Danganronpa Mythbusters: Who was the original victim of Chapter 3 of DR2?

Spoilers for all of Danganronpa 2, and some mild implied spoilers for Danganronpa 1 and V3.
Debunking and explaining the rumour about whether whether Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu or Hiyoko Saionji were supposed to die in Chapter 3 of Super Danganronpa 2.
Feel free to spread the information around!
Please note: I don't speak Japanese myself, I used a machine translation, but I also did confirm its relative accuracy with some friends I know that can read it before making this.
I don't condone or necessarily agree with anything said by the staff in the content of the interviews. I'm just getting the words out there.
Twitter: / mozillavulpix
Twitch: / mozillavulpix1
Tumblr: / mozillavulpix

[@newbiegamelover4767]

Didn't expect the possibility of Nekamaru being in Hiyoko's place! I am glad they avoided turning Fuyuhiko into a robot. The comedic part is a lot more befitting of Nekamaru, as he's a lot more optimistic than Fuyuhiko is.

[@wessltov]

To me it just made sense that they killed Hiyoko right as she was developing as a character. After all, they made that kind of lack of opportunity a plotpoint in Chihiro's death, and Sakura also died before she could be integrated into the group. I mean the game is all about despair, so the fact that people aren't completely satisfied come the end and leaving a bittersweet taste is pretty much perfectly in line with the game's mission statement of testing your hope when faced with despair

[@nataliecoronado4206]

in all honesty, if the rumor that Fuyuhiko was supposed to be the second victim is true, then I think it was definitely the right call to change it and make Hiyoko the second victim instead. While a lot of people compare the both of them and their Post Chapter 2 redemptions, Hiyoko's development felt very "too little too late" in comparison to Fuyuhiko's who more actively tried to change himself so Peko's sacrifice wouldn't be meaningless. Plus, it just doesn't make sense for Mikan to somehow be able to kill the Ultimate Yakuza, Despair Disease or not. Her killing someone who's all bark but no bite like Hiyoko, especially if Mikan's being motivated by finally getting back at her for all the constant bullying she did (and still didn't feel sorry for even by Chapter 3) makes much more sense. All the pieces were there, the trial just needed more time to readjust to the script changes.

[@virtualvenus]

Great video! I always thought that the rumour was true, but the actual truth is way more interesting

[@Yogaji]

I get the feeling she's watching along with the DR2 Game Grumps playthrough as well right now

[@MozillaVulpix]

Oh, of course I am, it just gave me motivation to want to make this video as soon as possible.

[@Szkarlatny53]

Wow I've never heard that Fuyuhiko was supposed to be the victim in chapter 3, on the other hand I kept seeing theories that originally it was Sonia who was supposed to die in ch. 3.

[@MegaMachiOnline]

Hajime lost the “harem” ending

[@zbennalley]

You're back!!!

[@MegaMachiOnline]

“It could be a world full of lies.”

[@ChiefMedicPururu]

Wait, bro mention one male surviving if Hiyoko was kept, but Kazuichi was forgotten in the equation. 2 guys would have survived in that plan. Oops?

[@sandspada]

I think he wasn't counting Hajime in the equation. So it would be one male (Kazuichi) to three females (Sonia, Hiyoko and Akane)

[@ChiefMedicPururu]

@@sandspada He did count Hajime. Not Kazuichi. Which is still dumb on his part.

[@Jmaniac9204]

I’m glad this is fake cause I don’t believe Kodaka is stupid enough to kill Fuyuhiko right at the peak of his development