First Day Back with a New Rhythm
My steps through the school gate on the first day back after the change were worlds apart from yesterday's. The only real difference? Whether I had those past-life memories or not. The recollections of my life as a nameless orphaned man turned the familiar commute into something brand new. The usual noises of the path to school—even the kids' laughter—sounded like sound effects from a song.
The moment I pushed open the classroom door, a familiar scent wafted over, and Jisu came bounding up.
"Haru! You're not late today? I was worried about how pale you looked yesterday, but you seem way better now."
"Yeah, I got a good night's sleep."
Jisu playfully thumped my shoulder and let out her signature cheerful giggle. I hung my bag by my desk and gave a casual nod in response. She plopped her butt on the edge of my desk and launched into her usual chatter—what she'd eaten for dinner last night, which idol was blowing up lately, that sort of thing.
"By the way, even though it's been a bit since the semester started, doesn't everything feel kinda fresh?"
"I don't really know any of the new first-years."
"Same here. If it weren't for you, Haru, I'd be so lonely I wouldn't know what to do with myself."
Jisu hopped off the desk and pulled me into a hug. There wasn't much makeup scent—just a strong whiff of peach perfume. I knew we were same-sex friends and all, but Jisu was always extra touchy compared to most.
I understood it was just her way of showing affection, so it didn't bother me. Still, what used to feel totally normal now carried a heavy weight, thanks to those past-life memories.
"Alright, everyone here? I've got first and second period, so no slacking off. Especially you, Lee Haru! Remember bumping your head yesterday from dozing off? Stay awake."
"Got it."
The brief morning homeroom wrapped up, and classes kicked off right away. Our homeroom teacher—the math teacher—filled the room with his soft, soothing voice once more. Yesterday, it would've lulled me straight to sleep like some ASMR track. Warm spring sunlight poured over me just like before, but this time, I didn't nod off.
Pretending to follow along, I analyzed the MR for "Chulhang" that I'd partially finished last night. Analysis was a strong word—it was just comparing the parts I'd recreated from memory against the original in my head, spotting the mismatches.
Man... more fixes than I thought.
Since I'd relied purely on memory, it had sounded close enough when I was wiped out. But reviewing it with a clear head revealed subtle errors—a half-step off here and there. Once I'd roughly checked it over, I glanced at the blackboard, where the math teacher's intricate equations sprawled out.
"Okay... class rep. What day is it today?"
"The 20th."
"Right... no 20. Let's do number 12."
Of course it had to be me. Objectively speaking, Lee Haru was an average student—not great, not terrible. From a wealthy family, the only daughter, raised like a princess but with manners and killer looks to boot. Her parents had spoiled her but also kept her healthy and happy, so she'd never even gone to cram school as a high schooler.
Plus, the original Haru leaned toward humanities, making math her kryptonite. But there was one new variable: ever since that head bump yesterday, I remembered nearly my entire life as that orphaned guy—mostly J-pop focused, but vivid enough. The solution was already in my head. I worked it out on the board just like that, and the answer popped out quick.
"Uh... the answer is... -25/9."
"Yes... correct. So even though you dozed off yesterday, you must've studied."
Classes rolled on like that until fourth period ended. This quiet routine of just sitting through lessons wasn't half bad. Graduate high school, head to college, land a job... a boring but ordinary life didn't sound so terrible. I almost felt like I didn't need to bother with J-pop at all—until Jisu shattered that hazy mood.
"Hey, Haru! Let's grab lunch quick. It's pork stir-fry today!"
"Yeah!"
I snapped to at her shout, grabbed her hand, and we bolted for the cafeteria. The hallway to the cafeteria was always a battlefield. For the old Haru, it was just the daily grind. But through the lens of that lonely guy's memories, it brimmed with youthful energy. I spotted other kids messing around while waiting for food.
"Sigh... already packed. Gonna take 20 minutes."
This school ran lunch on pure first-come, first-served, so good-menu days like this were routine. A phone would've killed the boredom, but no phones allowed. Still, it wasn't lonely.
"Whoa, you can really feel all the new first-years. Our class barely hits 20, but this year's freshmen are over 20 per class."
"Huh..."
It didn't really concern me, but Jisu chattered on like a sparrow, not giving loneliness a chance to creep in. Midway through her ramble, I recalled that number-one Vocaloid track from this world's Haru life—the one I'd heard yesterday. It was my first J-pop exposure here, and damn, it slapped. But hearing it sparked a conviction: once I finished Chulhang, it could hit just as hard.
"Eat up."
"Thanks."
The efficient serving system cleared the line fast. Black rice, seaweed soup, pork stir-fry, kimchi, stir-fried potatoes—it might've been meh to the old Haru, but to me now, it was gourmet heaven.
College meant buying every meal; work was the same. Those memories of solitary bachelor life made this school lunch taste like a feast. Even the stuff I'd wolfed down before, I savored now.
"You're eating extra well today? You'd usually just pick at it."
"Lunch just tastes better today..."
"Really? Felt the same to me."
Unlike her words, Jisu's tray was spotless. She tapped her empty plate with her chopsticks, eyeing me.
"Anyway, what's got you hooked? A guy? You were zoning out all class."
"What guy? Nah... I've just gotten into music lately."
Her words made me picture dating a guy, but honestly? With my current self—fresh off a guy's lifetime memories—it felt gross, like it'd make me hurl. Maybe future me could handle it, but right now? No way.
"Music? Didn't you beg your dad for a guitar, brag about it, then ditch it quick 'cause it got boring?"
"Not guitar... more like composing on the computer? Just a hobby."
Jisu burst into a bright, bubbly giggle. Watching her laugh so freely over chit-chat, she almost seemed like an idol herself.
"Puhuhu... if you make it big, don't forget me?"
"Duh."
"Oh yeah, weekend starts tomorrow. You're gonna miss me."
"Pfft, just two days."
Afternoon classes dragged like torture—an endurance test. I wanted to sprint home, crash, and sleep. I half-dozed through somehow.
Jisu dragged me through cleanup, then we raced home. I was itching to finish Chulhang ASAP. Spring wind whipped hard, but I ignored it and ran—unlike usual. Jisu yelled after me.
"Hey! Lee Haru! Slow down!"
"Sorry! Remembered something I gotta do today! See ya next week!"
"Not that! Your underwear! It's showing! Lucky no one's around, but imagine if a guy saw!"
"...Didn't notice. Thanks—see you next week."
I scolded myself for rushing, switched to a normal walk. Jisu gave me a weird look before heading off her way. Home was empty—perfect for uninterrupted work.
Tap-tap-tap. Click.
Keyboard and mouse flew non-stop. I slotted in the instrument sounds from my head onto the program's tracks, one by one.
Time flew meaningfully. Why had I only hit 30% last night? Simple: brand-new program meant an unfamiliar interface, slowing me down. Sure, it was still blazing fast compared to creating from scratch, but yeah.
Clock read 4 PM now. If I pushed, I could wrap the MR tonight. Typing was child's play next to playing guitar back then.
Tap-tap-taaaap.
The MR for the first song heralding a J-pop master's birth was steadily taking shape.