[Warning] Will most likely contain: Cursing, violence, mature jokes, slight spoilers and graphic depictions of death

Prologue

Waking Up in a Museum Isn't That Strange, Right?

"Big sis, calm down," I murmur quietly into my phone, glancing around the empty train car. This train makes a full lap around the city, but relatively stays empty due to the fact that it's a private line completely dedicated to Hope's Peak Academy thus earning it the title of "Kibougamine Line" to the public, apparently it's to make travelling easier for the students and staff, especially students who specialize in fields that require a lot of public or outdoor interaction. As a soon to be student it automatically registered my public ID which I find a little excessive, but I guess I have no reason to judge.

"I can't help it," she squealed on the other end of the line and I can tell she's jumping up and down because I can practically hear her chest's default sound effects. Seriously how did her chest get like that? My chest looks nothing like that, why are genetics so unfair? Oh wait sis is still talking, "My little sister is going to Hope's Peak Academy!"

"What did you expect," I mutter darkly, glancing down at my shoes. "I'm Moriyama Ryouko."

Sound familiar? It should I'm the current sweetheart of prime time television. I'm the prodigious actress who's been making a name for herself since she was six, like so many other child stars. So what makes me so special?

My parents had no idea I was performing.

Up until I was eleven my family remained wholly obliviously unaware that I was making a name for myself as one of the biggest actresses in the media. Of course when they found out a lot of screaming and yelling ensued and I was recommended (forced) to present my actual name to the public, the media is still unaware that my family threatened to disown me if I refused. Rather cruel aren't they? Don't worry it's the norm in my family since we have a title to uphold.

The great Moriyama household, the family in charge of one of the largest trading companies in the world, not to mention the owners of several chain restaurants and resorts. We're right up there on the power scale with the Togami family, thank goodness we're in separate brackets or else there would be bloodshed and the entirety Japan's economy would suffer in the aftermath. Oh right back to my family, well as you'd expect from one of the most influential families in Japan we've got a reputation to uphold, manners are ingrained into all members of the family at a young age and it's drilled into all of us that we must excel in everything we do. Of course they're a lot stricter around my older siblings, but as the sixteenth child I get a lot of leeway. I know right sixteenth, busy parents I guess.

I know what you're thinking "if your family's so influential how the heck did they not recognize your face?" Don't worry you're not the only who's asked, the paparazzi had a field day when they found out. Bullshit story given to the media? They knew all along and this was a slightly embarrassing publicity stunt by me (of course it was okay to pin it one me, people seemed to find it adorable for some reason). What really happened? My own family didn't recognize me all dolled up and pretty. Sad, right? It would be if I hadn't wanted that to happen. I worked so hard so that they wouldn't notice anything was off, I gave 120% on all my school work so I wouldn't be confronted on why I wasn't focused, altered my home personality so far from my stage persona (possibly what I would've really been like if I hadn't been part of this warped family), bribed the house staff, taught myself how to lie to people's face so convincingly that even I think they're true sometimes and threw myself entirely into every and any role I played. Why'd I do it?

Because it was everything I wanted in life. Celebrities were noticed, they were special and they were loved. They were the exact opposite of my role as the meek, polite and possibly introverted sixteenth child of two business tycoons. I hungered for it, the cameras, the lights, the attention, the adoration and the fame. Even in my young, naive six year old brain I know that was what I wanted so I bribed one of the house staff to pretend to be my guardian for an audition and when she saw how successful I was she agreed to keep doing it and I lied to cover for the both of us. I got what I wanted, the attention, the stardom and the screaming fans.

Honestly, it's not all it's cracked up to be.

It's nice at first, with people complimenting you at every turn and the pleasant feeling of people knowing your name because of your achievements, not just your family. It turns sour real fast though. Everyone wants a piece of gossip about you, one wrong facial expression and you could ruin your entire career. The pressure only builds when you're toting around your family name because everything you do reflects your them and from the way they watch you'd think that they're just waiting for you to mess up. I make it work though, I'll be play whatever role I need to play if it keeps them out of my hair wish I could say the same for the paparazzi (no matter how perfect, textbook or socially correct I behave they never seem to stop digging). I've put on so many facades that I'm no longer sure what my real personality is, goes to show how my talent and dominated my entire existence.

After all that I really don't need to tell you might soon to be title, do I?

"Ryooooou-chan are you listening?" My sister demands loudly, almost making me drop my phone Oops right conversation happening. I tend to black out. Like a lot.

"Of course," I reply curtly. I wince as I adjust my phone between my ear and shoulder catching sight of reflection on the window. It stares back at me, all wide doe eyes and aristocrat features. I'm actually kind of pretty without makeup (ignore my ego it doesn't know what it's talking about), I just don't have any prominent distinguishing features, plus I've got the same coloring as nearly every other person in Japan. Yup no exotic or exciting colors for me just your run of the mill black with plain brown eyes to match, I know I fail in the shoujo manga department don't remind me.

"If you are then what did I just say?"

"Hm.." I answer curtly urging her to silently repeat her question as I finger a lock of hair between my fingers.

"Mou, why are you so nonchalant?" more bouncing sound effects. "You even get a field trip on the first day why aren't you excited?"

"To a museum," I deadpan. I'm all for studying, I actually like doing it most of the time, it can be really fascinating and heck history is one of my favorite subjects it just get's really annoying when people expect you to be just as controversial and historically important as the people you're studying.

"Not just any museum! Hope's Peak Museum of International Achievements!"

A yes the private institution dedicated to displaying all the achievements of all the alumni of Hope's Peak Academy and other memorable events in history (they're just kind of like side notes compared to what most students have done) and as a soon to be student I am expected to do something just as great which is not only a lot of pressure, it's also such a drag too. Honestly what were they thinking, showing us that on the first day? It seems to counterproductive...

