Gekka Ryūzōji

**Spoiler warning: *Plot and/or ending details follow. Read at user's own risk!***

## Personal Status

### Affiliation

* Detective Library
* Victims Catharsis Committee
* Clan of Assassins (Customer)

## Debut

### Novel

*Danganronpa Kirigiri* Volume 1

**Gekka Ryūzōji** is a reoccurring character in *Danganronpa Kirigiri*. He is a registered detective in the Detective Library and out of the Library's fifteen year run, is one of only four to have ever earned the rank of Triple Zero, making him a master of his field.

His epithet is the **Count of the Armchair**, known for being able to solve crimes without ever visiting the scene and from the confines of his wheelchair.

## History

### **Prior Life**

Gekka was once a high ranking police officer, whose achievements on the force had allowed him to receive much respect and acclaims from his peers. Even when he sustained injuries to his legs which restricted him to a motorized wheelchair, he didn't retire after that. It is the events after his ordeal that caused his retirement from the police. A murderer had escaped prison and had killed his wife and daughter. A month later, Gekka retired from police service, instead deciding to become a detective and registering in the Detective Library. His agency is own personal castle, and inside such castle are orphaned children that he teaches as detective trainees.

He solved high-profile case after case and would eventually reach the legendary Triple Zero rank, making him a master detective amongst the DSC. During this time period, he would be approached by Mikado Shinsen who offered Gekka to join his Victims Catharsis Committee as an Executive. Being disillusioned by how the legal system has failed him so far, and finding Mikado to be a man of fairness, he agreed. With his mind, Gekka helped to create a variety of tricks that the Duel Noir would see and use over the years. Six months prior to the Duel Noir at the Norman's Hotel Murder Case, he would gain a new assistant in Licorne.

### Norman's Hotel Murder Case

Gekka showed up with Johnny Arp outside the hotel on New Years Day, alongside Mikado. There, they witness Kyoko and Yui run past them, but when Suisei comes out he is left dumbfounded by their appearance. Wordlessly, Mikado takes Johnny's gun and hands it over to Suisei. Suisei gets the implication and commits suicide. The three men turn and begin to leave, but once Mikado sees the girls, he walks up to them. Yui covers Kyoko, but instead Mikado merely wipes away the blood from her ear where Suisei's bullet grazed her. Yui pulls away, frightened and notices Mikado's kind appearance. She asks what is Mikado's goal in taking part in Norman's Hotel. In turn, Mikado says he just wanted to welcome the new world, all while covering a good section of Yui's world with a handkerchief. As Mikado folds it smaller and smaller, Yui stares in horror as she finds Norman's Hotel has disappeared and other parts of the land were decreasing and disappearing. Kyoko and Yui hold each others hand in fright as they see a barren landscape surrounded by an iron fence and a path that goes downhill to an unknown direction. As Mikado and his subordinates leave, he pulls off his mask and gives a compliment for how Kyoko for how she handled the case. As well as saying that once he was done, it would be in a new face.

### Volume 3

#### Meeting Yui

On January 9th, Gekka meets with Yui in his limousine after his new assistant brought her to him. Yui was initially scared given that Gekka was one of her enemies, but he tells her to calm down and that if he wanted to kill her, he would have done so by now. From there, they were heading to his detective agency with the purpose of investigating the Duel Noir that she has participated in.

Suddenly, Gekka began delivering commands into his cell phone. "In precisely 60 seconds, change all of the traffic signals on Route 4 between Point A and Point C to red." Gekka then pulled out a second phone and continued speaking. "The bus hijacking is not an act of terrorism; it is cover for a heist targeting valuables onboard the vehicle. An elderly man with a suitcase filled with 50 million yen in cash and an old woman with 200 million yen worth of accessories in her bag are among the passengers. No, it is not mere coincidence; it is all part of the thieves’ plan. The chaos has diverted the attention of the passengers from their belongings; in fact, the real suitcase and bag have already been stolen and replaced with fakes. The valuables will be transferred to an accomplice driving a convertible with the roof retracted, an unnatural sight in this frigid weather. Their plan is to toss the bags from the bus window into the convertible when the vehicles pass one another at the intersection." Gekka was thinking of stopping a busjacking in progress while on their way. After finishing this task, the police arrived and thanked Gekka for completing such a task without any problem.

