He trembled in his black maternity dress pants, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he stood in the darkness. All around him were excited voices, all talking softly in their own languages. It was unbearably hot for him, and he suddenly wished he had worn his button-up white shirt instead of his snow white turtleneck sweater. He smacked his lips, panicking as he felt how dry his mouth was. He had been full aware that, three weeks ago, time would fly between then and the concert. However, he hadn't been aware that it would fly by so fast that he could hardly catch his breath.
"Kamijou-san? Are you alright?" the Japanese Alto beside him asked in a whisper. Hiroki looked around, squinting in the darkness of the backstage wing.
"Yeah, just a little nervous."
"I understand. You'll do great. Here, do you want some of my water?"
Hiroki sighed in relief.
"God, yes. Thanks."
They fumbled around, and somehow a water bottle found its way into Hiroki's hand. He chugged the water greedily, only stopping when he felt water begin to dribble down his chin. He caught the droplet in time and wiped his hands on his pants.
"Sorry, I drank like half of it," Hiroki apologized, handing it back to the Japanese Alto. She laughed quietly.
"That's fine. You need it a lot more than I do, what with that huge solo of yours! Lucky!"
Hiroki snorted.
"Lucky? I wouldn't classify myself as lu-"
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the 2011 Alumni concert!" boomed the voice of Kanagawa over the backstage monitors. The alumni group went silent, listening solemnly for their cue to walk out on stage. Kanagawa's greeting was translated into the different languages: French, Spanish, Russian, German, and English. As soon as their resounding voices faded, loud applause roared in through the monitors.
"I think we have a full house," the Japanese Bass whispered, earning a hush from a nearby French Soprano. Hiroki and the Japanese Bass snickered quietly to each other.
"I present the French alumni performers!" Kanagawa announced. More clapping ensued as the French quartet walked out on stage, their steps timed perfectly with each other. They walked onto the risers and went to their respective places.
"The Spanish performers!"
The Spaniards walked out in their quartet, taking their places beside the French.
"The Russian performers!"
"The Nigerian performers!"
"The German performers!"
"The English performers!"
"And, our hosts for this year, the Japanese performers!"
Hiroki swallowed his heart as he walked behind the Japanese Bass. As he walked across the stage, he glanced to the left, trying to pick out people in the audience. It was rather difficult with the blinding, burning spotlights in his eyes. However, as the Japanese took their place in the center of the risers, Hiroki had a better angle of sight and immediately looked down at the front row.
Sure enough, smack dab in the center, were Misaki and Akihiko, smiling up at him. To the right of them was Nowaki, who had a huge bouquet of flowers in his lap. Hiroki was about to roll his eyes, but instead the russet orbs widened as he caught sight of the two men sitting on the opposite side of Nowaki.
Shinobu and Miyagi grinned widely up at him, subtly waving to him.
Hiroki was tempted to wave back, but he remembered to keep his stage face, and he obediently turned his attention to Kanagawa, who was taking his place at the conductor's podium. Director Gales sat down at the piano, and the other directors either stood on the sidelines or sat down beside several instruments that would aid the alumni performers with their music.
Kanagawa raised his conductor's baton, spreading his arms and making sure he had the attention of all the performers.
And the concert began.
Their first song was the French song, a slow, accompanied piece that resonated in the auditorium with strong overtone. Hiroki noticed it had reduced several audience members to tears, and he inwardly smiled to himself. A successful song.
The second song was the Spanish song, an upbeat, happy song. Hiroki honestly had fun singing the piece, and as the choir swayed as one to the beat of the song, he found himself naturally moving as well. The song earned a loud, roaring applause, whistles, and cheers.
The third song, the Russian song, was a traditional Russian folk song. It was loud and almost overpowering, a very strong piece that earned more clapping and cheers.
The Nigerian song was also very powerful, and although it had some repetition of lyrics, it was a very dynamic piece and, again, earned roars from the audience.
