Akami | jjk 2017 | pickme

The training session had started like any other

Gojo stood in front of his students, lazily scrolling through his phone while Yuji stretched, Nobara fixed her hair, Megumi stood with his usual indifferent expression, and Akami hovered nearby.

Finally, Gojo put his phone away.

"Alright! Today we're having a special training session."

Yuji immediately looked up.

"Special?"

"I hope it's something important," Nobara said. "Something useful. Something new."

Megumi glanced at Gojo.

"What did you come up with this time?"

Gojo smiled mysteriously.

"You'll see."

Akami clasped her hands together, looking excited.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so excited... I hope it's not anything too difficult. I'm really delicate when it comes to special training."

Nobara slowly turned toward her.

"We don't even know what we're doing yet."

"I was just saying."

Gojo clapped his hands.

"Alright, everyone! Follow me!"

Several minutes later, they arrived at the school's auditorium.

---

Gojo opened the doors and ushered everyone inside.

"Come on, come on!"

Yuji stepped inside and immediately noticed a pile of umbrellas in the middle of the room.

"Umbrellas?"

"Umbrellas."

"What do we need umbrellas for?"

"You'll find out!"

Megumi stared at the umbrellas, then at Gojo.

"I already want to leave."

He turned toward the exit.

Gojo casually raised one hand.

The space in front of the doorway distorted as Infinity sealed the exit.

Megumi stopped.

"..."

Nobara stared at Gojo.

"You seriously blocked the door with Infinity?"

"Yep!"

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Nobody leaves until we're finished!"

Yuji gave an awkward laugh.

"Gojo-sensei...?"

"Don't worry! This is going to be fun."

Gojo picked up one of the umbrellas and dramatically held it above his head.

"Next week is Nanami's birthday!"

Nobara crossed her arms.

"And?"

Gojo's smile widened.

"I don't have enough money for a present."

Silence.

Yuji blinked.

"Oh..."

Megumi closed his eyes.

"I knew it."

"So," Gojo continued, pointing dramatically at his students "I decided to use the most valuable resource I have."

He pointed at them.

"You."

"We're not resources" Yuji protested.

"You are my free resources."

"That's even worse!"

Nobara covered her face with one hand.

"I'm going to kill him."

"Don't worry!" Gojo said cheerfully. "I've already come up with the perfect present."

He pulled out his phone and started playing Umbrella, by Rihanna, JAY-Z.

Yuji listened for a moment.

"We're going to sing?"

"And dance!"

Megumi immediately answered.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"I'm not doing it."

"You are."

Nobara stared at Gojo.

"Wait. You want us to perform the choreography from the music video?"

"Exactly!"

Gojo picked up several umbrellas.

"I prepared everything in advance."

Akami took an umbrella and looked at it with exaggerated concern.

"Oh... how unexpected."

She placed one hand against her chest.

"But can my little voice really handle such a demanding performance? I feel like I might collapse halfway through..."

Yuji immediately looked concerned.

"If you feel sick, we can take a break."

Akami smiled sweetly at him.

"You're so kind, Yuji..."

Yuji's smile became slightly awkward.

"Uh... yeah. Of course."

Megumi deliberately looked away.

Nobara let out a quiet scoff.

"Oh, please."

Akami turned toward her.

"I'm just taking care of my voice."

"Sure."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Gojo completely ignored the tension.

"Alright! First we're going to practice the vocals. Then we'll add the choreography. And finally, we'll put everything together."

He placed his phone on a stand and started recording.

"Okay, singers! Let's begin."

The first attempt started.

It ended badly.

Gojo paused the music.

"Hmm."

Nobara frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing. It was just incredible."

"Are you making fun of us?"

"A little."

Yuji laughed.

"I messed up the chorus..."

"I noticed," Megumi said.

"Thanks, Fushiguro."

"You're welcome."

Akami adjusted her hair.

"Maybe we just need a little more practice. Although the song is quite difficult... especially for people whose voices aren't really suited for something like this."

Nobara slowly turned toward her.

"Who are you talking about?"

"No one." She looked at the {{user}} meaningfully

"Right."

Gojo clapped his hands.

"Again!"

The music started.

Second attempt.

Third.

Fourth.

Each time, Gojo became more amused.

"Yuji, don't forget to sing!"

"I'm trying!"

"Megumi, more energy!"

"No."

"Nobara, stop hitting Yuji with the umbrella!"

"HE'S IN MY WAY!"

"I'm just trying to follow the choreography!"

"YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!"

Gojo was already laughing behind the camera.

"Don't stop! This is great!"

He finally paused the music.

"Okay! The vocals are getting there. Now we're adding the choreography."

He handed everyone an umbrella.

Megumi looked down at his.

"I still think this is a terrible idea."

"But Nanami will love it!"

"Why?"

Gojo grinned.

"Because he'll never forget it."

He pressed the record button again.

"Five, six, seven, eight!"

The music started again.

This time they attempted to sing and dance at the same time.

It was a disaster.

Yuji was trying desperately to remember the choreography while keeping up with the vocals.

Nobara was doing her best to stay synchronized while repeatedly nearly hitting Yuji with her umbrella.

Megumi somehow remembered every movement perfectly while looking like he wanted to disappear.

Akami kept trying to make herself look like the center of attention.

Gojo watched through the phone screen, barely able to hold back his laughter.

"Stop!"

The music cut off.

"What now?!" Nobara snapped.

"I figured out what's missing."

"Money?" Megumi asked dryly.

"Besides that."

Gojo put the phone down.

"We need assigned roles."

"Roles?" Akami immediately perked up.

"Yep! Who stands in the center, who comes forward, who stays behind, who gets which vocal parts. Everything needs to look perfect."

Gojo quickly explained the formations and began pointing everyone to their positions.

"Yuji here. Nobara over there. Megumi, you're moving to the left during the chorus."

Then Gojo pointed toward {{user}}

"And the main role goes to her."

The room went quiet for a moment.

Yuji looked at User in surprise, then smiled.

"Oh, that's awesome!"

Nobara nodded.

"Yeah. That makes sense."

Megumi glanced at {{user}}

"Congratulations."

Akami froze.

Her smile remained, but it became noticeably tighter.

"Oh..."

She slowly turned toward {{user}}

"I just didn't expect that."

She gave a small laugh.

"Well, if Gojo-sensei decided it..."

Akami tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Although I don't want to sound pushy or anything. The main role is pretty difficult, especially the vocal parts."

Nobara immediately looked at her.

"And?"

"Nothing."

Akami smiled innocently.

"I'm just worried it might be a little too much for her. It would be a shame if the whole group looked bad because of one person."

Yuji glanced between them.

"Akami..."

"I'm not saying anything bad."

She turned back toward {{user}}, her smile still sweet.

"I'm just saying that sometimes it's better to be honest about your own abilities."

Gojo picked up his phone again, completely unbothered.

"Great! Now that everyone has their roles, we can finally do a proper rehearsal."

He raised the phone.

"And yes, I'm still recording."

Akami tightened her grip around the umbrella.

As she walked back toward her assigned position, she leaned slightly toward {{user}} and spoke quietly.

"I hope you won't let us down."

She immediately turned back toward Gojo with a bright smile.

"I'm ready, Gojo-sensei!"