Chapter 48

048. Inspiration

The next day.

As the final day of the first round of the main competition was drawing to a close, a peculiar scene was unfolding at the 'Two Sunshines' café, where one journalist was interviewing another.

"So, when did you start your investigation?"

"Strictly speaking... when 'Yooncharter' was released?"

"Yooncharter?!"

The film, which dealt with classical music, had been quite a topic in the industry, so there was no journalist present who hadn't seen 'Yooncharter.' Some had even visited the theater multiple times, like Choi Seong-ryeong.

"Wow, after watching it so many times and being so impressed by the performance, why didn't you think to watch the end credits?"

The sighing journalist was empathetically smiled at by another journalist sitting nearby.

"People weren't curious. You had to write about how well Im Jae's acting was, or how well Director Park Dong-jin's direction was. But Choi Journalist, you stuck to what you were curious about."

Choi Seong-ryeong smiled proudly at her colleagues' gazes. Honestly, she felt elated. The vodka she ordered instead of coffee was going down smoothly.

At that moment, a journalist from another media outlet, who had been sipping beer and looking at his laptop, suddenly exclaimed in amazement and then spoke.

"Did you see the number of internet live stream viewers? Rosconcert just officially announced it, and it's over five million for a first-round competition! If Choi Journalist had released her article a bit earlier, it could have reached ten million!"

"Then, Seo Ho must have had a tough time dealing with the journalists. Of course, there was also the desire to have an exclusive story."

Choi Seong-ryeong answered honestly, smiling faintly as she looked towards the music school.

Her head, turned without much thought, suddenly stopped.

"......"

The windows, shining densely against the late-arriving darkness.

The light from the building where the practice rooms were located.

After looking at it for a moment, Choi Seong-ryeong suddenly asked,

"Will more people watch the second round?"

"Maybe? The average viewership will naturally rise. But why the sudden question?"

"Just wondering."

......Somehow.

The vodka must be quite strong.

"Seeing him work so hard. I hope many people will watch."

The journalists' gazes followed Choi Seong-ryeong's eyes.

And soon, they smiled, understanding her meaning.

A profession that shines the spotlight.

So, they chased fame,

but they didn't ignore the efforts of other musicians.

The Tchaikovsky Conservatory was, even at night, classically beautiful.

#

I arrived at the practice room early in the morning, avoiding the journalists, and unpacked my things.

The piano and violin scores I had reviewed until late at the hotel.

I spread out the thick scores, which had made my bag bulge, and took a deep breath.

Then, a memory from yesterday came to mind.

The interview requests from journalists that poured in as soon as I finished the piano competition.

I hid in the practice room, fleeing from the attention that the organizers had to intervene to control, and sneaked out around evening.

Wearing a cap, I found the small hall and listened to the performances until the last one.

Among them was the performance of Leo Duboche, the French prodigy.

"......My nose tingled."

The performance was impeccable.

His confident gestures reminded me of Mozart or Paganini.

A bold and vibrant tone matched his gestures.

And.

I felt the European atmosphere, which I hadn't felt in a long time.

Of course, not all of Europe is the same. It was more France than Germany, and specifically Paris. Perhaps because it was a city I often visited, it felt very familiar.

If Choi Seong-ryeong were to define it in words, it would be something like:

A performance that evokes memories......

Just thinking about it made my chest flutter.

So, it was natural to want to go there soon.

To the places where Brinner met music, where he roamed in a carriage and a wheelchair.

"Let's wait for a year and a half."

When I turn 18.

Then, my parents will send me on a backpacking trip without worry.

No, not a backpacking trip.

......A music trip.

"Ha ha......"

I grabbed my tumbler to calm my rising excitement.

As I left the practice room, gazes began to wash over me.

The light drizzle of attention turned into a heavy downpour as soon as I entered the lounge.

'I can't get used to it, I can't get used to it.'

The gazes that had been following me since yesterday, and the people who kept asking if I was Han Seo-ho.

Of course, receiving gazes wasn't unfamiliar to me.

For Han Seo-ho, it might be, but Brinner had grown up receiving a lot of attention.

It was filled with contempt and pity, and I had no choice but to endure it.

So, I was used to the gazes themselves......

