Hi, random reader. Seeing as this is my first story on this site(Or, really, ever), I decided I should get a few things out of the way before you start reading and/or hit the back button.

Firstly, this is going to be a self-insert. Don't worry, I'm not about to Gary Stu it up in here. Only events up to the first chapter are going to be the same, before the butterfly effect starts changing things. After that my character is going to be about as blindsided as the rest of the bunch. I'm also not using my real name, for privacy reasons, and also to make it more of a pun. I'm also going to steer clear of pairing my character, just because.

Secondly, like I said, only events up to the first chapter are going to be the same. Even so, my character will still be referencing things that happen in the actual game, and many of the big twists in the game will still remain here. Because of this, I strongly recommend playing the game for yourself before reading this. (Or don't. I'm not a cop.)

Thirdly, this is my first story, as I may have mentioned. As you could imagine, my skills might not be especially good. If you have any suggestions on things I could do better, anything at all, then feel free to let me know.

Finally, enjoy the story. (Or don't. I'm not a cop.)

Prologue

I awoke with a splitting headache. I felt tired, exhausted, despite the fact I was just sleeping. Except I wasn't just laying on a pillow at home, but my face was pressed against a hard, wooden surface. A desk. I was afraid I managed to fall asleep in class, and tried calmly raising my head, so as not to alert my other classmates or, god forbid, the teacher of my lazing. Except there was no one around. And this wasn't any classroom I've ever been in.

Oh, okay. I guess this is gonna be one of those days. Alright, let's at least get a feel for my surroundings. The windows seem to have sheets of metal bolted over them. That's encouraging. The classroom I'm in has a blackboard, a few rows of desks, and a desk at the front of the room, kinda like they have in Japanese classrooms. There's an insignia on the desk, too. It almost looks like-

Oh. Oh no. Please don't let it be that.

Shaking that thought from my mind, I notice that there's a sheet of paper on the desk beside me. That's not ominous at all. Let's see what it says, shall we.

Greetings, Albert Wright. If you are reading this, that means the plan has worked. I'll let you figure out what the plan is on your own time. Long story short, you are now here, in the perfect spot where you can change things. Don't mess it up. If anyone asks, you are the Ultimate Physicist. Leave any other questions relating to that to me. You can tell them you're from Canada, it wouldn't be the first time Hope's Peak sought a foreigner for their ranks. Just don't spill any info about "Danganronpa," and everything should go smoothly.

Yours Truly,

The "real" Ultimate Physicist

Toshihide Tomonaga

The Ultimate Physicist? I'm pretty sure there was a point in the game where Monokuma mentioned him. Didn't he make the air purifiers? Wait, why am I acting like this is okay? The Ultimate Physicist brought me to Hope's Peak Academy? I mean, okay, if anyone can do dimension-travelling bullshit, it would be the Ultimate Physicist. But, still, me, a loser from the real world, was taken into some kind of anime-world.

Oh, god. This has fan-fiction written all over it.

Well, what's the last thing I remember? I had just finished playing Danganronpa 2, and then I... went to bed. Then, this has to be a dream, right? I need to see this for myself. I crumbled the note into my pocket, which I just then realized is a messy white lab coat over my usual shirt and jeans. The chest pocket has the Hope's Peak insignia on it. I pushed the sliding classroom door out of my way, and dashed down the (familiar) hallway down to the main hall. When I got there, a crowd of fourteen (familiar) faces greeted me.

I say they were familiar, but really, they did look distinctly different from there in-game appearances. For one thing, they weren't drawn in an anime-style, but looked like, well, real people. As I walked in, they begun talking among themselves. Makoto was right, when he was first describing these Ultimate's, they did each have an aura of their own. I felt scared just standing in a room with them all. I gulped, but decided the best thing to do at this point was introduce myself.

"Um, hi. I'm Albert Wright. Are you all the other students?" I asked. A few voices of affirmation came from the crowd. "So, uh, what's going on? What's with that?" I point to the massive, fallout-esque door blocking our way out.

"That is what we all want to know." The bespectacled noble who must have been Byakuya Togami stated.

