Chapter 4.1 - Sorrowfully 1 (2/2)

Teacher Ku Mingi. It felt rather different when I saw him like this. If I were to add the time before my time travel, he was only a few years older than me but I would strangely feel nervous before him. Is it because he was a great senior with superb achievements?

I slowly opened my mouth.

“Um…”

“Ah, student Yunjae you have come. Please sit here.”

“Yes.”

His bright face as he led me to a seat was slightly burdensome. I think I would be more comfortable if he was just scolding me… it felt like I was sitting on pins and needles but teacher Ku Mingi gave a relaxed smile.

“Are you doing well in school? I’m worried whether you were able to adapt or not.”

“Ah… yes sir. I am currently trying my extreme hardest to adapt without a single issue. Thank you very much for your consideration.”

“…? Well, that’s good.”

Tilting his head with his eyes still on me, teacher Ku Mingi then continued to throw a few questions. Did you make a lot of friends, are there any inconveniences, are you eating well… during the questionnaire, he suddenly smiled.

“Student Yunjae. Is your family from the military? Why are you so stiff, you can be more casual.”

“No sir… yes.”

“Haha, this is quite interesting.”

After taking a gulp of the coffee with a grin, he leaned on the seat and opened his lips.

“The reason I called student Yunjae was just because I was a little bit interested personally. Hmm… it’s not something that big but…”

Is it finally the main topic?

With all my nerves, I concentrated on the teacher’s mouth. After slurring his words for a bit, teacher Ku Mingi resumed his words.

“Did student Yunjae… by any chance learn about conducting before?”

“Sorry?”

It was an extremely unexpected question. I stared dumbfoundedly at the teacher before slowly giving a reply.

“Conducting… officially no I haven’t.”

“By officially you mean?”

“Ah…”

Damn.

I said it wrong and couldn’t think of any more words to continue. I couldn’t tell him that I had acted as a quick substitute conductor in choirs and other places right?

Would it have been better to just say that I had never learned it before? Sweating in deep thought, I contemplated for a while before thinking of a rough excuse.

“Uh… I just saw some conducting videos and lessons on the internet…”

“Aha.”

A nod, and he entered a deep silence. It seemed that he was thinking deeply of something and after a few taps on the desk, he opened his mouth.

“Student Yunjae, when I asked the theory and SRMD teachers they complimented a lot saying you were a great student. And there was also that impression from the day of the interview as well…”

“Day of the interview?”

Sipping on his coffee, he continued with a nonchalant tone.

“Ah, I’m talking about what you said after listening to student Song Mirae’s singing. It was a song with quite a high tessitura so it’s not easy to tell the voice type from just hearing it once. More so for young students…”

Song Mirae? Interview?

Hearing the rain of compliments from the teacher, I felt a puzzle being solved inside my head. Song Mirae who strangely showed her dislike towards just me. Noh Jusup and Song Mirae who had asked me about the things that had happened during the interview and what the teacher was saying right now…

A song with high vocal range; finding out vocal types… and then I thought of the somewhat husky voice of Song Mirae.

Feeling like a light bulb was going off in my head, I opened my mouth unconsciously.

“Did I… tell Song Mirae that she was more suited to being a mezzo soprano?”

“Hmm? You don’t remember? Well, I just picked it up from the side so that’s understandable I guess…”

“Ah… that’s why Song Mirae was…”

Only now did I understand all of her actions.

On the day of the interview, she heard a person she was seeing for the first time talking smack about her voice, so it was natural to be angry. And since most protagonist roles would fall under sopranos, there were lots of females who disliked mezzo sopranos and stuck to being sopranos as well…

Like, why did me from 20 years ago show off and chime in others’ businesses like that?

When I lowered my head in shame, the teacher asked in a curious tone.

“Did student Song Mirae say something? I’m sure I was the only one that heard what you said back then?”

Now what was this about? I raised my head and saw the expression on the teacher’s face gradually changing. From puzzlement, to contemplation and finally a slight anger.

After frowning and scratching his chin for a bit, the teacher gave out a deep sigh.

“Fuu… it seems there are some teachers with big mouths. I’ll apologise for this for now. In any case… what I wanted to say was this.”

He continued his words.

“Student Jo Yunjae. You were born with really great ears. I’ve seen it during both the interview and the evaluations. I’ve done slight tests during Concerted Music as well… and your listening skills – that subtle ability to dissect the songs is the best from this school from what I have seen.”

I was blankly listening to the teacher’s compliments when my thoughts suddenly came to a stop.

Best.

The best from this school.

Me? More than that Kim Wuju and Lee Suh-ah?

After intertwining his hands with a serious expression, he continued.

“And that is a great talent for executants as well but… to conductors it is like a gift from the heavens.”

“Sorry?”

“Ah, was it too sudden? The conducting department would continue talking on and on about it. It was a request to transfer your major over to the conducting department but… the most important thing is your own wish.”

While staring at me who was standing still deep in thought, he smiled.

“That wish, whatever direction it may be, I wish you could let us hear it during the Improvement Concert.”

Teacher Ku Mingi waved his hand.

“You may now leave.”