The participants of the original Killing Game in Hope's Peak Academy, along with associated characters. Primarily characters from Danganronpa canon.
Students who started attending Hope's Peak in 2014. First seen in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair; see that page for their tropes in canon.
Hajime Hinata / Izuru Kamukura
Ultimate ??? (He's actually a reserve course student, but was manufactured to be an 'Ultimate Hope')
A young man who has always admired Hope's Peak Academy and finally achieved his dream of attending the school. Unfortunately, he has forgotten his past and the Ultimate talent that he was selected for. Hajime is a decent guy, but his personality is rough around the edges and very skeptical. The truth is that he has no Ultimate talent, and that he is a former student in Hope's Peak Academy's Reserve Course. He was also turned into the ultimately talented individual, Izuru Kamukura, but somehow regained his sense of self. He successfully does so again in chapter 77. Izuru briefly wakes up again in Chapter 103, before Hajime takes control back after the virtual world arc. He leads his own group (as everyone else was either an introvert or too forceful dealing with others).
He escaped alive, and went on to father two sons: one from Chiaki, another from Mikan.
- Babies Ever After: As seen in the epilogue, he is the father of both Chiaki and Mikan's babies.
- Battle in the Center of the Mind: With Izuru in chapter 77. Hajime wins, though he's now sporting the mixed eye color from the Hope Arc.
- Establishing Character Moment: His resolve to protect Mikan is cemented early when the students are forming groups. After comforting Mikan and offering her a spot in his group, Hiyoko recommends that he leave Mikan out of his group and bring her in instead with her usual vulgar choice of words and Mikan-directed insults. He doesn't hesitate to tell Saionji to get lost. This also convinces Mahiru (and Chihiro) to join him.
- Girl on Girl Is Hot: Hajime enjoys watching Chiaki and Mikan have sex during their threesome.
- Happily Married: With Chiaki and Mikan (how that worked is unspecified).
- Hope Bringer: Made into one. Actually does live up to it in the final trial.
- Official Couple: With Mikan and later Chiaki as well.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Gets them as Izuru Kamukura.
- Shout-Out: I'm afraid I can't do that. Said by Izuru one time when he takes control.
- Thou Shalt Not Kill: Despite being one of the protagonists, Hajime was close to considering murder when everyone was suffering under the disease motive. To put it simply, he sought to kill Nagito, then convince everyone to use the sacrifice motive and ax Tsumugi.Mikan: What do you mean by other alternatives, Momota?Hajime: Murder. If we can't find a cure, it might be the only other choice.Chiaki: HAJIME! Stop talking like that. Do you think for a moment that Miki would ever want to go on living after you bathed your hands in blood? You'd only be trading your life. It's not even an option.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Hajime's treatment to
Mikan, who has been tormented throughout her life, definitely counts as this. He is the first student to genuinely befriend her, defends her when Hiyoko picks on her and comforts her when she takes off her bandages and reveals her scars.
Chiaki Nanami
Ultimate Gamer
An absent-minded girl who loves video games of all genres (even bad games) and is skilled at playing them. She tends to become so absorbed whilst playing that it's hard to hold a conversation with her, and has a habit of pausing for long periods of time while she mentally composes what she wishes to say. She joins Hajime’s group.
She escaped alive, and had a son by Hajime.
- Babies Ever After: In the epilogue, she and Mikan birth their own babies (at the same time) courtesy of Hajime.
- Covert Pervert: She shows a surprisingly flirty and very sexually dominant side during her threesome with Hajime and Mikan.
- Friendless Background: She didn't have any friends before she came to Hope's Peak.
- Hope Bringer: At around the same level of this as Makoto. Leaves the climatic Hope speech business to Hajime though, but doesn't need encouragement from him to not vote.
- Like Brother and Sister: With Makoto, before and during the game.
- Romantic Runnerup: In Chapter 54, Chiaki confesses her feelings towards Hajime and says she doesn't mind being his "Player 3" when he and Mikan already care so much for each other. This is subverted when he tells Chiaki that he loves her as well as Mikan more than anything else, and the two kiss and spend the night in his bed. She ends up in a relationship with both of them at once.
- Spared by the Adaptation: The Killing Game is neither a virtual reality program, nor a reality television show, which suggests that this Chiaki is her real self and not an AI, as well as hinting that Class 77-B was never part of Ultimate Despair in the first place. She also lives through the Killing Game altogether.
Mikan Tsumiki
Ultimate Nurse
A talented nurse who can treat any injury. Painfully shy and clumsy, Mikan can hardly hold a conversation without bursting into tears and apologizing. She joins Hajime’s group.
She escaped alive, and went on to have and help deliver children, as well as having a son of her own by Hajime.
- Abusive Parents: Her mother and said mother's boyfriends, hence the bandages. Hopefully it never went past physical/emotional.
- Adaptational Heroism: The dark side of her canonical counterpart is retconned. Never does she even bring up the concept of her "beloved" throughout the story. She never kills anyone and becomes one of the nicer people among the cast, even making it to the end. Possibly, it could be due to her below Character Development.
- Apologizes a Lot: True to her canonical incarnation, but slowly ditches it as she changes over the course of the story.
- Babies Ever After: In the epilogue, she and Chiaki each have a son courtesy of Hajime.
- Character Development: Mikan starts off over-apologetic and timid like in canon, but thanks to the friendship of Hajime and the others in his group, she starts to become more confident and helpful, and doesn't panic much anymore. She also rarely if ever stutters.
- Covered in Scars: She bears a lot of old scars and burns under her bandages.
- Only Mostly Dead: Mikan survives a blow to the back of her head and attempted strangulation, thanks in part to Kirumi.
- Polyamory: With Hajime and Chiaki.
- Related in the Adaptation: It's revealed that she's a sister to Kaito and Kokichi, a relationship that doesn't exist in canon.
Nagito Komaeda
Ultimate Lucky Student
A rather strange young man who was selected to attend Hope's Peak Academy through some random lottery after getting kidnapped by a serial killer, giving him the title of "Ultimate Lucky Student". He's an affable and easygoing guy, though he tends to be quite self-effacing towards his own "talent", claiming that it's not a real talent at all (at least compared to the other students). However, unlike Makoto Naegi, Nagito actually experiences a cycle of wildly extreme good luck and bad luck, in that his good luck is usually preceded or followed by bad luck. He joins Kaede’s group.
Is the victim/culprit for the 11th Trial, committing suicide.
- Amnesiac Lover: Was with Mikan at some point before the killing game. Apparently it was a mutual Florence Nightingale Effect.
- Dissonant Serenity: In general, but especially when he is accused of murder in the third trial. And when dying/killing himself near the end.
- Driven to Suicide: Tries hanging himself during the Hostage Motive. The rope breaks. Finally succeeds when he's mortally wounded, killing himself so Kaede doesn't become the blackened.
- Dying Declaration of Love: To Kaede.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Has feelings for Kaede, but says nothing given her relationship with Shuichi.
- Secretly Dying: Has brain cancer.
- The Social Darwinist: The reason he modified the death trap in Case 3 was because he believed Kaede had the strongest hope out of the four performers on stage, and deemed her the most worthy of living. He also did it as a test for Makoto, whom he somehow knew was the Ultimate Hope.
Mahiru Koizumi
Ultimate Photographer
A promising young photographer who has won many awards for her portraits. Though she can be a bit critical at times, Mahiru is one of the more sensible and level-headed students in the academy. She joins Hajime’s group after seeing him stick up for Mikan.
She is strangled to death on Day One, making her the first victim of the killing game.
- Code of Honour: Mahiru states early on that it's the boys' job to keep the girls safe. This is the reason why she takes a picture of Hajime and asks to join his team after he defends Mikan against Hiyoko's verbal abuse.
- The Lost Lenore: Seems to be this for Chihiro, at least for a time.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: The first kill of the game.
Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu
Ultimate Yakuza
The baby-faced successor to the infamous Kuzuryu family, the largest criminal enterprise in Japan. Fuyuhiko's small stature and youthful looks hide a powerful temper and a large chip on his shoulder, and he has no interest in making friends with his classmates. He leads his own group comprising of the more physically adept students. After the collapse of his group, he joins Byakuya's group of misfits, mainly interacting with Celeste.
He escaped alive, and opened a casino with some of the other survivors.
- Abled in the Adaptation: Due to not being a member of Ultimate Despair as well as Peko having a different execution, he keeps both of his eyes.
- Official Couple: With Celestia. In the epilogue, they organize to make a casino together, named "The Queen's Gambit".
- Only Friend: Seems to be this for Celestia.
Peko Pekoyama
Ultimate Swordswoman
A master swordswoman and kendo champion whose skill at swordplay surpasses even the strongest adult fighters. A stern yet polite woman, Peko carries herself with an intimidating aura. She was an orphan taken in by the Kuzuryu family, and serves Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu as a bodyguard to repay their generosity. She joins Fuyuhiko’s group.
