After
"Um… how long do I have to stay like this?"
"Until I'm satisfied."
Mile said that while resting her chin on my shoulder.
Honestly, I'm taller, so being stuck in her arms like this was just plain uncomfortable.
Not that being held by an adult woman made my heart race or left me embarrassed.
I've lived in a woman's body long enough that I'm more than used to it.
There's no way I'd be blushing at this point.
"Anyway, when will the food get here?"
"It's dinnertime, so it might take a while."
"Yeah? Can I turn on the TV then?"
"Go ahead."
In the living room stood a massive TV that Mr. Kim had splurged on, so I switched it on.
"When are your parents coming back?"
"They'll be back the day after tomorrow."
We'd sent them off on a little vacation, and since I'd chipped in money, they were probably enjoying themselves at a hotel right now.
"Hm, then should we just stay over?"
Anna, mulling over the fact that my parents wouldn't return until the day after tomorrow, floated the idea casually.
"I don't mind. We can spread blankets in the living room."
"Really? I was half-joking."
"Since we're already eating dinner here, everyone might as well sleep over."
It made sense. The delivery would take a while, and it'd be a pain to head home late at night. Better to spend the night and head back in the morning. Some members lived pretty far, too.
"Yeah? Then I'm in."
"Then later let's hit the convenience store and grab snacks and stuff."
"Wow, feels like an MT."
And so it was decided: everyone would spend the night. We huddled together in front of the TV.
"There's nothing good on."
Maybe the timing was bad, but no channels were worth watching. As I flipped around, Haru suddenly spoke up.
"Then… how about board games?"
"Board games?"
"Yeah, the ones I brought."
Haru dashed to the living room and came back with a stack of board games.
"I played these at a board game café with friends before, they were super fun."
"That's… a lot."
"We've got a lot of people too!"
Wouldn't that actually mean we couldn't play several at once? Still, Haru clearly knew more about board games than I did.
"Okay, I'll explain all the rules."
The pile Haru brought had everything: famous ones everyone's tried at least once, to titles I'd never even heard of.
"What should we start with?"
"Let's do something familiar. Something short."
And so we played board games until the food came—and it was a blast.
Of course, no one could stand up to the knowledge and cunning of forty-two years of life experience compressed into Kim Soo-hyun.
"Miro, why are you so good at this?"
"Wait, have you played this before?"
"It's just talent."
"Ugh."
Aside from Haru, who already knew board games, I was basically steamrolling the rest of the members—when the delivery finally arrived.
"It's here!"
"Boksil, stay back!"
"Shouldn't we give Boksil a treat?"
"She already ate earlier."
We noisily received the food from the delivery guy and spread it all out in the living room.
"Wow, try this."
"This is insane."
Since it was the first delivery food I'd had since coming back home, it tasted amazing. I'd forgotten just how good delivery food could be. When you order often, you take it for granted—but eating it after a long break reminded me nothing else compares.
While I was busy stuffing food in my mouth, Roa quietly came over.
"Miro."
"Yes?"
"So… why did you fail the guitar mission?"
Ah, that's what she was curious about?
As a fellow band-type who actually looked like she could play guitar, it made sense she'd wonder why I couldn't finish even a single song after a month of practice.
"I got stuck at about… ninety percent."
"That's a shame, you almost had it."
"Yeah. The song was tough."
That part was true.
I hit ninety percent, got stuck, and then stopped practicing.
"I kinda want to hear you play."
"Should I? I do have my guitar here."
"Yeah, I saw it in your room earlier."
She noticed? It was tucked away in a corner.
Well, she did spend four hours in my room—no way she missed it.
"Alright, after we finish eating, I'll bring it out."
"Okay, I'll play too."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Hearing Roa play guitar… I was honestly curious.
Wouldn't it be hilarious if she was secretly terrible?
After we'd eaten most of the food, I went to grab my guitar from the room. Roa squinted at it the moment I came back.
"What's wrong?"
"I didn't get a good look earlier, but… it's pretty low-end, huh?"
"You can tell?"
