Be warned that all spoilers are unmarked. It's virtually impossible to list tropes for this roleplay and its characters without spoiling everything or creating Self Fulfilling Spoilers.
Roxanne 'Roxy' Harper
Super High-School Level Crafter
Learned a wide variety of craft-related skills from her parents, who are both dedicated cosplayers. Her talents are so well developed that she's been commissioned by people all over the world to make them original pieces. Though she tries to keep a positive attitude, she simply can't stand bullies, and has a bit of a hero complex.
She's one of the four survivors of the killing game.
- Ambiguously Brown: Her skin is brown but her ethnicity isn’t stated.
- Berserk Button: Does not like bullying.
- Break the Cutie: The game has thrown a lot of emotional trauma at her that wears down her positive attitude. Misaki’s death especially takes a toll on her.
- Cluster F-Bomb: Lets off a series of these during her Freak Out, and later on during the trial for Misaki's murder when she brings up motives.
- Cosplay Otaku Girl: Her parents are these, which led to her SHSL title.
- Flipping the Bird: In response to Shibusa's absolute delight in Misaki's death.
- Freak Out: Really goes off after learning that Kuu’s responsible for Tama's death… after Akari (her former girlfriend) is executed in his place. It eventually leads to the Groin Attack mentioned below.
- Groin Attack: Performs one on Kuu after finding out he killed Tama and let Akari be executed for it.
- Heroic BSoD: Losing Misaki hits her really hard.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all her memories of her time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began. Upon graduating, those memories were restored; however, all those pertaining to the mutual killing game were erased.
- Long Hair Is Feminine: She’s traditionally feminine and her hair reaches past her shoulders, with bits of it up in pigtails.
- MacGyvering: Skilled at this. In fact, she hopes that one day she'll be viewed as MacGyver's successor.
- Must Make Amends: Comes to regret snapping so much that she encourages others to vote for her at his murder trial despite her stated innocence.
- Official Couple: Was going steady with Akari before their memories were stolen.
- Pink Means Feminine: Her clothes contain a lot of pink and she’s quite girly.
- Strawberry Shorthand: One of her dresses has a strawberry pattern on it; another outfit includes a strawberry hairpin.
- Tragic Keepsake: She keeps Akari's hockey helmet.
- Unlimited Wardrobe: Changes her attire several times, while the other students generally stick to one look.
Ryo Yukimura
Super High-School Level Knitter
The middle child of five, Ryo is highly determined to prove that they're the best knitter in the whole world, not 'merely' a SHSL talent. Entered and won a knitting competition at the age of five, and have pushed to excel ever since. Deliberately obfuscates their gender, keeping it a closely guarded secret.
Commits the fourth murder and is found out at the resulting trial, leading to their execution.
- Ambiguous Gender: Their gender is left unknown and they'd prefer keeping it that way.
- Big, Screwed-Up Family: Ryo has stated that they actually hate their family due to legal issues, relationships gone awry, and other things that have led to resenment. Ryo only has love for their younger siblings.
- Broken Ace: Has tried so hard for so long to be better than everyone else that when Sato snapped that he 'thought [Ryo] was better than that', they didn't take it well.
- Broken Pedestal: Falling off Sato's did not end well for either of them, as they ended up snapping and killing Sato.
- Child Prodigy: They entered a knitting competition at five… And won.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Monobear drops them into a clastrophobic maze where the walls keep getting closer and closer together the further in they run... and the 'exit' leads into an iron maiden. No guesses as to what happens next.
- Freak Out: After the trial for Kuu's murder, when Emilia was wrongly executed, they had a panic attack due to having a sudden Oh, Crap! moment, paired with their intense claustrophobia.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: How their execution ends. They get trapped an an iron maiden so the spikes stab them to death.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all their memories of their time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- Middle Child Syndrome: Being the middle child has put a lot of responsibility on them. They were left to raise their two younger siblings after a series of odd events, and being left alone to do this pushed them to stand out, resulting in some rather nasty choices being made.
- My Hair Came Out Green: Played with. Their hair is dyed green but the color was a choice.
- The Perfectionist: As part of their determination to prove that they’re the best knitter ever, they push themselves to do their absolute best.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Became closer to and friendlier with Hisoka, Nanase and Emilia, despite being rather cold to others.
