Chapter 9
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: What? That's Me?
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The official schedule for the tumultuous first day of school had finally wrapped up.
I left the main building with Lee Seong-hyuk and headed toward the dormitory.
"Here we are, room 502."
"I heard the windows in this wing face the mountain directly."
"Gonna be a mosquito apocalypse in the summer."
I'd been assigned to a two-person dorm room. Single rooms were limited and prioritized for students from out of town.
"But why'd we end up in the same room?"
"Who knows? Fate?"
"That's a bit harsh."
"Come on, we're both in Class A from regular middle schools. We gotta stick together. Plus, you've been grilling me with questions nonstop."
"Fine, fine. Thanks."
For some reason, my roommate was Lee Seong-hyuk. The guy was grinning ear to ear the whole time, like something was hilarious.
'Oh, nice room.'
The assigned room was better equipped than I'd imagined. And pretty spacious too—maybe around 100 square feet?
The wallpaper, window frames, lighting, and flooring all had this subtle air of luxury. It made the millions-of-won tuition fee suddenly make sense.
"Ye-rim really is top-notch, seeing it in person."
"Yeah."
"Myeong-seong wasn't quite like this."
"Myeong-seong?"
Lee Seong-hyuk, who was looking around the room, widened his eyes at my question.
"Our rival school, Myeong-seong Arts High School."
"Rivals between high schools? Sounds like kids playing house."
He shook his head at my scoff.
"It's a proper tradition... You really don't know anything."
A traditional high school rivalry? I'd heard of college rivalries, but high schools felt a bit off.
I shuffled over to the bed and flopped down. The mattress was firm yet cushy—perfect.
"Ah... I'm beat."
As the tension drained from my body, a groan slipped out.
I closed my eyes and mentally recapped the day.
From dawn practices cornered by seniors, to the sudden class placement test, to the stares pouring in. The memories flashed by quickly, but each one packed a punch.
'The big one is making it into Class A.'
That was my dream, but now that it was real, the worries were piling up.
Time in class with all those prodigies and geniuses wouldn't last forever.
To survive there, I'd have to keep proving I belonged in Class A.
'Whatever the process, the opportunity's here.'
Experience told me these chances don't come back if you let them slip.
In the end, I'd just have to do well. Practice like crazy.
No other way around it.
'And tone down the unwanted attention.'
Speaking of, how did practice work here anyway? Childhood memories weren't helping.
"Hey, how'd you practice piano?"
"By playing it."
"...Like at some academy or something."
"Oh, I just went to a music academy. Started in second grade, I think."
Figures...
Not some elite professor, but everyone probably had consistent training from skilled teachers.
Still too early to get down. I didn't know the school system yet—gathering info came first.
Curious about practical classes too, and I'd milk Lee Seong-hyuk's knowledge for all it was worth.
"All rested? Let's grab dinner."
Lee Seong-hyuk, halfheartedly unpacking, stood up and beckoned.
"Dinner? Where?"
"Dorm cafeteria. Honestly more hyped for it than lunch."
"Oh... There's a cafeteria in the building?"
"Down on the first floor from earlier. Come on."
Apparently, breakfast and dinner were usually handled at the dorm cafeteria.
Lunch had been amazing, and now hunger hit, building natural anticipation.
No practice rooms open on enrollment day anyway, so eat up and crash early to recharge.
'Evening rush just starting? It's pretty empty.'
We took the stairs down to the cafeteria entrance.
Different vibe from lunch spot. Wood accents and soft lighting made for a relaxing palette.
Tables and tiles matched tones, evoking a tidy Korean restaurant.
'Two cafeterias, top-quality meals, all free.'
First day magic—everything felt novel.
These scenes would grow familiar, I thought, as I ladled samgyetang into my tray, beautifully presented.
"Hey, look over there."
"Watch your tray. What?"
I toted my tray carefully, then glanced where Lee Seong-hyuk pointed.
"Lee Ha-yeon?"
There she was, eating alone at a corner table far off. No phone, not even earbuds.
Even her chopstick work looked elegant and refined. I stared blankly for a second before looking away.
"Solo dinner? Weird."
"Schedules didn't line up with friends, probably."
Come to think of it, yeah, odd.
Most music majors lived in dorms, so she couldn't lack dinner buddies entirely.
"What if she has no friends?"
"No need to say it out loud."
I shut down the gossip about Lee Ha-yeon with a smack to Lee Seong-hyuk's shoulder and sat.
Sipping the samgyetang broth first, then tearing into the leg meat—put Jongno samgyetang spots to shame.
If meals were always this good, who needs graduation?
"Do-hyun, you heading home weekends? I'm staying here even then. No going back."
"I've got school. Mom'll be sad, though."
"Nah, my mom's accepted she can't cook."
