《Reaching For the Stars》Chapter 19
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We watched the piano video that Callie recorded the other day in the cafeteria.
"Wow, you even recorded it from before he started playing," Juniper said curiously.
Callie answered, "Reed did say he was about to do something flashy."
The person in question was merely watching the video with interest. After all, it's not every day that you see a beautiful unknown composition being played. Especially in such a peaceful environment like the cafe, the sound was beautiful.
The advanced speakers from the phone played my performance at a volume that we could hear and I've got to say, it's at a good presentable level. No wonder it went viral. It had good playing quality, and good video and audio quality.
Ah, Johann Pachelbel, I'm sorry but I'll be taking the credits in your honor.
In defense for myself, this world wouldn't even know of this song if it weren't for me. As narcissistic as that sounds, there was and probably wouldn't be a Johann Pachelbel nor someone that would replicate a composition like this at the same level of distinction without me.
My fingers meticulously and dexterously caressed the piano keys and the audio coming out was filled with emotion.
[Ding!]
[Host is now trending!
Host has temporarily gained the title: Trending.
Trending: You're spreading through all social media!
+1 temporary charm point.
Temporary Passive: (Heat of the moment!: Plan out better, and decide more accurately on better steps to follow to achieve the goal.)
I hear the notification ending and disappearing from my head and I stare absentmindedly at the floor. This doesn't sound like such a big title yet it's benefits are amazing…
If it adds a charm point, it is a forceful move and it does not look to be limited by an achievement egg or something similar.
If I get a title relating to luck, would my luck be increasing? How do I even get one anyways? Win the lottery?
Winning the lottery would still be very rare for me even though I'm now a lucky person. The chances would have to be extremely coincidental and it involved nothing but guessing a random number. I could gamble and play casino games.
I scratch out the idea immediately. Pretty sure gambling under the age of 21 is not allowed and I don't want to get caught up in trouble before I even reach stardom.
Maybe I could go to an arcade place and play all the luck-based games? I'm sure there has to be a title related to luck.
I'll try going to an arcade place later.
After these quick thoughts, I feel a rejuvenating feeling come from my core.
Feeling this strange energy come inside me, it guides— organizes, my thoughts. The energy travels from my spine and makes a few adjustments in a few corners. My facial expressions which I struggled with at first, completely relax and morphs into my initial completely expressionless I had when I first woke up. This expressionless face which only caused me problems by basically yelling "PISS OFF," now returned albeit with a different and more positive image.
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It was an expressionless face, but it did not create hostility. Instead, it created a king to his subjects type temperament.
The energy adjusts the way I'm using my facial expressions and slightly wiggles my friendly smile into a polite smile.
My disposition changes and now seems more elegant and regal as compared to before. My posture and facial expression change to a more charming image.
I feel as if I can speak much more easily and my tongue is more restrained than before. I no longer feel as if I have to curse every few sentences which feels rather comforting on the mind.
My walking posture isn't as extravagant and now more light and graceful.
Well damn. The effort I put into making myself seem more friendly and approachable was thrown into the trash. I don't want to seem like an arrogant school idol, but it seems that'll now be my image.
I don't need it anymore though, I already have my friends. I stare at my friends and my disposition instantly vanishes and changes into the playful boy I was once again.
That single point that changed the charm into double digits was extremely impactful.
I feel completely changed and I have a feeling of confidence that wasn't present here before.
I wonder what could've happened if instead of adding the points to intelligence, I added it to charm? After all, this point in Charm is merely temporary, and temporary points are not as impactful as permanent points.
I noticed this by comparing the different feelings I got from temporarily getting an intelligence point and then adding a point manually in intelligence.
Though temporary points feel great, since they're temporary the system makes probably half the changes of a permanent one.
Well, I now feel a little more inclined towards adding a point in charm just to have the other effects that come with getting double digits in charm.
Adding points in Intelligence does feel addicting though. I'm not so sure what to choose between the two anymore. Intelligence still does sound like the better option since I'm only going to be needing the charm point by the time I'm showing up in huge exposure type of things.
Streaming, I won't be showing my face at all so the point in charm isn't needed at all.
I'll think about it later…
I wake up from my thoughts to see my friends staring at me weirdly.
Macy raised her eyebrows and waved her hand in front of me, "You there, viral boy?"
I feel my charm point protest in indignance and shush it by convincing it that these are my friends.
I smile, "Yes, what's wrong?"
