Becoming Kaede.

(So, some backstory before the story begins. While I wanted to do the curse of monokuma thing. I just didn't think I could make it last. In the end The curse of monokuma was my attempt for something less serious, and there lies the problem. Besides I think this will be more interesting for me to write. Credit goes to Clemerl who is making a simliar series on Junko. s/11760153/1/I-m-who-now)

(The following Contains Danganronpa V3 Spoilers. While I write this there might be AU (alternative Universe) So heads up on that, I will do my best to maintain the meta in the v3 story however.)

Chapter zero: I am a Pianist?

The credits began as I sat there in silence. I just finished playing Danganronpa v3 And I was blown away by everything. The cast, the executions, and yes despite what many people said online The ending. Some backstory on myself and how I consider myself a fan of the series. Truth be told I never really heard of Danganronpa as earlier as some other people, I heard whispers at least of it or at least screenshots of the title screen and thought nothing of it. To me I was hooked on the aspect of the story with in the game. It didn't matter to me, Bioshock, phoniex wright, Even Doki Doki literature club. If a story got me thinking about different things about myself and different ideas on concepts I never thought of? Oh yeah... I was hooked. So, colored me suprized when I first started playing the first couple of chapters of the game that I only briefly heard, I was in. From learning the different charaters, to solving each case… and shedding those tears whenever I found out their reason. I will admit I am a bit of softie when it comes to sob stories, more now that I matured and some sad moments happened in my life as well. I never thought I would be the one to so... But here I was Crying over a Video game charater, and it wasn't the first time in the series it happened too. As soon as I was done with the first one I quickly jumped to the second one, And boy it did not disappoint me. I still consider the second game my favorite of the three and I will defend any shipping as well from that game as well as long it makes sense. Now to v3… Truth be told I was a little worried, A lot of fans seemed disappointed with it, so going in I held off on it... I was happy just to leave it at danganronpa 2 and watch the anime of the final Killing game. Eventually after more debates with myself then anything, I decided to at least try to understand the hatred that came with it.

That leaves us back here… with me watching the credits… Now fully aware of what happened in the game. It was definally a hard pill to swallow at least, Learning that the charaters might been just a fabricated lie by an evil corporation, just for a killing game that is been going on for so long. I can understand the hatred from the fans… During that big reveal, it seems like the game was almost poking fun at the fans of the series… asking them why they enjoy this game and what not. In the end, I decided that both sides of the debate were in the right mindset, I understood why fans might hate it… But I also understood the message that the game was trying to convey, that fiction... even though it can be a lie... can influence the world. That was the main selling point the game, not hope vs despair, but rather the truth vs a lie. The concept was definally something interesting, and the charaters themselves had to hammer that point as well, Many of them untrustworthy… or in the case one person… Just lied to protect the group.

Kaede Akamatsu was the ultimate pianist. Her charater and story was heartbreaking to say the least. Her Personality didn't help as well, Being the friendlier of the group trying to make sure that everyone could escape together, Her bold words definally left an impression to the group as well. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind, but it costed her greatly as you learn that in a panic… She wanted to stop the mastermind from killing everyone. She Grabbed a shotput ball and rolled it down a vent... hoping to catch the mastermind dead in their tracks, It was not to be the case however as Rantaro was the one that got hit… Or so Kaede thought… Later, you learn that Tsumugi Shirogane the cosplayer was the mastermind and learned everything about Shuichi and Kaede's plan and used a different shotput ball to kill him. I was downright angry to learn the truth, Kaede didn't need to die, Sure she had bad attentions, but her plan failed, and was excuted for the wrong reason. And the bond that Kaede and Shuichi was happening was tough for me as well, as you as Shuichi must accuse someone he thought can trust as a murderer. The emotion that everyone the group had was too much… Even her last words of making her promise clear with everyone… I admit I cried during that speech and when you hear the piano play for the last time, I was truly sad even though she wasn't real. Still I had to wonder, What if she was real, in a sense? But Instead of executing her plan, she trusted Shuichi more… or Rantaro more? If there is one thing I learned from Kyoko in the first game, is that learning to trust in someone can be tough… but once you do, You do your best to keep that trust with someone. I wonder if it would be the same for Kaede?

