Chapter 264: Happiness and Misfortune are a Sheet of Paper Apart
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 264: Happiness and Misfortune are a Sheet of Paper Apart
My masterstroke: splitting a coconut.
Looking back, I realize I got serious over something so trivial, but that's just how men are—always staking their lives on the most pointless things.
Inspired by my encouraging performance, the other male actors and the broadcast station staff members who fancied themselves strong also came forward to give it a try.
Confident that I had secured plenty of screen time thanks to the grip strength test, I returned to my seat with a wide grin.
Just then, the stage MC, who had been watching me split all sorts of fruits in half, spoke to me jokingly.
"Shouldn't you just be honest with us now? You're not actually human, you're a gorilla, right, Kim-kun?"
"Huh? Was it that obvious?"
As I said that, I mimicked grabbing something at the nape of my neck, like a person in a detective manga taking off a disguise, and laughter erupted from the seats next to me.
It was the high school girl duo Nao had introduced me to during the break.
It seemed they'd warmed up to me considerably after our brief chat.
Well, after making such a fool of myself, I guess that was to be expected.
In any case, feeling much better than when I first came out, I rode that momentum and managed to survive until the end of the broadcast.
"Good work, everyone!"
"You've all worked hard!"
Once the filming was over, all the cast members stood up and applauded.
Of course, I got swept up in the mood and instinctively stood up to clap along. Seeing the cheerful atmosphere, it seemed I'd made the right choice.
"Wow~ Today's shoot was great. I guess that's what you'd expect from such popular actors."
As the Main PD approached with that typical flattering remark, the actors smiled vaguely and began to shuffle away.
Ignoring them, the Main PD mimed tipping a glass and said.
"Everyone, if you don't have anything scheduled after this, how about we go for a drink tonight?"
The actors glanced at each other, until the handsome actor who played the hot-blooded teacher Agito, the main character, stepped up to speak for the group.
"I'm sorry, but I have a few other things on my schedule. It'll be difficult for me."
Then Miyu and Ayaka, whom I'd met earlier, also gave a clean refusal, saying, "We have plans today too, so we can't make it."
Thankfully, a few of the good-natured middle-aged actors agreed to go, otherwise he wouldn't have even gotten half the cast. But the Main PD seemed satisfied enough with that. He smiled broadly and was about to turn away when his gaze suddenly landed on me, and he extended an invitation.
"Ah, Kim-kun, if you have time, how about you join us for the company dinner tonight? We're thinking of getting some beef. Good beef."
"Ah, I..."
Just as I was about to say something in my fluster, Nao suddenly cut in.
"I'm sorry, PD-nim! Sunbae has prior plans with me today!"
As she said this, Nao suddenly wrapped her arms around my arm.
Her action momentarily drew the focused gazes of the other actors and staff, but Nao just kept smiling, maintaining her usual 'my pace' attitude.
Flustered, I hurriedly tried to pry her off my arm, but she clung to me like a leech, showing no intention of letting go.
Seeing this, her best friends, Miyu and Ayaka, giggled.
The Main PD, having unintentionally witnessed this display of closeness, wore a strange expression, but soon forced a smile and nodded.
"Well, if you have prior plans, it can't be helped. Let me know if you change your mind later."
"Yes."
With the conversation over, the atmosphere shifted to dismissal, and the actors began to leave the studio one by one.
As soon as the Main PD was out of sight, Nao finally let go of my arm and asked me with a devilish look on her face.
"How was that? I did great, right?"
"...What?"
"I helped you turn down a troublesome request."
"Yeah, real great."
I said, flicking Nao's forehead lightly before letting out a small sigh.
"I might be someone you'll never see again, but that's not the case for you, Nao."
"It's fine, that PD can't say anything to me anyway. You have no idea how much influence my mom has in the broadcasting industry."
I stared blankly at Nao, who was smiling proudly. Feeling a bit resentful for no reason, I pinched her well-defined nose.
"Oww! That hurts!"
Nao stood on her tiptoes, her eyes welling up with tears.
It was a sight that would naturally stir protective instincts in any onlooker, but I knew better than anyone that these were crocodile tears.
I let go quickly since there were many eyes on us, but I felt that was enough. I crossed my arms and asked her seriously.
