Hajime Hinata - The Hunt For Ultimate Despairs? (Danganronpa)

It had all happened so fast.

Hajime Hinata was, by all accounts, a "talentless no name Reserve Course student who'd used his parents and their money to get into Hopes Peak's Reserve Course." He'd worked hard- hard enough to be noticed by the Steering Committee and gifted with the opportunity to sign up for the Izuru Kamukura Project, something that was supposed to raise him to the level of a Main Course student at Hope's Peak Academy. He'd gained friends, and he'd lost friends- one of whom had been murdered by another student, at which point the school had publicly shed tears and swept her corpse under the rug.

All of his attempts to solve the mystery on his own had failed because of that coverup. All of his attempts to get answers had fallen flat, because of his Reserve Course status. He could still remember the blows he'd received from the Ultimate Boxer because he'd seen through the faculty member's bullshit. The Project was all that he'd had going for him, and he didn't mind the fact that it could cost him dearly- if it meant he could finally get a talent, and stand by the Main Course students, he'd do anything.

Even if that meant the Steering Committee was about to have his brain ripped open, and his body modified.

"Not bad." One of the surgeons muttered.

"What?" Another asked.

"Well, looking at what we have to work with, the physical enhancements should be easy for the guy. Hajime Hinata might be a bog-standard Reserve Course student, but he's the perfect physical template. Now, mentally? That's-"

"Enough." A slender young man around Hajime's age with messy black hair, furrowed eyebrows, and an expression of apathy seemingly baked into his face spoke from behind the surgeons, as another fixed a breathing mask to Hajime's mouth. "Hajime, right? My name is Yasuke Matsuda. I'm the Ultimate Neurosurgeon. I'll be overseeing your operation. You have nothing to worry about." He nodded, turning towards a one-way glass window.

"Prep's over with. We're about to put the subject under. The following surgeries are going to be extremely extensive, so be prepared for the long haul, everyone. We're taking apart a person and putting them back together. Simple stuff, if you all know what you're doing. Just let me handle the brain, and don't fucking touch anything I'm working on. Is the guy still awake?"

Hajime blinked.

"Put him under." Yasuke spoke, and Hajime's breathing mask came to life with a hiss.

It didn't take long.

...I see. This...data on Hope. This data on Despair. Which of these two concepts will surprise me more?...

. . .

...There's only one way for me to figure this out. Hajime Hinata. Can you hear me? I'll give you control of this body...if you'll find an answer to my question...

. . .

...I see. Then, let the new game for the fate of Hope's Peak begin... I'm going to switch places with you now...

Hajime Hinata woke up in a hospital bed, eyes wide, and soreness across the entirety of his body. The sun shone through the window, and the room was quite spacious for a hospital room. It wasn't as though he could actually use most of the amenities at the time, but this place looked far above his pay grade.

"Excuse me." He muttered after a few moments, tapping at a button on the side of his bed. "Nurse? Anyone? I'm awake now."

It didn't take long for the room to become flooded with people.