History Fanfic / DespairsLastResort

** Takara has some with both Satoshi and Masaru. WordOfGod confirms that Satoshi has a crush on Takara before they met, and Masaru starts getting nervous around her in Chapter 4. Masaru also gets bummed out when [[spoiler:Satoshi comes back from the museum during the fourth investigation and is spending time with her.]] Since Takara hasn't really shown more interest in either, it leaves things in an implied Type 3 TriangRelations. It ends up leaning towards Masaru near the end though, [[spoiler:especially since when they leave the simulation, she holds his hand instead of Satoshi's]].

* NamesTheSame: There are a number of different Paradise Resorts that exist, but the one in the fic itself isn't based on any of them. [[spoiler:Which makes sense considering it's a literal paradise for the characters.]]

** BiggerBad: [[spoiler:Saemi Sasagawa, his controller this time around.]]

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Arata and Kumiko have blue and hot pink hair respectively. Shigeru also has blue hair. Averted with Kazumi, as her green hair is a result of hair dye.

!!This ''{{Franchise/Danganronpa}}'' series contains examples of:

* FemalesAreMoreInnocent: The female killers are generally presented more sympathetically than the males. [[spoiler:Ayame]] [[AccidentalMurder accidentally killed her victim]] in [[CrimeOfSelfDefense self-defense]] when he tried to kill her, while [[spoiler:Shizuka]] ended up committing murder against two people who were themselves plotting a double murder to graduate(not to mention that technically, [[spoiler:Naomi's]] death wasn't even her fault). As for the boys, [[spoiler:Kaito]] ended up panicking and killing someone who hadn't done anything wrong, while [[spoiler:Arata]] is entirely unapologetic about his desire to graduate and leave everyone behind, which would involve killing the remaining students.

[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1682828/chapters/3576434 Despair's Last Resort]] is an ongoing fanfiction series set in the VisualNovel/{{Danganronpa}} universe written by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/ParadoxProphet/pseuds/ParadoxProphet ParadoxProphet]].

!!This ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'' series contains examples of:

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Shigeru and Naomi to an extent.]]

* CriticalResearchFailure: The Japanese school year begins and ends in the spring, unlike the American school year, which begins in the fall and ends at the start of summer. As such, while Japan has a summer vacation, it's in the middle of the school year, not between years.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Brought up InUniverse after [[spoiler: Shizuka's execution]]. Arata wonders if [[spoiler: her reasoning to let herself be caught so that everyone else would continue to live is truly as noble as it sounds. He believes that she was actually acting on selfishness since they were the only friends she had, and her true reason was so she wouldn't be alone if they guessed incorrectly. Though even if her intentions were well-meaning like she claimed, she still murdered and shouldn't be seen differently than Kaito or Ayame because of that reasoning alone.]]

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: Shigeru and Naomi to an extent.]]

** BiggerBad: [[spoiler: Saemi Sasagawa, his controller this time around.]]
* BigNo: Kumiko's reaction to [[spoiler: Chiyo being the first victim.]]
* BilingualBonus: Anyone who knows French can figure out the culprit of Chapter 3 is [[spoiler: Shizuka]] from the dying message [[spoiler: Naomi]] left behind.
* BittersweetEnding: The main story ends with [[spoiler: Takara and the other survivors getting back on their feet with the help of the Future Foundation, their previous trauma gone, Saemi defeated for good, and each of them expressing their dreams for the future as Aoi Asahina tells them she has news for them. However, Shuuya still has work to be done as it's implied that while Super High School Level Despair has been defeated in Japan, they're still running on a global scale and the rest of the world needs help. On top of that, the trauma isn't completely gone as it's mentioned some of the students are still having nightmares. And at least five of their classmates are permanently dead from what happened in the simulation.]]

