Darth Wiki / Brilliant Despair: A Heartbreaking Voyage through a Deceptive Sea

Surrounded by the boundless expanse of the sea, it's all too simple to lose yourself to grief...

"You couldn't believe it when it came in the mail, your very own invitation into the 79th class of Hope's Peak! But two months before school was due to start, you received a special message. It detailed an all-inclusive paid vacation on a private resort liner, the Radiant Sapphire. And better yet, the entire cruise would be reserved for just you and your soon-to-be classmates! So pack your bags and get ready to set sail alongside fifteen others on an experience only worthy of an Ultimate, but just remember, everything might not be clear skies and smooth sailing..."

Brilliant Despair: A Heartbreaking Voyage through a Deceptive Sea is a discord-based Danganronpa roleplay group, featuring a cast of sixteen original characters making up the 79th class of Hope’s Peak. Invited to a special luxury cruise vacation before they start their first semester, things go awry (in traditional Danganronpa fashion) when they find themselves trapped aboard the Radiant Sapphire, tormented by two questionably-sinister anthropomorphic sea creatures who lay out the rules of this game.

As the captain takes the sixteen students from island to island, there will be absolutely no escape, and the students will never see anyone they know or love again unless they manage to escape. The only way to win freedom? Simple: all they have to do is kill someone, and get away with it scot-free! Find success, and your expenses have finally been paid and you can leave the ocean liner. But get picked out as the killer, and an unfortunate end awaits you. With the rules laid out and an endless blue sea keeping them captive, the Cruise Trip of Mutual Killing begins…

This RP ended on November 2nd, 2019.

---

Female Students

Tsuyuki Aoyage/ Agent Kaaba

Ultimate Documentarian

”Th-th-the... camcorder is just a precaution. You won’t have to worry... as long as there isn’t peril, I shouldn’t need to use it.”

When it comes to filmmakers, it’s hard to ignore the rising stardom of Tsuyuki Aoyage, a true prodigy in the world of producing documentaries. First coming to public light from Metamorphisis, a poignant piece about a transitioning friend originally only made for her school, she’s since released seven more original works in the past two years, ranging from topics such as produce waste to impoverish struggles. If there’s a topic she thinks needs attention, you can guarantee she’ll be working towards changing it.

Tsuyuki is executed as the chapter 5 killer. However, it’s revealed after she’s really Agent Kaaba from the future foundation, already having graduated, and set up Hiroyo to be the killer in a bid to force the mastermind’s hand. She manages to survive, however.

---

• Amateur Sleuth: Recording documentaries is a considerably different skill from solving murder cases.
• Batman Gambit: Sets one up chapter 5 masterfully, having Hiroyo successfully set off her trap and getting the mastermind to execute her (Tsuyuki) instead, leaving a major clue to their identity.
• Big Eater: She's certainly excited when discovering that she's been paired up with someone who specializes solely in making chocolates.
• Determinator: One of the most motivated and driven during trials, always attempting to move things along. Could be considered fitting given her job as a documentarian.

• Establishing Character Moment: After grilling Oxalis during the first trial, she gives a grim smile towards him when presenting the incriminating evidence. This marks the Heel–Face Turn from her dorkier prologue self to a far more motivated and morally-gray leader.
• Face Death with Dignity: Her reaction after being caught as the chapter 5 murderer. Subverted slightly, however, given she planned for this and survived anyways.
• Fat and Proud: Acknowledges she's more of a heavy eater and has a bigger size, but shows no problems about it.
• Flipping the Bird: Does this frequently towards Tate, most notably at their fight during the end of the first trial.
• Foreshadowing: Tsuyuki’s slightly dated speech and clothing choices? Yeah, turns out there’s a good reason for this.
• Immune to Flinching: Takes a punch from Tate midway through grilling Zhi Ruo during the third trial, and doesn't stop for a second. Of course, Tate isn't the brawniest, but she barely flinches.
• The Leader: Has shades of The Mastermind variant of this. She's the most apt in solving crimes and takes charge in trials, but certain members of the group definitely wouldn't consider her the leader.
• Like Brother and Sister: With Philo, ever since they first investigated in Chapter 2. The two have become incredibly close since then, and have consistently worked together come trial times.
• Messy Hair: As showcased in her profile, her hair goes just about everywhere.
• No Social Skills: They’re not entirely non-existent, but she lacks them enough that it tends to get people angry at her.
• Older Than They Look: While true for most of the cast, Tsuyuki turns out to have already graduated Hope’s Peak by the time the rest of the class was attending, making her the oldest character in the roleplay.
• Rogue Agent: A Future Foundation agent who went rogue to try and rescue the 79th class of Hope’s Peak Academy. It worked out for her.
• Smart People Wear Glasses: Tsuyuki’s one of two who wear traditional glasses in the cast, and she also takes the lead during most of the class trials.
• Speech Impediment: Has a frequent stutter.
• Turn the Other Cheek: Got slugged in the face by Tate during the third trial, afterwards worrying more about his health and even working with Kimura to make cookies for him to try and get his spirits up.
• What the Hell, Hero?: She functions as the leader during trials, but frequently is thought of as cruel in her aggressive interrogation tendencies. This leads to a morality split after the first trial.
  • During chapter three, she aggressively interrogated Hiroyo and brought her to Freak Out over just who she was. This was not her intention.
  • And during chapter four, she attempted to motivate Tate, but brought up the recently-deceased Zhi Ruo and quickly reduced him to Broken Tears. This was also not her intention.
    Tsuyuki: But... h-h-how can he improve if he just ignores his feelings!!! Like... th-th-that doesn't make any sense... d-does he think he can just keep living on without even acknowledging what happened?? Hiroyo was the same fucking way. I, I, I... ugh. Complicated damn people...
  • She and Genko give each other these during chapter 4, getting into a heated argument in regards to each other’s behavior. This leads the two of them to become extraordinarily hostile towards the other.
  • This is played with during the mastermind trial where the remaining characters aren’t exactly happy when they learn about Tsuyuki’s trap, but they have more pressing issues to deal with and move onward.

Zhǐ Ruò Jiāng

Ultimate Aromatherapist

"Too much stress can overtake a vessel. I would recommend lavender incense to calm one's spirit down and soothe the mind and body."

Working with many types of herbs and flowers, Zhi Ruo aims to heal the ailing and sick with her practices. She is a firm believer in spiritual benefits, and focuses on natural oils and fragrances to ease the mind and spirit of the individual. Zhi Ruo’s healing goes beyond simply incense, as she uses a wide variety of aromas obtained from herbs and flowers to bring one in touch with their inner selves. The incenses she burns are for the purpose of creating both balance and harmony in her patients, relaxing and soothing them during her work.

Zhi Ruo is the chapter 3 killer, and is executed at the end of the trial.

---

• Beware the Nice Ones: A spiritual and otherwise passive young woman who also ended up getting wrapped up in temptation and murdering two people in chapter 3.

