Hello! Well, this one been going around my head for a while after finishing Befriending the Two Sides of the Mirror. So let's go with this Danganronpa fanfiction! The killing game never happened in this AU. Take it pretty much as a school life story with the focus being on Mikan Tsumiki, Peko Pekoyama, Akane Owari and Makoto Naegi. Oh, as always, own nothing regarding Danganronpa.

Here we go with: Ultimate Secret Friends.

Chapter 1: The secret friend of the Ultimate Nurse.

Is not weird to have a secret friend. Do you yourself have one? A friend you don't tell your friends of, by a myriad of reasons. It can be something as simple as not wanting to present him to your friends because they don't like them. Maybe they do not know he is your friend, and you want to keep it that way. Maybe you are scared he will start hanging more with your other friends. Maybe you just feel there will be conflict.

Maybe your secret friend will not be the same once he meets your friends and starts judging you. Maybe you are afraid they will steal him away. As said before, there is a myriad of reasons. What's more, is not hard to start fabricating more reasons as to why you don't reveal that secret friend.

A secret friend, in the end, is your friend. One you tell no one of, but as any other friend, maybe even more so, is on you trust to help you in a tight spot or when you need them the most. Sometimes is simply someone you enjoy chatting with during your free time. Someone who brings something new to your daily life. A secret friend is a precious thing you see.

For Mikan Tsumiki, a secret friend was a blessing she protected and kept with her life. No one knew of her secret friend. No one even knew she had a friend out of the classroom. Everyone who knew her also was in the knowledge of her meekness and shyness. The girl had a low self-esteem that made it hard for her to make friends. Nevertheless, she was a bully magnet due to the same thing. Therefore, it wasn't surprising she would spend time alone in the nurse office.

And it was in the office where she had made her secret friend already for the past month…

She had offered herself to work in there during her free time and help at any chance. Her talent made her happy. She could help others, and she liked helping those who were helpless and unable to do anything.

As the nurse, she had the full control.

Yet that didn't bring friendship to her. Nor any feels of contempt in it. Loneliness was her song, and heartache her dance partner in the ball.

"Well…today is rather slow…" Tsumiki sighed, with the fact today the school was having a sports festival she expected the nurse office to be full of hurt students. Yet it seemed not even one person was getting hurt. Which was good, but bad at the same time.

That was until she heard the sound of the office opening up

"Excuse me!" A kid with a hoodie and brown hair entered the office; Mikan took quickly to see all about him looking excitedly for any sort of injury. She seemingly couldn't see anything clearly bad, maybe it had to do with how he held his right hand. She got excited at the idea of a heavy injury hiding under the hood. Her questions were answered soon by him.

"I sprained my hand, is really light but I was sent here" As the boy mentioned his rendition of what happened. Tsumiki smiled as she approached with professionalism at the sprained right hand.

"Don't worry, I will fix it" Makoto Naegi. The so-called Lucky student of his class was impressed with the look in the eyes of the girl nursing him. With efficiency and little problem at all managed to get his hand bandaged and make the sprain feel as if it went away. Once she was finished and she nodded at her own work her demeanor of professionalism faded.

Instead, Makoto Naegi was met with the meek and shy nurse.

"Well… all good… you can go now…" She felt afraid. Now that he was well, surely the boy would bully her. She was ready though… the bullying was about to come in any moment now.

"Thank you! It feels better now, oh, I am Makoto Naegi, a pleasure to meet you" Naegi offered a small bow to her. He felt thankful to the girl and waited to know her name.

Tsumiki was confused and happy. Elated even. Someone who was better wasn't bullying her but was offering his thanks and even presenting at her. Her eyes opened. He presented himself. She had to do the same!

"M-My name is Mikan Tsumiki…" What else could she say? He had said it was a pleasure to meet her… her! She had to say something else!

"F-from the b-bottom of my heart, I hope we can get along" Oh no, surely the boy would now bully her. Saying sincerely her thoughts had sounded desperate!

But the things didn't go the way she expected. Instead, she was shown an honest smile from Makoto Naegi. A smile that he without knowing would end up causing a series of events that would lead to a friendship.

