Side: Despair Episode 1
"Hey… Can you hear me…?"
"Are you okay?"
"…You seem pretty out of it. To be honest, I'm also… No, everyone else feels the same, too. Since we suddenly… got put in this weird situation."
"…Hey, are you listening?"
Episode 2: Trouble in Paradise
BGM: Beautiful Days (Piano Arrangement)
That day… it wasn't just a typical day for me… It was a day that felt… truly significant.
Early in the morning, in the bustling city of Tokyo, a young boy took his first steps towards the object of his admiration. He wore a short-sleeved white button-up shirt and a dark green tie. He also had golden-green eyes, unique stop sign-like designs within each of his iris', and spiky, light brown hair with a big piece on top forming an ahoge.
And when that long-awaited day finally came, I felt proud in a way I can't really put into words. I felt like… I had just become a part of something greater than myself. Does that make sense? Actually, that's exactly what it was like… I was truly in a dream.
Before the boy was a massive school building. The architecture was, oxymoronically, a combination of very old and futuristic designs. It had a four-story structure and presence that made the boy look tiny by comparison. As he looked around the block, he could see that there were many other buildings surrounding it. All of them were different shapes and sizes compared to the main building, spaced out and scattered at different quarters of the campus and each of the paths leading to them began at a central fountain.
Hope's Peak Academy…
That place was so much more than a school to me. Kids who love to play baseball will long to join the major leagues… Kids who love to play soccer will long to join a rep team… And ever since I was a kid, I've felt the same way about Hope's Peak Academy…
Hope's Peak Academy is a government-funded school for the privileged elite of society. It recruits top students from every imaginable field to inspire hope, and in doing so, shape the future. Whenever Hope's Peak Academy is mentioned, it's only a matter of time before someone says…
"If you come here and manage to graduate, you'll be set for life." And just so you know, that's not a joke or an exaggeration at all. Many of the current leaders of various industries are actually alumni of this school… Well, that's basically what Hope's Peak Academy is all about. As they say, it's truly the Academy of Hope.
There are two criteria you must meet in order to attend this school… One, you must be a current high school student. Two, you must be the very best at what you do. Unlike other schools, there aren't any entrance exams at this academy. The only way to get in is if the school scouts you itself… That is how Hope's Peak Academy operates.
Now, because of the talents of those who are chosen… The students of Hope's Peak Academy are called Ultimates. But even though I'm finally going to Hope's Peak Academy, the school I desired more than anything else… The truth is, my circumstances are a little different than that of my peers.
…Well, I guess I can put that aside for now. You'll find out soon enough, and it's nothing special worth talking about… I think. Anyway I guess I should introduce myself first.
"I'm not so special that I have to introduce myself, and formalities are always a little embarrassing… Well, this is what's expected… I guess that's how I should think about it. My name is Hajime Hinata. There's only one reason I came to Hope's Peak Academy… Because I admired Hope's Peak Academy. To me, attending Hope's Peak Academy is like being a celebrity or a superhero. In fact, instead of calling it admiration, it's more like… it's always been a dream of mine. That's why, to feel like a member of society, to become someone I can be proud of, I always wanted to-"
BGM: Re: Despair Syndrome
Afterwards, things… suddenly got… bizarre. So bizarre that I almost thought this was a nightmare. I came across a door while I felt like I was in limbo. Part of me just knew that that door led to the classroom where I should begin my time at Hope's Peak. Inside, I met up with my classmates, who were just as confused as I was, and then we were introduced to our self-proclaimed teacher who was this weird, white plushie-looking rabbit named Usami. She refused to answer any questions we had and instead announced that we were going on a trip on our first day of school.
"Now let's depart for the fun school trip!"
As soon as she said that, I felt like I had stepped into another dimension… One minute, we were in a classroom, and the next… We arrived at a tropical island. I know… You probably think I sound crazy… but it's true. Afterwards, not only were we told to forget about Hope's Peak Academy, but we were also told to gather things called Hope Fragments and get along with each other.
