AN: I was watching the latest episode of the Merm4id show on the D4DJ EN channel the day it was posted (Ep9) and Rika's VA drew a picture of Rika that had such strong Junko vibes that I was immediately compelled to make this AU.

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Junko stared up at the imposing building before her, Hope's Peak, with eyes as blue as the sky above, dwarfing even the academy's towering spires and gates. A smile spread across her ruby red lips and her teeth shined pure white in the sun.

"Oh, what better way to start such a beautiful morning than by heading to my beautiful class in this beautiful school?!"

Anyone watching would've said she was the cutest thing in the universe, cuter than 100 chihuahuas combined.

Fuckin' stupid-ass boring-ass bullshit! Junko's expression didn't change. Ugghhh, whhyyy? Why do I even have to go this stupid school?! I already know everything they could ever teach me! As the Ultimate Analyst, she could predict what people would say or do perfectly, that included professors. I'd bet somebody's life that I know some of the curriculum better than THEY do, even the tenured ones!

Junko gave a nasty cackle. This was an especially arrogant claim, as she was a first-year.

"Hello! Hello! All new first-years! Right this way, please! Headmaster Jin Kirigiri is providing opening remarks in the academy theater! If anyone needs any help, feel free to just ask me!" An obnoxious, grating voice interrupted Junko's thoughts, and for half a second, Junko saw red.

Who the FUCK is this happy this early?! She whipped around to see a girl with bright orange hair standing only several feet away. She was decked out in Hope's Peak merch from head to toe. Hope's Peak sun visor, Hope's Peak tank top, Hope's Peak shorts, Hope's Peak sandals… To say nothing of all the merch and paper in her arms! (Some of which were, of course, maps).

Junko's nose crinkled and she looked the other girl up and down critically. Gag me with a spoon! She makes pigtails look, well, piggish!

Junko was grossed out to the max to realize that the girl's hair wasn't just an impossible-to-ignore orange, it was also in pigtails almost as poofy as Junko's, if only because of her incessant running back and forth across the academy's entrance hall. Even though she could've just stayed still, it was as if she was on a mission to talk to every first-year that walked by, and there were a lot of them. Some were in Junko's section, some weren't.

Ultimates were rare, and yet Hope's Peak was bursting at the seams. Already, three new schools were under construction. The first wasn't too far from Hope's Peak, and it was to be called the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles. They were also building an American campus. And the most recent was another Japanese school, to be named Hope's Pinnacle. Unlike the other three, part of its funding came from the family of a Hope's Peak student: Esora Shimizu. The family was wealthy because of a tech company they created, and although Junko hadn't heard the rumors yet, they said that Esora was doing this in hopes of being headmistress, or putting a friend in power if not herself.

Now THAT'S how you reach for the peak and pinnacle of Hope! Junko thought in dark admiration. She always loved a person willing to do anything to get their way. But as a second-year, Esora would not be at orientation. Instead, save for volunteers running orientation, it was just first-years. One of the ones that stood out to Junko most just based on appearance that wasn't in her class was a short girl wearing a toy cat on her head.

What a weirdo loser! Junko was amused enough to creep closer and casually listen in on what the girl was saying. She had a childish, nasally voice.

"—built-in MP3 player!" She was showing off the toy to other students, both from her class and Junko's. "I built every part of Nyochio myse—"

Aaaaand that's enough of that! Although, as whiny and irritating as the girl's voice was, the thought of building one's own stuffed toy and giving it machine parts to do things besides being cute and cuddling was intriguing… It was a name that would not come into existence for over a year more, but one day, Junko would make her idle thoughts a reality, and she would do it twice: Monokuma, Monochio.

"Hey! You there! With the hype twin tails!" A loud voice snapped Junko's attention back to the present, and too late did she realize that she'd been spotted staring off into space. That made it look she was lost, and now help was coming, even though she wanted it to go away.

Hmmm, I wonder if it's too late for… self-incapacitating measures to get out of this one… Junko thought, gloomy.

The other girl, meanwhile, winked and flashed her a thumbs up when they made eye contact, nodding her approval.

"Yeah! You!" she said. "The name's Rika Seto! Third-year! I don't recognize you, so I'm willing to take a guess and say that you're new?"

"Yeah." This girl has enough energy to power the entire school. Maybe they can just chain her up in a basement somewhere and surgically attach her to a random generator, or something, and see what happens.

"So, you need help with where you're going?" Rika walked over to Junko, still grinning, wearing all that stupid, tacky HP merch.

Unless you're willing to break me out of this place… "Nah, I prefer to find it myself. Gets me used to the place, y'know?" Junko asked sweetly.

"True that, true that!" Rika's head bobbed and she smiled approvingly at Junko. "Say, I think I like you already!"

Why do I get the feeling that you say that to basically everyone you meet? "Thanks."

After some torturous, lighthearted small talk, Junko finally brought up her Talent and Rika managed to get hype all over again.

