Do we allow Akane Owari and Tenko Chabashira in? You see the notes, yeah, this is stupid. This is 11037 levels of stupidity. In the bottom notes, I also ask the same question: the harem count without them is 17, and with them, it's 19. Only Akane has a backup ship; Tenko doesn't. Full harem below at the bottom of the Author's Notes, like always.
Also, I'm bound to get things wrong, so feel free to "Umm... Actually," me; I would rather not have the Class 1-S comments of "Good Chapter" all over the place. The worst part about this is due to Hope's Peak Rules; we can't allow two Ultimate Detectives in since they only bring the top student of each talent. Kyoko being a Detective means Shuichi might need a new Talent. Or it could be an odd case; I'll work on it.
Welcome to Despair vs. Love. One of the dumbest ideas I think I had in a long time—a Danganronpa Harem without a trance of Despair. I'll let you know right now; this will contain spoilers for all of Danganronpa, which includes the first game, the second game, Despair Girls, and V3. I will also add and change some backstories to make them hasher and allowing them to fall into Despair more to the character, aka with Chihiro; Chihiro's backstory and her bullies will be much worse than in the game and anime. Be warned. Also, I know, but we can't have the story otherwise, so all of the Danganronpa cast will start as first years simultaneously. I'll most likely be sticking to the Game Only Characters but adding the anime due to needing teachers.
If there were one word to describe the teenager Makoto Naegi, it would be ordinary. He was, without a doubt, lackluster. His favorite movie was popular then, and his favorite songs and artists were whatever he heard on the radio or on his phone. He tends to move away from everything as soon as he starts. He only knows the basics of cooking and then quickly gives that up. The same goes for soccer, which he gave up on after only a month of playing.
He was a background character, one that many people would overlook. Makoto was often even forgotten about in middle school because he somehow attended the same middle school as the Ultimate Pop Idol, which some might call lucky, seeing how he had tons of other Ultimates in that same middle school.
Makoto Naegi never wanted to have that feeling again, and it felt like they were looking down on him. It was weird; he always felt someone's eyes on him, like that person was watching him. It was super creepy.
But here he was; tomorrow would be his first day attending Hope Peak Academy, the home of every single Ultimate Student in Japan and the world. If one graduates there, they are made for life.
And Makoto got in by luck.
He shouldn't have gotten in, but there was an accident-related mix-up, and two Ultimate Lucky Students—himself and another student—got into Hope Peak the same year.
His body was heavy as Makoto sank into his mattress, but something felt odd. He was tired and slow, but nothing was changing. The world seemed to stop suddenly, and Makoto had no clue what was happening.
"Naegi Makoto," the voice was divine, and the entrance to his room was glowing with a Heavenly Light. All words couldn't escape his mouth, and the lady was floating before him.
Makoto might not know a lot, but he was as middle-of-the-road as one expected him to be, to the point where he got a perfect 50% in every test he took. He always considered himself somewhat intelligent but was only really good at Murder Mysteries Books and shows.
But he knew that this was a God, the Japanese Goddess Benzaiten, who is both a Buddhist and a Shinto Goddess—one who is a Goddess of Love and Luck—something that Makoto never had as someone who had never once had a Girlfriend or any outstanding luck besides winning his way into Hope Peak. He couldn't believe that she would be here, The Goddess Benzaiten. She was the only female deity in the group of the Seven Lucky Gods.
"Fear not; time has frozen until our conversion is finished. You may already know this, but I am Benzaiten, the Goddess of Love and Luck, and you, Naegi Makoto, are my chosen one."
"What?" Makoto blinked, "Wait, chosen one? Are you sure you didn't enter the wrong house or something? I'm totally unremarkable."
"I have never made the wrong choice before; I have even changed many things to favor you. Tomorrow, you will enter the doors to Hope Peak, and when you do, you'll battle against The Ultimate Despair."
"The Ultimate Despair? What kind of Middle School Nickname is that?!" Makoto cried out as he pointed his finger at the All-Powerful Goddess. He would be insane to question a Goddess of Love and Luck, but The Ultimate Despair sounded dumb.
"So, if you don't believe me, how about proof."
The first place they arrived was the dining hall; Makoto didn't know if it was nighttime or daytime, and the windows were blocked. No light from the sun or the moon could creep in. But on the table is a metal bowl, one to keep Turkey hot until it is revealed.
"Lift it." The Goddess Ordered, "The culprit is finished and sleeping like a baby."
