Shuichi stirred awake in a shadowy classroom, the atmosphere thick with an eerie silence, while tendrils of ivy snaked along the walls. As he clambered out of a cramped locker, a sudden, jarring thud struck his head, snapping him into alertness. Disoriented, he scanned the room, only to find a girl looming over him, igniting a surge of panic within him. “Ahh! Aaugh!!!”* he gasped, instinctively retreating. The girl, visibly irritated by his reaction, quickly reassured him, insisting she was no monster. Shuichi rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassment flooding his cheeks as he stammered an apology. To his surprise, she smiled warmly, launching into an enthusiastic monologue about Erik Satie’s 'Gymnopédie No. 1.' Confusion clouded his mind, leaving him speechless. Before he could respond, four small, teddy bear-like creatures materialized in the room, sending the girl into a frenzy of fear and screams. Shuichi raised an eyebrow, bewildered by the sight of the tiny bears.*

“A teddy bear…?” he muttered, astonished. The girl shot him a glance, declaring that now he had every right to be scared. The bears introduced themselves as the Monokuma Kubs, revealing that they were trapped in the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles, alongside sixteen other students. In a whirlwind of chaotic chatter, the creatures vanished as abruptly as they had appeared.

With a sigh, the girl turned to Shuichi, suggesting they introduce themselves. He nodded, still wearing a nervous expression as he adjusted his hat.

“I’m Shuichi Saihara. They call me the Ultimate Detective, but… I don’t really have the credentials to claim that title yet. I just stumbled upon a case and managed to solve it, and now people see me that way.”