Luka adjusted the strap of her dress. Anyone could see she was nervous- her brow was creased in worry, and there was cold sweat running down her face.
"You'll be fine!" Miku said. Luka sighed slightly at the sound- of course the Crypton Vocaloid with the most star power would think she'd be fine.
"That's right!" Rin and Len agreed, speaking in unison as they often did.
"It's going to be okay," Kaito assured. "I was scared too, when my V3 debut came out."
"Same here!" Meiko added.
"But the demo..." Luka mumbled.
"Screw the demo!" Rin shouted.
Luka made a startled squeak and stepped away from the little blonde girl. "W-what?"
"You heard me!" Rin pouted. "So what if people didn't like your demo? That was only one voicebank, and there are still three more!"
"Plus," Len, the voice of reason between the Kagamine siblings, added, "Everyone agrees that your new English voicebanks are a major improvement over your initial release."
"True, but..."
"Buuuuut nothin'," Meiko said succinctly. "Get out there and strut your stuff! So what if you don't have Miku's star power or the twins' charm? You're still awesome!"
"Mhm!" Kaito agreed. "You have so many famous songs that everyone loves! Just Be Friends, Double Lariat, Dancer in the Dark, The Tailor of Enbizaka..."
Luka whimpered at the mention of Enbizaka. Having to act out the part of the murderous Kayo Sudou had been bad enough, and that had been before Mothy had seen fit to expand Evillious into a novel series.
Miku saw Luka's apprehension, and sighed. "Kaito, I don't think Evillious is necessarily the kind of thing she wants to be known for... but he's got a point, Luka." The teal diva put a hand on her pink-haired friend's shoulder. "You've been loved before, and that won't change. Even if people don't like your V4X, they still like your V2, and you might sway some new fans!"
"Good point..." Luka sighed. "Thanks, you guys. I promise... I'll do my best!"
"That's the spirit!" Miku smiled brightly.
"Heck yeah!" Meiko cheered.
"Go Luka go!" Rin and Len whooped.
"You'll do great," Kaito said gently.
Luka smiled at her friends, tears almost beginning to brim in her eyes, and she ran through the curtain separating her from her audience. The music started. The lights blazed to life. Megurine Luka took a deep breath...
...and sang.