Darth Wiki / Survival Despair

PER ASPERA AD INFERI

Survival Despair is a Tumblr-based RP group, drawing inspiration from both Dangan Ronpa and the survival horror genre. Many students at the illustrious Hope's Peak Academy applied for the First (hopefully annual) European History Trip, but only 20 could be taken. Led by the former SHSL Tutor and current teacher at Hope's Peak, Tamotsu Morita, the trip was meant to serve as a two week excursion to Spain, to look at castles and museums, taking in the history. However, it turned into something far, far worse.

On one of the final days of the trip, the students visit the castle of San Griento for an overnight stay, but when night falls, plans go awry, and a demon traps the students in the castle and forces them to kill each other. Demons overrun the castle and make the environment hostile, and the atmosphere is heated even more by the delivery of motives meant to drive the students to kill. And once someone falls to the motive, the students are to find the killer in a class trial, and send them to hell.

Can the students fight their way free? Or are they irrevocably damned?

A sequel group, [celestial noise] , began on November 13th, featuring a completely new cast of characters — and a whole new reality. Morita-sensei has planned a different trip for his 21 students: a field trip to the Alchemilla Planetarium, to further their knowledge of the stars and space around them! The trip itself comes to pass without a snag; it's the train ride home where the class runs into trouble. Morita-sensei goes missing, and the students are faced with otherworldly "Benefactors" who seek to study despair in humans. They intend to accomplish this by forcing the students to kill each other. Motives are presented to facilitate that, and once someone dies, the students must determine who did the deed and punish them.

With no way back into the world as they know it, the students must endure these hardships and try to survive.

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Player Characters

Akemi Saito

SHSL Mangaka

After having a one-shot manga she wrote get published in a magazine for rising star mangakas, Akemi was contacted by a fairly popular publishing company. She started publishing her first series, which was soon made into an anime. The series lasted two years. She also published a few one-shot mangas. Shortly after her first series ended, she started on her second one. This series became incredibly popular in a very short time. It was made into an anime as soon as they were able to get it into production, and there is talk of a live action movie happening upon completion. For a time, one couldn’t go anywhere without seeing some type of advertisement, merchandise, or reference to it.

Survived to endgame.

• Kindhearted Cat Lover: Nobody can argue that she isn't kind, and a cat plushie that Masato found originally belonged to her.

• Parental Substitute: An art teacher from her middle school.
• Precision F-Strike: At Lorena during the mastermind trial.

• Scars Are Forever: She has scars on her back.
• Shout-Out: Her pink and purple shirt is a reference to Undertale.

• Speech Impediment: Her stutter.
• Stutter Stop: Because Lorena told her to, and threatened to hit her if she ever started up again.

• Younger Than They Look: She claims to be 17, and passes pretty easily for that age. She's actually 14.

Akiko "Tsukiko" Yukimura

SHSL Stage Actor

Lights, Audience, Action! These three things are all Tsukiko needs to start her work of entrancing the audience into the story she helps weave by acting as one of the characters. It’s claimed that once she’s on stage one will forget they’re even watching a play and will end up completely engrossed until the trance ends as the curtains falls. Not many know how she came to be so popular, one day she just was saw on stage and she stayed there. From that moment forward everyone could agree it was the best idea that no matter how she found herself on the stage- no one should take her off.

Survived to endgame.

Alphonse Garrard

SHSL Knight

Strength! To be strong is to be the cornerstone- the foundation of a life! STRENGTH! Alphonse Garrard is strong, chivalrous, and wears armor to show the world his SHSL talent- being a modern day Knight! From competing in renaissance faire jousting, to European martial arts (sword-fighting, hand to hand combat, lancing…), and projecting an overall air of being from another era, he’s proven himself to be the real deal!

Executed as the murderer of Chapter 2.

• Horrible Judge of Character: One of two people who believed Uluka was trustworthy. This turns tragic, as he took her advice about a ritual to "purify" the student-turned-demon, and thus committed the second murder.

Apolline Descoteaux

SHSL Horror Illustrator

Apolline Descouteaux is a world renowned horror illustrator from Paris, France. She moved from Paris to Tsushima Japan when she was eleven years old with her mother after she and her father had gotten a divorce. Some of her works have been featured as background pieces in famous horror movies and authors have commissioned her to do works for the covers of their books. When she was fifteen years old, she was given an award for her works.

Killed at the start of Chapter 4.

• We Hardly Knew Ye: Barely said anything prior to her death.

Ayaka Akiyama

SHSL AI Developer

For years, dedicated scientists have worked tirelessly to create the codes behind a fully-functional AI. Imagine their surprise when the honor of such a discovery went to a sixteen year old girl! At only fourteen, Ayaka Akiyama began developing an AI that was capable of both logical and abstract thought, as well as the ability to comprehend and simulate the full range of human emotions. Of course, creating such a thing was bound to bring controversy, but despite the harsh words, Ayaka continues on with her research, and is even rumored to be developing a new program that allows the A.I.s the capacity to simulate sleep and dream sequences. After all that hard work, it’s no wonder Ayaka has been accepted into Hope’s Peak!

Executed as the murderer of Chapter 4.

Azami "Korin" Aizawa

SHSL Traditional Singer

As a maiko, Azami’s powerful and nostalgic singing voice made her popular with clients. She became known to the general public after being featured in a commercial for traditional confectionery, drawing the population’s attention to her blog — an online journal of her daily life as an apprentice geiko. Next thing Azami knew, her blog was getting several thousand hits and being translated to a dozen of different languages. Despite her busy daily schedule and the increase in number of questions and comments, she kept trying to interact with her blog’s readers as best as possible. Hope’s Peak interest in her stems from a combination of her skill and popularity as a singer and her success making the dying art of traditional singing popular amongst new generations and widespread internationally.

Executed in Chapter 5, despite her innocence, due to a mistrial.

Daisy Shaladi/Cinnamon Shaladi-Prescott

SHSL B-Movie Star

If you’re a big fan of Japanese B-movies, you’re bound to know the name Daisy Shaladi! This daughter to two American socialites never could break into the North American film market, but work as a photobook model in Japan lead to her launch into the country’s acting world! Although many would agree her actual acting talent... Isn’t all there, the fact is that she’s a pretty girl with a hammy way of delivering her lines- two necessities to make it big in B-movies! Even so, you could colour her surprised at finding out that her odd little talent would get her invited to Hope’s Peak!

Murder victim of Chapter 3.

Hinoe Hasegawa

SHSL Black Comedy Writer

The short film I’m Not Particularly Good Friends With My Peers Or Corpses gained popularity almost overnight after several acclaimed critics gave it praise for it’s witty plot and tragic end that still managed to bring tears of laughter to one’s eyes. The mastermind behind the script, Hinoe Hasegawa, was quickly sought out by up and coming movie directors who wanted to get rich quick. They quickly climbed the ranks in the entertainment industry, writing various screenplays for movies, animes, and shows alike.

Murder victim of Chapter 1.

Lorena Tachibana

SHSL Mixed Martial Artist

Lorena is an accomplished mixed martial artist in Japan’s Deep competitive organization. She has a reputation for roughhousing and a few lawsuits settled out of court.

Survived to endgame.

• Sir Swears-a-Lot

Masato Shinjin

SHSL Ninjutsu Practitioner

The self-proclaimed last shinobi. While not entirely true, he is the last Practitioner of his grandfather’s school of ninjutsu. His Grandfather, Daikon Onowai, was his teacher and and guardian for the majority of his young life until he passed away. His elder brother, Hanzo, was his role model and the only other student in his grandfather’s school before he left and wasn’t heard from again. When a accidental fire took his grandfather and his grandfather’s dojo away from him, Masato took it upon himself to revive Onowai’ichi-ryu style of ninjutsu.

Died in between Chapter 5's end and the Inner Sanctum, succumbing to poison after defeating the Chimerical King.

• Cool Mask: A gas mask that he almost never removes.
• Dying Moment of Awesome: Can't beat defeating an enormous demon all by yourself!

Michi Misawa

SHSL Video Game Music Composer

With that bubbly smile and girlish looks, no one would suspect that Michi is best known for composing video game music — specifically, for indie horror games! Starting at 10 with her sibling, the two of them created an indie, psychological horror game together under the name Black Quill Games. The critics were blown away by the quality from a two person team, along with the immersive atmosphere and intriguing characters, and the game, Drops of Ink, quickly became a cult classic. Their second game, Instruments of Shade, starting with a kickstarting fund online, received much more money than they would ever need from excited fans. When it was released, the atmosphere was quite different in this noir, thriller game, but the quality was even better than the last. While story development and artistic skills make the games, many agree that they simply wouldn’t be the same without the perfect atmosphere set up by the music. It’s no wonder Hope’s Peak called both of them!

The victim of Chapter 2.

