Birthday Girls

Birthday Girls is the femslash ship between Aoi Asahina and Mahiru Koizumi from the Danganronpa fandom.

Canon
Aoi and Mahiru are both students at Hope's Peak Academy. Mahiru is in class 77-B and Aoi is in Class 78. While they are not shown to have met on-screen, it is possible they would have run into each other on campus prior to the Tragedy. After the Tragedy, Mahiru is revived alongside her other classmates that "died" within the Neo-World Program. They begin to work with the Future Foundation, of which Aoi is a member. Again, they are not shown interacting but it is likely that they have met. At the very least, Aoi knows of Mahiru and what she did as an Ultimate Despair.

Aoi and Mahiru share a number of similarities. They both have a very close relationship with another female member of their game (Sakuraoi and Soapies respectively). Although they are only friendships, the relationships are often read as being homoerotic. Additionally, Aoi and Mahiru each have a crush on the protagonists of their respective games, something that is revealed through their FTE and their Bonus Mode endings. While Mahiru dies in her Killing Game, the game existed in virtual reality and she is eventually revived, making them both "survivors". Finally, they share a birthday, a fact that inspired their ship name.

The girls share one interaction in the non-canon bonus game, Ultimate Talent Development Plan. Aoi decides to join a relay race on the day of the Sports Festival, taking up the role of the anchor. She wins the race, and Mahiru congratulates her. She tells Aoi to line up with her teammates, so that she can take a picture. Aoi seems flustered and a bit embarrassed, but does as Mahiru asks. The pair do not share any interactions in the non-canonical Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp.

Fanon
This ship sailed as a result of Aoi and Mahiru being the only characters in the franchise to share a birthday. Fans often celebrate their birthdays together, sometimes including them in the same artwork. Some fans like to think that they would celebrate together, and a joint party is the perfect way to bridge Class 77 and Class 78.

There are currently over 5 works for this pairing on AO3.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION