Chapter 7

007. How about this? (2)

New school, new semester.

And the first classroom I've ever entered.

An awkward atmosphere hung in the air, and the sound of eyes rolling around never ceased.

Then, the children who spotted their friends approached them as if they had found a savior, while those who didn't just exchanged glances.

I was also in the latter group, but unlike others, I didn't try hard and just sat quietly. I focused on the inspiration spreading like ink, listening to the sounds around me.

The subtle sounds seeped into my ears, constantly making me recall something. My fingers itched naturally.

Wait, the staff paper is in my bag...

“Huh?”

While rummaging through the bag hanging on my chair, a strange sound came from the back door. I looked up and met the eyes of a chubby kid who hesitated.

It was Lee Ho-ik, who seemed to have gained more weight.

He glanced around and then approached me hesitantly, asking,

“Are you also in this school?”

“Yeah, and it seems we're in the same class.”

When I asked back as if I didn't know, Lee Ho-ik nodded.

“Seems so. But... are you just going to sit anywhere?”

“Maybe?”

He quietly sat next to me.

He hung his bag and examined the desk for no reason. It was the same as in middle school, so why was he looking at it so intently?

Lee Ho-ik finally reached into the desk drawer and let out a “Ugh!” as he pulled out some trash. While he was going to the trash can, I laughed silently.

When he returned, he rolled his eyes for a moment and then suddenly said to me,

“Oh, the new Spita album cover photo is out. Seonbi really suits this concept.”

“Really?”

When I asked as if I didn't know, he quickly showed me his phone screen. He's only enthusiastic at times like this.

As I nodded along with his excited explanation, the homeroom teacher entered the room. He looked much younger than in my memory, maybe in his late 20s? He used to seem like a real adult.

After a brief introduction, the teacher started calling out names from the attendance list.

There were some names that didn't get a response, but the teacher didn't seem to mind. Unlike the kids who were looking around, I just shrugged it off.

‘...It's understandable.’

The class started in this way.

During breaks, I kept drawing bean sprout heads. But that doesn't mean I was isolating myself and focusing only on music like in middle school. I made friends whenever I had the chance.

Lee Ho-ik and others who were my friends even before the regression.

Among them, Yang Han-gil, who is friendly, showed his overbite and asked,

“What are you guys doing after school?”

“What's the point of asking? Tutoring, of course.”

“You too? Me too. By any chance, English tutoring?”

“Math.”

“Ugh.”

“And science.”

“You have everything planned out, huh? You're definitely going to be a science major. What about Ho-ik?”

“I think I need to be active in the Spita fan club. I've been a bit negligent lately. My post count for this month has dropped out of the top 10.”

“Yeah, you must be busy...”

I smiled and watched him, resting my chin in my hand.

These guys are always so entertaining to be around.

It's been three years since we last sat like this.

Back then, we were all in our 30s, and instead of desks, we had grills, and instead of stationery, we had soju in front of us.

‘It's still amazing.’

If I had been accepting Brinner's emotions all along after remembering my past life, this time it felt different.

Anyway, I am Han Seo-ho now.

-That much is clear.

Of course, Han Seo-ho, who has become passionate about music...

I chuckled and moved my pencil, and Yang Han-gil asked me this time,

“Seo-ho, are you going to tutoring after school? Oh, piano tutoring?”

His gaze fell on the staff paper on my desk. Kids who don't know me probably think I'm preparing for a music competition.

I shook my head at him.

“No.”

“Then what?”

I scribbled "Fine (-Finale)" at the end of the staff paper and answered.

“The studio.”

#

As soon as I arrived at the company, I went into the office and greeted everyone.

Many seats were empty. As I glanced on my way to my room, sure enough, the red light was on in the main recording studio, indicating a recording session was in progress.

‘I wonder...’

I'm curious about what's happening in there. But with the company being so busy, it's hard to ask to watch. It would make me look immature.

If I were a real high school student, I might have acted more casually.

‘I'll have to wait for the next opportunity.’

Sigh. I entered the room with a sense of regret.

The same empty space greeted me.

I opened the piano bench first and took out the stack of staff paper I filled at school.

The staff paper inside was already full.

Actually, they were just rough sketches of inspiration that came to me, not yet music.

If you compare it to a painting, it's like a rough sketch.

But on the other hand, they are also raw materials that can become music at any time.

I chose this method to avoid losing the momentary inspiration by working on them one by one.

‘When I have a good arrangement idea, I'll take them out one by one and work on them.’

For that, I need to understand arrangement. There's a lot to do. I still have a long way to go, and that makes me happy.

Of course, it's not all joyful thoughts.

There was another reason I was glad to be here.

‘I also need to find out why this company is struggling...’

As the topic became heavier, my mind sank.

SoundFilm Studio.

It's still a growing company. It has reached a level where it can compete with famous OST companies.

The company looks quite busy now, which proves this.

But the company is only about a year away from going bankrupt. I was surprised because I didn't know the reason. The company is running so well. To this extent, my father must have borrowed money from somewhere...

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door. My father's face appeared in the small window. When our eyes met, the door opened with a light creak.

“Phew, I'm exhausted.”

“Did the recording end?”

“For now. How was your first day of school?”

“It was okay.”

“Just okay? That's a bit bland.”

It's my second first day of school, so I don't have a strong reaction.

My father chuckled and entered the room, looking around for no reason. There's only a piano in here.

“Is everything going well with what you want to do? Do you need anything else?”