Nikki Hera

SHSL Biologist

Since their childhood, Nikki has shown a never ending curiosity for sciences, firstly trying to study all fields in there before settling down with biology. Indeed, this teen’s natural talent and searches for concrete answers proved useful in biology. They had succeeded in finding answers to questions previously unsolvable at a young age with their innovative mind. Nikki’s popularity grew quickly after they presented what people at their school considered the best stand in the entire building. Press picked up the interviews and the biologist did not mind talking in front of camera about their success in discoveries and breakthroughs. Their honesty and search for truth in the interviews were why Hope’s Peak Academy sent them a letter inviting them to attend their prestigious school at age 16. Despite their initial lack of good knowledge of the Japanese language, Nikki accepted the invitation without question and improved their skills in said field there so they could communicate easier with people.

Executed as the murderer of Chapter 1.

Nori Aragaki

SHSL Snowglobe Maker

The child of a famous glassblower in Hida (part of the Gifu prefecture in Japan.), Nori found themselves helping their father with his craft. Along the way, Nori learned how to make snowglobes out of the glass they made with their father. It started small, with little designs of areas in Hida they were familiar with. However, from there, Nori created snowglobes of scenes from their favorite American and Japanese horror films. Soon, their shelves were decorated with the workings of their craft, which their father helped them perfect. One day, Nori’s father helped them construct their own website to sell their work. Horror fans bought much of their work, which only encouraged Nori to make more and more. Soon, word even spread to Hope’s Peak. Of course, Nori and their father never expected this. Will they embark on the adventure of a lifetime? Or will it be something else indefinitely?

The victim of Chapter 4.

• Opaque Nerd Glasses: They're Blind Without 'Em, as seen in a conversation they had with Robin.

Omen Yoshito Akagawa

SHSL Cryptozoologist Hoaxer

“Omen” is a mysterious figure who has been making great strides forward in the field of cryptozoology. Not much is known about him because he’s managed to keep his personal life and work life very separate, creating a very mystifying aura and letting him take on a status as hardly more than a cryptid himself. He has written several well-read articles on cryptids, as well as establishing photographic and even one video of what seems to be rather concrete proof of the existence of several local cryptids, ranging from kappa to ningen to bakeneko, among others.

Executed at the end of the mastermind trial.

• Abusive Parents
• Break the Haughty / Trauma Conga Line: Chapter 5. Both Vera and Ren are victims, and they were killed specifically to make him suffer. To top it all off, the killer isn't even executed.
• Eye Scream: He lost an eye in one of his father's drug-fueled abusive episodes. In the game, his eyes are revealed to have changed by the end of the mastermind trial; one now has two blood-red irises, and the other socket is now lined with lamprey-like teeth.

• Official Couple: With Vera and Ren. Unfortunately, he couldn't save either of them from being murdered.

• Walking Spoiler: He's the mastermind, with an alias and a cover talent. It's obvious he's hiding things.

Oriana Abelli

SHSL Architect

The daughter of a renowned Italian architect, her interest in the field began at an early age, idly doodling ideas for buildings in the margins of her notebooks. Her talent went unnoticed until, after happening to look at a set of plans made by her father’s firm, she pointed out a fatal structural flaw that an entire team of trained adults had failed to recognize. This incident launched her career as an architect, eventually even getting her scouted into Hope’s Peak.

Executed as the murderer of Chapter 3.

Ryouta Himura

SHSL Acrobat

Ryouta Himura’s the man you want to go to in hopes of an exciting time! Aloof and serious in nature, the excitable Trapeze Artist will show you how to have fun! Keeping true to the title “Adrenaline Junkie”, the circus boy will do whatever he can to get a rush of adrenaline he craves!! Aged 17, very handsome, and on his way to possible worldwide stardom, Ryouta Himura is the self proclaimed Phoenix who rose from the ashes of tragedy to bring back joy and hope to the common people. Survivor of a tragic accident, he has come back full force, just as his name proclaims! Member of the worldwide known Himura Acrobatic family.

The murderer of Chapter 5, having aided in killing Ren and Vera, and killing Violet himself. However, the class mistrialed, and Ryouta ended up surviving to endgame.

• Allergic to Routine: His description even points out that he's an adrenaline junkie, to boot!
• Angrish: He can become fairly unintelligible if he's really pissed off.
• Book Dumb: He really isn't much of a reader.

• No Sense of Personal Space: Ironically, he gets rather uncomfortable when someone else invades his space.
• Official Couple: With Robin.

Ren Miura

SHSL Ikebana

Ren Miura has spent most of his life in his mother’s florist shop, or out enjoying nature in its simplest of forms, so it shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anyone that he’d take such an interest in something like flower arranging. He’d first heard of ikebana through the grapevine that was his school, and, his interest piqued, he wasted no time in entering the, admittedly small, class that offered lessons on ikebana arrangement. There wasn’t much trial and error, seeing as how Ren discovered, with practice, that he had a natural talent for it. Delighted, he continued making beautiful arrangements, most of which he left on display in his mother’s shop. This gained the attention and awe of many a customer, prompting them to ask who made such lovely displays. Once it was learnt that Ren was behind the arrangements it didn’t take long for news of the young and talented ikebana arranger to spread throughout the city, turning the once simple florist shop into a popular local area that many people come to appreciate the simple yet beautiful aesthetic of Ren’s ikebana arrangements.

One of the victims of Chapter 5.

• Official Couple: With Omen and Vera, if all of them had survived.

Daryl Robin Statlender

Reserve Course Student (formerly SHSL Stalker)

From both the east and west sides of America, Robin Statlender has arrived at Hope’s Peak! Though he’s a mere Reserve Course student, he still seeks to better the world in his own, small way. Working under the president of the newspaper club, Robin spends his time as an editor of HPA’s school newspaper. He’s doing his best to live, learn, and make the newspaper as good as it can be. There are rumors that he used to be part of the school’s Talent Course, but he’ll deny it if you ask. But those rumors are completely true; he was the SHSL Stalker a year prior.

Survived to endgame.

• Animal Motifs: Birds, due to his name. It became both a Fan Nickname and In-Series Nickname to call him a bird.

• Berserk Button: Hurting someone he wants to protect. Ayaka learns this the hard way in the fourth trial.

• Continuity Cameo: Pops up to wish Yumie goodbye in the sequel.
• Extreme Doormat: Willing to put up with just about anything from others. Most frequently Omen.
• Hair Color Dissonance: He's consistently described as a redhead, but his hair was meant to be more brown.
• Horrible Judge of Character: The other of the two people who trusted Uluka.
  • There's also the fact that his role model and his boyfriend both turned out to be murderers. And his roommate, who he was starting to warm up to, was the mastermind.

• Official Couple: With Ryouta.
• Painting the Medium: To illustrate his willingness to bend for others, most of his post titles mimic the style of the person he's conversing with. It's only with reactions and trial posts where his post title style is unique.
• Shout-Out: A good portion of his posts (when they're in his style, anyway) are references to Undertale.
• Smart People Wear Glasses: Zigzagged. On the one hand, he has had his smart moments, such as in the fourth trial, and he is fairly good at the puzzles in the dungeon. On the other hand, he's denied that he's smart several times, and he has done some not-so-smart things, like trust Uluka and fail to realize the first killer would be executed.
• Stalker without a Crush: Not in the game proper, but prior to him transferring to the Reserve Course, this was his modus operandi.

Vera Danshov

SHSL Ballet Instructor

Through a simple search on the internet, you can find hundreds of links to headlines and videos about Vera Danshov. Many are about how proud her mother and father are, how she’s continuing the family tradition of becoming a ballet dancer know best for her performances as the Swan Princess in Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty in Sleeping Beauty and many many more. Though the most recent articles are much harsher and leave little to the imagination of just what the scarred dancer has gone through. The most recent ones are mainly in Russian but through a bit of navigation you find them translated into a language you can read.

One of the victims of Chapter 5.

• Motherly Side Plait: Puts her hair into this around the middle of the game. She's killed only a chapter or two after she switches her hairstyle to this.

• Official Couple: With Omen and Ren. Shame that none of them survived.

Violet Folland

SHSL Antique Photographer

Snap, Flash! Violet Folland, an idol of the photography world in Poland and earning more fame since her move to Japan. Violet has had their work published on many blogs,websites and even in well known magazines that print across the world! If you don’t know them due to their talent, there is a good chance you may know them just by looking at them due to their natural white hair and being a model for a short amount of time for a popular clothing company.

One of the victims of Chapter 5...and also one of the murderers. However, Silliamas couldn't punish them because they were already dead.

• Beware the Nice Ones: Violet seems a perfectly friendly individual, don't they? Fast forward to Chapter 5, where they orchestrate a murder plan with Ryouta specifically to make Omen suffer.

NPCS

Tamotsu Morita

Graduated SHSL Tutor

The homeroom teacher of these HPA students, and the man who organized the trip to Spain. In the sequel...he's still the students' homeroom teacher, and he organized the trip to Alchemilla Planetarium.

Killed as the "martyr" at the very end of prologue. In the sequel, he was actually never involved with the Benefactors at all, and got off the train without the students, leaving him to worry about them for the month and a half or so they were missing.

• We Hardly Knew Ye: Especially applicable in the sequel, where he disappears after the planetarium trip, but before the class arrives in Nowhere Station.

Silliamas

Unchainer of Ambition, Devourer of Fools, Granter of Desires

• Eldritch Abomination: As expected for a demon.
• Eyes Do Not Belong There: They're on his tongue, and they don't even look like eyes; they look like green stars.
  • Extra Eyes: His tongue is absolutely coated in them.
• I'm a Humanitarian: Explicitly consumed the corpses of Daisy and Nori, and is implied to have done the same for the others. Except Violet.
• Large and in Charge: He starts off at six feet in diameter, and only gets bigger as the game goes on.
  • Fat Bastard: He's not a benevolent presence in the slightest.
• Multi-Armed and Dangerous: He can have as many or as few limbs as he wants at any given time.

Uluka

Nun of Filth

Kalesha

Lady of Midday

• The Blank: She literally has a black void where her face should be.

Thassa

Night Terror Duchess

• Playing with Fire: She bleeds flame.
• Shipper on Deck: She interprets Robin's feelings for Alphonse as love in the second trial, and tells him to keep loving him. Though that's more so she can feed off his heartbreak, since Alphonse is about to be executed.

Ceras-Thon

Legion of Lost Faces

Asphyxian

Yellow Lord who Smote Babel

Azzarath

Chimerical King

Kirikiri

Death of Seven Things

Ramiel

• Eldritch Abomination: Fitting with the normal Biblical description of an angel.
• Spare Body Parts: Eight limbs in total.

Player Characters

Aiko Kin/Hoshimi Abe

SHSL Conspiracy Theorist

Always having an interest in all sorts of conspiracy theories, Aiko Kin is part of a group that uncovered a series of experiments a pharmaceutical company had been conducting with subliminal advertising. The experiments resulted in groups of people across the country having seizures and other neurological problems. As mysterious as their talent, not much is known about Aiko themself. A search for their name only brings up information on their discovery and few forum posts regarding other conspiracies she had researched.

Survives to endgame, and stays to work with Ultra-40.

Arthur Crane

SHSL Coroner

Despite his youth, Arthur Crane has garnered a great deal of respect in the (admittedly niche) circles of the mortuary sciences. His autopsies are always thorough and efficient, and his advice and the information derived from his work with corpses has led to breakthroughs in many homicide cases. Due to a habit of muttering to himself as he works, and the depth of information he’s often able to determine, there have even been rumors that he can “speak with the dead.” However he’s really best known (at least among people who pay attention to that sort of thing) for his work regarding frostbite and the effects of freezing temperatures on dead flesh. Apparently he was able to discover a means to determine time of death from a corpse which had been frozen through a series of tests including measuring the extent of the frostbite and the development of the ice crystals, as well as the status of the blood cells. As far as coroners go this is essentially like figuring out how to turn lead into gold, so naturally he drew the attention of the international community and has taken numerous consulting jobs in several countries, including Japan. It’s no surprise that Hope’s Peak Academy took notice, really.

Survives to endgame, and stays to work with Ultra-40.

• The Coroner: He's proven to be very useful for determining how the victims died.
• Disproportionate Retribution: Being angry that someone tried to kill Joss? Understandable. Amputating the attacker's hand in their sleep? Not so much!
• Friendless Background: Easily seen on his relationships page — apparently, Aiko was his first ever friend.
• Hates Being Touched: Tells Neo this when offered a handshake.
• Lonely Rich Kid: Word of God confirmed that he's very rich. Combine this with his lack of friends, mentioned above...
• No Social Skills: His sense of humor is...questionable compared to the others, and he's very quick to consider someone a friend. He also doesn't have the best idea of what's appropriate to do for said friends.
• Official Couple: With Joss.
• Violently Protective Girlfriend: Male version. After Yumie lets it slip that she tried to kill Joss, Arthur responds by later drugging her while she was asleep, and then cutting off the hand she had used to injure Joss.

Atenemhet/Farid

SHSL Egyptologist

Egypt: a land filled with a vast history, pyramids, and cursed mummies. At least, that’s what most people think of when they hear the country’s name. Cairo native Atenemhet has a completely different story than any taught in schools, though: a story that would completely rewire the way that historians view the ancient world… or so he claims. As a descendant of the 18th Dynasty himself, he has written numerous articles on the effect of UFOs and Extraterrestrials on the Ancient World, with a particular focus on Atenism and the Amarna Heresy. His work is highly controversial and few people seem to actually believe it, but it doesn’t lessen the impact on the conversation that he has had.

The victim of Chapter 3, killed by Kosami as part of a plan to save Kimiko. He is revived by Ultra-40 some time after endgame, and chooses to stay with Kimiko and work with Ultra-40.

• I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy: This is the reason Kosami kills him. Both of them love Kimiko and want her to be safe, so Atty plans for Kosami to kill him and get away with it, to fulfill the motive and protect Kimiko.
• Official Couple: With Kimiko. She describes him as the Solaris to her Luna. This turns tragic when Atenemhet plans to have Kimiko's other boyfriend kill her to keep her safe.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: Most people only knew him as Atenehmet, but after his death, it was revealed to everyone that his name was Farid.
• Only One Name: He goes by only Atenemhet, without mentioning his last name. Or his given first name, for that matter.

Gernot Faust

SHSL Scholar

Known as an intellectual prodigy, Gernot Faust has been a keen honor student since he was born. He always sustained nothing less than an A in all his classes. His accomplishments scale across from being Germany’s best debate student, having been on the mathematics team, served on the school committee as multiple positions over the years, and his biggest achievement, having been the youngest person to solve the Beal Conjecture, earning the one million dollar reward from it. He is above many reading levels, ranging in the range of a graduate from university. He has written essays on how some literary texts have affected today’s society, earning him much credibility.With all of these accomplishments, the prestigious Hope’s Peak Academy has sent him an invitation to attend as the SHSL Scholar.

Survives to endgame, and stays to work with Ultra-40. He works undercover in his off time to either arrest his father, or see him die, which he then leaves Ultra 40 to return to the normal world and claim his father's riches and estate.

• Hopeless Suitor: Gernot secretly loved Atenehmet, but Atenehmet was already in a relationship with Kimiko. Of course, Gernot never got to confess his feelings before Atenehmet's passing.
• Love Dodecahedron: Gernot has feelings for Atenehmet, who is dating Kimiko, who is also dating Kosami. Kosami and Atenehmet are not dating.
• Made of Iron: After having been beaten so many times, his skin has hardened, allowing him to feel minimal pain.
• Pay Evil unto Evil: For when he then brutally retaliated against Atenehmet, leaving many injuries behind, and almost killing him.
• Real Men Hate Affection: Having not had much affection given to him growing up, he is not used to the idea.
• Steal the Surroundings: During Chapter 1's investigation, Gernot took the bloodied trumpet from the scene so that way no one could have it until the trial.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: During Chapter 2, the motive was if no one died, everyone's loved ones would slowly perish. Gernot tried everything he could to prevent any deaths from occurring so he could watch the terrible man that is his father die.
• What Is Evil?: This is from when Kimiko asked him why he retaliated in such a brutal manner, where he tries to explain he was justified with self-defense. He then questioned her if she would have responded the same way.
• What the Hell, Hero?: For when he called out Atenehmet for attempting to murder him.
• Wild Card: He doesn't align with anyone, helping those whose goals help reach his.
• Worthy Opponent: One would think two people who almost killed one another would hate each other, but Atenehmet and Gernot become very good friends.

Haruka Mikazuki

SHSL Criminal Profiler

Surprisingly, the name Haruka Mikazuki is not well-known amongst people her age. However if you ask police in any prefecture in Japan, they'll recognize the name instantly. "Oh, that's her, the genius girl who solves cases out of her bedroom," they say. "Isn't that the girl who solved that twelve year old cold case in Tokyo?" others say. Across Japan, investigators know her well as the girl who was constructing accurate profiles and solving cases with only a few offhand glances at evidence others might dismiss. If you looked hard enough, you could find her name in the news as the girl who solved a cold case at a school assembly, and the girl who caught three serial killers before entering junior high. What is the truth to all these rumors and stories about her? She's not telling.

One of the victims of Chapter 5, killed by Michio's Faker. She is revived by Ultra-40 some time after endgame, and chooses to return to society with Neo.

• Emotions vs. Stoicism: Her main dilemma is in figuring out which benefits her more and thus, what to present more as well.
• Friendless Background: Reveals to Neo in Chapter 3 that her last group of friends all perished in a bus accident.

• Official Couple: With Neo. They refer to their shared kisses as "making pancakes."

