It was the morning.
Even with the crazy training that I did, I was still nervous. The whole morning I hadn't felt good. I had paid zero attention in school the whole day. I even got a question wrong on a pop quiz. It seemed that Hayate too had been nervous throughout the day, she had failed to get an answer on the pop quiz right. She even managed to drop her pen like five times.
Now we stood in the change rooms, It wasn't as big as the one we had seen at the show. Obviously because this is alot smaller venue compared to theirs. From the look of our team it seemed Sayaki was the only one not nervous, or just didn't show it.
This had to be a success, would people come back if we performed badly? If we just do the routine without a mistake then it will be a success. Hayate has done a good job as the center in all the training sessions. But I couldn't help thinking, what if she completely forgot everything. I had to pull my head in, I couldn't be getting nervous about someone else failing.
We all get changed into our outfits knowing that when we walk out there that it won't be empty like how we had previously practiced. Everyone seems to be looking around each other nervously, lots of those people aren't even at the back. The air is tense at the moment we've all lined up now to enter into the stage. Will there be anyone here? I heard that the crowd for shoshina is usually quite small.
We are now walking onto the dark stage, can't the lights break so the performance doesn't start? What if Sayaki dies, we obviously can't perform. For some reason Sayaki looks at me as those thoughts go through my head.
But to the unfortunate occurrence of either of those the lights turn on. They're so bright that I can't even see.
The start of the song starts and we're off, my legs seem to be sluggish and not perfect but they're moving to the dance moves at least. My eyes started to adjust to the bright lights.
What? It's packed. That was never in the agreement.
However, even though I was temporarily shocked, my legs kept going. The time just kept ticking, we are at the third song, then the sixth and then it's over.
The final song comes to a close. We all seem to blow a sigh of relief, is there a sense of relief not to make a mistake.
The crowd gives a large round of applause. We smile, bow , and wave, just like Yahiga had said for us to do.
…
"That was really good"
"Aren't they just Shoshina's? That is way better than I had expected, and we had already heard they were good."
Applause and complements ran around from everyone, all sorts of people. This was definitely not a Shoshina level performance, and it was definitely true.
however,
"Boring" was echoed simultaneously by three different people at a time.
…
"I know it aint as good as you expected, but still to call it boring is a bit harshe." Yahiga says, facing towards the stage.
"It was good, they didn't make many mistakes, they remained conservative. It is like how a first year concert normally is but just better." Amano replies, smoking a weird pink cigar.
"You're gonna compare them to the trio before aren't you." Yahiga says holding a fan to blow away the smoke caused by Amano's cigar.
"Hmhm. The 2011 Shoshina were honestly pretty crap. Remember why?"
"Of course I do. Those two were bloody fighting in the middle of the concert. Trying to outdo each other but simultaneously getting worse as the time progressed."
"And the result."
"Everyone thought that it was the worst Shoshina performance of all time. And now you're gonna say some philosophical bullshit to make me look dumb. You've been doing this since I was an Idol" she says, still not facing Amano but now fanning her face so strong that Amano's hair was nearly blowing off.
"Yes you are quite correct. And that philosophical ball crap, what did that performance bring?"
"Pause for dramatic effect" Yahiga whispers.
"Everyone came back"
…
"It was good" all agreed in unison, Cya was actually honestly impressed.
Sabiti was currently thinking how Cya is too shy to even sit next to him, sitting over on the other side next to Samarchi.
"disappointing?" Cya asked Sabiti.
"But I don't understand."
" Something as smooth as this never happened with those three."
"But they aren't those three, I don't even know why you're comparing them to them. Hayate could be compared to Hataya, yes but they aren't the same. Just because Sayaki and Tayaki are sisters doesn't mean they will both get the same amount of fame. But they aren't the same. But comparing Sanaka to Mayaki is a very large stretch also."
"You understand that Mayaki, Tayaki, and Hataya would never have achieved the same success without each other?" she nods her head.
Sabiti looks at her. "You'll understand eventually."
"What is that crappy response?"
Sabiti knew that the performance was fine, but he also knew the potential of the group. Of course Amano would be thinking the same thing. It was a boring performance, yes the people will be happy but that is not really that important. They showed their skills not their emotions. It lacked a certain understanding towards the crowd.
