The cover of the novel depicts a scene or image relevant to the story. Below is the translation of the provided anime novel excerpt:
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Music has the power to transform people.
For instance, you might have been in a bad mood all day, but then while heading home from work, you hear a song playing by chance, and suddenly your mood lifts.
Or, you might have lived a life completely unrelated to music, but then go on to make it your profession.
Ah, by the way, the above examples are from my own story.
And…
“I will now take your questions! Due to the high number of journalists present, I will only take one question from each of you.”
Click-click—
The sound of countless camera shutters began echoing through the press conference hall.
“A question for singer Seo Yoo-hwa. You’re widely known for only performing your own compositions as a singer-songwriter, but this time, it seems you’ve sung a song written by someone else.”
“Yes, that’s correct. I’ve always believed that my own compositions best reflect my unique style… but due to a certain remarkable person sitting next to me, I realized that was merely my misconception.”
Seo Yoo-hwa is a rising singer-songwriter who gained prominence through outstanding performances on a music survival program.
There was a composer who took notice of her talent and proposed a collaboration first.
Of course, that composer doesn’t consider themselves extraordinary.
“Haha. To be honest, I had planned to take a break this year. But then composer Ryu Won played me the song ‘<Rewind>‘ and it felt like I had been hit with a hard blow to the head. I just knew this was destined to be a huge hit.”
As Seo Yoo-hwa’s cheerful laughter rang out, everyone’s attention was drawn to me.
“I would like to ask Mr. Ryu Won a question.”
This may seem cliché, but music is heavily reliant on talent.
In other words, there’s a wall that no amount of effort can help you overcome.
“Mr. Ryu Won received exceptional praise from the talented singer-songwriter Seo Yoo-hwa. To be honest, I was also quite surprised upon hearing your new song.”
This holds especially true for composers, who require not only exceptional musical sensitivity and the ability to create good melodies, but also an insatiable thirst for creativity.
In that sense, I considered myself second-rate.
I began my journey in music quite late and didn’t possess an overwhelmingly outstanding talent capable of stunning the world.
However…
“With the release of ‘<Rewind>‘, you managed to break into the top 10 charts within just one day, achieving the number one spot in two days, an unprecedented record. Moreover, your song even made it onto the Billboard charts, garnering heated attention overseas. Even your previous works are now being reevaluated. Are you aware of this yourself?”
At the journalist’s question, I managed a bitter smile.
Well… yeah.
“I do have ears to listen. Everyone’s favorable opinion of the composer Ryu Won fills me with nothing but gratitude.”
I’m 27 years old.
Through pure luck, with the song ‘<Rewind>‘, I’ve managed to become a relatively well-known composer.
To be honest, I still can’t fully grasp the reality of the situation.
Although… when I check my bank account, it all becomes crystal clear.
“Next question. Are you aware of a new nickname people have given to Mr. Ryu Won?”
“Nickname?”
“Despite starting late, Ryu Won has blossomed with his talents in an unexpectedly short period of time. Hence, he’s being referred to as the ‘Genius Composer’ in public discourse.”
“…”
“So, could you tell us when you realized you possessed such a talent for composing?”
“Hmm… Well, I owe that realization to a special individual, I suppose.”
“Special individual?”
“I’ll refrain from commenting on that.”
This special person…
I believe hearing this person’s name would probably leave everyone astounded.
Had circumstances been different, we might have all shared a pleasant smile, softening the atmosphere of the press conference. However, in the current moment, things were different.
To clarify, the reason I embarked on this path of music was due to that special individual I mentioned earlier.
At the young age of 16, with dazzling talent and a beautiful face, an artist debuted as a solo singer,
and ever since, with overwhelming performances and a brilliant career, has continued to dominate the entertainment industry.
…Baek Ye-rin.
When I first came across her music in high school, I quickly became a fan, and before I knew it, found myself stepping into the world of music.
And from that moment, I had a dream.
A day would come when Baek Ye-rin would sing one of my compositions.
Of course, a top star like her would never willingly take on a song from an unheard-of composer.
Thus, becoming a renowned composer became my primary goal, and now, I’ve finally achieved it.
But…
—“Breaking news: Artist Baek Ye-rin was found deceased at her home. The cause of death was determined to be acute drug poisoning, and it has been confirmed that she had been suffering from depression…”
Only six months ago.
She abruptly left this world.
I was far too late.
