Inescapable Despair (Song of Despair AU)

Chapter 4: Class Trial

Orochi took his place at his podium in the now familiar trial room. Looking around, he saw how small their class had become, and even if he wasn't the friendliest of the bunch, he couldn't stand that so many of his classmates were dying.

"You all know how this goes. Go ahead and start." Monokuma said with a laugh, seated in his throne.

Orochi decided to start after a few moments of silence. "So... we know someone poisoned Satchiko."

"That's just what Kaiya said." Tomi stated, tilting his head. "You're gonna just take her word for it?"

"Why the fuck would she lie?" Natsumi demanded harshly, "She loved Satchiko!"

Tomi smirked a bit. "That's what we think. She could be an evil liar who murdered her own girlfriend~."

"W-what?!" Kaiya looked shocked, and wiped some more tears off her face. "I-I did love her! I'll never stop loving her! T-to kill Satchiko... I'd never even th-think of it!"

"Oh look, she's getting all worked up about it. Must mean something." Tomi laughed a bit.

"Y'know Tomi, you're a huge piece of shit when Jikkō isn't around to control you." Haru said, glaring at him. "Kaiya's a kind girl, she'd never do anything close to that. You on the other hand are much more likely to."

Tomi snickered. "I was just kidding~ you guys are so lame."

"A murder trial is no place to joke around." Kazuki now spoke, looking around at everyone. "Does anyone have any clues? Extra information?"

"It didn't look like Satchiko had her own food last night." Akio pointed out, "I think she ate before everyone. She was playing with the cat mostly."

Kaiya timidly spoke up, "She ate some of my food... but I stayed at the table the whole time..."

"I guess that does make you suspicious..." Willow muttered, stroking her snake's scales. "But where would anyone get poison?"

"The weapon store maybe." Tomi shrugged, "Or some place in the mall or kitchen. There's poisons all around if you know where to look."

"Since you know so much about it, you probably did it!" Natsumi exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger.

"You've got that wrong~!" Tomi laughed a bit. "Wouldn't I be holding back information if I killed her? It'd be so stupid to make myself suspicious."

"Stop ruining my dreams with logic!" Natsumi cried.

"How about we just ask Kaiya?" Kazuki suggested, then looked to the still distressed girl. "Was there anyone acting suspicious last night?"

Kaiya thought about it for a moment. "Um... Ichiro came to talk to me, and sat with me for a bit... I didn't see him do anything though."

Kazuki appeared interested. "Were you watching him the whole time?"

Kaiya slowly shook her head. "I guess I was watching Satchiko play with Cinder for a bit..."

"I-I didn't do anything!" Ichiro said defensively. "I just... w-wanted to talk to her, that's all!"

"Was there anyone else that came up to you while you were eating?" Kazuki questioned Kaiya again, ignoring Ichiro.

Kaiya shook her head again. "Not besides Satchiko..."

"But wouldn't you be dead too if Ichiro poisoned your food...?" Willow asked, tilting her head.

"I...I didn't eat any after Ichiro left and just let Satchiko have it, now that I think about it..." Kaiya said quietly, then teared up again. "Th-that'd mean... it's my fault... I-I let her have my food, I-"

"It's not your fault." Kazuki interrupted. "You had no idea."

"How ya feeling now, Ichiro? We have no other suspects!" Tomi exclaimed.

Ichiro looked terrified, and had nothing to say for himself. "I... I didn't mean to... k-kill Satchiko... it was meant for Kaiya."

"Wait, what the fuck are you saying?!" Akio demanded, "You really did this?!"

"I just can't stand it here anymore! Kaiya looked easy to kill and I wanted to get out!" Ichiro gripped his podium in distress. "I hate being trapped here, especially now that Mai's dead!"

"Looks like you'll be joining her now, freak!" Natsumi yelled.

And so the votes were cast. Ichiro Nakahara was found guilty for the murder of Satchiko Kobayashi.

~*~

Ichiro was riding a bike on a racing track, and all seemed well. It was like a normal day of riding for him- before it started falling apart. Behind him the track was crumbling away and falling apart, catching up to him at an increasing pace. He rode faster, but ruined cars started falling down around him as well. It didn't take long before one fell on top of him, crushing him instantly, his body left to fall down into the dark abyss.

8 left.