Next Day. At around 2 O'clock. Grate, Twinkle, and Irene were waiting at the train station. The train has arrived.

"He is late. It was his idea to take us to Halogen concert and now he is nowhere to be found.", Irene said annoyingly.

"Train leaves in 5 minutes.", Twinkle said.

"...where did he die?", Grate was losing patience. Suddenly, Eiffel arrived with Marlin and his girlfriend. Grate got crushed seeing that girl.

"Hey, guys. Sorry, I'm late.", Eiffel apologized.

"About time you showed up.", said Twinkle.

"Let me introduce you to my new roommate. This is Marlin.", Eiffel said to his friends as Marlin said Hello, "And these are my friends from childhood; Grate, Twinkle, and Irene.", said to Marlin as the friends said Hello as well.

"Nice to meet you all. And this is my girlfriend; Diana.", Marlin introduced his girlfriend to them. Friends said hello to her except for Grate.

"The train will be leaving. Let's go.", said Irene. Everyone got inside the train except for Grate and Eiffel. Grate was stunned silent, looking depressed.

"Hey, what happened to you all of a sudden? You seemed so joyful just about a minute ago.", Eiffel asked him.

"We love the one to whom we are not important.", Grate responded.

"Shut up, man. Let's go.", then they got onto the train as well.

At 4 O'clock, they arrived at Times New Square. It was like a festival going on in the city. They were like 'Wow.'

"It's amazing!", Twinkle and Irene were delighted.

"In Times New Square, New Year’s Eve is an important holiday to celebrate the end of the year and prepare for the New Year. As it is an extremely big holiday, various events are held on this day every year. People all around Locria come here to Times New Square just to celebrate the new year festival. And this year, it is more important unlike any other year because it'll be the beginning of a new millennium.", Diana explained to them.

"Wow, Marlin. Your girlfriend sounds so intelligent.", Eiffel commented.

"Haha. She's a great vlogger if it isn't obvious by now.", Marlin praised her.

"Let's go, guys. We've looked around a lot.", Diana leads the way. Then they arrived near a giant clock tower that was decorated with wired bulbs and lights. It was in the middle of a four-way crossing.

"In Times New Square, countdown events are held all over the place on New Year’s Eve. One good example is here in Times Tower, the new year is displayed when the clock strikes midnight and it becomes the New Year. It would be quite interesting to spend your New Year’s Eve in front of this, the center of Times New Square. The countdown here in front of Times Tower is for partygoers who want to have a crazy countdown experience. This famous crossing gets packed with hundreds of thousands of people waiting for the new year to come. Halogen concert will take place right in front of this tower.", Diana continued.

"Then let's celebrate the new millennium right here, guys. What do you say?", Eiffel asked.

"I have no problem.", Grate agreed and then the others agreed as well.

"Babe, let's relax for now. Anyone's hungry?", Marlin asked.

"Yeah, man. I'm starving.", Eiffel said.

"Let's go someplace to eat.", Diana suggested.

Then they went into the town where a big festival was going on. They ate dango, onigiri, sushi, and other traditional new year dishes. Then it was 7 O'clock.

"Man, I'm full.", said Eiffel.

"This is just the start. You can't be full of this sooner. Hey, Marlin. Let's go to Bonenkai Party!", said Diana.

"Yeah, let's go.", Marlin was excited.

"Wait a minute. What's a Bonenkai Party?", Grate asked curiously.

"A Bonenkai Party is the 'forget the year party.' Coworkers and friends come together to celebrate their hard work over the last year. A Bonenkai is meant to be a relaxing and fun time with bottomless drinks and delicious food for everyone. Come. There must be a restaurant somewhere around here.", Diana explained, and then she led the way.

Then they got into a restaurant. People were drinking and eating soba. There were couples as well. Eiffel looked around and found Kaisy, Taki, Cindy, and Karla (Eiffel's other friends from Chapter 1) in there. Then they greeted each other and then Eiffel introduced Marlin and Diana to them.

"These are my friends from childhood as well. Taki, Kaisy, Cindy, and Karla. They are from Imperial College.", Eiffel said.

"So, they are our rivals then.", Diana joked as they all laughed.

"Hi. I'm Marlin and this is my girlfriend; Diana.", said Marlin.

"Hey, Nice to meet you.", said Eiffel's friends from Imperial.

"Hey, man. What brings you all the way here to the capital?", Taki asked Eiffel.

"Halogen concert, of course. I didn't want to miss this at any cost.", Eiffel answered.

