Ichika burst out laughing. "Ah-hahahaha, don't be ridiculous Saihara-san!"

Shuichi blinked. "Huh?"

"Geez, do I really need to explain? I was locked in the storage room the whole time, remember? It was locked from the outside, and there were no windows in the room. How could I have possibly gotten out?"

Himiko nodded. "That's true... The door could only be locked from the outside as well."

"..." Shuichi looked deep in thought. "What if... you weren't actually 'trapped' in the storage room?"

"Wait a minute, that doesn't make sense!" Tsumugi cried out. "The room could only be locked on the outside!"

Kiibo nodded. "Aki-san had no way of getting out of the room. She tried to kick the door down but not even that worked."

"No, Aki-san did not try to kick the door down." Shuichi interrupted.

"H-Huh?"

"When I investigated the room she was 'trapped' in, I found that the door in the room is made of material, that if kicked to hit, leaves marks behind easily. I even tried kicking at it and it left a small, but definitely noticeable, mark in the door. When all of us first entered the room, the door was spotless. It had no dents or footprint markings."

"Now now, how does that prove I know more than I'm letting on?" Ichika asked, tilting her head. "Alright, I admit... I lied about trying to kick the door down, but that was because I didn't want Ouma-san to find out what I was doing and try and stop me."

"That does seem like a logical course of action to take..." Kiibo muttered.

Shuichi narrowed his eyes. "...But why would you lie about that?"

"..." Ichika looked at the ground. "Because I was worried that... you guys would think of me as a coward for not trying to get out at all. Especially when a murder happened right under my nose."

"But, with Ouma-kun right outside... I doubt any of us would do that." Tsumugi commented.

Ichika sighed. "Besides, aside from the door, there are no other clues-"

"Yes, there is." Shuichi interrupted. "Aki-san, if you really have nothing to do with this case, then... can you repeat what you said when you were investigating the shutter?"

"What? Why?"

"If you really don't know anything, you should have no problem saying it again, right?" Shuichi narrowed his eyes at the girl.

"..." Ichika raised an eyebrow. "I said, 'Then she probably has something to do with the murder then... Anyway, let's move on'." She tiled her head. "Is that what you wanted?"

"What did you mean by... 'she'?" Shuichi asked.

"Hm?"

"We separated when we were outside the hangar. You weren't there when Kiibo-kun told me about Yumeno-san going to the hangar and I used the pronouns 'they' to tell you about it... So how did you know that the person who went to the hangar was female?"

"S-She knew!?" Himiko gawked.

"That is... rather strange..." Maki muttered.

"It was a simple process of elimination." Ichika crossed her arms. "Kiibo-san was the witness, and he told you what he saw, indicating that you weren't the one who's went to the hangar. Ouma-san and Momota-san were both *in* the hangar, so that means it was only possible for a girl to be the one he witnessed."

"Maybe, but that's not all. On the topic of Yumeno-san, how did you know that she only brought one arrow?"

"Eh?"

"You said that Yumeno-san brought only one arrow to Momota-kun, before she even said anything about arrows. So how did you know that she brought a single arrow?"

"N-Nyeh!? M-Maybe Ichika just used magic?" Himiko suggested.

Ichika shrugged. "That was just a lucky guess. Besides, isn't it logical to assume he brought one? He didn't want to fight, and he's so *obviously* not the type to commit murder that he wouldn't ask for more than one."

"But that's still a ridiculous assumption!" Kiibo cried out. "Going off on your own interpretation is highly dangerous-"

"Anyways!" Ichika clapped her hands together with a big smile, cutting Kiibo off. "Enough of this topic. I've already told you that I don't have anything to do with this murder-"

"Yes, you do." Shuichi said, gripping onto his podium. "Your behaviour has been abnormal throughout this trial and the whole investigation. You were the one who brought up the third party when we were investigating the bathroom because you knew. You knew that there was a third party from the start. In fact, during this trial... you've been hinting at the fact that Harukawa-san was the third party, weren't yo-"

"No, that's wrong." Ichika cut Shuichi off and sighed. "Saihara-san, I don't understand where you're getting at, but it's starting to annoy me. The room I was trapped in was locked from the outside, and the key was also outside. I had no way of getting out, so there's no way I would know anything."

"But the information you've been giving us, and your allegations have so far been strangely correct. You've said things that you shouldn't know if you were really trapped in the storage room."

Ichika waved her hand dismissively. "Those were all just lucky guesses. You don't have any real proof that I was involved in this case."