"Is a pleasure to meet you Tsumiki!" Naegi smiled at her and felt happy. He had heard from others that the nurse in the office was a student. A weird one at that and that it was better to avoid her. Yet seeing her in front of him made him reaffirm that rumors were not a reliable source. Mikan Tsumiki seemed to be quite nice.

"I am sure we will be good friends" The thought escaped Naegi as he spoke it. He always liked to be friends with everyone. Even those who seemed rough or mean. Naegi had a weird way of working his way through the solid walls people made. He wasn't conscious himself of it. Nevertheless, it happened. Makoto Naegi was someone who could make his way through the sturdiest of emotional walls and make friends.

He didn't know it. He would never really know it. However, speaking up the words to Mikan Tsumiki brought feelings in her she never thought would come, the smile had opened the door, and the words he spoke gave him entry.

Mikan Tsumiki thoughts were a mess of elated feelings. A friend. Someone had spoken with her with kindness. Even going as far as offering a smile to her and saying they could be friends!

" …Hehehehe!" The feelings inside her that had brought the elation were now bringing her uncontrollable laughing. She took notice of Naegi looking at her and spoke.

"Ah! I-I'm sorry! I-It's just… I can't help it, I am so happy! I can't remember the last time I made any friends…..Ah" She placed both of her hands over her mouth noticing what she had said. Now surely Naegi would not want to be friends with her.

She had been too presumptuous. Surely, Naegi didn't want to be friends with her. She had screwed up the only chance she had…

"Well…I am your friend now right? So the last time you made a friend was today right Tsumiki?" Naegi smiled at her. And she spoke with the decision in her voice.

"Call me Mikan" She was perplexed at herself. She couldn't believe she just demanded. Because that was the word, she didn't ask nor requested. She demanded him to call her Mikan. She had to fix her mistake fast before her chance of a friend went away.

"My friends call me Mikan, s-so I would like for you to call me that way since we are friends… b-because we are friends right?" She hoped she didn't screw up her chance. She was waiting for a harsh rebuttal at her; she closed her eyes readying herself. Instead, she got a question.

"We are friends Mikan…I mean… do you want to be my friend?" Naegi smiled at her. Mikan had opened her eyes and looked at Naegi. In her face was a smile as she once again started to laugh.

That day. The infamous nurse of the school and the unlucky student became secret friends.

A month had already passed from that day. No one in the class of Mikan knew the girl who helped in the nurse office had a friend. In the same way, no one knew that Naegi was friends with the ultimate nurse.

On Mikan side, this was due to her wish to keep Naegi away from everyone in her class. While some weren't bad as per say. She wasn't sure she wanted to risk Naegi to stop spending time with her in favor of seeing the others members of her class. Some were more interesting, smarter, more beautiful than her… she wasn't sure it would be good to risk Naegi meeting them and that he stopped spending time with her.

Naegi simply didn't mention it. He wasn't trying by any means to hide his friendship with Mikan. The thing was it simply never came as a theme of conversation. Naegi wasn't one to boast or speak of things when no one asked. He was one who flowed and actually was happier hearing his friends speaking of what they did and what they were managing to achieve. Naegi was the kind of friend who was the best at cheering others and hearing them.

So while things were made for different reasons. The result was the same. No one knew of the friendship shared by Mikan Tsumiki and Makoto Naegi.

No one knew how much the nurse enjoyed chatting with the student she later learned was younger than her. No one knew how much Naegi liked to listen to her speaking of how she helped people in the office. In the end, both found a nice feeling in the friendship they had been building step by step.

Moreover, that brought both of them to a secluded part of the school as they were eating lunch. Mikan had chosen the place as it was secluded from other parts of the school and no one was around. It offered a safe spot for her to eat her lunch alone without anyone who might hurt her.

After the first week of being friends with Naegi, she had decided to invite him to eat in her secret spot. Needless to say, it was a surprising fact for him that Mikan would eat her lunch alone. He didn't get it how could people bully someone as kind as her. All she wanted was to help people with her talent.

During the lunch, Mikan spoke to Naegi.

"Naegi… do you have many friends?" She had been avoiding the question. Honestly, it had taken her a whole month of chatting with her junior to feel brave enough as to ask. She feared the answer.

