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more-than-a-princess · 1 month ago

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It was then that the pain she'd felt began to fade. Sonia had half-mumbled a 'thank you' to those who had helped her up, but her focus was elsewhere. Not of the bruises she'd likely develop or the crowd's commotion. But of the fact that Shinobu had insisted the situation, the fight, was a family affair.

Sonia looked over the man she'd been escorting around campus: through the blood and swelling in his features, she noticed a similar jawline, similarly shaped eyes, a beauty mark in the exact same place on their faces. Shinobu's hair was a deep shade of red, clearly dyed, while his was left as a more naturally-occurring shade, and yet they were undeniably related. His reflexes were sharp like hers, but his gaze was softer, kinder, less intimidating. He lacked the pressure, Sonia realized, that Shinobu was under, and in return he smiled, entirely unconcerned with the obsession of talents that Hope's Peak had. Maybe he had been an Archer at one point, but from his distinct absence from Shinobu's home the time she was permitted to visit, she had a feeling he was an archer for the Yaguchi family no more.

It was then that Anzu had pushed through, Sonia so deep in her thoughts that she barely noticed her make her way through the crowd. But her efforts to dissuade Shinobu were equally in vain. She felt frozen in place: if even Anzu had no effect on stopping her, what chance did anyone else have? Shinobu was in a fit of rage that seemingly no one understood, including her brother, and yet she refused to stop. She wouldn't, likely until he stopped breathing. That second year student had gone to get help, hadn't he? She couldn't imagine what the school's Board of Governors would think of this-

But all thoughts of verbal punishments, suspensions and expulsions and the like, were silenced as a larger, burlier figure than Anzu's made his way forward. And unlike her, the crowd parted easily for him: Sakakura-sensei was intimidating even just standing still, but with anger and disappointment over his face? Even some of the alumni shivered, and they might have very well been his classmates. But niceties and barked orders were ignored in favor of Sakakura's fist being firmly planted in Shinobu's cheek. Harder than her brother may have retaliated in defense. Perhaps even harder than Shinobu herself had thrown at him.

But hard enough to bring Shinobu Yaguchi down, a shriek ripping out of Sonia's throat before she even realized she was screaming. "SHINOBU!" She cried out, causing several turned heads to look at her, assuming Sonia Nevermind was just another one of Cold Prince Shinobu-kun's many fangirls. Not that Sonia paid any heed to the stares: her hands were clapped over her mouth in shock. At Shinobu's defeat, at the fact she'd just screamed her given name, terribly rude and informal, loud enough for the entire courtyard to hear.

"Wait, hold on, what are you doing!?" She demanded. She probably should have seen to the elder Yaguchi, as she'd been responsible for showing him around campus. But for the meantime, she passed him, bleeding and bruised and likely bewildered about what had just happened, to reach out for Juzo Sakaura's free arm. His other hand was occupied in dragging Shinobu to her feet, presumably to haul her off somewhere the visiting alumni would not have to interact with her. Considering she'd beaten one of their own to a near pulp, it would only tarnish the school's image further to keep her around. "Where are you taking her, Sakakura-sensei?"

"It's none of your business, Princess!" He shouted back, forgoing the respect of utilizing her last name as teachers were supposed to. Frustration barely held back, he seemed to be in no mood to deal both with an angered Shinobu Yaguchi and a girl with way too much power and authority showing a large amount of concern for her. A call from Sonia Nevermind's parents was enough to make every school staffer's life hell, and if Masaru Yaguchi decided to press charges against his own sister, well...the Board of Governors would make things difficult for Kyosuke Munakata.

And Jin Kirigiri, but that was beside the point.

"This is a family matter, Miss Nevermind. Please don't interfere." For an instant, Shinobu had turned her attention to Sonia, a flicker of clearf concern overriding her features until she'd quickly determined that the other girl had sustained no great harm - except, perhaps, to her pride. It was understandable that she'd felt the need to interfere at first - Sonia was a kind person, after all, and must have mistakenly believed that she was breaking up some other sort of altercation. Perhaps now she realized her error. Up close, they wondered if she could see the ways in which their faces were similar - their eyes, their lips, their jawlines, even the same mark under the bottom left side of their mouths.

Still, given the choice, Shinobu would have preferred that Sonia not see her like this. There was no coming back from this sort of impression, was there? Shinobu had long been considered some sort of violent beast by a number of her classmates and peers, and surely this moment, with her brother's blood on her hand, would cement that belief for Sonia as well. Beneath the searing hot rage, they could feel the faintest pangs of disappointment and regret - but what else could they do? She'd wanted Masaru dead for years, and she wouldn't pass up the chance for her revenge so easily, not when it might never come again.

"Shinobu-chan! Stop!" The sound and sight of a small crowd assembling had been Anzu's first clue as to where Shinobu was, and though it stung to know she was too late to stop anything from beginning, she could at least try to shield her best friend from the worst of it. Maybe if everything stopped right now, she'd get off with just a slap on the wrist. "I know you're really, really angry, but try to calm down! If you don't, you might not be able to come back from this!" If she got expelled, it was over - everything would be over.

Anzu... Well, she was looking out for them, wasn't she? So like her, a girl who had pushed down her negativity in favor of a permanent smile, making herself the butt of every joke, a clownish jester by design. What could she possibly understand about this? "Stay out of this, Anzu," Shinobu barked, as Masaru barely caught her fist. "This has nothing to do with you, either, so don't get involved." This wasn't supposed to be such a spectacle. Dammit, why was everyone so irritating?