Makoto's hand was trembling; why was he scared? It was just food. The chief was waiting for the class to get up in the morning. Makoto lifted it; what awaited him was horrible. Makoto Naegi knew everyone who would be in class; he had read those notes about his class. So, he knew without a doubt what this was.
It was a human head. A head that was cleanly cut off the body; he knew this head; after all, he went to the same school. Sayaka Maizono's head was cut off. She was killed. "AHHH!" Makoto could only scream; it was the only thing on his mind.
She was killed; someone killed her, cutting her head clean off her body.
This was solid proof that this wasn't a dream. With a snap of the Goddess's fingers, Makoto and Goddess Benzaiten shift locations in less than a second. There were sixteen seats, with sixteen high school students, and they were somewhere weird. It looked like a trial room, with each student being their own lawyer and attorney. Sitting on a throne was a bear, one-half white and the other half black, with an eye soaked in blood on the black side.
But there was an empty seat; all left was a picture of a student. Makoto looked around at the picture of the Ultimate Pop Sensation, Sayaka Maizono.
[Non-Stop Debate]
Make your argument!
"Nighttime is from 10 pm to 7 am, and Monokuma's Nightly messages tell us that the dining hall closes at 10 pm. He remarks that the dining hall will be locked, and entry is strictly prohibited," Byakuya informed everyone.
"Meaning that the murder must have happened before 10 pm, and the head was placed inside the dining hall right before 10 pm. That's kind of fucked up; who attacks a woman and cuts off her goddamn head and leaves it there all night?" Mondo wondered
"Remember, the Monokuma Files reports Sayaka's Time of Death was 6 am," Kyoko informed everyone.
"But that doesn't make sense; we were all inside the dining hall right before the message, and we all entered the dining hall around the same time, so when did the killer put the head in the dining hall?" Chihiro asked, "It couldn't be any of our friends, and it's impossible."
"However, one can still use the Kitchen. There's no warning about going in there at Nighttime." Byakuya reported with a grin.
"But, there's no way to enter the Kitchen but through the Dining Hall."
COUNTER
Select your Truth Bullet
► Warehouse Secret Entrance
"No! That's wrong!" Chihiro was scared by Makoto's sudden shout as he slammed down his hands. She was trembling from behind her podium.
"Sorry to worry you, Chihiro. But there is a way to enter the Kitchen without stepping through the Dining Hall. Inside the Warehouse, there's a hidden broken grate that allows one to crawl underneath, and then they find themselves right inside the Kitchen. It only takes a minute to enter." Makoto explained.
"This means that the murder could've easily happened during Nighttime." Kyoko followed up,
"Sayaka left for the Dining hall around six in the morning. The culprit sliced off her head around that time and then put her head into the dining hall around after six am, then left it there and entered back in again once the time hit seven am." Kyoko spoke
"I see; using the back entrance, one could enter the Kitchen but not the Dining Hall, which is a Loophole. I must say, I'm quite impressed with our Blankened, but how did they get the Head inside the Dining Hall? Did Monokuma allow the culprit in early because they were already murdering someone?" Celestia said
"I would never break the rules, however, if a student found a way inside without going through the doors. That's another story, hehe," Monokuma giggled to himself.
"Then, where did Sayaka's Murder take place? There were two crime scenes: one in the Warehouse and one in her room." Sakura spoke as the mystery grew.
What was this? A trial on a murder between students? "This is the Ultimate Despair's power; she drives others into her despair and makes them commit murder. This is just one of the possible futures; in another one, Leon killed Sayaka, and Mondo killed Chihiro. There's no changing this fate because the Mastermind, The Ultimate Despair, will always win. Sometimes Sayaka survives until the end; sometimes Hiro dies first and is killed by Hifumi. But this time, Chihrio sliced off Sayaka's head and left it inside the dining hall. She created a pulling system and used a hidden door inside the Warehouse. She wanted to see her father and know he was safe. He is her sun and her strength, with him in danger. Chihiro wanted out. The videos brought her back to that terrible childhood that she wanted to escape from."
No. That can't be right. "Not even Hope can defeat The Ultimate Despair; she was able to turn the Ultimate Hope into her pawn and into another Ultimate Despair. But, there's one way to drive out all that despair and fill it with Love."
"Wait, love? Who's love?"
"Yours, you need to find the Ultimate Despair and make her fall in love with you,"
"Then, who is it? Whose the Ultimate Despair?"
" I don't know. There's not one but many; the only way out is to make all of them fall in love with you. I'll give you help, giving you the ability to see the Affection Level for each girl you need to conquer. After all, if Hope can't defeat Despair, then the only way is Love."