Chatting nonsense over food, the cafeteria gradually filled with students. Suddenly bustling.
"Oh yeah, after classes when we came back, how'd you know the layout so well?"
The school was huge enough to warrant "geography." I recalled Lee Seong-hyuk yapping about buildings and spots.
"Checked the school map ten times before enrolling. Binge-watched Ye-rim Arts High School's YouTube twice too."
"You're insane."
Felt it since morning—this guy's a total maniac.
Wait, what?
"YouTube?"
"Pretty popular. Check it later—it's fun."
"..."
Oh yeah, that existed. No new vids yet, I thought.
"Content's solid. But weirdly, other arts high YouTubes outpace it."
"They bragged about 20K subs."
"Dude, Myeong-seong hit 100K already. 20K's way behind."
100K—not lightweight. Impressive at that age.
Thought our school was big league, but there's higher.
"You know your stuff too? Seen Ye-rim's channel?"
"Uh... Overheard at enrollment."
"Gotcha."
My wild performance going public? Starting to feel mortifying. Total public execution.
As my tray emptied, my phone buzzed suddenly.
Flipped it anxiously—message from Senior Lee Jin-seong.
'Not a gentleman after all...'
Video just uploaded, prize money coming soon.
100K won... Big for a student, but not the point now.
I sighed softly, closing my phone. Then Lee Seong-hyuk's buzzed hard.
"Oh, today's vid dropped."
"...Today's?"
"Yeah, the YouTube one. Notifications on."
Why's he so on top of this?
Knowing or not my inner turmoil, he shoved the screen in my face, eyes sparkling.
"Dude, title's 'Tested Perfect Pitch on Freshmen, and an Improv Master Emerged.'"
Title aside, the thumbnail grabbed me.
Mostly mosaics, but I knew for sure.
'What? That's me?'
It dominated the thumbnail: unmistakably me at the piano.
"When'd they film this? Freshmen, so this morning? You see it on the way?"
Blabbering nonstop.
Super embarrassing right now.
"...Can't I watch alone later?"
"You got nothing else. Come on, together."
He waved his phone hand insistently.
I rubbed my face slowly, then dropped my head.
Basically gave up.
'Fine, see how they edited it.'
With this guy, no escaping it.
Lee Seong-hyuk propped his phone on the table edge.
I propped my chin, watching casually—impressed by the polish. Senior Lee Jin-seong hosting screamed pro.
"That first guy, Senior Lee Jin-seong? He plans most content."
"Yeah?"
"Impressive, solo."
Video ramped up—familiar faces passed. Knew vaguely, names fuzzy.
Some mosaicked students too, so not just me overreacting.
"Whoa, their ear training's real? Even B and C class kids nailing it."
Makes sense—Ye-rim. Everyone breezed level 5.
"Oh, Baek Ji-ho."
Curious how they'd captured him.
"Insane, level 10."
"Fast too."
Baek Ji-ho set his cane down casually, aced level 10 effortlessly, and vanished. Effortless poise.
Ear training and piano skill aren't linked much. But acing both? "Gifted" fits perfectly.
"What? Baek Ji-ho wasn't last?"
"Improv segment coming."
"Right."
Then, my turn hit.
Mosaic or not, facing screen-me was awkward.
Embarrassed, I glanced around. Group huddled over a tablet watching—loud squeals about their cameos. Hard to ignore.
"Hey, this one's good too? You watching?"
"Yeah, uh, solid."
"Sight-singing and Ear-training grades this semester gonna be brutal..."
Lee Seong-hyuk poked me for reactions nonstop.
You'd cheer your own clip like that?
My level 10 clear drew small gasps nearby.
Sheepish half-smile.
"Hidden mission. Improv time."
Here it comes. I leaned back, peeking sidelong.
Familiar movie tune flowed. Screen-me followed, tossing in free improvisations.
'...Huh?'
Something off.
My playing diverged from memory.
Variations richer emotionally, posture sloppier than recalled.
Simply: Did I play like that? Baffling.
No match for my felt impressions.
Too quick to recall perfectly, maybe.
"Whoa... Who is this guy?"
Lee Seong-hyuk gawked, gasping.
Right after Baek Ji-ho—prime comparison bait. Why the awe?
'Should've begged mid-order slot.'
Bearing anonymous shame, suddenly he paused the video.
"Why stop?"
"Said it was freshmen only."
He sighed low, shaking his head at me.
"You weren't even watching properly."
"No, I was focused."
"Forget it. Better not watch."
"What's up?"
His eyes turned uneasy, tone grumpy.
"It's manipulated. Slap 'freshmen' on title, have a senior play? Funny?"
"Senior?"
"Official school YouTube shouldn't pull this."
What the hell's he on about?