"Haha, I knew you wouldn't miss!", Kaisy said.

"You know, sometimes he should miss.", said Grate.

"Why?", Marlin asked curiously.

"Well, Eiffel once missed two days of school. Now we have weekends.", Grate joked. Everyone burst into great laughter.

"Hey there, Hotshot!" Karla approached Eiffel in a flirty manner.

"Hey, Karla. How you doing?", Eiffel was being nice to her.

"Not so much. What have you been doing in Astorion? Did you find a girlfriend?", Karla asked.

"Nope.", Eiffel answered.

"Wow. That's wonderful news.", Karla winked.

"*nervous* Ah... Hey, your new hairstyle makes you look so much younger, Karla.", Eiffel said.

"Thanks, Sweet.", Karla replied cheerfully.

"Hey, man. Come. Let's have a table.", Grate called him.

"I'll be right there. Let's go, Karla.", Eiffel rushed off.

"...Wait, what!?", Karla's reaction changed from pure joy to irritation when she realized that Eiffel's compliment was backhanded.

Then they had a table for 10 people. Toshikoshi Soba was served on the table. Then they started eating it.

"Wow. This is very delicious. What is this dish?", Twinkle asked.

"This is one food that is traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve throughout Times New Square. Soba. There are various reasons for eating Soba on New Year’s Eve, such as the desire to live long like the length of a soba noodle, the hope to steer away bad luck and hardships of the last year and have a good next year because soba noodles are easy to cut, as well as the wish to stay healthy and strong just like soba.", Diana explained. Everyone was like 'Wow'.

"Yes, this is good.", Marlin said.

"Can you make this dish, Babe?", Diana asked Marlin.

"I can try.", Marlin answered.

"You are a cook?", Eiffel asked him.

"You haven't told them how great of a cook you are, darling?", Diana asked. Marlin was embarrassed a little. "He is a great cook. You should eat his dishes every once in a while.", Diana continued.

"Well then. I'm lucky to be your roommate", Eiffel implied.

Marlin laughed a little. After they'd finished eating soba, they were having drinks.

All of a sudden, Bazooka and Knuckle Fist Gang members appeared in the restaurant and recognized Grate and Kaisy, but didn't see Eiffel who was drunk and his head was down on the table.

"Hey! What are you doing here with these people, Kaisy? These guys are from Astorion!", Bazooka was enraged.

"Yeah, Bazooka. They are my friends. We went to school together.", Kaisy stated.

"Friends? Not anymore. Imperial and Astorion are rivals for many years. You have to forget your friendship and start despising them like a man!", Bazooka stated.

"Hey, man! Back off! Don't try to ruin our friendship or it will be your ruins lying down on the ground!", Grate yelled at them.

"What did you say!? Well, you came here to the right place. You are gonna pay for what you did to our pet that day! You are gonna pay!", Bazooka said as people were getting irritated.

"What's all this commotion?", Eiffel heads up and the Knuckle Fist Gang got scared of him, "Oh, you guys!", Eiffel chuckled and approached them.

"You! You are here too!? You ate my pet!", Bazooka angrily stated.

"So, what? You do something and the next thing I'll do is eat you too!", Eiffel frightened him.

"What!?", Bazooka was confused.

"Not me. I may not eat human flesh, but dogs do. Don't they?", Eiffel frightened him even further.

"What!?", Bazooka got scared.

"And if I ever hear that you laid a finger on my friends from Imperial, I'll make sure that day will be your funeral!", Eiffel openly threatened him.

"What!?", Bazooka was surprised.

"Now get lost or I'll make sure you never get to witness the new millennium!", Eiffel told him. Knuckle Fist Gang left the restaurant after Bazooka glared at him for a bit.

"Drunk Eiffel is the best Eiffel.", Grate joked. Eiffel noticed the girl he liked and Trojan Barker (President of MMM) were sitting in the corner of the restaurant and she was staring down at him.

"Hey, guys. Halogen concert. Bye.", Eiffel rushed out nervously.

"Hey, Eiffel wait!" said Marlin. Then they followed him.

Eiffel rushed to Times Tower and others followed him.

"Why did you run off like that?", Twinkle asked.

"Halogen concert, guys. Told you I don't wanna miss it.", Eiffel panted.

"But it will start at 10 O'clock. That's 1 hour from now.", Irene said.

"I wanna see them from the front. I don't want people to take over my place.", Eiffel said.