She is the culprit of the Seventh Trial, having dealt the finishing blow to Gonta while hallucinating the abusive head of the Kuzuryu family.
- Odd Friendship: Forms one with Maki, her sparring partner.
- Parental Abandonment: Though a hallucination of Fuyuhiko's father suggests they were killed for not paying a debt.
Akane Owari
Ultimate Gymnast
A superb athlete with an unusually large bust for a high-school girl. She has a remarkable talent for inventing her own moves, but tends to under-perform when she's in a bad mood. A brash and argumentative girl with a love of food and fighting, Akane isn't quite the sharpest thinker in the academy. She joins Fuyuhiko’s group. After Fuyuhiko's group (now just him and her) basically disbands, she joins Makoto's group (sorta, the 'separate groups' thing basically discontinues around that point, and she interacts more with Hajime and Kaito then anyone in Makoto’s team).
She escaped alive, and ended up together with Kaito.
- Adaptational Attractiveness: She flaunts her sexuality more here than she does in the main canon, and gets a kick out of teasing/flirting with Ishimaru and Owada.
- Pair the Spares: With Kaito.
Nekomaru Nidai
Ultimate Team Manager
A legendary coach with a knack for taking terrible teams and turning them into champions. Though he looks more like an athlete than a coach, Nekomaru burns with intensity and passion, and has a massive voice to match his massive stature. He joins Fuyuhiko’s group.
On Night Three, he murders Teruteru in rage after witnessing him kill Himiko.
- And This Is for...: Has this to say when delivering the final blow to Teruteru:This is for that little girl!
- Couldn't Find a Pen: When his orifices are bleeding in his execution, he writes "Together as one" with his blood, reminiscent of when Himiko did the same thing when she was dying.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: During the second trial, Shuichi points out that he wasn't yelling his words in all caps and bold and italics. This is the final observation Shuichi makes before indicting him as the blackened.
- Rage Breaking Point: Him reaching it was what led to him murdering Teruteru, similar to how Mondo killed Chihiro in the first game's canon. However, unlike Mondo's case, Nekomaru's murder was a Roaring Rampage of Revenge out of anger towards Teruteru killing Himiko.
Princess Sonia Nevermind
Ultimate Princess
A royal princess from the small European country of Novoselic, who has come to Hope's Peak Academy as an exchange student. Sonia has all the beauty and grace that her title implies. However, she can be a bit naïve and overly trusting, and her grasp of the native language is a bit... tenuous. She forms her own group.
She is tragically one of the victims of the Sixth Trial.
- Fatal Flaw: Her overly trusting nature. She refuses to believe Kazuichi and Gundham when they share their suspicions about Angie and she ultimately falls for Korekiyo's trap, resulting in her death.
- The Heart: The reason why Sonia acts as an efficient leader to her group.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: How she dies, in Korekiyo’s Iron Maiden.
- Official Couple: With Gundham. It doesn't last very long.
Gundham Tanaka
Ultimate Breeder
A highly eccentric individual who is rumored to be able to speak to animals. Gundham talks like a cartoon super villain and aspires to use the dark arts to rule the world. He keeps a colony of hamsters, who he has dubbed the "Four Dark Devas of Destruction", under his scarf. He joins Sonia’s group.
He's one of the victims of the Fifth Trial.
- Official Couple: With Sonia. They die one after the other.
- Properly Paranoid: Asked to switch drinks with Angie when they met privately. It wasn’t enough.
Kazuichi Soda
Ultimate Mechanic
A mechanical genius with the ability to fix anything. In spite of his scary appearance, Kazuichi is actually rather timid and is prone to freaking out at the drop of a hat. He joins Sonia’s group.
He escaped alive, and helped rebuild the space program.
- Heroic Blue Screen of Death: Experiences this after Sonia's death. Being the one to uncover her corpse probably didn't help much.
- Odd Couple: With Ryoko, surprisingly.
- Sole Survivor: Of Sonia's group.
Ultimate Imposter
Referred to as Twogami
A student known only by his talent, namely as the Ultimate Imposter: A person without a home, relatives, gender, or even a name who can only live by assuming the guise of another person, that person being Byakuya Togami. Also, he really likes food. He first suggests splitting into teams, and leads his own group of odd ones out.
He's one of the victims of the fifth case alongside Gundham and Kiyotaka, poisoned by Angie before being drenched in wax.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Who is more fit to lead other than him? That is, to lead a group with Kokichi, Korekiyo, and Hiyoko?
Ibuki Mioda
Ultimate Musician
A girl from an all-girls high school who played guitar in a popular "light-music club" school band, whose hit single "After-School Poyoyon Hour" sold a million copies. However, she left the band due to creative differences and is now pursuing a solo career. Despite her punk-ish appearance, Ibuki is a very friendly and energetic person whose antics sometimes border the limits of comprehensibility. She joins Sonia’s group.
She is the victim of Case 3, killed by a shot-put ball dropped on her head by a Rube Goldberg Device set up by Leon (who was gunning for Kaede) and unknowingly triggered by Asahina.
- A-Cup Angst: Very minor. She encourages Kaede while also expressing a little bit of jealousy upon seeing her in her outfit for their theater performance.
- Genki Girl: Very energetic and lively throughout her 'screentime'.
Teruteru Hanamura
Ultimate Cook
A master of the culinary arts, who prefers to be called a "Ultimate Chef" because he thinks it sounds more sophisticated. Teruteru has as much passion for romance as he does for his cooking, and spends most of his time in the academy chasing skirts. He joins the Imposter’s group.
He is both a killer and a victim. He murders Himiko on Day Three before he himself is killed by Nekomaru in a rage.
- Adaptational Villainy: Canon has him kill someone note , but however, he was actually trying to go for Nagito, who planned to kill someone in the first place. Because of that, Hanamura simply had an unintended victim. Here though, he fully intends to kill someone who had no intention of killing at all note and while his motive (his mother) is similar to canon, the presentation makes it look more selfish than it is.
- Dirty Coward: When he is caught in the crime scene with Himiko's blood all over the place, Teruteru doesn't express any remorse for his murder and instead asks for Nekomaru to cover for him while he escapes. Even when he's about to be killed, Teruteru tries to bribe him by promising to let him and Akane escape, but to no avail.
Hiyoko Saionji
Ultimate Traditional Dancer
A rising star in the art of traditional Japanese dancing. Hiyoko is popular for her youthful appearance and grace, but conceals an abrasive personality and a nasty mean streak. She joins the Imposter’s group.
It's later revealed that she's actually Kotoko Utsugi in disguise (more on her in the "Unmarked Spoiler Characters" folder), and the real Hiyoko Saionji is (apparently) dead. After nearly killing Gonta, her true identity is revealed to everyone, including herself.
- Bratty Teenage Daughter: The "daughter" part comes more into context with Kirumi acting as the Team Mom. If her real identity is into question, she's only one year away from being a bonafide one.
- Cuteness Proximity: When she first introduces herself to Hajime, she mentions that she likes "adorable things too". Or maybe she should say "adorbs" things, considering who she really is?
- Trauma Button: She was distressed when Gonta said "gentleman" and attacked him in a panic. Now who else has "gentle" as a trigger word for their trauma?
- Walking Spoiler: The fact that the real Saionji is (apparently) dead requires a separate entry in "Unmarked Spoiler Characters" to draw suspicion away from the imposter.
Students who started attending Hope's Peak in 2015. First appeared in Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc; see that page for their tropes in canon.
Makoto Naegi (clone)
Ultimate (Un)Lucky Student (Ultimate Hope/New Hope)
An utterly unremarkable Ordinary High-School Student who was only selected to attend Hope's Peak Academy through a random lottery, giving him the title of Ultimate Lucky Student. Makoto cites his most notable features as being his slightly below-average luck and his optimism. Nearly killed as the (amnesiac and apparently mind-controlled) culprit of the third-to-last trial, but gets spared thanks to Alter-Ego. Revealed in the last trial to actually be a clone of the original Makoto, the current Mastermind. He gets elected (while unconscious) as leader of his own group.
- Babies Ever After: He gets three children at the end; the twins he conceived with Aoi prior to the killing game (named Kazuki and Yuuki) and has one with Mukuro (named Hyousuke).
- Clones Are People, Too: He and the rest of the survivors certainly think so. They even hesitate to sacrifice the clones of their dead friends.
- Clueless Chick-Magnet:
- Eventually subverted in chapter 56 when three different girls spell out that they like him and get together with him all at once. The four of them were togeher prior to the Killing Game as well.
- The Mastermind reveals he and Kyoko used to have a thing for each other.
- Happily Married: To Hina and Mukuro by the end (somehow).
- Healing Factor: Has one as a clone.
- Heroic BSoD: Briefly, after Sayaka's death. K1-B0 helps him recover from it.
