Rebirth into Despair

Another day slipped by in indolence, the vibrant allure of the outside world—scenic views, lively gatherings with classmates, or dates with a girlfriend—holding no sway over my spirit.

Indeed! A true man, one might say, was currently sequestered in his dorm room, engrossed in video games. At this very moment, I was deep into Danganronpa’s Non-Stop Debate, or more precisely, a class trial.

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Propelled by the pulsating rhythm of the background music, I eagerly manipulated my truth bullet, poised to shatter contradictions and expose lies. Yet, the instant I pressed the spacebar to focus, a sudden wave of dizziness swept over me, and the screen before my eyes began to shimmer with ghostly afterimages.

‘Huh? Am I getting presbyopia already? Is something wrong with me at only twenty-one?!’ The very instant I unhesitatingly clicked the left mouse button, launching a truth bullet to strike its vital point, my vision abruptly dissolved into darkness. My upper body slumped forward, collapsing onto the keyboard. ‘I… as I suspected…’

****

“Rather than living in despair, it’s better to start anew…” A clear female voice, laced with an unmistakable despair, echoed through the vast, empty darkness.

“Who?!” I cried out, my voice trembling with terror, into the oppressive darkness.

“Please… live for me…” The female voice grew fainter and fainter, leaving me utterly unable to pinpoint its origin.

“What do you mean, ‘live for you’?! Hey!” I desperately tried to elicit a response from the girl, but from the depths of the darkness, I perceived nothing but an endless void.

“Wake up… Classmate.” I heard it, a faint whisper, yet distinct enough for me to perceive.

“Classmate? Classmate? Wake up…” Indeed, it was a pleasant, youthful male voice. I struggled to break free from the darkness, finally managing to squeeze a sliver of light from the void, and with all my might, I tore open that faint glimmer.

A blurry face materialized before me, and within seconds, its features grew increasingly distinct.

His appearance was unremarkable, his featureless face marked by a modest smile. Within his rather small eyes, a gentle, trustworthy gaze shone forth.

He sported an unassuming haircut, his short, neatly trimmed gray hair appearing clean and sharp, with a few strands of bangs swaying gently across his forehead. His light blue pupils stood out strikingly on his face, while his light gray hoodie, black casual pants, and black sneakers accentuated his youthful, yet-to-mature aura.

“You’re awake, Classmate. How do you feel?” he asked gently.

“Where am I?… How did I get here?” The words emerged from my mouth, and the soft, unfamiliar timbre made me pause. ‘Wait… was that my voice? Why was my voice so delicate? That couldn’t have been me speaking… Could it have been my voice?’

Noticing the shock etched across my face, the boy quickly responded, “Are… are you alright?” He extended his right hand to me.

“Thank you.” Taking his hand, I slowly rose from the ground. The boy’s words of concern, however, snapped me out of my daze, reminding me of my bewildered state. ‘I should first observe my surroundings.’

“Actually, I just woke up myself, just a little earlier than you. I have no idea what happened.”

“This looks like a classroom at Hope’s Peak Academy, doesn’t it?”

“Ho… Hope’s Peak Academy?!” My voice trembled, betraying my shock.

“Y-yes, that’s right. What’s wrong? Could it be you’re not a student here?” Faced with my reaction, he asked with a puzzled expression.

“Is it that Hope’s Peak Academy, the school that gathers super-elite high school students from all fields?” I asked him, regaining my composure.

“Yes, but what’s strange is that all the classroom windows are tightly boarded up with steel plates, as if to isolate us from the outside world… Oh, I forgot to introduce myself! Hello, my name is Takagi Masahiko, and I’m the Ultimate Lucky Student.” He said, smiling.

‘Ultimate Lucky Student?!’ This particular talent immediately brought to mind Makoto Naegi and Nagito Komaeda—two individuals who possessed similar abilities but were vastly different in personality. It seemed I had most likely been reborn into the world of Danganronpa, though I had no idea what specific period I was in.

“That’s a powerful ability.”

“Eh, eh? Really?… I always thought I was just an ordinary, unremarkable person, simply chosen by luck to become a Hope’s Peak Academy student. Still, thank you for praising this ability of mine.” He scratched his head shyly, turning his face away, his earlobes faintly reddened.

“By the way, I still don’t know your name.”

“I…”

‘Wait, am I… still myself? Do I have an existing name, or none at all?’ Suddenly, the miniature display screen in the upper right corner of the classroom blackboard began emitting a continuous static noise, accompanied by a familiar voice.

“Ah, ah, ah… Can you hear me…? Microphone check… Microphone check… Can you hear me? Everyone’s here now, Upupupupu… Well then, let the entrance ceremony officially begin!”

The display screen revealed a Monokuma plushie seated in a plush chair, its single red eye particularly striking.

“Everyone, please assemble in the gymnasium immediately. Oh, and by the way, if anyone is absent, I’ll prepare a special punishment for them, Upupupupu…” That voice grew increasingly unsettling, as if countless silver needles were piercing my skin, leaving me unable to move.

“The, the plushie spoke?! Is that for real?!” he exclaimed in shock at the absurd and comical scene unfolding before him.

“That’s not the main point right now. Let’s head to the gymnasium first.” I calmly walked out of the classroom.

“Wait, wait…! You still haven’t told me your name.”

“…………”

“I forgot.”

“Eh, eh?” He uttered a confused sound, like a question mark. By then, I had already noticed that this wasn’t my original body. The mere presence of the two… slimes on my chest had already made me question my entire existence. ‘And there’s even something extra~ No, wait! Why am I getting so engrossed in these things!’

Yes, I had become a girl—a girl with a flawless appearance.

‘AAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!! Even now, I was still trying to act calm. What a performance I was putting on…’

“I’m sorry, did I ruin your mood?” Takagi-kun gently consoled me.

“It’s irrelevant. In any case… let’s hurry to the gym.”

“Oh, right…”

On the left side of the classroom door, there was a large door, and a closer look revealed the words “Gymnasium” clearly written above it. Standing at the entrance, we both instinctively paused.

“What’s wrong? Feeling nervous?” I asked him, feigning composure, though as someone with social anxiety, claiming I wasn’t nervous at all would be a lie!

“Mm, mm… Now that you mention it, I’m even more nervous…”

Indeed, beyond that door were the companions we were about to meet. In this world of mutual killing, could I truly survive? Who exactly was I? Did I possess an Ultimate ability like theirs? As if having made some profound decision, I pushed open the door before us. A group of unfamiliar faces awaited us.