"Still playing so cautiously? Gerald told you last week that you've gotta start diversifying your playstyles, let loose a little."
"Thanks bro, it's just so hard to get rid of my ingrained habits. I guess I'm just too stable man, way too desirable for women looking to settle down, like your sister."
"Bro... do not say that cringey ahh stuff again."
"Ok."
* * *
After watching a few of the games in the chess club, pretty much all I learnt was that the old man somehow made all of the players cowards who spend more time psychologically studying their opponent than actually playing the game.
Then afterwards they'd all analyse their opponent's personality and crap all over it. What's so wrong about playing in a way true to yourself?
"Luna, we're heading home, so say goodbye to at least Gerald."
Gerald... who's he?
Ohhh, he'd have to be the old man, he's the only one Mom even slightly talked to.
I walked up to him with my head facing as high as possible to look down on him, even though he's way taller than me while sitting.
"Old man, next week you'd better bring these 4 heavenly disciples so that I can thrash them and then you. No excuses left when they either don't show up or are too pathetic to be a challenge."
"Hehe, little girl, you have yet to challenge my disciples, so don't count your eggs before they hatch and while I'd just like to beat you over and over again if you seriously want to improve, play more classical (longer) games, you're too used to using intuition instead of calculation when playing."
"...Fine, I'll do that. If I don't see an improvement in my skills by next week, I'll sue you."
The old man deadpanned my face while replying, "Girl... this is more long-term improvement, there's no quick fixes/improvements in chess skill at our level."
"Thank you, Gerald, for indulging my daughter. See you next week." Mom butted in and then dragged me right out the door before I could form my rebuttal.
* * *
For the next few days after my first chess club experience, I ended up playing some classical games at 30 minutes per side, with no increment.
I figure no increment is better, as it still requires time management.
During the opening section, where at times the opponent takes way too long to move, I just do some simple exercises like stretches, jumping jacks and random kicking motions.
Would anyone prefer being a one-trick pony or a mega-brain, super-fit, pretty girl?
Too become famous by being good at everything will be much better than being good at just chess or just soccer.
There have been many influencers who became famous through a video game or sport and were then known as the Fortnite guy or that guy who can kick a ball pretty hard.
I'd rather not lock myself into a specific niche, even if the niche has half the planet. After all, would my status window really think of that as a win?
With the fact that my chess skills haven't been recognized as semi-professional level already, I can tell these quests ain't going to be easy, probably harder from now on.
Heh, imagine if the system didn't recognize... chess as a skill...
"..."
Oh my god, there's a chance it doesn't actually count chess as a skill.
Crap, what did I answer in that goddamn psychological study for the progress question?
It had something to do with fame...
Wait, why would the quest ask me to get good at a skill that wouldn't guarantee a certain level of fame?
Even right now I an avid chess player, don't know who the world-ranked #2 is...
What's the most common thing people are famous for?
Acting, singing, modelling, entertaining, comedy, dancing, etc.
Now that I think about while some people watch my Dad play soccer cause he's good, isn't it more because of his persona of just mocking every opponent when he wins and getting mad when he loses?
What skills can I realistically get to a semi-professional level within a year?
Acting? I mean, if I get put into a TV show and do well, it might count, but that'd require me to first get a role, then be good enough to be recognized. Not to mention it'd be my debut in acting; if I set a bad first impression, there's no redo.
While I definitely will be acting in the future, for right now, it's not very reliable, so I'd rather learn it slowly than force it now and create bad habits.
Singing seems pretty easy, especially with my ability, Angel's Voice. I could do a cover of a popular song into a calm version and get millions if promoted well.
Modelling seems easy, but difficult to get a job for.
Entertaining would be something like streaming or going on a talk show. I could ask Dad to put me on with him on a talk show, but... would Dad accept, would the talk show people accept, would Mom let me?
There's probably a no somewhere in there.
Comedy... maybe another time.
Dancing... I could do it, but it's similar to acting; it'd be my debut image if I'm doing TikTok dances now for a quick win...
Just imagining the shame of being shown these in 10 years is mortifying enough right now. Not to mention Dad, Mom, Felix even Tim will talk about this for years...
Singing it is.
I'll just sing random songs on YouTube for a week or so and if it doesn't complete the quest, I'll get Mom to take me to some singing academy.
* * *
Luna Singing
"Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh
Is it that sweet? I guess so..."
Teresa (Mom), Felix, Seb and Tim were all eavesdropping on Luna's singing from behind the door.
"I didn't know my brat of a little sister could actually sing like an angel?"
"Tim, no matter how annoying she may be, you don't talk about her that way."
"Mom, you can't say that while also saying she is annoying. How is it any different?"
"Good point Felix. Tim, you should try and learn more from your brother."
"...She's really good, though."
""...""
"Did someone say something?" Felix asked.
"Guys, it's me, Seb, your beloved brother (middle sibling), don't forget me again."
"Felix, Tim... I think there might be ghosts here. Be careful, make sure to take some salt with you in your pockets to be safe."
Seb just looked out the window in despair at yet another day of being forgotten as the middle sibling.
"I'm just kidding, come here Sebby, give Mommy a hug."
Seb slowly turned his head back towards Teresa with a (totally) fake hurt expression and eventually hugged Teresa.
If it were to be filmed, many would call it a tear-jerking moment where an abandoned child reunites with her mother, who finally decides to raise her son properly.
"Say you can't sleep, baby, I know
That's that me espresso"
'My daughter is really good though... Maybe she can do that.'
* * *
My singing practice is going well. I've done most of my singing with songs that are suspiciously not about woodworking (Sabrina Carpenter).
I've also played a few classical games and got to 2200 on ChiChess 200 below my blitz rating, which sadly might validate the old man's words about intuition vs calculation.
"Hurry up, Luna, we're gonna be late."
"Coming."
Finally, today is the day I get to go outside and watch Dad's game.
I believe they're playing against the USA in an exhibition match and apparently Dad's got a rivalry with their goalkeeper, I think his name was Dumas, which Dad aptly pronounced as dumbass, which makes it quite high viewing for what would usually be a rather unknown match.
After all, both nations, though well developed in the sports industry, don't really care for soccer.
Apparently, I'll get to walk out with Dad at the start of the game and maybe even be asked one of those 'Do you think your dad will win today?' questions.
Hehe, little do they know how despicable my Dad is. He already told me to say something rather mean to the other team.
But little does Dad know how despicable I can be.
"Muahahahah."
"M-mommy, I'm scared. Is Luna going to take all my snacks again?"
"Don't worry Tim, that's just Luna's evil laugh."
"Uh. Mom, you just made me worry even more."
"Lighten up Tim, let Luna be Luna. After all, we've got Chloe coming. She's even sitting right next to us today."
"True that, Felix, but.... for some reason Chloe really likes Luna."
"Alas, Chloe is just an oddball or maybe Luna is... likable."
Shivers
""There's no way!""
Do these guys think I'm deaf or something?
"Tim, Felix, you know I can hear you guys, right?"
"Yeah, but if you talk to Chloe at all, it's a win. We can just butt in on your conversation."
"Hehe, butt..." Seb laughed.
"Felix is right, but it's less you talking to Chloe and more Chloe talking to you, there's no way we lose out here. You can't even get rid of her in the first place."
What am I to do about these lovestruck brothers of mine...
Oooooo, just you wait, my beloved bros, when I have that microphone in front of the whole stadium... I'm gonna have some fun.
After that, I got in the car's baby seat, which I still need, apparently...