53 Chapter 53

Monday

I watched the streets pass by in the window of the sketchy white vine.

I was currently being kidnapped.

Joking.

We were heading towards the ad shoot after a week of long sessions, practicing and making sure I knew what I was doing.

The commercial shoot for Crocodile would be of many segments with many different types of people and roles and I was chosen for the young highschooler getting back home after a long day.

We would be shooting the commercial now but it would be taken to live television in Spring. The reason was that winter is approaching and the sports drink season is in hot temperature, rather than cold temperature.

Only Blake was coming with me and the rest were too busy doing their own things. He was currently driving to the outskirts of the city where the shoot would take place.

Though the drive was long, fortunately, the shoot would be pretty short. That is if I did my job correctly.

I informed my parents of what I would be doing and they wholeheartedly agreed to it if I was having fun or doing what I really wanted to do.

The modern sleek urban buildings were now turning into cozier and more remote looking.

There were fewer skyscrapers, and more homes, parks, and wide spaces.

Maybe in the future, I'd settle down and get a house here? It's a nice place.

Finally, after a few more minutes of the drive, Blake signaled to me that we'd be arriving soon.

There were small butterflies in my stomach picking at my insides from the new experience and all the equipment that would be pointed at me soon.

As incredible as the system would make me as an artist, it still is my first experience ever doing something of this scale.

The van finally stopped and parked in the green park's side parking.

I awkwardly shifted in the seat with my comfortable and very casual and simple clothes.

Blake patted my shoulder and we exited the van.

We began walking down a gray cement road in the park to where the shoot would take place.

I took a whiff of the fresh air and prepared myself mentally.

…

"Hello, you're here early."

"Hello hello. Is everyone here yet?"

"Yes, we're still trying to set the lighting and wait for the sky to clear."

I nodded. The afternoon looked like it would turn into one of those really pretty skies.

He glanced at me and stared at me up and down.

"Good afternoon, I'm Karl."

He stretched his hand for a handshake.

Noticing the queue, I took my right hand and grasped his hand while showing a polite smile.

"Pleased to meet you, Karl. I'm Charlie."

"Let's have a good shoot, Charlie," He grasped my shoulder and patted it, though a little comically due to our height difference.

…

I looked at the simple urban bike with thin wheels that has been the cause of my dread in the past days.

"Go ahead and give it a run. We still have some time till the film begins."

I glanced at the bike hesitantly and got on it.

Stupid bike.

I finally sat on it fully and with my practice and increased bike skill level, I began cruising around the park following the gray road.

The breeze hit my face and stroked my hair while getting blowing inside my baggy comfortable shirt.

"Well, god damn. Maybe we should've started filming him right there and then."

The camera crew laughed and I smiled at them. Please hurry up. The faster we can do this, the faster I can get back home and grind a few skills up.

…

I was currently sitting on a chair and my hair was being styled and put in all the right places. My clothes were adjusted to suit the feeling of the ad shoot.

After a little more snooping around, the dresser was satisfied and let me go from her clutches.

"Alright Charlie, we're going to need you to come in cruising from over there. Go at a casual speed. You'll have a microphone up in your face at some point. That's when you'll say your lines. All good?"

He reminded me again, of what I was to do.

I nodded at him.

He nodded back and took out his clapperboard.

"Are we ready?"

The casual feeling of the set changed entirely into a more serious and concentrated mood. No longer was the camera crew joking around and the other artists and producers abandoned their smiles to concentrate.

All of a sudden, it was now quiet.

"Take 1. Click—Action."

No time to screw up. Let's do this.

[Modeling has leveled up.]

…

"Flawless. Great."

"I was thinking we'd be here filming for at least an hour with a few tries, but you did great! Even the auxiliary extra shoots were nice."

We were all smiles at the quickness of the situation with many of them not bothering to show their surprise.

They were informed that I would be a rookie and would make mistakes, thus they prepared for it to be a long and frustrating day.

"Great job, Charlie."

"Thank you, Karl."

While they were all happy that time would not need to be consumed, my brain was just thinking about leveling up my singing.

Truly, leveling up skills is just like a videogame.

Everyone high-fived each other and enthusiastically shook my hand.

"Film and audio quality all good?"

"Yup, the backups have been uploaded as well. Let's get out of here. I can't stand grasshoppers. Already got a few in my bum."

The entire crew laughed.

Blake came from behind and smiled a rare beam at me.

"Good job, Charlie."

In the sessions we've been having he didn't very frequently compliment or commended me on my work so it felt pretty good hearing that from him.

"Uh, where does the bike go?"

"Oh, yeah. Just keep it."

"What?"

Karl pat my back from behind.

"All yours kid. We decided that if you finished in the first few takes we'd gift you the bike. Haha, we thought it would be impossible but I guess we're all paying the price for it. Ah dangit, we're going to have to report this to the funds manager."

Some of the assistant directors groaned.

"Agh, why did you ever decide to bet on this?"

"I was drunk, dude. I made a random wager, but hey, we're going home early tonight. Still, it's not my fault everyone followed."

"Agh, I didn't even have anything to gain, and you're always drunk!"

