Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 358:

Chapter 358

-Benjamin: You’ve been learning violin for three years now, right?

-Benjamin: I think you’re better than Jason was when he was at your level.

-Jason: …

-Jason: I think so too. I’m better than I was back then.

Professor Benjamin joined the conversation.

Seo-jun smiled at the messages from Professor Benjamin Morton and Jason Moore.

Jason Moore had also met the fairy of dreams in his sleep, just like Subin.

But he only got to learn violin from Professor Benjamin Morton after a long time had passed. By then, the blessing of the fairy of dreams must have faded away.

‘But Subin is different.’

He started learning violin right after receiving the blessing from the fairy of dreams. 

His talent must have blossomed faster than Jason Moore’s.

‘But I don’t know how it will end.’

It was up to Subin whether he would surpass Jason Moore in the future or not.

He thought of Subin, who was mastering the ‘Second Violin Part’ of [Concerto for Two Violins] and practicing hard to play the ‘First Violin Part’. 

He chuckled and typed a message on his phone.

<Do you want to talk to Subin?

-Benjamin: Of course!

Jason: Of course!

They were two violinists who were eager to see a talented kid, just like when they saw Seo-jun playing ‘Gray Vainy’.

“***

“Can you believe it’s already the second semester?”

“We’ll be seniors in a few months!”

The students of Class 1-1 of the Acting Department were restless as they felt the pressure of becoming seniors and taking the college entrance exam. 

They were like that even when they were heading to the cafeteria for lunch.

“I feel like time is passing by without me doing anything.”

Yang Ju-hee nodded vigorously at Kim Joo-kyung’s words. 

Jeon Seong-min, who played the detective role in Yeoul Arts Middle School’s graduation performance, looked at Seo-jun next to him and said with a smile.

“Seo-jun is busy with composing and playing, though.”

The topic shifted to Seo-jun.

Kim Joo-kyung smiled and scratched his cheek as she said.

“They say they practice a lot with the published score in the Music Department. They say it’s good for practice.”

Jeon Seong-min and Yang Ju-hee also nodded.

“I heard that too. It’s like a practice piece with only difficult techniques. But it’s too good to be called a practice piece, so they’re hesitant.”

“There are also a lot of videos of people playing it with different instruments on YouTube. There were piano, cello, and others.”

“I saw guitar too.”

Videos of people playing [Concerto for Two Violins] appeared one after another shortly after the score was published.

From professionals to people who looked like they just started learning violin. 

Seo-jun was really happy that many people liked [Concerto for Two Violins].

“It would be awesome to play it with two pianos!”

“But the original is still the best.”

“I’ll eat separately today.”

Seo-jun said to his friends who were looking for a seat with their trays full of delicious food.

Yang Ju-hee tilted her head.

“With whom?”

“With Han-seok.”

“Oh. Han-seok.”

Their eyes followed Seo-jun’s gaze to the side. They saw Kim Han-seok talking quietly but happily with his friends.

“Are you sure you want to go there? The kids might tease him.”

They all laughed at Jeon Seong-min’s words.

***

“Is Bin the one who won the gold medal in elementary division?”

“Kim Subin from Maesil Elementary School, second grade!”

The first graders of Mirinae High School were gathered and talking.

They were from Music, Acting, and Art Departments. 

The common thing among them was that they had gone to ATR Violin Competition.

“Didn’t he play really well?”

“I don’t know anything about music, but I could imagine an image. So I drew a picture.”

“Wow. You’re amazing as expected from Art Department.”

The kids were talking so much that they didn’t know if their food was going into their mouths or noses. 

Of course, they didn’t forget to lower their voices.

The first grader from Music Department who won the gold medal in this competition opened his mouth.

“I thought his name sounded familiar.”

“I looked up an article too.”

The first grader from Acting Department took out his phone and showed them a screenshot he had taken.

[Winners of the 8th ATR Violin Competition]

<The 8th ATR Violin Competition has ended … (omitted) … Elementary Division Gold Medal, Kim Subin (Maesil Elementary School, 2) … (omitted)>

Kim Subin… Subin… Bin …Bin!

When the first video came out, they were all shocked by the truth that fit like the last piece of a puzzle.

“He’s Seo-jun’s brother, so I remembered his name, but I didn’t expect to see him here…”

“Who would believe that the second violinist was an elementary student?”

The two kids who majored in violin nodded at that.

“He was too good for an elementary student.”

“Rather, being an elementary student suited him better in some parts.”

“That must be because Seo-jun composed it, right?”

