Palette! And Shades

Chapter 2: Let the Music Begin!

“You really are going to audition with that song Suzuka?”

It has already been a week since the entire student body received the invitation to audition for the biggest and most successful band of high school- Prevail High- and on the huge theatre stood about three-hundred freshmen and two hundred Second and Third years.

“Sure, I am.” Suzuka replied as they approached the registration table and wrote both of their names there.

“Both of you are amazing for having guts entering this audition! Do your best and don’t forget me once you’re famous. By the way, my shoe size is 8 and my favorite color is black. I like chocolates as well!” Camie said as she showed them her well-made banner for her friends. Shiro and Suzuka looked at her with bawling eyes, attempting to cry for the heart-felt support.

“You really are the best!” Suzuka and Shiro said as they hugged her tightly.

[Please assemble according to your numbers.]

“Crap! They are already calling for the contestants! Camie! Watch us and be amazed!” Suzuka said and ran with Shiro in her arms. Camie, on the other hand, waved her banner up high with said expression on her face.

Must be nice… having guts like that.

*****

“Expecting someone from the auditionees?”

At the backstage, after the huge red curtain that separated them from the stage were the members of the Prevail High preparing for the commencement of their much-awaited auditions- while Kuu was busy scanning the crowd for someone. For the past week, he had been trying to find the girl he saw in the old music room - sadly, she wasn’t in the crowd yet.

“Yep. I am. Come on Satori, aren’t you looking for some people as well?” Kuu teased.

“You bet I am!” Satori said and took Kuu away from the curtain and slipped his eye on his place. Kuu laughed it off and gazed at his enthralled bandmates, however, he couldn’t avert his thoughts from her- if she was real or if she was a ghost because when he tried to ask the other students whether they saw a pretty girl, white as porcelain, straight-haired, green-eyed, and pretty tall but smaller than him, everyone just tried to set him up with someone who matched the characteristics he said. If she was a ghost, then she was a pretty ghost, but what a sad thing she’s already dead.

“Hey, you okay?”

Kuu flinched as he was suddenly called out by a frail voice. He looked at her and smiled wide, trying to conceal his thumping heart after remembering Anonymous.

“Oh, hey, Naza! I-I’m fine! By the way, were you from the audience?” Kuu asked and Nazarene smiled at him.

“Yep, in fact, two of my juniors are there to audition. I couldn’t be happier!” Nazarene said and sparkles seemed to appear from her eyes. But just as she was about to go, Kuu caught her sleeve and shyly asked.

“Uhm… was there someone oddly beautiful there? I-I mean straight-haired [Yes, there are LOTS of them]- oh, is that so- what about green-eyed [How am I supposed to look at their eyes and remember the colors you i***t] Oh yeah right. Tall but smaller than me [Seriously are you insane]- how about a porcelain ski-“

“Ready now? Contestants are all set divided by their acts. First, drums, guitar, dance, flute, piano, bass, violin then vocals.” Murase, their adviser said and interrupted Kuu’s interrogation.

“Sorry Kuu, but, rest assured, I know you will find her.” Nazarene said and tapped his droopy shoulders- and Kuu nodded sadly. Nazarene lined up and Satori pulled Kuu down the line as the lights dimmed.

“What’s with you spacing out and looking depressed asf when you are going to face tons of chicks admiring you from afar?” Satori said with a smug smile which made Kuu glare at him. “Waah. Scary!”

“You have a terrible personality.” Kuu told him while Satori just laughed at his remark.

__________________

“Hi everyone! Are you ready?” The members of the official band stepped onto the stage and the auditionees erupted in cheers as they looked at the cool personalities on stage. “We are very happy to be with you today and we are looking forward to hearing and seeing all your acts! I am Yume, your main vocal”

“Satori, Drums!”

“Naza, Vocal,”

“Jiro, Vocal,”

“Satowa, vocal,”

“Kuu, Guitar,”

“Josef, Violin”

“ABCDE, Flute,”

“Karina, Dance head,”

“Light, piano,”

“and Hope on Bass!”

“SAIL THE SKY! WE ARE PREVAIL HIGH! NICE TO MEET YOU, SMILE!”

If someone from outside who doesn’t know about the audition, he or she will be invoked to think that people inside the theatre were hostages because of the sudden outburst of different voices. The auditionees themselves held banners and cheered for Prevail High, almost using up all their voices in exchange for doing so. Yume held her fist high and everyone stopped making noises to listen to them with anticipation.

