Despair. To most, it's an abstract concept: but in the world of Danganronpa, it is a quantifiable phenomenon. Right versus Wrong, Good versus Evil, Hope versus Despair. Reality isn't like that. Reality is a place of blurred boundaries, where right can be wrong, and where corruption can exist without hope for change. I don't want hope, I don't want despair. I want them both, to duke it out forever: the Infinite Danganronpa. Two absolutes fighting for eternity: I want to see despair win, and hope win. Reality's indecisive, it treats some like dirt and some like kings seemingly indiscriminately. That isn't fair. Fiction's better, with all it's twists and revelations: fiction is more exciting than reality. That's why I will bring it from the pages, "Danganronpa X1: The First of the Live Action Killing Games". It's already starting; the preparations are made, and the talents have been scouted.

Now all that's left... is the killing.

The Tsubaki Academy is now known worldwide. Prior to thirty years ago, it was an otherwise indistinct Private Academy in Japan with little to no recognition. Its students were not particularly inspired, and its alumni often led mundane but satisfactory lives, with the occasional exception of a notable celebrity or notorious criminal also making their way through its ranks. However, it was at this point thirty years ago that the school introduced a radical yet successful change to their original scholarship policy: any student who could demonstrate enough talent to be classed at the top of their field would be granted a full scholarship into the school, in the hopes of also inspiring their current students to further pursue their own attempts at mastery: to inspire by example. Soon, this innocuous academy rose above the rest, as graduates slowly turned their otherwise lacklustre track record into something impeccable. In the span of thirty years, the reputation of the school had changed significantly from just another private school - to an academy where every student who went through came out on top.

The Headmaster of the Academy came to a fundamental realisation: success is contagious. That was the reason that the school had reached this point, and it was all thanks to her that everyone who came to this school not only found their talents: but excelled in them. Everyone from the Ultimate among Ultimates to the simple fee-paying student would rise to the top here. This place had even inspired a game series: Danganronpa, the final assignment of the Ultimate Animator which had now become a popular animated television series. It wasn't just that anything was possible here; anything goes as well. When you have a school filled with some of the most eccentric minds on the planet coupled with the ordinary run-of-the-mill schmucks like us, it's bound to get real batty. If there's one thing I've learnt from the students here, it's to expect the unexpected here, and to never let anything stop you.

Yet now... I'm stopped at the front gate, gulping down a coffee as I muster the courage to speak to a girl I liked.

The Ultimate Advertising Executive, Akemi Fujioka. She is an imposing individual, bearing with her the gravitas of someone dauntless despite her such a demanding position. At fourteen, she ran a marketing campaign so successful that it brought a company back from the precipice of bankruptcy and made them into a mainstream icon. It is said that she has such a firm grasp on the way consumers behave that she could change the opinion of the entire world with regard to a product, and has used her creative prowess in many occasions to avert public relations disasters entirely. If you had ever seen a person just change their entire outlook about the world on a whim, that would be almost akin to miracle-work, but her duty was to change the outlook of the world on a daily basis. It made me think a little...

...I'm just a fee-paying schmuck with no talent, why should I try?

Sure, I write a little. I'm no fool, but I'm certainly not a genius like her. She was on a whole other level, one that I couldn't reach, not even if I had the means to fly. The only thing I was ever good at was writing fan-theories on message boards. That isn't even a talent; just a hobby. How can I compare to a girl who literally changes public opinion on a daily basis?

I can't is the answer.

I should just forget about it.

That was when he came. He seemed to detect unease, as if he were so used to the sensation that he could sniff it out from a mile away. The Ultimate Guru, Kotaro Hino. He goes by Taro mostly, and it's said that he seems to have a positive relationship with everyone in the school. More than just a guru, he is a friend with everyone he meets - though how much of that friendship is genuine is up to debate. Nevertheless, he acts as a shoulder for every student in the school.

"Yo, how's it going?" He asked nonchalantly. "Looks like you wanna talk to her?"

"Yeah, I do," I replied.

"From the look on your face, you want to confess, right?" He continued.

"Yeah," I said. He took the words right out of my mouth. He truly was a people person, who seemed to have an innate intuition around others. He was short statured, wearing a bright yellow t-shirt and a black blazer. On most it would look ridiculous, but Taro seemed to have a unique ability to make it look all the more friendly. He radiated confidence and kindness with his short blonde hair matching the colour of his shirt.

"Well, you can't turn back now," he said. "You came this far, it'd be terrible to give up here. You did call her out to tell her, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did, but I'm scared," I replied. "She's a scholarship student who has changed the world, I'm just a run-of-the-mill guy who trawls through online threads. I'm nothing to her."

"With that mentality you are," he quipped. "You're all here to become the best. Some arrive here that way, some don't, but all of us leave here that way. That's what this place is for. You're good in your own way, at your own things. Just ask her."

"But... what if she doesn't like me?" I asked.

"Then you'll know, won't you?" He replied. "Nothing's gained from sitting on your hands."

"I guess," I replied. "By the way, I never told anyone, so how did you know about what I was feeling anyway?"

"I would be a pretty shit Guru if I knew nothing about what everyone else was feeling," he responded. "Gurus bring enlightenment, comfort, and guidance. That's what I'm here for. Now go out there, and tell her how you feel."

