A Grand Slam
It was a massive catch. I never expected it, but I certainly didn't anticipate the situation unfolding this favorably. Having braced myself for a grueling legal battle, I felt like I'd just hit a grand slam. If anyone saw that scene, they wouldn't be able to deny that Gyeoul was being bullied. Yoon Jung seemed to reach the same conclusion, because her face had turned deathly pale.
"I think there might be some misunderstanding here. It's not the situation you're imagining."
Yoon Jung continued speaking with surprising composure, even as cold sweat beaded on her forehead. "It looks like you're forcing an apology out of Gyeoul and bullying her. Is there really any other way to see it?"
"That's exactly why I'm saying it's a misunderstanding. What just happened wasn't bullying at all. It was simply part of the process to create a more polished choreography as a team."
I let out a small sigh.
"And that process involved repeatedly stabbing a girl who had already apologized? Yoon Jung. From any normal perspective, that's immediately called bullying."
"It's not up to you to make that judgment. That's for Gyeoul to decide."
Yoon Jung glared at Gyeoul as she spoke. "Han Gyeoul, say it clearly! Were you being bullied just now?"
As she spoke, Yoon Jung seemed to grow more confident, almost drunk on her own logic. She was bold enough to leave the clear determination of bullying to Gyeoul herself.
"...Um, well..."
But something was off about Gyeoul's reaction. She should have just said she'd been bullied, yet she hesitated. It seemed she was intimidated by Yoon Jung staring her down. Looking closer, I saw she was crying profusely.
I released my grip on Yoon Jung's wrist, used both hands to properly help Gyeoul to her feet, and placed a hand on her shoulder. Then I said,
"Gyeoul, do you remember what I told you when we first met?"
"...Yes?"
"I said there would definitely be someone to help you. I still believe those words hold true. After all, the person who will help you is right here, isn't she?"
I subtly positioned myself to block Yoon Jung from Gyeoul's view with my back as I continued.
"Just say one thing. Right now, in this situation, do you need my help?"
If she said just that one thing, I could tear into the enemy with proper justification. I could prove just how combative an unemployed man obsessed with getting a job could be.
Gyeoul's eyes, fixed on me, grew misty and hazy. Finally, her lips parted.
"...Yes. I was being bullied."
"Han Gyeoul!"
Yoon Jung shouted, her voice filled with rage. I stepped forward protectively in front of Gyeoul and said,
"It seems like from Gyeoul's perspective, it was indeed bullying."
Yoon Jung looked like her anger had reached its peak. Normal conversation seemed impossible. But contrary to my expectations, she managed to calm her heated emotions with a single deep breath. It was the kind of self-control befitting someone who would become the top idol in both the previous timeline and this one. If only you'd shown Gyeoul a bit of that.
"From what I just heard, you don't seem to be a staff member. Who are you, sir?"
"Me?" Who else? "Gyeoul's guardian."
Yoon Jung let out a scoff at my answer.
"So you're not an employee? Then you have no right to interfere in our affairs, do you?"
This time, I scoffed right back at her.
"Little girl. I may not have the right to interfere with Alcest's business, but I certainly have the right to interfere with Gyeoul's. And this is Gyeoul's business. Now step aside, unless you want to prepare to get sued."
Living trapped in the small world of SS must have made Yoon Jung forget. A lawsuit and the judgment of the law could be served equally to SS's president or a mere trainee.
"Where's your evidence! A testimony alone will be hard to prove, you know?"
I smiled slyly and called out to my sister.
"Lawyer, could you come here for a moment?"
My sister, who had been hiding her presence in the corner, appeared with a deep frown. The smartphone camera recording everything in full glory was an added bonus.
This situation is being fully recorded.
It was checkmate. Yoon Jung, perhaps imagining her bleak future possibilities, couldn't say a word. Tears welled up in her eyes. She must have realized the possibility that all her efforts so far could crumble. It was utterly pathetic. I'd been something of a fan of hers in the previous timeline, but seeing her like this made even that fandom fade away.
"Let's go."
I grabbed the hand of the dazed Gyeoul and led her outside. My sister, Gyeoul, and I walked past the sobbing Yoon Jung and headed out.
"Wait! Mr. Taeyang, please wait!"
As we walked down the hallway, a man who had been standing beside Cheon Jonghun appeared. It was probably because he'd received a call from Coco and Lily, or maybe from the security guard. His name was Sanghoon, I think. He seemed to have run over in a hurry, catching his breath as he spoke to me.
"Mr. Taeyang, there seems to be a slight misunderstanding. If you act like this now, it'll cause trouble for everyone."
"Well, Mr. Sanghoon. This doesn't seem like the time to talk about the troubles we'll face in the future. Because Gyeoul has been facing trouble this entire time."
"That's exactly why I'm saying it's a misunderstanding. It seems Gyeoul said she was being bullied, but that's just the usual noise that comes with working together! It's not something that should be called bullying!"
