A/N:

Posted: August 20th, 2016
Last Updated: August 20th, 2016
Views as of Posting: 0

My first story on Danganronpa! This is a novelization of the Twilight Murder Syndrome Case. I'm planning to make ten chapters of this work.

Really enjoying the DR3 Anime: Despair Arc right now- lots of juicy information on Hope's Peak Academy. I felt like writing a bit of Hajime x Natsumi and Hajime x Chiaki. Nagito the Ultimate Bullshit's abilities seem fun too.

My other fanfiction(s) are having some romance soon and, since I'm not too familiar with the genre, I'll practice it here. I guess…

This story assumes you've seen up to Danganronpa 3 Despair Arc, Episode 3: Beginning of the Twilight. You should have also (obviously) played the second Danganronpa Game: Goodbye Despair to know about the Twilight Murder Syndrome Case. So yeah, spoilers for those two things.

Only Day 1 contains in-anime dialogue; consider it a small refresher on Natsumi's arrival.

Now, onto the story…

Day 1: The New Student [Hajime]

It was another boring, uneventful day.

The reserve course student stared at his right hand. It was just a normal boy's hand- it could write, throw, and even type. Some unlucky people in the world were born, knowing they will never get their hands to perform any of those things. Others used to be able, but through age, disease, or some freak accident, they lost that ability as well. The world they were born in was unfair. Cruel. Undeserving.

But despite the setbacks of the many, there are the few who triumph. There are hands that throw harder, program faster, cook better, and reach further. There are hands and brains that accomplish what others cannot do. They push forward the human race. Indeed, these talented individuals are the nation's hope. They are the Ultimates attending Hope's Peak Academy.

Hajime sighed as his mind continued to drift off from the lecture. There was only a week's time until the project deadline. He could either leave his cocoon of remarkableness and join the Primary Department, or drop out of the academy altogether. But, no matter how much he wanted-

"I will now introduce a new transfer student."

His thoughts were interrupted by his teacher. Hajime stopped leaning on his arm and looked up in interest. Within the poorly-lit room was a blonde girl in the traditional school uniform. She stepped out of the shadow covering her face, grinning at her new classmates. The reserve course student blinked. It's been a while since someone new transferred in.

"Hello, I am Natsumi Kuzuryu." The girl bowed respectfully.

Her introduction washed away Hajime's attention. The transfer student was of average height and demeanor. Her green eyes didn't stand out much on her face and her soft voice wasn't doing any favors moreover. Natsumi was going to be another inconspicuous student, just like him.

"I don't know why I've been put with trash like you, but…"

(Wait, what?)

Hajime raised his head immediately. He never heard that kind of address before, especially in front of the entire class. The transfer student shattered all of his assumptions as quickly as he made them. The girl's smile turned into a small smirk as her eyes scanned the dumbfounded students.

"… Well, nice to meet you." She finished.

Her face turned smug, as if expecting some sort of applause.

"Er, thank you for the introduction." The homeroom teacher scratched his head, "Your seat will be that empty desk over there. Welcome to Hope's Peak Academy."

Natsumi walked at a brisk pace towards the desk, not making eye contact with the curious students gazing at her. Hinata pulled at his shirt collar and looked back at the window. The transfer student was sitting in the same row. Only a single desk separated them.

(Thank goodness it wasn't closer.…)

Annoyingly, she was just another reserve course student. Natsumi thinks she's above everyone and tried to make a unique entrance, but in the end they were all the same. She wasn't a High School Ultimate. There was no reason to get excited.

The teacher returned to the textbook. "Ok, returning to methods of nonlinear second-order, differential equations, we have y double-dash is equal to function f of x, y, and y dash…"

The reserve course student began dozing off again. His eyes wandered back at the main building of Hope's Peak Academy, where his heart thirsted for. Calculus went by in a flash, just like always.

Hajime took a bite out of his raisin bread. He continued staring at the large building. Break time was usually the only time he got to socialize with his friends, but Mikio and Noboru were busy working together on a social science project. The other students broke off into small groups, chatting among themselves about an English test next week. Hajime gave a squeeze at his Genji "Dewicious" Milk.

"Hey…"

(Do not feel normalcy)

Former headmaster Kazuo Tengan's smiling face returned to his mind as he chewed. Being normal didn't seem bad- it was one of the only things he was good at. The adviser to the very school objecting to the project was a huge red flag. For some reason, it only made the prospect more alluring.

He looked down at his table. "Seven days left." He murmured to himself.

"Hey, I'm talking to you."

"Hmm?" Hajime swallowed and looked up.

That damn transfer student was standing next to his desk, looking at him. Hajime gave a muted grunt of disappointment. The "pleasant" new girl wanted to talk. If she wanted to take his window seat, she would have to try a lot harder than that. He stared up at an impatient Natsumi. Her cheeks were a lot rosier up close, and her complexion appeared sort of delicate.

"You're always gazing at the Main Course building." She scoffed.

Hajime straightened his posture and put down his food. "Yeah, so what?"

"I'll bet you have no friends!" Natsumi sat down on the desk next to him, "Not that I do, either."

