Cadenza [BINI Mikha X OC]

Chapter 24: Opening Act

Saturday morning. It was a big day for BINI, and for Solstice as well. It was the start of BINIVerse II regional concerts, and for Solstice, it marked their first time performing for BINI. The anticipation can be felt, especially for Jon, who found himself pacing as he thought about the night ahead. His usual calm exterior was a little shaken, though he hid it well from his crew.

Jon and his bandmates started the day by preparing for tonight's performance. Jon, meticulous as always, did maintenance on the guitars that he had brought. He had three in total, each one tailored for specific performances, though his trusty Stratocaster would carry most of the show. The other two were backups, each ready to step in if something went wrong. Jon knew all too well how strings could snap at the worst possible moments. Over the years, he'd learned that being prepared was key, especially in front of a live audience.

In the hotel room, Jon sat at the small desk near the window, sunlight streaming over his shoulder as he worked on his guitars. Across from him, Mikha sat, leaning in, fascinated by the process. She was still a beginner when it came to this kind of technical work, but she was grateful for the opportunity to learn from Jon.

"So, here, we'll check the action," Jon said, showing her the adjustments he was making.

"I was always curious about this. What does it mean when you say 'action'?" Mikha asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"It's the distance between the strings and the fretboard," Jon explained. "If you look at it from a horizontal position, you can see the space between the strings and the board."

Mikha leaned forward to get a better view, nodding as she understood.

"This needs to be regulated because it affects playability and tone", Jon said. "A high action is harder to play and could even injure your fingers if you're not careful. On the other hand, a low action makes the sound muddy, and nobody likes that."

"So it has to be just right," Mikha said, finishing his sentence with a smile.

"Correct," Jon affirmed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Thankfully, the action on these guitars hasn't changed much since the last rehearsal, so we're in the clear."

As Jon continued with the maintenance, explaining things like intonation and fret buzz, Mikha listened closely. Her interest in learning had grown over the past few months, and today, she felt even more motivated to understand not just how to play but how to care for the instrument.

Mikha's fingers twitched, eager to apply her newfound knowledge. "You make this look easy", she said, her voice a little hushed as she watched him work.

Jon chuckled. "It took years to get this comfortable with it. But if you keep practicing, you'll be able to do this with your eyes closed one day."

As they finished up, Jon packed away the guitars, neatly placing each one in its case. "Why did you want to learn this, by the way?" he asked, glancing up at Mikha. "You could always have me, or a music store do it."

"Well... I think it was time I learned more about the guitar than just playing it," Mikha said thoughtfully. "If I'm serious about improving, I need to understand the instrument itself too."

Jon smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. "Looks like you're getting serious about it, huh?"

"I guess I am," Mikha said with a grin. "Though I was already serious about it from the start."

"That's true," Jon acknowledged. "And you've gotten significantly better in such a short time. I'm proud of you."

Mikha's smile widened. "What are you getting all sentimental for? This is just the beginning."