The Class Trial room felt more and more like an abandoned palace that still radiated an oppressive aura of arrogance. The black-and-white marble floor was striped like a giant chessboard, each square gleaming faintly under the large crystal chandelier hanging from the high domed ceiling. The faded painting of stars and a crescent moon seemed to bear silent witness to the drama about to unfold. The white marble walls were decorated with gold and silver carvings of dragons and ancient birds that gleamed coldly, as if they were watching our every move.
Sixteen small podiums arranged in a circle surrounded the main podium in the center, each engraved with our names in slowly glowing golden letters like flames ready to burn. One podium was left empty, with a black-and-white photo of Yusuf and the words "RIP" marking him as the victim of this cruel game.
Behind the main podium, a large king's chair made of intricately carved black wood towered high, its backrest like a throne waiting for a king who would never come—and on it, MonoGaru sat casually, its small legs swinging, its torn wings fluttering gently as if enjoying the theater performance it had directed itself.
It tilted its head, its smile widening until it almost reached its mechanical ears. Its glowing red eyes scanned us one by one, as if counting how much longer we could last.
"Huwahaha~ With this, the Killing Game officially continues! The first victim is Yusuf Rahman Hakim, the Ultimate Botanist. Who was heartless enough to kill such a quiet and kind man? The killer must be heartless, right~?"
The room fell silent for a moment. No one dared to start the trial. Until someone slowly raised their hand. Their voice was firm, though still trembling with the anger and sadness from earlier. It was Adi.
"I request permission to begin."
All eyes turned to him. One by one, they nodded slowly, though some still hesitated. Adi pressed his MonoWatch. The small screen lit up, displaying the file MonoGaru had sent earlier.
"Yusuf was found at 11:50 in the harbor warehouse. The discoverers were Reno and Aulia. Cause of death… officially unknown, but from our observation earlier, it was most likely crushed by a heavy object."
Bima burst in, his voice rising with anger, fists clenched. "That container! The one lifted by the lever! That's the heaviest object that makes sense! You saw it—Yusuf's chest was crushed because of it—slammed from above!"
He pointed directly at me and Rian, his eyes blazing. "And the only ones who really understood how the lever worked were you two! And the one who designed it was Reno! You're the one who held the safety pin! You could remove that pin anytime!"
Zayn immediately held Bima back with his argument. "Calm down, Bima. Don't accuse blindly. We need to hear everything first."
He turned to Krisna. "Krisna, you said earlier the murder happened tens of minutes before the body was found. Explain again."
"The blood on the floor and on the container had started to dry at the edges, but was still wet in the middle. That shows Yusuf's death occurred tens of minutes before discovery. Probably around 11:00 to 11:50."
Bima growled softly. "That means the killer hid the body for quite a while before Reno and Aulia found it. The killer deliberately used the new rule—kill, hide for one hour, then go free."
Zayn nodded. "Exactly. Then, who was around the pier or warehouse at that time?"
Vina crossed her arms. "Me, Lira, and Yusuf were in the warehouse. Then Yusuf said he wanted to go to Stone Mountain to deliver items, but we didn't go with him because we were waiting for Lira to finish peeing."
"Just like Vina said, I went to the dorm for a bit. When I came back, I found Reno near the warehouse. He said he had just come from the toilet, but I didn't see him coming from the dorm direction—he came out from the warehouse."
Everyone stated their alibis, explaining that most of them were not at the murder scene. The only ones there were me, Vina, Lira, Zahra, and Aulia. Until finally it was my turn to speak.
"Before that… I was with Zahra and Aulia searching for clues on the beach. Until I needed to take care of something, so I went to the warehouse."
Lira looked at me, her voice soft but full of doubt. "Reno… when we met, you said you had a private matter, and you didn't want to explain what it was. I… I don't know what to believe."
Zayn sighed. "We need more evidence. Reno… you were the one who found this hidden room. You knew the container could be lifted. You held the safety pin. You were also around the warehouse at that time. You can be suspected."
I looked at Zayn, my heart pounding hard. "I… I can swear I didn't do it. I just…"
All eyes were on me, full of suspicion, disappointment, and fear. The whispers started again, soft but sharp like knives being sharpened in the darkness.
"…so the last one at the warehouse was Reno, right?"
"…he was the one who made that lever…"
"…only he has the safety pin… if he removed the pin, the container could have fallen…"
"…Lira said she saw Reno coming from the warehouse, not from the dorm…"
"…those wet shoe prints… the size is big… like a man's…"
"…he was the one who found this hidden room… no one knew about it before…"
"…he saved them last night… but who knows if that was just acting…"
"…maybe he was the one who killed Yusuf… hoping everyone would believe him because he had saved people before…"
Each whisper felt like a needle slowly piercing, entering the ears, then the heart. I stood silent, cold sweat dripping from my forehead to my cheeks, hands trembling uncontrollably. I wanted to speak, wanted to deny, but my mouth was locked tight, words trapped in my dry throat. I could only look at the black-and-white marble floor, seeing my own shadow that looked small and fragile among all of them.
