#minori appears in the first two chapters btw!

[pjsk-story-summaries]

Vivid BAD SQUAD Main Story Summary

TL;DR: Two years ago, RAD WEEKEND ignited the fire of Vivid Street, especially two young singers, Shiraishi An and Shinonome Akito. They both vowed to one day surpass that legendary night, no matter how impossible others told them it was.

An struggled to find a worthy singing partner for a long time. One day, an anxious girl named Azusawa Kohane stumbled into Weekend Garage after getting lost. An sparked a passion inside of Kohane, and after realizing how exiting it was to sing with her, took the inexperienced girl as her partner. Akito, however, questioned the decision and challenged the pair to perform at an upcoming event.

Despite the pair's hard work, a jealous musician's interference with the sound system caused them to fail. Akito took the fall and lashed out at the duo, challenging their resolve. Through Miku, Len, and MEIKO's reassurance, Kohane discovered her true feelings and vowed to stay by An's side, chasing the same legendary night together.

However, Toya realized his resolve was the weakest out of all of them, since he was only pursuing street music to run away from classical music and his father. Akito punches him, and the two part ways. Worried about the sudden change, Kohane and An try their best to help Toya. Meanwhile, MEIKO helps Akito realize Toya's departure may mean more than meets the eye. Akito interrupts Toya's final goodbye to Weekend Garage and helps him realize it doesn't matter why he stands on stage, only that he wants to and is serious about it. The two make up, and Untitled takes the form of a song. Vivids and BAD DOGS decide to team up to chase RAD WEEKEND together, under the name Vivid BAD SQUAD.

Official English Youtube upload / Song (Ready Steady) / Animation

Chapter 0: An briefly narrates a flashback of her experience at RAD WEEKEND. In the present day, she chats with a customer of Weekend Garage about how she has yet to find the right partner, since none of the other musicians have the drive to surpass that legendary night. After, she goes to battle around Scramble Crossing, to which Kohane catches a glimpse of. Suddenly, An's phone lights up as she is transported to the SEKAI, a bewildered Kohane in tow. Miku, Len, and MEIKO introduce themselves and the SEKAI. An declares her dream to surpass RAD WEEKEND, but Kohane isn't sure if she has one. The two are then forced out of SEKAI with a vague feeling of determination.

Chapter 1: At school, Kohane admires her classmate Minori's drive to become an idol. She wonders if she'll be able to find a similar dream one day. Kohane goes to look for an album for her mom, but the only place that has it in-stock is in a back alley. She gets lost trying to walk back home and stumbles upon Vivid Street and Weekend Garage. She walks in to ask for directions, only to find An singing on the stage. She's super impressed by her, but runs away when An approaches.

Chapter 2: Once home, Kohane tries searching for the song An was singing, only for Miku to pop out of her phone and ask her to come to SEKAI again. Kohane doesn't, however. The next week, Minori comments on how Kohane has been humming that song ever since. She tells her about Weekend Garage, and the two bond over the power of live music. Kohane ends up going back to Weekend Garage that afternoon.

Chapter 3: Ken goes to buy coffee beans, leaving just An and Kohane in the cafe. The two formally introduce themselves to each other, and An explains the event culture of Vivid Street. Kohane asks if An could sing that song again, though after hearing Kohane praise her, An returns the request. Impressed, An asks if she would become her singing partner.

Chapter 4: Akito and Toya debrief after an event. Kotaro (simply called Musician at this time) praises them, even if he doubts their ability to surpass RAD WEEKEND. He asks if they've ever considered teaming up with An. Akito would consider it. Back at Weekend Garage, Kohane hesitates to accept An's offer. An thinks Kohane is great despite her lack of confidence, however: she'll always have her back, because that's what her dad and his partner did. Kohane decides to give singing a chance.

Then, Akito and Toya walk in and introduce themselves to Kohane. An explains how they're currently working towards the same dreams as the partnership BAD DOGS. She then introduces Kohane as her new singing partner. Upon learning of her lack of experience, Akito invites the two of them to perform at an upcoming event.

Chapter 5: An and Kohane accept the offer. After they leave, Toya questions why Akito did that. Learning that An had accepted a newbie like Kohane as her partner had made him question if she truly was serious about surpassing RAD WEEKEND, and that crushing them will prove this dream isn't for the half-hearted. Meanwhile, An and Kohane begin practicing for the event. When building their set list, they come across an Untitled song and are transported to a mysterious street.

Chapter 6: Miku brings An and Kohane to crase cafe with MEIKO to discuss the feelings behind SEKAI. Kohane questions if her feelings really could contribute to such a place. Suddenly, Len barges in after a fight with Rin, only to realize Kohane and An finally arrived. He questions where the other two are, to the girl's confusion. An realizes they need to go back to Weekend Garage and leaves. Len decides to go say hi to the others in the real world.

Chapter 7: The next day, An brings Kohane to practice on Vivid Street, much to the latter's horror. Despite her fear, the two end up doing alright. They also decide to name themselves Vivids, after the street they both love. Toya passes by, sparking nostalgia for his own early days. However, he's still thinking about Akito's comment on half-heartedness from before.

Chapter 8: BAD DOGS lights up another venue, leaving Kotaro bitterly jealous of them and An. Akito explains his drive to crush them and their "jokes" of surpassing RAD WEEKEND, but tells Kotaro to stay out of it. Len pops out of Akito's phone, but realizes now isn't the time to talk.

Later, Kohane and Toya run into each other on Vivid Street. Toya asks if Kohane is truly serious about surpassing RAD WEEKEND. She explains how she wasn't quite sure before, but because she loves standing next to An, she'll do whatever it takes. She also thanks him for the invitation to the event.

