please don't blame yourself... if you did that, I... I don't know what I would do."

"But that's the truth," the jadette stubbornly insisted. "It is my fault that I killed Eijirou. I could've controlled myself, I know that... but I let myself kill him anyway. Because I realized, 'If I kill this boy, I could get the antidote. The curse would be lifted, and if I succeed in the trial, my mother would be freed'. From the bottom of my heart, that's the truth."

"Izuku, please..." Shouto was openly weeping now. He stumbled towards Izuku and closed the gap, wrapping his arms tightly around him, his head resting on the green-eyed boy's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Shouto... and please don't look at me like that... I don't think I can take seeing your eyes so sad again." Izuku murmured with a small smile, crying silently as he reciprocated the hug, nose pressed against the side of Shouto's neck. The taller was sobbing now, jewel-like tears dripping down his face in an icy waterfall.

The crowd was silent, spare for Shouto's crying and Izuku's gentle murmurs in an attempt to comfort him.

"C-Curse?" Nejire suddenly whispered, just loud enough for the entire room to hear. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Izuku didn't respond, preoccupied with comforting Shouto. Yaomomo doubted he'd even heard her. Much to everyone's surprise, it was Tsuyu who answered.

"Do you remember the USJ attack, back when we were all still heroes?" the frog-girl prompted.

"Of course," Denki murmured. "It was the first time we met the villains..."

"Well, recall that the League of Villains only consisted of a few people back then," Tsuyu continued. "It was just Shigaraki, Kurogiri, Nomu, and that girl, the one who called herself Dancing Death, right?"

"Yeah," Tooru murmured. "She was rather scary... just the look in her eyes was enough to scare the daylights out of me."

"And speaking of which, if I could just interrupt for a moment-" Mashirao looked to Tsuyu, who simply nodded, "-none of us have seen Dancing Death since USJ, not even during the attack on the dorms. What happened to her?" Mashirao turned to Dabi and Monokuma, who were still both sitting atop the throne.

"She's helping out with some of our operations in the cities," Dabi replied lazily. "We didn't need the entirety of the League working on the Killing Game, and she wanted to work in society rather than out, anyway."

"Seems legit," Mezou muttered.

"Well, anyway, the League recruited a ton of minor villains and criminals for the attack, right?" Tsuyu continued. "During the battle, when Izuku, Mineta -if anyone remembers him-, and I were fleeing the Lake Zone, we were attacked by a surprisingly strong minor villain. He called himself the King of Dice, or something like that."

"The King of Dice? I've never heard of such a villain," Mirio commented quietly.

"Makes sense, since he's apparently a minor criminal," Tsuyu replied, her voice low. "However, he had a rather strong quirk: he could cast a curse or a blessing on someone, the contents of which are determined by him. We dueled for a while; it was three on one, but he was surprisingly quick and agile, taunting us and then dodging away, trying to tire us out.

"He cast a curse on Izuku; a death curse, to be exact. His quirk was activated when he touched someone; that would determine a target. He stepped back after grabbing Izuku's arm and cast the curse. He said, 'I curse you to die within the next five calendar years.' "

"He set Izuku to die?!" Mei cried.

"If he set it as five years, it must've been bad luck that the curse took effect within only one," Tamaki murmured.

"Guys, come on, let's keep hearing Tsuyu's story!" Denki cried. The room fell silent.

"Of course, the downside of his quirk was that he would faint immediately after the curse was finished being cast," Tsuyu continued once again, with a nod of thanks to Denki. "We were confused at the time, and more focused on getting to All Might, so we didn't think much of it. I think it was only after that Izuku realized what that meant," she finished. "That's the story of the curse."

"He only told me, and a few other people," Shouto suddenly said. His voice was small and meek, all of the energy drained out of him. He and Izuku had let go of each other, but Izuku was still holding both of Shouto's hands, likely for the last time in his life.

"When I started to get weaker, after we were locked in here, I realized that I was dying, and that the curse had been real," Izuku said. "So when the antidote motive was presented, I wasn't sure what to do... I didn't want to kill anyone, but I didn't want to die, either. So when I got Despair Sickness, and Eijirou entered my room and handed two knives to me, I took the chance. But now I'm going to end up dying anyway."

"Yyyyyyou're right!" Monokuma suddenly screeched. Everyone jumped, obviously not having expected such an outburst. Izuku sighed and removed his hands from Shouto's. "Sorry to break into this lovey dovey stuff, but it's time to get some action in here again!"

"A-Action..?" Denki whispered.

"That's right! It's Punishment Time!" Monokuma smiled, his pearly whites glittering in the light of the chandelier.

"Punishment... Time?" Shouto's eyes widened. "No! You can't- you can't execute Izuku! Not after what he just went through, after he sacrificed so much to get rid of the curse..!"

"Puhuhu! Sorry! Rules are rules!~" Monokuma didn't look very apologetic, as per usual.

"Izuku..! I..." Shouto turned back to his boyfriend, as if wondering what to say to him, what his final words should be.

"Now then, I have prepared a very special Punishment..." Monokuma began slowly, relishing in the storm of emotions running rampant through the trial room.

"It's okay, Shouto. You don't have to forgive me. I was selfish and let despair overcome me..." Izuku laughed softly, the waterworks starting up again.

"...for the Ultimate Hope, Izuku Midoriya..!"

"Ultimate Hope..? Ha. More like Ultimate Despair," Izuku chuckled sadly, his eyes lowered to the ground.

"Izuku, no!" Shouto stepped forward and grabbed Izuku tightly, clutching him tight to his chest. The red and white haired boy cupped Izuku's cheek with his hand and lifted his head, kissing him on the lips. Izuku was frozen, startled by the sudden initiation.

Shouto pulled back as quickly as he'd began. Their eyes met; Izuku's wide, Shouto's brimmed with tears. The latter was crying again, his words riddled with sobs as his breath hitched.

"Are you ready?" Monokuma began.

Shouto's eyes were alight with panic at Monokuma's ever-moving conclusion, which was to lead to the execution. He let go of Izuku's face, instead wrapping his arms around him. Izuku stayed limp, allowing the taller boy to hold him. "I- I love you, Izu- Izuku... n-no matter what..."

"Iiiiit's PUNISHMENT TIME!"

"...you were always my hope."

>GAME OVER

Izuku Midoriya has been found guilty. Time for the punishment!<

Izuku was dropped in the middle of a cityscape. Buildings of various shapes and sizes towered around him. A network of streets spiderwebbed the execution field. At the edges of the environment were tall stone walls. The sky was a mere artificial hologram; flickering, orange and red lights and mirages, designed to simulate a sunset.

He was trapped.

For a breath's pause, nothing happened. A synthetic breeze ruffled Izuku's hair. His eyes were alert, scanning the environment, waiting for something to pop out at him. What's this execution supposed to be..? Yaomomo wondered. Beside her, Shouto was trembling, perhaps even hoping Izuku would make it out of the execution alive.

A false hope that would prove to be, indeed.

A young, feminine voice could be heard, echoing off of the chamber walls and carried by the wind.

"Izukuuuu~! Ready or not, here I come!"

Toga.

Izuku immediately realized what was going on. Turning a full circle in place, he considered his options before hastily entering a nearby office building.

All of the lights were off, but the elevator display panel on one wall was still alight. When Izuku pressed the open button, the metal doors slid open, sure as day. He jumped inside and shut the doors, before directing the elevator to go up, all the way to the roof.

Of course, Yaomomo thought. He could hide on the roof, and while he's in the elevator Toga can't get at him. Clever.

But of course, this was an execution, not a hero class drill of get-away. The elevator halted at floor five. It was stuck. Panic evident on his face, Izuku repeatedly pressed the open button a few times. Nothing happened. Aside from the fact the elevator lights were still on, it was obvious the elevator was jammed.

Seeing no other way to get out, Izuku began to pry open the elevator doors by hand. It took a minute, but he managed to force the metal slides open just enough to step out. His fingers were rubbed raw and red from the effort, but he succeeded nonetheless.

Izuku was standing in the middle of a dark hallway. The lights were off; the only dim lighting came from the windows at either end of the hallway. A sign on one end also noted that there was a staircase. Izuku began making his way towards the sign, walking briskly, when suddenly, a voice sounded from the other end of the hall.

"Izukuuuuu~ Why are you running?"

Izuku didn't even need to turn around to see who it was; who else could it be besides Toga? Instead, he bolted, running for his stairs. Toga raced after him, knives and syringe at the ready. She was wearing her villain suit, the blood storage and suctioning pack strapped to her back.

Izuku hit the stairs, whirling around the corner and bounding skywards. Toga was hot on his trail as he hit the roof. Synthetic wind whipped through his hair, stronger up near the ceiling compared to down on the street. Izuku was panting, unused to exerting so much energy since his the weak spell he'd been under the past few weeks. His head turned left and right.

He was atop of barren stone roof, the edges being slightly raised. Otherwise, there was no barrier to going off the roof onto the side of the building. He seemed to be contemplating his options when a pair of small, dangerous hands came down on his shoulders from behind. "Guess who?"

>Izuku Midoriya's Execution: Romeo and Juliet gone wrong! : Executed!<

Toga was clearly enjoying every moment of Izuku's execution. Meanwhile, the jadette froze, relaxing his muscles to the best of his ability in order to throw her off guard. It worked, and he leaped from the older girl, whirling around to meet his opponent face-on.

"Aww, Izuku, sweetie, why the angry face? What did I ever do to you?" Toga played the innocent girl card, smiling sweetly at him, as if they were old friends -or lovers- and she wasn't holding a syringe in one hand and a knife in the other.

"Get away, Toga. Or you know what's going to happen." Izuku was in a fighting stance. Sweat beaded on his forehead; out of exhaustion or anxiety, Yaomomo wasn't sure.

"But haven't you lost your quirk?" Toga grinned. "You can't do anything to me."

With that, she leaped at him, knife and syringe both poised to strike. Izuku dodged the knife and grabbed the syringe, his fingers closing over her hand. Due to his more muscular build, he managed to rip the syringe from her hand.

However, this meant that they were now connected by the clear plastic cord of the syringe, which ended in her blood pack. Inspired by this new development, Toga stabbed the knife at Izuku again. He held onto the syringe and ducked just in time, the blade brushing his hair as it soared over his head.

Izuku, holding onto the syringe so he and Toga were locked in close combat, kicked at her. She leaped up, the cord of the syringe lengthening to accommodate her movement. Back and forth, back and forth, the two dueled; Toga jabbing and slicing with her other syringe and knife, while Izuku kicked and punched, occasionally jabbing at her with the syringe in his hand.

It must've been ten minutes. The two were still going at it. The tension was high in the viewing room, where the rest of the surviving students watched on the screen.

"He's getting weaker," Yaomomo suddenly heard Mei whisper, her voice trembling in anxious anticipation of what was about to happen.

Sure enough, when Yaomomo glanced back to the screen, Izuku was noticeably slowing down. He was trying his best, she knew that; but he had grown so accustomed to being unable to exert high amounts of energy over the past few weeks. He wasn't pacing himself; he'd given too much at the beginning, and now he was paying for that loss.

"Hehehe!" Toga giggled, her golden eyes alight. She was in shape as ever, still ready to keep fighting. She's stronger than we expected, Yaomomo noted. That girlish physique really doesn't show her strength... "Getting tired already, Izuku?" she taunted.

Izuku, on the other hand, was panting. Sweat poured down his face. He looked exhausted, his movements getting sluggish as he continued to dodge every blow. "Of course... not..."

"But you're getting slower," Toga pointed out. She stepped back and took a running leap at him, knowing he likely didn't have the energy to attack her back. "I guess it's time for the show to begin!"

Toga landed square on Izuku's chest, shoving him to the ground. She moved to pin him, her legs on either side of his to keep him down. "Are you ready?" she asked teasingly. "Cus things are about to get veeeeery bloody!"

Izuku made a low growling sound through his teeth. He writhed, attempting to break free, but failed to break free of the girl's grasp. He was completely at her mercy.

Toga grinned and pulled out a pair of syringes. She stabbed them, one on each side, in Izuku's wrists. They immediately went into effect; blood began to flow up the clear cord in pulses, the pink fluid making its way towards the pack on Toga's back.

"Squish, squish; squish, squish," she giggled, leaning forwards so her chest was against Izuku's and they were face to face. "Haha! I've always dreamed of this happening... and now I'm going to be the last person you see before you die!"

Yaomomo could only imagine how distraught Shouto was at the moment.

Izuku's face was pained, his eyes wide. The blood-sucking was starting to have an effect on his complexion, too. He was paling dangerously due to the swift, extreme blood loss.

"While I'd love to sit here until you turn into a dry skin bag for me to grind into makeup powder, we don't have time for that... so it's time for the grand finale!" Toga grinned, whipped out a knife, and before anyone could say a word, she plunged it into Izuku's chest.

Over and over, the blade went up and down, silver meeting red, pink geysers of blood erupting from the ever-growing number of stab wounds. Izuku cried out in agony; a horrible sound ripped from his throat.

"Shh, Izuku," Toga smiled, still stabbing holes in Izuku's body. "It'll be over soon~"

And right she was. Izuku's cries became considerably weaker, until they were mere whimpers. His eyes were shut, as if keeping them open was too energy consuming. He was dying, as surely and quickly as the blood flowing from his chest and abdomen suggested.

"Hehe... goodnight, Izuku. Sweet dreams~!" Toga stepped back, bloody knife and syringes in her hands, hanging loosely by her sides. Her clothes were stained with Izuku's blood, some of it splashing across her face. She licked at it, grinning as she relished the metallic taste. The blood pack on her back was full of the pink liquid. "I'll see you next life!"

With that, she skipped away, leaving Izuku alone to die on a stone roof, under a fake sky and fake sunset.

The camera was fixed on Izuku's body. His chest rose unevenly with tiny breaths. He was fighting to stay alive.

"G-Guys..." Izuku's voice was small, but audible. "Please... always have hope... I love you... all..."

A small smile slid over his face, and he fell still.

Izuku was dead, lying in a pool of blood. The puncture wounds wept, as if also miserable he had just been murdered, executed, erased from the world for good.

Beside Yaomomo, Shouto was shaking. When she turned, she realized he was crying, a haunted expression on his face.

"Why..? How could... Izuku just- just die... so easily?" His voice was shuddering as tears ran down his cheeks. A shadow fell across his gaze.

Nobody replied. Everyone was staring, stunned, at the screen. Their friend, the great hero-to-be, Izuku Midoriya... was dead.

Never to cry again. Never to smile again, or fight again, or laugh... never to speak, or dance, or write his borderline-obsessive hero analysis ever again...

Never to breathe again.

"Everyone, please go back to the trial room. Monokuma has something to say." Dabi spoke up from the side of the room, standing in the shadow of the machinery in the room. The class silently turned and filed down the hall, back into the circular trialspace.

"Upupupu! Wasn't that an interesting execution?" Monokuma grinned. "Not as fast-paced as Fumikage's... but fun, nonetheless, riiight?"

Shouto was silent, his eyes fixed to the ground. Yaomomo wasn't sure if he'd ever recover from watching that execution.

"How could you be so cruel..?" Denki murmured, his eyes vacant as he gazed listlessly at the floor.

"What part of this game isn't?" Mezou suddenly said. "Friends betraying friends, despair winning over hope... every aspect of this game is crueler than reality itself."

Silence followed Mezou's words. Sensing the awkward tension in the room, Monokuma cleared his throat rather loudly.

"Ahem! While you all did fantastically in the trial today, you all missed one little secret," the rodent said mischievously. "How did Eijirou get that copy of the map?"

Why is he bringing this up now? Yaomomo thought. We don't want to know anymore... it's all pointless now, right? Eijirou is dead, and so is his killer. There's nothing left to solve...

"I said," Monokuma repeated, insistent. "How did Eijirou get his map?"

"We don't know!" Mei suddenly wailed. Tears edged her eyes, and her face was red with anger. "We don't know, okay?! Why are you asking this now? After what you just did to Izuku?!"

"Calm down, miss girl genius!" Monokuma snapped. "I just wanted to tell you all something...

"Eijirou got the map of the vents from mister Mezou Shouji!"

Silence. Everyone -except Shouto, Yaomomo thought, glancing at the boy out of the corner of her eye- turned to stare at Mezou, obviously snapped out of their stupor by Monokuma's prompting. Of course, not everyone was at full attention, but most were coherent enough to feel blame towards the multi-armed boy.

"H-Hey! Guys, why are you all looking at me like that? I didn't kill anyone, or anything!" Mezou yelped.

"But you gave Eijirou the map," Tsuyu murmured. "If you hadn't... Eijirou might not have thought of his suicide-murder plot. And Izuku wouldn't be dead right now."

"W-Wait! Let him explain," Tamaki suddenly said. "Mezou. Why would you give Eijirou the map of the vents?"

"Well, I'll gladly explain why I did that. It was a few nights ago, the evening of the day Tsuyu attacked me in the cafeteria..."

~*Flashback*~

"Eijirou. What do you want?" Mezou asked. They were standing in the gym; Mezou had been training with weights, letting out his anger at Tsuyu by destroying the room. Eijirou had walked in; Mezou had narrowly missed striking him in the head when he entered. Now, the two stood face-to-face by the hole in the wall.

"I've been looking everywhere for you, Mezou," Eijirou replied. His eyes still held that haunted, vacant look. It would've been unnerving, had Mezou not seen much worse in this game the class played, and continued to play.

"Why?" Why the hell would he be looking for me? I've done everything I can to make people get away... Dammit, Fumikage...

"I need you to kill me." Eijirou looked Mezou dead in the eye as he said that. "Please."

"What?" Of all the things, Mezou had not been expecting Eijirou to say that. "What do you mean?"

"I mean what I said. Kill me." Eijirou continued. "I'll take you back to my room, or whatever. Kill me on my bed by pouring poison down my throat. Stab me in the chest. Bash my skull in with a weight, I don't care! Just kill me!"

"Dude, this is so unlike you!" Mezou grabbed Eijirou by the shoulders, overcome with sudden sympathy and warmth. What am I doing? "What happened to being manly and never giving up?"

"False hope like that would never get you anywhere. Not here. Not in this hellhole, or out in the world. All Might allowed us to hope. Heroes and heroes-to-be alike could fulfill dreams and instill hope in people." Eijirou gazed up at Mezou. "There are no heroes here. Only killers, and to-be-killeds. There is no hope left."

"But Eijirou- remember what happened right before All Might's last battle," Mezou insisted. "You went all out, saving Katsuki with your friends. What happened to that mentality? That 'go for the impossible, never give up, be manly' mentality?!"

"That was in a world of heroes and dreams and magic. This is different. This is a mere pit of death and despair and trials," Eijirou replied, stubborn. "Come on, Mezou. Just kill me."

Mezou paused. A dark thought flashed through his mind. If I kill him, and get away with it... I would've lived up to Fumikage's expectation. To keep living. I don't want to die in this shithole... so why not escape?

But the rational part of his mind knew he couldn't. Fumikage had also told him to not become like him. Fumikage didn't want Mezou to kill, unless necessary, like when Fumikage killed Kyouka to protect him.

That was what drove him to his decision.

"I can't kill you, Eijirou," Mezou said. "But I can give you something. A gift, of sorts."

"I don't want a gift," Eijirou muttered.

"Here." Mezou ignored his protest and pulled the folded up piece of paper from his pocket. He'd been carrying it around anytime he left his dorm, careful not to let Fumikage's memoir, the item he'd entrusted to Mezou, get lost or damaged.

"What is this..?" Eijirou took the paper, unfolded it, and stared at its contents.

"It's a map of the vents," Mezou explained. "Remember how after his crime, Fumikage supposedly left through the vents? He didn't travel to his room by trial and error; he had this."

"But where'd he get it?" Eijirou prompted further. His interest was obviously piqued by the peculiar trinket.

"He didn't tell me the specifics; just that during a recent investigation of the school, he overheard someone talking about obtaining a map of the vents from the principal's office. He snuck into their room at night through his own improvised vent route, took the map back into the vent, and copied it down on a piece of paper. He returned the map by morning," Mezou finished.

"Are you sure this map is legit?" Eijirou asked, staring at it with wide crimson eyes.

"Absolutely. Fumikage himself used it," Mezou replied indignantly, irritated at being doubted, at his friend being doubted.

"Alright, then. Thanks, Mezou." With that, Eijirou turned tail and left with the map.

~*Back to Present*~

"That's the story of how Eijirou got the vent map. From me." Mezou stood there, cold as ever, his arms crossed.

"Why... why would you give him that?" Mirio asked, seething. "Fumikage already used it once for a murder. Why would you hand off such a dangerous item to him?!"

