Chapter Text
Hope’s Peak Academy.
The most prestigious, elite high school in the entirety of Japan. It’s so elite, in fact, that the only students to be accepted are those scouted by the school itself. There are only two requirements to join:
1. Be a current highschool student.
2. Be the absolute best in your field of expertise.
This school is everyone’s ultimate dream; it’s known that after you graduate from Hope’s Peak Academy, you are guaranteed a successful future in your desired craft. Since I was a kid, it was my objective to be scouted and accepted into Hope’s Peak Academy as an ultimate student. Today, I had completed my goal! Now, I stood before the school of my dreams. Towering over me, I looked up to see Hope’s Peak Academy. Before arriving, I wanted to be prepared to meet my fellow ultimates. Last night, I spent my time combing through various webpages, detailing the information about my future classmates. Excitement pulsed through my body. I’m finally going to live out my dreams! A rush of cool air sent chills up my bare arms, goosebumps appearing on my tanned skin. Black spots swam in my sight. Suddenly feeling lightheaded, I grasped to the nearest object for stability. My vision darkened until I abruptly pass out.
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A dull ache throbbed behind my eyes, causing me to groan in pain. Eyes fluttering open, I observe my surroundings. Or rather, lack thereof. Inky blackness enveloped me, a blanket despite the cold. Uncertain, I scrambled up from the floor. I retreated backwards, jumping when my back thumped against a solid wall. I whirled around to see not a wall, but a tall, wooden door. Eyes sifting over it, I spotted a handle and turned it before I could think otherwise. Inside, was a classroom. The sight of chattering students became abruptly apparent to me. My heart beat faster. I was about to begin my future at Hope’s Peak Academy and meet my classmates! I step inside and I am immediately overwhelmed by a rush of a sweet but slightly stale smell which invades my senses. I sneeze, muttering a ‘Bless you.’ to myself. The classroom itself is grey, with a very wide, green blackboard at the front of the class, desks in rows of four line the floor. Glancing around at the people occupying the space, I saw a range of individuals with varying styles, looks and general atmospheres. Walking hesitantly to the back of the classroom and pulling out a chair, I strained my ears to grasp onto strands of peoples’ conversations.
“….this shithole! I didn’t sign up for this!…”
”..eezing in here, I’m shivering!”
”I just wonder why we’r… …keeping us locked up?”
Locked up? My head starts to throb harder, my hands shaking on the desk. Observing the room, I counted 16 of us in total. A group of 7 were huddled at the front of the room, with other seperate, smaller groups scattered around. No one had seemed to notice my arrival due to their hushed conversation. That was my conclusion, until I spotted a lone individual, standing away from the groups. She had dark brown hair, straight and falling to around her elbows. She wore a white blouse, adorned with a blue ribbon around her neck. Her face was stern and calculating, drifting over the students in the room. Until, her eyes locked onto mine. I quickly looked away, feeling her stare as if it were burning my skin. Then a voice, louder than the others cut through the noise.
”What if this is some sort of entrance exam?”
Turning to link the voice to a face, I shift my attention to the figure. The owner of the voice is a tall, slim girl with vibrant red hair; a small crowd around her. Her question lingered in the air, piercing everybody’s thoughts. Another voice spoke.
”Hope’s Peak Academy has previously announced that there isn’t an entrance exam.” A boy with dark hair states with finality.
“Yeah, maybe publicly, but what if this is a test?” The redhead retorts.
”Of our, like, intuition? To see what we’d do in some kind of weird, unexpected scenario?” A boy with blond - almost green - hair suggests. The redhead nods in response, which elicits the students to once again break out into fits of concerned chatter.
”Ah, you’re wrong. This is not an entrance exam.” A childlike voice echoes through the room.
Suddenly, the room falls silent, broken only a few seconds later by obnoxious cackling.
“Hah! Dude, why’d you just make that cute, kiddy voice? Even as the Ultimate Prankster, you just look stupid!” The green-blond suggests, barking a laugh.
”I did no such thing! Quit lying, I may be a prankster but I’m no idiot!” Replies the so called ‘Ultimate Prankster’. I notice he fits the part quite well, his neon, spiky, teal hair almost long enough to cover his eyes. What a weird ultimate to have. I thought it had to actually be impressive or important.
”Sure. So, whose voice was it then?”
Interrupting my chain of thought, the childlike voice returned.
“It was actually mine!”
“Okay, where is that coming from? It’s driving me mad!” A girl with bright orange hair yelled.
”I- I think it’s coming from.. behind the teacher’s desk?” A meek girl with light green hair stammered.
Behind the teacher’s desk? On trembling legs, I stand from my seat and walk nervously to the desk at the front of the room.
”Aaaaaall right! I see everybody’s arrived! Let’s begin.”
I jump as a small, white rabbit in a pink tutu pops out from behind the desk. Falling to the floor in shock, I hear a simultaneous gasp from my classmates behind me. The bunny appears to be a walking, talking stuffed animal with angel wings. It holds a magic wand about the same length as itself. I stare in awe, completely confused.
”What the hell is that?” Someone asks.
”It’s like… a stuffed toy?” Someone responds.
“That’s right, I am a squeezably soft stuffed animal.” The stuffed rabbit answers. “Magical Miracle Girl ★ Usami… A.K.A. Usami!”
“What is happening right now…” I murmur to no one in particular.
”I may not look like it, but I am your squeezably soft teacher.” Usami tells us. “Nice to meet you all!”
The throb in my head is pounding now, screaming at me. I tightly grasp onto the nearest object, a ringing in my ears. My legs wobble and my arms shake, heavy breathing apparent. I’m about to fall to the floor, hearing muffled shouts around me, when all I can see is black.