"Author's" Note - ...Didn't you read the final comments of the last part? Fanxus Fiction is busy! So he can't talk right now! ...Just sit back and enjoy... Oh and make sure to review after reading the chapter! Upupupupupu!

... Darkness.

There's no light. Only darkness. That was all I could see... Not that it's anything surprising. Most of my life is easily comparable to this sight.

A darkness full of doubt. A darkness unwilling to leave me be. A darkness I wish would go away, but know it's inevitable. A darkness being my only obstacle for enjoying life, forming the imagination into a fleeting dream; an impossible dream... So, why don't I get rid of that darkness for good?...

... Huh? What was I... What am I talking about...? And what is this flat surface I'm feeling?

Prologue: Awoken

I soon realized the cause of this darkness was merely because I sealed my eyes shut. An easy task to resolve, I slowly opened them and the first thing they showed me... was a flat, wooden surface. I see. So this was the flat surface I felt, but what's the identity of it? Just noticing my unusual ignorance, I later realized my arms were currently acting as my pillow. The next obvious course of action is to pick up my head which I acted on the thought immediately and then looked back down at the flat surface.

It's a desk?

Yes, a clean wooden desk was the flat surface I felt. Pairing with this strange resting location, I'm also sitting down on a wooden chair. Naturally, although unconsciously, I lifted my head to check my surroundings.

A... Classroom?

A board and a teacher's stationed in front, multiple neatly lined up student desks, one front sliding door and one back sliding door - both seeming to be the only exits of this room. Yep, no doubt about it. I'm definitely in a classroom. What's more, I found myself sitting in the middle desk of the front row. But now begs the question: Why am I here? Could I be a student of this classroom?

"Yes... I am."

I finally spoke the first words succeeding my awakening, albeit a mumble. The moment I confirmed my surroundings, some memories came back. No, not just some, but a truck load! I AM a student of this classroom and the desk I'm sitting in is MY desk. The desk I sit in when classes are in session. But why's this classroom empty? Why am I the only one here? I glanced up at the clock above the board.

"Eight PM?! Why is it so late?! Actually, the better question is why am I here?"

All I had were questions. Questions about where I am or why I've woken up in these circumstances. In addition to those, I had one more question…

"Why was I sleeping on this desk?" I usually never sleep in class so it can't simply be due to a monotonous lecture. But what other explanation could there be? I tried wrapping my head around these questions while simultaneously scanning the room once more...

Right then, I spotted something. No, not something - someone! I wasn't the only person in this classroom! A person, laying their head down on their desk just like me a mere moment ago, sat at the far left side of the room in the front row near the windows! Who is it though? I squinted my eyes to get a better look. As I did, a sparking realization courses through my body, carrying with it a blood pumping adrenaline rush! I quickly got up from my desk and hurried over to the far left side of the room to that person's desk!

"Hanako!" Yes, it's Hanako! There's no mistaking a rose hairpin attached to that unmistakable bright purple long hair. I'd recognized Hanako anywhere, but even though I shouted her name, her body didn't move an inch. I tried shaking her.

"Hanako! Hanako! Wake up!"

Still no movement, instantly making my concern for her grow immensely. Is something wrong with her?! Is she... Wait. I calmed myself down and listened closely. Doing so resulted in me sighing. Though, I questioned whether it was a sigh of relief or a sigh of irritation.

"So that's it, huh?" After confirming something, I grabbed onto Hanako's unnaturally large, purple antenna like hair design atop her head and pulled it using all my might, and just as I expected:

"Ow! Ow! Ow! OW! STOP!"

Hanako reacted. I let go of her antenna after a few more irresistible pulling seconds. Afterwards, Hanako immediately got up from her desk and rubbed her head to soothe the now throbbing pain. After that, she spun around; glare her teary pastel purple eyes at me.

"Hey! That was mean, Kuroki!"

"You're calling me mean? You almost gave me a heart attack pretending to sleep," I said, nonchalantly.

"Seriously? How d'you know I was pretending?"

"Your breathing. Usually, when someone's actually sleeping, their breathing goes a much slower and relaxed pace. However, you were breathing at a normal pace, which was all I needed to figure out your foolish stunt."

"Uh... really?" I nodded to answer, subsequently making Hanako look down at the floor, pouting. "Man! Kuroki, you're too thorough and smart for your own good!"

I suppose I should introduce us. I'm Kuroki Saimatsu. The girl wearing the shoulder less flower designed purple blouse, a cute wavy blue miniskirt, and green clogs on her feet who I'm talking to right now, is Hanako Ume. As you can see, we both know each other. Majority of our classes we take together, so us being in the same classroom is no surprise. But why are we the only ones in here, during such a late time no less? I took one more glance around the room to confirm.

Yeah, we're the only ones here. Actually, since my vision is clearer now, I noticed one other thing. This classroom's lights are out. No wonder it's so hard to see. Fortunately, the moon's pale blue lights emitting outside shone through the windows behind Hanako to assist our sights. But this makes our situation even more suspicious than it already is. It's almost as though we've been abandoned us somehow.

"Ow. You didn't have to pull on my hair though, Kuroki!"

"..."

"Kuroki? Hey, Kuroki!"

"What?" I sighed

"You okay, Grouchoki? You spaced out there," Hanako worriedly asked.

"What did I say about you calling me that...?"

"Not my fault you're always setting yourself up. The name's fitting at this point," Hanako stated, in another pouting gesture. "Anyway, what's wrong? You look more serious than usual."

I sighed again, realizing now isn't the time to reprimand her and decided to share my worries with Hanako. But as I was about to respond, it appeared.

"How about you two stop talking to each other and go meet up with the others!"