• Phone-In Detective: Of a sort. She tries not to be directly involved in the cases she works on.
• Sole Survivor: Of the bus accident that claimed her friends, classmates and teachers.
• The Stoic: She's pretty reserved.

• What Is This Feeling?: First displays this when she realizes she feels affection for some of her classmates, then once more with feeling when it comes to her growing adoration for Neo.

Jocelyn "Joss" Thorne

SHSL Bass Guitarist

Bass guitarists are often overlooked in most popular music, but Jocelyn Thorne of the Celtic Rock band ‘Drowned Royalty’ is a notable exception. Hailing from the Republic of Ireland, Joss is better known in Europe and the Americas than in Japan, but he is slowly gaining recognition across the rest of the world. One might argue that he’s recognizable mostly because of his singing and his stand-out appearance. However, it cannot be denied that Joss is very technically skilled, often carrying the melody on his fretless 5-string bass. Off the stage, though, especially in interviews, he is known for being frustratingly laconic.

Survives to endgame, and stays to work with Ultra-40, continuing work with his band on his off time.

• Beware the Nice Ones: Tries his best to be kind. This doesn't stop him from breaking the wrist of an attempted murderer. Not to mention what Joss did to Tarou.

• Character Tics: Constantly fiddling with a pocket watch, especially when anxious.
• Freaky Fashion, Mild Mind: Multiple piercings and edgy clothes, yet he's still a sweetheart.

• Lead Bassist: Since his talent is the SHSL Bass Guitarist, it's only natural.
• Losing Your Head: Got decapitated in the Nowhere. Thanks to the game's mechanics, he gets better.
• Official Couple: With Arthur.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: Somewhat. His full name is Jocelyn, but no one ever actually calls him that.
• Pay Evil unto Evil: Tarou killed Renee. Joss retaliated during the trial by strangling Tarou with a watch chain.

Joseph Mbafia

SHSL Politician

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but what if a child could raise up his village?That was the mission Joseph Mbafia set out to accomplish at the age of thirteen, embarking on the daunting task of bringing his village in the rural Adamawa region of Cameroon up from poverty and desperation. Beginning his mission by running for mayor to secure official representation of his village, Joseph successfully networked with a host of faith-based nonprofits, humanitarian NGOs, and governmental foreign aid programs to turn his village into a hub for receiving and distributing food, medicine, and clothing. He coordinated with his benefactors to dig wells, build houses and schools, and provide vehicles and equipment for the village to use.All of this was accomplished while simultaneously handling the tribal disputes in the area, friction with the northern Muslim population, and the inefficient and sometimes corrupt national government of Cameroon. When he decided to run for re-election at the age of fifteen, the village had seen a remarkable growth in population and he won by a landslide, securing himself a place in the hearts of his constituents and a spot on Time’s 100 Influential People list for that year.

Executed in Chapter 1, after having killed Tama. Although Ultra-40 is capable of reviving him after endgame, he instead chooses deletion.

• The Alleged Boss: Type 3. Joseph fancies himself to be the group's leader, but lacks any real authority to make them do what he wants.
• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: His thoughts on the others reveals rather low opinions of many of them, despite his polite exterior.
• Curb-Stomp Battle: Joseph leads the group into one. He's the first to get stomped.
• Dark Shepherd: He may be trying to protect and guide the class, but his methods and intentions are brutal and morally bankrupt.
• Death by Pragmatism: His pragmatic view of the world eventually leads to his execution.
• A Father to His Men: Tries his best to treat his "constituents" with candor and warmth. If they require anything he will go out of his way to try and make it a reality. Including murdering one of the group to keep the rest safe.
• Frontline General: When the first motive begins Joseph takes charge and leads from the front, which ultimately leads to his Start of Darkness.
• Gender Is No Object: Surprisingly, considering some of his hidden prejudices, Joseph isn't particularly sexist and openly welcomes any role that his classmates choose to take... Provided it isn't as a leader.
• Good Is Not Soft: Looks out for the good of the class like a leader, yet murders Tama with little hesitation.
• Go Through Me: When the first motive begins he willingly puts himself in harms way to try and defend his fellow students.
• Heroic Sacrifice: This is how he views his own murder of Tama. By staining his hands with blood, he has heroically kept the rest of the group pure and guiltless.
• I Did What I Had to Do: Joseph views Tama's death as a necessary sacrifice and would do it again if necessary.
• Killed Off for Real: He chooses not to be revived when Ultra-40 has the technology, and instead opts to be deleted.
• The Killer Becomes the Killed: The class votes to execute him after he confesses to his murder.
• Know When to Fold 'Em: After it becomes clear the class has figured out the evidence and isn't buying his arguments, Joseph accepts his punishment with resignation.
• Lack of Empathy: Subverted. While he was fairly stoic about his murder of Tama, he broke down in tears when confessing his crime to Kimiko.
• Language Barrier: His arch-nemesis.
• Likes Older Women: Sister Carlotta must be at least in her forties.
• Love Makes You Evil: Thanks, Sister Carlotta!
• Messianic Archetype: How he sees himself, leading to dark results.
• Mistaken for Racist: One of his favorite tools for manipulating people is using his race against them.
• Necessarily Evil: His view of Tama's death and any murders he may need to commit in the future.
• The Needs of the Many: His basic argument for why Tama had to die.
• Never Accepted in His Hometown: Neo received a note that Renée translated, explicitly stating a death threat against Joseph from a local tribal leader.
• Nominal Hero: While he may be trying to keep the group alive, he has less than altruistic reasons for doing so.
• Public Execution: Impaled with Extreme Prejudice, no less.
• Shell-Shocked Veteran: After the failed defense from the Nowhere creatures in the first motive and his resulting capture, Joseph succumbs to his Despair Event Horizon and murders Tama.
• Single-Target Sexuality: His one true love is debatable: Whether it is Cameroon, his teacher Carlotta, himself, or power alone. Whichever it is, it takes precedence over any other suitor.
• Sympathetic Murderer: Even though his actions were horrible, a sizable amount of the class chose to vote in his favor.
• Translation Train Wreck: Any time he has to rely on his tablet for translation.
• Ultimate Authority Mayor: While he was in Cameroon he had this position. It proved to be his undoing and the reason he fled to Hope's Peak.
• Villain Respect: Despite their initial differences, Joseph and Kimiko come to mutual respect and friendship, despite the fact he is objectively awful.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Killed Tama in order to protect the rest of the students.

Kara Killdare a.k.a Kayu Tsugimori

SHSL Late Night TV Show Host

Kara Killdare is the mile-a-minute self proclaimed Hostess With the Mostest of channel 51's seminal Sci-Fi and Horror schlock fest "Tales of Terror". Famed for her unbeatable enthusiam and willingness to try and spin the worst movies as worthy of love, she's managed to build a massive (if mostly ironic) fanbase.

After the class ends up in Nowhere Station (at the end of the Prologue), she disappears, and is later shown to have been cut up and repurposed by the Benefactors to serve as their mouthpiece. However, due to the combined efforts of the remaining members of the class, Kayu was restored to her former glory, damaged but otherwise healthy and sane.

Survives to endgame, but decides to stay in the Nowhere instead of returning with the class.

• And I Must Scream: Formerly, she could not speak out against the Benefactors, or she would be punished. She could barely speak on her own at all unless the Benefactors willed it.
• Fighting from the Inside: She makes several efforts to resist the Benefactors' control on her. Sadly, it never actually works.
• First-Episode Twist: Given that she's made into the game's mascot, it's kind of hard to discuss the game further without bringing up her horrific fate, or how she was saved from it.
• Gratuitous English: My, Kara sure knows a lot of swears!
• Meaningful Name: Killdare. Fitting for her being a hostess for horror movies. Naturally, it's not her real name.
• I Cannot Self-Terminate: Begs for Arthur to kill her.
• Shock and Awe: Anyone who tries to touch her after the game starts gets an electric shock.

---

• Back from the Dead: Saved by the class in Chapter 4, who pull off an impressive victory over the Benefactors to bring Kayu into the Nowhere.
• Came Back Strong: From being cut up and restrained to a wheelchair, back on her feet through the magic of respawning.
• Power Makes Your Hair Grow: Her luscious locks are returned to her healthy body.

Kimiko Setsuko

SHSL Figure Skater

Setsuko Kimiko is a well accomplished figure skater in the leagues to becoming an olympic athlete. Having started skating competitively from a young age, she’s been quoted stating “It feels like figure skating is my whole life.” She’s been known to favour the scratch spin quiet a lot, being able to spin for a much longer time then normally capable by other skaters. She’s shown much promise in bringing her country back golds, but continues to turn down offers saying she wants to “Wait until she is finished school before she decides.”She also seems to prefer her privacy, not normally sharing much about herself with media. Though she is always polite she often says she is unsure or would rather not disclose such information when asked questions about her future or private life. She has only shared so much as “having a secret blog” and inviting fans of hers to try and find it jokingly. But the mystery only adds to her charm.

