History Literature / DanganronpaZero

A pair of {{Light Novel}}s for the ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' franchise [[{{Prequel}} set before]] the events of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair''.

* NeckSnap: The fate of Yuto.

* OfficialCouple[=/=]VictoriousChildhoodFriend: Junko and Yasuke are a rather depressing example.

* AmnesiacHero: Ryoko.

* MindScrewdriver: A lot of {{Backstory}} to the games is revealed here. Readers finally learn how the students' memories were erased, as well as some of what led up to The Worst, Most Despair-Inducing Incident in the History of Mankind.

* ShellShockedVeteran: Soshun Murasame, one of the only survivors of the Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy, to the point where he's practically insane.
* ShoutOut: It's brought up early on that Ryoko and Yasuke saw ''Film/HomeAlone'' together. [[ChekhovsGun This actually helps Ryoko at one point]].

'''Warning! All spoilers below are unmarked.'''
--> It's virtually impossible to list tropes for these books without spoiling everything or creating [[Administrivia/SelfFulfillingSpoiler Self-Fulfilling Spoilers]] because of the large amount of surprising reveals and murderer/victim exclusive tropes these novels contain. Also since these novels are a prequel to ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'', there will be spoilers for both games here.

An alternate translation which is further along in book 2 can be found [[http://steampunktietime.tumblr.com/post/106314958860/dangan-ronpa-zero-translation-masterlist here]] with the remaining chapters of the second book [[http://revolutionpotato.tumblr.com/post/75118713692/dangan-ronpa-zero-book-2-translations here]].

In 2018, a fan game of the novel began production. The demo can be viewed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=ZooBZnQzu7Q here.]]

--> It's virtually impossible to list tropes for these books without spoiling everything or creating [[Administrivia/SelfFulfillingSpoiler Self Fulfilling Spoilers]] because of the large amount of surprising reveals and murderer/victim exclusive tropes these novels contain. Also since these novels are a prequel to ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair', there will be spoilers for both games here.

!!This {{Light Novel}} contains examples of:

A pair of {{Light Novel}}s for the ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' franchise [[{{Prequel}} set before]] the events of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2''.

Unfortunately, a sinister plot is taking shape in the shadows of Hope's Peak Academy. Someone or something is laying the final groundwork on a plan destined to plunge the world into an endless despair, a plan intrinsically linked to "The Tragedy Of Hope's Peak Academy". As a select few students attempt to uncover the truth, they face not only the organisation behind the Tragedy but a cover-up by the highest officials of Hope's Peak Academy, the Steering Committee. In the middle of this is Ryoko, who is dragged into the conspiracy by forces beyond her understanding or control.

A [[http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3522115 translation]] is being provided in the LetsPlay at the Website/SomethingAwful forums, in tandem with the ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2'' translation effort. A mirror of the thread can be found [[http://danganronpa2mirror.tumblr.com/masterlist here.]]

--> It's virtually impossible to list tropes for these books without spoiling everything or creating [[Administrivia/SelfFulfillingSpoiler Self Fulfilling Spoilers]] because of the large amount of surprising reveals and murderer/victim exclusive tropes these novels contain. Also since these novels are a prequel to ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2'', there will be spoilers for both games here.

* CallForward: Yasuke references the various uses of controlling, compiling or [[LaserGuidedAmnesia completely erasing people's memories]], which is a major plot point in both ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2''. There's hints he may already be capable of doing this, when the Hope's Peak staff try to blackmail him into tampering with the memory of any student who knows about the [[NoodleIncident Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy]].

* ForegoneConclusion: As a {{Prequel}} to the first two games, those familiar will know which of the cameo characters are DoomedByCanon and who has PlotArmor.

A pair of {{Light Novel}}s for the ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' franchise [[{{Prequel}} set before]] the events of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair''.

Ryoko Otonashi is a student attending Hope's Peak Academy, an elite private school that only accepts "Ultimate" students: the best of the best ''of the best'', regardless of niche. Unfortunately, she suffers from [[AmnesiacHero anterograde amnesia]] and forgets things mere minutes after they occur. To function in day-to-day life, Ryoko carries around "[[NoteToSelf memory notebooks]]" filled with information written by herself about the events and people in her past.

