Ayaki Aino

Ayaki headshot by Romeo.

Riko Kasumi [brotherly figure] (deceased)

Tessio Petrocchi [friend] (alive)

*"A... cult thing? No, it's not a cult thing. I've never been in one, and I don't think I will be anytime soon..."*

— Hagane questioning their mask.

**Ayaki Aino (安意希彩希)** is a participant of the Secondary Ultimate Despair Killing Game. The killing game is not tied to a real Danganronpa game, however, it is featured on Quotev (@destinationdespair) and therefore, hosted online. Their title is the Ultimate Dollmaker.

 History

### Early Life

Ayaki does not remember much of their early life. Whether this resulted from them repressing their memories or simple forgetfulness is unclear, but regardless, they do not remember their parents at all. The only thing they have from their birth family is a doll that they would carry with them throughout their life. Other than that, they've been living in the orphanage for as long as they can remember.

### Primary events

We know not much about their life prior to the killing game. They spent most of their time in an orphanage and was regularly passed between foster home to foster home.While the details remain elusive, it can be confirmed that none of these foster homes have stuck, and Ayaki remains alone.

At age seventeen, they've lost hope of ever getting hold of a proper family, so they would work hard on their art and sell their dolls until they could move out on their own.

Eventually, The Tragedy strikes, and Ayaki turns to despair. However, once they find themself in the killing, they lose all memories associated with The Tragedy.

During the game, they continue to do their best to remain optimistic and helpful, but that hope dissipated by the end of chapter three, when both Riko Kasumi and Yujiro Ohmae died. Two people who they had considered very close.

(***CW** IMPLICATIONS OF SU//CIDE*) They are shaky and unnerved the rest of the game onward. With the help of Erisai Chifasho, Blaine Akagawa, and Hagane Piasu, they can pick themself up somewhat, but it all ends up in vain. The night before the talent show Kurokuma scheduled was set to begin, Ayaki wonders out of their room. In their grief, mixed with their instability from having not slept in days because of the motive, they had planned their own death via hanging themself with the rope in the auditorium. The plan failed when Shikou Motoyoshi walked in as they were setting the scene up, and in a sleep deprived panic, Ayaki hangs Shikou instead. Not entirely in their right mind, they stuff the hanged body in the curtains of the stage, and head back to their room for the night.

They ended up completely repressing any memory of the murder, however, and they are just as surprised as the rest of the cast when the body is discovered. Ayaki investigates and takes part in the trial as normal until they're accused. Confused and worried, Ayaki defends themself, but their actions turn more desperate as the trial goes on, until they eventually give in and confess to being the killer. Memory still foggy, they shakily explain what happened the best they can, albeit while entirely neglecting to bring up their own attempted suicide. Leaving their mask and doll behind, they share a hopeless goodbye, before calmly requesting Kurokuma to begin their execution.

 Talent

Ayaki has always been passionate about art and dolls. Doll making was initially a small and casual hobby they picked up during their time at the orphanage. However, they took it more seriously when they gifted their first doll away to a young girl who newly showed up at the orphanage.

Seeing how happy it made her motivated them to work harder and more seriously, and overtime they've honed their skills and have worked hard to get where they are now, and all the way until they were titled as the Ultimate Dollmaker.

However, it is clear this memory of an Ultimate is a part of the fabrication made by The Despair Sister Location killing game, so Ayaki never had a talent given by Hope's Peak Academy in the first place.

## Before the Killing Game

It is assumed that Ayaki led the life of a Hope's Peak rejected high school student who fell into despair with those similar in age range.

Ayaki has always been an impressionable person. Of course, when The Tragedy struck, they've tried to remain hopeful. They soon lost their motivation, however, and with that, they slowly began losing their will to live. Who were they without their art? Their hope was of no use to anybody anymore. They've finally lost everything. They were entirely worthless.

Then, one night, they lit their orphanage on fire as everyone slept. They succumb to despair then and there, watching the flames and listening to the screams.

In despair, Ayaki would play with their victims. They'd paint with their blood, decorate the streets with their bodies, steal their clothes and attach them to themself, so they could always remember the people they've hurt. They'd decorate the corpses they find and dress them up like their own life-sized dolls. They would create art with the carnage and prop their victims up and play house.

