Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“Because you’re the best.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Mental state seems not intact, but skill is superior to us, right?”

Is that the extent?

Of course it’s right that I do better, but I haven’t properly shown that yet?

Last time when singing the song I think I showed excessive over-acting drunk on emotion.

“A guy who has no reason to be humble is acting humble so I’m angry.”

“Yeah. Seoha. That gaze right now has a bit of a problem.”

I was briefly shocked at Lee Doyoung’s point, but soon recovered.

Probably because our members have good ears for listening to music.

To the degree of catching even the skill lurking deep inside that I couldn’t properly show.

Even if a bit lacking now, these friends are ones who have the talent to succeed in the music scene sufficiently.

Such guys follow my words well?

I like it.

In the past life something like the 31,848,575th song selection meeting opened every time trying to select one song.

“Then I’ll be the leader.”

“What? That’s a different problem. In a band the leader is naturally the guitarist. I know you do well but leader is a bit not.”

“Um, Seoha. Wouldn’t it be better for the leader to be someone who has done it? I’m the class president after all.”

“Hey, if you put it that way I should do it, I’m Cheongsol High student council president.”

The reaction is intense.

“Didn’t you say I’m the best?”

“Originally the ace doesn’t do the leader. A person who can embrace even the ace has to do the leader.”

Like that the 1st leader deciding meeting was held, and in the end rock-paper-scissors started.

Whether heaven helped or not, fortunately the winner was me.

Perhaps this is a miracle as valuable as regression?

“Good. With the leader’s authority I’ll add one song selection.”

“What? Let’s do four songs?”

“There has to be a song I decide too.”

“Even though not even a player.”

“Ignoring vocal remarks right now?”

“Eung eung.”

“Ah, I don’t know about that, I’ll do this.”

I proposed a selection with a new song.

When the song played the members made puzzled expressions.

“What, it’s Japanese music?”

“Unexpected selection? What music is it?”

“Uh, this is, that is...”

While I was mumbling Lee Doyoung found something and played it.

“Um, seems like animation music?”

The members who confirmed the video Lee Doyoung played naturally looked at me with very serious expressions.

“You... watch this kind of thing?”

“No. This isn’t something I like...”

“No need to be embarrassed. I think I can respect this kind of hobby too.”

“Seoha has unexpected corners.”

“No, it’s not something I like.”

“The music isn’t bad. Drums will be done with recorded ones, right?”

“Guitar is flashy and good.”

“Can’t be helped. Since Cha Seoha says he likes it.”

It’s not something I like!

This is a Japanese animation song Kang Min likes!

I selected it because if the performance video is posted on YouTube there’s a one in a million chance Kang Min might see it!

I don’t even know what this is well!

* * *

What were we like in the first life.

Honestly the first start of the band isn’t remembered that largely.

Because I quit taekwondo due to injury, and accepted Lee Doyoung’s proposal without much deliberation.

Rather than wanting to do music, the heart of wanting to do anything seemed bigger.

But I knew these friends were really good guys, and realized how enjoyable doing music all together is.

I also knew I had talent as a vocal, and surprisingly realized that all our members had outstanding talent.

Jumping into music with hope like that was the most beautiful and sparkling memory in my life.

And now.

Memory became reality, and hope became a wish.

So over the past ten days I clearly realized.

This life isn’t living to repay a debt to friends.

It’s living to run toward the light all together.

That start was today’s busking.

* * *

Banwol Park was a place people often visit for walks because there is an empty lot beside a wide lake site.

Time when the sun draws shadows long.

Four boys gathered.

“How do you feel?”

At Cha Seoha’s question Heo Junseong was briefly immersed in thought then opened his mouth.

“Seems like it’ll be unfair.”

“What?”

“After practicing like hell like that, if we ruin the performance it seems like it’ll be unfair.”

“Was it hell-like practice? Wasn’t it ordinary level?”

“...That devil-like guy.”

Cha Seoha who didn’t know the fact that he forced a top idol’s practice routine on a high school band tilted his head, but Lee Doyoung and Kim Jihu were thoroughly on Heo Junseong’s side.

“Then just do well.”

“We will do well? If we can’t do it how much more will you nag.”

“When did I nag you guys?”

“Always, every moment, all the time.”

“Hmm...?”

“By the way, not having drums is still regrettable.”

At Kim Jihu’s words Cha Seoha shrugged.

“You never know. Seeing our performance today a skilled drummer might come looking to do it together.”

“Why would a skilled drummer not have a team?”

“Didn’t even skilled me not have a team?”

“...Annoying.”

“Wow. First time hearing annoying from Kim Jihu’s mouth. Usually it’s hard to be more annoying than that guy.”

“I like Seoha, but he is a bit annoying.”

Cha Seoha who smirked looked around at the members.

They’re talking nonchalantly while setting up their respective instruments, but the hands trembling little by little can be felt.

Everyone seemed to be getting nervous.

Well, band formation is also the first, and ensemble experience among us was also little.

Kim Jihu and Heo Junseong said they had done busking a bit but that was only three or four times total.

Lee Doyoung would be the first.

“Nervous?”