Hajime's vision cleared… and much to his disappointment, he was still on the island. He was greeted by a young boy who looked to be around the same age as him. His skin was very pale even in direct sunlight. He had white hair that matched his skin, light green eyes and was tall and skinny. He wore a white shirt with a red design on the front and a knee-length green jacket with a red square pattern across the right shoulder.
"…Hey, are you listening?"
BGM: Beautiful Ruin
After regaining his surroundings, Hajime got to his feet, dusted off sand from his clothes and stared out at the ocean.
The white-haired boy put his hand on Hajime's shoulder in concern, "Hey, are you sure you're okay?"
Hajime brushed his hand off, "…Leave me alone."
"Th-There's no way I can leave someone alone when they look that pale…" the boy shot back.
Hajime looked around the beach. It definitely fit the tropical theme, but he spotted several things that shouldn't be there.
"Monitors? Surveillance cameras!? Is that rabbit watching our every move?"
After a while, Hajime looked back at the boy.
"So, how are you feeling? Are you calmed down now?" the boy asked. "Um… I understand your confusion after everything that's happened… But, why don't we start with an introduction?"
"Introduction…?" Hajime parroted, caught off guard.
"I'm Nagito Komaeda. Nice to meet you."
Ultimate Lucky Student: Nagito Komaeda
Nagito's a bit of an oddball. He was pretty fixated on his luck, the basis of his 'talent'. Yeah… he got in thanks to pure luck. He told me that, in preparation for coming to Hope's Peak, he got his hands on information on most all of his future classmates, but that he didn't recall my name on the list. On that note, he wanted to know what my talent is… but I honestly don't remember.
BGM: Beautiful Ruin (Summer Salt)
But other than that, he was kind enough to give me a tour of the island and introduce me to everyone else.
Hajime and Nagito's first stop was the island airport. The place was very large inside, though otherwise unremarkable. Hajime noticed that out the window were airplanes scattered around the runways and in his mind, he had some hope that they could use one to escape. But before he considered doing it…
"Nah, that's impossible," Hajime was stopped by a boy who wore a yellow jump suit and black beanie. He had pink eyes which matched his hair colour and noticeably sharp teeth. "If they were damaged, I could fix 'em, but it looks like these planes are just for show…"
"Just for show…?" Hajime asked.
"The engines have been completely removed," the boy explained. "Nothing I can do about that."
"…Completely removed?"
"Oh yeah, that reminds me… You and me haven't been introduced yet, right? Name's Kazuichi Soda. I'm the Ultimate Mechanic. Nice to meet ya."
Ultimate Mechanic: Kazuichi Soda
Kazuichi is quite a big name in the machinery industry. No matter what, when it comes to both repairing and creating things, vehicles in particular, Kazuichi excels. Guy really needs to wash his jumpsuit every now and then though.
BGM: RE: Junk Food for a Dashing Youth
Hajime and Nagito's other guest was more… bombastic in nature. He wore a mostly black outfit with a white shirt that had a purple cross design on it which matched his long scarf. He also had his left arm bandaged up and wore two rings on his right hand. His hair was black with grey streaks, he wore an earring on his right ear, and he had two different eye colours that were red and grey, respectively.
"Stop right there," he said. "If you value your life, do not come any closer."
"…Huh?" Hajime was baffled by his behaviour.
"Hmph, I said stay back! Oh, very well… I shall accept that courage of yours."
The strange boy crossed his arms, closed his eyes and continued.
"Kehehe, would you like to know my name? Others may see your courage as recklessness… However… I welcome it. In honour of your courage, I shall reveal to you my name. May you never forget it as long as you live!"
Hajime just stood there dumbfounded as the boy struck a dramatic pose.
"You may call me… Gundham Tanaka! Remember it well, for it is the name that will one day rule this world!"
Ultimate Breeder: Gundham Tanaka
Gundham was… How should I put it? Out there. He talks like the villain out of any run-of-the-mill light novel, and looks the part, too. I can't deny that he really owns it though. He also looks after four hamsters… or his 'Four Dark Devas of Destruction' as he calls them. Just what is up with this guy?
