Chapter Text
"Okay, look I get that you love this show or whatever, but why in God's green earth does the protagonist run like that..?"
"You're missing the point, Y/n!"
"Yeah, shitwad, he's Hajime fucking Hinata. If I was a man with legs like that, I'd run exactly the same-"
"Boohoo, you're not," you taunt, narrowly avoiding the pillow she chucks back at your face, "I just don't get it. How come the protagonists all receive someone's underwear if they hang out enough? Or the guy that somehow got turned into butter but still had a slot in the morgue? Is there just a tub of butter in there or..?"
Kaede tackles you into a hug, lunging onto the king-sized bed, as her arms wrap around your own,
"The original is spontaneous, wild and exhilarating! If you think these are bad, wait 'till you get to season 38. Some stupid producer decided that they were gonna have a baby win the whole thing!"
The girl suppresses a shudder, rubbing her hands along the sleeves of her navy blue uniform.
"Oi, Bakamatsu!" yells the strawberry blonde on the floor, "you almost knocked my computer off!"
You deadpan.
"You mean the computer I single-handedly built and coded?"
"That you gave to me?"
"Fuck off, Irumass."
"Dickwad."
"Shitface."
"Bitchass."
"Titless."
A gasp, before she dives at you,
"You take that back Y/n!"
At least Kaede has the intelligence to pick up the computer - blasting that irritating trial music on full volume. The blonde girl rolls her eyes and hops off the bed, allowing you to be mauled by Miu, as she tries to shove you headfirst onto the floor.
That continues for a few more minutes, before Kaede sighs and says,
"You two are missing the good part.."
Miu perks her head up from underneath you,
"You mean Mikan's crashout?"
"Oh great.." you frown, clambering off the blue-eyed girl and resigning to your usual spot on her pink bedspread, "let's create a deep, emotional character with a sad backstory only to have her snap and become a complete fanservice ploy in her death-"
"Shut up," Kaede snaps, sliding in between you and Miu as she places the computer by your feet.
Miu snorts as you go silent, before falling quiet herself at the blonde girl's glare. You stick your tongue out at her, before resting your head on Kaede's shoulder.
It's not long before you begin getting bored. You adore your friends, of course you do - you've known them since you were five and they ran up to you in class, asking for you to be a dog in their family game - but Danganronpa... yeah, you don't see the appeal.
Okay, the characters are hot.
Like.. REALLY HOT.
But the idea of being locked away and isolated, forced to murder for the chance at freedom, well, it doesn't particularly tickle your fancy.
The execution dies down, and you watch, disheartened, as the group of teenagers gather around their podiums, grieving the betrayal of a friend.
The last thing you hear before you fall asleep, is Monokuma's irritating voice.
***
You're rudely awakened with a slap to the face and a loud,
"Wake up, bitch!"
As you blink the sleep out of your eyes, you meet piercing blue ones staring back at you, soft eyelashes fluttering and cheeks flushed.
"Miu... being degraded is your kink, not mine."
She rolls her eyes, and you notice she's changed out of her school uniform, and into...
"Hey! Is that my top?" you ask, grabbing her hand as she squeals.
"Eeee!ย It just... er.. looked comfy," she says, twirling her hair around her finger, in a shy demeanor, before forcing on a cocky smile, "I'm surprised my ginormous boobs could fit in a top made for your puny little tits!"
You ignore her.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" she leans towards your face, invading any semblance of personal space you wanted to keep.
"Jeez okay, just stop straddling my legs."
She does so, although begrudgingly, as she flops out on the bottom of the bed. You look to the side, realising that your makeshift pillow had left the room.
"Hmm? Where's Kaede?"
"Oh, she left to grab you some blankets."
Your heart swells with affection, smiling fondly,
"Y'know for all her talk about hating humanity, she does seem to care about us rather a lot."
As if on cue, the purple-eyed girl appears, now changed into a short lilac nightgown.
"Shut up, no I don't," she responds, but still chucks the blankets on the bed anyways.
"So where did you two get to in the show? Sorry for falling asleep as well... I know you wanted to watch it."
"Well, they've just discovered Mechomaru's body," Kaede explains, reaching for the laptop on the bedside table as she opens it and types the password in.
"Hey!" Miu interjects, staring at Kaede with contempt, "how do you know the password, Kaediot-"
"Please," you laugh, "we all know it's 'junkohasbigtatas', you're not fooling anyone buddy."
"Oh.. how I aspire to be like her.." Miu sighs dreamily.