I stepped forward. One step, two steps. They say when you feel like you're going to die, that time slows down, and you see your life flash before you. That applies to the moment before social death as well. I saw my friends, I saw my teachers, I saw my family. I gulped, and walked forward anyway. She turned to face me, likely disturbed by the crimson colouration of my entire face that made me look like I had chugged a litre of hot sauce in preparation for the moment. She spoke.

"Are you okay, Shin?" She asked. "You're looking a little funny."

"U-uh, I-I've felt better. J-just a little uncertain, th-that's all." I said.

"Oh, okay," She said. Then, she asked. "Uncertain of what?"

"W-well, we always share h-history class together, and we always g-got along real well." I said.

"Yeah, if you're apologising about dropping that half-cup of jello on me yesterday, forget about it," she replied.

"T-this has nothing to do w-with the jello," I said.

"Should I take you to the matron, your face is looking kind of funny," she said.

"N-no, I'm fine. I..." I started, but I trailed off halfway through the sentence. I knew what would come next; the confession. For some reason, my throat was too narrow for the words to fit through, and they remained lodged in my larynx for some time. I couldn't help it.

"What is it?" She said.

"D-d..." I stammered.

"D-d what?" She replied.

"Do you like me?!" I exclaimed. I didn't really mean to exclaim it, and in reality I was surprised he was able to say it, but the words still came from my mouth. It was a decisive moment. I had been hanging around her for sixth months. She seemed so far away, and yet here I stood, within arm's length saying what I truly thought.

"Is that why you were all flustered?" She responded. "Geez, you're unbelievable."

"I just c-confessed my feelings to you," I said. "I-is that all you have to say?"

She averted her eyes for a moment. "No, I'm sorry," She said. "We both know that's a bad habit of mine."

"S-so..." I said. "Wanna make out - no, hang out sometime, damn it!"

She giggled a little. "I know what you mean, don't worry," she said. "How about this Thursday at six?"

"A-are you sure?" I replied.

"Why wouldn't I be?" She said.

"W-well, you're awesome. You're smart, talented, and amazing. I'm not that special," I said.

"You're special to me," she said. "That's all that matters, isn't it?"

"Y-yeah, I suppose," I said.

"Well, we have class now. We better head off."

"You go ahead," I said. "I-I'll catch up."

"Alright," she said. She turned away, and walked a few paces forward. As she was leaving, she stopped for a moment and turned her head back.

"See you Thursday then, Shin," she said.

"Y-yeah," he replied.

She continued to class. When he was certain she couldn't see him, he punched the air out of sheer excitement. Taro approached him.

"Good job!" He said. "Man, I knew you had it in you. You did me proud."

"Thanks..." I replied, and paused for a moment. "Hey Taro, do you think there's any hope that I could become the Ultimate Fan Theorist or something, like you guys?"

"Do you need to be?" He said. "Don't chase after a Mastery Scholarship just for an ego boost, you're good enough as it is. As they say, success is contagious. Being a Fan Theorist is about noticing correlation and patterns, isn't it?"

"Kind of, mostly it's about stringing events together and drawing conclusions from it," I replied. "It's a lot easier analysing fiction than reality though, fiction is linear and simple whereas reality is convoluted and bizarre."

"Maybe you could do something in data analysis?" He suggested.

"Maybe," I replied.

"You're an intelligent kid," he said. "Don't let the talents of the scholarship students get you down, let them lift you up."

He wandered off. Taro was my friend, but even I really didn't understand the guy. I suppose I would never really get the chance in the end. After all, I wouldn't see him again after this; not under normal circumstances at any rate. I sat on the bench for a while, and sighed. I sat there for what seemed like an eternity, until someone approached me. I felt hazy as they wandered closer. I couldn't make out their identity, I couldn't hear their voice, I couldn't do anything. The consciousness ebbed from me. Whether their presence was a catalyst or a coincidence I do not know, but I do know one thing.

When I next awoke, it was not into the dream that reality had become, but instead into a living nightmare.

Note: This will be a Submit Your OC fic, with twelve character slots. Six of these characters will be Ultimate Students, six of these characters will be Reserve Students. The protagonist may be any one of these students. Note that Reserve Students should still have a talent listed. Anyway, feel free to have a crack, and send any applications in PM!

Name (Japanese names preferred, nicknames should be written in quotations between the given name and first name):

Gender (Male, Female, Other. Note that I will try to preserve an equilibrium in gender):

Orientation (Straight, Gay, Bi, etc.):

Course (Scholarship Students are classed as Ultimates colloquially, Regular Students are additionally classed as Reserves by the Mastermind):

Talent (Regardless of Course, the student should still have something they enjoy and are good at):

Relationship with Talent (How do they feel about their abilities? Do they think they're part of their identity, or a hindrance, or maybe they even hate them?):

Personality (Tell me how they act in general, what sort of person are they?):

Character Traits (Basically a cursory summary of the above):

Likes and Dislikes (What they enjoy doing and really hate):

Personal Information/Relationships (The sorts of people they like and dislike):

- Loves:

- Likes:

- Dislikes:

- Hates:

Family (Note any loved ones here, and the relationships they have with those people):

Personal Effects (Anything that may be on their person when they were taken into the game):

Outfit and Appearances (These can help allow people to get a feel for the character on initially meeting them):

Extra Notes (If I forgot anything, write it here):