"Now, let's go over the criteria for the competition! Contestants will be judged on the following points."
Luna and I turned our attention to the host as he continued.
"First is the quality of the music performed, which is worth 50 points. Second is the precision and accuracy of the play, especially since both participants will be performing on the piano. That's worth 30 points. Lastly, there's the emotional impact on the audience and judges, based on the performance worth 20 points. The total score is 100 points."
"I'll go first," Luna said confidently, her icy cold tone leaving no room for argument.
"Excellent!" The host shouted, hyping up the audience. "Luna Hoshizaki will be our first performer!"
The staff quickly brought a grand piano onto the stage, setting it up for Luna.
She turned back to me with a smirk and said, "I'll show you the difference between the strongest and someone who's merely trying to be."
"Sure, show me," I replied, standing firm.
Luna made her way to the piano and sat down on the black piano bench while I went back to the backstage area to wait for my turn and watch her performance.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to Luna Hoshizaki from Ouran Academy!" The host's voice can be heard throughout the auditorium,
The audience clapped their hands in applause as Luna began to play, her fingers dancing effortlessly over the keys. I and even the audience recognized what she played; it was Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata." However, this was not an ordinary performance that was played in the streets or on an ordinary occasion. It was an international performance of it. The melody she played was mesmerizing, filled with harmonies and precision.
Each note was executed flawlessly, and the accuracy of her fingers captivated everyone, grabbing their emotions with its relaxing and calming effect.
The performance lasted ten minutes, shorter than the usual fifteen-minute performance of the "Moonlight Sonata," but it left a powerful impact. The audience erupted into a loud applause, giving her a standing ovation. Even the judges stood up and clapped for her. My schoolmates also joined in, except for Emi, Karina, and the student council members of Hanayami Academy, who only clapped their hands respectfully.
Luna stood up from the piano bench and returned to her seat in the front row of the audience area next to the vice student council president of Ouran Academy and a boy with similar hair and eye color to mine, probably he's a student council member of Ouran Academy.
Now, it was my turn. I took a deep breath and walked onto the stage, sitting down on the black piano bench. The host's voice began to speak.
"Now, for our second participant, ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause as Inzo Hayashi from Hanayami Academy will start his performance."
The audience then clapped their hands for me. I was expecting this since most of them supported Luna, but it seemed they were clapping their hands out of respect. They truly believed I would lose after Luna's outstanding performance.
But the loudest applause came from Emi, Karina, and student council members. They truly believed in me and expected me to pull off an upset against Luna.
Seeing their faith in me, I felt a surge of determination. I couldn't let them down. I decided to give it my all and play the hardest piece I knew, betting everything on this performance.
With that resolve, my fingers began to dance across the keys, pouring my heart and soul into the music.
————
From the audience, Emi, Karina, Serena Ishizawa, Miki Tachibana, and the other student council members watched intently as Inzo began his performance.
Emi's blue-grey eyes widened as she recognized the piece. "Is he... Is he really playing 'Piano Sonata Bb88'?"
Karina, sitting next to her, was equally shocked. "That's one of the hardest pieces to play. What is he thinking?
Serena Ishizawa, the Student Council President, narrowed her eyes in concern. "I knew he would choose something challenging after seeing Luna's outstanding performance, but this... This is beyond his current capability."
Miki Tachibana, the Vice President, looked at Serena. "Do you think he can pull it off?
"I'm not sure," Serena said as she shook her head, a slight worry etched on her face as she continued. "The strain is visible in his hands. He won't last long at this pace."
Emi clenched her fists, her heart aching, as she watched Inzo struggle with the piece. "Inzo, what are you doing? Why are you pushing yourself so hard?" she whispered, her voice filled with worry.
The rest of the student council members exchanged nervous glances, sensing the tension in the air. They all believed in Inzo, but seeing him take on a challenge that was meant to be impossible to accomplish made them anxious.
As Inzo continued to play, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his fingers trembled slightly with the effort. Despite the visible strain, his determination never stopped him.
"We need to trust him." Karina said with her voice filled with her soft voice. "He's giving everything he has. This is his chance to prove himself."
