Chapter 613: Chapter 612:

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: AgRoseCrystal

Chapter 612

USA, LA.

It was the time when people usually finished their warm and cheerful dinner.

At the mansion of Professor Benjamin Morton, who also had a laughter-filled dinner, a violin performance was in full swing.

Normally, it would have been the performance of Professor Benjamin’s disciple, Jason Moore, but these days, another violinist that had taken his place.

It was Kim Subin, who had just entered the sixth grade of elementary school this year.

“—!”

Subin’s right hand holding the bow moved swiftly up and down, crossing over the strings.

The long bow quickly brushed past the four strings that were close together. It seemed like it would sometimes overlap with the strings that were right above and below, making completely different sounds, but there was no such noise. Only the intended note sounded clear and crisp.

Moreover, the performance did not stop there. The melody that contained his emotions was a skill that could not be expected from a elementary school student.

“—!”

Subin, whose face was flushed, finished the last note without skipping it, as he had been pointed out last time. He then lifted the bow from the string and looked at the two audiences sitting on the sofa with sparkling eyes.

Professor Benjamin and Jason Moore, who were enjoying Subin’s violin performance on the sofa, clapped their hands. Subin smiled sheepishly and lowered his violin.

“How was my performance?”

“It was good. It was a unique performance that suited you, Subin.”

Professor Benjamin said with a smile, and Subin grinned.

“I made some mistakes in the middle, though.”

“Hey.”

Jason Moore chuckled and Kim Subin pouted. Professor Benjamin smiled brightly.

Last year, Subin spent his summer and winter vacations with the three of them. This year, he had been staying with them for a few days. Subin and Jason Moore had become close friends.

‘They also kept in touch through video calls before.’

Professor Benjamin said with a smile.

“The concours is only a month and a half away, right?”

“Yes!”

Concours.

Subin was going to participate in the New York String Instrument Concours, which would be held in New York a month later.

He had passed the first video preliminary round in March and decided to stay at Professor Benjamin’s mansion until the second main round in July and the third final round in August, learning from Professor Benjamin.

“Can I win a prize?”

Subin asked, and Professor Benjamin and Jason Moore pondered.

The age limit for the New York String Instrument Concours was divided into category 1 (under 13), category 2 (under 18), and category 3 (over 19).

Subin’s age meant that he had to apply for category 1, but this time, he decided to go for category 2, which was the section where middle and high school students from Korea would participate.

An elementary school student among middle and high school students.

And they were not ordinary middle and high school students, but talented students from all over the world.

‘He has a chance, since he passed the first preliminary round, but…’

“Do you want to win a prize?”

Jason asked, and Subin nodded with shining eyes.

“Yes!”

“Then you should have applied for category 1.”

“That

“Easy?”

“Hehe.”

Subin avoided the answer with a laugh.

Professor Benjamin and Jason Moore laughed at that. Even objectively, there was no one among his peers who could play better than Subin.

‘He would have definitely won a prize if he had applied for category 1.’

The prize from the concours.

Of course, it was important.

The award history did not represent the skill of the violinist entirely, but it was a fact that it was a criterion that made the maestros and the audience think, ‘I want to hear this violinist’s performance.’

But Professor Benjamin Morton and Jason Moore wanted Subin to see a wider world. And they hoped that he would not be obsessed with the prize from the start.

Professor Benjamin opened his mouth with a kind smile.

“Subin. It would be nice to win a prize, but isn’t it better to be able to stand on the stage? A stage where people who want to hear your performance are sitting.”

Stage. My performance. Listeners.

His face lit up at the words that made his heart flutter.

“That’s right! That’s better!”

“And you can also listen to the performances of other talented violinists.”

Subin nodded repeatedly at Jason Moore’s words.

“That’s good too!”

“Let’s experience that at this concours.”

“Yes!”

Professor Benjamin smiled softly and Jason Moore smirked as they watched Subin’s eyes sparkle at the mention of the stage and violin performance. They had heard that he was not related by blood, but he reminded them of someone.

Just then, the phone rang, and Professor Benjamin laughed as he looked at the screen. How did he know they were talking about him…

“It’s Jun.”

“Hyung?!”

At Professor Benjamin’s words, Subin ran to Professor Benjamin’s side like a wagging puppy, and Jason Moore leaned forward with bright eyes.

“Hello, Professor!”

Subin looked at Professor Benjamin with sparkling eyes as he heard Seo-jun’s faint voice. Professor Benjamin switched to speakerphone with a smile.

“Yeah. Jun.”

“Are you doing well?”

“I’m doing fine. I heard you’re almost done with your service, Jun. Are you hurt anywhere?”

Professor Benjamin and Jason Moore had heard the story before he enlisted, so they were not surprised when it was revealed. They were worried about the word ‘military’, though.

“Yes. I’m healthy. I’m discharged on July 14th and I’m on vacation now.”

“Vacation…!”

Subin exclaimed regretfully. He had to be in the US when he was on vacation! Professor Benjamin and Jason Moore laughed at his desperate expression.

“Is Subin there too?”

“Yeah. Jason is here too.”

“Subin, are you having fun?”

“Yup yup! It’s so fun! I love both Professor and Jason!”

“That’s good. Jason, are you doing well too?”

“Yeah.”

After chatting with the three for a while, Seo-jun got to the point.

“I finished composing the song I’m going to play this time. It’s only one song and it’s not an official recording, but a sample.”

Seo-jun laughed over the phone.

They smiled along with his bright voice, as usual.