"We all just kinda woke up a few minutes ago." The biker with the crazy hair that was Mondo Owada added. He eyed the door, frustrated. "Seems pretty solid."

The fashionista Junko Enoshima shook her head. "I don't think we could break it down if we tried."

While they were all talking, I was moving slowly closer to the gate. It was certainly latched onto the wall tight. So, this is real. I'm really stuck here. "Yeah." I said. "This is the way out of the school, right? With all the windows being bolted over, I guess we're locked in."

At that moment, more footsteps were heard at the door. Everyone turned to look. In the doorway stood the completely average Makoto Naegi.

"Whoa, hey! Another new kid?" The messy-haired older student Yasuhiro Hagakure asked.

"Huh? Then you guys are all...?" Makoto's eyes were wide, darting from one face to another. He was clearly out of his element. Considering I've only been in this world for, at most, ten minutes, I could relate to that.

"Yeah... We're all new here. Today's supposed to be our first day of class." The meek but adorable Chihiro Fujisaki explained.

"So counting him, that makes sixteen." The fat and geeky Hifumi Yamada noted. "Seems like a good cutoff point, but I wonder if this is everyone."

Makoto blinked a few times before he spoke again. "Umm... how's it going? My name's Makoto Naegi. A bunch of stuff happened, and then all of a sudden I was just... asleep."

"Whoa, you too?" Hiro gasped.

"Things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser." The Gothic Lolita Celestia Ludenberg pondered.

"So strange..." Hifumi. "I declare beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is a strange situation indeed!"

Makoto blinked again. "Um... what are you talking about? I honestly have no idea what's going on right now."

"Just a moment!" The fierce and powerful voice of Kiyotaka Ishimaru rang out. "There's something else we must address! Makoto! Your tardiness is unacceptable! Surely you were aware the meeting was to start at 8 a.m. sharp! To be late on your first day is unspeakable! I must report you, and you must accept your due punishment!"

When his tirade was over, Junko spoke. "What's your problem? It's not like he wanted to be late. He didn't have any control over it."

The bubbly swimming pro Aoi Asahina tried to quell the arguments. "Everyone just calm down! Listen, why don't we all go around and introduce ourselves?"

"The hell!?" Mondo. "Now's no time for friggin' interruptions!"

Celeste thought for a moment. "Maybe, but it may be good to at least find out who we all are before digging into the bigger problems here. I mean, how are we even supposed to talk to each other if we do not know each other's names?"

"That's a good point..." Chihiro agreed.

"I don't see any harm in it." I conceded.

"Okay, so let's get introductions out of the way, then we can move on to whatever else. Sound good?" The adorable idol Sayaka Maizono confirmed.

I looked around. Hiro was the one closest to me. I sighed. Time for introductions from characters I already know. Yippee.

"I'm Yasuhiro Hagakure-Hiro for short! Take it easy, yeah? I know I will!" He introduced.

"Albert Wright. You can just call me Al. I'm the Ultimate Physicist."

"Ah, yeah, you're American, right? I knew I'd be meeting an American today!" He boasted.

I decided not to tell him I was really Canadian. Japanese teenagers probably can't tell the difference, or at least don't care. "Really?"

"Yeah! I'm the Ultimate Clairvoyant, so my predictions are usually pretty accurate. I could give you something a little more specific, for a fee, of course."

I shook my head. "I think I'll pass. So, what do you think about this whole lock-in business?"

He shrugged. "Eh, this is all just some elaborate orientation thing. I bet they do something like this every year."

"Right." I replied. Since I already know how everyone is, this is mostly just acting on my part.

"Hey, what d'ya say we get some drinks after all this?" He suggested.

I shook my head again. "I'm only 17. How old are you?"

"Oh, I'm actually 21. I've been held back a few times, see, and...well, it's a long story."

I noticed everyone was moving around, talking to new people. "I guess you'll have to tell me sometime. Take it easy, man."

"You know it."

I made it a few feet before I ran into another face. I introduced myself. She spoke with a french accent. "My name is Celestia Ludenberg. But if you don't mind, I would prefer for you to call me Celeste."

"Hm. I guess we're both foreigners. Where are you from?" I asked.

