Art by stormy_aozora71

"And that concludes... the events of this case." Shuichi finished.

"N-No... Akamatsu-san did it...?" Gonta sobbed.

"It is a truth I do not wish to accept, but since Saihara-kun has brought everything to light..." Kirumi spoke slowly. "We can at least try to trust the Akamatsu-san we've come to know up till this point..."

"The Akamatsu-san we've come to know...?" Tenko started crying a bit.

"Even if she did commit a crime, what Akamatsu-san has said to us is not a lie. She wanted to protect us, and I firmly believe that to be the truth."

"If that was a lie too, it'd be the last straw for me. I'd have nothing left to believe in." Ryoma added.

"You guys are so nice... Even though I betrayed you all..." Kaede looked down, tears running down her cheek.

Shuichi yelled out, "No, that's not true Akamatsu-san! You were trying to save all of-"

Kaede cut Shuichi off. "Nice job, Saihara-kun! I didn't expect any less!"

"What...?"

"You were super reliable back there! But you still have a long way to go. You need to be more assertive!" Kaede put her hands behind her back and smiled and a bright smile. "If you did that more often, you'd be a pretty cool guy."

Shuichi stared at her dumbfounded. "Why? Why are you smiling like that? Why are you still trying to get me to be brave? Why, Akamatsu-san!? Why are you thinking about everyone but yourself!? If you had just been less selfless, you wouldn't have had to murder..." Shuichi's voice got softer and more pained. "Why...? Why do you do that?"

Kaede looked down at the ground, more tears streaming down her face.

"Stop, stop, stop! At least save it for the end of the trial! Sheesh!" Monokuma rudely interrupted.

"Looks like the debates finished, so that means its voting time!" Monokid said cheerfully.

"Alright, you bastards! Press the button in front of you to cast your votes!" Monophaine continued.

Each student's screen on their podium lit up. After about 30 seconds of waiting, Monokuma giggled.

"Puhuhu... It seems the voting has finished. Now then, let's see the result." A giant T.V screen came down behind Monokuma and Kaede's portrait flashed on the screen as the one with the most votes. "Who'll be chosen as the blackened!? Will you make the right choice or the dreadfully wrong one!?" Then, the screen showed them that the verdict was indeed Kaede.

Monokuma let out a burst of satisfied laughter. "Well, at this point it goes without saying, but you all voted correctly! The blackened who killed Amami Rantarou is the Ultimate Pianist, Akamatsu Kaede!"

"..." Kaede looked at the screen with a small smile. "Good..."

"What do you mean good!? Is this how you want it to end!?" Kaito shouted.

"Not really, but it could have turned out a lot worse. So, this is fine too." Kaede sighed.

"I-It's not fine! This is super horrible! The worst ever!" Tenko cried out.

"Yeah... how did it come to this?" Tsumugi agreed.

"Kaede, what would possess you to do something like this?" Kiibo questioned.

"I can't accept this... Not unless you explain..." Gonta sobbed.

"Yeah... I won't be satisfied unless I hear it from you." Kaito said.

Kaede took a deep breath and gave a weak smile. "Okay... please allow me a few more moments of your time. It's just like Saihara-kun said- I was after the mastermind the entire time. I wanted to kill the mastermind, and I thought doing that would end the killing game."

"But why did you try to kill them? Maybe they could have been captured..." Shuichi said slowly.

"If it hadn't been for the time limit, I probably would've done that. But the time limit meant that capturing the mastermind was less likely to work, y'know? Cuz the mastermind could have just played dumb to run out the clock and kill us all. I... was worried about that happening."

"So, you sought to kill the mastermind instead?" Korekiyo asked.

Kaede nodded ever so slowly. "I had made my mind just before we set up the cameras in the library. I thought it was my last chance to save everyone... I couldn't let that chance pass me by. I had to save everyone, no matter what."

Kokichi brought a finger up to his lips. "Even if you had to kill someone?"

Kaede let out a sad sigh "That's right... I thought killing the mastermind was our best shot at escaping this place together. I... really believed it, too..."

"Oh, Akamatsu-chan... it never dawned on you?" Kokichi put his hands behind his head, "As soon as that thought entered your head, Monokuma had you right where he wanted because what mattered most to Monokuma is that the killing game started. Regardless of your reasons, the moment you felt the urge to kill, you'd already lost. You agreed to be part of this killing game when you allowed murder to fill your heart."

"W-Wait. To put it like that..." Tsumugi started.

"But he's right." Ichika hummed. "She's the reason the killing game has begun."