"What, a genocidal abuser and groomer?"
"No? A big-titted baddie."
"I don't know why I even bother with you two," Kaede murmurs as she clicks the play button.
The screen flickers for a moment, before cutting to an advert. The background morphs into two solid colours, one half black, the other white. In the middle, stands a robot that you're all too familiar with.
Monokuma.
'Puhuhuhu, sorry to interrupt whatever you kids watch these days - probably porn, am I right?'
You shoot a directed glance at Miu, before getting elbowed by Kaede.
'Are you a fan of Danganronpa? Would you do anything to be a part of your favourite show? And I mean... anything..? If you're a teenager with a gruesome passion for murder and execution, sign up to be a part of our 53rd season... and see if you'll live to tell the tale!
If you're too chicken, then stay in and get ready for another season of THRILLS, CHILLS, KILLS..!'
The screen cuts off, returning to the show, where Nagito (the one you like to call 'Hope Fetish') stands, holding a gun to his forehead.
You expect Kaede to hit the play button.
But she doesn't.
Silence.
Silence.
Hot and unbearable.
Kaede turns to the two of you with a blissful smile on her face.
"You guys.. did you hear that..?"
Miu looks in a sense of shock.
"Wait.. you're not thinking of-" you ask.
"Of course I am! I've been waiting for this opportunity my whole life."
"Kaede-" you begin, stomach churning at the idea of her becoming another one of those lifeless corpses, oozing blood that's been coloured pink - all to make the audience feel safer.
"We should all sign up together!" Kaede announces, staring between the two of you with a look of almost childish excitement.
"Fuck yeah!" Miu cheers, shock morphing into glee.
They look to you.
Friends of over ten years, ready to sign their life away.
They'll die. No doubt about it.
You want no part in it.
So...
You don't know what compels you to say,
"Okay."
Well... you've always had a soft spot for your friends.
***
You regret it even more, three days later, as you stand in your trio, amongst hundreds of clamouring teenagers, desperate to become a part of a real-life killing game. You came straight from school, to meet the other two, each dressed in their normal uniform, where you were all assigned a number.
Kaede's navy seifuku is ironed, skirt pleats pressed to perfection. Her usually sloppy red ascot is neat, each side perfectly even. Wavy blonde hair, remains the same, pinned back with the silver hair clips you'd gifted eachother on your last day of middle school - before the three of you had entered a different high school. Her purple eyes glimmer with a spark she often lacks (only shining around you two), and her eyelashes are painted with mascara.
Miu's outfit remains usual - an almost welcome sight for you. Her white shirt is buttoned just as low as it has been since seventh grade when she finally got boobs and wouldn't shut up about it. Her orange ribbon helps her maintain some semblance of dignity, checked pattern obscuring part of her cleavage. Her brown skirt (laced with threads of green) is hiked up to mid-thigh, pairing with navy blue socks - of her own choosing. She also shares the clips at the side of her hair, just like you and Kaede.
A memento of your timeless friendship.
You look at all the faces surrounding you. These people are willing to end their lives. Your friends are no different.
That's why you're here.
You will protect them.
No matter the cost.
"God, all these pervs keep rubbing up against me," Miu groans, turning to yell at some poor group of boys beside her, "yeah, I know I'm hot but I don't sell out for virgin assholes like you. Scram!"
She sidles up beside you, as you stare at her,
"Now, who's the perv?"
"We're both girls.. I don't see an issue," the strawberry-blonde says, inching closer to you as she drapes her head on your shoulder.
"Miu.. we can see your drool," Kaede points out, grinning as the other girl flushes and not-so-subtly dabs at the side of her mouth.
"Wow, Irumass.. I thought my boobs were too small for me to be your type..."
"The beautiful Miu Iruma needs no type! She pulls absolutely anyone!" laughs the girl, azure eyes twinkling.
"Is that why the last time you tried, you ended up getting bitch-slapped by the sluttiest girl in my school?" Kaede teases.
"How should I have known it was a bad move!?"
"You went up to her," you turn to Akamatsu, and demonstrate exactly what Miu had done, even imitating her voice, "and tilted her head up, swiped your thumb along her lip, and said 'you look tired... wanna sit on my face..?'. What part of you really thought that would work?"
You turn to stare at Miu, trying not to laugh as her cheeks redden with embarrassment. You don't notice the dumbstruck look on Kaede's face, purple eyes trying to comprehend what just happened.