Emi nodded, though her worry didn't disappear. "I know, but I can't help but be scared for him."
Serena and Miki exchanged a glance, both understanding the gravity of the situation.
"Ha..."Serena sighed as she continued, "Let's hope his determination can carry him through until the end of his performance.
————
My hands were already feeling the strain, each note demanding precision and speed that my fingers hadn't, even with Emi's training over the past two weeks.
I knew a simple piece wouldn't defeat Luna because of her outstanding performance; that's why I needed to match it with something equally challenging.
Therefore, in the end, I had to choose "Piano Sonata Bb88," one of the hardest pieces I knew.
Each keystroke sent a jolt of pain through my fingers, but I couldn't let that stop me.
The music required more—faster and more precisely from my fingers.
"I won't lose," I whispered to myself, gritting my teeth. "I will win."
I forced my fingers to move faster and more precisely, dancing over the keys with a speed that surprised even me.
Suddenly, I felt something warm and wet on my fingertips. Glancing down, I saw blood beginning to mix with the keys. My hands were bleeding from the effort, but I couldn't stop now.
Emi, Karina, Serena, and the student council members all believed in me, and I had to do my best.
I continued playing, my teeth clenched in determination. The pain was excruciating, but it was a small price to pay. Each note that is played is one more step closer to victory. My fingers moved faster and faster, driven by my determination.
————
As Inzo finished his performance, the audience erupted into applause. The intensity of his play had captivated everyone, but there was something off. Inzo remained seated on the piano bench, his face covered by his black hair. He didn't stand up, nor did he acknowledge the audience. His hands stayed on the piano keys, frozen.
From the middle row, Emi watched with a growing sense of dread. She knew Inzo very well, so she expected that he would have stood up to accept the applause from the audience, his eyes bright, and then the tears would fall from his eyes in happiness.
"Inzo!" Emi shouted, leaving her seat and rushing towards the stage.
She then reached the stage, and as she got closer, her eyes widened in shock and her mouth fell open.
"INZOOOO!!!" she screamed, her voice echoing throughout the auditorium.
The piano keys were stained with blood, and Inzo's fingers were visibly bleeding. His eyes, although open, were staring at none other than Luna Hoshizaki with a look of unyielding determination. He was unconscious and couldn't hear Emi's scream.
Emi shook Inzo's body desperately, trying to snap him out of his daze. "Inzo! Wake up! Please wake up!" Emi shouted in plead as her tears fell from her eyes. "Don't leave me, please, Inzo!"
The audience gasped as the reality of the situation sank in. The staff hurriedly went to call the authorities for an emergency ambulance, shocked in disbelief, just like the audience.
Meanwhile, Luna was staring at Inzo's unconscious state, her violet eyes focused intently.
"Why would he not give up?" Luna asked herself.
At that moment, she couldn't understand why Inzo wouldn't give up. All her previous opponents had felt overwhelmed, but Inzo was different. He tried his best, even though he knew he had a small chance of winning against her.
"He's tough to break," Luna said softly, still looking at Inzo.
"Is he okay?" Hinori asked worriedly.
"Yes, he is." Luna held Hinori's left hand. "You don't have to worry, Hinori. The staff are calling an ambulance to take him to the nearest hospital."
"I see..." Hinori said, looking at Luna's right hand holding his left hand. "I hope he will be alright."
"He will be fine!" Kaori intervened, grabbing Hinori's right hand. "Inzo's a tough one. He even lost his singing voice before, and so he will also survive this one."
"He tried his best in the end..." Karina said, tears streaming down her face.
"I never thought this might happen," Serena whispered, her voice trembling as she fought to remain composed. "Expert pianists who play the Piano Sonata B88 often end up with bleeding fingers. It's known to happen in international contests. But Inzo... he just recently returned to playing the piano. Why would he play such a difficult piece?"
"He probably felt pressured after Luna's performance," Miki said, adjusting her glasses, which glinted slightly.
"Inzo was pressured to do it?!" Karina and Serena asked in unison, their voices filled with shock.
