-H-Huh?! Aki?! What do you mean?!
-Memopo, I’m sorry to say but that girl’s definitely the culprit, everything points to her killing the poor Shiroga.
-But, you didn’t even let me finish.
-No, please, just listen, I’m sure that you’ll understand sooner or later. But it makes sense: She’s definitely the culprit!
[REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN: START]
Hear me out, she’s definitely, without a doubt, the one that murdered the poor Shiroga.
She doesn’t seem to have an alibi other than running with our crew and she really tried to murder two other boys a few days ago.
Aand, if this just isn’t enough proof, she reacted very strangely for an “innocent person.”
I must say, you really need to joking, she’s definitely the culprit, everyone can see that!
Actually, this is very strange to me.
You guys didn’t give her a chance to explain, and she panicking because she’s being accused of a m-murder!
Even though I didn’t forgive her 100%, she doesn’t seem like the person that would brutally murder a friend.
Ugh, alright, then. You’re pretty persistent, I must say.
But it’s not worthy, believe me. She’s definitely someone who spend her childhood killing the neighborhood pets!
Hey, asshole, I can, uh, hear that! Don’t be a fucking dick!
What I’ve been trying to say is: She has everything to be the killer! Look, I’ll explain again:
She would grab the kitchen knife, walk towards the storeroom, do the thing, then run inside the black hallway, drop the knife at the Audio Room, and then join the others!
Everything in less than half an hour! It’s really simple and proves that she’s the killer!
I’LL MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT… DISAPPEAR!
-Actually, Aki, something’s wrong with your statement, just now!
-H-Huh?! Am I… really that stupid?! What’s wrong about my argument?!
-Well, you said that it would take less than half an hour, but… the Monobot File said that she died at exactly 10:20pm!
-And… what’s wrong about it, I may ask?
-Well… since I’ve been knocked out, I can’t say for sure, but… I’m almost certain that I left my dorm room at 10:05pm, got knocked out, and then after quite some time… you guys found me.
-And your point is…? I really don’t understand.
-Well… since you guys found me quite some time after I’ve been knocked out… I assume one hour or so, perhaps…? Then…
IT’S THE POWER OF MAGIC!
-Then the order of appearance doesn’t make sense!
-W-Whaaat?! Ms. Sakagara, are you sure?!
-I-I think so. Look, if she’s been killed at 10:20pm, with our information right now, we can safely assume that even the killer could get a solid alibi! Because then…
-Oh, Memopo, you’re a genius! – M-Makoto?! – Because then, the killer would have some time left before the actual discovery announcement!
-O-Oh… then… it’s no use? Alright, I’m so sorry for wasting our time in a situation like that, my students..!
-No, don’t say sorry, Ms. Nikada, you were only trying to help, and it was a good information.
-Yes, don’t blame yourself for trying to help us!
-See now, Teru?! I am innocent! I didn’t kill a girl, I would never kill a girl!
-T-That’s great! At least now everyone is a suspect again…
-…Oh. I am a suspect, just not a major one. I see.
-…Then… what should we do now..?
-…I… I don’t know? I can’t think about anything…
-M-Man… back to square one again?!
-I’m trying to think about something, it’s just not working with this non-stop debate.
-Me too… it’s kinda strange, I feel nervous about the situation even though our lives are at risk. And I investigated, as well.
-It’s not yar fault, ya know? Ya didn’t end her life or anythin’
-She’s trying to say that it’s something unusual. It’s not something that you’d see everyday.
-We’ve been through this part… three times already… are we really that bad at investigating…?
-Ohhh, holy holy… help us… help us escape this suffering occasion!
-I-I’m scared… we need to continue this class trial… or else…
-…O-Ok, let’s just… everyone… l-let’s…
-Hey, everyone, let’s calm down, shall we? – Makoto… – We… need to stay calm. Someone inside this room right now, murdered Shiroga. So everything that could be a clue or a small hint is important right now.
-…Makoto.. M-Makoto’s right. It’s just like Hoshi said, we’ve been through this part three times already, we need to stay focused! Ms. Nikada said some information, it might not be useful right now, but if we combine everything, it might just turn into something big.
-…M-Memopo… what should we do… Memopo?
-Y-Yeah, gal, we’re kinda lost her’.
-Memopo, can you help us? You and Makoto were the ones that investigated the entire shopping mall, from what I know.
-……
-…I can, but everyone should cooperate. Someone is hiding something… I-It’s bad, it hurts, but everyone should say something!
-……
-……
-Let’s just… calm down. I’ll say everything that we know so far and we can continue our discussion, alright? We can’t stop right now! Everyone needs to participate!
-Good job, Memopo, you’re being a true leader right now! I believe in you.
-…I am..? I… H-Hehe… Alright.
.
.
.
.
.
-So… we all know that one of the knives went missing, and from what it seems like, Shiroga was inside the storeroom for some reason. Someone also sent me a note to meet them at the storeroom after the nighttime announcement.
-Could that someone be… S-Shiroga?
-I don’t think so, Hajime… because after all… she’s g-gone. Someone knocked me out… with something, pretty hard. The killer had a fight with Shiroga, but at the end, they killed her, and from what it seems like, they escaped the room by using the secret passageway.
-Then… we started to talk about our “alibis”, but it was just the order of appearance, something that was discarded because we need more firm alibis for that time.
-S-So… what should we do now?
-I think that we should either talk about things that happened before the murder or talk about our alibis from the time of the murder.
-Yes, Makoto’s right! Any topics, everyone?
-Oh, I do, again, but I do! – Miya! – You… remember what I said to you, riiight?
-O-Oh, Miya, dear. Are you really sure that this is the right place? No one wants to hear you talking about footsteps.
-Footsteps? I’m really interested now. Can you explain a bit more, Miya?
-Strange to know that you’re interested in footsteps, but alright! While me and Aki were… investigating, at the Clothes Section, before the murder thinguie… I heard three different footsteps after the nighttime announcement! The first one, which I think it was Memopo’s, a strange second one, and then the last one!
-A… strange one?
-Yup, because I’m still confused about the footsteps, I don’t remember every footstep in my life, y’know?
-That can be a clue, an important clue. The only problem is the fact that you don’t remember the footsteps.
-I’m still unsure if this can work as a clue or not, but… let’s just go with it.
-What if the first footstep was Mr. Nakanaka? He’s always going to the Game Station.
-N-Not possible, Ms. Nikada. I entered the Game Station way before they entered the Clothes Section.
-Oh, that’s definitely the truth, he didn’t even appear at the reunion today. Just like always.
-So… should we keep that in mind while we continue our discussion?
-What about the thermostat? – Huh….Hah…HAH?! –
-W-Waaah!! He’s back..!
-T-Thermostat?! What do you mean, you monster?!
-Kehehe, yes, someone stole my thermostat, and I’m angry about it! It wasn’t something cheap, you know!
-Wait… where’s this “thermostat”? What do you mean someone “stole” it?
-At the Dorms Section! It was pretty big, but it’s super valuable! Where is it?!
-I was busy doing my preparations for that big execution, and then BAM! The thermostat is gone! Give me back right now!
…T-Thermos… Thermostat..?
…H-Hah…HAHH…..
T-That was… that was a… thermostat….?
The thing… that hit me… was a thermostat..?
What…. what…?!
…
-So… where is it, you guys?! I’m being serious right now..!
-M-Memopo… are you alright? – Makoto… Makoto… – You’re sweating.
-W-WaWAh! Girl, you’re really hot right now! In the wrong way, what’s wrong?!
-T-The… thermostat. It… the killer knocked me out with it.
-Huuuuuuuuuh?! God, gee! Hey Memopo, how are you still alive?! That thing was super super heavy!
-S-Super… super heavy? T-Then the killer must’ve been someone like… Joshua! He’s the killer, then!
-Ok, pal, no. I think I woul’ destroy that gal’s head if I had something in my hands. I’m really strong, y’know?
-Not gonna tell any spoilers… but… I think every one of you burglars could’ve gotten my thermostat! Except… the small teacher. Or the gaming boy. Or the zombie boy.
-A-Ah, I see. – It seems like Hajime felt a little weak. –
-Wait, was the thermostat… sharp? – Oh… that’s a good question! –
-I… I didn’t feel anything sharp, it was more like… a thud, I think. The killer probably just smacked it in my head.
-If somehow, there was something sharp in that thermostat… then maybe… maybe it’s the actual murder weapon! – Teru… is onto something?! –
-W-Wait, what?! Wasn’t the murder weapon a kitchen knife?!
-Y-Yes, it was! But you see, since the thermostat is still missing… then maybe someone took it and used to commit that brutality…
-It does makes sense. But who? The killer, with a kitchen knife on their hands?
-…I… I don’t know. I’m sorry.
Hmm… it is kinda strange. The thermostat is still missing, and… there’s now two murder weapons…? What’s going on?
-Hey. Miya, you were talking about three unknown footsteps, correct?
-H-Huh?! Maisake? S-Sure, what about it?
-Then… what if one of those footsteps were from Shiroga’s boots..? – …Whaat?! S-Shiroga?! –
-Uh, what?! Maisake, are you definitely alright? Why would Shiroga go there in the first place?
-You’re missing the point. Shiroga definitely walked past you guys at least once, that’s how she got there.
-But why? What would Shiroga be doing inside that storeroom..?
-Well, there’s actually two answers for that. The first one being that Shiroga just wanted to investigate, which is plausible. And the other one being…
-That Shiroga isn’t a flower as we used to think. – …WhAT?! –
-…What are you saying..?
-It’s simple, Zeto. I just connected some things that we discussed before and… I’m surprised. Surprised that we wasted so much time discussing about a wrong possibility.
-N-No, please, Maisake, can you explain a little bit more? What’s wrong with Shiroga..?
-Hmm… alright, I’ll say it, just listen to me, alright? – Maisake… what are you talking about..? –
-What if, instead of Shiroga being inside that room for no reason, she had a much, darker motive for being there..?
-Well… first I need to ask. Where was the last time you that guys saw Shiroga..? Before today’s meeting?