Because of her disorder, Ryoko has only managed to retain one memory: that of her doctor and (implied) childhood friend, the "Ultimate Neurologist" Yasuke Matsuda, who is studying her amnesia in the hope of helping her recover.

A [[http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3522115 translation]] is being provided in the LetsPlay at the Website/SomethingAwful forums, in tandem with the ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' translation effort. A mirror of the thread can be found [[http://danganronpa2mirror.tumblr.com/masterlist here.]]

--> It's virtually impossible to list tropes for these books without spoiling everything or creating [[Administrivia/SelfFulfillingSpoiler Self Fulfilling Spoilers]] because of the large amount of surprising reveals and murderer/victim exclusive tropes these novels contain. Also since these novels are a prequel to ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'', there will be spoilers for both games here.

* BackupTwin: As it turns out, Mukuro isn't the only one running around. The Ultimate Bodyguard doubles as Ultimate ''Octuplets''.

* BrandNamesAreBetter: To fund their talent research and pay for the scholarships of "Ultimate" students, Hope's Peak opens up an expensive second campus specifically for non-Ultimate students who wish to exploit the academy's reputation. This idea is particularly common in Japan, where the name of the university you graduate from is said to carry more weight than the qualification gained.
* BreakHerHeartToSaveHer: Near the ending, Headmaster Jin engages in this by threatening Kyoko, informing her that if she continues investigating the incident, breaks any rules or steps the least bit out of line, she'll be expelled from Hope's Peak.
* CallForward: Yasuke references the various uses of controlling, compiling or [[LaserGuidedAmnesia completely erasing people's memories]], which is a major plot point in both ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' and ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair''. There's hints he may already be capable of doing this, when the Hope's Peak staff try to blackmail him into tampering with the memory of any student who knows about the [[NoodleIncident Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy]].

** Teruteru: The Ultimate Cook who worked at the Café and made food so good you'd swear it was [[BrickJoke drugged.]]

* CreateYourOwnVillain: The conditions at Hope's Peak help foster the creation of Ultimate Despair, giving them plenty of disaffected students to work with.

* FantasticCasteSystem: Hope's Peak student body is divided into two levels. You have the Ultimate Talents, who were hand-picked so their special skills can be studied and amplified by getting the best schooling possible... and the Reserve Course, made up of {{Ordinary High School Student}}s who are paying for the privilege of attending. ''Their'' campus functions as a completely ordinary school, without any access to the perks Ultimate Talents enjoy. The students are largely segregated from each other, with little interaction between levels.

* GoneHorriblyRight[=/=][[GoneHorriblyWrong Wrong]]: The Ultimate Hope Project. Right in the sense that Izuru is the ultimate Ace, wrong in how he fell into despair.

* ShellShockedVeteran: Soshun, one of the only survivors of the Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy, to the point where he's practically insane.

A pair of {{Light Novel}}s for the ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' franchise [[{{Prequel}} set before]] the events of ''VisualNovel/{{Danganronpa}}'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2''.

Ryoko Otonashi is a student attending Hope's Peak Academy, an elite private school that only accepts "ultimate" students: the best of the best ''of the best'', regardless of niche. Unfortunately, she suffers from [[AmnesiacHero anterograde amnesia]] and forgets things mere minutes after they occur. To function in day-to-day life, Ryoko carries around "[[NoteToSelf memory notebooks]]" filled with information written by herself about the events and people in her past.

Because of her disorder, Ryoko has only managed to retain one memory: that of her doctor and (implied) childhood friend, the "Super High-School Level Neurologist" Yasuke Matsuda, who is studying her amnesia in the hope of helping her recover.

Unfortunately, a sinister plot is taking shape in the shadows of Hope's Peak Academy. Someone or something is laying the final groundwork on a plan destined to plunge the world into an endless despair, a plan intrinsically linked to "The Worst, Most Despair-Inducing Incident In The History Of Hope's Peak Academy". As a select few students attempt to uncover the truth, they face not only the organisation behind the Incident but a cover-up by the highest officials of Hope's Peak Academy. In the middle of this is Ryoko, who is dragged into the conspiracy by forces beyond her understanding or control.