BGM: Beautiful Ruin
The duo moved on to visit the island's supermarket, titled 'Rocketpunch Market'. The place was stocked with all sorts of supplies ranging from swimwear, food, drinks, and other pieces of equipment. Nagito scanned the area, taking note of the number of supplies.
"Thanks to this place, we won't need to worry about food and other necessities for a while," Nagito commented.
Hajime, however, held onto his suspicions. They had just been taken from Hope's Peak Academy, the place where he should have gotten his education, and now he, along with the other Ultimates, were trapped on this island with no means of escape. Combine that with the amount of supplies this market had meant that they'd likely be staying there for who knows how long.
"For a while?" he asked.
"I-It's just a figure of speech."
"But there's no guarantee anything here is edible. What if all this stuff is poisoned?" Hajime countered, unrelenting.
"Hm… You certainly are the sceptical type."
Now, Hajime was getting annoyed.
"Of course I am. Even this supermarket is strange," he spread his arms in exasperation. "Look around! We're in this gigantic supermarket and there's nobody else here except us!"
"Well that can't be helped," Nagito tried to reassure him. "Didn't Usami say this island is uninhabited?"
"That's exactly my point!"
Hajime was interrupted by something crashing on top of him. As he regained his surroundings, he was greeted by a fair-skinned girl with purple hair that not only matched the colour of her eyes, but was also cut in odd chunks. She wore a pink shirt, a tiny blue miniskirt, and a white apron with a red cross.
Hajime felt himself heating up. He couldn't tell whether the tropical temperature of the island was finally getting to him… or if it was the blush on his face due to how close he was to the girl.
Nagito's "What happened?" caused Hajime to snap back to reality.
"It's nothing…" he hastily replied.
As the girl got off of him, she stuttered nervously in front of Hajime. "Um… you know…"
However, her nervousness got the better of her as she teared up. "…I-I'm sorry."
"Bullying a girl… Not cool, Hajime," Nagito said, shaking his head.
"…I didn't do anything!" Hajime shot back.
"Ah, so your name is Hajime…" the girl said. "If it's okay with you, may I please remember your name?"
"O-Of course…" Hajime stuttered. "I don't mind you remembering it, but…"
"M-My name is Mikan Tsumiki. Um… From the bottom of my heart, I hope we can get along."
Ultimate Nurse: Mikan Tsumiki
Mikan… not as forceful a personality as some of the others, but no less eccentric. I guess she is pretty cute and quite capable as a nurse. Though, she does seem a little too insecure, and has a habit of begging for forgiveness for the smallest things… and sometimes tripping and getting into strange positions. Even with all that, she seems like she could be really helpful.
Hajime soon ran into another girl in the market. Her hair was wildly styled into two large drills and was black with blue, grey, and pink streaks, the latter matching her eyes. She wore a short-sleeved schoolgirl's uniform and her mismatched blue and pink leggings had tears on them.
"Peeking, peeking…" she said while looking at the shelves. As soon as she saw Hajime, she jumped up in the air like she was on a trampoline. "Oh haiiiiiiiiiii! Who're you!?"
"U-Um… I'm Hajime Hinata…" he stuttered, at a loss for words.
She didn't listen and continued.
"Hellooooo? Your tension is super low! Are you feeling alright? Ah, that's right! Introductions are a go-go! 'I,' 'Buki,' 'Mio,' 'Da!' Put it together and what do you get~? Ibuki Mioda!"
Ultimate Musician: Ibuki Mioda
Ibuki Mioda… Inarguably the most hyperactive of our group, quite possibly the world. She's got a weird habit of making mundane small talk into something like a power metal ballad. She could make a weather report into a rock n' roll hit. Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention… She used to be part of a famous high school band, but left due to 'creative differences'. In other words, I'm willing to bet my life her bandmates just couldn't keep up with her.
Leaving the supermarket behind to investigate further, Hajime and Nagito came across a farm labelled 'Usami Corral'. It was a large, yet quaint farm. There was a barn at the back with a few animals resting inside and a windmill beside it.
The first person Hajime met there was a small girl. She wore a bright orange kimono patterned with flowers which also matched the colour of her eyes and she had blond hair tied in two pigtails.