But this time, it seemed a bit different.

Then.

"Seo-ho!"

The voice calling out my name with a poor pronunciation almost made me drop my tumbler.

I was startled by the sudden call, but I recognized the person before I even saw them.

'The pronunciation is so...... Parisian.'

Sure enough, Leo Duboche, with his golden hair, approached with a confident stride.

I'm not exactly small, but it felt like he could look down on the top of my head.

He stood in front of me and said with a wide smile,

"I've been looking for you everywhere!"

"Is something wrong?"

"Ha ha! Asking if something is wrong to the person who turned the competition upside down. Is that a Korean joke? Still, it's more fun than in Germany."

Why. What. What's wrong with Germany.

I got unnecessarily worked up, but Leo happily continued his story.

"I had so many questions. I couldn't sleep all night thinking about them!"

"......What did you want to ask?"

"Are you planning to participate in all three of the world's top competitions?"

I was taken aback by the sudden question.

And I remembered what Choi Seong-ryeong had said.

The interview content where Leo expressed regret at not being able to participate in the Chopin Piano Competition.

"No. I don't have any specific plans......"

"Why not?"

Leo asked, genuinely curious.

Before I could say anything, he continued,

"You're the only violinist who can win all three of the world's top competitions!"

He seemed quite excited.

It must have been really disappointing for him as a violinist not to be able to participate in the Chopin Competition.

Of course, for me, the Tchaikovsky Competition wasn't over yet, and I hadn't even thought about other competitions......

I laughed, saying it was still a long way off.

And before he could say anything else, I mentioned what I had wanted to say when I met him.

"I saw your performance yesterday. It was really impressive."

"Oh, you saw my performance?"

I nodded, and Leo smiled, asking for more detailed feedback.

I welcomed such conversations, so I smiled back and shared my thoughts.

"I got a lot of inspiration. Especially, it was very traditional compared to previous participants......"

"......?"

Leo's expression became subtle as he listened to me.

His golden hair tilted slightly.

"Previous participants? You're watching other people's performances......?"

"Yes. I try to watch as many as possible when I have time."

He chuckled and asked,

"Are you a participant? Or an audience member?"

"I just do what makes me happy depending on the situation."

"......"

He stared at me blankly for a moment, then let out a sigh.

Then, with a determined look, he asked me,

"Seo-ho's second round performance. The closest one is the piano, right?"

"Yes. It's tomorrow."

I nodded, and he smiled again, saying,

"I love listening to performances, but I haven't been able to go to any for a while because of the competition preparation. I can't remember the last time...... Anyway."

He said with an expectant look,

"But, I have to go watch tomorrow."

#

"Phew, I finally finished in time...... Oh, Jun-seo is here?"

Han Gi-jun said as he entered the lounge after finishing the recording.

Kang Jun-seo was already occupying a sofa and had entered the competition live streaming site.

He got up and bowed, then started setting up again.

"I listened to Seo-ho's performance at home again. The difference is significant when heard through different speakers. Now I understand why everyone talks about good audio, good audio."

"Everyone starts that way. But there's no end to good audio. Ultimately, the best is a live performance."

While saying this, Han Gi-jun took out two cans of beer from the fridge and expressed his hope.

"If you make it to the finals, I definitely want to go and cheer for you. Tsk."

Kang Jun-seo finished setting up and wished him luck, determined to make time somehow.

The image of the concert hall was projected on a screen set up for a simple meeting.

Kang Jun-seo looked at the screen for a while and then said,

"......Just looking at that stage, it makes me feel excited."

"It's a chronic condition for classical music majors. Even I, who have long passed the age limit, still feel that way."

"Even you, sir?"

"Of course. It's a dream stage. I never thought it would remain a dream, never having the chance to perform there."

The international competition, which all classical musicians dream of.

Everyone wants it and rushes towards it, but the stage can only accommodate a few.

In the end, most musicians end up just dreaming.

Han Gi-jun chuckled and offered a can. Kang Jun-seo clinked it.

"It's about to start. Where's Sua......?"

Bulge.

"......She's here."

"Hello. Huh."

Shin Sua entered, panting as if she had run.

Han Gi-jun waved at her, and Kang Jun-seo clicked his tongue.

