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As the elevator descended the others looked at me with suspicious glares, while I, gave them a smug look.

Man, this is gonna be great. As they say...

Time to go Ace Attorney in this bitch.

The elevator stopped and the door opened up. The room in front of us as a circle of podiums for 16 students. Why there was one extra, I'll assume for symmetry. Blue wallpaper, red curtains, and some other stuff I don't feel like listing...

Wink.

"Goodie-Gumdrop! Took ya' time, I see." Monokuma said in a throne behind the circle of podiums. "Be honest now, you were expecting something considerably less tasteful." Monokuma said with his head in his palm. "Screwed up either way if ya' ask me." Mondo responded.

"Before we start, I have a question relevant to our task. Why the portraits?" Kirigiri asked. "Why not? Just cause they're dead, I hate for them to miss the proceedings." Monokuma answered. "And the extra podium belongs to who? Counting our departed classmates, we number 15. Why 16 places?" Celestia asked. "You're reading too much into it, darlin'. That extra podium means this courtroom is tricked out for a maximum of 16 jurors. Speaking of which," Monokuma said darling his tone. "That's all the time we've got for pleasantries." Monokuma stated. "Ladies and Germs! Time to get judicial!" Monokuma shouted.

"Finally. Time to stop a hate crime." I said holding my hand out as if there was a gun. I pretended to load in a clip, the others watching in confusion. I turned my left hand into a finger gun and smirked. I pointed it at every last one of my classmates before making it land on Monokuma. "Y'all ready?" I asked sarcastically, earning a couple disapproving stares from my classmates.

"Enough chit chat. Commence the beating for your lives!" Monokuma shouted.

_______________________________________

• Trial Begin! •

_______________________________________

"So, uh, how does debating work?"
Asahina asked. "Knowing where to start's half the battle." Hifumi commented.

"Well I suggest we begin by considering the murder weapon itself. See where that takes us." Kirigiri said.

"We can be sure it was the weapon because of where it was found," Ishimaru said before clenching a fist. "Sticking out of the victim's midsection is not generally where a knife is kept!" He shouted.

"No shit, Sherlock... I totally used put all my silverware in the carcass on my marble counter top." I said sarcastically. "Anyway, surprisingly, what he said is important. The knife had to come from the kitchen." I said stopping any interference.

"So does that mean, anyone who was in the kitchen last night is a suspect?" Asahina asked. "He's just trying to get us to split hairs, he's the killer, remember!" Leon said looking at me. I gave him another smug smirk before straightening my face and turning forward. "Wait, you know what? I think I can prove Null isn't the one who took it!" Asahina exclaimed. "I would know cause Sakura and me spent most of the day yesterday hanging out in the cafeteria." Asahina explained.

"I'm sorry, Sakura is who, exactly? No offense." Celestia asked. "None taken." The muscular woman said as everyone stared in silence for a few moments. "We were there until late, enjoying a lovely day evening tea as it happens." Sakura started. "I was on edge. Sakura was sweet enough to keep me company and try and calm my nerves." Asahina finished.

"Well, what if you both did it?! If you teamed up, you'd just have to keep your stories straight." Toko said nervously. "Oh, please no. If two or more people team up to commit murder, only the actual killer's eligible for graduation. No exceptions." Monokuma informed. "Yes, it's clearly stated in the rules." Byakuya added. "I see. In other words, no one stands to gain anything from opting to team up." Celestia added to that.

"Yeah, fine! Then stop beating around the bush and tell us who took the knife already! Swim horsey!" Toko shouted. "You take that back!" Asahina shouted.

"As Asahina said, we were there for some time. We know who took the knife cause we witnessed its removal." Sakura stated. "Why did you not mention this sooner?" Byakuya asked. "I... guess, cause it's rude to speak I'll of the dead." Asahina answered.

"Holy shit if that's not a plot twist— It was Maizono!" I said with a face of amused shock. "There is no doubt." Sakura said before explaining about how Sayaka had grabbed a knife that night. "I see. So the victim procured the weapon that would then end her life." Ishimaru commented.

"Self-defense is a possibility." I added. "That being the case, the very thing she thought would fend off her attacker with proved her undoing. Simple, tragic irony at its finest." Byakuya responded. "Ya' got that right." I said with a dry chuckle. "All the same, Null. You're rather far from clearing your name in this bloody business." Byakuya stated. "I'll get to it. I just want all my cards on the table." I said with a smirk.

