Hajime Hinata

1. #1Hajime Hinata

   Keys: Hajime Hinata, Hajime, Hinata, Izuru Kamukura, Izuru, Kamukura, Ultimate Despair, Ultimate ???, Ultimate Hope, Super High School Level ???, Super High School Level Hope · Secondary: 日向 創, ヒナタ ハジメ, Hinata Hajime, カムクラ イズル, 超高校級の「絶望, 超高校級の, 超高校級の「希望」, Chō kōkō kyū no “???”, Chō kōkō kyū no “kibō”

   Search Sign In Register Danganronpa Wiki Danganronpa Wiki Explore 15th Anniversary Games Franchise Community Search Sign In

   Menu

   Explore Explore

   Nagito Komaeda Nagito Komaeda Danganronpa Wiki Izuru Kamukura Izuru Kamukura Danganronpa Wiki Makoto Naegi Makoto Naegi Danganronpa Wiki Junko Enoshima Junko Enoshima Danganronpa Wiki Mukuro Ikusaba Mukuro Ikusaba Danganronpa Wiki Kyoko Kirigiri Kyoko Kirigiri Danganronpa Wiki Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa 2) Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa 2) Danganronpa Wiki Byakuya Togami Byakuya Togami Danganronpa Wiki Ultimate Despair Ultimate Despair Danganronpa Wiki Mikan Tsumiki Mikan Tsumiki Danganronpa Wiki Danganronpa Wiki Danganronpa Wiki Danganronpa Wiki Game Characters Game Characters Danganronpa Wiki Chihiro Fujisaki Chihiro Fujisaki Danganronpa Wiki Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu Danganronpa Wiki Toko Fukawa Toko Fukawa Danganronpa Wiki Recent Dexter Morgan Hannibal Lecter Haruspex Nemlei Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen/2000 miniseries

   More Skip to content Danganronpa Wiki Danganronpa Wiki 1,283 pages Explore 15th Anniversary Games Franchise Community

   in: Citation needed, Featured Articles, Characters, and 14 more English Hajime Hinata View source Hajime Hinata Gallery Sprites DR2 Hope Fragment (Full) This article was the Featured Article for January 2026 DR2 Hope Fragment (Full)

   Hajime Hinata Illustration Sprite DR3 (Despair) Illustration (Izuru) Sprite (Izuru) DR3 (Izuru) Illustration Name Kanji 日向 創 Romaji Hinata Hajime Katakana ヒナタ ハジメ English Hajime Hinata Aliases & Titles English Izuru Kamukura Ultimate Despair (Izuru; Former) Japanese カムクラ イズル 超高校級の「絶望」(Izuru; Former) Talent English Ultimate ??? (Hajime) Ultimate Hope (Izuru) Kanji 超高校級の「???」(Hajime) 超高校級の「希望」(Izuru) Romaji Chō kōkō kyū no “???” (Hajime) Chō kōkō kyū no “kibō” (Izuru) Translation Super High School Level ??? Super High School Level Hope Characteristics Personal Status Debuts Portrayals

   “ It won't be just hope... There's a lot of despair out there, too... And I don't know what kind of future it'll become... But our future is ours! We're not going to leave it in anyone else's hands anymore!

   — Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair ”

   Hajime Hinata (日向 創) is a student of Hope's Peak Academy and a participant of the Killing School Trip featured in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair and its upcoming remake, Danganronpa 2x2.[12] He doesn't remember his talent at the beginning of the Killing Game, so his title is the Ultimate ??? (超高校級の「???」 lit. Super High School Level ???).

   He also appears in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School, which explores his school life leading up to the Killing School Trip and The Tragedy.

   Contents 1 History 1.1 Early Life 1.2 Prior to the Tragedy 1.2.1 Attending Hope's Peak Academy's Reserve Course Department 1.2.2 Izuru Kamukura Project 1.2.3 The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy 1.2.4 The End of Hope's Peak Academy 1.3 The Tragedy 1.3.1 Heading to the School Trip 1.4 Killing School Trip 1.4.1 The Party 1.4.2 Twilight Syndrome Murder Case 1.4.3 Despair Disease 1.4.4 The Funhouse 1.4.5 The Beginning of the End 1.4.6 Graduation Exam 1.5 Post-Killing School Trip 1.5.1 Nagito's Illusory World 1.5.2 Atonement 1.6 Real Fiction 2 Creation and Development 2.1 Name 3 Alternate Fates 3.1 Bonus Modes 4 Appearance 5 Personality 6 Talents & Abilities 6.1 "Ultimate Counselor" 6.2 Ultimate Hope 6.2.1 Canonical Sources 6.2.2 Non-Canonical Sources 6.2.3 In other languages 7 Bonus Mode Guides 8 Quotes 9 List of Appearances 10 Merchandise 11 Trivia 11.1 Appearances in Other Media 12 References 13 Navigation History Early Life Hajime grew up with no known relatives apart from his parents. Although their parent-son dynamic remains largely unknown, Hajime mentioned once having a pleasant dream about his childhood, which led him to feel happier and more energized than usual.[13] Like most parents, they would reprimand Hajime whenever he ditched school events during elementary and middle school.[6] Other aspects of his past he brought up include having friends and a few spots he frequented, such as a nearby bookstore, a convenience store, and a favorite restaurant of his.[14]

   Beyond his upbringing, Hajime was an average person leading an average daily life and routine. He spent his days commuting to school, studying, attending exams and lectures, job hunting, and going for walks in his free time.[15] He felt ambivalent about school and did not participate in any clubs,[16][17] except for having an experience of taking care of a hermit crab he passed around in elementary school.[18] He stated that he had limited experience, was not knowledgeable, and had never been interested in many things, including sports such as surfing or rugby,[19][20] music in general or playing any instruments,[17] the occult,[21] photography,[22] animal breeding,[23] martial arts such as kendo,[24] or mastering any type of weapon.[25]

   “ Hope's Peak Academy... That place was so much more than a school to me. Kids who love to play baseball will long to join the major leagues... Kids who love to play soccer will long to join a rep team... And ever since I was a kid, I've felt the same way about Hope's Peak Academy...

   — Hajime Hinata, Danganronpa 2: Prologue ” In reality, Hajime possessed no special talent whatsoever. This led him to develop insecurities and a longing to belong somewhere he could feel more confident in himself. That desire manifested as his admiration for Hope's Peak Academy ever since childhood, and dreamed of attending it one day. However, since he lacked an Ultimate talent, the only way for him to attend the academy was by applying to its Reserve Course department. This required him to pass a basic entrance exam and pay a costly entrance fee and tuition, which were covered by his parents.[5][26] Hajime fulfilled these requirements, allowing him to transfer from his former school, Kodaka High School,[8][9] to the Hope's Peak Reserve Course.

   Prior to the Tragedy Attending Hope's Peak Academy's Reserve Course Department Gazing at the main course building Gazing at the main course building

   Enrolling in Hope's Peak filled Hajime with a huge sense of fulfillment, the long-awaited day in which he could become something greater than himself.[27] However, his insecurity of being talentless persisted. He often spent time gazing wistfully at the main course building, whether from the fountain in the park overlooking the academy or from his classroom, yearning to be a part of the Ultimates.[28]

   Izuru Kamukura Project procedure Izuru Kamukura Project procedure

   Around the same time, Hope's Peak Academy's Hope Cultivation Plan, or more known by the Izuru Kamukura Project, had reached its experimental stage. Named after the founder of Hope's Peak Academy, Izuru Kamukura, the project was considered to be the culmination of Hope's Peak Academy's research on talent; creating a superhuman paragon by imbuing a single person with every talent possible.[29] It was of such importance that most Reserve Course tuition fees were allocated to it.[30]

   The Steering Committee reviewing Hajime's profile The Steering Committee reviewing Hajime's profile

   From there, the researchers set their sights on the Reserve Course dropouts to use them as lab rats, as their plan to create talent artificially required test subjects that are wholly lacking in talent. From that group of Reserve Course students, the one who was chosen was Hajime, simply because he admired Hope's Peak Academy more than everybody else and was therefore easy to exploit. He was then given time by The Steering Committee to decide whether to accept.[28][29]

   Main article: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 01 First meeting with Chiaki First meeting with Chiaki

   One day, Hajime visited the fountain to gaze at Hope's Peak Academy's main building. While doing so, he experienced a headache triggered by memories of people's insults regarding his status as a Reserve Course student. He lost focus, and as a result, Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer from the main course's Class 77-B who lacked spatial awareness, accidentally bumped into him while playing a video game. Chiaki continued to walk, only stopping after Hajime recognized that the game she played was Gala Omega, as he played one as well. He was overwhelmed by Chiaki's sudden enthusiastic response and, at her insistence, promised to show her his game the next time they met.

   First meeting with Chisa First meeting with Chisa

   Around the same time, Chisa Yukizome, Chiaki's homeroom teacher, arrived to take her back to class. While Chisa briefly stepped away to catch another runaway student, the Ultimate Imposter, Hajime laughed awkwardly, remarking that the Ultimates were more ridiculous than he had expected, though he still envied them and wished he had a talent of his own. Chiaki absentmindedly countered that it didn't matter whether someone was talented or not, saying that people without talent, like Hajime, had greater freedom to become anything they wanted, unlike her, who only had video games. When Chiaki finally left with Chisa, Hajime smiled at her and held on to her words in his heart.

   Main article: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 02 Scolded by Chisa Scolded by Chisa

   Hajime was seen at the fountain again, resting on one of its surrounding benches, listlessly gazing at the sky until he was startled by Chisa's sudden appearance. She had come to visit him in hopes of learning more about the Reserve Course and his motivation for enrolling in it. He patiently answered that he did so as it had been his dream to attend the main course ever since he was young, but slowly losing his resolve while attending the Reserve Course. He then wondered why Chisa would take an interest in a "lowly" Reserve Course student like him, prompting her to reprimand him. She lectured Hajime never to call himself that again, which he meekly obeyed before Chisa returned to her class.

   Not long after, Hajime was approached by the former headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy, Kazuo Tengan, to discuss the Izuru Kamukura Project. Hajime revealed that, despite the approaching deadline, he had yet to finalize his decision. He did mention his worry that if he turn down the invitation, he would be expelled by the academy due to his parents could no longer afford his tuition fees. Kazuo advised him that he could refuse and return to his former school. As Hajime protested that he could not go back to his old life, Kazuo told him to not fear normalcy.

   Invited to the arcade by Chiaki Invited to the arcade by Chiaki

   After school, Chiaki invited Hajime to play a newly released fighting game at the arcades. He declined, stating that he was not well-versed in such games, to which Chiaki retorted that it did not matter as long as he played together with friends.

   Main article: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 03 Walking pass by Class 77-B Walking pass by Class 77-B

   Hajime was seen browsing the academy's website and later visited the Main Course building, staring longingly from outside the gate. He began to walk back when he passed by Class 77-B, agonizing over how all he had ever wanted was to have a talent, yet he was nothing more than average.

   Eating his lunch Eating his lunch

   During his break time, Hajime was seen eating his lunch at his desk and thinking about Kazuo's advice and the looming deadline. His daydreaming was disturbed by the abrasive new transfer student, Natsumi Kuzuryu, prompting him to mention that her people skills needed work. Natsumi ignored his comment and instead introduced herself as the younger sister of the Ultimate Yakuza from the Main Course, Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu, declaring herself as the Ultimate Little Sister due to their blood relation.

   Witnessing Natsumi and Sato's argument Witnessing Natsumi and Sato's argument

   The unimpressed Hajime soon learned that Natsumi claimed it would be possible for her to transfer to the Main Course if Mahiru Koizumi, the Ultimate Photographer and Fuyuhiko's classmate, were to drop out and be replaced by her. Her statement angered Sato, Mahiru's best friend who happened to be in the same class with Hajime. He attempted to defuse their verbal argument, but his efforts were in vain, and it would have turned physical had Mahiru herself not intervened to pull Sato away.

   Gaming session with Chiaki Gaming session with Chiaki

   Later on, Hajime lost to Chiaki at a video game at their usual hangout spot. Although he claimed it was only natural for the Ultimate Gamer to beat him, Chiaki refuted that he had simply lost focus. Hajime, in turn, asked whether she would still enjoy games if she had no gaming talent. Chiaki replied that she would've still loved video games all the same, emphasizing that there were things far more important than talent, such as making memories with friends. Although her conviction surprised him, Hajime took her words to heart, realizing that even without talent, there could still be hope.

   Stopping Sato and Natsumi's fight Stopping Sato and Natsumi's fight

   When he returned to the Reserve Course building, he witnessed Sato and Natsumi getting into a verbal altercation yet again. This time, Hajime managed to stop Sato from getting physical, before chasing after the fleeing Natsumi. He reminded Natsumi not to intimidate Sato if she wished to be scouted into the Main Course, as doing so would not only diminish her chances but could also lead to her expulsion if Hope's Peak were to discover her actions.

   Final conversation with Natsumi Final conversation with Natsumi

   Hajime tried to comfort her by using Chiaki's advice, that her staying by her brother side and keep making memories with him would be more important than talent itself. However, Natsumi refuted that her brother deserved the best people around her, and she believed the only way for her to be one of those people was by becoming an Ultimate like him. Those particular words affected Hajime, as he kept thinking about them the next day as he walked to school.

   Learning about Natsumi's death Learning about Natsumi's death

   Much to his surprise, he found police officers at the school building and learned from one of the Reserve Course students that a student had been murdered in the building, later revealed to have belonged to Natsumi. Hajime was struck by the news and was later seen sitting downcast by the fountain. There, he spotted Sato and Mahiru talking about Natsumi's murder.

   Confronting Sato Confronting Sato

   Once Mahiru left, Hajime approached Sato to demand the truth, mentioning how many people had witnessed their fight just the day before. Sato denied the possibility of being Natsumi's killer, stating that it was the fate of a yakuza heiress to die young, or perhaps she had committed suicide for being talentless. Hajime refuted her statement, saying that Natsumi must had gained hope from his final conversation with her, causing Sato to suddenly panic and ran away. Unbeknownst to Hajime, that would be the last time he ever saw her, as she had been murdered by Fuyuhiko as a retaliation a few days later.

   Stopped by a security guard Stopped by a security guard

   Hajime wanted to learn the truth himself behind his classmates' murders, so he headed to the main building to question Mahiru. An officer swiftly stopped him in his tracks as entry to the main building was forbidden for Reserve Course students. When he tried to force his way in instead, Juzo Sakakura, the person in charge of Hope's Peak Academy's security, slammed him to the ground.

   Attempting to punch Juzo Attempting to punch Juzo

   Juzo revealed that officially, Natsumi was murdered by an unknown intruder, and Sato's death was ruled as being caused by the "shock of losing a classmate." Hajime instantly knew it was merely a lie manufactured by the academy to save its reputation, and was provoked into punching Juzo, who had demeaned Reserve Course students as replaceable.

   Protected by Chisa Protected by Chisa

   The Former Ultimate Boxer easily dodged Hajime's attacks and delivered a powerful blow onto his stomach. He stepped on the recoiling Hajime, further dehumanizing Reserve Course students as nothing more than a money-making tool for the Main Course and inherently less valuable than the Ultimates. Out of sheer rage, Hajime stood up and managed to land a weak punch on his face. Before Juzo could retaliate, Chisa came to his side, shielding Hajime from another blow. Chisa immediately noticed that Hajime was bleeding and offered her a handkerchief, but the beyond fed up Hajime slapped it out of her hand and left.

   Hajime's final meeting with Chiaki Hajime's final meeting with Chiaki

   By sunset, Hajime came to a decision to proceed with the Izuru Kamukura Project procedure. Before heading off to meet the Steering Committee, he came to meet Chiaki at the fountain, where she had been waiting to play a new game with him. He had to turn down her request, but before leaving, he made sure to encourage her to make a lot of memories at Hope's Peak, and reminder her that she was more than just the Ultimate Gamer. As he walked away, his internal monologue revealed that whenever he saw Chiaki, he wanted to say that he too had some sort of talent.

   Izuru Kamukura Project Main article: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 05 & Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair - Chapter 6 Arriving at the Steering Committee building Arriving at the Steering Committee building

   Upon consenting to participate the Izuru Kamukura Project, Hajime's official record marked him as expelled. The academy essentially erased him from school records as he would no longer exist as Hajime Hinata by the completion of the experiment. Based on the project's periodical report, Hajime's parents consented to his participation in the project, though they signed under the belief that it was solely for the purpose of improving Hajime's mental health and physical abilities, not transforming him into a completely different person.[31] Their reaction to their son's disappearance following the project remains unknown.

   Placed inside a pod Placed inside a pod

   Prior to undergoing the experiment, Hajime recalled the time when Juzo beat him up and dehumanized his fellow Reserve Course students, as well as his final meeting with Chiaki. His last thought before being erased from existence was of Chiaki, wanting to be someone she could be proud to stand beside, and the thought of becoming the hero of his own story.

   Undergoing the experiment Undergoing the experiment

   Under the Steering Committee's supervision, extensive surgeries were performed on Hajime to give him every talent Hope's Peak Academy had researched. To ensure he would fit the role that the Steering Committee desires, Hajime's personality was removed and his memories were suppressed into the darkest recesses of his mind. Parts of his brain that controlled his senses, emotions, thoughts and hobbies were also surgically removed, all this so nothing would interfere with him acquiring talent.

   Izuru Kamukura Izuru Kamukura

   By the time the project was completed, Hajime's personality and appearance had changed dramatically; he was given the title of "Ultimate Hope" and the name Izuru Kamukura, after the school's initial founder. When his condition was fully stabilized, he was detained in a secret room for the next stage of the Steering Committee's plans. Moreover, the academy completely concealed all evidence of Izuru's origins and identity to protect such rare talent and prevent the public from discovering their human experimentation.

   The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy Main article: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 06 “ Boring people make no contributions to the world...not even a speck of dust... That's why my teachers taught me that a certain degree of selection must be performed.

   — Izuru Kamukura, Danganronpa 2: Chapter 0 ” In confinement In confinement

   On paper, the Izuru Kamukura Project was a total success; the formerly unremarkable Hajime had been imbued with every talent known to Hope's Peak Academy. However, the process had also stripped Izuru of his humanity, leaving him apathetic and in a constant state of boredom to everything and everyone. This would be exploited by the originator of the Ultimate Despair, Junko Enoshima, and her twin sister, Mukuro Ikusaba, who learned of the Kamukura Project and tracked Izuru down.

   Disarming Junko Disarming Junko

   Since Izuru's room access was restricted solely to the trustees of Hope's Peak Academy, Junko tricked the retina scanner by using an eyeball she obtained from a trustee she had kidnapped. She gleefully introduced herself before lamenting that his talent was being wasted in confinement. To prove her point that one of those talents included pushing everyone into despair had he died, she attempted to attack him with an ice pick. Izuru easily disarmed her, as well as Mukuro, the Ultimate Soldier, who was known for never receiving a single injury on the battlefield.

   Lying on the ground before him, Junko explained that, to break free from boredom, Izuru needed despair just as much as she did. He replied that he saw no logical reason for the need for despair. Junko then questioned what the logical reason behind her attack on him was. Izuru was aware of her analytical talent and knew that she knew an attack on his life wouldn't be successful. What he could not comprehend was, however, the reason behind her actions. Junko then further persuaded him by declaring that a world full of hope would be predictable and boring, and only the chaos that came from despair could make it exciting.

   When the building alarm went off, Izuru stomped Junko's head, abruptly ending her speech and knocking her out. Before Mukuro left the room with the unconscious Junko, Izuru told her that he would be waiting for Junko.

   Main article: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 07 Arriving at Hope's Peak with Junko Arriving at Hope's Peak with Junko

   For their next encounter, Junko planned to frame Izuru as the mastermind of her first-ever killing game, which would later be known as The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy The participants were the fourteen members of the Student Council, whom she had rounded up in Hope's Peak Academy's Classroom 5-C. After killing the guards assigned to him, Junko took Izuru out of his confinement and escorted him to the classroom for their "first date."

   Confronted by Asukasei Confronted by Asukasei

   In the ensuing free-for-all, Izuru initially observed from the sidelines. However, the last man standing, Asukasei Hino, eventually noticed Izuru's presence and immediately aimed a gun at him. Izuru warned him that fighting would be futile, prompting Asukasei to lower his gun momentarily before swinging the chainsaw in his right hand.

   Grazed by Asukasei's bullet Grazed by Asukasei's bullet

   Izuru dodged the attack effortlessly before incapacitating him with an open-hand strike, sending him crashing to the classroom window, before he fall neck-first on his still-running chainsaw. He then turned to leave, only to be caught off guard for the first time when the dying Asukasei fired a bullet that grazed his cheek, drawing blood. Izuru showed a hint of surprise as he examined the wound, before looking up at a security camera, aware that Junko and Mukuro were observing him from the monitoring room.

   Framed by Junko Framed by Junko

   The footage became an effective means for Junko to frame Izuru as the mastermind behind the deaths of Student Council members. She sent out e-mails about Hope's Peak conducting illegal experiments and used the security footage to give the impression that Hope's Peak had created a murderer. The events were broadcast to the Reserve Course, greatly upsetting them - in their view, the academy had apparently spent the exorbitant fees they had paid to create "murderers". They fall into Junko's manipulation and incited a mass protest against the Main Course that would be known as The Parade.

   Main article: Danganronpa Zero The aftermath of The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy is detailed in Danganronpa Zero, where Izuru did not make any appearance but was mentioned throughout the novel several times.

   It was revealed that, aside from Izuru, Sōshun Murasame, the Ultimate Student Council President, had also survived the killing game. Izuru, however, disappeared without a trace after the incident and was hidden away in a secret location. As very few people knew of his existence or whereabouts, he became the subject of ghost-like rumors within the academy.

   The Reserve Course's secret society, established during The Parade, captured, tortured, and murdered two members of the Steering Committee in an attempt to extract information about Izuru's whereabouts and harness his power to overthrow the academy. Kyoko Kirigiri, the Ultimate Detective of Class 78th, also attempted to investigate him but was forced to abandon it due to the escalating danger.

   One of the Steering Committee members revealed to Ryoko Otonashi, the amnesiac fake identity of Junko, that Izuru was hidden inside the old school building. Subsequently, Ryoko headed over there accompanied by Yuto Kamishiro, the Ultimate Spy, The two discovered a secret passage which led to an elevator and eventually a small hidden room where Izuru used to be kept in.

   After several investigation attempts, Yuto concluded that Izuru was most likely a victim and that Junko was the true culprit behind The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy, as showcased in Danganronpa 3: Despair Arc. Yasuke Matsuda, the Ultimate Neurologist responsible for altering Junko's identity as a means to cover-up her crimes, was forced to murder Yuto for knowing too much. He did so by impersonating Izuru to test the memory of the amnesiac Ryoko, only to give up almost immediately, revealing that Izuru had left the place a long time ago.

   The End of Hope's Peak Academy Main article: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 08 & 09 Izuru was hiding in an underground facility accessible through a secret entrance beneath Hope's Peak Academy's founder statue. It was now occupied by Junko as a headquarter for her to prepare her grand plan: The Biggest, Most Awful, Most Tragic Event in Human History or simply known as The Tragedy. One of those plans include kidnapping Class 77-B's Ultimate Animator, Ryota Mitarai and Mikan Tsumiki, the Ultimate Nurse, causing her classmates to search for them. Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student, accompanied by Chiaki, managed to discover the underground facility and reached the room where Ryota was forced by Junko to work on his brainwashing animation. Nagito, in particular, came with the intention to kill Junko with a gun he secretly carried, after learning about her alignment with despair.

   Jamming Nagito's gun Jamming Nagito's gun

   Izuru stumbled upon the confrontation and instantly positioned himself between Junko and the barrel of the gun. Izuru jammed it before Nagito got the chance to fire, stating that he too possessed the "Ultimate Luck". He proceed to seize the gun from the dazed Nagito and shot him in the chest. It only knocked Nagito out, as his student handbook absorbed the bullet, prompting Izuru to comment on the strength of Nagito's luck.

   A "reunion" with Chiaki A "reunion" with Chiaki

   He then turned his attention to Chiaki, whom upon closer look, immediately recognized him by his previous identity, Hajime. In contrast, Izuru, whose memories of his past life had been deeply suppressed, no longer remembered who Chiaki was, leaving her devastated. Junko then intervened their "reunion", flattering Chiaki into watching the Despair Video, but Chisa intervened by throwing a fire extinguisher upon storming into the room. When she spotted Izuru, Chisa became frightened and ordered Chiaki to escape with Nagito.

   Mukuro swiftly subdued Chisa and subjected her to the Despair Video. Izuru witnessed Mukuro's attempt to weaken Chisa's resistance to the video by lobotomizing her, which he was not impressed by and found boring.

   Main article: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 10 Izuru's final meeting with Chiaki Izuru's final meeting with Chiaki

   Izuru reappeared only after Chiaki was on the verge of death after surviving her execution at the hands of Junko, who exploited the event by broadcasting it and brainwashing her classmates into despair. The dying Chiaki noticed his presence, calling out to him as Hajime, to which Izuru once again did not show signs of remembering his past identity. Using the last remaining energy she had left, Chiaki tried to get up, only to slip and fall in her own blood, all the while Izuru observed in a jaded manner. She then lamented over her dying state and apologizing for her failure at helping Hajime. He couldn't comprehend her, perceiving the act of wanting to save somebody else even as one was dying as illogical.

   Tears for Chiaki Tears for Chiaki

   Chiaki reached out to Izuru, weakly stating that she was not ready to die, as there were still many things she wanted to do; how she wanted to stay with her class and play video games with Hajime one more time, before finally succumbing to her injuries. Izuru then picked up Chiaki's dislodged hair clip, staring at it in silence before surprising himself as tears began to fall down his cheeks.

   Main article: Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 11 Keeping Chiaki's hair clip Keeping Chiaki's hair clip

   Izuru decided to keep Chiaki's hair clip with him, as seen when he met Junko at an empty classroom in the Reserve Course building. He commented on how happy Junko was, knowing her plan was coming into fruition; especially that day, as she described, would be the day Hope's Peak Academy fall and despair would take over the world. He remained by Junko and Mukuro's side, observing the chaos incited by the brainwashed Reserve Students, whom were viciously killing other students and teachers, and destroyed various parts of the building.

   As the chaos escalated, Izuru inquired whether Junko had erased his existence from the memories of Class 77-B, to which she confirmed, remarking that it was a peculiar request. Izuru then stated his intention to erase his own memories as well. He explained that if "her" wishes were to overcome Junko's schemes and "they" were to be saved, it would suggest that hope might be even more difficult to predict than despair. Izuru expressed his desire to witness which of the two would ultimately surprise him, indicating that he had came up with the plan to initiate the Killing School Trip by this point.

