Harmony Never Really Dies

Chapter 1
Sing a Song of Revival

(Uploaded on October 20, 2018)

Summary: One Ultimate Pianist miraculously finds herself alive, against all the odds – and makes herself a friend in the process.

Notes: This fic is set sometime after the events of Kirby: Star Allies and (technically) during the timeframe of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. There are incredibly massive spoilers for the latter title that extend far into the endgame, so it is recommended you do not read this fic without having played through the entirety of that game first.

In the Make a Friend universe canon, this fic is set prior to the events of Are You a Friend, Too?.

This chapter, in particular, contains spoilers for Chapter 1 of DRV3.

Location: (…I wish I knew.)

Kaede Akamatsu hadn't expected to wake up again.

After all, she had been stolen away by a metal clamp, mercilessly swung around to create some twisted symphony, the noose on her neck growing ever tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter, until she was hanging limp and sore and barely conscious and then slammed crushed stomped shut smashed to death—

She had thought that it'd be the death of her.

She had thought that what she'd done would be the death of her.

She had thought that killing Rantaro Amami – no matter how accidental a killing it may have been – would be the last thing she would ever do.

And she'd submitted herself to her fate, even though she knew she could've taken the chance to escape alive, and walked into the Class Trial with few regrets.

(One of said regrets, of course, was the utterly distraught face of her best friend Shuichi, his hand reaching out to grab hers and herself trying to return the favor and yet they were just out of reach—)

But… now she was awake. Her eyes perfectly open. Her body completely untouched. Her mind perfectly working.

…why?

"…where… where am I?" she asked quietly, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "And… why am I… alive?" As her vision cleared up, she found herself staring up into a perfectly clear and navy night sky, unmarred by the gigantic cage that had surrounded the Ultimate Academy. Birds chirped and bugs sang all around her, a warm breeze blowing across her skin and somehow feeling so much more natural than being inside the glorified prison.

Despite all the odds, she was alive, and free, and perfectly fine, except she wasn't, because she was supposed to be dead, and she was a murderer, and, and…

…it was no good. She couldn't think. She couldn't think at all. Her mind just kept racing because of this impossibility. And that wasn't even mentioning the tears running down her cheeks.

Just… Just what is going on? she thought, unable to stem her crying from just everything that had happened. This shouldn't be possible. I don't deserve to be alive again. Why? Why choose me?

As she sat there, feeling sorry for herself (but she only had herself to blame, for wasn't she the one who decided to take that change, to roll that shot put ball, and where did it get her—?), a voice came into hearing range.

"Hey." Kaede turned her attention to the side of her—and it was a testament to how exhausted she was that she couldn't bring herself to react—and witnessed a little pink… puffball (that was its shape; that was the only word that could describe the 'person' before her) walking up. He seemed to be wearing some sort of concerned expression on his face, looking to the world like all he wanted to do was just go up and give the Pianist a hug. "Are you… Are you alright? You look like you need a friend."

There was a lot Kaede wanted to say. 'No, I really don't. I'm just a monster, somebody who's killed someone else, I don't deserve any sympathy—'

But… she was tired.

Tired and lonely and exhausted and depressed and… everything.

She needed this.

"…yeah. I do," she admitted. The little puffball walked up a little closer, hopped into her lap, and—as best he could, given his stubby hands—gave Kaede a warm hug. She hesitated a little, before finally returning it and letting her tears fully engulf her face.

Miracles can be defined as events that bring together something wonderful.

Is it any stretch of the imagination to say that this wasn't a miracle unto itself?

This planet, so defined by its status as a World of Miracles…

Perhaps it could be the place where harmony, once killed, could live again.

"My name's Kirby," the puffball introduced himself after Kaede had released all of the tears from her eyes (and boy, wasn't that kind of embarrassing?), a warm smile perched upon his mouth. "I'm the… let's say, resident 'protagonist' here in Dream Land. Who're you?"

