Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

3.21 - How to Show You the Truth

...Maybe now's the time to use my intuition, huh?

I look around at the others around the circle of podiums. Then I turn my attention towards the throne and the monokubs, noting how Monokuma is staring at Shuichi rather than myself.

Alright.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes to give off the illusion that I'm simply deep in thought.

How could Ryoma's body have been transported from the hotel to the school?

...

A makeshift body bag was created using the duvet to hold both the corpse and chains. It was tied off with the rope and placed in the surrounding water where the chains would keep the body weighed down.

It worked! But...wouldn't the body have been bloody? And if they washed themselves and the corpse in the hotel shower, wouldn't someone notice a trail of blood or water coming out of the hotel room? At two ten, I never noticed anything suspicious when I put up that note for Shuichi...Also someone would see the body bag in the water, wouldn't they? The water around the hotel is crystal clear as can be.

The culprit and the corpse were likely dried using the duvet to avoid leaving a water trail and leaving towels behind that would reveal their secret. If dried properly, they'd be damp enough that they wouldn't leave a trail of water behind.

The body bag would be hard to spot in the water if it's swam out to the far corner where the sunlight and light from the building bends with the movement of the water. This would correlate with the body being bloated and having water damage if it was left there and recovered at a much later time.

Probably because I haven't eaten yet, I feel just a little light headed as I open my eyes again, swaying in place and nearly stepping back off of my podium until Kokichi pulls me back up quickly. He casts me a confused look, making me blink up at him to see I'm having a bit of double-vision. It settles after a moment, enough for me to realize something that has me rather relieved.

Kokichi definitely doesn't know about my intuition. He must have come to another deduction regarding what he read in that bloody sudoku puzzle book. I can probably get his thoughts of it out of him safely in that case to see what he thinks that "advantage" of mine is.

"Hey, Shuichi," I speak up, making Shuichi glance my way as I pull my arm from Kokichi's grip. "I think I may have thought of a way the killer could have hidden the body without leaving it in the hotel."

"R-Really?!" Tenko asks, before grinning and pumping a fist in the air. "Prairie, you're a genius!"

"Hm, shouldn't we hear what her idea is before we start amplifying her ego any more than it already is?" Angie questions, tapping a finger over her chin playfully.

I will not get mad, I will not get mad, I will not get mad-

"Prairie is a natural genius, that much I'll agree with Tenko!" Kokichi also jumps in, making me hold in an eye roll as I proceed to explain.

"Kiibo said the body couldn't be left hidden inside the hotel, since it would be left behind until morning. However, we know the body was not moved this morning because the puddle of blood made in Kirumi's lab was already dried when Kaito and I spotted it, meaning it was likely created yesterday. On top of that, it couldn't have been taken out of the hotel-casino area without being seen. So...if I were smart, I'd stick it where it's accessible once everyone has given up looking for Shuichi's key. In the water," I elaborate.

"Eh? The water...well, that would explain the body bloating and the damage to the things in his pocket, but..." Shuichi trails off, right before it clicks and he gapes at me. "You mean...! With the items, right?"