11:54 PM. It wouldn't be long now. The loud voices around you slowly became quieter and, if you should be honest, you were now glad not to be standing in the screaming crowd anymore. You could understand that the fans were completely overwhelmed - you were too - but you couldn't understand why they had to be even louder than the music.

It didn't even change that much that you got a place right up front, but with the best of intentions you had waited long enough for that. You and your friends had already camped on the large area in front of the concert hall the day before, just so as not to miss this one chance - True Damage, live, up close and you got the tickets with outrageous luck. To be honest, you only got it because you acted quickly enough when you realized that someone had no idea what they were stealing from their daughter to punish wrongdoing. The four tickets, which you could get hold of for a ridiculous price, at least included VIP passes and at that moment were the only things that might convince you to give this day another chance, because...

If you are to be honest, the concert was disappointing for you - despite the amount of alcohol your three friends brought with them. However, it was not because of the performance of the artists, but more because of the other people, who simply had no control over their feelings, that you were now glad to be drunk. You would have liked to have seen more than a crowd screaming, you would have liked to have enjoyed it more.

The hall slowly emptied and the VIPs began to separate themselves. In total you would be maybe twenty people. Definitely a manageable number for a person who wasn't any more social than they had to be. The fewer people you had to keep an eye on, the better it was. Accordingly, you would not complain. You held your head lightly. There were still a few minutes left and you just had to wait in the room at the end of the long corridor. Then you could take the little time out to just lean against it for a moment. The alcohol had done its very best.

Was there an emergency exit somewhere?

You certainly didn't want to go without an exclusive meet & greet, but you really needed fresh air before everything went wrong that you could only have imagined. You probably shouldn't have been drinking. Even if you only did it to put up with other people, it was a bad idea. After all, by now you didn't even have any idea how much you had actually drunk. It was almost sad to assume that your friends knew better how many bottles they had actually given to you fort he time beeing.

"Hey, are you okay?"

One of your friends had grabbed you by the shoulder when he quickly noticed that you swayed a little. You just nodded.

"Yeah, I think I need ... Just some fresh air," you pressed between your lips.

"Someone's nervous?"

Seriously?

A sharp glance met your companion before you shook your head again.

"Bullshit, they're just normal people too, why should I treat them differently about that? It's just cool-"

You didn't get any further. Everything was spinning in your head and for you there was only one goal, the way out of the nearest door that you could find at the shortest amout of time. Even the security guards, who let you get past them without further problems, had apparently noticed how pale you looked. Still, the first breath of the fresh night air almost overwhelmed you.

You leaned on your thighs and took a deep breath, even if it felt like the air was almost too cold for your lungs to handle. You were able to suppress a cough, cleared your throat several times. However, you still felt the alcohol more than clearly.

"Social phobia?"

"No, drank too much on my own responsibility and that's the price I pay for it."

You laughed. If one of the security guards followed you outside, you probably looked like your life was in full bloom. Sarcasm was a great thing.

You took another deep breath and got up a little, the nausea had already subsided. That was the positive part, but the feeling that your vision was slower than the pace you turned your head in persisted. You screwed it up. A cursory glance at your watch could tell clearly that you were late by now - five minutes, and they certainly wouldn't be waiting for you.

"Crap."

You didn't want that word to cross your lips, but the alcohol didn't make you think of self-control at all. You were simply not sober enough for that. You turned around more than hectically, only to abruptly stop moving a few seconds later. Even if everything blurred before your eyes, you couldn't be fooled by your brain that quickly. Your thoughts were still too present for that.

Or?

It couldn't hurt to ask, and if you were wrong, you could still blame it all on alcohol, even if you were sure you couldn't be that wrong. At the same time, however, that had to mean that it was definitely not a security guard who spoke to you a few seconds ago, but exactly the person who was leaning casually against the wall of the building at that moment, arms crossed over his chest and eyes closed.

No, you couldn't be wrong that much.

"Shouldn't you be at the meet and greet?"

"I could ask the same thing."

He still had his eyes closed. You could tell from his voice that he was a little amused and it slowly dawned on you. The voice you heard before, mistaken for a security guard, was him. It was Yasuo and you were standing, still slightly irritated, only a few steps away from him.

You slowly took a step towards him, only to finally notice that he was looking directly at you. You didn't even notice at which time he opened his eyes.

"No, honestly ... shouldn't you be with the others?"

That one illogical observation didn't seem to want to let go of your mind. Obviously, the alcohol only made you think strange things.

Yasuo shrugged, pushing himself off the wall slightly.

"True Damage's singers can do this on their own, let them have the fun. Besides, Meet & Greets aren't a thing form e anyway. What should I explain to people? How mashing and mixing works?"

He laughed, but you couldn't understand what was so funny about it.

"Yes?"

You should think more. You should probably really have taken a few minutes before you even said anything. Apparently you were making a fool of yourself. Yasuo shook his head.

"And you think that other people besides you will find this exciting?"

"Probably."

You shrugged your shoulders while Yasuo loosened his arms and put his hands in his pocket. This strange silence that broke over you after these words was almost uncomfortable and inevitably reminded you of your alcohol consumption. He was calm, you already knew that enough information was known about him, but that didn't change the fact that you no longer had any idea what to talk to him about after the silence had fallen.

"What now?"

You finally managed to break the silence, but received no more than a shrug from Yasuo in response.

"If I have my way, I don't have to force anyone back in there."

Inevitably, you had to smile slightly.

"Probably just fans waiting in there who can't keep their mouths shut or hyperventilate while they try to ask a question. It's more comfortable here, at least you don't start to stutter. How come?"

Again he looked directly at you and for a moment you returned the look.

"I don't know. It would be an exaggeration to treat all of you like gods just because you are more successful than the average person. There is no reason to hyperventilate."

"Interesting view. So, if you don't want to go in, and I don't want to either... The event goes on for another hour; do you fancy a ride?"

For what reason should you have refused?