Chapter Text
Chapter 4: The World at War — School Trial Part 1
I stepped into the trial room with the others and looked around. Just like last time, the scenery had changed. It now had a bright blue 70’s-style aesthetic.
Looking around, I also noticed the portraits of the deceased Chiyo and Nahoko. Chiyo had an X made of pink sparkles over her face, and Nahoko’s portrait had an X made of stock ticker print.
I took my place at my podium. The sooner I can put this horrible incident behind me, the better.
Monobear: Before we begin, allow me to go over the rules of a school trial. If you are the
mob, your goal is to uncover the culprit and vote for them as the killer. If you are the
culprit, your goal is to mislead the mob and have them vote for someone else.
[laughing pose] Win to survive, lose and you die! Upupupupu! Get crackin’, ya bastards!
Pablo: [authoritative pose] In my personal opinion, the security photographs are our best starting point. We must start there!
Okita: [raises eyebrow, points with rose] Heh? Didn’t we already look at those? Only Hitomi and somebody’s hand were ever on ‘em!
Wataru: [stern expression] I concur. Any more examination of these photos would be a pointless exercise in stroking the ego of a certain foreign despot.
Pablo: [makes fist, intense expression] I am not a despot, Wataru, so I would love to know who you are talking about…
Okita took another glance at Wataru .
Okita: [bites rose, lip bleeds] Y’know on second thought, maybe we didn’t look hard enough. [swishes rose] It never hurts to take a second pass, don’t you agree, mademoiselles?
Satoko: [scowls] Hey! C’est mon truc! ...But maybe we should take another run through the photos.
Kotori: [tilts head] Well, he is right. It can’t hurt.
Tamaki: [smiles] I also have no objections.
Okita: [swishes rose] Oh ho ho! It looks like the majority has ruled in favor! Back to the photos we go!
Pablo: [authoritative pose] Now then, let me just pass these around—
Monobear: [dismissive wave] Come now! What are we, cavemen?
Monobear pressed a button on his seat, and the image of the first photo appeared on the screen we would watch executions on. For a slight moment, I felt a twinge in my stomach. It was almost like we were going to watch Hitomi die.
Monobear: [laughing pose] I took the liberty of remotely downloading all the photos to my own computer network! I would’ve told you, but it was so much fun to watch you struggle, Pablo! Upupupupupupupu!
Pablo looked shocked, and more than a little angry.
Pablo: [authoritative pose] Hmph… I suppose this is better. [clears throat] So, back to the photograph…
I looked at the photograph. It was a simple image of Hitomi walking into the Security Room. I made sure to scan it thoroughly, but I couldn’t find any strange details.
Takito: If I had to guess, this photo shows…
(“Hitomi going to tamper with photos” / “Hitomi going to her security position” / “Hitomi going to confront the murderer” )
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Takito: Considering it’s the very first image for the day, and that it only shows Hitomi, I’m guessing that it’s Hitomi taking her place as guard of the Security Room.
Ryouta: [holds camera] That does make sense. This is before any m-murder started happening…
Takito: I can’t say that for certain, but it seems likely, yeah.
Satoko: [fiddles with pencil in hair] Can you say what the second photo is then?
Monobear changed the slides, and I took another look. It was Hitomi leaving the Security Room, holding some object behind her back.
Takito: Sorry, I don’t know.
Kotori: [tilts head] What about the third?
Tamaki: [frowns] I do not think so. That’s the one obscured by the hand, correct?
Monobear switched slides again, and Tamaki was correct. The killer had covered up anything interesting up with their hand.
Wataru: [stern expression] I made it clear earlier these photographs were a waste of time. We haven’t learned anything from them but the obvious.
Pablo: [makes fist, intense expression] I don’t remember finishing, Wataru. There are still two photographs remaining.
Okita: [swishes rose] Yeah, yeah! Let’s take a good look at all of ‘em before we start saying stuff like that!
Wataru: [stern expression] Have it your way, fancy lad.
