The group stood on the stage with two other groups. The judges all walked up, "Judged and decided by a group of your peers, the answer of the winner is…" The judge paused for dramatic effect. "The Geek Squad!" The audience cheered loudly. The judge turned around and congratulated the other groups for coming close. "Boys, you did a wonderful job! But this next challenge is a little difficult. As you know you will be going against the winners of our correspondence school. You're both musical section winners. However, they're a singing group. The decision of both schools is they need to match your skill or you need to match theirs. Or both groups withdraw and no one gets the grand finale prize.

"Ah, what the fuck?!" Mello shouted abruptly before both Beyond and Light clamped their hands over his mouth.

Beyond gave a nervous smile, "Do we have time to consider the offer?"

The judge nodded, "The next couple of hours, either way you still get your off campus liberty."

Beyond nodded, "Right, we'll need to discuss that."

They exited the stage and went outside, Beyond lit a cigarette and Matt took one from him and smiled before lighting it, Beyond shrugged and chuckled, "Well? What do you think?"

Light shrugged, "We got what we wanted." L nodded in silent agreement.

Mello smiled, "But! We could take out the other school and get the unknown prize, too. Like the judge said, we still got our liberty… What do we have to lose?"

Matt silently spoke, "Shame, embarrassment, harassment for losing to girls…"

The group shifted a wide eyed stare at him. Nate chuckled quietly, "Nothing is more embarrassing than having you guys as friends." He put his hand in the center of everyone, "I'm in if you guys are."

Beyond smiled and put his hand on Nate's, "Mello's right, what's the worst that happens, we lose? Big deal."

Mello slapped his hand in and made a bright smile, "Come on Light, no good band is missing a guitarist."

"What is it with you guys and peer pressure!" He smirked and set his hand in, "Guitars are worthless without drums." He grinned at Matt.

Matt smiled and set his hand on top, the group all looked at L. "Ah, fuck me." He reluctantly set his hand on theirs, "Only on the condition, I blame all of you, and say you blackmailed me if we lose."

Beyond laughed, "Deal. Well, let's see what the competition is." The boys and chuckled and pulled their hands back. Beyond flicked his cigarette into the smoking post the school provided.


They all sat in silence with wide eyes, "THAT'S our competition?!" Mello shouted.

Light folded his arms and shifted, "Use your indoor voice."

Beyond rubbed his chin, "Heavy metal chicks, huh?"

Nate sighed, "At least we could give them a run for their money, I mean, we have the right make up. I could figure the bass out with Mello's help, Matt is already a badass drummer, Light has some serious skill on a guitar. L could probably figure anything out that you throw at him. Um… Whose going to do vocals…" He stared pointedly at Beyond.

Beyond pointed to himself, "You want me?!"

Light smirked, "We already figured out that you're shameless…"

Beyond sighed heavily, "You're kidding right?"

L smiled, "You wouldn't be backing down from a challenge… Would you?"

Beyond flicked his eyes to L, "Oh, screw you! Fine! I'll do it." He stood up, "We'll rise to their challenge, I'd hate to see any of them fumble with, and disgrace any classical instruments." He pointed his thumb over his shoulder to the TV that had finished playing the recording of the winner's show.

The rest snickered and the judge smiled, "I'll call the other school."


A girl with bright blonde hair busted into the room, "We heard back! Good news! None of us have to figure out any instruments! They're going to counter US! It's in the bag ladies! No way could a group of violin toting losers keep up with us!" The girls all stood up and jumped around their room.

"So! Since we're going to take this, with ease, I might add. I guess we can preform at their school." A girl with shorter brown hair said smugly.

A girl with long pink hair sighed as she looked out of the window, "Claire, I know one of them on a personal level… He won't go down without some fight. If they're rising to the occasion we're dealing with a group that's hard headed and stubborn."

The blonde blinked at her, "Naomi?"

She turned around, "Beyond Birthday is not a man to underestimate! Clearly, they've got themselves a drummer who isn't an idiot, and whoever that brunette pretty boy is, has some skill with a guitar. You can't be so brash and say we're going to take this with ease… No… If anything, they'll give us a fight worth winning. And that other kid, do you realize what an electric violinist is capable of? We're dealing with the possibility of ruination!"

The girl with shorter hair smiled, "Then we better be perfect."


The boys all sat in their room, Beyond stared intently at a piece of paper while Light taught L to play a guitar, "See, it's a lot easier than a violin, see these lines, those are rifts. Kind like a musical grid." L nodded and listened intensly.

Mello sat on Nate's bed and was quietly teaching him how to play a bass. Matt sat on his bed, silently playing video games.

Light smiled when L rigidly fumbled with the strings, "Alright. Um. Let's try practicing together. Somewhere that's a little less tense."

L nodded as Light grabbed his guitar and followed him out. They started setting up in the room down the hall that was vacant. "Try not to be so uptight… Heh, sounds funny coming from me. But relax, the guitar is was less rigid than the violin, you can even slouch a little." Light smiled and ruffled the back of his hair. He picked up his guitar and eyed L who was still standing a little awkwardly, "How about this, let's sit down and practice." He sat in a chair and carelessly strummed a tune, "Just follow my lead for now. I really do think you've got it, though."

L plopped himself in a chair and followed Light's fingers then mirrored his action. L smiled slightly and relaxed back into the chair. Light smiled at him as he played the tune while watching the ceiling, "You don't need me, you've got it."

L smiled weakly and continued to play, "No wonder you always play with this thing… It is rather fun."