Reincarnated Into Anime World

After receiving our awards, we proceeded to go for our break since there was a lunch break between our category and the senior category.

On a side note, a 14-year-old girl won first place, while the black=haired boy and the brown-haired boy won second and third place, respectively. Despite everything that he said, it seemed that the brown-haired boy was pretty good at the violin.

Though I think that him being okay with performing in front of a big audience played an important role in getting third place since most of the other contestants often rushed or slowed down the music, not following the correct tempo.

The blue-haired boy did well as well, though the brown-haired boy did slightly better.

Kaori and I each received a trophy that looked different from the top three's, probably to showcase that we excelled in another area. To be honest, though? I preferred our trophies to theirs since ours' were transparent, while the top three were made of bronze.

It was just a personal preference, and Kaori seemed as though she liked it very much too. Whether or not it was because of the trophy's appearance or for some other reason, I don't know.

At 3.30pm, the senior category's competition started. It wasn't the same four judges, so the judges who arrived on the judges' seats were unknown. Not that I cared much about them in the first place. I was more interested in the contestant's music.

Soon, the first contestant arrived on stage, and as per custom and a sign of respect to the audience and judges, she bowed together with her piano accompanist. Afterward, they went to their respective place, and within the next five seconds, they started playing.

Along with the age group increasing, the level of the set-piece increased as well. The senior category's set-piece could be easily distinguished that it was much harder to play. It was all much harder than our group's set-piece - from all the technicalities and tempo to the music's rhythm.

The rest of our families didn't go back after our performance and decided to watch the others with us. Though, not all of them actually watched the performances.

Our mothers (Shouko, Kaori, and my mother) talked and gossiped with each other, while my father and Kaori's father were at a corner talking about some things. Though, they did get distracted by an occasional fantastic performance.

Not bothering with the a.d.u.l.ts' business, the children just sat together just slightly behind the judges and watched the performances.

Raiha and Yuzuru were sitting on my and Shouko's l.a.p, respectively, while Kaori sat beside me.

Each contestant went up one after another, and surprisingly, our little sisters were able to maintain their silence as they watched the entire competition.

The performances were awe-inspiring; those three to four years difference of age really made a difference in their ability.

The violinists had very noticeable smoother bowing and notes, and there wasn't even a single mispitch. The sound that came out of their violins were also of much higher quality.

Though the top three of our age group also did just slightly worse than them, it was very minor, further proving how different the top three were compared to others.

However, while Shouko and the two little girls were listening without any judgment, Kaori and I were more focused on the 'duet' aspect of their performance.

Just playing your individual parts without any mistake was not enough in a duet; it might be good enough for solo competition but in a duet? A duet needed more than just that.

A duet consists of two people playing a single piece together. If you don't know that, I suggest that you brush up on your pitiful knowledge. No two people are exactly identical. Even twins have some differences between them.

Thus, there was no such thing as a perfect duet, only the most fantastic duet.

So what makes a 'good' duet?

In finding that perfect singing partner, someone once said it comes down to how both singers respond to the song.

"It's not about singing with perfect pitch or timing; it's about feeling," he said. "All art is supposed to create feelings, and if you sing with passion and you sing from your soul, then people will feel it."

Like singing, playing instruments was actually not that different.

Simply put, a great duet sounds seamless - artists call it "blending," when the timbre and the tone of two voices come together as one.

Duets are one of my favorite things. I find duets to be very selfless things. We're only as good as our weakest link. And it seems that Kaori would probably share my thoughts, judging from her excitement as she looked at the numerous participants.

While Shouko did not understand music much and just enjoyed the sound, Kaori could not stop talking about them after each performance.

What she liked, what she didn't like, what could have been done better, and so on.

Soon, everyone has performed their pieces and gotten their awards, and after another 15-minute break, the artist's competition started.

The difference between this group and the previous was even more significant than our age group and the senior age group. And it wasn't even about age anymore.

Everyone in the artist's category either majored in music in their college or universities or was just that talented to play here. Granted, there were no pre-requisition to join this competition, but no one would willingly come up to this stage just to shame themselves if they could not play the violin or piano.

The set-piece was also of much greater difficulty than the rest - one of Beethoven's song: Beethoven Violin Sonata No.5 Op.24 'Spring'.

There were fewer contestants, but it was made up by the long 11-minute piece.

Each piece was played beautifully, and it was at a level where I couldn't judge anymore. I mean, I could judge who played the piano better since I was a grandmaster at it, but the violin all sounded exactly the same to me.

So this is how those ordinary people feel when they listen to our playing? Damn...that feels sad...

Hmm...I hope my music proficiency levels up fast. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to do anything apart from the piano...