Then Aulia's voice sounded. She tried to calm everyone, her voice stiff as usual. "Please… please calm down, everyone. I have a strong reason to deny those opinions. The reason Reno went to the warehouse… his private matter… was to pee."
"There was no toilet around there. Even Lira herself said that," Vina replied while crossing her arms.
"True. There was no place to pee on the pier."
Aulia nodded, agreeing with their points while saying,
"That's correct, there was no toilet there. That's why…"
But she suddenly stopped, her face slightly flushed, her eyes looking down for a moment as if holding back something embarrassing. "Reno… erm… he…"
Dion, standing calmly at his podium, asked softly. "Why are you so nervous?"
Zahra replaced her, without any hesitation saying it clearly. "Reno… peed in the open!"
Everyone's faces changed to shock. Sinta looked at me with a rare look of disgust.
"I never thought Reno would do that…"
Rian adjusted his glasses slowly while replying. "For a man, that's normal. If there's no toilet, then… find whatever place is available."
Nova continued from the dark corner. "In other words, Reno peed around the warehouse. That explains why Lira saw him coming out from there, not from the dorm direction."
I felt my chest tighten, but there was a small feeling of relief—at least someone was defending me, especially Aulia. My courage returned a little, like a candle that was almost out but could still flicker again. Until finally I spoke up.
"Yes… I did pee in the warehouse, specifically behind it. I didn't want to say it earlier because I was embarrassed. After that, I met Lira."
Selena suddenly interrupted. "If the killer really dropped the container from above, wouldn't Reno have heard something at that time?"
I shook my head quickly. "No. I didn't hear any sound. If a container that big fell, it would have been really loud."
Lira nodded slowly. "I agree… I trust my ears. If there was the sound of heavy metal falling, I would have noticed immediately. But I didn't hear anything except the wind and waves."
Zayn rested his chin on his hand, eyes narrowed. "This is all strange. If the container didn't fall on its own, and Reno didn't hear anything… that means the murder happened much earlier than we thought."
Adi nodded quickly, his notebook open again. "True. If that's the case, the murder happened much earlier than we assumed."
Anya asked softly. "Lira, do you remember when you met Reno?"
Lira shook her head slowly. "I don't remember exactly… maybe around 11:40 or so."
Aulia chimed in. "Reno returned to the beach at 11:40. I can confirm that because I was waiting for Reno while looking at the time."
Adi asked again. "When did you realize Yusuf was missing?"
Vina answered. "Right when Lira came back. We tried calling Yusuf inside the warehouse and there was no answer."
Lira nodded. "Exactly when Reno left. That means around 11:40 Yusuf was already missing."
Krisna then concluded. "The incident most likely happened around 11:20–11:30. The blood had started to dry, but was still wet in the middle. The murder occurred between 11:20 and 11:30."
The time of the murder had been confirmed: around 11:20 to 11:30. Adi let out a long breath, then raised his hand again, his voice firm even though it still trembled with lingering anger and sadness.
"We need to reconstruct the events. As much as possible, no one should corner anyone. We need facts, not emotions."
"Please allow me to speak."
All eyes turned to Aulia. She took a deep breath, then began explaining carefully, as if choosing her words so no one would be offended.
"Right after everyone split up to search for Yusuf, Reno and I went toward the warehouse because we felt there might be a clue we missed about Yusuf's disappearance. Inside, Reno suggested taking a spare flashlight that might be on the upper shelf of the container. Reno said he had already checked the lever earlier and the safety was still in place. He also found the box Yusuf used to climb up alone."
Aulia paused for a moment, her large eyes looking at me as if asking for support. I nodded slowly, signaling that I would follow her.
Aulia continued. "I managed to climb up, but there was liquid on my shoe. After checking again, I found that the liquid was blood."
"After that, I was curious where Yusuf got the wooden box from because there was nothing like that in the warehouse. Then I walked to the other side and found a secret path—a thin wooden wall that could be slid, leading into the middle space of the warehouse. And there I found Yusuf's body, covered with black cloth." I continued Aulia's explanation.
Bima immediately interrupted, his voice rising with suspicion. "That could all be Reno's excuse. He was the one who went to the warehouse the most. There's no way he didn't know about the wooden wall there. He could have made up this story to cover his own tracks."
