Matthias J. Aumann

Matthias J. Aumann was a student at Hope's Peak Reform School and a participant of the Killing School Life featured in Danganronpa: Project Reform (V1). His title was Super High School Level Zombie.

Early Life
Matthias was born in Ventura, California and lived there his entire life. he was the first generation in the Schwarz lineage to be born and raised in United States. Being the oldest child of the Aumann’s three offspring, he lived as an only child through kindergarten. His childhood home was a homely green beach house with the pacific literally in his backyard.

growing up, Matthias was a social butterfly. He unintentionally made friends with everyone he crossed paths with— The counselor would always say the “J“ in “Matthias J Aumann” stood for charisma. He essentially had a waiting list of girlfriends and boyfriends since he was allowed to date at 14. He got the most enjoyment out of playing in the football team, which he was captain of since 6th grade. After school he’d always ride his bike and later his car to get sodas, and meet classmates around a fire pit on the beach. He hosted all the parties, dated all the students, and wanted nothing but to be around other people.

Socially, Matthias was unmatched. And academically, he was as well— no one was as bad as he was. He flunked just about every test, went through more tutors than he did girlfriends, and graduated mostly thanks to pity from the school board.

All brawn, no brains.

After Death #1
The first time Matthias died was the biggest shock, and the second time was the saddest. He was wheeled away from the post-football game parking lot in a stretcher. Two Miracles happened that night. first, of course, that he survived. But secondly would be his cousin Wolfgang being in California for a family reunion. Without Wolfgang there, Matthias wouldn’t have made it. Dr. Wolfgang Schwarz, his cousin, had graduated from the first and original class of hope’s peak academy as the Ultimate Medic.

After the first death, his parents were protective. they didn’t allow him to do so many of his favorite things. biking, bonfires, even swimming became permitted entirely. Rather than sink into depression, Matthias began the rebellious behavior that would later land him in the Hopes Peak Reform School. He snuck out, doing all these activities behind their back he wasn’t found out, ever, until the lifeguard found his body floating face down in the ocean, turned blue

After Death #2+
The second time Matthias died, no hope for him remained. The room felt heavy — until the doctors got permission to use Doctor Wolfgang Schwarz’s experimental protocol. Once more, under such coincidence, thanks to his cousin across the world, Matthias was alive.

His parents learned from their mistake. He’d sneak out if his favorite things were forbidden, so rather, they were allowed, only with supervision—and who better than his little sister Lydia, fresh into high school, to stick by his side. At first, there was tension between the siblings. He didn’t want to be followed everywhere, and he was furious with her for complying. Though after time, be it from simply getting used to her presence, or understanding why her presence was important in the first place, he grew to accept her and even appreciate the effort she put into caring for him. But he just kept dying. By the third time, news stations wouldn’t leave him alone. The fourth, he accepted his fate. The fifth, he’d catch his parents whispering, asking if he was cursed. The sixth and onward, it was a way of life. He wasn’t afraid anymore. It became a party trick. A reason girls liked him even more. It even got him a job every year as a scare actor! It wasn’t just a part of him now, he cherished it. Loved it. That’s why when he was deemed ultimate zombie and transferred to hopes peak, he was ecstatic— and not because the new selection of ladies

Appearance
Matthias is a young man standing at 6’5. Visibly mature for his age, his stature is wide, muscular, and toned. He has a strong square jawline, long legs, and a barrel chest. At first sight, he’s certainly alarming given the stitched together body parts all different shades of cool greens and blues. He has a black mullet featuring business in the front and only slightly tangled party in the back, which trails into scratchy sideburns and scruff lining his jaw. His head and neck are wrapped in clean gauze protecting other people from looking at the parts of him with visible gore. His attire changes, always within the general realm of Californian skater and or surfer. That being said, he is most commonly depicted in a denim jacket with one intact sleeve, belted denim jeans, and a Black turtleneck.

Personality
friendly and approachable besides the tattered immortal form, Matthias is the world’s older brother

Neutral Good
Matthias is relaxed or angry at all times. He acts morally good when need calls for it, and lazy when it doesn’t. He has his eye out for anyone in need of a helping hand. He’s exceptionally compassionate, and will put himself in harms way for the greater good. That being established, when there isn’t an occasion to rise to, he’s lazy and self indulgent.

