"Before you all start arguing, let me explain the basic rules of the class trial to you all!" Monokuma kicked us off doing his usual speech at the start. "You all will discuss the case and try to figure out who the killer is! Once-"
"Your explanation is no longer necessary." Ryoko suddenly interrupted him with folded arms.
"Huh? But every time Monokuma explains the rules...you get excited." Shouko said, tilting her head at Ryoko's strange behaviour.
"Yeah! You love my voice...Why is my greatest fan suddenly sick of me?!?" Monokuma cried.
"Oh please. Grow up, you two." The chess player rolled her eyes. "I mean, this is our fourth class trial. It's normal that you want us to learn the rules, but we know everything now! So shut up and let's get started with the interesting stuff already! I'm sick of waiting around."
"A...Alright." Shouko gave a yawn and a lazy nod. "Forget it then..."
"Huh...?" Ryoko suddenly went silent.
"W-What's the problem?" Kokoro wondered, leaning forward against her trial podium.
"Isn't it obvious?!? It's silent! The problem here is that no one is standing up to me...So where's the fun in that, huh?" She sighed, dramatically leaning back with a hand against her forehead. "If only Chiyo were here to call me out...or if only any of you had some damn backbone!" She then groaned.
"T-That's what you're worried about?!? Not the fact that Chiyo could be dying right now...?" I stammered.
"Hey, what do you mean by that? I am a professional. Don't just assume I'd let her die!" Monokuma gasped as he took offence to what I said.
"Stay out of this!" I exclaimed.
"So how come you can argue back to the murderous robot bear, but not to me? A sweet innocent girl?" Ryoko pouted, putting on an act. "Satoshi! That really hurts my feelings you know...! How could you!"
"I am so much more than a murderous robot bear! And don't act as if you don't know my name!" Monokuma yelled, trying to get her attention, but Ryoko ignored him completely and continued to stare at me with that exaggerated expression.
"I..." I tried my best to think of some sort of argument to combat Ryoko with, but my mind went blank! I just can't think clearly around her...
She's...like a plague in my mind. And she won't shut up!
"I-I..." But even if I wanted to, I couldn't fight back. No words spilt out at all.
"Just as I expected: nothing at all!" Ryoko chuckled at her own joke. "Yet again, not a word from Satoshi or any of you...Seriously! I could walk all over this bunch and none of them would bat an eye. I had no idea Chiyo's lack of presence would cause this much of an effect. I miss her shouting at me..."
"Then...I'll do it."
"Eh?!?"
I turned to see Kenjiro, fiddling with his scarf. "I'll...try my best to defend my friends. And if it means to argue with you, then...s-so be it."
"Hm? You...argue with me?" Ryoko seemed confused but then chuckled. "Well oh my. I'm impressed! Maybe I don't need Chiyo. As long as this is fun and interesting, it'll be a success."
There she goes again, wanting this killing game to be fun and games. I...I can't stand it!
"Let's...just get started." I took a deep breath.
"...Right." Shouko nodded, agreeing with me while rubbing the back of her head. "We've spent too much time dealing with...Ryoko. A-And not enough time on the case!"
"Exactly." Kenjiro nodded. "Yuna's killer has to be found and brought to j-justice. Not just for Yuna's sake...but for o-our own lives too!"
"That is exactly how I would put it." I let out a sigh of relief, glad for a moment since Kenjiro could speak for me.
"Ok...That makes sense!" Kokoro nodded with a hum, her hair bouncing behind her. "But how should we start?! There are just so many clues for us to cover..."
"Well, the smart ones usually sort out the cause of death first. Like how they...talked about Akihiro's last trial." Shouko looked away in thought. "So let's start with that, ok?"
"Yeah, that should be fine." I agreed before looking down at my hands.
This...is the part where people start arguing over the truth right? Somehow, Chiyo always manages to interrupt and direct them to the right answer.
But...That's Chiyo! She has a loud and easily trustworthy personality. Of course, people wouldn't mind being led by her.
And then you've got...me. It's completely different for me! It's not like there's anything influential about me...so how am I supposed to guide everyone to the right answer?
I guess...I just need to try.
-
Non-Stop Debate
Truth Bullet: Monokuma File
-
Shouko: Yuna's cause of death...
Shouko: I-I suppose you could assume it just from looking at her.
Kokoro: Right Shouko!
Kokoro: Yuna was in the middle of the lake, all alone...
Kokoro: She had to have drowned-
"No, that's wrong!"
