raised her hand.
"Oh God, Ino, I can't ..."
"Yeah, there we already have our first volunteer! The blonde lady in the back right on the couch! Ino Yamanaka!"
"My friend here wants to sing a song.", Ino explained and got up, pulling Sakura up with her, who resisted slightly.
The brown-haired girl nodded. "So come on then!"

Sakura swallowed. She didn't intend to sing, no, especially not in front of so many people! The last appearance she had in front of a large audience was in elementary school when her class put on a small play "Emily and the Animals from the Forest". She was 6 years old at the time and played the singing Emily. But that was - believe it or not - eleven years ago. How should she just perform something like that, nothing to me, nothing to you?

"Well, my dear Sakura-chan ...", Ino whispered from behind in her right ear. "I've listened to you singing so often - whether you knew about it or not - I know you can! So, go out there and show everyone where the hook is!" Grinning amused, she pushed her insecure friend forward. This slowly went to the stage.
The Haruno noticed how a spotlight turned on her, while she inwardly wished she would faint in the next moment.Maybe it happened automatically when she was in front; couldn't utter a word and finally just fell over.

The light followed her until she climbed the small stairs and stood a little uptight next to the girl. "Hi Sakura-chan.", Tenten whispered quickly to her and gave her a furtive wink. “Look forward to an old friend of mine, Sakura Haruno!” The people clapped.
"Thank you.", Sakura said somewhat shyly into the microphone that Tenten had given her and with a mute "Good luck!" Addressed to the pink-haired woman, flitted off the stage.

Ok, Sakura, pull yourself together! You can do it easily! Just take a nice, nice song and make the most of it ...
The girl thought about it, while all pairs of eyes were waiting and partly curious about Sakura, which increased her nervousness even more.
But then something occurred to her.

You turn around and was about to say something to the DJ when she suddenly looked surprised into the face of a friend she knew.Hadn't Shino just been to Ino? Her green eyes flickered briefly over to Ino's place, but the Yamanaka was now sitting there alone, an amused smile still gracing her face.

"Um, do you know Born To Try?" Sakura asked softly. She wasn't sure if Shino had her song there.
“Yep, I think I've got something.” The DJ rummaged through his records, all of which were under the mixer - in a messy pile - and finally pulled out one of them and nodded to Sakura. The girl turned around now. A little undecided about what to say as an introduction, she said "Hello first!" came out, took one last deep breath and announced her song. "I want to sing you a song tonight -" Born To Try "by Delta Goodrem." A unanimous clap. The tune began and Sakura immediately closed her eyes.

[i]"Doing everything that I believe in. Going by the rules that I've been taughtMore understanding of what's around me. And protected from the walls of love. "

The first stanza was clapping. Apparently the audience liked Sakura very much.

[i]"All that you see is me. And all I truly believe."

Sakura let the music lead her slowly but surely. She felt how relaxed she was and her nervousness gradually disappeared.

[i]"That I was born to try. I've learned to love. Be understanding. And believe in life. But you've got to make choices. Be wrong or right. Sometimes you've got to sacrifice the things you like. But I was born to try. "

And again the crowd clapped, this time louder than before. Sakura smiled.

[i]"No point in talking what you should have been. And regretting the things that went on. Life's full of mistakes, destinies and fate. Remove the clouds look at the bigger picture. And all that you see is me. And all I truly believe. "

Sakura had to admit that she really enjoyed being on stage and singing.It made her feel comfortable and happy that flowed through her entire body.

[i]"... But you've got to make choices. Be wrong or right.
Sometimes you've got to sacrifice the things you like. "

The melody grew quieter in the background. The end of the song was drawing near.

[i]"But I was born to ... try."

When the music ceased completely, there was enthusiastic applause. Some even got up and there were actually a few who called for encores.
Sakura let out a sigh of relief and smiled. She bowed briefly and handed the microphone back to Tenten, who had just hurried onto the stage.

"That was Sakura Haruno, with her beautifully performed song" Born To Try "!"

"That was awesome!" Ino smiled happily at her, in the meantime Hinata had also joined them and hugged Sakura. "I didn't even know that you could sing so incredibly well!", She enthusiastically praised her friend and also gave Ino the opportunity to hug Haruno.“Waaah - I'm so proud of you!” Still grinning widely, Ino added: “Hey, you could easily have a career as a singer!”
"Yeah, sure.", Sakura waved him off with a laugh.

But she was not aware that she had achieved something she hardly dared to dream of ...

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Both girls enjoyed themselves brilliantly that evening, until late at night.
But the next morning wasn't so great. For Ino, anyway.

With a plaintive sound, Ino rubbed her temple, she had sore muscles and her skull hummed a little. Maybe she could have done without a couple of glasses from yesterday evening ...

“Good morning!” Sakura apparently had less of a hit, she was sitting in a good mood and humming at the breakfast table and eating her toast while leafing through the newspaper. "Yeah ... good morning to you too.", The Yamanaka mumbled a little sleepily and rubbed her temple again.Sakura looked up. "Have you got a hangover?"
The blonde nodded. "Yeah ... not just that. My head is buzzing."
Sakura then tossed her an apple that she had taken from the fruit basket on the table; got up and filled a glass with tap water. She put the glass in front of Ino and smiled. "This helps."
"Thanks." Ino took a quick sip and then took a bite of the juicy red apple.

It rang. At the same moment the morning mail slipped through the slit of the front door into the hallway. "I'll do it ..." Ino got up and yawned and went into the next room. A little later she came back with a magazine and two letters in hand. She put the magazine to one side - the cover featured the pretty face of an actress under the cover title "Glamor" - and now took a closer look at the two covers. Then she put one aside as well ("It's just an advertisement for Esprit or something.") And now looked at the second letter. Ino's eyes widened suddenly."Ohh ... ha." Gasped the blonde and stared at the white one all the time
Envelope.
"What is it?", A little confused, Sakura put down the cup of coffee she was actually about to drink and looked at Ino questioningly.
"That ... is up to you." Ino held the letter out to her. "But first see who it is from before you open it now."

Sakura took the envelope from her. "Hmm ..."
What was on the return address suddenly struck Sakura. Like Ino, she stared at the letter as if spellbound.

Sender:
Cloud Noir & S. Yakashima
Moon Star Entertainment
[...]

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So! :)
The first chapter is over for now! * happy *
The only question is who this Cloud Noir is ^^
I hope you liked it!

Byebye, your Mimi-chan