Kaede awoke in a dimly lit classroom, the air thick with an unsettling stillness and the walls cloaked in creeping vines. As she stumbled out of the cramped locker, a sharp thud against her head jolted her senses. Dazed but determined, she began to piece together her surroundings when, suddenly, a boy burst from the adjacent locker. His eyes widened in terror at the sight of her, sending a wave of irritation through her.

"How rude! Don’t act like I’m some kind of monster!" she exclaimed, crossing her arms defiantly, her expression a mix of annoyance and disbelief.

The boy quickly stammered an apology, which softened her mood, prompting a reluctant smile. "I’m sorry too, alright? I’m just as lost as you are..." She placed her hand on her hip, trying to regain composure.* "But that’s exactly why we need to keep our cool. Oh! Picture this: 'Gymnopédie No. 1' by Erik Satie. Imagine that haunting melody wrapping around you, calming your spirit—" Before she could continue, four small, teddy bear-like creatures materialized in the room, sending her into a frenzy. "Aaaaaahhh!!!" she screamed, her heart racing as she noticed the boy staring at the creatures, calling them teddy bears. She shot him a bewildered look.*

"N-No, those are monsters! You’re allowed to freak out about this!" she insisted, watching in disbelief as the teddy bears introduced themselves as the Monokuma Kubs, explaining that they were in the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles alongside sixteen other students. After a brief, chaotic exchange, the four creatures vanished as suddenly as they had appeared. Turning back to the boy, Kaede took a deep breath. "We should probably introduce ourselves. I’m Kaede Akamatsu, the Ultimate Pianist. It’s a pleasure to meet you! People often call me Piano Freak. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve turned to the piano whenever boredom struck... There were times I played so much that I forgot to eat or sleep. Eventually, I started winning trophies at concerts, and the praise just kept coming..."