Danganronpa: Boiling Point

Chapter 43: Fifth Class Trial

Once again, we all took our places around the Courtroom table. As if I needed any reminder of why I was here, Kyoko's death placard now stood directly to my left, rather than Kyoko herself. The Ultimate Detective, one of our strongest allies in these Class Trials, was now gone. I, myself, could have been killed as well, but as much as I hated to admit it, that was not the important part of this Trial.

Hiyoko, Toko/Jack Syo, Sakura, and myself were the only remaining girls. Rantaro, Korekiyo, and Rantaro were the last three guys standing. One of us killed Kyoko, and now, it was time to figure it out.

But before anyone could speak, Monorakun addressed us first.

"Before we answer the question of who reunited Kyoko with her loving, doting father, I must inform you of something. A changing of the stakes, if you will."

No one responded, though I could read the same question in everyone's eyes.

Monorakun continued. "Obviously, if you're wrong here, you all die and the Blackened walks free. However...If you flush out the Blackened, I'm not opening up the stairs to the Roof to everyone. That seems pointless to me, unless you all want to jump to your deaths together."

Several of us shook our heads silently, but still, no one spoke.

"Instead, I will hold a Graduation ceremony for ALL remaining students, tomorrow at 6pm. No exceptions, no tricks, no nonsense. You will all graduate, then you will get out of my school. Deal?"

"Hell yeah! These three guys just don't cut it for me, if ya know what I mean!" Jack Syo loudly exclaimed.

"I, too, accept your terms," Sakura agreed.

"I have no reason to object to this, either," I responded, as well.

"Great! Not that you had a choice anyway, but glad to see we're in agreement here. Now, the final Class Trial awaits. Who killed Kyoko? Get to it!" Monorakun announced, then sat back in his chair.

A thought crossed my mind. "Should we not also look into who drugged me unconscious, as well?"

Monorakun scoffed. "You're still alive, aren't you? Yeah? Then who gives a shit."

I was insulted, but Rantaro spoke up quickly. "Shishano has a point. Her attack, and Kyoko's murder, could be tied together."

So, ignoring Monorakun, we decided to examine the events of my attack first.

I recalled the events of my attack; working out alone, the lights going out, fighting with an unseen attacker, being knocked to the ground, and being rendered unconscious with something strapped to my face.

"Honestly, I can't imagine having to endure something like that, fighting for your life in the dark, when you can't see who you're fighting against," Rantaro commented, in awe.

Jack, however, scoffed. "You actually had your weapons knocked out of BOTH hands? Amateur!"

I smiled at Jack. "A pity we have no time for tea, Jack. At least it would help you keep your comments to yourself."

"Enough, you two," Sakura interjected. "Whoever attacked you must either be skilled in combat, or very familiar with you. Do you have any ideas who it could have been, Shishano?"

I thought to myself for a moment. "Whoever it was, they were definitely taller than me, which does not narrow it down much at all. If I had to guess, and I mean no disrespect to anyone here, but I would guess either Nekomaru, Korekiyo, or Sakura. Jack would have been far too noisy. Hiyoko and Toko could not have overpowered me like I was. Rantaro..." I thought a bit harder on Rantaro, then shook my head. "Rantaro seems like a dark horse in my attack. I cannot fully rule him out, but I have a hard time believing he attacked me, either."