Disclaimer: This chapter contains implied references of sensitive topics including criminal activity, mental illness, and sexual assault. Please do not read this chapter if any of the following listed topics cause you distress. Thank you for reading this disclaimer.
Welcome, everybody! To the beginning of Danganronpa: Lights, Camera, Murder! A new SYOC collaboration between myself and the amazing Prince PokePersona (the madman whose talents have led him to create a whole Dangan universe with multiple planned stories). Together, we hope to be able to bring you a fresh and alternative take on the SYOC experience with a rich narrative that you can all enjoy. For us, this project is about being able to deliver to you the readers an experience that you can really enjoy so we are making sure to properly plan out this story so it can be one that can be enjoyed by everyone.
This SYOC will be one which is written by myself and edited by Prince PokePersona - however, the plot, structure, and ideas are being developed by both of us so while this story will be put up on my FanFiction page I would really appreciate it if all of you can share the love and appreciation with him as well as he deserves as much praise for any work that we do here on the story. You're the Jammy Dodger to my Jaffa Cake mate!
Below, you see the first part of the prologue to the story, please do enjoy reading that and the author's notes! After these sections, you will find the form that will be used for submissions - when making a submission for a character it is important that you send the form as a private message to myself (not Prince PokePersona) and not in the form of a comment. Comment forms cannot be accepted as then everyone will already know information about your character and this takes away from the charm and mystique which makes SYOC stories as exciting as they are. Another thing to note, please do not send recycled characters from other stories, it is something we are both personally against so when making a character please make a fresh individual for the story. The deadline for forms is going to be late July/ early August and I will be accepting seven male and seven female characters! However, if any characters really grab our attention then we will definitely make sure that your character gets the chance they deserve to be a part of the narrative!
Furthermore, the form for the SYOC will also be posted on my account profile just in case there are any issues for any of you. Now, I wish you all fun before I see you again in the Author's Notes as I reveal to you the first part of it… Danganronpa: Lights, Camera, Murder!
Prologue
Dreams Are Made of Glass
To whom this concerns,
I have heard all the rumours about yourself and your expertise in the area of weaponry and lethal devices and I must say that after the research I had my team conduct, it came up with little more than chains of rumours and theories. It is impressive seeing how extensive a network a man of your age has managed to accrue over the space of such a short, sweet little life. Some may call that the actions of an acerbic, desperate man, however, your talent is one that I have come to conclude has been born out of sheer talent and drive. I know that as you read this letter, you are biting for the details and soon enough I will share with you what you want to know but first let me provide you with some details about my request for you. The following notes below should give you details as to my email address for you to cross-reference your inventory with my requests - as well as this I am certain you are highly anticipating payment. Do not worry, I will pay you handsomely in person, you and I both know we cannot trust the banks of modern Japan and while it is of no burden to me, I care about our business relationship and I would not want to sour that on your behalf.
Moving on from that, the bit that you are eagerly anticipating. The amount you requested for your services was roughly within our budget parameters so there is no issue in that, should you perform a good service and the items you provide be of excellent quality then I would be honoured to perhaps create a partnership of sorts with your business. After all, it is a win-win scenario, you gain a hefty reliable income to provide yourself with even more luxury and fortune than a town of men could desire and I get to monopolise the media market and stamp out the competition before they get a chance to speak. Of course, we will discuss more this proposal after the contract has been completed and we have used the equipment for a prolonged period to test its suitability for our needs - still, I sincerely hope that this news provides a bit of excitement for you. Furthermore, there is another small proposal I have planned to inform you of however I feel as though that would be much better to tell you in person, I would love to see your reaction to the news.
In terms of our designated meeting to discuss this, I am aware that to run such a lucrative business as you do that you must be busy, however, it is within our interest as a company to be able to speed forward the process slightly due to a partnership programme with Hope's Peak Academy. I am aware you once studied there so think of it as a means to pay back your thanks to the institute which moulded you into the man you are today. The partnership programme's annual school trip has been moved forward a week due to an extension of the examination period as a result of a higher proportion of practical based examinations for the current intake of students at the academy. Consequently, as long as it is fine with you it would be preferable to bring forward the date exactly one week. The location of where we are to meet will be the same as I stated before, just make sure not to get followed and whatever you do, do not forget the password to get into the izakaya, the last thing I want to deal with is a brawl in the streets. I will make sure to send you the necessary information in a follow-up email just in case. Please, if you have any more questions of which you need answering, send me them using the email I have provided to you - our relationship as businessmen is one that I hold dear to my heart after all.
With that, I bid you a good day and I hope that the next time we speak it is in person so we can truly make a difference in the world through the power of creativity and imagination. Until then, I wish you good health and fortune sir.
Yours faithfully,
N Hanyo, Company Director of Enigma Medias.
I read over the letter once more, taking in the words, letting my teeth grate against my bottom lip. The skin cracked and peeling off in rough layers until the faint taste of iron touched the tip of my tongue. What a bore, this man was everything that he expected in the leader of some conglomerate - the perfect definition of the Japanese businessman. Still, it would be better to get this job done if he was telling the truth about the payment being provided. The last month or so had been slow for the most part considering the time of year. Obon was in full swing, many of those whom he would sell to were taking the time to try and avoid engaging in violence if they could, letting their focus be on the dead, the fallen, the morons who charged into a gunfight with their fists swinging. Still, to celebrate the dead? Who would want to do that, who would really care about spending a week honouring a pile of ashes that do not matter anymore? I never understood crap like that, the dead don't deserve the time to be appreciated. They had their time when they were alive.
"Tch…," with a sigh, I crumpled up the letter in my hand, watching now as a few droplets of rainwater trickled their way out of the gutter, dive-bombing onto the surface of the paper and staining it a shade of grey. The water making its way slowly across the page until the writing turned itself into a sprawling spiral of black and grey. Before I gave myself the moment to think one more, in reflex the crumpled up mess found itself landing in a gentle thud against one of the grates.
Drip. Drip Drip. Drip Drip Drip. Patter patter patter patter.
