Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Ears and Eyes (2)
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The sound of footsteps descending the stairs quickly was heavy. The man irritably ruffled his hair and let out a small breath.
Han Yong-seong had just returned from training in Austria.
Around this time of year, many performers and educators cleared their schedules and came back to Seoul.
To put it simply, it was like a visiting professor system for teachers who couldn't commute to school year-round.
"Oh, Mr. Yong-seong? You're back?"
"We missed you so much! Are you staying at school now, sir?"
"Our teacher's so cool! I watched your concerto on YouTube last time, hehe."
"Well, thanks for that. It's been a while, everyone."
Han Yong-seong gave a casual hand wave to the third-years who recognized him and kept walking.
He was headed to the piano tuner's office in the school.
He'd snuck back into school without anyone knowing, and the first piano he'd touched felt off somehow.
'That welcome sure wasn't to my liking.'
Whenever he performed, if the piano's sound didn't sit right, he'd call the tuner immediately.
It was like he couldn't rest easy until he wrestled the instrument into producing the tone he wanted.
He didn't know much about tuning, but he could spot a problem with the piano in an instant.
"You in there?"
His short knock was answered by a seasoned voice as the door opened.
"Ah, it's been a while. What an honor to see you again."
"I'm not that precious. How've you been? Staying healthy?"
"Living with students like my grandkids keeps both body and soul in shape."
He was the dedicated tuner for Ye-rim Arts High School, a familiar face to Han Yong-seong for years.
The tuner gently brushed back his silvery white hair and asked,
"What brings you here so soon?"
"I come back after ages, and the piano welcoming me is acting up."
"Which practice room?"
"Sixth floor, Lesson Room 1. Can't teach properly with a piano like this."
"Let's go check it out."
Han Yong-seong led the way to the lesson room, ahead of the slightly hunched tuner.
Faint woodwind notes and the swish of a broom echoed down the hallway.
'Hm?'
When he stood before the piano, the first thing that caught his eye was a pink Post-it note.
D4 string seems loose, and C5 has a clunky sound, probably the hammer.
'What's this?'
Han Yong-seong peeled off the note and scanned the room.
Had someone slipped in while he was out? He didn't remember seeing any students in the practice hall corridor.
Maybe someone overheard his grumbling about the piano. Whoever it was, messing with a teacher like this was going too far.
He crumpled the note irritably and shoved it in his pocket, then rattled off details to the tuner.
"Got it. Mind closing the door for a sec?"
The tuner, having heard the issues, unpacked his tools and started working on the piano.
After some tests, he peered over his glasses and turned his head.
"When you press the C5 key, it feels like your finger stops midway, right?"
"C5?"
"Take a look."
Sure enough. The hammer attached to the C5 key sat just a hair higher than the others.
"Its spring tension's weaker too. A little filing should fix it. You noticed quick."
Han Yong-seong's hand twitched in his pocket. A strange unease kept him from speaking.
"Two keys total. D4's string is a bit slack, pitch is low. Not by much in hertz... but your ear's always been sharp."
Han Yong-seong hastily pulled out the crumpled Post-it and unfolded it. It matched the tuner's diagnosis exactly.
'...So this was real?'
As the tuner prepped to fix the piano, Han Yong-seong asked urgently,
"Didn't see any students on the way?"
"Weren't we walking together?"
"Right. No CCTV here? Maybe installed while I was gone."
"Cameras in practice rooms? How could students relax? Even you back in school days came to me often..."
"Come on, no need for old stories."
Leaving the chuckling tuner, Han Yong-seong stepped into the hall and checked the ceiling cameras. No angle covered this room.
The students he'd passed had just been the girls who'd greeted him, and that was a floor down.
'...The broom?'
Suddenly, the fleeting figure he'd glimpsed darting from the room flashed in his mind.
A late night, clouds veiling the moonlight.
Lee Jin-seong was alone in the editing room next to the Broadcasting Club.
His passion for content never dimmed. He even pushed aside the upcoming dance department exam.
For him, Ye-rim Arts High School channel subscribers mattered more than his grades.
"How's the dance department the least popular..."
The monitor showed YouTube view stats. Dance videos got views but short watch times.
Viewers skipped the dances, just glancing at the students' looks.
'It's music after all...'
Music content, especially piano, topped average views. The most popular instrument—expected.
'Do-hyun's video did well. Maybe get some freshmen too.'
As Lee Jin-seong reviewed his planning notes, the door burst open.
"Ooh, Jin-seong! Sis came to check what you're up to alone at night!"
Jeong Da-eun, his friend, lugged a bulky horn case. Lee Jin-seong waved back.
"What're you doing this late? Not sleeping?"
"Just finished practicing."
To her puzzled tilt, he sighed in exasperation.
"Always first place, yet practicing all day."
"That's why I'm first—constant practice. You wouldn't get it. That's what kids who never placed say."
"...Sorry, Da-eun."
She plopped beside him with a goofy grin.
"So, when you gonna tell me that improv kid's name?"
"Still on that? Time to let it go."
"I'm dying to know! Spill!"
Jeong Da-eun jumped up, prowling the room noisily.
"Huh? Who? C'mon, just for me?"
"You're the only one asking. How's it 'just for you'?"
"Jerk!"
"Told you, filmed under strict secrecy. Hard to book even me."
