Performance of a Lifetime

The inside of Chopin Hall was not yet overly crowded, but it was clear that most of the musicians participating in today’s concert had already arrived, along with close friends whom they had invited as their guests.

“Are you two going to be okay on your own?” Nami asked her companions with a caring tone.

“I think we can handle finding our seats, no problem,” Aya chimed in.

The pianist was about to remind the two girls of their plan after the concert, but before she could even start, she felt a soft hand placed gently on her shoulder, as if to avoid startling her.

“There you are! For a second, I thought you got cold feet and ran away to some far-off country, never to be found again.”

It was none other than Atsushi, dressed in a glamorous suit, with a simple white shirt beneath and a dark blue tie that matched the color of his eyes. The suit must have been tailor-made; Nami had never seen anyone whose suit fit them so well. Realizing she might have been staring a bit too long, she quickly spoke up to avoid looking like a creep.

“Ha ha, very funny,” she started sarcastically. “I’m way ahead of schedule, so you definitely didn’t think that.”

“Sure, sure,” he chuckled, then turned around, noticing the two others accompanying tonight’s star. “Oh, my apologies! I’m Atsushi, the famous sponsor of this event.”

“Oh, so you’re the infamous thorn in our Nami’s side! I’m Aya, her best friend and backup soulmate,” she said, pulling her girlfriend closer by the arm. “And this is the love of my life, Erika.”

For a moment, the blond-haired man looked at the two women, dumbfounded. Then he adjusted his glasses and chuckled.

“So, your friends are feisty as well. How nice!” His soft laughter turned into a playful whine. “But calling me a thorn in her side is a bit harsh!” He feigned hurt, placing a hand on his heart.

“I’m sure a big boy like you can handle a soft jab like that,” Aya teased. “Come on, Erika, let’s look around for some free appetizers and champagne before we take our seats,” she said, then turned to Nami. “We’ll catch you after the concert, ‘kay?”

“Sure!” Nami waved as her friends slowly walked away.

“So I’m an infamous thorn in your side, huh?” Atsushi looked down at her with a smug grin.

“Yep, that’s about right,” Nami responded cheekily.

“How cruel!” he whined. “And here I thought we were friends…”

“Now, now, don’t cry. Tears wouldn’t go with your nice suit.”

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Atsushi’s mood brightened instantly. “Good thing I haven’t outshone your look. I wouldn’t want to steal attention from the real star of the show.” Then he added, “Blue suits you.”

“Thank you.”

“I’d love to stand here trading compliments, but we should go reassure your colleagues that you arrived safe and sound. Some of them started freaking out when they arrived and didn’t see you,” he said with a charming smile, extending his arm for Nami to take.

“Why, thank you, good sir. Please, lead the way,” the pianist replied, accepting the gentlemanly gesture as they walked toward the backstage area.

Walking through the elegantly decorated hallways felt like stepping into a fairy tale. It had been a long time since the last major concert at Chopin Hall. Recently, it had been hard to secure sponsorships, with most companies favoring investment in technology over the arts.

That was why tonight was so important. Many potential sponsors were in attendance, here to listen to their orchestra and to Nami’s musical sonata. She had to do her best to convince them that venues like theirs deserved the chance to showcase human artistry rather than simply relying on AI-generated music.

As they entered the backstage area, Nami was immediately surrounded by her coworkers, some wishing her luck and complimenting her, others simply relieved that she’d finally arrived. This continued until Mr. Nakatani good-naturedly pushed everyone aside to reach Nami himself.

“Look at you! The woman of the evening!” he cheered happily. “I hope your gorgeous looks don’t steal the audience’s attention from the true beauty of tonight’s music!” He then turned to look at Atsushi. “And what are you still doing here? Shoo! Shoo! You’ve done your part; now go sit in your VIP section and enjoy the performance!”

“But I—” the blond-haired man tried to protest, to no avail.

“Shoo!” Mr. Nakatani playfully pushed him away, leaving only the Chopin Hall staff behind.

“Now that we’re all here as a team,” the older man began, “I’m so proud of all the hard work you’ve put in these past few months. Don’t stress! Remember, the hardest part is already behind you. You all practiced like crazy, so now just show everyone what true music is about!”

Everyone applauded the director’s speech. He might have been a bit cheesy, but this tradition always lifted their spirits before any performance.

Soon enough, the first group of musicians began preparing to take their places on stage. Nami felt a bit jealous of them going first. Waiting wasn’t her strong suit, but the best was saved for last, so she had to be patient, at least this once.

Watching from backstage, she admired their perfect harmony as they performed popular symphonies. The sight filled her with an even stronger urge to perform.

She also glanced at the audience now and then, who seemed mesmerized. Only Atsushi’s expression was different—he looked pleased with the results so far.

These days, people didn’t often take the time to listen to live music. They preferred to put on earphones and listen to online recordings. At one point, Nami became so absorbed in the melody that a backstage staff member had to remind her that her turn was coming up in a few minutes.

Taking a deep breath, she waited until the lights dimmed, then stepped forward to the center of the stage, where a single piano awaited her, ready for her to share her composition with the world—or at least with tonight’s audience, who had come curious and eager to hear something they hadn’t heard before.

Gathering the material of her dress, she took her seat in front of the instrument. Her fingers brushed delicately over the piano keys, and then the lights illuminated her figure.

It was finally her moment to shine.