- Be already in high school
2. Be the best at what you do
And of course, since I was accepted here, I am the best at what I do. I am Aoi Asahina, the Ultimate Swimmer. I have been at the Olympics since I was 13 and have won plenty of competitions since I was 5. I am proud of my talent and my work and today, my first day at Hope’s Peak, proves my worth.
I step on to the campus and suddenly everything shakes. What the hell? I question as I faint the last thing, I hear is the sound of footsteps.
I suddenly jolt awake drool rolling down my chin. I look around...
“Where the hell am I?” I stand up noticing a pamphlet.
‘Welcome to H?o?p?e?'s? Despair’s Peak Academy, get ready for a s?e?m?e?s?t?e?r? Life time of f?u?n? misery.’
“What the hell is going on?” I throw the paper down and look around. “Bolted windows, isn’t this supposed to be a school, why does it look like a damn prison.” I continue to look around the room for some answers and see the time. “Shoot I’m late now.”
I run out the weird classroom and down the hall trying to find the gym. “Red doors... Where are the red doors?” I stop almost colliding into someone.
“Ow.” A girl mumbles. “Oh M. G. Are you alright” she asks extending her hand. I recognized her immediately, Junko Enoshima, The Ultimate Fashionista.
“I’m fine thanks” I grab her hand and stand up noticing a girl behind her. She glares at me angrily. Who is she?
“That’s good come on we’re already late,” Junko smiles skipping into the gym as the girl behind her followed. I dusted my shorts and walked through. The first thing I saw was 13 other classmates. They all seem tense, and one runs up to the three of us.
“You three are late, have you no shame to show up on time on your first day,” an annoying boy screamed.
“I think you should chill out a bit. I mean the teacher isn’t even here yet, so they are technically on time,” a girl said as she yawned. “Plus we don’t even know one another’s names might as well introduce ourselves.”
There’s silence before others nod. Junko comes up to me. “Hii, I’m Junko Enoshima, the Ultimate Fashionista. And this is my amazing sister,” she points to the girl from before who is still glaring at me.
“Mukuro Ikusaba. Ultimate Soldier.” She states and looks away.
“Aoi Asahina... Ultimate Swimmer,” A soldier are you even allowed to be a soldier at this age?
“A swimmer how fun? Oh? Bye now Asahina,” Junko cheered as she and Mukuro walked away.
“Um... hi,” I turn around to see a timid girl. “I’m Taeko...”
Hm... she doesn’t seem familiar. “I’m Aoi Asahina Ultimate Swimmer... What’s yours?”
“Ultimate Gambler...” Huh? Isn’t that illegal... Where the hell is Hope’s Peak finding these kids? “Did I do something wrong, you’re glaring at me.”
“Huh? Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to” I turn and walk away seeing a small group of boys. “Uh... Hi. I’m Aoi, Ultimate Swimmer.”
“I’m Leon Kuwata, Ultimate Baseball player, this is Makoto Naegi, Ultimate Lucky student. Chihiro, Ultimate Programmer and Byakuya, Ultimate stick up his ass,” Leon laughed at his own joke.
“I am the ultimate Affluent Prodigy; it is not my fault a peasant like you has no respect.” Byakuya scoffs. It’s better to stay away from him.
I nod walking off as they begin to argue.
“Hm... a swimmer?” a quiet voice state. I turn to see a mysterious girl in a group. “I am Sakura Ogami, ultimate martial artist.”
“I’m Sayaka Maizono, ultimate Pop Sensation,” a preppy girl speaks. I immediately recognized her. She is one of the most popular girls in the industry, every girl wants to be her or be with her.
I smile as I introduce myself. “With an martial artist and a soldier we won’t have to worry about anything.”
Sakura smiles back and nods, “I promise to do my best to keep our class safe.”
“Introductions are taking a long time, can we just get this over with,” Byakuya complains as everyone looks over.
“I for one agree,” a deep voice speaks as everyone looks around.
“What the hell was that?” Leon yells.
“Someone besides us is here,” the girl from before said as she yawned again. Geez how tired is she?
“Of course, I am. It’s mee!!” A stuffed wolf(?) appeared. “Monosali at your service.”
