Concert Session (1)

“Let’s take a break for a while. Come back by ten.”

At those words, the kids put away their instruments and stepped outside for a while. Afterward, Myeongjeon let out a deep sigh. They looked completely lost and dejected—in modern parlance, as if their ‘mental state had shattered.’

It was understandable. No matter how much Myeongjeon had told them beforehand, it was hard to accept that weeks of effort could be reduced to nothing by a single remark from someone else.

Even people in their twenties and thirties—or even older adults who had lived long enough—would have trouble enduring that. What about these kids?

‘Still, this is a bit much.’

Myeongjeon had thought the kids would have mostly recovered after a week. But when he saw them a week later, there was no sign of recovery at all. They were still gloomy. They looked as though their minds had drifted far away.

As he worried, the kids came back in one by one. Their expressions were still dark. Seeing those faces, Myeongjeon tilted his head slightly.

“I thought you’d all be okay after a week, but I guess I was wrong.”

The kids flinched at Myeongjeon’s words. He smiled bitterly.

“I’m not scolding you. The root of the problem is ultimately me. But I also think you may be worrying too much.”...