Chapter 84: Rewards and Date Plan

『』=『Messaging』

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[Quest: Attain First place in the piano competition (Part 2)]

Description: Having taken your first big step in a small competition, you must not give up halfway. Go through the entire competition, and make your name well-known in the music world and beyond.

Passing Criteria: Never give up

Rewards: Increased proficiency in all music-related proficiency depending on the level (basic will increase by 100, intermediate will increase by 90, advanced will increase by 80, master will increase by 70, grandmaster will increase by 60)

A̶d̶d̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶r̶e̶w̶a̶r̶d̶s̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶i̶s̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶l̶i̶m̶i̶n̶a̶r̶i̶e̶s̶:̶ ̶A̶d̶v̶a̶n̶c̶e̶d̶ ̶L̶a̶n̶g̶u̶a̶g̶e̶ ̶P̶r̶o̶f̶i̶c̶i̶e̶n̶c̶y̶ ̶(̶0̶/̶5̶0̶0̶)̶ ̶(̶i̶m̶m̶e̶d̶i̶a̶t̶e̶l̶y̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶l̶e̶t̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶d̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n̶)̶

Additional rewards if you attain the top ten worldwide: 1x premium gacha tokens, 2x normal gacha tokens (will be given after the competition ends)

Additional rewards if you attain the top three worldwide: 1x premium gacha tokens, 3x normal gacha tokens (will be given after the competition ends) (Unaccomplished)

Additional rewards if you attain first place: 1x legendary gacha tokens, 2x premium tokens, 3x normal gacha tokens (will be given after the competition ends) (Unaccomplished)

Failure: Removal of Grandmaster Piano Proficiency and semi-removal of music route in the future (meaning that it would be harder for you to get back to the music industry again).

System tips: Don't get too proud or arrogant. You are currently just a mere frog in a tiny well. You have not seen what true talents or hard workers are. This is not just a test of your skills but a test of your willpower.

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[Quest completed, rewards are being issued.]

[1x premium gacha tokens, 2x normal gacha tokens]

[Grandmaster Music Proficiency (0/2,000) -> Grandmaster Music Proficiency (60/2,000)]

[Grandmaster Piano Proficiency (1850/2,000) -> Grandmaster Piano Proficiency (1910/2,000)]

I see now. The passing condition was never to achieve any position in the competition. I could pass this quest even if I decided to stop at the first round.

The most important thing now was to consolidate my way of thinking and mentality towards life. Fortunately, this quest came early to remove my arrogant mentality towards this life. Otherwise, perhaps my breakdown in the future would have been ever more severe.

Still, now that I look back at it, it was...embarrassing.

The third time I ever cried in my life...was witnessed by a thirteen-year-old girl. I feel ashamed.

Sigh, but looking at the precious sleeping figure beside me, I can't help but smile.

System, use all my tokens.

[Spinning...]

[Host has gained 1x Fuse token]

[Host has gained a gun]

[Host has gained a sword]

What...a sword? A gun? And a fuse token?

In my inventory, I could see what seemed to be a Warrant Officers Sword and a Soviet PPSh-41 Submachine Gun. Don't ask me how I know the specifics of each weapon; they just entered my head like how the proficiencies' knowledge enter.

[Items able to be fused detected.]

[Gun + Sword = ???]

[Fuse?]

Wait, wait, wait. What on Earth just happened? System?

[Host has gained a fuse token. A fuse token can fuse any two objects given by the system, assuming they are compatible with one another. If multiple choices are present, the system will automatically judge and determine the host's best interest and ask the host for permission to fuse.]

What other options are there?

[Duplication token + Special opportunity token]

[Special opportunity token + sword]

[Special opportunity token + gun]

[Special opportunity token + Weakened senzu bean]

[Weakened senzu bean + A sleek pair of shoes]

[A sleek pair of shoes + Duplication token]

[Click to see more options]

Obviously, I clicked to see more options, but some of them became really stupid. For example, coffee beans (that I still haven't used to this day) plus duplication token would obviously result in more coffee beans. Is that really worth using my fuse token on?