- Higher Understanding Through Drugs: After being administered an overdose of painkillers by Asahina, he addresses Mukuro by her real name instead of "Junko".
- Hope Bringer: As usual. Here, he gains the title of New Hope.
- I See Dead People: Sayaka's ghost is somehow connected to him. He starts talking to her in chapter 72. Given she's able to inform him of Mukuro needing help at the time, she seems to be the real deal. She disappears after a time (due to events in Final Horizon).
- Kissing Under the Influence: While on way too many painkillers, he beckons Mukuro to come closer, then surprises her by pulling her close to him for a kiss.
- Like Brother and Sister: With Chiaki, especially before the killing game.
- Official Couple: With Hina, Mukuro, and (briefly) Sayaka.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: He acts oddly during the virtual arc, such as calling Hina by her first name. This (and the fact that he didn't remember going to the virtual world at all) is a hint towards how the Mastermind somehow controlled him to murder Kokichi.
- Taking the Bullet: When Mukuro is about to be speared due to Junko betraying her, Makoto pushes her out of the way and gets critically injured as a result. His action led Mukuro to undergo a Heel–Face Turn, as well as getting Tenko's respect.
- Wake-Up Call: Though the Killing Game has taken a toll on him, it particularly hits even hard once it actually gets to someone he does care about.
Aoi Asahina (Hina)
Ultimate Swimming Pro
A bubbly girl who takes to water like a duck. Though she is best at swimming, she is also skilled in all kinds of other athletic activities and is a member of six different sports clubs. However, she isn't the sharpest thinker and tends to be easily misled during trials. She spends most of her time with fellow fitness enthusiast Sakura, and loves donuts. She’s the first to join what becomes Makoto’s group.
She escaped alive, and successfully gave birth to her and Makoto's twins.
- Accidental Murder: Technically, she's (probably) the one who inadvertently triggered the trap that killed Ibuki. The others manage to confuse the issue enough to instead use the sacrifice clause against the one who rigged the trap in the first place.
- Ascended Extra: She's the first student Naegi meets upon waking up in the classroom, and the first new friend he makes. Unlike the main game, she's arguably the front-runner in his harem, inviting herself to sleep in his bed every once in a while. And she's the first girl he gets together with. She had gotten pregnant with Makoto's twins prior to the Killing Game, birthing them in Chapter 113.
- Babies Ever After: Makoto and Hina's twins are born in the last chapter, named Kazuki and Yuuki (both of which have 'hope' in the name).
- Official Couple: With Makoto, Mukuro, and Sayaka.
- Promoted to Love Interest: She and Makoto have no semblance of a romantic relationship in canon, though here, she's the first girl Makoto meets and gets with. Not to mention her pregnancy.
- Teen Pregnancy: At the age of 19 she gets pregnant by Makoto. Her twins are shown healthy via an Ultrasound in Chapter 96, with Mikan's help. She gives birth to them in the final chapter.
Sayaka Maizono
Ultimate Pop Sensation
Sayaka is the lead singer of an incredibly popular idol group. She and Makoto were classmates; he caught her eye one day when he freed a crane that was stuck in the school pool, but they've never spoken. Recognizing him from that day, she asks Makoto if she can be his sidekick during Monokuma's game. Fittingly, she joins Makoto’s group when teams are formed.
She plots a murder on Day Three, but does not go through with it upon seeing Teruteru's corpse. She becomes a victim herself for the Sixth Trial. Then she comes back as an actual ghost for a time, before disappearing again.
- Heroic BSoD: After her Heel Realization upon finding Teruteru's already dead body while she is holding a knife, it takes her a while to forgive herself and open up to her friends again.
- Irony: Sayaka was the first student who was murdered in the whole franchise, but when she gets murdered in 'A New Hope', she comes back as a ghost and then gets brought back to life in 'Final Horizon'. Then abruptly dies near the end anyway.
- Polyamory: Gets together with Makoto, Mukuro, and Hina. Sadly, she dies not too long after
- Spared by the Adaptation: Played with. She's the first death in the entire franchise, but A New Hope lets her live through a good half of the series until she's axed by Korekiyo. She also appears as a ghost in the second half, and she even appears in Final Horizon. Safe to say that while she still stays dead, her runtime is far longer than canon ever gave.
- Unexpected Character: Her ghost being linked to Makoto for a while.
Mukuro Ikusaba
Ultimate Soldier
A former member of a radical mercenary group called Fenrir, where she served for three years without taking a single wound. She is the older sister of Junko Enoshima, and "Ultimate Despair" refers to the group/philosophy they were both members of. Having collaborated with Junko to stage the Hope's Peak Killing Game, she pulls a Twin Switch to obfuscate her sister's identity as the Mastermind. While participating in the killing game with everyone else, she acts as a kogal
who took the country by storm with her extravagant tastes. As "Junko", she claims she wanted to be a model ever since she was a child, but confesses that she wishes to try new things. She joins Makoto’s group. After Junko fails to kill her on Day Two, she abandons Despair to try and help her classmates.
She escaped alive, and had a son by Makoto.
- Ascended Extra: In canon, she gets killed and serves as more of a Posthumous Character, being a key to the Mastermind's identity. Here, she lives through and gets as much action as the protagonists.
- Babies Ever After: In the epilogue, she and Makoto have a baby boy, which she later names Hyousuke ('helpful soldier').
- Deuteragonist: Technically takes the role from Kyoko due to her surviving her supposed death in canon, though it's mostly in relation to Makoto.
- False Confession: She announces that she is the blackened in the third trial so that the students won't vote right away and punish Asahina.
- Heel–Face Turn: After Makoto saves her from being killed in Junko's betrayal and gets critically wounded himself, she renounces her role in Ultimate Despair and vows to escape the killing game with her new friends.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Everyone in her group, as well as Kirumi, is quick to notice that she's wearing a wig. The only exception is Makoto (who's told about it later), but he comments on her freckles the first time he meets her in the gym. She stops wearing the wig during the Fourth Trial.
- Polyamory: With Makoto, Hina, and (briefly) Sayaka.
- Secret-Keeper: Knows that Makoto was connected to Sayaka's ghost for a time.
- Spared by the Adaptation: She doesn't die from her supposed fate, with the divergence even being similar to Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc IF, wherein Makoto saves her after realizing his memories for a bit. Throughout the Killing Game, she plays a major role and continues on to the end.
- Taking Up the Mantle: In the second class trial, she takes it upon herself to refute Byakuya's testimony in a Rebuttal Showdown.
Kyoko Kirigiri
Ultimate ??? (still Ultimate Detective)
An enigmatic girl whose "Ultimate" talent is unknown. She radiates a cold and unfriendly attitude, and deflects any questions about her identity or past. Despite this, her insight and deductive abilities prove invaluable during the murder investigations. She joins Hajime’s group.
She escaped alive and joined the Future Foundation.
- Bait-and-Switch: She agrees to team up with Hajime over their mutual inability to remember their talents. However, she doesn’t interact with him much throughout the story. Most of her scenes are spent investigating or sharing information with fellow Ultimate Detective Shuichi. Interestingly, both boys are the other Danganronpa Player Characters not named Makoto. She start interacting more with Makoto after the Seventh Trial. It turns out that there was something between her and Makoto prior to the pre-Tragedy brainwashing incident, but things didn't go anywhere with his clone (apparently, she was able to tell something was up).
- Honorary Aunt: Becomes this to Makoto's children in the epilogue.
- Not So Stoic: Has moments of this. Noticeably during the disease motive after Ryoma offers to kill himself. And especially when she finds him having (seemingly) followed through in chapters 77/78.
- The Stoic: As in canon, she doesn’t display her emotions very much around others.
- Ship Tease: She has a few moments with Ryoma, showing more emotion around him than most others and being protective of him. She noticeably breaks down upon discovering his dead body, and later asks for his personality to be used for the Counterpart AI.
Sakura Ogami
Ultimate Martial Artist
An MMA champion whose family has operated a famous dojo for 300 years. Despite her intimidating appearance, Sakura is level-headed and polite. She spends most of her time exercising and drinks a lot of protein coffee. Her size and strength make her a perfect candidate for guarding crime scenes. She's been nicknamed "the Ogre" online. She joins Makoto’s group on Hina's invitation.
Commits suicide in Chapter 91, during a motive where no one could go to sleep without dying.
- Adaptational Context Change: Still commits suicide and leaves a letter to everyone like in canon, but whereas she did it out of her supposed mole status, here, she does it because everyone is begging to get sleep.
- Berserk Button: Speaking ill of Asahina or her family's dojo will make Sakura furious.
- Driven to Suicide: Played straight as in canon, sacrificing herself so everyone else can move forward.
- The Mole: Subverted. Monokuma tries to make her work as his mole in the group, but she ultimately rejects his offer, refusing to betray her friends.