“Let the MUSIC begin!”

_____________

“Are you for real? These pianists only did triad chords. The drummers- that I have no issues- and the guitarists seemed very well-trained. The violinists are also good. I hope that the Vocal Section will be good,” Satowa said as she crossed out the names from the sheets of paper piled beside her. Satori, on the other hand, was only giving favor to the pretty girls while roasting the boys. Jiro’s appearance was as if her soul already left her body while Kuu and the others were anticipating.

“Let’s now proceed to the vocal section. Number 1, please step forward.” The host, Mr. Murase announced. The judges- nay- the Prevail High band members looked interested again because it was the event they were the most excited about- well, there was an exemption [Kuu]- and they all rearranged themselves.

“H-hello e-everyone! My name is Spring from Class 1-A.” A frail, petite girl stood on the stage, trembling on her knees as she held her mic near her chest, and tears were forming in her weary eyes. Satori and ABCDE looked at her with motivational eyes and Spring looked like her will had been replenished. She stood there, her head held high, and the student body was amazed to see such a cute girl on stage.

“Do you have any music experience?” ABCDE asked her to relieve her nerves. Spring looked at him and started trembling again, almost dropping her mic on the floor- then a loud sound of feedback hurt everybody’s ears.

“S-sorry about that. I’ve been a part of a choir before, a-alto two.” Spring answered and looked down again.

“You may start now.” Jiro said and paid utmost attention, uninterested in her back story.

“Y-yes!” Spring said and her music started playing in the background. Everyone went silent and it filled the entire theatre that everyone was scared to even move or breathe in fear of disrupting the silence.

Crap. She’s too nervous. I bet she’ll give a performance as stiff as my shoulder.

“We are ready, are you ready? That side!

We are ready, are you ready? Dance now!"

The moment she opened her mouth and sang the first lyrics, all the people became even more silent because her voice was…

[too terrible, beyond human expectation]

The people, especially the members of Prevail High wanted to stop her from performing because she was singing in a monotone- with only the F-chord. Some of the audience started laughing out of nowhere, but she just sang there, voice shaking, terrified of the results.

“Drop the song and make your own stage,

Move your hips and ignore your age!

Thank you very much!”

She ended her [performance?] with a pause and she looked at the audience with renewed vitality- which the members saw- and did not want to break.

“T-thank you for the number.” Satori said in a nice way, trying to remove the fact that the pretty girl just hurt his ears. “Why did you audition for our band?”

Spring inhaled and smiled. “I, uh, wanted… to prove… my former ch-choir… that … I can… make it to music… industry.” She answered while panting heavily and all the people in the venue were dumbstruck.

“What happened to your former organization?” ABCDE asked.

“They told me that my voice is not for choir so I’m trying if it’s for the band.”

They just wanted to throw you away from the group! Kuu looked at her, to which she blushed heavily and paid attention to something else.

“Comments? Members?” Mr. Murase said while they were pointing fingers to who was supposed to give the comment for her to not feel terrible- then everyone looked at Light.

“It was okay since the stage presence was great- however, I do believe that there’s still a room for improvement and you were taken over by your nervousness as you sang. The song was a happy one and it seemed that you exceeded the excitement that the song required. I noticed- I mean Hope and I saw that you move very well, do you perhaps believe that you can move towards the dance department?” Light said, and the crowd realized his point. Karina smiled at her and waited for an answer. Spring looked at Light, and his golden eyes pierced her- that without any hesitation, she agreed.

“Thank you very much Spring, I’ll look forward to working with you! [Damn they made the right decision I can’t accept her off-key singing!]” Mr. Murase said and shooed her away. “Number 2, please proceed.

“Hello Everyone! I am Shiro from Class C! Nice to meet you!”

A shout of distant cheer gave people the impression that the girl in front of them was a good one- a big shot.

“Hello Shiro.” Nazarene from the seats of the official members greeted.

“Hello, Naza-senpai.” Shiro answered and looked at the audience behind them, with the banner of Camie being waved side by side in support for her.

[Wait? They know each other?]

[she must be good then!]

“Do you know her Nazarene?” Yume asked while Nazareth smiled at her with a nod.

