Chapter 5
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Fans and Followers
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The auditorium was in chaos with preparations for the entrance ceremony underway.
It was huge. One had to wonder if it even qualified as an auditorium, with so much empty space scattered here and there due to its massive size.
Down below the stage up front, adults in suits gathered, chatting amiably.
They all look like big shots.
This was Ye-rim Arts High School's entrance ceremony, after all. It wasn't unusual for people to flock here from all over.
I found a decent seat and sat down, scanning the room.
The emcee on stage reviewing the script, the freshmen bustling about and chattering among themselves...
I'm really a high schooler from here on out. That realization hit me. It was amusing how many faces brimmed with tension.
"Why is it so damn cold... isn't it?"
That's when some guy struck up a conversation.
Short-cropped hair, slim face, handsome features. Not a familiar face.
His fingertips, faintly callused, hinted he played an instrument.
"Yeah, and it's March."
"I'm Lee Seong-hyuk, Piano Department. You?"
"Kwon Do-hyun, Piano too."
"Oh, same instrument? You from Ye-won?"
Lee Seong-hyuk asked with eyes full of curiosity.
Ye-won was the affiliated arts middle school under the Ye-rim foundation. Most students took the Ye-won-to-Ye-rim path straight to college, I'd heard.
Why ask about middle schools specifically? To weed out non-Ye-won kids upfront?
The question felt a bit unwelcome.
"Nah, regular middle school."
"Me too! Same instrument and all—talk about a perfect match."
He grinned innocently, rocking his upper body.
Good, not the elitist type I'd feared. My cynical thinking was the problem.
"Lucky us."
"Why are they making us wait so long, anyway? Crank up the heaters already."
Lee Seong-hyuk was the chatty type.
He rambled on about when he started piano, his favorite composers, his audition piece...
I nodded along, killing time.
"Heard this year's freshmen are insane across the board."
"Yeah?"
"Totally. Baek Ji-ho, Lee Ha-yeon... heavy hitters."
"Lee Ha-yeon?"
"You didn't know? She and Baek Ji-ho were the duo from Ye-won."
Lee Ha-yeon was from Ye-rim too? News to me. I'd never bothered checking alma maters on albums.
Might as well give her album a listen now that she's mentioned.
In the future before my regression, Korea's national representative pianists boiled down to two.
Baek Ji-ho and Lee Ha-yeon.
Lee Ha-yeon was a supernova who shot to stardom in the classical world.
She'd been a promising talent for ages, but truly made her name in her late twenties.
For the next four or five years, she swept every concert and competition, showcasing her playing nonstop worldwide.
Like a ghost possessed by a piano she couldn't master in life.
Her relentless schedule even left me awestruck more than once.
As a fan and listener, it was pure bliss—but hell on the wallet.
Her Schumann and Brahms are killer.
Lee Ha-yeon's playing felt warm. Her touch wrapped you in gentle softness.
Not many pianists recorded full collections with such care, so I'd proudly called myself her diehard fan.
Baek Ji-ho and now Lee Ha-yeon in the same school as me...
I tuned out Lee Seong-hyuk's chatter, lost in thought.
My situation? Like this:
Passionately entering draws for every concert, always just watching from afar—and now sharing a school with them for three years.
With them, for three years.
...This is fucking awesome?
The more I mulled it, the wider my grin grew.
No joke, prime opportunity.
Enjoy young prodigies' playing up close, chat music, grab meals together, maybe even snag personal coaching if I played it right.
Bonus: Feed my fanboy heart sharing their space.
Whatever twist of fate, thank you—seriously.
Returning to this warped past felt like the ultimate win. The excitement from eyeing the front gate swelled stronger.
Of course, beyond those two, others could expand my musical world too.
Curiosity struck; I turned to Lee Seong-hyuk.
"Hey, besides Baek Ji-ho and Lee Ha-yeon, any other big names? Good players."
"Not up on the scene? Want piano-focused intel?"
Scene, piano-focused. Sounded pro and reliable just from the lingo.
Lee Seong-hyuk twirled his index finger, beaming. I nodded; he cleared his throat lightly.
