Prologue Part 2: Jazzman, Manager, Jailbreaker, and Broadcaster Intros
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Tsubasa
[X] Pilot.
[X] Genpachi
"Oh, um, wow, t-that's something. I'm Enoshima Tsubasa, er, I'm told I was accepted here since they say I'm the 'Ultimate Pilot'. Well, for someone my age anyway," I introduced myself, bowing and adjusting my bomber jacket by the lapels.
Sakamoto Genpachi, my fellow student I took it, cocked his head and asked me bluntly, "Kid, what's with all the modesty? You've made it, being accepted to this place's proof of that. Hmm, well you figure it would be anyway, right now this place ain't the most swinging of shindigs, unless being several levels underground's all the rage these days" he glanced around.
Genpachi's talent raised another questioned for me, albeit once I hesitated to ask due to it, well, being a private matter I imagine. "Er, I mean no offence, Sakamoto, but... I thought jazz was banned, well, I guess it's lifted now. I suppose you would've spent time in America honing that Talent, right?".
Yet at my words, Genpachi grinned and nearly burst out laughing, before he told me, "You can't ban the Jazz, kid. You can't ban rebellion, you can't ban freedom, you can't ban choice and defiance, it's in these things' very nature. Ergo, can't ban jazz". he then opened up his pinstripe coat to reveal rows and rows of packaged vinyls hidden inside, "Still, I had to do some real legwork, smuggling all these records into our country. Like to think of that as my own service to the state, even if said state would disagree. Hey, we get outta this crazy mess, I might even throw ya a little listening party, how 'bout it?".
I had to step back. I'd imagined the whole 'legality' question would be the trickiest thing to ask, yet Genpachi had gone ahead and answered it for me. Even if I was no longer in the air force, I still couldn't help but think of the thrashing I'd receive from my superiors if they caught me listening to banned music. Then again, my superiors would look for any excuse to beat their juniors...
I shook my head to snap out of those memories, and instead asked Genpachi one question that'd occurred to me, as he seemed so, ah, comfortable answering.
"Ah, wouldn't it be easier to keep the vinyls inside your, um, I think that's a cello case?" I asked.
I flinched as Genpachi responded with a piercing glare, but not because of the whole legality aspect. "Cello case? Geez, can't believe one of the first guys I meet here is this musically illiterate," he hissed to himself, before he spun his case around and let it open, "Double Bass, kid. Con-tra-bass-o, burn that into ya brain if that's what it takes. The very pillar all of jazz is built on, and you can't tell it from the leg violin of a behind-the-times classical musician. You'll notice no godforsaken bow here, sweetcheeks. That's cause classical music theory tells us to bow the bass, yet we're jazzmen, we tell 'em no and choose to pluck. Essence of jazz right there" he kept ranting on.
"Oh yeah, you asked why I don't keep my vinyl hauls in this case," he then said, coming all the way around to my original question, "That'd just end up scratching the instrument, ya dig? Plus, patrol would reckon something real funny's happening if I showed up with a big-ass case like this at the border".
I nodded as I tried to take all his words in, having barely had the chance to say anything as he'd gone on about jazz. I mean, I'd been to some classical performances, and that genre seemed nice enough, though I also figured it might be best not to bring that up around him.Birdcoin! x1
I wasn't sure whether to tell Genpachi that I'd been a kamikaze pilot specifically. I mean, he'd been so open with me that I felt it was only fair, plus someone as sharp as he seemed would probably piece it together soon enough. However... it's not like I was the most comfortable bringing it up myself, and besides-
"Okay, um, that eagle on the, er, screen told us to all meet up in the Gym, so I guess we should start heading there. That's probably where all the others are" I said.
Genpachi smirked and said, "Hope you're prepared for a real trek then. This is the South Building, Gym's all the way in the North Building, and we've got us a whole cavern between the two. I've run into some of the other goons 'round here already, and between you and me, no idea how I'm gonna spend an entire year with 'em. Heh, if a normal year's still on the table, that is".
