Erm okay here's a long review for you:
This sounds both like a classical composition and an anime song at the same. It is the best of both your styles. You have the arpeggios of a classical music, maybe a Mozart or a Beethoven, and yet also the imagery of an anime. A great mix indeed. How this captures a struggle is I think that the music is not always purely happy despite its upbeat sound. It feels like a long journey you must go on, yet one where you carry hope with you. You poured so much emotion into this and I am deeply impressed.
Then there is the mix. I like your use of dynamics, it's great. It gives the song a lot of emotion and power compared to if there wasn't dynamics. I don't really know if the mixing itself was much good. I don't really know how to produce audio in a professional style and I only really make it loud enough so that you don't have to turn your speakers up. But I admire your attentiveness to dynamics. You give each note its own feel, and that's good. Also, it seriously impresses me that you actually performed this. This is not an easy piece to play, but you made it sound like I was actually at a concert and feeling your thoughts. Great work on this!
Lastly, the time signature. Oh boy. Your use of the 13/8 is beyond wonderful! I have written songs in 7/4. 13/8, 17/16, and even 23/16 that people see as so natural that they haven't recognized the time signature I used (this is true), and I sometimes forgot this was in 13/8. This is one of the best uses of that time signature I have heard in a song. Besides it is clearly more than a gimmick. I can tell you really used it for effect. That 3-3-3-4 division gives it that animated feel for the first part, and yet the extra beat makes it drag just a little. Perfect for a struggle where you have to put in that little bit of extra effort.
BTW, I actually have a piece in 13/8 here: https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/1352708, and I would love for you to review it and give it a favorite. I think you'll enjoy it even though it's not as great of a piece as yours.
I am not surprised this was frontpaged. This is amazing! I am also not that surprised it did well in the NGUAC for the same reasons, but if I were judging I would have given this a lot more points. This is a masterpiece.
Sorry for the long review, but there is a lot I had to say. Overall I love this! You are a great pianist and a great artist and I love everything you make! This is an instant favorite and 5-star from me.
Keep. This. Up.
-Tin3Sn.