Keitaro Tokuda did not belong at Hope's Peak. He knew this when he received the acceptance letter announcing that he was to be the ultimate lucky student of the 79th class. He knew this when he donned the high-quality, but somehow still uncomfortable school uniform. And he knew this when he passed through the gated entrance of Hope's Peak and wasn't once stopped by the security.

Yet even if Tokuda had chosen to ignore those earlier signs entirely, his misplacement at Hope's Peak Academy was made all the more clear when he was in the presence of his actual ultimate talent-level classmates. It was one thing to say that every person was unique in their own way, but that was more of an understatement when it came to the 79th class.

At his previous school, dying your hair could result in a suspension, but it must have been encouraged here. That was the only explanation for the variety of hair colors that made up the sea of students before him. School uniforms must also have been optional. It appeared that only about two thirds of the class actually wore them. Everyone looked so different it was as if the school had scouted only the extremes of humanity and brought them here.

On the first day of class, he had selected a seat in the back corner of the classroom, far away from the windows. He had hoped that the shadows would swallow him whole before anybody noticed him. Most of the other students seemed content to chatter among themselves while they waited for the teacher. The few students that attempted to make small talk with him quickly lost interest over the next few days. He didn't blame them. There were plenty others far more interesting than him and if he was honest, he couldn't keep up with the antics of the other ultimates. It was rare for a class to proceed smoothly without the ultimate comedian causing a distraction or the ultimate chemist instigating a "minor" explosion. He kept his head low and tried to focus on his homework, on his lectures, and anything else that was considered normal schoolwork.

The rest of the first week followed a similar, frenzied but dull pattern. Wake up in his dorm room, dress himself in a uniform he had no business wearing, and attempt to fade into the background amongst the chaos that the ultimates called normalcy. Maybe things would have been more tolerable if the ultimates didn't have to be so extreme with everything. Never was it simply "let's go for a walk and grab a bite to eat." Instead it was "let's see if pole vaulting or roller skating can get us across campus faster and then we can hold a competition to determine if the ultimate baker or the ultimate chef can make the best snacks." That was considered normal to everyone except for him apparently.

He missed his own definition of normalcy. He missed his boring, old classmates and doing stupid teenager things that didn't involve potential dangers. Most of all, he missed when being average meant that you fit in.

Perhaps it was this desire for normalcy that kept Tokuda from almost missing the letter that had slipped under his dorm room door that morning. Messy handwritten script informed him that he was personally invited to the opening of a new club on campus.

Tokuda's heart skipped a beat and he read over the invitation once more. Immediately, he perked up like a wilting plant finally being given water. This was the answer to his problems that he had been looking for!

He felt silly for not realizing it before. Sure, he may be the only normal student in his own class, but each of the other classes should have an "ultimate lucky student" as well. They would be older than him, yes, but at least they would be normal. They would understand what he was going through. Maybe they'd even have tips on how to make it through the school year!

For the first time since attending Hope's Peak, Tokuda felt excitement. Or maybe it was something more than that. Maybe this was that hope that all of the teachers and students went on and on about. If that's what this was, maybe he could get behind it. After neatly folding up the note, he glanced at his watch. The meeting didn't start for another hour and a half. If he left now, he could probably grab dinner and then find out where the clubroom was located. Although the campus was large, it shouldn't be too difficult to find the room.

…

As it turned out, it was very difficult to find the clubroom. It honestly felt like Hope's Peak had more classrooms than students. If you didn't count the ones in the reserve course, they probably did actually. He reached the classroom just as the club meeting was supposed to start. Steadying himself with a deep breath, he reached for the door handle. This was it.

The first thing Tokuda noticed was that only one other person was in the room. An older student with surprisingly white hair was seated at a table and swiping through his phone. Upon hearing the door open, he had turned towards the noise and his face lit up with a smile. He tucked his phone back into his pocket and made his way over.

"Ah, you must be Keitaro Tokuda," the white-haired teen said happily. "My name is Nagito Komaeda. It's not much of a talent, but I'm the ultimate lucky student of class 77."

"It's nice to meet you," Tokuda said. Immediately, there was something about the older boy that set him on edge, but he had nothing to justify that feeling. He couldn't deny that Komaeda's appearance was unexpected. The pale skin and white hair made were better suited for a ghost than teenager, but everything about Komaeda from his tone to his body language suggested that he had nothing to fear about him. He simply gave off the impression of a chill guy.

"Am I the first one to arrive?" Tokuda asked, more to fill the silence than anything.

"Yep," Komaeda said cheerily. "Although, I expected that since our remaining club member is Naegi. He tries so hard, but he's chronically late to events like these." He shrugged. "That's luck for you though."

It sounded more like an excuse than luck to Tokuda, but he kept the thought to himself. He moved past Komaeda and took in the rest of the room. It was a little smaller than his homeroom, but much emptier. He hadn't expected much of a set up for the club meeting (there were only three members afterall), but the single round table with three chairs felt lacking. A few other tables had been folded and leaned against the far wall of the classroom and several chairs were stacked haphazardly in the corner. Aside from those there was, well, nothing.

