Ch.77Taking the First Step

At the end of the midterm exams in late August.

♪♩♬

In the corner of the music room, the Shinbit Middle School band club begins their ensemble practice with powerful sound equipment. Normally, they would have needed to secure a separate club room and get a budget allocated through various procedures, but all that was bypassed thanks to the band captain.

“If Donghu is joining the band club, how can you not provide a music room?”

“Give him a spare key to the music room right away and tell him to practice whenever he wants.”

Under the principal’s trust and support, the Shinbit Middle School band club enjoyed a comfortable(?) school life. As always, they continued their practice following Kim Donghu’s keyboard playing.

A feast of gentle harmonies coordinated by soft melodies. Drummer Kim Minhyeok, bassist Na Kangsik, and guitarist Shin Yerim.

Just as the four finished their enjoyable practice and were catching their breath,

“We don’t have much time left to play together like this.”

Kim Minhyeok’s sudden comment made everyone look up.

“Since Donghu and Yerim said they’re going to Daejung High School, there’s going to be some distance, right?”

“Kangsik and I will probably go to Shinbit High if we don’t have other plans.”

When Minhyeok finished speaking, a solemn atmosphere settled over them.

The fact that they could only hang out together like this for about 6 more months at most.

Six months might seem long, but looking back, it would be a time that could be called very short.

In what could have been a moment tinged with sadness,

“B-b-but, l-let’s m-meet ag-again l-later.”

Na Kangsik said something no one expected.

“W-we’re fr-friends, s-so we’ll k-keep in t-touch even if w-we’re apart, y-yeah.”

“That’s right, Kangsik’s right. We’re in an age where everyone has KakaoTalk anyway.”

And we can still get together to practice when our schedules align or during breaks.

Kim Donghu quickly followed up on Kangsik’s words to prevent the mood from becoming more awkward.

“Yeah, we just need to keep practicing our instruments, right?”

“Hmm, I should practice drums harder too. I heard we might even get to perform at the graduation ceremony if we’re good enough.”

“…So discussions happened again while I wasn’t around.”

“I heard about it too while I was playing guitar… they were saying something about the graduation ceremony.”

“M-me t-too, and th-they’re ch-changing the b-banner… to N-National Prince.”

I heard the principal is paying for the entire cost of the banner out of his own pocket.

What could be the reason for changing the banner to such an extent?

Kim Donghu briefly wondered about this but soon dismissed the thought.

‘Well, it doesn’t really matter anyway.’

By the way.

‘I didn’t expect Kangsik to answer like that.’

While hanging out with Kangsik all this time,

I thought he would be extremely sad when the moment of farewell came.

It was quite unexpected that he responded that way.

“Anyway, that’s it for today’s practice. Let’s work on the rest tomorrow.”

“Donghu, are you really going to keep taking a break for the rest of the year?”

“Hmm, probably? Unless something special comes up, I think so.”

“I hope you keep resting. Being together like this and my modeling work…”

“L-let’s t-talk about th-that l-later.”

Alright, dismissed!

With Kim Donghu’s final words, everyone started putting away their instruments.

Normally, they would all clean up together and then go for tteokbokki after school as part of their routine, but…

“I-I’ll g-go ahead f-first.”

Recently, Na Kangsik had been gradually skipping this routine.

At first, they thought he might be trying to lose weight, but that wasn’t it either.

When asked why, he would always say it was a secret.

“Kangsik, I’m treating you to tteokkkochi today. We’re even getting Pikachu too. You’re not coming?”

“U-um… I’m s-saving your w-wallet, Minhyeok.”

Even the tteokkkochi+Pikachu combo that Na Kangsik loved most didn’t work.

So Na Kangsik hurriedly cleaned up and left first.

‘Phew, I fooled them well.’

As Na Kangsik headed home,

he slowly released the sadness he had been holding back.

‘Meeting like this will end with middle school.’

There were no tears.

Not even a sniffle.

Because he had already run through the simulation countless times.

‘Everyone will leave next year.’

Donghu, Minhyeok, Yerim.

Saying goodbye to his closest friends from middle school.

The times when he knew nothing and joined the band club just following his friends,

when he invited friends over for dinner and had fun,

‘It’s regrettable.’

Now there wasn’t much time left.

Although he disliked farewells, he knew that throwing tantrums wouldn’t solve anything.

Na Kangsik hurried home.

“I-I’m h-home.”

“Welcome back. You’ll eat dinner later, right?”

“Yes.”

Hurriedly.