“Please listen to it and tell me what you think.”

“Can I do it too? Seo-jun hyung?”

“Of course! The more, the merrier! Jason, I’m counting on you too.”

“Alright. I’ll give you an honest evaluation.”

“Haha. Thank you.”

After a brief exchange of small talk, Seo-jun said.

“I have to go eat lunch now, so I’ll hang up. I’ll call you later, professor. Oh, Subin. I think I can make it to the finals since the shooting is in August.”

“Wow!”

Subin raised his arms and cheered when he heard that Seo-jun was coming. Benjamin, the professor, asked him.

“The concours is in New York. Are you okay with that?”

“Yes. My first shooting is in New York. I’ll see you then. Professor. Jason.”

“Okay.”

Jason watched Subin, who couldn’t contain her joy and shouted hooray until the call ended.

“You know, you have to pass the second round to get to the finals.”

“Ah! Right!”

Subin realized that he still had the July round left.

“I’ll practice hard and go! To the finals!”

He was burning with enthusiasm.

Benjamin, the professor, smiled as he watched her and tapped on his phone screen to open the file that Seo-jun had sent.

-Seo-jun: (Gray’s Violin Piece NO.2: Good morning)

“The title is ‘Gray’s Violin Piece NO.2’ and the subtitle is ‘Good morning’.”

“…It sounds like something you should listen to in the morning…”

Jason, who knew how Seo-jun’s compositions moved people’s hearts, muttered. Benjamin, the professor, joked.

“Then, shall we listen to it in the morning?”

“No.”

“No! Let’s listen to it now!”

Jason and Subin refused in unison. Benjamin, the professor, laughed.

They couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning to listen to the new violin piece. The three violinists, including himself, were not very patient.

“Then, let’s listen to it.”

Benjamin, the professor, skillfully operated his phone and connected the audio file to the high-end speaker installed in the living room. Jason and Subin sat down on the sofa right away.

[Gray’s Violin Piece NO.2: Good morning]

A moment of silence passed.

Soon, a melody that woke up the sleepers sounded.

It was not a noise that disturbed the ears and the mind.

It was a performance that made one smile at the corner of the mouth after a deep sleep, listening to the warm sunlight and the chirping of the birds. Some people would naturally open their eyes here, and others would like this coziness so much that they would mutter ‘just a little more…’ in the snug blanket.

But it was morning now.

It was time to get up.

The three violinists, who had closed their eyes, twitched their eyes and fingers. They knew it better than anyone else, who had listened to Seo-jun’s performance more often and more. This was not Seo-jun’s performance.

It was a faint and more mature melody than the past, but they couldn’t miss it.

“…Gray Vainy…”

Jason murmured in a low voice that would not disturb the music that filled the living room, but loud enough for the three to hear.

At the same time, the image of Gray Vainy, who had grown up in their minds, popped up in the heads of the three violinists who loved [Over the Rainbow] as their life movie.

The grown-up ‘Gray Vainy’ moved his left hand that touched the strings and his right hand that held the bow a little faster. The calm and peaceful performance gradually brightened.

The melody that seemed to brighten the listener’s heart as well made them smile involuntarily. It was a very affectionate performance that seemed to gently shake the listener with a small smile.

They had to get up like this.

The performance that made the listener smile and get up continued.

The bright melody that warmed the heart soon became cheerful with Gray Vainy’s fast hand gestures.

It was a refreshing feeling that seemed to drive out all the sleepiness that lingered in the body, making them snap out of it.

‘It would have been better to listen to it in the morning.’ Jason thought.

Benjamin, the professor, also smiled and said, feeling embarrassed by the sleepiness that had flown away.

Subin, who was energetic in the morning and evening, moved her body lightly to the melody.

But still, it was good.

It was good without a flaw.

The three musicians wished that this melody would not end.

But every piece has an end.

The cheerful performance that seemed to spend a pleasant morning time with the loved ones ended with a strong and spirited melody that seemed to make the listener shout ‘Great! Let’s have fun today!’ with anticipation for the day.

Bang!

With the end of the piece, the three opened their eyes wide.

They wanted to enjoy the aftertaste, but the spirited and powerful piece ended very neatly, as if saying ‘Let’s go! It’s time to leave!’

“Haha.”

They laughed involuntarily, feeling full of energy in their bodies.

Good morning!

They felt like they could spend a wonderful day,

“…but it’s already night.”

A while ago, when they were listening to the music, it seemed like it was a sunny morning, but outside the window, darkness had fallen.

“I should have listened to it in the morning.”

Jason said something he didn’t mean, laughing dryly. He wouldn’t have been able to sleep all night, curious until tomorrow.

“We can listen to it tomorrow morning too! It’s so good now, don’t you think it would be better in the morning? Professor, Jason?”

Subin said with a flushed face. Benjamin, the professor, and Jason nodded their heads seriously.

“Yeah. Then we’d better go to bed soon.”

“Shall we set the time in advance, teacher?”

“That’s a good idea.”

They slept to enjoy the piece better.

It was a funny thing, but the three were serious.

“Wouldn’t you be too tired to sleep if you exercise?”

“That might be okay too.”

“Milk! Drink warm milk too!”

They also had a hard time discussing how to bring back the sleepiness that had flown away.

After trying this and that, they tossed and turned a little like the night before a picnic, but the three were able to fall asleep.

And the next morning.

The three listened to [Gray’s Violin Piece NO.2: Good morning] that flowed from the speaker and started the day with a very good mood.