The Time of Their Lives
is a Danganronpa five chapter shipping fanfiction exploring the blossoming relationship between Hajime Hinata and Chiaki Nanami in a timeline where Junko Enoshima didn't bring about despair, exploring the time spent in Hope's Peak Academy up to the students' graduation. The story also has two sequels, The Big Surprise and The Question We Share
This fic has examples of:
- Beta Couple: Sonia and Gundham. Mikan and Peko become one in the first sequel.
- Birthday Hater: Hajime doesn't really care much for his birthday due to it taking place on New Year's Day, causing nobody paying attention it, including his own parents. Chiaki coming over to celebrate it with him is the first time he's ever enjoyed it in a long time.
- Break-Up/Make-Up Scenario: Both Hajime and Chiaki admit they like each other, but due to Hajime's insecurities, they decide not to meet up for some time. The two reconcile when Chiaki comes over to his dorm room to celebrate his birthday on the New Year and become an Official Couple.
- Cooldown Hug: When Chiaki gets emotional after interpreting Hajime about to talk about their nap under the tree as wanting to be Just Friends, Hajime gives her one of these and calms her down.
- Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: Hajime has this problem due to not having a talent and is unsure as to what he'll do after graduation. He later decides he'll study to become a counselor due to his interactions with Chiaki's classmates.
- Determinator:
- A cold winter night while wearing a hoodie over a dress doesn't deter Chiaki from coming to Hajime's dorm room to celebrate his birthday.
- Hajime doesn't waste any time trying to make it to watch Class 77B's graduation ceremony after the Reserve Course's concludes.
- Friendly Tickle Torture: Chiaki discovers Hajime is ticklish and it leads into this.
- Honorary True Companion: Despite being a Reserve Course Student who isn't part of their class, the students of 77-B accept Hajime as one of their own.
- Insecure Love Interest: Much like in Danganronpa 3, Hajime doesn't think he's worthy of Chiaki. Even when the two confess their feelings toward each other, Hajime doesn't want to ruin what he has with Chiaki and they both agree not to see each other for a while.
- Love Triangle: Played with for laughs. Mikan starts opening up after being friendly with Hajime, but later bursts into tears and apologizes to Chiaki for "accidentally stealing him away from her."
- My God, What Have I Done?: A few examples.
- Hajime for upsetting Chiaki for talking about their nap in an insecure tone.
- Chiaki feels guilty about forgetting Hajime's birthday after the two agreed to not see each other for a while.
- Only Sane Man: Hajime confesses to Chiaki that he finds himself overwhelmed by her classmates' eccentric personalities.
- Shipper on Deck: Sonia pushes for Hajime and Chiaki together, Class 77-B included.
- Shout-Out: To the Yakuza video game series, when Sonia expresses interest to Fuyuhiko about the Japanese criminal underworld after playing the Like A Dragon games.
- Sleep Cute: Sonia takes a photo of the two napping together under a tree.
- Thinks Like a Romance Novel: Or to be more accurate in Chiaki's case, a dating sim game.