"Sucks to suck. Reap what you sow."

"It's fine, you can take it back."

I didn't know how to feel about the bike.

"Keep it, kid. You did a good job."

What am I ever going to use the bike for? We have metro stations that allow travel to anywhere. I can't even use it for school because the metro station is just so close.

"Thank you very much."

They all patted my back.

…

Well, today I got a free bike. I don't know how to feel about it but they were adamant about letting me keep it, even when I told them I didn't want it.

The shooting went okay. I did what I was supposed to do and they all seemed happy about it. Maybe streaming has helped me with positioning myself and fitting a good camera presence?

Blake dropped me off at the apartment lobby and once again reminded me that I did a great job and left promptly in the sketchy looking van. Not to offer candy and kidnap children I hope.

I'll have to tell our parents about the new addition to our parking spot, though.

…

Friday

Blake amped up my gym routine and has made me work out more than what I was doing before.

He realized that my body's constitution is great and has been relentless ever since.

He also presented me with a diet that I'd have to follow the upcoming month of the winter show.

Fortunately, I don't have to diet right now since we're still a little far off.

Dieting a full month and no delicious pasta allowed doesn't make me very happy though.

I finished my last set of bar ab workout and dropped to the floor with sweat rolling off my brow.

A few weeks ago, I would have skipped the gym to go home early and begin streaming since it's Friday but now I'm supposed to work out every single day.

Natsumi stopped going on Fridays seeing as I didn't go very often in the past and instead goes with me on Thursdays now.

I went to the changing room and switched into swimming trousers.

Agh, now 30 minutes of constant swimming and calorie burnage.

Maybe the water in the swimming pool will hide my tears.

…

I slumped with fatigue on the living room sofa and looked at my phone screen with tired eyes.

My brain annoyingly reminded me that I had to keep up the facial expression and tongue glued to my palate.

[Modeling has gained 3.3 points.]

(John: Congratulations! Your performance Canon in D has gained more than 2 million views so far this week and in total has 6 million views now.)

Maybe if I wasn't this tired I'd be a little more excited.

(Charlie: Thank you, John.)

Ah, I still have to set up the streaming software and tidy up my things.

Have I finished my homework yet?

I feel lost.

Hmm. Let's think about it later.

The lyrics of Bruno Mars' Talking to the Moon popped in my head. The accompanying piano chords followed as I mentally sang the song.

Yeah, this'll definitely be a hit.

For the first time in the week, my exhaustion transformed into energy and motivation.

Let's do this.

First, let's check the system though. I haven't seen it in a while.

[Title: Trending, Hot Topic!

Silver Pearl

Stats:

Luck: * *

Intelligence: 15

Charm: 12]

[Achievement Points: 1,933 → 5,221]

My eyes popped out of their sockets.

5,000 achievement points?

I'm willing to guess that the 6 million views from the official Canon in D video had a big part in the achievement points.

It's even stronger from the 10% points boost that I got from the Silver Pearl.

How much is the next stat point?

I checked the shop and scrolled to the stat point.

[+1 Stat Point: 7,500 pts.]

Ah, damn.

Well to earn this much is nothing short of amazing. Maybe soon I'll get some of the big gun perks.

So far I just have the normal and the silver point conversion available to me.

Silver points are worth 5 achievement points and have the same use but just let me buy things from the silver tier shop.

Silver-tier shop items aren't that bad. They're a nice improvement from the normal items and have more variation and boosts.

I scrolled through the shop:

[Good language proficiency: 500 silver points(2,500 achievement points)]

[Fine expression manipulation: 500 silver points(2,500 achievement points)]

[Lucky Charm: 1,000 silver points(5,000 achievement points)

Description: May or may not help the 'Luck' stat.]

[Architecture Foundation: 500 silver points(2,500 achievement points)]

[A scholar's pendant: 750 silver points(3,750 achievement points)

Description: Helps with the gain of knowledge.]

[Awareness: 1,000 silver points(5,000 achievement points)

Description: Grants the user a permanent 'Awareness' buff.]

These are the items I'm currently keeping an eye on. Especially Awareness, A scholar's pendant, and the Lucky Charm.

The rest additions I think might be useful or interesting. Architecture Foundation sounds like something for architects but it may have a deeper meaning, thus why I circled it but it's not my main priority.

I think the best thing to get would be a Lucky Charm but so far I have been notified of zero lucky encounters initiated by the Luck stat. Maybe the Luck stat truly did break? Or maybe all the luck I've been having with meeting Felix, getting the Crocodile ad, and a free bicycle has all been part of it?

Strange.

[Author Note:

Hello, happy holidays to everyone!!!! It's a little late and I'm very apologetic but I had to prepare a few things for Christmas and hit an unfortunate writer's block.

Started listening to Your Lie in April songs and I am tempted to write a sweet and bitter side story but I'll save you guys that. I don't think I'd be a good sad storyteller.

How were your Holidays? I hope you received nice presents and if you didn't I send you a virtual hug as my present C:

Hope you're enjoying and I'll see you guys soon!

Song Recommendation:

Your Lie in April: Again

Your Lie in April: Hikaru Nara]