The Undying Voice |『 Female OC 』• Oshi no Ko

Verse 11: Harmonious Duet

Backstage was thick with tension, excitement, and a lingering sense of awe after Umeko's second performance. Her unexpected rap had sent ripples through the competition. Contestants who were once content to coast through the competition now appeared revitalised, their second performances sharper, more polished, and imbued with newfound passion.

The judges, who had maintained a stoic demeanour throughout much of the event, were now visibly intrigued. They exchanged glances between performances, their notes filling with comments of admiration and surprise.

It was clear that something had shifted in the contest's atmosphere. A ripple effect had spread through the contestants because of a quiet rivalry that the judges were acutely aware of.

As the final notes of the last contestant's passage faded into the buzz of applause, Umeko felt her heart pounding harder than it had all day. The performances were done, and now, it was time to wait.

"Thank you to all our contestants for such breathtaking performances. The judges will now deliberate on the final decision. Please remain backstage while the results are tallied," the announcer said through the backstage chatter.

The announcement was met with a collective breath from the performers. Some returned to their friends or families to share quiet words of encouragement. In contrast, others stood alone, gazes fixed on the floor as they mentally replayed their performances, second-guessing every note.

Umeko found herself pacing slowly near the edge of the stage, her fingers nervously toying with the hem of her shirt. Her earlier surge of confidence was beginning to dim, leaving behind a gnawing nervousness that seemed to grow with every passing second.

"Feeling a bit nervous?" said a voice, pulling Umeko from her thoughts. She turned to see Yuno approaching, a knowing smile on his face. Umeko sighed, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. "Is it that obvious?" she asked, scratching the back of her head.

"But I guess I am..." Umeko admitted as Yuno stepped beside her. "I wasn't this nervous on stage, but now that I'm waiting for the results, it's like all the confidence I had just vanished," she said, making Yuno laugh softly.

"That's hard to believe after what I just saw out there. You looked so confident, like you were born to perform," Yuno said, shaking his head as if the idea of Umeko being nervous was absurd.

Umeko's cheeks flushed slightly, and she let out a soft chuckle. "My friends say the same thing. They keep telling me I'm fine once I get on stage, but it never feels that way beforehand," she revealed, making Yuno hum before he smiled.

"Well, that's what stage presence is all about," Yuno said with a smile, crossing his arms over his chest. "Once the lights hit you, something clicks, and all the nerves fade away. It's a gift that not everyone has. You should be proud of it," he added.

Umeko smiled gratefully, though her nerves still simmered beneath the surface. Then, she smiled as if remembering something. "Say Yuno, do you think you would have the time to be on my channel?" she asked, making Yuno hum.

"You want to collab with me?" he asked, making Umeko nod. "Yeah, usually it's me, or I'm with my friend Anya, so I don't have any other singers on my channel," she said before chuckling. "I mean, Mem-Cho tried to sing, but uhm..." lingered Umeko, making Yuno chuckle.