Chapter 118
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Morning with the Little Sister
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After spending my first night with Su-a,
I returned home early in the morning, before the sun had risen.
Leaving behind only a simple note that said I'd head back first.
It's a shame I couldn't greet her when she wakes up,
but I couldn't risk the misunderstanding(?) of staying out overnight.
I figure Su-a will understand.
I snuck back home like that and welcomed the morning.
And today was my day off.
I'd thought I'd spend the whole day at home with Mom!
But...
"Sorry. Mom has a cosmetics commercial shoot today..."
Mom said that at the breakfast table.
No way!
Unlike me—who just takes it easy on days without drama filming—
Mom's work wasn't limited to drama shoots.
Of course not.
She's a top-tier actress in the industry.
"Sorry for not telling you ahead of time. But I'll come home early this evening..."
"It's work—what's there to be sorry about? Shoot well, Mom."
I'm not some six-year-old who needs Mom watching over me all day.
Even knowing that, the disappointment stuck around, matching my expectations.
"Hmph. What a mama's boy."
Ugh.
No comeback for that.
I am a mama's boy, after all.
"Oppa, then can you film a video with me today?"
"Video? That SNS stuff?"
"Yeah. Se-a unnie said it'd be fine, right? Pretty please? 'I'll give you good service.'"
She whispered the last part so Mom and Noona wouldn't hear.
Hmm.
Of course it's fine by me.
But I haven't checked with the agency yet.
Will it be okay?
Should I just film it and play dumb if there's trouble later?
...No. I'm a pro now.
Got to follow the proper steps.
"I'll ask the agency first."
"Okay."
I texted the manager's number I'd saved from signing the contract.
Got an OK back in under a minute.
『We need to boost your recognition even a little right now.』
That was the agency's position.
Figures. As a nobody, I should've been the one begging.
"Ah. They said it's good."
"Yay! Then after breakfast, I'll head to your room, Oppa!"
The fact she wanted to film again meant the reaction had been pretty good, right?
I was too scared to check the comments, though.
Still, if it'd helped Mi-so, that was a relief.
"Hey. Jin Sun-hu."
"Yeah?"
Noona seemed kinda pissed for some reason.
Just glaring over at me.
Unsettling.
What was the problem?
...No way. Jealous 'cause I'm only hanging out with Mi-so?
"Noona. Mind if I swing by your room after filming?"
"Hmph. Do what you want."
She answered like she didn't care,
but her mood had softened quite a bit.
Phew. Dodged that one.
Good choice.
After breakfast, in my room.
"Ta-da!"
Mi-so showed up in a full school uniform, no less.
"Mi-so, you..."
"This concept's school uniform! Song's called 'School Love'!"
Mi-so spun around right there on the spot.
Her skirt flared up, flashing her bloomers underneath.
"School Love?"
It was their latest track, too.
But a school uniform concept? Really?
The women's groups weren't saying anything?
"It's just a song about pure student love! We even shot a school violence prevention campaign!"
Oh. Really?
Then it was fine, I guess?
Even with the skirt that short...
And her chest so eye-catching...
My eyes kept drifting there.
"Is that really your school uniform, Mi-so?"
"Feels real, doesn't it? Sorry to disappoint~ it's cosplay!"
Not like I was disappointed or anything...
Though, wasn't Mi-so's actual uniform kinda like this?
The name tag even said "Jin Mi-so."
"We all had to match uniforms, so couldn't wear our real ones. Everyone goes to different schools."
"Makes sense."
So it wasn't a real uniform, then.
Just "uniform-like clothes."
Hmm.
...Who was I even justifying this to?
"But Oppa, you heard this song yet?"
"Yeah. Once."
"Once? Then what're we gonna do? You can't play it on piano?"
"Give me three listens, and I can play it."
"Ooh! Genius Oppa as expected! Let's listen together while we practice!"
"Sure."
School Love.
A lively melody with cute choreography and fresh lyrics—super charming.
As the title suggests, it's about first love back in school days.
I sat side-by-side with Mi-so on the piano bench and watched the video on my phone.
『The guy next to me keeps distracting me~♪』
Short interlude, then the song kicks right in.
The dance wasn't super intense, but it had some moves.
A's rap part in the middle, Jin-i's high notes, too.
With the four members trading off vocals, there weren't many breaks.
...Could Mi-so really handle all this solo?
