What Is 'Mizu5' And What's Up With Memes About 'That Ominous Bell Tolling'? The 'Project Sekai' Meme About Akiyama Mizuki Explained

Project Sekai may be best known for its connection to Hatsune Miku, the internet's favorite Vocaloid, but the rhythm game's fanbase stretches far beyond people obsessed with the blue-haired idol.

The Japanese edition of Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! (PJSK)releases plotlines nearly a year ahead of its English localization, and fans of the game have been waiting with bated breath to hear about what's in store for them in the much anticipated Akiyama Mizuki arc, also known as Mizu5.

PJSK released a piece of art from Mizu5 a day before it dropped, marking the fifth Mizuki-related event taking place in the game. Soon after the event was released, fans began sharing memes making light of the heartbreaking scene they encountered in the game. Here's why you might be seeing jokes about Mizu5, and why fans are cracking up about an "Ominous Bell Tolling."

What Is Mizu5, And Why Were People So Shocked By It?

Mizu5 is a much-anticipated arc in Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! involving Akiyama Mizuki, a pink-haired character known for making music videos for her underground music group "Nightcord at 25:00." On October 10th, 2024, Project Sekai posted to X (formerly Twitter) about the Japanese "Where Does The Road of Thorns Lead To?" event set to take place on October 12th.

The translated blurb read, "Seeing Mafuyu take a step forward, Mizuki's desire to 'move forward too' grows stronger. Before the school festival, she decides to tell Ena something she hasn't been able to say until now, but…"

On October 12th, translated versions of the shocking scene began making rounds online. The scene shows Ena talking to two students who are referred to as Student A and Student B. Student A asks Ena if she is a "boy" too, accidentally revealing to her that her friend Mizuki is transgender. Mizuki overhears the conversation and appears heartbroken at her secret being revealed to Ena this way, since she was working up the courage to tell her the truth herself.

How Did 'Shocked Mizuki' Become A Meme?

Various internet users reacted to Mizu5 by sharing memes and jokes using Mizuki's shocked face. Long before the arc was unveiled in the actual game, X user @akanedni posted a thousand yard stare edit featuring Mizuki, gathering over 37,000 likes. Japanese Twitter was not far behind, posting a meme referencing Project Sekai Cheerful Show and raking in 74,000 likes.

TikTokers caught onto the Mizu5 as well, with Project Sekai fans posting fan edits and memes about Mizuki's sad arc in the game. Many edits featured other aspects of the Colorful Stage!, including the SEKAI world and Mizuki's underground band "Nightcord at 25:00."

What Does 'Anyone Else Hear That Ominous Bell Tolling?' Mean?

Back in 2023, an ironic Facebook status meme about an "ominous bell tolling" made the rounds on Twitter, with people joking about how they would react to a classic symbolism technique where the sound of an "ominous bell" indicates that something bad is going to happen.

When Mizu5 dropped, internet users edited the sound of bells tolling into the scene of Mizuki looking shell-shocked, as seen in a post by X user @mmmyora014.

For the full history of Mizu5, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.