Chapter 10

10. A tempo (A tempo, as originally fast)

The entrance ceremony came to a close with Kim Minho and Choi Ji-eun's bold declaration and the principal's long lullaby.

As soon as the principal descended from the podium, the faculty members walked out as if they had been waiting.

They first lined up the students in music, art, and dance, then handed over the lead to other teachers.

And after calling out the majors, they confirmed the numbers, and as expected, the number of piano majors in the music department was the highest.

'That's not necessarily a good thing, though.'

I shook my head with a wry smile.

The art and dance students sat far away, where their faces could hardly be recognized.

Since they were from different departments, there would be no entanglements between them for the next three years.

What remained was the music department.

In the music department, there were sub-majors not only in piano but also in wind instruments, string instruments, percussion, as well as vocal and composition.

When the piano students, who play keyboard instruments, stood up, the music department's seats were almost one-third empty, making it look desolate.

"The keyboard instrument students will move first."

Immediately, over 40 students moved to their respective classes.

I was in Class 1.

In the past, it was definitely Class 5, but seeing such a clear change, it seemed that the class assignments for first-year students were strongly influenced by the entrance exam results.

I saw some familiar faces, but since the class had changed, I didn't see anyone I knew well.

Unable to help it, I hung my bag on the front seat and sat down.

It was more comfortable to sit in the front row with no one I knew rather than sit in the middle and try to read the room.

After all the piano students entered, the sound of footsteps could be heard again.

It seemed they had put considerable effort into mixing students from various majors evenly in each class.

"Ah, Seohyun!"

While enduring the slight boredom, Elina, who looked like a puppy, came up to me.

Elina was definitely not in Class 1 before,

"Are you in Class 1 too?"

"Yes, I'm in Class 1!"

Elina sat next to me naturally, showing the same smile as before.

I heard that although she was not very fluent in Korean, she had good relationships with her classmates...

"I can see why."

Every time she spoke, she smiled widely, so there were probably few people, regardless of age or gender, who disliked her.

At that moment, Choi Ji-eun, who had been reading the declaration on the podium, entered through the front door.

"Hi."

We had made eye contact on the podium, but this was the first time we were formally greeting each other, so I raised my hand and spoke.

Ji-eun answered with her characteristic frown.

"Hi."

While answering diligently, she turned her back and disappeared to the back row, coldly.

Since she always hesitated to say something when she saw me at M Studio, I guessed she was angry with me.

The cause was obviously the sudden interference and pretense on the practical exam day, and the chocolate joke that would make doctors flip.

"Still, I didn't expect her to be sulking for so long."

I didn't think she would maintain such a subtle attitude for the entire two-month break.

Honestly, I didn't expect the pianist Choi Ji-eun to be so childish.

I should buy her some candy next time.

Since we will be working together in group practices, I can't just leave things like this.

I nodded to myself, reaffirming my grand plan.

At this Mi Hyang High School, there are practical exams in addition to the mid-term and final exams taken in regular high schools.

The top two practical exam performers and the top overall student receive full scholarships, and there are only three such students per semester.

So, what should I do?

What can I do? The best way is to be in the same group as an outstanding person.

Although it might seem a bit underhanded to others, I intended to suggest forming a group with Kim Minho and Choi Ji-eun.

We're not particularly close, but we are from the same M Studio.

At least they won't reject me outright.

"Alright, everyone, take your seats."

At that moment, a teacher entered through the front door, which had been closed.

A female teacher appeared, wearing a neat red sweater and black pants.

"Nice to meet you. I'm your homeroom teacher, Moon Hye-sun, and my major is composition."

Ms. Moon Hye-sun, the composition major.

Honestly, since I had no connection with her, I didn't have any particular memories.

"There are several composition majors in our class. You can think of yourselves as part of the team."

Wow, she's a very confident teacher.

The composition majors in the back row sighed, sensing that they would have a hardcore first year.

It's usually not good to have a homeroom teacher from the same major.

Because you have to see the same face even after the afternoon classes and during major classes.

"Phew."

In that sense, I was lucky.

As I quietly sighed, I noticed the teacher, who had suddenly closed her mouth, looking at me silently.

"Are you Seohyun?"

She even called out my name and spoke to me directly.

Naturally, all eyes were on me.

This class has the top and second-place students from the entrance exam, so why me?

Putting aside the question that came to mind, I nodded with a wry feeling.

"Right, good."

She smiled.

The teacher's gaze seemed to find something amusing. As I calmly met her gaze, she raised her head and looked at the whole class.

"Since it's the entrance ceremony today, there won't be a formal class, but if you think you can easily return to the dormitory, then this wouldn't be Mi Hyang High School, would it?"