Naegi nodded before speaking.

"Yeah, all my friends are the members of my class" He spoke with cheer in his voice as he started listing all of them. From the leader of a biker gang called Mondo to someone who in the opinion of Mikan sounded like a bully called Togami. He kept listing everyone and with every new name, Mikan felt she was being buried in a grave, and each new name made sure it was a deep one.

"Oh…I-Its great…I guess you surely want to spend more time with them…" She felt sad. However, it was needed, she couldn't keep retaining Naegi. Surely, he would prefer to be with his other friends.

"Oh. Well, I like to spend time with them. But, right now I am spending time with you, Mikan! I always like to have lunch with you" Naegi smiled and kept eating.

Mikan was sure that Naegi was committing a crime by smiling so much. She was feeling way too elated, she could burst in happiness. She would later look if it were illegal to make someone so happy. Naegi was great, but the last thing she wanted was for him to end up in jail for her fault.

She started to laugh at her thoughts.

Naegi had become used at hearing the laugh of Mikan and it only managed to make him smile, he often wondered what kind of thoughts were going in her head. What was so funny that she would always laugh every time they got together to have lunch. Plus she always had a sweet laugh in his opinion. Not that he would admit that aloud. Even less in the presence of the person.

This manages to make Naegi get his cheeks reddened. At the sight, Mikan laugh stopped as she approached Naegi with the professionalism of her title as the ultimate nurse.

"Naegi? Are you okay? Your cheeks got red!" She took a thermometer out of a pocket in her clothes and placed it in his mouth. Naegi was feeling embarrassed. Yet Mikan was confused as she took the reading of the thermometer.

"Eh? It says you are okay… I might need to get a new one… how are you feeling?" She looked with concern at him before he spoke.

"I am okay Mikan, don't worry really. I am fine" Naegi smiled, still looking a bit red on his face. But, if Mikan had learned something during the month of friendship with Naegi. Was the fact he was honest. He couldn't lie. As literally could say lies. She actually loved that particular part of his personality.

It had been funny when he brought a lunch to her and he denied he had made it himself. Needless to say, she had a hard time getting her emotions in check as she thought her heart would burst out in happiness at being given a lunch by a friend.

The conversation kept going and Naegi asked something to Mikan, something he had been himself curious for the past month.

"Do you have many friends Mikan?" He smiled with happiness. Surely, she must have other friends in her class. Just like, he became friends with the others. He felt a bit saddened at the fact Mikan raised three fingers.

"I got…t-three friends…" Mikan felt saddened. Surely, Naegi would go away after hearing such a thing.

"Oh, am I included?" Naegi spoke softly at her.

Mikan eyes opened up at the question. She smiled while nodding and spoke happily.

"O-Of course! Ibuki, Mahiru, and y-you are my friends" She felt happy speaking of her friends. Naegi smiled at the knowledge that Mikan had some friends. Especially considering what he had learned during their month of friendship.

Mikan could be shy, but she could also be clumsy, and who knows how she managed to fall in… embarrassing poses.

"I am glad to know you got friends in your class Mikan" As he kept smiling Mikan felt happy.

She nodded at his words; truly, the world seemed to shine just a bit more when in the presence of Naegi. She was thankful he would spend time with her. What's more, he had been clear he always enjoyed their lunches together.

As she kept eating, she thought about the state of things.

Mainly speaking about her friendship with Naegi. She was happy. But really she wanted to invite him to see a movie, maybe buy new bandages for the school. Nevertheless, that was risky. Mainly speaking it was risky because either Ibuki or Mahiru could see her. And if they saw her… well, it wasn't like they were bad people. Is just once they learned of it, it was hard for the rest of the class to not know about it.

In the end, things would probably end up going haywire and she would find herself losing her secret friend. And that would mean she would lose her chance to chat… Ibuki was nice but she would often keep speaking so much she would not let anyone else utter a word. Worst, she would interrupt any chance of speaking.

What's more, Naegi was really kind and gentle. He would let Ibuki speak everything and he would even keep on listening with that smile of his… she had to avoid Ibuki of ever stealing Naegi away. Mahiru would end up requesting his help to take photographs, and as Naegi is not one to say no he would probably accept and when he saw how interesting Mahiru is, he would end up going away.