Survives to endgame, and stays to work with Ultra-40.

• Action Girl: Athletic and handy with a knife. Monsters (and classmates) beware!
• Because You Were Nice to Me: Once she sees you as a friend, there's no going back; she's your loyal friend for life.
• Beneath the Mask: Before the game's events, Kimiko had to constantly put on masks for the sake of her image in the media.
• Bilingual Dialogue: One word: fruck.
• Chaotic Neutral: Does as she pleases, with only mild concern about how others will view her (unless she considers them her friend).
• Desperately Craves Affection: A complicated family life has led to her constantly craving other people's affection and love. (Whether she believes she deserves this love is debatable.)
• Face of an Angel, Mind of a Demon: Although she's got a cute face, she's proven on several occasions that she's not above violence, such as fighting Gernot after he severely hurt Atenemhet in self defense. Subsequently, she lost control of herself and tried to kill him.
• Fangs Are Evil: She's drawn with distinct fangs, and while it's a bit of a stretch to call her evil...
• Hair Color Dissonance: Word of God has stated that she was intended to be an albino, but her hair has been stylized to a pale blue to fit her color scheme.
• Love Hurts: Although she desperately wants love, feeling them for others has become incredibly painful as the killing game has gone on. She became incredibly upset to find that Atenemhet had romantic feelings for her, because she views herself as a terrible person.
• Master of the Mixed Message: Unintentionally. Her ways of showing affection are unorthodox and easily misinterpreted, as Atenemhet finds out.
• Nightmare Fetishist: Rather than reacting with fear to the class being stranded in Nowhere Station, she seems...excited.
• Official Couple: With Atenemhet and Kosami. She describes herself as Luna, and Atty and Kosami as Solaris and Terra, respectively.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: Bright red eyes, she's a fan of the occult, she's a strong and merciless fighter...yup, Kimiko checks out. Subverted in that she didn't kill anyone at all over the course of the game.

Kisuke Usokami

SHSL Funeral Director

Kisuke Usokami hails from the city of Uji, land known most for its teas and culture, from the acutely named Usokami Funeral Hall, a building passed down generation to generation of this (unfortunate) last name. He’s known mostly for his funeral services as a funeral director, which has gained media coverage and even country wide recognition. With the little supplies and services he had, Usokami Funeral services creates extravagant funerals for the deceased, honoring and celebrating one’s passing from the mortal world to the next. Kisuke has been integrated and trained in the various funeral rites of different cultures, from the most common western funeral service, to ancient ainu tradition. He has travelled worldwide, planning the funeral services and executing them with finesse. To have an Usokami Funeral Hall service is a luxury that comes with a price, due to the notoriety.

Survives to endgame, and stays with Kimiko to work for Ultra-40.

• Creepy Monotone: Very little inflection in his voice. That would be bad enough, but it doesn't help that he often has a flat expression, pale skin, and bags under his eyes.
• No Social Skills: Addresses his classmates like he would his...clients.
• Used to Be a Sweet Kid: If this picture is any indication, Kisuke used to be much cheerier.

Kosami Akita

SHSL Bodyguard

Do you like horror movies? If so, you might have heard the name Kokei Otsuka- a relatively large actor hailing from the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan. And you might have heard of his stepson, Kosami Akita, who doubles as his bodyguard, who in one fell swoop protected Kokei from an attacker, even taking the wound for himself and spending some time in the hospital. And you might be wondering why someone so young is allowed to work such a job for his parental figure, but for Kosami, he claims it’s more of a choice than a profession. That said, very little else is known about the young boy, other than suddenly being thrust into a life of fame after his mother remarried, and more information is available about his step-father.

Executed in Chapter 3, after having killed Atenemhet to protect Kimiko. His post-endgame fate is unknown, but presumably, he is revived and he chooses to stay with Kimiko and work with Ultra-40.

• Official Couple: With Kimiko. She describes him as the Terra to her Luna. Given the third motive boils down to protection, this turns tragic.
• Sympathetic Murderer: It's hard to fault him for wanting to keep his girlfriend from dying. Especially since the victim, his girlfriend's other boyfriend, was willing to die for that.

Michio Sato

SHSL Dollmaker

Bunny-Puff Ball jointed dolls, a small home run doll company. It’s not well known because of how small the company is or that it's run by a young man but, because of the detail he puts into his dolls. Other than the name Sato and the fact that the creator is a male not much is known about him. He avoids interviews and the Bunny-Puff booth at a gatherings or conventions you're bound to meet a young lady, only known as Bunny or Bun, instead of Sato himself.

One of the victims of Chapter 5...and also the killer. He was replaced with a Faker midway through the motive, and it proceeded to kill Haruka and itself. He is revived by Ultra-40 some time after endgame, and chooses to return to society to his sisters, albeit a changed man after his experiences.

• Gentle Giant: He's meek and mild-mannered, and in his Benefactor-mandated run after Chapter 2's trial, he's the one to suggest resolving the situation without death.

Renée Durant

SHSL Animal Geneticist

A young prodigy in the obscure fields of animal biology and genetics, Renée was thrust into the spotlight when a paper she wrote on using gene therapy to increase survivability of species endangered from disease and malnutrition was published in the most popular journal in the field. In response, she was offered an internship that coming summer at a Japanese lab researching those things in Tokyo. She accepted the offer, fully intending to return to her native country of France at the end of the summer. Instead, she received and accepted an invitation from Hope’s Peak Academy.

The victim of Chapter 4, strangled, stabbed and burned by Tarou. She is revived by Ultra-40 some time after endgame, and chooses to return to society.

• Cruel and Unusual Death
• Kill the Cutie

Ryuyo Chosuken

SHSL Logician

Always calm and composed, this Logician is the author of multiple publications on the art of logic. This eventually got him the attention of Hope’s Peak Aceademy, into which he was enrolled. Not much else is known about him- he apparently moved in the town he lives fairly recently for reasons he prefer to keep to himself.

The victim of Chapter 2, killed by Uta so she could save her family. Although Ultra-40 is capable of reviving him after endgame, he instead chooses deletion.

• High-Voltage Death: Dies of electrocution, after being pushed into an electrical box by Uta.

Taiki Yukimura

SHSL Tutor

Need help in school? Struggling in a subject, two, or all? There’s no better person to go to for help than Taiki Yukimura! Students come from all around Japan to Taiki’s doorstep to get help in every school subject, from English to Maths, Science to History. Ever since junior high school Taiki has been assisting students from Elementary all the way up to University students. Taiki has even held several conferences to teach others how to teach themselves and help them excel in school. It’s no surprise that Taiki Yukimura has been selected to attend Hope’s Peak Academy under the title of SHSL Tutor.

Survives to endgame, and chooses to return to society with Yuudai.

• Official Couple: With Yuudai. They've smooched, and are obviously very close.

Tama Fukumura

SHSL Inventor

Tama Fukumura may not be a household name, but her inventions are world-renowned. As the child of Bioengineer Dr. Valini Bhambu of Tohoku University and Scientific Journalist Tarou Fukumura, she was exposed to science at a fairly early age. She took the the field like a bird to the air, soaring above and beyond her peerage. Her affinity for inventing stemmed from hobbyist robot building. She builds to make the world easier for everyone, to whole counties or her private clientele. Her inventions span from low-cost, low-maintenance water purifiers to weapons of mass destruction.

The victim of Chapter 1, killed by Joseph to protect the rest of the class. Although Ultra-40 is capable of reviving her after endgame, she instead chooses deletion.

Tarou Akiyama

SHSL Harbormaster

As the current harbormaster for the port of Yokohama, Tarou Akiyama has proven himself more than an equal to his peers, despite his youth. A Yokohama native, Tarou took over the role of harbormaster two years ago, succeeding his father in the disarray left by his unexpected death. Despite some controversy and a media circus surrounding the actual legality of Tarou’s employment, the port’s increased efficiency and the minor economic boom that followed played a major part in convincing the Port and Harbor Bureau to hire him officially. Under his administration, the port city continues to experience steady economic growth, with no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Executed as the killer of Chapter 4. He is revived by Ultra-40 some time after endgame, though he takes longer to decide than the others. His fate after that is unknown.

• Fiery Redhead: He can get very passionate when it comes to things in trials.
• Not Me This Time: Reversed, so arguably inverted. He first claims knowledge of a crime he didn't actually witness by saying that he saw Farid get killed. The very next chapter, he says that he's innocent of Renee's murder, when he's actually quite guilty!
• Red Is Violent: Not particularly from what we see at first, but Renee's deaths is one of the more brutal murders in the game, and the method actually touches on a trigger of hers. Not to mention he's somehow involved in taking down the Yakuza.