It had been a while since Masaru had needed to be quick - needed to be tough, needed to anticipate. The bar was a gentle place, where he could let the world melt away for himself, and for anyone else who needed it, when he sat behind his piano. His greatest concerns in the moment were if someone needed a refill, or if the crowd was more in the mood for "Embraceable You" or "Cantaloupe Island." That said, he hadn't lost his touch. He'd lived his teenage years jumpy and skittish, always reacting to something or other. Someone trying to hit him wasn't something he was inexperienced with, and if all he had to do was dodge and block, he could keep it up all day.

If only it were that easy. "Shinobu...?" He hadn't looked too closely, but they were wearing makeup, weren't they? And now, thinking about it, that jacket sat a bit strangely on their chest, didn't it? As a voice called out, he couldn't help but look. That person was... Anzu? And behind, "Haruna..." He wasn't ready to see her - not ready to apologize for everything, even as his red eyes lingered on her amber ones, watching her watching him.

"Don't look away from me!" Her palm crashed against Masaru's cheek in the moment of distraction, before she followed it up with drilling her fist against his mouth, spurting blood out from his lip as his teeth sliced against the inside. His concentration was broken, and Shinobu took advantage to drag Masaru to the ground, one knee on either side of him as she threw punch after punch towards his face. Anzu, Sonia, Haruna, they were all just distractions! This was about her, and her life, and her pain - nobody else's.

"It's just never enough for you, is it?" She'd meant to see him dead at the estate, laid in the rock garden or on the polished dojo flooring as if to say to her father, 'he's gone, and I'm not just a replacement anymore!' This, though... this would do, in a pinch. If she had to kill him on school grounds, to tell the world that there was only one Ultimate Archer, then so be it. "You stole from me my childhood, my happy family, my future, my LIFE!" Each indignity she'd suffered paired with another strike, blood starting to coat her knuckles. "And now, when almost everyone has forgotten you, when that hideous specter you cast over me has almost faded, you show up again to steal my friends, to steal whatever meager life I've pulled together!"

In some recess of her mind, Shinobu was aware that a hand was at her back, fingers curling and bunching up the fabric of her jacket. "I hate you! Just die!" Before she could continue punching, she was spun around, and a meaty fist collided with her face. For a moment, Shinobu wondered if she even had an eye anymore - if the punch had blown her eyeball free of its socket. She crumpled instantly, legs losing all stiffness as she dropped to the side, cradling her face with both hands, barely clinging to consciousness. No. No! Just a moment more, please, just enough time to kill...

#quickdeaths #Non-Despair AU: Hope's Peak Academy verse #(Sonia uses Shinobu's given name out loud for the first time)#(And Sakakura looks at her like 'The Princess is one of the fangirls now? Didn't know she liked girls.')#(Not that Sonia herself has figured that out yet shh-)#(I also figured if you wanted him to reprimand Shinobu for her behavior you could pick him up to yell at her or something)

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danganfixationronpa · 2 months ago

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Not only did Juzo Sakakura beat up and degrade Hajime (a student), driving Hajime to make the decision of becoming Izuru, but he also lied to Kyosuke about Junko Enoshima being innocent, allowing her to continue causing despair for all of mankind, all because she blackmailed him into Kyosuke finding out about his romantic feelings for him.

Oh, and he punched cinnamon roll Makoto in the gut.

Juzo is a piece of shit. An interesting character who clearly has struggles with his weaknesses despite being so physically strong, but a piece of shit all the same.

#juzo sakakura #danganronpa #dr3 #danganronpa 3 #hajime hinata #makoto naegi #kyosuke munakata #junko enoshima

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yumemiru12 · 20 days ago

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LisAni INTERVIEW 2024

[This interview was published online on the LisAni website, released Dec 16, 2024.]

As Episode 12 Approaches, Liella! Members Look Back on the Story So Far and the Songs That Have Brought the Series to Life! Interview with Date Sayuri, Aoyama Nagisa, Yabushima Akane, Ookuma Wakana, and Sakakura Sakura.

Set between Omotesando, Harajuku, and Aoyama, Love Live! Superstar!! Season 3 continues to depict the inspiring journey of the school idols Liella! from the private Yuigaoka Girls' High School. Beyond the story’s brilliance, the insert songs that color the narrative are also charming.

We spoke at length with the cast members about the already released OP theme single "Let’s be ONE" and ED theme single "DAISUKI FULL POWER", as well as the insert songs featured in each episode. Joining the conversation were 1st-gen (3rd-years) Date Sayuri (Shibuya Kanon), Aoyama Nagisa (Hazuki Ren), 2nd-gen (2nd-years) Yabushima Akane (Yoneme Mei), Ookuma Wakana (Wakana Shiki), and 3rd-gen (1st-year) Sakakura Sakura (Onitsuka Tomari).

--- INTERVIEW & TEXT BY 塚越淳一

'Let’s be ONE,’ a song that gives you the strength to push yourself forward

—The OP/ED theme song singles have already been performed at release events. First, tell us about the OP theme song, “Let’s be ONE”. What are your favorite phrases or memorable moments from the live performances?

Date: When we record, we aren’t told the specific parts assigned to us at first, so we record the full song. So during the recording, I didn’t think Kanon would sing the opening lines, and I was really surprised when I heard the finished track. Actually, it’s quite rare for Kanon to start a Liella! song.

Despite that, this time the song begins with Kanon’s voice, so I was just really nervous (laughs). The recording itself (for Let's be ONE) was done quite a while ago, but there were moments when I broke down crying and couldn’t sing. Back then, I was struggling to overcome a personal wall, and the lyrics of this song encouraged me so much...

