Stage V: Desp4ir Jockeys

Oh, mannnn! I'm so nervous! I really hope I don't mess this up! Saori Hidaka—third-year Ultimate Calligraphist—bit her lip as she stood before the black and white turntables, a jagged red needle resting atop the black disc on the left. It looked just like Monochio's broken, glowing eye… The purple-haired girl swallowed nervously, trying to push the thoughts and reminders out of her mind.

But even though the outcome of the D4DJ Battle Time was already decided—a mutual agreement between her and the other two surviving DJs, Maho and Shinobu—she was still terrified. There was a hope—that word!—that the Masterminds, counterpoint to the DJs, were in greater disarray, but they wouldn't truly know for certain until the performance at the opera house that night, now would they?

What if I still manage to somehow mess this up?! Saori fretted. Meanwhile, watching from the shadows and the wings, half hidden behind the ruby and bloodred curtains that framed the stage, was her classmate and bandmate, Rika Seto, Ultimate "Volleyballer". Maybe Saori was nervous, feeling like she'd never done this before, but to Rika, the scene was all too familiar…

ooo

"HELL YEAH! IT'S… DJing TIME!" Junko Enoshima—first-year Ultimate "Fashionista"—crossed her arms, tongue lolling out of her mouth as she practically shouted at the top of her lungs. "Wonder if we oughta start sellin' merch 'n shit?! Cut a profit while we cut a few throats, eh?! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Junko!" Hiiro Yano—third-year Ultimate Diviner—sighed in exasperation. "What if someone hears us? What we're doing is technically illegal, you know? Throwing a rave in the middle of a war-torn city!"

"Aww, c'mon, Hiiro! No need to worry! They can't hear us in here! Besides, WE make the rules now!" Rika Seto boasted, hands on her hips, chest puffed out. Even though the rest of their class was just inches above and away from their heads, Junko's secret, little, underground "dressing room" was soundproof!

And as Mastermind One aka Junko's Favorite aka the Future Ultimate Despair Heir, I'm personally responsible for being Junko's right hand and hype gal! Don't worry, Junko, I promise I'll save you from your Despair! Once you hear our sweet, sweet music, you'll never want anything but Hope ever again! Just a few minutes more, then it'll finally be time for me, the Ultimate Hero, to strike, and step up to save the day!

Delusions of grandeur swirling through her head, the Ultimate Arsonist continued to boast, flames dancing between her fingers in experiment. The Ultimate Diviner, however, did not share in her sentiments.

"Even so!" Hiiro fretted, shaking her head, "This is not a night of Hope, but Despair!" I don't know what you're planning, Rika, but do not forget! I will not allow you to risk everything we—I—have worked for for all these long, despairful months!

"Ah, but recall." Junko's voice, suddenly low and clinical, cut through Hiiro and Rika's words. "The deepest Despair follows the highest Hope. That is the seed of Despair, which is exactly what this night is." She gestured to the rest of the tiny, crowded room. Esora Shimizu—second-year Ultimate Corporate Manager—was seated before a large, old computer. Haruna Kasuga—first-year Ultimate Chairman—stood over her shoulder, muttering in her ear. They were finalizing the last of the commands and coding for the 24 executions they built inside Hope's Pinnacle upon Junko's orders. Sitting on the desk by Esora's arm was a little robot cat named Monochio, black, white, and red all over.

Huh. I wonder how much I'd make selling plushies of those little things… Heh. There's our first merch idea! Every good franchise has to have a logo or mascot at the very least! Although Junko proposed the idea of a cute robot mascot to hide behind, it was Esora who commissioned the design, choosing a cat because she was basing it upon the stuffed toy of one of her peers. In her mind, it would further sew the seeds of chaos and confusion amongst them all. The Ultimate Corporate Manager was ruthless, unafraid to throw others under the bus and get her hands dirty for a bit of personal or financial gain. That was why Junko was so interested in getting someone like her on the team. She was an asset with even more assets!

And all it took was a little bit of basic, low-level manipulation. That was the thing about rich people. They made their beef and business the entire world's. It was no secret that Shimizu hated Togami. Junko was more than happy to exploit the riches just as Shimizu and Togami exploited each other, their workers, their clients, and even their constituents. What a cutthroat world business and wealth created. Corruption ran rampant wherever cash was. After all, Shimizu was actually expelled from Hope's Peak because of Togami. But money talked, and Esora was at least able to buy herself a seat in the Reserve Course. But Junko knew Esora desired far more than just that. She wanted revenge.