Tokuda could feel Komaeda's eyes following him from his place at the table. He wished the older boy would say something else already. The silence that surrounded them felt oddly suffocating.

Thankfully, the door to the classroom opened with a bang and someone else stumbled into the room. Unlike Komaeda, this newcomer looked like an average high schooler, though just a little on the shorter side. His face was slick with sweat and he appeared to be breathing heavily.

"Sorry," he panted. He back was bent as he grasped his knees for support. "I tried to get here early. My shoe slipped off in the stairwell and fell down four floors. I had to run back down to get it and run back up again." He looked embarrassed. "Twice…"

"Welcome, Naegi-kun," Komaeda greeted, unsurprised by Naegi's story. "Now that you're here we can finally get started. I don't think you two have been introduced to each other yet, but this is Keitaro Tokuda, the lucky student of Hope's Peak's newest class."

Naegi stood up straight and smiled at Tokuda. He offered a small, awkward wave before wiping his brow with the sleeve of his hoodie. "Hi, Tokuda-kun! I'm Makoto Naegi, ultimate lucky student of class 78." He made his way over to the table and took a seat. "I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting too long."

"I just got here a few minutes before you," Tokuda said. He took a seat at the table as well, and scooted his chair slightly closer to Naegi. Although he had just met the boy, he didn't feel the same uneasiness around him that he felt around Komaeda.

"Oh good," Naegi said, relieved. He turned to the other upperclassman and gave him a curious look. "I never expected that you'd be the sort of person to start a club, Komaeda-senpai, but I think it's a really great idea."

"Yeah," Tokuda agreed. "It's a relief to actually be around other normal students. The ultimates are great, but they can be a little overwhelming sometimes."

Naegi laughed. "I know what you mean," he said. "It took me a while to adapt when I first came. I thought for sure I'd never get used to it."

"It only makes sense that you would see their presence as overwhelming," Komaeda said suddenly. "After all, lowlives like us could never hope to fully comprehend the talent of our ultimates."

The room fell silent and everything stilled.

"Did you just call me a lowlife?" Tokuda asked after a moment. He didn't think he was insulted, just confused maybe. He felt like he had been slapped in the face. Komaeda's statement had come out of nowhere, and while the words were hurtful, the tone suggested no malice at all.

"Yes!" Komaeda said, oblivious to Tokuda's discomfort. "I called us all lowlives! Me, especially!"

Well, that wasn't the response Tokuda had expected. Where was he supposed to say to that?

"Komaeda-senpai," Naegi cut in, "You shouldn't call yourself or others lowlives. It's not right to put others down."

"It's not putting others down," Komeda explained calmly. "It's reminding them of their place. It is undeniable that our ultimate classmates are more worthy to attend Hope's Peak Academy than us." He stood up now and began to pace on his side of the table. "They've been training to be the best since they could walk. It's only through that hard work that they've been able to achieve the title of ultimate. Our luck, on the other hand, was simply gifted to us at our birth. It can hardly even be considered a talent."

"What is the point of all this?" Tokuda asked. This wasn't how he thought this get together was going to go and he was quickly growing irritated with the white-haired boy in front of him. That uneasy feeling that he got from him was slowly becoming justified.

"We have no talent," Komaeda announced, carrying himself like a preacher speaking to his congregation. "That's why it is—."

"I have talent," Tokuda interrupted him. "Sure, I'm not at the level of my classmates, but I took dance lessons as a kid, and I'm not too bad at playing the piano."

Komaeda's smile didn't falter. "Are you the ultimate dancer?" he asked innocently. "Or perhaps the ultimate pianist?"

"No, but—."

"Then as I was saying," Komaeda continued brightly, cutting him off. "We have no talent! We are but stepping stones meant to be used by our ultimate classmates so that they may let their hope shine."

Tokuda looked to Naegi, who he was rapidly believing to be the more reasonable of the other two lucksters. The only response the other boy gave him, however, was a half-hearted shrug and a meek smile that suggested this wasn't the first time he had listened to Komaeda's speeches.

"There can only be one ultimate title for each talent. If we continue to diminish the title of ultimate by sharing it as we are doing now, we will diminish the shining hope of the other ultimates. That's why I founded this club. Since Hope's Peak refuses to give their ultimates the honor they deserve, we must learn which of us is the true ultimate lucky student."

Komaeda smiled at the two younger students, awaiting their response. Tokuda had none to offer. He decided that responding to him would be the same as encouraging him. Naegi didn't appear to share that sentiment.

"I'm fine with sharing the title of ultimate lucky student," Naegi said. "Really, I'm just happy to have the opportunity to attend Hope's Peak Academy at all. I don't think that our classmates are bothered that there are multiple lucky students.

Tokuda nodded once in agreement.