With many others, Ayaki learned of the Class 78th's Killing School Life. Because of their dedication to despair, the group recreated a killing game and placed themselves and Future Foundation hostage, Chisafusa Tachibana, inside.

 Appearance

Ayaki is a high school aged person, a bit taller than usual Japan standards of height, and they seem to be of average build.

Their face remains hidden for the vast majority of the killing game, covered by a monochrome mask; one half white with a painted, black smile, and the other side black with a frown. It mimics the common comedy and tragedy theatre masks.

Their hair is a light lilac color, almost white, and the texture is curly, thick and fluffy. It's held in two low twin tails, held together with a pair of pink bows, and the length leads to their ankles. Framing their face are two long strands of curled hair that reach their chest, and, though mostly hidden by their mask, they have bangs which end just above their eyes.

Ayaki's style is reminiscent of Lolita fashion. They wear a purple dress that puffs out at the end. The collar hugs their neck, covering any skin. Around their torso is lace, criss-crossing over each other and pulling tight like a corset. Tied around their waist is a purple bow. The dress extends outwards, with a noticeable petticoat underneath it, the ruffles showing at the bottom of the skirt. Across the hem of the skirt are two black lines. The sleeves of the dress are a soft pink and are long enough to cover their hands (which sport black gloves.) There are also ruffles at the edges of the sleeves. Covering a good portion of their body is a cape, shaded the same purple as their dress. It connects at the neck and upper half; the latter held together by a bow. It separates after that, showing off the lace of the dress underneath. Ruffles decorate the bottom edges of the cloak, and like the dress, there are two black lines across the hem.

A pair of white stockings cover their legs. With that, Ayaki also wears black boots that go up to their knees. Lace ties them together, and on both shows, a small, purple both decorates the top, along with ruffles attached to the hem.

On top of their head is a wide-brimmed hat reminiscent to that of a cartwheel hat. It's a purple color, though shaded darker than the rest of their outfit. Lace decorates the bottom hem, and a pink-purple ribbon ties around the base of the hat. Also decorating the base of the hat is a small, pink flower, and two feathers.

Finally, underneath their mask is a round face. Their skin is pale and unharmed, and there are dark bags underneath their tired, typically half-lidded eyes. Their eyes themselves are a pale pink, and are notably blank, tired and foggy. Above their eyes are a pair of thin eyebrows, mostly covered by their bangs. Ayaki typically bears a tired or soft expression.

 Personality

Initially, Ayaki is a silent and mysterious individual. They are never seen without their mask or doll at their side. Typically, they are soft-spoken and difficult to get reactions out of, responding to everything softly, distractedly, or quietly and enthusiastically. They sometimes say strange things that they themself may not realize are strange. However, they are outgoing, and it doesn't take much warming up to them to realize that they truly have everyone's best interest in mind.

Ayaki is a creative person who prioritizes art above all else. They see, think, and feel their way through life. They're an intense daydreamer and often too lost in their own thoughts to pay attention to the people or events surrounding them. While they enjoy meeting new people, they are very socially awkward, and often second guess themself in conversations. They also offhandedly mention never really having friends before the killing game. While they aren't the most developed in book smarts or social smarts, Ayaki is very intelligent creatively! The very first thing they notice in new environments are the people and aesthetics occupying and shaping it, and they can sometimes connect or assume certain things from there.

While slow in both speaking mannerisms and movement, they hold a certain energy to them. That energy tends to picks up when speaking with others, and instead of keeping most thoughts to themself like normal, they can spiral into ramblings about art, theories, or whatever else Ayaki has on the mind. They usually get embarrassed afterwards, though, and apologize for talking so much.

They keep their passion for art very close to them. While they are kinder than they may appear at a first impression, there is still an air of mystery with them, and there are plenty of secrets about themself that they hold. As stated before, they've never had a stable social life outside of the game. Along with that, they've never really had a family. Between being thrown between different foster households and losing connections as quick as they come, Ayaki has gotten far too used to change. The only thing they felt stayed as a constant was their love for art and creating it.

