Danganronpa Zero
Danganronpa Zero is a Japanese light novel written by Kazutaka Kodaka and illustrated by Rui Komatsuzaki. It was published by Seikaisha from September 16 to October 14, 2011, and has been collected in two "tankōbon" volumes. A prequel to "", the novel focuses on Ryoko Otonashi, a student who, as a result of "The Tragedy", has anterograde amnesia (the inability to form new memories) and has short-term memory loss. Overseen by the school's Ultimate Neurologist and her childhood sweetheart Yasuke Matsuda, Ryoko becomes embroiled in a vast conspiracy within Hope's Peak Academy, involving the mysterious Izuru  Kamukura and "Despair Sisters" Junko Enoshima and Mukuro Ikusaba, as "The Parade" protests arise outside. The events of the novel set up several story elements that were later used in the video game "", in particular the character of Izuru Kamukura, while several characters introduced in the novel make cameo appearances in the anime "". Kodaka has cited "Zero" as the story in which he "finalized the larger world of "Danganronpa", [which] led to the creation of the second game." Characters. – The main character, an amnesiac student known as the "Ultimate Analyst". ' – Consisting of twin sisters ' and , the pair are instigators of  The Tragedy who claim to be affiliated with Ryoko. Development. After the making of the first "Danganronpa" game, there were no plans for a sequel. However, the team split up into different groups to make other projects. Initially reclutant, Kodaka was attracted by the idea of creating the novels "Danganronpa Zero". After consulting to Terasawa, Kodaka decided to write the novel. While writing "Zero", Terasawa approached Kodaka with the idea of sequel in few months. Kodaka was busy with the novel as he aimed to complete it so the sequel was written once he was finished with "Zero". In the  end, Kodaka wrote both "Zero" and "Goodbye Despair" at the same time. In retrospective, Kodaka considers the novels as needing more structuring work when comparing it with the game. He wrote elements he was doubtful from the first game into the novel as well as more hints towards "Goodbye Despair". As a result, Kodaka recommends gamers to first read "Zero" before playing the sequel. Volumes. The novel has been collected into two "tankōbon" volumes, both of which were published in late 2011.