This Isn't Ordinary Talent
Whenever a school year ended and I stepped into a new class, excitement and anticipation always followed. That was definitely true back in elementary and middle school in my hometown....
"...You're way too early."
Today, though, tension swirled around me instead of excitement. Because of that, I'd arrived a full hour before classes started.
"And I barely slept."
Heck, I hadn't even slept properly last night. I'd spent it agonizing over how to get close to Kwon Dain quickly. Of course, no clear answer emerged.
"...Class 3, huh."
On the first-floor bulletin board, my name was listed under Class 3. Instead of heading straight there, I scanned the names assigned to Class 3.
All the main characters were clustered in Class 3. Even some memorable extras were there. The leads' names were listed too.
But the most important one was missing.
"...She's not here?"
The protagonist's name wasn't there. Not in Class 3, nor in any other class.
Right, now that I thought about it, the protagonist existing at all was weird. This wasn't the original webtoon world—it was a life simulator with a dating sim DLC added. Of course there was no protagonist.
With my thoughts somewhat sorted, I headed quickly to Class 3. I cautiously opened the back door and slipped inside.
"......Yeah."
I spotted someone who'd arrived even earlier than me. Luckily, no awkward encounter happened. The kid was out cold, blanket and pillow in tow.
Yoon Seola... She always came to school early, right.
Yoon Seola. One of the three main girls. A total sloth of a person—slow-moving, loved sleep, and ignored anything that didn't pique her interest.
If I could just get close to her too...
She had insane vocal talent, so building rapport would be nothing but beneficial. I tiptoed to the blackboard to check my seat, killing my footsteps.
My spot was...
"...Knew it."
The back-row window seat where the original protagonist sat.
This is gonna be so awkward.
What a headache. The back window seat was structured to be surrounded on three sides by the three leads. In the comic, it looked like a 'prime spot surrounded by pretty girls.'
This is just a social isolation booth. How am I supposed to make friends?
Looking at it now, it explained why the protagonist had no friends outside the three leads. What could I do, though? I crept silently to my seat.
"Let's check Insta. If things keep going, I'll hit 10k followers by the end of March."
I opened Insta to sort through yesterday's notifications.
"...Huh?"
My eyes widened on their own. Understanding hit, and dopamine flooded in.
Does this make sense? Not some agency? The real Seong Haein? She DM'd me?
All my DMs so far had been from trainees. Small agencies to the big three— all asking if I'd consider training.
I'd turned them down, of course. Not just because I lacked singing or dancing talent. Composing was what I wanted to do.
...What do I say?
My hands started trembling faintly. Even from my past life, being chosen by someone superior never got easier.
I typed and deleted messages in Seong Haein's DM window over and over.
I'm meeting her after work anyway.
No need to stress now. I replied politely, keeping it formal.
.
.
.
Seong Haein's DM or whatever... No, it wasn't whatever. It was a golden opportunity.
I'd aimed for Dain through her mom anyway. This meant I didn't have to force a friendship with Dain.
Still, her DM faded to background noise amid my massive stress.
I figured it'd be like this...
Word had spread somehow—kids from other classes swarmed near ours just to glimpse my face. It was the first day with an entrance ceremony. We were even supposed to go home after lunch without eating, but in that short time, I became a zoo animal.
But not everyone was there just for me.
"Whoa... They're relentless. Don't they get tired?"
"Can't be helped. Can't tell 'em not to come. Saeron, you stressed by those friends crowding around?"
"As if. It's been like this since middle school. I'm used to it. So Dain, just don't pull that solo-judgment, solo-seat-swap crap like old times."
"...I won't."
The singer who'd dominated an era in Korea, Seong Haein's daughter Kwon Dain, was in Class 3 too.
Of course our seats are right next to each other.
If they'd been apart, I'd have less stress. But with Dain right in front of me, I couldn't dodge the stares.
And Yoon Seola's sleeping through it all...
Had my life ever been this chaotic? I slammed my head on the desk and tuned out.
Only homeroom left anyway. Just hold out till the teacher arrived.
Jeong Jisul had always been part of the mainstream crowd. Or rather, the world wouldn't let him become a total outcast. Friends appeared if he stayed put; groups formed around him effortlessly. In relationships, Jisul was extremely passive. His ingrained 'polite kindness' also drew lines without him realizing.
How do you even make friends...?
Jisul's worries deepened as he brewed coffee. Still, his body performed flawlessly.
"Order 232, iced Americano up."
Whipping through customers, closing time hit at 6 before he knew it.
"Hmm... Jisul, what now? I'll buy dinner... Stay and chill here after? Or head home and come back?"
His only task left: meeting Seong Haein.
"It's an hour round trip anyway... I'll wait for food."
"That work?"
"Yeah, going back and forth twice sucks."
"Alright, settled. Dinner? What'll it be? Or that grill spot up front."
"Boss, pick wherever you want."
"Deal, grill it is. Grab and chug whatever after."
Jisul killed time eating dinner with Choi Mina.
"Sorry for the late meet. I'll drive you home, so no worries about the last bus."
Now 10pm. Face-to-face with Seong Haein.
The first thing Jisul felt opposite her was overwhelming presence. Her aura was immense.
...Entertainers all have strong vibes, huh.
Kind and smiling brightly, yet an inexplicable pressure bore down on Jisul.
"First off, Jisul's looks... Mina was right—real life beats the pics by miles?"
Tapping the table, Seong Haein scanned him head to toe.
Even active center idols wouldn't stand next to him.
Sitting, she could tell his seated height edged hers—meaning insanely long legs. His small face stood out no matter the angle.
But more than his superior looks, something else nagged.
Haeyul High School uniform.
Attending the same school as her daughter made her even more wary.
...Talk later.
"Are those four tracks on NerTube and Insta all Jisul's compositions?"
"For now, yes."
"Any others in the works?"
"Plenty. Bought gear yesterday—starting today."
"Then, could you show a bit of composing here?"
"Uh... No laptop. Just got a computer yesterday; used PC bangs till then..."
"......I see."
Real composer?
She thought. Composers she'd met were all hypersensitive. Music demanded it for tiny sounds. But extremes flipped over smells or temps.
PC bang composing? Those reeked of smokes and curses.
And no laptop?
...No parental support?
High schooler doing music—parents could oppose. Buying a computer yesterday bolstered that theory.
"Never imagined no laptop. Truth is, I wanted to see you compose live."
Pre-AI boom, videos sufficed. Now, eyes-on was best verification.
Why vet Jisul so hard? Simple: Looks paid bills. He could be faking with AI for Insta clout. Industry had burned from AI scandals recently—thoroughness essential.
Though I doubt it...
"If you're okay, Jisul, invite to our studio? Or I'll come to yours."
Jisul agreed eagerly. To her, just cute. He tried calm, but curiosity, passion, thrill shone in his eyes.
No shortcuts there.
Date set: March 3. Tomorrow.
"Jisul's favorite genre band music? This track's band too."
"Bands... Good memories, so yeah, but I listen to everything, no picks."
Seong Haein chatted at composing Jisul on purpose. Otherwise, her bubbling excitement would overflow.
...Only an hour passed.
Post-shift, to studio: one hour.
Wonder if others feel this watching me.
Before her eyes, Jisul birthed a new track.
In one hour.
Observing genius at work—been ages.