It was a beautiful, sunny day before that incident occurred. A cool breeze slightly blew the colorful and unique hair of Ibuki Mioda as she skipped merrily down the road to Hope's Peak Academy. With her guitar slung over her eager shoulders, she then strolled down to the main entrance where the beautiful, onyx gates stood, ready to welcome talented students and keep away those who didn't belong.

"Ibuki has a feeling she's going to like this!" the energetic lass exclaimed to no one in particular. Just as she was about to step foot in the tall building, her ears twitched, sensing the voices of incoming teenagers heading in her direction. "Hm?" Her curiosity getting the best of her, Ibuki patiently waited for the two souls to arrive so that they could enter the academy together. Who knows, maybe she can even make new friends, since she didn't have anyone close to her. Her former band split due to some complications with their self-proclaimed leader, the solo Ibuki.

"I've heard one of your songs before," the approaching ginger told the enchanting young lady beside him. "It was pretty catchy... and, um...cute." The beryl haired girl responded with a giggle. "Thank you," she added. "But, you know, we're no longer together! My coming to Hope's Peak has led me to a brighter future. Although, I miss my friends, I knew we couldn't last forever." The two pressed on to the gates, not noticing Ibuki. "I do make sure to keep in touch with them, though."

"Ibuki misses her friends, too!" Ibuki blurted out with a grin. The pair looked at her abruptly, until the damsel snickered lightly. "At least I'm not alone on that," she remarked. Ibuki quickly seized the girl's arms, grinning widely. "Ibuki heard you say you produced songs? In a band, too~? That's so A-MA-ZING! Likewise." The gal had a look of surprise in her eyes.

"You must have good ears," she declared. "Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Sayaka Maizono. I was a member of the infamous pop group that's known all over! Did you say your name was Ibuki?" Ibuki nodded zestfully, replying that her name is Ibuki Mioda. As the male was about to tell his name, Ibuki held up her hand, stopping him.

"AAAAAH!" she yelled, startling the two, who immediately asked what was wrong. "Ibuki messed up her introduction! Let's try that again..." The astonishing lass puffed out her chest, held her head up high, and placed her hands on her hips. "Ibu- from Ibuki Mioda! Ki- from Ibuki Mioda! Mio- from Ibuki Mioda! Da- from Ibuki Mioda! That's me- Ibuki Mioda!..." The ginger male gawked at her with bewilderment. Sayaka clapped. "What an interesting introduction! Do you always do that?" Ibuki replied that it's one of her signatures, which the guy doesn't get at all.

Ibuki peered over at the perplexed individual, asking him what he name was again. "I... didn't even get a chance to introduce myself," he began, feigning disappointment in his voice. After Ibuki apologized multiple times, he cleared his throat, hoping to make his debut somewhat as interesting as the eccentric, young woman before him. He pointed a finger at himself, smirking. "Leon. Leon Kuwata. That's my name," Leon folded his arms across his chest, winking playfully. "Don't wear it out."

"Ah, nice to meet you, Lion Coolwater!" Ibuki exclaimed, causing Leon to really look disappointed. "Oh, did Ibuki get it wrong? So sorry. So sorry. So sorry. So sorry!" Leon sighed. "Nevermind," he said, feeling no need to repeat himself. Eager to change the subject, he inquired, "What's your talent, hm? I heard you tell Sayaka here about being in a band, too. I'm a Super High School Level Baseball Player, but uh, I'd willingly trade it to be a rockstar."

Ibuki raised her hand as if she were saluting. "Ibuki's a Super High School Level Music Club Member!" she paused. "Well, solo. Solo member. It must've been because of creative differences." Leon raised his eyebrow, wondering what creative differences she could've been talking about. Nevertheless, he surveyed the building, almost forgetting he even had to enter. The trio have been chatting for some time that they must have not realized it.

"Ah, we should enter now or we'll be late!" Sayaka stated, uneasily. Ibuki jolted with realization, agreeing with excitement that they should all enter together... as friends. "Come on, Leo!" she chuckled. "Let's all hold hands and go in all at once!" Leon once more ignored the names Ibuki called him, and somewhat reluctantly grabbed on to one of her hands as Sayaka gripped the other.

The happiness Ibuki felt while meeting two others who shared similar interests with her was almost unbearable. With smiles on their faces, they stepped forward and began to open the door. "Hope's Peak," Ibuki started, "here we come!" As soon as the three stepped foot in the doors, everything went all fuzzy. Their view of the world was spiraling and they couldn't understand what the feeling was.

"...Huh?"

"Welcome to Hope's Peak," a feminine voice from the shadows whispered, followed by obnoxiously loud laughter. "...Or should I say Despair's Peak?"