“Nervous what! Not at all!”

Heo Junseong answered while tightly clenching his fist.

Is he trying to endure the trembling.

“Right, you guys aren’t getting nervous right now.”

“I think I am getting nervous.”

Lee Doyoung answered in a trembling voice.

“Seoha, aren’t you trembling?”

“I’m trembling too.”

“Sweat on the hands too?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Seoha you get nervous too.”

“No, this isn’t nervousness. It’s an excited heart.”

Kim Jihu looked at Cha Seoha with an expression that it was fun.

“I also have hands trembling hard just like you guys. Cold sweat seems to come out too, and a mood of not knowing what to do at all. Aren’t you guys the same?”

“Well, it’s similar!”

“I’m the exact same mood.”

“It’s not that there isn’t such a tendency.”

“Then try recalling well. After properly showing what we practiced, the audience’s response and applause.”

At Cha Seoha’s words the three people somehow feel a sense of exhilaration.

“I’m not like that because I’m nervous. I want to quickly show people what we practiced. I want to boast so much I feel like I’ll go crazy!”

At Cha Seoha’s words the three friends’ hearts started pounding faster.

Excitement and fear have the same signal.

Only the difference in the heart that recognizes it exists.

“You guys. How do you feel right now?”

“Excited!”

“Right, I think I’m the same mood as Seoha too.”

Kim Jihu answered with a smile while dropping his gaze toward the keys.

Cha Seoha grinned.

“Then, let’s go.”

Like that their first performance started.

* * *

SUN -

Kim Jihu’s calm piano announced the start of the performance, and Heo Junseong’s guitar conveyed a message to the pedestrians of Banwol Park.

Take a look at this performance once.

It’ll be much cooler than you think.

While the pedestrians’ steps gradually slowed, Cha Seoha’s song departed.

Not a high range.

A singing method expressing as if indifferently spitting out.

An intro that overall doesn’t seem difficult.

An atmosphere that suited a certain relaxed summer evening very well.

“They’re performing?”

“Wow, what. The singing person is good-looking.”

“The kid playing guitar on the left is cute too.”

“That’s bass.”

Music is music but most were captivated by their appearances and stopped their steps.

After all, what’s intense is the first impression visible to the eyes.

But what remains as aftertaste at the end will be the music.

The song progressed.

The vocal gradually raised the pitch, and after the short intro and verse 1 passed the atmosphere reversed in earnest.

Clime on!

Clime on!

Energy that bursts out in an instant as the drums recorded as backing track and Lee Doyoung’s bass join.

That was the power created by everyone’s playing gathering.

People hearing for the first time usually all have their first reaction here.

As expected, are people’s ears all similar.

After passing the first verse and intensity melted into the music, passing pedestrians one by one started becoming audience.

“Wow.”

“What, they’re good?”

The main instrument used in the original song was replaced with guitar.

The newly adopted sharp-toned sound gave off an epic atmosphere.

Following behind that, Kim Jihu’s synth bass.

These two instruments leading as main were like spoilers of this song’s conclusion.

The ensemble was excellent.

Without anyone’s flaw being highlighted, that perfect ensemble of each pulling each other and walking together.

And the following chorus.

If you’re lost and alone

Or you’re sinking like a stone

Clime on!

Cha Seoha thought this was about the point and moved his gaze toward Heo Junseong.

The most important part in is not the piano intro that bestows ample leisure.

Not the verse like asking after an old friend’s well-being, nor the chorus that makes a smile come out naturally.

The 19-second guitar solo that appears in the middle-to-late part of the song.

Embracing everyone while seeming intense, looking back while seeming to sprint.

This contradictory sprint of the guitar that seems like it wouldn’t suit anywhere else if not this song.

That was the killing part that completes this song, and the song’s identity.

But...

‘Can you do it?’

Because until now Heo Junseong had not been able to express this sensibility.

Technical difficulty was sufficiently covered with practice.

However, the biggest advantage and disadvantage Heo Junseong has.

Deep immersion.

It was not leaving even a handful of room to look back.

But, Cha Seoha believed in Heo Junseong.

* * *

“Alright, stop! Everyone stop.”

The first day when everyone gathered and practiced to prepare for busking.

Cha Seoha stopped the ensemble again.

Already the 6th stop in the same section.

“Uwaaaaak! It’s me again?”

“Yeah, Heo Junseong. Don’t get excited and play calmly. Only you stand out too much.”

“It’s not easy...”

It was because whenever the guitar solo popped out Heo Junseong would run wild.

Kim Jihu’s face crumpled, Lee Doyoung made a worried expression, but Cha Seoha was different.

“Heo Junseong, listen well. This is amazing.”

“...What is.”

“Ordinary guitarists can’t immerse that deeply in all practice. But running wild means you immersed to the point of not being able to look around.”

“...”

“So you’re a person who plays with a narrow and deep sense. In other words, a person whose skill can evolve only if the sense evolves one stage.”

“Sense...”

“There is no music that exists as a single note in this world. Is there a need to go all the way to music? Even the C chord played the most in the world is three synthesized notes, right?”

Look back.

Because there will be a cooler sound there.