Hiroki's heart was pounding harder and harder as the German song started. His solo was in only one song, and he was starting to sweat profusely. Just when he thought he was going to vomit, the baby fluttered soothingly in his belly. Hiroki gulped, discreetly reaching up to cup a hand under his baby bump. He screamed a prayer in his head as the slow, short German song slowed to a stop.
Kanagawa nodded to Hiroki, and just as they had rehearsed, Hiroki stepped down from the risers and shakily walked up to the lone microphone at the front of the stage. He lowered it slightly to suit his height, and he waited patiently for Director Gales to give him his starting note. He concentrated hard, and when the starting pitch came, it locked into his head. He straightened and stepped into his singing stance, raising his chest and lifting his soft palette. (**)
And then, the backup singing began, building to his solo. He shook like a leaf, and the baby nudged him coaxingly. Licking his lips, Hiroki took a deep breath as his solo rapidly approached.
"Abroad as I was walking one evening in the spring,
I heard a maid in Bedlam so sweetly did she sing.
Her chain she rattled with her hands, and thus replied she:
'I love my love because I know my love loves me.'"
The first verse had gone well, without error. Hiroki let out a tiny, inaudible sigh of relief, counting down in his head until the next part of his solo.
"Cruel were his parents that sent my love to sea,
And crueler was the ship that bore my love from me.
Yet I love his parents since they're his,
Although they've ruined me.
I love my love because I know my love loves me."
The second verse also went well, and Hiroki snuck a peek down to the front row. Akihiko was jamming his fingers into the sides of his mouth, gesturing for Hiroki to smile and ignoring Misaki, who was trying to slap his hands away from his face. Miyagi, meanwhile, was tapping the crease between his eyebrows as hard as he could, earning a smack from Shinobu.
Nowaki, meanwhile, gaped dumbly at Hiroki, slouching almost all the way down in his seat, clutching the bouquet of flowers so hard that some of the petals were breaking off.
Hiroki couldn't help but laugh ever so slightly at the stupidity of the three semes, and as he started his third verse, his voice wavered ever so slightly, going unnoticed by the audience.
"With straw I'll weave a garland,
I'll weave it very fine.
With roses, lilies, daisies: I'll mix the eglantine!
And I'll present it to my love when he returns from sea,
For I love my love because I know my love loves me."
The third verse was the best so far, as Hiroki had let the concentrated crease in his brow relax, and had let himself smile out at his audience. Suddenly, the upcoming high note didn't seem so difficult, and Hiroki took a deep breath in preparation for it.
"Just as she there sat weeping,
Her love, he came on land.
And hearing she was in Bedlam,
He ran straight out of hand!
He flew into her snow white arms, and thus replied he:
'I love my love because I know…"
Hiroki held the high note for a long time, just as he had been instructed to do. Out of all the rehearsals, the private practices, this high note was hit just perfectly. The overtone rang, his vibrato spun, and Hiroki's vision almost grew blurry with the power of his voice. The note faded, and there was a pause in the music during which several whoops and hollers from the audience could be heard over the ringing in Hiroki's ears. Hiroki finally continued his phrase, unaccompanied by the rest of the choir.
"…my love loves me.'"
The choir resumed their backup singing.
"So now these two are married,
And happily they be.
Like turtle doves together,
In love and unity.
Oh pretty maids in patient's wait that have got loves at sea:
I love my love because I know my love loves me.
My love loves me."
The choir finished their backup singing, ending on a resonating chord that wrapped up the song nicely. There was a pause from the audience before they exploded into deafening applause. Hiroki flushed scarlet, tugging on the hem of his sweater as Nowaki shot to his feet, cheering as loudly as he could. Akihiko and Miyagi followed suit, closely followed by Misaki and Shinobu. Everyone around Hiroki's group began to rise, and soon the whole audience was giving him a standing ovation. Hiroki trembled and looked down, hardly able to stand as his legs shook like jelly. Kanagawa quickly saved him, however, putting a supporting hand on his shoulder and helping him back to the risers. He gave him one last wink before turning back to the audience and going to the microphone.
"And that concludes the 2011 annual alumni concert!"
