Chapter 33: Preparations for Competition

After my father came back home, I immediately asked for a formal attire. Of course, being my father, he dotes me a lot despite our weird interactions. So he didn't even hesitate to buy what I needed.

"Ne, ne, Onii-chan! Are you going to perform?"

"Of course, your brother is a good pianist that would rock the world!" Rubbing Raiha's head, I boasted shamelessly. Well, I wouldn't say 'boasted' as with this gacha, everything could be a possibility as long as lady luck is by my side.

But until I'm confident to say that I am the best in the world (in music standards), I'll just make do with 'boasting' rather than 'recounting'.

It's been twelve years since I last reincarnated, and hopefully the last time too since I really loved my life. It's been such a pleasure and fun being here in this weird world, and it was already much better than my entire previous life combined.

However, I know that nothing is eternal, so we all would be...dead one day in the future.

Sigh...what a drag...

Thinking about this just made me all depressed.

Shaking those thoughts out of my head, I look down to see Raiha still staring at me with her wide, curious eyes.

I don't remember much of anything before I have gotten my eidetic memory. So, I can't recall much about the animes in my past life already. But Raiha's very distinct hairstyle? That I can never forget, especially since she's my cutest little sister!

Although still small, she started to have her ahoge, which was clipped by a little, simple, butterfly-shaped ribbon.

Ahhh....my heart is melting from her cuteness...

Am I a sis-con? Not the creepy kind. Just pure, simple adoration for the cutest little sister on Earth. Not to mention Shouko is also a sis-con. To her, Yuzuru is the cutest little sister on Earth.

Shouko and I don't usually fight, but that was basically the only thing we ever fought about.

The fight for the title of the cutest little sister.

"Hehehe...I believe in you, Onii-chan!" Raiha giggled as she raised her hands towards me. Of course, I accepted it and directly carried her.

Now that we were on the same eye level, Raiha planted a kiss on my cheek as she continued giggling, "Work hard, Onii-chan!"

And that was how I got the energy to practice my piece the entire day without stop.

*****************

After the thing with the formal attire was settled, the next thing was the place to practice. Because my house didn't have the space to contain a piano, I never had one.

Though, the fact that my family was just scrapping past with three meals per day didn't help in any way of acquiring a piano.

So, I just decided to freeload the school together with Kaori.

A piano and violin duet is nothing like a piano solo or violin solo. With a solo, Kaori and I would definitely ace the competition in our age group, but for a duet?

Of course, we would also ace it. We haven't been practicing together for more than a few months for nothing, you know?

The practice wasn't to practice our teamwork and coordination, but rather, it was to practice the piece instead.

I don't know what would happen if I was to max out my grandmaster proficiency, but even with my 100 points in piano grandmaster proficiency, it didn't allow me to play something perfectly a piece the first time I see it.

The school allowed me to borrow the music room under the condition that I would also credit the school some reputation should I win the competition.

A little shameless of the school to ask for reputation when they didn't do anything for me, but to play the piano, I agreed. Plus, it wasn't like I needed to give them any of the prize money if I won anyway.

Kaori had her own violin, so we were all set to practice.

Honestly, if anyone else were in our shoes, they would definitely be trembling in their boots and trying their best to practice 25 hours per day just to be able to play at a minimum standard for the competition.

But for Kaori and I, who had some of the highest music talents, it was no sweat. Within a week, we managed to play the piece at a decent level, and within the next week, we managed to completely master the piece.

Sounds unbelievable? Well, it's an anime world, so you better believe it.

Of course, I never slacked off on my other piece as well. That super, insanely complicated, and challenging piece needed a lot more attention than this one.

So whenever I was not practicing with Kaori, I was practicing the other song.

*****************

And so, just like this, two weeks flashed by in a...flash. The day of my first competition had finally arrived.

As promised by my father, he got me a formal attire. It wasn't anything extravagant; it was just a simple blazer and a collared shirt underneath it. This competition wasn't anything too adult-like, so a tuxedo was definitely out of the question.

So why a blazer rather than a suit? I just preferred the looser fit of the blazer as compared to the suit. I have never really liked being in such tight clothing, so it was apparent which I would choose.

Plus, being in a blazer means that I wouldn't need to find a matching color for my pants.

"Good. You look attractive." My mother praised me as my father started taking photographs of me.

"Yes! Onii-chan look handsome!" My sister also complimented me. Smiling happily, I rubbed her head, "Thanks, Rai-chan!"

