A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 74

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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 74. Dream (2)

 

I gently touched my fingers while thinking.

 

Too many thoughts were floating around in my head.

 

It felt like they weren’t organizing well.

 

‘I have the resolve, but it’s not specific.’

 

So it was a situation where I could see the summit, but was pondering how to get there.

 

It felt like there were countless paths before my eyes.

 

Right and left were just the basics.

 

Whether I dug a tunnel or flew through the sky, there were endlessly many methods.

 

“This kind of situation is really not easy.”

 

It might have been better to hesitate because I was at a loss.

 

However, there was a method for times like this.

 

Try first, then think.

 

It wouldn’t be too late to think about what comes after later.

 

So now was the time to move my fingers.

 

“This piece is partly for the competition, but personally I want to know how far I’ve come.”

 

I said that while placing my fingers on the piano.

 

What a nice day, let’s begin in earnest.

 

Ding-

 

My right hand moved a bit gently today.

 

It was a good start.

 

It seemed like this would work.

 

I moved my fingers once more.

 

I pressed F.

 

Something felt discordant.

 

Between the white keys and black keys, there was an unbridgeable gap.

 

This time I wanted to try using that.

 

Ding- Ding-

 

I kept pressing the F note in rhythm.

 

One beat became two beats and exceeded eight beats.

 

Then the tempo gradually got faster.

 

The sound only grew louder and then the pitch began to break.

 

This wasn’t it.

 

‘Hmm…’

 

My worries only increased.

 

When I first pressed the note, it was quite good.

 

The problem was hesitating about where to leap next.

 

So my fingers followed as my heart grew increasingly anxious.

 

The rhythm got faster, and my index finger grew more and more painful.

 

Then pop!

 

My head started hurting.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Starting over again.

 

This time let’s try playing a chord.

 

I pressed the simplest C chord.

 

C, E, G.

 

My heart also found stability in the organized sound of three notes playing at once.

 

I kept pressing it continuously.

 

‘Now I don’t know.’

 

Unlike the beginning, it just wouldn’t resolve at all.

 

I only felt like I could do it, but it absolutely wouldn’t resolve.

 

“But what can I do. I have to do it anyway.”

 

Right, whatever happens, let’s do it.

 

I slapped my cheeks to wake myself up.

 

And exactly 3 hours later.

 

I hadn’t accomplished anything.

 

I lay down on the bed with a dejected feeling.

 

Then I just stared blankly.

 

Both my fingertips hurt so much.

 

I had played piano continuously without rest but no results came out.

 

There had been times like this in the past too.

 

Days when nothing worked no matter how hard I tried.

 

‘In the end, I gave up on that piece.’

 

It was natural.

 

No inspiration would come out at all.

 

Back then was similar to now.

 

I could clearly see the summit but there were too many paths leading there.

 

The situation wasn’t good either, so I couldn’t continue further.

 

A low hill was safer than a towering mountain, so there was no need to take risks.

 

‘Would it have been different if I had completed that piece.’

 

There was only a destination, but I didn’t know what reward awaited.

 

Honestly, I felt a bit regretful.

 

I often thought about what if I had continued straight through.

 

But the situation interfered with me.

 

‘Sigh… It was when ‘that person’ started going wild.’

 

Oh no, thinking about the past again made my head throb.

 

At this rate, nothing would come out.

 

It seemed better to just rest comfortably.

 

“Let’s just sleep…”

 

It was a bit early for sleeping, but if I didn’t sleep, my head would only hurt more.

 

“Having nightmares again…”

 

What if I have nightmares?

 

But by the time I had that thought, I had already fallen asleep.

 

***

 

“Wake up.”

 

A gentle voice was heard.

 

I didn’t want to open my eyes to the sunlight I was enjoying after so long.

 

I didn’t say anything and just stayed still.

 

“Don’t complain if I eat all your bread.”

 

He said that, and I got up from my spot.

 

I could see a face smiling slightly as if he had expected this.

