Chapter VIII - ADVENT & COVER SONG EVENT

That morning, the sun shone softly above Hololive High, bathing the campus in a warm, golden light. The atmosphere was charged—not just with excitement, but with tension. The Cover Song Festival was about to begin, and participants were arriving one by one.

On a long bench outside the auditorium, Shiori sat quietly, a canned coffee in hand, watching as staff hurried back and forth, setting up the stage. Students chatted in clusters, while various bands warmed up in scattered corners.

Before long, Bijou arrived, guitar slung across her back. She yawned widely and dropped herself beside Shiori with a heavy sigh.

"I couldn't sleep last night," she muttered groggily.

Shiori raised an eyebrow. "Not surprising. We're performing in front of the whole school today. Nervous?"

Bijou shrugged. "Not nervous. Just... restless."

Suddenly, a loud, cheerful voice echoed from the distance.

"Biboo! Shiori! We brought breakfast!"

Fuwawa and Mococo arrived in high spirits, carrying a bag of bread and several cartons of milk. They also had extra gear slung over their shoulders—clearly not just breakfast.

"Eat up before the show," Mococo said, handing bread to Bijou.

Shiori accepted one and took a slow bite. "You two really aren't the least bit anxious?"

Fuwawa giggled. "No point in worrying. We practiced all week, didn't we?"

The four of them continued chatting casually, until the last member of Advent arrived.

Nerissa.

She walked in with earphones in, looking absorbed in the music. But her steps slowed as her eyes landed on a familiar figure standing near the school gate.

Someone she admired deeply.

Moona Hoshinova.

She stood casually beside Ayunda Risu, speaking with Hoshimachi Suisei. Moona wasn't in her usual stagewear, but dressed simply and gracefully—still carrying the aura of a respected senior.

Nerissa's breath caught. This wasn't just any senior. This was her idol.

Without a second thought, she approached.

"Moona-senpai!"

Moona turned and smiled warmly. "Oh, Nerissa! You're performing today too?"

"Yeah! I'm going on stage today," Nerissa replied eagerly.

Risu tilted her head. "Oh? Performing solo?"

Nerissa shook her head. "Nope. I'm singing with my band—Advent."

Moona's expression shifted slightly. "Band?"

Nerissa nodded. "I'm the vocalist."

Moona's brows lifted in surprise. Her smile lingered, but her gaze sharpened with curiosity.

"Wait. You're Nerissa Ravencroft—this school's diva. And you're saying... you're in a band now?"

There was a hint of skepticism in her tone, but Nerissa smiled with resolve. "Yes, Senpai."

Suisei crossed her arms. "That's... unexpected. Why? You shine brightest when you're solo."

Moona added, "A true diva doesn't need a band to own the stage. Music should follow your voice—not the other way around."

Nerissa exhaled slowly, then looked at them both with quiet confidence. "But I don't just want to be accompanied by music. I want to be part of it."

Risu arched an eyebrow. "Part of it?"

Nerissa stepped closer, her voice steady. "I've always performed with backing tracks arranged to match my voice. But now, I want to feel something real—alive. I want my voice to blend with guitar, drums, bass, and keys. I want to sing with music I can truly feel."

Moona said nothing at first.

Suisei still looked skeptical. "So you think by joining a band, you can deliver more than just a solo performance?"

Nerissa nodded. "Exactly."

Moona chuckled. "I don't know if that's brave or foolish—but now I'm curious to see what you'll bring."

Risu grinned. "Then I can't wait to hear Advent perform!"

Suisei smirked. "If you don't impress me, I'll count it as a total loss."

Nerissa grinned back and puffed her chest. "Don't worry, Senpai. We'll prove Advent isn't just another band."

From a distance, Shiori watched the exchange with a small smile.

"Looks like Nerissa just challenged her idol."

Bijou chuckled. "And she's loving every second of it."

A-D-V-E-N-T

ROCK ON!

---

The Cover Song Festival was in full swing. One by one, participants stepped onto the stage, each delivering their rendition of legendary Hololive songs. The audience roared with excitement, fueling an atmosphere charged with passion and friendly rivalry.

Next up—H3RO.

The moment their performance began, energy surged through the crowd. Their choice: "Sing Out!" by Ayunda Risu, but with H3RO's explosive twist.

Kobo Kanaeru stood at center stage, wielding both guitar and vocals with effortless intensity. Her voice roared through the auditorium—bold, clean, and mesmerizing. Her fingers danced over the strings, delivering powerful riffs laced with raw emotion.

In the audience, Advent watched closely.

Even Bijou—usually laid back—was leaning forward, captivated.

