Two grannies and a challenge

Eillia closes her eyes in thought, breathes heavily before opening them.

Eillia: “I… I will accept the challenge.”

The two elves snickered nastily, while Mizuki smirked.

It’s time for me to blow everyone up with music again, huh?

Mizuki: “If we win… You've got to listen to whatever we say!”

The pink-haired elf made a “tch” sound while the other brown-haired elf answered.

???: “Alright, alright… Tomorrow night, around the same time as right now, the challenge will take place at your Aunt’s cafe. You better not chicken out…”

Mizuki: “This is my line. Come on, Eillia… Let’s go.”

Mizuki and Eillia walked away as the two elves looked at them mockingly.

As they got closer to the café, the slight smell of roasted beans was carried by the cool night breeze. Eillia squats down outside instead of entering, hugging her knees, her fingers trembling against her skirt.

Eillia: “W… What should I do…? I accepted it… And I’m not confident…”

Mizuki pats her back and smugs.

Mizuki: “We’ll win with me here… but I want you to take the spotlight.”

Eillia: “Huh..?”

Eillia stood up slowly.

Mizuki: “This is your battle, isn’t it?”

Eillia smiled.

Eillia: “Y… You are right. I’ll practice a bit tomorrow morning, how about you?”

Mizuki: “Me..? I’ll probably try finding a place to live now… Then use the remaining time if there is any, to laze around…”

Eillia: “You can stay at my place if you like… It’s at the second level of the cafe… and we have a guest room.”

Mizuki: “That’s nice! Thanks, man!”

Eillia: “Well… Erm…”

Eillia starts glancing away and holding her hands together shyly. Her ears started to twitch.

Eillia: “C…Can you watch or give me advice as I practise?”

Mizuki grabbed Eillia's shoulders and threw back her head while laughing loudly.

Mizuki: “Of course… I can’t say no to such a shy and cute… granny after all.”

Veins started popping on Eillia’s forehead as she tenses up.

Eillia: “I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT EVER AGAIN, YOU SHITTY BRAT!!!”

Mizuki: “I’m just messing with you… But anyway… I’m here for you, Eillia.”

Eillia softens and smiles widely.

Eillia: “Alright… Then let’s start practicing right now! We can sleep after the challenge!”

Mizuki: “Huh? But I want to sleep…”

Eillia: “Too bad, you told me that you are here for me already. Plus, my Aunt’s coffee will keep us awake!”

As both girls are happily discussing their plans, Shaua watches them from a corner and smiles gently.

The night and morning were filled with finger pain and endless tries. Her hands were shaking with pain by dusk, but her spirit was stronger than ever. Tonight... She will prove herself.

As the night came, Eillia and Mizuki walked down the stairs, and Eillia was caught off guard by the number of people at the cafe tonight.

There’s a whole crowd, some holding banners, some cheering very loudly, and some doing a dance similar to wotagei*.

Eillia: “Why are there so many people?”

Just then, the two elves, one with pink and the other with yellow hair, start walking up the stage. And the audience cheered.

???: “It’s the Punky Twins!”

???: “We love you!!”

Punky Twins?? Cringe name.

Eillia’s ears start twitching in nervousness.

Eillia: “Wh… What should we do? I’m starting to feel a bit…”

Eillia speaks in that shaky voice, while Mizuki smirks and pats Eillia’s back in return.

Mizuki: “They probably announced it to their fans with their big mouths. But isn’t this good? More people will get to witness their defeat.”

???: “Ready to retire from music today?”

The pink-haired elf calls out to Eillia, which makes her flinch.

Mizuki: “You’re so confident, huh? Well, I am too. Just play your music and get this over with.”

The pink-haired elf gritted her teeth.

???: “Alright then, prepare for your defeat then!”

The pink-haired elf gave one sharp strum.

The brown-haired elf lifts her guitar, and both elves start playing.

As soon as they touched the strings, the air shook like there was a storm inside the cafe. A dirty, distorted riff ripped through the speakers. It was heavy enough to shake the tables and had a weird, almost funky groove that made everyone in the room start bobbing their heads. The brown-haired elf slammed a bassline on her guitar like it owed her money, while the pink-haired one tore out sharp chords that made a beast howl and screech.

