𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧

001 ; one more song

the lights above the stage flickered like they were seconds away from giving out, casting erratic shadows over the crowd. the venue was packed—standing room only—and the energy was electric, the air sticky with sweat and smoke. it was loud, chaotic, and a little overwhelming, but it was ours. this was our world.

the bass thrummed through the room, a second heartbeat beneath the thundering drums and distorted guitar riffs. i stepped up to the mic, gripping it tight as the final chorus spilled out of me, raw and unpolished.

"i thought i was a fool for no one but mmh, baby i'm a fool for you."

the crowd was right there with me, screaming the words back like their lives depended on it.

bakugo's drumming was a relentless storm behind me, driving the song forward with sheer force. kirishima was completely in his element, tearing into the guitar solo with a grin that could've lit up the dingy room. kaminari worked his synth like it was an extension of himself, layering chaotic yet perfectly balanced melodies. sero, calm and steady as always, added subtle loops and effects that tied everything together.

this was it. this was why we did this—why we lugged gear through sketchy alleys, played for free, and lived on gas station snacks. for these moments where we weren't just people. we were something bigger.

the final note rang out, and i stepped back, breathless and buzzing. "thank you, everyone! you've been amazing tonight!"

the crowd erupted, their cheers shaking the walls. i turned to step off the stage, but the chanting started.

"one more song! one more song!"

the sound was deafening, and i glanced over my shoulder at the band. kirishima immediately nodded, his excitement infectious. kaminari shot me a look that said let's do it.

even bakugo, the eternal skeptic, gave a small grunt of approval, though his scowl stayed firmly in place.

"one more?" i asked into the mic, and the room erupted again.

kaminari grinned as he started playing the first notes of a fan favorite—a song that wasn't even on the setlist. kirishima followed with a riff, and bakugo fell in effortlessly, his drumming sharp and precise. i took a deep breath, stepping back into the heat of the stage as the crowd surged forward.

by the time we finally stepped off the stage, my legs felt like jelly and my throat was raw, but the adrenaline kept me upright. the energy from the crowd still clung to me, a hum in my chest that refused to fade.

backstage was a mess, as usual. the air smelled like sweat and spilled beer, and the fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead. the "green room" was barely a room—just a corner sectioned off with curtains and a few mismatched chairs.

"did you see them out there?" kirishima said, practically glowing. he set his guitar down carefully before turning to the rest of us. "they were losing it!"

"of course they were." bakugo muttered, grabbing a towel and wiping the sweat from his face. "they finally heard real music for once."

"and modesty strikes again." sero said dryly, leaning against the wall with a bottle of beer in his hand.

"what's the point of modesty if i'm right?" bakugo shot back, smirking.

kaminari threw himself into one of the chairs, his synth still slung over his shoulder. "i think someone proposed to me mid-set. or they were just throwing beer. either way, i felt loved."

i couldn't help but laugh as i grabbed a bottle of water, chugging half of it in one go.

"y/n." kirishima called, his grin widening. "you were insane tonight."

"thanks you means a lot." i said,"you weren't too bad yourself."

"not too bad?" he gasped, clutching his chest like i'd just mortally wounded him.

"you're a monster." kaminari said, jumping in. "how could you insult our dear kirishima like this?"he said as she jumped to the seat next to kirishima and poking his cheek.

"dude stop touching" kirishima said pushing him off.

"dear kirishima?" sero muttered, raising an eyebrow. "is that what we're calling him now?"

"you know what? you guys are terrible." kirishima said, laughing.

their banter was a familiar background noise, grounding me after the chaos of performing.

but something tugged at my attention.

mina was standing by the door, clipboard in hand, talking to someone i didn't recognize—a man in a crisp suit that looked completely out of place in this rundown venue. his slicked-back hair and perfectly polished shoes screamed corporate, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

"who's that?" i asked, nodding toward them.

"probably someone trying to book us." kirishima said. "we crushed it tonight."

"or someone suing us for being too awesome." kaminari added, leaning back in his chair.

"yeah, sure." bakugo said, rolling his eyes. "let me know how that works out for you."

i couldn't shake the unease that settled in my chest. mina wasn't her usual self. there was no bounce in her step, no bright smile. her posture was stiff, and her responses were short.

after what felt like forever, the man shook mina's hand and walked out the side door. she stayed by the door for a moment, taking a deep breath before turning to us.

"okay." she said, her voice uncharacteristically steady. "we need to talk."

"what's up?" kaminari asked, perking up.

"that guy." mina said, gesturing toward the now-closed door, "was a scout from titan records."

the room went silent.

"wait, the titan records?" kirishima asked, his eyes widening.

"yep." mina said, her grin returning, though it looked more nervous than excited. "he came to see you guys perform tonight."

"and?" bakugo said, crossing his arms.

"and... he wants you to audition for their label this weekend." mina said, her voice speeding up slightly. "this is huge. titan doesn't just scout anyone. they're the biggest label in the industry. if they sign you..."

she trailed off, her excitement palpable.

kaminari shot up from his chair. "holy crap, this is it! this is how we make it big!"

"or how we lose everything." i muttered under my breath.

mina turned to me, her expression softening. "look, i get it. this is a lot. but you don't have to decide anything right now. just think about it, okay?"

word count : 1066