The applause still echoed in Kenji's ears as he stepped off stage, his guitar strap digging into his shoulder. His chest rose and fell like he'd just sprinted miles, but inside him, something new thrummed: steadiness. For the first time, he felt like he belonged here.
The backstage air buzzed with chatter. Contestants who had barely looked his way before were whispering his name. Some stared with thinly veiled envy, others with curiosity, but it no longer cut him. He had done what he came here to do—leave no doubt that he was more than a fluke.
"Kenji!" Haru barreled toward him, nearly knocking the guitar out of his hands. "Did you hear that crowd? You lit them up! Ryo's face looked like someone kicked his puppy!"
Kenji laughed, breathless. "It wasn't perfect. My hands were trembling the whole time."
"Perfect doesn't matter." Haru slapped his back, grinning ear to ear. "You made them feel it. That's what counts."
Before Kenji could reply, a shadow loomed.
Ryo Tanaka.
His eyes burned, sharp and unblinking, his posture like a coiled blade. His entourage lingered a few steps behind, silent for once.
"You think one performance makes you my equal?" Ryo's voice was low, seething.
Kenji met his glare without flinching. "No. But it proves I'm not beneath you."
For the first time since Kenji had known him, Ryo had no smirk ready. He just stared, lips pressed thin, then brushed past without another word. His silence was heavier than any insult.
Behind him, Jin Arakawa's calm presence slipped into view. He strummed his guitar softly, like background music to a conversation only he could hear. His eyes met Kenji's, and his faint smile carried no mockery, only recognition.
"That was impressive," Jin said simply. "Your voice… it cuts through."
Kenji blinked. Compliments weren't something he expected from rivals. "Thanks. Yours was… perfect."
"Too perfect," Jin replied, almost to himself. He plucked another string, the note fading like smoke. "Sometimes imperfection is what reaches people."
Kenji didn't know how to respond, but before he could, the announcer's voice boomed over the intercom.
"All contestants, please gather in the main hall for preliminary results!"
The air thickened instantly.
The main hall brimmed with tension. Contestants lined up under the bright lights, faces pale, eyes darting toward the judges' table. The audience, still buzzing from the performances, hushed as the head judge—a stern woman in a sleek black suit—stepped forward with a microphone.
"Thank you for your incredible performances today," she began. "The talent displayed has exceeded expectations. However, only ten contestants will move forward to the semifinals."
A ripple of anxiety shot through the line. Kenji's stomach knotted, though the warmth of the Confidence Aura pulsed faintly in his chest, keeping him grounded.
The judge began reading names.
"Contestant 7… Contestant 12…"
Each name called brought cheers, sighs of relief, or crushed silence. Haru stood in the audience, clutching his seat like it was the only thing keeping him upright.
Then—
"Contestant 24… Kenji Sato."
The hall erupted. Students from his school cheered, strangers clapped, and Haru nearly toppled over the railing with his shout.
Kenji exhaled shakily, his knees threatening to give way. He had made it.
Ryo's name was called next, and the reaction was thunderous. His entourage cheered louder than anyone else, their voices echoing like victory horns.
Then came Jin. His announcement carried a wave of approval so smooth and effortless it felt choreographed.
Kenji realized, as the ten names finished, that all three of them—he, Ryo, and Jin—had advanced.
Backstage afterward, emotions clashed like storm fronts. Some contestants wept, some hugged, some cursed under their breath. The tension between the three rivals, however, was different.
Ryo leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his smirk slowly returning. "Enjoy your moment, Kenji. It ends in the semis."
Kenji didn't answer. He didn't need to. The System's glow hummed quietly in his mind.
> [System Update: Round 1 Complete.]
[Status: Advanced to Semifinals.]
[Reward Unlocked: Skill – Vocal Reinforcement.]
[Description: Your voice carries deeper strength, resisting fatigue and enhancing projection.]
Warmth surged through his throat, as if invisible armor wrapped around his voice. Kenji swallowed and felt the difference immediately. His breath no longer trembled. His tone was steady even in silence.
Jin approached then, his smile unreadable. "The semis won't be the same. The audience is larger. The pressure heavier." His gaze softened slightly. "Don't lose yourself chasing us. Sing as Kenji Sato, not as Ryo's rival or Jin's challenger."
Kenji nodded slowly. Jin's words dug deeper than Ryo's barbs ever could.
That night, Kenji returned home drained but alive. He collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling as Haru devoured snacks beside him.
"You did it, man," Haru said between mouthfuls. "You actually did it. Semifinals! Against Ryo and Jin, no less."
Kenji smiled faintly, exhaustion pulling at his muscles. "Yeah. But it's just the start."
He closed his eyes. The System flickered to life again, filling his vision with new prompts.
> [New Quest: Survive the Semifinals.]
[Objective: Place in the top 3.]
[Reward: Unknown Skill Unlock.]
[Secondary Quest: Receive higher judge score than Ryo.]
[Reward: Confidence Aura Upgrade.]
Kenji's chest tightened. Top 3. Against Ryo's razor-sharp control and Jin's flawless artistry, the challenge felt impossible.
But impossible was what he had been chasing since the day he sang Chains.
His hand tightened into a fist.
This wasn't just about proving himself anymore. It was about claiming a place on the stage that no one could take from him.
The city slept restlessly outside his window, neon still buzzing faintly, cars whispering along the streets. Kenji's golden eyes reflected the glow as he whispered to himself:
"I'll rise higher. No matter what."
The System pulsed, as if in answer.
The semifinals awaited.