episode_0002

After breakfast, the children who were going to school or kindergarten and even those who weren’t followed their teachers to start their respective activities. Normally, by this time, I would have grabbed my guitar and hit the streets, but it seems that won’t be the case from today onwards.

I decided to think later about what to do with the spare time and headed straight to my room. As I entered, I noticed my guitar lying haphazardly.

“Sorry, but just wait a moment. It’s not your turn yet. I’m not planning to do anything special, just thought of singing a song, so why am I feeling so nervous?”

Perhaps it was because instinctively I felt good about my voice while conversing with others. I’ve always had excellent hearing, being able to pick up even the faintest sounds that others couldn’t hear. But listening through my own ears and listening to a recording are two different things. I still can’t say for sure.

“Um um! Ahh!”

I turned on the recording function on my phone, loosened my throat slowly, and let out a light sound.

The first thing to test was the tone.

After singing a few lines of the song introduction, I stopped the recording.

“!”

As I played back the recording, my eyes widened involuntarily. Indeed, it wasn’t a mistake. The voice was clear and crisp, sticking to the ears. The tone was bright and vibrant. Although I hadn’t tried it yet, it seemed like a voice that would fit well in any genre.

I remember someone saying something similar before. They mentioned that the best tone is one that is popular yet unique. This voice covers popularity while also retaining uniqueness.

Next was the vocal range test.

I didn’t study practical music or learn music professionally; I taught myself. However, I knew about the differences in vocal structures between men and women.

They say women handle high notes better than men. What would it feel like? By the way, my room is like a warehouse far away from the nursery, so no matter how loud I shout, it won’t be heard outside. So, I planned to shout as much as I wanted.

Before shouting, I gradually raised the pitch step by step, like when warming up my voice. However, it went up so smoothly that I was startled and stopped abruptly.

Even though there are differences between male and female vocal structures, there shouldn’t be such a significant gap, right? Maybe I didn’t sing the notes correctly but rather roughly hit them. I replayed the shouting I had just recorded.

“Huh…”

I didn’t hit them roughly, did I? I just smoothly raised them. Amidst this, I realized the talent gap even in simple shouting, despite having a popular and unique tone.

No, what am I talking about? Why do I feel a talent gap in my own voice? Regardless of any talent, sudden shouting or mixing falsetto requires effort.

In other words, the intense practice from the band days still remains. Now, all I have to do is use it well. Momentary embarrassment turned into thoughts of what song to try with this voice, and I found myself smiling unknowingly.

After singing several songs and listening to the recorded tracks, there was nothing to fault in this vocal range.

From low notes to high notes, a wide vocal range with genuine tones, no falsetto needed, and a pleasant voice made me keep replaying the song I had just recorded.

This made me curious.

So, what happened to the songs we recorded and released during our band days?

Scraping together money, we barely managed to create our first album. Among them was the title track, the representative song of our Scarlet band.

The song title is “Stem Cell (Wish).” I wrote the lyrics and composed the music. It’s not misspelled English. Comparing hope to stem cells, the song encapsulated the present and future of our bright band. I admit it’s too niche. Still, it received good reviews, earning me the nickname of a genius.

[Stem Cell (Wish)]

[Scarlet]

However, amidst the despairing views of his videos, Gun suddenly felt melancholic. Did I search for it in vain? Should I just turn it off? No, I won’t. Since it’s come to this, might as well increase the views once by playing it.

Turning on the music, heavy metal rock instrumental fills the air. Although lacking in mainstream appeal, it was a song that brought him immense joy during its creation.

Intro. A woman’s powerful shouting breaks through the instrumental. How could a person produce this? While he expected the transition to a female voice, the execution was so well done that it sent shivers down his spine. After about six minutes, the lively drum beats signal the end of the song.

“Wow…”

Feedback on my song. My song was snatched away from me.

Certainly, when expressing roughness, men might have an advantage over women, but the intermittent scratches were executed so well that they complemented the song much better than if sung by a man.

Listening to the song again after the gender switch, it seemed like an exaggeration, but with half confidence and half exaggeration, it could be considered a world-class vocal performance. However, the reception is disappointingly low…

Indeed, within the realm of rock music, especially the more niche heavy metal genre, has it been overshadowed for too long? Yes, it’s not like famous rockers appearing on variety shows and singing rock ballads. I despise my prideful past. While I may not know if there will be another chance for me to sing in the future, if it comes, I should also consider catering to popular taste.

But wait a moment.

