Genius Composer Who’s a Dedicated Fan

Humans are animals that crave recognition, and in a way, our lives might be a continuous struggle for recognition.

This is because most people place such value on the recognition of others.

Why do people attach great meaning to Nobel Prizes? Why do they try to get into good universities and strive for good grades or evaluations?

It’s because that’s how they can be recognized as outstanding people by many.

Once, I too craved recognition from others.

Aiming to be a first-class composer, I wanted my songs to be recognized by the public, and I eventually achieved that.

But in the process, I forgot what was really important.

Why I tried so hard to become a first-class composer.

Why I craved someone’s recognition.

Even when people praised and recognized me as a genius composer, I wasn’t particularly happy.

Because I didn’t receive recognition from the person who really mattered.

But thanks to some miracle that happened to me.

“You, you’re a genius!”

It seems I’ve received recognition from that person.

Usually, when you receive recognition from others, they say you feel satisfaction and happiness, and if it’s significant recognition, even euphoria.

…How should I put it.

I felt like I finally understood the meaning of those words completely.

But for some reason, I felt a warm sensation in my left hand.

Curious, I turned my gaze there and saw Baek Yerin holding my hand at some point, and her expression seemed very excited.

If I had to compare it, she was like a child who had just seen an amazing magic trick.

Then, she who was forcibly holding my hand continued to speak.

“Do you have any other songs?”

“Well… I do have some?”

“Then let me hear another one.”

“I don’t think that’s possible right now.”

At my answer, Baek Yerin tilted her head.

That look seemed to be asking me ‘Why?’

But it couldn’t be helped.

“Because we’ve arrived.”

As Kang Beom-joon said, we had already arrived in front of Baek Yerin’s house.

Baek Yerin blinked, looking out the window as if she had momentarily forgotten that fact.

Then, for some reason, she made a slightly regretful expression.

And the moment I saw that expression.

“Can I have your number? If you want to hear more, I’ll send them to you separately.”

I found myself saying that without realizing it.

“Originally, they’re all songs I want… only you to sing.”

* * *

Baek Yerin left.

The moment I realized this fact, I felt my heart calm down a bit.

I know Baek Yerin’s true self that even she doesn’t know.

Her appearance that I fell for as a fan, shining more brilliantly than anyone else on stage.

Today, I glimpsed a fragment of that through her festival stage, and from then on, the Baek Yerin I remembered overlapped with the current Baek Yerin.

So I couldn’t help but feel nervous naturally.

Think about it.

The celebrity you truly like is right in front of you, and you’re casually conversing with such a person?

It’s not easy.

But I did it.

Well done, Ryu Won!

‘…But it’s not the time to be pleased about that, is it?’

Various emotions intersect.

Today was quite a meaningful day for me.

I once again faced her stage, which I thought I would never see again.

She listened to my song.

And.

─You, you’re a genius!

I received such an evaluation from her.

Honestly, I felt good.

Of course, I couldn’t help but feel good hearing such words from the person I truly wanted recognition from.

So I wanted to hear more evaluations of my song. I wanted to talk more.

If I asked Kang Beom-joon for permission, it would have been entirely possible.

But I couldn’t do that.

I didn’t want to.

I looked out the window with a bitter smile.

The sky was blue, and fluffy white clouds were floating. And in the background of that scenery was my younger face.

The moment I met eyes with the guy wearing a somewhat relieved expression, this thought suddenly occurred to me.

It was about my dream.

I still remember clearly.

17 years old.

At that time, Baek Yerin was a rapidly rising star, and encountering her songs was perhaps inevitable.

.

It was definitely a song with that title.

Ironically, at that time, I thought that song was not great.

The only things I thought were good were Baek Yerin’s tone and singing skills.

That was so disappointing, and I even thought I could make a better song than that if I made one.

So I tried making a song using a free program for fun… and it was so much fun.

It was amazing that I could directly create the songs I had only been listening to, and I even imagined what it would be like if Baek Yerin sang a song I made.

And before I knew it, that had taken the form of a dream.

Making songs was so fun and enjoyable.

I hoped that someday Baek Yerin would directly sing a song I made.

I wanted to show that dream-like scene to others as well.

Yes. That is the essence of my dream.

But my past self lived a life that deviated from that essence.

Because I didn’t believe in myself, I didn’t dare approach her, and I was afraid she would react negatively.

A dream that deviates from its essence can no longer be called a dream.

It’s just colorless, like the remaining ashes after a fire.

The moment I realized that my dream, which was just as blue as the sky I see now, had lost its color, I felt a little ashamed of myself.

Ashamed and somehow sad.

Despite the great joy I felt when she praised me, it didn’t last very long.

“Did you get some dust in your eye?”