"He was desperate, and I thought it was an acceptable thing to give him. I expected him to do wrong with it, but wasn't he already doing that, asking me to kill him? That would've been a plot that, if it failed, would've killed me too. Even if I hadn't had the rationale that killing him would've been unethical as well, I wouldn't have done it anyway because of what it would mean for me," Mezou explained, his voice unemotional.

"Honestly, it's sorta surprising Mezou here is talking about good life decisions based off of ethicality," Denki mumbled.

"What was that?" The ex-hero in question's head snapped up.

"Um! Nothing!"

Yaomomo stood there, unmoving. So Fumikage's map ended up having a huge role in Eijirou's plan. If he didn't have a ready map of the vents, he likely wouldn't have thought to go through the vents and break into Shouto's bedroom to get the keys... without that idea, he wouldn't have thought to even break into Izuku's place.

Why is it... that even after that Assassin is dead... he can still manage to kill people?

"See? That's the story you were all missing out on!" Monokuma grinned. "With that out of the way... it's time to head back up! Everyone, get in the elevator!"

The class filed onto the bronze elevator silently, not a word to be exchanged. The doors closed, shutting them in, and moved upwards. Just like in Izuku's execution.

Except this time, the elevator didn't jam. And the killer wasn't outside of the elevator; this time, they were inside.

Well, soon-to-be killers, at least.

And soon to be victims.

How many more times will we have to go through this? How many more trials, and deaths..? How many more classmates do we have to uncover the terrible truth about, only to sentence them to death?

Sometimes...

...I wish someone were watching...

...so that they could come fly us out of this hellscape.

>Chapter 5 : The Impurity that Tainted your Blood : The End | Surviving Students : 12 | To be Continued<

>Item Obtained: Used Map of the Vents<

Chapter Text

Tsuyu awoke to her doorbell ringing.

I have a doorbell? she mused, rolling out of bed. I didn't realize...

She put on a pair of slippers and went to get the door. Behind her, she could sense Eijirou's eyeless spirit hovering by the bathroom. Shadows swam on her walls, as if the room were lit by candles and the corpses were having a dance. The frog jar on her desk seemed to bear mania in its eyes and bloodlust in its grin.

"Hello?" Tsuyu opened the door just in time to run into Nejire, who had her hand raised and poised to knock, as evident by her loose fist. The Beauty Pageant's other hand clutched two small papers.

"Ah, Tsu! Are you a psychic? 'Cus I was just about to knock..." Nejire chuckled and handed Tsuyu a note. Tsuyu unfolded it and read it.

'Please gather in the cafeteria! ~Mirio'

"I'm helping him pass out these things. I'm almost done. Do you wanna walk with me downstairs? Or do you have to wash up first?" The girl was bright and peppy as ever.

"I'll just brush my hair and put on some shoes. You can go if you want; I'll catch up," she offered.

"Okay~! I'll see you in a minute!" And with that, Nejire was gone.

Tsuyu did as she said; she grabbed a comb and brushed through her dull green locks, sitting at her desk, her eyes scanning the room. The shadows were gone; the corpses were evidently done having their party. Eijirou was still sitting by the bathroom, his right socket weeping blood, his left eye closed. He was dozing.

Ochako had popped up while Tsuyu was occupied with Nejire; the brunette sat at the foot of the bed, staring listlessly at the frog girl with a haunted gaze while whispering. Tsuyu couldn't make out the words, but she could hear smidgens of Ochako's soft, gentle voice, like a leaf in the wind. Tsuyu picked up the green ribbon from the desk and put on her boots. She left her room, not giving a second glance at the ghosts. As soon as the door shut, the whispering abruptly stopped.

She stepped into the hallway and turned to the right to see Nejire bouncing out of room 1-K, where Yaomomo resided. Tsuyu went up to the taller girl and accompanied her downstairs. They peered into the cafeteria through the doorway. It was empty. "Mirio and Tamaki are still handing out notes on the fifth floor. They have more notes to hand out than me, and Tamaki's only following him," Nejire explained. "Let's get something from the kitchen."

It had been two days since the trial, the case where Eijirou was killed and Izuku was executed. Since then the two boys had joined the ranks of the spirits Tsuyu would glimpse throughout the day. As the girls walked into the kitchen, Tsuyu spotted Izuku standing stiffly by the doorway, staring blankly ahead with lifeless jade eyes. His mouth was open; blood dripped from it, as well as from his ears. "Hey, Nejire," Tsuyu said, unnerved by Izuku's presence. They were fetching cereal from the cupboard in the back. "Do you think we should do anything about him?"

"What? Who?" Nejire's eyes widened, and she whirled around, immediately on edge.

"Izuku."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Now the bluette was visibly confused, her guard lowering.

"Right there, by the door." Tsuyu pointed at him. He was in the same position. The blood was still running.

"There's nothing there, Tsu. You must be hallucinating, or something. Maybe you didn't get enough sleep," Nejire suggested. She turned back to the cupboard, finding and grabbing the box of cereal.

Tsuyu blinked, staring at Izuku. He was clearly there. Look, the blood's dripping on the floor now... But she shrugged off Nejire's blind eye, and instead decided to just eat breakfast with her upperclassman.

~~~

"Good morning everyone," Mirio greeted formally.

"..." Of course, nobody responded. The remaining survivors -except for Mezou- were all gathered in the cafeteria. Everyone was silent. Tsuyu sat near the head of the table, by Nejire and across from Tamaki. Mirio was the only one standing this time.

Mirio sighed and put his hands down on the table, leaning forward. "Guys, I know it's been rough. Eijirou was killed, and Izuku... Izuku was executed. But we have to move on! How would we be honoring their memories if we stayed hung up on them for forever?"

I don't think they mind, Tsuyu decided, glancing towards the side of the room. Eijirou was sleeping, hanging from the ceiling by a single wire tied around his neck, and Izuku had followed her and was facing the wall now, still standing stiffly. Tsuyu could tell the blood was still running. She shuddered and returned her gaze to Mirio, trying to ground her rampant mind.

"What would Eijirou and Izuku want us to do?" Mirio continued. "They would want us to move on and get out of here, for their sakes. Remember what Izuku's last words were? He wanted us to have hope. What would he think if he saw us despairing despite his dying wish?"

He'd stand there and drip blood from his face, Tsuyu thought, shuddering.

"I agree with him."

"Eh?! Shouto?" Nejire looked up, surprised by him speaking out, of all people.

Tsuyu observed the scene. Shouto had gotten up from his chair, but his gaze was lowered. "It's just as Mirio said. Izuku..." his voice faltered. "Izuku wanted us to move on. And Eijirou wanted death. Both of them should get what they want, or else it'll all be meaningless. Who would want that to happen?"

The class was stunned, staring at the heterochronous boy. Tsuyu would've expected him to grieve longer, considering Izuku was his boyfriend and that he'd been completely shattered for the past two days, unresponsive to everything, including Tsuyu knocking on the door- which she'd done because she thought she heard Izuku's voice saying something to her in her bathroom.

Then Denki spoke. "Shouto's right. If we can't do anything else, we should at least fulfil Izuku's dying wish."

Murmurs spread through the table. People seemed to be agreeing.

"So we agree? We should move on and continue our escape plan?" Mirio spoke up. Everyone nodded, a flame relit in their hearts, it seemed. Tsuyu looked up to see that Izuku and Eijirou had both vanished. However, now there were needles all over the floor. That's better than the ghosts, at least, Tsuyu thought, relieved they were gone.

"Our escape plan?" Tooru echoed.

"Yeah! I'm almost done with the device, actually. I just have to run a few more tests, and it'll all be good," Mei piped up. "I lost motivation yesterday... I'll try to finish up today!"

"And we should continue our investigation from way back, before Kyouka died," Yaomomo said, her voice unemotional even as she said her dead friend's name.

"Oh yeah, speaking of that..." Mashirao got up and regarded Mirio. "First and foremost, we should get rid of the vent map."

"I agree with him," Shouto added. "It's been used in two cases already. We can't let this go on."

"Umm... that's fair enough," Tamaki stammered. "I sort of agree... it's caused too much death."

"I suppose," Mirio murmured. "It can't hurt to be too careful."

"Mirio! Can you go get the map from your room?" Nejire piped up. "It looks like everyone has decided!"

"Actually... I have it right here, in my pocket." Mirio pulled out a large, folded-up piece of graph paper. He unfolded it to reveal the original copy of the vent map. It was color-coded and appeared to be printed, just as described.

"Perfect! Let's destroy it immediately!" Mei declared. "...wait. How are we going to destroy it?"

"It has to be permanent," Yaomomo stated. "And ripping it up won't do. Someone could piece it back together."

"Isn't it obvious? We should burn it!" Tooru suddenly suggested.

Burn it... with fire...

Fire... like the fire that burned the library..?

Like the fire I watched dance before my eyes in the vent..?

"Err... Tsuyu, are you okay..?" She looked up to see Nejire. "You're shaking..."

She hadn't even realized she was shaking until her upperclassman pointed it out. The world suddenly became very overwhelming; her classmates voicing their concerns were too loud, their words reverberating in her skull. The smell of the cafeteria, its warm, ramen scent, was suddenly bitter with smoke and the odor of burning rubber. The lights were too bright. The air was too thick. It's too much, it's too much, it's all too much-

"I think mentioning... burning... might've triggered something in her memory. The library, and Yuga..." Tamaki lowered his voice, but Tsuyu heard it anyway. The mention of the event made everything in her senses increase twicefold again. She lowered her head to her arms, but as she stared at the floor, all she could see was the blood-covered needle tips pointing up at her.

"We're going to have to do it to the map anyway," Yaomomo spoke up. She actually seemed genuinely concerned for Tsuyu. "She shouldn't watch. Someone should stay outside with her."

"I'll stick with her," Nejire volunteered. "C'mon, Tsu. Um, can I touch you? Can we walk outside, into the hallway?"

Tsuyu lifted her head, her gaze blank as she looked up at Nejire. She was afraid that being touched would amplify her senses again, and it was already too much at the moment. "I'm fine... I'll walk..." she mumbled.

She carefully turned and set her feet on the ground, wincing as tiny pinpricks of pain shot through her feet as she stepped on the needles. She gingerly staggered away, towards the door, Nejire walking at her side. She could practically feel everyone's eyes fixed on her.

Why can't I just be normal..? Take the Killing Game and whatever it throws at me..?

Why am I so... not normal?

Why can't I just be like Mashirao, or Hitoshi, or Tooru, or Shouto?

And the ghosts...

...why do they keep following me?

***

Shouto watched as Tsuyu stumbled out of the doorway with Nejire beside her. "Oh dear... I hope she'll be okay," Tooru murmured. "I should apologize later. I didn't think mentioning burning the map would be that bad."

"Poor Tsu... the trauma Yuga gave her, dragging her through the vents like that... I thought she'd gotten better, but I guess mentioning fire sort of set her off," Yaomomo decided.

"Let's just get this done with and then not mention it again," Hitoshi suggested. "Try not to mention anything along the lines of fire or burning around her."

"That's fine by me," Mei sighed. "But anyway, where are we going to dispose of the map?"

"The kitchen," Denki immediately said. "Put it on the stove in a pot, or something. Turn the heat up, coat it in alcohol, and it'll go up."

"That's a good idea. Come on, guys, let's go." Mirio turned and began to walk out the door. The rest of the class followed.

When Shouto stepped out into the hallway, Tsuyu and Nejire were both gone. I guess Nejire took her downstairs, or into a room, or something.

But if Tsuyu doesn't get better... well, anyone could guess what could happen to her.

"Alright, where's the alcohol? White wine would do, right?" Mirio asked.

"Yeah. I got it," Hitoshi instantly replied, since he was standing next to the pantry. He peered inside, rummaged around, and pulled out a glass bottle of, presumably, wine. "Here you go."

Mirio took the wine, took out a pan, and turned up the heat. A flame was ignited below the metal grid. He set the map in the pan and poured... probably a bit too much alcohol into the pan. He stepped back, staring at the pan and wine-soaked map. All was silent for a moment.

Then the map burst into a column of red flames.

"Ahh!" Denki, who'd been standing next to it, jumped back into Shouto. "Eek, sorry Shouto!"

"It's fine." Shouto was staring at the burning map, staring in wonder at the brilliant crimson flames. It's... beautiful, in a twisted sort of way.

The flames seemed to dance for what felt like an eternity, while everyone watched on. Finally, when all the alcohol coating the map was gone, the fire leapt to the paper like a pack of wolves upon its prey. Shouto watched as the blaze ate up the paper, burning it to a crisp, before finding itself starved of substance and fading.

The fire flickered out as abruptly as it began. Now, all that was left in the metal pan were the burnt crisp remains of the vent map. "Well... I guess that's it, then," Tamaki murmured. "It's gone for good now."

One less murder tool in our possession...

...but will it really make a difference?

Chapter Text

"...she once stole sushi from the table, actually," Mashirao said to Hitoshi.

The violette chuckled in return. "That's cute. Does she know any tricks?"

The entire class -even Mezou, since Mirio managed to convince him to come- had gathered in the dining hall the following morning to have breakfast. They were finished eating by now; some people left, but most stayed to chat and socialize. Mashirao was telling Hitoshi about his cat, Yuki. Around them, the light chatter of the other students was like idle background ambience.

"Hmm... a few," the tailed ex-hero replied. "She can give a high five, she can meow on command, she can sit, leap through a hoop... I was going to teach her how to give me her paw, and then shake it, but we had to move to the dorms, then."

Hitoshi was about to respond when a beep from the monitor above caught his attention. The entire cafeteria hushed as everyone turned to look up at the screen.

Monokuma's face appeared on the monitor. "Ahem! Everyone, please gather in the auditorium immediately! If you don't go, well... I'll just drag you there, so don't bother resisting! See you soon! Upupupu..." It then flickered to black.

Hitoshi considered the bear's words for a moment. What does he want now? A new motive announcement? Or some other thing, like a new rule?

"I guess we'll have to go," Tamaki muttered. He was already getting up.

"Yeah." The students got up and filed out of the room and down the stairs. They entered the auditorium on the ground floor, as instructed. Mezou was already there, as usual. A few moments after the cafeteria group arrived, Mei and Tooru walked through the door, completing the roster of students.

"So, what did Monokuma want, getting us all down here?" Nejire asked to nobody in particular.

"Your attention, of course!" As if on cue, the black and white rodent leaped up behind the podium, bouncing atop the wooden block with a skip in his step. "Hello, dear students!"

"Yeah, like you care about us that much," Denki muttered.

"Aww, how rude... I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that!" Monokuma giggled, his red eye flashing.

"Cut to the chase. Why did you gather us?" Mirio demanded.

"Okay, okay, already! I gathered you all to tell you something..." Monokuma grinned, his pearly white teeth reflecting the lights of the auditorium.

"There is a traitor among you!"

Silence followed his words. Hitoshi felt his breath catch in his throat. A traitor? A villain, secretly hiding in our ranks?

"A... traitor? What's that supposed to mean?!" Tooru's voice snapped the tension in the room.

"It means, one of you is a spy from the League of Villains!" Monokuma declared. "And they could very well be plotting a murder, right this second!"

A ripple of unease spread through the students. No... no, it's probably just a lie, and Monokuma's trying to trick us into killing each other again... right?

Hitoshi didn't have any more time to ponder over it, though, because a sudden CRASH! reverberated through the room. A small plume of dust fell from the ceiling. When Hitoshi looked up at the stage, Monokuma was looking left and right, ears pinned to his skull, as if panicked.

Then, Hitoshi thought he heard... someone's voice outside?

"Spread out, search the building!"

"Did I just hear what I think I did?" Denki whispered, excitement creeping into his voice.

"Y-Yeah! I told you guys, the heroes are here! They must've come to rescue us!" Mei yelped, delighted. She raised her voice and turned up towards the door. "HEY!! GUYS!! WE'RE IN HERE!!"

Silence fell outside, presumably because the heroes heard Mei's scream, and were already on high-alert. Maybe they're silently approaching the aud right this moment, ready to burst in and save us..!

"Aughh! I knew this would happen!" Hitoshi jumped and looked to the stage. Monokuma seemed irritated, but not panicked. It wasn't exactly the expression one would expect a villain to have when their plot was moments away from being spoiled. "Alright, time to set the emergency procedure into action..."

Before any student could do anything, Monokuma pulled out what looked like a small glass orb. It was filled with some sort of translucent pink liquid. He chucked it, as hard as he could, at the students below. It hit the floor right by Mashirao's feet, and immediately shattered. Glass shards slid across the floor, pittering down the stairs. The pink liquid splashed across the floor. "Wh-What is this?!" Denki yelped, lifting his foot from the puddle.

An odd sort of fog began to rise from the spilled liquid, thick and rapidly ascending. Nejire, who was standing on one of the lowest steps, took a small whiff of it and jumped back, stumbling into Mirio.

"G-Guys! There's something wrong with this stuff! I feel... fuzzy..." With that, her eyelids drooped and she collapsed on the floor.

"Nejire!" Tsuyu rushed over to her friend and crouched down beside her, only to find herself engulfed in the fog. "Ahh!" She tried to hold her breath, but it was too late. She crumpled as well.

"I think this is some sort of anesthesia!" Tooru cried, rushing up the steps. Suddenly, one of Kurogiri's portals appeared right in front of her, and Toga leaped out, barreling into her and sending her falling back down the steps. The villain pinned her down right next to Mei to prevent the Artist from tumbling into everyone else.

"Eek! Now the villains are here, too!" Mei yelped. She looked up at the auditorium doors, yellow eyes wide with panic. "HURRY UP! PLEASE, HURRY UP!!"

"HELP!!" Denki screamed, his eyes widening then rolling back as he was overtaken by the fog.

One by one, the students were swiftly all dropping like flies. This anesthesia stuff... sure is strong... Hitoshi was trying his best to stay awake, holding his breath and covering his mouth and nose with a hand. His eyelids drooped dangerously, just barely kept at bay with his willpower. Beside him, Mashirao had already succumbed and was unconscious on the floor. Even Toga's eyes had drooped shut, and she was asleep beside Tooru, a knife handle wrapped by her loose fingers.

"You! Psychic!" Hitoshi whirled around to see Monokuma glaring at him. "Why aren't you unconscious yet?!"

Hitoshi met Monokuma's hostile stare as best as he could with the drowsiness he was battling constantly increasing. Just then, a sudden BANG! from behind him cut his concentration in half, causing him to accidentally inhale. His eyes widened and he whirled around, desperate to see what the sound was before he inevitably would collapse.

The last thing Hitoshi saw before he lost consciousness was five heroes led by a robot barging into the room.

~~~

A... robot?

For some reason, that was Hitoshi's first thought when he came back to consciousness. Of all the odd things that had happened in his final moments of wakefulness, the robot was probably the least concerning thing. Regardless, Hitoshi groaned and opened his hazy violet eyes. He was met with nothing but darkness.

Why can't I see?! All sleepiness vanished from his system, replaced with horror and panic instead. Am I blind?! Did that gas take away my vision? Or am I locked up in some dark box? Why can't I see?!

"H-hey..? Hitoshi? Are you awake?" Hitoshi heard a hushed voice from his right. Mashirao.

"Yeah, I'm awake..." he replied shakily. "Where are we?"

"I dunno... it's pitch black in here. We're the only two up right now," Mashirao replied softly. Hitoshi turned to the direction of his voice and awkwardly shuffled forward, hoping nobody was laying between him and the tailed boy. Thankfully, he didn't run into any sleeping classmates, but he did hit something with his hand. He tentatively reached out and brushed his finger over the floor in front of him. Carpet. Realizing he'd just hit a rug, he relaxed and managed to scoot over to his boyfriend.

"The others should get up soon," Hitoshi whispered. "Should we just wake them up?"

"...I'd prefer not to. Might scare them." The violette murmured an agreement to the blonde's words, before sitting down, leaning against him and placing his head on Mashirao's shoulder. Mashirao gave a small "hm?" of surprise, but accepted the rare show of affection nonetheless.

The two sat there in silence together until the rustling of clothes made it clear that other people were rousing from their slumber. Hitoshi pulled back, but kept close enough to Mashirao that their fingers brushed when he placed his hand on the ground.

"Guys..? Hello? Where are we?" Denki's lost-sounding voice cut into the silence like a spear plunging into water.

"How are we supposed to know? It's pitch dark in here," Mezou scoffed.

"Loosen up on him, won't you?" Hitoshi called back.

"Seriously, though, where do you guys think we are?" Tamaki asked. "And where are you gu- ah!"

"Sorry, Tamaki! I didn't mean to scare you!" That would be Nejire. "We should all do a head count and make sure nobody's missing!"

"There's... twelve of us, right? Add yourself to the number of people while we count. I'll start." Tsuyu's voice rose from some corner of the room. "I'm Tsuyu. One."

"I'm Nejire, and Tamaki's right next to me. Three," The Beauty Pageant Star said.

