Everyone Has Talent. If Only We Could Realize It - Volume 1 Chapter 5.5

All-Direction Lost Child Catalog

Although Shibuya seemed to have more to say, she backed down.

She didn’t leave the auditorium but leaned against the wall, keeping her eyes on the stage. Apparently, she intended not to miss Shiika’s performance, wanting to confirm the outcome of the contest.

Oomuta Tomoyo 120 points, Ebina Hamako 130 points, Kurso Reirou 90 points. In total, 340 points. That was Shibuya Erio’s score.

Now, Shiika. Could she surpass this overwhelming result?

Someone’s breath caught audibly. The expectation for superior music stirred in chests unsettled by Shibuya, involuntarily raising the bar for Shiika, who was to sing next.

“Give us more, melt our brains with sound.” The audience’s sticky gazes, now addicted and captive to the pleasure of sound, focused on Shiika.

However──.

“What’s that, amateur?”

“Such sloppy attire. Plus, her bangs are too long; can’t even see her face. Embarrassingly unsightly.”

“After Shibuya Erio, it feels lackluster, doesn’t it?”

Disappointed voices began to rise from the students around, and the negative air spread throughout the auditorium like a chant.

It was natural. Compared to Shibuya, who exuded a unique aura just by standing on the stage, Shiika appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary high school girl who has just woken up, wearing her uniform.

Her oversized uniform and hair that seemed to hint at bedhead.

Just pure Ikebukuro Shiika.

Even if Shiika was a highly-rated V-SINGER online, her physical stage presence was non-existent. She had no experience, nor had she contemplated how to present the “face” of Ikebukuro Shiika on stage.

She couldn’t possibly reach the level of Shibuya Erio.

The judges’ expressions also seemed flat. There wasn’t a trace of the anticipation they had while watching Shibuya in their eyes.

“Now, please start.”

“Um… music, please.”

With that, Shiika lightly waved her hand as a signal.

The music began to flow through the auditorium. Shiika opened her mouth slightly.

And then.

To everyone present──.

Yes, including the judges and even Shibuya Erio──.

She transformed the scenery before their eyes.

＊

“Hey, Rakuto. This song, it’s by some net singer, right?”

Akiha asked, her mouth agape in confusion.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“But, I mean, somehow… I can’t quite put it into words. It’s like…”

“It feels like it was made for Shiika?”

“That! Exactly that! I know it sounds weird, but I can see the picture. Like, if the song is the background, then Shiika is the girl drawn there. Shiika’s vocals are absolutely essential to this song. It fits that well.”

“You’re quite sensitive, aren’t you?”

I said that to brush it off, but Akihabara’s intuition was spot-on.

The song was made for Shiika ── precisely, for V-SINGER “Seeker.”

And not just that.

This original song wasn’t provided by a composer but was a creation of Shiika herself.

Ikebukuro Shiika, the girl who decided not to go to school for a week, didn’t leave her room even once, creating this song in a dim corner of her room. Lyrics, composition, vocals, everything was done by herself, her debut song.

“All Direction Lost Child Catalog”

Shiika sees “colors” in sounds.

And “pictures” in songs.

That means, Shiika herself can create sounds as if drawing pictures.

Then, why doesn’t “Seeker” produce more original songs instead of mainly “Singing Covers”? If she released more of her original songs instead of covers, which are harder to profit from, ── one might wonder.

The answer is simple. For Shiika, composing and writing lyrics is like opening a box of memories and emotions locked deep inside her heart.

Beautiful or ugly, good or evil, without distinction, she has to face them all directly ── a torture of thorns.

With each note, her spirit is drained; with each phrase, she endures agony; and by the time a song is completed, she is burnt out, an empty shell.

Right after finishing ” All Direction Lost Child Catalog,” she was emotionally unstable for about two weeks. Bursting into tears suddenly, suffering without reason, craving unhealthy foods ── she was on the brink of self-destruction. I somehow managed to calm her down and bring her back to normal.

Music, while being the best way for Shiika, who struggles to interact with society, to express herself, is also a deadly poison that could destroy her. That’s why “Seeker”s original songs are few. Sticking mainly to “Singing Covers” is just the right distance for her.

Of course, there are times when Shiika’s enthusiasm to create cannot be contained. During such times, while monitoring Shiika’s health, I can only make music at the perfect timing, threading the needle.

However, in exchange for such troublesome costs.