"So, er what talents do you guys want?" the blue-eyed girl scrabbles for another topic of conversation.
"Some kind of musician, I think," responds the blonde, "my mom used to make me take those shitty piano lessons when I was a kid. Be a shame to let them go to waste."
"I wanna be a designer," Miu announces, striking some pose as if she were the main character of a shonen anime, "I love tinkering with shit. Granted, most chemistry stuff blows up in my face, but I could be a designer, I reckon. Hmm, I'd be just like Junko..."
"Do you have an older sister you abuse too or..."
"Shut your ass up, we all know you're a Mukuro stan, okay!"
"I'm just saying....."
Kaede whistles, cutting in-between the both of you,
"God, it's like dealing with toddlers. No wonder the world's gone tits up.." she pushes a strand of hair out of her face, before grabbing your hand excitedly, "what're you going to be, Y/n!?"
"Oh.. er..I dunno.."
"You don't know!?" Miu yells, voice dangerously close to your ear, "what the fuck kinda audition are you gonna pull, dickwad?"
"Jesus, bitch, get off my ass.." you pause for thought, "maybe like a detective? I mean Kyoko was hot as hell and I think going for that kinda vibe would be cool.."
"Excuse me.." comes a voice, timid yet excited, "did I hear you say you wanted to be a detective?"
You look over to see a boy dressed in a neat suit. He sports a grey button down, with a dark blue (borderline black) blazer, his trousers matching. His tie is a neutral shade of blue mixed with thin grey stripes - the same colour as his eyes, which are staring into your own with an intensity that makes your skin crawl. The boy has dark blue hair, messy yet textured, almost completely obscured by the black baseball cap that rests atop his head, positioned on a sideways angle. His smile seems genuine, but it holds something deeper within it.
He's just like your friends - obsessed with this game.
"Who the fuck do you think you're talking to, perv?"
"A-Ah.. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to come off-"
"Bullshit. I bet you only wear that cap so you can get off on staring at my girlfriend's ass! Ha! Well, tough luck bud! She never wears her skirt higher than lower thigh - even with me!"
You whack the girl round the back of the head.
"Ew, Miu, stop," you hold your hand out to shake his, "first of all, I'm Y/n L/n. Second of all, I amย NOTย her girlfriend - she can keep dreaming."
He extends his own hand to meet yours, sweaty palms and trembling fingers,
"Ah, I'm Shuichi Saihara. I've always dreamed of being the Ultimate Detective!"
He smiles, wistfully, much to the chagrin of your friends.
"Awesome, now if you're done, we have an interview to get to," Kaede gives him one last snarky smile before dragging you by your hand, "sorry to interrupt your potential hook-up, but they just called numbers 131, 132 and 133, so um, that's us."
"Not a potential hook-up-"
"Yeah, she's mine anyways.."
"Who decided that!?"
"I called dibs on her ass before you, Kaediot!"
"That was the 3rd grade, Miu, you didn't even know what sex was back then!?"
"Yes I did Y/n? You remember when we caught your parents fucking like rabbits in the laundry room-"
"Eugh, I'd rather not."
"Easy for you to say! They're not your fucking parents!"
"Gah, Miu, why do I let you distract us?" Kaede groans, continuing past the bustle of teenagers and into the building that looms ahead.
It's designed to look exactly like a tacky version of Monokuma. One half of the building is black, the other white, and in bright red lettering it reads:
'TEAM DANGANRONPA'
You sigh and enter, regretting every single decision that had led you up to this moment. Once you're in, the three of you look upon three doors, each with a screen in front of them, that reads one of your numbers. The one to the left is further down the corridor, as is the one to the right.
Kaede's door (number 131) is to the left, and looks like the entrance to a large hall, fit to be classed as a gym. Miu's (number 133) is to the right, and it looks like a normal classroom. Your door is in the middle (number 132), and looks to be your average office.
The three of you look at eachother, and you squeeze both of their hands, Kaede on the left and Miu on the right.
"Guys.. promise me," you say, taking a deep breath, "if one of us doesn't get casted, we all don't go, okay?"
A pause.
"Of course," Miu grins, cocky smile you've grown fond of (not that she'd ever need that ego boost), "it'd be so much less fun without my fav slut!"
You don't glare at her, just roll your eyes with affection.
"I'd be pretty pissed.. but, yeah, we've always stuck together."
Kaede smiles at you, before turning to leave for the corridor, as Miu does the same.
"Good luck guys!" you shout, before stepping toward your own interview.
