Another weekend had arrived at Little Paradise. The excitement of that event had passed and the normal had returned. Familiar faces dotted around in familiar groupings. Through it all there was one empty booth close to the exit and quite far from the performance stage.
"What the hell??" The girl exclaimed as she dumped her guitar on the table as a pale, fairly thin man slipped past her outburst to take a seat at the booth.
"Calm down Mio," Another, much taller and muscular man said as he sat beside the other one though without seeming to worry for the lady's annoyance.
"You kidding me? It's an outrage! This is supposed to be our time. We need all we can for the-"
The taller man was clearing his ears with his finger.
"Are you even listening Kurayami??!"
The quieter man in the corner raised his hand slowly.
"I'm listening Mio,"
"Thank you, Zetsubo." She said in a much calmer voice though her annoyance was brought back when Kurayami began to speak.
"Well I put it like this. If they're trash, then it's no big deal. They pro'lly get thrown out, whatever."
He leaned in placing his hands on the table showing the multitude of silver he styled them and his wrists with.
"...but if they're good that means we got something fun to play with... Eh?"
Mio leaned back, turning her face away from both the outer booth and Kurayami.
"Just a bunch of randoms anyway..." she mumbled to herself.
"Umm... they aren't really randoms..." Zetsubo replied, with Mio seeming betrayed.
The noise at the stage signalled that the band to replace them this slot had begun to setup, with Kurayami leaning out of his booth to get a glimpse at who they are. None of the other patrons of the venue seemed to care.
"Oh? Come on then Zets, spill your brain out for us." He gave Zetsubo a nudge.
The pale man sat up though leaned quite far forward, speaking still quietly but atleast enough for them to hear this time.
"Well that band - A.C.O.B.I - they appeared a few weeks ago on the slot register taking up Thursday's."
"Ehh? Then what's the big idea? They trying to drive us out of town or something?" Kurayami laughed.
"Thursday's aren't as busy. I believe they figured that out too. Likely watched us play."
"So they think they are better then us huh?!!!" Mio butted in.
Kurayami had a deep grin. "Hope they can prove it."
Ai began with slow almost melancholy cords with no supporting play from either Triss or Haine.
Ena took up the microphone.
"When we were young... I had no idea... that we'd be one."
Ai stepped forwards to join Ena sing, with them both looking towards eachother.
"but now I'm sure I'd pick you over anyone..."
Their faces showed doubt as they looked down and away from eachother.
"But i'm not sure why you chose me over someone - else."
Their faces almost in unison showed joint frustration as they slowly looked above themselves.
"I'm struggling to see...the walls they're blocking...out the sun."
To this point they had been mostly ignored by the crowds gathered. One gentleman in the closest table to the band moved his glass ever so slightly that it reflected the light above him directly at Kurayami's face from the other side of the venue.
As Ai and Ena continued this next verse they trailed off.
"Then in the corner of my eyes I see a light.."
They both took a breath, looking at eachother and nodding.
Triss and Haine joined with thunderous energy as the two singers exclaimed the next verse.
"YOU LIGHTEN UP THE DARKEST ALLEYWAYS!!"
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With this jump of momentum heads turned from across the bar with even the owner perking up.
"I'm no longer hiding cus I'm feeling safe."
They could feel the crowds gaze.
"It's been a long ride to this place, and now i'm feeling lo-ost in your gaze."
Ai turned to her right to look at Triss in the corner of her eye, With Ena doing the same to Haine.
"And my hearts like..."
With each of the following repetition they slowly increased the intensity of the song like a quickening heartbeat.
"Woah... oah... oah... oah... oah... oah... oah... oah!"
They kept the quickest tempo as they continued singing.
"Watch my heart... It turns to gold...When your here...it starts to glow, When I see your eyes on me I can't believe I'm not alone!"
Moving back to their slower tempo they had left the crowd and the Devil's Right Hand members speechless. There was silence apart from their singing.
As they continued to their second verse Kurayami tensed his forehead making a "o" shape with lips.
"They are fire." He'd whisper.
