When Kang Woo-jin first spoke with Asami Yusuko, who was his biggest fan and also dreamed of becoming a voice actor.
I could already tell then.
‘Do you have a favorite piece?’
‘Ah! I’m from ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’!’
The OST of the world-famous animation, ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’. That is, he knew the song ‘Carousel of Life’. He could play it on the piano right away. It wasn’t just ‘Carousel of Life’. Other famous OST scores from ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ immediately came to Kang Woo-jin’s mind.
It was because of the piano skills that I had acquired 100%.
Of course, Woojin had heard the OST of ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, but he had never seen the sheet music. Nevertheless, it was clear. It was as if he had played it on the piano thousands of times.
My fingers were tingling.
It was then that Kang Woo-jin discovered the white piano in the restaurant. The restaurant was huge, with many customers talking to each other or tasting food, and the restaurant staff working busily in between.
A grand piano is placed in the middle.
‘What the heck – it’s so cool?’
The white piano looked expensive and shiny at first glance. Its appearance alone caught my eye, and since there was no one playing it, it seemed to be telling Woojin to sit down.
So is that piano playable?
To be honest, Woojin at first thought that the white piano was just for the restaurant’s style. Was it perhaps decoration? Kang Woojin asked the female employee who was guiding him in low Japanese.
“Is that piano for ornamental purposes?”
The female employee stuttered and felt embarrassed, perhaps because it was her first time seeing the actor.
“Oh, no. It’s not the time right now, so it’s empty. The pianist will come and play a little later.”
There is a pianist who always comes. It is not yet time to play. Kang Woo-jin sat down in the seat where the ‘strange people’ were. The actors greeted him and asked him many questions, but Woo-jin’s eyes were fixed on the piano in the center of the restaurant.
‘I’m worried.’
If it wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have noticed, but when I saw the piano in front of me, my eyes kept going to it. I also remembered the piano in the high school music room where ‘Stranger’ was filmed a few days ago. Then Woojin started humming quietly as if he was talking to himself. Of course, in his mind.
‘Should I try it?’
It was a very simple idea. A moderate amount of curiosity and attention. That white piano looked to be in very good condition. Unlike the piano in the music room, it would produce a smooth sound. Besides, Kang Woo-jin didn’t have many opportunities to play the piano.
But if you play the piano here, you will get annoyed, whether it is an illusion or a misunderstanding.
So what?
What’s the big deal? It was a fact that Kang Woojin knew well, but it didn’t matter. He had already come this far. Woojin’s surroundings had been a swamp of illusions all along. The weight of the swamp had just gotten a little heavier.
-Ugh.
I saw Asami Yusuko, a girl sitting near the entrance who looked like Kang Hyun-ah, Woojin’s younger sister. She was happily talking to her family. The song would be ‘Carousel of Life’, of course. It’s the most famous and popular OST of her favorite work. It was a birthday present as well as a way to support the girl’s dream. In fact, it was closer to sincerity than fan service to Woojin.
That is, it was not computational.
Then he turned his gaze to Director Kyotaro sitting across from him.
‘Come to think of it, the director also asked me to play the piano once.’
It was literally killing two birds with one stone. Kang Woo-jin got up from his seat without any hesitation. The concept itself had a strong ‘no-pakku’ vibe, but Kang Woo-jin’s personality itself was one that didn’t have long to think. Tomorrow is tomorrow. If a problem arises, then that’s when it happens.
I asked the employee who appeared to be the restaurant manager and he said it was okay to hit me.
“Hey, are you going to hit it yourself, Kang Woojin?”
“Yes. Are you okay?”
“Of course. But have you ever played the piano before?”
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“Well, maybe?”
“yes?”
That was how the piano melody started. Kang Woo-jin plainly tapped the white and black keys.
-♬♪
The piano performance of ‘Carousel of Life’ spreads majestically throughout the restaurant. Naturally, the heads of the customers in the restaurant turn one by one. Towards Kang Woo-jin, who sits at the white piano. The infection was fast. In a few dozen seconds, all the customers’ eyes were on Woo-jin.
Because the piano melody was so fantastic that it was hard to ignore.
-♬♪
The ear-melting melody easily surpassed the level of one or two years of learning. The guests were so absorbed in the music that they couldn’t even realize it.
“······Good.”
“Wow…you play well.”
“Hehe- that’s amazing?”
Even the restaurant’s fifteen employees stopped working.
Yes, this is the only restaurant in the world where time has stopped.