I heard my doorbell ring as I pondered my questions… Usually I let someone else answer it as I look out the window to see a Fedex driver with a large package. I thought it was strange for moment, But I figured someone in my house must have ordered something… I heard it again, Annoyed that no one came to respond to it, I finally got out my room and looked to see if someone was around. When that search failed, I quickly ran down to the door. There I greeted the driver, who said that they I had a package for me. I Stood there in confusion as I tried to remember if I did place an order… But I quickly dismissed it, saying to him the same thing. He just grunted and told me to deliver it to me and just wanted to go to his next place. I sigh as I begin slowly opening the package in front of him while signing my name to confirm that the package was delivered, my curiosity met with more confusion as I saw the infamous Flashback light in my hand… Granted this seemed more just a dumb merchandise thing where some factory made the flashlight, made it look like the one in the game, slap a few Danganronpa logos and call it a day. I laughed at it, knowing what it ment with-in the game of V3, Considering you learn that it was the tool that helped create all the fake personalites and memories for the charaters in the game. Still despite it being something you might see in a wear house, the flashlight itself was rather heavy, not heavy that I couldn't move it around, but it definally had some weight behind it, And I couldn't complain either… I never was one that bought merchandise solely on a game, but I am not gonna turn it down as well. The driver was clearly not in the mood as he told me that the flashlight should be working as intended, and If I wanted to make it work theres a few things I needed to do. Again, my confusion was clear as I listened to him, As he pointed at a green screen on the flashlight and told me that I can select a charater from the game and turn the switch, and apparently work as it should. I did what he told me and sure enough up popped the names I quickly recognized on the green screen. It was everyone from the v3 lineup, Including Tsumugi, though I will admit there was some brief pausing when I saw her name, finding it again funny that they Included the mastermind in the lineup. I thought About each charater for a bit, thinking I might hear a brief dialog voice clip from them, thinking it's one those kinds of toys, a novelty sure, but still entertaining enough for fans to get their kicks from it. I knew right away what voice I wanted to hear, as I quickly Changed the display to Kaede's name. Her voice fit her personaly, Bright, Fun, and I will admit cute as well. I smiled big as I flipped the switch, ready to hear her voice… But Instead I felt a jolt of electricity make its way up my arm and towards my body, and no I am not talking static shock, I was stunned by a taser as my body became limp and my eyes became heavy, ready to pass out the pain, It must have been a lot force to do so considering my frame and weight, since I don't excise as much, and spending much of my days just vegging around my weight has caught up to me, regradless of my unhealthy lifestyle aside I was about to pass out, but before my eyes became so heavy that I couldn't stop it them from closing, I saw the driver and heard him laughing as he slowly removed his uniform and began speaking, while I couldn't quite make out what he was saying, I did though hear his voice change, to more femine one and I swear I thought I can see a woman wearing a dark blue school uniform, and her hair matching the color as well… All I heard as I was laying there was a simple phase… "Welcome to our group…Kaede…"

Darkness… My mind was darkness, My world around me was darkness, I all I could hear was a soft engine, and my body slightly moving from the few bumps in the road. I swear I could hear a woman's voice become very angry as the bumps became more frequent. "Come on! Be careful, How I am going make this work if you are going wake him up? Its bad enough I have to do this so quickly, but time is not on our side." I groaned as I felt myself return to the waking world for a moment, the woman grinning as she slowly finished her job, her once neutral eyes became bright blue as she was so happy with her work. "its done… I can't believe it… We have our Kaede… We have our protagonist…" I became more awake, as I held my head, as I tried to piece together what happened. As my eyes scanned around the area, I figured out that I was in a limo, but the inside was very dark, so I couldn't make out the driver or the voice That I heard. All I saw was the empty road from the small window, as it zoomed past me. I started to panic, figuring out that I been kidnapped and now I was on route for an unknown reason. That's when I heard the voice again, a voice I was familiar with, it was filled with joy, and very femine as well, If I had to describe the voice, It was one that knew what was going to happen and didn't care about the end results. "I should explain my actions huh? Well, to tell you the truth I was thinking of grabbing a random woman and make her like this… But I heard about you… and you are just like me! A Fan of Danganronpa! I was so happy! Someone else that can be a fangirl with me…" Fangirl? I said to myself, the confusion in my mind was too much, the voice was so familiar, I couldn't help myself from speaking out in my confusion. "Tsumugi?... is that you? Wait…My voice!" I gasped as I quickly recognized that my voice was not my normal tone, It was more femine… and higher, and another voice that I recognized. It definally sounded like the cute voice of Kaede, but that couldn't be… Kaede is…dead. What made my reasoning more confusing was now the other voice became know to me, as she appeared from the darkness. Her raven hair was long and flowing, almost reaching to her back, and her eyes was a neutral blue as well as she pressed her small hand on her rimless glasses. Next was her dress, It matched up everything she wore in the game as well, to her dark jacket and skirt to her White button-up blouse. It was no question that sitting next to me was Tsumugi Shirogane, The ultimate cosplayer and mastermind of the killing school semester and she was filled with what I can only describe as pure happiness. She giggled to herself as she continued to talk, her small finger pointed towards me. "Hey! Who do you ship? I bet you like Makoto and Kyoko, right? Or are you more a fan of Sonia and Gundham? I heard that people pair Ibuki with Twogami! Can you believe that? Like those two would be in a romantic partnership… I mean it's not you could ever a girlfriend like Ibuki to begin with, so you should know too right?" That last comment stung me the worst, while I admit I am not the best when it came to talking to girls, It was more due to my lack of confidence as I never thought that a girl would be interested in a dork like me. And while I did find it funny that people thought that Ibuki and The ultimate imposter could be a couple, I couldn't help but think, considering his weight was almost like mine, that maybe… just maybe I had a chance. Ignoring my personal feelings aside, I shook my head as I had other pressing matters to worry about. So, I expressed them out as she smiled in her usual way.