Either that or I gain a few more proficiencies related to playing instruments. Then perhaps. I'll be able to combine them all.

For now, though, I'll just focus on the concert and try to distinguish each contestant to the best I can.

Kaori and I finally remained silent as we try to learn as much as we could about duets. After all, this would just be the first time we performed together, and it wouldn't be the last. Even if we would keep getting the Audiences' choice award, I would still continue doing it if it meant being better and improving a lot.

Each performance was like a word of art in my eyes. Perhaps I would reach that level in the future, but for now, it was awe-inspiring in my eyes.

Each bow was bowed smoothly without a single squeaking; each note was played perfectly in sync with each other, not messing with the wondrous music they were producing.

Even Kaori wasn't able to say anything that she disliked about it anymore. Indeed, they were on a whole new level, though nothing that was unreachable in our lifetimes.

Each violinist and pianist had their own distinct style that they were playing the set-piece, but it all conveyed the same meaning as what Beethoven, the original composer, intended to say.

Nothing too much of a drastic change like Kaori's and my performance, but it was still much better than the repetitive music from the previous categories.

After four or five contestants have performed, I turned my head to look at our parents while waiting for the next contestant and was dumbfounded. They were still seated at the exact spot since the start of the senior category competition.

Not the artist category, but the senior category!

Well, our fathers have gone out a long time ago and went somewhere to hang out with each other, but our mothers were still seated at the same spot and were still talking with each other.

How could anyone talk for two and a half hours straight without a break?

Even Raiha and Yuzuru had gotten slightly restless on our l.a.p.s, continuously moving about from boredom. Slightly m.a.t.u.r.e as they may be, they were still children, after all. The fact that they could even sit down for 2 hours was already remarkable.

"Kaori-chan, do you still want to hear more?"

Kaori looked towards me and shook her head, "I'm already tired from our performance. Even if I was to continue listening, I don't think I'll have the energy to learn anymore..."

That's what I thought. Even with my a.d.u.l.t mentality, I feel a bit tired as well.

[Congratulations! Host's music proficiency has upgraded to the master proficiency due to the advance judgment on music that was beyond Host's level.]

Ooh, nice. I wasn't expecting that, but it was a pleasant surprise. Now that my music proficiency was at a master's level, I think that's enough gain for today.

So, making up my mind after seeing Shouko's closed eyes and Raiha's and Yuzuru's restlessness, I picked Raiha up from my l.a.p and placed her on the ground, allowing me to hear a slight shriek from Raiha from my sudden movements.

"Onii-chan?"

"I can see that you're getting bored now. Let's leave, shall we?"

Kaori seemed slightly happy and hurriedly stood up. However, it appeared that the continuous sitting has made her legs numb since she stumbled towards me.

Wow, what a cliché situation...

But despite knowing that, I didn't dodge and let her fall on my c.h.e.s.t.

"S-Sorry, Fuutarou-kun...my legs were numb..." Kaori shyly apologized as she tried to stand back up.

Kaori was surprisingly lighter than she looks, and I didn't feel much of an impact even after crashing to me.

Did her disease make her weight decrease? What kinda disease is that?

"N-No problem...take your time," I subconsciously replied as I was wondering about her abnormal weight.

However, I felt a slight pinch on my arm as Kaori continued leaning on me while trying to regain her legs' strength.

I turned around to see Shouko staring at me with an impassive face. Shouko didn't seem particularly upset, just slightly pouty.

"What's wrong?"

"Let me lean on you as well?" She asked softly.

Wow, her personality has totally changed from her anime counterpart. She seemed more...proactive in her advances, though her kindness and caringness didn't change.

"Sure."

Shouko didn't weigh much, so I had no reason to refuse. Plus, she was my girlfriend, after all. I can't really neglect her for another girl.

In the end, I just sat back down and let the two girls lean on me on one chair. It was slightly cramped, but it sure felt cozy.

Finally, after another ten minutes, Kaori got shy and decided to stop seeking my warmth.

The five of us went to our mothers to stop them from talking any further before we decided to find our fathers.

We manage to find them (our fathers) in a resting area nearby, just casually talking, before the three families decided to have dinner together.

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

The rest of the day quickly passed by, and soon, we all returned to our respective homes. Kaori promised to cheer for me in my competition next week, and while her mother gladly agreed, her father had turned slightly sour, though he also agreed in the end.

Needless to say, Shouko's mother and my father also took a break from their work and decided to stay for one more week until my competition was over.

The rest of the week passed by uneventfully. I continued my routine of waking up early to exercise with Shouko at the nearby park before going to the school to practice my piano.