A [[http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3522115 translation]] is being provided in the LetsPlay at the Website/SomethingAwful forums, in tandem with the ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2'' translation effort. A mirror of the thread can be found [[http://danganronpa2mirror.tumblr.com/masterlist here.]]

--> It's virtually impossible to list tropes for these books without spoiling everything or creating [[Administrivia/SelfFulfillingSpoiler Self Fulfilling Spoilers]] because of the large amount of surprising reveals and murderer/victim exclusive tropes these novels contain. Also since these novels are a prequel to ''VisualNovel/{{Danganronpa}}'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2'', there will be spoilers for both games here.

* AsYouKnow: Played with: as Matsuda keeps reminding Ryoko, she ''should'' already know about how things work at Hope's Peak, and he doesn't appreciate having to explain to her constantly.
* BackupTwin: As it turns out, Mukuro isn't the only one running around. The SHSL Bodyguard doubles as SHSL ''Octuplets''.

* CallForward: Matsuda references the various uses of controlling, compiling or [[LaserGuidedAmnesia completely erasing people's memories]], which is a major plot point in both ''VisualNovel/{{Danganronpa}}'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2''. There's hints he may already be capable of doing this, when the Hope's Peak staff try to blackmail him into tampering with the memory of any student who knows about the [[NoodleIncident Worst, Largest Despair-Inducing Event in Hope Peak Academy's History]].

** Fujisaki: Kamishiro mentioned having help from an underclassman who was also a programmer
** Hanamura: The SHSL Cook who worked at the Café and made food so good you'd swear it was [[BrickJoke drugged.]]
** Naegi, Kirigiri and Ikusaba also appear but are all important (for a while at least) and named so they might not count.
* CreateYourOwnVillain: The conditions at Hope's Peak help foster the creation of SHSL Despair, giving them plenty of disaffected students to work with.
* DarkerAndEdgier: While the first volume is fairly moderate in tone, the second descends headfirst into this trope as the Ryouko gets closer to the truth. There's much more graphic violence, much more suffering and an absolutely brutal DownerEnding.
* DecoyDamsel: Enoshima pulled this off.
* {{Deuteragonist}}: Both Ryoko and Matsuda are this to each other, with the story more or less focusing on the two equally.
* DrJerk: Matsuda
* ElaborateUniversityHigh: Hope's Peak Academy. Matsuda explains more about how it operates to Ryoko.

** DownerEnding: ''Nothing'' ends well here. It all goes according to Enoshima's plan... and even she gets despair out of it.

* FanDisservice: When Ryouko goes to the MaidCafe. The ''Monokuma'' Maid Cafe.
* FantasticCasteSystem: Hope's Peak student body is divided into two levels. You have the SHSL Talents, who were hand-picked so their special skills can be studied and amplified by getting the best schooling possible... and the Reserve Course, made up of {{Ordinary High School Student}}s who are paying for the privilege of attending. ''Their'' campus functions as a completely ordinary school, without any access to the perks SHSL Talents enjoy. The students are largely segregated from each other, with little interaction between levels.
* ForegoneConclusion: This is a {{Prequel}} to ''[[{{Utsuge}} Danganronpa]]''. Those familiar with the original know which of the cameo characters are DoomedByCanon and who has PlotArmor.

** For starters, take a look at the cover shown on this page. Now notice which side of the Monokuma face Matsuda is on...
** Pay close attention during the first scene between Ryoko and Matsuda and note when Matsuda visibly hesitates. Also, he states that the demonstration the Reserve Course is preforming might be orchestrated by a single person but doesn't give his reasons as to why, mostly because he has perfectly good knowledge of what is going on.
** The scene where the Steering Committee confronts Matsuda. Its vague at first as to what they're talking about but, with the ending in mind, its clear they're talking about Matsuda's ability to block out peoples memories.
** When Ryoko meets Enoshima for the first time she gives a fairly cohesive description of Enoshima's appearance, bar Enoshima's ''face''. This is a big clue to the reveal that the "Junko Enoshima" is actually Ikusaba in disguise.
** When Ryoko's talking about ThePowerOfLove in regards to Matsuda, Madarai responds that love is the element that causes people to do crazy and evil things. Now, what is Matsuda driven by?
** After Ryoko knocks Madarai out, he suddenly reappears, unharmed. Turns out there's more than one Madarai running around.
** At one point, Ryoko is tied to Matsuda's bed while Matsuda is under it, something played for comedy. Kirigiri's investigation of Matsuda's lab reveals his bed actually conceals a passage into the storeroom used to help hide the Committee members corpses.
** On a more overall note, notice that ''no one actually calls Ryoko by name''. Everyone either just avoids using her name (Matsuda) or refers to her by a nickname (Kamishiro). This is the lead into the revelation that "Ryoko Otonashi" is a false identity.
* TheHeroDies: Granted, [[VillainProtagonist neither are precisely 'heroes']], but Matsuda is dead by the end of the book, as is in a way Ryouko.

