"Now let"s hear the judges verdicts."Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka spoke up, "The first time you entered, I criticized you heavily and said you didn"t have your own style. This time around however it"s very different, did your mindset change?"
Ah, he still remembers? This wasn"t the first time she entered the Dream Stars tournament, in the past she entered one a long time ago. The very person who while he didn"t go along with the mistreatment and obvious biasness, told her honestly.
"I"m disappointed. It was a textbook performance."
It was just a few words, but a few words from a man as powerful as Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka stung in more ways than one. Even if somebody didn"t bribe the other judges. Yori knew from these words alone that she would not be able to escape her present predicament. So many years have pa.s.sed since then. Yori looked at the expression in his eyes and noticed something, however. Something different in contrast to back then.
Yori took a deep breath before she nodded, "Um, let"s see. I suppose I can say yes my mindset has changed. But this is only thanks to my dear senior and my dear friend. In the past, I used to follow the professor"s dance steps and copy it until it was perfect. It was indeed like you told me. A textbook performance with no feelings and emotions. Like practicing in front of a mirror and not the audience. Unknowingly I set restrictions on myself, thus not being able to get any better. However because of those two giving me the boost I needed. I realized that I can still try new things."
That"s right, Yori can"t restrict herself to one style simply because that"s what she has been used to this entire time. She has to keep challenging herself.
"And you dear friend? Miss Kiku Ari?" Samantha asked.
Yori smiled. Whenever she thought about her friend, a fond smile would appear on her face unconsciously. "That"s right. A short while after we met again, we trained alongside each other. She pointed out the flaws in my dancing," Yori trailed off and laughed, "Though dancing isn"t exactly her best subject."
The crowd laughed at her joke.
"But the two of you are opponents," Eliza said, "Are you not worried about what would happen if the very advice she gave you was a mistake?"
Yori immediately sensed it, a dangerous aura from the red hair judge and made a mental note in her head to check out the situation.
"Yes, but even so I chose to believe in my friend."
"But," Eliza continued, "I wonder if that"s the case. Do you truly mean what you say?"
Yori understood what the woman meant; she"s trying to imply that she"s only pretending. Yori clenched her fist when she hears the crowd whisper. Is it hopeless after all? Once again, will things end up that way? She should have known after what happened earlier. So is this woman part of the enemy frac? If so, then it made sense. There is no way that Linda girl has the ability to cause them this many problems. Yori felt the bead of sweat fall from her face.
The redhead woman seemed amused, and Yori understood that she was doing this deliberately, "There is something about your performance that seems of to me. While I acknowledge that you are a highly talented partic.i.p.ant, I"ve always got a different vibe from you. One second it seems like your a completely different person. Your stages differ far too much that it can"t be a coincidence anymore. I wonder which one is your real self? Is it not rude to continue hiding under a mask, especially under a prestigious compet.i.tion like this?"
A mask? Was she hiding behind one? The events from earlier, the rifle - the scream and the sound of something ending appeared in her mind. For a moment, Yori froze and felt the blood drain from her face.
Before her breathing became heavy, Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka, however, interrupted that moment by pressing a b.u.t.ton. His score appeared on the board, a perfect 1,000. Ah?
"Instead of questioning whether it"s right or whether it isn"t. I think we should all look at her performance properly. The feelings she wanted to convey, didn"t it reach all of us?" Haruka questioned. At that comment, the crowd stopped their whispering, and Haruka continued. "I"ve seen all kinds of performances. But the stage Kogami Yori has shown me is one of the best ones I"ve ever seen. She showed me something different, for the first time she challenged and tackled a new genre - and incorporated her deep emotions. As well as successful convey them. She challenged the strong, despite knowing that it could easily backfire on her. Tell me, amongst the people you know in the idol, in the entertainment industry. How many are like her?"
Karas.h.i.+ma turned to the red hair woman, a look of disgust spread on his face, "A mask? I think you should take a look at yourself first."
Somebody noticed, for the longest time... Lila, she understands now, exactly why you love this person so much. Who wouldn"t fall in love with a guy like this? He"s a kind person, Yori is glad that her friend found somebody like him. Somebody who carefully observes those around him. Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka does not allow other people"s words to cloud his judgment. Instead, he calmly a.n.a.lyzes and gets to know the person first.
"I held back from saying this the first time around. But let me say it now, instead of simply following the tide and going along with the trend. Think for yourself. Did this performance reach me? If it did, there"s no need for you to get swept along."
Yori"s eyes widened at his words; she didn"t expect him to bring this up too.
To her surprise, Samantha suddenly stood up and grabbed the mic.
"It reached me, and I"m sure it reached everybody else too — your deep feelings. When I was younger, I dealt with a similar case, but unlike you, I could not handle it so well. I fell to pressure and fell apart, and that resulted in me retreating in the background. But with you it"s different, with your generation I can see a different light and hope that my time or even the legendary generation have. That"s why," Samantha pressed the b.u.t.ton on her table, "I think my fellow judges should listen to their hearts."
A second 1,000 appeared.
"Let"s take a look at the other score from the judges."
1,000
1,000
1,000
Three other 1,000"s, then that meant — Yori"s gaze fell on the score.
5,000
Ehhhh?!! This ...higher than Lila?
"5,000! All five judges gave a perfect score, Kogami Yori beat Kiku Ari"s 4,500. Now, what"s the verdict with the audience votes?"
Audience votes.
Yori s.h.i.+vered slightly as the memory from the first time she entered the Dream Stars tournament several years ago appeared in her head. She got kicked out during this stage because of the audience. Back then somebody sabotaged her score, but with lack of evidence, there was nothing she can do about it. The judges being bribed were already bad enough. But even the audience? It was indeed the collapse for her.
The seconds felt like forever to her; it didn"t help how they put Lila"s scoreboard right next to hers.
When she hears a ping. 5,500.
Ari
Judges: 4,500
Audience: 5,000
Bonus: 6,000
= 15,500
Yori
Judges : 5,000
audience: 5,500
Bonus: 5,000
= 15,500
Oh! It"s a tie?
"This is hard to believe; this is the first time a tie has happened in the history of the dream stars tournament."
Considering the way they judge things. Usually, a tie would be impossible and yet the impossible happened here. The announcer seemed unsure what to do when Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka stood up.
"Why fuss? If it"s a tie and time has run out already. It"s obvious what we have to do," Karas.h.i.+ma Haruka spoke calmly as he pressed a few b.u.t.tons on his judging panel machine.
Winner: Kiku Ari and Kogami Yori
Two names flashed across the large board alongside the winner message.
To think she won alongside Lila.
Yori looked up at Lila who was on the winner"s platform. The girl"s eyes were bright, and she looked like she was on the verge of tears too. Stupid, her makeup isn"t waterproof. Yori walked across slowly, savoring each step. To think one day people will acknowledge them like this.
"Waahahhh.."
Yori laughed, "Really, your image."
"I don"t care," Lila mumbled and hugged her tighter. "Congratulations."
Geez this girl, she really is far too careless. But after being tossed around for so long, hearing the words "congratulations" the moment she finally got accepted made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.