After Ban Rei's powerful performance concluded and the roar of the crowd finally began to subside, Minato and his parents moved back to his dressing room. It wasn't long before there was a knock on the door, and then a flurry of excited energy burst in.
Mina, Kirishima, and Himiko rushed towards him, their faces alight with exhilaration.
"Minato, you were incredible!" Mina practically shrieked, her golden eyes sparkling. "Seriously, 'Happy' just made me want to dance forever!"
"So manly, Minato!" Kirishima chimed in, a huge grin on his face. "You nailed 'Hall of Fame'! It was super inspiring!"
Himiko nodded, her smile soft but genuine. "All your songs were amazing, Minato-kun. You really made everyone feel good."
They spent a few minutes excitedly rehashing each song, debating which was their favorite and mimicking some of Minato's stage moves. His parents, Akane and Kenji, watched with warm smiles, proud to see their son surrounded by such supportive friends.
Just then, another figure appeared at the door. Touya. He wasn't alone; his mother, Rei, and siblings, Fuyumi and Natsuo, were with him. Minato felt a surge of warmth. He had given them backstage passes, but seeing them actually use them filled him with a quiet satisfaction.
"Minato," Touya said, his usual gruff tone softened by a hint of admiration. "That was... quite a performance. Good job." It was high praise coming from Touya.
Rei stepped forward, a gentle smile on her face. "Minato-kun, it was lovely. Your songs were very beautiful." She then looked at her son and back at Minato. "And thank you for being a good friend to Touya. It means a lot." Her sincerity touched Minato deeply.
"Thanks for coming, everyone," Minato said, feeling a sense of quiet accomplishment. "I'm really glad you all liked it."
"Alright, everyone!" Kenji Namikaze announced, stepping forward with a jovial smile. "This calls for a proper celebration! Minato's first big concert was a huge success. How about we all head to a restaurant?"
A chorus of agreement went up from the friends and their families.
"Yeah, food!" Mina cheered.
"Sounds manly!" Kirishima added.
Minato looked at Touya, who gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod of agreement. Rei smiled, and Fuyumi and Natsuo seemed amenable.
"Great! There's a local restaurant nearby that's perfect," Kenji said, leading the way.
The entire group, Minato, his parents, Mina and her parents, Kirishima and his parents, Himiko, and Touya with his mother and siblings, left the bustling arena backstage area. They walked a short distance to a cozy, local restaurant, the evening air still humming with the afterglow of the concert. Inside, laughter and conversation soon filled their corner as they celebrated Minato's successful concert debut, a new milestone in his unexpected journey.
The local restaurant was a familiar, comforting spot, bustling but not overly crowded. They secured a large table that could comfortably fit everyone. The air was filled with the inviting aroma of various dishes.
Once they were seated and had placed their orders, the conversation flowed easily, still revolving around the concert.
"I still can't believe how many people were there!" Mina exclaimed, her face alight. "And everyone was singing along! It was so cool!"
"Minato's performance of 'Happy' was incredibly manly," Kirishima added, taking a big gulp of water. "I almost started crying during 'Hall of Fame,' though. That song really hit hard."
Himiko nodded shyly. "It was very inspiring. I felt really strong listening to it."
Minato smiled, genuinely appreciating their enthusiasm. "Thanks, guys. It felt incredible being up there, especially with you all cheering me on."
Touya, sitting beside his mother, watched Minato with a rare, thoughtful expression. "You handled the crowd well for a kid," he admitted. "And the songs... they weren't bad." This was a significant compliment from him.
Rei smiled at Minato. "Your music has a unique warmth, Minato-kun. It truly brightened the evening."
"Indeed!" Akane agreed, beaming. "And you navigated the stage like a seasoned professional, sweetie."
Kenji raised his glass. "To Minato! For a fantastic debut and many more to come!" Everyone clinked their glasses in a toast, the clinking sound mixing with their laughter.
As the food arrived, the conversation shifted to other topics. They talked about school, about their Quirks, and about their plans for the upcoming hero high school entrance exams, even though Minato's friends still had eight years to go. Touya also briefly mentioned his preparations for U.A. University. The atmosphere was light and joyous, a mix of old friends and new connections forming over good food and shared excitement.
The restaurant was lively, but their large table carved out its own bubble of excitement. Plates of food were passed around, and glasses clinked in cheerful toasts. The conversation, naturally, kept circling back to Minato's performance.
"So, Minato," Mina's father, Atsuko, asked, taking a bite of his sushi, "those new songs you sang, 'Happy' and 'Hall of Fame' – when are they going to be on HeroTube? My wife won't stop humming them!"
"Yeah, everyone's asking!" Kirishima grinned. "They were super catchy!"
Minato chuckled. "Masato-san, my manager, told me they'll probably be released within the next few weeks. They wanted to build some hype after the concert."
"And an album?" Kirishima's mother, Maki, inquired kindly. "Are you planning to release a full album soon?"
Minato looked at his parents, who nodded subtly. "We've been recording more songs," Minato confirmed. "Sonicraft is planning an album. It should be out later this year."
"Oh, an album!" Mina clapped her hands excitedly. "Will it have 'Blue Bird' and 'A Million Dreams' too?"
"Of course," Minato assured her. "And more."
Then, Touya's younger sister, Fuyumi, spoke up. "And what about a tour, Minato-kun? Will you be going on your own tour after the album is out?"
Minato shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's a possibility. Masato-san has mentioned it, but nothing's set in stone yet. For now, I'm just focusing on making more music."
Rei, Touya's mother, spoke softly. "It must be quite a balance, Minato-kun, with school and all this. You handle it very well."
"He's a diligent student," Akane said proudly. "And a very disciplined young artist."
"Speaking of making more music, Minato," Mina piped up, "how do you even come up with all these songs? Do you just think of a melody, or do the words come first?"
Minato paused, considering. "Sometimes it's a melody that pops into my head, like with 'Happy'—that beat just makes you want to move. Other times, I have an idea or a feeling I want to express, and the words come first. Like 'Hall of Fame' was about the hero dream, and 'A Million Dreams' was about building a better world."
"That's so deep!" Kirishima exclaimed, impressed. "So, you're like, thinking about heroic stuff even when you're writing music? That's super manly dedication!"
"Do you play other instruments too?" Himiko asked, her curiosity piqued. "Or just the guitar?"
"I'm learning piano," Minato replied. "And a bit of drums. It helps with composition, understanding how all the different parts fit together."
"That's incredible, Minato-kun," Rei said, her gaze thoughtful. "It's clear you have a true gift."
Touya, who had been listening quietly, finally interjected. "You said you have more songs recorded. What kind of songs are they? Anything like 'Blue Bird'?"
Minato grinned. "You'll have to wait for the album for those! But I think you'll like them. They're all different, but they all have a bit of that hopeful, never-give-up kind of feeling."
The conversation continued, flowing easily between discussions of music production, the impact of Minato's songs, and playful speculation about his future as a musical sensation. The celebratory dinner truly cemented not just Minato's success, but the bonds of friendship and family that supported him.