"Of course. You're making money—get a decent one."
"Ahaha, I just bought it as a starter. I'll upgrade."
After playing Kang-hyuk's guitar in Hyun-soo's studio, I realized it myself: in music, equipment really does matter.
And just as I was about to strum a note—
"Huh? Isn't that guy famous these days?"
The voices came from the dining table where the others were still eating, while only Roa and I were in the back of the living room.
"I've seen him on Shorts too."
"He's handsome."
"Gasp—unnie, he's underage."
"What? Cancel that."
At the word underage, Anna flinched and immediately retracted what she said.
Well, at her age, of course she'd be sensitive about that.
Still, who's causing such a fuss?
I shifted slightly to glance at the screen, just as the interview began and a young man sat down in a chair.
A well-groomed blond with sharp features—a handsome young man.
"Miro, you know him, right? Slimgold. We talked about him before."
"Uh… right?"
Wait, Hyun-soo? No, no… focus.
I quickly checked the program's title.
It was one of those trendy observational variety shows—where they film celebrities' daily lives.
Perfect timing, huh?
Hyun-soo had told me it was airing this week, but I didn't know it was today.
I can't even watch my own YouTube videos without cringing—no way I'd mark my calendar to catch a broadcast.
On TV, Hyun-soo was being interviewed about his album production, while the studio panelists chimed in with comments.
[Slimgold, I bet you're super popular at school.]
[What? Ahaha, not really.]
[Hahaha! I think you are.]
[No, I'm not popular at all. I hardly even have friends.]
"Wow, he's humble."
"Right? I've read fan accounts too—apparently he's really kind," said Anna, watching intently.
Maho, who often listened to Slimgold's songs, immediately replied.
Kind, sure. But humble…? I wasn't so sure.
[Alright, let's see how he spends his day.]
The footage shifted.
From the studio, the camera cut to Hyun-soo's studio.
[Do you live here?]
[Yes. When I'm working, I basically live in the studio.]
Inside, Hyun-soo and his bandmates chatted casually.
Seeing people I actually knew appear on TV felt… strange.
And about now, I figured I should stop watching.
Even if my part was small, sooner or later my face might pop up.
"Uh, I have a channel I need to check. Mind if I change this?"
I set my guitar down, walked over, and reached for the remote—only for Haru to slap my hand down with a thwack.
"Uh-uh. What exactly are you trying to watch? It's not even news hour."
"Eh? Well…"
I hadn't expected her to block me. Was this really that interesting?
I glanced around—but all five girls were staring straight at my hand.
"Never mind…"
Right. Hyun-soo was a handsome, up-and-coming singer.
Of course they'd all be glued to him.
I'd known the moment he appeared on variety TV, they'd eventually see him. I just hadn't expected it tonight.
With no choice, I sat back down and watched his daily routine unfold on screen.
The band members left the studio to grab food, and the footage switched.
From his studio, the camera cut to the street outside.
A young woman's back appeared as she entered the building.
"Whoa, his girlfriend?"
"No way. He's trying to build his fanbase—he wouldn't introduce one publicly."
"He's a band kid, remember."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
While the members bantered, I checked how the editing was done.
When I'd been there, staff had crowded the studio entrance, but thanks to camera angles and editing, the street looked completely empty.
[Oh? Who's this?]
[Wow, even from behind, she looks like a celebrity.]
The panelists spoke as the footage shifted back to the studio.
The woman, now in frame, pulled a hat low over her head—though the conversation from before she put it on had been edited out.
The next shot showed her sitting beside Hyun-soo, chatting with him.
And by the time that much had aired…
I realized.
Every head in the room had turned.
Even Roa, sitting behind me, I could feel her stare.
The weight of it was… uncomfortable.
Then—
Haru, who had been staring holes through me, suddenly leapt up and bolted across the living room.
Puzzled, I watched her dash back—this time with a hat in her hands.
And in an instant, she jammed it onto my head.
"You—YOU?!"
As Haru reeled in shock, I answered coolly:
"Mm. Want me to get you an autograph?"
The living room exploded in chaos.