Nursery Rhymes

Nursery Rhymes is the femslash ship between Kaede Akamatsu and Maki Harukawa in the Danganronpa fandom.

Canon
After Kaede and Maki introduced themselves as Ultimates, Maki says that if Kaede thought she doesn't look like someone who likes kids, she's right. Kaede protests that if Maki is the Ultimate Child Caregiver, kids must like her a lot, and that they can probably see how loving Maki really is. Kaede also compliments Maki by saying she chose a good career, but then is a little surprised when she hears that it just happened because Maki grew up in an orphanage. They also talk about the Monokubs and chances of escaping, and while Kaede is extremely optimistic about their situation, Maki says Kaede is a "naive fool" if she thinks working with each other will help them escape so easily.

After attempting the Death Road to Despair so many times due to Kaede's urging, everyone gets tired of it and Kaede feels extremely guilty, and apologizes, saying it's all her fault. Despite Kaito saying it's not Kaede's fault, Maki agrees with Kaede. The next day, Kaede can talk to Maki again, who acts coldly to her, and says she can do whatever she wants, but to make sure she leaves the rest of them out of it. Later on, in response to Kaede saying they haven't made a plan yet, Maki says she can make one on her own, since her speeches don't work on them anymore.

Despite Kaede's kindness towards Maki, the latter has been shown to distrust her, openly showcasing dislike for her. She even blames Kaede for destroying the unity that she had tried to create between the students.

In Maki's first Free Time event, Kaede says that she thought Maki would be more worried about the kids and Maki's orphanage. Maki says they'll be fine since they can take care of themselves and have the older kids to help the younger ones. Kaede thinks to herself that maybe, Maki being a reserved individual, doesn't want the others to find out she's worried. Kaede also asks what child caregivers do, and Maki explains. Kaede says that since they're such normal methods, then the children must like Maki so much because of her deep love.

In Maki's second Free Time event, Kaede asks Maki what her orphanage is like. After Kaede hears that they didn't really have much to do, Kaede suggests that she play the piano at the orphanage sometime. Maki calls Kaede a busybody, and asks what good will come of it, but Kaede says "'selfish help is better that no help at all'". Maki still can't believe that Kaede thinks they can escape together, and says that she thinks Kaede, but also admits that they probably need people like her in the world. Kaede is a little taken aback by Maki's harsh insult, but she believes Maki doesn't seem like a bad person, and that since she's being straightforward with her, they must be closer now.

Ultimate Talent Development Plan
Maki seems to have a somewhat better relationship with Kaede in Ultimate Talent Development Plan. Kaede apparently made a promise Maki to play the piano for the kids at her orphanage. Kaede passed along a message to Kaito, saying she wanted to talk about the promise with Maki. This makes Kaito wonder when the two of them got so close. Maki says they're not close, rather they two of them simply made an arrangement where Kaede offered to play piano the orphanage. Maki is apprehensive about bringing Kaede there, though, because Maki isn't really the Ultimate Child Caregiver as Kaede believes her to be. Maki eventually agrees to schedule something with the orphanage after Kaito says he'll bring along himself and Shuichi for support.

In another event, Kaede is with Maki when they run into Chihiro crying. Chihiro is upset about a bird that died before they could get it to Gundham for help. Maki bluntly says that Chihiro doesn't really need to cry about it because it wasn't their fault, and Kaede tells Maki to watch what she says. Maki does give Chihiro some consolation, though, and Chihiro thanks both Maki and Kaede. Kaede tells Chihiro that even though Maki may seem edgy on the outside, she's actually very sincere. Maki and Kaede accompany Chihiro to take the dead bird to Gundham, even though Maki tells Kaede she doesn't need to come too.

Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp
Kaede chases after Maki, complaining that she's too fast and is going to leave her behind, but Maki says that Kaede's just gotten slower. Eventually, they come to a secret spot, and Kaede is glad to have found such a place, but Maki says it was her spot until Kaede decided to come along with her. When Kaede wonders if she should apologize, Maki says it's fine, and Kaede suggests that Maki thought deep down, it would be nice to bring Kaede to this spot. Maki doesn't care how Kaede interprets it, and so Kaede decides she could use some "fabled Maki affection". In response to Kaede's joking, Maki tries to joke by saying she's going to leave, and Kaede is surprised that Maki was teasing her. Maki says maybe it's Kaede's influence on her, which causes the two of them to get into a bit of a banter about how weird this situation is and how the other is mean. In the end, Maki laughs a little, showing her amusement of it all.

In Chiaki's "With Swimsuits" event, Maki mentions that Kaede always has to "tame" Miu when she gets carried away, which makes Chiaki ask if Maki is worried about Kaede. Maki says no, she just doesn't want to get involved in their quarreling, and Chiaki smiles and agrees they can leave it at that.

Fanon
The ship sailed as a result of both characters being the main heroines (although Kaede only temporarily) of New Danganronpa V3. A promotional picture (this page's infobox picture) showing them together in a rather suggestive pose also helped. They also are liked for the opposites attract duo, with Kaede being bright and optimistic, while Maki is secretive and more of a realist. Additionally, the visual charm of them is liked, with Maki wearing dark colours while Kaede wears lighter colours, while both are in the red/purple color range. Nursery Rhymes is mainly rivaled by Saimatsu, Irumatsu, and Harukaito. It is currently Maki's 2nd most written, and Kaede's 4th most written ship on AO3.

There has also been some tension between Kaemaki and Saimatsu shippers, with many feeling that Kodaka and the other writers wasted a "perfect romance plot that could have happened between Kaede and Maki" after Kaede was executed and the viewpoint switched to Shuichi. A particularly infamous and extreme example of this was an AU on Tumblr called "Obakematsu AU" (lit. Ghostmatsu AU) where, after being executed, Kaede comes back as a ghost that helps Shuichi and Maki, and most importantly, possess Shuichi so she could have sex with her lover Maki (many times without asking for his permission as well). What particularly made the AU infamous was the author constantly bashing and reminding how much she hates both Saimatsu and Shuichi, as well as the aforementioned body possession plot point, something many pointed out as being icky.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Harukawa/Akamatsu tag on FanFiction.net
 * Harukawa/Akamatsu tag on FanFiction.net
 * Harukawa/Akamatsu tag on FanFiction.net

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Trivia

 * Both are the main heroines of New Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, with Kaede being the protagonist of the Prologue and Chapter 1 and Maki being the female with the most screentime and character development.
 * Both are also implied love interest of the main heroes of the game, Shuichi Saihara and Kaito Momota respectively.
 * Both were also playable characters at some point, with Kaede being the protagonist of the Prologue and Chapter 1 (until the switch during the Class Trial) and Maki being playable during one segment in the final Class Trial.

Variations

 * Double Date refers to the ship between the two, Kaito Momota, and Shuichi Saihara
 * Makiakameno refers to the ship between the two and Himiko Yumeno
 * Tenkaemaki refers to the ship between the two and Tenko Chabashira