Murder Game XIV: Monokuma's Awakening

[LuckycoolHawk9]

Stiles was done with these trials, done with thes false promises. He wasn't even shocked that the detective was a killer. He paused and knew what he had to choose. "I have already killed two people,both direcrtly and indirectly.Self Defense and possession was a factor in those insistences.My point is that killing someone is not the answer. I vote to save Holder. I doubt our headmaster is teling the truth, it almost seems identical to the situation Diana mentioned earlier,I believe the right choice is the wrong one."

Forgive me Scott,Lydia and Malia if I picked wrong. I love you dad.

@Atomyk @everyone

 

[Jeremi]

"Never trust a friendly cop." Poison spoke aloud to no one in particular. This entire situation had been taxing on her mind and body. The last few hours had been like a blur to her, but with Junko's arrival she had once again awoken from her stupor and decided to speak her mind.

"I'm just sayin'...you don't know what they're plannin'."

 

[Josh M]

Honda lowered his head, gripping the podium as this all became revealed. Holder...a man he trusted, respected! And he had a chance to save his life, grant him mercy...but at the cost of killing everyone else. Leaving them to darkness. Wanda, Poison, Jack, Genji, Zenyatta, Chikage, Nono, Jude, Kyoko...they would all be vessels of darkness.

"Holder." Honda looked to the man he investigated with at every opportunity. "You are a good man. Noble, really. I understand why you did this, and don't respect you less. But. You still killed a man, rather than..."

Don't execute them, they should go to jail!

Bolin...even now he was clear in Honda's mind, a victim of their situation. Would he, like Wanda, return? Honda hoped so. But now... "You took justice into your own hands. Daniel Cain did the same. Neon Katt did the same. They all paid the price their actions bought them. And for the sake of everyone here..." He closed his eyes, needing a moment to form the words he needed to say. Taking a deep breath he opened his eyes.

"...I vote for execution."

@Atomyk​

"I vote spare him."

Wanda turned from Genji and to Honda.

"Edmond, I killed Bolin. I took justice against the bear and someone got hurt. Should I die? I am not saying what he did was right, because it wasn't. But should he really die?"


@Atomyk @york @Verite @Crow @Kaykay @Gummi Bunnies @Klutzy Ninja Kitty

 

[Yun Lee]

"I vote spare him."

Wanda turned from Genji and to Honda.

"Edmond, I killed Bolin. I took justice against the bear and someone got hurt. Should I die? I am not saying what he did was right, because it wasn't. But should he really die?"


@Atomyk @york @Verite @Crow @Kaykay @Gummi Bunnies @Klutzy Ninja Kitty

Honda shook his head. "No," he admitted. "No one deserved to die, not even Klim. At least, it wasn't our place to decide that. Just because no one else could be spared doesn't mean that he shouldn't be." He sighed. "But...I just don't want us to fail. That bear is unpredictable! I want everyone to get out of here more than anything. If we can do that, and spare Holder...then I'm all for it!""
​

@Josh M

 

[DapperDogman]

Continued from here.

"Huh..." Junko scoffed at the votes, turning to watch as they lit up on the monitors. "Currently a tie, huh? You guys are as conflicted as usual, I see. Wouldn't it have been amazing had you started with a pro detective on your side? You know, one of those nosy types who puts their noses in everyone's business..."

Junko turned back to face Kyoko, a smile forming on her lips.

"Soooo... cuuuute!! Cuuute~! Darling Kyoko thinks she has a point to make! How have I been beaten when we're already in the endgame? It's practically the epilogue! Hope didn't bring us to this point, despair did! How can you start to argue otherwise now... when you've given into despair this whole time?"

Junko leaned forward, licking her lips. Her eyes widened as if she was staring into Kyoko's soul. "The Ultimate Detective has kept her talent a secret this whole game, all because she was so afraid of what might happen otherwise! She let me force this secret upon her, which was for the best! Otherwise, if she had full access to her talents, she might have solved all those murders easy-peasy! It would have been so hopeful... so boring! All those murders solved in a boring progression of predictable success!"