You know what you have to do.
You're going to absolutelyย BOMBย this interview.
You're no less excited when you enter the office. It's strewn with pictures and posters of every danganronpa character you can recall. Series after series line the walls, and god, the amount of Junko Enoshima merch makes you vaguely ill. Stuffed Monokuma teddies peak out from in-between transcripts on a book-case, and in the corner, there's a complete cosplay of the Ultimate Despair, gathering dust on a mannequin.
The most sickening part of it, however, is the girl who looks to be your age, sat behind the desk with a camera and a notepad. A girl you are unfortunately familiar with.
Tsumugi Shirogane, from the 52nd Killing Game.
"Number?" comes her voice, bored and honeyed.
Fake.
"Number 132, Y/n L/n."
"Very good," she responds, "have a seat."
The seat is half black, half white, because of fucking course it is. You meet the girl's eyes and get a proper look at her. Truthfully, most would say she looked like a complete and total plain-Jane. Not you, though. She's numerous things, malicious, spiteful, obsessed and even rather pretty.
Okay, totally attractive.
But, she's definitely notย plain.
Her eyes are a shape-shifting shade of blue, for in one minute, they appear turquoise in the light and the next, almost royal blue, before changing to a dulled grey. One thing about them remains the same; they're narrowed, calculating. Silver-rimmed glasses perch on her nose, just low enough for you to glimpse her eyelashes peeking above the lenses. Her hair is the shade of blueberries, and falls in long, wavy locks. Even her suit is bland, white shirt and black pencil skirt, a small orange ribbon tied around her neck. She really is much prettier in person.
Everything about her is comprised to make her seem ordinary - to hide the evil you can see deep in her eyes.
"Tsumugi Shirogane, pleasure to meet you, L/n-san," she says, rehearsed and robotic as she lolls her head on her hands.
"Don't worry, I know who you are,ย Shirogane-sama."
The honorfic isn't used for respect, no, it's an obvious taunt. The girl can tell, it's clear in the way her eye twitches, shocked by your rudeness. You would feel some remorse, but in the long-term, it's to keep your friends safe.
"So why do you want to be part of Danganronpa..ย L/n-san?"
She cocks her head to the side, eyes steely - meeting your dislike completely and totally.
"Can I be truthful with you,ย Shirogane-sama?" you lean in, as if about to tell her something top secret, "I hate this show."
Her eyebrow raises, as her teeth clench. You can tell she's desperate to hop across the desk and pummel you herself.
"The writing is lazy and the premise is ridiculous. I want no part in it."
"Well, the exit is inย plainย sight,ย L/n-san-"
"Ah ah ah," you tut, smirking at her, "don't you know it's quite rude to cut people off,ย Shirogane-sama?ย As I was saying, I think Danganronpa is quite literally a pile of shit. But, I've been guilt-tripped into auditioning by my stupid friends, so, here I am."
You bite back the 'get a fucking eyeful, four-eyes', because that would be too Miu of you - and youย do notย want to model yourself off of her.
"I see..." she forces her polite smile back on, "well, it's rare that we ever have friends join the show together."
"Hmm," you tap your cheek, "aren't you and Amami friends? That's what you told the audience after your escape, isn't it? But, if I'm correct, you're both planning to enter this killing game together?"
"That's-"
"Let me guess, you plan to be the mastermind, and pull off some grand reveal? Ah, I can just imagine it!"
Your teasing seems to have had the intended affect, as she lunges over her table and grabs your collar - tugging you towards her,
"Listen here,ย you fucking-"
"In front of the cameras?ย My, my,ย you sure are loosing your touch."
She sighs and withdraws her hands, remembering that the audience may need to see these tapes in future.
"So, what would you like your talent to be,ย L/n-san?"
"I thought you'd never ask,ย Tsu-chan!"
She flinches.
"I'd like to be theย Ultimate Actress."
"Mm.. and what makes you think you're qualified for that?"
"Well.. I'm acting as though I like you right now, aren't I?"
"Not very well, to beย plainlyย honest."
"Aww... that justย plainlyย hurts my feelings! But, I hope you know that adding 'plain' to every sentence just makes you look suspicious."
The girl looks down at her watch, and smiles back at you, completely and totally fake.
"Thank you for your time,ย L/n-san."
"Oh.. over already..?" you pout, "and it was just getting interesting!"
You smile, but withdraw your hands from her desk and go to leave the room. Before you do, however, you turn and wink at the blue-haired girl.