The killing game, he couldn't believe it. "There's one thing left to show you,"
Makoto couldn't believe the Goddess's words as they moved outside, people wearing Monokuma masks and Monokuma on every landmark. It made him sick, "I pull some strings; this is the last chance. We have to stop the Ultimate Despair from destroying the world and causing all this death and destruction. So, Makoto Naegi, I'm trusting you to make all the people who could fall into despair and make them fall in love instead. If Hope can't beat Despair, Love can be the only way."
The two of them returned to Makoto's room, and he felt like he wanted to vomit out his breakfast, lunch, and dinner simultaneously. His body is shaking as he sees death. It was the first time he had seen anything like that in person. "Life is for Love and Love alone, no room for despair, only love."
"I don't know, how can I make a difference? I'm a normal student and got in by luck," Makoto muttered.
"That's not true; your talent isn't Luck; it's something else. You have a gift that no one in Hope Peak has, Makoto Naegi so that you won't be alone. There are people like you, people who never give in to Despair,"
"Wait, there were people who never fell into Despair?"
"Correct, there are always people like you, Sakura, Byakuya, Kyoko, and more, who never gave into Despair and fought for Hope."
Makoto couldn't believe anything, even seeing it with his own eyes. People were dying in a school, getting put through a Death Game. The game was created by a Mastermind who went by The Ultimate Despair, only to be defeated by The Ultimate Hope. It sounded like a video game or a manga.
Makoto didn't have any words, and it felt like he had lost the ability to speak. But his fist tightened, "I won't give up!"
The Goddess's eyes widened, "Damnit, if stopping all of this is by making the Ultimate Despair fall in love with me, I'll do it!"
"There are some problems. First, I don't know who the Mastermind is. The world calls it a 'Spoiler,' so I can't give you the answer. Second, Defeating The Ultimate Despair is one thing, but stopping the Tragedy is another event that The Ultimate Despair created. You saw it with your own eyes. It happens two years from now. Third, You must make all the girls who can fall into Despair fall in love with you; anyone could start the Tragedy. However, some routes are pre-set. No matter how hard you try, those girls will only fall in love with that person. Fourth: The Boys could restart the Tragedy and become the Ultimate Despair, but only the True Ultimate Despair, the woman, is the only one who can create it."
That was quite the list of things to do. He would have to make a harem, like in fanfiction, where the person writing saw two characters talk once, and then those characters became the writer's One True Pairing (OTP) even though the world has a canon ship. Then, he starts shipping everyone around that MC-Kun to build his own harem, only to make the character more of a self-insert OC, just with the name of the main character from the show.
"No, wait, if I'm romancing all the girls, wouldn't they see me as some sort of playboy and stay away?"
The Goddess of Love and Luck blinked a couple of times as if her mind had gone blank in a second. "Oh, that's right. Humans are different from Gods."
'Did… Did I get stuck with a clueless Goddess, a worthless one like Aqua from Konosuba?'
The Goddess, Benzaiten, rubbed her chin. "Then how about I give you some bonuses,"
Bonuses, wait, is this game to her? What a crappy Goddess, this is his future and his life. He was born to be a part of a killing game created by some sick, twisted Mastermind.
"Let's see here; Affection Points are a must! Also, skills will help conquer the heroines. No matter what Kyoko says, you are NOT the Heroine. Hmm… If you are in a dire situation, I'll give you three options. Like a dating simulator, you may choose whatever will please the heroine you want. The skill "To Protect Her Smile" would be good, but with any girl possibly being the Mastermind, it would be hard to trust. And might be misused."
Benzaiten was thinking way too hard about all of this. She was even muttering something under her breath. Her breathing got hard as her face began to turn red, and she rubbed away the dripping drool from her mouth with the back of her palm.
Makoto Naegi should never trust anyone who looks and acts the same way Benzaiten is acting and looking expressly when that person is thinking about high school girls. High School begins at sixteen and ends after three years.
"Wait, two years, I guess I have time to spare."
"The Tragedy happens during your second year, so you only have one year to replace Despair with Love."
A Year? Even with cheats, the school year begins in April. The first term runs until around July 20, when summer vacation begins. The students return to school in early September for the second term, which lasts until about December 25. The final term begins in early January and continues until late March. And since The Tragedy happens during his second year, that cut the world's fate close. It was either to have The Killing Game go on forever and destroy the world, or try to make the Mastermind fall in love with him. Was it even possible?
Who knows what will happen during the holiday season?
