Written on a whim while suffering from sleep deprivation in a car for six hours. Enjoy. But don't expect pure, raw, unadulterated awesome, or you'll get your hopes torn up.

Or not. Maybe it is good and I'm putting myself down 'cause it's late and I'm tired. Either way, it's short enough that I don't really care. Enjoy.

Stage Fright

Yowane Haku looked on from behind the curtain with a great sense of fear. Almost the entire school seemed to show up to see the talent show. And while she didn't see anyone get up and leave when her name was announced, the fact that she was going after the glorious and magnificent Hatsune Miku didn't do much for her nerves.

She gripped the curtain tighter. "Ohh…" She thought, 'Aren't they supposed to save the best for last? Why would they put Miku up right before me…'

"Hey Haku, you're up next." A boy's voice came from further back-stage, startling her enough to cause her to jump. She turned to see Kagamine Len, smile on his face, walking towards her. "Right? They did just call your name, didn't they?"

"Uh… Yeah, they did. But…"

"But what? Nervous?"

She looked back out onto the empty stage, and the huge auditorium that had not an empty seat in it. "Y…Yeah, I kind of am…" She sighed. "Why would they put me on right after her?" Miku was on the other side of the stage, behind the curtain but not looking out like she was; she was talking to Rin and Luka, who had already gone on, and was laughing happily.

"Aw, what? Don't tell me you're doubting yourself now. You'll do great!"

"That's easy for you to say… You and your sister were so good… You're used to applause."

"Haku, listen." He took a step closer. "I heard you during your practices; you have an amazing voice."

She turned, shocked. "Y-You heard me practicing for this? I thought that I was…"

"Eh… Sorry. I couldn't help but come in to listen. But you sounded great! Better than Miku, even!"

She was gloomy again. "You're only saying that, Len. You're a good friend but…" She looks at the crowd again, as they waited for the announcer to say that the next performer- her- was ready to begin. A hand rested on her shoulder. She slowly turned her head. "Len I don't-"

"Shh." He kissed her. It took her a minute to react, but she didn't back away. She savored the taste of his lips on hers; not questioning how out-of-nowhere it was that he was doing this. Or that she wasn't backing away. After a minute of contact, he slowly backed away, saying with a smile, "…You need more self-confidence."

"Aaaand, ladies and gentlemen, may I proudly present our final performance of the evening." The announcers voice came out smooth on the speaker system. "With great pleasure, please, give a round of applause, for Yowane Haku!"

Her legs began to shake as the crowd began to clap and cheer; friends from school calling out her name in an enthusiastic chant.

"Well," Len's voice reached her ears and she turned, blushing for many reasons. "Good luck," he said with a wink.

She gathered together all the courage in her body. She readied her voice. She readied herself. And she stepped out onto the stage.

The spotlight fell on her. The crowd slowly quieted. And the first piano notes of Meltdown began to play.

Suddenly, she had a burst of confidence. She could do this; why was she telling herself otherwise? She had all the skill. She had all the ability. Stage fright couldn't even get her, now- the light on her made the rest of the room off-stage look pitch black. She immediately fell into beat with the song… And practically shook the building with an excellent performance.