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The trial room feels uncomfortably small. The air is thick with Gonta's broken cries and sobs, voices that beg for proof and clarity, and Kaito's lilac eyes set on Shuichi in a silent plea. 'Save him.'
Gonta killed Miu. It's undeniable, and Shuichi doesn't know what to do. Saving Gonta would result in everyone else getting executed, but how could he do this? Betray both of them - Gonta and Kaito - the people he learned to love?
Monokuma produces a laptop, showing Alter Ego Gonta to them to hear the full story, since Gonta doesn't remember what happened inside the virtual world. Shuichi listens to his testimony and pauses. An idea sparks in the back of his mind, a rule Monokuma came up with himself. If he plays his cards right... This may be his last resort.
"Tell him, Shuichi!", Kaito tries. His voice cracks around the edges, and Shuichi feels like his heart sink. He hears the exhaustion and the fear in his words, his desperate clinging to Shuichi to save them. Shuichi grits his teeth. "Monokuma", he starts, taking in a shaky breath before he steadies himself to sound firm, "Gonta isn't the culprit."
"Huh?" Monokuma looks away from the laptop. "What are ya talkin' about?"
"I knew it!", Kaito calls out, "Tell him, Shuichi! Uh... Really?"
"Gonta isn't the culprit?", Gonta sniffles. His voice sounds weak and raw from crying. Shuichi digs his fingers into the edge of his podium. "Alter Ego Gonta killed virtual Iruma-san first. The real Iruma-san died after that, in the real world. Gonta never touched her. This case has two victims, but only one has been actively killed by hand."
Monokuma doesn't move. Shuichi feels his heart hammering heavy inside his chest. "Gonta is innocent. Alter Ego Gonta killed virtual world Iruma-san. They are not the same person. They do not share the same memories. You said it yourself! Only the first murder counts."
The silence stretches, and Monokuma seems to contemplate.
"Gonta doesn't understand", Gonta mumbles, "Did Gonta kill Iruma-san or not?"
Shuichi's eyes set on Kokichi. He returns his hard glare, before he shrugs. "Seems like Saihara-chan has it aaaaaall figured out", he lulls. Is he actually going to play along?
"So you're saying Alter Ego Gonta is the culprit", Monokuma muses, "Ya bastards really wanna live together with a killer?"
"He's not a killer!", Kaito yells, "Leave him alone!"
Gonta lowers his gaze. His shoulders pulled up, he can hardly keep his voice steady. "Gonta doesn't know what to believe, but Gonta trusts Saihara-kun to make the right choice."
"Shuichi is right! Gonta never touched Iruma! She died after her avatar got killed!"
Shuichi notes how raspy Kaito sounds by now. Watches him tilt his head to the side and cough into his elbow. He seems unsteady on his legs, but Shuichi does too. The trial was long and hard on everyone's nerves.
Monokuma shrugs. "Alright. Ya got me. If this is what ya want, I suppose it could get interesting."
The voting screen comes up, and there's a seperate option to vote Alter Ego Gonta now. The verdict rolls, landing on the AI. "Too bad. I've had such a nice execution planned! Well, whatever. Maybe he's going to kill again." Monokuma presses the red button, and the laptop gets dragged away.
Alter Ego Gonta pleads for his life as the laptop gets infected with a virus, tearing him into pixel shreds. Shuichi turns away. Gonta is holding his ears closed, shaking his head. "Gonta is so sorry!", he whines, "Other Gonta, Gonta is so sorry!"
The trial finally ends, and Kaito and Shuichi are over at Gonta's side in a heartbeat. Shuichi notes Kokichi out of the corner of his eye. His expression is blank, and he crosses his arms behind his head, leaving the trial room without a word. Dimly, Shuichi hears Tsumugi ask if Gonta is alright, but he can't hear her. He can't hear anyone but Gonta, still standing at his place, staring blankly at the screen after watching his virtual counterpart being executed.
"Gonta doesn't understand", he mumbles to himself, sucking in a sharp breath. Kaito presses himself against his side and pulls Gonta into a hug. "It's gonna be okay, big guy", he promises, "You're okay."
"Monokuma called Gonta a killer", Gonta responds, and Shuichi doesn't like how flat he sounds, "Is Gonta guilty?"
"Stop thinking about that for now", Shuichi tries and wraps both of his hands around Gonta's, "We're here. We don't think you're a killer. We won't let anything happen to you."
Kaito peeks past Gonta's shoulder. His eyes are sunken and he looks as exhausted as Shuichi feels. "Sorry what I said back there", he mumbles, "I was just... really scared that I, that we-"
"Lose Gonta", Shuichi supplies. Kaito nods weakly.
"I understand. I... I didn't want to do this either."
"Saihara-kun saved Gonta", he sobs, "Gonta doesn't know how to thank him." Shuichi tilts his head to the side and offers a small smile. "Just stay with us. Leave the rest to Momota-kun and me. We got you."
Gonta closes his eyes and nods. Shuichi knows they'll have to somehow deal with the situation at some point, because Gonta deserves to understand what happened.
But for now, they have to heal his shattered heart, because he doesn't think he can take the full truth right now.
"Let's head back", Kaito offers, "Wanna go to Shuichi's lab? I swear the coffee tastes ten times better in there!"
Gonta runs his sleeve over his eyes, before he sets his glasses back into place. "Gonta doesn't drink coffee."
"I'll make you a tea with honey, how does that sound?", Shuichi offers. And finally, Gonta seems to light up a little.
"Trust in Shuichi to save the day! That's my sidekick." Kaito signs him thumbs up, and Shuichi is glad he can keep himself positive. Even if it's a performance, Gonta needs stability right now. They still have each other. And the game is far from over.
Gonta is going to need all the strength he can get now, and they'll go from there. Shuichi can't believe he nearly had to vote him guilty. He doubts he's going to be this lucky next time.