Chapter 67

Right now I am at Malpensa Airport, Milan, Italy. The piano competition Emi participated in held in this city. It was in Teatro Dal Verme.

Piano competitions will be typically held for seven days. The first five days were for the elimination rounds while the sixth day is a rest time. Currently, I am in the morning before the fifth-day elimination rounds started.

Initially, I planned to visit Emi in the final round. But I changed it so maybe I can help her with a bit of rest and training before the final because I am certain she will make it to the finals.

After taking my bags and went to the Airport's lobby and look for a taxi. The last elimination rounds start at 10 am. So, I'm going to the five-star hotel Alice reserved for me near the competition hall before going to the hall.

I went inside a taxi and told the driver to take me to the hotel with fluent Italian. Even before becoming a Campione, language actually quite easy to learn for me. But after becoming a Campione, it only takes a day or two for me to learn the whole language as Campione never had a problem with language.

When I arrived at the hotel, I immediately checked in and promptly went to my room. Because it's still some time before the competition started, I watched a video on youtube while waiting.

Suddenly someone texted me. It was Emi. She said, 'The last elimination round will start in an hour, wish me luck, Izumi!' which I replied with 'You can do it! Tell me the result right after.'

40 minutes before the competition started I perceived a big presence coming toward my place. It was the presence of Campione.

'It's that idiot...'

Not long after that that one big presence and another presence were in front of my room. Then someone knocked on the door. It was probably Andrea.

"Yo Izumi! What a coincidence meeting you in Italy!" Doni greeted me after I had opened the door.

"Good morning, Lord Kitahara. I'm sorry to interrupt your time in the morning." Andrea respectfully said.

"*Sigh* What luck to meet you in Milan. Good morning too, Andrea." I sighed and said.

"Hahaha, I know, right. I came here yesterday because I have a matter to do here. Can you imagine when I suddenly sensed a Campione presence and it was actually you! Oh, and what are you doing here in Italy?" Doni laughingly said and wonderingly asked.

"Well, I'm going to watch my future girlfriend's Piano Competition in Teatro Dal Verme," I answered.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Doni said.

"Eh? Don't you have another matter to do?" I looked at Doni weirdly and asked.

"It's already finished. Actually we're on the way to the airport when I sensed your presence. Besides, I have nothing to do except training or if a god came anyway." Doni answered.

"Fine, let's go," I said.

---

Doni, Andrea, and I watched the competitions in the normal guest seat because if I was in the VIP seat, Emi will undoubtedly see me. As I planned to meet her after the results came out, it won't be a surprise if she saw me beforehand.

Besides Emi there is one more contestant caught my eye, it was Liliana Kranjcar. Her appearance was just like Emi described, a beautiful girl with long silver hair tied in a ponytail. Her skills as a Pianist also quite good, but I think Emi was above her.

If it was Emi from before, then Liliana's skills as a pianist were equal to her. But right now, Emi was above her. I'm very happy looking at her progress. Looks like she works very hard to reach her dream to stand at the same stage with me on her own power.

"So, that was your future girlfriend? I'm curious, why future girlfriend?" Doni asked.

"Yes, her name is Emi. Well, it's not like you will remember her. At any rate, it's because she asked me to be her boyfriend when she can stand in the same stage as me. It's quite narcissistic for me to say, but I'm actually called the number one pianist in the world, that's also the reason I wore a health mask." I explained.

"Indeed. Any people who appreciate classical music undoubtedly know about Lord Kitahara. Not even one doubted his title as the number one pianist in the world." Andrea instantly added.

"Hee... Standing in the same stage huh...What a great dream. For once it made me think romance actually a bit interesting." Doni said.

"..." Andrea and I looked at Doni with a shocked expression.

"Oi, who are you? Where is Doni?" I shake his shoulder and asked with a shocked expression.

"This is important information. Looks like a Campione can get sick." Andrea said with a thoughtful expression.

"...How about we have a spar right now?" Doni said menacingly.

"Not that I'm scared but my girlfriend was there waiting for the results to come out. So, nope." I laughingly said.

As I expected, Emi flawlessly made it to the final. Incidentally, Liliana also made it to the final. Doni, Andrea, and I went to the backstage to meet Emi. If it was just me, there would be no way they will let me in. A good thing Andrea and Doni were here, so I don't need to use a backhanded trick to get in.