• Chekhov's Hobby: Uses incense, a common hobby due to her talent as an aromatherapist, to cover up the smell of blood from her recently-killed victim.
• Cruel and Unusual Death: Subjected to a variety of Chinese torture methods that leave her near-death before being dragged under the water by entangling, suffocating vines.
• Dramatic Unmask: Brushes away her bangs at the end of the third trial to reveal the lack of a blindfold, and scarred red eyes. This also happens to be the damning evidence in her case.
• Dying Declaration of Love: Pulls one of these to Tate after they spent most of chapter three together before being dragged off to her execution.
• Eyes Out of Sight: Played straight. She's actually blind, and her bangs cover up a blindfold that she usually keeps there.
• Leave No Witnesses: The unfortunate reasoning behind her killing Yukimura, having caught her midway through setting up her murder scene.
• The Lost Lenore: To Tate. She confessed her love mere seconds before death, no less.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: A unique version of this trope. Her eyes are usually hidden, but she reveals them as the incriminating evidence during trial three (after murdering two others in cold blood). What she unveils are bloodshot, scarred eyes.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The spiritual and calm Blue to Tate's Red.
• Super-Senses: Thanks to her sight being taken away at a young age, her other senses (most prominently smell) have been honed.

Genko Akai

Ultimate Tea Sommelier/ Ultimate Blackmailer

"Please, sit down and relax. A talk between friends is far more enjoyable with a warm cup of tea to go alongside it."

Genko Akai’s devoted her life to the art of preparing tea. She knew most of the history of tea by the time she was six, and got her official certificate from online classes when she was ten despite them being college-level. She worked around in several cafes in southern Higashiyama where she began to gather a reputation for her polite yet friendly nature, her hard-work, and the excellent tea she made despite how young she seemed to be. Supposedly, she can even identify over 800 types of tea and make over 900 types of tea.

Genko is found unconscious in chapter 5, having been attacked by an unknown assailant. However, she's still alive. It’s then revealed she stabbed herself, and is the mastermind of the killing game, as well as the leader of the cult known as the Radiant Ones. She survives.

---

• Abusive Parents: Her parents expected her to be the perfect, obedient housewife, leading to her having mental and emotional issues that only grew as she got older.
• Berserk Button: She's not the biggest fan of coffee, or people who depend on it.
• Beware the Nice Ones:
  • Genko’s shown a surprisingly cold and angry side towards the killers, besides Drew. There’s also the fact she threatened to unperson Tsuyuki when she made Hiroyo upset, though it was simply to get her to leave.
  • She gets more layers of this come Chapter Four, when she gives a rant to an unconscious Hiroyo about just how much she dislikes some of the passengers. Clearly a case of bottled up emotions.
  • This becomes a very straight example after her reveal as the mastermind of the killing game, as her completely kind behavior returns while she reveals the truth to the survivors. She even killed Akitaro, a classmate, because she realized he was having doubts about her plans.
• Control Freak: To some extent. She seems to very much enjoy being in control, and does get joy out of running a cult.
• Emotionless Girl: Played with. She certainly isn’t emotionless, but Genko has admitted to having severe issues connecting with her emotions at time and practicing expressions in the mirror.
• Fingore: Ends up having her pinky nearly hanging off her hand, alongside the rest of said hand being severely injured, during chapter 5.
• Foreshadowing: Her fangirling over super villainesses? Her declarations of power? Her moments of showing no emotion on her face and admittance to practicing expressions in the mirror? Small hints at Genko’s slightly more sinister nature and emotional issues.
• A God Am I: During the mastermind trial she seems to indicate she has this complex, given her belief she can “purify” the others, her creating a cult, and her genuine threatening demeanor to those, besides Hiroyo, who seem to get in her way. Her player has verified this.
• Hates Being Touched: Freaks out when Tsuyuki pulls her in for a bit of a hug during a dinner party.
• Heroic Sacrifice: Incessantly attempts to pull this when Hiroyo, her girlfriend, is brought up to partake in a nasty punishment in the fourth motive. Doesn't work out, unfortunately.
• Housewife: What Genko was raised to be. Her parents oppression of her partially led her to becoming the person she is today.
• Insistent Terminology: Call her Miss Akai, not Genko, please.
• Last-Name Basis: Alongside her own requests, she refers to everyone as their last name with either Miss or Mister. With Hiroyo as the exception, of course.
• Manipulative Bastard: Her true talent helps indicate this, but Genko has no qualms about manipulating those around her to get what she wants. In fact, she manipulated her entire class, sans Hiroyo, into forming a cult with her as the leader, and got them to agree to the killing game simulation.
• Official Couple: With Hiroyo, first cemented at the start of chapter 4. This ends up becoming a plot point when Hiroyo figures out she’s the mastermind because Genko chose to execute Tsuyuki instead of the whistleblower during chapter 5, despite Hiroyo having been the one to activate the deadly trap.
• The Only One I Trust: Due to an increase in paranoia and sleep deprivation, Hiroyo's become the only person Genko really feels she can trust.
• Opposites Attract: Level-headed, calm, and patient, as opposed to Hiroyo's frantic demeanor and paranoid attitude.
• Rage Breaking Point: Finally has one of these in chapter 4, with Genko exploding at Tsuyuki, screaming at her about her actions and threatening to, essentially, ruin her. She's a lot less hesitant to keep rude or judging comments in after, though it's not as bad as this usually.
• The Stoic: She usually keeps a calm and friendly demeanor about her while not expressing too much emotion.
• Team Chef: Has a wide variety of recipes to go along with her tea.
• Til Murder Do Us Part: Her player has confirmed that Genko planned on murdering her fiancé (arranged marriage) once they were married.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: During chapter 5 this is especially prominent, with Genko snarking and being more than willing to initiate a verbal fight.
• True Blue Femininity: One of the most traditionally feminine of the cast, and wears a deep blue dress. Her mastermind outfit eliminates all the pink accents she normally has, fulfilling this trope further.

• We Can Rule Together: Mentions this when talking with Hiroyo in the epilogue. Hiroyo shuts that idea down pretty quickly.
• Wise Beyond Their Years: Has shown both a good amount of patience and a desire to keep the peace. For a teenager, she's definitely developed a strong amount of insight alongside training her talent.

Zuri Kamau/ Amelie Francette Bourreau

Ultimate Big Game Hunter

"Notice these guns, huh? Yep, bein' raised by a pride of lions really gives you some good fighting spirit! That n' a few scars, heh."

Thrown away as a baby because of her cleft lip, Zuri was raised by lions in the savannah, turning her into a ravenous, unstoppable hunter. When she was found by civilization, she was taken and familiarized with reading and writing, but she was usually out on the range hunting things. Her first big kill was a lion (before even going into high school), and since then she’s taken down rhinos, great white sharks, other big cats of prey, crocodiles, and more. This attracted Hope’s Peak, and she was accepted as the Ultimate Big Game Hunter.

Zuri manages to survive the killing game, and ends up working towards waking those up who fell into a coma due to the killing game simulation.

---

• Action Girl: Fitting of a girl with her expertise, she shows quite a bit of brawl and physical aptitude.
• Bruiser with a Soft Center: Her talent is hunting big game, and her appearance supports that, but she quickly gets into a rather supportive and tender relationship with Chisuto.
• But Not Too Foreign: Hails from Morocco, where she was raised by lions no less.
• Delinquent Hair: Half of her head is shaven in a fittingly-wild hairstyle.
• Dumb Muscle: Doesn't exactly help out the most during trials, but she certainly has spirit!
• Frame-Up: Locked into a closet with her claw-weapons overnight as part of the second killer's murder plot. The victim's body had numerous slash marks across his back.
• Fire-Forged Friends: The events of the killing game lead her to striking up an Odd Friendship with Philo, and afterwards she works with Tate, somebody she couldn’t stand, to bring back those who died in the simulation.
• Good Scars, Evil Scars: Most prominently, the one clean across her eye.
• Heroic B So D: Ends up suffering one of these after the revelation she was a member of Genko’s cult and agreed to the killing game. Hiroyo helps to snap her out of it.
• Non-Idle Rich: Despite her family’s rich background, Zuri herself is a fierce hunter with a love for fighting and hunting. She’s an Action Girl despite her wealth.

