Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You're immediately suspicious when your friend sends you a game. Not because that's strange for them to do-- but because the games they send you always have a twist. A cute little match three game that ends up being about murders, dating sims that end in cannibalism, a platformer game that ends up as a cosmic horror… Whatever this "HHH" game is, it can't be taken at face value.

What is this? You ask, and wait for your phone to vibrate with your friend's response.

cute VN/otome game. right up ur alley, characters and art a are great and the story's good, v wholesome

You sigh a little. No, really, what is this? Tell me what I'm in for now, please, I don't want a repeat of DDLC. That twist had caught you off guard and you'd needed some time to get over it.

come on, its better 2 go in blind. don't wanna run the autopsy
*surprise

Autopsy? You type. So it's a murder mystery?

that wiz a typo but ok, yeah, is kind of a murder mystery. if you really want spoilers. still a fun game, a little janky but its worth it. come on, play it, i need someone to scream about this and share memes with

Oh, fine. A murder mystery sounded a little less dark than some of the other games this friend had sent you, and you had some time to kill this weekend anyway.

yay! text me when you get to the school festival

You close the chat and boot up the game file on your computer. Once it loads you get a little animation-- a bunch of kids in school uniforms posing, all bright colors and upbeat music. Some of the characters have very… unique designs, and there's less pretty boys than you'd usually expect from an otome game. A couple stand out, but not the cast of male supermodels that you'd normally expect. Maybe most of these are filler characters, or maybe the makers of this game are into body positivity and diversity? That would be refreshing-- but, no, all the female characters are skinny, so that can't be it. In any case, the opening animation is over before you can really absorb any of the many characters. It ends with a bunny in a magical girl outfit posing by the game title (Hopeful Hearts High) and the silhouette of a fancy looking school building.

You read over the menu options:

NEW GAME

LOAD GAME

GALLERY

SETTINGS

LOCKED

LOCKED

LOCKED

HELP

You start with the settings, adjusting the volume a little. Then you take a peak at the gallery, but unsurprisingly all the images are locked still. Nothing for it but to start a new game.

A character selection menu pops up, letting you drag your mouse through several greyed out character portraits. Only one character appears to be available to actually use: a girl with pinkish hair and eyes, labeled as Chiaki Nanami. At the bottom of the menu is a note: other characters will become unlockable as you progress through the game. Hm. If this game is some kind of murder mystery, that could be interesting playing through the scenario as different characters. But for now, you select Chiaki and hit START.

The bunny mascot flies across the loading screen, followed by a message:

Tip: Spending one on one time with your classmates is the best way to collect hope shards!

And then the game begins.

Chapter Text

Chiaki:
Hello, I'm Chiaki Nanami. Video games are my hobby, and I'm a fan of all genres... except dating sims, I think. They're the hardest ones for me. But I love all games, even bizarre and difficult ones.

I'm about to start my first day at a new high school. I'm a little nervous about whether I can make friends with my new class. I know my gaming talent won't help me make friends-- it never did before. But maybe it will be fun here.

A character graphic comes up, showing the player character looking at herself in the bathroom mirror. The design is pretty cute, a pale girl with pinkish brown hair, bangs cut low over pink eyes. She's wearing a brown and white school uniform and has some kind of hair clip like an 8-bit spaceship. A profile pops up with Chiaki's name, the title "Ultimate Gamer", and her likes and dislikes. Apparently she likes video games and dislikes alarm clocks. Well, looks like you and the protagonist have something in common.

This school is a little different from my old one: all the students are scouted for some kind of talent. Gaming is my talent. It's not the most useful talent, but it makes me happy. And it's kind of nice to be recognized for it, I think? Well, I'm good at games but I care a lot more about having fun than getting a high score. It's just, I usually end up doing both.

Alarm:
Ding Dong!

Chiaki:
Oh! I'm going to be late!

I got caught daydreaming again. It happens a lot. Sometimes I fall asleep standing up. But right now I need to get to class.

I hurry into the hall from my dorm room. There are a few other students, walking towards the main school building like me or talking in small groups. It's kind of amazing to make friends that quickly, I guess. But some of these students are in their second or third years already. I won't know who my classmates are until I get to the classroom.

In my rush to get to class, I bump into someone on the stairs. We both lose our balance and it takes me a second to react as we crash into the wall.

???:
Ugh… Hey! Are you alright?

Chiaki:
…Ah! I'm sorry!

I try to pull away, almost tripping again, but the person reaches out to steady me.

