After Twilight Comes the Dawn
"W-what did you just say...?"
"Kei...! What do you mean...!"
"You... you killed Ikusaba...?"
The courtroom erupted into chaos at Kei's bombshell. The one who had dropped it, however, simply stood there in silence, his eyes locked on Monokuma.
"...Puhuhu. That's pretty bold of you...? But... I haven't even explained the rules yet...?"
"....."
"Well... I suppose I ought to give you the short version of how a Class Trial works...? The result is decided by your votes, and... hmm, what else..."
Monokuma launched into his explanation in that same shameless, singsong voice, but not a single person was listening. Every pair of eyes in the room was fixed on Kei, silently begging for the words he had just spoken to be nothing more than a cruel, tasteless joke.
"Um... hello...? Is anybody even paying attention to me...? Anyway! If you correctly identify the blackened, only the blackened gets executed. But if you point the finger at the wrong person... everyone dies! You all look like you've got a lot to say, so let's get this show on the road!"
The instant Monokuma finished, Kei declared it again.
"We don't need a Class Trial. I confessed. I am the culprit, and that is the undeniable truth. So just skip ahead to the vote—"
"That's wrong...!"
Kei's voice had been perfectly even. Naegi's, cutting across it, was anything but.
"What is it, Naegi? Stop wasting time and let's get to the vote."
"Even if we set every other question aside — if you really were the culprit, why would you confess the second this trial started? No denial. No excuse. Nothing. Why?"
"Because it was an accident."
"...What?"
"That video you all saw. I'll tell you what happened after it cut off. Ikusaba kept choking me. She didn't stop. I blacked out."
"....."
"She thought I was dead. And to keep from being executed, she needed to hide the body. So while the rest of you were gone, she carefully picked me up and started heading for the fifth floor."
"...She went to the fifth floor? Just like that?"
"Well, Ikusaba was the mastermind either way. She probably asked Enoshima — her partner — to unlock the fifth floor for a little while so she could stash me somewhere."
"But—"
"I'm not finished. Once she got to the botanical garden on the fifth floor, Ikusaba started digging a hole to bury my body."
"Hold on. There's a contradiction in what you just said."
Kirigiri cut in. Kei's brow twitched, but the calm settled back over his face almost at once.
"...And what contradiction would that be, Kirigiri?"
"You said it yourself. You were unconscious. Ikusaba had knocked you out. So how do you know all of this in such vivid detail — as if you'd watched it with your own two eyes?"
"...The truth is, I came to while she was carrying me up to the fifth floor."
"And you expect us to believe that the Ultimate Soldier didn't notice whether the person on her back was conscious or not? That she didn't even bother to make sure you were dead?"
"...Ikusaba was in a terrible state at the time. Mentally unstable — I don't know why — and physically at her absolute worst. It's not impossible, is it?"
"....."
"Satisfied, Kirigiri? Then I'll continue."
Kei shot her a look that was something less than pleased. Kirigiri stared back, her eyes burning. In the end he sighed, turned his gaze to the others, and pressed on.
"Ikusaba was so focused on digging that she never noticed me coming up behind her with a rock in my hand. I put everything I had into that swing. She went down. Then I saw the kitchen knife she'd been carrying, and all I could feel was the need to pay back the mastermind who had put us through all of this. So I stabbed her. I made sure."
"....."
"Look. She attacked me first, and I told myself I was killing the mastermind. But that doesn't change the fact that I took a life. I deserve to die for it. So can we please just vote now?"
Silence settled over the students. In the middle of it, Kei flicked a glance at Monokuma. The bear caught the look and spoke in a distinctly sour voice.
"This is... not the picture I wanted... I was hoping for betrayal, schemes, a little tension in the air... and instead I get a confession...? Well, fine... let's start the vo—"
"It's all garbage."
"Puhuhu?"
"Your testimony is a bundle of contradictions."
