Ch.203Side Story – I Became a Heroine with Only a Pure Love Ending (3)

“Do you know the basics, like do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do?”

“Of course. I’ve trained in kendo, so when I played the xylophone in elementary school, I made the loudest sound in our class. This is the C chord, right?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right. From there, if you go up slowly one by one without the black keys…”

*BANG!*

“Y-you’re hitting the keys too hard. You don’t need to press down like you’re squashing a bug on the floor, so a bit more gently…”

*CRASH!*

“Eek!”

“Whew, controlling my strength is harder than I thought. Men really are stronger, that’s for sure.”

“I-it’s okay… Even famous male pianists all started by learning to press the keys softly. I-I’m actually quite strong-handed for a woman too, so I had similar issues. Haha…”

Doyoung and Hamin were alone in the empty chapel after the service ended.

After briefly introducing themselves, they were about to leave, but Doyoung, who had been impressed by Hamin’s piano playing, asked if she could teach him some basic piano.

‘Please. I’ve never properly learned at home or school. Can’t you teach me, even if just for a moment?’

‘…Alright. I’ll do it.’

She had no obligation to grant a request from someone she’d just met today,

but Hamin wasn’t cold-hearted enough to refuse Doyoung’s earnest plea as he looked at her with bright, child-like eyes.

He was like a prodigal son who had returned to the Lord’s side after taking a break from church.

If her piano playing could serve as a catalyst to bring this departed brother back to church, wouldn’t Pastor Kim, Deaconess Jeon (Doyoung’s mother), and God the Father in heaven all be pleased?

With that thought, Hamin decided to endure this awkwardness for a while,

and be an obedient daughter of the Lord.

*SOL!*

*LA!*

*TI!*

“Ugh…!”

“Ah, sorry about that one. When I was passing the ‘ti’ note, I thought of someone I don’t like. I’ll play ‘do’ as gently as possible.”

The dull, harsh sound resonated around the chapel like a blow to the back of the head.

Surely they were pressing the same piano keys, but

the sounds the two were making were completely different.

“Wh-when someone with strength like Brother Ban Doyoung presses down with finger strength, it makes that kind of sound. Don’t hit the keys with your fingers, but follow gravity and drop down naturally…”

“Ahh… I see. It’s about using the wrist, not just the fingers. I think I understand what you’re saying.”

As Doyoung, who seemed to have grasped something, pressed the key again,

*Dooooo*

“Oh… That just sounded right…”

A sound almost identical to what Hamin had been making flowed out.

Even with precise theory and methods, it should take practice to make it one’s own.

Doyoung maintained his current posture and sound as he moved from the first ‘do’ to the next ‘do’ up the scale.

“Wow, amazing. Sister Hamin, you’re right—when I relax my strength, the sound comes out much prettier!”

“I-I’m glad…”

“This is really fascinating. It’s like letting my body flow like water, and my hands move on their own!”

Hamin looked at Doyoung with a slightly surprised expression.

She had thought he knew absolutely nothing about piano basics.

For an adult with no musical foundation, it was much harder to accept and learn those sensations compared to children.

No matter how much you tell them to curl their fingers, they would eventually spread their hands like typing on a keyboard,

and no matter how much you tell them to sit close to the bench and keep their back straight while pressing the keys, people who worked office jobs would habitually hunch their backs and crane their necks forward.

But in Doyoung’s case, it seemed like his body immediately accepted Hamin’s advice and methods.

With pure eyes that showed childlike joy in playing the piano.

Even though she knew they were around the same age.

‘He absorbs things much faster than I expected. Almost like someone who’s learned before. Or maybe it’s true what they say about men retaining childlike qualities even as they age… hehe.’

A faint smile escaped from her heart as she watched Doyoung.

Until just now, she had thought he was an awkward person making burdensome requests.

‘Still… he doesn’t seem like a bad person.’

The wall in Hamin’s heart labeled ‘He might be a bad person’ crumbled.

“Seeing how much you’re enjoying this beyond my expectations makes me feel proud too.”

“Yes, I rarely had the opportunity to learn things like this at home.”

“At home…? Did your family not like music much, Brother Doyoung?”

“Ah… it’s not that they disrespected music, but I guess you could say our family culture prioritized other things. They named their child after musical notes but then told me I had to do well on tests before they’d let me go to music academy… That’s basically saying they won’t let me go, right?”

“Ah… was the required score too high?”

