“How about you, Shimao?”
“About four hours during the week and all day long on the weekends.”
“Holy crap! Are you freakin’ serious?!” It was Kakeru’s turn to be shocked half out of his chair. He slipped into a more casual tone, sounding more like a boy his age. “Are you the type to hash out the same song for hours?”
“Mm-hm. I’ll keep practicing until I can play it well.”
“Makes sense to me. Your Bach was dead on and you played Pavane with attention to every subtle nuance. I thought it was the result of the emotion you put into it, but turns out you’re actually someone who works hard,” Kakeru laughed.
Hey! What does he mean it turns out I’m actually someone who works hard?! I don’t see my results as anything other than from hard work. I must look like a real space case to him.
“I’m an ordinary person. Hard work is all I have going for me.”
“Where’d you come up with a funny idea like that?” Kakeru asked.
I confided in him about the way a certain person used to tease me and give me weird nicknames.
“S-Space case? Poor girl?”
“Yeah! Isn’t it horrible?”
“Pft!” Kakeru cracked up. Through his chuckles he asked, “Was it a boy who called you those names?”
How did he know? I nodded.
“He called you names in elementary school?” he continued. “Isn’t that a case of teasing a girl because you like them then?”
“ABSOLUTELY NOT! Never in a million years.”
Kakeru could come to such a horrifying conclusion because he didn’t know better. That triumphant look on Kou’s face when he called me those names was ingrained in my mind. He always had this look that implied, “A mere normo like you dares to think you can ever defeat me? Hah!”
Huh? I actually can’t remember the last time he called me names.
“Thank you very much for waiting. The judging committee has finished making their selection. Participants please return to the concert hall.”
The announcement over the loud speaker gave us the push to gather up our things and stand.
“Aaaaaah. I’m so nervous,” I moaned.
“You are? I’m fairly positive you and I will be finalists, Shimao.”
His apathetic manner of speaking only fueled my nervousness. I wonder if he’s used to competitions. Lucky him. It’d be so much easier on me if I could take it easy like him.
I walked back to the concert hall together with Kakeru. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Tobi lying in wait for us next to the doors.
Geh! I’ve bumped into the worst possible person at the worst time.
I grimaced, while opposite of me Kakeru cheerfully greeted Tobi, “Director Yamabuki! You came to see me?”
“Of course I did. A representative of our school is participating in this competition. I could never miss it.”
I barely managed to tamp down the impulse to strut by him with a casual, “Yo.” Doing that in front of Kakeru would’ve ruined his image of me. Tobi could hate me for all I cared, but I didn’t want to upset Kakeru after the lovely conversation we just had.
“Your performance today was most elegant, Mashiro.”
“Thank you. I believe Miss Ayumi is waiting for me inside, so if you will excuse me,” I said in perfunctory greeting, forcing a smile as I tried to pass by him, but Tobi gracefully held out his left arm.
“Then allow me to escort you to your seat, my little princess.” He had a soft demeanor, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Determining that pushing him away here would only lead to him doing something horrible to me later, I helplessly placed my right hand on his arm.
“You know Shimao?” Kakeru asked, wide-eyed.
“Yes. She’s someone I have known since she was just a little girl.” Tobi winked at Kakeru and opened the door to the concert hall.
It wasn’t a lie, but something about that explanation didn’t sit well with me.
We entered the main concert hall, and he escorted me all the way to the reserved seating. He helped me take my seat beside Miss Ayumi then sat on the other side of me. He had Kakeru sit on the other side of him.
“You were with Tobi?” Miss Ayumi asked me in a hushed voice.
I shook my head. “I was chatting with Kakeru.”
“With Seio’s Kakeru?” Miss Ayumi blinked in surprise.
Just as Kakeru predicted, we both made it into the finals. Roaring applause congratulated us before the judges’ comments were announced.
Sadia Francesca gave me an A this time as well. Some of the judges expressed concern that my song choice wasn’t difficult enough, but when I later learned that Sadia appointed me as a finalist before anyone else, I felt a mix of joy, gratitude, and humbleness.
“See you at the finals.”
“I’m looking forward to your performance.”
“Thanks. Let’s put on the best show we can.”
Kakeru held out his right hand, and I firmly shook it. His hand was one size bigger than mine. He had a soft palm and slender, angular fingers.
This is a pianist’s hand. I don’t want to lose!
Preferences for composers and interpretations of the piece varied per the judge. But I hoped to perform in such a way that surpassed all those things and moved their hearts.
Naturally, Kakeru received a praiseworthy evaluation too. During the car ride home, Kon told me that after the results were announced, everyone in the lobby was whispering about how it was going to be a showdown between the two of us.
“You have to play a sonata for the finals. I think it’s safe to say that Tominaga will play Rachmaninoff. That’s his favorite composer. I often see him performing pieces composed by him at Seio.” Kon closely studied my face in the car. “Are you still planning to go with Schumann, Mashiro?”
“Yeah. I kinda hate to follow Hear My Heart’s plot at this point, but I love that song, and I’ve been practicing it all this time. I’m going to play Schumann’s ‘Piano Sonata no.2 in G minor’.”
“Okay. Good luck. Your performance today was exceptional too. I’m looking forward to hearing you play in the finals.”
Kon’s encouragement was more reassuring than anything else. I was honestly happy just to have a calm talk alone with her like this. The pesky interrupter was absent this time. Kon told me that Kou was captured by the upperclassman groupies from Seio who came to cheer Kakeru on.
“Kou never lets his displeasure over the girls show on his face like he did today. He must have really wanted to come home with us,” Kon giggled.
I gave one big nod. “Well, duh. It’s obvious he’d pick you if it’s a choice between pandering to the groupies or spending time with his beloved sister.”
“Uh…” For some reason, Kon was speechless.
Was she disappointed by Kou’s sister complex again? But I’m pretty sure she should just accept her fate. Kou has a hardcore sister complex. Not like I’m one to speak.