CHAPTER VII – ADVENT'S FIRST EVENT
Days flew by in a blur. Two weeks had passed since Advent's formation, and by now, they had grown used to the rhythm of intense practice sessions. They were no longer just a bunch of problem children forced into a band—they were becoming something more.
Laughter in the studio, bickering over arrangements, teasing each other over missed notes, and late nights spent together in the family restaurant. These weren't just moments—they were turning into memories.
But their journey was far from over.
That morning, amidst the usual buzz of class, an announcement echoed from the school speakers:
"To all students of Hololive High, get ready for the annual Cover Song Battle! Every band, soloist, and idol group is required to perform a song by one of our most renowned alumni! Registration begins today and closes in three days!"
The room exploded with chatter. Whispers of who would perform, what songs they'd pick, and who would outshine who filled the air.
In the middle of it all, Shiori wore a small, confident smirk. This was their chance.
Without hesitation, she filled out the entry form and submitted their band—Advent—as a participant.
And, of course, she selected "Stellar Stellar" as their performance piece.
A-D-V-E-N-T
ROCK ON!
---
Meanwhile, walking casually down the hallway, Bijou was on her way to class when a familiar voice caught her ear.
"Your song's not bad, Biboo."
Bijou turned to find Lui-senpai standing there, arms crossed, watching her with a cryptic expression.
"Eh? What do you mean?" Bijou blinked.
Lui offered a small smile. "I heard Advent's going to perform Stellar Stellar at the Cover Song Battle."
Bijou nodded. "Yeah. We've arranged our own version of it."
"Good," Lui said. "But just so you know... Scarlet Nova is performing that same song."
Bijou's eyes widened. "Wait—what? You too?"
Lui nodded slowly. "But we're doing the original version. No rearrangements."
That hit hard. Scarlet Nova—one of the school's most polished idol groups. Known for their impeccable harmonies and flawless stage presence.
And now... they'd be performing the same song.
But that was exactly what made this a real challenge.
Bijou drew a deep breath and smiled with fire in her eyes. "Then we'll have to prove that our arrangement is more exciting than the original."
Lui chuckled. "That's the spirit I was hoping for, Biboo."
After a brief exchange, Lui left. Bijou, now burning with determination, knew what she had to do. Advent had to deliver something unforgettable.
As soon as break came, she bolted to their studio to tell the others.
A-D-V-E-N-T
ROCK ON!
---
Advent's studio was alive with sound as they rehearsed their rearranged version of Stellar Stellar.
Unbeknownst to them, three figures stood quietly outside the door—Elizabeth and Gigi from Justice, and Kobo from H3RO.
They'd only been passing by. But the unique sound drifting from the studio stopped them in their tracks.
Gigi crossed her arms, her head subtly bobbing to Bijou's intricate guitar work. "Huh… So the little gamer girl actually has talent?"
Elizabeth sipped from a can of soda, an amused smile on her lips. "Tsk. They really had the audacity to rework Stellar Stellar. It's nothing like the original... Annoyingly enough, it's interesting."
Kobo stood with hands stuffed in her jacket pockets. Usually she'd throw a jab or two at Bijou. But this time, she was quiet. Listening.
"...Not bad," she muttered.
Inside the studio, the band's voices echoed through the walls.
"Are we really going with this arrangement?" Bijou sounded uncertain.
"If we fail, we'll just be compared to Scarlet Nova," added Fuwawa.
"I still think we should just stick to the original," Mococo said softly.
"I don't know..." Shiori sighed. "We have to believe our version can stand toe-to-toe with theirs."
Elizabeth smirked. She pushed the studio door open with elegant ease, startling Advent into silence.
"Oh my, you worked so hard on this arrangement, only to start second-guessing yourselves?" she mocked.
Kobo strolled in, arms crossed. "I thought you were confident in this song. If you're just going to waver... what's the point?"
Gigi leaned against the doorframe, her tone sharp. "If you don't even trust your own music, then play it safe like the others. Stick to the original."
Shiori narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"
Elizabeth grinned devilishly. "I want to see whether Advent actually deserves to share the same stage as us. Show us what your arrangement can do."
Gigi added, "If it's really that good—prove it."
Bijou clenched her fists. The words stung—but deep down, they felt more like a challenge. If they couldn't even convince their rivals, how could they expect to win over the school?
Shiori turned to her bandmates. "Well?"
Nerissa grinned, her eyes glowing with excitement. "If we want to beat Scarlet Nova, we need to believe in our music first."
Fuwawa and Mococo shared a determined glance, then nodded.
Bijou exhaled and stared straight at Kobo. "Alright. We'll play it."
Elizabeth's smirk widened. Gigi's eyes gleamed. Kobo simply watched, her fighting spirit ignited.
Advent accepted the challenge. And this time—they weren't just experimenting. They were going to make their version come alive.
A-D-V-E-N-T
ROCK ON!
---
Once Elizabeth, Gigi, and Kobo left, the studio fell quiet again—but not with hesitation.
This was the calm before the storm.
Shiori cast a sharp glance at her teammates. "You all realize this isn't just a competition anymore."
Nerissa grinned fiercely. "This is a declaration of war."
Fuwawa clapped Mococo's shoulder with excitement. "We can't lose now! We need to take this arrangement to the next level!"
Mococo nodded, eyes burning with rare passion. "Every drum hit needs to be perfect. I'm not letting our version lose to Scarlet Nova's."
Bijou sat back down, her fingers tapping out a slow rhythm across her guitar strings. "They think we'll break? That just makes me want to push this even further."
Shiori raised her hand. "Are we all in agreement?"
One by one, they stacked their hands atop hers.
"We'll prove ourselves. No backing down."
A-D-V-E-N-T
ROCK ON!
---
The next morning, Advent returned to their studio with renewed fire.
They tore apart the arrangement, rebuilding it with sharper vision.
Shiori tapped the sheet music. "The intro still sounds too close to the original. We need something more distinct."
Nerissa thought aloud. "What if I start with a soft humming before the drums enter? Add atmosphere."
Fuwawa's eyes lit up. "Yes! A slow build-up, then we explode into the chorus!"
Mococo spun her sticks. "Alright, I'll rework the tempo and add a subtler cymbal roll."
Bijou examined her chord sheet. "I'll do a little tapping during the bridge. Add some dramatic flair."
Piece by piece, the final version took shape.
Shiori stepped forward. "Alright. Let's try it from the top."
Music filled the room once more.
But this time, they didn't just play the song.
They breathed it.
They believed it.
They made it their own.
And Advent was ready to take the stage.