"He felt he had to play the hardest piece, thinking it would secure his win," Miki continued, her tone matter-of-fact. "But playing a difficult piece doesn't guarantee victory. It's a double-edged sword. He might succeed, but at a cost, and that cost is what we witnessed today."
"That explains why he seemed so desperate earlier," Serena said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Inzo..." Karina murmured, tears still falling as she looked at the scene where Emi was shaking Inzo, trying to regain his consciousness.
Emi never left his side, panic-stricken and crying. "Please wake up, Inzo. Please, please, I need you," she pleaded, shaking him repeatedly.
But there was no response from Inzo. The audience, the host, and the judges were all in shock, each of them with the same question in mind.
Did Inzo really die while playing the hardest piano piece?
————
Inzo slowly regained consciousness, finding himself in an unusual place. He was lying on the edge of a black river, the water dark and reflecting nothing but shadows. His hands were still trembling and covered in dried blood from the intense performance.
He managed to stand up, his legs feeling weak beneath him. As he looked around, trying to understand why he was here, a voice echoed from behind him.
"You did try your best."
Inzo turned to face the direction of the voice but saw nothing but an indistinct figure draped in a black robe. The figure's head was covered in mystery, but the voice was calming and comforting.
"W-who are you?" Inzo asked, his voice shaky. "Why am I here?"
"You gave everything you had. I know it was hard. The Piano Sonata B88 is a formidable piece. It takes a toll on even the best performers."
"Why... Why did I end up here? I thought I was playing to win, to prove myself," Inzo asked, his voice filled with confusion and exhaustion.
"You did well, Inzo. Your determination was impressive. But you must understand that the true measure of your worth is not just in winning, but in how you live and overcome challenges. You still have a life to live."
"Then what should I do now?"
"Live your life to the fullest, Inzo. Cherish it, and use the strength you've found today to continue moving forward. This is not the end for you."
As the mysterious figure's voice faded, Inzo's eyes fluttered open. He found himself back on the stage, staring directly at Luna. Before he could fully comprehend his surroundings, a familiar shout pierced through his ears.
"Inzo!" Emi cried out, her voice trembling with emotion as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. "You're awake! I was so scared!"
Inzo, still dazed, placed his hands back on Emi's back, hugging her gently in return. His hands, though filled with blood and strain, were now showing signs of recovery.
"I'm sorry, Emi, for worrying you," he said softly, his voice filled with regret.
Emi squeezed him tighter, her tears mingling with her relief. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay?"
"I promise," Inzo replied, forcing a smile through his exhaustion. "I will always be back to you, Emi."
The staff members, who had been observing the scene with concern, finally intervened. One of them approached the stage and said, "Inzo, we need to get you out. An ambulance is waiting outside the auditorium."
"No, I'm fine. I want to stay here until the decision is made." Inzo replied.
The staff exchanged worried glances. "But you're still bleeding," one of them pointed out. "You need medical attention."
Inzo looked at his hands, noticing that the bleeding had mostly stopped. "I just need a few minutes, so please, let me stay."
Emi, still clinging to Inzo, spoke with worry. "Inzo, you should listen to them. Your health is more important.".
"I understand that, Emi, but my decision won't change. I want to stay here for a few minutes."
"Why? You don't have to be so stubborn; I'm just worried for you."
"I know, I know that, Emi," Inzo said as he patted her head, and a slight smile came from his lips as he continued. "But I need to see this until the end."
The staff, seeing the exchange between Inzo and Emi, both looked at each other and then back at him. Finally, one of them nodded. "Alright, but if you feel any worse, you need to let us allow you to be taken to the nearest hospital immediately."
"I understand," Inzo replied to the staff as he still hugged Emi in reassurance that he would be okay.
The staff left and immediately went to the host, discussing something in hushed tones. After a moment, the host nodded and approached the judges, likely talking about the results.
A few moments passed before the host returned to the stage with a microphone in his right hand and a piece of paper in his left, clearly indicating who would be the winner.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. We are ready to announce the results of the competition. Could the two performers please come to the front of the stage?"