"Fuckin' hell," I grimaced at the rain pounding against the slabs of the alleyway, of course, it had started to rain. Still, wrapping my coat around my form, the alleyway turned into a small cobblestone street. Quiet, but not silent. A few individuals trailed along the cobbles minding their own business: A pair of schoolgirls gossiping about the kind of worthless shit teenagers would nowadays, a grandmother struggling to carry her bag of groceries because she decided to buy herself a multipack of some cheap beer, the little girl jumping in puddles who isn't worth my breath describing. I just kept my head down and my eyes diverted to the cracks of the cobbles - the water pooling in small rivulets in between the haphazardly placed rocks. At first, my pace matched with them but soon I found the liquid dashing beyond my standard pace - soon it had found its way beyond and my sight and into the darkness of the evening streets.
Scents of curry attacked my nose, like a concubine waiting to tease. A few restaurants seemed to be open, curry, ramen, even a gyudon shop. However, in each restaurant, the same quietness of the streets had bled through into the establishments. All sharing three solemn customers, food in front of them yet doing nothing to satiate against the chill of isolation. That's where they went wrong, if they didn't waste their time feeling sorry for themselves while stuffing their faces with fat then maybe they would be like I am - a successful person. Still, what can I say? Some people don't have the capacity to work towards becoming the best, they only have the aspirations to eat curry, ramen, or gyudon.
Minutes pass by, streets meet crossroads, crossroads meet streets and then streets give birth to alleyways which seed establishments hidden from the sights of those failures eating their curry, the establishments only for people like myself. The successful people of Japan.
Upon seeing the crimson skip Hanyo had indicated within the instructions from the email correspondence, I took the sharp left to observe the alleyway before me. Narrow, choking almost, the cobblestones being smothered in thick layers of an ivy-like plant, spreading its green tendrils across the surface and choking the cobbles into a blur of brown and green.
The crescendo of a caw alerted me out of my tunnel vision to perceive the sight of a single magpie resting on a telephone pole. With another caw, its head tipped to stare at me in the eye with its own two black orbs. One hop, two hops, it caws again - quieter but still watching me. With a final caw, a flap of the wings sends the magpie flying as it took off past where I was standing and sails off down the street where I had travelled earlier. With the distraction gone, I made my way through the alleyway, my only companion now the sound of shoes clicking against the damp cobbles on the ground on the way to the izakaya that Hanyo had mentioned in the letter.
"Password," the grunt was almost intelligible, the word slurred like that of a drunkard. Still, the man it came from was a fair few inches smaller as I glanced down at him in the resignation of making a comment about his sloppish countenance. The man, if I could call him a man, looked more like a pig. Tanned and filthy skin, along with large floppy ears and a nose pressed into his face like a stamp on an envelope. His stomach found its way to spill out from underneath the cover of his black button-up shirt, buttons having popped off from the rolls of fat pushing against the fabric.
"Password!" the grunt was louder, he snorted too, small flecks of mucus spilling from his nose. What an actual pig this man was.
"Nemesis," clipped words were all I would grace the pig with, "now let me in…"
The pig grunted a bit to himself, trying to process the words I had just spoken to him, the cogs of his brain working overtime as he tried to multitask the process of understanding a simple imperative and ramming his sausage fingers up his nostrils.
"Are you deaf? Open the fuckin' door you shit for brains! I'm not here to stand watching you be a slob!"
This command seemed to somehow get its way into the head of the pig, with another grunt and the scraping on his boots against the cobbles, he dragged his mound of flesh down the street, fingers still pressed up into his nose before rubbing them on the back of his matted mop of black hair. Not wanting to take another moment to consider who else could turn up if I didn't get myself into this izakaya, I thrust the door open and slunk into the shadows.
Silence brewed for the first moments of my entry into the izakaya, the darkness of the building barely making out most of what was a drab but functional interior. Wooden chairs were scattered around large tables marked with scratchings and etchings of many folks, many a bad folk - probably my clients too after seeing one of the etchings nearest to me. Across one side, a bar counter had been set in place - covered in small placemats and stains of sticky beers and pungent sake, whatever Hanyo thought of this place I immediately took the decision to disregard it immediately.
This company director's tastes had to be nothing more eloquent than a steaming pile of horse shit. Still, with the surroundings being as abysmal as they were - it did little to provide any difficulty in finding the man whom I was looking for. Moth chewed curtains were drawn almost fully shut against the chipped window panes. However, a small slit of sunlight carved across the room illuminating a piercing brown eye staring right at me, watching me for the briefest of moments before softening slightly at my presence.
"Ah, you came, please do sit," the figure, who must have been Hanyo, spoke with a soft tone, yet the softness was little more than a pleasantry as he gestured with his hand for me to take a seat on one of the barstools next to him, "Can I get you a drink? Beer? Whiskey perhaps?"
"Whiskey will do," I stated, taking the gestured seat and giving myself the brief opportunity to glance at the man sitting down next to me. He was a pretty standard affair all things considered. Black hair that had been slicked back with gel, teeth whiter than an angel's wings, his three-piece ironed and pressed. The layered scent of musk that wafted off and diluted the odour of damp within the izakaya.
"Whiskey? So you are a refined gentleman as well it seems, it is nice to know that I can make a deal with a business partner who isn't all talk. I see you are much the success," Hanyo's eyes traversed my chest - from the ascot around my neck to the pocket watch that sat snuggly within my waistcoat pocket, "Not many men could afford such… fine craftsmanship, truly it is a relief that the rumours about you were not just rumours after all."
"I didn't come here for pleasantries, you wanted a deal. We can talk about the deal or I can leave right now," the mood for business had kicked in, my own eyes piercing Hanyo's in retaliation to his flattery.
"Relax, relax," Hanyo's white pearls bore themselves as he attempted to lighten the surroundings, "I will discuss with you all that you need to know Mister…?"
"Ryujin. It is just Ryujin to you."
"Ah… well then, Mister Ryujin, I will discuss all that you need to know and so so much more, trust me it is so exciting that I have found myself quaking in anticipation," Hanyo spoke with enthusiasm at this mystery topic, hands clasped together momentarily before returning his attention to the bar - observing the barman pouring out a glass of whiskey, "So please, Mister Ryujin would you at least spare me some time to tell you all that I wish to tell you? I promise you that it will be worth your time and if not then I will pay you back in compensation for providing you with such a boring time."
