Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Yuri's Audition
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"So, this kid is Yuin?"
Ginen Yuri stared at Yeonwoo's family gathered in front of her in her grandfather's hospital room, her face full of disbelief.
"Haa..."
Datemura Shunji let out a frustrated sigh.
"You can't believe it?"
"A first-grader made that music? Who would believe it?"
At Ginen Yuri's words, Heo Ok gave a hollow laugh.
"Yeah, it's hard to believe."
Datemura Shunji widened his eyes and glared at Heo Ok.
"You're talking like it's none of your business?"
"It isn't my business."
Heo Ok shrugged and turned to Ginen Yuri.
"But it's not a lie. Not that I'm bragging just because he's my grandson—our kid's music is something else."
Ginen Yuri was at a loss for words. No way someone of Jade's stature would lie...
But it was impossible to accept on a common-sense level that this child was making music.
"Then I'll play piano."
At that moment, Yeonwoo spoke up, and all eyes turned to him.
"I'll play the piano."
Yeonwoo repeated himself, looking at Ginen Yuri.
"Will you believe me then?"
"Huh? Uh... yeah..."
Normally, Ginen Yuri might have flicked the kid on the forehead.
Or scolded him for talking nonsense.
But the moment she met Yeonwoo's gaze, her words caught in her throat.
The kid who had been smiling so prettily was now serious, and she felt overwhelmed by his presence.
'Me, Ginen Yuri...!'
Who was she?
A tough Okinawan—no, Ryukyuan woman who never backed down, even when grabbing a man by the collar!
"But there's no piano here?"
Yeonwoo looked at his dad. Jihoon met his son's eyes and let out an "Ah" before speaking.
"Please wait a moment."
For the first time in this Japanese-filled space, English flowed out.
"Oh, your English is good."
Ginen Yuri looked at him in surprise and replied in English. Her English, learned from her grandfather, was no joke.
"Native speakers usually suck at English."
"I'm not Japanese—none of my family is."
"Huh?"
Ginen Yuri looked at Heo Ok.
"Ah, American? Japanese-American?"
"Korean. All of us."
Ginen Yuri was shocked by Heo Ok's words.
She had assumed Jade—Heo Ok—was Japanese-American or Japanese.
She didn't know much about her detailed background.
She'd just vaguely thought so because she worked in Japan and America and had Uesugi Himari as a disciple.
Now that she heard Korean and looked closely, sure enough, she had that Korean vibe.
It reminded her of her mom.
"Oh... Korean...!"
Her exclamation surprised Yeonwoo's family this time.
"You speak Korean?"
"A bit? My mom was Korean."
Grandfather American, mom Korean.
"Our family's a bit complicated. But wow... Jade is Korean. How come no one knew?"
"Who knows? I never made a point of announcing it."
Ginen Yuri was about to ask why when Jihoon, who had stepped out, opened the door again.
He shook a case and said,
"Yeonwoo always carries this with him."
What Jihoon brought was a silicone roll-up piano.
Yeonwoo looked around and plopped down on the floor.
"Forgot the suspension, so I'll just play this."
He flipped the switch on and glanced around.
Grandma, dad, Grandpa Shunji, Ginen Yuri and her grandfather.
And thanks to Heo Ok, Shunji, and Ginen Yuri, the blue fairy and yellow fairies had appeared.
Yeonwoo liked this atmosphere.
The only downside was that it was a hospital room.
Yeonwoo turned to look at Ginen Yuri's grandfather.
He was a frail old man, withered like a dead tree, devoid of any vitality.
But those eyes—those eyes sparkling with interest as they watched him—still held life.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
Yeonwoo closed his eyes and placed his hands on the keys.
Doo-dooong.
The electronic tone of the roll-up piano was a bit lacking, but its heaviness filled the room.
The heavy piano notes seemed to speak of death without words.
They expressed the inescapable death so matter-of-factly.
Ginen Yuri felt her breath catch at the piano of a seven-year-old.
Just as she wanted to stop it right then—
Yeonwoo's hands began to move lightly and briskly.
The melody that had sung of death was joined by the left hand's lively tune, gradually brightening the song.
No more steadfast old tree in one spot—the atmosphere became bright and vibrant, and Yeonwoo's fingers created swing.
This song was just like her grandfather, who became more childlike and full of life than anyone when talking about jazz.
The piece seemed endless.
That's what jazz was.
If the pianist wanted, they could swing endlessly, continuing the song without limit.
Yeonwoo didn't stop the piano for the people immersed in it.
Not for a full hour, until the roll-up piano's charged battery ran out.
"......"