“…I guess so.”

When I came to my senses, tears were flowing down my cheeks at some point.

Kang Beom-joon, who noticed this, handed me a tissue.

It seems he checked my condition through the rearview mirror because I kept quiet in the back.

He then asked.

“Was being recognized as a genius by that girl that moving?”

“…That’s not why I cried.”

“Is that so? Then that’s good.”

With those words, an awkward silence returned to the car.

Oh my…

As expected, Kang Beom-joon didn’t ask me anything.

Why I cried, 

How I came to know Baek Yerin, and so on.

From the beginning, the person I know has always been like that.

Disgustingly perceptive, always approaching his people carefully, and quite optimistic.

Knowing he was that kind of person, I approached him to build a connection in this life too, and I thought I could sincerely answer a few things as a token of gratitude.

I cautiously opened my mouth.

“Aren’t you going to ask?”

“About what?”

Kang Beom-joon answered in a dry tone.

It feels like he’s not interested at all, but I know well that this appearance is false.

Well, that person is terribly bad at lying.

“The reason, the reason. Aren’t you curious about many things about me? If I were you, CEO, I think I would naturally have such thoughts.”

“Not at all? …Well, to say that would be clearly strange on many points.”

“That’s right, isn’t it? Then─”

“But if you don’t want to talk about it, I absolutely won’t ask. Absolutely.”

Kang Beom-joon emphasized, cutting off my words cleanly.

That was a bit surprising, so I was blinking my eyes when he continued.

“Originally, composers are the type to have a lot hidden inside. But ironically, composer is also a profession that’s bad at lying.”

I agree to some extent.

No matter how much you try to hide something of yourself, when making a song, it unconsciously gets revealed and included.

Oh, by the way, I’m talking about myself.

“So you don’t need to think too hard and just focus on composing. If a composer just makes good songs, there’s no composer more excellent than that. Ah, but personality is important too. No matter how excellent a composer is, if their personality isn’t good…”

“CEO.”

“Hm?”

“But you know I haven’t signed the contract yet, right?”

“……”

Kang Beom-joon let out a sigh as if he had completely forgotten the contract conditions I had set.

My signing the contract he offers is only when Baek Yerin’s casting is confirmed.

“Looks like I’m going to have a hard time for a while.”

Seeing Kang Beom-joon pondering how to proceed with work from now on, a faint smile naturally forms on my face.

I looked out the window again.

Unlike my past self who was colorless, there was a certain color in the face of the boy reflected in the window.

Transparent like the tears that had flowed down the boy’s cheeks.

It was just pure white.

Because it could become any color depending on future choices.

* * *

A few days later.

“Hah… I’m curious.”

Since the day of Baek Yerin’s festival performance, some guy kept sighing at school.

Kim Tae-hwan.

He and I have quite a persistent connection.

We naturally became friends since we were young because our houses were nearby, and even in my previous life, we graduated from all the same schools except for university.

We were so close that we stuck together almost all day at school, so we know each other well.

From that perspective, Kim Tae-hwan is…

“What are you so curious about?”

“Hm? There’s a rumor that a few days ago, a female student at a place called Haneul Middle School updated the legendary festival stage with just one song. But strangely, the video of that female student’s performance isn’t appearing online at all. What do you think this means?”

“…What does it mean?”

“I think some agency that noticed the girl’s talent might be preventing the video from spreading. Though the response seems too fast for that.”

He has disgustingly good intuition, just like now.

Originally, at this time, Baek Yerin’s festival stage video would spread online, and numerous agencies would start paying attention to her.

In a way, it means this was the decisive opportunity for her to debut in the entertainment industry.

But Kang Beom-joon and his agency were blocking it with all their might.

This itself showed their determination not to let any other agency snatch Baek Yerin, and from my perspective, it was quite interesting news.

It was while I was thinking about this.

“But coincidentally, a friend who wasn’t even sick left school early that day? What do you think this means?”

Sigh…

I knew he had good intuition.

But honestly, this one is a bit scary.

I sighed and answered.

“Please refrain from talking nonsense.”

“Haha. It’s a joke. Even I can’t think of any reason why you would go to Haneul Middle School, leaving school early.”

Right.

Even I think so.

If I hadn’t come back in time, that is.

Anyway, Kim Tae-hwan made one prediction to me in a voice full of confidence.

That in about 1 or 2 years, a monster rookie who will shake up the entertainment industry will appear, and it will be that female student who updated the legendary stage at Haneul Middle School.

1 year? 2 years?

Well…

[I’d like you to drop by the headquarters tomorrow.]

[We’ll prepare the pen, so you just need to come with yourself ^^]

Somehow, I think half a year will be enough.

I smiled faintly as I read the text Kang Beom-joon sent.