Here it is, the eighty-second full chapter of Miraculous Quirks released on the set day that I promised each week. The concert idea is set, now we can begin the planning of it as we really begin to get into the School Festival arc which will be a mix of anime canon, the 4th School Brief book, and some suggested/original content that the Miraculous Duo will be a part of to expand and enhance the festival in a few intersting ways. That is all the administrative stuff I have for now though and as there are no review questions to answer or guest reviews to respond to I will end this note here. Do keep the reviews coming as I enjoy hearing from y'all. Now, though, it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 82nd full chapter of Miraculous Quirks.
Disclaimer: I do not own either of these great works of fiction.
Chapter 82: Roles and a Question
The School Festival was a month away and Class 1-A had their event idea at last. After a late-night brainstorming session and some convincing they'd decided to throw a concert and it would be for the whole school, a way to make everyone in the school feel like they were part of the U.A. community, to relieve stress and basically try and make up for the whole being responsible for the move to living in dorms on campus.
Naturally the 8 in extra lessons had agreed to the idea when they were informed of it after they got back from those lessons that night. They didn't really have the time to do anything else and all of them thought that it was a good thing to do. It made sense and several of them had talents that would help out with it while the others would of course play their parts as well as possible once the final roles for the performance were sorted out.
Still, it all came down to Jiro as this was her world, so she was the one in charge of the centerpiece of the event, the band and music. There were of course others with leadership roles to play, Mina was in charge of chorography, and they'd need a backstage lead as well but at the moment they didn't even have an idea what type of music to do. They had the idea, and a month to prepare, but they needed to narrow it all down right away to maximize practice and prep time.
Unfortunately, the 7 from the Hassaikai raid and Tokoyami were still in catch up lessons so they wouldn't be able to help with the planning, but the others promised to take charge and to sort it out. Major decisions would of course have to involve them as they needed roles, and while she hadn't been asked yet it was already an unspoken thing that Marinette would almost certainly be in charge of the costumes, but the initial planning could be done without them.
Alas, as they were heading back to the dorms to sort it out, some of the General Studies students in their year passed them, giving them dirty looks as they did. They were a normal looking girl and a large man with a spectacular hairstyle that looked out of an anime and a Hapsburg Jaw that Charles II of Spain would be jealous of, not that anyone would understand that reference.
They muttered loud enough for several of the class, including Bakugo who was present but not walking with the main group, to deride Class 1-A's concert idea that they were doing for the other students and noting how it was their fault for the whole dorm thing due to the two attacks, well implied it at least. This was why they were doing the concert though so most ignored it except Bakugo.
They had to focus after all and headed back to the dorm to begin making the plans for their concert. There, all of the class not in extra lessons stood in a lose group, though Bakugo had his back to them, and Aoyama was at the back leaning against a window facing the interior courtyard, as they began discussing the most important part of the concert from which all else would stem, the type of music they wanted to play.
That was the first debate that they had to deal with. Those who understood or knew music from a layman's viewpoint started with the suggestions and it boiled down to something popular that could be sung along to, upbeat for everyone, and with a good rhythm or beat for the dancing part. That was all Jiro needed to know what would work, a hardcore four on the floor club song as she put it, kinda like a rave meets rock show. She further added that EDM would be best for dance music but there was a desire for instruments that ruled that out.
Instantly the class went blank at her words. None of them knew the first thing that Jiro was talking about with her detailed deductions on the music needed based solely on their desires. It was basically the kind of knowledge that went beyond just a passion, she had extensive knowledge of the musical world that only came from a personal or a close familial relationship with the subject matter. It was akin to Marinette's exceptional baking talents or Midoriya's hero knowledge.
That wasn't a good start and Jiro further added to it with a question about instruments. She could play all that was needed but she could only play one on the day so she needed others who could play as well. She had a feeling that one of the instruments would be covered given the backgrounds of a few classmates, but the others would be harder, and she asked about bass guitar and drum skills.
