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School festivals are where students can enjoy themselves together and boast about their achievements.
According to Professor Ham Geunhyung, the festival plan for Class 1-0 was unanimously decided.
Among the incidents that our class experienced this year, the event that most of us participated in and enjoyed was Dokgo Miro’s playlist death match.
Dokgo Miro, who had to compete for views against a famous streamer, was the underdog.
However, after our class showed their skills in stage preparation, she survived with an overwhelming victory.
It was an achievement of the eleven people in our class who were present at that time.
Our class decided to recreate the stage at this festival.
At that time, Kwon Lena and Mok Wooram were in charge of accompaniment, playing the violin and the piano respectively.
This time, however, the arrangement was designed so that everyone would be performing.
‘But to choose between castanets and triangle…’
The only instruments that I can play are the ones I learned in basic music classes.
Mok Wooram asked me to play the recorder when I included it in the list of instruments that I could play, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought.
Whenever I’d try to play, Hwang Jiho would laugh and spit nonsense, saying that he’d tutor me.
I practiced hard enough to make it bearable to listen at least, but it didn’t mix well with the class’ performance.
‘I thought it would be okay since the recording ended safely.’
For the music production to be distributed at the festival, our class each recorded their parts.
Seeing that Kim Yuri made me choose between instruments other than a recorder, the recording must’ve sounded bad.
Mok Wooram, who worked hard the most for the arrangement, continued.
“I heard the file that we recorded. I got the impression that the recorder didn’t go well with the performance. I’m really sorry, vice president, but I think it’s better to choose another instrument.”
The arrangement he made us listen to sounded good though.
Mok Wooram put it nicely, but it seems like my recorder performance was the problem, not the instrument itself.
It may be bearable to listen to if he corrects some stuff, but it can’t be helped since it would be impossible to make those cover-ups live.
I felt sorry for Mok Wooram who already worked hard to arrange all kinds of unique instruments.
‘It was hard to control my breathing with the recorder. Percussion would be easier.’
Fortunately, both options were percussion instruments.
Paddle castanets or machine castanets would go well with the ensemble, but won’t it take a long time for me to learn how to handle them?
After much consideration, I came up with a decision.
“I’ll go with the triangle.”
“I’ll give you a new music sheet, vice president. Do you want to try it with Hani?”
Mok Wooram held out the sheet music with a relaxed face.
The triangle must have overlapping parts with the bass drum played by Hani.
Hani chose the bass drum as her instrument, perhaps impressed with how the military academy students played it during the CSAT day when we cheered for our seniors.
— I felt the vibration every time the academy kids hit the bass drum. I thought maybe I could handle it.
Although she couldn’t hear it, Hani sensed the sound through vibrations.
There was a two-time Grammy winner, a deaf percussionist who stands barefoot on stage and plays through feeling the sound through her body.
Hani also focused her mind on the vibration to feel the music with her skin, not her ears.
Hani’s performance was excellent, matching my triangle playing quickly.
“My good friend has had an excellent sense of rhythm since a long time ago.”
Whenever I’d hit the triangle, the old man would giggle and say useless things.
It seems like Cheongho, who liked to listen to sounds, played instruments well.
Hwang Jiho said something strange, but no one paid attention to him.
“If you can’t play it, maybe you can sing in the chorus.”
“Vice president’s voice doesn’t match Dokgo Miro's. You can’t.”
Min Geurin, who sang in the chorus, suggested it but Song Daesok immediately blocked the idea.
The two were in charge of the chorus this time, and there was no room for anyone to intervene because they actually had good harmony.
“I like Euishin’s recorder performance! It’s also amazing that the tone of the recorder changes unexpectedly.”
“Are you going for the double kill?”
While Saeum of April was busy tuning the gayageum, he praised me with a pure heart.
However, just as Maeng Hyodon said, it seems like he was trying to kill me twice.
Maeng Hyodon said he didn’t have an instrument he could play, so he was assigned the samulnori drum that he played once at a youth retreat.
After understanding the score, Maeng Hyodon gave up following the performance and resorted to swinging in sync with Kim Yuri, but the result was quite good.
“Didn’t Euishin get upset last time? When he played the kkwaenggwari with Jiho last time?”
“Hahaha! I suggested it but Jo Euishin refused.”
(T/N: Kkwaenggwari is a small gong instrument.)
I remember having a hard time adjusting when Hwang Jiho and I were doing class-by-class experience activities.
There’s no guarantee that I could play at Hwang Jiho’s level in the version arranged by Mok Wooram.
“Then let’s try it!”
Holding her mic, Dokgo Miro spoke in a bright voice and started to practice.
***
Break time after practicing for the festival.
I checked my messages and received some shocking news.
I guessed that Ahn Dain didn’t go to the library to study for the final exam so she didn’t run into Joo Soohyuk, and it turns out to be true.
[Moon Saeron] Class Zero VP, are you going to let this happen? You’re not, are you?