- Sweet Tooth: They quite like sweets. They've even learned how to make small sweets for themselves.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Their execution exploits their intense clastrophobia.
Natsumi Yagami
Super High-School Level Magical Girl
AKA 'Rainbow Rose', an original Magical Girl character she invented and cosplays as. She frequently switches between her identities just for fun, and runs a live action web show based off her character. Obviously, she doesn't actually have any magical powers, but got into Hope's Peak based off her popularity anyway.
She's one of the four survivors of the killing game.
- Cosplay Otaku Girl: As her original character "Rainbow Rose".
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Sports blonde hair, and is extremely sweet to everyone around her. In fact, her unwillingness to kill anybody and never once provoking anybody into killing her leads to her being one of the four survivors.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all her memories of her time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began. Upon graduating, those memories were restored; however, all those pertaining to the mutual killing game were erased.
- Magical Girl: No actual magic, but that's her character theme anyway.
- Stepford Smiler: Since she's a talented actress, she's capable of putting up a brave front when she's feeling anything but. The Genre Savvy among the fans would expect her to snap at some point in the story and be one of the killers. This never actually happens, and she goes on to be one of the survivors of the game.
Seiichi Ishikawa
Super High-School Level Magician
A well known magician despite his youth, Seiichi has performed in venues all across Japan. While he acts brazenly confident on stage, he's rather easily flustered. Has a fine eye for detail and excels at slight of hand. Also suffers from a bit of a paranoid streak due to his line of work.
Upon being accused of the fifth murder, he snaps and reveals he was also responsible for Kuu's death, leading to his conviction.
- Becoming the Mask: After his exposure as a murderer, he cranks his arrogant stage persona up and rides the crazy train all the way to his final performance.
- Break the Cutie: He was a nice and easily flustered guy, despite his boisterous persona, but Saiko's execution made him snap.
- Cannot Spit It Out: Never confessed his feelings to Shibusa.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Sawed in half by a buzzsaw.
- Declaration of Protection: Makes one to Shibusa.
- Domino Mask: Wears a black one as part of his stage persona.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: Gets split in half by a buzzsaw during his execution.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all his memories of his time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- Mean Character, Nice Actor: Though he acts cocky on stage, off of it, he's much nicer. Unfortunately, he retreats into that persona after losing Saiko.
- Nothing Personal: Just before Kuu dies, Seiichi lets him know that he harbors no ill will towards Kuu and that it's Misaki he's aiming to hurt.
- Red and Black and Evil All Over: His color scheme is predominantly red and black and, surprise surprise, he's not the nice guy he masquerades as.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Actually, he's a pretty nice guy underneath his stage persona. Or, at least, at first.
- Revenge by Proxy: Murdered Kuu purely to make Misaki suffer.
- Sanity Slippage: Following Saiko's death, he breaks pretty badly, though he manages to conceal the extent of this until fingered as a murderer.
- The So-Called Coward: When Saiko and Shibusa take heat in the second trial, Seiichi attempts to take the fall, despite being innocent.
- Stage Magician: What he is according to his SHSL talent.
- Tragic Keepsake: Saiko gave him her goggles before she died.
Akari Kagome
Super High-School Level Hockey Player
A girl who started skating as soon as she could walk, and was playing hockey just a year later. Having been showered with praise her whole life, she developed into a pretty narcissistic person who doesn't take criticism well. Believes that she's talented at a wide range of other sports, but that's all in her head. Very loyal to her few friends.
She becomes a strong suspect during the first trial and ends up being the first of many executed innocents in the series.
- Acquitted Too Late: Even though her classmates started realizing she likely wasn't the culprit before the votes were finalized, they chose to execute her anyway.
- Break the Haughty: Her being accused at the first trial and railroaded to death over a completely unrelated photograph made her absolutely snap.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Chased by a Mono-zamboni until she speed-skated right onto thin ice, falling into the freezing water of the rink. The zamboni then runs over the hole, refreezing it before she can surface and leaving her to pound uselessly against the ice until she drowns.
