A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 43

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 43. Blue Night (1)

 

Two days had passed since I saw Mother’s performance.

 

My composing continued even at kindergarten.

 

What is needed for composition?

 

Melody? Rhythm? Harmony?

 

All of them are correct.

 

But personally, there’s one thing I consider more important than these.

 

It was the ‘theme.’

 

“Night, it’s night. But what kind of night should I make it?”

 

This time it was the same problem as before.

 

Night.

 

A night embracing the city.

 

Even just this brought up far too many images.

 

‘When I saw Mother’s performance, I thought of scenes from the past.’

 

I remembered very clearly.

 

I could see the figure of a person lighting gas lamps and the vagrants in alleys where the city’s light didn’t reach.

 

But once I left that stage, it shattered like glass.

 

Some memories were clear, while others were blurry.

 

I was now piecing together those glass fragments one by one.

 

Because that was the ‘theme’ of this song.

 

‘Hmm… But no matter how much I think about it, this isn’t right. The feeling doesn’t come alive.’

 

The problem was that the more I composed, the more the scenery became distorted somewhere.

 

For example, I tried to express the red, warm night of gas lamps.

 

But when I did that, the night disappeared.

 

There was only ‘light.’

 

So this time I tried to compose while recalling the scenery I saw from outside the window.

 

But it was so dark that I couldn’t see anything.

 

It was polar opposites.

 

Like water and oil, there was no sign they would ever mix.

 

“Heeseong is being weird…”

 

“Yeah, Heeseong was always weird.”

 

Aeyeon nodded and said from beside me.

 

I took a moment to catch my breath and looked at the child.

 

Then I saw all the other children looking at me in unison.

 

“What are you doing this time?”

 

Bom asked.

 

The child had her hair in twin braids as usual.

 

“Thinking.”

 

“What about?”

 

“Night.”

 

“What night?”

 

“Chestnuts you eat? I want some!”

 

“Yeah… Chestnuts are sweet and good. Hehe…”

 

As soon as the children heard my words, they each fell into their own different worlds.

 

Probably in their heads, characters with faces and limbs attached to chestnuts had already been created.

 

And they would be eating chestnuts very deliciously.

 

Suddenly I want to eat chestnuts too.

 

“No. Heeseong was composing.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Is Heeseong composing again?”

 

At Aeyeon’s words, the remaining children’s eyes sparkled as if they had discovered something interesting.

 

If I gathered all that sparkling, it would probably be brighter than a small light bulb.

 

‘Hmm, should I ask the kids?’

 

This time it was a simple question.

 

Come to think of it, the question I asked the children last time was difficult.

 

Approached differently, it could have been a philosophical question.

 

“Do you guys take walks at night?”

 

“Yeah. Quite often.”

 

“I… sometimes.”

 

“I don’t.”

 

“I do it every day! It’s fun playing at the playground!”

 

Aeyeon, Ajin, Bom, and Garam answered in order.

 

As expected, since they all had different personalities, their answers were different too.

 

Having different answers like this made it easier to get inspiration.

 

Good things always came to mind when I combined their responses.

 

‘And I know the night scenery of the past well.’

 

But I wasn’t familiar with modern night scenery.

 

So the words of children who had walked in the night could be helpful to me.

 

“Kids, what do you see when you take walks?”

 

At my question, the children who had been chattering became quiet.

 

“Hmm…”

 

They all began thinking in their own different postures.

 

Aeyeon started spacing out, and Ajin fidgeted with her hands.

 

Bom pondered while resting her chin on her hand, and Garam brought his extended index finger to the top of his head.

 

Looking at this was quite amusing.

 

Each of their actions was so funny that I couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

“I’m not really sure.”

 

“Me too, I only know it’s cool.”

 

“Yeah yeah…! It’s cool…”

 

The children continued speaking like that.

 

However, Bom was still lost in thought.

 

Is thinking for a long time a habit of hers?

 

Was she like this before too?

 

“But why are you asking?”

 

“Because I need it for composing.”

 

“Then, just go take a walk yourself.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Bom’s answer was unexpected.

 

It was a clear answer.

 

The reason I know the night scenery of the past is also because I experienced it directly.

