Chapter Text
It was yet another sunny day in PaRappa town. PaRappa, Lammy, Katy, and PJ were sitting down in Beard Burger, enjoying their food. PaRappa looked up from his food, speaking up. "Hey, did you guys know I'm gonna be performing again at Club Fun?" Katy looked up from her burger, seeming glad. "Really? Man, it's been a hot while since we've seen any of your big performances huh?" He nodded. "Mhm! And this is looking to be my coolest one yet! I'm gonna blow the last one out of the water!" Katy chuckled a bit. "Really? The last one was the biggest show in this town ever!" Lammy glanced up. "Yeah...I-I don't even think MilkCan had a performance h-half as popular." PaRappa seemed adamant. "Oh, I'm sure! If you don't believe me, just show up there yourself!" Katy gave him a grin. "We were gonna do that anyway! When is it anyways?" PaRappa scratched his chin a bit. "I think 9 PM-ish. I'd have to look again but, just be there by around 8:30, I'll be on soon by then!" PJ spoke in between bites from his burger. "Mhm, you got it." The group continued to eat their food and chat about what-not. By 7, PaRappa left the table to get ready for the big show. Before leaving, he turned around. "Remember, biggest show coming up!" Katy waved him goodbye. "We haven't forgotten, don't you worry!" PaRappa exited the restaurant, being greeted by the smooth evening chill. He made his way down to Club Fun, enjoying the atmosphere.
"Aww jeez...What's gotten into me?" PaRappa was looking down. The performance hadn't gone anywhere close to expected. The only people remaining in the crowd were PaRappas friends, all the rest of them left after his poor performance. Katy made her way up the stage, standing next to him. "What happened PaRappa? That wasn't nearly as good as I expected!" He looked up, ashamed. "Man...I really fumbled that, huh..?" Lammy and PJ got up on the stage too, Lammy doing her best to comfort PaRappa. "D-Don't worry, m-maybe you'll do better next time!" The dog nodded. "Yeah, I sure hope I will..."
But the next gig PaRappa was at, he did just as bad, if not worse than last time. The same held true for the next, and the next, and the next, leaving PaRappa more and more defeated after each failure. His friends always comforted him afterwards, restoring his motivation and preparing him for the next one, even if it resulted in failure. Of course, eventually it took its toll on the pup, leaving him very de-motivated for everything. He could barely find it in him to get out of bed and hang out with his friends and family. It hurt them all seeing PaRappa like that. One day, at Phat Donut, the three came up with a plan. Katy slid PaRappa an advert. "Here, MilkCan is gonna be performing live again. We thought maybe if you performed with us, you'd finally see some success!" PaRappa picked up the paper, looking at it before sighing. "Maybe...you really think this'll help me out?" Katy nodded. "Without a doubt! The times you performed with us practically multiplied our hits!" The dog simmered in thought, before speaking up. "Alright, you can expect me to be there!" Lammy smiled, remembering the times she performed with PaRappa. "A-Alright, seems like we're game! S-See ya there PaRappa!" The lamb sat up, leaving to set up herself. "I better get ready too, and also tell Ma-San to expect you two!...Well- assuming PJ will be there too." PJ swallowed a donut whole, looking up. "Sure, I'll be there." Katy grinned. "Alright! See y'all later!" She sprinted off, leaving PaRappa and PJ alone. The dog broke up the silence between them with a sigh. "You really sure this is gonna be my big break?" PJ shrugged. "I dunno, it's up to you." PaRappa thought for a bit, before sitting up. "Alright, I'll do as good as I can do!" PJ scarfed down another box of donuts. "Mmmm...see ya PaRappa." The dog ran off.
The five were standing up on stage. PaRappa was preparing himself to sing his heart out, the band preparing themselves as PJ slid his booth over, setting on his glasses. Ma-San broke up the silence. "(You sure bringing PaRappa was a good idea? He did pretty ass the last few times he rapped.)" Katy shot a glare to her. "Ma-San, don't say stuff like that! PaRappa will be fine out there!" Ma-San shrugged, tapping her drumsticks together. "(Don't tell me it isn't a possibility that he totally messes all of this up.)" The curtains slowly opened up, blinding the five with spotlights as the crowd cheered. PaRappa took deep breaths, preparing himself. "Come on PaRappa, you'll be just fine! You gotta believe!" The other four started playing as PaRappa gathered up all of his strength.
PaRappa was giving it his 101%, rapping and freestyling like no tomorrow. His eyes were closed shut as he enthusiastically sung, letting every ounce of rhythm and flow out at once. By the time he was finished, he couldn't hear the crowd anymore. He couldn't even hear Katy and the band play. "Alright PaRappa, that's how it's done!" He opened his eyes, prepared to see the faces of the crowd, completely wow'ed out of their mind.
His heart sunk into the deepest pit of his body upon seeing that it was completely empty, save for a janitor cleaning up. Ma-San swore, chucking her drumsticks. "(See, told you he'd do ass!)" Katy shot harsh glare at her. "Ma-San!!" PaRappa fell to his knees, completely shocked. "No, I thought for sure that- after that I'd finally make my comeback! Why??" Ma-San still spoke ill. "(Hey, sue me for being right, that was total shit through and through!)" Katy looked on the verge of screaming at her, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Well, maybe you could stop being a jackass to him for once??" Lammy stepped up to PaRappa. "H-Hey, don't worry too much PaRappa- I-I'm sure we did bad t-too..." Ma-San looked up. "(Oh, excuse me? EXCUSE ME??)" PJ shrugged. "I don't know, we did pretty fine, PaRappa just tripped up a whole lot." PaRappa just stared forward, totally catatonic. "...They left because of me..." Lammy turned to PJ. "Hey, you don't know how poorly you're playing until after the fact!" It evolved into a full-blown arguement between the four. PaRappa just stood up, doing his best to restrain his emotions as he choked out words. "God...I should've known better..." Lammy moved next to him. "Hey, don't say that, a-again we might've played badly!" Ma-San scoffed, getting next to her. "(Nah, only he's to blame. He really messed up, no way around it.)" PaRappa tensed up at hearing Ma-San just insult him like that. "(Besides, he might be just a-)"
PaRappa suddenly rose his voice, snapping at the mouse. "Shut your mouth!!" Lammy and Ma-San both jumped back, startled by his sudden tone shift. "You don't know how torn up I am over this! I put my entire life towards my passion, and now I can't even perform well when it matters most!" Katy backed up a tad. "P-PaRappa, calm down! There's always next t-" He cut her off. "I've tried to believe in the next time, and no matter what I just kept getting worse! And now I'm here, ruining my friend's band with my awful rapping!" PaRappa was having tears freely escape his eyes as he shouted. "NONE of you experienced anything close to this! To just have your whole career fall right on top of you!" None of them knew what to do other than have him continue. "I've tried to believe, I tried that! And look where it got me? Ruining a concert!!" PaRappa stopped finally, tears running down from his cheeks and onto the floor. He stared at his confused friends, before turning around. "...I'm going." Before anyone could stop him, he jumped off the stage, sprinting out the building while sobbing. Everyone just stared, not knowing what to do. PJ took off his glasses, a genuinely sad look on his face. "...I'll...go too." He got up from his booth, leaving the building. Ma-San looked down, beyond guilty. "(...S-Shit, god dammit I really fucked up...)" Lammy walked up to her, trying to comfort her. "Hey- hey...y-you didn't know what he was going through..." Katy crossed her arms. "Well, she still shouldn't have insulted him like that...but yeah, I guess..." She got herself packed up, getting ready to go. "Come on girls...let's go..." The three solemnly left the building.