The way that this man spoke was already grating, that smile was so punchable, so were his eyes, to be honest, his whole face would have made the perfect excuse for a punching bag if it weren't for the fact that this meeting was a high stakes business engagement, so all I could muster in response was a quick nod of acknowledgement.
"Perfect, now if you do not mind Mister Ryujin… can I take you verbally through the agreement we have made just in case there are any final details you do not agree with and may want to request a change of? I may not be able to cater to all of your demands naturally however with talent such as yours I am willing to accommodate to get the best of the best for our project. After all, who would not want so many realistic-looking weapons and items to use as props for film and television production. Nowadays, people do not understand that for a complete package you need to be able to marry not only the performance of the actors but also have a strong script and convincing environments and props. I gather that you do not normally dabble in your inventory being used as props however it will be a welcome expansion of your customer base that I can guarantee for you right now," Hanyo's rambling momentarily stopped as he pressed a few buttons on his smartphone to get up what I gathered were some roughly written prompts to remind himself of what he needed to say in the next stage of his rambling, "Now then, for the list that I sent to you, these will be ones that we are keeping for the most part however some of the larger pieces that you have stated are in your inventory we will need to rent due to a limited amount of storage - we could store them now however until we get planning permission to double our storage units we would have no more room to contain any more props for future projects. Still, if we combine the cost of the items we are buying with the rental rate I had proposed then the total sum of money that I owe you should total up to… one billion and two hundred million yen."
"Is this a joke to you?" I glowered directly towards the man, to send daggers that would shred his precious little corneas into ribbons in a matter of seconds.
"Would one billion and three hundred million yen be any closer to the approximation you were looking for Mister Ryujin? Of course… it is a large sum of money as it is, surely you do not want too much more from Enigma Medias do you?"
"Make it one and a half billion and we will have ourselves a contract, I want to see half of that deposit go from your wallet into mine in this meeting as well, you can send the rest over once you receive your goods. If you don't like it, then I am happy to leave out of this door and you can go buy some plastic toys for props at the hundred yen store," watching Hanyo's face was something quite pleasurable, for the briefest of moments a flash of concern washed over the man's face at the hearing of plastic toys. Luckily for his own sake, he managed to regain his composure quickly to continue with the negotiation.
"Mister Ryujin, those terms - surely you can-"
Before the man could speak, I let myself lean slightly closer to him, letting his face crease in the delicate layer of fear that he had shown before, "You will start talking in my terms before I tell you, not so politely, to piss off. Now we can either go my way or you can have nothing."
"..." Hanyo took a moment of silence, perhaps for his own benefit as the glass of whiskey made its way onto the placemat next to me. Picking up the glass, the brown liquid gently sloshed side to side within its container as I took the briefest moments of idle pleasure in watching the whiskey displace. Soon enough though, the pleasure came from the warm comforting sensation of it travelling down my throat, the only good part of my day so far.
"Fine, I will go with your deal on the condition that you change the split to a forty percent deposit now and a sixty percent payment upon acquisition of the goods, I can do that for you Mister Ryujin and if I do say so myself that must be one of the best offers you have received from a business transaction."
"Enough of your bullshit charm offensive, I'll make that deal with you," another sip of liquid fire finds its way down my throat, Hanyo watching me intently - he must be anticipating something else to come from my mouth, except all he got were a pair of eyes pinned straight on his wallet waiting for the transferral of the yen from Hanyo's to my own.
"Here you go… let me just count it all up for you," Hanyo took a few minutes to count the money for the deposit, the same money being stuffed into my own larger wallet to keep as a prize for a successful transaction, "Now then, if you remember me mentioning it in the letter, I had another proposal for you which I thought someone of your talent and thirst for a fortune would lap up."
"Go on," another sip of whiskey made its way down my throat.
"I will start off by saying this proposal is something I would be willing to add an extra half a billion yen to your funds for, it is important to myself that I get a variety of characters and whilst I know you are not the acting type on paper I reckon you would be quite the success if you put your mind to it. Enigma Medias has spent the last three years researching and developing a new technology which will revolutionise the way the film industry operates in the future. This is between you and me but what we have developed is a way to incorporate virtual reality and brainwave patterns into the construction of fully forged film material. Simply put, the people are placed into seats where they are injected with an adapted version of an anaesthetic to help encourage them to sleep but not remain fully unconscious during the process. However, what happens is signals from your brain transfer information on your thoughts and feelings into the virtual reality world which you will be operating in. It will feel as though you are physically existing in the real world even though in actuality it will just be a figment of your own imagination and cognition willing you to act as you do whilst you are in the programme. The objective of this is to be able to use the programme to record and film realistic and genuine films without the need to be pay actors the extraneous prices which they demand in the modern market; after all, the imagination provides people with the ability to sometimes do things which would be a little beyond their natural capabilities. We are still experimenting a little bit with this aspect of the virtual reality film however we are determined to reach a point where your imagination will not have boundaries that prevent you from creating jaw-dropping scenes for awe-inspiring productions. The whole thought of this is already getting me so excited! I imagine that I could grin any wider than I am right now then my smile would be too wide for my face!"
Rather than that, however, Hanyo took the moment to laugh a little to himself - it was light and breathy but still rather odd. With a ring finger, the man wiped away a few stray tears of laughter from his eyes and shook his head at his own outburst of zeal, "Apologies, I get myself so excited when I imagine the amazing possibilities of film production and all Enigma Medias can do to bring joy to people all across the world. Soon enough, there won't be a man or woman on the planet who isn't crying, smiling, or laughing from our works and I hope you will help us start this journey to a brighter tomorrow."
"Uhuh… so that's it, you want me to enter your film production team as a cast member to pioneer some tech junkie's fantasy?"
"I… when you put it that way you make the whole project sound childish, trust me though Mister Ryujin, I would not be offering you this experience if I didn't think you would not be able to tolerate it for the extra money. After all, you are a headstrong man." Hanyo's tone was enthusiastic, much more so than before he had been discussing this passion project of his - it was draining on my own senses but I could not deny that his conviction and dedication towards the project were commendable.