* GoneHorriblyRight[=/=][[GoneHorriblyWrong Wrong]]: The SHSL Hope Project. Right in the sense that Kamukura is the ultimate Ace, wrong in how he fell into despair.
* {{Gorn}}: The book can get ''very'' descriptive in terms of describing dead corpses. Even then Matsuda's death is especially brutal.
* HardWorkHardlyWorks: While it's technically possible that a student from the Reserve Course could excel at their studies and earn their way into the 'true' Hope's Peak, Matsuda scorns the idea, describing it as just a way to keep stringing them along.
* HeelFaceDoorSlam: Matsuda's realization that his girlfriend was using him as an UnwittingPawn happens shortly before she brutally stabs him to death.

** Murasame is killed due to this, as is Kamishiro.

* NeckSnap: The fate of Kamishiro.

* OfficialCouple[=/=]VictoriousChildhoodFriend: Enoshima and Matsuda are a rather depressing example.

* ShellShockedVeteran: Murasame, one of the only survivors of the first mutual killing game, to the point where he's practically insane.
* ShoutOut: It's brought up early on that Ryoko and Matsuda saw ''Flim/HomeAlone'' together. [[ChekhovsGun This actually helps Ryoko at one point]].
** After Kirigiri leaves at one point, Enoshima directly namedrops both ''Manga/TheKindaichiCaseFiles'' and ''Manga/DetectiveConan''.
* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: Late in the second volume, Ryoko is startled when she discovers Kamishiro with his head twisted around wrong.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Ryoko is just a false identity created to protect Enoshima.
* TomatoSurprise: The fact that Ryoko is a false identity of Junko Enoshima and Enoshima's status as Matsuda's lover are no secret to Matsuda himself, who has about half of the story taking place from his perspective.
* TwinSwitch: Ikusaba acts as a BodyDouble for her sister.

* UnreliableNarrator: Deliberately played with Ryoko, mostly due to her memory problems. In reality, it's actually much stronger than that, with the chapters from Matsuda and "Enoshima's" perspective reeking of the narrator outright lying to the reader.
** In a strange example, the book makes it out like Matsuda doesn't know who Kamukura is. Later supplementary material would go onto imply that Matsuda was employed by the academy as Kamukura's creator.
* UnusualEuphemism: The administration insists on referring to the Reserve Course demonstration as a "parade."
* UnwittingPawn: Matsuda. He doesn't take realizing that well.
* VillainProtagonist: Both Ryoko and Matsuda are technically this, with Ryoko as the amnesic version of [[BigBad Junko Enoshima]] and Matsuda as her (partially unwitting) conspirator and lover.
* TheWatson: Ryoko functions as this. Not only does Matsuda explain to her things she should have known already, but she catches a lot of exposition from other characters.

A pair of {{Light Novel}}s for the ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' franchise [[{{Prequel}} set before]] the events of ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2''.

A [[http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3522115 translation]] is being provided in the LetsPlay at the Website/SomethingAwful forums, in tandem with the ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2'' translation effort. A mirror of the thread can be found [[http://danganronpa2mirror.tumblr.com/masterlist here.]]

--> It's virtually impossible to list tropes for these books without spoiling everything or creating [[Administrivia/SelfFulfillingSpoiler Self Fulfilling Spoilers]] because of the large amount of surprising reveals and murderer/victim exclusive tropes these novels contain. Also since these novels are a prequel to VisualNovel/DanganRonpa and VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2 there will be spoilers for both games here.

