Superstar From Age 0 - Chapter 269

Chapter 269

He remembered the excitement he felt when he first held a script, a brush, and an instrument.

He recalled the days when he was happy with his growing skills.

Even when he was desperate in the face of a daunting slump.

He hoped to finally bear a brilliant fruit!

Brilliant!

The violin melody filled the Yeoul Hall and seemed to swirl around the audience’s bodies. 

It felt like all the joy in the world came rushing at once.

It was different from listening through a video and listening in person. 

Even the teachers and the ATR Foundation staff were lost in the performance. 

There were two people who had different reactions.

‘He improved again.’

Only Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun, who often listened to Seo-jun’s performance from the closest distance, enjoyed the performance leisurely.

Seo-jun’s violin skills had increased rapidly. It was thanks to his diligent practice with Jason Moore and Professor Benjamin Morton through messages and videos.

The violin performance that filled the Yeoul Hall ended and everyone forgot to speak for a moment. 

They wanted to savor the lingering emotion.

Seo-jun took the violin off his chin and spotted his mom and dad among the countless parents. 

He smiled brightly at his mom holding a camera and his dad holding a bouquet. 

Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun also noticed that and smiled.

Seo-jun bowed and headed to the side of the stage.

Then, one by one, they came to their senses and opened their mouths. Applause and cheers rained down like rain.

“Wow. That was amazing.”

“I heard him once before, but today’s power was no joke.”

“Ugh. I have to watch Over the Rainbow when I get home today!”

“Me too!”

The parents also wanted to take this emotion home with them. The students, parents, and teachers all clapped and cheered.

***

After finishing the performance, Seo-jun was greeted by his music teacher and homeroom teacher. 

Seo-jun smiled and handed the violin to his music teacher.

“Here you go, teacher.”

“I listened well. It’s my violin, but it felt completely different. I was really surprised.”

The music teacher said with admiration as he received the violin from Seo-jun.

It was a violin that he had played for quite a long time, but it felt different from the melodies he had played. 

He thought he was playing at 100%, but it turned out that there was a different melody hidden in the violin.

The music teacher looked at his violin with sparkling eyes, while the homeroom teacher looked at Seo-jun with a pleased face.

“I didn’t know you had such a thought,”

The homeroom teacher’s smile deepened as he heard the belated cheers and applause.

“It seems like it will be a great memory for the kids.”

The homeroom teacher patted Seo-jun’s shoulder.

“Take care when you go to high school. I look forward to your work.”

“Yes!”

Seo-jun smiled brightly at the sincere words of his homeroom teacher. Meanwhile, the applause died down and an announcement came out.

[Next, we will award diplomas.]

“Go ahead now.”

“Yes.”

Seo-jun bowed and headed to the audience seats of Yeoul Hall. The music teacher and homeroom teacher smiled warmly as they watched his back.

***

The diploma awarding ceremony was only for each class president and vice president.

While the students went on stage to receive their diplomas, Seo-jun found his seat and sat down. 

The seat of Class 2 of Acting Department 3rd grade was closest to the entrance.

“Oh, Lee Seo-jun.”

“I thought you disappeared, but you prepared this event?”

Their hands clapped, but their mouths moved. 

Seo-jun grinned and clapped hard. 

Yang Juhee, the class president of Class 2 of Acting Department 3rd grade, and Kang Jaehan, the vice president, received their diplomas from the principal.

“It’s a graduation gift. Some of you are going to other schools.”

“It was a great gift.”

Another student who was going to a regular high school said, and other students’ eyes became moist.

Maybe because they were actors. 

They had a different sensibility. 

Seo-jun’s eyes also became wet as he thought so.

While other students comforted their crying friends, Yeoul Middle School graduation ceremony quickly ended.

[Lastly, we will sing the school song.]

The students of Yeoul Middle School sang the school song that they had become familiar with for three years.

It was the last time they sang it.

***

After the graduation ceremony ended, students and parents went out of Yeoul Hall. 

Some headed to classrooms and some headed to playgrounds. 

There were people everywhere in playgrounds and buildings.

“Seo-jun, congratulations on your graduation.”

“Thank you, mom and dad!”

Seo-jun smiled brightly as he hugged the bouquet that Lee Minjun handed him. 

Seo Eunhye took pictures diligently.

“I was surprised. You can play the violin.”

“I just thought everyone would be sad because it was the last time, so I asked the teacher and he said it was okay.”

It was a sudden event, but seeing that his friends’ faces were sad but not gloomy, he felt relieved.

“Seo-jun oppa!”

“Seo-jun hyung!”

Seo-jun’s name was called, and not only Seo-jun and his parents, but also other students and parents looked that way.

Two small children ran over. 

Subin and Eunsu, holding small bouquets. 

