16. The Most Effective Way to Defuse a Bomb (1)

"Yes, hyungnim. I'm sorry. I saw the cat and got so startled I ran out without a chance to say anything. Yes. Yes, I'll make sure Taehyun gets back safely. Yes."

The vet turned out to be closer than expected. While Seo Taehyun sat there clutching the cat tight as it got looked at, the first thing I did was call the New Talent Development manager, who was probably in a state over losing two of us at once.

However common it was in this industry for people to just vanish, I had zero interest in being that kind of slacker trainee.

'Really, why did this kid even tag along.'

If I'd been alone, I could have called Ji Suho and worked out some cover, but with him here there was no chance. I'd assumed he'd hail the taxi and head off, but he'd just climbed in like it was nothing.

—…? You're not going to practice?

—How do you plan on paying the vet bill?

—Ah.

—I'm coming too.

The face he'd made was so much like a cat begging 'please take me with you' that I'd just brought him along. And, well, I didn't have a card for the vet bill either.

"……"

"Manager-hyung says get back safe."

"…Yeah."

On the way, Seo Taehyun and I had formally exchanged names. There was only a year between us, and having him keep up polite speech was too cringey, so we'd somehow ended up dropping the formalities. (Hadn't planned on it.)

Seo Taehyun, whose nickname had been 'Fresh Smile,' was staring at the sleeping cat in the vet's cage with a blank, almost gray expression on his face. I thought back to the exchange he'd had with the Head of Department earlier.

—As long as I'm at Miro, you're never debuting. You know that, right?

—…

—That's what you get for pulling a pointless stunt like that. If you'd just done what I said, none of this would be happening.

—…I'll be going, sir.

—Cha Minseok was smart enough to find his own way out. Unlike you. Idiot.

Gut said I probably had to pry open this Pandora's box, but I couldn't quite get the words out. I sat down next to Seo Taehyun and turned my eyes to the cat.

"What's the word on the cat?"

"Oh, they got hold of the owner. Had an ID chip in it. Not a stray either."

"That's a relief. …So, should we head back too? Manager-hyung said to get back as quickly as we could."

"…Ah."

The moment I said 'back,' a shadow crossed his face. Since this was a guy who was always smiling on TV, seeing him like this felt oddly unfamiliar.

"You've been off for a while. Don't want to go?"

"Huh?"

"Then just say you're not feeling well and clock out. I already set the groundwork with manager-hyung — told him we got soaked in the rain."

Which is to say — this was pure meddling on my part. Impulsive meddling.

"Still… I can't just skip practice."

"Aren't you the one who followed me because you wanted to skip?"

"……"

"What's off-limits in this world. Everyone just doesn't do it because they're scared."

What's your deal with the Head of Department? What did you do to get on his bad side that hard? If he's like that, no matter how hard you work, isn't it pointless?

I crumpled those unkind lines up and put them away, still not quite ready to yank Pandora's box wide open. The bare minimum of comfort I could manage.

"Or, y'know, just wait here till the owner shows up or something."

Time remaining: 00:05:16… (Completion rate 93.7%)

The trip had eaten up so much of the timer that there was no reason to rush back to the company anyway. And I couldn't exactly start hurling myself at random people to help in a vet's office I'd never set foot in before. I'd been planning to just call it good with having saved one cute little living thing.

"…Thanks."

45th help achieved! (Completion rate 99.8%) Time remaining: 00:04:58…

This works?

Along with Seo Taehyun's very small voice, the system window let out another little pop and updated.

What. Six full percent in one go? Did he really hate going back to the company that much? A jaw-dropping 6% credited, and just like that I'd fallen into the top-tier reward — on instinct I looked at Seo Taehyun, the source of it.

"…Out already, huh."

Seo Taehyun was asleep. Rain-soaked cap pulled down tight, head bent at an uncomfortable angle where he sat on the vet's chair.

