Song Ya

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Alexander Song (formerly Song Ya) 1
Alias(es)	APLUS / A+ 2 28
Species/Race	Human; mixed-race, with Chinese heritage 29 40
Gender	Male 1
Age	15 1 9
Affiliation	A+ Audio (founder); SBK Records (independent producer) 34 42
Occupation/Role	Student, songwriter, music producer, and copyright holder 22 34
First Appearance	Chapter 1: “Family”

Background & History

Song Ya transmigrated into the body of fifteen-year-old Alexander Song, whose biological parents had died in a car accident. He lives with his aunt Susie and her children on Chicago’s South Side, while struggling to recover any useful memories from his previous life. His retained advantages are primarily exceptional mathematics ability and a vague awareness of future music; his English, athletic coordination, and inherited musical instincts initially deteriorate after transmigration. 1 2 3

A perfect mathematics score earns him the derisive school nickname “APLUS” and makes him a target for bullying. He responds by trying to remain inconspicuous, self-studying English, accumulating credits early, and pursuing a transfer away from the South Side’s unsafe schools. 2 3 22 29

His first major insight occurs during a visit to a thrift shop, inspiring him to create “Thrift Shop.” He seeks legal advice from Goodman, records a demo, files evidence of authorship with the Songwriters Guild, and pitches the song to Little Lowry’s circle before its album is completed. 7 9 10 11

Appearance

Song Ya is a mixed-race teenage boy whose mature demeanor causes strangers to assume he is substantially older than fifteen. 39 40

• Keeps his own short hair neat and self-cut. 8
• Initially dresses in inexpensive thrift-store clothing, including a plaid suit purchased for $9.90. 8
• Adopts more deliberate fashion after entering SBK, including a tan fringed suede jacket, black T-shirt, jeans, and Converse shoes. 34
• Is repeatedly identified in the music industry by the “APLUS” signature attached to his work. 22 28

Personality

Song Ya is ambitious, calculating, and highly protective of his future. He treats copyright registration, contracts, and royalties as essential safeguards rather than formalities, refuses Pablo’s early pressure to surrender his lyrics, and pushes to retain control of his work even when SBK’s internal politics become hostile. 12 14 34 36

He is cautious about criminal exposure and personal safety. He conceals cash while traveling through dangerous neighborhoods, refuses to buy a likely stolen Jeep, and plans to move his family out of the South Side after learning of an impending gang war. 8 17 29

Despite his self-interest, Song Ya feels responsible for his household. He buys appliances to reduce Aunt Susie’s workload, contributes money to the family, and uses his earnings to secure better schooling and housing for Susie and Emily. 17 19 29 48

Abilities & Skills

Apocalypse Insight

Song Ya periodically receives sudden “apocalyptic” insights that provide him with songs and impressions from the future.

• His first insight is tied to a thrift shop and becomes the basis for “Thrift Shop.” 7 9
• Milla Jovovich’s shouted insult triggers his second insight, leading to the creation of “FXXXYOU.” 31 33
• He cannot reliably control the phenomenon and later visits thrift shops in an attempt to trigger another insight. 45
• The ability gives him results rather than technical understanding; he knows what works but not always why, leaving him dependent on skilled musicians and engineers for execution. 10 43

Songwriting and Production

Song Ya writes songs, drafts sheet music, protects his compositions legally, and gradually becomes capable of directing professional recording sessions.

• Wrote the music for “Thrift Shop” and shared lyric credit with Little Lowry after transferring one-third of the lyric copyright. 16 22
• Negotiated a contract granting him producer, lyricist, and composer shares for “FXXXYOU.” 34
• Directed auditions, selected Milla as vocalist, and provided intensive coaching on phrasing, pronunciation, timbre, and stage delivery. 35 37 39
• Works with Delay to develop new synthesized sounds, though his limited funds and inability to precisely describe the sounds in his head slow the process. 43

Academic Ability

Song Ya’s strongest academic advantage is mathematics.

• Received a perfect math score, which led to the “APLUS” nickname. 2
• Was offered placement in advanced mathematics after demonstrating he could pass the ninth-grade foundation examination. 3
• Is weaker in English writing and public speaking, but compensates through self-study and deliberate preparation. 3 28

Instrumental and Vocal Training

Song Ya has access to the musical foundation of Alexander Song’s body but initially struggles to use it.