"But... If Akamatsu-san hadn't done anything, we'd all be dead by now..." Tenko trailed off.

"Akamatsu-san saved everyone... We can't blame her." Gonta said.

"I know! You don't need to remind me!" Kokichi snapped. "That's why I'm so... pissed off! Pissed off at myself for being so... so useless!"

Shuichi sighed. "Ouma-kun... that's enough. I can see through your act."

"...Whoops. That obvious, huh?"

"But... Ouma-kun is right. I was being played. And I didn't even kill the mastermind. I killed one of our dear friends, instead... What I did was so terrible... So... unforgivable... I took an innocent life!" Kaede screamed out. "I'm nothing but a horrible murderer! You should all hate, blame and be disgusted by me!"

Shuichi panicked. "Akamatsu-san, please calm down!"

"...After we found Amami-kun's body, when I realized he wasn't the mastermind... I thought about ending this by confessing what I had done... But... I couldn't. Because of Monokumas first blood perk."

Ryoma nodded in understanding. "I see... if you had confessed there and then, you would've have been able to leave... But you decided you couldn't leave this place by yourself, so you kept quiet."

"Because of the first blood perk, you were forced to hide the truth from us." Kirumi added.

"Yeah, I did... If I did this for everyone, then instead of making things easier by confessing... I thought I should lie to you all, so it would motivate you to keep moving forward."

Shuichi looked down. "Is that the reason for this trial? To reveal the mastermind?"

Kaede nodded. "I felt like if I didn't do this, then Amami-kun's death would have been meaningless."

"We were searching for both culprit and mastermind during this class trial." Kiibo said.

"I never wanted to keep my crime a secret... I was going to tell you all eventually... But before I did, I wanted to expose the mastermind first... Then the killing game would have ended, and everyone but me would be saved. I thought that was the best way I could atone for killing Amami-kun."

Everyone fell silent and the tension became so thick when-

"...This is my fault. I was wrong. There was no mastermind..." Shuichi said weakly.

"You were wrong...? But didn't you say the mastermind was one of us?" Tsumugi questioned.

"That's what I thought at first... But in the end, we have nothing. No one made any moves at the time limit; the trial was useless."

"Even when Saihara-kun was about to be voted as the blackened... Still, they did not appear." Korekiyo said.

"If Akamatsu-chan had just kept her mouth shut, we'd all be dead right now. On the other hand, she's only in this mess cuz she decided to say something at that moment." Kokichi explained.

"I wanted to protect Akamatsu-san, but I also wanted to unmask the mastermind." Shuichi explained. "But even when the killer was about to be condemned, they remained hidden. That has to have meant that the mastermind is not among us after all."

Kaito looked shocked. "So Akamatsu had the wrong idea the whole time..."

"All her actions were taken under Saihara-kun's flawed logic." Korekiyo responded.

"All of this happened because my detective work was wrong." Shuichi diverted his attention to the ground. "If I hadn't been so stupid... If I had never said anything about a mastermind to Akamatsu-san... Amami-kun wouldn't have died... and Akamatsu-san wouldn't be a murderer!" Tears started to fall down Shuichi's face. "This is all my fault!"

"No, it's not!"

"Akamatsu-san?"

"I killed him. Not you... Right? Didn't I?"

"But, Akamatsu-san, why did you set such a convoluted trap? If your intent was to kill the mastermind, there was no reason for you to cover your tracks." Kiibo asked.

"Isn't it obvious? She did it because she didn't want to Saihara to know." Kaito answered.

Shock flashed across Shuichi's face. "Me?"

"Of course, but... I didn't want anyone else to know either. Because... I wanted to escape this place with everyone. But you guys wouldn't want to be friends with a girl who killed someone, would you?" Kaede said sadly, tears streaming down her face.

Tenko choked back a sob. "Akamatsu-san... put a lot of thought into this."

Kokichi sighed. "She put so much thought into this, it drove her to commit murder like a lunatic."

Miu clicked her tongue. "God, you're such a dumbass..."

Kaede nodded. "I know, right? I'm such an idiot..."

"We only survived the time limit because of the idiocy..." Ryoma said.

"Y-Yes! We're all still alive thanks to you!" Gonta exclaimed.

"Akamatsu-san... I didn't know how, but I wanted to get out of here with you. I wanted... us to be friends." Shuichi had more tears streaming down his face.

"I'm so sorry..." Kaede said weakly.

"So, you're saying... everything you did was because you were thinking of us?" Kaito questioned. "And you hid that you killed him just to stay and help us...? How did things-"

Monokuma cut him off. "Alright, alright, that's it!"