* CallForward: Matsuda references the various uses of controlling, compiling or [[LaserGuidedAmnesia completely erasing people's memories]], which is a major plot point in both ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2''. There's hints he may already be capable of doing this, when the Hope's Peak staff try to blackmail him into tampering with the memory of any student who knows about the [[NoodleIncident Worst, Largest Despair-Inducing Event in Hope Peak Academy's History]].

* ForegoneConclusion: This is a {{Prequel}} to ''[[{{Utsuge}} Dangan Ronpa]]''. Those familiar with the original know which of the cameo characters are DoomedByCanon and who has PlotArmor.

* BreakHerHeartToSaveHer: Near the ending, Headmaster Jin engages in this by threatening Kirigiri, informing her that if she continues investigating the incident, breaks any rules or steps the least bit out of line, she'll be expelled from Hope's Peak.

** On a more overall note, notice that ''no one actually calls Ryoko by name''. Everyone either just avoids using her name (Matsuda) or refers to her by a nickname (Kamishiro). This is the lead into the revelation that "Ryoko Otanashi" is a false identity.

Ryouko Otonashi is a student attending Hope's Peak Academy, an elite private school that only accepts "ultimate" students: the best of the best ''of the best'', regardless of niche. Unfortunately, she suffers from [[AmnesiacHero anterograde amnesia]] and forgets things mere minutes after they occur. To function in day-to-day life, Ryouko carries around "[[NoteToSelf memory notebooks]]" filled with information written by herself about the events and people in her past.

Because of her disorder, Ryouko has only managed to retain one memory: that of her doctor and (implied) childhood friend, the "Super High-School Level Neurologist" Yasuke Matsuda, who is studying her amnesia in the hope of helping her recover.

Unfortunately, a sinister plot is taking shape in the shadows of Hope's Peak Academy. Someone or something is laying the final groundwork on a plan destined to plunge the world into an endless despair, a plan intrinsically linked to "The Worst, Most Despair-Inducing Incident In The History Of Hope's Peak Academy". As a select few students attempt to uncover the truth, they face not only the organisation behind the Incident but a cover-up by the highest officials of Hope's Peak Academy. In the middle of this is Ryouko, who is dragged into the conspiracy by forces beyond her understanding or control.

* AmnesiacHero: Ryouko.
* AnyoneCanDie: As in the games, perhaps even moreso.
* AsYouKnow: Played with: as Matsuda keeps reminding Ryouko, she ''should'' already know about how things work at Hope's Peak, and he doesn't appreciate having to explain to her constantly.

* BigBad: As before, this applies to Junko Enoshima. In actuality, this applies to Ryouko, who is the amnesic version of Junko Enoshima.

* {{Deuteragonist}}: Both Ryouko and Matsuda are this to each other, with the story more or less focusing on the two equally.

* ElaborateUniversityHigh: Hope's Peak Academy. Matsuda explains more about how it operates to Ryouko.

** Pay close attention during the first scene between Ryouko and Matsuda and note when Matsuda visibly hesitates. Also, he states that the demonstration the Reserve Course is preforming might be orchestrated by a single person but doesn't give his reasons as to why, mostly because he has perfectly good knowledge of what is going on.

** When Ryouko meets Enoshima for the first time she gives a fairly cohesive description of Enoshima's appearance, bar Enoshima's ''face''. This is a big clue to the reveal that the "Junko Enoshima" is actually Ikusaba in disguise.
** When Ryouko's talking about ThePowerOfLove in regards to Matsuda, Madarai responds that love is the element that causes people to do crazy and evil things. Now, what is Matsuda driven by?
** After Ryouko knocks Madarai out, he suddenly reappears, unharmed. Turns out there's more than one Madarai running around.
** At one point, Ryouko is tied to Matsuda's bed while Matsuda is under it, something played for comedy. Kirigiri's investigation of Matsuda's lab reveals his bed actually conceals a passage into the storeroom used to help hide the Committee members corpses.
** On a more overall note, notice that ''no one actually calls Ryouko by name''. Everyone either just avoids using her name (Matsuda) or refers to her by a nickname (Kamishiro). This is the lead into the revelation that "Ryouko Otanashi" is a false identity.

** Ryouko is accused of this, despite her memory problems.

* NoteToSelf: The purpose of Ryouko's Memory Journal.