- Dark and Troubled Past: When she was eight, she followed her beloved older brother when he ran away to live on the streets. This turned out to be much harsher than either of them anticipated, and he ultimately took her back home, but didn't stay with her.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all her memories of her time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- Laughing Mad: Part of her breakdown when she realized the others were effectively lynching her. However, it's implied to have been a desperate act to get the students to realize her innocence, considering she seems normal in most of her post-mortem actions. Either way, it didn't work.
- Lesbian Jock: As her SHSL title shows, she's an athlete, behind-the-scenes material has confirmed that she's a lesbian, and she's shown interest in Roxy.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Her eyes are red, but she’s more of a Jerkass than dangerous.
- Not Helping Your Case: Her frustration and rage over everyone's fixation on her as a suspect didn't help her avoid execution.
- Official Couple: Was going steady with Roxanne before their memories were taken away.
- Senseless Sacrifice: Her death was a complete Miscarriage of Justice, and didn't prevent one of those responsible for her railroading from being the very next one killed.
- Spoiled Brat: She’s been praised her whole life, leading to her becoming pretty narcissistic.
- They're Called "Personal Issues" for a Reason: Her desire to keep her classmates from seeing a personal photo of hers leads to her death.
Sadao Reiko
Super High-School Level Roboticist
An inventor who's been tinkering with gadgets and gears ever since he was a small child. Always trying to improve his skills despite already being recognized as one of the best around. Great at putting together simplistic robots quickly — the more complicated the design, the longer it takes, understandably.
The fifth victim of the mutual killing game, courtesy of a drill applied directly to the forehead.
- Child Prodigy: Had begun making tinker toys at the age of seven.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Murdered via power drill to the head.
- Ineffectual Loner: Tends to keep to himself. When eventually asked why, he states that the nature of the game made bonding with others seem like a bad idea.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all his memories of his time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- Teen Genius: As the Super High School Level Roboticist, it kinda comes with the territory.
- Tragic Keepsake: He kept and fixed Tama's pocket watch.
Hisoka Sato
Super High-School Level Sweets Enthusiast
A young man with an excellent palette, Hisoka focuses mainly on his beloved sweets. Heads up a show where confectioners from around the world cook for him, with the last one standing winning a prize. His only real problem — aside from his terrible attitude — is that for some reason, he looks much younger than he actually is.
The fourth victim, killed by being stabbed in the neck.
- Blush Sticker: Has these on his cheeks to accentuate his young appearance.
- Bratty Half-Pint: He’s the same age as the other students but he both looks like a kid and acts bratty enough to fit the trope.
- The Bully: He’s quite mean to the other students, though he’s also fond of pranking them.
- Deliberately Cute Child: Sometimes acts like this to get what he wants.
- Expy: There's quite a few parallels between Sato and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair's Hiyoko Saionji. The only real differences are the talents and their genders.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all his memories of his time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- Older Than They Look: Yes, he is a high schooler. Pointing out how he doesn’t look like one is bound to set him off.
- Picky Eater: This goes for anything that isn't candy or sweets.
- The Prankster: Shoved candy up Emilia's nose while she slept.
- Spear Counterpart: There's quite a few parallels between Sato and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair's Hiyoko Saionji. They’re both students that look like children, love sweets and act much meaner than what their appearance would imply.
- Sweet Tooth: It’s pretty much his SHSL talent.
- Tsundere: This is shown by how he reacts when it is revealed that Kuu is the 3rd victim. Hisoka had just started to warm up to him, despite how rudely he had treated him beforehand.
- Viewer Gender Confusion: In-universe, he's often mistaken for a girl on top of being mistaken for a child. This is also his Berserk Button.
Jack Myoji
Super High-School Level Strategist
A highly analytical young man who has worked for various governments under a number of pseudonyms. Out of a logical concern of others learning his true identity, he tends to be reclusive, despite actually liking people. Can wind up overanalyzing situations if he's not careful.
The second victim of the mutual killing game, drowned in the fountain. Thanks to the nature of ghosts in Doubt Academy, however, this doesn't end his influence on the game.
- Jerkass: Can come off as this due to how he approaches the game and his tendency to be reclusive.
- Knight in Sour Armour: He genuinely wants to help the others, but he’s concerned about them finding his true identity, so he tends to act reclusive.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all his memories of his time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- Official Couple: Was dating Suzaku before their memories were stolen; later formed a strong connection with Misaki during the mutual killing game.
