Kairi's POV
"What's taking you so long?" Dad asked me as I got ready for the festival.
"I wanna look good for Sora," I replied.
"But I thought you weren't interested in him," Naminé said slyly.
"That was before." I checked myself in the mirror one last time. "Okay, I'm ready!" I walked out of my room.
There was a stunned silence.
"Wow…" Naminé managed to say about a minute later.
Dad mutely walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. It looked to me like he had an unshed tear in his eye. "You look just like your mother, Kairi."
"Thanks, Dad."
The festival was packed. There were sideshow games, tiny cafés and all sorts of stuff. Looming large over the whole area was a pavilion at the back, presumably where the mini-music festival was going to happen.
Dad looked around. "You two have fun and stay safe. I'm gonna go look for Ven and Aqua."
"Okay, Dad," I replied. "Have fun!"
He smiled at my little joke and walked off.
"Come on!" Naminé shouted, grabbing my wrist and dragging me to the pavilion.
When we got there, there was a guy with dark blonde hair standing on the stage. He wore a simple blue T-shirt and black jeans.
"How are you all?" he asked in a cheery voice. "Good to see such a big turnout tonight. My name's Demyx, and I'll be your MC for the Way to the Dawn Music Spectacular!"
There were cheers and applause from the audience.
"Now then," Demyx went on, "let's start the show with our first act. This band features two brothers and their best friends, and they're from right here in Destiny Islands!"
A big cheer from the crowd.
"So, without further ado, allow me to present… the Scattered Memories!"
"That's Roxas' band!" Naminé yelled in my ear.
"And Sora's," I reminded her.
Sure enough, Sora and Roxas stepped out onto the stage, flanked by Riku and a tall guy with red hair that I didn't recognise.
"How are we all?" Sora asked the crowd.
They cheered.
"Let's do this!" the redhead yelled.
Riku tapped his drumsticks together four times to set the tempo, and Roxas started playing his guitar while Riku drummed.
Then Sora started singing.
Sora
Well I was moving at the speed of sound.
Head-spinning, couldn't find my way around, and
Didn't know that I was going down.
Yeah, yeah.
Where I've been, well it's all a blur.
What I was looking for, I'm not sure.
Too late and didn't see it coming.
Yeah, yeah.
Sora & Roxas
And then I crashed into you,
And I went up in flames.
Could've been the death of me,
But then you breathed your breath in me.
Sora & Axel
And I crashed into you,
Like a runaway train.
You will consume me,
Sora
But I can't walk away.
"Whoa! Sora can sing!" Naminé exclaimed.
"Yes he can," I replied, not taking my eyes off him.
The song continued.
Sora
Somehow, I couldn't stop myself.
I just wanted to know how it felt.
Too strong, I couldn't hold on.
Yeah, yeah.
Now I'm just tryin' to make some sense
Out of how and why this happened.
Where we're heading, there's just no knowing.
Yeah, yeah.
Sora & Roxas
And then I crashed into you,
And I went up in flames.
Could've been the death of me,
But then you breathed your breath in me.
Sora & Axel
And I crashed into you,
Like a runaway train.
You will consume me,
Sora
But I can't walk away.
Sora & Roxas
From your face, your eyes
Are burning to me.
You saved me, you gave me
Just what I need.
Sora
Oh, just what I need.
Roxas
And then I crashed into you,
Sora & Roxas
And I went up in flames.
Could've been the death of me,
But then you breathed your breath in me.
Sora & Axel
And I crashed into you,
Like a runaway train.
You will consume me,
Sora
But I can't walk away.
And then I crashed into you,
Roxas
And then I crashed into you,
Axel
And then I crashed into you,
Sora & Roxas
And then I crashed into you,
Sora & Axel
And then I crashed into you,
Like a runaway train.
Sora
You will consume me,
But I can't walk away.
The song finished with a few repetitions of the riff that Roxas and Riku had used to start it.
Massive cheers came from the crowd, not least myself and Naminé.
"Thank you!" Sora said modestly. Then he and the other members of the Scattered Memories walked off stage, waving to the still cheering crowd.
Naminé nudged me and dug into her handbag. "Don't forget…" She pulled out a laminated card on a lanyard. "Backstage passes!"
I laughed. "Well, what are we waiting for?"