[He stumbles out, his hand still resting lightly on Byleth's shoulder, blinking in the bright lights and shrinking a little before the crowd. He still looks dazed and there's a kind of quiet feral rage in his eyes. He looks out at the crowd like there's a long second where he's imagining just tossing a fireball out there and seeing if the arena goes up in flame. Probably not, but you never know!

Veth isn't real, and if she is real, he won't be allowed to save her. After what happened with Beau, he's sure whatever he does here, it will only be so they can hurt Veth and make it his fault, and it feels like it would be better to just kill her himself and get it over with. But he can't fault Byleth if that isn't how she feels. So. He'll try?

The music continues playing, and suddenly the lights shine on him, and he's sweating, awkward under the spotlight.]

Ah, scheisse. Me first, really? Ah. . . okay. . .

[He holds the mic, hands shaking a little, stumbling over his first words.]

I can't. . . think of anything to say. . .
This is a terrible day. . .
I, uhm, would really like to run away. . .

[The crowd. Doesn't seem to be feeling this, though. Taking a deep breath and trying to think of more words that rhyme with each other, his head going sort of blank. Anyway, his cadence continues to be absolutely terrible, he is nowhere near the beat and his delivery is very uncertain and halting. It's. Not good. But he will try to put a little more effort in.]

Hey. Been some time since I've seen you so green.
Sharp fangs, sharp eyes, quickest you've ever seen.
Face so mean, will they burn you and burn you and burn you until I scream?
Do it! I'm sick of this shit and I know it's all a dream!

Who should I save? Don't fuck with Veth the Brave.
I might be a coward but she'll put you in your grave.
No need for this sad sack, as soon as you turn your back.
Nowhere to be seen until she's got you with her sneak attack.

Fake friend number two, we see you're getting lazy.
Trying to drive me mad, but I already knew I was crazy.