Before he took his attention away to see that even Mio seemed to be enjoying the song, to which he quickly pointed at her and quietly snickered as she returned to a frown.
With all eyes drawn to them the Owner moved to his clipboard. He stroke through something on his paper and quickly wrote something, as he turned back to the stage with a smile.
SUNDAYS - ACOBI
Finishing their second chorus the girls immediately celebrated amongst themselves, and after a second to their hopeful anticipation so too did the crowd join their cheers. Kurayami quickly stood up and moved to the front of the stage with Mio swiftly joining him with Zetsubo picking himself up slowly afterwards.
The girls were still celebrating with eachother as they saw the person approaching. Haine and Triss frowned remembering their last interaction with someone similar.
"Sorry for stealing your slot, Kurayami." Ai gave a slight bow of the head but he brushed off her apology with a smile.
"Don't kid yourself, you won it fair. Came to congratulate you, your music's fire." He shot them with a finger gun.
Triss laughed as she moved over. "Hey we heard your tunes too. Raw stuff." She held her hand out for a fist bump which he obliged.
Following that he held out his hand for Ai to shake, holding a friendly smile himself. She took it strongly. As they shook hands he continued,
"It's good to know the second best band in Little Paradise can play well." He snickered as his kind smile turned sly.
Haine busted in behind Ai. "They do? When do you play again?"
Letting go of Ai's hand he moved to put his hands to his side. "Come on, you should know we play on satur-"
He was interrupting with a still frowning Mio giving him a shoulder jab where he froze for a moment before looking up and laughing.
Taking a step back now he nodded.
"Your a sly one, you." He said pointing at Haine as he turned to leave, with Moi turning away with him still clearly bothered by the group.
Zetsubo moved forwards though seemed to slow down and almost stop before he spoke as his two comrades turned to leave.
"Your drumming is good." He'd mumble as he was about to turn away Haine lifted her hand up for a handshake with a loud "THANK YOU!"
Zetsubo quickly moved to join his friends leaving her confused.
Walking out of Little Paradise the girls cheered.
"WEEKEND... UH CHIEVED!!" Haine shouted as they left.
"Worked hard for it." Ena nodded as the others celebrated in their own way.
"WE'RE NUMBER ONE! WE'RE NUMBER ONE!" Haine began the chant as Triss joined followed by Ai. Ena gave the chant her blessing with synced cheering with her hands but didn't join with her voice.
"Well where to next?" Triss asked as the chant fell apart with Haine's switch to more sporadic cheering
Ai walked alongside Triss and Ena. "Take it slow for a bit?"
Haine was rushing ahead still as if the entire musical performance was just her warm up.
"If she'll let us." Ena answered as they laughed.
Full Lyrics for Love:
( Verse 1 )
When we were young,
I had no idea
that we'd be one
but now I'm sure I'd pick you
over anyone.
But I'm not sure why you chose me
over someone - else...
I'm struggling to see
the walls they're blocking
out the sun.
Then in the corner of my eye I see a light...
( Chorus )
You lighten up the darkest alleyways,
I'm no longer hiding cus I'm feeling safe,
It's been a long ride to this place
and now I'm feeling lost in your gaze.
And my hearts like
Woah - oah - oah - oah - oah - oah - oah - oah
Watch my heart
it turns to gold!
When your here
It starts to glow!
When I see your eyes on me
I can't believe I'm not alone!
( Verse 2)
If I need help I'll call your name.
You and me, sandcastles and spades
on a beautiful beach for our precious dates
with a brilliant sea casting out waves
and even when the clouds they start to break
pouring showers, air starts to shake.
I'll still be there, I will still wait for you
in our
sacred, special place.
then in the corner of my eye I see your face.
( Chorus )
You lighten up the harshest lonely days,
I'm no longer hiding cus I'm feeling safe,
It's been a long ride to this place
and now I'm feeling lost in your gaze.
And my hearts like
Woah - oah - oah - oah - oah - oah - oah - oah
Watch my heart
it turns to gold!
When your here
It starts to glow!
When I see your eyes on me
I can't believe I'm not alone!
Which is your favourite ACOBI song so far?