"Extra money is always a bonus, I'm listening to you," Hanyo's face seemed to beam from my willingness to pursue this conversation beyond a flippant comment of 'piss off', or 'go fuck yourself'.
"I can pay you the extra money as soon as you finish with the project, think of it this way too! If you get positive press from the release of our maiden film then you will be able to engage in your business with less suspicion. Who would ever think that a charming young man such as yourself, a famous individual pioneering the media of the future, would really be a businessman in the darkest corners of Japan?" Hanyo spoke with conviction as he laid out his argument, "This project is more than a passion, it is the destiny of Enigma Medias ever since I woke up and saw the light of the new world. I cared not for the distressful episode xenoglossia that occurred as I read sheets of English text after my driving induced coma, nor did I care for the faded memories of my childhood with my mother and father, I cared simply for being able to make the best out of a future and with you by my side in this project I know that it will be more than possible, it will be a certainty!"
The surprise at Hanyo mentioning a coma took me off guard but still, I could not refute most of his argument, being in the spotlight could mean more attention to himself however the media would have no tangible reason to suspect him of any malpractice or misdeeds. The man in front of him was surely just proud of being able to make the most out of the future and prove to the world that he was capable of doing so much even against the odds of surviving some form of a terrible accident. For most people, they would gush or fuss over his past but for me, it just validated the fact that I could accept his terms for the extra money. He could fawn over his little passion project all he wanted, the money did it for me.
So I replied.
"Go on then, how do I sign up."
"Ah! Too bright! Too bright!"
The sun pierced its way through the windows of my dorm room, smacking me square on the face as I tried to use a pillow to protect my eyes, blinking a few times to adjust myself to my surroundings - normally I was not the worst with mornings, however, the anticipation of the school trip today was enough to keep my mind racing for most of the night.
Apparently, we were going to the headquarters of a company called Enigma Medias to take a look around their publishing sector and have a role in writing a sentence which would appear at some point within the next book that was being developed by one of Enigma Medias's very own members of staff. Normally, this may not have had me excited as it did but I had overheard some of the students in the cafeteria talking about how Enigma Medias were supposedly going to be developing a new documentary about mental health and the impact it was having on the youth of Japan in the modern-day compared to twenty years ago.
I'd go into so many details about why this was so exciting but I should really introduce myself first shouldn't I?
Hello! My name is Nezire Katsura, perhaps I'm not the most interesting person on first impressions, I mean… I am pretty plain compared to some of the eccentric figures that Hope's Peak Academy is famed for, but I still try my best to be able to live up to the expectations of my Ultimate Talent. Although for me, being the Ultimate Social Worker is worth it for sure, however, my joy comes purely from seeing the people who I help, being able to get through whatever hardships they may be facing at the time and to help guide them along to a better life, whether that be through a foster family, emotional guidance or even small changes such as discussing what they want to do with their life.
Seeing the smiles of peoples' faces is enough for me to be happy, although I suppose that is why when I look at my reflection most of the time, it is hard to feel the same way I do about others - after all, there is only one of me, but there are hundreds of people out there who I can help.
After I managed to adjust to the light, I found myself staring groggily at the dusty pink geraniums sitting in their vase on the windowsill. Pretty, I should have probably watered them though as I see a couple of them beginning to lose their integrity as a few petals flutter off and land against the window sill in silence.
Yaaaaaaaaaawwwwwn!
With a stretch of my arms, I roll over to be greeted with the flashing green lights of my alarm clock stating: 10:07 AM. It took the seven to flicker over to an eight before my mind caught up with my eyes and sent my brain into a flitter of panic, the school coach was going to leave in just over twenty minutes and I had been lazing around in my own little world having forgotten to set an alarm due to my overactive imagination.
Almost collapsing out of the bed, I threw the daffodil patterned duvet across to get out, not stopping for a moment as half of it dangled off the edge of the bed. Slightly crumpled now as it lay there in defeat. Continuing my method of mad panic, I scrambled through the various drawers as I tried to find some clothes that could form some kind of decent outfit. Bra? No. Panda hoodie? Maybe for a pizza night. Bra again? Try harder next time!
After at least five pairs of bras, some underwear, and a solid quarter of my remaining clothing had found itself flung across my dorm room I recovered some clothes that were not too 'slobbish' in appearance or dirty and needed to be tossed into the laundry basket. Glancing to the bathroom, I reluctantly made the decision to avoid having a shower, opting to get dressed so I didn't have to sprint down to still miss the coach.
Without much care I threw on a black spaghetti strap top, scrabbling a little as I tried to pull the straps into the right place due to my state of sleep-deprived delirium. With more success, I threw on my off the shoulder white jumper and put on the first skirt I had picked up, it was not my favourite but the floral design seemed to fit in with the cheerful vibe of a sunny August morning.
Slipping on my sandals I stopped for a moment… eyes meeting the mirror once more to meet a reflection staring back at me, a lanky girl with hair and skin as white as snow and eyes rich magenta smiled back at me. She was gently pressing her fingers against her neck and wincing eventually as she applied more and more pressure onto it without much thought - only stopping when a small puff of breath distracted her from what she was doing.
The girl fumbled quickly in a drawer behind her, picking up a red ribbon and tying it around her neck, checking repeatedly to make sure that the knot in the ribbon was secure. She seemed more relieved at this point, slipping on two rainbow bracelets and a gold bracelet adorned with charms onto her wrist, a glittery pink notebook was the final thing she seemed to latch onto before her form vanished from the view of the mirror.
I closed my eyes momentarily, taking in a couple of shallow breaths whilst my fingers picked at the loose threads at the edge of my jumper's sleeve. My fingers were dancing around the threads, coiling them around the skin and pressing against it, turning parts of the snow-white skin a blushed pink from the pressure. A few more breaths and my hands burst open in a splayed motion, a thread breaking off from the sudden tug.
With firm resolution, I took my final breath of reassurance and after hooking a small flowery tote bag over my shoulder I flung the dorm door with reckless abandon to face the day.
