The karaoke machine continued to hum in the background, but now it was Shun's turn. Renji, still riding the high of Rika's "performance," turned to Shun with a mischievous grin. "Your turn, Shun! Let's see if you can top Rika's act!"
Shun froze, looking up at the microphone in horror. "I can't sing," he protested. "I'm more of a... a soccer guy."
"No excuses!" Renji yelled, already pushing Shun toward the stage. "You can't back out now. You're the MVP!"
The group cheered in agreement, some already anticipating the inevitable embarrassment. Shun's face went red as he grabbed the mic reluctantly, already dreading what was to come. He didn't sing. He was a soccer player, not a performer. But there was no way out. He was committed.
The music began, and Shun's voice, though clear and deep, was far too serious for the upbeat pop song that played. He was trying to focus on the lyrics, but every time he opened his mouth, his voice sounded almost... too intense for the lighthearted tune.
Everyone watched, half-amused and half-concerned. Was this guy for real? Shun wasn't bad at singing, but he was so stiff and serious that it was impossible to take him seriously.
Renji snickered, barely able to contain his laughter. "Shun, you look like you're about to give a motivational speech to the audience instead of singing!"
The rest of the group couldn't hold it in anymore. Laughter erupted, filling the room as they clutched their stomachs. Shun's serious, almost angry expression made the performance even funnier. He wasn't trying to entertain; he was just... singing. With utter determination.
Rika wiped tears from her eyes, her face flushed from laughter. "You're killing me, Shun!" she yelled over the music. "Next time, just stick to scoring goals, okay?"
Shun finished his song, breathing a sigh of relief, though his face was completely red from the attention. "I... I tried," he muttered, giving a sheepish grin.
Kazama was the first to recover from the laughter. "Well, at least you're a man of many talents. Singing just isn't one of them."
Shun chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah... I think I'll stick to soccer."