『 ♧ Escape Artist ♧ 』『 RANMARU KAGEYAMA × DANGANRONPA V3 』

Chapter 3-8: Fall, Ranmaru Kageyama!

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"Wh– me!?"  Ranmaru yelled out in surprise.

"Yes, as mentioned before, Angie's killer had to have been a member of the Student Council... or Kokichi. Not only are you a member of the Student Council, but you would have had more access to Angie's schedule than anyone else."

"Hold on, Kiyo. Before we move on to Angie's murder, there's still one mystery from Tenko's murder we have to discuss. I believe it may also help us find Angie's killer." Ramaru couldn't help but smile in appreciation at Shuichi as he spoke up.

"The dried bloodstains under the floorboard. The reason they're relevant to both cases is that it wasn't there when Tenko was killed. It was there before the seance. This means that the only other person it could belong to... was Angie."

"Huh!? Why was Angie's blood at Tenko's murder!? Didn't she die in her lab!?" Kaito yelled out.

"Just because Angie's body was found there doesn't mean she was killed there." Maki said.

"Ah, well, if Angie wasn't killed in her lab, then that opens up a lot more possibilities. We assumed that since she died in her lab, only Student Council members could've killed her." Kokichi thought aloud.

"Meaning she didn't die in her lab, but most likely somewhere else on the fourth floor!" Ranmaru deduced.

"Bingo! In fact, I thought that was more likely since the beginning of the trial, so I went to any places I could think of that Angie may have gone, and checked all 3 empty rooms."

"Places she might very gone? But why did you check the empty rooms?" Himiko asked.

"Hm? Well, the empty rooms were the only places I could think of. Besides, I'm right, aren't I? Didn't Ranmaru say they went up there?" Kokichi replied, turning to Ranmaru expectantly.

"Y- yeah.. she needed more candles and knew the empty rooms had some.." Ranmaru sheepishly answered.

"Hmm... well now.." korekiyo started. "This may be a new revelation, but my accusation still stands. In fact, I believe this proves it more."

"What do you mean, Korekiyo?" Keebo asked warily, most people staring at him with suspicion now.

"Let's play into the idea that Angie did die outside of her lab. More so, the fourth floor empty rooms. Ranmaru remains the only person confirmed to be up there at the time. In fact, Angie had assigned him to take some salt from my lab, yes?"

"I—"

"Answer the question, Ranmaru."

"... yes.."

"And if Ranmaru was in my lab, would the possibility of him taking the katana used to murder her be probable, if not highly likely?" Korekiyo finished, holding up the to-do list Ranmaru had shown earlier.

"Well.. when you put it like that... I guess he does seem pretty suspicious." Tsumugi admitted, looking around to the others for opinions.

"B- but I would—"

"Ranmaru, I'm afraid the plea of 'I would never' will not hold up." Korekiyo interrupted.

"H- hold on! That's circum.. circursta.. whatever the word is! This doesn't prove he's guilty for sure!!" Kaito argued, with others backing him up."

"Hm, ok then. Let us narrow it down then, Keebo and Ranmaru. You noted in your investigation that there were faint blood splatters in the left empty room?" Korekiyo looked between the two with curiosity as he questioned them.