Chapter Text
Tsukasa had been playing a rhythm game he had gotten on his phone for a few weeks now. It was simple, there were single notes, hold notes, and flick notes, and you’d just have to do them in the order they came! It was quite addictive if he had to admit, and a great way to pass time.
This was also no secret. Mainly because he didn’t know how to get annoyed at the game quietly. And, of course, he’s Tsukasa Tenma! He’s got to show off. Tsukasa had already impressed Emu and Rui with it (Nene had seen much more impressive with all the games she had played, but still gave it a thumbs up) and he’d like to consider himself good at it!
There was one song though. He played it a couple times, enough to have a decent score, but he never had the time to try and get a full combo. However, today he had all his school work done, Saki was out with her friends, and his parents were out on a date.
Tsukasa was alone in the house.
He had nothing better to do. So, why not?
Picking up his phone, he opened up the app. Considering all the previous practice he had done on this particular song, he expected to just knock it out of the park with a couple tries! It wasn’t too hard of a song, it just required focus and attentiveness. He could easily do it!!
He started and went away tapping!
..and broke his combo within a few seconds
Okay, that was just his first try, it was fine!!! Tsukaka could still get it. The retry button was right there. The sound of Perfect and Great notes filled the room, his fingers tapping away to the rhythm. He was getting pretty far!! He knew he could beat it easily-
The number went away. All it took was one good note.
All it took was one mistake.
Okay, so he didn’t get it the first two times, that meant nothing!! He’d just have to persevere, a great star never gives up, even when it’s hard!!! He was still sure of his victory!!!
Until it happened again
and again
and again
Small mistakes kept messing it up, ones so easy to avoid. How did he keep doing this?
Everything started seeming wrong. He would play the intro, that of which he had no problem with before, and be upset at hearing the one or two Great notes amongst the Perfects. Perfect. It had to be perfect.
Tsukasa’s eyes remained on the screen, trying to be as precise as possible.
He couldn’t mess up again.
He couldn’t fail again.
He had to win it this time.
To put up a great show.
He was so close.
He had gotten so far.
He could almost touch it, the success.
He was almost there.
He had to.
He couldn’t, he could not-
The sound of a missed note broke all thoughts.
The combo number was gone. He quickly paused the game, knowing he’d get more misses if he let it continue to play. Now the only sound in the room was the sharp inhale he made. In one swift movement, he hit the phone against his head in frustration. He was almost there!!! He could’ve easily just finished it, gotten a full combo, and been done with this all!!!
Why couldn’t he do this? It was simple wasn’t it? With his skills, he could’ve easily gotten it done within his first tries. He should’ve easily gotten it done within his first tries. Was… Was he really as good at this game as he thought he was? Was he the problem? He was the one who kept messing up, he was the one who couldn’t do it as he should.
With another sharp inhale, and tears held back in his eyes, he pressed retry. He couldn’t let himself just sit here and wallow in pity!!! Plus, as he said to himself earlier
a great star never gives up, even when it’s hard
There was no time for breaks, the notes popped up on his screen quickly, and he was quick to tap them.
He still lost
over
and over
and over again
and he’d have to be lying if he said that the phone didn’t come in contact with his head again
but he continued on, pressed the retry button more than he ever thought he could. All for the full combo, to finally be able to trust in his abilities again. He had to. He couldn’t give up. No matter how much he very much wanted to. This song deserved the full combo.
The sound of the finished show never sounded sweeter, with the words “FULL COMBO!” displayed on the screen.
Tsukasa took a deep breath, relieved that he had finally done it. He tapped through the after screens, going back to his list of songs to see it. A pink diamond where the yellow one used to be. He had finally done it. He layed back on his bed, putting the phone face down for a moment. He closed his eyes.
Finally.
Looking at the time, he realized just how late it was now. That, combined with what he just went through, well no wonder he was tired. Since he finished the song with a full combo, his mind would now let him rest peacefully, without the feeling of failure in his mind.