01x01 - Welcome to Despair High School (Pilot Episode)

[bunniefuu]

This massive academy dominated
prime real estate in central Tokyo.

It's the private academy,
Hope's Peak High School.

Academics, sports, art, performing arts...

It gathers super-incredible high
schoolers from a variety of fields

with the intent to level them up.

This government approved school
gets some major perks!

Can a normal guy like me survive
in such an awesome school?

"We selected 1 average student via lottery."

"We selected 1 average student via lottery."
I only got selected out of sheer luck, huh?

Ready to go?

My new school life was about to begin.

My first step onto campus was
supposed to be filled... with hope.

Wh-What... gives...?

There was nothing but darkness.
That was how it began.

And that was the end of my normal life...

I probably should have
caught on right then and there.

It wasn't "Super High School-Level Luck"
that brought me to Hope's Peak High.

It was "Super High School-Level Bad Luck."

"PROLOGUE: Welcome to Despair High School"

The classroom...? Why am I here?

"Life is a b*ttlefield"
The classroom...? Why am I here?

A camera?!

"Life is a b*ttlefield"

Steel plates?!

It won't budge!

Ow! What is with this room?

"Welcome to School.
A new semester has just begun."

"Since yer starting new lives,"

"Since yer starting new lives,"
"Yer"?!

"this school will be yer new world.
Gather in the gym at 8 for the welcoming ceremony."

"Gym"

Uh, excuse me...

Hey, you another new student?

"Super High School-Level Fortune-Teller"

Somethin' ain't right about this school.

So there are 15 of us, eh?

"Super High School-Level Fanzine Artist"

Think that's all of us?

You!

The instructions said
to be here by 8:00 sharp!

"Super High School-Level Hall Monitor"

You have absolutely no
excuse for being t*rd!

'Scuse me?! What're you goin' on about?

"Super High School-Level Fashion Diva"

Who cares about bein' late when we
don't know what the hell is goin' on?!

Excuse me...

Did you also wake up in a classroom?

Yeah, I was in a classroom...

I thought so...

"Super High School-Level Programmer"

That's true of everyone...

Everyone fell unconscious...

...and upon awaking,
we converged in the gym.

"Super High School-Level Gambler"

Most peculiar, is it not?

What's with this place?! Tch!

"Super High School-Level Biker"

It's just like my old juvie.

Do ya think...

...we got kidnapped?

"Super High School-Level Baseball Player"

Like, did someone kidnap
the whole flippin' lot of us?

I bet this is some sorta special program!

"Super High School-Level Swimmer"

This is a special school and all! Right?

'Tis hard to say.

"Super High School-Level Grappler"

'Twould be wise to first ascertain the situation.

Yeah...

These... are the super high school students
who got admitted into Hope's Peak High School.

He's looking! He's looking right at me!

"Super High School-Level Literary Girl"

All because I'm ugly!

He most certainly is an eyesore.

"Super High School-Level Heir"

What are you looking at?

Uh, nothing!

And then I was outside, right? So then--!

"Super High School-Level ???"

Yes?

Uh, it's nothing!

Um, aren't you Naegi?

We attended the same middle school.

Maizono...?

"Super High School-Level Idol"

I'm so glad to find someone I know!

Huh? Wait... Maizono,
you actually remember me?

Yep! How could I forget?

I mean, we went to the
same school for three years!

Yeah, but I didn't think that
someone as popular as you...

...would notice a run-of-the-mill guy like me.

Eh?! You thought I was a snob? I'm shocked!

I didn't mean it like that...

I'm just teasing!

Don't pull my leg!

How long must you fool around?

We have pressing matters to attend to!

Like what?

Why are we in this predicament?

If someone is behind this, then who?

Aren't we basically trapped in here?

And like, where the heck
did they hide my stuff?

My cell is missing!

Wha--?!

--Dude!
--No way!

Mine, too, is gone. Does this
mean that they were taken?

Don't look so bummed out!

I bet it's all part of the school's orientation.

That's what my readin' says!

For real? And are they ever right?

I've got a whoppin' 30% success rate!

A-A measly 30%?

Ah! Ah! Mike test! Mike test!

This good? You can hear me, can't you?

Hey, new students! I would like
to start the welcoming ceremony now!

See? This is how Hope's Peak High
welcomes in the new!

No, you are mistaken.

A stuffed animal?

I'm no stuffed animal! I'm Monokuma!

I'm the principal of this school,
making me yer principal!

Nice to meet ya!

Gah! The stuffed animal moves!

I'm Monokuma, not a stuffed animal.
And I'm the principal to boot!

The principal?

Well, I'd like to move along,
so let's get this ball rollin'!

Stand! Bow! Good morning, punks!

Good morning!

Don't play along!

Highly promising high schoolers, just like you guys,

are none other than the hope of the world!

