The roar of the crowd echoes in Asuka's ears, thrilling and intoxicating all at once. Gripping the neck of her guitar with one hand, she responds to the applause by raising her free arm in a full wave. To her right, she's aware of Mari rising from behind her drum set and bowing, twirling her drum sticks with a self-satisfied smirk; to her right is Hikari, standing with her hands still on her keyboard and a quiet grin on her face. She turns her head left, towards the last member of their quartet, and is greeted by Rei, her blue hair flashing every shade from navy to turquoise under the spotlights. Rei's not looking back at Asuka though; her attention is focused on the sizeable crowd massed before them.
"Thank you all for coming out," Rei says, her soft voice booming out from the stage. It's a miracle she can be heard, even with the aid of a microphone; the cheers of the crowd are so loud. "We'll be playing here again in August once we finish the northern portion of our tour. We hope you come see us then!"
The screaming only increases in volume as Rei secures her microphone on its stand and waves to her band members, motioning for them to head backstage. Asuka slings her guitar over her head and places it back on its stand, jogging after Hikari and Mari.
As soon as the four girls have made it into the privacy of the backstage halls, Mari practically jumps her band mates, screeching excitedly. "They loved us!" she shouts, punching the air and narrowly missing Hikari's cheek. "They loved you, they loved me-"
"Of course they did." Hikari laughs, patting the hand that Mari's rests on her shoulder. "Everyone's been wanting us to go on tour since that album we put out last December."
"I wanted to go on a road trip," says Mari. "But you three insisted on waiting until our Spring semester had ended to do anything."
"That's because we needed to practice with Asuka," Rei says, and Asuka thinks her voice sounds so quiet compared to what she hears rattling through her when Rei's singing out on stage. She likes this quiet Rei better, if only because that's the Rei she's known for so long. They've been friends since junior high school, though Asuka only really became familiar with Hikari and Mari once Rei asked her to join their band.
"True, true." Mari says. She dances over to Asuka, wrapping one arm around Asuka's waist from behind and pulling the redhead into a rough embrace. "Our savior guitarist. What ever would we have done if you didn't join us?"
"I joined because Rei said you needed someone," Asuka groans, struggling to extricate herself from Mari's clingy grasp. "But I have to admit, this is fun. I didn't know being in a band meant you got this much attention."
"I keep telling you guys, it's because of that album." Hikari stops in front of the changing rooms, looking at something on her phone screen. "Although... today, they really seem to be into Rei. Check it out."
The other three girls crowd around Hikari, staring at the tiny phone. Displayed in the glowing light are a series of even smaller screens, each showing a little clip of their performance. "A bunch of these focus just on Rei," Hikari says, flicking through the list of videos. "Some of Mari... hey, there's you and me, Asuka. And... they think you and Mari have got something going on."
"Whaaaat?! Let me see!" Asuka grabs the phone from Hikari's hand, not bothering to throw off Mari's hands, sneaking around her again as the bespectacled girl peers over her shoulder. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me."
"Is it that one song where you and Mari kept staring at each other?" Rei asks, pushing past Hikari and into the changing room. She tilts her head towards the pair, listening to the music emanating from Hikari's phone. "That's the one."
"I- I was not staring!" Asuka splutters, following her friend inside. "I was set on outdoing her drum solo, that's what!"
"And I'd dare say you did very well, if the applause was anything to go by, Princess," Mari counters, plucking the phone from Asuka's hand and returning it to Hikari. "Maybe next time I'll blow you a few kisses, see if that messes you up enough for me to get an advantage."
"You do that, and I'll-" Asuka snarls, cracking her knuckles in Mari's direction. Mari responds by making a heart with her hands, then setting on undoing the buttons on her vest. "Hikari, I love your sewing, but did you have to make the buttons so tiny?"
"You're the only one having trouble with them, you know?" Asuka's quick glance around the room confirms this; Rei's already changing into her regular clothes, and Hikari's folded up her vest and placed it on a hanger. "Must be your big drummer hands, Four-eyes."
"Big drummer hands, huh?" Mari chuckles, leaning her head back against her chair and tapping her fingers together. "I could make a song about that. The princess hates my big drummer hands. The fans would love it."
"Please don't do that," says Hikari. "As good as your song are, it's me and Rei who have to sing them. I'm not one who really... sings about drummers. Or hands."