-
Ok...this is a start. Now I just need to show everyone the facts and get them to believe me.
"Huh? I'm...wrong?" Kokoro tilted her head. "But she was in the lake! So..."
"So you assumed the drowned, right?" I finished her sentence for her. "I understand why you would think that, but you're wrong."
"Alright then. If you know her cause of death, then enlighten us!" Ryoko smirked.
What is she on about...? Ryoko obviously knows!
I chose to ignore Ryoko and just sighed. "Yuna's actual cause of death was strangulation."
"S-Strangulation...?" Shouko repeated, tilting her head. "You mean...Just like what Shunsuke did to Akemi? The murderer also strangled Yuna with their bare hands?!?"
"Not exactly..." I folded my arms. "While it's true that both of them got strangled, it was in different ways. Akemi got strangled manually with Shunsuke's hands to the point of passing out. But with Yuna...ligature strangulation was used."
"And..." Kokoro nervously chuckled. "What is that exactly?"
"A garrotte was used to kill her. Think...a wire or something you could wrap around someone's neck." I explained, using my hands to do a half-assed example with the air.
"Oh, I see!" The matchmaker clapped her hands when she realised. "So then...what was used to strangle Yuna? A wire, like you said?"
"No. It couldn't have been a wire..."
-
Select Truth Bullet
> Strangulation Marks <
"This is it!"
-
"Considering the marks on her neck left from the weapon, we can assume what killed Yuna." I began.
"Marks...? On her neck?!? Y-You mean-"
"N-No! Not...Not that..." I sighed and cut Kokoro off before she could even finish her sentence.
Knowing her obsession with love and romance, I have a good idea of what she was about to say...
"Oh right. If you wrapped something around someone's neck for so long, then there are bound to be marks left. From the force, pressure and all that scientific stuff." Shouko yawned.
"Correct. But if I remember correctly..." I paused for a moment to think. "The marks were too thick to belong to a wire. And there was even some slight discolouration and scratches so it couldn't have been a smooth fabric either. Something rougher and thick..."
-
Select Truth Bullet
> Rope <
"This should be enough!"
-
"...Like rope!" I blurted out, excited at my own revelation. "Kenjiro and I found some wet rope at the crime scene beside Yuna's body."
"Y-Yeah. It was drifting beside where Yuna's body originally was." The psychologist carried on. "Satoshi checked it out. The frayed parts of the rope match up with Yuna's injuries."
"Just as he said." I slightly smiled, giving Kenjiro an appreciative nod.
"I see. That makes sense." Shouko hummed a reply.
"Oh please!" Ryoko scoffed and rolled her eyes, leaning against the podium.
Since when did Ryoko get so mean and sassy?!? I knew she was a...nuisance at the beginning, but now she's just the worst.
"Of course, those two forgot to mention the fact that I helped them get the rope in the first place!" The grandmaster complained, groaning as she leaned back. "You do one bad thing and everyone assumes you're a bad guy...I mean seriously?!? I do something out of the kindness of my heart and I'm still a complete and utter villain? Where is the justice in that? I call favouritism..."
"Justice...As if you care for justice." I heard Kenjiro mumble under his breath next to me.
"Hm? Oh Kenjiro, if you have something to say to me, then say it loud and clear!" Ryoko scoffed. "How dare you say you'll argue back to me and then start mumbling. And people say I'm a hypocrite."
"I-I said..." Kenjiro clenched his fists.
Kenjiro isn't the type to shout or call someone out. But...sometimes when we're alone and not having sessions, he'll tell me how infuriating Ryoko can be.
"I said..." he then gave her a pointed glare. "You don't care for justice. I-If you did then you wouldn't have done the things you did."
"...Meh."
"H-Huh?!?" I stepped back.
"I mean it. That was so...meh." Ryoko sighed. "I know Kenjiro could totally lose it! He gives the vibe...the soft-spoken boy just snapping! I honestly look forward to that moment. But just now...that wasn't intimidating at all."
"R-Ryoko..." Kokoro tried to interject. "Look, maybe now isn't the time-"
"Oh, Kokoro! You shouldn't think so low of me." Ryoko then chuckled. "Of course now is not the time. I believe I'll have no trouble riling Kenjiro up later though. It will be a walk in the park..."
Kenjiro fell silent, his glare towards her turning cold as he exhaled a deep breath.
"That's more like it." She giggled. "I could rile you up now but I'll save that for later when more truth is revealed. It's cute that you think you can be scary though! I'd give you a B for effort."