Junko leaned her head back suddenly and barked out a laugh. Monokuma joined her, their laughter echoing throughout the room. "With no nosy detective sticking her business in things, the situations laid out before you caused you to panic. It got right up in there! No confidence, no hope... and Kyoko Kirigiri let it happen!"

After Junko's speech, the votes updates, revealing the vote was no longer a tie and that Stephen Holder was at the top of the list. The man only stared at the monitors.

"Look at that! You think it's time to call it?"

"... Wait."

Shaking his head, Holder closed his eyes. He raised a hand to his head, grumbling as he ran it through his hair. "Okay. Enough of all this. Yeah, I killed the guy. I killed Mark Jefferson."

"W-Wait... really? Holder, please don't joke--"

"I ain't lyin', lil' detective. Was investigating the girls and the clues led me to that scumbag. Found his bunker... found his files. I don't even know what I was thinking. Arranged a meeting with him at the casino. Took it outside, where I talked him into confessing. Fucker said he liked it... said that makin' those girls vulnerable gave him a sense of power that nothing else compared to. Lil' B's friend, Stan's kid... all five of those girls, tossed into the lake."

"No... no, you can't be saying what I think you're saying." Stan was shaking his head, on the verge of tears. "Rosie... Oh, god, Rosie...!" Sobs wracked Stan's body as he collapsed to his knees. He grabbed at the podium to pitifully pull himself up, but the man couldn't gather his strength. He wept openly in the trial room, caring little for all the prying eyes.

"Gee... a confession! A little boring, don't you think? I guess it makes the final vote all the more exciting!" Monokuma clapped his hands together and the votes on the monitor disappeared, only to be replaced with two words.

Execute

Save

"Gyah-heh! What do you think? Simple, right? All this talk of justice you chumps spew, it's time to put it to the test! This man has killed another human being, and you may think he was justified... but was he? Essentially, he executed someone without a fair trial! I at least offer you a class trial... If you think these class trials so wrong, these executions... you must decree that this man be executed without a moment's notice!"

"It probably helps knowing that sparing him means you will have failed this final trial."

Holder was almost at a loss for words. "Those girls... I killed him. I'm sorry. To keep my secret, I would have also had to keep Jefferson's secret as well. The bodies of those girls may have never been discovered."

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @DapperDogman @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @DBZ7 @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty

@FinalVote​

The colossal knight that had remained in silent contemplation stood slowly, his teeth grinding together in anger as he takes several steps toward Holder, his fist clenched tightly as he takes an uneven breath

"What this man did...Killing Jefferson..." He pauses, turning to face the others "I believe it was justified."

"You, Zinnia." he says, pointing to her, his voice calm, but clearly filled with a certain admiration for the man. "How would you feel if this was the man who killed your family? Would you not strike him down as you did that corpse in the University?" he looked to Jack for his own input on the situation, knowing he mattered to Zinnia, and thus could either aid in swaying her, or cause her to hold fast her current choice

"I would sooner die myself than damn him for doing the right thing" he adds, standing firm

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @Atomyk @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

 

[Crimson Spartan]

Continued from here.

"Huh..." Junko scoffed at the votes, turning to watch as they lit up on the monitors. "Currently a tie, huh? You guys are as conflicted as usual, I see. Wouldn't it have been amazing had you started with a pro detective on your side? You know, one of those nosy types who puts their noses in everyone's business..."

Junko turned back to face Kyoko, a smile forming on her lips.

"Soooo... cuuuute!! Cuuute~! Darling Kyoko thinks she has a point to make! How have I been beaten when we're already in the endgame? It's practically the epilogue! Hope didn't bring us to this point, despair did! How can you start to argue otherwise now... when you've given into despair this whole time?"

