That ominous feeling could never really be wrong. Koa, Kenzo, and Malkiel simultaneously thought as they lay on their back inside the club room.
"Drystan you monster, just kill us already"
"There'll be no thrill if I did that"
Drystan nonchalantly answers as he puts his guitar down and goes to the table where his song sheets and pen are. Malkiel stared at his back before looking up at the ceiling.
"How long has it been since we last hung out with the three?"
Kenzo glanced at Malkiel while Koa sat up and looked at his phone.
"Three days"
"So Drystan has been torturing us for three days straight. YOU MONSTER!!"
Drystan rolled his eyes at Kenzo's dramatic reaction. But for Koa and Malkiel it was the truth. Every fourth month of the school year when activities were being held, there was the competition "Battle of the Bands". Bands are welcome to perform on a makeshift stage in the center of the school. The winners would be given the chance to represent the school in events and charities that the school will host.
And they had a goal, that this year they would be the victors. Due to some unforeseen incidents last year, they had lost to their seniors by two points. Drystan had been competitive ever since.
"By the way, Ms. Emily said she'll tell us something today"
Miss Emily Goa, their homeroom teacher had also acted as the band's counselor since they were in freshman year. Since their band was registered as an organization, it needed to have a counselor as well as more than three members.
Kenzo sulkingly sat up and crossed his arms like a child.
"After leaving us in the hands of this monster named Drystan, she comes today? What for? A nagging again?"
"Oh my, I didn't know you hated my nagging that much Kenzo, should I nag you some more?"
Kenzo, Koa, and Malkiel's body all turned around in the direction of the club room's door. Standing at the doorway was Miss Emily, a menacing smile plastered on her face. Drystan, who had already seen Miss Emily's arrival but didn't say anything, just continued flipping his song sheets.
"Mi..miss Emily, how are you?"
Kenzo shuffled to his feet to stand up.
"Looks like you haven't had enough of my nagging yet, do you want me to continue my lectures Kenzo?"
A shiver ran down their spines, Miss Emily's nagging goes beyond the usual nagging of a teacher, you could say that it can be compared to that of a mother's, annoying and yet scary.
"I'm sorry, I ran my mouth without knowing, please spare me"
Malkiel and Koa's eyes widened when Kenzo fell on his knees as he was pleading in front of Miss Emily, while Drystan snickered. It wasn't every day that he could see Kenzo on his knees.
They were interrupted when they suddenly heard a shutter of a camera. Their gazes went to the person now standing beside Miss Emily.
Quincey was standing with her phone up and with an evil smile plastered on her face. Right behind her was Galene who was now stifling her laughter and Serenity who was staring at Kenzo with worried expressions.
"You really shouldn't give Quincey some blackmailing material Kenzo"
Galene stated before bursting into laughter. Serenity slapped Galene in the back to make her stop laughing.
"Well, Quincey you should send that to me too, it's not every day I get to see Kenzo on his knees begging"
Quincey happily nodded at Miss Emily before grinning at Kenzo, the latter standing up speechless.
"Wha– Why are you guys here?"
Malkiel stutteringly says before the three turn their gazes towards them. Galene stopped laughing and cleared her throat while Serenity gave out a sigh of relief.
"Well, girls get inside for now"
Miss Emily ordered before she lightly pushed the three inside. Drystan sat on the chair by his table while Koa, Kenzo, and Malkiel stood there. They didn't know what was happening or why Serenity, Galene, and Quincey were there.
"I am so much confused right now"
Koa stated Miss Emily cleared her throat before proceeding to her explanations.
"You should welcome the new three members of Phoenix Harmony, Quincey, Galene, and Serenity"
"EXCUSE ME!!"
Koa, Kenzo, and Drystan simultaneously said while Malkiel just silently gaped at the three girls.
"No offense Miss but we created Phoenix Harmony as our band and just registered it here in Clandestine High so we..."
"So you could promote and use the instruments here during your free time. I am aware, Drystan and it would still be like that. It's just that until your time here in Clandestine High, these three will be with you."
"I'm sorry, what exactly?"
Kenzo's question made Quincey's eyebrows raise but she didn't say anything because she half-expected this already. Especially when she was the reason why they were here now.
"Quincey's connections with gigs and parties will be enough for you to get the promotion you desire."
"You? connections? an aloof weirdo like you?"
"Kenzo I swear one more word from you and you'll never see tomorrow"
At Quincey's threat, Kenzo swiftly pursues his lips. Galene, who had stopped laughing now, stifled another surge of laughter.
"Anyway, Quincey would act as your promoter, while Galene would be your official manager"
"Excuse me?"
This time it was Drystan who stood up, his forehead knitted like he disliked just hearing the word Manager.
"Galene will manage your timetable, your meals, your clothes, and your songs"
"So basically you'll be our servant?"
"Do you think so?"
Galene, who answered Koa's questions, smiled at them mysteriously. Another shiver ran down the guys' spines and they all thought the same thing.
Ah, here's another weirdo that we should be careful of.
"And Serenity would be Koa and Drystan's understudy"
"You could sing?"
Malkiel unbelievably asked Serenity who was now blushing because of the embarrassment. She could never handle being the center of attention like this.
"No, uhh it's an understudy for the guitars. Since I've been playing one since I was a child too"
Malkiel didn't understand but knowing that they finally had something in common made his heart beat excitedly.
"Really? That's kinda cool"
He smiled at Serenity but the lass only blushed harder. In truth, Serenity did love playing the guitar but she only played it to a few selected people. It was because she was too shy and too conscious that others might criticize her way of playing the guitar.
"So that's the reason why starting from today, the three of them would be joining here. And of course, Galene would act as the co-counselor in times that I am not present"
They didn't know if it was a good thing or not but they really couldn't do anything about it. That's what they thought.
"So now, for this club's first activity. Preparation for the upcoming battle of the bands"
Everybody knew what this meant. The four guys were eager to play their best and hardest during that time. So while they focus on their songs, the three ladies would act as a support system for them. To make sure that everything would go smoothly.
"Let us claim it from this point on, Phoenix Harmony would be victorious"
"THAT'S RIGHT WE'RE CLAIMING IT NOW!"
Everyone was shocked when Kenzo, who had been shutting his mouth for minutes, suddenly shouted. His face which was now red must have been from trying to shut his mouth which he could not do because he was originally a blabbermouth.
Inside of being nagged at, however, Miss Emily chuckled and patted Kenzo on the head.
"That's right you should claim it, after all it was yours to begin with"
Quincey, Galene, and Serenity looked at each other, they knew that the team lost by two points last year but they were never really told why. However, seeing their determination this year, it must've been something awful or humiliating, or both in a sense.
"Then, we shall be in your care starting today"
As Galene states this, both Serenity and Quincey give a small smile to the group.
This will mark their first day as a team and from this day forward, it will be known all over the school that the reason why the seven were always together was because all of them are now under the name...
Phoenix Harmony.