* ShoutOut: It's brought up early on that Ryouko and Matsuda saw ''Flim/HomeAlone'' together. [[ChekhovsGun This actually helps Ryouko at one point]].

* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: Late in the second volume, Ryouko is startled when she discovers Kamishiro with his head twisted around wrong.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Ryouko is just a false identity created to protect Enoshima.
* TomatoSurprise: The fact that Ryouko is a false identity of Junko Enoshima and Enoshima's status as Matsuda's lover are no secret to Matsuda himself, who has about half of the story taking place from his perspective.

* UnreliableNarrator: Deliberately played with Ryouko, mostly due to her memory problems. In reality, it's actually much stronger than that, with the chapters from Matsuda and "Enoshima's" perspective reeking of the narrator outright lying to the reader.

* VillainProtagonist: Both Ryouko and Matsuda are technically this, with Ryouko as the amnesic version of [[BigBad Junko Enoshima]] and Matsuda as her (partially unwitting) conspirator and lover.
* TheWatson: Ryouko functions as this. Not only does Matsuda explain to her things she should have known already, but she catches a lot of exposition from other characters.

* {{Retcon}}: The campus of Hope's Peak is much larger than it appeared to be in the original game--for example, with the addition of an entire science building as opposed to physics and biology labs. The same is implied to be true of the population--in the original game it seemed only sixteen or so students entered per year (with the main cast being the 78th class), and if that figure held true the massacre of the student council would've wiped out nearly a third of the student body.

* TwoAliasesOneCharacter: Ryouko Otonashi is [[BigBad Junko Enoshima]] after getting amnesia.

* TheGhost: Izuru Kamukuma is referred to several times, but never makes an appearance. He ''appears'' to at one point, but it's not him.

* TwoAliasesOneCharacter: Ryoko Otonashi is [[BigBad Junko Enoshima]] after getting amnesia.

* ShoutOut: It's brought up early on that Ryouko and Matsuda saw Flim/HomeAlone together. [[ChekhovsGun This actually helps Ryouko at one point]].
** After Kirigiri leaves at one point, Enoshima directly namedrops both Manga/TheKindaichiCaseFiles and Manga/DetectiveConan.

* {{Retcon}}: The campus of Hope's Peak is much larger than it appeared to be in the original game, i.e. with an entire science building as opposed to physics and biology labs, and the same is implied to be true of the population--in the original game it seemed only sixteen or so students entered per year (with the main cast being the 78th class), and if that figure held true the massacre of the student council would've wiped out nearly a fourth of the student body--or if it was a three-year school, a ''third''.

* TwoAliasesOneCharacter: Ryoko Otonashi is Big Bad Junko Enoshima after getting amnesia

An alternate translation which is further along in book 2 can be found [[http://steampunktietime.tumblr.com/post/61035313201/dangan-ronpa-zero-masterlist-faq here]] with the remaining chapters of the second book [[http://revolutionpotato.tumblr.com/post/75118713692/dangan-ronpa-zero-book-2-translations here]].

A [[http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3522115 translation]] is being provided in the LetsPlay at the SomethingAwful forums, in tandem with the ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2'' translation effort. A mirror of the thread can be found [[http://danganronpa2mirror.tumblr.com/masterlist here.]]

* ShoutOut: It's brought up early on that Ryouko and Matsuda saw Flim/HomeAlone together. [[ChekovsGun This actually helps Ryouko at one point]].

A pair of {{Light Novel}}s [[{{Prequel}} set before]] the events of ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2''.

* BrandNamesAreBetter: Hope's Peak opens a second campus for non-SHSL students to gain more funding, using their reputation to bring in paying outsiders.

* CallBack: Matsuda references the various uses of controlling, compiling or [[LaserGuidedAmnesia completely erasing people's memories]], which is a major plot point in both ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'' and ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2''. There's hints he may already be capable of doing this, when the Hope's Peak staff try to blackmail him into tampering with the memory of any student who knows about the [[NoodleIncident Worst, Largest Despair-Inducing Event in Hope Peak Academy's History]].

--> It's virtually impossible to list tropes for these characters without spoiling everything or creating [[Administrivia/SelfFulfillingSpoiler Self Fulfilling Spoilers]] because of the large amount of surprising reveals and murderer/victim exclusive tropes these novels contain. Also since these novels are a prequel to VisualNovel/DanganRonpa and VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2 there will be spoilers for both games here.