"Aha! See! There's murder written all over his face!" Toko shouted pointing at me. "Could you shut the fuck up— I'll get to it when I get to it!" I said pointing at her. "No! On guard, everyone! He's attempting to steer the debate in his favor! What a skilled manipulator, you are!" Hifumi added. "Godamnit! Can someone else say something so I don't lose a brain cell?!" I said pointing at the two.

"Careful. I'm of the opinion it's still too early to point the finger at Null." Kirigiri started. "Thank you! See? Cold, Dark, and Mysterious doesn't think it's me." I said placing my hands in pockets. "Watch it." She said looking at me. "Got it." I replied quickly.

"There's still evidence we're not considering." Kirigiri started again. "What evidence?" Sakura asked. "I submit to you all the state of the crime scene. Did the culprit appear to have access to the shower? I think not." Kirigiri responded. "What are you driving?" Celestia asked. "The door knob to my shower was broken. Saw it myself." I answered. "Important fact, it did look like it had seen better days." Hifumi commented. "So?! What is that supposed to prove except that he broke it to get at his prey! Animal!" Toko shouted pointing at me again. "Godamnit! Keep talking shit!" I shouted taking my hands out of my pockets. "Equal rights, equal fights!" I said slamming my hands in the podium, scaring her.

"Could calm down, Null." Kirigiri scolded. "She's keeps that shit up, we'll have issues." I said pointing at my eyes and then back at her. "Anyway, that one small detail convinces me that Null couldn't have been the murderer." Kirigiri continued. "Are you nuts? He needed in, boom! He broke it— end of story. He didn't have any choice cause she locked the door on him." Mondo said before I made a finger gun at him.

"Try Again!" I shouted, a bang ringing through the courtroom. "The showers for the boys don't have locks! Only the girls showers have locks!" I said placing my other hand over half of my face with a smirk. "Oh yeah? And how do you know that?" Mondo asked. "Monokuma said it himself. Our showers don't have locks installed. Take it away, Care-Bear!" I said putting my hands at my side. "Huh? Yeah, sure, whatever." Monokuma said lying on his stomach and kicking his feet.

"But then why'd the killer have to go to the trouble of breaking the door knob to get at Maizono?" Chihiro asked. "Because my door was wonky. There's a trick to opening it. They didn't know. They thought it was locked so, to them, they were in a girl's room. They assumed that was their only option." I explained. "If Null were the murderer, he'd of been aware the door wasn't locked and knowing the trick to opening it simply walked in." Kirigiri added.

"That makes sense, I suppose." Toko commented. "Ha!" I said pointing at her. "Don't get to comfortable." Kirigiri started, "Eh?" I let out. "You're not done yet." She finished.

"Let us assume the murderer was someone else. Where would they get the idea the door was locked? Were they not aware the two had switched rooms? And why be there if they didn't?" Celestia questioned. "That's the point. From the evidence, I think we can safely assume that the killer believed he or she was actually in Maizono's room." Kirigiri answered. "Let me get this straight. You're saying that the culprit was in the dark about the room swap?" Chihiro asked. "Please! We were all in the dark about it!" Toko shouted. "This ain't exactly narrowing down our list of suspects!" Mondo shouted as well. "So? We put it to a majority vote!" Ishimaru suggested. "That could work!" Leon said with a smile.

"Hell no, you dipshits! That just lowers our odds of survival!" I yelled. "Now that I think about it," Asahina started. "If Maizono was freaked out like Null said, how did the killer get in the room to begin with? She wouldn't have let them in." She asked. "Was the lock picked?" Chihiro asked. "Not possible! The tumblers are all reinforced electronically!" Ishimaru informed. "Prepare yourselves for ingenuous bit of sleuthing my friends!" Whatever Hifumi said next, I didn't understand. But apparently he said Sayaka let the killer in.

"Well, with this evidence, I don't doubt that." I said shaking my head. "Perhaps that was the idea. Her terror could've been a ruse." Kirigiri said shocking most. "Damn, that'd be kinda fucked up." I said with a sad smile. "Yes, it is an unpleasant possibility to consider, but I'm afraid, necessary." Kirigiri said holding up a note that was made from indented pencil markings with graphite sketched over it. It was an invitation. "That manipulative piece of shit..." I said balling my fist. "It's the impression of a letter she wrote. I found it on the notepad in your room. I think she wrote this letter, with the intent of luring someone to their death." Kirigiri explained. "Someone would have to be dead inside to overlook an invitation from a teen idol of Maizono's caliber. That is, unless they were already perfectly satisfied with the 2D variety." Hifumi said proudly with his hands on his hips. I held out my hand and he gave me a low five.