At the backstage, Emi with her back facing us was talking to Liliana. When Liliana saw us, she widened her eyes and bend one of her legs to greet Doni as a knight. Immediately I cast an illusion so people won't see us in a weird way.

"Welcome, Lord Salvatore." Liliana politely said.

"Liliana-chan?!" Emi said with a startled expression then she rotates her body to see what Liliana just sees.

"Izumi? Is that you?" Emi said with a stunned expression.

"Hehe, I've come, Emi." I opened my health mask and smilingly said.

"Another Campione..." Liliana said with a shocked expression. Clearly she recognized who was I, there is no way the information about Campione didn't spread to other organizations.

"Izumi!" Emi runs to my side with a beaming smile. Looking at that I spread my hand and hug her.

"Did I surprise you?" I asked with a gentle smile while gently caressed her back while hugging.

"Nn! I miss you, Izumi." Emi nodded gently and said.

"Miss you too, Emi." I smilingly said.

Emi stayed in my embrace for some time while talking about casual things. Doni just smirked while looking at me. Andrea, who sensed it was not a good thing to interrupt us just silently waiting until we finished. Meanwhile, Liliana was imagining something with a reddened cheek.

"Please to meet you, Lord Kitahara. I am a knight from Bronze-Black Cross which is affiliated with Italy and Lord Salvatore." Liliana bowed her head and introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you too, Liliana-chan. Emi has talked about you before." I answered.

"Lord Kitahara? Are you a noble or something, Izumi?" Emi curiously asked.

"Something like that, Emi. I am actually a very important person in the world." I gently said.

"Haha, we just do what we want, though." Doni laughingly added.

"Does that make me one of the future queens?" Emi wonderingly said.

"You can say it like that." I smilingly said.

"Excuse me, may I ask something, Lord Kitahara?" Liliana politely asked.

"Go ahead." I nodded and said.

"H-how was my performance... I wanted to know the opinion from the number one pianist in the world." Liliana asked nervously.

"Let's see... You are quite good. But there is something lacking in your performance. You're like someone who has many imaginations but never actually experiences it yourself so it's quite hard for you to put it in your performance. Do you understand?" I explained and asked.

"So it's the matter of feeling, huh... Do you have any advice for me?" Liliana said while thinking about something then asked.

"Maybe try experiencing something that has been in your imagination when you look at me and Emi hug each other," I smirked and said.

"Uuu.." Liliana lowered her head with a reddened cheek.

"Hehehe..." Emi laughed at Liliana as if she understands what kind of imagination she had.

"Or try searching for a switch. Imagine one of your happiest or saddest memory when you perform a song." I added.

"I see... thank you very much, Lord Kitahara." Liliana bowed her head and gratefully said.

"Nn. I believe you will be able to do it, so do your best okay?" I said with a dazzling smile.

"....Y-yes, I-I will do my best!" Liliana said with a reddened cheek and dazed expression.

---

After that, I asked Doni if he would watch the final the day after tomorrow which he said he won't because he had another matter to do.

Doni, Andrea, and Liliana excuse themselves and went away leaving Emi and me. I decided to walk Emi to the hotel she currently resides with her friends and teacher.

"Tomorrow is a rest day, right? How about us go around Milan?" I suggested as we leisurely walk to Emi's hotel.

"I wanted to... But I need to train before the final..." Emi answered with a sad expression.

"Not a problem, that's why I'm here. You can have me as your teacher after that." I confidently said.

"Really!? Yayyy!!" Emi joyfully said.

While chatting like that we arrived at Emi's hotel.

"This kind of late, but how about you sleep with me in my hotel?" I asked with a teasing smile.

"E-eh? My heart is not ready... B-but, this kind of chance was rare... But, I'm not so nervous..." Emi said then she started murmuring in a low voice.

"Haha, what are you thinking about, Emi. We will just sleep normally, you know? What a naughty girl..." I said with a teasing smile.

"Uuu..." Emi lowered her head with a blushed cheek and smoke coming out from her face.

"Haha, sorry sorry. I know very well you won't be able to sleep because of nervousness. That's why this is just a greeting before sleep." I laughingly said then tenderly kissed her lips.

"Good night, Emi." I said with a gentle smile.

"G-good night, Izumi," Emi said in a stutter and run into her hotel with a happy smile and reddened cheek.