Seo-jun smiled brightly at the appearance of his cute siblings.

“Subin! Eunsu!”

Subin and Eunsu ran to Seo-jun and hugged him. 

While the two children were with Seo-jun, Seo Eunchan, who brought the two children, handed two cups of hot coffee to Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun. 

Seo Eunhye smiled and greeted her brother.

“Did you come?”

“Yeah. When did the graduation ceremony end? Am I late?”

“No, it just ended. You came right on time.”

“The customers at the cafe started to get up one by one, so I followed them out.”

Only two family members could enter Yeoul Hall where the graduation ceremony was held, but they could wait outside as much as they wanted. 

After the graduation ceremony, other families started to appear one by one to take pictures.

Seo Eunchan also followed them from a nearby cafe.

“Did you wait long at the cafe?”

“No, about 10 minutes? I left home according to the time when the graduation ceremony would end.”

“Good job.”

While Seo Eunhye and Seo Eunchan were talking, Lee Minjun took the camera from Seo Eunhye and kept taking pictures of Seo-jun and the two children.

Then, Lee Minjun noticed the bouquets that the two children were holding.

“Subin, Eunsu. You have to give Seo-jun hyung a bouquet.”

The two children who were laughing with their favorite Seo-jun hyung (oppa) looked at him with a surprised expression. 

They looked back and forth between the small bouquets they were holding and Seo-jun.

“Oh! Seo-jun hyung! Congratulations on your graduation!”

“Congratulations!”

“Subin, Eunsu. Thank you!”

Seo-jun smiled happily as he took the bouquets. 

Subin and Eunsu smiled shyly.

He soon caught the eyes of the children who were easily distracted by new things. 

Especially, Subin’s eyes sparkled.

“Hyung. Is this a uniform? I want to wear a uniform too!”

“Subin. Do you know what a uniform is?”

“I know! It’s what the middle school hyungs wear!”

To Subin, who was entering elementary school this year, middle school was a distant and high grade.

“Subin. Seo-jun hyung is not a middle schooler anymore, but a high schooler. Isn’t that amazing?”

“High schooler!”

Subin’s eyes sparkled at Seo Eunchan’s playful words. 

As Eunchan uncle said, high schoolers seemed more impressive than middle schoolers. 

To Eunsu, who was holding Seo-jun’s hand and playing with him, it didn’t matter whether he was a middle schooler or a high schooler.

“I want to wear a uniform too!”

“Hmm. Do you want to try wearing my blazer?”

“Yes yes!”

Subin wore Seo-jun’s blazer. 

Subin’s two hands were hidden by the large blazer of Seo-jun. 

Still, he laughed happily as if he was having fun. 

Lee Minjun quickly took a picture of Subin with his phone camera and sent it to Kim Heesang.

“Doesn’t it suit you well?”

“If Subin keeps playing the violin, he can come to Yeoul Middle School too.”

“Right. Will he be Seo-jun’s junior?”

“Come to think of it, wasn’t Subin from Masil Elementary School?”

“Oh, then he’s already an elementary school junior.”

Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun chatted and laughed. Seo Eunchan held up the camera.

“Subin, Eunsu. Let’s take a picture.”

“Yes! Kimchi!”

“Kim-chi!”

Subin wearing Seo-jun’s blazer, Eunsu holding Seo-jun’s hand tightly, and Seo-jun holding three bouquets in his arms smiled brightly.

***

“Did you take pictures with all your friends?”

“Yeah. I took a lot.”

While Subin, who was entering elementary school this year, and Eunsu, who was still in kindergarten, were looking around the school with Seo Eunchan, Seo-jun took a lot of pictures with his friends. 

He guessed that his Banana Talk would be full of pictures sent by his friends.

“Then let’s go home since Eunsu and Subin seem tired.”

Seo Eunhye said and Seo-jun nodded. 

Lee Minjun handed the phone call from Kim Heesang to Subin while carrying Eunsu who was almost asleep.

“Where did you park the car?”

“There was a paid parking lot over there. I parked there.”

Seo Eunchan and his wife had agreed to take one car in advance. 

So Seo Eunchan answered Seo Eunhye’s question, who came by taxi. 

They all followed Seo Eunchan to the gate.

At the back of the family walking slowly, Seo-jun looked back before leaving the gate. 

He saw families and students who were still taking pictures.

The playground where he ran around during physical education classes, Yeoul Hall where he performed with his friends, the windows of the classrooms where he took classes, the cafeteria where he ate lunch, the building where the practice rooms were, the teacher’s office where he often stopped by for attendance,

“…”

He saw Yeoul Art Middle School where he had spent three years happily.

Just as he had never been to Masil Elementary School after becoming a middle schooler, he would have no reason to come to Yeoul Art Middle School now. 