Chihiro Fujisaki
Ultimate Programmer
A Teen Genius currently developing top-secret AI programs for an unnamed company. Chihiro is the smallest of all the students, and ashamed of being seen as weak. While the other characters initially assume that Chihiro is female due to "her" shy demeanor and manner of dress, it is later revealed that he is actually a boy who crossdresses to disguise his frail stature, having been ruthlessly bullied for his unmanly physique. After his secret is revealed to everyone during the Sixth Trial, he stops crossdressing and dons a new outfit he got for Christmas. He joins Hajime’s group with Mahiru.
He escaped alive, fathering at least two children with Miu.
- Babies Ever After: In the epilogue, Miu and Chihiro have a baby named Akira.
- Love Confession: Gives one to Miu in Chapter 76:"I love everything about you. You're brilliant and keep up with me and challenge me, but you can be such a goofball at times. You're neurotic, crude, but you have the confidence to speak your mind. I love how you act tough, but care more than you let on. You spoke up for me when I couldn't even speak for myself. Not to mention you're the most beautiful girl in the world. Of course I love you."
- Happily Married: To Miu.
- Official Couple: Becomes this with Miu.
- Tiny Guy, Huge Girl: The tiny guy to Miu's Huge Girl.
Byakuya Togami
Ultimate Affluent Progeny
The scion of the wealthy Togami family, and one groomed to become a success since childhood. Byakuya has no intention of becoming friends with his fellow captives, seeing them as competitors in a challenge to be won. Intelligent, calculating, and utterly ruthless, Byakuya is a force to be reckoned with. Has reciprocated feelings for Kirumi. He is initially independent of any groups, finding the idea ridiculous.
He escaped alive, and presumably finally married Kirumi.
- Aloof Ally: Sonia eventually convinces him to grudgingly join her group. After she dies, he decides to take her place as leader of what's left of the group (which includes the remains of the Imposter’s group at this point), even if he still finds the concept ridiculous.
- Break the Haughty: Gets a bit during Nagito's investigation and trial. First Shuichi attacks him for being an emotionless jerk to Kaede, then Izuru shuts him down on his deductions by pointing out that Kaede was the person to trigger the body discovery announcement (something the culprit can't do).
- Character Development: Gets some (sorta) as things go on (see him not acting like a jerk when Kotoko admits to attempting suicide in the past).
- Graceful Loser: He politely admits to his mistake and backs down after being defeated in a class trial Rebuttal Showdown.
- Official Couple: Ends up with Kirumi by the end.
Toko Fukawa
Ultimate Writing Prodigy
A famous romance novelist who has been writing bestselling books since before she was ten years old. However, she has never had a friend, much less a real romance. Having been bullied as a child, she has a severe persecution complex and always assumes that people think the worst of her. Because of this, she's extremely pessimistic and slow to trust others. She has Dissociative Identity Disorder, with her other persona being "Genocide Syo", an infamous serial killer that awakens whenever she sees blood and reverts when she sneezes. Syo is a textbook maniacal psychopath, but befitting of a serial killer is highly intelligent and methodical. She joins the Imposter’s group.
She's accidentally killed in self-defense by Yasuhiro when he finds Syo trying to kill Shuichi.
- Adaptational Villainy: While she still contains her serial killer status, canon paints her as an Anti-Hero who doesn't kill anyone during the duration of THH's killing game, even when she's exposed. Even during UDG, her persona of Genocider Syo helps out heroine Komaru Naegi. Hope only gives her one lengthy scene as Syo, fully committed to killing someone, and ultimately goes to attempting to kill Shuichi, until she dies to the blackened of that chapter.
- Demoted to Extra: Syo only shows up once, and gets (accidentally) killed by Yasuhiro of all people.
- Ship Tease: Gets some (from her end only) with Shuichi, wanting to include him in a book of hers. It drives Syo to try and murder him.
Yasuhiro Hagakure
Ultimate Clairvoyant
A big name in Japan's fortune-telling community. Yasuhiro has made a killing off of his predictions, which he boasts have an 1-in-5 accuracy regardless of topic or scope. He is easily one of the more laid-back and gullible cast members. He joins Sonia’s group.
He is the culprit of Case 4, killing Genocide Jack in self-defense.
- Future Shadowing: He can't make heads or tails of his Tarot card reading in Chapter 17. It's a clue that Asahina is pregnant with twins. Other students eventually come to that realization from seeing The Wheel of Fortune, The Ace of Cups, The Lovers, and The Sun.
- The Lost Lenore: For Angie after his death, which leads to her grudge towards the others and eventually being manipulated into murder by Tsumugi.
Celestia "Celeste" Ludenberg / Taeko Yasuhiro
Ultimate Gambler
Also known as the "Queen of Liars", Celeste is renowned for her exemplary luck in games of chance. She's accumulated a sizable fortune by robbing anyone stupid enough to challenge her blind. She speaks softly and smiles often, but in a way that tends to creep out everyone around her. She joins the Imposter’s group.
She escaped alive, and opened a casino with the Kuzuryus.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Comes from a poor family with an alcoholic father, and a dead mother.
- Driven to Suicide: Tries it. Fuyuhiko stops her.
- Even Evil Has Standards: 'Evil' might be pushing it, but she's clearly uncomfortable (to put it mildly) when given the secret motive to murder a pregnant girl. She ultimately doesn't go through with it. Her mother committing suicide after a miscarriage might explain her hesitancy.
- Harmful to Minors: As a child, she was traumatized when she saw her mother had hanged herself. When she is exposed to the fear gas, she is confronted with this traumatizing memory.
- Living Lie Detector: She is called this by Kokichi, and he threatens to expose her as The Mole to ensure that she won't call him out on any of his lies. But he also reveals his role as the instigator of the second murder to her, so that she can prevent him from calling her out on any of her lies.
- Official Couple: With Fuyuhiko by the end. In the epilogue, they organize to make a casino together, named "The Queen's Gambit".
- Second Love: To Fuyuhiko.
- What You Are in the Dark: She could have gone through with killing Hina, but as Kaede points out, she didn't have the will to kill a pregnant woman, even if it meant she could escape with no problem.
Hifumi Yamada
Ultimate Fanfic Creator
An Otaku artist whose work sells in the tens of thousands. He disavows any interest in 3D women and aims to become a famous sculptor (of anime figures, of course). His dialog is liberally peppered with references to anime and video games. He joins Kaede’s group.
He's the first to die from the disease motive in chapter 76.
- Love Makes You Dumb: Is yanked around quite easily even after Tsumugi's heartless nature is revealed.
- Ship Tease: With Tsumugi, given their similar natures. It really doesn't work out.
Kiyotaka Ishimaru
Ultimate Moral Compass
Kiyotaka prizes one thing above all else: order. He's constantly preaching the virtues of exercising, respecting your elders, etc. He takes a role of leadership amongst the students, encouraging them to stick together, but not everybody listens or takes him seriously. He initially has a fierce rivalry with Mondo, but the two end up becoming blood brothers over their mutual passion. He joins Fuyuhiko’s group, and founds a Student Committee to try and avert any deaths.
One of the victims of the Fifth Trial.
- The Leader: Of the Student Committee. It ultimately dies with him.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Compared to his canon personality, Kiyotaka is portrayed as an efficient and responsible leader perfect for running the Student Commitee.
- The Rival: To Angie for leadership in the Committee. It, and a few other factors, gets them both killed by the end.
Mondo Owada
Ultimate Biker Gang Leader
The leader of the Crazy Diamonds, Japan's largest motorcycle gang. Mondo is foul-mouthed and doesn't take orders well, but would never hit a girl or break his promises. He is constantly at-odds with Kiyotaka until they bond over their mutual passion and become blood brothers. He joins Fuyuhiko’s group.
He becomes the Eighth Trial culprit to save Akane and the rest of the ill students.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Dismembered by motorcycles tied to his neck and limbs. His execution is so gory that the students become nauseated upon seeing such a horrible sight.
- Dying Moment of Awesome: His final act before his execution is to tell Tsumugi that when he dies, she's going to come with him soon (which actually intimidates her).
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Even more than his canon version. In 'A New Hope', Mondo is actually able to rectify his Hair-Trigger Temper and shows more Pet the Dog moments (especially to Chihiro). He looks over Akane after Nekomaru's final request and brings her Nekomaru's jacket to console her, then refrains from attacking Chihiro before things could get too far and takes the role of his Big Brother Mentor. His final moments count too, as he makes a deal with Ryoma to put him out of his misery while he's suffering from the disease in order to save Akane and the others, and he confesses to his crime before saying his last goodbyes and accepting his execution.
- Official Couple: Ends up with Akane after awhile. He doesn't last.
Leon Kuwata
Ultimate Baseball Star
The star player of Japan's champion high-school baseball team who, oddly enough, doesn't care much for baseball. Leon stays on the team so he can rake in athletic scholarships and attention from girls. His real dream is to become the lead vocalist for a punk rock band, and change his title to Ultimate Musician. He joins Sonia’s group.