“She was my junior and we were in the same choir together with another one, who I suppose will audition as well. So shall we start? Goodluck.” Naza said.

Shiro turned around and faced the curtain behind her. The spotlight lit on her direction as the music- an EDM Club rock music started playing. She gasped and held her mic before her chest and turned around with the expression befitting her song- a seductive one.

“Ooohhhhhhhhhhhh.

I came here to see you

To make love to you

What are you waiting for?

When you’re already in front of her?

The nightmare girl!”

Everyone was cheering for her in the audience section, and Nazareth looked so proud of her as she watched her sing and dance on the stage. From a person who only did choir in her life, she shouldn’t be underestimated because the choir they both were part of- was a dancing choir. She glanced at the curtain at the side of the stage and saw Suzuka cheering – and to her side was Satori, jaw-dropped from his face, and Josef, praying to his Kami-sama, thanking him for restoring his ear with a blessing. Yume poked Naza and smiled as if to say You have good juniors.

“Thank you very much!” Shiro said, ending with a blast and a good pose. Everyone in the audience cheered for her- Camie was crying- and Suzuka behind the curtains was clapping her hands in recognition of a very nice performance. Nazarene smiled- together with all of the members.

“Well, what can we say, very good.” ABCDE said and smiled at her.

“Really good. Please wait for the results to be posted next week.” Satowa said and smiled at her- then to Naza.

“Thank you!” Shiro said and bowed again, left the stage, and embraced Suzuka, who was next to perform. “I thought I was going to die because of my nerves! Good luck out there Suzuka!”

“Yep! But I don’t need luck since I got all I need!” Suzuka said and went to the stage to present herself to the audience- the entire student body and the teachers as well. For the past week, she had been trying hard to perfect her performance and the time for her showcase was that moment. She smiled wide and looked at everyone with a confident stance.

“Really? She’s another junior of yours?” Yume asked Nazarene and it was accidentally caught up with the mic, making everyone shout with cheers and anticipation. Suzuka waved her hands and hyped everyone- her cuteness was too captivating everyone admired her- especially Satori.

“Hello everyone! I am Suzuka from Class C! Nice to meet you!” She said, making Satori and ABCDE cheer for her like crazy fans pawning on their idol. The lights dimmed, and only the spotlight directed in her position remained.

[Amazing… my heart moved into my ears so that I could hear it and it makes me so nervous. No… I am enthralled by the feeling of rush in the stage.. of this support, this atmosphere. I-

I love it.]

The music started playing in the background and it was her cue to start dancing. She faced the audience and smiled at them, throwing everyone out of their seats and they all stood up, feeling her immense stage presence and gracious dancing.

“She’s really a performer.” Josef commented and Satori agreed with his claim. “She hasn't even started singing!”

“Yep. That’s all that’s left. I wonder if her voice sou-“

“Even when it dimmed

Even when it seemed so low so deep

I…..I…. am free!

1, 2, 1, 2, 3, Go!”

Suzuka clapped her hands and directed the people to do the same as she jumped and smiled and sang her heart out. She was overwhelmed with the support and attention she was receiving. She almost cried, but her song was a happy one, so she didn’t have the time to do so.

“Let’s get starteeeeeeeed and sing!

Turn the music on and act free

Let’s forget all the miseries

And let’s just dance to the beat.”

Suzuka glanced at the members of the Prevail High band and saw satisfactory results- everyone was cheering for her! She continued dancing and the audience continued cheering. The stage was filled with color and joy and enthusiasm that everyone was pumped up.

“Thank you very much! I love you all!” Suzuka said in the end and everyone shouted cheers at her. They gave her a warm round of applause, and Nazarene was too proud she was lost for words. Hope approached her mic and turned it on.

“That’s not an audition. That was a spectacular performance.” She said and Yume agreed as she nodded her head.

“Thank you very much!” She said and bowed to them- but a sudden picture of Nazarene hit her reveries, making her glance at her- and what she saw made her cry- Nazareth was crying so happily. She exited the stage and was welcomed by Shiro, who was so enthralled by her performance.

“I’m so proud of us, throwing a show like that! I am so happy! I am!” Shiro said and hugged her as Suzuka collapsed on the floor.

“I-I’m sorry. sSuzuka said and Shiro helped her to stand-up, realizing that her entire body was trembling.

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