"Yes, I do!" Shuichi shouted over Ichika. "There's one piece of evidence that shows that you were clearly a part of this murder!"

"D-Does something like that really exist!?" Tsumugi cried out.

"What is it, then?" Maki asked.

"A piece of hair." Shuichi showed the students a long brown piece of hair. "This was found near the broken power cord of the hydraulic press. Aki-san is the only person here who has light brown hair. She didn't go near the power cord during the investigation and she shouldn't have been near the press if she was really trapped in the room. The hair was also tangled up in the wires, so there's no way it just fell out. Meaning that she must have been the one who ripped the power cord, which would only be possible if she was at the press at the time of the murder."

"A-Aki-san... is this true?" Kiibo asked nervously.

"..." Ichika was silent.

"B-But why!?" Tsumugi cried out. "Is Aki-san... Is she the culprit!?"

"N-No! No she can't be the culprit! We must have made a mistake!" Himiko cried out.

"..."

"Did you... were you the one who killed Momota?" Maki demanded, her glare at Ichika cold and spiteful.

"..." Ichika let out a defeated sigh and gave Shuichi a small smile. "...I shouldn't have expected less from you, Saihara-san. You really are amazing, being able to figure that out..."

"So do you... admit to it?" Shuichi asked uncertainly.

Ichika looked down sadly. "Yet... You're so focused on the truth, Saihara-san. So much that you've blocked out all other potential avenues..."

"Huh?"

Ichika's face fell blank. "I guess that really does explain why you're nothing more than an apprentice."

Shuichi blinked in shock. "W-What...!?"

"Chasing after this truth you adore so much, sticking so closely with the rules of this killing game. Was it not these so-called 'rules' that took away our friends? Murdered and executed them?"

"What are you even saying, you brat." Maki snapped.

Kokichi next to Ichika giggled along with her. "Hehehe... Wasn't it the truth that killed Akamatsu-san, Gokuhara-san... all of them?" The two spoke in perfect sync with one another.

"Aki-san!?" Kiibo pointed at the Exisal. "Why are you speaking in sync with Ouma-kun!?"

"..." Ichika's face was blank and she remained silent for a bit. "Pfft-" Then her face broke out into a twisted grin. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Himiko recoiled. "Ichika!?"

"Aki-san!? What's wrong with you!?" Tsumugi cried out.

"Aaah, such horrified faces you guys all have displayed, just for little old me..." Ichika directed her wide, unsettling grin at Shuichi. "Well, my darling detective? Have you figured out the truth I've hidden from you all yet?"

Shuichi blinked. "Truth...?"

"Come onnnn! We both just gave you such a huuuuuuuuge hint!" Kokichi whined.

"..." Shuichi took a step back. "N-No... Aki-san, are you really... on Ouma-kun's side!?"

A wide grin spread across Ichika's face. "Nyufufu..."

"Wait a minute, Ouma-kun! Is she really an ally of yours!? Was she actually involved in the murder!?" Kiibo exclaimed.

Kokichi laughed maniacally. "Well this trial certainty got a lot more interesting! I guess there's no point hiding it anymore. Yup! Aki-chan was indeed involved in this murder! She's my beloved accomplice afterall!"

"N-No way... R-Really...?" Himiko stuttered, her voice quiet.

"Oh, but don't worry, she didn't actually commit the murder. She just helped me out!"

"She... didn't kill Momota-kun?" Shuichi placed a hand on his chin.

"I mean, I could have."Ichika grinned maliciously. "I was in the hangar at the time of the murder, after all." She looked over at Kokichi. "Now now Ouma-San, no need to cover for me." She giggled.

"Awww, but then the trial will be boring if you just confess!" Kokichi whined.

Tsumugi shivered. "So you two really are working together..."

"Yeah, since you found me out, I guess now is a good time to confess my crime and such." Ichika sighed, a bored expression on her face.

"Confess... your crime?" Shuichi repeated, looking a bit confused.

Maki's eyes widened and her face went dark. "So you... You did kill Momota-!? How did you-!?"

"Nyufufu..." Ichika smiled widely. "Yupppers! That's right! I killed him. I killed Momota-san."

"Y-You did!?" Kiibo cried out. "Why would you... do such a thing!?"

"Why, to spice up the killing game!" Ichika's smirk grew wide and morbid. "After all, I am the *real* traitor, y'know."

"H-Huh...?" Himiko blinked.

"Real traitor!?" Shuichi exclaimed. "What are you saying?"

"Isn't Ouma-kun the traitor!?" Kiibo pointed at the Exisal.