Tsuneo "Nutty Neo" Enjou

SHSL Daredevil

It's a bird...It's a plane...It's Nutty Neo hurtling out of the sky at a hundred miles per hour! Tsuneo Enjou, known to the general public as Nutty Neo for the crazy feats he achieves on a regular basis, is a well-known daredevil and thrill-seeker of the highest order. The stunts he does are nothing short of extraordinary, ranging from setting the record for parachute deployment at the lowest altitude from a fixed height, to locking himself in a beehouse for two straight days, to highwire walking between the cliff walls of The Great Wall of China! Clearly, there is nothing that this young man won’t do, though recent media has shown him to be in and out of the hospital on a regular basis...Perhaps the stress of his high-profile work is starting to catch up to him?

Survives to endgame, and chooses to work with Ultra-40 until Haruka is revived. After that, he returns to society with her.

• The Ace: Thus far, Neo is arguably regarded as the most dangerous student to the denizens of the Nowhere. Aside from being the student with the most number of forays into the realm of darkness, he's proven to be both incredibly speedy and a proficient marksman, defeating the Mantid solo and taking down the Indigo Child twice. What's more, Neo was also the key to taking down the Andromedean, with his aforementioned skills and strong love-turned-hate. He's also brought back every single student who has gone with him into the Nowhere. At least, when he's not killing them to help them reset their injuries.
• Arch-Enemy: Is this for the Indigo Child. He on the other hand views her with irritation, vengeance and quite a fair bit of respect.
• Badass Adorable: The adorable part is undeniable, and if he didn't already qualify, taking down the Andromedean definitely fulfills the badass bit!
• Beware the Nice Ones: He may have the face and personality of a saint, but he didn't earn that title of 'Daredevil' for nothing, y'know.
• Big Brother Instinct: He extends this fondness to some of his classmates, particularly Kisuke, Renée and Yumie.
• Cuddle Bug: Often cuddles with Haruka, especially during the third motive.
• The Cutie
• Dumb Blonde: Downplayed. He has no formal education, but is far from being stupid. That being said, he is quite the doofus.
• Epic Fail: The cause for his first two deaths in the Nowhere. In the first instance, him tripping causes a Duchess to notice him trying to sneak around it and blow him up. The second time, he managed to get the Indigo Child so outrageously pissed towards him that she leaves her own Boss Room just to slam him into the abyss and kill him. He's had a running rivalry with her ever since.
• Fragile Speedster: His speed and agility are amazing, and have helped him more than once in the Nowhere, but his body is his weakest stat. Given he's a leukemiac, this isn't unreasonable.
• Good Is Not Soft: Above all else, do not make Neo hate you. The monsters in the Nowhere find this out the hard way.
  • The Fakers: Due to dungeon mechanics and his high speed, he can permadodge all of them with no ill effects.
  • The Indigo Child: On the two occasions that she's been defeated, he's been present.
  • The Andromedean (twice): The first time, he spearheaded the charge to kill it with the rest of the class. The second time, Neo was able to utilize his hatred of it to knock off half of its health in two hits, soundly defeating it once and for all.
  • Additionally, there is also the time he punched Arthur in the face for cutting off Yumie's hand.
  • And the time he nearly forced a mistrial by setting fire traps that threw off the third trial into disarray.
  • And the time he nearly forced a mistrial...again, this time in the fifth trial, just to spite the Benefactors.
• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Undoubtedly one of the kindest and friendliest members of the class.
• Incorruptible Pure Pureness: Downplayed. He grows progressively more cynical over the course of the game, but he still retains his good heart.
• Keet: Always full of positive energy, and it doesn't take very long talking with him to find that out!
• Large Ham: Used to be this. Time and tragedy have mellowed him out considerably.
• Meaningful Name: One ^note Tsuneo = "eternal hero", Enjou = "full circle" that carries a lot of weight with it. It's not even his real name, which nobody knows, not even him - his real parents made no mention of it when they abandoned him, and the name he was given by his foster family was chosen simply to sound as pleasant as possible. Not that anyone's complaining.

• The Pollyanna: A male variant. When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
• Platonic Life-Partners: With Yumie. The two are together a lot, and Yumie obviously trusts him, since she's wandered through the Nowhere with him as her most frequent partner.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The red to Haruka's blue. Interestingly enough, he also tends to be the blue to Yumie's red.
• Secretly Dying: He's had leukemia since before the game began, and he only lets this be known in the fifth chapter.

• Taking the Heat: He attempts to do this in the third trial, since Kosami and Farid agreed to it out of love for Kimiko. Bonus points for actually setting a fire to do it.
  • He also tries to do this in the fifth trial, though this time it's less to protect a specific culprit and more to draw out some evidence.
• Trademark Favorite Food: Pancakes!

Uta Yasutake

SHSL Cat Behavioralist

A previously more or less unknown figure, Uta Yasutake entered the hearts of animal lovers all across Japan when she was featured on a segment of the tv show ‘For the Love of Cats’. She was shown working at a small animal shelter, gently calming a cat that was hissing and spitting at the cameraman only moments before. The show host went on to call Uta ‘The Cat Whisperer’, a title she lived up to— at her parents’ urging she went on to establish a small practice where she offered her services to those pet owners who were struggling with aggressive or poorly behaved cats.

Executed in Chapter 2, after having killed Ryuyo in the wake of the motive. She is revived by Ultra-40 some time after endgame and chooses to return to society to reunite with her family. She never really forgives herself for taking another person's life, especially after his deletion, but tries to work past this and become a better person.

• Apologizes a Lot: Especially when she's upset or nervous.
• Beware the Nice Ones: She's very good with cats, and she isn't one of the more difficult members of the class. That doesn't mean she won't kill to protect her family.
• Boyish Short Hair
• Face Death with Dignity: The minutes before she dies are described as the only moments when Uta feels truly calm, and her stuttering stops for the first time.
• Fatal Family Photo:
  • Neo believes that Uta was driven to kill (and subsequently be executed) because of a family photo he gave her during a motive that targeted the students' loved ones.
  • Ultimately averted. According to Uta, she would have killed regardless of whether or not she received the photo.
• The Killer Becomes the Killed: Killed Ryuyo, and is voted to her death by the others.
• Nerd Glasses: Glasses? Check. Nerdy? Given that she seems to have cat behavior down to a science, check!
• Nervous Wreck: Stutters near constantly, and uses a variety of crutches to help her navigate social interactions, most notably her phone.
• No Social Skills: Tends to come off as abrasive when she isn't nervous.

• Rage Breaking Point: Her family being threatened.
• Shrinking Violet: She can't be called a socialite, and she tends to try and push others away.
• Skewed Priorities: Upon arriving in Nowhere Station, most of the students are concerned with the disappearance of their teacher or where they are. Uta gets upset because she can't find her phone.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Kills Ryuyo in order to protect her family and the rest of the students' loved ones.

Yumie Yamauchi

Reserve Course Student

Have you been reading the Reserve Hope Shimbun, the newspaper run by Hope’s Peak students, for Hope’s Peak students? If you haven’t, then you should, but if you have, then you know the name Yumie Yamauchi rather well! As both the head of the Newspaper Club that produces this newspaper and the main reporter, she's completely devoted to her work and has a great passion for it. Though she's merely a 17 year old Reserve Course student, she has great ambitions for her future. Overall, her goal is to become one of the best reporters that the world has ever seen, but for now she's set her sights on entering the Talent Course!

Survives to endgame, and chooses to stay with Neo and work with Ultra-40 until Haruka is revived. Once that occurs, she returns to society with the two of them.

• An Arm and a Leg: During Chapter 3, she gets her hand amputated after attempting murder.
• Badass Adorable: She might not have lived for the whole fight, but going up against the Andromedean is still no small feat!
  • Special mention for managing to land an effective hit in spite of her poor aim, and breaking through its illusion defenses.
• Bilingual Dialogue: As shown during a conversation with Joseph in the prologue, she's fluent in English. Additionally, she uses a lot of English swear words.
• Break the Cutie: Chapter 2's killer is someone she was crushing on, but she never got a chance to tell them how she felt. Then she tries to kill Joss to protect Neo, but he thwarts her attempt, and she gets a broken wrist for her trouble. Finally, Joss's boyfriend retaliates by cutting off her hand!
• The Dog Bites Back: She eventually gets her revenge for Arthur maiming her. After they get out of the Nowhere and start working with Ultra-40, she punches him. Hard.
  • Additionally, Word of God says that if Arthur had ended up being the true mastermind, she would have laid into him much, much more harshly.
• Fingore: At one point, her finger gets caught in a wall in the dungeons, and in the process of being freed, the finger gets ripped off. Since she dies in the dungeon shortly after, this doesn't end up being permanent.
• Genki Girl: Cheery and eager to interview all her classmates about anything!
• Going for the Big Scoop: She seems to be perfectly at ease with going after information in the Nowhere, to the point of risking her life once or twice.
• Gratuitous English: Her English is actually very good. However, given that she learned the language from Homestuck...
• Hair Color Dissonance: While her hair is undeniably purple, the exact shade has been debated.
• Have I Mentioned I Am Gay?: Downplayed. While readers would probably first learn that she's gay from her statements after the dungeon run with Neo to get rid of her concussion, she does have a relatively obvious crush on Uta, and is devastated when she is executed. Additionally, her desire to make it up to Kayu after she is rescued from the Benefactors could be interpreted as partially romantic in nature. Given that she gets a girlfriend during endgame, this trope arises more from lack of opportunity than hesitancy to show her orientation.
• I Just Want to Be Special: Yumie wants to be SHSL like the rest of her classmates, and believes that hard work will get her there!
• Motor Mouth: Especially when she's angry! Neo finds this out firsthand when she tells him off after he gets rid of her concussion by killing her in the Nowhere.
• Platonic Life-Partners: With Neo. She trusts him very closely, given that after Arthur cuts off her hand he's the person she seeks out for comfort.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: Seemingly averted, since she doesn't appear to be sinister or to harbor any ill will. Played straight, but downplayed, as of Chapter 3, where she tries to kill Joss, but doesn't succeed. Subverted, too, given that she does feel remorse for trying to murder him, and she doesn't try to commit murder again.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: Her pregame interactions show that she's the red compared to the blue of Akira and Robin. This continues into the game itself, where she tends to be the red to Neo's (comparative) blue.
• Screaming Woman: She sure has quite a scream in the dungeons. She also screamed up a storm after waking up and realizing her hand had been cut off.

