About
Storyline - Two days before the time limit, Shuichi Saihara and Guest are monitoring the situation in a classroom two hours before the deadline. Chapter 1 - Victim: Rantaro Amami The victim is **Rantaro Amami**, who is found dead in front of the library's secret door after being struck in the head with a blunt object. Immediately after the incident, Monokuma demands the blackened turn themselves in, but no one steps forward, leading to a Class Trial. Early in the investigation, Gonta Gokuhara (who was alone in the AV room), Miu Iruma (who made the cameras), and Tsumugi Shirogane (who stepped away briefly) are suspected, but their alibis are confirmed. Suspicion then focuses on Shuichi Saihara, who knew the camera placement and the gaps in film replacement. However, Kaede Akamatsu protects Shuichi with false testimony and asks him to reveal the truth. Shuichi deduces that the culprit lured the victim using the camera flash, based on the fact that only Rantaro's photo was unusually bright. He further reveals that the murder was committed by dropping a shot put ball through a device made of books and the vent in the classroom above the library, proving that the culprit is **Kaede Akamatsu**. In reality, Kaede believed in Shuichi's deduction and, to stop the mastermind, opened the vent and created a path with books in advance, setting a trap to roll the shot put ball once the sensor was triggered. However, Rantaro was there instead of the mastermind, and she killed him without knowing. Kaede committed the crime to save everyone from the start, and she did not turn herself in to find the mastermind through the Class Trial, refusing Monokuma's 'First Blood Perk' which would have allowed her to leave alone. Shuichi blames himself, saying his deduction was the catalyst for the crime, but Kaede comforts him, saying all responsibility lies with her. Afterward, Kaede asks everyone to survive and leaves a final wish for Shuichi to believe in himself and reveal the truth to the end. Kaede is executed in **'Der Flohwalzer'**, where she is choked while being forced to play a giant piano by a chain around her neck, eventually dying when the piano lid crushes her. After the execution, a despairing Shuichi stands up again through the encouragement of Kaito Momota and his peers, resolving not to run away from the truth and to believe in himself. This serves as a major turning point where the protagonist switches to **Shuichi Saihara**.
Characters
Sourcebook
Intro
Before the trial, the relationship between Kaede Akamatsu and Shuichi Saihara was a partnership built on mutual trust, where they complemented each other's weaknesses. In particular, Kaede played a role in boosting Shuichi's confidence.
The two began working together relatively early after waking up at the academy, starting from when they were in the same classroom locker. Shuichi introduced himself as the Ultimate Detective, but he lacked confidence and felt guilty about his talent due to a past case. In contrast, Kaede, with her bright and proactive personality, acknowledged Shuichi's ability and encouraged him, saying, "The talent of a detective can save people."
Comrades Investigating Together
As they explored the academy, the two naturally moved together. Kaede trusted Shuichi for investigation and deduction, while Shuichi trusted Kaede for her initiative and leadership. They were often seen leading the other students while sharing roles.
When Monokuma announced the time limit, Shuichi formed a deduction that the mastermind would appear in the library to open the secret door just before the deadline. Kaede fully believed this deduction and decided to set a trap to stop the mastermind.
During this process, the two installed surveillance cameras and infrared sensors in the library together.
Because Shuichi trusted Kaede so much, he never imagined she would commit a murder. Conversely, Kaede did not doubt Shuichi's deduction either, and it was because she believed his words that she executed her dangerous plan.
After the incident occurred, from the moment Shuichi discovered the body in the library, he noticed the possibility that Kaede was the culprit based on the structure of the trap, but he could not speak up until the end due to the guilt that his own deduction had driven her to commit the crime.
Release Date 2026.08.23 / Last Updated 2026.08.23