My last chapter of the day. After the next chapter, we will get out of Earth and head off to Symphonia! Please be patient since the action has yet to begin. Please enjoy.

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Arriving in front of the huge amphitheater, Itsuki’s eyes widened at its sheer size.

Itsuki: “Holy cow. This building can easily fit 100,000 people. How am I supposed to find my way here? Oh well, I hope my clothes are alright. I could only afford black pants and a white dress shirt.”

After looking around the lobby of the theater when he walked in, Itsuki noticed a receptionist next to a board that said Conductor’s Test. Hurrying over while taking care to not mess up his clothes, Itsuki exclaimed: “I would like to take the exam!”

The receptionist named Jenny, hearing a loud voice looked up and gasped. How could there be such a good looking man! His silky smooth black hair and his beautiful green eyes created quite a stir in her. There’s even a musical note in his right eye!

As she was trapped in her own thoughts with her mouth still gaping, Itsuki decided to call out to her once again.

“Excuse me, this is where I sign up to take the Conductor’s test correct?”

“Oh! I sincerely apologize. That was highly unprofessional of me. Please give me your name and age. I’ll get you all signed up.”

“My name is Hideyoshi Itsuki, 21 years old.”

“Got it. Please head to the waiting room, second door to your right, and wait for your number to be called. By the way, your number is 9. Good luck, Mr. Itsuki.”

“Thank you very much. See you later Miss Jenny.”

As Itsuki walked away to the waiting room, Jenny heaved a sigh. She couldn’t believe that she was so caught up on his looks that she even stared! How embarrassing….That eye of his is quite mysterious, but I do want to see his performance. We might have a new star on our hands!

In the waiting room

When Itsuki reached the waiting room, there was a man in front of the door holding a packet of sheet music. After confirming that he was indeed a tester, the man handed him the sheet music and let him through. Inside the room, 3 other individuals were fooling around. Itsuki figured that the test must have already started and Testers 1-5 were already performing. At his arrival, the three individuals turned to face him and immediately they grew hostile. One individual, with his sleek blonde hair and obnoxious white outfit, strut forward while the two others walked behind him like followers.

Mr. Obnoxious: “So another pitiful fool who wishes to be a conductor. How can you even dare dream my dream! Take your pitiful appearance elsewhere since I will win this competition, and the world does not need anyone other than the great me.”

Follower 1: “Oh yes, praise Eric the great. Your music will sing in the hearts of everyone today.”

Follower 2: “Soon you’ll be as great as your father, the great conductor Peter Rosseni!”

Stunned at the sudden antagonistic and sycophantic words of this Eric Rosseni and his followers, Itsuki did not say a word. He merely shook himself back to reality, picked a seat, and began to go over the piece for the test. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 1st movement. It was an intriguing piece. I wonder, it seems this part can be jazzed up a bit and so can this….

It was Eric’s turn to be stunned. No one and he means NO ONE ever ignores Eric Rosseni. Not unless they had a death wish. Yet this lamely dressed individual did just that and is now reviewing his piece like nothing happened. How infuriating! He was even lost in his own world. Despite the jeers that Follower 1 and 2 were throwing at him, this commoner remained unfazed. Hehe…hehehe…HAHAHAHAHAHA. Very well. It seems this commoner is practicing very hard to pass this test. Well, who wouldn’t? If you took 1st place, you could immediately pack your bags to head to Europe for concert tours with some of the best conductors in the business. 2nd and 3rd place allowed for learning experiences as well. I guess I should go visit my uncle who so happens to be judging this very competition. With that, Eric Rosseni left with a smile so sinister, the devil would be pleased.

Itsuki only looked up from his sheet music after hearing his number being called.

Itsuki: “Wow, I guess I lost track of time. Those other guys left to their performance already huh?”

He jumped up from his chair, slapped his cheeks to wake up, and took out his golden locket.

“Mom, I’m going to do it. I’ll make you proud.”

Making his way over to the orchestra, he grabbed hold of the conductor’s baton and bowed to the audience to begin. When the starting signal began, he waved his baton, and the performance began. The audience could hardly believe their ears. With every wave of his baton, the tempo and intensity of the piece changed with such harmony and vivacity that it seemed unreal. Even the orchestra players were stunned at how different this young conductor’s cues were to the past 8, yet they were performing the piece as if this was how the piece should have been played all along.

The concertmaster, a young female violinist of Japanese heritage, could hardly take her eyes off the conductor. His cues were so riveting to watch, yet they flowed the way a harmony should. However, his features were also attracting her eyes like magnets to metal, and boy was this young conductor a piece of gold. At this moment, she made the decision to follow him to whatever country and be his concertmaster. (Too bad girl. Not your fault. Guy is going to be BUSY.)

The audience was dragged into the symphony as though they were nobles in the 18th century, dancing and fraternizing at a party. Jenny the receptionist could only stare in awe at how provoking the music was. How stellar was this young man? His every move was filled with poise and charisma unbefitting his age. What a godly talent!

As the piece began to wind down, everyone, orchestra members and audience alike, could feel the disappointment coming from their own hearts that the piece was ending. Likewise, they felt great pride in having witnessed the birth of a new legend in music! There was absolutely no doubt that this young man would take the 1st place in this competition.

Finally, the piece ended, and Itsuki turned to the audience once again and gave a bow. This time, he was inundated with cheers and applause that continued without end until Itsuki left the stage.

Amidst the cheering audience, there were 2 related individuals staring daggers at Itsuki. But slowly, those faces all gave a sinister smile as hands were greased and results were coming.

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Again, any comments will help to make this story even better. Hope these first few chapters are not too boring for you. We're almost out of here! By the way, anyone watch Sound Euphonium? It's a good show that sort of sparked my desire to start writing a novel about a heroic conductor.