A/M: Hello once again. As you can see this post is titled Opening, meaning this is meant to serve as the opening for the game i.e. the Danganronpa theme song! Now of course since there aren't any real words to the song it would be pointless putting it up here so I will just ask all of you to insert the theme song's music while you're reading over the intro and to pretend that the intro is for an actual game.

This isn't really necessary but something I just like to do to make it feel like an actual game. I did this for my other Danganronpa fanfic as well. Now concerning the story, itself. I saw that some of you felt like I rushed the ending of the prologue, well to be completely truthful I kind of did. I was writing at school and when I finally got to the point where the students were above ground again it was already past 7:00 and I wanted to go home and eat dinner, but I didn't want to leave until I finished Friday's update so I had to axe the ending. But trust me, I'm making up for it with Chapter 1's opening part. It'll pick up right where we left off and you'll get to watch Monokuma humiliate and belittle the inmates with mental and physical pain. And of course the inmates are going to retaliate because like any of them will listen to a talking teddy bear. I'm also going to have him explain every aspect of the game completely at the beginning, save for some class trial details. Since I'm writing this story on gifted criminals and not gifted students, things are going to be a bit different than the way the mutual killing games are usually played.

I also ask that going forward in the future, please forgive me in advance if I miss a scheduled update. I'm a college student and I have a lot on my plate to deal with. Sometimes when I get home from school I just don't feel like writing. Also Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony officially came out in North America last Tuesday so I might be using my free time to play that. I made my way to Chapter 4 today, and it's been really good so far. To those of you haven't played it yet, I suggest you splurge and buy a copy because I have to say that it's the best game of the series yet and worth every penny. But anyway I will try to stay on schedule for the most part. Anyways, without further ado please enjoy the opening intro.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Danganronpa theme song.

(Insert Danganronpa theme song)

Based on the game franchise developed and produced by Spike Chunsoft and Team Danganronpa. With art based on that of Rui Komatsuzaki, and writing built upon that of Kazutaka Kodaka. Produced with illustrations and collaborations by Shyjoker. Maestro Infinite proudly presents…

Danganronpa: Exoneration or Condemnation?

(Metal chains wrap tightly around the title sequence, signifying the imprisoned feeling of the game. At the heart of the chains is a large lock with a large keyhole. Bright pink blood splashes onto the screen, and a projectile soon flies out of it. As the projectile flies through the air the blood comes off of it, revealing the projectile to be a bullet. The bullet flies through the air and lodges itself in the keyhole. The camera follows it through the dark keyhole and then emerges out the other side on a new scene. The camera captures the bullet flying through a collage of photos on a bulletin board. The photos are connected by blood red strings. The camera zooms out and the collage of photos becomes more clear. The photos are all of Kogoro Akechi, solving various cases and looking solemn and dreary in each one. The collage itself is also a large fully body picture of him. And upon zooming out the camera also reveals that the red strings when woven together spell out the words: Starring - Kogoro Akechi. And underneath that: EVA – Bryce Papenbrook/JVA – 緑川 光 (Hikaru Midorikawa).)

(The bullet then flies through the left eye of a white rabbit. The camera widens to reveal that the rabbit is one of many that are part of a room's unique wallpaper design of girly white rabbits. Yoko Ketsukari is lying down peacefully on her back in the middle of the room. She seems deeply distraught. A magnifying glass lays at her feet, the camera zooms in on it and the magnifying glass magnifies a part of the floor that is inscribed with writing. It reads: Yoko Ketsukari. And underneath that: EVA – Wendee Lee/JVA – 沢城 みゆき(Miyuki Sawashiro).)

(The bullet continues to fly through the air, and barely misses Damion Stavros who dodges it gracefully without leaving his seated position on a large golden throne. The bullet is deflected off the side of the throne and flies away. Damion's throne solidifies his role as the Ultimate Black Market King, and the large volumes of money at his feet symbolize his success. He has a garish, yet somewhat serious look in his eyes as he sips out of a glass of wine in his right hand. The camera zooms out and takes note of the wine bottle on the left side of Damion's throne. It zooms in on the label and we're able to see that it reads the words: Damion Stavros. And under that: EVA – Steve Blume/JVA –石田 彰 (Akira Ishida).)

(The bullet, deflected by Damion's throne, continues to fly through the air at an angle. A full moon is up in the sky in the next scene. The bullet's shadow is reflected against the moon's bright glow, as well as the shadow of a person standing atop a large tower and basking in the moonlight. The person is revealed to be Mireille DuMonte, who stands at the very edge of the building and then gracefully takes off her top hat and takes a bow. The bullet narrowly misses her head. Mireille simply smirks at her feats. The shadows of the night reflect on the moon's surface and words appear out of the darkness, almost as if they're etched onto the moon. They read: Mireille DuMonte/Arsene Lupin VII. And under that: EVA – Stephanie Sheh/JVA –茅野 愛衣 (Ai Kayano).)

