Today was the day of the concert. Backstage at the Mustafu Grand Arena, the air vibrated with anticipation. Minato, dressed in a sleek, comfortable outfit his manager had picked out, paced around his dressing room. Despite his natural composure, a flutter of nerves tightened his stomach. This was a massive stage, a sea of thousands of people, and he was only ten.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Come in," Minato called out, his voice a little steadier than he felt.
His mother, Akane, and father, Kenji, stepped inside. Akane immediately pulled him into a comforting hug. "You okay, sweetie? A little nervous?"
"A bit," Minato admitted, leaning into her embrace.
Kenji clapped him gently on the back. "That's perfectly normal. You've prepared for this. You've got this, Minato. Just go out there and sing your heart out. We're so proud of you."
"We know you'll be amazing," Akane added, smoothing down his hair. "Just breathe and remember why you love music."
Their reassuring words calmed him. He took a deep breath, and the nerves began to settle into a focused energy.
Another knock echoed on the door. "Come in!" Kenji called out this time.
The door opened to reveal a lively group. Kirishima, looking particularly excited, stood with his parents. Mina, her golden eyes wide with anticipation, bounced in with her own parents. Himiko, her usual quiet self, was with them; her parents were busy and couldn't make it, but she was still eager to support Minato.
"Minato!" Mina shrieked, rushing forward. "You're actually doing this! This is so exciting!"
"You ready to be super manly out there?!" Kirishima pumped his fist, his parents smiling behind him. "You got this, Minato!"
"Good luck, Minato-kun," Himiko said softly, her smile genuine. "We're all so proud of you."
Their parents stepped forward too, offering warm smiles and words of encouragement.
"Break a leg, Minato-kun!" Mina's mother, Hikari Ashido, chimed in.
"We wouldn't miss this for the world," Kirishima's father added.
"Thanks, everyone," Minato said, feeling a wave of warmth. Seeing his friends and their families here, ready to support him, melted away the last remnants of his stage fright. "It means a lot that you all came."
"Are you going to sing any of the new songs?" Mina whispered conspiratorially. "The ones you haven't released?"
Minato winked. "Maybe. You'll have to wait and see."
"Aww, don't keep us in suspense!" Mina playfully whined.
"We heard you're doing five songs!" Kirishima said. "That's a lot of stage time!"
"Yeah, Masato-san wants me to really get the crowd going before Ban Rei comes on," Minato explained. "It's a huge honor."
"Just remember to enjoy it, Minato," Kenji reminded him. "This is your moment."
Just then, a voice called from the hallway, "Five minutes, Minato-kun!"
"That's our cue!" Mina exclaimed. "We'd better get to our seats!"
"Good luck, Minato!" Kirishima said, giving him a final, firm pat on the shoulder.
"You'll be great," Himiko added, offering one last encouraging glance.
As his friends and their families departed, Minato took one last deep breath. He glanced at his parents, who gave him reassuring smiles. The nerves were gone, replaced by a surge of pure excitement. The stage was calling.
The call came again, firmer this time: "Minato-kun, it's time!"
Minato took one final deep breath, exhaling slowly. He exchanged a quick, reassuring glance with his parents, who gave him thumbs-up. He walked towards the entrance of the stage, the roar of the crowd a distant, muffled hum at first, then growing louder, building into a crescendo as he approached the bright lights.
He stepped onto the stage. The light hit him instantly, a blinding wash that made the vast arena beyond fade into a blur of shadows and distant faces. He stood there for a moment, the roar of the crowd enveloping him, a tiny figure on an enormous stage. He adjusted the microphone stand, a familiar object in an overwhelming moment.
Then, the opening beat dropped. It was unmistakably the infectious, funky rhythm of "Can't Stop the Feeling!" , - Justin Timberlake. The familiar upbeat tempo immediately sparked a surge of energy within him.
Minato closed his eyes for a split second, letting the music fill him, then opened them, a confident smile spreading across his face. He began to sing, his young voice clear and strong, carrying the joy and excitement of the song across the arena.
I got this feeling inside my bones
It goes electric, wavy when I turn it on
All through my city, all through my home
We're flying up, no ceiling, when we're in our zone
I got that sunshine in my pocket
Got that good soul in my feet
I feel that hot blood in my body when it drops
I can't take my eyes up off it
Moving so phenomenally
Room on lock the way we rock it
So don't stop
And under the lights when everything goes
Nowhere to hide when I'm getting you close
When we move, well, you already know
So just imagine, just imagine, just imagine
Nothing I can see but you
When you dance, dance, dance
Feeling good, good, creeping up on you
So just dance, dance, dance
Come on
All those things I shouldn't do
But you dance, dance, dance
And ain't nobody leaving soon
So keep dancing
I can't stop the feeling
So just dance, dance, dance
I can't stop the feeling
So just dance, dance, dance
Come on
Ooh, it's something magical
It's in the air, it's in my blood, it's rushing on
Don't need no reason, don't need control
I fly so high, no ceiling, when I'm in my zone
'Cause I got that sunshine in my pocket
Got that good soul in my feet
I feel that hot blood in my body when it drops
I can't take my eyes up off it
Moving so phenomenally
Room on lock the way we rock it
So don't stop
And under the lights when everything goes
Nowhere to hide when I'm getting you close
When we move, well, you already know
So just imagine, just imagine, just imagine
Nothing I can see but you
When you dance, dance, dance
Feeling good, good, creeping up on you
So just dance, dance, dance
Come on
All those things I shouldn't do
But you dance, dance, dance
And ain't nobody leaving soon
So keep dancing
I can't stop the feeling
The crowd, initially buzzing with anticipation for Ban Rei, was instantly captivated by the unexpected energy. Heads started to bop. Feet began to tap. The infectious beat and Minato's pure, joyful delivery spread through the arena like wildfire. People cheered, clapped, and some even started to sing along, swept up in the irresistible groove. Minato moved confidently, swaying to the rhythm, pouring every ounce of his burgeoning talent into his performance, truly living the song. The nervousness was gone, replaced by the sheer exhilaration of performing.
As the final, resounding notes of "Can't Stop the Feeling!" faded, the arena erupted in a thunderous applause. Minato, still radiating energy, unclipped the microphone from its stand. He held it firmly in his hands, his gaze sweeping across the massive audience.
He took a deep breath, and then, with all the enthusiasm a ten-year-old pop star could muster, he shouted into the microphone, his voice echoing through the vast space: "WHAT'S UP, MUSTAFUUUUUU!"