So with the last episode of Danganronpa 3 coming out I felt like writing this 'what if' situation in which the 77th and 78th class all live together on Jabberwock island. This first chapter is just here to set up the premise, but from here on the story should become more slice-of-life like. Anyway I hope you guys like this chapter! Enjoy!
The students and the island
The island mutual killing game was over - and with the assistance of Naegi, Togami and Kirigiri, Junko Enoshima was now gone for good. The former despairs had beaten her - reclaiming what they had once lost. She no longer controlled them, with the prospect of a new future triumphing over her despair.
When Hajime woke up from the Neo World Program, he was shocked. Despite being told that upon 'graduation' he would lose all memories of what had transpired on the island, he could recall everything with clarity. It was if he had just woken up from a long dream, except this was reality, and he had to face his past. It was hard at first - after the initial shock of waking from the pod for an extended period of time, his memories slowly came back to him one by one. Not just memories of Hajime Hinata, but also memories belonging to Izuru Kamakura. He remembered watching her as she bled to death, desperately reaching out towards him. He remembered Junko Enoshima's amusement to all the chaos she had caused. He remembered challenging her - he wanted to see which side would win if pitted against one another. Hope versus despair.
He took in a sharp breath, drawing in as much information from his surroundings as possible. The dull light from the machinery surrounding him slightly illuminated the room, but it was mainly dark. Running a hand through his long dark hair he gripped a strand tightly. This was real life.
"He's awake!"
A familiar voice snapped him out of his daydream as he turned his attention to the approaching group. A young man with hair not too far away from his previous look stood alongside a woman with long purple hair and gloves, and a taller man with blonde hair and glasses - who looked just like a larger person he had met not too long ago.
'Makoto, Kyouko, and Togami, right?' He thought - his throat too dry to ask the question aloud. He knew the answer though, he clearly remembered them entering the program in order to give them the change to escape, putting their lives on the line to assist them.
Makoto had a look of relief on his face, while the other two looked wary at the prospect that they were being faced by Izuru Kamakura - a fair assumption considering the fact that even Hajime was surprised his consciousness remained.
"What is your name?" Makoto questioned him. His voice sounded full of hope, as if he never gave up believing that Hajime Hinata would beat Izuru Kamakura - and he had in a way. However, some of Izuru remained, evident in his heterochromatic eyes, but not enough to control Hajime in any way. He had control of his body once again, the 'talents' provided to Izuru remaining as a reminder of his transformation.
Hajime swallowed, opening his mouth and speaking for what felt like the first time in forever.
"Hajime Hinata."
Naegi's eyes opened wide in shock, but deep down he knew this would be the end result, after Hajime showed such strong conviction towards his future. Even Kyouko and Togami had looks of mild surprise as their faces relaxed more, no longer seeing the man as a threat.
Togami spoke up next.
"So I assume that you remember your time inside the simulation?" His words sounded harsher and more condescending than Makoto's, but nonetheless Hajime responded with a nod.
Hajime glanced at the other pods around him, looking to see any signs of his fellow survivors awaking.
Noticing this, being as perceptive as she was, Kyouko could tell what he was thinking.
"You are the first to wake from the simulation. Strangely enough, despite our knowledge of the simulation giving us the belief that those who died would remain in a comatose-like state, everyone who participated in the project seems to be showing signs of waking."
Hajime stared blankly upon hearing this deduction. His friends were going to wake up? All of them? Not just those of them who survived the killings? He tried to stand up, desiring to see proof with his own eyes, but found that his strength had left him, as his legs faltered, making him fall down. Makoto had managed to catch him by the shoulders, swinging one of Hajime's arms around him, helping him attempt to stand up and walk once again.
"C'mon, let's get some food and water to get your energy back." Makoto spoke, offering him a kind smile.
After regaining his energy, Hajime glanced at his reflection on a nearby computer screen, taking it all in. Makoto had stayed with him as he ate, a comforting presence, as Kyouko and Togami continued to monitor changes in the pods of his classmates.
"Can...can I ask you something?" Hajime began with uncertainty. Usually, he wouldn't be so indirect, but considering everything he had done, and all that Makoto had done for him, asking for a favour right away made him feel uncomfortable.
"Of course. Is there anything you need?" Makoto responded with a questioning look. Hajime knew he would give this sort of reply - it was fairly predictable. In the past he would have even called such a response 'boring'. But that's not who he is anymore.
"Can I cut my hair?" Hajime mentally slapped himself for requesting an item that could be easily used as a weapon, especially considering his circumstances.