(The bullet flies over the head of Mirai Reveuse, who's too busy messing with a computer to notice. She appears to be using a terminal and working with the Python programming language. A message is printed to the screen: "You can't stop the future, LOL :). 凸(-0-メ)" . Then another message is printed to the screen that reads: Mirai Reveuse. And under that: EVA – Sarah Wiedenheft/JVA – 西 明日香 (Asuka Nishi). The bullet is then stopped in midair by Opal Kaido, who fires a bullet of her own from a silenced pistol. Opal's bullet knocks back the bullet flying at her, and makes it fall to the ground, finally stopping in its tracks. The bullet lands on the ground in front of Opal and she drops one of her signature white roses to the ground as well. Signifying that her mission is complete. The camera zooms in on the back of the bullet and reveals that there is a message engraved in the metal that reads: Opal Kaido. And under that: EVA – Veronica Taylor/JVA – 緒方 恵美 (Megumi Ogata).)

(Meanwhile, Opal's bullet continues to fly through the air and eventually it goes through a hole in a large spider web made of what appears to be red thread. Koro Kiriko is laying back inside the thread spider web and he looks as happy can be. His pet pigeon corpse, Kiwi, is lying on his chest and he has two very sharp looking sewing needles in his hands. Koro then pricks himself with his sewing needles and bright pink blood trickles down the thread spider web. The blood highlights a message hidden in the thread spider web. The message reads: Koro Kiriko. And under that: EVA – Max Mittelman/JVA – 梶 裕貴(Yuki Kaji).)

(The blood continues to trickle down the thread spider web until it falls down below and lands in an ink jar, turning the ink to the color of the blood. A calligraphy brush pen is dipped in the bloody ink and then begins to write out a message on a thick piece of parchment. The message reads: Fuyu Tachibana. And under that: EVA – Bex Taylor-Klaus/JVA – 坂本 真綾 (Maaya Sakamoto). It's no surprise that the artist behind the calligraphy is the master forger herself, Fuyu Tachibana. She has a strange mix of pride and angst in her face as she stares at her latest work.)

(Meanwhile, the bullet Opal fired continues to fly through the air and looks like it's about to hit Victor Blood, who is standing alone in a dimly lit room. But just as the bullet is within mere centimeters of hitting him, he pulls out a knife that was hidden inside of his dress jacket and simply deflects the bullet with the knife's blade, without so much as even blinking. He has a stern expression and a glare that could kill on his face. And engraved on the knife's blade is a message that reads: Victor Blood. And under that: EVA – Crispin Freeman/JVA – 小野 大輔 (Daisuke Ono). The bullet is then sent flying in the other direction. And it looks like Victor's swift deflect added some momentum to it.)

(The bullet flies through a ring of fire that's been created by Adam Wick's flamethrower. Adam is wearing his goggles over his eyes and has a huge grin on his face as he continues to burn the environment around him. However, he is so immersed in the flames that he doesn't notice the bullet flying towards him. When he finally hears the bullet's whir against the wind, he jumps out of the way of the bullet's path and narrowly misses being shot. The bullet flies through the other side of Adam's ring of fire and makes an odd message appear out of the flames. It reads: Adam Wick. And under that: EVA – Travis Willingham/JVA – 桐井 大介 (Daisuke Kirii).)

(The bullet then flies past a murder crime scene complete with chalk lines and crime scene tape. Yosuke Kojima is standing nearby, looking lost and alone like usual. As always he is wondering how he can atone for his sins. The camera zooms in on a message written on one of the pieces of crime scene tape. It reads: Yosuke Kojima. And under that: EVA – Troy Baker/JVA – 関 智一 (Tomokazu Seki).)

(The bullet then files through the bars of Kaori Takenaka's prison cell and then flies out on the other side. Along with Kaori's strait jacket and muzzle, she is now wearing chains that are wrapped around her ankles and torso. She's sitting down on the floor while wearing a ravenous look on her face. She snaps her jaws at the camera. Clearly it's feeding time. The shadows of the prison cell form a message on the stone floor. The message reads: Kaori Takenaka. And under that: EVA – Karen Strassman/JVA – 喜多村英梨 (Eri Kitamura). Then Kaori's shadow is shown, and it becomes increasingly more monstrous and frightening as the moments pass.)

(The bullet then flies towards Lucius Morita's direction. Lucius is surrounded by a ring of weapons and tools, and has two twin pistols gripped tightly in his hands. He sees the bullet flying toward him and attempts to deflect it with another bullet much like Opal did before him. However, as he fires the two pistols the kickback is too much for him and he sent flying and lands hard on his back. He briefly forgot that he couldn't use the weapons, no matter how much he wanted to. But remarkably one of the bullets Lucius fires does indeed hit its mark and replaces Opal's bullet by continuing to fly thought the air. Lucius folds the pistols over his chest, forming an X, before passing out from the mental exhaustion of his ordeal. Engraved on the pistol in his right hand is a message that reads: Lucius Morita. And then engraved on the pistol in his left hand is another message that reads: EVA – Johnny Yong Bosch/JVA – 浪川 大輔 (Daisuke Namikawa).)