For the band, the most important instrument was the drums as that was the backbone of it. Jiro could play them, but she was best at the guitar and if she had to teach someone a new instrument for this it would be best for her to remain on the guitar as that would be the most likely to have multiple players and with her practicing on it at the same time it would be easier to teach it if she had to. She couldn't do that while playing the drums as well.
That was when Kaminari, in his usual idiot mode and lack of social graces, revealed a startling secret, Bakugo had taken music classes as a kid. The rest present didn't know that, and few understood how Kaminari himself knew though after Kirishima he was possibly the closest to Bakugo, and they all turned to Bakugo expectantly. Based on the sudden revelation it was a good guess which instrument Bakugo knew how to play. Well, that and his personality meant there was really only one instrument suited for him.
Bakugo naturally refused to show them and began walking away so Sero channeled Monoma and challenged Bakugo's ego. They'd all learned that the easiest way to get Bakugo to do something was to imply that he couldn't do the thing in question. His tremendous ego and desire to be the best meant that he couldn't back down and he showed it once again by sitting at Jiro's drum set that she set up and showing off his talent. It was good, even Jiro admitted it. Bakugo had to be their drummer.
There was just one major problem, he didn't want to do it it seemed. He got up and began to walk away, swearing he didn't want to make a fool of himself on the stage. Jiro was now into her role as the band leader and began to follow him to convince him to play. They needed his talents in the band, and this was for the rest of the class, if they pulled this off then everyone would have a good time.
That was what set Bakugo off. He had seen and heard the other classes, and his observation skills were on par with Midoriya's, if not better has he got the social side as well as the hero side unlike that annoying nerd, and he ranted at them about how the plan was basically an attempt for the class to pat itself on the back for all the stress they'd caused the rest of the school.
That was a slap in the face to the other students that the rest of class hadn't really thought about when deciding this. It caused some doubts though Todoroki was the one who put it succinctly when he pointed out that Bakugo hadn't been there when they decided to do this so he couldn't complain now that they'd decided on what they were doing.
Bakugo wasn't done though; he was still ranting but now it was about how they hadn't asked to be attacked and that the rest of the school should understand that. They shouldn't care what the other classes thought of them, if they were going to do this then they couldn't hold anything back and win them over with killer music, something he emphasized with a throat slashing gesture along his own throat.
It was the typical scary Bakugo reasoning, but it showed he was willing to do it and they mobbed him as thanks for helping out. Only Ida and Todoroki understood the deeper meaning, Bakugo had been kidnapped so he was more motivated than anyone to remove this stain on the class's honor and get the rest of the school to stop grumbling about them being the cause for the dorm move despite it not being their fault that they were attacked by lunatics, twice.
With Bakugo now onboard and the second confirmed band member, they were now rolling. They had their drums to form the band around and with Jiro and her skills leading the charge things were going so she promised to do her best. Now all they needed to do was wait for the extra lessons to return and finalize the roles for the rest of the class to play.
That was a bit of a wait, during which Jiro began to mentally plan what to do. She had an idea of the song and music, it would be an original of hers though, one she'd thought about long and hard in her limited free time as it was a deeply personal song that would work well for this concert, but she couldn't do more without the band and the instruments needed. Then there was the other nagging idea she had and wanted to do but that would have to wait until after everything else was planned as it would be a secret even from most of the class to increase the shock value of it.
Finally, the rest of the class returned from their extra lessons, which they happily announced was the last one as they were now caught up with what they had missed so they could fully help out now and were instantly brought up to speed with the current situation. The plan was a hybrid rock and rave show y so that music could be played, and the class, and hopefully audience as well, could dance to it. Bakugo was on drums and Jiro would take bass, but they needed to form the rest of the band which prompted exactly what Jiro was expecting, and something she wasn't.
"I'm trained in the piano, have been since I was young." Adrien said with a shrug right away. "Plus, I was in a band back in Paris, so I know how to play as a group and how to play more modern piano music that fits with a band. We had it all, guitars, drums, and a singer. It was a lot of fun to be a part of."