* BookEnds: Two examples. The main story begins and ends with the exact same paragraph, the difference being that it's implied [[spoiler: Takara is now writing the story down in her journal for the world to read]]. The epilogue also begins in a similar way to the prologue, with [[spoiler: someone telling Takara to wake up, her thoughts trying to set themselves straight, and being told she's the last one to wake up while being helped by a boy and a girl]]. Even the dialogue is word for word.
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler: Saemi intends to do this to her classmates by making them members of Super High School Level Despair. Shuuya implies that Saemi herself is this already.]]
* BreakThemByTalking: Monokuma attempts this throughout the story. [[spoiler: When Saemi stops using that ruse, she tries to do it to her fellow classmates to convince them to stay. It doesn't work.]]
* BrickJoke: During the Prologue, Takara swears that if she sees one more person wearing a vest or waistcoat of some sort that she'll kill them. [[spoiler: Fast-forward to Chapter 6, where Saemi shows up and is wearing a waistcoat modified from a jacket. While Takara isn't the one to do it, she gets killed at the end.]]
* TheCasanova: Hikaru is implied to be one of these, but it comes off as an InformedAbility since none of the girls show much interest in him. The way he acts suggests he's more of a ChickMagnet since he doesn't know why so many girls like him, [[spoiler: but the fact that he's cheated on all of his girlfriends gives more evidence to this trope. Though the reveal he never intended to do so makes things even more ambiguous.]]

* ClearMyName: Kumiko is suspected of being [[spoiler: Chiyo's murderer]] in Chapter 1, and part of the investigation is spent gathering evidence to prove she's innocent.
** In Chapter 2, it's made to look like Ryouta is the one behind [[spoiler: Hikaru's murder]], but that's due to a combination of bad coincidences and [[spoiler: Ayame trying to frame him]].
* ClosedCircle: The students are trapped in Paradise Resort with no way out, with Monokuma even destroying the docks to make sure of that. Chapter 4 has the students trapped inside the hotel due to a terrible storm. The only one who isn't trapped is [[spoiler: Satoshi, as he ran out after an argument with Takara and got stuck in the museum]].
* ContinuityCameo: [[spoiler: In Chapter 5, Kumiko begins talking with Chiaki Nanami from the second game. In Chapter 6, Takara finds a video with her and the others agreeing to the Paradise Rehabilitation Project in interviews with Makoto Naegi.]]
* ConvenientComa: [[spoiler: Some of the dead students are under this, implying that they could be brought back.]]

** Not only the executions, but [[spoiler: Minoru's murder]] qualifies as this as well. [[spoiler: His smoothie drinks are poisoned with chlorine bleach. His mouth is burned from the chemicals, his stomach lining is worn away, and he vomits stomach acid. Before his death, he's even coughing and gagging.]] Compared to the other murder methods, this one is just downright cruel.
* CultOfPersonality: [[spoiler: Saemi is a part of Super High School Level Despair, and so worships Junko Enoshima like the students from the second game. Her intention is to make her classmates the same.]]
* DarkerAndEdgier: Ticking of the Clock, which takes place during [[spoiler: the last days of Class 79 at Hope's Peak Academy]] and begins with someone turning up dead, is already starting to be this.

* DarkAndTroubledPast: Apparently ''everyone'' in Class 79 has been through some kind of hardship or tragic event before attending Hope's Peak Academy. Some of them are detailed in the story proper, such as Kaito [[spoiler: having emotionally abusive parents]] and Ryouta [[spoiler: and his family nearly losing their flower shop to a competitor]], but Monokuma's "movie" in Chapter 6 mentions others that don't clarify who had to experience it. Though that might be for the better, as [[spoiler: one of the boys was sexually assaulted while it's implied that someone ''unsuccessfully tried to prevent a friend from committing suicide'']]. It's amazing these kids had any hope left in them.
** The two above have been confirmed to be [[spoiler: Arata and Takara]] respectively.