The songs created by Shiika, literally carving out her life, possess a “magical power” that reaches the realms of the mystic.

“───”

“…”

The judges, the students, everyone was captivated by the world Shiika unfolded.

Even those who initially looked down on Shiika’s unimpressive, lackluster appearance must now see it as just one element composing the art.

Of course, it’s so because the song, created solely from the essence squeezed from the life called Ikebukuro Shiika, represents her.

Just as she is, her mere presence is the “face” fit for this song.

Unlike the forceful power displayed by Shibuya Erio, Shiika’s song lacks such vigor.

However, Shiika’s song, which redraws one’s mental landscape, makes everyone believe the story woven into the song as their own memory.

People are most moved by stories they can overlay with themselves.

No matter how beautiful the music or how splendid the painting, a work not connected to one’s heart by a single thread feels somewhat detached when appreciated. Even classical arts, highly valued for their historical significance, elicit a casual “Wow, that’s beautiful,” from common folks unaware of the context or history of that field. A second later, they’re discussing “So, what’s for lunch?”

That’s why works that resonate with the times are valued by the people of those times.

Therefore, Shiika’s song.

Evokes, emotion.

When I came back to my senses, I realized I was applauding, just like everyone else around me.

The thunderous applause. I wonder what colors filled this auditorium in Shiika’s eyes.

Stepping away from the mic, Shiika gazed at the audience seats for a while.

Her golden eyes widened, and her white cheeks blushed slightly.

The first stage since starting music. A live performance in front of a real audience.

Not an actual public performance, but a stage in front of students and teachers of the same Ryoran High School, and guest judges. But the number of eyes and applause she received was no less than a full-scale live performance.

Even Shiika, who has lived her life trying to see as little as possible, must have felt something piercing her heart.

After standing dazed for a while, Shiika seemed to realize something, uttered “Ah…” softly, and hastily bowed.

Stumbling a bit, she descended from the stage and approached the judges’ table to receive their evaluation cards.

“It was wonderful…! This is a song you wrote, isn’t it? It couldn’t be expressed otherwise. I thought I was living a miserable life, but I feel like I have to keep living… For the first time, music made me feel that way… 150 points. The highest score in this exam truly belongs to you.”

“GAHAHAHA! Hamako-san is too soft! I wanted a bit more stimulation, so I’m giving a lower score. But, I’ll give 95 points!”

I panicked with a “Seriously?”

Oomuta Tomoyo 95 points, Ebina Hamako 150 points. That’s 245 points at this stage. These two together scored higher than Shibuya.

Oomuta’s score was unexpectedly low. He seemed to acknowledge Shiika’s abilities and talents, but probably she resonated less with him than with others. In a sense, this is a compatibility issue or a weakness of Shiika. There’s a limit to how forcefully she can reshape the mental landscape. She can’t draw high praise from types who don’t easily sway with delicate emotions.

On the other hand, types drawn to delicate sensibilities like Ebina tend to rate her highly, so it’s a trade-off.

Now, it’s up to Kurso.

Behind his cool smile, how would he evaluate Shiika’s song?

I watched, holding my breath.

After moistening his throat with a sip from the porcelain cup, Kurso finally spoke.

“I won’t say much. You were meant to sing this song. ──100 points.”

The audience erupted.

Oomuta Tomoyo 95 points, Ebina Hamako 150 points, Kurso Reirou 100 points. In total, 345 points.

Meaning, in the contest against Shibuya Erio with a total of 340 points.

“We did it, Rakuto! Shiika wins!”

“Yeeeeeeeessssss!”

Akihabara and I high-fived with a snap!

Even the slug I forgot to return outside seemed happy, extending its antennae. Not that I know for sure.

“This is going to be all over the news feeds! Rakuto, I can do an interview with the victor Shiika, right!?”

“If it’s a job, it starts at 1 million per case.”

“Expensive! You’re already putting on airs like a big-time streamer!”

“Fuhahahaha. Well, she’s the top of the grade, after all. The birth of Queen Shiika. Bow down, mortals. Wahahah!”

“Why are you the one getting carried away… Didn’t you just tell a story about how being at the top makes you a target…?”

“Shiika won’t get carried away, so it’s safe. I don’t mind drawing all the hate to myself. Bring on the antis and jealousy. If I can make money without working, it doesn’t hurt a bit! Hahahah!”

“This guy… is too much of a scumbag…”

Akihabara’s judgmental gaze and insults didn’t phase me at all. At that moment, I was invincible.