"Well, I've lived in Japan my whole life. But my father was a French nobleman, and my mother was a German musician." She explained.

"Quite the multi-nationalist." I said with a hint of sarcasm. "Well, I'm Canadian, if that matters at all."

"I do wonder what sort of talent you possess that would bring you all the way from Canada." She said with a smile.

"I'm a physicist." You tell a lie often enough, you can eventually convince yourself.

Celeste, however, did not seem convinced. "Please, you cannot lie to me. Tell me, what is it that actually brings you to Hope's Peak?"

I smirked. "Tell you what, I'll give you the honest truth, if you can tell me where Japanese falls in your ancestry."

She gave me a blank look. "I don't know what you are talking about. I told you, I come from French and German descent. I am Japanese only in nationality."

"And yet, you look the part of a local." I observed. "Even through all that makeup, you can't hide your features, unless you wanna get plastic surgery. Same with your accent, though it's not as noticeable."

She eyed me suspiciously. "You would make a very dangerous opponent. We should play a game sometime. But, fine, I'll let you keep your secret. For now." And with that, she turned on her heel and began walking away. Damn. I hope I didn't just make myself an enemy. Especially if that enemy is Celeste. The thought ran a chill down my spine.

I looked around, and found that the closest person to me was Byakuya. I sighed, and made my way toward the smug bastard. "Name's Byakuya Togami." He said shortly.

"Uh, Albert. Albert Wright." We stood there in a few seconds of silence before I decided to continue. "So, uh, Togami Corporation, huh? Must be pretty cool, getting a big company like that."

"Sure. "Pretty cool." Are we done here? I'm sick of looking at you." He said impatiently.

I raised my hands in surrender and backed away. As I turned away, I damn near ran into the back of a hulking schoolgirl. I managed to stop short of bumping into her, though, and she turned around to face me.

"I am Sakura Ogami." She said in a rough voice.

I introduced myself. Thinking of something else to say, I asked "Say, you've competed in American tournaments, right? If I remember, you're 400 matches undefeated." This was pretty obscure knowledge, but I remember hearing something like that in-game.

"Correct. It sounds like I have a fan. Although, to be precise, it's 413 matches." She corrected. Then she started walking around me, inspecting me from every angle.

"Uh, what are you-?"

She folded her arms. "You have a good build. With a little work, you could act as my training partner."

"Oh, well, uh... I don't really know much about martial arts. I think I'd just slow you down." I explained (desperately).

She considered this. "I suppose that's a good point. Still, if you change your mind, feel free to come find me."

With that, it was pretty clear the conversation was over. I made my way across the room and found myself in front of Mondo.

"Name's Mondo Owada. Nice to fuckin' meetcha." He muttered.

"Uh, likewise." I said. Trying to think of what to say. Eventually, I realized I could only think of one thing. "So, uh, motorcycles, huh?"

"Yeah. You ride, man?" It seems I've got his attention.

"Not myself. I've got an uncle who does, though. I always thought it was cool." I explained.

He shook his head. "You won't know until you actually get the engine revving yourself. We get outta here, you're gonna have to pick yourself up a ride. Who knows, maybe one day you could ride with the Crazy Diamonds."

"I think I'll pass, for now." With that, I once again started searching for another character- uh, person I haven't met yet. I ended up introducing myself to the Ultimate Fashionista.

"Hiii! I'm Junko Enoshima. Charmed, I'm sure!" She said cheerily.

"Oh, right. I've seen you in fashion magazines. Not that I read those." I say, mostly as an excuse to explain how I know these people. Of course, I also know future events, and I don't have a real way of explaining that.

She laughed at my remark. "Oh, trust me, I can tell." Ouch. "Although, I gotta say, I don't remember ever seeing your face." Right. A subtle question, but the meaning is clear. Considering her identity revealed later in the game, I guess it's no surprise she'd be confused by my being here.

Still, it's not like I can just up and say it. "I'm the Ultimate Physicist."

She still looked unsure, but didn't push it. "Physics, huh? Must be pretty boring, like, doing math all day and junk."