* DeathOfPersonality: [[spoiler: What Saemi intends to do to her former classmates by making them members of Super High School Level Despair.]]
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Kumiko and [[spoiler: Kaito]]'s troubles about their neglectful and abusive parents respectively is seen as the norm in Japanese society. Takara doesn't see why Kumiko has a problem with her parents working so late, as a parent who does so is believed to be hard-working and supportive even at the cost of the child's loneliness. Meanwhile, [[spoiler: Kaito trying to tell someone about his parents abuse would be frowned upon as it would be a matter that the family would have to solve]].
* DespairEventHorizon: [[spoiler: Some of the students crossed this by the time the Future Foundation rescued them.]]
* DwindlingParty: There were sixteen students at the beginning of the fic. By the time of this writing, [[spoiler: there are only six left. Though Saemi and Shuuya are shown to both be alive as the mastermind and a Future Foundation member respectively.]]
* DysfunctionJunction: All of Class 79 have been through some kind of traumatic event or had a bad past before deciding to attend Hope's Peak. Some are dived into in free time events or the story proper, while many of them are brought up in [[spoiler: Monokuma's movie in Chapter 6]] but aren't given explicit names to match. [[spoiler: Then there's the mental trauma brought onto them from watching the events of the first game.]]

* EmptyShell: [[spoiler: Some of the dead students could be brought back, but it's revealed that some students have become brain-dead by sustaining too much damage to the head or heart. Which means in the best case scenario, Kaito, Shigeru, Naomi, Shizuka, and Miyako are permanently dead.]]
* EurekaMoment: Takara has one in Chapter 6. [[spoiler: Turns out she realized they were all in the New World Program.]]
** Arata has one in the third trial upon hearing the dying message said [[spoiler: paintre, or painter in French]].

* EveryoneIsASuspect: Aside from Satoshi and Takara, everyone is under suspicion in Chapter 4 since [[spoiler: Minoru died during a blackout.]]
* FailureToSaveMurder: Discussed in Chapter 3. Monokuma mentions that technically the case has [[spoiler: two killers, but depending on how you choose to look at it then only one person is the true culprit]]. The reason for this is [[spoiler: while Shigeru is the one who delivered the killing blow to Naomi, Shizuka ducking is what caused her to die in the first place]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: It's noted that no one knows much about Shizuka's personality, and for all Takara knows, her optimism is just a mask. [[spoiler: Which it is. She hides her real self so she can start over and make friends, but reveals the truth before her execution.]]
** Kaito doesn't seem all that great at debating or handling stressful situations, which [[spoiler: tips Takara off during the first investigation when he acts strangely. And during the trial, he constantly tries to direct attention away from himself, but debates poorly.]]
** During the exploration of the newly-opened Health District, Arata mentions how Ryouta's always giving him dirty looks and thinks that [[spoiler: he'll poison his drink. Arata does poison someone when he tries to escape, but his target isn't Ryouta.]]
** Monokuma has a tendency to make theater related remarks. [[spoiler: This is one of the reason Takara deduces the identity of the mastermind is Saemi, Super High School Level Playwright, and not Shuuya.]]
** Takara's reaction to realizing [[spoiler: Miyako committed suicide]] has her freaking out, and [[spoiler: while Monokuma's movie she turns away when it mentions that a student couldn't save someone's life]]. [[http://prophetparadox.tumblr.com/post/110649859344/well-despairs-last-resorts-main-story-has-come This post about Takara]] reveals that [[spoiler: she couldn't keep a friend from committing suicide and regrets it so much that the topic of suicide is touchy around her]].

* GenderEqualEnsemble: As in canon, the students are equally split in terms of boys and girls. [[spoiler: Even the two missing students, Saemi and Shuuya, keep the genders equal.]]
** With the exception of Chapter 4, all the murders have a member of one sex murder someone of the opposite sex. [[spoiler: Even the third case, which has two victims, accounts for this. Shigeru is responsible for killing Naomi, while Shizuka kills him back.]]

* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler: Shizuka, knowing she'll get to reunite with her most important person.]]
* HeKnowsTooMuch: The reason why [[spoiler: Naomi and Shigeru try to kill Shizuka]] is because they overheard their plans for murder. [[spoiler: It doesn't work out for them though.]]
* HopeSpot: After [[spoiler: Arata's execution]], the remaining students say they're not going to do what Monokuma wants and will work together. Then Monokuma comes up with a motive that reveals [[spoiler: if they can find whoever has been stealing his files, he'll give them a reward]]. And that [[spoiler: one of them has all their memories and is working for him]]. It doesn't take long for them to start doubting each other and arguing. [[spoiler: And then Miyako turns up dead.]]

* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler: Arata's execution.]]

* INeverSaidItWasPoison: [[spoiler: Arata gives away the fact that he's the culprit by mentioning how hard it would be to hide a container of bleach in the restaurant with how big it was. No one aside from the killer even knew how big the container was.]]

* KillTheCutie: [[spoiler: Chiyo is the first to die. There's also Shizuka, the third culprit.]]
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Monokuma reveals that not only are the students missing their memories, but they consented to losing them. [[spoiler: He reveals in Chapter 5 that someone among them still has all their memories and is working for him.]] Turns out this is because [[spoiler: the combined events of what they went through at Hope's Peak Academy and having to watch the events of the first game traumatized them and caused them to develop mental issues such as anxiety and PTSD]].
* LightsOffSomebodyDies: [[spoiler: Minoru's murder is set up to look like this, but it was only a ruse to distract from the real cause of death.]]

* LoopholeAbuse: A rule is made that states a student can't steal from Monokuma or another student. [[spoiler: There's nothing about stealing something off of a dead student though. Shuuya also takes advantage of a loophole, considering he's not participating in the Vacation of Mutual Killing.]]
* LotusEaterMachine: [[spoiler: The entire resort is this, serving a similar purpose to the second game's Jabberwock Island.]]
* MeaningfulName: Crosses with PunnyName. Despair's Last ''Resort'' takes place in a place called Paradise Resort, but also refers to [[spoiler: Saemi's plan to bring back Super High School Level Despair using her own classmates]]. Paradise Resort is also one, as [[spoiler: it's a simulation. It's a location made up for the Paradise Rehabilitation Project and was created specifically for Class 79.]]

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler: Shizuka's]] reaction once [[spoiler: she realizes that she's killed Naomi and Shigeru]].
* MythologyGag: When Takara asks why Monokuma decided to bring up [[spoiler: their missing memories]] now instead of at the beginning or the end, he says it's because "revealing a shocking twist at the midway point would land some interesting results.

* NamesTheSame: There are a number of different Paradise Resorts that exist, but the one in the fic itself isn't based on any of them. [[spoiler: Which makes sense considering it's a literal paradise for the characters.]]

* RapeAsBackstory: [[spoiler: It never specifies who, but one of the male students was sexually assaulted before arriving at Hope's Peak Academy. No one believed him when he told others about what happened.]] The author and unused Free Time Events confirm that it was [[spoiler: Arata]].
* RevealingCoverup: Information about [[spoiler: Shuuya's talent]] is hidden in all the papers and files the students find. [[spoiler: Takara finds out his talent, Super High School Level Assassin, from a dream. Because of this, the students assume that the mastermind is Shuuya. Takara manages to prove them wrong though, and it helps when Shuuya himself joins them later.]]
* SadisticChoice: [[spoiler: Saemi offers them one in Chapter 6. Either complete the final test and leave the resort with the risk of regaining their trauma and being unable to revive the comatose students, fail and allow Saemi to turn them all into members of Super High School Level Despair, or give up and stay in the resort forever with all their friends by sacrificing Shuuya.]]

* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Ayame and Hikaru both claim that they're just friends and nothing more, but there are hints that there's more to their relationship than meets the eye. [[spoiler: Especially if Ayame's angry reaction to finding out Hikaru cheated on women in the past is any indication.]]