The recommended one was the fusion of the sword and gun, but what would I get from that? A bayonet? That sounds lame, though.

Make no mistake, it's a good weapon to kill and all, but a gun and a sword separated can still do the same thing. But then again, it's recommended by the system, and the system has never (well, mostly never) let me down.

Should I?

I thought for a while before eventually agreeing to fuse. Firstly, I didn't really need the gun and sword in the first place, and secondly, I don't have anything else that I need to be fused together anyway. I might as well just listen to the system's recommendation.

Fuse!

[Fusing sword + gun...]

[Fusion successful.]

[Analysising product...]

[Danger! Product's drawback poses an imminent threat to host!]

[Taking over command system... analyzing...]

Before I knew it, I fell asleep, and it wasn't due to exhaustion.

[Reforming body to suit...]

[Restructuring body to suit...]

[Transforming body to suit...]

[Adjusting product to suit this world...]

[Scanning...]

[Adjustment complete. Transformation complete. Final analysis complete. The host is safe from all the drawbacks...]

[Congratulations, host! Your new power has been completely assimilated into your body, and you can now use it with no restrictions.]

[The host has gained...]

∞

Shouko woke up not long after I had gone out of bed to replenish my energy, and I have to say, Shouko's confused face as she wondered where she woke up was pretty cute.

"Morning, Shou-chan." I greeted her with a smile as I watched her rubbed her eyes.

I thought she would immediately be flustered upon hearing my voice like usual and run out of my bed. But I was very wrong.

Shouko turned to face me as she sat up, and she hugged me as she let out a small yawn, "Morning, Fuu-kun."

?!

Noticing my surprised look, Shouko tilted her head with a curious look in her eyes.

"Nothing..." I replied. She can do whatever she likes, after all. Plus, I can't really say that I'm not enjoying it.

"Let's continue sleeping..." Shouko said before her hands around my waist dragged me back to the bed. She snuggled close to my chest as she let out a relaxed smile.

Wow. Shouko's pro-activeness has evolved to a whole new level now.

Today was Saturday, and because the competition basically took the entire summer holidays from me, today and tomorrow would be the last days before school starts again.

I don't have any plans as well since I've finished all my work before I went to the competition, so lazing around in bed with Shouko doesn't sound too bad.

While I relaxed, my phone suddenly started vibrating.

Hm? I checked my phone, and it was a message from Kaori.

『Yahoo! I've heard that you came back to Japan! How was your trip?』

"Who's that?"

"Kaori-chan~. Apparently, she heard that I had come back."

『Yep! My trip went well~. I've learned a lot.』

『I'm so jealous! I want to go for a music trip as well!』

Music trip? Well, I guess it could be called that. Though, it isn't the most accurate description as well.

『Summer holidays are coming to an end! Do you have any plans?』

『Not particularly, no. I just got back yesterday, so I"m feeling a little lazy.』

『...』

『...』

『Sigh, I guess you're right.』

『I can't really force you anyway.』

『I know how hard you've worked for it.』

She sounds a bit disappointed. And maybe a little sarcasm was inserted inside? I think it was mostly filled with regret, though.

『Did you have a plan for today?』

『...I was hoping you would tell me that.』

So she wanted me to invite her out. Basically, a date? But looking at Shouko beside me...problems of a harem.

Sigh, I can't neglect either of them, and I've been neglecting Kaori recently.

『It's our last day of the summer holidays, so I was wondering if you were free tomorrow.』

As though she had already pre-planned her response, my screen was automatically filled with messages.

『Yes yes!』

『Wanna go on a date then?』

『(*^▽^*)』

『Yay!』

『Thank god my boyfriend isn't dense.』

『I'm lucky to have such a caring boyfriend who would be willing to face the exhaustion from his competition and go out with me.』

I can't tell whether she was serious or not, but I'm glad she sounds(?) more cheerful now. It suits her a lot better than moping around.

『Sorry that I've been neglecting you.』

『It's okay. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯』

『I know you're busy with the competition after all. But now that it's over, I plan to collect back your debt.』

Debt, she says...