Inzo stood up from the piano bench, and Emi gave him a concerned look before returning to the audience, sitting in the middle row. Inzo walked to the front of the stage, feeling the weight of every step.
The audience's eyes were on him, but instead of seeing him in disgust and as a failure, he saw something else—admiration and respect. He couldn't understand why they looked at him that way; he had expected them to laugh at him for losing consciousness earlier.
Luna gracefully stood up from the front row and made her way to the front of the stage. Now, they stood beside each other, waiting for the announcement.
The host opened the card and spoke. "Here are the results of the contest. Judge Morita scored 99-89 in favor of Luna Hoshizaki!"
Loud cheers erupted from the audience, particularly from Luna's supporters.
"Luna! Luna! Luna!"
"3-0! 3-0! 3-0!"
"Silence, everyone," the host said, and the audience quickly quieted down.
"Now going back, Judge Sasaki scored 99-98 in favor of Inzo Hayashi!"
While I still remained composed, I reminded myself that this was just one win for Luna. There were still two judges left.
"Now, moving on, Judge Sasaki scored 99-98 in favor of Inzo Hayashi!"
The audience fell into a stunned silence, but excited shouts from Emi, Karina, Serena, and the student council students broke through.
"Yes! He did it!" Emi shouted, her happiness clear.
"Yeah, one more left, and he'll win," Karina said with a smile.
"You can do it, Inzo," Serena added confidently.
"Now, for our third judge," the host continued, "Judge Uchida scores this competition as 100-95. The winner of this year's Christmas Music Festival is..."
As he paused for a moment, Kaori, Hinori, Emi, Karina, Serena, Miki, the student council members of Hanayami Academy, and the entire audience held their breath. The whole auditorium was silent, waiting for the winner to be announced.
The host's voice echoed through the auditorium as he shouted. "Luna Hoshizaki!"
The audience erupted into smiles and applause. Some of the Hanayami Academy students hugged each other, pleased that Luna had won, even though she wasn't their representative.
"Luna, you did it!" A man's voice shouted from the front row as he made his way to the stage.
"Yeah, it's my victory, Hinori," Luna replied with a kind tone and a gentle smile.
Luna was never cold towards Hinori, always expressing her true feelings to him.
"Do you like my gift, Hinori?"
"Gift?" Hinori asked, puzzled look on his eyes.
"This victory and my performance were dedicated as a gift for you, Hinori. Did you like it?"
"Oh, that's what you meant," Hinori said as he patted Luna's head. "Thank you for this wonderful gift, Luna," he said with a smile.
That smile sent Luna into a deep blush. The cold and star radiant of Japan now melted like a cute kitten getting patted by its owner.
Just then, Kaori intervened with a smirk. "Oh, look at you, Luna. Who would have thought the star radiant of Japan could be so soft and adorable?"
Luna's blush deepened, and she looked away, embarrassed. "K-Kaori, stop it."
"Why would I stop when it's so fun to see you like this?" Kaori teased, leaning in closer. "It's not every day we get to see that the Star Radiant of Japan is blushing."
"Kaori, you're so mean," Luna mumbled, still blushing.
"Hahaha!" Hinori laughed as he continued to speak. "I think it's cute. It shows that even the strongest have a soft side." He said with a smile.
Luna flustered again seeing hinori smiled again as the camera keeps flashing for their moment.
————
I held my head low. This was the second loss in my career—the first one was as a singer, and now as a pianist.
"I lost again," I muttered.
"You did your beeessst!" A familiar voice shouted.
"Emi?" I looked up as she arrived in front of me and hugged me tightly.
"Don't blame yourself, Inzo!"
"B-but I..."
"Shh... It's not your fault and will never be."
"It's my burden. I'm the representative of our academy."
"You gave it everything you had," Emi whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "That's all anyone can ask for."
"Inzo, you were amazing out there. We all saw how hard you tried," Karina said as she approached, now standing behind Emi.
Serena Ishizawa, the student council president of Hanayami Academy, and Miki Tachibana, the vice president, along with the other student council members, were also there beside Karina.