The sensation of sunlight kissing my skin was all too comforting as I made my way through the campus grounds to the designated meetup spot that had been mentioned in our trip orientation email that one of the activity coordinators had sent us. While it wasn't too far away, it was perhaps a bit of a curse that the meetup location took me through the botanical gardens on the campus - a small vice price to pay you could say.
The gardens were vibrant and green with different exotic fauna and foliage, ferns dotting the terracotta paving slabs that meandered their way around little springs. On the springs, there were small lotus flowers that floated along at their own leisure, occasionally shaking a little when one of the koi fish bobbed it's bulbous head up to take in a moment of sunshine before submerging its head below the surface again. A few potted cacti stood proud as I continued along the path towards the centre, they had just flowered popping hues of pink in an explosion of colour. Closing my eyes, I just took all the scents in, the sweet pollen of the euphony of flowers, hearing the gentle trickle of water coming from the fountain centerpiece, and letting it soothe my very soul, tasting the fresh crisp air and breathing it into my lungs.
If it weren't for the sound of activity as other students were approaching the meetup location outside the botanical gardens I would have lost myself in the moment, at least I think I would have considering the fact that when my eyes were opened I was almost standing face first in a large cactus which I had subconsciously trailed over to smell. Shaking my head, I jogged off to catch up with the other students - still, I couldn't help but wonder if the different coloured pansies would make a beautiful flower crown…
"Katsura-chan! You made it! Holy crap, I thought you wouldn't make it - you got here with a minute to spare, seems like those extra drills I made you do in physical education paid off eh? You can thank me later, now quickly get on the coach, you're the last one to get on okay? Remember as well, you're representing Hope's Peak Academy on this school trip so don't do or say anything which would tarnish both yours and the academy's reputation."
I winced momentarily at the mention of a swear word but took the time to give a small polite nod to the man in front of me, he was in his late twenties - a tall and muscular man with a chiseled jawline and the form of an athlete that was for sure. His hair was dyed a dark gingery-brown and was tied in a bun on the back of his head with a couple of elastic bands.
Junpei Ikoma, or Ikoma-sensei as we addressed him, was my physical education teacher, the man was tough but it was clear that the toughness was out of genuine care to provide the teenagers with the right amount of physical activity to keep the Ultimates healthy. I had to agree with his mantra though, 'a healthy body can definitely help promote a healthy mind'.
Even if he was scary with his furrowed brow and the way he tapped his pen against the register on his clipboard, I could help but show him a warm smile as I hurried onto the coach and made a beeline for one of the double seats where there was nobody else sitting there - the coach was fairly packed with a mixture of students and staff, however, she wanted to be able to have a bit more time to herself to contemplate over her own thoughts without having to concern herself with the actions of some Ultimate trying to tell her a story about how they scored a hattrick or how they beat a video game on the hardest difficulty. There were times and places to engage in deep conversations and a semi-exhausted and dishevelled state that I was in was not one of them.
It had only taken a matter of minutes before the sound of wheels screeching a little from the friction against the tarmac could be heard, a small curse from the coach driver stalling the coach out of frustration, then the jolt when he applied a little bit too much pressure on the accelerator as the coach navigated its way down the winding road towards the highway that would take the group towards Enigma Medias.
People say that highways are the most boring places in the entire world, that all they do is sap any kind of life from you and turn you into a walking anatomical model of a person. If I were to use Ikoma-sensei's words to describe my opinion on that, I think you would get the idea.
Genuinely, as the coach trundled along the highway… I couldn't help myself from gazing longingly out the window at the landscape slideshow that was unfolding in front of my very eyes. Forests, adorned with deciduous trees where squirrels leaped through the branches in the canopy and deers grazed on the clover on the forest floor. Rivers, full to the brim of fish that darted erratically as they tried to avoid the sharp beak of a stilted heron, eyes beady and waiting for its next victim…. Mountains, peaks that high that it makes you wonder about how incredible the world really is. I took it all in as the coach drove past, I let it all sink into me… yet in time… I…. couldn't help it. I couldn't…. Help… falling aslee-
"Nezzy! Are you there! Please tell me you're there, I'm so bored and I'm scared to go and ask to play in the garden. M-Mother was yelling earlier and I think she smacked Umeko across the face because she had more than one mackerel with her slice of bread for breakfast…. Nezzy, please. I'm feeling scared right now and I need you."
Dizziness came over me, eyes blurred as shapes and sounds collided in a locus of an object in front of me, around me blank space. A haze. My legs felt like cement, trying to drag them across this fog was impossible. As my voice reached out to try and speak, all that could make its way out was a stream of mist - mist whose tendrils began to curl and twist from my vision as cold claw-like appendages crept through my sleeves and slivered their way up my spine. I tried to close my eyes but some force kept them open as the fog surrounding me began to increase in its density, they swallowed my sight and plunged me into a void of grey.
"Nezzy! Can you hear me! I need you, we need you! Mother is getting really angry again! Keita, he's… his arms! They're bleeding! They're all scratched and bloody! I can't fix it! Nezzy please help me only you can! Only you can!"
In a state of desperation, I tried to grasp onto the source of the voice, my chest pounding, my heart palpitating as I wanted to just scream my lungs out. I wanted to scream bloody murder and pound against the door and help. I was the only person who could do anything, and yet here… I am… failing. If I was really so great as the academy claimed I was then why would there be so many people screaming? Why would there be days and nights were children in Japan clutch onto their bleeding arms, their bruised legs, their broken bones.
The strength was beginning to wane as I tried to clench my teeth and push forwards yet as my eyes opened to the sight in front of me - all that was there was a suffocating fog. The fog thrust its way down my throat and pounded its fists in my lungs. I wanted to cough. I wanted to hack up a river of phlegm but at the moment all I could do was feel the heat of tears roll down my cheeks as I writhed in the sea of agony and let it take over my body.
"Nezzy…! Help us…! Help… us…"
The voices descended into a calm, just the fog, and I in a dance to the death of one of us. Scratching the trachea, it ripped the bronchus, slashing the bronchioles and squeezing the alveoli until they popped like peas in a pod and sent my head into the depths of oblivion. And then there was silence… the silence that came before the storm. My storm. My little storm that I knew as hell. My little storm that I knew as hell and that will be with me to the grave. My storm.