After arriving home, Na Kangsik quickly washed up and sat down at his computer.

Click.

Whirrrrr.

Listening to the computer boot up, Na Kangsik briefly reminisced about the past.

It was June.

The moment he suddenly realized there wasn’t much time left to spend together.

‘Donghu will go to Daejung High School.’

When he realized that a farewell was inevitable.

What could I possibly do?

Kangsik pondered this endlessly.

‘I want to commemorate our last moments together.’

He wanted to turn these good moments into something wonderful.

That’s when he remembered Kim Donghu’s encouragement.

-I truly believe you’ll become an amazing game developer.

Recalling that, Na Kangsik realized what he needed to do.

‘I’ll make a game.’

Based on the notebook game we enjoyed playing the most.

The game that even Shin Yerim reluctantly participated in,

the one filled with our most precious memories—let’s make it real.

And the moment he had that thought.

Fate changed.

Originally, Na Kangsik, who never made friends throughout his school years,

would have created games focused entirely on solo play.

Games where one struggles desperately without anyone’s help.

While they boasted incredible gameplay, they were also Na Kangsik’s sore spot.

Games made to comfort his lonely past.

Because they reminded him of his solitary school days whenever he looked at them.

But now it was different.

The very beginning had changed.

With Kim Donghu’s appearance, more possibilities opened up.

From the moment Kangsik, who used to be alone, discovered the joy of being together.

Na Kangsik could now walk multiple paths instead of just a solitary one.

-If you’re having a hard time, tell me. I’ll help you.

What could be more valuable than a friend’s offer to help?

When Na Kangsik heard those words, he thought they were enough.

‘Taking the first step.’

I must do it alone.

Because that’s what Kim Donghu did.

Just like how he brilliantly passed the audition he prepared for by himself.

I too.

‘I want to be like you.’

At some point, I wanted to become someone who could help you.

To become a truly good friend, someday for sure.

‘I’ll make another game that the four of us can play together for a long time.’

Na Kangsik, the genius game developer.

His first game would not be

a single-player game born from loneliness and solitude.

But a multiplayer game created from the desire to be together, to laugh together.

+++++

At the same time, after school.

After seeing off Kangsik who hurried away, I got into the van and

immediately questioned the KakaoTalk message that Seokho hyung had sent.

“Is this for real?”

“Yeah, it’s real. I originally wasn’t going to accept anything since you’re on break, but this seems very different, sorry.”

The “High Dream 2” script in my hand.

It had some different changes compared to the first one, but

there was something even more shocking.

<Lead Role – Kim Donghu>

Written prominently on the very first page.

Of course, it was a co-starring role, so there were more names after mine, but

being listed first was a kind of symbol.

‘It means I play the most important role, something like that.’

I thought Lee J’s story was already over.

“I told them I’d talk to you after reading the script, but… it seems the story can’t proceed at all without you.”

Since they wrote the script with you in mind from the beginning,

they said it would just be canceled without you.

Seokho hyung’s words weren’t meant to pressure me.

They were indirect praise, telling me how amazing I was.

“Donghu, I really think as long as you’re there…”

“Hyung, that’s too much pressure. You’re like our gym owner.”

“Oh right, I found out Paek Sangha is the same age as me. We decided to become friends.”

So the burdensome people have gathered together.

‘I hope they don’t create some kind of gilding synergy.’

With that worry, I checked the script.

<High Dream 2, B+>

B+.

‘Does this mean it will get around 35% viewership?’

It hit 40% once, but

35% is still an incredible number.

Plus, it’s not easy for a series to be successful back-to-back.

Considering all that, it was really high.

Enough with the introduction.

I went straight to the main point.

‘Immersion.’

Lee J’s world unfolds.

++++++

Obviously, no relationship lasts forever.

But sometimes we cling to the word “forever,”

and even while knowing how futile it is, we don’t give up.

It wasn’t because of lingering attachment.

‘It must be because of love.’

My world was still shattered.

Among all those distorted pieces, only one had been put back together.

“…You shine so brightly, and that makes me happy.”

Mom smiled weakly as she saw the brilliance of my talent.

Despite running endlessly for a long time,

I ultimately couldn’t prevent Mom from breaking.

Nevertheless, I did my best not to give up.

After two years had passed.

The year I turned 19.

“…Hah.”

Mom died.

Many people came and went at the funeral, but it was all meaningless.

Because the most important person didn’t come.

Vile, base,

low, and filthy.

‘My father.’

Where are you now?