"After those two, Myeong Woo-bin and Seol Yu-jin are top contenders. Myeong's got the edge lately. Been controversy for ages, but his form's unreal now. My take's different, though. Check Ye-won middle school practical videos—Seol Yu-jin's Liszt is just... Huh?"
The info dump left me dazed.
Form's good? Controversy? Watching middle school exam vids?
A whole world I didn't know. How'd he know rival school gossip so well?
"Why stop mid-sentence?"
"Over there—that's Seol Yu-jin."
Seol Yu-jin—not a total stranger.
Following his gaze, a girl with a long ponytail strode toward the stage.
Seol Yu-jin... where do I know her from?
Cold eyes, sharp nose, firm lips. Her icy aura and gait screamed haughtiness.
"Oh, right."
"What?"
Studying her face jogged my memory.
First and last time seeing Seol Yu-jin: a concert hall.
Casually booked a newbie recital. Program of only Debussy and Ravel caught my eye.
Even without expectations, her shaky, unconfident playing was tough to endure.
"What's she doing up there?"
"No idea."
All eyes in the auditorium locked on Seol Yu-jin.
She catwalked to the piano, sat like it was hers all along.
Then hammered the keys. Everyone froze, staring blankly.
Liszt... Mazeppa.
Familiar melody from her fingertips.
Infamous for piano technique: Liszt Transcendental Étude No.4, Mazeppa.
She played well, no doubt—hyped among top kids.
But why now? On stage?
The flustered emcee's face said this wasn't scripted.
"What's she doing?"
"Why's Seol Yu-jin up there?"
"Yu-jin's at it again?"
"She's nailing it, though. Extra practice?"
Surrounding reactions confirmed the weirdness.
Oddest part: She ignored it all, immersed solely in her playing. Utterly serene amid the murmurs.
"She always this... off?"
I twirled my finger by my temple at Lee Seong-hyuk.
"Different school, so no clue. Heard she pulls weird stunts sometimes."
The emcee snapped to, scurrying over.
Brief scuffle later, Seol Yu-jin descended with the same icy expression and stride.
No shame, no embarrassment—void of those emotions.
Her heels clicked deafeningly.
Seol Yu-jin...
What happened to make that timid girl from the future like this?
Anyway, talented or not, better if she stayed out of my orbit. Quietly filed that thought away.
The commotion settled; the real ceremony began.
[Next, a congratulatory address from the Central Academy Chairman. Students and distinguished guests...]
Big scale.
From eyeing Ye-rim's front gate to now, the stage felt grand yet straightforward.
Didn't expect the Broadcasting Club's YouTube to be that popular; the fancy building and landscaping looked even more imposing up close.
Seniors lined up outside performing welcome pieces for freshmen, even.
Same for the speech givers.
[To elevate Korea's prestige further, striving toward a bright future and dreams...]
But big scale wasn't always good.
This ceremony? Too many VIPs droning on.
Sunset before speeches end.
"Yawwwn..."
Yawns kept escaping.
I'd stayed awake through reserve training; boredom was killing me. Wanted class and piano already.
[Jin-seong Sunbae]
Snuck a peek at contacts. First exchange post-admission: a senior.
Said she'd notify on video upload—too shy to watch properly.
Sunbae, huh...
Felt childish; I chuckled softly.
"Hyung" was cringier; stuck with "Sunbae." Hyung? After my extra years?
Do all arts high schools run like this?
Tuning out the adults' tedium, I replayed the morning.
Cameras in freshmen faces day one, piano crashers pre-ceremony.
Artists were weirdos, as society said.
Not my place to talk, grunting over piano for three years.
[Now, for the finale: special performance by top freshman practical exam scorer. Guests, please to the stage area...]
Finally, welcome news brightened my face. Done with old folks; instrument sounds incoming.
Stage chairs cleared; piano centered.
First: violin. Then cello, oboe. Jumbled order.
Some familiar faces, some not—fun spotting them. Solid playing too.
"She graduated Myeong-seong Middle but came to Ye-rim? Why?"
Lee Seong-hyuk's gossip spiced it up.
