Chapter 8

20-second composing genius, becoming a monster in 200,000 seconds - Chapter 8

Proof of Skill (1)

I've never met a composer who can't play the piano. Whether it's MIDI composition or classical composition, the piano is the foundation and the very essence of it all.

Some people start with a master keyboard from scratch and manage to write songs, but they eventually have to learn everything.

Even if it's possible to make revisions later, if your skill isn't up to par and you can't control the dynamics or the rhythm gets messed up, you'll end up suffering, won't you?

Piano skills are very important for a composer.

And I knew this importance, so even after becoming an adult, I never stopped playing the piano.

‘I kept practicing.’

It wasn't like practicing like a real pianist. I focused on rhythms that would help with making songs.

Anyway,

it was break time.

And,

"Hey, Kim Do-il. You're in trouble."

I heard a familiar, welcome voice after a long time.

"…It's been a while."

Lee Ho-sik.

A friend I used to stick with all the time in high school.

We didn't see each other often after becoming adults, but we were quite close in high school.

He majored in vocals, but he didn't continue with it.

‘He got a job at his uncle's company, I think. Definitely.’

Just because he went to a specialized high school doesn't mean he would continue in the arts.

Our school is quite high-tier among specialized high schools, but it's not the top.

‘Kids with financial freedom, you know.’

People's minds can change over time. The Ho-sik I knew had completely given up on his dream of being a vocalist after becoming an adult.

"Didn't you see me yesterday?"

"Yeah, about that chicken."

"Ah, damn... Is it that again today?"

"Of course."

I hadn't used his old nickname in a long time. As I chuckled to myself, Ho-sik's expression became even more twisted.

"Hey, now's not the time to joke around. You're in serious trouble."

"Serious trouble?"

"Ha... What did you do yesterday?"

"Do you think I messed up someone else's song?"

"No?"

I jabbed Ho-sik's side with the edge of my hand.

Whether now or ten years from now, jabbing someone in the side always makes their body react like this.

Ho-sik's waist bent like a bow.

"I know you're not the type to do that... but, you know, when a song you heard before keeps lingering in your head."

"Sure."

That would probably be the top excuse for a plagiarism scandal.

I'm not exactly defending plagiarists, but I do think some people are genuinely wronged.

To that extent, 'a song you heard in the past' can be both helpful and the most dangerous thing for a composer.

But,

this time it wasn't the case.

‘These are purely my original compositions.’

No matter how much I'm suspected, that fact will never change. So I was both bewildered and a bit angry.

"Hey, your face...?"

"Yeah?"

"Your expression... seems more... colorful? The wrinkles on your face are three times as deep when you frown."

"...?"

Maybe it's because I came back from hell. Ho-sik shuddered when he saw my face.

I remember the class president had a similar reaction earlier. Is the change that big?

Anyway, I looked around.

Everyone was subtly paying attention to my conversation with Ho-sik.

‘I have to make it clear, I guess.’

I had no intention of hiding the fact that I had 'changed.'

"Don't worry. Everyone will know."

I got up from my seat and moved to the first music room. Soon, it was the second period, and it was time for sight-singing and ear training.

"Alright, it's Wednesday, so everyone knows, right? Go all the way to the back row~"

On Mondays, we only do ear training, and on Wednesdays, we only do sight-singing. I'm not sure about other schools, but our sight-singing and ear training class goes like this.

The teacher prints out the sheet music on cheap paper, distributes it, and we wait a bit before playing the piano in turn.

"Start in 5 minutes. The teacher had nine drinks yesterday, so we'll start with number 9! Start in 5 minutes~"

I don't know what the criteria are, but ironically, I was first.

I stared at the ear training teacher, Kim Hak-sun, who was standing at the podium.

I've already left a strong impression, but if I leave an even stronger one here?

Hitting the same spot again is the most painful, right?

I immediately buried my nose in the cheap paper.

‘Today, it's just the melody part.’

Sight-singing is a class where you read sheet music and play it. However, our ear training teacher only gives the melody once every three times, to foster flexibility among students.

‘It's a good teaching method.’

Following is important, but adding accompaniment to the melody with your own ideas to foster flexibility is also important.