"Wait really?" Jiro asked as the class, except Marinette of course, looked stunned at what Adrien was saying. "I figured you or Yao-Momo could play the keys but that was it."
"Oh, I can do so as well." Momo piped up eager to help out as best she could. "I'll admit it's only the traditional piano stuff, it was part of my classical education, but I've been playing the piano ever since I was a little girl."
"That's great, we'll need a keyboard for the dance music as that's where the synth comes from." Jiro said thinking on it and how two keyboards would work in a band. "And with two keyboards we can really maximize it. Back to the other thing though, you were in a band Agreste?"
"Yeah, couple of our friends were setting one up as one of our classmates was part of a musical family." Adrien said with a shrug keeping things vague as part of their back story. "They had everything they needed but a keyboard player and as I was the only one in the class who knew how to play piano I was asked to join. Thankfully, my dad allowed me to join them for it as it was a way to practice while also broadening my repertoire of music, but I couldn't do more than just practice with them given my other commitments at the time. Course with me and Marinette leaving for Japan I'm no longer part of it and a little rusty on piano, but I'll bounce back quick enough."
"Huh, I didn't expect that but the fact that Agreste understand the dynamics of how a band works and with Yao-Momo as well all this will help, both of you are in for this." Jiro asked before looking to Marinette hoping that she was part of the band as well. "Were you part of this Marinette?"
"Um…" Marinette said suddenly getting very nervous and blushing which took everyone by surprise, this was out of character for her unless she was getting really lovey about Agreste though in reality it was totally what she was like back in the day before the whole incident thing. "Well, I wasn't part of the band, more like their main supporter, fashion designer, which of course I'll do for this, and unofficial manager of sorts, but I can't play an instrument. I did recommend Adrien for the keys though."
"That's not the whole story is it Marinette." Mina grinned, her finely tuned senses to this stuff homing in on what was going on and instantly wanting the full story, her heartstrings needed to be strummed like Jiro's guitar and Marinette was that strummer right now. "There's more to it, right?"
"Er…" Marinette said looking around. "Well, the guy behind the band and who was one of the guitarists was my friend's older brother, she was the other guitarist, and I kinda had a small crush on him and, well, I was so terrible with Adrien and all that back then that it kinda, yeah…"
"Huh?" Toru said cocking her head, not that anyone noticed, and looking at Marinette's sudden word vomit.
"That's unexpected from her." Jiro added, she hadn't expected her question to yield this result, but it also didn't rule out one thing Jiro had to ask Marinette later.
"Ahh a love triangle." Mina exploded her heart all abuzz at the romance she craved to experience through others. "Tell me more Marinette, I want all the details."
"I didn't know you felt that way about Luka." Adrien added looking over at her quirking an eyebrow at her. "He's rather different to me."
"Yeah well Kagami was different to me." Marinette pointed out, she did know of her rival for Adrien even if Adrien didn't know of his for her, not that either was really a rival in the end. "So, we both had secondary crushes. You have no idea how that ice skating double date made me feel dealing with both my love for you, my jealousy that you'd invited Kagami, and my budding feelings for Luka. It was hell."
"Oh yeah I remember that." Adrien said recalling it and flushing at how he'd asked Marinette for help with Kagami when he was trying to move on from Ladybug not realizing that Marinette was both Ladybug and already in love with him. "Yeah looking back with all this I can see how bad it might have been. Sorry for being so dense back then, that whole secrecy thing was a nightmare."
"You think, my heart couldn't take it what with our own weird love square due to the secrecy crap and the new love square with our secondary crushes." Marinette said as everyone just stared at the unexpected shift, they rarely got to hear of their French classmates' past, well other than Momo who knew the full truth, so it was rather interesting to hear a bit now and how different it was to most of theirs. "But you always had mine in the end kitty."
"And you had mine bugaboo." Adrien said putting his arm around her waist and pulling her close. "It took a while, and a transfer to Japan that allowed us to reveal our secrets to each other, but we realized it."
"That it did." Marinette said as she lent up and gave Adrien a chaste kiss on the lips that she was just about to deepen before realizing that she was in front of her entire class and went bright red as they broke apart. "Woops, sorry."