(Lucius' bullet then flies over a couch where Hinageshi Otsuka is snoozing away. Apparently her narcolepsy got the best of her again. There is an archeology book open on her chest. She must have been reading from it before passing out. The books pages are open to show epigraphs with mysterious symbols on them, but oddly enough amongst the strange symbols lies a hidden message that reads: Hinageshi Otsuka. And under that: EVA – Xanthe Huynh/JVA – 戸松 遥 (Haruka Tomatsu).)

(The bullet then flies past a large wooden crucifix, from which Ginrou Kubikiri is hanging. He's not dead, but he appears to be remaining completely still as he stares out over the horizon. Perhaps he's using the act of crucifixion to punish himself and cleanse his sins in the same manner that Jesus Christ died for the people's sins. A crazy religious zealot as always. A message is engraved in the wood of the crucifix. The message reads: Ginrou Kubikiri. And under that: EVA – Neil Kaplan/JVA – 子安 武人 (Takehito Koyasu).)

(The bullet then flies past Noriaki Kita, who's messing around will his cellphone. He appears to be posting text messages to his followers under the screen name "Tenshi", who's avatar is represented as a large, red heart with the letter T engraved in it. It also has a halo and angel wings. Then suddenly several shadowy figures appear behind Noriaki. They all have the letter T engraved on their faces. Noriaki smiles innocently. It's fun to play God. One of his followers holds up sign that reads: Noriaki Kita. And another one holds up a sign that reads: EVA – Dallas Reid/JVA – 岡本 信彦 (Nobuhiko Okamoto). Several other followers hold up signs that say generic follower slogans. And soon a mob is crowding Noriaki. His smile grows and he hold up his cellphone in the air while flashing a peace sign with his free hand.)

(The bullet flies past a dark alley from which Airi Shimizu emerges. She appears deeply distraught. There is graffiti on a nearby wall that reads: Airi Shimizu. And under that: EVA – Laura Bailey/JVA – 花澤 香菜 (Kana Hanazawa). On her way out of the alley, Airi steps into a small rain puddle. The water in the puddle distorts from Airi's step and form rings, and when the water finally calms down again, a person's reflection can be made out in the puddle.)

(The person in question is Taichi Inai. Upon seeing his reflection in the puddle, he steps in it as well, distorting the water in the puddle once again. Water splashes out of the puddle and forms a message in the cracks of the ground. The message reads: Taichi Inai. And under that: EVA – Darrel Guilbeau/JVA –豊永利行 (Toshiyuki Toyonaga)).

(The bullet then flies past Mana Aiso, who is standing by herself in a completely ordinary room with her messenger bag slung over her shoulder. She sees the camera and simply smiles and waves at it, keeping up with her care-free persona. What secrets is she hiding behind that fake face of hers? Or is this really just how she acts? Mana raises her messenger bag's tags up to the camera and reveals that there are messages written on them. One tag reads: Mana Aiso. And another reads: EVA – Dorothy Elias-Fahn/JVA – 小松 未可子 (Mikako Komatsu).)

(The bullet finally stops when it hits a mirror that Eliza Abbott is looking into. There are just a few small cracks at first, but after a few moments the cracks grow until the entire mirror is in shambles. Eliza's reflection is now distorted symbolizing her distorted mind and her shattered dreams. The cracks form a message that reads: Eliza Abbott. And under that: EVA – Erika Harlacher/JVA – 日笠 陽子 (Yoko Hikasa).)

(The scene changes to show Monokuma laughing his head off as an electronic roulette wheel, featuring the inmate's faces, spins in an entertaining manner much like it was a casino game. It ends up landing on his face and he wins the grand prize as thousands of gold coins pour out from the roulette wheel's slot. Lights flash overhead and an electronic message plays over a marque board. It reads: And Monokuma as the Warden. And under that: EVA – Brian Beacock/JVA – たらこ(Tarako)).

(Several messages flash onto the screen. They read:

FREEDOM IS ONLY AN ILLUSION.

THERE IS NO HOPE.

TO KILL OR NOT TO KILL, THAT IS THE QUESTION.

WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?

ARE YOU READY TO PLAY THIS UNFORGIVING GAME OF TRUTHS AND LIES?

THE REWARD IS FREEDOM, THE PRICE IS YOUR LIFE.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

All the students stare at these words in shocked horror. The camera zooms in on each of their reactions. There is not one shred of hope amongst them. Welcome to Icar…no, welcome to Pandora's Academy for Horrible and Gifted Juvenile Delinquents. Here's hoping you have a pleasant life or death sentence.)

(Danganronpa theme song end)

PROLOGUE: FOR THE CRIME OF HOPE, I SENTENCE YOU TO LIFE IN PRISON

END

INMATES REMAINING: 20

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed this, and look forward to the official start of Chapter 1.