"This is Mirio! Four!"

"Yaomomo speaking. Five."

"I'm Mashirao, and Hitoshi's with me. Seven," the tailed boy continued. Hitoshi gave a small sigh, in a 'You didn't have to say my own name for me but I'm fine with it' sort of way.

A heartbeat of silence followed, as if the remaining five were musing who should go first without running over each other. A light thump could be heard against the floor, as if someone moved on a carpeted floor.

"I'm present. Shouto. Eight." The heterochronous Theorist started the count back up.

"I'm Denki. Nine."

"This is Tooru! Ten!"

"Mezou. Eleven."

"And finally, me, Mei. Twelve."

"So nobody is missing. That's the first priority solved," Mirio commented. "Now we should figure out where we are."

"There's no need to figure it out!" A new voice, obnoxiously loud and robotic, suddenly cut into the student's discussion. Hitoshi jumped and covered his eyes with his hand, squinting, as the lights from above suddenly burst to life.

When he finally got his eyes adjusted to the bright lights, Hitoshi promptly realized that they were in the trial room. The chandelier high over his head, the red rug he and Mashirao were sitting on, the black and white floor tiles... it felt so familiar, yet so wrong, all at once.

"Well, that answers the question," Mezou grumbled, blinking rapidly in the blinding glare of the chandelier.

Hitoshi glanced around. Sure enough, all eleven of his classmates were scattered throughout the room. He and Mashirao were sitting by a podium. Over to their right, around the ring, Denki was laying on the small stairs surrounding the throne. Tamaki and Nejire were by the elevator on the opposite side. Monokuma was standing in the red velvet throne. Denki jumped and crawled away from the throne when he saw the bear. The bear snarled at him.

"Hey, hey! No need to look so scared! I'm not some demon or something!" The monochrome robot returned his attention to the rest of the class. "Anyway, the emergency has been resolved! The elevator is unlocked now and will function properly. Please make your way upstairs!"

The students looked at each other, considering Monokuma's sudden announcement. "Hurry up, now!" At his urging, Hitoshi and a few other people stood up and began to make their way over to the elevator. The rest of the class followed suit.

"Ah! Another thing!" Just as Yaomomo was about to press the 'Open' button on the elevator's control panel, Monokuma spoke up again. "Just to let you guys know, there has been some damage to the school building. We are working hard on rebuilding! It shouldn't be too long before the holes are patched up. However... if you try to sneak outta there or do something off-color, I'll let you know there are multiple villains situated at every repair area! So don't even think about it!" Hitoshi blinked, considering Monokuma's words. Damage..? That must be what that crashing noise was, in addition to whatever the heroes' battle with the villains must've done.

The heroes...

"Anyway, you guys are dismissed now. See ya!" When Hitoshi turned around, Monokuma was already gone.

Yaomomo opened the elevator wordlessly and the class filed in. As the box began to ascend towards the ground floor, Mei decided to speak up.

"Hey, guys... about what happened before we all passed out..." she began slowly, awkwardly filling the quiet in the elevator.

"You mean the rescue team, right?" Tamaki asked.

"Yeah! So, you all remember my device, right? The one that got broken?" Mei took the silence that followed her question as a cue to continue. "Well, I ran a few test runs on it, and it worked perfectly. I didn't get too far with it... but what I did give should've been enough to summon that rescue party!"

"So you're crediting yourself with getting the rescue party to show up?" Mezou scoffed. "The more likely reason is probably just they discovered the League was imprisoning us in here, and finally actually made it into the building. There's no doubt the League has guards outside."

"Well, that's possible... but my idea is also possible!" Mei retorted.

"It doesn't matter now, because the villains kicked them out again anyway," Denki said softly.

Silence fell in the elevator again, following Denki's words. The box clicked to a stop as it hit the ground floor, and the bronze doors slid open, iron gates unfolding.

The class stepped out and filed into the lobby. Immediately, Hitoshi spotted the damage beside the door.

There was a large hole in the wall. A heap of debris -rock, cement, metal plates, some wood- lay on the ground inside. Outside, the sky was overcast, covered in gray clouds. But the cool breeze was certainly there, billowing in and surrounding Hitoshi's senses with fresh air, its crisp scent polluted only the smell of smoke and the presence of Spinner and Dabi by the hole. They were evidently standing guard. And outside the hole...

All for One.

A chill ran down Hitoshi's spine, causing him to step backwards into Mashirao. By then, most of the students had seen him and were having similar reactions of fear and shock.

Why is he here?

Then Hitoshi saw who was crouched below the villainous mastermind. It was Cementoss, the calm, block-headed teacher who formerly worked for U.A. before the Killing Game began.

"Hey! Cementoss!" Mei called out. He didn't respond; his eyes were blank, his hands placed on the ground, quirk activated. Spinner and Dabi glared at her, and she swiftly shut her mouth. All for One was silent, focusing on staring at Cementoss and his work.

"It seems my suspicions were correct," Mirio murmured fearfully, gazing at him. The block-headed man was creating a wall of cement to patch up the hole, the gray stone rising in waves.

"Wh-What is that supposed to mean?" Tamaki asked, eyes fixed on the hole repair job.

"Our dorms. The wall splitting the classrooms in half to create two bedrooms, I mean," Mirio explained. "On our first day here, before everything happened, when I first entered my dorm, I noticed the ridge at the base of the wall. It was like the ridges Cementoss's quirk created when he made walls. I thought, maybe the villains captured the U.A. teachers and are forcing them to do this stuff."

"You're right... and the anesthesia, the one Monokuma just used to knock us out when the rescue team showed up. It was liquid, sure, but it evaporated quickly. Its color and effect resemble Midnight's quirk," Shouto added.

Hitoshi looked back to Cementoss, who was still building the wall. The cement was still rising, now nearly complete. From what he could see, amidst the rumbling rock, his eyes were still blank and cloudy. As if... he were brainwashed.

Of course. All for One must've snatched a brainwashing quirk off of someone, and he was now using it to control his captives. From getting Midnight to secrete some of her pink anesthetic gas to forcing Cementoss to build walls, it made sense.

But who did he steal it from?

Me? It resembles my lost quirk, clearly.

But when would he have the chance to..?

Shaking off his suspicion and unease, Hitoshi turned back to his classmates. "Well, what should we do about this?"

"We can't exactly do anything, per say," Tsuyu murmured. "Spinner and Dabi are standing guard, so we can't approach the hole to investigate or anything."

"Maybe we should check the rest of the school for any more damage," Nejire suggested.

"Yeah... good idea," Mei murmured. "Should we split up? We could cover more ground that way, and faster. We can meet up afterwards down here."

And so the class split up into pairs, with each duo searching one floor. Hitoshi obviously paired with Mashirao. The two went up to the third floor, where the cafeteria and kitchen were. As soon as they crested the landing, Hitoshi spotted the hole in the wall straight ahead. Fortunately, the damage didn't reach the kitchen, and the rubble appeared to have been hastily cleaned away.

Standing guard at the hole were Mr. Compress and a sleepy-looking Toga. She had a knife in each hand, though, so it appeared she was as deadly as ever.

Toga's clouded eyes swiveled and fixed on Hitoshi and Mashirao. "Heeeey," she mumbled. "I have kniiiiiives."

"We can see that, you have knives, yes," Mashirao spluttered out quickly, before backing away to leave, making a beeline for the staircase. Mr. Compress ignored them and allowed them to leave, and Hitoshi heard Toga yawn.

***

That night, Mei flopped down in the chair by her worktable. Ever since the time her machine had been broken, she had fallen into the routine of sleeping in the lab, sometimes on the worktable, the boxy contraption in her arms. This way, nobody can break it again.

Today, she picked up the device from the workspace and turned it, admiring the simple design. It's done. Pride washed through her, joy at her project finally being completed. My baby's finally complete again.

She sat down on the floor, her pillow and blanket under the table. She lay down on the ground, the box-shaped machine in her arms. As she shut her eyes, she began to think about the events that transpired that day.

The hero rescue mission. Mei was so sure it was her device that summoned the rescue team. Why else would they wait until now, precisely, to send a mission that successfully infiltrated the school? There's no doubt they would've deduced the school was where we were held within days of the attack. The villains must've held off the previous raids... and today they finally broke in.

Maybe Yuga told them something? Or perhaps my message gave them the full severity of how much worse our situation had gotten since Yuga escaped.

But no matter what... they know we're here now. And that there's only twelve of us left.

Aside from that...

...who is the traitor Monokuma mentioned, if there even is one?

And are they really planning a murder?

Chapter Text

There was a gloomy silence hanging over the students' heads at breakfast the following day. Everybody was quiet, somberly eating their food, going through the motions mindlessly as they comprehended the chaos of yesterday.

Where to even begin? The traitor motive, the hero rescue, All for One brainwashing Cementoss... I'm surprised all that happened just yesterday. It feels like so long ago...

Tamaki, as usual, was eating in silence. He normally didn't talk much anyway, so the quiet wasn't uncomfortable, per say. No, the rest of the class being in pure silence was the thing that put him on edge. I guess I can't blame them. After that...

"Ahem. Hello." Tamaki jumped and looked up as Mezou suddenly spoke, the tension in the room thickening to a choking point. "If you're all going to continue with your naive searching for hope and truth, shouldn't you discuss what transpired yesterday?" the multi-armed boy asked coldly.

Another lapse of quiet followed his prompting.

"I... agree with him," Tsuyu softly said. Her eyes still bore that haunted look; she was staring at her empty plate with wide eyes. Nejire had been giving her a concerned look since they sat down. "We should discuss. It could help us get out..."

"Alright. Let's talk, then," Mirio spoke, true to his nature. "The hero rescue team."

"Well, they're sort of obvious," Hitoshi stated bluntly. "There's a few possibilities. They could've finally made it into the building after being held off by the villains for their first few attempts, they could've finally sent their first all-out raid after sending scouts, or-"

"Or it could've been my machine! My device!" Mei piped up. "The test run I sent a while ago. Maybe that got through and they finally got some sense of urgency, or something!"

"...possible," Mashirao said slowly. "Or Yuga could've given them some pointers."

"Wh-Whatever the case with the rescue team, we know they got in and got fought off by the villains... meaning the villains are strong." Tamaki built up enough courage to speak out, stumbling into the conversation.

"I agree. The more important fact of the matter here is the traitor motive Monokuma gave us," Nejire said, tearing her eyes from Tsuyu. She seemed concerned; the Pageant Star was like a flower that had finally managed to unfurl its petals, even if only for one day, and was looking out for everyone else with little regard for her own health. Another good day, hm? I'd like to think she's getting better.

"The traitor motive? That's got to be a lie," Denki whimpered, his eyes distant. He wasn't eating; he never got food in the first place. His head was on his arms on the table.

"Are you sure?" Yaomomo murmured. "So far we've already had murderers, a mass bomber, and an assassin among our ranks. It wouldn't be a stretch to say we have a villain, too."

"H-Hey, don't be so pessimistic!" Tooru cried. "Monokuma's probably lying, to make us suspicious!"

"I agree with her. He likely wants to make us all suspicious, so that someone will try to kill whoever they believe the traitor is!" Mei announced.

"But what if he isn't? Yaomomo's right, it isn't a stretch," Shouto suddenly spoke up for the first time that morning, his voice soft.

"Eh? Two pessimists?!" Tooru wailed.

"Monokuma has never lied before," Mezou said. "He's always acted out his motives; he let Yuga go, for example. And it's not a stretch to think one of us could be a villain."

"Three?!" Tooru continued.

"Guys, we shouldn't be so negative!" Nejire cut in. "That won't do us any good, and we'll all end up dead that way!"

"Upupupu! That would be fun, wouldn't it?!" Monokuma suddenly leaped out from behind the half-wall. Tamaki -along with a few other people- jumped.

"Puhuhu! Scared you, didn't I?" Monokuma grinned. "I see you're all hesitant to believe me, which is suuuuuper disappointing. I've never lied, have I?"

"Yeah, but you're still a villain. Who knows what you could pull?" Mezou growled.

"Never mind that! Anyway, I'm here to convince you, so listen up and take notes!" He jumped to the head of the table and cleared his throat. "Ahem.

"One-A kids! You must all remember the USJ attack, right?" Monokuma prompted. Several of Tamaki's underclassmen nodded; heck, everyone in the school knew well about that. It was a huge blow to UA, having villains entering the campus.

"Well, the villains were after All Might. That was never a mystery. All Might had been scheduled to teach there that day; he arrived late, of course, to save the day at the end. However, how did the League know All Might was to be there, on that specific day, at that time?" The robot grinned.

Silence followed. Tamaki had never actually considered that before; why and how did the League choose that specific location and time to attack, with such a large-scale team as well? He heard they brought a Nomu and a ton of minor villains with them. It was odd, now that he looked back on the event.

"The League knew about the schedule! They knew that All Might was going to be there, because SOMEONE told them about the schedule! The someone... was a member of the school." Monokuma looked awfully proud of his deduction.

Even worse was that he was probably right.

"But then it could be anyone! The traitor might not even be a member of this class!" Mei insisted.

"But that's not the last of it!" Monokuma continued. "Remember when Shigaraki attacked Izuku at the mall? Bingo! Someone told him about that. And after that, the Vanguard Action Squad's attack on the summer camp? Nobody knew where the camp was taking place except for some of the staff, the Pussycats, and -you guessed it- Class One-A, once they got there!

"And of course, somebody told the League about the location of the camp. That somebody was a member of Class One-A!" Monokuma held up his paws and smiled. "So? How about that?"

"Wrong... this has got to be a trick..." Tsuyu whispered. She put her head down and started whispering to herself. Nejire was growing increasingly concerned.

"But he has logic. He's right," Shouto said. "It can't be a member of the Big Three, Mei, Class One-B, or Hitoshi, because they wouldn't know about the mall visit. It can't be a staff member because they also wouldn't know about the mall visit. It can't be the Pussycats because they don't know the schedule for the USJ attack."

"So... it has to be a member of Class One-A?" Mashirao whispered.

"Yup!" Monokuma smiled. "Yaomomo, Tooru, Tsuyu, Denki, Mashirao, Mezou, Shouto! One of you is the traitor!"

Silence. The tension was rising again.

"Puhuhu! Think it over with your little golden brains! I'll be off now!" Monokuma ran off, laughing.

"He's... he's gotta be kidding, right?" Tooru murmured. "A traitor..?"

"All the evidence he's provided is correct," Mezou said. "All of his points, and everything that's happened so far... there's most likely a traitor in our midst."

A hush fell over the students again. The tension was thick enough to slice with a blade.

"I'm leaving," Mezou announced. He took his plate and walked out the door.

"Me too... Come on, Mashirao." Hitoshi beckoned to his boyfriend, and they left together. So he still trusts him, huh?

One by one, all the students left. Everyone parted on a terse note.

Throughout the day, the tension only got worse. Tamaki could see the looks the students gave each other; Tsuyu would walk with Nejire and refuse to talk to anyone. Mashirao and Hitoshi stuck together like glue; it was clear the violette trusted him greatly. Mezou stayed in the gym, alone. Denki holed himself up in his room. Tooru and Mei stuck together. The formerly invisible girl stayed in Mei's room the whole day. Yaomomo and Shouto were in the library for part of the afternoon, alone.

In short, it was terrible.

That evening, Tamaki went to Mirio's room for the Big Three-plus-Tsuyu gathering they had arranged for dinner, since obviously the class didn't gather for a meal and Tamaki enjoyed anything with Mirio involved anyway. He ran into Nejire on their way over.

"How long do you think the class'll keep this up?" she asked, clearly down from the traitor situation going on. "How long... before someone dies?"

"I'm not sure," Tamaki murmured.

"But I know it won't be long."

Chapter Text

As expected -although dreaded-, the impending disaster arrived in three days.

It was early afternoon. Yaomomo was sitting in a corner of the cafeteria drinking tea when Tooru burst into the room. She was out of breath, her eyes wide with terror. Brief surprise and alarm jolting through her, Yaomomo got up and hurried over to her, along with Tsuyu and Denki, who had been in the kitchen and must've seen her running into the room.

"T-Tooru! What's wrong?!" Denki asked. Tsuyu trailed behind her. Yaomomo reached out in a comforting gesture to place a hand on the Artist's shoulder.

"It's... Mei..!" Tooru stared at the girls with wide, tear-filled eyes. "She's dead!"

Stunned silence, in which the full force of the unfolding case hit each of the students all at once. Yaomomo gazed blankly at the Artist. And here we go again. I expected this to happen again, especially after such a motive... but that doesn't make it any better.

Why do we have to keep doing this, in an endless, unlearning cycle?

Why do we have to keep killing until we're all dead?

Why do... my friends keep dying?

...

It doesn't matter now. Not anymore... I just have to do the investigation. Get through the trial, live another day...

"Where? Where is- where is she?!" Denki snapped out of his own stunned silence. Tsuyu was staring blankly at Tooru, eyes wide.

"Her lab..." Tooru was openly crying now. "It's... she didn't deserve this..."

"None of our classmates deserved to die," Yaomomo soothed. Although they did, anyway. "We just have to deal with this."

"Deal with... it?" Tooru's voice was small.

"Don't bother with it now. Come on, Denki, Tsu. Mei's lab. We have to activate the investigation," Yaomomo said, already rushing towards the door.

"We should... all go together. For safety reasons. Tsu, come on." Denki hurried after Yaomomo, with Tsu behind them. Tooru followed them, wiping away her tears the best she could.

The Detective-Affluent Progeny raced downstairs, hitting the first floor with the other three close behind. She was approaching the lab entrance. She stopped before it, her heartrate suddenly increasing tenfold. Another one of our classmates... dead and gone.

She rounded the corner, whirling into the doorway of the room.

A corpse lying atop the worktable.

A body, clothed in a pink jacket, leggings accentuating its legs, magenta sandals adorning its feet.

A stream of blood, trickling out from under their back.

A knife buried within their chest.

Wide, golden eyes; eyes that used to be full of light, and creativity, and ideas, now reduced to hazy round orbs.

Pink locks of hair, sprawling out behind their head.

Mei Hatsume was truly dead, lying atop her own lab table, murdered while surrounded by her own livelihood. How... tragic.

Yaomomo and Denki halted in the doorway of the lab, with Tsuyu and Tooru still trailing behind in the hallway. Overhead, the monitor on the ceiling flickered to life.

"A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, the class trial will begin!"

Yaomomo's eyes were fixed on the body. That outfit... it looks off on her. She looks surprised in death, as well... Behind her, she distantly heard Tsuyu and Tooru come into the doorway as well, the former drawing a sharp breath and the latter quietly weeping. Within the room, there was a low, consistent buzzing noise emanating throughout the room, like white noise accompanying a movie scene.

"Why..?" Denki murmured. That one word sounded haunted; sad.

Yaomomo opened her mouth, about to reply, when a sound from the ceiling made her jump and go quiet. She looked up, gray eyes fixing on the monitor for the second time.

It had turned on again.

"A body has been discovered! After a certain amount of time, the class trial will begin!"

"A double announcement?" Tsuyu's voice was small. "But..."

"There's only one thing that could mean," Yaomomo murmured. "There's another body somewhere in this school." She was still staring at Mei's body, but her mind was already whirling into gear.

So two people managed to kill... or maybe one person killed two people. Or they killed each other.

Two more of our classmates, our friends... dead.

It's too cruel...

"We have to find the second body," Tooru spoke up. Her eyes were red and teary, and her voice shuddered, but she looked like she was trying her best to get with it. "We'll have to do the trial..."

"We should split up, gather everyone we can find," Yaomomo suggested. "Tooru, go downstairs to the ground floor, and after that, the second floor upstairs. I'll do floors three and four. Denki and Tsu can take the dormitory floors."

No time to hesitate... we have to find that second body, then begin investigation.

The group did as she instructed. Tooru headed downstairs, Yaomomo, Denki, and Tsuyu up. Yaomomo stepped into the third floor hallway while the other two continued upstairs.

"Everyone!" she yelled. "Where are you?!"

In a heartbeat, a familiar face ran out of the kitchen, closely tailed by his dark-haired companion. "Yaomomo!" Mirio called, running over to her. Tamaki swiftly followed suit. "I was just looking for Nejire. Do you... know who it was?"

"Mei's dead. She's in her lab. Tooru, Denki, Tsu, and I discovered her. We're trying to find the other one," Yaomomo said, her voice monotonous. "Did you check the cafeteria?"

"Y-Yeah, nobody's there. I checked the whole floor. Come on, we have to find everyone else!" Mirio's eyes were alight with panic. At heart, he really is just a hero, huh? Caring about his friends over all else, a lover of the masses, an advocate for every innocent person, living or dead...

