Chapter Text
Susumu stood at the front of the empty classroom, unable to take their eyes off the cluster of people in front of them. God, it wasn't even that many, was this really that big of a deal?
Mina, Toru, Izuku, and Iida were all clustered in front of Susumu, sitting at or leaning against desks as Susumu tried to clear their head and speak.
"S-So Present Mic--I-I've been training with him, but you guys probably already know that--um, he told me to..um, he wanted me to practice singing in front of people, s-so...and I figure I need all the practice I get before the Sports Festival, and um, he recommended doing this as a way to do that, so..."
The front of the class was silent for a moment.
"That's great, Susumu-chan!" Izuku spoke up. "We'd be happy to help you train!"
The rest of the group murmured in agreement.
"So, do you want us to give you feedback too?" Mina asked. "Like if we can hear you, or?"
"Y-yes! Yes please!" Susumu said, a little more relieved that it seemed like they were understanding; they just hated the thought of performing in front of people casually at all. They still couldn't shake the fear of them being scared or seeing them as a freak, not to mention it just felt embarrassing gathering people together to watch them sing.
God, they didn't even know if they'd be able to make it through one song."
"I also want to try using music that already exists," They continued. "Like a beat o-or a melody that already exists? I-I think it might be easier than trying to come up with a song on the spot, i-if that makes sense..." They paused again, fighting the urge to just run out of the classroom. They felt so stupid. "S-So I'm sorry if I sound s-stupid, or--"
"We'd never make fun of you." Iida spoke up. "Any practice is important no matter what it entails. I mean, who would we be if we made fun of people for having strange ways of training their quirk?"
He looked to the others. They all nodded and murmured their agreement.
Susumu wrung their hands, throwing their head back and letting out a quiet grunt of unease.
C'mon, they told themself. Focus on a spot on the wall, stand up straight, and just do it.
They took a deep breath, straightening their back, and looking forward, trying to pick a spot on the wall to stare at, before starting to mumble out a melody.
"Um, Susumu-chan? We can't really--"
"The villains will never hear you like that!" Iida interjected, hand waving. "You have to project!"
Susumu flinched. "S-Sorry.." They gulped, clearing their throat loudly, and squaring their shoulders.
"~Sit tight, I'm gonna need you to keep time, c'mon, just snap, snap, snap your fingers for me~"
The group in front of them snapped their fingers in unison.
"~Good, good, now we're makin' some progress, c'mon just tap, tap, tap your toes to the beat~"
They group tapped their feet in unison.
"~And I believe...~" Susumu continued, zoning out a little. They hadn't sung much since elementary school after what had happened, only a few times when they were alone, and even then, it was much quieter. They were realizing as they did it more and more just how much they missed it.
It was more fun than they remembered.
They shook out their shoulders, planting their feet again and trying to relax as they got further into the song.
"~Swear to shake it up if you swear to listen, oh we're still so young and desperate for attention, I aim to be, your eyes! Trophy boys, trophy wives!~"