KickiPop™ Chronicles Blog #5 – Trouble in Paradise

Everything had been going smoothly for the girls of KickiPop™—their home rehearsals, songwriting sessions, and dance practices were a whirlwind of creativity and laughter. But just as they began to feel like a tight-knit team, something unexpected threatened to shake their trust.

 

The Discovery

It started with a routine walk through the school hallway. The video system displayed clips of all the students competing for a spot in the new Harmony High™ Music Contest lineup. And there it was:  Another version of the song KickiPop™ World Anthem submitted by Aya and Melody, recorded on their own.

Prisha’s eyes widened. Miyoshi’s jaw tightened. The girls froze, staring at the screen, unable to process what they were seeing.

“Why… why would they do this?” Prisha whispered, disbelief in her voice.

“They’re supposed to be a team!” Miyoshi added, her tone sharp.

Catalina’s shoulders slumped. She felt betrayed, even though she had trusted Aya and Melody completely.

Confrontation

Later that day, the girls found Aya and Melody in the music room. They didn’t approach lightly—they were hurt, confused, and searching for answers.

“Can we talk?” Prisha asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Aya nodded, unsure of how to respond. “Of course.”

Prisha took a deep breath. “We saw the alternative version of the song on the school video system. Why didn’t you tell us? Why would you go behind our backs?”

Melody looked down, then back at the group. “We… we didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just…” Her voice faltered.

Aya stepped in, taking a shaky breath. “We come from working-class families. This isn’t just a hobby for us—it’s our future. We don’t have trust funds or money for college. We had to give ourselves every chance we could.”

The silence that followed was heavy. Prisha and Miyoshi processed the explanation, seeing the worry and determination in Aya and Melody’s eyes.

 

A Time to Cool Down

The girls decided to step away from each other, giving space to cool down and reflect. “We’ll talk about it later,” Prisha said softly, though the weight of the situation lingered.

A couple of days passed in complete silence. The hallways felt emptier without the usual laughter and chatter. But finally, lunch brought an opportunity to reconcile.

 

Heart-to-Heart at the Lunch Table

Prisha, Miyoshi, and Catalina asked to sit at the girls’ table, each of them taking a deep breath before speaking.

“We understand how you feel,” Prisha began carefully. “Our futures aren’t as guaranteed as you may think. My parents are fully on my side as long as I follow their chosen career path, but they aren’t huge fans of the music industry—even though it’s my dream.”

Miyoshi nodded. “I’m in the same boat. My grandparents are supportive, but my parents are conflicted about the entertainment industry. If I’m honest, my real dream is working in movies—as a director—but I love singing and dancing too.”

Catalina finally spoke. “I guess it’s my turn. I consider myself a songwriter first and foremost. The only reason I perform is because other people can perform our songs—and because of the mean girls like Everly, who would steal the music otherwise.”

Aya and Melody listened, guilt and understanding washing over them.

“We didn’t know about your situations,” Aya said softly. “We’re sorry you feel like we went behind your backs. We still submitted the group version of the song, but we felt we had to try this alternative arrangement to give ourselves the best shot. We should have at least told you. For that, we’re sorry.”

Melody added, “No more secrets. From now on, we’ll be upfront about everything—thoughts, feelings—so we can hash it out together. Deal?

The girls put their hands together, forming a pact. “Deal.”

“Better yet,” she said, “let’s re-record the second version so all of us are on it. What do you think?”

The girls nodded in quick agreement.

The Group Name

Even in the middle of this emotional reconciliation, the girls found joy in the one thing they all shared: their vision for the future.

“Don’t you just love the name we came up with?” Melody asked.

Aya grinned. “Yeah, it sums up everything we love: cheer, dance, martial arts, pop, rap… all of it. KickiPop™ it is.”

Prisha nodded. “Well, there’s no going back now—we made it our song, our first song.”

They laughed, feeling the tension melt. Hands in a circle, they shouted together:

“KickiPop™, KickiPop™, KickiPop™!”

Lessons Learned

The conflict reminded them that trust and communication were as important as talent. Harmony High would throw challenges their way—competitions, rivalries, and tough expectations—but the foundation they built in those first weeks would carry them forward.

KickiPop™ wasn’t just about music. It was about friendship, resilience, and the courage to chase dreams together—no matter the obstacles.

And with that, the girls knew: whatever came next, they were ready.