Chapter Text
Danganronpa Underlying truths
Prologue: Cipher
Heads turn towards me. Faces look at me. I can’t focus on them. It’s like my mind is censoring them. Then, nothing.
Just a single word, repeating in my mind, over and over again, to a point where I don’t even remember any existence without a constant scream in my head, trying to tell me something.
Then, light.
I’m hunched over a desk. My head pillowed on my arms. I look at the classroom, wondering how I know what it is, since I have no memory of ever stepping foot in one. Or of anything, for that matter. I… What?
I notice a smartphone in front of me. I take it, and turn it around to check the brand. Nope, nothing comes to my mind. A small logo I can’t make out, and doesn’t ring a bell. I try to remember some companies. The big names come to mind, so guess capitalism is ingrained in my brain despite the amnesia. If it’s even that.
I turn it on, and it displays a small message.
Dear student of Platinum High, we welcome you to our grand academy. As you know, we only accept the best of the best in our academy. Unfortunately, we do not know what to call you. Please insert a name of your choice after you are done reading this message. Please note you won’t be able to change it afterward.
A prompt comes up.
I think about it for half a second before typing the only thing that feels right. Cipher.
It turns off before restarting.
Cipher, Ultimate ???.
It’s like they knew about my amnesia before I even did.
I put the smartphone in my jacket’s pocket. I then look down to get a good look at myself.
I’m wearing a black sleeveless turtleneck, a purple jacket, and a black and purple baggy jogger I think you’d call techwear. The shoes were black combat boots, and by using the smartphone’s phone app, I found out I had shoulder length purple hair with black roots, as well as a mole next to my mouth. Weirly enough, I notice a set of scars across my forehead. It's hidden my hair, but you can see if you look very hard for it. I push that to the back of my mind, I needed to find help, before trying to determine if I got surgeries done before the whole nada in my brain.
As I got in the hallway, a boy’s voice called out to me.
???: Yo, purple dye!
The boy arrived. He had chin length blond hair, a scar just above his left eyebrow, and was wearing a tattered green sweater with some black skull designs.
???: You got any idea where we are? Can’t be Platinum.
Cipher: I saw that name on the phone, but the fuck’s Platinum High?
???: Ha! You almost got me!
Cipher: No, I’m serious. No idea what it is.
???: You’re serious? Well, uh. Platinum High is like, one of the best schools in the world. It’s famous for only scouting their students. They chose the best in their fields, give them the title of Ultimate, and invite them to the school, free of charge.
Cipher: I… See. The phone welcomed to Platinum High, but didn’t say anything about a talent.
???: Weird. Mine shows my name and talent. Guess it’ll will do for an introduction.
He turned his phone towards me, and turned it on.
Levi Avery, Ultimate Vocalist.
Cipher: Oh, you do singing?
Levi: Pretty much. I mostly do songs for video games. And I got known from there, got invited to do the singing parts for concerts from the franchises. It’s actually pretty cool, if I get some wifi, I’ll deffo show you some! So! Who’re you?
Cipher: That’s the question I’m asking myself. No idea. I guess I go by Cipher right now. Only thing that came to mind.
Levi looked at me, probably trying to determine if I was telling the truth.
Levi: Amnesia?
Cipher: Either that or I spawned twenty minutes ago.
Levi obviously didn’t believe me, but he probably thought I would betray myself if I was lying.
We both made our way into an entrance hall. It looked like the typical conference hall. And a girl was trying stuffing her arm through a vending machine’s hole.
Levi: Hey, you’re stuck?
The girl turned around and sighed. She got her arm out of the vending machine.
???: I tried to see if I could grab something in there. I didn’t.
She was wearing a black Panchiko shirt, a blue unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt as a jacket, as well as green cargo shorts.
???: Y’all woke up here too?
Levi: Yup, I’m Levi Avery, Ultimate Vocalist.
Cipher: Cipher. Local amnesiac.
???: Wait, so you know nothing about yourself? What’s 20*9?
Cipher: 180.
???: So you remember stuff you learned, just nothing about yourself, is that it?
Cipher: Pretty much. I had no idea what I looked like when I woke up. And I have no idea what I did to get in Platinum High.
???: That’s rough, buddy. Well, nice to meetch’a Cipher, I’m Penelope Niks, I’m the Ultimate Journalist. You can call Penny, tho.
Levi: Yeah, nice to meet you Penny!
Penny looked at Levi like he just insulted her mother.
Levi: Loooope. Penelope.
She grabbed my arm rolling her eyes playfully before leading me towards a door. Behind it was a cafeteria, even if 50s dinner was closer to describing it. 13 teenagers were in, sitting, talking among themselves.
Penny: I got the last one, y’all!
Everyone looked at me, as Levi went to sit next to a buff looking guy.
???1: So, guess Levi got beaten to the punch!
Levi: It wasn’t a contest, Gabe!
???1: That’s what losers say. Anyways, purple chick, I’m Gabriel Maston, the Ultimate Board Game Pro!
He had long brown hair in a ponytail, a pair of sunglasses, and wore a red fancy suit over black dress pants.
And looking around, hoping to see something that even tickles my brain, scratches the part of it that registers memories, for any reassurence that this amnesia was just shock. It wasn't.