Phantom Thieves of Hope - A Danganronpa X Persona 5 Story.

Chapter 113: Resonant Heart

Youthful Lunch - Persona 4

"E-Excuse you!?" Takeya spluttered, looking like he'd just thrown up from shock. "What the hell does that mean!?"

"It's not that hard to wrap your head around. You asked me to pick a student to serve as the band's lead player, right?" Kaede reasoned. "Well, I picked myself!"

"That's not how this works!" he protested.

"It's not? Are you sure?" Kaede asked. "I'm a student, AND an experienced musician, which means I fit the criteria. Besides, you said these three were a drummer, a lead guitarist, and a bass guitarist. Shouldn't be any harm in throwing a pianist into the mix, so what makes me not eligible to participate?"

"I mean, the festival has the whole theme of the students leading the way, so it's not unheard of," Kanzaki suggested.

"But this isn't just about the festival!" Takeya countered. "The whole reason we were picking the band members was to give the students a chance to shine! Don't you think you'll be raining on their parade if you get involved!?"

"From the sound of things, you three have a lot of faith in your students... At least, I hope. And this way, all three of them will have an equal chance to shine. If I become the band's lead player, then no one student is more important to the band than the other," she explained. "Or...is all that confidence just for show?"

"Why you-!" Takeya snarled, but simmered his frustration. "Are all Ultimate Students THIS insane!?"

"The worst part is that I can't even say no to that question," Toko rolled her eyes.

"I'm...sorry, Akamatsu-san, really," Arakawa tried to explain. "But on this occasion, I'm going to have to agree with Takeya. Like he said, this is a school-related issue. We're more than happy to receive outside consultation, but...to be a member of the band itself-"

"I actually think that's a really good idea," Chiaki said suddenly.

"Huh? Really?" Hajime questioned.

"The problem the faculty has is that because Kaede's not a student at the university, she's not going to have the same experience and knowledge about the festival as the students. And because she's an Ultimate, if she DOES get involved, then the attention is mainly going to be on her and not the actual students themselves," Chiaki began to clarify. "But I actually don't think that's true. From the moment we walked through those gates, everyone has been treating Kaede like a big shot. If someone of her status is willing to step on the stage...then it's way more likely that people will be willing to watch. I think..."

The instructors all shot looks at each other, considering her point.

"But...even so..." Arakawa stammered. "Even so...that...Ugh...Kanzaki, say something!"

Arakawa looked desperately over at Kanzaki, but Kanzaki herself had her eyes on the floor, and a hand on her hip. The way her pupils moved around and her fingers tapped her side signaled she was thinking intensely about the situation.

After a moment of quiet, she finally spoke again.

"...I want to hear her out."

"What!?" Takeya snapped. "But that's not-!"

"I SAID. I want. To hear. Her out," Kanzaki glared at him. "You said yourself that she knows what she's talking about. What's the point of getting her opinion on the matter if we're going to dismiss it outright?"

"That's not-!" he started, then realized, "...Ugh. Fine, whatever. I can tell that I'm being outspoken on this matter anyway."

"So," Kanzaki turned to Kaede, "what were you planning on doing?"