Okita: [bites rose] Hah! I’ll take that as a complement!
After contemplating how great it was that Japan finally had its own Three Stooges, I saw Monobear switch slides to the fourth image, a blurry object hovering just outside the door to the Invention Room across from the Security Room. I thought about it for a moment, and realized it had to be…
(“A camera misfire” / “Moisture in the air” / “A thrown metallic object”)
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Takito: I’m pretty sure I know what this next one is. It’s a metal object thrown out of the Invention Room door.
Satoko: [raises eyebrow] Que?
Takito: Being thrown explains both the blur and how it appears to be floating. It also has to be metal, or the photo wouldn’t trigger in the first place.
Pablo: [authoritative pose] Hold on. If somebody threw an object out of that door, wouldn’t we have found it in the hallway.
Takito: I think I have a theory about that. Monobear, could you put up the last photo?
Monobear: [laughing pose] Sure thing!
Monobear switched slides to the final photo, a nearly empty image of the Security Room door, slightly ajar.
Takito: I think this image shows…
(“Bertrand’s Ghost” / “The thrown object hitting the security camera” / “The thrown object entering the Security Room” )
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Takito: The object thrown in the fourth picture triggered the fifth picture by entering the Security Room. By the time the camera could react, it was already inside, out of the camera’s view.
Pablo: [authoritative pose] Well, it makes some amount of sense. With that trajectory, it was headed toward the metal detector anyhow.
Tamaki: [frowns] Oh, Takito, I believe there is a major problem with your theory.
Takito: Huh?
Tamaki: [frowns] The door to the Security Room is somewhat heavy. If not held open, it will close by itself, and trying to throw anything against it will just cause the object to bounce right off.
Kotori: [neutral pose] I hate to say it, but she does have a point, Takito. We found the door shut.
Dang, she really does… But maybe the killer held the door open with something. It was open in the photo...
Takito: Fair enough, but what if the killer held the door open with this?
(“Stool” / “Glass Shards” / “Belt Buckle”)
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Takito: This is how it happened. The killer used the wooden stool Ryouta and I found to prop open the door some time in advance. Then, from the Invention Room, they threw the object at the stool, knocking it over into the Security Room. This let them get their throwing object into the Security Room without leaving the Invention Room and incriminating themselves on the camera.
Tamaki: [frowns] Hm. Well, yes, that is possible.
Pablo: [authoritative pose] That just brings my question up again. Why can’t we find the object?
Okita: [swishes rose] Yeah, if anything it would be even harder to hide now, since you’d have to go through a metal detector to get it!
I don’t remember finding any sort of specialized metal throwing balls, but if my theory is correct, that object would have had to be inside the Security Room, and we must have had found it. Think, Takito, think!
HANGMAN’S GAMBIT
LETKBBLECU
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Takito: There’s only one thing that makes sense as the thrown object. It has to be Hitomi’s belt buckle!
Ryouta: [holds camera] Wh-what?
Takito: Think about it. What’s the only metal thing we found in there that wasn’t there when the day started?
Pablo: [scratches chin] Hmm.. Well, when you put it that way, it seems obvious.
Wataru: [shakes head] There’s one thing you’ve forgotten to explain, however. [piercing glare] What was the point of this?
Takito: Huh?
Wataru: [piercing glare] You heard me, didn’t you? Why go through all this trouble to get a belt buckle into the Security Room?
Takito: I… uh… I honestly didn’t know.
Wataru: [piercing glare] Bounding forward into conclusions without considering their purpose... [slams podium] That isn’t how a proper citizen should act!
Takito: Hey, hey! I still know it had to have been done, and if we know that, there must be a reason, right, everyone?
I looked around. Everyone else was as confused as I was.
Takito: Uh, okay… Let’s just say why we think it might’ve happened, and maybe we’ll find something!