What's even worse! Both of them were cute! Who was she to say Naegi wouldn't abandon her for cute girls?!

"Mikan are you okay?" Naegi looked at her with concern as she had been quiet and suddenly started to look distressed the more her silence endured. She suddenly took him by the shoulders as she spoke.

"Naegi! D-Don't go for looks! T-There are things more important than looks in life!" She spoke with urgency.

Naegi eyes opened at this. However, he didn't understand why she reacted like that and could only chuckle and nod.

"Sure Mikan, I will focus on the important things in life" He kept his smile and his positive attitude making her smile.

Mikan visibly relaxed and sighed.

"Really Naegi… you are cool" She smiled this time.

Both resumed eating their lunch as time was passing by and soon would be time to go back to class. Mikan was visibly happier at the end of the lunch than at the beginning of it. She decided to act like a proper student and offered her hand to Naegi.

"Allow me to take you to your classroom, as I am older is only natural I do it" She smiled. But suddenly she got into a mess in her head. It sounded as if she was taking her date back to its home. Before she could ponder more about it Naegi nodded.

"Sure, I might be able to present you to some of my friends!" Naegi was positive that his friends would like Mikan. At this Mikan paled a bit before speaking.

"L-Lets leave that one for later… for now, let us go to your class" As she composed herself and walked by his side.

Naegi was in thought. Maybe she was busy. Surely some other time she would be able to present her to his class, he was sure everyone would love her. At least they wouldn't bully her… maybe he would need to give Mondo a heads up that day to try to not intimidate her… who was he kidding? He could not stop Mondo from being himself. He would need to give the heads up to Mikan.

Maybe Sakura would also like Mikan, she often got some training injuries, so surely she would like to take advice from her?

Countless thoughts and possibilities to help Mikan have more friends went through his mind as they were making the road for his class.

Sadly Mikan didn't count on something.

She wasn't counting on the fact that no one had seen her with Naegi because they never met in the school halls, they would often see each other in the nurse office, that was even before they agreed on meeting on her secret spot to eat lunch.

Without knowing it she had made a risky decision. So risky in fact she didn't know that someone was taking pictures of the students crossing through the hallways to expose it as a work. She would call it Those who walk through the halls. The idea was taking photos of everyone in the school that went through the hallways. It might sound boring.

But those who thought like that were not Mahiru Koizumi.

She knew that in the school lots of stuff happened all the time. So she would capture those moments, those swift and fast moments people didn't notice. Moments such as a student entering with a motorcycle. On the other hand, a student running behind him managing to keep his rhythm.

Alternatively, two incredibly strong looking students walking. The school was a paradise for a photographer that knew there was a lot hiding in plain sight.

That's what differentiated her from others. She was willing to be patient and stay still to capture those moments.

"Come on… one more before class" She spoke with decision her eye never removing itself from the camera and keeping her hands steady to manage the proper focus.

She just wanted one last picture before going back to class. Anything would work. Even if she didn't use the picture for her work, she wanted to take the last picture.

Needless to say, the photographer was surprised at what she was seeing. It wasn't an explosion, it wasn't a robot or a walking bear that could speak and laughed in a creepy way. Oh no. it was something much more impressive. Something so fleeting no one could say they had ever seen it before. This was the white whale of the sea. This was Moby Dick for her.

"Mikan-chan… is smiling"

It was thanks to her discipline as a photographer that she managed to keep the focus and capture the fleeting moment of Mikan smiling while captured in conversation with another student. One that she knew wasn't in her class. Otherwise, she would remember taking a photo of him.

This was interesting.

She saw Mikan waving at the boy who entered his classroom. Mikan spun in the direction for her classroom and once she got inside she saw Mahiru. She was beaming with happiness. That wasn't weird for Mikan. Mahiru was positive all the time. What was weird was the fact she didn't seem able to formulate words to speak.

Entering her professional demeanor as a nurse, she approached Mahiru. Better, make sure she wasn't choking.