Time passed; piano's turn.
[Next: top piano practical scorer, Baek Ji-ho. Give a big round of applause.]
Baek Ji-ho first.
Casual hair, deep eyes, sharp features, horn-rimmed glasses.
And cane.
"First time seeing him live—cane looks cool on him."
"...Yeah."
Clacking echoed in the hush.
Baek Ji-ho had a leg disability from childhood accident, per interview. Details unknown.
Everyone held breath as he entered unaided.
"Wonder what he'll play—his repertoire's huge..."
I shoved chatty Lee Seong-hyuk aside, eyes glued to stage. On Baek Ji-ho and Lee Ha-yeon, I knew more than him.
Cane propped, he sat slowly. No pause—straight into playing.
Liszt Transcendental Étude No.8.
Slippery 32nds poured out, driving a speedy theme. Rushing vibe mismatched his vibe, but...
Octave handling is killer.
Doubts vanished fast. Overwhelming—pure Baek Ji-ho.
Piece often had players scrambling at brisk tempos; he finished leisurely, unflustered.
Pedaling stunned most. Leg issues should've hampered balance/power, yet left foot controlled masterfully.
Future or now, unreal guy...
Applause thundered.
I clapped slowly, dazed.
"Goosebumps. Same age as us?"
"..."
"No reaction?"
"Shut it and watch."
I waved off his hurt look.
Should've looped Baek Ji-ho's album pre-regression. Hearing this made comparing to future inevitable.
Was academy-era Baek this good...?
[Next performer: top piano practical scorer, Lee Ha-yeon.]
Lee Ha-yeon followed. Her look unchanged from future or now.
Long straight black hair, pale skin contrasting. Slender frame, oversized hands. Soft drooping eyes, light steps.
The Lee Ha-yeon from countless global stages and YouTube.
What'll she play? Can't wait.
Honestly, I'd heard more of her than Baek Ji-ho.
Baek debuted early, got more hype... but her potential edged higher, I thought.
High school live from the future Schumann specialist.
Heart raced; swallowed hard.
She smoothed her skirt back, sat, raised hands gently.
Then struck keys.
...Beethoven?
Beethoven Piano Sonata No.7. Bouncy allegro progression, vigorous yet lovely first movement.
"Hm."
But... something off the more I listened. Was this her style? Mismatched somehow.
Overpowering? Resilient? Hard to pinpoint; brow furrowed.
Music defied clear labels...
Not sure.
Solid pick, but expecting future polished Lee Ha-yeon, it fell flat.
Harder to call perfect like Baek Ji-ho's.
"Now that's it—the Lee Ha-yeon way. Good call coming to Ye-rim. Ear candy daily."
Her piece ended; Lee Seong-hyuk nodded, scribbling furiously in a notebook.
"...What're you doing?"
"This? Just a hobby."
Whistling cheerfully, pen flying. I eyed him oddly.
"Right, hobbies run deep."
Scattered short applause. I smiled faintly, drew a deep breath, stood, and clapped loudest, echoing hugely.
"Dude, what?"
"Applauding."
"That moved you?"
Ignored his nudges.
I'm her fan.
Didn't love it? Irrelevant. Hearing her live here was lifelong blessing.
I kept clapping till last one standing.
...?
Lee Ha-yeon met my eyes briefly, tilted head, then vanished backstage.
Thus, I became the weird guy clapping till end. Used to such stares in future—no shame.
Sat satisfied, nudged Lee Seong-hyuk.
"This building just called the auditorium?"
"Building? Technically the Grand Hall."
Grand Hall. Stage-framed walls, soaring arched ceiling.
Lee Ha-yeon's odd feel? Maybe poor acoustics, like other halls.
Piano didn't punch right.
[This concludes the entrance ceremony. Thanks to all distinguished guests. Students, follow teachers...]
Lee Seong-hyuk and I stretched, groaning in unison.
Finally over, this damn ceremony.
Butt itched; glad to move.
"Where we go?"
"Dunno? Wait—they'll come."
Stretched in seat, glanced around.
Several teachers approached in a line from afar.