"Squish! Squish!" The girl just kept pressing her fingers to the ground even while Hajime tried to talk to her.
"Um, are you okay? I haven't introduced myself, right?" he asked. "My name is Hajime Hinata."
"Hmmm?" She eventually noticed him. "I'm Hiyoko Saionji."
Ultimate Traditional Dancer: Hiyoko Saionji
Oh boy… Hiyoko… On the outside she looks like any innocent kid, but that's about as far as her innocence goes. She's surprisingly vulgar, and man does it feel weird being talked down to by someone like her. It might be a pain, but I'll live. Hopefully…
His next visitor was a slender girl who had tanned skin, dark brown hair and grey eyes. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt that was open at the top and a tiny red miniskirt.
"Heeeey! Who're you dudes?" she yelled, grinning at the two boys.
"It's nice to finally meet you…" Hajime went to shake her hand. "I'm Hajime Hinata."
"Gotcha… And who's this other dude?"
Nagito raised an eyebrow, "…Huh? Haven't we already met?"
"Oh, haha! I'm sorry! I pretty much suck at rememberin' names, and I've met so many interestin' characters today."
"I'm Nagito Komaeda. If you can, please don't forget my name again…"
"Yo! The name's Akane Owari! Nice to meetcha!"
Ultimate Gymnast: Akane Owari
Despite being the Ultimate Gymnast, she probably couldn't name the first thing about gymnastics. She seems way more concerned with eating and fighting, and I guess being good at gymnastics was just a side effect of that. She seemed to have a little trouble remembering Nagito's name, so it looks like I'm gonna have to get used to answering to other names. But other than that, she means no harm.
BGM: Beautiful Days (Piano Arrangement)
Hajime and Nagito made it across a bridge and onto another island. It was just as large as their previous location, and he noticed that there were other gates lined up around the perimeter that were currently locked off.
"I wonder if we will visit them at a later time?" Hajime thought out loud.
"Who knows, maybe we will," Nagito answered.
As they made it to the centre, they came across an enclosed park surrounded by trees. Once again, there was a surveillance camera to the left and monitor to the right… much to Hajime's chagrin.
"Yep… just as I thought."
The biggest thing that caught their attention was a bronze statue of various animals that was standing on a rectangular block. They were of a falcon, tiger, snake, and warrior riding a horse.
"Wow! What a grand statue!" Nagito exclaimed.
Hajime, on the other hand, wasn't satisfied. "Yeah it's grand… but isn't it also kind of creepy?"
"You think so? I think it looks splendid. I mean, look at it. It probably symbolises the whole island."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that since those gates that were locked off lead to other islands surrounding this one, it could mean that each of the five animals depicted in this statue represent those islands. I also heard that the name of this island… is Jabberwock Island."
"Jabberwock Island?"
While Hajime pondered Nagito's musings on the island, they met their next guest who was dressed in a white dinner suit, had blond hair and blue eyes, wore glasses, and appeared overweight.
"…What do you want?" he asked bluntly.
Hajime wasn't sure how to respond to his question, so Nagito stepped in for him. "Ah, Byakuya… Have time for a small introduction?"
"…Introduction?" he asked.
"C'mon Hajime."
Hajime, having no choice, decided to do so. "Um, hello. My name is Hajime Hinata."
"My name is Byakuya Togami…"
Ultimate Affluent Progeny: Byakuya Togami
Byakuya is essentially the de facto leader of our group. He is said to have amassed a larger than life sum of money thanks to running his family conglomerate in many countries around the world. He isn't shy when it comes to his family's prestige, but he's more than got the leadership skills to show for it.
Their last stop was at the hotel and resort which was incredibly spacious. Near the entrance were 16 cottages, each lined up horizontally and separated by gender, held up by beams on the water. Hajime and Nagito felt that they fit the tropical theme quite well. Further away was a rectangular swimming pool. In any normal situation, Hajime could've seen himself going for a leisurely swim. There was also an old wooden building next to the hotel. What caught Nagito's eye was the name of the hotel, 'Hotel Mirai', the Japanese word for 'Future'.