That last sentence was rather… weird to hear (What is a Dream Land, exactly?), but hearing the word 'protagonist' again… It reminded her of the leader she'd been, just a few scant hours ago (Had it been a few hours? she wondered. How much time had passed, since…?). Her own introduction came as such:

"I'm… Kaede Akamatsu," she stated. "I guess I was the… former 'protagonist' of the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles." (And boy, didn't that hurt to say.) "Oh, and I'm the Ultimate Pianist. It's… It's nice to meet you."

"Kaede Akamatsu, Kaede Akamatsu…" Kirby repeated softly. "That's a pretty cute name, actually."

Despite herself, Kaede blushed a little. "Y-You, uhh—You really think so?" she stammered out, her eyes flickering away as embarrassment built up within her. "T-Thanks, I guess?" Internally, she was thinking, J-Jeez, did he have to say it like that? I don't think I've felt this flustered since… since ever!

"You know," he then started to say, "I've grown accustomed to seeing… unexpected visitors around, though you're pretty different from the norm. So… what's this 'Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles' place like, anyway? What's your story? You didn't die or anything, did you?"

"That's a… long story." A very long story, if she was being honest—how was she to explain Ultimate talents and the Killing Game to a guy who didn't even look like he belonged in the world she knew? (And that wasn't even mentioning what she'd done.) "And maybe I'll find the time to explain it all later. I… I did d-die, though. I can… tell you that much."

And there it was, the noose on her neck, getting tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter and it just—won't—stop—

She gulped. D-Don't think about it, Kaede. Don't think about it. You're not there anymore. You—You're perfectly fine now.

(Her words didn't exactly soothe her own mind, though.)

"And…" she began to add. "I don't really know… why I'm here. How I came back." Why I was chosen to come back, she didn't amend.

"Pop Star's magic's weird like that," Kirby airily dismissed, though not out of any malice. "If it saw something it liked in you—and I'm sure there's a lot of that in there—then, well… You're here now, right?" He patted her back. "I've only met you for a few minutes, but I can tell you're a good person."

"…do… do you really think so?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah. I do. I know from experience. So… look a little happier, will you? I think a smile would really suit you more."

That was something she honestly needed to her. Her tear-streaked face couldn't help but smile at such unbridled goodwill.

Maybe, somehow, on this 'Pop Star', she could find a way to put the pieces back together. A way to put herself back together.

(And maybe, just maybe… she could find a way let harmony thrive again.

It wouldn't be easy, but then again… nothing ever was.)

As had been safely confirmed earlier, it was nighttime here in Dream Land (otherwise referred to as 'Darkness Time' in the Ultimate Academy)… and that meant Kaede needed a place to sleep. Because she didn't have a dorm anymore. It felt pretty oppressive, if I'm being honest, she internally mused. …I wonder how Shuichi is doing.

She may be alive now, but… Shuichi and the others didn't know that. Was he alright? Would he be able to fulfill her wish?

…was he still keeping himself together, even after she had quite literally died for him and everyone else?

(She shook her head. I can't think about it now, even if I really want to, she admonished herself. I have something else I need to focus on.)

"So, you need a place to say?" Kirby asked the unspoken question. Kaede blinked in shock; how'd he guess that so easily? "It was pretty obvious, you know," he grinned. "I mean, it is nighttime, and you just popped out of nowhere and all. I don't suppose you got a house teleported along with you?"

After getting her composure back together, she sheepishly said, "I'm not that lucky, sadly," Not unless Monokuma likes ripping out dorm rooms and tossing them into another world when people die. (And the chances of that were lower than low.)

Her options were pretty limited at this point. She didn't have a house, or a sleeping bag, or any survival skills, or—anything, really, beyond her clothes, her bag, and her Monopad (would it still even work here?). "I… I guess I'll sleep in the trees, or something." It's more than what I deserve, anyway, she thought bitterly.

"The trees? Unless you're like Coo—" (Who's Coo? she pondered) "—I don't think you'll really be comfortable up there." An idea then visibly came to his mind, his face instantly brightening up. "Hey, why don't you stay at my house for the night? I've got plenty of room; I don't really mind!"

"N-No no, it's fine!" Kaede tried to decline. "I'm—I'm sure I can find someplace, I wouldn't want to impede or anything!"