"You have no idea." I said, moving on. The crowd was so thick I had to move around it, and I ended up in the corner next to a stoic, purple girl.

"Albert Wright. Call me Al." I said, extending a hand.

She did not take it. This school needs some etiquette classes. "My name is... Kyoko Kirigiri."

"Cool." I let my hand fall to my side. "So, I'm guessing you're the quiet one?"

"You could say that." She said.

"Right. And, if I asked you more about yourself, you probably won't reply?"

"That's right." She said, although she sounded kinda annoyed. "So, are you going to stand there mocking me, or are we done here?"

We were done here. I was on the move yet again. The next person I met was so small I nearly plowed through them.

"Oh, excuse me. I'm Albert Wright. Al for short."

"Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Chihiro Fujisaki..." He-sorry, she-introduced herself. "Sorry, I get kinda embarrassed whenever I introduce myself like this."

"Yeah. I'm getting kinda tired of introducing myself." I admitted. "I must have said my name today more than I ever had before."

"Anyway, I hope we can get along..." He-that's something I'm gonna have to train myself for, cause if I accidentally call her a him that might fuck everything, so I better start saying she-said.

"Same. Nice to meet you." I said. "So, you're the Ultimate Programmer, huh?"

"Yeah." She said. "What about you?"

"Ultimate Physicist. I guess we both got a thing for numbers." Of course, I don't actually have a thing for numbers. I'm okay, I didn't struggle in math class as much as other kids, but doing too much of it leaves me mentally drained. "What kinda programs are you working on?"

"Oh, well, I signed an NDA with the company that hired me, so I can't really go into detail..."

"Right. Legal stuff. I got it. I'm not really working with a company myself, but-" Suddenly, a thought flashes into my head, something complicated. "-I'm doing research on some space-age type stuff. Trying to find breakthroughs in travel. Portals are looking promising."

"Oh, that sounds interesting."

"Yeah. It's still in the planning stages, but I do have some theories to go on." I had no idea what I was talking about, but the words came naturally. This was freaking me out. "Maybe I'll tell you about it some time. See you around, Chihiro."

With that conversation over, I continued through the crowd until I found myself in front of Aoi Asahina. I, of course, introduce myself.

"Heya! I'm Aoi Asahina! But my friends just call me Hina. 'Sup?" She said cheerfully. She then paused for a second. "So uh... what was your name again. Sorry, totally forgot!"

"Albert Wright. If that's too complicated, you could just call me Al." I said. I suppose if I spill any information around her, I can just assume I'm safe anyway.

She started repeating my name while writing it on her hand. I didn't say anything about it. She looked up. "By the way, how do you spell your last name?"

"Like the word right, but with a W before it." I tried to think of something else to say. It seemed like I had the most trouble connecting with the "survivor" characters. That probably wasn't good. I decided to let it drop. "Seeya, Hina."

"Yeah, glad to meet ya!" She wave me off.

Alright, just a few more people. I make my way over to the otaku.

"I...am Hifumi Yamada. But if you want to call me by my nickname, "The Alpha and the Omega!" I don't mind." He informed me.

"I am pretty sure no one is going to do that." I assured him.

"How much do you know about the world of 2D?" He asked somewhat forcefully.

The cringe is real. "I've watched a few anime here and there. I play video games a lot. I've read some fanfics, for whatever that's worth."

He nodded, as if this was a very interesting topic. "Hmm, yes. In the world of 2D, you are what we call an "Apprentice of 2D.""

I stared at him. "Really."

"Speaking of which, have you ever read any of my fan-fictions, Mr. Wright?"

"Can't say I have. Guess I'll have to get to that someday."

"Most certainly! I've brought some copies of my most successful works. Although, it seems all of our bags have gone missing."

"Yeah, that is weird." I admitted. They were probably in our dorms. With that, we decided to end our conversation. I then moved to find another person to talk to.

"Yo! The name's Leon Kuwata. What's up?" The hot-blooded punk introduced.

"The baseball star, huh? I gotta say, you don't look the part."

"Heh, well, yeah, I was pretty good with baseball..." He said sheepishly. "But my passion is music! I'm gonna be a singer!"