Yaomomo turned, waved for them to follow, and started for the staircase again. "Denki and Tsu are going around the dorms. I'm supposed to check the fourth floor. Tooru's checking the ground and second floors. Stick with me."

The three of them hurried upstairs. They were making their way down the wing when someone thundered up the stairs after them. Yaomomo whirled around, her first thought that it might be the killer still going on their killing spree, when she realized it was Hitoshi. The violet-haired Psychic rushed over to her. His eyes were filled with worry and panic. "Yaomomo! Thank god I found you- have you seen Mashirao?" His voice was insistent, hopeful; of course he's worried.

"I haven't. One of the dead is Mei. She was in her lab," the ravenette replied. "We haven't found the second body yet."

Hitoshi was practically radiating worry, anxious nerves crackling like electricity through his body. He was trembling, dull purple eyes anxious and dreading. "I'll come with you."

The four walked along. "Everyone! Where are you?!" she called.

"Nejire?" Tamaki called. "Mashirao?"

"Guys! No need to hide! Yaomomo found one of the crime scenes already!" Mirio added.

"Yaomomo?" Suddenly, from around the corner, Mezou appeared. His gaze was stony. "Ah. All four of you, come with me. We found the other body."

She involuntarily gulped. She didn't realize she was anxious to know who the second victim was. I didn't think I had it in me to care anymore.

Silently, the four followed the cold Heavylifter. Yaomomo's hands shuddered, sweaty and clammy with anxiety. Of the people we haven't found yet... I hope Shouto's alive. I'm sure Hitoshi's hoping Mashirao's okay, and Mirio and Tamaki are worried about Nejire.

Someone is going to heartbroken...

Apart from Tooru already, someone will have to suffer today...

They rounded the corner, following Mezou towards the laundry room. He stopped, sighed, and stepped aside. "Go inside."

Yaomomo's hands were shaking as she walked in. And what lay within...

...was one of the most horrifying crime scenes yet.

A body, tangled in a net, laying on the floor.

A pool of blood surrounding the corpse, laying it upon a bed of hot, sticky pink.

A body with nothing but a stump of a neck, the severed limb gushing fluid, all pulsing flesh and slimy, shiny red.

A washing machine, running innocently in the corner as something was washed clean within its case.

A body clad in pink-splattered brown attire, a bloodsoaked scarf draping around its shoulders.

A large kitchen knife, splashed to the hilt in blood, lying beside the broken corpse.

A body with no head, washing the floor tiles in blood and gore.

Mashirao was dead.

Yaomomo stared, stunned, at the headless corpse lying before her. There was something sickening rising in her esophagus, and her stomach churned. A small, strangled noise escaped her throat, and she brought her hand to her mouth.

It was like Kyouka all over again, except less personal.

For her, anyway.

It was most certainly personal for someone, a certain someone standing beside her and staring at his beloved's dead, bloody corpse.

"No... that's... Mashirao's clothes..." Hitoshi's voice was hushed, his eyes wide and shimmering with tears. His face was pale; his whole body was shuddering. He blinked and stumbled forwards, slowly approaching the body, as if he couldn't accept it. "Mashi... is that... you?"

"It... there's still a possibility it isn't, right?" Tamaki's voice was small and strained. "That's just Mashirao's clothes... what if someone else was dressed up as him?"

"That's unlikely." Yaomomo jumped, her eyes snapped away from the headless body drowning in its own blood and Hitoshi standing there, uncomprehending, as he gazed blankly at his boyfriend's corpse. Shouto was standing in the corner, eyes closed, facing the side of the room and away from the scene.

An unspeakable wave of relief went through Yaomomo at that moment. Shouto's alive. He's alive and well...

"Now that you know I'm also alive, who have you not seen yet?" Shouto's voice was calm, emotionless; like he were shutting out the world, shutting out having to see Hitoshi's reaction to the death.

"Nejire..." Yaomomo forced her voice out of her mouth, the girl's name foreign on her tongue. Her mind was blank, her heart beating out of her chest. Her stomach was still flipping.

"The body here is clearly masculine. Just from your first glance... you know it's a guy. So Nejire is alive. That only leaves the solution we have now," Shouto finished.

Silence engulfed the trial room, the whirr of the washing machine fading to background noise. Yaomomo found herself watching Hitoshi as he stood before Mashirao's dead body, staring at it, incapable of doing anything but just standing there and crying and regretting and wishing.

I wonder what's going through his head right now.

"Upupupu..." The all-too-familiar sound of robotic laughter was what jolted Yaomomo back to reality. She -and Mirio and Tamaki- whirled around to see Monokuma bouncing down the hall. He was clutching a black and white tablet, as usual.

"Oh dear, oh dear! Another double kill?! Man, you kids are dropping left and right like flies!" Yaomomo sighed. I wonder how Hitoshi would feel, hearing that.

Monokuma laughed to himself. "Anyway, I came to drop off this!" He handed the file to Yaomomo. "Have a good time! Remember, there's two bodies this time again! Remember the trial rules! Puhuhuhu..!"

And then he was gone.

Yaomomo sighed, turning over the Monokuma File. She stepped out into the hallway. She didn't particularly want to be in the same place as that headless corpse, nor intrude on the tragedy this case was for Hitoshi. Tamaki, Mirio, Mezou, and Shouto followed her.

"So, another double murder..." Shouto's voice was flat. "We should split up, for time efficiency." When met with the questioning eyes of the two Big Three members, he decided to turn to Yaomomo. "Yaomomo. You, as our body inspector, need to look at both bodies. However, since the body discovery announcements we already spent quite a bit of time getting you to Mashirao's scene. It would be wise to split up."

"But not everyone's here yet," Mirio pointed out. "Yaomomo sent Denki, Tooru, and Tsu out to find people. The only person left to get is Nejire, but you never told the others where to go after finding people."

Yaomomo nodded. "Okay. Good points from both of you. Mezou, could you go and find Tooru? She should be on the ground floor or the second floor, probably the latter. You can both head to Mei's lab afterwards. Shouto, get Denki and Tsu from the dormitories. Tell Denki to go to Mei's lab and Tsu to come here. Whoever finds Nejire should get her to come here as well."

"Okay." Shouto turned to head off towards the staircase as soon as he received instructions. "The dorms... Denki to Mei, Tsu to Mashirao. Got it. I'll see you later, Yaomomo," he called back to her.

"And you think I'll listen to you?" Mezou was more stubborn.

Yaomomo groaned. "The class trial doesn't have time for this, Mezou. You might die later with the rest of us if the investigation doesn't go smoothly, so go get Tooru. See you later."

She turned on her heel and reentered the laundry room. Hitoshi was now crouching by the headless corpse, frozen in place and gazing at it, still stunned and in a grief-fogged haze. I won't bother him yet.

She silently turned right and stood in the corner, pulling up the Monopad and turning it on to read over it. Mirio and Tamaki came in to join her as well, peering over her shoulder to see.

>Case VI

Victims: Mei Hatsume and Mashirao Ojirou

Fatal Wound: Mashirao died from decapitation.

Other Wounds: Mei is bleeding from a wound in her back.

Weapon: There is a large kitchen knife, soaked to the hilt, next to Mashirao's body.

Time of Death: Mei died at roughly 14:30.<

As usual, there is missing evidence, Yaomomo thought. I think I can work with this, though.

She put the File away and looked around the room. As much as I don't want to bother Hitoshi, I still have to investigate the body, no matter how gruesome it looks. But I guess I could just investigate around the body first, then go in...

She looked to the washing machine in the left corner. I should investigate everything, including that... Yaomomo walked over to it as quietly as she could- Mashirao's body was in the opposite corner to that wall. She shut off the machine and lifted the lid, peering in, only to see-

"Ah!" She couldn't help but let out a surprised little yelp. "This is..."

Mashirao's head.

I guess... this sure sets his death in stone...

The severed head was laying in the washing machine, covered in blood and magenta bubbles. Past that, the Martial Artist's skin was white as a sheet, his eyes shut, hair soaked and tinted pink. And his neck.. The revealed flesh was faint, meat and muscle tissue a pale pink color. Blood was seeping from little holes in it; severed arteries, Yaomomo realized.

There were other things in the washing machine too; a brown shirt, a pair of pants, and a bandana. Mashirao's clothes. All of it was soaked pink, covered in a sea of bubbles. Ugh... Yaomomo swiftly shut the washing machine again. Not looking at that.

Moving away, she scoured the rest of the room. It was a small space; it was originally a piece of the teacher's lounge next door, Yaomomo was sure, fenced off by the villains. There are two washing machines and two dryers in the corner. A clothesline hung across the other side of the room. A few small shelves and cabinets contained some laundry necessities, like dryer sheets and detergent.

However, as she investigated every drawer and shelf, nothing stood out to her. There were all of the laundry supplies, like bleach, detergent, and such, which could be used to poison someone, but for the time being she didn't look further into it. Nothing was missing, like with Mina's case. Left with nothing else to do, Yaomomo slowly approached Mashirao's corpse.

"Ahem... Ermm..." Yaomomo tried to gently alert Hitoshi of her presence. If he did notice she was standing over him, he didn't move or do anything about it.

"Hitoshi, please, I have to-"

"Go away."

Yaomomo fell silent, tilting her head as he stared down at Hitoshi. The violette's gaze had not moved from his dead boyfriend's body, but his words were clearly directed towards her.

"Huh?" she uttered.

"I said, go away!" Hitoshi snapped, ripping his eyes to her. She felt cold sweat on her forehead.

Those eyes. He was glaring at Yaomomo with a viciousness she had never seen in them before. Hitoshi was angry; beyond simply pissed off at her for talking to him in his grief. Tears slid down his face as he glared at the Detective-Affluent Progeny with hatred; hatred for her, hatred for the world, hatred for the game, hatred for whoever killed Mashirao.

"Why do you try to meddle?!" Hitoshi's voice cracked as he yelled at her, rage spilling from his every pore. "When all of this tragedy has happened, when everyone is dying, when everyone you love is taken from you and you're left with nothing but regrets and pity, why, Yaomomo? Why are you still playing this game?! Why don't you let us just give up?!"

"I-" Yaomomo met Hitoshi's glare evenly, trying to tear into his ranting. Of course he's grieving, of course he's broken beyond repair right now, but can't he just let me do this? Does he really want everyone else to die..?

"Wouldn't that be easier? Oh, it would be so much fucking easier!" Hitoshi continued, now advancing on Yaomomo. "This game won't end. That much has been clear after so many of your class and my friends have been killed. So why not just let us all die?!"

"Hitoshi, calm down!" Yaomomo cried, her hand going to his shoulder. He slapped it away.

"Why should I calm down?! You don't understand, do you?" Hitoshi snapped at her. "Do you know how much it hurts when you finally let down your walls, only to get slapped in the face for it? I let him in, I let myself get close to him- and then he got killed!"

"Hitoshi!" Yaomomo grabbed the Psychic's arms and held onto them, forcing him to stop. "Please... I know how it hurts to lose someone you cared about. Don't discredit me for that."

Hitoshi's eyes flickered for a moment, his mask of rage cracking to show sympathy through. He remembers Kyouka, of course he does. Denki's an everyday reminder of her.

"But aside from that... Mashirao would want you to avenge him. Do him justice, lay him to sleep properly," Yaomomo said, her voice softening. "We have to find his murderer. They can't get away with this."

Hitoshi gazed at her for a moment, tears dripping down his face as he seethed at her. He looks like he wants to kill someone right now.

But a few moments later, he recoiled back, a small sob escaping his throat. "Fine. F-Fine. Investigate him. And promise me..." He looked up from his feet, meeting Yaomomo's neutral gray eyes with grief-filled teary ones. "Promise you'll help me find his killer. But after this, please. Just... let us go. I don't want to keep doing this, going through losing all our friends over and over. I want this to stop, I want it all to stop so badly. So please end this for us, okay? End it for the sake of all the dead." Hitoshi's voice was shuddering, his shoulders drooping. His expression looked pitiful as he spoke to her.

There was a certain threat in his words, though, as if he would actually do something if Yaomomo didn't abide to his words.

Let us go. They rang in her head like bells, insistent and chiming and distracting.

"...alright. Just let me investigate. We don't have much time left," Yaomomo said. Hitoshi seemed to deflate, sighing as he stepped away from Mashirao's corpse. He wiped away his tears with his sleeve.

The scene free, Yaomomo stepped forward to investigate. She crouched down by the body- or as close as she could, considering the pool of blood surrounding it. As thorough as her investigation had to be, she had no wish to dirty her boots and track pink footprints everywhere.

She scanned over the body with her eyes instead, avoiding looking at the neck wound as best as she could. From the shoulders and below, Mashirao was tangled in a rather large net. As she looked closer, Yaomomo could be what looked like lumps of orange goop plastered to the body, under the remains of what appeared to be rubber sacs on the net. Upon even further inspection, she realized the goop was likely acidic, fizzing and slowly burning a hole into the body.

As Yaomomo began inspecting Mashirao's arms and hands, she noticed something sticking out from his right palm. It was closed on something. She carefully pulled the thing loose to discover that it was a piece of dark blue cloth.

Moving on from that discovery and setting the cloth off to the side, she also noticed something odd on Mashirao's arm. Leaning forward -just barely avoiding falling into the blood puddle-, she could tell the cloth was ripped in a clean line.

A gash... no, that's too small and straight to be a gash wound. It's probably...

A stab wound.

"Curious, how curious..." Yaomomo eased back and stood up, tiptoeing around the blood to investigate the other thing that had caught her eye earlier.

There was a large kitchen knife lying in the puddle of blood. Because the handle was obviously thicker than the blade and it was suspended in the air, Yaomomo could tell that the knife was soaked to the hilt with magenta liquid. I see... this must be the weapon of the crime. Taking note of the evidence, Yaomomo got up and finally turned to the only other person in the room. Even if he's not in his right mind, I need the account. He was close to Mashirao, after all...

"Hitoshi." She approached him and got his attention quickly. "I need an account from you."

"Alright... I guess it's a part of investigation." Hitoshi sighed. "This afternoon, I... I didn't accompany Mashirao. After we had lunch together at noon, I went down to the library, and Mashirao decided to do some housekeeping in his dorm. That was the last time I saw him." His voice shuddered as he continued, grief evident in his words.

Yaomomo felt a wince of pity for him. "What about the past few days? Ever notice something weird? Maybe someone giving him an odd look?" She pressed onwards.

"No... I rarely left his side the past few days. It was just today," Hitoshi replied softly.

She pondered that and nodded. "Thanks, Hitoshi. I'll solve this case, I'm sure of it."

He didn't reply. His gaze had dropped back to the body on the floor.

Yaomomo began making her way to the door. I've investigated all I can here... it's time to give an autopsy for Mei, and get investigation reports from the others.

As she stepped outside, a certain blue-haired girl approached her, closely flanked by Mirio, Tamaki, and Tsuyu. She was holding the Swimmer's arm and leading her along. "Ah, Nejire. I'm glad to see you," Yaomomo said as she turned to face her.

"Oh, I'm sorry to make everyone worry... I was tired, so I decided to take a nap in my room," she explained. On par with her account, Nejire's hair was unstyled and messy. "You investigated... Mashirao, right?"

"Yeah. I hate to split you up again, but could two of you stay behind and watch Hitoshi from outside the room?" Yaomomo lowered her voice, her eyes flitting within the room. Hitoshi had sat down in the corner, next to the body. There was blood on his shoes, and his head was down on his knees, which he'd brought up to his chest. "I don't want him to do something if he's alone."

"I could stay with him," Mirio offered. "Silent company."

"If he's staying, I'll stay too..." Tamaki began, but the Ultimate Hope shook his head.

"Look, Tamaki, you gotta gain some confidence in yourself, instead of relying on me," Mirio said, smiling softly. "I know it's been tough since we got imprisoned here... but you must stop leaning only on me! You have to be strong by yourself, in case anything ever happens to me, or you're stuck in a situation alone." He paused, observing the nervous expression on Tamaki's face. "Do it for me, okay?"

"I'll go with him," Nejire volunteered softly, cutting into their conversation.

"Sure." Tamaki turned to Nejire. "Let's go, th-then... investigation won't last forever."

"Take good care of Tsu, okay? Make sure she doesn't wander away..." Nejire's voice took on a tone of concern as she eyed Tsuyu.

"I'm fine," Tsuyu protested, although her eyes kept going from side to side, searching for something that wasn't there.

"If that's settled, let's go," Yaomomo insisted, although she hesitated for a moment to glance at Tsuyu. Mirio can handle her; they're friends. I have to focus on the investigation.

Nejire nodded, gently grabbed Tamaki's arm, and began dragging him along after Yaomomo, making their way downstairs to the lab on the first floor.

As soon as the trio entered, Shouto looked up from his investigation of a pile of boxes on the floor, rising to greet her. "Hello, Yaomomo. You finished investigating Mashirao?"

"Yes. I have enough evidence for him," she said. "What have you found with Mei?"

"Well, just from a look at Mei's body, she's dressed in Ochako's clothes, which is odd," Shouto began, gesturing to the corpse. Yaomomo looked to it and indeed, now that he mentioned it, the unfitting pink attire was clearly the late Mochi Chef's. "And in her pocket, we found this buzzer." Shouto picked up a small black trinket from beside Mei's body. It was a tiny black device, equipped with a small red light. The light was flashing and the object was buzzing.

"It must be Mei's, then," Yaomomo concluded easily. "But what does it connect to? We did notice a strange sound when we first found the body..."

"We don't know," someone cut in. "But there's some more interesting things we found, as well."

Yaomomo turned to see that Tooru had approached them. Her face was still red, but her eyes were filled with renewed vigor, determination to avenge her friend. "We were digging through the boxes after looking around the room, because we thought maybe the killer would hide something in them."

She began to walk around the worktable, towards the mess of things all over the floor. Mezou and Denki were sitting on the floor going through them.

"Look at what Mezou found earlier," Shouto added, pointing at a certain box they had set off to the side. He, Yaomomo, and Tooru crouched down by it as the ravenette sifted through the contents within.

It was a box of spare metal parts for mechanical work, but there were a few items in there that just had to be crime scene evidence. She picked out the suspicious objects and put them on the floor next to her.

A button. There was a small iron rectangular prism. The only thing on it was a white button.

Two masks. The pair of full-head masks were made of what looked like cardboard and cloth. The part that actually covered the face was painted white, with a splash of pink across it. The cover for the rest of the head -which concealed the hair and part of the neck of anyone wearing it- was soft and beige.

...Mina's outfit? Yaomomo pulled out a neatly folded bundle of clothes. Upon shaking them out, she easily identified the purple sailor outfit with a blue dress, stockings, and ribbon as the deceased Dancer's get-up. What is Mina's outfit doing in this..?

And why does it have blood on it? There was a large, damp bloodstain splattered across the width of the clothes. Does it have something to do with Ochako's outfit, the one Mei's wearing?

"We haven't tried to test the button yet," Tooru commented.

"But aside from that, the mask and outfit... do you think the killer dressed themselves up? But why would there be two masks in that case?" Shouto mused.

"It's something to consider in the trial," Yaomomo said slowly, putting the items aside. "Let's hold onto the buzzer and button for now." She handed the button to Shouto, who nodded and pocketed it along with the buzzer, which was still going off.

"We found some other stuff, too," Denki spoke up. "We left them over on the other side of the worktable..."

Yaomomo got up. Tooru hung back and returned to working with the Heavylifter and Electrician, while Shouto accompanied her to the table. Tamaki and Nejire decided to help the trio with the box sorting.

Yaomomo immediately spotted the two objects lying a short distance away from Mei's limp body. "It's a tablet. And... a switchblade?" she murmured, picking up the fake leather-padded handle.

Shouto leaned in next to her to point at something. "There's a switch there, on the underside of the han-"

His comment was likely not needed, because at that moment Yaomomo flicked said switch and a massive silver blade unfurled from the unassuming little handhold.

"Ah!" Shouto and Yaomomo both jumped back, the latter still clutching the handle. Meanwhile, everyone else in the room had also noticed the shiny weapon of death and destruction that had just been released from its case. Most people jumped at the sight of it alone.

It was a massive knife, a beautifully crafted harbinger of death. It curved slightly, the tip pointing down. The bottom of the blade was serrated in wide arcs, the edge sharp as- well, sharp as a knife.

"It's... what the heck is this?" Yaomomo carefully turned the black handle in her hand.

"It's a very large blade," Shouto said slowly. "A... um... megablade."

"You kind of suck at naming things, but that works," Yaomomo teased weakly. "You're right, though, I suppose."

She experimentally pulled the switch again, and the blade folded neatly back into the handle. Yaomomo dropped it back on the table and wrung out her hands. She picked up the tablet next. It looked... pretty plain. There was a single button on the side, resembling a home button. She pressed it, and the screen flashed to life.

