Superstar From Age 0

[For My Friend], composed by Professor Benjamin Morton.

If [Over the Rainbow] expressed the passionate emotions that Gray felt when he first encountered the violin, [For My Friend] was more serene.

It was slow and calm. But it was not an ordinary piece.

Under the spotlight.

Gray played the Stradivarius.

The violin, which had met many violinists and delivered beautiful sounds for hundreds of years, also gave a splendid melody in Gray’s hands.

♪

He saw someone who was alone.

He was lonely, weary, sad, and isolated.

It was Gray Vainy.

It was himself.

He closed his eyes and pressed the strings of the violin, drawing the bow down. Through the piece, Gray let go of the sorrow and tears that he had not realized until then.

Like being trapped in a swamp, the depression that had slowly eroded Gray was too late to notice.

Unable to move at all in the swamp of depression, Gray squeezed out his last strength and reached out his hand.

His face was buried in the heavy mud that suffocated him and blinded his eyes. He could only desperately extend his hand for a meaningless consolation, a comfort that no one could give. The emotion of that moment, the sound filled with Gray’s stifled sob, resonated with the listeners’ hearts.

Save me.

Someone.

Save me…

The audience recalled their own memories. There would be no one who had not experienced such loneliness in their lives.

Even though he knew there was no hope, he just flailed his hand as a last resort, the hand that was deeply covered by solitude.

♬

He felt something touch him.

It was warm.

The mud-like loneliness that had stuck to his hand fell off one by one.

Led by the hand that held him, ‘he’ slowly, gently, was pulled out of the swamp of depression.

♪-

The owner of the warm hand asked him.

‘Are you okay?’ With a tender voice.

♪- ♬-

The flow of the piece changed.

Each and every note that lasted long was filled with warmth and ecstasy.

The vessel of emotion in his heart was full and overflowing, filling him from head to toe. His chest was bursting with too much emotion that he did not know what to do.

[For My Friend For My Friend]

His body relaxed and his eyes closed naturally to the beautiful and pure melody.

At the word ‘friend’

The sponsors and the sponsored who were sitting in the audience seats thought of ‘Gray Vainy’,

George and Rebecca thought of ‘Gray’,

Gray thought of ‘George and Rebecca’, and ‘the people sitting in the audience seats’.

They did not directly bond with each other by shaking hands or exchanging stories, but the melody for ‘friends’ who were connected through a ‘special relationship’ of crowdfunding and sponsorship flowed out of the Stradivarius and filled the Brad Hall.

♪-

In the silence where even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.

No one made any noise. Even the children who lost their concentration easily were quietly listening.

The melody of the Stradivarius that was full of 'Gray Vainy’s emotion was truly fantastic.

Following the melody, a golden light cluster spread out like an aurora in the sky.

It was the effect of [(Line) The Nameless Divine Official’s Hymn] that only Seo-jun could see.

He hoped that the blessing would be delivered to the people who were gathered here, and to the people who would watch [Over the Rainbow 2]. Seo-jun, no, Gray Vainy focused more on the performance.

The VIP seats of the Brad Hall.

Professor Benjamin Morton could not help but admire the sight of Gray expressing [For My Friend] that he composed by 100%, no, 200%.

He seemed to have improved his skills more than the summer concert two years ago when he participated as G.B.

‘Ah, that was an orchestra.’

Seo-jun was the first violin of the orchestra, where the harmony with other performers was more important than his own skills.

He did not have a chance to show his true skills.

Besides, when he met him before.

He saw him practicing, but he was not this amazing.

‘Of course, Jun must have practiced sincerely and diligently…’

His original skills were outstanding, and he was immersed in 'Gray Vainy’s acting while filming, and he received the emotion and admiration from knowing the ‘identity of the Brad Hall’s audience’ just before.

It seemed that he created a much bigger synergy than when he practiced.

‘That’s why music is good.’

The vivid performance that changed with the emotion of the performer at that moment.

The music that could reveal the depths of the performer’s heart, and captivate the listeners’ hearts.

