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A few days have passed since my new track was released.

Amidst everyone’s anticipation, the performance of my new song was quite different from what I expected.

I thought the song was good, so it would do well…

Casually, I checked the rankings on the streaming site.

[25th – Turning Point]

25th place out of nowhere…

I’ve actually surpassed the celestial realm rankings?

Could this actually become a belly button larger than my stomach?

It’s hard to hide it with how much Miro has grown unexpectedly.

Should I just shamelessly go on a broadcast?

Contracts and all…

No, it’s entirely possible that The Six is celebrating right now.

The person they selected a year ago has suddenly skyrocketed, after all.

Moreover, getting onto the charts as Miro with my debut track holds significant meaning.

Feels like a real path into showbiz has opened up, doesn’t it?

Yesterday, the composer mentioned that variety show offers would come in too.

But…

I really think I’m a better fit for virtual YouTuber stuff rather than the entertainment industry.

Sticking around with a bunch of staff for hours of filming?

I’d much rather be in a cozy soundproof booth gaming comfortably.

Money? I’m earning enough already.

Honestly, I can’t say the streaming support earnings are that impressive, but with YouTube, it’s astronomical.

Well, I’ll think about all this later…

“It’s time to get ready.”

First, I started getting ready to head out.

I have an appointment today, after all.

After finishing my preparations, I stepped out the main gate.

As I awaited in the chilly morning air typical of winter, I spotted a black van entering the alley from a distance.

That was faster than I expected!

As I got closer, the van halted and the door creaked open.

Stepping inside, I saw two familiar faces.

It was none other than Ah-young and Kang-hyeok.

The other band members couldn’t make it today, so I went to Hyeon-su’s graduation ceremony with these two.

“Hey, you’re here? Isn’t it cold?”

“….”

But more importantly, these crazy people… really came in school uniforms.

Well, Ah-young looks young enough, so I’ll let that slide.

The red-dyed hair is a bit much, but I’ll make a big concession on that.

But what about Kang-hyeok?

I sneaked a glance at Kang-hyeok in the driver’s seat, and our eyes met.

“What?”

“Um… nothing.”

With his shaved head, he looks utterly awkward in that school uniform—talk about confusing.

Isn’t this a school for smart, wealthy kids? Aren’t people scared of him?

“You really look like a high schooler, Soo-hyun.”

At that moment, Ah-young in her short padded jacket and school uniform asked this from the seat next to me.

Check out the size of that school uniform, did she get into some trouble in school?

I know she’s in her late twenties, but to show up in a delinquent school uniform… impressive attire.

“I was a high schooler until a few years ago.”

Of course, I wore a school uniform too.

Honestly, it looks fun, doesn’t it?

When else would I wear a school uniform to someone else’s graduation?

“By the way, isn’t that cardigan Hyeon-su’s school uniform? When did you borrow it?”

“Oh, this? I took it when we first met.”

“Took it?”

“Yeah, it happens.”

I’ve even worn Hyeon-su’s cardigan under the padded jacket.

Did I ever imagine it would turn out like this when we first met?

“Wow, you really look like a student there!”

“Maybe.”

“Ooh, what a confidence booster.”

So, along with these two adults in school uniforms, we headed towards Hyeon-su’s school.

“Alright, we’re here, so let’s get out. I’ll park the car.”

The school we arrived at surprised me a little when I saw it.

“Hyeon-su’s school is amazing, right?”

“…It really is.”

I nodded my head at Ah-young’s comment.

I knew it was an expensive private school, but I didn’t expect it to be this extravagant; it’s incomparable to the high school I attended.

Suddenly, Hyeon-su, the genius with a golden spoon and a career as a singer, felt truly impressive.

“But are journalists really okay?”

It’s something I’ve wondered since the initial proposal; with someone as famous as Hyeon-su graduating, wouldn’t there be journalists everywhere?

“Hahaha, don’t worry, there are only a few, and they can’t come inside the school.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, no matter how many journalists there are, would they really come swarm a graduation ceremony at a private school to ruin it?”

Well, looking at it, it does feel like a place wealthy people would attend.

In modern society, wealth connections often lead to power.

Unless there’s a significant scoop, there wouldn’t be a reason for them to flock here for a graduation.

If this weren’t a celebrity school but rather just Hyeon-su’s school, it’d be even less likely.

“Still, there might be one or two, so we shouldn’t let our guards down too much, okay?”

“Oh, you mean there actually are?”

“But they can’t come inside the school, so you don’t need to worry.”

Ah, thinking about it, the school probably wouldn’t let them in.

We were given permission as Hyeon-su’s guardians, according to what we heard from Ah-young.

Of course, I never imagined we’d show up in school uniforms.

As we made our way to the school’s main entrance, I saw a middle-aged woman, likely a teacher, standing there.

“Hello!”

With her cheerfully greeting in her school uniform, Ah-young appeared to have forgotten her age, making me take a step back.

“Uh, um… what brings you here…?”

The teacher looked slightly flustered by Ah-young’s greeting, who was clearly not a student.