   Observing Hope's Peak destruction Observing Hope's Peak destruction

   The irritated Junko insisted that despair remained the more unpredictable force, but Izuru said nothing in response and began to head out, further aggravating her. When Junko demanded a proper goodbye from him, Izuru simply that they would meet again.

   The Tragedy Observing The Tragedy Observing The Tragedy

   Following the destruction of Hope's Peak Academy, Izuru became a passive observant of The Tragedy that began to spread globally, while Junko and Mukuro instigated the Killing School Life. Despite his affiliation with the Despair Sisters, he never worked directly with Junko's minions, Chiaki's brainwashed classmates. In fact, due to their memories of each other being erased, they were unaware of each other's identities. This group of people were responsible to keep The Tragedy ongoing even after Junko's plan failed and therefore executed, and would be known as the Remnants of Despair for not following her via suicide.

   Main article: Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls: Chapter 5 & Epilogue Izuru had his own agenda, which was to kickstart a killing game of his own. His sole goal was to witness the battle between hope and despair and choose which side to take once and for all. To fulfill this, he required the external memory drive containing Junko's artificial intelligence program, Alter Ego Junko,[32] which at the time was stored inside sentient stuff bears Kurokuma and Shirokuma.

   He then traveled to Towa City, where Kurokuma and Shirokuma were pitting adults and children against each other to spread war and despair through Demon Hunting. When Izuru entered the city, the Monokuma Kids spotted him and relayed this information to Nagito, a Remnant who were serving the Warriors of Hope at the time, who then flagged him as "a lone intruder."

   “ Oh... You're so forceful... What, what? Am I being too noisy for ya? I see... I didn't know you still felt such emotions... Or perhaps... you're forcing yourself to feel something in a situation like this? Well, not that it matters. Anyway, I leave the rest to you. Puhuhuhu... I hope you can at least have a little fun. I hope the future's going to be one you can't predict.

   — Alter Ego Junko's reaction to Izuru ripping her external memory drive from Shirokuma and Kurokuma ” In the aftermath of the Demon Hunting, Izuru was seen wheelbarrowing the decapitated heads of Shirokuma and Kurokuma through the now-ravaged Towa City. He abruptly ended Alter Ego Junko's speech by punching both heads and salvaging her external memory drive.

   Salvaging Alter Ego Junko's external memory drive (1) Salvaging Alter Ego Junko's external memory drive (1) Salvaging Alter Ego Junko's external memory drive (2) Salvaging Alter Ego Junko's external memory drive (2) Salvaging Alter Ego Junko's external memory drive (3) Salvaging Alter Ego Junko's external memory drive (3) Heading to the School Trip The Remnants of Despair The Remnants of Despair

   With the virus in his hand, Izuru, alongside the Remnants of Despair, allowed themselves to be captured by the Future Foundation, an anti-Ultimate Despair organization comprised of Hope's Peak alumni. Izuru, in particular, was taken into custody by Makoto Naegi of the 14th Division, who could tell that he and the others were not merely survivors from Hope's Peak but also the Remnants. As such, Makoto went against the orders of his superiors by protecting Izuru and the Remnants instead of exterminating them.[33]

   Neo World Program Neo World Program

   Makoto had them enter Psychotherapeutic Communication Simulator, aka the Neo World Program, where their memories were reset to before their enrollment at Hope's Peak Academy and eventual brainwashing by Junko. In Izuru's case, he would revert to his original identity as Hajime and would no longer possess Hajime's school memories or any of Izuru's memory, personality, and Ultimate Hope talent.[29]

   “ I never thought not knowing what to expect could be so fun, so I was feeling rather excited. But I figured I'd get bored of that feeling soon enough... That's what I was expecting. For me...a person who is loved by talent... Detecting regularities among irregularities won't be that difficult. ...Ah, how boring.

   — Izuru Kamukura, Danganronpa 2: Chapter 0 ” Conversing with Nagito Conversing with Nagito

   While on his way to Jabberwock Island by boat, where the research facility for the Neo World Program was located, Izuru found himself in a room with Nagito, and the two did not recognize each other. Izuru subtly hinted to Nagito, who was unaware of his agenda, about his goal of using Junko's contribution, her Alter Ego, just as she used him in the past. He knew, however, that he would only be able to participate in what lay ahead as Hajime Hinata.[34]

   Izuru managed to physically upload Alter Ego Junko into the Neo World Program without Makoto and the rest of the Future Foundation realizing it. While Nagito's conversation with Izuru strongly suggested that none of the Remnants were aware of the AI's existence prior to this,[35] Alter Ego Junko later claimed that the Remnants, much like Izuru, had intentionally allowed themselves to be captured to become her instigators and her grand plan to resurrect herself.[36] Thus, she became the virus that usurped the Observer Usami's role as teacher. Gaining full control of the program gave her the authority to convert the Neo World Program to the Killing School Trip, thereby subjecting Izuru and the others to a killing game while simultaneously using them as bait to lure Makoto and other Future Foundation members.[29]

   By uploading Alter Ego Junko and enabling her malevolent intent, Izuru effectively became the mastermind of the Killing School Trip. While the virus aimed to resurrect herself by taking control of the would-be-dead avatars of the Remnants and eternally trapping Makoto and Future Foundation members alike in the simulation, Izuru's goal was simply to test which was more unpredictable — Junko's despair or Chiaki's hope.[37]

   Killing School Trip Main article: Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Arriving at "Hope's Peak" Arriving at "Hope's Peak"

   Once inside the Neo World Program, the simulation dug up Izuru's past memories and rebuilt his old personality using data from his past, thus reverting him to Hajime as his avatar.[29] Unlike the Remnants who still retained the memories of their Ultimate talents, he lost all of his memory before enrolling in the Reserve Course, causing him to think that he was supposed to be in the main course and have an Ultimate of his own. According to Monokuma, the initial physical manifestation of Alter Ego Junko in the virtual reality, it was either due to the Future Foundation's attempt to conceal his background or a result of his own willful suppression of those memories.[38]

   Hajime immediately felt overwhelmed from failing to rationalize his situation, being trapped in a classroom with his supposed "classmates." It worsened when Usami appeared and teleported them to Jabberwock Island, completely bypassing the normal process of attending Hope's Peak Academy. Unable to cope with the situation, he eventually collapsed on the beach of the first island, where everyone else was.

   He woke up to find Nagito looking over him, asking if he was okay. Hajime wanted to be left alone, but Nagito refused and, instead, let him calm down by observing his surroundings and taking it all in. Although many things still confused him, Hajime was ready to be introduced to Nagito, and vice versa. He learned that he couldn't even remember his own Ultimate talent, which Nagito did not mind, reassuring him that his memory would soon return to him after he settled in. He was also informed that he was given an e-Handbook by Usami and tasked with gathering Hope Fragments. On Nagito's advice, Hajime then began to explore the accessible first and central islands while introducing himself to the others. He accepted Nagito's offer to accompany him, as he would worry if he had to do these on his own.

   During his exploration, Hajime was overly skeptical and questioned every odd detail he noticed. While he appreciated Nagito's company, he also grew uneasy with his calm, laid-back demeanor, which felt far too relaxed for his taste. He also found it unsettling that none of his colorful and eccentric classmates displayed the same level of skepticism as he did. The panicking Hajime even proposed to cut down a tree to make a raft, prompting Usami to remind him that littering was against the rules, and Imposter and Nagito tried to calm him down. He also refused to go swimming with his classmates when Usami presented swimsuits as a reward for gathering their first Hope Fragments. However, seeing the joy on his classmates' faces made him begin to doubt himself and feel alienated; he eventually changed his mind, thinking he was foolish for being the only one who worried.

   Grazed by a Monobeast's bullet Grazed by a Monobeast's bullet

   As soon as he stepped close to the water, the sky turned dark, and Monokuma suddenly emerged and ordered him and the others into Jabberwock Park. Arriving at the scene, Hajime and the others witnessed how Monokuma overpowered Usami with ease, breaking her magic stick and forcefully renaming her Monomi. This allowed Alter Ego Junko to usurp her status as an Observer and turn the simulation into the Killing School Trip. Hajime could only stand aghast as the headmaster transformed the Jabberwock Statues into Monobeasts, using them to tear Monomi apart as an example of what happened to those who dared to defy him, with one stray bullet grazing his right cheek.

   “ Once you're suspicious of something, you'll start to be suspicious of everything... Even of yourself. That's why it felt so hopeless.

   — Hajime Hinata, Danganronpa 2: Prologue ” The Killing School Trip begins The Killing School Trip begins

   Believing he had thoroughly explained his killing game and demonstrated his undefeatable prowess, Monokuma left Jabberwock Park, leaving the exhausted and horrified Hajime and the others in his wake. Although they had to face Monokuma and whoever was controlling him, the Ultimate Imposter reminded them to remain cautious of one another, including Hajime, who realized they had to accept the possibility that anyone could be capable of murder.

   The Party Following the commencement of the Killing School Trip, the students dispersed. Hajime himself went to lament his new reality by the pool after reading the new killing game rules added by Monokuma accessible in his e-Handbook. He decided to retreat to his cottage after Monokuma announced nighttime, where he would reflect that he had no one to trust, not even himself. He began to scream and curse, asking why it had to be him going through this predicament, before finally falling asleep. His bad mood persisted into the next morning, but he decided to step outside, where he was greeted by a paranoid Kazuichi Soda, the Ultimate Mechanic, who informed him that Monobeasts were now stationed to guard the bridges to the other islands. Shortly after, Peko Pekoyama, the Ultimate Swordswoman, arrived to fetch them for the morning gathering in the restaurant.

   The gathering turned out to be hosted by the Ultimate Imposter with the intention of declaring themselves as the group's leader. Despite their forcefulness, Hajime didn't object to their decision and found their vow not to let anyone fall victim to the killing game surprisingly genuine, as he thought someone of their caliber would have acted more condescendingly. He and the others then followed the Imposter to investigate a countdown that had mysteriously appeared in Jabberwock Park. Though its origin and purpose were unclear, the group didn't lose heart and even found a sense of unity under the Imposter's leadership. Hajime reflected that, although their tense situation should have made everyone more cautious, he was oddly relieved by the group's high spirits and even began to feel he could rely on them. However, he didn't feel confident to call himself an Ultimate like the others due to his alleged memory loss. He also couldn't bring himself to immediately trust the others, but thinking it would be nice to gradually change that, and refusing to hole up in his room, Hajime chose to spend his Free Time getting to know his classmates better. He could also trigger bonus scenes by giving Kazuichi and Mahiru the items they wanted on separate occasions, which allowed him to be invited by Kazuichi and co. to enjoy coconuts at the beach, and to be a special guest at the girls-only gathering hosted by Mahiru.

   Danganronpa 2 Goodbye Despair - Coconut Party Chapter 1 Event

   Danganronpa 2 Goodbye Despair - Preparing for Girls-Only Gathering Chapter 1 Event During the nighttime, Hajime was in the audience when Monokuma revealed two things: A traitor was hiding among them, and that Monomi had erased the group's school memories and promised to return them only to those who kick-started the killing game. Though the Imposter encouraged everyone to abandon the motive and cool off for the night, the possibility of the traitor being someone different from the group, like him, who did not remember his own talent, lingered as he returned to his cottage.

   The next morning, Hajime and the others were ordered by the Ultimate Imposter to attend a party that night, one that would last until sunrise. The venue chosen was the old building next to the hotel, which was still undergoing renovation and needed to be cleaned beforehand. The unlucky person assigned to do that task turned out to be Nagito, who had drawn the short straw he brought himself. Hajime couldn't help but laugh at the irony, teasing him for his supposed "Ultimate Lucky Student" title.

   Attending the party Attending the party

   Hajime attended the party on time after Monokuma's nighttime announcement. To his surprise, the Ultimate Imposter exercised extra caution by performing body checks on him and the others, as well as carrying duralumin cases to store confiscated dangerous items and for emergency purposes. They later dragged him along to assist in confiscating utensils from the kitchen, such as knives, forks, and iron skewers, which Teruteru noted had already been missing one even before he used the kitchen. Due to their extra-vigilant nature, Hajime suspected that something had prompted them to throw the party in the first place. This led the Imposter to reveal a glimpse of their true self beyond their Byakuya Togami impersonation, though they cut it short and promised to divulge more another time.

   The blackout The blackout

   When the party began, Hajime observed his friends enjoying themselves, a sight that would once have frustrated him, yet now it brought a measure of reassurance. Simultaneously, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, which was soon validated when a sudden blackout plunged the dining hall into darkness and chaos. After the lights returned, the Imposter had gone missing, prompting him and the others to search for him, but to no avail. It wasn't until Akane Owari, the Ultimate Gymnast, caught the scent of blood from beneath the dining table at the far back that the group discovered the Imposter, lying in a pool of their own blood.

   The body discovery of the Ultimate Imposter signaled the commencement of the killing game's first investigation, with Monokuma appearing to explain the proceedings. Though he disliked the thought of having to doubt each other, Hajime ultimately decided to do it for the sake of everyone's survival. Once he finished examining the crime scene, Nagito joined his investigation effort, exploring the rest of the old building while questioning the others. Nagito also suggested that Hajime investigate the Imposter's cottage, where they found an ominous threatening letter addressed to their late leader.

   Revealing Teruteru as the culprit Revealing Teruteru as the culprit

   Hajime's active participation in the class trial helped the group to see the light. Yet, nothing prepared him to learn that Nagito was the one who had sent the threatening letter to the Imposter, relied on his luck to rig the cleaning duty drawing, and staged the blackout, all to initiate the killing. He struggled the most with coping after Nagito's true nature was revealed, refusing to accept that someone who had once been so kind to him could turn out this way. Despite Nagito's confession, he was not the killer everyone was searching for, and was later revealed to be none other than the party's chef, Teruteru Hanamura, the Ultimate Cook. Hajime concluded that Teruteru accessed the floorboard through the secret passage in the storage room, and killed the Imposter from that spot with the iron skewer he hid inside a meat.

   Witnessing Teruteru's execution Witnessing Teruteru's execution

   After the trial, Hajime learned that Teruteru had caught Nagito red-handed while he was planting the knife during the party preparations. He further realized Nagito was deliberately luring Teruteru into killing him, only for Teruteru to end up killing the Imposter who had intervened in Nagito's plot. He was already in disbelief at the story, but even more so at Nagito's twisted motivations and beliefs, wanting not only to kill, but also to offer himself up to be killed in the future, all for the sake of watching his classmates' hope overcome the despair such acts would create. This eventually caused Hajime to drastically change his outlook on Nagito, deeming him someone no one should entertain. His statement hurt Nagito, especially since the Ultimate Lucky Student felt that they were alike in their admiration for Hope's Peak and in the way they both had hidden true natures, like how Hajime didn't even remember his own talent. This prompted Hajime to allow Akane, whom he had previously told to ignore Nagito's provocations, to punch him, something that would have happened had Sonia not intervened.

   Sensing someone was watching over him Sensing someone was watching over him

   With the class trial concluded in Teruteru's execution, Hajime and the others vowed to cooperate and do their best to escape the island before returning to their respective cottages. Hajime, however, felt restless and opted to walk around the hotel grounds. While gazing at the sky full of stars, he mentioned how his body stiffened as he felt someone watching over him.

   Twilight Syndrome Murder Case Arriving at the second island Arriving at the second island

   The next morning, Hajime, who still felt sluggish due to the class trial, headed over to the restaurant. He noticed that Nagito was missing, while Monomi informed him and the others that she had defeated a Monobeast guarding the second island, allowing the students to explore it. Before venturing onto the second island, if Hajime carried a specific item and spoke with Mahiru beforehand, it would trigger a bonus scene in which he would peek at Mahiru and Hiyoko taking a shower together.

   Inspecting the ancient ruin's door Inspecting the ancient ruin's door

   Hajime went around the second island, investigating facilities such as the diner, Chandler Beach and its beach house, the drugstore, and the library. Chiaki then summoned him to inspect the ancient ruins with the others, where they discovered it to be a gigantic building eerily similar to Hope's Peak Academy. It was sealed by a dusty door with the logo "mirai" on it, locked behind a password panel, and guarded by a gun that seemed poised to fire if the incorrect password was entered. While the group speculated about the true nature of the ancient ruins, Monokuma took this opportunity to slander the Future Foundation. He introduced the organization as the "World Ender," claiming they were responsible for placing the students in the killing game and that a traitor among them was working on their behalf. Instead of spiraling further into confusion, Hajime and the others decided to call it a day.

   The following evening, Monokuma gathered the students at the Jabberwock Park to present the second motive, the Twilight Syndrome Murder Case. While still deliberating over whether to play or not, he ran to Fuyuhiko the next morning, carrying an envelope, which was only revealed much later to be the winning prize for the first person to finish the game. As if dealing with the Ultimate Yakuza's temper first thing in the morning wasn't enough, Hajime was also stuck carrying a breakfast tray for Nagito, who had been tied up in the old building's dining hall by Nekomaru Nidai, the Ultimate Tema Manager, and Kazuichi, while Mahiru, fed up with his behavior, insisted that Hajime deliver the meal in her place.

   Surprised by Nagito's knowledge of the second motive Surprised by Nagito's knowledge of the second motive

   Hajime mentally prepared himself to face Nagito, who he noticed seemed the same as usual, though his words "carried a certain heaviness." He firmly told Nagito that he had no intention of talking to him beyond dropping off his food, especially not personally feeding him, even when he clearly knew Nagito had his hands tied. However, before Hajime left, Nagito revealed that he had learned about the second motive and tried to convince Hajime to play it rather than running away. Though he refused to fall into the temptation at first, he gave in later that night, convincing himself it was better not to leave it alone. While playing the game, Hajime only completed the Investigation Edition, which covered the 2nd and 4th Days, leaving him puzzled upon finishing it. Having lost his memory, he was also unaware that the story followed the real events that had befallen his classmates during his school years: Sato and Natsumi, depicted as Girl E and the girl victim she had murdered in the story, respectively.

   He was discouraged from bringing up the game at a relatively peaceful breakfast the next day. Instead, he received a strange request from Kazuichi to meet him at the supermarket at 2.30 p.m. secretly. His request turned out to be barging into Sonia's girls-only beach party uninvited, and Hajime had no choice but to comply with the ever-forceful Kazuichi. The two then staked out at the diner at 3:00 PM, one hour earlier than the estimated meeting time. After 30 minutes, they spotted the tense Fuyuhiko loitering in the area. Before Hajime could question him, he slipped away, taking advantage of Ibuki and Mikan arriving early to get food from the diner. The four decided to wait for the rest of the girls and briefly spotted Hiyoko, who had declined the invitation to the party, running from the beach, seemingly in tears. The girls then arrived one by one in their bikinis: first Chiaki, whose look Hajime complimented; then Akane, Peko, and finally, the host, Sonia. Kazuichi became overly excited when Sonia allowed him and Hajime to participate, leaving Hajime alone with the girls to set up the party. Feeling awkward, he chased after Kazuichi to the beach house. However, as he approached the scene, Hajime was startled by the sudden Body Discovery Announcement and Kazuichi's scream from inside, only to be horrified by the sight of Mahiru's lifeless body.

   Giving Akane a boost Giving Akane a boost

   The cycle of being forced to partake in investigations and class trials began anew for Hajime and the others, who were shocked by the body discovery. Yet, Hajime had no choice but to find out why Mahiru was killed. He examined her body more closely, the cramped closet where he found a gummy on the floor, and the out-of-order shower room. There, he gave Akane a piggyback ride to inspect the high iron-barred window, discovering that a person could easily fit through it, making it a possible escape route for the culprit. Chiaki then accompanied him to access the Truth Edition of the Twilight Syndrome Murder Case to understand the possible motive for Mahiru's murder.

   When the two arrived at Jabberwock Park, they were met by Nagito, whom Monomi had released so he could participate in the investigation. This angered Hajime, who drove both of them away from the scene as he turned his attention to clear the game after Chiaki helped him figure out the hidden command to access the Truth Edition. Clearing it gave Hajime the knowledge that Mahiru, Mikan, Hiyoko, Ibuki, and Fuyuhiko had appeared in it as characters. He then questioned them at the airport, where Nagito had manipulated them into gathering, except for Fuyuhiko, easing Hajime and Chiaki's investigation. Hajime wrapped up his investigation by returning to the beach house, hearing Nagito explain that the footprints at the scene belonged to Hiyoko, learning from Sonia about the mask found next to Mahiru's body, and mentally noting Mikan's autopsy report.

   Revealing Peko as the culprit Revealing Peko as the culprit

   During the class trial, Hajime and the others first unraveled the truth behind the Twilight Syndrome Murder Case to understand how it functioned as a motive and how it correlated to Mahiru's murder. Afterward, he helped Hiyoko to prove that she was framed by the real culprit. Hajime eventually singled out Peko, who had killed Mahiru in an attempt to let her young master, Fuyuhiko, escape the island by taking the fall herself. She claimed she acted only as his "tool," but this was refuted when Fuyuhiko revealed he never saw her that way and that she had killed without his consent. Hajime survived the second trial after Peko was executed, during which Fuyuhiko was injured while trying to interfere, leading Monokuma to take him away for treatment.

   Despair Disease The following morning, Hajime arrived at the restaurant earlier than usual and spotted an ominous-looking shrine dedicated to Mahiru. He deduced it had been erected by Hiyoko, who was also there early. Hajime attempted to spare Hiyoko’s feelings when several of his classmates, unsettled by the display, threatened to destroy it. Although he failed, Chiaki's timely intervention convinced the group to change their minds, and they ultimately agreed to preserve the memorial until they escaped the island.

   Arriving at the third island Arriving at the third island

   Afterward, Hajime explored the third island, which became accessible after Monomi defeated another Monobeast. He investigated new facilities, including the hospital, the movie theater, and Electric Avenue. There, using a laptop, he accessed the corrupted Usami X File, learning some details about the origin of The Tragedy and the Reserve Course's riot, a past he had no memory of surviving as Izuru Kamukura. He also opted out of Monokuma's offer to watch his movie at the theater and visited Fuyuhiko, who was treated at one of the hospital's rooms.

   If Hajime carried R/C 4WD Battler Taro and spoke to Kazuichi afterward, it would trigger a bonus scene where Kazuichi dragged him along to peek at Nekomaru giving Akane his special massage in her cottage. Other bonus scenes Hajime could trigger occur the following day. If he carried the Summer Festival Tree, spoke to Ibuki, and handed Hiyoko the Toy Camera before breakfast, he would be invited to help out and enjoy the fireworks at the beach in the evening and the Memorial Jam Session organized by Hiyoko, Ibuki, and Chiaki in honor of Mahiru's wish to photograph their performance.

   Danganronpa 2 Goodbye Despair - Akane and Nekomaru's Massage Chapter 3 Event

   Danganronpa 2 Goodbye Despair - Jam Session Chapter 3 Event

   Danganronpa 2 Goodbye Despair - Fireworks with Yukata Chapter 3 Event The morning after, Hajime was startled awake by Ibuki, who broke the lock on his cottage to summon him to the restaurant. There, he was surprised to see Fuyuhiko, who had come to properly greet everyone for the first time. However, the mood quickly turned tense when Fuyuhiko attempted harakiri to show his resolve in seeking forgiveness for causing Mahiru and Peko's deaths, leaving Hajime deeply concerned for him and for Hiyoko, whose hostility toward Fuyuhiko he understood had driven him to such an extreme act.

   Later that evening, Ibuki barged into his cottage once again, this time to invite him to Fuyuhiko's recovery party, which she was hosting in thirty minutes at the music venue with the mid-recovery Fuyuhiko present. He was glad to see Hiyoko was also in attendance and stated she was willing to cooperate with Fuyuhiko until they escaped the island. Unfortunately, the party did not last long as Monomi warned the group that Akane was dueling Monokuma on the first island's beach. Everyone rushed there, only for Nekomaru to shield Akane from being killed by Monokuma's bazooka as her punishment. He was gravely injured and subsequently taken away for treatment.

   Hajime lost sleep over the previous night's events and intended to share his anxiety with anyone he might see at the restaurant. He was instead greeted by Nagito, Ibuki, and Akane, all of whom had contracted the Despair Disease, an endemic that caused high fevers and extreme personality changes. The disease would continue to spread until a murder occurred, effectively serving as the third motive presented by Monokuma. Hajime and the others helped escort the sick, particularly Nagito, who had collapsed from the fever, to the hospital. Hiyoko assigned him, having already touched the sick while checking their temperatures, to assist Mikan in quarantining and caring for the infected to prevent further spread of the disease, while the healthy remained stationed at a nearby motel for emergency purposes.

   Jolted awake by Mikan's unexpected proximity Jolted awake by Mikan's unexpected proximity

   Fuyuhiko volunteered to join Hajime as a safeguard, and the two took turns resting throughout the day. Hajime fell asleep properly for the first time in a while in the on-call room on the hospital's second floor and was startled awake by Mikan, who had secretly joined him and was sleeping on top of him. Fuyuhiko reprimanded them both before reporting that Nagito was struggling to breathe, prompting them to check on him. Though his breathing had stabilized, his condition remained unpredictable. Leaving Nagito's care to Mikan, Hajime, and Fuyuhiko, then inspected the household surveillance camera and monitor that Kazuichi had modified into a video chat device linking the hospital and the motel groups. When they decided to retire for the night, Monokuma appeared and reminded them that more than one person staying with a patient requiring assistance is strictly forbidden. This forced them to station Mikan in the hospital while they returned to rest at their respective cottages.

   Hajime immediately left for the hospital in the morning to check on Nagito's condition at Fuyuhiko's suggestion, and simultaneously admitted that, despite everything, he felt worried for him. Upon learning that Nagito's condition had worsened since yesterday, he felt powerless to do anything except remind the devoted Mikan not to overexert herself. They relayed this information to the motel team via transmission before spending the entire day waiting at the hospital. Hajime returned to his cottage later that night with Nagito's condition still dire, Mikan exhausting herself to care for him, and no new leads for a cure in sight. He eventually drifted into a restless sleep, carrying over his worry that transformed into a memory of his past.

   Hajime's dream Hajime's dream

   In his dream, Hajime found himself sitting in a classroom by the window, overhearing classmates gossiping about his acceptance into Hope's Peak Academy. They had discovered that he was admitted through special means, later revealed to be the Reserve Course Department, despite being a regular person without any special talent, and further expressed pity for his parents for having to pay the enrollment fee. Throughout their conversation, Hajime tried to ignore them and wished to be left alone, repeatedly thinking that he only wanted to belong somewhere he could feel confident, implied to be the Main Course rather than the Reserve Course. Due to his memory loss, however, he was unable to recall the full details of the exchange.

   Jolted awake by Mikan for the second time Jolted awake by Mikan for the second time

   Hajime awoke the next day to find Mikan once again sleeping on top of him. This time, her body was hot, indicating that she had contracted Despair Fever, but he barely noticed, as he was almost suffocated and turning cyanotic from her weight by accident. She reported that Nagito's condition had stabilized, prompting her to wake him before the morning announcement and ask Hajime to check on Nagito's condition. She claimed that she only approached Hajime because Fuyuhiko's cottage was locked, while Hajime's remained accessible due to Ibuki having broken the lock a few days earlier.