Junko leaned forward, licking her lips. Her eyes widened as if she was staring into Kyoko's soul. "The Ultimate Detective has kept her talent a secret this whole game, all because she was so afraid of what might happen otherwise! She let me force this secret upon her, which was for the best! Otherwise, if she had full access to her talents, she might have solved all those murders easy-peasy! It would have been so hopeful... so boring! All those murders solved in a boring progression of predictable success!"

Junko leaned her head back suddenly and barked out a laugh. Monokuma joined her, their laughter echoing throughout the room. "With no nosy detective sticking her business in things, the situations laid out before you caused you to panic. It got right up in there! No confidence, no hope... and Kyoko Kirigiri let it happen!"

After Junko's speech, the votes updates, revealing the vote was no longer a tie and that Stephen Holder was at the top of the list. The man only stared at the monitors.

"Look at that! You think it's time to call it?"

"... Wait."

Shaking his head, Holder closed his eyes. He raised a hand to his head, grumbling as he ran it through his hair. "Okay. Enough of all this. Yeah, I killed the guy. I killed Mark Jefferson."

"W-Wait... really? Holder, please don't joke--"

"I ain't lyin', lil' detective. Was investigating the girls and the clues led me to that scumbag. Found his bunker... found his files. I don't even know what I was thinking. Arranged a meeting with him at the casino. Took it outside, where I talked him into confessing. Fucker said he liked it... said that makin' those girls vulnerable gave him a sense of power that nothing else compared to. Lil' B's friend, Stan's kid... all five of those girls, tossed into the lake."

"No... no, you can't be saying what I think you're saying." Stan was shaking his head, on the verge of tears. "Rosie... Oh, god, Rosie...!" Sobs wracked Stan's body as he collapsed to his knees. He grabbed at the podium to pitifully pull himself up, but the man couldn't gather his strength. He wept openly in the trial room, caring little for all the prying eyes.

"Gee... a confession! A little boring, don't you think? I guess it makes the final vote all the more exciting!" Monokuma clapped his hands together and the votes on the monitor disappeared, only to be replaced with two words.

Execute

Save

"Gyah-heh! What do you think? Simple, right? All this talk of justice you chumps spew, it's time to put it to the test! This man has killed another human being, and you may think he was justified... but was he? Essentially, he executed someone without a fair trial! I at least offer you a class trial... If you think these class trials so wrong, these executions... you must decree that this man be executed without a moment's notice!"

"It probably helps knowing that sparing him means you will have failed this final trial."

Holder was almost at a loss for words. "Those girls... I killed him. I'm sorry. To keep my secret, I would have also had to keep Jefferson's secret as well. The bodies of those girls may have never been discovered."

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @DapperDogman @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @DBZ7 @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty

@FinalVote​

Well for Sledge... This choice was rather easy. Glancing at Holder Sledge knew that the two were under similar circumstances... The hundreds of terrosits he's killed was all justified... but that didn't mean they didn't have families back home. The same goes for Mark Jefferson in a way... In Holder's shoes Sledge probably would've also killed Mark as he saw it...

"Oi... I choose to save Holder.. I'd be a hypocrite if I voted to kill him with all that i've done in my time.. All the people i've killed that were 'justified'.... Hell even if I die here it won't matter much... Back home my squad will just find someone to take my place.. Maybe Thatcher.."

@Atomyk @Those Around​

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

The colossal knight that had remained in silent contemplation stood slowly, his teeth grinding together in anger as he takes several steps toward Holder, his fist clenched tightly as he takes an uneven breath

"What this man did...Killing Jefferson..." He pauses, turning to face the others "I believe it was justified."

"You, Zinnia." he says, pointing to her, his voice calm, but clearly filled with a certain admiration for the man. "How would you feel if this was the man who killed your family? Would you not strike him down as you did that corpse in the University?" he looked to Jack for his own input on the situation, knowing he mattered to Zinnia, and thus could either aid in swaying her, or cause her to hold fast her current choice

"I would sooner die myself than damn him for doing the right thing" he adds, standing firm

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @Atomyk @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

As Darv looked to Jack, the samurai shook his head in disagreement. Had Holder been in the right for striking down Jefferson, a sick man who needed to be removed? Perhaps in the gods' eyes, and for certain in his own mind. Yet he had invoked vigilante justice, retribution outside the command of the righteous system of law. Why could he not have reported Jefferson to those strange writers for informative papers? There had to have been another means of stopping Jefferson when it was clear that there were still good people who wished to catch Jefferson.

