Chapter 16: The Most Effective Way to Defuse a Bomb (1)
16. The Most Effective Way to Defuse a Bomb (1)
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry. I got startled by the cat and left before I could tell anyone. Yes. I'll take good care of Taehyun and bring him back. Yes."
The animal hospital was closer than expected. While Seo Taehyun tightly held the cat during the examination, my first move was to call the rookie development team manager who was probably panicking over two trainees suddenly disappearing.
Even in an industry where unauthorized absences were common, I had absolutely no intention of becoming that kind of irresponsible trainee.
'But why did he follow me anyway?'
If I were alone, I would've tried covering it up with Ji Sooho, but with him tagging along, there was no choice. I thought he'd just call a taxi and leave, but he naturally got in with me.
—......? Not going to practice?
—How are you paying the vet bill?
—Ah.
—Let's go together.
His face looked exactly like a cat pleading "Please take me with you," so I ended up bringing him along. Well, I also didn't have a card to pay the vet bill.
"......"
"The manager said to come back carefully."
"...Yeah."
On the way, Taehyun and I properly introduced ourselves. Despite being only a year apart, his constant formal speech felt awkward, so we somehow ended up speaking casually. (I hadn't planned this.)
Seo Taehyun, once nicknamed "Radiant Smile," now stared expressionlessly at the cat sleeping in the animal hospital cage, his face as gray as ashes. I recalled the conversation I'd overheard earlier between him and the department head.
—As long as I'm at Miro, you'll never debut. Got it?
—......
—Shouldn't have done something so pointless. If you'd just listened to me, you wouldn't be suffering.
—...I'll take my leave first.
—Cha Minseok knew how to save himself and left smartly, unlike you, idiot.
My instincts told me to open this Pandora's box, but the words wouldn't come easily. Sitting beside Taehyun, I turned my gaze to the cat.
"How's the cat?"
"Ah, they contacted the owner. There was a microchip. Not a stray."
"That's good. ...Should we head back then? The manager said to return as soon as possible."
"...Right."
His face darkened instantly at the word "return." Having only seen him always smiling on TV, this side of him felt strangely unfamiliar.
"You've been out of it since earlier. Don't want to go?"
"Huh?"
"Then say you're sick and leave early. I already told the manager I got drenched in the rain, so the groundwork's laid."
This was pure meddling. Impulsive meddling.
"But... what if I miss practice?"
"Didn't you follow me here because you wanted to skip practice?"
"......"
"Nothing's impossible in this world. People just don't do things because they're scared."
What's your relationship with the department head? What did you do to earn his hatred? If he's like that, no matter how hard you try, it's useless, right?
I folded away those blunt questions, not quite ready to rip open Pandora's box just yet. The bare minimum comfort I could offer.
"Or we could wait until the owner arrives."
[System Alert: Time remaining: 00:05:16... (Completion rate 93.7%)]
With most of the time already passed during our trip, there was no urgent need to rush back. I couldn't exactly offer to help someone at an animal hospital I'd never been to before. I was content with having saved one cute life.
"...Thanks."
[System Alert: 45th act of assistance achieved! (Completion rate 99.8%)]
Time remaining: 00:04:58...
This works?
As Taehyun's tiny voice reached me, the system window refreshed with a ping sound.
What? This much? Did you hate going back that badly? Suddenly reaching the highest reward tier with an unexpected 6% boost, I instinctively looked at Taehyun, the cause of this outcome.
"...Already asleep?"
Taehyun had dozed off. His rain-soaked cap pulled low, head tilted uncomfortably against the animal hospital chair.
Suddenly, I remembered this guy's past life from my memories.
[Small Talk] What's SNCH's STH up to these days?
Didn't he say he was debuting as a male idol somewhere? Thought he'd be the most successful among SNCH's lineup but he went solo and disappeared
— He debuted solo last year but the response was meh?
└ The song was good though, I still listen to it
└ Wow it's been forever, I was obsessed with Cherry Boy back then, that's me
— His life really isn't going well huh; talent-wise he's top tier among active idols though
└ That's a bit; suddenly swinging wide there
└ What kind of swing is that lololol but facts
Seo Taehyun of Boyhood Under Heaven. Cherry Boy Seo Taehyun. The Seo Taehyun who sparkled briefly before fading away. If anyone would want to change their life through hundreds of regressions, it'd be someone like him.
'Will you be in a successful debut team?'
Small somethings within fixed events.
The only rule I'd discovered through five regressions. Within inevitable fixed events, people could easily change very small things through their own will.
Then was Taehyun's "fixed" event bouncing between debut teams, or ultimately disappearing from the industry?
I watched the pouring rain. The end of an unknowable day.
[System Alert: Sudden Quest!]
Objective: Bonus time☆ for tired you! Explore your surroundings and offer as much help as possible!
Success Rewards:
[Final completion 99.8%!]
[Success Reward: Heartwarming Anecdote Generator (Post-Debut) (High)]
[Success Reward: Neutralized Sudden Event (Seo Taehyun's Absence)]
[Success Reward: Unexpected Luck (Cat's Gratitude)]
Success rewards will be distributed collectively.
Weekends were meant for staying in bed, but sadly, I found myself on a playground swing again.
'Damn you, Hawon.'
Kicked out mercilessly by my annoying younger brother claiming he had too much homework, I stomped through the sandbox. Once again, gritty sand invaded my slippers, dirtying only my feet.
'I'm wearing sneakers next time. Seriously.'
