Genius Composer Who's a Dedicated Fan - Chapter 2

Composer.

Among them, a popular music composer is not such a common profession.

Perhaps that’s why I often get asked why I chose to walk that path.

Some might have naturally become interested in composing after frequently encountering instruments from a young age,

Others might have found interest while making songs as a hobby using composition apps on their phones.

And in my case, I used to answer such questions like this:

“Because I wanted Baek Yerin to sing a song I made.”

……That’s what I said.

Purely.

That was really all there was to it.

On the other hand, thinking about it, it seems that her existence held quite a special meaning within me.

There were exactly two unforgettable moments in my previous life, and one of them was when I first heard Baek Yerin’s song.

And the second was…

“Baek Yerin! Baek Yerin!”

“Unnie! I’m dying!!!”

“I love you! Baek! Ye! Rin!”

The nation’s little sister and a national singer transcending generations.

It was when I went to see Baek Yerin’s concert for the first time, who was called by such nicknames.

Baek Yerin’s concerts were famous for having really good reviews.

To the extent that they were called ‘A concert you must see while alive’ or ‘There are people who haven’t been, but no one who’s only been once’.

I honestly thought, isn’t that a bit exaggerated?

……Until I saw Baek Yerin’s concert in person.

That day, perhaps she was in particularly good condition, she went beyond an encore to a double encore, allowing us to enjoy the concert for a full 5 hours and 30 minutes.

But what struck me even more powerfully than the generous performance time was her live skills that surpassed the recordings.

People often say they prefer live performances over recorded songs.

Perhaps this is an obvious fact.

Recorded songs can’t adjust to the audience’s reactions, but performers can sing the song a bit differently on the spot to draw the best reaction.

In that sense, live performances have much more powerful appeal than recordings, and among them, Baek Yerin was special.

Listening to her live performance, I felt it was literally on a different level.

It was the first time in my life I’d been to a concert, but I felt that other singers couldn’t possibly be like her.

Could there really be someone like this in the world?

‘There couldn’t be.’

If there were, I would have wanted more people than just her to sing my songs.

But at this point, I wonder if I’m really severely ill.

Even now, her smile from the stage keeps coming to mind, and her voice, so charming it turned my utterly ordinary life upside down in an instant, faintly echoes in my ears.

……So, you see.

“Mom. I want to do music.”

After boldly skipping academy and returning home, I declared proudly in front of my mom.

As expected, my mom looked a bit bewildered after hearing my declaration.

Well… It’s a natural reaction.

What parent wouldn’t be surprised when their son, who has never properly learned music in his life, suddenly declares he wants to do music?

But I knew that my mom’s bewilderment wouldn’t last long.

“Are you saying that seriously?”

“Yes.”

“Why so suddenly?”

My mom asked me with a serious face.

Seeing that face, memories from my previous life suddenly come to mind.

Back then, my mom also asked me why I wanted to do music.

And at that time, I clearly answered like this:

It’s not something I’m saying lightly.

I absolutely won’t burden the family.

I’ll definitely prove myself, and so on.

Excuses.

I didn’t explain proper reasons, but just listed excuses pitifully.

……To be honest.

When I first expressed my desire to do music to my parents, I was a bit scared.

No, not a bit, I was very scared.

Honestly, the path of a composer is tough, if not entirely smooth.

How could I confidently state my reasons when everyone present knew that the future was clearly uncertain?

So I think excuses reflexively came out.

But.

─Okay. Give it a try. If you succeed, it’ll be great, and even if you fail, it’ll all be good experience for you.

Contrary to my thoughts, my parents cheerfully supported my dream.

At that time, I simply thought it was possible because they were such good people.

Without knowing that there was a separate special reason…

Anyway, I believe without doubt that my parents will support my dream even now.

So for me, knowing this fact, there was only one answer I had to give.

“Mom. I will definitely succeed. So close your eyes tight and believe in me just once.”

I just said that with a grin.

Actually, I couldn’t clearly state the detailed reasons before, and I can’t now either.

I want to make songs for a girl who hasn’t even debuted yet!

……If I say that, it sounds crazy even to me.

So all I could do now was to show confidence.

In fact, from my perspective, there was no way I could lack ‘confidence’.

I know all the future music trends.

Although my career disappeared after coming back to the past, I hold the great record of reaching No. 1 on the music charts in just two days.

Moreover, I’m a man with talent that makes people call me a ‘genius composer’.

If someone with such abilities lacks confidence when starting music again after returning to middle school days, wouldn’t that be the real pretense?

“Hmm… We should have this conversation again when dad comes home from work. But mom wants to support you.”

As expected, mom willingly allowed me to do music.

Later, when dad came home from work, he was also surprised at first, but after seeing my serious face, he eventually gave permission.

With this, I could freely do music without worrying about the family’s eyes, but…

“Are you serious about what you said earlier about doing music?”