"Hey, guys. Look who came over for the show. It's Masquerade.", said Diana. Members of Masquerade showed up for New Year's Eve and to attend Halogen concert.

"Which one of them called you Rooster?", Grate asked Eiffel.

"That's him.", Eiffel pointed at an emo-style hair guy.

"That's the vice president of Masquerade; Jack Sabbath. And that cool-haired dude is its president; Richard Hemisphere.", said Diana.

"Look who else showed up. President of Muscleverse; Rocky with his girlfriend, President of Queendom; Maria Ephemeral... Wanna go meet her, babe?", said Marlin asked Diana.

"Nah. Let her be. Like I don't want her to come near you and me now, babe", Diana implied. Marlin kissed her cheek and adored her. Then they waited. Later.

"It's almost time.", Karla said. The place was crowded all around Times Tower cheering for Halogen.

Suddenly, the host showed up on the stage as the crowd roared.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the End of a Millennium and the beginning of a new one! Thank you for waiting all this time. Let's take it no further and allow me to introduce you to... Drummer Vin Lombardo, Bassist Park Burton, Guitarists Rob Mustaine and Bobby Darrell, and Vocalist Ace Osbourne! Ladies and Gentlemen! Please welcome! Halogen!", the host hyped up the crowd. Halogen appeared with an amazing roar from the crowd and then started playing their song 'Sulphuric Acid'. The song was epic, it was filled with great riffs, epic solos from both guitarists, and ended with a twin solo. Eiffel was fascinated by them and cheered for them all the time. Then they kept playing and playing, and the countdown began as the crowd counted from 10 to 1. The lights on the tower changed color as the clock struck midnight and the new year '2000' was displayed. Great fireworks were exploding in the sky and illumination, and air lanterns were floating everywhere. Everybody was celebrating and welcoming the new year.

After that, it was time for them to leave. In the train station.

"We should hang out more often.", Diana said to Karla and Cindy.

"I agree. It was a fabulous experience getting to know you, Diana.", said Karla and Cindy.

"Take care, man.", Taki and Kaisy said to Eiffel.

"You too, buddy.", Eiffel replied to them.

"Hoping to see you guys again soon.", Marlin said to Kaisy and Taki.

"You too, man.", they responded to Marlin. And they said goodbye to each other and went their separate ways and caught their trains. One train left for Roseholics and the other left for Metropolis. Then they returned to Astorion at around 2 O'clock. Back in the room, Eiffel and Marlin were drinking before sleeping. They cheered and drank one glass after another before Eiffel passed out.

Next thing. Eiffel slowly woke up. It was dark everywhere he looked and he couldn't move his limbs. He was dizzy and it took some time for him to come to his senses. He realized that he was blindfolded and his arms were tied behind the chair he was sitting on. He was hearing roars from people around him.

"Where the hell am I? I can't remember what happened before I blacked out... Is Marlin responsible for this? Where the hell did he bring me? ...Damn, I can't move! My neck... It still hurts...", Eiffel wondered in suspension.

"Brothers. Before us, we have the next generation of noobs. A Que is not something you become overnight. Que is the title you earn through sacrifice and loyalty. Will any of those noobs before us be worthy?", an unfamiliar voice spoke up as Eiffel stopped wondering and tried to listen to the voice.

"That voice...", Eiffel thought.

"Do you, noob, wish to rise and become a Que?", the unfamiliar voice was heard again.

"I do!", someone replied to that voice.

"Then you'll be tested. How about you, noob? Do you wish to rise and become a Que?", the voice asked again.

"Hell Yes!", this time a familiar voice answered which Eiffel recognized and asked in curiosity,

"Grate?"

"Booty-boi?", it sure was Grate who replied to him.

"Then you'll be tested.", the unfamiliar voice spoke up and Eiffel felt the person walked and came in front of him and said to him, "Noob!"

"Huh?", Eiffel responded.

"Do you wish to rise and become a Que?", the voice asked him.

"No?", Eiffel replied.

The person was furious as he yelled, "Darn! There's always one *beep* guy who has to ruin it. Well, *beep* you! You will still be tested! ...The path to becoming a Que is both long and hard! And tonight you will take your first step on that path! Brothers! The time has come. It's time for the annual... *Eiffel's blindfold was removed* BWC!" The guy who called him 'Rooster' was in front of him

Eiffel discovered that he was in the Masquerade mansion, a DJ party was going on, and members of Masquerade and Queendom were all present in the mansion while everybody was chanting "Masquerade! Masquerade! Masquerade!"

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