 

What if I directly experience modern night scenery?

 

I could get my pure impressions without asking the children.

 

I had forgotten something this simple.

 

I had made such a big mistake.

 

“Then, let’s do it together with me.”

 

Aeyeon looked at me and said.

 

A face that seemed to express being prim was facing me.

 

“At night? Wouldn’t that be a bit dangerous…”

 

“It’s okay if I go with Mother.”

 

“Ah, Aeyeon? Should we talk with your shoulders relaxed…? Aeyeon?”

 

“Let’s take a walk together and play piano. I know where there’s a piano.”

 

“Hey guys!! Get Aeyeon off me!!”

 

This was bad.

 

Aeyeon’s eyes had gone wild.

 

…My shoulder hurt a little too.

 

Yeah, quite a bit actually.

 

***

 

“Ow ow ow.”

 

“Hee-seong, does your shoulder hurt?”

 

“N-no, it doesn’t!”

 

“Tell me if it hurts. You can skip kindergarten tomorrow.”

 

Father spoke gently to me while driving.

 

Father looks cool when he’s working, but he also looks cool driving like this.

 

Is the reason I’m handsome because I take after Father?

 

‘Ugh, enough nonsense. More importantly, why did he suddenly suggest eating out tonight?’

 

As soon as we arrived at kindergarten, Father said:

 

‘Son, let’s eat out!’

 

With just those words, I got in the car without knowing why.

 

Well, I ride in the car all the time, but today was completely different.

 

“Hee-seong’s car is nice.”

 

Aeyeon, who was sitting next to me, said.

 

I found this whole situation strange.

 

‘Why are you even here!’

 

I looked at Aeyeon with a bewildered expression.

 

This was something that would never normally happen.

 

Come to think of it, it wasn’t something that could never happen.

 

Yeah, sometimes friends could ride along.

 

But why today!

 

Why!

 

‘I was planning to study city pop today!’

 

I had made a promise with Father.

 

He said he’d teach me about city pop today.

 

The day we saw Mother’s performance, we got home late eating chicken.

 

The next day, Father was busy with work.

 

Knowing that, I didn’t say much.

 

‘I was going to ask today but… can’t help it. Let’s just enjoy this situation.’

 

Come to think of it, why is Aeyeon riding with us?

 

I hadn’t actually asked that.

 

“Father, why is Aeyeon here?”

 

“Oh, I didn’t mention it. We’re eating with Aeyeon’s family today.”

 

“What?”

 

“Mom and Aeyeon’s mother became friends. I don’t know when they got so close either.”

 

I had some idea.

 

Last time at the pancake place, I overheard Mother talking with Aeyeon’s mother, Lee Ye-eun.

 

They seemed to connect somehow, and even exchanged phone numbers on the way home.

 

They’d probably been close since then.

 

“The moms probably wanted to surprise you two.”

 

“We were definitely surprised.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Aeyeon agreed with what I said.

 

Was there really a need for this kind of surprise event?

 

I couldn’t understand the mothers’ intentions at all.

 

Did they just want to play a prank?

 

‘…That might be possible if it’s Mother?’

 

It was possible for Mother, who usually likes to joke around.

 

Or maybe there was some kind of news?

 

“But mister, where are we going?”

 

“We’re going to a meat restaurant. Come to think of it, this is the first time Aeyeon’s meeting me, right? I’m Yoon Young-hoon.”

 

“Hee-seong told me a lot about you. You’re a composer, right?”

 

“Huh? That’s right. Wow, Hee-seong must have talked about his dad a lot?”

 

Father, you won’t be able to just smile like that.

 

There’s something I realized today.

 

“What songs did you make?”

 

“Um… I made various things?”

 

“What?”

 

“I made drama OSTs and songs for singers.”

 

“That’s it? What other songs did you make?”

 

“Uh, huh?”

 

Aeyeon asks way more questions than I expected.

 

It was like a broken vending machine endlessly pouring out drinks.

 

Aeyeon’s questions didn’t stop.

 

“Mister, are you good at piano?”

 

“Well…”

 

“Do you play better than Hee-seong?”

 

“…”

 

Aeyeon’s questions continued until we arrived.