“Seo-jun is amazing…!”

One of the kids who was admiring him opened his mouth.

“But can we talk about this? There are a lot of people looking for Bin.”

“I know. I can’t stand it. My mouth is itching.”

“Of course not. If Seo-jun wanted to reveal it, he would have written him name.”

Kim Han-seok, who was inhaling his food, said that and the kids’ chatter died down in a small voice.

“…You’re right.”

“I’ll keep my mouth shut with a zipper.”

“Thank you very much.”

A voice that was hard to hear from their friends, a voice that stuck in their ears with a clear pronunciation and a soft tone, was heard. Kim Han-seok and the kids were startled and looked back.

Seo-jun was smiling behind them with a tray.

“Seo-jun!”

“Senior!”

The first graders’ voices drew the attention of the students in the cafeteria for a moment and then disappeared. 

Seo-jun had charged the mana as soon as the second semester started, and the pattern on the wall of the cafeteria sparkled.

“Can I sit here for a moment?”

“Yes! Please sit down!”

“Of course!”

At Seo-jun’s question, Kim Han-seok quickly moved aside. 

One of the first graders who sat next to Seo-jun and one who sat across from him gave Kim Han-seok a thumbs up.

Seo-jun put his tray on the table and sat down on a chair, looking around at the first graders.

Some of them he had seen at Yeoul Arts Middle School, and some of them he met for the first time at Mirinae High School.

The first graders, who were seeing Seo-jun up close for the first time, looked at him with sparkling eyes. Seo-jun smiled and opened his mouth.

“I see you found out who Bin is.”

“…Yes.”

The first graders answered timidly with Seo-jun’s smiling but piercing face. 

They must have known something they shouldn’t have. 

Seeing their gloomy faces, Seo-jun waved his hand and said.

“I’m not scolding you. I just wanted to ask you to keep it a secret until Subin grows up a little more.”

“Of course we’ll keep it a secret!”

Kim Han-seok answered with a bright smile, and the other kids chirped like sparrows.

“Me too!”

“Trust me. I’ll keep an eye on the others too!”

“? You’re the one with the loosest mouth. Senior. He’ll only make bubbles if he falls into the water.”

Seo-jun laughed and picked up his chopsticks as the kids chatted.

‘Oh! I was eating.’

The first graders also quickly picked up their spoons. But their eyes never left Seo-jun. 

The only one who was relaxed was Kim Han-seok, who had Seo-jun’s phone number.

“But why did you use your real names?”

“Yeah. There must be other people who can figure it out…”

Well.

Who could guess that the second violinist was an elementary student, and a second grader at that?

The first graders wouldn’t have known either if they hadn’t met Seo-jun at the competition.

‘And there are quite a few people named Bin.’

Who on earth is Bin?

There were also YouTube videos of people looking for the mysterious ‘Bin’ who hid his identity.

Many ‘Bin’s in Korea and (because of Benjamin and Jason) abroad as well. 

The list, including nicknames, was quite long. 

Ahn Da Ho said that there might be articles soon with some candidates and interview requests coming into Cocoa Entertainment.

‘But Subin wasn’t on that list.’

Neither were any elementary students.

He bit into a plump butter-fried shrimp and said.

“I was going to use a pseudonym, but… my brother said he wanted to use his name. And I couldn’t use his real name because it would cause a fuss, so I wrote Jun for myself and Bin for him.”

It was the stubbornness of a nine-year-old who wanted to do everything his hyung did.

“I see.”

Nom nom.

It was hard to tell if the food was going into their mouths or noses as they ate and talked with Seo-jun.

But they slowly emptied their trays.

“Thanks for listening to me. If you have anything you want to ask me, just tell me. I’ll help you out. As long as it’s not too hard?”

The first graders’ eyes sparkled at Seo-jun’s wink.

“Then, can you give me your autograph?”

A first grader from Art Department who wasn’t from Yeoul Arts Middle School asked hesitantly.

“Autograph? Sure. Anything else?”

“Uh…”

The kids pondered seriously at Seo-jun’s ‘anything else?’ Their faces lit up as they opened their mouths.

“I want a poster! And an autograph too…!”

“Which movie poster do you want? I’ll bring it if I have it at the company.”

“I want a light stick!”

A first grader from Music Department said, and the others’ eyes widened.

“Me too! It’ll be sold out as soon as it comes out, I’m sure.”

“Yeah. We’ll never get one.”

“But senior. When will the light stick come out? My sister is waiting for it too.”

“Me too!”

