Chapter 81: Performance

A B A G♯ F♯

B A G♯ F♯

F♯ E D D E C♯

∞

The music started off soft and pleasant, with rather lively sets of notes to introduce the song in the A major key.

At about 25 seconds into the song, just as the audience thought there would be a small break between his changing phase, Fuutarou's left hand immediately got busy, and his right hand joined in almost immediately.

The song immediately turned a lot more upbeat as the main verse of the second song entered, followed by the continuation of the first song.

A mishmash of two songs flowing seamlessly with each other, Fuutarou had combined two openings from two different animes with completely different genres together.

Well, they had some similarities as well, but their primary genre was different.

Tokyo Ghoul is a Japanese dark fantasy manga series set in an alternate reality where ghouls, creatures that look like ordinary people but can only survive by eating human flesh, live among the human population in secrecy, hiding their true nature to evade pursuit from the authorities. The story follows Ken Kaneki, a student who barely survives a deadly encounter with Rize Kamishiro, his date who reveals herself as a ghoul and tries to eat him. From then on, the story slowly changes from gore to even more gore as Kaneki struggles to find his own identity - a human-turned-ghoul.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Domestic Girlfriend tells the story of the conflicted feelings of Natsuo, the main character, towards his first love and the girl he lost his virginity to; the controversial and conflicting nature of romantic relationships between step-siblings and also between a teacher and a student while highlighting the themes of youth, family, friendships, learning, growing up, and career.

On the one hand, there was an action-packed ghoul and gore, while on the other was romance and drama.

So how could two so contrasting anime combine into one song?

Honestly, it was more challenging than expected. The idea was there, but the execution...

It was much easier to transpose "Unravel", Tokyo Ghoul's opening, than "Kawaki wo Ameku", Domestic Girlfriend's opening, so that's what Fuutarou did.

Tokyo ghoul sounded more lighthearted than he thought after transposing, but it wasn't much of a difference. It also made the transitions between the two songs flow much smoother.

It takes a bit of skill to suddenly change keys in the middle of a song, but it takes a lot more to transpose the entire piece to fit the other. Not that the judges would know where these songs came from in the first place.

After various trials and errors, he finally managed to pull off what he could call the "best" version of the medley. Of course, given more time, Fuutarou probably could create a better version, but for now, this would do.

∞

It was currently about 7 pm in Rome, meaning that it was about 2 am in Japan.

Usually, everyone would be asleep this time, but it wasn't the case for Isanari, Hanako, and Yaeko.

These three people have deliberately stayed up all night to watch their son's performance live. And it wasn't just them.

Shouko, Kaori, Raiha, Yuzuru, Uzuki, and Satsuki wanted to stay up late and watch Fuutarou's performance. Unfortunately for them, their parents didn't allow them to do so as no matter how much they loved Fuutarou, children shouldn't be staying up so late just to watch one performance.

It wasn't until the adults have promised to record the "show" that the children agreed to go to bed. Reluctantly.

Still, children being children, the moment they hit their futons, they immediately fell asleep.

Turning on the minimal amount of light, Isanari sat on the sofa with his wife leaning against him affectionately. Yaeko was on the other couch, her eyes fixed to the television as she anticipated her son's, or well, son-in-law-to-be's performance.

Over the years, she had grown fond of the young boy. She had never explicitly spoken out loud due to her rather slight-tsundere and cold personality (not that she would ever admit that).

Unlike Hanako, who often expressed how much she loved Shouko and Yuzuru as her own daughters, Yaeko couldn't do that.

Still, Yaeko only showed it through her actions, such as the present where she stayed up at night just to watch his performance.

Ever since she had met the young boy, her life had turned for the better. Perhaps he was her family's lucky star, but everything that could possibly go right went right for the first time in her life.

She might not have immediately become the CEO of some giant corporate company, but both her work life and home life became much better than before, and that was all she could ask for after almost a decade worth of suffering.

She got promoted by one level at work, her daughters became much happier. Shouko even had her deafness completely healed, allowing Yaeko to save almost 50% more money than she would if Shouko had continued on with her deafness.

Fuutarou also helped her with her mother's passing, allowing for a cheap yet respectable funeral for the person who supported her throughout her entire life.

And all he asked for was to let him date Shouko, something her own daughter wanted as well.

She was thankful to him. Grateful. And she had no idea how to repay him and his family apart from being there with them.

On the television, the competition had started. The introduction, opening ceremony, and opening speech occurred until the first contestant finally walked up to the stage.

The small living room fell into silence as Fuutarou was introduced by the emcee. Honestly, the entire theme for the competition was weird, but who were they to judge the quirks of the rich?

Isanari's soft smile grew bigger and bigger as he watched his son with pride visible on his face. He wasn't the only one, however; both Hanako and Yaeko had the same expression.

After all, no Tom, Dick, or Harry would be able to arrive at this point of the competition.

The television blacked out, but not for long as the video of Fuutarou returned back to the screen.

There he was in all his glory - sitting at the huge, shining black instrument that looked like the sky on a cool summer night as the only light emphasized his delicate features.

