Childhood Friend Who Sees the Future Utters Nonsense

186 – Side Story – I Want to Go to School! (1)

After about four months since the kids started school, I realized that all my worries up until then were really for nothing.

“Dad! You know, I was with my friends at school today… .”

“Oh my, really? That must have been fun.”

“Yeah yeah! Again, Jiyu said that… .”

Their faces were bright enough even in kindergarten, but as they began to meet more people, each day seemed to be enjoyable for the children.

When I came home from school like today, they would laugh and tell me about what happened that day, and even though their words were not organized in a way that is typical of children, the feeling of ‘I’m happy’ was clearly conveyed, and I felt good about myself.

One day, summer had come and gone, and the kids were entering their most enjoyable time of the year, vacation. Now that Yuna and I had some free time, we had more things to do at home.

“Dad, Mom! I want to go to that academy!”

“academy?”

While we were spending our usual cozy time with the kids who had just returned from school, Seol-ha suddenly blurted out something that made a question mark pop up over Yuna and I at the same time.

That’s understandable, because while other parents are competing to send their children to as many private academies as possible, our family doesn’t provide any private education to our children other than school.

The biggest factor here was that Yuna and I had similar educational policies, but there were also some voices of concern from those around us. Still, since our family was wealthy, wouldn’t it be right to give her a good education from a young age?

However, as parents, we thought that there could be no such thing as a ‘good education’ if the children did not want to be educated, so we wanted to let them run wild and play as much as they wanted.

At that time, Seol-ha was embarrassed when she said she wanted to go to school instead.

“Academy? What kind of academy?”

Yuna, who was quietly peeling an apple, asked a question indirectly.

I was curious about this too. If I were to think of an academy that people at this age would want to attend, the only one that comes to mind would be a sports academy like Taekwondo, but Seol-ha didn’t seem to be interested in that area.

“Music school!”

“music?”

While we were listening intently, Yuna and I met eyes in pretended surprise at Seol-ha’s answer.

Music, come to think of it, you said in your self-introduction at the entrance ceremony that you wanted to become a great singer like Yuna. You often sing alone, and sometimes when I play the guitar alone in the living room, you come and sing along.

However, since he never expressed any desire for it, I just thought of it as one of the passing dreams that children of this age usually have… It was a bit surprising.

“There are many different types of music schools. Which one would you like to go to?”

For example, there are vocal training schools for children, and places where they learn basic instruments such as drums.

There are quite a few options if you just think about music academies, so when I asked what Seol-ha wanted to do among them, I got an unexpected answer.

“Everything!”

“…entire?”

Everything? How much do you want to learn? I couldn’t help but answer absentmindedly, my thirst for learning surpassing my imagination.

“I want to learn to sing like my mom, learn to play the guitar and piano like my dad, and even try composing music like Uncle Jaeyoung!”

“My son, aren’t you so greedy?”

After meeting the CEO a few times and touring the company’s recording studio, he seems to have developed a passion for not just singing but also for the overall field of music.

This is something I didn’t expect. At best, I thought I wanted to be a singer, thinking, “People who sing well are cool!” like other kids, but I think it would be rude to dismiss it as just a childish thing.

“What do you think, honey?”

“Isn’t that okay? Of course, it might be a bit overwhelming to learn composition already, but it wouldn’t be bad to learn it for a taste.”

When I gave a positive answer to my wife who asked for my opinion, Yuna nodded as if it was decided. She had already decided to let me go, but I guess she asked my opinion first just in case.

“Yes, my son wants to go. But if he skips the academy later without telling Mom, I’ll cut him off right away. Do you understand?”

“yes!”

The point of what Yuna said was, ‘You said you wanted to go, so show an attitude that suits you.’ Seol-ha, true to her personality, answered coolly.

Good. Since it’s a rare vacation, I can start looking around starting tomorrow.

“right….”

While I was muttering about an apple after making that decision, Seol-ah’s attitude seemed a little strange. It felt like she had something to say but was holding it back.

“My daughter, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, no. Nothing… .”

“… … ?”

Hmm, are you worried that you’ll have more time alone now that your brother is going to school? But as far as I know, Seol-ah has made a lot of friends recently, so she won’t be lonely.

Recently, I’ve been bringing friends over to my house often, and even if they don’t come over, since Yuna and I have a lot of free time, I’m almost never alone since I’m mostly at home.

