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At the Brink of Despair

Summary:

17 incredibly talented high school students have gathered at the prestigious Hope's Peak Academy to start their future. But, the school is not what it seems. The students wake up in a dark and boarded-up version of the school with no memory of how they got there. There, they meet the headmaster of the school, a blobby plush toy named Yume who tells them the only way they can escape is if they kill someone and get away with it. Soon, the dark secrets of Hope's Peak Acadmey, Yume, and the students themselves will be revealed.

*DSMP Danganronpa AU*

Notes:

For a look at the character designs: https://twitter.com/thecorvidprince/status/1619524588635049985?s=20&t=D3UuclOYKHlt5ukboL_TGw

Chapter 1: [Game Start] Meet the Cast!

Chapter Text

Dream as: 'The Ultimate Soldier'

What if this is the only battle he can’t win?

Dream might have a baby face, but he is no joke. Called ‘The Ultimate Soldier’, this dirty-blond-haired man has been fighting in wars since the day he took his first steps. Infamous for going to war nearly completely blinded by a smiley face mask, Dream is not someone to get on the wrong side of. As a master of every weapon he has laid his hands on, Dream can easily vanquish any foe. Unsurprisingly, he was invited to the prestigious Hope’s Peak Academy. But the soldier has another side to him. He also loves cats, nature, and socializing with people.

George as: ‘The Ultimate Lucky Student’

Will his luck be enough to save him?

George is the epitome of the average student. He was chosen at random by the Academy-funded lottery. Not particularly as outstanding as some of the other Hope’s Peak Academy attendees, George feels immense pressure to do well and prove he deserves to attend the grandest school in the nation. George spent most of his time preparing for school life researching the other students and their abilities. Outside of school, George is an avid gamer, reader, and adventurer. Kind to a fault, how hard will the ultimate lucky student have to fight hard to earn his place at Hope’s Peak Academy?

Sapnap as: ‘The Ultimate Pyromaniac’

Will his flame burn out before he can escape? 

Sapnap, the Ultimate Pyromaniac, is the personification of yin and yang. Sapnap has got the looks and personality of the stereotypical bad boy. But, on the flip side, the young man is soft-spoken and kind to all that know him. Sapnap’s skill in making large-scale artwork out of flames earned him national recognition and his spot in Hope’s Peak Academy. When he is not creating fiery artwork for the world to enjoy, Sapnap works as a firefighter. His bosses say he is the best worker they have seen, dedicated to saving those in need despite his several counts of arson.

Karl as: ‘The Ultimate Storyteller’

Will he live to tell his story?

For many, Karl Jacobs is a household name. From a young age, he has been writing and crafting mythical tales of adventure and fantasy adored by millions of fans across the world. Nearly all of his works have become massive hits. One of his more famous series, colloquially named ‘Tales’, was picked up for a television series prior to Karl’s acceptance to Hope’s Peak Academy. Karl is described as a bit of an oddball, and his fashion sense only heightens that point. When he is not writing, Karl can be found creatively harassing bad players on various video games online.

Quackity as: ‘The Ultimate Gambler’

Is luck in the cards for him?

Quackity is the king of the nation’s largest gambling empire. Owner of tens of casinos, Quackity’s schedule is jam-packed with business and paperwork all day long. Quackity is easily angry and aggressive, taking things out on his surroundings. His obsession with detail and creating the best experiences for his paying customers led to his acceptance into Hope’s Peak Academy. However, when the business-oriented young man is not working, he can be pretty humorous, earning a lot of comical nicknames from his close friends. Quackity is also one of the nation’s best poker players, a valuable asset for a casino owner.

Bad as: ‘The Ultimate Listener’

What if listening isn’t enough?

Bad’s ability as the ultimate listener is largely misunderstood. It’s assumed that Bad can listen to conversations and know the appropriate response to any situation. Unfortunately, that is not this man’s ability. Instead, he can eavesdrop flawlessly, picking up all the crucial details and remembering them to repeat word for word later. Bad’s ability has led to him not having many friends, but he cherishes the ones he does have. He has been offered countless jobs as a spy but has turned them all down for fear of feeling remorse. How can such a kind-hearted soul survive Hope’s Peak Academy?

Skeppy as: ‘The Ultimate Prankster’

Will a prank gone wrong spell his end?

Skeppy has been a prankster his whole life. While his ability is more on the annoying side when compared to those of his peers, he is no less valued as an ‘Ultimate.’ His ability and winning personality have won him his spot at Hope’s Peak Academy. Skeppy’s pranks have gotten worldwide attention across all age groups. He has been begged for an online presence but refuses, instead deciding all of his pranks should play out in person to be truly genuine. Outside of his pranking, Skeppy works as a stand-up comic, finding a respectable amount of success in his career.

Punz as: ‘The Ultimate Mercenary’

Can he make a deal to save himself?

Punz has known how to strike the best deal from his days in diapers. Hired as a mercenary for every influential crime boss family in the nation at least once, Punz is the real deal. He is cunning, sneaky, and manipulative like all good mercenaries should be. But he is also extraordinarily likable, a trait that has given him the ability to weasel out of any situation where he has found himself trapped. While his professional loyalties might be as easily swayed as the ocean's tides, Punz will never betray the people he truly cares about, no matter the cost.

Foolish as:  ‘The Ultimate Builder’

Will all he’s built up crumble?

