Hey guys (don't actually know how many people are reading this tbh...) it's been a while but I'm sort of back haha. Have been sporadically working on this over the past months and finally finished one chapter so here it is!

Music Major AU #10 (Extras from witchpieceoftoast): We've been stuck inside this damn pit for hours now and you're looking really tense. hey i've been told i give great back rubs…

A concertmistress' job was to lead the orchestra. Not in the obvious way that a conductor did, but through more subtle means, like taking care of the well-being of each member. Things that the conductor could not afford to care about while he was trying to perfect the big picture.

So when they were rehearsing for a ballet, a summer project that the orchestra had taken on in partnership with the local ballet troupe, Mako could not help but notice the signs of stress and exhaustion her fellow orchestra members were exhibiting. The production was in a week's time, and the rehearsal had been going on for three hours that day, and they were only half way through the scheduled six hours. It did not help that it was a production of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, which was demanding on the dancers as well as the musicians.

They had finally entered into dinner break, and the sighs of relief echoed loudly from the orchestral pit, helped by the concert hall's acoustics. Nobody bothered keeping their instruments, merely setting them down on the stands or the seats as they got up and stretched. Mako's eyes automatically sought out her friends – Chiaki was rolling his shoulders, and Takeru was drinking water. Where was Genta? The second-year clarinettist did not seem to be in his seat, in front of Takeru where he usually sat, but upon a closer look, Mako realized he was there, just hunched over with both hands cradling the back of his neck.

That would not do. Sitting her instrument down in her seat, Mako got up and wove her way through the chairs until she was right in front of Genta. "Genta, are you alright?"

"Yeah, my neck just hurts from sitting in the same position for too long."

"Do you want me to massage it for you?" Mako offered.

Genta looked up, waving a hand and declining, "It's fine it'll probably be better after we come back from dinner."

"If you say so," the violinist conceded as Chiaki reached their small circle, babbling about wanting to try that Korean restaurant near campus, and how Takeru had to treat because their results just came out and he had graduated with First Class Honors.

After dinner, the four of them walked back to the concert hall, slightly more refreshed from having food in their stomachs and fresh air in their lungs. Mako walked beside Chiaki, behind Takeru and Genta, and noticed how the clarinettist still had one hand on his neck, periodically squeezing as though trying to relieve the tension.

"Genta, are you sure you don't need me to massage that for you? You still have three hours of rehearsal to go, and it won't get easier," Mako frowned in concern.

Before Genta could refuse, Chiaki piped, "Eh, Genta, you're feeling pain in your neck?" Ignoring the dirty look Takeru shot him for being inattentive to his friend, he continued, "Then you finally have a chance to experience one of Nee-san's amazing massaging techniques. It's the most heavenly sensations you'll ever feel and she doesn't ever do it for anyone unless they really need it."

Genta looked doubtful at that, but when even Takeru attested to having that massage help him through one of his more stressful exams, he caved. "Alright then, I'll let you massage my neck for me, if only to get me through the rest of this torturous day."

"Nice choice, bro. You won't regret it. Nee-san, after you're done with him would you kindly help me with my shoulder? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?" Chiaki walked backwards in front of Mako, hands placed together as though he were praying to her.

"Now that you mention it, my shoulder might hurt a bit too," Takeru murmured thoughtfully.

Mako glared at the two boys, "Fine, Chiaki, but I won't risk my friendship with Ryuunosuke for you Takeru."

Chiaki cheered at that, then proceeded to stick his tongue out at Takeru. "You can get your massage from your boyfriend when he comes to pick you up after rehearsal. He is coming right?"

Takeru crossed his arms, "Yes, but so what? My shoulders hurt now, and there's still three more hours to go. Besides, Ryuunosuke won't be bothered by you giving me a massage."

"Regardless, you might want to ask him for one yourself. He likes being needed and depended upon," Mako instructed, to which Takeru raised an eyebrow. Now that was something he suspected, but never really knew for sure due to their relationship being only a few months new. Mako's words confirmed his suspicions, and for some stupid reason that made him feel a bit happier knowing a little something more about his boyfriend. Who was currently missing. Takeru sighed. Why did orchestras not have pianists more often? Oh yeah, that's right, because he would not be able to concentrate otherwise. He'd barely gotten through the concerto in that last year-end concert; he'd nearly missed an important entry!

Genta snickered, "Our Tono-sama asking for favors? Yeah, that'll be the day. Takeru's incapable of asking others for help. In all the years I've known him, he's either tried to do everything by himself, or he would wait for someone, that's usually me, to offer their help, refuse for about 10 minutes before grudgingly accepting their help, but he'd be silently watching your every move to judge if you were doing it well enough."

"Oh I have no doubt he'll have no problems asking for favors from Ryuunosuke," Mako smiled knowingly at the trumpetist, "after all, that's how they both finally stopped pining for each other from far and started actually talking to each other."

Both Chiaki and Genta gasped, "Tell us!" "Why have I not heard of this before, Takeru? I thought we were best friends!"

"We're childhood friends. My best friend is Mako."

"Your best friend can't be Mako! She's Ryuunosuke's best friend!" protested Chiaki. "Wait, that's not the point. Mako-Onee-sama, grant us the story!"

As Mako began regaling the story of how she told Takeru to go to Ryuunosuke for help with his audition tape, the main character of the story buried his face in his hands. The story lasted for the rest of their walk back to the hall.

"Oh my god," Genta moaned, "This is pure heaven. Mako, please quit school immediately and open a massage parlour." That comment earned him a particularly hard elbow dig into his lower back muscles, and he cried out in pain. Lesson of the day: never piss off your masseuse, for she knows how and where best to hurt you while you're completely helpless and unexpecting.

Chiaki fidgeted at his side, asking every other minute, "Is it my turn yet?" to which Mako would reply, "Nope."

Finally, Genta took pity on him and said, "I think this would last me for the next three hours. Please shut Chiaki up, Mako."

"I'm not your servant, don't order me around," Mako huffed, but motioned for Chiaki to sit closer. Letting out a squeal of delight (which he would deny ever producing, if asked about later), the boy bounded over to a chair close by.

The moment he sat down, however, a clear voice rang out in the orchestral pit, "Ok let's resume rehearsal!"

Curses.

Truth be told, I'm kind of running out of steam for this AU, so it might end up that I won't actually complete all prompts, especially not those I have absolutely no knowledge about. Still, there's at least one more chapter to come so look forward to that/those!