* CallBack: Matsuda references the various uses of controlling, compiling or [[LaserGuidedAmnesia completely erasing people's memories]], which is a major plot point in both ''VisualNovel/Dangan Ronpa'' and ''VisualNovel/Super Dangan Ronpa 2''. There's hints he may already be capable of doing this, when the Hope's Peak staff try to blackmail him into tampering with the memory of any student who knows about the [[NoodleIncident Worst, Largest Despair-Inducing Event in Hope Peak Academy's History]].

Be forewarned, however, that there are SPOILERS for both volumes beneath the tags below. As with ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2'', the spoiler-adverse should not read ahead, and editors are asked to please be careful in the use of spoiler tags.

* {{Amnesiac Hero}}ine: Ryouko.

* BackupTwin: As it turns out, [[spoiler:Mukuro isn't the only one running around]]. [[spoiler:The SHSL Bodyguard doubles as SHSL ''Octuplets''.]]
* BigBad: As before, this applies to Junko Enoshima. [[spoiler:In actuality, this applies to Ryouko, who is the amnesic version of Junko Enoshima.]]

* BreakHerHeartToSaveHer: Near the ending, [[spoiler:Headmaster Jin]] engages in this by threatening [[spoiler:Kirigiri]], informing her that [[spoiler:if she continues investigating the incident, breaks any rules or steps the least bit out of line, she'll be expelled from Hope's Peak]].
* CallBack: Matsuda references the various uses of controlling, compiling or [[LaserGuidedAmnesia completely erasing people's memories]], which is a major plot point in both ''VisualNovel/Dangan Ronpa'' and ''VisualNovel/Super Dangan Ronpa 2''. There's hints he may already be capable of doing this, [[spoiler:when the Hope's Peak staff try to blackmail him into tampering with the memory of any student who knows about the [[NoodleIncident Worst, Largest Despair-Inducing Event in Hope Peak Academy's History]].]]

** Hanamura: The SHSL Cook who worked at the Café and made food so good [[spoiler: you'd swear it was [[BrickJoke drugged.]]]]

* CreateYourOwnVillain: The conditions at Hope's Peak help foster the creation of [[spoiler:SHSL Despair]], giving them plenty of [[spoiler:disaffected students to work with]].
* DarkerAndEdgier: While the first volume is fairly moderate in tone, the second descends headfirst into this trope as the Ryouko gets closer to the truth. There's much more graphic violence, much more suffering and [[spoiler:an absolutely brutal DownerEnding]].
* DecoyDamsel: [[spoiler: Enoshima pulled this off.]]

** [[spoiler:DownerEnding: ''Nothing'' ends well here. It all goes according to Enoshima's plan... and even she gets despair out of it.]]
** TheEndingChangesEverything: [[spoiler: Rereading both volumes with the TomatoSurprise in mind makes much of it come off ''very'' differently...]]
* FanDisservice: When Ryouko goes to the MaidCafe. [[spoiler:The ''Monokuma'' Maid Cafe]].