The listeners, lost in the performance without noticing time pass, lingered in the afterglow for a long while.
"Now do you believe it?"
At Yeonwoo's question, Ginen Yuri snapped to attention.
"Y-Yes! I believe you! I do!"
She had no choice but to believe.
How could she not, with a seven-year-old pulling off such a fantastical performance on that piano?
"Can you raise me?"
In her odd mix of polite and casual Korean, Yeonwoo shook his head.
"Why? I said I'd raise you."
Yuri pointed at Shunji.
Yeonwoo shook his head again.
"You have to pass first."
"Pass?"
"I don't take just anyone."
Yeonwoo said with sharp eyes.
"Now it's your turn, Yuri sis."
Yuri's heart sank at Yeonwoo's piercing words.
Her pride, which had swelled because Shunji himself had come for her overflowing talent, had long been broken.
* * *
"There's not a single company building in Okinawa, so we rented a recording studio in a rush."
Shunji looked around the cramped studio, clearly displeased.
"Couldn't get a bigger one... jeez."
"Quit grumbling and sit down already?"
When Shunji complained about the staff's arrangements, Heo Ok stepped in to stop him.
Shunji groaned and slumped into a corner of the worn-out sofa next to Heo Ok.
Yeonwoo sat right in front of the booth and watched Yuri enter it.
Gazing at her, who looked even darker under the dim lighting, he pressed the talkback button.
"What song do you want to sing?"
Ginen Yuri thought for a moment.
-Cold Night. You know it? Can I sing it?
"No."
-Why? Not good enough yet?
"Your Korean is good, but the pronunciation is lacking. Deduction!"
-Ah... I don't use it much.
Called out on her Korean pronunciation, Yuri blushed.
She always spoke Korean with her mom when alone, so she was comfortable with the language, but since she mainly used Japanese, her pronunciation was a bit off.
"Sing your favorite song. Japanese or English."
-Hmm...
After pondering, Yuri recalled a jazz song her grandfather loved.
-Fly Me to the Moon.
Fly Me to the Moon.
A legendary masterpiece even jazz newbies knew.
Written by Bart Howard, first sung by Kaye Ballard, but remade into a worldwide mega-hit legend by Frank Sinatra.
Yeonwoo knew it well, having heard it plenty.
"Sure, let's hear it."
Yeonwoo cued up the Fly Me to the Moon MR and played it.
Yuri closed her eyes, focusing on the MR, then opened her mouth.
-Fly me to the moon.
Her voice brimmed with power. Bright, vibrant, full of life—what a voice.
Hearing it, Yeonwoo immediately cut the MR.
-Huh?
"Your natural voice isn't jazz."
She freaked out.
-But I want to be a jazz singer!
"But you're singing Fly Me to the Moon like Fly Me to the Sun."
There was no song called Fly Me to the Sun. But unlike the original's subtle moonlight, she evoked bright daylight.
-My grandpa praised me, said I was good...
"You are good. Really."
Her voice was bright and beautiful enough to energize anyone.
Any regular person hearing that song would rave about how cool it was.
"Because he's your grandfather. And you are good."
But Yeonwoo wasn't her acquaintance or a regular person.
He was a producer who raised singers ruthlessly.
"Just from the voice, this person's song suits you better."
Yeonwoo switched to another MR.
A song so famous in Japan, no one didn't know it, no matter how old.
-Blue Coral Reef...!
"Right. This suits you more. Wanna try?"
Yuri hesitated as Yeonwoo replayed the MR.
Having lived like a hermit immersed in jazz genres, she naturally resisted idol songs.
But it was Yuin asking, so she couldn't refuse.
She sang.
-Ah, watashi no omoi wa higashi no sora o wataru wa.
Shunji behind her clenched his fist at her voice.
"This is it."
It wasn't the seductive Mitsuda Seriko voice, but her bright, powerful tone meshed well with Blue Coral Reef.
Yeonwoo nodded in satisfaction, watching blue and yellow fairies pour out.
"Should we raise her as an idol?"
At Shunji's musing, Yeonwoo turned and shook his head.
"No."
"Then?"
"Bring out 100% of her."
Shunji's eyes lit up at Yeonwoo's words.
She already seemed commercially viable, but there was more?
"I see."
"Can we do that?"
Shunji nodded vigorously.
"Of course. The producer is you, Yeonwoo—or Yuin. Do whatever you want."
Yeonwoo nodded.
Because he liked Yuri.
But not yet.
"First, let's check the other one."
"Huh?"
"Next, Hokkaido."
One more person to see.
He wasn't sure if he'd produce both, or just one, but he'd decide after seeing.