-……
-……
-……
-I… actually saw her before. We were…..! – Wait… what..? Oh- Oh my..?! –
-Hmm? Please continue, Memopo.
-W-We… we were inside the Candy Blossom… c-cutting some apples with…
-A kitchen knife, perhaps..?
-Y-Yes… and it was before the meeting, somehow no one came to my dorm to tell me anything about that meeting.
-W-Wait, Maisake, stop that right now! Don’ say some foolish things like–
-When I was talking to Joshua at the entrance… before the meeting as well, I saw Memopo walking back to her dorm room, with some apples, and right after that, I saw Zeto, walking towards the Food Court.
-It was strange at first, but now, thanks to Memopo’s testimony, I can see some things with a new perspective, now.
-Actually, Shiroga… also said, that she was gonna meet with Zeto at the Food Court. That’s why I got the apples and walked back to my dorm.
-Y-You don’t understand… S-Stop that right–!!
-S-So… are you saying that… Z-Zeto killed her..?! H-Her best friend was the culprit all along?!
-Kehehehe, that would be such a depressing betrayal, am I right..?!
-Actually, no. Now that Zeto talked to her before her death, it’s strange, but what I’m saying, is…
-Shiroga wrote that mysterious note, got the kitchen knife, and went inside the Storeroom.
-…S-So… you’re saying that…
-Exactly, Memopo. Shiroga wasn’t innocent at all. From what we know so far, she could definitely do something like that, and if she did that, everything would make sense.
-D-Don’t make Shiroga dirty like t-that! S-She would never– NEVER–
-Then you should have something to prove that, right? Ever since this trial started, you only talked about proof and the truth, so why are you sweating?
-B-Because it’s bullshit! You can’t say something like that when she can’t even be here to defend herself!
-But… it makes sense… it would be a big coincidence for her to be inside the storeroom for no reason…
-And if she was innocent, then why the actual killer walked towards the storeroom..? They wouldn’t know that Memopo or Shiroga would be there.
-W-What if THE KILLER wrote that note, then..?! I-It makes sense, doesn’t it?!
-It does, but if the killer actually wrote that note, then they would probably make sure that Memopo was dead before continuing their job.
-W-What if they WOULD kill that magician, b-but then they saw or heard S-Shiroga inside and n-needed to make sure that there wasn’t anyone looking at them?!
-Ok, makes sense, but why would Shiroga be inside in the first place? There wasn’t a reason for her to be there, and it would be just a coincidence for her to be inside the storeroom, with a knife.
-A-A knife?! What are you talking about? There wasn’t any knives inside the storeroom! She couldn’t be with that knife!
-It seems like it was the same knife that was inside the kitchen, and if Memopo’s telling the truth, then… she definitely held that knife inside the storeroom.
-Y-You–! I-It’s a lie, stop lying about that! T-This is a serious place!
-Actually, Zeto, why are you being so controversial about her being a bad person? I’m not saying that you’re the culprit, so you shouldn’t be yelling at me like that.
-B-Because…! S-She was my b-best friend..! I won’t let you say some stupid bullshit like that while she’s d-dead..!
-Can you please stop that, Zeto? We don’t know if you’re involved in this or not, but being unpleasant just makes you more suspicious. – Nia said, trying to stop him. –
-Yeah… I agree with Nia and Maisake. You’re being really suspicious right now, Zeto.
-I think everyone agrees that she’s was the one with the kitchen knife, except you.
-I-If… she was with that note… then… Shiroga tried to lure me into a trap..! And then…
-Y-Yes, Memopo. It seems like she was trying to… kill you.
-…S-Shiroga… trying to kill me..? It makes sense… everything makes sense… but why..?
-If Shiroga tried to kill you, then that makes sense why there’s two potential murder weapons, and why she was inside the storeroom.
-Also, considering Miya’s account, then the first of the three footsteps that she heard might’ve been from Shiroga.
-…T-That’s right! It could make sense and it does make sense! Then Shiroga, after talking to Zeto… actually, after the meeting in general, grabbed the knife, waited for everyone to go back to their dorms, and got inside the storeroom!
-S-Shiroga… trying to kill me… I said to her before that she shouldn’t give up and shouldn’t fear Monobot… but… she tried… to kill me…
-T-That’s what this killing game is doing to us… suspecting each other, doing those horrible things…
-When Monobot said on the first day that some of us were already thinking about killing each other, I was certain that someone was going to die, but Shiroga being a bitch like that…
-S-Stop… every single one of you… stop…
-So, we can all agree that Shiroga tried to do something like that? It seems like Zeto’s probably involved in that situation as well, but I don’t think that he’s the killer.
-Ms. Nesumi… doing something so horrible…. But it makes sense, so I agree with that conclusion.
-Y-Yeah, me too, harsh, man. Never thought that she would do something like that.
-M-Me neither! Holy Golly Geez, I’m perplexed!
-Can we continue, Memopo? Are you able to continue this..?
-…I-I… It’s horrible… but it’s the only option… right..?! So… let’s do this… Shiroga definitely tried to… m-murder me.
Danganronpa: SHIFTED - Druwcapa 