That’s why, when I perform it live, I want to surpass the version of myself from the recording. For me, this is a song that gives me the strength to push myself forward—it’s a song that fills me with determination.

Aoyama: I thought it was such a poignant song. In the D-melody (bridge section that comes between the second chorus and the final chorus), Ren sings the line “Kono toki ga owatte mo” (Even if this moment ends), and when I looked at those lyrics again, I felt it reflects her awareness of being a third-year student and the reality of graduation approaching. It’s like she’s singing while reminiscing about everything that’s happened so far.

During the recording, I sang it as usual, but at the release event, when I sang that part for the first time, I genuinely thought, “I don’t want this moment to end.” I feel like Ren was probably singing with that same emotion too.

—It’s also quite emotional that the D-melody is sung mainly by the third-years, isn’t it?

Aoyama: It feels like it’s perfectly suited for the third-years to sing. I think the phrases really reflect and align with their emotions.

—What about you, Yabushima-san?

Yabushima: When I saw the lyrics, “Important feelings are something you can’t understand on your own,” I thought, “That’s so true!” There are times when you overthink things so much that you lose sight of where your feelings are heading. In those moments, it’s often the people close to you—family, or everyone in Liella!—who help you realize what’s truly important.

There’s only so much you can do to save yourself alone. I’ve been reminded of what’s important and saved by those around me so many times. Also, in the first half, the line is “We’re always one,” but in the final part, it changes to “We’ll always be one.” I love that it emphasizes “always” here, as if to say that even if we’re far apart, our hearts and precious feelings will always be united.

Ookuma: When we sang this song at the release event, I found it really easy to sing. The OP theme for Season 2, “WE WILL!!,” conveyed the desire to win in Love Live!, to become number one, and that feeling was reflected in the choreography as well. Naturally, that made us put a lot of force into our performance.

But “Let’s be ONE” is a refreshing song, and its lyrics express our emotions more gently. The choreography also felt delicate, with an overall relaxed flow, which made it easier for me to perform. Personally, I found it very comfortable to sing. Additionally, I felt that this song really fits the vibe of a Japanese anime opening theme.

Sakakura: I might be a little different from everyone else here, but I’ve always loved the opening themes of the Love Live! series. Being able to sing one myself as Tomari, and as a member of the Liella! I love so much, made me really happy and filled me with energy.

I think I was able to sing it with all those feelings still intact. The melody line has that signature school idol feeling, and the straightforward lyrics are so impactful. The choreography includes two-step movements and other elements that really make you feel the Love Live! series vibe, so performing it was a lot of fun.

—Sakakura-san, you were originally a fan of the series, right?

Sakakura: Yes, I love the Love Live! series, and since I applied for the third-generation open audition because of that, my purest feelings are just happiness and enjoyment—that’s my biggest impression.

Also, I really love the line at the end of the D-melody: “Saa susume! Ima” (Now, let’s move forward!). In this part, the choreography has the third-years standing in a line while the first- and second-years suddenly move forward to sing. Our dance instructor even said, “I want this to feel like the ultimate Love Live! moment,” and it truly does. That choreography feels so inspiring, and it carries the strength and essence of school idols.

Additionally, at the very end with the line “Bokura wa kitto meguriaeta musubaretanda ne” (We surely met by fate and are now connected), the first-years, second-years, and third-years step forward in turn. I felt like that was such a Liella! moment!

—How was the release event? For the third-years (first-years in the story), this was the first time singing with the Liella! animated performance playing in the background, right?

Sakakura: I’m not usually the type to get nervous before live performances, but this time, I was unusually nervous. However, once it started, I couldn’t help but have fun (laughs).

Before it began, I kept thinking, “I have to sync perfectly with the animation, and I absolutely can’t mess up the lyrics or choreography here,” but once I got into it, I was able to simply enjoy performing.

—The third-years are so reliable…! The coupling track “Seishun HOPPERS” was definitely a song that stood out in live performances. How did it feel to perform it?

Yabushima: The tempo is fast, and the hand-offs between singing parts happen quickly too. I think those who watched the performance might have noticed, but there’s a lot of dancing even during the parts when we’re not singing. I feel like people might not have enough eyes to keep up with everything that’s happening! (laughs)

Aoyama: This was my first time doing rock-style dancing. Ren usually has a lot of elegant choreography, so doing this kind of dance for the first time was really fun. At first, I was worried, like, “Can I really pull this off?” So during rehearsals, we kept checking and practicing together.

Sakakura: This song is so exhausting… We’re literally moving our bodies the entire time, so I couldn’t stop sweating (laughs). There’s a lyric that says “Toni kaku tada zenryoku da” (Just go all out), and our performance really reflects that.

Aoyama: At the release event, “Within a Dream”, a full-on ballad, came right after this song, so we were desperately trying not to get out of breath (laughs).

Date: This song is the kind where, if you let your guard down even for a moment, you won’t be able to get back on track. Keeping everything in sync was incredibly tough.

Ookuma: If we end up performing this song during the 6th Live Tour, I hope they don’t put it near the end… Please put it early in the setlist, while we still have energy (laughs).

—Next, let’s talk about the ED theme song, “DAISUKI FULL POWER.” It’s truly a wonderful song.

Sakakura: This song is so uplifting and feels very much like a Love Live! series ending theme—I love it. The first time I saw the ending animation in the TV anime, I was surprised, thinking, “Wow, Tomari smiles like this!” She was shining so brightly as she sang.

