Chapter 232: Growth (5)

Translator: Dreamscribe

In the music room, there was a black piano. It seemed quite old. Kang Woojin, with a firm face due to his concept, was quietly looking down at the piano, reminiscing about the past.

To be precise, from the time he acquired his piano skills until now.

‘Hmph- come to think of it, I acquired the skill but never got to use it.’

Well, places with pianos were rare, and there weren’t many opportunities. His busy schedule made it hard to find time. However, the advantage of the void space Woojin possessed was that his skills didn’t rust. Even at this moment, Woojin could play the piano right in front of him energetically.

As he thought of the piano, numerous scores and emotions engraved within him surged up.

Kang Woojin’s fingers twitched for a moment.

They were itching. He wanted to press any of the stored scores onto the keys. Slowly, the melody started soaking into Woojin’s brain. Even though he didn’t press the keys, it was as if he was playing, with the piano melody naturally playing in his head.

Then Woojin.

-Glance.

He glanced behind him. It was a bit noisy, but there were no signs of anyone coming in. Kang Woojin pressed the middle white key on the piano with his index finger.

-♬♪

A slightly rough sound resonated. To those who didn’t know much, it wouldn’t matter, but to Kang Woojin, who had ‘the piano skill’, it was clear.

‘The sound is dying out. Are they not maintaining the piano at all?’

It wasn’t just the piano; all the instruments in the music room were like that. Quite a bit of dust had piled up. Woojin, who let out a small hum, thought it was a pity. Well, he had to try out his acquired skill, but it was disappointing to do it here.

‘We’re in the middle of filming, too.’

Even if there were a few more misunderstandings or misconceptions, it wouldn’t cause any harm? It didn’t really matter to Kang Woojin. It was just a matter of location.

Anyway.

-Swipe.

This time, Kang Woojin pressed the keys consecutively with three fingers. Although the piano was old, it still produced sound properly. Perhaps because he was drawing out his piano skills, the emotions were somewhat warm. Woojin felt that the piano was commendable.

At this point, behind Kang Woojin, at the music room door.

“Ah, Woojin-ssi, you’re here.”

“Hold on.”

“Yes?”

The assistant director, Director Kyotaro, and a few actors including Mifuyu Uramatsu had just arrived and spotted Kang Woojin. The assistant director was about to move when Director Kyotaro stopped him. Then, he carefully observed Kang Woojin alone in the music room and muttered quietly in Japanese.

“······It’s a good scene.”

To his eyes, Kang Woojin in the music room looked like Iyota Kiyoshi. In ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger,’ there’s a part where ‘Misaki Toka’ plays the piano well. According to the shooting continuity, it was briefly explained and passed over, but in the original work, there was a scene where Toka taught Kiyoshi the piano.

‘Toka’s death. And Kiyoshi’s longing.’

Now, Director Kyotaro was envisioning a new scene, watching Kang Woojin in the music room. Meanwhile, behind Director Kyotaro, Mifuyu and the other actresses were whispering quietly.

“Does Woojin-ssi know how to play the piano?”

“Eh- Then it’s too much of a cheat. That face, that acting, and even playing the piano······I don’t know, I can’t stand it.”

“Mifuyu. Fix your obsession with men. You get embroiled in scandals every year.”

“No. I like Woojin-ssi.”

“Sigh, okay okay.”

At this point, feeling the presence of others, Kang Woojin removed his hands from the piano and turned around. Ah, what the heck. When did they gather? Woojin instantly deepened his poker face and spoke in a low voice.

“I’m sorry, Director~nim. I was just looking around for a moment.”

Director Kyotaro, who was grinning, shook his head.

“No, it’s fine. By the way, how do you find it? Are the music rooms in high schools in Japan and Korea similar?”

“Music rooms are mostly like this.”

“Is that so? Hahaha. But Woojin-ssi, do you know how to play the piano?”

Woojin, with an indifferent face, answered briefly.

“Yes, a little.”

There was no need to hide it particularly. Anyway, Director Kyotaro’s eyes sparkled.

“Oh—really?”

“Yes.”

“Then, could you play for us sometime later? Not out of curiosity, but it might be used in the film for ‘Kiyoshi’.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Thank you. I’ll think of a scene later and talk to you again.”

“Understood.”