Komaeda sighed. "I should have expected this from you two, but I had hoped you would understand." He ran a hand through his unkempt hair.

"Naegi-kun, do you think that Byakuya- kun would accept the academy sharing his title of ultimate affluent progeny with another student? Or Sayaka-san for that matter?"

"No," Naegi said after a moment. "Sayaka-san probably wouldn't mind, but Byakuya-kun would definitely take it up with the school board. If there was any doubt that they were ultimates, they would work hard to prove that they deserved those titles."

"Exactly!" Komaeda exclaimed. "And we should do the same! We need to learn which of us truly is fit to hold the title of ultimate lucky student. We should hold the expectations of our classmates to ourselves."

Forget staying quiet and not responding.

"This is ridiculous," Tokuda protested. "Even if luck was a talent—which it's not—how do you even test luck in the first place?"

Komaeda's eyes locked on his and, somehow, the upperclassman's grin grew wider. Immediately, Tokuda felt like a fawn standing before a hungry wolf.

"I'm so glad you asked," Komaeda said. Without breaking eye contact, he reached into his coat and pulled out—.

Tokuda's world screeched to a halt.

That was a gun.

That was an actual gun.

Komaeda was holding an actual, fully loaded, deadly…

Darkness surrounded Tokuda's vision, engulfing him before he could continue his panicked thought.

…

"...need to get Tsumiki-senpai!"

"...fine, Naegi-kun…we shouldn't bother…over…as insignificant as this."

Speech faded in and out as Tokuda stirred to consciousness. He let out a groan as he became aware of a dull pain at the back of his head.

"Tokuda-kun!"

"Wonderful, he's awake again!"

Slowly, Tokuda opened his eyes and found himself staring right up at Naeigi's worried face. His head was lying on the older boy's lap and a damp cloth was resting on his face. What was he doing here?

"Are you okay?" Naegi asked worriedly. "You suddenly passed out and you hit your head pretty hard against the floor."

"I...passed out?" Tokuda repeated. He didn't remember passing out. What would have made him—.

Komaeda. With a yelp, the previous events came back to him. He jerked upright out of Naegi's lap startling the older boy. "Get back, Naegi-senpai," he yelled. He pushed Naegi away towards the door to the classroom. Frantically, his eyes darted around trying to find anything to hide behind. "He still has a gun!"

"Wait, Tokuda-kun," Naegi said. He attempted to pick himself up off the ground, but Tokuda urged him back towards the door.

"Get out!" Tokuda said. If he tackled Komaeda, maybe it would give Naegi enough time to escape and get help. He tensed, ready to for Komaeda's incoming attack, but froze when he saw that the oldest luckster was just staring at him.

Komaeda's brow was furrowed in confusion for a brief moment, but quickly relaxed as he began to laugh. "Oh, I see now," he said lightly. "You misunderstand." Without warning, he suddenly lifted the gun towards Tokuda and pulled the trigger.

Tokuda screamed. He expected the pain to come quickly. Already, wetness was spreading through his shirt from the center of his chest. That was his blood, wasn't it? Where was Naegi? Had he already escaped? Would help get here in time? He fell to his knees and brought a hand up to his chest to stem the bleeding. It was surprisingly cold.

"Tokuda-kun, what are you doing?"

"I'm trying to stop the bleeding!" Tokuda snapped.

"But...you're not bleeding."

"What do you mean, I'm not bleeding?" Tokuda demanded. He lifted his hand from his chest and held it up in the air. "Does this look like not bleeding to you?"

He paused. That did look like not bleeding. There was no blood on his hand. It was wet, yes, but it was just...water?

"It's a novelty water pistol," Komaeda said from above him. "Five of the six chambers contain water and the last contains dye."

Tokuda stared dumbly as Komaeda spun the barrel of the gun and pointed it at Naegi. The trigger pulled and pink dye splattered all over the boy's shirt.

"Wow, you really are unlucky," Komaeda exclaimed.

Naegi looked annoyed, but unsurprised.

This was too much. Forget the ultimates, forget the lucky students, forget this club, and forget Hope's Peak. He needed to get out of here.

"You're insane!" Tokuda cried. "You're just like the rest of the ultimates!" He backed away towards the door, reluctant to turn his back on the oldest teen fake gun or not.

"Please, don't compare the ultimates to the likes of me," Komaeda said with a laugh.

Naegi helplessly looked between the two of them. "I think we should probably end things here for the evening." He shot Tokuda a concerned look. "You should probably visit Tsumiki-san and have her examine your head. She's the ultimate nurse."

Tokuda half nodded at Naegi's words but continued creeping towards the doorway too preoccupied with keeping his eyes on Komaeda. His hand closed around the doorknob and in one smooth motion he pulled it open and propelled himself out into the hallway. He was halfway to the stairs when he heard Komaeda's voice call out, "We'll see you at the next club meeting, Tokuda-kun!"

Yeah right. The only thing Tokuda longed for more than normalcy now was to be as far away from that guy as possible.