The Secret Passage and the Culprit’s Contradictions

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Takagi Masahiko’s Perspective

Monokuma: “Oh? What’s going on~?”

Suzuki Minoru: “What I’d like to ask is, are there any limits to the number of people who can be killed under these rules? What if the culprit decides to kill everyone?”

Monokuma: “Hmmph?! If the culprit kills more than two people, I’ll chop them into minced meat and feed them to the fish! Well… I’m quite pleased you’re thinking so deeply, but as students, you shouldn’t overstep your boundaries, should you~?”

Suzuki Minoru: “So, no matter what, the culprit can only kill a maximum of two people, is that right?”

Monokuma: “Well… that’s exactly what I mean!”

Suzuki Minoru: “I knew it~ You clearly value this mutual killing game as a performance, so how could you possibly let the culprit run wild?”

Takahashi Aki: “Suzuki-kun, at a time like this… how can you still have the mind to discuss such things…?” Her moist eyes seemed crystalline, and the outer edges of her delicate brows drooped slightly.

Suzuki Minoru: “Is that so? What I’m truly wondering is… what state of mind led the culprit to choose not to deliver the killing blow to Anko?” He curved his lips into a wicked, cold smile, his expression utterly intriguing.

Takagi Masahiko: “What kind of… question is that…?” I found myself momentarily speechless, unable to articulate a response to his query.

Suzuki Minoru: “Because… for the culprit, any uncertain factor could become a stumbling block to their survival, couldn’t it~?”

Suzuki Minoru: “Heheheh… a single misstep along the way, and everything could be lost! Yet, what I never expected was for the culprit to actually spare Anko’s life…”

Suzuki Minoru: “Is this the lingering pangs of a conscience at work~? Or perhaps… a fear of yet another death sparking unforeseen complications in the future~?”

Habara Kazuhiro: “I’d guess the culprit genuinely didn’t want to involve an outsider, did they? That’s why they were forced to knock Kamimura-san unconscious…”

Akahira Yuusuke: “That sounds all well and good… but if this person truly didn’t want to involve an outsider, why did they have to frame Kamimura for murder?” His brows furrowed in indignation, his furious gaze hardening.

Chisaka Erin: “I think both explanations hold some truth…”

Suzuki Minoru: “To think, to think… in everyday life, they present a kind and amiable face, yet when it comes to murder, they display a cold, calculating rationality. Still, they harbor good intentions towards innocent bystanders, only to cleverly transform external disturbances into a mask for their own full utilization…”

Suzuki Minoru: “Hahaha! The culprit is truly a person of contradictory character!” He suddenly burst into loud, maniacal laughter, a sound that seemed to taunt the killer.

Suzuki Minoru: “Do you all perhaps believe the culprit’s murder plan ends here?”

Akino Atsushi: “Th-there’s more to it…?”

Suzuki Minoru: “Good grief~ If you were to ask how much of the plan we’ve covered so far, I’d say it’s definitely less than half of what’s to come.”

Kitajima Kazumitsu: “W-what? Are you saying we’ve barely analyzed even half of this case from the beginning until now?”

Osakabe Nanase: “Are we… going to have to deliberate for much longer…?”

Akahira Yuusuke: “Um… Nanase, please don’t cry anymore. Kamimura-san acted that way precisely because she didn’t want to involve anyone. She must have had her own reasons for it… When she recovers, we’ll greet her warmly, won’t we?”

Takagi Masahiko: “Yuusuke is absolutely right. While our progress is slow right now, it’s the result of our hard work and perseverance. Let’s just hold on a little longer, okay? All of us truly wish to return alive and see Kamimura-san fully recovered…” I offered her my usual gentle smile, hoping to shield her fragile, young heart.

Chisaka Erin: “Yes, I’m really looking forward to seeing the surprised look on her face when she wakes up…”

Katagiri Mimi: “Oh, I’m just dying to give her a makeover~ That enchanting, pretty face paired with some sensational outfits would be absolutely captivating, wouldn’t it~ Heheheheh~” A frightening spark ignited in Katagiri-san’s eyes, as if she intended to strip the entire person bare with her gaze.

Suzuki Minoru: “Ahem, ahem! …Katagiri-san, you truly are a magnificent woman! If you ever face any difficulties, remember to call on me! I shall go through fire and water without hesitation!” Even the usually composed Suzuki couldn’t maintain his seriousness now.

Takagi Masahiko: “Suzuki, you… such a task should clearly be left to me!”

Akino Atsushi: “Both of you move aside, I am the most suitable candidate!”