Optimist
Optimist at heart, Matthias is sky tuned to seek out the good that he rarely gets stressed by the bad. He doesn’t bother reminding anyone else of the bright side when they don’t want to hear it, but when they do, he feels an acute connection

Social Butterfly
Matthias is social idealist. He’s the happiest when he’s with other people. He doesn’t try to get along with anyone, it just comes naturally to him. He’s a fantastic listener and loves to hear other people talk, a great conversationalist, polite and respectful, and overall a lovely person to talk to. He’s quick to converse with anyone and everyone, even those he doesn’t get along with. Likely the most intelligent part of him would be the fact that he wants to talk to everyone until he understands them like he understands himself— no matter how annoying or aggressive. He’s very empathetic, and his social awareness and intelligence is off the charts

on the opposite side, he hates being alone. He’s had a roommate all his life and he gets attached to people very, very easily

Brain Fry
After dying 13 times, Matthias isn’t so smart. Well, he wasn’t ever smart to begin with. He forgets very basic human knowledge on occasion, such as forgetting how to open a door. He frequently fails basic leaps in common sense and fails to recall common knowledge. Although, he isn’t insecure and is behind aware of his lacking of traditional intelligence. He jokes about being dumb and laughs with everyone, stopping anyone from laughing at him.

Acceptance
Matthias has given up. But not in a sad way. He’s just accepted that life will throw at him whatever it does. As a result, he doesn’t spend much time concerning about new developments. Unless they affect his friends, not himself, in which case he tends to be very, very concerned.

Ultimate Zombie
Matthias was titled ultimate zombie at 7 deaths, but the remaining 6 occurred after his crowning. It’s pretty simplistic, zombie rolls off the tongue more than medical miracle, and just miracle makes him sound like the messiah. He looks like a zombie, so what’s it matter? It’s not so much as a talent. In terms of talent, he’s the ultimate scare actor, but apparently not more than he is a zombie. Due to his state he can be underwater for a long time, has insanely high pain tolerance that includes the lack of nerve endings entirely in some places, and his favorite, the ability to detach any body part at the stitch. In case you’re wondering— no, they don’t move unless connected!

it hurts his feelings when people make jokes about eating brains, but, it doesn’t stop him from scaring the occasional elderly woman by groaning it at her while she puts away her groceries.

Antoinette Aumann
Antoinette, Matthias’ mother is the closest to him out of his two parents. She’s endlessly loving and delicate with him, treating him like he was made of good as she raised him. He slept beside her most nights in his early childhood, when he was plagued with umpteen nightmares an evening. As is Schwarz family tradition, she taught him to dance, She packed his lunch every single day, And she’s likely where he got his good listening ears. She’d listen to him talk about whatever interested him. Movies, sports, his crush of the week. She’d listen and ask questions and give advice. Matthias always was a mama’s boy. They’re still insanely close, and being with and thinking about her brings him peace and joy.

Augustus Aumann
Augustus Aumann, Matthias’ father is an unusual man. Tall, dark, handsome, and old fashioned, he’s always been stone cold. Because of this, Matthias is less close to him, and loves him for different reasons. Augustus gave him the hard talks, handled punishments, and made him feel protected. Pride from Augustus is like currency. He taught the life lessons, but he rewarded for respecting and studying them. In Matthias’ life, his father acted as a strong figure that meant he wasn’t alone. However, due to his tough love, he’s more so Matthias’ idol and hero than he is a grand comfort like his mother.

Lydia M. Aumann
Lydia M. Aumann is the middle child, and due to her time spent shadowing him, is the closest familial relationship to Matthias. She was always an oddball growing up, very unlike him—who fit in easily. That’s why when he was outcast for the first time after he died, she was the first to come to his side. Her support completely changed him. Without her, he may have spiraled into self loathing. But with her, he grew to adore himself and his changed body.

the two share a sense in humor and are constantly joking. Sarcasm is so often spouted from their mouths that it’s hard to keep track of what is satire and what is genuine the two very much tackle the world together, and even when they’re apart, frequently text and even send snail mail when Matthias can remember how to read.

Monika P. Aumann
Monika P. Aumann is Matthias’ youngest sibling. Growing up, Matthias loved to play with her, and had no issue turning off his rough housing to play dolls and let her do his makeup with sharpie. As she grew, she felt like an entire different generation to him, so he felt the need to talk to her often, to get to know her. In the process, he became very familiar with every boy in her life. Since she was the baby sister and he was the big brother, he despised each man that stepped into her life without being family. His over protective nature in her romantic life strained their relationship, although she feels secretly secure by knowing there’s her big zombie bro to beat up all her problems.

Wolfgang Schwarz
Wolfgang Schwarz is Matthias’ cousin. They’re moderately close, only seeing one another at family gatherings. Mathias recalls being young and seeing his big cousin Wolfgang, thinking he was like a real life superhero. Matthias still feels that way. After the first time he died, him and Wolfgang began to exchange emails like letters. They spoke openly, which started with medical updates and transitioned slowly into personal conversation. Now, whenever Matthias is in Germany or Wolf is in America, they’re together the entire time. It’s hard not to idolize someone who saved your life; idol is the exact way to describe their relationship.

