Goldfish's Dream

The practical entrance exam at Seolhwa Arts High School assigns a total of six faculty members per department—including the department head—as examiners.

Because there are so many applicants, they divide them into two teams of three examiners each per major to keep the process moving efficiently.

As a side note, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the head of the Practical Music Department had no choice but to serve as an examiner for the vocal major again this year.

That was because there was another teacher in the composition major who could anchor the panel just as well as the department head.

Every year, exceptional students from across the country gather at Seolhwa Arts High School, which means the lineup of teachers guiding them is equally impressive.

With renowned singers, instrumentalists, and producers whose names alone carry weight, the school’s reputation naturally soared.

Among them was a female teacher in the composition department known as Shin Yu-ra.

She was someone the current principal of Seolhwa Arts High School had personally recruited after considerable persuasion.

Anyone dreaming of becoming a producer or idol would undoubtedly know her stage name.

Her stage name was simply Yura, taken from her given name without the family name.

A singer and producer with eighteen years of experience, she was a founding member and honorary director of Flow Entertainment—one of the current Big Three entertainment agencies.

Having helped elevate Flow Entertainment to its current status, Yura’s prestige as a singer was immense, but her reputation as a producer was every bit as formidable.

It was often said that every song released by Flow Entertainment at one point had passed through her hands.

Her greatest strength lay in hook songs—those rhythmic, short refrains and repetitive lyrics that captivate listeners’ ears.

And nothing paired better with hook songs than idol tracks. In fact, most of the idol groups that rose to fame under Flow Entertainment had done so with Yura’s songs.

That such a woman had taken on a teaching position at Seolhwa Arts High School starting last year was quite unusual.

Ironically, it had happened because the artist known as Shin Yu-ra—who had produced countless hit songs—had recently been unable to deliver musically.

And Yura herself knew exactly why.

Somewhere along the way, after achieving commercial success, she had lost her passion for music.

She had only written safe, formulaic songs in order to keep churning out hits.

Those two things had come together, and Yura finally realized it.

She was in a slump.

That was why she decided to completely change her environment.

Around that time, the principal of Seolhwa Arts High School had offered her a temporary teaching position.

The idea was for her to refine the fresh, pure sounds that students brought in.

Yura thought it wasn’t a bad proposal.

What she needed right now was nothing other than inspiration.

In that sense, listening to students sing about their hopeful dreams might just spark something new.

But…….

Yura’s face had remained completely expressionless ever since the practical exams began.

That meant not a single song had caught her interest.

The reactions of the teachers sitting on either side of her were exactly the same.

What kind of songs would students applying for the composition major reference most often?

Most would naturally turn to the year’s biggest hits.

After all, there had to be a reason those songs became the most popular—not just luck.

Yura let out a deep sigh.

If Yura was the sun that had already risen, then Haon was the new sun rising among composers.

No—it wasn’t even rising. It had completely taken over the market from the moment it appeared.

Part of the reason was undoubtedly the genius vocalist Baek Yerin who worked with him, but there was a simpler explanation.

The songs were just good.

That simple yet incredibly difficult phrase perfectly described Haon’s music.

His songs had a mysterious power to move people’s hearts. They possessed an inexplicable charm that made you want to keep listening.

But was that easy to do?

Even Yura, who was considered a commercial success, only managed to seduce the ear.

That was precisely why the composer named Haon was considered special—and why no student could possibly imitate him.

In fact, trying to do so would only have a negative effect.

Still, she couldn’t blame the students for feeling that way.

Was there a single aspiring composer who hadn’t listened to Haon’s music and thought, I want to make something like that someday?

At any rate, Yura was starting to think this year would also be a bust.

No student had brought anything truly special.

Not even among the current students…….

Yura sighed again at the thought.

It was then.

The teachers were having an unusually animated conversation while reading the next applicant’s personal information.

Yura, who had been quietly listening in, couldn’t help but feel a spark of interest this time.

Ryu Se-a was currently the best output among Seolhwa Arts High School’s enrolled students.

The performance and song she had shown during last year’s practical evaluation had earned even Yura’s highest praise.

If that was the older sister, what would the younger brother be like?

At the sound of Yura’s voice, the door to the exam room opened with a click. A student stepped inside.

A strikingly handsome face, a physique quite large for a middle schooler, and hands as beautiful and delicate as a pianist’s.

But what caught Yura’s eye most of all was the boy’s clear, steady gaze.

There was no tension or anxiety in those eyes.

They were perfectly calm. Unlike every other applicant so far, this boy showed not the slightest trace of nervousness.

This was Ryu Se-a’s younger brother…….

He did seem to resemble her in some ways.

Both Yura and the other teachers couldn’t help but look puzzled when they heard the title.

It was only natural—the name itself sounded completely unfamiliar.

Ryu Won immediately assumed the proper posture at Yura’s words.

Without any hesitation, he began playing the guitar. A gentle acoustic melody filled the examination room.

While watching a goldfish swimming leisurely in its tank, Ryu Won had first thought:

It looks stupid.

The strong impression that goldfish only have a three-second memory naturally led to the word “stupid.”

But when he searched it online, he learned that was completely wrong.

A goldfish’s memory actually lasts at least three months.

After learning that surprising fact, Ryu Won realized he had been looking at goldfish through the lens of prejudice. Words began to fill his mind.

Maybe…….

Ryu Won continued playing the guitar with a clean, tranquil touch.

The melody wrapped around the ear so comfortably that the teachers felt their hearts naturally relax.

And then—

The moment she heard the bright, cheerful hook, Yura couldn’t help but smile faintly.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The song’s flow felt incredibly natural.

The gentle guitar melody from the beginning gradually picked up speed as the song progressed. By the time it reached the chorus, all traces of tranquility vanished, leaving only bright, hopeful sound.

Just like the lyrics—swimming forward without hesitation toward one’s dream despite prejudiced eyes.

Yes. In a way, it was an extremely simple structure.

Yet paradoxically, it didn’t feel simple at all.

The plain lyrics that seemed to freely speak whatever the writer wanted to say,

the melody line that wrapped perfectly around the ear using nothing but guitar—these things made the song special.

And that in itself was proof that the composer named Ryu Won was highly skilled.

……No.

Calling a student “skilled” was a contradiction in itself.

In this case, it was simply talent.

And if other instruments were added on top of this…….

While Yura was thinking that, Ryu Won’s song ended in the blink of an eye.

She had thought the other applicants’ three minutes felt unbearably long… but this time was different.

Only then did Yura realize why the boy sitting before her—Ryu Se-a’s younger brother—had chosen the composition major instead of vocals.

At this level, he must already know it himself.

That while his voice was good, he possessed an even more special talent for composition.

Perhaps one day he would astonish the world just like the composer who was currently shaking up the industry.

That was why Yura asked the boy who had finished singing,

Not being shaken by anyone’s judgment and walking one’s own path.

That was exactly the path Ryu Won pursued.

And he had always lived that way…….

—Won-ah!

Thinking of a certain girl who always smiled brightly at him, Ryu Won smiled faintly.

Yes. Of course that wouldn’t change in the future either.

Ryu Won was momentarily flustered by Yura’s question and ended up telling a lie.

In his position, he had no choice but to lie.

But—

Upon hearing his answer, Yura gave Ryu Won a warm, friendly smile and said those words.

Her eyes were practically dripping with honey.

Ryu Won instinctively swallowed hard.

……What is this?

It’s scary.