bravenewworld | A Musical Practice

Who: The Love Live! Girls, anyone who lives at Hikawa Shrine, and anyone leaving and entering the shrine! And stalkers. There are stalkers.
What: Practice for performing on stage! Their first practice ever.
When: Sometime in the afternoon, after school is over.
Where: Hikawa Shrine, Union.
Summary: Honoka has finally managed to amass a group of people to get together as a little musical group to perform. They are going to try to practice together for the first time, and that could go any number of ways.

"Hello everyone!" She shouts once all the girls who she expected to come to practice arrive. "I wasn't sure where we could practice, but I'm so glad Rei let us come here and use the courtyard! So!"

She stands, feet at shoulder width, in front of the girls, looking determined as ever.

"We'll do some singing first! And after a little break, we'll try dancing! Someone will need to clap for us to keep time, but we can alternate who does that so everyone gets to practice dancing. And then! We can get something to eat when we're done! If there's someone you don't know, get to know them a little bit before we begin our practice!"

"Okay! Let's start!"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Singing is Maki's strong suit of course, and she's making it duty to see that every one of the other girl's gets a crash course in vocals. She's put off deciding to join because she refuses to be in an amateurish group, one where people don't even follow basic training to improve their voices. But somehow, either through sheer luck or Honoka's skill, she's ended up with a group of people who are pretty serious.

Even ones like Hanayo, who look like they might cry if Maki is too harsh on her, are trying their hardest. But now, she's focusing her attention on Kotori, hands on her hips, having pulled the bird away from the group for a little one on one tutoring. This isn't really the Maki Kotori met before. She's more like a harsh taskmaster, who refuses to let anyone slack off. ]

You're not singing enough with your diaphragm. You won't be able to finish a song like that. Try again, from the beginning.

[Sheer luck, determination, skill or even more dubious concepts of the kind of 'fate' don't really matter, do they? they found each other and are now walking the same path together and that is what matters right now. These small steps are the beginning of something big.

It would be a lie to say that Kotori didn't feel really happy to see Maki here, surprising as it was (no, exactly because it was an unexpected situation?) and being guided by somebody she admires makes her put an extra bit off effort on singing yet that doesn't mean that her lack of practice can be ignored. When Maki pulls her away and gives her serious advice the little bird nods seriously.]

O-okay.

[She takes a deep breath and begins.]

I love you, banzai!

[It's still no good.]

[ It's hard to be as tough on Kotori as she is to Honoka or Rin, but Maki can't go too lenient. It's her dream to sing on stage, to make music with other people, even if she's only realizing this now, finally seeing that she doesn't only need to do what her parents tell her. But to do that she needs people to support her, and people she can trust and support back herself. ]

That wasn't any better Kotori. You have to try harder.

[ Maki is quick to rebuke her, before she her's her own voice in her head, and realizes how harsh she's being for someone who called herself Maki's first fan. ]

Listen, I know you can do it. You have a good voice. Y-You just relax a little.

[She did try harder though but that may the issue by itself this time since she worried too much about following Maki's words. Relax and sing, little bird! Maki's hurried encouragement makes her give the other a shy smile before focusing again.]

Y-yes, sorry.

[Another deep breath before repeating the same part. Still a bit high pitched but better.]

[ Maki puts her head in her hand, sighing. It's not Kotori that she's troubled with, it's her own teaching style. She's used to being tough on the other girls, but she knows that it's not helping Kotori. But it's hard to try and change so suddenly. ]

It's still too high.

[ Tail swishing behind her, Maki steps up in front of Kotori, touching the other girl's stomach with her finger. Her voice is a lot softer now, kinder, trying to drain it of it's usual snark. ]

You just need to relax more. Think of something you love... L-Like sweets, and close your eyes, and sign from down here.

[A surprised sound leaves Kotori's mouth at the contact on her stomach, not that she seems particularly bothered by that. If anything skinship lets her relax a little.]

Would that be fine? Everyone tries to focus on music instead, so...

[ Maki's trying to take on her own teacher's style, what she had been taught, thinking that it could be good for Kotori. ]

Music is just something you do to try and express your emotions. But your emotions don't have to be musical themselves.

[ She says, as if that makes sense. ]

[It does, probably! Kotori is definitely going to try what the other girl is suggesting anyway. She closes her eyes and tries to focus on sweets as the feline teacher insisted which causes a soft smile to appear on her expression soon enough. Too open, this girl.]

I love you, banzai!

[The difference is truly impressive!]

[ Trying to explain how proper breathing works, or how the vocal chords are best constricted to make each note.. Somehow that information seems unnecessary for Kotori, like Maki has to find new ways to explain things to her. Her eyes do open a little wider though when she hears that take again, nodding. ]

That's better. You're learning how to project as well. You're a quick learner.

[While she certainly can understand technical terms as the ones Maki is used to there is no point in denying that it's easier for her to truly take in these lessons with different methods. Talent is something this little bird has, it simply needs nurturing.

And being complimented makes her cheeks turn much rosier, as expected.]

It's thanks to Maki's guidance.

[ It's still pretty surprising to Maki to see the other talented girls around her, or more specifically, around Honoka. She's really starting to believe this could actually work. ]

I-I'm just trying to help you so you can get better.

[ Instantly her hand goes to her hair, twirling it around her finger, looking away. ]

[They are still complete rookies at this point but it's clear that the cheerful leader has found a few rough diamonds to polish, herself included. They will shine brightly soon enough.]

U~n, I would be pretty lost without your help. Thank you, Maki.

[Kotori admits that easily and with a smile. Oh, the wonders of not being tsun.]

[ If only Maki knew how not to be like herself, because accepting that thank you is seriously the most difficult thing for her, already twirling her hair, and moving the conversation to a new topic. ]

L-Let's get back to practice then. W-We still have a lot of work to do.

[Kotori nods obediently.]

Let's!

[And so they did.]

A Musical Practice

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