Ichika pressed her fingers together. "Oooh my darling detective... Tell me, why would the mastermind refer to themselves as the traitor? Isn't the concept of 'mastermind' enough? Why would a mastermind need to add an extra layer to their title?"

Shuichi took a step back in horror. "So then... Ouma-kun calling himself a traitor was just a cover-up for you!?"

"But of course!" Ichika smirked. "About time you figured that out."

"How long have you been on his side!?" Kiibo barked. "W-Was everything a lie!?" He gave Ichika a disappointed look. "Was our friendship... a lie?"

"..." Ichika smiled. "Awww, is the little robot sad? Well that's just too bad. I've been a traitor and on Ouma-san's side, for a long while now. After all... is this not a game of murder? A game that is full of lies and deception. You should've all paid more attention and played this game more seriously." Ichika shot the others a sinister smile. "After all...maybe then you wouldn't have become friends with a traitor."

"...N-No..." Himiko's shoulders shook as she looked down at the ground.

"How could you..." Shuichi glared at Ichika, tightly gripping the podium in front of him. "We all trusted you! You helped us in previous trials! And yet all along you were just a traitor!?"

"Now now, no need to get too riled up, pretty boy." Ichika giggled. "How interesting... None of you guys actually ever suspected me to be a traitor, huh? This small, petite, childish girl..." Her grin turned manic. "Who would've ever guessed I would be the one to betray you guys, ah-hahahahahahaha!" Ichika sent a smug grin over at Shuichi. "Oh how this has become quite a problem for you, Saihara-san. Now you have to fight against someone you once thought was on *your* side."

Shuichi paused, noticing Ichika glancing in another direction when she said her final line, her gaze not focused on Shuichi. You say that I have to fight you, yet you aren't focused on me, or anyone else here... Where are you looking...? He thought, narrowing his eyes.

"Well Saihara-chan? Are you ready because this exciting trial has just begun! I can't wait to see how you'll fare against the mastermind and his traitor!" Kokichi laughed.

"..." Shuichi gulped as he stared at Ichika, who just smiled maliciously at him.

"Shut up and tell us how you killed Momota, you filthy traitor!" Maki barked, slamming her fist into her podium. "Hurry up!"

"Alright alright." Ichika rolled her eyes. "How impatient. Well, you see, right after Harukawa-san poisoned Momota-san, I came out of hiding, took him to the press with Ouma-kun, and crushed him to put him out of his misery after being poisoned by his own murderous 'friend'. I also did it to make his death as meaningless as possible!"

"M-Meaningless...!?" Shuichi's eyes widened in horror.

Ichika's face broke out into a morbid grin. "I did it to teach you a lesson, Harukawa-san. Killers like you shouldn't help anyone, you'll just make everything worse. So by doing this, it'll technically be all your fault that Momota-san and I died such meaningless deaths, and Ouma-san, the one you're so desperately trying to kill, survives."

"Wh-What kind of sadistic plan is that!?" Tsumugi yelled.

"Nyufufu... You should never underestimate a person's capacity for malice." Ichika's smirked evilly. "The general plan was just to make you think it was either Harukawa-san or Ouma-san, but when in reality... it was me! Ichika!"

"S-So you're... You're really the true culprit...?" Himiko stammered out.

Ichika sighed. "You weren't supposed to find out... And to think the plan was going so smoothly. But oh well, seems like Saihara-san was too smart for me~"

"So you admit to your crime?" Kiibo asked.

"Mmhm." Ichika nodded and rested her cheek in her palm. "Such a shame... Really, such a shame."

"You're admitting to it... very easily." Shuichi said suspiciously.

"You see, the moment the theory of me being a part of the murder surfaced, it was, unfortunately, game over for me. I mean... There's no point fighting the truth, right?" Ichika grinned dangerously.

"Awww man, Aki-chan! You've made the game boring now!" Kokichi groaned.

"That's not the issue here!" Himiko cried out.

"Well, I've heard enough." Maki snapped. "You admitted to killing Momota, so let's start the voting."

"Oh? *Now* you're saying you're not the culprit again, Harukawa-san?" Ichika snickered. "Oh, isn't that so strange... considering how convinced you were the culprit before."

"But you just admitted it. You crushed him before the poison killed him." Maki snapped.

"Ah-hahaha, true, true. But I think I probably should have let him die by poison." Ichika sighed.

Shuichi blinked. "What...?"

"You see, being crushed by a hydraulic press is actually preeeeetty damn painful." Kokichi added. "C'mon now, aren't you someone who specializes in murder? You should know this!" He laughed.