Serena spoke first, her voice calm and reassuring. "Inzo, you did your best. That's all that matters. We're proud of you."
Miki adjusted her glasses, nodding in agreement. "You played a piece that even experienced pianists struggle with. That takes incredible courage and dedication."
The other student council members chimed in, offering words of encouragement and support. "You played so cool, Inzo!"
While One of them said. "We know how much effort you put into this so it's not your fault."
Emi tightened her embrace. "See, Inzo? We're all here for you. You didn't let anyone down."
"Thank you, everyone. I will come back stronger—that's a promise!"
"I know you will, Inzo," Serena said with a slight smile.
Suddenly, a student approached us. It was the same student I saw seated near Luna I pushed Emi's shoulder gently to break the hug and faced the student.
"Hello, Inzo," he said, extending his hand. "I'm Hinori Nakano. I just wanted to say you gave a remarkable performance out there."
I shook his hand, still a bit confused. "T-thank you, Hinori. I appreciate it."
"Are you okay? That was quite an difficult piece you played earlier."
"I'm fine, Hinori." I replied. "Thanks for asking."
Just then, Luna and Kaori approached, their expressions a mix of concern and territorial possessiveness.
"Hinori, are you alright?" Luna asked, her tone softening as she glanced at him.
Kaori crossed her arms, smirking. "Seems like you're making new friends, Hinori." Kaori said with a smirk on her lips and her arms were crossed.
"Hahaha!" Hinori chuckled as he continued. "I just wanted to ask Inzo if he's okay."
Luna's gaze shifted to me, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Inzo, you played well for a challenger level."
"Did I?" I asked, my eyes widening in shock. I couldn't believe it—the Star Radiant of Japan was commending me.
"You did. However, your best wasn't enough to defeat me."
Kaori held Hinori's right hand as she spoke with a teasing smirk. "We should get going now, Hinori. Luna and I don't want to keep us waiting."
Hinori nodded and looked at me with a smile. "See you later, Inzo. Let's meet again!"
"Sure," I said, watching as he turned back with Luna and Kaori. Their possessiveness over Hinori was evident, and it made me feel the same vibes I felt when I was with Emi and Karina. It was like Hinori and I had some similarities.
Emi held my left hand tightly as she spoke, "Let's also go now, Inzo."
"Yeah, let's go, Emi."
"We could also come with you, Inzo," Serena said.
"Yeah, friends should be with their friend who needs to go to the hospital," Karina added.
"Hmph!" Emi huffed. "A girlfriend is enough to go with her boyfriend to the hospital. Inzo doesn't need his friends."
"That's cheating, Emi! Friends should be there to support their friend, right, Inzo?" Karina asked, giving me cute puppy eyes, tempting me to agree with her.
"Umm..."
Before I could say more, Emi gripped my left hand tighter and asked again in a sweet voice, "You won't disobey your girlfriend, right, my beloved Inzo~?"
"Umm..."
"Does this mean you'll prioritize your girlfriend over your friends and schoolmates, Inzo?" Miki asked calmly.
"Inzo..." Emi said, tightening her grip even more.
"Ow! Ow! Stop, Emi! You're breaking my left hand!"
"If that's the only way to make my beloved Inzo obey my request, so be it," Emi said in a cold tone that sent shivers down my spine.
"Scary..." Serena and the student council members said in unison.
"So this is how a yandere acts, huh? Quite scary," Miki said, tapping her glasses, which glinted with light.
"Emi..." I called her, but she didn't say anything, just kept holding my hand tightly, possessively.
"I love you," I said.
As I said those three words, Emi's right hand softened, and she let go. Then, I held her face with warmth.
"You supported me, and they supported me. That's why they also need to go with me to the hospital, just like you."
Her face said it all—she was sad, her eyes full of sadness and disappointment.
This left me with no choice but to do it in front of the stage.
I leaned closer and kissed her forehead. Everyone in the audience saw it, including Karina and the student council members.
Emi's eyes widened in surprise, but then she smiled, her sadness fading slightly. "Alright, let's go together," she said softly.