"Yeah didn't mean that guys." Adrien said as he blushed as well while the class just blinked though to Jiro it was just what she needed to see to solidify her idea and to Mina, well it was perfect as she squealed at all the love she was seeing while hoping Ochaco would get the hint and embrace her own clear love for Midoriya. "Sorry, past memories brought it out, we'll try to avoid it in the future."
"Yes, could we move on." Ida said with a cough. "I understand that you two are a couple and all that comes with that, you've been very restrained and respectful so far, which I commend you but please continue that. We understand the need to give you two more space though at times and will strive to do so."
"We will." Adrien said with a nod and Marinette bowed slightly at it. "Thank you."
"Alright now we have Bakugo on the drums, Yao-Momo and Agreste on keys." Jiro said quickly moving the conversation back to the planning. "We're almost complete with the band."
"Oh, and Marinette making our outfits." Mina added, she was still in love by proxy mode so she couldn't contain the request. "Right Marinette?"
"Of course." Marinette said with a nod. "Once we've decided on the band and who's dancing I'll get to work with designs to run by you and Kyoka for your approval. I'll need measurements from those in the dance group."
"I'm dancing." Mineta instantly said. "I…"
He didn't get to finish before Adrien crossed the room and 'accidentally' kicked Mineta in the face before he could finish his statement that no one doubted was going to be perverted. He was blasted back and into a far wall with enough force to crack it before he fell down out cold, for the moment.
"Sorry I slipped." Adrien said to the not really stunned class. "I'll tell Mr. Aizawa about that later and deal with the punishment that comes from damaging dorm property. Go on Jiro."
"Right, well we I'll be on bass as that's my specialty, so we need guitars and vocals." Jiro said looking around not caring that the letch was not an issue at the moment. "That will round out the band part."
"What about everyone else?" Ojiro asked. "Does that mean we'll all be dancing."
"I did want all the girls but Jiro as she is essential to the band for the dance number." Mina said. "But Momo will look great on stage anyway so that's fine."
"I don't think that this is enough to get the audience excited." Ida said rubbing his chin. "The music and dancing will help, and I trust the costumes will be top notch, but we need more than just that to really get everyone going."
"Well, in that video I showed earlier…" Todoroki said.
"We've got to have special effects!" Mina said excitedly butting it, she may not be great with music, but the rest was right up Mina's ally.
"Special effects?" Sero asked confused.
"This." Mina said grabbing her laptop and pulling up a concert video to show them what she meant. "See they use sparklers, streamers and a disco ball to fire everyone up. We gotta be extra to set the right mood."
"Let's pull out all the stops and make it look an explosion of lights you guys." Toru said really excited now. "It will be amazing!"
"Well of course, we can totally do that." Mina said grinning widely at the idea. "We have everything we need for that and more."
"We are putting this on in the gym, right?" Sato asked Ida.
"That's right, Mr. Aizawa has already made the arrangements." Ida said with a nod. "We'll have to practice here and in the classroom until shortly before, but we'll get the time we need to make sure everything is sorted."
"How about this for an idea." Mina said fully in the thralls of planning the non-music part of the concert. "Uraraka makes Todoroki and Kirishima float and then Kirishima chops away at Todoroki's ice and sends it flying. Then Aoyama can be a mirror ball and the light twinkling off him mixed with the ice will make it look like its raining stardust. And, and we can them team snowmen!"
"A human shaped ice machine!" Mineta said having finally recovered from Adrien's kick and coming back to join in and figure out where was best for him to get all the ladies, ignoring the bruise on his face. "The chicks will love it, especially if it highlights me."
"It's like the team ups we were talking about before." Kirishima said thinking on it while ignoring Mineta's comment. "Not sure about the floating part but we can certainly see how it would work."
"I was born to do this." Aoyama said instantly jumping on the idea to be the center of attention. "I will sparkle magnificently pour vous."
