The 15 students of Hope's Peak Academy, Class 78, murmur among themselves as they read the school regulations on their freshly handed out e-Handbooks. A feeling of dread, confusion, hysteria and chaos is spread among the school gymnasium, courtesy of nothing but a small, gleaming teddy bear - Monokuma.

One of the students, Sayaka Maizono - the Ultimate Pop Sensation, immediately trembles as her eyes gaze on her handbook. "Everyone, turn to rule #6!"

Soon enough, gaps, shouts and screams echo the gymnasium as they all swipe over to this very rule. "Anyone who kills a fellow student and becomes "blackened" will graduate, unless they are discovered..." a worried Makoto Naegi - Ultimate Lucky Student, states.

"Does this mean...what I think it means!?" a fierce Sakura yells.

"You can't be serious..." a maddened Mondo clenches his fists.

"Just let me GO HOOMEEE!" a wailing Hifumi screams.

The tension and atmosphere reeks high with despair as the group become more agitated and perplexed. "Guys, stay calm-" Makoto's pleas are cut out by the sheer panic of the students. Amidst the worries and woes, Sayaka Maizono closes her eyes and thinks to herself. "This is a terrifying situation for all of us, but I must find a way to keep everyone calm! Maybe then...Naegi will finally notice me." a small blush emanates from Sayaka.

"I've had experience dealing with crowds before, I am the Ultimate Pop Sensation after all! I must invoke everyone's spirits of calmness and happiness, like I've done with crowds throughout my life!" Her thoughts begin to project out of her mind, and her voice soars high."We can find a way to rise, if we all unite! We can conquer anything! Let us stick it to this rotten teddy bear!"

Sayaka opens her eyes to find the other 14 students staring at her, wide-eyed.

"Aye, this girl's right!" Aoi peps up with newfound vigour.

"Why is it, we afraid of a puny bear?" Celeste ponders.

"But the rules! They...they have to be followed..." a tear flows from Kiyotaka's eye.

Sayaka is elated that everyone was able to listen to her. "Don't worry." Sayaka gives a smile. "I'll confront this bear about the rules!" Sayaka brims with confidence. "So, speak up, Monokuma! What's the meaning of this?!"

The bear's stoic smile grows wide. "Puhuhuhu...For a bunch of gifted students, your reading comprehension is quite lacking! It is what it says!"

"Murder...?!" several students grow worried once more.

Sayaka's face grows red with fury.

"Buttttttttttttttt...to be honest...I haven't had time to make any backups of myself..." Monokuma looks down in sadness. "And you were all so excited about this rule, WAHHH!"

A puzzled Yasuhiro shrugs. "Backups...? What is he talking about?"

"Is this some kind of a joke?" an irked Byakuya asks with disdain.

"I was so looking forward to the killing game...I know you were too!" Monokuma huffs.

"Uhh, no we ain't-" Leon is cut off by the agitated bear.

"Not you, dummy!" Monokuma scowls. "I'm talking to the audience!"

"What audience? Someone tell me what the hell is going on?" numerous questions are rallied by the students as Monokuma shushes everyone.

"The thing is, this Hope's Peak Academy Killing Game is being broadcast to the whole world, as our #1 most popular show!" Monokuma yells. "But since I don't have my backups...and yall' are a bunch of pessimist gooses, i'm canning it!"

There is a small sense of security and smiles from the students. "S-so-so we can leave now?" asks a hopeful Chihiro.

"BZZRK! X! WRONG!" Monokuma jumps in delight. "Looks like you'll just have to live the remainder of your life within Hope's Peak! Nyahahahaha!" Monokuma suddenly vanishes into thin air.

The students are angered once again, but Monokuma suddenly pops back up and jumps in joy. "Relax, i'm just kiddin'! Gee, students are always so serious these days! Must be cause they're cooped up inside?!" Monokuma belts out in jeers.

"Just let us go..." a fierce Sayaka states.

"Boy, you lot are impatient! But y'kno who's also impatient? VIEWERS! So let's skip the boring snooze-fest mambo-jambo and cut to the chase!" says Monokuma.

"Go on." nods Kyoko.

"As soon as 50 backups of me are created by you lot, then the next season can be produced and i'll let you all go!" Monokuma yells.

"...You're letting us go?" Celeste asks.

"You lot are so boooooring, it's all complaints complaints complaints! I've got a firey cast and a tropical island lined up next time, so let's just get this over with!" Monokuma shrugs.

"50 teddy bears...That's all it takes for us to leave. Let's do it!" an enthusiastic Kiyotaka encourages.

"Yes!" Makoto shouts with determination. "And so our school life had begu-" Makoto's train of thought is suddenly stopped.

"Oh yeah, one more thing. Since Miss high-and-mighty pop star over there wants to ruins everyone's fun and deliver long, winded-out monologues..." Monokuma points to Sayaka with disdain. "She's gonna be the main character from now on!" Monokuma gruffs about.

"Main...character?" Sayaka raises an eyebrow.

"You're the star of this show...have fun!" Monokuma huffs, and suddenly vanishes into the air.

The students stand, boggled in confusion over the exchange that just took place between them and the bear.

"...So...I guess we'll start making these bots so we can leave already?" Leon asks to the group.

"Yup, I guess we better explore this academy." Aoi gleams.

Sayaka nods and looks over to Makoto. "Maybe this won't be so bad...I can finally converse with him." Sayaka brims with hope. "The best course of action is to split up into groups. I'll take Makot-" Sayaka is suddenly interrupted by a grimacing Toko.

"Jus...Just cause you're the leader of a pop group...doesn't mean you get to make all the decisions..." Toko howls.

"Oh no no, I wasn't trying to-"

"Grr...you're probably in kahoots...with the bear...'main character'..." sneers Toko.

"Hey! It's not like that Toko, Sayaka was just trying to help." Makoto chimes in.

Sayaka nods. "I don't even know what he was talking about."

"Wh...why can't I be the main character...grr...GRR..." Toko clenches her head.

Aoi has grown visibly annoyed, and walks up to Toko.

"There's no need for this kinda behaviour." Aoi scolds.

"There...there's no need for those big melons!" Toko points to an enraged Aoi.

Aoi gasps. "Like hell i'm lettin' yah off the hook now!" Aoi clenches her knuckles.

"Eek...violence..." Toko scrambles her hands in her hair as sweat drips from her cheeks. "Getting flustered...catching a fever-r-r!"

Sayaka walks over to the two with concern. "Stop it! We shouldn't fight-"

Sayaka is interrupted by an "ACHOO!" from a sneezing Toko, who seems to have perked up somewhat with a crazy smile.

"Whattcha' just say? You some kinda goody-goody-bishy-bishy?!" a more sharper, vibrant Toko jeers. "You my mom or somethin HMM?"

"N-No, I wasn't-" A bumbling Sayaka is interrupted.

"Main character my ass! Bish, I appeared in Chain Chronicle! 8740 ATK!" Toko cackles.

"Calm down-"

"Take this!"

"She punched me...and I flew back in a heap. It was like something straight out of a comic book. I didn't even see the punch coming. It was just suddenly right there in my face. One second I was standing there, the next I was soaring through the air. Now that I think about it, maybe I'd kinda forgotten...the kind of people I'd been trapped here with. My common sense had just...stopped functioning. Being around all these "ultimates" had blown my fuses. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised it led to something as absurd as this. But I'd just...lost track of that sense of reality. That was my last thought as my consciousness started to fade...before it finally cut out completely." Sayaka hit the ground with a thud.