Dangan Ronpa: The Mutual Life of Killing in the City of Despair

Chapter One: The Hopeful Meeting in the City- Part Four

I glanced around as we walked into the circular room. There was sixteen podiums. One of which had a picture of Aimi Wakahisa, pinned up with a flimsy nail. A black ribbon decorated the top of the board.

The room itself was pretty simple. A battle of purple and orange stripes lined the walls. I frowned as I stood at one of the podiums. The one next to Aimi's sign.

Everyone else filled in around the podiums. Hotaru Tsukino stood next to me. Then Hoshimi Aozora was next to him. Kumiko Sugawara was next to her. Toshio Ashikaga was next. Then Katashi Yamauchi, Mitsuo Hamasaki, Kazuko Hachimitsu, Reiko Muranaka, Isamu Ishihara, Maya Shinihara, Akira Miyamoto, Reginald Brazier, Takeo Gushiken, and finally, Akiko Akiyama, who stood beside Aimi Wakahisa's post.

"Well, it's time to debate!" Monokuma cheered. Monokuma was sitting on a large throne, with a small button in front of him. "Oh! I haven't told you about the debate rules yet! Students, please check your Digital I.D.s!"

I glanced down at mine. He was right; the rules had updated.

Rule Seven:
You must debate on who committed the crime. During the debate, anything can be brought up.

Rule Eight:
Once the killer is found, they will be executed. However, it's beary possible to survive your execution.

Rule Nine:
If an accomplice was used during a murder, the accomplice will NOT be executed, unless the murderer wins the trial.

Rule Ten:
Vote ONLY for who you think is guilty. If you vote incorrectly, the blackened will escape. However, the others will be executed!

"Um, Mr. Monokuma... what do you mean by execution?" Kumiko asked. Monokuma chuckled. "I mean DEATH of course. If the killer loses this class trial, they get put down!" I heard people gasp all around, but I didn't really care. I was focused on this trial. Aimi's murderer wasn't gonna get away with this.

"Anyways, let's get the ball rolling!" Monokuma cheered. "My suggestion is to check the Monokuma File!"

'Oh, right.' I thought. I didn't check it earlier. I booted up my I.D. and clicked the small icon with Monokuma on it. A small page opened up with Aimi's picture crossed out. I heard someone, I think Maya, read out what the report said.

"Aimi Wakahisa was found at 9:37 A.M. by Aisho Tatsuo, Reiko Muranaka, and Akira Miyamoto, thereby proving their innocence. Wakahisa was stabbed in the back by a red switchblade knife, which severed her spine. The estimated time of death is 10:30 P.M."

"So, she was killed after night hours when we returned to our room... shouldn't we have heard something?" Reginald asked.

"Um, there should be a good reason for that..." I mumbled. 'Think... THINK! Wait...' I gasped. 'What if...'

"The rooms are soundproof!" I yelled. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hotaru smile.

"Hey, do you have any kind of proof before we continue with that idea?!" Hoshimi yelled. I nodded.

"The first week we were here! If the walls weren't soundproof, you could've heard everything we did!" I explained. Monokuma grinned. "That's right! The walls are indeed soundproof, but only when the doors are closed." He said.

"So, Aimi was killed thirty minutes after the night hours were called. That means someone snuck into her room while she was busy and killed her." Mitsuo said. Honestly, something felt off about that. It didn't sit well with me.

"Maybe." Hotaru said, interrupting my thoughts. "But, what if the person who murdered her, was let in." He suggested. Takeo gasped.

"No way!" He growled, slamming his hands on the podium in front of him. "Aimi was terrified. She wouldn't let anyone else in." I had to agree. Aimi said so herself yesterday. She was terrified of dying. I looked at his hand and noticed something. A gauze was wrapped around his hand.