History FanFic / NeverSayNever

** Subverted with Byakuya, despite his InsufferableGenius [[JerkassHasAPoint behavior]] being the same as in the game, the lack of deaths makes him appear more insensitive than he really is.

** [[spoiler: As punishment for his KnightTemplar stint, Ishimaru is stripped of his disciplinary duties and forced to act as a normal student.]]

* EstablishingSeriesMoment: The prologue started out by showing Junko mocking the students over the fact that the person they trusted the most was TheMole, only to reveal that ''everybody'' is [[EveryoneLives still alive]] and immediately jump to their friend's defence before the story reveals that their friend and saviour is [[HeelFaceTurn Mukuro]] [[TheAtoner Ikusaba]].

* FailureGambit: Byakuya actions in chapter 2 turns out to be this. [[spoiler: He discovers early on that Toko is the infamous serial killer, Genocide Jack. He alters the crime scene to make it look like Genocide Jack made it and brings Makoto to the library to study about the killer. Lastly, he purposely leaves some mistakes in the crime scene in order for Makoto to pick up on it and test his intelligence. He successfully exposes Genocide Jill to the group]].

** Mondo [[spoiler:screams for help shortly]] after he has moved Chihiro's unconscious body to the girl's lockers as he knew that she was still alive.
** Chapter 3 is where the story diverges greatly from the game due to multiple different circumstances, [[spoiler:from having everyone’s secret revealed, Ishimaru becoming a KnightTemplar, the reveal of a 16th student much earlier, and the possibility of the Mastermind being a student]].

* HairTriggerTemper: Mondo Owada's FatalFlaw. Not only is it shown in his EstablishingCharacterMoment, Chapter 2 spends a good amount of time showing how prone to violence he can be. It reaches its logical conclusion when Mondo [[spoiler:nearly]] kills Chihiro in a blind rage. Afterwards, he has a ''massive'' MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment and begins working on reining himself in.
* HeadsIWinTailsYouLose: [[spoiler:The Bullying Trials]] are ultimately reveal to be this, [[spoiler:as only a 'blackened' can graduate and said trials don't have a blackened culprit]], but the entire class is completely unaware of this until the third trial where [[spoiler:Toko (of all people) reveals the secret to everyone and causes Celeste to confess.]]

** [[spoiler:After Celeste's first plan fails, Hifumi starts to have second thoughts on their actions and tries to encourage Celeste to turn themselves in and confess.]]
** [[spoiler:At the end of the third trial, Ishimaru realizes how much damage his KnightTemplar streak has caused and returns to normal.]]
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:At the end of the third trial, Ishimaru attempts to sacrifice himself to save Celeste and atone for his KnightTemplar stint, but the others talk him out of it.]]

* HiddenHeartOfGold: As much of an asshole Byakuya can be, [[spoiler:he's been secretly giving money to outcasted members of his family]], not that he would ever admit it. [[spoiler: He even saves Sayaka when he catches pillow she threw at Monokuma, who would've executed her for such a minor offense!]]

** Both Leon and Sayaka are disparaged numerous times because they are confirmed attempted murderers, intentionally or not. Sayaka also gets her secret revealed in front of the others which, despite being anonymous, is so damningly pointing at her that everyone now knows she once [[spoiler:ruined a potential rival's career, even if they don't know her fans took it too far by [[ColdBloodedTorture pouring acid down her throat]]]].
** [[spoiler:Celestia's plan on chapter 3 simply [[SpannerInTheWorks does not go as planned]], and whenever she tries to improvise and salvage her plan, she's still on the receiving end of another spanner. She even goes as far as to call it the proof that MurphysLaw did in fact exist and that the [[CosmicPlaything universe hated her.]]]] [[spoiler: And that's before she discovers even if she wins the bullying trial, she won't be allowed to leave as (having not actually killed anyone) she's not a blackened. After that it overlaps with TraumaCongaLine, see her [[Characters/NeverSayNever character page]] for more details.]]

* InterruptedSuicide: Sakura physically subdues [[spoiler:Celeste]] before she can attack Monokuma and commit SuicideByCop.

** Byakuya is this all the time, much to everyone's frustration. [[spoiler:In fact, [[KickTheDog as cruel as he was towards Chihiro]] at the start of Chapter 4, he's absolutely right that Chihiro is ill-suited to being TheLeader of the group.]]

* LateArrivalSpoiler: Despite being an alternative retelling of the first game, the author assumes you're already familiar with the original story. As such, the fic doesn't bother to hide secrets like Chihiro's gender, Celeste's real name, Mukuro disguising herself as her sister, Junko being the mastermind, etc. However, the story does spoils two major plot points from ''LightNovel/DanganRonpaZero'': [[spoiler:Ryoko Otonashi’s real identity as Junko Enoshima and Junko killing Yasuke Matsuda]].