Their first encounter at the hotel was with a tall and broad-chested man. His golden eyes featured prominent scars and he wore a dark blue jacket over his white shirt, the former matching his slicked-back hair. He also wore a long, iron chain with a whistle around his neck. There was a roll of toilet paper hanging out of his light blue jeans.
"Hm…?" The man caught notice of Hajime and Nagito and started a conversation with them.
"That's right… You haven't told me your name… My name… I am the Ultimate Team Manager, NEKOMARU NIDAI!"
Ultimate Team Manager: Nekomaru Nidai
Nekomaru, like Akane, is strong-spirited, and he acts like a mentor to most of us. He said he's coached all sorts of athletes, from baseball stars to martial artists. He may look like he could turn a bus into a pretzel, but I don't think he means any harm. He's the sorta guy who sees potential in everyone. Who knows, maybe I've got some too?
The next visitor was short, but fiery. He wore a pin-stripe suit with a white shirt underneath and a tie with an animal skull design embroidered on it. He had a sandy blonde crew-cut with two sidecuts, and had piercing golden eyes. He also had freckles on his face and two blush marks on his cheeks. He immediately surprised Hajime with his hot-headed attitude.
"…Who the hell are you? Don't talk all friendly and shit to me, dumbass," he snapped.
Hajime just stood there stiff as a board.
"What're you lookin' at!? You got something you wanna say, bastard!?"
"…R-Relax, Fuyuhiko. We're only here to introduce ourselves," Nagito chimed in nervously.
"…What? Introduce yourselves?"
"See, you haven't been properly introduced to each other, right?"
"Hmph… Name's Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu… Just so we're clear, I don't plan to act friendly and shit with you guys."
Ultimate Yakuza: Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu
Fuyuhiko is someone I really don't wanna piss off. As the heir to the Kuzuryu clan, he is feared even amongst the Yakuza themselves. Makes me wonder what his home life is like. My guess? Well, a mess. Understatement of forever, I know, but you get my point. I can't emphasise enough that I'm gonna have to be careful around him. One wrong move and I could end up taking a very long nap with Jabberwock Island's native sea life.
Their final encounter outside was with a girl with short, red hair and grey eyes. She wore a green school jumper with a pleated skirt which matched her socks over a white shirt. She had freckles on her face, wore a checker-patterned tie and had a polaroid camera strapped around her shoulder.
"Hey, aren't you the guy who was squatting on the beach earlier and burying your face in your arms?" she asked bluntly.
"Uh, y-yeah…" Hajime stuttered.
"Hey… you gotta keep it together, you know? At times like this, it's the boys' job to keep the girls safe."
"Y-You're right…"
"Did you want me to introduce myself? I haven't done it yet, right? Let's see… I'm Mahiru Koizumi. I'll be counting on you from now on."
Ultimate Photographer: Mahiru Koizumi
Mahiru's always taking wonderful photos of people smiling and creating great memories with them. That said, she's pretty stern if I'm gonna be honest. Don't get me wrong, she always looks out for the girls in our group… but she's equally harsh towards the boys. Heck, she referred to me as 'unreliable' after our first meeting. I wouldn't mind if she loosened up a little bit, but I can tell she just wants to help.
Hajime went up the stairs at the side of the Hotel Mirai and found himself in a restaurant. It was a rather spacious area with a couple of potted plants in the corners and plenty of tables and chairs to fit the whole group. On some tables were plates filled with bountiful food and orange juice dispensers. Hajime and Nagito quickly spotted their next two classmates.
The first was a tall girl with light blonde hair and pale blue eyes. Her hair was braided and done in the style of a tiara, further accessorised with a black ribbon patterned with diamonds that matched her over-knee socks. She wore a dark teal dress with a white collar, puffed sleeves, and a belt. She also sported a red ribbon with a blue jewel on it, the former matching her high heels.
The second was a short and pudgy boy that wore a white chef's outfit. He had dark brown hair styled in a pompadour leaning to the left, black eyes, and wore a red ascot around his neck that matched his apron. There were also three silver stars pinned to the right side of his undershirt.