When I recorded this song, due to lack of tuning or correction, it was almost released in an unedited state. In other words, could it be possible to reproduce this song live now?

Only then did the unveiled guitar catch his eye. Though it’s just a guitar, singing without accompaniment would be better.

Since it’s a song I created, playing the main guitar part isn’t difficult. As I pick up the guitar, I feel a slight awkwardness.

It must be because my hands have changed since becoming a woman, right? Naturally, they are smaller and more delicate compared to when I was a man, but they offer a level of finesse and control.

I remember questioning how a person could produce such scratchy shouting. As I play the guitar and sing, carried away by the excitement, I find myself doing it effortlessly. It’s fascinating. Perhaps my vocal cords are suitable. Despite being a high-pitched song, I can sing it easily and even go further.

“Phew…”

I won’t let opportunities slip away anymore under the guise of pride.

One day, I suddenly became a woman, a fact known only to myself. Moreover, amidst all this, I excel at singing on a global scale.

To anyone else, this situation would seem so absurd that they’d suggest seeking counseling. But I’ll seize this opportunity tightly and succeed.

My talent is undeniable. The only thing left is funding. This seems more challenging than composing and singing a song. Should I resort to odd jobs like I did during my band days? Kitchen work? Session gigs? But before that, considering I’m now a woman, that aspect needs to be taken into account too.

As I think while showering, I realize that I’ve been sweating profusely after singing continuously. It dawns on me that I arrived last night, didn’t shower, and went straight to bed.

Suddenly, I feel remorse for not hugging and kissing the kids earlier. I’m sorry. Because I’m a dirty adult… I’ll go wash up quickly…

In front of the bathroom with a shower facility,

I enter the men’s restroom, then exit, enter the women’s restroom, and come back out.

Since I’ve become a woman, I should use the women’s restroom, not the men’s. Despite knowing this, guilt creeps in, causing me to hesitate. No, I haven’t done anything wrong, so why do I feel guilty? Let’s go to the women’s restroom.

Entering the women’s restroom, my reflection in the mirror above the sink catches my eye. Although I hadn’t looked properly earlier while tending to the kids, staring at my own face now leaves me dumbfounded.

“…Gulp.”

Gaze naturally shifts downward. Can’t really say I’m completely free of vanity, but it is my body after all. If I’m going to see it, it’s not a bad thing. Gotta undress if I’m going to shower.

After taking a deep breath, I placed my hand on my back and started with removing my underwear. I hadn’t taken off my outer clothes yet since I wasn’t quite ready. There were some minor hiccups, but I quickly got used to it.

It was when I hung up the removed underwear next to the towel. Despite trying not to look, the numbers and letters inside were so strikingly visible at a glance.

[75E]

“Hmm…”

Yeah, that seemed about right. Apart from the breast size, the figure looked quite substantial. Even though I went to the cheap community center gym due to lack of money, I didn’t slack off in shaping my body even when I was a man.

The hips and belly that seemed to remain. Should I take a peek inside too? It’s my own body, so it doesn’t matter. I casually lifted my t-shirt up to reveal my navel.

“Oh. Wow…”

Seems like the workouts from when I was a man didn’t go to waste; faintly visible were the 11 abs. I finally understood the mindset of women who post pictures of their bodies on social media. It would be a shame to just look at this with my eyes.

“…”

With the shirt pulled up below my chest, I raised my phone with my right hand. Not planning to post anywhere, just for personal collection. I’ll say it again, it’s my body, so it doesn’t matter.

Click!

I aimed at the mirror and took a selfie of my reflection. As I looked at the result, the smile on my face wouldn’t fade. That’s when it happened.

“You look good. I had those days too~.”

“Eek!”

Glancing at the mirror, I saw the headmistress standing at the entrance.

“How long have you been there?!”

“Since you started smiling contentedly at your belly?”

You must have seen everything then!

“You’re going to shower?”

“Yes, yes…”

She glanced around. She spotted the underwear I had taken off next to the towel but didn’t say anything. That’s obvious. It’s weird to even think otherwise.

“Huh? Your change of underwear.”

“Oh, I forgot to bring it.”

“Oh dear. Go ahead and shower. I’ll bring it to the front.”

Nodding shyly, I wanted to hurry and go shower, but the headmistress added one more thing.

“Go, Se-ah! With this face, this body, and your singing talent, not becoming a singer would be a national loss!”

“T-Thank you…”

My face flushed. I should be extra careful when taking body selfies.

***

That evening, as kindergartners and school children returned one by one and students heading to academies slowly came back, the headmistress wore a worried expression.

