Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: #Bridge: Ordinary Everyday Life
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Scenario 3: Friends Jenga SSUL
Grade:Average
Influence:45
Reputation:-2
📝 Reviews
: Second work from close friends
Props were well-prepared, but... overall, meh...
Short runtime is a huge shame
Smooth connection to the previous work
Points:1
Next work Immersion: 0%
Next work Discomfort: 0%
Monday.
I opened the Scenario Book that morning and read the review. It was similar to last time.
"What's next after Average?"
There had to be something beyond Flop and Average, but it didn't tell me.
It'd be nice if it kindly showed everything.
"If I at least knew the conditions..."
I had a rough idea. Every scenario so far had lasted less than a few days.
"Even writing a one-day scenario takes days... Ugh..."
Plotting a week's worth would probably split my skull open.
It'd be different if I could pause midway like a real shoot and review the script again, but no such luck.
I scratched my forehead and got ready for work anyway.
"Ow... everything's stiff..."
I'd rested all Sunday, but the dull ache in my balls lingered.
It wasn't like I'd gone multiple rounds in a row; each time had taken ages, which probably made it worse.
"Staying hard all day— it'd be weirder if it didn't hurt."
Convincing myself, I headed out to catch the bus.
Looking up at the sky, dark clouds hung heavy, ready to pour any second.
Tsssk.
I lit a cigarette in the alley beside the office building on the first floor, clamping it between my lips.
"Hoo."
The thick smoke billowed out with the scent, swirling in the air before vanishing quick.
I finished it in under three minutes and climbed the stairs.
"Heyyy~!"
"...?"
Turning, I saw U Dayoung waving a small umbrella, calling me.
"What."
I asked flatly, and she glanced around before slapping my back.
"You remember, right?"
"...Huh? Remember what?"
There wasn't anything memorable between us, I thought.
"That you and I did it—it's a secret?"
"...?!"
It was a promise from the scenario, so I figured she'd forgotten, naturally.
"What...?"
"Ugh, why don't you remember."
"No, when did we ever...?"
Flustered, denial slipped out first. U Dayoung flinched at my words.
"Uh... now that you mention it, when did we...?"
"Y-yeah. Must be a false memory?"
Too rattled, I beat around the bush.
Finally, she tilted her head, puzzled, and brushed past me up the stairs.
"Weird... I'm sure... Ah, I can't recall when..."
Her mumbling to herself as she went up froze me solid.
"Why...?"
I couldn't figure out why her memory stuck.
I hit my desk in the office and immediately pulled out the Scenario Book.
Something here had to be the cause, but pinpointing it wasn't easy.
"...Not the grade... Reputation's negative, so no way..."
I ruled out the cooldown—it was just a timer.
That left Influence, Immersion, and Discomfort.
"Sigh... maybe Reputation after all..."
No clue, so even that was possible.
Was the memory lingering because Immersion was still high, or due to Influence? Unclear.
One thing was sure: unlike before, the memory remained.
"...But not everything..."
If she remembered it all, she wouldn't have looked so confused, head tilted.
"Does writing a good scenario make memories stick...?"
Events from the scenario lingered in memory.
My lips twitched into a grin.
"That'd be fucking awesome...?"
I didn't know how far it extended, but if memories stuck, maybe I could exploit them.
But I slumped over my desk, turning pessimistic quick.
"In reality, that could get me reported... Sigh, with it being so minor, maybe it's just faintly there..."
Couldn't nail it down yet, so stick to safe, solid storylines for now.
Beep.
The door opened, and Won Yuchan walked in.
He held a thick sandwich—probably from the shop upfront.
I thought he'd share since he had extras, but nope, all for breakfast.
"Hi hi."
I greeted him, and he beamed back happily.
"That's all your breakfast?"
"Yep, bro."
Noticing my look, he reluctantly pointed at a sandwich.
"Want one...?"
"Yeah."
No way I'd refuse.
I chomped the sandwich he handed over and sorted today's tasks.
Scrape.
Won Yuchan scooted his chair closer, slyly asking,
"Bro, don't we ever do company dinners?"
"Never had one here."
We'd been open less than a month—obviously no experience.
Started with friends anyway; any group meal was basically a dinner.
"Ask the boss coming in."
Right on cue, Kim Woohyun entered, shaking rain off his umbrella and propping it by the door.
"Whew, pouring out there. Everyone got umbrellas?"
"Yup."
He stashed his bag at his desk and called us.
"Meeting in five, then. Gotta hit the bathroom."
Kim Woohyun returned from the restroom, and we kicked off the meeting right away.