Jack had seen many vigilantes in his journeys, both men of righteousness and men who fought for personal reasons. He himself was a warrior who struck down evil when there was no one else to protect the people. Yet in his world, there was no alternative for their work. Even the act of intimidating bandits only scared them off for a few months, and to prevent raiding and death by them, a clash was required. Yet in this world, there seemed to be many quiet individuals who knew of Jefferson's perversion. There had to be ways to stop his actions without lawless murder, falling to the man's level.

"I am sorry, but... he must pay for his crime. Righteous or not, it was the taking of another's life when there were other avenues to pursue."

@Atomyk @Klutzy Nina Kitty @DapperDogman​

 

[Atomyk]

Holder looked to Nono, but he seemed to be staring past her and looking far into the distance. "Me? No. Don't got anyone. Wasted most of my life shooting crap into my veins. Pushed my sis' away, so much so that she..." He shifted, one of his hands reaching out to grab at the podium in front of him. He sat there a few seconds, thinking and letting the ongoing debates wash over him. He seemed to whisper a name or two under his breath.

"... Yeah, I guess I got a few who'll care. Not many. Not enough for me dying to be a big deal. They'll get over it." Holder smiled and lifted his hand to point to himself. "It's just me, after all."

@Crow

@FinalVote
​

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

The colossal knight that had remained in silent contemplation stood slowly, his teeth grinding together in anger as he takes several steps toward Holder, his fist clenched tightly as he takes an uneven breath

"What this man did...Killing Jefferson..." He pauses, turning to face the others "I believe it was justified."

"You, Zinnia." he says, pointing to her, his voice calm, but clearly filled with a certain admiration for the man. "How would you feel if this was the man who killed your family? Would you not strike him down as you did that corpse in the University?" he looked to Jack for his own input on the situation, knowing he mattered to Zinnia, and thus could either aid in swaying her, or cause her to hold fast her current choice

"I would sooner die myself than damn him for doing the right thing" he adds, standing firm

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @Atomyk @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

As Darv looked to Jack, the samurai shook his head in disagreement. Had Holder been in the right for striking down Jefferson, a sick man who needed to be removed? Perhaps in the gods' eyes, and for certain in his own mind. Yet he had invoked vigilante justice, retribution outside the command of the righteous system of law. Why could he not have reported Jefferson to those strange writers for informative papers? There had to have been another means of stopping Jefferson when it was clear that there were still good people who wished to catch Jefferson.

Jack had seen many vigilantes in his journeys, both men of righteousness and men who fought for personal reasons. He himself was a warrior who struck down evil when there was no one else to protect the people. Yet in his world, there was no alternative for their work. Even the act of intimidating bandits only scared them off for a few months, and to prevent raiding and death by them, a clash was required. Yet in this world, there seemed to be many quiet individuals who knew of Jefferson's perversion. There had to be ways to stop his actions without lawless murder, falling to the man's level.

"I am sorry, but... he must pay for his crime. Righteous or not, it was the taking of another's life when there were other avenues to pursue."

@Atomyk @Klutzy Nina Kitty @DapperDogman​

Zinnia grinded her teeth after hearing the knight speak to her, shooting him a glare with her red eyes. She couldn't help but growl under her breath."Your hypothetical situation isn't going to make me change my mind. Didn't you hear the bear? If we save him, we lose the trial! Should we sacrifice ourselves for the sake of one man, a killer? I don't know about you, but I actually want to live my life! If we had nothing to lose by saving him I'd actually give it a second thought, but I'm not ready to hand my life over just to stick up for a man who killed someone--even if that man he killed was an absolute muk of a person. You're right, truthfully I feel like he may half been half-justified. But there are people in this room I want to protect and saving him isn't worth risking them."

