A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 83

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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 83. Butterfly (3)

To be honest, I was looking forward to it.

Because the child was giving off an unusual atmosphere.

Because that man who carried an atmosphere similar to the man from the past was by his side.

I was thinking to myself what piece he would perform.

Ding-♪

As Sa Hye-jun struck the keys, the first emotion I felt wasn’t anger or sadness.

It was bewilderment.

Bewilderment tinged with fear.

‘What…? Th-this is…?’

It was a piece I had written.

It was the piece ‘that person’ had screamed at me to create somehow.

I had forgotten it.

I had completely forgotten it.

How could I forget my precious composition?

That terrified me.

‘How, how…!’

It was an emotion difficult to describe.

What was certain was this.

I had forgotten a precious past.

“Hee-seong, are you okay?”

That’s when the Principal spoke.

Only at her voice could I finally come to my senses.

I was breathing heavily.

My back was damp with sweat.

Everyone was looking at me.

“Ah, yes…! I’m fine…”

“If you’re sick, you don’t have to perform. You don’t need to push yourself.”

“That’s right, Hee-seong! I’ll perform your part too!”

“I’ll do it too…!”

“Me too.”

“What!”

Everyone was cheering me on.

Park Bom answered curtly.

I took a deep breath.

‘Let’s not think about it now. This is something to think about later.’

Now was the time to focus on the performance.

The children were all listening intently to Sa Hye-jun’s performance.

“But he’s really good…”

“Right! So… um… as good as Hee-seong!”

“No. Hee-seong is better.”

Yeah, this is what Hansul Preschool is like.

Heavy thoughts don’t suit this scene right now.

But the music being heard was heavy.

‘Tsunami.’

That was the name of the piece I had composed.

It was also the name of the piece currently devouring the entire competition venue.

As a musician, I couldn’t help but admire it.

I realized anew what kind of piece my past self had composed.

‘It seems my heart was unstable about something.’

I couldn’t help but think that.

The piece was shaking violently.

Unable to stop, it stirred here and there, distorting people’s expressions.

Like waves carrying massive winds and noisy lightning, it was devouring everything.

‘But he’s expressing all of that.’

Sa Hye-jun was expressing it.

From the small stone fragments broken by the waves to the white foam digging through the sand.

The child was expressing everything in detail.

As if he himself were the tsunami.

“That kid is amazing…!”

“I don’t want to admit it, but he’s really good.”

Ajin and Park Bom said.

Garam and Aeyeon were maintaining quiet silence.

The other children were also nodding as if they agreed.

He was a child who had surpassed being merely good.

Yes, he was a genius.

I could tell at once, and I became certain.

That Sa Hye-jun was a genius.

Perhaps, even more than my past self.

‘Of course, I’d need to observe more.’

I didn’t want to get involved if possible.

Because of the Snake Man behind the child.

I just need to do my own job and that’s it.

‘But this uneasy feeling is probably just my imagination, right?’

I couldn’t shake off this strangely unpleasant feeling.

While I was thinking alone like that.

“Wooow!”

Sa Hye-jun’s performance came to an end.

Because the performance was excellent, the other children were unconsciously clapping.

“Ah! That kid is our opponent!”

“Right!”

“Stop clapping!”

The children showed childlike reactions.

‘Well, they wouldn’t want to congratulate their opponent.’

It would probably feel like losing too.

I understood that feeling.

But instead of jealousy, I offered congratulations.

Regardless of my feelings, the child’s performance was excellent.

He expressed the scenery I saw while composing so very well, just as I intended.

This was an act of respecting the performer as a composer.

‘Yes, the child is not at fault. So…’

I looked at the audience faintly visible behind the huge curtain.

Because of the angle, I couldn’t see people’s faces clearly.

“This is a piece created by The Great Composer.”

What?

I doubted my ears.

What did he just say?

In the past, I couldn’t sell pieces under my name.

I was merely a shadow of ‘that person.’

Instead of my name, his name flowed from people’s lips to the world.

“Really? Then can you tell me the name?”

“The person who composed it told me not to mention their name.”

“Hmm, I understand.”

Ha, haha.

I laughed because it was so absurd.

‘They didn’t even leave their name?’

I wanted to rush out right now and ask that child.

Who was the person who taught you that piece?

‘…I need to find out.’

There was nothing I could do right now anyway.

Just like in the past.

It was so frustrating, but I had to endure it for now.

I thought I should investigate the past I had been avoiding until now.

I had deliberately avoided searching for past pieces until now.

If pieces remained under ‘that person’s’ name.

I didn’t think I’d have the confidence to endure it.

It would feel like my stolen life was preserved and mocked as it was.

‘At least from what that child said, it sounds like someone composed it.’

It seemed like they wanted to show composition work, not predetermined pieces like mine.

But that was impossible.

The original composer was right here.

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

With Yang Do-gyeong’s words, Sa Hye-jun bowed his head and was coming back to the green room.

The child looked at me once again.

I didn’t avoid that gaze.

Sa Hye-jun passed by me like that.

‘Phew… There’s a lot to find out.’

Honestly speaking, it was shocking.

I never even thought I’d hear my piece here.