When I rechecked my proficiencies, I was happy to see that my piano proficiency has significantly increased from the competition. I used to take 1 week of ordinary practice to gain just 1 point.

A grandmaster's proficiency wasn't just for show. When working hard, even a single proficiency point was as precious as diamonds.

From 110 to 200, I gained 90 proficiency points. That was almost two years' worth of effort from one competition that didn't star me.

Imagine how many more points I would be able to gain if I actually played an even more difficult song in an actual piano competition next week. I can't wait for it to start!

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

[Quest: Attain First place in the piano competition next week]

Description: Since you have decided to go down this route, you must first take your big step in the world of music. And what better way to do it than to play Beethoven's most technical song on your first showcase?

Passing Criteria: Attain first place. As simple as that.

Rewards: 3x normal gacha tokens, 2x premium tokens

Failure: Minus 10 points of piano grandmaster proficiency

System tips: If you don't manage to get first place with grandmaster proficiency in your age group, you might as well go bang your head against tofu and commit suicide.

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

[Hidden Quest: ???]

Description: ???

Passing Criteria: ???

Rewards: ???

Failure: None

System tips: This quest is hidden.

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

Good for me! These quests came just in time, though the system tips are really quite...sarcastic and harsh.

I don't think the system should call them tips since they didn't really inform me of anything to help with the quest. They should be called 'System's comments' instead.

Though I'm curious about the hidden quest, I have no idea about what it even is about. I can only assume that it is also related to the piano competition since the quests were issued together.

Putting that mysterious quest aside, I don't plan to fail the piano competition. Although the system tips were quite acidic, it actually does make some sense.

Grandmaster proficiency was not commonly found, even in the entire world. There were less than 50 people with grandmaster worldwide, and those who had more than 1000 points in it were even less than 10, much less those who had above 1.5 thousand proficiency points.

That was the system's calculation.

Although I only had 200 points, my standard was still considered extraordinary worldwide, so if I really didn't get the first place...I guess 10 weeks of my hard work would disappear then.

Still, Beethoven Sonata Op 106 "Hammerklavier" Part 5 (movement 4) wasn't easy. I mean, I could play it, but I had to focus very hard on it. The moment I even get distracted, I would definitely mess up.

However, now with the extra 90 points, perhaps I would be able to do better than previously?

Thus, the following day, after bidding Shouko goodbye as she returned home, I went straight to the school.

"Yo! You still coming here for the holidays? I watched your performance two days ago, it was fantastic!" A gruff voice resounded cheerily.

It sounded a bit strange, but I have already gotten used to it after almost six years. It was none other than the familiar old security guard.

Yeah, my elementary school has a security guard. Great, isn't it? Ensures our safety.

Honestly, I don't think I have ever witnessed a single incident in school that involved the security guard in all my life here. I'm not complaining since a peaceful life is good, but I think the government is just paying people to stand around the school entrance and doing nothing.

I turned my head to face a 1.6-meter tall man. He looked lean and pretty muscular for an old man in his early sixties, but who was complaining? A buff old man doing his job as a security guard is better than a fat middle-aged man who does nothing but leer at students.

No prejudices or anything, but I think the manga and anime that I've watched in my previous life is influencing me quite a bit.

"Thank you very much. And yes, I do have another competition in a few days. If you're not too busy, perhaps you would want to go and listen?"

"Really? Haha...good kid! Wish my grandchildren could be as talented as you!"

He sounds very energetic for an old man at 10am in the morning in the middle of the summer holidays. Were all old people this active? Raku's dad was loud, my dad was loud, my mum was violent towards my dad.

Hmm...it seems that older people are very active.

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Haha! No problem. I'll bring my grandkids along as well! Hopefully, they'll learn a thing or two from you."

If any random kid could just 'learn a thing or two from me' by just watching me, I wouldn't know how to react to that.

Still, after exchanging more pleasantries, I proceeded to the room where I spend most of my time in school: the music room.

Honestly, I think I spend more time in the music room than in the classroom. I was never a music person in my previous life, so this was a lovely change. At least I changed from being a full-time weeb and office worker to a manga lover and a genius musician.

Though I had to admit that the manga standards in this world were non-existent. I wonder how do people find entertainment in this world.

Within five minutes, I managed to make my way to the music room. Sliding open the door, it revealed the familiar grand piano in the middle of the room.

When I first came here, a thick layer of dust was present on the piano since no one really liked music in this school. A bit weird considering how much the school had spent on the grand piano, but I didn't mind. After all, it would just mean more time and opportunity for me to use it anyway.

But now, after going through my hands, the piano shined grandly under the morning sun, and I could almost feel that the piano was happy to see me.

"How do you do, piano-san?"

I think something's wrong with me. I'm talking to an inanimate object like it's completely natural for me to do so.

