Danganronpa AZ: Stained Destiny

Side-Story: Natsuko Tani

[15 years before the start of the Killing Game, a young girl is in a police station. Her skin is covered in a dark ash.]

[Natsuko: Age 5]

Natsuko: "...Sniff...Sniff..."

[A tall police officer enters the room.]

Officer: "...Ahem. H-How are you feeling?"

Natsuko: "..."

Officer: "...Sigh. I know it hurts, kiddo. The firefighters put it out as soon as they could, but... Sigh. It was too sudden and wild to save everyone."

Natsuko: "...Sniff... W-Why couldn't you save her...?"

Officer: "..."

[The officer sighs and shakes his head, and turns around.]

Officer: "...Listen, your dad'll be here soon to pick you up, okay? Everything'll be okay."

Natsuko: "..."

[The officer hesitates for a moment, then exits the room. Natsuko continues crying until she is eventually taken home.]

[7 years later.]

[Natsuko: Age 12. Ryo: Age 10.]

[An older Natsuko is sitting in the living room of a fancy living room. A younger boy is on the floor, working on homework.]

Ryo: "...Argh..."

Natsuko: "...Hey, something wrong?"

Ryo: "...I don't get this."

Natsuko: "What is it? Math? ...Ugh, I helped you with your math homework a few days ago. Are you paying attention in class?"

Ryo: "Yeah, I am! The teacher just sucks..."

Natsuko: "That's just an excuse... Fine, lemme see."

[Natsuko takes the worksheet from Ryo and reads through it.]

Natsuko: "...This is the same stuff I already helped you with! You're definitely just not paying attention."

Ryo: "No, I am! You're just... Also a bad teacher."

Natsuko: "Do you want me to help or not?"

Ryo: "H-Huh? No, please do!"

Natsuko: "Fine, fine... Let's see... First, you gotta-"

[Suddenly, a fire alarm in another room starts to beep.]

Natsuko: "H-Huh?!"

Ryo: "...O-Oh..."

Natsuko: "N-No...! Not again... C'mon, not again..."

[Natsuko goes pale as the fire alarm continues beeping, and she starts to shake slightly.]

Ryo: "H-Hey, calm down! It's just from Mr. Okino's cooking! It's not a fire, calm down...!"

Natsuko: "N-No... A-A-Ah... I-Is there another fire...? W-Why is it h-happening again...?!"

[A few seconds later, the beeping suddenly stops. An older man in a suit peeks in the living room from the kitchen.]

Okino: "Awfully sorry about that, kids. Just a bit of smoke from the stove. Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes, by the way!"

[The man ducks back into the kitchen. Natsuko looks around nervously as she starts to slow her breathing.]

Natsuko: "...A-Ah... It was just... That..."