But I could easily overcome this level of shock.

“Choi Garam?”

“Gasp!”

Then a staff member called Garam’s name.

At the same time, Garam’s face began to turn pale, not expecting his name to be called.

Perhaps because the child’s name was called, the other children’s expressions weren’t good either.

“Uh, uh uh, what should I do…!”

Ajin was trembling the most violently.

Seeing her shake as intensely as the electric massager Father uses.

‘She looks like she might cry…?’

That thought occurred to me.

But perhaps because of the time spent at Hanseol Preschool.

“Garam! You can do it…!”

Instead of crying, Ajin was cheering for Garam.

It was admirable that she wasn’t crying even though her turn was gradually approaching, which must be scary.

The other children also began cheering for Garam, following Ajin.

Perhaps gaining strength from that, Garam clenched his fists and said.

“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

Go, Garam.

Go show them your skills!

***

“Uh…”

“Ah…”

Garam finished his stage performance and came back utterly defeated.

As if he had burned himself out completely, Garam was lying on the sofa with a smile.

Similarly, several children including Ajin were also lying next to Garam.

‘Garam and Ajin’s performances were good. But are they not satisfied with this?’

Of course, Ajin’s performance could have been lacking.

She hadn’t been playing piano for very long anyway.

But perhaps thanks to the special training with Grandfather Manbok, Garam was.

More skilled than any of the children who had played violin so far.

‘But they didn’t really separate piano and violin?’

As far as I know, it’s common sense for violin and piano to be judged separately.

Usually there are judges who specialize only in piano.

But what if the person judging has very, very deep knowledge of both piano and violin?

‘That’s a different story…’

In conclusion, my curiosity about the person called Yang Do-gyeong only grew.

What Yang Do-gyeong says will surely be helpful.

But helpful words are always painful.

I thought it might be a bit too much for the children to handle.

‘What did they hear…?’

Now I was curious to the point of wondering.

What on earth did they hear that could shake the children’s souls so thoroughly?

“They must have heard some really harsh words?”

“Ha, old habits die hard. He doesn’t know ‘moderation,’ ‘moderation.'”

Jeong Mi-rae and the Principal were having a conversation while looking at the children.

The Principal rubbed his temples with a fed-up expression.

I could only guess that there might have been friction with the person called Yang Do-gyeong in the past.

I should ask about it later.

‘Now it’s time to worry about Aeyeon.’

Soon it would be Aeyeon’s turn.

Or it might be my turn.

I wasn’t too worried, but Aeyeon was different.

Aeyeon had been unusually quiet until now.

‘She seems to be talking like usual, but somehow it’s shorter.’

Instead of giving long answers, she responded with nods or gestures.

Aeyeon was that much more subdued than usual.

I interpreted this signal as Aeyeon being nervous.

And that was correct.

‘Her hands…’

I slowly observed Aeyeon.

The child’s small clasped hands were trembling slightly.

It was such a faint tremor that one could easily miss it if not careful.

I said to Aeyeon.

“Aeyeon, are you very nervous?”

“…Yes.”

Aeyeon answered after a long silence.

Only I could hear that small voice.

The child was trembling.

Even so, she was trying to show what she could do.

I believed in that Aeyeon.

“When that happens, take a deep breath.”

Aeyeon gave no response.

But seeing Aeyeon’s eyes, I could tell.

The child was facing her fear right now.

“Huu.”

Even so, Aeyeon did as I said.

I smiled gently and said.

“Go do well.”

The child nodded and left to perform.

***

Aeyeon maintained her usual expressionless face.

But that was only her expression – many things were happening in the child’s mind.

‘What should I do? I’m scared! There are too many people…!’

Since attending Hanseol Preschool, Aeyeon had come to think about many things.

Her responses becoming shorter as she thought about the reactions around her was perhaps natural.

What was certain was that Aeyeon was very nervous right now.

‘It’s okay…!’

The other children had helped her.

She had practiced a lot to surprise Heeseong.

‘So!’

Aeyeon planned to show everything she could do.

Even if Yang Do-gyeong was there, glaring at her menacingly.

She had seen friends who had collapsed because of Yang Do-gyeong.

So it was inevitable that anxious feelings would arise.

The more ominous thoughts came to her, the closer Aeyeon got to the piano.

And so she reached the front of the piano.

“Please begin when you’re ready.”

When Aeyeon bowed her head in greeting, Yang Do-gyeong spoke.

Seeing her holding a pen, Aeyeon involuntarily swallowed.

Aeyeon sat down in front of the piano.

It was an unfamiliar piano.

What if she made a mistake?

Such thoughts made Aeyeon’s head spin.

‘Heeseong told me to breathe.’

Thinking of Heeseong who had always been a source of strength, Aeyeon breathed slowly as Heeseong had said.

Then, amazingly, her heart gradually became at ease.

Not just now, but it seemed like he always made her heart comfortable.

‘I think I can perform now.’

Aeyeon could tell.

She had a strong premonition that if she started performing now, she wouldn’t make any mistakes.

And following that premonition, the child’s small hands began to move.

Ding-♪

It was a different resonance from the piano at the preschool.

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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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