"Yes, but, the note clearly states to come to her room. So there we have it then, don't we? It wasn't in her room." Celestia said. "Right. Whoever it was would've gone to wherever Null was by mistake." Chihiro informed. "Ah, but they wouldn't have you see. Maizono was clever." Kirigiri started. "Really? How so?" Celestia asked. "After she and Null switched rooms, she slipped out and swapped their name plates. My handbook missed this detail entirely." Kirigiri explained. "Then Maizono was luring someone into Null's room." Chihiro agreed. "Well, if memory serves, I believe the phrase tossed out a little earlier was luring someone to their death?" Byakuya asked.

"Yes, seems so, and it's the only logical conclusion left. Of course that points the finger away from Null." Kirigiri stated. "Ha!" I said pointing at Toko again. "Fine, whatever. So who killed her?" Leon asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" I asked. "Whoever she invited to my room turned the tables on her. They got to her first." I said glancing at Leon. "We're actually going with this idea that she swapped rooms with Null to try and off someone?" Asahina asked. "Far from the worst of guesses. Once the deed was done, she'd have an out. She had but to switch the name plates back to pin it on you." Byakuya explained. "I know." I said putting my head down. "Damn. And there I was simping." I said with a chuckle. "Her fatal misstep, of course, was giving the prospective victim the opportunity to fight back." Byakuya started. "They got the first strike in with that katana!" Hagakure exclaimed. "No, that was used in self-defense." Celestia corrected. "Yes, the damage to the sheath implies as much. Had things gone according to plan, Maizono would be standing here now, pointing the finger at Null." Byakuya finished.

"She belong to the streets." I said with a shrug. "Anyway, can we continue? You all act like I'm supposed to be affected by her betrayal. I'm not dead." I said with an eyebrow raised. "Let's just pick this up again." I started. "It's one of us here. Do with that what you fill." I said before leaning on the podium with my head in my palm. "Well, duh. How the hell do we pick?" Hagakure asked. "We're all goners! I knew it! I'm too young to die! It's not fair!" Toko screamed with her hands on her head.

"Well, I guess that's pretty much it for us. Damn, if only there was more to go on, right?" Leon asked. "Big mistake." I muttered making Monokuma sit up with interest. "We're out of clues." Leon added.

"TRY AGAIN!" I shouted pushing off the podium and pointing a finger gun at Leon, a bang sounding in the courtroom. "The hell am I missing then?" Leon asked. "Something pretty significant. She left us a message. Not the one on the notepad." I started. "What are you driving at?" Leon asked. "She left a dying message. One scrawled in blood on the wall behind her." Kirigiri continued. "That's right! What did it say?" Hagakure asked. "You mean that random string of numbers?" Asahina asked. "Aye, you supposed to be some kinda crazy genius with numbers ain'tcha? The ones she left behind mean anything special or what?" Mondo asked Chihiro. "I tried every encryption trick in the book. But whatever they're supposed to mean, it's not what I know. I'm sorry." Chihiro answered.

Ha, come on. Aren't you all supposed to be the best of the best?

"They aren't numbers. It's her killer's name!" I shouted. "You turn it upside down 180°, L. E. O. N. Leon. What do ya' know?" I said before glaring at Leon. "That's your name." I said menacingly. "Leon Kuwata." I finished.

"If you got anything to say, now's your chance." I said with a smirk. "Disappointing... Leon." Sakura commented. "Gimme a break! You're not seriously listening to this lying, little punk?!" Leon shouted. "Call me that again, Asshole!" I shouted back. "Maizono identified her murderer from beyond the grave. A name written as her life ebbed away." Kirigiri added. "It was only written like that because the angle of her head. Poor girl didn't have the energy left to turn the other direction." I continued. "Maybe someone's trying to frame me? You think of that?! Everything you've got is circumstantial!" Leon shouted.

"Let's assume you're not the perpetrator. Care to explain why you tried to destroy evidence?" Kirigiri asked making his face pale. God, she's hot when she's serious—

Focus. This is important.

"Somebody explain!" Ishimaru asked. "Yup, it was him. She means those charred pieces of shirt and glass ball fragments we found in the garbage room." I said dramatically exaggerating the words charred and fragments. "Right! I forgot all about those!" Hifumi said with an accent. "You know, come to think of it, I haven't seen my crystal ball in a while. Think that's what happened to it?" Hagakure asked. "Well, Null... Seems you and I are of the same opinion." Kirigiri said looking at me. "Puzzle it out yet?" She asked.

