[MAJOR SPOILERS FOR DANGANRONPA 3: DESPAIR SIDE AND DANGANRONPA 2]
ANOTHER SONG’S ANALYSIS: POISON
It has been a long time since I uploaded an analysis, isn’t it right? I’ll give you everything I have on my mind on this one! Stay with me for a while~
I choose this time a Danganronpa 3: Despair Side ending. It’s a little birthday present for our Komaeda who celebrated his birthday on 28th April. I wasn’t able to upload it back then.
I’m aware that according to Ogata, Zettai Kibō Birthday is how Nagito feels outside and Zansakura -zanka- is how he feels on the inside. Still, I believe there is more into it, especially considering all hints within choosen pictures in the credits.
Don’t forget the fact that his “outside” feelings are also part of him and they are as much important as his hidden deep down wishes and desires. All things matters and we shouldn’t forget he did terrible things because of his beliefs. That’s him with all his flaws...
And we can’t simply ignore him, because of that.
Let’s move on and see what is hiding between the lyrics!
TL;DR: Komaeda is expressing his genuine feelings towards Chiaki’s death but at the same time he isn’t regreting anything he did in the past.
I had a hard time with deciding how I should start this analysis. I needed to point out basics to flesh out my statements. For this one, the most important fact is that to understand that ending and it’s meaning it’s necessary to believe Komaeda sang it after Despair Side events were finished. I’ll risk even more detailed answer - he sang it after Hope Side was portrayed. Why?
The lyrics are clearly breaking the third wall and spoiling up coming events of Despair Side. It’s also really mysterious how Komaeda is able to sing that song before approaching Izuru and sacrificing Chiaki!
We should deal with this mystery first. I believe there are two the most possible explanations which are supplementing each other.
1. Komaeda knows at this point of the story about Kamakura Project.
He isn’t singing a whole song, even if he is singing it with the correct notes and tune. He just felt a random rythm and he was singing while he was fantasizing about incredible person with absolute power of hope.
2. Komaeda completed the lyrics for this song after meeting Izuru in person and Chaki’s death.
It’s a theory which is an excellent addition for @doodlede88 theory about Despair Side being only an Ryouta’s anime. Make sure to read it if you hadn’t already! I added a link for it.
If that’s the truth, when Ryouta worked on that anime? It’s my personal headcanon which not all of you will agree, but I believe he did it after Hope’s Side events.
Ryouta was guilty this whole time because of how he ended up in Junko’s hands. His dream were used to crush people who forgave him later despite all his mistakes which led them to their state and Chiaki’s death. He also were grateful for Yukizome’s presence as much as the others, he admired her as all of them. If there is something for them what only he can do, what can it be?
The answer is only one - anime.
Not anime which would cost him all his nerves and make him sleepless, not the one which would make him lonely and desperate. We are talking about an anime which would allow everyone to participate in making it. The one which would be a memorial of their struggles.
Can you imagine it? Ryouta awkwardly asking if they are wanting to make an anime with him and everyone agrees with the idea. All of them are trying to express their feelings by narrating the story from their point of view. Little by little, everyone is working hard on opening up and remember all feelings from their past. Akane with her bluntness easily telling in front of everyone how she was training with Nekomaru or all strange medicines or food Teruteru let her ate. That awkward moment when especially Sonia and Mahiru are embrassed when they are disscusing about that one time when Saionji made them eat a special soup which made them horny. All of them were somehow ashamed in front of Hinata who didn’t except they were normal to being with.
All of it, all happened and they remembered it. They were listening and talking, all of them in their own peace when they were ready. Ryouta was slowly gathering all the pieces together and make their memories alive again.
... and I believe Komaeda and Ibuki were working with him on the ending song.
Ibuki with her absolute hearing is the best choice for making their own song. It’s also believeable she would acknowledge Komaeda’s talent for singing. All Ultimates from 77th Class knew Ibuki’s songs without any help all a total mess but Ibuki being intrigued by Komaeda’s voice and trying to make her melody fitting it...? It sounded as an excellent idea.
There are a lot of feelings which Komaeda would want to capture. He has always been two steps ahead than others. He is also the type of person who would hid his true intentions behind fancy or inappropriate words - aware of that or not. That’s my reason to believe this song is really misleading at first.
This is a song about shameless feelings and obligations.
The beginning of the song which is a melodic part is showing a not completed picture of Chiaki being made from memories of Class 77.
“In the middle of the campus at night*. It takes my heart away as I continue to wait. “I was born to meet you.” Is what I think, and at that very moment.”
Komaeda is singing as if he is telling a story about his past feelings to someone. He is admiting and showing his impatience and fascination while thinking of that person. He is absorbed by greatness which was consuming him. He haven’t seen Izuru yet but this moment is about to come soon.
“I’ll have boot up, warm up, hang up... Make up, mess up, down up... I’ll dedicate all that I have to you.”
He is singing with confidence about future events and tell us about terrible things that has to be done. The picture of Chiaki is even more visible than before. He uses concrete words while her picture is slowly being near completion. He has to boot up, warm up, hang up... her - Chiaki.
He needs to make her aware of the problem, give her an explanation about how enormous the problem is and then sacrifice her. He did all of those horryfing things. Everything he is doing is for that person and he means it.
