Disclaimer: We do not own the Danganronpa Franchise

Ichigo felt cold, and her eyes stung as she adjusted to the light. Sitting up, she saw that she was in a classroom, the windows covered with metal shutters. Where was she? What happened? She rubbed at her temples, trying to recollect the events of the day.

It was the first day of school, and she was ready at her third year of Hope's Peak Academy. The sun caused the walls to glow a deep beige color as the windows grew their clear pared shadows, letting the light sink into the cracks and creep into the classrooms. She remembers walking in to see a whole new set of students, only knowing her 5 friends from the previous years. There was talking and talking, and it all went black. Shutters, metal, the school was enclosed, it was dark.

Then there was a bear, and he said they were the only students in the school. Everyone panicked, screaming. Then it all went black again, she fainted. And that's why she's here. Oh god, she had to find the others. The girl was about to take a couple of steps forward when a huge hand grabbed her shoulder, causing her to flinch with fright.

"Howdy, Ichigo, you're up!"

Yuuto's voice could be heard. She turned around quickly and noticed that familiar plump-faced, green-eyed, nerdy expression. "I was waiting for you to wake up, you sure gave us a scare when you just dropped."

"Hello." She greeted softly, blushing a bit. "Thanks for waiting for me. Where… are the others?" Ichigo has a sun of a crush on him, but she enjoyed being around him, although she got super embarrassed if they came in physical contact, such a hugging. She was still glad for him to be around. He was the Super Duper Highschool Level Computer Professional.

"Oh, our friends should be lingering around, the other classmates however, went to explore the building as it went under 'renovation'." He replied.

Ichigo could only stare at him, not knowing what to say. They had met each other ever since their freshman year, and they still seemed to have the same friendly tone in them. She would only last a second of breath to speak when a shrill cry of joy echoed at her side, making her snap from her concentration on Yuuto and towards a tall girl with a long pony tail stretching from her head to her thighs.

"Hinata!" Another voice cried out. Hinata was followed by another familiar face, but this time the voice was low-pitched. By the time the man got up from his exhausted expression, Ichigo could only give out an expression of joy and happiness. "Takumi!"

"Hi, Ichigo." The both overjoyed, but exhausted teens cheerfully sang in reply. Ichigo let out a sigh of relief. She was actually a little worried no one would recognize her since she bleached her hair, but it was strange how all her friends recognized her so easily. She was still worried about her other friends, Tsuki and Saske, as they hadn't appeared yet. They probably went exploring. Hopefully, she'd meet them sooner or later.

She bowed at her three friends and gestured down the halls, "I'm going to look for Tsuki and Saske." The others nodded.

Ichigo decided to further explore the mozeh like halls. Maybe she'll get to meet the other students. After all, there were 16 of them, she had to run into at least one of them. Suddenly, when she passed the cafeteria door, the smell of melted chocolate and dusty herbs filled her senses.

"Hm, that's odd." Slowly, Ichigo carefully entered the room, and saw a tall girl stirring a humongous soup pot. She had long orange hair, using a ladle to pour dark, creamy chocolate into molds, spilling some on her lacy apron, which was embroidered with oranges and plums amongst other fruits.

"Hello?" A voice interrupted.

Ichigo snapped back to reality. Standing in front of her was a short girl who looked like a mess, with a coat 10 times too big, and hair tousled and turned. She frowned, looking annoyed. "May I help you?"

"O-Oh," Ichigo stuttered, "I'm Momotsuki Ichigo, I-It's nice to meet you. Um…"

"Kemushi. Kemushi Natsuki, Super Duper Highschool Level Herbalist." She interrupted tersely, adjusting her glasses before jabbing a finger at the redhead at the pot, "And that ditzy baffoon is unfortunately my best friend, Super Duper Highschool Level Candymaker, Tachibana Umeko."

Umeko pouted, "Come ooon, Natz! Don't be so mean. Don't you remember? I'm helping you to get people to like your icky medicine." The girl then pressed her hands together in apology. "Sorry kid, Natz is a bit of a grump."

"Oh, um… well, see you later then," Ichigo replied back, awkwardly leaving the two back to their business.

As she retreated, she thought about how peculiar the duo was, "Umeko seems nice, I hope I get to know them more." Turning a corner, she suddenly bumped against someone, making her crash to the floor.

"Oh, sorry." The person apologized. She looked up to see a boy standing in front of her. He looked a few years older, however from his uniform, he was a third year like her. She couldn't help but stare at him, with his pale complexion and dull azure eyes. "Greetings, my name is Miyamoto Ryou. You must be Ms. Momotsuki, I suppose." He offered a gloved hand to the fallen girl.

Is he the Super Duper Highschool Level Coroner? His attire surely seemed the sort, especially the red rosary hanging from his neck. Taking his hand, she stumbled back on her feet.

"Do you need anything else, Ms. Momotsuki?" He asked.

She raised an eyebrow, "How'd you know my name? My talent isn't really something that would garner me publicity. The opposite in fact."

"I talked to one of your friends, Mr. Yuni. I suppose they talked fondly about you."

She sighed in relief, he met Saske. She faced Ryou again with a small smile. "Can you help me find him?"

"Aren't you the Super Duper Highschool Detective? Well, I suppose." The other replied. "After all, I need to find Hotaru." He added as an afterthought.