After finishing, Yui proceeds and started to question Gekka if he perhaps had anything to do with Kyoko's disappearance. However, Gekka didn't know anything about her disappearance and revealed to Yui that the Victims Catharsis Committee was apparently also looking for Kyoko. Gekka escorted Yui for his personal desire without any knowledge from the others in the Committee. Gekka revealed to Yui that the Committee has already prepared a new Duel Noir, summoning Yui once again as a detective. It's there that Gekka offers Yui a choice. He offers he two envelopes, and he says that she has two chances to choose. One in the limo, the other back at his agency. If she chooses the black, it will be taking upon the Duel Noir. However, if she chooses white, she would become a member of the Committee. Without hesitation, Yui chooses black. Gekka goes into detail of his role of providing tricks and ideas to the Duel Noir, and assumes that Yui believes its just an organization that sells murder shows for wealthy people interested in it. However, Gekka says that is not the organization's purpose, but rather a means in order to obtain necessary funding.

Shortly, they arrived in front of the marble entrance as people greeted Gekka in his wheelchair with the help of Licorne. When arriving, Yui meet inside a lot of kids who worked for Gekka inside his building. Going up in the elevator, they entered Gekka's office with a lot of books, documents, and photos found all over the room. Taking seat, Gekka explained to Yui the role of the children who worked here. All the children are orphans that work for Gekka and served as detective trainees who assist them. When Yui asked if they also help out the Committee or know about Gekka's crimes, he merely shakes his head.

Yui is left with utter disgust at Gekka and asks why he would throw his lot in with a criminal organization. Gekka has no remorse for his choice as he believes that they really are giving the Victims 'catharsis' in what what they do. He goes onto explain that he had tried to go about things in accordance to the laws rules, but was let down by it time and time again. Thus, when Mikado approached him, he joined the Committee after sensing he was a man of fair play. He believes that sacrifice for the name of their Duel Noir, like roping in innocent people unrelated to the crime, is unavoidable, which Yui rebukes.

She says that way of thinking is wrong, but Gekka points out the similarities between herself and him. How both could never forgive evil being committed, but Yui has yet to make the commitment to make sacrifices. This causes Yui to hesitate and think about the meaning of being an ally of justice. Gekka tells her to focus and she'll be able to hear 'their voices'. Yui obeys and hears the voice of Mayu and Kyoko calling out to her, making her wonder what she was fighting for. Gekka remarks that she is one of them and changes the topic to the 'game'. Gekka presents the two envelopes as before and ordered her to take one then leave his office. After deciding which would lead to saving lives, she choose the black envelope (which causes Gekka to smile since he felt like she would take it) and departs.

The next day the gift from Gekka, a cellphone, began to ring. Gekka is on the other line and divvy's the situation in three parts. First, they can use Licorne to assist them by getting him to relay police records to them. Two, this Twelve Duel Noir Challenge was produced and directed solely by Gekka. He also adds a victory stipulation: if they managed to complete all twelve locked rooms, by prevention of them occurring or solving them, Gekka will step down as a member of the Committee. The penalty for Yui is merely just being called to fight the Committee without making much headway. With those stakes in mind, Yui accepts the challenge.

As for the third part, Gekka goes on to talk about Rei Mikagami, and that the Committee has just received word that he is to appear at Meyura Station, with word that four organization agents and three assassins will also be awaiting to find him. He confirms that Rei is not a member of the Committee, and when Yui asks to why he willingly revealed such a thing, he admits it was to be fair to her. It is not a violation to have help in solving the Duel Noirs and Yui is free to recruit as many allies on her side as she wished.

Yui asked if facing off like this was necessary, but Gekka replied that has she took the other envelope things might have been different. In the end, he says he anticipates a fine first battle before hanging up. Ultimately, both Yui and Kyoko decide to trust in Gekka's words and head off to Meyura Station, with Yui calling Licorne to meet them there.

