episode_0030

It’s been eventful.

Regardless, I played the piano to my heart’s content.

I was so anxious about possibly running into Yoon Ji-yoo on my way back.

“Min Chae-won.”

However, as I headed towards the main gate to catch a taxi, it wasn’t her who stopped me.

It was someone entirely different.

As soon as I recognized the man who appeared, I furrowed my brows.

It was Song Seong-hyuk.

Was it right after his lesson with the professor at 5 p.m.?

“I have something important to do, so I need to go quickly.”

“Wait. I have something to tell you.”

I tried to escape, but he must have long legs or something, as he leaped towards me like a grasshopper, blocking my path.

In an instant, my escape route was cut off.

Didn’t it feel somewhat similar when I was with Yoon Ji-yoo earlier?

Chae-won isn’t that short, why does she seem so slow?

“If you’re coming to school, just let me know.”

“Uh… I just… came because I was curious.”

As expected, the conversation felt awkward.

Even though we’ve been in the same department for over three years, we rarely crossed paths unless it was during lectures or lessons.

“I came to play the piano.”

“Oh? Just like that?”

Song Seong-hyuk pushed his phone forward.

On the screen, I was playing La Campanella.

…Yoon Ji-yoo!

“Oh, busted.”

“If you had told me, I would have arranged for a practice room.”

“I just wanted to hang out…”

Song Seong-hyuk’s piercing gaze through his messy hair felt uncomfortable.

Even though his eyes were mostly covered by his hair.

Seems like he might have alpha mail aversion syndrome.

“……”

“……?”

A strange silence lingered between us.

It felt like Song Seong-hyuk was holding back something he wanted to say.

“I’m going home.”

“Okay.”

“When are you going to reply to the message?”

“Oh.”

What did he ask again?

I completely forgot the content of the message, it doesn’t come to mind.

“What did he say?”

“Cosplay. Costume. A new one. You have to try it on.”

In a praising tone, Song Seong-hyuk slowly fed me each important detail again.

“Oh, right.”

“I sent the schedule, pick a suitable date.”

“Got it.”

“And the piece. What are you going to do?”

“Oh. The piece? Um….”

Let’s see, what was the opening song after giving birth to the favorite character in “The Birth of a Hero”?

“It’s this one.”

I searched for the video on NewTube and showed it to Song Seong-hyuk.

“It’s the third track from Night Out.”

Song Seong-hyuk immediately played the original track on his AirPods.

After listening for about 30 seconds, he nodded and said, “The piece is good. But why choose a song from two years ago now?”

Chae-won didn’t start arranging piano pieces for fame alone.

Perhaps she wanted to explore more diverse and numerous pieces. Regardless of views or popularity, if it was a piece that allowed for ‘an attempt not made before,’ she would choose it for arrangement.

Maybe she didn’t know about its existence at first, but later, she fell in love with the song “Idol” that she encountered along with the animation.

Most people would agree that NewTube’s algorithm doesn’t always hit the mark with preferences.

Anyway, considering the sudden pattern change, it seemed like the Night Out heyday had arrived this week.

It was practically a known fact that Chae-won really liked this singer-songwriter.

Due to the abrupt change in patterns, fans found themselves in various dilemmas during this heyday.

With Yoon Ji-chang, who claimed to be a true fan, unnecessarily sharing information, even I, who simply enjoyed playing, picked up a lot of things here and there.

“‘I’m worried about depression.’”

“Depression?”

Singer-songwriter Night Out showed exceptional talent in creating songs based on original works, especially novels or poems.

Therefore, there were often times when the lyrics carried profound or solemn meanings.

Yoon Ji-chang was particularly anxious, unable to understand why she chose “Walking in the Night.”

It was because the lyrics, set against an attractive and lively melody with a cheerful beat, were unusually shocking and gloomy.

The song overall encapsulated a lover who always wanted to die and the speaker who wanted to save her.

As they clashed, eventually, the speaker came to understand the lover’s thoughts, succumbing to the temptation of death and implying a joint leap in “Walking in the Night.”

“Surely E is not prepared for death… that can’t be true?!”

Back then, I wasn’t a fan of E, so I brushed it off appropriately.

Looking back now, damn, my worries were spot on.

While Chaewon did choose “Walking in the Night” to end the night out season, the entire selection she made throughout the season didn’t evoke a melancholic transition like “Walking in the Night.”

“Navy,” a song about wandering youth.

“Love Letter,” capturing pure excitement conveyed by a fan.

“Spring Forget-me-not,” about parting, memories, and lingering regrets of days gone by.

“Goblin,” depicting growth for love, conflicting with one’s beliefs, and more.

No matter how you look at it, it was just a few months of following night outs.