???:
Ahaha, There's no need to apologize to someone like me! It's just lucky we didn't fall very far.

You finally get to see a sprite for this new character, and presumably he is a datable option because he definitely qualifies as a pretty otome boy. Tall, skinny, and pale, he has white hair that floats like cotton candy and a carefree smile. A profile pops up: Nagito Komaeda, "Ultimate Lucky Student". He likes beautiful things and dislikes noisy places.

Nagito:
And even more lucky, I get to meet one of my classmates! I've seen your profile, you must be the Ultimate Gamer! My name is Nagito Komaeda, it's nice to meet you.

I manage to catch my balance and take a step back, relieved not to be touching him anymore. But I give him a shy smile; at least he seems friendly, maybe?

Chiaki:
…Yes, that's me. I'm Chiaki Nanami. We're… in the same class?

Nagito:
Class 77-B, right?

Chiaki:
Yes, that's right.

Chiaki:
…

Nagito:
…

I don’t know what to say anymore without talking about games. This is usually about as far as I get in a social situation.

Chiaki:
We should go, I think?

Nagito:
Ah, of course, I didn't mean to make you waste your time! I'm sure you have better--

Chiaki:
Let's walk together, maybe?

Komaeda-kun looks surprised for a second, then smiles and agrees. I think I made a good impression on my new classmate, even if I crashed into him before. That’s a relief.

Chiaki gains five affection points with Nagito!

A new window pops up, with the bunny mascot from the main menu.

Usami:
Hello! This is Magical Girl Usami, the Squeezably Soft Magical Bunny! I'm here to help you with the tutorial.

Usami:
Did you see how you got some affection points with Nagito? Every student here has a level of affection for the other students. When the students interact and form bonds, the affection meters go up!

Usami:
Some actions are only available for friends with high enough affection meters. Spend time with your friends to help build trust and strong relationships!

Usami:
I'll be back again soon with more helpful hints! Love love!

Alarm:
Ding dong bing bong!

Chiaki:
Is that the last bell? Uh oh.

Nagito:
Haha, it's fine, they probably won't do worse than expulsion if we’re late on the first day.

Chiaki:
…That seems like a strong reaction for being late, I think?

Nagito:
Here it is, Classroom B.

As Komaeda-kun opens the door, I brace myself to meet my new class for the first time.

LOADING
Tip: You might have to play the same scenes multiple times to get the ending you want. Save your game often!

Chapter Text

Inside the classroom I find complete chaos. There is a girl wailing from the floor, lying beneath a chair in an awkward position while another girl laughs. Two students are arm wrestling; another pair of students are arguing loudly. One girl in the back of the room is head banging -- to her own singing, apparently? I didn't know a capella head banging was a thing-- And there is one boy cackling like a cartoon villain while a group of live hamsters scampers along his shoulders.

Chiaki:
…It's good that everyone is so energetic, I guess?

???
Late, I see. I hope you usually take your educations more seriously than this.

A tall blond boy with glasses breaks away from his argument to address us as Komaeda-kun and I pause in the doorway.

This character has a large, heavy build-- very unusual for a dating sim, which makes you curious. This game seems to have a massive number of characters-- which ones are datable? All of them? Only the boys? Only the pretty ones? Well, datable or not, this guy is wearing a three piece suit and an arrogant expression. His profile identifies him as Byakuya Togami, Ultimate Affluent Progeny. Whatever the heck that means. Apparently he likes coffee and dislikes plebeians.

Chiaki:
Ah…

Byakuya
Nevermind that, get in here. I'm certain you're overwhelmed to be in my presence but that's no reason to stand stupidly in the hallway.

I'm not sure how to respond to that. I glance over my shoulder at Komaeda-kun: he smiles and gives me a shrug before walking into the room. I follow, though I feel a bit overwhelmed by the chaos in here.

???
And what gives you the right to talk to anyone like that? Especially a girl!

The red-haired girl who had been arguing with the boy in glasses snaps at him again, and I quickly move away before I get caught in whatever they are fighting about.

Now this girl's profile pops up: Mahiru Koizumi, Ultimate Photographer. Not really surprising since she is drawn holding a camera. She likes traveling alone and dislikes bad manners. She has a relatively plain and normal design compared to some of the other characters; short red hair and freckles, and the same brown uniform as Chiaki is wearing.

