Final Riff

Chapter 1

“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mami closed her eyes for a moment and let her breathing even. A rush of adrenaline came sweeping her body making her nerves act up. A tingling sensation started on her stomach and she couldn’t help but have a nervous smile plastered on her face.

“30 minutes, SCANDAL. 30 minutes.” One of the stage crew came into their dressing room and told them.

Mami opened her eyes briefly to be greeted by her nervous but excited-looking bandmates. Tomomi was pacing in the room while Haruna kept fidgeting with Canta, the doll. Rina, on the other hand, was drumming invisible sticks on the table and sometimes, she was frowning when she seems to be missing a beat.

She almost laughs on what they were doing but then she remembered what she was up to before she noticed their actions. She was playing her guitar non-stop and kept practicing the same notes for the last twenty minutes and she can’t seem to move on. She groaned silently and put her guitar down back to its rack and plugged her earphones to her ears.

It was their tour in Europe and this is their first stop. After having a successful tour in America, which composed of almost a dozen shows, they didn’t even rest and headed to Europe as soon as they can. Of course, they’re extremely tired but everything they do was rewarding too. Not only they could see different places, they’ve seen different people and even interact with them which is an amazing experience.

Mami’s lips curved up into a smile as she remembered everything that had happened for the last two months of their tour. It was the longest they were away at home but it was also the most fulfilling one.

Somebody then slap her in the back pulling her away from her drifting thoughts.

“Mami, snap out of it. We’re on in five minutes.” Haruna said cheekily. Mami couldn’t help but feel that Haruna wanted to hop around due to her excitement. On the other hand, she’s getting butterflies in her stomach.

“25 minutes already passed?” Mami asked in wonder. She was just sitting there with her eyes closed and now they’re up.

“Well yes. You were sleeping the whole time. You didn’t even answer when we’re asking you something.” Tomomi said to her while picking up her bass and putting the strap on her.

“Oh. Sorry, my earphones are on so I might not have heard you.” Mami said before grabbing her guitar too and headed for the door. Tomomi only nodded at her and gave a small tap on her shoulder before heading out the door.

“Yosh! Well let’s do the shout here!” Rina suggested and gathered the members and the crew of SCANDAL.

The tension was high and everything was happening so fast. Before Mami could even react, Tomomi already started the shout and all she could do was go with the flow. After finishing their heart whelmed shout, the crew tapped the girls on their backs and said their good lucks for their first tour stop in Europe.

“Places everyone! SCANDAL, gambare! First show! Give your best with this one.” Eisuke gave them a thumbs up before disappearing in the midst of the staff scurrying to their places.

SCANDAL positioned themselves at the bottom of the stage and waited for the lift to take them up.  Above where they are, they could hear the crowd chanting their names. It was very loud and they could hardly hear themselves think.

Five. The countdown started and the audience started their uproar. If they were already loud awhile ago, then nothing could describe how they are now.