episode_0019

[ However, I’m not overly worried.

Because from me to 25, we shared the same thoughts about the person we like.

Kang Hwi confirmed it through several conversations, so you can trust it!

And perhaps, 26, you will think the same way too.

When you think of someone you like, only one person comes to mind, right?

If you’re unsure, think carefully while living your life. I believe there are hints here and there. That person is surprisingly close by.]

Chae Won of 0. You come to my mind.

Does that make Min Chae Won a narcissist?

“Nonsense.”

It’s just twisted because Jung Si Woo intervened, and thoughts from 1 to 25 were likely the same.

Different personalities, but all based on the common self of Min Chae Won.

…Why did I end up as 26? It’s a mystery.

“The person I like….”

But at least tell me the name of the person you like properly.

You’re being too vague.

Saying she’s like a woman with many secrets.

[ Anyway, this is where 0’s request ends.

Strangely, after changing friends a few times, I could predict how long the next friend who comes after will live in my place?

However, it seems like 26, you… ]

This part had an oddly long blank space.

Perplexed, I ran my fingers over it and noticed faint pen marks.

“Could it be for years, maybe even longer…?”

Could I possibly live in place of Min Chae Won for a lifetime?

Then when will 0 Chae Won return home?

The Chae Won who left home.

Return in three years, I’ll give back your house!

Without you, everything falls apart!

…But even if I shouted in my heart, Chae Won didn’t respond.

Instead, the next sentence caught my eye, creating an illusion as if I could hear Chae Won’s voice in my head.

[ Nevertheless, don’t be flustered.

Both you and Min Chae Won. We are all the same Min Chae Won.

You must act like 0.

You must do your best in place of 0.

It’s okay not to think that way.

0, 26, all are Min Chae Won.

And this is just my opinion, but isn’t 0 the one who leaves a strong impression on others’ memories?

I haven’t studied philosophy so I’m not sure!

— 0

P.S. Just in case, never ever do anything bad like stealing, okay? Even if surveillance seems lax, your parents worry a lot and watch over you 24/7.

Once Lady Acklert tried to escape in the middle of the night to meet her destined partner. She got caught at the airport and returned….

Those photos are still in the album…. Hopefully, such embarrassing incidents won’t happen again.

P.S.2. Strelka gets lonely easily, so try to raise him indoors! Sometimes he sleeps cuddling instead of under a blanket in winter, which helps him sleep well. His fur might get into his nose and wake him up often….

He’s quite smart, uses the bathroom, and flushes water well. Impressive, right? He can sometimes startle you by acting human-like, so be careful. Just giving you a heads-up?

P.S.3. Kang Hwi will probably tell you anyway, but one more thing. The more Strelka hears piano music, the calmer he gets. If walks become too challenging, try playing some music before going out! …Well, if you can play the piano, 26!]

Lovely girl Min Chae Won.

All of her bright energy, positivity, and kindness were contained within this long letter.

“…This feels strange.”

Shouldn’t I be anxious that Chae Won might disappear forever because of me?

Was I convinced by reading the letter or something else?

Why do I feel like I’ve merged with her for real?

Even though unseen, it feels like Chae Won is with me to the extent that I can sense it.

As Chae Won said, both 26 and 0.

Are we all the same Min Chae Won?

Am I just her 26?

“……”

However, Jung Siwoo’s consciousness is still intact.

Starting today, I also possess memories recorded from Jung Siwoo’s perspective for three years.

Even if Chaewon created a 26th personality resembling Jung Siwoo, isn’t it impossible to bring forth memories from a non-existent future?

I don’t fully understand this myself, but sensibly speaking, I am currently in a state akin to an unblended mixture.

When I think “I am Jung Siwoo,” I am perceived as the person who was Jung Siwoo.

When I think “I am Min Chaewon,” I am recognized as Min Chaewon’s 26th personality.

After reading the letter left by Chaewon just now, I became certain.

This probably happened after waking up from being dead.

It must have been from the moment Siwoo and I opened our eyes together at the hospital.

The evidence was consistently revealed in my attitude towards Siwoo.

“Definitely. Looking back, it’s strange.”

There are two copied men.

Imagine one of them showing you a black history of kicking blankets twenty thousand times right in front of your eyes.

It’s normal for curses to burst out from the viewer’s side.

“Oh, what the hell is this bastard doing!”

However, contrary to that, I was on the verge of going crazy worrying about the injured Siwoo.