"I can see it, the gym will look spectacular, and I can make anything we need for to pull this off, as well as all the materials that Marinette will need for the outfits." Momo said getting really into everything "Usually, I don't like upsetting the stream of commerce but for this I'll make an exception so long as we keep all the things I make afterwards."
"Agreed." Ida said smiling at the idea. "This is just what we needed."
"We'll have to have a crew behind the scenes to pull this off though." Toru pointed out. "Probably those with Quirks that are best suited for pulling off special effects."
"I don't mind it." Kirishima said. "It would be easier for me to chop the ice that way and I won't get in the way of the dancing and music."
"Likewise, I should be behind the scenes." Todoroki said. "I need space for my Quirk, it's for the best."
"That does open Ochaco up for other things during the dancing." Marinette pointed out. "Which I am sure Mina will figure out."
"You know it girl." Mina said with a grin.
"With what we're aiming for, my tape is better for special effects." Sero said. "And if we have the girls except Yaoyorozu dancing best to keep have a good gender ratio in the dance crew."
"With Aoyama as the disco ball and other factors I think one more on special effects should be enough." Mina said going some quick math in her head though she could always shuffle things around later depending on how things worked out. "Any volunteers?"
"I'll do it." Koda said nervously. "I'm too shy for dancing on a stage and I can use my Quirk to add birds to the whole thing if that works."
"We need to choreograph all this more but that does work, Koda will be the final one on special effect." Mina said with a nod before something else struck her now hyperactive mind. "Oh, oh I have another great idea."
"That is?" Toru asked eager to hear what her friend had planned.
"Let's try to have it so that Marinette can let off her Lucky Charm at the very end." Mina said excitedly. "Especially if she's swinging around, we know she can do it with her yo-yo so why not? She can swing around, perhaps with Tsu and Uraraka as well, and then at the apex of the song when everyone's really revving and raving use her Quirk to put a stamp on the whole thing."
"One problem Mina." Marinette said, she liked the idea, but she did have to keep a level, realistic, head. "Remember the nature of my Quirk and how I use it, thanks to my strange way of seeing things it's almost completely random when I use it. I've gotten some control with set creations or narrow situations where the needed item is clear but those require certain circumstances to use. Something like this would be tough and I wouldn't know until I use it what I get. I can set a goal as something for a grand finale, and if I work with the band I can probably time it right but there's a lot of factors that I wouldn't know until I create it on the day and learn what is needed from it."
"I'm sure you can do it." Mina said with a grin. "Come on girl, you've done so much strange things already, this is nothing to you."
"Mina has a point but so does Marinette." Jiro said taking back control. "Let's plan the rest first before we try to factor in Lucky Charm, we've all seen how random that Quirk is when Marinette uses it. While I agree that if anyone can pull it off it's Marinette, this isn't a battle and there are a lot of factors to consider that aren't controllable until the day. Even then, with special effects things will be a little out of place."
"Fine, we can wait." Mina said a little dejected but not willing to give up on the idea entirely just yet.
"Onto the next thing." Jiro said quickly shifting the planning back to the centerpiece from which the rest could be derived, the band. "We still need vocals and the other guitars; two guitars would be best I think. That would really enable us to rock out."
"Well, we should decide the singer first." Tsu said. "That is the focal point of the band after all, ribbit."
"Doesn't it have to be your Jiro?" Ochaco asked.
"Singers get all the chicks so I can do it." Mineta said as Jiro blanched at Ochaco's suggestion, running the band and playing bass was one thing but lead vocals was something else entirely.
"Just imagine a singing disco ball, ce sera magnifique." Aoyama said instantly volunteering to add to his already eye-catching role.
"Translation?" Mina asked Marinette quietly.
"It will be magnificent." Marinette said just as quietly. "And he's probably not wrong about the disco ball part, it is tailor made for Aoyama, but he has to be able to sing first."
"Guys, not to brag but I'm a pretty awesome singer." Kirishima said forgetting he'd already volunteered to be on the backstage effects crew before proving himself wrong by trying and failing to do it, plus as Ochaco pointed out it wasn't the right genre.