(T-this girl!)

Her young face definitely betrayed her personality. The reserve course student turned his head both ways, to see if anyone else was witnessing this awkward situation. A few people around them noticed, but they didn't pay much attention.

"Well, yeah." Hajime coughed, "Not if that's how you say hello to people."

"I was serious!" Natsumi exclaimed.

Hajime lowered his head in irritation. This girl had a major attitude problem. Someone in administration cruelly condemned him to this conversation. Where was the hidden camera? The emergency exit?

"I mean, I'm the Ultimate Little Sister, after all!" she continued.

"Huh?"

(More like the Ultimate Sass)

He barely restrained himself from blurting out those words.

"You must have heard of us. The criminal organization with over thirty thousand members- the Kuzuryu Clan!"

"Kuzuryu? No, you can't mean…"

Now he realized why her last name sounded so familiar. The Kuzuryu Clan- feared crime syndicate of Mainland Japan and abroad. Most of their activities were underground, but for someone to claim they're a member so easily is absurd. Then again, her behavior started making a bit more sense.

Natsumi narrowed her eyes. "That's right! The Kuzuryu Clan is my family. And, my big brother is the heir apparent, the Ultimate Yakuza!"

"Seriously?"

(There is such a thing?!)

Could something as obscure as inheritance or kinship be considered a talent? If so, the amount of talent distributed around the world was a lot more unbalanced than he first thought. Hajime picked up his piece of bread again. He didn't want to admit it, but he took general interest in her backstory.

"And with an incredible big brother like that, it means I'm an Ultimate Little Sister! See? Makes perfect sense, right?" Natsumi leaned back on the desk smugly.

(Her "little sister-ness" was anything but ultimate.)

"But considering you've come to the Reserve Course, you weren't scouted for the main course, huh?" Hajime commented.

"That doesn't mean I have no talent yet!" She retorted, "Maybe you've given up already."

Hajime tensed his shoulders, and gradually loosened them again. There was no other way she would respond. Still, Natsumi's words hit. Hard. Keeping up with the rigorous studies was already hard enough, but developing a talent along with his grades? At that pace, it was nearly impossible.

"I…" He gritted his teeth, "I can still…"

"I'm not like them." The girl interrupted, uninterested in his response. "I'll do whatever it takes to get into the Main Course!"

(Easier said than done…)

Natsumi's proclamation was no different from all of the others in the class. It was everyone's dream to get into the Main Course and join the Ultimates. However, her words had a passion Hajime never seen before. He stared at the girl, bewildered.

"I'll bet if someone in the Main Course were to quit, I could fill their open space!" She winked mischievously, "Like a certain girl with freckles I hate, or…"

"Good luck with that." Hajime took another bite from his bread, "You still have over two thousand reserve course students to climb over."

"Wow, you really don't have ambition, do you?" Natsumi sneered.

A hand suddenly slammed on Hajime's desk, shaking around his drink. He haphazardly held onto his milk carton to prevent it from falling over. Natsumi looked up as well, startled by the move.

"Natsumi!" A girl with long black hair said, "You'd better not be planning anything weird, ok?"

"Hey, it's Sato…" The transferee said, bemused.

Hajime swallowed. Sato was a classmate he barely talked to, and he knew almost nothing about her. A plain-looking female by all standards, she always leaves the classroom to eat with some other girl from the Main Course.

They were apparently friends from a photography club or something alike. Her tall stature made her look intimidating once she gets angry.

"Long time no see." Natsumi smiled, "What? Were you eavesdropping on us?"

"Just answer me!" Sato demanded, "You're not plotting something weird again, are you?"

"Huh? What do you mean by 'something weird'?"

The transferee leaned back on the desk. Sato scrunched her face in ire, as if she knew Natsumi was hiding something. Hajime couldn't take it anymore- all he wanted to do was to eat his damn food in peace.

"Do you two… know each other?" He offered, trying to advance the conversation.

"Not really!" Natsumi giggled, "At my last school, we were just in the same photography club."

(Ah, I guess I was right…)

"If you do anything to Mahiru, I'll never let you get away with it!"

Sato leaned closer to the new girls face. Natsumi leaned in even closer, unfazed by her opponent. Hajime looked around frantically for the homeroom teacher.

"Don't you just strut up to me and start spewing nonsense!"

"I'm telling you to drop your weird scheme!"

"Don't get so familiar with me, you Plain Jane!" Natsumi cursed.

"Oi, stop shaking my desk." Hajime said resignedly.

On the bright side, at least he could tell Mikio and Noboru he ended up with two girls coming up to him during break. It wouldn't be anywhere near as exciting as they would think, but it was something. With no one else looking at the three of them, it seemed Sato's outburst was almost expected by the rest of the students.

"Excuse me- let me through, please…"

His attention turned towards the door of the classroom. A short, freckled girl with short red hair was carrying what looked like a wrapped lunch box. She was making her way through groups of people towards his desk.

(Another one?)

"You can't do anything without hiding behind your parents!" Sato raged on.

"Stop this!"