[Moon Saeron] We urgently need to come up with suspicious measures.
My playable character was asking me a favor for the title hero and heroine, so I had to do it.
I’m not sure what “suspicious” measures Moon Saeron was talking about, but it was clear that something needed to be done.
I formulated a plan in my head and read the next message.
In addition to the weather update, Yeom Junyeol said some other business.
[Yeom Junyeol] Euishin-ah, can you spare me some time at the festival?
Yeom Junyeol also sent a version of the message as my student.
[Yeom Junyeol] Teacher, there’s someone I want to introduce to you at the festival.
Is he talking about the wanderlust dragon?
I thought he already left Korea being that he’s a wanderlust, but he must’ve been staying still.
‘Looks like I got a lot of people to meet at the festival.’
My calendar for the day of the festival was full of notes.
If my schedule gets messed up, I’d have to adjust a lot of appointments so I have to be careful.
Yeom Junyeol was very happy when I replied that I would go.
[Yeom Junyeol] Alright, I’ll send you an invitation and a voucher. Come and hang out in my class.
I closed the message window, looking forward to what Yeom Junyeol prepared for the festival.
At that moment, the surroundings became noisy.
People were flocking to the hallway outside the classroom.
“Class 1-1 finally moved!”
“Doesn’t look like Yong-ssaem wants to back down either.”
Class 1-1 and Yong Jegun.
Everyone in Eungwang High knew that there was a war of nerves between them over Kim Shinrok.
Well, it was Yong Jegun unilaterally playing with the freshmen, so seniors saw it as Yong Jegun just increasing his amusement.
However, Class 1-1 has the marksman, Ahn Dain, so there’s no way it would end like this.
“Hello, Professor Yong Jegun.”
“Hi, Dain-ah.”
Ahn Dain stood in front of the Class 1-1 students.
The eyes of the Class One kids were blazing as if there were fireworks inside them.
On the other hand, Yoo Sanghoon was eating a seasoned tteok galbi hot bar on his own, peaceful among the bunch.
After greeting politely, Ahn Dain continued.
“Our class will hold an event at the festival. We’d like you to participate in it, Professor Yong Jegun.”
Ahn Dain spoke impeccably.
Yong Jegun stared at her through his narrowed eyes.
The sight reminded me of what Yong Jegun said before.
— I hope he can reveal his identity and freely interact with his students. Among his students are strong humans who are strong enough to compete against the royal lineage, like Sung Gukeon. If something happens, they’ll be strong shields too.
Among the students of Kim Shinrok who could compete against royal lineage, Ahn Dain was surely included.
A strong, intelligent, talented student who follows Kim Shinrok well to the point of opposing Yong Jegun.
I don’t know what Ahn Dain would think, but Yong Jegun was very pleased by her attitude.
Hiding his joy, Yong Jegun replied.
“Of course. It’s an event prepared by Professor Kim Shinrok’s students, so I’ll definitely be there.”
“Thank you.”
Ahn Dain’s cold face turned into a slight smile.
The people around seemed to melt at the warm smile that she gave, but her eyes had an unusual energy.
It was an eye of a marksman locked in on her target.
“…”
Meanwhile, Joo Soohyuk appeared and witnessed the scene.
Joo Soohyuk doesn’t have a context of what happened, but he had a blank face as if Ahn Dain’s smile made him forget what he was about to do.
I wish he would just go and talk to her.
No, thinking about it carefully, he may be showing consideration because he knew Ahn Dain was busy strategizing with her class.
I decided to settle with that and move on.
“…I think Dain really made up her mind.”
Watching the situation, Kim Yuri expressed admiration.
Kim Yuri must’ve felt the determination of her longtime friend Ahn Dain.
“But Yong-ssaem is our assistant homeroom teacher… Should we help?”
“I think Professor Yong Jegun would enjoy the event.”
“Ah, that’s true. Let’s not interrupt him.”
Kwon Lena expressed concern for Yong Jegun at first, but Mok Wooram’s words made her agree.
“Should we go if we have time? They sell a lot of delicious foods at the festival, so I want to eat snacks with you guys and go around.”
“Let’s buy bread from Class Two.”
“I’ve seen a list of classes that sells drinks but… it’s mainly sweet drinks.”
At some point, it was decided that our class would go around together at the festival.
There was a moment when the kids were worried about Yong Jegun, but they soon became busy choosing food while looking at the festival directory.
Indeed, it was more productive to choose snacks for growing teenagers than to worry about the safety of Yong Jegun who was close to being a superior being.
I also joined the kids in choosing places to eat.
‘But Yong Jegun accepted even without hearing what kind of event it is.’
Maybe he thought it would be more fun if he doesn’t know, or maybe he already knows what it is.
Either way, it remained unchanged that Yong Jegun would face a showdown at the festival as a consequence of his provocation to Class One.
Soon, the next came and Eungwang High’s festival began.
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