Please, please come through…
NON-STOP DEBATE
Evidence Bullets: “Blood in Security Room”, “Gift Shop Vandalism”, “Mesh Under Hitomi”, “Monobear File”, “Blurry Object Photographs”
Pablo: [scratches chin] Do you know anything, Satoko? You’ve always got some sort of comment.
Satoko: [scowls] Don’t look at me for this stuff!
Tamaki: [frowns] Oh, that’s unfortunate. I thought you would’ve had some sort of illuminating language based insight. [smiles] If you are asking me, this was an attempt to destroy the computer that missed.
Okita: [bites rose, smirks] Nah, that’s ridiculous. Nobody could aim that well. I bet they were testing, for when they were just gonna get rid of the murder weapon by throwing it in there, but couldn’t ‘cause they actually hit the stool on their dry run.
Wataru: [raises eyebrow] At this point, I wouldn’t rule out this belt business being a ruse to lead us in the wrong direction…
Ryouta: [holds camera] I d-don’t know… It seems like a lot of effort for a ruse. Though, maybe… They w-wanted to hide the crime scene?
Okita: [bites rose, smirks] Can’t say they did a good job of that, can ya?
Kotori: [tilts head] It’s a long shot, but maybe there’s some evidence that ties the belt buckle being in the Invention Room to a specific culprit. What do you think, Takito?
Takito: I’m thinking… I’m thinking…
DEBATE ENDS, SOLUTION BELOW
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E1, T4
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Takito: I CONCUR! Ryouta, I think you may be onto something. Remember the blood you sniffed out in the Security Room?
Ryouta: [drops smoke bomb, appears as Kibogaman, heroic pose] Of course I do! HIYA!
Takito: I think… someone was trying to draw attention to this room. I think they wanted to make us believe it was the scene of the crime, and that blood was part of it.
Ryouta: [looks to the side, touches fingertips together] Huh? Are you saying I was, erm, f-fooled? And wait, why couldn’t the Security Room be the actual scene of this heinous act against Hitomi?
Takito: Nobody was fooled, because nobody bought the Security Room as the crime scene. As for your second question…
(“Monobear File”/”Wataru’s Lighter”/ “Smoke Damaged Ceiling”/ “Gift Shop Vandalism”)
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Takito: It’s really simple. The Monobear File says without a doubt she died due to a fire, and the only place we found fire was in the Invention Room.
Satoko: [fiddles with pencil in hair] ¿Estàs segur? I mean, whoever did this spent all this effort on a trick so bad, nobody even remotely fell for it.
Pablo: [authoritative pose] Yes. You would certainly think, if all this true, the killer might have tried to say the Security Room was the scene earlier on.
Takito: Dang… They both have good points, but I don’t know what else this throwing of the belt buckle could mean. Well, uh…
Okita: QUIT SCREWING AROUND!
CROSS SWORDS IMMINENT
Evidence Blades: “Photograph 1”, “Photograph 2”, “Photograph 3”, “Photograph 4”, “Photograph 5”, “Belt Buckle”, “Blood in Security Room”
Okita: [points with rose] You should really leave that to me, ohoho. [sniffs rose]
Takito: Do you have a point, Okita?
Okita: [bites rose, smirks] Of course I do, monsieur. Your thinking of the event is too narrow.
Takito: Huh?
Okita: [points with rose] What if the murder ‘started’ in the Security Room, and ‘finished’ in the Invention Room?
Takito: What do you mean? Are you saying she was half burned alive in there?
Okita: [swishes rose] No, no, no. Hitomi was attacked in the Security Room and left unconscious, but then was brought over to the Invention Room to be burned.
Takito: Wait… What about the photographs? The last time we see Hitomi leave the Security Room, she’s alive and well!
Okita: [bites rose, smirks] That’s easy, friendo! She went back in after that photo was taken.
Takito: Ok, but that’s also wrong. Why aren’t there photos of this?
Okita: [bites rose, smirks] Also easy! The killer destroyed the camera pointed at the Security Room!
Okita’s obviously full of shit, but I don’t think anyone checked to make sure that camera was still functioning… I’ll have to disprove him another way.
