Chapter 133. A Small Trigger (5)
Hajin was momentarily at a loss for words due to Siwoo’s shamelessness.
‘What kind of person is he, really?’
Well, to be fair, he was indeed handsome!
So handsome that it would be a lie if he claimed he didn’t know it himself!
‘But seriously, who asks if they’re handsome to change the mood?’
Of course, Kang Hajin, who had tried to lighten the mood with a truth game without any alcohol, wasn’t exactly in a position to talk.
Hajin had thought about prying a bit more into Siwoo, but unfortunately, their conversation ended ambiguously there.
It was because Haru and Gong Seok, who had gone out to wash up, had returned.
“…Did you wash your face or take a shower?”
Seeing Haru return, drenched not just on his face but also on his bangs and chest, Hajin asked.
Haru, who had managed to control his emotions and barely erased any signs of sadness, quietly answered as he patted his face dry with a tissue.
“I cried a bit more after splashing my face with cold water… so I got soaked….”
“If you wanted to cry, just cry. Why torture yourself by sticking your face in the water?”
“That way, the tears stop quicker. And my face doesn’t get red.”
“…Even crybabies have their own know-how, huh.”
Hajin conveniently ignored the fact that he himself was the ‘crybaby leader’ among them.
Along with a joke about passing that tip on to Joo Eunchan later, the serious preparation for the fourth performance began.
Since Hajin had handed over the leadership to Siwoo this time, Siwoo was in charge of leading the meeting.
“You’ve all heard already, but the upcoming competition is a guerrilla concert. The stage format is free, and song selection is also free. It will be broadcast online, and the votes from both online and offline will be combined, with only one team receiving the benefit for placing first.”
Siwoo, who had quickly returned to his usual tone, calmly briefed everyone on the details of the fourth competition.
They had heard this during the recording of the previous elimination, but at that time, everyone had been too overwhelmed by their emotions to properly absorb the information. It was only now that the details of the competition sunk in.
“So basically, we need to prepare a performance that can appeal to both online and offline audiences….”
Siwoo trailed off as he looked around at his team members.
Hajin naturally picked up the conversation from there.
“But honestly, didn’t our team concept become clear as soon as the teams were decided?”
A-team’s vocal ace from the arts university, Jung Siwoo.
Gong Seok, who had made an impressive impact as a main vocal during the third performance.
Dan Haru, whose clear voice seemed untouched by puberty.
And Kang Hajin, known for his powerful and emotional vocal style.
The four members, all considered strong candidates for the ‘main vocal role’ among the Miro Maze trainees, had come together in one team.
‘No one here would be crazy enough to suggest hip-hop.’
With a determined expression, Hajin clenched his fist as if he were rallying voters for an election.
“We should focus on vocals. Whether it’s an a cappella or something else, let’s do it right.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Hajin’s words.
Siwoo also pointed to the sheet music he had prepared and added his thoughts.
“That’s why I only picked out vocal-focused songs. This is what I found in the company’s music library, but if there’s anything else you want to do, let me know. I can handle the sheet music and harmonies.”
As expected of a university student.
Hajin secretly admired Siwoo, then leaned forward as an idea suddenly struck him.
“But hyung, if we just sing the whole time, won’t it feel a bit… awkward?”
“Well, I think it depends on how we arrange the song, but… it would definitely be less dynamic than performances with distinct choreography or gestures.”
“That’s why I’m thinking, what if we add some live instruments?”
“…Instruments?”
All eyes focused on Hajin.
Nodding, Hajin continued.
“Hyung, you majored in piano, right? I can play a bit of guitar. If you play the piano, and I play the guitar, and if Seok or Haru practice some simple instruments… wouldn’t that give us a unique edge?”
“…An edge?”
“…Oh. I mean, it would add variety to the performance.”
Realizing he had inadvertently used broadcasting jargon from his PD days, Hajin quickly clarified. Then, feeling slightly wronged, he added another comment.
“But don’t people usually use the term ‘edge’?”
“…?”
“……”
“……”
“…I guess not. My bad. I use it a lot.”
After noticing the PD and writer quietly observing their meeting from a corner, Hajin finally gave in.
“Anyway, what do you think about going live?”
As Hajin swiftly redirected the conversation back to the main topic, Gong Seok cautiously raised his hand.
“Um… I learned the violin before. Would that help?”
“What, of course! A violin? That’s awesome.”
“Um, I… I… …recorder?”
“…We’ll find something Haru can do.”
With both Gong Seok and Haru showing positive reactions, the idea of playing live instruments during the performance naturally gained traction.
Hajin sorted through the sheet music Siwoo had brought, narrowing down the ones that would work well with an acoustic arrangement, and then waited for Siwoo’s response.
“What do you think, hyung?”
“……”
However, contrary to everyone’s expectations that Siwoo would readily agree, he hesitated to speak.
“…Hyung?”
“Oh, sorry. I was just thinking.”
Siwoo, who finally responded to Hajin’s call, gave a sheepish smile and nodded.
“I like the idea too. Playing instruments.”
“Great, then let’s start selecting the song—”
“But, there’s something I need to say first.”
“……?”
Everyone looked up at Siwoo.
In that moment, Hajin noticed a crack in Siwoo’s usually stoic expression.
