"Bet you're wondering how it gets there... Guess we'll find out!"
Side Despair #01: Hello Again, Hope's Peak High School (ただいま希望ヶ峰学園)
Welcome back to Hope's Peak High School! Attending class is optional, right?
or, Chisa Yukizome is assigned as the homeroom teacher of Class 77 and has to find all of her students.
The episode contains examples of:
- Art Shift: When Chisa recruits the other students, sometimes, a small 2D Pixel rendition of the recruitment will show for a split second, with a robotic voice speaking "Danganronpa".
- Butt-Monkey: Poor Kazuichi gets the short end of the stick a lot here. Not only does he have Sonia Flash Step from him when Chisa finds him, but he also gets hit by a truck due to Nagito's bad-luck-good-luck cycle.
- Cool Teacher: Chisa certainly is this to Class 77, wanting to make them "redeem their high school years", wanting them to make the best out of their time at Hope's Peak. She also has hints of a Badass Teacher, since she stands up to Fuyuhiko.
- Evolving Credits: When compared to Side:Future, the opening credits here have pastel colors, upbeat pop with a rock beat near the end, and overall has a cheerful tone (even when Junko appears).
- Geeky Turn-On: Chiaki goes from quiet and sleepy to hyper-excited and squealing once Hajime recognizes the game she's playing.
- I Just Want to Be Special: Hajime expresses this desire to Chiaki, wanting to have a talent just like the rest of the Hope's Peak students.
- Lighter and Softer: Compared to the dark, gritty animation and beginning of Side:Future. Side:Despair begins with wacky hijinks, has a bright color scheme, and a generally cheerful air overall. Much like the game that starred these same characters.
- Literal-Minded: Mikan believes that your legs can fall off after walking for long periods of time after Hiyko says that she doesn't want to walk. Hiyoko corrects this in her usual attitude.Hiyoko: "It's a figure of speech, dumbass!"
- Meet Cute: Hajime and Chiaki are shown to have met in this manner, with the latter bumping into him, staring at each other for a long time, then geeking out over games.
- Mind Screw: The very first scene shows Chisa watching her own death in a movie theater.
- Panty Shot: Twice involving Mikan. First when she trips when she enters the classroom, and second when she trips over a mop and bucket.
- Tempting Fate: Kazuichi mentions that whenever Nagito's around, his "day goes south majorly". Cue the truck hitting him, and that same truck gives Nagito good luck with the drink machine.
- The Reveal: Chiaki Nanami was actually a real person, not just an AI.
- Wham Shot: When a girl bumps into Hajime, she's too focused on the game to pay attention, then she lifts her head, it's Chiaki Nanami in the flesh.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Chiaki gives Hajime some comforting words to him.Chiaki: "Whether you have a talent or not, there's no point getting so hung up over it. I mean, it's not like the be-all and all, you have greater freedom than we do. All I have is a pile of video games. Somebody like you can go anywhere, and do whatever they want with their life."