* MotiveMisidentification: Taeko thinks that the reason 'Junko' always goes out of her way to comfort the would-be blackeneds after each trial is as part of a plan to win everyone's trust. In truth, Mukuro doesn't even (consciously) notice she's doing that until Taeko calls her on it.

** The story occasionally mentions executions that where unused in the game. Examples so far includes [[BearTrap Sayaka]], [[SnowMeansDeath Byakuya]] and [[SquashedFlat Toko]].
** During the third trial, Monokuma propose the students to do a [[VisualNovel/NewDanganRonpaV3 Scrum Debate]] only for [[spoiler:Mukuro]] to reject the offer.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Junko allowing Mukuro to sit the first trial out [[spoiler:allows the latter to discover that Sayaka is still alive despite her wounds and nurse her back to health, thereby rendering the trial moot right before the execution could be carried out.]]

* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler:On Chapter 3, Mondo unintentionally ends up ruining Celeste's plans by knocking Hifumi out [[TheDoorSlamsYou with a door]] before he can attack Kiyotaka.]]
* SuicideByCop: [[spoiler:Celeste attempts to kill herself by attacking Monokuma and violating the "no attacking the headmaster" rule at the end of the third trial, but Sakura stops her.]]

* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Celeste lose all of her composure the moment Hifumi proposes to turn themselves in and confess their plans. In her fragile state of mind, she tries to kill Hifumi, only for him to catch the hammer and [[TheDogBitesBack turn against her]].]] [[spoiler: She also loses her composure during the subsequent trial, with the narration describing it as her mask exploding.]]

** [[spoiler:When Kyoko bring Mukuro to the secret room, she confront 'Junko' about her lies.]]

** [[spoiler:After Chihiro wakes up from her coma, she calls Celeste by her ''real'' name. She's understandably shocked.]]

** [[spoiler:The biggest WhamLine in the story is delivered by Toko when she reveals the real purpose behind the Bullying Trials, the revelation hits everyone like a fucking train and causes Celeste to give up and confess]].
---> [[spoiler:'''Toko''': W-Well, it doesn't make sense that e-either of them would w-want to h-have a class trial right n-now!]]\\
[[spoiler:'''Junko''': And why's that? Why wouldn't either Celeste or Hifumi want a class trial?!]]\\

* WhatTheHellHero: Nobody is okay with Ishimaru’s self-righteous attitude in chapter 3, [[spoiler:and everyone is outraged when he reveals everyone's secrets in a delusional attempt to bring everyone together. His strict rules only make things worse for everyone and he's not even aware of it]].

* MamaBear: [[spoiler: The moment [[ShrinkingViolet Chihiro]] discovers that Alter Ego was confiscated by Kiyotaka [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness she becomes very furious]].]]

[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/3898111/chapters/8719840 Never Say Never]] is a ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' fic by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/hunterofcomedy/pseuds/hunterofcomedy hunterofcomedy]]. In it the events of the first game seem to proceed as usual, however, Mukuro Ikusaba begins having doubts about her sister's plan. Things truly change however when Naegi saves Mukuro when she's disguised as Junko, and Sayaka does not die from her stab wound...

The author also has the fic on Website/FanFictionDotNet and Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn, which can be found [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11227053/1/Never-Say-Never here]] or [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/3898111?view_full_work=true here]].

The author also has the fic on Fanfiction.Net, which can be found [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11227053/1/Never-Say-Never here]].

* AccidentalMurder: Sayaka's murder scene is borrowed directly from the manga, Leon accidentally stabbed her while trying to disarm her.

* TheAtoner: After she's betrayed by her sister, [[HeelFaceTurn Mukuro]] gains the determination to keep everyone alive to atone for the crimes she committed to them and to beat her sister in her own twisted game.

* AttractiveBentGender: Chihiro is a very skilful [[WholesomeCrossdresser crossdresser]], so much that Mondo can't take the idea that Chihiro is a girl out of his head even after he discovers her/his secret. This is probably a reason why Hifumi has a crush on Alter Ego.

* CareerEndingInjury: Mukuro, still in her 'Junko' disguise, uses the injury on her hand to point out that her modelling career is over to [[YouAreNotAlone support]] a depressed Sayaka.
** [[spoiler: Sayaka later admits the same pain of never be able to sing on the stage ever again as a result of her scar on her stomach.]]