Spinning his chair to face her, Lee Jin-seong sighed shallowly.
"Plus, a senior like you showing up? Freshman'd freak."
"Psh, me?"
"You'd trail them like now for club or marching band visits. It's obvious."
"Busted."
She roared with laughter, pounding his shoulder.
Her smile faded gradually.
"Plays amazingly. Driving me nuts, I love it."
Her tone chilled despite the words.
Lee Jin-seong stared into her dark eyes.
She wasn't being superficial. When it came to music matching her taste...
Jeong Da-eun always obsessed strangely.
"It was good."
He didn't mention rebooking Kwon Do-hyun.
She swung her legs from the chair, grumbling.
"Wanna drag 'em to our second-year orchestra. Something like Piano Concerto No. 2. With a killer cadenza, hmm."
"Only you'd get that here."
Staring blankly at the ceiling, she clapped suddenly.
"You know I handle wind instruments? Listen, two freshmen did campus service this week."
"The gift card gig?"
"Yeah. One spotted a busted part after one scale. Wild, right?"
Her cheer returned, face lit with awe.
"Just one listen?"
"Piano major~ How'd they catch the woodwind? Shocked me."
Lee Jin-seong nodded thoughtfully. Would've been great for freshman vids. Regret stung.
"Who? What class? Now I'm curious."
"You won't spill yours, but want me to? All talk?"
"C'mon... I got reasons."
"Kidding. Kwon Do-hyun. Didn't ask the class."
"...Kwon Do-hyun?"
Lee Jin-seong paled, stammering. Jeong Da-eun pressed on.
"Handsome, great on camera? Never heard proper playing. Might peek at qualifiers or practicals."
"Seconds-years can watch?"
"Ditch a bit."
Lee Jin-seong pondered deeply. Kwon Do-hyun, stressing 'debt', doing service for school gift cards.
'...Family short on cash?'
Nothing wrong, but he felt oddly guilty toward Kwon Do-hyun.
"You've improved lately."
"You think?"
"No sticking points."
On the way to the major classroom.
Lee Seong-hyuk raved about yesterday's practice, adding praise.
Improved... Technique smoothing out, technically.
"Three weeks since enrollment. Gotta improve with that practice."
"Say that outside, you'll get rocks thrown. Voice down."
"What."
"Don't underestimate jealousy."
"You jealous too?"
"Sharpening knives behind your back."
"Scary, back off."
I shoved off Lee Seong-hyuk, giggling and clinging.
Anyway, I felt my skills building steadily. Bought stacks of scores and workbooks; confidence swelled inexplicably.
Mood lifted.
Maybe get a progress check from Lee Ha-yeon after more practice.
With that, I flung open the major classroom door.
"Oh yeah, forgot the English quiz."
"Didn't you say second eval notice drops today? What now."
"Dunno, it'll work out."
Lee Seong-hyuk, who said scores count big in piano auditions. No clue his plan.
Scanning the room on entry. First, the whiteboard by the podium.
"You guys early."
"Hi."
Settling in, Lee Ha-yeon and Kim Ju-hee appeared.
"You two hanging out more?"
"Feels like I gotta look after Ha-yeon. Looks fine, but sometimes so naive."
"Nai..."
I chuckled, agreeing with Kim Ju-hee for once. Probably Seo Ye-ri bridged us quick.
Waiting briefly, Mr. Choi Je-hun entered lightly.
"Hope you've practiced hard. Before class, second eval notice first."
"No..."
"Already?"
"Harsh."
Students groaned at the blunt announcement. I poked glum Lee Seong-hyuk teasingly.
"No 'no'. Focus."
Drawing eyes, he wrote pieces on the board.
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21(III. Allegro vivace assai)
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3(III. Rondo Allegro)
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1(III. Allegro con fuoco)
Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky.
Common thread: concerto. Piano with orchestra.
"What, we doing piano concerto?"
"Those are concertos!"
"Just concerto titles, play piano part solo?"
"Ah... One movement's too long."
Murmurs swelled at the unexpected pieces.
I stared, pondering.
'Difficulty's clear-cut.'
Simply: ranked order.
Mozart easiest, Beethoven next, Tchaikovsky hardest.
Easy relative, though.
Mozart simpler, but piano slips stand out clearer.
"Quiet. No choices, sorry. Draw lots."
Worse: lottery for these varied difficulties.
Disappointment, anxiety, chaos on faces. Complaints inevitable.
'Pray? Trust God with this?'
I wanted Beethoven. Tchaikovsky too hard... Prefer Beethoven over Mozart in concertos.
'But really with orchestra?'
School's? Or guest?
Always wanted to try concerto, vaguely. Not this sudden.
More stunned than excited; tension doubled sans details.
"O, Mozart!"
"Tchaik... damn."
"Beethoven... good?"
Names called, kids drew, tasted joy or despair.
Lucky easy draws relieved; Tchaikovsky drawers crumbled.
"Next, Kwon Do-hyun."
"Yes."
Deep breath, to podium. Stared at the lot box.
"Hmm..."
Whatever, I can nail it. Practiced plenty.
They ranked by difficulty, so judging fair. Must be, or Tchaikovsky unfair.
'But Beethoven...'
Cautiously drew and opened.
Tchaikovsky
Seeing it, I let out a hollow laugh.
Nothing to say. Just unfair.