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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Drummer Choice
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One of the other great perks of going back to seventeen was having seen so much already.
Before my regression, there had been a time when I devoured every kind of performance I could get my hands on—not just musicals, but plays, musicians' concerts, dance shows, even magic shows.
It was because I'd realized that observing all sorts of characters and stages was key to acting.
After regressing, when I learned about the subject-specific tests, the first idea that popped into my head was actually for the dance test.
It stemmed from an incident at an indie band's concert before my regression.
The show was standing-room only, and guests buzzing from booze were dancing and singing all over the place, creating a wild, electric vibe.
One of those guests turned out to be a pro tap dancer.
Caught up in the excitement, he chatted with the band for a bit, then started dancing in perfect sync with just the drum beats.
I hadn't cared much about drums or tap dance back then, but that night, I was hooked on tap.
I started lessons the very next day.
That tap skill came in handy later for the 'Dream Broadway' casting audition.
Even though I didn't make it into that musical.
I'd already shown tap in the preliminary free dance test, which was a shame.
It would've had more impact unveiling it for the first time with drums.
Still, no other dance came to mind for the prelims.
Anyway, my goal for this year was performing at the Cheongyeom Arts Festival next March, so this time, I planned to prepare something fresh by focusing on syncing with the drums.
"How about it? Wanna team up with me?"
I was going to recreate the shock I'd felt at that concert.
That's why I'd approached Choi Sung-jin, the only first-year drum major in the Music Department.
"Uh… um...."
Choi Sung-jin couldn't answer right away.
His neatly grown long bangs hid his eyes, but he was clearly flustered.
There were a few memorable kids in the Music Department, but Choi Sung-jin stood out as the most unique.
If I had to sum him up from my memories, he was the shyest kid in school.
"I think it'd be fun doing it with you."
Knowing that, I pushed even harder.
No way he'd say no.
As Teacher Jung Hye-seon had said, this collab assignment gave bonus points to the Music Department kids too.
Plus, unlike before my regression, I was currently dominating the Musical Department—at least so far—with straight first places, so it had to be a solid offer.
He was just painfully timid, so I needed to take the lead.
"If you don't want to...."
"No, it's not that!"
I'd been ready to persuade him even if he didn't, but Choi Sung-jin cut in hurriedly.
See? No way he didn't want to.
Finally, I smiled and nailed it down.
"If it's not that you don't want to, is there something bothering you?"
"Uh… why...."
He trailed off, hesitant even to ask.
I could guess what he wanted to say, but I waited.
After a moment, Choi Sung-jin asked cautiously.
"…Is there a reason you picked me? Do you have some idea in mind?"
Of course he'd wonder why me.
Naturally, I hadn't picked him just because he played drums.
"Of course. I told you—I need your drum sound. And yeah, I've got an idea."
It wasn't just some random tap-and-drums combo.
I'd already mapped out exactly what performance to put on stage.
And I figured Choi Sung-jin could perfectly execute my plan.
That's why I'd proposed collab without a second thought.
Settling for just having a bit of foreknowledge now that I was seventeen again wasn't enough.
I had to leverage every scrap of info I had to aim for the absolute best results.
"Wow… no wonder you're sweeping the Musical Department."
Choi Sung-jin nodded shyly.
Sweeping it, huh. Yeah, kids say stuff like that.
Made me a little embarrassed, but not in a bad way.
"What's your favorite band?"
Time to play my ace.
Chatting like this would drag on forever.
At the somewhat random question, Choi Sung-jin tilted his head curiously.
First things first: get on good terms with him.
We could brainstorm collab ideas later.
I'd already fleshed out most of it anyway.
"I'm into Dream Theater. You?"
"Oh! …You know Dream Theater?"
Luckily, band talk loosened him up a bit—his face lit up.
His eyes even seemed to widen a little.
Hard to tell with those bangs, but yeah, something like that.
Gotta love band chat with music kids.
And so, I started aiming to buddy up with Choi Sung-jin.
"Isn't that Lee Do-hyun? The guy who got first in both singing and acting this time?"
Meanwhile, someone was watching the two of them.
"Yeah, that's him. Word's even spread in the Music Department, huh?"
Two teachers from different departments, observing from a corner of the practice room, were eyeing Do-hyun and Choi Sung-jin closely.
"Of course. Kim Sun-woo and Moon Woo-hyuk were famous even before enrolling. Those two who never lose taking second twice in a row to the same kid? Bound to make waves."
"Haha. I see."
"By the way, how's his dancing?"
Kim Eun-jung, still glued to Do-hyun, asked.
"He got first in the preliminary free dance test too."
"What? Really?"
Kim Eun-jung whipped around to Jung Hye-seon in surprise.
Jung Hye-seon nodded casually.
