Spring. A lively season with birds chirping cheerfully, and petals of all colors drifting in the breeze.

And yet…

"Alright, everyone, put your pens down. The person at the back, please collect the OMR sheets!"

It was midterms season.

Whether Ha-eun was busy preparing for her Fantasia audition, recording Double Lee’s song featuring part, or planning to attend the action school that CEO Jeong Do-cheol had introduced, she still had her duties in school. Since she sat at the very back of the class, it was her job to stand up and collect the answer sheets.

This was a familiar scene for Ha-eun, who, as a second-year high school student, was experiencing her fifth year of exams, if you included middle school. She’d even studied for exams in her previous life, although the subjects and purpose differed.

Her previous studies had little to do with high school grades, given her condition had often kept her from attending school.

But now, in this life, she had a healthy body and the opportunity to experience something she had once longed for—a normal…

"Ugh, can’t art schools just skip exams?"

"You need to be good at studying to say that. Like me."

‘Didn’t both of them just fill in random answers and sleep?’ Ha-eun thought, rolling her eyes at her classmates’ chatter.

She was determined to make the most of this unfamiliar yet treasured school life. Studying wasn’t about grades, but rather about being part of the process—sitting in the same classroom, using the same desks, and participating in the same lessons as everyone else.

Her grades turned out pretty well, so she had no reason to dislike studying.

Meanwhile, in the class next to hers, Da-yeon…

‘If my parents compare me to that know-it-all Ha-eun again, I swear I’ll lose it…’

Da-yeon hated studying. With her busy schedule, she couldn’t study properly, and school grades didn’t really affect her life choices.

So, she felt it was unfair for her parents to compare her scores with Ha-eun’s. But unfortunately, Da-yeon’s parents often mentioned Ha-eun’s grades in passing, treating her like the model daughter, or "mom’s friend’s perfect child."

Once, unable to hold back, Da-yeon had even asked Ha-eun if she planned to quit acting and go to college. Ha-eun had simply laughed and replied:

"I’ll go if I can. Why not?"

A response that shot Da-yeon’s blood pressure through the roof.

"Don’t worry too much, Da-yeon. I won’t quit acting just because of college—"

"Shut up!!"

After that, Da-yeon had seen Ha-eun as her mortal enemy… until a few days later, when they bumped into each other at the school snack bar, and Ha-eun treated her to two strawberry milks and a pizza bun. Only then did Da-yeon finally forgive her.

Whether this exam season would lead to the same fallout was yet to be seen. But at least the dreaded exams were finally over.

*-Step, step.*

As usual, Da-yeon approached Ha-eun to chat about her current drama project.

Of course, it was more of a one-sided boasting session. Despite Ha-eun’s scene-stealing talent, the title of "lead actress" still held significant value, and Da-yeon was eager to remind Ha-eun of her advantage.

“Hey, Lee Ha-eun, stop grading yourself and come outside… What the—”

Da-yeon expected to see Ha-eun anxiously comparing her test answers, but the scene before her was entirely different.

"Do I need to do something about this long hair if I want to play a male role?"

"Hmm, it’s a historical drama, so I think they’ll keep the long hair."

"Hmm... Then maybe I’ll just thicken my brows a bit. You already have sharp eyes, Ha-eun, so—"

There was Ha-eun, surrounded by a group of classmates, discussing her upcoming drama audition in a friendly, casual tone.

Thinking about it, this wasn’t such a strange sight. At *Narae Arts High School*, where many students, including Ha-eun and Da-yeon, were entertainers, kids had no problem approaching Ha-eun.

Ha-eun’s calm personality made her approachable, unlike Da-yeon, whose sharp wit could be intimidating.

Yet, for some reason, Da-yeon found this perfectly ordinary sight unsettling.

*-Thud.*

"...We agreed to go to the snack bar, remember? Come on."

Claiming they had a nonexistent plan, Da-yeon pulled Ha-eun out of the classroom. Once they were outside, she asked about the conversation she overheard.

"What’s this about a historical drama? And playing a male role?"

"Oh, that’s—"

Ha-eun explained without much thought. She wanted to try a cross-dressing role someday, and it so happened that the lead role in a historical drama currently in casting did just that. The drama was based on a famous and enjoyable novel, so she was eager to play the role.

For actors like Ha-eun and Da-yeon, these were normal aspirations. It was only because Da-yeon had found out about it later than others that she felt bothered.