• Pintsized Powerhouse: Smaller in stature, standing only around 5’3, but easily one of the strongest in the cast.
• Raised by Wolves: In this case, lions - according to her profile, at least. Turns out she came from a rich family.
• Scars Are Forever: Has quite a few of them, including a notable one across her eye, from her various exploits in hunting game.

Hiroyo Chijimatsu

Ultimate ???/ Ultimate Whistleblower

"A-a quote? Why would I give you that... w-what ith it you want me to thay?! Are you trying to trick me, or thomething?!"

Huh? Who’s this? Hiroyo’s talent is unknown, only because she seems vehement on keeping it under wraps. She seems like that with a lot of things really - it’s hard to have a conversation with her before she starts accusing you of stalking her or rambling incoherently about the government, and if that doesn’t keep you away, surely the stench has from locking herself up in her room will. Maybe you shouldn’t waste your time. There might be something deeper with her, but it’s equally likely she’s just some paranoid lunatic thriving on attention.

Hiroyo is revealed to have been brought to Hope’s Peak by Finnigan, and is the Hope Traitor, avoiding joining the Radiant Ones. She survives the killing game.

---

• Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: A bit of a subversion on this trope - she's tall, has dark hair, acts very aloof, but doesn't exactly act more mature and certainly isn't the traditional depiction of beauty. Her player says she doesn't shower enough.
• The Big Guy: Stands over a foot above the second-tallest person in the cast.
• Big Sister Instinct: Immediately uses her side to protect everyone else, upon Flippers' appearance during the prologue.
• Conspiracy Theorist: A staple of hers, she has a strong distrust of the government and just about any other types of authority.
• Creepy Loner Girl: Her hooded, giant figure only supports this.
• Dark and Troubled Past: From the burn scars, to the reclusiveness, there’s clearly something going on with her.
• The Dreaded: Played with during the prologue and the first chapter especially, when very little was known about her. She was most commonly characterized by her massive size, making a chunk of the cast quite a fair bit fearful of her.
• Every Scar Has a Story: Her face is covered in burn wounds, and there might even be more if she showed more of her body.
• Frame-Up: Suffers this briefly during the mastermind trial when the other students realize Hiroyo was technically Finnigan’s killer and avoided execution, leading the others (besides her girlfriend) to believe she saved herself and is thus the mastermind. It was actually Hiroyo’s girlfriend who saved her.
• Freak Out: Interrogated by Tsuyuki during the third chapter, convinced that there's something up with her. She does not take it well.
  Hiroyo: Y-you’re jutht— jutht trying to get into my head tho you can- can thtudy me! I know your type! ‘Cauthe, ‘c-‘cauthe it’d be thuch a big thtory about how- how you cured me, huh? I know what you want! You can’t trick me into thinking you care when you barely care about the the thituation we’re in!
• Friendship Trinket: Given a flower crown by Genko. She has worn it ever since.
• Gentle Giant: Definitely doesn't come off as this at first, but she seems to have a desire to protect the group.
• Heroic B So D: Suffers one upon the realization her girlfriend is the mastermind behind the killing game. She eventually works past it to save the others.
• Huge Schoolgirl: Stands at a whopping 6'11".
• Intoxication Ensues: During one of the sadistic carnival games on the fourth island, Hiroyo gets her hand impaled with various syringes filled with unnamed drugs. Genko takes care of her, but she becomes noticeably more loopy.
• Loners Are Freaks: As if her appearance isn't unsettling enough, she's generally panicky and is shown to have poor hygiene.
• No-Sell: Is able to completely resist Genko’s attempts to manipulate her during the final trial, and helps the others to do the same.
• No Social Skills: To the extreme. She struggles even interacting with those she’s closer with, let alone basic human interaction.
• Official Couple: With Genko, first cemented at the start of chapter four. Becomes a plot point when Hiroyo realizes Genko is the mastermind, as Tsuyuki was executed when Hiroyo technically was the one to kill Finnigan with the fatal trap.
• The Only One I Trust: Hiroyo has let her usual paranoid guard down for Genko as of chapter four.
• Opposites Attract: Eccentric, neurotic, and very skittish, compared to Genko's calm and patient self.
• The Paranoiac: Fitting of someone trapped in a death-game, Hiroyo seems to spend every moment being panicked and distrustful of people.
• Quivering Eyes: Depicted frequently with these in art to fit her paranoid persona.
• Rule of Empathy: Is a very empathetic person, and it’s this which ultimately motivates her to go and tell Genko how to escape Future Foundation custody so she can go and improve herself.
• The Shut-In: Intentionally makes herself this, spending a majority of her time secluded in her room.
• Speech Impediment: Speaks with a rather prominent lithp.
• Wild Hair: Has some crazy wavy hair to fit her crazy antics.

Miyo the Almighty/Paige Miyoko

Ultimate LARPer

"Civilian, please stand by, and do not worry. This sword has slain dragons far mightier than anything I may face now!"

On her own accord, Miyo has slain giants, saved entire villages, and ridden a dragon over the sunset (though she’s later claimed that last one to be a slight lie.) Miyo was granted the title of Ultimate LARPer due to her adamancy of staying in character, perhaps forever remaining as Miyo the Almighty- there’s no telling what the person underneath her mask thinks. Although she hasn’t exactly gained a following in the public at all, she’s very popular among her myriad of friends, finding herself unafraid of anything when she’s under her persona.

Miyo is the chapter 4 victim.

---

• Becoming the Mask: A subversion of this trope. Whereas at first glance she might seem like the embodiment of her 'Almighty' persona, she's actually quite level-headed and sincere.

• Cool Sword: Played with. Miyo carries around a prop sword with her.

• Freaky Fashion, Mild Mind: Equipped with her own sword and a fittingly fantasy-based outfit, Miyo actually tends to be one of the more mild and nicer students aboard the Radiant Sapphire.
• Huge Schoolgirl: Stands at 5'11", easily one of the tallest in the cast, let alone of the girls.
• LARP: Just so happens to be her Ultimate Talent, no less.
• Nice Girl: As opposed to Miyo the Almighty, Paige Miyoko is a rather kind and friendly girl.
• Odd Friendship: One of the first characters to get close to Tate of all people. She doesn’t seem to mind him so much.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: Most people know her as the valiant Miyo, as opposed to the more modest Paige.
• Opaque Lenses: Is depicted frequently with eye-obscuring glasses.

Chisuto Goreya

Ultimate Ukulele Player

"Um, concerts aren't really my cup of tea. The smaller street performances have always meant more to me, I guess."

Being born in a small town in the Okayama Prefecture and whisked around the world shortly thereafter, Chisuto only had so many options for what she wanted to devote herself to. A local shop sold ukuleles, and her mother bought her it for her fifth birthday with the intention of bringing her success. She went through over a hundred ukuleles due to her mother’s harsh routine, breaking them from overuse in an attempt to hone her newfound talent. Working up from street performances, her ukulele skills are both soothing and engaging to the ears.