A whole cavern? I headed forward to the end of the corridor, where I found a set of towering doors that gradually creaked open. As he'd said, between here and the next school building there was a looming, dark grey cavern, the only light sources being the veins of seething magma that crisscrossed the floor. True, I'd already seen we were underground from that window, but getting a much bigger picture here was something else.
At least I got to see that Genpachi, that eagle, and I weren't the only ones around. Standing here inspecting the cavern were four others our age, the one who first approached us being a prim and proper boy with stark white hair beneath a cap, remarkably bushy brows, and wearing a black nehru jacket with gold epaulettes.
"Greetings, it's good to see the rest of us gathering," he smiled and gave a sharp bow, "I am Ishimaru Toranosuke, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances. I have been called a great many things, a political genius, an effortless leader, but at Hope's Peak I am enrolled as the Ultimate Manager. My dream is no less than to become Prime Minister of our fair Japan, so all of us may embark on the road to recovery".
"I smell narc" Genpachi muttered under his breath at me.
"T-that's Sakamoto Genpachi, Ultimate Jazzman. And I'm- I'm Enoshima Tsubasa, I'm the, well, Ultimate Pilot," I said, before I sighed, "Guess that's not much of a talent though, given we're all trapped underground like this".
"Relax, bub. There's no way anyone can keep me, the Ultimate Jailbreaker, down here, so you'll be up and flying in no time," smirked the next student, a man so hulking I could've mistaken him for a teacher. Stubble forming on his chin, the rest of his face was hidden by a black balaclava and beanie, though his smile showed braces that looked like barbed wire. The balaclava combined with his striped shirt made think of a raccoon. He had several keychains around his belt, a set of knives and spoons clutched between his fingers on his right hand, and a... cookbook in his left. I saw there was even still a ball-and-chain attached to his leg, which he was a bit too playfully swinging around.
"Alcatraz, Colditz, Cowra, Hachijo, Hashima, no chains can contain me. Oh yeah, you can call me Katsu-"
[ ] Kei
[ ] Yudai
[ ] Hideie
[ ] Write-in
"I assure you, no such breakout will be necessary," Toranosuke spoke up, shooting a glare up at Katsu, "Hope's Peak Academy had to be relocated underground for safety during the war. Spreading wild accusations of imprisonment will only cause panic among our student population.
Anyway, to return to our initial subject," the Manager coughed for emphasis and turned back to look at me, "So, you say you are from the Enoshimas? Ah yes, a well-respected military family with a storied background, delightful to have you here. As for our 'Ultimate Jazzman' though," Toranosuke furrowed his brow, before he shrugged and said, "Well, if it's what Hope's Peak has permitted...".
"Wise man once said 'Nothing is true. Everything is permitted'" came Genpachi's response, which Toranosuke just brushed off.
I tried to be more courteous. "T-thank you for your welcome, Ishimaru. Um, unusual a welcome as this is, it's really an honour for me to be here" I said, bowing in return.
"Likewise," said a girl with a wavy pink bob, a darker shade than mine, who was wearing headphones, not a sight I saw often other than on officers. She had on a beige jacket over a ruffled blouse with a rose pinned on it, and an also beige ankle-length skirt patterned with tiny white dots. "My, I don't intend to be presumptuous, but... I assume you'd be familiar with me. Most of Japan is after all, at least with my voice" she then asked.
I was left scrambling to think of where I could possibly know this girl from, until I remembered that broadcast I'd heard last night (at least, I guessed it was last night).
"Oh, I know, you're the Ultimate Radio Broadcaster! I-I think I listen to your radio show, you were talking about Hope's Peak and how you'd be there, a-and you also mentioned Ishimaru" I staggered back as I said, unable to believe I was meeting a national radio presenter.
"What's the big deal? I've got better tunes than her on rotation 24/7," Genpachi had to remark.
She politely laughed, hand up to her mouth. She then said, choosing to focus on me, "Why thank you, I'm always grateful to meet a fan. I can understand why you took a while to recognise my voice, even someone like can forget how people sound different on air than in person.