“A stuffed animal is speaking?” A guy I haven’t met yet screamed.
“We can all see that Hifumi...” Taeko sighed hiding slightly behind him.
“Don’t worry Ms. Yasuhiro I will protect you,” Hifumi stated.
“Ms? I am a man,” a tall druggie(?) stated.
“I think he’s talking to me Yasuhiro,” Taeko said.
“Oh...” So, he’s Yasuhiro and that one is Hifumi less people to introduce myself to.
“Who exactly are you Monosali?” Junko asked.
“I am your headmaster of course.” He started his deep voice ringing throughout the room.
“A stuffed teddy, our headmaster? Yeah, the jokes over, reveal yourself your trick isn’t fucking funny,” a man with a weird hairstyle state.
“Mondo, I have told you such language is not school appropriate,” the annoying one yelled.
“Shut the hell up, Kiyotaka,” Mondo yelled back.
“Enough students. One I am no stuffed teddy. And two there is no trick. In fact, if you shut up, I will explain how your infinite term at Despair’s Peak Academy will go,” he says as we all go quiet and look at him. “Wonderful, now that you all shut up. I shall explain, welcome students to your first day of the rest of your sad useless lives.”
“What do you mean the rest?” Mukuro says covering Junko.
“You’re all stuck here with no escape unless you do something...”
“What?” I ask.
“Kill.” He gets straight to the point, his deep voice resounding in our ears.
“WHAT?” students scream in disbelief.
“What’s so confusing. Just kill and get away with it and you can leave Scott free. As simple as that. I don’t care how, execution style, burned alive, 20 stab wounds. I’ve seen them all before.” Monosali laughs.
“You’re crazy no one here is going to do that,” I say in anger as the others back me up.
“Is that all you wanted wolf,” the tired girl from before walks up with her arms crossed.
“Yeah, yeah I’m done, bye now,” Monosali disappears. What the fuck just happened? I asked myself as everyone looked around at one another.
“No one is going to actually kill right?” Taeko asks in fear.
“Of course not! Why would someone murder their own classmates,” Kiyotaka shouts.
“Must you always talk in caps lock and be wrong. You cannot talk for everyone here, I’m sure some people are already planning to screw everyone around them over to escape... I'll do this out loud. I am Kyoko Kirigiri, Ultimate Detective. Goodbye,” she says as she walks out the gym leaving everyone dumbfounded.
The gym falls into an uncomfortable silence after Kyoko’s departure. Her words hang heavy in the air – the possibility that someone among us might actually consider murder.
“She’s wrong,” Junko declares suddenly, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by something more serious. “We can’t let that stupid wolf get to us. We’re stronger than that!” Mukuro stands close to her sister, eyes constantly scanning the room for threats.
“Perhaps we should establish some ground rules,” Sakura suggests, her deep voice commanding attention. “To ensure everyone’s safety."
“Like what? A buddy system?” Leon asks, trying to mask his nervousness with bravado.
“That’s actually not a bad idea,” I find myself saying. “We should never be alone – it’s safer in groups.”
Taeko peeks out from behind Hifumi, her voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe… maybe we could also agree to certain curfew hours? So no one walks around at night?”
“Don’t worry, Taeko,” Hifumi says gently, his usual boisterous attitude softened when addressing her. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to you. Big brother Hifumi won’t let anyone hurt his favorite kouhai!”
“A curfew is an excellent suggestion,” Kiyotaka announces, somehow managing to look both worried and optimistic. “We shall create a proper committee to establish these rules!”
“Oh please,” Makoto interrupts with a confident smirk. “You guys are worrying too much. I’m the Ultimate Lucky Student – luck is literally on our side! Nothing bad can happen with me here.”
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“Luck won’t stop a knife,” Byakuya mutters, though he seems to be listening despite his apparent disinterest.
“Come on, Mukuro,” Junko says, tugging at her sister’s sleeve. “We should check out the rest of this place. I don’t trust that wolf thing.”
“Right behind you,” Mukuro responds immediately, following Junko toward the exit.
As the others break into smaller groups, Sakura approaches me. “Asahina,” she says quietly. “I meant what I said earlier about protecting our classmates. Would you be willing to work together? Two sets of eyes are better than one.”
I look up at her strong, determined face and feel a surge of relief. “Yes, absolutely! And please, call me Hina.”
“Very well, Hina,” she says with a slight smile. “We should start by mapping out the accessible areas of the school. Knowledge of our surroundings could be crucial.”
I notice Taeko still hovering near Hifumi, nervously playing with the hem of her uniform. Despite his eccentric personality, Hifumi seems to have taken on a protective role with her. At least she won’t be alone.
“We’re going to be okay,” I tell Sakura, trying to convince myself as much as her. “No one’s going to kill anyone. We’ll find another way out.”
Sakura nods solemnly. “Yes. Together."
As we leave the gym, I can’t shake the feeling that things aren’t quite what they seem. But with Sakura by my side, I feel stronger. Whatever game this Monosali thinks we’re playing, we’ll prove him wrong.
We have to.
After leaving the gym, everyone splits into their groups to investigate. Sakura and I head towards the dorms first, my stomach already growling.
“Maybe we should check the kitchen after this,” I suggest, thinking longingly of donuts. Even in a crisis, a girl’s got to eat!
“Focus, Hina,” Sakura says, but there’s warmth in her voice. “The dorms are crucial to our safety.”
The dormitory hallway stretches before us, eerily quiet. Each door has an electronic lock and nameplate, similar to a hotel but somehow more… permanent.
“Each room has a nameplate,” I say, running my fingers over the metal surface of mine. The material is cold and solid under my touch. “They really weren’t kidding about us staying here long-term, were they?”
“The locks appear to be electronic,” Sakura demonstrates by pressing her ElectroID against the sensor of her door. It clicks open with a soft beep. “At least we have private spaces.”
While examining the halls, we hear furious scratching sounds. Around the corner, we find a girl I haven’t met yet, scribbling intensely in a notebook, muttering to herself.
“Oh! You must be the last student I haven’t met. I’m Aoi Asahina!” I say cheerfully, trying to break the tension.
She jumps like a startled cat, clutching her notebook to her chest so hard her knuckles turn white. “D-don’t sneak up on me like that! W-what do you want? Are you here to m-mock my writing?” Her eyes dart between us suspiciously. “I-I’m Toko Fukawa… Ultimate Writing Prodigy. Not that you c-care…”
“Your work is quite well-known,” Sakura says calmly. “I’ve read several of your novels.”
“A m-martial artist who reads romance? D-don’t make fun of me!” Toko backs away, still clutching her notebook before darting down the hall.
“That was… weird,” I mutter, watching her disappear around the corner.
“Everyone copes differently,” Sakura observes. “Some retreat into themselves.”
A crash echoes through the halls, followed by shouting. Mondo and Taka’s voices carry clearly through the corridor.
“You can’t just kick down doors!” Taka’s voice bounces off the walls. “This is school property!”
“How else are we supposed to check if they’re hiding shit behind them?!” Mondo’s deep voice rumbles back. “Your hall monitor bullshit won’t help us escape!”
“As the Ultimate Moral Compass, I cannot allow such destruction of-“
“Shove your compass up your-“
“LANGUAGE!”
In the library, Byakuya has claimed the most ornate chair at a mahogany table, surrounded by stacks of books about prison architecture and school histories. Yasuhiro sits cross-legged on the floor nearby, waving his hands over his crystal ball, while Makoto reclines carelessly in another chair, feet up on the table.
“My luck says there’s definitely a secret passage in here,” Makoto declares, flipping a coin and catching it without looking. “Ultimate Luck never fails!”
“Your ‘luck’ hasn’t found us anything useful in the past hour,” Byakuya doesn’t bother looking up from his book. “Unlike some of us who are actually researching.”
“Hey, hey! The spirits are saying something!” Yasuhiro’s face scrunches in concentration. “They’re saying… no, wait, that was definitely gas. Sorry, dudes.”
“Thirty percent accuracy strikes again,” Byakuya mutters.
“Better than zero percent, which is what you’ve found,” Makoto smirks. “Just wait – my luck will get us out of here!”
“Your talent isn’t even real,” Byakuya finally looks up, adjusting his glasses. “It’s just a lottery win. Nothing more.”