I couldn't help but smile. "Well, I guess there's bound to be some Ultimate's who aren't happy with there talent."

"Yeah, man. All I need is a songwriter and a guitarist, and I'm all set! No one can stop me from chasing my dreams!"

"I believe it, man. Don't look back, and don't let anyone hold you back."

"Damn straight!"

Alright, so, there should only be... four characters left, if we're counting Makoto. Which we probably should, since I'm clearly not taking his place or something.

"Hi, I'm Sayaka Maizono. I look forward to getting to know you!" She greeted.

"Albert Wright." Jeez, her in-game sprites doesn't do her justice. I mean, everyone looks much more true to life in person. Hifumi's more cringy, Byakuya's more smug, Celeste's more creepy. Sayaka's more adorable than any idol I've ever seen. It's almost a shame she's in this situation...

"I'm stronger than I look, you know." She said. Wait, did she just read my mind?

"Did you-?"

"I'm psychic." She deadpanned. Then she smiled. "Kidding! I just have really good intuition." Ah, right. That old joke. I kinda assumed she only pulled that with Makoto. Still, if her intuition really is that good, I might have to avoid thinking about certain things around her. Specifically, my origins and Danganronpa and oh god I'm thinking about that stuff.

"Uh, right." I stammered. "I guess you'd have to have good intuition in the music industry. I hear it's kinda cutthroat."

She looked serious. "Yes. In music, you have to dedicate everything you do to your career."

I nodded grimly. "Right. You'll have to tell me about it sometime." I did not want to have that conversation. Seeing as people were moving around, I used the excuse to leave on that awkward note. As I made my way toward one of my final introductions, I felt an aura of negativity crush me like a weight on my back.

"N-Not that you'll remember my n-name anyway, but..." The timid and bookish schoolgirl said. "I'm T-Toko... Toko Fukawa."

"Pleasure. I'm Albert Wright." I said. Then, like most other talks I've had today, it came to an abrupt halt. I awkwardly tried to continue it. "So, you're a romance author, huh?"

"W-what, did you expect someone prettier?" She stammered. "L-like some big-boobed slut or something?"

"Nah, I kinda assumed all romance authors are kissless virgins." I said. "It'd make it easier for them to write something, well, romanticized." My remark didn't seem to sooth her mood. I didn't really care. "I'll see you around, Toko."

"S-sure, whatever..."

Let's go from the most negative student to the most fierce. Hello, Taka. "I'm Kiyotaka Ishimaru. I believe in bold simplicity! Let's work together on our educational crusade!"

"Hey, man, inside voice." I eased.

"Of course. How inconsiderate of me." He lowered his volume. "Anyway, you can call me Taka. You said your name was Albert, right?"

"Albert Wright. Or you could just call me Al." I explained. "So, you're the honour student, huh? That must take a lot of work."

"That's right! As a student, it is our duty to put every ounce of effort into our studies. Perhaps we could study together sometime?" He suggested.

"Yeah, sure. I'll be seeing you, Taka." Okay. This introductions are almost over. Time to introduce myself to the protagonist. That's gonna be a little weird. Well, weirder than the rest of the experience up till now.

"Hey, Albert Wright. Al for short." I said. "You said your name was Makoto?"

"Yeah, Makoto Naegi." He confirmed. From his expression, it seemed like he was thinking. And I knew exactly what he was thinking. I wasn't on that Hope's Peak Academy thread. "So, what are you doing at this school?"

"Oh, I'm a physicist." Alright, I gotta sound like I'm just another character. "I guess I must've been pretty good, to get invited here from Canada." Those will be my main personality traits: I'm a physicist, and I'm Canadian. Well, American, since the Japanese don't really split hairs.

"Oh? So, what kind of stuff do you do?"

"Calculations, mostly." Again, I don't know where that info came from. "My current project is trying to figure out how much energy would be required to teleport something, or hold a portal open for a reasonable amount of time. It involves a lot of math, and I haven't made much ground."

"It's pretty amazing you're trying that at all." He didn't need to tell me that; his amazement was plain across his face.