Chisuto is both Miyo's killer in Chapter 4, as well as the second victim, killed during the class trial by Kimura. She is also the traitor.

---

• Badass Adorable: Had shades of this early on, especially in the prologue, when she egged on Oxalis to chuck a can at the mascot. This has not lasted.

• The Killer Becomes the Killed : Happens during the fourth trial, where shortly after confessing the poison she ingested, unbeknownst to her, kicks in.
• Laser-Guided Amnesia: Chisuto reveals, shortly before her death, she believes she's been regaining memories of something important, and she thinks somebody's been drugging her to make her forget.

• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Drops her more hesitant and generally doormat-like personality at the end of the third trial to deliver one hell of an aggressive line.
  Chisuto: I'm, I'm g-gonna, I'm gonna kill that dolphin.
• Sanity Slippage: Has developed a little bit of a stutter as a result of the cruise trip's events truly wearing her down.
• They're Called "Personal Issues" for a Reason: Has made it clear that she’s had some issues with her mother, the one who sent her on the path of ukulele playing, but refuses to elaborate on said problems.

Elsie Ziegler

Ultimate Potter

"You aren't playing that one Zelda game, are you? I've always loathed it... how could he massacre all those pots so thoughtlessly?!"

Elsie has managed significant accomplishments as a potter, selling many of her thematic pots around the world and receiving much recognition for it. It’s quite well known that no one else does pottery like her, her unique designs setting her apart from the bland pottery of others. Her personality and clothing is just what someone would expect from a potter, and she’s always fit to make another fantastical piece with the tools she keeps in a pocket custom-sewn. With her dedication, she’s always ready to take on a new project, pottery or not!

Elsie is the first chapter 3 victim, killed by Zhi Ruo.

---

• Cloudcuckoolander: Elusive and eccentric until the very end. This was only further supported by the lack of intimate bonds made across the game, she was consistently a strange enigma.
• The Cuckoolander Was Right: Outlines the exact reasoning for her death in her final interaction with Genko and Tsuyuki, expressing her worries in an out-of-character moment.
  Elsie: It’s just... I don’t know, maybe it worries me more than it really should. Someone could trade lives for answers.

• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: A light, pale blonde fitting of her harmless, playful, and innocuous attitude.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Shows a surprising amount of concern for the third motive, dropping her usually ditsy persona for a rather serious talk.
• Out of Focus: Partially due to her extra-quirky nature, and partially due to inactivity, she never really had the same attention as others.
• Shoo Out the Clowns: Arguably provided the most comic-relief of the cast, and was killed off exactly at the midway point in chapter 3.
• Shout-Out: One of her dislikes, according to her profile, is “pottery breaking freaks”.
• Tap on the Head: How Zhi Ruo puts her down to eventually bury her alive.
• There Is No Kill Like Overkill: Not just bashed on the head, but put into a crate and asphyxiated by being buried alive. Subverted in the fact that this was a necessary evil for her blind killer to mandate her death, not anything sadistic.

Yukimura Toshiko/Shyna, Servant of the Queen

Ultimate Chessmaster

"Oh no... I'm sorry... you've probably been here forever, and I've... been spacing, haven't I? I'm really, really sorry..."

A chess prodigy from the cold, northern city of Wakkani, characterized by her long, orange hair and winter outfit. She is rather reserved and soft spoken during her offtime. However, when in the oh-so familiar setting of a chess duel, her passion for the sport reveals itself. Those who compete against her describe their match as one against an odd, yet extremely skilled military tactician. She has reigned as an undefeated champion throughout numerous tournaments in the U.S. and Russia, as well as some in Japan (despite its lack of popularity.)

Yukimura is the second chapter 3 victim, killed by Zhi Ruo.

---

• Alternate Identity Amnesia: Has trouble remembering what happens when her alternate personality, Shyna, takes over.

• The Chessmaster: Inverted, completely. Whereas she's a genius in the art of chess, she's far more introverted.
• Child Prodigy: Is this to chess, winning countless tournaments before even reaching high school.
• Leave Me Alone!: Pulls this as she's being accused for murder during the first trial, and right before her first transition into Shyna.
  Yukimura: Just please... L-Leave me alone... Leave me al-lone... Th-This... Is all pointless!
• Shrinking Violet: Has trouble in social situations and tends to lurk around, not initiating conversation.
• Smart People Play Chess: Subverted. She's a complete chess master, but her taciturn skills seem to stop outside of the chessboard.
• Split Personality: A very Danganronpa-take on this trope. Shyna, her alternate personality, considers herself a 'Servant of the Queen', and her player dictates that she comes out during times of extreme stress to serve Yukimura's duties as her loyal servant.

Male Students

Oxalis/Adrik Sokolov

Ultimate Graffiti Artist

"If it isn't neon, fhen iss a bit dull, don'tcha fhink? Glowy— ah, issat it...? —No, bright! Bright colors are fhe bess!"

Oxalis is a rather recent discovery in the underground street art world in Russia, garnering hundreds of fans who seek out his next work upon an abandoned building’s crumbling walls- or perhaps a more daring venture, the side of a train car or the windows of a shop, where it’s more visible to the public eye. Not many have the honor of seeing his face around town, but a few stalkers have caught glimpses of his sparkling blue eyes in the night amidst a cacophony of bright paints in harsh winter nights.

Oxalis is the chapter 1 killer, and is executed at the end of the trial.

---

• But Not Too Foreign: As shown by his real name, he lived most of his life in Russia.
• Crime of Self-Defense: At the most basic levels, Oxalis' murder plot was this - he never intended to kill at first, merely warding off an attack from Kensuke.
• Cruel and Unusual Death: Forced to run a sadistic obstacle course over a vat of bubbling pink paint, inevitably falling and drowning in the liquid.
• Language Barrier: Has notable difficulty speaking Japanese, and frequently references a translation book to help him out.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: In this case, the mononym 'Oxalis'.
• Red Herring: Pulls a very strange inversion of this trope when he tags the murdered body of Kensuke with his own name, intentionally trying to act as if this was the murderer's red herring to throw everyone off of his own scent.

Finnigan Faust/Drew Faust

Ultimate Butler/Talentless

"I don't require any context behind a request - it is my duty to follow it. Besides, I'm sure their reasoning is just."

The Fausts are a family of butlers that have served the rich and respectable for generations upon generations. Each Faust is trained as a child in a variety of skills to be of service to their master. Finnigan Faust is a prodigy among his siblings and cousins, graduating from his grueling butler school much earlier than the others allowing him to serve alongside his parents and even having time to attend Hope’s Peak, which he considers a “normal school” compared to the world-class butler school he was enrolled in.

Drew is the chapter 2 killer, and is executed at the end of the trial.

---

• Beware the Nice Ones: Arguably one of the most passive and courteous passengers of the Brilliant Sapphire, who incidentally ended up being the chapter 2 killer.

• Cruel and Unusual Death: Forced to ‘serve’ a number of cruel items, including broken glass and hot coals, before his head is lopped off by a faceless dinner guest.
• Delinquent Hair: Subverted. He only dyes his hair as his older brother, the real Finnigan, also does it, and he's imitating him.
• Extreme Doormat: The epitome of this trope, due to his job requiring him to be one.

