That Ability's Pretty Damn Useful
That ability's pretty good......
............
The studio was in Gangnam, and it was bigger than I'd expected. The ceiling soared high, crammed with lighting rigs, and the staff buzzed around like bees in a hive.
"Kang Haneul's here!"
Someone shouted it, and every eye in the place snapped toward us. Kang Haneul raised a hand in a casual wave, flashing her bright smile. But the staff's reaction was... off. They nodded back, sure, but it felt awkward. Forced smiles, tense vibes.
What's their deal?
"Director, hi."
Kang Haneul approached a middle-aged guy with glasses and a sharp face.
"You're here. All set?"
"Yeah."
The director eyed her up and down. "Hit makeup and get ready. We start in ten."
We headed to the dressing room. The door clicked shut, leaving us alone, and she turned to me. "Yujin, you nervous?"
"Huh?"
"First day on the job, first gig. Aren't you shaking?"
Not really. She was the one doing the shoot; I was just the sidekick. "I'm good."
"Cool. Glad to hear it."
She started stripping off her training top, revealing the sports bra underneath.
Uh...
Those things were massive... No, eyes elsewhere, as per protocol.
"What's up? Blushing?"
"N-no. Just..."
She laughed. "Yujin, gimme your phone."
"Why?"
"No questions."
I handed it over. She snatched it and—shoved it right between her breasts.
"What the—?!"
"Perfect hiding spot, right? Takes me back. Dig it out."
Stealing stuff and stashing it in her cleavage or between her thighs—that was Kang Haneul's go-to prank back at Awakener Training Academy when she got bored. According to Moon Yujin's memories.
"Quit messing around! Time's short!"
"Not messing. I do makeup and shoot like this. Don't fish it out? It's mine."
"Ughhh...!"
Her face said she meant it. Moon Yujin had lost wallets, hankies, all sorts of crap to this game. But I wasn't that old Yujin anymore. No more hanging my head while she swiped my stuff.
"Hya!"
I lunged, grabbing the phone's edge poking out from the top—keeping my hand as far from the danger zone as possible.
"Whoa, Yujin stepping up?"
She arched a brow, surprised, then grinned like it was hilarious. Annoying, but I'd snagged the edge. Victory. Just pull it free now—
"...Huh?"
Something was wrong. It wouldn't budge. Wedged between those two massive globes of flesh.
"Why won't it...?"
It was like a vice grip. No matter how I tugged, the phone stayed trapped in her cleavage.
She burst out laughing. "Heh, just like I figured—you can't. That's life."
"No way!"
Impossible, but it was happening. My phone sank deeper into the crevasse like quicksand, dragging my hand along with it—
"Ahem. Sorry to interrupt..."
The makeup artist cleared her throat.
"Oh."
We both froze in that ridiculous pose, but hey, I yanked the phone free. She pretended not to notice and got to work on Haneul's face. I slunk to the corner, cheeks burning, and tuned out the world.
Makeup done. Haneul was already gorgeous; the polish just made her glow.
Ten minutes later, shooting started.
............
Haneul took center stage on the set. Energy drink can in hand, gym-inspired backdrop.
"Action!"
Cameras rolled. She nailed the script: sprint, jump, lift weights, chug the drink.
"Cut! Haneul, too sunny. Make it fierce."
"Got it."
Again.
"Cut! Too fast. Slower, but powerful."
Again.
"Cut! Eye line's off. Don't stare at the lens—natural!"
Again.
"Cut! Drink too late. Quicker."
Again.
Six NGs in ten minutes.
"Haneul, focus. How many takes?"
No answer. But her face hardened bit by bit. Smile held, but her eyes... shifted.
This is bad...
Moon Yujin's memories flooded back. That look meant anger brewing.
The staff sensed it too—edging back, whispering.
(She gonna blow again?)
(Smashed the whole set last time...)
(Director's nuts... passed out after three all-nighters reshooting her last flop CF.)
(Shh, zip it. She hears, we're toast.)
Air turned icy. But the director? Unfazed. Guess you need that steel to helm.
"Take it from the top! Nail it this time!"
Haneul returned to mark. Her hand trembled faintly on the can. Holding back rage.
This is gonna explode.
Training academy flashbacks: her crushing building walls with handprints, snapping desks chin-on-table. If she snapped here? Association would cover it up, like always—as long as no deaths. But forever? Nah.
As her manager now, no more incidents. Top priority: keep her rage from erupting in public.
But how?
Then it hit me. My ability: Harmless Cuteness.
She never raged around Moon Yujin—unless he ditched her or hung with other girls.
Even on the verge now, maybe I could soothe her?
No time to hesitate. I bolted from my seat onto the set.
"Hold up!"
"Hey, sir? Restricted area—"
I blew past.
"Who the hell?"
Director scowled.
"Sorry! Just a sec."
Straight to Haneul. She blinked at me. "Yujin?"
No words. I hugged her side. Tight, both arms.
Like a pup glomming onto its owner.
Embarrassing at twenty-two, but it worked. Tension melted from her body, rigid muscles softening. That constant boil inside her—the thing she'd always vented about—ebbed away.
She sighed. Long and deep. "......Hoo."
Her gaze dropped to me. Soon, her hand ruffled my hair.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Now I am. Thanks to you, Yujin."
Real smile. Pure joy, no fakeness or fury.
"Director, let's go again."
Calm voice. Night-and-day from before.
He gawked at me like I was a freak. "......Alright. Action."
I retreated. Cameras rolled.
Haneul grabbed the can. Smiled.
Perfection. Natural, bright, energetic. Eyes perfect, timing spot-on. Fierce yet fluid.
No cut called.
"Okay! One more, angle change!"
Second take: flawless. Third, fourth too.
She aced every demand first try.
"Perfect!"
Wrap. Staff exhaled in relief. Director beamed.
Haneul hopped down, straight to me—and slung an arm around my shoulders.
"Yujin!"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. You'd have been disaster without you."
You knew.
She knew she was on the edge. Knew I'd stopped it.
"No biggie. That's my job."
"Right. Your job."
She dragged me to the lounge, arm locked around me.
Ughhh...
Open PDA? Staff stares everywhere. Shock, confusion... envy?
Door shut. She plopped me on the sofa, then glued herself beside me. Like, glued.
"Yujin, seriously—thank you."
"For what?"
"Back there. When I was pissed."
She took my hand. "Always been like this. With you... no anger. Weird, right?"
I knew. My ability. Harmless Cuteness. Calming aura. Perfect antidote to her rage issues.
Her voice dropped. "Today too. Director nagging... wanted to kill him."
No joke. Dead serious. Without me? Boom—set trashed, injuries galore. Maybe not murder, but close.
"But you hugged me... all gone. Magic. Just like academy days."
Ability, not magic. But to her, same diff.
Harmless Cuteness: mild likeability boost for others. Comforting vibe.
For her? Rage-killer. Boil to simmer. Uncontrollable to contained.
"So from now on... you're stuck by my side. Got it?"
Irresistible tone. No reason to say no anyway.
"......Yeah. Deal."
She beamed. Leaned her head on my shoulder.