Discord Debut and the Delinquent Prodigy
Keyboard maestro Myeongjeon installed Discord at the kids' insistence. He couldn't fathom why anyone would need this weird program when KakaoTalk existed, but kids these days had their own culture, so he just accepted it. Once Discord was set up and he followed their instructions to join a channel, two people were already there: [Seibin (❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)◞] and [SwordFlavorStar]. Given how Iseo kept calling her "Binnie," Seibin had to be Jeong Hyeona, and SwordFlavorStar... Somat. That must be Iseo.
[Ha Suyeon: I'm here.]
He typed the message, and replies came flying in moments later.
The messages poured in the second she typed. Myeongjeon paused at the incomprehensible barrage. Was this really the same person? Had he joined the wrong channel? He double-checked Iseo's invite message. Nope, this was right.
[Ha Suyeon: Yeah.]
[Ha Suyeon: Do I have to?]
Myeongjeon twirled a strand of hair, frowning. He'd thought she was tough to deal with at the café, but online? Way worse. Staring at this version of Jeong Hyeona—like a totally different person—he felt a faint headache coming on.
[Ha Suyeon: But what's "Suyeon-unnie"? My name is Ha Suyeon.]
Freaking cute? Good griefyyy? He gave up trying to understand them around then. Totally different world—this must be what they call the MZ generation. But Ha Suyeon's memories didn't have anything like this about those two?? Maybe just this one kid was weird. Anyway, he had to achieve the goal of firing up the computer and this program, so Myeongjeon started typing.
[Ha Suyeon: Could I get those performance samples I mentioned yesterday?]
Myeongjeon had assigned them one song before parting yesterday, requesting two versions: solo and band.
Then silence. About five minutes later...
He'd asked for two files specifically to gauge her current state as a keyboardist. In his decades playing guitar, he'd done countless jobs—too many to count on fingers. One was band consulting, drawing from his session band master days, advising hobby bands. From experience, pianists new to band playing hit two main issues. First, they try to do everything solo. Piano's a solo-all-in-one instrument, but that versatility poisons band play—disrupts harmony. Second, they don't think about varied sounds. Synths offer infinite tones, but old piano mindsets make them inflexible. Would Jeong Hyeona struggle with these? Best if not, but if she did... depending on severity, it could be a headache. With bass to cover too, maybe it'd be better if she bailed.
The sound came through: tweaked preset with solid rhythm. Arrangement, technique, and playing for solo—all pretty good.
Pretty damn good. He didn't show it, but Myeongjeon thought Hyeona played well. She nailed both solo and band roles—definite talent. If the drummer kid was solid too, ensemble would tell the full story... but in a few months, they could probably hack together three or four songs for a sloppy gig. Student level, of course. And that'd require major improvement from Iseo. Like, a lot.
[Ha Suyeon: Looks decent.]
[Ha Suyeon: When were we meeting the drummer?]
The chat kept going after that, but Myeongjeon barely followed half. His brain lost its way in the cryptic flood.
Dim room. One monitor split two websites; the other cluttered with Discord, Hangouts, and more. Hyeona clutched her head, staring at Discord. Unlike her worries, the audition—or whatever—seemed to go fine.
I was so stressed.
Somat said that Ha Suyeon girl's guitar skills were beyond "amazing"—hard to even describe. Hyeona hadn't seen it live yet, but Somat wasn't a liar, so she must be seriously good.
Ha Suyeon, huh. Somat and Hyeona went to different schools, but Somat and Suyeon were same school, same class. Han Seung High, first-years. Was there a first-year at Han Seung High that good on guitar? In Korea, instrument prodigies get rumors flying—how could an unknown pop up now?
Her friend burst out laughing at the name out of nowhere. Hyeona had no clue why. After spamming lol's, she finally typed properly.
To Hyeona, Ha Suyeon didn't seem like that at all. A bit curt, but polite. Music-obsessed regular high schooler.
Eek— Hyeona yelped softly. Delinquent! In this day and age? Still, she naturally steered clear of "party kids." She'd avoided any entanglements with them. But no time for practice? Then what was Somat talking about? Lying without seeing the guitar? Hyeona slyly DM'd Somat.
KakaoTalk delivered two videos from Somat's practice room—Hyeona had been there before. About four minutes of guitar each. The moment she hit play, Hyeona was floored.
How does a high schooler play like that?
She holed up practicing piano, but as an arts college hopeful, she could gauge others' levels. Take guitar: internet cafés, open chats, etc., full of "arts hopefuls" with guitars. YouTubers, one-offs—skills all over. Some overhyped, some underrated. Average it out, and you could guess age-to-skill. True irregulars—"geniuses"—were rare. "Good players" were just 1-2 or 4-5 years ahead. Not far from average. Real geniuses? Instant fame. They know it, everyone knows.
But here was an unfamous genius. Goosebumps hit Hyeona. She figured she had decent piano talent. Knew she couldn't beat the "real" ones, but too deep in to quit... Thought she could crush online "music talent?" randos.
But a real genius... that level? Phone mic's crap quality, yet flawless flow. Unknown song, but her tempo and pitch bends felt natural. Like wielding the song itself. Beyond "good"—even to a guitar noob, it looked like decades of obsession.
And she's a delinquent?
Jinseo wouldn't lie about this. So legit thug. Boozing, smoking as a delinquent... practicing to that level? Hiding it all.
Superhuman?
Delinquent rumors had her ready to bail, but the playing vaporized that. What if she snaps later and her temper flares? One year older— what if she swings? Deep thoughts that night...