"Wh-What do you mean...? What do you mean that's it?"

"Father, are you getting bored?" Monokub asked.

"You know how Pops gets..." Monosuke pushed his glasses up. "He can't stand this kinda tearjerker schlock."

"I can't... stop... crying!" Monophanie sobbed.

"Teeheehee, I see nothing gets past my adorable little cubs! But we can't let this boring display grind the action to a halt, so... time to make things interesting."

"Make things interesting...?" Shuichi repeated.

"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! Punishment time!"

Ichika tilted her head. "You mean... Akamatsu-san's execution, don't you?"

"N-No friggin' way! There's no way we'll let you do that!" Kaito yelled.

Suddenly the Monokubs all called out in perfect unison. "Exisals assemble!"

Kaito, Tenko and Gonta all stood in front of the sixteen students as the five Exsials appeared before them, all ready to fight.

"Aaaaaaah!" Tsumugi let out a terrified scream.

"Punishment time is a sacred segment. You're not allowed to interfere." Monotaro stated matter-of-factly.

"And even if ya try to interfere, we'll just crush youse wit' these here exsial!" Monosuke exclaimed.

"I-It's cruel, but... it's better if one person dies instead of everyone..." Monophaine explained nervously.

"Like hell am I just gonna sit here and do what you say!" Kaito barked. "Akamatsu fought with her life on the line! And so will I!"

"I will face you all!" Gonta huffed and stood out in front of everyone. "It's for times like this that I became strong! A gentleman would never back down, so neither will I!"

"Th-This is the perfect chance to test out my Neo-Aikido skills on machines!"

Shuichi stepped forward. "Y-Yeah! I'll help! I can-"

"Everyone, stop!!!" Everything came to an abrupt halt at Kaede's outburst. "Please... Just stop. Enough, you guys... I've... already prepared myself."

"You're giving up...?" Shuichi said. "You said... you'd never give up... That we'd get out of here together. That's what you said Akamatsu-san... So why are you giving up now!? Did you mean what you said!?"

"I'm not giving up... Because I have you."

"What?"

"Even after I'm gone... My wish will still be here. So, I'm counting on you all! I'm entrusting my wish to every one of you!" Kaede looked at every student, filled with determination. "I believe in you! I believe that you all will make it through this, somehow. You guys better live! Don't go dying on me now! End this killing game, survive and get the hell out of this place."

Kiibo nodded. "Affirmative, Akamatsu-san."

"Yes, I will do my utmost to fulfil your final request." Kirumi agreed.

"I won't give up! I'll get the hell out of here! No matter what!" Tenko screamed.

"I work hard and keep all of you safe untill the very end!" Gonta nodded with a smile.

"Now then, let's get started!" Monokuma said. "I have a special punishment prepared for Akamatsu Kaede, the Ultimate Pianist!"

"W-Wait a second, Akamatsu-san, please, don't..." Shuichi sobbed.

"Saihara-kun, you better not lose. You can't lose to this killing game! I know you can beat it!"

"Let's give it everything we've got! Its... Punishment Time!"

"I believe in you guys! So please, believe in yourself! ...Okay?" Kaede shot the students one last smile. "It's a promise."

Monokuma brought down a hammer and slammed it on a red button.

***

"What...!" Kiibo looked like he was on the verge of a mental breakdown. "What in the world... Is that?!"

"A-Are you... fuckin'... kiddin' me!? Talk about overkill...!" Miu stammered out, looking incredibly disturbed.

Ichika's face went blank. "Geez... That's so gross."

"God... Please grant Akamatsu-san's soul in eternal rest." Angie prayed.

"I... I can't believe this happened to Akamatsu-chan... I liked her... s-so... m-m-muuuuuuch..." Kokichi cried. "WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! AKAAAAAMAAAATSSSSUUUU-CHAAAANNN!!!!!"

"Puhuhu! All this adrenaline creates such an exquisite feeling of despair!" Monokuma laughed. "It's moments like this that make all the killing worth it!"

"W-Why... are you doing such a terrible thing!" Tsumugi has tears rolling down her face exceptionally fast.

"You're the worst of the worst!" Tenko barked. "Does human life have no value to you at all!?"

"Hey, I know human life is precious. I'm not a monster y'know. Cuz if human life wasn't precious, ending it wouldn't be nearly as much fun!" Monokuma laughed again. "There's no greater joy than witnessing such a display of despair entertainment!"

"Kehehe... you've surpassed psychotic by a wide margin." Korekiyo glared darkly at Monokuma.

"...I don't think I've ever felt quite this... irritated." Ryoma glared at Monokuma.