"N-Not this again." I took a shaky breath, looking straight away from him.
"Oh, and how could I forget!" The chess grandmaster remembered my presence and turned to me, making her smile known by widening it, the corners of her mouth nearly reached her ears as she grinned. "Look at you, Mr forensic scientist. I almost forgot you had it in you! Being a sensitive guy, I figured you'd hate this," Ryoko smirked.
"Y-You assumed wrong," I mumbled.
"If we can get back on topic...again," Shouko cut through, gaining all of our attention when she spoke. "Then let's see...uh...let's try and figure out where exactly Yuna died. That's got to be important, right?"
Right...back on topic...Where did Yuna get strangled? I know the answer to that.
...I think. Now I just need to explain to everyone.
-
Non-Stop Debate
Truth Bullet: Footprints
-
Kokoro: Where did Yuna die, hm?
Kokoro: Oh! Maybe on her boat?
Kokoro: Or how about in the water? Or-
Kenjiro: I-I'm...doing to stop you there.
Kenjiro: In my opinion, there's only one place where Yuna could have died.
Kenjiro: The most logical answer is the island after all-
"I agree with that!"
-
"Kenjiro is right. He has to be." I nodded towards him, crossing my arms.
"Now, are you saying that because the two of you are crushing and it's favouritism or-" Kokoro wondered, blurting her thoughts out loud.
"W-What?!?" I stammered, stumbling on my words as soon as Kokoro said that. "No! No...Kenjiro is right for an actual reason! I have evidence to prove it."
"Evidence, huh?" Shouko hummed.
"You see, there were footprints in the sand over on the island. Uh...let me try and demonstrate." I pulled out a spare piece of scrunched-up paper I had in my pocket from writing and grabbed a pen. Then, I rushed to draw a pair of footprints that stopped at a large x.
"How...informative." Ryoko chuckled, giving me a condescending smirk. "Maybe you can illustrate alongside those silly stories you write."
Great...Ryoko found another way to make me self-conscious.
"These footprints represent Yuna. I know they belong to her. The soles match and all." I confirmed ignoring Ryoko. "Anyway, they stop here at this x, which is a tree."
"Alright..." Kokoro hummed.
"But then, there was another set of footprints in the sand that collided with Yuna's also stopping at the x." I rushed to draw the second set. "Then after they both meet, the second pair of prints actually walk back, but Yuna's footprints never move again."
"You mean to say she stood under that tree and that someone came behind her and supposedly strangled her there?" Ryoko summarised what I had said.
"If you're still not convinced, Yuna's footprints were replaced by drag marks," I added.
"That could only be...the killer dragging her body away!" Kokoro gasped. "That's so cruel..."
"Of course, it's cruel, Kokoro." Ryoko rolled her eyes, mocking the matchmaker.
"So Yuna really died on the island," Shouko repeated, slowly nodding to herself. "Damn...Satoshi is kinda cool when he explains things. He should do it more often."
"T-Thanks...?" I stumbled on my words, rubbing the back of my neck.
A compliment from Shouko...That's rare, so I'll take it!
"Another thing is that when Kenjiro and I pulled Yuna's body out of the water, the piranhas targeted us, not her. I came to the conclusion that the piranhas must prefer live meat. So if Yuna had died in the water, those fish would've been surrounding her much more. But since she died and then got dumped, the piranhas must have sensed that she wasn't fresh. Some still ate her...I guess desperate times call for desperate measures." I explained, adjusting the wrists of my gloves.
"So that's why her body wasn't eaten up by the time we got there!" Kokoro realised. "I didn't even know those fish were that picky in the first place...Talk about fussy eaters!"
"A-Are they really fussy if they eat anything that has a pulse?" Kenjiro wondered.
"...I guess not. Good point, Kenjiro!" She chuckled, trying her best to keep the mood light.
"But I have a question," Shouko spoke up once more. "Why...was Yuna even at the island in the first place? Like, what lured her out there."
"Oh!" Kokoro widened her eyes. "Don't tell me...Could it have been a last-minute rendezvous with a secret lover?!? I never knew Yuna was the type for that-"
"That's...not it." Kenjiro shut her down.
"Then do tell us, Satoshi." Ryoko rested her arms on her podium and leaned forward, glaring at me with a devious smile. "Tell me what exactly lured Yuna out to the open where she got killed."
I don't like it at all when Ryoko tells me to do things...But this is a trial. If I want to save everyone and find the truth, then it looks like I have no choice.
God damn her...