"She's... incredible," she whispered.

Shiori glanced at her. "Impressed?"

Bijou nodded slowly. "She's not just a great guitarist. Her voice—her control while playing... it's insane."

Nerissa smirked. "Second-guessing yourself?"

Bijou scoffed, though a flicker of frustration crossed her face. "No way! I'm gonna show her I can do better."

Onstage, Kobo hit the song's climax, blazing through a blistering solo while maintaining her vocal clarity. The crowd erupted as the final chord rang out.

Fuwawa clapped softly. "I'll admit, that was amazing."

Mococo grinned. "Looks like Biboo's got a worthy rival."

Bijou clenched her fists, adrenaline surging. "The stronger the opponent, the sweeter the victory."

As Kobo stepped offstage, sweat on her brow, she paused beside Advent. With a cocky grin, she said—

"Hear that, Biboo? That's how you set a stage on fire."

Bijou rolled her eyes, but couldn't help smiling. "Just wait. We'll be the ones blowing you away next."

Kobo laughed and walked off. Advent's spirits soared.

A-D-V-E-N-T

ROCK ON!

---

The stage lights dimmed to a gentle purple-blue as Scarlet Nova stepped forward. A graceful hush fell over the room.

The soft chime of Stellar Stellar's intro filled the space. At the center, Hakos Baelz stood poised, one hand gripping the mic, the other reaching for the stars.

Takane Lui began the first verse, her voice rich and emotional. Sakamata Chloe followed, her clean tone adding depth to the harmony.

Then, Anya Melfissa and Yukihana Lamy glided forward. With flawless choreography, Anya's expressive movements and Lamy's elegant presence turned the performance into a celestial dance.

As Baelz took over the chorus, she infused the stage with vibrant energy—every motion controlled, yet bursting with passion. Together, Scarlet Nova moved like a galaxy in motion.

In the crowd, Advent stood silent, mesmerized.

"They're incredible..." Fuwawa whispered, her eyes gleaming.

Even Bijou was speechless—no banter, no jokes. The precision, the harmony, the starlight energy—they were otherworldly.

Beside Advent, Kobo, Kaela, and Zeta watched in awe.

"It's insane... They're like actual professional idols," Zeta said softly.

"Told you Scarlet Nova's on another level," Kaela murmured.

Even Kobo, ever the snarky one, could only nod, deep in thought. "They're doing the original... but this feels like more than just a cover."

As the climax hit, Lui and Chloe soared into high notes, harmonized by Anya and Lamy. Baelz finished with her hand outstretched, as if grasping the cosmos.

The auditorium thundered with applause. Alumni like Suisei, Risu, Moona, and Marine nodded in approval.

Among Advent, Shiori exhaled slowly. "The challenge just got even tougher. But that only means... we have to rise higher."

The five of them exchanged glances, hearts pounding.

A-D-V-E-N-T

ROCK ON!

---

Then came Justice. One of Hololive High's most elite bands.

The lights turned a deep, intense blue. The haunting intro of High Tide began, led by Gigi's sharp guitar and Raora's heavy drum beats. But the defining twist—Cecilia's violin, weaving a haunting, cinematic layer into the arrangement.

At center stage stood Elizabeth, commanding attention with a sensual, powerful voice.

"When you look up at the night sky... What do you see?"

Her lower tones slithered across the room, rising sharply as the chorus struck.

Cecilia played with heartbreaking emotion. Gigi's fingers danced effortlessly over her guitar. Raora kept perfect time, her rhythm strong and driving.

In the crowd, Moona smiled faintly. As the original singer of High Tide, she was hard to impress—but Justice had her attention. When Elizabeth caught her eye, Moona gave a small, approving wave.

And that's when Nerissa—standing among her Advent teammates—felt something stir inside.

She scowled, biting her lip.

"Why... why does this bother me?" she thought.

Admiring Moona was one thing. But seeing her attention fixed on Elizabeth—Elizabeth—sparked something deeper.

Shiori noticed and leaned closer. "Don't tell me you're jealous, Nerissa."

Nerissa whipped around, her face blank. "Of course not," she replied sharply.

Bijou only smirked. "If you don't want to lose her attention, better steal it onstage."

Nerissa breathed in deeply, steadying herself. She knew—now more than ever—Advent had to deliver something unforgettable.

As High Tide crested in a swirl of violin, vocals, and storming drums, Justice proved why they were among the school's best.

Thunderous applause followed.

But Advent wasn't intimidated.

Nerissa clutched her shirt tightly.

"Alright. It's our turn to show who we really are."