Ryuko Arima

"There's so much we can learn from the animals we share this planet with. We just need to be patient and observe, and they'll teach us some of life's most important lessons."

- Ryuko Arima

Ryuko Arima (有馬 龍子) is a student at Hope's Peak Academy's Class 2-C and a participant of the 'Killing School Cruise'. Her title is Ultimate Zookeeper (超高校級の「飼育員」lit. Super High School Level Keeper).

Appearance
Ryuko Arima is a petite young woman standing at 5'3" with a slender build. Her medium-length, wavy auburn hair is typically tied back into a loose, messy ponytail, with a few strands framing her face. Her bangs are swept to the side, adding a playful touch to her appearance. Ryuko's warm brown eyes are often filled with kindness and curiosity, reflecting her deep love and compassion for the animals she cares for.

Her attire consists of a simple green button-up shirt, which she usually rolls up to her elbows for practicality. The shirt is adorned with various animal-themed pins and patches, showcasing her enthusiasm for her talent. Each patch and pin represents a different species, reflecting the diversity of animals she has worked with as a zookeeper.

Ryuko wears a pair of khaki cargo pants that provide her with plenty of pocket space for any tools or supplies she may need throughout her day. Her pants are often slightly dirt-stained or frayed at the hem, evidence of her hands-on approach to her work. She also sports a pair of durable brown boots, perfect for navigating the various terrains and enclosures she encounters in her line of work.

To complete her look, Ryuko dons a pair of fingerless gloves that offer her a better grip on tools and equipment while still allowing her the dexterity needed to handle animals with care. These gloves are well-worn but meticulously cared for, demonstrating her attention to detail and commitment to her profession.

Personality
Ryuko Arima is a compassionate and dedicated individual with a deep love for animals. Her passion for her work as the Ultimate Zookeeper shines through in her every interaction, and she approaches her responsibilities with enthusiasm and a strong sense of duty. She believes that animals deserve the same level of respect and care as humans, which drives her to excel in her field and ensure the well-being of her animal charges.

Ryuko is a gentle soul who has a knack for putting others at ease, both human and animal alike. She is patient and understanding, with an uncanny ability to read the emotions of those around her. This emotional intelligence allows her to form strong bonds with the animals she works with, as well as her classmates at Hope's Peak Academy. She is always willing to lend a sympathetic ear and offer support to those in need, making her a beloved friend to many.

Despite her gentle demeanor, Ryuko is not one to shy away from tough situations. Her determination and commitment to her work have helped her overcome numerous challenges in her career as a zookeeper. She has a strong work ethic and takes pride in her ability to handle difficult tasks with grace under pressure. When faced with adversity, Ryuko will push herself to the limit to ensure the safety and well-being of her beloved animals and friends.

Ryuko is also an advocate for conservation and environmental awareness, often using her platform as the Ultimate Zookeeper to educate others about the importance of protecting our planet's diverse ecosystems. She is knowledgeable in her field and is always eager to share her insights with others, hoping to inspire a sense of responsibility and appreciation for the natural world.

Although Ryuko is typically calm and composed, she can become fiercely protective when it comes to the well-being of her animals or her friends. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even if it means going against the majority. Her strong moral compass and unwavering commitment to her values make her a respected and inspiring figure among her peers.

In her downtime, Ryuko enjoys studying animal behavior, learning about new species, and staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in zookeeping and conservation efforts. She is also fond of photography, often capturing candid moments of the animals she works with in order to share their beauty and uniqueness with the world.

Early Life
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Ryuko Arima experienced a sudden change in her life early on when her family moved to a new city. The move was prompted by her father's job as a lawyer, which demanded a lot of his time and kept him away from home. Despite his frequent absences, Ryuko was very close to her father, who took her to places like the zoo whenever they had the opportunity to spend time together. Unbeknownst to Ryuko, her father's outings with her were a way for him to hide his ongoing affair.

Eventually, Ryuko's mother discovered the affair and decided to divorce her husband. In order to protect her daughter from the painful truth, she chose not to disclose the reason for the divorce. Ryuko and her mother moved away, and as a result, she saw her father less and less. This significant upheaval in her family life deeply affected Ryuko, leaving her feeling hurt and betrayed.

Feeling lost and angry, Ryuko began acting out and getting into trouble. She held a grudge against her mother, who she believed was responsible for the distance between her and her father. Struggling to make friends as she got older, Ryuko turned to animals for comfort, volunteering at the local zoo and immersing herself in their company.

Her love for animals grew stronger as she spent more time at the zoo, and it quickly became her sanctuary from the difficulties of her personal life. Ryuko's passion and dedication to caring for the animals eventually led her to become a part-time employee at the zoo after school. This opportunity not only allowed her to further her skills as a zookeeper but also gave her a sense of financial independence from her mother.

Ryuko's talent and hard work did not go unnoticed, and she was soon recognized as the Ultimate Zookeeper. Despite the challenges she faced in her early life, Ryuko found solace and purpose in her work with animals, shaping her into the determined and compassionate person she would become.

Killing School Cruise

 * Gets a letter accepting her into HPA but on her first day f school is thrown into a killing game with her other classmates.
 * When she is first thrown into the killing game, her old life has come to a close.
 * At the start of the game she was a little lost as this was a very unfamiliar situation
 * Befriends one of her classmates who was one of the more mature people of their cohort but still fun to be around and eventually develops a crush on them.
 * Tries to maintain a positive attitude so people don't begin to lose morale and is an asset in the class trials in helping find out who is guilty
 * Develops into somewhat of a leader, especially in keeping morale up and rallied her classmates that they needed to win against Monokuma
 * In the final trial to find the mastermind among them and to end the killing game, Ryuko had a hard time finding the true evidence as she seemed to find a lot of conflicting evidence.
 * Remembers those who died in the killing game and grows as a person to keep pushing forward
 * Is anxious and cautious about what will happen after the killing game is finally over but stays close with the other survivors of the game.