The crowd went wild, with fists pumping, voices howling, and some fans engaging in exaggerated dances that made the whole floor vibrate with energy.

Every crash and grind made Eillia jump, and her ears hurt so badly. It sounded like a huge wave trying to drown her.

Mizuki, on the other hand, only smirked.

Mizuki: “Heh... It was loud, but nothing new. Just noise that looks like style.”

As the Punky Twins finish playing and stepping down the stage, the floor shook like a war drum as the crowd roared and stomped.

???: “Now it’s time for your last performance… Eillia.”

Both Eillia and Mizuki step up onto the stage and hold up their guitars. Eillia swallowed hard, her fingers shook above the strings.

Mizuki then took a step forward.

This time, she didn't joke around or smile smugly. Instead, her eyes closed for a moment, and her lips parted. The first note she played cut through the noise like moonlight cutting through storm clouds.

A beautiful, crystal-clear voice rose above everything. It was smooth, steady, and full of emotion, and it silenced the room. The crowd, which had just been yelling and thrashing around, stopped moving in the middle of their actions, as if the whole cafe had been enchanted.

At the same time, Eillia's fingers started to move. They weren't shredding like crazy, but they were making cool, measured strums. Every note flowed into the next, making a rhythm that made Mizuki sound even higher, like wings carrying her through the night sky.

It was clear. Easy to do. Every strum was filled with quiet confidence, every pause was planned, and every chord was full of feeling.

The difference was clear: the Punky Twins made rough noise that shook the cafe, but Mizuki and Eillia's sweet music brought everyone in the room closer together.

???: “...Beautiful”

Someone whispered to someone in the crowd who was almost out of breath.

The Punky Twins are caught off guard and at a loss for words.

???: “Since when did Eillia play this well? I remember that she suck!

The brown-haired elf whispers to the pink-haired one. However, she didn’t listen. As if she was also enchanted by the music played by both the elf and a human.

And slowly, the brown-haired elf starts to embrace the music.

After Mizuki and Eillia stopped playing, the whole crowd started cheering loudly.

???: “The solo guitarist Eillia has improved so much compared to her last live!”

???: “And who is that human? Her voice and guitar skills are more beautiful compared to most of us, even though we have more knowledge of music!”

Eillia stares at the audience in surprise.

Eillia: “I… I never thought I would see… This much audience… Hear this much cheers…It’s… Satisfying.”

Mizuki smiles at her.

Mizuki: “Save your surprise, Eillia… This is only the beginning. One day, the cheers will be louder than we can even hear.”

Mizuki turns back and starts walking down the stage and smugs at the Punky Twins, as Eillia follows her from behind.

Mizuki: “I guess the winner is clear, huh?”

The pink-haired elf made a ‘tch’ sound and sulked, while the other started crying and stomping her feet in anger childishly.

???: “I refuse to acknowledge this!!! I challenge you again!!! Let’s fight for glory!!!”

The brown-haired elf yelled at the top of her lungs, while Mizuki just smirks in return, and she places her arm over Eillia’s shoulder.

Mizuki: “Well… I’m lazy right now… So why not challenge my rhythm guitarist, Eillia here? I bet that in 100 challenges against her, you two could only win one.

Eillia: “Huh?”

The pink-haired elf pouted.

???: “Eillia, fight me! Let’s have 100 challenges until daylight!!!”

The pink-haired declared. As Eillia looks at Mizuki shockingly, Mizuki pats her shoulders and smugs.

Mizuki: “You can do it, Eillia.”

Mizuki then proceeds to walk up the stairs of the cafe, to where her temporary stay is.

Eillia: “But… I want to sleep too!!! My fingers hurt…!!!”

As things were happening, Shaua was watching them inside the kitchen as she washed the dishes, and she smiled.

Shaua: “Big sis… Your daughter has grown into a fine lady.”

*Wotagei - a type of energetic cheering and dancing performed by fans, particularly of Japanese idols, often involving jumping, clapping, arm-waving, and chanting.