Mineta followed it up with his own attempt that was just yelling into a mic he somehow produced, which again wasn't the right genre. Lastly Aoyama just made a strange noise that no one could understand.
"I'm with Ochaco." Toru said going up to Jiro. "It's got to be you Jiro. When you were teaching us to play instruments in your room, you're singing was super cool. I know you'll bring the house down with your voice."
"Come on, it wasn't that great." Jiro said nervously, her insecurities were fading but this one was still there.
"Hey look, a mic." Toru said suddenly producing a fully wired microphone on a stand out of nowhere and thrusting it into Jiro's face.
"Where did you…" Jiro asked nervously and noting Momo trying to look nonchalant as she tucked her shirt back in.
"We just laid our souls bare for them and they're ignoring us?" Mineta complained as he crouched down, not that anyone would notice given his usual small stature. "Can Jiro really be that good? I mean come on."
"Don't be shy, show us those pipes." Kirishima said encouragingly from where he was crouched next to Mineta. "We want to hear you sing something."
Jiro knew that she had to do it, she had no other option now. Her class was counting on her and plenty had tried so she may as well show it as well. She still didn't think she was good; she would have rather asked someone else to be the singer to see if that person could sing, but she had to give it a go now that she'd been called out and others in the class had given it a go. So, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Jiro grabbed the mic and began to sing.
To call it good to the rest of the class would be an understatement. It was beyond good, she was clearly talented at it, and downed the three who'd tried to sing with her own talent. She only sang a few lines of the song, and it was in English not Japanese as Jiro preferred to sing in that language, but it was enough to get the class cheering for her the moment she stopped and looked at them.
"My ears are so happy." Ochaco said excitedly.
"It's such a sultry voice." Mina said. "It's perfect for the concert."
"I told you." Toru exclaimed happily.
"Alright, I call this a unanimous decision." Ida said.
"Well, let's set this aside then." Jiro said blushing but knowing she'd just signed on to sing as well so she'd have to give it her all and go beyond with it. "Now we need two guitars."
"Oh, pick me, it's so cool to play instruments." Kaminari said thrusting his arm into the air.
"Let me strum!" Mineta said, if he couldn't sing then he'd rock out and get chicks that way. "The women always love the guitar player, Dupain-Cheng proved it."
"I'd just break the strings." Kirishima said with a sigh while Mineta scurried away to avoid Agreste just in case. "I'll stick to the special effects crew."
"Don't you dare volunteer unless you're going to kill it princess." Bakugo said to Kaminari. "I won't have those who can't play in the band."
"Yeah I totally will." Kaminari said producing a guitar and showing that he had at least enough rudimentary knowledge to be considered as a player for the band, with a fair bit of instruction of course. "The guitar is the star of every rock band."
Mineta then tried and failed, he could barley even hold the thing. His arms were too sort, and he couldn't reach the strings thus removing him from consideration as the other lead guitarist in the class.
"My fingers won't reach because of my character design." Mineta wailed though no one understood why he was saying that as he put the guitar he'd produced down and walked away.
The rest of the class were starting to get into it as the dance crew was getting sorted and people were chatting about what roles they should have. As such no one noticed Tokoyami walk forward and pick up the guitar that Mineta dropped. They did notice when he suddenly began to strum it pretty well. It was a hard, simple, riff that really got to people.
"You can play?" Shoji asked stunned. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?"
"I put down the axe when I was bested by the F-cord." Tokoyami said simply referring to a challenge that often-stopped aspiring guitarists. "Mineta, if you can't play for yourself then I will strum for you as well."
"This festival is so stupid." Mineta said as he sat on the floor in a ball crying. "I hope all your nails fall off."
"Mineta." Mina said an idea in her mind that would work for the choreography, though one she hoped she wouldn't regret nor get on Marinette's bad side for, that wasn't a side she wanted to see let along be on. "Would you be a part of the dance team if I can get a harem together with the rest of the girls who are dancing."
"The school festival can't come soon enough." Mineta said now weeping tears of joy and instantly getting into it.