Until now, I’ve always been conscious of performing with a cool expression, but after seeing the ending, I thought, “For this song, I’ll just let go of overthinking it, sing with all my heart, and enjoy it with a smile.” I even listen to it a lot in my personal time!

Yabushima: I really love the line “Minna no yume yo, kienai yume yo” (Everyone’s dreams, dreams that never fade). I feel like once a dream takes root inside you, it never really disappears, even if you think, “This might be impossible for me.”

For me, the reason I’m able to stand on stage as part of Liella! now is because, somewhere deep down, I had a dream to be part of the Love Live! series. I’m so glad I kept chasing it with all my might. I think that feeling is shared by Mei-chan and all the other members, too.

Ookuma: I really love lyrics written by Aki Hata. Her choice of words and the meaning behind them always resonate so deeply with me—it’s almost embarrassing how close they are to my own feelings. It’s like she puts into words exactly what I’ve been thinking: “Yes, this is how I feel.”

In Japan, people often hesitate to express their feelings directly, or they end up saying things in a roundabout way. But Hata-san’s lyrics are so straightforward, and they carry the exact warmth or emotion they’re meant to convey.

When I saw these lyrics, I thought, “This is what being a high school girl is all about.” It’s a song that can speak to anyone working hard in their club activities. It also feels like it’s singing about Liella!’s future, which I really liked.

Aoyama: The lyrics are truly beautiful. The line “Datte datte kokoro ni wa, junsui de mubou na jibun ga iru / Joushiki o utagaeba dekiru kamoshirenai yo” (Because, because in my heart, there’s a pure and reckless version of myself / If I question what’s normal, maybe I can do it) reminded me of when I decided to audition for the Love Live! series.

At that time, I thought, “There are probably so many applicants—I have no chance of getting in.” But I clicked the apply button because I wanted to become part of the Love Live! series. I gave everything I had in that audition, thinking, “This is my absolute best!” and I was accepted. This lyric reminds me that I should never forget those pure and reckless feelings.

Date: I felt like this is the kind of song that would play as background music when school idols look back on their time together after they’ve grown up. The struggles, the tough times, and the happy moments—all of them are packed into the melody and lyrics of this song. Like everyone else, I love the lyrics of this song so much.

In my personal image, past ED themes always felt like they had to be performed very “cleanly” or perfectly, but this song has the members holding megaphones and features animation depicting their everyday lives after school.

When we performed it at the release event, it felt like the vibe of the song perfectly matched a group of high school students joking around together. So instead of trying to make it overly polished, I went with a more relaxed and natural performance, which turned out to work really well. I think as we perform this song more and more, everyone’s expressions will become even softer and more natural.

—The megaphone dance is really cute, isn’t it?

Date: It’s actually really difficult to pull off... Being cute is definitely hard work (laughs).

—How was it performing the coupling song “Within a Dream” at the release event?

Sakakura: The style was so different from usual. It’s not the kind of song where you go all out with full power, and the dance had a vibe we hadn’t tried before. It was so completely opposite to “Seishun HOPPERS” that it was honestly quite difficult...

Aoyama: I think this might be the first time we’ve done a song incorporating jazz dance. Especially during the instrumental section, it’s fascinating to watch each person individually, but when you look at the full formation, it’s incredibly complex, so I think it’s going to look great live as well.

Sakakura: We spent a lot of time practicing this one, didn’t we?

Aoyama: Yeah, we did. The formations are so intricate that even one extra step forward can throw everything off, so we practiced a lot.

Sakakura: It’s a formation that works only because we trust each other. There are moments where you move without seeing where the others are, so it’s something we can do because of the bond we share as a group.

Date: It really made me think, “So this is what it means to synchronize our breathing!” I worked hard during rehearsals because it’s a challenging song where you have to communicate with everyone to make it work.

Ookuma: Jazz dance is different because it doesn’t strictly follow a set form—there’s room for us to adjust it to our own style. That was another challenge. There are moments where we synchronize, but we’re not just matching each other completely. Instead, it’s about how each of us takes the choreography and makes it our own, which really highlights our individuality.

Yabushima: The expressions we use are so gentle and bittersweet. I think this song allows everyone to show a new side of themselves.

Looking Back on the Story So Far as Episode 12 Approaches.

—We’d like to reflect on the insert songs as well. Early on, Kanon temporarily steps away from Liella! and forms the group “Tomakanote” with first-year students Wien Margarete (voiced by Yuina) and Tomari. It almost feels like a challenge to Liella! itself. What did you think of Kanon’s actions during this part of the story?

Date: I felt like she was acting less like a third-year high schooler and more like an alumna or senior graduate (laughs). You can see her meddlesome side peeking through at times, and that’s part of what makes her so cute.

But as the story progresses, you realize she’s acting with her own intentions and thoughts in mind, which really reinforces that she’s such an important member of Liella!. One of Kanon’s charms is that she doesn’t take herself too seriously—she’ll suddenly come out with something that even surprises me. Her decision to step away from Liella! was exactly one of those moments.

But in the end, I think that’s just who Kanon truly is. And forming a unit with her juniors like this is only possible because she has her childhood friend, Chii-chan (Arashi Chisato), right there by her side. Their relationship in this part of the story was also really wonderful.

—In Episode 2, Tomakanote performed the song “Bubble Rise”, and this anime live scene was really wonderful, wasn’t it?

