Inside the Grand Auditorium of D High school.

The whole place was extremely lively.

My whole class came together. With the class president’s effort, the class was quite organized as we sit in the third row in front of the stage. This seemed to be the row reserved for our class.

I could hear the busy chatter in the auditorium making it somewhat noisy.

After a few minutes of waiting, I noticed a girl with black hair came out from the backstage towards the podium. She took a deep breath and said into the microphone, "Is everything ready?"

"Lighting is good."

"Stage is okay!"

The girl nodded, "The program is starting. Close the doors!"

Everyone responded as they were ready to go.

"Hello everyone, I’m Claire Romas, the student council president. I thank everyone for coming and supporting this program. And now, without further ado, we'll begin in a minute. So please be patient, thank you!"

After, speaking the girl bowed and left.

The time had already begun counting down. The students inside the auditorium were still chatting, seemingly listless.

However, in my opinion, although I feel bad for the student council president, most of the students were not actually that interested in the program. I bet they just here because they want to kill time or just following the flow.

Three...

Two...

One...

The countdown came to an end!

The Musical Competition officially kicked off!

The competition was started by the principal who gives the opening speech.

Of course, no one cares about it. More like although it was a bit short but precise, speech is speech, you know. Kinda like ‘Oh, okay~’ kind of feeling.

The moment the principal left the stage, a girl came out which seemed to be the host finally announced, "We officially begin the Musical Competition. The first participant is from the freshman. Everyone, please welcome them!"

Pa Pa Pa!

A round of applause echoed!

The students cheered while clapping.

After a while, a boy and a girl appeared. The boy walked straight towards the piano while the girl was holding a violin.

So this is that kind of competition.

Though it seems like, the violin is the main while the piano is the accompaniment.

As I listened to the music, I suddenly thought that it was quite similar to the one I have heard before. Although I’m not that knowledgeable in music but this song…

It’s a bit similar to the famous composer; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart piece, Piano Sonata No. 11.

Though it’s not really similar to Mozart’s Piano Sonata as it was more magnificent than this music but the beginning part and ending is almost so.

I watched the performance with half-closed eyes. As someone from the world with better music than this, this performance was really not my piece of cake.

The first participants finished and applause echoed in the auditorium.

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“Bravo!”

“Pretty good!”

“Amazing!

The students and teachers cheers. However, after seeing them I couldn’t help but think that, if Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and other famous composers appeared here, what would they think?

One after another, participants came and performed.

People seemed to have taken their stimulants as they cheered like they were watching a basketball game.

Even the people beside me was cheering as if pulling their lungs out.

As for me, it was just so-so.

It was like you are used to eating high-class foods when suddenly you have presented a food from a normal restaurant.

What would you feel? I guess it would be like this…? 

As I was enduring to leave and watched until the end, suddenly,

Ding! A so-nostalgic-yet-not-welcomed chime rang out inside my mind.

[ Mission: Help Sarah Cortez in her plight!

Reward: Piano Proficiency (Intermediate)

Penalty: Lose hearing for half a day. ]

Sarah Cortez? This is name is quite familiar…

As I was thinking, the last participant finally came to the stage.

However, unlike the ones before, instead of cheers, confusion and bewilderment surround the entire place. After all, instead of a pair, there’s only one girl who came out. She was holding a violin.

Looking at her, the people started whispering and discussing with each other.

“Ahm, miss Cortez, where is your partner?” The female host asked.

“Unfortunately, my partner couldn’t come today so I will be playing alone.” The girl answered with an amiable but apologetic smile.

“But that is…” The female host hesitated for a word.

Sighing, I stood up.

After seeing her face, I finally remembered. 

Sarah Cortez was my sister’s close friend. Of course, the Layla in this world.

This year, she was a fourth-year student a year younger than my sister actually. I met her a week ago when she visited her.

I never thought that she was also a participant in this competition. Now that I think about it, she did know how to play violin…

The female host didn’t know what to do so she turned around and looked at the judges. Seeing this, Sarah’s expression change and harden. Certainly, her face falling.

At this moment, Lloyd was the first to notice me. “Where are you going?”

His voice attracted unwanted attention and countless gazes were immediately directed at me.

I ignored them and continued walking towards the stage.

Fortunately, our seats were not far away from the stage as I managed to reach it only after walking a few steps.

My appearance caught the people’s attention, but I ignored it as I reach the stair.

Glancing up from the ladder, I caught a glimpse of Sarah looking at me with wide open eyes.

“Daniel!?”

“Yo, Sarah,” I answered eagerly as I saw her regard me with what I took to be a certain surprise and confused.

“Mind inviting me to the party?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Ahm, Mr what are you--”

“I will be her partner for this game.” I cut off the female host.

I brushed past of her and went towards the piano.

“Daniel!” Sarah called out to me. We’re not really close and only greeted each other once.

However, she was my sister’s closest friend.

I already said it before, I’m not a busybody.

I don’t care about other people’s problem but although it was a bit embarrassing to say it myself, I had a tendency to be soft towards people I considered my own.

My family was obviously included, and I also cared deeply for those they cared about, even if I don’t know them or dislike them... personally...

Just like the saying goes, a friend of your friend is your friend; a family of your family is your family… so as long as they treat my family nicely, then I will treat them the same.

With that belief, I think that even without the God’s system, I will still help her.

After all, I do know how to play piano and even with only beginner skill; my level can still be considered slightly above that of normal amateur pianist, at least a bit above the students who had performed today.

“Do you know how to play?” She asked shock.

I smiled faintly. “Are you alright?”

“Hu-Huuuuh?!” Sarah was startled when I stretched my hand out and patted her hair.

I had already noticed it.

Although she seems to be indifferent all this time she was actually enduring it.

When we first met, she was also like this. She was quivering for some reason.

That’s enough for me to know that she was flustered. But she’s a strong girl.

She would never show it to anyone.

“When you stand on stage and feel scared, it’s proof that you’ve tried your best. Everyone gets scared… there’s no such person as someone who doesn't feel like that…” I muttered as I touch the piano and sat down. “Trust me, even professionals know how to freak out when in front of a crowd…”

In the corner of my eyes, I noticed that the female host looked at me, not knowing what to do.

She looked at the judges again but this time, one of the judges nodded.

I ignored the surrounding noise.

“Just do what you want, ignore the people looking at you… this is your stage, this is your play… this is your moment!”

I tap one of the key, then another, then another, creating a beautiful music.

If people from my former world heard this song, they would certainly know this tune.

This is none other than, Rondo "Alla Turca" or popularly known as the "Turkish March".

This is one of Mozart's best-known piano pieces.

And now, it once again showed its magnificent grace into this world.

I know it because my favorite teacher in Music class was a fan of Mozart and always like to play his creations, including this one. Although I’m not good at playing piano before, Mozart’s score sheets are always a part of his examinations. 

So, we don’t have a choice but to study it~

I only played for a minute before stopping.

“Fair enough?”

… …