The Encounter

Time slipped by, and before I knew it, autumn had arrived on a cool breeze.

"Autumn already, huh."

"It really is. Oh, by the way — did you see the news saying this year's fall would last about two months? That can't be right, can it?"

At the Manager's exasperated remark, I gave her my honest impression.

"Sounds long."

Plenty long. Very long.

"Sorry? I brought it up because it's short..."

Long is right. Eight years from now it wouldn't even last a week — and she was telling me two months? Pulling out actual fall clothes, instead of dragging the padded coats back out or reverting to short sleeves? That was nothing short of a miracle.

"Anyway, let's get down to business."

Getting to the point, then. Today was the first time in a while I'd come into the company. Remember that cooking broadcast idea that came up during the company dinner? The Manager had something to discuss about it, which was why she'd called me in.

"We've secured a studio, so I thought it'd be best for you to check it out in person first."

"Fair enough."

So that's why she summoned me for an inspection today.

"Then let's go take a look together."

But hold on—

"Then couldn't you have just told me to come here in the first place..."

Now I had to go through the annoyance of traveling again...

Still, just as I hauled my laziness-swallowed body up to make the trip, the Manager hurriedly stopped me.

"...It's inside the company."

Ohhh!

"...Let's go, then."

A short walk later, in a corner somewhat removed from the virtual division, a studio came into view that — one glance was enough — just had to be the place.

"Is this where ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the celebrity clients film their cooking shows?"

"Yes."

"No wonder..."

The lighting, the cameras — everything was decked out to the point of excess. It was a layout practically engineered for cooking broadcasts.

"Then we just mount the cameras over there and film the food and our hands, right?"

"Correct."

"And we'll be shooting it ourselves?"

"Yes. I'll simply stand by, just in case anything comes up."

"In that case, when we film, I'll have to be careful not to end up on camera — even if the others do."

"...What are you even saying."

"Everyone doing the collab with me already had their face reveals anyway."

Through one twist of fate or another, the collab members had ended up being Minseo and Sua — the two who hadn't joined the game session last time. As a result, Yubin, who had originally pushed the whole plan, had whined up a storm, but she'd been appeased with a promise to hang out together next time.

"...Yes."

She clearly had plenty she wanted to say, but leaving the patiently forbearing Manager behind me, I looked around the rest of the studio.

"Oh...!"

Since when does a studio come with a hearth grill?

Is that a custom-built gas range?

"Wow... they must have poured a fortune into this place..."

Wasn't this better equipped than most restaurant kitchens?

"So it would seem? From what I heard, it did cost quite a bit."

Quite a bit...?

"How much, exactly...?"

"It went over."

No wonder....

"Well, even if the food turns out terrible, nobody gets to blame the equipment."

If anything, the facility would be doing all the carrying.

There would be absolutely no excuse.

"...Was Minseo's cooking really that bad, though?"

Having heard about Minseo's cooking during the planning stages, the Manager apparently couldn't help wondering whether it could truly be that serious.

"Yes."

It was horrific.

I still count it among life's blessings that I never ate what she made back then.

"I see."

When I answered with not a shred of hesitation, the Manager stopped asking questions and simply accepted it.

"Then what date shall we set?"

"Um... when is this studio's schedule open?"

It would be awkward for me to just pick a date, so better to hear which days didn't work first, then consult with the members.

"I heard the only unavailable stretch this month is next week."

"Then roughly three weeks from now?"

Rather than cramming everything into a tight two weeks, a generous three seemed the wiser choice.

"I'll discuss it with everyone and get back to you."

"Understood."

And with that, I parted ways with the Manager.

Hmm... since I was already at the company anyway, I should stop by and see the Composer, shouldn't I?

Yes — I hadn't seen him since the recording session. Off I went.

Once the decision was made, showing up empty-handed felt wrong, so I detoured through the first-floor café, bought a coffee, and headed to his office.

Click!

"Composer-nim, it's been a whi—"

Oh. Someone's here.

A strikingly handsome man sat side by side with the Composer on the lounge sofa. Then the man turned his head, looked straight at me — and cried out in shock.

"Lee Yeonwoo?!"

Excuse me? Who is this person, and how does he know my—

Oh.

Do you remember what I mentioned once before? That among the male idols at our company, one of them happened to be my old classmate?

I did figure I'd run into him sooner or later....

"...Do Hyunwoo?"

Running into him here, of all places....

Hold on, though. How does he know me?

Sure, I remember him — Do Hyunwoo was the most popular guy in our entire school. But he actually attended class like a normal person. There's no reason he'd remember someone like me, is there?

"By the way... do you know who I am?"

I just asked him outright.

"...Wouldn't it be stranger if I didn't?"

Ah. With this face, I suppose that tracks?

My mistake, then....

That aside — admitting my blunder — I brought up the thing that had been nagging at me since the moment he spoke.

"But why are you talking to me so casually?"

We've never exchanged a single word in our lives. Since when did we drop honorifics?