February 17, 2024 (PST) is the final weekend celebrating the 3D debut showcase month of our Shiny Spicy HQ duo, Regis Altare and Axel Syrios. Around two years ago, the boys used to joke how they should be seiso idols and to watch themselves from getting too unhinged. This month of February, 2024, these seiso idols have now become actual seiso idols. As a Tempura, and even as a Holostarmin, I so happy and proud that I was able to ride on the boat they were sailing up until today.
If you missed all the fun with the boys and friends, here is the VOD:
Like the previous entries, this isn’t a review of the showcase, but a reflection post instead. This is going to be a long one because I’m actually going to cover a lot.
Top of the World
As I’m writing this portion of the entry, I admit that I have some tears on my eyes. After all, when TEMPUS HQ made their debut back in July 2022, they started off with their first and only group song that had all the four original HQ members together. They invited us on their boat and join in their journey to many adventures before they reach the stage to become idols. However, on August 2023, Altare, Axel, the VG boys, and all the Tempuras had our hearts broken and falling into melancholy when Cover made the announcement of Dez’s and Vesper’s graduations. Imagine, that is half of a generation right there.
Ever since then, I’ve always wondered how Altare and Axel will be able to perform Top of the World once they get their 3D models and getting their chance in performing on stage. Will both of them just sing the song alone? Or will they have others joining in?
Finally, the day of their 3D debut collab has come, and it’s both surreal and heartwarming that the VG boys decided to sing this song along with their HQ senpais. For many of us Tempuras, (former) Magmites, and (former) Vesties, this may be bittersweet, but at the same time, a moment no one will ever forget.
Dez and Vesper are still here with us. We don’t see them physically on 3D now, but Tempus overall made sure that they’re always there as long as the rest of Tempus are here.
光るなら (Hikaru Nara – If it Shines)
We were a given a heads up a few days before that there will be some guests from HoloID and the senpais who will appear in HQ3D. Long-time Tempuras and Holostarmins made their guesses as to who will appear there. The most popular two guesses we all came up with were Kobo Kanaeru and Kureiji Ollie, mainly because of their closeness to the boys.((I’m sorry (?) to all those who guessed Zeta, but then again, we’re only given an hour of showcase…)) Here, we were given a treat of seeing them together on stage for the first time by performing Hikaru Nara (If it Shines).
Before I go one, I would like to thank both Kobo and Ollie for joining in. Despite my personal annoyance towards collab beggars,1 it’s always been a joy to see the siblings and their camaraderie through collab streams, but it’s completely different on 3D. Somehow, watching Altare and Kobo/Kobalt on stage brought life to themselves, those around them, and to us fans.
I get that some people want to see Zeta there because of her hilarious banters with Axel both in their stream collabs and even on TwitterXYZ. But personally, I feel that Ollie is closer to the boys (next to Kobo). I’m not saying that it should only be Kobo and Ollie there, but we also have to keep in mind their schedules, activities, and personal lives too. Maybe Zeta wasn’t there in Japan around the time Altare arrived in Japan.
Going back to Ollie, even if it’s a brief appearance, this also proves how much she gives all out support to our boys, both JP and EN. It feels that she’ll be there whenever the boys invite her in any of their 3D showcase and (maybe) vice versa too. One way or the other, thank you all the way, Ollie. Much love to you, to Kobo, to all of HoloID, and the IDBros for always being there for the boys and us.
The song they chose to sing, Hikaru Nara, is quite fitting. 2023 was a very dark moment for Tempus HQ and for the Tempuras when we lost Dez and Vesper and departed from Holostars. Even though Dez and Vesper were not my oshis, just seeing a unit missing of a few of its original members loses the vibes we’re familiar with. At that time, I enrolled in a certification bootcamp as part of my career-changing transition, and honestly, even though I had to focus on my bootcamp studies, I was also losing interest at the same time.
Altare said at one point in one of his streams weeks before that there was a time when he thought about quitting. But at the same time, he has hopes that he (and Axel) will reach the light at the end of the tunnel. And so, they found the light and will continue on traveling under the light.
I expected that seeing Kobo and Ollie leaving the stage after Hikaru Nara wasn’t going to end. Why? Because Kobo was there, and she’s not going to just leave like that and let the boys have their fun, because that’s what little sisters do in real life. If you all have a little sister in your lives, you all know how it’s like.
In a way, I’m glad that Kobo came back. It’s not just because we need more heehee-hahas on this showcase, but playing leap frog (frog jump?) also gives us the opportunity to witness Cover’s highly-advanced 3D mocap2 tracking system, and as you can see in the video that they’re very smooth as butter~
After being called out by Ollie through the PA system citing a lost child situation, it was time for the boys to move to the next segment.