"Hotaru?" Ichigo inquired, observing how extremely dull he appeared as they ventured down the long hallway together. They chatted mostly about her and her life, and she was disappointed she couldn't learn more about the seemingly plain boy, except that the recurring name of Hotaru sprung up more than twice. The two finally said farewell reaching another corner, leaving her wondering why he was so obsessed with this Hotaru. Was she a student? What is her talent?

"Maybe I'll try to find her." Ichigo resolved. She then noticed a boy wearing a goofy grin traversing down the hallway. She quickly introduced herself. "Um, Hello, I'm Momotsuki Ichigo. Have you seen a girl named Hotaru, and two boys named Saske and Tsuki?"

The boy blinked, and grinned wider. "You mean that cutie, Susukishi Hotaru? Yeah, I talked to her a few minutes ago. As for the two guys…" He had to think for a bit, "Maybe."

"Oh..." Ichigo sighed. The boy turned around and started to walk away, "Well, see you. Also, If you see Hotaru, tell her Wakahisa Kouki, Super Duper Highschool Level Comedian, said Hi."

"Um, okay." She agreed, confused, then whispered to herself, "Who's Hotaru?"

Figuring she'll run into that girl sooner or later, Ichigo continued on her trek to find her two other friends. Reaching a long, covered corridor, she decided to head westward as she hasn't ventured there yet. Plus, there might be an art room where Saske would definitely be, being the Super Duper Highschool Level Artist. The moment she stepped into the other building, however, she was surprised when a classroom door slammed open, a girl tumbling out of it and straight at her.

"Oh my god!" She screamed, quickly stepping backwards to avoid the flying human. The unidentified person sped past her, rolling into a wall. There was a groan, and the girl plopped on her back, passed out and red in the head.

Ichigo gasped, hesitantly inching closer to the other, daring to poke and observe her. From what she could see, this girl appeared to be the Super Duper Highschool Level Soccer player. Her black hair was tied back in a loose ponytail that hung low on her scalp, on her was a bright red and orange jersey with a number one.

"Are you okay-" Ichigo started before two more people erupted from the classroom, one seething with rage. "MOMO, YOU IDIOT!"

A girl with bright bubblegum hair in a bob cut stomped down, brushing past Ichigo roughly in pursuit of the noirette. Her uniform was standard and neat, but papers threatened to spill from her pockets and messenger bag. A boy silently trailed behind her, then noticing the stunned and confused Ichigo. He clasped his clay-covered hands together as though to say he's sorry. His eyes were large and expressive, saying all that he couldn't before trying to help Momo to her feet.

The angry girl in the bob finally acknowledged her still figure, holding her hand out instantly with a smile, "Oi, I know you, Ichigo, right?"

"Huh?" Ichigo squeaked, quickly taking the other's hand to shake profusely, "Yeah, I am, you are?"

"Oh sorry, I'm Terada Ayumi, Super Duper Highschool Level Linguist!" The other introduced cheerfully.

Ichigo nodded slowly, "Um, how do you know me?"

"Your friends are in the art room a couple doors down, we were just there. Sake and Sushi!" Ayumi replied, pointing to a door down the hall.

"Saske and Tsuki?" She corrected.

"Yeah, same thing!" The smiling girl answered back. Contrary to her first impression, the Linguist actually seemed pretty chill, someone she could easily get along with. Maybe her anger was just a one time thing. The said girl then marched to where the silent boy was struggling to lift the athlete.

"I got this, bud." Ayumi reassured, then when the weight was shifted on her, her face contorted to that of rage as she heaved Momo over her shoulder like she was a sack of rice. "YOSH YOSH YOSH, LET'S GO TO THE INFIRMARY!"

The boy sighed as Ayumi stampeded away, and faced Ichigo's horror-stricken expression. He took out a dry erase marker and small board, and scribbled something on it, facing it towards her. In clear black it wrote "I'm Minatozaki Hayato, SDHSL Sculpter." He erased and wrote again. "I'm sorry about the fuss, hope we become friends."

Bowing, he left the building, and Ichigo was just glad she escaped that mess. At least she found where Saske and Tsuki were. Practically skipping to where Ayumi indicated, she opened the door where she'd meet her friends and everything will be normal.

"Wacha, Demon Spawn! Let go of Saske's painting in the name of justice!" Tsuki screeched.

"What you gonna do about it, Panda?"

Or not.

Tsuki was in a Kung Fu pose, facing a snickering boy. The boy had flaming red hair similar to the fire he was holding a pretty painting over. Saske was sitting on a chair watching it all unfold with a blank face. There was another girl, chubby in appearance, tears threatening to fall. Upon her arrival, all four turned towards her.

"Oh, Ichigo! As the Super Duper Highschool level Kung Fu fighter, I was trying to teach this blasted criminal a lesson!" Tsuki explained with a proud face, then glaring at his opponent.

"I'm just having a little fun." The redhead retorted, putting the artwork closer and farther from the fire playfully, giggling. "You know, since I'm the Super Duper Firebreather, Hirai Yuki!"

How can there even be such a thing. Ichigo wondered, appalled by the turn of events.

The chubby girl was flailing her arms, trying to cool the two down, "W-wait you guys! D-don't f-f-fight!"

"Don't butt in, Kanade, go read your books," Yuki scoffed, brushing her off. Kanade stepped back, "Eeek!"

She turned to Saske for how it started, but he just shrugged. At this rate there'll be an all-out brawl, most likely ending with 3rd degree burns and broken ribs. Tsuki got back into stance and was about to charge, but a peppy voice blasted from the speakers.

"Hellooooo, all students! It's your beloved principal Monokuma here!"