Chapter 11.12 - Act 11: Slowly 12 (2/2)

“If I said that, how would you reply, sunbae?”

“…”

The smallest of the three, the friend from the Dancing Department quietly gave a nod.

They were literally non-majors.

Urging them and making them sing a perfect song, and having them practice everyday throughout the day was impossible. Even if it was possible, that would be a nuisance to them.

For them, singing wasn’t a dream, and they hadn’t sacrificed everything for singing either.

Slowly, I glanced across them, before turning my body around and continuing.

“Fortunately, the parts allocated to the three of you, aren’t extremely important or anything. You just have to come out and give one or two lines, or participate in the chorus. Even if you just lip-sync, no-one will be able to really tell. In other words, you are like extras in the performance and if you practise a little bit on matching the melodies a little, the performance would flow smoothly without much of an issue.”

“…”

I found Yun Soojin-sunbae lowering her gaze, coming to a compromise.

It was natural because she was someone who loved the society more than anyone else. Even if she herself didn’t shine, she would be able to withstand it as long as the performance could flow without an issue.

She was a sunbae who even loved the appearance of the gradual descent of the society and left it in a painting.

“…”

After staring at the sunbae for a while, I opened my mouth.

“But that’s not what we are going to do.”

Shooting her head up, she stared at me in doubt.

She seemed surprised, and it was apparent that she was thinking, ‘what is this about?’.

Seeing that face, I almost broke out into laughter but held it in, and glanced at the three of them one by one.

“The three of you didn’t join this society to become extras, right?”

“…”

I could feel three children blankly staring at me. In a somewhat cheerful mood after remembering the past, I gently carried my feet across and opened my mouth.

“You have a small role, or can’t sing, so let’s just go over it. Of course, that’s possible. Giving up is easy. In fact, it’s true that it doesn’t have much of an influence, considering the overall quality of the performance itself.”

Having my feet come to a stop, I turned my head over to the three disciples.

“But if we do that, it won’t be fun for sunbae and you guys.”

First-graders who joined this small society because they thought it would be fun to follow me. And a third grade sunbae who would be standing on the stage for the last time in her high school.

Giving up on those three, is too harsh, isn’t it?

Wearing a smile on my face, I crossed my arms.

“Of course, I might bother you a bit during the lessons and there obviously will be times where you get upset. Since I can’t take too much of your time, the lesson intensity might be a bit difficult to handle.”

“…”

“But it might be a once-in-a-lifetime memory for everyone, so wouldn’t that be better than doing it casually?”

I could see the expression of the Dancing Department student, who had been sitting down introvertedly, turning brighter. There was a lively smile appearing on Chloe’s face, while the calm, sunken atmosphere around sunbae turned into a bright aura and spread across.

A dense unity being shared between the three.

It is one of the best moments during lessons that made the lessons feel worthwhile.

“I’ll try my best!”

“Let’s do our best!”

The first-graders shot their hands up. Glancing back and forth between the two of them, Yun Soojin-sunbae then turned her head towards me.

Her lips were then gradually lifted upward.

Wearing a warm smile, the sunbae matched her eyes with mine.

“Yunjae.”

“Yes.”

Letting out a chuckle with a hand covering her mouth, she spoke with eyes resembling half moons.

“I told you to speak casually. You seriously sound like a teacher.”

“…”

No, that’s because this relationship with a younger sunbae is awkward…

I looked at her with an awkward expression but soon opened my mouth with a grin.

“I got it, sunbae.”

As I thought, there was nothing easy in this world.*

*

Meanwhile.

The main actors who had been practising at a different corner of the room were taking a short break. Exhausted from the intense lessons of teacher Hong Yoojin, Song Mirae heaved out a sigh.

“So annoying. Why does your teacher hate me so much? Always says something and…”

Seeing Song Mirae, who was grumpily kicking the ground, Lee Suh-ah shook her head.

“That’s because you’re not doing it properly.”

“…tch. What’s so bad about my singing? I’ve been doing it nonstop from middle school so isn’t it okay for me to cut some slack?”

After declaring that in full confidence, she suddenly dropped her head low and formed a sorrowful expression.

“Maybe I shouldn’t do musicals…”

“Why all of a sudden.”

“Maybe I don’t have any talent.”

“…”

Hearing the sudden words escape Song Mirae’s mouth, Lee Suh-ah faced her friend with crossed arms.

Thinking back, Song Mirae had always been like this. She seemed rather full of confidence, while having low self-esteem. While believing in her own ability, she looked down at her own existence, and was eager for affection every time.

Due to that unstable appearance, she was a friend whom Lee Suh-ah couldn’t leave alone.

“…Don’t say that. You can do it well if you practise.”

“…Right? If Suh-ah’s saying that, then that must be true!”

Then, Song Mirae was suddenly put in a good mood and flipped through the music sheets with a bright smile. Seeing that, Lee Suh-ah let out a small sigh.

‘Something’s a bit weird though.’

Although Song Mirae always had such a personality, she seemed to be lacking concentration a bit in this society. Perhaps it was because she was with someone she liked, but she would constantly glance at Jo Yunjae, without taking the teacher’s words in full.

She was someone that practised in nervousness when she was being disliked by the club president of Cantabile, the musical club…

‘Ever since middle school, she liked musicals after all.’

Since she was about to get expelled from the only club where her favourite musical was allowed, she was naturally restless and anxious.

And yet now, she was snorting even after listening to the words of a teacher.

‘Ehew…’

Seeing Song Mirae’s attitude which might result in a dark future, Lee Suh-ah let out another sigh.