The morning sun hung higher as Eluera and her band wandered through the academy, trying to familiarize themselves with the facilities.
Near the Crescendo Cafeteria corridor, a burst of laughter floated down the hall.
Two girls came spinning into view. One had medium pink hair that bounced with every skip; the other girl's fluffy white hair flowed behind her.
"W-wait up, Fluffy!" the pink-haired girl called, nearly tumbling to a stop as she almost collided with Eluera.
"Oh! Sorry!" she blurted, cheeks flushed.
The hallway stilled for a heartbeat.
Two groups simply stared at each other, caught between curiosity and surprise.
Then the pink-haired girl's face lit up like sunshine.
"You're Harmony, right? The new band?"
Catherine arched an eyebrow, amused.
"That obvious?"
The other girl, with fluffy hair grinned, sparkling eyes bright with excitement.
"You've got that fresh-arrival sparkle, just like us! I'm Fluffy Cloud, and this is Cherry Blossom."
Cherry struck a playful pose, spinning on one foot with a cheeky grin.
"We're a duo band."
"We call ourselves Sugarpetal!" Fluffy chimed in, bouncing on her feet.
Evelyn offered a soft smile, voice gentle and kind.
"It's lovely to meet you."
Eluera gave a quiet nod, eyes gleaming with quiet curiosity despite her silence.
"Sugarpetal, huh?" Catherine smirked, folding her arms.
"That's a sweet name."
Cherry twirled a strand of hair, shooting a wink their way.
"We like to keep things light and fun. You should come catch one of our performances sometime!"
Fluffy bounced energetically, ribbons fluttering with every move.
"We're all about joy and energy! Music should make people smile—don't you think?"
Evelyn chuckled softly.
"I can definitely see that."
Eluera's lips tugged into a quiet smile before she even noticed. Their joy was contagious.
"So," Catherine leaned in slightly, eyes glinting with interest,
"any plans ahead?"
Cherry's grin turned playful, confidence sparkling in her gaze.
"We're aiming to be the best of the best, of course!"
Fluffy nodded fiercely, passion burning bright.
"We've been practicing non-stop! We want to bring something new, something exciting. Just watch—we're going to shake things up!"
Eluera felt a flutter of excitement in her chest at their words. Seeing them so confident and alive made her wonder if she could find that same resolve.
Cherry glanced at the band and added with a grin,
"Hey, maybe we can jam sometime? Sugarpetal and Harmony—sounds like a perfect match."
Catherine crossed her arms but couldn't hide the slight smile tugging at her lips.
"Maybe we will."
Fluffy's eyes sparkled like stars as she said,
"Great! It's a deal then."
Eluera, still quiet, met Fluffy's gaze with a shy but genuine smile. For the first time, she felt a little less like an outsider—more like she belonged.
—
The halls buzzed softly as Sugarpetal and Harmony walked together, weaving through the steady flow of students.
Fluffy leaned in, her voice bubbling with excitement.
"It's overwhelming, isn't it? Everything's so… huge and fancy."
Cherry nodded, twirling a ribbon between her fingers.
"And everyone seems like they already know what they're doing. Makes you wonder if we'll ever catch up."
Catherine glanced over, her usual cool exterior softening.
"We're all still figuring it out."
Evelyn smiled warmly.
"We just have to take it one step at a time."
Eluera stayed close, watching their easy camaraderie. It felt new but also familiar—like a thread forming between strangers.
Fluffy bounced lightly on her toes.
"I'm a little nervous, honestly. This place feels like it's ready to keep us on our toes."
Cherry reached out, giving Fluffy's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Me too. But hey, that's why we're here—to improve together."
Eluera's eyes flickered with a quiet hope. Maybe here, she could find her own voice.
—
Then, after a brief moment of silence, Cherry leaned in, her green-lime eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement.
"Oh, by the way, this morning's the real deal," she whispered.
"There's gonna be a welcoming ceremony—by the Headmistress herself. And guess what? Evergarden is performing."
She leaned back with a grin.
"Yeah. The Evergarden. The number one band in the academy. You'll want front row for this one. Trust me."
The name hung in the air like stardust.
For a moment, silence wrapped around them.
Eluera's eyes widened.
A mix of awe and disbelief shimmered in her gaze. She raised her hand slowly to her chest, fingers curling.
"Evergarden…"
Catherine whistled low.
"Their performances must be like... something," she muttered, even her bold tone softened with reverence.
"No pressure or anything," Catherine added, glancing at Eluera.
"Maybe we should bring tissues. Y'know—for when they make us cry."
Eluera gave a small smile, nodding gently.
There was a flicker of nerves in her eyes, but also an anticipation.
Cherry, catching the subtle shift in the air, winked.
"Just make sure you show up early—crowds get wild when Evergarden hits the stage."
With that, the two bands had no clue of what they about to witness.