Well, as we're all going to be schoolmates, um, I believe you are entitled to my proper name. Please, call me Sakakibara-"
[ ] Momoka
[ ] Akari
[ ] Yoshie
[ ] Nami
[ ] Write-in
Wait, oh no, as Sakakibara was the Ultimate Broadcaster, then was there a chance of-? I'd have to ask that Voice, that 'Ultimate Mission Control', about her in private... if they'd even give an answer.
As I was still uncomfortable with the thought of bringing the Voice up in public, I tried to broach the topic a little by saying, "Wow, they can sure do some amazing things with radio these days, huh? Like, even send waves straight into a person's head, um, I'd imagine anyway".
Sakakibara had to tilt her head at me, but she then said, "Ah, I see you've been tuning into our Science Fiction broadcast". Well, that got me nowhere.
That left one person here, a girl with round, rimless glasses framed by bronze-blonde hair ending in curls, wearing a dark blue dress with a white cravat over a lime green labcoat. Multiple test-tubes were stuffed into her pocket protector, a scribble-covered notepad poked out of her burgundy purse, and had on a wristwatch fitted with far more counters than just the time.
"Guten tag," she said, bowing and smiling, before she twitched and stepped back a little. "Um, guess it is no surprise I am from Germany, ah ha. Um, if I may make a request?" she then asked.
"Sure, ask away" I said, trying to break the ice.Birdcoin! x1
She sighed out. "It does feel a little spoilt of me, given how open everyone here has been with their talents. But, well, I would prefer to keep my Talent a secret, confidential as per request, for now. Do not worry, it is indeed listed on the Academy records, I shall happily reveal it in due time, once we're all.... comfortable," she fidgeted.
Toranosuke had to fold his arms, and remarked, "Secrets are not ideal for group cohesion, but... I do suppose there is nothing in Hope's Peak Rules about obfuscating one's Talent, at least to other students. By all means then, if you must".
"Oh, thank you thank you, that helps me a lot," she perked up right away, before she gulped and said, "Eh, okay, I will of course give you my name. Surname first, as is per custom here, I am Schulz-"
[ ] Hildegard
[ ] Magdalene
[ ] Ostara
[ ] Write-in
[X] Pilot.
[X] Genpachi
"Oh, um, wow, t-that's something. I'm Enoshima Tsubasa, er, I'm told I was accepted here since they say I'm the 'Ultimate Pilot'. Well, for someone my age anyway," I introduced myself, bowing and adjusting my bomber jacket by the lapels.
Sakamoto Genpachi, my fellow student I took it, cocked his head and asked me bluntly, "Kid, what's with all the modesty? You've made it, being accepted to this place's proof of that. Hmm, well you figure it would be anyway, right now this place ain't the most swinging of shindigs, unless being several levels underground's all the rage these days" he glanced around.
Genpachi's talent raised another questioned for me, albeit once I hesitated to ask due to it, well, being a private matter I imagine. "Er, I mean no offence, Sakamoto, but... I thought jazz was banned, well, I guess it's lifted now. I suppose you would've spent time in America honing that Talent, right?".
Yet at my words, Genpachi grinned and nearly burst out laughing, before he told me, "You can't ban the Jazz, kid. You can't ban rebellion, you can't ban freedom, you can't ban choice and defiance, it's in these things' very nature. Ergo, can't ban jazz". he then opened up his pinstripe coat to reveal rows and rows of packaged vinyls hidden inside, "Still, I had to do some real legwork, smuggling all these records into our country. Like to think of that as my own service to the state, even if said state would disagree. Hey, we get outta this crazy mess, I might even throw ya a little listening party, how 'bout it?".
I had to step back. I'd imagined the whole 'legality' question would be the trickiest thing to ask, yet Genpachi had gone ahead and answered it for me. Even if I was no longer in the air force, I still couldn't help but think of the thrashing I'd receive from my superiors if they caught me listening to banned music. Then again, my superiors would look for any excuse to beat their juniors...
I shook my head to snap out of those memories, and instead asked Genpachi one question that'd occurred to me, as he seemed so, ah, comfortable answering.
"Ah, wouldn't it be easier to keep the vinyls inside your, um, I think that's a cello case?" I asked.