Even if the mana engraved on the wall ran out, there would be no chance for it to recharge.

“…”

He wasn’t as sad as when he graduated from elementary school when he was young, but he felt a little heavy in his chest.

The couple and Seo Eunchan waited quietly for Seo-jun who was looking back at Yeoul Art Middle School.

Seo-jun soon turned around with a bright face. Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun smiled softly at him and saw him blush.

“Let’s go home.”

“Yeah.”

Instead of starting the car that he had brought from work earlier, Seo Eunchan took out his phone.

“By the way, uncle.”

“Huh? Why?”

Seo Eunchan turned his head and looked at Seo-jun who was sitting in the back seat as he was about to start the car.

“I played the violin today.”

“Huh?”

“I also recorded it on video.”

“…Huh?”

Seo Eunchan froze as he smiled warmly at his daughter Eunsu who was sleeping soundly after eating well.

“Oh, I recorded it too. I haven’t seen it yet, but I hope it came out well. Should we check it now?”

“Shall we?”

Seo-jun and Lee Minjun smiled quietly as Seo Eunhye took out the camera. 

Seeing the happy family, Seo Eunchan laughed bitterly and instead of starting the car, he took out his phone.

The aftermath of the play mirror was not over yet, and it seemed like Cocoa Entertainment would be in trouble again.

***

[Actor Lee Seo-jun, graduated from Yeoul Middle School!]

[The sound of ‘Over the Rainbow’ echoed at the graduation ceremony!]

[A long-awaited performance! Lee Seo-jun’s Over the Rainbow!]

[Actor Lee Seo-jun, violin performance fancam!]

-Seo-jun! Congratulations on your graduation!!

-Wow. Other people’s kids grow up so fast.

=22 He’ll be a high schooler in March.

=And an adult in three years.

=…It’s really fast.

-Over the Rainbow! The graduation ceremony video is out!

=They filmed it from all sides!

=Honestly, I would have filmed it too.

=It’s also on Channel [JUN]!

=There are also a lot of Seo-jun’s graduation photos on From Sprout!

=A bouquet of flowers for Seo-jun! Thank you. Mom! Dad!

-He’s not even an idol, but he has a fancam lol

=But the views are rising faster than most idol videos lol

-I like that there are more videos. Plays and violin performances.

=I sometimes watch his busking videos these days, but this is not the Gray Viney version.

=222 It’s the Lee Seo-jun version.

=I love this kind of atmosphere difference lol

=I have to watch Over the Rainbow + busking again!

-I envy those who heard it in person.

=Right. And the parents of Yeoul Middle School students must have seen the play in person too!

=Wow… That must be nice.

***

“What are you doing?”

At the words of writer So Eunjin, Yu Cheonga, an assistant writer who was tapping the keyboard hard, screamed and got up. 

If it was a laptop, she would have closed the monitor, but unfortunately this was a desktop.

Yu Cheonga, who was moving around in front of the monitor, soon gave up and smiled awkwardly.

“Um, writer. When did you come?”

“Just now. Didn’t you hear me knock?”

Yu Cheonga sighed inwardly.

‘I was so focused that I didn’t even notice the writer coming in.’

This was the studio. 

A place where writer So Eunjin, Yu Cheonga, and another assistant writer worked together. 

Yu Cheonga rolled her eyes at So Eunjin’s playful expression and opened her mouth.

“…Did you see it?”

“No. I didn’t see it. It looked like a script. What were you writing that you didn’t notice me coming in?”

“That’s… I was preparing for a contest.”

“A contest? Is there a broadcasting station that does contests?”

So Eunjin tilted her head.

“No. There isn’t yet, but I just prepared in advance. I think it’s better to prepare and edit beforehand than to write hastily.”

“Then don’t you need feedback?”

“…Yes?”

“Who are you going to ask for advice when you have a professional writer here?”

So Eunjin grinned and Yu Cheonga teared up.

“…Writer!”

“Quick, print it out and bring it to me.”

“Yes!”

Yu Cheonga handed the script that had just come out of the studio printer to So Eunjin. So Eunjin sat down and read Yu Cheonga’s script.

It was a short time for So Eunjin, but for Yu Cheonga, it was longer than ever.

Every time the paper fluttered, Yu Cheonga felt her heart drop to the floor. 

So Eunjin laughed as she read the dialogue. 

Yu Cheonga couldn’t tell if that calm smile was good or bad and swallowed her saliva.

She tried hard to calm her nervous mind and looked at So Eunjin who put down the script on the table.

‘Is it okay? Or is it bad?’

So Eunjin looked at Yu Cheonga’s tense expression and opened her mouth.

“You can graduate now.”

Writer Yu Cheonga clamped her mouth shut.