A moment later, the old, iron door to the secret, little, underground dressing room pushed open. In glided a girl with moon-white hair and starry, silver eyes that practically seemed to glow. She gave a soft, breathy, unhinged chuckle.

"It is done, Ms. Enoshima…" Even though she was second-year, and thus a year Junko's senior, Junko exerted such charisma and control over all her Despairs and Masterminds that no matter their age, they yield to her as the Big Bad Boss.

Saki Izumo—Ultimate Astronomer—was Junko's "Collector". Junko wasn't interested in her Talent, but the other natural gift Saki had. Synesthesia. She could see colors in music. And not just that, but after a few… modifications from Ms. Enoshima herself, Saki was able to see the truth and lies in the words of others. Truly, none could hide from her sharp, prying eyes! Her insanity and power had only grown in all her time under Junko, and she gave another unhinged laugh as she gave her leader the report.

I'm just like a hunter, searching through the stars and cosmos and constellations endlessly. No matter where they run, no matter where they hide, I will ALWAYS see and find them… That was how she knew where to find everyone, how to round them all up for this upcoming "D4DJ Battle Time". Even then, faint colors wafted through the ceiling as the students above tuned their voices and turntables in anticipation. Saki was like Junko's perfect little satellite, a homing beacon, her eyes on the ground. She sent out the intergalactic message, and now, they were all coming home.

To the opera—the D4DJ Battle Time—tonight! A likewise psychotic smile spread across Junko's face. No, this show was not going to end the way Ms. Rika Seto, the Ultimate Arsonist, thought. And if my predictions and estimations are correct—and I KNOW they are—My final Despair, Mastermind One, should be here in four… three… two… o—

The door swung open again. This time, standing in the threshold, was a short girl with short, dark hair, dark circles under her stormy eyes.

"Hey, DJ," Junko joked, grinning wickedly. It was Maho Akashi, first-year Ultimate Cook. More importantly, though, she was going to play a very special role in tonight's performance, helping lull everyone into a false sense of security so Junko could scoop and snatch them all up even easier!

ooo

Thank you, Junko, for everything… Rika thought as she watched from the shadowy sidelines. For once, she was content to let someone else steal the spotlight. Merm4id wouldn't be the same without you…

Although neither Junko nor Rika were each other's first friend at Hope's Peak, they met through a mutual friend—Marika Mizushima, third-year Ultimate Model—who acted as each of their first friends at Hope's Peak.

Man, after what happened with Tsubaki… The Ultimate Arsonist stared longingly at the dark-haired, gothic, Ultimate Vocalist who watched their performance from the "mosh pit", which was really more of a dip in the ground caused by all the war and chaos and whatnot. Rika and Tsubaki were childhood best friends, but a string of personal tragedies tore them apart over time. Tsubaki was dealing with depression, and Rika, although well-meant, didn't know how to handle it. Likewise, she had her own secret, sordid past. She was still dealing with the rippling effects of her abusive parents' divorce from her early childhood, and the separation it caused from her younger brother, Masaru.

Marika felt like Rika's first second chance (oxymoronic as that was) to be a hero, and truly change a life for the better. Cut to third year, and Rika gained yet another second chance in the form of Junko Enoshima, who was something like Marika's protegee, even though one could argue that the Ultimate Fashionista already outshined the Ultimate Model, despite being two years younger. But from then on, Rika, Marika, and Junko were a little gal pal trio. They felt familiar to Rika, like home and like family, and familiarity was something she so desperately needed in her life.

Junko in particular, Rika felt, was a kindred spirit. They were both bored, impulsive, reckless, big dreamers. They had huge plans for the world, did nothing halfway, and had wild, passionate, burning hearts. They were hurting and misunderstood, desperate to fill the void, willing to do almost anything to achieve that end. In fact, it was Junko who inspired Rika to start Merm4id. Rika had tossed the idea around all three years she was at Hope's Peak, and she even already knew all of her future bandmates, but it wasn't until Junko pushed her that she finally made it real.

Of course, Rika offered Junko first pickings and top spot, but the fashionista declined on the grounds that she preferred modeling to music. Instead, Rika's bandmates became Saori Hidaka, Marika Mizushima, and a foreign exchange student from a tropical island named Dalia Matsuyama (Ultimate Dancer), who came over with another islander named Angie Yonaga. Merm4id was complete, but Junko would always hold a special place of honor in Rika's heart. The common thread that bound Rika's unit-mates and Junko together was Rika's perception of them.