"It's the laundry room..." Yaomomo stared at the screen. Hitoshi was crouched by the body, seemingly giving a prayer. Mirio and Tsuyu stood in the doorway and watched sadly.

"Why would this tablet display the laundry room? The only camera in there is the security camera..." Shouto muttered.

The security camera... could this tablet really be connected to it? Is this the villains'? Or is this Mei's..? Oh, I know. I could get someone to go down and put their hand up to the security camera or something, to see if this is connected to it.

"Shouto. Did you guys find anything else in this room?" Yaomomo asked. "I'd like to test something with this tablet, and its connection to the laundry room."

"I would be fine with helping you," Shouto said. "But you have to do the body inspection first, remember? None of us have touched that body."

"Ah. Right." She set the tablet down and went around the table to Mei's corpse. He's right. I have to do the autopsy.

Yaomomo got to work immediately. She easily found a pair of scissors lying around the lab and cut open the black tank top she was wearing, working around Mei's undergarment to inspect the incision in her chest. "It's a stab wound," she reported to Shouto. "Pretty deep. Deep enough to kill, I suspect."

She continued by rolling the body over onto its side, to inspect the blood coming out from under it. The Monokuma File had detailed a wound in her back; consistent information to the blood stain there. This prompted her to turn the body over completely, cut open the clothes, and inspect what was bleeding. "It's another stab wound in her back, like the File said," Yaomomo reported. "Also deep, but not as much as the chest wound."

"Alright," Shouto replied quietly.

She was patting down Mei's waist, since the Inventor had pockets, when her fingers hit something lumpy in one of the pockets. She reached inside and pulled out a small Ziploc baggie of what looked like little yellow cubes.

"What do you think these are?" Shouto asked, eyeing them. Yaomomo turned them over a few times in the light.

"There's silver-colored metal on opposite sides of it, and there's a small raised indent on one side. I think it looks like a battery," she replied, setting them down on the table. "I've never seen a battery looking like this, though. I wonder where Mei got them." And why are they in her pocket?

Yaomomo continued the patdown and completed the autopsy after that, determining that there were no other wounds on Mei's body. "I'm done," she said, wiping her hands off on her skirt. Not very sanitary, but with limited time remaining she had to work fast. "Can you do me a favor and go up to the laundry room?" she continued, turning to Shouto. He nodded. "I want you to go up to the security camera and wave your hand in front of it. I need to test whether or not this tablet connects to it."

"Mmh. That makes sense... I'll go right on up, in that case." Shouto turned and strode out the door, hastily making his way down the hall.

"H-Hey, Yaomomo..!" She turned around at the sound of her name being called, namely by Denki. He was still sitting by the boxes. "I found something... if you're not busy."

"Sure." Yaomomo picked up the tablet and carried it over to Denki, in order to keep an eye on it. "What did you find?" she asked him.

"Look." Denki pointed inside the box he was inspecting. Yaomomo turned immediately to see what he was referring to.

"Is this... a bloody sheet of fabric?" She picked it up by a clean corner to inspect it. The plain yellow cloth was apparently used to wipe away blood, considering the paint-like marks and dashes of pink on it.

"It looks like it. D-Do you think I should go through this box some more, in case there's anything else?" Denki spoke up hesitantly.

"Sure. Be careful, just in case there's something sharp." She set the fabric down and turned back to the tablet. Shouto hadn't appeared yet.

She sat there and waited for a minute to watch for his entrance. As she tapped her fingers on the floor, Shouto walked into the room. The feed had no audio but relatively good quality video, so Yaomomo watched as Mirio looked up at the two-tone-haired boy. His mouth moved; he was probably asking Shouto why he was here.

Shouto said something in reply, then began walking towards the back wall; the wall the camera was evidently planted on. However, he didn't go for the camera the tablet feed was coming from. He went to the right corner of the room, hovering awkwardly behind Hitoshi. He waved up at something over there, his eyes fixed on it.

So this tablet's feed isn't from the security camera...

"H-Hey- um, Yaomomo, what are you..?" Denki began to say something, before trailing off to lean over her shoulder, eyeing the tablet. "Oh, that... what is Shouto doing?"

"I had him go down and wave at the security camera. I wanted to see if this connected to it... but it doesn't. I find that weird," Yaomomo said.

"What if whoever owns this tablet set up a camera in the laundry room? So they can monitor it... but why would they need to do that?" Denki murmured.

"I... I think I have a vague idea of what it might be for. I don't want to say anything until I'm sure, though," the Detective-Affluent Progeny replied, deep in thought. She sighed and put down the tablet. "Hopefully Shouto will either stay there with Hitoshi or come back. Anyway, what were you going to say?"

"Oh, I found this..." Denki gingerly picked something up out of the box. It was a knife; a kitchen knife. It was smaller than the one found by Mashirao. It looked tiny in comparison to the megablade Yaomomo and Shouto discovered earlier, but it was still lethally sharp.

Yaomomo took the knife and turned it over in her hand. It looked clean, but there were dull streaks of something along its sides. "Thank you, Denki. This should be useful later."

She set it down atop the cloth, picked up the tablet, and got up. "Where are you going?" Denki asked from the floor.

"The laundry room," she replied. "I want to investigate something." She still held the tablet in her hands.

"Well, um, I have a comment to make. I'll be quick, I promise," Denki added hastily. He scrambled to his feet to properly talk to her. "Mei's device. The one she just finished building- it's gone."

"Huh?" Yaomomo glanced around the room and realized he had be correct. "You're right..." Mei's device... the one that got broken, the one she insisted was a big help to us.

"I was thinking: maybe the killer took it. Or... or they broke it, and took the remains away," Denki said. "Either way, there's no trace of it here, unless some of the scrap metal in the boxes are the broken bits. N-None of this stuff looks that new, though."

"I'll think about it. Thank you for the notice." Yaomomo thanked Denki and got up, hurrying out of the room and upstairs to the laundry room, tablet in hand. Shouto turned as she entered.

"Ah. Yaomomo." He looked at the item in her hands, held to her chest. "The tablet. Was it the security camera?"

"No. I'm going to try and find the one it's connected to, though." She turned the tablet on to see herself on the feed, device in hand. She moved closer to the wall, shuffling from side to side until she was in the dead center of the feed, before walking forward. As she hit the wall, she looked to the tablet to see that she was on face-level with the camera.

She looked up and blinked, swiftly finding the tiny camera lens in one of the tile sealing lines. "Shouto, look. Here's the camera." She pointed at it as Shouto leaned in.

"If this is planted here, it's possible there's more traps hidden around the room," Shouto said. "It seems weird someone would put just a camera here to monitor who comes and goes in the laundry room, of all things."

"Let's look around for the rest of investigation." Yaomomo and Shouto walked around the room, inspecting the walls, behind shelves, and the ceiling tiles. In the corner where Mashirao's body was, Yaomomo looked up to see a ceiling tile that was slightly off in its place.

"Hey, Shouto. I found something." He hurried over at her call, as did Mirio. Tsuyu stayed put, sitting against the wall with Hitoshi; silent company and consolation.

They looked up at the tile in the far corner from behind the body. "How do we get to it?" Shouto asked.

"If it's moved, it's probably a trap. And it wouldn't make sense for a trap to only be triggered by hand. We should find something that trips it," Mirio suggested. Yaomomo and Shouto nodded.

They walked around the area, Yaomomo skirting around the body to get below the crooked tile. "Nothing's happening," she murmured.

"I have an idea," Shouto suddenly said. He took the button they'd found in the lab out of his pocket. "We've never tried pressing this. I want to see if it's connected to this, since it's a manual trigger for something."

He pressed the red button, and a startlingly loud sucking noise came from above. All three people jumped; Hitoshi and Tsu were surprisingly still by the shelf and body. Yaomomo looked up to see that the tile had been shoved to the side, revealing the space above the ceiling. The sucking sound had come from within that hole.

"So they were connected," Mirio muttered, staring up at the gap.

None of them had a chance to do anything else, however, as it was then that the monitor bleeped and came to life.

"Ahem! This is a school announcement. It's time for the class trial! Please head down to the elevator ASAP!"

"Oh. The trial's starting," Tsu murmured. She slid to her feet, her expression having lost its haunted touch. She looked gloomy at the prospect of another trial. Our sixth one... and how many more will we be subjected to..?

"Let's go. Monokuma won't wait," Shouto said. Yaomomo nodded and followed him towards the doorway. Behind her, she could hear Mirio coaxing Hitoshi to get up and come along.

The class met in the elevator room. As soon as the last person entered, the bronze gates slid open and everyone stepped inside. They slipped shut again, and the elevator began to descend.

Another trial.

Another murder.

Another blackened.

How much longer will this go on..?

Is it like Hitoshi said? That we should give up now, stop wasting our efforts when we're all going to be killed off in this game anyway?

...

No.

No, I can't think that...

I want to feel that way, I really do; it would be so much easier. Hitoshi's right, in that matter...

But I also feel this strange urge to fight the trials. We have nothing to do but play the game... so I want to play it the right way.

I'm going to play this game, and I'm going to clear this trial.

After all, our lives are on the line.

The elevator slammed to a halt.

Chapter Text

The trial room was as usual. The checked floor, the golden throne, the red carpet, the crystal chandelier, the high domed ceiling- it was all too familiar to Yaomomo.

We've condemned so many to their deaths in this room.

It's not fair, really...

"Upupupu! And so we return for the sixth time!" Monokuma was sitting on the throne alone this time. Yaomomo was sure he still had Kurogiri and probably Spinner on watch, in case someone tried to attack him.

"Why are you alone? Are you so arrogant that we can't stand up to you that you don't need bodyguards?" Mezou asked coldly.

"Upupu... my friend this trial is currently in the room, actually, so I won't be alone soon!" Monokuma taunted, his beady black eyes fixated on the students. "Now then, you know the drill, you've done this half a dozen times now! Get to your podiums! It's time for the class trial!"

The class did as they were told; after all, what more could they possibly do?

We can only play the game.

>Class Trial : Start!<

"As per usual, I guess we will start with the Monokuma File," Yaomomo said with a sigh.

"Yeah... as per usual." Tooru was more down than usual as well; of course she would be, her best friend just died. Got murdered.

"..." Hitoshi was silent today, his eyes haunted, tears filling them and threatening to spill over. He was wiping them away periodically.

Yaomomo pulled the tablet out and read the information from it. "The victims were Mei Hatsume and Mashirao Ojirou. Mashirao died from decapitation, and Mei is bleeding from a wound in her back. There's a knife by Mashirao's body. Mei died at roughly two-thirty in the afternoon."

"So the missing info." Mirio paused. "Mei's cause of death, Mashirao's wounds other than his fatal one, Mei's murder weapon, and the order of the deaths."

"That's quite a lot..." Denki muttered.

"Let's tackle something a bit simpler first: Mei's cause of death," Shouto suggested. "We have Mashirao's, so let's get Mei's down."

Mei's cause of death... this should be pretty easy. Almost too easy, but the solution is clear.

>Select Something in the Image!<

...

>Chest Wound : I got it.<

"It's clear that Mei died from being stabbed in the chest. There was a stab wound over her heart, and it was deep enough to puncture the vital organ," Yaomomo said. "It's pretty straightforward. I found no traces of poison, or anything of the likes anywhere at either crime scene."

"I-If that's cleared up... the next thing to figure out is to establish all of Mashirao's wounds," Tamaki suggested softly.

"In my autopsy, I found that other than his fatal wound, there was a stab wound in his arm," Yaomomo said. "It doesn't conclude much, but there may have been a tussle."

"Thank you, Yaomomo," Mirio said. "Your autopsies really do prove useful."

"I only do what I can to help," Yaomomo muttered. She cleared her throat. "Anyway, with that out of the way... we can deal with Mei's murder weapon later. First, we should see if we can determine the order of the deaths."

"The order... umm..." Denki mused. "Mei died at... two-thirty in the afternoon. And Mashirao was seen at lunch, which ended at o-one."

"Did anyone see Mashirao past one? Hitoshi?" Mirio lowered his voice as he turned to regard the violette. Hitoshi was unresponsive, his gaze shadowed as he stared at his feet; he only continued to weep silently, maybe even more hurt by Mirio's question.

Of course... because...

>Select a Truth Bullet!<

...

>Hitoshi's Account : I got it.<

"No." Mirio returned his attention to Yaomomo. "Hitoshi didn't see Mashirao past one. They parted ways; Hitoshi went to the library, and Mashirao said he'd do some housekeeping in his dorm. Doing the laundry would be included in that, actually."

"If I remember correctly, Tooru saw Mei's body at about... two-forty," Denki spoke up again. "S-Some time must have elapsed between Mei was killed and Tooru found her, or Tooru would probably have seen them. So... one to two-thirty is a good estimate for both of the v-victims."

"Furthermore, Mashirao and Mei's bodies were discovered at the same time," Yaomomo said. "The body discovery announcements were pretty much one after another."

"With the evidence we have now, it's difficult to determine the order," Shouto agreed. "We should move on and clear up a few more things with each victim's individual case. Then we can connect them."

"Let's investigate Mashirao's case further," Yaomomo suggested. Hitoshi subtly winced at the mention of his dead lover; she tried not to feel guilty, probing at something the Psychic was obviously hurting from. I have to, though. For the trial...

"If we're to work together, let's discuss," Mirio spoke up. "Equal voices, equal debate."

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Hitoshi's Account, Megablade, Knife - Mei, Misplaced Ceiling Tile, Camera<

"From what we know right now, Mashirao evidently... evidently died in the corner, tangled up in a net. It looks like it's only on his shoulders and below," Tamaki said.

"He got his head cut off... maybe by the knife lying by his body," Shouto added.

"Maybe the killer had been hiding out in the room, waiting for someone to enter," Tsuyu suggested in a shaky voice.

"Or maybe they knew he would be there, or followed him," Mezou offered coldly.

"Anyway, we know for sure the killer attacked him," Nejire decided, "Threw the net on him, and decapitated him."

"No, that's wrong."

>Misplaced Ceiling Tile : Counter!<

"No, the killer didn't manually throw the net," Yaomomo corrected.

"Hm? But how else could they get the net on Mashirao?" The Beauty Pageant inquired.

"They must've set a trap in the room," the ravenette replied. "Allow me to explain. There had been a misplaced ceiling tile in the corner where Mashirao had died. Shouto and I found a button that moved the ceiling tile when it was pressed, and a loud sucking noise came from above the ceiling, through that hole."

"So the killer set this trap to throw the net on someone and ensnare them," Mirio commented. "It was used to tangle up Mashirao, before they killed him... did they intend to do this to just anyone who entered the room? How'd they get him in the corner anyway?"

"No, other people have entered the laundry room today, in the morning," Denki cut in. "For example... I did. So did Mezou, I think; I saw him walking that way with some clothes." His voice got softer as he went, eyeing Mezou's cold stare nervously.

"The trap couldn't have been put up just after lunch, it's a bit complex," Yaomomo stated. "There's another part to it, as well. It explains how the killer knew Mashirao was there, and headed out to physically corner him and trigger the net."

The second part of the trap, one the killer used to monitor the laundry room... I can see it...

>Mind Mine : Start!<

...

>Camera and Tablet : I see it.<

"There was a camera in the room," Yaomomo explained. "It was connected wirelessly to a tablet. The killer could monitor the laundry room using this setup, and know when to head down. They were targeting Mashirao specifically; that much is clear, since they didn't do anything to anyone in the room this morning."

"This whole setup... the trap, the camera, this whole complicated plan. Not just anyone could've done this... only one person realistically could," Tamaki muttered. "Yaomomo... you must know, right?"

Yes, only one person could have possibly created this elaborate trap... it's got to be...

>Select Someone!<

...

>Mei Hatsume : It's got to be you.<

"...Mei. Only the Ultimate Inventor could've created all this complicated machinery," Yaomomo said coldly.

"Eh? Mei?!" Tooru cried out, but was ignored.

"Not only that, it also explains a certain something found by her body," Shouto added.

The certain something Shouto speaks of, it's-

>Select a Truth Bullet!<

...

>Buzzer : I got it.<

"The buzzer, right?" Yaomomo regarded the Theorist. "She had it on her. It must've been connected to some part of her trap; she has no other reason to have it."

"Ooh, what if she made a sensor?" Nejire suggested brightly. "The buzzer alerts her when someone enters the room. Then she would check her tablet. She wouldn't have to watch the tablet all day, which frees up time for her and is less stressful. It's not out of her league, either."

"Good idea, Nejire!" Mirio commented. "That sounds plausible."

"Regardless, there's even another part of this case that Mei being the culprit reinforces," Yaomomo added. "It's..."

>Select the correct answer:

Two Masks

Mashirao's Head

Megablade

Mina's Outfit<

>Megablade : I got it.<

"...the megablade."

"Wh-what's a megablade?" Tsuyu asked.

"It's the big knife Shouto and I found in Mei's lab," Yaomomo replied. "Denki, Mezou, Tooru, and Shouto himself can all confirm."

"Yeah... that thing was pretty scary-looking," Tooru said, shuddering.

"I can confirm," Shouto also said. Mezou nodded silently.

"Shouto decided to call it a megablade," Yaomomo continued. "Anyway, it was a massive silver blade that could be folded up into its handle, like some oversized switchblade."

"Putting aside whatever you decided to call it, how is this thing supposed to connect Mei to Mashirao's murder?" Mezou asked.

"It has to do with Mashirao's murder weapon, right, Yaomomo?" Shouto suddenly cut in, regarding the Detective-Affluent Progeny.

Yaomomo returned his gaze evenly. He can read my thought process like an open book... great minds think alike, huh?

>Psyche Taxi : Start!<

...

>Question 1: What was found by Mashirao's body, which is presumably his murder weapon?
Left: Kitchen Knife
Middle: Megablade
Right: Black Ivory Knife
Left : Correct!<

...

>Question 2: Is the kitchen knife Mashirao's murder weapon?
Left: No
Right: Yes
Left : Correct!<

...

>Question 3: Why can't the kitchen knife be Mashirao's murder weapon?
Left: Because Mashirao died from decapitation.
Middle: Because the knife is Mei's murder weapon.
Right: Because the knife is too small to behead Mashirao.
Right : Correct!<

...

>Question 4: What is Mashirao's real murder weapon?
Left: Black Ivory Knife
Middle: Megablade
Right: Kitchen Knife
Middle : Correct!<

>Success!
Question 1: Kitchen Knife
Question 2: No
Question 3: Because the knife is too small to behead Mashirao.
Question 4: Megablade<

>Break!<

"Mashirao's murder weapon... was the megablade," Yaomomo determined.

"Eh? The megablade was used to kill him?" Nejire remarked. "But I thought it was found with Mei, and the kitchen knife was found by Mashirao."

"That is true," Yaomomo said. "But that kitchen knife is too small and dull to slice off Mashirao's entire head from his neck so cleanly. The megablade is bigger and sharper, so it's more likely. Also, the megablade is unlikely to have been Mei's murder weapon as well, since the tip is curved and far from ideal for stabbing."

"The only person who could've created such a weapon is Mei," Tamaki added on. "The fact it wasn't used against her adds to the idea that she was the one using it against Mashirao."

"But what about the blood on the megablade?" Denki asked quietly. "If it were used to behead Mashirao, shouldn't it be covered in blood?"

The evidence that explains this unusual fact... it's got to be that one...

>Mind Mine : Start!<

...

>Bloody Cloth : I can see it.<

"There was a bloody cloth found in one of the boxes in Mei's lab, among other things," Yaomomo replied. "Mei's killer likely found her in the lab, killed her, and took her possessions. Anyone with an ounce of curiosity would test the megablade and realize it was covered in blood."

Wait...

No... that doesn't sound right...

But despite Yaomomo's second thoughts, the rest of the class appeared to be going along with it well.

"This all makes sense now," Tooru said shakily. "Mei killed Mashirao... before someone else killed her in her lab."

"Y-Yeah! Let's just vote for her now!" Denki exclaimed.

"Wait, no! We don't technically know the order of the deaths!" Tamaki retorted.

"But we've already figured her out," Mezou stated. "We should vote."

"But we don't know which body announcement was for who!" Shouto argued. "What if Mei's was first?"

"Guys, come on, stop being so la-" Yaomomo began, but was swiftly cut off by a certain monochrome bear.

"HOLD ON!!!"

>Break!<

"Upupupu~ A split opinion already?" Monokuma grinned. "To vote or not to vote... to decide what to do...

"The League of Villains presents their very own morphenomenal trial grounds..! Again!" The bear was delighted, switch and key already in paw. "Heeeeere we go!"

Oh, now look at what being lazy has dragged us into... a Scrum Debate.

>Scrum Debate : Start!

Should we vote for Mei?

