For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

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*Boom.*

The damper pedal is pressed between chords. Long fingers move ceaselessly across the keys, as if performing a frenzied dance following notes written on a staff. Accent! Suddenly, the strings scream like thunder striking. A melody filled with full-bodied anger. Large beads of sweat flowing onto the keys proved how out of breath he was.

“Ha.”

The hard piano bench feels soft. The fingers that should delicately press the keys felt heavier than ever before. His temples throbbed as if insects were crawling through them. The dawn’s early light seemed to reflect his own hazy state of mind rather than bringing any refreshment.

*Crash.*

Both hands fell clenched onto the piano keys. The keys let out a grotesque scream, leaving an echo. Baek Junghun was dissatisfied with his performance. After winning second place at the Chopin Competition, his homeland had called him the next-generation maestro who would lead Korean classical music. But such flowery phrases only felt more constricting.

Baek Junghun ran his palm across his face. Cold sweat fell like raindrops. Since childhood, he had met the idol he’d desperately longed for. How eagerly he had waited to meet Teacher Hirose. When their joint performance was confirmed, he was even happier than when he won second place at the Chopin Competition. Finally, he could stand on the same level as his teacher. However.

“You fool.”

Self-reproach. He had made a mistake during the joint performance with his teacher. Though it was brief enough that the audience wouldn’t notice, the teacher was different. But after a moment of panic, the teacher had covered the mistake with flowing melody. This was only possible due to their vast difference in skill. He realized how arrogant his initial thoughts had been when the joint performance was first arranged.

When he visited the teacher’s waiting room after the performance,

The teacher seemed to have already forgotten his mistake. He couldn’t bring himself to apologize. Though piercing guilt and shame reflected in his eyes, he desperately tried to hide it. Because he was such a fool.

“I should apologize.”

Even if the teacher had forgotten, apologizing was the right thing to do. The guilt weighing on his heart was enough to make his fingers heavy. Moreover, there were still joint performances remaining. He couldn’t cause any more trouble at the teacher’s solo concert.

Just as he gathered his resolve,

‘Goro, this child is certainly different.’

A scene flashed through his mind.

“Who could it be?”

The child who had captured Teacher Hirose’s heart. Even when he asked Goro-san separately after the solo concert, the answer was that he didn’t know either. That there was a child in Korea who had stolen the empress’s heart – it was hard to believe. But if it were true…

“I want to meet them.”

*

*Trudge.*

Yu Jinseok awkwardly entered the Ichon-dong mansion. It was his first time visiting grandfather’s house alone without his mother. Cold sweat beaded on his back from nervousness. He was afraid of running into Kang Hyun.

His cousin’s occasional glances resembled grandfather’s when he would scold the uncles. Just thinking about it still made his hair stand on end.

“Student Jinseok, you came alone?”

The housekeeper showed a puzzled expression at seeing me arrive alone without my mother. I silently nodded briefly while anxiously scanning the mansion interior. If it weren’t for mother’s request, I would never have come alone.

‘Jinseok, mommy will follow after you, so go in first. If grandfather is angry, secretly contact mommy, okay?’

Why are you making me do this?

Mother had become notably anxious after younger uncle was expelled from the company. Otherwise, why would she use me as a scout? Though reluctant, I had no choice but to comply, not knowing what punishment awaited if I refused. Just then, the housekeeper spoke with a troubled expression.

“Oh dear, there’s no one in the mansion right now.”

Huh?

What could this mean?

It was exactly thirty minutes later. Mother entered the mansion with both hands full of packed food, as if she had been waiting. Of course, like before, she hadn’t made this food herself. But what did it matter? The taste was a hundred times better than her cooking, so grandfather would surely like it.

“Yu Jinseok, you?”

Mother glared at me with sharp eyes. Oops. I had forgotten to contact her. After hearing that grandfather and Kang Hyun weren’t here, my tensed feelings had relaxed. Just then, the housekeeper greeted mother. Her face still showed clear signs of confusion. It was understandable, given that mother and son had been taking turns visiting the mansion since morning.

“Young Madam?”

“Auntie, is father in his study now?”

Mother seemed ready to move after quickly handing over her packages to the housekeeper. But the following words stopped her in her tracks.

“The master isn’t in the mansion right now.”

“What do you mean? I heard he didn’t even go to the company today?”

I had thought this would be a good chance to score some points.

“He left early this morning with student Kang Hyun.”

What?

“Where did they go? Pyeongchang-dong?”

The housekeeper briefly showed a troubled expression at mother’s pressing question before answering.

“They went to Japan.”

Mother’s eyes filled with shock at this completely unexpected answer. But I felt relieved on one hand. Wasn’t this a perfect opportunity to avoid seeing not only grandfather but also that guy Kang Hyun for a while?

* * *

“Hyun, is this your first time on a plane?”

Grandfather asked with a gentle smile. Of course, it was my first time in this life. Though in my previous life, I had taken planes like taxis. Speaking of which.

