The Stage is Set for Trial

Takagi, noticing Suzuki’s dejected slump and the tell-tale red imprint of a fist on his face, looked at me with curiosity.

“Um… Kamimura, what’s wrong with Suzuki?”

My cheeks still burned with a lingering warmth.

“…Nothing, merely a taste of justice.”

“You’ve arrived at a most opportune moment, Takagi. Can you recall the positions we six occupied when entering and exiting the elevator?”

“Let me think… When we entered the elevator, Kamimura was to my right, and Furuhata was to my left.”

“When we exited… Suzuki was to my left?!”

“Now… it seems all the pieces have finally fallen into place…”

I reorganized my myriad thoughts, and after a long moment of careful consideration, I moved my right hand.

The descriptions of the three individuals’ positions allowed me to sketch a floor plan illustrating their locations before and after the murder.

“This is…” Takagi mused for a moment, scrutinizing the diagram I had drawn, before falling silent.

With this, the sequence of Furuhata’s demise could be depicted with greater clarity.

In the enveloping darkness, the victim was inadvertently pulled by someone to Suzuki’s location.

Then, mirroring the scene’s progression, Suzuki appeared to have been bumped by someone into Furuhata’s original spot.

Finally, Furuhata was brutally murdered using a composite weapon.

Yet, a persistent feeling gnawed at me, suggesting something was amiss.

Several mysteries still lingered.

First, was the person who bumped Suzuki the same individual who pulled Furuhata, or were they different?

Second, the weapon was precisely a double-ended, adjustable single loop.

When did the culprit attach the Monokuma pole to one end?

Could a third party have assisted in this murder?

Third, how did the culprit manage to simultaneously pull Furuhata and bump Suzuki into Furuhata’s original position?

“It’s time, and I’m growing weary of waiting~ Shouldn’t we begin already?”

“Indeed… everyone’s long-awaited…”

“Class Trial!”

The moment Monokuma uttered “Class Trial,” its face contorted into a ravenous, desperate grin, much like a bear impatiently hunting its prey.

As it stood at the apex of the food chain, we could only surrender, bound by its will.

“Now, please proceed through the red door in the first-floor lobby and prepare yourselves.”

“Puhuhu~ We’ll see you shortly!”

The lobby monitor’s screen went black, and the people within the hall grew restless, the surrounding air steadily thickening with tension.

‘Has… the time truly come?’

Yet, I still had questions unanswered, mysteries unsolved.

As expected, I alone could not unearth the truth behind this murder.

In that case, the remaining enigmas would have to be unveiled during the Class Trial!

Only through the ability to adapt and improvise could we break free from this predicament, a true testament to the saying, “To place oneself in a desperate situation and emerge victorious.”

I walked alone towards the Door of Chaos, where everyone stood before a gigantic freight elevator, awaiting the Class Trial’s commencement.

“Kamimura, everyone’s waiting for you,” Takagi said to me.

“Anko-chan, are you, you alright…?” Osakabe Nanase asked, her voice laced with concern.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“To uncover the truth, I will need everyone’s help. I implore you all!” I stated sincerely to the group.

“Honestly… shouldn’t it be us imploring you instead?” Akahira Yuusuke replied with a wry smile.

“I believe what everyone needs is mutual assistance; unity is also one of the surest paths to finding the truth, wouldn’t you agree?” Takagi’s words eased the tension in the surrounding atmosphere.

“Unity… hahaha… indeed, it forms one of the elements of this stage…” Suzuki murmured to himself.

“Almighty Lord! Allow me to pour out the countless surges within my heart before you! What is about to unfold is a ferocious slaughter, a drama that will bring forth tears of blood. I earnestly beseech you to temporarily close your beautiful eyes and not gaze upon this bloody tragedy!”

Suzuki closed his eyes, raised his head, and lifted his hands towards the air, much like a worshiper supplicating an ancient Greek deity.

“…What is he doing?” Amemiya Wakaba stared at him with an expression akin to someone observing a fool.

“This devout display of worship… it reminds me of a godfather from an anime…” Katagiri Mimi said, her index finger resting thoughtfully on her cheek.

“How should I put it? I suddenly feel like Suzuki is a little… off,” Ishii Yoshimi remarked, her face etched with a strange expression.

“Hmm… he certainly seems to be a person of considerable character,” Takahashi Aki offered, delivering a highly diplomatic assessment.

“Indeed! I sincerely thank you all for your candid evaluations, and I eagerly anticipate your radiant performances and eloquent speeches upon this stage!”

He pressed his left hand to his chest, passionately articulating his declaration.

“Oh my, oh my, are you all truly so excited? Well, I suppose I have no choice~ I must also brace myself to watch your ‘performance’~”

Monokuma suddenly appeared before everyone, seemingly from nowhere.

“This is no performance at all! This trial concerns everyone’s lives!” Akahira Yuusuke’s temper flared instantly.

“Hah? Do you imply that a performance without sacrifice isn’t a performance? Hmm… it’s quite reasonable for someone as rash as you to possess such a narrow mindset.”

Suzuki offered him an arrogant smile.

“You!!!” Akahira Yuusuke clenched his fists, glaring at him with eyes wide in fury.

“Hey!!! Don’t you two dare ignore me!” Monokuma reprimanded, throwing its paws into the air.

“Good grief! You start arguing at the drop of a hat! Such disobedient students… but oh well, I suppose it’s all part of celebrating the chapter of youth~”

“Now then, open the freight elevator doors. You may enter!”

Monokuma declared, then promptly departed.

“Kamimura, we can uncover the truth, can’t we?” Takagi whispered, standing beside me.

“Are you afraid?”

“Perhaps it’s less fear and more… bewilderment.”

“Do not worry. I will be here to assist you in uncovering the truth. When the time comes, the truth and the culprit must be exposed by you, forcing the true perpetrator to concede defeat wholeheartedly.

“Otherwise… this trial will be maliciously dominated by the culprit, turning the tables on us…”

“Exposed by me…” Takagi hesitated for a moment, and then I saw hope rekindled in his eyes.

Yes, this was precisely what I needed.

Takagi Masahiko, let the fire of hope that has ignited within your heart be unleashed like an arrow from a taut bow.

The freight elevator doors closed, and we began our descent.

Accompanied by a grating rumble, rumble, the elevator slowly moved deeper underground.

“It’s time to raise the curtain on this stage…”

I couldn’t discern Suzuki’s expression, standing ahead of me, yet I felt that even if I took another step forward, his face would remain shrouded.

The group fell into a hushed silence, the elevator autonomously plunging deeper underground, heedless of our unease.

“Ding!” The arrival chime rang out, like the Grim Reaper striking an alarm clock with the tip of its dark scythe, and we slowly stepped out.

Before us lay a colossal circular arena, encircled by several mechanical podiums, with multiple projectors mounted above.

“Yohoho… you’ve finally arrived!”

“This trial ground certainly looks the part…” Akino Atsushi quipped under his breath.

“Ta-da~ Doesn’t this trial ground have a particularly grand feel?” Monokuma puffed out its chest proudly.

“Utterly boring!” Akahira Yuusuke retorted, glaring at Monokuma with disdain.

“Alright, alright~ Now, please stand on the spots marked with your names!”

“As quickly as possible!!”

The mechanical podiums automatically retracted their rear half-barriers.

I stepped onto mine, and the barrier closed behind me, forming a circular, enclosed space.

I could clearly see the tense expressions on everyone’s faces, an invisible, intangible aura swirling around the circumference.

The oppressive atmosphere in the arena forced my lips shut.

Let the Class Trial begin.