"What about bad girls who steal your heart and glare at you?" Mari wiggles her eyebrows at Hikari, who sighs and shakes her head.
"Keep Asuka out of it, Mari."
"Fine, fine. I'm sure I'll find something interesting to write about, anyway. Maybe stray cats, or tight vests." Mari giggles to herself, wiggling out of the vest and draping it across the changing table. "Afterparty?"
"We've got to pack up and get ready for a pretty long drive tomorrow." Hikari finishes brushing her hair back, tying it up into a neat ponytail, and pulls her jacket on. "I want us to be well-rested for our next show, too. So no partying, Mari. You're not even drinking age yet!"
"Just a minor setback!" Mari hops off her seat, pulling her sweatshirt over her head, and drapes an arm around Hikari. "If we work fast, can we at least stop for a snack before we leave town? We drove past this place that has the most adorable pastries."
"If by working fast you mean Hikari, Asuka and I do all the work while you sit back and say 'nya' all night long, I'll pass," says Rei.
"That was one time!"
"One time too many." Rei zips her jacket up, tugging the sleeves over her wrists, and looks back at Asuka. "Are you coming?"
"Hmm? Yeah. Just... give me a second. I've got to do... stuff," stammers Asuka. All three girls stare at her for a brief moment, until Hikari grabs Mari firmly by the elbow and marches her back towards the stage.
Rei stays a little longer, a crease in her eyebrows betraying a question. "I'll be out in a second. Just go ahead," Asuka says, waving a hand. Rei holds her gaze for a second longer, and then she nods and leaves the changing room, and Asuka alone in it. The door slides closed after her, clicking quietly as Asuka turns back to the mirror and runs her hands down her face. Pulling her own phone out from her pocket, a few quick searches confirm what she's been thinking ever since they left the stage.
Rei's face is plastered everywhere Asuka looks- on fan-sites, on blogs, on a few social media sites she's had accounts on for years, but never bothered to use until now. A long sigh slides between her lips as she slips into her sweatshirt, the comfortable red fabric doing little to ease the nervous rattling in her stomach. One more week, three more shows, and then it's July and we get a break, she thinks, grabbing the changing room door by the knob and flinging it open. The rusty hinges squeak angrily at her, and Asuka retaliates by punching the doorframe on the way out.
Hikari and Mari are disassembling their instruments when Asuka walks out, grabbing her guitar case in one hand and brushing past Rei. She's stopped by a hand on her arm, and when she turns, Rei stares at her, head canted to the side in that adorable way that sends flutters up Asuka's spine. "Are you sure everything's alright?" she asks.
Asuka jerks her head up and down, too tongue-tied to offer a verbal explanation. Rei releases her, patting her shoulder, and resumes breaking down the sound equipment. Asuka grabs her guitar, making sure to keep her back to her band mates, taking twice as long to stuff the instrument into its case than she needs. Her eyes sweep the empty arena, which had just been filled with people cheering for her, and Asuka tries to recall the almost drunken rush of adrenaline through her blood, but she can't. There's a crash behind her- Mari, dropping her cymbals again, no doubt- and Hikari yelling for Mari to be careful. It's just like normal, except normal doesn't involve Asuka's blood reaching the boiling point whenever she thinks of the next show.
It's supposed to be fun, Asuka thinks, snapping her case shut. It is fun. I'm just tired; that's what it is. It'll be better tomorrow.
"Asuka?" Asuka looks up, and Rei's standing next to her, holding the cables to her electric guitar in one hand. "Would you like me to help you with this?"
"You don't have to," Asuka mumbles, but Rei crouches next to her, unzipping a small pouch on the case's side and stuffing the wires in.
"There. I'm going to help Mari and Hikari now. Put your guitar in the back and give me a hand?"
Asuka stands, grabbing her guitar and amplifier, and nods to Rei. "Sure. Be back in a second." Before she can move, though, Rei wraps her arms around her midsection, pulling her into a quick hug.
"Thanks for joining us. I know you didn't want to."
"It's... it's not a problem. I don't regret it," Asuka replies, even though she's not sure how much of that last sentence is true. Rei smiles, bringing back the butterflies in her stomach, and then Rei steps away to help Mari with the pile of metal she's managed to deconstruct her drum set into, and Asuka feels a chill seizing her again. Not yet, anyway, she thinks, and heads back towards the parking lot.