Dion nodded slowly, his voice calm but sharp. "It's possible Reno took the wooden box there, placed it, told Yusuf to climb, then killed him with the container from above."
Why was I being accused again?
Zahra spoke up, her voice fiery but full of defense. "Reno didn't have that much time! Around 11 o'clock he was with me and Aulia, trying to explore the rocky area and the hidden beach at the pier. The three of us were together the whole time—he didn't have time to slip away alone."
Aulia nodded quickly, her voice polite but firm. "That's true. The ones in the warehouse at that time were Vina, Lira, and Yusuf. Reno couldn't have slipped away and planned all that."
Vina crossed her arms tighter, her thin gold necklace sparkling under the crystal lights as if mocking. "I was indeed outside the warehouse at that time. Waiting for Lira to finish peeing."
"If that's true… from what you said earlier, Yusuf was alone in the warehouse when Lira said she wanted to pee at the dorm. You were waiting outside, right?" Aulia replied.
Vina nodded quickly, her eyes cold but her smile still sweet. "Yes. I waited outside for a while, but I started worrying about Lira because she took so long. So I went toward the dorm to pick her up. That's when I saw Lira who had just finished talking to Reno. And Reno… looked like he had just run from the warehouse direction. He was out of breath, like he was in a hurry."
"I did come from the warehouse. But—"
Before I could finish speaking, Selena chimed in from her podium, holding her small mirror like an anchor. "Wait a minute. I remember something. When I stepped out of the Main Building for a moment around that time, I saw someone running. That person ran from the pier toward the Sacred Forest. They ran very fast, like they were escaping or something."
I shook my head quickly. "That wasn't me! After finishing at the warehouse, I went to the other side of the beach. I returned to the beach to meet Aulia and Zahra again. There's no way I ran to the Sacred Forest!"
Selena tilted her head, her two-toned hair swaying gently. "From what you two said… the safest possibility is Vina. In other words, around 11:20 to 11:30, Vina wasn't in the warehouse. She said she was waiting outside, but if she went to the dorm to pick up Lira, that means the warehouse was left empty. Yusuf was alone… and the killer could have been anyone passing by at that time."
Zayn rubbed his head roughly, his short hair even messier. "Ugh, this case is getting more confusing. All the alibis are clashing. If Vina went to the dorm, who was watching the warehouse? And the person who ran to the Sacred Forest… could have been the killer escaping after tampering with the container. We need to think smarter—reconstruct the timeline with other witnesses. Who else saw any strange movements around that time?"
MonoGaru laughed softly from its throne, its torn wings creaking like applause. "Wah~ It's getting hotter now~! Come on, continue~! Who's lying? Who's hiding? Or… who was closest to that container?"
I felt my chest growing tighter. All eyes turned back to me and Vina. The accusations that had been flying everywhere now sharpened, like a knife ready to stab one of us.
Adi stood at his podium, holding his notebook wide open with both hands, his finger tracing note after note.
"We already have enough evidence to narrow down the killer. Only two people had real access to the safety pin, could operate the container mechanism, and were at the location during the critical time. That is Reno… and Vina."
Bima growled. "Damn it… so you two are the killers! Just confess already!"
Adi shook his head. "No. We have to think fairly. Let's list one by one the clues we found, and ask them directly. Whoever is caught lying is the guilty one."
MonoGaru jumped slightly on its throne, its torn wings creaking with delight. "Wah~ The final drama~! I like it! Let's start, Adi~!"
Adi pointed to the first clue in his notebook.
"Clue number one. The neatly cut transparent nylon string, found by Reno on top of the container. That string could be used to tie or control the container's movement from a safe distance, so it would fall slowly and silently. Reno, you said you found the string when you climbed up. Vina, you said you never entered the warehouse again after Yusuf said he wanted to go to Stone Mountain. Which one is true?"
I answered quickly, my voice firm even though my chest was pounding hard. "I saw the same string rolled up when I climbed on top of the container with Aulia. The place where the string was had been moved, indicating someone had taken it. And the end of the rolled string was cut neatly. I didn't bring the string, and I had no reason to cut it."
Vina shrugged, her sweet smile still in place. "I didn't enter the warehouse again. I only waited outside, then went to the dorm to pick up Lira. If there was a string up there, that means Reno found it… or Reno placed it there to make it look like he 'found' evidence."
Adi noted it, then moved to the next clue.
"Clue number two. The missing black cloth from the high shelf. That cloth was used to drag Yusuf's body without getting blood on the killer. The cloth needed to be taken from a high shelf—meaning the killer had to climb or have a way to get it without being noticed. Reno, you said the cloth was already gone when you climbed up. Vina, you were the last one with Yusuf in the warehouse before he said he wanted to go to Stone Mountain."