I suddenly found myself thinking of what I remembered of this kid's past life.

title: [chat] BotW – whatever happened to STH? - didn't he say he was debuting in some boy group?? out of all the BotW outputs i thought he'd do the best but he did some solo stuff and then poof, nothing - he did a solo debut last year but i think the reception was pretty meh > tho the song was good, i still listen > wow it's been forever, that person who was obsessed with cherry boy? yeah that's me - his life really just ⁹isn't going anywhere lmao; honestly for raw star power he's on another tier compared to active idols > that's a bit much; suddenly you're taking a wide-arc swing at everyone > what swing lololololol it's just facts

Boys of the World Seo Taehyun. Cherry Boy Seo Taehyun. The Seo Taehyun who ultimately flared bright in that one moment and then burned out. The kind of Seo Taehyun whose life — if anyone would ever want to regress hundreds of times to change theirs — you'd think would be his.

'Will you be part of a successful debut group?'

Small things within fixed events.

That was the only rule I'd figured out over five regressions. Within events that were bound to happen no matter what, people, through their own will, could easily change small things.

So what was the 'fixed' event happening to Seo Taehyun — the cycling between debut lineups, or eventually vanishing from the industry?

I watched the rain pounding down. It was the end of a day I couldn't read.

---

title: Sudden Quest! Bo-nus tii-iime☆ for our worn-out user! Explore your surroundings and hand out as much help as possible! Final 99.8% achieved! reward: One heartwarming post-debut anecdote (High) reward: Sudden event (Seo Taehyun's departure) canceled reward: Unexpected stroke of luck (the cat's gratitude) Success rewards distributed in full.

---

The unwritten rule was that a weekend, when it finally came around, was to be spent in bed at home. Unfortunately, I was once again on a playground swing.

'Rotten Kang Hawon.'

I stomped my feet in the sand, thinking about my petty little brother who'd mercilessly kicked me out over having piles of homework. Once again the gritty sand worked its way into my slides and just left my feet filthy.

'Next time, sneakers. Seriously.'

The fact that 'don't come out' wasn't on the menu was a bit rough, but what could I do. Escaping the semi-basement and moving into a warm, cozy apartment where I had my own room was still a slightly distant future.

"Hmm, where to start."

I activated the ⟨Notepad Skill⟩ I'd picked up last night with a modest 30-cash microtransaction.

Soon a blank text-less notification window floated up in the air. When I grabbed the edges and stretched it larger, the System was appalled.

The System is… not a tablet PC…!

Yeah, whatever. If I used it like one, that was that.

Since this wasn't a system that was supposed to apply to me in the first place — it had come into being for some reason of its own — there were loopholes here and there, but no complaints from me as long as I was putting them to good use.

"Alright, first: organize the info."

Without a pen, I roughly scrawled with my finger, writing down everything I'd figured out so far. When it got tedious to write things out, just thinking them was enough — it typed itself.

'…Kind of a sweet deal, actually?'

Getting a tablet PC for free — one I hadn't even owned in my first life — I looked at the neatly organized notes and felt pretty smug.

"Now what should I do first."

I already had a rough plan in my head, but I needed someone who could tell me whether it was actually feasible, and someone who could dig up the accurate information Ju Eunchan and Dan Haru wouldn't have access to.

And it just so happened I had a 'companion' who was perfect for the job.

"System window."

The System responds.

"Access companion 'Ji Suho.'"

label: Ji Suho (Awakener) Modifiers: 'Of Burning Passion,' 'The Deepest Shadow' Trait: Star Maker☆ — You recognize 'by fate' those with the makings of a star. (Hit rate 77%) — Different-colored auras appear depending on the caliber of the star's potential. Special: Contact with the Selected Regressor has left you affected by a 'past timeline.' (Déjà vu) Recruited companions can be checked for current status and location, and summoned when needed (10 cash fee).

Since I'd made the cash system, all kinds of sub-systems had apparently gotten tacked on. I'd be putting them to good use.

Anyway, how was a summon supposed to work?

Curious, I paid 10 cash and hit the summon button.

"…Nothing's happening?"

The system window flashed something like 'Summoning Ji Suho' a few times, like a phone-call-connecting screen, and then quickly shut off.

What. Did it just eat my 10 cash?

Bzz—

"……?"

Right as I was working out how to get it to cough up if this really was a hit-and-run, out of nowhere Ji Suho was calling me.