** Hikaru and Ayame are always spending time together, insist they're not an item despite their behavior saying otherwise, and [[spoiler: Ayame gets pretty upset upon learning that Hikaru cheated on all the girls he dated in the past. She also felt pretty betrayed by the fact that he tried to kill her.]] In Ticking of the Clock, Ayame even mentions that he's cute when he gets flustered.
** Naomi and Shigeru have some as well, though it's more subtle. Shigeru mentions that he finds her to be one of the more intelligent students and tries to help her gather information. [[spoiler: They also plan to commit a double murder together, though Shizuka stops that from happening.]]
*** Chapter 2 of Ticking of the Clock [[spoiler: confirms them as canon, at least during their time in Hope's Peak, as they have a scene together and Naomi is referred to as Shigeru's boyfriend.]]
** Takara has some with both Satoshi and Masaru. WordOfGod confirms that Satoshi has a crush on Takara before they met, and Masaru starts getting nervous around her in Chapter 4. Masaru also gets bummed out when [[spoiler: Satoshi comes back from the museum during the fourth investigation and is spending time with her.]] Since Takara hasn't really shown more interest in either, it leaves things in an implied Type 3 TriangRelations. It ends up leaning towards Masaru near the end though, [[spoiler: especially since when they leave the simulation, she holds his hand instead of Satoshi's]].
** Kazumi really seems to like [[spoiler: Shizuka]]. They spend almost all their time together, Kazumi [[spoiler: tells her the truth that she's gay while promising not to go after her]], and [[spoiler: Kazumi begged Monokuma not to execute her while Shizuka tried to reassure her.]]
** [[spoiler: After some of her memories come back, Shizuka remembers that there was someone she was very close to at Hope's Peak. She can't remember if the love she had for him was platonic or romantic though, leaving it up in the air just how close they were. The journal also mentions that while watching the School Life of Mutual Killing, Shizuka crossed the DespairEventHorizon after the discovery that someone was murdered. Monokuma mentions that the person she remembered is already dead, which implies that those two are one and the same. Chapter 0 reveals she was reluctant to escape Hope's Peak because of this same person.]]
*** Ticking of the Clock confirms that she did indeed have a boyfriend, and it's hinted that it's [[spoiler: Kiyotaka Ishimaru]]. Side works outright confirm their relationship.
** [[spoiler: Shuuya and Miyako seem to have had something before the memory loss, or were at least especially close to each other.]]
** [[spoiler: Saemi]] mentions that Minoru has a girlfriend in Chapter 6. Ticking of the Clock suggests that it's [[spoiler: a girl by the name of Hikari Nanase]], but there's no outright confirmation aside from his own feelings.
* ShoutOut: [[ShoutOut/DespairsLastResort Has it's own page]]
* ShownTheirWork: The author has been doing research on both murder methods and certain aspects of Japanese culture, but what stands out the most is [[spoiler: the detail put into the way Minoru was murdered]].

* SympatheticMurderer: [[spoiler: Kaito, Ayame, and Shizuka all have shades of this. Kaito cracked under pressure, Ayame was betrayed by her best friend and then killed him on accident, and Shizuka just wanted to talk Shigeru and Naomi out of creating a double murder.]] Subverted with [[spoiler: Arata, as he openly admits that he killed Minoru because he was tired of being stuck with the others in the hotel.]]
* TapOnTheHead: [[spoiler: Naomi and Shigeru are both murdered this way.]]
* TragicKeepsake: After every trial, Takara has one from the victim and culprit of the case. [[spoiler: Chiyo's talisman, Kaito's caricature drawings, a towel from Hikaru and Ayame, Naomi and Shigeru's files, Shizuka's sketchbook, Minoru's smoothie drink, Arata's outfit, and Miyako's keys and charm bracelet.]]
** [[spoiler: Shizuka's scarf]] is one for Kazumi.
* UndignifiedDeath: All the executions. [[spoiler: Being crushed by a giant anvil, pummeled by giant footballs, covered in paint before being shot, and repeatedly being punctured by a giant sewing machine]] are not the most dignified ways to go out. [[spoiler: Shizuka however decides to FaceDeathWithDignity and doesn't fight it. Arata tries to do the same once he's caught, but he becomes terrified right before he's impaled.]]
* TheUnfavorite: [[spoiler: Kaito is this compared to his brothers.]]
* VideoWill: [[spoiler: Miyako leaves one in the hopes the others will find it after she commits suicide.]]
* WistfulAmnesia: [[spoiler: Shizuka]] shows signs of this during Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. [[spoiler: Turns out there was an upperclassman she was close to during her time at Hope's Peak Academy, but she willingly gave up all memories of that time. She manages to remember him after she murders Shigeru and Naomi. Kumiko shows signs as well in Chapter 6.]]