Monokuma had been about to adjourn the trial in that same dejected tone when Togami cut in, his eyes locked on Kei.
"Is this your plan? It's repulsive. Did you honestly believe this was the best you could do?"
"...What are you talking about, Togami?"
"There is a great deal I would like to tear apart, but I will confine myself to the essentials. First: you claim you struck Ikusaba with a rock, then stabbed her with a knife. And yet the crime scene had a knife — and no rock. Where did the rock go?"
"...I buried it. Of course you couldn't find it—"
Kirigiri, who had been listening in silence, could not hold back any longer.
"You hid the rock but left the knife in plain sight? And you were planning to confess all along — so why hide a weapon in the first place?"
"...I had just committed an impulsive murder. I was in shock. That's why I made those obvious mistakes. It wasn't a planned killing. Of course there are sloppy details."
"That is not the only thing that does not add up. Even if we grant that you stabbed Ikusaba to death — what about the explosion that followed?"
"I don't know."
"...What?"
"I said I don't know."
"You—! That doesn't even—"
"I genuinely don't know. After I stabbed her, the guilt hit me so hard I panicked and ran straight out of the botanical garden. Monokuma probably did something for his own amusement. Isn't that right, Monokuma?"
"Hmm... I suppose I might have...?"
"Then the culprit is you, Monokuma! No — Enoshima!"
"Puhuhuhu... I'll have you know I'm a good little bear who would never commit murder. Not here, at least."
"...And there is another problem. When you heard the explosion, you came running in here in a panic and asked what on earth had happened. If you had already done the deed and were ready to confess out of guilt — why react like that?"
"....."
"As I thought. Your story is riddled with holes from top to bottom. I do not know what you are trying to accomplish, but—"
"Then who is the culprit, if not Kei?"
"...What?"
Celeste's voice cut through the room, cold and sudden. She looked from Togami to Kirigiri, her expression carved from ice.
"If it is not Kei, then who exactly do you propose it could be?"
"That is—"
"Every one of us has a perfect alibi. The victim is Mukuro Ikusaba. That leaves Kei. Does it not?"
"...The mastermind."
"I beg your pardon?"
"The culprit is the mastermind."
Kirigiri's words sent a ripple through the students.
"What do you mean—"
"Time's up!!"
Naegi had been about to seize on Kirigiri's point, his eyes sharp — but Monokuma suddenly declared the trial over.
"Wait! Hold on!! We have a new argument—!"
"I already told you I didn't kill anyone! I'm bored of listening to this! Stop dragging it out and let's vote already...!"
The students stared, thrown by the sudden turn. Kirigiri's voice rang out over them.
"Enoshima!! Count votes against you as valid!!!"
"Puhuhu... How many times do I have to tell you I'm Monokuma...? And the culprit is one of you! Don't make me say it twice...? Puhuhuhuhuhu!"
"This is... this isn't right...! It's too forced... Every single thing that's happened has been designed to pin this on Kei...!"
"Well then... voting time...!"
"...I abstain."
"Ki... Kirigiri...?"
"I will not recognize a Class Trial this sloppy. I am not voting for anyone."
"I... I won't either...! If none of us vote, then—"
"Puhuhu... A student who refuses to vote... also gets executed, you know...?"
"That's—!"
Kirigiri glared at Monokuma as if she could kill him with her eyes alone. The bear watched her with obvious delight — and then, all at once, burst out laughing.
"Wahahahaha! Kirigiri! That face is priceless! I didn't know you could look that despairing!"
"....."
"...All right. How about I let you vote for me...?"
"...What?"
"But not for free... There has to be a condition. Let's tweak the voting rules a little, shall we?"
"Tweak the voting rules...?"
"Right now the two prime suspects are Kei and me — a kind, innocent bear who has never murdered anyone. So... everyone except Kei and me votes for one of the two of us...!"