I sigh as the intercom pings to life.

"We have just pulled in at the private Hope's Peak Academy station all students are advised to exit the train. Please mind the open doors."

"I'm here now, big sis," I murmur into the phone slinging my bag over my shoulder. "I'm hanging up now."

"Huh, already? Fiiiine make sure to call later alrig─?" Click. Call ended.

Making my way of the train I square my shoulders, straightening my back and stretching my neck a little bit more. Everyone I'm about to meet has a talent like I do. I'm just like them there's nothing to be afraid of nothing at all.

"Alright Hope's Peak Academy," I murmur to myself, plastering a sweet smile on my face. "You wanted the Ultimate Actress so that's what I'll be."

"Um, hello?" I ask, confused as I step into the entry hall. I'm a little early since I came directly from the station (surprisingly enough it seems that no other students decided to take the train), but it seems at tad impossible that I'm the first one to arrive. Glancing around I spy a surveillance in the farthest corner of the room, but quickly dismiss it since it doesn't seem too out of place at a school like this.

"Geez, you'd think they'd have a teacher or something waiting around for the new stu..." I cut off my own sentence with a loud gasp as black splotches erupt in my vision. Clutching my head as a searing pain suddenly burns in the back of my mind.

"What's going on...?" I manage to grind out through clenched teeth. The last thing I remember is my knees giving out before my vision fades to black.

I woke up laying down on a bench. A bench facing the restrooms of all places.

"Guh, what happened?" I murmur sitting up a barely keeping my blush down as I see how far my skirt has ridden up while I was knocked out. As I sit up something flutters to the floor from my lap, curious I pick it to find a what looks like a museum pamphlet. The cover has a huge, elegantly built three story building on the cover, complete with a glass dome, written in elegant, but eye catching print is the name I was already expecting to see; Hope's Peak Museum of International Achievements. Curiously I flip through the pamphlet quickly skimming over the various pictures and captions only to stop and stare at the very back.

What must have been a blank space before is now covered in childish scrawl, most likely written with a crayon. Little stick figures are drawn at the bottom, simple and smiling while messily drawn globes, books a butterflies are scattered between the letters of the message.

"Weeeelcome Miss Ryouko Moriyama!

The staff of Hope's Peak Museum of International Achievements is grateful for your visit~

You are to head straight to the entrance hall of the museum to make formal introductions with your classmates, no unnecessary dilly-dallying or exploring will be tolerated. If you turn back to page seven of this pamphlet you will find your current location marked with a big fat 'x', you are to make your way to the entrance hall from there. Feel free to freshen up in the bathrooms located right in front of you, but make sure to be there before 12:30!

That's all for now and good luck~"

"That's it?" I hiss more than a little peeved off. Just how gung-ho is this school? No formal letter or anything, just make us go to the academy and knock us out and drop us in here? Scrunching the pamphlet in my fist I shove it into my skirt pocket haphazardly, not even caring if it creates a rather unsightly bulge at my hip. With fists clenched at my sides I stomp noisily into the women's restroom subconsciously noticing another camera down the hallway. So they're watching us? Good. I throw my most annoyed face at the camera and bang the restroom door shut behind me for good measure, politeness be damned.

Making my way over to the sink I can't help but glance at the mirror, it's more of a habit now instead of actual concern for my appearance, I couldn't care less about what I look like, but my family and my line of work do and if I want to keep either I've got to put effort. Well I guess you could say I'm concerned about my appearance just not for the reason most people are. As I look over the familiar lines of my face I can't help but feel that something is off I can't put my finger on it exactly, but somehow my reflection seems almost foreign to me. Must be because of getting knocked on the head...

After scrubbing my face viciously with some warm water and pulling my hair into a simple half ponytail (I think they hit me with something, simply lying down does not make one's hair that messy). Letting a warm (most likely fake) smile spread across my cheeks I flip a lock of hair over my right shoulder and straighten my posture, flashing a peace sign at my reflection for good measure. Glancing at the clock as I exit the bathroom I give a small nod of satisfaction. 12:15 I've got time.

"Alright, let's do this."

[A/N] And there we go my first attempt at an SYOC! Any thoughts or opinions on the setting or on Ryouko? I've been reading a lot of SYOC's lately and this idea just kept nagging so I though "What the hell, let's give it a shot" or something like that… Anyway I've got some rules if you're going to submit a character.

1. All submissions must be through PM I will not be accepting any in the form of a review

2. I will not be picking characters on a first come first pick basis, I want to see what characters I can get before making any final decisions

3. Only one character per person unless of course I don't get enough submissions

4. I get final say in what happens to characters. I know people want their characters to survive, but hey let's face it this is Dangan Ronpa

5. Please no reused characters, I really want to keep as many secrets as possible for the plot

Anyway here's the form:

Name: (last name, first name)(nicknames mentioned last please)

Age: (preferably in the 15-18 range)

Gender:

Sexuality:

Height:

Weight:

Ultimate/SHSL: (please no detectives or ?)(but I will be accepting one Luckster)

Birthday:

Appearance: (build, eye color, hair color, etc.)

Clothing: (will most likely not change for the entirety of the story)

Personality:

Social Interaction:

Backstory: (as brief as possible please)

Hobbies: (things they enjoy doing in their free time or what they'd like to pursue besides their talent)

Likes:

Dislikes:

Quotes: (some ideas on how they talk)

A Possible Motive to Kill:

Types of People They Would Get Along With: (this can just be vague personality traits)

People They Might Develop Romantic Feeling For: (optional of course)(just personality traits really)

Possible Execution: (I'm really curious to see what ideas you guys might have)

Aspirations: (both current and overall)

Other: