For the past 3 days, Sakura and her team focused their attention on the upcoming Hashi Awards. She's been trying on different gowns that would best exemplify her album this year. This is not an easy task especially with the addition of the added anxiety over what happened with those damned lyrics and its added meaning with whatever she will be wearing for the awards show. But her team was not fazed, they will make it as memorable as they could. That scandal just pushed them to do their best and show the world their talents.
Sakura lived her life making people happy by being what people wanted her to be. They wanted her to be that bubbly pre-teen country girl and she did. They wanted her to be the perfect barbie that any girl would want to be and she did. It feels like she is living her life not for herself but for other people. And she was happy at that. She was happy at that, before. Before all the humiliation at 19 years old and that tragedy. It feels like Sakura is just a shell of her past self. She always thought about making people happy that she forgot about making herself happy.
Am I still happy? I have fans who love me, who worship me. I have money a 27 year old girl would have a hard time spending on. But I don't have anyone who I can call whenever I feel sad, lonely, or just downright happy. I don't have anyone who romantically loves me and is there whenever I need them.
I don't have him anymore.
"Sakura, the limousine's already here!" Shizune shouted from her living room.
Sakura takes a deep breath and releases it at once.
I can do this. I'm strong. I can overcome this. I did it once, I'm sure I can succeed twice.
She looks at her face in the mirror to check if everything is perfect for the night. She looks perfect but deep inside she doesn't feel perfect. Not at all.
Shizune gave Sakura her coat to protect her from the weather but this coat warms up Sakura and protects her from all the negativity that she is feeling throughout the whole car ride to the awards show. The limousine halted and Sakura looked outside. It does not fail to amaze her how award shows always make itself the biggest event of the year in Konoha. From the red carpet, to the lineup of the photographers inside and outside of the fence, and of course, to the hordes of fans wanting to get a glimpse of their favorite singers and actors. She's always curious how the organizers were able to quell these excited people the whole night.
Her daydreaming ended when her chauffeur asked her if she's ready. "Ready, Ms. Sakura?" She smiled at the man and put her hand to open the door but before opening, she silently spoke her mantra for tonight. You can do this.
Announcer 1: Sakura Haruno just arrived at Konoha Center! One of the most awaited nominees of the night.
Fans exploded at the mention of her name. Some were raising their hands to say hi to her. Some are so excited, they yelled her name and asked her to look their way. But Sakura walked through the red carpet as if she was doing a catwalk to her destination. Abruptly, cameras flash towards her, getting all the angles that magazines will love to have on their covers by tomorrow. All photographers were shouting her name to look their way to get the best photo of her tonight. And Sakura posed for them and flashed them her winning smile. I can do this.
Announcer 2: Sakura Haruno is glowing tonight with a bold two-piece gown. She's wearing a light pink tube top and a darker pink, almost a magenta-colored long skirt. This piece accentuated her strong shoulders and petite waist. It screams elegance and class at the same time. I guess Kurenai Yuuhi made a statement piece of a gown for tonight! She's really one hell of a designer!
Announcer 1: That piece is as bold as that lyric in Famous, I might say. That would make her more popular, wouldn't you agree?
Announcer 1 looked at his partner to get the agreement he wanted from her but her partner just glared at him as if what he just said offended her.
Sakura heard everything that that guy had just said about her. She almost stopped doing her poses but the silence of the female announcer made her lips quirk up a bit. Well, I guess us women can look out for each other.
Sakura entered the venue and stopped for a while to appreciate the design of the hall. Sakura talked for a bit with her friends but was not that into the conversations. They were talking about her nominations but she's too worried and anxious of all the bad press surrounding her since 3 days ago. She was more eager to meet with her production team than anyone else. Thankfully, she was able to find Shino and the others. For her, she wanted to win the awards not anymore for herself but for the team. They also endured the bad press given to the album because of the issue that erupted. Sakura is very grateful to Shino and his team for helping her create one of the most important albums she ever made. So, Sakura knows it is imperative for them to win the awards they are nominated for.
Welcome to the 58th Hashi Awards!
The award for the Best Music Video goes to BAD BLOOD, SAKURA HARUNO!
The award for Best Pop Vocal Album goes to 1989, SAKURA HARUNO!
Shino does not have any choice but to go on stage and receive the award as Sakura is doing rehearsals for her performance later. He hates talking and most of all he hates people and a crowd of people with a live camera is too much.
"This is too much. Wait, I'm going to call Sakura and let her speak." Shino indifferently spoke into the mic. People were laughing at his antics thinking that he was just joking but truthfully, he was not.
"Hey, Sakura. We just won Best Pop Vocal Album." Still with his indifferent attitude.
"Wait, what!? Is this real?" Sakura was in the middle of drinking water when she answered the call. She put it down because she might embarrass herself in front of the back-up singers with her.
"Do you think I have the courage to joke on you?" Shino can't wait to go back to his seat and just receive the award. He was happy that they won but the attention is too much.
"Oh my god! This is unreal! Thank you so much!" Sakura sensing impatience with Shino just said her thank you.
Shino ended the call and also said his thank you to everyone. He might not be people-friendly but he just won an award so it's not surprising that he should be thankful.
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
In the clear yet, good
It was not hard for Sakura to get into the mood of singing Out of the Woods because this is also what her mind is currently thinking. This might be a song about love but songs can be flexible depending on how the person is feeling. There is one award left, the most important one. She's praying that they will be able to bag the award and she will be able to stand in front of everyone and say her piece.
And for the most important award for the night, the Album of the Year goes to… 1989, Sakura Haruno!
Even though Sakura wanted this award so much, she is still shocked to be able to win it. She wanted this for her team and they got it. Now, she just wants to say her piece and be done with it.
"I want to thank all of my fans for the last 10 years. I want to thank the team behind the Hashi Awards this year and to all of my collaborators, especially to Shino, who had been there with me brainstorming lyrics to make these magical songs in the album. I want to thank my family, Mom and Dad, and my best friend, Ino, who are not here because they have their own jobs outside of Konoha but still support me wholeheartedly. As the first woman to win Album of the Year twice, I want to say to all the young women out there, there are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success, or take credit for your accomplishments, or your fame. But if you just focus on the work, and you don't let those people sidetrack you, someday, when you get where you're going, you'll look around and you'll know that it was you, and the people who love you, who put you there. And that would be the greatest moment in the world. Thank you!"
Sakura fiercely stared at the camera while saying her piece. She did not know the exact words to say but the words that come out from her mouth is the proof of all her pent up feelings from days before and may be longer than that. She does not want to appear weak. She'll be strong from now on.
Konoha Center erupted in hoots and claps from all of its attendees but no one was ready for the storm that will hit them in the coming months. The Hashi Award was the calm before the storm.
Author's Notes:
Heyya, guys! Chapter 2 is here! I hope you're not bored with the short chapters. I mostly finish each chapter in less than 5 hours and put it up. I know what to write before writing it so it does not take long to make. What makes it hard is what words to use.
I already introduced 2 more characters in the story being Kurenai and Shino. They will be supporting characters in this story but still important. I hope you will be able to guess who they are based on. I also gave some hints of future plot twists and turns. I hope you'll be able to tell me what you think about it in the review section as well as the twist I am referring to. Let me know also if you want longer chapters. I think I can produce them but with a longer interval for the updates. I am already 3 chapters ahead of where I want the story to go so please let me know of what you prefer.
Lastly, this chapter is heavily based on what happened on the 58th Grammy's (ehem ehem Hashi Award) and Taylor's speech when she received Album of the Year. I will also be using the original title of her songs and lyrics but some will be tweaked depending on what my story asks for.
Disclaimer: I don't know Naruto or any of its characters, that right belongs to Kishimoto-sensei. As well as of course the life of Taylor Swift and her songs, It is all hers. This is just a fanfiction based on Naruto's characters and Taylor's life.
Arigathanks!