Destiny [Ai Mikaze x Reader] [FATE BOOK TWO]

Chapter 3 - Ghost Concert

The rain gently poured against the limousine window, leaving a comfortable background noise to the almost touchable tension throughout the seats. This wasn't a bad tension. This tension was always present before a performance. They all have been doing this for years, and yet, these kinds of events were still thrilling them. Well... in Reiji's and Ranmaru's case for sure, anyway.
My deep inhale and exhale broke the silence in the car, as my hands slowly rubbed my knees to release stress. This was it, the day, that we've all been waiting for, that I desperately wanted to run away from. My heart couldn't stop pounding at only the mere thought of the vibrating venue, huge crowd, millions of people screaming my name.
What could go wrong?
That was the question I kept asking myself whenever I felt that stagnating feeling overgrow any other feelings in my heart again. This wasn't any different from what I've been doing, after all. Smile and enjoy.
Then why do I want to jump out of the car and run away?
A warm feeling on my hand broke me out of my thoughts. Ai's fingers locked with mine, as his left gave my right a gentle squeeze, silently reassuring me that everything will be okay. As I looked up at him, he only smiled at me, clearly not feeling like breaking the semi-comfortable silence that enveloped the limousine. On the seat in front of us, Reiji's hazel orbs traveled over to our connected hands. To that, the brunette's lips slightly curved upwards, but instead of saying anything, he turned back to watching the rain. In the rear-view mirror, I saw Camus, who was sitting beside Reiji, raise an eyebrow at the brunette.
Soon enough, I heard the muffled noises of fans screaming, as the driver drove by them and then pulled over by a quiet area so that we could enter the venue calmly. One by one, we got out of the car, as one of the staff immediately ran over to us.
"QUARTET NIGHT, hallway B. [F/N], you come this way, follow me." she jabbered as she turned her back on the QUARTET, giving me a wave of her hand to follow her inside.
"E-Eh...?" I gulped, looking at Ai, then our connected hands. I didn't know I was to be left alone!
He sighed a bit. "It's okay, just do what you always do. We will all be right here."
"... Hai..." I muttered as he smiled at me, letting go of my hand and rushing after two of his band members.
"Smiiiile! These are your fans out there, they all support you and love you okay?" Reiji quickly hugged me. "Just like me. Ganbatte!" he chuckled, pulling my cheek upwards to form a smile.
I couldn't help but giggle a bit. "Alright, fine. Thanks, Reiji."
His smile widened a bit, but before he could say anything else, the staff member appeared beside us. "Hurry up, we don't have all day!"
"A-Ah--- hai!!!" I snapped with energy, nodding to the brunette before quickly following this stuck-up woman.

"This is your dressing room. Those are all of your outfits, put in order. First solo, second solo, third solo, group song." she jabbered with incredible speed, pointing from clothes to clothes. "You are up after STARISH then the QUARTET, in 20 minutes."
With that, she ran out of the room, shutting the door closed behind herself and murmuring stuff.
"... Alright then..." I took a deep breath, looking around the surprisingly big dressing room. Trying to act like I've done this a million times before, I stepped to the cloth hanger and looked through the very first outfit. Fluffy clothes, bright colors. I'm probably starting with one of my cute songs.
I can do this. Nothing bad is going to happen. This isn't anything different from the concerts I've done before. Just... like... five times as more people.
I'm not nervous.
I'm not nervous...
I'm not--
"[L/N]-senpai?"
I let out a loud scream, jumping in the closest corner I could find. "Jesus christ...!! When did you come in!?"
With my hand pressed against my pounding heart, I looked at the person who just stepped into my dressing room. A girl slightly shorter than me, with peach-colored hair and the most innocent expression I've ever seen. To my yelling, she tensed up and quickly bowed as deeply as she could, jabbering several panicked apologies.
"... Alright, it's okay, it's okay, calm down." I slightly raised my voice to break through her desperate sorry-tsunami. "... Who are you again?"
"... A-Ah, I haven't even introduced myself..." she muttered quietly, clearly ashamed. "U-Uhm... M-My name is Haruka Nanami. I-I will be your composer from now on a-and... Uhm... I-I just wanted to..."
As she slowly straightened up, she bit her lips while thinking of a proper way to finish that sentence.
"... greet me...?"
"H-Hai!!" she jabbered, only to bow deeply once again. "Yoroshikuonegaishimasu...!!"
"... A-Ah..." I sweatdropped. "... Yeah, I guess... Sorry for yelling."
"I... It's okay," she mumbled shyly, hesitantly straightening up yet again. I could basically see her sweating. If I was nervous, I don't know what she was.
"You can calm down, you know... I don't bite." I tried my best to smile at her, and act like I wasn't entirely new to something like a huge venue, such a modern dressing room, or having my own composer. "Besides... I'm just as nervous as you, haha..."
"E-Eh?" she blinked. "But you look so calm..."
"I do...?" I sweatdropped, recalling the moment when I screamed at her out of mere panic. "... I suppose. Anyway...! I still have around 15 minutes, so why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?"
"A-About myself?"
"Mmhmm."
".... O-Okay, uhm... I graduated from... Saotome Academy as a composer and... now I have to write you... songs..." she muttered quietly, looking like it was quite difficult for her to find the right words.
"I see. Well, I look forward to working with you then." I gave her my best smile when suddenly, the door opened again, and there came my brother, covered in sweat.
"Did you see us!?" he asked excitedly without any kind of greeting, breathing roughly.
"Uhm..."
"... Huh? Nanami?" he muttered as he realized the small girl standing beside me.
"Ittoki-kun...?" she tilted her head.
"... You two know each other?" I looked at them questioningly.
"Yeah!" he nodded with a bright smile, as he quickly gave the girl a tight hug. "She was in the same class as me! How have you been!? I see that you met my sister!"
"I, I've been... huh? H-Huh!? Your sister-!?" she widened her eyes as she stared at me. I sweatdropped in silence, as the redhead nodded rapidly and side-hugged me. "My little sis, to be exact." he grinned proudly, ruffling my hair.
"Shut up! I'm only a year younger." I huffed, slightly elbowing his side.
"She is adorable, isn't she? She is the best sister!" he continued, making me sigh and facepalm.
"Okay you two, I'm up in probably less than 10 minutes and I have to change, so out!" I snapped, starting to push both of them out of the room.
"E-Eeeh? But Nee-chan..."
"G-Good luck...!"
Those were the two things I could make out before I closed the door on them. I took a deep breath and tried to inhale the silence, but a second later several make-up artists and designers broke into the room, only to get me ready.