Solo

Semifinals

The morning of the semifinals dawned bright and clear, a stark contrast to the knot of nerves twisting in my stomach.

The sun streamed through the window of our hotel room, casting a warm glow over the room as I stretched and tried to shake off the residual sleepiness.

Today was a big day, and the anticipation was almost palpable.

I got dressed quickly, opting for a casual yet polished look: a crisp button-down shirt, dark jeans, and my favorite sneakers.

I knew that today wasn't just about looking good but feeling good, and comfort was key.

In the shared room, Kami was already up, bouncing around with his usual energy. He was busy with his bass, adjusting the strap and checking the tuning.

"Morning, Deku!" Kami chirped, grinning at me. "Can't believe it's finally here!"

I nodded, trying to match his enthusiasm. "Morning, Kami. Yeah, it's hard to believe it's the big day already."

Kiri and Mina were also up and about, their chatter filling the room.

Mina was humming a tune, her usual cheerful demeanor unchanged despite the nervousness we all felt. Kiri, ever the steady presence, was quietly packing his guitar into its case.

Kacchan was still asleep, his bed a tangled mess of blankets. I glanced at him with a mix of amusement and concern. He was always a heavy sleeper, and I hoped he'd wake up soon.

After grabbing a quick breakfast, I headed over to wake Kacchan. I gently shook his shoulder, careful not to startle him.

"Hey, Kacchan, wake up. It's time to get ready."

He groaned, mumbling something incoherent, but eventually, his eyes fluttered open. He blinked at me, clearly disoriented.

"What time is it?" he grumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"It's almost time to head to the venue," I said, giving him a reassuring smile. "We need to get going."

Kacchan grumbled again but sat up, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, yeah. I'm up."

We gathered our things and headed to the venue.

The atmosphere was electric as we arrived. The streets were lined with excited fans, and the hum of anticipation was everywhere. The venue itself was a large, modern building with a gleaming exterior and banners advertising the semifinals.

Once inside, we made our way to the green room, a space set aside for performers to prepare and relax before going on stage. The room was filled with other bands, all of us sharing the same mixture of excitement and anxiety.

We set up our gear and took a moment to collect ourselves. Mina was bouncing on the balls of her feet, her energy as high as ever. Kami was pacing, occasionally stopping to check his bass. Kiri was tuning his guitar, his focus intense.

And Kacchan... Kacchan was standing by the window, staring out with a serious expression, lost in thought.

"Alright, team," I said, trying to sound as calm and collected as possible. "We've practiced, we know our songs, and we've got this. Remember to stay focused and have fun out there."

Kami nodded vigorously. "Yeah! We've got this!"

Mina smiled, giving me a thumbs-up. "Totally. Let's make this the best performance yet!"

Kiri, ever the steady force, gave a reassuring nod. "Just keep it tight and stay in sync. We'll do great."

Kacchan finally turned away from the window, his usual scowl in place. "Let's just go out there and crush it, Deku."

I couldn't help but smile at his words. "That's the spirit, Kacchan."

The minutes ticked by, and soon it was our turn to take the stage.

We gathered in the hallway leading to the stage, the sounds of the crowd filtering through the walls.

The energy was almost overwhelming, but I felt a sense of calm wash over me. We had worked so hard for this moment, and now it was time to show everyone what we were made of.