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 feast—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 realize 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. "Nah. We're just having a blast with our friends."

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

"Of course!" Hiroki lightly 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 priestess returning to her cathedral.

Akame leaned in, smirking. "Ever since she got that bass from her senpai, she played it all night."

Hiroki nodded, curious. "Doesn’t her… chuunibyou 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 sometimes, I feel like I was constantly holding her back. Although I let her be, I 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 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 lightly shook 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 posters like Band-Maid, Ling Tosite Sigure, Evanescence, and Tool. 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 powerful, clear voice, 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 four strings ring, and Hiroki clapped, awestruck. "That was incredible! Massive Band-Maid fan, eh?"

Aoi smirked, pointing to an autographed Band-Maid album 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 at Chiba. And that was the last poster we've got."

"Shame, 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 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 also called me to conquer the stage." She stood, eyes wide open in enthusiasm. "Bring your guitar! Let’s forge some frequency!"

Hiroki didn’t hesitate. He bolted downstairs and quickly grabbed 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 plucked Kaito’s black-gold Les Paul while Aoi borrowed his BandLab and Zoom AMS-22 to record her bass for Suede's 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 Yamaha nylon.

"Didn’t realize you were that talented in drawing as a kid," Hiroki grinned in awe. "Aoi, you should be a mangaka too!"

Aoi shrugged, a flicker of frustration crossing her face. "Nope. Wastes too much 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 paused the work and replied to his DM.

saturdaynightwrist2006: Somewhat 80% ready.

Aoi paused and set her bass aside, curious. "What’s wrong?"

"Junichi DM'ed me." 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 and Yakomori’s boys, flooded the chat with shitposts and playful trash talk.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

saturdaynightwrist2006 (Hiroki): 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! The staff are super nice, and the equipment is next level.

nepunepudesunee (Yuna): ZOMG! YOU DON'T MEAN 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 audacities.

The challenge was set. Without their 2nd-years’ supervision, this meetup would be 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 gig bags, ready to wage war.

***

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

Despite the walk, their youth 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): Almost there, dude.

A message from Sora Nakamura, the group's 2nd admin, suddenly popped up, catching Hiroki off guard.

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

touhoumaycry345 (Riku): We're gonna do a little cockfight here.

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

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

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, ok?

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. It was Aria Amatsuka, Liliane’s lead guitarist and vocalist, her presence magnetic.

Hiroki froze, starstruck by her unexpected encounter. But Junichi nudged him. "What’s up, man?"

"Nothing," Hiroki muttered, dodging further questions.