“This is strange. Anna should have been here by now. Not answering calls… Kids, have you seen Anna?”

“We haven’t seen her!”

Anna. The spirited girl who came to pick me up in the morning. Being from a childcare facility myself, I know these situations well.

Unlike when I was young, in today’s world with CCTV cameras everywhere and dashcams, where kids also have smartphones like budget phones, the possibility of sneaking out somewhere rather than being kidnapped is very high.

“She said she was going to math academy, right? Shall I go check?”

“If you could, I’d appreciate it.”

“Yes. I’ll contact you as soon as I find her.”

Approaching the children who were close to Anna, she said, “Don’t tell the headmistress. Where did she go?”

“I don’t know. But she did mention saving up allowance! She didn’t say what she was saving for.”

What could she be going to buy? Knowing that would make finding her easier.

“She really didn’t say, right? Oh… no, are you lying to me, unnie?”

“Yeah! Anna said it’s a secret because if she tells you guys, she’ll have to tell the headmistress.”

Anna, using her head. I should check out the math academy as planned.

On the way to the math academy.

People seem to be glancing at me curiously. Indeed, I have a face and figure that attract attention. It’s embarrassing, but the singer Ahn mentioned by the principal this morning comes to mind, saying that not having him would be a national loss.

Some people even asked for my phone number, but I politely apologized and sent them away.

I should get used to these situations in the future.

Still, if I become the top rocker I’ve dreamed of, wouldn’t it feel like this? I feel good about it.

As I arrived at the math academy and was about to enter, I saw a cafe in the distance. Anna especially likes sweet things more than other kids her age. If she’s saving up money to buy something sweet with just one or two thousand won, could it be?

I have a good intuition. Even when singing, I sometimes spontaneously change the pitch and rhythm based on my instincts. Each time, there were only a few audience members, but they cheered enthusiastically.

So, trusting my instincts once again, I ran to the cafe instead of the math academy. As expected, I spotted Anna standing awkwardly in front of the door.

“You’re here. Anna.”

I also remembered to text the principal. Going to the cafe is supposed to be a secret.

“Huh?! Why did you come out from there, Sua unnie?”

“Because I came to pick you up. You weren’t coming. Are you in the cafe right now?”

“…No.”

But if she had saved up money to buy something delicious, she wouldn’t have such a dark expression. Is she worried about getting scolded?

“It’s okay. It’s not something to be proud of, but when I was young, I used to skip school and go to karaoke, then get scolded by the principal. I prefer being honest and getting scolded. Because it’s real, you know? I’m saying this for your own good.”

“It’s not that, I really didn’t go to the cafe. I wanted to eat churros…”

She pointed with her finger to the churros stuck to the door. It said they were only sold for a limited time. She must have saved money to buy them. But what’s the problem?

“Last time it was 3,000 won… Suddenly it became 5,000 won, so I couldn’t buy it…”

“Huh?”

Underneath the prominently displayed promotional poster, there was very tiny writing.

[Due to rising raw material costs, we had to raise the prices.]

This is unbelievable. How disappointed must she be to save up 3,000 won at that age, only to see a sign saying it’s now 5,000 won?

“I was planning to buy churros and come in at the right time.”

“You stood in front of the cafe, looking all lost because you couldn’t buy it.”

“Yeah…”

Anna was making a face that seemed like she could cry at any moment. I hugged her and patted her back reassuringly.

“It’s okay. It happens. There’s nothing wrong with you, Anna. Churros, I’ll buy them for you.”

“No, I want to buy it with my own money.”

I see. Maybe I didn’t pay enough attention to Anna’s feelings.

Maybe what I just did was overly kind.

“…Then how about lending it to you? You can pay me back slowly later. So ultimately, you still bought it with your own effort. Adults sometimes do that when they buy things.”

After thinking for a moment, she nodded her head.

“I’ll definitely pay you back.”

“Okay.”

As I took out my wallet, I realized that I didn’t have a single penny in my bank account or wallet. I have less money than our Anna, who has 3,000 won!

“Why are you like this, unnie?”

Should I call the principal and ask him to transfer 2,000 won to my account? That’s a bit embarrassing, isn’t it? People can become so miserable when they don’t have money. Just because they can’t buy a 5,000 won churro right now…

At that moment, in the distance, the sound of singing echoed loudly from the square. My gaze naturally shifted in that direction, looking at the large banner with words written on it.

[Twitch streamer Bambam hosts Season 123 sudden singing contest!]

[1st prize: 2 million won cash prize immediately paid out!]