Hi, all! I've been watching K-On! lately and this chapter just sort of happened. It's my first K-On! story, so I hope you like it. Side note: I do not own K-On! Not even a little bit. Please review. :-)

THE COVER

CHAPTER ONE

"Cover!"

Mio had yet to work out how Yui could shout at the top of her lungs with her mouth jammed full of cake. They were drinking tea in the club room, as usual. An opportunity had arisen to perform – a spring event at school, just after graduation – and the members of the Light Music Club were discussing a new song for their set list.

Presently Mugi clapped her hands together. "That sounds like fun."

Mio and Ritsu exchanged a glance across the table. "It would be useful to learn a cover," conceded Mio. "We wouldn't have to bother with composing or writing lyrics this close to exams. Besides, something familiar might attract new fans at university."

They turned their attention back to Yui, whose arms were still suspended in midair from her outburst. "What did you have in mind?" asked Ritsu.

Yui waved her hand dismissively at her. "Oh, you know."

After a few moments' silence, it became quite apparent that Yui wasn't going to elaborate.

"Do you?" Ritsu asked.

Yui rubbed the back of her head. "Aw, it's so embarrassing! I don't know much about music…"

Everyone but Mugi stared at her. "After three years!"

"The Who it is, then!" announced Ritsu, grinning broadly. Clearly she was going to jump in before anyone else could get a word in. "I already know most of their songs anyway." With that she picked up her drumsticks and began practising on the table. Mio socked her upside the head.

"You're too loud."

"I was born this way!" Ritsu whined.

Mio recomposed herself and returned to the discussion. "I'm not sure The Who will mean a lot to some of the students," she said thoughtfully. "Perhaps we should try something well-known?"

Ritsu snorted. "Who doesn't know Pinball Wizard?"

Mugi and Yui raised their hands. Ritsu made a choking sound. "A lost generation?!"

She pounced on Azusa and hugged her tightly.

"R-Ritsu-sempai, please get off me."

"You know Pinball Wizard, don't you, Azusa-chan?" Ritsu asked desperately.

"Well, yes."

"I'm so glad! Truly you are worthy to follow in my footsteps as president." She gripped Azusa by the shoulders, determination in her gaze. "I leave my legacy in safe hands!"

Azusa was apparently opting to ignore her. She turned her attention back to the group. "If we're keeping it simple, perhaps it would be better to steer clear of hard rock."

Ritsu gasped. "Traitor!"

"Maybe something more pop or jazz-based, then?" ventured Mio. Her heart leapt at the thought. She was a jazz fan herself; it would be incredible to play any of her favourite songs with Houkago Teatime.

"We're still a rock band, you know," grumbled Ritsu.

"What about The Police?" said Azusa. "They're a rock band, are well-known and have some jazz influences."

"Every Breath You Take?" gushed Mio. "It would be easy to arrange keyboards to it, and the guitar riff would be fine with some practice."

"Hey, think about me!" said Ritsu. "That song is boring on drums! I need to smash my cymbals or I'll go crazy. You just want to play something moody." She pointed a finger at Mio accusingly. "Come out of the darkness, Mio. I'll make lots of noise until you escape to the light!"

Mio hit her again. "That's the goddess, Amaterasu, idiot. Besides, you make noise regardless."

"Erm…"

All eyes turned to Mugi. She blushed. "I know one song which might be popular with the juniors. Especially with Mio's fan club."

Oh, no. Mio blanched. Ritsu grinned like a shark. "Go on."

"Well… I believe there's a song by Dire Straits…"

A pregnant silence fell over the table. Mio's first reaction was confusion. Did she mean Sultans of Swing, or…? Mio's eyes widened as realisation dawned. Surely not… that song? A quick glance showed the same expression on Ritsu's face and they hastily looked away from each other. "No," they said in unison.

To Mio's horror, Azusa looked excited. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Mugi-sempai!"

Yui observed this exchange and nodded in feigned wisdom. "Hmm. Indeed, Azu-nyan."

Azusa sighed. "You don't know what the song is, do you, Yui-sempai?"

"I do not," said Yui.

"There's a famous British band called Dire Straits-"

"Tyre's Treats?"

"Dire Straits," corrected Azusa wearily. "If I'm following Mugi-sempai correctly, she's talking about a love song they wrote called Romeo and Juliet."

"Ho!" said Yui. "Like the play!"

Mugi smiled. "Everyone enjoyed the play so much that perhaps they would appreciate the reference. The song is from the Romeo character's perspective, so Mio could sing it."

Yui's eyes grew wide as saucers. "That sounds amazing! Let's do that!"

"I can't!" said Mio, feeling her face grow hot. "The lyrics are so… I'd have to sing about…"

"Making love!" interjected Mugi happily, stars shining in her eyes.

Mio whimpered and hid her face in her arms. This could not be happening. Ritsu placed a hand on her shoulder. "Poor Mio-chwan. Forced to sing about something other than fluffy times and staplers…"

Mio glowered at her, her face having turned a magnificent shade of crimson. "I'd be singing about making love to you, idiot!"

Ritsu flushed and snatched her hand back. She giggled nervously. "Uh… H-hey, guys, let's forget about that one. I'll play your boring Police song, okay?"

"I think I prefer Mugi-sempai's suggestion," said Azusa.

"We're not doing it!" said Mio. She avoided Ritsu's gaze. "It's too embarrassing!"

"Lots of songs mention… lovemaking, Mio-sempai." Azusa blushed ferociously at having said the term. Mugi, Ritsu and Yui stared at her in disbelief; even Mio was inclined to follow suit. "K… Kawaii."

"And everyone would be thrilled to see us perform it," Azusa continued, trying her best to ignore the way they were looking at her. "I'm sure of it."

"B-but… I can't sing that to Ritsu! I don't want to!" Mio said.

"Me neither!" seconded Ritsu. "No way am I gonna be serenaded! It's too weird!"

"Perhaps we should put it to a vote?" Mugi contemplated aloud. Mio gaped at her. For all that sweetness, Mugi could be astonishingly devious. "All in favour of Romeo and Juliet?"

Three hands went up. "Three. Opposed?" Mugi counted once more. "…Three again?"

"Put your other hand down, Ritsu-sempai!" scolded Azusa. Ritsu dropped her left arm to her side with a pout. Mugi smiled. "Only Mio and Ritsu. In that case, it's settled."

Mio twitched. "This isn't happening," she murmured.

"But I'm president!" blurted Ritsu. "That means I make the decisions!"

"That's right!" said Mio, jumping to her defence in a rare display of solidarity.

"But we're run democratically, aren't we?" said Mugi, blinking innocently.

"A mutiny?!" Ritsu turned away dramatically. "I've been overthrown!"

Mio slumped back in her seat, defeated. Azusa smiled. "Let's download the song tonight. I'll write out some guitar tabs for us, Yui-sempai."

Yui barrelled into her. "Yay! Azu-nyan is so helpful!"

"Yui-sempai…"

"And I have the keyboard tabs in a song book at home," said Mugi. "I can print the lyrics ready for tomorrow. Mio-chan, Ricchan: do your best as well, ne?"

Reluctantly, Mio looked at Ritsu. She was fidgeting and visibly uncomfortable.

This week, thought Mio grimly, is going to be a nightmare.

How was it? I'll update when I can.

P.S. Amaterasu is the Japanese goddess of the sun and the universe. According to Japanese mythology, she hid in a cave and the other gods threw a party outside to encourage her to come out. The reference felt rather apt, so I left it in. :-)