CROSS SWORDS ENDS, SOLUTION BELOW
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E5, T1
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Takito: I’LL CUT THAT CLAIM TO PIECES! That’s impossible, Okita, and you should know.
Okita: [bites rose, lip bleeds] Uh-oh.
Takito: If the camera pointed at the Security Room was destroyed right after Hitomi left, why does our fifth photograph even exist?
Okita: [bites rose, lip bleeds] Yeah, I, uh, realized that myself about 30 seconds ago.
Wataru: [solemn expression] But suppose Okita was wrong about the camera. What is stopping the start of the murder from happening in the Security Room?
Takito: The camera, remember? If Hitomi had her belt buckle on when she still walked in—
Wataru: [motions to be silent] If? You presume too much. You will never fulfill your role as a good citizen this way.
Takito: I don’t know if it’s such a bad assumption. I mean, we know the room where Hitomi’s belt buckle was removed couldn’t have been....
(“Political Hall”/”Invention Room”/”Security Room”)
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Takito: So if it couldn’t have been in the Security Room, and you’re presuming Hitomi was attacked in there, she couldn’t have removed it anyway but willingly. Came you come up with a reason why she would do that?
Wataru: [stern expression] ...No. Carry on.
Takito: Honestly, I do think Okita may be onto something. Maybe the killer wasn’t trying to falsely present the Security Room as the murder scene, but the place where Hitomi was first attacked.
Tamaki: [smiles] If you hadn’t fallen for their trap, Okita, we would’ve never found out. Thank you very much.
Okita: [bites rose, lip bleeds] Heh, heh… I’m flattered.
Pablo: [scratches chin] This… doesn’t get us much anywhere, though. Let me choose someone else to change the subject, Takito [closes eyes, spins around, then points] You there, give us a new topic of discussion!
Takito: You’re pointing at me...
Pablo: [authoritative pose] Of course I am! You’re quite valuable at these class trials, are you not?
Takito: Well, we really should establish the murder weapon…
Pablo: [authoritative pose] Of course, of course! Everybody! [strikes pose] Tell me what you think the murder weapon is!
NONSTOP DEBATE
Evidence Bullets: “Photo #1”, “Photo #2”, “Photo #3”, “Photo #4”, “Photo #5”
Okita: [bites rose, smug grin] This is easy peasy! The murder weapon had to be the thing that set Hitomi on fire, and what’s the only thing that can set things on fire we know?
Kotori: [tilts head] ...Did you find a box of matches earlier?
Okita: [bites rose, lip bleeds] No, no! It’s Wataru’s lighter, dammit!
Tamaki: [frowns] Oh dear. Wataru, do you have anything to say for yourself?
Wataru: [stern expression] My lighter was taken from me again. And using it as the murder weapon would’ve been ...ill-advised.
Takito: Huh?
Wataru: [stern expression] The lighter’s chassis is metal. It would be impossible to smuggle it into the scene of the crime without being photographed. There was no good opportunity to get the lighter inside, so we can safely discount it.
Pablo: [scratches chin] I see… So, are there other possibilities for the murder weapon.
Tamaki: [smiles] I’m glad you asked. Takito and I can verify the existence of vandalism in the Gift Shop, leaving open access to a variety of flint-like stones. Some of these could have been the murder weapon.
Satoko: [fiddles with pencil in hair] It seems finicky, but I guess it could’ve worked. It’d still be a pretty big gamble though. How would you know which ones the metal detector wouldn’t notice?
Tamaki: [frowns] That is a concern, but there must have been a way to tell without setting off the cameras. That’s the only way conceivable this murder could’ve happened.
DEBATE ENDS, SOLUTION BELOW
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E3, T3
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Takito: YOU’VE GOT THAT WRONG! There’s a very good opportunity for a metal lighter to be smuggled into the Invention Room. Look at the third photograph again.
