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“Jeong-hoon is the composer’s son?”

“Well, the last name is the same…”

“I guess he is around the same age as the composer mentioned last time… but… is it true?”

“Jeong-hoon, is it real?”

Caught up in my own thoughts, I just asked him directly since he was right there.

If Lee Kang-jun was just joking, I would have to give him a piece of my mind…

[“Huh? Y-yeah?”]

Wait, this is actually real?

I hadn’t even considered it, so it was even more surprising.

“What’s up with you?!”

[“Huh??”]

“Why didn’t you say anything? Is this a spy situation?!”

So it was that Composer Kang Woo-hyeon put a spy on me since he didn’t tell me he was looking for a composer ahead of time.

This is terrifying…

[“Ah, well, you didn’t ask. I couldn’t just brag about being Kang Woo-hyeon’s son out of the blue.”]

“Well… that’s true?”

[“Wait, you’re telling me you’re the son of Kang Woo-hyeon??”]

Lee Seo-yeon looked surprised as if she just realized it too.

So she didn’t know either.

“How did you know, Kang-jun?”

[“Well, I asked. Last time, when I was talking to Kang Woo-hyeon, I jokingly asked if he was his son, and it turned out to be true.”]

“Eh?”

[“Then, we created a chat room, and I got to know Jeong-hoon while gaming.”]

“Is that really true, Jeong-hoon?”

[“Huh? Y-yeah…”]

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

This feels like betrayal.

Two of my team members played games with the team leader being me excluded??

What the…

[“Well, you didn’t ask me about it, so…”]

I was left slightly speechless by the unexpected response.

That’s right… I didn’t ask.

But…

“Well, you should have reported it.”

Huh? Is he just being naive or what?

He’s not very sharp.

When something happens, you should report it to the leader.

Or at least drop hints in the group chat.

How dare he sneakily play behind my back; it feels like betrayal.

[“No, but Miro didn’t…”]

“Boss.”

[“Well, the boss didn’t say anything specific, so I thought you knew.”]

“Wait… how would I know?”

The composer’s family situation seemed too sensitive to even bring up.

More than that, this feels like…

A disciple, a son, a friend.

Even though we’re supposed to have our separate teams, it feels like we’re all under the composer’s thumb…

For a moment, I was stunned, but then I pulled myself together.

Well, it’s all for the best, right?

It means everyone is vetted, doesn’t it?

…But hey, if we all know each other, can’t we just use the composer’s workshop when we meet?

Ah… that might be a stretch, huh?

Yeah, it does sound too much.

I can’t trouble him any more than this, hmm.

**

“Make yourself comfortable.”

Wasn’t a stretch after all?

Before I knew it, I found myself in the composer’s workshop.

It was just a casual remark passed during a call, but he readily lent me the space.

I should really treat him properly later as thanks.

“I have some work, so I’ll step out for a bit.”

After that, the composer left, and I checked the time on my phone in the meeting room where it was just me and Lee Kang-jun.

The reason there were only two of us is that Kang-jun had already been there since the morning.

I heard he came early to learn since he was going to compose my song this time.

“When is everyone else showing up?”

“They should be here soon.”

Everyone agreed to gather here today.

Jeong-hoon and Seo-yeon should be joining us shortly.

Just as I was thinking that, the door opened, and a male high school student in uniform walked in.

“Jeong-hoon?”

“Ah, yes… Hello.”

Jeong-hoon froze for a moment upon seeing me and Kang-jun, then quickly cleared his expression and greeted us. He looks just like the composer, it’s uncanny.

He has this neat, youthful vibe that gives off a feeling of the young composer.

The long hair for a guy is similar enough that anyone would mistake him for a rejuvenated version of the composer.

If I had seen his face beforehand, I would’ve recognized him as the composer’s son right away.

“You look like your dad, Jeong-hoon.”

“Really? I hear that often.”

Jeong-hoon nodded casually as if it was no big deal.

More importantly…

“You’re not bullying any kids or anything, right?”

“Eh?”

His hair is a bit too long for a student, huh?

He doesn’t seem to have piercings or anything like that…

I’m not discriminating by looks, but he does have a bit of a playful vibe.

Especially considering he makes these otaku-style tracks.

“Me?? I’m not like that at all! It’s not like I don’t have friends, but I’m not exactly popular either.”

Seeing him look so innocent when he says that, I doubt that’s the case.

“Okay, I trust you, Jeong-hoon.”

Seeing him in a school uniform reminded me of when I first saw Hyeon-su.

Is he also a budding talent?

Guess I’ll find out once we work together.

“Just go ahead and sit down.”

“Sure… ah, and.”

“And?”

“Can I get your autograph?”

He said, pulling out a notebook from his crossbody bag.

By the way…

“Is that your school bag?”

“Ah, yes.”

Why is he carrying such a small bag in a school uniform? I wonder if he can even fit his textbooks in there.

“Don’t you bring your textbooks?”

“Textbooks? I leave them at school.”

I almost reached for my head to rub my temples but held back.

Right… Jeong-hoon is a composer, so he only needs to carry his laptop.

So he handed over the pristine notebook, and I signed it for Miro.

“Here you go.”

“…Can I brag about this in the café?”

Brag in the café?

Is it really that noteworthy?

Now that I think about it, there’s no signed proof in the fan café at all.

Considering the café has been open for over a year, it’s kinda unusual.

“You can share the story of how we met; just filter what you say about Kang-jun or the song.”

“Sure…”

Just as I was sitting with Jeong-hoon, sipping on some drinks, the door opened again and a girl came in.

She had pulled her hat down low, making a strong impression… is that Seo-yeon?