Vote for Mei: Mezou, Tooru, Denki, Tsuyu, Nejire, Hitoshi

Don't Vote for Mei: Mirio, Tamaki, Shouto, Yaomomo<

"Mei is Mashirao's killer, we should just vote for her!" Denki exclaimed.

"Mirio."

"Just because Mei was Mashirao's killer doesn't mean we should just jump to vote!" Mirio retorted.

"Mashirao was found first, so Mei's the blackened," Mezou stated.

"Shouto."

"Be logical. We don't know who was found first since the announcements were one after the other," the Theorist said.

"Let's just get this over with... why bother trying anymore?" Hitoshi whimpered, his voice trembling.

"Mirio."

"We have to keep trying, or else we'll only give in to despair!" The Ultimate Hope exclaimed.

"All this talk about hope and despair... we already figured out the case, why not go ahead and vote?" Tsuyu muttered.

"Tamaki."

"We can't just vote, we only figured out one case," Tamaki replied.

"If we've already gotten the identity of the blackened, why waste energy figuring out a meaningless case?" Tooru murmured.

"I'll do it."

"Mei's life was not meaningless," Yaomomo said. "She has the right to at least be done justice in this trial."

>Crouch Bind : Set!<

>W - A - D - A - W - S<

>Full Counter : Break!<

"Come on, guys, don't be lazy," Yaomomo chastised. "We only figured out Mashirao's case. We have to figure out Mei's too, because we don't even know which of them was discovered first."

"Well, what if we can't figure out the order and there are two different killers? How are we supposed to know who to vote for, then?" Denki pointed out.

"I'm... I'm not sure," Yaomomo said slowly. "But I'm sure there has to be some way to figure out the order of the announcements."

"Yaomomo, haven't you noticed?" She looked over to meet Mezou's stony gaze. "Can't you tell? We don't want to keep trying. Not when making it through a trial only means more suffering."

"I don't care if you've all given up or not," Yaomomo snapped back. "I don't care if you all want to die. I think a part of me had decided to give up long ago, too, when Fumikage died. But I kept going, for the sake of playing the game and pulling the class through to another day. Nothing you say can change that."

Silence followed her words. Ha. Guess I really am just an Ultimate Detective...

"If we've gotten that out of the way..." Shouto cut in gently. "Why don't we talk about something that's been bothering me about Mashirao's case for a while now?"

"Eh? What is it?" Nejire prompted.

"His body discovery. Only Mezou and I were present at the body when both announcements went off. The body discovery announcement only activates when three people have seen the body... so why did it go off when Mezou and I saw it?" Shouto mused.

"It must be because the first person to see it saw it before you two," Tamaki easily deduced. "But who is that person?"

"If you fess up now, you'll be free of suspicion, too," Mirio reminded the students. "But if you lie and get found out, it would make you look suspicious."

"So if anybody would like to say they saw the body before Shouto and Mezou, speak out now," Yaomomo demanded.

The trial room was quiet. Everyone looked from person to person, as if searching for someone who would step up. No one did, of course.

"Nobody? Nobody would like to confess they saw it?" Nejire sounded surprised.

There's so many things that don't stack up when you look at the big picture, Yaomomo realized, her mind whirling. The two masks, Mina's costume, the blue cloth in Mashirao's hand...

"I think... it's because the person who saw him first knows they're suspicious," she said slowly.

"Come again?" Tooru asked.

"Mei... may not have been the killer of Mashirao after all," Yaomomo said.

I have to explain to everyone, show them the hidden truth in this case that we didn't consider..!

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Hitoshi's Account, Two Masks, Ochako's Outfit, Buzzer, Camera<

"Mei may not have been Mashirao's killer? What are you saying?" Denki asked.

"Yeah! Only Mei could've set up this complicated trap!" Tooru agreed. "None of the rest of us have the smarts to make all that stuff."

"Yeah! It's pretty clear," Nejire said. "Mei set up a trap to kill Mashirao in particular for some reason, carried it out perfectly, and then got killed by someone else in her own lab!"

"No, that's not what I think happened," Yaomomo retorted.

"Then what did happen?" Tamaki asked. "Mei was definitely involved in the murder."

"Maybe Mei set up the entire trap, and masterminded it..." Shouto theorized. "But never set a finger on Mashirao himself?"

"But then why would she be dressed in Ochako's outfit?" Mirio pointed out. "She had to have gone down there personally!"

"I-If she was involved and personally approached Mashirao, maybe... oh!" Denki exclaimed. "What if... Mei had an accomplice?"

"I agree with that."

>Two Masks : Consent!<

"There's a lot of evidence that points to Mei having an accomplice," Yaomomo said. "But the most straightforward are the two masks we found in the boxes. She must've worn a mask when going down to kill Mashirao; just Ochako's outfit isn't enough to hide her identity. The second matching mask points to an accomplice being with her."

"But what if she set up two masks so we'd think that?" Tooru pointed out.

"There's more than just the masks," Yaomomo said. What's another piece of evidence that proves it..?

>Hangman's Gambit 3.0 : Start!

What's another piece of evidence that points to Mei having an accomplice?

🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆 🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆<

...

>MINA'S OUTFIT : I got it.<

>Break!<

"We also found Mina's spare outfit in the lab," Yaomomo said. "There was even blood on it. It wasn't blood splashed onto a folded outfit, either, as a setup; it looked like the blood splashed on it while it was being worn. Mei was wearing Ochako's outfit; she was killed wearing it, considering the bloodstains from her wounds. I bet the accomplice wore Mina's outfit and used the second mask."

"Ah... an accomplice's presence would explain how only two people set off Mashirao's alarm," Shouto said. "The accomplice would fill the criteria of person one to see the body. Mezou and I are persons two and three."

"That makes sense and all, but Yaomomo, what did you mean when you said Mei might not have been Mashirao's killer?" Tsuyu asked.

"Looking at a specific piece of evidence, Mei's accomplice is more likely to have been Mashirao's killer, actually," Yaomomo explained. And that evidence is...

>Select an item at this location!<

...

>Blue Cloth : I got it.<

"When I investigated Mashirao's body... I found a scrap of blue cloth in Mashirao's hand. There's nothing containing blue cloth in the room, so I'm pretty sure he ripped it from someone's outfit," Yaomomo continued. "He got into close combat with someone wearing blue. Mina's outfit -the accomplice's outfit- has a blue ribbon and skirt. I didn't pay attention to see if the outfit had any rips, but it's the more plausible option here."

"Not so fast!"

>Break!<

"Hold up!" Mirio cut in. "You can't just assume that blue cloth was from Mina's outfit, especially when you didn't check it for rips yourself!"

"But like I said, it's our only option!" Yaomomo retorted.

"Then explain! There's definitely other possibilities, I'm sure of it!"

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Mirio Toogata : Momo Yaoyorozu

Truth Blades: Laundry Room, Camera, Button, Mashirao's Clothes, Ochako's Outfit, Mina's Outfit<

"Just because Mashirao had blue cloth in his hand doesn't necessarily mean it was from Mina's outfit!" Mirio began. "There's no proof it was from that outfit specifically. He could've ripped it from anyone, anywhere!"

"But why would he rip a part of someone's outfit off, or rip a random scrap of blue cloth from somewhere in the school? It only makes sense if he was forced to fight someone wearing blue," Yaomomo retorted.

"Yes, and? Maybe he was fighting some other person who had blue clothes," Mirio said. "Shouto also wears blue." A pause. So does Tamaki, Yaomomo realized. He's digging himself into something he doesn't want to. "It's possible the blue cloth could've been from anyone's outfit!"

"Shouto's outfit has stripes. The scrap of cloth is too wide to somehow not cover a single stripe. Tamaki's blue tie is more likely, if you're going to go down this road," Yaomomo replied.

"O-Okay, then maybe the attacker grabbed something blue from somewhere in the room to throw at Mashirao, and Mashirao ripped it?" Mirio suggested, obviously not wanting to expand on the idea the blue cloth was from Tamaki.

"I'll cut through your words."

>Laundry Room : Break!<

"There is nothing in the laundry room that is blue. There's no blue clothes hanging up, there's no blue towels, and there's no blue clothes in any of the machines," Yaomomo said. "Even though the blue cloth coming from Tamaki's tie is possible, I doubt he would've been able to go from helping Mei to being casual, as Mirio found him so quickly. Tamaki, can you give an alibi from lunch to the body discoveries?" She turned to the Florist in question.

"Sure... Um, I stayed with Mirio after lunch, since Nejire went to her dorm," Tamaki began. "W-We went to the library together, and we saw Hitoshi there. We stayed there until about two, at which point Mirio went to the cafeteria to get a drink. He came back a few minutes later with two drinks, and we stayed in the library until two-twenty-five, when we went up to the kitchen."

"Ah! Did you notice if there were missing kitchen knives?" Shouto jumped to ask.

"I didn't exactly pay attention to that... but I think there were some empty slots on the knife rack," Tamaki replied.

"I can confirm his entire alibi, by the way," Mirio noted.

"If that's true, I believe his alibi is sound," Yaomomo said slowly. "Since Mei set a trap and was monitoring it with the camera to specifically find Mashirao, her accomplice would stay with her. Otherwise, there's the risk of Mashirao being the laundry room and the accomplice not being present, therefore making Mei taking an accomplice in the first place pointless. Tamaki being with Mirio for most of that timeframe makes it unlikely he's accomplicing Mei."

"That rules out all possibilities for other places Mashirao could obtain a scrap of blue cloth," Nejire concluded. "Except for that outfit of Mina's."

"There's also the blood on Mina's outfit," Tooru reminded. "So I agree with Yaomomo."

"In order to behead someone, you would need to get in close quarters with them," Denki added. "Th-That megablade... it isn't that long. You'd need to get relatively close to Mashirao; close enough that he could rip something from the outfit. It also explains... um, it explains the bloodstain."

"So, to recap..." Shouto spoke up. "Mei had an accomplice, who wore the second mask and Mina's outfit as a disguise, while Mei wore Ochako's outfit and the first mask. The accomplice did the dirty work of actually beheading Mashirao, but in the process, Mashirao ripped a scrap of blue cloth from the outfit."

"That sounds about right," Tamaki noted. "B-But now... we have no leads on who the accomplice could actually be."

"Since Mashirao's case involves Mei, we should move onto her. It seems too convenient that someone would just happen to kill her right after she commits a crime. They might be connected," Shouto suggested.

"Alright... we should start with the basics of Mei's case, and analyze further from there," Yaomomo said.

"Well, first off, Mei was killed in her lab," Tooru stated. "Using... using what?"

"Mei wasn't killed using the Megablade, since she died from a stab wound to the chest," Denki said. "Didn't we find a knife in one of the boxes? Maybe she died from that."

"But... if that knife was used, wouldn't there be blood on it?" Tsuyu inquired.

No, not necessarily... there's something that could explain how the knife was clean.

>Select a Truth Bullet!<

...

>Bloody Piece of Fabric : I got it.<

"They could've used that bloody piece of fabric again to clean it off," Yaomomo said. "Both were hidden in the boxes, so it's likely."

"Then the killer was prepared," Mezou said. "They brought that knife, and they also bothered to clean it... why?"

"If I had to guess, I'd say they wanted to hide the identity of the murder weapon, for whatever reason," Shouto theorized. "It's a weak attempt, though. It might've worked if we didn't find that cloth, or if we didn't search the boxes at all."

"Now that we have the murder weapon, we should discuss," Nejire suggested. "We can piece it together."

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Mashirao's Wounds, Tablet, Mei's Wounds, Monokuma File #5, Knife - Mei<

"So, the killer brought a knife and a cloth with them, intending to kill Mei," Denki began. "They attacked her in her lab and killed her, leaving her on the lab table."

"Th-They then cleaned off the knife with the cloth and hid the items, but left everything Mei had on her in the lab," Tamaki continued.

"Why would they leave all that stuff there?" Tooru asked. "Doesn't all that stuff look suspicious?"

"Even if they investigated it a bit, they have no reason to hide it. It only makes Mei look bad, not them," Shouto said.

"Okay. So, to envision the scene..." Nejire began. "The killer... attacked Mei, stabbed her in the chest, and when she tried to run stabbed her in the back?"

"No, that doesn't sound right..." Mirio disagreed. "I think... the killer stabbed her in the back first and killed her while she was stunned. Basically, they attacked her from behind."

"I agree with that."

>Mei's Wounds : Consent!<

"Considering Mei has two wounds and the chest wound was fatal, it makes sense the stab in her back was inflicted first," Yaomomo said. "And it makes sense for the killer to attack her from behind, and then stab her in the chest fatally while she was stunned from the first attack."

"W-Wait a second!"

>Break!<

"Hold on... if someone attacked Mei from behind like this, why didn't the accomplice do anything about it?" Tamaki inquired.

"What does that mean?" Yaomomo asked.

"I think I'll just show you," Tamaki said. "And I think you'll see it makes perfect sense."

>Rebuttal Showdown : Start!

Tamaki Amajiki : Momo Yaoyorozu

Truth Blades: Camera, Buzzer. Hitoshi's Account, Buzzer, Missing Device, Mina's Outfit<

"Well, think about it... Mei and her accomplice just finished killing s-someone. Mei hid her mask and and Mina's outfit; the accomplice would've helped her clean up and hide stuff. If the accomplice stayed with Mei, w-wouldn't they notice if something snuck up behind her and attacked her?" Tamaki reasoned. "Why wouldn't they do anything? They had- they had the megablade. Why wouldn't they fight back?"

"I'm not sure, honestly, now that you bring it up... maybe they had already left at that point, though," Yaomomo suggested.

"B-But something feels off," Tamaki insisted. "How w-would Mei's killer just so happen to kill her right after she commits a crime herself, and hide their evidence in the same place as Mei? It's so weird. They didn't even take anything of Mei's..."

"I'll cut through your words."

>Missing Device : Cut!<

"The killer actually did take something from Mei: her device. It was missing from the lab," Yaomomo said.

"What if she took it to her dorm for safekeeping?" Nejire asked.

"No, Mei always insisted on keeping it in her lab," Tooru said, her voice softening as she spoke her late friend's name. "For the sake of not having to move it back and forth, she said."

"Why would the killer take her device then?" Mezou asked. "It makes no sense."

There's only one person who would take the device, who wouldn't want it used... Yaomomo suddenly realized. That person... their identity as...

>Hangman's Gambit : Start!

Who would take Mei's device?

🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆🗆<

...

>TRAITOR : I can see it.<

"The traitor."

"Eh?" Denki started.

"The traitor. Only they would want Mei's device rendered unusable, if it was an opportunity for escape," Yaomomo reasoned. "The traitor killed Mei."

"And to add to that..." Shouto suddenly spoke up. "What Tamaki said earlier made sense. Why wouldn't the accomplice fight back? And how did both Mei and her accomplice and Mei's killer just happen to hide their evidence in the same place?"

"...ah." There's a solution to that, Yaomomo realized. A slightly crazy one, but one that makes sense nonetheless.

>Select the correct answer!

The accomplice left.

The accomplice was helping Mei's killer.

The accomplice is Mei's killer.<

...

>The accomplice is Mei's killer : I got it.<

"It's because... what if the accomplice was Mei's killer?" Yaomomo suggested.

"Huh? So are you saying..?" Mezou murmured.

"Yes. Mei's accomplice killed both Mashirao and Mei. And even more than that... we can deduce that the accomplice is also the traitor," Yaomomo declared darkly.

"The traitor... Mei unknowingly teamed up with the traitor, who killed both her and Mashirao?" Tooru whimpered. "Why... why would they kill her..? Wouldn't they both trust each other to keep their mouths shut during the trial, if Mei let this person be her accomplice?"

"I'm not sure," Yaomomo murmured. "But it's clear the traitor didn't want Mei saying anything that revealed them, or something along those lines. Whatever the reason, the traitor is our blackened."

"So we have to figure out who the traitor is," Mirio concluded. "Since they killed both Mei and Mashirao, we won't have to deal with finding out who died first, either."

"Do we have a single lead right now?" Nejire asked.

"Well, the traitor wore Mina's outfit," Denki suggested. "So maybe they're a girl?"

"That doesn't mean much. Anyone can crossdress," Tsuyu commented.

We're leadless.

It's like we've run out of evidence...

If that happens... what would happen if we can't figure out who the traitor is?

...

No. I can't let that happen.

For my class, for the people surviving... I don't care if they want to die.

I want them to live.

So I'll fight.

Chapter Text

“It looks like… we’re leadless,” Shouto murmured, hand to his chin, eyebrows furrowed.

“As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right,” Mirio affirmed. “The traitor… is the killer of both of our victims. But how are we supposed to figure out who this traitor is?”

“Is it hopeless?” Nejire whispered. “Are we all going to die if we don’t figure out who the killer is?”

“Guys… we can’t just give up like this,” Yaomomo spoke up. “You’re all going to die if we stop here.”

“Says you,” Tamaki murmured. “Weren’t you the one losing hope? The one who said everything was meaningless?”

“That’s… maybe that’s true,” Yaomomo replied, finding herself at a loss for words. “But… for some reason… maybe I don’t want you all to get executed. Is that such a bad thing?”

A lapse of silence. Tsuyu was gazing at her with thoughtful eyes. “Let’s go over the case again,” the Swimmer said, shattering the quiet. “Maybe we’ll see something new.”

“Good idea,” Yaomomo sighed. “Let’s debate.”

>Non-stop Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #5, Camera, Net, Mei’s Wounds, Knife - Mashirao, Megablade<

“Let’s review the order of events again, from the top,” Tsuyu prompted, surprisingly herself. I’ll assume the haze in her head cleared a bit, if only just for today. “First, Mei and her accomplice, the traitor, set up the trap and camera in the laundry room.”

“They were targeting Mashirao, and only Mashirao, for some reason,” Yaomomo added, hoping the others would continue the conversation.

“M-Mei set up a camera and tablet to monitor the room. She also provided disguises,” Denki said.

“This afternoon, when Mei caught Mashirao alone in the laundry room,” Tamaki said. “Sh-She and the accomplice put on their disguises, got their weapons, and went down.”

“Mei and her accomplice cornered Mashirao and set the trap on him,” Shouto said. “And the accomplice beheaded Mashirao.”

“They hid his head in the laundry, along with his clothes, and turned it on,” Yaomomo said. “Then they left and went back to the lab.”

“Once they got there, the accomplice turned on Mei and killed her,” Mirio finished.

“After that… we found the bodies,” Yaomomo added on. “We found Mei’s body first.”

“No, that’s wrong!”

>Break…?!<

“Huh? Shouto?” Yaomomo was surprised to find her cut off by a certain Theorist.

“What do you mean, Mei’s body was found first?” Shouto inquired. “You may have found her first, but remember that the two body announcements were nearly one after the other. It’s definitely possible Mashirao was found first.”

“I agree with him,” Mezou spoke up as well. “Mashirao is just as likely to have been found before Mei as vice versa.”

“Ah. That makes sense…” Yaomomo murmured. “So who died first?”

“Well, the first announcement went off as soon as I entered the room and saw the body,” Shouto replied. “Since Mezou found it first, and then found me in the hallway to see it.”

“Same here, though,” Tooru said. “Our group saw Mei, and the announcement went right off.”

“But what about the second announcement?” Mezou brought up. “There was a breathable pause between the first and second announcements, even if they were pretty close together. If they had really been found at the same time, the announcements would be one after the other with no pause.”

“Nobody showed up after Mezou and I, until you, Yaomomo,” Shouto spoke. “The second announcement couldn’t have been for Mashirao. It was for Mei.”

“Wait… but why wouldn’t Mei’s announcement be triggered by Tooru, Denki, and-” Yaomomo was about to ask, before something hit her. “Oh. Oh…”

“What? What is it?” Nejire asked hesitantly.

“The body discovery announcement rule. The announcement goes off if three people other than the killer see the body,” Yaomomo said slowly. “When Tooru, Denki, and I saw Mei, her announcement was not triggered. If all three of us had been innocent bystanders, the announcement would’ve gone off. But it didn’t.”

“So that means… one of you is the traitor,” Tamaki finished for her.

Yaomomo felt a chill go through her spine. Tooru. Denki. Me.

One of us is the traitor…

“H-Hey! Guys! I’m definitely not the traitor!” Denki yelped. “I would never..!”

>Double!<

“Well, I’m also not the traitor!” Tooru cried. “How could I ever kill Mei?!”

>Triple!<

“Well, I’m also not the traitor,” Yaomomo cut in. “We have to find out who it is!”

“I would never be a villain!”

“I would never kill Mei!”

“I would never betray my class!”

>Mass Panic Debate : Start!

Truth Bullets: Monokuma File #5, Laundry Room, Hitoshi’s Account, Ochako’s Outfit, Megablade<

“Come on, guys, believe me when I say…” Denki began.

“I would never kill Mei! She was my best friend!” Tooru wailed.

