Despair, which takes place prior to the events of Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, opens with homeroom teacher Housekeeper Chisa Yukizome, who begins her job teaching Hope's Peak Academy's 77th Class of Super High School Level students, who stand out as talented in different ways. She is teaching in order to help her childhood friends Student Council President Kyosuke Munakata and Boxer Juzo Sakakura improve the establishment. Meanwhile, Hajime Hinata, a student in the school's Reserve Course for those without talent, prepares to undergo an experiment to make him the Ultimate Hope. He has developed an inferiority complex over his lack of talents, despite bonding with Gamer Chiaki Nanami, a talented student.