   At the hospital, Hajime told Mikan to rest, which she agreed to, stating that she would use the on-call room and suggesting that Hajime relax in the lobby after visiting Nagito. When alone with Nagito, whose Liar Disease persisted, Hajime was immediately asked to leave, a request he complied with, noting that he would have to wait for the morning transmission from the motel group anyway.

   Watching the ominous transmission Watching the ominous transmission

   Hajime, however, received he transmission earlier than the supposed transmission time after the morning announcement. To his horror, he saw someone in a hospital gown with their head covered with a hemp bag, attempting to climb what appeared to be a gallows during the live broadcast. The transmission abruptly ended just before the person could climb the noose, prompting a panicked Hajime to run to the music venue, which he believed to be the source of the broadcast.

   Discovering Ibuki's body Discovering Ibuki's body

   Hajime's attempt to save the person came too late, as he found them already hanging and deceased on the stage of the music venue. He then went to fetch help from the motel, with only Chiaki available to accompany him. They were later joined by Fuyuhiko and Mikan, who had been scrambling in search of the missing Ibuki from the hospital. Hajime directed them back to the music venue, but the door appeared to be locked, despite having been unlocked just ten minutes earlier. The four of them had to force the door open, only to be confronted by a second body, Hiyoko, taped to one of the stage's pillars.

   Hajime and the others, including Nagito and Akane, who were instantly cured by Monokuma, commenced the third investigation after lowering Ibuki's body. Hajime thoroughly inspected the music venue but was initially misled into believing that Ibuki had died before Hiyoko. He was also confused when the others referred to the incident as an imitation murder, only realizing what they meant after accepting Nagito's invitation to the movie theater to watch The Wizard of Monomi 2.5D, where the cause of death and order of Ibuki and Hiyoko's bodies closely resembled those of the characters depicted in the film. He also investigated the hospital's conference room and Hiyoko's motel room before heading to the trial ground with the others.

   Hajime's patience was tested immediately at the start of the class trial, when Nagito accused him of lying about his testimony. The accusation was quickly disproven by the very movie ticket Nagito had advised him to keep, which showed a date and time stamp confirming that Hajime had only watched the film after the murder occurred. This evidence verified the credibility of his testimony, which was considered foundational to understanding the circumstances of the murder.

   Revealing Mikan as the culprit Revealing Mikan as the culprit

   Subsequent discussions revealed that Hiyoko had actually been murdered before Ibuki, and that the filming location was the hospital's conference room. It was also uncovered that the person Hajime had seen in the video transmission was Mikan, the true culprit. She had lured Hajime to the hospital to establish an alibi and to trigger a chain of events that would expose Hiyoko's body after Hajime discovered Ibuki's, who had been long dead, thereby creating confusion about the order of the murders. Hajime initially struggled to accuse Mikan, as her crybaby act had won the sympathy of most of the group. However, with Nagito supporting him by proving how Mikan had falsified the autopsy, and Chiaki reminding everyone that belief without a doubt was simply a lie, Hajime and the others were able to overcome these obstacles and vote Mikan as the correct Blackened.

   It was only after the class trial that Hajime realized the Ultimate Nurse had contracted the Despair Disease, recalling how he had noticed her skin was unusually hot that morning. He was baffled to learn that Mikan's condition was the Remembering Disease, which allowed her to recover her stolen school memories, although at the time she did not mention that this mainly included her memories of her tenure as an Ultimate Despair and her love for Junko Enoshima.

   Meeting Mechamaru Meeting Mechamaru

   After Mikan was executed, Hajime and the remaining survivors were still in shock from these revelations, yet they were relieved to hear from Monokuma that Nekomaru had returned and was waiting at the first island's beach. They rushed there, only to be stunned to find that Nekomaru's appearance had been drastically altered into that of a robot.

   The Funhouse Riding the roller coaster Riding the roller coaster

   Hajime was still adjusting to Nekomaru's new appearance during their next morning meeting, when Nagito suddenly nominated him as the possible traitor working for the Future Foundation. As a result, Kazuichi began to suspect Hajime, who protested against the accusation. Before the tension could escalate further, Monomi appeared and announced that she had defeated the Monobeast guarding the fourth island. Monokuma soon followed, attempting to persuade the reluctant students to explore the new island by enticing them with several incentives. One of them was their school profiles, which baited Hajime to partake in the exploration in hope of learning about his Ultimate talent. He joined the others in riding the roller coaster to receive a prize from Monokuma, which turned out to be a file detailing the events of the Killing School Life that only further their confusion surrounding their circumstances.

   Gassed into unconsciousness Gassed into unconsciousness

   Hajime, unsatisfied with the file, encouraged the group to take Monokuma’s bait and enter the Funhouse to obtain his school profile and discover his true talent, fully aware it was a risky idea. It was beyond his imagination, however, that he and the others would be gassed into unconsciousness while boarding the train to the Funhouse. They found themselves inside the Funhouse's Strawberry House upon gaining consciousness, forcefully subjected to an escape game in which no one would be allowed to leave the Funhouse except through murder.

   Instead of wallowing in their new circumstances, the group decided to explore the building using a map provided to them in search of an exit. As the others began pairing up, Hajime was outcasted especially after Kazuichi who was still under the impression that he was the traitor, accused him of luring the group into the Funhouse. He was then left to explore with the other leftover, Nekomaru. While the two were inspecting the Strawberry Tower, Nekomaru suspected that the door bearing the grape image might be an exit and attempted to force it open. The doorknob began to creak but still would not budge, prompting Hajime to step in and stop him.

   Using the contact elevator Using the contact elevator

   Later, Hajime and the others traveled to the second building, the Grape House, using the contact elevator at Monokuma's behest. There, the animatronic bear revealed that he would no longer provide food or drinks, using their hunger as a time limit until a murder occurred. Though rattled at first, Hajime and Nekomaru agreed to pair up once more to investigate the Grape Tower, which appeared nearly identical to the Strawberry Tower. They were later joined by Chiaki, who had separated from Nagito and Kazuichi, and were soon followed by the others who shared their findings and confirmed Chiaki's then-sound theory that the two towers were the same building.

   As nighttime fell and the group arranged their rooms, Hajime was left without one in the Strawberry House with the other boys. He was, however, invited by the girls to stay in one of the vacant rooms of the Grape House. Hajime opted for one of the Crummy Rooms and retired for the night.

   Attending Monokuma Tai Chi Attending Monokuma Tai Chi

   On the third day of their confinement, Hajime and his classmates were forced to begin attending Monokuma Tai Chi sessions in the morning, intended to exhaust and starve the already low-energy students. He then got into a verbal altercation with Kazuichi after stating that he would rather starve to death than kill any of his friends. Kazuichi twisted his words into an accusation, claiming that he was trying to weaken everyone before secretly killing them while receiving food from the Future Foundation. The argument was eventually stopped by Chiaki.

   No matter how much he tried to endure it, Hajime's hunger eventually overwhelmed him later that day, driving him to desperation in his search for an exit. Using the very few energy he had left, he resolved to play the Life-Threatening Game by entering the Final Dead Room. Just before he could enter, however, Chiaki, who had secretly followed him after noticing his worrying expression, stopped him in the nick of time, reminding him that the only thing awaiting inside were weapons, not an exit. Her persuasion convinced Hajime to silently back down and returned to his room, where he soon collapsed from exhaustion.

   Awakened by the sound of Nekomaru's falling Awakened by the sound of Nekomaru's falling

   On the morning of the fourth day at 7:30 a.m., thirty minutes past the scheduled Monokuma Tai Chi session, Hajime was awakened by a rumbling sound echoing throughout the Funhouse, which he mistook for an earthquake. He was too exhausted to investigate the source of the sound, however, and fell back to sleep. It was later revealed that the sound he heard had been Nekomaru falling to his death in the Grape Tower, whose decapitated head and damaged body he, Chiaki, and Sonia discovered at 9 a.m.

   Attempting to lift the pillar Attempting to lift the pillar

   Though the body discovery devastated them, particularly for Akane, who followed shortly, Hajime and the others had to eat the red bean bread and milk offered by Monokuma to power through the upcoming investigation and class trial. He then lent Akane a hand in attempting to lift the tipped over pillar, which she was convinced was the murder weapon, though it was too heavy that it barely moved. Shortly after, Hajime and Chiaki answered a call from the Strawberry House, where Fuyuhiko informed him that the contact elevator had been disabled, explaining why the residents there were unable to come over, just as the culprit had intended.

   Two hours later, Hajime and Chiaki were surprised by Nagito's sudden emergence in the Grape House lounge. He informed them that he had cleared the Final Dead Room, granting him the freedom to freely move between both houses. However, he withheld details such as the true nature of the Ultimate Weapon and claimed that he had only discovered Hajime's school profile, revealing him to be a talentless Reserve Course student. While this revelation stunned Hajime, he had to refocus on the investigation rather than dwell on it.

   The final section of the investigation saw Hajime and the others essentially being bossed around by an irritable, condescending Nagito. He took charge with little regard for anyone's comfort, from pressuring Kazuichi into disassembling Nekomaru's robotic body to forcing him to use the salvaged parts to repair the Strawberry Hall door. Hajime's plea to stop him from further desecrating Nekomaru's body fell on deaf ear, though the discoveries made from this distasteful decision later helped everyone to grasp the true structure of the Funhouse.

   Heading to the trial ground Heading to the trial ground

   Before heading to the trial ground, Nagito subtly hinted that he had learned Hajime's true identity as Izuru Kamukura from reading his school profile. He conveyed this through an allegory, comparing Hajime, still unaware of his transformation, to the protagonist of Nagito's favorite serial killer mystery novel, in which the seemingly innocent girl was revealed to be the killer only at the end. While ruminating aloud about their similarities, Nagito simultaneously demeaned Hajime for being talentless, yet despite this, he found himself inexplicably drawn to care for him.

   Revealing Gundham as the culprit Revealing Gundham as the culprit

   Hajime had to resort to asking Nagito for hints of his exclusive Final Dead Room knowledge during the class trial to come to the concluson that the Strawberry House is stacked vertically on top of the Grape House, making them a singular six-story building along with their stacked respective towers, revealing that the true Ultimate Weapon was the Funhouse itself. Afterward, Hajime and the others concluded that the culprit had set up a mechanism causing Nekomaru to fall to his death from the fourth to the first floor. The perpetrator who used his hamsters to disable Nekomaru was ultimately identified as Gundham, who, despite being a Deluxe Room resident like Nagito, somehow managed to hear both the lounge alarm and the sound of Nekomaru's fall when Nagito could not.

   After Gundham was executed, Hajime and the remaining survivors returned to Jabberwock Island, determined to move forward and keep living so that their fallen classmates would not have died in vain. However, Hajime grew concerned upon noticing that Nagito was no longer seen among the group.

   The Beginning of the End Arriving at the fifth island Arriving at the fifth island

   At the next morning meeting, Hajime shared that he was a Reserve Course student with no Ultimate talent, which he was still coming to terms with. However, it cleared him of any suspicion of being the traitor and filled the group with a newfound unity and determination. Together, they ventured to the final island, where Hajime tried to obtain clues by investigating facilities such as the Plushie Factory, Military Base, and a Sea King Industries research facility. Fuyuhiko then called him over to discuss their findings at Vendor Street, which was interrupted by Nagito's sudden appearance. He announced his sinister plan to weed out the traitor before abruptly leaving the group once again.

   Fearing Nagito was planning to commit murder, Kazuichi devised a plan to capture the Ultimate Lucky Student, assigning Hajime to supply the rope for the task. However, Sonia objected and instead decreed Kazuichi to allow Hajime to accompany her to verify whether the ancient ruin on the second island was the Future Foundation headquarters mentioned in the Jabberwock Island Development Plan pamphlet they had found at the military base the previous day. They discovered that the ruin could be opened by entering the correct password on the LCD panel, though the answer would remain unknown shortly before the countdown reached zero.

   Later that night, Hajime was rattled by Nagito's sudden entrance at his cottage, especially after he learned that he had foreseen the group's plan to capture him though he claimed he didn't know the full details. Nagito asked him to accompany him to the hotel lobby, a request he was forced to accept, hoping that everyone was already on standby the moment they entered. They were, and upon entering, Nagito was quickly captured by Akane and Fuyuhiko under Kazuichi's command. However, their efforts were futile, as the hotel lobby suddenly the bomb Nagito had secretly planted detonated. When Hajime regained his consciousness, he witnessed the hotel lobby severely damaged and Nagito menacing laughter. He threatened to sink the island in two days at noon, and would only disclose the bomb's location only if the traitor decided to out themselves to him. Hajime, who felt fear, could only watch Nagito walk away unpunished, as Monokuma stated neither his actions nor his threat had violated the rule limiting the number of murders to two.

   After taking the night off to recover from the bombing, Hajime and the others teamed up to search for the bomb, following Nagito's hint that it was hidden in a place they had yet to explore. They decided to investigate Nezumi Castle, where they discovered the gate had been blasted open by Nagito. However, they were stumped to find no bomb inside, and the supposed password to the Ancient Ruin had been erased, which they assumed was done by Nagito. Pressured by the approaching deadline, the group split up to continue their search separately for the rest of the day.

   In the final hours before the deadline, Hajime went to cover the fourth island on the group's behalf after Nagito dropped a final hint that he had moved the bomb to a place they had visited once before. Although he scoured through the entire island and even inspected Monomi's House for the first time, his efforts were in vain, that was until Fuyuhiko rushed to inform him that he had discovered the supposed bomb in the Plushie Factory. These bombs were later revealed to be nothing more than a fireworks display. The "explosion" then triggered a wireless signal from the detonator, activating the laptop Nagito had left beside it. The video on the laptop instructed Hajime and the others to meet him at the warehouse next door, where he claimed to have discovered the traitor's identity.

   Putting out the warehouse fire Putting out the warehouse fire

   After they forced open the blocked door of the warehouse open, Hajime and the others were greeted by darkness at first, but after a certain delay, flames began to engulf the warehouse. The group immediately rushed to the factory break room to grab fire grenades and tried to put out the fire by throwing them. It triggered the sprinklers, effectively dousing the flames. The warehouse, now clear of smoke, revealed the horrifying state of Nagito's lifeless body to Hajime and the others.

   Hajime never expected to have to investigate Nagito's body, which he presumed that Nagito too hadn't seen it coming either, judging by his terrified expression. Yet he still had to closely inspect Nagito's body and the warehouse to gather enough clues if he wanted to survive until the countdown ended in two days, when Monokuma had said the killing game would officially be over. Hajime proceed to investigate areas such as the military base and Nezumi Castle, before investigating Nagito's cottage together with Chiaki.

   Day 16 entry of Monomi's notebook Day 16 entry of Monomi's notebook

   In his cottage, Hajime discovered Monokuma's Special Poison stored in his refrigerator, along with the gas mask and rubber gloves he had used to transfer the poison into the fire grenades. Moreover, he found Monomi's stolen treasure box, which contained her notebook-slash-diary. Though it appeared unsuspicious at first, once he read the Day 16 entry describing how he almost entered the Final Dead Room, he began to suspect Chiaki as the traitor — since she was the only one who knew about it — though he loathed to confront and admit that fact. The fact that Monomi couldn't write as Monokuma had informed did not help alleviating his suspicion.

   Reading the school profile with Chiaki Reading the school profile with Chiaki

   Hajime also discovered the file Nagito obtained after clearing the Final Dead Room tucked in his bookshelf. It contrary to Nagito's earlier statement, it contained not just Hajime's profile, but also the rest of his classmates. This included the true identity of the Byakuya they knew as the Ultimate Imposter, disguising as the real one. The only one thing Nagito did not lie was the fact that Hajime was the only Reserve Course student among the Ultimates, much to his dismay.

   “ "The absolute hope that can overcome any despair"... He said he was yearning for that... Then this situation we're in...might be the thing that Nagito wanted all along... ...No, never mind. I'm probably...overthinking.

   — Hajime, about Nagito's murder, Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Class Trial ” Heading to the trial ground Heading to the trial ground

   During the class trial, Hajime and his classmates' discussion led to the grim realization that Nagito himself perpetrated his gruesome death. Hajime felt foolish for sympathizing with him after deducing that Nagito had tortured himself to mislead the group into thinking that one of them had done it. This very malice he was capable of, combined with the missing cause of death from the Monokuma File, however, was enough reason for Hajime and the others not to rule his murder as a suicide just yet.

   Revealed as a possible culprit Revealed as a possible culprit

   Further discussion revealed that, Nagito did not commit suicide, but rather manipulated one of them into throwing the poison he had swapped with one of the fire grenades, killing him in the process. Though it seemed impossible to determine who the culprit was, Hajime and Chiaki, knowing what Nagito was after ever since they left the Funhouse, pinpointed that Nagito specifically targeted the traitor to kill him.

   “ We shouldn't believe in Monokuma...or Nagito... We have to believe in Chiaki! It doesn't matter who the traitor is... Even if Chiaki is the traitor, that's not the Chiaki I know. I believe in...the Chiaki who's been with us this whole time. That Chiaki is saying she wants to protect us with her life! So the only thing we can do is believe her! If we don't...nobody's going to be saved!

   — Hajime Hinata, Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Class Trial ” Hajime Hinata Halfbody Sprite 05 That was the moment Chiaki wanted Hajime, who had a suspicion that she was the traitor, to guess her identity as the traitor correctly. Hajime hated having to single her out, but he had no choice except to oblige, which helped Chiaki to confess on her own. With a heavy heart, he went on to prove Chiaki's connection to Monomi through the notebook she had sent her each day, and explained that she had carelessly swiped her e-Handbook during the bomb scare because Monomi had informed her the bombs were fake. Hajime finalized his argument by rallying everyone to cast their votes for Chiaki, not out of doubt nor reliance on Nagito's luck, but to believe in Chiaki, who wanted to protect her classmates.

   Thanks to Chiaki, Hajime and the others survived Nagito's ultimate trap, which was to kill everyone but the traitor, as stated by Monokuma. However, before Hajime could even thank her for everything she has done for him and the others, she was sent into her execution, alongside Monomi and her remaining spares.

   With only five survivors remaining, Monokuma officially ended the Killing School Trip and allowed Hajime and the four others to leisurely wait out the remaining two days of the countdown, promising to return them home once it ended. Hajime spent the remainder of his days on the tropical island shutting himself inside his cottage, pondering whether everything would end peacefully as Monokuma had said, despite the many unanswered questions.

   Shortly before the countdown ended, the Neo World Program began to glitch. Hajime met the illusory Chiaki, who informed him that Nagito left a will through a video message, and everyone, including the other illusion of the deceased students, had been waiting to watch it with Hajime at the hotel restaurant. They learned that Nagito had uncovered the truth behind the Killing School Trip, but some of his messages were obscured due to the glitching, except for the password to the ancient ruins, "11037." With this knowledge, Hajime and the remaining survivors hurried to the ancient ruins before the countdown ended. Once inside, they were transported to what appeared to be a trial ground.

   Graduation Exam Inside the ruin of "Hope's Peak Academy," Hajime and the remaining survivors gathered in the gymnasium following Monokuma's announcement. He revealed that before deciding whether they wished to leave Jabberwock Island, they would undergo a "graduation exam." This exam required them to learn about the outside world by investigating materials Monokuma had scattered throughout the academy—a means meant to buy him time until "the main cast," the survivors of the Killing School Life working with the Future Foundation, arrived inside the Neo World Program.

   Witnessing Alter Ego Junko's entrance Witnessing Alter Ego Junko's entrance

   At the Graduation Exam, Hajime uncovered Jabberwock Island's true form as a virtual reality, that the students existed as avatars of their pre-Hope's Peak Academy enrollment selves, and their true collective identity as Remnants of Despair, with the final revelation being the hardest for everyone to accept. Monokuma took advantage of their denial by conjuring a fake Makoto Naegi, who offered them the "Graduate" option, which entailed leaving the simulation by replacing their Ultimate Despair memories with those from their school trip. Hajime saw through Monokuma and the fake Makoto's verbal traps, eventually forcing him to reveal his true form: Alter Ego Junko.

   Forced Shutdown's consequences Forced Shutdown's consequences

   When Hajime and the others almost fall to yet another Junko's trap, the real Makoto entered the program and prevented them from choosing the Graduate option, as it would allow her to take over their deceased classmates' bodies. Makoto offered them to initiate the shutdown sequence once Kyoko and Byakuya Togami of the Future Foundation followed him into the program to fulfill the number requirement. It was the only solution to eliminate AI Junko for good, but at the expense of reverting them back to their Ultimate Despair state and losing all their Killing School Trip memories, which made Hajime distraught at the thought of entirely losing his memory of Chiaki, whose existence was confined to the program.

   Izuru Kamukura Izuru Kamukura

   In an attempt to sway the Remnants away from going through the shutdown sequence, Alter Ego Junko revealed Hajime's identity as Izuru, the person who uploaded her into the program, ergo the true mastermind. Furthermore, if they were to proceed with the shutdown, Hajime would disappear and revert to his irreversible Izuru state, thereby plunging the hopeless Hajime into a dilemma.

   Vision of Chiaki Vision of Chiaki

   Alter Ego Junko then teleported Hajime into a game reset sequence, where it looped a utopia-like scenario with all his classmates alive. However, through an unknown force, Chiaki reappeared to give Hajime the confidence boost he needed to move on toward the future they created together. Thanks to her, Hajime finally overcame his dilemma, but Chiaki vanished before he could thank her.

   “ I've decided...I'm done running away... I will fight for my future! I will fight alongside the future that everyone created for me! It's not for anyone else's sake but my own!

   — Hajime Hinata, Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6 ” Initiating the shutdown sequence Initiating the shutdown sequence

   The awakened Hajime refused to yield to Junko's manipulation. Using Chiaki's words and his newfound conviction, Hajime rallied everyone to proceed with the shutdown sequence and face the future they would create on their own; free of anyone else's choosing, not Junko's, not the Future Foundation's, but their own. His words reached everyone, and together with the Future Foundation members, they initiated the Forced Shutdown, resulting in the execution of Alter Ego Junko and ending her reign of terror for good.

   Leaving the program Leaving the program

   With the virus gone, the Neo World Program began to collapse, and every remaining participants would return to the real world at any moment. Hajime and his classmates shared one final conversation, vowing not to forget anything that had transpired within the virtual reality. Before the program shutdown entirely, Hajime was finally able to clear his lingering regrets of not properly thanking Chiaki.

   Hajime Hinata Hajime Hinata

   As they returned to the real world, Izuru and his classmates chose to remain on Jabberwock Island, possibly hoping to help their comatose friend. Kyoko speculated that it was a decision that showed they had discarded their Ultimate Despair. In Izuru's case, he chose to accept his past and move forward, living on as none other than Hajime Hinata.

   Post-Killing School Trip Observing the incoming Future Foundation's fleet Observing the incoming Future Foundation's fleet

   Upon waking up from the Neo World Program, Izuru identifies himself as Hajime, adopting his original appearance and much of his former personality, while still retaining aspects of his Izuru self. As the all-powerful Ultimate Hope, he single-handedly repelled an entire fleet sent by Future Foundation's 2nd Division Head, Kyosuke Munakata, tasked with destroying the Remnants of Despair on Jabberwock Island. He seized a boat from the Foundation, which he and his classmates later used to board to their headquarter, where the division leaders were forced to participate the Final Killing Game.[39]

   Nagito's Illusory World Main article: Danganronpa 2.5: Nagito Komaeda and the World Vanquisher The World Vanquisher The World Vanquisher

   While watching over the island and his comatose classmates, Hajime created an artificial intelligence program called the World Vanquisher. Its personality had merged with Izuru Kamukura and based off Alter Ego with the intention of awakening his classmates from their comatose states induced by their deaths within the Neo World Program. His final task was to destroy the illusory world conjured by Nagito's subconscious mind or "the lowest stratum" as he referred to. It was a coping mechanism Nagito manifested caused by a psychological instability from suffering a traumatic death in the program. The World Vanquisher was to eliminate enough of Nagito's friends, all of them one by one if he must, to destroy his illusory world and awaken Nagito from his slumber.

   Surrounded by police officers Surrounded by police officers

   He first entered the world on top of an under-construction building, which he immediately found to be dull. He was then surrounded and pointed guns at by several police officers who emerged out of thin air, though he quickly killed all of them by shooting invisible bullets from his fingertips. That same day, he eliminated Kazuichi, whose death prompted Fuyuhiko, Sonia, and Peko to confront him.

   Approaching Peko Approaching Peko

   Upon being confronted by the trio in the same building later that night, the World Vanquisher truthfully though vaguely explained his motive to kill. He killed Fuyuhiko and Sonia as easily with his hand pistol, leaving Peko to escape injured. Before the World Vanquisher caught up to her, Peko made a distress call to Nagito, warning him that he was going to be his target next.

   Hajime appearing in Nagito's brief flashback Hajime appearing in Nagito's brief flashback

   After killing Peko, the World Vanquisher used the still-active phone to introduce himself to Nagito, which for a split second triggered Nagito's flashback to the Killing School Trip. He then ominously warned that he would take down Nagito's friends one by one until his entire world completely crumbled.

   Confronted by Nagito Confronted by Nagito

   Nagito's entrance to the scene where the World Vanquisher had murdered his friends was earlier than expected, as he had thought he would have to eliminate all of his classmates first before being confronted directly by him. When Nagito explained that despite his lack of talent and streak of misfortune, he was confident of winning against the World Vanquisher, he explained to him that what he felt was "hope." The word felt foreign yet familiar to Nagito, whose act of throwing baseballs causing it to bounce off the building's girders. It eventually dislodged all of them after several throws, in the hope of taking the World Vanquisher down with him. However, he died before seeing the result, struck in the head when Fuyuhiko's gun, fired to the side, ricocheted and hit him.

   The crumbling of Nagito's illusory world The crumbling of Nagito's illusory world

   The death of "Nagito" signaled the successful destruction of his illusory world, awakening the real one, who emerged from a falling girder in his regular attire. The World Vanquisher then revealed his true nature as an Alter Ego designed to eliminate Nagito's psychological instability. With Nagito being the last comatose person to awaken, the World Vanquisher had fulfilled his duty.

   Pulling Nagito out of his pod Pulling Nagito out of his pod

   Once Nagito woke up, Hajime was standing by his pod, asking if he could hear him. Nagito initially referred to him as Izuru, but quickly corrected himself to Hajime from the Reserve Course, to which Hajime affirmed that they were now the same person. Smiling, Hajime told him that everyone had been waiting for him, as he was the last to awaken.