"Trust me, I knew from the beginning." I said giving a smirk. "Here's how it went down. Maizono's killer was in over his head. He hadn't planned on killing anyone that night. The evidence had to be taken care of, and fast. Unfortunately, the garbage room was locked. This is where Hagakure's crystal ball comes into play. Activating the incinerator from the outside of the gate would've near impossible for almost anyone. But our culprit, was the only one with the skills. Specifically what... ever Hope's Pick—" "Peak" Kirigiri corrected. "—Peak, calls their students' abilities... are called. Baseball— it took baseball skills. Leon, Ultimate School
High Star Baseball guy." I said rolling my wrist. "Super High School Level." Kirigiri corrected again. "Damnit it was you, Leon! Jesus, this school is extra..." I said squinting my eyes and pointing at him. "Read 'em and weep!" I shouted picking back up on the cool act, smirking. Leon just stared at me with a pale, shocked face.

"You stand accused. Now'd be the time to object." Kirigiri stated. "I'm jacked. Ha, yeah. Let me think about that. That... YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I OBJECT! THIS IS ALL A BUNCH OF B.S! OH-HO-OH-HO-H-HELL NO! THINK I'M TAKIN' THE REP?!—" He said continuing to yell. "Dude. Stop. Please. Calm dow—" "NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER—" "I just proved it. Please stop. My ears hurt. They're ringin—" "NEVER! YEAH, NICE TRY BUT SCREW YOU! WHAT ABOUT YAMADA?! HE'S ON TRASH DETAIL! HE COULD'VE UNLOCKED THE GATE!" Leon shouted. "Then there wouldn't have been any glass scraps. He'd just toss the shirt in, dumbass." I said face-palming. "HAHA! YEAH, BIG MAN— TRYNA TRICK ME INTO FESSING UP! WELL LIKE I SAID, IT'S ALL CIRCUMSTANTIAL!" Leon shouted again.

"Maybe so. But there's still one thing I haven't said yet that'll blow this pop stand." I said putting my hands in my pockets. "WHAT, ARE YOU GONNA MAKE SOMETHIN' UP NOW?!" Leon shouted with a deranged face. "The bathroom. The doorknob. The screws were removed." I said taking my hands out of my pockets again. "WHO GIVES A FLYING RATS ASS?!" Leon shouted even more desperately. "How do you think the murderer removed the screws?" I asked calmly. "WHAT EVER YOU'RE DRIVING AT JERKWAD— YOU'RE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE!" Leon yelled. "Sucks to be you cause I'm on the money! The proofs in your tool kit. Think I can take a glance?" I asked leaning over the podium smugly. "NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER!" Leon started shouting again. "THIS IS A SHAM! I'M WARNING YOU, DUDE! BACK OFF!" Leon yelled. "NO YOU! YOU'RE GUILTY, LEON KUWATA!" I shouted back.

I aimed my right hand at Leon as if I was holding a gun and my finger was on the trigger. Everyone watched a black translucent gun with blue coding came together in my hand. The barrel was smoking blue as my lips curled into a smirk.

"Game. Over."

The gun shot a blank but, Leon knew deep down that his life had ended at that moment.

"Show us what's inside that tool kit." I said as the gun dispersed into blue pixels. "Come on, whose the punk now?" I asked leaning over the podium again. Leon's face looked broken. "Bare in mind, if it's been used, prepare to explain in detail, until every last one of us is satisfied." Byakuya demanded. "Under the circumstances, not knowing, is not going to be acceptable." Kirigiri added. "N-N... Never... N-Ne..." Leon stumbled out. "Predictable. He has nothing to say in his defense." Byakuya commented. My smirk turned back into my blank stare as Monokuma began laughing.

"I'd say you kids hashed this one out nicely. Major Kudos. Let's move on to voting time! Kindly lock in your votes by pressing the switches there in front of you." Monokuma said while several looked reluctant to choose. "Whose the guilty so-and-so? Feel good about your answers? Final choice?" Monokuma asked as we picked. "And the award goes to..." Monokuma said a a slot machine landed with Leon's face on it. "Correct! Well done peeps! Sayaka Maizono's murderer was indeed... Leon Kuwata!" Monokuma informed.

"Oh, wow..." Asahina said in disbelief. "You... dumbass— what the hell got into you?" Mondo asked. "I didn't want to..." Leon started shocking some. "She was... I mean, she was trying to kill me, right? I just... I didn't know what else to do, okay? WHAT IF SHE'D HAVE GONE AFTER YOU?! YOU ALL'D HAVE DONE THE SAME THING IN MY SHOES!" Leon yelled before starting to cry and falling to his knees.

