Dissonant Harmony [G. Akechi x Reader]

yonjuusan

02 February 20XX

The cool February air bit at my skin as I stepped out of the concert hall. Having just finished the final rehearsal before that evening's concert, I checked my phone to see how much time I had till I needed to be back at the hall. Multiple notifications caught my eye before the time could, though.

Akira had sent me a message of good luck tonight, apologizing for what felt like the millionth time about not being able to attend tonight. We all figured it'd be smarter for him to stay at LeBlanc in case Maruki decided to show up.

The last notification took me by surprise. Akechi had called, and when I hadn't answered, he left a voicemail. He spoke of how his boss had extemporaneously decided to take his division out to dinner and he wouldn't be able to make it tonight with how many rounds of drinks he foresaw coming. I smiled at the thought of Akechi surrounded by coworkers who couldn't handle their alcohol.

He also suggested we stop by LeBlanc before the evening was over to confirm our plans for tomorrow one more time with Akira. Texting back a quick agreement, I checked the time to see what I could do with the rest of my day.

I ended up spending the late afternoon with Haru, feeling I needed the stability of something normal. It had basically become a ritual for Haru to join me before whatever audition or recital I had going on because it calmed my nerves and got her away from that awful fiancé. Neither of us had proved picky on what we wanted to eat, so we ended up wandering the streets of Kichijoji and picking up our favorite snacks from the different stalls.

Taiyaki in hand, I commented, "I'm kind of surprised you were up for going out the day before a battle. . . most of the team hunkers down and sleeps."

"Why, you have an important concert tonight! I wouldn't miss our normal outing!" She exclaimed in reply, before biting into a crepe.

"Are you coming to that tonight? Akechi ended up having to dip when his boss decided tonight was the night to take the team out for drinks."

"Yes, I am. Most of your concerto performances happen outside of the country, so I've never been able to see you do something like this."

"Well, this is just a more organized program selection with a whole orchestra to back me up." I chuckled nervously with a shrug. "No big deal."

She shook her head with a smile. "I've never understood how you're able to make something like that sound so easy."

I smiled, not really sure what to say back. Our steps sounded lightly against the cobblestone paths. The colors of Kichijoji distracted me from my thoughts and I smiled at the way most of this part of Tokyo had been kept relatively traditional, compared to the modernness of Shibuya.

Haru looked at me expectantly after I didn't respond.

"When," I paused to collect myself. "When we return to the original reality, can you do something for me?"

Flexing my hands around the handwarmers, I listened to the orchestra out on stage as they played a symphony to fill the concert hour before my selection. The work wasn't one I recognized, so I didn't dwell on it too much. I had laid the score in front of me for some last-minute studying of some of the spots that were rockier earlier today, but that couldn't hold my focus either.

This was it. This performance would be my final call to the world. I had worked so much over the years to find what I wanted to say to the world, only for it to be ripped from my grasp at its finest moment. Oppressed by the ever-reaching hand Shido had over the country.

I was snapped from my thoughts by a stagehand letting me know it was time to be waiting backstage. Looking down, I realized I had been gripping the handwarmers too tightly, knuckles paled.