“After everything I’ve done for all of you, there is no way I could be a villain!” Yaomomo declared.

---

“That I would never be a villain!” he continued.

“You being her friend makes it more likely that you were her accomplice,” Tamaki pointed out.

“Regardless of how you treat us,” Shouto retorted, “there is still no evidence backing you up.”

---

“But you have no evidence backing you up; your argument is insufficient,” Mezou commented.

“Even if I was her best friend… even if I loved her…” Tooru sobbed.

“Yeah! And you, Yaomomo, as a detective, should know that best!” Mirio added.

---

“C-Come on!” Denki wailed. “I could never kill my friends…”

“I WOULD NEVER HELP HER KILL SOMEONE!” she wailed, tears threatening to spill over her red eyes.

“There may be no evidence defending me…” Yaomomo said.

---

“Eijirou, Katsuki, Mina, Hanta… all of them killed in this game…” Denki murmured.

“It’s okay, Tooru. It’s just… there’s no evidence directly putting you in the clear,” Nejire reassured.

“...but there is also no evidence in the defense of any of us!” she finished.

“N-No, that’s wrong..!”

>Break..?<

“Denki has an alibi,” Tsuyu said firmly. Her eyes darted left and right and her expression was unfocused, but her words were clear.

“Eh?” Yaomomo was surprised by the cut in from the ill girl.

“I said, Denki has an alibi,” she repeated. “He was with me since after lunch.”

“Th-That’s right!” Denki affirmed. “Nejire usually accompanies her, but she was sleepy, s-so she asked me to do it!”

“I did ask Denki to walk with her,” Nejire added.

“If that’s the case, then Denki’s in the clear,” Tamaki said. “Which means…”

“The traitor…” Tooru turned to stare Yaomomo in the eyes.

“Is one of us.” Yaomomo stared right back at her, gazing into her vibrant crimson eyes.

The traitor, huh…

Evidence. I need evidence against Tooru…

…

Maybe… maybe that one occurrence right after we woke up from anesthesia, a few days ago…

“I believe there may be a piece of evidence in my favor,” Yaomomo said slowly, turning away from Tooru. “Remember when we were all thrown into this trial room after Monokuma knocked us out, during the hero rescue operation?”

“Yeah. We were calling out names to make sure everyone was here,” Shouto commented. “What about it?”

“Well, remember how there was a pause between the sequences of names called?” Yaomomo prompted. This is probably a stretch… but it’s worth a shot.

~*Flashback*~

"I'm Mashirao, and Hitoshi's with me. Seven," the tailed boy said.

A heartbeat of silence followed, as if the remaining five were musing who should go first without running over each other. A light thump could be heard against the floor, as if someone moved on a carpeted floor.

"I'm present. Shouto. Eight." The heterochronous Theorist started the count back up.

~*Back to Present*~

“That thump during that lapse of silence… it sounded like someone had just entered and hit the ground with their feet. As if someone were dropped out of a portal into the room. It would make sense for the villains to talk to their traitor about what to do next,” Yaomomo reasoned.

Mezou scoffed. “That just sounds like you’re trying to grasp at random strings. Try something more solid.”

“I h-hate to say it, but I agree with Mezou…” Denki murmured. “There’s no evidence in either of your defenses.”

No… no, no, no, there has got to be something…

I have to think…

“Hey, Yaomomo!” Tooru called out. “If you’re really intent on trying to paint me as the traitor… Then I guess I’ll have to give it my all too, right?”

“What do you mean?” Yaomomo asked hesitantly.

“I’m sure there’s got to be evidence against you!” Tooru declared. “I’m not the traitor… I know I’m not the traitor! So that means you have to be it, right?”

The Artist’s eyes were nearly manic as she glared at Yaomomo with a challenging stance. She’s not backing down.

Well, neither am I.

“If you’ve really got evidence against me, then go ahead,” Yaomomo prompted calmly. “I’ve got plenty against you, too.”

I can’t go down here.

No way. Not in a hundred trials could I go down by some villain’s false claims.

I have to protect my class. Protect them from the traitor.

>Argument Armament : Start!<

{Tooru’s Audio Clips <> Letters to Counter}

>Phase 1<

“Yaomomo, you’ve got to be kidding me!” <> (W) (W) (W) (W) (A) (A)

“Me? The traitor? There’s no way!” <> (A) (A) (D) (D)

“You’ve got no solid evidence against me!” <> (S) (S) (S) (W) (W)

“There is literally NOTHING you can put in your own defense!” <> (W) (W) (W) (S) (S) (A) (D)

“I have evidence, all right, and I intend to beat you with it!” <> (D) (D) (D) (S) (S) (A) (A) (A) (S)

>Phase 2 : Advance!<

“Look, so after lunch…” <> (W) (W) (W)

“...you went unaccounted for for quite a while, right?” <> (W) (A) (A) (D) (D) (D)

“When Denki, Tsuyu, and I found you…” <> (S) (S) (S) (W) (W)

“...you were in the cafeteria making tea!” <> (W) (W) (W) (S) (S)

“That leaves a big gap between lunch ending and the body discoveries!” <> (S) (S) (S) (A) (D) (D) (D) (W)

“Therefore, you have no alibi!” <> (D) (D) (D)

>Phase 3 : Advance!<

>You can’t see anything… anything at all..!<

“Yaomomo, quit insisting already!” <> (W) (W) (A) (A)

“You know I’m right…” <> (S) (S) (D) (D)

“You know you’re just a filthy villain…” <> (W) (W) (D) (D)

“You know you’re a traitor and a mole!” <> (S) (S) (A) (A)

“So just stop trying to fool us already!” <> (W-A-S-D)

“Just shut up!” <> (W) (A)

“Shut up…” <> (W-A-S-D)

“Shut up…” <> (W-A-S-D)

“Shut up!” <> (W-A-S-D)

“Shut your mouth, you dirty villain!” <> (W) (A) (S) (D)

>Final Blow!<

>W = Katsuki’s
A = During
S = Rescue
D = Helped<

“You have no evidence to even defend yourself, you liar!”

“Yes, I do.”

>D-A-W-S : HelpedDuringKatsuki’sRescue : Break!<

“Tooru. I’ll acknowledge one thing… you’re right I have no way to find definitive evidence that pins it on you within this case,” Yaomomo began. “But I do have something that works roughly in my own favor.”

“Oh? What is it?” Tooru’s voice was pushy; irritated.

“Back when we were heroes in training… Katsuki got captured by the villains. You got knocked out by the pink gas in the woods. I got away with just a head injury though, so I got a tracker onto a Nomu and created a device to follow it, remember?” Yaomomo looked to the rest of the class.

“Yes… it was a great help to the rescue operation.” Shouto’s eyes were misty as he said that. Out of the six people who were involved in that incident… only two remain alive today.

Funny who quickly things changed, huh?

“Well, I willingly helped by tracking the Nomu. On my own accord. The only person with me was Yosetsu, a One-B student who helped me put the tracker on. If I were the traitor, I wouldn’t pop up with the idea of tracking the Nomu to find the villains base and raid it, especially when I was injured. I could have just faked that my injury was too much, or even faked being unconscious. Even easier, I could’ve just done nothing. A mole wouldn’t just give the heroes a huge weapon on their own free will,” Yaomomo explained.

“Meanwhile, on the other hand… Tooru, you were unconscious at the hospital until after the raid. You didn’t know about the Katsuki Rescue Operation, or my device. You couldn’t have provided the villains intel on the rescue operation going after them, which was why the villains weren’t prepared for the attack.” Yaomomo stared pointedly at the Artist. “This is just one piece of evidence that points to you.”

“S-So what? Give me more evidence!” Tooru exclaimed. She was noticeably getting on edge, though; her stance was more agitated. Her eyes were fixated on Yaomomo with a burning intensity.

“Well, how about the USJ attack? Being invisible, you were completely under the radar the entire time. Nobody knew definitively where you were; only you could provide an account saying you were in the Landslide Zone. You have no alibi. You easily could’ve stayed in a safe area while completely invisible, since the villains would have no wish to get their mole hurt or killed.” Yaomomo met Tooru’s startled eyes. “There’s plenty of evidence to use against you, Tooru. But you can’t pull anything out against me.”

“None of th-that relates to this case, though! You’re only digging up old information!” Tooru was still desperately trying to grasp for something to defend herself.

“Tooru, stop trying to find something to put on your side,” Mirio cut in. “We’ve already established that the killer of our case is the traitor, right? By finding the traitor, you find the killer. It all goes hand in hand.”

“I-Is it true, T-Tooru?” Denki faltered. “Did you… kill Mashirao and Mei?”

“O-Of course not! I could never… kill Mei..!” Tooru’s eyes were welling with tears, spilling over and sliding down her cheeks.

But Yaomomo knew she was lying. A traitor. A liar.

A murderer.

A villain.

“Ignore her. Come on, guys. Let’s just go over the case again before we vote,” Yaomomo prompted gently. “Then we can vote.”

And get this over with.

Get us out of this wretched place.

She sighed, as if simply exhaling would release all of the weight in her heart. “Here is what happened.”

>Closing Argument : Start!<

“This whole case began when the traitor motive was announced. Mei decided to kill Mashirao; the reason why is unsure, but it’s clear she was specifically targeting him exclusively. She decided to enroll in the help of her best friend to assist her in her murder plot.

“However, unbeknownst to her, Mei’s friend happened to be the traitor of the class. A villain. She blindly trusted them, which would eventually lead to her demise.

“The two of them set up a trap to isolate Mashirao. Mei crafted a camera, a sensor, a buzzer, a tablet, a button, and a piston-operated falling net. She placed the camera and sensor in the laundry room. The sensor was connected to the buzzer, and the camera to the tablet. That way, if someone were to enter the laundry room, Mei would be alerted, and she would check the tablet to see who it was. She was monitoring the room; waiting for a chance to catch Mashirao there, alone. The net was placed in the ceiling in the corner, for use once the murder was underway. The button activated it.

“On top of the trap in the laundry room, Mei and her accomplice created disguises. They stole spare outfits from two of the deceased: Ochako and Mina. They also crafted full-head masks. Also, Mei created a rather peculiar weapon… the megablade. A massive curved knife, which could be retracted into a small swiftblade handle.

“After a few days, the two finally caught Mashirao in the laundry room alone, washing his clothes. They threw their costumes on and rushed down, carrying a bag of supplies: the megablade, two kitchen knives, a cleaning cloth, and the button. The buzzer was still in Mei’s pocket, as well as a mysterious set of batteries.

“Mei and her accomplice barged into the laundry room, keeping Mashirao in. Mei’s accomplice was holding the megablade and the button, while Mei held the bag. The killer likely backed Mashirao into the corner, using the megablade as a threat. They hit the button and the net dropped down onto Mashirao’s back when the trap activated. Small sacs on the net, filled with some sort of acidic substance, burst, burning him as well. All of these contributors -the megablade, the net, the acid- were to panic Mashirao, so that he would accidentally tangle himself in the net.

“Mei’s accomplice got into close quarters with Mashirao- close enough that Mashirao could grab something from their outfit. Mashirao reached out and managed to snag a scrap of the blue ribbon off of Mina’s outfit, which was the disguise the killer was wearing. The killer, using the megablade, sliced Mashirao’s head clean off his neck.

“Their job completed, the killer and Mei began setting up the scene. Mashirao’s head was thrown in the washing machine, along with his clothes and some laundry detergent. The machine was turned on. Also, they took one of the kitchen knives, stabbed it into Mashirao’s arm to cover it in blood, and left it at the scene. They cleaned the blood off of the megablade using the cloth in their supply bag, and folded it up. Mei and her accomplice left after that.

“But the case is not yet over. As soon as Mei and her accomplice got back to Mei’s lab, the killer -her accomplice- turned on her. They used the second kitchen knife in the bag to stab Mei once in the back, before delivering a fatal blow to her chest. If I had to imagine for a moment, I could see Mei feeling shocked as her friend, the friend she trusted enough to kill someone with her, betrayed her.

“The killer, satisfied with their work, placed Mei’s body on the worktable. They took her device; it’s unknown where it went, but they likely hid it somewhere nearby, or broke it and hid the pieces. Regardless, they followed to hide the rest of the items used in the murder in various boxes in Mei’s lab. The only thing they could not hide was the costume Mei was wearing; we found her still wearing Ochako’s outfit. The rest of the equipment was scattered around the room, including atop the worktable.

“Their own dirty work done, the killer finally had to make up a fake story for themselves. They ran to the cafeteria crying crocodile tears, alerting Denki, Tsuyu, and I that they found the body.

“And all this… the murder of both Mashirao and Mei, the backstabbing of your supposed best friend… it was you, wasn’t it? Tooru Hagakure, the Ultimate Artist… and the traitor of Class One-A.”

>Break!<

Silence filled the trial room. Yaomomo could hear a ringing in her ears, like the buzz of air shattered by a bullet. The atmosphere was electric, chills running through her palms in nervous energy.

It’s over. It’s done.

Tooru, the traitor...

The Artist was standing, cowering, on her podium. Her crimson eyes flickered from side to side, fear alight in her expression. Her hands were clasped together over her collarbone, like a quivering child awaiting chastisement.

“Come on, guys.” Hitoshi’s voice was cold; tense. “Let’s vote for this bitch already.”

Yaomomo felt a pang in her chest. There was a sort of frozen anger in his tone; a sort of rage that, when unleashed, would strike fear and agony into anyone his words graced. Sympathy washed over the Detective as she gazed at his coiled stance.

“Listen to the Psychic, kiddos!” Monokuma grinned. “It’s voting time!”

The class collectively looked down to their levers, pointing them to the blackened of choice. As the last vote was placed, the slots machine made a small ringing noise, announcing voting time as over.

“Puhuhu! Who will be chosen as the blackened..? Will you make the right choice, or the dreadfully wrong one?”

The slots machine burst to life.

Spinning, spinning, spinning icons of our faces… Yaomomo stared, entranced, at the blinking lights and flashing images. Tooru...

All three slots landed on the Ultimate Artist’s portraits. The machine cheered in victory, all glitter and shine.

Traitor.

>Class Trial : End!<

“So, it really was you…” Denki whispered, his voice haunted. “Tooru…”

Yaomomo dragged her eyes away from the flashing slots machine, directing them to the girl in question instead. “A villain…”

I was right.

Of course I was right.

Tooru herself was now staring down at her feet, her face cast in shadow. Her hands were clenched in fists, gripping her dress jacket and bunching up the edges. Is she scared? Ashamed? Angry? Disappointed?

Then she began to laugh.

“Fufu…” A small giggle.

“Tooru?” Nejire’s voice was small. Sad. Awash with concern. “Are you..?”

“Fufufu… fufufufufu…” Tooru was still giggling. There was a smile on her face. Why is she..?

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Tooru raised her head to meet her classmates’ stunned stares. She lifted her hands, palms skywards, arms outstretched. “Oh, this is just wonderful!”

A chill ran through Yaomomo’s entire body like an electric jolt. Those eyes.

Tooru’s eyes were manic; gleaming crimson, swirling shades of red and magenta like pools of blood, blood that she helped shed. There was a sort of ecstatic insanity in her eyes. A sort of… despair.

Her expression was horribly delighted, especially for someone who’d just had their role as a mole revealed. She’s mad, Yaomomo realized. Absolutely crazy.

“Tooru…” Tamaki murmured. “What happened to you?”

“What happened to me?” Tooru grinned. “What happened was I was forced to be a goody two-shoes for the last almost-year! A hero? What a joke. I wish they picked Saya-chan for this U.A. infiltration job, but oh wells.” She pouted, a mask of innocence plastered all over her face.

“Eh? Then that means…” Shouto’s eyes were sharp as they regarded Tooru.

“You’re a villain. A true villain. Not just someone who was dragged into this by the League, or someone brainwashed into helping them,” Mezou said coldly, his face stony.

“Thaaaaat’s right! This is me! The real me! Tooru Hagakure, the Ultimate Spy!~” Her expression was alight with mania. She could barely contain herself, it seemed.

“Ultimate Spy, huh?” Mirio muttered.

Yaomomo could only stare at her, stare at someone she once saw as a hero, as a classmate, as a friend. A happy girl, an innocent little ball of boundless energy… it was all fake.

Fake. Everything was just a show, a trick, a mole dangled right before our eyes by the villains.

And we didn’t even know it.

“Tooru… why?” The trial room fell silent. Yaomomo turned to Hitoshi, who had spoken out. He was glaring at Tooru, his eyes pointed in fury. He was trembling, his jaw tense. Tears welled over his eyes, slipping down his face like a river of crystals.

“Huuuh? What is it, lover boy?” Tooru taunted.

“Why did you kill them?” Hitoshi asked, his voice shuddering. “Mashirao and Mei… how could you kill both of them so cruelly? Why did you… why did you have to be the traitor? Both of them trusted you… so why did you betray them?”

“Well… first off, killing these two benefitted me,” Tooru said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. Hitoshi’s breath hitched. “Mei-chan came to me after the traitor motive was announced. After some intensive -but very misguided- theorizing, she came to the conclusion that Mashi was the traitor~

“Of course, I went along with it. It would be worse if she found out I was the real traitor; that would destroy the whole trust thing I built up with her. She designed the trap. She only wanted to capture him, but obviously I had other ideas.” Tooru winked, a small giggle sliding off her tongue.

“I suggested she create the megablade. Originally, I told her it was to scare Mashi into the corner, so we could drop the net, and then make him panic enough by waving it around him so that he got tangled. The tip is curved to it’s super tough to try a little stabby-stabby work with it, so that Mei-chan wouldn’t get suspicious. When we got to trapping him, though, I took my opportunity and sliced his head clean off~! Of course Mei-chan was horrified, but I convinced her it was the right thing to do, since he was the traitor. She begrudgingly took my word, the trusting little honey she is~” Tooru giggled, her hand to her mouth. “Fufu… she was a wonderful girl.

“When we got back to her lab, I promptly killed her. It was a shame really… I did love her. But I couldn’t risk her spilling in the trial. I hid the evidence and took the device. That’s it.” Tooru smiled as she concluded her side of the tale. “So how ‘bout that? What do you think?”

“Tooru…” Tsuyu murmured. “You… you… you’re hungry.”

Yaomomo blinked. Tsuyu’s voice had swapped from being haunted and angry to an everyday tone, casual and relaxed. Eh..? What..?

“Hmm? I’m hungry?” Tooru sounded genuinely confused. “Yes… I suppose I’m hungry… for death and despair.” She lowered her voice dangerously, bouncing back swiftly, keeping everyone’s focus on her.

“You’re a fucking psycho,” Hitoshi hissed. The room went silent again. “Tooru… you…”

“Eh? What did I do?” Tooru cocked her head thoughtfully, finger to her chin. “Do you mean what I did to Mashi and Mei-chan? Don’t worry, I’m sure they’re happy floating around up there with their heads in the clouds.”

Hitoshi seethed at the Spy’s words. “Y-You have no right to say their names… Mashirao… and Mei… you have no right to speak of them like that when you betrayed them!”

“Oh? Does that set you off?” Tooru grinned, clearly enjoying the argument Hitoshi was digging himself into. “Mashi, Mashi, Mashi… does it hurt to know you’re responsible for your precious boyfriend’s death?”

“E-Eh?!” Hitoshi looked startled for a moment, his eyes lighting up with agony, before he fell back into a cloak of anger. “Bullshit… you killed him, not me! I’ve only ever wanted the best for him, while you betrayed him!”

“But think about it this way…” Tooru grinned sadistically, her teeth flashing. “If you had stayed by Mashi’s side this afternoon, instead of selfishly wanting to stay by yourself in the library, then he wouldn’t have died today. Mei-chan and I, we had to catch Mashi alone… your presence would’ve kept us at bay. If you had stayed with him all the time without fail… well, we probably would’ve given up eventually.

“You could’ve saved a life, but you didn’t. You didn’t, because you were selfish and let him go alone.” Tooru continued pushing, jabbing at all of Hitoshi’s weak points, hitting him where it hurt. Yaomomo winced just hearing Tooru’s words, even though they weren’t related to her in the slightest.

Crystalline tears were cascading down Hitoshi’s face in a steady stream of liquid pain. He silently glared at Tooru, his eyes filled with grief and loathing, unable to speak. Yaomomo could tell he was shaking.

“You idiot,” Tooru scowled, enjoying every moment of the hurt she was inflicting on Hitoshi. “You bastard. Murderer. Guilty.”

“Hey. Tooru.” Mirio cut into the girl’s knife-edged rambling, a warning tone in his voice. “Stop.”

Tooru let out a long sigh. “Awwww. Ruining my fun, Mr. Hero?”