Nothing major—just briefing the week's schedule.
He flipped open a thick notebook.
"Editing can keep rolling. This much guarantees some income."
"Got it."
As Editing Team Leader, I nodded.
He glanced at Won Yuchan beside me.
"Yuchan, team up with Siu. Probably need all year to settle in."
U Dayoung, listening, raised her hand.
"No original content from us?"
"Huh? No bandwidth yet."
Just four of us. No manpower for originals.
"So I can keep doing stuff with Siu?"
"Like what? Oh, Close Friends?"
Not scenarios—wholesome Neulsom Studio content.
Views were meh, but steady climbs.
Problem was the uptick: single digits, not hundreds.
"Lack of popularity's the issue..."
"Just hold out."
No other answer. Comments ticked up one or two at a time—we clung to that.
"Can't explode from the start."
Won Yuchan chimed in; we all nodded.
"But boss, no company dinners?"
Won Yuchan straight to Kim Woohyun.
"Hmm... since it came up, tonight?"
"Sweet~."
"Yeah, haven't had one since starting. Let's grab drinks."
Meeting over, before stepping out for a smoke, I asked Won Yuchan,
"Hey, Yuchan. I'm 'bro,' but why's she 'senpai'?"
"Huh? You've been 'bro' since school—no 'senpai.' You said call you bro or oppa."
U Dayoung answered for him.
"Ugh, that dummy. Tried hooking up with junior girls, insisting on 'oppa' back then."
"...Ahem. Yuchan, smoke break."
Scratching my cheek awkwardly, I headed out.
Pouring...
Rain hammered down relentlessly—even with umbrellas, pant cuffs soaked through.
"Gotta grab something nearby."
Four of us, zero cars.
We umbrellas-up'd into a nearby booze joint.
A few tables, mostly empty.
Clink.
Snacks and drinks set, we downed a shot easy.
"No toast?"
Won Yuchan asked; we all shook heads.
"We're all friends anyway."
Same uni—no need for fancy toasts.
"Mind if I join Close Friends shoots?"
"Huh? Wanna? PD presence would help."
We chatted trivial stuff, drinking like pals.
"Hey, Yuchan~."
U Dayoung called him.
"...Yeah?"
"No offense, okay?"
"Sure sure."
"Shouldn't you lose some weight?"
I eyed Won Yuchan beside her too.
Baggy clothes hid it some, but the pudge was there.
Worried for health a bit, but his call—no need to pry.
"Ahem, but so much tasty stuff in the world, senpai."
"True that."
U Dayoung agreed quick.
"Round two."
Uni crew together, school talk inevitable.
"Over 4.0 GPA?"
"Yep, bro. Never dipped below."
I'd never cared, so news to me.
Kim Woohyun, weak to booze, face already flushed:
"Yuchan topped the major a few times, right?"
"Yeah, couple times."
"Thanks for joining us off a text, Yuchan."
Misc chit-chat flowed. Meanwhile, U Dayoung leaned on Kim Woohyun's shoulder, fingers laced, no letting go.
"Solo life's depressing for real."
I whined; she teased laughing.
"Shoulda coupled up."
"...Woohyun, can I smack her once?"
Kim Woohyun chuckled.
"Nah, just joking."
"Omg, shit. Hate your face~."
Mimicking her slur, we drank; bottles piled fast.
Pouring...
Rain still raged as we finished up.
"Yuchan, head out first."
"Sure, great food~!"
I sent him off with a smoke in mouth, paid, then cab'd Kim Woohyun and U Dayoung.
"You?"
"I'll finish my smoke. Go on."
Shooing them with a wave.
"Hoo."
Smoke done, I cab'd last.
After work, overtime for Close Friends shoot.
"Hi everyone! U Dayoung of Close Friends!"
"Won Yuchan here~!"
Chair spinning, camera gripped, I watched them.
"Today's guest: Won Yuchan~! PD, what's the theme!"
U Dayoung hyped; I matched energy.
"Today's theme iiiiis~! Quick, lips sealed! Drumroll!"
"What what!"
"Bushy vs Bald!"
"What's that!"
No scenario, so light topics only.
Shooting Close Friends reminded me of weekends.
"Bushy means, like, chest hair to happy trail all fluffy, vs totally bare."
"Eyebrows too?"
"Yup, no brows either—just gone. Hair's thin, like 'definitely out.'"
Won Yuchan shook his head at the theme.
"Too... extreme, bro."
"Hey, I'm PD. Extremes are fun!"
Friends filming felt good—uni club vibes, doable.
Stack enough vids, bound to blow up someday mindset.