"Mina." Marinette said her voice a little cooler than usual, just cold enough to send a shiver down Mina's spine as she rose and turned to face her friend. "Is that a good idea?"
"I can make it work; his size is perfect for it, and it will really show off how good the class dances." Mina said with a slight gulp as she met Marinette's icy stare. "Please, for the class and the school. It would need all the girls to work, and your acrobatic skills are the best. With my dance skills taught to you it will be really good."
"For the school I'll be a part of it." Marinette said before glaring at the still happily crying Mineta. "But if he tries anything, well I'll make what happened at training camp seem like a light slap by comparison. Also, all boys see Adrien for their measurements, I'm not taking them for anyone but him."
"Agreed." Mina said breathing a sigh of relief while the guys of the dance crew all nodded at that, it was only fair. "During practice I won't ask you to restrain yourself if he tries anything."
Mineta was still weeping tears of joy at his harem, but he wasn't blind to the one girl in the class with a boyfriend. Dupain-Cheng terrified him and not just because she'd knocked him out twice already this year, but also because at this point few doubted that she was the strongest combatant in the class and someone no one wanted to mess with. She may be hot to Mineta, but he didn't have a death wish so he'd be sensible with her around.
With that they began to really get down to business planning the School Festival. It took until 1 in the morning but finally they had it all worked out and down to a tee with the three groups all sorted and finalized. It was time to rest up because starting tomorrow it was down to work for the various teams.
They would need it because it would be a month of hard work but as they went to bed Izuku was just hoping that Eri would get permission to come to the School Festival. He'd asked for it after he and Togata had gone to see her the other day in the hospital to see that she was doing well but still unhappy so he figured the festival would help cheer her up. He wanted her to have a fun, normal childhood now that she'd been rescued from Chisaki, and the festival was just the thing to start with. They had to put on a good show for her sake as well, plus Izuku had to make sure Eri got a candy apple.
The rest of the class didn't know this yet but soon they would because if Eri got permission then she'd be taken to campus to see the preparations for the School Festival and get used to U.A. That would be in time though, first one of the class still had a final thing to sort out.
That person was Jiro and once everyone was off to bed, and she'd changed into her night clothes, she left her room and went next door to Marinette's room. She had to talk to her friend to make sure she was doing the right thing in taking charge of the class's event for the festival and there was something to ask the French girl. Marinette had an open-door policy for the girls, one Jiro was certain at least Ochaco and Momo had taken advantage of, so now it was her turn as she knocked on her friend's door.
"Come in." Marinette called from inside the room.
Jiro opened the door and entered the surprisingly girly room. She'd not pegged Marinette to be this girly until she saw the girl's casual clothes and even then it was an understatement to the amount of soft pink the girl had gone with in her dorm room. Course the fashion stuff was all over the place, Marinette's surprising passion was as strong as ever, there were plenty of pictures of her and Agreste, and her French friends, around the room, and the lofted bed was a sight to be sure, but Jiro didn't focus much on it as she entered the room and closed the door.
Marinette had been at her desk drawing out various styles to run by Mina in the morning, the kwamis helping until the knock when they scattered to hide just in case it wasn't Momo. Marinette was currently working because if she was to make the costumes as well as practice dancing for it and figure out any special moves to use once they got access to the gym, then she had to start now.
Of course, Mina would have the final say but Marinette needed to get the ideas out first, then measure the girls at least, and start the making process though with Momo creating the fabric it would be a little faster than usual. She was going to be really busy, but it was for a good cause, plus at the end of the day they'd have the School Festival to enjoy, a new thing for her and Adrien to experience in Japan, walk around, and basically have a sanctioned date day at.
"Take a seat, what's up Kyoka?" Marinette asked gesturing the chaise long she had as she set her pencil down and turned around in her chair. "Something on your mind about the festival?"
"As observant as I ever I see." Jiro said with a smile as she sat on the surprisingly comfortable chaise. "I won't lie, I am nervous about it as I have to basically lead this whole thing and show off my hobby and voice to the school."