『I know Shouko-chan is your girlfriend as well, but I don't plan to be all passive.』

『I'll make sure you can never live without me!』

『How confident~』

『Someday, I'll take over Shouko-chan's place in your heart as well!』

"Ho ho ho...Kaori-chan is being bold now, huh?" A bright chuckle came from behind me as Shouko peeked into my conversation with Kaori.

Somehow, I felt like a dude who was cheating on his wife...

"Lend me your phone for a bit, Fuu-kun."

Someone, I don't seem to be able to deny that bright smile.

『Seems like you're very confident in taking my place, Kaori-chan』

『!!』

『That's...Shouko-chan?』

Somehow, I seem to be able to visualize Kaori behind the screen, shrinking.

『Have I been talking to Shouko-chan all along?』

『Unfortunately, or fortunately for you, no.』

∞ 3rd POV ∞

Well, Kaori was having a somewhat confusing time now. With Shouko suddenly entering the private chat between the two people, Kaori felt like all her thoughts had already been exposed.

After Shouko replied, the chat fell into an awkward silence (if it could make noise in the first place). At least until Shouko broke it.

『I won't stop you. You can try, but just know that it's going to be a tedious road ahead of you.』

Somehow, Kaori could sense that there was a second meaning behind her words. And just as she was just about to express it in the chat, she noticed that Shouko had sent another message.

Only this time, the message was a picture.

Kaori wanted never wanted to swear so severely before. Still, as a young and (somewhat) innocent 13-year-old, she knew few swear words that really meant something.

Most of her vocabulary swear words include "baka", "baaaka", and "baka baka baka baka".

The classic tsundere's swear words.

The picture included both Shouko and Fuutarou. But if it was just that, she wouldn't mind so much, but no. Shouko was cheekily smiling as she posed for the camera with Fuutarou just behind her.

On the bed.

In their pajamas.

Cuddling close to each other, Fuutarou completely surrendered his phone to Shouko, showing his trust in her.

Kaori knew that they might have slept together before at least once, but that was when they were still young! They were already thirteen, and while Kaori might not know when was the time where girls and boys were not supposed to be sleeping together, she knew that thirteen was a bit too old for them to be sleeping together.

It wasn't as though Shouko was scared of some thunder or anything.

『You guys...』

『Didn't do anything...』

『Right?』

At this point, Kaori was basically asking (begging). While sharing a person you love might seem normal and fun, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbow. Accompanied by the concept of "harem", a lot of competition, schemes, and friendships being broken apart is pretty common.

『W-What are you talking about!』

But to Kaori's question, even the boldened Shouko had to blush and flush in embarrassment.

『W-We haven't done anything!』

It's truly a wonder to see people stuttering when messaging in an anime world. Indeed, this work lives up to its name.

『Mou...I'll be taking Fuutarou for the entire day tomorrow! And I'll make sure he wouldn't even think about you during the date!』

『Haha, if you can...』

『Even during my date, we even thought of you, so if you guys didn't think of me, I'd be impressed.』

『We'll see about that!』

『Have fun on your date because I had fun on mine~ (〃⌒∇⌒)』

But it was at times like this where Kaori really liked Shouko. Not just as a (future) sister, but as a character. Despite facing challenges, she not only does not bring her opponents down, she even encourages them. This was something that Kaori wouldn't imagine herself doing.

So while Kaori might often complain and say that she will try to take Shouko's spot, she never truly meant it because apart from Fuutarou and her parents, Shouko was the one she loved the most (not in the yuri sense).

『Thank you.』

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A/N: The fuse thingy is sort of a last-minute idea. You don't know, but it's pretty neat, huh? Personally, I quite like it. He won't use it often, though. It's just there because I like it. Wish-fulfillment of sorts.

And can someone kind enough donate me a picture of yandere Kaori? I need it for my yandere fanfiction cover~

If you want to support me or/and want chapters in advance, link:

https://www.patréon.com/spirits_everywhere. We are currently 8 chapters ahead~ It is the best time to get the most out of your money after all~