Chapter Text
The massive high school towers over all the other buildings in this bustling urban area.
It's like the school stands at the center of the entire world.
Hope's Peak Academy…
It brings in top students from every field imaginable. A government-funded school of privilege…
They say that if you come here and manage to graduate, you'll be set for life.
With hundreds of years of tradition, it sends the cream of the crop into the work force every year.
It was built to raise hope in the nation's future. Which makes Hope's Peak a pretty fitting name.
There are two things you need to attend this school…
One, you have to already be attending high school. Two, you have to be the very best at what you do.
No ordinary student could enroll here. The only way in is if you're scouted by the school itself.
And standing there at the gate of the ultimate school filled with the ultimate students…
…was me.
~
But…
Before we go any farther, I guess I should introduce myself. My name's Chiaki Nanami.
As you can see, I'm nothing but a hopelessly average high school student.
Average on the outside, average on the inside.
I really don't have much going for me when it comes to grades, special abilities, and even personality.
I mean, I do have hobbies and stuff I like to do. But it's not like I'm a psychic or mutant or whatever.
Like, if you asked me what my favorite song was, or my favorite movie or TV show…
They'll just be whatever's most popular at that particular moment.
Even among the average, I'm completely average. So I can't even say I'm your “everyday heroine” type.
It's just who I am…
But anyways, I figure it's always good to introduce yourself right off the bat.
But you know, if I have any kind of “strong point,” so to speak…
I'd say I'm a little more gung-ho than other people.
I mean look at me. I'm completely ordinary, but still…
Here I am, standing in front of the anything but ordinary Hope's Peak Academy.
I still can't believe I'm standing here. I wonder if someone like me can survive in a place like this…
It's got this overwhelming presence… it's like if I was a Lv. 1 Hero inside a dungeon that lead to the final boss.
But it's no wonder I would feel that way. What you have to understand is…
Well…
Let me tell you about the “preperation” I did last night to get ready for today.
~
Hope's Peak only invites those students who are the truly elite in their field.
It's such a popular topic, there are threads inline dedicated to talking about the school's attendees.
So to prepare, I looked up some of those threads.
And all I saw was talk about “ultimate” students, who were way beyond your acerage high schooler.
For example, one incoming student is the “Ultimate Team Manager.” I'm guessing he trained several athletes all around the world.
Another one is known as the “Ultimate Breeder.” Who was known being in touch with animals and created many hybrids of breeds.
What was also mentioned is the “Ultimate Musician.” Her songs are the highest-grossing singles of the country.
And then there's the “Ultimate Yakuza.” And no, I'm not joking about that at all. He's apparently the head of a massive crime team. Why is he considered to be an Ultimate? I have no idea.
But there are more Ultimates out there. There is also the Ultimate Nurse, Ultimate Chef, the Ultimate Photographer, the Ultimate Gymnast, the Ultimate Traditional Dancer, the Ultimate Mechanic, and maybe more…
Reading that made me feel… well, kinda weak. It was the country's finest, top to bottom.
Again, I felt like a Lv. 1 Hero inside a dungeon that lead to the final boss.
But still, there was something I couldn't stop thinking about.
You see, there were a few students who I couldn't find any info on, no matter who much I looked.
With all those “ultimate” students, I'm the only one without any kind of worthwhile talent.
But then, what about those other new students who didn't seem to pop up anywhere?
Could they be just average students like me, without any talent or anything?
That thought was… kind of encouraging. I mean, I don't have much in the way of personality. But beyond that, there's an even bigger issue…
How can an unbelievably average student like me get picked to come to this “ultimate” high school?
Well… there is one.
You just have to take one glance at the acceptance letter they sent me to see why.
“Ms. Chiaki Nanami. We recently held a lottery to select one ordinary student to attend our school. As a result, you have been selected, and we invite you in to join us as the Ultimate Gamer. Included is an orientation guide to Hope's Peak Academy.”
Yes, you heard me correctly, I am an Ultimate.
I am known as the “Ultimate Gamer”. And I know why…
I've played a lot of games…
From rhythm games, to adventure games, to party games, to mobile games, to even crappy, bootleg, or terrible games. I was a huge fan of all genres of games.
And that is how I got enrolled. They spelled it out plain as day—I got invited by being a gamer.
Honestly, I probably would have been better off just declining their offer. But after hearing how graduating was a “guarantee for success” later in life. I just couldn't say no.
~
But then, actually standing there in front of the school…
I started to feel lost, like I didn't belong there. I could feel myself losing my nerve.
But still… I can's just stand here in front of the gate forever…
Frozen in place, murmuring to myself, I looked down at the acceptance letter clutched in my hand.
It said there'd be a meeting for all incoming students in the main hall at 8AM.
The meeting still isn't for a little while, but…
I should probably just head in.
“Yeah… I'm gonna do that.” I said as I took my first step towards the main hall…
~
The moment I entered in the main hall, I noticed that there was no one there.
“This is where we're supposed to meet, right? I guess I'm the first one here.” I said as I looked around.
There's a really pretty clock over in the corner. It says it's 7:10AM.
The meeting doesn't start until 8AM, so there's only 50 minutes left.
So it made sense that nobody would be here yet…
So that meant I could kill some time while waiting for the meeting… I decided to reach into my backpack and pull out my Nantendo Game Girl Advance to play some games.
I mean, I could look around, but… I would rather play games. It'll help me kill somee time, if nothing else. It was my first time at Hope's Peak Academy, and it was a first step to start a new life at a new school…
…
…
…
…at least, that's what I was hoping for.
But the instant I sat down on a couch in the main hall…
My view became warped and twisted. It was like some kind of delusion, melting away and mixing together into something else. It was spinning, mixing, melting, spinning, mixing, melting, spinning, mixing, melting, spinning, and it kept repeating.
And the next moment…
Everything went black.
I thought was playing too many games, but no… that wasn't the case.
It wasn't the case at all…
And that is when I soon realized one thing…
That this is how it began…
And how life as I knew, came to an end.
And I should've realized one thing…
The reason I was brought to Hope's Peak Academy wasn't because I was the Ultimate Gamer.
It was so I could experience one thing…
…ULTIMATE DESPAIR.