Her smile, which had always been a source of comfort during tough times, could no longer be seen, and my one lifelong dream would never come true.
Ironically, when I realized all of this, what remained was not disappointment or sorrow, but mere regret.
“I would like to ask about the background of the song ‘<Rewind>‘.”
And it was this very regret that brought about the creation of the song ‘<Rewind>‘.
“First, the word ‘Rewind’ means ‘to rewind.’ Everyone has experienced a moment where they’ve wished they could rewind time and return to the past, right? ‘<Rewind>‘ is a song born from imagining what would happen if I were ever given such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
If I could somehow go back in time and put in just a little more effort…
Would things have turned out differently if I had gained recognition as a composer sooner?
I am well aware that such dreamlike scenarios cannot become reality in the actual world.
And simultaneously, I believe that the sorrowful reality is already enough.
At least, within the confines of music, I can embrace not regret, but hope — a bright star.
Just like how the melancholic melody of ‘<Rewind>‘ transitions into a hopeful one by its end.
Click—
“If, by some chance, you were given that dream-like opportunity, to which moment would you most like to rewind to?”
In response to another journalist’s question, I forced a faint smile.
I had anticipated a question like this, having already thought about it while explaining the song.
In fact, while composing ‘<Rewind>‘, I vaguely realized what my answer to this question would be.
A time when I was still naive and pure, free from understanding the harshness of the world.
A time when I had no fear and could attempt anything, when everything seemed possible…
“I would like to go back to my school days.”
Perhaps then, I could undo the regret I’ve come to feel now.
Click—
Carrying this bittersweet thought, I closed my eyes momentarily.
…
But then, upon deeper reflection, must I truly go back?
Because…
“Hey! Ryu Won! Snap out of it, you idiot!”
That dreamlike opportunity had actually come to me.
Ryu Won realized something was different when, as he closed his eyes briefly after answering a journalist’s question, the constant sound of camera shutters abruptly stopped.
Confused, he opened his eyes and found himself in a completely different setting, not the press conference hall.
A scene familiar to many students — people walking along the roads to return home.
To his left, Ryu Won saw the middle school he had attended as a teenager, and to his right, an old friend stared at him with a puzzled face.
“Hey, you really had me worried when you just stopped and didn’t say anything for a while. And what’s with you sweating like crazy? Are you okay?”
Unable to respond upon seeing Kim Tae-hwan, who looked just as he did back in their student days, Ryu Won merely checked the date on his phone.
“Hey, Kim Tae-hwan, how old are you now?”
After confirming the date, Ryu Won asked the friend beside him.
“Uh? Of course, I’m the same age as you, 15.”
“Haha… Is this really happening?”
At Kim Tae-hwan’s response, Ryu Won let out a laugh that seemed disbelieving.
Realizing that a miracle had occurred to him, Ryu Won felt his knees go weak, and he knelt down on the ground, quietly muttering a thank-you.
And that thank-you was sincere, devoid of any pretense.
Though, he didn’t have the slightest clue who he should thank.
Of course, to the bystanders, this miracle was nothing more than his personal story.
“Hmm… Looks like our Ryu Won is in a lot of pain. Do you know your mom’s phone number?”
To his old friend, he probably looked completely insane.
“I can’t believe this. Renowned composer Ryu Won has gone back to his middle school years? No wonder people can’t resist it.”
With my quiet muttering, a deep sigh emerged beside me.
“First, you ask me how old I am. Then you kneel down, thanking the heavens like some deranged hermit. Then you keep mumbling incomprehensible things… Finally cracked, huh?”
Time had been rewound, and I had returned to the past.
In other words, I had gone through the miracle often referred to as “regression.”
Anyone who experienced something like that would have difficulty maintaining their sanity.
The intense gaze of my friend Kim Tae-hwan, who was now looking at me with embarrassment, was understandable in its own right.
After all, not too long ago, I had acted like a deranged monkey.
Still, I didn’t deny his claims.
“Hey, you know what? From personal experience, this world is impossible to live in if you’re not a little crazy.”
“Haha. So? What’s the so-called lunatic like you trying to say?”
With Kim Tae-hwan’s question, I gave a small smile.
There were certain things I wanted to correct upon returning to the past.
And for some reason, this unexpected chance had come to me.
But now, there was no time to ponder why.
Because I had so much to do now to accomplish dreams left unfinished in my previous life.
In that sense, there was one immediate action I had to take.
“Hey, I’m skipping cram school today.”
—
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