"I...I won't forgive you for this! Got that!? I won't ever forgive you!" Kaito snarled.

"Spoken like a marked man!" Monokuma giggled.

"...Do you hate us?" Maki asked. "If so, have we done something to make you hate us?"

Monokuma tilted his head. "...Hate you? Puhuhu... Who can say? That's your job to figure out. If you really wanna know what's going on, you're gonna have to work for it... Though the corpse formerly known as Amami may have had a hunch."

"What do you mean? What was Amami-kun's hunch?" Kiibo asked.

"Puhuhu... What, indeed?"

"He did say he would end this killing game, and he also knew about the hidden door... Could that be at all related to this hunch you claim he had?"

"Puhuhu... I wonder..."

"Hey! What the hell's this hunch you're goin' on about!? Spill it!" Miu demanded.

"Puhuhu... I wonder..."

"If you have no intention of telling us... then keep your mouth shut." Maki snapped.

"You're focusing on Akamatsu instead of her deadweight victim. Well, it's not his fault he was useless. He died before his talent could be revealed. If he lived long enough to reveal it, maybe he would've been more useful... Oh well!" Monokuma chirped. "He's dead and that's that! That's the indifference of death for ya!"

Ryoma sighed. "He... wasn't really the mastermind, was he?"

"Huh? Are you *still* pestering me with these annoying questions!?" Monokuma growled. "Arent you guys focusing a little too much on whether or not there's a mastermind? If you keep this up, you're all gonna end up like Akamatsu."

"Wh-What!?" Kaito barked.

"..." Shuichi was crying to himself silently.

"Maybe spend less time worrying about nonsense and more time watching your back, okay? You never know who's gonna become the next killer." Monokuma giggled. "Ah, I can't wait! I wonder what kind of killing game we'll get to see next!"

Kokichi pouted. "Dammit! You may have gotten us this time, but we'll get you next time! You'll see!"

"Why are you all psyched up...?" Himiko grumbled underneath her hat.

Monokuma sighed happily. "It's nice to see at least one of you has some chutzpah around here. I have a feeling you're gonna live for a while."

"Thanks! I'll do my best!" Kokichi chirped.

"Shut the hell up! We're... not gonna have another killing game!" Kaito barked. "I, Momota Kaito, am not gonna let you have your way anymore! Got it!? I'm gonna punch that grin right off your face. For sure!"

"Oh, really...? That seems unlikely." Monokuma snickered. "I'm pretty sure you won't live long enough to do that."

"Krgh...!"

"Work hard and do your best to graduate! Cuz the fun's only just begun!" Monokuma and his cubs finally left the fifteen students in peace, only, the atmosphere surrounding them was hardly peaceful at all.

"I... I don't think I can take all this..." Tsumugi was shivering. "I can't stand this anymore... I-I feel like... I'm going to go crazy..."

"Shirogane-san, you mustn't give up hope." Kiruimi said.

"Is there even hope to be had here?" Korekiyo sighed. "The room feels utterly drained of it."

Gonta sobbed quietly. "Gh... Ergh... A-Akamatsu-san!"

"Wh-What kinda male d-delinquent... cries in p-public...? It's so r-rude..." Tenko cried.

"But, Chabashira-san, you're crying too." Kiibo commented.

Ryoma shook his head slowly. "Now's not the time to point that out, Kiibo. Just let it be."

"In times like these, we should pray for Akamatsu-san's soul so she can rest in peace." Angie put her hands together in a praying motion.

"H-How's anyone supposed to rest in peace after getting killed like *that*!?" Miu stuttered.

"Y-Yeah, I'd like to know, too..." Kokichi stared at the ground. "I'm so over this already..."

"Aaargh! Shut up! SHUT! UP! You all just need to SHUT UP!" All the students directed their attention to a fuming Kaito. "Every single one of you... and your meek little complaints... You're pissing me the hell off!!! But the ones who's pissing me off the most..." Kaito glared at Shuichi. "Is you! Saihara!"

"What!?"

That was all Shuichi was able to say before a defending pow was heard and Shuichi fell to the floor, a giant red mark on his cheek.

"Clench your teeth!" Kaito yelled.

"Momota-kun! You're supposed to say that *before* you hit him!" Kiibo exclaimed.

"Didn't you hear what Akamatsu said!?" Kaito barked. "She said... she believed in you! But what the hell's wrong with you!? You didn't say a damn thing to Monokuma! You call yourself a man!?"

"..." Shuichi remained silent.

"I just hit you! Aren't you pissed off!? What's your problem!?" Kaito yelled,