"There's no need for that. Just add yourself to the ballot—"
"Honestly, would it kill you to listen to a person — no, a bear — until the end? I'll let you vote for me. In exchange, there will be a penalty!"
"A penalty...?"
"That's right! If every last one of you — excluding Kei and me — votes for me as the culprit, I'll accept those votes. But... if even a single vote goes to Kei... the result will automatically treat Kei as the culprit! Well? Isn't that fun?"
"...That's completely stacked against us!"
"Puhuhuhu... If you want to vote against the headmaster, you'd better be ready to put that much on the line...? And I'm doing this to save you, you know! If I get chosen as the culprit... that's the wrong answer, which means you all get executed...? Puhuhuhuhu!"
Silence fell over the students once more. They wanted to believe in Kei. At the same time, they had heard him name himself the culprit, and that confession had shaken them. And underneath it all sat the crushing weight of what would happen if Monokuma was not the killer after all. They could not move. They could not choose.
Then, just as their minds were about to buckle under the strain, Kyoko Kirigiri spoke — quietly.
"...Please."
"...Kirigiri?"
"I'm begging you... Choose Monokuma... Please..."
The raw desperation in her voice made their eyes waver.
"...I mean, even so..."
"Please... The culprit is Monokuma...! You can feel it too, can't you...? This whole case is nothing but contradictions...!"
"...Nngh..."
Naegi watched their resolve begin to crack and spoke carefully, choosing every word.
"Everyone's lives are on the line. I can't force anyone. But... I can ask. Will you vote for Monokuma?"
He bowed his head. One by one, the faces around him hardened into decision.
"I'll follow whatever you all choose."
Kei's last words were short and heavy. With them, every student made their choice.
"Puhuhuhu... Then... let the voting begin...!"
The vote was in. Every student watched the roulette spin, their faces drawn tight with tension.
Only two faces stared back from the wheel: Kei's, and Monokuma's.
The wheel began to slow. Monokuma leaned his cheek on one paw in the judge's seat, swinging his legs, his face bright with anticipation. Kei watched the roulette from his podium, his expression unreadable.
"...I believe in you, Kei."
"...So do I."
"Don't you dare flinch, you idiot!! We all know you're not the killer!! Monokuma threatened you, right?"
"Our teacher, a murderer... There's no way that's true."
"I... I believe in you, Kei."
"Where d'you think you're goin' without even lettin' me read your fortune? Far as my crystals can see, you ain't fated to die here."
"...To place one's trust in a heart as strong as yours is also the duty of a warrior."
"...Hmph. If you are the culprit, you'd best be prepared."
The wheel had slowed enough that Kei's portrait and Monokuma's were clearly visible, ticking past one after the other. And then, at last, it chose who would die.
"Puhuhuhuhuhuhu!! That's correct!! You got the culprit!!! Puhuhuhuhuhu...! I don't know who it was, but a single vote just saved all of you! Puhuhuhu..."
"Ah... ah....."
The roulette had stopped on Kei.
I looked around at their faces. Every one of them was carved with despair. Celeste had bitten down on her lip so hard it was bleeding.
I didn't think I'd end up using the wish like this.
I felt bad for her. But back at the park, when no one else could hear, I had used my wish to tell her to vote for me as the culprit.
Enoshima had convened this trial for one reason: to frame me. That meant the "correct" answer had already been decided. If I was not named the culprit, everyone else would die.
So I had given her that order as insurance, figuring she would do everything in her power to pin it on me. I had not expected it to become the single most important move of the entire trial.
From her perspective, she had not had a choice. The others could still cling to the hope that Monokuma was the killer. She could not. Even if the mastermind really was the culprit, the terms of our bet meant she would be executed alongside me. That fear had done the rest.
"Kei... Kei, why...?"
"This can't be happening... It can't... It can't..."
"You..."
Their reactions hurt more than I wanted to admit. But in a little while, every one of those faces would change. They would fill with hope. I had asked Fujisaki about Alter Ego in secret earlier, and the quiet smile I had gotten in return could only mean one thing: the plan had worked.
