Chapter 11.10 - Act 11: Slowly 10 (1/2)

Act 11: Slowly 10

“Why?”

Hearing that simple question, teacher Hong Yoojin gave a grin.

“Why shouldn’t you choose famous musicals? The reason is simple.”

After tapping her feet across the floor yet again, she stopped in front of us, before raising her head and gazing down,

“Anyone here who has seen the famous musicals listed on the paper I gave you?”

After confirming that a several including me had raised our hands up, the teacher continued her sentence.

“How was it, it was really good right? Their acting was good and their songs were good. There are even musicals where they dance on top of that…”

Throwing a glance across, she asked.

“Can you guys, do that?”

“…”

An awkward silence befell the room.

“Let’s think realistically. Most of you are newbies. There are even some of you who haven’t learned how to sing yet. Then what do you think we should do?”

Lifting a finger up, she looked at us.

“Let’s go simple. An ardent love? Can you guys even express that? The sorrows of a battlefield? Do you even know what wars are? Admit what you can’t early on and let’s focus on what you can do.”

While everyone had their mouths closed, the teacher’s voice echoed across.

“First off, our strengths – our main vocals are good at singing. There are three prac high-achievers from first-graders right? Then we can go strong with the ‘numbers’ for the mains. But regardless of songs, acting won’t be possible so it’s better to skip ones that require complex acts.”

In response to her words, I gave a nod.

She was right. No matter what, we were noobs and were young students so suddenly jumping to a high-level musical made zero sense. Perhaps Song Mirae or I might be able to pull it off but others won’t be able to.

“So what I want to recommend is something like this. Get rid of complicated love stories and go with a brighter and a funnier one. That’s why apart from the famous, difficult musicals, I also brought some musicals made by students. There are some that are good despite being easy.”

After the teacher ended her sentence, Lee Suh-ah turned her head at me.

“Did you know all that?”

“Hmm… I just thought that we shouldn’t do anything too difficult.”

And besides, I assumed that the RC Society before the regression which Song Mirae was a part of, would not have gone with a famous musical that required a large number of members.

“Also, the female protagonist was a perfect fit with Song Mirae.”

With a bright expression, Song Mirae stared at me with sparkling eyes.

“Really? What is it???”

“A goldfish.”

“…Un?”

Seeing her mouth being puffed open like a carp, I gave her a warm smile.

“It’s a story about animals you see. You’re a goldfish and I’m a dog. So well, it’s like a love that cannot be realised due to the physical separation of ocean and land… I think it’s a reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet, but it seems like a slightly comical musical.”

“…”

Watching the speechless Song Mirae, Han Dasom chuckled from the side.

*

There were actually lots of events in Future Arts High.

The Music Department alone had string instrument concerts, subscription concerts, choruses, and almost every day there would be news about concerts. And yet the school also had the Dancing and the Visual Arts Departments.

As such, even when the scenery around the school campuses changed, we would just think to ourselves that it was the start of another event without thinking too much about it.

Today was the same.

“Nn?”

While on the way to school with our usual members, I abruptly stopped my feet and looked forward. Rows of easels standing alongside the main pathway welcomed our arrival.

Brown wooden supports and canvases resting on top. On those canvases were all sorts of pictures and paintings.

Artworks lining up under the Septembre sun had their oil paints brightly reflecting the sunlight.

“It looks like an outdoor exhibitionn!”

Seeing the placard fluttering in a distance, Chloe spoke with her fingers interlocked together.

Outdoor exhibition.

Blankly looking through the paintings placed in front, I slowly carried my feet across and appreciated the paintings.

There were all sorts of pictures – there were still life paintings with the likes of apples, a scenery of an oval inside the campus, a portrait of a smiling lady and the appearance of a man engrossed in his performance.

‘They are all great painters.’

As expected of a school that was also well-known in the visual arts sector, the general standard was very high. It was to the point that I, who was unknowledgeable in visual arts, had also been enraptured by some of the paintings.

Feeling glad from the sudden event, I appreciated the paintings before suddenly discovering a familiar image and stopping my feet. Brown, wooden furniture and an interior that reflected its old-ness and a window with sunlight coming in.

“Isn’t that our club room?”

Seeing Song Mirae making a fuss about it after running up to my side, I gave a nod. It was indeed our club room, evident from the names written on the white board.

Yun Soojin, Lim Suhjoon, Lee Hyeji…

Reading through the small names of the club members, I reached the end and found Song Mirae’s and my name written at the bottom.

“How is it?”

When I raised my head up from the sudden voice, I found Yun Soojin-sunbae’s face above the painting.

“…Hello.”

“Un. Hi~”

That scared me.

Her face being like that made her look like a ghost. Thinking that, I looked at her face with an awkward expression as she returned a small smile.

“Were you surprised?”

“A little. How long have you been there for?”

“Just came~. Hello to you too Mirae~”

“Good morning.”

Walking around the easel from behind, she finished greeting others and immediately turned towards me.

“So, how is it?”

“Yes?”

Her eyes bent into crescents.

“I haven’t heard your evaluation yet~”

Hearing that, I glanced at the painting and nodded.

She seemed to be the one that painted this as expected. Since Yun Soojin-sunbae belonged in the Visual Arts Department, it was definitely possible for her artwork to be in an exhibition.

‘Being a third-year, she must be busy though…’

After having some stray thoughts, I gave a response.

“It’s pretty. Bright and looks good as well. When did you draw it?”

“Hmm… two weeks ago, was it…? Around that time~. And then I heard that you two were joining so I quickly wrote your names in.”

“I see.”