Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Parallel Worlds and Idols (3)
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"President...?"
The voice calling out to the president echoed from the end of the corridor, but there was no reply—only the quiet whirring of the ventilation fan.
"President...!"
I sprinted down the wide agency hallway toward the practice room at the far end, where I'd heard her voice.
From Practice Room 201, all the way to 208....
Every room was lit up as if someone had just been using it moments ago.
And the occasional faint footsteps set my nerves on edge.
"There's no one here...."
When I reached the practice room where I'd heard her voice, all I saw was my own reflection in the mirrors plastered across the empty walls.
"This has to be an Anomaly's doing...."
I quickly pieced together what was happening.
I'd been lured here by an Anomaly disguised as the president's younger sister and trapped in this corridor.
But even scanning around, I couldn't sense the presence of whatever had brought me here at all.
The very fact that it felt like someone was there—but wasn't—built up enough tension on its own. Clutching my tail, I headed back to where the stairs were.
"...Meow."
As I reached out to open the door again, my eyes caught a poster on the bulletin board next to the stairs, and I froze.
"Monthly evaluation...?"
The bulletin board had a poster from the monthly evaluation eight years ago, in 2063.
"The president... number one?"
Starting with the president's name at the top spot down to fifth place, it was all members of MooD:iN.
Below that were names I'd never even heard of.
"......"
Why on earth was the president's name on this ranking here?
"No way... did I come back to the past...?"
It was a stretch, but maybe I'd been drawn by the Anomaly back to the days when President Mi-ra was training to become an idol.
To analyze my situation, I read another notice posted nearby.
"Trainee rules...."
"...Hmm."
The trainee rules didn't have anything particularly noteworthy.
Items 4 through 7 had a chilling vibe, but I could brush them off as industry woes.
Of course, the ■■ for 20+ demerits and the censored company name in 8 were the most nagging.
"President... I hope you're okay."
Reading the rules made me worry about her.
With her name prominently on the evaluation list, she was likely in danger.
"I can't just smash everything..."
I considered wrecking the building to rescue her right away, but shelved the idea.
Since she was in this C-Wing, collapsing the structure could drag her down with it.
In the end, I quietly started searching the second floor for clues to escape.
I wandered the second-floor practice area—not too big, not too small—gathering what info I could.
"...Can't go to other floors for now. Most practice rooms are sealed shut."
The elevator and stairs at the corridor's end were physically blocked.
Practice Rooms 201 through 207 wouldn't even open.
"Why is only 208 wide open...?"
I could enter 208, but aside from mirrors on the walls and open space, nothing stood out.
"...How the heck do I get out?"
I fiddled with my tail to clear my head, but then—
"Trainee rules...."
The rules on the bulletin board by the stairs came to mind.
In this info-starved space, they were the only solid clues given to me.
"What if... I've been going about this all wrong from the start...?"
Maybe searching for a physical exit the normal way was the wrong approach.
Mystery stories always solved these with logic, not brute force.
Perhaps the key to escaping was already provided. I checked the trainee rules again.
"...1. Always maintain a smile. 2.... If the CCTV flashes red, strike an ending pose...."
If I had to follow these rules...
"...There really is a CCTV."
Looking around, a ceiling-mounted CCTV lens was indeed flashing red, pointed right at me.
As per the rules, I waved my hand like a greeting, wondering if I needed an ending pose.
Blink-blink. The camera ignored me, flashing indifferently.
"Not enough... huh."
I needed a real idol ending pose, not some fake gesture.
"...Hmm. Nyaa?"
What pose made me look cutest? Remembering a department store trip, I struck a dinosaur pose—one leg up, hands cutely clenched.
Beep. The CCTV capturing me shut off its red light, powering down completely.
"......What. How embarrassing."
I'd gone all out on the pose, and that was it? The camera dies?
It matched the rules, but I grumbled in embarrassment as I prepped the next one.
"2's done... 1 was the smile, right?"
Always smile in corridors and practice areas. I flashed a natural grin.