"Mahiru? Are you well? What's happening?" She tried to look for signs of choking or lack of air. However, all she got in exchange was a squealing Mahiru who took her in a hug. She couldn't contain herself.

"Look at you! Playing it all suave with a younger student! So what's his name! How did you become friends?" Mahiru kept smiling the whole time happy for her friend. Mikan became a mess of limbs as she placed her hands over the mouth of Mahiru.

"Don't say it! I don't want anyone else knowing of him!" Mahiru seemingly stopped trying to speak and nodded. She understood her friend.

"Hi! Got any cool photos Mahiru?" Ibuki Mioda came walking with happiness in her step at seeing her two friends having fun. She didn't get why were Mikan hands covering the mouth of Mahiru. However, she guessed it was a new game of those that suddenly came around.

Mahiru nodded still with the hands of Mikan over her mouth as she passed her camera to Ibuki for her to see.

"Let's see….look here!" Ibuki showed them the screen as she was seeing the photos and showed them the most recent. In which a smiling Mikan was speaking with a younger student who wore a hoodie.

"Muah-haha! Someone is truly daring! So who is your new friend? Can Ibuki meet him?" Ibuki smiled beaming at the prospect of meeting the newest friend of Mikan. If Mikan liked someone, they had to be truly and absolutely without a shadow of doubt nice. She was dying to know about him.

Mikan Tsumiki considered herself a lucky person even with all the stuff that usually happened around her. Naegi had told her of how he wasn't all that lucky. Rather unlucky stuff happened when he least expect it.

Maybe this such a situation? She decided next time she saw Naegi she would give him a candy or something. Whoever endured this sort of situations on a daily basis was in serious need of something to make the pain lighter.

"Ugh!" She groaned as both of her friends started to ask questions regarding who was the student. Ibuki keen eye was even able to notice by the picture that the class they were going to was of a younger student.

Mahiru confirmed the thoughts of Ibuki by saying how Mikan had made sure he went to class, making the other laugh and making Mikan wishing she could fake an illness to go away.

"Hah! I knew it! You are truly more daring than what I expected! Ibuki knew you were able to play it all suave with others!" Ibuki was chuckling as she hugged Mikan.

Mahiru nodded to the words of Ibuki before raising her camera.

"So, you are going to share, or do I need to look for him myself?" She smirked and almost laughed at the despairing expression of Mikan who noticed she wasn't getting out of this situation.

The worst scenario happened in a way. Ibuki and Mahiru found out she had a secret friend. Now she would need to speak about it.

Really, what else could happen?!

"Excuse me, the class is starting soon, go back to your desks… please" Said a firm voice.

Peko Pekoyama adjusted her glasses. She looked at the trio making a ruckus with disinterest. Whatever happened it was their deal. But they shouldn't interrupt the order of the class. Normally she would have been a bit harsher in her wording. But her friend had been clear that things went better when done with kindness and a smile.

She wasn't one to smile. So she could only follow the first part of his advice.

"Oh, sure, sorry Pekoyama" Mahiru took both Ibuki and Mikan away.

Peko adjusted her glasses one last time before going to sit in her own desk close to Fuyuhiko. The same one spoke seeing her sitting.

"You have been acting… less extreme recently… anything good happening recently?" He asked with curiosity. Many might not notice it, but as they were close, he noticed the slight change in the actions she took.

Peko denied with a wave of her head.

"Nothing new young master… mind if I take a rest today?" She spoke with the same seriousness as always. Fuyuhiko was actually glad she took rests. It was a bit straining for him to have her always so close. Recently she had taken to ask for a rest occasionally since last week. Which he was glad to let her have.

"Sure, enjoy your rest Peko. I will see you later" He offered a court nod and she did the same.

Peko was smiling inside. She would have felt saddened if she had been unable to attend the appointment she had asked herself after all.

"Thanks young master" Fuyuhiko did not notice it. For even to him it was hard to notice the lace of happiness in her tone.

CUT!

Well, this was fun! Personally, I think I love writing Danganronpa the most. Reviews are welcome and appreciated! May we all enjoy the journey this story offers! See you all in the next chapter!

Chapter 2: The secret friend of the Ultimate Swordswoman