“······”
“······”
“······”
It started like that, but gradually a different atmosphere was formed. Who is it? Who is that black-haired man? Who is playing the piano? Dozens of guests were curious about the man playing the piano. Of course, they quickly realized that it was Kang Woo-jin.
“That guy······Kang Woojin??”
“Kang Woo-jin? Didn’t you just come in and join the actors over there? You were definitely by the window.”
“Why is Kang Woo-jin playing the piano?”
Their shock was doubled.
“Oh my god. Kang Woojin plays the piano?”
“It’s amazing, it’s so amazing??”
But Kang Woo-jin’s performance became even more dazzling.
-♬♪
The shock was mixed with the shock.
“That Korean actor – he was originally a pianist?”
Because it was so well-played, it wouldn’t be wrong to think that this was a large hall where a concert was being held.
The piano sound reaches its peak and then fades away.
The grand atmosphere was engulfed in tension. The overwhelming excitement had subsided, but the guests could not take their eyes off Kang Woo-jin. It was because of the anticipation for the next climax. There was an amazing tempo-control hidden in his piano.
At this, the girl in the wheelchair, Asami Yusuko, reddened her eyes.
“······I, I said I liked ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’. That’s why Kang Woo-jin played that song for me. Mom, Dad. I really don’t think I’ll ever forget today. How could I forget a gift like this?”
He looked shining. That noble man playing the piano so calmly. It was amazing that there was such a being in the world. Even if it was a dream, it was okay. If I could only remember this feeling, this emotion, that was enough.
Eventually, Yusuko had to wipe her eyes.
But the girl’s parents had no time to console her.
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“Is that what an actor is like? No. Playing the piano for the birthday of a fan with whom I only exchanged a few words······”
“Apart from being an actor, his humanity itself is amazing.”
The parents were beyond words with a sense of gratitude and appreciation that they had never experienced before. It was as if all the hardships they had endured while their daughter grew up in a wheelchair were being washed away.
The girl’s father and mother also had moist eyes.
-♬♪
A piano that touches the heart. Several of the guests in the restaurant were the same. They wiped away tears for some reason. They also recalled a painful past while looking at Woojin. The melody they heard was the same, but the emotions that settled in each person were completely different.
Some people have the past, some people have the present, some people have the future, some people have loved ones, and some people have the wounds of the present.
Others take pictures of Kang Woo-jin. They either record it on video or take pictures. Some people start taking pictures from the beginning, while others start taking pictures from the middle or right now.
“What a rare sight. Where else can you see it?”
It was true. An actor, a famous Korean actor at that, came to Japan and played the piano. Stealing people’s souls.
It was a picture that could only be imagined.
At this point, someone slowly entered the restaurant filled with piano melodies.
-Ugh.
“······uh?”
A woman with her hair tied up. She was the pianist who had originally been scheduled to come. When she arrived, Woojin’s performance was nearing its end, and she, who had been listening to the performance without realizing it, suddenly narrowed her eyes. Then she asked a male employee who was frozen nearby.
“What? Did you hire another pianist besides me?”
“Huh? Ah- No. He’s Kang Woo-jin.”
“Who, who are you?”
“Mr. Kang Woo-jin. He’s an actor, that Korean actor.”
“No······I know that too. Is this the piano playing skill of an actor right now?”
That was when.
-♬♪
The piano melody, which had been gradually getting smaller, finally stopped. Kang Woo-jin’s performance had ended. However, no one in the restaurant moved right away. It was because the emotion and excitement were still lingering in their bodies.
“······”
“······”
soon.
-Ugh.
Kang Woo-jin, who had been sitting at the white piano, stood up with a silent expression. Only then were the dozens of guests able to come to their senses, and the first applause came from the seats near the entrance.
-Clap clap clap clap!
It was Asami Yusuko and her parents. The three were busy applauding Kang Woojin. Naturally, all the guests also stood up.
-Clap clap clap clap clap!
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
The restaurant was filled with applause and praise. It was all sincere. I express my deep gratitude to Kang Woo-jin who gave me a sensational scene that was like embracing myself for a short moment. Where else can you see such cuts if not in a movie?
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Words like “thank you”, “thank you”, “that was the best”, and “that was great” were mixed in here and there. Kang Woo-jin, standing in front of the piano, maintained his indifferent expression, but inside he was feeling extremely embarrassed.
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‘Oh my gosh, what should I do in this situation? Should I just stand there?’