### **Gekka's Fate**

On January 12, Tōya Tsutsumi fled to Gekka's castle, alongside a captured Kyoko in order to hide out from Yui. From there, he freed the Victims that Licorne had rounded up, and the six of them forced the children of the castle to blockade the castle to prevent entry from outsiders. All the while, Gekka had apparently locked himself in a part of his mansion.

When Yui and Licorne arrived, they managed to re-capture all the defeated Victims and apprehend Tōya. They tie him up and all three go to take him to Gekka, who they believe to be in the locked room. They enter, only to look in horror as they find his body covered up with a white cloth over his face, deceased. It was then that Licorne reveals that Gekka was terminally ill, and he had noticed it for the past six months he was working with him. When Yui asked if such illness was why he was confined to a wheelchair, Licorne replied that it was due to that injury he sustained on the force and that he would retire after his family was murdered by a killer who escaped prisoner. Kyoko notes that Gekka had died rather recently.

The trio finds the video recording of Gekka, who asked for forgiveness for dying before their game would be complete and commended Yui, officially declaring Yui the victor. However, he noted to Yui had she been more flexible in her thinking, the cases would've been solved sooner. Kyoko points out that the culprits were those whose zodiacs lined up with their challenges, and had Yui noticed they could have been done faster. When Yui asked if Licorne was aware of this, he responded that he knew since the first one, but didn't reveal it for the sake of making things interesting (much to Yui's ire). When the recording went on, it focused on Licorne, with Gekka showing appreciation for him and giving him two choices via white and black envelopes, just like what he did with Yui before. White: for Licorne to take the name of Ryūzōji and become the new heir to the castle. Black: become an official enemy of the Victims Catharsis Committee.

However, before Licorne could make a decision, Tōya reveals that he still had a gun that he had acquired from Tatsutora and holds Yui at gunpoint. He declares that once he takes the white envelope he would become the castle's new master. Yui orders Licorne to shoot, but he reveals that gun he had had no ammo. when Kyoko asked if Tōya's has ammo, he shoots her left hand (though, thankfully, it was shallow). He orders Yui to grab the white envelope, and evens hits her with the metal handle. However, before she could give it to him, Tōya is killed by a shot to the forehead from Johnny Arp, who arrives on the scene by destroying a nearby wall with a tank.

Johnny walks up to Licorne with a sheriff's badge and gives him an offer to come with him, stating that Licorne could spy on NASA or Area 51 as much as he would desire. Licorne, who couldn't decide on what envelope to pick since neither really interested him, excitedly agreed since it would give him the interest that he was looking for.

## Appearance

Gekka is an older man with grey, neck-length, hair and a grey beard. His usual attire is a black business suit and a white dress shirt, with a yellow tie. His irises are also red. Due to his injury, Gekka is usually seen being in a motorized wheelchair. According to Yui, he looks handsome.

## Personality

Befitting a detective and former police officer of his status, Gekka is a serious, charismatic and highly intelligent individual who does have a strong sense of justice, despite being an Executive of the Victims Catharsis Committee. Like Yui, he despises evil and unfairness in the world and seeks to do his part in trying correct it via the Duel Noir, which he sincerely believes can give those victimized 'catharsis'. Gekka is fully aware, though, that the path he has chosen has lead to the deaths of multiple innocent people, but believes that in order for Victims to be saved, sacrifices must be made in order to achieve it. Given the variety of tricks and traps put on display by the Duel Noir, it showcases the creativity and ingenuity that Gekka has.

He is very polite and holds compassion, to an almost fatherly degree, even to those who are against his ideals (such as Yui), and is capable of empathizing with their point of view and discerning their value, even if his allies were to think otherwise. It's to the point he even apologizes for dying before his game with Yui is over. He values fair play to the point that he joined Mikado because he held the same values. This is best exemplified on how he organizes his Duel Noir challenge. Despite stacking the odds against Yui, he allows for her to bring in as many allies as possible in order to complete it, and even an method to identify criminals (which was the Victims being those who match the Zodiac of the Duel Noir).

Gekka is an expert manipulator, capable of weaving together multiple plans simultaneously in order to get the best possible results for himself or others, though always leaves it up to his target on whether or not they accept the choices he lays out for them. The murder of his family is the reason he has become disillusioned with the justice system and strives to correct it as a Committee Executive.