The redhead put her arm on Sato and prompted her to stop talking. Natsumi let out a small tsk. Hajime couldn't tell if she was angry at the student who just entered the classroom, or at the concept of being saved by someone else.

"Mahiru…" Sato murmured.

"Long time no see, Koizumi!" Natsumi piped with glee, "What does a girl from the Main Course need here?"

The girl blinked. "I just…"

"Did you come here to mock these talentless losers?"

As she spoke loudly, heads finally began to turn towards the four of them. Mahiru didn't know how to respond, and Sato simply gritted her teeth. Upon seeing all of the new attention, Natsumi smiled. This has gone too far.

"H-hey…" Hajime gulped, "Cut that out!"

Natsumi raised her head back. "Ku-hahahaha! I'm just messing with ya!"

"Your brother is in the same class as Mahiru." Sato pointed out.

"Yeah, and? Gonna tattle on me? Just try it."

Natsumi's eyes turned dark. Her mouth curled into a fierce snarl. Sato and Mahiru were taken aback by her threat. A dropped of sweat rolled down from the Ultimate's forehead. The rest of the class lost interest in their argument and turned away their heads. Hajime exhaled in relief.

"I'll kill you." The Kuzuryu said.

And there goes his relief.

"You haven't changed." Mahiru simply replied.

(She was like this when she was younger?!)

The transferee glared at her. "You haven't changed since we were in the photography club! Still a shitty little goody two-shoes, secretly looking down on everyone!"

"Hey that's enough, dammit!" Hajime stood up.

Mahiru closed her eyes and pulled herself closer to Sato. She was clearly scared. He had never seen an Ultimate act so scared before. Regardless, Natsumi crossed the line a long time ago. It was time for them to return to a regular, boring break time.

"Are you so desperate to get into the Main Course that you'd pull down Mahiru to do it?" Sato spat, "You're the absolute worst!"

Natsumi's scowl turned into a disappointed frown and furled brow. It was hard to believe she would be so upset over being accused of something she wanted to do.

"If the Main Course didn't scout you, it means you have no talent!" She continued, "But you still don't get that… You need to learn your place!"

"Why you…" The transferee raised her first, preparing for a punch.

Mahiru jumped in between them. "That's… that's enough!" She whimpered.

The feisty blonde stared at Mahiru. Natsumi's fist was still in the air, still ready to strike the redhead. The freckled girl's entire body shook, bracing for the attack.

The attack never came. The Ultimate opened her eyes and placed both of her hands on Sato's shoulders. "Let's go." She suggested.

After Sato exchanged on last glare with Natsumi before being dragged off by Mahiru. The transferee clenched her fist, still shaking her arm in ire. The rest of the class exchanged some chuckles. Hajime sat down, exhausted by the entire ordeal.

"That bitch…" Natsumi breathed. "Who does she think she is..."

"Hey now." Hajime raised his hands in exasperation. "Let's calm down here."

Oddly, he found himself somewhat sympathizing with the new student. If someone told him to "know his place", he would be pissed off as well. He couldn't imagine what those words meant to the sister of the Kuzuryu heir. Of course, what Natsumi said wasn't justified either…

"Quiet, you…" She began to snap before taking a small pause.

"… Hajime." He interjected. "Hajime Hinata. You never gave me the chance to introduce myself."

"Huh, Hajime…" Natsumi repeated, "Sorry, I guess. Nice to meet you."

"I wish I could say the same…" Hajime mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, I swear!" He raised both of his arms in surrender.

The girl sat back on the desk, incredulous. The two looked at each other in silence. It was hard to believe this innocent-looking girl had such an outburst a moment ago. Hajime slowly finished his bread and crumpled up the wrapper.

"Heh. Ok, 'Hajime Hinata'." Natsumi finally spoke. "You should feel honored to witness me accomplish what worthless people , like you, cannot!"

"Yeah, sure." He groaned, "Whatever. You do that."

He didn't know much about Mahiru, however she seemed like a kindhearted person. Natsumi acts a bit spoiled- nothing made her seem like a potential murderer though. That's just the Yakuza intimidation and mentality talking, or at least that's what he wanted to believe.

She narrowed her eyes. "And you better not get in my way!"

"Aha, alright then…"

Hajime sighed as Natsumi hopped off the desk and slowly returned to the front of the classroom. Someone with a personality like her would never make it into the Main Course anyways.

Nonetheless, there was something about her that was different from everyone else. Something other than being foul-mouthed, entitled, and making enemies on day one. She possessed determination.

(Maybe I should push the Hope's Peak project to her…)

He laughed on the inside at the idea. She'd probably say something like "Wow, dumbass, you're really giving up a chance to become an Ultimate? What a loser!" or something along the lines of that.

It was another boring, uneventful day.

[7 DAYS UNTIL THE DEADLINE]

A/N:

Thanks for reading!

Chapters come irregularly. Day 1 is only 3 000 words, but the remaining 9 chapters will be around 10 000 words each. We'll also get to see the POVs of the 77th class with Chiaki, Nagito, Fuyohiko, and all of the others. I hope you enjoy what I can produce!

Reviews on how to improve are always welcome. If you like what you read, follow / favorite for updates.