…I’d be flustered too if I were in that situation.

“We’re Hyeon-su’s guardians!”

“Oh, Hyeon… you’re talking about Lee Hyeon-su from the 3rd grade, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Oh, I heard there were two women and one man…”

“Oh, the man is just over there… Oh! He’s coming!”

Ah-young pointed in the direction where Kang-hyeok was casually strolling over after parking, and that scene was really…

With a large build and a shaved head, seeing him in a ridiculous school uniform genuinely made me want to close my eyes.

“…Even I think that’s a bit much, don’t you?”

Seeing Ah-young mutter under her breath about Kang-hyeok, it made me feel utterly amused.

“You just now realized that?”

“Cough, anyway, with him, the three of us are Hyeon-su’s guardians.”

“Oh… I see… I’ll just need to confirm your names.”

The middle-aged teacher raised an eyebrow at us, unsure if it was proper, but thankfully only conducted a brief verification process before allowing us to enter.

Honestly, I was starting to feel quite embarrassed.

It seemed adorable in thought, but standing here like this made me feel sheepish, and my face heated with embarrassment.

As we entered the main building, we were met with countless guardians of students who were waiting for the graduation ceremony to start.

Everyone from the well-dressed private school parents made the spotlight suddenly focus on us three in our school uniforms.

And the collective gaze was oddly centralized on one person.

Not the red-haired Ah-young, nor Kang-hyeok, who didn’t look like a high schooler at all.

It was me.

“Oh no….”

This freaking appearance.

There’s no need for attention in such an embarrassing situation.

Just as I was about to feel a tad awkward, a middle-aged woman who looked like a parent approached me.

“Excuse me…”

“Yes?”

I was taken aback that someone would actually speak to me, and she said something totally unexpected.

“Come on inside. Aren’t you going to be late for the graduation ceremony?”

“Huh? Uh…?”

“Are you a student?”

“Um…”

Do I really look like a student?

I guess, with the long padded jacket, school skirt, white shirt, and the school cardigan over it, I do look like a student.

“Um…”

“Hurry up and go in. It started a while ago.”

Thus, I was gently nudged toward the entrance.

Honestly, I could’ve said no, but…

I took a quick glance at the confused band duo watching me while holding back a laugh.

If it’s between being with them and waiting inside… well, I’d rather wait inside then.

I found myself standing at the door to the auditorium where the graduation was happening.

Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to just burst in? I’d wait here.

As I wafted through the crowd and chatted with teachers who appeared to be busy, suddenly—

Squeak—

The doors opened with a rush, and students poured out.

“Huh?”

The first students to come out paused upon seeing me at the entrance…

“Hey, hurry up and come out.”

“Where are the parents?”

With so many people behind them, they hurried on their way past me, and soon a flood of students streaming by was visible.

Moreover, seeing all the girls, I started to think it makes sense they’d mistake me for a student here.

With similar skirt colors and padded jackets on, I feel like I could blend in and pretend to be a graduate, right?

Just as I waited for a moment, I noticed Hyeon-su coming out from deeper inside.

As we drew closer, our eyes met.

“Uh, uh?”

He widened his eyes in shock upon seeing me.

“Hey, good to see you.”

“Ah, um…”

Hyeon-su was so startled by my school uniform that he stood there with his mouth agape.

Oh no, it’s too embarrassing for him to be this shocked when I still have two big things going on.

“Did you wear that uniform on purpose?”

“Yeah, how do I look? Like a student?”

“Uh… actually, yes.”

“Well, I guess I’m a graduate for today.”

Would that mean I’m effectively aging back two years today?

“That um… uh…”

“First, come on out. We need to wait for the others.”

“Ah, okay…”

Since he looked kind of stunned, I took him and headed toward where Ah-young and Kang-hyeok were.

What about Hyeon-su? Does he have no friends? Everyone’s just staring and not even talking to him.

“Hyeon-su.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you have any friends?”

“…Why are you asking me something so bluntly?”

No, it’s not because I’m clueless; I genuinely found it odd.

Why wouldn’t Hyeon-su have friends? He doesn’t seem like the type to be picked on.

“I saw a few friends pass by.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, just now, one of them walked past and kept their mouth shut when they saw you.”

Hmm… Is it my fault?

Well, if he has friends, he’ll probably take pictures later.

For now, Hyeon-su had something else to focus on.

As we moved deeper into the building where the auditorium was, I began spotting Ah-young and Kang-hyeok waiting in the lobby.

They stood out amongst the parents; I couldn’t miss them.

“Hey, no way?”

“Yeah?”

“Did I just see that wrong?”

It seemed like Hyeon-su noticed Ah-young and Kang-hyeok too, and I laughed at his question.

There’s no way he could have seen it wrong.

“Exactly as you saw.”

“Ah…”

Even Hyeon-su, no matter how famous, must have felt dazed by their appearance because he barely squinted his eyes and looked away.

“I just copied what Ah-young suggested.”

“Could you keep it a bit lower for now?”

“Okay….”

…Sorry for embarrassing my older sister and brother.

 

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