Shuuichi Saihara's life had never been even close to what could be considered normal. He had talked with some of the worst and cruelest criminals in the world before his age reached double digits. He knew so many state secrets that he couldn't go to an ordinary school, instead being home schooled in very protected military bases. And one couldn't forget the fact that he was technically a captain in terms of military rank, despite never having joined the army.
Still, suddenly waking up in a locker inside a school that was sealed off from the outside world, and having the first person he met there be the famous Ultimate Pianist Kaede Akamatsu... that was weird even by his standards.
"So, you have no idea how you could have gotten here?" Kaede asked.
"No." Shuuichi said. He was used to lying, but that was in fact the actual truth.
"Neither do I." Kaede said "I guess... we should look around to see what we can find."
They left the room together, and things did not get any less surreal from there. They were soon approached by some kind of super-advanced robotic plush bear. He called himself Monokuma, and told them that every one of their questions would be answered in time.
After that, the two found their way out of the school, only to discover that the entire school grounds was surrounded by a huge dome. And without seeing any other choice, the two decided to explore what they could of the place and meet up with the other teenagers that had also been trapped inside.
And they were a very varied group of characters. There was Angie Yonaga, Ultimate Artist:
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"That title isn't really right. Atua is the one with the talent, and I only act according to his will." She said.
Angie was a dark-skinned and white-haired girl. She was dressed lightly, in an open coat, bikini top and short jeans, but the most remarkable part of her appearance was that all of her exposed skin (with the exception of the face) was covered by tattoo-like artistic designs, like she was a living canvas.
"Atua... So does that mean you are one of the Children of Atua?" Shuuichi asked. He had heard about that religion before, but didn't really know much.
"Exactly. As the voice of Atua, it is my duty to guide His followers according to His will." Angie said.
"So, you're the leader?" Kaede asked.
"Yeah. But I just follow Atua's wishes." Angie said "Speaking of that, are either of you interested in becoming followers of Atua? He accepts everyone, because all are worthy in the eyes of Atua!"
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There was also Kaito Momota:
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"My name is Kaito Momota, Astronaut in Training!" He declared energetically.
"Can you be an astronaut in training while still in high school?" Kaede asked, doubtfully.
"Normally you can't, but I found a way, because Kaito Momota can break all barriers!" He gave a thumbs up.
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As well as Kirumi Toujou, Ultimate Maid:
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"Well, of course I know about you. Kirumi Toujou is a pretty famous name." Kaede said.
"I could say the same thing to you." Kirumi replied with a smile.
"And my name is Shuuichi Saihara." He introduced himself to Kirumi.
She already knew who he was, of course. But she didn't reveal his secret. Just like he didn't reveal hers.
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Rantaro Amami:
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"My name is Rantaro Amami. And I hope this place isn't what I think it is?" He said.
"What do you think it is?" Kaede asked.
"I'd rather not say." He refused to explain.
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Also Kokichi Ouma:
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"I am the Ultimate Supreme Leader. I lead an evil secret organization with over ten thousand members!" The boy bragged.
"I don't think 'Supreme Leader' is a talent recognized by the Ultimate Initiative." Shuuichi pointed out, reasonably enough.
"Are you saying that I'm lying?" Kokichi challenged.
"Are you?" Kaede didn't back down.
Kokichi threw his hands to the air and left in a huff "Seriously, those people..."
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Tenko Chabashira too:
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She had ignored Shuuichi's greeting as if he wasn't even there, but spoke with Kaede eagerly enough.
"My name is Tenko. Tenko Chabashira. Of course I know about the famous pianist, Kaede Akamatsu!"
And things had proceeded in that manner, with Tenko gushing over and complimenting Kaede, who showed to Shuuichi an apologetic expression.
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Miu Iruma:
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"I-I-I'm Miu Iruma! I hope you bastards know who you're dealing with!" She pointed a shaky finger at them.
She was a strange combination of meek and aggressive. Shuuichi had heard about her, but her personality was quite different from what he had imagined.
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Korekiyo Shinguuji, the Ultimate Anthropologist:
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"I don't know who was it that places all of us here. But I shall take advantage of the opportunity in order to observe all those interesting people." He declared.
"It's nice to know that you can still focus on your talent, even in a situation like this." Kaede said.
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Gonta Gokuhara, the Ultimate Entomologist:
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"Gonta is looking for bugs, but he not find any bugs here. It's strange." He mentioned.
"Really, no bugs?" Shuuichi was surprised "That would mean that this place is really isolated from the outside world."
"So it seems." Kaede said.
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Himiko Yumeno:
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"My name is Himiko Yumeno, but I also have another identity..." The girl said, in a mysterious voice "I am Kaitou Magi, the Magical Phantom Thief!" She declared.
