Chapter 118

20th October, Paris, France.

In the center of the stage in Philharmonie de Paris concert hall, I had calmly been sitting in front of a beautiful grand piano preparing for a rehearsal a day before the concert started.

The concert was held in a different country every time. And this year it will be in Paris, France. Incidentally, it was held in Germany three years ago when I participated.

At any rate, the pianists who will perform in a concert need to prepare a month or even more than that before the concert. But, they made an exception only for me for some reason. And the other participants don't even complain about it.

When I asked why they said because they already know I will perform beautifully regardless of that. Still, they requested me to perform once at the night before the concert. And it's just so they can hear my performance faster than anyone.

Still, it doesn't mean I'm not training at all. Although I doubt it could be called training, I regularly played a song in my house either because of the requests from my girlfriends or accompanying Kaori to train.

At any rate, I looked at the organizer, staff, and some higher-ups that eagerly waiting for me to perform. Because it was right after the sunset when I arrived here, the other participants who still resting before doing another rehearsal have not come yet. But, it was about the time for them to come.

Incidentally, neither the organizer nor I have told Emi and the other participants that I have arrived and will be rehearsing at this time. It's because I want to give her a bit of a surprise. While I was thinking about that, I feel a presence after another entered the building and coming toward here.

There were about 15 pianists invited from around the world with ten of them being recognized as the most talented pianist in the world including me in the first place. And the remaining five were young pianists who have displayed their talents on international stages and winning it.

Although he was quite famous in Japan as one of the most talented young pianists, Kousei has only entered international competition once. Meanwhile, Emi, who choose to pursue her dream in France, has entered it many times and even won some of those.

Thus, Emi was invited as one of five talented young pianists in the world. In fact, Emi's skill as a pianist was above Kousei right now. Honestly, I was happy with how hard-working she was just to realize her dream which is to perform on the same stage as me.

Anyway, one pianist after another arrived and they widened their eyes when they saw me sitting in front of the Grand Piano. But, they soon recovered and immediately sit on empty seats while eagerly waiting for my performance.

Not long after that, someone that I have been waiting for entered the concert hall. Needless to say, she was Emi who walk beside her friend, Liliana. She looks at me in a daze and then displayed a dazzling smile and brought Liliana who also surprised when she saw me.

After looking at her smile, I decided on the pieces that I'm going to play this time. I choose this piece because I wanted them to see the scene of a girl who pursued her dream to stand on the same stage as me. That's why, here I shall show you, the world of a dream. Nacht und Traume by Schubert.

As I pressed the keys after keys, I bring the audience to the world of a dream and show them the scene of a girl who albeit shy did her best to confess her feelings and asked for me to hold the answer until she can stand at the same stage as me.

Then, in the last half of the piece, I showed them the time when we meet again. The sweet date we spent together and the kiss we shared right before I went back home. And the song was finished just like that. Because I want them to see, the conclusion of the dream as the last piece I will perform tomorrow.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap* After a moment of silence, all people who watched my performance applauded with a smile on their face.

"What a beautiful performance as always... I even saw an illusion where I saw a very sweet story that still hasn't finished..." An old man from the federation said with a smile as he applauded.

"I know, right. I want to see the continuation of that dream..." The other man beside him added.

"What a sweet and beautiful performance...truly the work of the number one pianist in the world..." A blonde woman who was also the pianist who participates in this concert said as she applauded.

I ignored the comments from any other people and in my sight, there is only a girl who was smiling happily with a tear of happiness flowing from her eyes as she looked at me. After a while, I stood up and lowered my head for a bit signaling the end of my performance.

After that, literally all people in the hall tried thanking me for accepting to perform at tomorrow's concert. Emi was looking at me in a daze as if she wanted to run and hug me tightly. But as expected she was very shy as usual.

Meanwhile, beside her, Liliana looking at Emi with an envious gaze before she noticed I was looking at her. She lowered her head in a panic then respectfully greet me to hide her embarrassment at the same time.

After politely greeting the people who tanked me, I walk to Emi who still looking at me in a daze. Then, I gently hugged her causing all the people except Liliana to look at me with a shocked expression before they smiled as if they just realized who was the girl I showed them in the world of a dream before.

Emi who just realized that I hug her had widened her eyes before she laid her head on my chest hugged me back as if she forgot her usual shyness. Then, I can feel she was cried a bit. Beside her, Liliana who still looking at us with envy lowered her head before she went away to give us some space.

"I feel like it was yesterday when I confessed my feelings to you, Izumi..." Suddenly, Emi raised her head and reminiscently said.

"I know, right. I also feel like it was yesterday when you shyly kissed my cheek and run." I smirked and said.

"..." Emi shyly lowered her head.

"Pfff, why are you being shy when we're hugging while being watched by people right now." I chuckled and said.

"Uuu...." Emi face blushed to the point of smoke coming out from her face as if she just realized we're being watched by everyone. Despite that, she didn't stop hugging me.

"You're still as shy as ever. But that's fine. Because that's how my Emi who will officially become my girlfriend tomorrow, right?" I said with a smile.

"Pffttt...Hahahaha... It was very weird when you said it like that..." Emi laughingly said.

"Haha, that's true." I laughingly said. Then, we looked at each other in the eyes with a tender smile displayed on our face.

Although there is one thing we wanted to convey to each other. It wasn't the time to say it. Because it has been her dreams to hear those words that we wanted to convey tomorrow when her dreams officially came true. That's why the only thing that we need to say right now is...

"Emi/Izumi... Let's show the audience about the conclusion of a certain dream..." We looked at each other and simultaneously said.

The figure of Emi who did her best just to stand on the same stage as me was just like a star who shines in the sky which was suited with the name of the concert.

Les etoiles dans le ciel, The stars in the sky.