Each of them, in her subconscious, needed a hero. She wanted to be that hero. Her mind made the connections, created a feeling of familiarity, even if she was not fully aware of it. They all reminded her of Tsubaki, in a way, and Masaru. Rika had failed them, but she would not fail Junko or Merm4id. They were her second chances, her new hopes. They were all lonely girls with broken hearts who needed a friend. It fed the savior and guilt complex Rika didn't even realize she had, and even then, she was certain she could fix Junko.

This performance is gonna be LIT! Literally! She grinned as flames flickered at her fingertips, but she kept them well-hidden behind her back. Granted, it's TECHNICALLY illegal to throw a random rager-rave in the middle of a city on lockdown just cuz. But who's gonna stop us?! The Hope and the hype are gonna be so high that we'll reach the peak and pinnacle and beyond! Surely it would be enough to reverse some of the Tragedy their world was facing, and maybe it was even a chance to save Junko from herself…

ooo

"FLOOR KILLER! DANCE AND GO! TENSION MAX—!" Rika and the rest would never finish their triumphant chorus, for all at once, explosions of fire and electricity filled the night sky. The 24 students reflexively dropped to their stomachs, dropped to the ground, ducking and covering, shielding one another, unable to identify the source of the danger. That was why none of them tried to flee. They were taken so off guard. And as the electricity and energy crackled in the air, they felt an oppressive weight crush down on them, as if gravity itself was intensified.

Although none of them knew it, while they continued their little faux celebration of Hope, Junko snuck away into the night to unveil the "second act" of her dramatic show. An AI she hijacked—for all she could do was warp, twist, and corrupt—tracked down the students and activated a series of traps Junko had lying in wait for the night of the grand finale. This show was never meant to end in anything other than Despair. It was all going according to plan, her betrayal was. Her cackles filled the sky as the students cried out in pain and confusion. A forcefield was slowly binding them in place. They were the mice in Junko's feline paws.

"Nya-ha-ha-ha-ha!" A robotic chuckle emanated from behind her. Towering over her was a large metal cat so huge that she could've ridden it like a horse. It was Monochio's true form, and that form would be what helped her transport the 24 students to the "refurbished" Hope's Pinnacle.

"But first! OUR act!" Junko's queenly voice declared as she leapt onto the creaky wooden stage, some of the students lying strewn across it. She took over the DJ turntables, even though she had no DJing experience of her own.

Despairful music began to warp the minds and radio waves, infecting any Hopefuls still left alive in that part of the city. The few students able to withstand Junko's initial assault finally crumbled, clutching their ears as they fell to their knees under her killing harmony.

"FLOOR KILLER! DESPAIR PARTY—!"

"Junko!" Rika cried out, reached out, fiery eyes full of regretful tears. NO! I WILL NOT FAIL TO SAVE MY FRIENDS AGAIN! But her Hope and her heart were her own undoing. She reached out a hand to shake in peace when she should've been preparing to burn Junko to death.

Instead, the Ultimate Despair only smiled at her and waved sweetly, tilting her head and giggling. "Sorry, girlfriend! I know this is all technically illegal, and highly immoral, but oh well! Oh, and don't worry, we'll be together again soon." She winked and blew a kiss as the Ultimate Arsonist finally fell to her knees as well, the music affecting her so deeply that all she could do was howl in a mournful chorus, just like the other 23. "We can play more then! But until then… Ta ta for now!" And with that, Rika lost consciousness.

The next time her eyes would open, she would only be able to think to herself that the scene unfolding before her felt eerily familiar…

"Hey, guys… Where are we?"

"I… don't know… But somehow, I don't think we're in Hope's Peak anymore…"

Above their heads, a soft, mechanical, sinister laugh.

AN: AimingSashimiG (the one who spearheaded this latest D4DJ Rare Pair Week) probably didn't want me doing Danganronpa crossovers, but oh well :P! That's why I never talked about my Rare Pair writing, lol. Tis better to ask forgiveness than permission!

Also Aiming (or others involved with the Rare Pair challenge), on the off chance you even see this author's note (because I know you guys aren't Danganronpa fans) feel free to not read any of my posts this week, LOL! I won't take offense at all. Don't force yourselves to read stuff you don't like, that would make me and my writing sad, LOL!

Also view on Wattpad/AO3 for fanart of this chapter.