The time now is 9am in the morning. I preferred not to go in my concert attire, so the only reason why I'm even wearing this now was to satisfy my parents' desire. Kaori and I needed to go there early, but the audience could only arrive later.

After getting their fill of my appearance, I dressed back to my casual attire as I took my bag.

"Good luck with the competition, Fuu-kun!" Shouko hugged me at the doorstep as I prepared to leave.

"Thanks, Shou-chan. Mind giving me a good luck charm?" Patting her head, I asked.

Shouko blushed a little as she understood what I meant. Standing slightly on the tip of her toes, she leaned forward and gave me a kiss on my cheek.

However, she was too shy after her actions and immediately ran away afterward.

Giving a small laugh, I waved the rest of my family goodbye as I prepared to go to Kaori's house to pick her up.

Taking only ten minutes to reach, I saw Kaori already at the front of her bakery, waiting slightly impatiently.

"Woah, someone sure is excited about the competition!" I yelled out from a distance as I started jogging to her.

"Fuutarou-kun! Good morning!" Kaori pretended not to hear me and greeted me.

"Morning, Kaori-chan. Ready for the competition?"

"Yes!"

Standing behind her were both her parents.

"Good morning, uncle and auntie. I promise to take care of Kaori today and make her happy." Without thinking, the words have already left my mouth. Immediately afterward, I realized what I have just said but didn't regret it too much.

After all, the words have already been spoken, what else could I do?

"Ara ara...It seems like someone is a smooth talker." Her mother 'Ara ara'd' me, and I didn't like it at all, "Good morning, Fuu-chan. I hope you do keep your promise."

"Yes!"

I don't think Kaori knows anything about what we're talking about since she's so innocent, and I'm glad about it.

Turning my head to look at her father, the previously kind man I had seen a few times before was gone. Replacing him was a man with twitching eyebrows and a forced smile.

"Y-Yes. I do hope you don't make my dear daughter cry. Otherwise..." I didn't manage to hear his last words, but I already knew what he would say.

"Yes!"

After replying with a few more 'yeses' to their questions, they finally let us go. A bit weird that they let two twelve-year-olds travel alone to another part of the city, but I guess they just trust me a lot. Or maybe they trust the security in this area a lot.

The first competition starts at eleven, which is part of the junior category. After leaving Kaori's house and receiving a few pieces of bread, it was already 9.30am.

Everybody taking part in any of the four categories had to report by 10.30am, even those taking part in the last category.

This is a foolish rule, in my opinion. Why do people have to wake up so early only to just wait for everyone younger than them to perform finish first?

Casually chatting with Kaori at the back of the bus, they soon reached their destination. After walking a little more, Towa Hall was in their sights.

They still had a bit of time left, so they decided to slow down their pace and enjoy the morning sun. Not long after, they spotted a playground, and excitedly, Kaori rushed off towards it.

"Kaori! Don't dirty your dress, alright?" I hurriedly cautioned her while she just waved her hand in acknowledgment.

She went towards an elephant slide, and after setting down her violin gently on a nearby bench, she started sliding on it.

Sigh, this girl is too hyper...Being cheerful and all is good, but should she really be running around with that illness of hers?

Despite having only three senzu beans left for dire situations and never having used any of them on myself before, I don't feel too reluctant to give one to Kaori.

Maybe it's the fact that just by giving her one, I would save her life that I don't feel hesitant? Or perhaps it's also the fact that she was my friend? I gave my mother and Shouko one each to cure their respective illness, and I don't regret it.

Seeing Kaori's happy and bright smile, laughing away under the morning light, I feel like it would be a waste for that to disappear.

'Kaori-chan, I hope your life now will be much better than that of when you were just an anime character...'

"Hey, Kaori! It's time to go now!" Shouting from a distance, I waited until she quickly grabbed her violin case and bag before reaching where I am.

"If we win this, I'm giving you a surprise."

"Oh, really? What surprise?" Kaori's eyes twinkled as she turned to face me.

"Well, if I tell you now, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore now, would it?"

Hearing my reply, Kaori felt that it was reasonable and didn't pursue it any further.

"Alright! I will wait for it then!"

*****************

A/N: No, Fuutarou wouldn't tell her about the senzu beans. He would cure her but also give her another surprise to cover the actual surprise. I also know that the real Towa hall is located in Tokyo, both in anime and real life, but just think that I have changed the place/province.

Longer chapter today (compared to other chapters, that is), so enjoy!