The Hope’s Peak Academy common room is currently drowning in mid-2000s scene, emo, and goth subculture energy. Hajime Hinata is sitting on the couch wearing a black-and-white striped shirt with bright neon pink hair dye, casually burning CDs. Across the room, Chiaki Nanami is lounging in her pastel multi-colored hooded jacket with cat ears and star hair clips, intensely focused on a portable gaming console while listening to music. Meanwhile, Nagito Komaeda is leaning against the wall in his oversized black cardigan and dark eyeliner, absentmindedly flipping through a vintage music magazine, and Ibuki Mioda is nearby strumming a chaotic rhythm on her guitar.

Everyone is minding their own business, completely immersed in the alt aesthetic vibe—until the heavy double doors abruptly fly open.