GalaxyTL
At the end of August, as the second semester midterms concluded.
♪♩♬
In a corner of the music room, the Shin Bit Middle School band began their session, armed with their top-tier sound equipment. Normally, they'd need a separate room allocation and budget approval to rehearse, but thanks to their band leader, all that was skipped.
An extra key to the music room was handed over immediately, allowing them to practice at their convenience.
Under the principal’s support and trust, the Shin Bit Middle School band was able to enjoy a "comfortable" school life. As usual, they played together, following Kim Donghu’s lead on the keyboard.
A harmonious blend of smooth melodies filled the room. On drums was Kim Minhyuk, Na Kangshik on bass, and Shin Yerim on guitar.
After the four of them finished their practice with a satisfied sigh,
Minhyuk suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "Not much time left for us to play together like this."
Everyone looked up at him.
"With Donghu and Yerim going to Daejung High, it’ll be hard to meet up, right?"
Minhyuk and Kangshik would most likely go to Shin Bit High if they didn’t make other plans. His words cast a solemn mood.
Only about six months left to meet up and play like this. Half a year can feel long, but looking back, it’s a blink.
In that potentially bittersweet moment,
"W-we can still m-meet again, l-later on," Kangshik stammered unexpectedly.
"Yeah, we’re f-friends. Even if we’re apart, w-we can keep in touch, right?" he added.
"That’s true," Donghu quickly added, eager to dispel the melancholy atmosphere. "With KakaoTalk, we can stay connected. And we can always get together during breaks for a jam session."
"Yeah, we can keep playing as long as we stick with it," Minhyuk chimed in. "I’ll practice drums harder. They say if we’re good enough, we could even play at graduation!"
"...Looks like this plan came together without me again."
"I heard about it too, while practicing guitar... the teachers were talking about the graduation ceremony."
"I-I heard they’re also changing the banner to say ‘National Crown Prince’," Kangshik added.
Apparently, the principal was covering all the banner costs out of his own pocket. Donghu briefly wondered why the banner change was so important but quickly brushed it off.
"Doesn’t really matter much to me anyway."
But what did catch his attention was Kangshik’s response.
He’d expected Kangshik, usually an emotional guy, to be deeply upset by the thought of parting. Instead, his words surprised him.
"Alright, we’re wrapping up for today. Let’s pick it up tomorrow," Donghu announced.
"So you’re really taking the rest of this year off?" Minhyuk asked.
"Probably. Unless something special comes up."
"Hope you get to rest. That way, we can hang out and I can focus on modeling too..."
"Th-that talk’s for later, okay?"
And with that, they dismissed.
Normally, they’d all pack up and then go out for some tteokbokki after school.
"I-I’m g-gonna head out early."
Recently, Na Kangshik had been ducking out of these post-practice meetups. It wasn’t about losing weight; when asked, he would always say it was a secret.
"Kangshik, I’m buying the skewered rice cakes today, you sure? I’m even getting Pikachu-shaped ones."
"...C-consider it me s-saving your w-wallet, Minhyuk."
Even his favorite tteokkochi and Pikachu combo couldn’t tempt him. So Kangshik quickly packed up and left.
"Phew, that was close," he muttered on his way home, allowing himself to feel the sadness he’d been holding back.
"This is the end of our middle school days together."
He didn’t cry or sniffle. He’d run the scenario through his head countless times.
"Next year, they’ll all be gone."
Donghu, Minhyuk, Yerim.
The best friends he’d made in middle school. Memories of following friends into the band, of inviting friends over for a fun dinner…
"It’s sad."
But he knew that there was no use complaining. Na Kangshik walked quickly toward home.
"I’m home," he said as he walked in.
"Right, dinner later?"
"Yes."
Kangshik hurriedly washed up, then went straight to his computer.
Click.
The hum of the boot-up brought back memories.
It was June.
The moment he realized their time together was limited.
"Donghu will go to Daejung High."
When faced with an inevitable farewell, he’d wondered what he could do.
"I want to commemorate our last days together."
He wanted to turn this beautiful moment into something meaningful. And then he remembered Kim Donghu’s encouragement.
With that in mind, Kangshik knew what he had to do.
"Let’s make a game."
A game based on the notebook game they’d loved so much. Even Shin Yerim had reluctantly joined in at the time, and it was filled with their shared memories.
The moment he decided that, his destiny changed.
Ordinarily, Na Kangshik, who’d never had friends throughout school, would have created a single-player game with a solitary theme. Games showcasing intense gameplay but echoing his pain of solitude.
Games that reminded him of his lonely school days.
But not this time.
This time, it was different.
With Kim Donghu, a new world of possibilities opened up for Kangshik, who once roamed alone. The moment he learned the joy of companionship, his path split into multiple roads, not just one solitary one.
What could be more precious than a friend’s offer to help? When Kangshik heard that, he felt like it was enough.
"The first step…"
He knew he had to take it alone.
Just as Kim Donghu had, conquering that audition he’d prepped for solo.
"I want to be like you."
He wanted to become a friend who could support Donghu, too.
"I’ll make another game the four of us can play together."
The first game created by genius game developer Na Kangshik.
This time, not a single-player game created from loneliness, but a multiplayer game crafted with a desire for shared joy and laughter.
+++++
After school, at the same time.
I’d just seen Kangshik off and gotten into the van, and I quickly messaged Seokho.
"This is real, right?"
"Yes, really. I didn’t plan to take anything during your break, but this one’s a bit different, so I had to. Sorry."
The High Dream 2 script lay in my hands.
The plot was refreshingly different from the first, but the real shock was on the cover.
<Lead Actor: Kim Donghu>
My name was right there on the very first page. Sure, it was a co-lead, with other names following, but seeing my name at the top was like a symbolic declaration.
"I guess that means it’s a crucial role."
I’d thought Jaei’s story was over.
"They said they can’t move forward without you, so if you say no, they’ll cancel it."
Seokho’s words weren’t meant to pressure me; they were his way of telling me how valuable I’d become.
"Donghu, with you, anything…"
"Hyung, you’re making me feel pressured—just like our coach."
"Oh, right! Coach Baek Sangha and I are the same age. We even decided to be friends."
I smiled, imagining the synergy of such intense personalities.
"Hope that doesn’t cause any trouble," I thought, flipping through the script.
High Dream 2, B+
B+.
"That’s around a 35% rating then."
With the first season hitting 40%, 35% was still an incredible target for a sequel series. Considering how rare it was for sequels to do well, it was an impressive projection.
After finishing the intro, I dove right into the main story.
"Immersion."
Jaei’s world unfolded before me.
++++++
Of course, no relationship is eternal. Yet, sometimes, we cling to that word "forever," knowing how futile it is, unwilling to let go.
But it wasn’t out of regret.
"Must be because of love."
My world remained shattered, a single fragment clinging amidst countless distortions.
"You’re so radiant… it’s nice."
My mother smiled weakly as she admired the brilliance of my talent.
Despite years of effort, I couldn’t stop her decline. Still, I did everything I could.
Two years later, the year I turned 19…
"Sigh."
My mother passed away.
People came and went at her funeral, but it didn’t matter. The most important person wasn’t there.
Vile, despicable, and sordid.
"My father."
Where are you now?