‘Gimpo Airport.’

This was before Incheon International Airport existed. Construction of the airport site in Yeongjong Island would be in full swing around now. Gimpo Airport stirred up old memories just like the outdated Stella taxis. However, I noticed there were more police officers in blue uniforms than expected. It was evidence that the effects of the KAL bombing incident still lingered years later.

T/N- KAL bombing is referring the Korean Air Flight 858 which exploded mid air due to bombs planted by North Korean Agents.

“Hyun, you have to take off your shoes when boarding the plane.”

Grandfather made an untimely joke. His expression was so serious that it seemed he was deliberately trying to fool his grandson. Well, what did it matter? If it would make grandfather happy, I’d even take off my socks.

*Grab.*

As the plane took off with a roar,

Grandfather grabbed my hand. He must have been worried his grandson would be startled. I also squeezed back. After I refused to study abroad, grandfather suddenly chose to go to Japan. He didn’t even bring his secretary, perhaps not wanting to burden his grandson. There must have been many reasons, but the biggest was likely wanting to give me memories with little time left before school break ended.

[Narita Airport ナリタ空港]

Narita Airport wasn’t much different from the future.

*Step.*

As I walked confidently, I felt grandfather’s strange gaze on the back of my head.

“Hyun, don’t tell me you know Japanese too?”

*Gulp.*

Following the signs so naturally had been my mistake. I considered saying I just understood from the English written below the Japanese, but…

“Yes, I studied a little.”

What was the point of deceiving grandfather? In fact, my Japanese skills were quite advanced. When I moved from the Western District Prosecutors’ Office to Jeil, it was a time of many scandals about preferential treatment of former officials, so I had to unexpectedly spend time around overseas branches. As a result, foreign languages had become not a choice but a necessity. Grandfather’s eyes were full of disbelief. But soon he smiled and patted my head.

“You rascal, you shouldn’t tease your grandfather. I can tell you just read the English below the signs?”

Huh?

Before I could say anything, grandfather took the lead and started walking.

Well, what did it matter? I followed grandfather with light steps.

*

Okura Hotel Tokyo – the Japanese hotel that Korea’s Silla Hotel had taken as its role model. Chairman Wang always stayed here when visiting Japan. The hotel was filled with such an elegant and classical atmosphere. The ceiling was so high that one had to wonder how they cleaned the chandeliers hanging up there.

“Hyun, is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

I knew why grandfather had chosen Tokyo. The main reason would be Hirose, called the Empress, and the reason for choosing Okura Hotel would be Disneyland. It’s a place that excites any child just hearing its name. But I had no intention of walking around that vast place with grandfather. I preferred enjoying a hot spring bath to riding unsuitable amusement rides. And.

“Grandfather, there is somewhere I’d like to go.”

There was just one place I wanted to visit.

A place I never failed to visit in my past life when in Tokyo. The small ramen shop run by an elderly couple had soothed my tired body and mind when away from home. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I ate ramen three meals a day back then. The reason was simple. I saw my parents reflected in that elderly couple. I was a fool back then, unable to resolve the knots in my heart.

By coincidence,

The couple’s shop was located not far from Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. Of course, it wasn’t on the main street but deep in an alley, so basic that strangers might mistake it for a residence. It didn’t even have a sign.

“Hyun, how do you know about a place like this?”

I casually deflected grandfather’s question, saying I saw it in a magazine. Still, grandfather’s eyes widened at how I navigated the alleyways as familiarly as if entering my own home.

As we lifted the noren curtain at the restaurant entrance,

“Irasshaimase.”

A lady with a calm voice greeted grandfather and me.

A familiar face.

I could glimpse the still-young master in the kitchen. Without showing any recognition, I sat in the guided seat. When I ordered traditional ramen in fluent pronunciation, grandfather’s eyes widened. He seemed to be remembering the incident at the airport that he had dismissed as just a joke.

*slurp*

The ramen was still delicious. As I drank the rich broth without hesitation, grandfather smiled. The owner’s wife also glanced curiously. The taste might be too heavy for a child, so they seemed surprised at how well I ate. As the broth neared the bottom,

“Hyun, did you bring your wallet?”

“What?”

Grandfather’s eyebrows curved strangely.

“Weren’t you treating today?”

I almost spat out the ramen in my mouth. Grandfather couldn’t hide his smile, finding my reaction cute. Then I slowly turned my head and carefully suggested,

“Grandfather, would you like to make a bet?”

“A bet?”

Grandfather’s lips twitched at my sudden proposal.

“Let’s guess the occupation of that person sitting at the single seat.”

In the small ramen shop that would be packed with three or four adults, there was one other customer besides grandfather and me. From their sitting posture, finger movements, and the habitual twitching of their shoes – I could tell their occupation just by looking. As if drawing a picture in my mind.

Meanwhile,

‘What is it?’

Baek Junghun, eating ramen in the alley corner shop, felt his ears tingling.

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