 

A man with shadowed eyes and roughly tied hair that gave off a decadent feeling was sitting in front of me.

 

I moved my mouth.

 

“Mm…, what brings you here…?”

 

“Do I need to have some business to come? Baguette?”

 

“Mm. Thanks.”

 

My friend would sometimes visit me secretly like this.

 

Since I remembered him saying he wanted to see my flustered expression, I deliberately managed my expression.

 

While eating bread, I was feeling the wind brushing through my hair.

 

“There’s been a lot of talk lately.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean ‘that person.'”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

I deliberately reacted quietly.

 

I thought I had already adapted, but that wasn’t the case.

 

I was still afraid.

 

The hand holding the bread was trembling as if thrown naked into the middle of winter.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“Huh? Oh… yes.”

 

“…Nice weather.”

 

As he said, it was a beautiful day.

 

Not a cloud in the sky, with a gentle breeze blowing.

 

A large tree cast its shadow over my face, creating cool shade.

 

But that cool shade from the tree felt cold today.

 

‘Ah… not yet.’

 

I was still overshadowed by his presence.

 

In such scenery, his voice would only become clearer.

 

“Let’s go inside. I’ll make you a cup of coffee.”

 

“Ah… let’s do that. Let’s go in.”

 

My friend woke me from my daze.

 

He patted my back firmly as if telling me to snap out of it.

 

It hurt a little.

 

‘Was the scenery like this?’

 

While walking toward the house, I briefly looked back.

 

It was scenery that seemed familiar yet unfamiliar.

 

It felt precarious, as if it would disappear the moment I looked away.

 

“…”

 

I watched that scene for a moment before turning away.

 

My friend was waiting for me at the door.

 

Creak.

 

The unfixed door let out a scream.

 

Looking inside the house, everything was worn and on the verge of collapse.

 

There were many parts that needed repair, but unfortunately, I had no money.

 

“How about fixing it up a bit?”

 

My friend, who had followed behind me, said.

 

Every time he came to my house, he always said those words.

 

And every time, I had my usual response.

 

“It’s fine. As long as I can sleep here, that’s enough.”

 

“So stubborn. If things get tough, tell me. I can offer you a room.”

 

“It’s reassuring to hear you say that.”

 

“Does ‘that person’ still come looking for you?”

 

“That’s…”

 

I couldn’t answer easily.

 

My friend knew all too well that person was stealing my music.

 

But I couldn’t say it easily.

 

‘It would never lead to good results.’

 

I poured some cold coffee from the kitchen.

 

I gestured to my friend asking if he wanted some, but he shook his head.

 

I sipped the coffee and said.

 

“The day I tell the world about it will be the day my fingers get cut off.”

 

“Really?”

 

“That’s right. Well, I gave him a warning, so I’ll wait and see for now.”

 

“If that’s what you think, then so be it. I understand. How’s the composing going these days?”

 

This time I shook my head.

 

It wasn’t going as I wanted.

 

I was blocked.

 

“What’s the situation?”

 

“There are too many paths to the summit.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

He seemed to understand my words immediately and nodded.

 

As expected of a doctor who heals people, he understood right away.

 

My friend pulled over a nearby chair and sat down.

 

He probably thought this conversation would be long.

 

Knowing this, I also sat down on a chair.

 

“Alright. Tell me what’s troubling you.”

 

My friend straightened his posture and began treating me seriously.

 

In this moment, he was the doctor, and I was the patient.

 

“I have many musical ideas. But they don’t come together well.”

 

“You mean too many cooks spoil the broth?”

 

“Exactly.”

 

“Then, let them all do what they want to do.”

 

“…What?”

 

I couldn’t understand his words for a moment.

 

In that brief moment when my thoughts stopped, his mouth didn’t rest.

 

“Your working method uses something as a motif, right?”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

“And whether it’s memories or experiences, you try to melt them down.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then, try them all.”

 

“Huh?”

 

He spread his arms wide as he spoke.

 

Seeing him laugh so cheerfully when he usually smiled gently made him look like a different person.

