Act 1, Chapter 13: To Heaven Through Hell

Saturday, 8 PM. Hiroki was just freshly out of the shower; his muscles were still aching from the morning's hellish jog with Aoi.

To his surprise, Aoi had invited him upstairs to her apartment for breakfast with her older sister, Akame Mizuno, a college student studying arts and culture. The feast that Aoi and Akame prepared was a revelation, comparable to a five-star restaurant.

Hiroki was impressed. "Didn’t realize Aoi could cook like this." He gulped the last of his fresh orange juice.

Akame replied, "She’s been helping me and Mom since forever." Her face leaned closer, her tone poised and direct. "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 gasped.

"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 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 at the table, 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 knew 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 to find it was unlocked. He then stepped inside. "I’m coming in!"

Aoi's bedroom was a Victorian gothic shrine, with anime posters and band posters on the walls by Harmoniac, Liliane, and more. Vintage racks held carefully arranged books and collectibles.

Aoi, dressed in gothic lolita, stood in a power stance, her Ibanez bass roaring in her signature beefy, fuzzy tone. She was playing Harmoniac's ReCreaTion, singing with a powerful and clear voice, aggressively swinging her head with each pluck. She was channeling the dominating spirit of Furias, Harmoniac's frontwoman.

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. Hiroki clapped, awestruck. "Dude! That's something else! Massive Harmoniac fan, eh?"

Aoi smirked, pointing to an autographed Harmoniac's debut album poster plastered on her wardrobe. "That one?"

Hiroki’s eyes widened. "No way! An autograph from Numeris herself?! That bread-loving shredder! Yet, you have the voice of Furias-san!"

Akame appeared in the doorway, chuckling. "We saw them live three years ago at Chiba. That's the last poster we've got. Even Numeris-san smiled at us."

"Shame, I’ve got work to do," 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-adorned bedroom.

Hiroki fought his inner cringe at the chuunibyou aesthetic, but he pushed it aside. "So, Harmoniac is what inspired you to play bass?"

"Kind of," Aoi pondered with a nostalgic smirk, reflecting on her musical inspiration. "But Liliane shook my very heart more." She stood, eyes wide open in enthusiasm. "Bring your instrument! Let’s forge some frequency!"

Hiroki didn’t hesitate. He bolted downstairs and quickly grabbed his rigs.

***

Saturday morning's hellish jog with Aoi had turned into a heavenly jam session in her gothic-style bedroom. Hiroki felt reborn, as if the agony of the run had been a prelude to this moment of solace.

To heaven through hell. Hiroki pondered. He noodled around with his black-gold Les Paul, while Aoi borrowed his BandLab and Zoom AMS-22 to record her bass for Suede's Death Homesick. Her genuine bass tone added authenticity, roaring through her Zoom B1X Four.

Aoi's room was a shrine to her passions. She proudly displayed her anime posters, which were mostly her own drawings with exquisite craftsmanship. Trophies from local and regional art contests lined the antique rack, with consistent third, second, and first place finishes from her childhood.

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

"Didn’t realize you were that talented in drawing as a kid," Hiroki grinned in awe. "Why don't you become a mangaka instead?"

Aoi smirked and dramatically brandished her Ibanez bass. "I bethink this stringeth of the abyss shook the heart of people more."

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. Urged Hiroki to pause the work and reply to his DM.

saturdaynightwrist2006 (Hiroki): Somewhat 80% ready.

coltranegiantsteps1960 (Junichi): Dude! You gotta least check out the LMC's group chat. Some are asking if you're still alive!

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 a shitstorm—the second-years mostly sharing 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 like a snowball fight.

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): Dude, I’m still alive!

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

toritaan5829 (Takane): Btw, 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! Y'know Rikuro Hasegawa, right? The drummer of Liliane who owns it? I've heard the staff is 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, are ya ready for a challenge?

Hiroki grinned at the group’s snowballing chaos. Aoi, peering at his phone, pouted. "Why don’t you reply?" he teased. With a huff, Aoi grabbed her phone.

darkpriestess145 (Aoi): The priestess accepteth thy audacities.

The challenge was set. Without the supervision of their second-years, this upcoming rendezvous would be an underground brawl—raw, unfiltered, and fierce.

Death Homesick was nearly finished, and the studio clash with Toriteba and Yakomori would be their first test. Both grabbed their gig bags and were ready to wage war.

***

Saturday, 2 PM. The sun shone over Osaka as Hiroki and Aoi trekked through crowded train stations and bustling streets, carrying their gig bags. Despite the walk, their youth surged, their excitement fueled for the upcoming band clash against Toriteba and Yakomori at the prestigious Hasegawa Family Studios.

Hiroki peered at his phone, scrolling through the chaotic Sakuragawa LMC group chat for updates 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 second 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, btw!

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 responded with a selfie photo, raised devil horns with his tongue out, and photobombed Toriteba's girls, who giggled unaware. Hiroki snorted. His hardcore metalhead was a complete goofball below his tough facade.

Aoi pointed ahead, her voice dramatic. "That should be the sanctuary of frequency!"

They finally arrived at the Hasegawa Family Studio, a sleek studio owned by Rikuro Hasegawa, the infamous Liliane's drummer.

As they stepped inside, a wave of cold air flowed over them, soothing their skin. Junichi waved from the receptionist's stall, drumsticks tucked into his backpack. "Hiroki, Aoi! You made it!"

He gawked at Aoi’s frilly gothic lolita dress. "Wait. It’s like a million degrees out, and you’re wearing that?"

Aoi struck a dramatic 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, striking such a magnetic presence that froze Hiroki in place.

"What’s up, man?" Junichi nudged him.

"Nothing," Hiroki shook his head, dodging further questions.