Entertainment
"What the—! Why'd you come without saying anything?"
Ah-young looked genuinely surprised to see me.
Maybe because I usually didn't come around and suddenly showed up.
"I did text you right before I came."
Well, technically, I only asked if anything was going on today.
"Really? Oh—huh, you did."
Ah-young belatedly checked her phone, read the message, and looked back at me.
"But that was just ten minutes ago."
"Haha… does that matter? Anyway, what'd you bring?"
My skill at changing the subject had reached a level no ordinary person could handle.
"Oh, this? Just some snacks. And a few cans of beer."
Like the countless Mi-ro-dan who fell for this tactic every day, Ah-young had no resistance and let it slide.
"Oh… drinking beer with Hyun-soo here?"
"Hyun-soo can drink soda instead."
Saying that, Ah-young pulled out a can of cola from the bag and lightly tossed it to Hyun-soo.
"Ah! Don't throw it—it'll explode!"
"It's fine. Leave it for a while and it'll settle down."
Catching the can mid-arc, Hyun-soo sighed and set it down on the desk.
"Want something to drink too?"
"Mm… I'm good for now."
I'd already drunk about two to three liters of water during recording earlier, so I wasn't thirsty.
"Alright, I'll put these in the fridge. Help yourself later."
She set the bag down in the kitchen where the other band members were already organizing the fridge, then came back.
"I thought you said you'd put them away yourself."
"They'll handle it. I paid for it with my card anyway."
"Ah, I see."
Well, if she bought them, she had every right to relax.
"So, what were you doing before we came in?"
"Oh, I was just in the area…"
"Hyun-soo didn't call you here?"
"Huh?"
"You didn't get pressured by the PD to come for ratings?"
At her teasing, Hyun-soo looked horrified.
"Huh?? What are you saying?"
"Didn't you fall for that PD's promise of good promotion for your song? That's why you're even on this variety show now."
"I mean… you're not wrong…"
I was surprised at that exchange.
Even someone like Hyun-soo wouldn't pass up a variety show appearance if it meant promoting his music.
Come to think of it, even big-name singers with hit songs often appeared on variety shows to promote their releases.
"This brat has changed… look at the makeup on his face! The guy who wouldn't even bother with sunscreen before…"
"No wonder… Hyun-soo really insisted I come today."
"What?? Noona? You said you came to learn guitar."
"Oh?? You did come for guitar lessons?"
When I mentioned guitar, Ah-young's attention finally shifted to the instrument I was holding.
"That's Hyuk's guitar, isn't it?"
"Yes, I already got his permission."
"Ah, right. I remember. But why are you hiding under that cap? Such a waste to cover your face."
"Well, actually…"
I briefly explained to Ah-young.
I hadn't known they were filming, so I was covering my face as much as I could.
"Really? The PD's probably regretting that."
I wanted to ask why she kept calling the PD "that guy," but since she and Hyun-soo were both mic'd up, whatever I asked would go straight into his ears.
Knowing that, I didn't press it.
"What's there to regret? I still look good even like this."
"Should I smack you?"
"Just not the face, please…"
Smack!
"Argh!"
In the end, she smacked my back. Maybe because she was a drummer, her hands packed a punch.
"You earned that. Take it like a champ."
"Ow…"
"So, what part were you stuck on? Was it the same song you mentioned practicing before?"
"Yes. I can play most of it, but I hit a wall at one point."
"Ah, I think I know what you mean. That happens sometimes."
Nodding with understanding, Ah-young straightened her posture.
"Then go ahead and play. I'll take a look."
"Sure, I'd like that."
I was going to play it for Hyun-soo anyway, so why not now?
As I picked up the guitar to play, the cameras turned toward me.
Even the other band members who were still unpacking snacks turned their attention my way.
"Wait a second—that's my guitar…"
I heard Hyuk mutter, but ignored him and started to play.
Not long after my clumsy strumming began, Hyun-soo nodded along.
"I know this song."
"You do?"
"Yes, it's from one of my favorite bands."
As I expected—not surprising.
Still, that meant he could sing it, right?
It was awkward enough to be the only one clumsily playing in a silent room, so this was perfect.
"Then you know how to sing it too?"
"Huh? Well, yeah, I guess."
"Then sing along to my guitar."
How could I let this chance slip?
"Now? Right here?"
"Music's meant to be spontaneous."
I stopped strumming for a moment and reset my grip on the guitar, signaling I'd start over.
"Oh! Then I'll play the drums!"
Watching us, Ah-young suddenly rushed over to the drum set, excited.
Seeing her sit down at the kit, Hyun-soo looked a little troubled—but once I started strumming again, he quickly collected himself.
Well, he was a singer after all.
And this was perfect broadcast material.
Come to think of it, I'd never actually seen him sing live before.
This was the perfect chance to witness it up close.
