Chapter 1: False beginnings

Laughter and giggles fill the medium sized bedroom. Three teenage girls can be found piled on top of the queen sized bed as they watched a comedy program on the small TV in Makoto's room. Makoto is the girl currently lying in the middle of the trio, her head resting on her slim arms. She is a small 17-year-old with medium length brown hair tied into twin pigtails on the sides of her head.

To Makoto's left is her blue haired BFF, Sayaka Maizono, the lead of Japan's most popular Idol group. Makoto had met Sayaka in grade school, the two have been close friends ever since. The blue haired girl didn't live far from Makoto, about a block away. So it was easy to hang out even outside of school. After being friends for so long, they saw each other as sisters as well as BFs. Sayaka's father is a single father who had to work a lot. When they were little Sayaka would stay at Makoto's house will her dad worked. They would watch the live idol shows together in the living room, Makoto hadn't had a TV in her room back then. Sayaka had loved watching the idol shows, it was actually what inspired her to be an idol. Plus Makoto's cheerful and optimistic encouragement.

And to Makoto's right is her little sister Komaru. The word 'little' being used loosely. Mainly due to the fact that even though Komaru is two years younger, she and Makoto are the same size. Komaru also has brown hair though her hair was in a bob cut.

It was currently nighttime and the three girls were already in their PJ's. Komaru turned her head from the TV, looking in the direction of the two other teens. "I still can't believe that the two of you are going to be attending Hope's Peak Academy! To think that my big sister will be going to such an amazing school." Makoto felt herself blush at her sister's enthusiastic words. Starting tomorrow Makoto and Sayaka will be attending Hope's Peak, the most prestigious school in Japan. A school that takes in the best of the best, where only people who are scouted out be the school can attend.

Sayaka will be attending as the Ultimate Idol, which was no surprise to the pigtailed girl. When Makoto first heard about her friend being selected to join Hope's Peak's 78th class, she was both sad and happy. Sad because it would mean that they wouldn't be going to the same school anymore, but still happy for her as well. Makoto would never have imagined that someone as plain and ordinary like her would ever have a chance at being able to attend such a prestigious school. She wasn't talented at anything, just average at everything she did. The only interesting thing about her was who she was best friends with, and her ability to be overly optimistic about everything.

But Makoto was proved wrong when she got a letter in the mail from Hope's Peak Academy saying that she had been accepted as this year's ultimate lucky. Though 'unlucky' would be more accurate to describe Makoto most of the time.

Makoto will never forget how she felt when she opened her acceptance letter. She was on cloud 9, freaking out as she showed her parents and sister. Knowing that she would be able to go to Hope's Peak with her BFF truly made her fill like the luckiest girl in the world.

"I'm going to miss you not being here Makoto," the enthusiasm dropped from Komaru's voice. She looked back at the TV. Makoto felt the same way; she was going to miss seeing Komaru every day as well. Then without warning, Makoto tackle hugged Komaru almost causing the two of them to fall off the bed. Komaru squealed loudly as she tried to break free of her sister's hold, which leads to her being tickled by Makoto. Sayaka puffed out her cheeks at the sight of the two sisters tickling each other.

"Hey, don't leave me out of the fun."

Before they knew it, the pop idol joined the fray, ending up with the three actually falling off the bed. Landing on the floor with a loud thud. The comedy program was long forgotten, the teens laughing on the floor in a heap. Just then Makoto's mom opened the door. "I'm happy that the three of you are having fun but it's getting late, it's time to go to bed." Makoto looked up at the digital alarm clock on her bedside table. It really was late. It's true what people say, time does fly by when you're having fun. Komaru got up straightening her clothes. "Ok mom. See you in the morning." Komaru waved goodnight at the two other girls and left to her own room.

The two remaining girls pick themselves up from the floor. "We'll go to bed soon," Makoto said to her mom as she got back on the bed. Sayaka followed her onto the bed, she's spending the night over since her father is out of town on a business trip. Makoto's parents will be dropping the two of tomorrow at their new school. They had already sent their things ahead to be placed in their dorm rooms. Tomorrow will just be just orientation and settling in. Classes begin the day after. "Goodnight girls," Ms. Naegi closed the door leaving the two alone.

"How about we go to sleep now? We do have a big day ahead of us tomorrow." Makoto nodded her head in agreement and flipped off the light. They then crawled into bed and went to sleep.

The next morning, Makoto was eating breakfast with her parents and Sayaka. Komaru had already left for her first day of school. "We'll be leaving later so make sure you're ready when it's time to go." Makoto's dad said from across the table. After all this time, the man knows how long Sayaka takes with her hair and makeup. And that's not counting the time Sayaka uses to try to dress Makoto up. "Don't worry, we will," Makoto assured him. Ms. Naegi smiled knowingly at the teenage girls.

A few hours after breakfast Makoto was sitting in front of her mirror wearing her favorite jacket-hoodie combo, a black shirt, stockings, and her red sneakers. Sayaka was currently brushing Makoto's hair, pulling it up into their usual twin pigtails on the top of her head. Sayaka is wearing her favorite white blouse, blue checkered skirt, and knee-high black socks. She was going to wear her old school uniform but changed her mind at the last second.

By time Sayaka was finished making them both look cute, and was satisfied with her work, Makoto's mom was calling for them from the bottom of the stairs. The two 17-year-olds hurried out of the room and downstairs.

Makoto and Sayaka sat in the backseat of Mr. Naegi's car, chatting away as Makoto's dad drove down the highway. "I wonder what our other classmates will be like," Sayaka said curiously. Makoto was wondering the same thing. She had meant to look it up on the school forms but forgot with all the fun she was having with Komaru and Sayaka. "We'll just have to see and find out," was Makoto's only response.

It didn't take long to see the school in the distance, which wasn't a surprise considering that Hope's Peak is the largest building in the area. Once Mr. Naegi pulled up and parked outside the school gate, Makoto and Sayaka removed their seatbelts, exiting the car. Makoto's parents got out of the car as well to hug the girls goodbye. Makoto's mom gave her a crushing hug. "Call me when orientation is over, I want to hear all about it." "I will"

Once Makoto's parents got back into the car and drove away, the two girls walked through the school gate and up to the main entrance. Makoto knew that the orientation was going to be held in the gymnasium, but seeing how big the school was they might have a hard time finding it. But that was ok; they can always ask someone for directions. Smiling at each other the new Hope's Peak students pushed open the doors to the main entrance and entered the entrance hall. That was the last thing Makoto remembered before blacking out.

notes: This is my first Danganronpa fanfic so I hope you like it. I'll do my best to keep them in character, so let me know when a character gets a little too OOC. I'm not used to writing with this characters. Anyway, this is my retelling of the first game, so let me how you liked it with a comment.