New Stars Mission
In case anyone haven’t noticed, it seems like TEMPUS HQ made history by becoming the first male EN wave3 to debut in 3D in the entire male EN vtuber scene. Maybe I haven’t really paid attention enough to any other male EN vTubers outside Holostars, but I haven’t seen any vtuber unit had their 3D debuts before the HQ boys did. I’m not going to delve deeper in the other, more popular male EN wave that, until now, hasn’t received their 3D models yet.((If you know, you know…))
For every 3D debut showcase in the history of Holostars, there is a rite of passage segment in which the newly-debuted 3D talents must complete a challenge while utilizing all of the 3D tracking capabilities and all the things they’re able to do. The segment started with two of StarsJP powerhouse vocalists, Rikka (Gen 1) and Astel (Gen 2), arrived on stage, interrupting Altare’s announcement. Of course, the boys were happy to see their senpai arriving on stage. Rikka and Astel wanted to sing with the boys after seeing them perform on stage for the first time.
But first, there is another duo who is waiting for Shiny Spicy on another area for a special game, and must report to them. Altare and Axel made their way to their meeting place where another duo will be waiting for them.
Two more senpais from the OG9 Holostars division, daisenpai Hanasaki Miyabi (Gen 1) and Kishido Temma (Gen 2), welcome Altare and Axel at the scene that long-time Holostarmins identify as Aragami Oga’s lair. In short, this must be Oga’s version of hell.
They are presented with a rite of passage mission known as New Stars Mission, which is a cooperative obstacle course. Please do watch the VOD linked above (or go directly to Altare’s YouTube channel) to watch. Knowing Japanese challenges, it’s not about who wins here, but who loses. Whichever team completes the course with the slower team will have a batsu (punishment) waiting for them: a glass full of Senburi Tea, known more to long-time Holostarmins as the Oga Juice.
At the same time, because this is Holostars, win or lose, all of them do end up taking the punishment. They may be toxic gamers on stream, but still good sports in the end.
Woven Fates
If you’ve listened to a lot of the original songs released by Holostars (both JP and EN), it’s quite rare to hear heartfelt ballads in their discography. Last year, an original ballad composed by singer-songwriter/content creator LilyPichu was given to TEMPUS members, Altare, Axel, and Vanguard boys Gavis Bettel and Josuiji Shinri called Woven Fates. It was one of the three new singles TEMPUS gifted to us as part of the TEMPUS first anniversary last year.
I love all of the TEMPUS (HQ/VG) songs so far, but Woven Fates had to be my current favorite thus far. It wasn’t just because it was a heartfelt ballad, but the lyrics is a story in itself that is very relatable to the boys’ struggles last year, as well as relatable to many of us in real life. I’ve dreamed and imagined seeing Shiny Spicy, Bettel, and Shinri singing this song live on 3D stage one day, but I never imagined that it will be performed on HQ3D with Rikka and Astel taking Shinri’s and Bettel’s places in the song. Wow, what a sweet treat!
Not only that I love this live version, but this is one of the rarest times that we get to hear Rikka and Astel sing in English. Their voices are different compared to Shinri and Bettel, but still complimented the entire feel of the song, especially with the chorus. Then again, this is Rikka and Astel we’re talking about here. I feel that they’ve done justice, while giving praises for Shinri and Bettel for their voices that fit this song very well.
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. You would feel your heartstrings tugged as you listen to the boys sing this song.
Conclusion
Before I conclude this post, the boys’ 3D debut merch is now available for preorders. Be sure to reserve your merch! This is also limited edition, so hurry!
I don’t watch too many 3D showcases, especially live ones, because of the time zones. I do take the time to watch the VODs when there’s an opportunity, of course. Also, as much as I wanted to have all of the boys from StarsJP to be there, I also realized that the HQ3D will only be about an hour long. This meant that not all of them will appear on the showcase.((I’m quite surprised no one from UPROAR!! was there, but the UPROAR boys made up for it by all-out promoting HQ3D on social media)) Still, I’m glad that Hanakishi is there, and I’m also a lot more happy that Rikka and Astel were there, mainly because both powerhouse vocalists are currently on hiatus from streaming.
And once again, thank you to Kobo and Ollie for being there. To me, it was a given that Kobo and Ollie will be there, being the most supportive of the boys from all of HoloID.((I understand HoloJP because of language barrier and schedule, but HoloEN — please do better!)) Hopefully one day, the 3D showcases, especially collabs, will be a lot longer than an hour.
Just a few thoughts coming from my head after watching:
- When will the VG boys get their 3D models? Will it be next year? In six months? Maybe before the Tempus 3D Anniversary in July? The wait mode begins here.
- Will Tempus have their official idol uniforms when the VG boys have their 3D debut? How will they look like, compared to the fancy uniforms of the StarsJP OG9 or the cool and laid back style from the UPROAR uniforms?
- Will there be a HOLOSTARS 3rd Act Concert? Their last concert was held in 2022, and there was no concert last year. In fact, with the 3rd Act Concert, not only that the Tempus boys will get a chance to perform on 3D, but this will be the first time UPROAR will have their concert too.
- What are the activities (and shenanigans) that Shiny Spicy have in store or currently cooking right now?
And with that, I conclude this blog post. We’ll be going back to our regular life schedule as of now.
OTSUSTAAAARS~!!!