The Unveiling of Truth

Kamimura Anko: “Takagi-kun…”

Kamimura Anko: “Could I trouble you to clarify the entire scope of this incident?”

Takagi Masahiko: “Yes, I understand. Leave it to me.” He nodded at me, a subtle gesture of acknowledgment.

Takagi Masahiko: “The origin of this murder case lies in the ‘motive’ video Monokuma broadcast to us last night, which simultaneously served as the culprit’s impetus for killing Furuhata-kun.”

Takagi Masahiko: “After receiving Monokuma’s ‘motive’ video, everyone retreated to their rooms, yet in that brief interval, the culprit, having watched the video, had already begun devising a murder mechanism.”

Takagi Masahiko: “Then, while everyone remained in their rooms, the culprit ventured alone to the storeroom within the first-floor lobby’s convenience store, seeking the murder weapon.”

Takagi Masahiko: “Indeed, one of the tools the culprit intended to use was the kite string wound on a reel.”

Takagi Masahiko: “However, even as the culprit was crafting the murder weapon, Suzuki-kun was also present in the first-floor lobby.”

Takagi Masahiko: “Unfortunately, the moment the culprit finished their work, they encountered Suzuki-kun, inadvertently exposing their plan to his view.”

Takagi Masahiko: “To the culprit’s surprise, however, Suzuki-kun actually offered to help them, and perhaps after a period of deliberation, the culprit accepted his assistance.”

Takagi Masahiko: “Upon learning of the culprit’s request, Suzuki-kun returned to his room around ten o’clock; the culprit, however, wishing to become more familiar with the other murder weapon—the elevator—deliberately stayed near Monokuma’s emblem until approximately midnight.”

Takagi Masahiko: “The following day, Suzuki-kun proactively suggested we investigate the third floor. I, Kamimura-san, Yuusuke-kun, Furuhata-kun, and the culprit all agreed to this plan. Perhaps Furuhata-kun joined us at someone’s recommendation, but this very action led him down an irreversible path toward his fate.”

Takagi Masahiko: “As the six of us were about to enter the elevator, the culprit instructed the third party, ‘Owl,’ to retrieve the other loop from their pocket with its beak and place it atop the emblem.”

Takagi Masahiko: “Immediately afterward, Suzuki-kun feigned being inexplicably bumped, pulling Furuhata-kun closer and leaning his own body inward. I imagine Furuhata-kun, facing the pitch-black surroundings, must have been filled with unease at that moment. Being yanked by an unknown person only intensified his panic, causing him to cry out.”

Takagi Masahiko: “At that very instant, the culprit, holding a loop in their palm, unexpectedly slipped it around Furuhata-kun’s neck. However, failing to precisely control the timing before and after the elevator’s movement, the culprit’s palm was inadvertently sliced by the rapidly tightening kite string. To prevent others from noticing anything amiss, the culprit was forced to carefully conceal the wound.”

Takagi Masahiko: “The horror unfolded in that very moment. The kite string around Furuhata-kun’s neck, pulled taut by the tension, constricted his throat mercilessly. He was in such agony that he couldn’t even fully vocalize a plea for help…”

Takagi Masahiko: “Ultimately, his neck, unable to withstand the sharp cutting force, was severed from his body.”

Takagi Masahiko: “Thus, a vibrant life vanished before our very eyes…”

Takagi Masahiko: “Yet, to the culprit’s utter dismay, their pet couldn’t return to their side in time. To prevent anyone from discovering this anomaly, they attempted to avert suspicion by using the excuse of investigating the third floor.”

Takagi Masahiko: “This is… the entire sequence of events, isn’t that right, Amagasa Gen-kun, the ‘Ultimate Ornithologist’…!

Amagasa Gen: “…Hahaha… You’ve left almost no room for error. Indeed, I am the one who killed Furuhata.” He let out a self-deprecating laugh, like a vagrant at the end of his road.

Amagasa Gen: “Hey, Monokuma… Let’s start the voting. It’s time for this class trial to conclude.”

Akahira Yuusuke: “Wait! I haven’t even asked—”

Monokuma: “No more waiting! Since the outcome is decided, let the voting commence! Can’t these trivial matters wait until after the trial results are announced?!”

Monokuma: “Now, the fates of the culprit and all of you hinge on this very moment. Let the thrilling and anticipated… voting time begin!”

Akahira Yuusuke: “Tch!”

The display screen, situated between two buttons, showed everyone’s photos alongside the voting interface. I touched the screen and cast my vote.

****

Monokuma: “Puhuhuhu… Since everyone has finished voting, I shall now immediately announce the results!”

The four monitors positioned in our midst displayed the outcome: Amagasa Gen: 15 votes.

Monokuma: “The voting results! Who exactly is the culprit? And is that answer truly correct—?!”

The screen then transitioned to an image of a roulette wheel emblazoned with “roulette.” The spinning pointer gradually slowed, eventually settling on Amagasa Gen.

From above, a shower of colorful paper confetti fluttered down, while from below, Monokuma coins gushed forth.

****

Monokuma: “Ta-da! The answer is perfectly correct~! I never expected you to pass the first class trial! You’ve truly exceeded my expectations~”

Akahira Yuusuke: “Why…? Why did you kill? I truly don’t understand… Could you tell me why?” He asked, his voice laced with anguish, confusion and bewilderment starkly visible on his face.

Chisaka Erin: “Was there some unspeakable hardship…?”

Kitajima Kazumitsu: “Even if there was an unspeakable hardship, it doesn’t justify Furuhata-kun dying in such an unclear, unresolved manner…”

Takahashi Aki: “Indeed…”

Amagasa Gen: “…Then I shall tell you.”

Monokuma: “Stop—!”

Akahira Yuusuke: “What are you doing, Monokuma!? Do we not even have the right to know the motive for the murder?!”

Monokuma: “Don’t you fret~ What I’m saying is that every time a class trial is about to conclude, I’ll project the latter half of the culprit’s ‘motive’ video onto a screen for all of you to watch~ That way, the culprit won’t have to waste time recounting their murder motive one by one~”

Swiftly, the projector above cast the image onto the nearby screen.

Monokuma: “Amagasa-kun’s parents both perished in a car accident, leaving him only a spotted dove and a vast inheritance. As an orphan, he could only rely on this dove, and they kept each other company.”

Monokuma: “But misfortune chose to descend upon him once more.”

Monokuma: “One day, he suddenly realized the dove was no longer by his side. He instinctively believed it wished to return to nature for fresh air, and so he waited for a while for it to come home.”

Monokuma: “As the day drew to a close without a trace of the bird, Amagasa-kun’s heart grew uneasy, prompting him to go out and search for it himself.”

Monokuma: “However, the scene that followed left him utterly heartbroken. He witnessed with his own eyes his lifelong companion being cruelly murdered, and even devoured.”

Monokuma: “That’s right! The one who cruelly consumed his companion was none other than Furuhata Jun-kun, the Ultimate Archaeologist~!”

A profound silence descended, accompanied by an inexplicable sense of loss, as the unseen oppression emanating from the video gradually encroached upon us…

In that very moment, someone abruptly shattered this mirror of stillness.