@Atomyk @The Tactician @DapperDogman @FinalTrial​

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Zinnia grinded her teeth after hearing the knight speak to her, shooting him a glare with her red eyes. She couldn't help but growl under her breath."Your hypothetical situation isn't going to make me change my mind. Didn't you hear the bear? If we save him, we lose the trial! Should we sacrifice ourselves for the sake of one man, a killer? I don't know about you, but I actually want to live my life! If we had nothing to lose by saving him I'd actually give it a second thought, but I'm not ready to hand my life over just to stick up for a man who killed someone--even if that man he killed was an absolute muk of a person. You're right, truthfully I feel like he may half been half-justified. But there are people in this room I want to protect and saving him isn't worth risking them."

@Atomyk @The Tactician @DapperDogman @FinalTrial​

"Zinnia, remember. Remain calm or else you will lose focus..."

The samurai wrapped a gentle hand around hers, trying to hold her anger back. They could not afford to make the wrong decision in this trial, and heat of the moment outbursts seemed to be the cause of many of them in these games.

@Atomyk @The Tactician @DapperDogman @FinalTrial​

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

"Zinnia, remember. Remain calm or else you will lose focus..."

The samurai wrapped a gentle hand around hers, trying to hold her anger back. They could not afford to make the wrong decision in this trial, and heat of the moment outbursts seemed to be the cause of many of them in these games.

@Atomyk @The Tactician @DapperDogman @FinalTrial​

Zinnia took in a fast breath of air when Jack grabbed her hand, and turned her head in his direction. The man had a way about him that always seemed to calm her down whether she wanted to be calm or not. And right now, she didn't want to calm down! Darn it, Jack! Because of his action she was able to keep herself under control, but still let her voice be heard.

"They don't need to see me calm, they need to see me angry. They need to know I'm passionate about this. It's important that his man dies. If we saved him, lose the trial, and something bad happens to you, Jack, I'd never be able to forgive myself." Zinnia snorted. "So if I have to butt heads with people to protect what matters I most certainly will!"

Zinnia wrapped her finger's through Jack's and growled at the knight from before, looking like a defensive guard dog ready to snap her jaws. She'd give Jack Frost and any of the others who voted to save Holder a similar look. While Jack's still living and breathing they'll have to kill me to make me change my mind. I won't give up on this.

@Atomyk @The Tactician @DapperDogman @FinalTrial​

 

[DapperDogman]

Zinnia grinded her teeth after hearing the knight speak to her, shooting him a glare with her red eyes. She couldn't help but growl under her breath."Your hypothetical situation isn't going to make me change my mind. Didn't you hear the bear? If we save him, we lose the trial! Should we sacrifice ourselves for the sake of one man, a killer? I don't know about you, but I actually want to live my life! If we had nothing to lose by saving him I'd actually give it a second thought, but I'm not ready to hand my life over just to stick up for a man who killed someone--even if that man he killed was an absolute muk of a person. You're right, truthfully I feel like he may half been half-justified. But there are people in this room I want to protect and saving him isn't worth risking them."

@Atomyk @The Tactician @DapperDogman @FinalTrial​

"Cowards" Darv spits, disgusted with the choices of those of some of those before him "You'd give the bear what he wants, just to save your own hides" Shaking his head, the knight lets out a gruff sigh "You talk about killing people as if it's wrong, but that's exactly what you're about to do to him"

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @Atomyk @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite@Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes@CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

 

[Crow]

Holder looked to Nono, but he seemed to be staring past her and looking far into the distance. "Me? No. Don't go anyone. Wasted most of my life shooting crap into my veins. Pushed my sis' away, so much so that she..." He shifted, one of his hands reaching out to grab at the podium in front of him. He sat there a few seconds, thinking and letting the ongoing debates wash over him. He seemed to whisper a name or two under his breath.