I head to an empty desk as the chatter around me continues. There doesn't seem to be a teacher in here yet, so I guess I'm not too late: maybe I have time to pull out my game console and play a few rounds of Tetris or something to calm my nerves. But I look up when I hear a short blond boy next to me start muttering.

???
I can't f****** believe this.

Chiaki:
…Huh?

Did I do something wrong? He gives me a scowl.

???
First day of classes and the teacher isn't even here. What kind of dog and pony show is this?!?

You aren't entirely sure what to make of this profile. Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu, The Ultimate Yakuza. What the heck even are these "talents" the characters have? You aren't sure what kind of high school would want to promote organized crime. Well, whatever, this is a game, it doesn't have to make sense. Regardless, this short kid does not look old or tough enough to be a gangster. He's got a real baby face that his buzz cut hair does little to age up. And he likes "fried dough cookies" but hates milk, which seems like a missed opportunity for the ideal snack combination.

The door then bursts open, revealing a woman with orange brown hair and a forceful smile. She's wearing an apron with a staff ID badge pinned to it; she must be a teacher, I think?

Yukizome
Oh good! Everyone is here! Good morning class, my name is Chisa Yukizome, and I am so excited to teach you all this year! Let's make the most of the spirit of your youth!

Yukizome-san walks into the room, and I realize that she is physically dragging a pink-haired boy into the room by his collar. He’s crying. I sink down in my seat a little. This does not bode well.

Yukizome
Go sit down, Souda-kun, it’s time for class.

Apparently the teacher doesn’t rate a profile, even if she does get a sprite with a pretty design. Well, cool, you always get creeped out by dating sims where the teacher is a dateable option because that is extremely problematic. Instead the profile that pops up belongs to the kid who has been dragged into class, a loud looking character with a blue jumpsuit, hot pink hair poking from a baseball cap, and, uh, shark teeth. Kind of a scary looking dude, if his sprite wasn't currently crying. Kazuichi Souda, the Ultimate Mechanic. Likes Coke, dislikes anything sugar free. Fair. But now you’re starting to wonder if you should be taking notes; this game has a massive number of characters and it’s introducing them very fast. It might take you a while to keep track of who is who.

Kazuichi
But I was halfway through fixing--

The teacher gives Souda-kun a pointed glare and he sits down without another word, pulling his hat over his head. Then Yukizome-sensei smiles even more brightly than before and claps her hands.

Yukizome
I’m sure this is going to be an amazing year! But before anything else, let’s start with some introductions and getting to know each other!

Fuyuhiko
Seriously?

Yukizome
I'm always serious! This is your first assignment of the year: everyone needs to introduce themselves so we can start getting to know each other as a class!

For a moment everyone just sits in awkward silence. Then, the girl I had noticed head banging before shouts out:

Ibuki
Give me an I! Give me a Bu! Give me a Ki! Mi! O! Da! Put it all together and you get: Ibuki Mioda! I'm here to play songs and chew bubblegum, and I'm fresh outta bubblegum!

Ibuki Mioda, the Ultimate Musician. Her design is unique: very grunge punk, with torn tights and lots of piercings and colored streaks in her hair. And, huh, horns. What would it even take to shape hair that way? Some kind of filler hidden underneath? Hairspray and will power? Glue? Well, the profile does not explain the hair, but does tell you that she likes walking and dislikes boredom. These profiles seem rather sparse, but if they weren't this would probably take all day.

Yukizome
Well done, Mioda-san, I appreciate the enthusiasm!

I shrink down in my seat a little. I'm not sure I'm up to introducing myself in front of everyone like that. Definitely not with that much energy, anyway.

Yukizome
Let's start from Mioda-san and keep going around the room! Everyone, tell us your name and something about yourself! Next!

Yukizome-sensei points at one of the students who had been arm wrestling earlier: a huge guy who laughs and immediately stands, shouting so loudly I jump.

Nekomaru
Ga-haha! I am the Ultimate Team Manager, NEKOMARU NIDAI!!! Don't forget it, even if you go to hell!!

Nekomaru looks like a bodybuilder, or maybe an ox? All muscles and sharp angles. He looks too big and too old for a high school student, not to mention a little too intense for the game genre-- you'd expect to see this character design in some kind of fighting game. He's wearing a blue track suit and has a big metal chain wrapped around his shoulders like a scarf. His profile pops up with his likes (clean towels) and dislikes (lazy people).

The girl who had been arm wrestling Nidai-kun speaks up next.

Akane
Yo! The name's Akane Owari! Nice to meetcha!

