Third Trial [Closed]

[falsepretentious]

WHO: The current dangan crew!
WHERE: Kiyotaka and Byakuya's dorm!
WHEN: The 20th or so
WHAT: It's time for another meeting of SHSL Retrospec users to discuss memory-related matters, and this time without Kyouko.
WARNINGS: Discussions of death and murder are likely!

[It was about time for another meeting of those who remembered lives of being Super High School Level students. Between the previous month's event, people catching up on their studies after said event and Kyouko Kirigiri losing her Retrospec memories, it had taken time to arrange for this. This time, Byakuya and Kiyotaka act as the hosts in their dorm, with Byakuya having left out a variety of snacks for people to pick on as they talk.]

I've gathered all of my notes of our discussions from the previous meetings, and I suggest others keep notes as well. [There's no telling when someone else will lose their Retrospec memories.] Now... let's discuss some matters, shall we?

Comments

[falsepretentious]

[Byakuya spends most of his times standing. He alternates between folding his arms as he listens to others and leaning over a desk to take notes, while taking bites of chips in between. At some point, he speaks up.]

If anyone happens to remember anything about Byakuya Togami, I would like to hear it. [There's a hesitant pause, and he adjusts his glasses before he goes on.] ...In addition, I'm also curious as to whether or not anyone happens to know anything someone known as Ryota Mitarai. A Super High School Level Animator.

[He remembers that name with the same soft of feeling that came with him remembering the name of Togami... the feeling of that having been his name. But how could he possibly have two different names?]

[optimistical]

[ naegi stays seated in his chair but oh, this is a good time to tell byakuya about that memory he got of him (the dr1 version) ]

Actually, I remembered something about you but I forgot to bring it up. I think it took place while we were trapped inside Hope's Peak but it also took place when you were, um...

[ how the fuck does he phrase this ]

... really skinny?

[falsepretentious]

[He sighs and pinches at his nose.]

You don't have to be afraid to say it. I'm already aware that my other self... Togami... stood with such a bizarrely low mass at some point in our past.

[He witnessed it firsthand in one of Kyouko's memories the other month. It was very disturbing to see himself so thin. Did Togami eat even less than Makoto at that time?!]

I understand that this past Togami could also be a bit more... disagreeable than me.

[optimistical]

Yeah, he was... different.

[ that's one way of saying it... naegi distinctly remembers that talking to togami 1.0 was like taking a blow to the ego ]

I only had one memory with him so I didn't learn too much but he did insist that I should call him Super High-school Level Perfection and stressed that we weren't equals.

[falsepretentious]

...I see. [He frowns as he recalls that.]

There does seem to be a gap between our attitudes. I would leave it up to you to decide if I should be called Super High School Level Perfection or not. And I would not be so brutal to your ego... Leaders and followers should be like comrades in arms.

[spiritoso]

I don't remember any of those names. You haven't actually shown up in any of my memories yet.

[ She pauses, though, remembering her conversation a while back with Byakuya. ]

I was wondering... have any of you heard of the Monokubs?

[falsepretentious]

[He immediately raises an eyebrow.]

No. I'm only aware of Monokuma, and the being known as both Usami and Monomi. I've never heard of any Monokubs... Don't tell me he reproduced. [He's gonna feel sick.]

[spiritoso]

Could you tell me a little bit about Monokuma? Like what exactly does he look like? Maybe they are his kids...

[falsepretentious]

What a disgusting concept. [He groans before he goes on.]

He resembles a demented-looking teddy bear, with a body that is half white and half black. He has a cartoonish-looking belly button, and while the white half of his face looks like a normal teddy bear, the black half of his face has a stretched out grin and a jagged red eye.

[steadycourse]

[Ishida keeps his arms folded as he does his best to recall the memory that featured Byakuya in it.]

...As Professor Naegi mentioned, I do recall someone that looks exactly like you! Just a lot thinner!

[...unlike Naegi, he's really blunt about it.]

You were there, listening to Monokuma explain the Graduation Clause. However, I have no memories of this Ryota Mitarai individual!

[falsepretentious]

Oh? Is Makoto a professor now? [He says with a mix of curiosity and teasingness. That's probably the most surprising part of his words to him.]

So you know the 'thin' version of me already. And that's your only memory related to me?

[steadycourse]

He's always been my professor, Byakuya! Because he helped me when I first attended this fine university!

[But back on topic... Ishida nods in confirmation to both of his questions.]

I'm sorry... I know that you're very interested in learning more about your past self! Although, I must ask, who is Mitarai, other than him being an animator? Did you remember him as a close friend?

[falsepretentious]

I see... [That logic doesn't connect for Byakuya, but he feels no need to debate him on this matter.]

There's no need to be sorry. You can't control what you remember, and just that much is still helpful for placing things. As for Mitarai... [He taps at his glasses and looks away.] ...That name and talent is all that I can recall of him at this moment.