…
"You guys came to this performance" Calls a woman's voice from behind. The voice was noticeably that of a girl named Imara. Sabiti and the others turned around.
"And you came?" Cya asks.
"Well Cya I did to see what this guy had said was going to kick me out of CX co" she says giggling slightly. The crowd made a bit of fuss over Cya's name being called. "And he doesn't seem very impressed with the performance.
" Would you be willing to bet your position as leader of group 9?" Sabiti says, smiling a little now.
She looked at him with those tilted eyes, narrowing them at him, "What's the bet?"
"That Sanaka will beat you in the polls next year"
Imara's eyes opened wide, but only for a second before her mouth turned into a grin. "What are you willing to bet ?"
"Sanaka will quit, and if Sanaka wins she gets your spot as leader of group 9." my brother says bringing his hand out.
"What are you doing?" Cya says, trying to interject. However Imara smiles and grabs his hand before Cya could change anything.
"You're playing with your sister's career over a bet. You should've listened to Cya" she says walking away
"Why did you do that?" Cya asks Sabiti.
"For the sake of CX co." he says in a stupid smug manner.
…
"New training." My Brother announces at 5 O'clock in the morning. Why is he such a pain, omg.
"But I had a concert yesterday" I say rolling over away from him.
"You call that a concert?" I don't know what he means. I just ignored him this time.
"Look I got the recording of your concert."
Did he actually? Is he bluffing?
Well it turns out he did have it, The concert actually looked alright from the recording.
"Do you think there is anything missing?"
I try to think about the difference between our performance and theirs. Yes Ours does look alot worse but I don't really know why.
"It looks emotionless." my brother says giving up on my ability to analyze myself.
"How do we improve the emotional aspect of a performance?"
"Well most of the CX songs are like love songs. So you need to get into a relationship with a boy."
"But there is a rule against that."
"The director would not care."
"How would you know"
I am quite skeptical of what my brothers are saying, and I don't wanna have to be forced into a relationship because of training.
"Okay you ruined it, of course I wouldn't try to get you into a relationship. Even if the book said so. And I don't think you could."
Skepticism proved right. I refrain from showing my brother gratitude.
So apparently after my brother did some explanation, the training that we would be doing is matchmaking couples. How the hell is this going to improve my abilities? My brother also brang Sayaki along, somehow.
…
"Why the hell am I here?" Sayaki says next to me. Well I don't know, how the hell did he even get your phone number.
We are currently both sitting outside the front of a building, it is currently 6 am so it is only just light. The building has big signs saying free matchmaking, like who the hell would trust random people to find your pair, couldn't you just use a dating app.
My brother walks outside the building, where we both sit.
"Hayate apparently had something on, so that is why I had to ask Sayaki if you were here."
"What am I needed for?" Sayaki says in one of those typical cool girl ways. My brother narrows his eyes at her.
"You too will be working together in matchmaking for people. Matchmaking isn't about just choosing someone of the perfect nature, it's complex, very complex."
Sayaki's jaw dropped.
"So you can make money or something." Sayaki is still kinda shocked by what my brother said. She probably thought he was relatively normal before this display of his actions.
'He has a Ferrari, well. He obviously does not need money.' Sayaki murmurs to herself.
"Did you watch a recording of your performance Sayaki?"
"Yeh"
"And you noticed that you three were pretty crap."
"I wouldn't say-" however my brother stops her with a 'really' look while raising both eyebrows.
"You guys lacked emotions, even compared to Sunia, you guys looked emotionless. Because you guys have never been in any longish relationship. And as I have already told Sanaka. Most CX co songs are love type songs. So thus you guys gotta learn about love." my brother says raising his hands up in the air acting like he is a genius.
"You will be learning from the love experts here, like trust me there like way to good."
"Who says I have never been in a longish term relationship?" Sayaki says with a frown.
"Because your older sister has never been in any longish term relationship."
"Everyone knows she's been in a relationship this past year with Jamal Suecketsz
"Fake." My brother says now with a slight grin.
"How would you,"
"It's in the book."