He sets up a death trap at the theater with the intention of killing Kaede, but due to Komaeda's meddling, the trap kills Ibuki instead. At the third trial, a plurality of students vote to sacrifice him by Rule #8 of the student handbook. He is executed by Monokuma even though Asahina is technically the blackened.
- Forced to Watch: Before being executed, Leon is shown a video of his cousin Kanon Nakajima getting brutally murdered by a child wearing a Monokuma head after Monokuma exposes their incestuous relationship just for an extra Kick the Dog moment.
- Humiliation Conga: Leon ends up suffering from lots of unlucky moments throughout the fanfic, such as dislocating his arm, accidentally blurting out his relationship with Kanon to Kaede, and mistakenly attacking Miu (with her surviving). It then dips into Trauma Conga Line territory when he sets up a trap specifically to kill Kaede since She Knows Too Much, only for it to kill Ibuki (with Nagito meddling with the trap), he is exposed as the perpetrator, he was Forced to Watch Kanon's death for an extra Kick the Dog and finally he is executed like in canon, only to be painfully bludgeoned with baseball bats first.
- Keeping Secrets Sucks: He tries to murder Kaede just to make sure she won't tell Ibuki about his relationship with Kanon, but his trap ends up killing his beloved Ibuki instead.
- You Should Have Died Instead: After Ibuki is murdered, Leon blames Kaede for her death and tells her that he wished that she died in her place. His statement becomes relevant in the trial, where it is revealed that Leon had set up his trap to kill Kaede until Nagito tampered with it, which resulted in Ibuki's death."You're sorry? This is all your fault. She would still be here if not for you!""Nothing you can say or do will bring her back. You're the one to blame for us being here in the first place, I wish it had been you."
Students who started attending Hope's Peak in 2016. First introduced in Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony; see that page for their tropes in canon.
Kaede Akamatsu
Ultimate Pianist (also Ultimate Hope)
A girl who started playing piano at a young age, and eventually began winning so many recitals that she was crowned the Ultimate Pianist. She's cheerful, outgoing, and motivated, and directs these traits toward escaping Monokuma and his murderous game. She becomes the leader of her own group.
She escaped alive, and married Shuichi.
- Batman Gambit: In the third trial, she borrows Hiro's crystal ball and tosses it at Leon, out of a hunch that his arm wasn't as injured as before. He does catch it, proving his capability for causing the crime.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: Courtesy of a Flashback Light. She snaps out of it after mortally wounding Nagito.
- Breaking Old Trends: Since this is technically the start in a new series, it's quite odd to see her survive, combined with the fact that she has a musically-inclined talent (one that is very common even in fangames).
- Dude Magnet: Shuichi and Nagito both fall in love with her during the killing game and she was also in a relationship with Rantaro prior to it.
- Final Girl: She outlives her fellow female musical artists, Ibuki and Sayaka, as well as Leon.
- Hope Bringer: She serves as this for many of her classmates (most notably Shuichi and Nagito) thanks to her positive outlook. In the final trial, she's even identified as being an 'Ultimate Hope'.
- Official Couple: With Shuichi. Pre-mindwipe, with Rantaro, partially due to Shuichi taking too long to confess his feelings. Shuichi proposes on Christmas.
- Rube Goldberg Device: Once again, Kaede is involved in an elaborate death trap with a shot-put ball. Except here, she is neither the one who built it, the one who activates it, nor the one who is killed by it (although she was the intended victim).
- She Knows Too Much: A secret is leaked to her in Case 3 because of Monokuma's motive. The truth serum forces Leon to blurt out that he used to be involved with Kanon Nakajima, his cousin. As a result, Kaede is eventually targeted for murder by Leon to ensure that she won't leak his secret to Ibuki. The result? She survives his death trap, but only because Komaeda tampers with the contraption before it activates.
Shuichi Saihara
Ultimate Detective
A boy who learned how to investigate crimes by assisting his uncle with his private eye business. While his uncle's office normally only dealt with things like infidelity investigations, there came a day where Shuichi happened to solve a murder before the police could, earning him the title Ultimate Detective. Solving the murder was apparently just luck, however, and Shuichi has trouble considering himself worthy of his Ultimate title. He joins Kaede’s group.
He escaped alive, and married Kaede.
- Giving Someone the Pointer Finger: In the class trials, it's Shuichi who takes the initiative on identifying and accusing the culprit of the case.
- Human Shield: When everyone thinks that Munakata is going to kill them, Shuichi moves to try and shield Kaede with his own body.
- Official Couple: Ends up with Kaede after their respective brushes with death. In the epilogue, he successfully proposes to her.
- Pinned to the Wall: By Genocider Syo, when she stabs him with her scissors and he loses consciousness. However, she is killed before she can do any worse to him. Fortunately, Kaede, Kaito, and Maki are out looking for him for their exercise routine. They find him and alert Mikan in time to save him.
Kaito Momota
Ultimate Astronaut
A trainee astronaut. The astronaut program requires a college degree, but Kaito bluffed his way in with fake documents and even passed the test. He was eventually found out but was kept on due to his personality and real talent. Kaito still hasn't been to space but wants to go more than anything. He's a classic romantic and often talks about dreams and passion. He's also Mikan's younger brother. He joins Kaede’s group.
He escaped alive, and got together with Akane.
- Happily Adopted: Kaito and Akane end up adopting all of Akane's siblings and Maki's orphans in the epilogue.
- Pair the Spares: Somehow gets together with Akane near the end of the game.
- Secretly Dying: At first, but Mikan was able to cure his illness and he was able to survive even after the Killing Game ended.
Maki Harukawa
Ultimate Child Caregiver (actually Ultimate Assassin)
A girl who grew up in an orphanage. She was made to help out while living there, and despite not being particularly good at the work and hating children, apparently the children liked her so much that she earned the title Ultimate Caregiver. She has an uncooperative attitude and speaks from the heart. She is initially independent, but eventually joins Kaede’s group (apparently).
Is the victim of the Tenth Trial, after finding and failing to kill the mastermind.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: By a katana to a wall, curtesy of Despair!K1-B0.
- Odd Friendship: Forms this with her sparring partner, Peko. The same seems to happen with her new sparring partner, Mukuro.
Miu Iruma
Ultimate Inventor
An inventor on the cutting edge. She has a rather strange set of priorities—for instance, some of her favorite inventions are a series of devices that make it easier to eat or read while sleeping, while she considers her truly groundbreaking "eyedrop contact lenses" boring and sold the patent. She is incredibly brash and vulgar, but despite this, she will suddenly turn into a wimp if her façade is successfully attacked. She joins Hajime’s group on Chihiro’s invitation.
She escaped alive, and married into the Fujisaki family.
- Babies Ever After: In the epilogue, Miu and Chihiro have a daughter named Akira note . With another child on the way.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Downplayed, but she forbids Chihiro from being alone with Doppelganger (an AI modeled after her, perverted tendencies and all). She also seems to get defensive when Chihiro recognizes a hacker girl in the simulation.
- Fear of Needles: Expresses it at one point.
- Happily Married: With Chihiro.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Is actually rather nice when one gets past her abrasive exterior. Still perverted though.
- Official Couple: Eventually becomes this with Chihiro.
- Secret-Keeper: She's the first student (that is known) to discover Chihiro's true gender (or at least the first to tell Chihiro about it upfront), and she promises to keep quiet about it until he is ready to tell everyone. She ends up breaking that promise to trip up Korekiyo, but Chihiro's okay with it.
- She's also the first student to witness Mukuro's skills and reflexes as the Ultimate Soldier when she trespasses in her room. Mukuro threatens her with death if she tells anybody what she saw.
- She Cleans Up Nicely: She dresses in a different, 'classier' attire and make-up on her Christmas date with Chihiro note .
- Weakness Turns Her On: Averted. She actively encourages Chihiro to be mentally tougher and have more confidence in himself.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: The fear hallucinations manifest as spiders crawling over everything.
Kirumi Tojo
Ultimate Maid
A girl with a sharp mind and an athletic body. Her day job is as a maid, but she is effective in a variety of roles, such as personal security. She was even apparently approached for a job that would "destroy a nation". Her personal motto is "duty before self", something that she continues to adhere to even in the prison school. She takes care of housekeeping and cooking for the other students. Has previously worked for Byakuya, Hiyoko, and Sonia before coming to the school. Has reciprocated feelings for Byakuya. She joins the Imposter’s group.
She escaped alive, and remained with Byakuya (and probably adopted Kotoko).
- Abusive Parents: Her worst fear is her strict mother, who constantly reprimanded and was strict with her growing up.
- Actor Allusion: Kirumi acts as the Team Mom, especially acting as one to Hiyoko. Both share the same English VA, but this reference gets subverted when it's revealed that the Killing Game's Hiyoko is revealed to be Kotoko who has a different voice actress.
- Adaptational Backstory Change: Her old backstory of her being the supposed leader of the nation is ditched in favor of having been close with Sonia Nevermind since childhood.