But that aside, I pulled out the seat and made myself comfortable on it before opening the piano.

Do~

Re~

Mi~

Fa~

So~

As I pressed down on each key, their respective note melodiously sounded. Because of my existence and talent, the school had decided to tune this piano regularly, hoping that I would gain fame as a genius pianist and attract more people to this school one day.

Well, their hopes eventually paid off since I was already getting a bit of fame. Not as much as Kaori, but after the next competition? It would be hard to say.

Needless to say, I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon practicing my difficult piece. The extra 90 points really helped a lot in allowing me to play this piece much smoother.

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

The rest of the week soon passed by, and soon, the fourth week of the summer holidays was almost over.

Today was the day I would be performing on stage once more. Since I would be wearing the same thing as my previous competition, I wasn't made to wear it at home.

This piano competition was a lot simpler. Instead of four categories, there were only three - the Junior category for children aged 11 and below, the Intermediate category for teenagers aged 12 to 18, and the Senior category for a.d.u.l.ts aged 19 to 25, which are basically for people who were studying in colleges or universities.

Of course, for the plot and for me to become a rising star, I needed to be the youngest in the category so that my 'impact' on people would be the greatest.

Since this was a piano competition, and the piano was a much more popular and common instrument to pick up and learn, there were many more contestants. Compared to the violin competition, that was.

The timing for the Junior category was in the morning from 9am to 1pm. A whole five hours dedicated to listening to kids playing the same piece over and over again. I highly doubted that anyone would try to play the other piece, which was much more complicated and much more challenging for them to win.

However, even if they play the harder piece, I wouldn't fear missing them since the competition would record everyone playing Beethoven Sonata Op 106 "Hammerklavier" Part 5 (movement 4). If the contestants played it well, they would post it on their website, but if they didn't, the recording would naturally find its way to the bin.

I'm not going to sit through five hours listening to children younger than I play. So, after a hearty lunch at home with my family, I left together to reach Towa hall again.

I was lucky that my family was going along with me since the bus there was totally empty. If I had gone alone, I would probably be lonely without anyone's company.

The intermediate category's timing was in the afternoon, from 1.30pm to 5.30pm, whereas the senior category's timing was from 6pm to 10pm.

Of course, this was all only pre-planned. Depending on the number of contestants, the ending time would differ, but the starting time would never change.

We reached Towa hall at 1pm, and that was where we separated. After Shouko and my younger siblings gave me a hug and my parents gave me a pat on the head, we split up.

While I headed backstage to prepare, the others naturally directed towards the audience hall and waited for the doors to open. This was a competition, not a performance, so the audience present had free-seating.

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

"Kaori-chan?" A voice that wasn't so loud yet very distinguishable sounded, and Kaori immediately turned around to find that voice's source.

It wasn't every day that Kaori gets to hear a voice that seemed to contained softness and boundless kindness in them, not counting Shouko, of course.

Shouko was a rare breed of human that seemed to forgive everyone and hold no grudge. Kaori knew that if the person Shouko fell for and married ended up being a massive drunkard and gambler, she would still try to give him as many chances as possible. That was just how forgiving Shouko can be.

Fortunately, the person she fell for was no sc.u.m, as far as she could tell. After all, it was the same person she fell for. But too bad, she had decided not to enter a relationship. What was worse than giving people false and fleeting hope and love?

"Shouko-chan!" Finally finding the source, Kaori turned her head to face her friend, Shouko, "Where's Fuutarou-kun?"

"Searching for my boyfriend immediately?"

Hearing Shouko's words, she couldn't help but blush.

"I-I didn't mean it that way!"

"I know." Shouko's face had a cheeky grin, completely over-turning her image of Shouko in her head.

'Fuutarou-kun! How dare you corrupt Shouko with your teasing!'

'Ah...teasing people is so fun. No wonder Fuu-kun likes doing it to me.'

Two different thoughts went through two young girls' heads simultaneously, but both of them were about the boy they loved.

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

A/N: Happy Chinese New Year! And for those who are single, Happy Valentine's day! Those who have partners, stop reading this and go screw your partners.

The previous 4k word chapter will be your red packet for the new year, while this 4k word chapter will be your valentine day's chocolate for those ladies out there reading this fanfic. Whoever said men can't give chocolates on valentine's day?

It seemed that my prediction had come true. It's gonna take 1-2 more chapter(s) to end this arc before moving to Kyoto, depending on the length of the chapter. If I do give out a 4k word chapter next week, it'll probably be over by then. If not, I guess you guys have to wait in anticipation.

Don't expect me to do this every weekend, though.

On a side note, do you guys like Fuuka?