"So, how long do you plan on liking me? As I said earlier, I already have a girlfriend."
"Just because there's a goalie doesn't mean you can't score."
"Normal people don't start by thinking about stealing someone else's boyfriend, you know?"
When I said that in a scolding tone, Nao turned her head with a 'Hmph!' and grumbled.
"Then you should have accepted my confession when I made it."
Are you seriously turning this back on me now?
As I stared at her in disbelief, Nao asked with a shameless expression.
"So who is this girlfriend, anyway?"
"It's someone you know."
"Who?"
"Rika."
Nao's eyes widened slightly.
"That blonde sunbae?"
"Yes. So give up."
But far from being disappointed by my answer, Nao just chuckled and muttered.
"In that case, it'll be a fight worth having. The stronger the rival, the more fired up I get."
"Hey, you..."
I stared dumbfounded at Nao, who was suddenly burning with fighting spirit, but she herself seemed completely unfazed.
"Nao-cchi! Let's get going!"
Just then, her friends, who had been waiting for our conversation to end, called out to her. Nao put her hands together and said.
"Sunbae, sorry, but I have to go for today. See you at school."
With that, Nao waved and ran off.
I watched her go, completely bewildered.
It was at that very moment.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
A passing staff member's foot got caught on a cable, and the cart of broadcasting equipment he was pulling lost its balance and began to topple over—right toward Nao.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Look out!"
Seeing this, others around them screamed.
Nao, realizing what was happening too late, looked up with a dazed expression.
A large shadow fell over hers.
There was no time to think.
Just before the camera could crush Nao, I enveloped my entire body in Yang Energy and shot forward like an arrow.
CRASH!!
*
Minato Yoko hadn't actually left the premises.
She had planned to have another serious talk with her daughter, Nao, after the recording was finished.
But not wanting others to feel uncomfortable by her presence, she had waited discreetly in an empty waiting room. As soon as she heard the filming was over, she returned to the studio to get her daughter.
But then,
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Look out!"
The broadcasting equipment a staff member was pulling on a cart suddenly tilted, lost its balance, and began to fall toward her one and only daughter, Nao.
"No!"
Horrified, she dashed forward.
But the distance was too great.
To protect her precious daughter, her feet were too slow.
Yoko despaired at that fact.
What did it matter that she was a great actress, the queen of dramas?
In the end, she couldn't even protect the one person who mattered most.
The world seemed to move in slow motion.
Nao, staring blankly up at the misfortune that had suddenly befallen her.
The broadcast staff, rushing frantically toward her daughter.
And the large-framed man who threw his entire body to protect her daughter.
'Huh?'
The very next moment,
CRASH!!
*
The fallen broadcasting equipment hadn't crushed her daughter, but the Korean student she had just met today, Kim Yoo-Sung.
"Shit!"
"Are you okay?!"
"How are you managing the equipment! Pay attention, dammit!"
People rushed toward the two who had fallen.
Of course, Yoko was among them.
A black shadow stirred amidst the collapsed broadcasting materials.
The station staff hurriedly lifted the fallen equipment.
"Are you alright?!"
As the anxious staff members spoke, the boy named Kim Yoo-Sung, who had shielded Nao and taken the hit, answered.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Sighs of relief came from all around.
As he carefully sat up, her daughter could be seen, held in his arms.
Seeing this, Yoko rushed over and asked how he was.
"Are you okay?!"
"Huh? Oh, yes. I'm fine."
The boy, answering with a naive expression, showed Nao, who was still in his arms, to Yoko.
"Thankfully, your daughter isn't hurt."
Yoko was shocked that even in this situation, he was worried not about himself, but about her daughter.
Unlike her, who had judged him as trash based on her first impression and his appearance, he was a genuinely good man.
"...Mom?"
Her daughter, still in his arms, called out cautiously to Yoko.
Yoko belatedly answered, "Huh? Yes?"
"Why are you crying?"
The moment she heard those words, Yoko realized she was crying.
"Huh? What's this? Suddenly, tears..."
She hurriedly wiped her tears with a handkerchief, but they started streaming down as if a faucet had been turned on.
It seemed to be a reaction from the sudden release of tension.
"Don't cry, Mom."
"I'm so sorry."
Facing each other, the two of them remained in their embrace for a long time.