Arlo stared at me. "You seemed a little weirder for a moment. As if you weren't Charlie anymore."
I fake-laughed. It sounded pretty natural. Great.
"Haha. Whattt?"
While we're in silence for two seconds more, I decide to change the topic.
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"Right, so don't forget to not get anything for lunch and gather at the usual cafeteria table."
They shrugged in response and we hear the bell ring.
We each move to our different classes.
This single first period that I have today I do not share with a single one of my friends.
My charm point that was the energy I felt adjusting my character was now hidden away as a fluffy cloud in my heart.
Moving away from my friends, my temperament changed back into the new confident one, and now looked mighty above the rest.
I walk through the busy hallway with zero bumps as the rest take note of, and move away from me.
I honestly can't tell if this is a good change or not. If I seem too unapproachable to my viewers, what would they think of me? By the time I have fans, if I'm still like this they will all stop supporting me.
I don't look cold, or rude though. I only seem 'above them,' I can probably revert to friendliness if it's with fans, or friends though.
Towering above the rest with free space in front of me in the halls, I walk to the classroom.
…
Lunch Time.
"Charlie, where the hell did you get this? It's so damn good." Reed yelled at me while stuffing his face in the plate of pasta.
"Eat slowly, don't choke on it."
Lizbeth stares at me with stars in her eyes, "You know how to cook too?"
Ah, is she a cooking fanatic? Sharing some ideas with her will probably improve my culinary skill.
"God damn. I thought the surprise was going to be stupid but this is the nicest surprise I've ever received." Owen commented.
Catherine continued, "Same."
My eyes fall on Natsumi as she eats it as well. For some reason, I am keener on paying attention to her reaction than anybody else's.
It must be because I sent her pictures about it before anyone else.
She had delight plastered on her face while she bit on a piece of chicken.
The chicken slightly brushed her mouth and draw a line next to her mouth.
Oh, dear. Is this one of those cringe and cheesy situations where I wipe off the sauce from her cheek and then lick it while grossly saying 'tasty'?
Disgusting. Nope. That's a no from me.
After getting her attention, I wiggle my eyes and tap to where the sauce would be on her mouth. She was still confused.
"Sauce on your mouth." She couldn't hear me.
After she said "What?" for the sixth time in a row, I wipe the sauce away from her mouth. Yes. I used paper and am not going to replicate the stupid situation that was in my head. How are people not embarrassed when thinking about even doing that?
She smiled and thanked me like a goddess descending from the heavens. What the hell? GM? Hello? May I report a problem? It seems she has 999 points in charm? Why is she so damn adorable?
Elle tapped me after finishing her plate with puppy dog eyes, "You've got more?" I laugh at her as she too has sauce all over her mouth and signal to her. Contrary to the oblivious Natsumi, she instantly got the hint and even hit my shoulder in return.
Everyone enjoyed it and thanked me. Some of the ones that loved it even gave me a hug and Reed comically began crying after finishing his last plate. I promised him I'd cook for them again and he calmed down.
…
Exiting the classrooms by myself, I felt a little wind hitting my face.
For some reason, this wind did not at all feel natural and felt more like a slight caress from the world. Similar to when I first put my point in Luck.
I check my stats:
[Luck: 1
Intelligence: 14
Charm: 10 (9 + 1)]
Hmm. Luck is still the same? What was the wind then?
Still walking while in my thoughts, my eyes fall back to the coffee place. The cafe was extremely close to the school which attracted students, but since we were also situated close to the popular area of the city, it also had other people coming in.
I see the cafe has begun crowding a little more than yesterday. There are a few more couples there and people merely looking at the piano interest.
I facepalmed. I completely forgot to ask Callie how many views it had gotten. Judging by how the customer size has changed, I want to believe the video went extremely viral.
But, If that's the case, then the achievement points I should have gotten should have been more.
Although the amount I am getting is huge if it really went as trending as the crowd makes it seem then there should be more achievement points.
So maybe it was just a local hit?
It probably is a medium-sized trending hit and some people just resonated extremely well with the song and just decided to come here in hopes I'd be there again.
That seems more plausible.
Another performance to impress seeking viewers sounds good. I'll probably grind a few achievement points too.
[Ding!]
[Piano!
Description: Perform once again in the coffee cafe.
Reward: ???]
Oooookay. That's the first time the rewards have ever been question marks. In the past, it was either a solid number or stating that it depended on my performance.
Well, time to find out what it is.
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