It could be Ino. She's confident and outgoing, so she'd likely put on a great show. Her stylish nature would probably make her choose a trendy and popular song, and she'd perform it with lots of flair, which would impress the judges.
I'm not sure specifically as I don't know which 'the contest short story' you are referring to. It could be about a competition, perhaps a writing contest where the story itself is either the entry or about the experiences within the contest.
Well, becoming a winner in a short story often involves creating a relatable and resilient character. This character should have clear motivations and the ability to adapt to unexpected situations. Also, a touch of luck or a hidden talent can sometimes give them the edge.
Well, for a YA short story contest, common requirements include a word count range, like 3,000 to 8,000 words. Also, the story might need to fit within a given genre or topic. And often, there are rules about originality and submission format.