Chapter 75: Chapter 75-FINALE
-Hinata's POV-
The following concerts went smoothly, and then we were on the bus and traveling back to Konoha for the final performance of our tour. Gaara asked if he could braid my hair out of boredom, and I sat on the floor in front of him, feeling giddy. Since he and Sakura started dating, he's been coming out of his shell more. A cute blush was still on his face when he'd asked, though.
Sakura and Sasuke were sitting across from me, scrolling through various social media apps on their phones while casually talking about what they thought Tenten would be like when we arrived at the concert venue.
Yahiko was sleeping on the top bunk, struggling the most with the tour because he gets road sick. The other members of Akatsuki were nearby, also lazing about on their phones. All seven of us were past the point of playing on-the-road games to pass the time because we'd already tried them all.
Personally, I'm responding to a mountain of texts and notifications from Ino, Tenten, Naruto, Matsuri, and Karin.
Suddenly, I realized Sakura's green eyes were locked on my face. So, I sat my phone on my lap and gave a quizzical look. She didn't leave me curious for long and spoke barely above a whisper so the Akatsuki men wouldn't overhear, "Hinata, are you feeling alright? You look thin."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed before darting onto me as well, then his gaze dropped to pretend to focus on his phone again.
Gaara's fingers stopped moving in my hair, and he leaned over to look at me wide-eyed. His calm voice was concerned as he said, "It's true. You're a little pale, too. Did you catch Sasuke's cold, maybe?"
I waved dismissively, "I-I've been dieting, but it's nothing to worry about. I'm alright." The tour's been so hectic that none of us have sat down to eat as a group, so he and Sakura likely haven't noticed my lack of appetite lately.
"Are you sure? You're not feeling sick?" I nodded at Sakura reassuringly, and she sighed, "Well, I think you should still take it easy after the concert, just in case."
I silently agreed, if only to appease her. Gaara returned to braiding my hair without another word on the subject.
Outwardly, I kept up my composed facade, but inwardly I felt sick to my stomach. I can't please the public without losing weight, and I can't lose weight without concerning my friends. It's like I just can't win no matter what I do.
Almost an hour later, Gaara was finished perfecting the French-braided pigtails he put into my hair. It was already dark outside, so I moved to my feet to turn in for the night. To my surprise, the moment I rose, all the blood in my face drained, and an unfamiliar shaky feeling came to my limbs. A hand wrapped firmly around my arm, and I looked over to see Sasuke glaring at me.
Frowning, I shook his hold off and dizzily mumbled, "I-I'm fine."
I collapsed onto the nearest bunk with my back turned to everyone so they couldn't see the terrified expression on my face. I've fainted dozens of times in my life, but it's never felt like that. Was Deidara right? Is it because I haven't been eating properly? I have to be more careful from now on. I'll have to force myself to eat even if it makes me nauseous.
Warmth enveloped me when I awoke in the middle of the night. When I opened my eyes, Sasuke was lying on his side when I opened my eyes, frowning at me in silence.
Tears welled in my eyes because I knew what he wanted to say, "Stop it, Sasuke."
He ran a hand down my body until it reached my thigh, where he maneuvered my leg up over his hip so he could pull me closer, "Don't be an idiot and hurt yourself, Hinata."
I closed my eyes when he pressed his lips to my forehead, whispering softly, "I-I'll do better, I promise."
My response appeared to satisfy him because he wrapped his arms around me and sighed sleepily without another word.
Tenten and Kakashi greeted us backstage as we prepared for the concert in Konoha, the final performance of our first tour. Our mentor was definitely a sight for sore eyes. Sometimes you don't realize how much you've missed someone until you see them again. My eyes watered as I hugged her, my body moving outside my control.
She wrapped her arms around me, speaking excitedly, "I missed my babies so much! The agency's been so quiet without you!"
Sakura snickered, "So, no break-ins or fistfights?"
The CEO chuckled, "Our P.R. team has had a well-deserved break."
Tenten nudged him in the side, "Oh, come on. Don't be so harsh, Kakashi! You know they're worth the trouble."
The handsome man grinned, making every girl and even some men in the room swoon, "Of course!"
After catching up for a few moments, we were forced to part and refocus on the coming performance. Before long, two of us were on either side of the massive stage. The crowd's cheers were deafening as they chanted our names repeatedly as though they'd practiced, but we hadn't even stepped out yet.
I wrung my hands nervously, worried that the weird shaky feeling from the bus would return and mess up arguably the most critical performance of our careers so far. I don't care what it takes; I can't let anything bad happen. This has to be perfect. I have to be perfect.
The opening song was "Fallin'" because we wanted to start the show with a bang. It was one of only three songs we used backup dancers for, and they were already in place on the stage. Smoke machines, strobe lights, and fireworks were ready to enhance our show. Dozens of technical crew members were around, focused on their jobs entirely.
A few professional cameramen also recorded the concert from marked-off sections in front of the left and right sides of the stage. When I looked across the broad stage, I saw Sasuke and Sakura waiting for their cue, just like Gaara and I.