Wataru: [raises eyebrow] Hm? Oh…
Takito: We don’t know who or what went into the Invention Room at this time, because someone is obscuring the door with their hand. So, someone could’ve very well taken the lighter inside right then!
Wataru: [stern expression] …Fine. I rest my case. I just wanted to see Okita squirm for betraying me.
Okita: [points with rose] Hey! There are no sides in a class trial!
Wataru: [serious expression] Oh, is that how it is? You believe you don’t need allies? [makes fist] Answer this, then! Do you think it would’ve been possible to create that large of a fire with my puny lighter alone?
Okita: [bites rose, lip bleeds] Well if you’re askin’ that, I going to have to say no…
Pablo: [authoritative pose] I would kind of prefer a more definitive answer. Takito?
Why is it always me?
Takito: The lighter couldn’t have started the fire by itself, and here’s why.
(“Wataru’s Lighter”/”Monobear File”/”Hitomi’s Face”)
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Takito: The Monobear File clearly says the killer used a liquid accelerant. So, the killer must have used something else in addition to the lighter.
Wataru: [crosses arms] Just as I said.
Pablo: [scratches chin] Hold on… I don’t know of any liquid accelerant in the premises. [authoritative pose] No gasoline, no lighter fluid…
Ryouta: [points energetically] Wait! Lighter fluid! Was the lighter emptied before it was used?
Kotori: [tilts head] I don’t think it would work after that.
Wataru: [crosses arms] Besides, my lighter doesn’t hold enough fuel to cover a person.
Takito: If the accelerant were especially weak, do you think there might’ve been another thing to help the fire get to size?
Wataru: [solemn expression] I don’t know. I may be a fire expert, and a proud example to my community, but I cannot tell you what happens behind closed doors.
Dammit. Is there something I remember that could’ve been used for tinder?
LOGICAL DIVE
What was found under Hitomi?
(“Fiber Mesh”/”Wataru’s Lighter”/ “Glass Shards” )
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What was missing from the crime scene?
(“Original Car”/ “Kibogaman Action Figures” / “Shag Carpet”)
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Where did the Fiber Mesh come from?
(“Tearing apart the Shag Carpet”/”Shredding the Shag Carpet”/”Burning the Shag Carpet”/”Bleaching the Shag Carpet”)
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Takito: THAT’S IT! Shag carpets have plenty of loose, dry threads that would burn easily. If the killer poured their liquid accelerant onto the carpet, they could’ve definitely created a fire large enough to kill Hitomi.
Wataru: [crosses arms] Fair enough. That would’ve worked as tinder. [muttering] Ugh… I knew something bad would’ve come from such an eyesore…
Tamaki: [frowns] Hold on, now, Takito. Do you have any proof of this?
Kotori: [tilts head] Oh, that’s easy. Takito and I found a white mesh underneath Hitomi’s body. If you really think about what where it could’ve come from, and what wasn’t at the crime scene, the only answer’s that the white mesh was the bottom binding of carpet.
Tamaki: [frowns] It still seems like quite a leap… But as I cannot disprove it, I’ll refrain from any objections for now.
Kotori looked back at me, and nodded, as if to say “We’re onto her!”.
Pablo: [scratches chin] I understand that this carpet was flammable. I even thought it should be confiscated as a fire hazard when I first saw it. But how exactly do you think it was used here?
Ryouta: [heroic pose] Wonderful question! [looks to the side, touches fingertips together] I d-don’t really know how it was used. Other th-than as tinder, I mean.
Kotori: [grins] Takito and I examined the mesh. We can explain everything.
Takito: Well, she can explain everything. I just figured this out myself…
NONSTOP DEBATE
Evidence Bullets: “Wataru’s Lighter”, “Gift Shop Vandalism”, “Monobear File”, “Fiber Mesh”, “Hitomi’s Belts”, “Hitomi’s Face”
Kotori: [neutral expression] When we found Hitomi, there were two pieces of mesh lying underneath her.