- Relationship Upgrade: With Misaki after the first trial. It's later subverted since, for reasons including both his Jerkass behavior and the fact that he died, Misaki leaves him for Kuu.
- Smart People Wear Glasses: A master strategist who can outwit those who oppose him, and is often seen wearing glasses.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Following his death, he becomes much less tolerant of the others wasting time. This comes off poorly since others see it as completely dismissing their opinions. Not even Misaki is immune to this.
Suzaku Hisakawa
Super High-School Level Birdwatcher
Admirer of all things avian, Suzaku's bursting with knowledge about all different species and types of birds. Has written many articles about their behavior that have been published in various magazines, and headed up a large bird-watching club at her junior high. Carries a birdcage holding her canary Kuupu with her wherever she goes.
She's one of the four survivors of the killing game.
- Fangirl: It's been stated that Suzaku is a major Hatoful Boyfriend fan, completing the entire game and all endings in under a day, and draws fan art in her spare time.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all her memories of her time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began. Upon graduating, those memories were restored; however, all those pertaining to the mutual killing game were erased.
- Official Couple: Was dating Jack before their memories were taken away.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Played for Laughs; she finds her love of eggs to be somewhat shameful, and is rather embarrassed when it's revealed during a trial.
Misaki Watanabe
Super High-School Level Archer
Began practicing kyudo at a young age, soon surpassing even some of the oldest archers at her family's dojo. Has won several competitions and is well known for her grace, elegance and technique. However, she also has a tendency to strike others as highly proud and arrogant, and does not take it well whenever her image is tarnished.
Is the sixth victim, killed by impalement onto a Candlestick in the Cathedral.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Her hair is a purplish black and she tends to act quite arrogant.
- Break the Haughty: The game definitely hasn't treated her well and so her graceful and proud image is pretty much in shambles. Of course, she's broken for good in chapter six, when she's murdered.
- Cartwright Curse: The two boys in the game she's been involved with were killed one after the other.
- Freak Out: She has one after discovering who Jack's murderer is, ordering Monokuma to make their execution as painful as possible, and a second, more severe one upon learning Seiichi killed Kuu. During his execution, she’s positively delighted, though she manages to catch herself and is horrified by what she just felt.
- The Glasses Gotta Go: Misaki is far-sighted, which is why she's such a great archer, but she's very ashamed of the fact she needs glasses.
- Heir to the Dojo: She’s this to her family’s dojo. If she lives that is. She doesn't.
- The Hero Dies: Due to her heavy involvement in all the investigations, she's a primary viewpoint character up until her demise.
- Heroic BSoD: Dying completely destroyed what remained of her self confidence and led to a 10-Minute Retirement.
- Hime Cut: This hair style goes well with her other traits listed here for the "traditional and graceful archer" effect. She has the even bangs, sidelocks, and a long ponytail.
- Ice Queen: How she's often perceived by others, due to her prideful and arrogant attitude.
- Icy Blue Eyes: Her eyes are pale blue, and she’s seen as being arrogant.
- Kicking Ass in All Her Finery: She’s known for being graceful and elegant, but she’s also a great archer.
- Kimono Is Traditional: As a Yamato Nadeshiko and Heir to the Dojo, she wears traditional grab with great pride.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all her memories of her time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: She's less than thrilled when her tendency to drive trials along leads to her winning the majority during their first Mastermind Vote.
- Not Helping Your Case: The way that she asked Monobear to make Saiko's execution nasty probably played a role in the others suspecting her as the Mastermind.
- Official Couple: With Kuu during their school life together, prior to their memories being taken away. Briefly with Jack, and later with Kuu after the former's death.
- Together in Death: She and Kuu finally reunite in the afterlife after she dies in Chapter 6.
- Tragic Keepsake: She keeps Jack's hat.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: Always proper and polite with everyone and is well known for her grace, elegance and technique. Keep in mind not to break her trust.
Tama Fukumura
Super High-School Level Inventor
An inventor who's created a wide range of gadgets, from low cost water purifiers to weapons of mass destruction. Most of her wares are sold to major companies or private buyers. Due to being in such high demand, she sees herself as better than most, though she hides this with a veil of false humility. It's only 'tinkering', after all.