Creators have their preferences and often spend leisure time fangirling or getting ideas.

Actually, the song released two weeks later was a cheerful and lively anime song as usual.

Until the next year’s activities concluded, Aclert continued video activities by reviewing the animation of that quarter.

“Just, the song was good.”

As if he had expected it, Song Sung-hyuk chuckled briefly and gazed steadily at my face.

“If you cosplayed as a wolf or rabbit, it would be cute.”

Ah. That’s right.

Given that the song “Goblin” is set in a world of bipedal animals, the protagonist is a wolf who walks on two legs, and the heroine is a rabbit.

“I don’t plan to end it with cuteness.”

Chaewon put a lot of effort into reproducing the original work.

It wasn’t limited to just the song….

“Tell them to make the doll costume perfectly.”

“… Wolf? Or rabbit.”

“Both.”

Cosplay was no different.

Even if done with a moderately cute feeling, it should have been fine.

Just as she seemed to dislike missing in technicalities and tricks, she seemed to abhor ambiguous cosplay to the extreme.

Perhaps it was due to the influence of No. 25, who handled most of Chaewon’s dark history.

Lady Aclert’s will has persisted even three years later.

Thanks to this, Chaewon’s full body was captured in the video covering “Goblin,” albeit wearing wolf and rabbit masks.

Even though she wore wolf and rabbit masks….

“Let’s go.”

Song Sung-hyuk, finishing typing a note on his phone with one hand, handed over my phone that he was holding.

“Where to?”

“Aren’t we going to Hanra Hotel?”

“Oh. Right. Let’s go.”

“Or maybe a pet-friendly hotel?”

Song Sung-hyuk, boasting as if he knew my schedule well, triggered a sense of rebellion in me as I listened.

He must have brought the car.

That white convertible of his.

Seems like he wants to give me a ride, but unfortunately, I’m planning to take a taxi.

“I’ll go alone. Don’t worry about me; you go first.”

Surprisingly, Song Sung-hyuk didn’t show any signs of disappointment and easily stepped back.

Is this what alpha male nonchalance looks like?

Even without clinging or being overly insistent, there’s an implicit hint that you’ll end up coming to me anyway, isn’t there?

I’m annoyed.

I really don’t like this nonchalance.

I want to trip him over with my foot.

“… How pathetic.”

I have to get angry like this; Chaewon already has someone she likes.

There’s a possibility it could be me, but the probability leans towards Song Sung-hyuk.

Moreover, it’s a known fact that Chaewon spent more time with Song Sung-hyuk than with me during this period.

I must uphold the belief that I shouldn’t influence either Song Sung-hyuk or Jung Si-woo.

Being biased is something only a petty man would do.

“Have we been meeting frequently lately?”

I asked Song Seong-hyuk a question in a refreshing manner.

“Not often. About once every three days since I was young.”

His skull shattered from a direct hit by a torpedo that maximized the explosive power.

He’s laughing on the sinking ship of Jaah 992.

“Oh… I see…”

Even most couples only meet once a week.

Once every three days? That’s not what you’d call frequent.

‘Probably family. Probably family. Probably family. Probably family. Probably family. Probably family. Probably family. Probably family. Probably family. Probably family. Probably family….’

Song Seong-hyuk is family. Therefore, devoid of romantic feelings. Just periodic meetings for the NewTube business.

However, my arguments echo emptily.

Today, Jaah 992’s voice calling out Song Seong-hyuk’s name seems unusually loud.

“From your expression, it seems like you’re not planning to go in right away.”

Perhaps mistaking my lip-biting contemplation for a change of heart.

Even displaying unnecessary consideration, Song Seong-hyuk made me feel even more pathetic.

“There’s a place that makes delicious crab soup. I found out and made a reservation. The professor recommended it. They say it’s prime crab season now. You can go alone, but if you’re interested, why don’t we go together?”

I’ve heard this before.

When trying to seduce a woman, one should not appear anxious.

Casual yet naturally emanating care.

A suggestion thrown subtly, without forcefulness.

Relationship experts used to say that these small gestures are crucial in moving a woman’s heart.

It might have been just a desire to experience Korean food culture as if on a trip, having lived in Austria for so long. Chae-won might have felt the same way.

Touching upon Chae-won’s empathy skillfully, Song Seong-hyuk was delicately probing Chae-won’s intentions.

As a rival, I really dislike him.

But as a man to man, he’s someone I can learn a lot from.

“Yes, instead of bluntly opposing. There’s a need to make it mine.”

Even Ji-wo, who knows nothing about dating, copies something well.

If I learn well, I can use it when I return to my body.

Suck up every last bit, down to the marrow.

“Instead of going, why don’t you take Relka for a walk?”

“Sure.”

The labor is a bonus.