** For starters, take a look at the cover shown on this page. Now notice which [[spoiler:side of the Monokuma face Matsuda is on]]...
** Pay close attention during the first scene between Ryouko and Matsuda and note when [[spoiler:Matsuda visibly hesitates]]. Also, he states that the demonstration the Reserve Course is preforming might be orchestrated by a single person but doesn't give his reasons as to why, [[spoiler:mostly because he has perfectly good knowledge of what is going on]].
** The scene where the Steering Committee confronts Matsuda. Its vague at first as to what they're talking about but, with the ending in mind, [[spoiler:its clear they're talking about Matsuda's ability to block out peoples memories]].
** When Ryouko meets Enoshima for the first time she gives a fairly cohesive description of Enoshima's appearance, [[spoiler:bar Enoshima's ''face''. This is a big clue to the reveal that the "Junko Enoshima" is actually Ikusaba in disguise.]]
** When Ryouko's talking about ThePowerOfLove in regards to Matsuda, Madarai responds that [[spoiler:love is the element that causes people to do crazy and evil things]]. Now, [[spoiler:what is Matsuda driven by?]]
** After Ryouko knocks Madarai out, he suddenly reappears, unharmed. [[spoiler:Turns out there's more than one Madarai running around.]]
** At one point, Ryouko is tied to Matsuda's bed while Matsuda is under it, something played for comedy. [[spoiler:Kirigiri's investigation of Matsuda's lab reveals his bed actually conceals a passage into the storeroom used to help hide the Committee members corpses.]]
** On a more overall note, notice that [[spoiler:''no one actually calls Ryouko by name''. Everyone either just avoids using her name (Matsuda) or refers to her by a nickname (Kamishiro). This is the lead into the revelation that "Ryouko Otanashi" is a false identity.]]
* [[spoiler:TheHeroDies: Granted, [[VillainProtagonist neither are precisely 'heroes']], but Matsuda is dead by the end of the book, as is in a way Ryouko.]]
* TheGhost: [[spoiler:Izuru Kamukuma]] is referred to several times, but never makes an appearance. [[spoiler:He ''appears'' to at one point, but it's not him.]]
* GoneHorriblyRight[=/=][[GoneHorriblyWrong Wrong]]: [[spoiler:The SHSL Hope Project]]. Right in the sense that [[spoiler:Kamukura is the ultimate Ace]], wrong in how [[spoiler:he fell into despair]].
* {{Gorn}}: The book can get ''very'' descriptive in terms of describing dead corpses. Even then [[spoiler: Matsuda's]] death is especially brutal.

* HeelFaceDoorSlam: [[spoiler: Matsuda's realization that his girlfriend was using him as an UnwittingPawn happens shortly before she brutally stabs him to death.]]

** [[spoiler:Murasame]] is killed due to this, as is [[spoiler:Kamishiro]].
* [[spoiler:KillEmAll: Pretty much everyone who didn't appear in the original game is dead by the end]]
* MindScrewdriver: A lot of {{Backstory}} to the games is revealed here. Readers finally learn how [[spoiler:the students' memories were erased]], as well as some of what led up to The Worst, Most Despair-Inducing Incident in the History of Mankind.
* NeckSnap: The fate of [[spoiler:Kamishiro]].

* OfficialCouple[=/=]VictoriousChildhoodFriend: [[spoiler: Enoshima and Matsuda are a rather depressing example.]]
* TheResenter: As it turns out, [[spoiler:the Monokuma Maid Cafes are being used to foster resentment among the Reserve Coursers]].
* {{Retcon}}: The campus of Hope's Peak is much larger than it appeared to be in the original game, i.e. with an entire science building as opposed to physics and biology labs, and the same is implied to be true of the population--in the original game it seemed only sixteen or so students entered per year (with the main cast being the 78th class), and if that figure held true [[spoiler:the massacre of the student council would've wiped out nearly a fourth of the student body--or if it was a three-year school, a ''third'']].
* ShellShockedVeteran: [[spoiler:Murasame, one of the only survivors of the first mutual killing game, to the point where he's practically insane]]

* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: Late in the second volume, Ryouko is startled when she discovers [[spoiler:Kamishiro with his head twisted around wrong]].
* TomatoInTheMirror: Ryouko is [[spoiler:just a false identity created to protect Enoshima]].
* TomatoSurprise: The fact that [[spoiler:Ryouko is a false identity of Junko Enoshima and Enoshima's status as Matsuda's lover are no secret to Matsuda himself, who has about half of the story taking place from his perspective]].
* TwinSwitch: [[spoiler:Ikusaba acts as a BodyDouble for her sister]].
* UnreliableNarrator: Deliberately played with Ryouko, mostly due to her memory problems. [[spoiler:In reality, it's actually much stronger than that, with the chapters from Matsuda and "Enoshima's" perspective reeking of the narrator outright lying to the reader.]]
** In a strange example, [[spoiler:the book makes it out like Matsuda doesn't know who Kamukura is. Later supplementary material would go onto imply that Matsuda was employed by the academy as Kamukura's creator.]]

* UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler:Matsuda. He doesn't take realizing that well.]]
* [[spoiler:VillainProtagonist: Both Ryouko and Matsuda are technically this, with Ryouko as the amnesic version of [[BigBad Junko Enoshima]] and Matsuda as her (partially unwitting) conspirator and lover.]]