-
Select Truth Bullet
> Note From Chiyo <
"Here it is!"
-
"Yuna was persuaded to go to the island by a note she had received," I explained. "It was allegedly written by Chiyo and invited them to talk by the tree."
"I'm guessing it wasn't actually written by Chiyo then..." Shouko rubbed the back of her neck.
"So it wasn't a secret love note either..." Kokoro murmured to herself. "But it must have worked since Yuna actually showed up! Which is a bad thing...!"
"Using Chiyo, the person closest to Yuna, to draw her out of her room and kill her...it's sick." Kenjiro sighed, looking away with a pained expression. "This culprit is cruel...So we'd better find them as soon as possible-"
Kenjiro was cut off by the sound of someone giggling. It didn't take long to figure out who was behind it considering there was really only one viable option.
"Oh, Shouko!" Ryoko held the sides of her stomach, her laughter eventually coming to a stop. "You never know! It's a bit strange to just make an assumption like that out of nowhere."
"Huh...?" Shouko blankly stared back at her. "Assumption? What are you talking about?"
"Don't you remember? You assumed that Chiyo didn't write the note that drew Yuna to her death. But on what basis can you even say that? Maybe she did write it..."
"I...I just said that because Chiyo doesn't seem like the type to kill." Shouko admitted. "And...I-I saw Satoshi and Kenjiro take her to the infirmary. If she was injured then..."
"Then you doubt she could have been the killer? What a silly mistake!" Ryoko scoffed. "Chiyo could have easily murdered Yuna and then got injured. Perhaps someone just wanted to stop her from going on a killing spree! I mean, with all the anger she has, I wouldn't be surprised!"
What is with all of this Chiyo slander? I won't stand for it!
And besides...I know Chiyo couldn't have written that note. I just need to get everyone to realise that.
-
Non-Stop Debate
Truth Bullet: Chiyo's Wristband
-
Ryoko: Oh Shouko...
Ryoko: There's no need for you to make these baseless accusations...
Ryoko: With no evidence!
Shouko: What are you even talking about...?
Kokoro: You mean Chiyo might be the killer?
Ryoko: You never know!
Ryoko: If Chiyo wrote that note, who knows what else she can do-
"No, that's wrong!"
-
The commotion ended abruptly after I spoke, everyone's eyes landing on me. However, Ryoko's were the most piercing, a grin appearing on her face.
"Hm? What's this...?" Ryoko chuckled, glancing my way. "You have evidence that she didn't write that note? Do tell..."
"Chiyo had a...a wristband," I admitted.
Ryoko suddenly went silent, widening her eyes before biting her lip in frustration.
Did...Did she actually not know that?!?
Finally...I knew something Ryoko didn't behind all of these murder cases. She must be mad at herself for not checking herself.
Ryoko eventually and dramatically cleared her throat, flipping one of the curls of her hair behind her. "A wristband you say? How...interesting!"
"Um...No offence Satoshi! You're totally smarter than me! But...How does this prove she didn't write the note?" Kokoro pondered, nervously chuckling.
"Oh, Koko! Can't you tell?" The chess player then turned to Kokoro and smiled. "The fact that he brought up Chiyo's wristband right now must mean that it has something to do with her innocence! Could it be her rule?" She drew out the last vowel, teasingly looking at me. "If so, then do tell us Satoshi. I'm sure we're all curious."
It's not like Ryoko was wrong. The two other girls in the room turned to look at me with confused, yet intrigued faces. Kenjiro didn't change one bit seeing as he already knew Chiyo's rule, but my eyes met his.
He's...waiting to see whether I tell everyone Chiyo's secret or not. Kenjiro won't just tell me what to do unless I directly seek him for assistance, but it's not like I can ask him for help with this or ask Chiyo for permission!
I've...got to decide.
Chiyo...is my friend. Despite basically blackmailing me during that first investigation, she chose to keep my secret during Akemi's trial. And to be honest, I've already violated her trust by checking her wristband without permission and telling everyone about it so...
The least I could do is keep her safe and not reveal her rule. Knowing the sick individual we are stuck here with, I wouldn't be surprised if she manipulated Chiyo's rule...
I wasn't able to keep Chiyo safe last night. But if keeping her rule a secret can ensure she's fine, then so be it.
"I can't say." I firmly said, glancing back at Ryoko.
"Hm? Why not?" She folded her arms. "Typical Satoshi..."
"B-Because...She kept my secret safe during the first class trial."