Something felt… off, though.

"Hello?"

—Kang Hajin-ssi, was that just you?

"Was what?"

—Just now, really out of nowhere, an extremely strong thought hit me that I had to contact you, Kang Hajin-ssi.

Losing my mind.

"…It's just in your head. It's not like I've got telepathy or anything."

—But somehow, if it's you, Hajin-ssi, it feels possible.

"I don't, I promise."

So this was what a summon meant. Clinging to composure for dear life, I got to the point.

—Um, well, then I could just hang—

"No, I had something to talk to you about anyway. Let's meet up."

—Something to talk about? Yes, sure. I'll come over to your neighborhood, then.

Is something going on? Did you find that person? Ji Suho asked in a serious voice, and I gave him another suitable answer today.

"No. I'm running a Promote Ji Suho project."

—Sorry?

"Let's make you Head of Department, Ji Suho-ssi."

Because it was looking like I'd be booting out the current one pretty soon.

---

Ever since he'd joined Miro, Seo Taehyun had never once skipped weekend practice. Today was no exception.

—Still… I can't just skip practice.

—Aren't you the one who followed me because you wanted to skip?

—…

—What's off-limits in this world. Everyone just doesn't do it because they're scared.

Taehyun shook out his sweat-damp hair and cut the audio player off in irritation. He couldn't focus, and it was showing — his body could feel there was no getting anything out of today's practice.

"What am I supposed to do when I'm anxious."

Taehyun had been anxious the whole way. He'd been anxious on Boys of the World, and even more so after getting cut. And after coming to Miro and falling out with the Head of Department, more so still.

The one dream he'd clung to for so long. Having tasted that glamor once already, Taehyun could never let go of the sweetness.

"…Ugh, why did that hyung have to say that stuff."

Taehyun, who'd been lost in thought for a moment, finally kicked himself to his feet in irritation. However he looked at it, today's practice was blown. All Kang Hajin-hyung's fault. That was how Taehyun decided to rationalize it.

He showered, and the moment he came out, his phone rang as if it had been waiting. Caller: ♡Haru Pup♡. The contact name Dan Haru himself had saved. Taehyun smiled and picked up.

"Yeah, Haru."

—Hyung. Don't hang up yet.

"What's that about, out of nowhere."

—I'm about to sweet-talk you into ditching weekend practice to hang out, and if you hang up, my heart is going to break.

Ha ha — a small laugh broke out of him. This was how Haru always came at him. Bright, cheerful.

"Wanna go get tteokbokki?"

—…Who is this? There's no way our Taehyun-hyung would eat tteokbokki on a weekend!

"If you don't want any, forget it."

—Since you're always in practice, you probably don't know, hyung, but there's a law that eating tteokbokki without Dan Haru gets you struck by lightning.

Excited by his own line, Haru told him the place and time in that clear voice of his and hung up. Taehyun swapped out his practice sneakers. He didn't realize it, but at some point he'd started humming a tune under his breath.

The staff watched Taehyun — in comfortable Converse instead of his practice sneakers — with a distinctly unfamiliar look. Adjusting his bag on his way out, he noticed the sky today was oddly clear and blue.

"Seo Taehyun?"

"Ah. Seongwoo-hyung."

"Calling it on practice today? What's the occasion."

"Ah, yeah. I'm meeting up with Haru."

Seongwoo, running into him in the hallway, greeted him warmly. Taehyun, who was neither easy nor close with him, did the token greeting and tried to pass, but Seongwoo grabbed him like something had just come to mind.

"Oh, right. Heard Minseok's debuting. Second half of the year. It's confirmed, apparently. Did he get in touch?"

"…Really? Good for him."

"What, he didn't reach out? Wow, that bastard's really something to the end."

"Haven't been in touch since he switched agencies. It's been a while."

"Hey, he still should've told you. In a way, he's debuting because of you."

And, as always,

"Cha Minseok — he took your spot to get to Rene, didn't he."

"…What?"

"He sold you out to get to Rene, is what he did. Rene originally wanted you. You didn't know?"

Nasty little schemes always found you at moments like these.