I jumped slightly when the redhead in question gently grabbed my arm. When I turned, he pulled me into a hug, speaking in an emotional voice above the noise, "Thank you for everything, Hinata." Tears lifted in my eyes as I returned his embrace, repeating his statement.
His words didn't surprise me because I understood their meaning instantly.
Once we step foot on that stage, we'll have officially made it. There'll be no turning back. Prestige will have solidified its place in the musical history books. There are many people I'm grateful to for supporting me, but my three bandmates were at the top of that list. Without Sasuke, Sakura, and Gaara, I wouldn't be living my lifelong dream.
When I think back to the first day we met, I definitely didn't expect things to end up this amazing. There's nothing I'd change, though. If not for my three friends… No. I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for my three family members.
We pulled apart, and I gingerly wiped at my eyes to make sure my makeup hadn't been smeared. Across the stage, Sakura and Sasuke were hugging, too. The Uchiha man appeared to be annoyed by it, but I knew better. He's feeling just as emotional as the rest of us.
I'm so happy for him, too. It wasn't just me suffering in solidarity before being placed with Prestige. Sasuke needed friends and support as well, and now he has it.
The fast-paced drum of Fallin's intro suddenly blared from the speakers, and the dancers began expertly performing the military-inspired choreography. Gaara jogged out, being the first to sing, and the crowd's roar doubled. I was sure the stage would shake as a result, but it didn't. Looking every bit the professional as the tenured backup dancers, Gaara met the center and began singing.
G: Caught in the moment, not even thinkin' twice
Everything's frozen, nothing but you and I
Next, it was Sasuke's turn. He sang as he confidently strode out. The breath left my lungs. He was stunning, all of him; his styling, voice, and aura. The lights amplified an already perfect human being. In the back of my mind, I wondered how I'd react if he approached me looking and acting like that. I'd likely faint or get a nosebleed.
SU: Can't stop my heart from beating
Why do I love this feeling?
Gaara continued next, and the two continued performing the choreography with studied movements.
G: Make me a promise, tell me you'll stay with me
If I'm being honest, I don't know where this leads
SU: But that's the only question, baby, don't keep me guessin'
That was my cue, and I took a strengthening breath before entering the stage. I could barely hear the music in my earpiece over the crowd, but it didn't bother me. My body was alight with excitement.
HH: Ooh, you are my muse
I feel so reckless
Oh, you're makin' me, makin' me, makin' me give in
Sakura came onstage to start the first chorus, and everyone changed their positioning.
SH: Oh, baby, I can feel the rush of adrenaline
I'm not scared to jump if you want to
Let's just fall in love for the hell of it
Maybe, we'll just keep fallin'
SH: I can feel the rush of adrenaline
I'm not scared to jump, 'cause I want you
Let's just fall in love for the hell of it
Maybe, we'll just keep fallin'
The concert continued for the next three hours without error. The large crowd stretched to the edge of my vision, so I couldn't see the end of it. Lights flashed, people cheered, and music blasted. I wouldn't have been able to handle this type of situation a year ago, but now it's simply euphoric, the highest of highs. Performing like this was what I dreamed about all those years, but better.
Until the final song of the night came.
Prestige was understandably drenched with sweat after hours of hard work, but that's not new. What was new was that my body began to feel ice cold rather than hot. Luckily, I only had lines in the first half of the song, so I could focus solely on masking the fact that my limbs were trembling with the effort to keep moving after that. When I turned as part of the choreography, I covertly bent my microphone away from my lips so it wouldn't pick up on my panic.
Breathe Hinata. Just another few minutes, and it'll be over. Fight it. You have to be perfect. Don't fuck this up, not this concert of all things.
By the end of the second chorus, things turned for the worst. The lights began to blur together, and my limbs got heavier by the second.
Sasuke was my dance partner for the song. He glanced at my face as he twirled me around, only to do a double-take with a look of concern. I shook my head slightly at him, wordlessly begging him to act like everything was normal. His grip on my waist tightened, helping support more of my weight so I wouldn't collapse.
Finally, the song's last line was sung, and fireworks blasted from the stage into the sky.
Sasuke ripped his microphone off, yelling above the crowd, "Hurry! Let's go!" He turned us, an arm around my waist, and began guiding me toward the side stage so I wouldn't pass out onstage in front of thousands of people.
Tears welled in my eyes, my head pounding, and I reached up to wipe at them, only for blood to drip onto my palm. My steps staggered, my pulse quickening dangerously. My nose was bleeding.
My legs gave out from under me, and Sasuke said something in an upset voice when my knee hit the ground before picking me up and rushing off the stage. The last thing I saw before passing out was Tenten motioning for him to hurry with two paramedics in uniform beside her.
That's the end of this story!
I am actively writing the sequel and should begin posting it within the next few weeks.
I appreciate any/all feedback I've been given or will receive in the future.
Thanks, as always, for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!
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