• I Did What I Had to Do: His reason for murdering during the second chapter, as he took a calculated risk and weighed his options before plotting his plan.
• Off with His Head!: A grizzly end to his already rough execution.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: A strange subversion of this trope, as for the first two chapters up to his death, the students referred to him as Finnigan. Finnigan is, in actuality, his older brother who he was masquerading as.
• Sharp-Dressed Man: A requirement, as butlers should have impeccably clean outfits.

Philo Silvestri

Ultimate Latinist

"Do not take my studies for granted, please. Like any culture, Latin is rich with historic value, the utter opposite of meaningless!"

Born to the carpentry-savvy family Silvestri family in Sicily, Philo instead chose to spend time with his grandfather. Since his grandfather was a historian, the time the two spent together made Philo realize his love for Rome and its culture. Following his grandfather’s passing and using the knowledge accumulated from being taught and teaching himself, Philo was able to publish multiple groundbreaking theses on Roman history and etymology two years later, leading to an internship for the prestigious International League of History.

Philo manages to survive the killing game. He ends up joining he Future Foundation and plans to work alongside Kaaba and Finnigan.

---

• Antiquated Linguistics: Fitting of his talent as a Latinist, but he definitely takes it a step up at times.
• But Not Too Foreign: Unsurprisingly, based on his talent, he comes from Italy.
• The Comically Serious: Takes himself completely seriously, which makes his antics all the more hilarious.
• Companion Cube: Despite his initial fear, he takes an odd liking to a Spidernose plushie won by Chisuto on the fourth island. Up to the point of naming it.
  Philo: Isn't that correct, my little Marcus?
• Costume Porn: The dude's decked out with a cape of all things.
• Fire-Forged Friends: Ends up becoming friends with Zuri, somebody he had disliked before, during the events of the killing game.
• Heroic B So D: Suffers one upon learning he joined Genko’s cult and agreed to the killin game. Hiroyo helps him snap out of it.
• Large Ham: Certainly acts like this just from his unique way of speaking.
• Like Brother and Sister: With Tsuyuki, ever since they first investigated in Chapter 2. The two have become incredibly close since then, and have consistently worked together come trial times.
• My God, What Have I Done?: Philo experiences this during the chapter 4 trial, when he realizes he ended up helping Kimura with his Russian roulette murder plan unknowingly.
• The Protagonist: Many people have agreed he takes this spot, especially late game. He even gives a summary of the true events of chapter 5. However, due to his Heroic B So D, Hiroyo ends up taking this spot during the second half of the mastermind trial.
• Smart People Know Latin: He's basically a walking, talking, Latin encyclopedia.
• Teen Genius: A Latin prodigy, having already written numerous theses on Latin history with critical acclaim.

Katsuo Kimura

Ultimate Safety Expert

"I'm expectin' a full-fledged list of all this ship's precautions, 's well as all the planned exit routines. The sooner, the better."

There are few people who know about safety regulations, or enforce them as strictly, as Katsuo does. His skill first came to light during a gas leak at his school, by leading and organizing a previously chaotic evacuation effort and creating an improved program after. Since then, he has been making his way up in the world doing inspections and offering advice for improving and teaching rules, with prominent knowledge of structural regulations and emergency planning. Those who have tried to learn the origin of his burns were unsuccessful.

Katsuo is the chapter 2 victim, killed by Drew Faust.

---

• Alliterative Name: Katsuo Kimura.
• An Arm and a Leg: His hands are, disturbingly enough, severed off when his body is found. As it turns out, this was done to obfuscate his manners of death.
• Bound and Gagged: Is found dead in a position like this. He was never tortured, however; this was all just a set-up to further confuse the students.
• Cool Helmet: Wears a snazzy, if not slightly useless, safety hat on at all times.
• Crazy-Prepared: A necessity, given his talent. When the students are threatened with a volcano exploding, he immediately gets to work safe-proofing the boat.
• Death by Irony: Fatally electrocuted by rushing into a situation without properly assessing the obvious safety hazard of a doorknob wrapped in a wire, directly connected into the nearest outlet.

• Gosh Dang It to Heck!: Never swears, but sure is a big fan of using "frickin'".

• Hot-Blooded: Has a fiery temper that fits with his strict enforcement of safety.
• Lured into a Trap: Drew fakes his own kidnapping to lure Katsuo out of the boat before murdering him.
• The Napoleon: One of the smallest boys in the cast, and certainly has a bit of a temper to match.
• Precision F-Strike: Delivers one of these after Oxalis' gruesome first execution.
  Katsuo: WHAT THE HELL.
• Scars Are Forever: Has a prominent burn wound going over half of his face and down to his hands.
• Shock and Awe: It's an electrically-charged doorknob (combined with a fire alarm soaking him from head to toe) that does him in.
• There Is No Kill Like Overkill: At first, Katsuo's death seems to come off as this; he's got a dent in his head, his back has been gashed numerous times, he's been bound up and gagged, and his freaking hands have been cut off. Subverted in the fact that he actually died fairly quickly to a jolt of electricity.
• Workaholic: Both strict and diligent about mandating safety regulations.

Kensuke Yamamoto/Shigure Sakai

Ultimate Archer/Ultimate Method Actor

"Hmm...? Oh... no, I'm pretty certain I'm not shining, last time I checked. ...Ohhh... listening, not glistening..."

From a lack of interest in academic achievement, Kensuke began to turn to sports (a relative competence of his) to find a real school. After showing surprising promise in archery and winning a tournament at age thirteen, he lost an eye from an unfortunate shot two years later. Even with his loss in depth perception, the talented boy’s made a recent comeback- placing first in Tokyo’s annual archery tournament at age seventeen. Rumor has it a movie’s being made about his dramatic story of success... but keep it a secret! It’s still in the works.

Kensuke is the chapter 1 victim, killed by Oxalis.

---

• Anime Hair: Bright blue, with a little bit of Idiot Hair thrown in as well. According to his player, it's natural.
• Beware the Silly Ones: Kensuke had a reputation for being a bit of an airhead. He also is the first to come up with a murder plan, one that would easily have worked if his victim hadn’t skimmed the note he left.
• Butt-Monkey: Treated as this thanks to his rather slow nature. Subverted in that he's the first to actually attempt to kill, something just about nobody thought was possible beforehand.
• Chekhov's Gun: Grabs one of these while trying to open a box of coffee. It later shows up having been stabbed into both his eye and his heart.

• Didn't See That Coming: Expected Oxalis to climb into the window he had dictated in his note, one rigged up with a net trap. Instead, he climbed in through another one and got the upper hand on him.
• Eyepatch of Power: Although it apparently was just for show, he wore one of these around.
• Eye Scream: Supposedly lost his eye from a tragic archery shot. Additionally, his body was found with a wound in his good eye.
• Karmic Death: His plan to murder Oxalis backfired, and instead resulted in his own death.
• Large Ham: Of the ditsy and 'stupid' variety. Kensuke is rather... slow, in a very exaggerated way.

• Must Have Caffeine: Quite possibly might die if he doesn't consume his cup of coffee at the start of the day. This leads to plenty of shenanigans in the first chapter.
• Not a Morning Person: He's slow enough as is, the mornings are especially rough on him.
• We Hardly Knew Ye: The first victim, this is natural; but he left the group with quite a few mysteries. Primarily being the fact that he wore an eyepatch from a supposedly infamous accident, yet the eye under his eyepatch was completely unharmed when his body was discovered.