BGM: RE: Junk Food for a Dashing Youth
Hajime noticed him staring at the girl lecherously, nose bleeding and raising his hand up.
"That's right… I'm having a hard time because it's full of poison. It really sucks," he said while pointing his left hand towards his crotch. "Speaking of which, it'd be great if you could use your mouth to suck it out…"
The girl was clueless as to what he was talking about, "Poison… I see…"
"H-Hey… do you guys have a moment?" Hajime interrupted.
The boy got startled and spotted his new visitors. "Whoa… denied…"
BGM: Beautiful Ruin (Summer Salt)
"Hello, it is nice to meet you." The girl bowed to Hajime.
"H-Hello… my name is Hajime Hinata. Nice to meet you too."
"Why, hello there. You must be the new guy. My name is Teruteru Hanamura. On the streets, I'm known as the Ultimate Cook… But could you guys call me the Ultimate Chef instead? It has more of a… big-city flavour to it, ya know?"
Ultimate Cook: Teruteru Hanamura
Teruteru… I guess the most positive thing I could say about him is that the meals he cooks are so delicious that they can be addictive, making him live up to his Ultimate title. He insists on being called Chef, but the school records disagree. His family owns a renowned diner that seems to be doing well. As for everything else about him… He tends to act like a creepy pervert around the girls.
"Oh that reminds me," the girl joined in. "I have not properly introduced myself either. I am terribly sorry to keep you waiting!"
She then gripped the ends of her skirt and performed a curtsy towards Hajime, "My name is Sonia Nevermind."
Ultimate Princess: Sonia Nevermind
Sonia is the princess of the Kingdom of Novoselic. It's apparently a small European nation with an estimated population of 3,500 and located somewhere near Scandinavia. When it comes to being the Ultimate Princess, she sure does tick the boxes. She's very beautiful and commanding, but also eccentric. She gets all excited at the idea of learning about Japan, the occult, and worryingly, serial killers. Kazuichi's got a major crush on her, but she doesn't seem to reciprocate.
Hajime decided to head downstairs after his banter with Sonia and Teruteru. As he reached the bottom, he entered the hotel lobby. Like the restaurant, it was spacious enough to fit the entire group. A dark blue, square-patterned carpet was draped on the floor and once again, there were potted plants in the corners. There were two pool tables next to the glass door leading to the veranda along with two tabletop arcade machines. Before he could explore the area, he was almost whacked by a kendo stick, stopping right by his chest.
"…State your business."
Hajime turned to his right and saw a rather stoic girl. She wore glasses over her piercing red eyes and had silver hair tied with white ribbons. She wore a dark long-sleeved schoolgirl's uniform and had fair skin. As she looked at Hajime, she lowered her kendo sword and sheathed it on her back.
"Well, I just want to introduce myself. Is that all right with you…?" Hajime asked.
"An introduction…" The girl bowed her head in respect, "Understood, I don't mind."
"I'm Hajime Hinata. Nice to meet you."
"My name is Peko Pekoyama. It is nice to meet you, too."
Ultimate Swordswoman: Peko Pekoyama
Peko is quite the mystery… she is so skilful with a blade that a single cut could take less time than it takes to blink. Heck, she could probably cut the rain to stay dry! A guy like me would stand no chance against someone like her. I mean, the only time I remember holding a sword was when I wielded a cardboard one during a school play. She does have one, and only one, weakness though: fluffy animals. I think she could be someone I could get along with.
After talking to Peko, Hajime looked over to the arcade machines and saw a girl playing a game on one of them.
She had short, pale mauve hair that curled outward and had a hairclip resembling a pixelated spaceship pinned to one of her locks. She also had cherry blossom pink eyes. She wore a dark teal hooded cardigan that matched the front placket on her white button-up shirt, wore a pink ribbon tied around her neck, and had black thigh-high socks. She also wore a pale pink backpack with a white pocket and a beige skirt. Her hood was in the shape of a cat.
Hajime and Nagito walked over to her to try and talk to her, but she stayed focused on the game she was playing and didn't even notice them.