"...Noise?"
"Yes, noise! As you know, Mr. Taeyang, the existing trainees have been here for three to four years, while Gyeoul has only been here a short time, right?"
"And?"
"It's only natural that some friction would occur due to that time difference! If you blow up an issue between the kids like this, it'll cause real problems."
"Haha, an issue between the kids... I suppose you could see it that way."
With that one statement, I could see what kind of policy SS had been using to manage the trainees. SS didn't look good to me anymore. From what I'd seen in the Future Fragment, it appeared they had turned a blind eye to Gyeoul's bullying. Of course, they might not have known. But my assessment wouldn't change. After all, that would be proof of their incompetence. Sanghoon's words had just confirmed it. SS was both. Incompetent and indifferent.
"Lawyer, could you show him the video you recorded?"
My sister handed me the smartphone she'd been recording with. I manipulated it to play at the right moment before passing it to Sanghoon.
"What is this?"
"Just watch."
Sanghoon wiped his glasses once on his sleeve before checking the video. It showed Yoon Jung bullying Gyeoul under the pretext of choreography.
"Do you have anything more to say?"
Sanghoon seemed unable to believe such a video existed, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly. I snatched the smartphone from his hand, handed it back to my sister, and tried to continue walking.
"...This is a contract violation!"
Sanghoon suddenly shouted.
"What?"
"The contract with Miss Gyeoul isn't a trainee contract that can be terminated freely! It's an idol contract assuming debut. Withdrawing for personal reasons like this is a breach of contract!"
"Mr. Sanghoon, if you're going to bring up the contract, you should quote it properly. Article 15, Paragraph 5: If a staff member affiliated with the agency receives a final court judgment for committing a crime, violence, theft, or any harmful act against the singer, the singer may terminate the contract. Don't you know that?"
"I do. That's why I'm saying this. According to that clause, the contract can only be terminated if there's a final court judgment, right? This matter hasn't received a court ruling yet!"
I gave a bitter smile.
"Then can I take it that SS is willing to pursue legal publicization regarding this matter?"
"...That's..."
Sanghoon, too, seemed to sense the backlash this would bring and couldn't speak.
"A lawsuit has broken out between SS trainees. That's interesting enough, but there's more to the story?"
Cold sweat trickled down Sanghoon's face.
"The reason is bullying and violence, and the trainee wishes to terminate the contract based on that. However, SS does not acknowledge it as bullying and violence and refuses to allow contract termination. A minor being ostracized, the power imbalance in the idol industry..."
I spoke with genuine admiration.
"Wow, if an article like this goes up online, who could resist clicking it? I know I couldn't."
The person who brought it up, Sanghoon, wouldn't be able to endure it either.
"I have no intention of taking it to a lawsuit. We know very well how difficult it would be to go against a giant like SS. But if SS blocks us, we're not unwilling to set ourselves on fire either."
I finished the threat and brought out the olive branch.
"How exhausting would that be for everyone? So let's not roll around together in the mud. Let's each go our own way."
Sanghoon could only stare at us, unable to say or do anything. He must have realized this was beyond what he could handle. We left him behind and exited the hallway.
We practically ran until we reached the lobby where the gate was. Suddenly remembering I was still holding Gyeoul's hand, I tried to let go. But as if sensing my intention, Gyeoul gripped it with a force that seemed like it would crush my hand.
...Aigoo, my poor little outcast.
It was heartbreaking. To Gyeoul, who was still shedding tears and clutching my hand because she hadn't yet collected her emotions, I said something I wanted to tell that fragile child.
"Gyeoul, in situations like that, you can just speak up confidently. There's no need to be scared."
"What situation?"
"When Yoon Jung asked if she was bullying you, you couldn't answer right away. That's what I meant."
I understood Gyeoul's fear of antagonizing others. There were people who feared hating someone more than being hated themselves. That was Gyeoul. That must be why she couldn't cut ties with that bitch Yeji either. But there were moments when you had to stand and fight. I wanted to teach her that.
Gyeoul hesitated before answering, as if unable to withstand my gaze.
"I wasn't scared."
It was an unexpected answer. Given her personality, I'd thought she would just say 'I won't do it again' and let it slide.
"Then what was it?"
"...It was embarrassing to show you that side of me, Teacher Taeyang."
Embarrassing? I turned my head to look at her.
"What do you mea—"
"Seon Taeyang!"
It was a high, arrogant voice so distinctive that I couldn't forget it even after a month. It was Cheon Jonghun, one of the pillars of SS and the self-proclaimed best producer ten years from now. By the way, so this guy did know my name. He'd always called me 'that guy' or 'you there,' so I'd assumed he didn't.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue. I'd gone to such lengths to avoid running into him, yet here he was. His schedule must have involved something that needed to be handled within SS. What terrible luck.
"I've heard the general story. Let's have a little chat, shall we?"
The final boss had appeared.