The Importance of Immersion
In my previous life, the elements I considered most important when creating music were design and structure. I believed a song could only appeal to the masses if it was built on a rock-solid foundation before any melody was layered on top.
Looking back now, I suspect the reason I thought that way was simply because I never sang the songs myself. There was no joy in the process, and music made out of obligation could never carry a soul.
In this life, as time has passed, I’ve gradually come to understand that the single most vital thing in making music is immersion. Most of my hit songs were born during those moments of total absorption—forgetting about time, hunger, everything except the melodies that hooked themselves into my ears. The results that emerged from that state almost always possessed a special charm, even to me.
“...This one feels genuinely special, doesn’t it?”
This track, however, was different in a way. I had deliberately gone to an amusement park hoping for inspiration, and a melody had burst into my head with startling clarity. The process of shaping that spark into something concrete hadn’t been short by any means… but the finished piece was more than good. It was the kind of song I wanted to release to the world immediately.
“Should I send it over anyway? Honestly… I’m only saying this now, but using a song this strong for a tie-up almost feels like a waste.”
“…Commercially, maybe. But I’m doing this for my own satisfaction.”
“Even so, isn’t the second Mikansei album already falling behind schedule?”
He had a point. I had been so absorbed in the tie-up work that everything else had ground to a halt. The Mikansei album could wait, but delaying Noiris’s project would cause real problems.
I avoided Hajun’s eyes and answered carefully.
“…I’ll finish it by the deadline. There’s still plenty of time left.”
“If it’s too much, you don’t have to. A group like Noiris can always bring in good tracks from outside producers.”
“Once I’ve started, I want to see it through.”
It was true that I had been paying less attention to Noiris lately. That didn’t mean I was willing to hand a group I’d taken charge of over to someone else. Setting everything else aside, Noiris itself had tremendous potential. The Y2K concept and Jersey Club genre I had introduced from my past life had sent their chart performance soaring. I genuinely believed they could one day stand at the very top of the girl-group world.
Naturally, I had no desire to watch anyone else’s name carved into the legacy they would build.
“Just don’t overdo it. You’re still young—your health comes first.”
“To be honest, I’m resting enough.”
These days were a little busy, but normally I didn’t have that many tasks. After all, my role was limited to the musical side. If that hadn’t been the case, maintaining this level of personal activity would have been impossible.
“In any case, I’ll pass this track to the Japanese branch. They already said the previous version was more than good enough… they’ll be thrilled with this one.”
“I don’t need to go in person?”
“No. The branch there is fully staffed and running smoothly.”
With that much money, anything was possible. A company the size of Blue Sky Entertainment establishing a Japanese branch to enter the market should have been unrealistic, yet here we were. Rumors said they had loved the final version I sent. They had even mentioned wanting to collaborate again if a second season was produced… though I privately doubted whether a niche sports story like The Empress on Ice could generate enough popularity for a sequel.
Some time later, I received the completed video: my song paired with the animation’s music video.
“…Wait. This quality is no joke.”
The direction was overwhelming. The piece opened with a rhythmic violin and synth melody that swelled together. On screen, the long-haired protagonist tied her shoelaces with a look of fierce determination. Then the scene expanded across the ice rink, filled with girls in motion. The animation itself was beautiful, but the skating sequences and the way fine ice particles sprayed upward were absolutely breathtaking.
“Come to think of it, there weren’t any major anticipated releases this quarter…”
None. No second or third seasons of popular titles, no major adaptations from heavyweight manga or light novels.
“…Maybe it has a real shot at succeeding?”
Still, everything takes time. Even after recording, mixing, and mastering were complete, the song could not be released yet. The anime was scheduled for the following quarter, and tie-up songs were traditionally unveiled right before or during the broadcast window. The contract also clearly stated the release date.
In the meantime, I had plenty to keep me occupied. I needed to compose several tracks for both Blooming and Noiris, attend school diligently to make up my insufficient attendance days, and—most importantly—prepare for middle school admission.
I also had to attend the arts middle school interview for grade skipping.
And it was there, at the interview venue, that I saw an unexpected face.
“So… Yujin unnie?”
“Ah, ahaha… Long time no see.”
So Yujin, who had shared the dorm with me during Singer Star, had suddenly appeared in the role of teacher.
To be honest, there is a group chat for the Singer Star Top Ten, but I don’t check it often.
“…I did mention that I’d also become a school teacher.”
“S-sorry. Hehe.”
If I were still an adult, it would have been a serious breach of etiquette, but right now I was simply an adorable elementary-school girl. A single “hehe” was enough to resolve everything.
Because I’m cute.
“Siyeon can get away with it. You’re busy, after all.”
“B-but will you be sitting in on the interview too?”
“No? As a new teacher this year, I’m only handling management.”
The waiting room was still empty. I had arrived unusually early, but perhaps there weren’t many students being interviewed today.
“Ah, today is only for the special-talent students. There aren’t many kids… It’ll probably just be some basic questions and then we’re done.”
“…Isn’t this a special favor?”
“R-right? Since it’s an arts middle school, active professionals inevitably receive special treatment. You’ll pass for sure, Siyeon.”
It seemed likely. Even if it sounded a little self-satisfied, with my name recognition they could hardly fail me on the entrance exam. I simply hadn’t expected them to be so openly blatant about the preferential treatment. But since it was a private institution, the state wouldn’t interfere, and those receiving the benefits were happy, so the system continued without issue.
“…How have your activities been lately?”
Yujin wasn’t a charting artist, but she was steadily carving her own path in the OST world. Her unique, voice-actor-like tone and distinctive timbre were her strengths; she mainly sang for domestic otaku games.
“There have been so many game OST requests lately, it’s wonderful! My goal is to eventually sing for Japanese anime soundtracks, so I have to keep working hard.”
“Hehe, fighting.”
Honestly, for a Korean singer to land a Japanese anime OST? It wasn’t easy. Especially difficult as a solo artist. It wasn’t without reason that I had said entering Japan under the name Seo Siyeon wouldn’t be simple.
In my case, I might be able to force my way through somehow… but for Yujin, it won’t be easy.
When I entered the interview room, an elderly gentleman who appeared to be the principal sat with several teachers. The questions were purely personal. When they asked about my planned return, I was slightly flustered but answered that I was thinking sometime around the middle of next year and moved on.
Before lunch I left the school, only to find multiple messages from Hajun waiting on my phone.
“Huh? Leak…?”
I opened Twitter immediately and ran a search. The cause was instantly obvious.
“…Just how good was it?”
There was no direct mention of Mikansei, but because Akane had frequently praised Mikansei’s songs on Twitter, the fact that I was the one behind the tie-up was exposed almost instantly.
“…Well, does it really matter?”
Apparently it mattered to quite a few people. Starting the very next day, unpleasant malicious comments began flooding Mikansei’s YouTube channel.