Date: This group name reminded me of "KuKa" (the unit of Kanon Shibuya and Tang Keke, who sang "Tiny Stars" in Episode 3 of Season 1). For Kanon, I feel like this song has a sort of smiling warmth to it. It’s as if she’s stepping back a little and letting Margarete and Tomari take the spotlight while she observes from a slight distance.

—That feeling really came through in the visuals as well. Sakakura-san, what did you think of the visuals for “Bubble Rise”?

Sakakura: It was so beautiful! The stage design, inspired by the deep sea, really amazed and moved me. I couldn’t help but wonder how they created it.

The lyrics of this song were shaped by Margarete’s ideas, and when Tomari sings the line “Mujaki ni omoi kotoba ni dekita osanai hi wa tooi ne” (Freely expressing our thoughts with innocent words—those childhood days feel so far away), it carries a lot of weight.

Tomari saw her aneja (older sister, Onitsuka Natsumi) working so hard toward her dreams, only to face failures and heartbreak. Because of that, Tomari now values reality more than chasing dreams. That’s why her singing those words feels so meaningful to me.

I’m sure Tomari sings this song with a lot of emotion, so I hope people listen to the second verse as well, even though it didn’t play in the anime. The way the three voices come together is so pleasant and beautiful, so I really want everyone to experience that.

—Meanwhile, with Kanon absent, Liella! performed as an eight-member group in Episode 3, where Shiki took on the role of center for the first time, performing “Special Color”. It was an episode that also highlighted Shiki and Mei's bond, wasn’t it?

Ookuma: They said Shiki was the center, but after watching the episode, I really felt it was more of a double center. Shiki isn’t quite used to being in the spotlight—when she stands out, she tends to feel a bit lost. But by standing on stage together with Mei, they’re able to shine as one.

That’s something I felt while performing “Special Color”, so I’m starting to think we shouldn’t overly emphasize “Shiki’s center song” (laughs). It’s something she was able to achieve because Mei was there, and because everyone was supporting her, she was able to sing.

Yabushima: Mei wrote the lyrics for the song, but even though she’s the closest to Shiki and understands her feelings, there’s always some hesitation when it comes to putting someone else’s emotions into words.

I feel like I was able to connect with these lyrics because they reflect a part of myself as well. While the lyrics were written with Shiki in mind, I think the words and emotions also resonate with me in some way. And the lyrics have a very Mei-like quality—they’re not overly grandiose or exaggerated, and that’s something I really like about them.

—The lyrics really feel relatable to everyone. I thought it was a song that encourages people who want to change but can’t quite break out of their shells. After that, there was an episode (Episodes 5–6) where everyone visits Tang Keke’s (voiced by Liyuu) hometown in Shanghai. It was so striking to see Liella! sing together as 11 members for the first time with “Zettaiteki LOVER.”

Sakakura: This song really felt like it was made for Keke—it’s packed with “cuteness.” I remember thinking, “Keke, I’m so glad you got to sing this song!” It even has lyrics in Chinese, which made it feel even more special. The costumes were also incredibly cute.

—Before the live performance, there’s a touching exchange where Kanon confronts Keke, who is considering ending her school idol journey after high school to focus on university.

Date: In Episode 1 of the Season 1 anime, when Kanon couldn’t face the thing she loved most (singing), and she felt like it had become her enemy, Keke was the one who gave her the opportunity to reconnect with it. Keke said, “Is there really such a thing as an end to working hard for something you love?”

Even in moments not depicted in the anime, I feel like Kanon has been saved by those words so many times. As the cast member playing Kanon, I also love those words dearly. In fact, Saku-chan (Sakakura Sakura) has mentioned that she remembered this line when she decided to audition.

It’s such an important line that has changed so many people’s lives, and this time, Kanon gets to say it back to Keke. Hearing those words come from Kanon’s mouth made me so happy, and when Keke said those words were a treasure to her, that made me even happier.

Personally, I’ve also been helped by Keke’s words, and I think it’s something I’ll continue to carry with me and remember for the rest of my life.

—In Episode 8, Liella! and Tomakanote face off in a decisive showdown at the school festival live, where they performed “Dazzling Game.”

Date: It’s wild—like hair-whipping wild (laughs).

Sakakura: It really feels like a battle. Just by looking at the lyrics, you can tell which parts belong to Liella! and which parts are Tomakanote. I have a really strong attachment to Episode 8. That’s because right before singing this song, Tomari finally reconciles with her aneja (older sister, Onitsuka Natsumi).

The key moment that leads to that is Shiki pushing Natsumi forward, and I really love that it was Shiki who gave her that push. In Episode 3, it was Mei who encouraged Shiki to step forward, and this time, Shiki is the one pushing Natsumi. I feel like this kind of “passing it forward” is so fitting for high school students.

—That part was really moving, too.

Sakakura: Up until “Dazzling Game”, when singing as Tomari, I intentionally avoided putting too much emotion into the lyrics during the recordings. At that point, Tomari hadn’t fully opened her heart to those around her, nor had she completely understood the appeal of being a school idol. So I tried to keep a cool and composed impression in the way I sang.

But this song comes after she reconciles with her aneja (older sister, Natsumi). At that point, you can feel Tomari’s emotions finally bursting out. From this song onward, I’ve made a conscious effort to change the way I express myself—sometimes fully embracing cuteness or going all out for a cool and powerful vibe.

—It was really nice to see them reconcile. They were at odds for a lot longer than expected, weren’t they?

Sakakura: Exactly! So thank you, Shiki-chan!