## Skills and Abilities

### Triple Zero Detective

As a Triple Zero Detective, it means Gekka has the capability and superb intelligence to take on any sort of case, regardless of it being something from homicide to even white collar crime. He earned his rank as a result of having the capability to piece together any case directly without ever showing up to the crime scene and from being in his wheelchair, showcasing an extraordinary ability to solve cases from just the details given.

### Parallel Thinking

Gekka is described as a master of parallel thinking, being able to create plans that involves weaving together solutions for multiple scenarios. A good example of that would be during the hunt for Rei Mikagami's, which involved seeing to it that Yui and Kyoko could get a possible ally, as well as confirming Gekka's suspicions that Licorne was Rei.

### Societal Influence

As a result of being a former high-ranking police officer and his status as a famed Triple Zero detective, Gekka is widely known and respected for his achievements, thus allowing for him to have quite the sway when it comes to proceedings, such as his word alone convincing police officers to treat Kyoko and Yui as respected assistants.

### Wife and Daughter

In the past, Gekka has a wife and daughter which he loved dearly. After they were murdered by a that escaped killer, their deaths would have drove Gekka to finally quitting the police force and joining the Victims Catharsis Committee.

**Victims Catharsis Committee**

### Mikado Shinsen

Gekka is one of the executives in Mikado's Victims Catharsis Committee and fellow Triple Zero detective. Gekka aligned himself with Mikado because he believed in his philosophy of granting 'catharsis' to people who have been hurt by crime and even told Yui he wouldn't have joined Mikado if he had felt he was just some terrorist. Gekka worked on developing new tricks for the Duel Noir and noted himself to be quite vital in setting things up for the Duel Noir. Mikado even described losing Gekka as a major blow to their operations.

**Detective Library**

### Yui Samidare

Yui is initially respectful of Gekka, and even considered him handsome, upon discovering his profile at the Detective Library. However, upon finding that he was aligned with the Chairman of the Committee, Yui saw him as a dangerous threat. Gekka sees himself in Yui given that he also shares her strong passion for justice, and has the utmost respect for her when the others in the Committee don't. However, he is aware that Yui hasn't taken the first step like those in the Committee, and is even willing to give her chances to join them (even if he ultimately knows she won't accept his offer). While Yui keenly refuses, even she becomes aware that the odds of the challenge are stacked in her favor and that Gekka didn't truly seem to be trying to win, and seems to respect that Gekka is willing to play fair in their competition. When Yui asked prior to the start of the challenge if they truly did have to compete like this, Gekka merely responds its due to her choice and lets the game continue.

### Licorne

Having worked with Gekka for over six months, Licorne had developed a good understanding and respect for Gekka, to the point where he had noticed that Gekka had become terminally ill. In turn, Gekka respects Licorne and sees him as someone that was worthy of holding the name of Ryūzōji, which was one of the reasons for why he set up the Twelve Zodiac Duel Noir Challenge‏‎. However, that said, Licorne was disinterested in taking Gekka's place as master of the castle and even becoming an official enemy of the Duel Noirs, thus proving that even with their bond he has no qualms in putting his own desires over Gekka's options in the matter.

### Sachi Mizuiyama

Sachi was incredibly devoted to Gekka, having become obsessed with him upon being able to perceive his strong sense of ideal and faith in others. She wants to see Gekka, a 'hero who has saved others' received salvation himself. As such, even when she herself became a Victim of the Committee, her goal was to see to it that Gekka would remain as an Executive of the Victims Catharsis Committee. Upon her defeat and arrest, she gives up the information she gathers in accordance to what Gekka's request and ponders if Gekka losing would be what he actually needs to become saved. It's also implied she was rather jealous of Yui being the one to be chosen by Gekka instead of her.

## Trivia

* The Triple Zero detectives in the Detective Library each represent a certain type of monster in fiction. For Gekka, he represents a vampire, specifically Count Dracula from Bram Stoker's 1897 *Dracula* novel, with his design and epithet being inspired by the titular character.