Professor Benjamin Morton liked that feeling.

“Hmm…”

He turned his head to the sound that came from the next seat.

It was his disciple, Jason Moore.

Jason Moore, who leaned forward and sat still, looked like a statue if it were not for his eyebrows that moved up and down occasionally and the sound that he unconsciously uttered.

He had no movement to the extent that he could believe that he was a statue.

He seemed to be deeply immersed in 'Gray Vainy’s performance.

Unlike Professor Benjamin Morton, who retired from the front line and played the violin lightly as a hobby, Jason Moore was a violinist who was active in the field and had skills that ranked among the top five in the world.

'Gray Vainy’s performance must have been very shocking to him.

[For My Friend] that made the listeners and the surroundings relaxed and happy, but Jason Moore’s eyes were burning like fire.

He seemed determined not to miss a single moment of movement or melody.

‘A rival… It’s good when you have one.’

Well, let’s put aside the fact that they had an age difference and one was a violinist and the other was an actor.

Professor Benjamin Morton smiled and turned his head to the stage.

The depression part of [For My Friend] that Professor Benjamin Morton composed was short and the tenderness part was long.

He deliberately composed it that way because he thought that if the depression part was long, people would empathize with that side more with Seo-jun’s skills.

With this level of performance.

It seemed that his guess was right.

♩♬-

Even the overflowing tenderness, affection, and love had an end.

He ran towards the end as if he had given his all, Gray’s breath was quick.

He was sweating profusely as he expressed the emotions that burst out under the hot spotlight with appropriate melodies.

Nevertheless, Gray Vainy’s expression looked very happy.

Like the old musician in Cleveland, like the three musketeers in Chicago, like the Linda family in Kansas City.

And like the ‘young Gray Vainy’ ten years ago.

♪-!

The long bow drew the last string.

“Haah- Haah-”

Only Gray Vainy’s rough but satisfied breath echoed in the silence.

Clap clap!

Applause sounded from behind the stage.

It was Rebecca, who was laughing and crying at the same time. George’s applause followed, but his sniffling was drowned out by

Clap clap clap clap!!

“Wowowow!!”

The applause and cheers from the audience seats.

The staff had instructed them to cheer and clap beforehand, but none of the audience members remembered that.

They just did what their hearts told them to do.

They all stood up from their seats and sent sincere applause to Gray, who had shown them a wonderful performance.

Amidst the loud applause and cheers.

Gray Vainy, who had the happiest face in the world, bowed to his most beloved ‘friends’.

***

[This concludes the filming.]

The applause and cheers that seemed to never end subsided, and the broadcast announced to the audience that the filming of [Over the Rainbow 2] was over.

“Ah, I’m sad.”

“Me too.”

Only (though it was too amazing to say that) two pieces.

As violin majors who had just enjoyed the performance, Choi Yoo-seung and Natalie couldn’t help but feel regretful.

Their friends and the other audience members felt the same.

“I wish the soundtracks would come out soon!”

“They said Universe will be released in November, so maybe then?”

“I’m curious about the sheet music too.”

“I don’t have the confidence to play it even if I had the sheet music.”

Everyone nodded at that.

They had seen the perfect answer sheet, but it seemed difficult to play it even similarly, let alone better.

“I can’t believe Jun is not a major.”

“Let’s just think of him as having two jobs.”

“Isn’t he a triple job if you include Jin?”

Everyone laughed at Choi Yoo-seung’s words and prepared to get up.

There were a lot of audience members, so they had to leave the Brad Hall in order. But there was no guidance for some reason.

[Shortly.]

An announcement came on.

[There will be a recital by violinist Seo-jun Lee.]

…? Violinist… who?

[Those who have other schedules, please follow the staff’s guidance and move.]

The announcement continued, but no one heard it.

What? What?! What did you just say?! Only that sound was heard.

[We repeat. Shortly. There will be a recital by violinist Seo-jun Lee…]

Whaaat?!!

