Chapter 1 - Feasting on Despair Trial

It was like playing one big game of chicken. Who would withdraw from this dick-waving contest first? Aniki certainly couldn't anymore; he was in too deep. Why the hell Sasaki felt the need to challenge him of all people when he wasn't the first to dismiss the apples was a wonder, but regardless, it wasn't like the reject had any choice other than to stand and meet that challenge.

"Yeah?" he shot back coolly with a smile that had too many teeth to be considered pleasant, "I'm sure ya'd look more delicious than your pie when you get in an apron. Stare any harder and I might just blush." Flirting was instinct because it was something that effectively flustered people who couldn't play the game. And if it didn't do just that, it sometimes led to a good lay, something the reject had never seen any reason to turn down. ...Not that he was shooting for one here in this shitty courtroom.

"Anyway, don't be absurd. While I acknowledge that your theory takes a lotta evidence into account, you're not only accusing the shitbear of carelessness for failing to confiscate all food despite all the security cameras installed around the ship, but you've also failed ta take one detail into account. As Colpire said earlier, the paper scrap was found tucked in Baron's pocket. Assuming that Baron died from blood loss due ta the wounds inflicted on her—major arteries and all that—then there would be no reason for the paper to be torn by the culprit, since it would still be hidden away.

"On the other hand, if Baron had died from poison, the only other viable cause of death, the poison would hafta have killed her faster than her fatal wounds did. This is more plausible, as there were no signs of struggle despite the cutting. In that case, after the struggle for the paper, Baron probably wouldn'tve had any strength left ta stuff the scrap she managed to save into her pocket, where it was found, so it shouldn't have even been there."

Alright stop, breathe a little. The reasoning probably didn't hold as much weight as Sasaki's did, but the strategist's theory rested too much on too many assumptions. That Baron had committed suicide. That she had known about this game and had successfully managed to sneak the apples out before the confiscation. If she'd known from the beginning, then there were so many other things she could've done to help them, as her life would've been the most important to their collective survival. Logically speaking, staying alive should've been her priority despite the fact someone else would have to be sacrificed.

Besides, if Monokuma could set up something as elaborate as this accursed ship, there was no way Baron had the chance to hide the food during their period of starvation, as there were cameras literally everywhere, even in the rooms. And what would the person who stumbled on her have to fear when the consequences of discovery had yet to be revealed?

Aniki wasn't exactly an expert orator like the kid was, not to mention he was fighting a defensive battle one v. two, but as far as he was concerned, Sasaki had just proven his own emotional bias for Paris Eins by clinging to the librarian's outlandish theory. That and he was hanging onto that stupid martyr fixation that Aniki had first detected on the deck by applying it to Baron. Neither of these things showed reliability, and his sudden gleefulness only exacerbated this with a show of childish immaturity.

All in all, this was just such a pain in the ass. Expression unreadable, Aniki scrutinized the proffered apple, red eyes flat and devoid of all emotion. This kid was a son of a bitch, high on arrogance and an overconfidence that came only with the presence of another's support. Strategist though he may be, Sasaki was putting his willingness to throw away another's life and destroy evidence too blatantly on display, all to prove that he was right. Oh, there were probably ways he could prove what he was saying without risking someone else's life, otherwise the theory would've been bullshit from the start, but no, this was the method he chose.

"Fine."

Fine, Aniki would eat the goddamn thing. It wasn't like his death would hurt anyone anyway; no one would miss him. And if the apple really were poisoned, he would be glad to be out from under that bastard's thumb. Stepping down from his stand, Aniki wordlessly squared his shoulders before stalking towards the librarian with the apple. Without further ado, he took the fruit, scanned the room with blank eyes once more, and bit down. Chewing, he sauntered back to his stand, polishing the fruit off with large bites as he did so. Crunch, crunch, crunch. And then it was gone, core, seeds, and all. Would he die? Who knew—who cared? But at least Sasaki and Eins seemed to think he would. Whatever, fuck them.