You Infire Me

Chapter Five: Rap Showcase

"The pain of being alone is completely out of this world, isn't it? I don't know why, but I understand your feelings so much, it actually hurts."
— Masashi Kishimoto, "Naruto"

The first Friday of any new semester is always a welcome friend, because with it comes the first weekend. As you walk out of your last class of the day—Guitar for Beginners—the cloudless, cyan blue West Virginia sky stretches out before you. You were a little disappointed that Yoongi hadn't been there (Professor Evans said he was busy with a prior commitment) but the class was enjoyable nonetheless. Guitar is slowly becoming something you enjoy: something that, somehow, manages to relax you.

You saunter more than walk back to your apartment, and after getting some homework done at your kitchen table, you hear Bianca walk in and slam the front door behind her.

"You're home, B?" You blink up at her.

"Um . . . yeah," she furrows her brow at you. "It's 7:30 already, Y/N. Where have you been?"

You groan. "In the magical, mystical land of my brain when it's writing an essay, that's where. I totally lost track of time!" You rub your palms over your forehead. "We're going to that rap showcase at 8:00, remember?"

"Of course I remember! Look at what I'm wearing!" Bianca motions at her outfit: a military green, Air Force-inspired jumpsuit; black high-top converse; and gold hoop earrings. "Go get dressed, and I'll make you a sandwich to go so that you don't get hangry."

"Thanks, B," you say with a smile as you slide out of the kitchen and down your hall to your bedroom. Luckily, you'd previously decided on an outfit to complement Bianca's: a simple black t-shirt tucked into mom jeans, white converse, and your new gold scrunchie.

"I'll blend into the background next to you," you turn a 360 as you return to the kitchen, showing off your outfit, "but at least we'll match!"

"You will not! You'll turn heads in those cute jeans!" Your best friend sets the knife she was holding into the sink and hands you a completed sandwich. "Now, let's go. We've gotta be on time, in case the first guy who gets up there is really cute."

________________________

You and Bianca have to run a little bit, but you make it to the arts building's theater and into your seats fast enough. The stage is dark and empty, save for a backdrop screen of a brick wall spray painted with messages of self-love. It's a super cool scene—more or less exactly what you expected based on the flyer.

The opening act is a girl group, which you and Bianca find awesome, so you cheer along. They rap about helping friends with mental health issues, which makes you wonder if they've supported each other with their struggles. They get plenty of applause when they finish.

The next two are solo rappers, both a little angrier in their approach, but meaningful nonetheless. Next comes what you assume is the finale (it's supposed to be a short show), a brother-sister duo that you find yourself ready to invest in. When they finish, you gather your things and prepare to leave the theater—but the lights don't switch on.

"Our show's not over yet, everyone," says the MC over the loudspeaker. "Our finale is a real treat . . . please put your hands together for world-famous Korean rapper Agust D!"

Bianca turns to you, her eyes wide. "Really? No way!"

"I know!" You yell excitedly. "Do you know who that is?"

"No! But it's amazing someone like that is here!"

The theater begins pulsing with a beat, and you can hear the performer's breaths through his mic before you see him. Moments into the rap, he's still just a shadow. The screen behind the stage displays the English translation, which captures your attention . . .