Chapter 5.4 - Softly 4 (1/2)

“Over there. Group 5 has to perform so please be silent.”

At teacher Ku Mingi’s grinning voice, I came to things and looking around, I realised that all the kids were looking at us.

Ah, the presentation. There was still Group 5 left.

Smiling a little awkwardly I said sorry as Han Dasom that had been stiffened quickly threw my hand away before lowering her head.

“I’m sorry…”

From how her voice seemed to be crawling on the ground as well as her neck that had been painted red, she appeared to be embarrassed.

Mhmm…

It was her first performance so it’s possible that she was excited enough to forget the surroundings, I understand, yep. Seeing me nod my head, Lee Suh-ah clicked her tongue once.

“Let’s hold back during class time at least.”

“That’s not how it is Suh-ah…”

Looking away from the teary Han Dasom who started creating excuses, I stared at the front.

Jun Shihyuk and Song Mirae group.

I thought they would be a tough competitor but thanks to Han Dasom awakening, I wasn’t that scared of them anymore. I mean, who could win against that with even Kim Wuju out of the equation?

Group 5 seemed to be aware of that fact as well and stood stiffly appearing quite pitiful.

“…”

The prediction had been on point, and despite the relatively well-performed song of Group 5, the reactions from the crowd weren’t very appreciative.

Clap clap clap.

After a courteous round of applause, a few feedbacks appeared one by one – the tenor was too loud here, or that the alto part was too soft… glancing at the class that had turned quiet, teacher Ku Mingi opened his mouth.

“Group 5 was okay as well. I liked how you put the main focus on making the most out of the different voice types. However…”

He turned towards Song Mirae.

“Student Song Mirae’s high pitch was immature. Did you not see the dynamic calling for a softer voice or was it due to a lack of control? In any case, that part was unpolished so please be cautious of that.”

“Yes.”

I could see Song Mirae lowering her head.

Indeed, I could see why the previous me before my time travel had told Song Mirae to be a mezzo.

A mezzo soprano. Located in the middle of the soprano – mezzo soprano – alto, of the female voice types, it had a lower vocal range than sopranos.

The defining aspect was the slightly darker, deeper sound and… Song Mirae seemed to be closer to a mezzo than a soprano. She seemed to be calling herself a soprano because she was able to make high notes but, would mezzo sopranos be unable to make high notes?

It was just that they couldn’t control it as finely as sopranos could.

While making a high note near the end of one’s vocal range, they would have to put their everything into it so would they be able to add minute manipulations on top of that? The fact that that was hard was something which I, who had been a baritone in my previous life knew very well.

The teachers should’ve advised her a lot as well… was there a reason for sticking to be a soprano?

In the midst of my thoughts, teacher Ku Mingi opened his mouth.

“With this, all the presentations of the groups are now over. There were groups like Group 3 that hadn’t been able to display a proper chorus…”

Throwing his gaze towards us, he smiled.

“And there were also groups like Group 4 that had shown a perfect stage. There’s still a lot of time left until the test so I hope you all could practise hard and that would be the end of today’s lesson.”

“Yes…”

The kids’ reactions weren’t very positive.

Practise hard… it was easy to say but to practise choruses, four of them had to match their times and for the busy performing arts students, that was something far too difficult.

There were prac tests, concours and other things that made their lives busy so how hard would it be when a chorus was added on top of that?

“Are you free Thursday?”

“I have the lesson.”

“Ah…”

Carrying my gaze away from the depressed students onto our group, I found that we all wore smiles. Our group had been polished until it was almost perfect so there should be no need to further practise.

We could perhaps just meet up sometimes and check so we were relatively easier off.

Should I polish my vocalisation during the remaining times… I thought while nodding when Han Dasom approached from amongst the dissipating students. With her head lowered, she seemed to have no energy and as I stared at her curiously, she opened her mouth.

“Sorry Yunjae, I was suddenly excited…”

Excited?

Ah, after thinking for a bit I grinned. Did she still have it in mind?

“Aye, after my first stage performance, I was also screaming with my eyes turned, and, it was no joke.”

“But still…”

“No ‘but still’s”

I stared while clicking my tongue but her downhearted expression wasn’t to my liking.

“…”

Looking at her for a bit, I tried reaching my hands to flick her bangs away, and thus with a gentle wave, the hand passed by the bangs as a circular forehead appeared. When I brought my head back from that state and stared, a startled face entered my sight.

Oh, I knew it.

When her bangs that threatened to pierce her eyes were gone, it was like she had become a different person. She appeared on the TV like this as well and, since I had long wanted to do this, I felt my heart relax.

Seeing me nod, Han Dasom who had turned solid started opening her lips.

“Yunjae…?”

“It looks a lot better with the bangs gone.”

Quickly stepping back from me, Han Dasom covered the bangs with her hands and pointed her gaze down.

Kukuk, is someone stealing her bangs, why’s she like that?

After stealing a few glances at me, she carefully opened her mouth.

“…Really?”

“Yeah. If you cut it and hid it away from view, it would be refreshing.”

“Uun…?”

Blinking her eyes, Han Dasom asked again.

“So are you saying I should cut it or hide it?”

“Un? Isn’t it hidden if you cut it?”

“Ah… that’s…”

Smiling a little awkwardly, Han Dasom nodded her head.

“Un, right. I get it Yunjae. I’ll try.”

Seeing that from the side, Lee Suh-ah heaved out a sigh before shaking her head as she walked past.

“Ehew.”

Why was she like that?