"It's all thanks to you Momota-san died an agonizing death. If you just didn't try and 'help' in the most murderous fashion, then I wouldn't have needed to kill Momota-san. If you had only seen his last moments and how pathetic they were, then you'd understand just how stupid you were." Ichika grinned morbidly.

Maki's eyes widened. "Wh-What did you... just say...?"

"Aki-san, enough! That's too far!" Kiibo snapped.

"Y-You talk... as if you had to kill him you... you..." Maki glared at Ichika, her glare filled with nothing but hatred and malice. "You fucking twisted brat!"

"Now now... let's calm down. I needed to kill him to make sure his death is as meaningless as possible." Ichika grinned evilly. "Ah-hahahahahaha! A meaningless death for a meaningless person! How fitting!"

Shuichi's face paled. "M-Meaningless...!?"

"What is wrong with you!?" Tsumugi cried out. "How could you say that!?"

"Don't you... dare call him... meaningless!!! I'll fucking kill you! I swear I'll kill you!" Maki yelled. Her glare at Ichika screamed hatred and murder. Without a second thought, Maki ran at Ichika's podium, hand outstretched and tried to grab the girl by the neck.

Ichika's eyes widened momentarily before she quickly jumped out of her podium and into the centre of the trial room. Maki reached Ichika's podium and gripped onto it, still glaring at Ichika with intense hatred.

"Ah-hahaha! Wow, you truly are nothing but a killer, huh?"

"Big words coming from *you*! I don't care anymore. I'll definitely kill you with my own two hands!" Maki growled dangerously.

"You're dumber than I thought." Ichika gave Maki an unamused expression. "It was because of your desire to kill, that you screwed everything up for everyone here. If you kill me, then not only Momota-san's, but yours and my deaths will also be meaningless." She grinned maliciously at Maki. "So just shut up. Don't make things any more meaningless than they already are."

"Y-You..." Maki clenched her fist and punched the podium "Brat! I'll definitely-!"

"Aw, poor Harumaki. Well then, if you really want to kill me that badly..." Ichika walked up to Maki and grabbed one of her hands before she could react.

Maki was about to jerk it away when Ichika placed her hand to her throat. "H-Huh...? What-"

Ichika smiled innocently. "Then go on. Kill me."

Maki's eyes widened. "Wh-What are you doing...?" She yelled, yet her shock was preventing her from either moving her hand or tightening her hold around Ichika's neck. "What twisted games are you playing at now, brat!?"

Himiko's eyes widened. "Ichika!?"

"Aki-chan, what are you doing!?" Kokichi asked.

"I know you want to kill me after taking away your *beloved* Momota-san. I know you hate me so..." Ichika looked up her Maki, her eyes swirling with insanity and a horrifying expression on her face. "Why don't you just kill me now? I know that you know you can easily break my neck right now. Ah-hahahahhahaha! Go on! Kill me! Kill me and show the others what you really are, Harukawa-san!"

"Y-You-!" Maki's grip started to tighten when-

"Woah woah woah! Ladies ladies, cool your jets!" Kokichi butted in. "Can't have you two killing each other before the fun starts!"

"Aki-san, Harukawa-san! Enough!" Kiibo shouted at the top of his voice.

"Harukawa! Please let her go! Don't kill her!" Himiko cried out.

"Harukawa-san, I understand how you feel, but this isn't the way to solve it!" Shuichi shouted.

"..." Maki growled and threw Ichika to the floor.

"Aw man! I was so close..." Ichika pouted.

"Hey, hey! You two ladies, while this is a nice catfight, you two need to return to your podiums, now!" Monokuma barked.

Maki glared at Monokuma. "Shut up-!"

"Hey now, we should listen to Monokuma. After all, he's the headmaster of this academy and the one who's in control... Right, Monokuma?" Ichika turned back to Monokuma and smirked.

"...Just get back to your podiums before I do something I won't regret." Monokuma snarled, brandishing his claws.

"..." Maki gritted her teeth and reluctantly returned to her podium. Ichika did the same with a happy smile on her face.

"Phew, thank god that's over!" Ichika chirped. "Now that that's all outta the way... Monokuma, mind starting the voting now?"

"What!? No, wait, there are still things we need to talk about!" Shuichi shouted.

Kiibo nodded. "I agree, it's dangerous to jump to conclusions. We need to discuss this more before deciding on the culprit."

"But... Aki-san just said that she's the culprit, didn't she? So can't we just end this?" Tsumugi said.

"No, that can't be true! Ichika... She's not the culprit!" Himiko yelled. "There's got to be something we're missing!"