"Yay!" Karina and the student council members said joyfully, while Serena and Miki just smiled slightly at Emi's decision.
A day had passed, and it was now 5 PM. Emi and I were sitting side by side at her dining table. This wasn't the mansion that Emi and I lived in this was the another property of her but a simpler two-story house.
"Are they coming late?" I asked Emi.
"Ha..." Emi sighed. "It looks like that's the case."
"But they were the ones who said they'd come today."
"Ah, they might not be as honest as you think, Inzo."
"What do you mean, Emi?"
"They promised they'd come, but the truth is, promises are meant to be broken."
As Emi spoke about promises meant to be broken, I remembered what happened yesterday after the competition. We went to the hospital with Karina and the student council members.
Thankfully, the doctor examined my fingers and found nothing serious. He simply stitched them up and bandaged them to prevent infection. The doctor advised me to avoid playing the piano for two weeks to let my fingers rest and heal.
Just before we parted ways, Karina had said, "I'll be visiting your house, Emi, tomorrow for Christmas!"
"We will too," Serena and Miki had added in unison.
"But you guys have your own families. They need you for Christmas," I pointed out.
"Don't worry, Inzo. I don't have a family here; they're all in the Philippines," Karina explained.
"Me too. My parents are abroad," Serena added, with Miki nodding in agreement.
"O-okay then. See you tomorrow!" I said.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Inzo. It's a promise. We'll come at 6 PM," Karina said.
With that, Karina, Serena, Miki, and the student council members turned and walked away.
Emi and I returned to her mansion and entered her room, we sat on the bed. Emi hugged me tightly, not letting go.
"E-Emi? Is something wrong?" I asked, noticing her unusual behaviour.
"Why did you agree to let them come tomorrow?" she asked, her voice muffled slightly.
"Because they wanted to."
"But I want us to spend tomorrow together. We don't need them, Inzo."
"But they're my friends, Emi. They supported me earlier, so I have to."
"You don't have to be indebted to them," Emi said, still holding me tightly. "You need to learn when to say no to your friends' requests."
"Emi..." I said, gently running my fingers through her black hair. I could hear the softness in her voice.
"Mmm?"
"You're my one and only girlfriend," I said gently, and Emi fell silent.
I gently pushed her shoulders away, breaking the hug. What greeted me was her lovely, blushing face, a sign of her vulnerability.
This was the Emi Shinohara I knew when I tried to be sweet with her.
I held her face in my hands. It was warm, not from fever, but from the intense emotions she felt.
"I won't look at other girls with desire; my eyes are only for you, Emi. You don't need to feel jealous around them," I said with a kind smile. Her blush deepened.
She nodded repeatedly, unable to speak as her embarrassment remained.
Taking advantage of the moment, I leaned in and kissed her forehead before gently guiding her back onto the bed.
As Emi lay down, she looked vulnerable. I joined her on the bed, wrapping my arms around her waist and holding her close as we spent the remaining time of the day together.
Going back to the present, I replied to Emi, "I believe in them, Emi. They will come today."
"I hope so," she said. "I prepared a lot of food for them. But, Inzo, you need to be the one to eat the most."
"Why?"
"Because..." She paused, holding my face gently. "You're mine, and I want to spoil you, just like what you did to me yesterday."
"Oh, yesterday..."
Before I could fully remembered what happened yesterday, Emi suddenly leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. The kiss lingered for a few seconds before she pulled away with a smile.
"It's my revenge for what you did to me yesterday~"
"It was just cuddling."
"Was it~?" Emi asked teasingly.
"Of course it was! I... I would never do more than that with you. You know we're both too young for that!"
"Hmm... But I remember we did more than just cuddle."
"Hell no! We didn't!"
"We did."
"No, no, no! It's just your imagination, Emi!"
"Hmm, I don't think so~" Emi said with a playful grin.
"No, we didn't do thaaaaat!" I shouted, my voice echoing through Emi's house.
And so, our playful banter continued as we waited for Karina, Serena, and Miki to arrive at Emi's home.