Episode 27
Three days later, I settled on a bench in a plaza filled with benches near the subway station.
This was usually a gathering spot for people making plans, so it was a busy place.
Plus, there was a piano donated by a musical instrument company, where occasional performers showed off their skills.
“Are you all set for the shoot?”
“Yep, we’re already rolling, so don’t worry.”
“Okay, I trust you, older sister.”
After wrapping up the call with my older sister, I put down the acoustic guitar I had prepared next to the piano and set up the microphone and audio equipment.
People glanced over, probably thinking a performance was about to start.
However, most just walked past me, showing little interest.
I was confident. In just 10 minutes, their attitudes would change.
After finishing the setup, 5 minutes before the agreed time with Gaeul, she showed up.
She had her hair in a ponytail, which she usually kept tied back for convenience, but it was clear she had put in extra effort today.
Her bangs had a perfect wave from an ancient-looking hair curler, and the sparkling beads on her black hair tie were a new touch I had never seen on her before.
Her lightly drawn eyeliner and warm-toned makeup made it seem like she wasn’t wearing much, yet it added a sparkle to Gaeul’s face.
This look was also something I hadn’t seen while she was working part-time.
Her outfit didn’t seem all that different from her usual cheap blouses at first glance, but it boasted a crisp white color that looked freshly worn.
Combined with a brown tennis skirt, it suited her perfectly.
Overall, she had definitely put effort into her appearance for this outing.
Gaeul was looking around near the benches, and when she found my face, her expression brightened as she excitedly gripped her skirt and walked over like she was skipping.
“Wow, Team Leader Seon, you got here first! I wanted to come sooner, so I was ready to sprint as soon as my shift at the bakery ended! So, as soon as I had the chance, I ran like a track star but… I lost! It’s such a shame! How long have you been waiting? Did you have an easy time getting here?”
“Well, since I didn’t come here after work like you, it’s only natural for me to arrive early. I’m thankful that you managed to get here before the appointed time.”
“Hehe…”
“The trip was quite pleasant. Thanks for your concern.”
I tapped the microphone to check if it was working, then said,
“By the way, your dress code today is simply gorgeous. You could debut right now!”
It seems like I’ve got a beauty potential with an A+ rating. I must be talking about Yoo Gaeul, who could be a center-level idol.
Gaeul blushed, scratched her head, and said, “…Actually, I’ve never set up an appointment with a guy my age. I thought I should show a not-embarrassing side of myself.”
“Guy your age?”
But there are only the two of us here. Who is she talking about?
“Yes! Team Leader Seon!”
I felt puzzled and asked, “Aren’t we not the same age?”
“Ah! How old are you, Team Leader Seon?”
“Thirty… no, twenty-five.”
I almost slipped my age from before my regression but quickly corrected myself.
“Then, that makes us the same age! I’m seventeen in Korean age!”
…But isn’t that still not the same age?
It was a bit strange, but I decided to take it positively, meaning she felt a sense of closeness.
Gaeul looked over the instruments and asked, “By the way, what’s with all the instruments? Is there a band coming?”
“Band?”
“Yes, a band!”
Realizing Gaeul was misunderstanding, I chuckled mischievously and said, “Oh, there is one.”
“Wow! Where are they?”
Gaeul started looking around for the band.
Not wanting to drag it out, I gave her the answer straight away. “They’re right here.”
“Right here?”
“Yes, you and me!”
“…Me?”
Gaeul looked around at the people nearby. Maybe it was her beauty attracting some attention because people started gathering around.
She took a small step back and said, “You’re joking, right?”
“I’m not joking. Today, you’re the vocalist and guitarist.”
Gaeul shook her head vigorously and said, “I can’t do it!”
“Why not?”
“Well, I’ve never sung in front of people before.”
“Then, you can just try it out today.”
“The last time I sang was over two months ago!”
“Then let’s start with an easy song to warm up your voice.”
Gaeul, you can’t run away now. Since you’re here, there’s no way I’m letting you off the hook.
Gaeul, sweating and looking around nervously, said, “…Can I run away?”
“Is that so?”