 

Without stopping…

 

“Tell me!”

 

They didn’t stop.

 

***

 

“Oh! Here… huh?”

 

“Oh my, why do you look…”

 

As we entered the restaurant, Mother and Lee Ye-eun looked surprised seeing Father’s face.

 

Father had collapsed under Aeyeon’s barrage of questions.

 

No matter what he said, she’d ask “Why?” so his throat got blocked up.

 

Whatever he said, he had to open his mouth again.

 

“But Hee-seong, why do you…”

 

My expression probably wasn’t much better either.

 

Father used driving as an excuse to pass the baton to me halfway through.

 

I couldn’t forget Father’s eyes looking at me through the mirror.

 

They were like a general sending a soldier off to battle.

 

They were so solemn I almost teared up.

 

“I-I don’t know what happened, but you’ve worked hard. Please sit down.”

 

Lee Ye-eun was wearing semi-formal clothes as if she’d just finished work.

 

‘But what did they want to talk about that they called us here?’

 

The adults were busy ordering as if it wasn’t time to talk yet.

 

“Aeyeon, there’s pork cutlet and pasta too, so eat whatever you want. Auntie will buy it for you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Hee-seong, you choose too.”

 

“Yes…”

 

Hmm, there are many delicious-looking things.

 

I chose my food more carefully than ever before.

 

Well, I ended up choosing pork cutlet anyway.

 

After finishing our order, Mother finally brought up the main topic.

 

“Son, how is your composing going?”

 

Was that it?

 

Was she planning to tell everyone everywhere that I compose?

 

Well, I wasn’t saying it was bad.

 

I wasn’t saying it was good either,

 

What I was worried about was just the fear that someone like ‘that person’ from the past might appear.

 

‘Well, what era is this? Would there be such a person?’

 

I chuckled inwardly as I spoke.

 

Anyway, the people here were trustworthy.

 

I’d still have to watch Aeyeon’s Mother, but since she let Aeyeon do what he wanted, her nature was probably good.

 

I thought the reason she made him attend so many academies was probably for Aeyeon’s sake too.

 

“It seems to be going well.”

 

My intuition was telling me.

 

Somehow, it felt like once tonight passed, the composing would flow smoothly.

 

It seemed like I could see the path of what to do.

 

Just a little bit remained.

 

I had no doubt that if I just took one more step forward, a good song would come out.

 

“Really? What are you going to compose? You said light last time.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then what kind of light will you use?”

 

“Um… the light of the city!”

 

If Mother’s stage had told me about the genre of the song, what gave me great inspiration was the night scenery of the city.

 

That view outside the window I saw from the house where I used to live in the past.

 

That window I’m now tired of even talking about.

 

“The city?”

 

“Yes! I have a friend named Bom who suggested I try taking a walk!”

 

So now it was time to see something else instead of the window.

 

At my words, Mother quietly smiled with satisfaction.

 

Aeyeon’s Mother looked surprised, but seemed to be quietly lost in thought.

 

Then the food came out.

 

“It looks delicious!”

 

At Aeyeon’s heartfelt words, the adults burst into laughter.

 

Honestly, it was cute.

 

I hadn’t thought much about it, but spending time together made her look a little cute.

 

Of course, only at times like this.

 

Usually… let’s not think about it.

 

I shook my head slightly and took a bite of the pork cutlet.

 

“Mmm! Delicious!!”

 

It was heavenly.

 

The crispiness of the batter, the chewiness of the meat, and even the flowing juices were perfect.

 

This is what pork cutlet should be!

 

While I was devouring the pork cutlet, Aeyeon’s Mother quietly spoke.

 

“How about we all take a walk after eating?”

 

“A walk?”

 

“Yes, I remembered because Hee-seong said he wanted to take a walk. I know a wonderful place nearby.”

 

At her words, everyone briefly made eye contact.

 

A conversation passed in the silence, and the answer was reached quite quickly.

 

“Sounds good!”

 

If we were going to walk in a wonderful place, wherever it was would be fine.

 

My intuition said so.

 

It would probably be the best place I’d never experienced before.

 

But before that, I had to finish eating the pork cutlet.

 

Even walks require energy from food.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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