“Yes. More precisely, I want to major in composition.”

Hearing my cheerful answer, the woman standing in front of me let out a deep sigh.

Come to think of it, there was still one more mountain to climb.

Ryu Se-ah.

After dinner, I was immediately caught by the person who is my older sister.

For reference, she’s one year older than me, and unlike me, she has majored in music since she was young.

With none other than the piano, the most famous instrument in the world.

Moreover, she was talented enough to be called a piano prodigy. To the extent that she even won an award at an international gifted competition.

Although she gave up the path of piano for certain reasons now, her talent is absolutely not to be ignored.

The reason my parents readily supported my dream must have been somewhat influenced by my sister.

It was then.

“Sigh… Little brother. As someone with experience, I advise you to reconsider that path.”

My sister gave me advice with a somewhat serious face.

Actually, this was also a conversation I had experienced in my previous life.

“Why? Do you think I don’t have talent in music?”

“To be frank, yes. Especially in music, there are areas you can never overcome with just effort.”

Well… It’s a sound argument, but it doesn’t really mean much to me now.

“To begin with, to compose, you need to be able to handle most instruments harmoniously. But do you have even one instrument you can handle properly?”

“Yes. Of course I do.”

“See, you… Wait, what? W-What did you just say?”

“I said, I have one. An instrument I can handle properly.”

At my nonchalant answer, my sister showed a bewildered expression for the first time.

Of course, at this time, I didn’t actually know how to play any instruments.

From the perspective of my sister who had lived with me since birth, she would naturally know that fact.

That’s why my words must be even more unbelievable to her.

“Don’t lie. How dare you try to deceive your heavenly sister?”

“No, heaven or whatever, I really do have one!”

“Sigh… Okay. Let’s at least hear it. What on earth is this instrument you can handle properly?”

“Piano.”

A short, resonant word.

My confident declaration of piano in front of my sister, who was once called a piano prodigy, held quite a lot of meaning.

So from my sister’s perspective, wouldn’t she naturally be curious?

Why I, who had never shown proper piano playing until now, declared so confidently that I could properly handle the piano.

“Huh, then prove it.”

“With the piano in your room?”

My sister immediately nodded in affirmation.

So I ended up visiting my sister’s room almost like a suspect being taken to the police station, and faced the grand piano my sister had used for quite a long time.

“……”

As I gently pressed a key, a beautiful sound echoed through the room.

Unfortunately, I didn’t learn piano professionally to enter competitions like my sister.

In fact, I don’t think I even wanted to learn it.

I thought composing wouldn’t be hindered even if I couldn’t play the piano.

There were actually several precedents like that.

Well…

─Hey! Ryu Won! Do you really want to die? You think you can make good songs with such a complacent mindset! If you’re really serious, learn everything properly!

Thanks to a certain person who is now glaring at me fiercely, I immediately abandoned such thoughts.

“Just play anything you’re confident with.”

“Hmm… Then shall I let you hear a bit of the accompaniment for a song I composed secretly?”

“You already have a composed song?”

“Of course, since I’m serious. I’ve been practicing piano bit by bit by watching over your shoulder.”

My sister’s expression was quite doubtful.

But I was certain that expression would change in an instant.

That’s because.

‘Who do you think I learned piano from directly?’

In my previous life, the person who taught me piano was none other than my sister, who was called a piano prodigy.

‘Ah- Looking back, how tough those days were.’

As if to prove that the nickname ‘piano prodigy’ was no exaggeration, my sister was a perfectionist when it came to piano.

The problem was that this approach was applied to me as well.

Thanks to that, if my hands got tangled, a merciless smack on the back would immediately fly, and on days when I missed even one beat, I had to keep tapping on the piano keys until bedtime under my sister’s watchful eye.

Thanks to that, before I knew it, familiar piano melodies were at the center of my compositions.

This was also true for <Cantabile>, the first song born from my hands after properly learning an instrument.

By the way, I was planning to let my sister hear the accompaniment of <Cantabile>.

It’s a bit cheesy, but <Cantabile> was a song I made with gratitude for my sister who taught me piano.

.

.

.

“How was it? Pretty good, right?”

“……”

“Sis?”

Even though the performance was over, my sister was wearing a blank expression.

It seems she was quite surprised by my piano skills and the accompaniment of the song I composed.

Hmm. With this level of reaction, I don’t think she’ll oppose anymore.

In the first place, she probably just wanted to confirm if my declaration was really sincere, and didn’t intend to strongly oppose.

If that wasn’t the case, she wouldn’t have personally taught me piano in my previous life.

……But you know.

“Little brother.”

“Hm? What?”

“That song just now… Is it fully completed?”

The moment I met my sister’s eyes, which somehow seemed to be sparkling, I sensed that something was going wrong.