Act 1, Chapter 13: To Heaven Through Hell

Saturday, 8 PM. Hiroki Yamada emerged from a refreshing shower, the morning’s hellish jog with Aoi Mizuno still lingering in his aching muscles. To his surprise, Aoi had invited him upstairs to her apartment for breakfast with her elder sister, Akame Mizuno, who is a college student majoring in arts and culture.

The spread—crafted by Aoi and Akame—was a revelation, rivaling a five-star restaurant. Hiroki gulped the last of his fresh orange juice, impressed. “Didn’t know Aoi could cook like this.”

Akame, poised and direct, replied, “She’s been helping me and Mom since forever.”

Her face leaned closer, her tone stern. “So, how are you two doing at school? Causing any trouble?”

Hiroki bristled at the implication, waving it off. “Heck no! We’re fine. Homework’s done, and the light music club? It’s a total party.”

Akame raised an eyebrow as she asked, "Are you sure you’re handling your homework properly?"

“Of course!” Hiroki snapped, irritation creeping in.

After finishing her meal and juice, Aoi stood abruptly. “Oh, Aoi! Where are you going?” Hiroki asked.

"Forging the frequency," she responded cryptically, referring to practicing music, and darted to her bedroom like a knight returning to her stronghold.

Akame leaned in, smirking. “Ever since she got that bass from her senpai, she has been playing it nonstop.”

Hiroki nodded, curious. “Doesn’t her… obsession ever tire you out?”

Akame’s gaze softened, though her initial sternness lingered. “Don't ask me how much I force her to drop it. But I realized I was constantly holding her back. Although I let her be, I still had to keep an eye on her.” She glanced down to the table, her tone melancholic. “If only she had to listen to what I say…”

Before Hiroki could respond, a grungy, beefy fuzz erupted from Aoi’s room, shaking the apartment. Hiroki recognized the sound—Aoi’s weathered black Ibanez GSRM20B bass, cranked through her Zoom B1X Four. He knocked on her door thrice. “Aoi Mizuno, can I come in?”

No answer. The bass roared on. He tested the door—unlocked—and stepped inside. “I’m coming in!”

Aoi’s bedroom was a Victorian gothic shrine, with several anime posters plastered on the walls alongside Band-Maid (World Domination), Ling Tosite Sigure (Still A Sigure Virgin?), Evanescence (The Open Door), and Tool (Ænima) memorabilia. Vintage racks held neatly arranged books and collectibles.

Aoi, now in her gothic lolita attire, stood in a power stance, her Ibanez bass growling with a Royal Blood-esque tone. She was playing Band-Maid’s Domination, singing with a voice that echoed Saiki Atsumi’s powerful clarity, her head swaying with each pluck.

Hiroki’s jaw dropped. This wasn’t just practice—it was a bedroom rock concert. Aoi finished with a heavy distorted pluck, letting the strings ring, and Hiroki clapped, awestruck. "That was incredible! Massive Band-Maid fan, eh?"

Aoi smirked, pointing to an autographed Band-Maid poster plastered on her wardrobe. “That one?”

Hiroki’s eyes widened. “No way! An autograph from the guitarist herself?!”

Akame appeared in the doorway, chuckling. “We saw them live three years ago. And that was the last poster we've got.”

“Sorry, I’ve got to work now,” Akame added with haste, pointing at both Hiroki and Aoi with a subtle warning. “Take care, you two. Don't start any fight.” She left, leaving both alone in Aoi’s gothic-charged room.

Hiroki fought his inner cringe at the chuunibyou aesthetic but pushed it aside. “So, Band-Maid’s what pushed you to play bass?”

"Kind of," Aoi pondered with a nostalgic smirk, reflecting on her musical inspiration. “It called me to conquer the stage.” She stood, eyes wide open in enthusiasm. “Bring your guitar! Let’s forge some sorcery!”

Hiroki didn’t hesitate. He bolted downstairs, quickly grabbing his rigs.

***

The hellish jog with Aoi Mizuno on Saturday morning had morphed into a heavenly jam session in her gothic-styled bedroom. Hiroki Yamada felt alive, as if the pain of the run was a trial leading to this moment of solace.

As he thought, 'To heaven through hell,' Hiroki strummed Kaito’s black-gold Les Paul while Aoi borrowed his BandLab and Zoom AMS-22 to record her bass' Death Homesick. Her real bass tone added authenticity, growling through her Zoom B1X Four.

Aoi’s room was a shrine to her passions. She proudly brandished her anime posters—many her own drawings, crafted with expert precision. Trophies from local and regional art competitions lined a vintage rack, boasting consistent first, second, and third places from her childhood.

Her musical accolades were consistently impressive: third place in a solo vocal contest and second in a classical guitar performance with her 3/4 nylon Yamaha.

“Didn’t realize you were that talented in art as a kid,” Hiroki said, grinning. “Aoi, you should be a mangaka!”

Aoi shrugged, a flicker of frustration crossing her face. “Nope. Takes too much time and energy.”

Before they could dive deeper, Hiroki’s phone pinged with a DM from coltranegiantsteps1960 (Junichi): Yo, dude! Still kicking on that Death Homesick?

The sudden DM notification was disrupting Aoi's bass work on the BandLab. Hiroki set his Les Paul aside, paused the work, and replied to his DM.

saturdaynightwrist2006: Almost 87% ready,” he typed back.

Aoi paused and set her bass aside, curious. “What’s up?”

“It’s from Junichi,” Hiroki said, checking the LMC’s group chat.

It was chaos—the 2nd-year senpais shared club updates, instrument tutorials, and gig info. While the first-years, especially Toriteba’s girls like Sakura and Yakomori’s boys, including Kaito, flooded the chat with shitposts and playful trash talk.

A message from touhoumaycry345 (Riku Tanaka) caught his eye: “Guys! Where’s Suede?! Are they dead?”

Aoi scoffed, squinting at Hiroki’s phone screen. “That cretin’s mocking us?”

Hiroki chuckled, typing: saturdaynightwrist2006 (Hiroki): I’m still alive, dumbass!

touhoumaycry345 (Riku): Oh finally! That Suede boy’s back from the dead!

toritaan5829 (Takane): Sora, Mika, and Ren-senpai are busy, but we’re free.

arushieru458 (Gojou): How about we hang at a studio? We're gonna share our original songs!

flyhighdaijirokato2003 (Daichi): See how you mess it up! Lol!

saturdaynightwrist2006 (Hiroki): Shut up! What studio?

Riku shared a location link for a music studio near Minos Biotech University—Hasegawa Family Studio.

morihashis4n (Kenta): Dude, it’s a 5-star budget-friendly spot! Rikuro Hasegawa owns it! Staff are super nice.

nepunepudesunee (Yuna): ZOMG! RIKURO FROM LILIANE?!

mioakiyamachan (Mei): KYAAAAA!!! ARIA AMATSUKA IS SO GOATED!!! AND SEIKO NAGASE IS SO SEXY!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!

saturdaynightwrist2006 (Hiroki): Are we meeting now?

touhoumaycry345 (Riku): 2 PM. Suede, ready for a challenge?

Hiroki grinned at the group’s chaos. Aoi, peering at his phone, pouted. “Why don’t you reply?” he teased.

With a huff, Aoi grabbed her phone and typed: darkpriestess145 (Aoi): The Priestess accepteth thy bravery.

The challenge was set. Without their 2nd-years’ supervision, this meetup felt like an underground brawl—raw, unfiltered, and intense. Death Homesick was nearly ready, and the studio clash with Toriteba and Yakomori would be their first test.

Both gripped their respective gig bags, ready to wage war before the Sakuragawa Halloween Festival had come.

***

Saturday, 2 PM. The sun blazed over Osaka as Hiroki Yamada and Aoi Mizuno trudged through crowded train stations and bustling streets—cradling their respective hefty gig bags.

Despite the scorching walk, their spirits soared, fueled by the excitement of the upcoming band battle against Toriteba and Yakomori at the prestigious Hasegawa Family Studio.

Hiroki glanced at his phone, scrolling through the chaotic Sakuragawa LMC group chat to check on the first-years.

coltranegiantsteps1960 (Junichi): Yo, I’m chilling at the receptionist stall, waiting for Hiroki and Aoi!

saturdaynightwrist2006 (Hiroki): Just a stone's throw away, dude.

A message from Sora Nakamura, the group admin, popped up, catching Hiroki off guard.

procoratsoranakamura (Sora, 2nd admin): What are you kids up to now?

touhoumaycry345 (Riku): We do a little cockfighting here.

procoratsoranakamura (Sora, 2nd admin): Causing trouble there, Tanaka-san?

toritaan5829 (Takane): Lol nope! Riku invited all first-years for a band battle to share our original songs. His idea!

candyapplemist65 (Mika, main admin): That sounds fun! Who’s covering the studio fees?

morihashis4n (Kenta): We’re splitting it, don’t worry.

candyapplemist65 (Mika, main admin): Alright, play nice and don’t start any fights!

procoratsoranakamura (Sora, 2nd admin): No throwing punches, okay?

touhoumaycry345 (Riku): Chill, senpai, we’re all cool! Ain’t that right, guys?

Riku followed with a selfie, striking a devil-horn pose with his tongue out, photobombing behind Toriteba’s girls—Takane, Mei, Yuna, Hasumi, and Sara—who laughed unaware. Hiroki snorted. His hardcore metalhead was a total goofball beneath his tough exterior.

Aoi pointed ahead, her voice dramatic. “That should be the sanctuary of frequency!” They’d reached the Hasegawa Family Studio, a sleek building owned by Rikuro Hasegawa, drummer of the infamous Liliane.

Stepping inside, a wave of cool air washed over them, soothing their sunbaked skin. Junichi Enoshima waved from the receptionist stall, his drumsticks tucked into his bag. “Hiroki! Aoi! You made it!”

He gawked at Aoi’s frilly gothic lolita dress, sweat beading on his forehead. “Wait. It’s like a million degrees out, and you’re wearing that?”

Aoi struck a pose, her eyepatch glinting. “The attire is but a vessel. The soul’s fire matters most—”

Hiroki cut her off with a light karate chop to her head. “Enough with that. Let’s move.”

As they headed to studio room B-6, Hiroki’s heart skipped. A woman in her 20s with subtle gothic makeup and casual clothes passed by—Aria Amatsuka, Liliane’s lead guitarist and vocalist, her presence magnetic. Hiroki froze, starstruck, but shook it off when Junichi nudged him. “What’s up, man?”

“Nothing,” Hiroki muttered, dodging further questions.