   Taking Nagito's hand Taking Nagito's hand

   Hajime and his classmates, all of whom had been purged of Junko's brainwashing, then set sail to Future Foundation's HQ. Their mission was to atone themselves from their past sins by stopping the Final Killing Game, where Ryota was attempting to broadcast his Hope Video to brainwash the world into never feeling despair again. He waited for Nagito to board the boat with the others, taking his hand as they all set forth toward the future.

   Atonement Main article: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School/Hope Arc Defeating brainwashed rescue squad members Defeating brainwashed rescue squad members

   Upon arriving at their destination, Hajime led his classmates to engage Ryota's army of brainwashed Future Foundation soldiers, Former Super High School Level Elite Task Force members, and Monobeasts, in an attempt to reach the broadcasting tower where Ryota was situated. Hajime himself managed to overpower brainwashed rescue squad members alone while the rest of the group mostly worked together to defeat their enemies.[40]

   Paying his respects at Chisa's side Paying his respects at Chisa's side

   Before moving forward, Hajime paid his respects at Chisa's body, who fell victim to the killing game. He stated he now finally understood her and Chiaki's words, that it did not matter if he had no talent, as that was not the end goal. He was at peace with who he was then, merging with Izuru, and confessed how he had committed heinous acts with his abilities. At the same time, he was relieved to also have used it to bring back everyone to life, and that it was possible for one to create a miracle if one so desired.

   Heading to the broadcasting facility Heading to the broadcasting facility

   Hajime then began his ascent up a slope leading to the broadcasting studio afterward, but was met with a multitude of Former Super High School Level Elite Task Force squad members in opposition. He commanded them to stand aside, after which a loud crash was heard by Ryota, revealed to be Hajime breaking through into the studio, and approaching him.

   Holding Chiaki's hair clip Holding Chiaki's hair clip

   Hajime was able to convince Ryota that hope did not come by force, telling him that he hadn't been strong either, which was why he still had regrets even then. With the rest of Class 77-B behind him, Hajime explained that Chiaki's legacy was why they stood where they were now, and convinced him that they'd rather atone for their past sins even if they weren't to be forgiven. Hajime then persuaded Ryota to join them, so that they may together atone for everything that happened. Ryota abandoned his plan and broke down in tears as a result, while Hajime and the rest of the class surrounded him in support.

   Brief exchange with Makoto Brief exchange with Makoto

   Once they persuaded Ryota to join them, Hajime and his classmates left the broadcasting studio and continued down the sloping platform. On their way, Hajime briefly met Makoto, nodding to him gracefully with respect, and Makoto responded by nodding in return.

   The broadcast The broadcast

   Shortly afterward, Hajime and the rest of the Former Remnants of Despair shouldered the blame for the Final Killing Game by sending a broadcast video to the Future Foundation. They presented themselves in their despair personas to relieve the Future Foundation of any wrongdoing and preserve the organization's credibility and power to rebuild the world.

   Final conversation with Chiaki Final conversation with Chiaki

   Having accomplished their atonement, Hajime and his classmates boarded back to Jabberwock Island by boat. At the boat's foredeck, the AI Chiaki appeared to Hajime's vision. While clutching Usami in her arms, she explained her true nature as an AI, created to fulfill Hajime and her classmates' wish of seeing the real her again.

   Rejoining his classmates Rejoining his classmates

   She acknowledged she may have not been the same person, she still regarded it as a miracle for her to see everyone again, a miracle they all won together. Hajime, in response, stated that an ending like that wasn't so bad. Chiaki agreed, saying that they could now make their future together. Nagito called Hajime over so he wouldn't miss the food, and Chiaki quietly faded away while Hajime proceeded to join the others.

   Real Fiction Main article: Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Hajime cosplayed by Tsumugi Shirogane Hajime cosplayed by Tsumugi Shirogane

   In Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, it is alleged by the mastermind Tsumugi Shirogane that the entire Danganronpa franchise is fictional in-universe; a series of games, anime, and later live-action dramas performed actors. In particular, Tsumugi, who is the Ultimate Cosplayer, claims she is only able to cosplay fictional characters (breaking out into a bright pink rash whenever she tries to cosplay a real person), and the fact she is able to cosplay as the whole cast of Danganronpa characters including Hajime Hinata is used as evidence to support her claim that all of the cast are fictional. However, due to a number of holes in Tsumugi's story which make her an unreliable narrator, whether or not she was telling the truth is deliberately left up to the player's interpretation; as a result, it is up to the player whether they believe Hajime's story within the Danganronpa series was real, or a fictional story written by Team Danganronpa and performed by an actor.[41]

   Creation and Development Translation Credit and Source: Kaibutsushidousha on Tumblr The series creator and writer, Kazutaka Kodaka, conceptualized Hajime as a protagonist that replicated two important essences from his predecessor, Makoto. These include the capability of players to self-insert into Hajime to a certain degree and provide an average perspective in a series full of eccentric characters. To differentiate the two, Hajime's mannerisms were portrayed as superficially different, while his personality and protagonist essence naturally developed due to his role in the story and its progression. Since Hajime's personality and motivations were deeply related to the story's themes, Kodaka stated that the differences between the two protagonists could be considered as the differences between Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and Danganronpa 2.

   Danganronpa 2 Character Concept - DR2 Art Book (1) According to character designer Rui Komatsuzaki, the factors that specifically influenced Hajime's final design included input not only from Kodaka, but also from the producer and director. Hajime was then given a normal design, even more so than Makoto. Komatsuzaki drafted several character designs, ultimately using a throwaway version he had drawn without expecting anything, which initially caused him to dislike the choice. However, his opinion changed upon understanding Hajime's character further through the story progression, eventually believing that the final design was a perfect fit for the protagonist.

   Minami Takayama, Hajime's Japanese voice actress, also commented on her character:

   "Hajime Hinata is my favorite type of character. He's the protagonist of a detective game, so he has a lot more voiced dialogue than the typical videogame job. The recording sections were extensive and exhausting, but definitely worth my time. This game has such a constant sense of speed in its voiced dialogue exchanges that it always feels great to replay, wouldn't you agree? As Hinata himself would say: "This is my answer!"" Name While the pronunciation of Hajime's first name (はじめ) often means "beginning", the kanji it is written with, 創, primarily means "injury" or "flaw". "Hinata" (日向) means "a sunny place" or "to face the sun." His full name can altogether translate as either "to face a new day" or "to face an imperfect day." The tone of cheerfulness and optimism of his name was an aspect that he carried over from Makoto. Hajime's birthday fall on January 1, the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, matching the meaning of his given name.

   The names "Hajime" and "Hinata" are very common names in Japan, with either having many written forms (e.g. Hajime can be written as 始, 治, 初, 一, 元, 肇, 創, 甫, 基, 哉, 啓, 本, 源, 東, 大, 孟, 祝...). Hinata itself is both a surname and a given name. This 'common' quality of his names is parallel to how Hajime was a common student with no extraordinary talent. His full name (日向創) can also be read as "Kamukura" according to Kodaka in a tweet he made, the surname of his manufactured persona.

   Izuru's first and last names are written in katakana, however, the names of the person he is named are written in kanji. "Izuru" (as 出流), which literally means "out of the current", could also mean "to go out into exile". "Kamukura" (as 神座) means "a place in which a god resides" or "a seat for gods". In Danganronpa 3, Izuru is described as deus ex machina ("god from the machine"), and the series creator Kodaka has described him as a "total god-mode character" and a "god-like entity".[42]

   Alternate Fates Bonus Modes Island Mode, Ultimate Talent Development Plan, and Danganronpa S Development Mode exist in separate alternate universes: one where Usami successfully kicks Monokuma out of the Neo World Program and the Hope Restoration Program goes forward as intended, and the latter two where Hajime still attends Hope's Peak Academy's Reserve Course student, but no students are in peril. As they are alternate universes, and in Hajime's case where both realities that depict whether he proceeds with the Izuru Kamukura project or not exist, these events are non-canonical, but because Hajime's personality is unchanged, the backstory information shared by him in these events is considered questionably or dubiously canonical rather than fully non-canonical.

   Free Time Events are also considered somewhat questionably canonical due to the nature of how Free Time Events are accessed (in that some characters' Free Time Events cannot be fully completed during the course of the canon game storyline due to limitations on the number of interactions you can have with them during one playthrough, and thus can only be accessed after they have canonically died either through a second playthrough or via Island Mode). However, due to Free Time Events being largely experienced during the canon game storyline, Free Time Events are more grounded in canon than Island Mode, Ultimate Talent Development Plan, and Danganronpa S Development Mode, and are largely considered canon by the majority of players.

   Hajime is featured as the protagonist in the Danganronpa 2x2 demo exclusive to the Danganronpa 15th Anniversary Festival titled Super Danganronpa 2x2 Special Trial Version. He also appears as a guest character in Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (Demo Version), alongside Makoto and Yasuhiro Hagakure, acting as Kaede Akamatsu's senior protagonist and major helper,.

   Hajime Izuru In Ultimate Talent Development Plan, Hajime is a reserve course student of Hope's Peak Academy who plans to participate in the Izuru Kamukura Project in order to become talented. However, after playing video games with Chiaki and listening to her and other students' advice, he ultimately chooses not to join the project as he realized that being talented isn't the goal. This allows him to continue his friendship with Chiaki and he also became very good friends with her classmates. However, the bonus mode also includes a course with Izuru as the playable character. While Chiaki still tried to talk to him and wants to play games with him, there was no mention of him being formerly Hajime, leaving the situation quite ambiguous. Furthermore, Monomi was seen giving Hajime wise encouragement, while in Izuru's case only Usami works as his "supervisor" of sort.

   In Danganronpa S Development Mode, Hajime is the only Reserve Course student to participate in the field trip on Jabberwock Island. Appearance Danganronpa 2 Character Design Profile Hajime HinataHajime Hinata Fullbody Sprite 15 Hajime is a tall, young man with notably toned arms and a solid, well-built chest.[43] He has green eyes with straight lines running across his pupils, resembling a prohobition symbol, as well as short, somewhat spiky brown hair with an ahoge that moves according to his emotions. He wears a simple white shirt with the emblem of his previous high school embroidered on the hem, a school badge on the left pocket, and a green tie that also bears the same emblem. He also wears dark pants and red-and-white sneakers.

   During his time in Hope's Peak Academy, he wore the standard black Reserve Course male students' uniform, which are the same clothes he wears as Izuru. However, upon transitioning into Izuru, his eye colors turned red with pupil symbols resembling target radars. Unlike Hajime, he has smooth yet messy hair that flows down to his feet. The Izuru Kamukura Project's brain surgery left a scar on his head, one that does not appear on his pre-enrollment Jabberwock Island avatar.[44]

   Reserve Course uniform (Hajime) Reserve Course uniform (Hajime) Reserve Course uniform (Izuru) Reserve Course uniform (Izuru) During the Killing School Trip's Graduation Exam, Izuru was briefly seen in the game reset sequence wearing Hajime's regular attire. After overcoming his dilemma, Hajime gained an "awakened" form, with his hair turning white and his eyes becoming just like those of Izuru. In addition, he was completely enveloped in a lightning-like aura.

   Graduation Exam (Izuru) Graduation Exam (Izuru) Graduation Exam (Awakened) Graduation Exam (Awakened) After awakening from the Neo World Program, Izuru decides to cut his long hair to match Hajime's original appearance, with his left eye remaining red while the other reverted to its natural green color. The design of both eyes adapted Izuru's target radar design. His new appearance inspired that of his AI creation, The World Vanquisher. He bears an identical physical resemblance to him and wears an outfit similar to the Reserve Course male students' uniform. However, unlike Hajime and Izuru, both of his eyes are a deep red color, and he has holographic red squares that hovers and drifts around his body.

   Post-Killing School Trip Post-Killing School Trip The World Vanquisher The World Vanquisher Hajime's swimsuit in Danganronpa S consists of a pair of orange swim trunks with all-over yellow-gold patterns resembling a sunburst or abstract floral motif, accented by a black drawstring. Izuru, on the other hand, wears patternless black swim trunks paired with a red drawstring.

   Swimsuit (Danganronpa S: Hajime) Swimsuit (Danganronpa S: Hajime) Swimsuit (Danganronpa S: Izuru) Swimsuit (Danganronpa S: Izuru) Personality Hajime Izuru Post-DR2 Hajime Hinata Halfbody Sprite 17 Hajime is a skeptic, realist, and pragmatic to the core, and he often times comes across as cynical due to his chronic overthinking tendencies. He is noticeably more skeptical of the group's peculiar circumstances than anybody else from the moment he steps foot on Jabberwock Island, owing to his habit of rationalizing everything that is foreign to him.[45] He is reasonably concerned about the island's facilities in ways that no other students are, such as presuming the food at the supermarket and restaurant is poisonous, interpreting the comfort Hotel Mirai provides as a trap, and questioning the safety of crossing the cross-island bridges.[46][47] His cautious nature leads him to appreciate Nagito's company while he explores the islands for the first time, yet at the same time, he is so appalled by Nagito's stress-free attitude, to the point that he suspects Nagito may have a traumatic history that contributed to his carefreeness.[48] He is likewise baffled when he realizes no other students exercise the same amount of anxiety or precaution as him,[49][50] and mentions how envious he feels of their ability to remain carefree and cheerful, like Kazuichi and Akane,[51][52] and composed, like Sonia and Nekomaru.[53][54] His initial stress, combined with the confusion caused by the mystery surrounding island, noticeably strips him from feeling genuine enjoyment from their supposed school trip, even finding the idea of swimming amidst their unknown predicament ridiculous.[55] While he may be a realist, Hajime has moments where he wishes the group's circumstances could've been a mere dream, and he would've definitely enjoy some lazy sunbathing had it been a regular school trip.[6][56][57] Ultimately, his paranoia causes him to feel alienated from his peers, prompting him to abandon all of his worries and self-doubts by joining the group at the beach, only for his fears to be well-founded after all when Monokuma emerges and turns their school trip into a killing game.[58]

   “ Do our best... We kept using that phrase over and over again. Even though we knew they were just...cheap, meaningless, empty words... Regardless...we still said it. And we continued to say it over and over again without stopping.

   — Hajime Hinata, Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Post-Class Trial ” Being ruled by logic, Hajime never denies that there are parts of him that desires an escape and that he has the potential to kill, especially since he cannot trust any of his classmates who are initially strangers to him.[59] He even casually evaluates his own threat level, particularly from Nagito's perspective during the first investigation when the latter carefreely provides him with assistance, given that he could be the killer the group is seeking.[60] He also ends up choosing to play the Twilight Syndrome Murder Case, believing that logically, leaving it alone would only do more harm than good. This decision is influenced in no small part by Nagito's words, even as he insists otherwise.[61] He states how he never thought about friendship, even finding them embarrassing and unattainable amidst their situation. Regardless, he does not detest the idea of warming up to them over time, seeing it as his character development when he can ultimately depend on them completely.[62]

   “ You're right...you're absolutely right... We're not alone... Even if it's a mystery that can't be solved alone... As long as everyone cooperates and works together... Yeah...if we do that, things will turn out fine...

   — Hajime Hinata, Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Investigation ” Observing his classmates' ability to maintain high spirit in spite of the killing game instills Hajime with confidence, inspiration, reassurance, and a sense of unity. It helps him to gradually break free from his pessimistic and overly skeptical shell, even if his innate skepticism never fully disappears throughout the killing game. He rarely takes Monokuma's statements at face value, believing that the Tragedy is something Monokuma fabricated and doubting that he would let the remaining survivors off the hook so easily after the Graduation Exam.[63] He is so grounded in reality that after each class trials, he is prone to feel anxious about the unknown and has difficulty in envisioning a clear future for him and his classmates, though he comes to learn that overthinking amidst the killing game is a complete waste of his time.[64] He admits that he feels scared even after fully committing to the forced shutdown sequence. Interestingly, Hajime's fear helps him to acknowledge that confronting death so suddenly and repeatedly makes it impossible for most people to move on swiftly.[65] Nevertheless, he knows that the only way out is through,[66] and ends up surviving the ordeal without actively doing anything harmful to others. Instead, he channels his anger toward Monokuma, their real enemy, and directs his energy to stay calm and composed throughout every investigation and class trials to survive not only for himself, but also for his classmates whom he gradually learns to open up and care for.[67]

   Hajime Hinata Halfbody Sprite 13 Hajime is highly self-aware of his flaws, which saps his confidence and often causes him to be insecure and often sell himself short. He is pessimistic that someone like him could ever have a chance to be in the limelight, and states that he has never really put any thought of his future and dreams.[68][69] Moreover, he believes that Nekomaru overestimates his athletic skills when he recommends Hajime to become a rugby player, mainly because he has never seen a match, let alone played it. The Ultimate Team Manager himself, however, sees potential in him as he possesses calm judgment skills, a high degree of mobility, and a strong appreciation for teamwork, qualities that would make him a great rugby player.[20] Despite being one of the most useful contributors in every class trials, Hajime claims that he's not good at "using his brain", and gets embarrassed when Chiaki argues by suggesting that he can be a puzzle games expert.[43] He may claim to have poor reflexes and is in no way a warrior type, but he does impress Peko with his resolve of prioritizing cooperation over fighting with their classmates.[25] He is also highly aware that unlike the Ultimate Imposter, he is nowhere near as fearless and competent of a leader like them. Regardless, he is content with who he is and rather than fantasizing of becoming anyone other than himself, he is more focused on what he's supposed to do.[70][71] Furthermore, he has a hard time believing that he is such an amazing person and friend as to deserve being granted the title of "Singularity" by Gundham or to exchange a Brotherhood Cup with Fuyuhiko, both of whom think otherwise.[72][73]

   “ *My name is Hajime Hinata. There's only one reason I came to Hope's Peak Academy... Because I admired Hope's Peak Academy. To me, attending Hope's Peak Academy is like being a celebrity or a superhero. In fact, instead of calling it admiration, it's more like...it's always been a dream of mine. That's why, to feel like a member of society, to become someone I can be proud of, I always wanted to... For that reason alone, I always... until now, I never wanted to admit how painfully ordinary I really am.

   — Hajime Hinata, Danganronpa 2: Prologue ” Browsing the academy's Main Course website Browsing the academy's Main Course website

   Hajime's biggest source of insecurity, however, is his lack of talent. Growing up talentless and ordinary bothers him so deeply that he desires nothing more but to have a talent he could take pride in, and ultimately be confident in himself. He comes to admire Hope's Peak Academy more than anyone and dreaming of attending it one day.[74] Unfortunately, the best he can manage is by attending its Reserve Course Department instead of the main course. During his enrollment, Hajime often spends his time yearning to one day pass through the main course's gate as one of its students. His melancholia is worsened by how he unwittingly becomes the brunt of countless gossips that criticize him for wasting his parents' money on the Reserve Course costly tuition fee.[5][75] The Steering Committee then exploits his situation and admiration toward Hope's Peak by luring him into participating the Izuru Kamukura Project as a lab rat, albeit a successful one.

   Despite his craving for talent, Hajime is shown to be in a serious dilemma about whether to go through with the project. During this period, he befriends Chiaki, who positively influences his outlook on talent, helping him realize that he still can have hope and be confident in himself even without talent. He also listens to Chisa's words not to call himself lowly and to start believing in himself. His growth is exemplified by his use of the same advice Chiaki gave him when speaking to Natsumi, whose insecurities he strongly relates to. Unfortunately, his growth comes undone after learning from his physical confrontation with Juzo that Hope's Peak covered up the truth behind Natsumi and Sato's deaths. Enraged by how Hope's Peak dehumanizes the Reserve Course, he ultimately decides to proceed with the project so that he can become a talented person who can stand together with Chiaki and become someone she will be proud of.[76]

   Hajime's insecurity persists during the killing game, where he is reverted from Izuru to his pre-enrollment state and falsely remembers himself as having been part of the main course. Hajime who doesn't remember his supposed Ultimate talent is left to constantly wonder whether he truly belongs among his classmates, even thinking as though he might be the possible traitor for this reason alone.[77] Even if he does have one, he is not confident that his talent would be anything special or useful to others.[78][79] Nevertheless, he is eager to learn about his talent, going so far as to willingly take Monokuma's bait in the form of his student profile, which, of course, is merely a ruse meant to trap him and the others in the Funhouse.[80] Hajime's desperation only sets him up for a heartbreak upon learning from Nagito that he is a mere Reserve Course student. Though he is able to push it off into the backburner of his mind, the revelation leaves such a bitter taste in his mouth that it continues to linger well into the Graduation Exam. He remains in a state of denial, disbelief, disgust, and beyond disappointed to see the academy he has been idolized for so long to be in such a sorry state upon entering the Ancient Ruins.[81] He even hopes that he could have had the grand title of the Ultimate Hope for himself so he can escape the fate of being talentless, only for such wishful thinking to be confirmed by Alter Ego Junko herself, at the price of learning that he, as Izuru, masterminded the Killing School Trip.[82]

   “ What's...wrong with being weak...? It's normal to be weak... Humans feel overwhelmed sometimes...and even cry... I know I do, so what's wrong with that? I don't think real strength means you don't accept your weaknesses... I think real strength means you overcome them.

   — Hajime Hinata, Free Time Event 5: Akane Owari ” Knowing his own weakness, including not remembering his own Ultimate talent, on the other hand, drives Hajime to keep a cool head throughout the killing game, a trait that Fuyuhiko points out and respects.[83] This trait also occasionally positions him as the group's voice of reason, such as helping Kazuichi and Akane, though he fails with the latter, to calm down during Nagito's bomb scare. When Sonia insists that Sparkling Justice murdered Mahiru, Hajime doesn't undermine her feelings about not wanting to doubt their friends, but he knows that her theory is very unlikely.[84] At the same time, his rationality makes him frequently worry about his classmates. For instance, he suggests Nekomaru and Akane to not get themselves hurt in the middle of their intense training. Later on, he criticizes Monokuma's decision to alter Nekomaru's body into that of a robot, even if the person in question has already accepted their new body.[85] During the Despair Disease outbreak, he worries about leaving Mikan and her patients alone at the hospital, since he and Fuyuhiko aren't allowed to stay overnight, so much so that he slips into a nightmare that reveals a glimpse of his past. He also constantly tells Mikan not to overexert herself.[86] He is sensitive to disturbing thoughts spoken aloud by his classmates,[73][87] though being a realist compels him to shoot down their nonsensical fantasies just as quick.[88] He experiences strong bodily reactions to fear and discomfort, noting how sharp, stabbing pains can course through his body.[89]

   “ A contradiction is when something is obviously wrong... There is no contradiction I can't shoot through... I'm going to find out what that is. For the sake of everyone's hope. I'll shoot through the contradiction!

   — Hajime Hinata, Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Class Trial ” Although the prospect of investigating the murders of his classmates and singling out their killers during class trials unnerves him, he is very well aware that if he refuses to follow the rules, the lives of many, including his own, would be at stake.[90] Consequently, Hajime maintains his level-headedness by prioritizing everyone's survival instead of mulling over his fears and doubts.[91] He extensively participates in every investigation and class trial, employing logic and keenness. He is quite tenacious and serious during discussions and investigations, and has little to no tolerance when others, like Monokuma and Nagito, interfere in his endeavors.[92] He is not devoid of emotions, however, as he comments how he feels guilty and abnormal for becoming accustomed to the cycle of investigations and class trials by the time he investigates Nagito's death.[93] Furthermore, he is riddled with guilt when he has to accuse Teruteru as the Imposter's killer, Mikan as Ibuki and Hiyoko's killer, and later when he has to convince everyone that Chiaki is the traitor from the Future Foundation.[94] However, his rational thinking, perseverance, and unwavering determination allow him to push through his mental obstacle and successfully persuade his classmates to cast their difficult votes, not out of doubt but trust,[95] and eventually to initiate the Forced Shutdown.

   In comparison to his more polite predecessor, Makoto, Hajime is more casual and straightforward with his peers. In the original Japanese, he addresses them by last name only, without any honorifics. He usually finds formalities embarrassing, and thus forgoes them the moment he introduces himself to the group on Jabberwock Island, also as a way to hide his nervousness.[96] His more blunt personality is also shown in his way of speaking in the original Japanese. During Nonstop Debates, he uses the phrase それは違うぞ (sore wa chigau zo; lit. "That's wrong"), while Makoto says それは違うよ (sore wa chigau yo; lit. "That's wrong"). Using よ yo at the end of a sentence is much more polite than using ぞ zo, which is perceived as impolite and more masculine. Another example of this is how he uses the more masculine and boastful word 俺 (ore) to refer himself while Makoto uses the more polite word 僕 (boku).

   Hajime can be rather judgmental, snarky, and sarcastic toward his classmates in is thoughts.[97] However, he tries to be fair-minded and only articulates them when he needs to. For instance, he finds the Ultimate Imposter to be overwhelming and condescending, yet he never sees them as a bad person and comes to rely on them as the group's leader.[98][99] Similarly, he finds Teruteru's perversion annoying, though he can see a sliver of good in him through his confidence and passion toward his dishes.[100] Akane is also someone he doesn't think too highly of when they first meet, viewing her as a self-centered troublemaker. Regardless, he can tell that she has the physique of an Olympic athlete and is intrigued by how she might have performed as the Ultimate Gymnast.[101] The only classmate he warrantably dislikes, is constantly suspicious of, and prefers to ignore is Nagito. Even then, Hajime has no choice but to put up with his creepiness, pushiness, and his own distrust of him to obtain clues Nagito discovers during the second investigation, because he knows better than to underestimate Nagito's intelligence.[102] During the third investigation and class trial, Hajime is confused and angry when Nagito accuses him as the culprit, but realizes that he does so to exonerate him and solidify his testimony. With Nagito being the only person who realizes how exactly the culprit had murdered Ibuki, Hajime once again states how his intelligence cannot be underestimated.[103] In fact, Hajime and the others unanimously agree that despite his problematic behavior, Nagito has been a valuable asset throughout every class trials, particularly during Nekomaru's trial where everyone has to depend on him for clues.[104]

   In addition, Hajime refuses to be treated as a doormat and is never afraid to bluntly say no to his classmates when they cross his boundaries. He consistently rejects Teruteru's advances and never allows his perverted ideas and vulgar remarks to run rampant.[105][106] He feels uneasy every time Nekomaru offers him "it", his special massage, though he eventually gives in and finds himself enjoying it more than he anticipated.[20][54][107] He calls Hiyoko a spoiled little brat, but plays along with her shenanigans and complies with some of her childish requests to the point of numbness.[108] However, he makes it clear to her that he has no interest in engaging with her hobby of torturing small animals,[109] letting her to insult other cultures,[110] throwing stones at random people, or bullying Sonia just because she's jealous of her.[111] He won't let slide any unprovoked insults, wrongful accusations, tactless jokes, or forceful attempts to make him do something he doesn't want, exemplified by how he snaps at Hiyoko when she accuses him of being a pedophile,[108] returns the same snarky attitude to Natsumi, defends himself from being accused by Kazuichi as the traitor,[112] rebukes Monokuma's ideas of "funny jokes,"[113] and refuses to let Mahiru wash his dirty sleeve for him.[114] He is also brave enough to tell directly to the initially standoffish Fuyuhiko to work together as a group.[115]

   Although he can be overwhelmed by his classmates' colorful personalities, Hajime holds the utmost respect for their talents. Gundham is someone he initially thinks of as far too eccentric, but he eventually comes to admire his affinity for animals and the effort he puts into raising them, particularly his Four Dark Devas of Destruction.[23][116] He is likewise impressed by how well Ibuki customizes her uniform into a unique piece unlike any other commercial product,[117] and how Chiaki has the patience to finish even the weirdest, most bizarre games.[118] He finds Mikan's talent for helping people to be deserving of praise, and he feels grateful when she quickly notices that he isn't feeling well.[119] Hajime holds Nekomaru's confidence and managing skills in high regard, exemplified by how he himself is almost swayed by Nekomaru's scouting abilities into becoming a rugby player.[20] He also takes up to his special training challenge so he can adopt Nekomaru's "unwavering presence of mind." He receives his special massage and advice, which allow him to endure an impossible amount of training, which awakened the optimism sleeping that has been sleeping inside him.[54] Hajime is horrified by Fuyuhiko's harakiri stunt, but concludes that only the Ultimate Yakuza, someone who's accustomed to violence and death and bears abnormally strong willpower, could perform such an extreme act to firmly convey his apology.[56]

   Under extreme pressure, the relatively patient Hajime can snap and make decisions that are not always logical. This is well-demonstrated by how he attempts to fight the Former Ultimate Boxer, Juzo, after he spoke of the Reserve Course students in a condescending and dehumanizing manner, and slaps Chisa's hand away in anger when she tries to help him. While entrapped in the Funhouse, Hajime, starving and desperate, makes his way to access the Final Dead Room, something he would've done had Chiaki not stopped him. Notably, he has also referred to Alter Ego Junko as an "insane bitch", and bluntly refuses to proceed with either options presented during the Graduation Exam. Due to his occasional annoyed and irritable mood, Nagito categorizes Hajime as a stereotypical tsundere character by calling his possible Ultimate title as "tsuntsun hair", in the original Japanese.