Kimura F./Koki F.

Ultimate Chocolatier

"They're delicious, right? I made them all by hand... there's a reason why we're the number one in the country, after all!"

Moving to the United States at the young age of eleven along with his uncle, Kimura helped open the local chocolate based business known as “Sweet Treats”. With their skills as bakers combined with clever advertising techniques, the new bakery was an immediate success. As their fame grew, hundreds and hundreds of tourists poured in, bringing life to a rather small town with their delectable morsels. With endless praise and many rewards for the town’s biggest hot spot, it’s no mystery how Kimura earned the title of Ultimate Chocolatier!

Kimura is the chapter 4 killer, and is executed at the end of the trial.

---

• Blush Sticker: Adds to his youthful and innocent motif.
• Color Motif: Brown, fitting of his talent.
• The Generic Guy: Stands out as this among the eccentricities of his classmates.
• Heroic Sacrifice:
  • Tries to insist on doing this during the chapter four motive. So far, he hasn't had any success, much to his chagrin.
  • This later ends up becoming his motive for murder, Kimura randomly poisoning 1 out of the 10 doughnuts he made, trying to end the motive so people would stop getting hurt. Nobody would, usually, accept his attempts to volunteer.
• Nice Guy: Amidst all the wilder characters, Kimura is a rather refreshingly nice chocolatier.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: Goes specifically by Kimura, instead of Koki.
• Punny Name: Koki sounds rather similar to cookie.
• Red Herring: Due to being such a Nice Guy and The Generic Guy, many people were suspicious Kimura would secretly be evil. Many people felt bad upon the confirmation he was just a really nice guy.
• Running Gag: Kimura's roleplayer frequently wrote "Kimura walks" in chats for the sake of expressing where he was moving. This has escalated very quickly.
• Young Entrepreneur: One of the prodigies of his local chocolate business. It’s become an in-joke that Kimura represents capitalism.

Tate Carson

Ultimate Animal Caretaker

"That lil' shit's name is Shitty Kitty. Yeah, I keep her around with me 'cause she can barely feed herself on her own."

Tate Carson, despite his crude behavior, is known for being one of the most dedicated animal handlers there is... although one wouldn’t expect that from the various interviews he’s given. More than happy to name drop his animals, lovingly named obscenities like “Shitstain” and “Blind Bitch”, the few interviews conducted and posted online quickly began to garner a cult following from those who found his personality more endearing. This publicity quickly led to the invitation from Hope’s Peak itself, with an offer to host any and all animals brought along.

Tate manages to survive the killing game. He ends up working towards bringing the students in comas because of the killing game simulation back to life.

---

• Broken Tears: After his closest friend, Zhi Ruo, is executed during the third trial.

• Deadpan Snarker: Good luck having a single conversation with him without some type of snarky comment.
• Despair Event Horizon: Goes through this at the end of chapter 3, with his closest friend and Ship Tease Zhi Ruo being executed right after confessing her love.
• Doom Magnet: Has gotten close to all three of the executed students in the first three trials, leading him to reach the Despair Event Horizon and pass off any friends, assuming that it's worthless to even try anymore. This only gets worse after, as his final friend, who promised she wouldn't die, dies in chapter 4 and he loses his cat during chapter 5.
• Fire-Forged Friends: The friend part is highly debatable, but he ends up working with Zuri to bring back those who died in the simulation in the epilogue.
• Flipping the Bird: A trademark of his - not only does it show up in his pre-trial art, but he’s done it frequently towards Tsuyuki.
• Frame-Up: Locked in a closet overnight with a large club as part of the second killer's murder plan.
• Friend to All Living Things: Pretty much a guarantee, given his talent - despite what his vulgar names for his animals might lead you to believe.
• Heroic B So D: Ends up suffering one when it’s revealed he joined Genko’s cult and willingly agreed to the killing game. Hiroyo helps him snap out of it.
• Jerkass: Is brash and doesn’t hesitate to state his disdain for people, often dismissing their thoughts in return.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Even with his frequent vulgarity and tendencies to act like a Jerkass, Tate shows both a sensitive side to animals and a strong sense of morality after the first trial.
• Kindhearted Cat Lover: Despite his cat's name and what he may say, Tate really does love cats (and by extension, all the other animals he cares for.)
• Love Hurts: Having a girl claim she loves you right before she’s pulled off to be executed? Ouch.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The brash and passionate Red to Zhi Ruo's Blue.
• Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Has voted for Tsuyuki every single time at the end of the trials, despite her not being the killer in any of the cases.
  Tate: I'm not gonna bother participating in this fucked up shit. And I think voting for you is funny.
• Sir Swears-a-Lot: Undoubtedly the most vulgar in the cast; even his pets aren’t immune from it.
• Sour Outside, Sad Inside: After Chapter 3, he still acts snarky and rude to others, but it's painfully obvious to the rest of the cast that he is hurting.
• Troll: Deliberately pours out the alcohol at the bar in the second island, only to spite Zuri and Tsuyuki.

• Would Hit a Girl: Throws a swing at Tsuyuki at the climax of the third trial, in which his closest friend is being grilled by her.

Alexandre/Finnigan Faust

Future Foundation Agent/Ultimate Butler

”Sup bitches.”

Finnigan is the chapter 5 victim. However, thanks to how he entered he simulation, he manages to survive.

---

• Alliterative Name: Finnigan Faust
• Ascended Extra: Not one of the initial sixteen students, but the brother younger Drew Faust was masquerading as. He was offhandedly mentioned at the end of the second trial, and arrived on the boat following the third trial.
• Attention Whore: Clearly relishes in all of the attention his late arrival brings him.

• Cryptically Unhelpful Answer: Basically everything he says after joining the students, making it clear that he knows more than what he's stating.
• Cruel and Unusual Death: Finnigan was found with his head missing and several injuries along his body.

• Delinquent Hair: To go against the standards usually trained into a butler.
• Evil Counterpart: A deconstructed version of this, to his younger brother Drew. Despite being more aggressive and having generally more 'sinister' features, such as a spiked collar and red hair, his player usually depicts him as an angel compared to Drew's devil.
• Heroic Sacrifice: Took the bullet for Philo and got strapped to a dart board, with razor-sharp darts chucked at him repeatedly. This kicked off the trend of people volunteering for the chapter four motive's awful carnival games.
• Large Ham: Clearly loves being the center of attention, both flirting and teasing at excessive rates.
• The Nicknamer: “Blondie”, “Tater-tot”, and “Mayo”, among others for each of the remaining cast.
• Off with His Head!: The state Finnigan's corpse is found in.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: Only fitting with how veiled in mystery and secrets he is.
• Smug Smiler: Just check out that picture, he's got sass for miles.
• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: A strange deconstruction of this trope. Finnigan arrives in chapter three, a full chapter after his younger brother Drew's death, and he completely 'replaces' his brother both on the electro-pass and in his room.
• Walking Spoiler: His nature as a late-arrival.

Mascots

First Mate Bottlenose

First Mate (Mascot)

"I don't mind if you take pictures, kiddos! I know I'm really somethin' to behold! The name's First Mate Bottlenose, by the way!"

