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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Back to the Dormitory
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Arriving at the dormitory, students were coming and going through the entrance exactly as I remembered.
Since it was the freshmen's first check-in day, the place was absolutely swarming with people.
Boxes of belongings were piled up here and there in the hallways, and students were rushing up and down the stairs, looking incredibly busy.
Who would've thought I'd be back here again.
The nostalgia hit me hard.
I wanted to linger in those memories a bit longer, but with huge bags passing by on either side, I couldn't stand around forever.
I already knew my room number, but I pretended to check the notice text one more time as I started walking.
Passing through the familiar hallway, I entered the room where noisy chatter was spilling out.
There was only one person in the Musical Department who could make this much racket all by himself.
"Hi."
"Gah!"
The startled young boy unpacking his stuff toppled backward.
He'd clearly fallen pretty hard, but he dusted off his butt and bounced right back up. Woo-sik was my roommate again this time, too.
This boy had a small face packed with double eyelids—no, wait, no double eyelids, but biggish eyes and slightly wavy hair that gave him an irresistibly cute, puppy-like vibe. His bright personality made him impossible for anyone to dislike.
In my previous life, he'd been the one to smile and greet me first when I'd shuffled in all shy.
So this time, I tried greeting him first.
Of course, back then, Woo-sik hadn't tripped over himself.
"Wow, you're tall. Over 180, right?"
"Yeah. 183, I think."
"No way."
But some things never changed.
He'd opened the conversation just like that before, too....
The problem was, I couldn't remember what kind of person Woo-sik had grown into sixteen years later.
Back then, I'd been so obsessed with work that I hadn't paid attention to anyone around me.
In my previous life, I hadn't even heard any news about Woo-sik.
The only clear memory I had was that my roommate Woo-sik had been bright and the ultimate mood-maker.
"You're not exactly short yourself."
Memories flooded back fresh and vivid at the sight of Woo-sik and his familiar speech patterns—my expression softened without me realizing it.
The guy had a charm that could brighten anyone's day.
"Musical Department, right? I saw you at the entrance ceremony yesterday. Nice to meet you. I'm Min Woo-sik. You've got this... aura about you. My gut's telling me you're someone special."
His lines were a little different from before, but whatever.
Still, I didn't want to come off sounding like some old guy with my greeting.
In that split second, I thought of something more age-appropriate and extended my hand to Woo-sik.
"I'm Lee Do-hyun. Let's get along."
The moment the words left my mouth, I had a gut feeling something was off, but luckily, Woo-sik just grinned even wider, grabbed my hand, and shook it vigorously.
Hey, hey. Enough already. My arm's gonna fall off.
It was certain now. In my previous life, Woo-sik and I had never shaken hands.
***
"Man, everyone here has such a strong presence."
Woo-sik stuck close to my side as he scanned the Musical Department students sitting in the classroom.
It had been ages since I'd felt this awkward vibe at the start of a semester.
Once you get older, even first meetings with strangers don't feel this stiff.
It's that seasoned vibe you get from experience—striking up a conversation doesn't feel so daunting anymore.
Amid the awkward cluster of students, I was desperately waiting for someone.
The person who'd trusted and relied on me most since high school.
My true mentor, whom I'd lost after joining that theater troupe and learning the wrong vocal techniques.
The moment I stepped into this classroom and took my seat, my heart had been pounding at the thought of seeing him.
Thwack.
Someone entered with the sound of the door.
At his appearance, a surge of emotion welled up, turning my eyes red.
I couldn't cry here.
I squeezed my eyes shut with all my might.
"Quiet."
Amid the murmurs, the Musical Department's homeroom teacher, Ji-woong, slammed the attendance roster on the desk twice.
"Nice to meet you all."
I had so much I wanted to say.
That it really was nice to see him. That I'd wanted so badly to meet again.
During my theater days, I'd never forgotten Huh Ji-woong.
