Performance (2)

The fiercely ringing guitar cuts off all at once. The vast reverb echoes through the room, and the drums that had been roaring alongside it finish with a resounding boom!

Silence descends on the practice room.

Myeongjeon tucked the worn-out pick into the neck, then began clapping slowly.

“Good work.”

At Myeongjeon’s words, the three of them let out long breaths, their faces filled with relief. They were expressions Myeongjeon had often seen back when they were ‘Seo Myeongjeon’ and ran a band.

They had heard complaints about how brutally they were being pushed, even pleas asking if they could please stop practicing. Some had even raged that their joints were all ruined from practicing and they would not be able to play the actual performance.

Of course, every bit of that was nonsense. Hadn’t some baseball manager once said that shoulders grew stronger the more they were used? Wrists were the same. Just as the earth hardens after the rain, one’s skills improve after intense playing and practice.

Back in my day, I wore sandbags or attached springs to my fingers and played guitar or drums to build up my wrist strength, but kids these days are so fragile… How will they ever manage? Tsk, tsk.

“Is it finally over?”

“Mm. Our practice-room rental time is up now, too. We could go on for another day or two, but I don’t think it’ll get any better here.”...