Akihiko didn’t look at anyone as the elevator went down. This is really happening…

        “Aki? Are you okay? You’re shaking.” It was Leon. 

         Akihiko didn’t look up. “I-I’m fine.” He clenched his fists. He’s not the killer, is he? Leon grabbed his hand.

         “You’re going to get out. You’re going to be okay. I know you’re not the killer.”

          Akihiko hesitantly squeezed his hand back. “Why did you say ‘you’? Not ‘we’?”

         “…” Leon took a deep breath. “I just misspoke. I know you’ll solve this case, boy genius.”

         “Okay!” Akihiko looked up and smiled brightly. “I trust you!” He’s not the killer, otherwise why would he comfort me like this?

         Once the elevator reached its destination, everyone filed out into what looked like a cartoon courtroom. It was gaudily decorated, with seventeen podiums in a circle with a throne against a wall. Everyone got behind a podium. 

         Akihiko stood next to an Xed out portrait of Junko. “Is this a joke?!” Akihiko seethed. “What do you think you’re doing?!”

           “I dunno what you mean, boy genius!” Monokuma said slyly, already on the throne. “Even if they’re dead, can’t leave a single classmate left out, can we?”

          “Ignoring the rather blatant disrespect for the dead, why are there seventeen podiums? There are only sixteen of us.” Kyoko asked.

          “Why not?”

          “It doesn’t make sense-“

          “You don’t make sense!” Monokuma shrieked, clearly enraged. “It’s just how the courtroom was made! It can fit a maximum of seventeen! It’s not that deep!” 

          He’s lying, but why? It’s not like we have any information to go on about a 17th student. 

          Composing himself, Monokuma explained the rules and then ordered the trial to begin.

          “All rise!” He said squeakily.

          There was a period of silence before Hina spoke up. “So…how do we do this?”

           Hagakure scratched his cheek. “Talk about alibis, maybe?”

            “You’re right,” Naegi nodded. “Who should go first?”

            “You, cuz you’re the culprit!” Mondo shouted.

            “Huh?” Naegi looked confused. “No, I’m not-“

             “She was killed in your room, was she not?” Togami asked.

            “Yes, but we switched rooms for the night!”

            “A likely story.” Togami scoffed. “Now try showing us some real evidence.”

Nonstop debate

Byakuya Togami: It is quite simple. Using your friendship between the two of you to lure her into your room. Then, while she was caught unawares in the bathroom, you killed her!

Makoto Naegi: I’m telling you, I didn’t! I’d never do that to Sayaka!

Aoi Asahina: Should we just go ahead and vote for him? I mean, he probably switched the nameplates himself to throw everyone off the scent.

Select Truth Bullet- - -> Invitation from Sayaka

Akihiko Momota: No, that’s wrong!

End

           Hina looked confused. “Huh? What do you mean, Akihiko-kun?”

           “Sayaka…was planning to kill someone.” Akihiko sighed.

           An uproar went throughout the room. “M-m-miss Cotton Candy singer w-wanted to k-k-k-kill someone?! You’re lying!” Toko pointed an accusing finger at Akihiko.

            “No, I’m not.” Akihiko said calmly. “We found a notepad with a page ripped out. Kyoko shaded the paper under it and a note appeared. It said, ‘Come to my room at night time. Make sure you check the nameplates to get the right room. I want to talk to you. Sayaka Maizono’. Why would she specifically say to check the nameplates if she hadn’t switched rooms with Naegi-senpai?”

              “That still does not disprove Naegi’s guilt.” Togami said angrily.

               “In fact it does.” Kyoko interjected. “If Sayaka wanted to kill Naegi, she wouldn’t have bothered with the note and just killed him in his room under the guise of wanting to switch rooms. Also, I found that the killer removed all the hairs from the floor. Why would they do that if it was their own room?”

               “And the door wasn’t locked, because it didn’t have a lock. My door gets jammed often, and takes a specific way to get it open. The killer didn’t know this, so they used a toolkit to take the doorknob off the door.” Naegi added.

               Hina nodded thoughtfully in agreement. “Sakura can back me up on this. Sayaka came to the dining hall while we were having tea. Sayaka passed it off as just needing to get a glass of water, but as she left, I saw her hide a knife. I thought it was just for self defense, but now that you mention it, I guess it wasn’t.” Hina looked down sadly.

             “Hina is right.” Sakura crossed her arms. “Did the note say the recipient’s name?”

              Kyoko shook her head. “Most likely, she just slipped it under a rather unfortunate person’s door. Although, currently, we have no clues to who that unfortunate person may be.”

               Celeste clapped her hands. “Well then! Back to alibis?”

Nonstop Debate 

Sakura Ogami: Hina and I, like she said before, were having tea in the dining hall. We parted ways slightly after night time, and went to bed. 

Aoi Asahina: Yeah! I was…a little shaken after what I saw in my motive video, so Sakura offered to make some tea to ease my worries. As we said, we saw Sayaka take the knife. We offered for her to join us, but she said no. But then Celeste joined us for a little bit.

Celestia Ludenburg: Indeed. I joined them for tea after roughly…8:30 I believe? Then at 9:00, I played a game of chess with Togami-kun.

Byakuya Togami: That is correct. Then, I went to bed. No use staying up late when I don’t have to. Also, the rather creepy author was stalking me for some reason.

Toko Fukawa: N-no I wasn’t!

Byakuya Togami: Yes, you were.

Leon Kuwata: Does that matter right now?! Anyways, Aki-kun and I hung out for a while. Then I stayed with him in his room until he fell asleep at about 10:45 and then I went to bed myself.

Select Truth Bullet - - -> (Cancel) 

Perjury+Consent?- - -> (Yes)

Akihiko Momota: (I must lie to find the truth!) That’s right!

End

        “Hm?” Leon looked confused. “I’m not lying.”

        “I know! I’m just backing you up. I don’t know exactly when I fell asleep, but when I looked at the clock last before going to sleep it was 10:30.” Akihiko nodded at everyone. Me and Leon can back up our alibis. Even though I don’t know what Leon’s playing at, lying in a situation like this, but I’ll support him.

         “Sorry, uhh, I don’t have much of an alibi. I was just looking for my crystal ball.” Hagakure scratched the back of his head.

         “He probably did it then!” Aoi exclaimed.

         “What? No!” 

         “The idiot would probably confess without even realizing it if he did, so he’s innocent.” Togami scoffed.

         “Thanks, Togami!” Then Hagakure processed what was said. “Hey! That was uncalled for!”

         “I was arguing with this jerk over here the whole time.” Mondo jabbed a finger in Ishimaru’s direction.

          “Indeed! Because you were being obstinate!”

          Before an argument could start, Akihiko quickly defused the situation. “Senpais, can you please resume your argument some other time? We need to figure out who the killer is.”

Nonstop Debate

Mondo Owada: Does anyone else have any clues?

Kyoko Kirigiri: We found a scrap of someone’s sleeve near the incinerator. It had blood on it.

Makoto Naegi: There was also Hagakure’s shattered glass ball there.

Yasuhiro Hagakure: Wait what?! I paid two hundred dollars for that!

Leon Kuwata: That doesn’t lead to anybody, does it? I guess we’re out of clues…

Makoto Naegi selected Truth Bullet 11037

Makoto Naegi: I’ll cut through your words!

End