I'd hesitated countless times to reach out, but since it was my own stubbornness that had driven us apart, I could never bring myself to contact him.
He wasn't the type to push me away even if I had.
Looking back now, I couldn't fathom why I'd been so pigheaded.
Seeing my true mentor Ji-woong again—the one I'd lost—made my emotions overflow.
I'd heard that Ji-woong had once been a rising musical star, nearly at the top.
The legendary musical actor who'd vanished without a trace one day.
He might look aloof and prickly on the outside, but I knew it was just that he didn't waste words on unnecessary talk.
This time, I wouldn't let him down.
"I'm Huh Ji-woong, your homeroom teacher."
Ah, yes. This was exactly the kind of guy he was.
His self-introduction was word-for-word the same as before—that short, punchy line had stuck with me.
Woo-sik tossed out a comment while eyeing my reddened eyes suspiciously.
"Got something in your eye?"
I pressed on my eyes and tried to steady my emotions.
"It's dry eye syndrome."
Ji-woong swept his gaze over the class and spoke.
"I won't repeat myself, so remember it all the first time. First up, evaluation criteria."
When Ji-woong's next line unfolded exactly as expected, I even felt a touch of感動.
But the unprepared students hurriedly pulled out their notebooks at his abrupt delivery.
"There are three categories. Continuous assessment, subject-specific evaluations, and comprehensive evaluation."
I'd done this so many times it had become second nature, so his words brought it all back crystal clear.
Having to do it again made me sigh, but the nostalgia outweighed it.
Maybe because it hadn't really started yet.
Continuous assessment meant watching three musical videos a week and submitting analysis reports.
Three a week sounded manageable, but after classes, it was one per weekday—watch one day, write the next.
It was basically evaluation every day.
And with everything else ahead, weekends were off the table.
Of course, this continuous assessment was just for broadening horizons in freshman year.
"Subject-specific evaluations will be scored by the teachers in charge for vocals, acting, and dance. Criteria are up to teacher discretion."
Ji-woong wrote "Comprehensive Evaluation" huge on the blackboard and jabbed a period at the end.
"The comprehensive evaluation you're all dying to know about. It's a collaborative project. You'll team up with other departments to put on a stage performance. The top-scoring team across the first and second semesters gets to perform at the Arts Festival—you know that better than I do."
The Cheongyeom Arts Festival was a prestigious event open to the public.
Only the top first-year students overall could perform there.
And the comprehensive evaluation weighed the heaviest, so every Cheongyeom student knew its importance without being told.
"That's it."
The classroom buzzed at Ji-woong's curt explanation.
Song Ha-na raised her hand right away.
"Aren't you explaining this a bit too vaguely?"
She didn't seem pleased with Huh Ji-woong's offhand attitude and wasn't about to let it slide.
"What else are you curious about?"
Ji-woong glanced at Song Ha-na and tossed the question out.
"At least explain the collaboration process and evaluation for the comprehensive project."
"Ugh..."
Ji-woong sighed like it was a hassle and drew a chart on the blackboard.
The comprehensive evaluation was a massive group project.
Collaborate with other departments, form teams, and complete one full performance.
First-years would perform one after another in the mid-sized theater on campus.
Even though it was student-run, the foundation's massive sponsorship ensured high-quality shows.
The audience was usually Cheongyeom Arts High students.
Evaluations came from teacher scores and audience preference surveys.
'Who would've thought I'd be doing this again.'
Ji-woong's attitude screamed annoyance, but his explanation was thorough. Everyone would think he was cutting corners.
But look closer, and no one was as meticulous as him.
During my dry years in the real world, his face would pop into my mind now and then.
I never dreamed seeing Ji-woong chalking up the board for his students would feel this welcoming.
"Any more questions?"
"You skipped the performance evaluation explanation."
"Subject scores every Friday."
Song Ha-na whipped her head away at the unexpectedly airtight response.
She probably couldn't nitpick anymore.
