The school rooftop was quiet, save for the hum of traffic far below. Kenji leaned against the railing, his guitar resting across his lap. His golden eyes reflected the sun as he strummed softly, letting the notes float into the open air.
Every sound seemed sharper now. The Vocal Reinforcement the System had granted him wasn't just power, it was clarity. His chords rang cleaner, and when he sang, his voice seemed to fill even the emptiness of the sky.
Still, the pressure gnawed at him. The semifinals weren't just another performance. It was where careers were made or destroyed.
"In the top three, huh…" he muttered, closing his eyes. "And beating Ryo's score? That's like asking me to outrun a bullet."
A faint chime echoed in his mind.
[System Reminder: Quest objectives remain active.]
[Primary Goal: Secure Top 3 in Semifinals.]
[Secondary Goal: Surpass Ryo Tanaka's score.]
Kenji sighed, brushing his thumb against the strings. "Yeah, yeah, I know. No pressure, right?"
The rooftop door creaked open. Haru stumbled out with a bag of chips in hand, his hair messy as always. "So this is where you've been hiding. Thought you'd be buried in rehearsal studios by now."
Kenji smirked. "Needed air. Too many people in those rooms. Everyone's grinding for the semis like their lives depend on it."
Haru plopped down beside him, crunching loudly. "Well, doesn't yours?"
Kenji chuckled softly. "Maybe."
For a moment, the two just sat there, the city sprawling beneath them. Haru's eyes softened. "Kenji… do you ever get scared? Like, what if you mess up out there?"
Kenji's hand froze over the strings. The truth sat heavy in his throat. He thought about the crowd, the judges, the cameras. About Ryo's burning eyes and Jin's effortless perfection.
"…Every time," he admitted. "But then I remember… fear's part of it. If I don't feel it, then it doesn't matter to me. And this..." He glanced at his guitar. "This matters more than anything."
Haru stared at him, then grinned. "That's why you'll win. You don't fake it. People feel that."
Kenji shook his head, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "We'll see."
Two days later, the contestants were summoned to the venue for semifinal preparations.
The main hall looked nothing like before. The stage was massive now, lined with spotlights and cameras, banners hanging overhead with the event's title blazing in gold. Rows of seats stretched endlessly, already filling with murmuring spectators.
The energy was electric.
Kenji felt his heartbeat stumble as he stepped inside. Even with the Confidence Aura pulsing faintly in his chest, the scale of it pressed down like a weight.
"Overwhelming, isn't it?"
The voice came from his left. Jin Arakawa stood there, hands casually in his pockets, his ever-present calm wrapping around him like a second skin.
Kenji nodded slowly. "It's… different."
"Bigger stage, bigger stakes," Jin murmured. His gaze swept the hall before landing back on Kenji. "But don't let it swallow you. Remember what I told you, sing as yourself. Not as anyone else's shadow."
Kenji swallowed, his throat tight. "You really don't see me as just a rival, do you?"
Jin's faint smile deepened. "No. A rival is someone I want to crush. You… you're someone I want to hear."
Before Kenji could respond, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Well, enjoy hearing him while you can."
Ryo Tanaka strode up, his presence slicing the atmosphere clean. His entourage trailed behind like a pack of wolves, their eyes locked on Kenji.
"This is where you fall, Sato," Ryo declared, his smirk curling with confidence. "One lucky round doesn't change the fact that you're not built for this."
Kenji met his glare steadily. "We'll see whose voice carries further."
For a brief moment, the three of them, Kenji, Ryo, Jin, stood in a tense triangle, the air between them charged with unspoken promises.
Then the stage manager's voice boomed. "Contestants! Please assemble backstage. The semifinals begin in one hour!"
Kenji's pulse quickened. The moment he had been waiting for and dreading was here.
The System chimed softly in his mind once more.
[New Condition Activated: Semifinals Begin.]
[Warning: Audience size ×3. Pressure level increased.]
[Skill Effect Amplified: Vocal Reinforcement efficiency doubled during live broadcast.]
Kenji tightened his grip on his guitar strap. His hands still trembled faintly, but inside, a different fire sparked.
He was no longer the boy who sang in empty streets.
He was Kenji Sato.
And tonight, the world would hear him.