Ishii Yoshimi: “Enough, you three!! The moment a beautiful woman is mentioned, all three of you turn into completely different people… Truly, men are all worthless!”

Takagi Masahiko: “W-wait, wait! Let me explain! I’m not that kind of person! I’m just simply—”

Takahashi Aki: “I understand how you feel, Takagi-kun… you’re simply harboring impure thoughts about Kamimura-san~”

Takagi Masahiko: “Ah… thank you, Takahashi-san, for your unders—?!” I instantly froze, turning to stone.

Kitajima Kazumitsu: “To be honest, I’d still like to play some basketball with her.”

Habara Kazuhiro: “Are you sure… you wouldn’t just be crushing her like a beginner?”

Kitajima Kazumitsu: “Ah ha ha ha… how could I possibly? Why would I be so malicious? Just think of it as a pleasant way for classmates to interact~” He grinned widely, radiating cheerfulness.

Arisumi Momoko: “You’d better not be.”

Osakabe Nanase: “Mm… thank you all for your comfort. I’m no longer sad. Please continue.” Osakabe-san finally offered a reassuring smile at the end, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand.

Suzuki Minoru: “Alright, enough with the small talk. It’s time to get back to the main topic.”

Suzuki Minoru: “Takagi, do you recall the first anomaly we encountered this morning when we arrived at the crime scene?”

Takagi Masahiko: “You’re referring to the library door being locked from the outside, correct?”

Suzuki Minoru: “Exactly. If I’m not mistaken, this is the second time you’ve been locked out of the library, isn’t it?”

Takagi Masahiko: “Ah… you’re right, this is the second time.”

Suzuki Minoru: “Have you considered why this is the second time it’s been locked from the outside?”

Chisaka Erin: “Could there be some small mechanism near the door… something that allows it to be locked from the outside?”

Takagi Masahiko: “No, there isn’t… There are no hidden mechanisms near the door.”

Takagi Masahiko: “I think… the moment I entered the library last night, the culprit must still have been at the crime scene, right?”

Katagiri Mimi: “The culprit was still there?! I thought they would have escaped long ago…”

Takagi Masahiko: “If the culprit had escaped, the door wouldn’t have been locked from the outside…”

Akahira Yuusuke: “So, the first time you were locked out, the culprit was hiding inside the inner room. Because you were focused on rescuing someone at the time, the culprit narrowly escaped.”

Kitajima Kazumitsu: “Then… what about the second time? When you were locked out again, where did the culprit go?”

Suzuki Minoru: “The culprit, of course, had already returned to their room~”

Arisumi Momoko: “Their room?! Wait a minute… the culprit locked the door from the outside a second time and then returned to their room. How did they manage to teleport…?” Upon hearing Suzuki’s answer, Arisumi-san’s mind temporarily seized up; she couldn’t immediately grasp the peculiarity of it.

Chisaka Erin: “There’s a secret passage in the crime scene… isn’t there?” Relying on her quick thinking, Chisaka-san found the breakthrough.

Suzuki Minoru: “Indeed, one hundred percent correct!”

Habara Kazuhiro: “So that’s it… but where is this secret passage? I didn’t see it.”

Takagi Masahiko: “It’s right… above the inner room’s door. It’s a ventilation duct just barely large enough for one person to squeeze through.”

Kitajima Kazumitsu: “Ah… I do have some recollection now. There is indeed such a ventilation opening up there.”

Takahashi Aki: “By the way… is that ventilation opening high off the ground?”

Takagi Masahiko: “It’s quite high; it looks to be about three meters up. In short, it’s virtually impossible for an ordinary person to climb into the ventilation duct using only their jumping ability…”

Akino Atsushi: “Then the culprit must have climbed up using the retractable ladder in the inner room!”

Takagi Masahiko: “No, that’s wrong! When I investigated the scene, that retractable ladder was placed beneath the circuit breaker, specifically in the corner by the inner room’s door!”

Arisumi Momoko: “Then… how did the culprit manage to climb into the ventilation duct without using a ladder…?”

Takagi Masahiko: “This… to be honest, I haven’t figured it out yet… My apologies, everyone…” I lowered my gaze, feeling both disappointed and helpless. It was at this moment I truly realized how uncooperative my own mind was, and I resented my insufficient intelligence, feeling utterly inferior compared to Suzuki…

Suzuki Minoru: “Good grief… if there’s truly no other way, consider this me lending you a hand for Anko’s sake, shall I…?” Suzuki remarked, his deep, luminous eyes fixed on me with an air of resignation.