Shuuichi looked at her doubtfully. The girl was wearing boots and a cape which were fairly similar to what the famous thief had on her outfit. But he was simply unable to connect that girl, who seemed like she was about to fall asleep on her feet, with the running and leaping majestic menace that had played police forces around the world for fools.
"I think I know you..." Kaede said "Weren't you the girl who handed yourself in when the police unit of Akiba asked Magi to hand herself in?"
"Yeah." Himiko answered "They were so polite that I had to do it, but then they turned me away for some reason..."
Shuuichi could not avoid showing a baffled expression.
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As well as K1B0, the Ultimate Robot:
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"But you can call me Keebo. I was created and then raised by Professor Idabashi." The robotic boy said.
"I heard a lot about Professor Idabashi." Kaede said "He was one of the leading minds in the field of robotics, but apparently it's been a while since he's shown any new work."
Hearing that, Keebo seemed to become embarrassed "Well... I think raising me has been consuming most of his attention." He said, touching his index fingers together.
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Tsumugi Shirogane, the Ultimate Cosplayer:
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"Haa... I really hope this situation isn't like the Last Escape series or something..." She said.
"I never heard of that series. Is it anime, games or what?" Kaede asked.
"It's a video game trilogy. The plot of it is very complex." Tsumugi replied.
"Have you ever cosplayed as someone from that series?" Kaede continued the conversation.
The two of them really seemed to have hit it off.
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Maki Harukawa:
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"My name is Maki Harukawa." She said.
That was pretty much all they could get out of her. She really didn't seem to want to talk.
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And finally, the ex-Ultimate Tennis Pro, Ryoma Hoshi.
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"No, I have no idea how I could have gotten here. I was being held in a maximum security prison after all." Ryoma said.
"Whoever did all this, certainly has some real power." Kaede said.
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Some of them were Ultimates, others were not, but all in all it was a strange and disparate group that didn't seem to share any similarities. However, they had all been chosen for some reason, and Shuuichi was trying to think of what it should be when screens around the whole school lit up and showed Monokuma, who called all the students to the gym.
Said bear showed up very flamboyantly and sat down on the podium, before starting to speak:
"You guys must be wondering why you have all been gathered here... The answer is simple, you are here to play a game!" He said.
"A game?" Someone asked.
"Exactly!" He confirmed "You guys must have realized that this place is completely sealed off from the outside world. This is intentional, so as to give you guys motivation to play the game!
"Because winning the game means you will be released and allowed to go back home, or wherever you want, really.
"And what is the goal of this game, you ask? Simple! It is to commit a Perfect Murder!" He said threateningly "If you are able to kill one of your classmates and get away with it, you shall be released from the academy!"
"What?!" Kaede asked, full of indignation.
"Of course, committing a Perfect Murder is no easy matter." He continued as if Kaede hadn't said anything "After each death, there will be a period for investigations, and after that all the surviving students will participate in a class trial, where they will discuss and attempt to figure out the killer.
"After that, they will vote, and if the person with the most votes is the killer, then he will be executed. However, if the person with the most votes isn't the killer, then he will win and be allowed to leave the academy, while all the other students will be executed in their place."
With this, Monokuma seemed to have ended his speech. The full impact of the situation bore down on top of the teenagers. In the end, the first one to recover from the shock and speak, was actually Rantaro:
"Why have we been chosen for this game?" He asked.
"Fuhuhu... That is a very good question." Monokuma said "It was because all of you are Ultimates, but not ordinary Ultimates. All of you possess talents that were considered extremely dangerous."
He raised his arms to the air for a moment and then started talking, pointing at students as he did so.
"Rantaro Amami, the Ultimate Survivor.
"Kaede Akamatsu, the Ultimate Spy.
"Tsumugi Shirogane, the Ultimate Mastermind.
"Ryoma Hoshi, the Ultimate Prisoner.
"Kaito Momota, the Ultimate Cheater.
"Himiko Yumeno, the Ultimate Phantom Thief.
"Maki Harukawa, the Ultimate Indoctrinator.
"Gonta Gokuhara, the Ultimate Ambassador.
"Kokichi Ouma, the Ultimate Rebel.
"Tenko Chabashira, the Ultimate Assassin.
"Kirumi Toujou, the Ultimate Supreme Leader.
"K1B0, the Ultimate Weapon.
"Miu Iruma, the Ultimate Mad Scientist.
"Korekiyo Shinguuji, the Ultimate Medium.
"Angie Yonaga, the Ultimate Cult Leader.
"And Saihara Shuuichi, the Ultimate Interrogator."
After finishing, Monokuma started to laugh madly.