Okita: [points with rose] Aha! So it couldn’t have been the carpet, then! There was only one of those!
Kotori: [shakes head] No, no. The carpet was burned apart.
Satoko: [furrows brow] Slow down a minute. I thought you said the binding didn’t burn!
Kotori: [neutral expression] Well, it did, but only in the areas on top of Hitomi. The carpet was wrapped around Hitomi, such that the ends were held together under the weight of Hitomi’s body.
Wataru: [crosses arms] And pressed under her body, those ends were protected from the fire, and failed to burn.
Kotori: [grins] Exactly! This explains why the edges facing away from Hitomi were rough, but the edges on the inside were clean and straight.
It’s a compelling theory…
Pablo: [authoritative pose] So, then, you believe that this ‘accelerant’ in the Monobear File was sprinkled on the topside of the carpet, and it was burned there?
Kotori: [neutral expression] Yes, that’s my theory.
Pablo: [authoritative pose] Here’s my question: How did the killer not burn themselves?
Kotori: [tilts head] What do you mean?
Pablo: [authoritative pose] If the killer tried to use a lighter or a flint to ignite a shag carpet… Especially one with something like gasoline on it… Wouldn’t they burn their hand, even just a little bit? The killer must have burned their hand, and yet, everyone’s hands are clean.
Kotori: [sulks] Hm… I can’t answer that one. Maybe they used some sort of device?
DEBATE ENDS, SOLUTION BELOW
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E5, T6
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Takito: YOU’VE GOT THAT WRONG! I figured it out! I know why that belt was there!
Pablo: [scratches chin] Huh? Why am I wrong?
Takito: When Kotori and I were examining the body, we found three belts. Two of them were tied around Hitomi, but the third was different.
[flashback to Hitomi’s body]
The third belt was lying perpendicular to Hitomi. Despite being farther away, every part of the third belt seemed just as burnt as the other two, and equally burnt all over.
[return to Trial Room]
Takito: Then, when you said you didn’t think the killer could’ve directly burned the carpet, I realized—
Pablo: [wide smile] That the third belt was acting like a fuse! Brilliant thinking, Takito!
Takito: Yeah, that’s what I was gonna say. You sure said it first.
Ryouta: [points dramatically] Aha! So the accelerant was used on the carpet and the fuse belt in order to start the fire!
Satoko: [fiddles with pencil in hair] Une nuk e di… I don’t think belts are all that flammable.
Wataru: [solemn expression] I’ve used leather fuses sometimes before. They are effective, but only if you have put the appropriate effort into developing a good citizen’s patience. They last a very long time.
Tamaki: [neutral expression] Perhaps less with the accelerant?
Wataru: [solemn expression] ...Perhaps.
Okita: [twirling rose] Hey, didn’t you mention two other belts, what were those about?
Takito: Well, now that I think about it, they could’ve only been used for one thing…
(“Restraining Hitomi”/”Choking Hitomi”/”Burning Hitomi”)
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Takito: The belts were around her arms. There’s no way she was naturally wearing them like that, they must have been to keep her arms restrained and close to her chest.
Okita: [tilts head, bites rose] Heh? What do you mean restrained? Hitomi would never let someone just tie her up like that.
Kotori: [tilts head] Even in her weakened state, I think she would’ve been able to wriggle free. The belts didn’t look too tight.
Takito: They’re right. Well, if that’s the case, that tells us something else…
HANGMAN’S GAMBIT
IOOUUCCNNSS
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20: INUCOSICUSUOICSNOCNUNUSCIOUNSUO
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Takito: I don’t think Hitomi was conscious at the time she was restrained. The killer only did it to make sure she could be rolled up in the shag carpet.
Okita: [tilts head, bites rose] So she was knocked out?
Takito: Looks like it, yeah.
Okita: [points with rose] Then, then… This killer must have had considerable strength, non?
Takito: Okita, what are you doing?
Okita: [points with rose] There is no other option! The killer must be Wataru!
Uh-oh.