It was a Sunday night in Yotum, a medium-sized city nestled in the heart of the Sakura Abode Country, where life moved at a more relaxed pace than in bustling Catadrid. However, there was one place where the energy never waned—the most famous rock bar in the city, The Howling Wolf. Known for its walls plastered with posters of rock legends, dim lighting, and the ever-present hum of guitars, The Howling Wolf was the heart of the rock scene in Yotum.

On this particular night, the bar was packed with local rock fans, all gathered to watch the live broadcast of the 130th Sapphire Melody Awards. The usual chatter and banter between friends were replaced with the clinking of glasses, the occasional cheer, and, most of all, eyes glued to the several large flat-screen TVs mounted on the walls. Every corner of the room was filled with excitement. The regulars had come for two reasons: to see if their favorite band, ZoZ, would win Best Rock Album, and to speculate about their chances of taking home the most prestigious award for a band—Best Music Band. Winning that title would immortalize ZoZ in the annals of music history.

The crowd in the bar was a mix of young and old, seasoned rockers in their leather jackets, younger fans sporting ZoZ merchandise, and even a few metalheads with long hair and tattoos. The Howling Wolf wasn't just a bar—it was a sanctuary for those who lived and breathed rock music.

Near the bar counter, a group of die-hard ZoZ fans had been talking excitedly all night, speculating about the results. One of them, Kaito, a long-time fan with a shaved head and a worn ZoZ t-shirt, raised his drink.

"Come on, they've gotta win Best Rock Album," Kaito said, his voice filled with confidence. "They've been killing it for ten years now. 'Shout to Beyond' was one of their best albums!"

Mei, a woman with a piercing through her eyebrow and a tattoo of a guitar on her arm, nodded vigorously. "Yeah, but don't forget who they're up against. Fenrir and Winter's Bite are no joke. They've both had killer years."

Kaito shrugged, unfazed. "I'm telling you, ZoZ has this in the bag. They've got the sound, the fans, and the energy. Tonight's the night."

As the group continued their conversation, the buzz in the bar grew louder. The broadcast on the screens had just shifted to the announcement of the Best Rock Album category. The presenter walked out, but the moment the crowd saw Frairrir, the legendary rock star from Sakura Abode Country, standing on stage, the entire bar erupted in chaos.

People jumped out of their seats, shouting, cheering, and laughing in disbelief. Drinks were raised, and the noise level skyrocketed. It was as if a wave of electricity had hit the room. Frairrir had been a living legend for over fifteen years, ever since he had been crowned King of Singing at the 115th Sapphire Melody Awards. His disappearance from the music scene after that moment only deepened the myth surrounding him, and now, seeing him back on stage, delivering an award, was like watching a god descend from the heavens.

"He's back! Holy crap, Frairrir is back!" someone shouted from the back of the room.

A few fans pulled out their phones, taking pictures of the TV screen. Even though they couldn't see him live, having Frairrir on the screen felt historic, and they wanted to capture the moment.

"Kaito, are you seeing this?" Mei shouted over the noise, pointing at the screen. "I can't believe it! He's alive and kicking!"

Kaito was grinning from ear to ear, barely able to contain his excitement. "I thought we'd never see him again. This is insane."

As Frairrir gave his speech, talking about returning to see the new generation of rockers, the bar quieted down, the fans hanging on his every word. His presence carried so much weight, and even though the people in The Howling Wolf weren't physically there at the ceremony, they felt as if they were part of the moment.

When the nominees for Best Rock Album were announced, the room tensed up again. Everyone in the bar had been waiting for this moment. The names flashed on the screen—Steel Serpent, Fenrir, Winter's Bite, Black Reign, DragonFire, Shadow Hunt, Kai Jorgensen, and finally, ZoZ.

The room roared in excitement when ZoZ appeared on screen, the fans raising their fists and chanting the band's name.

"ZoZ! ZoZ! ZoZ!" they chanted, their voices growing louder as they awaited the results.

Then, Frairrir opened the envelope, and the tension was almost unbearable. He paused for dramatic effect, and then, with a wide grin, he announced the winner: ZoZ, for 'Shout to Beyond!'

The bar exploded. Cheers, shouts, and clapping echoed off the walls as the rock fans in The Howling Wolf celebrated. People were hugging, slapping each other on the back, and raising their drinks in triumph. Kaito practically jumped out of his chair, sloshing his drink everywhere as he pumped his fist into the air.

"I told you! I told you they'd win!" he shouted, grinning from ear to ear.

Mei was just as ecstatic, her face lit up with joy. "They did it! ZoZ did it!"

On the screen, the members of ZoZ were walking up to the stage, looking overwhelmed by the moment. The camera zoomed in on Ryo Hasegawa, the band's lead vocalist, who was visibly emotional as he approached Frairrir. The fans in the bar went quiet again, watching in awe as ZoZ received their award from the rock legend himself.

"This is huge for them," Mei said, her voice quieter now, filled with admiration. "I bet they feel like kids in front of Frairrir."

Kaito nodded. "Can you imagine? Getting an award from the guy who made you want to play music in the first place? That's gotta feel unreal."

As the members of ZoZ gave their acceptance speech, thanking their fans and expressing their awe at receiving the award from Frairrir, the bar was glued to the screen. The emotion in Ryo's voice was palpable, and it mirrored the feelings of the fans who had supported them all these years.

"We've been following them since their first album," Kaito said, his voice softening as the reality of the moment sank in. "To see them come this far... it's something else."

After the speech ended and the camera cut back to the ceremony, the excitement in the bar lingered, but the conversation quickly shifted to what was coming next—the most prestigious award for any band: Best Music Band.

Mei leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with focus. "Now the real question is: can they pull off the double and win Best Music Band? That would be legendary."

Kaito paused, his excitement momentarily tempered by the weight of the competition. "It's gonna be tough. They're up against some serious contenders. Agano is huge, and let's not forget Black Reign from Eagle Country. Both bands have a massive following and killer albums this year."

"Yeah, but ZoZ just won Best Rock Album," Mei countered. "They've got the momentum. If they win Best Music Band, they'll be cemented as legends."

"That's true," Kaito admitted, taking a sip of his drink. "But even if they don't win Best Music Band, tonight's already been historic for them. Winning Best Rock Album is huge, and getting that award from Frairrir? It doesn't get much better than that."

The other patrons in the bar chimed in with their own thoughts, debating ZoZ's chances for the next award. Some were optimistic, others more cautious, but all of them agreed that no matter what happened next, this night had already solidified ZoZ's place in rock history.

As the night wore on and the bar continued to buzz with excitement, the anticipation for the upcoming awards remained high. The fans in The Howling Wolf knew that the competition for Best Music Band was fierce, but they also knew that ZoZ had a chance—a chance to join the ranks of the immortals.

For now, though, the patrons were content to revel in the glory of ZoZ's victory, raising their glasses and toasting to the band that had captured their hearts and dominated the rock world.