That’s right, I’ll think up, pop up, pull up... Brush up all to protect it. The greatest, final ray of hope.
He changes “have to” into “will”, as if he is admitting he will do without a room for doubt. It’s no brainer for him - decision has been made becuase he has to protect hope which is going to win in the end.
Oh how it shines and dazzles. Show me more of you at your most brilliant!
Komaeda is commenting on how Chiaki’ is shining while fighting against despair. He is heart-broken deep down but he hadn’t have a choice. It was something they couldn’t avoided.
With unstoppable groove, overcome despair to cast your light. (I miss you)
Komaeda is cheering for her to be as strong as she can be. He wants her to remain undefeated dispite circumstances. He isn’t feeling guilty because that’s how things were always executed in his life. One person instead of all of them - that was the price. It doesn’t mean he was heartless, in fact he was concerned. He was crying, he was devastated and he missed her as much as every person he lost before.
It’s the birthday of absolute hope.
It’s a birthday of Hajime Hinata.
Then, in the end of the first part - in the end of Chiaki’s part of the song’s lyrics - Chaki’s shown holding a little star which is splitted on the picture as if it’s made of hope fragments.
The star is symbolizing that Chiaki was the heart of Neo World Program, she was the reason for it to exist. If someone as her wouldn’t exist they weren’t be brainwashed and avoided death. It’s also really beautifuly capturing how Chiaki AI was made from scattered pieces of their memories and their feelings for her.
I keep waiting with bated breath for the very moment you wake up. The muddy stream of red tears, being pushed and swallowed, sinking further down.
Komaeda is still focusing on talking to someone important for him. His mind is corrupted and his feelings about Chiaki are being messed up by Junko’s Despair Video. He and his classmates have now only one path in their mind which is leading them to destroy everything they cared about.
So lock up, mix up, cut up… Key up, sex up, wrap up. I'll let you mess me up and indulge. Break up, use up, end up… hook up—because we're connected.
Komaeda is getting really offensive and sensual at the same time. He is almost begging a person for whom he is singing to make a use of him but at the same time he is strangely confident about himself. He isn’t begging, he is demanding. His awareness of their unexplainable bound is giving him courage and makes possesive. It’s all portrayed as a twisted way of expressing love.
It’s similar to how possesive he was towards Hinata when they were together investigating cases or even before that.
The omen of hope after the worst disaster.
Their meeting is like a light showing up after a storm.
Wow wow... dance, sing ... Wow wow... surely, you captivate me with your happiest self! Wow wow... until I can't crawl up...
His field of vision is blurring in front of his eyes and despair video is making a mess within his head. He is fighting with it and he is losing that fight.
Only despair can create it,
(I want you)
The absolute hope is a die hard .
He is believing that only unstoppable despair can create unstoppable hope. His mind is disoriented and filled with urges and desires. He justifies his actions by beliefs he trusted his whole life.
He desires Hinata more than anything else and understands that he got to know him because of Hinata’s desperation and helplessness.
Wow wow... dance, sing... Wow wow... captivate me with your happiest self.
Show me that carefree side of you.
"Always!"
Be my light whenever I’ll go.
wow wow... sparkling, shining,
wow wow... captivate me even more with your best self!
wow wow... with the unstopping groove, overcome the despair and shine.
Be even better, be even stronger... Be able to destroy something I couldn’t on my own, Hinata.
(I miss you)
[I want to watch you at your best, Chiaki.]
[I want you to be happy and alive-]
The absolute hope is a die hard... It’s absolute’s hope birthday!
It’s a birthday of Hinata Hajime.
The brainwashing process is completed with a full success.
At first it can seem chaotic, I’m aware of that. I intended not to use Izuru’s name the whole song... becuase I believe it wasn’t a song for him even if it’s surely highly related to his character.
I believe that Komaeda is singing this song with intention to shamelessly show his attraction to Hinata. He wasn’t aware of his existence back then but he is fond of him in the future - when he sings that song. All things he did - his encounter with Izuru, death of Chiaki, spending time with Monaka was all for that only reason - to finally get to know the real Hinata, someone who changed his life and turned it upside down. He couldn’t know that, again. Still, it’s a song where he is interpreting past events.
He is step by step showing all his sins which led him to a road where two of them were able to meet with each other. He felt guilt deep down becuase in the end Chiaki was being used to make that happen. Now, that he undestands that every live matters - he really feels bad about it. His safe-zone which he created after his parents died was destroyed because of events which happend in Neo World Program. It made him able to express his feelings how they really were.
He used his past feelings and mixed them with his present feelings. He used despair he felt back then to apologize Chiaki becuase he wasn’t able to protect her. He used an easy way out.
That’s what is explaining a last part of the song where fascination is mixing up with a geniuine feeling of missing someone. He wants to feel hapiness without thinking he stole someone’s else happiness.
I feel I said everything I can for now. If something isn’t clear I will respond to everyone who will ask me/comment/reblog it. Thank you for your time! I really apperaciate it! I will also talk with all of you who are dissagreeing with me!
Komaeda is really egoistic and posessive when it comes to Hinata.
Is it a bad thing? He is only a human as we all are.
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