For example, among three classical piano majors, one can't add a decent accompaniment just by looking at the chords. They can't do it at all.

It's because they gave up on flexibility.

"Five minutes are up."

Time flew by as I went over the melody.

I straightened my shoulders and confidently sat down at the upright piano at the front of the music room.

There were expectant gazes, but mostly suspicious and wary ones.

And I, who had spent too much time in hell, immediately recognized who was the most hostile.

"...My head is going to explode, man."

One of the guys who had called me a beggar and never apologized to me directly before high school ended.

"What?"

"Did you hear my song too?"

"Yeah, so?"

"If you're suspicious, why don't you play it first?"

I stood up from my seat and snapped my fingers. It was a very direct and blunt provocation.

* * *

Class president Lee Seon-min was a regular student.

She wore glasses, had medium-length hair, and a skirt that hadn't been shortened by even 1 cm.

But she hadn't completely given up on looking good, with slightly curled hair at the back and a light layer of sunscreen.

She had never received a confession from anyone, and when boys talked to her, her heart would race.

‘Y... I shouldn't have said anything!’

It was the same today.

A rather rowdy boy in the class asked what had happened in the office, and I ended up telling the truth, overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

And this is the result.

"What?"

"Why do you think I submitted someone else's song?"

The atmosphere instantly turned hostile.

Seon-min couldn't control her trembling body. Something was definitely happening.

"Because I know your skills."

"What skills?"

"X-rice... They're not that good."

‘D... Definitely said X-rice...!’

As class president, she was somewhat aware of the class dynamics.

Kim Do-il and the just-mentioned Lee Seong-hyun didn't get along well. Or rather, one side was continuously provoking the other.

After the disciplinary committee, whenever the other side said something annoying, Kim Do-il would just ignore it.

...But today, he confronted it.

He wasn't usually like that...

Or rather, he had never shown that kind of expression before...

‘Even his smile was strange...’

I can't explain it well, but that's how it was.

It was as if he had changed overnight.

Seon-min looked at the ear training teacher with a slightly hopeful expression.

She expected the teacher to mediate, given the hostile atmosphere.

But her hope was shattered.

"...What's going on between you two? Well, instead of a fistfight, why don't you resolve it through music?"

"Then I'll go first."

Lee Seong-hyun stepped forward and started the sight-singing.

The sweet melody of the piano filled the room. Although it was an upright piano, not a grand, the sound varied greatly depending on the player.

It was sufficiently sweet.

‘It's a fight where he has no chance...’

Lee Seong-hyun is a piano major. He probably started playing the piano when he was young, and in sight-singing, he would likely have no rivals except for other piano majors.

Kim Do-il's specific major is 'practical' music 'MIDI' composition, after all.

He had no chance.

Ding!

The sight-singing ended.

Although the sheet music only had the melody, the accompaniment he added on the spot was perfect.

Clap!

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!

For some reason, there was a sense of competition, and a pressure to applaud.

Seon-min clapped too, though it didn't last long.

And,

Kim Do-il, who was originally first in line, placed his hands on the keys.

Ding!

"Huh?"

An involuntary exclamation.

Seon-min quickly covered her mouth and looked around, not wanting to be seen as strange.

But,

no one paid attention to her involuntary exclamation.

The twenty students gathered in the music room were all focused on one person.

Kim Do-il.

Until recently, he was just a decently skilled student who didn't stand out much.

But now, everyone was watching him.

Even Seon-min, who usually only checked if he was in his seat, was watching.

Ding, ding!

Perfectly precise rhythm. Just the right sustain, cutting off the resonance.

‘...Is this a MIDI composition major?!”

Do you know what happens when someone is too surprised?

Their face stiffens. Their expression freezes.

Seon-min realized for the first time that she had never been 'truly' surprised in her life.

The melody she saw on the sheet music, the melody she expected, hit her ears.

But the accompaniment supporting it was different.

Just the right offbeat.

Not honest, but a concentrated burst of skill on the spot.

Or rather, can this even be called 'skill'?

Wouldn't it be better to say he completely rearranged the song?

Seon-min no longer had the will to close her mouth.

She was just drawn into his music.