"Yeah, well, every advancement gotta start somewhere, right? I'll see you around, Makoto." and with that, all introductions are done. Jesus. Danganronpa 2 had a much better opening. At least you got to explore and meet everyone at the same time.

"Okay, time to get down to business." Byakuya announced. "This is no time to stand around making friends like a bunch of dull-eyed baboons."

"Oh, that's true." Makoto spoke up. "I think someone said something about a bigger problem or something? What was that about?"

"Well, you see..." Sayaka. "Makoto, you said a bunch of stuff happened and then you were "just asleep," right? Well... the same is true for all of us."

"What? Seriously!?"

"Just after each of us got to the Main Hall, we lost consciousness." Leon ran his hand through his hair. "And when we came to, we were somewhere here in the school! That's what happened to you, right?"

I decided to speak up. "I guess it's worth confirming. The same thing happened to me, too."

"B-but that's just... weird!" Makoto exclaimed. "That every one of us would get knocked out like that..."

"Exactly! That's why we're all freakin' out!" Mondo yelled.

"And that's not the only thing." Taka added. "You saw where all the windows in the classes and hallways were, right? But instead of normal glass windows, it was a bunch of big metal plates! What's that about!?"

"Plus, all my stuff's missing! Even my cellphone..." Junko.

"Yeah, you're right. I haven't seen my PDA anywhere, either..." Chihiro.

"And then there's the main hall here." Taka said, bringing the conversation back to it. "The front exit is completely blocked by some giant metal hatch. But there wasn't anything like that when I first got here! What the heck!? What's it doing there!?"

"I'll tell you what it's not doing." I said, trying to loosen some tension. "It ain't moving out of our way anytime soon."

"Maybe we got caught up in some kinda, like, you know... crime, or something?" Junko speculated.

"What, like... a kidnapping?" Leon. "You think maybe someone grabbed us and hauled us off and we're not actually at school?"

"Someone would have to be pretty bonkers to move an entire class of students." I pointed out. "Wouldn't it be more likely that this is Hope's Peak?"

"Come on, don't think like that. Cheer up!" Yasuhiro. "I bet this is all just part of the school's orientation procedure. Yeah, I'm sure that's it! So I'm just gonna take it easy for a little bit." I glared at Hiro. He didn't seem to notice.

Chihiro breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh... so you think they wanted to do something to surprise us?

"Huh." Leon said flatly. "Well if that's all it is, it's nap time for me. I was up way too late last night, so I could use a little shuteye."

Hmph. It seems like my little additions don't change much... yet. Should I be trying to change things, though? That Ultimate Physicist guy wanted me to, but... what if my actions just lead to more deaths? Or what if it leads to a case that Makoto can't solve, and everyone dies? I gotta keep the butterfly effect in mind. Right now, though, my top priority is learning more about this Toshihide Tomonaga guy. Why did he bring me here? How? And is there a way I can get back home?

My thoughts were interrupted by a speaker turning on. A familiar, creepy, twisted voice took over. "Ahem! Ahem! Testing! Testing! Mike check, one two! This is a check of the school broadcast system!" All eyes were on the monitor as the voice filled the room. "Am I on? Can everyone hear me? Okay, well then...! Ahh, to all incoming students! I would like to begin the entrance ceremony at... right now! Please make your way to the gymnasium at your earliest convenience. ...That's all. I'll be waiting!"

Just like that, everyone started leaving one by one, letting their lasting comments hang in the air. I sighed. Alright. I've been here, what, a half hour? I'm still not entirely accustomed to this, but there isn't much else I could do but move forward. With a sigh, I followed the other students down the hall, to the gym.

Alright. That was the prologue. Which is only part of the prologue in the actual game. Our differing in chapter numbering may be confusing until I get past 6. This chapter was way longer than I originally intended, but I wanted to fit everyone's introductions in one chapter. I'm willing to bet someone out there skipped them anyway, and I honestly wouldn't blame them. I'm also willing to bet having chapters longer than I intended is going to be a running theme, considering the nature of Danganronpa as a visual novel.

Anyway, in the next chapter, we're going to meet Monokuma, and the rules of the killing game will be revealed. Can't wait.