Me and Hanako simultaneously jumped at the sudden squeaky but grouchy sounding voice. We turned around and saw something we didn't expect. Something no one in their lives ever expects to see.

"What...?"

"H-Huh?"

"What? What are YOU exactly?!" I yelled.

Both me and Hanako stared dumbfounded at the small half black and half white creature. The creature tilted its head, rubbing its face questionably.

"What am I?"

"Yeah. Are you a panda or something?" Hanako curiously asked.

"Panda...?! No, you idiot! I'm a bear! A BEAR!" shouted the creature, angrily.

A bear? This thing is a bear?! Last I checked, a bear doesn't have a flashing red horizontal stripe for one of its eyes, nor holds an abnormal smile. In fact, neither does a panda!

"Sheesh! Well, I guess I shouldn't act surprised since this has happened SO many times in the past." The bear said this with a sadder expression. It then immediately perked itself back up and continued. "I'm Monokuma! Nice to meetcha!"

"Monokuma?" Hanako asked.

"Yep! The lovable and most adorable creature to have ever existed! You want my autograph or something?"

... Already, I hate this thing.

"Uh, no thanks. Thanks for the offer though," Hanako politely declined.

"W-Wha?!" Monokuma suddenly started to produce sweat. How can this thing even sweat if it's supposed to be a bear?! "O-Oh. It's o-okay. Hey, how about-"

Monokuma turned to me. Knowing what he's about to ask, I bluntly replied with a sharp:

"No."

Monokuma had another shocked expression and sweated even more. "N-No way! H-Has my popularity as the mascot diminished?! A-Am I not loved anymore?!"

"Popularity? Loved? We don't even know who you are," I remarked.

"T-THAT'S ONLY YOU TWO!" Monokuma took a moment to calm himself down and he's already doing a poor job at it. "Y-Yes. I-It's only you t-two. I-I'm sure the others will want my precious and rare a-autograph."

Monokuma said this as he was hyperventilating and sweating even more. How he's even able to produce that much sweat is beyond me. There's so much sweat it's forming a puddle beneath his feet.

"What the hell even is this thing?" I irritatedly asked.

Monokuma jumped and grabbed his chest; he thereafter fell to the floor on his back.

"Whoa! Is he okay?!" Hanako exclaimed.

"Does it even matter?" I replied.

"Don't say that. Besides, he seems pretty cute."

"What part of that thing is 'cute' exactly?"

Monokuma's body jumped in the same position as he was on the floor and fell back down, immovable.

"Stop Kuroki! You're hurting his feelings! You should apologi-"

"A-ANYWAY!"

"Ah!"

Monokuma perked himself back up before Hanako could finish reprimanding me and began speaking again.

"You guys should REALLY start moving before it's time!"

"It's time? What do you-"

"QUIET!" Monokuma demanded, interrupting Hanako once more. "All will be explained in due time. For now, explore around the school and talk to the others!"

Others? He's been saying that word a lot ever since we met.

"You say others. Is it safe to assume there are more people nearby then?" I inquired.

"Correct! You guys aren't the only ones here in this school! Or maybe... you guys hoped no one else was here so you can get kinky with each other? Am I interrupting something?"

"W-W-W-W-WHAT?! NO!" Hanako shouted, blushing bright red.

"Relax, Hanako. He's obviously joking." I assured.

"But what if I'm not joking?" Monokuma playfully asked.

I shot Monokuma an intense glare, telling him to quit it.

"O-Okay! I'm joking! I'm joking! Don't glare at me like that!" Monokuma paused then cleared his throat and said, "I-I mean! I wasn't joking! You two should DEFINITELY get kinky, ya know! Now's your chance! Plus we can finally get some steamy scenes in here…!" Monokuma loudly whispered that last sentence to himself.

"..."

"..."

"... Y-You're supposed to laugh. Puhu-"

"Get out of my sight."

Monokuma lowered his head downwards, holding another sad expression. "Fine! Just make sure you explore the school and talk with the others, okay?! Things are about to get very interesting. Puhuhuhu! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

Interesting? Before I could even ask, Monokuma disappeared from our sight. The only answer he left us was his maniacal laugh constantly ringing in our heads.

"So you still think he's cute?"

"... Yeah, actually," Hanako replied.

"..."

"W-Well, we should get going!"

"Going? Go where?"

"To find the others of course! Maybe someone here will know what's going on."

She's right. Our best course of action right now is to ask around for information. But... But there's a part of me that's reluctant to go. Hanako must have noticed this since she suddenly grabbed my hand.

"I know you don't want to, but we have to. Come on!"

Hanako ran toward the door, still holding my hand. She unwavering reached her other hand out and slid the front door open...

A door that - little did we know - would eventually lead us into a NIGHTMARE!

Question of the "Day"

...Hey! You readers still like me, right?! You LOVE me, right?!

...

H-Hey! Please respond! C'mon!

...

U-Um...let's move on to the Question of the Day...

What is your favorite Danganronpa game?

Of course, your favorite would be the one with me in it! Which is like, every Danganronpa game EVER!

...

Sorry. Anyway, mine is Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony! Sure, I didn't like the ending of the game, but the majority of the game before the ending was great! I loved the story of that game. I loved it better than the other games' stories! ...By the way, I'm reading this off a paper that Fanxus Fiction wrote. If you want to know MY opinion, all the games are my favorites, because they include ME in it!

...

Sorry. I'll shut up now.

Final Comments

Well, hopefully you enjoyed this chapter of my new story! Especially since we've established two participants. However, we still don't know their talents...but I do! I'm excited to see how these students will interact with each other when the main event starts! Anyway, hope you enjoy and see ya in the next one. UPUPUPUPUPU!