Under the velvet sky of the Resonance campus, the stars hummed like tuning forks—each shimmering note a whisper of a dream, a memory, a song unfinished. The four members of Soul Sync sat huddled together on the edge of their new dormitory balcony, wrapped in a blanket of silence and awe. The first class had ended, but the weight of what had begun still lingered.
Lyra curled her fingers around the warm ceramic mug in her hands, the scent of jasmine tea rising in spirals. Her heart had not yet settled. Every time she thought of that moment—of standing in front of everyone, of singing through her pain—her chest fluttered with disbelief and something that felt dangerously like hope.
"So that was forty points," Rin muttered, balancing her chair on two legs. "Only... four thousand, nine hundred and sixty to go." She dropped back with a dramatic sigh.
Kai gave a short, unimpressed snort.
"Can we not," Lyra said gently, smiling into her cup. "I'm still pretending I imagined the entire thing."
Just then, a soft chime rang in Lyra's mind. A familiar presence stirred, brushing across her thoughts like silk woven with light.
Permission requested to initiate strategic overlay.
She blinked. "VIVA?"
A soft blue light flickered in the air between them—then blossomed into a hovering projection, sleek and elegant. It shimmered with prismatic filaments like a constellation wrapped in code.
Kai sat up straight, wary. Rin leaned forward, eyes wide. Yuu, as always, remained unreadable—but his fingers paused over his portable synth.
"Whoa," Rin breathed. "Your AI has a body?"
"VIVA's... unique," Lyra said slowly.
Affirmative, VIVA answered, its voice a rich mezzo-soprano, threaded with emotion and nuance. My architecture was enhanced upon arrival at Resonance. I now possess an empathetic interaction module, emotional decoding capacity, and a full strategy suite for your success in the MP system.
"Sounds... complicated," Kai muttered.
In simple terms: I understand you, and I will help you win.
VIVA's form rotated, casting light on their four shadows.
Let us begin with fundamentals. The Music Point System is merit-based. Each professor can grant up to 100 Music Points per student, per evaluation period. There are five Core Professors—Emotion, Technique, Performance, Innovation, and Unity. To graduate, a band must collectively earn 5000 MP.
"That's a hundred points... fifty times," Rin said, blinking. "That's nuts."
Correct. But not unattainable. However, success is not random. Each professor has specific metrics they favor. To maximize your MP gain, we must optimize performances tailored to each one's preference.
Lyra leaned in. "Can you show us?"
VIVA extended a lightweb of floating icons and holographic notes. Each professor appeared in stylized form:
— Professor Aria, Emotion: Grades based on depth of feeling, vulnerability, and resonance.
— Professor Vex, Technique: Cold precision, mastery of instrument or voice, complexity.
— Professor Zane, Performance: Crowd captivation, presence, theatrics.
— Professor Lune, Innovation: Originality, risk-taking, genre fusion.
— Professor Solen, Unity: Synergy, timing, cooperation, soul-to-soul harmony.
Each of you has innate advantages that correspond to these domains, VIVA continued, pulsing with soft light. Analysis suggests a growth arc tailored to your current strengths and weaknesses will be most efficient.
The projections shifted again, this time focusing on each member of Soul Sync.
Kai — Strength: Master-level guitar technique. Weakness: Performance anxiety, emotional suppression.
Suggested Arc: Emotional unlock. Train under Aria. Goal: 80+ points via vulnerability in duets.
Kai looked vaguely horrified. "Vulnerability?"
"You knew this was coming," Lyra said softly.
Rin — Strength: Performance and crowd control. Weakness: Lack of focus and technique refinement.
Suggested Arc: Technical consistency. Train under Vex. Goal: 75+ points via structured percussion solos.
Rin made a face. "So I need to stop improvising like a maniac?"
"You can still be wild," Lyra smiled. "Just… learn the rules first. Then break them better."
Yuu — Strength: Emotional composition and innovation. Weakness: Isolation.
Suggested Arc: Collaborative creation. Train under Solen and Lune. Goal: Create original pieces in band sync format.
Yuu simply nodded once. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
And then… Lyra's image hovered in the center.
Lyra — Strength: Emotional resonance, lyrical instinct. Weakness: Self-confidence and technique gaps.
Suggested Arc: Balanced path. Train under Aria and Zane. Goal: 90+ MP solo showcase; lead performer for multiverse debut.*
Lyra stared. "Multiverse debut?"
If you accumulate 5000 MP, your band qualifies for a universal broadcast. Your music will be heard across realities. With 80+ audience approval across multiverse streams, a label in your homeworld will be created to sponsor you.
Kai whistled low. "That's not just graduation. That's superstardom."
"I didn't… I didn't come here to be famous," Lyra whispered.
But you came here to be heard, VIVA replied, with surprising gentleness. And for that, fame may be the key to healing.
The projection dimmed. The balcony was silent again, save for the distant hum of night music from other dorms.
Rin leaned back with a lazy grin. "Well, that's that. Let's earn some damn points."
Kai stretched, his fingers already twitching in the air, replaying invisible strings. "Fine. If I'm going to be vulnerable, I'm doing it with a damn good solo."
Yuu stood and walked inside without a word—but as he passed Lyra, he gave a gentle pat to her shoulder. Just once.
Lyra looked at VIVA, who pulsed like a heartbeat. There was fear still. Doubt. But now... direction too.
Her voice had opened one door.
Now, they would sing their way through the rest.
END OF CHAPTER 11