• Was formerly the school orchestra’s lead trumpeter, but was demoted to triangle after his trumpet performance declined. 3
• Later regains the lead-trumpeter position. 20
• Maintains a routine of vocal warmups, guitar practice, trumpet practice, and study of audio-processing techniques. 50

Works & Credits

Work	Contribution	Outcome
“Thrift Shop”	Music by APLUS; lyrics credited to Lowry II and APLUS. Song Ya transferred one-third of the lyric copyright to Little Lowry for $2,500. 16 22	Reached the Billboard top ten and sold over one million copies. 42
“FXXXYOU”	Song Ya serves as lyricist, composer, and independent producer, receiving a combined 15% revenue share. 34	Milla is selected as vocalist after Song Ya’s coaching and audition process. 39
“To de Klerk”	An anti-apartheid song performed by Milla and associated with Song Ya’s civil-rights work. 43 50	Its success earns Song Ya a place in Dr. Michelle’s South African youth project. 50

Equipment / Assets

• Ford pickup truck — Used four-seater truck bought for just over $2,000. 17
• Guitar, trumpet, and electronic metronome — Purchased from a used-appliance market for practice and musical development. 17
• Pager — Obtained to coordinate with Hayden and reduce unnecessary visits to the South Side. 29 30
• 386 computer — Purchased after moving into a safer home. 50
• A+ Audio — A company registered to manage Song Ya’s audio copyrights and future sound-related work. 42

Relationships

• Susie — Aunt and guardian. She lends him money for legal help, supports his early career, and accepts his plan to move the family away from the South Side. 8 29
• Tony — Older cousin raised alongside Song Ya as a brother. Tony introduces him to Little Lowry’s circle, supports the “Thrift Shop” pitch, but ultimately chooses to remain with Little Lowry rather than work under Song Ya. 11 44
• Connie — Cousin and schoolmate. She accompanies him to the thrift shop connected to his first insight and later remains in the old neighborhood with Tyrone. 7 48
• Emily — Youngest cousin. Song Ya prioritizes her access to a better school when arranging the family’s move. 29 48
• Little Lowry — Rapper and initial collaborator on “Thrift Shop.” Their relationship becomes professional but strained after Little Lowry gains fame from a song Song Ya helped create. 16 35
• Old Joe — Owner of Joe Music and performer on “Thrift Shop.” Joe protects Song Ya within the South Side music scene and shares an interest in the song’s success. 15 31
• Hayden — Song Ya’s agent at William Morris. He negotiates contracts, manages opportunities, assists with school transfers, and helps navigate SBK politics. 16 29 36
• Daniel Glass — SBK executive and Song Ya’s “life mentor.” Daniel teaches him how to use public recognition and industry leverage, while Song Ya supports Daniel’s internal power struggle at SBK. 24 33 47
• Goodman — Lawyer who advises Song Ya on copyright, contracts, guardian authorization, and music-industry protections. 8 9 42
• Mira (Milla Jovovich) — Singer, romantic partner, and the vocalist Song Ya trains and selects for his second major single. 37 39 47
• Eric — Sound engineer and close assistant. He helps Song Ya at SBK and later works on Milla’s project alongside Al. 35 47 48
• Dr. Michelle — Civil-rights representative and academic adviser. She offers Song Ya college guidance and brings him to South Africa through her youth project. 29 50
• Song Asheng — Accountant hired to manage Song Ya’s earnings and register A+ Audio. 42

Story Role / Major Arcs

South Side Student

• Transmigrates into Alexander Song’s life in Chicago and adapts to a poor, dangerous household and school environment. 1 2
• Gains the “APLUS” nickname after receiving a perfect mathematics score, making anonymity at school impossible. 2 22
• Begins planning to earn credits early, leave the South Side, and use education as a route to security. 3 29

“Thrift Shop” Breakthrough

• Creates “Thrift Shop,” legally documents it, and persuades Old Joe’s company to record it. 9 11 15
• Signs with Hayden and William Morris, accepting an early compromise by transferring part of the lyric copyright to Little Lowry. 16
• Works with Daniel and SBK to promote the single, which becomes a million-selling Billboard hit. 23 42

SBK Producer

• Receives a second insight after meeting Milla Jovovich and develops “FXXXYOU.” 31 33
• Uses his leverage with Daniel to become the single’s independent producer and to bring Milla under Daniel’s management. 34 36
• Oversees auditions, rejects pressure from agents and executives, chooses Milla, and coaches her through her performance. 39 40
• Moves rehearsals to Chicago after blackmail and racial hostility in New York make the situation unsafe. 40 41

Independent Expansion

• Forms A+ Audio after “Thrift Shop” generates more than $180,000 from his wager-related share alone. 42
• Moves his family, selects a private school for himself and Emily, and leaves the South Side’s welfare-dependent living conditions behind. 48 50
• Travels to South Africa with Dr. Michelle after the success of Milla’s anti-apartheid song. 50

Trivia

• The “APLUS” name began as a schoolyard joke about Song Ya’s perfect mathematics score; he later adopted it as his professional signature. 2 28
• A+ Audio is named after that same nickname. 42
• Song Ya dislikes driving without a license and refuses even minor risks that could threaten his future career. 25 47