Chapter 29
Chapter 29
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Airport Reunion
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fukuoka Airport's international terminal was by no means a large airport.
But it was bustling every single day.
That was because tourists from Korea and China packed the place to the brim.
On days when flights from various airlines overlapped, it could turn into a total disaster, with huge lines waiting for immigration checks.
"Last time I came, I waited like two hours, but today it's pretty empty at least."
After clearing immigration in just thirty minutes and exiting the airport, Yeonwoo responded to Jiyeong's comment.
"Auntie, have you been to Fukuoka before?"
"Auntie? Of course."
"Auntie, is there anywhere you haven't been?"
"There are tons of places I haven't been. Anyway, you have to see the wide world to grow musically. Huh? Are you even listening?"
As Jiyeong lectured solemnly as a music senior, Yeonwoo had already hurried off after Grandmother, who was far ahead.
"Whoa, seriously. Wait up!!"
Seeing the two of them, Jiyeong scrambled to catch up.
It was a remarkably small airport compared to the hordes of tourists, so even after grabbing water from a convenience store, the exit was just a short walk away.
"Huh? Why's it so rowdy over there?"
Jiyeong, now leading the way after catching up, turned curiously toward the especially noisy spot.
Sure, it was crowded for such a small place with all the tourists, but this commotion felt a bit off.
She figured out why right away.
"U-Uesugi-san?"
"Uesugi Himari!!"
"Himari of the World!!"
"Uesugi-sama!"
Voices rang out from every direction.
"Looks like Himari came to pick us up."
Heo Ok said with a chuckle.
Sure enough, the buzzing crowd consisted entirely of Japanese people.
Unlike Korea and China, where jazz was a bit niche, Japan had strong recognition for the genre.
And this was none other than the world's Himari.
Even in a country like Korea, where a field might be minor, world-class talents still became famous.
Japan was no different.
They weren't about to let their top domestic star, Himari, pass without a fuss.
"That's why I told her not to come pick us up."
Heo Ok was already exhausted at the thought of pushing through that throng.
"Yeonwoo, hop on the suitcase. Mom, stick right behind me!"
Jiyeong, assessing the situation, sat Yeonwoo on her suitcase first, then pulled both her own and Yeonwoo's at once as she pushed forward.
Heo Ok trailed slowly behind Jiyeong.
Plowing through the crowd only made Jiyeong more irritated for no good reason.
Someone of her fame had to expect this kind of thing, right?
But Jiyeong had no idea.
Uesugi Himari was...
"Arigato! Arigato gozaimasu, minasan!"
An utter attention whore.
She was stingy about signing autographs or close-up selfies, but endlessly indulgent toward cheers, admiration, or photos from a distance.
It gave her the same endless satisfaction as gorging on chashu from her favorite ramen joint after twenty years—like being seen as a celeb, a true star.
"Come on, I have guests to greet. Could everyone make a little way?"
"Eh? Sensei!!"
As Himari asked the crowd to clear a path, she spotted Heo Ok. Overjoyed, she gazed at her and shot both hands up high.
In that instant, every eye turned to Heo Ok.
"Oh."
Jiyeong was impressed.
As if she'd foreseen it, Heo Ok already had her sunglasses on before the stares converged.
Heaven only knew where she summoned the strength, but she took the suitcase with Yeonwoo atop it from Jiyeong, deftly shielded Yeonwoo's face, and closed in on Himari in a flash.
"Himari, come on out."
Sensing the killer intent beyond those shades, Himari snapped to rigid attention and waited for her to pass.
"Wow, still the same as ever."
Himari stuck out her tongue, turned to wave at the fans, and hustled after Heo Ok and her family.
As far as Himari remembered, her "family" had always been her jazz colleagues and students.
Yet here she'd brought one woman and a child she clearly treated as family.
The woman shared some traits with Heo Ok, but unlike her cold dignity, this one was lighthearted and bright.
The kid riding the suitcase Heo Ok pulled...
"Ka, kawaii...!"
Was adorable.
Adorably, prettily perfect—hard to believe such a child existed.
Was that why?
It was obvious how much Heo Ok treasured him.
Even as she pushed the suitcase, she gripped his shoulder with one hand to keep him from falling.
And the boy clung to Heo Ok's arm and hand...
"Why's he staring like that?"
With eyes burning for some unknowable reason, fixed right on her.
"Je-Jade-sama!"
That was when Himari's agency manager darted up in front of Heo Ok, bowing so deeply his bald spot gleamed.
The manager, who'd stuck with Himari for nearly fifteen years, was a grizzled jazz industry vet everyone knew.
There was no way he didn't recognize Heo Ok.
His bow brimmed with genuine respect.
"Hm? You look familiar."
"Ah? You remember me?"
"Yes, still hanging in there with Himari, eh?"
The manager gave a wry smile.
"Somehow it just worked out that way."
"What do you mean 'somehow'? Sounds like you're trapped at my side against your will!"
Himari barked at his reaction. The manager flinched, but Heo Ok patted his shoulder.
"Where do you find normal musicians? Himari here's mild by comparison. Consider yourself lucky."
"I know that full well."
Heo Ok wasn't wrong. The world was crawling with sensitive artists.
Japan was especially bad.
Outwardly open and progressive, but dig deeper and it was more insular and conservative than anywhere.