The main story has been completed[[note]]Though the parts have been getting recent edits which add or fix things[[/note]], with Resort Mode chapters currently in progress. A prequel fic, [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/3588411/chapters/7913541 Ticking of the Clock]] is also in progress. There are also a few one-shots, and [[http://prophet-0f-fluff.tumblr.com/post/114938377129/since-despairs-last-resort-is-marked-as-part-of-a the author has expressed interest in a sequel]].

* AllThereInTheManual: The author has [[http://prophet-0f-fluff.tumblr.com/tagged/Despair%27s-Last-Resort made posts on her tumblr]] that give more information about some of the characters. She also has plans to [[http://prophet-0f-fluff.tumblr.com/post/104686005369/one-child-was-sexually-assaulted-but-no-one-would make posts that not only talk about the characters, but also talk about aspects of the fic and unused ideas]].

* TheCasanova: Hikaru is implied to be one of these, but it comes off as an InformedAbility since none of the girls show much interest in him. The way he acts suggests he's more of a ChickMagnet since he doesn't know why so many girls like him, [[spoiler: but the fact that he's cheated on all of his girlfriends gives more evidence to this trope]].

** Takara's reaction to realizing [[spoiler: Miyako committed suicide]] has her freaking out, and [[spoiler: while Monokuma's movie she turns away when it mentions that a student couldn't save someone's life]]. [[http://prophet-0f-fluff.tumblr.com/post/110649859344/well-despairs-last-resorts-main-story-has-come This post about Takara]] reveals that [[spoiler: she couldn't keep a friend from committing suicide and regrets it so much that the topic of suicide is touchy around her]].

* RapeAsBackstory: [[spoiler: It never specifies who, but one of the male students was sexually assaulted before arriving at Hope's Peak Academy. No one believed him when he told others about what happened.]]

* ShipTease: Due to keeping the romance ambiguous, there's a good amount of it.
** Hikaru and Ayame are always spending time together, insist they're not an item despite their behavior saying otherwise, and [[spoiler: Ayame gets pretty upset upon learning that Hikaru cheated on all the girls he dated in the past. She also felt pretty betrayed by the fact that he tried to kill her.]]

The main story has been completed[[note]]Though the parts have been getting recent edits which add or fix things[[/note]], with Resort Mode chapters currently in progress. A prequel fic, [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/3588411/chapters/7913541 Ticking of the Clock]] is also in progress.

[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1682828/chapters/3576434 Despair's Last Resort]] is an ongoing fanfiction set in the VisualNovel/{{Danganronpa}} universe writen by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/ParadoxProphet/pseuds/ParadoxProphet ParadoxProphet]].

The main story has been completed, with Resort Mode chapters currently in progress. A prequel fic, [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/3588411/chapters/7913541 Ticking of the Clock]] is also in progress.

* EveryoneIsASuspect: Aside from [[spoiler: Satoshi and Takara]], everyone is under suspicion in Chapter 4 since [[spoiler: Minoru died during a blackout.]]

* WistfulAmnesia: [[spoiler: Shizuka]] shows signs of this during Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. [[spoiler: Turns out there was an upperclassman she was close to during her time at Hope's Peak Academy, but she willingly gave up all memories of that time. She manages to remember him after she murders Shigeru and Naomi.]]

The main story has been completed, with Resort Mode chapters soon to follow.

** Takara has some with both Satoshi and Masaru. WordOfGod confirms that Satoshi has a crush on Takara before they met, and Masaru starts getting nervous around her in Chapter 4. Masaru also gets bummed out when [[spoiler: Satoshi comes back from the museum during the fourth investigation and is spending time with her.]] It ends up leaning towards Masaru near the end though, [[spoiler: especially since when they leave the simulation, she holds his hand instead of Satoshi's]].

* RapeAsDrama: [[spoiler: It never specifies who, but one of the male students was sexually assaulted before arriving at Hope's Peak Academy. No one believed him when he told others about what happened.]]