Arc 2, Chapter 5: The Sound of Us

After Mizuki finishes telling her bandmates about her past, the music room falls silent.

Frida: “Damn… that’s heavier than my drumsticks.”

Pretending not to be emotional, Eillia grips her guitar slightly tighter and turns her head away.

Eillia: “So that’s why you always act so smug, huh?”

Eillia mutters under her breath. Lyric started tearing up and gave Mizuki a big hug.

Lyric: “I…I’m so sorry to hear those… It must be really tough for you…”

Lyric's tail unintentionally coils around Mizuki's waist and gives her a crushing squeeze as she tightens the embrace.

Mizuki: “Lyric… Can’t…Breathe…”

Mizuki muffled, which led Lyric to yelp and let go immediately.

Lyric: “Oh! I… I’m so sorry…”

Lyric flustered. Mizuki blinks, then bursts out laughing.

Lyric: “E…Eh?”

Eillia and Frida’s laughter followed, and before long, the whole room was filled with laughter.

Eillia: “Don’t worry, we’re not your past band. We’re all stuck together until the MLC ends… At least.”

Mizuki looks up, something shining in her eyes.

Mizuki: “Guys…”

The other 3 looked at her with a grin and nodded in unison.

Mizuki finally smiled. She gripped her fist and punched up.

Mizuki: “Alright then! Let’s continue practicing until we can’t move!”

Frida: “We have a competition in a week, idiot! But that… Doesn’t sound too bad.”

As they resumed playing their instruments, laughter echoed through the room.

Drums, rhythm, and strings all blend to create a single sound.

That day, a new melody was born.

Somehow, I have a feeling that I– no– that we can do it.

***

And very quickly, a week has passed. Today is the big day.

The backstage area appeared more like a battleground than a stage.

Amps were piled on top of partially open cases, cables were everywhere, and a poor stagehand hurried by with three microphone stands at once.

For the fifth time, Frida was tightening her snare.

Eillia was pacing while muttering obscenities under her breath.

Lyric? She was just one panic attack away from becoming invisible.

Mizuki made an effort to smile, but even she could sense the electricity in the air: a mixture of nerves, caffeine, and chaos.

Lyric: “I…It’s my first time performing on stage…What if I drop my bass? What if I play the wrong note? What if I trip on stage!?!?”

Frida: “Then we’ll just make it part of the performance.”

Eillia: “Or blame the sound system.”

Mizuki looked at the curtain, where the spotlights were leaking light. The energy of the crowd was almost tangible.

Mizuki smiles and pats Lyric’s shoulder reassuringly.

Mizuki: “Relax. You’ve got us. We’ll drown out any mistakes before they even notice.”

“Eclipsera, please proceed to the stage.”

The speaker announced loudly, and the 4 of them exchanged half-confident and half-nervous smiles.

Mizuki: “Guess it’s time, huh? Let’s go, everyone!”

They stepped forward, instruments in hand.

This is it. The beginning of our legend.

As the lights hit them, the audience began to murmur.

???: “Is that… A team with 4 different races? That’s crazy…”

???: “That lineup’s way too chaotic.”

???: “There’s no way they’ll make top 32 with that lineup.”

The doubtful whispers echoed around the atmosphere until a sudden roar came from the right side of the crowd. Mizuki squinted and almost burst out laughing.

Mizuki: “Yo, Frida, look! The Dwarves from before!”

A group of dwarves was waving hand-painted banners, with crooked letters spelling Eclipsera, and leading them was none other than the Town Elder, clutching a mug of ale and shouting with his whole chest.

Town Elder: “That’s our heroes! Show these city folks how real music’s done!”

Some humans nearby whispered again, unimpressed.

???: “Different races can’t blend their rhythm.

???: “They’re just an act of novelty.”

The Town Elder's ear twitched. His expression darkened. He made the metal ring as he slammed his mug against the railing.

Town Elder: “What did you say?! If you can’t appreciate their music, you don’t deserve your ears! Execution for the tone-deaf!”

The crowd went awkwardly silent for a beat, then laughter rippled through the stands. Even Mizuki couldn’t hold back a grin.

Mizuki: “We’ve officially got a death-threat-level fanbase. No pressure, right?”

Frida: “Right… Remind me to thank him later...”

She froze mid-sentence.

Frida: “B…Big brother? Mum and dad?”

Her eyes widened as she spotted a familiar trio in the audience.

A low tch clicked beside her.

Eillia: “Great. The Punky Twins… And my other past band members. They are here too.”

Mizuki glanced at both of them and smiled, giving their backs a reassuring pat.

Mizuki: “Isn’t this what we practiced for? Let’s blast everyone here with our music and make them remember our name!”

For a heartbeat, silence. Then Eillia and Frida both smiled and nodded at the same time.

Frida: “Heh. Yeah. Let’s give ‘em a show.”

Eillia: “And make those idiots regret leaving me behind.”

The stage lights flared.

Their instruments hummed.

And the sound of Eclipsera began to rise.

Brighter than ever, the stage lights flared. As the four of them took positions, the audience fell into silence.

A click of Frida’s drumsticks.

A deep inhale.

And then—

BOOM.

Frida’s drumming hit first—like rolling thunder shaking the arena’s floorboards. Each strike echoed with energy, raw and defiant.

Eillia followed, her chords sharp and electric, weaving a rhythmic blaze that danced around Frida’s beat. Each note demanded attention, shimmering like starlight.

Lyric's bass entered tentatively, shakily at first, but steadied with each breath. The low hum was powerful and grounding, resonating through the air like a heartbeat. Nerves melted into focus as her tail flicked with each thump.

And finally, Mizuki stepped forward.

Her voice cut through everything: bright, fierce, and alive.

Every lyric soars, driven by pure passion instead of flawlessness.

She was feeling the music.

And she wasn’t alone anymore.

The song swelled, all four instruments fusing into one unified sound. A melody that roared like the sky breaking open, wild and free. The audience could only stare, frozen. Then the lights burst in rhythm with the final note.

Silence.

One heartbeat.

Two.

The crowd erupted.

The sound of cheers, whistles, and chants overpowered the amps.

Even the skeptics who had previously questioned them were shouting their names.

“Eclipsera! Eclipsera! Eclipsera!”

Sweat clung to Mizuki's forehead as she exhaled, her chest rising and falling, but her smile remained.

Lyric drops her bass in shock, causing the other 3 to look at her.

Lyric: “D…Did we do okay?”

Mizuki laughed, a real, unguarded laugh this time—the kind she hadn’t made in years.

Mizuki: “Yeah… we did. Together.”

Her voice was warm, and for once without loneliness. She rushed towards her 3 band members and embraced them.

Mizuki: “T… Thanks for sticking with me.”

The 3 of them paused in surprise and let out a small smile.

Mizuki let go of them and turned back toward the audience, peeking through a gap to see the audience still cheering. That’s when she froze.

Just beyond the crowd, someone was standing.

Golden hair. A familiar smile.

Mizuki's heart stopped for a second.

Mizuki: “Is that…?”

She muttered under her breath. However, Mizuki noticed the woman's teasing, all-knowing grin when she tilted her head.

It wasn’t “her”, but Erica.

In a mock applause, the goddess held up her hand. Mizuki's eyes narrowed. She grinned again.

With them on my side… I got the feeling that I won’t lose!