I shook my head. "I climbed up with Aulia after finding blood on Aulia's shoe. The cloth was indeed missing from the shelf. It was used to cover Yusuf's body."
Vina laughed softly. "If Reno climbed up, he could have taken the cloth before the others arrived. He could drag Yusuf, cover him, then pretend to be shocked when he found the body. Me? I never climbed on top of the container. I don't know how to do it."
Zahra snapped. "But you were the one who asked Reno to demonstrate the lever during Plan B! And you were the closest to Yusuf at the location!"
Adi raised his hand, calming everyone. Then he continued.
"Clue number three. The piece of yellow cloth from the safety vest. The vest was left by Reno in the Stone Mountain cave, then returned by Adi after the death announcement. That means someone had to take the vest from the cave, cut the yellow cloth, then place it under the container as a false clue to frame Reno. Reno, you didn't have access to the vest at that time. Vina… where were you when Reno left the vest in the cave?"
Vina crossed her arms tighter, the small watch on her wrist swaying weakly. "I was in the corridor. If someone took the vest, maybe Reno himself secretly went back to get it before the death announcement."
I looked at her sharply. "I didn't go back to the cave! I was with Aulia and Zahra on the beach the whole time until the death announcement. Adi was the one who brought the vest to the common room and gave it to me!"
The room started getting noisy again. Bima shouted, "Vina was the one who asked for the demonstration! Vina was the last one with Yusuf!"
Lira shook her head slowly. "But Reno was the one who understood the mechanism of that tool the most…"
Krisna, who had been silent while gently stroking his paintbrush, finally spoke. His voice was calm, but there was something cold behind his faint smile. "Are you all stupid or what?! We've been throwing arguments and evidence at each other like kids throwing stones! Adi did hold the vest, but he couldn't operate the lever! He almost never went to the warehouse! Even if he held the safety pin, he couldn't use it. He's not a mechanic, not an architect. He's a politician! He doesn't understand the container's mechanism!"
Bima immediately countered, his fist clenched.
"He could have worked with the killer! He gave the pin to someone else, and that person operated the container! You think that possibility doesn't exist?!"
Nova, from his dark corner, immediately countered with a piercing voice.
"Impossible. During the time of the murder—around 11:20 to 11:30—Adi was always with me and Rian in the Stone Mountain cave. The three of us were always together, no one else between us. We saw each other the whole time. Adi couldn't have gone there."
Bima fell silent. His mouth opened, but no words came out. He only muttered softly and went quiet again, his face flushed red.
Lira suddenly spoke, her voice soft but trembling with sadness. Her silver hair swayed gently as she looked at Anya.
"I… I never thought Anya would accuse me of being the killer. I couldn't have done it. I was just waiting with Vina in the warehouse, then went to the dorm to pee. I didn't go back inside after that."
Aulia immediately chimed in, her voice firm but full of empathy, her batik scarf swaying like a peace flag in the middle of a storm.
"It is not allowed to accuse carelessly, but considering all possibilities is necessary in this trial. Lira has a strong alibi—she wasn't at the scene during the murder. She herself said she met Reno when she came out of the dorm, and she didn't hear the sound of the container falling at all, even though her ears are sensitive. Besides, Lira didn't know how to operate the lever. And me, and Zahra, were always together on the beach."
Vina immediately interrupted, her voice sweet but full of resistance.
"If I was the killer, how could I operate the lever without the safety pin? The one who held the pin was only Reno! I never held that vest, never held the pin. I couldn't remove the container's safety without the pin. That's strong evidence that Reno did it!"
The room fell silent again. Everyone looked at each other, thinking hard.
Whispers started again, soft but increasing.
"That's also true…"
"The safety pin was only held by Reno…"
"He was the closest to the location at that time…"
"He understood the mechanism the most…"
Zahra bit her lip, her eyes glassy but still trying to defend.
"But… Reno didn't have the pin at the time of the murder! The vest was only returned after the death announcement!"
Bima shook his head. "But what if he lied about when the vest was returned? What if he secretly took the vest earlier?"
I felt my chest growing tighter. All eyes turned back to me, the suspicion that had slightly eased now flaring up again.
MonoGaru laughed flirtatiously from its throne, its torn wings creaking like applause.
"Wuaaa~ Still not finished with the debate~! Two people left, but the evidence is still pulling in different directions~! Come on, vote now! Reno… or Vina? Or… do you want to all die because of doubt? Hihihihi~!"
Adi took a deep breath, his eyes looking at me then Vina alternately.
"We have to decide now. Based on the evidence… who is lying?"