“Yes, exactly. They told me to get above 80 on the midterm exam… Don’t you think that’s too harsh?”

“…Harsh?”

While the wall of ‘He might be a bad person’ had crumbled in Hamin’s mind,

the wall labeled ‘He seems like a strange person’ wasn’t so easily removed.

“That’s why I envy people like you who are good at music, Sister Hamin. I wish someone like you had been around me earlier.”

“Ahaha… If you’re interested in piano music, I’d recommend watching movies about it too. There’s actually a musical film opening in theaters soon…”

“Really? I want to see it!”

Doyoung said with sparkling eyes.

Since falling into this world, he had enjoyed manga and novels that belonged to the original Doyoung, but he hadn’t properly experienced the movies of this world yet.

“When? When does it open?”

“Ah, just a moment… Hmm… It opens this Wednesday. The earliest showing is at 8 AM…”

“Ah, I’m not good with mornings. If possible, an evening time would be better.”

“Ah… I see.”

He’s quite demanding.

He’s not a child.

It was a fleeting thought.

No, I was the one who recommended it, so I should follow through.

Hamin reassured herself as she checked the theater schedule.

“Hmm… Oh. There’s one at 6:30 PM… Would that work?”

“Oh, that’s perfect! Then we can meet at the theater around 6 on Wednesday and watch it together!”

“Yes… Since it’s evening, traffic might be heavy, so meeting 30 minutes earlier would be… Wait, what?”

Hamin paused in the middle of the conversation that had been flowing smoothly.

“What did you just say?”

“Huh? I said it would be nice to meet around 6 on Wednesday to watch the movie together.”

“With… whom?”

*Whoosh*

Doyoung extended his long finger and pointed at Hamin.

“Y-you mean watch it with me? The movie…?”

“Yes, isn’t that why you were checking the times?”

“Ah… No, it’s not!”

Hamin blushed at Doyoung’s sudden proposal and distanced herself slightly from him.

She had simply recommended a relevant movie opening this week for Doyoung, who had expressed interest in music,

not at all implying that she would accompany him.

“W-why are you assuming I’d naturally go see a movie with you, Brother Doyoung!”

“Well… because watching with someone who knows about music and movies would be more helpful than watching alone.”

“Y-you can just look that up on Namuwiki after watching if you’re curious!”

“Eh? But I’d rather learn from Do-Ha-Wiki Min-ner than Namuwiki. Just like how Sister Hamin taught me piano today.”

“Ugh…”

How should I politely decline?

What words should I use to refuse this request without hurting his feelings?

As Hamin was thinking this, her hand was suddenly grasped by Doyoung’s.

“Do you get off work late on Wednesday?”

“No… I usually get off early on Wednesdays… because of the Wednesday service accompani—”

“Oh! Then there’s no problem meeting on Wednesday evening! Let’s meet at the theater we just looked up!”

“W-wait…! I haven’t finished—!”

“Then I’ll be going now! Mrs. Jeon must have calmed down by now! See you Wednesday, Sister Hamin!”

Doyoung left the chapel without even listening to the rest of Hamin’s words.

“…”

After the storm had passed and the commotion ended, leaving the chapel quiet again,

Hamin sat there alone with a blank face, as if unable to handle the dramatic change.

“…D-did he just ask me to watch a movie with him?”

Virgin Do Hamin.

For the first time in her 27 years of ripened virginity,

she had received a date invitation from a man.

.

.

.

“So, how is it? Isn’t it nice coming back to church after staying away? Your face looks brighter.”

“It is. Meeting nice people too. I’m going to see a movie with Sister Hamin this Wednesday.”

“Wednesday…? Ah. It’s impressive that Hamin agreed to meet that day. Well, she must have her reasons. Don’t bother her when you go, and escort her properly. Doyoung, you can be too irresponsible and self-centered sometimes.”

“Come on, I got it. We’re just going to watch a movie and chat a bit. What could possibly happen?”

On the way home with his mother.

Before taking the elevator up, his mother opened the mailbox at the entrance and retrieved the mail inside.

“Oh, what’s this? Something was hidden at the bottom. Let’s see… Doyoung, this is for you.”

His mother handed him a piece of mail that had been tucked away at the bottom of the mailbox, its arrival date unknown.

Doyoung, who had been living as this world’s Doyoung, naturally accepted the mail and checked its contents.

“…Mom.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“What’s military reserve training?”

The weight that had to be shouldered to live as this world’s Doyoung

was certainly not just between his legs.