   Hajime admits that he's romantically inexperienced and can appear shy and even naive about the topic. The most glaring evidence is how he becomes mildly terrified when Peko blushes while saying she needs something from him, jumping to the conclusion that she intends to confess her love to him.[120] Hajime awkwardly laughs when he finds out that Peko only wants his advice on asking out her childhood friend. He is dismayed that Peko has no actual romantic interest in him and feels a little bit jealous of her childhood friend when he gets to see her smile for the first time. Meanwhile, in Mahiru's Free Time Events, Hajime is oblivious to the signs of Mahiru showing romantic interest in him,[22] such as not knowing why Mahiru specifically chooses him to take her picture. However, he gets embarrassed when he notices how she has a "completely different face than before" when he looks through the viewfinder, noting that he he has never felt such a strange feeling before in his life, and has his heart racing when Mahiru compliments the result.[121] However, during the non-canonical Island Mode, several characters appear to have a romantic interest in Hajime and he sometimes responds by flirting. By their respective Island Mode endings, Hajime can establish a serious romantic relationship, such as becoming engaged to Sonia and Mikan and officially dating Mahiru.[122][123][124] Talents & Abilities "Ultimate Counselor" One of Hajime's biggest strengths, which he often overlooks himself, is his ability to make others feel more relaxed and open up about their issues. Fuyuhiko credits this trait, as well as his "harmless-looking face", as the reasons why he is able to reflect on his past while conversing with him, even suggesting that his forgotten Ultimate title could have been the Ultimate Counselor, to which Hajime dismisses thinking such a line of work is too stressful to him.[83][125] Nagito also holds the same view toward Hajime, dubbing him the Ultimate Serenity for being able to bring such a feeling to others just by existing.[126]

   He has such an inviting presence thanks to his eagerness to understand his classmates better and to build a rapport with them, mostly through his free time on the island. He is accommodating and tolerant of everyone's eccentric personalities and quirks and is always willing to listen to their stories. He withstands the Ultimate Imposter's intense discussion about meat,[78] Nekomaru's heroic escapades,[127] Sonia's chatter about her favorite Japanese dramas.[128], Ibuki's endless blabber about various weird topics,[129] illnesses talk with Mikan,[119] Hiyoko's tantrums,[130] Mahiru's scoldings,[114] Chiaki's terrible sleeping habit,[43] one-sided conversations with Akane,[52], Kazuichi's interrogation about "the ladies,"[6] deciphering Gundham's dramatic choice of diction,[116] and someone like Nagito.[131]

   Hajime patiently, deftly, and tactfully approaches and handles different types of people depending on their characters. He is careful with other people's feelings, though he can be somewhat awkward, nervous, sheepish, and at a loss for words when trying to respond to his friends' usual weird behavior. He sharpens his own perceptiveness and heightens the amount of his empathy, the more he deepens his bond with his classmates to the point where they don't even have to air out their thoughts and struggles for him to unmask them. Combined with his excellent conversational and listening skills, this allows Hajime to know exactly what each of his classmates needs to hear, and the advice he provides for them is rarely unsound.

   Akane Chiaki Hiyoko Ibuki Mahiru Mikan Peko Sonia “ That's right...we're not alone. We can move forward and overcome our worries and hesitations. I hope Akane, who's been living alone her whole life, is able to understand that, even if it's just a little.

   — Hajime, about Akane, Free Time Event: 5 ” Main article: Free Time Events/Akane Owari Akane Owari Report Card Page 6 Akane frequently gives Hajime a headache and embarrassment, from her habit of forgetting his name, endless energy and appetite, to how casually she gives him a pass to do something sexually inappropriate to her. He tries to understand what contributes to these behaviors and soon becomes horrified to hear of the poverty and sexual abuse Akane went through growing up, especially her nonchalance towards it. He then tells her that what has become a norm to her, such as casually showing and talking about her panties, might not be considered normal elsewhere. Furthermore, he identifies that she has been bottling up a lot of emotions underneath her cheerful, carefree, and energetic disposition from years of being a sole breadwinner for her large family. He lets her know that having emotions and venting to others about it from time to time are normal and healthy, and that real strength comes from accepting and overcoming her weakness, not rejecting them. He even explains these in simpler terms that Akane might understand. His words and warmth reach her, opening her path toward rethinking about what it really means to be strong and weak.

   In the main storyline, Hajime lends Akane a hand to investigate the beach house's shower room window, knowing she won't take no for an answer. Later down the line, Hajime understands how agitated Akane is while they are investigating Nekomaru's murder, given how close they were and how she had yet to repay Nekomaru, who sacrificed his human body so he could protect Akane at all costs.[132] Fuyuhiko Gundham Imposter Kazuichi Nagito Nekomaru Teruteru Hajime has a feeling that Fuyuhiko's lone wolf act is a facade, proven by how he hesitates at last second when Peko offers him the chance to escape the killing game at the price of sacrificing everyone else. Once he is taken by Monokuma to the hospital after sustaining injuries from interfering wit Peko's execution, Hajime finds himself wishing him to return. He further notes and commends how he tries to change for the better after Peko's avatar death by attending his recovery party hosted by Ibuki despite still recovering from his injuries.[135]

   Main article: Free Time Events/Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu “ ...I really don't mind. If you think I look like someone who's easy to talk to, then I'll listen to you as much as you want.

   — Hajime to Fuyuhiko, Free Time Event 3 ” Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu's Report Card Page 6The two begin to be on good terms after they team up as voluntary safeguards during the Despair Disease outbreak. It is only when the group finds themselves trapped in the Funhouse that Fuyuhiko starts to share his personal issues. Hajime allows him to spill his guts to help the Ultimate Yakuza to reconcile with his past and cope with the guilt from causing Peko and Mahiru's avatar deaths. Throughout their conversations, he's careful as not to light up Fuyuhiko's short temper on accident, and assures him that having mundane pleasures such as enjoying sweets is nothing to be ashamed of. As the two deepen their friendships, Hajime is in awe of how mature Fuyuhiko has become after overcoming many hardships. Fuyuhiko, in return, credits Hajime's counseling skills as the reason he is able to reflect on his past and move forward, and considers him his first friend. To celebrate their newfound friendship, they perform a sakazuki, a Japanese ritual of exchanging cups of brotherhood, and promise each other that they will escape the killing game. Ultimate Hope Canonical Sources Sources taken from Danganronpa 2: Chapter 0 & 6, Danganronpa Another Episode: Epilogue, Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc #05 - #11 & Hope Arc “ Supposedly Izuru was a genius among geniuses, and possessed various talents... Wielding superior talent for the hope of mankind, the academy referred to Izuru as... The Ultimate Hope...

   — The Tragedy of Hope's Peak ” The Izuru Kamukura Project transforms the talentless Hajime into a superhuman paragon by imbuing him with every talent Hope's Peak Academy had researched. He is granted with the title the Ultimate Hope, as he is supposed to symbolize the hope of mankind for wielding superior talent.

   Much like Junko, Izuru possesses borderline superhuman analytical abilities, allowing him to predict outcomes with extraordinary speed and accuracy. This near-infallibility causes him to grow bored with everything the world has to offer, as he is rarely proven wrong. Consequently, he is initially enticed by the unknown and chaotic nature of despair that Junko presents, most notably demonstrated when he is grazed by an unexpected bullet fired by the dying Asukasei during The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy. The only other factor capable of disrupting his cold, accurate, and logical analysis is the unpredictability of hope shown by the dying Chiaki, which forces him to reconsider the possibility that the opposite spectrum of despair can be just as unpredictable. Furthermore, Izuru is capable of analyzing and reading people's true nature from the second he looks at them. This is exemplified during his second encounter with Nagito, who he can immediately tell from a single glance as an individual hiding "a foul, putrid slime-like offensive odor" beneath his overfamiliar attitude, causing him to deem his entire existence as boring.

   Avoiding Junko's attacks Avoiding Junko's attacks

   Izuru's analytical skills, combined with his superhuman physical strength, reflexes, and speed, make him nearly invincible. He is able to send Mukuro, the Ultimate Soldier, flying with a simple backhand when she attempts to attack him after he incapacitates Junko. He flawlessly dodges Junko's attack with a bat while his eyes are closed and is even able to narrowly evade a bullet that he does not see coming until the very last second. He is capable of overpowering an entire fleet sent by the Future Foundation to eradicate the Remnants of Despair, taking one of their boats afterward and defeating their well-armed and skilled members in record time upon arriving at their headquarters. He is also seen easily bending metal and ripping a human-sized hole in a sturdy wall.

   His luck rivals that of Nagito's, demonstrated when he unknowingly jams Nagito's gun and then turns it against him. However, the attempt fails, as Nagito's luck manifests when the student handbook sponges the bullet on his behalf. He also has an extremely thin presence, akin to Yuto, allowing him to avoid participating the Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy's bloodbath and only reveals himself to the last man standing. He manages to physically upload Alter Ego Junko into the Future Foundation's main computer where the Neo World Program is installed undetected until the AI successfully hijacks the simulation.[32]

   After waking up from the Neo World Program, Izuru, who decides to live on as Hajime, utilizes talents related to the program to create The World Vanquisher. It is an AI imbued with the hand pistol ability, as well as superhuman strength, speed, and endurance, tasked with restoring his comatose classmates by fixing their mental instabilities. It successfully fulfills this role after repairing Nagito's psyche, the last to be awakened, whose illusory world is known as the "lowest stratum."

   Non-Canonical Sources Sources taken from Ultimate Talent Development Plan & Danganronpa S Development Mode In the Ultimate Talent Development Plan, some examples of Izuru's talents encompassed under his title of Ultimate Hope include: talents related to psychology, negotiation, observation, and storytelling while he lists some of his own abilities related to speech. Several musical-based talents including singing, playing instruments (notably the piano), and songwriting. He also mentions possessing every talent related to fighting, and is capable of noticing when other people are lying. Izuru has a major flaw, however, which is lacking "a heart" behind his actions due to his apathetic nature. While technically perfect, he doesn't put any feelings or thoughts into his performances, as he doesn't have any true motivation to utilize his talents. This can be especially noticeable in artistic and scientific activities and can be noticed by those who are skilled and truly passionate about the subject.

   In Danganronpa S, Izuru states that he possesses the Ultimate talents of Mechanic, Magician, Eastern Pastry Chef, Swimming Pro, Movie Star, and even Comedian. He maintains such exceptional physical abilities that he can perform borderline superhuman feats, such as carrying luggage more efficiently than even Sakura, Nekomaru, and Gonta, as well as performing long dives into the sea and setting new records with each attempt. He is agile, able to run at impressive speeds, even startling Usami, who knows just how fast he is. He knows how to use any type of weapon and estimates that he could disable the functions of and exterminate Monobeasts within half a day. Other superhuman talents he possesses include detecting the subtle presence and emotions of those around him, making him perceptive and extremely quick to act. Composing music instantly and improving it after taking inspiration from Kaede and Ibuki's performances is also within his abilities. He is able to give them sound musical and technical advice. Moreover, he is knowledgeable in entomology, ecology, and in raising, treating, and training animals.

   In other languages Hajime Izuru Hajime's "talent" as it appears in official translations of Danganronpa material.

   Ultimate ??? official translations in other languages Bonus Mode Guides The links below are full transcripts and indepth guides for Hajime Hinata and Izuru Kamukura's routes in Ultimate Talent Development Plan and Danganronpa S Development Mode.

   Danganronpa 2 Hajime Hinata Pixel Sprites (00) DRS Development Icon Danganronpa V3 Izuru Kamukura Pixel Sprites (01) DRS Development Icon UTPD (Hajime) Danganronpa S (Hajime) UTPD (Izuru) Danganronpa S (Izuru) Quotes DR2 Extra DR3 DR2 (Izuru) DR3 (Izuru) Extra (Izuru) Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair:

   Prologue:

   "It was a day that felt...truly significant. And when that long-awaited day finally came, I felt proud in a way I can't really put into words. I felt like...I had just become a part of something greater than myself. Does that make sense? Actually, that's exactly what it was like...I was truly in a dream." "I'm not so special that I have to introduce myself, and formalities are always a little embarrassing... Well, this is what's expected... I guess that's how I should think about it. My name is Hajime Hinata. There's only one reason I came to Hope's Peak Academy... Because I admired Hope's Peak Academy. To me, attending Hope's Peak Academy is like being a celebrity or a superhero. In fact, instead of calling it admiration, it's more like...it's always been a dream of mine. That's why, to feel like a member of society, to become someone I can be proud of, I always wanted to..." "At any rate, if this is a nightmare, I have no idea if it's even started yet... Sheesh, what kind of nightmare is that...?" "But...if we weren't in situation like this, I'd probably be enjoying some lazy sunbathing myself. "If" being the key word." "His build and that overwhelming aura of refinement just pushes people away... Is this what it means to be the Ultimate Affluent Progeny...?" "The strange thing about genuine surprise is that when it happens, your voice won't let you express it. The sudden appearance of a monster might be normal in anime and video games... And that's precisely why...I couldn't grasp the reality of this situation... I couldn't even feel fear. All I could do was stand aghast." "Once you're suspicious of something, you'll start to be suspicious of everything... Even of yourself. That's why it felt so hopeless." "That day became a day unlike any other... A day which held a more significant meaning. It was a special day... A very meaningful day full of despair. That was the beginning. The killing school trip had begun, and this tropical island was the stage." Chapter 1:

   "There was no way I could believe that this was now my reality. Even so...this was undeniably real. There was no way I could believe that this was now my reality. No matter how much I didn't want to believe it, the moment I experienced and felt it for myself... It became undeniably real. This...is a reality that could not be more different from my usual daily life. School, studying, exams, job hunting, going for walks, going to school, riding the train, lectures... That kind of daily life...is no longer mine. And it led straight on to the first night. A night so beautiful it enchanted me... And yet, my heart was horribly upset. That kind of beauty was definitely...far different than my usual daily life." "I didn't want to see anyone anymore. I just wanted to be alone forever... I have nobody I can trust... Because, even if I wanted to trust them...I don't know anything about them yet. The only person I can trust is myself... No, even I don't believe that." "I wasn't tired or anything, but...I just wanted to sleep, if only for a short while. I wanted to put an end to it all. And if, by chance, I managed to wake up the next day... It would be awesome if I was back to my normal life." "Wherever I go...there are surveillance cameras all over the place. Whoever's controlling Monokuma must be monitoring us with these cameras, too... It pisses me off to think I'm being watched by a lunatic... But there's nothing I can do about it." "I don't get it. In this tense situation, we all need to be a lot more cautious... And yet, I'm relieved everyone is in such high spirits. It's strange, but...I feel like I can rely on them. This...must be what it means to have the confidence of an Ultimate... Then...what am I? Am I...confident enough to call myself one of them?" "I don't really get it, but...I guess this guy isn't just some overconfident, narcissistic jerk after all. Despite our situation, he's mysteriously calm. He might just be a reliable person after all..." "Friends, huh? Until now, I never really thought about friendship. That sort of thing seemed embarrassing. I never would have thought about it in this situation... No, actually, it's more like... because of this situation..." "Believe in your friends, huh... It'd be difficult to believe in them right away, but it'd be nice if it could happen a little at a time... Huh. If I'm starting to think like that, doesn't that show I'm making good progress?" "Now then, there's no reason to hole up in my room and stare blankly into space. Since there's time...it'd be a great idea if I went ahead and talked to everyone." "When I first came to this island, watching everyone have fun was so frustrating... But now, it feels reassuring. We're actually "friends" who fight together... Friends who've developed a sense of unity..." "This hopeless reality... That's the real enemy we need to fight... If I'm going to survive this... ...then I have to fight it." "Finding out who the killer is... That's our only hope for survival... Something like this...is hope...? Even so...I still gotta do it." "That's right...I need to do it... If we're gonna survive this, we need to do it. ...I have to prepare myself for the worst." "It's not just for yourself! We have to do it to protect all of us! Stop blaming yourself... Nothing good will come of it..." "Byakuya Togami, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny... He was the kind of guy who said a lot of hurtful things... ...but he tried his best to lead everyone. The only thing I can do right now... ...for Byakuya's sake... ...is to uncover the truth behind his death!" "Well, if there's no reason, then there's no meaning..." "It's not like we're doing this because we want to!" "Just because it's cruel doesn't mean you can just keep crying like that. Crying won't solve anything... We have to do this no matter what, dammit!" "You're right... There's nowhere for us to run... We need to do it..." "It looks like everyone knows...even if we try to resist, it won't change a thing..." "The person who did it...is one of us? I can't believe it... There's no way I can believe it... But...if it's really true... We need to find out, by any means possible... Because...that's our only option. There is no way for us to survive unless we sacrifice the killer... And so... ...this life-threatening trial billowing with hope and despair... ...has begun." "No... Thinking about "if" is a waste of time. We have to do this...no matter what!" "The darkness in his eyes shone brightly, as if layers upon layers of darkness were folding into each other... ...As if hope and despair had been crudely mixed together." "The truth is beyond our sight... No, that can't be it. There should be some way to find out what happened in the dark!" "I just thought I knew him. But this whole time, I didn't know anything about this guy. I didn't know...his true character. It's as simple as that. But...now's not the time for me to dwell on that. We need to find Byakuya's killer...by any means possible. Because if we don't... We... We will die here...!" "Dammit! There's no way I'm going to lose against someone like him!" "That's right...if we don't do that, we can't end this no matter how much time passes. So...we need to do it!" "He...believed it more than anybody else here. That's why...he kept denying it... Because he believed it, he needed to deny it..." "Let's definitely work together and leave this island!" ""Do our best..." We kept using that phrase over and over again. Even though we knew they were just...cheap, meaningless, empty words... Regardless...we still said it. And we continued to say it over and over again without stopping." "This sky is connected to anywhere, even to my daily life. That's why...I might be able to go home. That's right...I'm definitely going to go home." Chapter 2:

   "The air's....suddenly not so tense anymore... Well, I guess it's better than being down forever... If I was all by myself...I probably wouldn't have been able to put my feelings aside and move on like this... I guess...I have these guys to thank..." "I'll find out about the Hanamura Diner... And when I do, I'll make sure I let you know...!" "I don't know what you're thinking, but...we're all in this situation together. You're not the only one stuck on this island... We all have to work together." "Training that resembles an actual fight might be fun, but just be careful not to get hurt, both of you." "Running away as soon as things get inconvenient... That's even more suspicious." (About Monomi) "We need to do our best to make sure there aren't any more incidents...!" "So he wanted someone to back him up so he could step forward... I sort of understand how he feels..." "Is doing nothing at all correct...? Or is trying to stop it from happening while being aware of the danger correct...? In this messed up world... There's no way I can know what's right..." "Well, you know...values vary from person to person." "Unlike his smile, his words carried a certain heaviness... As if a black poison was falling from his mouth every time he spoke, filling his surroundings with darkness... An illusion, but one I couldn't help feeling at that moment." "Running away from your problems isn't a solution. I'm just putting it off..." "It's not like I believe what Nagito said. It's just not a good idea to leave it alone..." "If...this was all a dream... When did I...when did I begin dreaming? If this is reality... Why is Mahiru on the floor covered in blood? I...couldn't understand anything that was in front of me... And I couldn't believe in anything." "Mahiru Koizumi, the Ultimate Photographer... She had an unyielding force of personality, but she was actually very good at taking care of people... And...she was always straightforward. Toward us and toward herself, she was always facing forward... ...She was that kind of person. Why her...? Why Mahiru...why... Wh-Why did this happen to her!?" "Everyone feels the same. But we can't do anything else except do it... A-And... There's no way we can just ignore...the reason Mahiru was killed." "That's right...we have to do it. It's the only way. I don't want to do this...but that's more the reason... for us to finish this... ...I'm the only one who can do this!" "...No, now's not the time to feel regret. I need to focus on doing as much as I can right now. And then...I'm going to find out the truth behind Mahiru's death. That's the only way...the rest of us can survive." "That...it's not just Chiaki... There's no way anyone would forgive something like this." "The more I talk to him, the creepier he gets... The more I listen to him, the more I don't understand him... If he didn't exist, this situation would be a lot easier to deal with..." "At the trial field where Monokuma is waiting... I have to make my case there..." "That's right...I can only... Moving forward is the only option!" "But we can't just stand around all day." "Throughout that drop, I was fluctuating between feeling hope and despair. As if my heart was a rotten fruit, swelling in the sun before it finally goes "squish"." "It's starting...the Class Trial is starting... Mahiru Koizumi, the Ultimate Photographer... She had an unyielding force of personality, but she was actually very good at taking care of people... Most importantly...she was always straightforward. The person that killed her... ...is among us? I don't want to believe it. I don't want to believe it. I don't want to believe it but... Regardless, we need to find the answer. It doesn't matter if you believe it or not. Because...it's the only way. Aside from finding out who the killer is, there is no other way... ...for us to survive... And so... ...this life-threatening trial billowing with hope and despair... ...has begun." "I...don't really want to say it myself but...I need to move the conversation forward..." "An unconventional weapon...that also appeared in the game... If we're told we can't advance as long as we don't make that clear... ...Then I have to do it. I'll do it." "Let's stop... Believing every little thing Nagito says is a waste of time." "The bitter truth... That may be true but... ...Even so, we can't just stand around here all day. Even if what lies ahead is a cruel ending, the only thing we can do is move forward. because...unless we reveal who among us is Mahiru's true killer... There's...no way we'll survive." "If I just focus and think about it, I'm sure I'll be able to find the answer. All right, I'm going to do it!" "I don't want anyone else...to be sacrifice." "...And so, the Class Trial ended. But we still can't see the real ending that we really want yet... When that finally arrives... What will have happened to us by then...? No matter where I look... No matter what possibilities I look for... I can't see our future, not even a speck. As if we were in a boat, floating unreliably in a vast, dark sea... We were just left there. Alone. Only one word could explain our situation. Despair. ...We couldn't find a more suitable word than that." Chapter 3:

   "My body feels terribly burdened... But...that worry ends here. There's no way I can just lay here and do nothing. ...That's right, just do it." "Yeah, I couldn't really stay put and do nothing." "Gaming as usual... No, I have a slight feeling she's deliberately concentrating on her game. Like she's trying to keep her sadness from showing by being completely focused in gaming... ...Or is it just me?" "However...we didn't realize just how short-lived this peace would be. Even though we were finally bonding, a situation was brewing, like a huge fracture running between us all... And that...would be the trigger for a truly horrible and atrocious incident... Not just for me...but for every single one of us... ...We just hadn't realized it yet." "A new island, huh... Maybe now we'll finally find it. A way to get off this island and go home... No...that's the only thing we have! That's our one and only hope!" "Peko... You...weren't a tool at all. But you didn't realize it until it was too late..." "Judging someone for their crimes... No one has the right to do that... That's exactly it, huh...Mahiru... The killings... The class trials... It's all so messed up...!" "Nekomaru's quite good at taking care of people... I wonder if that's a habit of being a team manager?" "The moment I have a heart attack...I'll definitely have something I need to be worried about..." "He would've probably used the latest kitchen equipment... And cooked the World's Tastiest Dishes. With those dishes, he would've made a lot of people smile... But...that's no longer..." "Hey Kazuichi... "Those who won't run will never see the goal!" "The combination is crazy and everyone's doing different things...but strangely, it's harmonizing really well. Even though our paces are all different... Will we be able to be like this in the future? ... Mahiru, can you hear this performance? Are you seeing Hiyoko's dance...? Not just Mahiru... Peko...Teruteru...Byakuya...are you all watching? We will never forget about you. Ever! And we will not waste your deaths... We will survive and get off this island!" "It should be okay to have a peaceful day like this for a change." "It's...definitely not possible... There's no way it'd be that easy to move on... We never had to think about death until we came to this island. So when we're forced to suddenly confront it, there's no way we'd know how we're supposed to deal with it..." "I've never felt so fatigued in the morning before... It's probably because of everything that's happened... But I should put that feeling aside and move on. There's no such thing as a useless day for us anymore." "I see...Fuyuhiko's not the only one who's trying to change... She's...also trying, huh. The old Hiyoko...there's no way she would've ever forgiven Fuyuhiko like this." "Even if we opened our mouths, only words of worry would come out. We all knew that. When we saw Nekomaru's tragedy happen right in front of us, once again we were all taught... If you think you won't die...well, that's just wishful thinking. On this island, without any warning... People die... That...is the nightmare we're trapped in. When you think you've finally woken up from the nightmare, you realize you're still inside it. ...And thus, the nightmare continues." "Nekomaru must've wanted to protect Akane at all costs. Just like how Peko wanted to protect you..." "It'd probably be a waste of time to find out the reason for each little thing Nagito does but... I don't get this at all. Why did he have to tell such an outrageous lie?" "I-I'd really prefer if she had a more confident-sounding catchphrase...!" "I-It's going to be okay...you don't have to worry. Fuyuhiko and I are here, so don't cry." "Worry...why do I have to worry about a guy like him...?" "I do understand how you feel but...don't overexert yourself, okay?" "Anyway...all we can do now is wait... Just wait patiently...until the situation improves...and changes for the better. Because waiting patiently was the only thing we could do...we waited patiently." "My worries have piled so high that one sigh just isn't enough. And...the more I think about it, it's like I'm slowly being sucked deeper and deeper into an endless pit... I guess for today...I should just go to sleep. It's best if I not dwell on it too much..." "I wanted to cover my ears. I wanted to run. To the place I deserve to be. Not here. To the place...where I can be more confident." "Leave me alone... I just... I just want to become someone who's confident in myself." "I rushed into the music venue with a prayer in my heart. But... I completely forgot... Prayer...means nothing on this island." "Even though I expected it...I still didn't want to confront that reality. Under the hemp bag, there was no denying that the face I saw belonged to...Ibuki." "That's right...we need to end this... We need to finish this...once and for all. I know there's no way he can believe that one of us did this... But for those two's sake, we need to find the truth! And then, we need to end this nightmare once and for all!" "...I understand how you feel, but please get a hold of yourself. Two of our friends were killed... That's all the more reason why we can't just leave this alone, right?" "This guy just wants to confuse us... There's no way I'm going to tell him what he wants to know!" "I noticed our lined up silhouettes keep getting smaller and smaller... ...But I can't turn back now. If I turn back, I won't be able to press forward..." "Ibuki Mioda, the Ultimate Musician... She was really loud, but she was the moodmaker of our group. When I was with her, all of my pain and suffering just seemed to melt away. Hiyoko Saionji, the Ultimate Traditional Dancer... Just from looking at her adorable face, you'd never know she was actually selfish and foulmouthed... But she was trying to change herself, and she was desperately trying to come to terms with Mahiru's death. The person who killed those two is among us. I...definitely can't believe it... But...whether I believe it or not is irrelevant. Unless I figure out the truth, I won't be able to escape from this hell. That's why...I must find out, no matter the cost. For our sake... For our friends' sake... For Ibuki and Hiyoko's sake... And so...the curtain to the third Class Trial was about to open... ...this life-threatening trial billowing with hope and despair... ...has begun." "It's just as Kazuichi said... Nagito's the kind of guy who'll just confuse us and make matters worse..." "Wh-What warm-up!? This isn't a game, you know!" "Why Hiyoko went to the music venue... If that's the key to all this... I need to find that out, no matter the cost!" "Nagito Komaeda... You're definitely someone I shouldn't underestimate..." "And whether or not we can reach the that hidden truth... ...is all up to me." "Tricks aside, logic aside... Is she really capable...of doing something like this? No, in fact...it'd be so much easier if I was wrong... If I have this much doubt about someone I've spent so much time with..." "I...don't want to do this either...! Of course I don't want to do this...! But...I need to do this...!" "That's not it! I suspect them because I want to believe them!" "I need to...make up my mind. I'm the one who has to do it...! I'm the one who's going to finish this...!" "Don't flinch....don't hesitate...don't run away...! I'm the only one who saw that video... Who else is gonna do it if I don't!?" "At this rate, we're not getting anywhere... I gotta do something...and end this... I gotta do something...so I can make her admit it!" "Mikan...it's already over... After I go over your crime from the beginning and show that you have no argument left... ...Please just admit it already! In the end, at least let me believe in you!" "I-I won't believe it...! There's no way I can believe...you were like this all along... Because...if that's true...! Then who's the person we've been spending time with up until now!?" "Like a house of cards collapsing in an instant... In the end, our friend we thought we knew ended up showing us a completely different side of herself... Then she vanished from our sight, leaving behind only her malice toward us. And now...there's no way we can just move on or try to have a clear-cut attitude about these feelings... ...That's clearly impossible." Chapter 4:

   "We were hoping things would progress smoothly. That's right. A common, ordinary progression. Like, for example... The enemy's lair crumbling right after you defeat the final boss, or your dead friend suddenly reappearing... It would've been just fine if things had progressed like that. That's the kind of old-school progression we were hoping for... Not...this unreasonable turn of events." "It's better to just be alive... I do understand what Nekomaru is saying but... No matter how we make sense of this... It's just too weird... This isn't a novel or a movie. This is reality. Can something this unexplainable really be allowed to happen? No, instead... Why did this happen?" "As I listened to Monokuma's boisterous laugh, once again I was forced to accept... This island is not the day-to-day world I know. It's a mad world where the strange is accepted as normal. Causes, reasoning, circumstances, foreshadowing... These things don't apply here at all. ...That's what it means to live in a mad world." "I will not accept any more victims...! I will definitely prevent that from happening...!" "It's useless to think about things that are a waste of time... I've learned that much during my time here." "Maybe it's because we were shown a new mystery from that Future Foundation file but... ...I was panicking. I couldn't keep still after being forced to see more mysteries that didn't make sense. I felt like...I didn't even care if it was a trap. And because of that panic, I completely forgot... Monokuma's traps are always...far beyond our imagination... ...I completely forgot about that." "We've been together this whole time and you still don't know who I am!?" "When people stop trusting you...it seriously sucks..." "Of course, I'm not a kid who'd be amused by something like this... Besides, I don't have time to play anyway." "Yeah, you're right... It's still too soon to give up." "That's why... No matter what shape you're in, we're all extremely happy that you came back to us." "But...we can't just stand here and do nothing...!" "So once someone is suspicious of me, anything I do will look suspicious to them, huh. What should I do...?" "So it was definitely a waste of time to believe Monokuma..." "For a princess...you sure do think about petty stuff." "It's a little cold in here... The draft coming from the door is making me hungry... But...I shouldn't be talking like that. For now, I need to endure it no matter what. No matter what happens...I will definitely prevent a killing from happening... I won't let Monokuma get what he wants...!" "...Now then, what should I do now? In this kind of situation...panicking will accomplish nothing. It might be better if I spend time like I normally do for as long as I can. I should find someone to talk to...or it might be a good idea to just stay in my room and conserve my energy." "In the future, it may be necessary to know about the enemy..." "This isn't about just you... We're all getting screwed here." "I'd rather...have that happen to us... ...than have our friends kill each other..." "If I just leave this matter alone, something bad might happen... It's not like I'm worried but...I should go see how everyone's doing." "...I don't even have the energy or willpower to say anything anymore." "The weaker my body gets, the less sense everything seems to make... We're on the verge of starving to death and there's no way to escape... Is it really okay to just lay here and take it? Or..." "This morning, I couldn't help feeling angry...that I said what I said in front of every one, but... I...I don't really think that it's okay if we end up starving to death... I need to do something... I need...to do...something...soon..." "It...was very sudden. That's right, it's always sudden. The door to despair...always opens suddenly." "If this is a nightmare, please, just let me wake up..." "I gotta do it... I have to do it...!" "I knew he was strange from the start, but for him to casually do something so suicidal... He's crazy...! That's all there is to it!" "It's true that I'm...shocked, but...now's not the time for me to feel like that... Right now, I can't afford to be the only one who's depressed... I need to survive with everyone else and return home! That's what's most important! ...Isn't that right?" "No... We've all come this far. If he's saying we should try it out, then we should give it a shot." "O-Of course there isn't! What kind of hope comes from killing people!?" (to Nagito) "Calm down... That's right... I need to calm down..." "...And so it begins. I hoped this would never happen again, and now it's happening for the fourth time... The curtain to the fourth Class Trial...was about to open. Nekomaru Nidai, the Ultimate Team Manager... He was more passionate...more daring...more honest than anyone I'd ever met... Truly, he was more man than any of us. He sacrificed his body to protect Akane, and his appearance changed drastically because of that... But...he still tried to live earnestly. And just when I finally got used to his new form... Nekomaru's killer... ...is one of us. Killing someone because it's the only way to survive...is no excuse. ...I won't let this be excused. I won't forgive this. The person who betrayed Nekomaru... Who betrayed their friends... ...I will never, ever forgive them! And so... ...this life-threatening trial billowing with hope and despair... ...has begun." "You can tell what the weapon is just by looking...? It wouldn't be much of a mystery if that were true..." "Nagito... As usual, I can't tell what he's thinking. I have no idea if he's serious or not..." "...If I'm going to reach the truth behind this incident, I need to solve that mystery next!" "Another mystery I don't understand...? Seriously, it's just one after another... But...I can't choke up at a time like this. Just a little more and I'll be able to reach the truth... There should definitely be a clue to breaking through this contradiction!" "Perhaps we've overlooked something... Maybe we're misunderstanding something... Think... If I focus and think...I should be able to find the answer to that mystery." "I need too clarify by how much the time was off after the killer messed with the clocks. That's definitely the next mystery...! I'm going to reach the truth in one go!" "When something is obviously wrong, that's when a contradiction is born... There's no such thing as a contradiction that can't be overcome!" "A contradiction is when something is obviously wrong... There's no contradiction I can't shoot through... I'm going to find out what that is. For the sake of everyone's hope...I'll shoot through the contradiction!" "...There's no way I can stop!" "His argument...is exhausting... Just listening to it makes me tired... I need to skillfully cut back against his words, so he doesn't outpace me..." "I guess you really don't want to admit it... Then...just as you requested... I will provide an argument that'll leave you no choice but to be persuaded!" "It's true the Class Trial is finished but...that doesn't mean the incident is over... We can't finish yet until we hear it from Gundham!" "Even after Gundham is gone... The spirit of his parting words still lingered deep in our chests. "Don't give up on life" Did I...misunderstand what he meant? Then...what's the right thing to do? I don't know... No matter how much I think about it... I don't know if I'll ever be able to answer that." "We shouldn't just stand here... I mean...it's not like this is over. We...still have to do it. We still have to finish this. For the sake of our friends who have died, we need to finish this once and for all! So... Don't just stand there. Stand up and walk. Move forward. Live. If you don't... Everyone who fought and died will have died in vain...! We can't allow that!" "With this, the Class Trial has come to an end and once again, we returned to Jabberwock Island. The size of our group has definitely diminished... But despite that...even if it was just the rest of us, we did our best to stay upbeat and have fun together. Of course, our optimism was only superficial... But at that moment, we were able to forget about the dark despair looming before us. However, the only thing I was worried about... ...was him. He wasn't there. He...suddenly disappeared from our sight." Chapter 5:

   "Nekomaru, you were a strong man. You were always straightforward...because you were strong. But...strength doesn't mean anything when you're dead." "Gundham...I won't forget your final message... "Don't give up on life." Even now, those words are still etched into my heart. I don't know if I'll find any answers, but... We...will continue to press forward...so you won't lecture us...!" "My whole life...I've just wanted to feel confident about myself... And I thought getting into Hope's Peak Academy meant I had finally become someone I could be proud of... Not...some fucking backup student...!" "Hey, don't talk like you're not included. You're our friend too, you know..." "As we left the restaurant, the expressions on our faces were clearly different than they were before... They were filled with strong will and determination... Armed with that, we began walking toward the last island. But...the clouds in my heart still lingered... I couldn't stop thinking about the Reserve Department. And that filled me with this strange uncomfortable feeling, like a small bone was lodged in my throat. But...I tried not to think about it. I tried to stay focused on moving forward." "This mystery doesn't make any sense... No matter how much we think about it, there's no reason behind it..." "It's just...a lot of unimaginable things have kept happening to us, so maybe I'm getting a little confused. But the world ending...? There's no way something so unbelievable could actually happen. That sounds like something that would happen in a work of fiction... But the thought of it actually happening in reality...is definitely unsettling." "Kazuichi is right. It's dangerous to let Nagito wander freely. If we're being cautious, we have to act fast... But...what is this indescribable anxiousness I'm feeling? ... I hope...it just means I'm thinking too much..." "There are photos of the 16 of us, but we can't return to those days anymore. Once again, I'm confronted by the fact that..." "Well, since I walked around all day today, I was able to obtain several clues... Although I'm not really certain if you can even call these clues... Instead...I feel like we're just suffering from more mysteries that don't make sense... ... This isn't good... As soon as nighttime hits, I can't stop thinking all these pessimistic thoughts... ...This might be a bad habit of mine. I should just get some sleep for today. Rest my mind for a while... And then...I'll give this some more thought tomorrow." "I don't know what he's thinking, but as long as we capture him, we'll have the advantage. I won't let him do as he pleases anymore...!" "I couldn't even stop him... I felt...afraid of Nagito. The madness emanating from Nagito's body was seeping into my bones. I...never expected him to go this far..." "But...it's ironic... Nagito is the reason we're all splitting up, but the reason we're all cooperating... ...is because of Nagito, too. ...It's pretty damn ironic." "Nothing good will come from rushing... I should try looking somewhere else...!" "Now's not the time to be calm! We need to stop them!" "I'd never experienced such an oppressive atmosphere before, and I couldn't help holding my breath. And then, on the other side of the curtain... I saw the true source of the intense malice that I had been feeling. I...I had no idea...what I was looking at... By the time I realized I was looking at the remains of Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student... ...Time had already stopped." "Eventually...the shock finally registered with me. A numb feeling spread from the center of my brain almost instantly. Nagito...is dead... Even when I saw this before me, I wasn't able to comprehend that reality yet." "I never expected I'd be looking at Nagito's body like this... Nagito...probably thought the same thing. I couldn't help seeing it in his dead, frightened face. But...on this island, unbelievably abnormal occurrences happen all the time... Even Nagito couldn't escape that truth... But even something as small as that..." "There's a killer among us... The weight of those words began to sink into me. That was true of the previous cases, but...was it really true this time? No matter how much I tried, I couldn't believe it... Because the victim was Nagito...? Because his death was so abnormally cruel...? No, it wasn't just that. There was something more to it than that... And whatever it was...it was stuck inside me." "A-Anyway... Like you said before, if we screw up here, it's the end for us. For now...let's focus on the investigation. We'll think about the countdown...after we live through the Class Trial." "There's no time for us to stand around. In order to survive...there's no other way except to do it. In order to survive, we need to find Nagito's killer. If we don't sacrifice that person, nobody can survive... ...That's our reality. That's why...there's no time for us to stand around." "Don't worry or form conclusions on your own... That makes me more worried than I should be." "I never expected Nagito...to die like this... He was always spouting nonsense about hope and trying to confuse the hell out of us... But even so...dying like this is just too cruel. Also...he wasn't completely useless... There were times we were only able to reach the truth because of him. But...everything good and bad about him is gone. We'll never be confused by him again. We'll never be saved by him again... No...now isn't the time to think about unnecessary things. I need to focus on the investigation right now." "Jeez...I can't believe I actually investigated such a grisly-looking body... ...Even I'm surprised at myself. Does this mean...I'm used to it? My classmate's dead body is right in front of me...and one of my peers is the killer responsible... And I have to investigate his death so I can find his killer... Am I used to something as abnormal as that? That would mean...I'm becoming abnormal, too." "I feel a little tired... No matter how much I investigate, I don't feel any closer to the truth... That's probably why I feel this way. I'm feeling this strange feeling that I've never felt before. As if Nagito is trying to make us suffer, even after he's died... ...Well, now's not the time to think about stupid things like that. I haven't even investigated his cottage yet... It's too early to start complaining. If we investigate that place, we might be able to find some kind of clue. ...All right, let's go." "So...Nagito was living here... What was he thinking inside this room? What was he feeling as he spent his days in here...? I can't even imagine. Wanting to see "absolute hope"... Becoming despair so he could act as a stepping stone for the rest of us... No matter how much I think about it, I just don't understand him at all... I don't even know if he truly believed that... He was especially weird these past few days. What changed him...? Maybe...the clue to that might be hidden here as well..." "You're right...you're absolutely right... We're not alone... Even if it's a mystery that can't be solved alone... As long as everyone cooperates and works together... Yeah...if we do that, things will turn out fine..." "In fact, during the Funhouse ordeal, we were completely dependent on him... But even if he's gone, the ones who've survived need to stand and fight. We...must fight... And then...the door slowly opened. This bright light greeting us... Is that the light of hope...? Or the light of despair...?" "Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student... When I first met him, I thought he was a nice guy. He came across as very sociable... But his true nature...held such a demented thought process that was nothing like his outward appearance... He said he believed in hope more than anything else. He said he was yearning for a powerful hope that can overcome any despair. He said he would even help despair just to prove that hope will never lose to despair... And...he said he'd become a stepping stone for hope. ...His way of thinking was completely screwed up. But...there were also times he saved us, too. Someone like him was killed... That was the end of him. And I have no idea at all...who did it, but... There's no way we can end this without knowing. We will be consumed by despair. That's why...we absolutely have to find out... The person who finished off Nagito... The killer who murdered Nagito...! In order to return from this despair alive, we need to reach the truth. And if Monokuma says this is really the last Class Trial... ...That's all the more reason we need to do this. And so... ...this life-threatening trial billowing with hope and despair... The last one... ...has begun." "Jeez...and I was starting to feel a little sympathetic toward him... How stupid of me... I completely underestimated his capacity for malice... A mind-boggling malice that threatens us even after he's died... That's the form his malice look. I had forgotten all about it until now... If he was here now...he'd probably be sneering at me." "I just remembered that his malice always defied our expectations...and that concerns me. For example, would that malice...just end here? Did Nagito's malice drive him to risk his life for a truth we'd reach this easily? I mean...this is Nagito we're talking about, you know?" "If all your hopes are united, no despair can shake you", huh... ...Now that I think about it, Nagito said the same thing. "The absolute hope that can overcome any despair"... He said he was yearning for that... Then, this situation we're in...might be the thing that Nagito wanted all along... ... ...No, never mind. I'm probably...overthinking." "I don't want to hurt anyone... I don't want to get hurt anymore...by hurting someone else. Everyone's tired...tired of doubting everyone else... I...I also feel that way. That's why I want to just rule this as "Nagito's suicide". If I do that...nobody here has to get hurt... But... That's no good... I feel like...Nagito is seeing through us. By calling this "Nagito's suicide," we're trying to take the easy way out so we don't hurt anyone else... But if Nagito was here right now... He'd probably be sneering at us. He'd probably say something like, "So that's the extent of your hopes." "But...I just can't imagine ending this by turning our backs on the truth...!" "He wanted to prove to us that there are mysteries that just can't be solved with educated guesses!" "That's right...it doesn't mean the trial is over yet... Even though I don't know who killed Nagito... It should be clear what kind of trap he set. Then...I have to do it. Even if it leads to despair...! ...I got it. Let's do this then!" "He relied on his luck to aim for a target, but he didn't even know who he was aiming for... It sounds way too unbelievable to have actually happened, but... ...The only thing we can do is believe." "Wh-Whether I can prove it or not...that's not the problem... Don't you understand!? You may as well be asking me to kill you! I... There's no way I can do that...!" "No, the truth is I might've already known the moment I found this notebook... It's just...I wanted to turn my eyes from the truth it contained... But now I clearly know. I...can't help but know..." "I don't want to believe it either... I don't want to believe but... But...then nobody will be saved!" "I don't...I don't want to believe it...but... I have to move forward... I have to move forward to the path she's showing us...!" "We shouldn't believe in Monokuma...or Nagito... We have to believe in Chiaki! It doesn't matter who the traitor is... Even if Chiaki is the traitor, that's not the Chiaki I know. I believe in...the Chiaki who's been with us this whole time. That Chiaki is saying she wants to protect us with her life! So the only thing we can do is believe her! If we don't...nobody's going to be saved!" "...It's not fair. I...feel the same as everyone else. There's no way I can agree to this...! Emptiness. Loneliness. Sadness. But most of all...I'm ashamed of my weakness. But... Even so... ...I have to move forward. If we believe in the person who's urging us forward... ...then we have to start walking. And believe...with as much hope as possible in what lies ahead." "Without realizing it...I had fallen to my knees. A feeling of powerlessness spread throughout my body. It's over... It just had to end... Before I could ask what I needed to ask... Before I could say what I needed to say... Chiaki vanished before my eyes... And I couldn't even tell her, "Thank you"... If I had said that, would she have been comforted a little...? As she was executed as the traitor...would she have been comforted a little...? I don't know... My chest...just hurt." "Even after I woke up, my will to move my body didn't come back. That's why... I didn't look back on everything that happened up till now... I didn't think about what was going to happen... I just kept praying that nothing else would happen... And burrowed deep into my sheets, as if I were trying to hide." "The day feels abnormally long when you spend it praying that nothing happens." "...Is everything really going to end? What is "everything" anyway? How far, how much is...everything? If we leave this island...is everything going to end? There's still so much we don't know... About our school memories, the [Future Foundation, Hope's Peak Academy, Monokuma's true purpose... Can we really end this and turn our back on all that? And not just that...if we're really leaving, then where are we going? ...To Hope's Peak Academy? ... That was...my last night at Jabberwock Island. At a place where my worries didn't even matter...everything was about to end." "I suddenly couldn't believe in anything, like everything in this world was nothing but lies..." "Nagito...I can't believe you actually left a will... Fine, then I'll make sure to listen to your last words...!" "To go to the trouble of preparing something like this... Nagito was unpredictable until the very end..." "Beyond this door... The future is waiting... A sparkling future... Now then...let's move forward." "Something's...wrong...? What did I do...? ... ... No...that's not it... I'm not the...weird one... .What's really weird is... ...this world?" Chapter 6:

   "The gymnasium...is here, right? ...All right, I'm going inside! Something might be waiting...but I'm not going to cower away anymore." "If I really am a nobody...then...you should've just left me alone... Why...why do I have to go through something like this?" "Chiaki said...she could not betray the Future Foundation... But if she were still alive, she definitely would've helped us... No...even her just being with us would've been a big help." "He's...right... Now's not the time to bemoan how unlucky I am... Where this place really is... What's happened to Hope's Peak Academy... ...None of that matters. What's important is... I need to leave this island with the others. We sacrificed so many lives in order to survive just so we could do that... There's no way we can stop now." "If we stopped at the green light...we'd never reach our goal." "I...should hurry and start too... Just a bit more... Just a bit more...and it's going to end... I can escape this nightmare and return to my usual, peaceful, every day life. The only thing we can do is advance toward that hope... Even though I don't understand...and that a lot of horrifying things keep happening... For the sake of everyone who couldn't make it this far, I'm definitely going to go home!" "I-I don't know how he's doing it but...he keeps doing it over and over again... He's so persistent... Bur I'm not gonna fall for his trap! There's no way this will make me back down!" "The cherry tree is proudly displaying its full blossoms. The falling petals add to the elegance of the scene. If Hiyoko and Peko were here, it would've looked truly picturesque. For their sake's as well...I will definitely go home!" "No...it'd just be a waste of time to wonder about things that don't make sense." "He's trying to make us feel despair toward the outside world so we'll want to stay on this island. But...there's no way I'm going to do what he wants...! Despair like that simply can't exist... The outside world should be filled with hope... ...Just like now. Perhaps...no, that's definitely it." "No...I've already decided that I'm not going to be surprised. That's right...there's no time for me to be surprised by something like this!" "But still...her gut is pretty impressive... For some reason it's strangely intuitive... And Monokuma did say something about the main cast coming... It's surprising but...her gut must be correct again this time..." "I'm starting to feel like we might be better off not remembering the memories we've lost..." "A feeling of emptiness, like everything is being tainted. A feeling of weakness, like the world is collapsing beneath my feet. Everything is starting to feel meaningless... The desperate attempts, the sad goodbyes, the conflicts, the trust I felt until now... It's all disappearing until all I feel is... ...Despair." "There was no way for me to acknowledge it as the truth... It would make much more sense if this was a fictional world..." "I feel... I feel like I can't believe what's going on here... The missing sense of reality... All the mysteries...all the truths... They're all just fiction... Is that...? ... ...Even so, I need to know. I need to know what this world is." "Do our best...huh... But...what do we have to do our best at...? ... The mystery is getting solved... I'm finally starting to see the truth... But...what are we supposed to do when that truth is really a lie? We know we're working towards a conclusion that nobody wants to hear... But still, do we really need to work hard and do our best? Is there...really a reason to do our best? If everything was a lie... Then isn't everything just meaningless? It's the same for the killings, too... Even though we had to experience something as painful as that... Something as tragic as that... Wouldn't all that be meaningless too? When the world is flipped over and becomes so irrational... What...am I supposed to do...?" "It's...just a waste of time thinking about what this all means right now... For now...I need to finish this... I need to just focus on that..." "The world's true identity... If I answer this...it will be true... And that lie...will become the truth... But... There's no way I can leave it unanswered." "This world is a virtual reality created by a computer program. We can't proceed if we don't accept it... ...Is believing him really the only thing we can do?" "The truth is... ...The truth is it was all a lie. That...is this world's truth... I-If everything's a lie... Then...what should we believe...?" "What game...!? That's not what we risked our lives for!" "She didn't exist at all...? Not human...? No, that's not it! Chiaki was really alive...! Even if she was a virtual existence, she was really alive... Did you forget!? She saved our lives, you know!" "We've been trying desperately to survive until we can finally leave this place... If we don't get out of here now, all the deaths we've endured will be in vain... I...know this...but... ...Something's not right. ...How come Monokuma isn't trying to stop us? Is he just going to stay quiet and overlook us getting out of this game world? Then...everything Monokuma did would be pointless, too. Not only that... Is...it really okay for us to believe him? Should...we get out? Or..." "We're...completely at her mercy. But if we can't progress unless we answer... We have no choice...but no answer...!" "S-So you're saying you only exist...to fill people with despair?" "Meaningless...vanish... Does that...include her, too? If we lose our memories of this world, we're also going to forget she ever existed, right? If that happens... Does it really mean that... ...that she, an existence confined to this world...is really going to disappear? She risked her life to protect us, and we won't even remember she existed...!" "Graduate or shutdown... The world or me... Hope or despair... They're telling us to choose...? To choose between that...? Wh-Why...? Why...do we have to choose...? I can't do it... I...can't choose... You guys are telling us the world's going to be destroyed unless we sacrifice ourselves... And that...I can't decide... I can't choose either one..." "Shut up! Leave me alone! This...this is just too much... Why do I...why do I have to be a part of this...? I mean, I'm different from the rest of you... And I don't even have a talent... But even so...I got dragged into this... And now...my existence is going to disappear? Ha...hahaha, I don't understand it at all." "It's impossible! For someone like me...it's impossible... I can't choose the future...! Hope...despair...do whatever you want! It's not my problem!" "Anyway...don't you think they're messed up? Telling us the world's going to be destroyed and to sacrifice ourselves...? There's no way I can choose... For someone like me...I'm just not able to choose... Seriously...I've had enough... I'm tired of being mixed up in all this stuff I don't understand... Not only was I told that I have no talent at all, but if I get out, I'll go back to being Ultimate Despair... And on top of that...I was told I'm going to disappear too. Isn't that messed up? ...Hey, you don't want that either, right? I mean, if we lose our memories, there won't be a single trace of your existence left. You're going to completely disappear...and none of us will ever remember you..." "Hey Chiaki...can you tell me something? Which...which choice should I make? My hope...the world's hope...which one should I choose?" "I have no talent at all... I was even betrayed by the academy I admired so much... I don't want to disappear... I'm not Izuru Kamukura... Who cares what will happen to the world...? It's not like I'll be appreciated anyway... I don't want to sacrifice myself... There's no way we can beat Junko! It's the Future Foundation's fault... Not mine... I can't choose the future..." "There won't just be hope... There will probably be a lot of despair too... I don't know what kind of future awaits us... ...but our futures are ours! I won't let anyone take them!" "I've decided...I'm done running away... I will fight for my future! I will fight alongside the future that everyone created for me! It's not for anyone else's sake but my own!" "I...am not Izuru Kamukura... I am Hajime Hinata!" "There's never only one choice to make... There's no way I'll allow things to end this way. The future everyone has created for us should have more possibilities than that. Let's leave this place with confidence, and from there we can just create it on our own. ...The future that we want!" "It wouldn't be strange if a miracle happened... This isn't a game! We can change the future as much as we want!" "We believe in our future... That's what makes us different from you... We believe that if we try new things, even difficult things, that everything will turn out okay. We believe we can even create our own futures!" "I'm not...the one you should be thanking." "And from that point on...we're the ones who are going to create." "So this is the end... But...it's just the beginning. ...Isn't that right? It doesn't change how scared I am... I can't help feeling scared...so scared, but... Thank you... Thank you, Chiaki... Phew...I finally said it." Class Trial Interjections:

   "NO, THAT'S WRONG!" "I AGREE WITH THAT!" "THAT MUST BE IT!" "I SEE!" "I CAN PROVE IT WITH THIS!" "HERE'S EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE!" "There's no way I'll back out now!" "ALLOW ME TO CUT THROUGH THOSE WORDS!" "I'LL SHOOT THROUGH THAT CONTRADICTION!" "YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE!" "THIS IS MY ANSWER" "I GOT IT!" "THIS IS THE END!" "IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER!" "HERE!" "That's not it..." "This world..." "EVEN SO, I..." "I'LL NEVER LET ANYONE CHOOSE AGAIN!" "THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE...!" (Only in the Japanese version) Epilogue:

   "And so...the ordeal has ended. And from here, our daily lives have started. Lives that are much more absurd, nonsensical, and irrational than before... Things are...probably going to be a lot more difficult now. There's no such thing as an answered mystery... It's doubtful whether or not things will even end well." "The future isn't a path, it's like an endless sea... You can try to go anywhere... But it doesn't mean you'll get there. Even so, I will keep on living. I will keep on living as Hajime Hinata. My future...lies here." List of Appearances Games Anime Light Novels Manga Stage Plays Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (2012) - Main Protagonist Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls (2014) - Minor (Izuru) Danganronpa: Unlimited Battle (2015) - Major Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (Demo Version) (2016) - Major Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (2017) - Cosplay & Bonus Mode Character (Hajime & Izuru) Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp (2021) - Playable Character (Hajime & Izuru) Super Danganronpa 2x2 Special Trial Version (2025) - Main Protagonist Danganronpa 2x2 (2026) - Main Protagonist[12] Merchandise The link below lists all official licensed merchandise featuring Hajime Hinata and Izuru Kamukura:

   Main: Hajime Hinata Merchandise Main: Izuru Kamukura Merchandise Trivia Throughout the events of Danganronpa 2, Hajime shares several fun facts about himself. During the course of the killing game, Hajime eats regularly, shown siting at a table near the window during breakfasts, though he doesn't have much of an appetite and has troubles getting enough sleep.[119][161][162] He states that when he gets to escape the killing game, the first thing he wishes to do is find a safe place to relax and get some decent sleep.[83] He used to frequently play jigsaw puzzles as a kid,[43] shown to read manga, doesn't know how to drive, doesn't particularly dislike strawberries, and saves his favorite food for last.[163] He does not read books written in foreign languages such as French, Italian, and English; the latter being exclusive to the original Japanese version.[164] He has never seen a traditional dance performance,[110] never measured his body fat percentage,[98] and had only seen motels in movies until he discovered one on the third island of Jabberwock Island.[165] Izuru is foreshadowed in Gundham's first Free Time Event, where Gundham asks Hajime to reveal his "true name" and "special ability."[79] Hajime's former high school, Kodaka High School, is named after the creator of the Danganronpa series. Izuru is among the few characters to survive two killing games: the Killing School Trip and The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy. The others being Makoto, Aoi Asahina, and technically, Kyoko. Hajime shares his English voice actor, Johnny Yong Bosch, with Rantaro Amami.[166] Izuru's voice double for the English dub of Despair Arc, Micah Solusod, is married to Natsumi Kuzuryu's English voice actress Apphia Yu. Appearances in Other Media Hajime and Izuru appear in various other media.