"Even though it was revealed to us literally two seconds later..." Shouko mumbled to herself.
"And since we trust each other..." I continued. "I won't tell you her secret. N-Not after what you did to Hidemi after finding hers out."
"...Fine." Ryoko rolled her eyes. "Let's continue this trial under the assumption that Chiyo did not write that note, ok?"
"So we're going with my assumption then..." Shouko yawned. "I knew it...Chiyo would never do something so obvious anyway."
Kenjiro gave me a quick look of support after my decision before glancing back at the others. "So what do we discuss now?"
"Well, this has been bothering me," Kokoro spoke up. "Sorry if I sound dumb but like...How did the murderer even get on the island?"
"Huh?" Shouko tilted her head.
"Yuna died on the island, right? So how exactly did the blackened get there? Oh, maybe they went with her! Or..."
"That's impossible. Yuna wouldn't just let someone onto her boat...B-Besides, she was waiting for Chiyo! Not some random...And we've established she didn't write the note anyway." The ghost hunter argued.
"Then maybe the killer just followed her on their own boat?" The matchmaker then suggested.
"I mean, two boats were used so..." Kenjiro rubbed the back of his head.
"See!" Kokoro then clapped with a big smile on her face. "I knew something! I'm so proud of myself!"
"No...That can't be right." I shook my head, Kokoro's mood shifting.
"H-Huh? So I'm...wrong?"
"Kenjiro is right. Two boats were used last night at the time of the murder." I glanced over at the psychologist. "But only one of those boats actually went to the island! So that's the only boat Yuna could have used."
"So then enlighten us Satoshi." Ryoko hummed and tapped her fingers against the top of her podium. "How did the murderer get to the island exactly? We're all dying to know..."
I don't know the answer to that yet. But there are a few options...
We just need to go through them and identify the right answer. Anything to solve this case.
-
Non-Stop Debate
Truth Bullet: 4th Boat Compartment
-
Ryoko: So how did the killer get to the island?
Ryoko: Perhaps they were there beforehand...You never know!
Kenjiro: That doesn't s-sound right.
Shouko: If they didn't take their own boat...
Shouko: Then maybe they rode with Yuna on her boat-
"I agree with that!"
-
"E-Eh?" Shouko pointed towards herself. "I got it. But...I was kidding. There's no way Yuna would invite her murderer onto-"
"Yes, Shouko is right..." I tried my best to explain. "The blackened was on her boat."
"So...Yuna actually did invite them to go with her?!?" Kokoro gasped.
"N-No! Obviously, they were there but not to her knowledge. What I mean is..." I sighed. "The murderer hid in there."
"In the boat?" Shouko paused. "You mean in those tiny compartments, right?"
"Exactly." I have a brief nod.
"C-Can someone even fit in there? Those things look like they would be tight squeezes..." Kokoro wondered.
"No, someone definitely could fit. That's where we found Chiyo unconscious after all..." Kenjiro admitted.
"You're saying Chiyo was in one of those things?" Shouko widened her eyes.
"Y-Yes. Presumably for the whole night."
"...That's...terrible."
"Oh please!" Ryoko scoffed. "Kokoro, Shouko! Come on! Don't tell me you're going to believe Satoshi...I mean, he doesn't even have any evidence." She then rolled her eyes. "You people believe anything these days. Don't blame me when it gets you killed!"
No, I definitely do have proof! I just need to show everyone what I mean.
-
Select Truth Bullet
> Rope Fragments <
"This is it!"
-
"No, I'm sure they hid in there." I crossed my arms.
"Hm? Are you just saying that for things to go your way, or do you actually have any evidence?" Ryoko said.
"You're...not accusing me right now, are you?!?" I exclaimed.
"You never know." She left it there, smirking slightly.
Shouko spoke up. "How about...Satoshi just tells us about this evidence?"
"R-Right." I cleared my throat, ignoring Ryoko for now. "Inside the compartment of the fourth boat, Kenjiro and I found fragments of what seemed to be rope scattered around."
"Rope...L-Like what the blackened used to kill Yuna?!?" Kokoro exclaimed.
"Exactly." I briefly nodded. "Here's what I'm thinking...the killer hid in the 5th boat with the rope, waiting for Yuna while leaving the small fragments. Yuna eventually did arrive and was under the assumption that she was meeting with Chiyo, so drove the boat to the island unaware of the killer murderer it."
"T-Then...Yuna must have gotten off the boat and stood under the tree as the note said." Kenjiro carried on off of what I was saying. "While she stood there...the murderer crawled out of the compartment with the rope, approached her and..."