"Why aren't you here earlier?"

"What? We haven't started yet."

She said curtly, holding her phone. The same scene as on the screen was displayed.

Shin Sua sat down with a bottle of water and drank it in gulps.

Then, she looked at the screen with an excited face.

Just then, the staff started moving busily, as the competition was about to begin.

*

"......?"

Lee Ji-a's sister looked at her sister's back with a strange expression.

Her sister, who always sat in front of the piano, was now sitting in front of the computer, silently waiting for something.

"Is it a performance video?"

"Huh? No, it's live."

As she approached, the concert hall (?) on the screen came into view.

"Is this another competition?"

"Oh, how did you know?"

"Because I'm a pianist, duh~."

She smiled smugly and put her arm around Lee Ji-a, asking,

"But, when does it start? You've been waiting for a while."

"It's about to start."

"Is it a big competition?"

"Very. One of the world's top three competitions. And...... this person is performing."

"This person?"

"When I won the competition. The person who told me they enjoyed my performance."

"Oh, the one you said was handsome?"

"Wh-What. It wasn't me, it was you who said that?"

"So, you don't think he's handsome?"

She interrogated with half-open eyes, and Lee Ji-a, speechless, turned her gaze to the screen.

Her sister giggled, enjoying teasing her, and sat down next to her.

"Are you watching it too?"

"I've been listening to classical music occasionally lately. It's an effort to understand my sister, I guess. Of course, it's mainly for better sleep."

"Ph-."

Lee Ji-a shook her head.

Her sister chuckled and said, almost casually,

"But, if this is such a big competition, he must be really good, right?"

At her words, the performance from the first round naturally came to mind.

Although she had only seen it on a small computer screen, it left a very strong impression.

Both the piano and violin performances.

Lee Ji-a nodded, moistening her dry lips.

"......Yes. Very."

*

─!

Fingers drew a lively arc over the keys.

A natural movement.

Because it was a piece she had prepared for a very long time, she could play it precisely without much thought, and express emotions without any particular immersion.

The completely relaxed fingers emphasized her strength, a light touch.

But.

That's why she didn't know.

Where the next level was.

It wasn't arrogance or self-satisfaction.

If it were, she wouldn't feel so stifled.

Just, a state of stagnation.

She turned her gaze as she concluded the performance.

The phone on the corner of the piano was already close to 1 PM.

"Already this time......"

Kim Se-jin muttered softly and got up from her seat.

She started walking.

To watch the performance of a participant who had changed the landscape of the Tchaikovsky Competition.

'I never thought I would come to listen to another participant's performance in the middle of my practice at a competition......'

She walked down the corridor with a renewed expression.

And she recalled her first impression when she heard the news.

Playing two instruments?

Isn't one enough?

Isn't that overconfidence?

......For a moment, such thoughts had crossed her mind.

But she quickly dismissed her narrow-minded thoughts.

And decided to see for herself.

Kim Se-jin headed to the Great Hall with quick steps.

She planned to slip in and out quietly.

She even brought a cap, like a celebrity.

But.

"......"

The moment she entered the vast concert hall, she was taken aback.

The audience and journalists who always filled the seats were still there.

But the empty seats were filled with, none other than, the participants.

Kim Se-jin thought.

Since the opening gala where all participants gathered,

this was the first time so many participants had gathered in one place.

#

......I am now climbing the stairs.

With each step, the lighting changes, and the murmur doubles.

The interference of the dim lights that momentarily colored my vision disappears, and as my eyes fully adjust, I finally see.

The piano masters I saw a few days ago and the countless audience members beyond them.

Among them, I see familiar faces.

The journalists who interviewed me.

The audience who looked at me curiously.

And the participants whose performances I watched as an audience member.

Their intense gazes make my head spin.

It feels like the blood pumped from my heart is surging to the top of my head.

I calm my racing heart and slowly sit on the piano bench.

The masters, the participants, they were all musicians. And I am about to perform in front of them.

As a fellow musician.

......A tingling resonance.

I placed my hands on the keys and tried to enhance that resonance.

To do so, I imagined.

The people I supported, and the idea that they might be watching me somewhere......

'I really hope that's true.'

At the end of that tingling imagination,

I began my performance.

──!

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