* DumbassHasAPoint: Granted, Leon is more BookDumb than dumbass, but during the second Class Trial he does make a very valid point that leaves everyone, even [[SmugSnake Byakuya]], stunned in silence.

* HumiliationConga: Both Leon and Sayaka are disparaged numerous times because they are confirmed attempted murderers, intentionally or not. Sayaka also gets her secret revealed in front of the others which, despite being anonymous, is so damningly pointing at her that everyone now knows she once [[spoiler:ruined a potential rival's career, even if they don't know her fans took it too far by [[ColdBloodedTorture pouring acid down her throat]]]].
** [[spoiler:Celestia's plan on chapter 3 simply [[SpannerInTheWorks does not go as planned]], and whenever she tries to improvise and salvage her plan, she's still on the receiving end of another spanner. She even goes as far as to call it the proof that MurphysLaw did in fact exist and that the [[CosmicPlaything universe hated her.]]]]
*** [[spoiler: And that's before she discovers even if she wins the bullying trial, she won't be allowed to leave as (having not actually killed anyone) she's not a blackened. After that it overlaps with TraumaCongaLine, see her [[Characters/NeverSayNever character page]] for more details.]]

* JerkassHasAPoint: Ishimaru post-second trial is a self-righteous jerk, but he gets this a lot. No matter how bad the culprits feel about it, they ''did'' try to commit murder and Ishimaru's unwillingness to sweep that under the rug like everyone else is not hard to sympathize with.
** Byakuya is this all the time, much to everyone's frustration.
*** [[spoiler:In fact, [[KickTheDog as cruel as he was towards Chihiro]] at the start of Chapter 4, he's absolutely right that Chihiro is ill-suited to being the leader of the group.]]

* LateArrivalSpoiler: Despite being an alternative retelling of the first game, the author assumes you're already familiar with the original story. As such, the fic doesn't bother to hide secrets like Chihiro's gender, Celeste's real name, Mukuro disguising herself as her sister, Junko being the mastermind, etc.
** However, the story does spoils two mayor plot points from LightNovel/DanganRonpaZero: [[spoiler:Ryoko Otonashi’s real identity as Junko Enoshima and Junko killing Yasuke Matsuda]].

* LimitedWardrobe: Lampshade when Sayaka noticed that everyone always uses the same clothes every day. She strongly believes that the Mastermind forced them into this. The sole exception is Mukuro in her 'Junko' disguise, for [[TheFashionista obvious reasons]].
** Oddly enough, Celeste has different gothic lolita dresses in her wardrobe, yet she only uses one for most of the story.

* PublicBathhouseScene: A glorious and unexpected role-reversal from the game. It's the guys[[note]]specifically, Makoto, Mondo, Ishimaru, Byakuya, Hifumi and Yasuhiro[[/note]] who go to the bathhouse while Hina, Celeste and Toko are the ones who take a peep. Also, the former two almost get caught due to Toko switching to Jill.
** [[spoiler: 'Junko', Sayaka and Kyoko would later share a scene together in bathhouse later in the story.]]
* RealityEnsues: Mukuro holds the title of Ultimate Soldier because she has never received a wound in combat, but that also means she has low pain tolerance. So, when her hand gets impaled by Monokuma's trap it hurts, a ''lot''.
** [[GreatDetective Kyoko]], [[BadassBiker Mondo]] and [[ThePerfectionist Taka]] all have talents and hobbies that allow them to be used to being awake all night. [[LovableJock Leon]] and [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Makoto]] aren't used to night-activities, both of them end up sleep deprived.
** In a more serious example, all of the attempted murderers aren't easily forgiven by most of the students, with the incident in question being a OnceDoneNeverForgotten moment for them.
* RunningGag: Leon's attempts at eating a sandwich are constantly ruined. The story even has a tag lampshading it, ''Sandwich Denial''.

* ShipTease: Post-first Class Trial, Leon is assigned to look over Sayaka's recovery as punishment for attempting murder, the two become very close friends.
** Kyoko would start to really like Makoto due to his intelligence and general optimism. Likewise, Makoto himself admire Kyoko for her intelligence and support, even describing her as a manga heroine.
* ShoutOut: “[[PleasePutSomeClothesOn Public indecency is]] ''[[WebVideo/DanganRonpaAbridgedThing not]]'' [[WebVideo/DanganRonpaAbridgedThing welcome in a school environment!]]”

---> '''Monokuma''': Life is…simply unfair, don’t you think?

* TearsOfRemorse: Mukuro cries over Sayaka's "corpse", believing they were both abandoned for their sins.

* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Celeste lose all of her composure the moment Hifumi propose to turn themselves in and confess their plans. In her fragile state of mind, she tries to kill Hifumi, only for him to catch the hammer and [[TheDogBitesBack turn against her]].]]
** [[spoiler: She also loses her composure during the subsequent trial, with the narration describing it as her mask exploding.]]

--->[[spoiler: '''Chihiro''': Thank you… ''Taeko''.]]

** In a more serious example, all of the attempted murderers aren't easily forgiven by most of the students, with the incident in question being a NeverLiveItDown moment for them.

*** [spoiler:In fact, [[KickTheDog as cruel as he was towards Chihiro]] at the start of Chapter 4, he's absolutely right that Chihiro is ill-suited to being the leader of the group.]]

* HiddenDepths: Kyoko really doesn't like manipulating others and withholding crucial information, but she sees it as a justified NecessaryEvil.

* AmbiguousGenderIdentity: After the students [[UnsettlingGenderReveal discovered Chihiro is actually male]] during the second trial, everyone avoids using gender-specific pronoun [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments out of respect for Chihiro]] since they don't know how Chihiro identifies herself.

* RunningGag: Leon's attempts at eating a sandwich are constantly ruined. The story even has a tag lampshading it, ''[[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments Sandwich Denial]]''.

* TheCameo: The DVD motives showcase [[spoiler: characters that appear on the hit-list of VideoGame/AbsoluteDespairGirls.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Cover art made by [[https://www.deviantart.com/marydkidd MaryDKidd]].]]

%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]

* DumbassHasAPoint: Granted, Leon is more BookDumb than dumbass, but during the second Class Trial he does make a very valid point that leave everyone, even [[SmugSnake Byakuya]], stunned in silence.

* EasyAmnesia: Played with. [[spoiler:Once Chihiro finally wakes up from the coma, she understandably suffers from TraumaInducedAmnesia since she doesn't remember much of the event of chapter 2. However, she does remember Celeste’s real name.]]
* EstablishingSeriesMoment: The prologue start out by showing Junko mocking the students over the fact that the person they trusted the most was TheMole, only to reveal that ''everybody'' is [[EveryoneLives still alive]] and immediately jump to their friend's defence before the story reveals that their friend and savior is [[HeelFaceTurn Mukuro]] [[TheAtoner Ikusaba]].

* FailureGambit: Byakuya actions in chapter 2 turns out to be this. [[spoiler:He discovers early on that Toko is the infamous serial killer, Genocide Jack. He alters the crime scene to make it look like Genocide Jack made it and brings Makoto to the library to study about the killer. Lastly, he purposely leaves some mistakes in the crime scene in order for Makoto to pick up on it and test his intelligence. He successfully exposes Genocide Jill to the group]].

** [[ForegoneConclusion The prologue]] alone show all of the students are still alive and all of them mentioning their reason to defense Mukuro.
** Chapter 2 has Mondo, Taka and Chihiro backing each other up against Monokuma when he threaten an injured Sayaka before any of the three becomes friends.

*** [[spoiler: And that's before she discovers even if she wins the bullying trial, she won't be allowed to leave as (having not actually killed anyone) she's not a blackened.]]

* HeterosexualLifePartners: Mukuro and Kyoto develop a very strong bond of trust during the killing game.

[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/3898111/chapters/8719840 Never Say Never]] is a ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' fic by [[http://archiveofourown.org/users/hunterofcomedy/pseuds/hunterofcomedy hunterofcomedy]]. In it the events of the first game seem to proceed as usual, however Mukuro Ikusaba begins having doubts about her sister's plan. Things truly change however when Naegi saves Mukuro when she's disguised as Junko, and Sayaka does not die from her stab wound...

** Byakuya is still the same InsufferableGenius as he is in the game, but most of his jerkass moments have [[JerkassHasAPoint good reasoning behind it]]. Him altering the crime scene in chapter 2 [[spoiler:was actually a gambit to expose Toko's identity as Genocide Jack/Jill and to test Makoto's intelligence.]] His secret is that [[spoiler:he's been financially helping outcast members of his family]].
** The story downplays some of Celeste's NoSympathy moments, having most of them aimed at the culprits of their respective trials. She's still a massive bitch however.

** [[spoiler:Mondo is so remorseful over attacking Chihiro, he promise he'll make things up with her after she wakes up from her coma.]]
* AttractiveBentGender: Chihiro is a very skillful [[WholesomeCrossdresser crossdresser]], so much that Mondo can't take the idea that Chihiro is a girl out of his head even after he discover her/his secret. This is probably a reason why Hifumi has a crush on Alter Ego.
* BaitAndSwitch: During the third trial, when the students are [[spoiler:unable to determine wherever Hifumi or Celeste is lying]] Monokuma propose to do a [[VisualNovel/NewDanganRonpaV3 Scrum Debate]] only for [[spoiler:Mukuro]] to reject the offer.
* BecomingTheMask: {{Inverted|Trope}}. Mukuro starts to act less and less like Junko after she's saved from Monokuma’s death trap. The rest of the students take notice of this, but mistake it for Junko the Fashionista's BeneathTheMask.

* TheCameo: The DVD motives showcase [[spoiler:characters that appears on the hit-list of VideoGame/AbsoluteDespairGirls.]]

* CareerEndingInjury: Mukuro, still in her 'Junko' disguise, uses the injury on her hand to point out that her modeling career is over to [[YouAreNotAlone support]] a depressed Sayaka.
** [[spoiler:Sayaka later admits the same pain of never be able to sing on the stage ever again as a result of her scar on her stomach.]]

* ChekhovsGun: At the start of Chapter 3, [[spoiler:Mondo put anything that could potentially be use to harm an unconscious Chihiro inside the locker in the Nurse's Office and seal it with duct tape. Towards the end of the chapter, this would be yet another SpannerInTheWorks for Celeste's plan.]]

** [[spoiler:As punishment for his KnightTemplar stint, Ishimaru is stripped of his disciplinary duties and forced to act as a normal student.]]
** [[spoiler:As punishment for her attempted murder, Celeste has her "Celestia Ludenberg" image destroyed, and is forced to take up the name Taeko Yasuhiro once more.]]
* CreepyCrossdresser: Right before the second motive is revealed, [[spoiler:Monokuma ends up dressing up as a terrifying drag queen, much to everyone’s disgust. This is just to torment WholesomeCrossdresser Chihiro.]]

* CruelMercy: [[spoiler:At the end of the third class trial, Hifumi exacts his revenge on Celeste for corrupting him and driving him to murder by forcing her to live in the hell of her own creation.]]
* ADayInTheLimelight: Due to its EveryoneLives nature. Every student who died in the game get quite a lot of focus.

** Mondo completely breakdown out of regret for attacking Chihiro and having betray the group by trying to graduate.

* FixFic: A fic where EveryoneLives, but it also patches up a few minor plot holes and headscratchers from the game.

* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Ishimaru post-second trial has such an overbearing self-righteousness, Byakuya agrees to scheme with other students behind his back just to get some breathers.

* HeelRealization: [[spoiler:After Celeste's first plan fails, Hifumi starts to have second thoughts on their actions and tries to encourage Celeste to turn themselves in and confess.]]

** Monokuma borrows Zero II's CatchPhrase from VisualNovel/ZeroTimeDilemma during the third trial.
--> '''Monokuma''': Life is…simply unfair, don’t you think?

* WhamLine: [[spoiler:When Kyoko bring Mukuro to the secret room, she confront 'Junko' about her lies.]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Kyoko''': I know you've been lying to us. Tell me who you really are.]]

-->[[spoiler: '''Chihiro''': Thank you… ''Taeko''.]]

--> [[spoiler:'''Toko''': W-Well, it doesn't make sense that e-either of them would w-want to h-have a class trial right n-now!]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Junko''': And why's that? Why wouldn't either Celeste or Hifumi want a class trial?!]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Toko''': B-Because neither of them are b-b-blackened! Th-That's why it d-doesn't make s-sense!]]

** Celeste fall completely into despair after the truth of the Bullying Trials is revealed, she confess without a fight.

Also, [[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas do not confuse]] this fic with a song from a [[Music/JustinBieber certain's singer]].

* AmbiguousGenderIdentity: After the students [[UnsettlingGenderReveal discovered Chihiro is actually male]] during the second trial, everyone avoids using gender-specific pronoun [[HeartwarmingMoments out of respect for Chihiro]] since they don't know how Chihiro identifies herself.

* RunningGag: Leon's attempts at eating a sandwich are constantly ruined. The story even has a tag lampshading it, ''[[FunnyMoments Sandwich Denial]]''.

* WeAreStrugglingTogether: Far more noticeable than in the game. There's a lot of internal conflict and distrust between the students.

Also, [[IThoughtItMeant do not confuse]] this fic with a song from a [[Music/JustinBieber certain's singer]].

* BecomingTheMask: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]]. Mukuro starts to act less and less like Junko after she's saved from Monokuma’s death trap. The rest of the students take notice of this, but mistake it for Junko the Fashionista's BeneathTheMask.

** [[ForegoneConclusion The prologue]] alone show all of the students are still and all of them mentioning their reason to defense Mukuro.