-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Entrance Ceremony
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Musical Department first-year representative Kim Sun-woo. To the podium."
At the call, a boy who still looked so young climbed up onto the stage.
Not only the top students from each department, but everyone's eyes turned toward Kim Sun-woo.
The sight of the entire grand theater packed with people focusing on him was spectacular.
The first-years had reserved seats in the back of the first floor, so they had an even clearer view.
The musty smell of dust in the grand theater, which I hadn't smelled in ages, felt welcoming.
Seeing Kim Sun-woo step up to the podium at center stage brought a bittersweet smile to my face.
To think I was witnessing again the flashy start of Kim Sun-woo's high school life as the top first-year enrollee.
There had been a time when my dream was to stand on this grand stage just once in an important role before graduation.
This time around, though, I had no intention of letting it remain just a dream.
Kim Sun-woo, son of a family that owned a modest cultural foundation.
There might be families more prominent than his at this school, but theirs was no ordinary foundation by any means.
'Kim Sun-woo.'
In the future, he was one of the people who made it to Broadway, becoming a three-time trophy winner.
It felt so strange seeing him climb onto the podium with his baby fat still intact on his cheeks, smiling brightly.
It felt like just yesterday I'd seen him on the news, dominating the stage with heavy makeup and seasoned skill.
"Pledge."
His clear, pristine vibe was as strong as ever.
His fair skin and refreshing looks suited his jet-black hair perfectly.
He must have been hugely popular even after going to Broadway.
He always had a smiling face and was great with fans, so his fandom had real power.
Even without being from a massive conglomerate family, he had the knack for mingling with chaebol heirs and an aura that never made him seem inferior.
"Hey, isn't that guy seriously hot...?"
"With that face and top honors? Total cheat code, right?"
Signs of a fandom already forming.
As expected of a guy destined for stardom.
Kim Sun-woo turned around, gave a greeting, and stepped down from the podium.
Everyone's gazes clung to every step he took.
Back then, I hadn't paid attention, but looking back now, he'd been a superstar from the very start.
"This concludes the entrance ceremony."
With the first-year representative's pledge, the ceremony came to an end.
Right after the entrance ceremony, the arts festival curtain would rise in this very grand theater.
The Cheongyeom Arts Festival was the school's biggest event.
It was a chance for the top-scoring first- and second-years over the whole year to show off their talents in front of countless celebrities.
Held once a year, it was tradition to do it on entrance ceremony day.
The musical department naturally put on a musical.
Mixing outstanding first- and second-years to stage one show.
"Anyway..."
I turned toward where the other students had been glancing furtively, and there they were: Song Ha-na, Moon Woo-hyuk, and Kim Sun-woo.
The three of them were sitting side by side two rows ahead.
Those three had always stuck together like a trio, as I recalled.
But looking now, they didn't seem all that close.
Song Ha-na.
Daughter of a top conglomerate on par with the Cheongyeom Foundation that founded the school.
Back then, she seemed so mature and aloof, hard to approach, but now she just looked like a regular 17-year-old girl.
"Bunch of losers, every one of them. Right?"
She spat out her venom without realizing it was venom—a girl who grew up in an environment where she never had to consider others.
She embodied the world they lived in.
Her large eyes with subtle double eyelids gave off a pure vibe, while her waist-length straight black hair and full bangs created a haughty, icy impression.
The classic cold beauty archetype.
As far as I remembered, even after becoming a famous musical actress later, she kept the "cold beauty" nickname.
"Don't they feel embarrassed that's the best they got?"
The boy next to her, looking down on the first-years, was Moon Woo-hyuk.
His 186cm height and build stood out the most.
His mixed-race features made him even more striking.
He was probably the prickliest guy among Cheongyeom Arts High students.
'Still the same as ever.'
Seeing him like that really drove home the reality of being back at 17, pathetically nostalgic.
To them, a guy named Lee Do-hyun from back then was probably a faint memory at best, but I remembered those three.
"What the hell have they been doing for a whole year? Even for second-years, that's pathetic. Hmm."
"Who cares? Even if they're third-years, I'll crush them."
Still the same... maybe even worse than I remembered.
Personalities that hadn't mellowed a bit.
Their conversation shattered even my wistful reminiscing, and I shook my head.
But for all his tough talk, Moon Woo-hyuk couldn't stand up to his dad.
And understandably so—his father was Moon Kang-hyun, Korea's top musical actor.
'I saw Moon Kang-hyun's stage before regressing, too.'
Moon Kang-hyun was an actor with overwhelming charisma and aura, a musical star beyond comparison.
Thinking back, Moon Woo-hyuk always seemed to grovel to get in his good graces.
He'd seemed scary as a kid for no reason, but now knowing he was just scared of his dad, he seemed a bit pitiful.
"What about you, Sun-woo?"
"Me? I'm enjoying the show."
Kim Sun-woo, standing beside them with a grin.
Even with my 16 years of experience, I still couldn't read him well.
The slightly rowdy auditorium fell quiet.