 

I pondered his words.

 

‘Try them all…’

 

It was really a good method.

 

If I had time, I could eventually reach the summit.

 

But it wasn’t a good method for me right now.

 

“That’s quite a good method, isn’t it?”

 

“Right?”

 

“Assuming I have the time, that is.”

 

“Huh…?”

 

I got up from my seat and headed to the room with the piano.

 

My friend also got up and followed me.

 

In the middle of the room was a piano, and next to it was a desk.

 

I showed my friend a paper on the desk.

 

“Read this.”

 

“Theme is happiness… completion requested within 2 weeks…”

 

“I don’t think it’s possible.”

 

“Sigh… Friend, isn’t it really time to speak up now…!”

 

My friend crumpled the paper as he spoke.

 

This was behavior I wouldn’t normally do, and I found myself a bit flustered.

 

Since he wasn’t the type to show his emotions like this, I didn’t know what to say.

 

“…Will you do it?”

 

“Whatever the case, I have no choice but to do it. So I must.”

 

“Yes, yes…. If you’re determined to do it, I can’t stop you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

I patted his shoulder and said.

 

Right now, I couldn’t escape from that person’s shadow.

 

So I planned to stay crouched until I could completely break free.

 

“When I become free later, I’ll try doing as you said.”

 

“You have outstanding talent, so you’ll be able to do it.”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

“Even with a 2-month deadline, you’ll spend a month and a half agonizing over it.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You’ll lock yourself in your room and pound on the piano every day.”

 

“Are you right now…?”

 

“And once you finish composing, you’ll lie down in the shade of a tree and rest again. Because the moment you finish composing, that piece will be in your head.

 

“…Haha.”

 

My friend started teasing me in the middle of his praise.

 

His words and actions were like someone who could perfectly extract the meat if you brought him walnuts.

 

But I could be certain of one thing.

 

‘Yes, he was a friend who smiled so well like this.’

 

He was always smiling.

 

Even until my final moment.

 

“Thank you, always.”

 

At my words, my friend smiled.

 

Yes, this was a dream.

 

I knew it all too well.

 

I already knew.

 

From the moment I heard his voice.

 

I just wanted to enjoy this moment.

 

“You’ll do well.”

 

He said that.

 

He was giving me infinite trust.

 

But I couldn’t repay that trust.

 

Because I was too weak of an existence.

 

Even so, I wanted to say this.

 

“…!”

 

But no voice came out.

 

My throat was choked up.

 

As if I’d eaten dozens of potatoes at once, I couldn’t make any sound.

 

“I’ll accept your thanks next time. I have to go now. I have someone I’m supposed to meet today.”

 

My friend patted my shoulder and left the room.

 

I called out his name.

 

‘Huh…? His name….’

 

What was it?

 

***

 

I had another dream.

 

This time it was a dream about my friend.

 

I wanted to call his name, but I couldn’t.

 

“Hah….”

 

I rubbed my face roughly with my hands.

 

Then I looked at both my hands.

 

My fingers were intact.

 

They were intact in the dream too.

 

The difference was the size.

 

Those ugly hands that had suffered all kinds of hardships and had many scars here and there.

 

They weren’t those ugly hands that had a long scar on the back.

 

They were soft and pure white hands.

 

“Right.”

 

I looked at the piano.

 

The small piano in the room.

 

A very grateful existence that always helped with composing.

 

But even such an existence couldn’t solve my worries.

 

“You help me now just like before, my friend.”

 

I immediately got up from bed and sat in front of the piano.

 

He had said.

 

That no matter how long it took, I would eventually complete it.

 

So, let’s try.

 

No matter how many paths there are, let’s explore them all.

 

Whether they lead to swamps or cliffs.

 

Let’s go to all of them and reach the summit.

 

“I’ll try as you said.”

 

Whatever tries to stop me.

 

I will resolve the regret of what I couldn’t complete in the past, now.

 

I raised my fingers.

 

And brought them down.

—————
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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