"Look into a drama called *Moonlight Drawn by Clouds* for me, Jin-soo," she told her manager that evening. "And if you can, get me a copy of the novel it’s based on."

She wasn’t sure if her interest was in the drama, Ha-eun, or this strange feeling of unease. Still, she knew she had to resolve it somehow.

"The only open roles left are the lead, ‘Yeongwol,’ and ‘Queen Consort Yoon,’” Jin-soo replied. “The other parts are already cast."

"What’s Queen Consort Yoon’s role?"

"Uh… looks like she’s the heroine’s tormentor. She’s the young mother-in-law character."

She felt an urgent need to address the restlessness stirring in her chest.

"Jin-soo oppa, I want to play Queen Consort Yoon."

“Da-yeon… Queen Consort Yoon is a villain. Didn’t you always say you didn’t want to play villains?”

“I don’t care.”

For the first time, Da-yeon was willing to take on a hated character. If she could face Ha-eun once again as her on-screen adversary, nothing else mattered.

After all, she was certain that Ha-eun would get the heroine role. She had no doubts about it. And so, instead of competing for the same role, she wanted to face Ha-eun on-screen as her character’s rival, Queen Consort Yoon.

Right now, she saw no other way to resolve her turbulent feelings.

---

"Uh, I’m here for the Fantasia audition..."

"Ah, you’re a Fantasia applicant! May I have your name?"

"Dia. It’s Dia."

"Ah… p-please wait just a moment!"

The receptionist looked surprised and rushed away to the back office, leaving Ha-eun confused.

Currently, Ha-eun was in her "celebrity incognito" attire, her face concealed by a baseball cap and mask, just like when she filmed her dance video. She assumed the receptionist hadn’t recognized her, given that she had addressed her normally before hearing her audition name.

But why had the receptionist’s attitude changed so suddenly after she mentioned "Dia"? She hadn’t made any unusual remarks in her application email, nor had she arrived at an unscheduled time.

After about ten minutes, the receptionist returned, accompanied by a second unfamiliar figure.

‘...Did I come to the wrong place?’ Ha-eun wondered, contemplating whether she should make a quick escape.

That was when a familiar voice called out.

"Hello, Dia. I’m Squirrel. My real name’s Ji Hye-min, so call me whichever is comfortable."

A short woman with brown bobbed hair and a generally cute face stood before her.

But what struck Ha-eun more than her face was… an impressive chest. She suddenly realized that this was indeed Squirrel in the flesh and couldn’t help but wonder if that could really be a human’s chest.

"Anyway… please, follow me. I think we should have our conversation in the interview room."

Following Ji Hye-min, Ha-eun found herself stealing glances at her, and before she knew it, they arrived in the interview room. At Hye-min’s gentle invitation to sit, Ha-eun took a seat on the black wooden chair in the center of the room.

"Um… do you have any scars or burns on your face?" one of the interviewers asked, requesting if she’d show her bare face.

With a sigh, Ha-eun removed her hat and mask, prompting wide-eyed reactions from the others.

"Are you really actress Lee Ha-eun? Not just someone with the same name?!"

"...Yes."

She had expected her identity to be revealed during the in-person interview, so she politely asked them to proceed with the Fantasia audition.

"Just one thing before we start… Are you the same D.A. who used to moderate my streams?"

"Oh, yes. You once told me just to keep the manager role as a formality—"

"No way! You’re really D.A.?! This person is really that person?!"

The room filled with excited chatter rather than interview questions. Within seconds, they declared her acceptance.

"We’re not interviewing D.A.! Let’s get ready to sign her on—"

"Hold on, calm down, unnie. We still need to ask a few questions," Dong-jin interjected, stopping Hye

-min from instantly admitting Ha-eun into Fantasia.

With a more serious expression, he turned back to Ha-eun.

"Ms. Ha-eun, do you have a favorite manga or anime that left a deep impression on you?"

They wanted to test if Ha-eun had the kind of taste that would appeal to viewers.

Until that moment, Dong-jin had half-expected her to mention something mainstream like *One Piece* or *Demon Slayer*, assuming she’d give a generic answer.

"*Fullmetal Alchemist,*" Ha-eun replied.

"Accepted."

The mention of a true classic immediately removed all of Dong-jin’s preconceptions about her. Watching his quick change in attitude, Hye-min couldn’t help but feel amused by the whole scene.