[optimistical]

[ the thing about naegi is that he's an open book. it's really easy to get a read on this guy and the moment he came to this meeting, he's been feeling... uneasy. there's a look of distress all over his face and he's been having a grip on the backpack that he brought along with him, one hand holding onto the straps. he patiently waits for his turn and when he talks, he really doesn't know how to bring this up without being blunt ]

I... think I got another murder weapon...

[spiritoso]

A-Another one?! Why do you keep getting murder weapons?

[ She knows why but still!! ]

What is it...?

[optimistical]

I really wish I knew...

[ he would love to stop getting murder weapons!! please!! send help!!!!!!! ]

But it's a dumbbell. A really heavy one too. I bought it in my bag.

[ he tried to carry it on his back but it nearly killed him so he kind of just cradled it like a baby while bringing it over. it's on the floor now and with his grip on the strap, he drags it a bit closer to him. he then unzips it to just barely pull out the dumbbell that's wrapped in a plastic bag. he was more careful this time not to touch the murder weapon with his bare hands and was prepared when he went to grab it from the mailbox earlier today. there is still all that great blood crusted on one end so enjoy :') ]

[steadycourse]

[Professor Naegi it's worrying that you're getting all these murder weapons...]

A dumbbell...?

[Ishida grimaces, seeing the blood that's still caked to one end of the weapon. Getting struck by something like that... that's truly horrible. Someone had to be really strong to lift it and use it as a weapon too.]

Do you have any memories relating to it yet? [He doesn't take his eyes off the weapon though, not yet. M-maybe if he keeps on staring at it, he'll remember something? And... and everyone else wants to know what happened.]

[spiritoso]

[ Kaede leans over to get a better look at the weapon, but she takes a couple of steps back when she sees the blood. There's so much... ]

Th-There's still blood on it too... [ Why wouldn't there be? Either way, it's still a shock to actually see it. ]

[falsepretentious]

[Byakuya also crowds around the latest murder weapon and looks it over. How unsightly...

He looks at it and then back at Makoto.]

Isn't your talent supposed to be good luck?

[Sounds fake but okay.]

[steadycourse]

[Ishida has been sitting the entire time, looking mostly uncomfortable but always attentive whenever a discussion occurs. He really wants to help out! He wants his friends to remember, because it's important to them...

So, when there's a bit of downtime, he finally gets the courage to speak up.]

I wanted to bring up two things in our meeting today! First...!

[He reaches into his bag and pulls out a laptop. It can turn on, but none of the files can be accessed.]

I believe this to be a laptop coming from the school itself! The crest is on the cover! Unfortunately, all of the files are locked, but maybe someone can hack into it...?

[He'll let anyone use the laptop if they want!

That was the easy topic to talk about, however. There's still that other thing and with his eyes locked to the floor, it's obvious that he's struggling to admit something. But after a moment, he speaks up.]

...The rules of a class trial involve voting for the person that you think is responsible for the murder. So, if... if you vote for yourself...

[His voice becomes quieter.]

Does that mean...

[spiritoso]

There has to be someone here who can hack into it, I'm sure!

[ She leans in to get a better look at the laptop, but it looks normal by all accounts.

Kaede looks up at him after that last bit, though, furrowing her eyebrows in concern before shaking her head. ]

I don't think that would always be the case. Do you only remember voting for yourself and nothing else?

[steadycourse]

Indeed! People are getting unusual weapons and powers each week, so I'm certain something as mundane as this will be easy! I'll be sure to ask over the Retrospec network soon!

[He really hopes that laptop can provide useful information in the future. ...No, he has to do more than just hope, but pour a good amount of his energy into figuring it out.

Ishida still doesn't meet Kaede's eyes as he continues to talk about the memory. No matter how he looks at the situation, he keeps on reaching only one conclusion.]

I can't remember all the details, but I know for a fact that I only voted for myself. I... I was plagued with guilt and blamed myself for letting this murder to occur in the first place.

[His other self was consumed by guilt and Ishida experienced that unpleasant feeling in its entirety when regaining that memory.

[spiritoso]

[ Kaede looks directly at Ishida, even though he won't meet her eyes. Her expression becomes stern, because she knows they don't have all the answers yet. ]

Guilt doesn't always mean you actually killed someone though! I think in a situation like that... guilt is probably really common. Like, thinking there was something else you could have done to prevent someone from getting killed.

[optimistical]

[ naegi folds his arms together as he thinks. what would kyouko say during all this? now that she's not around, he can't rely on her anymore and he has to start thinking for himself, trying to approach things like she did ]

... I agree with what Kaede said. I think we don't have enough information to jump to conclusions or think the worse of it. The rules might have changed or the circumstances might have been different.

[falsepretentious]

[He pauses as he considers Kiyotaka's serious matter first.]

So you blamed yourself, but you're not sure if you were the guilty party in that incident? [He speaks in a somewhat neutral tone. The idea of his roommate being a murderer does sound ridiculous, though - and he can easily see him blaming himself for other's mistakes.]

For what it's worth, I happen to have remembered the rules of the island killing game, and there was no rule against voting incorrectly.