It was unfortunate that "not coming" wasn't an option, but what could I do? Escaping our semi-basement for a warm apartment with my own room was still a distant future.
"Hmm, where to start."
I activated the <Memo Skill> I'd acquired last night through minor cash spending (30 cash).
A blank notification window appeared in midair. When I stretched its edges to resize, the system protested.
[System Alert: The system is... not a tablet PC...!]
So what? I'll use it how I want.
Since this system appeared through unconventional means rather than being properly implemented, it had its share of loopholes. But I had no complaints since I was making good use of it.
"Alright, let's organize information first."
With no pen, I finger-scribbled notes about what I'd learned so far. For things too bothersome to write, the system automatically typed as I thought.
'...This is more useful than I expected?'
Feeling like I'd scored a free tablet PC I never had in my first life, I admired my neatly organized notes with satisfaction.
"So what now?"
Though I already had rough plans in mind, I needed someone to verify their feasibility and provide accurate information unknown to Joo Eunchan and Dan Haru.
Fortunately, I had the perfect "comrade" for this.
"System window."
[System Alert: System responding.]
"View comrade 'Ji Sooho.'"
[Ji Sooho (Awakened)]
Titles: 'Burning Passion', 'Darkest Shadow'
Traits: Star Maker☆
—'Fatefully' recognizes star potential (77% accuracy)
—Displays aura colors corresponding to star potential
Unique: Affected by 'passed timelines' due to contact with selective regressor (Déjà Vu)
[Recruited comrades' status and location can be checked, and they can be summoned when needed (10 cash fee).]
Several additional systems seemed to have been added after the cash system's implementation. I'll make good use of them.
But how exactly does summoning work?
Curious, I paid 10 cash and pressed the summon button.
"...Nothing's happening?"
The system window displayed a calling screen for Ji Sooho several times before closing abruptly.
What? Did it just take my 10 cash?
Bzzzt—
"...?"
Just as I was considering how to demand a refund if this was a scam, my phone suddenly rang with Sooho's call.
But something feels... intense.
"Hello?"
—Was that you just now, Kang Hajin?
"What do you mean?"
—I suddenly had an extremely strong urge to contact you out of nowhere.
This is insane.
"...Must be your imagination. I don't have telepathy."
—But somehow, I feel like Hajin could do something like that.
"No, I—"
So this is how summoning works? Fighting to maintain composure, I got to the point.
—Well, should I hang up then...
"No, I had something to discuss anyway. Let's meet."
—Discuss? Sure. I'll come to your neighborhood then.
What's it about? Did you find that person? When Sooho asked seriously, I gave my usual vague response.
"No. It's about the Ji Sooho Promotion Project."
—Huh?
"Let's overthrow the department head, Ji Sooho."
—What?
Since it seems I'll be driving out the current department head soon anyway.
Since joining Miro, Seo Taehyun had never missed weekend practice. Today should have been no different.
—But... what if I miss practice?
—Didn't you follow me here because you wanted to skip practice?
—......
—Nothing's impossible in this world. People just don't do things because they're scared.
Taehyun shook his sweaty hair irritably and turned off his audio player. He could physically feel his practice efficiency dropping from lack of focus.
"What can I do about being anxious?"
Taehyun had always been anxious. During Boyhood Under Heaven, after being eliminated from Boyhood Under Heaven, and especially after his relationship with the department head soured at Miro.
The single dream he'd clung to for so long. Having already tasted its brilliance, Taehyun could never let go of that sweetness.
"...Ah, that guy just had to say unnecessary things."
Lost in thought, Taehyun finally stood up in frustration. No matter how he looked at it, today's practice was ruined. All because of that Kang Hajin guy. Taehyun decided to rationalize it that way.
After showering, his phone rang as if waiting. The caller ID showed ♡OtherPuppy♡ - the contact name Dan Haru had personally saved. Taehyun answered with a smile.
"Yeah, Haru."
—Hyung. Don't hang up yet.
"What's this all of a sudden."
—I'm trying to convince you to skip weekend practice and hang out, so if you hang up I'll be sad.
Haha. A small laugh escaped. Haru always approached him like this - brightly, cheerfully.
"Want to get tteokbokki?"
—...Who is this? Our Taehyun hyung would never eat tteokbokki on a weekend!
"Then forget it."
—There's divine punishment for eating tteokbokki without Dan Haru, hyung.
Excited by his response, Haru cheerfully gave the meeting place and time before hanging up. Taehyun changed into his casual sneakers. Unconsciously, he began humming a song.
Staff members looked strangely at Taehyun wearing comfortable Converse instead of practice shoes. Adjusting his bag as he left, the sky seemed exceptionally clear and blue today.
"Seo Taehyun?"
"Ah. Seongwoo hyung."
"Done with practice today? What's the occasion?"
"Yeah. Meeting Haru."
Seongwoo greeted him warmly in the hallway. As Taehyun, neither close nor comfortable with him, tried to pass by after a brief greeting, Seongwoo suddenly stopped him as if remembering something.
"Oh right. Minseok's debuting in the second half, I heard. It's confirmed. Did he contact you?"
"...Really? Good for him."
"What, no call? Wow, that bastard's really something."
"It's been a while since we talked after he switched companies."
"Hey, he should've told you at least. In a way, he's debuting because of you."
And as always,
"Cha Minseok stole your spot to go to Rene."
"...What?"
"He sold you out to go to Rene, that guy. Rene originally wanted you. Don't tell me you didn't know?"
Trouble always arrived at times like this.