"... Yeah, I guess I got a few who'll care. Not many. Not enough for me dying to be a big deal. They'll get over it." Holder smiled and lifted his hand to point to himself. "It's just me, after all."

@Crow

@FinalVote
​

"That's what Morikubo thought as well... Morikubo thought she was insignificant, and preferred to be insignificant. That was the past. Listen Holder, 5- no- 6 of us are hoping for your life, and if you yourself don't have a reason for hope, then our efforts are futile..."

Nono looks at him closely and begins to sob

"... to accept destiny as it comes... as opposed to taking it into your own hands... that is not hope... that is not hope at all! Fight, Detective, don't give in! Morikubo retracts her vote and spares Holder! Morikubo is failing this final trial!"

@Atomyk @Verite​

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

"Cowards" Darv spits, disgusted with the choices of those of some of those before him "You'd give the bear what he wants, just to save your own hides" Shaking his head, the knight lets out a gruff sigh "You talk about killing people as if it's wrong, but that's exactly what you're about to do to him"

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @Atomyk @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite@Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes@CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

Zinnia hissed at the man. "Don't you dare call me a coward. I'm not voting this way to save myself, I'm voting this way to make sure everyone else here stays safe! I care what happens to myself, but not as much as I care what happens to everyone else here!" And the only reason I even care about myself is because of Aster. I know how sad she would be if she never saw me again...


The young woman felt her body tense anxiously as she thought over the voting count. She found it hard not to get worked up over the situation. No, no, no! Those idiots are going to get us all killed! Over what? Sparing a man who has never done anything for us except for killing a killer? This is stupid! We'll lose the trial and we'll never make it out of here.

Thud thud thud!

Zinnia balled her free hand up in a fist and pounded it against the podium.

These fools better not be screwing us over!

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @Atomyk @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty @DapperDogman​

 

[Minerva]

Corrin had been silent. Her headache had cleared. However, there was still one last trial, and this was it. They had killed so many, but this time, no one had to die, even if they failed.

"I... will let no more lives be taken. I vote to Spare Him." She said, bravely.

@Atomyk @DapperDogman @Short post @SOrry for not posting!

 

[Gummi Bunnies]

"... I'm not exactly making this one vote for myself... for my own safety. I've died two times already, so I don't mind dying a third time... heheh..."

Lapis stood there, a blank expression on her face as she spoke with no emotion. Everyone had their choices, she couldn't blame them, they would all go with the choice that was morally right... that went along with idealistic means. Been through all sorts of things, it was hard to be as hopeful as the others, especially when she did have things to live for now.

"... I mean, sure, it's great that everyone is hoping for a miracle to happen... but to be brutally honest with myself and to others, I don't think I can believe in miracles anymore."

Sitting on the ground and hugging her legs close to her, the bounty hunter spoke with a tone full of dread. At this rate, it was made clear that Lapis wasn't going to follow the route of sparing a man. There were many times that she played along with getting blood on her hands, and she didn't think that one good deed would clear that blood off.

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @Atomyk @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Atomyk @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty @DapperDogman​

 

[Takumi]

Yurick quietly listened as the rest debated over Holder's fate. He leaned agaisnt his podium and remained silent.

"I say we spare him. Even though each side of this cute little debate have good points." he said, one hand idly moving to touch the spine of his father's journal resting on top of his podium. Maybe he should start writing in it? There was still some pages left...

No, he'd leave it as is, and just keep track of things in a different journal for later reference.

They'd just have to see what came for them next, whatever it may be. As of right now, Yurick was growing tired of these "class trials".

@Atomyk @C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Klutzy Ninja Kitty @DapperDogman @Anyone I missed

 

[ShiroKiyoshi]

Continued from here.

"Huh..." Junko scoffed at the votes, turning to watch as they lit up on the monitors. "Currently a tie, huh? You guys are as conflicted as usual, I see. Wouldn't it have been amazing had you started with a pro detective on your side? You know, one of those nosy types who puts their noses in everyone's business..."

Junko turned back to face Kyoko, a smile forming on her lips.