The very first victim of the mutual killing game. Still, one of her last inventions enables the living to communicate with the dead around the fountain.
- Chekhov's Skill: Interestingly enough, the special talent of the very first murder victim does a complete overhaul of how the rest of the trials will work, because it's thanks to Tama's invention that the cast can communicate with the dead.
- Determinator: Not even death can stop this girl.
- Gadgeteer Genius: Not at all surprising, given she’s the SHSL inventor.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all her memories of her time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
Nanase Otakita
Super High-School Level Matron
As the oldest of seven children, Nanase has always been caring for her siblings while her parents worked. This led to her running a small daycare out of their home, followed by a child-care blog which quickly became popular. She is now regarded as an expert on child care, and has become sponsored by several fairly well-known brands of diapers, baby food, and so on.
Responsible for murdering Misaki and is secretly the Mastermind.
- Ambiguously Brown: Her skin is brown, but her ethnicity is unknown.
- Beware the Nice Ones: A kind, compassionate young woman who winds up not only murdering Misaki, but turns out to be the Mastermind.
- Despair Event Horizon: Crosses it upon witnessing Ryo's brutal execution, and appears to give up all desire to continue living. Given her role as the Mastermind, one could safely assume she's just putting on an act, but this isn't the case; she tries to keep herself from becoming friends with any of the students again, but just simply couldn't stay away from the man she loved.
- Dissonant Serenity: Takes Kuu's accusations of being the Mastermind very calmly, only expressing irritation at his inability to back them up with solid evidence. In fact, when Misaki offers some potential backing for his theory, she thanks her.
- Innocent Blue Eyes: To denote her motherly, caring and calm demeanor. She's not quite as innocent as she appears on a first glance, however.
- The Social Darwinist: This mentality led to her targeting Misaki: she couldn't stand being the 'obvious weakest link' among the survivors and deliberately targeted the 'strongest link' to prove a point.
- Team Mom: She’s this to the other students, which makes sense, as she’s the SHSL matron.
- True Blue Femininity: Both her shirt and the flowers in her hair are blue and, though she’s not exactly girly, she is quite motherly. The “True Blue” part doesn’t apply when she’s in her "Mastermind outfit".
Emilia Smith
Super High-School Level Physicist
Known around the world for her scientific discoveries and creating new methods of transportation, such as her transportalizer. Has won multiple awards, including the Einstein Prize, the ASA Gold Medal, and the Sakurai Prize. However, she doesn't act or look like what one would expect of such a celebrated physicist, due to her love of pop culture and art.
She is falsely accused of being the third culprit despite her innocence and is executed during the third trial.
- Acquitted Too Late: Monobear taunts everyone by revealing her innocence right before her execution.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Crushed to death by a giant Mono-marble, with the added cruelty that she was given a moment to catch her breath and think she was safe before it caught up to her.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all her memories of her time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- Omniglot: Speaks a wide range of languages, including some archaic ones.
- Take a Moment to Catch Your Death: The end of her execution features a brief pause before the last marble comes up and crushes her.
- Smarter Than You Look: Looks more like a Delinquent than a SHSL Physicist.
Kuu Fukukaba
Super High-School Level Competitive Eater
Known worldwide for his competitive eating, having claimed numerous records. The latest was his victory in the New York Chili Dog Eating contest, where he ate 60 hot dogs in 11 minutes. Also is the current record holder for being the youngest to eat the most Twinkies in a minute for the "Save the Twinkies" campaign.
Murdered Tama in a fit of rage, but unintentionally escaped execution when Akari is lynched instead. This haunts him until his own demise as the third victim, leading to another innocent student's death.
- Accidental Public Confession: When he lets slip he likes Misaki and when he confesses to her about being Tama's murderer.
- The Atoner: Deeply regretted taking Tama's life and helped in investigations to try to make up for it.
- Berserk Button: Fear. Kuu reacts violently when afraid.
- Big Brother Mentor: For Roxy during Phase One. They met in grade school and again in Hope's Peak. They had a brother-sister relationship according to Roxy's museum area. Interestingly enough, despite the Groin Attack and the Laser-Guided Amnesia, the two, if ever so slightly, start to go back to this at the very last second.
