Chapter 2.8 - Bit by bit 8 (1/2)

While I was awkwardly going through google maps, Chloe quickly changed the focus of the conversation. She talked about the songs she liked, how it was like living in France, the things that had happened since admission and stories about the Improvement Concert.

Talking on and on about stories with no contextual link seemed to be because she wanted to quickly go over my embarrassment. She was really kind. If it was me, I would’ve used it for 5 years as a teasing material.

Staring at her with admiration, I wanted to do something for her in reply so I opened my mouth.

[Chloe, should I teach you Korean from now on?]

She, who had some yogurt around her mouth opened her eyes wide.

[Sorry?]

[You need to continue attending this school and it would be hard to make friends if your Korean’s not good.]

[Ah… I would appreciate it but wouldn’t it cause you trouble…]

Chloe twisted her hair seemingly feeling apologetic. Well indeed, it was easy to say I’d teach her, but it would definitely eat up some time. While I was biting into the toast, the thing about the Improvement Concert suddenly came to mind.

I need to find an accompanist so I guess that should work.

[If you’re sorry then you can help me a bit as well. I’m going out for the Improvement Concert soon, can you help me for that?]

[Soon?]

[Yeah, in about 3 weeks. Deal?]

When I held out my hand in a fist, after giving it some thought, Chloe smiled and tapped it lightly.

Deal made.

Hmm, I suddenly found myself an accompanist – and the ace of the piano department at that. There were rumours that her skills were tremendous.

‘The concert. I’m looking forward to it.’

After I got rid of the last bit of yogurt, Chloe opened her mouth.

[Have you decided on the song for the Improvement Concert?]

[The song?]

I put the spoon inside my mouth and wondered.

Song, huh…What song should I sing? There’s less than 3 weeks left till the concert so it’s true that I should be picking the song some time soon. Taking the phone out, I checked the Improvement Concert announcement.

Let’s see, an aria less than 6 minutes long, or two short songs. There weren’t too many limitations and was probably telling the students to do whatever they were confident in.

‘Confident songs.’

First it had to be a song without fancy skills, as my body was still not perfected. If possible, I would like a song with low difficulty but with emphasis on diction…

But if I were to pick an obviously easy song, it would be hard to get marks.

After a while of building thoughts upon thoughts, I stared at Chloe.

[Should we first head off to the practice rooms?]

*

Being a weekend, the practice rooms were quiet. Going through loads of empty practice rooms, we found one we liked and entered – it was a small room with a grand piano.

Wow, a Steinway.

Carefully peeking at the room with her head in the doorway, Chloe tilted her head.

[Is it okay not to reserve them beforehand?]

“There’s not much meaning to it during weekends. Just go in and use it I guess?”

[Aha~]

Looking at the innocent, admiring Chloe who had been enlightened, I felt some guilt creeping in. Am I just teaching her weird stuff…

“Cough. Then, can I hear your piano for a bit? I want to take your style into account before choosing the song”

“Account, what does that mean?”

[Account.]

“Ah account, account… Mhmm… What should I play?”

“Anything. I don’t know much about pianos.”

“Okay~”

Lightly sitting down on the seat, Chloe struggled and tried to change the height of the seat. I just realised but she was quite short. Since my own height was short, I had never really noticed it.

After adjusting it, she looked towards me.

“I’ll play… Schumann, Fantasie… Do you know?”

“Uh… I think I’ve heard it before.”

Actually, I had no clue.

Although I was extremely interested in opera, I wasn’t particularly interested in instrumental songs. It was a life busy just listening to opera songs.

While I was giving some excuses inside, Chloe gave a wide smile before facing the front and sitting properly.

“I’m starting.”

Staring at the sky with a serious expression for a while, she then raised her left hand high and heavily pressed down on the keys.

Dun–

A low note covered the ground. Above that, Chloe started to calmly manipulate her left hand.

‘Hmm… the code is a major.’

A lyrical main melody was in the forefront, and behind that, there was an endless continuation of another melody as the accompaniment. Glancing at the piano, her right hand seemed to be moving with an emotional pace while the left hand flew across busily and appeared peculiar.

And…

I don’t know.

Shrugging my shoulders, I sat back and appreciated her solo. It was really good. There wasn’t anything else I could say as an opera major.

If I had to add, then I’d say her emotional expression was good too. The control on power when pressing the keys and other minute controls gave an illusion to various emotions. Even from all the accompanists I had been through, she had a talent at the top level.

And after around 3 minutes, the song ended and I enthusiastically gave a round of applause.

“You’re good. As expected.”

“Thank youu.”

After some murmuring and thinking, Chloe asked.

[Can you give me some feedback? What was good and what wasn’t?]

Feedback.

Those were important indeed.

I thought deeply before opening my mouth.

[First, the emotional expression was very good. I think it’s my first time hearing this kind of delivery skills from around your age group? I’m not sure about the piano department but opera department kids are somewhat lacking in diction. After all, they’re all young]

[Thank you.]

[And the negatives… I’m not too sure about those…]

There wasn’t anything in particular even after a deep reflection. I just answered with whatever came to mind with a shrug.

[Is the main melody a little weak? The accompaniment is quite difficult yeah, but that shouldn’t kill the sound of the main melody, I think.]

[Ohh…]

Chloe gave some murmurs of admiration and stared directly at me.

Why? When I blinked my eyes in confusion, she replied with a bright smile.

[It was because you said the same thing as my teacher. Your ears are really good.]

[Uh… really?]

Rather than saying my ears were good, it was more like a trained instinct that had been built from experience since I did listen to a lot of accompaniments. It felt like I was showing off in front of a kid so I quickly switched the topic of the conversation while feeling embarrassed.

“Song. What song should I go with… do you have any suggestions?”

“Song… I don’t know.”