Everyone Has Talent. If Only We Could Realize It - Volume 1 Chapter 1.2

Episode 1: Admission

“Kanda Io.”

“Seriously, that Kanda Io?”

“No way, I’ve seen her in dramas!”

“Damn, her real aura is too much. I’m starting to sweat weirdly.”

The auditorium suddenly buzzed with activity. As eyes all over were glued to the beauty on stage—Kanda Io, whispers about her erupted simultaneously in various corners.

To the other students, she seemed to be an exceptional presence.

Living a life usually devoid of television, I was unaware she was already a celebrity appearing in the media. Essentially, she was a resident of the world all the students here aspired to. No wonder she seemed in a different league.

When Kanda Io took the stage, she adjusted the microphone, cleared her throat with a cough, and took a deep breath.

“Silence, pigs!! You have no right to speak human language!!”

She unleashed a shocking insult.

…What was that?

The auditorium fell dead silent at her unexpected words.

Even Shika woke up to that voice.

She lifted her head from my shoulder, her eyes wide open as she stared at Kanda Io on stage.

“That voice.”

Shika murmured softly.

“It was really loud, wasn’t it?”

“No, it was a really nice voice.”

“Eh?”

I asked again, confused.

Shika’s eyes, brimming with curiosity like an eager cat, sparkled brightly.

“Despite being loud, the sound didn’t muddle at all. The way she projected her voice into the microphone, the way she voiced it was perfect, making it completely free of discomfort.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, indeed. The sound didn’t crack at all.”

“And, with that approach, everyone in the hall is now listening to her words.”

Shika was right.

No one was chatting anymore. Kanda Io, who had been the center of attention yet only a topic of conversation, had in an instant become the main character leading the dialogue.

And then, her angry expression turned into a smile.

“…I am currently playing a character who makes such radical statements in a certain production.”

She said this in a playful, confident tone.

The voice that had been so commanding was now clear as a mountain stream.

The rest of Kanda Io’s speech was so standard and dull that I didn’t even feel like writing it down. Yet, the new students listened quietly, with serious faces, till the end.

It was surprising how much difference a good hook could make.

“…Each one of you is a lovely bud, carrying both honey and poison. I hope that as many of you as possible will bloom beautifully, and one day be called the generation of a hundred blooming flowers. I wish you all a meaningful time in the classrooms of beloved flowers. Ryoran High School’s third-year top student, Kanda Io.”

Closing with those words, she neatly folded her notes and bowed politely.

Clap Clap Clap…… A torrential applause echoed.

I found myself clapping unwittingly. Probably, the point of being moved is different from others.

Although the content was cliché, the impact of the introduction and the originality of the concluding words were perfect, making it an impressively effortless performance.

Such craftsmanship in making effortlessness unnoticed should be a model for someone like me who wants to live as lazily as possible.

Shika also clapped her small hands slowly, at her own pace, softly patting them. It was hard to tell, but it was her way of clapping.

“That was amazing. That’s the top class of this school.”

“Mm. …I like her voice. It had a color I’ve never seen.”

“Oh? What color?”

“I don’t know. Closest is, purple.”

Rare. It’s almost unheard of for Shika not to be able to articulate a color precisely.

“Lighter than usual purple, transparent, and sparkling.”

“Because Kanda Io has special talent, maybe?”

“I don’t know. Maybe?”

“Well, either way, it is. You might encounter many colors you’ve never seen before.”

“Mm. ‘Paintbox of sounds’, will be full.”

Humming a happy tune, Shika seemed in good spirits. Watching her like this, I thought, even if it was for the sake of living expenses, coming to this school was a good thing already.

***

──I take it back. We shouldn’t have come to this school.

In the first-year Music Department classroom, I propped my cheek on my hand and cast a damp gaze towards my classmates who were frolicking in the front.

Shika and I had taken seats at the back, in the corner. This school adopts what’s called a free address system, with no fixed seats assigned, allowing everyone to sit wherever they like. Lockers provided in the corridor in front of the classroom are designated for storing necessary belongings.

Free address seating in high school is rare. It’s more common in universities in Japan, but it seems this entertainment-related school operates under different norms and values than typical high schools.

This system, however, worked in favor of Shika and me.

It would have been the worst if seats were decided by lottery or solely at the teacher’s discretion, forcing Shika and me to be separated.

In such a shitty environment, it was truly fortunate that Shika wasn’t left alone.

The conversation in front of me had been hellish since a while back.

“Did you hear? Sawamura, from the Fashion Department, is here.”

“No way, she’s super ugly.”

“Right? She has no sense of fashion either. Hilarious.”

“Wishing for a high school debut, I guess. But moving up from the middle school to the high school doesn’t cure ugliness.”

“Right?”

…And so on.

“Sawamura” must be the name of a student they bullied in middle school. It’s amazing how they can continue to gossip so happily.

Thanks to them, I’m in the worst mood. When a concrete example of why I didn’t want to come to school shows up right in front of my eyes, anyone would be discouraged.

“Also, isn’t this year’s level low? The exam group has no aura either.”

“Totally.”

Apparently, even openly dissing fellow classmates in the same room feels awkward, as their voices have gotten quieter.

…But I can hear them, and I see their glances directed here, you know? You’re not hiding it well?

“Well, we’ve given up on being the top this year too.”

“Yeah, seriously. It’s impossible. Erio is the only possibility for the top spot.”

“Obviously, you’re aiming for the top of the year, right? Erio?”

The frivolous girls’ gazes converged on one spot. There, a particularly striking girl stood out.

Her skin was as white as a she-wolf racing through the snow, with neatly arranged facial features. Her long hair was dyed in a beautiful contrast of black and grey, and the large earrings combined with the choker around her neck suited her perfectly.

“Stop it, you’re embarrassing me.”

Erio, the epitome of style, admonished her excited friends with a glare.

“If I compete with high schoolers, it’ll only lower my status.”

“Whoo! You’re the best!”

“Erio is definitely the strongest in high school!”

Declaring herself superior like a queen, Erio’s entourage piled on the praise.

Their voices were loud. Are they speaking so everyone else can hear on purpose? Honestly, not my favorite type of people.

“So, Erio, you’re releasing a song from Queen Smile soon, right?”

The loud conversation continued.

“Debuting from a major label in the first year of high school. Shibuya Erio, you’re too cool.”

“Heh, well. It’s all about talent, you know.”

Proudly asserting her talent, Shibuya Erio seemed like she had her nose stuck up in the air.

“Don’t talk too much about it since it’s not released yet. And make sure you guys buy the CD. Even in the age of streaming, CD sales are still considered, you know.”

“Understood!”

“The composer is Komae-kun, right? The golden duo since middle school hitting the professional world is so exciting!”

“Ah, Noaki.”

Shibuya intentionally repeated the boy’s name mentioned in the conversation.

Raising her voice tone slightly.

“There aren’t many great people in our age group, but Noaki is exceptional. His compositions really highlight my vocals. He’s the best partner.”

“Whoo! A match made in heaven!”

“A genius couple of beautiful men and women, so envious!”

…How long is this conversation going to last?

As I sent a cold gaze towards the excited group, a male student approached the group of girls.