Chapter 11.3 - Act 11: Slowly 3 (1/2)
Act 11: Slowly 3
To students doing music, concours were all important but if one had to pick the most important concours, most would choose two.
The first one was the Spring and Autumn Music Concour. Being one of the largest concours nationwide held every May, it was the type of concour which almost every performing art student participated in.
And the second one was Future Central Music Concour.
As one could perhaps tell from its name, it was a concour hosted by the Future Foundation and in the past, it was a small concour that lost in fame compared to Spring and Autumn Concour.
However, recently due to an increasing number of investments, it gradually increased in magnitude until it was as authoritative as the Spring and Autumn Concour.
These were obviously lacking compared to many national concours that were held once a few years, but these were, in any case, the biggest nationwide concours held every year.
And there was something shared in common by the two concours and it was that both were held in May, during the first semester.
Then what concours were there during the second semester?
“Hmm…”
I, who had been thinking of other things while sitting down, glanced and examined the room which approximately had the same size as a small classroom. Inside, there were a few students chattering in their seats, wearing all sorts of school uniforms.
Those wearing the familiar Future Arts High uniforms formed their own groups and talked amongst themselves, while our rival school, the Central Arts High students sat near them and formed a strange sense of tension. There were also students wearing casual clothes and those wearing uniforms I did not know of.
‘National News Concour’.
Currently, I was attending a music concour hosted by a small newspaper agency.
Examining the atmosphere around me, I was thinking of such things when the chatters of the students sitting around me entered my ears.
“Hey, how much time left until it’s our turn?”
“You’re number 10 so it’ll be soon.”
“Seriously, like, just hurry up. It’s not even a great concour, so why is there a speech for?”
“But we only need to sing one song so it’s easy right?”
Blankly staring at them, I made a bitter smile. Well, it was a concour with a scale this small but… it can’t be helped.
Due to the two giants – the originally famous Spring and Autumn Concour and the Future Concour’s uprise as a result of sudden investment, other concours ended up in a comparatively lower standing.
Therefore, a concour hosted by a small newspaper agency like this was now being ignored by the top level students.
‘I have to attend even these though.’
I was in a different situation. Because I had to receive a scholarship during the first semester, I had given up on those two concours so there was a need to make up for that during the second semester with as much concours as possible.
‘There’s the issue with Han Dasom as well.’
The reason for coming here was also to reduce Han Dasom’s guilt after she surpassed Lee Suh-ah during the Subscription Concert interview.
Those emotions were formed because she didn’t have experience competing against others so if she continued winning in these small contests, she should soon be able to accept it as something she can’t do anything about.
Since I was the one who led Han Dasom down this path, I had to bear some responsibility right? Besides, I just had to go to concours with her so it wasn’t that big of an issue either.
Well, I brought her while slightly feeling like a teacher but…
Han Dasom this girl was just sitting next to me, typing on her phone. Her face was fixed onto the screen and her usual slanted eyes were long gone, replaced by fiery eyes. Her lips were sealed shut.
I watched her in curiosity before opening my mouth.
“Who are you texting with?”
“Nn?”
She, who had been typing on the letters in fury, turned her head up and saw my face before quickly hiding her phone startledly.
“I… it’s nothing.”
…It’s even more suspicious when she reacts like that though.
I gazed into her wandering pupils for a bit but soon shrugged my shoulders.
“Really? Soon it’s going to be our turn so don’t be too relaxed.”
“Okay.”
Han Dasom carefully threw a glance at me but soon, her expression seemed to melt as a smile appeared on her lips.
I was worried that competition itself became a trauma due to the Subscription Concert thing but I guess it wasn’t that serious. Well, I guess that made sense considering how she came first in an audition programme in the future.
When I was inwardly accepting that fat, Han Dasom fidgeted with her fingers and faced me.
“Umm Yunjae…”
“Un?”
“Song Mirae, she joined your society right…?”
For a short while, I stared at her face and tilted my head.
Did I talk to Han Dasom about Song Mirae? How did she know?
The only thing I told her regarding societies was that I suggested Lee Suh-ah to join and that that had been rejected. I was curious but soon replied.
“Yeah we joined together. Why?”
“Nn… I see… Doesn’t she bother you…?”
“Nah, do you think I’ll let her do that?”
“That’s true.”
Han Dasom gave a bashful smile before lowering her head. Then, she once again fidgeted with her fingers in deep thought, after which she raised her head back to match my gaze. She then opened her lips.
“I… can I join your society Yunjae?”
“My society? Are you quitting the photography society?”
“Un. That’s just a hobby so it’s okay.”
Seeing her rapidly give a reply, I generously gave her a nod.
“Well, it’s good for me if there are more members.”
“Thank you. Hehe.”
I watched Han Dasom’s mood improve and grinned when my name was called from outside.
“Student Jo Yunjae!”
Hearing that, I shot out from my seat.
*
To put it in a nutshell, I received an award in the National News Concour – the first prize.
“Student Jo Yunjae from Future Performing Arts High School. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
After the simple award ceremony ended, I left the building and lowered my head to stare at the certificate award.
‘11th National News Music Concour’
‘1st place Award’
‘Jo Yunjae’