The Heroes

Curtain Call Jitters

The day before the Heroes' long-anticipated comeback was inching closer with each passing moment. In their shared dressing room, Ni-Ki's restless energy was palpable. He paced back and forth, his fingers fidgeting with nervous energy. He was a bundle of emotions, a mix of jitteriness, nervousness, and even a touch of anger. But most notably, he was hungry. Not for food, but for Jay. Jay was the missing piece that seemed to complete Ni-Ki's puzzle, and he couldn't wait for their reunion.

On the opposite end of the room, Jake was fully immersed in his own preparations. He wore thermal fingerless gloves as he practiced, softly strumming his guitar to protect his hands from any potential injury. The day before such a crucial comeback for him, the last thing they needed was an accident. The wind outside whispered softly as the sun began its descent, casting a warm, golden glow over the horizon.

This was the biggest stage the Heroes had ever stepped onto. The platform was so high above the ground that the vast expanse below seemed almost out of sight. Sunghoon, with his invaluable connections to a producer, had secured this upgrade for their performance. It was an opportunity they hadn't bargained for, but it was undoubtedly worth it. The Heroes had poured their hearts, souls, and countless tears into this comeback. It meant more to them than anyone could fathom.

Jooyeon, ever the musical maestro of the group, had a black guitar pick clenched between his teeth. His fingers danced on the strings, creating a messy yet beautiful melody. Sunghoon, meanwhile, stood apart, his tall figure wrapped in a scarf bundled protectively around his neck. He was preserving his throat and voice for the upcoming performance, aware of the demands and expectations that awaited them.

Their schedule was filling up rapidly. Ni-Ki knew he'd have to catch up on his schooling once the chaos of the comeback subsided. Jake was painfully aware that there would be no more sleep for him in the foreseeable future. Jooyeon realized his mother would be concerned for his well-being with their hectic schedule, and Sunghoon had his life back home waiting for him.

But in the midst of their personal concerns and responsibilities, the Heroes had a city to save. Their fans depended on them, and the weight of that responsibility was not lost on any of them. As the sun dipped below the horizon and the stage lights glowed brighter, they shared a collective understanding that they were about to embark on a journey that would test their limits, their bond, and their dedication to being the heroes their city needed.

Jooyeon bent down to retrieve the black guitar pick that had slipped from between his teeth. A soft curse escaped his lips as he straightened up. Jake, with a sigh of his own, couldn't hide his impatience any longer. He was typing on his phone, his fingers moving with a hunger not for food but to get the show on the road. "Can we get this over with?" he grumbled, clearly eager to move forward.

Sunghoon, who had just ascended the stairs from behind the stage with the film crew, couldn't help but quip, "That's odd coming from you." He had a playful smirk on his face, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Jake, clearly feeling his veins throbbing with hunger and anticipation, wiggled his warm hands, making his frustration known. "I'm starving," he admitted, his stomach voicing its own opinion.

Suddenly, a sharp rip of a guitar strum rang out, breaking the tense atmosphere in the room. Everyone present instinctively covered their ears, startled by the unexpected sound. Sunghoon buried his head even further into his black scarf, Jooyeon let out a triumphant, albeit ear-piercing, shriek, laughing heartily. "It works!" he exclaimed, the mischievous glint in his eyes turning into pure excitement.

Ni-Ki, who had been impatiently walking to the drum set, couldn't help but grumble as he counted them in to start the performance. The room crackled with energy, and the anticipation was almost palpable.