- Big Eater: It's pretty much his job, being the SHSL competitive eater.
- Cheaters Never Prosper: Actually an excellent cheater always looking for an angle. However, he still was in the bottom ten percent among the students of Hope's Peak. This mentality also led to his being tempted by Monobear's first motive, only to discover that Monobear gave the reward to all the survivors, meaning he didn't gain any advantage at all, just a truckload of guilt.
- Groin Attack: Receives on from Roxy after she finds out that he killed Tama and let Akari get executed for it.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all his memories of his time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- Lured into a Trap: He's ultimately killed by a potted plant trap after being lured into the science lab with an anonymous letter.
- Official Couple: With Misaki before their memories were stolen. Later managed to hook back up with her during the mutual killing game.
- Shirtless Scene: Spends most of the second trial shirtless after removing it to prove his alibi.
- Together in Death: Reunites with Misaki in the afterlife after she dies as the game’s sixth victim.
- Tragic Hero: Despite his attempts to atone for his crime and keep the girl he loves safe, he failed in both regards and died before he could repent or earn back trust from the other students. That being said, if not for his deductions and investigation skill, nobody would've been able to guess who the real mastermind was.
Nozomi Shibusa Omoiyari
Super High-School Level Forensic Psychologist
Ever since she was little, Shibusa has been fascinated with the human mind. Started her career as a clinical psychologist before branching out to forensic psychology. Despite her studies, she struggles with social situations due to her tendency to overanalyse others.
She's one of the four survivors of the killing game.
- Break Them by Talking: Was constantly bullied in middle school so she became a psychologist in order to hit people where it hurt. Later she regrets thinking this way.
- Declaration of Protection: Makes one to Seiichi. It doesn't do any good; Seiichi is executed in the fifth trial.
- Friendless Background: Due to her tendency to overanalyse others. She was also bullied in the past.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all her memories of her time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began. Upon graduating, those memories were restored; however, all those pertaining to the mutual killing game were erased.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Or rather, her middle name.
- Photographic Memory: She has this. Though she claims that she recalls sounds with better clarity than she does pictures.
- Was It All a Lie?: She doesn't take learning that Seiichi’s been losing his mind since the second trial and that he kept it from her very well.
Saiko Mochizuki
Super High-School Level Pilot
Raised by an extremely strict military family, Saiko was fully expected to carry on the family tradition, and groomed for it with the highest level combat training and discipline. However, she never was all that good at taking orders, and preferred the freedom of flight. This went over about as well as one would expect, SHSL talent aside.
Became the second murderer by killing Jack, but confessed her crime in order to protect her friends from taking the fall for her.
- Abusive Parents: The training her parents put her through was so severe she was hospitalized for fractures several times.
- Ambiguously Brown: Her skin is brown but her ethnicity isn’t stated.
- Cut Himself Shaving: During Jack's Murder Trial, she attempted to play off the injuries she sustained as training bruises. It didn't work.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Monobear makes her run through an obstacle course with a chain leash around her neck. Though a plane waits on the other end, the chain retracts before she can reach it, or realize it's only a model. She's then executed by Monobear firing squad.
- The Dog Bites Back: The last hospital bracelet in her exhibit implies she returned the favor on her Abusive Parents.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Had all her memories of her time with the other students erased before Phase Two of the DA Project began.
- Military Brat: She was raised in a military family, though they were abusive.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: A teacher blew the whistle on her father's abuse. General Mochizuki got the charges dropped, had the teacher fired, and pulled her out of school to prevent anyone else from intervening.
- Stepford Snarker: She’s got a lot of trauma due to her abusive family, but her snarky demeanour covers it up.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: She acts quite cold and prickly most of the time. The only one she ever really warmed up to was Seiichi.
- Troll: Makes a habit of deliberately baiting and insulting Misaki after her execution.
- You Wouldn't Hit a Guy with Glasses: Considering she murdered Jack, yes she would.
The Mastermind
The student responsible for everyone's suffering: Nanase Otakita. Helped set up everything as part of the DA Project: a special research project conducted to access how gifted students fared in both harmonious and stressful environments. Their original student lives were the 'peaceful' part; the mutual killing game served as a major stressor.