"Right! So there you have it. Excellent job dispensing tough justice. And I mean that! Moving on, now to the punishment phase!" Monokuma said throwing out his paw. "No! I didn't have a choice! The crazy skank was gonna kill me— what was I supposed to do?! Come on, guys, I acted in self-defense. Special circumstances. I'm not really a murderer!" Leon went on as Monokuma giggled. "Yes, yes. I'm sure we're all relieved to hear that. But rules are rules!" Monokuma said. "Too bad! So sad!" Monokuma added. "But wait! That's not right!" Leon said desperately. "Right? Right don't enter into it, sweetheart. You killed and got caught, which means you die!" Monokuma replied. "No... No!" Leon said before trying to run away. He ran to the wall and began banging on them while screaming, Monokuma monologuing in the background.

"I've come up with a very special execution! Plaaaaaay Baaaalllll!" Monokuma said. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Leon screamed as Monokuma brought out a tiny gavel as a button rose from in front of his chair. He hit the button as a screen popped up on the device.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Now that's what I call extreme! I feel the adrenaline coursing through me like lightning!" Monokuma said as others reacted in their own way.

"Come on, now. It's not so bad once you get used to it. Abandon all hope of seeing the light of day and you'll be fine! Promise! Course, now that I hear myself say it out loud, it does sound pretty cruel." Monokuma monologued. I stared at him with a blank face as his looked back at mine. "Woah, Null! You look unfazed! Seems someone has steeled their resolve! Or do you just not care?" Monokuma asked.

"I mean, I don't know. To be honest, I need a bucket." I said with a shrug before walking away.

~•~

I was lying in my bed taking a nap in my boxers and my black shirt. Dreaming of dreams...

Like I'd let you know.

Suddenly, my doorbell was rung several times.

"Let me sleep!" I yelled. It rung again and I grabbed a pillow and covered my ears. The bell began to ring rapidly making me angrier. "Godamnit! What?!" I said walking to the door and flinging it open. Kirigiri was the culprit making me straighten my expression. "Howdy." I started with a smirk.

•

"I know nows probably not the best time. But I need to talk to you." Kirigiri started.

"If it's about the trial and Maizono, I'm fine. I look depressed all the time." I responded, fully clothed and sitting on my bed. "I'd say it's genetics, but... ya' know..." I said with a chuckle. "I'll be frank. It may be undeniable that Maizono meant to frame you for murder. The facts paint too clear a picture. That said, what do you imagine her dying thoughts were?" Kirigiri asked me. "No clue. If I was her it'd be, well shit." I said looking down. "I'm being serious, Null... Even if you didn't know her well enough to speculate. Personally, I believe her last thoughts were of how to save you. I think we can surmise that's what she wanted in the end." Kirigiri said making me look at up her. "Why else leave the message, correct? She certainly didn't have to." She added.

"Tch. She probably just wanted to make Leon pay." I said placing my head in my palm, my arm on my knee. "I beg to differ. In fact, she never meant to hurt you. She wasn't a killer. Nor was she comfortable with deceiving you. Sadly, she hesitated when she ought to been bold. Wound up dead. Rather a high price to pay." Kirigiri said. "Heh, you really killed the mood at the end." I said with a chuckle. "Anyway, why are you telling me this?" I asked with an intrigued smile. "Because I think you're strong. You can push through this intact. Resilience is a rare quality in people. I sense it in you." Kirgiri said before I stood up. "Of course, there's always the chance I'm reading too much into things. But for your sake, I hope I'm not." Kirigiri continued.

"Death isn't something you brush off... you live with it, and carry it with you. Their deaths are something that will drive me. Forgive and forget isn't my nature. I'll be haunted by it no matter what, their deaths won't be in vain. They're my motivation." I said with determination. "...How noble. A difficult path, but noble. Still though, I have hope." Kirigiri said, earning a smile from me.

"So. While I'm here, and it may be silly to ask. What precisely keyed you into the fact I'd pop by to speak to you about Maizono?" Kirigiri asked.

"No fucking clue. You just seem nosy." I said making her glare. "Joking..." I said making her gain a bored look. "Who'd a thought someone of your nature would care for little old me, Ms.Cold, Dark, and Mysterious." I joked. "Didn't I tell you to watch it, 'little punk'." Kirigiri joked with a small smile. "What'd you say?!" I asked as she walked away. I rolled up my sleeves and followed after her. "I hope you remember what I said in the courtroom! Equal rights, equal figh—"

~•~

I got my ass kicked.

I thought with bandages around my head.

I'm sleeping away the embarrassment.

Ciao...

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