Makoto thought for a second, not even considering for a second that Hajime would desire to use the item to cause harm.
"Hmm I'm not sure where a pair would be around here. Maybe at the supermarket? I'll go look for you. I'll be back soon, so for now try to rest." Makoto generously accepted, standing up and beginning to make his way over to the nearby store. However, before he could exit the room a cackle echoed from the hallway.
"If it's scissors you're after I have some right here!" Makoto was taken aback as he recognised the source of the voice, with a girl with long dark purple hair and a strangely long tongue entering the room.
From behind her, the voice of a younger girl could be heard calling out to her.
"Touko! Stop running off by yourself, I'm not an athlete!" The girl moaned toward her friend as she caught up to her, panting.
Makoto looked even more taken aback as he took a step forward.
"Touko? Komaru? What are you two doing here!?" Before anyone could answer, another voice boomed from the hallway.
"MISS NAEGI AND MISS FUKAWA - I SAID NO RUNNING IN THE HALLS! SUCH ACTIONS ARE NOT WELCOME IN OUR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT!" A man with short black hair entered the room, giving off a commanding aura.
"Shut up spikey hair! We're not in school right now, so there's no rules saying I can't cut you into ribbons!" Touko flashed her scissors at the man, but he showed no signs of fear.
"Touko no! You promised Togami you wouldn't do that anymore!" Komaru grabbed onto Touko's arms in an attempt to wrestle the weapons away from her.
Hajime watched the spectacle with confusion.
'Who are these people? They seem to know Makoto. Perhaps they're from the Future Foundation too?'
The boy faced Makoto and bowed deeply.
"Naegi, I apologise for our lateness! Such conduct is unbefitting for the Super High School Level Moral Compass!"
Makoto waved his hands in protest, laughing nervously.
"You don't have to apologise Ishimaru! I didn't even know you guys were all coming!"
Ishimaru stood up straight, hands still by his side.
"But of course! We have come to assist our fellow classmates in their endeavours!"
Komaru spoke up, arms still restraining Touko.
"We thought we should come help you guys. I suggested the idea and before we knew it Isimaru was yelling at us to keep in as single-file as we got onto the boat."
Touko, calming down, began to sniffle, as she loudly sneezed, causing her appearance and mannerisms to change completely.
"O-Oh, we're here. I don't remember anything after seeing C-Chihiro trip and hurt her ankle." Touko shied away from the centre of the room, standing in the corner as Ishimaru continued to explain.
"The remainder of our classmates will be here momentarily - Fujisaki injured herself and as a result Oowada is carrying her, slowing down our pacing."
"Quiet down will you? We could hear you from all the way outside for fuck's sake." A man with a strange hairstyle and an overall 'tough' look entered, carrying a small girl who had a bandage wrapped around one of her legs. From behind him, more people entered, a rather large man with glasses, a man with a goatee and piercings, a pretty girl with blue hair, the room was filled with the former 78th class, including a girl with short black hair and a poker-face expression.
"Everyone!" Makoto gasped, astonished by his classmates' presence. It was clear to Hajime that Makoto wasn't expecting any form of back up, but he could tell he was happy despite this.
From the opposite side of the room two pairs of footsteps could be heard fastly approaching.
"Makoto, they're waking up." Kyouko spoke, eyes widening slightly as the unexpected arrival of her classmates. She acknowledged them with a curt nod, before turning her back and leading them to the waking students.
As so as not to overwhelm the students with faces they didn't recognise, the remainder of the 78th class (and Makoto's sister) all waited in a nearby room. Hajime had gone with the others, wanting to be there when his friends woke up.
As the 78th class waited, the door to the room opened, and a girl stepped out from behind it.
"Sorry I'm late guys, that last boss was particularly persistent."
The students smiled at her as she began to walk to where Makoto and the others had headed not long ago.
So, chapter one is complete. It was longer than expected, but I needed to set up the groundwork for the rest of the story. This will be mainly a comedy, and a story that is unconventional will naturally have unconventional parings!
Feel free to suggest any parings - I'm open to any right now, no matter how strange. I have one or two in mind, but nothing set in stone, so let your imagination run wild.
As for the reason why all the characters are referred to by their first names except Togami and Ishimaru, I just happen to like calling them that, but if it annoys anyone I don't mind changing this in the future.
Basically just imagine this is what would happen after Danganronpa: if, in which the students all escape from Junko Enoshima and the school with help from Mukuro, and if a certain character didn't actually die.
Well I hope you guys enjoyed, and I 'hope' to see you all in the next chapter. Peace out!