- Adaptational Heroism: She appears to be friendlier and more courteous in this adaptation, even acting like a Team Mom. She refrains from committing murder no matter what happens.
- Adaptation Origin Connection: Is somewhat a childhood friend to Sonia, which was never given in canon. No wonder she breaks her stoic demeanor and cries when she is killed.
- Not So Stoic: She is devastated when Sonia is killed.
- Official Couple: With Byakuya by the end.
- Parental Substitute: During the Killing Game, Kirumi serves a motherly role to Hiyoko. The latter is revealed to actually be Kotoko Utsugi, but the Ultimate Maid still continued to nurture her.
- Taking the Heat: Tries to do this during the Seventh Trial. It (thankfully) doesn't work.
Kokichi Ouma
Ultimate Supreme Leader
A boy who claims to lead D.I.C.E., a secret evil society of over 10,000 agents but it's actually just a prankster group of like twelve other people. He's also an admitted liar, but Ultimate Detective Shuichi Saihara seems to have heard rumors of this supposed evil cabal, so no one is sure what to think. True to his stature as an evil mastermind, Kokichi says exactly what will most rile up the other students, smiling the whole time. Is the half-brother to Mikan and Kaito. He joins the Imposter’s group.
Is the victim of the Twelfth Trial, but manages to wake up and escape alive. Whether or not he actually plans on rebuilding D.I.C.E. with Akane's younger siblings and Maki's orphanmates remains unknown.
- Antagonistic Offspring: For his father, Jibo Momota.
- Big Damn Heroes: Kokichi wakes up just in time to bring in the elevator and save the others before Hope's Peak collapses.
- Mouth Stitched Shut: He lets Korekiyo stitch his mouth during the truth serum motive to keep his reputation as a Consummate Liar.
- Only Mostly Dead: Much like the canon Neo World Program, he doesn't die when killed in the simulation, but does end up comatose. He wakes up a couple of days later.
- Unreliable Narrator: The main story's predecessor, A New Despair turned out to be a story of his own that he made up.
- Wild Card: There's no telling what he's scheming throughout the story. However, he was ultimately on the side of his siblings and fellow survivors.
Tsumugi Shirogane
Ultimate Cosplayer
A seamstress and cosplayer. She would prefer to use models rather than wear the outfits herself, but she mistrusts most cosplayers, believing they care more about standing out themselves instead of honoring the series the costume came from. Her work is so popular that she enjoys corporate sponsorships. She speaks rather politely most of the time but will get excited when one of her favorite series or cosplays comes up. She has a habit of becoming lost in thought, to the point of completely ignoring any attempts to grab her attention. Is working for the Mastermind. She joins Kaede’s group.
Is (finally) killed off in Chapter 85, via an elected sacrifice from the survivors.
- Adaptational Backstory Change: Let's just say she took the aspects of Mikan's backstory related to Junko. Though not much of it is revealed, the chapter after her death, which is a Whole Episode Flashback detailing how the students were locked down, shows that Tsumugi's personality was a somewhat meek and shy teenage girl. That is until Junko approached her, and later on, becomes one of the antagonists in charge of keeping the Killing Game in check. In relation to canon, never does she even host Team Danganronpa's Killing Game reality shows (since they're never a thing in this AU).
- Cruel and Unusual Death: One that actually deserves mentioning in this series: she's chopped up limb from limb by buzzsaws in front of everyone, ending with one sawing her head in half vertically.
- Demoted to Dragon: In canon, she's the Mastermind behind the Killing Game. Here, since there's a different Mastermind, she's simply The Dragon.
- The Dragon: Moreso than Mukuro, who commits a Heel–Face Turn, and Celestia, who was coerced to become a mole. She's actively working for the Mastermind, and mostly sets up some deaths, including Rantaro, whom she coerces via Flashback Light; and Angie, whom she corrupts to become a blackened by helping her with her revenge.
- Die Laughing: At the very end of her execution. Apparently, that's when she fully hits the Despair Event Horizon.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Was completely unaware that the Mastermind had switched out until Monokuma told her as much in chapter 85.
- Sexual Extortion: Disguises herself as Peko and has sex with Fuyuhiko, then blackmails him into compliance so that Peko doesn't go into Violently Protective Girlfriend mode and murder her. This backfires when Peko becomes a culprit in a completely unrelated event and Fuyuhiko realizes how to use her complete self-assurance against her when he guesses she's going to try and frame Celestia as the Mastermind's mole.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: The flashback in chapter 86 shows she used to be a normal, shy teenager. Unfortunately, the first person outside of Class 79 to step forward and befriend her was Junko Enoshima.
K1-B0 ("Ki-bo"/"Keebo")
Ultimate Robot/Synthetic Hope
A robot equipped with an advanced learning AI. Invented by a robotics genius named Professor Idabashi, Ki-bo was born as a blank slate and matured the way a human child would and even went to school normally, which is why he can be titled the "Ultimate Robot" at the high school level. He is polite and rather serious and has trouble with human social interaction. Robot rights are also a sore point for him. He joins Makoto’s group.
He is the tenth blackened, having been directed to kill Maki by the mastermind.
- Adaptational Villainy: Though he acts like his canon self throughout the story, he suddenly lapses during the Hostages motive. He's reprogrammed by the Mastermind to fight Maki and wins, right before he's caught as the blackened. It's a far cry from his canonical self, wherein he dies saving the survivors of V3.
- Face Death with Dignity: He gives a farewell speech to his friends before being crushed in a hydraulic press.
- Identical Stranger: Noted as looking similar to Makoto. Chapter 63 reveals this is intentional, as he was based off 'Ultimate Hope' Makoto to be a synthetic 'Ultimate Hope'.
- The Mole: An unintentional one. He had been passing everything he saw and heard to Monokuma through his antenna. Kokichi discovered this and broke it.
Ryoma Hoshi
Ultimate Tennis Pro
A world-famous tennis player. During international matches, he would kill mafiosi by hitting them in the head with a custom-made steel tennis ball, earning him the nickname "Killer Tennis" and the death sentence. He has a jaded, hardboiled demeanor despite being a teenager, and claims that the Ultimate Tennis Player is already dead due to already being in jail before coming to the prison school. Initially independent, he later joins Hajime's group.
Killed in chapter 77, and made to look like a suicide. It actually wasn't (directly).
- Character Development: Ryoma started as a secluded Death Seeker, but due to his classmates' support, he was able to regain his will to live and became more sociable. He eventually found a friendship with Kyoko and even genuinely smiled sometimes. He even decided to play tennis again after Miu requested to have a match with him (and proved to have the skill he used to have).
- Driven to Suicide: Except no, it actually was a murder. Not that he hadn't tried in the past. Nor did he actually resist the event.
- Odd Friendship: Forms one with fellow stoic, Kyoko. She's devastated when he dies. Also bonds a bit with Mikan as he helped save her life, and they both received empty motive videos.
- Retired Badass: Despite his insistence that he's sworn off playing tennis, he eventually relents to Miu's nagging request for one game. He walks all over her very quickly, with Fujisaki watching no less.
Tenko Chabashira
Ultimate Aikido Master
A user of "Neo Aikido", a school of martial arts developed by her and her master. She has a cheery, energetic demeanor, and tends to make kiai yells in normal conversation. She enjoys the company of other women, but despises men—not only will she reject compliments from men, she'll even reflexively throw any man who touches her. Befriends Sakura and Akane later on. She joins Kaede’s group.
Dies to the disease motive in chapter 77.
- Character Development: Tenko starts hating males, much like in canon. However, this is called to attention by Sakura, who prompts that while men are mostly responsible for bad things, there's no shortage of men who do good things. Makoto nearly dying to save Mukuro initially challenges this, to which she offers him her respect. Then comes Tsumugi Shirogane revealing her true colors, and it's clear that she's starting to realize this. Her offering to resuscitate Shuichi Saihara, thereby offering her life to save someone she'd disdain, makes her arc complete.
- Does Not Like Men: As per usual, Tenko hates (or at last strongly dislikes) males. However, she gained Makoto's respect after he nearly died to save Mukuro when she was about to be speared.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Successfully resuscitates Shuichi when he was close to suffocating. The strain ends up killing her.
- Straight Gay: More openly than in canon, outright admitting she likes Kaede at one point.
- Together in Death: With Himiko after she dies.
Himiko Yumeno
Ultimate Magician
The Ultimate Magician, but she would prefer to call herself the Ultimate Mage. She claims to be the youngest person to win Magician of the Year, a prestigious award given out by the magician society Magician's Castle. However, since her tricks are actual magic (according to her, at least), she alleges that she has been prevented from claiming the award because of a conspiracy to hide the existence of magic. She also claims to be flooded with booking requests from all over the world. Despite being at the top of her field, she is lazy to a fault. She joins Kaede’s group.
