Inescapable Despair (Song of Despair AU)

Chapter 2: Class Trial

Everyone was standing in their places for the class trial, and Jirou was dreading what would come. He could read people easily, so he had a good idea of who the killer was already, but he didn't want to have to be the one to call them out.

"Now, start!" Monokuma exclaimed.

Jirou had just realized that the two people who would be good at leading the class trial along had both died, so for a moment no one spoke.

Kazuki let out a small sigh. "Okay, we know Jikkō was stabbed to death, that's a start."

"But who could sneak up on her like that? That girl could see you coming from a mile away!" Natsumi exclaimed.

"Tomi?" Momo suggested. "He was closest to her, he'd know any weaknesses she had."

Tomi laughed a bit, tilting his head. "You think... I killed her? Haha... no... I hope whoever did kill her gets the most long and painful execution."

"Tomi wouldn't do it..." Kazuki said with a sigh. "They were like siblings... besides, he found an important clue."

"Wait, he did?" Momo asked, "What is it?" 

"The murder weapon." Tomi simply responded. "It was a kitchen knife. So the killer had to go to the kitchen first."

"So whoever went to the kitchen is a suspect!" Satchiko exclaimed, then frowned. "Wait, it happened in the morning when everyone was going in and out of the kitchen. Well this sucks."

Kazuki slowly shook his head. "All I was able to conclude is that Jikkō died a slow, painful death... nothing that would lead to the killer."

Haru then spoke, looking towards his boyfriend. "Jirou, did you find anything?"

Jirou frowned, not really wanting to say anything. "Um... maybe we can go over alibis first... so I can be sure."

Haru nodded. "Alright, well we were together."

"I was with Kaiya and Momo~" Satchiko said. "And we saw Katashi a little while before."

"I was with Willow, Ichiro, and Akio." Mai spoke up next.

"I was in my room." Orochi said with a shrug. "Guess I'll be a suspect now."

"Me too..." Kazuki sighed.

"I was in the dining room, but Momo, Kaiya, and Satchiko were there too." Natsumi said.

"I was looking for Jikkō..." Tomi muttered.

"So it's me, Tomi, Orochi, and Katashi that have no alibi." Kazuki stated.

Jirou took in a deep breath before talking. "I know it's not Tomi, the way he's acting now proves it. Kazuki and Orochi are acting normally, but Kazuki's acting a bit more mature, I don't think he did it though..." Jirou paused for a moment, before looking towards the magenta haired boy. "Katashi, for the past day or two you've been acting really strange... and not in a good way. I was going to ask you about it today, but..."

"S-so you're saying... I did it?" Katashi's eyes widened a bit.

"No way! That's crazy!" Natsumi exclaimed. "He's so pure, he wouldn't hurt a fly!"

Kaiya nodded. "Natsumi's right, Katashi's the sweetest guy I know."

"I-I'm sorry, normally I wouldn't even bring it up, but just because of all this..." Jirou muttered, staring down at the floor.

Haru addressed everybody. "Look, we have to listen to what Jirou's saying, he's the expert here. It's gonna be hard no matter who had to go, so we might as well make sure we're choosing the right person."

"Thanks Haru..." Jirou smiled at his boyfriend, filled with fuzzy feelings inside. He was so lucky to have him.

"Thinking about it now, it kinda makes sense..." Satchiko muttered. "When Katashi left this morning, he said he was gonna go to the arcade, and he was acting all weird..."

"Satchi, he's our friend! We know he'd never do something like that!" Kaiya exclaimed.

"Y-yeah, I wouldn't! I'm innocent!" Katashi exclaimed.

"I don't want it to be true..." Satchiko's blue eyes started watering as she looked up at her pianist friend. "It's not true, is it? Prove it's not true! Show us you're innocent!"

Katashi grew quiet, and after a moment, he twitched. His frown grew into a large grin, his eyes swirling with despair. "Haha... looks like I failed. Oh well."

"Katashi...? You're joking, right?" Natsumi looked shocked, recoiling.

Katashi shook his head. "Nope, I did it. Stupid girl never saw me coming. I overpowered her in seconds. That's the thing about assassins, they're fast and alert, but once you corner them..." Katashi started laughing. It started off as a low chuckle, but soon escalated into full on maniacal laughter.

"Whelp, he's insane." Mai pointed out. "You were right, Jirou... wow."

"You piece of shit!" Tomi yelled, and Jirou was kind of surprised. Tomi rarely swears. "Why the fuck did you kill her?! She didn't do anything to you!"

Katashi stopped laughing, facing Tomi. He cocked his head to the side, still smiling. "I can't further my career if I'm trapped in here, now can I? I'd fall behind being here any longer, and honestly my music is so much more important than all your lives."

"Seriously...?" Natsumi asked, sounding entirely broken. She looked like she was holding back tears.

"The only reason I didn't do it sooner was you, Natsumi. Too bad I'm gonna die before I can properly confess my feelings." Katashi shrugged.

"W-wait, what?" Natsumi's green eyes widened a bit. "Your... feelings?"

Katashi giggled. "Yup! I've been in love with you for a while now. Too bad we can never be together. It feels like we're always being ripped apart."

"Katashi..." Natsumi's tears were now flowing. "You really-"

"Just vote already! This is going on too long, you know who did it!" Monokuma exclaimed, and everyone had to do as he said.

They were right. Katashi Oshiro was the killer.

~*~

Katashi was in what looked like a music studio, with instruments all around. He was standing in the middle, and it started spinning. Instruments were now flying around the room, some hitting the boy, before a piano fell directly on top of him. He was dead almost instantly.

13 left.