The crowd went wild.
The applause was deafening, a roaring wave of sound that filled every corner of the hall.
Tsumugi's eyes filled with tears, a mix of relief and pure, unadulterated joy.
She stood up, her legs a little shaky, and walked to the front of the stage.
She shook the hosts' hands, her eyes wide with happiness, and accepted her prizes: a beautiful bouquet, a certificate in a red hardcover, and a magnificent gold medal placed around her neck. She stood for a photo, her smile as bright as the medal she wore.
When the photo was over, she turned and ran off the stage, her arms outstretched.
Haruya and his family were already waiting for her, and Tsumugi jumped into his arms, a big, happy cry of triumph.
"Well done, Tsumugi! Congratulations!" Haruya said, his voice filled with a proud, happy joy.
Everyone rushed to congratulate her, hugging her and telling her how proud they were.
Her mom, Minako, was especially emotional, tears streaming down her face as she hugged her daughter.
Hiroko Seto came up to them, a quiet, knowing smile on her face. Tsumugi ran to her, a big, joyful hug, and showed her the medal. "Hiroko-sensei, I did it!" she said, her voice filled with pure happiness.
Hiroko just smiled and hugged her back. "You did, Tsumugi," she said. "I'm very happy for you."
This was definitely a big win for Tsumugi.
Although she had competed in high-level recitals before and won, this was quite different.
Winning the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Piano Summer Competition meant that she would now be able to compete in bigger stages abroad!
It was actually more about the attention that the competition brings than the actual award itself.
The Tokyo Bunka Kaikan is one of Japan's most prestigious concert halls, and the best in Tokyo.
Opened in 1961, it is considered to be one of the biggest hubs for arts and culture in the country.
It is large-scale orchestral concerts, opera, and ballet are held by the best of the best.
Even beyond its performances, the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan itself also served as a center for musical education and development, housing a huge music library and offering a variety of workshops, outreach programs, and popular music competitions for different instruments.
In short, this place is the holy land for musicians and music lovers, both professional and amateur, in Japan!
This was the place where Japan's greatest musicians, like Hiroko Seto, were born and forged by the hammer of rhythm and anvil of symphony.
Haruya sighed.
As expected of his piano prodigy cousin, the Sumeragi pedigree was definitely not wasted by her.
He looked at the audience and the stage as he slowly felt a different emotion blooming within him.
Listening to the cheers earlier seemed to awaken a strange feeling.
A feeling of... competitive spirit!
He looked at the happy Tsumugi.
In the future, definitely, he would also compete on a similar stage and enjoy the cheering of the audience.
He didn't know how long it would take, but the Adaptability ability showing at the corner of his vision was definitely not just for display.
Compared to culinary, it would definitely blossom faster and show its edge in the world of music!
The second coming of Beethoven!
The reincarnation of Mozart!
The next Chopin!
Haruya laughed at his thoughts and shook his head.
Maybe he was getting too ahead of himself, but he definitely had confidence in himself, and more so in his ability.
As they celebrated, familiar people suddenly came up to them.
Haruya and Tsumugi turned around and saw Emi Igawa and an older woman with short dark brown hair walking towards them.
Hiroko saw them, and her smile widened.
"Yuriko," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "You're here."
The older woman, Yuriko Ochiai, smiled at them. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Tsumugi, congratulations on winning. Hiroko, you really have an excellent student."
Tsumugi thanked her.
Hiroko and Yuriko gave each other a small hug, a reunion of two old friends. "Emi was brilliant as well," Hiroko said. "Tsumugi has much to learn from her."
Yuriko nodded, a small, proud smile on her face. She then turned to Haruya's family and introduced them. "These are Tsumugi's relatives, the Sumeragi family."
Yuriko's eyes widened a little, a hint of recognition on her face. "Oh my, I didn't know I was in the presence of such a great family," she said, her voice filled with respect. "It's truly nice to meet you all."
Haruya and his relatives greeted her politely. Yuriko then pulled her student, Emi, to the front and introduced her as well. "This is my student, Emi Igawa."
Emi gave a polite bow and turned to Tsumugi, her serious expression back on her face. "Congratulations once again, Kotobuki-san. But I won't lose next time."
Hiroko smiled at her comment. "Your student is as competitive as ever, Yuriko," she said.
Yuriko laughed.
Tsumugi, not one to back down, nodded and answered back, "I won't lose either." She then turned and grabbed Haruya's arm, pulling him forward. "This is my cousin, Haruya," she said, her voice filled with pride. "He'll also be competing in the future, so watch out for him, too."
Haruya and the others were surprised at her remark, a little stunned by the suddenness of it all. Haruya had only just started playing the piano, and Tsumugi was already throwing him into the world of professional competition.
He just laughed lightly, a little embarrassed, but his heart felt a little warmer at her faith in him.
Yuriko looked at her friend, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Another student of yours?" she asked Hiroko.
Hiroko gazed at the two cousins, a soft, knowing smile on her face. "Potentially," she said. "Tsumugi says he is more talented than she is. But he seems to have only begun recently, so we'll have to see."
Yuriko nodded slowly, a hint of doubt in her eyes.
It was hard to believe that someone who had just begun could compete with a gifted pianist who had been playing for years.
Despite her doubts, Emi seemed to take the remark seriously.
She turned her intense gaze to Haruya, her eyes scanning his face. She reached her hand out. "Emi Igawa."
Haruya was surprised but reached his hand out as well. "Haruya Sumeragi."
Just as he was about to shake her hand, someone suddenly swooped in and shook his hand first. "Takeshi Aiza!"
The third-place winner, the boy with the spiky blonde hair, had appeared out of nowhere. "What do you think you're doing?" Emi demanded, glaring at him.
Takeshi didn't seem to care, just laughed. "Just introducing myself to a potential rival." He then turned to Tsumugi. "Congratulations again, Kotobuki-san!"
Haruya couldn't help but be amused.
It seemed Takeshi's personality was quite different off the stage.
A middle-aged man with a stern expression suddenly came up to the group and dragged Takeshi back. "Takeshi! Don't be rude!" he scolded.
He then turned to the others and bowed apologetically. "I apologize for my student; he's a bit too enthusiastic." He looked at Yuriko and Hiroko and smiled. "Seto-san, Ochiai-san, it's been a while. Congratulations on your student winning first place, Seto-san."
Hiroko and Yuriko recognized him and smiled. "Kosuke Oka, it's really been a while. Thank you."
Kosuke Oka, the piano teacher of Takeshi Aiza, was a fellow excellent pianist in his own right.
Soon, the adults, the piano teachers, and Haruya's family were talking amongst themselves, leaving the four children to their own business.
Haruya and Tsumugi on one side, and Emi and Takeshi on the other.
Haruya smiled and initiated the conversation. "You two are both excellent pianists. I enjoyed listening to your respective playing styles."
The easygoing Takeshi Aiza chuckled. "Of course! I've been practicing really hard! If you really want to catch up with us, you'll have to work hard, Sumeragi-kun!"
Emi Igawa gave a light "Hmph" sound and turned her head to Takeshi. "What's so good about your rowdy playing style? There's no good emotional feeling at all."
"Ignore her, Sumeragi-kun. She's been like this ever since we were younger. It's all because—"
Before Takeshi could finish, Emi covered his mouth with her hand, annoyed. "Ta-ke-shi!!!"
"They seem close," Tsumugi leaned toward Haruya and whispered.
Haruya nodded amusedly as he watched the two rivals bicker, the tension between them like a strange mixture of rivalry and friendship.