“Says the guy who's talent is being born rich,” Makoto shoots back, still grinning.
The AV Room hums with electricity as Sayaka, Chihiro, and Leon systematically check each computer. Chihiro’s fingers fly across keyboards while Leon and Sayaka watch in amazement.
“They’re all disconnected from the internet,” Chihiro sighs, shoulders slumping. “The firewall is unlike anything I’ve seen before… but maybe I can find a way to bypass the restrictions. Give me time.”
“You can do that?” Sayaka asks, her idol persona slipping to show genuine hope.
“Hell yeah! Chihiro’s a programming genius,” Leon grins, causing Chihiro to blush bright red. “Between that and my sports skills, we’ll bust out of here in no time!”
“Your baseball skills won’t help with computers, Leon,” Sayaka giggles.
“No, but I bet I could break down a door or two!”
“Please don’t,” Chihiro mumbles, still focused on the screen. “We don’t want to make anything worse…”
In a quiet corridor, Junko examines the walls with exaggerated interest while Mukuro stands guard nearby. They encounter Kyoko doing her own methodical investigation.
“Find anything interesting?” Junko asks, twirling her hair. “This place is like, totally weird, right?”
“Cameras,” Kyoko responds without breaking her concentration, eyes scanning the corners. “They’re well-hidden.”
“Geez, creepy much?” Junko shivers. “Come on, Mukuro, let’s check somewhere else. This detective is giving me the creeps!”
Mukuro follows her sister, but not before exchanging a brief, unreadable look with Kyoko.
The art room’s high ceilings and scattered sculptures cast strange shadows as Hifumi helps Taeko reach the higher shelves.
“Nothing dangerous up here, Taeko-chan!” he announces proudly. “Though these art supplies could make excellent manga materials…”
“Thank you, Hifumi,” Taeko says quietly, staying close to him. “I… I don’t like being alone in here. The statues… they feel like they’re watching.”
“Then stick with your big brother! No statue would dare mess with the Alpha and the Omega!” He strikes a protective pose, making Taeko smile slightly.
“You’re ridiculous sometimes… but thank you.”
After two hours of searching, we gather in the cafeteria. I immediately head to the kitchen, returning with a plate of donuts that earns me an amused look from Sakura. The tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a knife as everyone shares their findings.
“The windows are completely sealed,” Sakura reports, standing tall despite the grim news. “Even my strength cannot break them. The material appears to be reinforced.”
“The stairs to the second floor are blocked by a steel gate,” Mukuro adds professionally, while Junko examines her nails beside her. “No obvious way to open it.”
“All external communications are blocked,” Chihiro reports quietly. “The programming is… advanced.”
“M-maybe we should just… do what the wolf says…” Toko mutters from her corner, earning glares. “W-what? You were all thinking it!”
“Absolutely not!” Taka stands up so fast his chair screeches against the floor. “As your moral compass, I cannot allow-“
“Shut your fucking mouth about being our moral compass!” Mondo slams his hands on the table, making the dishes rattle. “You ain’t in charge here!”
“Someone needs to maintain order!”
“Oh yeah? And who decided that would be you?”
I can’t take it anymore. Grabbing another donut, I stand up. “This is ridiculous,” I mutter, walking out. Their voices follow me into the hall until I hear different footsteps – Sakura.
“They’re afraid,” she says simply, keeping pace with me. “Fear makes people act irrationally.”
“I know, but…” I take a frustrated bite of my donuts. “There has to be a way out. What if we tried the trash room? Or maybe the air ducts?”
“We’ll check everything,” Sakura assures me. “Together. But we must be careful – anyone could be watching.”
In a hidden room filled with monitors, a figure observes our conversation with cold calculation. Their finger hovers over a button marked “EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN” as they watch us discuss possible escape routes.
“Not yet,” they murmur, leaning back in their chair. “Let them settle in first. Let them think they’re safe.” A small smile plays across their lips. “After all… hope tastes sweetest right before it shatters.”
Back in the hallway, I finish my donut, trying to shake off the creepy feeling crawling up my spine. Something about this place feels wrong – beyond the obvious trapped-in-a-school thing. But with Sakura beside me, I feel braver.