“Of course, why would I need anything?”

“Huh? Hehe, sharp kid.”

My father chuckled and approached me. I finally noticed he was holding something in his hand. It looked like sheet music...

“Suddenly, one of the pianists for tomorrow's recording session dropped out. I need to find a new one, and I thought you might be interested.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah. If we delay a bit, it should work out.”

My father held out the sheet music and puffed out his chest.

Honestly, it was a welcome suggestion.

Playing a new piece is always enjoyable. It often brings up inspiration and arrangement ideas.

Plus, I can see how professionals work in the recording studio. I've watched a few times, but what I really wanted to see was the real scene.

“What do you think, are you up for it?”

I took the sheet music and answered.

“Sure, it sounds fun.”

#

The next day.

Young men and women entered SoundFilm Studio.

Judging from the various instrument cases on their shoulders, they were the musicians gathered for today's recording session.

The first to enter was the violinist Kang Jun-seo, who greeted Manager Kim Yun-ju with a wide smile.

“It's been a while, sis.”

“Yeah, it really has. It's been too long since I've seen all of you. You're all doing so well~.”

“Come on, sis. I was lying on the couch yesterday? Su-a is busy, Su-a is.”

Kang Jun-seo's whisper made Manager Kim Yun-ju's gaze naturally turn to the back. A bewildered expression was visible at the very back.

It was Shin Su-a, with her hair neatly tied in a ponytail. Her pale face and proud eyes were charming, even to another woman.

‘She's a bit cold, so it's hard to get close to her, though.’

Manager Kim Yun-ju smiled warmly after her brief thoughts.

“Su-a, you've always been busy, not just recently.”

“I'm not that busy.”

“No, you are. I heard you're getting love calls not just for OSTs but also for pop music.”

Kang Jun-seo added,

“Composers only ask for her for violin sessions. They say using Shin Su-a sets the tone from the start. That's why they don't call me...”

He suddenly looked downcast and muttered.

Manager Kim Yun-ju laughed and started walking. The musicians followed.

“Oh, by the way, Seung-jae said he can't come suddenly. What are we going to do about the piano?”

“I found someone in a hurry yesterday.”

“Someone we know?”

Manager Kim Yun-ju tilted her head.

“Probably not. The CEO's son is going to play.”

“Eh? CEO Han? CEO Kim?”

“CEO Han. His name is Han Seo-ho. He's still a high school student, but he's really good at piano. I heard he received gifted education at the Arts Center.”

Kang Jun-seo turned his head to Shin Su-a.

“Oh, you went there too?”

“Really?”

Shin Su-a slowly nodded.

“Until I entered college.”

“You're his senior, then~.”

Shin Su-a, who had shown no interest until then, suddenly asked,

“Who did you learn from?”

Violin and piano.

Different instruments, but within the realm of classical music, they were all connected in some way.

There were only a few piano professors, and knowing who they were could reveal a lot.

From their style to their skill level.

But Manager Kim Yun-ju's answer was disappointing.

“I'm not sure. I don't know much about that. But I heard he quit recently.”

“Ah...”

Shin Su-a slowly nodded and closed her mouth.

The interest that had briefly sparked died out.

If he quit in the middle, it wasn't about who he learned from.

It meant he didn't have the talent.

#

“Are you Seo-ho?”

A man who had been chatting with my father outside the recording booth entered and asked.

I glanced at the instrument case he carried.

‘Violin.’

I stood up and bowed. To the musicians who followed.

“Nice to meet you!”

“Let's do our best.”

Violin, viola, cello...

And.

“Hi.”

Another violin.

One viola, two violins, one cello.

And piano.

A typical piano quintet setup.

“Hi.”

...My bow, which had been busy, stopped when I saw the cold-looking female violinist.

The male violinist, as if waiting for this moment, pointed at her and smiled.

“Oh, this is your senior. She's a famous violinist in the industry. Do you know Shin Su-a?”

“How would she know me? And why are you always promoting me?”

“I don't know. It's just that you're a high school classmate and I'm proud of you or something?”

“What?”

Seeing them bickering, I chimed in.

“Senior?”

“You went to the Arts Center, right?”

“Oh, right.”

“She did too.”

I opened my mouth in surprise and looked at her.

She glanced at me, still with a blank expression.

“Say hello to your junior.”

“I said hi.”

“You didn't say it was nice to meet you.”

“Will you stop it?”

Fight, fight.

It didn't seem like they were going to stop. Since they seemed to have forgotten about me, I quietly sat down.

Eventually, the musicians also took their seats and began preparing calmly.

Even the playful male violinist checked his bow with a serious look.

Shin Su-a, the violinist, was no exception.

‘It's been a while since I've seen that look.’

Her eyes, which were only hard when looking at me, became warm and passionate when they fell on the violin. Her love for the instrument was evident.

There were many musicians like her. Wolfgang even named his piano and treated it like a lover. He was a bit extreme, though.

Swoosh.

Did I stare too much? Shin Su-a turned to look at me. I quickly averted my gaze, thinking she might say, “What are you looking at?”

I, I got scared, okay?

I chuckled and looked down at the keys.

“...”

Honestly, I can't bring myself to name things.

But I can do this much.

‘Please do your best with the recording.’

As I murmured quietly,

My father's voice echoed in the recording booth.

-Is everyone ready? How about inside?

I saw the four string players nod and I nodded at my father through the glass.

The moment I saw the subtle anticipation in my father's smiling face,

My first recording session began.