title: The Extravagant Challenge Anthology

scene: 01. The Composer, pt 3.

summary: Behind every singer's successful song is a composer.

notes: for MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I hope Sakura's dream-crippling condition doesn't disappoint you. not really edited, so sorry for the mistakes.

Scene 01

The Composer

Take 3!

Ever since his schedule has gotten busier, Sasuke started staying over the company accommodation more and going home to the penthouse he shares with Sakura (and bought so she would stop working double jobs to pay the rent). But he doesn't feel comfortable leaving Sakura by herself for long periods of time so he always makes an effort to drop by the penthouse at least once a month just to check up on her. Of course she doesn't fail to send him morning greetings and leaving him voice messages every night.

Hearing her voice and seeing her in flesh are two different things though. And as paranoid it might sound, the text messages could've been sent by someone else using her phone and the voice messages—well, maybe it'd be impossible to replicate her voice but with today's technology everything impossible seemed possible.

To be honest, while he will probably admit this out loud, he can't help but worry. He knows they're looking for her. After all he took her away just before she turned sixteen. Just before they could betroth her to some spoiled brat heir.

"Sasuke-kun," the sound of his name brings him out of his thoughts and he is back again the president's office, where he is discussing the release of his latest single—the song Sakura finished composing for him.

He raises an eyebrow at his employer, the president of Sound Entertainment, Orochimaru, who only gives him a smile.

"I said that the director for music video is meeting with us tomorrow morning."

"Hn."

Snake-like eyes scrutinise him before the older man continued.

"But of course Kabuto has already informed of you that. What I truly want to discuss with you is the Other composer you mentioned."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, afraid where the direction of this conversation is heading.

"What about it?" he tries to act nonchalant but wherever Sakura is concerned—

"I'd like to scout her. She seems to have... talent."

Of course she does. If it weren't for her I wouldn't be in this industry at all.

"No," he says firmly in a way he knows even the ruthless Orochimaru won't be able to argue against, "I just want her name in print to give her credit for her work, that's all."

The silence that followed his statement is tense but eventually, the president relented.

He feels guilty for simply brushing off a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Sakura to enter the industry she has always aspired to since childhood without at least telling her about it but he didn't want to add something to her list of Could Have Been's.

"I'll be the voice for your compositions..."

"One day, I'll become a famous singer and you'd become a famous composer..."

Even to this day he still remembers the promises he gave her when they only ten years old, when she was diagnosed with voice chord nodules*. Where had all those childhood promises gone? So far he had only been able to keep half of his promises—he part where he'd be a famous singer.

The only missing part is where she'll become a famous composer.

Looking back, her voice chord nodules are actually just a mere excuse to not enter the showbiz scene. It isn't really a dream-crippling condition. It isn't the dream-crippling hindrance. But something bigger and far more serious.

tbc.

* - inspired from when I read Daesung's wikipedia page.