Unfortunately, looking up to Wolfgang made Matthias feel that his cousin was looking down on him. Wolf was just as athletic, if not more, and graduated college with a doctorate before twenty. Matthias couldn’t help but feel unworthy to stand beside him— though it never materializes outside of heartbreaking smile fades.

History
with István being the ultimate mortician, it was fate they’d end up close to Matt. The two have an entertaining dynamic, with Matthias being loose and relaxed and István learning how to interact with the living world while coping with the fact that Matthias is the embodiment of their dream concerning the dead being revived to be their friend. The two met prior to the killing game, and István recalled Matthias as the only person they’d ever had to dress twice. During killing school life, the two bumped into each other on account that Matthias was too tall to see them, and recently rounding a corner. After calling him a flurry of insults, Matthias quickly deemed István to be hilarious and took a liking to them right away. The two chatted briefly before the mortician recognized him from their dressings, and the conversation quickly shifted to Matthias state as the ultimate zombie. After sharing lunch together, István comes more and more to the realization that Matthias is their dream come true, and finds themselves growing socially anxious of seeming abnormal to him. Analyzing his stitches resulted in accidentally ripping his arm off. After stitching him back together in his room, their friendship was solidified in stone

Dynamic
Isvtán frequently daydreamed about the bodies they tended to coming alive and being friends with them. So, meeting a reanimated corpse that was friendly and accepting to them provoked idolization. This Idolization resulted in separation anxiety, and an acute desire to always stand beside and be near Matthias. Matt doesn't mind this at alll, and gladly accommodates this need by remaining nearby and lending Isvtán his denim jacket

Similarly, Matthias finds himself very protective of the mortician. Whenever Isvtán finds themself in physical danger or being opposed about their social skils, Matthias steps in and makes the issue about him rather than Isvtán. Matthias would undoubtedly inflict physical harm on another student or authority figure if Isvtán was threatened, though he doesn't quite know why he feels so strongly. It's reason to believe his protectiveness is a result of sympathizing with the only other person he's ever met that looks like him-- and feeling a connection in Isvtán's social issues and his own intelligence issues caused by the shortage of blood flow in my brain.

That being stated, many of his comforts with Isvtán stem from the physical familiarity of someone else who has gone through life appearing to be dead or 'a zombie', which connected them immediately and serves as a foundation for their relationship and it's functionality.

Matthias lovingly and jokingly refers to Isvtán as 'nerd', seeing them as an intelligent intellectual to contest his own brawn. Because of this, the zombie typically turns to Isvtán when needing intellectual help or a logical problem solved. Matthias also has a lot of stereotypical 1980's social ideals, which leads to his somewhat obsession with the nerd/jock dynamic, and makes him more attracted to people who fall within this linear aesthetic.

Dynamic
Matthias doesn't like Kenma, and is incredibly close to a physical altercation with the ultimate clown. Matt is well aware that he's perceived as stupid, but Kenma's insistence on teasing him and holding information over his head upsets him. He'd go on record saying he 'hates that guy' and always feels Kenma is suspicious or up to something dangerous. This emotion began in school-mode, where, due to his poor memory, he forgot how to open a door and Kenma refused to inform him he simply had to turn the doorknob.

Dynamic
Lekami is incredibly interested in Matthias, given his deep religious beliefs melding nicely with Matthias' 'back from the dead' history. Lekami wonders if Matthias is loved more by god, or has a divine purpose that isn't yet clear. As a result of this, Lekami pays attention to Matthias quite a bit.

Matthias, however, finds Lekami to be weird and uncomfortable. After his fourth death, many churches and even a cult approached him to speak on religion. He's unnerved by the subject and tends to avoid it. Due to his social awareness, he can see right through Lekami's heterosexual facade and could tell immediately that repressed homosexuality was involved. As an open bisexual man from a young age, Matthias is annoyed with religious related repression, and all these issues manifest in simply avoiding the faith healer.

Quotes
Matthias, Pre-game


 * "You’re not seeing things! I really am back from the dead!”

Matthias, Chapter One


 * ”Aw man, you cant kill yourself, you’re jacked!”

Trivia

 * Matthias’s original name was Augustus, and his fathers was Matthias. During development, they switched!
 * Wolfgang Schwarz's father Klaus Schwarz is Matthias' uncle, and his mother Antoinette is Wolfgangs aunt.
 * Matthias loves nature, entirely because he feels he should relish it after dying so much. His favorite flower is a dandelion. Don’t tell him it’s a weed.
 * If not the ultimate Zombie, Matthias would likely align with the ultimate psychologist due to his intense social intelligence, finding himself capable of seeing through facades and even accurately diagnosing his classmates.