"OMG, Fashionist?! No way! My best friend, Marika Mizushima, is the Ultimate Model! You guys should totally do a photoshoot together, or something like that! See? She's been on the cover of magazines too!" Rika was like an excited puppy and a proud mama, whipping out her phone and shoving it into the face of a girl who didn't ask and didn't care.

Marika Mizushima, eh? The name was familiar, but Junko didn't think much of her. Brown hair, boring. Purple eyes, exotic, but cliché. Junko looked down. Her bust? Well-proportioned, I suppose, but could certainly be bigger! Although, Junko smirked, she'll never get that unless she goes fake and plastic! Junko, meanwhile, could brag that her luxurious figure was au naturel!

But Rika didn't seem to care. "So, whaddaya say, Fashionista? Join us?" Her eyes sparkled as she pleaded. Junko was disgusted.

"I, ah, am not sure about my schedule yet, and I confess, despite my camera appearances, I… am a little awkward around strangers sometimes…" Junko hugged herself and looked away mournfully and Rika's pleading face switched into one of genuine concern. Pfft, idiot.

"Well, that's exactly what Marika and I'll be there for! We won't let anybody bother you, mkay? We look out for each other!" Rika pounded a fist over her heart while Junko fought the urge to roll her eyes.

This went on for several minutes, Rika pleading and Junko answering on autopilot.

I can already predict what arguments she's going to try to use, so I don't even need to THINK to give my rebuttal! Thank God this is her last year, unless… Oh, God, no, wait! What if she… gets held back…? Such despair! Then again, she made it to third year once… SEE?! This is why I don't—!

"In fact, I'll call her right now!" Rika had already clicked the button and was listening to Marika's phone ring by the time she started talking about how she would call Marika.

"W-wait, what?!" Junko reared back. Ok, so maybe that one was on me for not paying full attention, but… no, there's no WAY she just…

It was barely a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a second, but in that single moment, Junko felt surprise.

The call with Marika was a blur. She required even less attention to talk to than Rika because, as Rika said, she and Junko had similar Talents. Junko knew how to speak to models, she was one! But eventually, Rika hung up the phone, regret in her eyes as she sighed.

"That was fun and all, but I really didn't mean to keep you that long! It was only supposed to be a second, but then it became like… 10 minutes!"

Well, most of it was your fault, yes, but… For at least the last part of those 10 minutes, Junko hadn't even been aware that time was passing.

"If you want, I can escort you to the theater myself—and no distractions this time, scout's honor!" Rika saluted Junko, dropping a handful of her maps. She winced and cursed herself under her breath as she bent over and frantically scooped them up.

It gave Junko ample time to again sneer in disdain at the other girl. Even though she surprised Junko for a moment, she was still mostly an idiot. If anything, that made it all the more despairful that she was able to surprise Junko at all.

"I'll be fine, thanks," Junko said tightly. She knew what was coming. Rika was going to try to talk her into something again.

Junko's analysis of the situation was once again perfect, and she was correct not just in what Rika did, but what she said. The only thing Junko didn't predict was the last thing Rika said.

"Well, if you're sure…" She looked doubtfully at Junko, still reluctant to let her go and not be able to make things up to her. But Rika was trying to get better at respecting when people said no, even if it still took her a bunch of times to get the point. "But, if you change your mind, or if anything I said or did today bothered you at all, or in any way, please don't hesitate to let me know! Honest! I want your feedback, because if I did anything wrong, I want to make it right!" Her eyes were as intense and pleading as always, but this time, there was a new quality that Junko couldn't place.

"I know I'm an upperclassman, and all, but I promise, I'm not scary," Rika added with a soft chuckle, and Junko almost laughed in agreement. The only thing scary about Rika was how annoying she was, and how unaware she seemed to be of it, but that was hardly "scary".

"I'm not upset," Junko said once Rika finally finished her longwinded speech of apology and support, and Junko was telling the truth. In order for her to be upset, that was assuming her current emotion lasted long enough to get through Rika's longwinded speech. Already, she felt normal, although what normal was for Junko was something that even Junko didn't fully know.

"Also, I think I would be interested in getting to know you and your friend. Just come find me whenever you have something figured out." Junko turned toe and walked away before she even finished speaking. When she was done, she casually lifted a hand in farewell, but she was still walking away. Rika could only watch her go, flabbergasted.

What an odd girl she was! Her mood changed so quickly! Ah, but I shouldn't judge her, she's just new, that's all! We just haven't had time to get used to one another yet, but… she DID agree to hang out with Marika and me, so that'll be great! Rika did a little happy dance, which was only interrupted when she started dropping papers and merch again. She sighed in frustration and embarrassment as she bent over for a second time, but she was still smiling excitedly. And you thought I wouldn't be a good senpai, Saori. Not even Day One and I already have a new friend!

They may have shared nothing else in common, except wild pigtails, but it was one sentiment they both felt. While Rika stayed in the entrance hall, Junko took her sweet time getting to the academy theater.

Well, well, well, Ms. Seto, I'm not sure how you did it, but you just might've given me a reason to stay at this accursed academy. It was time for Junko to reach for the peak and pinnacle of Hope as well.