In order to protect our wonderful rays of hope,

yer expected to carry out communal
lives here on campus and nowhere else!

What?!

Wait a sec!

What the hell?!

As for the cutoff period for this communal life...

There is no such cutoff period!

In other words, yer gonna spend
the rest of yer lives in here!

Wha-What did you just say?

Here, forever...?

Aw, don't worry. The budget is large
enough that you'll never go without.

Wait a minute! That isn't the problem.

This can't be legit!

Are the steel plates in the classrooms
and halls meant to keep us in?!

Yup! So you can scream all you want,
but no one's gonna come save ya!

If what you say is true, that is most disconcerting.

We could not possibly live here forever.

For those of you who wanna leave,
I've established a certain rule!

A rule?

You are free to m*rder whoever you like. Whee!

Only a student who has committed
m*rder will be permitted to leave.

It's a simple rule, and the only one.

Beat!

Stab!

Club!

Slice open! Torch! Crush!

Strangle! Cast a curse!

Salmon and humans can't
understand the excitement...

...the endorphins are releasing in my body!

Fellow "rays of hope" are thrown into a
situation where they must k*ll each other!

It's so exciting!

Are you serious?!

Why?! Why must we k*ll each other?!

What she said! Cut this load of crap!

Now let us go home!

A load of crap...?

How dare you call any
of this a "load of crap"?!

Listen up! From now on, this school
is yer home, yer society, and yer world!

I'm gonna let you k*ll to yer heart's content,
so k*ll, k*ll, and k*ll some more!

You want a battle royal?!

Yer takin' this sick prank too friggin' far!

What's sick? You don't mean
that sick hairstyle, do you?

Why you--! I don't care if you're a
remote control toy or a stuffed animal!

I'm gonna flippin' tear you to pieces!

The school rules state not to harm the principal!

What's that sound?

Not good! Throw it!

--What?!
--Just do it!

What the heck...?

It blew up...!

Did that stuffed animal die?

I'm not a stuffed animal--I'm Monokuma!

Tada!

B-b*stard!

I'll let you off with a warning this time.

But if I ever see someone
break the school rules again,

I will activate another
great physical punishment!

Well, that's it for the welcoming ceremony.

Please enjoy an enriching
school life filled with gore!

So if we k*ll someone here,
we can leave this facility.

But that is absurd...

Please... Tell me this can't be real.

The issue isn't whether or not this is real,

but rather whether someone
takes what he said seriously.

Thus began our new school lives.

But this was not the school of hope
I had anticipated when I first arrived,

filling my heart with
expectations for the future.

It was a school of despair!

Well, Ohgami?

'Tis too much even for I!

"Hope's Peak High School
Digital Student Handbook"

Hot stuff! I could totally dig the digital handbook!

No luck!

Same here!

Tch, damn it!

Gents, you must not lose hope!

There must be a means
to escape somewhere!

Yup! Just moping around
won't get us anywhere, right?

Indeed not.

Fine, then! Guys, let's search the place over.

I will go by myself.

Why?!

There may already be one in our midst
who is planning to commit m*rder.

No one would--

You cannot deny the possibility.

Wait, dammit! You can't do
whatever the hell you want!

Move it, plankton.

What?! Looks like you've got a death wish!

W-Wait a second! How is fighting
amongst ourselves going to help?

What?!

You feedin' me crap? Tryin' to lecture me?

Teach me right from wrong?!

That's not what I--

Shut it!

Where am I...?

Maizono!

Glad you're okay!

Uh, where is this?

This is your room, Naegi.

Everyone gets their own room.

I had Ohgami and the
others help carry you here.

What are they doing now?

After you got hit, everyone split
up and began searching the school.

I was worried about you, Naegi, so...

Maizono, th-thank you...

Sayaka Maizono was
a super high school-level idol.

I can't believe someone
like her would remember me...

Of course I remember you.

Y-You heard me?!

I have ESP.

What?

Just kidding! I have keen intuition.

It's too keen!

But I'm really glad you're here.

It's nice to have
someone I know around.

Y-Yeah...

Up-upsy-daisy.

Are you feeling better?

I'm fine!

Besides, considering the situation,

it's not right for me to be
the only one lying around.

Right! You've got a point.

In that case, I'm going to become
a super high school-level assistant!

Huh?

I'll be your assistant, Naegi!

Let's work together to get out of here.

Uh, yeah.

Are you all right, Naegi?

Y-Yeah, thanks.

Hey! Sorry 'bout that, Naegi.

It-It's okay, Ohwada.

All things considered, I can't
blame you for being on edge.

That is all of us, is it not?

I sincerely doubt that anyone will
commit m*rder with witnesses present.

Then let us begin!

I hereby declare the start of the first
Hope's Peak High School Regular Report!

"Hope's Peak High School
Digital Student Handbook"

"Hope's Peak High School
Digital Student Handbook"
Let us present the fruit of our searches...