"Soooo... cuuuute!! Cuuute~! Darling Kyoko thinks she has a point to make! How have I been beaten when we're already in the endgame? It's practically the epilogue! Hope didn't bring us to this point, despair did! How can you start to argue otherwise now... when you've given into despair this whole time?"

Junko leaned forward, licking her lips. Her eyes widened as if she was staring into Kyoko's soul. "The Ultimate Detective has kept her talent a secret this whole game, all because she was so afraid of what might happen otherwise! She let me force this secret upon her, which was for the best! Otherwise, if she had full access to her talents, she might have solved all those murders easy-peasy! It would have been so hopeful... so boring! All those murders solved in a boring progression of predictable success!"

Junko leaned her head back suddenly and barked out a laugh. Monokuma joined her, their laughter echoing throughout the room. "With no nosy detective sticking her business in things, the situations laid out before you caused you to panic. It got right up in there! No confidence, no hope... and Kyoko Kirigiri let it happen!"

After Junko's speech, the votes updates, revealing the vote was no longer a tie and that Stephen Holder was at the top of the list. The man only stared at the monitors.

"Look at that! You think it's time to call it?"

"... Wait."

Shaking his head, Holder closed his eyes. He raised a hand to his head, grumbling as he ran it through his hair. "Okay. Enough of all this. Yeah, I killed the guy. I killed Mark Jefferson."

"W-Wait... really? Holder, please don't joke--"

"I ain't lyin', lil' detective. Was investigating the girls and the clues led me to that scumbag. Found his bunker... found his files. I don't even know what I was thinking. Arranged a meeting with him at the casino. Took it outside, where I talked him into confessing. Fucker said he liked it... said that makin' those girls vulnerable gave him a sense of power that nothing else compared to. Lil' B's friend, Stan's kid... all five of those girls, tossed into the lake."

"No... no, you can't be saying what I think you're saying." Stan was shaking his head, on the verge of tears. "Rosie... Oh, god, Rosie...!" Sobs wracked Stan's body as he collapsed to his knees. He grabbed at the podium to pitifully pull himself up, but the man couldn't gather his strength. He wept openly in the trial room, caring little for all the prying eyes.

"Gee... a confession! A little boring, don't you think? I guess it makes the final vote all the more exciting!" Monokuma clapped his hands together and the votes on the monitor disappeared, only to be replaced with two words.

Execute

Save

"Gyah-heh! What do you think? Simple, right? All this talk of justice you chumps spew, it's time to put it to the test! This man has killed another human being, and you may think he was justified... but was he? Essentially, he executed someone without a fair trial! I at least offer you a class trial... If you think these class trials so wrong, these executions... you must decree that this man be executed without a moment's notice!"

"It probably helps knowing that sparing him means you will have failed this final trial."

Holder was almost at a loss for words. "Those girls... I killed him. I'm sorry. To keep my secret, I would have also had to keep Jefferson's secret as well. The bodies of those girls may have never been discovered."

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @DapperDogman @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @DBZ7 @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty

@FinalVote​

Rant was quiet for a moment before he spoke. His gut had broke even. 2 for 2. Rant folded his arms and looked down before his head shot up and cocked to the side. His left hand gripped his hip as his right hung down by his side. With a sigh he made his decision.

"I say save him." Rant said. "I would have done the same thing."

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @DapperDogman @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @DBZ7 @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Corrin had been silent. Her headache had cleared. However, there was still one last trial, and this was it. They had killed so many, but this time, no one had to die, even if they failed.

"I... will let no more lives be taken. I vote to Spare Him." She said, bravely.

@Atomyk @DapperDogman @Short post @SOrry for not posting!

"But what if in sparing him, all of us die instead? No matter how this turns out I feel life may be lost. Shouldn't we choose the path in which less life will be lost?" Zinnia asked, now gripping the side of her podium with her free hand. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm not willing to die for a stranger."
​

"... I'm not exactly making this one vote for myself... for my own safety. I've died two times already, so I don't mind dying a third time... heheh..."