"What's the harm? Besides, it's been a while since I've had a sleepover of sorts!" Without hesitating, Kirby went up and grabbed the Pianist's hand. "C'mon, it'll be fun! I've got a sleeping bag you can use, too!"

For a moment—one painful moment—Kirby's insistence reminded her of Kaito's stubbornness, Tenko's hardheadedness, even Gonta's eternal niceness. His bright eyes, his happy smile, his offer to let her stay a while… (Was she going to be seeing that more? Her friends in other people now?)

Well, I guess I don't really have a lot to lose. "Alright," she conceded the fight. "I'll go."

"That's great!" he cheered. "Let's get moving, then!" Immediately, Kirby started darting off through the plains, dragging along Kaede for the ride. "My house is this way – come on!"

"W-Whoa, hey!" The poor Pianist was stumbling and trying to keep her footing – Kirby was a lot stronger than he looked! "Slow down, I can't keep up!"

Dream Land – Kirby's House

Kirby's house was fairly quaint, all things considered – it was literally just a small white dome. Despite that – and the fact that the house's interior consisted basically of a small bed, a shelf, and a fireplace – it felt far more homely than the Ultimate Academy's dormitories could ever hope to be.

Kaede could really tell the bed was made only for Kirby – a toddler probably wouldn't even be able to sleep in it! Yet somehow, the puffball had a perfectly, normally human-sized sleeping bag with him – for 'when Adeleine visits,' he explained, 'though I'm probably going to need to get another one now…' (and she had no idea who Adeleine was but that wasn't exactly important).

And now here she was, staring up at the ceiling, struggling to get to sleep. Today had been one of the longest days she had ever had – the cameras, the anticipation, the investigation, the Class Trial… and now inexplicably coming back from the dead. And that wasn't even counting Kirby and the new land she had found herself in.

Idly, Kaede's gaze turned to Kirby. He was sleeping soundly with a cute little blue sleeping cap on his head. He looks so peaceful, she thought. Is Shuichi like that right now, too? Against her better judgement, her mind started to wander back to her fellow classmates – her fellow friends. They may not have known each other for that long, but… she'd like to believe they'd built up a bit of a bond in the short time they were together. (Especially with Shuichi.)

And then there was…

…Rantaro, she remembered.

(His body, sprawled out all over the floor, a bloodstained pink splattering from the back of his head and a shot put ball nearby just as well you are a murderer it was you who set that shot put ball to roll and you know exactly what you've done—)

Kaede shut her eyes. "Don't think about it, don't think about it," she whispered to herself, her hands clenching into fists. "Yes, I did it; yes, I got what I deserved." She shuffled around in her sleeping bag, letting her face dig into the pillow. "…please. Just—just let me sleep. I'll make it up to him someday. I promise."

I want to atone. I really do. I know this is going to be something that'll haunt me the rest of my life, no matter what happens from here on out.

She glanced back toward Kirby, that same smile from earlier still on his peaceful face. Another fear started building up inside her—What if Kirby finds out about what I've done? How I got here?

…will he hate me? Despise me?

She didn't know, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

But… Kirby didn't seem like the type of person to do anything like that, anyway. (But she wasn't the type of person to normally murder someone in cold blood, either.) He'd understand; she'd have to hope he'd understand.

…I'm not sure what the future holds for me now, but… I promise that I'll do whatever I can to make the most of my second chance. For everyone I had to leave behind, I'll live my new life the best I can.

And maybe someday, I'll find a way back to you all.

That's a promise—a wish—that I'll try my best to keep.

Because she deserved better. Everyone did.

This isn't going to be a main project or anything – I mean, I have several other fics ongoing already – it'll just be something I come back to here and now. I anticipate the chapters for this fic being fairly short, so don't expect any extravagantly long word counts like I usually end up doing.

I'm writing this primarily because… well, I love the DRV3 crew, and they deserved so, so much more than what they ended up getting. And Kirby's world is the perfect place for fluffy bullshit like this to happen. (He's shaped like a friend, y'know? And it's not like he doesn't have experience with inexplicable resurrections or anything…)

Besides, who doesn't like a healthy dose of fluff every now and then?

Well, that's all for now – next time, Kaede gets used to being in Dream Land. See you around!