“Tooru… why did you choose to be a villain..?” Nejire whimpered. Her voice was small; weak. “You were… going to be such a good hero, had you stayed in Yuuei…”

“Pah! I never intended to stay one moment longer than needed in this wretched hero school, much less play false hero,” Tooru spat. “I’ve been a villain for a while now, since my second year of junior high. I was recruited by the League.”

“Wh-Why..?” Denki’s voice was hushed. “Why would you accept those villains’ offer?”

“Because I wanted to, duh!” Tooru said that like it were the simplest thing to understand in the world. “All my life… All my life, I’ve had to fight to be noticed. Because of my quirk, of my cold personality, I was always forgotten. Ignored. Left out. I could skip classes easier than anyone, even if the teachers would notice there was nothing at my desk.”

“Cold… personality?” Yaomomo murmured, eyes fixed nervously on the girl with the pink highlight in her hair. A highlight the color of blood.

“That’s right~! Little ol’ me… cold and shy. Socializing was hard, y’know?” Tooru said. “I was quiet and seldom spoke to anyone throughout junior high. I think I had a friend in primary… when I was little. But she left me. Left me for another girl, because she was more fun to play with and better and smarter than me. Stupid. She was my first target when I became a villain.

“Anyway, in my second year of junior high, I was walking with a group of girls in my class. I think they forgot I was even there for a while. Anyway, a villain jumped out and attacked me and one of my classmates. The rest of the girls managed to band up and get their friend free, but then they ran for it, even though I screamed for their help. Abandoned me.” Tooru scoffed, as if the very memory made her mad.

“But that was when Tomura found me. Saved me from that villain who was attacking me. He said he knew about how I was mistreated by my peers, how he understood, how he could help me. I took up the offer because… well, what other choice did I have?” Tooru smiled. “That’s how I got into the League!~”

Yaomomo stared at the Spy with dark eyes. “You bastard,” she muttered. “Why didn’t you pull out of the League the moment you realized they were villains?”

“Because I didn’t want to, obviously,” Tooru huffed. “Geez, is it so hard to understand? I became a villain because I wanted to. My classmates, who all wanted to be heroes? Pathetic. Heroes are supposed to help people, right? Nobody helped me. Looked out for me. Some heroism.”

Silence flooded the trial room as everyone gazed at Tooru, wondering how they could’ve been so wrong, so ever fucking wrong about their friend, their classmate, the girl whom they thought was a hero.

A happy, optimistic person who wanted only the best for everyone.

It was all a lie.

So this is the real Tooru. A crazy bitch, a villain from head to toe.

“Welp, that was uneventful. If you’re not going to mind, I guess I’ll be going now,” Tooru said cheerily. “Sayonara~”

“W-Wait! Tooru! Where’re you going?” Denki spluttered. “Are you gonna- gonna-” His words died in his mouth, but the horror in his expression finished his question for him.

Are you gonna execute yourself?

For being the blackened, for killing her best friend… Would Tooru seriously be far enough gone that she’d follow the rules of the Killing Game?

But Tooru merely laughed. “What, you think I’d kill myself? Are you an idiot? Why the hell would I do that? After all I’ve accomplished, that would absolutely be the dumbest way to go. Only someone as psycho as… um… oh!” Tooru’s eyes brightened up. “Only someone as psycho as Junko-senpai would do that!”

“...Junko?” Mirio stared at the traitor, confused. “Who’s Junko? The name rings a bell for me…”

“Oh, nothing. Just a villain friend of mine.” Tooru brushed it off. “Anyway, off I go!” She gave a little wave and was about to turn on her heel to step off the podium.

“B-But… you’re still technically a participant of the Killing Game the League created for us,” Tamaki reasoned, making the girl stop dead on her feet. “You must abide by the rules of the Game. The League’ll give you an execution, I’m sure.”

“But look at it this way,” Tooru cut in, whirling around to point at him with one finger. “I’m a villain. I created the rules. I enforce the rules. The rules can’t control me.”

"EHH! Wrong!"

"Huh?!" Tooru whipped around to face the throne, from which Monokuma had spoken out. "What do you mean, wrong?!"

"The Killing Game is still the Killing Game, and you're still a participant of it, no matter your role outside of the Game!" Monokuma barked. "Tamaki's right! You're off to the guillotine, Miss Hagakure!"

"N-No..." Tooru murmured, panic alight on her face. "No... after everything I've done for you... please..."

"Nuh-uh! Rules are rules! You're a participant of the game; an Ultimate. So you must suffer the execution!" Monokuma exclaimed, a grin plastered across his face.

Tooru, on the other hand, looked positively horrified. "Hey... Monokuma... that's..."

"Don't blame me! I'm only following through the League's orders! Speak to Shigaraki yourself!" The bear's robotic red eye gleamed sadistically.

On cue, the monitor on the ceiling flickered to life. Shigaraki's figure was displayed on its screen. He wore an expensive-looking fur coat, his crimson eyes seeming to glow through the fingers of the hand on his face. "It's true, Tooru. It's still the Game. You killed. You got caught. Now you face an execution," he drawled.

"No... Shigaraki, no..." Tears welled up in Tooru's magenta eyes. "After all I've done... you're just going to betray me again? Just like all those other people?"

"Puhuhu! Sorry! The rules are rules, no matter who you are!" Monokuma laughed. The monitor flickered to the darkness again.

"But... I'm on your side..." Tooru sobbed. Tears, like drops of diamond, were sliding down her cheeks. Impure diamonds, tainted with chemicals and poison. "Would you really kill a useful member of your League?"

"Pah! With all our power, I'm sure there's plenty of other perfectly capable villains out there for our numbers," Monokuma reasoned. "And now, without further ado..."

"No... please, no!" Tooru wailed.

"I have prepared a very special punishment for Tooru Hagakure, the Ultimate Spy!"

"No... please..." Tooru murmured.

"Are you ready?" Monokuma grinned, flashing his pearly whites.

"Saya-chan... Himi-chan... Junko-senpai..!" Tooru sobbed. "I don't want to die... I want to keep having fun with you all..."

"It's PUNISHMENT TIIIIIIME!"

"Please don't leave me!"

>GAME OVER

Tooru Hagakure has been found guilty. Time for the punishment!<

Tooru was thrown into a glass tank in the middle of a small, sterile room. It looked like a science lab; there was a sign next to the tank, which the camera panned to. 'DANGER! TOXIC ZONE' it read. The lights were glaring bright, glowing from the ceiling.

There was no escape out the tank. Tooru pressed her palms against the glass, peering towards the iron door on the other side of the room, separated from her by the tank wall. She banged on the glass with her fists, screaming. Her voice was muffled through the tank, making it sound as if she were drowning.

The iron door opened. Monokuma stepped through, dressed in a white lab coat. He waddled up to the table in the middle of the room, in front of the tank. He leaned over the controls on the surface of the iron desk.

His paw clicked a red button labeled 'Release'.

>Tooru Hagakure's Execution: Bathing in Pleasure : Executed!<

Immediately, the back wall of the tank -which was part of the wall for the actual room- began to seep a strange pink liquid. Tooru whirled around in the tank and stared at it, watching the liquid slip down the wall, rapidly increasing in speed and amount. It pooled on the floor, thick and hot.

Pooling like blood.

The blood-like liquid touched the soles of Tooru's sandals, and immediately the shoe sizzled and melted wherever the blood touched. She yelped and jumped away from it, but it was useless. The pink substance was spreading, rushing out of the wall in a thick curtain of magenta.

Everyone could only watch as the liquid rose within the tank, slowly filling it with sticky magenta fluid. Tooru was screaming, flailing her limbs. Her clothes were disintegrating in it, leaving her body covered in the pick liquid, likely burning away at her skin. Her eyes were frantic; manic, desperate, filled with tears.

The tank was filling with blood.

And Tooru was drowning in it.

Everyone could only watch as the liquid sloshed over her head and hit the top of the tank.

Silence.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three.

There was no more movement from inside the tank.

Monokuma jumped up from the desk and waddled up to the tank. He rapped on the glass with his paw.

Nearly instantly, a pale hand suddenly appeared from inside, pressing against the glass.

Monokuma started in fear and ran out the room.

The lights turned off.

Everything went dark.

Yaomomo could only stare blankly at the screen as it flickered to nothingness.

Slowly, everyone began to turn to look at each other, confused and fearful after the odd execution.

"Wh-What just happened..?" Denki murmured.

"It doesn't matter now. Tooru drowned in the tank," Shouto reasoned.

Yeah. There's no other option. There was no escape...

She could only stand there and wait to drown, wait for death to take her.

Fitting for a wretch like her.

"Let's go." Yaomomo said, her voice cold. She turned and stepped off of her own podium, heading for the elevator. With no other choice, the rest of the class followed.

Liar. She was a liar.

That rat...

Tooru Hagakure, the Ultimate Spy, a traitor, a member of the League of Villains...

How could we have ever been so wrong about her?

How could we have ever been so wrong about any of our friends, all of the blackened who have killed already?

How many more will there be?

It doesn't matter now, does it?

They're all gone anyway.

>Chapter 6 : Curtain Call of the Two-Faced : The End | Surviving Students : 10 | To Be Continued<

>Item Obtained: Full-Head Mask<

Chapter Text

They all changed after that trial.

Tamaki could feel it in the air.

The remaining survivors had gathered in the dining hall two mornings after Tooru’s execution. Nobody was going to eat; who had the appetite for anything? Tamaki’s eyes flitted from person to person, observing, silent.

Hitoshi hadn’t shown up. He hadn’t left his room for days, actually, likely too wrapped up in grief and pain to function. Yaomomo checked up on him yesterday… Someone should go again today.

The detective herself was slumped over the desk, her head on her arms. She was still as ever; as usual. She must be so tired, fighting for all of us…

I wonder if she ever fights for herself.

Mezou was also absent. He was probably in the gym, as usual. He’s always at the gym. He’s so strong… he has a massive advantage over all of us, come to think about it.

Shouto sat beside Yaomomo, his face also neutral. There were the faintest hints of bags under his eyes, but his expression was sharp as ever; analytical.

Denki was curled up on a chair, his knees tucked to his chest. He had buried his face under his arms and was gently rocking back and forth, like a teetering vase, ready to fall and shatter at any given moment, at the slightest disturbance.

Worry.

But even on top of the electric blonde, Tsuyu was probably the greatest area of Tamaki’s concern and sympathetic anguish. She was swaying from side to side like a ragdoll being blown in the wind, her eyes dazed, expression contorted. She hadn’t even bothered to style her hair; it was cascading down her shoulders in a wave of dark green, dark and rippling like a lake under the new moon. It was surprisingly well-kept, brushed and glossy and looking soft to the touch; Nejire’s work washing her the previous night had paid off, it seemed.

But aside from physical appearance, she was clearly not normal. Tamaki didn’t mean that in an offensive way, either; it was just that her expression was most unlike anyone else in the class, even the ones who’d undergone personal trauma, like Denki. She was muttering something incomprehensible under her breath. Her eyes darted this way and that around the room. She was off-center, off-kilter. There was something seriously wrong with her.

Beside her, Nejire sat there, incapable of doing anything but watching her friend with eternally worried eyes. Her own hair was messy and unstyled, tangled. I should do it for her later. There were bags under her eyes, clearly visible against her paling skin. She looked as if she’d aged an eternity.

On top of Tsuyu, she has to deal with herself, too…

What could I possibly do for her, to lighten the load..?

Tamaki sat between Nejire and Mirio. The blonde to his right was sitting back, also watching the class with concern, observing, like Tamaki. The Florist wished he could lean on his boyfriend and fall back asleep, or leave, but the atmosphere was too tense to do anything but sit and move your eyes.

Finally, Yaomomo pulled back off of the table and got up, stretching. “There’s no point in all of us sitting here and doing nothing,” she said, her voice unemotional. “Go do something productive. I’m bringing Hitoshi breakfast.”

She walked out the room, chin up, heading for the kitchen across the hallway.

“I think I’ll go, too…” Nejire said. “I’m gonna take Tsuyu to her room, get her food, that sorta stuff.” Her voice was soft, noticeably dragged. She blinked and got up, leading Tsuyu to her feet and guiding her along with an arm around her shoulders. The Beauty Pageant Star’s feet were shuffling, as if she didn’t have the energy to even take normal steps.

As she walked out the door, Tamaki staring at her back, Mirio turned to him. “You’re worried about her, aren’t you?”

“Eh?” Tamaki turned to face his lover, dark indigo eyes meeting peppy blue ones. Why call me out when everyone’s still here, listening in?

“Nejire. You’re worried about her, right?” Mirio reaffirmed. “I can agree. She’s tired; I can see it in every aspect of her.” He flashed Tamaki a smile; how can he still muster the strength to? “Go on. Accompany her.”

“Oh. Okay… I’m fine with that. Are you coming with me?”

“No. I’m going to be helping out with the others. Come on, Tamaki. I know you can handle it. It’s just Nejire, right?” Mirio smiled. “Go. Be there for her.”

Tamaki blinked. He’d noticed Mirio’s pushing him to be more independent lately; it was glaringly obvious, a harsh turn of action. Nonetheless, the Florist got up and began to hurry out of the room, to go after the blue-haired girl.

He shot a glance back as he left, catching Mirio’s soft, slightly sad gaze trailing on his back.

Mirio. Why are you trying to push me away..?

Shaking off unease, Tamaki hustled down the hall and up the stairs, towards the dorms. With a quick step, he was able to glimpse Nejire’s bright blue hair up ahead as he entered the living area.

“N-Nejire!” She turned at his voice, surprised that he’d followed.

“Tamaki! What are you doing here?” A slight pause. “Where’s Mirio?”

“Ah… he told me to come after you…” Tamaki hesitated; he was never good at being genuine in person. It never came out right; always sounded too cheesy or awkward. “Umm… we were worried about you…”

The two walked along, their pace slower, Tsuyu still guided by Nejire’s hand.

“Huh? Aw, you guys are too sweet. I’m fine,” she said dismissively. “But thank you.”

“No, seriously. You look exhausted,” Tamaki managed to blurt out. “How much did you sleep last night?”

Nejire opened her mouth, before closing it again, before speaking finally. “Like, seven hours. I told you, I’m fine.”

They’d reached Tsuyu’s dorm. Nejire pulled out a key that had the Swimmer’s nametag and opened the door, leading them inside to a rather messy room.

The walls were a gentle blue, and the floor was wooden. There wasn't much that suggested Tsuyu's talent, unlike Tamaki's room of flowers and Nejire's walk-in closet, oversized makeup collection, and mirrors. There was a handful frog-themed stationary on her desk.

Tsuyu obviously would never clean, considering the fact she couldn’t even maintain her own health. Nejire was never an organized person either, even though she still managed to look nice and maintain charm. Her room -her actual room, the one at her family’s apartment, in addition to her hero dorm- was always messy, but she knew exactly where everything was. It was a sort of disorganized perfection, just like her; curious and blunt, passionate, emotional, a naive grace that used to put a spring in her steps.

As Nejire led Tsuyu to bed, Tamaki continued to speak. “To put it straight, you look terrible. Come on. You put Tsuyu to bed, and god knows what you did the rest of the night. Making sure she fell asleep? Watching over her? Sleeping in her room? Helping her with any night horrors she faced?”

“Okay, okay! Truth is, I slept maybe… two hours, in total?” Nejire’s voice faltered. “Sort of on and off throughout the night.”

“Well, you need more than two hours of sleep each night, especially when you’re doing this every day,” Tamaki gently chastised. “Go take a shower after you put Tsuyu to bed. I’ll watch over her.”

“Hey… I can take care of myself too, you know?” Tsuyu suddenly spoke up. Her voice was small; shaky. “I agree with him. Nejire, take care of yourself. I’m glad you care so much about me, but you’re just as important to me, too.” She smiled up at her. “Get some rest.”

"Oh, Tsu..." Nejire's voice broke, tears welling up in her eyes. Her breath hitched. "I-It's okay... a-as long as you're okay, I-I'll be fine..!"

She rushed out and wrapped her arms around the smaller girl’s figure, all of the stress and emotion that resided in her condensed into the stream of tears dripping down her face as she cried. Tsuyu smiled sadly and rubbed her on the back. Tamaki stood there and awkwardly tried not to stare at the scene, staring at a heap of clothes on the floor instead, his fingers fiddling with the hem of his suit coat. I should clean up the room.

A few minutes later, Nejire calmed down enough to pull back and semi-compose herself. “S-Sorry about that. I’ll go take a shower…” She tried to muster up a smile on her quivering face. “Go to bed, Tsu.”

Tamaki turned and faced the door while Tsuyu changed, in an attempt to grant her some privacy. Once her meek “I’m done” brushed his ears, he turned back around to see her tucked in.

While Nejire showered, Tamaki busied himself with gathering up all the dirty clothes around the room and throwing them in a laundry basket. He also managed to do a quick sweep of the floor, cleaning up the place the best he could. Mirio always joked that I would be the “housewife”, when we moved in together.

I hope that wish can come to fruition.

“Tamaki~” Nejire’s gentle voice rang through the room as she opened the door. She was dressed in a clean set of pajamas, shuffling along in slippers. “Wow. You really cleaned this place up.”

“It’s nothing,” he said sheepishly. “I’ll do the laundry later. I’m... going to brush your hair,” he said, his voice faltering slightly.

“Aww, you don’t have to. I can do it myself.”

“You haven’t been taking care of yourself. Mirio and I worry about you; I’m sure everyone else does too. I’m making sure you’re having a bit of self care,” Tamaki explained. “Now, go sit down over there.”

Nejire sat down at the desk, as instructed. Tamaki got out the hair dryer and a brush. He got to work drying her hair, before combing it out, working away at the knots in the dull blue fibers.

“You should be more genuine, Tamaki,” Nejire murmured, her voice relaxed under his toying of her hair.

“Mmh?”

“You’ve got to be more genuine. We care about you. Me, Mirio, Tsuyu, Yaomomo… we’re your friends, y’know? You can talk to us. It’s okay to show a bit of weakness. It doesn’t mean you’re weak or cheesy or uncool. It just means you’re human, like the rest of us.” Nejire chuckled, taking Tamaki’s hesitating hand as a chance to turn her head and smile tiredly up at him.

“You can show emotion with us. Cry a little sometimes if you’re feeling blue, alright?”

Tamaki paused, silent, frozen, unsure what to say. Seeing his reaction, Nejire laughed softly. “Haha. Easier said than done, huh..?” She turned back around, giving Tamaki his job back. “Think about it, alright?”

As Tamaki continued brushing, his mind continued to revolve around what the bluette said.

Show some emotion, hm..?

Expression of pain, of sorrow...

Like it or not, people view it as weakness.

Look at the ones who have fallen already...

Denki, who loved and cared for Kyouka, for his friends.

Hitoshi, who felt emotion for Mashirao.

Yaomomo, who loved her friends and now fights only for them.

Mezou, who cared about his class enough to feel betrayed when Ochako tried to frame him.

Do I really want to fall like them?

I love my friends, I love Mirio, and all of the underclassmen I feel the duty to protect...

I love the ones who have died, too...

Would showing the pain I feel be viewed as a weakness, too?

Would it mean I would finally fall off the tightrope I've been walking for days, weeks, months, years..?

Do I want to fall?

Maybe I would, if it took the stress off of someone else's shoulders.

Chapter Text

Denki awoke to a note at his door.

"'Come meet at the cafeteria ASAP. Therapy session. -Mirio'." Denki sighed and lowered his hands, the note crumpling in his cold hands. "I guess I'll go..."

He checked to make sure the blood-spotty bandages on his arms were concealed by the sleeves of his blazer, before walking down to the cafeteria. There were a few select people hovering around already; of course, the Big Three were seated at the table, while Yaomomo and Tsuyu paced back and forth together. He gave Mirio a small half-hearted wave, before joining the Detective. "Hey. Yaomomo."

"Mmh." Yaomomo looked up at him. "Good morning. You okay? You look... drained."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Denki muttered. "What's this meeting about?"

"I asked Mirio. He said we'd be having a group therapy session. Hope rally. Something like that." Her voice was hushed. She shot a look over to Mirio; Denki couldn't read what she was feeling.

"Anyway, we have nothing to do but wait. I'm with Tsu today. Give Nejire a break." Yaomomo glanced over at the frog girl, concern alight in her features. Denki followed her eyes, past where Tsuyu was pacing, to a certain Big Three member. Nejire was looking a little better, physically speaking. She seemed to have gained a bit more weight; her curves were a bit healthier looking, unlike her bony frame a few weeks ago. Her hair was brushed and silky-looking. She was fidgeting.

But Denki could recognize the look in her eyes, the lack of her trademark smile. Her cloudy gaze, unfocused cerulean orbs.

He'd seen that look before in the mirror, reflected in hazy golden eyes, eyes begging for death, begging for reason, a reason to live, and purpose in the everlasting loop of life, of death, of the horrors the Killing Game brought.