An anthropomorphic and very muscular dolphin who serves as the First Mate to Captain Flippers aboard the Radiant Sapphire. He's a very silly and arguably evil mascot who works as the brawn of the two mascots running the boat.

---

• Affably Evil: Definitely looks the part of an evil schemer, but he's really just a big dork. It's hard to believe he's one of the two running this game!
• Big Guy, Little Guy: The big to his captain, Flipper's, little.
• Cloudcuckoolander: Especially ill-fitting for someone who's supposed to be moderating a death game, Bottlenose is constantly more on the peppy side of things.
• Declaration of Protection: Frequently does this towards Captain Flippers, mainly due to his intense loyalty towards the captain.
• No Indoor Voice: It's only natural that a swashbucklin', dependent First Mate would have a booming voice to reflect his status!
• Shout-Out: He uses a familiar catchphrase each time before beginning the execution.
  Bottlenose: Are you ready, kids? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!
• Stealth Expert: A strange version of this trope. Bottlenose seems to always pop out of bodies of liquid regardless of the plausibility - everything from a hot tub to a cup of tea.
• Walking Swimsuit Scene: Walks around shirtless and in swim trunks.

Captain Flippers

Captain (Mascot)

"Hmmph! Thank you, Bottlenose. It seems my passangers aren't even willing to treat their own captain... by the amazing, incredible name of Captain Flippers seriously!"

Although his look may not match it, Captain Flippers (the anthropomorphic chubby sea lion) is the main evil of this cruise ship, the captain himself of the Radiant Sapphire, and one of the two running the Killing Cruise Trip.

---

• Affably Evil: It's debatable how serious the students take him, especially given he's a pint-sized and slightly overweight sea lion.
• Big Bad: He certainly doesn't look the part, but as the captain of the ship, Flippers is basically the person running this whole operation.
• Big Guy, Little Guy: The little to his first mate, Bottlenose's, big.
• Butt-Monkey: His appearance isn't doing him any favors, given he's already considered quite dopey by some of the other cast members. They probably could beat him up, if it wasn't for his trusty First Mate.
• Heavy Sleeper: Slept through the entirety of the second trial, supposedly due to boredom.
• Mood-Swinger: His attitude is largely dependent on how he's feeling at the moment - sometimes he can be more sinister, other times he's utterly dopey.
• Surprisingly Sudden Death: Flippers, after Bottlenose gets hijacked, ends up being decapitated.

NPCs (Major unmarked spoilers)

Green-Haired Man/ Akitaro Reijiro

Ultimate VR Programmer

”Ah- uh... duh! Of course I program VR!! It's the new reality, y'know? Play all those... fuckin'... video games, with your whole body!”

A strange, unnamed man who was found dead at the end of chapter 2, in the previously locked-off Captain's Quarters. As of chapter 5, his true identity has been revealed as the very creator of the simulation the students have been trapped in. During the students' stay on board of the Radiant Sapphire, he was murdered by Genko Akai for betraying her trust and inserted into the simulation as a corpse resting in the Captain's Quarters.

---

• Posthumous Character: His discovery came abruptly, already over a full week after the sixteen students had woken up aboard the cruise quarters.
• Running Gag: Referred to by many members of the RP as "CJ Harshnoise", which doubles as a Mythology Gag of one of the two host's characters, DJ Harshnoise.

---

---

Brilliant Despair contains examples of:

• Abandoned Area: The Radiant Sapphire makes stops once-per-chapter on entirely new islands. Each of them is completely diverse, but they've all been completely devoid of any life. In order on the trip:
  • Lead-in Island: A rather standard tropical island that seemed to be a humble fishing town before the students arrived.
  • Ruggedtooth Range: An archipelago that seems to be a tourist trap, featuring Chekhov's Volcano in the form of the titular Mount Ruggedtooth.
  • Jasharada, home of Rummy n' Gin's Bargain Bazaar: A Thirsty Desert with a formerly-bustling town including a diverse market square and a casino of all things.
  • Spidernose Park: A run-down amusement park that perfectly embodies an Amusement Park of Doom, the strange Spidernose serving as a mascot.
  • Chiyure's Cape: A cold, snowy area that proves to be far more urban and stable than the others... before it ends up being transformed into a mixture of the islands, becoming a lot more messed up.
• Alas, Poor Villain: So far, every killer has had shades of this. To recap:
  • Chapter 1's killer, Oxalis, had killed in part out of self-defense after Kensuke attempted to murder him overnight.
  • Chapter 2's killer, "Finnigan", took a calculated risk, partially due to everyone's lives being threatened through the motive. He breaks down after being acquitted, revealing he's only fourteen.
  • Chapter 3's killer, Zhi Ruo, bargained killing a person in exchange for receiving information about her long-kidnapped sister. Additionally, she never meant to murder two people.
  • Chapter 4's killer, or rather, killers. Chisuto never planned to live past her trial, and acted in a moment of desperation. Kimura wanted to end the torture sessions, randomly poisoning a doughnut, knowing it might even cost him his life. It was just bad luck Chisuto ate it and died during the trial.
  • Chapter 5's killer, Tsuyuki, committed murder to stop the group from becoming complacent with the motive and eventually dying to the freezing temperatures as time went on, acting to protect them.
  • Chapter 5’s true killer, Hiroyo, is even more sympathetic, having activated a trap Tsuyuki set, accidentally killing Finnigan with no knowledge of such an act until it nearly gets her framed as the mastermind.
• Amateur Sleuth: Not a single student in the 79th class has a talent relating to the legal system - yet, each chapter, all of them are forced to investigate and hold a trial to convict one of their fellow classmates.
• Anyone Can Die: Each OC's player has the choice to volunteer their OC for death, meaning that nobody in-universe is safe.
• Body of the Week: A death, at the least, will happen once per chapter.
• Cast of Snowflakes: A given, considering a different person designed each of the wonderful OCs.
• Chekhov's Volcano: This leads into the motive of the second chapter - the lava goddess Ka Hu'ena requires a kill, and if one doesn't happen in twenty-four hours, then the volcano will erupt.
• Circus of Fear: This embodies the fourth motive. Twice a day, twisted carnival games are hosted until someone is murdered. To count, there were students being used as dartboards with razor darts, mystery boxes with sadistic traps such as fire and glass inside of them, a pachinko machine where you had bones cracked depending on where the puck landed, and a dunk tank that threatened to take away one of the five senses if the thrower missed the target.
• Clear My Name: Frequently happens during trials, as suspects run rampant.
  • During the first trial, an incriminating note was written to a "Shyna", who happened to be Yukimura's Split Personality. Following the emergence of Shyna, she was brought into extreme suspicion due to her aggression.
  • Especially prominent in the second trial, in which three people ("Finnigan", Tate, and Zuri) were all supposedly kidnapped and planted with suspicious evidence in separate closets. Partially subverted when it's revealed that Finnigan was the true killer.
  • At the third trial, suspicion falls on both Tsuyuki and Miyo for not attending Genko's breakfast party, as well as Zuri for failing to show up and help her set up in the morning.
  • During the mastermind trial, Hiroyo ends up framed as the mastermind when it’s discovered Tsuyuki was executed when she should’ve been for setting off the deadly trap.
• Cruel and Unusual Death: Per the usual style of Danganronpa, the executions the killers face are anything but kind. Regardless of what they’re about, expect the person in them to suffer greatly.
• Darker and Edgier: Chapter four has tremendous shades of this. Not only is the island dilapidated and fairly terrifying, but the motive is basically just consistent torture porn in the form of stylized "carnival games" that have resulted in physical and emotional pain.
• Deadly Game: Par for the course of Danganronpa-styled games, to escape, one needs to murder another. Losing the trial that follows similarly results in death through execution.