Their art is also the one thing they feel like they're good at. Years of abandonment and loneliness have left them feeling as if they aren't worthy of it, which prompted them to develop an unhealthy mindset they would end up holding onto until they died. Ayaki feels as if their existence is unremarkable and spends their life creating art and sharing it with others to make people happy, and act as helpful as they can be as to not make their life a total waste. They think of their own existence as lesser than others, because they feel as if they have nothing truly useful to offer to the world, and that nobody would be affected if they were to die. The mindset that everything is always changes no matter how much they hate it causes them to rarely ever think of the past or future, and they often neglect to even consider consequences.

Sometimes that passion for art can lessen, though, and it leaves Ayaki feeling worthless until they're able to get the motivation again. The fourth trial also shows that Ayaki copes with traumatic events by repressing any memory of it until eventually they forget for real (the only on-screen time this happen's though is with the fourth murder, however, it's implied that they've dealt with past incidents similarly).

## Relations Info

### Group Names

Locker Room Gang (along with Yujiro Ohmae & Riko Kasumi)Mask Gang (along with Yujiro Ohmae & Blaine Akagawa)

Bird With a Knife (along with Tessio Petrocchi)

### Yujiro Ohmae

Originally, Ayaki was mostly only interested in his appearance and talent, but at the end of it all, they consider him a big brother figure. They think of him as fancy and polite, and like to pick up on his mannerism (the most prominent being their title for him, 'Mister Yujiro'). Ayaki admires him greatly, especially his love for family. They consider him their 'investigation partner,' as they investigated together during both the second and third chapters.

They're willing to go through great lengths to protect him, particularly in the third trial, when both them and Erisai Chifasho shielded Yujiro from Tessio Petrocchi, who had pulled out a knife.

### Riko Kasumi

Another person who Ayaki considers close enough to be family. Ayaki considers Riko a strange an eccentric individual, but that just makes him all the more interesting to them. They had initially met during the second investigation when they were looking through the locker room, but they had grown closer the very next chapter when Ayaki teaches him how to paint.

When Riko reveals he doesn't have many hobbies or self worth, Ayaki makes it a point to disprove that. They encourage him and take him to the art room to teach him all they know about art.

### Hagane Piasu

Someone they considered a friend, even if Ayaki's sure it wasn't mutual. The first first person Ayaki spoke to when they first woke up in the killing game, when Hagane admitted to losing their bow and Ayaki elects to help find it, and later becomes their official 'buddy' for Kurokuma's buddy system. Ayaki thinks of them as strong and admirable, even during the fourth trial.

### Erisai Chifasho

They had gotten off to a terrible start, originally. While Ayaki themself harbored no hard feelings towards her, they were vaguely aware of her dislike towards them. They clicked once they ran into each other in the art room, however, and together they discussed each other's talents, dolls, art and fashion. Erisai declares that once they get out, she'll make Ayaki an outfit, which they excitedly agree with.

After the third trial, she had comforted Ayaki, and even made a point to show kindness during the fourth trial. While often confused by her actions, Ayaki appreciates Erisai a lot.

## Ayaki's Fate

Ayaki was executed in chapter 4 after killing Shikou Motoyoshi via hanging.

## Quotes

* (Upon meeting Kurokuma) "*It's nice to meet you, Mister Headmaster! You look very nice today.*"
* (To Yujiro during an investigation) "*I found some garbage!*"
* (Last words) "*Mister Kurokuma, I would like to face my punishment.*"

## Trivia

* Though it's never been brought up during the killing game, the doll that Ayaki has with them throughout the game is a doll they've held onto their entire life, as it's the only thing they have from their birth family. It's an incomplete doll, as Ayaki wishes to complete it with family or somebody that they consider as family.
* While not officially listed as the mastermind, Ayaki was one of the many participants who set up the killing game and kidnapped Chisafusa Tachibana to act as their 'mastermind,' making them a technical mastermind.
	+ This makes up one of three killing games that Ayaki has masterminded. The other two being Trial & Error, a killing game RPG run by Faris, and Educated Entropy, Ayaki's original killing game created by Muffy.