The Perfect Idol

NERVES

Zenitsu taps his heel on the ground, shaking his leg. He stares out the window with his cheek resting on his palm. The cherry blossoms are in season now. Their petals are falling, fluttering in the wind. The sun shines, its rays covering every inch of the courtyard. He begins to fidget with his pencil, twirling fit between his fingers, bored out of his mind. X equals what? He doesn't know. He doesn't understand a word of what the teacher is saying. He blinks lazily as he feels himself succumbing to sleep. He realizes that it's almost time for school to end, making him smile and shift into a more relaxed position by crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair.

Ring~

Zenitsu grabs his bag and dashes out the door. He sprints down the hallway. He's been looking forward to this all day.

Zenitsu opens the door. The room is empty, just like always. He looks around, grabs the speakers, and takes the equipment out. He plugs the speakers into the outlet. He takes out his guitar and tunes it just as he likes it. He strums it once, loving the sound. He sets up the microphone and takes out his computer.

He rests his fingers on the strings and adjusts the volume. He sucks in a deep breath.

"Yeah," he sings, closing his eyes, smiling, and lifting his head. "I won't dance again-" He hears a knock that startles him. He turns around and Tanjirou is standing there with a half-formed smile.

"Why haven't you shared that voice with everyone already?" Tanjirou sets his bag down, sitting on the bench in front of the piano.

"I've shared it with you, haven't I?" He looks off to the side. "Inosuke too." Tanjirou giggles, taking out his sheet music. He glances over at Zenitsu, eyes staring into his soul.

"Of course, but you're talented. Everyone would love to have your voice, Zenitsu," he says, a frown taking over his lips.

"How many times have I told you?" Zenitsu turns his head to look out the window. "I have stage fright."

"You can't get over it if you don't even make the initiative to try to get over it." Zenitsu furrows his eyebrows, a scowl forming on his face.

"And I'm fine with that." A heavy foot slams the door open, almost knocking it off the hinges.

"WELL, I'M SURE AS HELL NOT!" Zenitsu jolts, looking at Inosuke and his open shirt. "I HAVE A TERRIBLE VOICE!"

"We're very aware, Inosuke." He stomps over to the blond and grabs him by his collar, yanking him forward.

"JUST GET OVER IT ALREADY!"

"Stop yelling, will you?!" he shoots back, grasping Inosuke's wrist. He let go and sat in his seat, picking up his drumsticks.

"SHUT UP!!!" Zenitsu covers his ears as Inosuke has a breakdown.

They all have arguments over his stage fright every other day. They (Inosuke and Tanjirou) are constantly bothering him into auditioning for talent shows, or even plays for solo singers, but he can't act. But his stage fright gets in the way of everything.

    As soon as he steps foot onto the stage, he freezes. His eyes start to water and he begins to hyperventilate. He's tried all sorts of things, therapy, meditation, medicine, everything. But he just can't do it. It's like a switch is flipped in his brain as soon as he sees the stage lights, or the tan wooden floors, that drives his body to go into total shock. He's seen idols performing, and it makes him want to do that as well. Watching them in their element is fascinating and he can feel the excitement by just observing them from behind a screen.