Chapter Text
It was time for the Grand Festival.
The Squid Sisters, Off the Hook, and Deep Cut had re-assembled as the Now or Never Seven, and now they were on the bus to the Grand Festival Grounds. Decked out in their white, beige, and silver festival attire, everyone felt ready for a new chapter of their lives.
"The Grand Festival is my favorite time of year!" Callie said. "I love all the pretty lights, and the music, and the food... oh, and I just look SO good in this outfit, don't I?!"
"Yeah, but not as good as me," Pearl boasted.
"Hey guys," Marina said. "Acht texted me this morning. She said the bands are gonna be there this year."
"Wait," Marie said. "Does that include..."
"It includes the Chirpy Chips," Marina said.
"YESSSSSSSS!!!!" Marie, usually calm and stoic, was overjoyed. The Chirpy Chips had always been her favorite band, and she had always wanted to meet them in person.
"Calm down, Marie," Shiver said. "I don't even know if we'll run into them. The Grand Festival is huge. Lots of people are gonna be there."
The Grand Festival was as beautiful as it had been last year. The seven idols, while nervous about their big performance coming up at the end, were awed at the decorations.
"I LOVE ALL THE FAIRY LIGHTS!!!!" Frye cried, scaling a food stall to see the lights up close.
"AND THEY MADE MERCHANDISE OF US AGAIN!!!!!!!" Marina, who loved plushies, ran up to one of the vendor booths to admire the plushies of the idols.
"Calm down! Calm down!" Marie was struggling to keep everyone under control.
"Hey, it's Acht!" Big Man said. Marina ran up to hug her friend.
"Hey, Marina!" Acht was smothered in her best friend's tight squeeze. "Everything's looking great!"
Marie didn't even hesitate. "Are the Chirpy Chips here yet?!" she cried.
"I think I saw them somewhere near the Urchin Stage," Acht said. Marie ran off in that direction.
"Well, this will probably be as chaotic as last year," Shiver sighed.