It was just a few dozen people clapping, but to Woojin, it felt like thousands. Ah- Okay, let’s say hello first. Woojin, with a poker face, gave a small greeting to everyone. Then he turned his gaze to the seat near the entrance.
Locking eyes with Asami Yusuko.
All I wanted to say was that I wanted to say happy birthday. I wanted to say that I supported your future dreams. Yusuko understood what he meant and bowed to Woojin several times while sitting in the wheelchair.
The girl had only one thing to say.
“Thank you, thank you.”
Of course, not everyone in the restaurant knew the story of Kang Woo-jin and the girl.
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Until now.
since.
The applause pouring down on Kang Woo-jin inside the restaurant continued. Meanwhile, the ‘strange parasite’ team by the window froze. Except for a few actors clapping, they didn’t move at all.
Because I couldn’t help but be surprised.
Mihuyu, who was looking at Woojin who had been sitting next to her until just a moment ago, seemed to be completely in love with Kang Woojin.
“Are you crazy? Where did you see that? You’re only doing the basics. What the heck? That’s foul play. Isn’t it so cool?”
Other Japanese actresses were no different. They had similar expressions. Director Kyotaro, who was full of shads, had a similar face to the actresses, but he felt different.
‘Possessed acting, Japanese, sign language. The singing is also top-notch. With all that talent, what about those piano skills? Why······’
Director Kyotaro was incomprehensible at first. No, isn’t it realistically impossible? But that impossibility was unfolding before my eyes. There is no formula, but is there an answer? I don’t know. I can’t figure it out.
Then, director Kyotaro met a similar ending to Choi Sung-geon.
‘Yeah, yeah. What’s important is that Woojin exists anyway. That’s enough. Okay.’
I gave up judgment. I just accepted whatever I saw.
Around here.
“What the heck is this-”
Choi Sung-geon rushed into the restaurant. He was wearing casual clothes and slippers because he was in a hurry, whether he heard the news late or not. Choi Sung-geon paused for a moment when he saw the customers in the restaurant standing up and clapping, then quickly moved to stand next to Kang Woo-jin in front of the piano.
Assessing the situation came later, and for now, exiting came first.
-Ugh.
Kang Woo-jin and Choi Sung-geon barely escaped the restaurant. As soon as they got on the elevator, Choi Sung-geon asked Woo-jin.
“What?? What happened? Why are the customers applauding you? Were you acting or something??”
Although he asked urgently, Kang Woo-jin’s answer was low and concise.
“I just happened to have a piano, so I played a song I knew.”
“······What are you hitting?”
“It’s the piano.”
“piano.”
“Yes, the song was inspired by a fan girl I saw earlier.”
No, that’s not what I’m asking. Suddenly, what piano? His gaze seemed to be like that, but Choi Sung-geon took a deep breath and didn’t reveal his feelings. This wasn’t the first or second time this had happened.
Asking only destroys common sense.
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“Ah- yeah. Yeah, piano. Did you play a song you knew?”
“yes.”
“There happened to be a piano in that restaurant.”
“you’re right.”
“Yeah, piano. T-t …
“thank you.”
one side.
“Wow!! Kang Woojin!”
“That’s amazing! I never thought I’d see something like that! Did you take a picture of it??”
“of course!”
“I wanted to hear one more song!”
“From today, I am Kang Woo-jin’s fan.”
Inside the restaurant that Kang Woo-jin left.
“I guess you played the piano from the beginning, then you switched to acting.”
“With that skill, I think he could have gone to a concert. Should I look it up??”
It was full of his stories.
Two days later, January 31st. Sunday.
The sunlight streaming through the window. Thanks to the sunlight, the dust particles that can be seen at a glance danced around and settled on the various musical instruments lined up by the window.
It was a music room.
And it was quiet. The only sounds were the faint smell of wood and the wind blowing through the slightly open window. Occasionally, the beige curtains fluttered in the wind.
That was when.
“Hi- Q.”
At the same time as a voice was heard from somewhere, the closed door of the music room opened with a creak. Someone had come in. It was about ten seconds later that his dry footsteps, which had been still at the door, moved. Tap, tap, tap.
-Attic.
Someone sat down at an old black piano. Slowly, he raised his hand and placed it on the cover. He did not open the cover. He simply placed his hand on it.
As if opening the cover would inject some kind of memory.
“······”
But he eventually opened the piano cover. He saw rows of white and black keys. It had a few scratches, indicating that it was quite old.
He then puts both hands on the keyboard.
-Ugh.
No, it was ‘Kiyoshi Iyota’.
end