Behold the effortless fake smile honed at the grill house...!
————————————!
A few seconds of smiling, and suddenly the quiet second floor buzzed with life.
Laughter echoed from somewhere, illusions of people brushing past.
As chatter filled the building with energy—
"Hello. I'm Mi-ra, cast as a trainee for EM Entertainment."
"Your brightness is refreshing. We sincerely welcome you to the EM Entertainment audition, Mi-ra."
From the end of the hall, Practice Room 208, I faintly heard the president's voice.
"President...?!"
I rushed to 208. Through the full-glass door, I saw her.
"...President! I'm right here... Huh?"
But something was off.
Instead of her roots-to-tips dyed white hair, it was jet black. And her height—early 160s, much shorter than her current mid-170s frame.
"That's... the president as a kid...?"
She looked just like the family photo in our living room.
Beyond the unopenable glass door of 208, President Mi-ra was doing an audition alone with some woman.
"Got a song prepared? Your special skills say you're good at singing."
"Yes! I prepared 'ALL IN'!"
"Ooh... tough song choice, great sense. Don't be nervous—show us."
"Here we go——."
President Mi-ra's lips parted slowly, filling the room with a voice that rivaled any pro singer.
"..."
Even I, clueless about music, was entranced. I forgot why I'd called her and just listened.
"...Wow, that's pro-level—no notes from me."
The song ended in ecstasy. The woman nodded in admiration.
"...Mi-ra, do you dance too?"
"A bit. It's not perfect, but I'll show you."
"Really? Love the confidence. Dance is all about that."
President Mi-ra then danced to her prepared track.
Her long limbs extended smoothly yet powerfully, drawing every eye with magnetic pull.
"Can you do this one too?"
"I'll try...!"
She eyed the requested dance and nailed it perfectly.
A little raw, but practice would fix it quick.
"...What genius did the scout bring in?"
The woman marveled at President Mi-ra's sponge-like idol talent, marking her as a pass.
"Congratulations. Mi-ra, you're now an EM Entertainment trainee... no, debut group prep."
"...For real?"
"Yes. Wait just six years—I'll make you a one-of-a-kind global star."
"Thank you, President!! I'll work hard!"
With passionate resolve, President Mi-ra bowed deeply. The woman, called president, smiled warmly and dissolved into smoke.
"I really passed...."
Exhaling tension, President Mi-ra walked toward me, past the vanished woman.
What...? Why's my heart racing more?
"Luna! I passed!"
Click. She flung open the previously unopenable door and hugged me tight.
"I was so nervous... but the president liked me...!"
She squeezed me, patting my back.
Luna...? I'm Lua.
"President... I'm Lua..."
"Won't get to play with Luna much now... Sorry, sis... Huh?"
"...Y-Yes?"
I tried correcting her, but she just stroked my head affectionately, as if she hadn't heard.
"It's the dream I've always wanted... You can cheer for me, right Luna?"
"...Uh, ugh...."
"Huh? When I make it big, I'll buy you anything you want! Even your favorite burgers!"
"Y-Yeah...."
Overwhelmed, I mumbled agreement without correcting the Luna thing.
"...Pres...ident?"
Confused why kid-President was here, I looked up. The one hugging me turned to white smoke and scattered.
"President? Mi-ra sis?"
I spun around, calling her sis unconsciously, but the practice room and hall were silent again.
"......What was that?"
The being before me wasn't an Anomaly fake—it was the real President Mi-ra.
"An Anomaly showing the past... or something?"
Click—.
Before I could wonder where to go next, the bright second-floor lights started flicking off one by one.
All gone, leaving only dim green emergency lights.
The chilly corridor soon chimed with ding-dong-ding-dong~, followed by a staticky announcement.
...Now head to the third floor?
I hurried per the announcement toward the stairs at the corridor's end.
"...I'm... hungry."
Brains over brawn on an empty stomach since morning—I unwrapped the convenience store burger I'd swiped from Grandpa and took a bite.
Anyway, next stop...
The dorms on the third floor.