•Manipulation• [BNHA × Male!OC]

Chapter 107: Killing me softly with his songggg (+art)

Days filled with a mixture of classes and band practice flew by, and sure enough, today was the performance day.

The class mostly donned matching yellow shirts - well all except Katsuki who wore an orange tank and Shoto who'd picked out a nice navy blue sweater. 

Much to Mina's displeasure.

Momo had made the shirts but she added a nice modification to mine to add to the visuals of the band, removing the sleeves from my shirt.

"It's almost time...!" Denki sounded oddly constipated as he said that, "I'm so nervous!"

"You'll do fine, you practiced a lot for this," I assure the boy with a pat on the back.

"Plus," I shrug my shoulders, "you're the electric to the guitar, you were made for this!"

He blows me a raspberry for the crappy joke before turning back to his guitar.

"Yes, calm down Kaminari," Momo speaks up, although unconvincingly as she had been reciting some strange mantra to calm her nerves just seconds before.

In fact everyone seemed a little on edge.

Katsuki had his jaw gritted and his drumsticks clenched in his hands so tight I thought either his teeth or the sticks would crack.

Shoto appeared as cool as usual, but the way he was constantly going over his parts, fingers restlessly moving up and down the neck of the guitar, he was nervous alright.

I continued trying to talk to everyone, keep them distracted, but truth be said the nerves were getting to me too.

We spent of what little time we had left with a brief soundcheck, after which the rest of the band practiced on their own as me and Jiro did some vocal warmups and checked on our harmonies.

And before we knew it, the lights shut off.

We hurried into our places behind the blue stage curtain.

'front and center huh...' 

I stood behind my mic stand, the flimsy combination of metal and plastic being the only thing that would separate me and a rabid crowd later on.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. The lead singer stands in front of everyone, and before the music starts you feel utterly alone.

Despite this, the curtains peel back and I stand firm.

The stage lights render it impossible to see the crowd, but I can hear them. Chanting in support of us, calling out different names.

'ohhh, there's a surprising number of people shouting for me... who'd've thunk?'

I can barely make out the dancers on either side of my peripheral vision.

Biding my time as the silence stretched on, allowing the crowd's cheers to die down, until finally the lights go down once more.

My heart drums in my chest.

Yet, before I can even feel the nerves reach my throat, I hear a shout from behind me.

"LET'S FUCKING GO!"

I almost laugh.

'Blasty's probably gonna get scolded for cursing.'

A staged explosion goes off and the band starts playing.

Its an energetic piece, chalk full of every instrument going absolutely ham.

'Ah,' I thought.

-

'I'm not so alone after all'