I flinched as Genpachi responded with a piercing glare, but not because of the whole legality aspect. "Cello case? Geez, can't believe one of the first guys I meet here is this musically illiterate," he hissed to himself, before he spun his case around and let it open, "Double Bass, kid. Con-tra-bass-o, burn that into ya brain if that's what it takes. The very pillar all of jazz is built on, and you can't tell it from the leg violin of a behind-the-times classical musician. You'll notice no godforsaken bow here, sweetcheeks. That's cause classical music theory tells us to bow the bass, yet we're jazzmen, we tell 'em no and choose to pluck. Essence of jazz right there" he kept ranting on.
"Oh yeah, you asked why I don't keep my vinyl hauls in this case," he then said, coming all the way around to my original question, "That'd just end up scratching the instrument, ya dig? Plus, patrol would reckon something real funny's happening if I showed up with a big-ass case like this at the border".
I nodded as I tried to take all his words in, having barely had the chance to say anything as he'd gone on about jazz. I mean, I'd been to some classical performances, and that genre seemed nice enough, though I also figured it might be best not to bring that up around him.Birdcoin! x1
I wasn't sure whether to tell Genpachi that I'd been a kamikaze pilot specifically. I mean, he'd been so open with me that I felt it was only fair, plus someone as sharp as he seemed would probably piece it together soon enough. However... it's not like I was the most comfortable bringing it up myself, and besides-
"Okay, um, that eagle on the, er, screen told us to all meet up in the Gym, so I guess we should start heading there. That's probably where all the others are" I said.
Genpachi smirked and said, "Hope you're prepared for a real trek then. This is the South Building, Gym's all the way in the North Building, and we've got us a whole cavern between the two. I've run into some of the other goons 'round here already, and between you and me, no idea how I'm gonna spend an entire year with 'em. Heh, if a normal year's still on the table, that is".
A whole cavern? I headed forward to the end of the corridor, where I found a set of towering doors that gradually creaked open. As he'd said, between here and the next school building there was a looming, dark grey cavern, the only light sources being the veins of seething magma that crisscrossed the floor. True, I'd already seen we were underground from that window, but getting a much bigger picture here was something else.
At least I got to see that Genpachi, that eagle, and I weren't the only ones around. Standing here inspecting the cavern were four others our age, the one who first approached us being a prim and proper boy with stark white hair beneath a cap, remarkably bushy brows, and wearing a black nehru jacket with gold epaulettes.
"Greetings, it's good to see the rest of us gathering," he smiled and gave a sharp bow, "I am Ishimaru Toranosuke, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances. I have been called a great many things, a political genius, an effortless leader, but at Hope's Peak I am enrolled as the Ultimate Manager. My dream is no less than to become Prime Minister of our fair Japan, so all of us may embark on the road to recovery".
"I smell narc" Genpachi muttered under his breath at me.
"T-that's Sakamoto Genpachi, Ultimate Jazzman. And I'm- I'm Enoshima Tsubasa, I'm the, well, Ultimate Pilot," I said, before I sighed, "Guess that's not much of a talent though, given we're all trapped underground like this".
"Relax, bub. There's no way anyone can keep me, the Ultimate Jailbreaker, down here, so you'll be up and flying in no time," smirked the next student, a man so hulking I could've mistaken him for a teacher. Stubble forming on his chin, the rest of his face was hidden by a black balaclava and beanie, though his smile showed braces that looked like barbed wire. The balaclava combined with his striped shirt made think of a raccoon. He had several keychains around his belt, a set of knives and spoons clutched between his fingers on his right hand, and a... cookbook in his left. I saw there was even still a ball-and-chain attached to his leg, which he was a bit too playfully swinging around.
"Alcatraz, Colditz, Cowra, Hachijo, Hashima, no chains can contain me. Oh yeah, you can call me Katsu-"
[ ] Kei
[ ] Yudai
[ ] Hideie
[ ] Write-in
"I assure you, no such breakout will be necessary," Toranosuke spoke up, shooting a glare up at Katsu, "Hope's Peak Academy had to be relocated underground for safety during the war. Spreading wild accusations of imprisonment will only cause panic among our student population.
