Chapter 1.5 - As if Singing 5 (2/2)

It felt nice.

It was merely a dorm used by students but as expected of a rich school, even the bed was high-class.

Remembering harmonics after so long was really a pain…

Perhaps I truly was tired, after lying down for a little, I could feel an overwhelming desire to sleep. As I fought against the sinking eyelids, a low voice suddenly entered the ears.

“Hello.”

Flicking my head over, I found a standing boy smiling amiably. I lowered my gaze onto his name plate.

‘Noh Jusup.’

After staring at the white name knit onto the plate, I turned my head back and delved deep into the pillow. This guy seems to be my roommate – the dorms were apparently two for one room.

“Hi.”

Perhaps he did not understand my gesture showing exhaust, the bed sunk deeply as I felt someone sit down nearby.

Ehew. Right. I need to wash before sleeping and tidy up the room as well. It was weird but it seems that my body got tired more easily despite getting younger. Aren’t high schoolers meant to be flying around? Is it because the body is frail?

As if putting a stop to the small thoughts that popped up like firecrackers, Noh Jusup’s voice was heard.

“You’re from the 10th class right? I’m also from the 10th class – front row.”

“Really?”

Turning my back and looking at his smiling face, I do slightly remember seeing him from the previous life. His somewhat ‘stylish’ hair gelled by wax is funny. I think he was sitting next to Lee Suh-ah?

Looking down at his unkempt nails, it seemed that he was clearly not an instrument-major. What did this guy do again?

“Why?”

“Hmm…”

Let’s see. I could somewhat guess from the way he spoke. A loud, ringing voice making full use of the resonating chambers. This meant he was 99% an opera major, and the voice type… Glancing at his body that reached 180cm and long neck, and putting his low tone to consideration, I had come to a conclusion.

“Bass?”

“Ah? Was it obvious? Huhu, yeah I’m bass. You?”

“…Tenor.”

Males, when roughly divided into their voice types was like this.

Tenor – Baritone – Bass.

A tenor was an opera singer with high tones, a bass – low, and the baritone in the middle. It was a simple overview but that was roughly it. Although you could go further into detail, there was no real need to at this stage.

If anything, I was closer to a baritone, as I couldn’t make a high note – a symbolic aspect of tenors. Evidently from the sight-reading where I was unable to make a not-so high note.

…Perhaps thinking back to that, he looked at me with a weird look.

‘Well, I’ll become a tenor even though I can’t make high notes.’

After seeing me stand straight with the chin up, he shrugged his shoulders saying it wasn’t his business before starting a chatter.

“You’re not from Future Middle High right? I know everyone from there but it’s my first time seeing you.”

“Yeah.”

“I knew it. What did you sing during the admission? I sang O del mio dolce ardor and…”

“Sorry. I don’t remember.”

How would I remember something I sang 20 years ago during the admission test?

So how exactly did I pass the test? If I were to sit the test right now with this body, even I don’t have the confidence to pass.

‘Well, one way or another I guess.’

*

Feeling like the time spent chattering with Noh Jusup was a little wasteful, I lifted the phone up and checked the Future Arts High’s homepage. When I opened the web page up, a little window screen prevented me.

A login screen.

‘Login? To an account from 20 years ago?”

Fortunately, I must’ve saved the account on Google before, as it was logged in straight away. The most important thing was checking the timetables, and when I opened it, an array of subjects appeared.

Comprehension in German. Music Theory. SRMD. Concerted Music. Performance Training…

Hmm, maybe I should take a screenshot and keep it as the phone’s background picture. As I was struggling taking the picture and setting it as the background picture, it reached a topic I couldn’t ignore.

“…did you fight with Song Mirae? I was talking to her before and when your name popped up she made a disgusted expression.”

Song Mirae?

The hands fidgeting with the phone halted slightly, before picking up again.

“I don’t know.”

“Ah what is it? What happened~”

“…”

How would I know something that happened 20 years ago?

As I was reserving for a rehearsing room while ignoring some of the words, an announcement hanging large on the homescreen entered the eye.

[2020 1st Semester Tuition and Practice Fee Information]

[2020 Future Performing Arts High School Entrance Ceremony Information]

[2020 Each Grade’s Textbook List]

[2020 Freshmen Admission Fee Information]

Tuition fee… This was a private school right.

Wait, private school?

“Shi…”

“Huh?”

Ignoring the bewildered Noh Jusup and opening the announcement on tuition fees with trembling hands, there were numbers written next to each item.

Tuition fees, Practical fees, Operating support fees…

And the total payment written beneath.

[Total: 2,982,500 Won]

One, two, three, four… Counting the zeros to the end made me feel a lack of breath.

3 million won.

That was per term in fact. So how much was it per year? The confused head soon gave an answer.

“12 million won…!”

While I was staring dumbfoundedly at the phone, Noh Jusup suddenly approached from behind and showed his agreement.

“Ah, you’re looking at the tuition fees? It’s a little expensive here, yeah.”

“What? A little?”

I found his nonchalant words weird but soon came to an understanding.

This was probably a normal reaction. What would high schoolers know? I didn’t think much of these during mine either. 3 million won just appeared as a number.

‘Whenever I was told to pay, I just handed the letter to my parents without thinking much…’

“Ehew…”

To think an arts school devoured 3 million. And besides, that won’t be the only expenditure.

When preparing for a concour, there were one-on-one lesson fees, accompanist fees, makeup and transport fees to consider… Performing Arts was truly a money-devouring hippo.

‘Should I quit?’

I quickly shook off the sudden thought. Would my parents agree if I suddenly quit, after they paid for all the tuition fees and textbooks?… Even then, the financial situation of my household wasn’t packed enough for me to be carefree.

First, I turned towards Noh Jusup for some information digging.

“Jusup, does our school have scholarship?”

“Un? I don’t really know.”

“…”

This damn school. It doesn’t help because there’s only kids born with golden spoons in their mouths.

Looking at my chilling eyes, Noh Jusup opened his mouth after some thought.

“Ah. While we were attending Future Middle High, Lee Suh-ah was always coming first. She received money from the principal because of that I think. It’s the same high school so there’s probably a similar system.”

“Is that how it is?”

I quickly searched through google.

‘Future Arts High Scholarships’

The very first blog post that appeared had, ‘Future Arts High Full Scholarship! Shall we find out moore?’ as the title.

Good. This appeared to be a post filled with information at a glance.

When I clicked on it, the post soon popped up.

[*^^* Helloo guyss~ It’s Haru Mum heree~

(A bowing emote)

Today~~ We will find out about… the scholarship in Future Arts Highh~~~! *^^/

Did you guyss know… that there was a full scholarship in Future Arts High!?

(An emote looking back with a surprise)

…]

Reading it for a while made the head turn.

‘Did they write like this 20 years ago?’

I suddenly noticed the evident generation gap.

There’s a need to be friends with the students… It seemed that I have to learn these recent trends to be able to adapt more easily. I’m pretty much an old man 20 years older after all.

After some thinking, I shook my head.

‘… Let’s think about it later.’

Roughly, the post meant something like this. The Future Arts High under the, so famous Future Foundation, and it being a private school meant tremendous admission and tuition fees. To support this, the students with great grades would be given full scholarships each semester… and the conditions were simple.

– Future Arts High 1st in grade.

– Or a result very close to that.

…No, isn’t the Future Foundation being too stingy? I have to come first out of the 150 Music Department students?