Danganronpa D4 V4: Despair Jockeys

Closing Argument of Trial 3

"It all started as soon as the mushrooms kicked in. I was indeed in the nurse's office at the time. I was in the middle of collecting medicines for the rest of us when I began to notice the physical effects—the nausea and dizziness and whatnot—then the psychological symptoms set in. For me, it was thinking about just how far we've fallen. In only a couple weeks, we'd already lost five students to death, and the relationships between some of us are deeply fractured now. I was just. Filled. With. So. Much. Rage!" Noa gripped her podium, digging her nails deeper with every word.

"I just couldn't control myself! I simply had to do something! To act! Not stay still! And that was when I got the idea to purge all of the ugliness from the world, and Aoi acted as a catalyst. By the time I was ready to leave the nurse's office, she was also leaving the academy, having deposited Hiiro in her dorm. I intercepted Aoi as she raced to Tsubaki's aid, and it inspired me to look beyond appearances and judge by hearts. That was when I came up with the idea of the tests. If they survived the attack, it proved that their Hope was stronger than Despair and Death.

"We already discussed how I attacked Aoi, and how that was only the beginning. In my effort to be as equal as possible, I wished to move through every unit, taking one member at a time. Miyu was spared only because she punished and tested herself. M4, I had no idea were in the dorms. I, myself, was the representative of Photon, as this trial has been my test. Esora and Rei were next, random chance."

Esora grit her teeth, a soft growl in the very back of her throat as she tightened her hands around her podium railing as well. Fuck you, Nozomi.

It is all your fault, Shimizu. Did you know that? I simply told her the truth, that you were on my list, and she BEGGED me to split some of the cost with her. I've never seen her so angry before. I've seldom seen anyone than angry before. She attacked me, and forced me to defend myself. She was not originally supposed to be the sacrifice of Hapiara. That would've been Akashi, had I had MY way. But you, Shimizu... That is why her wound was so brutal. She was bearing more sins than belonged to her. A noble offer, though she wasn't strong or Hopeful enough.

"After Esora and Rei, it was time for me to begin the cycle anew, and Hiiro was my next choice. As she alluded to before, I summoned her out with a text message. Esora, Shinobu, Muni, and any other technologically inclined, feel free to try and see how I was able to send the anonymous text. It was at about this time that I finally got the idea to try to kill multiple birds with one stone, literally. Instead of hunting each of you down one by one, if I could design the perfect Ultimate Trap, it would wipe everyone out equally, including myself.

"It is both comedy and tragedy; I left clues behind in case my machinations proved invisible to you, and yet even some of the clues were missed! Yes, I left the bottle cap beneath Aoi. It is in far too conspicuous a location to have been accidental. There was another, rather large clue that no one picked up on; however, I do not fully fault anyone, for it was revealed during a most distressing period. If you recall, the north wall of the academy is covered in pipes, tubing, machinery, wiring, air and water purifiers, vents, you get the picture. Well, not all of that used to be there...

"When I finally got the idea to take out the whole class in one fell swoop, I knew I would need a mass killer that was silent and invisible. Gas was a perfect choice, in specific, carbon monoxide. Some of the tubing and piping on the north wall of the academy was added by me to change the flow of the air. Remember all those plastic pipes and sheets from the construction sites? That's where I got the rope to tie Aoi up. Also yes, that is indeed where I hid Rei's leg," she added with a grim, dark smile.

The Ultimate Pianist's limb was currently hidden inside one of the pipes attached to the academy's north wall. It was a disturbing thought, and all of the students, especially Hapiara and Esora, looked ready to kill Noa on the spot. But Noa wasn't done yet. "While the rest of you were either hidden in your dorms or lost in the forest, I had free range to come and go from the academy as I pleased, grabbing whatever supplies I needed along the way as well. That included all the cloth and changes of clothes I needed. It was a very messy night.