   Hajime is included in the second wave of the Danganronpa 1.2 Reload x Divine Gate collaboration, appears as a playable skin in Crypt of the NecroDancer, and is featured in the Danganronpa × ROUND1 collaboration campaign. Both characters are featured in various collaborations, including Danganronpa 3 x Hōkai Gakuen and the second wave of Identity V x Danganronpa, where they appear as a skin for the Prospector. Hajime and Chiaki look-alikes appear in an episode of Tonikaku Kawaii. Danganronpa 1.2 Reload x Divine Gate Danganronpa 1.2 Reload x Divine Gate Crypt of the Necrodancer Sprite. Crypt of the Necrodancer Sprite. ROUND1 collaboration ROUND1 collaboration Danganronpa 3 x Hōkai Gakuen artwork cameo (2016) Danganronpa 3 x Hōkai Gakuen artwork cameo (2016) Danganronpa 3 x Hōkai Gakuen (2020) Danganronpa 3 x Hōkai Gakuen (2020) Identity V x Danganronpa Identity V x Danganronpa Silhouette in Tonikaku Kawaii. Silhouette in Tonikaku Kawaii. References Report Card (Japanese) Danganronpa 3 Despair Arc: Hajime Hinata design profile Report Card Despair Arc Official Artbook Profile Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life (Hajime's Dream) Free Time Events 1: Kazuichi Soda Danganronpa 3 - Hope Arc Danganronpa 1.2 Art Book: Hajime Hinata Design Profile Overview. @Taichinchin on Tumblr: List of Danganronpa and Danganronpa 2 casts former high schools Funimation: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School Broadcast Dub Cast Announcement (July 28, 2016) synchronkartei: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak Academy - Despair Arc Danganronpa 2x2 Steam Page Hajime: I feel like I had a fun dream...somehow. I think it was about my childhood. Because of that, I was able to face the day with a somewhat happier feeling than usual. That's right...it's the last day... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Post-Class Trial) Hajime: The biggest, most awful, most tragic event in human history... This is definitely all made up... I mean...if this is really true... Then...what's happening in the outside world? My family, my friends, the convenience store I frequent, the nearby bookstore, my favorite restaurant... What's happened to them!? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6 - Investigation) Hajime: This...is the reality that could not be more different from my usual daily life. School, studying, exams, job hunting, going for walks, going to school, riding the train, lectures... That kind of daily life...is no longer mine. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Daily Life) Free Time Events 4: Mikan Tsumiki Free Time Events 1: Ibuki Mioda Introduction: Gundham Tanaka Hajime: Looks like this is the closet. Um...the inside is... ...Looks like a small storage room, it's almost like a walk-in closet. There's surfboards arranged on the shelf...but I'm not into surfing so it doesn't really matter to me. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Free Time Events 2: Nekomaru Nidai Free Time Events 3: Sonia Nevermind Free Time Events 4: Mahiru Koizumi Free Time Events 2: Gundham Tanaka Free Time Events 1: Peko Pekoyama Free Time Events 2: Peko Pekoyama Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Investigation Danganronpa 2: Prologue Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 02 Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6 - Class Trial Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 05 (Danganronpa 3: Despair Arc #06) Izuru Kamukura Project Periodical Report translated by Scottier: "I, as the legal guardian of the minor listed below (Contractor), hereby consent to the Contractor receiving treatment, including surgical, medical, and psychological measures, planned and implemented by your school for the purpose of improving the Contractor's mental health and physical abilities, in accordance with the Contractor's agreement." Alter Ego: "The Neo World Program exists in isolation. It's impossible it was infected through a network. I'm fairly certain...someone physically uploaded it. Perhaps someone secretly brought an external memory drive containing the virus into the facility... ...and directly uploaded it into the main computer where the Neo World Program is installed..." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6 - Investigation) Danganronpa 3 - Future Arc - Episode 03 Danganronpa 2: Chapter 0 Izuru: "Listen well: using people is a talent, too. It is now my turn to use that person just as they used me in the past." Nagito: "That person... Are you talking about Ultimate Despair!? But how? I mean, they're already... Izuru: "...I have it with me. The contribution that person left to me... Even now, it rests in my pocket..." Nagito: "I-I don't know what you're talking about..." (Danganronpa 2 - Chapter 0) Alter Ego Junko: "But it's not my fault, you know. This game is a fight between the Future Foundation and me. You guys were just instigators in the background... But you guys already knew that when you chose to play this game, right? "As though we wanted to come to this world of our own free will." But that's precisely the truth! You guys chose to be instigators and you were willingly taken into the Neo World Program... ...to provide the opportunity I needed to push this battle between hope and despair into overtime... That's right! The reason the Ultimate Despairs began killing each other was set up by the group itself!" (Danganronpa 2 - Chapter 6) Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 11 Monokuma: "Hm, based on my assumption... The Future Foundation must've wanted to hide the fact that you were one of those Reserve Course students... Ooooor you willingly sealed those memories yourself... You wanted to be confident in yourself, so you wanted to forget everything that embarrassed you. You know, when humans experience trauma, sometimes they erase their memory of what happened... It happens pretty often! Not that I'd know anything about that, though!" Hajime: "Are you saying it's my fault I forgot!? That's not it!" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6 - Investigation) Danganronpa 3 - Future Arc - Episode 06 Danganronpa 3 - Future Arc - Episode 12 Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony: Chapter 6 An interview with Kodaka and Yuuji Higa in Otomedia Winter 2016 translated by @kamase-megane on tumblr. Free Time Events 4: Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6) Alter Ego Junko: "By the way, you're just a simple avatar right now, so even if you touch your head, you won't feel the scar. (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Hajime: It goes without saying, but...I had no idea what she was talking about. I couldn't follow her words at all... And then, just like that... Like a curtain slowly lowering... ...My mind ground to a halt. Hajime: The classroom collapsed like a stage set, and what appeared before me instead was... Blue sky...white clouds... Blue sea...white waves... What...the hell is this!? No matter how I tried to rationalize it, it was...abnormal. Clearly unreasonable. Utterly crazy. Blatantly wrong. Hajime: White sandy beach... Crystal blue ocean... The sun's rays beaming down on me... This soft, tropical wind brushing my skin... I...definitely don't know what's going on... I was supposed to attend Hope's Peak Academy. Why did this...? Why...am I here at a place like this? I have no idea what's going on. That's the only thing I can say with absolute certainty Hajime: ...A trick? An illusion? W-Well...if you think rationally, it makes sense... A chicken can't just change into a cow. Messing with living things like that is just not cool, you know? Rocketpunch Market Hajime: "But there's no guarantee anything here is edible. What if all this stuff is poisoned?" Nagito: "Hm... You certainly are the skeptical type." Hajime: "Of course I am. Even this supermarket is strange. Look around! We're in this gigantic supermarket and there's nobody else here except us!" Nagito: "Well, that can't be helped. Didn't Usami say this island is uninhabited?" Hajime: "Th-That's exactly my point..." Bridges Nagito: "Hajime... It looks like if we go across this bridge, we can reach another island not far from here." Hajime: "Is it...safe?" Nagito: "That's what we're going there to find out, right?" Hajime: If it's not safe when we get there, then what will you do...? (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Restaurant Sonia: "However, if Teruteru did not prepare this food, then the one who did is..." Ibuki: "Could it have been Monokuma!?" Hajime: "...Is it safe to eat food cooked by something like that?" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Daily Life) Nagito: "When we were told to live on this island, I was worried we'd have to pitch a tent or something... If we can live in a grand hotel like this, I don't think we'll have to worry about being comfortable." Hajime: "Comfort isn't an option here... We don't even know why we're being forced to live on this island... ...How can you just accept this!? You're way too excited about living here!" Nagito: "Well, it seems obvious that this area would make a good base, so why don't we look around for a bit?" (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Hajime: So now he's decided to come with me... ...Well, I guess that's helpful for me. I know I'd worry if I was left on my own. Hajime: What's with this guy...? How can he be so calm in a situation like this? ...Maybe he's just a chill guy. Hajime: But... Is this really okay...? To feel so relaxed in such a strange situation...? Perhaps it's the tropical climate? Or is it that...what's-her-name...Usami's fault? At any rate, if this is a nightmare, I have no idea if it's even started yet... Sheesh, what kidn of nightmare is that...? Hajime: ...Why is this guy...so calm? It's like he doesn't think this situation is a big deal at all... ...Has he been through a lot of trauma or something? (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Nagito: "She said to meet at the beach..." Hajime: "I-Is that going to be okay...? I'm starting to have a bad feeling about this." Nagito: "Thinking won't solve anything. We can do that after we go to the beach." Hajime: "Is that precaution really enough?" To be honest, I'm really worried...but it would look bad if I was the only one who didn't go. Hajime: "Hey, listen to what you guys are saying. We need to stay calm and think about this...! We're all here to attend Hope's Peak Academy, right? But we're living on an island like this instead... No matter what, it's completely weird!" (Teruteru's Introduction) Hajime: "Hey, are you...?" Teruteru: "Refined? Cultured? Guilty as charged!" Hajime: "No, not that... You just don't seem very worried, huh?" (Akane's Introduction) Hajime: What a free spirit. (Chiaki's Introduction) Hajime: But to be sleepy in a situation like this... She's sure got some bold nerves... Introduction: Mahiru Koizumi Introduction: Kazuichi Soda Free Time Events 1: Akane Owari Free Time Events 4: Sonia Nevermind Free Time Events 5: Nekomaru Nidai (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Hajime: "A-Are you telling us to go swimming...? in a situation like this...? Th-There's no way I'm going swimming! There's no way anyone would be so thoughtless as to go swimming in a situation like this..." Hajime: The crystal clear, shining blue sea... It's perfect for a tropical island.. Just what's going on here? I never wanted anything like this at all... Hajime: "If this was really a normal school trip, I'd be smiling by now..." Free Time Events 1: Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Hajime: "So...this is a park..." Nagito: "A park surrounded by the ocean... Hmm, it feels so nice." Hajime: Such a laidback attitude... But...if we weren't in a situation like this, I'd probably be enjoying some lazy sunbathing myself. (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Hajime: "There is no danger on this island... There is nothing tragic wanting to happen on this island... Is that really true? If so... Am I actually...wrong?" Hajime: What's with this feeling of alienation? I can't really put it into words... Am I really...wrong about all this? Jeez, I can't believe I was the only one worrying! I felt like an idiot! I don't care anymore! I'm gonna go for it! I'm gonna seriously enjoy myself and have fun! (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Hajime: Everyone...was forced to admit the truth of what he just said. We had to be honest with ourselves and admit that we also had the potential. Only a student who kills a classmate can escape this island... Which means in order to escape this hopeless situation, we must sacrifice a person... However, there's a possibility that a killing may never occur. But... Even I'm no different... So can I be truly confident that something like that isn't gonna happen? ...No, there's no way I can know for sure. In this nightmare of a situation, I don't have the confidence to say that outright. Once you're suspicious of something, you'll start to be suspicious of everything... Even of yourself. That's why it felt so hopeless. Hajime: "I didn't want to see anyone anymore. I just wanted to be alone forever... I have nobody I can trust... Because, even if I wanted to trust them...I don't know anything about them yet. The only person I can trust is myself... No, even I don't believe that. In truth, after I was forced to hear that dumb rule, "You can't leave unless you kill someone"... I realized there's a part of me that really wants to get off this island... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Investigation) Hajime: "Well, I don't really mind going there together, but... Aren't you worried about the possibility that I might be that danger?" Nagito: "...You mean, am I worried about you being the killer? To be honest, I don't think you're the killer. In fact, I can't even imagine it. It's like...instead of living with doubt in others, it's so much better to die believing in others. Hajime: "Don't talk like that... ...We're doing this so we can live, you know?" Nagito: "As I thought...you sure are strong. You are definitely the chosen one--chosen by Hope's Peak Academy... All right, then let's get going! To Byakuya's cottage!" Hajime: "Y-Yeah..." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Hajime: He almost sounds reasonable... Running away from your problem isn't a solution. I'm just putting it off... But... "...I don't want to be tricked by you anymore. Bye now." But...I really can't stop thinking about it. Is it really okay to leave that game alone? While I'm doing nothing about it, someone else is... "No, nothing good can come from thinking about it." Hajime: On any other night...I'd probably just go to sleep... "But...I can't stop thinking about that game...!" It's not like I believe what Nagito said. It's just not a good idea to leave it alone... "Twilight Syndrome Murder Case, huh... I should give it a try...just a little...just to see how it is..." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Daily Life) Hajime: Friends, huh? Until now, I never really thought about friendship. That sort of thing seemed embarrassing. I never would have thought about it in this situation... Hajime: No, actually, it's more like...because of this situation... Believe in your friends, huh... It'd be difficult to believe in them right away, but it'd be nice if it could happen a little at a time... Huh. If I'm starting to think like that, doesn't that show I'm making a good progress? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: "The biggest, most awful, most tragic event in human history... Riots in various parts of the world... And...Hope's Peak Academy getting destroyed...? ...It sounds like something stupid you'd make up." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6) Hajime: He's...right... Now's not the time to bemoan how unlucky I am... Where this place really is... What's happened to Hope's Peak Academy... ...None of that matters. What's important is... I need to leave this island with the others. We sacrificed so many lives in order to survive just so we could do that... There's no way we can stop now. But... Monokuma should already know that that's what we're thinking... So...why did he say that? We have to decide on our own whether or not we want to leave Jabberwock Island... He should already know that we'd never choose to stay on this island... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Class Trial) Hajime: ...And so, the class trial ended. But we still can't see the real ending that we really want yet... When that finally arrives... What will have happened to us by then...? No matter where I look... No matter what possibilities I look for... I can't see our future, not even a speck. As if we were in a boat, floating unreliably in a vast, dark sea... We were just left there. Alone. Only one word could explain our situation. Despair. ...We couldn't find a more suitable word than that. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Post-Class Trial) Hajime: ...Is everything really going to end? What is "everything" anyway? How far, how much is...everything? If we leave this island...is everything going to end? There's still so much we don't know... About our school memories, the Future Foundation, Hope's Peak Academy, Monokuma's true purpose.. Can we really end this and turn our back on all that? "And not just that...if we're really leaving, then where are we going? ...To Hope's Peak Academy?" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life) Hajime: It's useless to think about things that are a waste of time... I've learned that much during my time here. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: It's...definitely not possible... There's no way it'd be that easy to move on... We never had to think about death until we came to this island. So when we're forced to suddenly confront it, there's no way we'd know how we're supposed to deal with it... We're...not that strong... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life) Hajime: Well, I don't have it as bad as Kazuichi, but...I do have a bad feeling about this. But...we can't just stand here and do nothing...! (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Investigation) Hajime: It's true that I'm...shocked, but...now's not the time for me to feel like that... Right now, I can't afford to be the only one who's depressed... I need to survive with everyone else and return home! That's what's important! ...Isn't that right? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6) Hajime: Just a bit more...and it's going to end... I can escape this nightmare and return to my usual, peaceful, everyday life. The only thing we can do is advance toward that hope... Even though I don't understand...and that a lot of horrifying things keep happening... "For the sake of everyone who couldn't make it this far, I'm definitely going to go home!" Hajime: So this is the end... But...it's just the beginning. ...Isn't that right? It doesn't change how scared I am... I can't help feeling scared...so scared, but... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Investigation) Hajime: This hopeless reality... That's the real enemy we need to fight... If I'm going to survive this... ...then I have to fight it. Hajime: "I don't like it either but...we won't survive...if we don't go through with it. It's not just for yourself! We have to do it to protect all of us!" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Investigation) Kazuichi: "Yeah...I can't do this anymore... Investigating, the class trial...seriously, I'm done..." Hajime: "Everyone feels the same. But we can't do anything else except do it... A-And... There's no way we can just ignore...the reason Mahiru was killed." Hajime: She usually has her head in the clouds, so for her to say something like that... She probably can't forgive this at all. But...that's true of me, too. Hajime: That's right...we have to do it. It's the only way. I don't want to do this...but that's more the reason...for us to finish this... ...I'm the only one who can do this! (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Post-Class Trial) Hajime: I mean...it's not like this is over. We...still have to do it. We still have to finish this. For the sake of our friends who have died, we need to finish this once and for all! So... Don't just stand there. Stand up and walk. Move forward. Live. If you don't... Everyone who fought and died will have died in vain...! We can't allow that! (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: There's a stage... I'll probably never have a chance to be in the limelight... Free Time Events 3: Kazuichi Soda Free Time Events 4: Ultimate Imposter Free Time Events 5: Ultimate Imposter Free Time Events 5: Gundham Tanaka Free Time Events 5: Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: I wanted to cover my ears. I wanted to run. To the place I deserve to be. Not here. To the place...where I can be more confident. Hajime: ...Leave me alone... I just... I just want to become someone who's confident in myself. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6) Chiaki: "Didn't you want to become someone with confidence/ Isn't that why you admired Hope's Peak Academy?" Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 01 Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc - Episode 04 (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Daily Life) Hajime: I don't get it. In this tense situation, we all need to be a lot more cautious... And yet, I'm relieved everyone is in such high spirits. It's strange, but... I feel like I can rely on them. This...must be what it means to have the confidence of an Ultimate... ...Then...what am I? Am I...confident enough to call myself one of them? Damn it...I still can't remember... What talent am I supposed to have...!? Hajime: Now that I think about it, I still don't understand why we're even having a party in the first place... But whatever the reason, everyone seems to be having fun. This...feels weird... When I first came to this island, watching everyone have fun was so frustrating... But now, it feels reassuring. We're actually "friends" who fight together... Friends who've developed a sense of unity... Hajime: As I sat there alone, a strange thought suddenly crossed my mind... "Traitor..." Could it be...somoene who isn't like the others? Like...someone who doesn't even remember what their talent is...? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Hajime: The air's...suddenly not so tense anymore... Well, I guess it's better than being down forever... If I was all by myself...I probably wouldn't have been able to put my feelings aside and move on like this... I guess...I have these guys to thank... Free Time Events 2: Ultimate Imposter Free Time Events 1: Gundham Tanaka (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life) Hajime: But... If there's a clue about my talent, I want to know what it is. The reason Hope's Peak Academy chose me... The talent I possess... These things matter to me... There's no way I'm not worried about it. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Investigation) Hajime: I-I... ...don't have any talent... I'm just an...ordinary high school student...? Nagito: "Aww, I feel sorry for you... Are you shocked to learn that you were the only one who didn't have any talent...?" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Daily Life) (1) Hajime: "It's not something that I can just brush off... Especially since it's about me... I...thought I just forgot... I thought I got into Hope's Peak Academy because I had talent all along... But... Shit!" My whole life...I've just wanted to feel confident about myself... And I thought getting into Hope's Peak Academy meant I had finally become someone I could be proud of... Not...some fucking backup student...! (2) Hajime: As we left the restaurant, the expressions on our faces were clearly different than they were before... They were filled with strong will and determination... Armed with that, we began walking toward the last island. But...the clouds in my heart still lingered... I couldn't stop thinking about the Reserve Department. And that filled me with this strange uncomfortable feeling, like a small bone was lodged in my throat. But...I tried not to think about it. I tried to stay focused on moving forward.<br.Hajime: It's definitely a lie... There's no way this place...is Hope's Peak Academy... Is this creepy place the Hope's Peak Academy that I've admired for so long...? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Daily Life) Nagito: "Just as I thought...you were left out, huh. But that's understandable. Since you're the only one who isn't an Ultimate, you're basically been left out from the start. I'm only joking... Don't make such a scary face." Hajime: "Your joke...isn't funny." Nagito: "You shouldn't take me so seriously." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Investigation) Hajime: There was no denying it... It confirmed that I truly was a Reserve Course student from the Reserve Department. Why...is this the only thing that isn't a lie? Why...why am I the only one here who's from the Reserve Department? Why...why am I here with all the other Ultimates? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6) Hajime: But...Ultimate Hope... Nagito mentioned that before, too... But it looks like it means something completely different here. What Nagito said was the true meaning of hope... But for Izuru, hope simply means talent... More importantly...a genius who possesses various talents... I wish they'd given me one of those talents so I didn't have to be in the Reserve Department... Free Time Events 4: Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Daily Life) Hajime: "G-Get ahold of yourself, Kazuichi. Complaining won't change anything, okay?" Hajime: "Calm down Akane! You might feel better after punching Nagito, but if we can't find the bombs, we'll--" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Investigation) Hajime: I do...I do understand Sonia's feelings but... It's highly unlikely that there's a serial killer hiding on this island... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Hajime: "Training that resembles an actual fight might be fun, but just be careful not to get hurt, both of you." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life) Hajime: It's better to just be alive... I do not understand what Nekomaru is saying but... No matter how we make sense of this... It's just too weird... This isn't a novel or a movie. This is reality. Can something this unexplainable really be allowed to happen? Hajime: It's impossible...not to worry about it... No matter what, this feels really strange... It's not something I'll get used to easily... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime:So... Fuyuhiko and I are going to be the only ones sleeping in our cottages tonight... I'm a little worried. No, the ones who are stuck in the hospital should be more worried. What's the point...of me getting so worried? "All right...when I wake up tomorrow, I'll go to the hospital right away. I feel bad leaving Mikan alone..." Hajime: "I do understand how you feel but...don't overexert yourself, okay?" Hajime: My worries have piled so high that one sigh just isn't enough. And...the more I think about it, it's like I'm slowly being sucked deeper and deeper into an endless pit... Introduction: Mikan Tsumiki (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Kazuichi: "Hey, doesn't this feel awesome? Like a celebrity's pad or something? The shower is out of order, but the ambience is nice...and the fridge is stocked with loads of drinks... Hehe, plus the beach outside feels so private. It's awesome! Compared to urban seas that are full of trash and debris, this place is completely different!" Hajime: " We're the only ones on this island anyway, so anywhere we go is a private beach..." Kazuichi: "Hey hey! ...Don't shatter my dreams like that!" Kazuichi: "If only I didn't listen to it...then I wouldn't have to respond to that annoying summons..." Hajime: "That's impossible. Those speakers are set up throughout the island, you know? Not only that...an excuse like "I wasn't paying attention" won't work on Monokuma." Kazuichi: "Hey! Why're you scaring me!?" (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Hajime: I opened my mouth but the words would not form. I felt my thoughts stalling in my head. As if I opened a book expecting to find words, and instead found blank pages. ...It was that kind of uncomfortable feeling. The memory I was trying to recall had completely vanished from my mind. "H...uh...?" Without realizing it, my body began to shudder as waves of discomfort began pounding against me... Hajime: I clutched my chest without realizing it. With each beat of my heart, a sharp, stabbing pain coursed through my body. I didn't understand...what was happening to me. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Investigation) Hajime: Just because it's cruel doesn't mean you can just keep crying like that. Crying won't solve anything... We have to do this no matter what, dammit! (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life) Hajime: "I need...to go to Grape Tower..." If I don't go...to Monokuma Tai Chi... Everyone will suffer... Somehow I managed to muster what little strength I had left and crawled out of bed. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Class Trial) Hajime: So...you're telling me to call out the "real killer"... Even though I really don't want to condemn that person but... ...there's no other way, right? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Investigation) Hajime: The person that killed her... ...is among us? I don't want to believe it. I don't want to believe it. I don't want to believe it but... Regardless, we need to find the answer. It doesn't matter if you believe it or not. Because...it's the only way. Aside from finding out who the killer is, there is no other way... ...for us to survive... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Class Trial) Hajime: I don't really want to say it myself but...I need to move the conversation forward... Hajime: The bitter truth... That may be true but... ...Even so, we can't just stand around all day. Even if what lies ahead is a cruel ending, the only thing we can do is move forward. Because...unless we reveal who among us is Mahiru's true killer... There's...no way we'll survive. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Investigation) Hajime: "I don't have time for this. Just hurry up and open Byakuya's cottage already." (to Monokuma) (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Class Trial) Nagito: "Teruteru... I'm disappointed too, you know... It's lonely watching someone I admire reach the limits of their hope. it kind of feels like a broken dream..." Hajime: "Nagito, what are you doing!? Why are you messing with the killer like that...!?" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Class Trial) Hajime: I guess you really don't want to admit it... Then...just as you requested... I will provide an argument that'll leave you no choice but to be persuaded! (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Investigation) Hajime: Jeez...I can't believe I actually investigated such a grisly looking body... ...Even I'm surprised at myself. Does this mean...I'm used to it? My classmate's dead body is right in front of me...and one of my peers is the killer responsible... And I have to investigate his death so I can find his killer... Am I used to something as abnormal as that? That would mean...I'm becoming abnormal, too. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Class Trial) Hajime: "It's not like I want to blame you...I just... Nagito: "You should be so proud of yourself, Hajime. You're just progressing toward the hope you believe in... Now Hajime...show me more of your hope. Will that be enough to crush Teruteru's hope?" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Class Trial) Hajime: E-Everyone's...ganging up on me... Tricks aside, logic aside... Is she really capable...of doing something like this? Could it be...I'm the one making a mistake? No, in fact...it'd be so much easier if I was wrong... If I have this much doubt about someone I've spent so much time with... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Class Trial) Hajime: I don't want to hurt anyone... I don't want to get hurt anymore...by hurting someone else. Everyone's tired...tired of doubting everyone else... I...I also feel that way. That's why I want to just rule this as "Nagito's suicide". If I do that...nobody has to get hurt... But... "That's no good..." Hajime: I don't want to believe it either... I don't want to believe but... "But...then nobody will be saved!" Hajime: I don't...I don't want to believe it...but... I have to move forward... I have to move toward the path she's showing us...! (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Class Trial) Hajime: "...I can't stop! I...don't want to do this either...! Of course I don't want to do this...! But...I need to do this...!" Akane: "Y-You doubt your friends...? Hajime: "That's not it! I suspect them because I want to believe them!" Hajime: "Mikan...it's already over... After I go over your crime from the beginning and show that you have no arguments left... ...Please just admit it already! In the end, at least let me believe in you!" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Class Trial) Hajime: "That's not it...I'm telling you that's not it! We shouldn't believe in Monokuma...or Nagito... We have to believe in Chiaki! It doesn't matter who the traitor is... Even if Chiaki is the traitor, that's not the Chiaki I know. I believe in...the Chiaki who's been with us this whole time. That Chiaki is saying she wants to protect us with her life! So the only thing we can do is believe her! If we don't...nobody's going to be saved!" (Danganronpa 2: Prologue) Hajime: "I'm not so special that I have to introduce myself, and formalities are always a little embarrassing... Well, this is what's expected... I guess that's how I should think about it." Hajime: ...Wait, why am I being so polite? I know they're called the Ultimates, but they're still high school students like me... That's right... First impressions are crucial in moments like this! I need to act more confident! Thus, to hide my nervousness from the others, and while trying my very best to act cool... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Investigation) Kazuichi: "And don't you think she looks kind of ruthless, too? Like...an assassin, right?" Hajime: Well, it's not like you look any better... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Investigation) Hajime: Not that it matters but...Nekomaru and libraries don't really mix... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: I think he's saying something very cool, but the fact that his friends are hamsters is a bit problematic... Free Time Events 1: Ultimate Imposter (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Daily Life) Hajime: It's true he's reliable but... I'm a little surprised... I didn't think he was the type of guy who'd say something like that. I expected the "Ultimate Affluent Progeny" to look down on us like we're bugs or something... Hajime: I don't really get it, but...I guess this guy isn't just some overconfident, narcissistic jerk after all. Despite our situation, he's mysteriously calm. He might just be a reliable person after all... Free Time Events 1: Teruteru Hanamura Introduction: Akane Owari (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Nagito: "That's right, no matter how dark the despair, hope can shine much brighter and stronger! Hehe! Though I do feel bad for Mahiru, this is quite exciting! How will everyone overcome despair this time?" Chiaki: "Looks like...you feel no remorse." Hajime: Jeez...as usual, he's acting so crazy he's almost pissing me off. Hajime: "There's no way we'll get along! You already know what kind of guy he is!" Hajime: The more I talk to him, the creepier he gets... The more I listen to him, the more I don't understand him... If he didn't exist, this situation would be a lot easier to deal with... "...Dammit!" Hajime: What the heck is his problem...? Even his exit was pushy...! Hajime: I don't trust him as far as I can throw him... But if I can get a clue... Hajime: "Just in case"... Coming from this guy, that means... It...probably greatly relates to the incident. Hajime: "There's no reason to respond to a guy like that." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Class Trial) Nagito: "Since you beat the game...you probably know what this actually means, right?" Hajime: The reason Fuyuhiko's last name, "Kuzuryu", appears twice... It's true I have a hunch but... To call me out like that... Nagito, you're definitely someone I shouldn't mess with... Hajime: "Let's stop... Believing every little thing Nagito says is a waste of time." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: This guy just wants to confuse us... There's no way I'm going to tell him what he wants to know! Hajime: Jeez... As usual, I have no idea what he's up to... Hajime: "You always pretend to give me hints...but in the end, you're just going to be on the killer's side, right?" Nagito: "Aww...I'm not siding with the killer, you know. I'm just on the side of whatever acts in the name of hope... That's all there is to it." Hajime: "It's just as Kazuichi said... Nagito's the kind of guy who'll just confuse us and make matters worse... Nagito: "Y-You noticed such a small detail, how amazing! This is truly the talent of a chosen Ultimate!" Hajime: What are you talking about? You were obviously leading us to this... That's why you brought up the suicide topic after all this time. Nagito Komaeda... You're definitely someone I shouldn't underestimate... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Investigation) Sonia: "Nagito...was problematic in many ways...but he was also a valuable asset during the trials..." Hajime: "Yeah...you're right..." In fact, during the Funhouse ordeal, we were completely dependent on him... But even if he's gone, the ones who've survived need to stand and fight. Introduction: Teruteru Hanamura Free Time Events 4: Teruteru Hanamura Free Time Events 3: Nekomaru Nidai Free Time Events 1: Hiyoko Saionji Introduction: Hiyoko Saionji Free Time Events 4: Hiyoko Saionji Free Time Events 5: Hiyoko Saionji Kazuichi: "Chiaki... When I realized she suddenly disappeared, I couldn't believe she went to you of all people... And now everyone's gathered here all of a sudden. What's going on?" Hajime: "You better not say...I lured everyone here." Kazuichi: "Well, it's not like that... But you look like you already knew this place was important, so you were totally casing this area..." (Chapter 4 - Daily Life) Kazuichi: "Wait! Are you telling us to just wait until we starve to death!? I-I got it... You're just saying that because you're the traitor! You're planning to make us all weak...so you can kill us all! Fess up! You've been secretly getting food from your Future Foundation buddies, haven't you!?" (Chapter 4 - Daily Life) (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: "I'm sorry, I was born stupid"... It's not funny...and I don't understand its purpose... How half-assed is this...!? Free Time Events 3: Mahiru Koizumi (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Hajime: "Actually...it does have to do with me... I don't know what you're thinking, but...we're all in this situation together. You're not the only one stuck on this island... We all have to work together. You should know that by now, too... So... Why are you avoiding us!?" Hajime: "Even if you don't actually mean that... You're awful just for saying it...!" Free Time Events 3: Gundham Tanaka Free Time Events 3: Ibuki Mioda Free Time Events 1: Chiaki Nanami Free Time Events 3: Mikan Tsumiki Free Time Events 4: Peko Pekoyama Free Time Events 5: Mahiru Koizumi Island Mode - Ending: Sonia Nevermind Island Mode - Ending: Mikan Tsumiki Island Mode - Ending: Mahiru Koizumi Free Time Events 3: Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu Free Time Events 1: Nagito Komaeda Free Time Events 1: Nekomaru Nidai Free Time Events 1: Sonia Nevermind Free Time Events 2: Ibuki Mioda Free Time Events 3: Hiyoko Saionji Free Time Events 2: Nagito Komaeda (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Investigation) Hajime: Pitch in and help? It feels like I'mthe one who's pitching in and helping... Akane: "If ya don't hurry up, I'll punch ya." Hajime: She's really into this... No matter wht I say, it's not gonna matter. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: "Nekomaru must've wanted to protect Akane at all costs. Just like how Peko wanted to protect you..." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Investigation) Akane: " What the hell!? I went to the trouble of rememberin' that and you've got nothin'...!? Jeez...you're so damn useless...!" Hajime: She seems...agitated. Well, it's understandable... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: Something's definitely wrong... I mean, she's glaring really hard at Fuyuhiko. ...But I guess it makes sense. Fuyuhiko...is the one who got Mahiru killed by Peko. And Hiyoko was nearly framed as her killer... There's...no way she's just going to get over that. Hajime: She's not the one I'm worried about... Hajime: I see...Fuyuhiko's not the only one who's trying to change... She's...also trying, huh. The old Hiyoko...there's no way she would've ever forgiven Fuyuhiko like this. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Investigation) Hajime: It's good she's all fired up now, but...she's a totally different person now than when she was feeling down. (Danganronpa 2 Chapter 2 - Investigation) Hajime: Mahiru Koizumi, the Ultimate Photographer... She had an unyielding force of personality, but she was actually very good at taking care of people... And...she was always straightforward. Toward us and toward herself, she was always facing forward... ...She was that kind of person. Why her...? Why Mahiru...why... Wh-Why did this happen to her!? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Post-Class Trial) Hajime:You don't really feel that way, right? You're not that kind of person. Because...if you were... You wouldn't be hesitating...like you are now, right? Hajime: I didn't realize it but...I was wishing for that, too... From the bottom of my heart, I really wanted him to return. I don't want anyone else...to be a sacrifice. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: I can't believe he's actually forcing himself to join this kind of event... The old Fuyuhiko...probably wouldn't have come no matter how much we invited him. He's...probably trying his very best to change. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Investigation) Hajime: He wants that earring back by any means necessary. His determination is truly inspiring... ...but it'd be nice if he actually helped me with the investigation. (Danganronpa 2 Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Hajime: Seal...is he talking about the bridge...? Whatever, it's not like like I really care... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life) Hajime: He gave some roundabout excuse that makes no sense, but my guess is he doesn't want to put them in danger... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Hajime: I never took him for..the lonely type. Hajime: He looks so lonely... If you want to hang out, just say so. (Danganronpa 2 Chapter 2 - Investigation) Hajime: I see...so he wanted to be invited too... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Hajime: He's his usual happy-go-lucky self... Well, I guess that's one of his good qualities... Hajime: So he wanted someone to back him up so he could step forward... I sort of understand how he feels... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life) Kazuichi: "W-Well, you know... The truth is we don't know anything about you, so it's not my fault if I don't trust you..." Hajime: "We've been together this whole time and you still don't know who I am!?" Kazuichi: "Like that matters! It's not like I know the real you! Just like how...we didn't know anything about Mikan... I'm sorry Hajime... I really do want to trust you... ...But I just can't yet. That's why I'm going with Chiaki... It's not like...I want to go with Nagito either." Kazuichi: "The possibility isn't zero... I do think that it's extremely close to zero but... ...It's never gonna be zero, no matter what. I'm sorry Hajime..." Hajime: When people stop trusting you...it seriously sucks... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Investigation) Hajime: Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student... When I first met him, I thought he was a nice guy. He came across as very sociable... But his true nature...held such a demented thought process that was nothing like his outward appearance... He said he believed in hope more than anything else. He said he was yearning for a powerful hope that can overcome any despair. He said he would even help despair just to rove that hope will never lose to despair... And...he said he'd become a stepping stone for hope. ...His way of thinking was completely screwed up. But...there were also times he saved us, too. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Daily Life) Nagito: "There was a lot of cobwebs all over the place, too. It took me all day to clean the dining hall just because of that." Hajime: There's no way I could handle being stuck cleaning the whole day. "You're commendable, Nagito." Nagito: "...Yeah, thanks." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Class Trial) Nagito: "It's all right. You don't have to worry. Because...they're just a petty killer, right? They can't defeat symbols of hope like you guys!" Hajime: ...Huh? Nagito: "There's no way everybody will lose now. This little incident will just be a stepping stone for you all. In the end, hope always wins! That's what I believe!" Hajime: "N-Nagito...? Wh-What happened to you?" Nagito: "Huh? What do you mean?" Hajime: "Well...you have been saying this whole time that there's no way a killer could be among us." Nagito: "Oh, is that so? Well, let's just put that minor detail aside for now and talk about the incident." Nagito: "Instead of surviving by doubting others, isn't it better to get killed for believing in others?" Ibuki: "D-Doesn't that mean...? Are you saying we should all just give up and die?" Hajime: "Nagito! There's definitely something wrong with you!" Hajime: "Nagito, tell me you object to this... Frankly, I don't want to believe it either... We investigated together... You were so kind... I can't believe you're the one who killed Byakuya... Nagito! Say something!" Hajime: "N-Nagito...what is the meaning of this? E-Explain it to me! I don't understand...anything about this story at all!" Hajime: Those eyes... At that moment, Nagito's eyes... The darkness in his eyes shone brightly, as if layers upon layers of darkness were folding into each other... ...As if hope and despair had been crudely mixed together. Hajime: Th-This guy... Is he...? Is he...the real Nagito? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Class Trial) Hajime: Is this guy...really the Nagito I knew before? No... There's no way I can say that... I just thought I knew him. But this whole time, I didn't know anything about this guy. I didn't know...his true character. It's as simple as that. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Daily Life) Hajime: I felt...afraid of Nagito. The madness emanating from Nagito's body was seeping into my bones. I...never expected him to go this far... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Nagito: "Huh, what happened? Your face looks kind of scary." Hajime: "I didn't come here to talk to you... I just came to bring you some foood. So come on, eat it." Nagito: "Huh? You're not going to feed me?" Hajime: "Wh-What do you mean!?" Nagito: "Well, I can't eat it on my own. You know, since my hands are all tied up... Actually...I was really embarrassed to ask a girl to feed me, so I'm glad you're the one who came." Hajime: Oh I get it... Friggin' Mahiru! That must be why she asked me to go instead of her...! Hajime: Dammit...I barely talked to him and I'm already not feeling so well...! Free Time Events 5: Nagito Komaeda (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Sonia: "I do not think we should be exploring when Fuyuhiko is in danger..." Nagito: "But we must move forward, no matter what despair stands in our way! That's what hope should be!"<br.Hajime: "What "hope"...? You always say that just before you lead us into a trap..." Nagito: "Fuyuhiko involved himself in Peko's execution... I did say that it felt unpalatable to me... But Fuyuhiko returned to us alive... He used Peko's death as a stepladder so he could shine even brighter, and cling to an even stronger hope! Huh? You don't agree? But it's decided that's what hope should be... That's why you and the others progressed forward." Hajime: How long does he plan to keep saying such foolish things!? Hajime: "If you're thinking about saying something inappropriate again...now's not the best time." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Investigation) Hajime: So...Nagito was living here... What was he thinking inside this room? What was he feeling as he spent his days in here...? I can't even imagine. Wanting to see "absolute hope"... Becoming despair so he could act as as a stepping stone for the rest of us... No matter how much I think about it, I just don't understand him at all... I don't even know if he truly believed that... He was especially weird these past few days. What changed him...? Maybe...the clue to that might be hidden here as well... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Akane: "Who cares about Nagito!?" Gundham: "He is cursed... A child who summons misfortune, so to speak." Hajime: "Well...that may be, but..." Hajime: Nagito is tied up beyond this point... But I don't want to see him right now... I'm not mentally prepared for it. I shouldn't...go inside... Hajime: "So...Nagito's tied up at the back..." Instinctively, I gulped back my dried saliva. "Why am I...so nervous?" Pushing aside my nervous attention, I vigorously opened the door to the dining hall. As I quietly peeked through the door, I saw him on the other side... He was waiting for me with a big smile on his face. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: It'd probably be a waste of time to find out the reason for each little thing Nagito does but... I don't get this at all. Why did he have to tell such an outrageous lie? Hajime: He's been weird from the start but... Isn't he acting much weirder than usual? Fuyuhiko: "Wanna go to Nagito's room and check up on him?" Hajime: "Yeah...I'm worried about how he's doing." Worry...why do I have to worry about a guy like him...? "..." Still... Hajime: "But...before we go back, can we check on Nagito one more time?" Hajime: I quickly got dressed and headed over to the hospital with Mikan. Although I did wonder why it was necessary to be so pumped up for someone like Nagito.. ...Oh well, best not to think about it. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Investigation) Nagito: "But I'm still alive... After all, the only good thing about me is how lucky I am." Hajime: Wh-What's wrong with him...! I knew he was strange from the start, but for him to casually do something so suicidal... He's crazy...! That's all there is to it! (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Investigation) Nagito: "When we're finished with the investigation here, would you like to hear what everyone has to say together? If I go by myself, some people might not talk to me out of caution." Hajime: Well... We've been told that one of us is a killer...it can't be helped if everyone's on edge right now. "But, why me?" Nagito: "Hmmm... You're easy to talk to, and I feel like you have a scent similar to mine. We both harbor special feelings toward Hope's Peak Academy... Isn't that right?" Hajime: "Well, yeah but... ...Fine. If we're going together, let's get on with it. There's no time for idle chit-chat." Nagito: "...I'm glad. It'll be a great help." Hajime: Special feelings, huh...? Even so...what he said about us being similar, I don't think I agree... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Investigation) Hajime: Nagito... What do you know? How...much do you know? Nagito: C'mon... Are you guys feeling okay, too? Now's not the time to be staring into space. Hajime: Nagito... There's definitely something wrong with you. I thought he was just treating me differently ever since he found out I have no talent, but... It seems like that's not entirely the case. Hajime: It's like...Nagito has full control of the situation... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Investigation) Hajime: Nagito... As usual, I can't tell what he's thinking. I have no idea if he's serious or not... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 6) Hajime: Dammit...why is this happening...? Why...? I was finally able to attend Hope's Peak Academy... I finally thought I'd become confident in myself... Even so, I... If I really am a nobody...then...you should've just left me alone... Why...why do I have to go through something like this? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Investigation) Hajime: That's right, it's Nagito... He always messed with us, he always tried to confuse us...that's why... ...I can't believe it. Nagito...ended up in such a cruel state... Nagito...is dead... Deep down, I believed... ...that when the killings finally ended, I'd never see this guy again... I never expected I'd be looking at Nagito's body like is... Nagito...probably thought the same thing. I couldn't help seeing it in his dead, frightened face. But...on this island, unbelievably abnormal occurrences happen all the time... Even Nagito couldn't escape that truth... But even something as small as that... Hajime: "What a tragic situation... Just reading this is making me depressed..." Hajime: I...never thought I'd have to investigate Nagito's body. He probably didn't expect to end up like this either. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Investigation) Hajime: *I never expected Nagito...to die like this... He was always spouting nonsense about hope and trying to confuse the hell out of us... But even so...dying like this is just too cruel. Also...he wasn't completely useless... There were times we were only able to reach the truth because of him. But...everything good and bad about him is gone. We'll never be confused by him again. We'll never be saved by him again... "No...now isn't the time to think about unnecessary things. I need to focus on the investigation right now." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Investigation) Hajime: I'm feeling this strange feeling that I've never felt before. As if Nagito is trying to make us suffer, even after he's died... Hajime: Nagito...are you still trying to make us suffer...? Are you still trying to make us suffer even after you've died...? (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Class Trial) Hajime: "He was probably...trying to get us to make a mistake... By committing suicide that looked like a murder... He was trying to steer us toward the wrong answer... His goal...was to get us all executed!" Fuyuhiko: "A-And that's why...he stabbed himself over and over again...?" Hajime: "Yeah...that's our Nagito..." Jeez...and I was starting to feel a little sympathetic toward him... How stupid of me... I completely underestimated his capacity for malice... A mind-boggling malice that threatens us even after he's died... That's the form his malice took. I had forgotten all about it until now... If he was here now...he'd probably be sneering at me. Hajime: "I just remembered that his malice always defied our expectations...and that concerns me. For example, would that malice...just end here? Did Nagito's malice drive him to risk his life for a truth we'd reach this easily?" Monokuma: "Puhuhu...how interesting... You sure do believe in Nagito, huh? Because you believe in his malice, you continue to suspect his malice... I see... I guess that's what passes for friendship these days!" Hajime: "Wh-What friendship...!?" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Daily Life) Hajime:We didn't have time to even think about who the traitor is. But...it's ironic... Nagito is the reason we're all splitting up, but the reason we're all cooperating... ...is because of Nagito, too. ...It's pretty damn ironic. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Class Trial) Hajime: "If all your hopes are united, no despair can shake you", huh... ...Now that I think about it, Nagito said the same thing. "The absolute hope that can overcome any despair"... He said he was yearning for that... Then this situation we're in...might be the thing that Nagito wanted all along... ...No, never mind. I'm probably...overthinking. Hajime: "I feel like...Nagito is seeing through us. By calling this "Nagito's suicide," we're trying to take the easy way out so we don't hurt anyone else... But if Nagito was here right now... He'd probably be sneering at us. He'd probably say something like, "So that's the extent of your hopes." Monokuma: "...So Nagito's ghost is whispering to you, huh!? Puhuhu! The power of friendship bursts beyond death, eh? A fiery outcome like this is right out of a teen manga! ...Still, that's pretty messed up." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Post-Class Trial) Hajime: Nagito...I can't believe you actually left a will... Fine, then I'll make sure to listen to your last words...! Hajime: To go to the trouble of preparing something like this... Nagito was unpredictable until the very end... (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Investigation) Hajime: He says that, but I'm pretty sure he was shaken up by that whole ordeal... Oh well, best not to go into it. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 1 - Post-Class Trial) Hajime: It's not that Teruteru...didn't believe it... He...believed it more than anybody else here. That's why...he kept denying it... Because he believed it, he needed to deny it... Dammit...! If I only knew how he felt, something like this never would've happened! Free Time Events 3: Akane Owari (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Hajime: After greeting everyone, I put some food on my plate... ...and sat myself at a table near the window. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 5 - Daily Life) Hajime: Is this a military truck? Unlike the airplane at the first island, this looks like it actually has an engine inside... But I don't even know how to drive... "And besides...it's not like I can escape this island by driving off of it..." Chiaki: "Hey Hajime, you're the kind of person who waits until the very end to eat their favorite food, aren't you?" Hajime: "...How could you tell?" (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: "Hey Kazuichi... "Those who won't run will never see the goal!" Well...it's a quote from a manga I happened to see, and it just crossed my mind... " (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 4 - Daily Life) Hajime: No matter where I look, every area is decorated with strawberry patterns... I don't hate strawberries but if these patterns continue, I might start to get sick of them. (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 2 - Daily Life) Hajime: Wow...that's an impressive amount of books... It's probably a library, but...nevertheless, it looks pretty overwhelming. A lot of them have really fancy covers... They might actually be very valuable. "Well, to a guy like me who can't even read them, they're basically ornaments." Hajime: "Hmm, what language are these books written in...? French? Italian? ...I don't even know." (Danganronpa 2: Chapter 3 - Daily Life) Hajime: "It's a small building with guest accommodations and a parking lot... This is supposed to be a motel, right?" I've seen them before in movies...but it's my first time actually seeing one in person. Youtube Icon Johnny Yong Bosch: AnimeNEXT 2018 - Here's Johnny ... Yong Bosch! Q&A Panel (10 June 2018)

   Navigation v • e GAME CHARACTERS v • e ANIME CHARACTERS v • e NOVEL CHARACTERS Categories Languages Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. More Fandoms Horror Danganronpa Fandom logo Explore properties Fandom Fanatical GameSpot Metacritic TV Guide Honest Entertainment Follow Us Overview What is Fandom? About Careers Press Contact Terms of Use Privacy Policy Digital Services Act Global Sitemap Local Sitemap Manage Preferences Community Community Central Support Help Advertise Media Kit Contact Fandom Apps Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Fandom App logo Store icon Store icon Danganronpa Wiki is a Fandom Anime Community. View Mobile Site Search this wiki Search all wikis

Showing 1 of 1

4 files

• .jsonotherspec 2.0original

  323.6 KBfirst seen Oct 22, 20262b8fc6397eecc43d

  version main

  Download
• .pngpng_cardspec 2.0originalas uploaded, older definition

  651.3 KB544×544first seen Oct 22, 20267ba4a7bc4ec241df

  Download
• .pngpng_cardspec 2.0rebuilt

  996.2 KB544×544first seen Oct 22, 2026c2cd05c532b3d66b

  version main

  Download
• .pngpng_cardspec 2.0current definition

  chub's current definition (its card.json) in the uploaded image

  992.8 KB544×544first seen Oct 22, 2026bbd82a825da345ab

  version main

  Download