“Lee Seo-yeon?”

“Yes, uh? Hello!”

Looks like I guessed right.

“Why do you look so stiff?”

She seemed more rigid than in our calls earlier.

Well, Jeong-hoon did too, but it was unexpected from Seo-yeon.

“Ah, no, I’m just surprised how beautiful you are in person.”

“Ah, is this your first time seeing me?”

“Yeah, I’ve seen you from the music video, but…”

“Wait? The music video?”

As I gazed at her, she quickly shook her head.

“Ah, no, I wouldn’t have known. There’s no way I would appear in Miro’s music video, right?”

“Exactly! Only you and the red pill can know that.”

“Yes, right.”

Anyway, it’s nice to meet you.

“Please have a seat here.”

I tried to get her to sit beside Jeong-hoon, but Seo-yeon hesitated and approached me instead.

“Uh, um…”

“Uh?”

“Can I… shake your hand?”

Thinking she had something to say, I listened attentively, and she shyly made a cute suggestion.

Looks like she’s really a fan.

“Alrighty, let’s have a hug too.”

“Eek!”

After giving Seo-yeon a light hug, I looked at Jeong-hoon sitting in front.

“You’re excluded.”

You’re a guy, right? Even if you ask, I can’t give you one, so I preemptively said that as Jeong-hoon looked horrified and waved his hands.

“I wasn’t even expecting it!”

“Really?”

Well, can you not expect it?

But let’s let it slide.

“Alright, take a seat.”

After seating everyone down, I crossed my arms.

I gathered my team members, but… should we discuss the song?

Actually, I was planning to wait for everyone to gather for song-related stuff, but it hasn’t been easy to bring everyone together.

Getting outside help is daunting, and I haven’t found anyone in the fan café I like.

However, with this group, I could probably outline one or two songs in advance, so I better start the conversation.

“Should we talk about the song?”

As I thought that, I noticed the folks were looking tense.

Hmm… So each of them will help produce along with Jeong-hoon and Lee Kang-jun?

Judging by their styles, I feel like they’d fight if I asked them to work together on one track.

Well, if they fight, Lee Kang-jun would win, but then Jeong-hoon’s style would probably get overshadowed.

Seo-yeon is a lyricist, so she should work on the lyrics after crafting the melody.

And…

“Oh, that reminds me.”

“Yeah?”

“Should I try writing lyrics too?”

I casually mentioned something I had only thought about earlier, and Seo-yeon looked at me with an enigmatic expression.

“Are you going to cut me out…?”

“Oh no, I meant to try it out even if it’s just a line.”

“Ahaha… you’re joking, right? Please write as much as you want.”

“Really?”

“Yes, if it’s bad, I’ll correct it for you.”

Well, if that’s the case, then I should give it a shot.

“Well then… Jeong-hoon.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have anyone in mind for featuring?”

Lee Kang-jun will handle the feature for his song.

So we need to decide on Jeong-hoon’s song feature as well.

“Eh… I haven’t even made the song yet…”

“Just think of someone you’d want to have—someone you reckon will fit since you watch my broadcasts and roughly know who I’d be likely to collaborate with, right?”

“Ah, I know.”

“Pick someone from there.”

It’s easy since they are viewers of my broadcasts.

Someone who’s decent from my connections…

“Well, how about Slim Gold?”

“Wanna die?”

“Ahahaha…”

Not a chance.

He’s busy, after all.

I can’t keep relying on him.

“Plus, it doesn’t suit your style, does it?”

“Where’s the mismatch there?”

“Well, um…”

I don’t even have a comeback; it’s just not gonna happen.

Who do you think you are?

“Are you saying no featuring at all?”

“Uh, no, actually, I do have someone in mind.”

“Then why start with Slim Gold?”

“If it works out, he’d be a best fit…”

“So who is it?”

When I prompted for an answer, he hesitated briefly before revealing.

“Uh…”

“Uh?”

“I was thinking of Murasaki Tenshi…”

The person who cautiously suggested that was surprisingly brave.

I expected him to call someone within our group.

“Tenshi-san?”

Ah, well… it does suit, for sure.

Jeong-hoon’s style is closely aligned with Japanese subculture, so Tenshi-san, who’s at the forefront of that genre, is a perfect fit.

“…Do you think it’d be difficult?”

“I’ll ask her first.”

It seems feasible, but Tenshi-san might be busy as well.

And…

“Before proposing, we need to select a song first.”

I’d feel bad asking for her to feature on a track that didn’t fit just because it’s a strange song.

I should choose a song wisely to make the proposal merit-worthy.

“Sure, I got it.”

“Give it your all.”

Anyway, we got the feature issue settled.

…Thinking about it, will none of the Celestial Realm members get chosen?

The term “bitter pickle” suddenly came to mind, but I promptly brushed it away.

Nah, I wouldn’t think that… One of them should fit.

After lightly discussing the song-related topics, it was time to shift gears.

“Oh, by the way.”

“Yes?”

“Since we’re a team now…”

I had been mulling over this since before meeting everyone.

This is our team, right?

I’m the leader, and these are my team members.

In a way, I could see this as the leader and the subordinates.

So then…

“Let’s exchange Dwitch IDs, everyone.”

Shouldn’t I check something like this?

And knowing the IDs would also help to allocate a broadcast manager…

“…I’m going to quit the team.”

“Who are you?”

“…?”

What’s with these people…?

I feel utterly betrayed.

What in the world do they usually chat about?

“Give them here, now!”

“Ugh, no way!”

I dove in immediately to snatch their phones away.

Don’t act tough, you guys.

 

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