Ookuma: Oh, you’re welcome (laughs). Shiki and Mei had moments where they fought, too, but even then, Natsumi was always there supporting them in her own way. I think the Onitsuka sisters were a central part of Season 3’s storyline.

I also feel like Shiki and Tomari have a lot in common. Maybe that’s why Shiki was able to give Natsumi the push she needed.

Sakakura: But seriously, it took so long! When we realized they didn’t reconcile until Episode 8, both Emori Aya (Natsumi’s voice actress) and I were shocked (laughs).

—The two of you as cast members get along so well in real life, don’t you?

Sakakura: We’re always so lovey-dovey (laughs). From here on out, I think Tomari’s expressions will also start to soften!

—Episode 10 featured an episode where (Sakurakoji) Kinako (voiced by Suzuhara Nozomi) becomes the student council president.

Aoyama: In Episode 10, Kinako-chan is entrusted with writing the lyrics for a song. When Ren sees that, she feels that Kinako is someone she can trust and asks her to take on the role of student council president. The way Ren chooses her words in that scene is also very gentle—it’s not forced, as though she’s waiting for Kinako to step up on her own.

Watching that scene, I really felt once again how hard it must have been for Ren as the student council president. She wants people to join the student council, but when no one steps forward to become president, it must have been so sad and lonely for her.

At that moment, Ren sees Kinako standing alone and singing, and she instinctively knows she can entrust the role to her. That insight shows how much Ren has grown as a student council president—she’s learned to observe people from multiple perspectives. That growth made me really happy.

And then, the song “笑顔のPromise” (Egao no Promise, lit. Smile’s Promise) is performed. Kinako appeared in the anime at the start of Season 2 but hadn’t had a center-position song, so I was thrilled to finally see her get that spotlight here!

Yabushima: At the start of Season 2, Kinako-chan couldn’t even find her way to the school because she kept getting lost. To think that same girl would become student council president! I got so emotional when I read the Episode 10 script.

The image of a student council president is often someone perfect, like Ren—beautiful, intelligent, and talented in every way. But as Ren herself says, what’s truly important is being able to see and understand those around you better than anyone else.

When you think about it that way, Kinako-chan really is the perfect choice for student council president. The song “笑顔のPromise” follows this heartfelt conversation between Ren and Kinako, so I really hope everyone gets to see and enjoy it.

—It ("笑顔のPromise") really felt like the quintessential idol song. In Episode 11, the third-years decide on their respective paths for the future. Meanwhile, the second-years are working on creating the song they’ll perform at the Love Live! finals, and that’s when “スーパースター!!” (Superstar!!) is played.

Aoyama: This song shifts into a triple meter partway through. That kind of rhythm is something we haven’t really had in Liella!’s songs before, so I felt it showed a new possibility for Liella!. I could tell we’re taking on a variety of musical styles, and I fell in love with this song after just one listen.

Sakakura: I cried! I was reading the lyrics while listening, and there was one line that resonated so deeply with me—it reflected exactly how I felt when I auditioned. I genuinely thought, “I’m so glad I had the courage to take that step back then.”

If we ever get the chance to perform this song live, I’ll have to be careful not to cry. I love the lyrics so much that I need to stay composed (laughs).

Aoyama: The insert songs and coupling tracks after Episode 10 really tug at your heartstrings.

Yabushima: I think everyone came to Yuigaoka Girls’ High School with their own dreams and goals. But as they spent time there as students, new dreams emerged, or their current dreams began to change.

It’s not just about their personal dreams either—eventually, they start carrying dreams for Liella! as a group. Listening to this song made me realize that having a dream isn’t the end; it’s something that grows and changes over time.

—The third season of the TV anime has truly been an emotional rollercoaster, bringing tears every week. I feel like I need to carve it into my heart. By the way, in 2025, you’ll be performing at “LisAni! LIVE 2025” on January 24th during the FRIDAY STAGE. Date-san, could you share your thoughts on this?

Date: I heard it’s the 15th installment of the event, and I’m so honored that we get to perform on such a milestone occasion. We’ll be standing on the stage of Nippon Budokan, so I want us to bring something uniquely Liella!, something that only school idols can deliver, and celebrate the 15th event in grand fashion.

We’ll give it our all, so please look forward to it and support us!

—Finally, what kind of year was 2024 for you?

Sakakura: I’ve been active as part of Liella! since 2023, and I really feel like 2024 was the year when all that effort finally paid off. Before the TV anime started airing, I often struggled with how to express Tomari. I wanted to like her so badly, so I just kept pushing forward.

When the anime finally aired and Tomari was introduced, I felt like all the effort leading up to that moment had truly blossomed. It might sound like I’m being too easy on myself, but I thought, “Maybe I can finally give myself a little credit for everything I’ve done so far.”

Moving forward, I want to continue sharing Tomari’s charm and Liella!’s appeal with as many people as possible—to fans and potential new fans alike.

Ookuma: For me, 2024 was a year where things settled down in a good way. When I first joined Liella!, I felt like I was constantly sprinting at full speed, with emotions running high—joy, anger, sadness, everything was so intense. Looking back, I think I was often spinning my wheels and overthinking things.

But after gaining experience, I’ve had people say to me, “Wakana, you’ve really calmed down lately.” (laughs) I think this was the year where I started to understand my role and where I fit in.

At the same time, I’ve realized that no matter how much you plan or try to express something, there are things that won’t come across unless you actually do it. That experience taught me that charging ahead on my own isn’t always the answer. In short, I’ve grown up (laughs). This year was about finding my footing and settling into it.

