[It's a beautiful song--and even more than that, it shows that Jae-ha has settled. His mind is in one place, and no longer jumping from place to place. He is no longer a bundle of nervous energy.
That means that Sousei's task was a success.
It's a strange relief, honestly; he knows he is not always the best at providing that comfort. And it's easier to focus on that than... on those words, the compliments, which he doesn't necessarily disagree with, but that he wasn't expecting from Jae-ha either.
(Earlier, Jae-ha had asked what method he should use, but this might be far closer to it, complimenting his goals and aspirations and not his face.
Sousei doesn't even contemplate that, though.)]
... What has gotten into you now?
[Honestly.]
I was not expecting to hear compliments like that from you. [Though they are not at all bad to hear.] More importantly-- [rather, easier to cope with:] --the instrument sounds far better in your hands than mine.
[ - to be honest, he's rarely so honest. it's easier to compliment on someone's beauty, but jae-ha is also a watchful person. he's drawn to goals, ambitions, that genuine nature that people unflinchingly possess. yona stirred his heart when she shot yang kum-ji, when she showed her determination to protect her country and what mattered to her above all else
it's a beautiful way to live
he needs to tell her, when he sees her again
he tells sousei now, before a time comes where he might not see him again]
I'm just an incredibly honest person.
[as he always says.]
But I've been playing for over a decade, you know? If you gave a run for money in such a short amount of time, I would be quite frustrated.
[... Honesty, huh? He'd like to believe that, and so he does; a soft murmur of:]
I suppose I have no reason to disbelieve you.
[If those are Jae-ha's honest thoughts, then he can accept them even more easily. It's warm, in a strange sort of way, and it's not something he has to examine and second guess this way.
It's fine.
He focuses on the rest.]
Oh, I am certain there was never any danger of that. [Faintly amused:] Students do not surpass their teachers so easily. It would be disappointing if they did, wouldn't it?
Jae-ha notes it, even if he's not sure what to make of it. has no one told Sousei that? it's almost unthinkable but....
for now, he'll move on. at the question he laughs, even as the song that he's currently playing ends... and so he glides the ending of it easily into another song. he's relaxed, adjusted enough to be able to smooth out the transitions between his musical selections]
I wouldn't know anything about that. You're the only one between the two of us to have a proper protege.
The Captain treats people the same way. Inexperienced fisherman, young girls, all of them have to be put through tests in order to determine if they'll be able to not only help her but also take care of themselves.
I suppose it's easy enough to find the kindness in that particular brand of cruelty.
[... Well, it makes sense to him. It's not kindness to bring someone onto a battlefield who can't handle it.]
"Cruelty"? Hardly.
[Sousei crosses his arms, and:]
The world will not be kind to those who are too naive to understand what awaits them. Hope, idealism, wishfulness--those are all well and good, but they will not turn aside blades or deception or cruelty.
Even the most bright-eyed student must be ready before they are thrown to the wolves.
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no subject
That means that Sousei's task was a success.
It's a strange relief, honestly; he knows he is not always the best at providing that comfort. And it's easier to focus on that than... on those words, the compliments, which he doesn't necessarily disagree with, but that he wasn't expecting from Jae-ha either.
(Earlier, Jae-ha had asked what method he should use, but this might be far closer to it, complimenting his goals and aspirations and not his face.
Sousei doesn't even contemplate that, though.)]
... What has gotten into you now?
[Honestly.]
I was not expecting to hear compliments like that from you. [Though they are not at all bad to hear.] More importantly-- [rather, easier to cope with:] --the instrument sounds far better in your hands than mine.
no subject
[ - to be honest, he's rarely so honest. it's easier to compliment on someone's beauty, but jae-ha is also a watchful person. he's drawn to goals, ambitions, that genuine nature that people unflinchingly possess. yona stirred his heart when she shot yang kum-ji, when she showed her determination to protect her country and what mattered to her above all else
it's a beautiful way to live
he needs to tell her, when he sees her again
he tells sousei now, before a time comes where he might not see him again]
I'm just an incredibly honest person.
[as he always says.]
But I've been playing for over a decade, you know? If you gave a run for money in such a short amount of time, I would be quite frustrated.
no subject
I suppose I have no reason to disbelieve you.
[If those are Jae-ha's honest thoughts, then he can accept them even more easily. It's warm, in a strange sort of way, and it's not something he has to examine and second guess this way.
It's fine.
He focuses on the rest.]
Oh, I am certain there was never any danger of that. [Faintly amused:] Students do not surpass their teachers so easily. It would be disappointing if they did, wouldn't it?
no subject
Jae-ha notes it, even if he's not sure what to make of it. has no one told Sousei that? it's almost unthinkable but....
for now, he'll move on. at the question he laughs, even as the song that he's currently playing ends... and so he glides the ending of it easily into another song. he's relaxed, adjusted enough to be able to smooth out the transitions between his musical selections]
I wouldn't know anything about that. You're the only one between the two of us to have a proper protege.
You're strict on him, then? I'm hardly surprised.
no subject
It's nice to listen to this, at least, as Sousei leans back contemplatively. He'll never admit this when Tenka is anywhere around or nearby, but:]
He has high aspirations. [To overcome Tenka... that's a large goal.] With that in mind, being anything but strict would be a disservice to him.
no subject
The Captain treats people the same way. Inexperienced fisherman, young girls, all of them have to be put through tests in order to determine if they'll be able to not only help her but also take care of themselves.
I suppose it's easy enough to find the kindness in that particular brand of cruelty.
no subject
"Cruelty"? Hardly.
[Sousei crosses his arms, and:]
The world will not be kind to those who are too naive to understand what awaits them. Hope, idealism, wishfulness--those are all well and good, but they will not turn aside blades or deception or cruelty.
Even the most bright-eyed student must be ready before they are thrown to the wolves.