The air was thick with anticipation.
Miura stood at the rostrum with the envelope containing the result, while others were intently staring at him.
Looking at the result, Miura revealed a faint smirk.
At that mont, Hiro stood to make way for a friend who had returned from the restroom. Just then, Miura exclaid, "Takahashi Hiro!"
With the announcent, many let out a collective gasp, their eyes widening in disbelief and surprise.
With dilapidated eyes, they turned to look at Hiro.
Upon seeing him stand, they felt even more perplexed.
Did he already know that he'd win?
Was he confident of winning the award?
They couldn't help but think. Seeing him stand while everybody remained seated, they found it extrely difficult to comprehend the situation.
Hiro, himself was dumbfounded.
He had only stood to make way for his friend. But he hadn't expected that he'd get caught in the timing.
The stare of the people around was stifling him. But he couldn't bring himself to react either. Finally, exhaling deeply, he thought, 'Since it has already co to this, let's keep up the act.' Thinking so, he walked to the stage with an indifferent look on his face.
Only when he started moving did the people realize that they were forgetting to congratulate the winner. They had been utterly stunned by the revelation that they had even forgotten to celebrate.
Clap!! Clap!!
Imdiately the hall beca lively again.
Many of them were still finding it hard to believe. Even the reporters had a rather dumbfounded expression on their faces.
While the majority of the people were still in shock, a few of them had already accepted the outco. Those were the people who believed in Hiro.
"Can you believe it, honey?" Hiro's mother with her gaze fixated on Hiro spoke in disbelief.
Turning to look at her husband, she found him on the verge of tearing. However, at the sa ti, he was smiling.
She could tell that he was overwheld by emotion.
"Are you crying, honey?" she said in a rather teasing voice.
Imdiately, Hiro's father began to wipe his tears, "No..., I'm not."
Though he had won the award, Hiro's face betrayed the emotion he felt. With a rather indifferent expression, he got to the stage.
"Congratulations, Young man!"
Miura congratulated him, extending his hand for a formal handshake.
Hiro grabbed his hand and bowed, "Thank you, sir."
Noticing the solemn expression on Hiro's face, Miura couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Is sothing wrong, Hiro?"
"No, sir."
Hiro felt puzzled by the question.
"Then why do you look so unexcited?"
Only then did Hiro realize that he had been maintaining a poker face that made him seem unexcited. Just like many on the scene, he was contemplating the result.
Imdiately, Hiro smiled, "Ah! I was finding it hard to believe that I had won."
Upon hearing him, Miura let out a cheerful laugh, "Hahaha..., Is that so? It seems like you were also surprised by the outco."
Well, despite his vouching for him, even he wasn't aware of the outco.
During the eting, they had rely cast their votes.
Even the judging committee wasn't inford about the outco. Only the higher-ups of the committee were inford.
Apart from them, nobody was inford about the outco.
After exchanging a few words with Miura, Hiro stood before the rostrum, facing the people.
Just monts earlier, he had already given a speech.
But now, he was again required to provide a speech.
Hiro calmly swept his gaze and began in a relaxed manner, "To be honest, I'm equally surprised about the outco. But I won't lie to you all, I did imagine winning the award."
"Even before coming here, I was looking at myself in the mirror and imagining holding this award," while speaking, he turned to look at the award he was holding.
The people didn't find his words overbearing or arrogant. Rather they found his words childlike. It was exactly what a kid would imagine.
They often liked to imagine themselves at the center of attention.
And Hiro who himself was a seventeen-year-old thinking that way wasn't anything strange.
If they were in his place, they'd have probably thought the sa.
Hiro's eyes glistened looking at the award he was holding. The cooling sensation of tal, the texture of the award, everything felt real.
Tightening his grip, he continued, "Even now, everything feels so surreal. Winning the league with the team, representing the national team, or even standing here before you all. It feels like it was only yesterday when I was dreaming about playing for the country."
"But today, I'm here, standing before you all. I can't tell you how grateful I am for the support I have received and words can't even express how grateful I am to receive this prestigious award. I'm truly thankful to everyone who has supported until now."
"This award, I'd like to dedicate to my parents who have supported the whimsical dream of a child, coaches who have trusted , my friends and teammates, who have supported , and everybody who has supported until now."
"I'll keep trying to beco better. Thank you, everyone!"
The speech was rather lengthy filled with gratefulness. Many people upon hearing the speech couldn't help but comnd him while many disdained him for acting overtly courteous.
It was like he was trying to earn public sympathy.
What followed after the speech was a thunderous round of applause.
Among the many who were applauding him, one of them was the contender who had lost by a
margin to Hiro.
While the sound of the applause was getting louder, many people started to stand. Following them even more people stood.
Soon, almost the entire venue was on their toes, applauding him.
Hiro looking at the scene before him couldn't help but feel touched. His eyes glistened with
elation as he saw them giving him a standing ovation.
Even the ones who didn't like him were forced to stand. With everyone standing, they couldn't afford to remain seated.
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