"Ok, Hold on…What is going on? First, you are supposed to be dead Tsumugi! I saw you getting crushed! Another thing, you are not real, you are just a charater from a game. Finally, What is up with my voice? Why do I sound like Kaede? What are you planning Tsumugi…? If that is really your name." I said that last part as a test to confirm my theory that perhaps the mastermind was tricked like the rest of group with the flashbacks lights to have the personality of a mastermind, but that was quickly shut down as she laughed, and her neutral eyes became brighter blue as she stuck her finger out in the air. "Oh, so you do think like that huh? I read those theories too you know? Well hate to break to you, but my name is Tsumugi and to explain what is going on, I guess you should know at least. Basically, we going to restart the whole 53rd season of Danganronpa! Just think, You get to meet everyone again and be the hero too… And while we were going to cast you as Shuichi, considering your gender, I thought it be more interesting if the most socially awkward fan had to be the confident and genuine Kaede. If you don't believe me, you can always check yourself… go ahead, it's your only chance to touch something you never had the chance to." My anger was met with embarrassment as the cosplayer was getting to my nerves. She must have known a lot of me to make these kinds of jokes, I did my best to calm down from the insults, as thick skin as I try to be, I couldn't help my temper sometimes getting the best of me, I know it has happened before. After taking a few deep breaths as I finally looked down, I wasn't going to let this girl have the knowledge of proving that I am just as perverted as the next guy that explores the internet. In front of me was two massive set of breasts, some I never thought I would see let alone have, it was at least covered in a long white shirt with a light pink sweater vest, with an orange tie, to complete a top half of school uniform. As I Moved my hips, I saw a skirt that was long enough to cover my hips, it was a deep purple that was covered with musical notes and a melody on them, I couldn't tell what song it was however. Finally, my feet had penny loafers, with light purple knee-high socks, Femine was definally something Kaede was, and I definally felt like it as well, as I noticed the infamous white backpack on my shoulders, the same backpack that Kaede used to hide the weapon. Tsumugi just laughed as she looked at me as well, proud of her work to transform me into the girl. I spoke again as I finished my observations on myself. "If you are expecting me to make the same mistakes she made, I won't do it. And while you might now a lot about me... I am not what you claim either. If there is one thing I am proud of is that I can hold a conversation with anyone… Sure I might get not get a realionship, but I can at least talk to people." That's when the cosplayer pressed her glasses to her face, she had more serious tone to her voice as she look at me with daggers. I can sense the tension between us as she spoke to me. "Sure, But that's only when you feel like it right? We both know the truth. you rather keep to yourself then expose yourself as the person you know you are. The fact is that you are desperate for that realionship, but you know that no girl would ever go for you, even with your nice personality, They can take one look at your unhealthy lifestyle and quickly move to someone more attractive, face it no matter how much you like to tell yourself that you will find the girl, It wont be the one you desperately want… Someone like Kaede… Or Maybe even Mahiru? That's right… I know about your secret crush. You know her backstory… you connected with her… Her father wasn't there to be the role model she needed. He was lazy, Just like you… Can you really say that she would go for you if you started acting like her father?" Again, her insults rang true for me as I sat there in silence. I always told myself that I would be more active, and to my credit I have been walking more, and started cutting back on my eating habits, but the same nagging thought came to my mind, why should I change my appearance for someone that can only see beauty on the outside? Then it was quickly shut down with my own answer, as I knew I fell for the same trap. I admit that I adored the female body, even more so when its presented in such a way that to attract the opposite gender, I always told myself That I would get that type of beautiful girl that you can't help but feel something with.

This was the case with Mahiru, a girl in the second game. She was pretty and cute that I felt if she was real I might have a shot with. Plus, her story was tragic, that I felt the same I did with Kaede. She didn't deserve her fate, Even more so when she explained her story to Hajime, the main charater. Her harsh nature towards men was because her father was lazy, often not contributing to the household, leaving Mahiru to be the mother in the family, since her mother was often away for her job as a war photographer. Because of that, She delvoped a motherly personality, but still was quick to point out the faults of the boys around her. Because of that, I started to more chores around the house, and when the time came to cook something, I would do my best to at least attempt to cook, if no one else was there, nothing too big, just something to keep me fed. I am sure if Mahiru was real, and I was serious about getting her, I would do the same, Keep the house going enough so that she didn't have to worry about so much chores. Still the thought lingered, if she saw me right now, would she allow that to happen? I can't say to be true considering I don't think even fans would pair Mahiru with The imposter.