A scream erupted from one place in the audience seats, loud enough to cover the announcement.

And then the cheers of the audience who came to their senses spread like fire throughout the Brad Hall.

“/Crazy! Crazy! Seo-jun is playing?! He’s crazy!!!/”

“Yoo-seung! You’re speaking Korean!”

“It’s worth it!! Aaah!!!”

Choi Yoo-seung, Natalie, and their friends, who had put down their belongings, sat back in their seats.

Their determined expressions showed that they would not get up no matter what.

The other audience members were the same.

They had received Seo-jun Lee’s donation and watched his works, and they had become fans before they knew it.

Their eyes were full of anticipation as they looked at the stage.

***

“He’s popular. Not a single person is leaving.”

“Haha.”

Seo-jun, who was fixing his makeup and watching the monitor behind the stage, smiled shyly at Emily’s words.

He was glad that they liked him.

“But you’re playing as Seo-jun Lee?”

Seo-jun nodded at Paul Oden’s question.

“Gray already did enough to thank them. And these people came to see me.”

The named violinist Seo-jun Lee was a bit awkward, but not bad.

He had also been the sixth member of the idol group Blue Moon, Lee Seo-jun.

“Ahem. Jun. Can I talk to you for a moment?”

Seo-jun turned around at the sound of a cough.

It was his manager, Nelson.

“Yes. What is it?”

“Would you mind uploading this recital to Universe as well?”

Seo-jun looked at Ahn Da Ho and Choi Tae-woo.

They both seemed to have discussed it beforehand and smiled, as if telling him to decide for himself.

“The filming is over, is that okay?”

“Yeah. We haven’t packed up the cameras and equipment yet. We’ll do it after the audience leaves.”

It seemed okay if there was nothing else to prepare.

Seo-jun nodded.

“Yes. That’s fine.”

“Thank you! Jun!”

Nelson smiled happily and left with his phone.

The actors and staff laughed softly at his excited back.

“Shall we start the recital then, violinist Jun?”

“Haha. Yes.”

Seo-jun laughed at Sarah Roth’s words and stood at the entrance to the stage with the Stradivarius.

He should have taken the Stradivarius with him after the filming, but Jason Moore, who had heard the story beforehand, lent it to him.

He was probably sitting in the VIP seats with Professor Benjamin now.

“Jun! Good luck!”

“/Seo-jun. Fighting!/”

Seo-jun stepped onto the stage with the cheers of his friends, manager, and staff.

“Wowowow!!”

Cheers rang out.

Whether it was a play or a performance, the audience’s eyes and shouts full of anticipation made his heart swell when he stood on the stage.

Seo-jun raised his right hand holding the microphone in the center of the stage.

It was a recital, but it felt like an event after the filming, so the format was free.

“Hello. I’m Seo-jun Lee, an actor and violinist.”

Laughter and applause sounded along with his words.

Seo-jun also smiled and continued.

“I heard about you before the filming. Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it.”

The recipients of the donation understood Seo-jun’s words and smiled, and those who didn’t know, like Choi Yoo-seung and Natalie, tilted their heads.

“Those who don’t know what I’m talking about will find out when you watch the movie, so please wait until Universe is released. It will be more fun if you watch it without knowing.”

At that, a voice saying ‘Okay!’ was heard.

Everyone laughed and Seo-jun also laughed and continued.

“It’s a sudden recital, so it will be short, but I hope you enjoy it. The pieces I will play are the ones that will be inserted in the movie. So please keep it a secret until the movie is uploaded.”

“Yeees-!”

Everyone laughed at the sound of the answer.

Seo-jun’s eyes also rounded.

It felt like he was having a fan meeting.

“The first piece is Gray’s Violin Piece NO. 2: Good morning. It’s a piece I composed myself.”

Seo-jun put down the microphone on the table prepared on the stage and rested his chin on the Stradivarius.

Then he plucked the strings with his left fingers and drew the bow.

***

With Seo-jun’s recital, the filming of [Over the Rainbow 2] was finally over.