"Oh and.. fuck you,ย Shirogane-sama!"
You shut the door as she sputters in indignation.
Both of your friends' interviews seem to be over, as they each coming running towards you. Miu slings her arms 'round your neck as Kaede grins.
"Boo-yeah! I fuckin' ate that!" Miu cheers.
"I think they liked me.." says the blonde, cheeks flushing in adoration of being able to have this experience.
You just smile.
There's no way in hell you'll ever get in now.
....Right...?
***
"She's rude, she's bratty, she's bitchy, she's not even a fan of the fucking show-"
"That's what makes her so compelling, Tsumugi!" Monokuma (no, not the actual bear) responds, "look, I know you're obviously not a fan, but the board love her. I mean, three friends - all clearly in love with eachother - joining a killing game, well, it's going to tug on the heart strings. At least one of them will die, hell maybe one will kill the other! That's a real-life Fuyupeko scenario, we can't miss it!"
"Why not just keep Akamatsu and Iruma?"
"I may be the face of the brand," Tsumugi rolls her eyes, "but, the board calls the shots. They want her. Think of all the despair that girl could cause!"
The former Ultimate Cosplayer clenches her fists by her side,
"But that makes seventeen players-"
"Times change, Tsumugi. You need to face that fact. Y/n L/n makes it in. Final."
She storms out of the room like a petulant child.
---
"Look, Haruki, I tell you, I've never been provoked to hit someone that badly before!"
"God, I get it, okay!?" he yells back, busy tinkering with this season's new edition - Monokid, "if I didn't know better, I would have said you have a little crush on her."
The bespectacled girl gasps.
"Take that back! I only have eyes for Izuru Kamakura!"
"Please, we alllll know that would be a lavender marriage at its finest.."
"Not helpful!" she glares, flicking through the pages of notes on the desk, about each of the selected applicants, "Kamakoma shippers these days.."
"Please, like Enogiri is any better."
"She wants that cookie so fucking bad, okay!?" Tsumugi shakes her head, pushing her glasses back up her nose and tucking the loose strands of her ponytail behind her ear, "back to the issue at hand! Look, she already figured out this seasons big reveal, do you know how terrifying that is? She'd solve the fucking cases in no time."
"Okay.. then make a bigger reveal? Tweak her character? I don't fucking care!"
"Hmm.. that's a good point actually.."
"Yeah yeah, I'm a genius. Plus, we all know you're absolutely itching to add some extra little toxic yuri mastermind x supporting character arc in there-"
"I was not!"
"Your face tells a different story.."
"I wasn't!"
"Yeah, but you think she's hot, don't you..?"
"That's besides the point!"
"Mhm," he goes back to programming the animatronic, "I wish you luck with your character profiles! Now, get the hell out of my workshop, I need to perfect my Monotaro voice."
Tsumugi sighs, but does so anyway. She flicks through the profiles once more, and lands on Y/n L/n.
Let's see how the first Ultimate Actress will do...
Tsumugi can't help the excitement that swirls through her body, nor the slightly crazed smile upon her lips.
***
It's no less than three days later, when you're rudely awakened from your after-school nap by three loud knocks on the door, and a loud:
"OPEN UP BITCH!"
You sigh and drag yourself out your bed and down the stairs, opening the door to gaze upon Miu and Kaede, both grinning from ear to ear as they hold black and white envelopes.
Talk about fucking product placement.
"I grabbed this from your letterbox," Miu says, thrusting another envelope into your hands.
"Okay, we all open them together, in 3...2...1.."
Once Kaede reaches one, each of you rip open the envelope. You pull out a typed letter which reads:
Dear Y/n L/n,
It is my pleasure to announce that you are the 17th member of the 53rd season of Danganronpa. You are joining as the Ultimate Actress.
Good luck,
Monokuma.
Short and sweet, you suppose.
From the overjoyed looks on your friends' faces, they also made it in. One quick scan of each letter confirms all of your fears.
"We did it.. guys.." Kaede whispers, breathless with glee.
You're enveloped in a hug on each side. Miu is so overjoyed that she's extra clingy with her hugging, and Kaede is crying tears of joy.
You don't share in their happiness.
It hits you like a ten-tonne truck...
YOU'VE SOLD YOUR LIFE TO DANGANRONPA...
๏ผฃ๏ผฏ๏ผฎ๏ผด๏ผฉ๏ผฎ๏ผต๏ผฅ๏ผ๏ผ๏ผ
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