It was the entrance of the star of this performance, the flower of Cheongyeom—the third-year representative, or rather, the face of the entire school.
"Chae Si-hyun."
Even Moon Woo-hyuk was focused on her.
And rightly so. Chae Si-hyun's stage was perfection incarnate.
Despite her lack of experience, her top-tier facial expressions, relaxed vocalization, and flawless dance.
She was probably the school's greatest prodigy.
I thought back briefly to Chae Si-hyun's future.
She'd later sign as an exclusive actress for a Broadway theater and snag a Tony for Best Leading Actress.
True to her future, Chae Si-hyun was flying across the stage.
"It's as the rumors say. She's on another level. Senior Chae Si-hyun."
"I'll be at that level soon enough..."
"Truly beautiful."
Kim Sun-woo cut in with a sly remark as Moon Woo-hyuk bristled.
Was he doing it on purpose?
Even the sharp-tongued Song Ha-na had to admit Chae Si-hyun's performance was flawless.
When her number ended, applause poured from everywhere.
It was only natural—it felt like the entire arts festival had been a prelude just for her grand finale.
"Damn, she's insane. And she's only two years older than us?"
"Unreal. Seriously. I'm buzzing with arts high vibes."
The first-years who didn't know her well were just lost in awe and praise.
Once all the performances ended and the audience filed out, the new students moved to the front rows by the stage.
The chairman climbed onto the podium for his closing remarks to wrap up the day.
"Welcome to Cheongyeom Arts High, new students. I'm Chairman Park Yoo-tae."
The students erupted in loud applause at the appearance of Park Yoo-tae, also chairman of the Cheongyeom Foundation.
"Cheongyeom Arts High is a grand furnace for all of you dreaming of excelling in musicals, directing, music, fine arts, management, dance, and more. Our goal is to nurture each and every one of your talents and individuality into perfect art."
The school as a furnace. We were the fuel sources burning hot inside it—that was his point.
As foundation chairman, his gaze sharpened as he looked over every single new student.
"Cheongyeom Arts High will spare no expense in production costs for high-quality artistic culture and your stages. Remember that Cheongyeom's love and attention for you new students will never cool until the day your talents and passion blaze bright."
In other words, they'd keep whipping us relentlessly.
From the foundation's perspective, it was a massive investment, so I got it.
I glanced around at the new students gazing up at the stage with flushed faces.
They were probably all pumped full of arts high fever.
That was exactly what the school wanted.
But this was all just playtime.
Today would be the first and last time we could enjoy it like this.
"New students of Cheongyeom Arts High. Once again, a heartfelt welcome."
***
With all the events over, I headed home and hurriedly started packing for the dorms.
Boarding was mandatory for everyone at Cheongyeom Arts High.
Check-in started tomorrow.
Mom had already packed most of it, so I just added a few more necessities.
"This should do it, right?"
Mom kept pacing around the room, worrying something was missing.
"This is plenty, Mom. Don't overdo it—get some rest."
She stopped and peered into my face.
She must have thought something was off with me.
No wonder, with her carefree son suddenly acting like this overnight.
But it was hard to play the immature 17-year-old when my parents' faces kept tugging at me.
The image of Mom limping was still fresh, hard to shake.
"You're feeling weird about leaving home, huh...?"
"You too, Mom. Don't worry. I'm not a kid anymore..."
Her face started paling at my words.
Oops, shouldn't have said that.
"Ahaha. I'm not some elementary kid, it's fine."
"Still..."
"Enough. Sit here."
Before she could think it weirder, I sat her on the bed and massaged her legs.
She'd already been struggling financially, and with me insisting on arts high, she'd suffered even more.
After Dad passed, her health had tanked fast, her whole body creaking.
The doctors had said it was overuse of her joints.
My eyes welled up without me realizing.
I'd accepted regressing pretty calmly, but in front of my parents, I was helpless.
I kept my head down, massaging diligently so Mom wouldn't notice.
"Son..."
"Yeah."
I cleared my throat and barely managed a response to her soft call.
"Be honest... Did you get into some trouble today?"
My hands stopped mid-massage on her legs.
Just what the hell had 17-year-old me been doing...?
I didn't even need to think—it was obvious.
"Trouble? No way. We're out of spare toothpaste, right?"
"Oh, right. No toothpaste."
Jackpot.
I jumped up.
"I'll go grab some."
"You're not changing the subject, are you?"
I grabbed the card from the table, enduring her suspicious glare to the end.
But then I spotted Dad's cigarettes on the table.
Without a word, I pocketed them and headed out.
"Honey."
"Yeah."
"Didn't you see the cigarettes on the table?"
"Ugh, that damn smoking!"
"You didn't... throw them out, did you?"
"Ugh, why would I? I can't even touch them!"
"Then where'd they go?"
I quickened my steps, hearing Dad's indignant voice even through the front door.
Once outside, I casually tossed the cigarettes from my pocket into a trash can.
Proper filial piety here, Dad.
Please stay healthy and live long this time. I'll make sure you live like a king.
Mission accomplished, I headed to the convenience store with light steps.