Soon, a staff member’s shout that everything was ready came through Director Kyotaro’s walkie-talkie. The assistant director approached Kang Woojin, and Director Kyotaro turned around and moved to the set. At this moment, Mifuyu, with thick lips, clung close and asked.

“Director~nim, is Woojin-ssi good at playing the piano??”

Director Kyotaro smiled lightly.

“He said a little, so it’s probably just the basics.”

Two days later, on Friday the 29th.

News about Kang Woojin in Japan increased.

『Is it true that 「Kang Woojin」 is debuting to Hollywood? Intense focus even in the Japanese entertainment industry』

In the Hollywood debut rumor, the story of ‘Our Dining Table’ was included.

『The current hot topic Kang Woojin’s Korean variety show 「Our Dining Table」 surpassed 17% viewership』

On Japanese YouTube, edited videos of ‘Our Dining Table’ suddenly increased. Meanwhile, Kang Woojin could be found at the luxurious ‘Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel’ in Tokyo. The time was around 6 PM. Kang Woojin got out of a van in the parking tower attached to the hotel.

-Swipe.

Woojin was wearing a duffle coat over a hoodie and was in full makeup. His hair was neatly slicked back. This was because he had come after doing a magazine photoshoot in Japan from the morning until about an hour ago. Although the shoot took longer than expected, it finished before 7 PM.

‘Phew- I’m all sore, it’s already getting dark. Time flies so fast.’

Kang Woojin, with an indifferent face but inwardly amazed at the swift passage of time, came to the ‘Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel’ right after finishing the photoshoot for a simple reason. He was joining the ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ team. Currently, ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ had moved its shooting location to Tokyo after finishing the past scenes, and the hotel cut was scheduled to be shot at this ‘Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel’.

It didn’t have to be this ‘Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel’, but it was easily arranged thanks to Chairman Hideki’s consideration.

One of the top hotels in Japan, the ‘Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel’. However, since Kang Woojin had been here during the script reading for ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’, the grand appearance of the hotel did not impress him much. Woojin calmly moved his steps. Choi Sung-gun, yawning beside him, and Han Ye-jung were among the team members who joined him.

Choi Sung-gun spoke first.

“It’s tough, really tough. Are you okay, Woojin-ah?”

“Yes, no problem.”

“You’re like a Terminator.”

Choi Sung-gun, with a ponytail, shook his head as if exasperated.

“I told you the filming starts from tomorrow, right? I heard that director Kyotaro and the actors have already arrived at the restaurant. You can go straight there too.”

“Yes, CEO~nim.”

The main work starts tomorrow. However, since the call time was early, the accommodations were arranged at the hotel, and it seemed Director Kyotaro and the Japanese actors were gathered at the restaurant for dinner, with dozens of staff having arrived even earlier.

Anyway, Kang Woojin entered the hotel lobby from the parking tower.

Among the wide and luxurious lobby, the gazes of guests who recognized Woojin poured out. Here, Woojin’s team members left. And Choi Sung-gun, who was standing in front of the elevator with Woojin, declared his retreat with another yawn.

“Ah—this won’t do. I’ll just go with you to the restaurant, then I’m going to my room to rest. Dinner is important, but I need to stay alive first.”

“Yes, CEO~nim. Rest well.”

“Yeah, call me if anything comes up after dinner.”

As Kang Woojin gave a proper response, quite a few people gathered waiting for the elevator. About five in total. They all glanced at Kang Woojin. Finally, two more joined. A girl in a wheelchair and her mother. What stood out was that the girl in the wheelchair widened her eyes as soon as she saw Kang Woojin.

At that moment.

-Ding!

The elevator door opened on the first floor. The elevator, carrying everyone, moved vigorously upwards, and it was the girl in the wheelchair who broke the slightly quiet situation.

“······Um, excuse me! Hello!”

In the elevator, including Choi Sung-gun and Kang Woojin, everyone turned their gaze to her. The girl was clearly looking up at Kang Woojin. Her eyes were sparkling.

“Kang Woojin-nim! My, my name is Asami Yusako!”

The girl’s mother bowed politely to Woojin.

“I’m sorry. She’s a fan of Kang Woojin-nim, and she seems very surprised to meet you suddenly.”