And so, my clumsy guitar and Ah-young's thunderous drumming came together.
"Ah—"
Then, before the watchful eyes of countless cameras, the voice of Slim Gold—the 19-year-old genius who topped the charts—rang out.
"Wow…"
How could his voice change so much like that?
From the very first note, Hyun-soo's pitch was unwavering, his vocals soaring.
As I was caught up in awe, I noticed the PD off to the side, grinning from ear to ear.
Was he really that happy?
I thought briefly about what was going through his mind, then refocused on the music.
If I wasn't careful, my amateur strumming would be completely drowned out by Ah-young's powerful drumming and Hyun-soo's voice.
I concentrated harder than I ever had during practice, fingers working furiously while my ears tuned in to Hyun-soo's singing.
Curiously, instead of singing in Japanese, he sang Korean lyrics he had rewritten himself. Combined with his unique tone, the song didn't sound like a Japanese band's anymore, but like an original Slim Gold piece.
Taking someone else's song and making it his own—that must be what real talent is.
Watching Hyun-soo embody Slim Gold in a way I'd never seen before, I glanced at Ah-young on the drums.
I was so used to seeing her goofy side, but seeing her play like this—it was clear. She really was a pro.
Even with my clumsy guitar playing, the two pros covered for me so perfectly that this impromptu little jam session turned into their own private concert.
Listening live to professional music I'd only ever heard through speakers or headphones was a completely new experience.
Their skill was on another level compared to an amateur like me.
Every moment, every part of the song was a delight to the ears.
Was this what the song was really supposed to sound like?
It was one of the favorites that the female Kim Soo-hyun often listened to—maybe I finally understood why.
But soon, the song reached its climax, and my limits as a player.
What now? In just a moment, the second highlight section—the part I always stumbled on—was coming up.
I didn't want the performance to end here…
Well, I'd just play until I hit the wall, and if I failed, I could always laugh it off and apologize.
As I steeled myself to keep playing—
Hyun-soo, who had been singing for a while, walked up to me.
"—Ah!"
After a single syllable, he suddenly handed me the mic and grabbed the guitar from my hands.
"You pushed this on me so recklessly—so you can sing too, right?"
With that, he shoved the mic into my arms and started playing guitar in my place.
"…Ha."
I couldn't help but laugh at his boldness.
This song? I'd never sung it before.
But the female Kim Soo-hyun must have listened to it dozens of times.
And hadn't Hyun-soo just sung it brilliantly right in front of me?
Since he shone so brightly, wasn't it only right I repay him in kind?
I cleared my throat softly.
The second highlight was coming up fast.
Ah-young was pounding on the drums, Hyun-soo was playing guitar far more skillfully than me, and now all the other band members and over a dozen staff were staring straight at me.
A normal person would feel crushed by the pressure.
But me?
Wasn't I someone who spoke to thousands every day, all on my own?
Smiling lightly, I straightened my posture and opened my mouth.
I couldn't compare to Hyun-soo's singing ability or technique…
But the voice of this Kim Soo-hyun—
my tone—was more than enough to captivate everyone here.
"Ah—!"
Because that's who Miro is.
"Wow, that was amazing!"
When the song ended, Ah-young shouted, wiping beads of sweat from her forehead.
It really had been amazing.
How long had it been since I'd felt this kind of joy?
Streaming, reading manga, watching anime—they were fun too, but this was different.
It felt… alive.
"Yeah, it was so much fun for me too."
As expected of a singer, Hyun-soo's excitement was through the roof.
"Man, now we're itching to play too."
The band members, who had been watching in a daze, were suddenly approaching with their instruments in hand.
"Ha… makes me want to go busking."
"Shall we just head out tonight?"
"No, more importantly—that's my guitar."
"Haha… thanks for letting me use it."
I took the guitar back from Hyun-soo and handed it to Kang Hyuk, the only one empty-handed.
"Well… yeah, you played it well."
"But Hyun-soo played it better than me."
Honestly, I was shocked. I'd heard he had some basics down, but that level wasn't "basic" at all.
Were geniuses simply built differently? That part stung a little.
"And I play better than Hyun-soo."
…That sounded odd.
When I gave him a questioning look, Kang Hyuk exchanged glances with the other members and went on.
"It's been a while since we felt this fired up. Want to do another performance?"
"A performance?"
"Yeah—the stage is right here, and the audience… is over there."
He pointed toward the staff. Or more precisely, at the cameras set up among them.
"What do you think?"
"Uh…"
But I didn't have an instrument anymore.
As I gave him a doubtful look, Hyun-soo quickly jumped in.
"Then how about a duet?"
"Should we?"
Pfft, weren't we giving them too much service today?
I glanced toward the filming staff.
When I locked eyes with the PD, he flashed me a double thumbs-up with a huge grin.
I understood, but at the same time, it was ridiculous.
"…Figures."
PDs really were crazy for ratings.