Wow. This girl is basically pouring out of her button up shirt. She's the first brown character you've seen, so yay diversity; she's got very obvious curves, messy brown hair, and a carefree looking smile. Apparently Akane is the Ultimate Gymnast, though she isn't really built like the gymnasts you've seen on the Olympics. She likes "fighting" and dislikes "working hard".

The introductions continue as your eyes start to glaze over. There's a few characters you've met already--and then a few new oddballs. A girl with nearly floor length blonde hair: Sonia Nevermind, the Ultimate Princess-- as in, she's literally royalty? Likes the occult and dislikes sour plums. Another blonde girl who looks like she should be in kindergarten is Hiyoko Saionji, the Ultimate Traditional Dancer, who likes bubble wrap and dislikes lectures. There is a short guy who looks more like a potato with a pompadour, Ultimate Cook Teruteru Hanamura (likes his mother and dislikes junk food, which would come across as wholesome if he didn't introduce himself with a lewd joke). A serious looking albino girl with her grey hair in braids has the unlikely name of Peko Pekoyama, the Ultimate Swordswoman (likes black, dislikes candy). A stereotypically clumsy girl with bandages all over her legs and an uneven haircut is Mikan Tsumiki, the Ultimate Nurse (Likes Alcohol, dislikes "oversized things" whatever the heck that means).

Finally a goth looking guy with a scarf and the vocabulary of a LARP-er introduces himself as Gundham Tanaka, the Ultimate Breeder. He likes The Four Dark Devas of Destruction (his hamsters???) and dislikes this mortal world. Mood. But that seems to be the last of them, thank goodness. You just hope there isn't a test later.

Then Yukizome-sensei pointed to me. I gulped. With everyone's attention on me, I froze and my mind went blank. I stumbled a bit standing up, though I didn't fall over the way Tsumiki-san had.

Chiaki:
…Hey hey. I'm Chiaki Nanami, and… I'm the Ultimate Gamer, I guess…

I winced at everyone's eyes on me. Mostly my classmates seemed bored or curious. Not hostile; but still a lot to process and worry about. But when I made eye contact with Komaeda-kun, he gave me a little smile and a thumbs up, which made me feel better. Maybe we can be friends? I sit back down, thinking that this year at school might be a good year after all.

Chapter Text

LOADING
Tip: Littering is bad for the environment! Let's live in mutual prosperity with nature!

After what seems more like a life tip than a game tip, the rabbit mascot returns to the screen.

Usami:
Hello! It’s your friend and helper, Magical Girl Usami! I’m here with some more tutorials for you!

Usami:
First, can you join me back at the main menu? Remember to save your game first!

Saving your game under the very imaginative title "Game 1", you head back to the main menu. There is a new option since the last time you looked.

NEW GAME

LOAD GAME

GALLERY

SETTINGS

PROFILES

LOCKED

LOCKED

HELP

Usami:
If you click on “Profiles” you can see the information on all of the friends you’ve met. Check here if you want to refresh your memory on what you know about your friends!

Thank heavens, you don't actually have to start taking notes. Yet, anyway.

Usami:
You can also check your class’s Hope Shards!

Usami:
Hope shards are earned as your classmates build and strengthen bonds with each other! These aren’t specific to Chiaki, either; building relationships between any characters help you to earn shards! You need to get all ten hope shards to get a happy ending!

Usami:
Right now your class has… two hope shards! Uwah! Looks like some of your classmates are already getting along! Keep working hard to collect them all!

Usami:
Now, let’s go back to class! I have one more thing I need to show you so you can start your peaceful, heart-throbbing school life!

First you take a second to look over the character profiles. They have a lot of blanks marked with "???" but have the likes and dislikes and Ultimate Titles listed. So, basically, just the things you already know. One profile is still completely blank: apparently there's one character you haven't met yet. Then you follow the tutorial back to your game file. Here you find a simple weekly planner with drag and drop options for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Usami:
It’s time to fill out your schedule planner! Every week you will need to choose which classes you will attend, as well as some after school activities! Different activities will give you the opportunity to spend time with different classmates.

Usami:
Since it’s your first time, we’ll keep this simple. You only have to set up three days for this week, and you’ll have less options than usual. Remember, for each day you choose one class and one after school activity!

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

CLASSES:
Math
PE
Home Economics
History

ACTIVITIES:
Hang out at the fountain
D&D Club
Visit the Library
Go to the Nurse’s Office