Anyway, to return to our initial subject," the Manager coughed for emphasis and turned back to look at me, "So, you say you are from the Enoshimas? Ah yes, a well-respected military family with a storied background, delightful to have you here. As for our 'Ultimate Jazzman' though," Toranosuke furrowed his brow, before he shrugged and said, "Well, if it's what Hope's Peak has permitted...".
"Wise man once said 'Nothing is true. Everything is permitted'" came Genpachi's response, which Toranosuke just brushed off.
I tried to be more courteous. "T-thank you for your welcome, Ishimaru. Um, unusual a welcome as this is, it's really an honour for me to be here" I said, bowing in return.
"Likewise," said a girl with a wavy pink bob, a darker shade than mine, who was wearing headphones, not a sight I saw often other than on officers. She had on a beige jacket over a ruffled blouse with a rose pinned on it, and an also beige ankle-length skirt patterned with tiny white dots. "My, I don't intend to be presumptuous, but... I assume you'd be familiar with me. Most of Japan is after all, at least with my voice" she then asked.
I was left scrambling to think of where I could possibly know this girl from, until I remembered that broadcast I'd heard last night (at least, I guessed it was last night).
"Oh, I know, you're the Ultimate Radio Broadcaster! I-I think I listen to your radio show, you were talking about Hope's Peak and how you'd be there, a-and you also mentioned Ishimaru" I staggered back as I said, unable to believe I was meeting a national radio presenter.
"What's the big deal? I've got better tunes than her on rotation 24/7," Genpachi had to remark.
She politely laughed, hand up to her mouth. She then said, choosing to focus on me, "Why thank you, I'm always grateful to meet a fan. I can understand why you took a while to recognise my voice, even someone like can forget how people sound different on air than in person.
Well, as we're all going to be schoolmates, um, I believe you are entitled to my proper name. Please, call me Sakakibara-"
[ ] Momoka
[ ] Akari
[ ] Yoshie
[ ] Nami
[ ] Write-in
Wait, oh no, as Sakakibara was the Ultimate Broadcaster, then was there a chance of-? I'd have to ask that Voice, that 'Ultimate Mission Control', about her in private... if they'd even give an answer.
As I was still uncomfortable with the thought of bringing the Voice up in public, I tried to broach the topic a little by saying, "Wow, they can sure do some amazing things with radio these days, huh? Like, even send waves straight into a person's head, um, I'd imagine anyway".
Sakakibara had to tilt her head at me, but she then said, "Ah, I see you've been tuning into our Science Fiction broadcast". Well, that got me nowhere.
That left one person here, a girl with round, rimless glasses framed by bronze-blonde hair ending in curls, wearing a dark blue dress with a white cravat over a lime green labcoat. Multiple test-tubes were stuffed into her pocket protector, a scribble-covered notepad poked out of her burgundy purse, and had on a wristwatch fitted with far more counters than just the time.
"Guten tag," she said, bowing and smiling, before she twitched and stepped back a little. "Um, guess it is no surprise I am from Germany, ah ha. Um, if I may make a request?" she then asked.
"Sure, ask away" I said, trying to break the ice.Birdcoin! x1
She sighed out. "It does feel a little spoilt of me, given how open everyone here has been with their talents. But, well, I would prefer to keep my Talent a secret, confidential as per request, for now. Do not worry, it is indeed listed on the Academy records, I shall happily reveal it in due time, once we're all.... comfortable," she fidgeted.
Toranosuke had to fold his arms, and remarked, "Secrets are not ideal for group cohesion, but... I do suppose there is nothing in Hope's Peak Rules about obfuscating one's Talent, at least to other students. By all means then, if you must".
"Oh, thank you thank you, that helps me a lot," she perked up right away, before she gulped and said, "Eh, okay, I will of course give you my name. Surname first, as is per custom here, I am Schulz-"
[ ] Hildegard
[ ] Magdalene
[ ] Ostara
[ ] Write-in
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