"How's it sound, Oppa? Think you can play it?"
"Uh... Yeah, no problem for me. But can you sing the whole thing alone?"
"Obviously! I've decided to go all out now! Time to unleash my hidden power! Gotta reclaim those views Jin-i stole!"
"Got it..."
Oppa will always cheer for you, Mi-so.
Fighting.
"Still, that rap part's tricky. Singing it leaves no room to breathe."
"Yeah, I bet."
Not just the rap—songs flowed right into and out of it.
Solo dancing and singing? Practically impossible.
She'd be huffing and puffing the second the rap ended and vocals resumed.
"Want me to handle the rap part, then?"
"Huh? You?"
"Yeah. But me singing the whole thing might be weird, right? Fans might not like it."
"No! It's not that—can you actually rap, though, Oppa?"
Can I?
Just nail the pronunciation and rhythm, no?
Lyrics were right there, plus A's demo video.
Aimed at students, so nothing too tough.
Should be easy to mimic.
"Hmm. Think I can manage? Not pro level, though."
"Then show me once!"
"Alright, let's see..."
"Ahem."
I played the piano backing track and rapped A's part.
『From the first time I saw you, you hunt—captured my heart,
but why you so cold to me, why can't you just be honest?
Wanna get closer to you, spend more time with you,
if you called my name──』
"Whoa! Oppa! What was that voice?!"
"My voice? Was it weird?"
"No! Not at all! It was so cool! As cool as A!"
As cool as A?
She's exaggerating.
"Ah. Should've recorded that."
"Why bother? We'll record it properly anyway."
"Still a waste. No one got to hear it."
"What do you mean no one? You heard it. That's enough—Mi-so's the only audience I need."
"Oppa..."
Mi-so closed her eyes, lips ready for a kiss.
Huh?
How'd the mood shift like this again?
Kisses with Mi-so are always welcome.
"Mwah. Mm..."
A light kiss, then pull away.
"Mi-so. Should we film the video first?"
"Just a little more..."
Couldn't resist her aegyo—ended up kissing for another five minutes or so.
Didn't touch her body anywhere, though, to keep things from igniting.
I tried. Gave it my all.
When our lips finally parted, Mi-so shyly turned her head.
Even during the kiss, her reactions felt... more innocent lately.
Struck me anew.
That side of Mi-so was cute, too.
Maybe 'cause of the uniform vibe?
Like my mind reverted to our school days.
"Ahem. So, Oppa, wanna match our motions once?"
Mi-so snapped back to business, and we talked video details.
"Here, at 'the moment our eyes meet'—we lock eyes like this."
"Got it, got it."
We settled on simple syncs to match the lyrics.
Moves I could pull off even while playing piano.
"But Oppa, you're surprisingly into this. Thought you'd hate it."
"If it helps you out, of course I'm motivated. Tell me anything I can do to help."
Sure, it'd help Mi-so—but denying the selfish promo angle for my drama would be a lie.
No need to mention that to her, though.
"Oppa..."
Mi-so closed her eyes again.
Huh.
This mood again.
Kisses welcome, but...
Would we finish filming today?
...Five minutes later.
"Okay, for real this time! One, two—start."
Camera rolling.
I play the piano.
『The guy next to me keeps distracting me~♪』
That bright, cute melody.
Maybe the song that suits bouncy Mi-so best.
『The moment our eyes meet!』
『I've fallen for you~♪』
『What should I do~? Should I confess?~』
Man.
Like the prettiest girl in any school secretly crushing on me.
Watching Mi-so nailed that image perfectly.
She pulled it off naturally, without even trying.
Genius idol, for sure.
Se-a was amazing, all polished and perfect—but now I got why she couldn't top our Mi-so.
『From the first time I saw you, you hunt,
captured my heart.』
Mi-so's vocals flowed right into my rap part.
Thinking about it, this rap was from the one-sided crush guy's perspective.
Spring's rapper A had that princely image,
so it made sense she'd take the male lines.
She had more female fans than male, anyway.
『But why so cold to me?
Why can't you be honest?』
They actually like each other but can't admit it.
That fresh school romance everyone remembers.
Mi-so and I sang like we were back there together.
Mi-so dancing beside me, me rapping over piano.
Brought back memories of us playing piano and singing as kids.
Those happy childhood days.
And right now? I'm still happy.