Yuudai Akiyama

SHSL Hip Hop Dancer

The definition of hip hop would greatly differ depending on the culture, most specifically the North American hip hop and Japanese hip hop. However, someone dared to defy the line between two genres and so prefered the American style, specifically for the dancing. That someone is none other than Yuudai Akiyama, originally a complete stranger to the world whose only his own village knew of his existence prior to his recognition. Being an average student, the blond wasn’t expected to have any special talents, and yet when he was in his teens, Yuudai became interested in dancing and so tried to take classes on different genres before taking the hip hop one, particularly because the music was captivating to him. From then, the blond let his creativity juices flowing, coming up with new moves and sharing them with the fellow dancers. Together, they performed a lot at school and gathered a fanbase because of the contrasting music with what Japan had but mainly because Yuudai was the only short guy standing on the scene, making him plain obvious to the public, plus his movements were peculiar. As his popularity grew in the music world, it wasn’t long before the institution noticed him, prompting them to send him an invitation to the academy as the SHSL Hip Hop Dancer. Seeing it as opportunity to perform more in front of public and improve his dancing, Yuudai immediately agreed, looking forward to it, as well as studying when he could.

Survives to endgame, and chooses to return to society with Taiki.

• Official Couple: With Taiki. Confirmed by his mun, who often draws art of the two together.
• Reckless Sidekick: In several of his runs through the Nowhere. One notable instance has his adventuring partner, Taiki, get out of the dungeon alive shortly after Yuudai dies painfully.
• Tiny Schoolboy: He's only about 5', which makes him one of the shortest members of the class.
• Yellow Eyes of Sneakiness: Seems to be averted, because he doesn't seem to be any sneakier than the rest of the class.

NPCs

The Benefactors

Strange, alien presences that trapped the students in Nowhere Station. They claim to be subjecting the students to an experiment to make them suffer and despair.

• Eldritch Abomination: All we see of them are through opaque glass, but even then, they seem eerie and distinctly wrong.
• Unscientific Science: Their twisted experiments rarely make any real sense and seem to serve their sadistic pleasures than any intellectual pursuits.

The Blob

The Mantid

The Indigo Child

A teleporting alien that dwells in the Nowhere, the child lives in a locked room and seems to keep mostly to herself. Anyone unfortunate enough to trespass or gain her attention finds she is quite the powerhouse.

• Arch-Enemy: Considers Neo to be this, with good reason, given he's defeated her twice.
• Creepy Children Singing: She likes to sing and hum to herself while playing with her toys.
• Dissonant Serenity: Despite her eerie surroundings the child seems pretty serene.
• Emotionless Girl: Averted. When playtime doesn't go in her favor, she throws violent tantrums.
• Enfant Terrible: She's one of the bosses of the Nowhere, and is pretty strong!
• Hair-Trigger Temper: The moment you hurt her feelings, prepare to die.
• It's Personal: She has a grudge against Neo that spans a long period of time.
• Really 700 Years Old: She's been a constant part of the Nowhere...for as long as the Nowhere has been going on.
• Shock and Awe: Her attacks seem to have some sort of electrical component. A direct hit from her will have an accompanying thunderclap.
• Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: Considering her idea of "playtime" is beating people to a bloody pulp.
• Tyke Bomb: One of the most dangerous aliens in the Nowhere, her blows are capable of breaking limbs. And bodies. And heads. Stay clear.

The Andromedean

• Eldritch Abomination: Hard to get more grotesque than this monster.
• Final Boss: Defeating it is one of the victory conditions for the students.
  • Damage-Sponge Boss: At a whopping 80 health (post Kayu rescue), and heavy-hitting attacks, it wasn't meant to be taken down in a single run.
• Final Boss Preview: When the students rescue Kayu from the Benefactors, it shows up to stop them. They beat it back soundly, but it promises to return.
• Killed Off for Real: In the sixth chapter, by Neo and Yumie.

Niko Belmont

A Boston native abducted by the Benefactors and put into the Nowhere at some point prior to the arrival of the Hope's Peak class. His amateur journalism allowed for recordings to be scattered throughout the Nowhere for other abductees to find.

• All There in the Manual: Promo material provides an audio recording from the abduction incident that took him, along with his final log about Avalon's fate.
• Apocalyptic Log: Other abductees can find his recordings scattered across space and time within the Nowhere, detailing his horrific experiences alongside Avalon.
• I'm a Humanitarian: Begins eating a human corpse found in the Nowhere, much to Avalon's disgust.
• Posthumous Character: He's long dead by the time the Hope's Peak class arrives.

Avalon Trudeau

A college student who is abducted by the Benefactors and forced to wander the Nowhere alongside Niko.

• All There in the Manual: Promo material provides an audio recording from the abduction incident that took her. Niko also describes her final fate in his last audio log, another promotional clip.
• The Load: Doesn't particularly want to carry her pistol and often needs Niko's help to get out of scrapes.
• Only Sane Man: When Niko resorts to cannibalism, Avalon is the one to remind him it's abhorrent and wrong.
• Posthumous Character: She's long dead by the time the Hope's Peak class arrives.

Ultra-40

A mysterious organization, bent on saving the class and stopping the Benefactors.

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Awesome

Survival Despair: Per Aspera Ad Inferi

• Lorena Tachibana completes the Throne Room puzzle, and successfully makes it to the end, where she meets Ramiel, who instructs her to destroy the tome used to unleash Silliamas.
  • What's more? She succeeds, thus freeing the souls of the deceased classmates from Silliamas's grip.
• Robin Statlender also completes the Throne room puzzle and meets Ramiel.
  • Special mention for actually completing the puzzle twice, the second time with Ryouta Himura in tow.

Survival Despair 2: Celestial Noise

• The class (or what remains of it) pulling off a successful rescue operation to save their classmate, Kayu Tsugimori, from the Benefactors' control, defeating the first incarnation of the Andromedean and defying their alien hosts to restore Kayu to her body. Special mention should go to:
  • Arthur for coming up with the plan in the first place, and seeing it through to its completion.
  • Kimiko for using knives with continued success while her compatriots favour ranged weapons.
  • Neo for pulling off the decisive blow, shooting down the Andromedean with his acquired Magnum.
  • Kisuke for handling Luna with great skill, cutting down enemies with a knife he only has some experience using.
  • Hoshimi for going into the Nowhere with Kayu, and bringing her back out, restored and alive.
  • And everyone in the class for making it through with zero casualties and only some serious injuries.
• The defeat of the Andromedean's second incarnation.
  • Neo and Yumie land plenty of critical hits to take it down, and they actually get it down to half its health before they run out of healing items.
  • Yumie actually manages to break through the illusion defenses.
  • After Yumie is killed, Neo manages to knock out 37.5% of its health in a single, anger-fueled shot. It takes just one more shot for the Andromedean to go down.
  • Meta example; according to Word of God, this 80-HP beast was meant to take at least two dungeon teams to take down. And yet it only took one pair of very determined individuals. And the Magnum gun.