But why is it like that? It bothers me somehow.

“Then Seol-ha will go look for an academy with her mom and dad tomorrow, and what will Seol-ah do?”

“Me, I want to go too!”

“Really? Then the four of us can go and have a nice time.”

Yuna smiled and answered, not feeling anything strange about Seol-ah’s urgent answer. On the other hand, I still felt a sense of awkwardness.

Seol-ah, didn’t you just say that you wanted to hang out with your friends tomorrow? Normally, you would stay home alone and hang out with your friends. This is a big deal.

Well, children are always quirky.

***

The next day, as planned, we went around the neighborhood to find out which academy Seol-ha would attend.

Perhaps because it is a so-called wealthy neighborhood, there are a lot of academies that provide gifted education to children, so it seems easy to choose according to your taste.

If there is a problem,

“Hmm, this place isn’t that great either… .”

“You’re quite picky, aren’t you?”

“Well, it’s a place our son will attend, so we have to be picky.”

My wife, who used to be the center of a world-class girl group, seems to be dissatisfied with neither the place nor the surroundings.

There were a few places that looked okay to me, but they all seemed so-so to Yuna. Is this what a professional’s perspective is?

“There’s nothing we can do. Let’s go there, honey.”

“There?”

Yuna, who was tracing each note written on her phone’s notepad with a touch pen, tilted her head absentmindedly at the words she had casually mentioned. This was because she had no idea where she was talking.

“Actually, there was a place I had my eye on at first. I didn’t really want to go because I felt like I would just be relying on the company….”

“company?”

When I tilted my head again wondering why the company was here, Yuna said she would know when she went and entered an address into the navigation. It was a place closer than I thought.

The name of the academy is… Jane Entertainment Training Academy? What is this?

“Actually, there’s an academy run by the company. I heard that they have elementary classes too….”

“There was a place like that. I didn’t know about it even though I was working at the company.”

“Yeah, I found out relatively recently. It’s probably natural not to know about it since it’s a place that targets the general public.”

Is it the darkness under the lamp? Anyway, it’s surprising that the company runs its own academy.

“I heard that the two trainees who recently joined are from there. They also have a gifted class, so it seems like the academy fully supports and raises kids who show potential.”

“Oh… .”

While holding the steering wheel and turning the car, I let out a soft exclamation at Yuna’s subsequent explanation.

The system is pretty solidly built. I don’t think my child will be a genius, but I hope it works out.

“Oh, here it is. Just put it up.”

“wait for a sec.”

As Yuna pointed to the building we arrived at shortly afterwards, I looked around for a moment.

Luckily, the parking lot was right next door. I guess I can just park there and go up.

“Guys, let’s get down.”

“yes!”

“yes.”

As I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out, the twins followed me like chicks.

How come our kids look cute even when they walk? Is this what they call a failure?

“Yuna, have you been here before?”

“I’ve seen the building before, but this is my first time coming here in person. The owner said he put a lot of thought into the facilities, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“I see.”

The president is not the type to say empty words, so if he made such a bold statement, it’s worth believing. Of course, the instructor is just as important as the facilities, but it’s unlikely that an academy directly operated by Jane Entertainment would use its instructors carelessly.

Ding.

When we took the elevator to the third floor, a fairly wide hallway greeted us.

Above the entrance to the academy is written the simple and clear name, ‘JE Music Academy’. It seems to be an abbreviation for Jane Entertainment.

“excuse me.”

I pressed the automatic door button and went inside, but there was no one at the entrance. Judging from the faint sound of musical instruments coming from inside, it seemed like a class was in full swing.

“I guess I have to wait a bit since I’m in class?”

“Don’t wait. All that’s left is time.”

As I looked around and said something, Yuna coolly sat the children down on the empty chairs and said, At that moment, faint footsteps began to be heard from the hallway.

Oh, is there a person?

“Excuse me. I came here to look into which academy my kids should go to… Huh?”

As I was about to leave for the hallway without even looking at his face and start talking, his gaze, which had been rising from his legs, immediately turned white as soon as it touched his face.

That would be the case,

“Oh, Siyoon. What brings you here?”

“…president?”

The other party was none other than our company’s head, President Cho Jae-young, who is also the person responsible for nurturing outstanding idols who have shaken up South Korea.

Why is this person here now?