Nifty Nick

> Strength isn't about staying alive or proving you're better than others. It's about holding onto who you are and trying to improve upon that, all the time.
>
> -Nifty Nick

**Nifty Nick** (real name Haru Midotaka) was a student in Hope's Peak Academy's Class 75-B, and a participant in the killing game that took place at the 'Creation Factory' in *Danganronpa: Creation of Despair*.

## History

### Before the Killing Game

Growing up, Haru always wanted to be the best at something. His parents were both highly skilled individuals, and he aspired to achieve the same sort of greatness. However, both of his parents wound up being killed in a hit-and-run incident where the murderer was never found, leaving Haru with two dead parents and no closure, as well as very little support.

Haru was sent to an orphanage, but feeling unhappy there eventually ran away to try and carve his own path. If he was going to become something, he knew he had to do it on his own. Learning how to make a very basic kazoo using only a comb and a piece of paper, Haru wound up joining a hobo jug band which became his new family.

Haru developed his nickname from his parents. His father would always describe things as ‘Nifty’ and his mother’s name was Nicole, so he figured combining those two aspects would be a good homage to his parents and to make sure the strength they gave him was commemorated and lived on.

Because of his early struggle and slow rise to fame and talent through the kazoo, along with the fact that his parents' killer was never found to this day, Haru strongly believes in social darwinism. The weak fall, the strong rise up, and sometimes the strong can quickly become the weak—-just like his parents. If anyone fails, it’s because of a lack of personal strength or will and shows weakness on their behalf.

This leads to Haru having very little to no remorse when it comes to the environment of Danganronpa and The Killing Game. In fact, he agrees with the basic premise; the weak die either by being murdered or by getting caught, and the strong live on by graduating one way or another. He also agrees that Ultimates of all people should be the ones put through a test like this, because the strong should always be tested to expose their true weaknesses in a practical environment.

### Danganronpa: Creation of Despair

#### Chapter 1

Nifty woke up alongside fifteen other Ultimate students inside of what appeared to be a school building, the only memories he had being that he had applied to be enrolled at Hope's Peak but never learned if he was accepted or not. It seems everyone else had a similar amnesia, though they assumed that since they were in a school building that they must've all been accepted. This perception would be shattered later that day when a small black-and-white bear named Monokuma would inform the students about the killing game, and how they would need to get away with murdering another one of their classmates to be formally accepted into Hope's Peak Academy.

Nifty takes some time socializing with the others and getting their thoughts on the situation. He bonds pretty well with Syrius over their musical abilities, as well as Yahui, Yuzu, Michio, and Futoshi. The only person who he instantly dislikes is Marks, as Marks insults Nifty's talent and alias, calling him 'the weakling Kazoo Player.' He also initially distrusts Jam upon learning that he had been in a previous killing game before and survived.

While talking with Yuzu, Nifty reveals how he likes the concept of 'survival of the fittest' that this game presents, even if he's not so keen on being forced to murder one another. Yuzu tells him about her thoughts of all of this being a simulation, as they wouldn't really make people kill one another to get into Hope's Peak. The two test it out by lightly punching each other to see if the pain feels real. Not coming to anything conclusive, they decide that it's more than likely a simulation, and the two agree to carrying out a murder plan together so that they can both be accepted into Hope's Peak despite both of their less impressive talents of kazoo playing and drinking. Their plan was to cause a double-murder where each one would murder one target, but wouldn't make it clear who murdered which person. That way if anyone pinned them at the trial they could confuse people into voting the wrong murderer for both victims.

A time limit was introduced not long after to pressure students into murdering each other, and after an afternoon nap on an unsuspecting day...Nifty woke up and walked into the hallway to find both Michio and Breakfast dead not far from his bedroom door. He was a bit late to the start of the investigation, but he immediately suspected Yuzu due to the murders being similar to the plan they had crafted. Additionally, Yuzu was shirtless when Nifty found her later that day. He wasn't entirely sure who the second murderer could be, but suspected Alice as he had noticed her and Yuzu having a few talks in private prior to the bodies being discovered. He confides in Syrius and Yahui about this before the trial so as to have people who can back him up when he unveiled his full side of the story at the trial.

At the trial, Nifty was hesitant to reveal his evidence against Yuzu as he wasn't sure how people would react to him admitting to plotting murder. However, with the support of Syrius and Yahui, he goes through with his admission and uses it as evidence towards Yuzu and Alice being the murderers. Marks, who likes Yuzu, is in disbelief and tries to throw accusations towards Nifty instead. However, with further evidence and arguing by Nifty, Syrius, and a few others, it was eventually concluded that the murderers had to be Yuzu and Alice. Which one killed which victim, however, was more difficult to pin down.

The group was given an option to go for both killers, or to only go for one. In the event they went for both, they would have two separate votes one for the first killer and one for the second. If both were not correct, the vote would fail. Nifty and Adam spent a lot of time arguing back and forth over whether or not they should let the second killer go free. Yuzu had been teasing she would reveal who Alice murdered if they chose the single option, and Nifty argued they should go for that so they could confidently win the trial. Adam, however, accused Nifty of wanting to try the plan again with Yuzu later. In the end, Nifty won out and Yuzu revealed that Alice had killed Michio first.

Throughout the trial, Nifty had been fairly arrogant and dismissed others quickly, not giving much credit to their theories or opinions as he knew he was right. This, alongside the fact he admitted to plotting to murder, left mixed opinions on him after the trial. While it was undeniable he had been key to solving this trial, it was hard to trust or respect him.

## Trivia

* Nifty Nick is considered to be the protagonist of Danganronpa: Creation of Despair, as he led the charge at most of the class trials and solved most of the murders.
* This was Niftyness's first DR RP character ever.
* Nifty Nick died at 16 years old.
	+ Nifty Nick was killed because his roleplayer, Niftyness, was in the middle of a six-month break from Discord and couldn't attend Danganronpa 5: Convergence when it started.