"Don't worry. I'll rig it, so holidays and whatnot will be spent with your heroines. Every waking moment, until your last breath, a Harem of Beautiful ladies is all for you to enjoy. Together, Love will conquer the world instead of Despair!"
But could that really work? Love fighting off against Despair? Their plan must have started, pulling them out of Despair and making them fall into Love. It seems impossible. Then, it's about stopping the event that caused it to start. But the fire is already burning.
Benzaiten seemed to be in his corner and had pulled so many strings that the entire timeline was a mess. But, she states, it kind of already was—however, all of this in the span of one year. Makoto flopped on his bed as he turned to look at a photo on his dresser. Tomorrow will be the start of his new life at Hope Peak Academy and the start of his battlefield against the Ultimate Despair—the Mastermind who destroys the world.
"Can I get help from others?"
"Only if you trust them with all of your heart, Naegi. I can't stick around and will only appear if you call for me," she soon summoned a golden bell. "Ring it when I am needed."
Like it never happened, Benzaiten disappeared without a trace, and time moved on, but it was still midnight. As Makoto's eyes drifted to slumber, the only thing in his dreams were the horrors that awaited him in the future.
Here he was, standing at the start of his battlefield against the Ultimate Despair. Makoto's body was trembling; he couldn't lie; he was scared and tired. His dreams were nightmares, as he saw students killing one another. Friends that he got to know betray him to get the freedom that they so wish, only to die at the hands of a bear.
Hope Peak Academy. This massive high school towers over all the other buildings in the bustling urban area. It took up so much land that the school stands at the center of the world. It brings only the top students from every field imaginable. Be it Idol, Princess, Biker, Fanfiction, or Luck, there is only one talent for each student, and no one shares the same talent besides Luck.
Makoto Naegi was chosen due to his luck, so he wasn't even meant to get in this year. He was accidentally selected because the school made a mistake; the real Ultimate Lucky Student is Nagito Komaeda, while Makoto was chosen because of an error. That error itself may be Lucky.
It's a government-funded school of privilege. They say that if you come here and manage to graduate, you'll be set for life. With hundreds of years of tradition, it sends only the cream of the crop into the workforce every year. It was built to raise hope in the nation's future, making Hope's Peak a fitting name. But Makoto was the only one who knew that Hope's Peak was a lie, where the face of Hope turned into the face of Despair, which turned into a killing game at the hands of the Mastermind, the Tragedy. Everything was that person's fault.
To attend this school, you need two things: One, you have to be already attending high school, and Two, you have to be the very best at what you do. No ordinary student could enroll here. The only way in is if the school itself scouts you.
It still makes Makoto wonder how he got in.
But he will defeat the Ultimate Despair and make her fall in love with him... And embarrassingly, every other girl who can follow in the Ultimate Despair's footsteps. In one year, with God only knows how many girls, was this Makoto's Luck at work? Or who it was, because Makoto's luck, that crappy Goddess didn't tell him any of the girls that he has to romance.
He doesn't even know himself; he only knows this will be one long year before the Tragedy strikes.
End of Chapter
Next Time: Class 78th.
Benzaiten was chosen only because I did a Google search on The Goddess of Luck and Fortune. This shows up,
"The Japanese goddess Benzaiten is both a Buddhist goddess and a Shinto Kami. As a goddess of love and luck, she is renowned for her association with luck and wisdom, bestowing insightful counsel and good fortune upon those she favors."
This will be a long one, and I will be working on the side when I run into Road Blocks for Class 1-S and Rito 10 or when I want a break from them. So, first up, I'm torn between adding these two girls, Akane Owari and Tenko Chabashira. With them, the Harem count is at 19; without them, it's at 17. Yeah, when I say long, I mean it; I added almost anyone who could fall into despair unless I ship them with someone else. So, Peko, Kaede, Chiaki, Toko, Sakura, and Maki won't be in the harem. I think it's clear who those characters will be with. Akane has someone picked in case I don't want her in. I never add Sakura to any harems because she already likes someone else.
Game 1:
1) Aoi Asahina
2) Kyoko Kirigiri
3) Sayaka Maizono
4) Celestia Ludenberg
5) Junko Enoshima
6) Mukuro Ikusaba
Game 2:
7) Hiyoko Saionji
8) Ibuki Mioda
9) Mahiru Koizumi
10) Mikan Tsumiki
11) Sonia Nevermind
12) Chisa Yukizome
13?) Akane Owari
Game 3:
14) Angie Yonaga
15) Kirumi Tojo
16) Himiko Yumeno
17) Miu Iruma
18) Tsumugi Shirogane
19?) Tenko Chabashira