• Dwindling Party: As to be expected. As of the end of chapter 5, there are 5 students (5 of the original group) left.
• Dysfunction Junction: An obvious result of the circumstances. Not only does the game bring the worst out of people, but secrets and doubt only cause more stress and trauma to rise up. By the time of chapter 5, there are characters who have nothing but negative opinions on them.
• Empathic Environment: Upon arriving at the fourth island, a heavy rain begins to pick up. This, suitably, represents the intense emotions that have been bubbling to the surface, increased due to Finnigan's late arrival.
• Empty Chair Memorial: At each courtroom, a small photo is left at each dead student's podium. Additionally, their electro-pass bio is updated.
• Everyone Is a Suspect: Due to the nature of the killing game, any of the characters could turn out to be the culprit.
• Exotic Eye Designs: Every character is given this, based on their Ultimate talent; Kensuke has arrows in his irises, Miyo has swords, etc.
• Famed In-Story: Some of the characters are more recognized than others. A few have quite a lot of recognition, however.
• Gilded Cage: Although the students are "trapped" on the Radiant Sapphire, they make regular stops at secluded islands, the cruise liner itself is decked out with fancy luxuries, and each student has their own room custom-made to their interests.
• Given Name Reveal: The first motive. If nobody dies within 5 days, the seven students who have been lying about their names will have them revealed. A few, however, have been revealed:
  • Miyo the Almighty, Ultimate LARPer, revealed herself to be Paige.
  • Kimura F., Ultimate Chocolatier, revealed himself to be Koki.
  • Oxalis, Ultimate Graffiti Artist, revealed himself to be Adrik.
  • Yukimura Toshiko, Ultimate Chessmaster, was revealed to have a Split Personality named Shyna, Servant of the Queen.
  • Finnigan Faust, the Ultimate Butler, is revealed to be Drew, who is impersonating the butler.
  • Zuri Kamau, Ultimate Big Game Hunter, revealed herself to be Amelie.
• A House Divided: Almost a guarantee in a killing game like this. Especially emphasized after the first trial, in which a controversial execution tore the group apart based on their morals and individual feelings towards the first killer.
• Humans Are Flawed: It seems like, with every motive unveiled, it's always enough to tempt at least one person into legitimate murder. This is later revealed to be purposeful, as the mastermind created each motive to go and test the students, keeping in mind the five stages of grief.
• Inside a Computer System: The students are revealed, during chapter 5, to be in a virtual reality space similar to the Neo World Program.
• Kangaroo Court: Not a single student here has a talent that actually would give them any experience in prosecuting or convicting.
• Let's Split Up, Gang!:
  • When going to search for Finnigan, the remaining students end up going to different areas. Finnigan's corpse ends up being found when everybody meets up at the hotel again.
  • Genko is, after the group realize she's missing from said meet up, found with one of her hands practically destroyed, having been attacked, though she manages to survive.
• Mythology Gag: A notoriously bad application by the name of Daichi Wada was given in the casting phase of the RP. Apparently, according to a poster found on the second island, he also happens to be a famous actor.
  "As of right now, the feature film seems to be "Attack of the Allifrogs", staring up-and-coming actor Daichi Wada. You have never heard of either of these."
• One-Steve Limit: Played with. There are two Kimuras, though Kimura is Katsuo’s last name while it’s Kimura’s first name. Played straight when it turns out Kimura is actually Koki.
• Black Blood: Or in this case, pink, as is staple with the Danganronpa series.
• Public Execution: This is the punishment that's enforced on any killer who fails to get away with their crimes. Each execution is catered to each killer and filled with Irony. So far:
  • Chapter 1's killer, Oxalis, is forced to run a devious obstacle course over bubbling pink paint. Climbing over fences, getting assaulted by acidic paintballs, and having to dodge police cars all surmise in failure, as he plummets into the paint and drowns.
  • Chapter 2's killer, Drew, is instructed to serve increasingly sadistic items to faceless figurines. From broken glass, to hot coals, to corrosive acid. Eventually, he becomes the next thing served, as his head is chopped off by a single cleaver.
  • Chapter 3's killer, Zhi Ruo, gets subjected to various different Chinese torture methods, including bamboo spears, whips, and knives that carve shallow bits of flesh out of her. This ends when she falls into a lake, vines wrapping around her and dragging her deep underwater.
  • Chapter 4's killer, Kimura, is covered in melted chocolate before being forced to run through a warzone towards his home, before his home is burned down with him inside.
  • Chapter 5's killer, Tsuyuki, is repeatedly stabbed with increasingly bigger knives by puppets based on significant people in her life as she is hanged from a rope just above the ground, forcing her to tiptoe to avoid being suffocated. The whole thing is narrated, which only adds to the pain she's put through.
• Red Herring:
  • Considering the mystery nature of the cases, it’s to be given some are set up.
  • Invoked by the first killer, who framed themselves in a way that they appeared to be an obvious red herring.

• Teen Genius: The characters are all this, in their own respective fields, having been considered good enough that they were scouted by Hope’s Peak. This ends up being subverted by Drew Faust, who is impersonating the very real Finnigan Faust, Ultimate Butler.
• Translation Convention: Hope's Peak is based in Japan, and all the students are speaking Japanese. It's conveniently translated into English, just like in the games.
• Wham Episode:
  • The end of chapter 2 has Tsuyuki chase after Tate for petty voting for her yet again. She ends up, while charging at him, breaking into the Captain’s Quarters, revealing the corpse of an unknown person inside, who seems to have been long dead.
  • The end of chapter 3 has the students, all emotionally exhausted, leave the trial room, only to discover Bottlenose and Captain Flippers talking. It’s revealed after that Alexandre, mentioned in some narration before, has come to rescue them and, oh yeah, he’s actually the real Finnigan Faust, Ultimate Butler, a member of the Future Foundation.
  • Chapter 4's trial has Chisuto revealed as working for someone higher up, and at the end, Hiroyo is revealed as the Ultimate Whistleblower, finally showing her full face for the first time.
  • Chapter 5's motive, which is interrupted by, presumably, the Future Foundation. Flippers is killed off by Bottlenose, the students are revealed to be in some sort of simulation, which is freaking out, and Bottlenose takes over and bans the students from the boat, leaving them to slowly freeze and starve to death unless they act.
  • The end of chapter 5 brings about the reveal that Tsuyuki is, in fact, also a member of the Future Foundation, the mysterious Agent Kaaba - And as it turns out, the students have been on the Radiant Sapphire for 3 years, and Tsuyuki is several years older than all of them, explaining her poor fashion choices. We also get a glimpse into the past, with a guest appearance from every student on the Radiant Sapphire, along with the mysterious green-haired boy, revealed to be Akitaro Reijiro, Ultimate VR Programmer, and the person to set up the sim the entire group is trapped in.
• Win Your Freedom: It's simple, really. The cruise trip will continue on, unless you manage to kill someone and successfully avoid being accused during the following class trial.

---