The music scene was no exception.
Heo Ok, who'd encountered every flavor of freak, deemed Himari manageable.
Hysteria like hers was commonplace in Korea or the States too.
"By the way, Jade, what about lodging?"
"Himari said she'd handle it."
Himari nodded confirmation.
"You can stay at my place in Yakuin."
"And you?"
"Ah, my main house is elsewhere."
Beyond music and food, Himari's passion was real estate.
More precisely, snapping up properties near spots she loved and crashing there.
She owned several in Fukuoka alone, scattered across the Japanese archipelago.
"Straight to the lodging? Or grab a bite? Ah, food first—it's lunchtime already."
"No, your studio first. Been a while; I want to hear your piano."
"Uh, but... what about food?"
Himari eyed Heo Ok with desperate puppy eyes. Heo Ok shut it down firmly.
"You take a minimum of an hour to eat."
Heo Ok knew her too damn well.
"Right. Straight to the studio, then."
Without another word, Himari led Heo Ok's family there.
"Tenjin?"
"Yeah, the Tenjin studio. Where I work when ramen cravings hit."
Houses weren't enough; she had multiple studios too.
"So like you."
Heo Ok remarked as she climbed down.
"Yeonwoo, this is the Tenjin district. Bustling area. Tons of food spots too."
"Really? Sushi too?"
Yeonwoo, fresh off his first sushi experience, lit up.
"Sushi? You like sushi too?"
Himari addressed Yeonwoo. He ducked behind Grandmother, then fixed her with those blazing eyes.
"Ah, forgot the intros. This is my grandson. And that's my daughter."
"O-ohayo gozaimasu."
"That's a morning greeting. It's konnichiwa."
"Ko-konnichiwa."
Jiyeong managed a stiff bow to Himari. Himari eyed her once more.
Not an exact match, but Heo Ok's essence peeked through in spots.
Envy hit hard.
How great would it be to be Heo Ok's daughter?
"Hello...?"
"Oh, hello! I'm Shin Jiyeong. Your Korean pronunciation's spot-on."
"A bit, practiced. Can't speak. But hear everything."
"You get it all, even if you can't talk back?"
"Yeah."
Himari had studied Korean just to catch every word when Heo Ok chattered in it.
She used to manage basic chats, but speaking had rusted; listening was near-perfect now.
"Yeonwoo, you too—say hi."
After introducing Jiyeong, Heo Ok stroked the head of Yeonwoo, who refused to emerge.
Himari was floored.
Just look at those honey-dripping eyes.
Those fingers caressing the child's head with such delicacy.
Gone was the pinnacle maestro radiating dignity and charisma, cowing everyone into silence.
This was pure grandma.
The last decade had molded Heo Ok into an everyday granny, it seemed.
"Hello."
Amid it all, Yeonwoo echoed Grandmother's words with a greeting to Himari.
Himari smiled back at him, then herded everyone into the car for the studio.
"Huh? What's that rich, meaty smell?"
"There's tonkotsu ramen right up ahead."
"Ah... explains it."
Himari's Tenjin studio sat in an alley thick with the aroma of pork broth.
"This is my regular spot. Let's dig in sometime."
Heo Ok eyed her and thought: same old Himari.
The woman was dead serious about food—piano playing suffered when she was starving.
"Shall we head up?"
Himari inhaled the tonkotsu scent like a fine perfume, beamed, and ushered the family into her studio.
It was across from the ramen shop, on the third floor of a commercial building she owned.
First floor ran a convenience store, second a coffee shop; she claimed the third outright.
The space was one open expanse: kitchenette and table off to the side, grand piano smack in the middle.
Somehow reminiscent of Heo Ok's place back home.
Heo Ok shoved the suitcases aside and beelined for the piano.
In that moment, she wasn't just Heo Ok—she was Jade, the jazz pianist who'd conquered the peak.
Her sharp features scanned the instrument.
Himari seemed a touch tense, yet confident too.
"Well maintained."
Heo Ok brooked no speck of dust atop a piano.
"Pianos can't slack off. Looks like you've been playing steadily."
"Of course."
"Then why don't you play something?"
Himari strode up confidently and took a seat.
"Judge me strictly."
Heo Ok offered a faint smile.
"What would this old retiree know? I'll just enjoy your playing. The judging's for this kid."
She beckoned Yeonwoo.
"Th-the grandson?"
"I told you—I'd introduce someone who plays piano better than me."
Himari's brimming confidence froze solid.
"No, not that good... Wait, first off, can a kid like him even tell? He looks way too young."
Himari eyed Yeonwoo, who now dared to judge her.
Heo Ok replied.
"Yes, before your piano, let's hear our boy's first."
She turned to Yeonwoo and asked if he'd play. He nodded at once.
Himari yielded the bench; Yeonwoo sat.
As they watched his solemn demeanor—so un-childlike—Heo Ok spoke.
"His technique might not top mine yet, but his jazz depth has already surpassed me."
Himari startled and shot Heo Ok a look.
Impossible.
Heo Ok might not be history's absolute best, but she was the era's top jazz pianist.
The previous generation's witch, dubbed Jazz incarnate, Piano itself.
Surpassed her musically?
Unthinkable—as Yeonwoo's hands descended to the keys.
'Jazz' began.