Tsumugi continued her explanation to me as I sat there in my own thoughts. "And as far as you doing the same as Kaede, well I admit I am curious on what will you do now that you know the truth? So, the deal is that when the group does discover a flash back light, you won't be affected like me since you know everything as well. But You can't tell that to anyone…If you do… well, I am sure you know the results…. Consider yourself a second Rantaro if that makes you feel better. Oh Right, I forgot…Since you know the ending as well, then you should know that trying to talk to Keebo for help will be pointless, Since you know that in their world… the audience is much different then your stupid caring world. They want to be entertained, so to them, screaming for help is just another day for them, and laugh it off. Looks like we are getting closer, So I will keep it short, You now have the same talent as Kaede, but your personality hasn't changed but your goal I am sure is the same as hers, right? You want everyone to live? So, if you manage to make that happen… I might change you back, but who's to say that might not happen? Let's see if you can manage to be the hero when you can't even have the courage to speak to a cute girl." I growled in anger as the Limo slowly came to the stop. There was a giant dome like building that was at least 10 acres long standing in front of us. The dome itself was covered with the logos of The evil corporation, Team Danganronpa the red eye of the Monokuma was bold and simple enough to recognize. I was Shoved out the limo as I was now about to enter the V3 world. Tsumugi opened a small door. I just closed my eyes and prepared myself, Emotionally and mentally I needed to be in the right mindset. While meting the charaters would be a treat, I am sure they didn't get the same speech I got. If I am right with my thoughts, Tsumugi just captured random people just like me, minus the fandom. Then she would dress them up in the gear and give them the personalites of the charaters that I knew too well.

As I walked towards the gardens, I saw everything was just how I remembered, each location perfectly placed. I couldn't help but be somewhat shocked that soon that I was going to be a part of the story of V3. We finally made our way the school, where I would be spending my days there… I pasted all the familiar locations, While seeing the labs of the ultimate's as well. Tsumugi smiled as we entered a classroom where the player was first placed, speaking again as she explained a few details I was curious on. "Now then, once I place you in the locker and lock it, you will be starting when Chapter one begins, Just pretend that the prologue already happened, and I gave you the talent. You will go around and induce yourself as Kaede to the others, basically how you remembered it, but I will grant you no visit from the monokubs, they should know that our plan worked so there should no need for them to check… I wonder how you will act when I give you the motive… I look forward to seeing you fail… Kaede." With a quick shove I was forced into the locker, Normally my big frame would be a problem for the cosplayer to so, but since I was the petite pianist, it was no issue as I easily squeezed inside the locker, and then I heard the Metal door swing shut, the ringing sound hurt my ears for sure as I grimaced in pain. With a small smirk, The Cosplayer silently left the classroom, most likely getting into her position of how she was when the chapter began.

So, this is how my story began. No sound, No voice, no one to help me this time, to help me remember who I am. Well I knew I was or at least I knew who I was supposed to be, but If I was going to do this I needed to use one skill I knew I had. While I spent most of my time on the internet, my ability to hold a conversation with anyone I felt as if I was someone else, not as imposter, I still gave my real name to anyone that might of asked, but those I felt like they didn't need to know, or I wasn't ready to drop the act to say the least, I just gave my username that I been using forever. It was strange though, whenever I said my username, I felt different maybe because of the name I chosen, or it was the benefit of being unknown in the big scale that is the internet, but I felt more confidence plus my natural ability to talk to anyone helped me delvop some friendships with people all around the world. Sure I might tried to push my luck by asking to take it further, but I knew the answer was the same, but I didn't feel the regret as much as I would if I was talking to them personaly, after all they aren't talking to me… but to someone I would consider my other side of my personality, the one that is confident in their appearance and doesn't let stuff like rejection get to them. So, as I sat there in silence, I had use that confidence once again, my natural abitity had to be mean something if I am to stop anyone from getting killed, and for that I had to play someone that had confidence in themselves, I knew that some of my worry would begin to show however, but I knew that there were a few within the group that I know I can express my worry to without being rejected. As the clock in my mind began to tick down to the show starting… I took a deep breath as I began to prepare myself to think like her… I just kept repeating myself over and over the same thing as the clock on the wall rang the school bell… My name is Kaede Akamatsu, and I am the protagonist of this wild and crazy story.

END OF CHAPTER