"Map: Dormitory - Cafeteria"
Let us present the fruit of our searches...

"Map: Dormitory - 1st Floor"
Let us present the fruit of our searches...

"Map: Hope's Peak High School - 1st Floor"
...and share our information!

I tried to break down the entrance,
but I didn't get anywhere.

It was as hard as steel!

I would imagine so. It was steel.

Within the school halls, there was
a stairwell leading to the second floor.

But the shutters were down
and we couldn't lift them up!

In other words, our investigation is
limited to the first floor at this point in time.

The private rooms in the dorm area
were nice enough for the time being,

minus the surveillance camera and steel plates.

The refrigerator was
stuffed with plenty of food.

It doesn't look like food is an issue...

But no matter how plentiful,
how long can it sustain 15 people?

That isn't a problem.

Every day the refrigerator will
be automatically replenished...

...or so Monokuma said.

You saw him?!

Yep! He suddenly appeared
when I was checking the refrigerator.

And then he wandered off somewhere.

Is that all you wish to report?

We can't find a way out and we
still don't know who is behind this...

That investigation
was a waste of time!

Really? But did we not
discern something as a result?

We learned the undeniable fact that we
have been locked inside a closed space

with no escape.

Wh-What should I do?!

Didn't Monokuma already make that clear?

If you want out, simply k*ll someone.

Don't joke about that!

Isn't there a better way out?!

Simply adapt.

What?

You merely need to adapt.

You tellin' me to suck
it up and live here?

It is neither the smart
nor the strong who survive.

It is only those who accept change.
Do you understand?

With that in mind, I wish
to offer everyone a suggestion.

Yeah? What is it?

The school rules mention designated "night hours."

"The hours from 10pm to 7am are designated 'night hours.'"
Why don't we add a rule of our own?

What rule?

"No one may leave their room
during the night hours." That is all.

Huh? Wh-Why?

Think about it. As things stand,
we will tremble in fear every night.

We'll wonder, "Is someone coming to k*ll me?"

However, unlike the school rules,
this is not compulsory.

It would require everyone's cooperation.

"Day 2"

We spent the next day
searching for an exit...

And the day after that...

"Day 3"
And the day after that...

But failing to get anywhere,
our time was spent in vain.

I can't find any clues, no matter how
many times I search the same areas!

Yup...

Is it true that we can't go home?
That help isn't coming?

Don't you worry, Fujisaki!

I'm sure help will
be here in no time!

What?! Help?!

For real?!

It's been a whole three days
since we first got locked up!

Clearly the police are
on the case by now.

The police? You're relying on the police?

Honestly, if you're that eager to leave,
why don't you k*ll someone?

For members of the "Leisure Generation,"
you've sure got guts!

But I'm personally finding this to be a bit boring.

N-Nothing you say could convince us to k*ll another!

That's it! I was wondering why there
wasn't a m*rder when I've prepared...

...the perfect place, people,
environment, and mystery!

That's the deal. I was short one thing!

Wh-What were you missin'?

Bluntly put, you need a "motive"!

As such, I've got somethin' for
you in the Multimedia Room!

The Multimedia Room...?

"Makoto Naegi's DVD"

Makoto, the way you were
selected for Hope's Peak High School

is like a dream come true! Hang in there.

I'm proud of you, son!

Try not to work yourself too hard.

Bro, are you watching? Good luck!

Why...?

I've gotta get out.

I have to get outta this place right now!

No!

No way!

If I don't... If I don't hurry out of here...!

Maizono!

Why... did this have to happen?

k*ll or be k*lled?
I can't take any more of this!

Maizono...

Who exactly are you?

Why are you doing this?

What do you want from us?

What do I want from you? Oh, that?

Despair! That's all I want!

No!

Maizono!

No! Let go of me!

We can get out if everyone works together!

You're lying!

And help might come
before we find a way out!

No one is coming to save us!

I will get you out of here!

I swear I'll do whatever it takes! I swear it!

"Surviving Members: 15 Remaining"

"What do you desire?" My ears rang;
I couldn't believe what I was hearing

Looks like my world is going buggy on me

Worldly desires obstruct everything--
According to him, that's a fair trade

Giving in to temptation,
I was mesmerized by his nonsense

Everyone is required to play the King's Game

He won't listen to any "right to refuse" nonsense

One of the assigned quests
included, "k*ll that crowd"

Dance of despair ٩[ 'ω' ]و
Drenched in ambition, the boy

Laughed when reality fled to him m9[ ･´ｰ･｀]

Claiming you lack desires is a lie

No point in being a hypocrite

What did I dream of becoming again?

Didn't I wanna become a hero? ┐[ ∵ ]┌ "Upupu"

I'll voice my wish

"Sorry, but there is no medicine for stupidity [LOL]"