She's the first of two victims around midnight of Day Three.
- Ambiguously Gay: It's unclear what her feelings for Tenko are exactly. Though she is the one to guide Tenko after her death to the afterlife.
- Couldn't Find a Pen: Before Himiko dies of blood loss, she writes Teruteru's name with her own blood.
- Disabled in the Adaptation: She's a hemophiliac here when canon implied her to be perfectly healthy. Needless to say, this ends up making Teruteru's plan to murder her far more challenging than he had planned.
- The Lost Lenore: Serves as this for Tenko, and for Nagito, to a small extent.
Gonta Gokuhara
Ultimate Entomologist
An enormous but gentle boy. As a child, he wandered into the woods to go bug-hunting and went missing for ten years. During that time he stated he was raised by wolves and learned how to communicate with animals but in actuality, he was raised by dinosaurmen called "Reptites". He has vowed to become a true gentleman to repay his "woodland family". Having grown up outside of society, he lacks social skills and general cultural knowledge to a certain degree. Despite his appearance, he claims to have never killed a bug. He joins Fuyuhiko’s group.
He's the victim of the Seventh Trial.
- Accidental Murder: Gonta becomes a victim of this, when he inadvertently triggers Kotoko's Trauma Button and gets wounded by a nailgun, only for Peko to land the finishing blow when she hallucinates Lord Kuzuryu confronting her.
Angie Yonaga
Ultimate Artist
An accomplished artist and a foreigner from an island nation. Angie considers herself a conduit of the god of her island, Atua, believing him to always be by her side. She claims that her art is not created by her, but by her god simply using her body. The particulars of Angie's country are unclear; Angie seems to have a fascination in blood sacrifice, for instance. Despite the creepy details, Angie is rather cheerful and energetic. She joins Sonia’s group, and later finds a leadership position in the Student Committee.
She's the culprit of the Fifth Trial, following some assistance/manipulation from Tsumugi.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Drowned in hot candle wax.
- Death by Irony: After she poisoned Kiyotaka, Gundham and Twogami, she covered their bodies in hot wax to hide evidence. In her execution, she is drowned in hot wax.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Her thoughts before her death. In House of Horrors, Hana summons Angie's spirit, who is remorseful for what she did in life and releases her so Hana won't get hurt like Angie's victims.
- Tautological Templar: She killed her victims because she believed she was doing Atua's will and "cleansing them of impurity" so Atua would forgive them. Eventually, when she is caught as the blackened, Monokuma and Tsumugi reveal that the religious book she got was faked. Angie didn't take it well when she found out she was manipulated.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Sincerely thinks the best way to end the Killing Game is to just give up on trying to escape and accept living in the school for the rest of their lives.
Korekiyo Shinguji
Ultimate Anthropologist
A person who's been all over the world studying folklore. Seeing the adversities found in poor areas of the world has led to him believe that hardship can bring out the true beauty of mankind, so he eagerly observes the events of the killing game. He joins the Imposter’s group.
He's the culprit of the Sixth Trial.
- Adaptational Heroism: Subverted. As much as his fellow Chapter 3 culprits are receiving a fair amount of Character Development (and survive), in he comes, still acting like his incestuous, Serial Killer self, and plots the closest thing to a Chapter 3 trial.
- Asshole Victim: Unlike with the other killers, none of the other students hesitate to send him to his death after learning just how depraved he is.
- Breaking Old Trends: While Chapter 3 trials are known for their numerous rabbit holes and padded points, here, he simply admits to everything, comes forward as the killer, and the rest of his "trial" acts more like a Post-Trial than anything else.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Eaten Alive by scarabs. Not that he didn't have it coming.
- Serial Killer: Same as in canon, he kills girls for his dead sister.
- Token Evil Teammate: All the other culprits were driven to kill by reasons outside of their control (brainwashing, accidents, etc.), or from the stress of the killing game/other circumstances getting to them. Even the despairs were brainwashed and manipulated into their current position (see Ryoko for what Junko would be without Talent-induced boredom). Korekiyo? An unrepentant Serial Killer from long before the Killing Game, without a Split Personality that does the killing to use as a defense.
- Villainous Breakdown: Has a major one during the Sixth Trial when he's informed that Chihiro (whom he's kidnapped and placed in a Death Trap to send to his sister) is actually a guy. It gets worse when it's suggested his presence would make Kiyo's sister forget all about him.
Rantaro Amami
Ultimate Adventurer
A mysterious boy with a rather cavalier demeanor. He can quickly grasp the depth of a situation and gives off the impression that he may know something the others don't. He joins Makoto’s group.
In the first trial, he is labeled as the culprit and executed by Monokuma. However, it is revealed shortly afterwards that he was manipulated by Shirogane. She used a flashback light to implant a false resolve in his brain to carry out the murder.
- Amnesiac Lover: He and Kaede were together before the Killing Game, in part because Shuichi took too long revealing his own feelings.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: After Rantaro's execution, it is revealed that the reason he strangled Mahiru and Mikan was because Tsumugi used the Flashback Light on him, turning him into a dangerous murderer.
- Mr. Exposition: He provides a helpful rundown of all the initial groups of students and the members of each one.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Dead before the dozen chapters mark. He actually laments this in a non-canon omake.
The people that the mastermind is holding in Towa City to keep the participants in line. After chapter 83, most of the dead students' hostages have been killed. All have either been killed or freed by the end of the main fic.
Komaru Naegi
Makoto's younger sister. Roommates with Yuta, and later Natsumi and Taichi. Freed in chapter 104.
- Damsel in Distress: As a Hostage for most of the story.
- Demoted to Extra: Doesn't really do much in this story.
- Tomato in the Mirror: Gets to discover her brother turned evil (and died) while the Makoto that left Hope's Peak was a clone. She comes to accept him by the end.
Yuta Asahina
Hina's younger brother. Roommates with Komaru, and later Natsumi and Taichi. Freed in chapter 104.
- Relationship Upgrade: Possibly. It's never made clear if he and Komaru enter into a relationship at any point, but they do (obviously) remain with the collective Naegi family group.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Doesn't get blown up in this setting.
Hiroko Hagekure
Yasuhiro's mother. Roommates with Akane's siblings. She lives to the end.
- Damsel out of Distress: Hiroko at least, when she and Akane's sibling pull a jailbreak in chapter 78.
- Pair the Spares: Gets together with Kenshiro in the epilogue.
Kenshiro
Sakura's boyfriend. Roommates with Leon's cousin Kanon.
- And This Is for...: Gives one for Kanon when he knocks out a captor and escapes in chapter 79.
- Damsel out of Distress: Male example, when he escapes in chapter 79.
- Hero of Another Story: seems like he'd be going this route following his escape, with his intention of saving the remaining hostages and blowing up the Monokuma factory. Ends up more a Supporting Protagonist for the Towa City subplot.
- Pair the Spares: Gets together with Hiroko in the epilogue.
Kanon Nakajima
Leon's cousin. Has a thing for him, to his annoyance. Roommates with Kenshiro.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Beaten to death with a baseball bat.
- Killed Off for Real: At the end of the third trial, along with Leon.
Natsumi Kuzuryu
Fuyuhiko's younger sister. Didn't die prior to the Tragedy. Roommates with Chihiro's father, and later Komaru and Yuta. Freed in chapter 104.
Goes on to help run a casino.
- Big Brother Worship: Like in the canon, she worships her brother Fuyuhiko. In the epilogue, Natsumi is willing to name Fuyuhiko and Celestia's new theme park "Kuzuryu World" after her brother, but they shoot the idea down quickly.
- Pair the Spares: With Sato [[labelnote:* who, as a reminder, killed her in canon for being a bully that repeatedly threatened her and her best friend/labelnote, of all people.]]
- Unexpected Character: The fact that she didn't die prior to Class 78 showing up wasn't even hinted at until she suddenly appeared in the story.
Sato
Mahiru's friend from middle school. One of the few 'useless' hostages to survive chapter 83, and the story itself.
Goes on to work security for a casino.
- Damsel out of Distress: Is already out of captivity when Kizakura finds her in chapter 83.
- Pair the Spares: Somehow got together with Natsumi, oddly. Turns out, she's a Tsundere.
- Took a Level in Badass: Is on the front lines when fighting back against the Despairs. She's rather aggressive about it.
Taichi Fujisaki
Chihiro's dad. Roommates with Natsumi, and later Komaru and Yuta. Freed in chapter 104.
Hiroki Akamatsu
Kaede's younger twin sister. Blunter and more flashy than her sister. Roommates with Sayaka's sister Saki.
- Damsel out of Distress: Stabs a Despair to death and escapes with Saki in chapter 83.
- Official Couple: Has gotten together with Saki, apparently. This happened prior to their first appearance.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: The 'Tomboy' to Saki's 'Girly Girl'.