Foolish has been at the top of his construction game for years. The first sign of the young man’s talent came when he was young. Foolish won his school’s lego-building competitions every single year by a landslide. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. In fact, some of his more notable builds have been out of unconventional materials. Foolish is most known for being the leading architect behind the nation’s leading hotel and apartment companies. His only downside is his reluctance to work with others. Foolish finds that a team hurts him more than it helps further his work. 

Sam as: ‘The Ultimate Coder’

How will he survive without technology?

Sam was practically born on a computer. A master in every computer language and software, Sam is one of the students attending Hope’s Peak Academy with the most potential. There is no technical problem that Sam can’t solve. His brain works nearly as fast as a computer. He has been offered work as a hacker but has turned each and every opportunity down, valuing honesty above a paycheck. Instead, Sam focuses his skills on improving the lives of as many people as he can. His computer skills also translate to video games, where he has found great success in esports.

Hannah as: ‘The Ultimate Botanist’

Will she grow or shrivel under the pressure?

Hannah is the nation’s leading plant and flower expert. She has the greenest thumb among her peers and can distinguish what tree, weed, etc., will grow from a mere few seconds of looking at a seed. These talents have led Hannah to be accepted into Hope’s Peak Academy without a second thought. Relatively soft-spoken, she would rather spend time in a greenhouse than socialize. But when she does find someone she enjoys talking to, Hannah will not stop talking. She is the proud owner of a relatively small flower shop business in her hometown, warming the hearts of her neighbors.

Purpled as: ‘The Ultimate Strategist’

Will this be the first problem he can’t solve?

Purpled knows the quickest and most effective way to do just about everything in the world. As the ultimate strategist, he is exceptional with his brain and problem-solving. From a young age, this young man would finish puzzles and brain teasers well above his grade level with no difficulty. Purpled is an avid chess player as well as a master of any other board game he plays. He has been offered jobs with multiple intelligence and military agencies, but he finds the work tedious. For fun, Purpled enjoys reading, solving puzzles, and just about anything else that challenges his brain.

Wilbur as: ‘The Ultimate Affluent Prodigy’

Will his status be enough to save him?

Willbur Soot, son of the legendary Soot family, comes from money. He’s filthy rich and a bit of a dickhead. But that is excepted from someone with as much pressure to be the best as Wilbur. Being the ultimate affluent prodigy means that after he graduates from Hope’s Peak Academy, Wilbur will become head of his family and take charge of the numerous businesses attached to the Soot name. Not very likable, Wilbur thinks of business first and success as his most important attribute. But, those closest to him have found that Wiilbur can be warm in his own way.

Tommy as: ‘The Ultimate Influencer’

Will these experiences make a successful video?

Tommy, AKA ‘Tommyinnit’, is an online influencer with millions of subscribers. Dubbed ‘The Ultimate Influencer’, Tommy knows what it takes to be seen and all of the sacrifices needed to become genuinely successful. He has been making videos since his grubby hands could find the record button on a camera. Tommy is found annoying by most people his age, but the few people that do enjoy Tommy’s company say that he is a highly caring, respectful, and attentive friend. The immense attention that every one of his videos received is the reason why he was accepted into Hope’s Peak Academy.

Phil as: ‘The Ultimate Aviator’

How does a grounded bird fly?

Phil, known by his monicker ‘The Crow,’ is the nation’s youngest pilot. He’s been flying since he could walk and quickly grew to love aviation and every aspect of flight. Phil has flown for civilian and military objectives, surpassing all expectations tenfold. While Phil is more than qualified to fly many aircraft, his greatest love is stunt-piloting with his beloved plane, Kristen. His ability to maneuver a plane effortlessly was an immediate shoe into his acceptance into Hope’s Peak Academy. Phil’s ability is not the easiest to foster in a classroom, but he has been promised great things await him.

Niki as: ‘The Ultimate Baker

Will she be the final ingredient to despair?

Niki, known to many as the Ultimate Baker, is at the top of her cooking game. She has competed and won most of the nation’s most prestigious and rigorous cooking competitions. Niki’s fame and success lead to her opening her own bakery at the young age of 12. Since, she has run one of the nation’s most sought-after sweet shops, simply called ‘Niki’s’, selling the most delectable treats anyone could wish to get their hands on. She considered not accepting the invitation to Hope’s Peak Academy but decided that the school would make her business and baking look even better.

Ranboo as: ‘The Ultimate Spy’

Will his secret stay safe?

Next to nothing is known about the identity of the Ultimate Spy, known simply as Ranboo. He appeared mysteriously a few years ago, seemingly from the shadows. No one has seen his face, only his pale blue eyes. Ranboo’s true identity is unknown to even the most advanced agencies in the nation. Ranboo’s location, job, and hobbies are just as obscure as his face, but the Hope’s Peak Academy admissions committee always has its ways of finding its top students. He is mostly silent, only talking when absolutely necessary, which earned him the playful secondary nickname of ‘The Ultimate Shadow.’

Yume as: The Headmaster

Sweet and cute-looking, this mix-matched blob-like plush is not someone to mess with. Half green, half white, he is Hope’s Peak Academy’s headmaster and takes his job extremely seriously. Yume enjoys the fun of the murder game and gets extremely bored when students don’t want to participate in his fun. He is also immortal, not that any student would try to take him down (they know the consequences). Yume can be found lingering in the halls of Hope’s Peak Academy at all hours. He also appears when he is called. Maybe because of all the cameras he has sprinkled about.