“It’s kind of troublesome if you flee. I mean, you never said I couldn’t sing. I’ll pay you properly, too. You even said it was fine to refuse if it was something strange. But isn’t this not strange at all?”
Five times the hourly wage didn’t just fall from the sky.
You get what you work for.
“So, what did you expect when you came out, Gaeul?”
“Well, um…”
Gaeul blushed mid-sentence and quietly strapped on her guitar in front of the microphone.
I was a little curious about what she was going to say, but looking at her flushed face, I doubted she’d share it.
For now, I pushed down my curiosity and clapped my hands to welcome her.
“Welcome to the band!”
Gaeul, who was hiding her flushed face by looking down, suddenly asked as if she just remembered something.
“By the way, how did you bring the guitar?”
“…Huh? I just rented it from the instrument shop. Were you asking how I transported it?”
I just put it in my bag and carried it over. Was there anything special about that?
Gaeul waved her hands in denial.
“No, that’s not it. If I can’t play the guitar, then that guitar is pointless.”
“But you know how to play, don’t you?”
“That’s true, but… Team Leader Seon never asked me if I had ever played the guitar, right? I never mentioned it either.”
“You wouldn’t not know.”
I chuckled softly.
“The unique calluses on your fingers only come from long hours of practice on the guitar, you know.”
With only a few artists and sessions I’ve seen, how could I not tell?
Gaeul looked startled and glanced at her hands.
Then her face reddened, and she hid her hands from me.
“Why are you hiding your hands?”
“Listening to you made me suddenly realize my hands are ugly.”
I couldn’t help but feel that high school sensitivity is quite delicate, so I showered her with compliments.
“Don’t worry. The part I think is the prettiest about you, Gaeul, is your hands.”
That’s proof that someone with S-grade talent also puts in the effort; how could they not be pretty?
A trainee with talent, effort, and good character looks beautiful just breathing.
“So please, don’t hide them. It would be a shame.”
Hearing what I said, Gaeul’s already flushed face turned even redder.
I thought it was quite easy for her to turn red over something that wasn’t even that grand. She must have a shy personality.
When I thought about appearing on screen, I realized I had to apply my makeup heavily in a white tone.
Shaking her head to regain her complexion, she asked me.
“By the way, Team Leader Seon, did you know how to play the piano?”
“Yes, I can play enough so I don’t become a nuisance.”
In fact, playing the piano was one of the few hobbies I had kept since the last season, so I knew the basics.
I had no trouble playing by reading sheet music.
Today, I was planning to rely on the power of rewards.
“It’s time. Shall we start singing? It seems the audience is waiting.”
There were quite a few people gathered, whether it was because they came to see Gaeul’s face or the hint of the performance beginning.
She was nervous, shivering slightly at the gazes from the crowd as she placed her fingers on the guitar strings.
Just as she was about to open her mouth to sing, it seemed a thought struck her, and she looked at me and said.
“Ah! But what should I sing?”
“You can sing a song Gaeul likes. You have a lot of favorites or pieces you’ve been practicing, right?”
Gaeul scratched her head, looking a bit flustered.
“But the songs I like and practice are a bit obscure. You might not know them, Team Leader Seon.”
“I can play. You don’t need to worry.”
“…But we’ve never played together before, right?”
“It’s okay. I can play anything.”
“Anything?”
I opened the reward window and used ‘Jukebox at My Fingertips.’
[The Jukebox at My Fingertips is activated. For 3 hours, you can perform any existing song with any instrument.]
As my fingers touched the piano, thousands upon thousands of songs swam in my mind.
Punk, jazz, classical, ballads, rock—no genre was left out.
At least in this moment, I felt omnipotent in music.
So I confidently said.
“Yes, anything. Feel free to test me.”
Gaeul nodded, looking bewildered by my bold statement.
“Alright. I’ll believe you since it’s coming from Team Leader Seon.”
Gaeul lightly tuned her guitar and asked.
“Do you know the song ‘Memories of the Sea and Leaves’?”
It was a song I didn’t know.
But as soon as I heard the name, the melody, sheet music, lyricist, composer, and lyrics swirled in my mind.
“Of course, I know it.”
With the power of rewards on my side, I was invincible.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