Being surprised at becoming Min Chaewon was momentary, and soon after, I worried about how to save Siwoo, who would die in three years.

Is it because I should be kind and cheerful like Chaewon?

Absolutely not. Even if I thoroughly intended to do so, there are limits.

In front of a black history, it’s normal for people of all ages and genders to curse.

Due to becoming mixed with Chaewon, I first felt resentment.

“Trying to understand everything… would be a waste of time.”

Even the existence of multiple personalities is not definitively explained by neuroscience.

And yet, I am entangled in posthumous possession.

It’s a supernatural phenomenon that I can’t explain to anyone, not even to myself.

Instead of being immersed in it, it’s better to enjoy life as 0th personality Chaewon suggested.

It may happen anytime; until then, I can live as I please without causing trouble to Chaewon.

I want to save myself, Jung Siwoo.

I want to straighten out Jung Siwoo’s twisted life a bit.

“I also… want to play the piano a bit.”

Despite enduring hardships and achieving nothing substantial.

Yet, even if I hear someone say, “…you still want to play?” I won’t part ways with the piano until I die.

Isn’t it like lifelong family?

If suddenly told to live apart from family, would anyone accept that?

The determination to stay with the piano for life was the same in the exuberant 1st grade or when compromising with reality in the fading light of the 4th grade.

With a faint smile, I turned the pages again.

As a musician, you might have heard of the masters whose autographs began to emerge one by one.

“What’s this?”

“Oh. From there, it’s like albums and the achievements of the lady…”

From 1st to 24th.

Each had a unique preference for instruments.

It felt like Chaewon deliberately summoned different personalities to test which instrument should be chosen as a lifelong companion.

Because the mindset required for each instrument player varies slightly.

So, wouldn’t the results from 1st to 24th be an attempt to see things from the perspective of professional musicians encountered through videos and such?

Like Chaewon, who lacked a clear life goal, pondering ‘What should I do in life?’ seems to leave traces.

[5 years old. Introduction to piano.]

[6 years old. Introduction to violin, flute.]

[7 years old. Introduction to viola, marimba.]

[8 years old. Introduction to cello, oboe, trumpet.]

…

“It was fascinating. Even though it was the first time holding the instrument, once taught the fingering, they played like someone who practiced for months. Well, the interest quickly waned, though.”

She always played new instruments.

Once she reached a certain level of proficiency, her parents sent her video to a renowned master for a brief personal evaluation.

The assessment was filled with praise.

Various masters expressed their desire to personally nurture Chaewon.

However, Chaewon ended up unable to decide on one thing and played all the instruments in the orchestra. She even handled a real sword instead of an instrument.

“A conductor’s baton?”

Had she read a magical academy novel before Number 25 popped out?

Even though she waved the baton like a magic wand, no magic came out, giving off a strong feeling as if she had switched to a real sword.

[“Ah, is that your precious piano? If it’s music, it’s now obsolete. That’s why I got rid of it.” – Dark Master Lady Acklert, who received a real sword from her father at 15 and broke the (precious) grand piano given by her mother at 6]

So, at the age of 15, she let go of music.

“Lady Acklert? Who’s that? I have no idea…!” – At 16, while playing the first arranged anime theme song

At 16. Ironically, the manga and games bought by Lady Acklert became the catalyst for her to open up to subculture.

Since the Acklert channel was created in 2020, it seems to be about three years ago.

It appears to be right after Chaewon turned 16.

“And come to think of it… Didn’t she occasionally play other instruments too?”

Although Acklert is specialized in piano.

Sometimes, whether for fun or to bring change.

She even combined videos of herself playing various instruments to create a mini-orchestra.

It wasn’t just to show off different character cosplays; her skill in handling each instrument was remarkable.

“Chaewon went through all the instruments in the orchestra, didn’t she…?”

At that moment, a new truth began to reveal itself to Jung Siwoo, something he could never have known alone.

Could it be from Number 0 to 25?

Are they sharing knowledge and experience about music with each other?

Number 0, the host, laying the foundation with the piano.

Other Chaewons stacking string and wind instruments on top of it.

I can feel Chaewon’s presence within me too.

Perhaps this is the foundation of Number 0 Chaewon, her piano personality.

In that case.

If I, now merged with her, were to play the piano…

“Find your color. That’s your graduation assignment.”

Could Siwoo finally step into the unknown territory?

“…I want to play the piano.”

My heart, frozen in the storm of reality, began to beat again.

Three years later, Siwoo was regaining the passion he had when he first enrolled three years ago.