"Nezire... let me in, I just want to talk to you about your behaviour because you were being a very naughty girl earlier. If you're a good girl, I won't have to discipline you too much, just lightly - you'd like that wouldn't you Nezire? So be a good girl for me hmm?"
My storm had arrived. Squinting into the fog, a silhouette was dragging its mighty form towards me - lashes of fog distorting themselves and vanishing into the void as the shadow tore through them showing no signs of mercy. Its head hung down but the mop of greasy hair slowly brought its way into view. Shirt sleeves dangled too long for the twisted arms of his being as deep puffs of mist billow out from underneath its head. Closer and closer it came, soon I saw the bush of thick hair that pushed its way out from underneath the tank top that this being wore. Its legs continued to drag it across the fog coated void beneath us, its arms dangled loosely without care.
I tried to close my eyes but the moment I willed it, laughter shot its bullet through my eyes as I faced a cacophony of madness - the shadow's face snapping up to reveal the sneering face of him. In silence I stared, the thing's razor-like teeth salivated a fine chilling mist as a tongue lulled out and began to smother its lips with a slurping sound. Sluuuuuuurp.
"Nezire… you've been such a bad girl, it's time for your discipline. Behave or else I will have to get out the discipline devices!"
A sneer choked me as the tongue of the silhouette went to rub against the flesh of my cheek - it didn't make contact however the chill couldn't help me want to scream out in agony. The tingling lasted as pools of inky blackness gazed upon me with madness I could not describe. Claws of pure black brushing across my hair and pressing under my chin to force me to stare into the voids of the abyss in front of me.
"You've been a very naughty girl…"
The silhouette began to chuckle, the chuckle descended into a cackle until my eyes were burst by the torrent of maniacal laughter that was thrown towards me. Again. And again. And again and again, I felt my eardrums dying and reviving only to be killed by the sounds of this thing.
Of it, of the hell that I could not prevent forever. Was this my punishment? Was this what I deserved? The creature's claws wrapped themselves around my shoulders, pressing tightly with their chilled rancor as it leaned in closer. Closer and closer still, as I felt my body shaking. My mind flooded in pure fear as I couldn't help but-
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
My eyes bolted open to find the face of Ikoma-sensei grasped onto my shaking, drenched form with an expression which could only be described as the utmost of concern and worry, a few veins had pressed themselves against his forehead and I could see just from his complexion that he had paled at the sight of something. He looked like he had been witness to some kind of paranormal activity.
It took a good twenty seconds of us both staring at each other in a state of otherworldly silence before reality set back into the man and he let go of my shoulders and backed off a slight bit - I could only imagine that he was worried to alarm me any further as his eyes kept permanent contact on my own. A few other figures stood around me yet in my blurred perception only Ikoma-sensei stood out in this brief moment.
"Katsura-chan… you were writing around on the floor, nobody had noticed until we stopped just now in the car park. W-What happened to you? It doesn't say on the form here that you are prone to seizures. We have no records either of you suffering from epileptic fits too. Please, just take a moment to take some deep breaths and sit down on the chair. We're not moving a muscle until you are feeling better," Ikoma-sensei went to try and help me sit up on the chair, as his cold touch brushed against my arm I flinched, eyes darting up to his, they were still concerned, relaxing a bit more I allowed him to assist me in sitting back onto the coach seat, Ikoma-sensei craned his head back a bit and called down to the front of the coach, "Can I get a bottle of water please for Katsura-chan! She needs the hydration to help get her back to a fit state!"
I closed my eyes again for a few more moments to take in some breaths, they were ragged - deep and hoarse breaths that were almost on the brink of hyperventilation. It was bad of me but each breath I assessed in my own mind, I made a note of it to see if I was getting any better like Ikoma-sensei was asking me to try and manage.
The first breath was rough, second was equally as bad, the third one felt like I was about to choke on the air itself yet the fourth one was better than the first and second. The fifth one was tolerable and the sixth made me appreciate the breaths a bit more. By the ninth, the third felt as though it had been in a past lifetime. It was better, I could manage at least - with some glee I found the cool texture of plastic brushed against my skin as in my dazed stupor my eyes glanced to Ikoma-sensei, who having seen me zoning out to compose myself, took the initiative to try and help in rehydrating me after the sweating from my nightmare.
I tried to smile to show my appreciation but he shook his head in response as I felt a small stream of the water trickle down my neck as it missed the narrower opening of my mouth. I resisted the urge to flinch for the sake of not having more spill on me. Still… I couldn't help but feel the sensation of comfort, knowing that this teacher was here to help me was enough to help me gain the composure I had lost and soon enough, a faint blush of heat returned to my cheeks. The act of kindness was enough to make the memories of the nightmare slip away from my mind for a moment.
"Thank you… Ikoma-sensei. Honestly, I am fine really. I just fell asleep and I ended up having a nightmare of sorts. It was nothing too serious but you know how the nightmares can be especially when you have all sorts of creepy crawlies or snakes clambering all over you. I must have been shaking and fell off the chair in my sleep because of the wiggling and shaking in the nightmare. Really, it was horrible… but I cannot help but think I am the one to blame for all of this happening right now," I hated lying to Ikoma-sensei, but telling the truth was too hard - it might never be easy enough to tell him the truth so this lie was all I could tell him to stave away the guilt boring into me, "I watched a documentary just before I went to sleep last night about dangerous animals that lived within the tropical rainforests of South America. The last image I had in my find as we went past one of the forests was the thought that there could be some large snake lurking in there ready to strike. I am truly sorry for causing such a fuss Ikoma-sensei."
Ikoma-sensei just shook his head in response and with a reassuring smile queried, "Do you think you can manage the school trip or do you want a member of staff to stay with you on the coach for a bit whilst you rest up. You shouldn't push yourself too much when you've lost so many minerals from the sweating. It's no good for your health, trust me."
Matching Ikoma-sensei's actions, like a mechanism my head responded in the negative, even if my mind was begging for some succour, there was this weird sensation within my soul telling me I had to go into the building and learn about the new documentary I desired to enquire about.