Yabushima: I’ve always loved expressing myself through acting, but when it came to expressing myself on stage, I always felt this lingering sense of uncertainty. Because there’s no definitive “correct” way to do it, I was constantly wondering, “Is this the right way?” That uncertainty stayed with me.

But this year, I realized that it’s okay to embrace those uncertainties and include them in my stage performance. I used to think that expressing my doubts, even during MCs, was something I shouldn’t do, but when I started sharing those feelings, people told me they felt encouraged or found courage in hearing that.

I’ve come to understand that it’s okay to accept even the weaker sides of myself. Those parts are part of who I am, and there are things I can do precisely because of that. This year was about embracing all of me and finding what I alone can bring to the stage.

Aoyama: 2024 was a year full of so many emotions. After Season 1 and Season 2 of the TV anime ended, we went straight into live performances and fan meetings, so there was always something happening. But then we had two years without any new anime. During that time, we struggled a lot with figuring out how to convey Liella!’s charm without the support of the anime visuals.

Especially for Saku-chan (Sakakura Sakura), since Tomari hadn’t appeared in the anime yet, I imagine she was carrying a lot of pressure. Everything she did would define Tomari as a character.

Finally, when Season 3 started airing, all that uncertainty turned into relief. By the latter half of 2024, I felt so much more at ease. Now, I feel like I can see a bright future for 2025, filled with hope.

Date: For me, 2024 was a year of big changes, and I found myself smiling more than ever. Honestly, I’ve only been able to keep going because of the support of my fellow members. They’re the ones who put smiles on my face, and my gratitude toward them keeps growing every day.

With the start of the TV anime’s third season, the things my fellow members talked about—whether in character or as castmates—helped me realize what I really want to do. Before, I felt like a part of me was lost or wandering, but now, I’m starting to see, “Ah, this is what I want!”

The time I’ve spent with everyone this year has been so much more fun than ever before.

—With the “Love Live! Superstar!! Liella! 6th LoveLive! Tour ～Let’s be ONE～” approaching, it looks like 2025 will be another fulfilling year.

Date: Season 3 of the TV anime really allowed me to feel the love within the group. I want to fully embrace and express the fleeting nature of their青春 (seishun; youth)—something that passes by in an instant—by carefully reflecting on each and every part of their story as I take on this challenge!

And above all, I will never forget to enjoy it!! That’s my promise to everyone!

#love live #love live superstar #liella #seiyuu #idol

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humblefryingpan · 5 months ago

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DC / Danganronpa crossover pt 2

(Part 1 , Next , Masterlist )

If this is the first one you've seen - I'm making a crossover of DC comics and Danganronpa by assigning the characters a vigilante that I think suits them

Batman - Kyosuke Munakata

(Contingency plans, communication issues, leadership position)

Talia Al Ghul - Chisa Yukizome

(Planned to be Bruce/Kyosuke 's love interest, turned into a villain at some point while they were dating)

Catwoman (catman?) - Juzo Sakakura

(Also a love interest, controversial in-universe due to crime/homosexuality, flexible morals)

#dc comics #batfamily #danganronpa #danganronpa 3 #au #crossover #dc/danganronpa crossover #alternate universe #juzo sakakura #kyosuke munakata #chisa yukizome #batman #bruce wayne #talia al ghul #catwoman #selina kyle

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jankydem · 2 months ago

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I have a really strong dislike to anybody who ships Mitamiki (Ryota/Mikan).

(Danganronpa spoilers, Tw for SA)

“It’s just a ship, DJ!” Mikan sexually assaults Ryota in the anime. On SCREEN. It’s not even implied or said, we SEE it happen. Usually there are some ships that I don’t like but I’m like “yk what, it’s not that bad, a little weird but it’s fine”. But when it comes to Mitamiki, you’re shipping the assaulted x the assaulter. Ryota was trying to kick her off, he even results to kicking her in the face when she tries to do it AGAIN. Ryota would never hit a woman, we can see it’s against his morals to even speak to a woman with as much disrespect as Sakakura was giving Asahina in the 3rd anime. But he was so scared, because he knew that if he didn’t stop her, something terrible would happen to him. Something he didn’t want or consent to.

It also annoys me when people DEFEND Mikan. Yes, she was brainwashed. But that does NOT excuse the fact that she tried to r&pe ryota. The only reason why she didn’t was because Enoshima intervened. Her being brainwashed doesn’t excuse anything, the despair video doesn’t change who they were as people, it just mad them.. more evil. Despairing. It just made them desire despair, it didn’t change who they were as people. Mikan was going to do that to Ryota to bring despair to him, it WAS Mikan. Not a different person. The remnants of despair are responsible for what they’ve done, not for being brainwashed, but what they still did. So why should Mikan be any different?

And it’s not like Ryota DOESN’T have any sort of trauma from what happened, in the 3rd anime/manga, whenever he sees something such as a simple touch on the hand without consent, his mind immediately jumps to the conclusion that it’s SA since that’s what he went through. He doesn’t wish for anyone else to go through what he went through so at any moment he jumps the gun and calls someone out on it.

“I ship them in the non-despair au” The non despair au isn’t canon. It’s unimportant, that argument is invalid.

I understand that they’re able to relate to each other with their terrible anxiety, being bullied, and relatively shy personalities, but after the SA scene in that episode it’s just gross to ship them.