"It can be tough for sure, but you can do it." Marinette said with a smile. "You know this world best, lean into that, and show the school your stuff. The class isn't wrong, they'll all love it, I'm sure of that."
"I know it's just I've never really been that take charge kinda girl." Jiro admitted twirling her jacks in her fingers. "And now I'm in the spotlight."
"It comes for all of us, especially now that we're going to be heroes." Marinette said knowing that Kyoka needed some encouraging words. "Part of being one is knowing when to lead and when to follow. Sure, there will always be heroes like Mr. Aizawa but for the most part we will all have our moments in the limelight, moments when we have to take charge and face the enemy head on, and it won't just be in the hero world. We've seen it this year in class a little bit and right now it's your turn to step up Kyoka and I know you'll do amazing."
"Thanks." Jiro said with small smile before sighing and looking down at the floor. "It's just hard and with people like you and Agreste and Ida and Midoriya in the class, well we have natural leaders and I'm not one of them."
"Honestly, I never meant to become one." Marinette said with a laugh that surprised Jiro who looked up at her friend, which wasn't what she was expecting given how strong Marinette was, the girl practically radiated leadership and confidence to Jiro. "But my class back in France wanted me to lead them and, well, with my power I kinda got thrust into the spotlight in the hero part of school as well."
"I can see that." Jiro said as she tried to imagine a slightly younger Marinette just starting out on her hero journey in Paris though it was hard to really picture it. "I think at least."
"It's hard to see someone else's experiences and back then I was rather different between my hero and civilian lives." Marinette said, it was all true though slightly tailored to fit the crafter backstory she and Adrien had. "When I wasn't in costume I was rather clumsy and awkward but when I donned my mask I became confident after a little experience."
"That we all know, the confident part." Jiro said. "We've seen you in battle Marinette, no one here doubts your skills and abilities."
"Thank you, I think being able to be whole and not deal with the secrecy has really helped round me out though." Marinette said. "Back then it was harder for me, especially when I was elected class president, our equivalent of class rep I guess. I was hesitant at first, but I ended up embracing it because I knew they had my backs. That's the key Kyoka, trust us and we will trust you. You aren't alone in this. When you need help ask those who have the skills to help out because you can't do everything yourself, rely on us as well. You're doing the band and the music because you're the best, Mina's handling the dancing, I've got the clothes. We all have our roles. Focus on your role and all will be good."
"Huh, I never thought of it like that." Jiro admitted thinking on Marinette's words. "I was so focused on how I am in charge of the music and band that I forgot a little about the bigger picture, well other than the dancing but Mina won't let us forget that."
"This is a class thing; we will do it together." Marinette said smiling at her friend. "So, focus on the music, create something special, and then rock the house like we know you can."
"That I can do." Jiro said with a nod her resolve hardening, she had the song idea in mind, she just needed to put it to music, and now she was going to go for it, she had just needed the push to reach the final edge and while seeing Marinette had helped that hadn't been the main reason she was her; it just furthered her reason to speak to the girl. "But there is one more thing I want to ask you Marinette."
"Sure, what?" Marinette asked.
"Can you sing?"
Ah a nice, good, cliffhanger for y'all, it's been a while since I did one, but this was too perfect not to have after a good planning chapter. Plus, it won't be answered right away as it is all part of a suggestion I received a while back that I liked and have worked into the School Festival arc for y'all to really enjoy. It is the way in which Marinette and Adrien will really effect this arc so it should be good, I hope as it will be requiring me to do something I've never done before but for a one-time thing I can do it. Next up, though, is more of the prep and planning and of course something extra that will be arriving for a little visit. Plenty to look forward to but that is all I have for this chapter so I will leave this note off here. As always, if you like it or have any questions please let me know in reviews or PMs, I will try to answer them as best I could and post any questions asked between uploads at the start of the next chapter and do follow and favorite this, so you are alerted to future uploads. Do keep the reviews coming as I like hearing from y'all as you enjoy my work, it motivates me to keep producing the best work I can for y'all to enjoy. Until next time.
Stringdog
