Sing: The Talented Furry

As Prince walked off the stage, a wave of emotions crashed over him—relief, excitement, and just a touch of disbelief. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he had done something right.

The moment he stepped into the waiting room, every head turned his way.

All eyes were on him.

Some contestants were genuinely happy for him. Others looked impressed. And a handful? They just looked jealous. He wasn't sure if it was because of his performance or because Kitty had shamelessly flirted with him on national television.

Prince just smiled. He had spent weeks rehearsing this song, staying up late, perfecting every note. It felt good knowing that effort had paid off. His shoulders relaxed without him even realizing it.

A month ago, he never would have considered auditioning for Rising Star. But ever since the system appeared and helped refine his skills, he'd begun to believe in himself just a little more. And now? He had made it past the first round.

A soft ding sounded in his mind.

[You have received a lot of experience after singing in front of accomplished individuals and impressing them.]

[Your Singing Level has increased from Basic Grade 5 to Basic Grade 6.]

Prince's lips twitched upward.

So, performing in front of an audience really did boost his level. That meant if he kept going, kept putting himself out there, he could keep improving at an exponential rate.

Just as he was processing this, a tall, lanky cat Beastman with a cameraman trailing behind him walked up.

Prince instantly recognized him—Kielben Tinea.

The Rising Star host.

This guy was everywhere—reality shows, award ceremonies, even some acting gigs. It was said he was one of the highest-paid hosts in the industry, and for good reason. He had a way of making contestants feel at ease while keeping the audience engaged.

Kielben grinned. "Prince Jefferson, the dreamboat himself! That was quite a performance. Mind if we steal a few minutes for an interview?"

Prince blinked. "Uh, yeah, sure."

"Great! Follow me."

He led Prince to a small room set up for interviews. Two chairs faced each other under bright stage lights. Kielben took one, gesturing for Prince to sit opposite him.

The cameraman adjusted his angle, then gave Kielben a nod.

"Alright, Prince, you're one of the few contestants moving on to the next round. How are you feeling?"

Prince thought about it for a second before answering. "Honestly? The best I've felt in a long time."

"Were you always this confident you'd pass?"

Prince chuckled. "Well, I feel like if you're going to do something, you might as well go all in. Of course, I was nervous—who wouldn't be? But at the same time, I knew I'd done everything I could to prepare. All I could do was put my best foot forward."

Kielben raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Prince wasn't the typical nervous wreck or overly cocky contestant. He had a quiet confidence, which could be interesting for the audience.

"So, we learned a little about you from the judges," Kielben continued. "You work as a waiter, right?"

"Yeah, it's not my dream job, but it pays the bills," Prince said with a small shrug. "It lets me stay independent while I figure out where I'm going with music."

"That's a grind. So, what made you decide to audition?"

Prince hesitated for a moment before answering. "I've always loved music, but for a long time, I didn't think it was realistic to chase it. But then… I realized if I don't at least try, I'll regret it forever. So, here I am."

Kielben nodded, taking mental notes. Hardworking. Relatable. Dreamer. Definitely qualities that could make him a fan favorite.

Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he leaned forward. "Now, the real question, Prince—what's your reaction to Kitty Purry absolutely flirting at you on the audition?"

Prince groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, man… I have no idea how to respond to that."

Kielben laughed. "She called you a dreamboat, said only hot guys are named Prince, and even asked if you were engaged!."

Prince sighed. "I genuinely thought she was going to reject me at first. She had me sweating."

The cameraman chuckled.

Kielben smirked. "So, are you planning to take her up on the offer? A date with Kitty Purry? That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Prince shook his head, grinning. "I think I should probably focus on, you know, not getting eliminated before I start worrying about my love life."

"Fair enough, fair enough," Kielben laughed.

The interview continued with a few more questions about his background, his musical influences, and his thoughts on the competition. Prince answered them all honestly, not trying to exaggerate his struggles or play up his story for sympathy.

Kielben noted that. Most contestants loved milking their hardships for the audience's attention. But Prince? He didn't seem interested in that game.

When they finally wrapped up, Kielben shook Prince's hand.

"Alright, that's enough footage for now. If you make it through the next two rounds, I'll be back to grill you some more."

Prince laughed. "Just promise me you'll go easy on me next time."

Kielben grinned. "Oh, I never make promises I can't keep."

With that, Kielben left the room.

As the cameraman packed up, he turned to Kielben. "So, what's the plan? How are we playing his story?"

Kielben hummed thoughtfully. "Haven't decided yet."

"He's different from the usual contestants. No sob story, no fake drama."

"I know. It's weird, right?" Kielben smirked. "Most people come in begging us to make them look like a tragic hero. But this guy? He's just real."

The cameraman crossed his arms. "What if he makes it all the way to Star Week?"

Star Week—the point where the competition really got serious. Only sixteen contestants would make it that far.

Kielben exhaled. "If he does… then we'll decide what to do with him then."

With that, he strolled off, ready to dig up more stories from the other contestants.