"Hajime, you haven't properly introduced yourself to her either, right?" Nagito patted Hajime's shoulder, gesturing to talk to her.
"Y-Yeah… you're right…" Hajime said sheepishly before turning his attention to her. "Um, excuse me? I'd like to introduce myself…"
"…Hey, Chiaki?" Nagito shouted.
The girl was startled and turned her attention towards the two. "Oh, sorry… I must've been… a little too focused on my game…"
"A little…? Are you sure about that?" Nagito asked.
"Let's see… Oh, right, introductions. Got it," Chiaki looked at Hajime and nodded her head.
"I'm Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer. Video games are my hobby, and I'm a fan of all genres," she then shook Hajime's hand. "Nice to meet you."
Ultimate Gamer: Chiaki Nanami
Chiaki is pretty much a walking encyclopaedia when it comes to video games. I'm serious, she could pretty much tell you the history of gaming in like 30 seconds and probably name every genre known to mankind. She also, for some reason, has a habit of sleeping during conversations. She seems like someone I could trust and get along with.
BGM: Beautiful Days (Piano Arrangement)
And that should be everyone in our group. Later on, we shared our findings about the island and tried to find a way to escape. However, Usami prevented us, saying that escape was impossible and that we should continue strengthening our bonds. Over time, I started to think that this trip… might actually be pretty fun.
…I had no idea how wrong I was.
BGM: RE: Despair Syndrome
All of a sudden, the sky went dark… Usami, along with everyone else, seemed confused… and then, on the monitor, a voice spoke…
"Ahh, ahh…! Mike check! Mike check! Ah, ah! Ah, ah! Can you hear me, can you hear me? Puhuhu… Surprised? You were totally surprised! …Riiiight? Now then, sorry to keep you waiting for so long. Let's leave all this worthless entertainment behind… It's time for the main attraction! You guys better hustle over to Jabberwock Park!"
BGM: RE: Despair Syndrome (2)
Out of options, we did as the voice said. Everyone felt the tension right away, Usami looked like she wanted to pick a fight, and just when you thought the situation was weird enough, he appeared…
BGM: Momomomonokuma!
From behind the statue, came another strange character… a dichromatic teddy bear named Monokuma.
BGM: RE: Mr. Monokuma's Lesson
Already, this guy was the complete opposite of Usami. Just the way he talked sounded like it was oozing with malice and despair. He's probably the type of guy who'd laugh at someone who'd just gotten mugged. But that's not the worst thing that happened…
BGM: Trapped by the Ocean's Scent
Shortly after announcing his presence, Monokuma decided to add his own touches to this trip. First, he transformed the statue into five mechanical monsters to guard the gates on the central island; second, he forcefully changed Usami's appearance, who he now called 'Monomi', or sometimes 'his little sister'; and finally he altered the purpose of this trip… turning it from a peaceful trip into a game of life and death.
In the days afterwards, the atmosphere was cold, depressing, and fearful. Despite Nagito's insistence that we face it with a bit of hope… the truth was… nobody felt like it. Making things more complicated was that Monokuma soon gave us a motive for us to kill each other. Firstly, he informed us that Monomi had gone and erased our memories of our time at Hope's Peak Academy. Then he told us that, out of all 16 of us, one of us was a traitor. It was all so hard to believe.
BGM: RE: Beautiful Morning
All of a sudden, I guess in an attempt to break the ice, Byakuya decided to throw a party to strengthen our positivity. The girls would help make desserts, Teruteru would cook the dishes as usual, and Nagito, in defiance of his own luck, I suppose, was picked to do cleaning duty. He also suggested to host it at the old building. Fuyuhiko, of course, refused to attend.
On the day of the party, everything was going according to plan, and everyone was having fun.
BGM: Hope's Breaking Noise (1)
Suddenly, a blackout occurred and sent us all into a panic. No one was able to traverse in the dark… and by the time it was over, I saw on the floor, a body… Byakuya Togami's…
And that was how it all began… How my school life came to be… A peaceful trip on a tropical island became a road of despair, distrust…
And death…
Episode 2: Trouble in Paradise
END
Surviving Students: 15
To be continued…