#tw sa mention #danganronpa #danganronpa 2 #danganronpa 3 #danganronpa despair arc #future arc #rant #ranting #mikan tsumiki #ryota Mitarai #Junko Enoshima #djyapz

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danganronpadedication · 3 months ago

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DAY 16: DANGANTOBER

Day 16: Favorite Scene

There are so many scenes that I could call my favorite of the series. I like scenes that are silly and lighthearted, and some that are bone-chilling. There were scenes that I was delighted by, and scenes that left me with a sinking pit of dread in my stomach. The scene that I decided to go with is one that caught me off-guard on first viewing. When it played out on my screen late one Wednesday night, it EMBEDDED itself in my memory, and crosses my mind at least once a week. Yep, the GIF is a dead giveaway, it's a scene that I call "Makoto's Despair".

youtube

Original Uploader: Nagito Komeada on YouTube (yes, it's spelled that way in their user)

When I say my jaw dropped during this scene, I meant it. I'm someone who really appreciates when things get more disturbing in this way, even if the scene itself involves subject matter that scares me. It shows guts, and its a good way to make me feel the stakes and tension that is needed to become invested. Readers of my posts will know exactly the reason this scene freaks me out, and if you're unfamiliar, I have my makeup post for yesterday coming out very soon and it will talked about on there. Some background information and summary on the scene for those of you who didn't watch the anime, or are too chicken to watch the scene. This scene takes place in Episode 11 'All Good Things' of Future Arc. After Kyoko's death in episode 10 'Death, Destruction, and Despair', Aoi finds a journal underneath her body. Written in the journal is Kyoko's deduction and conclusion on who the traitor in the Future Foundation killing game is. She hypothesized that there was no traitor, and that the monitors placed throughout the hallways of the facility were somehow brainwashing whoever was closest to them between rounds to commit unalive. To test her theory, Makoto decides to use himself as the subject for the experiment. He is tied to a chair in front of a monitor, while everyone else goes into a room without monitors. The round ends, and everyone is put to sleep. Makoto is woken up shortly afterwards by the red glow of the monitor. The monitor begins to play a video of Monokuma, and begins the brainwashing sequence. Makoto finds himself in a strange, void-like place. Kyoko and Sayaka appear, taunting him with reminders of the Hope's Peak killing game. Sayaka reminds him that he was unable to get her out like he promised, and Kyoko blames him for her death. His other deceased classmates also appear, and their bodies start to change to resemble how they looked when they died. Makoto tries to apologize, saying he just wanted everyone to be together and happy.

Outside of this void, which is assumedly his mind, Makoto is screaming and struggling to get off the chair. He gets himself free, and a knife drops from the monitor. He picks it up, and in his mind, Kyoko and Sayaka tell him to join them. Makoto has a strained grin on his face, and opens his eyes, now swirling with red spirals. He says he'll join them, but he's stopped by Juzo Sakakura. Juzo uses some 'not so gentle' means to get Makoto to snap out of it. Makoto then returns to the others with confirmation for Kyoko's theory.

This scene is one that provides good insight into who Makoto is as a person. In my Day 3 post for Dangantober, I briefly talked about Makoto having survivor's guilt, and this scene is my basis for that claim. It's very on the nose about it. Survivor's guilt is a trauma response that can happen when someone feels guilty over surviving an event where others died. It can cause similar symptoms to PTSD and other traumatic disorders. It's the idea of "why was I the one to live, and not these other people?", which is obviously an unhealthy mindset.

Makoto hides it well, but he does display certain symptoms of survivor's guilt. In episode 6, 'No Man Is An Island', Makoto has a vivid nightmare of Kyoko's death, with Munakata blaming Makoto for her death. Specifically, saying that Makoto was at fault for thinking he would be able to go through the entirety of this game without sacrificing someone close to him. Intense and vivid nightmares that harken back to whatever traumatic event happened or is currently happening, is one of the main symptoms of survivor's guilt.

Aside from serving as excellent foreshadowing for episode 10, this nightmare is a sign that the active stress from being in this new killing game is getting to him. His survivor's guilt would worsen as a result of Kyoko's real death, since the circumstances would lead him to believe it was his fault for just surviving.

See, the Future Foundation killing game has a special twist to it. Everyone has a bracelet on their wrist, that has a "Forbidden Action" on it. Doing this action will result in your death via the release of a certain poison. For example, Makoto's forbidden action is running in the halls, so Aoi gives him a piggyback ride. Kyoko's forbidden action is "Passing the 4th time limit with Makoto Naegi alive". If he lives past the fourth round, which he did, she would die. She deliberately hides this from him, not wanting him to worry.

Now that she's dead, he learns about her forbidden action, and he nearly shuts down with grief. Yet another person he cares about, gone instead of him. From this point onwards, he spends a lot of his time doing more reckless actions in order to stop this game, from confronting Munakata (who wants Makoto dead or captured) to this very incident with the video.

The guilt is pushing him to move without regard for himself, which is very close to more self-destructive symptoms of survivor's guilt. That's also why Kyoko plays such a big part in this scene. It's fresh trauma, fresh pain, that only serves to amplify these feelings within him.

Of course, Makoto manages to recover and pick himself back up with help from the people around him, like Aoi, and Munakata after a change of heart. He's a strong person, he's resilient, and he is the Ultimate Hope for a reason. There is no easy wrap-up for dealing with survivor's guilt. He's always going to be dealing with these feelings, but hopefully, as the world heals, so will he.

Besides, it definitely helps that Kyoko actually survives.

-Mod Tsumugi

#danganronpa #dangantober #danganronpa 1 #future arc #future foundation #dr3 #makoto naegi #kyoko kirgiri #juzo sakakura

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