Though caught at the end of the sixth trial and executed, she's satisfied with the results.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: She is tied to the hands of a giant clock, with the numbers replaced by the faces of all the students who have been killed. The hands then start spinning around the clock gradually increasing in speed. Eventually a "Monobear cuckoo" sitting on a sharp blade starts to pop out of the clock at regular intervals, but it does nothing at first since it keeps coming out before or after Nanase passes the 12 o'clock position. But finally, the Monobear cuckoo pops out at just the right time, and the blade it's sitting on cuts off Nanase's head.
- Damning With Faint Praise: States that the four survivors may not be the strongest or the smartest, but perhaps the most versatile.
- Face Death with Dignity: She actually asks Monobear to execute her once she's finally fingered as the Mastermind, and once her execution begins she makes absolutely no effort to escape the death-trap, even smiling throughout the whole thing including while getting dizzy. However, this is largely because, as the Mastermind, she knew in advance what execution method would be used on her anyway, and that execution method is (relatively) painless compared to the torturous deaths the previous culprits received.
- For Science!: The entire reason behind Doubt Academy was just to gather and measure results on how students with such hopeful talents could adapt to being placed in the ultimate "stressful situation".
- Important Hair Accessory: After the reveal that she's the Mastermind, Nanase adds a red slash barrette to her hair that mimics Monobear's eye.
- Icy Blue Eyes: Nanase’s eyes are still bright blue. Amazing how a major shift in demeanor can turn eyes that once seemed so kind so cold.
- The Man Behind the Man: She’s the one controlling Monokuma.
- Off with His Head!: Her execution, being strapped to the hands of a giant clock and sent spinning around the clock's face, ends with this trope since a "Monobear cuckoo" sitting on a sharp blade pops out in time to cut off her head.
- The Social Darwinist: Coldly states to those killed in the DA Project that "Your own punishment came from not being able to arise to the scenarios presented."
- Tears of Remorse:
- The only sign of regret she gives is when mentioning how all their memories from Phase One were erased, including her own relationships.
- She cried when Ryo was executed; despite having set up this mutual killing game in the first place, she was unable to prevent herself from having feelings for Ryo, so her tears during Ryo's execution were real.
Kyoji Yasuda
The current headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy. Assisted with the Developmental Analysis Program.
- The Bad Guy Wins: He's more than pleased with the results, and mentions in passing the idea of future projects along the same lines.
- Cross-Popping Veins: A pair of these appear hidden in his hair several times, first when he berates the survivors for signing the liability waivers without thinking about what kind of projects require them.
- Dissonant Serenity: Just like a certain two-faced bear, he talks at length about his numerous atrocities with a calm demeanor.
- Expy: Basically a human Monobear. Justified in-universe by how Monobear was based on him.
- Faux Affably Evil: He's all smiles while explaining the horrors he helped create.
- For Science!: The entire reason behind Doubt Academy was just to gather and measure results on how students with such hopeful talents could adapt to being placed in the ultimate "stressful situation".
- Karma Houdini: Erases the survivors' memories of the second phase of the DA Project and makes it appear that the Central Wing was hit by a terrorist bombing, using that to excuse all the deaths. As the games are stated to each be in their own Alternate Continuity, the chances of his returning and getting punished are slim.
- The Man Behind the Man: As the Headmaster, he helped set up the DA Project, and tellingly shares many of Monobear's mannerisms. While Monobear was a fully autonomous AI, Yasuda could take control at any time.
- Pet the Dog: He erases the four surviving students' memories of the mutual killing game in exchange for returning their past memories, so they won't have to remember all the horror. It's a subversion, however, because in context, this actually makes him even more of an asshole, since it's also what allows him to dodge punishment and gives him the opening to do this all over again with zero repercussions.
- Red and Black and Evil All Over: Looks like a Man of Wealth and Taste in his black suit with its crisp red tie and the neatly folded red hankerchief in his breast pocket.
- "Uh-Oh" Eyes: Has solid black irises that perfectly blend in with his pupils.
- Walking Spoiler: He's tied to a key reveal in the game's backstory and talking about him at length is incredibly difficult to do without spoiling the whole story.