As expected, it's a tradition during the entrance ceremony.

"Those who finish this temporary test can go to the dormitory. Got it?"

The students from Mi Hyang Middle School or the arts middle school seemed to already know, as they briefly and loudly booed.

"Right, since you like it so much, it gives me more energy."

However, the teacher easily ignored the boos and immediately started distributing blank paper.

"Elina, violin; Kim Song-a, vocal, come to the front."

"Huh?"

Elina, who was sitting next to me, was confused, while the vocal major walked confidently to the front.

She must be from Mi Hyang Middle School.

"You'll be asked to perform the violin."

"Oh, really?"

I quietly informed her, and Elina, who had been confused, straightened up and went to the front.

Sure enough, the teacher gave each of Elina and the vocal major a sheet of music and asked them to perform.

This is a tradition at Mi Hyang High School, and it was also a point emphasized by the director of M Studio.

It's the peer feedback session.

Graduates from the composition major at Mi Hyang High School always leave a graduation piece, which is a famous work arranged according to their interpretation.

These graduation pieces are used to test the skills of new students.

Through this, performers demonstrate how skillfully they can play unfamiliar pieces, and listeners provide appropriate feedback on how the performance sounded.

After explaining, the teacher looked at the students, who were breathing a sigh of relief, and said,

"Don't get too comfortable. Not just these two, but all of you will be asked to perform suddenly like this in the future."

I felt a bit uneasy at the teacher's words.

In my past life, I was one of those who felt relieved because I wasn't chosen.

"There are three top piano majors in our class, and I really wanted to hear them. It's a shame, isn't it?"

"Y-Yes~"

"Still, these two are the top students in violin and vocal, so listen carefully."

"Y-Yes~"

The students answered like parrots.

The students from Mi Hyang Middle School knew about this test but didn't seem to be nervous, as they didn't know it would significantly affect their grades.

"Alright, let's start with Song-a."

While the teacher was giving instructions, the female student, who had barely memorized the sheet music, stood nervously at the front.

"Aaaah-"

Her clear, rounded soprano voice. Seeing her effortlessly produce a clear soprano, it seemed she was indeed the top student in vocal.

The base of the sheet music given by the teacher seemed to be the soprano aria 'Lascia ch'io pianga' from an opera.

I'm not an expert in opera, but I know enough.

This piece, based on 'Lascia ch'io pianga,' is a song expressing Almirena's longing for freedom.

However, the arrangement seemed to have lightened the mood, making the piece sound oddly off.

Based on this knowledge, I wrote down my feedback, filling half of the large sheet of paper before she finished singing.

The atmosphere of the piece,

The intent of the arrangement,

The interpretation of the vocalist.

The melody, which combined these various elements, was not bad, in my final assessment.

"Next, Elina."

Soon, it was Elina's turn.

From the moment her bow touched the strings, I recognized the base of the piece she was playing within 10 seconds.

"Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Winter, First Movement."

A cold, minor key with a particularly striking sharp and eerie atmosphere.

The piece, composed of 32nd notes, describes a trembling person.

The arrangement seemed to make it even more gloomy and heavy, turning the piece, which described the harshness of winter, into a more terrifying work.

For a high school senior to have made such an arrangement...

The piece that made Elina's violin sound seemed to be the work of a highly skilled student.

If not, it would mean Elina's skills exceeded my imagination...

I have accompanied many violinists, and I can tell that Elina is not at that level just by a quick glance.

As I diligently wrote down feedback, the page was soon filled.

I couldn't interrupt her performance, so after some thought, I flipped the paper and continued writing feedback on the back.

"Phew."

I managed to fill half of the back page just as Elina's performance ended.

"Seo, Seohyun?"

Then, Elina, who was standing at the front, called out to me, who was sitting in the front row.

Since other students were also concentrating, I wondered if it was okay to call out like that, but when I raised my head,

I saw the teacher looking at me with wide eyes, and when I turned my head, I saw all the students' eyes on me.

Then I remembered something.

Students only start taking the peer feedback session seriously after the mid-term exams.

"Ah, I overdid it."

In other words, I had drawn unwanted attention on my first day of school.

And that too, in a class where the top students from each major at Mi Hyang High School were gathered.

I tried to act as if nothing was wrong and turn back to the front, but

"You did well, Seohyun! Very well! That's right! Mi Hyang High School's top practical exam students should take music this seriously! That's it!"

The homeroom teacher, who was very excited, started praising me, spitting out saliva.

Oh, teacher, please...

I was so embarrassed that my ears turned bright red.

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