Seo-jun’s eyes widened at their reactions and then he smiled and said.

“Well. I heard they’re working on the light stick design…”

“Really?”

As Seo-jun and the kids were talking, Kim Han-seok, who was watching his friends with a warm smile, noticed his vibrating phone.

He took out his phone from his pocket and saw a text message.

He tilted his head at the unfamiliar number and read the text.

His eyes moved from left to right and down as he read the first sentence. Slowly, Kim Han-seok’s body stiffened.

“…Huh?”

Did he see it wrong?

He rubbed his eyes and looked again, but the text didn’t change. 

The two chopsticks in Kim Han-seok’s right hand fell on the table.

Seo-jun and the kids, who were discussing which light stick design was the coolest on [Sprout], turned their heads at the sound.

In those few seconds, Kim Han-seok’s face had turned pale. 

Seo-jun and the first graders spoke to him in surprise.

“Han-seok. What’s wrong?”

“Did you eat something bad? Did you bite your tongue?”

“Blood! Are you bleeding?”

Kim Han-seok couldn’t answer, frozen in place. 

Seo-jun’s face hardened as he tried to find the cause. 

He saw Kim Han-seok’s phone in his hand.

“Han-seok. Just a second.”

Seo-jun reached out and took the phone. Kim Han-seok’s trembling eyes followed the phone. 

Seo-jun found the text on the phone screen and read it with a serious expression.

The first graders also held their breath and looked only at Seo-jun, who took his eyes off the phone.

[(Web sender) Hello. This is Eunyoung Hospital.]

[Kim Han-seok’s test results require further examination as follows. Please visit a tertiary hospital and get retested and treated.]

Sigh.

Seo-jun let out a sigh of relief after reading the text without breathing.

‘I thought something really bad happened.’

“It’s a retest for a health checkup.”

“…A retest?”

The first graders seemed even more surprised by that. Seo-jun tilted his head.

“Why are you so surprised? Sometimes you get a retest if you’re not fasting, right?”

That happened to Han Jinho last year. He couldn’t stand it and ate something.

It was not something to worry about. Sometimes, a retest request would pop up if you did a health checkup when you were not fasting or after moving your body a lot.

But unlike Seo-jun, who was relieved, the first graders turned pale like Kim Han-seok. Seo-jun blinked, not understanding.

“…Senior. Han-seok already did the retest…”

“…What?”

He asked back at the art department first grader’s words.

He did the retest already?

‘He got a retest twice?’

That’s too much.

Now that he looked at it, the text didn’t say [health checkup] but [test], and instead of [hospital or clinic], it said [tertiary hospital]. A tertiary hospital was a hospital like a university hospital.

“…Han-seok…”

A retest of a retest.

The first graders were filled with all kinds of thoughts in their heads and looked at Kim Han-seok and Seo-jun with cloudy eyes.

Maybe he was coming to his senses, but Kim Han-seok’s face was similar to his friends’. 

He looked like he was about to cry any moment, with tears in his eyes.

Seo-jun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Kim Han-seok and the first graders.

He cared about the health of everyone around him, even the whales he met briefly.

[(Sun)Rover Tribe’s Diagnostic Priest’s Staff-Middle Grade]

You can ‘know’ all the abnormal conditions of the target.

The high priests of the tribe that worshiped the god ‘Roverin’ were divided into two types: healing priests who could heal all abnormal conditions and diagnostic priests who could know all abnormal conditions.

The diagnostic priests’ ability was essential because they could narrow down the range of treatment by accurately identifying the abnormal conditions, as the healing priests used their lifespan to heal.

Treatment is impossible.

Only ‘knowing’ ability.

But its range was very wide, so they could detect even the slightest abnormal condition.

Seo-jun checked on the health of those around him with this ability whenever he had time.

[(Sun)Rover Tribe’s Diagnostic Priest’s Staff is activated.]

Seo-jun checked Kim Han-seok again with [(Sun)Rover Tribe’s Diagnostic Priest’s Staff], but Kim Han-seok was very healthy without any problems.

He couldn’t tell the first graders who looked like they were about to cry, ‘I diagnosed him with my ability and he’s fine’.

‘They would think I’m weird if I told them.’

He felt frustrated and swallowed a sigh. If Seo-jun sighed here, Kim Han-seok and the first graders would burst into tears.

‘Han-seok. You’re perfectly fine.’

Maybe they interpreted his gaze differently.

The first graders and Kim Han-seok looked even more depressed by Seo-jun’s bitter eyes.