Anyway, it would be disrespectful to not try and put the effort to push myself and accomplish something after all Ikoma-sensei had done to try and help me after the events of the nightmare. Through gritted teeth, I let out a warped sound that blended a groan of pain and a deep yawn as I pushed myself onto my feet. Thud.
Still dizzy from the aftermath, I found myself instinctively clutching onto the seat in front of me as a firm grip held one of my arms to prevent me from toppling over, Ikoma-sensei took a few seconds before he felt comfortable in losing his protective grip on my arm and allowed me to orientate myself properly again. Blinking momentarily, my gaze shifted from the concerned teacher to the view outside the window panes of the parked coach.
It was fairly close but in front of my eyes, I saw the entrance to what was an industrial park containing a variety of different buildings, some of them larger than others but all created in a sleek modern style, white bricks stacked up in a uniform manner and grand panes of tinted glass preventing anyone from seeing in but offering expansive views of the greenery around the industrial park. I couldn't help but stare in utter silence as I took in the sheer size of the area.
Even the voice of Ikoma-sensei behind me found itself drowned out as my mind explored the potentiality of what could be held within this complex.
Darting to the main entrance of the closest building, to my surprise there were flowerbeds, small potted plants, and even the sign above the door was made to appear natural in its appearance even if it was constructed out of some kind of plastic-looking material. The theory that had been brewing within my mind had accumulated into my first conclusion, this place would hold so many incredible possibilities. My whole future would change as a result of this school trip.
A small prod broke me from my trance as I turned to face the perpetrator of the gentle poke, "Katsura-chan, we should get going if we want to catch up with the rest of the group. Whilst you were staring at the building they already started to head off towards the main building. Do you need me to bear any weight for you or do you think you will be fine walking by yourself?" Ikoma-sensei asked with a firm duty of care laced through his tone, he was making note of the progression of the other group as he awaited my response.
"I can manage, come on… we should get going. I wouldn't want you to miss out on anything interesting on the tour Ikoma-sensei," for the first time since I woke up I managed to bring myself to smile - even if it was feeble and weak compared to what I expected of myself, it was at least genuine. For all his kindness, Ikoma-sensei's selflessness would know no bounds if his peers or even his students didn't put him in check once in a while.
At my comment, Ikoma-sensei responded in the affirmative and followed behind me as we exited the coach and went to catch up with the group of students and staff that were now congregating around the automatic glass doors of the large entrance building to the complex. The closer we both got, the louder the noises became, soon enough a few faces found their way towards my own - some offering small smiles, a couple a polite wave, and then a fair amount just returning to their own conversations within their own friend groups.
I kept my feeble smile strong, wearing it like a soldier would brandish his medal of honour as we rejoined the party. A quick register was called, where to my own astonishment I was able to say I was present in a loud enough voice that it didn't sound like a mouse squeaking from a hole in a wall.
As a group, the conversations died down after a few minutes as a woman exited from the building to address a staff member with a hushed whisper before facing the rest of us with a wide grin on her face. She seemed skinny like me, her black hair tied up into such a tight ponytail that it looked like her hair was being constricted by some abomination. Her face was caked in makeup and her frilly pink blouse and black pencil skirt did nothing but affirm my suspicions that this woman was the type who indulged in luxury. Something that made me return my attention back to the potted plants next to the door she had just come through.
"Apologies Ultimates, we are having a small delay at the moment - the tour guide who is going to be showing you around is running a tad bit late but to accommodate for this small change in plans we are offering you all a nice cup of green tea and some cakes to tide you over. It's the least we can do here at Enigma Medias to try and apologise for our unprofessional conduct. Again, my apologies. If you would like to enter the building and immediately turn left you will see the lounge area, this is usually designated for staff members or visitors with green level passes however for the sake of convenience today you will all be allowed to rest there whilst you enjoy your snacks and beverages. Please enjoy and once your tour guide is here and ready to conduct the tour, I will inform all of you so you can enjoy the tour. Have a pleasant day," a few moments of silence followed the end of this announcement followed by the dull whir of the automatic doors which I imagined she went through.
"Tea and cakes got to say that these folk do know how to spoil you Ultimates rotten," Ikoma-sensei mused to himself, the statement shaking me back to the moment as the staff began to hustle our group into the lounge that the lady had described to us.
It was quite odd in fact, what grabbed my attention first were not the plush armchairs or the bookcases crammed to bursting with texts, it was the fact that there was already a large decanter full of blended green tea and a small buffet table set up with a medley of dainty cakes and pastries. I wanted to question it as I glanced up to see Ikoma-sensei's reaction to the display in front of us. He seemed unphased, if he was okay with this then perhaps I was just being paranoid. I had just had a nightmare after all…
Therefore, I joined the queue of students who had all lined up for a cup of tea and a cake, one by one they took their duo of treats and made their way in their friend groups to one of the many tables swarmed by a gaggle of green armchairs. In my silent observations I couldn't help but look at the leaves floating in some of the cups of tea, they seemed to ripple and shift in the liquid less than I had expected considering their lightness.
Once I reached the decanter myself, a skinny man with a shaved head poured the cup of the steaming tea into the cup and without asking for my input thrust the cup and some kind of coconut coated cube of cake at me to eat. I was just relieved he didn't opt to give me the banoffee tart that I had seen on one of the trays. Looking around at all I students in their small groups, for now, I felt like the quiet and comfort of enjoying my tea in silence would be preferable - searching around I snuck around a small corner to find a little table and chair out of sight and away from the main hub of volume - a quiet sanctum.
Staring down at the cup in front of me, I swished the liquid around with the small metal spoon provided to me, again… the leave seemed to not move as freely in the liquid as I had expected. It was most likely an exotic blend from China, these fancy corporations would have the funds to be able to get expensive blends of tea as though it was tap water after all and who was I to judge.
I could judge the taste though as I took to drinking a few sips and savouring the drink in front of me. I shut my eyelids as I let the flavours dance across my tongue, the earthy tones of the tea separating as I indulged in the bitterness, the sharp notes of sourness, the depth of flavour unlike that which I had experienced-
"They just collapsed! What the hell is going on! Wake up! Hey! Not you too, don't play around… with...me…."