"Strangled her." Shouko finished the sentence. "They must have taken over her boat from that point...right?
"I believe so." Kenjiro hummed in agreement.
"Ok, I kind of get it now!" Kokoro paused. "I've got a question though...Where does Chiyo fit into all of this?!?"
"That...is a good question," Shouko admitted. "Like, we know she was found unconscious on the fourth boat. But...Why?"
"Yeah! And what about the fifth boat? You guys were on it this morning...A-And Shouko told me you said the GPS on it was weird!" The matchmaker continued. "So does Chiyo have something to do with that too?!?"
The fifth boat...I know exactly what that boat and Chiyo have to do with the case. And I know why Chiyo was there in the first place.
She was lured into this murderer's trap like a puppet...So I need to give her and Yuna the justice they deserve.
-
Select Truth Bullets
> Chiyo's Body <
> Note From Yuna <
"Now I understand!"
-
"Chiyo was on the fifth boat before she was knocked out," I stated, gaining everyone's attention.
"R-Really?" Shouko wondered.
"I'm...Certain." I gave a firm nod after going over it in my head once again.
"B-But what was she even doing there?" Kokoro asked.
"Simple. She got a note just like Yuna." Kenjiro explained, speaking up.
"Wha...What?!?" Shouko's eyes widened.
"This just proves that neither of them wrote any notes. W-Why would they send notes to each other to meet at different times and places?" The psychologist sighed.
"You mean...?"
"Yes. The notes...They were written by the same person. Both of them had the same structure and handwriting...That had to be the answer. And that person drew both Chiyo and Yuna out. The latter was ordered to go to the island while Chiyo was told to go to the dock earlier..."
"So they were set up!" Kokoro gasped.
"Exactly," Kenjiro replied.
"And you mean to say...t-that Chiyo got on the fifth boat from the dock?" Shouko said.
"Someone must have been waiting for her..." I clenched my fists. "The person who wrote those notes. It has to be t-them!"
Suddenly, I heard a scoff.
"Oh please." Ryoko rolled her eyes, speaking up after a bit of silence that I wished lasted way longer. "This is starting to sound like a big assumption to get us to think your way, Satoshi. Unless that's exactly what this is." She then smirked.
"O-Of course not!" I tried my best to defend myself against her.
"Hm? Then prove it. Because last time I checked, Chiyo was found on the fourth boat. So how on earth does this note tell us she was on the fifth, hm?" Ryoko tilted her head.
Well...it doesn't exactly. But...
I know something that will have to prove it. Ryoko was the one who allowed me to notice it after all.
-
Non-Stop Debate
Truth Bullet: Boat Paddle
-
Ryoko: Tut. I can't believe everyone...
Ryoko: Believing Satoshi so easily when he's contradicting himself? I mean, come on!
Ryoko: How unprofessional...
Kenjiro: You're the one being unprofessional...
Kokoro: Well, Ryoko is right when she said Chiyo was found on the fourth boat where Yuna was...
Kokoro: S-So there's no way she was on the fifth boat-
"No, that's wrong!"
-
"I k-know Chiyo was on that boat at some point." I firmly said, cutting Kokoro off.
"Huh? Really?!?" She widened her eyes.
"Chiyo had two head injuries with caused her to pass out, correct?" Kenjiro threw the question over to me.
"Right." I nodded. "These injuries were definitely caused by a blunt weapon. Something that this attack had in close proximity to swing down at Chiyo...L-Like a boat paddle."
"The...boat paddle caused Chiyo's wounds?" Shouko assumed, seemingly convinced.
"Yes...We found one on the fifth boat. It was covered in blood and had strands of Chiyo's hair on it. I'm...certain that she was on that bat because of it." I explained.
"If that were the case, then she would have been transferred to the fourth boat at some point after getting attacked last night," Kenjiro concluded.
"I...see. It makes sense!" The matchmaker nodded. "But...who would do such a thing?!? That's so cruel!"
As if it was commanded, I felt an uncomfortable pit in my stomach as my eyes hovered over her.
Ryoko.
Of course, Ryoko is suspicious. I'm not surprised.
It's just that this time feels a bit...perfect. All the evidence so far aligns and...it all leads to her.
But there's not a doubt in my mind that Ryoko is not somehow a part of this. But not only that...
"She would do such a thing," I said my thoughts out loud, answering Kokoro's rhetorical question. "Ryoko...is our main suspect a-after all."
-