"Wow. Definitely not your average kid. Look at that choice he's making now."
Kim Eun-jung shifted her gaze back to Do-hyun, chuckling.
"First time I've seen a Musical Department kid skip piano and violin to pick a drummer for the first collab test between our departments."
Kim Eun-jung watched Do-hyun's choice with interest, then asked curiously.
"With piano and violin kids lining up to pair with him. What's the deal with this Lee Do-hyun guy?"
At least five kids visibly turned away in disappointment when Do-hyun went straight to Choi Sung-jin.
With skills like that, anyone would've been a win, but going out of his way for a percussion major?
"Who knows. I still don't get him myself."
Jung Hye-seon tilted her head slightly as she replied.
She really had no clue what was going through Do-hyun's head.
Sure, he'd been killing it lately, but he wasn't from a prep school, so no one to ask about his pre-Cheongyeom Arts High days.
Where the hell did this kid come from?
It wasn't just Jung Hye-seon—every Musical Department teacher was wondering the same.
"Hope he's not overreaching just to chase another first. Kinda worrying."
"Worried? You, Jung Hye-seon?"
Kim Eun-jung turned to her in disbelief, then laughed hollowly.
"But why are you smiling?"
"Me? Smiling?"
Jung Hye-seon touched her face in surprise at Kim Eun-jung's words.
Guess she had been without realizing.
"Ahem, anyway, what's the deal with that drum major kid?"
Jung Hye-seon swiftly changed the subject.
But now Kim Eun-jung had a smile playing on her lips.
Uncannily similar to the one Jung Hye-seon had worn watching Lee Do-hyun moments ago.
"Con artist."
"Huh?"
"Our Music Department's top con artist."
***
'Lee Do-hyun. What's he scheming this time?'
The moment Do-hyun approached Choi Sung-jin and struck up conversation.
Kim Sun-woo still hadn't picked his collab partner.
Unlike Do-hyun's assumption, Kim Sun-woo hadn't done any groundwork to lock in an accompanist ahead of time.
No need, he'd thought.
Better to decide after seeing Do-hyun's choice.
So, instead of hunting for his own partner, he'd been watching Do-hyun.
'Trying something new is good… but isn't this going too far?'
Kim Sun-woo had been intrigued by Do-hyun's performances in past tests.
Curious enough about his choice this time around.
True to form in the collab assignment, he'd gone with the unexpected.
But talking to a drummer for a dance collab with instruments? No matter how he spun it, it didn't look good.
What was the angle here?
"Um… you're Kim Sun-woo, right?"
A Music Department student approached Kim Sun-woo, who was standing still sorting his thoughts.
"Ah, yeah. That's me. What's your name?"
Kim Sun-woo flashed a bright smile and welcomed him.
Just like that, students swarmed him like they'd been waiting.
Tons of kids dying to team with Kim Sun-woo.
Even standing still, top Music Department talents had already pitched him.
Amid them, Kim Sun-woo glanced at Do-hyun, still deep in convo with the drummer, and thought.
'Timing for a confidence boost, sure. Whatever happens, it'll be fun.'
And there was another sharp gaze fixed on Do-hyun.
"Is he nuts?"
"What's with that confidence, Lee Do-hyun."
Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk.
The two had already known about the collab assignment in advance and pre-arranged with piano and violin Music Department students respectively.
So today, they'd just exchanged quick greetings with their matches.
With business done, they sat off to the side watching Do-hyun.
"Might actually step in it big time this round?"
Moon Woo-hyuk said smugly, his confidence seemingly back.
A drummer, of all things.
Felt like this was his shot to finally beat Do-hyun.
But after getting burned so often, he was already stressing over the next scheme.
Watching Do-hyun and Choi Sung-jin chat away made his stomach twinge.
Song Ha-na glanced at Moon Woo-hyuk when things got too quiet.
Looked better for a sec, but his face was scrunched again.
Gotta snap him out of it—she poked him, staring daggers at Do-hyun.
"You said violin, right?"
"Huh?"
Moon Woo-hyuk finally tore his eyes from Do-hyun to look at Song Ha-na.
"Yeah. Daughter of one of Dad's acquaintances."
That explained why she treated Moon Woo-hyuk so casually.
Rare for a peer.
Song Ha-na nodded once and pressed on.
"Got any ideas for song and dance?"
"Not yet.... You?"
"Me neither. Instruments are different anyway—let's brainstorm together later. Pick a song and dance."
Song Ha-na said matter-of-factly.
Piano and violin—better calm him before he blows.
"For real?"
Moon Woo-hyuk was simple, as expected.
Thrilled at Song Ha-na's offer to pick tracks after school, he stopped glaring at Do-hyun.
There we go, back a bit.
Song Ha-na sighed, lamenting her fate of babysitting another high schooler.
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