Ji-woong glanced at her once, then addressed the class.
"First class is mine. Head to the vocal practice room."
With that, Ji-woong left the classroom.
"Whoa, did you see that, Do-hyun?"
"See what?"
"She's so pretty."
Following Woo-sik's gaze, I saw Song Ha-na standing up from her seat.
Song Ha-na was pretty, no doubt.
Even in the future, everything about her would sit at the peak of trends.
Meaning there'd be tons of fans dying over her looks and talent.
But you and her? Never gonna happen, Woo-sik.
Snap out of it.
I muttered the words I couldn't say aloud.
Woo-sik kept staring at Song Ha-na, who noticed, turned, met his eyes, and gave a slight smile.
Then she turned right back.
"Whoa... did you see that, Do-hyun?"
"..."
"She's so pretty..."
Déjà vu.
Having lived over thirty years, I knew exactly what that smile from Song Ha-na meant.
It wasn't the kind Woo-sik thought.
You could tell from how she'd turned away like the world was too bothersome.
I quietly slipped out of the classroom as Woo-sik mumbled on with an even dumber look on his face than before.
***
Heading to the practice room, I felt a strange excitement.
"What'll we do for the first class?"
"Who knows, probably some basic theory since it's the start."
I overheard classmates chatting with their own flavor of anticipation—slightly different from mine.
I knew what was coming in the practice room, but I kept quiet.
They shouldn't go in with such a lax mindset.
Not that there'd be time to prepare now that we were this far.
The vocal practice room had rows of music stands lined up like in a music classroom.
Up front was a wide open space with a grand piano, music stand, and podium.
Beyond that, just a white board covered in staff lines.
Students sat in arrival order, chattering with excitement for their first practice session.
After a short wait, the bell rang, and Huh Ji-woong entered.
"No one missing?"
We all answered in unison: Yes.
Seeing Ji-woong right in front of me and hearing the students' response—it really sank in that I'd returned sixteen years to the past, to age seventeen.
"Alright. First period is a free vocal test for one-on-one lessons. A cappella, sing whatever you want. No time limit—I'll cut you off when I'm ready. Questions."
The kids buzzed at the sudden test.
But a few didn't look fazed—in fact, they seemed relaxed.
Kim Sun-woo especially, staring at Ji-woong without losing his smile.
Song Ha-na, who wouldn't miss her chance, raised her hand.
Ji-woong narrowed his eyes, then pointed at someone.
"So, basically, this is prep for one-on-one lessons? Does the test score count toward evaluations?"
"No. Next."
Song Ha-na raised her hand again.
"I know we have ten homeroom teachers for thirty of us. How do you handle one-on-one lessons?"
"Beyond the first-year homeroom teachers, over twenty actors are waiting as mentor candidates."
Song Ha-na shut her mouth, still looking unsatisfied.
Just as Ji-woong was about to start the test, Woo-sik raised his hand.
"Teacher, can we pick our homeroom teacher as a mentor?"
"You can pick. But... you're not picking me, right?"
Ji-woong said it like it was a bother, like absolutely don't pick him.
I cheered him on inwardly.
No one but me should pick Ji-woong.
The more off-putting things he said to the students, the more thrilled I got without realizing it.
"There are plenty of great teachers, so choose. Carefully."
Even after getting all her questions answered, Song Ha-na's expression stayed sour.
Probably hated the sudden test.
What can you do? Life doesn't go according to plan.
"Hey, what now, Do-hyun? You prepared?"
Woo-sik whispered beside me.
As if I could've.
I'd only regressed yesterday after sixteen years.
Still, I wasn't too worried.
Vocal issues aside, sixteen years' worth meant my repertoire was overflowing.
What mattered now was song choice.
I hadn't fully adapted to my voice and body condition yet, but luckily, this was a free-choice evaluation—no problem.
"We'll go by attendance number. Number one, up front."
As Ji-woong called out, someone stood from their seat.
So the first one's that guy.