Unlike the obviously flustered girl, the mother seemed calm. Soon, Woojin lowered his head to make eye contact with the girl in the wheelchair. Was she about 15 years old? Although her face was makeup-free, her cheeks were red and she wore glasses. The girl who introduced herself as Asami Yusako avoided Woojin’s gaze, embarrassed by his attention.

At that moment, Woojin thought of his younger sister, Kang Hyun-ah. Kang Hyun-ah used to wear glasses when she was young too.

‘Is she studying well? I should call her after dinner.’

With Asami Yusako overlapping with his sister in his mind, Woojin bent down and extended his hand to her. Then he spoke in a slightly softer voice than usual.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Kang Woojin.”

Yusako, frozen, trembled slightly but managed to grasp Woojin’s hand.

“It’s like a dream… I, I watch your SNS and YouTube all the time! I’ve watched Hanryang and ‘Male Friend’ so many times! I plan to watch ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ more than five times!”

Her mother chimed in.

“Today is her birthday, and we came out for a family dinner, so she got a big gift. Thank you.”

Choi Sung-gun, having grasped the situation, handed Woojin a diary and a pen from his side with a warm smile. After letting go of Yusako’s hand, Woojin signed a page in the diary and asked the girl.

“What’s your dream?”

“I, I just achieved it!”

“No, not that. What do you want to become?”

“Huh?? Oh—oh! A voice actress! My mom is a voice actress too.”

Handing the signed page to Yusako, Woojin asked again.

“Really? Do you have a favorite work?”

“Yes! I love ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’!”

‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ was an animation made by a renowned Japanese director, famous worldwide including in Korea. Naturally, Woojin knew about it. Woojin extended his hand to the girl again and said.

“Okay. I’ll cheer for you. Thank you for liking me.”

“······N-no, thank you! I’ll support Kang Woojin-nim for the rest of my life!!”

Around this time.

-Ding!

The elevator doors opened on the floor where the restaurant was located. The first to get off were the girl in the wheelchair and her mother. They kept bowing to Kang Woojin as they moved towards the restaurant, and Choi Sung-gun, who was watching them with Woojin, muttered.

“She said it was a birthday dinner. Well, that kid will remember this birthday for the rest of her life.”

Kang Woojin felt a warm feeling in his chest. How should he put it? The job satisfaction of his current profession had increased significantly.

‘There aren’t many jobs where you can give someone a memory that lasts a lifetime with just a few words.’

Although he was an actor with a core of ordinary citizen, Kang Woojin felt refreshed. But he maintained his poker face. Then, Woojin, who had signed autographs for the other people in the elevator, moved towards the restaurant.

-Swipe.

Barely managing to move towards the restaurant, he reached the entrance where Choi Sung-gun withdrew to his room, and Woojin was guided by a restaurant staff member. The restaurant had mostly white tones, luxurious round tables and chairs, numerous staff, almost full patrons, and classical music softly flowing throughout.

Indeed, the interior of the top-class hotel restaurant was stunningly grand.

The table Woojin was guided to was by the window with a clear view of Tokyo’s nightscape. At the adjoining tables, drawing the attention of many patrons, the members of ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ were already conversing and dining. Roughly around a dozen people. It was Director Kyotaro, with gray hair, who first spotted Woojin.

“Ah, Woojin-ssi. Over here.”

As he raised his hand while sitting, Japanese actors such as Yasutaro, Mifuyu, and Kosaku turned their heads. They all welcomed Kang Woojin.

“Woojin-ssi, you’re here!”

“Over here, over here! Woojin-ssi, you can sit next to me!”

Thanks to the enthusiastic appeal from the thick-lipped actress Mifuyu, Kang Woojin, with his poker face, sat next to her. It was a seat with its back to the window. With Woojin’s appearance, the atmosphere among the Japanese actors instantly became lively.

Questions poured in from both male and female actors.

“Did the photoshoot go well?”

“It’s hard to get used to seeing you as not Kiyoshi—how do you keep your skin so good, Woojin-ssi?”

“What did you shoot? Oh, I guess you can’t say.”

“Woojin-ssi, would you like some wine?”

Kang Woojin answered appropriately and calmly. Director Kyotaro took over the conversation.

“Tomorrow’s first shoot starts with you, Woojin-ssi. It’s a bit tight with standby from 7 AM, but I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, director~nim.”