Chapter 9: The day of the event, Toya pulls Akito aside and explains how he thinks Kohane and An truly are serious about their dreams. Akito decides to give them a chance. The Vivid's show starts off strong, but partway through, Kotaro pulls the sound plug. An tries to recover, but Kohane freezes with anxiety. She apologizes after the event, but end up overhearing Akito yelling at Kotaro for his interference.

Chapter 10: Kotaro runs away upon An's confrontation. Akito decides to take the fall. He questions An and Kohane's resolve to do what it takes. Kohane ends up going to SEKAI afterwards to talk about what happened.

Chapter 11: Kohane doubts if she really is serious enough to chase An's dream. Len points out how much Kohane has changed in just a month, while Miku and MEIKO encourage her to keep trying to find her true feelings. What others say don't change who she is. Kohane resolves to tell An she wants to stay by her side, discovering her true feelings along the way. Meanwhile, An doubts her ability as a partner.

Chapter 12: Kohane enters Weekend Garage with rekindled determination and freshly-cut hair. An is overjoyed by Kohane's return, and the two decide to practice even harder than before to one day surpass RAD WEEKEND. BAD DOGS enter the cafe soon after. Kohane declares her determination to Akito and refuses to run away. Toya invites them to their next event that upcoming weekend. After the boys leave, Ken compliments Kohane and implies to an Akito's motivations are deeper than they seem.

Chapter 13: Toya arrives home late at night. His father comes into his room to berates him, telling Toya that he's wasting his time and that Akito is a bad influence. Toya knows that he's only performing street music to run away from classical, and that he's really the one with the weakest resolve. The day of the second event comes. Akito finally admits that the Vivids are truly serious about surpassing RAD WEEKEND. Suddenly, Toya tells Akito he's leaving BAD DOGS.

Chapter 14: Confused by the sudden change, Akito lashes out and punches Toya, and the two part ways for good. Meanwhile, Kohane and An visit SEKAI to tell the Virtual Singers the good news. Len reveals that the other two who formed the SEKAI are Akito and Toya, much to An's shock.

Akito bittersweetly remembers the first time he had met Toya, singing all alone on a street corner. He walks into Weekend Garage alone, worrying An and Kohane.

Chapter 15: The Vivids encounter a depressed Akito performing alone at an event, furthering their concern. The next day, Kohane runs into Toya at the CD shop, but doesn't get any solid answers over what happened. Suddenly, Kotaro pulls the Vivids aside and formally apologizes for messing up their first event, clearing Akito's name. The next day, An brings Toya to Kamiyama's courtyard to talk to Kohane.

Chapter 16: Kohane questions why Toya left street music, since he always looked like he was having so much fun singing. Toya never noticed that fact before. Kohane explains her own feelings of doubt, but knowing her true feelings are to stand next to An. Toya walks off.

Akito is still bothered by Toya's departure, no matter how hard he tries to focus on RAD WEEKEND instead. While trying to create a new set list, he accidentally stumbles upon Untitled. Len greets him and brings him to crase cafe. He talks to MEIKO and the others about his disagreement with Toya. Meanwhile, Toya enters Weekend Garage to say one final goodbye to Ken.

Chapter 17: MEIKO hands Akito a glass of oolong tea disguised as whiskey, explaining how things aren't always as they appear. She thinks there's something deeper to Toya's actions. Suddenly, Akito's phone rings with a call from Ken. Meanwhile, Toya begins to tell Ken, An, and Kohane the true reason he decide to leave BAD DOGS.

Chapter 18: The chapter begins with a flashback of Toya's father's harsh piano practices. Toya explains that these memories began to make him hate music, and that he only started street music to defy his father. Still, he's grateful to Akito for sharing his dream with him. He doesn't want to hold back his friend with his false resolve. Akito bursts through the doors of the cafe, having run all the way there from SEKAI.

Chapter 19: Akito tells Toya that he doesn't care why he ended up on the stage. He knows how serious about music Toya is, and that he's the only person Akito wants as his partner. Toya finally realizes that he's allowed to just do what he wants, regardless of the past. BAD DOGS officially re-forms. Now that all four of them have found their true feelings, Miku sends them into SEKAI.

Chapter 20: Miku asks if both Vivids and BAD DOGS will sing the song that took form together with her: Ready Steady. After realizing how well they sound working together, and how much farther they'll go united, An suggests teaming up for good. They combined their former unit names, along with a word of unity, to officially form Vivid BAD SQUAD.

Virtual Singer Chapter 1 (Pre-Chapter 0): Len and Miku order coffee from MEIKO. MEIKO laughs at the kid's banter and offers them both a coffee jelly. Miku leaves to prepare for Kohane and An's arrival. Len is bummed he can't join Miku, but is still excited to help out MEIKO.

Virtual Singer Chapter 2 (After Chapter 6): Len talks about his excitement towards meeting An and Kohane, as well as his hope to meet Akito and Toya soon. Len orders a black coffee, no sugar or cream. He wants to act adult-like like that, though he denies the fact. He's doesn't like the coffee. Miku talks about how she switches up her coffee based on the day ahead, and that he doesn't have to force himself to do or like anything.

Virtual Singer Chapter 3 (non-specific timing): MEIKO runs into Rin while opening up shop and listens to her side of the argument with Len. She wants to apologize, but doesn't know how. MEIKO reassures her that Len wants to make up, too, and that she should just be honest. Rin runs off to find him.

Virtual Singer Chapter 4 (After Chapter 20): Vivid BAD SQUAD ask to use crase cafe's stage to practice since their usual spots are full. After reaching a split decision on a part, the four ask for Miku and MEIKO's advice. Suddenly, Rin and Len walk in and ask to join their practice, interrupting the argument.