At this place, because his piano skills stood out, his appearance was never once mentioned until tonight. The fierce white hair contrasted against the soft green eyes with facial features looking so feminine, hardened only by the outlook of life.

How could anybody look so young yet so wise?

The small gentle smile paired up nicely with his delicate finger, and the mini-tuxedo only helped accentuate his body figure, which was clearly inherited by his father.

He seemed lost as his fingers flew over the keys like swallows darting in a pond for fish, coaxing impossibly invigorating and unforgettable melodies from it.

Dancing and weaving along with the various chords and notes like an expert (well, he is a professional), Fuutarou never once took a break between the multiple verses and chorus.

When it wasn't the chorus, it was the verse. When it wasn't the verse, it was the bridge. When it wasn't the bridge, it was the self-improvised portions of the song that Fuutarou created to help blend the two pieces together better.

His feet were no better; they were constantly busy keeping in tempo with his hands. In Fuutarou's little medley, dynamics and emotions were essential, and fortunately for him, these two were his forte.

With his right foot to sustain the notes to blend better and his left foot to dampen and soften the notes when his hands couldn't react in time to do so, his entire body worked like clockwork to produce the best possible music he could create.

They say men looked their best when concentrating or focusing on something, but it mostly applies to everyone, and Fuutarou was no exception.

If Shouko or Kaori were watching this now, perhaps they would fall in love with him all over again.

The music was fantastic; it was something unlike anything they had heard before. In the early millennium, every Japanese pop song was about love for a perfect reason - it was easy to compose and sing and popular.

No one thought otherwise, and the bandwagon effect soon overwhelmed the populace.

If not for Akira's antics and weird way of thinking, no one would have bothered trying to make anime songs.

But now that the pandora's box was unleashed...well, not "pandora's box" per se, since there was nothing negative about it except perhaps crippling addiction and depression, but the readers know what I mean.

It was the start of a brand new era, where Japanese culture took a whole step forward.

∞1st PoV∞

Resounding applause, well, resounded throughout the entire hall, and it was pure deafening.

But I was at my peak.

I don't know whether my parents were watching, but I sure hope they are. I know it's 2 in the morning at Japan time, and I don't expect much. But still...it would be nice.

Anyway!

Doing the standard procedure, I bowed to the audience before walking out of the stage.

Returning to my luxurious waiting room, I was greeted with an impressed smile by Sawano, who sat upright and clapped.

"Congratulations on that beautiful performance. It was stunning and truly impressive."

"Thank you."

I would like to change back to my usual attire now, but there was still the prize presentation ceremony afterward, so no one was allowed to change back before then. After all, everybody has an equal chance to be able to win the top three prizes.

By the time I reached the waiting room, I could see the emcee still giving some words about my performance, asking questions to see what type of reactions there were to my song.

Time passed by slowly as the contestants went up one by one. The fifth to perform was the number sixth, Sawano, who played about 20 minutes after I did.

Usually, I would already be numbed by the skills available here since everyone was mostly the same. The final round doesn't just test the technical skills. It also tested various aspects of music - composing, working under pressure, spreading your music, making your audience happy, excited, or emotional, and most importantly, your mentality and way of thinking.

After all, this was supposed to decide who stood on the peak of the piano world. Mere skills without the correct mentality wouldn't make it.

So far, no one's song had placed an ever-lasting memory in my heart yet, but they were all great in their own right. So great that I couldn't even find any flaws in their composition.

But Sawano was different.

Why?

Because the song he played was from an anime in my previous life - Attack on Titan, "theDOGS".

It was a bit hard to tell at first, but as he played, I could start to remember where I had heard this song before.

Granted, it wasn't the famous openings that everyone knew, but his song was used as the ending theme song in the second Attack on Titan compilation film, Attack on Titan Part 2: Wings of Freedom.

It was smooth, jazzy, and just amazing in general.

Of course, there was no bias in my judgment whatsoever. None.

After Sawano was the other boy of my age went on stage. His ever-present cocky smile hung on his face as he introduced himself with style. Never really liked his look, to begin with, but his piano skills were the real deal.

But clearly, he lacked the experience in composing a song to fit the correct theme. In terms of piano skills, it would be a perfect score, but if judged based on criteria and theme...

The other four participants quickly played their pieces as well, and before I knew it, about an hour and a half had passed. And the moment had arrived.

All of us were ushered backstage, where we all waited with bated breath as the emcee walked back up to the stage after giving the judges time to decide on the results.

With a huge smile, she announced.

"Let's not waste anyone's time, shall we? By Yamamoto-sama's instruction, the first place belongs to..."

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

A/N:

Listen to the music that Fuutarou played here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVk9Suvjdzo

I know that I'm rushing this part a bit too fast, but I don't want to spend any more time here already. The next two or three chapters will include some reactions and a date with Kaori, something that I'm personally looking forward to, and I hope you guys do too.

After that, it's a time skip to next year already, and it would be the start of the next volume.

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~