Woojin, who had nodded slightly, drank some water while looking around. As he scanned the crowded restaurant, he noticed the girl in the wheelchair at the entrance. It was Asami Yusako. After briefly looking at her, Woojin’s eyes moved again, this time to the center of the restaurant.

For some reason, Woojin, who was carefully observing the center, exhaled softly and scratched his chin.

‘Hmm—does it matter? Let’s ask anyway.’

Kang Woojin made eye contact with Director Kyotaro. Then he stood up quietly. Director Kyotaro, slightly widening his eyes, spoke.

“Woojin-ssi, where are you—oh, the bathroom?”

Meanwhile, at the table near the entrance.

The girl in the wheelchair, Asami Yusako, was excitedly bragging to her father, who had been waiting at the table.

“I held his hand! Kang Woojin-nim is really, really, really handsome, cool, gentle, and perfect!”

Her father gave an awkward smile.

“R-really?”

“I don’t think I’ll wash my hand! Look, he even signed this.”

“Do you like him that much?”

“Yes! I love him.”

“······”

Seeing her husband’s silence, the mother smiled.

“What’s wrong? Do you feel like you’re sending your daughter off to get married?”

“A little?”

At that moment, the father saw Kang Woojin walking between the tables behind his daughter. He certainly had the aura of an actor. All the other guests were looking at him in excitement. The father understood his daughter’s reaction. After taking his eyes off Woojin, the father scratched his head.

“Ha—”

Yusako, having forgotten about her food, was giggling as she stared at Woojin’s autograph on the table.

“I have to show this off to my friends.”

“Yusako, aren’t you going to open the present Dad gave you?”

“Thank you!”

“······You don’t even know what it is yet.”

At this moment, the classical music that had been playing throughout the restaurant stopped. The guests tilted their heads in confusion.

“Hmm??”

“What’s going on?”

Then.

-♬♪

A gentle piano melody began to play. It came from the center of the restaurant. As soon as they heard the soft introduction, the eyes of all the guests in the restaurant widened. It was inevitable. No Japanese person could not know this song.

No, it was famous worldwide, including in Korea.

“Oh—this song!”

“Who is it? Someone’s playing live?”

“There, there, that man. Oh! But that man…”

The gentle piano melody gradually became softer and more sweet.

Yusako, who had been giggling, suddenly raised her head and exclaimed.

“Oh! It’s the OST from ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’! ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’!!” (TL: Youtube link to the OST –> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB4PRX737-0)

It was her favorite song. She had even mentioned the work to Kang Woojin earlier, so it felt like destiny. Moreover, the piano melody she heard was exceptionally high-level.

-♬♪

Yusako turned her head back sharply. But when she saw someone in the center of the restaurant, she froze.

“What? Wh-huh??”

Already, many guests had forgotten their meals and were staring intently at the center of the restaurant.

“Wow······”

“Oh, my God.”

And then.

“Oh—good, this is that song, right? ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’.”

The actors at the ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ team table began to be enchanted by the piano melody along with their wine.

“That’s right. I really like ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’. This is nice—”

“I listen to ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ at least once a day, but wow, this is really well played.”

At this moment, the piano melody from the center started to accelerate. It was reaching its climax.

Some actors even closed their eyes to savor it.

But then.

“······Ah.”

The thick-lipped Mifuyu stopped moving as she looked beyond the actors in front of her to the back. The two actors, a man and a woman, sitting next to her did the same. Noticing this, Yasutaro, holding a wine glass across from Mifuyu, asked.

“Mifuyu, what’s wrong?”

Mifuyu, with eyes wide as if they would pop out, slowly pointed with her index finger.

“There—”

“What?”

Only then did all the actors turn their attention to the center of the restaurant. Even Director Kyotaro, who had been busy on the phone, did the same, and the ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ team found the source of the piano melody.

A white piano positioned in the center of the restaurant.

A black-haired man sitting at the piano, playing ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ from ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ nonchalantly.

“······W-Woojin-ssi?”

It was Kang Woojin. He was playing the piano. Though he pressed the keys with a plain demeanor, the melody that filled the restaurant was delicate and marvelous. The ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger’ team and dozens of other guests in the restaurant were frozen.

-♬♪

No, they were mesmerized.