“Tomorrow,” I declare, brushing sugar from my fingers. “Tomorrow we’ll find a way out.”
The figure watching the monitors clicks off our feed, switching to observe other students. Their plans are already in motion. Tomorrow would bring something alright – but not escape.
Not for us.
After all the chaos of the day, everyone slowly filters out of the cafeteria toward their dorm rooms. I watch as Sakura gives me a final nod before heading to her room. Even Taka and Mondo seem too exhausted to continue their argument.
The hallways grow quiet, footsteps fading into silence. Almost everyone.
In the dimly lit cafeteria, three figures remain. Junko sits at one of the tables, her usual bubbly demeanor subdued as she flips through the pages on her ElectroID. Mukuro stands nearby, ever vigilant, while Kyoko leans against a wall, arms crossed.
“So,” Kyoko breaks the silence first. “You noticed it too.”
Junko looks up, her face uncharacteristically serious. “The black page? Hard to miss when you’re looking for it.”
“The murder board,” Mukuro says quietly. “It’s locked now, but…”
“It won’t stay that way,” Kyoko pushes off from the wall and approaches their table. “Just like the rules section. Only the basic regulations are visible now.”
Junko flicks through the pages again. “No violence against the headmaster, no destruction of surveillance cameras, nighttime is from 10 PM to 7 AM…” She pauses. “But there’s clearly more. You can see the locked sections.”
“They’re going to add more rules as we go,” Kyoko observes. “Probably after each… incident.”
A heavy silence falls between them.
“There’s something else,” Kyoko continues, her lavender eyes fixed on Junko. “About your talent.”
Mukuro tenses instantly, moving closer to her sister, but Junko raises a hand to stop her.
“Oh?” Junko’s voice is light, but there’s an edge to it. “What about my amazing fashion sense?”
“Ultimate Fashionista is a good cover,” Kyoko says carefully. “But it’s not your only talent, is it? Not your true talent.”
The siblings exchange a look before Junko’s posture changes subtly. Her eyes sharpen, calculating. “And what makes you say that, Miss Detective?”
“The way you analyze everything. How quickly you pick up on patterns. The fact that you noticed the locked sections of the ElectroID almost immediately.” Kyoko’s voice remains neutral. “Ultimate Analyst, perhaps?
For a moment, no one moves. Then Junko laughs, but it’s different from her usual giggle. “Well, well! Looks like we’ve got a real detective on our hands, sis!”
“Junko…” Mukuro warns, but Junko waves her off again.
“It’s fine, it’s fine! She’s right, after all.” Junko leans forward, resting her chin on her hand. “So what now? Going to tell everyone?”
“No,” Kyoko says simply. “Because I think we need each other.”
“Oh?”
“Three Ultimates with unique skills. A soldier, an analyst, and a detective.” Kyoko pulls out her own ElectroID. “In a game like this, allies are essential.”
“And why should we trust you?” Mukuro asks, her voice cold.
“Because I’m the only one who’s noticed your true talent,” Kyoko replies, looking at Junko. “And because I suspect we all want the same thing – to figure out who’s really behind this.”
Junko studies Kyoko for a long moment before a smile spreads across her face – not her usual cheerful grin, but something more calculated. “An alliance, huh? Could be interesting…”
“Junko,” Mukuro starts, but her sister cuts her off.
“No, she’s right, sis. We’re stronger together.” Junko stands, extending her hand to Kyoko. “Partners?”
Kyoko takes her hand. “Partners.”
Mukuro watches the exchange with an unreadable expression before nodding slightly. “We should go. It’s almost nighttime.”
As if on cue, the monitors throughout the school crackle to life. Monosali’s deep voice echoes through the halls: “Attention students! It is now 10 PM. Nighttime is officially in effect. The cafeteria will be locked shortly. Sweet dreams… while you can still have them!”
The three girls share one final look before heading their separate ways. In the darkness of the hallway, Junko’s voice carries softly: “Tomorrow should be… interesting.”
The first night at Hope's Peak Academy – no, Despair’s Peak Academy – settles in like a heavy blanket. In their rooms, sixteen students try to sleep, each wondering what tomorrow will bring.
None of them suspect that for one of them, tomorrow might be their last night alive.
The game is about to begin.