The sun had rose to lighten the large apartment Haine was in, she herself was just waking up on her red sleeping bag - the only item in the sea of emptiness around her. There was a single faraway island, one TV planted on the floor some ways far from her. The Afternoon news was in session. Haine had taken out her phone and was trying to read the messages from the band's group chat as updates flowed from the television.

  "Sea levels are continuing to rise with a further 2 Southern provinces now in danger of erosion. This is also effecting the migration crisis as our guest from.."

  Haine's morning engine had booted up and she finally process the conversation the others had of her.

  "EHhh?"

  The day rolled on. Ai attended her lectures, Triss kept busy at her work. Nobody knew what Ena was up to and Haine was acquainting herself with the city.

  Ena: Lets meet up at Little Paradise this evening.

  Ai: Sure! Any reason or?

  Simultaneously in the group chat Haine and Triss were arguing over which character in a recent movie was stronger.

  Ena: To make things official.

  After further discussion they decided on a time that evening.

  When it came, Ai was the first at their "spot". Triss showed up shortly after raising her hand in greetings with a "Yo."

  Ai gave a smile. Little Paradise was hitting it's peak hours now, and the chatter grew louder with more people.

  Haine swaggered over a good few minutes late and after a moment of silence asked "Where's Ena-"

  Only for a glass to be placed upon the table, for Ena had been waiting near the bar the entire time.

  "Good, everyone is here."

  The other girls looked at Ena expectantly except from Haine who had jumped at their arrival and was trying to play it off.

  "If we want to do this we should start with a name."

  Ena looked between them with the others following suit.

  Ai shuffled. "Umm.. How about A-RISE? it's the name of the band we were... well..."

  She trailed off.

  The girls mumbled.

  "How about..." Ena said as she moved her right hand slowly across the air as if spelling out the following.

  "A-C-O-B-I"

  Triss gave an awkward clap.

  "And that means...?" Ai asked.

  Ena finally took a seat.

  "A Cauldron Of Bad Ideas."

  Triss laughed, "Alright not bad."

  "I have great ideas though..." Haine scoffed.

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  "Burgers? 3am?"

  "THATS IT!" Haine said as she stood on the booth seat she was sat on to assert her dominance.

  A call bellowed from the bar. "The booths are NOT for standing. Sit down or get out."

  Haine meekly sat down whilst Triss placed her hand over her mouth to try and quell a brewing smile.

  "So, the name?" Ena looked to the group for approval.

  Haine crossed her arms and huffed. With a small "It's alright I guess."

  Triss gave a thumbs up.

  Ai thought for a moment about that night.

  The empty messages.

  So many eyes yet none of them listened. She now looked at the people in front of her,

  their eyes were watching her too.

  This time though, they wanted to hear her.

  Ai smiled. "Sounds good to me."

  They took a moment to celebrate, the bartender across the bar could hear them but he gave a sigh and decided to give them this victory.

  A group of footsteps drowned out by the noise the group made approached, only drawing their attention when their booth was shadowed over by a group.

  "...Ai?"

  The call came from a young man with messy blonde hair who gave the group a dejected look. Behind him were two women of similar ages - both of whom had black hair although one had it cut short.

  Ai's eyes widened, a small crease forming in her brow though instead of receding it intensified, her eyes squinting.

  "Hi..." She gave as a response.

  The other girls eyed these newcomers. Haine and Triss moved themselves to be between Ai and their guests over the table.

  "So is that it? Calling us quits?"

  A quiet moment.

  "Yeah."

  He gave a short laugh, looking between the girls he raised his chin slightly and shook his head. He shrugged, raised his hands out to his sides and then dropped them.

  A step back.

  He looked at the floor, then back to Ai.

  "Okay then."

  His eyes dotted around, not being able to focus on her.

  The visitors slowly walked away.

  Haine loudly placed her right elbow then followed by her left elbow on their table,

  crossed her fingers and placed her head upon them.

  "Well someone has friends."

  Triss looked unusually disapproving at Haine before taking a breath.

  "...I guess.." Ai turned away from Haine.

  Triss cut through the silence.

  "Let's save this doom and gloom for later -WE'RE OFFICIAL!"

  They let out another group cheer.

  Whilst the others celebrated Ena tilted her head to her upper left, from her eyes border she saw familiar figures coercing with the barkeep.

  "Ai, we need to book a gig."

  Ai stuttered for a moment then stood up to leave with Ena.

  The man from earlier passed them, his eyes locked onto the two such that he had to turn his head away to break their gaze.

  The manager behind the counter had a clipboard atop it and a pen out, turning up from writing he gave a small smile.

  "You did great Thursday, happy to book you in again - though that slot is still reserved for A-RISE."

  Ai seemed conflicted, but pressed on with her words.

  "Is there no way we could share the slot?"

  The man stepped back from the counter, his finger to his chin.

  "On a usual basis no. though your group had a good showing."

  He then continued writing.

  "So i'll give you a shot. Let's see if you or A-RISE can rise a crowd."

  Ai begun to worry, though having Ena with her gave her some reassurance.

  The two then returned to the group to share the news, with it getting late though they had to get ready to leave during their final conversation.

  "Making our first song already." Triss whistled after saying that.

  "Looking forward to it." Ena replied as she was the first ready to go, though she waited for the others.

  Haine was the last to be ready, seemingly having all the time in the world at her disposal.

  "Heyy tomorrow's supposed to be sunny! Wanna go to the beach?"

  Haine cheerfully asked as she turned to see the others who were still waiting for her.

  "For song inspiration. Right?" Ena inquired.

  Haine gave a thumbs up.

  "Cool i'd be down for that." Triss said as she sighed.

  "But I really should get going, see ya."

  She threw a peace symbol as she left.

  The others gradually followed on their separate ways after.

  Entering her small student apartment Ai collapsed on her bed, hands drawn across her face. She gave herself a moment before sitting up, looking at her desk that was positioned just across from her bed. Pulling herself up she moved to sit at the desk, arming herself with the pencil she had left the night before.

  A math book was laid bare and aside it was a neatly placed notebook, every inch of which was full of writing - with the odd space she allowed herself for some small doodle.

  As Ai started to write a light appeared from her phone, which she had to the right of her notebook.

  It wasn't the girls.

  Ai took a moment, going to pull it closer to read before jerking it away. She sat for another moment before closing the book too and instead took out a much more personalised sketchbook from the top of the desk.