Chapter 1519 - 1025: This Works Too?
Finally, the Kyoto Prefecture competition day had arrived.
Standing at the entrance of the concert hall, with her instrument on her back, Huang’zen Kumiko suddenly seemed absentminded. She stared blankly at the concert hall before her, saying nothing. The sky overhead was an intense shade of blue, making the hall look incomparably beautiful in comparison. Yet at this moment, Huang’zen Kumiko felt unexpectedly calm...
"Kumiko? What’s wrong?"
A familiar voice sounded beside her, and Huang’zen Kumiko turned her head. Standing next to her was Kousaka Rina, gazing at her intently.
"I... feel a bit strange."
"Hmm?"
"I still remember the competition back in middle school. Back then, before stepping on stage, I was so nervous I could barely breathe. But now, it feels entirely different..."
As she spoke, Huang’zen Kumiko turned her head again.
"I understand that this is a crucial competition, one that will determine if we qualify for the national tournament. But I don’t feel nervous at all, as if this performance is just a slightly more serious version of our usual practices. That overwhelming blankness, where you forget even how to play, just doesn’t seem to happen now."
"You’re not the only one who feels that way."
Kousaka Rina spoke as she patted Huang’zen Kumiko on the shoulder.