Lapis stood there, a blank expression on her face as she spoke with no emotion. Everyone had their choices, she couldn't blame them, they would all go with the choice that was morally right... that went along with idealistic means. Been through all sorts of things, it was hard to be as hopeful as the others, especially when she did have things to live for now.

"... I mean, sure, it's great that everyone is hoping for a miracle to happen... but to be brutally honest with myself and to others, I don't think I can believe in miracles anymore."

Sitting on the ground and hugging her legs close to her, the bounty hunter spoke with a tone full of dread. At this rate, it was made clear that Lapis wasn't going to follow the route of sparing a man. There were many times that she played along with getting blood on her hands, and she didn't think that one good deed would clear that blood off.

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @Atomyk @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Atomyk @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty @DapperDogman​

"You aren't kidding, sister," Zinnia mumbled to Lapis, glancing down with a frown. "But it's starting to look like we won't have much of a choice but to see what happens when everyone spares him. Our hands are tied."

Part of Zinnia almost felt guilty that she didn't intend to spare him like the others were doing. Was it the right thing to do? Morally, yes, she was sure of it. When it came down to it, she only wanted to execute the man for selfish reasons. She wanted to make sure Jack would stay safe and that she could also make it home to Aster.

But didn't she... deserve to be at least a little selfish? Her life up until now hadn't exactly been an easy or a happy one. She had grown up without a mother, a father who wasn't around, and a strict Grandmother. She had been pushed away by the man she loved and watched her own child wither away and die. She had been rejected by Rayquza. She was a laughing stock of a lorekeeper. Zinnia almost felt as if her entire life had been one big failure after the next.

But right now, she actually had something. She had Jack and Aster. They cared about her. She had a life she wanted to live with them. Was it so wrong that she wanted to be a little selfish? If the answer to that question was a yes then maybe her life truly was meant to be nothing more than a failure, a miserable existence.

@C.T. @Yun Lee @Kaykay @Chewy Rabbits @Minerva @Atomyk @BarrenThin @The Tactician @york @Verite @Gummi Bunnies @LuckycoolHawk9 @Crow @Jeremi @ShiroKiyoshi @Josh M @Crimson Spartan @Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Periodically Incorrect @Nater Taters @Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty @DapperDogman​

 

[York]

​

Replies

For the longest time, Honda was silent. Hope...he had thought that it would come by not failing the trial. But for the second time that night, Honda started to question his vote. Actually, Monokuma was the deciding factor. Something he said, something Honda overlooked... Soon, he smiled at the two.

"Kyoko, Jack Frost...thank you for opening my eyes." To that, Honda turned to the bear. "Hey, bear! You too! Because guess what?! I've found a contradiction from you!! Vote guilty if we think the trials are wrong?! HA! Why didn't I think of that contradiction sooner?!? If we think they're wrong, we vote AGAINST you!! You know what? I'm changing my vote again!! I'm gonna save Holder!!! Give him the mercy others couldn't have!! I'm done with you, and these games!!!"

@Atomyk @york @Verite @Crow @Kaykay @Gummi Bunnies @Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

"Like she said, Honda-san, hope that what you choose is truly what you believe is right. Morikubo believes that her choice is the right thing to do. As long as Detective Holder will not object to Morikubo's choice, then Morikubo will proceed. Today is the day Morikubo won't give in to despair..."

Kyoko's shining radiance enhanced Nono's confidence.

"Detective Stephen Holder... do you have a reason to go on? A motivation in life? Children, family, friends, people you are attached to?"

@Atomyk @Verite @Yun Lee @EVERYONE​

​

​

Jack Frost
@Everyone I guess

... The tables have turned, but Jack Frost hoped they had made the right decision.

Sure, they were risking their own lives, as well as possibly the lives of countless others by purposefully failing this trial, but who says Monokuma, or Junka wouldn't have killed them anyways, even if they had executed Holder?

Despite his doubts, his vote remained unchanged, and in the end... All he could do now was wait for the final result.​