A fleeting, unidentifiable emotion passed through Siwoo’s eyes.
Wait, what’s going on…
“…I’ll play the guitar. Not the piano.”
…Did I touch on something I shouldn’t have?
Hajin nodded reluctantly in response to Siwoo’s words.
* * *
“……”
After the first meeting and filming ended.
Back in the dorm for dinner and a break, Hajin lay on his bed, deep in thought.
‘Jung Siwoo….’
Hajin summoned an empty system window in the air.
He pulled up Siwoo’s profile from the database and began to slowly organize what he knew below it.
**<Jung Siwoo>**
**Age:** 22 years old
**Birthday:** July 4th
**Trainee Period:** 4th year (Started in the spring of his 19th year)
**Position:** Vocal
**Notable Information:**
– Formerly majored in classical piano
– Currently majors in practical music (vocal)
+ Mother is a famous pianist
+ No information on father
(Reportedly, only information from his mother’s side was available when he joined Miro)
+ Unknown reason for quitting piano
+ Dropped out of arts high school and joined Miro
+ Close trainee at Miro: Lee Doha
+ Currently on leave from Gaon Arts University
“…Looking at it like this, I really don’t know anything.”
[**System Alarm: Discovering more about a person is indeed a difficult task!**]
“Ah, you scared me…!”
Startled by Thirteen’s sudden appearance, Hajin jumped.
He doesn’t seem to care anymore that I’m using the system window however I want.
As if reading Hajin’s thoughts, Thirteen’s system window turned a somber grayscale.
[**System Alarm: Well…**]
[**System Alarm: I guess I’ve just given up…?**]
‘Really… Can you even change the color saturation?’
Nice.
I’ll have to use that when I upgrade the system UI customization later.
[**System Alarm: Look at you, already thinking of doing something weird again….**]
Thirteen sighed heavily in the system window, but Hajin ignored it.
He crossed his arms, wondering what color would make the system window feel more refreshing.
‘…Thirteen, what do you think about Jung Siwoo?’
Hoping that the time manager might know more than he did, Hajin asked.
As if understanding Hajin’s thoughts, Thirteen returned the question.
[**System Alarm: You want to know why Jung Siwoo quit piano, right?**]
Hajin stared at the question for a moment, then nodded, not bothering to deny it.
Thirteen, after a brief loading period (…), cautiously displayed the next response.
[**System Alarm: We can’t tell you exactly why Jung Siwoo quit piano or why he decided to become an idol.**]
[**System Alarm: As time managers, we only manage all the time that occurs along a person’s timeline.**]
[**System Alarm: We don’t know the internal changes and deep emotions of an individual.**]
Just as Hajin was about to frown, thinking this meant a refusal, Thirteen calmly continued.
[**System Alarm: However… we can tell you about something that happened to Jung Siwoo around the time he became an idol trainee.**]
Then, a long-forgotten quest reward window popped up.
No, it wasn’t a reward for a quest.
[**System Alarm: System Error Compensation Notice**]
[**Compensation: Access to a specific person’s (Jung Siwoo)
timeline**]
[**Warning: Low reaction rate with the specified person**]
[**Warning: Timeline access is limited to text only**]
[**System Alarm: The fixed regressor still has a claim for system error compensation.**]
[**System Alarm: Would you like to use the compensation to access Jung Siwoo’s past?**]
“I can’t see it directly like before?”
[**System Alarm: Due to the low reaction rate with Jung Siwoo, that’s not possible.**]
[**System Alarm: The penalty from the previous access to CP Yoon Kisuk’s past is still being processed.**]
[**System Alarm: It’s recommended that you refrain from actions that may cause additional penalties for the time being.**]
[**System Alarm: Honestly, I don’t recommend accessing Jung Siwoo’s past either.**]
“Why? I need to know something if I’m going to catch the Chosen Regressor.”
During the infinite regression with Lee Yugeon, if Hajin had known more about Yugeon’s current family situation earlier, he might not have suspected him as the Chosen Regressor.
‘…And I might have been able to help that guy earlier too.’
Given that he had to find the Chosen Regressor, Hajin needed to gather as much information as possible on the strongest suspects. That way, he could minimize variables, and even if they did arise, he would be better equipped to handle them.
To Hajin, Jung Siwoo was now a ‘variable.’
Even Kim Wonho, whom Hajin considered sufficiently close, had not easily revealed his intent to recruit an ally. There was no way Jung Siwoo, whose personality Hajin hadn’t even fully grasped, would easily reveal it.
‘It might be better to collect clues like this, little by little.’
Having reached this conclusion, Hajin spoke with determination.
“Tell me. What happened to Jung Siwoo four years ago.”
What happened that made him drop out of arts high school and decide to become an idol trainee?
The system window loaded for a moment.
Like an old computer retrieving search results from the web, text slowly appeared on the system window.
[**System Alarm: Accessing the event from ‘Jung Siwoo’ four years ago**]
And as soon as Hajin read the information, he immediately understood why Thirteen hadn’t recommended this method.
Why they hadn’t provided information about others in this way until now.
The reason became clear.
“…Ah, damn.”
[**Father ‘Jung Gunho’ deceased (Cause of death: Illness)**]