Thud! Thud! Thud thud thud! The commotion yanked me from my trance as in a moment of panic I twisted my body with such force that I staggered out of the chair and crumpled to the floor - with a groan, a surging ripple of pain rocketed from my ankle as I tried to turn my body over to position myself on all fours to get up onto my feet.
Still, with the pain that coursed from my ankle, the only grace I found in that venture was the relief after I crashed back down onto the ground again and let my ankle rest for a few seconds. With a grunt, I crawled my way around the corner, breaths getting more ragged… it was harder to breathe, spotlights of circular lights littered my surroundings, bodies collapsing on the floor in front of me in a spectacle, lambs to the slaughter.
Croaking an inaudible response got nothing but the response of a couple more consecutive thuds. Gritting my teeth, I dragged my limpening husk of a body forward, each meter a mile, each yard a triumph. Panting and straining to continue, the gentle glow of the lightbulbs up above spat its rays of piercing light into my face reducing me to a heaving pile on the ground. I tried to look up once more, eyes barely managing to make out the surroundings, colours all merged into a void of spasmodic colour, I blinked once and saw his gingery brown hair sprawled across the floor in front of me.
Then all I saw was black.
Cactuar's A/Ns:
Hey guys and gals! I hope you are doing well despite all the madness that has been happening in the world at the moment. I just wanted to talk a bit here about myself and introduce myself a little bit to people who may not know me too well.
My name is Cam and I'm currently preparing to start uni life in September to study Japanese as my degree. For me, the last couple of years has been a bit of a slog and I ended up burning out on my first attempt to do a writing project. However, with the time I have had to recuperate and rejuvenate myself and get the support I needed I am at a stage in my life where I feel pumped to give to you guys the story that I have dreamed of creating.
This story is a little passion project of mine and I would love to see all of you sharing your theories, thoughts, reviews, and constructive criticism to really help build a community around this story! I am looking forward to seeing the different kinds of characters that you can concoct and bring to life with the form provided - I know there are many great OC creators that I both know and perhaps do not know so I am excited to see the fruits of your labour! Till next time, stay classy folks! (And safe, staying safe is the most important part!)
Sona's A/Ns:
Hi. Hello, I'm Prince as mentioned above, lovely to see you all again and I hope you all are doing well amongst the pandemic and 2020's never-ending cycle of madness. Some of you may know me from my already ongoing saga of Danganronpa SYOC, but for the uninitiated, hi nice to meet you, I hope you enjoyed this little collab the two of us have brought forth into this world.
As the man himself said, please send the forms to his profile, not mine, and I look forward to seeing what characters you guys cook up for this story.
I wish you all the best and I hope you have a lovely weekend, later.
Form for Danganronpa: Lights, Camera, Murder!
GENERAL FORM:
Name: (The first and last name (Plus a nickname if you so desire))
Gender: (Male or female?)
Age: (15-18)
Talent: (Please try to avoid ones in Danganronpa 1, 2, 3 and V3 if possible)
Height:
Weight:
Sexuality: (Pretty much open to all sexualities)
Nationality: (Japanese is preferred although I will accept a few foreign people as well)
THEIR PAST LIFE:
History: (Time to be creative! This is your chance to show me what your character's past was like and how it has shaped them into the person they are today. I don't mind darker backstories but just make sure they're not too crazy)
Family and Friends: (Here you can list family members or friends that your character has)
VISUALS:
Physical Appearance: (This is where you explain how the person looks such as skin tone, hairstyle, eye colours etc. I don't mind what they look like too much as long as it's reasonably realistic. I don't want men with 28 inch chests.)
Normal Wear: (This is the normal outfit that your Ultimate would wear. You are open to creativity as long as the outfit isn't in any way offensive and matches your Ultimate's talent)
Special Wear: (An outfit which the Ultimate will wear on special occasions such as a formal event or a party. This is optional but if you want to go ahead!)
Swimwear: (Pretty self-explanatory)
Special unique features: (Things such as scars and birthmarks if they are applicable)
Physical Health Issues:
MENTAL PROFILE:
Outward personality: (How does your Ultimate act around people initially? How do they want to be seen by others as a first impression?)
Inward personality: (How does your Ultimate act around those they feel closer to? The personality traits that are closer to who they are as a person)
Mental Health Issues:
Mentality (Before the reveal of the Killing Game): (How do they feel about being an Ultimate in the Academy? Do they want to make friends? What is their approach to being in a strange environment?)
Mentality (After the reveal of the Killing Game appears): (How would your Ultimate react to being told about this Killing Game they are being forced to participate in? Would they be scared? Would they try to stay strong for others?)
Speech: (How does your Ultimate talk? Their tone and pace of speech essentially)
Mannerisms: (Does your Ultimate make gestures while they talk etc)
Greatest Fear: (What is your Ultimate's greatest fear?)
Greatest Secret: (What is your Ultimate's greatest secret?)
Likes: (5 of these please)
Dislikes (5 of these please)
Positive Interactions: (List the traits of people they would get along with)
Negative Interactions: (List the traits of people they would not get along with)
Love: (If your character would be interested in a relationship what would their ideal partner be like?)
THE ACTUAL STORY:
Victim, Killer or Survivor?: (While it isn't guaranteed I will take into account your preference in the story. Explain why you think your character would be what they are)
Motive to Kill: (Why would your character decide to murder someone?)
Mastermind: (As of now I have yet to decide if an OC will be the mastermind but state here if you wish your Ultimate to be one if it happens and explain why)
Character Development: (Any ideas for the development of your Ultimate throughout the story)
Free Time Events: (Any ideas for Free Time Events that your Ultimate will spend with Nezire)
DURING THE TRIAL:
Involvement: (How involved in the trails would you say your character would be? For example, would they try to stay quiet or would they be trying to help out as much as possible?)
Accusation (While Innocent): (How would your character react to being falsely accused of murder?)
Accusation (While Guilty): (How would your character react to being accused when they are actually the blackened?)
Watching an Execution: (How would your character feel having to witness another person's execution?)
Being Executed: (How would your character react to being found guilty resulting in their death)