Right before the execution, Alter Ego would intervene. Whether it halted the sequence or dropped me into the garbage dump, I would survive. The others' fury would explode. Enoshima would be driven into a corner.
That was when I would take back my confession and stand with everyone again. Backed against the wall, Enoshima would have no choice but to open the sixth chapter of the game — the Class Trial meant to end everything.
There, I would fight her one last time. And then I would walk out of this academy with every student who had survived. A happy ending. For all of us.
"Kei... don't worry. It's going to be okay..."
Fujisaki slipped close and whispered it. I was so proud of that kid I could only murmur back.
"Yeah... I kno—"
"Puhuhu? What are you two whispering about?"
"...None of your business. How about you just start the execution already?"
"Puhuhuhu... So composed, even with death staring you in the face... That's not like the Kei who jumps at every little thing. Don't tell me you've got an ace up your sleeve?"
"....."
"Hmm... That ace wouldn't happen to be Alter Ego, currently working very hard to infiltrate the school network, would it?"
...What?
"Puhuhu! That reaction says I nailed it! Planting a backup in the school network after faking your own destruction — cute idea... Shame, though. Someone burned me with that exact trick a few years back, so I had Enoshima prepare her own version of Alter Ego...!"
Wait. That changes everything.
"As we speak, the two Alter Egos are fighting for control of the network! Which means Fujisaki's Alter Ego has not seized the system yet!"
"W-wait... then... Kei is—!"
"That's right. There is no one left who can protect Kei in this execution... Puhuhuhu..."
Monokuma sneered down at me. I could feel the color draining from my face.
"What's wrong...? Feeling despair...?"
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Bound to a chair, I was being dragged slowly backward toward the hydraulic press. Behind me it slammed into the earth again and again, each impact a roar that shook the floor.
Up ahead, Monokuma was scrawling something on a chalkboard with that insufferable look on his face. As if I could see any of it. Death had already filled my eyes to the brim.
Saying goodbye to them had been the worst moment of my life. The second they saw my composure crack, they understood something had gone terribly wrong. By then it was already too late.
These were the same people who had refused to give up even when the ones they loved were staring down death. And now that it was me about to die, they had fallen into despair.
Everything had failed. I had never been worthy of saving them at all.
I had never thought I would see Kirigiri cry like that. I really was a hopeless person. If I had known we would part this way, I would have given her a gift. Just once.
All I felt now was sorry. Sorry to every one of them.
Because I had not been good enough.
Because I had sworn not to blindly trust the game's information — and then blindly trusted Alter Ego anyway.
Because I had decided to believe in everyone — and then tried to handle this alone, without asking a single one of them for help.
The sound was getting louder. Terror finally won, and I turned my head. They were all there, watching my execution with every kind of expression a human face could hold.
The guilt surged up so hard I tried to look away. And that was when my eyes met Kirigiri's.
Tears were running down her face. For a split second, a memory cut through everything else — a memory so happy I wished, in a moment like this, that it had never surfaced at all.
"...I'm sorry."
There was so much more I wanted to say. I had no time left, and no strength left to say it. That was all I managed. Kirigiri's head dropped. Tears slipped from my own eyes as I watched her.
The sound of death, close enough now to feel with my whole body.
I closed my eyes and quietly prepared myself for the end.
"Everyone... don't give up... all the way to the......"
I had felt the last moment coming and tried to leave them with something. But they were all staring somewhere else, their faces stunned.
I did not understand what was happening — and then a long iron rod came flying through the air and punched straight through the Monokuma standing in front of me, the one who had been just as startled as I was.
I looked toward where the rod had come from.
Mukuro Ikusaba — covered in wounds from head to toe — had kicked the door off its hinges and was sprinting toward me with everything she had left.
It seemed hope had not abandoned us just yet.