Saki
Sayaka's younger half-sister. Discovered her sister prior to the tragedy, and laments that Sayaka died not remembering her. Seems to worry easily, and gets 'vibs' of the same sort as her sister's 'intuition'. Roommates with Hiroki.
- Damsel out of Distress: Escapes with Hiroki in chapter 83.
- The Load: Doesn't get as involved with the fighting as some of the other girls.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: The 'Girly Girl' to Hiroki's 'Tomboy'.
Takaaki Ishimaru
Taka's father. Roommates (and lovers, apparently) with Himiko's mother.
- And This Is for...: When he and Hanabi are attacked by a Despair with a revolver (Ultimate Botanist Santa), Takaaki overpowers him and says, "This is for my son" (referring to Kiyotaka) before shooting the Despair with his own gun.
- Babies Ever After: He and Hanabi have a new baby girl named Kotowari, but he still honors Himiko and Kiyotaka."I bet you both would have been great older siblings. I don't know if I believe it, but if there is an afterlife. I hope you'll watch over your sister."
- The Leader: Serves as one for the survivors in Towa City.
- Official Couple: Ends up with Hanabi.
Hanabi Yumeno
Himiko's mother. Roommates with Taka's dad. Became pregnant with his child, and gave birth during the epilogue.
- Babies Ever After: Finally gives birth to Takaaki's child, eventually named Kotowari.
- Official Couple: Ends up with Takaaki.
- Outliving One's Offspring: She was saddened upon finding out about the death of her daughter Himiko.
Fuhito Kirigiri
Kyoko's grandfather. Is killed in chapter 100.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Stays behind in the jailbreak to hold off Despairs, even if it gets him killed.
- Taking You with Me: Killed a Despair before getting shot.
- You Shall Not Pass!: Holds off pursuers so the others in his group could escape.
Other Hostages
Hostages with less prominence. Includes Akane's siblings (now freed), Celeste's cat, Kaito and Mikan's grandparents (now freed), Kazuichi's grandmother, Shuichi's uncle, Professor Idabashi, children from Maki's orphanage (now freed), Kokichi's 'minions' from D.I.C.E., and Byakuya's butler Aloysius (now freed), Teruteru's mother, Toko's pet stink bug, Gundham's mother, Yamada's sister, Takemichi Yukimaru, Gonta's family, and any other hostages belonging to dead students. As of chapter 104, all those not freed are dead.
Ryoko Otonashi
Ultimate Forgetful Girl (Ultimate Analyst)
A mysterious amnesiac girl that Makoto and Hina find (and rescue) shortly after the second floor is opened. She has no memory of where she came from or even who she is, just that she forgets things day-by-day. Mukuro in particular is surprised by what her appearance means for the killing game. She joins Makoto's group and slowly is made aware of her and Mukuro's past and connection. As of Chapter 110, she seems to have won control of her body.
She escaped alive, but was killed by Kyosuke shortly afterward.
- Expy: Her portrayal resembles Super Danganronpa Another 2's Sora. Both are amnesiacs with background related to their Killing Games' masterminds (Junko for Ryoko, Akane Taira for Sora).
- I Hate Past Me: Really doesn't care for the idea of becoming Junko again. To the point of asking Mukuro to kill her if she does.
- Nice Girl: Shows what Junko could've been if she hadn't gained a obsessive Despair fetish.
- Ship Tease:
- With Kazuichi of all people in the later chapters. Even after her past comes to light.
- Briefly had some one-sided teasing with Shuichi (who was the only person she could consistently remember for awhile), but that was addressed quickly.[[labelnote:*]]Incidentally, he does have a rather similar look to Matsuda
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Kyosuke killed her before she could escape with the rest of the survivors.
Kotoko Utsugi
L'il Ultimate Drama
The true identity of the fake Hiyoko Saionji. A former child star whose parents prostituted her to producers where she was repeatedly raped. Her mother did it out of a twisted form of parental love and prostituted herself alongside Kotoko, believing that this was in her daughter's best interests and that it would help further Kotoko's career. Her father, on the other hand, used the money they gained for his own benefit, was cheating on his wife with his dental hygienist and was planning to sell Kotoko to the sex trafficking industry once she hits puberty. She is hotheaded and absolutely adores cute things. While she is currently impersonating Hiyoko Saionji, she has shown no indication that she is aware of it, and believes she is actually Hiyoko herself. She rediscovers her identity during the Seventh Trial.
She escaped alive, and was probably adopted by Kirumi and Byakuya after the game.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Same as canon. Even Byakuya seems affected when hearing how she was nearly Driven to Suicide.
- Heel–Face Brainwashing: Due to the other students' niceness towards her even before being revealed as Kotoko, she was able to reform and join the other survivors' side.
- Love Redeems: Kotoko's redemption was partially due to the students' kindness, especially Kirumi. She admits that the survivors have been a better family to her than her original parents.
- Morality Pet: Seems to be one for Kokichi.
- Redemption Equals Life: Since she's in the school and later reforming due to the students' kindness, she is the sole Warrior Of Hope to still be alive, as she was never in the Kuma-Kuma Land killing game.
- Sole Survivor: The sole surviving Warrior of Hope.
Ryota Mitarai
Ultimate Animator
The member of Class 77-B not in the killing game. Bullied as a child in school, he found solace in anime. As an Ultimate, he sought to use anime to bring hope to the world (even if he had to use brainwashing techniques to ensure it). However, someone (Junko) hijacked his work and used a Despair-inducing video on Classes 76, 77-A and B, and 78. Ryota, Chiaki, and Makoto (the only ones to avoid the brainwashing) managed to use a Hope-inducing video to cancel the brainwashing, however Classes 76 and 77-A weren't cured and went on to help form Ultimate Despair. When the Tragedy struck at Class 79's orientation, Ryota was the only one to not go with them and get sealed away in the old school building, wanting to find a way to fix everything. He left behind a video message that was found in the third floor post-Eighth Trial. Has been found by Future Foundation, and is put to work on making another Hope video.
He's killed by Munakata (who saw him as too risky to keep alive) after successfully making the new Hope video in Chapter 102.
- Butt-Monkey: Nothing seems to go right for him.
- Death by Adaptation: In canon, he lived to see the end of the Tragedy. Here he is killed after successfully making the Hope video again.
- Killed Off for Real: By a katana to the chest.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Is killed after successfully making the Hope video again.
Usami
Magical Miracle Girl Usami
A stuffed rabbit doll that Chiaki gets from the arcade. Later revealed to be something similar to Monokuma, with an ability to interfere with cameras and a desire to help the students survive. Later confirmed to have been created by Chihiro and Miu shortly before the killing game began.
She escaped alive, remaining with Chiaki.
- Big Damn Heroes: She accompanied Kokichi to save the other survivors before Hope's Peak collapsed.
- Good Counterpart: Serves as one to Monokuma.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: She was placed in the arcade's prize booth, under the assumption that whoever was causing problems wouldn't think twice about what looked like a stuffed animal there.
- Uncertain Doom: The camera feed cuts out before Monokuma kills her in her execution. As shown near the end, she survived with one ear missing (it gets repaired later).
Alter Ego
An AI created by Chihiro to hack into the network of Hope's Peak. Modeled after himself, but more feminine. Taken by the Mastermind as of chapter 77. Killed in Chapter 93, but not before taking the Exisals with him. Comes back briefly to save Makoto from execution. Their current state after Hope's Peak's destruction is unknown.
- Big Damn Heroes: Like in canon, he's revealed to have survived in the school's system long enough to save Makoto from execution.
Doppelgänger
Another AI created by Chihiro as a back-up for Alter Ego. Modeled after Miu, which the real Inventor briefly gets jealous/cautious about. They don't get along. Apparently has a crush on Alter-Ego and has to watch him die. And then come back alive. Still active with Miu when she escapes the school.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: To Alter-Ego.
Counterpart
A third AI created by Chihiro, this one as a assistant for Kyoko. Modeled after her departed friend, Ryoma Hoshi. He's still active with Kyoko when she escaped the school.
-
Ascended Fanon: Sorta. Was originally called 'Doppelganger 2', but a commenter pointed out that 'Counterpart' would be a better fit (does fit the naming scheme better). The author agreed.
Four Dark Devas of Destruction
Gundham Tanaka's pet hamsters. They have an unfortunate loss of owners as time goes on, losing Gundham, then Sonia, and finally Ryoma before ending up in Kyoko's care.
Their fate with the end of the Killing Game is left unrevealed in story, but the author did (eventually) confirm they survived (presumably, Kokichi and Usami remembered to grab them along the way to the trial room elevator, and they remained in Kyoko's care).
- Animal Companion: Serve as this for Gundham, Sonia, Ryoma (with some help from Gonta), and finally Kyoko.
Jin Kirigiri
Kyoko's father and the former Headmaster. He knew about the mysterious 'New Hope Project', but made a point of not sharing its details with anyone. As in canon, he is already dead.
- Posthumous Character: Not even a spoiler really.