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Tropes appearing in both games include:

• A Student Body Divided
• Amateur Sleuth: Downplayed in certain cases, played straight for the most part.
• Anyone Can Die: Played straight and for laughs. While death in the Overworld is permanent, most if not all of the students that enter either dungeon end up dying inside, before getting sent back in one piece, unharmed, and missing one life.
• Big Brother Is Watching: What, you think no one is watching them murder each other?
• Body of the Week: Every chapter results in at least one death that the remaining students have to investigate.
• Characters Dropping Like Flies
• Clear My Name/Clear Their Name: Happens whenever somebody is accused of the crime and fights the charges, or when their friends do their best to help them. Of course, the question of whether or not they're actually guilty is very real...
  • Special mention goes to the second game's final trial, which involves clearing the name of someone who's been framed as the mastermind by the actual perpetrators.
• Cruel and Unusual Death: The executions, which are tailor-made for each culprit. Usually, they either mock their Super High School Level talent or exploit their deepest fears, ensuring their punishment is as terrifying as possible. Occasionally, a murder victim also dies in a particularly horrible manner. Outside of those, there are The Many Deaths of You in the dungeons, which range from getting decapitated, blown up, feasted upon, shot in the face thanks to friendly fire, etc.
  • Fate Worse than Death: And sometimes, you don't even get the sweet release. Case in point, Miss Kara Killdare, a.k.a Kayu Tsugimori.
• Deadly Game
• Death Is Cheap: Death in hostile areas (the dungeons in both games, and the unsafe areas of the castle in the first game) isn't permanent. In fact, it gets rid of prior injuries!
  • Four Is Death: Only three deaths are penalty-free, though. If someone dies a fourth time? They're gone.
• Developing Doomed Characters: That's most of the characters. Good luck figuring out which ones they are before they die.
  • In the first game, there's:
    • Hinoe Hisegawa, SHSL Black Comedy Writer, Chapter 1 Victim
    • Nikki Hera, SHSL Biologist, Chapter 1 Killer
    • Michi Misawa, SHSL Video Game Music Composer, Chapter 2 Victim
    • Alphonse Garrard, SHSL Knight, Chapter 2 Killer
    • Daisy Shaladi, SHSL B-Movie Actress, Chapter 3 Victim
    • Oriana Abelli, SHSL Architect, Chapter 3 Killer
    • Apolline Descoteaux, SHSL Horror Illustrator, ripped apart by imps at the start of Chapter 4
    • Nori Aragaki, SHSL Snowglobe Maker, Chapter 4 Victim
    • Ayaka Akiyama, SHSL AI Developer, Chapter 4 Killer
    • Vera Danshov, SHSL Ballet Instructor, Chapter 5 Victim
    • Ren Miura, SHSL Ikebana, Chapter 5 Victim
    • Violet Folland, SHSL Antique Photographer, Chapter 5 Victim...and Killer
    • Azami Aizawa, SHSL Traditional Dancer, Chapter 5 Mistrial Victim
    • Masato Shinjin, SHSL Ninjutsu Practitioner, poisoned by the vanquished Chimerical King after Chapter 5
    • And finally, Omen, SHSL Cryptozoologist, the mastermind.
  • In the second game, we have:
    • Tama Fukumura, SHSL Inventor, Chapter 1 Victim
    • Joseph Mbafia, SHSL Politician, Chapter 1 Killer
    • Ryuyo Chosuken, SHSL Logician, Chapter 2 Victim
    • Uta Yasutake, SHSL Cat Behaviourist, Chapter 2 Killer
    • Atenemhet a.k.a Farid, SHSL Egyptologist, Chapter 3 Victim
    • Kosami Akita, SHSL Bodyguard, Chapter 3 Killer]]
    • Renée Durant, SHSL Animal Geneticist, Chapter 4 Victim
    • Tarou Akiyama, SHSL Harbourmaster, Chapter 4 Killer
    • Haruka Mikazuki, SHSL Criminal Profiler, Chapter 5 Victim
    • Michio Sato, SHSL Dollmaker, Chapter 5 Victim...and Killer
    • Finally subverted by the ending. While not everyone chooses to come back to life, at least half of the ten do choose life, and either stay with their classmates to combat Ultra-40, or return home to their families.
• Dwindling Party
• Dysfunction Junction: With twenty-one different characters, it's to be expected that something like this would happen. To what extent depends on the character in question...and the person playing them.
• Earn Your Happy Ending: Earning the best end in both games takes more than just finishing the game; there's usually at least a puzzle to solve. Both classes have, however, achieved this.
• Emotional Torque
• Everyone Is a Suspect: The objective of each trial is to find out who is the most suspicious.
• Evidence Scavenger Hunt
• Fire-Forged Friends: Often, relationships, both platonic and possibly romantic, are formed due to the stress everyone is put under and the bonds created thusly. Exploited and discussed as occurring naturally between dungeon-clearing partners.
• Humans Are Flawed
• Involuntary Battle to the Death: Taken up to eleven with the dungeons.
• Kangaroo Court
• Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Considering its premise and the fact that it's a roleplay, the characters are not above poking fun at the supposed absurdity of their circumstances.
• Mystery of the Week: There's a new murder every two-three weeks in real life, and every half a week or so in-game.
• Pink Blood
• Public Execution
• Red Herring: Par for the course in a murder mystery. There's usually one or two big ones every case.
• Shout-Out: Overdosed on this with references to other games that the muns have been in.
• Teen Genius: All the students to some extent. They were initially accepted into Hope's Peak for being the best in their age bracket at what they do.
  • With the exception of the two Reserve Course students in the games, Robin and Yumie, who paid to attend. In reality, it's only Yumie who doesn't really qualify.
• Tonight, Someone Dies: Specifically, every couple of weeks, someone dies permanently. It may even happen outside of the norm, should anyone make the mistake of breaking a rule. Subverted in the case of the dungeons - it's not a question of who will die, but when.
• Translation Convention: All characters are presumed to be speaking Japanese unless otherwise noted, even though the game is written in English. French is also a language spoken by some.
• Win Your Freedom
• You Can't Go Home Again

Tropes appearing in the first game include:

• Bad Habits: Uluka.
  • Token Good Teammate: She tries to herself as this, helpfully telling the students that someone in the group has been possessed by a demon.
  • Faux Affably Evil: Reveals herself as this in the subsequent trial, laughing with Silliamas about how she lied about a demon possessing one of them. Of course, nobody actually believed she was trustworthy. Except for Alphonse and Robin.
• Body Horror: Rife with it. Special mention to the mastermind, who has his empty eye socket converted into a lamprey-esque mouth of teeth.
• Creepy Cathedral: San Griento itself, after the demons take over.
• Eldritch Abomination: San Griento is filled with them, including (but not limited to):
  • Silliamas, a demon with star shaped eyes on his tongue, as many arms as he wants to have, and the ability to float.
  • Uluka, a goop demon who wears a nun's habit.
  • Kalesha, a demon who literally does not have a face.
• Our Angels Are Different: Ramiel, who rescues the students after the mastermind has been executed, has multiple limbs and what appear to be TV screens for faces.

Tropes appearing in the sequel include:

• An Arm and a Leg: Students are known to have suffered these while traversing the dungeons. It usually doesn't stay permanent, since the students end up dying soon after. And then there's what happened between Arthur and Yumie...
• Bloodier and Gorier: Compared to the first game, Nowhere Station has a lot more graphic content. To name a few:
  • In the first game, the mascot was a demon who revealed himself after Morita-sensei was killed. In this game, it's Kara Killdare, very obviously killed and autopsied by the Benefactors, reanimated at their will.
  • Students didn't really emerge from the hostile areas of San Griento with wounds more serious than gashes, cuts, and bruises. However, students have been dismembered and worse by the denizens of the Nowhere.
  • Imps were the main enemies in the first game; while not harmless by any means (given that they disemboweled and consumed their teacher), they were clearly demons and dissipated when they were killed. Fakers are the main populace of the Nowhere; they are humanoid and bleed static, so it's almost as if the students are killing humans. Then the fifth motive comes along, which throws the actual capacities of a Faker even more into question.
• First-Episode Twist: The game does not take place in Alchemilla Planetarium, as originally assumed and implied by promotional materials. Instead, it's in Nowhere Station, where the train home stops after the trip is over.
• Frameup: Surprisingly, the Benefactors try to frame Arthur as the mastermind. In reality, none of the students actually sold out the class to the aliens.
• Hoist by His Own Petard: While the students are defending the barricades in the first chapter, some of their weapons include Molotov cocktails. A poorly thrown one actually sets the barricade on fire, and structurally weakens it.
• Loophole Abuse: The Benefactors engage in this rather frequently. Of particular note is the fifth motive: the students participate in a blood test, to see who among them might be the Faker. How do the Benefactors get around this? They replace Michio with a Faker after the test.
• Selective Condemnation: Renee Durant's murder is treated as especially heinous, and the culprit ends up being nonfatally strangled and stabbed in trial by two separate parties! There's also the fact that one of aforementioned parties maimed someone for a very unsuccessful murder attempt, yet aren't really punished for it beyond a punch or two.
• Sequence Breaking: When members of the class decide to move Kayu into the Nowhere to kill her and succeed, they avoid having to complete a puzzle. spoiler:And Kayu gets to live!
• Starfish Aliens: The Benefactors.
• Unspoken Plan Guarantee: Subverted. In their second dungeon run, Yumie and Neo assume that the other has the same plan as them. They actually have very different ideas, which leads to some brief tensions between them.

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